[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-no-money-what-cultivation":3,"chapter-no-money-what-cultivation-no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-53":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},163402,323,"Chapter 53: Monthly Exam Ends, Storm Brewing","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>Inside the unfinished building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Zhang Yu, wearing weighted training clothes, punch out. As his feet stomped on the concrete floor, a dull boom suddenly erupted in the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drenched in sweat, Zhang Yu didn't stop at all, continuing to practice each and every stance of the Thirty-Six Body- Strengthening Forms, punch by punch and kick by kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body was burning hot, emitting faint wisps of white steam in the cold night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since a week ago, when he was able to maintain the Wild Bull Soul-Stilling Heart Technique while practicing the Boundless Cloud Hands at level 10 in weighted training clothes, Zhang Yu had begun challenging a higher difficulty—practicing the Thirty-Six Body-Strengthening Forms at level 10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, it was indeed very difficult, a dual trial of both body and mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, as long as he could maintain the heart technique, the Wild Bull Soul-Stilling Heart Technique always brought Zhang Yu a trace of joy and satisfaction born from anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what about when he couldn't maintain the heart technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ceremony's power would guide Zhang Yu back onto the right track to maintain the heart technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, right now, whenever Zhang Yu's mind slightly slackened and the mental image he focused on in his mind became blurry, he knew the ceremony was about to start nagging at him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please abide by the ceremony agreement, strive to complete the wish, do not deliberately slack off or delay. 10.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu quickly concentrated, struggling to maintain the state of the Wild Bull Soul-Stilling Heart Technique, and the mental image in his mind gradually became clear again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the chill had faded again, Zhang Yu couldn't help cursing in anger at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the ringtone of a phone echoed through the dark, unfinished building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this sound, Zhang Yu felt as if he had heard celestial music.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least this idiotic ceremony had enough judgment to let him rest a little while he answered the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up his phone, Zhang Yu saw a message from Zhou Chechen, the student council vice president.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chechen: Zhang Yu, what's your decision?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu glanced at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mm, a message from the student council sent at four in the morning—this is the normal daily schedule for us Songyang students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu: I want to focus on preparing for the monthly exams first. We can talk about signing the contract after the exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Chechen: Haha, no problem. Then we'll talk after the monthly exams. I've already prepared a contract that I'm sure you'll be absolutely satisfied with. Looking forward to the day we sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zhang Yu knew that Zhou Chechen probably said this to everyone he signed, he couldn't deny that being flattered like this from time to time over the past month felt pretty good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too bad, in the end, it's not pure friendship without any ulterior motives, just wanting to flatter me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that he still had to keep playing this game of hypocrisy with the other party, Zhang Yu felt somewhat uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder, after this monthly exam, if I reject him again, will that guy change his face?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu raised his head and looked at his Feather Script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao Heart Level 2 (93%)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana 18.7\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physical Strength Level 1.33\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After these days of intense training, his strength had improved significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In particular, he was getting closer and closer to Dao Heart Level 3, and his mana level was already at a tier of its own at the top among the first-year students of Songyang High School—even Bai Zhenzhen couldn't match him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only his physical strength, because he had stopped training for over half a month and only recently resumed, had dropped back to around 7th or 8th place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhang Yu estimated that with his current state and hard training, it wouldn't be long before his physical strength among the Songyang first-years would also dominate at the top level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, he was still a long way from being admitted to one of the top ten prestigious schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, he took a deep breath and immediately threw himself back into arduous cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the day of the monthly exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grim, killing atmosphere permeated the high school campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, the monthly exam itself was no longer a major concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After smoothly finishing the morning theory exam and eating lunch, Zhang Yu practiced during the midday cultivation session, then went to the Dao Arts exam computer lab and completed the test questions covered in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came the final exam of the day—Martial Combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the opponent he drew was Qian Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Shen’s gaze toward Zhang Yu was very complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this opponent had scored six points lower than him in last month’s exam, yet his total score in the Dharma Power competition was several dozen points higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Zhang Yu might have a lower score than him, but it also seemed unlikely that Zhang Yu’s score was lower—this made Zhang Yu even more complex and unpredictable in Qian Shen’s eyes. He was the one person who had scored lower in the first monthly exam but still made Qian Shen extremely cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu looked at Qian Shen’s cautious expression and smiled slightly. “Then I’ll make my move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, he shot out a palm strike and in a whoosh appeared right in front of Qian Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Qian Shen had been cautious enough, after a dozen or so exchanges, he gradually fell into a disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, as a fierce gust of wind rushed toward him, he looked at the fist stopping in front of his head and said helplessly, “I lose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before the second round began, he stared at Zhang Yu and said seriously, “You weren’t going all out, were you? You didn’t even use Wuji Cloud Hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wuji Cloud Hand was the technique Qian Shen had watched Zhang Yu learn on the spot during the competition that day, so he naturally knew that Zhang Yu had obtained the right to use that martial art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, in the martial arts classes over the past two weeks, every time Zhang Yu sparred with Bai Zhenzhen, he would use Wuji Cloud Hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Shen said sternly, “Use Wuji Cloud Hand. Fight me with all your strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re in a monthly exam now, not in class practicing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want a single point I earn to be obtained fraudulently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Use your full power. Don’t insult my score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu took a deep breath. “I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed inwardly, “Is this rare happiness in my hard training session going to end again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With another whoosh, Zhang Yu charged at Qian Shen, and then his palm, wrapped in Formless Cloud Shield, slammed fiercely