[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-no-money-what-cultivation":3,"chapter-no-money-what-cultivation-no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-231":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","No Money, What Cultivation?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},164100,323,"Chapter 231: Victory or Defeat","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-231",231,"\u003Cp>The test for this first stage was to use the Mystic Arm Spirit Root's testing mode to determine which of Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao had the stronger, more potential physical body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, the winner was supposed to be decided by the final power level achieved by the Mystic Arm Spirit Root, but unexpectedly, both Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao managed to raise the Divine Spirit Root's power to 100% during the test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The internal communication network among the five principal gods suddenly became lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minor god said, \"I thought the Earth Spirit Root's upper limit was too low to distinguish between them, so we brought in the Divine Spirit Root, but now these two have managed to raise the Mystic Arm Spirit Root's power to 100%.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another minor god said, \"Both of their Mystic Arm Spirit Roots are at 100% power—how do we decide the winner of this round?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can't exactly go ask for the Immortal Spirit Root, can we? That's only for personnel from the Ten Great Sects, and I doubt the higher-ups would approve distributing it for a Foundation Establishment exam...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as several minor gods were unsure what to do, one of them remarked, \"Based on Ye Lingxiao's performance in the previous round, I thought even if he improved further, he'd at most raise the Divine Spirit Root's power to eighty or ninety percent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never expected that three months later, he could still make further progress and develop his physical body to such an extent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zichou nodded slightly upon hearing this and analyzed, \"For a Qi Refining practitioner to develop their body to Ye Lingxiao's level, logically speaking... any further advancement, even a single step forward, would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the chief examiner Deng Bingding said calmly, \"If it's just developing muscles, fascia, bones, and internal organs, then the closer you get to the Qi Refining limit, the harder it is to improve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this kid Ye Lingxiao... the improvement this time is in his brain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zichou was stunned: \"His brain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image of Ye Lingxiao's earlier incoherent speech flashed through his mind, and he thought, \"The hell, that counts as brain improvement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Bingding looked in Ye Lingxiao's direction and continued on the internal network, \"Ye Lingxiao has a perfect bloodline, so he learns any technique exceptionally fast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But no matter how many techniques one has, the number one can simultaneously execute at a given time is limited.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yet just now, the number of techniques he executed simultaneously far exceeded his previous performance—roughly double.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This shows his mental capacity and thinking have been further developed, allowing the number of techniques he can activate at once to increase.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And precisely because he used most of his mental power to activate techniques, his performance in other areas declined—such as his language organization ability...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the other principal gods' eyes shifted, as the physical body naturally includes the brain as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But during the Qi Refining stage, someone who can develop their brain and improve their mental processing is extremely rare in Kunxu's first layer; they never expected it to happen to Ye Lingxiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One minor god said, \"Although both have 100% power, Ye Lingxiao actually improved his mental capacity and thinking during the Qi Refining stage. His development of the physical body is clearly superior, and he has a brighter future for Foundation Establishment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another minor god chimed in, \"I think this round should be awarded to him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zichou disagreed, however: \"Didn't you see that Ye Lingxiao only achieved this step with the aid of medicine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And as for Zhang Yu's recent consecutive bursts, can't you see their true value?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the process of Zhang Yu growing from 2.8 meters to 3.3 meters, Huang Zichou remarked, \"What he just performed was clearly the Whale Sinew Nine Transformations technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Given his build and physical strength, the first surge in size should have been his limit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But he then broke through that limit—what does that imply?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look at the several other techniques he displayed—none of them were any different.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obviously, when the same technique is in his hands, its upper limit is higher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As principal gods who had lived through long ages, the examiners present had either heard of or witnessed similar situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some techniques in certain people's hands can break conventions, yielding greater power and stronger effects than when used by others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zhang Yu clearly possesses this extremely rare physical talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zichou continued, \"Moreover, from his first registration to this final round, you can all see how much Zhang Yu has improved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With such talent and potential, I believe that if he successfully establishes his foundation, his future prospects will be far greater than Ye Lingxiao's.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone immediately retorted, \"It's just innate physical talent. Are the students who can establish foundations lacking in talent? Rather, it's the wisdom of someone like Ye Lingxiao, who can explore methods to improve his mental capacity at the first layer, that shows more potential.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another principal god said, \"Zhang Yu can take the exam again next year, but this is Ye Lingxiao's last chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the principal gods debated the outcome of this round, many university representatives in the audience were also watching Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao, offering their comments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A college teacher said, \"Make a note of both students. As soon as the Foundation Establishment exam ends, find a way to contact them. If we can recruit either one, our college will gain an extra graduate who has established a foundation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His colleague, however, was not optimistic: \"How could a student like that choose to attend a college?