No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Bang!

Zhou Chechen slammed his palm down hard on the desk, a murderous aura practically radiating from his eyes.

He spat out each word: “Zhang Pianpian—that woman acts like Songyang doesn’t even exist!”

The way she’d crushed him today—he could already feel the schadenfreude in his classmates’ eyes, the sharp erosion of his prestige.

Snapping his head around, Zhou Chechen stared at Student Council President Chu Chengxuan and growled, “President, you’re just going to sit there while that woman runs wild in Songyang?”

Chu Chengxuan didn’t look up from his study materials. As he squeezed in some last-minute cramming, he replied absently, “Zhang Pianpian… mysterious background, bottomless wealth, and she’s crazy. Why poke the hornet’s nest?”

“She’ll be off to college in just over six months. When that time comes, the upper-year students will deal with her.”

Seeing how focused Chu Chengxuan was on his studies, Zhou Chechen understood. Right now, the guy’s mind was full of college entrance exams and interviews—he wasn’t about to get dragged into a conflict with a lunatic like Zhang Pianpian.

Still, what Chu said triggered a cold gleam in Zhou Chechen’s eyes. “Six months, huh?”

“Then I’ll wait six months. I’ll deal with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen then.”Right now, to Zhou Chechen, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were nothing but corpses riding under Zhang Pianpian’s protection. Once her shield was gone, he’d make them pay.

But the real target in his heart was still Zhang Pianpian.

Fueled by shame and boundless hatred, he thought to himself, “College lasts ten years. By then, a one-year gap won’t mean much.”

“Zhang Pianpian, I sincerely, desperately hope… that you live long enough for me to catch up and destroy you.”

…

Outside Songyang High School.

Inside a private room at a teahouse.

Zhang Pianpian scanned the surroundings and said, “No issues. We’re safe to talk here. There are some things I need to explain to you two.”

“Sis!” Zhang Yu clung to her, eyes sparkling. “You’re really my big sister! It’s so good to have a sister!”

Just then, a loud thud echoed behind them.

Zhang Pianpian turned her head to see Bai Zhenzhen on her knees.

With solemn sincerity, Bai Zhenzhen declared, “Today’s grace was overwhelming. If you don’t mind, I wish to recognize you as my sworn mother. From now on, I’ll do whatever you command.”

Zhang Yu said, “Wait—she’s my sister.”

Bai Zhenzhen replied, “It’s fine, Yuzi. I don’t fuss over these things. From now on, I’ll call her Mom, and you can call me Mom too.”

As the two argued, Zhang Pianpian said coolly, “The bank balance you saw was fake.”

Huh?!!

Both of them snapped their heads toward her. With a flick of her finger, she cast another sigil. This time, the bank balance above her head displayed only 250,000.

She calmly explained, “The Crushing Presence Sigil I used earlier was one I modified myself—it projects a fake bank balance.”

Zhang Yu was stunned. “You can modify sigils like that? Fake your balance? Why didn’t they teach us this in Dao Techniques class? Weren’t we told to use the Eight Divine Officials’ spells as-is?”

From “my sister is rich” to “my sister is pretending to be rich,” Zhang Yu’s heart sank.

Watching their slack-jawed faces, Zhang Pianpian continued, “You need to remember: to deal with the rich, you have to understand what makes them tick.”

“The rich rely on money. That means they understand its power better than anyone. They’re the easiest to manipulate—and intimidate—with money. That’s called ‘using money to fight money.’”

“The foundation of all these tactics is information. To get information, change it, or block it, you need advanced sigils.”

“Sigils are the most powerful tools you’ll learn in high school. Remember this: sigils are the most useful, most formidable weapon you have! All that Dao nonsense and martial arts can’t compare…”

Zhang Yu looked at his sister, now passionately preaching about sigils, and could practically see the words “Sigil Hype” glowing over her head.

Though the twenty-five billion inheritance had shrunk to a mere 250,000, Bai Zhenzhen still clung to Zhang Pianpian, beaming. “Mom, what do we do next?”

Off to the side, Zhang Yu shivered. Bai Zhenzhen’s saccharine smile gave him the chills—like watching a thousand-year-old zombie reawaken.

Zhang Pianpian spoke plainly: “The college entrance exams are in six months. After that, I’m leaving for a university on the Second Floor of Kunxu.”

“That means I can only protect you for half a year.”

“After that, without my shield, the Student Council will absolutely come after you.”

