Chapter 290: Le Mulan's Mission

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

The first time Zhang Yu saw the description for the War Demon Life-Draining Technique, he had serious doubts:

Is this really a technique civil engineering students are supposed to learn?

So he checked the user feedback.

“As long as you're young and your lifespan isn't worth much, it’s a good deal. Work one day, lose two days off your life, still comes out ahead. Spend some life now, make some money, and you’ll be able to afford longevity pills later.”

“Times have changed. With today's advanced immortal medicine, the War Demon Life-Draining Technique isn’t as scary as it sounds. Just take the right pills and the side effects are minimal. Even long-term use isn’t an issue.”

“I’m a sophomore in Civil Engineering. I saw upperclassmen whining about this technique and thought—if sacrificing a bit of lifespan helps you earn more, isn’t that just fast-forwarding your work hours? Less time on the job, more money in your pocket. If you can’t handle even this, good luck with anything else.”

“Be grateful. A few hundred years ago, our profession was called corvée labor. You’d finish your work, earn nothing, and maybe die doing it. Losing lifespan? That’s the easy version. Kunxu has made progress.”

Reading all this, Zhang Yu confirmed two things: yes, the War Demon Life-Draining Technique really was a standard technique in Civil Engineering. And also—

“This entire feedback section is either rigged or full of sarcasm.”

“Damn it... Do Civil Engineering jobs really demand this much desperation?”

What left Zhang Yu truly speechless was realizing how the technique had changed.

In the past, the War Demon Life-Draining Technique was used for brief combat bursts.

Now? It was used for overtime work—taken alongside medication, and used over extended periods.

Fu Ji, listening to Zhang Yu’s muttering, chimed in with a giggle. “Heh, did you think those Gold Core cultivators do the work themselves and pocket all the profits? Nah, they hire Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators like you.”

“It’s because this kind of labor takes time away from their cultivation and wears down their bodies and Law Husks. So they subcontract it.”

“There’s no such thing as easy money while lying flat. If it were that easy, it wouldn’t be our turn.”

“In Kunxu, anyone who’s clawed their way up from the bottom—if they want to earn real money—has to suffer, grind, and gamble their lives.”

“But you don’t need to worry too much about this technique.”

“With your physique—your resilience and healing—what cuts years off others’ lives won’t do the same to you.”

“Just keep the wear and tear within limits you can handle.”

Zhang Yu nodded slightly, recalling how the Sacrificial Oxheart Technique enhanced his body’s vitality, and how the Martial Saint Embryo accelerated his healing.

“If I ever need to use the War Demon Life-Draining Technique, I’d better switch to the Chain Diagram set that boosts the Martial Saint Embryo.”

“But since the Martial Saint Embryo is still a Qi Refinement-level set, it’s already losing effectiveness now that I’m in Foundation Establishment. Eventually, I’ll need to collect the Foundation-level Martial Saint Body.”

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and Zhang Yu continued cultivating the War Demon Life-Draining Technique.

As mana coursed through his body, unlocking hidden potential, it prepared him for explosive bursts of power.

Meanwhile, Fu Ji, after days of observation, confirmed that the floors below 100 were still relatively safe. She reminded him, “If you get a chance, find a spot below Floor 100 and help me perform a ritual.”

“I haven’t used a single Level 2 Evil God Ritual yet.”

…

Outside the dorm.

Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan traded blows, practicing close combat. Zhang Yu guided him using the techniques of the Bro Code Technique, helping them both refine their body cultivation and increase their Spirit Root fusion rate.

Back on Kunxu’s first floor, under Xinghuo Zhenren’s guidance, the two had already developed a system for joint body cultivation.

Now, with the Bro Code Technique added in, their progress was accelerating.

In fact, using Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation to pair with Yu Xinghan’s body cultivation had become Zhang Yu’s most effective method for improving his own physical strength.

“After all, the Gluttonous Divine Technique and the War Demon Life-Draining Technique… Yu Xinghan doesn’t even know I’ve been cultivating them. They each have their own benefits—one strengthens the body, the other unlocks hidden potential and power surges—but for sheer numerical strength, neither beats Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation.”

Watching the increasingly visible Dao Seed forming on Yu Xinghan’s body, Zhang Yu thought to himself,

To copy the Third Eye, I’ll need to boost our Spirit Root fusion rate to at least 90%.

Right now, we’re both around 70%. If we go by Teacher Wolf’s estimate, it’ll take three months at best… maybe more than half a year.

No idea what the Third Eye actually does, though.

Off to the side, Le Mulan watched Yu Xinghan with envy, wishing she could swap places with him and benefit from the same efficient body cultivation.

But unfortunately… she was still in the Qi Refinement Realm. How could she spar with someone in Foundation Establishment?

