Chapter 272: Journey to the Second Floor of Kunxu

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Several days later.

Inside the hospital.

Zhang Yu suddenly sat up in his hospital bed, blinking in confusion at the spotless room around him.

Beside the bed, Xinghuo Zhenren’s voice rang out: “I figured you’d wake up around today. You’re actually a bit earlier than I expected.”

Zhang Yu turned sharply toward him and murmured, “I…”

A moment later, he rubbed his head, a sharp pain jolting through his skull.

“Hiss…” Images flooded his mind, and slowly, the memories returned.

“There was an explosion… then the building suddenly collapsed.”

“I tried to jump to the next building from the window, but someone knocked me back…”

Then came a downpour of concrete and steel.

Zhang Yu remembered using Formless Cloud Qi and Nine Heavens Cloudstride Force to hold the debris at bay. When it became too much, he activated Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation to feign death, maintaining the Sacrificial Oxheart Technique to preserve his flesh and blood.

He thought of nothing. Felt nothing. Just floated in darkness, nurturing his wounded body.

Then, suddenly, a thought hit him. “Ah-Zhen! What happened to Ah-Zhen?”

Xinghuo Zhenren looked at him with a complicated expression. “Don’t worry. She’s fine.”

Only then did Zhang Yu breathe a sigh of relief. “Was it the Righteous Gods who arrived? Did they catch the attackers?”

His voice turned cold. “Whoever it was, I want them to pay—until they’re broke and buried!”

“They were two nearly-dead Foundation Establishment cultivators,” Xinghuo Zhenren said. “They blocked the local network and fed false data to make the Righteous Gods think everything was normal.”

“Were they caught?” Zhang Yu pressed.

“They committed suicide before they could be taken. Cleaned out their assets beforehand, too. They were clearly prepared for failure.”

“As for who hired them…” Xinghuo Zhenren paused. “According to the threads Deng Bingding has found… it may be Wang Yin from the Oasis Group.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes narrowed. “Him again.”

Xinghuo Zhenren continued, “But this time, he crossed a line. You had already negotiated with Wanfa Sect University. Attacking you right before the exams? That’s unforgivable.”

“More than a hundred involved had their bodies and souls dealt with. The Oasis Group had to pay a massive fine. I doubt Wang Yin will try this method again.”

“He’ll just use another?” Zhang Yu said coldly.

“Academic competition. Commercial competition. No one’s going to intervene in those.”

But in his heart, Xinghuo Zhenren was thinking: “Still… was it really just Wang Yin? Would he spend this much to eliminate both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen?”

“Did he realize their potential and want to nip it in the bud?”

“Or was it the Netherworld University—or even the Netherworld Palace? Did someone else notice what I did? That Zhang Yu is no ordinary student?”

He couldn’t be sure. But it didn’t matter much. In a month, Zhang Yu would be at Wanfa Sect University, beyond the reach of the Netherworld University.

Until then, Xinghuo Zhenren decided he’d stay close to Zhang Yu. For protection—and to teach him as much as possible.

Just then, Zhang Yu looked at his phone. “Why can’t I reach Ah-Zhen?”

Xinghuo Zhenren was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Ah-Zhen awakened her Divine Spirit Root during the fight with those two Foundation cultivators.”

“That’s what triggered the Righteous Gods to arrive early.”

Zhang Yu’s face changed instantly. “Damn it! She usually suppresses her Zhen Spirit Root so it won’t evolve. Those two must’ve forced her to release it.”

Anxious, Zhang Yu asked, “What happened to her after that?”

Seeing his reaction, Xinghuo Zhenren realized Zhang Yu likely knew Bai Zhenzhen’s secret long ago.

He sighed inwardly. “To think the two disciples I’ve been guiding… both turned out to be shocking in their own right.”

“I thought Zhang Yu’s suspected Martial Saint Embryo physique was rare enough for a lifetime.”

“But Bai Zhenzhen is even more terrifying. A naturally evolving Spirit Root, and now she’s reached Divine Spirit Root level… She’s even more gifted than Zhang Yu.”

Still, now wasn’t the time for such talk.

“She was taken away by the Righteous Gods,” Xinghuo Zhenren said. “But don’t worry. According to Deng Bingding, Bai Zhenzhen is safe. She’s been placed under the protection of the Seven Sentiments Lord from Heavenly Sword Sect University and will likely become his disciple.”

“The Seven Sentiments Lord is a Nascent Soul Sword Immortal,” he explained. “He’s been looking for a successor to his Extreme Emotions Sword Dao. Apparently, he took a liking to Bai Zhenzhen during the Foundation Establishment exam.”

Zhang Yu paused, thinking: “Deng Bingding did say that during the Dao Heart Test, someone important was impressed by Ah-Zhen’s performance in the illusion trial. That’s why she got the interest-free loan despite not ranking first.”

“Was that the Seven Sentiments Lord? A Nascent Soul Sword Immortal can see the contents of the Foundation Establishment exam?”

He also recalled that during recruitment, Heavenly Sword Sect University had given Bai Zhenzhen the best offer.

