Chapter 73: Draining the Last Cent

Under the Level 10 effect of the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique, Zhang Yu felt his control over combat growing sharper than ever. No subtle shift in an opponent’s moves could escape his notice, and he could mobilize every ounce of strength with pinpoint precision. His real-world combat ability had surged dramatically.

The only catch was the cost in mental energy. After maintaining this heightened state for a single minute, Zhang Yu began to feel lightheaded and dizzy.

“This full-focus mode is for critical moments only. Can’t waste it casually.”

Still, having the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique at Level 10 gave him a much greater edge in the upcoming Martial Arts Combat Tournament.

“But it’s still not enough…”

He thought about the dirty tricks used in the Law Tournament, about Zhang Pianpian’s expectation for him to place first in the martial competition. He needed to stack the odds even further in his favor.

He reopened the shopping platform and pulled up the techniques he’d bookmarked over the past few weeks.

Zhang Yu had already given thought to what to train after maxing out his Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique.

Now, his eyes locked onto a technique called the Indestructible Seal Method—an Expert-Grade Martial Technique—currently half off at 30,000 credits. He read the user reviews and the detailed description of its Level 10 effect.

Like the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique, the Indestructible Seal Method was expert-grade, but its specialty lay in manipulating enemy mana—drawing it in and bouncing it back.

It was notoriously hard to master. Let alone mastering it, even learning the basics was difficult, with reviews warning that self-study was nearly impossible and that hiring a tutor could cost tens of thousands more.

One-star review: “Avoid! Can’t learn it on your own. Had to spend a fortune on tutoring.”

Two-star review: “Bought it at full price… only for it to go on sale right after.”

One-star review: “I’ll leave a good review once I reach Level 10.”

Zhang Yu guessed the low sales due to its difficulty were likely why it was discounted.

But that didn’t bother him—because the Indestructible Seal Method only had four moves.

More importantly, its Level 10 effect would be perfect for the Martial Arts Combat Tournament, and it would synergize well with his Limitless Cloud Hands.

“Limitless Cloud Hands can redirect force and turn the opponent’s power back on them, but Formless Cloud Qi has a weakness—it’s vulnerable to disruption by specialized mana.”

“But if I pair it with the Indestructible Seal Method, I could redirect and even counterattack using that same specialized mana.”

“And with the Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Technique constantly replenishing my mana, and the Celestial Martial Heart-Forging Technique keeping track of every battlefield detail…”

“My entire combat system becomes more complete—better at turning the tide from a disadvantaged position, and more importantly… avoiding injury when I do win.”

In the Martial Arts Combat Tournament, facing opponents with superior stats, not getting injured—or at least minimizing injury—was crucial for a broke student like him.

That’s why he leaned toward defensive counterattack techniques rather than flashy, aggressive ones.

The only real downside of the Indestructible Seal Method?

It was expensive. Even with the discount, it cost 30,000—and Zhang Yu only had a little over that left in his account.

If he bought it, he’d be broke.

But then he thought of the strongest first-year student in Songyang City, and his dream of making it into the Ten Great Academies…

“I have to get in. I have to win this tournament. The prize for first place is 50,000. If I can’t win, what good is hoarding this 30,000?”

With that, Zhang Yu gritted his teeth and dropped all 30,000 credits on the technique in one go.

In an instant, he received the digital manual for the Indestructible Seal Method.

After studying it, the technique materialized from his Feathered Tome, and he switched it to his Specialized Training Technique.

As a method focused on mana manipulation—redirecting and rebounding it—the Indestructible Seal Method only had four simple external moves. The real core was internal control.

In less than a minute, Zhang Yu had reached Level 1.

Memories of practicing the Indestructible Seal Method again and again surged into his mind.

He could feel his mastery over mana sharpening. He could even momentarily absorb incoming enemy mana and turn it against them.

Of course, this process still consumed some of his own mana—but the cost was less than what the enemy had spent attacking.

Zhang Yu nodded to himself. “As long as I keep improving this, I’ll be able to use a small amount of my own mana to manipulate much more from my opponent.”

“According to the website, once it’s Level 10, I’ll be able to redirect 10 units of mana using only 3 units of my own—that’s a 30% cost.”

With that in mind, he dove back into training the Indestructible Seal Method with single-minded focus.

…

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. It was now the day before the Martial Arts Combat Tournament.

In the training hall, Lei Jun was holding his own against both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, instructing them as he fought.

Seeing how quickly they’d improved recently, Lei Jun was impressed.

“These two kids… their understanding of martial techniques grows by the day. Their practical combat skills are skyrocketing.”

