No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Layer upon layer of Profound Dark Heavywater closed in around him, exerting crushing pressure from every direction. Every inch of Zhang Yu’s skin was fighting back, resisting the force trying to squeeze the life from his body.

Under this pressure, he had to activate his muscles not only to resist the crushing force and protect his body structure, but also to keep the airflow inside his cavities circulating, balancing the internal and external pressure. Without that, delicate areas like his eardrums, sinuses, and eyeballs would rupture instantly.

Especially as the simulated depth of the Profound Dark Heavywater continued to increase, the pressure became more intense, and Zhang Yu had to unleash even greater physical strength at every moment.

But at -1300 meters, just as he was keeping the gas in his chest moving with his diaphragm, a momentary lapse caused a slight collapse in strength. His breathing stuttered.

“Hm?”

Zhang Yu’s heart skipped. This was the first time since he’d gained complete control over his body that something like this had happened.

And the depth was still increasing.

…

1305 meters.

A slight misfire in his throat muscles sent a sharp stab of pain through the space between his brows. The imbalance in pressure had taken its toll. He immediately tensed his muscles, forcing the air to flow faster through his body.But the moment his focus shifted to his neck, pain flared in his knees—his muscles had failed to protect the joints from the water pressure.

With a sharp exertion of strength, Zhang Yu forced his muscles to brace his knees.

…

1312 meters.

As the simulated depth continued to drop, he felt more and more subtle aches spread across his body. He knew it meant that fragile parts were starting to take damage under the weight of the Profound Dark Heavywater.

He had no choice but to repeatedly unleash bursts of force to guard his body.

But the deeper he went, the more savage the pressure became—and the more vulnerable points began to give way.

At that moment, Zhang Yu felt like a deep-sea submarine being slowly crushed by the abyss.

Though he kept pushing back with his body, more and more places started to fail. He began to feel overwhelmed.

Misfires. Muscle collapses. Twitching flesh. Delayed reactions…

For the first time ever, Zhang Yu felt out of control.

He had the strength, but he couldn’t bring it to bear. Worse, he couldn’t coordinate his whole body to withstand the crushing force pressing in from every direction.

And it wasn’t a lack of technique—it was something deeper. A lack of mental strength.

“This is…” A realization flashed through his mind, something a teacher had once said in Dao Heart class.

“The Dao Heart is the cultivator’s core. It governs all their power. Through it, thought commands mana and body alike. It is the key to surviving alienation and change.”

“When one’s power exceeds what their Dao Heart can control, they risk going mad—or losing control altogether.”

He glanced at the numbers flickering across his Feathered Tome:

Dao Heart Level 7 (18.5%)

Zhang Yu muttered inwardly, “These past months, my physical strength has skyrocketed. But my Dao Heart hasn’t kept up.”

“And now, under today’s intense conditions, my body’s strength surged again, but my Dao Heart is lagging even further behind.”

“Earlier, the depth wasn’t that high, so I could get by with partial strength.”

“But now, I need to go all out to resist the Profound Dark Heavywater… and that’s when I really feel the lack.”

…

1321 meters.

Zhang Yu’s body was beginning to show visible damage. The pain was no longer subtle—it was starting to bite.

Just then, another examinee chose to forfeit. Only Zhang Yu, Meng Tao, and Ye Lingxiao remained.

Zhang Yu thought, “If I can hold on for second place, I’ll definitely make top two overall and secure my chance at the Foundation License.”

With that, he detonated the toxins accumulated by the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation.

As the Zen symbol on his chest vanished, his body convulsed with stimulation. Every cell squeezed out more life force, propelling him past his limits to resist the crushing pressure. RＡＮO͍𝐁Ɛ𝘚

Meanwhile, Ye Lingxiao was undergoing strange bodily changes of his own. He had begun activating multiple protective techniques.

His form shrank with every meter of descent. Each contraction increased his body’s density, enhancing his resistance to pressure. This was the expert-grade Level 10 protective technique, Wish-Fulfilling Exquisite Bone.

Next, his muscles rippled with strange patterns, forming scales like those of a dragon. This structural transformation let him better withstand the Profound Dark Heavywater. It was none other than Grand Heavenly Dragon Strength.

Then at -1400 meters, his skin began to darken—his expanding fascia turned a deep blue-black, giving his flesh even more elasticity and durability. This was the expert-grade Level 10 technique Elephant Demon Tendon Transformation.

Combined with the earlier Grand Heavenly Dragon Strength, Ye Lingxiao now looked like he was clad in a coat of pitch-black dragon scales.

