No Money To Cultivate Immortality? Chapter 416: The Embodiment of the Magnetic Pole - Novel Cool

Chapter 416: The Embodiment of the Magnetic Pole

The very instant Di Shasha Bottle was completed, Zhang Yu’s expression flickered—his face paled slightly, and a sharp pain shot through his chest.

He shook his head with a sigh, mentally muttering, "Even after all that care, I still got injured during the processing of Di Shasha Qi?"

He understood the cause clearly. It wasn’t just his cultivation level—it was also his lack of experience handling Di Shasha Qi. And on top of that, the laboratory equipment here was far too primitive.

Despite his caution, a few traces of Di Shasha Qi had still seeped into his body.

But this outcome had been expected.

"Still, I was careful enough. This level of contamination will pass with just a few days of rest."

"The money I saved by skipping the premium lab rental can now go toward upgrading my Ling Realm simulation lab. Time to practice my Alchemy techniques more intensively."

For the next two days, Zhang Yu stayed mostly confined to his dorm, barely stepping outside except for class. His time was consumed entirely by deep cultivation in the Ling Realm simulation.

…

Then, one day, Ye Xingli appeared at the dorm door and knocked.

Zhang Yu opened the door to find her standing there, and he blinked in surprise. "Night Senior? What brings you here?"

Ye Xingli gave him an odd look, stepped inside, and quickly shut the door behind her.

Ever since Ciji Zhenjun had assigned her to supervise Zhang Yu’s alchemical work—tasking her with recording his lab performance, even taking photos—she’d been deeply suspicious. Now, with what she’d just witnessed, her confusion only deepened.

She pulled a round pearl from her chest. It shimmered with iridescent light, its core swirling like a nebula—sometimes clear, sometimes blurred, radiating an aura of profound mystery.

Zhang Yu frowned. "Senior, what’s this?"

Then, a voice echoed from within the pearl—calm, resonant, unmistakably Ciji Zhenjun’s.

"It’s me."

Instantly, the entire dorm seemed to tremble.

But Zhang Yu quickly realized it wasn’t the physical world shaking—it was the Ling Realm, as perceived through his Eye Armor, that was vibrating.

A thunderous roar echoed through the air, and a phantom tower materialized mid-room, tearing through space like a rift. It was the 40th-level Spirit Artifact, Jiutian Yuanyang Tower—the very essence of Ciji Zhenjun’s power.

With the arrival of the tower, all matter in the dorm that interfaced with the Ling Realm—his Eye Armor, his Spirit Artifacts, even data transmission channels—was instantly suppressed and taken over by the tower’s overwhelming authority.

A flash of light, and a translucent figure emerged from the pearl, appearing before Zhang Yu.

The figure wore an elegant court robe, exuding an aura of regal grandeur. Her posture was proud, her head held high, her gaze sharp and disdainful.

Zhang Yu hesitated, uncertain. "Are you… Ciji Zhenjun?"

"Not quite. Not quite." The figure spoke softly. "This is a manifestation I’ve condensed from Xuanpin Tianzhu—a fragment of my will, not my true self. But it’s enough to represent me."

This was Zhang Yu’s first time face-to-face with Ciji Zhenjun, and he felt a knot tighten in his chest.

"What do you need?"

Ciji Zhenjun’s gaze remained cool. "You purchased materials tainted with Di Shasha Qi, then took two days of rest. Were you infected?"

Zhang Yu’s heart skipped. He hadn’t expected Ciji Zhenjun to be so attentive.

"Yes," he admitted quietly.

Ciji Zhenjun gave a faint smile. "You may believe your constitution is strong enough to endure it. But Di Shasha Qi is like a parasite—it clings deep. If mishandled, it can cause lasting damage to your Physical Body, degrading its quality irreversibly."

She turned slightly, glancing at Ye Xingli behind her. "Xingli, step outside. Guard the door. No one must interrupt us."

"Understood." Ye Xingli looked between Ciji Zhenjun and Zhang Yu, her expression complex. Then, without another word, she left.

Once she was gone, Ciji Zhenjun suddenly lunged forward, her eyes scanning Zhang Yu from head to toe.

Zhang Yu stiffened. "Master, I’m sure the impact isn’t that severe."

Ciji Zhenjun grabbed his wrist with firm, unyielding force. "Wait until I’ve finished checking."

A surge of overwhelming Martial Energy flooded Zhang Yu’s body. In an instant, it swept through every inch of his limbs, every meridian, every sinew.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu had already concealed all his Dao Seeds and Chain Law Diagrams deep within his core. He hoped Ciji Zhenjun hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Then—pain flared in his chest.

