Chapter 524

End of September.

Inside the laboratory.

Jin Jun glanced at the materials, which had risen in price again, and felt a slight relief.

"Good thing I stocked up on a lot of materials needed for the Tianri Huang Shen earlier for convenience; I won't need to restock for a month or two."

"I hope this great tribulation ends soon."

During this time, Jin Jun didn't go out either, staying cooped up in the laboratory every day to advance the progress of the Tianri Huang Shen, ignoring the turmoil outside.

…

Yu Xinghan, returning from the company, hadn't even reached the door when he spotted several acquaintances from afar.

Looking at Su Yanyang and Xiao Yunji, Yu Xinghan smiled and said, "Coming for treatment again? How about a massage after you're done? I'll give you the lowest price in history."

As the economic crisis continued to erupt, more and more students gradually felt overwhelmed.

Su Yanyang had come to see Xiao Qingxuan for treatment, carrying in his hand several bottles of pills used daily to eliminate the need for sleep, stave off hunger, and nourish qi and blood, as payment to Xiao Qingxuan.

Xiao Yunji, on the other hand, had come to Zhang Yu for Dharma Remains maintenance, and to take off the transformation Dharma Remains on his body to reduce his own pressure. Of course, Zhang Yu charged for these services, but compared to the current market rates, it was far cheaper—in Xiao Yunji's eyes, extremely cost-effective.

Su Yanyang said lazily, "Massage? I'd rather get a few more hours of sleep."

Yu Xinghan said in surprise, "Sleep?"

Su Yanyang said casually, "Sleeping means less medicine, less exercise, less consumption, and quickly passing the time. Don't you think it's the best way to get by right now?"

Aside from Xiao Yunji and Su Yanyang, Li Xiao was also squatting nearby, disheveled and dirty.

Yu Xinghan knew that in the past few days, Li Xiao would come to Zhang Yu's place at a fixed time every day, waiting for Zhang Yu to get off work and feed him some mana.

As for other times, Yu Xinghan understood that Li Xiao probably stayed outside the underground cemetery, leeching some spiritual essence and bone ash that leaked out from inside.

But today, besides Li Xiao himself, he had also brought along a dusty and grimy person.

"Ji Yuanshu?" Looking at Ji Yuanshu, who turned his face away, Yu Xinghan thought to himself, "Sigh, the way Zhang Yu's doing things, the number of homeless people inside and outside our dorm is growing."

Just then, with Zhang Yu's arrival, Li Xiao dragged Ji Yuanshu and immediately rushed up to him like two squirrels begging for food.

After the feeding was over, staring at Zhang Yu disappearing behind the dormitory door, Li Xiao sighed, "If only Zhang Yu could take us home."

Ji Yuanshu said, "Don't let your mind wander. Focus on studying. Right now is the perfect time to surpass those ahead and widen the gap behind."

Li Xiao sighed again, a thought surging in his heart: "If I hadn't gotten into university back then, I'd still be in the first-layer Immortal Capital, without having to struggle like a beggar every day. Would life be easier? Happier?"

Zhang Yu naturally had no intention of bringing Li Xiao and Ji Yuanshu into the dormitory.

After all, there were already enough people in the dorm, and the spiritual resources were barely sufficient; how could he bring more in?

Moreover, Li Xiao, Ji Yuanshu, and Zhang Yu were not that close; Zhang Yu casually fed them a little mana out of a desire to avoid seeing them die at his doorstep.

On this, Fu Ji sighed, "What's with Zhang Yu getting more and more soft-hearted? These beggars should be beaten every time they're seen and chased far away. Don't let their stench of poverty cling to you."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "If it were the me who just came to the second layer, I would probably have to turn a blind eye to everything."

"But now... after all, I'm richer and stronger. Only when I have some leeway can I make choices according to my own heart, instead of having this godforsaken Kunxu rape my will."

Every time he thought of this, Zhang Yu threw himself even more into his studies in the Spirit Realm, continuing to pursue greater power and a more promising path to wealth.

And Zhang Yu had to admit that by focusing most of his energy on studying the Taiqing Realm, combined with the support of his genius refining talent, his progress in learning had been tremendous.

Fubao Relic, Paranirmita Soul Ring, Overtime Golden Circlet, Free Lotus Platform... one by one, he learned the blueprints, and after pushing them to level 20, he deeply understood the knowledge and techniques contained within.

Zhang Yu estimated in his heart, "In about two or three weeks, I'll have mastered all the techniques required for the Tianri Huang Shen and officially begin refining it."

But soon, a new change came to Wanfa University.

First, the daily travel time was restricted; then, the daily Spirit Realm flow was limited; then, medicine, spirit stones... With the restricted supply of spiritual essence, the previously outdated spirit stones suddenly attracted people's attention.

Outside the dormitory door, Ji Yuanshu suddenly slapped Li Xiao across the face, then lowered his voice and said, "Unemployed? Are you crazy? Do you even know what this stuff is before getting involved?"

Li Xiao weakly said, "I heard you get a red packet."

Li Xiao said helplessly, "I'm scared too, but I really have no money left. I can't go on living."

Ji Yuanshu gritted his teeth and said, "I have a contact in the finance department who can help you get a card. But remember, only get one card—absolutely no more."

In the dormitory, a message from Su Yanyang appeared before Zhang Yu's eyes.

Su Yanyang: Zhang Yu, can you lend me some spirit coins?

Su Yanyang: I'll repay you with bank loan interest.

Zhang Yu: [1 spirit coin]

Su Yanyang: Thanks, any more?

Zhang Yu: No more.

Su Yanyang: It's getting more chaotic outside now. Be careful when you go out, and don't go where there are no surveillance cameras.

On the other side, Shi Huaiyu looked at the medicines he bought and said, "Fuck... it's bad enough there's a daily limit, but shortchanging on weight is too much. How much have those above embezzled?"

As the daily supply of medicine decreased, Zhang Yu also felt his body growing hungrier day by day.

He understood that if this continued for a long time, lacking the nourishment of medicinal power, his qi and blood would become insufficient and even depleted, and his physical strength might even regress.

After all, for cultivators like them, while becoming stronger, their body's consumption is inevitably higher.

Therefore, Zhang Yu began to find ways to buy more medicines.