No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen quickly signed the contract with Wang Yin.

Before they left, Wang Yin added, “Since we’re all part of the same company now, there’s something I should say.”

“If you’re interested in getting into Netherworld University, I can introduce you to some professors.”

“My whole family graduated from Netherworld. If you apply there in the future, just drop my name if anything comes up.”

“If you have any requests, let me know. I can talk to the admissions office about getting you better terms.”

“If you end up joining Netherworld University, you’ll officially be my junior schoolmates.”

…

On the way home, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement as they looked at their account balances.

Zhang Yu’s account already had over 4.7 million. With the additional 5 million from Director Wang today, his balance now sat at a staggering 9.7 million.

“Add in the 4 million per month coming in… I’ll definitely be able to afford a Heavenly Spiritual Root and complete Foundation Establishment before graduating high school!”“Yeah, even if you factor in the 1.7 million in debt I still owe, plus the interest, and the 3.3 million interest-free loan I’ll get from the Foundation Establishment exam... it’ll still be enough.”

The thought filled Zhang Yu with energy, and for the time being, he put aside his worries about university and majors.

“If I complete Foundation Establishment during high school, I’ll see what offers the universities are willing to make.”

Bai Zhenzhen said, “Director Wang’s from Netherworld University. If he’s got our backs, that gives us another option, doesn’t it?”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. “Ugh, this just makes the decision harder.”

Fu Ji looked at the excited pair and reminded them, “You two got lucky this time, finding a sponsor who’s that generous with his money.”

“Now you’d better work hard. Just do whatever he asks. If you can stay on his good side, you might even get part-time gigs on the Second Floor later.”

Bai Zhenzhen said, “Aren’t guys like him usually demoted down here from above?”

Fu Ji replied, “Oasis Group clearly has big plans this time. They’re targeting the entire market on the First Floor of Kunxu.”

“Judging from Wang Yin’s demeanor and that semi-automated talisman technique of his, odds are he’s here to pad his résumé.”

“If you stay in his good graces, things will go a lot smoother once you get into university.”

…

In the days that followed, Zhang Yu spent his time tempering his Dao Heart and pushing toward Dao Heart Level 10, reviewing his studies, and learning some of the techniques offered for free by Songyang High.

Free techniques were free, after all. Might as well study them.

Sometimes, he’d also browse the Chain Diagram for other sets, like those needed for Dragonblood Descendant or Celestial Martial Battleheart.

But he just archived them for now. Only after buying a Heavenly Spiritual Root—if he had money left over—would he consider cultivating them.

For now, his focus was on one thing: scraping together enough money to buy the Heavenly Spiritual Root and complete Foundation Establishment.

So even though Zhang Yu was sitting on a fortune, he was reluctant to spend any of it.

Since his mana and physical strength had both already reached the peak of Qi Refinement, he was spending less and less time on actual cultivation.

At this point, aside from keeping his heart technique running and continuing to refine his Dao Heart, Zhang Yu felt… oddly pressure-free.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a lifestyle this relaxed—just cultivating my Dao Heart 24/7.”

This sudden change was so unfamiliar that Zhang Yu actually felt a bit guilty. Watching Bai Zhenzhen diligently train with new techniques and his classmates studying hard, he felt uneasy.

“I really shouldn’t be wasting time like this.”

So he threw himself into more shifts in the Dark Tutoring Gang, trying to earn the rest of the money he needed for the Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Time passed quickly.

Just as Zhang Yu was enjoying these leisurely days—

Li Xuelian’s phone suddenly rang.

“Dad?” she answered in surprise.

A weary voice came through—it was Xinghuo Zhenren.

“Help me get in touch with Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen. I want to meet with my two disciples next month.”

Li Xuelian hesitated. “But you told me to reject Zhang Yu back then…”

Xinghuo Zhenren said, “If I say they’re my disciples, then they are. I’ll find a time to speak with them.”

“Sigh… I was supposed to come this month, but the company gave me a last-minute assignment. I’ll have to work overtime until next month.”

…

February arrived in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yu’s savings had surpassed 15 million.

Though the past month had been leisurely, he’d heard plenty of buzz about changes in Songyang City.

Some corporate rivalries had ceased, while others intensified. Many companies exchanged shares or announced partnerships with Oasis Group.

Even without tracking the details, Zhang Yu could tell just by walking the streets—Oasis Group’s logo was popping up everywhere.

On this day, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen headed to the protected zone of Red Tower at Wang Yin’s invitation.

This time, Oasis Group had booked the entire protected zone. All invited guests could breathe freely, absorb spiritual essence, and cultivate without worrying about fees.

“Now this is extravagant.” Bai Zhenzhen took a deep breath and smiled in satisfaction. “Never thought I’d be able to breathe freely in the protected zone someday.”

Zhang Yu said, “Director Wang’s always generous. Let’s go—rumor has it he invited all the major clans and companies in Songyang. Looks like something big is happening again.”

When they reached the venue, they saw it swarming with young heirs in luxurious outfits and polished corporate elites.

Tables overflowed with food, and even expensive elixirs were laid out for guests to consume at will. The air was thick with the scent of Dao Heart potions.

At the center of it all, Wang Yin stood surrounded by admirers, basking in laughter and praise.

Bai Zhenzhen muttered, “Tch. Bunch of sycophants, clinging to Director Wang.”

“Let’s go—if we don’t grab a spot now, we’ll be left out!”

As Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen made their way forward, they spotted a familiar face.

“Ye Lingxiao?” Zhang Yu blinked, then noticed the people beside him. “All from Xiandu, huh? Don’t tell me they followed Wang Yin all the way here.”

