No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

As Yue Jincheng’s expression grew darker, he watched Zhang Yu walk out the gate of the Protected-Zone Breeding Facility, slipping his phone into his pocket. A trace of determination flickered in Yue Jincheng’s eyes.

Without a sound, he moved, swiftly tailing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen like a shadow.

“With the skills I picked up at a proper university, even if I make a move right in front of them and grab a thing or two… I can guarantee they won’t notice a thing. Not even a hint.”

He had reviewed the recent exam data for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. Both were likely high school seniors, around the late-stage Qi Refining Realm.

Outstanding by Songyang High standards, yes—but to him, just two snot-nosed kids.

Especially for someone like him, a university graduate from the Business Reconnaissance program, who had long since mastered stealth, covert maneuvers, and theft. Taking on two high schoolers? Child’s play.

“All I have to do is lift their phones, use company tools to copy the data, and slip them back before they notice.”

“Once I decrypt the data, I’ll know all their secrets—no more need for this idiotic tailing.”

“Just two bratty high schoolers. Should’ve done this ages ago.”

As Yue Jincheng closed the distance with a flicker of movement, about to catch up to Zhang Yu, Si Zhouyu’s expression shifted slightly. She moved in as well, raising a hand to intercept him.But Yue Jincheng merely sneered in his heart. “A junior college grad like you thinks she can stop me?”

Accelerating again, he drew silently within reach of Zhang Yu, while Si Zhouyu cursed under her breath. She gave up on blocking him, instead charging toward Bai Zhenzhen, intending to cover for Yue Jincheng’s move.

She sighed inwardly. “This guy’s desperate to prove himself—too reckless.”

“Sure, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen are easy to handle. The two of us can take them. But if you ignore orders from higher-ups, even if you succeed, what’s the point?”

“…Ugh, the report we’ll have to write when we get back is going to kill me.”

Meanwhile, Yue Jincheng’s right arm blurred, activating six martial techniques in unison—fused, triggered, unleashed.

His arm darted forward at a speed beyond the limits of human sight, reaching silently toward Zhang Yu’s pocket.

But the moment he moved, Fu Ji’s voice echoed in Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s minds.

“Careful. Someone’s making a move—he’s going for Zhang Yu.”

Zhang Yu frowned. “Oh? He’s going straight for it? Are we being underestimated—or is something else going on?”

Bai Zhenzhen mused, “Can’t let him succeed. Yuzi will probably counter right on time. What I need to do… is stall them both if they try to flee after failing.”

Just as Yue Jincheng’s lips curled into a smirk, fingers brushing the fabric of Zhang Yu’s pocket, he suddenly felt like he’d touched a pillow of soft cotton.

Except this “cotton” pushed back with a violent force.

Bang!

A shockwave surged through his fingertips. Zhang Yu’s body erupted in swirling mist—cloudy wisps of Formless Cloud Qi burst forth from beneath his clothes, surrounding him like fog. ṝ𝔞ɴo͍𝐁Êṧ

“What?!” Yue Jincheng was stunned. “He sensed me? And blocked my strike...”

His hesitation lasted but a second, a pause caused by two clashing thoughts.

“Since I already moved, might as well rob him outright. Let the company clean up after.”

“Or cut and run—they didn’t lose anything, the Enforcers won’t bother investigating…”

But at that moment, divine energy surged in the sky, condensing into a flash of thunder.

A booming peal of thunder cracked across the heavens, as if to awaken the world.

“Thunderclap Sigil?” Yue Jincheng’s heart jumped. “He used a sigil already?!”

“Move!” Si Zhouyu barked, vanishing like a shadowy cloud, preparing to retreat.

Though reluctant, Yue Jincheng knew they couldn’t linger. He leapt back to disengage.

But then—

Crackling sparks danced beside him, static pain pricking his cheek.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Bai Zhenzhen surged forward in a crackling storm, lightning arcing around her. Invisible Sword Aura burst from her fingertips, slicing toward Yue Jincheng.

He snorted, smashing it with a punch. He aimed a follow-up blow—only to see Bai Zhenzhen dart aside, revealing a patch of protected flowers.

