No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Inside the artifact refinement lab.

As the final trace of mana poured into the Blazing Fire Furnace, delicate threads of mana circuitry shimmered across the surface of the Azure Cloud Sand-Pouch.

Over the past few days, through Zhang Yu’s repeated refinement, the quality of its materials had steadily improved. The internal mana circuits had also grown more complex, more intricate.

The artifact’s overall grade had now reached level 7.

Not only had its range of Azure Sand projection extended from a few dozen meters to several dozen, its spray velocity, scale, and accuracy had all seen significant improvements.

Where once it could only support 10 Formless Golems, it could now reliably sustain over 20 in operation.

Moreover, Zhang Yu’s production mastery over the Azure Cloud Sand-Pouch had recently reached level 10.

Though it was a relatively basic artifact with a simple crafting technique, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but smile as he looked at it in his hand.

This was the first artifact he had personally refined, over and over again, steadily upgrading its grade.

“Level 7 is good enough. I don’t have time to keep refining this one.”Zhang Yu’s next target was a Foundation Establishment–grade artifact: the Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill.

This time, however, he planned to take a different approach.

“First, I’ll raise my production mastery of the Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill to level 20 in the Spiritual Realm’s simulation lab—then I’ll attempt to refine the real thing in one go and aim for a level 20 result.”

…

Inside the Spiritual Realm simulation lab.

“First, purify the Taiyi refined gold…”

“Then fix the materials using an array…”

“Next, extraction…”

“Into the reaction cauldron…”

“Then rune inscription…”

In the Spiritual Realm, Zhang Yu formed hand seals, directing the artifact known as the Gold-Eating Bug to etch runes into the target materials.

He knew that runes were fixed patterns of spiritual circuitry—simplified, efficient channels for mana to flow and carry out specific functions.

After a long session, a dull, grayish iron bead appeared in front of him.

There wasn’t anything particularly magical about it—mana poured into it would simply dissipate.

Zhang Yu sighed as he looked at it. “The first try… was a failure after all?”

Though he’d already learned the prerequisite techniques for refining the Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill, Zhang Yu still lacked real experience in artifact refinement.

But when he glanced at his Feathered Tome and saw his Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill mastery had risen to level 1, he smiled slightly and launched into the next attempt.

From that point on, Zhang Yu shuttled back and forth between the construction site and the simulation lab, making money on one end and burning it on the other.

Despite income from the construction site and spiritual coins sent over by Zhang Pianpian and Wen Wuya, his bank balance kept dwindling.

Still, his artifact refinement skills rose steadily.

…

One month flew by.

It was now mid-February.

Inside the pharma company’s office building.

Production manager Qu Lecheng glanced toward the construction site. His eyes scanned the dense clouds blanketing the work zone, and a hint of envy flickered in them.

“That Zhang Yu really has it good. Doing so much work alone, I hear he pulls in five to six spirit coins a month?”

“No need to manage others, no worries about diploma-holding workers faking sudden deaths or going on fake sick leave, and no stress about supply channels getting disrupted…”

Qu Lecheng knew that many of the factory’s products were sold to upper floors.

But selling upward didn’t necessarily mean higher profits. In fact, the margins on each pharma product were razor-thin. Profit came only through volume.

“If our upper-level exports drop, the factory won’t just stop earning—it might not even stay afloat.”

As for raising prices upstream? Qu Lecheng didn’t even dare consider it.

“Still, if this University War keeps escalating, maybe we can sell more to teachers and students on the second floor…”

Just then, the cloud turbulence at the construction site abruptly stilled.

“That’s strange… it’s not quitting time yet,” he murmured.

Within the clouds, Zhang Yu had just advanced the tenth technique in his Martial Saint Body to level 20, unlocking the final effect of the Chain Diagram.

Ultimate – Martial Saint Body (10/10): Mastery in one leads to mastery in all. The more unarmed techniques you cultivate, the stronger your proficiency in disarming, blocking, redirecting, dodging, dismantling, range, attack speed, attack frequency, and force penetration—up to the Foundation Establishment limit.

“Finally…”

Looking at the final effect description, Zhang Yu grinned. “Good. Strong.”

Just reading the ability was enough to sense the Martial Saint Body’s terrifying power.

As he rapidly cycled through techniques like the Xuanhuang Mountain-Suppressing Seal, Desolate Earth Mountain-Moving Force, Sky-Flipping Seal, War Demon Life-Draining Technique, and Starfall Meridian-Piercing Technique, Zhang Yu only became more certain of its might.