After a brief greeting, Le Mulan left the dorm and headed toward the Pharmacology Department.

…

As soon as she sat down in the classroom, a young man took the seat in front of her.

Le Mulan glanced at him. She knew him—Xuange, ranked fourth in the class.

Xuange gave her an admiring look. “Le, your mana has that innate chill to it—it’s cold-type, isn’t it?”

Le Mulan nodded. “Xuange, is there something you need?”

Xuange smiled faintly. “You probably know I’m from the Third Floor, right? I’m expected to pass the Foundation Establishment exam next year. I’ve already been accepted as a disciple by a Gold Core pharmacology cultivator.”

Le Mulan blinked, then said, “Congratulations, then.”

Xuange continued, “You might be wondering—why would someone as promising as me come to talk to someone like you, a middling student from the First Floor?”

He smiled. “Even if your grades are average, and you’re from the First Floor, your innate cold-type mana is something no one else can replicate.”

“I want to be friends with you.”

What he really meant was:

I want to dual cultivate with you.

Not because he lusted after her beauty—though Le Mulan’s icy skin and violet double-pupiled eyes did have a certain allure—but because he was focused on academics.

His own mana was blazing hot. Paired with Le Mulan’s cold-type mana, their dual cultivation would be unusually effective.

Xuange knew that in most high schools, dual cultivation was discouraged—it was too easy for students to get distracted.

But in university, especially among the top ten schools, it was different.

Making it this far already proved they had the discipline to handle it.

And when two people both had innate specialized mana, it was actively encouraged.

Xuange had heard that at Pleasure and Harmony University, they even grouped students with specialized mana together—for dual cultivation, group cultivation, even mass cultivation—to accelerate their progress.

But he knew that opening with “let’s dual cultivate” would scare her off or get her asking for payment.

Start as friends,

he thought.

Maybe she won’t ask for money. Even if she does, I could get a discount.

That was a senior’s advice, and Xuange agreed completely. On the Immortal Path, every coin saved today was one step further tomorrow.

As he gazed at Le Mulan, her EyeNet suddenly pinged with a message from Le Jingchen.

Le Jingchen

: I sent you 0.5 Spirit Coins. Did you get it?

Le Mulan

: Yeah. Thanks, ge.

Le Jingchen

: The Le family on the Second Floor is closer to the power centers. They’ll take care of their own first. Folks like us from the First Floor only get real support once we’ve proven ourselves.

Le Jingchen

: Didn’t you say you live with Zhang Yu?

Le Jingchen

: Can you get me some feather juice?

In the classroom, Xuange noticed Le Mulan spacing out and thought,

Is she shocked that someone from the Third Floor wants to be her friend?

He said, “Le?”

Le Mulan distractedly answered, “Mm.”

Le Jingchen

: A company here is interested in feather juice. If you can get more, we’ll have more chances to make a name for ourselves on the Second Floor.

Le Mulan

: There’s four of us living together. It’d be hard… If I ask for it, what if the others start asking too? You said we can’t let anyone know about this.

Le Jingchen

: So what if there are two others around? Can’t you find a chance to act in secret?

Le Mulan

: After what happened last time, he’s wary of me now. It’s hard to get close.

In the classroom, Xuange said, “Le, where do you usually cultivate after class? Want to do it together?”

Le Jingchen

: You get it now? Just follow my instructions. Be bold. Snatch it like picking fruit. Seize it like pulling chestnuts from the fire.

Le Mulan

: This doesn’t feel right…

Le Jingchen

: Mulan, you’re not a high schooler anymore. You’re a university student. You’ve made it to the Second Floor.

Le Jingchen

: Understand this—things you couldn’t do in high school? In university, not only can you do them, they

want

you to do them. Don’t bring your high school mindset here.

Xuange saw Le Mulan’s breathing grow heavier, as if she were flustered. He frowned.

Something’s weird about this girl…

He said, “Le?”

Le Mulan snapped back to attention. “Xuange, I’d like some time alone. Let’s talk another time.”

…

Floor 93.

With a sharp shout, Zhang Yu completed another round of the War Demon Life-Draining Technique, advancing it to Level 10.

Images from the cultivation method flickered through his mind. He thought,

Now that it’s Level 10, I can unlock the second-tier burst. But the lifespan cost is measured in years…

The first-tier burst, I can manage. With the Martial Saint Embryo, boosted vitality, and a few pills, I can use it without side effects for now.

But that second-tier burst…

Zhang Yu thought it over and decided not to try it yet.

“Less than two weeks left until the end of the three-month foundational courses. If I push it, I should be able to get the War Demon Life-Draining Technique up to Level 20 before the exam.”

Just then, Fu Ji spoke up. “Zhang Yu, it’s time for the ritual.”