After unleashing three expert-grade Level 10 protective techniques, Ye Lingxiao stood calmly within the Sky Pillar, arms crossed, his expression serene.

As a scion of a perfect bloodline, he possessed unparalleled natural control over his body. He could master any technique instantly.

With a Level 10 Dao Heart, he could command his body and all early-stage techniques at will.

Having trained from freshman year to this first semester of senior year, he had long mastered more techniques than most cultivators ever saw. His body, forged under relentless pressure, had been rated by the Oasis Group as the most perfect physical form in all of Kunxu’s first-floor high schools.

The current simulated depth was nowhere near his limit. He stood there at ease, deep in thought.

“That Dao Heart Release Capsule… It didn’t just lower my intelligence—it split my thinking into two streams. Like there’s someone else in my head.”

“If I can find a way to control both thought streams at once…”

Ye Lingxiao smirked inwardly. “That company may have stumbled onto something incredible.”

As a scion of the Ye Clan of Xiandu, he knew that in drug research, accidental breakthroughs were common.

And this one, with its odd side effect, might be more valuable than the intended result.

“I’ll suggest the clan invest in that capsule’s development.”

Decision made, he looked up—eyes scanning the remaining examinees.

Naturally, his focus fell on Zhang Yu.

Seeing Zhang Yu constantly adjusting his posture and barely hanging on, Ye Lingxiao frowned. “What? He’s… already at his limit?”

Truth be told, Ye Lingxiao had been shocked by Zhang Yu’s performance in the previous round.

From that point on, he’d treated Zhang Yu as his top rival for the Foundation License.

After all, his own absorption, resistance, and metabolism of drugs were top-tier among all high schoolers in Xiandu.

His breath alone could kill an ordinary mortal. His annual waste products fetched high prices, prized by Oasis Corporation for their research value.

Anyone who could surpass him in pharmaceutical performance had to be terrifyingly strong.

And Zhang Yu had done just that—metabolizing impossible drug loads in the last round, even mastering an eight-star technique in under thirty minutes.

Ye Lingxiao had acknowledged him as a serious threat.

But now?

“But he’s performing so… average?”

“Is he hiding his strength?”

…

-1422 meters.

Not long after Ye Lingxiao activated his triple-body transformation, Meng Tao tapped out.

Now it was just Ye Lingxiao and Zhang Yu.

From his careful observation, Ye Lingxiao had reached a conclusion.

“No. Examinee #55—Zhang Yu—isn’t holding back. His body really is far inferior to mine.”

Profound Dark Heavywater tested the body in all dimensions. From what Ye Lingxiao could see, Zhang Yu wasn’t hiding anything. He simply lacked defensive techniques and couldn’t fully control his body.

“Is it because his Dao Heart can’t keep up with his physical strength?”

“But then, how did he exhibit such incredible drug resistance in the first half?”

When someone shows strength that exceeds their known capabilities, there’s only one explanation—at least in Kunxu.

“Some new Immortal Dao technology? Some kind of physical modification?”

The thought made Ye Lingxiao frown.

On a personal level, he could dismiss Zhang Yu. He lacked the qualifications to compete with him for the Foundation License.

But for the clan and corporation, the potential technology in Zhang Yu’s body was of serious interest.

“We’ll have to investigate. See if any similar tech has emerged outside the region.”

On the other side, Zhang Yu looked over at Ye Lingxiao—who stood unflinching, his power still bottomless.

He tasted blood in his chest. His body, after the surge of stimulation, was beginning to fade.

“Even with the High School Saint Body, which gave me better drug absorption and metabolism, I still can’t match this guy overall.”

“Just look at those techniques… how much did that cost him? Damn rich kid.”

“It’s not just the number of techniques. I haven’t even reached peak Level 10 physical strength. And my Dao Heart still isn’t enough.”

Still, he was relieved he’d secured second place. With his earlier drug test performance, he was confident he’d place top two overall.

He surrendered.

Now, only Ye Lingxiao remained.

As Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, and Meng Tao watched, Ye Lingxiao stood tall in the Profound Dark Heavywater, as calm as ever. As the depth continued to drop, his body kept evolving.

And Ye Lingxiao knew exactly what he had to do next—just keep standing until his total score surpassed everyone else’s and he became the top examinee in this Foundation Establishment exam.

He clenched his fists slightly and thought:

“I will always stand in first place—until I reach the pinnacle of the Immortal Dao.”