“Looks like techniques are grouped by type: unarmed, Martial Qi–based, weapon-based…”

“My usual set of skills have all undergone a qualitative leap.”

“Add in the first layer’s real-combat effect, and the second layer’s Martial Arts Insight…”

Zhang Yu was sure: With the current three-layer effect of Martial Saint Body, he could defeat his old self—his version without Martial Saint Body—in just a few dozen moves.

Granted, that’s assuming the older version also didn’t have the Earth-Wood Saint Body.

Combat aside, Zhang Yu knew the real gain here was financial. With this final upgrade, his earnings at the site were about to surge.

But he also knew his upcoming expenses would spike again.

“Let’s leave cultivation where it is for now.”

“Next up: just hang around the worksite with the Martial Saint Body and rake in cash.”

“All profits… go into artifact refinement!”

…

Time passed quickly. It was mid-March.

Inside the dorm.

Zhang Yu lifted his hand from Xuange’s vest, quietly sensing the Dao Seed he had copied from her.

Even with his packed schedule—studies, work, cultivation—he still found time now and then to improve Le Mulan’s classmate’s mana quality.

Today, he’d finally pushed it to 150%, successfully copying the Dao Seed.

Zhang Yu muttered, “Flame-Sun Mana Vein, huh?”

Meanwhile, Xuange was marveling at the fiery surge inside her. “My mana… it feels like it evolved!”

Zhang Yu nodded vaguely, then studied the Dao Seed within her.

“Level 2 Flame-Sun Mana Vein needs 200% mana quality?”

He knew that the higher the mana quality, the harder it became to raise. Two hundred percent wasn’t happening anytime soon.

So, after brushing Xuange off, Zhang Yu focused on studying the new effect.

“Boosts Martial Qi circulation, improves physical movement efficiency, adds a damaging heat property…”

He opened his palm. Invisible flames danced above it. “Wonder if this helps with refinement?”

He checked his Feathered Tome: his Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill mastery had reached level 12.

His savings: 45 spirit coins.

…

Outside, at a plantation tower.

After finishing the pharma factory project, Zhang Yu had been assigned here.

Plantation towers were rare facilities for growing Heaven-Essence Rice and Earthvein Wheat.

Because most land was reserved for cultivating medicinal crops for the upper floors, food crops were forced into these vertical farms to save space.

Yet even though they occupied little area, the tower’s defenses were strict. Walking through it, Zhang Yu felt more like he was entering a vault than a field.

Beside him, Che Yufei explained, “Only upper-floor students or those from the Ten Major Sects can work here.”

“Forget diploma-holders—even lower-floor students barely get in.”

Zhang Yu blinked. “Why not let diploma-holders plant rice?”

Che Yufei gave him a weird look. “Those guys? Just one handful of Heaven-Essence Rice could pay a dozen of them. They’re too poor to even understand farming.”

“Farming’s a high-value job. Minimum requirement? Upper-floor student. And only we sect students are trusted with the key techniques.”

Zhang Yu shrugged. “Fine. Where do I start fixing things?”

Though the pay for this project beat the pharma job, rural data costs were steeper, forcing Zhang Yu to pause his simulation training in the Spiritual Realm.

“Let’s stack some funds, then go back to refining.”

His Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill mastery now stood at level 17.

His savings had dropped to 35 spirit coins.

…

April arrived.

Inside the artifact refinement lab.

After completing the plantation job, Zhang Yu returned to University City and at long last raised his Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill technique to level 20.

His Martial Qi moved freely as he expertly operated the lab’s equipment, beginning his first real-world attempt at refining the pill.

Taiyi refined gold was purified, shaped…

Then he added a host of rare materials to the reaction cauldron.

Just the base ingredients had cost him 18 spirit coins.

He knew the process well—he had drilled it countless times.

Now, in the real world, he was replicating each step.

Zhang Yu silently observed, “The Flame-Sun Mana Vein really does help—it makes refining the Taiyi refined gold and controlling the Blazing Fire Furnace far smoother.”

Finally, as a golden bead began to form within the fire, Zhang Yu pointed a finger and infused it with mana.

Inside the orb, intricate circuits flared with light, then dimmed into stillness.

“A level 20 Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill…”

After testing its function, Zhang Yu clenched his fist with excitement. “It worked!”

As he injected mana into it, the golden bead sprang to life—expanding, liquefying, and transforming at his will into a shimmering mass.

He channeled Martial Qi into it, and the golden liquid wrapped around the energy—morphing into a longsword, a giant hand, a flowing river…

Finally, under his control, the Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill enveloped a Formless Golem—transforming it into a golden-armored war god.