No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Kunxu, First Floor.

Songyang City.

Songyang High School.

In recent days, thanks to sponsorship from Purple Cloud Pharmaceuticals and Purple Cloud High, a public lecture was held at Songyang High School.

A statue of Zhang Yu had even been erected at the school gate, reportedly donated via a direct company channel by Le Jingchen, an alumnus of Purple Cloud High.

At this moment, on the training field, the new first-year students were sitting quietly, joined by numerous school administrators and PE teachers—all attentively listening to top-ranked gold-tier PE teacher Wang Hai sharing advanced body-refining techniques.

“The Ten Great Academies represent the pinnacle of all universities.”

“And Wanfa University? That’s the pinnacle of the Ten.”

“They say that at Wanfa University, even a low-ranked underachiever walking down the street has a real chance of getting killed by a patrolling inspector.”

“If your grades are bad, you simply can’t survive at Wanfa University.”“And my student—your senior—Zhang Yu was admitted to Wanfa University.”

“Even after entering, he never stopped striving. Not only did he become first in his class, he also ranked in the top hundred of the entire department. Just recently, he even earned a Military License.”

“Word is, he’s now pulling in millions in income every single day.”

The students below gasped in collective amazement.

The school officials, though already briefed on this through Le Jingchen’s updates from Purple Cloud’s channels, were still filled with emotion upon hearing it firsthand again.

The other PE teachers looked on enviously at Wang Hai—he was now the highest-paid PE teacher in Songyang City.

On the podium, Wang Hai continued, “I could tell Zhang Yu was different back in his freshman year.”

“He came to me every day to ask about body-refining Techniques and insisted on training without taking any supplements to strengthen his willpower.”

“Of course, don’t follow his example on that—if you don’t take supplements, you’ll fall way behind…”

…

Kunxu, Second Floor.

Wanfa University.

Le Jingchen glanced at the report from the first floor via a company data line and murmured to himself, “That should be enough.”

“No need to push these things too hard. Once new students from Songyang join the hometown group next year, they’ll naturally start spreading these stories. Let it grow on its own.”

Le Jingchen wasn’t sure if this approach would work, but based on what he’d heard about Zhang Yu from Le Mulan, it felt like a decent move.

It didn’t cost him much anyway—just a simple gesture.

“If the chance comes, maybe I can get Purple Cloud High absorbed into Songyang High.”

“That way, Zhang Yu and I would officially be high school alumni.”

…

Spiritual Realm.

Li Xuelian flicked her fingertip, and a flurry of chat logs from the Songyang hometown group appeared in midair, along with Zhang Yu’s social media photos and various bits of rumors circulating around.

After a moment, she looked at the man before her—Xinghuo Zhenren—and said, “Dad, that’s the situation.”

“I told you, back then, if you had just listened and signed Zhang Yu…”

Xinghuo Zhenren’s Spiritual Realm projection waved her off, sighing, “Enough, enough. My ears are getting calluses from hearing you repeat that.”

“I’m finally able to spirit-walk into the Spiritual Realm to hear the news up here—not to listen to your endless nagging.”

Seeing that she still wanted to say more, Xinghuo Zhenren quickly pointed at a set of chat logs. “This post is from Yu Xinghan? Why’s he always talking about Dual Cultivation with this Lian Tianji? Is he planning to cultivate with her?”

Li Xuelian’s eyes turned oddly amused. “Maybe.”

“Sigh, that brat…” Xinghuo Zhenren shook his head, then returned to reading the intelligence on Zhang Yu, a smile slowly forming on his face.

As he kept reading, he kept smiling… and smiling… until his expression froze mid-grin.

Li Xuelian furrowed her brows and took a closer look—then let out a sigh. “Ugh. So he’s frozen.”

“Out of divine roaming data already?”

…

Netherworld University.

Now a full-fledged graduate student, Wang Yin casually opened a video stored in his EyeNet implant.

It was a recording of Zhang Yu’s competition from the previous year.

Wang Yin had watched this video repeatedly over the past year—day and night, during breathing practice, while taking pills—until he could recite every frame by heart.

Where once it made his heart bleed and left him in anguish, he now watched it with a face of calm, utterly unmoved.

“Mother,” he said blandly, “my strength has not only returned to peak Foundation Establishment, but my Dao Heart is now as vast and immovable as the earth itself. No failure, no humiliation, no defeat can stir me anymore.”

“In fact, each defeat, each insult… only fuels my path to immortality.”

His mother replied flatly, “You said the same thing last time.”

“A Dao Heart is forged.”

“Not spoken into being.”

“Do you even know what people are saying about you out there?”