toward Qian Shen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having already seen the power of Wuji Cloud Hand in practical class, Qian Shen naturally chose not to meet it head-on. He dodged to the side while kicking hard at Zhang Yu’s lower body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Yu’s other palm, layered with cloud energy, blocked the incoming kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Shen’s kick struck the cloud energy and felt like it had hit a soft, weightless mist, but the next moment a violent force rebounded from within, sending him flying out of the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second round ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third round began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that fight, Qian Shen really wanted to take back what he had just said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had looked cool shouting those words, getting a low score in the practical exam really hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, Lei Jun withdrew his gaze from Zhang Yu and Qian Shen and looked over at Bai Zhenzhen and He Dayou on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching He Dayou knocked to the ground by Bai Zhenzhen in just a few moves, Lei Jun thought to himself, “The gap is too big. Next monthly exam, I’ll just stop letting Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen draw lots—I’ll arrange for them to be paired together for the combat exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning was the Dao Heart and Dharma Power exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping into the spirit realm again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Zhang Yu found himself tied to a hospital bed, with a syringe on his left and a button on his right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female voice came from the broadcast: “Good elixirs, choose Ziyun. The Ziyun Pharmaceutical, wholehearted and for all ages. One dose cures all ills. Thanks to Ziyun Company for co-sponsoring this monthly exam…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the rules explained on the broadcast, Zhang Yu finally understood that the content of this Dao Heart exam was—happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time he pressed the button, the syringe would inject a dose of a drug called “Joy Powder” into his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the exam started, the system would automatically inject one dose of Joy Powder into each examinee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The requirement for the examinees was then to press the button as few times as possible and inject as little of the drug as possible. The fewer injections, the higher the ranking and the higher the score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only because this medicine, newly developed by Ziyun Corporation, could relax the mind, stimulate the brain, and let people experience supreme bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, according to Ziyun Corporation's own propaganda, they claimed the medicine had no side effects, no addictive properties, and had passed clinical trials...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu naturally found this hard to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fucking beasts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Running this kind of ad during the monthly exam, huh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The person who sets this Dao Heart exam is getting more and more outrageous. One day I'll smash him to pieces...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he was currently in the virtual world of the Spirit Realm, and the Euphoria Powder about to be injected was only a virtual sensation, Zhang Yu still couldn't help but curse loudly, and ultimately had to reluctantly experience the Euphoria Powder being injected into his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intense pleasure continuously bombarded Zhang Yu's brain. Even with his willpower and cultivation technique, he couldn't help but press the button twice before the exam ended—a testament to how powerful the Euphoria Powder was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the intensity of the Dao Heart exam, the Dharma Power exam and the Physical Exam seemed rather ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after the Physical Exam ended, when Wang Hai once again applied to the school administration to let Zhang Yu join the competition team, he was rejected again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason given was that Zhang Yu's athletic performance had declined and he still needed to settle down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what Wang Hai was told privately was that this was all related to the Student Council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Wang Hai sent a message to Zhang Yu the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have some kind of conflict with the Student Council? They seem to not want you to join the school sports competition team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the unfinished building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yu, wearing his weighted suit, stood still in place, sensing the changes within his Sea of Consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had finally reached Dao Heart Level 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His control over his physical body became more refined, the mana in his Dantian became more lively and controllable, and even every piece of flesh and every ounce of strength throughout his body felt more coordinated and comfortable in his perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the mental fatigue that had built up over these past days seemed to be swept away in that moment, leaving him feeling incredibly refreshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao Heart Level 3 (0%)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was how Zhang Yu felt after reaching Dao Heart Level 3—a stronger mastery over himself and his own power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally, Dao Heart Level 3.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now I can cultivate the Heavenly Martial Heart-Tempering Art, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been looking forward to this expert-level technique passed down by a Golden Core True Person for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Martial Heart-Tempering Art! Let me see where your limits lie!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost the moment his Dao Heart reached Level 3, he couldn't wait to switch his Feather Script specialization to this technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Martial Heart-Tempering Art is a martial Dao heart method that includes nine sets of martial arts: fist, palm, leg, finger, claw, blade, sword, spear, and staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among these nine sets, some are combat techniques for fighting, some are practice methods for body refinement, but none of these are the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true essence of the Heavenly Martial Heart-Tempering Art lies in comprehending the intent contained within these nine sets of martial arts, in order to condense one's own martial intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Zhang Yu, just as he had done during the art exhibition earlier, began to practice the nine sets of martial arts—fist, palm, leg, finger, claw, blade, sword, spear, and staff—from beginning to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every move Zhang Yu made, fierce winds stirred around him, and the concrete floor rumbled under his footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After raising basic-level Freehand to level 5, basic-level Body-Health Thirty-Six Forms and intermediate-level Wuji Cloud Hands all to level 10, and after sparring with Bai Zhen over a hundred times in actual combat, Zhang Yu's insight was now completely different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he practiced, the more he could feel that this art contained both combat methods and body-refining methods, with a very comprehensive coverage. Mastered, it could both temper the body and be used to fight enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It just takes quite a long time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavenly Martial Heart-Tempering Art Level 1 (0\u002F10)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took Zhang Yu, wearing his weighted suit, nearly 14 minutes to finish practicing all nine sets of martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon realizing this, Zhang Yu vaguely felt his liver ache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that this technique would be a real grind.\u003C\u002Fp>",2258,"2026-05-29T04:54:22.303Z","2026-06-01T04:29:11.989Z",1,"deepseek-v4-flash","350300714699a85ddef24e3c5af580a40564b2b3859a0733419ca8ed0c7f7127","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-54","no-money-what-cultivation-chapter-52",711,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fno-money-what-cultivation-cover.jpg"]