Chapter 296

The first time Zhang Yu saw the introduction to the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art, he seriously doubted whether this was really a cultivation method meant for civil engineering students.

Then he took a look at the user feedback.

“When you’re young, lifespan isn’t worth much—work one day, spend two, and you still feel like you’re ahead. Spend a bit more life now to earn more money, and later you’ll have cash to extend your lifespan.”

“Times have changed. Immortal medicine is so advanced now that the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art isn’t that scary. As long as you take your medicine properly, you can minimize the side effects and use it long-term without worry.”

“I’m a sophomore in civil engineering. I see a lot of seniors complaining about this technique, but I think: if it consumes lifespan to earn more money, isn’t that just accelerating work hours? You work shorter hours but earn more money. If you can’t handle that, you probably can’t handle anything else either.”

“Everyone be grateful. A few hundred years ago, our profession was called corvée labor—no pay after work, and you might even be buried alive with the dead. It wasn’t just about losing a few years of life. Kunxu has actually progressed.”

Looking at this user feedback, Zhang Yu confirmed that the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art was indeed a common cultivation method in the civil engineering department, and he also confirmed another thing.

“These user feedback sections are all paid shills, right? Hmm… or maybe they’re being sarcastic.”

“Dammit… do civil engineering jobs really have to be this desperate?”

What made Zhang Yu even more speechless was discovering that in the past, the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art was used for combat—just a short burst.

But now, the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art was used for overtime work—taking medicine while using it for extended periods.

Fu Ji, standing beside him, heard Zhang Yu’s sigh and said, “Hehe, otherwise, why do you think those Golden Core true men don’t do the work themselves and earn the money, instead hiring you Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators?”

“Isn’t it because a lot of civil engineering work takes up their cultivation time and also wears down their physical bodies and Dharma Skeletons? So they subcontract it to the lower ranks?”

“In this world, easy money that lets you lie down and relax—how could it ever fall to us?”

“In Kunxu, everyone who climbed up from the bottom—if they want to make big money—every single one of them works hard, suffers bitterly, and risks their lives.”

“But don’t worry too much about the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art.”

“After all, with your physique, your body’s endurance and self-healing ability are extraordinary. For other cultivators, this art shortens lifespan, but for you, it won’t shorten it that easily.”

“Just make sure to control the physical wear and tear of this technique within a range you can bear.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, recalling the physical activation brought by the Remnant Ox Self-Sacrifice Heart Mantra and the self-healing power from the Martial Dao Sacred Fetus.

“In the future, if I use the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art, I need to remember to switch the chain diagram set to the Martial Dao Sacred Fetus.”

“But the Martial Dao Sacred Fetus is after all a Qi Refining period set. For me at Foundation Establishment, its effects have weakened significantly. In the Foundation Establishment stage, I’ll probably need to collect the Foundation Establishment version of the Martial Dao Sacred Body as well.”

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Zhang Yu resumed cultivating the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art.

As his mana circulated throughout his body, he unlocked his physical potential, preparing for that short burst of explosive power.

Fu Ji, after observing for a while, confirmed that below the 100th floor was still relatively safe. She reminded him, “If you get a chance, find a place below the 100th floor and help me perform the ritual.”

“I haven’t used a single one of those Level 2 evil god rituals yet.”

…

At the dormitory entrance.

Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan were exchanging blows, fists and feet clashing. Zhang Yu continuously used the instructions from the Wolf Friend Technique to assist the other’s body refinement training, raising the fusion degree of their spiritual roots.

Earlier, when they were on the first level of Kunxu, under the guidance of Starfire True Man, they had already practiced a method of mutual body refinement and mutual cultivation assistance.

Now, with the addition of the Wolf Friend Technique’s guidance, the two were learning rapidly.

Under these circumstances, Zhang Yu using Spring and Autumn Endless Zen in coordination with Yu Xinghan’s body refinement was currently the fastest way for him to increase his physical strength.

“After all, the Earth-Eating Divine Art, the War Demon Lifespan-Sacrifice Art… Yu Xinghan doesn’t know I’ve cultivated those either. And each technique has its own merits: one strengthens the physical body, the other unlocks potential and provides burst power when needed. But in terms of purely numerical improvement of physical strength, neither is as good as Spring and Autumn Endless Zen.”

Zhang Yu looked at the increasingly obvious Dao Seed on Yu Xinghan’s body and thought to himself: “To replicate the Three-Eyed Divine Ability, I need to raise the fusion degree of Yu Xinghan’s spiritual roots to at least ninety percent.”

“Right now, he’s about the same as me at seventy percent. According to Teacher Wolf’s estimate, at the fastest it’ll take three months, at the slowest half a year or more.”

“I wonder what effect the Three-Eyed Divine Ability actually has.”

Le Mulan stood to one side, watching Yu Xinghan with some envy, wishing she could take his place and enjoy such efficient body refinement.

But unfortunately… she was only at the Qi Refining stage now—how could she train with Zhang Yu, who was at Foundation Establishment?

Greeting them, Le Mulan left the dormitory and headed to the pharmacology teaching area.

