[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-no-money-what-cultivation":3,"chapter-no-money-what-cultivation-no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-41":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},163390,323,"Chapter 41: Plot and Competition Begin","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-41",41,"\u003Cp>When Zhang Yu saw the complex energy circulation diagram, he was initially a little startled in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after actually trying it out, he found that it wasn't any simpler than the daily full-cycle qi-gathering method he practiced?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the full-body mana circulation established by the full-cycle qi-gathering method, the route for transforming mana into sharp sword qi in front of him was far simpler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zhang Yu had already raised the mana circulation of the full-cycle qi-gathering method all the way to level 10, having practiced it countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Practicing this again… was as easy as a college student from his past life dominating a mental-arithmetic PK platform against little kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when he began circulating his mana to his right arm according to the energy diagram in the projection, and after a brief attempt, he felt a sharp aura burst forth from his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sharp aura couldn’t even be called sword qi, and its power was barely stronger than a utility knife, but it still made Zhang Yu feel very excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah Zhen, look! I did it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Zhenzhen: Shrimp-head Zhang Yu! Disgusting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Yan immediately looked over as well, surprised: \"Have you learned this before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing Zhang Yu shake his head, she remarked with emotion: \"It seems you have a real talent for this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having detected Zhang Yu's talent in this area, Teacher Yan taught with even more dedication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she went through several basic mana conversion routes—heating, low temperature, electrification, etc.—and seeing that Zhang Yu could pick them all up in a short time, she kept nodding and praising him endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's all I'm teaching you today. Go back and practice a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't forget it's still this time tomorrow and the day after. I'll give you two more make-up lessons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I'll teach you how to neutralize mana and how to perform mana intrusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Zhang Yu's departing figure, Teacher Yan thought to herself: \"You'd better crush all those eight who didn't come for make-up lessons in the magic competition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for actually placing in the magic competition? Entering the top ten? To win prize money or get bonus points for university interviews…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Yan never even considered that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a sports competition, Songyang High School would still be somewhat competitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although competitions are competitions and the college entrance exam is the college entrance exam, Songyang High School had at least produced a city-wide sports champion; it had always been a strong sports school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But aside from sports competitions, the rest were almost always the playground of the three top schools. Their opponents were only ever themselves—even a key high school like Songyang could hardly get involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Teacher Yan's best estimate, Zhang Yu would have the best results among Songyang High School's ten participants, making those students who didn't come for supplementary lessons deeply regret it, and after the magic competition they'd hurry to bring her money and beg for lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, after leaving the classroom, Zhang Yu saw a message from Zhou Chechen on his phone, agreeing to continue the loan contract and continue paying monthly installments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Zhou Chechen had previously bought his 700,000 loan debt, becoming Zhang Yu's new creditor for monthly repayments. However, to show sincerity, he had said Zhang Yu didn't have to rush to pay back each month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past few days, Zhang Yu had messaged Zhou Chechen a few times about repayment; the other party had refused a few times, but finally agreed to his request, saying he understood Zhang Yu's unwillingness to be in debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Agreed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu reluctantly paid this month's 15,000 loan repayment. Though it hurt, he didn't want to end up like Bai Zhenzhen said—having a leverage point that could be forcibly enforced at any time due to overdue loans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially once these rich people learned that he wanted to break through the blockade and get into one of the top ten universities, this overdue loan would become a huge vulnerability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this 15,000, plus the 3,000 for supplementary lessons, Zhang Yu's savings had dropped to just over 43,000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, money really doesn't last.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hope this magic competition lets me earn a bit more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen left the demonstration class classroom to go for Teacher Yan's supplementary lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Qin, who had just come back from the restroom, looked at Zhang Yu's empty seat and immediately frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After searching the entire floor without finding any trace of Zhang Yu, he couldn't help cursing inwardly: \"He was clearly in the classroom just now—where did he go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this guy deliberately avoiding me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not like he's anything great—just got lucky and became a Golden Core disciple. Does he have to be so arrogant?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it weren't for becoming a Golden Core disciple, you wouldn't be much stronger than me…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Storming out of the stairwell with a belly full of anger, Liang Qin received another phone call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the inquiry on the other end, he mumbled vaguely, \"Mm, he's already gone home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing happened all day today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ever since this guy became a Jindan disciple, he's been acting all high and mighty, guarding against his classmates like they're thieves, as if he's terrified someone will find out his secret to raising scores.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know. I'll keep watching him. Don't forget to transfer the money.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up, Liang Qin's face showed a moment of distraction. Only when he saw the SMS notification of the transfer did a cheerful grin spread across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for this was that he was particularly short on money lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although most people at Songyang High School—students and teachers alike—were short on money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liang Qin was even worse off than the average poor person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, his family's situation hadn't been too bad originally. Though they didn't live in the city center, they weren't out in the distant suburbs either—they lived in an apartment on the edge of the city proper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mother was a full-time homemaker, and his father was a low-level employee at a company. Supporting his schooling was a strain, but at least they had enough to eat and wear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things changed one month after he enrolled at Songyang High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was the crushing academic pressure, or his gradually slipping ranking, or the overwhelming presence of one academic elite after another, or the deliberate or casual flaunting of wealth from rich students, or the extreme strictness of the teachers...