No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

This time, the Military Certification exam was being held in the wilderness.

It was on a plain over a hundred kilometers from Wanfa University City.

Due to the secrecy surrounding the exam’s content and location, Zhang Yu had only found his way there under the guidance of EyeNet.

By the time he arrived at the candidates’ waiting area, six examinees were already present. Including Zhang Yu, there were seven candidates in total.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “No wonder the number of candidates for the Military Civil Engineering Certification is so low—you need a recommendation just to apply.”

His arrival quickly drew the attention of the six other examinees. Their expressions showed a mix of surprise and curiosity.

Su Yanyang frowned inwardly. “Zhang Yu? He’s only just started his third year… What’s he doing here?”

Clearly, in Su Yanyang’s view, a third-year student like Zhang Yu had no business competing for a Military Certification.

Xiao Yunji gave Zhang Yu a glance and then looked away, uninterested. The others shared similar attitudes. In their eyes, Zhang Yu wasn’t a real threat.

Zhang Yu, unfazed by their opinions, found a spot to sit and quietly attuned himself to his internal strength, mentally preparing for the exam.Since the end-of-term finals, he had been grinding day and night in seclusion. Not only had his mana and physique reached their peak, but his Dao Heart had also broken through to Level 20—the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment.

His mana quality had reached 197%, drawing ever closer to the Foundation threshold of 200%.

But beyond raw stats, his biggest leap forward had come in his techniques.

Appraisal Technique, Earthshaping Divine Morph, and Magnetic Meridian-Severing Hand had all reached Level 20.

His Greenlotus Sword Embryo’s retention of the Chain Diagram had also improved. Among its stored imprints: University Saint Body and Earth-Wood Saint Body had stabilized at 10%, Martial Saint Body at 6%, though Mana Pulse Flowing Stream was still limited to just 4%.

Feeling the power surging through him, Zhang Yu glanced at the EyeNet interface showing his gear loadout—Azure Cloud Sand-Pouch, Taiyi Liquid Gold Pill, Groundfiend Bottle, Ground-Stabilizing Seal, and Goldfilament Jade Disk—all stats ready and waiting.

A moment later, the waiting candidates noticed a faint pulse through EyeNet. From the distance, a glow began to rise on the horizon.

They instinctively looked up and saw the arrival of the eighth candidate—Ping Han.

At that moment, Ping Han’s chest glowed red, pulsing with the number 13.25—the current price of Nectar Coin.

Hovering behind him was a soaring price chart from the last six months.

His limbs, torso, and back were adorned with projected avatars—various incarnations of the Nectar Lord of Pleasure and Harmony University, male and female, old and young.

The visual spectacle—and the high-end Law Husk he wore—drew envy from several of the students.

Su Yanyang was among the jealous. And not just jealous—furious.

Especially when he spotted the three metallic boxes floating behind Ping Han.

“Are those Baibao smart treasure-management units?” he muttered. “He needs three just to store his artifacts?!”

Fully kitted out and glistening with wealth, Ping Han’s presence caused several candidates to hesitate. Some already doubted they stood a chance against him.

Right then, the number on his chest jumped again—from 13.25 to 13.26.

Ping Han laughed, eyes locked on EyeNet’s group chat.

“Did you guys see the news? The Nectar Lord just announced a lottery dual cultivation session!”

“Spend Nectar Coins to enter the draw. If you win, you get to dual cultivate with the Nectar Lord for a whole day and night!”

A message popped up: “Professor Ping, how high do you think Nectar Coin will go?”

Ping Han replied: “This is just the beginning.”

Ping Han: “I’ve said it many times—Nectar Coin is going to break 1,000 spirit coins!”

His private chat group had grown massively in recent days. Just the membership fees had already earned him a fortune in spirit coins.

And seeing all the classmates who used to mock him—those who once refused to lend him spirit coins—now groveling for investment tips was deeply satisfying.

He mused, “After all my years of bitter cultivation in the Dao of Currency, my time has finally come.”

While he chatted with his group, the number on his chest continued to climb: 13.27… then 13.28.

Even Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of temptation. For a moment, he wanted to buy in.

