No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

When Zhang Yu arrived at the designated research facility, he immediately spotted a familiar, furtive figure approaching as well.

“You brat!” Zhang Yu pointed at Yu Xinghan and snapped, “Didn’t you say you had to work overtime today?”

Caught red-handed, Yu Xinghan flinched for a moment, then quickly retorted, “Didn’t you say you were heading to the construction site?”

The next second, the two exchanged a knowing smile.

Zhang Yu asked, “Did the homeroom teacher contact you? Why aren’t you going in?”

Yu Xinghan smiled. “You’re the top of the class. You go first.”

Zhang Yu waved his hand. “Come on, we’re old classmates. You go ahead.”

After a bit of back-and-forth, Zhang Yu had already figured out Yu Xinghan’s true thoughts.

This guy again, he thought disdainfully. Clearly curious about the Dual Cultivation experiment, but afraid it won’t match his interests. No talent in Dual Cultivation whatsoever—what the hell’s he doing here?

Meanwhile, Yu Xinghan was thinking, Zhang Yu’s the picky type, even about gender. Obviously, he wants me to go first and sniff out what’s going on before he decides whether it’s worth his time.In the end, they walked into the research facility together and found that they weren’t alone. A surprising number of students from the Civil Engineering Department were already there.

There were classmates like Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin, and even some top upperclassmen such as Xiao Yunji, Su Yanyang, and Ma Xuan—all waiting.

Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered when he saw Ying Xin and Xiao Yunji.

Men and women? What kind of experiment is this?

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to glean any information before the experiment began.

Yu Xinghan muttered, “What is this, a round-up of all the Civil Engineering elites?”

“What kind of Dual Cultivation experiment needs students like us?”

Zhang Yu felt a twinge of unease at Yu Xinghan’s words.

Just then, a familiar voice called from behind them.

“Relax. It’s a good thing.”

Zhang Yu turned around and saw Ye Xingli from the Artifact Refinement Department.

She nodded to him slightly, then explained, “Our department collaborated with the Sigil Department to develop a new product. It leverages the path of Dual Cultivation to enhance a student’s cultivation.”

“However, the product still has some flaws, so we need to collect experimental data to determine how to improve it.”

Yu Xinghan was taken aback. “Our school is developing a Dual Cultivation product?”

Ye Xingli nodded. “That’s right. Entirely homegrown tech—100% developed in-house, not a shred of outside input.”

At the same time, she couldn’t help but recall the difficulties they’d been facing during development.

Ever since the experiments began, they had pulled excellent students from every corner of the school. Yet, almost none had succeeded.

This Yin Artifact from Divine Lord Nectar clearly harbored secrets they didn’t yet understand, which was why it still couldn’t be properly activated.

If the earlier rounds hadn’t all failed, it wouldn’t have come to the Civil Engineering students.

Ye Xingli sighed inwardly. If this batch fails too, including the Civil Engineering and Security Departments, they might be forced to attempt a brute-force crack.

As she was explaining to Zhang Yu, a staff member stepped forward and gave a basic rundown of the process, distributing confidentiality agreements for the experiment.

Once the contracts were signed, students were led into the lab in batches.

Watching the upperclassmen enter one after another, Zhang Yu’s curiosity only grew stronger.

Dual Cultivation? And a product?

Could it be one of those solo-use Dual Cultivation devices?

If so, that’d be a fast track to ascension.

As he observed the expressions of the students exiting the lab—Xiao Yunji’s surprise, Su Yanyang’s disappointment, Li Zhen’s conflicted look—Zhang Yu’s curiosity burned even hotter.

Finally, his turn came. Alongside Yu Xinghan, Gongshu Jin, and Ying Xin, he entered the lab.

Inside, a crystal-like object shaped like a diamond floated in mid-air, emitting a strange, mesmerizing glow.

A male professor stepped forward and greeted them. “Hello. I am Daoist Tianzhang from the Sigil Department. I’ll be overseeing this round of testing.”

“Allow me to explain the experiment in detail.”

As he spoke, divine light flared from his fingertip, highlighting the crystal object.

“This is our new product—a Dual Cultivation Yin Artifact.”

At the mention of a Yin Artifact, both Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan instantly relaxed. Their previous unease melted away.

So it’s a Yin Artifact, Zhang Yu thought, crossing his arms. Never used one before, but I have a feeling this is my kind of thing.

Yu Xinghan’s lips curled into a confident smile. Years of secret study and extracurricular practice had finally paid off.