\" The college teacher replied, \"What's wrong with college? Colleges offer pathways to upgrade to a bachelor's degree! It doesn't stop them from getting into a good university!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His colleague thought to himself, \"Once they enter our college, their academic record will be tainted, won't it? That will affect their future studies and job hunting, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That junior college teacher continued, \"Especially this Zhang Yu. Have you seen his profile? He's a poor man — he should be easier to win over than Ye Lingxiao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our college does lag a bit behind other universities, but we can offer him higher conditions — a ten-Spirit-Coin scholarship per year during his studies, and he can choose any major.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if we gamble all our recruitment budget, we have to secure him. Recruiting him alone is better than taking in a hundred underachievers, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Erha Head from Ten Thousand Methods University on the other side said, \"Not bad, not bad. If you don't want these two, our Civil Engineering Department plans to take them in. A physique with such potential would be a waste if not used to channel earth veins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cat Head said calmly, \"Although they're not yet qualified for the Finance Department, they are indeed qualified for our university.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao had demonstrated extraordinary talent, in the Cat Head's view, Ye Lingxiao was still too poor, and that Zhang Yu was an utter pauper — and poverty meant a deficiency in immortal-cultivation potential and foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought to himself, \"How could a poor man be worthy of entering Ten Thousand Methods University's Finance Department?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cat Head continued, \"But I can see other universities are also quite interested in them. What terms are you planning to offer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Erha Head said, \"A scholarship of 1.25 Spirit Coins per year — enough so that after enrollment, they won't have to borrow mana to mine Spirit Coins and can focus on their studies for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cat Head nodded slightly, \"1.25 Spirit Coins should indeed be enough for everyday life at university.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side of the spectator stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cry-laugh Emoji looked at the examination ground and said, \"Mom, this Zhang Yu has quite some talent. After I go down, I want to take him in too, and have him and Ye Lingxiao assist me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the Smile Emoji frowned slightly and warned in a seasoned tone, \"Son, Mom was young once too. I've also appreciated and promoted some poor people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can take in this Zhang Yu and use him, but you must remember one thing: people down there are ultimately different from us. If you treat them too much like real people, you'll only end up harming them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spoiling a dog is like killing a dog. If you truly want to make good use of such a poor man, you need to temper him well — don't be too kind to him from the start…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cry-laugh Emoji disagreed with this. He had his own principle for employing people: throw money at them. He didn't believe there was any good subordinate in this world that couldn't be bought by throwing money — if it didn't work, it just meant you hadn't thrown enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the various representatives in the spectator stands were evaluating the two on the field, on the other side the internal network had four Minor Gods arguing endlessly. Finally, they all looked at Deng Bingding, the chief examiner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deng Bingding said calmly, \"Let's count it as a draw for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, these two boys haven't even used their full strength yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Deng Bingding's words, the four Minor Gods were slightly stunned, and their gazes toward Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao revealed surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Zichou thought to himself, \"So this still isn't their full strength?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thoughts of the five Principal Gods exchanged at high speed on the internal network. Although a lot of information was communicated, to the outside world it seemed like just an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon Huang Zichou announced the result of the first round: the two were tied, with temporarily equal scores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, the Foundation Establishment qualification certificate would be decided by adding the scores of the second and third rounds, calculated by total points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Zhang Yu and Ye Lingxiao, standing in the center of the examination ground, exchanged a glance, both feeling the increasingly intense fighting spirit emanating from the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu licked his lips. His swollen muscles slowly began to contract, returning to a normal size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The extremely scorching body temperature also gradually decreased, and under the effect of the Kanbing Lihuo Body-Tempering Method, it entered a low-temperature state, alleviating inflammation and swelling and aiding the body's recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu thought to himself, \"At the very end just now, I still had the toxin burst from Spring-Autumn Endless Zen that I didn't unleash, so I wasn't truly at full strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder how much of his strength the other side hasn't revealed yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, after feeling that the damages from the burst had healed sufficiently, Zhang Yu focused his mind on the Chain Method Diagram of the Feather Book and began swapping each cultivation technique listed there for standard high school foundation techniques, switching the effect of the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo to the High School Sacred Body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This process of swapping techniques one by one and changing the Sacred Body took Zhang Yu about 2 to 3 seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the switch, the enhancements from the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo all turned into the Qi-refining-limit-level digestive capacity and drug absorption\u002Fmetabolism ability brought by the High School Sacred Body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Zhang Yu, who had just swallowed a large amount of medicine, feel extremely comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the medicinal toxins converging toward the \"Zen\" character on his chest, Zhang Yu felt quite satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he had taken so many medicines just now was certainly not just to freeload on the drugs, but to increase his chances of winning this Foundation Establishment exam.\u003C\u002Fp>",1955,"2026-05-29T04:54:42.391Z","2026-06-01T04:29:12.818Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","807adbeaf2caed164f25d4156a2cb0fc74874d87026a9b70653ac732a820be0f","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-232","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-230",711,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fno-money-what-cultivation-cover.jpg"]