Chapter 300

Because after class every day, most of Zhang Yu's time was spent cultivating the techniques required for the Earth Wood Saint Body, he rarely practiced the specialized techniques taught in class.

After all, the Feather Script had a one-day cooldown for switching techniques; to ensure rapid progress in the Earth Wood Saint Body technique, Zhang Yu had never switched the Feather Script to the basic techniques of the Earth Engineering classes like Concrete Gang Qi.

With neither time nor the support of the Feather Script, he had only managed to train the few techniques taught in class—including Concrete Gang Qi—to the entry level, reaching level 1, through scattered practice over the past three months.

Just then, a rumbling sound came from a distance, and streams of concrete like gray dragons surged under Gong Shu Jin's control, pouring into the target point, drawing exclamations from the surrounding students.

"Multi-line manipulation with a range exceeding 30 meters—has he trained Concrete Gang Qi to level 10?"

"Can Floor Four's young master cultivate techniques this fast?"

"No kidding, with all his money, how could his training be slow?"

Hearing the flattery around him, Gong Shu Jin paid no attention; to him, with one-on-one guidance from a private tutor, the assistance of the Spine Dharma Bones in simulation mode, and constant technique correction from the Spirit World Projection, learning these things was far too easy.

Turning his head to see Zhang Yu's barely entry-level performance, he smiled helplessly and thought to himself, "He shouldn't be short on money, right? His martial arts talent is really… I'm afraid my friend here will be exhausted for the next few years."

After the Engineering Array Drafting class that day, Soil Power Mountain contacted Zhang Yu and said, "Come to the construction site after school tomorrow."

"I'll send you the address."

"Floor 666?" Seeing the address sent, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Can I finally go to the construction site to earn money?"

…

Inside the dormitory.

Having just absorbed high-quality mana, Zhang Yu felt the high-quality mana inside his body completely dissipate. He opened his eyes, revealing a hint of lingering desire.

Suddenly, he saw Yue Mulan practicing breathing exercises nearby and thought to himself, "I wonder if my current mana quality could help Yue Mulan improve."

"If possible… I could get her Dao Seed earlier—the so-called Deep Cold Dharma Pulse. That Dao Seed should help improve mana quality, right? It could save me a lot of money."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu approached Yue Mulan and said, "Yue Mulan, let me try to see if I can help improve your mana quality."

Yue Mulan was slightly stunned and asked, "What do I need to do?"

Zhang Yu said, "I'll inject my mana into your body, and you try to collide and communicate with my mana…"

Hearing Zhang Yu's words, Yue Mulan's mind kept recalling the dual cultivation that Xuan Ge had recommended these past few days.

Yue Mulan thought to herself, "Dual cultivation… seems to start with the communication of mana between two people."

"According to Xuan Ge, my innate special mana is particularly effective in the path of dual cultivation."

"Could it be… Zhang Yu wants to dual cultivate with me?"

Thinking this, Yue Mulan's heart trembled: "If it's true… then as long as the product after each session belongs to me, it's not out of the question."

"I just don't know how much money I need to give Zhang Yu."

Yue Mulan remembered Xuan Ge saying that when a lower realm cultivates with a higher realm, the lower one usually has to pay the higher one.

"If Zhang Yu's price per session is higher than the selling price of Feather Juice, then I'll lose money every time I cultivate."

Zhang Yu looked puzzled at Yue Mulan, whose expression shifted between uncertainty and extreme complexity, and asked, "Is there a problem? If you find it inconvenient, forget it."

Yue Mulan took a deep breath and said, "I… how much money should I give you?"

Zhang Yu smiled slightly and said, "No money needed. We're fellow townsfolk, and now we're roommates living in the same dorm—let's help each other."

Hearing this, Yue Mulan's eyes flickered, and she hesitated, saying, "Then… then…"

Thinking about what she was about to say, Yue Mulan felt immensely ashamed.

Because she had rarely taken advantage of others like this since she was a child, it made her face flush slightly.

Finally, Yue Mulan gathered her courage and said, "The… the part that stays inside me in the end… can it be mine?"

Zhang Yu laughed heartily and said, "That goes without saying? Whatever goes into your body is yours."

Yue Mulan was momentarily stunned. She had thought Zhang Yu would haggle, but unexpectedly he was so generous, giving it away just like that.

Recalling her recent behavior, Yue Mulan thought to herself, "It seems I showed my hand and let my slip show."

"But Zhang Yu didn't hold it against me, giving it away directly—he really treats me as a good friend."

Thinking this, Yue Mulan silently decided that she still had to pay Zhang Yu money; otherwise, taking both cultivation and results… not paying money would make her no true friend.

Zhang Yu grabbed Le Mulan's wrist, and a stream of magical power slowly flowed over like a babbling brook.

A long moment later, Zhang Yu frowned slightly. "The effect is a bit poor."

"Alas, it's because you haven't established your Foundation yet. The quality of your magical power is hard to improve."

Seeing Zhang Yu motionless for so long, Le Mulan couldn't help asking, "Is it over?"

Zhang Yu shrugged. "What else? We'll have to wait until you establish your Foundation."

Hearing this, Le Mulan, whose heart had been stirred, felt as if she had been doused with cold water. As her magical power circulated, her entire body seemed to turn ice-cold.

Le Mulan said dejectedly, "I have to establish Foundation first?"

Zhang Yu nodded. "Speaking of which, when is the Foundation Establishment Exam?"