Black vapor burst from his seven orifices, swirling into the air and dissipating like smoke.

Ciji Zhenjun studied him, a hint of surprise in her voice. "The residual Di Shasha Qi has been purged. But your constitution is truly exceptional. Even without my help today, you’d have healed on your own in a few days."

She ran her fingers along Zhang Yu’s arm, shoulder, chest—examining, assessing. Then, with a rare note of approval, she said, "Your Physical Body cultivation is outstanding. Most upperclassmen, after years of refinement, still fall short of your level."

Zhang Yu nodded, feeling a constant, uneasy sense of being scrutinized.

Ciji Zhenjun remained calm. "Relax. Are you this tense in Director Gao’s presence?"

Zhang Yu sighed. "No… not quite the same."

"How is it different?" she countered. "If you insist on a difference, it’s only because I formally recognized you as my disciple—after Director Gao took you on."

She reached out and gently ruffled his hair. "Don’t worry. I’ve sealed the Ling Realm here with Jiutian Yuanyang Tower. No one will know I was here."

Zhang Yu couldn’t help but protest. "Master… I think we should stick to Ling Realm network communication. Director Gao is a good teacher. This… it’s not right."

Compared to Director Gao, Ciji Zhenjun’s power was incomparable. Zhang Yu didn’t want to be checked on every other day.

Ciji Zhenjun waved it off with a small smile. "Don’t bring up old Gao."

"Three months remain until the end of the second year."

"Today, I’ll test how well you’ve mastered your Alchemy Department curriculum."

…

Outside, Ye Xingli stood frozen, her mind racing.

"Why did my master come to find Zhang Yu?"

"Why all this secrecy? Why make me act as a shield?"

"Was it really about Di Shasha Qi contamination?"

"Did she come to heal him?"

Then, a darker thought crept in.

"But… why go in person? She could’ve sent someone. Unless…"

"She came in secret because she doesn’t want anyone to know Zhang Yu was exposed to Di Shasha Qi. Or that he’s involved in Alchemy at all."

"Is Director Gao truly cultivating him? Or… is this something else?"

The possibility sent a chill down her spine.

She recalled tales of teachers fighting over disciples—power struggles, injuries, even entire departments collapsing from internal conflict.

"No way…"

"Master and Director Gao have known each other for centuries. Back then, such behavior was unthinkable."

She nodded to herself, repeating it like a mantra. "She’s here for Director Gao’s sake. She’s helping him protect his disciple."

Half an hour passed.

Still no sign of Ciji Zhenjun emerging.

Ye Xingli considered sending a message—but hesitated, afraid of interrupting.

"How much longer?"

Just then, a voice called out from behind.

"Xingli?"

She snapped her head up.

Mo Ejin was walking toward her, curious. "What are you doing here?"

Ye Xingli recognized him as another resident of the First Layer. "I came to see Zhang Yu."

Mo Ejin smiled. "Zhang Yu? I was actually on my way to talk to him about a project. Want to go in together?"

But as Mo Ejin stepped forward, Ye Xingli remained firmly in place.

Mo Ejin tilted his head. "Huh? Xingli, what’s going on?"

She forced a smile. "We just finished talking. He’s got some things to take care of. Maybe later?"

At that moment, she sent a quick message.

Ye Xingli: Master, Mo Ejin’s at the door.

Ciji Zhenjun: Don’t let him bother me.

Ye Xingli winced internally, then deleted the message she’d started typing.

Ciji Zhenjun: Today’s events—pretend it never happened.

Ye Xingli: [Shut Up Emoji]

She sighed inwardly. "What’s so special about Zhang Yu, anyway?"

Inside the dorm, once Mo Ejin had left, Fujie let out a long breath.

"Zhang Yu, have you thought about what’ll happen when Director Gao finds out?"

Zhang Yu recalled the satisfied expression Ciji Zhenjun had worn before leaving. He spoke slowly.

"My grasp of the Alchemy curriculum has been acknowledged by Ciji Zhenjun."

"Now, I just need to pass the departmental exam at the end of term."

Ciji Zhenjun had already promised to arrange a private exam—no need to worry about that.

"She said she’ll secretly grant me Alchemy Department status, keeping it hidden for now. That way, I can stay in Civil Engineering Department a few more years."

"Ah… just keep it under wraps as long as possible."

"Director Gao’s been good to me. I don’t want to cause conflict."

Fujie’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re not doing this for Director Gao, are you?"

"You’re after the Civil Engineering Seven Supreme. And the Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power."

(End of Chapter)

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