No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

“Mo Tianyi reached out to you?”

In the school hallway, Zhang Yu listened to Bai Zhenzhen’s explanation and finally gave a slight nod. “Yeah. For now, there’s no need to tell them the truth.”

Bai Zhenzhen continued, “And their so-called leader—I still think there’s something strange about him.”

“Remember I told you last time? I tried digging into who he really is.”

“According to Mo Tianyi and the others, this guy won awards in competitions back in freshman year.”

“I spent weeks looking into it—dug through every first-year competition result from the past few years across the Three Great Academies. Only two winners could even remotely be called poor.”

“But from what I’ve found, both of them have already signed contracts with White Dragon High School. No way they’re getting into one of the Ten Great Academies.”

Zhang Yu said, “So that means Mo Tianyi and the others were lied to?”

Bai Zhenzhen shook her head again, frowning. “According to them, their leader signed a contract under the witness of the All-Knowing Deity. The terms state he must get into one of the Ten Great Academies, and once he has the ability, he’s supposed to take the others up to the second floor with him.”

“I don’t get it, honestly.”As they talked, the two arrived at the training hall.

…

In the training hall.

Martial arts instructor Lei Jun was already waiting for them for their martial arts competition cram session.

Ever since Zhang Pianpian visited Songyang High the day before, the school had once again allowed the two to participate in martial arts competitions. The tutoring resumed as well.

Three sessions per week, at 3,000 each.

It was a bargain by instructor standards, but for Zhang Yu, it was still a heavy burden.

Paying this week’s 3,000 fee dropped his balance to just over 35,000.

At that moment, Lei Jun was doing warm-ups in a tank top that read “Martial Arts Are Supreme” across the front.

There was no one else around—only Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

That’s because in the entire freshman class, they were the only ones entering the martial arts competition.

Unlike mana competitions, where even just showing up gave you exposure…

In martial arts, stepping into the ring could mean leaving crippled by a student from the Three Great Academies.

Especially for the poor—getting financially ruined by medical bills after a beatdown from one of those elite students was an all-too-real risk.

On-site emergency care, hospitalization, follow-up treatments… costs scaled exponentially with injury severity.

So, once hope of placing faded, both rich and poor students opted out of ”donating” their bodies and wallets to the martial arts competition.

Seeing the two arrive, Lei Jun waved them over. “I’ve already signed you both up.”

He sent them a link. “Buy your insurance first.”

Both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen knew the drill—step one in any real fight was always insurance.

Still, after glancing at the pricing table, they both chose the cheapest plan.

Not because they couldn’t afford better—but because the low-tier option had the best cost-performance ratio.

They’d rather spend their money leveling up than padding insurance margins.

Lei Jun reminded them, “That plan only covers up to 100,000 in medical expenses. Anything more, you’re paying out of pocket.”

“Be careful not to get hurt—keep it to a minimum.”

Zhang Yu fully agreed. First place in the martial arts competition was only 50,000 plus temporary access to an Expert-Grade Martial Technique. No point getting mangled and racking up a six-figure hospital bill for that.

Lei Jun sighed. “You two actually have it easier these days. Back in my time, we were allowed to use weapons. Even with referees on hand, there were still students who either died in the ring or got so deep in debt they dropped out.”

“One year, only seven people signed up. That finally forced the higher-ups to ban weapons.”

“Now it’s all unarmed combat. Whether you can afford the medical bills is up to you.”

“Anyway, enough talk. Once you’re insured, start warming up.”

After they finished stretching, Lei Jun gestured them over.

“The Three Great Academies have immortal-grade tech we don’t. Their funding is on another level.”

“Heavenly Spiritual Root training, experimental drugs, even body modifications—routine stuff for them.”

“I pulled data on some of their top martial arts competitors. Average physical strength: level 2. Average mana: over 25. Add in combat drugs and battle-aligned spirit roots…”

“Their numbers will completely outclass yours.”

“They’re stronger, faster, and more mana-rich.”

As Lei Jun went over this, a question stirred in Zhang Yu’s mind: If they have such an advantage, how does Songyang even place in the martial arts tournaments? What tricks do we have? How is Wang Hai so strong?

Lei Jun went on. “But actual combat isn’t about stats. If it were, we’d skip the fighting and just read numbers.”