She said coolly, “Better watch out—you break it, you buy it.”

He paused instinctively. Every blade of grass in this protected zone was Red Tower Breeding Company property.

That single sword stroke and patch of flowers stalled Yue Jincheng for a breath.

Enough time for Zhang Yu to arrive.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amid deafening roars, clouds around Zhang Yu morphed into four massive arms—striking with Limitless Cloud Hands, Indestructible Seal Method, Back-Dragon Mountain-Flipping Grip, and Dragon Elephant Mountain-Crushing Palm.

At the same time, sharp auras sparked with lightning from the periphery—Bai Zhenzhen, having withdrawn after her first strike, was poised for another.

“These two brats…”

Seeing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen attacking in tandem only deepened Yue Jincheng’s foul mood.

“You think I’m scared?”

“Trying to trap me? You think you can?”

With a bellow, Yue Jincheng’s muscles exploded in size—his frame ballooned from lean to nearly 2.8 meters tall.

This was his true combat form. His usual figure? A disguise, sculpted with techniques to mask his identity.

The pressure of a university graduate burst forth like a storm, slamming into the two high schoolers.

In a volley of impacts, Zhang Yu’s four qi-arms shattered under Yue Jincheng’s furious barrage.

But then—Zzzzap!

A blade of lightning-charged sword aura stabbed at Yue Jincheng’s back. He spun to shatter it.

Immediately after—

Splat.

A bolt of electricity-tinged spit shot from Bai Zhenzhen’s mouth, arrowing toward his right eye.

“Spit?” Yue Jincheng snorted. “Parlor trick.”

He retaliated with a spit of his own. The two globs collided midair—Boom!—and vanished.

Zhang Yu seized the moment. Mana surged, forming four new giant arms of Formless Cloud Qi that slammed toward Yue Jincheng.

It had been ages since he entered a martial arts competition, but Zhang Yu’s actual combat ability had long surpassed his tournament days.

His sparring matches with Bai Zhenzhen and Yu Xinghan had helped him discover his optimal combat style.

Originally, Zhang Yu used Formless Cloud Qi like heavy armor—spreading it over his entire body for defense.

But that wasted qi. After all, only 10–20% of his body would be hit at a time. The rest? Wasted.

So, he started condensing qi right at the point of impact—more efficient and stronger.

Still, that wasn’t enough to unleash the full power of his 10-level techniques.

Eventually, Zhang Yu figured it out—shaping the qi into giant arms. These could defend with precision, and unleash his techniques with unmatched force.

Yue Jincheng soon caught on.

A graduate of the 72 Lower Academies, Yue Jincheng had already reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm—his Dao Heart, mana, and physique pushed to the limit, with dozens of techniques trained to Level 10.

Each punch, each kick he threw carried immense power—more than enough to send someone like Song Hailong flying.

Yet Zhang Yu’s four giant qi-arms blocked, deflected, redirected, absorbed, and countered every blow.

It felt like trying to stomp through mud—every move he made dragged down by his opponent’s unyielding skill.

Still, he was a university graduate. Under his assault, Zhang Yu’s qi-arms inevitably shattered.

But every time that happened, Bai Zhenzhen would strike again—lightning-infused sword techniques targeting his vital points, forcing him to counter her first.

And the moment he did, Zhang Yu would have already reformed his arms, charging in again.

Then there was Bai Zhenzhen’s electrified spit—his own had little effect on Zhang Yu’s qi, or on her unpredictable movement.

To his shock, Yue Jincheng realized he was actually being held back by the two.

“These brats… were holding back during the exams?!”

“At this level, they’d be top-tier seniors even in the Three Great Academies.”

“One fast, one slow. One yin, one yang. One with misdirection, one with direct force. Their teamwork is flawless…”

Just then, divine energy surged in the air.

Lines of glowing script appeared around the battlefield, encircling Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Yue Jincheng.

Warning! Warning!

Inspectorate Department on-site enforcement. All individuals, cease use of mana immediately!

From a distance, Si Zhouyu—who had been preparing to circle back and extract Yue Jincheng—frowned and sighed.

“The Enforcers got here too fast.”

She shook her head and faded silently into the shadows.