No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Zhang Pianpian: You’re a master of the Civil Engineering Department. Hasn’t anything at the construction site caught your attention?

Zhang Yu’s heart suddenly stirred at her words. Countless ideas, inspirations, and speculations churned in his mind, while scenes from the construction site flashed rapidly before his eyes.

He licked his lips and replied: Seems like there are plenty of issues.

Zhang Pianpian: Normally, a Nascent Soul True Lord should have endless ways to make money — managing a lab, running projects, or filing patents.

Zhang Pianpian: For someone like him to still rely on office exploitation for income, even if he’s Magneto True Lord’s junior brother, he’s probably not much of a powerhouse among Nascent Souls. Still, it’s not surprising — many old Nascent Souls who rose early in the previous era never bothered to keep studying, and it’s common for them to be outpaced by the younger ones.

Zhang Pianpian: Check it out first. If he’s truly indestructible and flawless, we’ll let it go.

…

Several days later.

In the wilderness.

Zhang Yu channeled the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Might, his feet stepping on empty air as he hovered ten thousand meters high.He had stripped himself of all possessions — not only his artifacts but even his Law Husk Eyes — leaving him in a purely physical state, also known as the Spirit-Severed Body, immune to spiritual detection.

His gaze swept over the brightly lit construction site below as his body gradually faded from view.

This was Zhang Yu’s first time using the power of his Divine Spirit Root since copying Bai Zhenzhen’s Greenlotus Sword Embryo Dao Seed.

Bai Zhenzhen’s Divine Spirit Root not only excelled at adaptation and enhancement, but also possessed a hidden ability she had spent years mastering.

Especially after her root evolved from a Celestial Spirit Root to a Divine Spirit Root, that hidden ability underwent a qualitative leap.

It was with this very ability that Bai Zhenzhen had concealed both herself and her flying sword during the Flying Sword Tournament, slaughtering her opponents unseen with her Formless Sword Technique, and earning an impressive rank.

Normally, Zhang Yu never dared to use this power within University City, surrounded as it was by countless surveillance systems. His Law Husk and artifacts were all linked to the Spiritual Realm Network, making concealment too risky.

But now, out in the wild in his purely physical form, he activated the Divine Spirit Root’s concealment ability — and vanished into thin air.

Feeling his body become utterly formless and invisible, Zhang Yu adjusted his mana, slowly descending toward the site.

Sensing the change, Fu Ji was startled. “When did Zhang Yu gain such an ability? Could this be the influence of Bai Zhenzhen’s Divine Spirit Root?”

She wanted to ask but decided against it. “This kid hides too many secrets. Even if I ask, he won’t answer. I’ll just watch quietly.”

Moving silently, Zhang Yu descended into the depths of the construction site.

As the workers continued without noticing him, he felt an odd thrill.

“Ah-Zhen’s Divine Spirit Root ability is perfect for mischief.”

Then he thought of how Bai Zhenzhen’s sword aura — fired in a fit of emotion — could now strike unseen. His expression turned grim.

“With her Extreme Sentiment Swordsmanship, any emotional swing — happy or angry — could unleash a sword strike…”

“I’d better hurry up and improve my strength.”

Drifting through the air, Zhang Yu advanced deeper into the site. To be safe, he used both the Divine Spirit Root’s invisibility and his Detection Rituals from the Evil God’s teachings to sense and avoid all surveillance arrays.

With this double layer of stealth, he moved like a ghost — until he reached a corner where several workers were moving crates.

“So they really are stealing materials.”

Zhang Yu took out an old phone, disconnected from the network, and began recording.

He dared not use any connected device — even his Law Husk Eyes — for fear of leaving spiritual traces.

But as he filmed, his eyes widened.

“Wait… those are materials for refining artifacts?”

In the past, he wouldn’t have recognized them. But now, with his growing experience in Artifact Refinement, he could tell instantly.

“They’re swapping out high-grade refining materials for cheaper junk!”

He did a quick mental calculation — the profit margin was easily tenfold.

He hadn’t expected to stumble on something this big. “They’re insane… this factory is funded by Magneto True Lord!”

“Wait — could Magneto have ordered it herself?”

He quickly dismissed the thought. From what he knew, Magneto True Lord had been preparing for her Spirit Transformation breakthrough. She wouldn’t risk her reputation at such a crucial time.

“No, this must be someone exploiting her name. Someone from inside the Refinement Department must be cooperating.”

Following the trail, Zhang Yu recorded everything. Before long, one of the culprits appeared — a Refinement student named Bian Hao, disciple of Thunderpole True Lord.

Hours later, Zhang Yu handed the footage to Zhang Pianpian.

After reviewing it, she smiled faintly. “Perfect.”

Zhang Yu asked, “Senior Sister, what do you plan to do? Report it to the higher-ups, or send it directly to Magneto True Lord?”

