Chapter 284: The Feathered Tome Awakens

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up as he listened to Tu Lishan. “Arrays, huh?”

Arrays—he had encountered them back in high school.

Whether it was the Spirit-Gathering Array at Songyang High, the Guidance Grand Array in the Central Tower, or the Mountain-Guarding Array at the protected zone… Zhang Yu had seen them all firsthand. He had even interacted with them, though the inner workings remained a blur to him.

After all, this was knowledge never covered during high school.

The more Zhang Yu listened now, the more he realized how profound arrays truly were. They were systems that replicated, altered, or even transcended nature through combinations of spiritual energy, structure, and materials—foundational to Kunxu’s vast architectural marvels.

Before he knew it, the first Engineering Array Drafting class had come to an end.

Just as Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan were about to leave, the golden-glowing instructor walked up to them, drawing the attention of nearby students.

The teacher, Tu Lishan, gave Zhang Yu a warm smile. “This may be your first time seeing me, Zhang Yu, but I saw you during your Foundation Establishment exam.”

Zhang Yu blinked, recalling the final round of the exam. Many elite spectators had attended—representatives from various universities.

Tu Lishan’s head shimmered, momentarily morphing into a dog’s before returning to normal.

“That was my form back then,” he said with a chuckle. “The moment I saw how you performed on the field, I knew you were born to work with civil engineering. I pushed hard for the university to recruit you.”

“For the next three months, focus on your foundational courses. Once the school year officially begins in September, I’ll take you to the construction site to start earning money.”

Zhang Yu’s eyes widened. “We can start working on-site that early?”

Tu Lishan nodded. “Study while you work—make a bit of money in the process.”

“I know you’re from the first floor. Finances are tight. A job site’s the best classroom for someone like you.”

“In civil engineering, if you’re willing to grind, put your back into it for a few years—you’ll make more than enough.”

He then turned to Yu Xinghan. “You too, Yu Xinghan. Come with us when the time comes.”

As Tu Lishan walked away, Yu Xinghan sighed in admiration. “There really are good teachers at Wanfa University. He saw my talent—and my uniqueness! And he’s giving us a shot to make money too.”

“Zhang Yu, let’s work hard these next three months. Once we’re on the site, let’s give it everything we’ve got and earn a decent living.”

“Sigh… If only I could earn like Teacher Tu someday.”

Their exchange had already drawn curious looks from surrounding students.

Especially among the Qi Refinement crowd—many eyes sparkled with envy upon hearing that Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan could begin paid work in just three months.

Li Xiao, a fellow Foundation Establishment student from Xiandu, witnessed it all. After a moment of thought, he chased Tu Lishan down outside the classroom. “Teacher Tu, could I get a shot too?”

“I want to join the construction site.”

Tu Lishan’s eyes flickered. “You from the first floor too?”

Li Xiao’s breath hitched. He’d already been singled out countless times over the past few days for being a first-floorer.

But when he nodded, Tu Lishan smiled. “First-floorers are great. A lot of people look down on you, but I actually admire you all.”

“I’ve taught many students over the years, and none are more hardworking than those from the first floor.”

He clapped Li Xiao on the shoulder. “Put in the effort. In three months, I’ll bring you to the site too.”

“But keep in mind, job slots are limited. You’ll be competing with Zhang Yu and the others. You’d better work hard these next three months.”

“Truth be told, I’m rooting for you.”

As Tu Lishan left, Li Xiao felt a fiery surge within him. “Three months from now! I will make it onto that site!”

On the way up to the 666th floor, Tu Lishan mused, “Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, Li Xiao… all good kids.”

Unlike many teachers who preferred rich, high-tier students, Tu Lishan had a soft spot for poor yet gifted ones.

“These broke kids are the real backbone of civil engineering.”

“If everyone wants to be a manager, who’s going to actually build things?”

“Sure, Gongshu Jin and Ji Yuanshu are ten times more brilliant—but Gongshu Jin’s loaded, and Ji Yuanshu has made it clear he’s switching departments. Like hell they’d work a sweaty, underpaid site job.”

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan were riding a Magnetic-tube toward their next class.

A voice called out from nearby.

“Zhang Yu!”

He turned toward the voice, surprised. “That guy… isn’t he from Xiandu?”

It was Yun Jing, who had fought alongside Zhang Yu in the Foundation Establishment exam—only to lose to Bai Zhenzhen in the end.

Now surrounded by five Qi Refinement students, Yun Jing stood awkwardly. One of the group snapped, “You’re from the first floor too? This has nothing to do with you. Get lost…”

But when he saw the glowing title above Zhang Yu’s head—Civil Engineering Department, Foundation Establishment Class, Rank 13—his demeanor changed instantly.

“I-I mean… I should be the one leaving!”

