[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-no-money-what-cultivation":3,"chapter-no-money-what-cultivation-no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-457":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},164326,323,"Chapter 457: Cost Optimization, Major Experiment","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-457",457,"\u003Cp>On the outdoor construction site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhang Yu circulated his magical power, a surge of vigorous Heavenly Energy burst forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, the Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill he had modified merged into it, and soon the originally white Heavenly Energy transformed into gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through this period of practice and final hands-on operation, Zhang Yu finished modifying all his Taiyi Golden Liquid Pills and fused them into one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, with the modified and fused Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill empowering his Heavenly Energy, the two gradually became indistinguishable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, as Zhang Yu’s thought stirred, the golden Heavenly Energy rapidly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, the Heavenly Energy shifted from a golden cloud-like state into countless golden torrents, roaring up and down Zhang Yu’s body like water dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after, the Heavenly Energy transformed from this golden torrent form into layer upon layer of golden armor, like a series of defensive fortifications, protecting Zhang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the empowerment of the modified Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, Zhang Yu’s Heavenly Energy freely transitioned between gaseous, liquid, and solid states, gaining defensive power far beyond his original protective Heavenly Energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, this change was faster, more agile, and more versatile than the original, unmodified Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when he struck out with a palm, the rolling Heavenly Energy blasted a large pit into the ground, leaving behind a golden handprint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu thought to himself, “With the empowerment of the modified and fused Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill, my Heavenly Energy can linger in the world for a long time even after leaving my control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this series of Heavenly Energy transformations, Zhang Yu was confident that he had gained many more defensive options. Even if he were to fight Chan Rong’s Great Sun All Aspects again, he would have much more room to maneuver, and at the very least, his injuries would be much lighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with further application, streaks of golden humanoid Heavenly Energy instantly formed, transforming into a number of Formless Guardians with solid bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After trying out the modified and fused Taiyi Golden Liquid Pill for a while, Zhang Yu took out a treasure called the Two Elements Yin-Yang Shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The treasure looked like a round bead, but as Zhang Yu channeled a stream of magical power into it, countless fire dragons emerged from the bead, spiraling around Zhang Yu, and finally formed a massive Lihuo Barrier, enveloping him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as Zhang Yu commanded the treasure, the fire dragons dissipated and turned into streams of icy mist that condensed the air, shrouding his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu thought to himself, “The Two Elements Yin-Yang Shield can activate the Lihuo Barrier or the Xuanbing Barrier for defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two defensive modes can not only block some physical attacks but, more importantly, can resist drastic temperature changes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I had had this Two Elements Yin-Yang Shield during the fight with Chan Rong, countering his Great Sun All Aspects would have been much easier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Yu also understood that before his battle with Gold Jade University, he hadn’t even received the project payment, so how could he have been in the mood to upgrade his treasures?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, with only 140 spirit coins in savings after just lending 100 to Zhang Pianpian, his funds were still tight, and he had only upgraded these two treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next, I’ll probably have to fight against Heaven Sword University, so I need to prepare some more useful treasures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about the competition with Heaven Sword University, Zhang Yu felt a slight excitement, not because Heaven Sword University was strong, but because going to Heaven Sword University for the match meant he could see Bai Zhenzhen again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unknowingly, it’s already been over a year since Zhen and I last met.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I see her at Heaven Sword University this time, I must have a good talk with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After testing the two upgraded treasures, Zhang Yu turned around and returned to the construction site to start working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he activated the Divine Power of Heaven Kunlun Mountain-Shifting, rocks and earth soared into the air, the ground split apart, the mountain body disintegrated, and the entire construction site once again ran at high efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu felt he was like the most expensive, most core, most productive ultra-large piece of equipment on the construction site, with all the other treasures and employees working around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Fuji sent him a document and said, “This is my new company financial report. I already sent it to you yesterday. Have you read it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu casually nodded, “I’ve read it. What’s the matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he had read it, Zhang Yu really didn’t know much about this aspect; he only felt that the company was running well and that he just needed to keep working hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fuji said, “Costs are rising!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you see the wear and tear on the treasures used by the employees, and their mana consumption rate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu said, “It’s normal for treasures to have wear and tear, right? And how can you use treasures without consuming mana?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuji said, “The wear and tear on treasures increased by 1.2% compared to last month, and mana consumption increased by 5%!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you understand how much we lack control in this area?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s like the toilet paper in the company building—if you don’t monitor it and let employees use it freely, they’ll abuse it ten times or a hundred times over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the same with mana consumption. I know you recover mana quickly, but that’s not a reason for employees to abuse it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flicker of his eyes, Zhang Yu swept his gaze toward Zhao Tianxing, Mo Tianyi, Hu Yuntao, Che Yufei, and the several Ying family ancestors on the construction site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his mouth and said, \"Everyone is working quite seriously, so it's not really abuse, right? At most, Zhao Tianxing and the others lack work experience, so there's a bit more waste.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And besides, the difficulty of the new project is inherently a bit higher, so some extra waste is normal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuji said with frustration, \"But we can't just ignore it, especially as the company grows larger in the future and there are more and more people. How can we do without standards in this area?