No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Just as Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao activated their Divine Spirit Root Combat Uniforms—

Huang Zichou continued, “During today’s three-part exam, there are no restrictions on medicine.”

“After all, whether one’s physical body can withstand medicinal strain, whether using drugs damages one’s potential or foundation… that’s all within the exam scope today.”

As he spoke, the ground trembled slightly. Rows of medicine cabinets rose from the floor, various types of potions now displayed in front of Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao.

“You may take whatever medicine you like from here,” Huang Zichou added. “Of course, if you brought your own and want to use it, that’s fine too.”

He thought to himself, “Good thing we’ve reached this round and it’s just down to these two. Counting today’s intake, I might actually turn a profit.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the rows of medicine cabinets.

Though both his mana and physical strength were already maxed out, he could still boost his Dao Heart with the right medicines.

He recalled the past three months—scrimping and saving, sinking every coin into cultivation techniques. It had been ages since he had the luxury of downing pills to his heart’s content. Now, his gaze toward the cabinet grew even more ravenous.

Meanwhile, Huang Zichou began introducing the Divine Spirit Roots they were using. “The ones you’re using today are called the Blacksteel Spirit Root, a type of Divine Spirit Root mass-produced for military combat.”

“Replenishing mana and stamina is only the most basic function of the Blacksteel Spirit Root.”

“Next, the Blacksteel Spirit Root will enter test mode.”

“During this phase, the stronger your physical performance, the more the Spirit Root’s output will increase.”

“Although the extra suit functions have been removed, the Blacksteel Spirit Root itself is fully intact. As output increases, the root will unlock and display additional features. If you notice any unusual phenomena, don’t be alarmed…”

Listening to this, Zhang Yu thought, “Why does this sound… suspiciously like a product demo?”

As he mulled this over, a loud boom rang out beside him—Ye Lingxiao had suddenly unleashed a shockwave.

Zhang Yu casually swatted it away and turned toward Ye Lingxiao.

Ye Lingxiao now radiated intense wind force, the air around him warping. The output indicator on his sleeve had already surged to 10%.

Huang Zichou smiled faintly and said, “Not bad. You picked it up quick. The test mode for the Blacksteel Spirit Root is all about ramping up your body’s operating power.”

“The harder you exert yourself—circulating energy, straining muscles—the more the Spirit Root’s output increases.”

Ye Lingxiao had understood this so quickly because, as a descendant of the Ye clan, he wasn’t a stranger to Divine Spirit Roots.

While he hadn’t had personal access to them as a high schooler, many people he knew in government did.

He’d watched others use Divine Spirit Roots since childhood and had long internalized the requirements of test mode.

Though he had appeared motionless just now, his blood and qi had been surging. Every muscle group had been firing off in concert, which, sure enough, had triggered a spike in output.

“At 10% output,” Huang Zichou continued, “the Blacksteel Spirit Root enables the use of the Spirit-Energy Force Field. Through spiritual conduction, you can project physical force to strike targets at a distance.”

He nodded at Ye Lingxiao. “Go ahead and show them.”

Ye Lingxiao obediently thrust out a palm.

It looked like an ordinary strike—no mana involved—but it hit like an air cannon.

The force transmitted through the spirit-energy network, forming a shockwave that rippled forward and didn’t dissipate until dozens of meters away.

Zhang Yu, watching this, muttered inwardly, “Damn, this really is starting to feel like a sales pitch.”

Huang Zichou went on, “Continue with the test. Remember: in test mode, only by fully activating your physical strength and pushing your body’s limits can the Divine Spirit Root reach higher output efficiency.”

On the other side, Ye Lingxiao released his muscle restraints. His frame suddenly bulked up, swelling into a miniature giant. Blood and qi surged violently, emitting waves of heat.

Sure enough, the Spirit Root output rose with it. The number on his sleeve shot up to 18.12%.

In contrast, Zhang Yu hadn’t moved at all. Instead, he calmly walked up to the medicine cabinets and began picking out Dao Heart Potions.

Inside the Divine Power Network, Huang Zichou reflected on the gap between Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao in the previous round. “Did this kid give up? Just here to mooch some meds?”

Another True Immortal replied, “Judging by the last round, their difference in training time this past year is real. If he’s lost hope, that’s fair. He’s got another shot next year anyway.”

In the audience, someone with a “Laughing-Crying Emoji” profile pic said, “Damn, is Ye Lingxiao’s opponent giving up?”

