Chapter 55: Heart Abyss

Jiang Jian swiped away his sister’s message and opened his class schedule.

This theory class was “Scientific Realism.”

Just the name.

Was already dull and tedious.

The reality was the same.

In the large lecture hall.

Most of the students from the First Academy were half-asleep.

On the massive circular podium, the male instructor appeared enthusiastic, lost in his own world, speaking with spittle flying.

Jiang Jian did not neglect theory classes.

He listened attentively, taking notes continuously.

The theory class passed quickly.

Finally, the torment ended; many slumped in their seats, exhaling deeply.

The male instructor, still eager, clutched his textbook as he walked out, praising: “No wonder these are students from the First Academy—so well-behaved, not a single one skipped class!”

His words fell.

The lecture hall fell silent.

A few seconds later.

The room erupted into chaos, the ceiling nearly ripped off!

“Theory classes can be skipped!?”

“And there’s no punishment!”

“It seems so!”

“What’s the point of attending a class that helps nothing with cultivation!”

“From today on, I’ll only attend ‘Acupoint Mastery’ and ‘Theology Overview’ for theory classes!”

“I just confirmed: only cultivation classes are mandatory; the other three theory classes are optional!”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“Why wasn’t this told sooner!”

…

Many First Academy students cursed as they stormed out of the classroom.

Every week.

Three theory classes.

“Acupoint Mastery” greatly aids cultivation.

“Theology Overview” increases divine affinity.

Only “Scientific Realism” offers zero benefit to cultivation.

Although upon advancing to the second-year zone,

There would still be a theory exam.

But.

At Divine Grant University,

Theory scores account for only ten points.

The remaining ninety points are entirely from cultivation assessments.

Moreover,

Even those ten theory points,

Are drawn exclusively from “Acupoint Mastery” and “Theology Overview.”

They have nothing to do with “Scientific Realism.”

“Jiang Jian, want to eat together?”

Liu Tiezhu walked up and extended an invitation.

Jiang Jian shook his head: “Not today. Next time.”

With that,

Jiang Jian packed his textbooks, left the classroom, and boarded an unmanned aerial shuttle.

“Again, the campus cultivation chamber.”

Watching the departing shuttle, Liu Tiezhu clicked his tongue.

“The enrollment bonus credits are one-time only.”

They can’t sustain such spending.”

Beside him,

Shan Ye packed her bag and said bluntly: “Liu Tiezhu, stop pretending—I saw you at the cultivation building last night too.”

Liu Tiezhu glanced at her: “That only proves one thing—you also went to the campus cultivation chamber.”

Shan Ye slung her bag over her shoulder and summoned an aerial shuttle: “Cultivation progress is vital. One step behind, and you’re behind forever. Too bad most people don’t realize this.”

Liu Tiezhu smiled strangely: “Perhaps others don’t realize it—they simply find it too exhausting.”

“Or perhaps they have no desire to break through the Spring Flow Realm, so they feel no pressure, right?”

The girl smirked: “Whether others break through or not—what’s it to me? I only care about my own breakthrough.”

With that,

Shan Ye boarded the aerial shuttle.

Clang!

The hatch sealed shut.

The shuttle sped toward the cultivation building.

Originally, Shan Ye had never been this diligent in cultivation.

But.

After interacting with Jiang Jian,

She became a different person.

She practically lived in the campus cultivation chamber.

Liu Tiezhu licked his lips and summoned an aerial shuttle: “Come to think of it, my credits are running low.”

Campus cultivation chamber.

Jiang Jian activated his identity device, expression unchanged, and spent all his credits at once!

“You are purchasing 92 hours of cultivation chamber time.”

“Credits consumed: 920.”

“Confirm?”

Jiang Jian clicked confirm without hesitation.

“Purchase successful!”

“Credits consumed: 920.”

“Remaining credits: 0.”

Meanwhile,

In the corner of the chamber,

Ten large crates of cultivation herbs stood neatly arranged.

His purchasing limit was now 0.

Jiang Jian opened his citizen account and checked his Alliance Coin balance.

“Your balance: 837,609 Alliance Coins.”

Jiang Jian’s expression darkened.

“Cultivation truly costs money.”

“Starting now,”

“I must cultivate with real gold and silver.”

Jiang Jian picked up one crate and opened it.

Inside were twenty doses of cultivation herbs—enough for only ten hours.

“Without the Zhao family’s Alliance Coins,”

“Right now,”

“I couldn’t even afford cultivation herbs.”

Jiang Jian sat on the floor and resumed cultivation.

His cultivation intensity was extremely high.

He burned money nearly every second.

Even Shi Xuan and Liu Tiezhu, despite their wealth, dared not cultivate so recklessly.

It wasn’t just Alliance Coins being consumed.

Credits were also a constraint.

“Cleaning the Gray River is too troublesome.”

Jiang Jian had no desire to take on the task of cleaning the Gray River.

Because.

He had already found another way to earn credit points.

“The Ladder Ranking Tournament.”

“Settled once a week.”

“Offers massive credit rewards!”

Qi surged around Jiang Jian, yet his thoughts never paused.

“But.”

“This week, I still have to complete the learning task.”

“Because this week’s ranking reward.”

“Won’t be settled until next week.”

“For now, I have no credit points available.”

As time passed.

Qi danced and overflowed around Jiang Jian.

At every moment, the spiritual essence in his Shenque point increased.

But.

Jiang Jian could still clearly sense.

That his spiritual essence remained insufficient.

Filling the Shenque point to fullness was still an impossibly distant goal.

“But now.”

“If I test again, it should be more than half.”

“Perhaps even close to one-tenth.”

Jiang Jian lowered his gaze, staring at his pale fingers.

Thin threads of blood-red flame flickered in and out between them.

“Eight hundred thousand Alliance Coins can still last a while.”

“But not for long.”

“One crate of cultivation herbs, ten thousand Alliance Coins, only lasts me ten hours of practice.”

“I must find a way to earn Alliance Coins sooner.”

Jiang Jian frowned slightly.

“Besides the Ladder Ranking Tournament.”

“I still need to take more learning tasks.”

“Learning tasks don’t just offer credit rewards.”

“The spiritual resources gained during the tasks are extra bonuses.”

“Even if I can’t use them myself.”

“I can sell them for Alliance Coins.”

He had roughly set his direction.

Jiang Jian stopped overthinking.

He activated the Pure Spirit True Method and plunged fully into the tedious cultivation.

Minutes and seconds passed.

Another twenty hours of cultivation.

Two large crates of cultivation herbs were completely consumed.

During this time, Jiang Jian ordered meals twice.

Delivery addresses: all campus cultivation chambers.

Morning.

Tiered lecture hall.

Theory class: Introduction to Divine Studies.

8:50 a.m.

Only thirty-some students from the First Academy had arrived.

Jiang Jian stepped down from the aerial pod.

A person walked toward him—Mu Ying, the First Academy’s student representative.

“Student Jiang Jian, it’s almost nine, and you’ve finally shown up.”

Mu Ying approached, looking at Jiang Jian with a bright smile.

(End of Chapter)