…

Just after Le Mulan sat down in the classroom, a young man walked up and took a seat in front of her.

Le Mulan glanced at the other person, recognizing him as a classmate—Xuange, who currently ranked fourth in the class.

Xuange looked at Le Mulan, his expression admiring, and asked, "Classmate Le, your constitution is special. Your mana is an innate icy-cold frost mana, isn't it?"

Le Mulan nodded. "Classmate Xuan, is there something you need?"

Xuange gave a slight smile and said, "You should know that I come from the third layer, right? I should be able to pass the Foundation Establishment exam next year, and I've already been accepted as a disciple by a Golden Core master in pharmacology."

Le Mulan paused, then said, "Then... congratulations."

Xuange continued, "You might be wondering: why would someone as outstanding and promising as me come to find a middle-of-the-class student like you?"

He smiled faintly. "Even though your grades are average and you're from the first layer, the innate advantage of frost mana is something no other student can replace."

"I want to become friends with you."

What Xuange really wanted to say... was actually "I want to dual cultivate with you."

Of course, Xuange's motive was not out of lust for beauty.

Although the Le Mulan before him had icy skin and jade bones, and her pair of purple eyes with double pupils radiated a unique charm, Xuange had always focused on academics.

The reason he wanted this was that her frost mana, combined with his own blazing mana, would have a remarkable effect in dual cultivation.

Dual cultivation... Xuange knew that in most high schools, students were discouraged from dual cultivation, for fear that they might lose control and ruin their studies.

But when it came to university—especially after entering the Top Ten—things were different.

The process of getting into the Top Ten had already proven their willpower; they were fully capable of handling the boundaries.

And if both parties had innate special mana, it was even encouraged.

Xuange had heard that at Huanhe University, students with innate special mana were directly gathered together for dual cultivation, triple cultivation... even group cultivation of dozens, greatly boosting the students' cultivation.

However, Xuange understood that bringing up dual cultivation right away would seem too hasty, and the other party might quote him a price.

He thought to himself, "Become good friends first—that way, maybe dual cultivation won't cost money, and even if it does, I can get a discount."

This was a tip passed down to him by a senior brother, and Xuange deeply agreed: saving a little on the path of immortality means gaining a little more for the future.

Just as Xuange was looking at Le Mulan, a message from Le Jingchen popped up in Le Mulan's eye sockets.

Le Jingchen: I transferred 0.5 spirit coins to you. Did you receive them?

Le Mulan: Yes, I received them. Thanks, bro.

Le Jingchen: The Le family on the second layer is after all one layer removed from us. They'll give priority resources to their own people. Relatives like us from the first layer will only be truly accepted and invested in once we produce results.

Le Jingchen: Last time you said you were living with Zhang Yu?

Le Jingchen: Can you help me get some Yu-sap?

Inside the classroom, Xuange looked at Le Mulan's dazed expression and thought, "I'm a dignified third-layer person wanting to be friends with her—is she that shocked?"

Xuange said, "Classmate Le?"

Le Mulan gave an absent-minded "Mm."

Le Jingchen: The company over here is interested in Yu-sap. If you can get more, we'll have a better chance of making a name for ourselves on the second layer.

Le Mulan: There are four of us living together now—it's not convenient... If they find out I'm taking it, what if the others want some too? You said we can't let anyone know about this.

Le Jingchen: So what if two people are nearby? Can't you find a chance to sneak it?

Le Mulan: After last time, he became wary of me. It's not easy to make a move.

In the classroom, Xuange said, "Classmate Le, where do you usually cultivate after class? Let's do it together?"

Le Jingchen: Got it? Just do it the way I taught you—take the initiative, reach into the bag, snatch the chestnut from the fire.

Le Mulan: Doing it that way... doesn't feel right.

Le Jingchen: Lanlan, you're no longer a high schooler. You're a university student now, and you've reached the second layer.

Le Jingchen: You have to understand: many things you couldn't do in high school, you can not only do in university, but do them big time. Don't bring your high school habits here.

Xuange noticed that Le Mulan's breathing grew heavier and she looked nervous, which filled him with confusion.

"This woman... is a bit strange."

Xuan Ge said, "Classmate Le?"

Le Mulan snapped back to reality, looked at him and said, "Classmate Xuan, I want to be alone for a while. Let's talk about things another time."

Floor 93.

Along with a series of shouts and cries, and after another round of training in the War Demon Longevity Art, Zhang Yu had already cultivated this technique to the 10th level.

Feeling the scenes of practice flashing through his mind, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "After level 10, the War Demon Longevity Art can unlock a second-stage burst, losing years of lifespan..."

"The first-stage burst, using the Martial Dao Saint Embryo combined with body activation and taking more medicine, within a certain time... I can still execute it without side effects."

"But this second-stage burst..."

Zhang Yu thought it over and still had no intention of trying it.

"In less than two weeks, the three-month basic course will end. If I push a little harder before the exam, my War Demon Longevity Art should be able to reach level 20."

Just then, Fuji said, "Zhang Yu, it's time for the ceremony."