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Qin didn't know why either. From elementary to middle school, he had always been a top student, but suddenly in high school classes he started zoning out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd be halfway through breathing exercises and couldn't resist opening his eyes to scroll through his phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During body refinement, he always felt weak all over and listless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While studying talismans, he'd constantly space out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He... seemed to be losing interest in studying. What would be the result of hating school at Songyang High School?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated, and then his condition got even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a sophomore he had met by chance introduced him to a way to relax and release stress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other said, \"Go try playing on this platform.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Qin hesitated, \"This is betting with magical power?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other smiled nonchalantly, \"A small gamble is just for fun, right? If you win, you can take a few days off and rest. If you lose, consider it a bit of pressure to study harder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted Liang Qin on the shoulder and urged, \"I had trouble adjusting when I first entered freshman year too. I came here to play and relax.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't be too scared. Talents like us who got into high school have willpower beyond ordinary people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as you control yourself and don't get addicted, a little relaxation is harmless and might even earn you some extra magical power...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of his own self-discipline since childhood, Liang Qin finally couldn't resist giving it a try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a platform where you could deposit money, place bets, and gamble for magical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you won, you could obtain magical power cultivated by others through spirit root hosting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you lost, you'd either help others cultivate magical power via spirit root hosting or pay off the debt with money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his first bet, Liang Qin lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second bet, he lost again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when he thought he'd lose all his money and that this kind of platform was indeed unreliable, on the third bet he won 0.3 units of magical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, he still remembers how excited he felt at that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still remembers the thrill of withdrawing those 0.3 units of magical power from the spirit root sent by the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sudden surge of magical power gave him a pleasure he would never forget in his lifetime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the days that followed, he occasionally gambled a little on this platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, it was really just like that senior had said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he won, the magical power he gained could relieve him of the pressure from one magic course for several days, making everything much lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if he lost, he would double his efforts in cultivation to make up for it, which gave him even more motivation in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, as long as I can control myself, this platform has benefits and no harms...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what Liang Qin thought two months into the semester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, four months into the semester...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret! Regret! Regret!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he thought about secretly swiping his parents' bank card and the mountain of debt he owed, Liang Qin would jolt awake from his dreams over and over, staring in terror at the door of his room, as if afraid that at any moment someone would burst in and take his dantian, organs, flesh, and blood...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, at the school gate, looking at the fresh five hundred yuan he had just received, Liang Qin felt his hands itch again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, watching the five hundred he had just gotten in his hands melt away in an instant, Liang Qin beat his chest and stomped his feet, once again sinking into regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's fine, it's fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He comforted himself: \"Tomorrow I'll follow Zhang Yu and I'll still have money coming in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time I win three hundred, I'll stop immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as I control my greed with absolute willpower, I can slowly pay off the debt...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While mulling over his plan to redeem himself, Liang Qin walked home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the office at Songyang High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Haifeng, looking at the person before him hanging up the phone, said, \"So Liang Qin was sent by you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But that student has become a degenerate gambler. His words can't be trusted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man across from him smiled slightly and said, \"I just had him keep a slight eye on Zhang Yu. It was originally a throwaway move, just making use of trash. I never expected him to find out anything definite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Haifeng shook his head. \"Zhang Yu has already talked with the student council. It won't be long before he signs a contract. You still haven't given up?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other said coldly, \"Zhang Yu was brought in by me. Although things have developed a bit beyond my expectations, I won't let go so easily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry. I've already received word that Zhang Yu and the student council will sign after the next monthly exam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll hurry up and take care of everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the following days, Zhang Yu happily cultivated the Desolate Ox Soul-Calming Heart Sutra every day, feeling full and satisfied as he experienced his Dao Heart level improving bit by bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from that, he still attended classes and studied every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he practiced the methods he had learned from Teacher Yan from time to time, preparing for the magical power competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed, and finally the day of the magical power competition arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over these ten-plus days, relying on the vigorous progress of the Level 10 Desolate Ox Soul-Calming Heart Sutra, Zhang Yu's Dao Heart level had also risen to Level 2 (42%).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt that around the time of his next monthly exam, he should have a chance to raise his Dao Heart level to Level 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for magical power, through the day-and-night breathing exercises of the Circulation Qi-Gathering Method, it had steadily grown and had now reached a level of 15.4.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu's explosive increase in magical power once again caused surprise among the students, but after discovering that Zhang Yu's physical strength had hardly changed, they only marveled that Zhang Yu had devoted all his energy to spiritual energy breathing and magical power refinement, guessing that he was preparing to go all out for the magical power competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the gate of Songyang High School that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Yan was leading Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, He Dayou, and others onto a bus, heading to the venue of Songyang City's first-year high school magical power competition.\u003C\u002Fp>",2192,"2026-05-29T04:54:22.303Z","2026-06-01T04:29:11.989Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","77c2ed6cdbb8405bd456daa685cf11fbff6eaf63689409de1f22879b66d4c2a5","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-42","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-40",711,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fno-money-what-cultivation-cover.jpg"]