No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

From the outside, the place looked like a massive factory, completely sealed off from the outside world.

Visitors who wanted to tour the premises had to cough up 200 yuan for a ticket.

Bai Zhenzhen muttered under her breath, “Damn it… don’t tell me Xiong Wenwu picked this spot just to hit his sales quota?”

Though annoyed, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen still shelled out 400 for two tickets and stepped into the Breeding Facility.

The moment they entered, that refreshing clarity they’d felt in the Protected Zone—the kind that washed through every breath—vanished without a trace.

In its place was a stifling, bitter air.

Zhang Yu frowned. “This place isn’t connected to the Protected Zone’s air supply? Is this… just normal air?”

Bai Zhenzhen sighed. “Those beasts in the Protected Zone probably haven’t breathed this stuff in generations.”

Just then, a deep, booming voice greeted them. “Long time no see, Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen.”

Zhang Yu turned to see a tall figure waiting for them—Xiong Wenwu of Hongta High School.Seeing them arrive, Xiong Wenwu said, “Let’s walk and talk. No sense wasting the ticket money.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen followed him to the first stop in the Breeding Facility: the Incubation Chamber.

Along the corridor, row after row of transparent rooms lined both sides, each housing different kinds of demon beasts. The only thing they had in common was the clutch of dragon-egg-like objects nestled beneath each beast.

Half of the rooms, however, appeared unused.

“So it’s a demon beast breeding facility, huh.”

Bai Zhenzhen peered into the glass like she was at a zoo. Then, pointing at a massive bear-like creature, she laughed. “Hey, Xiong Wenwu, doesn’t that bear look like you before your enhancements?”

Xiong Wenwu glanced at Incubation Room 33. Inside, a hulking bear demon lay snoring on the floor.

“That’s my mom,” he said flatly.

“...Huh?” Bai Zhenzhen froze, utterly blindsided.

Xiong Wenwu looked at them and explained, “The facility selects suitable mothers from among the demon beasts, then implants True Dragon Bloodlines to produce offspring carrying dragon traits.”

“I heard they used to use artificial incubators, but the company figured out it was cheaper to use beast mothers. Since output wasn’t the priority, they settled on finding us a real mother.”

“After all, there are plenty of demon beasts in the Protected Zone. Easy to catch.”

He gazed into the room. “She may be my mother, but she’s just a low-intelligence demon beast now. Doesn’t even recognize me.”

Both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were stunned by the conversation. They had no idea how to respond.

In silence, the trio moved on to the Newborn Area.

Inside incubators, they saw infant demon-kin of various shapes and sizes.

Some were fast asleep, some stared wide-eyed at their surroundings, and others wailed in pain as needles injected fluids into their backs.

“These infants are subjected to continuous medicinal injections,” Xiong Wenwu said. “Those who can’t handle the effects… are culled.”

Next came the Learning Room. There, rows of infant demon-kin watched educational videos intently. The screen displayed a junior version of Red Tower Pasture’s corporate onboarding training—emphasizing how to treat the company like family.

Bai Zhenzhen gaped. “Are you kidding me? They get onboarding training in preschool?!”

Zhang Yu nodded faintly. Red Tower Pasture really was something else.

Bai Zhenzhen added, “They’re born with jobs waiting for them? Bet a lot of people out there are jealous.”

Xiong Wenwu sounded proud. “Every demon-kin born here is guaranteed a job. They start onboarding as infants. It instills corporate spirit.”

“That’s why, every year, regular folks protest—trying to get their kids admitted here just so they can study alongside us.”

A few steps farther in, they saw a group of demon-kin kids doing calisthenics while shouting a slogan in unison: “March forward together! Build the future! The light of fatherly love shines on us all!”

At the front of the group stood a portrait of a black dragon—presumably Red Tower High School’s chairman.

The deeper they went, the older the demon-kin got. From early onboarding to general education, they faced test after test. Most were eventually diverted into the workforce to repay their Breeding Loans, and fewer and fewer remained for advanced studies.

Xiong Wenwu continued, “This place used to churn out demon-kin in large numbers every year. Some would study hard, get into university, and become Red Tower Pasture’s elite.”