My master was right. Starlight favors those who walk the long road. Time rewards those who strive. My effort won’t be in vain.

Nearby, Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin could both feel the surge of self-assurance radiating from them.

Gongshu Jin thought to himself, I get why Zhang Yu’s confident, but what’s the fourth-ranked guy so smug about?

At the front, Daoist Tianzhang continued, “You’re all familiar with Yin Artifacts, so I won’t explain the basics.”

“Today’s experiment is focused on operational compatibility.”

“We’ll scan each of you to find who best matches this Yin Artifact, then record their usage data to aid future refinements…”

“Of course, it’s also possible that none of you will meet the activation requirements.”

“Oh, and don’t forget to report any Law Husks on your body.”

As students reported their Law Husk implants, Ying Xin asked, “Why do we need to report those? Are you worried about interference?”

Daoist Tianzhang replied flatly, “This Artifact has basic intelligence. It usually avoids conflict. But we’re more concerned that your bodies won’t be able to handle it.”

Gongshu Jin frowned. “What do you mean, can’t handle it?”

Daoist Tianzhang gave him a strange look. “You’re wearing Law Husks, aren’t you? Ever think about load capacity?”

“Wait a second…” Zhang Yu’s face went pale. “You’re installing it?”

“Of course,” Tianzhang said matter-of-factly. “It’s a Law Husk. Testing its function means equipping it and seeing how it runs.”

He offered them a gentle smile. “Don’t worry. If the installation succeeds, I’ll oversee the test myself. You won’t get hurt.”

“And if it fails, we won’t charge you.”

But to Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan, that so-called gentle smile was more like a beast baring its fangs.

They hadn’t expected the experiment would involve physically mounting the Yin Artifact onto their bodies.

Run! Zhang Yu screamed internally. This isn’t home—it’s a trap!

Just as both of them stepped back, ready to shout their withdrawal from the trial, the Yin Artifact activated. Light burst forth, blanketing the students in radiance.

…

Meanwhile, in the Spiritual Realm’s observation room.

Staff watched the test unfold in real time.

The Artifact Refinement Department’s Yan Qianji stood among them, gazing at the Yin Artifact in the lab as if admiring a masterwork of art.

He chuckled softly. “Everyone assumes Divine Lord Nectar’s Yin Artifact was only meant for Dual Cultivation.”

“But do they really think a Nascent Soul Yin Artifact would be so simple?”

“Especially when it’s a Law Husk. Equipping it is the true function.”

Yan Qianji marveled inwardly. Once this Nascent Soul Yin Artifact activates, cultivators below that level won’t be able to resist. It’ll forcibly integrate with their bodies.

In other words, with this Yin Artifact in hand, one could treat all living beings as targets for collection. One flash of the Artifact’s light, and they’re harvested on the spot.

And if paired with Divine Lord Nectar’s Yang Artifact and techniques, it could devour an opponent’s mana, cultivation, even knowledge.

In his mind, Yan Qianji pictured the legendary figure wielding both artifacts—one Yin, one Yang—reaping all beneath the heavens.

The deeper he got into cracking this Yin Artifact, the more in awe he was of Divine Lord Nectar’s power.

To harvest the world through Yin and Yang—that’s her true strength.

Elsewhere, Daoist Magneto was also watching the test unfold.

Recalling the earlier failed trials, she muttered to herself, “What kind of activation parameters did Divine Lord Nectar embed in this thing? So many prime candidates, and not one has succeeded.”

“It makes no sense. Based on the specs we decoded, plenty of previous subjects should have qualified.”

“If this batch fails too, we may really have to force it open…”

But when she noticed Zhang Yu among the test subjects, her expression shifted slightly. She messaged Tianzhang:

Let me take over after this.

You want to step in yourself?

I’m worried they won’t be able to afford the price.

It’s fine. I’ll handle it.

Just then, the Yin Artifact’s light swept over the students, activating its scanning function. Data began to flood the system.

In the observation room, the test results popped up one after another—Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin… each name followed by multiple columns of data, assessing them from various angles.

Unfortunately, the team still hadn’t deciphered what most of the numbers meant.

Staring at the screen, Yan Qianji suddenly exclaimed, “What’s going on with this last metric?”

“Gongshu Jin and Ying Xin scored zero… No, wait, almost everyone is in single digits.”

“But Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan both broke one thousand?!”

Staring at those staggering figures, Yan Qianji felt an eerie sense of mystery coalescing around them.

Could it be… they share an unprecedented compatibility with this Yin Artifact?