Chapter 324: Project Selection
Inside the restaurant, Zhang Yu’s thunderous eating echoed throughout the entire space. With each gulp, the rumbling in his stomach sounded like distant thunder, booming from within him. He seized his bowl, tilted his head back, and sucked down a full portion of rice in one swift motion—visible bulges rippling up his throat and chest as the food vanished into his belly.
Then, with a sudden exhale, Zhang Yu unleashed a stream of Martial Dao Gāngqì. It swirled like a storm cloud, dragging half a plate of Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall straight toward his mouth. The sharp thuds of impact rang out as he clenched his steel-like teeth, tearing through chunks of the Blood meat. The rich, savory aroma burst across his tongue, mingling with an exotic, intoxicating fat that sent his eyebrows fluttering with delight.
One bite of rice, one bite of meat—Zhang Yu felt the food transform into pure essence, surging through his body like a flood. It raced through his muscles, organs, bones… being greedily absorbed, devoured by every cell.
Beside him, Gong Shuijin silently marveled: "This guy… his digestion is that strong?"
"But asking for three more bowls of Tianjing Rice and three more plates of Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall? That’s excessive. Doesn’t he fear bursting?"
Meanwhile, the other diners exchanged amused glances, watching Zhang Yu devour meat and rice with reckless abandon. Within the Eye Armor, private messages flew.
"Hah, another three bowls and three plates? Add that to the first round—five bowls of Tianjing Rice, three plates of Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall… he’s overdoing it. How’s he gonna pull this off?"
"Maybe he’s just stuffing it all down now, planning to spit it out later?"
"Tianjing Rice is compressed high-density essence. If not digested immediately, it clumps together inside the body—only a surgical incision can retrieve it."
Ye Xingli turned to Mo Ejin beside her and asked, "Your junior seems interesting. How much do you think he can actually eat?"
Mo Ejin sighed inwardly. He barely knew Zhang Yu—he’d only brought him along as a new recruit from their faction. He hadn’t expected the man to make such a bold entrance, openly boasting about his appetite.
Still, as a fellow faction member, he wasn’t about to embarrass him. He shrugged casually. "My junior has an exceptional Constitution. But this kind of appetite? I’ve never seen anything like it."
Then, all eyes watched as Zhang Yu devoured food like a whirlwind.
When he’d finished three bowls of rice and one plate of meat, the onlookers were already subtly surprised.
By four bowls and two plates, even Mo Ejin, Ye Xingli, and Cang Lanyu exchanged stunned glances. Around them, students began recording the scene with their Spirit Armor.
When Zhang Yu had consumed five bowls of rice and three plates of meat, he felt his body transform into a super-high-pressure cooker. Thick, concentrated food essence surged through his veins, flooding every inch of him.
His Blood flesh, like farmland drowned in floodwater, could no longer absorb the torrent of power. It was overflowing.
Zhang Yu realized—this single meal had replenished more of his body than all his previous months of cultivation combined. Not only was his depletion erased, but surplus essence now flowed freely within him, ready to be absorbed slowly over the days ahead.
He patted his belly and exhaled contentedly. "Comfortable. Haven’t eaten this full in ages."
Yet deep inside, a flicker of doubt stirred: "This Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall tastes delicious… but why does it feel so ordinary? Could it be fake? Maybe they’re using regular meat?"
Fujie chimed in: "The Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall here at the buffet? Of course it’s farmed. Probably fast-grown meat dragons and phoenixes—no intelligence, no cultivation. Just pure essence boost. What more could you expect?"
Meanwhile, Gong Shuijin stared wide-eyed at the empty plates before Zhang Yu. The shock in his heart was deeper than when he’d last witnessed Zhang Yu’s performance in the Gravity Simulation Room.
"I can barely manage one bowl of Tianjing Rice and one plate of Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall."
"Zhang Yu just devoured five bowls and three plates?!"
"Could he be eating this much every day? Has he cultivated a technique to enhance digestion? Or is it just his innate Constitution?"
"No wonder he’s my friend."
Gong Shuijin knew digestion wasn’t just about training—some people were simply born with a superior capacity. And in that moment, he realized how little he truly knew about Zhang Yu.
Ye Xingli glanced at Zhang Yu, her eyes gleaming with approval. "Your appetite… that’s a rich man’s appetite."
"With that kind of eating power at freshman year, your future Ranking won’t be anything less than elite. You’ll be rich one day."
"Old Mo, your Civil Engineering Department really produced a prodigy."
Mo Ejin smiled faintly. "If it weren’t for Xingli’s opportunity, I’d never have known Zhang’s junior had such a monstrous appetite."
Zhang Yu patted his stomach. "You’re right, Senior Mo. I don’t usually get to eat like this. Thanks to you, Senior Ye. I just hope you succeed in crafting treasures every month."
Ye Xingli chuckled. "It’s just a little food. Add me on, and next time I host a feast, I’ll invite you again."
Then she added, wistfully: "But crafting treasures isn’t easy. Next time might be one or two years from now."
Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. So even the scraps from the wealthy can feed a poor man to satisfaction.
The next few hours passed in cheerful camaraderie—everyone toasting, sharing meals. Zhang Yu became a magnet for attention. Beyond Mo Ejin, Ye Xingli, and Cang Lanyu, he added dozens of new friends and joined countless groups.
…
On the 450th floor, a 100-square-meter penthouse.
Ji Yuanchi’s gaze flickered as a notification popped up in his Eye Armor—Fate Monitoring Alert.
Just moments ago, a slight shift in fate had occurred. Zhang Yu’s chance of success had increased by a tiny fraction.
Curious, Ji Yuanchi traced the source. He found a student’s uploaded video—raw, unedited, with no narration, no story—just Zhang Yu eating rice and meat in succession. The video had almost no views.
Ji Yuanchi realized: If not for the Fate Monitor, I’d never have seen this.
"An incredible appetite, huh?"
"But still, just a small chance. Nothing more."
…
On the way back, Zhang Yu felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. He could’ve worked nonstop for three months on medicine and overtime—without needing rest.
"Time to start Construction Site Cultivation."
As he browsed through the available projects, Zhang Yu hesitated.
"Hehuan University’s amusement park is nice, but the start date’s still far off."
"Hehuan Amusement Park’s good too—but it’s too far. I’d miss Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan’s growth."
"Hehuan University’s park is tempting… but the local cost of living’s probably sky-high…"
Fujie burst out laughing. "You damn kid… you’re just thinking about amusement parks, aren’t you? Don’t you realize why it’s labeled a high-risk project? That’s not a place for you!"
Zhang Yu mentally groaned: "Damn… if only I had the Harmonious Saint Body."
After a long pause, he decided to consult his sister.
Moments later, Zhang Pianpian replied:
Go to the Underground Tenth-Layer Tomb Construction.
Zhang Pianpian continued:
The tomb lies at a Spirit Vein Node—packed with dense Spirit Energy. The energy is so thick it feels like solid matter. Perfect for your Breathing Technique. It’ll enhance your Martial Energy quality, nourish your flesh, strengthen your foundation, and nurture your essence.
When Zhang Yu saw the project, he frowned. "Wanfa University City is packed with buildings—where’s the space for a cemetery?"
Zhang Pianpian explained:
The cemetery is for the poor. Only those who die and lose ownership of their bodies are sent there.
Their corpses are repurposed as Breathing Corpse Components.
Every moment, massive amounts of low-grade Martial Energy are consumed across the University City—most of it generated by these clusters of Breathing Corpse Components in the tomb.
Zhang Yu’s eyes widened. That’s why the low-grade Martial Energy on the Fa Li Bao Platform was so cheap—it’s being mass-produced underground.
He asked again: "What about the rich? When they die, don’t they go to the tomb?"
Zhang Pianpian replied:
The rich die twice.
First death: the body dies. But if they can afford it, their soul is transferred to the Ling Realm. Their body remains their property—no loss of ownership. So they’re not sent to the tomb.
Second death: when their wealth is gone. The longer a soul lingers in the Ling Realm, the more it costs to maintain. When the money runs out… that’s true death.
Zhang Yu murmured: "So the tomb… only holds the bodies of the poor?"
Then it hit him. When the rich die and their bodies are sent to the tomb… they’ve already become poor.
He shook his head, a mix of awe and sadness in his eyes.
He reviewed the project details once more. Yes, this is perfect for me.
Especially since I’m still cultivating my Breathing Technique to complete the Qi Mai Chang Liu set.
And I can stay in the University City, continuing to nurture the Dao Seed inside Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan.
Two weeks until it starts—timing’s ideal.
He glanced at the requirements: only students in the top ten of Foundation Establishment Class could apply.
Zhang Yu decided: I’ll bring Yu Xinghan along too.
…
With the deep reservoir of power coursing through him, Zhang Yu spent the next two weeks once again taking life-shortening pills to cultivate.
This time, though, he paid with his own Lingbi.
As he swallowed the Rieyuan Baoxue Pill, the Xie Ming Duan Tian Powder, the Hundred Trials Heart-Eating Cult, and the Damage-Life Tianji Powder, that familiar surge of intensity returned.
"Powerful! Now this is cultivation!"
Combined with daily expenses, services, and other costs, his Lingbi dwindled rapidly—soon falling below 7 Lingbi.
On the day the 666th floor was completed, Zhang Yu arrived at the new Construction Site on the 667th floor.
He sat cross-legged, white Gāngqì swirling around his body, expanding and contracting with each breath.
As he cultivated his Breathing Technique, he also released waves of Wuxiang Yun'gang, sending them spiraling across the air—each one precise, powerful—guiding the installation of the steel framework ahead.
Zhang Yu thought: "It’s slower than using raw strength… but this way, I can focus more deeply on my cultivation."
"After all, this phase is all about the Breathing Technique."
Days passed.
As Zhang Yu pushed the Gangqi Outer Circulation Breathing Technique to Level 20, the day finally arrived—the start of the tomb project.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