Zhang Pianpian replied, “Reporting it would make us enemies of the entire Refinement Department.”

“Sending it to Magneto would trigger a counter-trace — she’s powerful in the Spiritual Realm. Too risky.”

“And even if she did find out, she’d probably bury it quietly.”

“This blade is better aimed at Magneto’s rivals within the Refinement Department.”

Zhang Yu nodded. “Then… what about my construction payment?”

Zhang Pianpian said, “Don’t mention it yourself. Have someone else bring it up.”

“In front of Magneto True Lord, your role is to be a good disciple — and an obedient test subject.”

…

Inside the laboratory.

A Nascent Soul Law Husk pressed against Zhang Yu’s forehead as Magneto True Lord observed the readings.

She smiled with satisfaction. “That’s enough, Zhang Yu. Take a break.”

Zhang Yu said, “I can continue, Teacher.”

“Do as you’re told,” Magneto True Lord said curtly.

She gestured, and a surge of Martial Qi lifted the Law Husk from his forehead.

Mana rippled between her hand and the Law Husk — a faint exchange of power.

Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed. “She can already perform mana transfer? Her control has improved again.”

He asked, “Teacher, have you made new progress?”

Magneto True Lord nodded. “Thanks to your recent tests, I’ve begun to grasp the workings of this Law Husk.”

“This is Nectar Divine Lord’s Law Husk — one that explores the balance of Yin and Yang in the human body. By studying your own Yin-Yang resonance, I’ve managed to unlock some of its secrets.”

“Next, I’ll analyze the corresponding Yin-Yang transitions and derive its inner mechanisms…”

Her excitement was genuine — success with this Law Husk would be a huge boost to her stalled Spirit Transformation evaluation.

After all, how many Nascent Souls in the top universities even understood a Law Husk of this level? Or possessed one?

Zhang Yu thought silently, “She really is brilliant… to decipher even a Spirit Transformation Law Husk?”

Then he caught a glimpse of glowing characters on her chest — “Heavenly Craft Opens Creation.”

“That must be her Dao Seed,” he realized. “What a terrifyingly fitting name.”

Magneto True Lord brushed a hand over his arm. “Your refining technique’s improved again, hasn’t it?”

“Seems that even the Law Husk’s dual cultivation principles are benefiting you.”

Zhang Yu smiled. “It’s all thanks to your guidance, Teacher.”

Magneto True Lord laughed softly. Pride gleamed in her eyes.

Just then, light flickered — a projection from the Spiritual Realm appeared. It was Thunderpole True Lord.

“Senior Sister,” he greeted cheerfully. “You called?”

His eyes darted briefly to Zhang Yu, then away.

Magneto True Lord said nothing, her expression darkening.

She looked at the faint scars on Zhang Yu’s arm. “From cultivation?”

Zhang Yu nodded. “A minor mishap.”

“I heard from Daoist Tianzhang,” she said softly. “You used low-grade materials for your refinement training. Hurt yourself, didn’t you?”

“Short on money?”

“They haven’t paid your project funds yet?”

Zhang Yu replied quietly, “The department follows its procedures. There are priorities. I can’t complain.”

Magneto True Lord sighed and patted his head. “If only everyone in the Refinement Department were as understanding as you.”

Thunderpole True Lord’s eyes flickered. “So he complained to her, did he? Hmph, looks like Senior Sister’s quite fond of her new pet.”

“But why summon me just to talk about this? Expect me to show weakness before a junior? She’s lost her mind.”

Before his thoughts could finish, Magneto True Lord spoke coldly:

“The factory we co-invested in with the Myriad Artisans Sect — how many materials did you replace?”

Thunderpole True Lord froze, realizing too late the fury in her gaze.

“Step down,” she said icily. “You’re done.”

“Senior Sister!” he exclaimed.

“Hand over your disciple Bian Hao,” she continued. “That’s your apology to the department.”

“My disciple’s on the verge of forming his Core—!”

“Core my ass!”

Her palm sliced through the air — slamming onto the projection’s head.

Thunderpole True Lord’s real body, far away in his office, convulsed as the projection feedback burned a charred handprint onto his glassy skull.

“Have you turned to stone? Stealing’s one thing — but tarnishing the Refinement Department’s name while I’m up for evaluation?”

He shouted, “Senior Sister, I don’t know what you mean!”

She jabbed a finger forward — transmitting Zhang Yu’s video directly into his mind.

“True Lord Xianyin sent me this. If I hadn’t suppressed it, you’d already be finished.”

Thunderpole True Lord’s face twisted. “It wasn’t me! I never ordered them to—!”

Magneto True Lord snorted. “Then you’re even dumber than I thought.”

“There’s a ghost in your house, and you don’t even know it?”

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