Chapter 304: This Is the Body Forged on the Construction Site (Please Support with Your Monthly Votes)
Zhang Yu didn’t feel like he was playing with death. Thanks to the heightened bodily vitality brought by the Cannibal Cow Serenity Heart Technique, the current strain of his Zhanmo Yunshou Gong remained well within his limits.
Besides, he’d just picked up a longevity pill a few days ago—swallowed it, and gained an extra year of life. Even if he burned through some of it now, it wasn’t a big deal.
Fujie often told him: “Life span? It doesn’t earn interest sitting idle. Better to spend it while you’re getting returns. If you burn a bit, just earn more later.”
And right now, Zhang Yu wasn’t losing lifespan at all. On the contrary, as his flesh and martial energy erupted violently, residual medicinal energies deep within his body were being violently awakened and unleashed.
For days, he’d been consuming half-finished pharmaceuticals at the factory. Some took effect immediately; others had settled into the depths of his being, slowly absorbed over time. But now, with his blood and qi raging like a storm, those stored energies surged forth—accelerating absorption, pushing Zhang Yu’s Physical Strength Level to the brink of another breakthrough.
Physical Strength Level +0.01
From Ying Xin’s perspective, Zhang Yu’s speed spiked once more—just a fraction, but enough to widen the gap between them by several body lengths in an instant.
In that moment, a memory flashed in Ying Xin’s mind—her Father’s words.
Father: "Ying Xin, don’t think about dying trying to match the First Layer."
She remembered how furious she’d been then. "I’m not afraid of death. If it comes to a fight, I won’t back down from anyone in the First Layer."
Father: “Do you have their poverty? Their debt? That crushing pressure on their shoulders?”
Father: “You don’t. Your life is worth more. Fighting them isn’t worth it. That’s why you can’t summon the will to truly go all out.”
Father: “But when you do fight, money means nothing. If it comes to it—just throw money at it.”
Hearing those words now, Ying Xin’s eyes narrowed. A scroll of Lushu materialized in her palm.
“Four Directions of Wind, Obey My Command! Transport!”
In an instant, the talisman activated. A surge of divine light erupted, summoning gales of wind that roared to life, helping her lift and carry the construction debris as she descended.
But barely had she passed Zhang Yu when she saw his body swell once more—his speed skyrocketing.
“Still want to fight?” Ying Xin sneered inwardly. “Then don’t blame me for crushing your hope completely.”
Meanwhile, on the 666th Floor, Tu Lishan watched the entire battle unfold through a network of surveillance cameras.
“Hmm. Ying Xin won’t go all out, but she’s willing to spend her own money. As long as she’s willing to pay to work, to invest in projects—well, who’s to say she’s not a true prodigy of the Civil Engineering Department?”
Then, seeing Zhang Yu accelerate again, Tu Lishan’s expression shifted—genuine admiration in his eyes.
“Ah, excellent! One sacrifices his life, the other his money. Both are my Civil Engineering Department’s prodigies—true talent, both of them!”
Zhang Yu slammed into the ground as he reached Basement Level One. His muscles tensed in a controlled release, flinging debris in every direction as he rocketed toward the Waste Processing Plant.
At this moment, he activated the Chunqiu Wujin Chan’s explosive state. The efficiency of Zhanmo Yunshou Gong began to drain his lifespan—slightly, but steadily.
“Still have that longevity pill.”
“A year of life isn’t earning interest. Selling a little off? No problem.”
On the other side, Ying Xin surged forward with a storm of wind, matching Zhang Yu’s pace.
The two raced ahead like twin dragons—each a force of nature—though one was veiled in swirling clouds, the other blazing with golden light. The air screamed as they accelerated—accelerated—accelerated!
After the first wave of construction materials was cleared, they didn’t pause. They shot forward again in a blur, trailing long trails of shockwaves, rocketing back up to the 666th Floor.
Now free of the heavy burden, Zhang Yu’s speed exploded. Air split apart in his wake, forming long, jagged shockwaves. He pulled farther and farther ahead.
Watching this, Ying Xin gritted her teeth in silent fury.
Five hours… I’ll see just how much lifespan you’re willing to burn.
Round after round, up and down—Ying Xin watched, helpless, as Zhang Yu charged forward again and again, never stopping, never faltering.
Meanwhile, the Lingbi cost of her Lushu scrolls kept rising. Eventually, she had no choice but to shut it down.
That sealed her fate—Zhang Yu left her further and further behind.
As the five-hour race neared its end, Ying Xin was exhausted. Her entire body radiated heat, her skin flushed crimson, muscles on the verge of melting. Each step felt like wading through molten metal. Every breath stabbed through her chest.
She was like a cannon barrel pushed past its limit—metal fatigue screaming at the edge of collapse.
Then she lifted her head—and saw Zhang Yu, his body glowing red, steaming with white vapor, roaring forward again toward the waste plant.
A flicker of shock crossed her face.
“This guy… still has strength left?”
“How much lifespan has he burned?”
“No… this isn’t just about burning lifespan.”