He quickly turned to Yun Jing with a sheepish grin. “Why didn’t you say you knew someone from Foundation Establishment?”

Watching the others scatter, Yun Jing turned toward Zhang Yu, conflicted.

Back on the first floor, he had been the proud Xiandu noble. Zhang Yu was the rural bumpkin.

But one Foundation Establishment exam had flipped their fates.

Now, all Yun Jing could do was look up to this student of the Foundation Establishment class.

Zhang Yu met his gaze coolly. “Got into some trouble?”

He could tell Yun Jing had just used his presence to ward off those guys.

Yun Jing admitted, “It’s easy to get ostracized as a first-floorer in the Artifact Refinement Department. I’ve gotten used to it… but today they went too far.”

“In any case, thanks for the help.”

“I’ll repay the favor someday.”

He cupped his hands in a formal bow and walked away.

Zhang Yu watched him go, sighing inwardly. “Looks like the Yun clan’s not doing so hot.”

He figured he’d share this bit of gossip with Bai Zhenzhen later. She’d love it—especially since Yun Jing had once been her opponent.

A few moments later, Zhang Yu arrived at a massive lecture hall.

This was a cross-departmental core class.

On the stage, a group of students were promoting their services. “Hello everyone! We’re from the Dao Techniques Department. Offering paid Dao Technique support!”

“We’ve got the Heart-Clarifying Technique for photographic memory, the Primordial Return Technique to boost spiritual energy circulation, the Spring-Returning Technique for physical reinforcement—all yours for just 0.03 Nectar Coins an hour!”

“We even have the Soul Cloud Synchronization Technique! Train in sync with a partner—double the gains for the same time spent! Only 0.09 Nectar Coins per hour!”

“We’ve also got seniors who specialize in thunder spells like the Divine Thunder Pulse, which boosts body refinement, increases spiritual root fusion, and heightens your senses—all for just 0.19 Nectar Coins an hour!”

“Today’s the last day of our back-to-school campaign—click the link and sign up for a membership to get 30% off all services!”

In front of Gongshu Jin, a Dao Techniques student was trying to sell him a membership.

He seemed intrigued and listened closely.

One student also approached Ji Yuanshu, but the sixth-floor noble only responded coolly, “I already have a private Dao Techniques team. I don’t need this.”

The seller awkwardly walked away.

Yu Xinghan sighed with envy. “Being rich really is great.”

Zhang Yu stared at the listing for the Soul Cloud Synchronization Technique, eyes gleaming. “I wonder if it works with the Feathered Tome… should I spend the coins to try it out?”

“But even at a discount, 0.09 per hour… with everything I have, I could only afford 200 hours or so. Better not.”

“Sigh, I’ll just bookmark the site. Spending recklessly only leads to losses. That’s how people become chives waiting to be harvested.”

With only about a dozen Nectar Coins to his name, Zhang Yu decided to hold off.

After all, he still knew too little about Wanfa University and its endless spending traps.

“Better learn more about the Civil Engineering Department first. Plan before spending on cultivation.”

Soon, the Dao Techniques promoters left the hall.

An elderly man with snow-white hair stepped onto the stage. “Martial Force and Mechanics—just as the name suggests, this course will teach you the intricacies of power, force, and technique in martial arts…”

“Whether it's combat, construction, artifact refining, pill-making, or other fields, you'll find this course ties into them all.”

“If your major includes courses like Fluid Force, Geotechnical Force, or Thermal Radiation Force, then pay extra attention to what I’m about to teach.”

“You’re all first-years. When your foundational term ends in three months, there’ll be a major entrance exam.”

“If you don’t score well, you can forget about taking the advanced courses.”

“Even those with strong foundations shouldn’t get cocky—ranking battles hinge on those results too.”

Zhang Yu nodded to himself. He understood. The instructor was referring to the final exam that concluded the three-month foundational curriculum.

“If I want to climb the rankings,” Zhang Yu thought, “then I can’t afford to slack off—on any test.”

Over the next two days, he focused hard during the day, soaking up all the new knowledge.

At night, he returned to his dorm to cultivate. He had already advanced the Body-Refining Seventy-Two Forms to Level 20, and now the Heart-Forging Method was at Level 17.

“Okay, I’m logging off, Yuzi.”

“Keep up the good work!”

“The thing I sent you should arrive in a few days—don’t forget to pick it up.”

After ending a call with Bai Zhenzhen, Zhang Yu returned to his training.

About half an hour later, a stinging pain pulsed through his palm. The sigil in his hand had turned pitch-black.

The Feathered Tome flipped open violently. Aside from the prologue and Chapter One: Chain Diagram, a new chapter emerged.

Zhang Yu squinted to read the title, murmuring to himself, “Chapter Two: The Dao Seed Codex.”