No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

When Zhang Yu first attempted to comprehend the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation, he had no real understanding of it. He simply took it as a strengthened version of the Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy—a more efficient body-refining Technique that could temper the flesh more effectively.

But after awkwardly and hastily forcing himself through the entire set of movements, he began to form his own understanding of this body-refining Technique.

Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation, Level 1 (0/10)

One image after another of him practicing the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation flashed through his mind. Every misstep, every memory born during cultivation, surfaced in his thoughts.

It was as if, in just one fleeting moment, he had lived through the entire process of progressing from Level 0 to Level 1 in this Technique.

Only after that did he realize how fundamentally different this Technique was from the Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy.

Still, Zhang Yu didn’t immediately report to the examiners that he had mastered the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation.

“Too abrupt. Too flashy.”

“Showing off without the strength to back it up... is basically suicide.”

Zhang Yu knew anyone who saw him flailing about during his first run-through, only to witness him move with precision and mastery on the second, would definitely start to suspect something fishy—like he was cheating.And as someone whose potential had been unlocked by an Evil God, Zhang Yu didn’t want to attract the attention of the Righteous Gods.

So he began his second round of practice.

He replayed in his mind the cultivation insights that had just emerged—the experience of going from Level 0 to Level 1.

Zhang Yu pretended to still be unfamiliar, and started practicing again with deliberate imperfection.

But compared to the first attempt, his form was already shaping up.

Meanwhile, the fine intricacies of the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation kept surfacing in his mind—along with the ways it differed from the Crimson Marrow Primordial Energy.

The first step was to condense a strand of Longevity Mana.

Then Zhang Yu sat cross-legged. As he twisted his torso backward and planted both hands on the ground, his internal organs compressed and rotated under the force.

“There are forty-nine forms in the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation. Each form targets different areas of the body—tempering flesh, bones, and internal organs alike.”

“When infused with Longevity Mana, the practice expels leftover waste and impurities, purifies the flesh, and accelerates recovery.”

As the Longevity Mana surged into his organs, Zhang Yu felt them being soothed and revitalized.

He thought to himself, “If the forty-nine forms are like the withering harshness of autumn—symbolizing wear and tear of the body…”

“Then Longevity Mana is the rise of spring—healing and regrowth.”

“One represents decay, the other rebirth. Between life and death, the flesh is honed to become ever stronger.”

More importantly, Zhang Yu realized that as each of the forty-nine forms cycled through, toxins and residues left by medicinal pills were gradually expelled from his organs.

He now deeply understood the path of Immortal Dao in Kunxu.

As the saying goes: three parts training, seven parts consumption, and the remaining ninety percent is all about how you “dose.”

In the Immortal Dao, “dosing” was as normal as eating or drinking.

But every dose inevitably left behind impurities or even poisons.

The Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation not only strengthened the body but also purged those toxins, slowly healing the damage caused by over-reliance on medicine.

As a result, even cultivators with the same physical strength would find themselves far healthier and with more robust lifeforce if they’d practiced this Technique. Their stamina and peak output would far surpass those who hadn’t.

Zhang Yu’s heart surged: “What a miraculous Technique. Truly a divine treasure.”

“If only it weren’t so expensive and rare, this Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation should be standard in high schools.”

“With this, reaching Level 10 in physical strength will be smooth sailing.”

At that thought, Zhang Yu began his third round of cultivation.

This time, drawing on the complete experience in his mind, his movements became even smoother and more precise.

…

Observing him from a distance, Huang Zichou raised an eyebrow. “Zhang Yu’s progress is ridiculous. Only on his third round and already looking the part.”

Meanwhile, the Detection Patch on Zhang Yu’s body continuously transmitted data on his physical strength and mana circulation.

Huang Zichou compared this to the baseline data for Level 1 of the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation and concluded:

“Zhang Yu’s current physical compatibility is at 36%, and mana compatibility is at 15%.”

Another minor deity nodded in agreement. “Clearly gifted.”

“But right now it’s only the outer form.”

“The essence of the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation lies in harmonizing Longevity Mana with the forty-nine forms. It involves coordinating every part of the body and the metabolism of the internal organs. It’s far from simple…”

Huang Zichou knew that mimicking the movements could be done quickly, but mastering the internal force and mana flow was another matter entirely.

