Chapter 317: Ranking Update

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

Gongshu Jin’s eyes were full of disbelief at Zhang Yu’s words.

If eating Life-Shortening Pills and pulling overtime could really make someone this strong, then why weren’t others doing it? Even if you paid to get in on it, you wouldn’t stand a chance.

Still, Gongshu Jin understood. Even if Zhang Yu had some secret learning technique, Immortal Dao experience, or hidden cultivation potential, he obviously wouldn’t just spill it.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu looked at him and said, “I’m heading off to work. But if you’re willing to pay me a few more spiritcoins, I could stick around and keep chatting.”

In the end, Gongshu Jin didn’t pay him.

Not because he couldn’t afford it—but because there was no point.

Once he calmed down, Gongshu Jin quickly realized that Zhang Yu’s desperate grind...was useless to him.

His own life was far more valuable than Zhang Yu’s. Why would he burn it away like that?

“Even if I can afford Longevity Elixirs, the more you take, the bigger the dose, and the weaker the effect.”

To Gongshu Jin, the longer one extended their life, the more expensive each new extension became.

And when the cost of staying alive exceeds your income, that’s when your lifespan starts running out for real.

“Natural lifespan has never been the true upper limit for a cultivator.”

“A person’s real maximum lifespan is the most longevity they can afford.”

“Even if Zhang Yu keeps extending his life later on, the way he’s burning it now is still a net loss.”

“His maximum lifespan, his income ceiling, his career span...they’re all being chipped away.”

To Gongshu Jin, none of that was a good trade.

Having thought it all through, Gongshu Jin watched Zhang Yu’s back as he walked away. His Heart Technique began circulating again—Level 15 Azure Dragon Ascension Formula—rekindling his drive to soar upward and reach the upper layers of Kunxu.

“I have my own path. All I need is steady effort and slow accumulation. No need to gamble everything on one short-term win...”

“Money. That’s the cultivation path I’ve chosen.”

With that thought, he sent a message to his master:

Master, I lost.

Reply:

How much do you need?

Looking at his master’s response, Gongshu Jin felt that despite today’s loss, he hadn’t been crushed. On the contrary, a fresh surge of drive and Immortal Dao potential welled up within him.

Next time, he would be even stronger.

…

Zhang Yu was walking toward the construction site on the 666th floor.

He felt the injuries in his body, glanced at the dried blood all over his skin, and muttered to himself, “The Ultimate Civil Engineering Saint Body is powerful, sure—but using it is such a hassle.”

“Every time, the buildup takes too long. Just getting myself injured and weak enough takes forever.”

“And ending up all bloody means I’ve got to shower and do laundry...what a pain.”

While thinking, Zhang Yu slowly circulated his mana and began practicing a new Breathing Technique.

Level 13 Heavenly Fortune Longevity Technique.

After completing both the Ultimate University Saint Body and the Civil Engineering Saint Body, Zhang Yu had started practicing new Breathing Techniques again. His goal was to unlock the full set from the Chain Diagram—Mana Pulse Flowing Stream.

This Heavenly Fortune Longevity Technique was one of the Breathing Techniques in that set.

Despite its name, it didn’t actually extend lifespan. Instead, it used spiritual essence and mana during breathing to nourish the body’s flesh and blood—rebuilding the foundation of his physique.

Zhang Yu thought, “Three months of outdoor construction-site training gave me rapid gains, but also left my body almost drained dry.”

Right now, he felt like an empty shell—strong, but lacking the reserves to keep improving.

After all, he understood that cultivation gains don’t come from nowhere.

The human body is like a great treasure vault, and over the past three months, under the destructive mining of various pills and Techniques, he had made huge strides—but all the accumulated medicinal power, nutrition, and energy inside him had been massively depleted.

“Next, I need to replenish myself—rebuild my foundation. Otherwise, my progress in the Immortal Dao will only slow down.”

Every time he thought of this, Zhang Yu could almost hear the spiritcoins in his account itching to transform into cultivation resources and merge into his body.

Just then, a message flashed across his EyeNet. It was from Tu Lishan, asking to buy some body samples.

Zhang Yu: Just blood? What about saliva, sperm, or hair?

Tu Lishan: Just blood for now. If I get any results, I’ll buy the rest.

Zhang Yu shook his head regretfully. He knew the guy probably wouldn’t find much.

“After all, my potential lies in my willpower and the Feathered Tome—not in some mere body samples.”

At that moment, Tu Lishan sent another message:

By the way, Director Gao thinks highly of you. He’s planning to cultivate you seriously.

Tu Lishan:

He’ll meet with you in a few days. Think carefully about what you need.

Moments later, Zhang Yu arrived at the 666th floor construction site.

But just as he was about to walk through the gate, a voice suddenly called out.

“Zhang Yu?”

He turned his head and saw a security guard with water-blue hair walking toward him.

The guy looked vaguely familiar, and then he said, “It really is you? Don’t you remember me? Sheng Jie, from Xiandu.”

At those words, Zhang Yu’s eyes flickered. He recalled the guy.