Even while keeping his physical output capped at Level 2, Lei Jun had to keep escalating his technique just to stay ahead of them.

But what shocked him even more was—

“They’ve both started developing their own combat styles during these spars and brutal training sessions.”

He threw a punch, only for it to be absorbed by a swirl of white qi under Zhang Yu’s control. The force of the blow scattered, most of it deflected.

“This brat’s Limitless Cloud Hands are getting scarily refined. He’s like a greased pig—hit him with ten units of power, and he’ll disperse seven or eight. You have to use specialized mana just to break through his Formless Cloud Qi. And now he’s added the Indestructible Seal Method to his toolkit? His defense is practically watertight.”

“At least I don’t have to worry about him getting beaten into bankruptcy in this tournament.”

He spun to block Bai Zhenzhen’s sword-finger thrust, thinking, “Now her… she’s a true martial genius.”

“In just two weeks, she’s learned to keep up with my feints and spot the flaws in my attacks. She’s attacking where I’m forced to defend.”

“But her style… it’s too risky.”

Boom!

With a surge of force, Lei Jun escalated his output again, blasting both students backward with a wave of mana shock.

“That’s enough tutoring for today.”

He smiled and said, “You two have improved a lot. You’re ready.”

“For tomorrow’s tournament, remember: safety first. Always prioritize your safety. Don’t force it. Don’t push past your limits.”

By now, Bai Zhenzhen was on familiar terms with Lei Jun. “Got it, Old Lei. You think we’ll make the top few?”

Lei Jun thought for a moment. “Top ten is possible.”

“Only top ten? Just ‘possible’?”

He gave a helpless smile. “The Three Great Academies have so many off-the-books techniques. Even their standard stuff is stuff you can’t afford. Their stats are better too. You weren’t even born on the same starting line. If you make top ten, you should be ecstatic.”

“Anyway, go prep. Don’t forget your tournament meds.”

“We meet at 0:00 sharp at the entrance to White Dragon High School.”

That was the venue for the tournament.

Zhang Yu blinked. “Zero o’clock?”

Lei Jun answered matter-of-factly, “White Dragon High still has classes during the day, so the tournament’s scheduled for midnight.”

Zhang Yu could only marvel at White Dragon High’s consistency—it never failed to be inhuman.

“How do we get there?” he asked.

“Take the subway, of course,” said Lei Jun.

“It’s just the two of you. You want the school to spring for a bus?”

Zhang Yu could only nod. Songyang High was just as reliably stingy as White Dragon.

As he watched the two walk away, Lei Jun sighed to himself, “If those two had been born into rich families… maybe they could’ve made it into the Ten Great Academies.”

…

That night.

After two more hours of intensive training, Zhang Yu finally leveled the Indestructible Seal Method to 10.

His body jolted. He felt like his meridians had been forged anew—hardened and more capable of withstanding the flow of specialized mana.

At the same time, all his accumulated experience with mana manipulation clicked into place. It felt like an evolution, a breakthrough.

Now, when he used the technique, he could confidently absorb enemy mana and replenish his own reserves mid-battle.

With the Indestructible Seal Method at Level 10, he could now grow stronger as the fight dragged on—refueling with the enemy’s attacks.

Of course, this absorption had its limits.

“In one fight, I can absorb up to 30 units of mana this way. Any more than that… and my meridians can’t take it.”

He glanced at his Feathered Tome. After two weeks of grinding, his stats had improved dramatically.

Zhang Yu

Dao Heart: Level 3 (53%)

Mana: 21.8

Physical Strength: Level 1.51

“Sigh… If only I’d started the Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Technique a month or two earlier. I’d have more time to boost my physique…”

After a quick shower at home, Zhang Yu rushed out to catch the bus to White Dragon High.

…

11:31 p.m.

Zhang Yu stepped out of the subway and immediately spotted a thirty-story skyscraper—White Dragon High.

But he had no time to gawk.

He was extremely, extremely, extremely hungry.

“Where’s Ah-Zhen?”

“Gotta borrow some money for dinner. Can’t fight like this.”

As for his own money? Gone.

Buying the Indestructible Seal Method had drained his entire 30,000-credit account.

Whatever spare change he had left got burned over the past few days on meals and medicine.

As he scanned the crowd in desperation, a hand suddenly clapped his shoulder.

He turned—his face lit up. “Ah-Zhen? Hurry up—”

“Yuzi, lend me some money.” Bai Zhenzhen clutched her stomach weakly. “Didn’t eat dinner. No strength.”

Zhang Yu was stunned. “You blew through your money too?”

Bai Zhenzhen groaned. “You too? What the hell, Zhang Yu? What kind of spending habits do you have that you can’t even afford dinner?”