And Zhang Yu’s numbers—36% physical, 15% mana—reflected that gap.

But as Zhang Yu advanced to his fourth and fifth cycles, Huang Zichou’s expression grew more and more astonished.

Especially as he watched both the movements and the data rolling in from the Detection Patch.

58% physical, 33% mana.

69% physical, 56% mana.

“Unbelievable progress.”

“Each cycle feels like a complete rebirth—like a regular high schooler grinding for months.”

“This Zhang Yu… is his talent this freakish?”

…

Soon, Zhang Yu’s rapid improvement began to draw attention from the other minor gods—and even Deng Bingding.

One minor deity exclaimed, “Sixth cycle… 87% physical compatibility, 79% mana compatibility?”

Huang Zichou replied, “And his movements are getting faster. He’s actively adjusting both body and mana flow.”

“It means he knows exactly what’s off during practice, how to correct it, and he never repeats mistakes. His body control is terrifying.”

“He really has no Law Husk? No special bloodline?”

By now, Zhang Yu had begun his seventh round.

And this time, right from the very first form, both physical and mana compatibility hit 100%.

As he executed the second, third, fourth forms… neither metric ever dropped again.

By the time he finished all forty-nine movements, the gods saw the 100% compatibility figures and knew:

Zhang Yu had successfully mastered Level 1 of the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation.

While the gods reeled in shock, Deng Bingding asked coolly, “Time?”

“Thirty-two minutes, fifteen seconds,” Huang Zichou quickly replied.

At the same time, Zhang Yu raised his hand toward the examiners. “Sir, I’m done.”

With all eyes on him, he added calmly, “I’ve mastered it.”

As Huang Zichou approached, Zhang Yu greeted him respectfully. “Examiner, would you like me to demonstrate?”

Huang Zichou shook his head. “No need. We’ve received your data. Everything checks out. Head to the rest area—you don’t want to distract the other students.”

So Zhang Yu walked over to the rest room, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. “That should count as passing today’s round, right?”

With that thought, the months of grueling training and relentless fatigue seemed to finally catch up all at once.

For the first time in ages, Zhang Yu just wanted to rest—maybe even wait until tomorrow to prep for round two.

But just as he sat down—before he’d even fully settled—a chill ran through his heart.

He heard the countdown for the Ritual starting again and let out a helpless sigh.

“This dumb system…”

Five more seconds passed before Zhang Yu finally stood up and began practicing the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation again.

…

Zhang Yu’s breakthrough and departure naturally stirred the remaining examinees.

It felt like that moment during a test when someone turns in their paper early—no matter how focused you are, your thoughts start to drift.

Dai Xingzhi watched Zhang Yu’s retreating figure and murmured to himself, “Only half an hour’s gone? That fast? Was it a three-star or four-star Technique?”

Ye Lingxiao also checked the time and thought, “Thirty-two minutes? Did he pick a low-star Technique on purpose?”

Neither gave it much more thought and returned to their own cultivations—Dai Xingzhi to his training, Ye Lingxiao to mastering the Infinite Sword Meditation.

Most of the students thought the same: Zhang Yu must’ve picked an easy Technique.

But Yun Jing watched Zhang Yu disappear and saw the number 1,550,000 flash across the eyes of his Law Husk.

That was the price tag his Law Husk had assessed for Zhang Yu’s Technique.

“A Technique worth 1.55 million?” Yun Jing’s mind stirred, and the details for the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation surfaced.

“Eight-star difficulty, according to the Righteous Gods.”

Yun Jing’s eyes sharpened. “And he mastered it in thirty-two minutes?”

“Could I do that?”

He made a quick mental calculation. The answer came instantly.

“I couldn’t.”

“His martial comprehension is above mine?”

“But then why would he pick an eight-star body-refining Technique? He could probably succeed with a nine-star—or even a ten-star one.”

“In this exam, difficulty counts more than speed. Does he not care about getting first place?”

Yun Jing was completely baffled.

Especially as someone who had always chased first place, a top-tier scholar of Xiandu since childhood.

To him, Examinee #55’s behavior—Zhang Yu’s behavior—was beyond comprehension.

“He could’ve taken first place, but gave it up willingly? Why?”

Shaking his head, Yun Jing forced the question aside and returned to practicing his own Forest of Ten Thousand Forms Palm—but he couldn’t help the small crack of distraction that had crept into his focus.