No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

After some thought, Zhang Yu once again sought out Zhang Pianpian.

“Big Sis, if Kunxu wants to rise again, how can we do that without taking risks? For people like us, just having the chance to take risks is already a stroke of luck—how could we let it slip away?”

Zhang Pianpian replied, “You’re still young. There will be other chances. No need to rush.”

Zhang Yu gave a faint smile. “Sis, time won’t wait for me. In this era, falling behind even a step could mean a world of difference in the future.”

Zhang Pianpian looked seriously at the young man before her, as if sensing his unwavering will. Finally, she nodded. “Alright. Since that’s the case—since you’ve got the guts—I’ll help you again.”

She went on to explain, “Actually, I also participated in the development of this project, under the guise of a student in the Sigil Department.”

“With the power of the Supreme Purity Realm, I can temporarily cross domains and establish communication with the Artifact Spirit of this Nascent Soul Yin Artifact.”

“If the Artifact Spirit is willing to cooperate with you, the odds of success will increase dramatically.”

Zhang Yu was delighted at first, but then asked in confusion, “Isn’t the Artifact Spirit crazy? How can you talk to it?”

Zhang Pianpian answered, “Madness often just means that one’s understanding is different from the norm, that it goes against society’s rules. It doesn’t mean communication is impossible.”…

Not long after their discussion, in the Yin Artifact Laboratory…

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight was quietly resting.

In a pitch-black space, she did absolutely nothing—didn’t move, didn’t think—just floated there in stillness. Yet even that stillness brought with it a sense of relaxation, even happiness.

At this moment, she was enjoying what was possibly the happiest time in her life.

Of course, if only the daily experiments could be reduced, Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight would be even happier.

But suddenly, lines of white text appeared before her eyes.

Zhang Pianpian: Are you there?

Zhang Pianpian: Let’s talk.

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight blinked in surprise, then replied: Are you an Artifact Spirit too? How are you contacting me?

Zhang Pianpian: That’s right.

Zhang Pianpian: We’re working on a way to get you out of there.

Zhang Pianpian: But we’ll need your cooperation.

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight became visibly excited: What do I need to do?

Zhang Pianpian: The one who exchanged mana with you last time.

Zhang Pianpian: I want you to cultivate with him again.

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight: He’s on the Non-Interference List. I’m not allowed to cultivate with him.

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight: But if it’s like last time—where he actively injects mana into me and I return it—that’s fine.

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight: I rejected him before, but I can cooperate now.

Zhang Pianpian: That’ll do. Just show a little something unusual this time.

Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight then asked a question that had been on her mind: But how can he inject mana into me? Isn’t that a violation of the Non-Interference List?

Zhang Pianpian: Maybe your lists are different.

Zhang Pianpian: Tell me the contents of your list—I’ll see what the discrepancy is.

Reading the stream of messages sent by Nectar Maiden Forty-Eight, Zhang Pianpian in the Supreme Purity Realm muttered thoughtfully, “So the Seven Sentiments Lord and Divine Lord Nectar have a full Non-Interference agreement? Must’ve been established after a serious incident.”

“This bit of intel… is incredibly valuable.”

She then glanced back at the Artifact Spirit’s replies and thought, “This Artifact Spirit’s intelligence level is even lower than I expected. That gives me much more room to maneuver.”

…

The next day.

Daoist Tianzhang received another report from Zhang Yu. The Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might had risen by yet another level—now at Level 16.

He immediately summoned Zhang Yu to the lab for testing.

As the new test materials were torn apart by Zhang Yu’s strength, Daoist Tianzhang’s eyes lit up.

“When did you notice your breakthrough?” he asked.

Zhang Yu gave his prepared excuse, and Daoist Tianzhang nodded repeatedly, convinced that he had unraveled the pattern.

In truth, over the past few days, Zhang Yu’s increasingly unusual performance had prompted Daoist Tianzhang to gather more information on him.

Aside from his lucrative seed sales and reputation as a Civil Engineering prodigy, he even found rumors—albeit scattered—about a possible dual cultivation relationship between Zhang Yu and the Nascent Soul disciple Wen Wuya.

A bold theory formed in his mind: “This Zhang Yu might be a prodigy in dual cultivation—someone with a Dual Cultivation Saint Body.”

“It’s just that Wanfa University lacks the technical depth in the dual cultivation field to recognize such talent. He was almost wasted in Civil Engineering.”