But he quickly quashed the thought and reminded himself not to act on impulse.

Meanwhile, Su Yanyang clenched his fists. “Damn it… it went up again?”

“Good thing I bought some too.”

After watching Ping Han rake in gains again and again, Su Yanyang had pored over every piece of data on Nectar Coin and drawn his conclusion:

“The rise isn’t just market manipulation. It’s the convergence of multiple structural positives. This is the start of a long-term uptrend.”

Now watching his own portfolio grow, Su Yanyang only regretted not investing sooner.

“If only my Dao Heart were sharper… I might’ve spotted the signs earlier and earned even more cultivation potential.”

On the other hand, Xiao Yunji turned away, not wanting to let Ping Han’s climbing figures distract her any further.

She had, of course, considered investing in Nectar Coin too—after seeing so many of Ping Han’s profit screenshots.

But after consulting Director Lin and her family elders, all had warned her against it.

And yet, watching Nectar Coin soar, even she began to doubt: “Could Director Lin have been too conservative? Could they have been wrong?”

“After all, Nectar Coin was created by a Nascent Soul cultivator. Who are Gold Core and Core Formation cultivators to question it?”

“No… I need to focus. The Military Certification exam comes first.”

She pushed the doubts aside. No matter how powerful Ping Han seemed now, she had spent years preparing for this moment. She wasn’t about to back down.

Ping Han’s gaze swept across the group and finally landed on Zhang Yu.

Surprised, he asked, “You? What are you doing here?”

Zhang Yu replied calmly, “Director Gao recommended me for the Military Certification exam.”

Ping Han blinked, visibly caught off guard, but said nothing.

Yet deep inside, a storm of resentment began to churn.

He remembered how close he’d come to seizing a celestial opportunity—how he’d just needed a few more spirit coins.

He remembered begging Director Gao for a loan, only to be turned away, losing his chance and becoming a laughingstock.

And now, Zhang Yu—a mere third-year—was handed this golden opportunity by the very same man.

Ping Han’s heart seethed. “Gao Chongguang, you’re watching this, aren’t you?”

“I’ll show you just how wrong you were.”

At that moment, thunder echoed from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a flying vessel descending toward the exam site.

…

On the flying vessel—

Director Gao stood at the edge of the deck, gazing down at the test field, his expression unreadable.

He was here today as Wanfa University’s official observer for this Military Certification exam—his presence lending weight and credibility to the proceedings.

There were many other observers as well, including professors and experts from civil engineering departments at other universities.

This wasn’t Gao’s first time attending such exams. He understood that the results of a Military Certification weren’t something Wanfa University could decide alone.

Apart from the academic experts, three divine-ranking judges would oversee the proceedings, ensuring fairness and offering expert evaluation.

Moreover, the results would be uploaded to the Heavenly Court for approval. Only then would the certification be official.

As he scanned the site, Director Lin suddenly appeared behind him.

He smiled and said, “Ping Han’s been on quite the streak lately.”

Director Gao narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

Lin smirked. “Even your so-called War Faction students have to rely on coins and finance in the end. Don’t you think you’re being a bit… old-fashioned?”

Gao answered coolly, “Not your business.”

But when it came to Ping Han, even he couldn’t hide a trace of inner conflict.

By all accounts, Ping Han—despite his methods—was the War Faction’s best bet this year. The most likely to win the Military Certification.

On paper, this was a good thing. It would mean the War Faction, after Mo Shangjin, had produced another student who could wield the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might. A decisive victory over the Peace and Neutral factions.

But the problem was… Ping Han had gotten here through coin speculation.

Director Gao didn’t reject investing per se—he himself held long-term positions in currencies created by Nascent Soul cultivators.

But in his view, what Ping Han was doing wasn’t investing. It was gambling.

And he’d seen this pattern before: quick fortune, sudden ruin.

“Ping Han might win the certification.”

“But he’ll probably go bankrupt not long after learning the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might…”

He sighed inwardly. “And now, the Peace and Neutral factions have pushed their strongest students to the next cycle… where they’ll face Zhang Yu.”

Just then, three figures stepped out from the ship’s cabin—the three divine judges for this year’s exam.