“This guy...was one of the four students who passed the Foundation Establishment exam the year I took it with Ah-Zhen.”

“Back then, I was in my second year of high school, and he was in his third—he entered university a year earlier.”

But Zhang Yu clearly remembered this guy used to be Wang Yin’s lapdog in Oasis Group. Why did he end up at Wanfa University instead of Netherworld University?

Almost as if he’d read Zhang Yu’s mind, Sheng Jie smiled and said, “Yeah, I did follow Director Wang for a while back on the first floor.”

“Although he treated his subordinates well, I could tell...I wasn’t a good fit for Netherworld University or the Oasis Group vibe. So when it came time to register, I thought it over and switched to Wanfa University.”

As someone who’d clawed his way up from the bottom, Sheng Jie knew how to be a loyal dog—but he also understood the first rule of being a dog: pick the right master.

During his time with Director Wang, he’d gradually realized the guy wasn’t the right choice—at least not for him.

Hearing this, Zhang Yu thought,

You’re sharper than I expected.

He glanced at Sheng Jie’s security uniform, and the “Class Rank: 16” hovering over his head. Casually, he asked, “You joined the Security Department?”

“Yeah, I’m rotating through different posts this year. I’m on patrol duty in University City,” Sheng Jie nodded. “You joined Civil Engineering? Maybe we’ll get to work together someday.”

As he spoke, Sheng Jie’s eyes flicked over the “Class Rank: 28” floating above Zhang Yu’s head, then down to the injuries all over his body.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly:

Zhang Yu’s ranked this high? And in this state...things must be rough for him.

Back on the first floor, their relationship hadn’t been anything special. But seeing a fellow hometown face here in Wanfa University City stirred a natural sense of kinship in Sheng Jie.

Remembering his own rough freshman year, he sighed with sympathy and said, “Us first-floor folks have it tough in our freshman year here. This is Wanfa University—nothing comes easy…”

After a few more casual exchanges, Sheng Jie returned to his post. One of his fellow security guards asked, “That guy ranked 28—he’s your hometown buddy?”

“His rank’s way lower than yours.”

Sheng Jie gave a sheepish smile. “Maybe he’s still adjusting.”

Another coworker laughed. “Just making it to the second floor is already impressive. When he graduates and goes home, he’ll be a big shot.”

All Sheng Jie could do was laugh along awkwardly. But in his heart, he once again felt the gulf between them:

Whether it’s me or Zhang Yu, we’re still worlds apart from the students up top. Cracking the top ranks is nearly impossible.

On the other side, Zhang Yu had already started his usual overtime grind and cultivation training on the construction site.

At the same time, his Sacrificial Oxheart Technique quietly operated, activating his body’s regenerative abilities and gradually healing his wounds.

…

While Zhang Yu worked in silence…

Many students in the Foundation Establishment Class were waiting for the ranking update.

For example, at that moment, Ying Xin had already refreshed the class leaderboard several times.

“Gongshu Jin said his test was scheduled for today. If that’s true, the results should be in.”

As she refreshed the rankings, she imagined an intense behind-the-scenes clash between Gongshu Jin and Ji Yuanshu.

Even though they didn’t face off in person, Ying Xin could still picture the fierce competition.

In her mind’s eye, hundreds of spiritcoins were vaporizing by the second—converting into terrifying cultivation potential and crashing together in an invisible war over the number one spot.

Just then, Ying Xin’s eyes lit up as a message came in from a teacher in the Foundation Establishment Class.

Immortal Jiao Lei:

All first-semester results have been updated. Check your rankings and reflect on your progress.

Immortal Jiao Lei:

@everyone

Immortal Jiao Lei:

Special commendation to one student who made an exceptional leap this semester.

As soon as she saw Immortal Jiao Lei’s message, Ying Xin clicked the rankings.

1st place: Ji Yuanshu – Composite Score: 1228

2nd place: Zhang Yu – Composite Score: 1201

3rd place: Gongshu Jin – Composite Score: 1183

Ying Xin stared at the list in disbelief. “Z-Zhang Yu?!”

“How did he climb to second? He actually surpassed Gongshu Jin?!”

“And the gap between him and Ji Yuanshu isn’t even that big?!”

Then, a thought flashed through her mind and her gaze flickered: “It must be because of

that

...no wonder Ji Yuanshu isn’t too far ahead.”

But the fact that Zhang Yu beat Gongshu Jin and claimed second still baffled her.

“How much did he earn on that project over the past three months?”

Just thinking about the opportunity she missed made Ying Xin’s heart ache—like it was splitting in two.

…

With Immortal Jiao Lei tagging everyone in the class group chat, Zhang Yu naturally received the notification, even while working overtime at the site.

But as he was busy pouring concrete, he hadn’t checked the message yet—until he noticed several people messaging him directly.

Zhang Yu casually opened one.

Li Xiao:

Yu-ge, congrats!

[Fireworks][Fireworks]

Zhang Yu:

Li Xiao:

You haven’t seen the rankings? You’re second in the class!