“Others would be routed into jobs, working diligently as the company’s foundation.”

“But ever since Oasis Group introduced its new technology, the company shifted direction. A lot of pastures and factories were sold off to Oasis Group. This Breeding Facility might be next.”

He knew that for the demon-kin born and raised here, leaving Red Tower was scarier than being sent to work in a factory.

But as a mere high school freshman, there wasn’t much he could change. All he could do was try to look out for the people he cared about.

Their wandering tour brought them to the Finished Products Room.

In the rooms flanking the corridor, seventeen-year-old demon-kin sat bent over desks, studying hard.

Shock collars on their necks kept them awake and reduced fatigue. Chains on their ankles connected to their desks—a symbol of their determination to study no matter where they went.

An automatic feeder sat in front of each student, programmed to dispense food only after a completed assignment.

Seeing it, Xiong Wenwu’s face softened with nostalgia. “They’re studying general high school curriculum, preparing for the Breeding Facility’s middle school graduation exam.”

“Whether they pass will determine if they get to continue studying in high school or go straight to work. So they’re all very serious about it.”

Zhang Yu thought grimly… Of course they’re serious. Not studying means starving to death.

Looking back at all they’d seen since entering the Protected Zone, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. “This company… they wring you dry, then stomp on the puddle.”

Later, Xiong Wenwu brought up the spiritual vein.

“To support the growth of the young and the True Dragon Bloodline in the incubation chambers, they introduced a spiritual vein pipeline. It carries high-concentration spiritual essence and air.”

“But only the incubation chambers have access to it. That’s why I need to sneak you two in.”

Bai Zhenzhen asked, “Won’t we get caught?”

Xiong Wenwu shook his head. “The facility is mostly automated. There’s only one human staffer. As long as she agrees, no one will notice if you tap the spiritual vein.”

Zhang Yu pointed at the pricing meter strapped to him. “What about this?”

“This place is on the edge of the Protected Zone,” Xiong Wenwu explained. “There’s a supply tunnel that connects to the outside. I’ve already cleared it. Next time, I’ll take you in through there.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen then noticed—Xiong Wenwu really didn’t have any pricing meters on him.

“But remember,” he warned, “you can only stay in the Breeding Facility. Don’t wander out. The monitoring in the Protected Zone is too tight. You’ll definitely get caught.”

Zhang Yu asked, “How much?”

“8,000 per hour.”

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen exchanged looks. That wasn’t bad.

Considering the prices elsewhere in the Protected Zone, just breathing without active breathing would cost them thousands per hour given their constitution—let alone inhaling spiritual vein air rich in essence.

Bai Zhenzhen asked one last question. “Why us?”

“I did some digging,” Xiong Wenwu said with a grin. “You two are broke, right? I don’t trust rich folks. But two dirt-poor kids chasing after spiritual veins and coming to me for answers? You’re all I’ve got.”

He added, “Only one problem left. That single staffer might not agree to the deal.”

“I’ll introduce you to her in a moment.”

“So I need you to follow my lead…”

As he laid out his plan, both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen gave him strange looks.

They finally arrived at the souvenir shop. Beyond the usual onboarding manuals, Breeding Facility-themed test papers, replica shock collars, and demon-kin plushies, Zhang Yu also spotted beast bones, beast blood, and demon beast meat.

Though demon beasts were classified differently from demon-kin, seeing these items here still gave Zhang Yu the creeps.

At the counter, Xiong Wenwu greeted cheerfully, “Sis, I’m here to see you.”

Zhang Yu had never seen him smile so genuinely.

But when he looked behind the counter at the red panda girl, he frowned in confusion. Then again, since the demon-kin at Hongta High often referred to one another as siblings, it wasn’t too strange.

Xiong Wenwu turned to them and said, “This is my sister, An’an. If she hadn’t taught me to read as a kid, I might’ve been weeded out already.”

“She has access to spiritual vein tapping opportunities. She can help you.”

But before he could say more, the red panda girl behind the counter raised both arms and shouted, furious, “Xiong Wenwu! What the hell! I told you—I’m not betraying the company!”

Xiong Wenwu sighed, a helpless look flickering across his face.