At almost the same moment, Ye Lingxiao spotted Zhang Yu and stiffened.

He and the other Xiandu elites had come to Songyang specifically to get close to Wang Yin—to assist him and win his favor.

Seeing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen now, their faces darkened.

And when Wang Yin waved them over and introduced them as Oasis Group’s new brand ambassadors, the hostility on the Xiandu crowd’s faces deepened further.

Sheng Jie, champion of the mana competition, glared at the pair standing beside Wang Yin, his eyes full of envy. “Damn it… how are they so good at sucking up?”

Ye Lingxiao’s thoughts churned. “Director Wang really likes these two…”

In that moment, they all realized that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were their greatest rivals under Wang Yin.

Still, they dared not show it. With forced smiles, they pledged to find other ways to cozy up to Director Wang.

As drinks and praise flowed freely, both Xiandu elites and Songyang clans fell over each other trying to flatter the Oasis Group heir.

During the event, Wang Yin announced that Oasis Group would soon partner with local clans across the First Floor to aggressively promote their synthetic food, new body-forging techniques, and bloodline optimization.

He raised his glass. “May every generation of your families grow ever more talented—pass the exams, enter the Ten Major Sects, and contribute to Kunxu!”

Cheers echoed all around.

Just then, Zhang Yu spotted a familiar face among the servers.

“An’an?”

The red panda An’an grinned and wagged her tail at him.

…

As the party raged on and guests downed pills and drinks, the atmosphere grew ever more feverish.

Then, a slightly glazed-eyed Wang Yin pointed at a limping demon-kin server and said, “Poor thing.”

“Open up.”

“Here’s a little gift from me.”

He spat into the server’s mouth. A moment later, the limp began to vanish as the demon-kin gasped in shock.

Praise erupted around them.

Wang Yin laughed. “This is our new Oasis Group tech. The human body is a lump of raw jade—refine it right, and every part becomes a divine artifact.”

He turned to the rest of the eager demon-kin servers and boomed, “Come on, I’m in a good mood today. You can all have some!”

Zhang Yu watched as one demon-kin after another opened their mouths to catch Director Wang’s spit. The crowd roared with laughter.

It made him pause. Something about it felt… wrong.

But seeing the servers’ grateful, tearful expressions after receiving the spit, he thought maybe it wasn’t so strange.

“After all, for them… Director Wang’s spit is an elixir they could never afford.”

Then he saw An’an push her way to the front, holding a cup.

“She’s collecting it… for Xiong Wenwu?”

Watching her cradle the cup like a treasure after catching some spit, Zhang Yu felt… complicated.

On the way home that night, he asked Bai Zhenzhen, “Ah-Zhen, if Oasis Group partners with all the big clans, won’t that just tighten the monopolies? Make the clans scarier and leave the poor with even fewer chances?”

Bai Zhenzhen said offhandedly, “Maybe. Why’re you asking all of a sudden?”

Fu Ji chimed in, “It’s the way things are going. People like us can’t change that. Best not to overthink it.”

…

Days later, at an Oasis Group press conference—

Backed by the powerful clans, the event was broadcast across elementary schools, middle schools, high schools—even corporate cafeterias and public transit.

The host touted the Foundation Establishment exam, the power of the Foundation License, and the meteoric rise of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

“...As long as you stick to Oasis Group’s green food, anyone can be like Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen—go from an ordinary student to a top scholar, even earn a Foundation License and rise to the top!”

The host handed Zhang Yu the mic.

As he looked out at the sea of ordinary high school students and recalled the lines he’d memorized, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

Bai Zhenzhen nudged him.

Fu Ji whispered, “What are you spacing out for? Say the lines!”

Zhang Yu swallowed hard. “I… was just a normal student. It was Oasis Group’s green food that changed me.”

“Eat green food, improve your aptitude, strengthen your body—every one of you has the chance to be like me… to earn your Foundation License.”

That night, Director Wang invited Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to another gathering.

This time, he emerged from a vast pool of blood and greeted them warmly.

“Zhang Yu, Zhenzhen, my two heroes—you’re just in time.”

“This is the Blood God Pool, built with Netherworld Palace’s Immortal Dao technology. Come soak in it—it improves your constitution, extends lifespan, boosts intelligence, and helps with Foundation Establishment.”

Zhang Yu hesitated. “This blood pool…?”

Director Wang laughed. “Relax—it’s all heart’s blood collected at great cost from peak Qi Refinement experts. Totally pure, all essence.”

He stepped out and personally pulled the two of them in.

With a smile, he said, “Come, I’ll teach you the Blood Qi Sutra right here in the pool.”

“It’s a basic technique from Netherworld University, for refining your body with the essence in blood. If you master it now, you’ll have a head start once you enroll.”

“Don’t worry about copyright—I have teaching rights. Consider it a gift.”

Outside the pool, Ye Lingxiao and Sheng Jie watched with envy, wishing desperately that they were the ones receiving the lesson.

Thanks to Oasis Group’s marketing, the story of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s humble origins, rapid rise, and Foundation Establishment had spread like wildfire. They were now icons for students and parents alike.

Oasis Group’s synthetic food continued to dominate the market.

…

Li Xuelian glanced at the link on her phone. Watching the video of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, she thought to herself, “Is this Oasis Group’s doing… or is Netherworld Palace planning something bigger?”

Her phone buzzed again. Xinghuo Zhenren’s voice came through.

“Daughter, tell Zhang Yu I’m sorry. I’ve been called away again…”

Amidst the noise of explosions, she caught the faint syllables of something like “god.”

Then he added, “Help me schedule something next month.”

“When this overtime is done, I promise I’ll come see them in person.”