Zhang Yu knew that after entering university, there was a Foundation Establishment Exam every year.

In high school, the Foundation Establishment Exam was stretched out over several months to give students more time to grow.

But university students taking the exam already had all their stats at the peak of Qi Refining, so the exam was finished in just a few days. At a Top Ten university like Wanfa University, there were also more slots for Foundation Establishment certificates.

Le Mulan sighed. "This November, I guess. About two and a half months left."

She touched her dantian and said, "I've already bought my spirit root. Once I get the Foundation Establishment certificate from the university, I can immediately establish my Foundation."

Although Le Mulan was a top student at Ziyun, consistently ranking in the top five of Songyang City—and even maintaining a top-three level after excluding Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, and Yu Xinghan—all her stats had long reached the peak of Qi Refining.

But after all, she had to compete with countless top students from the Top Ten... Looking at the Dao Seed on her, Zhang Yu said, "Work hard. If you need any help, just say so directly."

Le Mulan looked at Zhang Yu, gathered her courage, and said, "I want..."

Zhang Yu was slightly stunned. "What do you want?"

Hearing the word she said again, Zhang Yu thought, "Are you still at this?"

Le Mulan said, "I can pay money. I don't want to wait until after I establish my Foundation..."

Fuji said, "She's paying you, so why are you being fussy? Aren't you short on money right now? If you won't take money when it's offered, do you deserve to be a university student?"

"I don't know why you want to help Le Mulan improve her magical power quality, but you can earn some money and improve her quality more. After she establishes her Foundation, she can give back to you too."

Zhang Yu frowned, feeling that something was off about this.

That evening, when Zhang Yu told Bai Zhenzhen about his doubts, Bai Zhenzhen laughed. "What's there to hesitate about? Sell it right away!"

"You stupid? You won't take money when you can?"

Zhang Yu sighed and thought, "Maybe I am being too fussy."

"When a Kunxu person encounters something like this, shouldn't they just go all in and sell?"

After hanging up, Bai Zhenzhen pursed her lips, as if lost in thought.

A female voice sounded in her ear. "Good disciple, your heart is disturbed."

Bai Zhenzhen murmured, "Why... do I feel a bit uncomfortable?"

Thinking that while she was away, Zhang Yu's relationship with others seemed to be getting better and better, Bai Zhenzhen felt a faint discomfort in her heart.

Qiqing Shenjun said calmly, "Not happy?"

Bai Zhenzhen asked doubtfully, "No way? Am I that jealous type of friend?"

"Don't I want Zhang Yu to have other... friends who are closer to him than me?"

"I'm not that petty, am I?"

Qiqing Shenjun said, "A person's thoughts are made of emotions. Emotions are so complex that oftentimes even the person themselves find it hard to confirm their true feelings."

"In the Way of the Extreme Emotion Sword, this is an even greater taboo."

"If you're not sure, you should think it over carefully and confirm your own thoughts."

"For example, you can think about their transaction. If it were dual cultivation, how would you feel?"

With a crackling blast, streaks of electric light flickered on Bai Zhenzhen's body. She said calmly, "That depends on how much money Zhang Yu took."

Seven Emotions Divine Lord chuckled: "The Extreme Emotion Sword Dao requires that one be extreme in emotion to be extreme in the sword. But to be extreme in emotion, one must first understand exactly what emotion and intent lie in one's own heart…"

…

Early in the morning, Xuan Ge arrived at the dormitory on the 125th floor, ready to go to class with Le Mulan.

Wanting to join the other's family of four, Xuan Ge had been seizing every opportunity to befriend Le Mulan.

Seeing Le Mulan open the door and step out, Xuan Ge was about to greet her when his expression suddenly shifted slightly.

He noticed a measuring cup in her hand that flashed and was quickly hidden inside her clothes.

At that moment, Xuan Ge's hand suddenly trembled, and a pang of pain struck his heart.

"Damn it… why isn't it me?"

"We're both at Qi Refining—why Le Mulan and not me?"

…

After school that day.

In the Magnetic Passage.

Zhang Yu glanced at the extra 0.05 Spirit Coins in his account—this was the side income he had earned from Le Mulan yesterday when both Yu Xinghan and his sister were away.

"I just wonder when the next time will be?"

"I'm afraid the company on the second floor won't come up with anything, and then it'll be thrown out as trash again."

Yu Xinghan said, "Hurry up—don't be late for your first time going down to the construction site."

Their figures shot forward like lightning, crossing floor after floor of University City, glimpsing bustling markets, the dusty Civil Engineering teaching area, the glittering Finance teaching building, and the Temple of Talismans, brimming with divine power…

When they reached the 666th floor, they were surprised to find a vast construction site, with the night sky above them—something they hadn't seen in a very long time.

Staring at the moon and stars in the sky, both Yu Xinghan and Zhang Yu were momentarily dazed.

Having been crammed into the beehive-like University City for the past three months, living in five-square-meter dormitories, both had accumulated some pent-up frustration in their hearts.

Now, seeing the boundless sky for the first time in ages, their spirits seemed to expand, and a surge of exhilaration flooded their minds.

Just then, a voice came: "Why are you here too?"

Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan turned to look, finding Li Xiao staring at Yu Xinghan as he said, "Did you pay too?"

Yu Xinghan nodded—he had indeed paid a 0.01 Spirit Coin referral fee.

Li Xiao thought to himself, "Looks like I'm not the only one handing over twenty percent of my monthly salary."