He looked them both dead in the eye. “From now on, you need to get used to fighting people stronger than you—and learn how to minimize your injuries.”

A powerful pressure slowly rolled off Lei Jun’s body, surging toward them.

“To give you more real combat experience, you’ll be training together from now on.”

“I’ll match the stats of a typical top student—physical strength at level 2, mana at 25—and spar with you both.”

Moments later, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen launched themselves at Lei Jun, one left, one right.

Bang!

With a single fluid motion, Lei Jun caught Bai Zhenzhen’s kick with one hand and Zhang Yu’s palm strike with the other.

The three of them blurred into rapid motion across the training hall.

But Zhang Yu didn’t feel like they were double-teaming Lei Jun.

Lei Jun’s real combat instincts were beyond comprehension, and even when limiting himself to level 2 stats, his speed and power dwarfed Zhang Yu’s. He effortlessly neutralized attacks, disrupted their coordination, and even severed their rhythm.

It felt more like Zhang Yu was fighting alone.

So this is what I’ll be facing in the martial arts tournament? Opponents who outclass me in every stat?

Zhang Yu realized he’d been underestimating things. If he had to keep his Limitless Cloud Hands at level 10 a secret, the upcoming challenges would be far harder than expected.

Moments later, with a resounding bang, both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were sent flying.

Gasping for breath, they looked up at Lei Jun—who wasn’t even winded.

“Five-minute break,” Lei Jun said calmly.

Bai Zhenzhen thought, Old Lei is insane. He saw through all my moves. How many martial arts has he mastered?

Zhang Yu thought, Old Lei’s Dao Heart is level 10, his mana’s at 100, and his physical strength is also level 10. He’s probably trained at least a dozen martial arts to level 10. He’s maxed out the Qi Refinement Realm.

So why hasn’t he reached Foundation Establishment?

Zhang Yu asked aloud, “Teacher Lei, you’re still in Qi Refinement? Haven’t reached Foundation?”

Lei Jun’s face darkened. “You think Foundation’s easy?”

Seeing their curious expressions, he sighed. “You need a Foundation Establishment License to break through. Gold Core needs a license too. Even Nascent Soul has its own certification. You think breakthroughs happen just because you want them?”

“Establishing a foundation without a license is a crime. The Eight Divine Ministries and the Ten Great Sects will execute you for that. They’ve always been strict.”

“You can only apply for the Foundation license in university.”

“If you don’t pass before graduation, you never get another shot.”

Lei Jun’s eyes dimmed as he recalled his college years.

He’d tried to get certified during a period when quotas were cut. Even among spirit roots, only those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots stood a chance. The bar was raised so high he gave up entirely.

In the end, it was better returning home to the first floor of Kunxu. Working and cultivating 24/7 just to pay off loans—he actually felt freer.

“Not passing that test changes everything.”

“Without Foundation, ten years of university is just a dream. If you can’t stay up there, you’ll come right back down to the first floor.”

He looked at Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. Cherish your easy high school days. Once you get into college, you’ll miss how simple things used to be.

A few minutes later, Lei Jun called out, “Break’s over. Get up.”

And just like that, the three were locked in battle once more.

After the day’s cram session, Zhang Yu returned to the abandoned building and resumed practicing the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique.

This technique boosted both his Dao Heart and his physical strength, making it his primary focus right now.

Especially since it incorporated nine different martial arts—fist, leg, palm, and more—it deepened his understanding of both fundamentals and actual combat.

Day by day, he trained, studied, and sparred alongside Bai Zhenzhen under Lei Jun’s watchful eye.

In the blink of an eye, eleven days passed.

…

That night, in the unfinished high-rise.

With one final strike, Zhang Yu completed the last move of the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique, leveling it to 10.

In that instant, the nine martial arts became instinctive. The technique’s embedded battle intuition surged through him—granting fierce resolve and unwavering calm. Courage without recklessness, passion without blind fury.

“No wonder this is a combat-focused heart technique. Especially the level 10 effect…”

As Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened, the world around him seemed to slow.

Even his own movements looked like they were in slow motion.

It wasn’t that time had slowed—his focus and awareness had simply skyrocketed. The Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique’s level 10 effect had tuned his concentration so sharply that everything appeared to move slower.