“And one more thing.”

“They only let me shield you because they think I’m one of them—a rich girl.”

“They assume I’ve signed you two under my name. They think you won’t even try

for the Ten Great Academies.”“But the moment they realize you’re aiming for the Top Ten… they’ll ignore my protection. And what they throw at you then will be a hundred times worse.”

“So…”

She locked eyes with Bai Zhenzhen, trying to pierce every thought in her heart.

“What’s your plan?”

“Wait to die? Run away from Songyang? Or risk being torn to pieces to take the Ten Great Exams?”

Bai Zhenzhen didn’t flinch. Her expression turned serious. “I want to get into one of the Ten Great Academies.”

Zhang Pianpian turned to Zhang Yu.

He said, “Sis, quit with the riddles. Ah-Zhen and I have made up our minds—we’re aiming for the top.”

“Just tell us what we need to do.”

Zhang Pianpian gave a slight nod. “You two are too weak.”

Their indignant faces did nothing to sway her.

“To get into the Top Ten as broke nobodies? Your current strength isn’t even close. You’re not just trying to break past rich-kid monopolies—you’re trying to smash through fortified gates.”

“First, become the strongest freshmen in all of Songyang.”

“When the two of you sweep the top two spots in every freshman competition from here on out—then I’ll tell you what comes next.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen felt their hearts tremble.

Every freshman competition left this year?

That meant surpassing every student from the Three Great Academies in Dao Heart, physical strength, martial arts, and Dao Techniques.

Especially Dao Techniques—that competition was basically designed to crush the poor.

Fortunately, that one came last. The closest one now was the Martial Arts Competition, where they both had some advantage.

Next, Zhang Pianpian had Bai Zhenzhen sign an intern contract with the Songyang City Patrol Team. Once her trainee status was confirmed, the two were sent on their way.

Bai Zhenzhen lingered, wringing her hands shyly.

“Um… hey…”

Zhang Pianpian raised a brow. “What?”

Bai Zhenzhen pointed at Zhang Yu, who was toying with a Feathered Tome. With a sugary smile, she asked, “Do interns get one of those… Feathered Tomes?”

Zhang Pianpian shook her head. “The Patrol Division isn’t generous enough to give one to interns.”

“Oh, and don’t tell anyone about my relationship with Zhang Yu.”

“Our parents have already been relocated to a safe village. You don’t need to worry about them.”

Zhang Yu froze for a second, then gave a nod.

Finally, Zhang Pianpian told them to return and focus on studying and cultivating. She watched their retreating figures, then made a phone call.

A woman’s voice answered, “Hey, Pianbao? What’s up?”

Zhang Pianpian: “Lend me some money.”

The woman asked curiously, “Weren’t you trying to scrape together funds for a Heavenly Spiritual Root? Are you done already?”

Zhang Pianpian explained, “Ran into something today. Spent a bit on divination. Now I can’t make this cycle’s loan interest.”

Even more curious, the voice asked, “Oh? What made you spend divine currency?”

Zhang Pianpian said softly, “I helped out that kid. Originally, I just thought he had a decent temper, someone who could live a normal life. I didn’t expect it to go this far.”

“But…”

Her gaze shifted to Zhang Yu’s status panel.

Songyang City Patrol Team Contract Worker (expand for details)

Songyang City Patrol Team Contract Worker | Ascetic Cultivator | Sports Talent | Extreme Poverty in Songyang City | Loan Slave | Card Slave | ???

When she focused on the mysterious “???” field, the only feedback was: Unknown Potential, Unable to Define

Then she looked at Bai Zhenzhen.

Songyang City Patrol Team Intern (expand for details)

Songyang City Patrol Team Intern | Sword-Type | Fist-Type | Palm-Type | Blade-Type | Spear-Type | Potion-Type | Test Queen | Loan Slave | Card Slave | Dao Technique Skeptic | Songyang Cynic | She’s Very Poor…

As her fingers flicked across the Feathered Tome, light shimmered with each sigil she cast.

After two more sigils, the “???” over Zhang Yu and the Unknown New Spirit Root over Bai Zhenzhen both vanished—fully concealed.

Meanwhile, Zhang Pianpian continued over the phone, “They’re better than I expected.”

“Maybe… they can keep up with me.”

On the other end, the woman was clearly surprised. “Oh? I’ve never heard you speak so highly of anyone. Now I’m really looking forward to meeting them.”