Wang Yin replied serenely, “How are they slandering me? Go on, Mother. The more venom they spit, the more tempered my Dao Heart becomes.”

“They’re saying Wang Yin can’t even mooch off his parents properly. That your future prospects are so dim, you may never reach Gold Core,” she said, still expressionless.

Wang Yin’s brow twitched slightly. He knew how deeply insulting that was.

In immortal families, where the elders live long, learning to effectively mooch off them—or rather, to harness their resources—was a vital skill. A traditional craft, even. A core indicator of potential.

“To say I can’t even mooch properly? That’s basically accusing me of being unfilial!”

Wang Yin sneered, Dao Heart pulsing, his fighting spirit surging. “I’ll show them just how good I am at mooching!”

His mother nodded slightly. “Seems you’ve improved again.”

“Now let me tell you a few things about Zhang Yu. Consider them test questions. Want to hear them?”

A spark lit up in Wang Yin’s eyes. His spirit ignited anew. “Bring them on, Mother. My Emperor’s Heart Technique has awaited this day for a whole year.”

“This past year, I’ve turned Zhang Yu’s every victory into fuel for my rise. This is the essence of Wang Yin’s Yin Studies!”

“Mother, I’m not afraid to say it. If someone defeats me, I’ll even pay them—10 spirit coins, right out of my pocket.”

She said, “Zhang Yu is now ranked in the top 30 of the Civil Engineering Department at Wanfa University.”

Wang Yin smiled. “Worthy of being my rival. He’s clearly made huge strides this year.”

“Top 30 in Civil Engineering means he might get into Netherworld University. I’ll have the chance to defeat him with my own hands.”

“Perfect.”

She continued, “He’s become the Dual Cultivation partner of a Nascent Soul disciple.”

Wang Yin paused, then laughed heartily. “Able to partner with a Nascent Soul cultivator? That just proves he’s got… that kind of potential.”

“Makes beating him even more valuable.”

She pressed on, “He passed the Military License exam in the field of cultivation Techniques.”

“Pffft!”

Wang Yin burst into laughter. “Mother, I know you’re trying to test me with fake news.”

“You’re saying Zhang Yu passed the Military License… in his junior year? Come on, that’s not even a good lie—there’s no way I’d fall for that—”

Seeing her expression remain neutral, Wang Yin’s laughter faded. “Wait… it’s true?”

Her fingertip lit up, projecting a news feed from Wanfa University. Zhang Yu, receiving the Military License.

Wang Yin stared in silence, then muttered, “This question… I can’t solve it! It’s too hard!”

His mother shook her head coldly. “Wang Yin, you really are failing at the fine art of mooching.”

Just as she turned to leave, she felt a pulse of shocking fighting spirit erupt from Wang Yin’s body.

“Mother, I’ve said it before—failure, humiliation, setbacks… they only fuel my will.”

“I’m no longer the person I used to be.”

She smiled at last. “Good.”

“So… do you still want me to cast a Concealment Sigil to block all Zhang Yu-related news?”

A tide of spiritual essence surged around Wang Yin, forming like loyal vassals drawn to his command, glowing softly.

“No need,” he declared. “From now on, even if I see Zhang Yu win every single day, I’ll only grow stronger.”

“I might even add him as a friend!”

His mother beamed. “Excellent. You’ve truly mastered the Emperor’s Heart Technique.”

…

“Huh?”

Zhang Yu blinked. “Director Wang? He added me as a friend? Didn’t he block me ages ago? Is this a scam?”

After confirming with Tian Yang that it was indeed the real Wang Yin, Zhang Yu accepted the friend request—but didn’t have time to chat.

Because he had bigger things to deal with.

Today was the internal department round of the Civil Engineering Competition—his team versus Ping Han’s.

The massive simulation worksite stood empty on the outside, but was being livestreamed to a swarm of Civil Engineering students.

“It’s starting! It’s starting!”

“Zhang Yu versus Ping Han—who’s really qualified to earn the Military License?”

“Who cares about that? I just want to see who’s better at trading Nectar Coins.”

“Obviously Zhang Yu. Rumor is he’s a Dual Cultivation expert and became partners with a Nascent Soul disciple—his research into Nectar Coins blows Ping Han’s out of the water.”

Inside the simulation arena, the two teams faced each other.

Ping Han glared coldly at Zhang Yu, battle intent blazing in his eyes.

“So,” he sneered, “you bought Nectar Coins too?”

Zhang Yu shook his head. “I don’t speculate in coins.”

Ping Han snorted. “Then you’re obsolete. What right do you have to earn the Military License?”