“Smiling Emoji” replied nonchalantly, “Ye Lingxiao is the top high-schooler on the first floor. It’s no surprise his opponent would give up.”

On the other end of the stands, a viewer with a Cathead avatar snorted coldly at Zhang Yu. “Won’t even risk failure? Not a fighter? I don’t care how talented he is—Wanfa Sect University’s Finance Department doesn’t need cowards like that.”

Next to Cathead, a representative with a husky avatar laughed. “Easy there. You Finance guys are all prodigies, sure—but our Civil Engineering Department would be happy to take him.”

“Didn’t you read his file? He’s a year behind. I’m betting he’ll pass his Foundation License next year. With his talents, he could reshape mountains, build heavenly palaces, maybe even renovate Kunxu someday.”

Cathead curled his lip and looked back at Ye Lingxiao. “He’s gifted, sure—but his Immortal Path potential is still lacking. No way he makes it into Finance.”

Husky replied, “Your bar’s too high. He’s the heir of the richest clan on this floor. If he’s not good enough for the Immortal Path, who is?”

Cathead said proudly, “Finance is one of our university’s elite departments. We only take the best of the best.”

“Besides, we haven’t accepted a first-floor student in over fifty years. If the school leaders hadn’t asked me to come, I wouldn’t even bother watching a first-floor Foundation Exam.”

Husky chuckled, saying nothing. He knew Finance valued Immortal Path potential above all. To them, anyone outside their handful of elite departments might as well be janitors, laborers, or waitstaff.

Even within the same university, departments were like different worlds. Finance’s bathroom probably smelled better than Civil Engineering’s dorms.

Just then, Cathead said, “Hey, Old Dog, want to make a bet? I’m putting money on Ye Lingxiao.”

Husky, knowing this Finance guy had a gambling habit, waved him off. “I don’t bet money.”

As the crowd’s attention increasingly focused on Ye Lingxiao—

Zhang Yu, still at the medicine cabinet, had just discovered something delightful.

“Hahaha, these Righteous Gods didn’t cheap out! These are all the high-end meds I usually can’t afford!”

Though there weren’t any top-shelf picks like Dao-Stabilizing Slow-Release Capsules, Mana Circuit Injections, or Phoenix-Mimicking Growth Agents, they were all solid mid-tier offerings—and Zhang Yu’s excitement only grew.

He grabbed a Dao Heart Potion worth tens of thousands and downed it in one go. As the medicine coursed through his organs and absorbed into his system, cool energy surged up to his crown.

Moments later, his brain felt like it had been tightly wound, his thoughts razor-sharp. His mental technique sped up. Even the image of the Sacrificial Ox in his mind grew clearer.

At that moment, a bright light flared on the exam floor.

Zhang Yu turned his head to see Ye Lingxiao now wrapped in spiritual light, a spherical shield enveloping him from head to toe.

The output on his sleeve had climbed to 30.05%.

Huang Zichou commented, “Once the Blacksteel Spirit Root hits over 30%, it can activate the Blacksteel Force Shield—a mana-formed barrier that shrugs off anything below military-grade threat levels.”

Meanwhile, strange patterns began surfacing beneath Ye Lingxiao’s flexing muscles, forming dragon-scale shapes—this was the Level-10 Expert-Grade Technique, Grand Heavenly Dragon Strength.

Then his fascia expanded, his skin taking on a greenish-black hue, as he launched the Level-10 Expert-Grade Bodyguard Technique, Elephant-Demon Muscle-Binding Form.

With each Technique he activated, his Divine Spirit Root output climbed, soon breaking past the 40% mark.

He glanced toward Zhang Yu, still chugging potions, and thought, “Still not starting? Has he really given up?”

The idea that his opponent might surrender so easily, after he’d trained meticulously for three months, filled him with a sense of anticlimax.

But just then, Zhang Yu felt a twinge of pain in his head, signaling that the Dao Heart Potion had reached its limit.

Level 8 (89.5%) → Level 8 (89.6%)

“Oh? Boosted my Dao Heart again?”

Wiping his mouth, Zhang Yu patted his stomach and thought, “Seven-tenths full is good enough. That’s it for the pills today.”

He set down the bottle and stepped calmly toward the exam floor. With each stride, his muscles vibrated.

He was warming up by activating his muscles, bones, and organs in sync.

And as he did, the output of his Blacksteel Spirit Root slowly began to rise.