Her eyes narrowed in disbelief.
“Could it be… he’s already stronger than me?”
She clenched her fists, trembling with frustration.
“How can this be? He’s been grinding on the construction site every day, spending far less than I have…”
At that moment, Tu Lishan walked up beside her, voice calm and gentle.
“Still don’t understand, do you?”
“Zhang Yu—back when he was working every day on the 666th Floor, I could already tell he was secretly refining his body with various Body-Refining Techniques.”
“He wasn’t just working. He was pushing himself beyond limits—every muscle, every sinew, every breath—reforged through pain. Every ounce of strength, every point of cultivation—he earned it with his life.”
“Ying Xin… now do you feel the difference between the body you’ve trained in the practice room… and the body Zhang Yu forged on the construction site?”
“To you, this was just a test. A chance. But to him… it was work. Life. The future he’s building above.”
Seeing Ying Xin stand there, silent and downcast, Tu Lishan thought to himself:
If you had enough money—enough to burn down the sky every day, faster and harder than he burns his life—then maybe you could beat him. Like Gong Shuijin or Ji Yuanchi.
But you don’t. You’re still not rich enough.
Just then, Li Xiao and Yu Xinghan arrived.
Ying Xin frowned. There was something… off about how Yu Xinghan kept staring at her.
Inside Yu Xinghan’s mind: This footage… once I get back, I’ll edit it, blur it, upload it. Wonder how many views the Civil Engineering Department’s most beautiful girl gets? Can’t just film my daily construction site grind—nobody’d watch that.
Li Xiao, meanwhile, assumed Ying Xin had won. After all, he thought she was clearly stronger than Zhang Yu.
He tried to smooth things over: “Ying Xin, we’re all classmates. No need to ruin the friendship. Give me a favor—after this, let’s talk.”
Ying Xin shot him a cold glare.
“What kind of favor?”
She turned on her heel and walked away without a word. Li Xiao’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Then, the class ranking update finally loaded.
Ying Xin stared at the screen. Zhang Yu’s position had jumped from 4th to 3rd. Hers had dropped from 3rd to 4th.
A grim understanding settled over her.
So it’s true… She let out a bitter laugh. He’s already above me. I was the weak one in this fight.
Li Xiao noticed the shift too—and remembered Ying Xin’s earlier behavior.
He turned toward Zhang Yu, stunned.
“You… you actually beat Ying Xin?”
Zhang Yu exhaled a stream of scorching white vapor. “Hmm? Maybe.”
He glanced at Ying Xin’s limp, retreating figure. “Oh, and don’t forget to pay up.”
Tu Lishan smiled at Zhang Yu. “Good work, Zhang Yu. But don’t forget—rest when you need to. Next month, the Field Project starts. You’ll have plenty to do.”
Once Tu Lishan left, Li Xiao couldn’t help but ask: “Just… how do you train?”
Zhang Yu glanced at him, casual. “You couldn’t learn it even if you tried.”
“If you really want to, learn from Yu Xinghan.”
With that, he turned and vanished—blurring through the air in three quick bursts, like an arrow shot into the sky, streaking upward along the Yuan Ci Channel toward the 666th Floor.
Li Xiao shot off a message:
Where are you going?
Zhang Yu: Back to work.
Li Xiao: Still working? After all that?
Yu Xinghan snorted. “He’s like this every day. Never stops. I’ve never seen him rest. I even suspect he gives himself extra shifts just to reward himself after winning—like it’s a treat.”
Li Xiao stood frozen.
Wasn’t overtime supposed to be painful? Wasn’t pushing through it supposed to be agony?
How could this be… joy to him?
The gap between people—was it really this wide?
And his method… no, Li Xiao realized, he truly couldn’t copy it.
Then he remembered Zhang Yu’s words.
“Yu Xinghan… what are you planning to do next?”
Yu Xinghan walked toward the Yuan Ci Channel. “Massage.”
---
Wanfa University City, 666th Floor
Not long after resuming work, Zhang Yu received a transfer: 0.121 Lingbi from Ying Xin.
His balance now soared past 12.5.
He smiled, satisfied.
“Nice. Now I can spend more. Boost my grades. Add more Dao Arts service sessions…”
He began calculating how to best spend his Lingbi.
Then, another message arrived.
Tu Lishan: Zhang Yu, your performance today impressed Director Gao greatly.
Tu Lishan: He knows you’re short on funds, so he’s arranged something special—tomorrow, come with me to meet the Finance Department teacher. You’ll get a low-interest student loan.
Zhang Yu: Thank you, Teacher Tu. Please thank Director Gao for me.
Tu Lishan: It’s our duty as teachers to help students. If you want to repay Director Gao, show your worth in next month’s field project.
Tu Lishan: This is our Civil Engineering generation’s time to shine. If you’re willing to fight, opportunities won’t be scarce.
Zhang Yu: What exactly is this field project?
Tu Lishan didn’t answer. Instead, he asked:
“How much do you know about the University War?”
(End of Chapter)
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