Xinghuo Zhenren added, “Even if it’s a Divine Spirit Root, once she’s reached Foundation Establishment, forcefully extracting it would destroy it. Getting training from a Nascent Soul cultivator at Heavenly Sword Sect University is a blessing.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. He still felt uneasy, but he knew there was nothing he could do now.

“She’s still on the first floor, right? Can I go see her?”

Xinghuo Zhenren shook his head. “After the exams, she’ll head to the second floor. For now, her security level is too high. No one can see her.”

“But don’t worry. Once you’re both on the second floor in university, you’ll definitely have the chance.”

Seeing Zhang Yu relax a little, Xinghuo Zhenren sighed inwardly: “Yes… a Divine Spirit Root post-Foundation might be ruined if extracted. But it’s not impossible to refine someone—root and all—into a Law Husk.”

Would the Seven Sentiments Lord go that far? Xinghuo Zhenren didn’t know. So he didn’t mention it. No need to burden Zhang Yu with more fear.

But another thought came to him.

“Sigh. I never saw it coming. Bai Zhenzhen’s talent far surpasses Zhang Yu’s.”

“With a Divine Spirit Root and a Nascent Soul master… once they start university, the gap between them will widen quickly—in rank, in wealth, in status.”

“Even the strongest friendships from high school… can wither.”

He’d seen it happen too many times. But he knew there was nothing he could say now. Zhang Yu would have to experience and process it himself.

At that moment, Zhang Yu climbed out of bed, performing the movements of the Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation.

“Master, I feel almost fully recovered. Can we start training again?”

His eyes blazed with determination—a hunger for strength and cultivation.

Xinghuo Zhenren nodded. “You’re nearly there. Come on, let’s not train here and disturb the other patients.”

Over the next month, aside from absorbing spiritual energy from a spirit vein, Xinghuo Zhenren trained Zhang Yu relentlessly, day and night.

Especially moved by Zhang Yu’s deep yearning for power and cultivation, he pushed even harder.

Yu Xinghan joined occasionally, suffering the same brutal training.

…

At the same time.

In a spirit vein on the first floor.

Bai Zhenzhen opened her eyes and looked at Deng Bingding. “Deng Youshen, can you deliver a message to Zhang Yu for me?”

Deng Bingding smiled. “Of course. What would you like me to say?”

Looking at her, Deng Bingding silently marveled: “An evolving Spirit Root, already at Divine level. Could she one day reach Celestial Spirit Root? A true sect seedling.”

“Maybe Zhang Yu’s just a smokescreen.”

“She’s the real talent the higher-ups want.”

The more he thought, the more he admired their foresight. “They hid this so well. If it weren’t for Netherworld University blundering into it…”

“Wait… did Netherworld University use Wang Yin just to test the waters? Maybe Bai Zhenzhen was their real target.”

He couldn’t be sure, but one thing was clear—Bai Zhenzhen was now both important and mysterious.

“Compared to her, Zhang Yu feels like an ordinary student.”

“But since they seem close, I should keep in good graces with both.”

…

In the training hall.

Zhang Yu lay twisted on the ground, pain etched on his face as he reset each dislocated limb.

Just then, his phone buzzed.

A message from Deng Bingding.

“Ah-Zhen asked you to pass something on?”

Bai Zhenzhen: Yuzi, I’m doing well. Focus on your exam. Once I’m up there, I’ll find a way to come see you.

Zhang Yu’s heart calmed instantly.

Xinghuo Zhenren’s voice barked, “You done resting? How long are you gonna lie there?”

Zhang Yu clenched his teeth and stood up. “Let’s keep going.”

…

A month passed in a flash.

With the college entrance exams over, Zhang Yu and the others said farewell to their high school days.

Today, aboard a flying vessel bound for the Ascension Platform.

Zhang Yu looked down at the shrinking Songyang City, memories of the past three years flashing through his mind.

Yu Xinghan slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Bro, what do you think about enrolling in Heavenly Sword Sect University? With Zhen-jie backing us, wouldn’t it be easier to get by?”

Zhang Yu had considered it. But he shook his head. “Forget it. We’re not suited for what they teach there. We’d just slow her down.”

He knew everything he had was invested in the Wanfa Sect University path.

Switching to Heavenly Sword would only set him back.

“In this world, power is everything,” he thought. “What good is seeing Ah-Zhen again if I’m weak?”

“If I can’t even protect myself?”

Le Mulan walked over. “Zhang Yu, you’re going with Wanfa Sect University too, right? Which department?”

Zhang Yu replied casually, “Civil Engineering.”

Le Mulan blinked. “Ci… Civil Engineering?”

Just then, a scream rang out. Zhang Yu turned sharply to see Xiong Wenwu pinned to the ground, several people kneeling on the black bear’s back.

“You punk! What’re you hiding in your ass? Smuggling contraband?”

“Stop squeezing!” Xiong Wenwu’s face turned red. “That’s my hemorrhoid from two days ago!”

At that moment, a moan echoed in Zhang Yu’s mind.

“How long was I out?”