Chapter 494: Yishan Lishi (Thank you, 'Yu Xian Qitian' for the Alliance Lord donation!)
With the Final Exam concluded, Zhang Yu, as usual, secured the top spot in his class and climbed to 23rd place in the Civil Engineering Department based on his rising Comprehensive Score. This earned him a fresh batch of low-interest scholarship loans—combined, his class rank and department ranking brought him a total of over 20 Lingbi in funding.
Though Zhang Yu’s income was now substantial, his expenses were equally steep. The cost of crafting Spirit Artifacts, maintenance fees, purchasing alchemy blueprints, and practicing alchemy techniques—each of these could easily hire several Civil Engineering Department students. With the new 20 Lingbi loan, his account balance now hovered near 60 Lingbi.
Beyond the scholarship, high rankings came with other perks—weekly meal rations, discounts on campus facilities—benefits Zhang Yu had grown accustomed to, even if he sometimes found them a bit stingy. To most students, however, these were enviable privileges.
Now that his account was flush with Lingbi, Zhang Yu saw no reason not to spend it. After all, enhancing his cultivation meant boosting his ability to earn more.
"You can't grow stronger without spending. How else do you earn more?"
With dreams of ascending the immortal path burning in his heart, Zhang Yu plunged once again into the Alchemy Laboratory.
For him, the immediate goal was clear: a new Military-Grade Power. But that path would only open once he transferred into the Alchemy Department.
Still, even if he couldn’t yet access that power, in Kunxu—no matter how close his Base Statistics were to their limits—money could always unlock the next level. Especially for someone like Zhang Yu, who was walking the alchemy path. As long as he had funds, he could continuously refine his alchemy skills, craft more Spirit Artifacts to generate income, and thus keep elevating both his wealth and his cultivation.
Take this moment in University City’s 669th Layer, where Ying Xin’s Grandfather led Zhao Tianxing, Che Yufei, and other company staff in operating Zhang Yu’s Spirit Artifact.
Watching the Di Shasha Bottle steadily produce concrete under his control, Zhao Tianxing felt a deep sense of satisfaction. "Who would’ve thought a junior college student like me could now work on projects for Wanfa University every day?"
Walking the construction sites of the 669th Layer, sometimes even controlling the Spirit Artifact alongside other students, Zhao Tianxing began to feel like he was truly part of the university community.
Thanks to Zhang Yu’s strong ties within the Civil Engineering Department and the many Spirit Artifacts he provided, the company managed to secure small internal projects—without Zhang Yu having to lift a finger.
After deducting employee salaries, taxes, Martial Energy charging costs, maintenance fees, and the commission paid to Tu Lishan, Zhang Yu still earned a steady 0.1 to 0.2 Lingbi per day.
"It’s not much… but it’s passive income!"
Every time he was deep in the lab, running experiments, he’d think: My team is still working, my account is growing silently—this Lingbi tastes better than what I’d earn myself.
Fujie nodded in agreement. "The food you cook yourself tastes best, but the money your employees earn? That’s even better. Passive income beats active labor any day."
Zhang Yu grinned. "Exactly."
Fujie added, "My efforts have boosted company performance recently…"
Zhang Yu said, "Keep it up, Fu Zong. Once the company grows, you’ll be rewarded. I hope you grow with it."
Fujie mentally cursed: "You bastard… you’re still refusing to pay me a salary, aren’t you?"
…
Meanwhile, as Zhang Yu shuttled between construction sites and the lab, the Finance Department’s Jiutian Liu added him as a friend.
Jiutian Liu: Zhang Yu, hello.
Jiutian Liu had connected through Tianzhang Zhenjun.
Seeing the top-ranked student in the Finance Department—ranked No. 1 in his department, No. 2 overall in the entire university—Zhang Yu felt a weight settle in his chest. The last time he’d seen someone with such a high rank was Yan Qianji, the alchemy prodigy who ranked No. 1 in the Alchemy Department and No. 3 nationwide.
Zhang Yu: What do you need?
Jiutian Liu: I’d like to rent your body—just a portion. The exact amount depends on the test results.
Zhang Yu: What?
Jiutian Liu: I know it sounds sudden, but I’m under tight time pressure preparing for this year’s Top Ten League. I need to accelerate my cultivation.
Jiutian Liu: The Ciji Zhenjun’s Yin Device experiment seems like a promising opportunity.
Jiutian Liu: I want to rent your body—use it to take the experiment in your place.
Zhang Yu rejected it instantly. "Sorry, not interested."
He couldn’t accept. The experiment was his way of laundering his cultivation—letting Jiutian Liu take it in his place? That would risk exposing his lie at any moment.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s flat refusal, Jiutian Liu’s gaze flickered slightly—surprised. "So quick to say no?"
Jiutian Liu: Don’t you want to know the price?
Zhang Yu: Sorry, really not interested.
Jiutian Liu: Zhang Yu, reconsider.
The Yin Device experiment is drawing more attention by the day. The rewards are huge, but so are the risks.