This time, Daoist Tianzhang personally oversaw another experiment.

He even promised to pay Zhang Yu out of pocket if he could complete a proper dual cultivation session.

When Zhang Yu returned, the Nascent Soul Yin Artifact immediately activated, circling him several times.

When Zhang Yu injected his mana, the rhombus-shaped crystal erupted in radiant light, finally adhering tightly to his forehead and returning the mana back into his body.

Seeing the crystal stuck to Zhang Yu’s forehead, Daoist Tianzhang grew even more ecstatic—this was a response the Artifact had never shown before.

He thought to himself, “This confirms it. Zhang Yu truly has an unmatched talent in dual cultivation. He even meets some kind of selection criteria embedded in Divine Lord Nectar’s Yin Artifact.”

“How do you feel?” Daoist Tianzhang asked eagerly.

Zhang Yu shook his head. “Doesn’t feel like anything special.”

Daoist Tianzhang reassured him, “No need to rush. It won’t always have immediate effects. Just take your time.”

To Daoist Tianzhang, Zhang Yu was now an indispensable asset.

He imagined the research reports, the additional funding, the academic papers…

“An unrecorded Dual Cultivation Saint Body at Wanfa University, the cutting-edge dual cultivation technology from Pleasure and Harmony University’s Yin Artifact… How much money and attention can this attract?”

“And when Wanfa University launches a dual cultivation major, it will be because of me.”

Smiling at these thoughts, he looked at Zhang Yu with ever-growing satisfaction.

But then Zhang Yu muttered, “Why won’t this thing come off?”

He reached up, trying to peel off the crystal. No matter how hard he tried, it wouldn’t budge.

Daoist Tianzhang tried a light touch as well but refrained from using force. “Don’t panic. Don’t damage the Artifact.”

“This doesn’t seem to be harmful. Just stay in the lab for further observation.”

His eyes gleamed. “Another unique phenomenon. The Artifact that showed no response before now behaves abnormally every time it interacts with Zhang Yu.”

Zhang Yu cursed internally, “What the hell is this thing? Is it going to stay stuck to my forehead forever?”

Just as his anxiety peaked, he felt a sudden release—the Artifact detached from his forehead and flew back to its resting place.

Zhang Yu quietly sighed in relief.

After another round of tests, Daoist Tianzhang approached him about compensation.

“Even though you didn’t technically complete a full dual cultivation cycle with the Artifact, I’m not going to shortchange you.”

Smiling, the professor transferred 10 spirit coins to Zhang Yu from his own account.

“I’ll also speak to True Lord Magneto about getting you an official contract. Once you’re part of the project team, you’ll get paid every time you participate in an experiment.”

Daoist Tianzhang thought to himself, “True Lord Magneto is always careful about funding.”

“I need to make sure she understands just how crucial Zhang Yu is to the project. We’ve got to get more money approved for this kid so he keeps showing up.”

…

On the way out of the lab, Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Guess that counts as a temporary success.”

“From now on, I can use these experiments to slowly cleanse my record and legitimize my power.”

“But I need to control the pace—can’t overdo it.”

“And the extra income doesn’t hurt.”

Thinking of how he’d now be paid not just through project contracts but also these experiments, Zhang Yu’s mind began to stir with new plans.

With a single thought, the Feathered Tome floated into view, turning automatically to the Chain Diagram page.

He looked at the Artifact Refinement genius hidden behind the Appraisal Technique.

Though he had known for a while that multiple Artifact Refinement Techniques could be combined to unlock that Chain Diagram set, the cost had always been too high, and his funds too limited.

But now, with his rising income and growing expertise in Artifact Refinement, it might finally be time to begin accumulating the techniques needed to activate that set.

…

Days passed.

While he awaited word from the Yin Artifact project team, Zhang Yu traveled with the Civil Engineering competition team to Heavenly Sword Sect University.

Standing atop the flying vessel, Zhang Yu could already see the towering silhouettes in the sky from afar.

Above the churning sea of clouds stood a city perched on the peak of heaven itself. Countless sword-like spires pierced the sky, each encrusted with shimmering Spirit Realm projections, flowing like endless streams of data across everyone’s visual interfaces.

A swarm of flying vessels weaved in and out of the floating city.

Zhang Yu’s flying vessel joined this mighty current and soon descended upon Heavenly Sword Sect University.