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These veteran employees are used to using mana lavishly, and in the future they'll lead new employees to do the same. In the end, everyone in the company will abuse mana, greatly increasing the company's operating costs, and then it will be even more troublesome to change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And this wasted mana, you could have sold it to generate profit—right now you could earn an extra 1 to 2 spirit coins every month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This back-and-forth results in a huge gap, further reducing the company's competitiveness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu frowned slightly but had to admit that Fuji made sense. Just then, Fuji sent another document to Zhang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu asked, \"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuji said, \"Mana quota table.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From tomorrow onward, for the mana each employee needs to use every day on the construction site, I will give an assessment. Those who never exceed it will get a little bonus at the end of the month—call it the Monthly Full Savings Award. Those who exceed this amount will have their wages deducted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu was momentarily stunned and instinctively frowned, saying, \"Wage deductions... won't that cause dissatisfaction among everyone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still dissatisfied?\" Fuji said. \"The salary you give them isn't low at all, especially those two from lousy junior colleges—they just lower the company's class. Even as receptionists, I find them an eyesore. If I were in charge, I would have fired them long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So after the day's work ended, Zhang Yu talked about the mana quota matter in the company group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Tianxing: Received\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mo Tianyi: Received\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yuntao: Okay\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Xin's Grandfather: Should have done this long ago\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Che Yufei: Support!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the employees in the group cheerfully accept the new rules, Zhang Yu also breathed a slight sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, thinking that the company's monthly profit could be a bit higher, he couldn't help but feel a slight joy in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time, another thought arose in Zhang Yu's mind, and he said, \"I always feel a bit awkward talking about these things directly with the employees.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu thought to himself, \"Alas, it's a pity that Fuji's identity cannot be revealed, otherwise I'd let her handle these discussions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuji said, \"For now, the company is still small, so we have to handle all kinds of big and small matters ourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe when the company's situation improves next year, we can hire someone for you to do some odd jobs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Yu Xinghan sent a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xinghan: Zhang Yu, have there still been many strangers adding you as a friend lately?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu nodded slightly. Ever since he obtained the military certificate and defeated Ping Han, quite a few strangers had added him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after he mastered the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power and defeated Vajra University, even more strangers had added him recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them were all sorts—some good, some bad. Zhang Yu couldn't tell if they were scammers or had other motives, so he simply didn't bother to add any of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu: There are quite a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xinghan: If you find it troublesome but are afraid of missing out on money-making opportunities, how about I help you contact these people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu's heart stirred slightly. He knew that the other party had been managing some students who wanted to be guided by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And over the past few months, Zhang Yu had also met a few among them who possessed innate special mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, whether he could harvest Dao seeds from them still required more time for observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yu Xinghan's suggestion now, Zhang Yu thought it over and found it feasible, but the specific cooperation method obviously needed further discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhang Yu was busy and bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Civil Engineering competition team of Ten Thousand Methods University defeated another opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by flying sand and dust everywhere, a surging mudslide deeply swallowed a large construction site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yanyang walked out of the arena with his teammates, sighing inwardly, \"It's still easier when fighting the Colonel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If only it could stay this easy forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, feeling Xiao Yunji's gaze on him, Su Yanyang asked in surprise, \"What's wrong? Something on your mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yunji shook her head and said, \"Nothing. I just thought... have you been slacking off lately?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yanyang laughed out loud and said, \"Slacking off? A little slack is fine. It's just a Colonel—do I really need to give it my full attention?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, everyone saw a checkpoint up ahead where personnel were being inspected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zhen said, \"Recently, a lot of Colonels have been tightening inspections. I hear some cults are spreading again, and many cultists even refuse to work overtime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yunji sneered, \"They won't even work overtime to earn money, and they still need monitoring? Colonel-born are Colonel-born—they'll never go far on the path of immortality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Su Yanyang beside her and said, \"Don't you think so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yanyang nodded slightly, \"Mm... mm, yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, while Zhang Yu was busy at the construction site, he suddenly received a message from his homeroom teacher, Jiaolei Zhenren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaolei Zhenren: Zhang Yu, the school has a pretty good project recently that needs outstanding students from each class to participate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaolei Zhenren: Would you like to join?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu: What project?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaolei Zhenren: I heard it's research on dual cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaolei Zhenren: Seems like it's exploring some new technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiaolei Zhenren: Are you interested?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu: For the school, I'll gladly accept.\u003C\u002Fp>",1965,"2026-05-29T04:54:59.518Z","2026-06-01T04:29:12.818Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","c5a94db58c60a8e64ee61b75f0b5fa1355762d794d7429d0cb98e461e3e4130c","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-458","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-456",711,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fno-money-what-cultivation-cover.jpg"]