Jiutian Liu: The last time the Qiongjiang God descended was just the beginning.
Jiutian Liu: Instead of gambling, why not take the money and walk away now?
Before Jiutian Liu could send another message, Zhang Yu replied again: "I’m not interested. Don’t bother."
Feeling the subtle impatience in the reply, Jiutian Liu paused—then let out a quiet chuckle. "Hmph. This kid… greedy as hell."
"Let’s see how long you can hold onto that position."
"When you finally want to leave… it might not be at this price anymore."
…
As Zhang Yu’s Lingbi dwindled again and his account balance dipped below 20 Lingbi, the scale of his Taiyi Jin Ye Dan expanded once more. After blending it with Gang Qi, the power of the Qi surged even further.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Vein Treasure Forging Decree continued to rise—now reaching Level 20—enabling the Chain Law Diagram Set’s Alchemy Genius to master its second technique.
When Zhang Yu tested his Gang Qi in the Simulation Construction Site, golden flames erupted from his body, cascading like a First Layer golden armor enveloping him.
In an instant, a five-meter-tall Golden Armor Warrior stood over him—Zhang Yu’s new creation, Yishan Lishi.
Though reminiscent of the giant he’d once built with Xiao Sanhe, this new form was far more powerful and refined—essentially a refined upgrade of the Wuxiang Lingjiang.
Yishan Lishi’s body was forged from a fusion of Protective Aura and Taiyi Jin Ye Dan, resembling a golden puppet, glowing with a metallic sheen. Beneath its solid outer shell lay liquid armor, and above that, a gaseous armor infused with Jiuxiao Yun Kongjin—three states of matter working in harmony to deliver unmatched defense.
Even more, the outer golden armor bore faint, shimmering Dragon Scales—reforged with Dragon Vein power through the 20th-Level Dragon Vein Treasure Forging Decree.
Thanks to this Dragon Vein influence, when Zhang Yu now unleashed his Gang Qi, he could channel a portion of incoming attacks into the earth, amplify Array-based buffs, and even accelerate his Martial Energy recovery speed within the Array.
Unlike the old Wuxiang Lingjiang, which relied on pushing mud and sand, Yishan Lishi now used its own Gang Qi in tandem with the Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power—no longer dependent on external materials. The result? Unmatched strength, speed, and explosive force.
Zhang Yu thought: "According to intelligence, Xianbing University’s Civil Engineering Department’s strongest asset is their massive Military-Grade puppet."
"Perfect. My Yishan Lishi can face it head-on—stop it from breaking through our front lines."
At that moment, Ciji Zhenjun spoke from beside him. "You’ve really reached Level 20 in the Dragon Vein Treasure Forging Decree?"
Zhang Yu quickly replied, "Yes."
"Ever since that Yin Device experiment, I’ve felt an uncanny familiarity with this technique. The more I practiced, the faster it came—like I’d already known it all along."
Ciji Zhenjun studied the faint Dragon Scale patterns on Yishan Lishi and said, "Let’s test it."
The results confirmed it—Zhang Yu had indeed reached Level 20.
Ciji Zhenjun stared, stunned. "Just half a month? You’ve pushed this alchemy technique to Level 20 in half a month?"
"Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."
"No wonder the two gods from Hehuan University have been cultivating at such an astonishing pace—yet they guard this technique like a secret."
"They must be using it to transfer others’ cultivation into themselves."
"Hmph. Probably stealing it from others."
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu’s Tian Kunlun Shifting Mountain Divine Power had also passed its 20th-Level threshold in lab tests—leaving Tianzhang Zhenjun both amazed and delighted.
Ciji Zhenjun: Good. The stronger you are, the better your chances tomorrow at Xianbing University.
"Fight hard tomorrow—but always be ready to surrender. Lao Gao and I will be watching through the Ling Realm."
…
The next day.
Xianbing University was located deep within a bottomless chasm, its campus sprawling downward into the earth, forming an immense underground city.
Wan Gouxuan, leader of the Civil Engineering Department’s team, stood with several teammates, facing their instructor.
The teacher handed each of them a Spirit Armor. "Zhang Yu has confirmed his participation."
"Once the match begins, find your opening. Take turns using these Spirit Armors, follow the professor’s instructions, and extract every possible material from his body—head to toe."
Wan Gouxuan nodded, confident. "Don’t worry, teacher. Diyong Shen is at peak condition. I won’t give Zhang Yu a single chance—I’ll crush him utterly."
Holding the armor, Wan Gouxuan’s mind flashed back to last year—when Mo Ejin had destroyed his Medical Insurance. His eyes darkened. "Mo Ejin… you gave me humiliation. This time, I’ll repay it tenfold—on your disciple’s body. I’ll carve the shame of losing to Xianbing University into his flesh."
Yet, thinking of Mo Ejin, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
The teacher reassured him. "Don’t worry. If Mo Ejin shows up alive, we’ll make sure you’re strengthened."
"Your priority? Finish it fast. Leave him no chance to surrender."
Requesting Monthly Votes
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
