You dare to cultivate without money?!
Chapter 389 - 338 Hammer Heart Inn

Chapter 389: Chapter 338 Hammer Heart Inn

Zhang Yu gazed at the new layer effect of Qi Vein Flow, his eyes slightly narrowed, and he decided to give it a try right away.

Zhang Yu’s mana circulated within him, transforming into bursts of Formless Cloud Gang rising from his Dantian.

The next moment, the rolling Gang Qi had already transformed into three Formless Warriors, which emerged behind him.

Accompanied by the punches and kicks of these three Formless Warriors, they practiced various martial arts Zhang Yu had mastered, depleting his mana dramatically.

But Zhang Yu felt that, under the effect of this new layer of Qi Vein Flow, the speed of mana consumption was significantly lower than before.

Zhang Yu mused, "During the process of mana circulation, there will inevitably be extra wastage. With Gang Qi operating outside the body, the wastage is even more."

"However, with the added effect of this layer of Qi Vein Flow, wastage is reduced, which means my mana is more durable."

"Plus, with the original mana recovery speed of Qi Vein Flow..."

Meanwhile, with Zhang Yu’s mental command, another two Formless Warriors appeared and began to operate at full capacity.

After many attempts, Zhang Yu confirmed that under the assistance of Qi Vein Flow, his mana was enough to support the full operation of five Formless Warriors or two Deep Cold Warriors.

"This efficiency has nearly doubled."

Feeling the second layer effect of Qi Vein Flow, Zhang Yu sighed in his heart. Although it only reduced mana wastage, it was a point of transformation that greatly enhanced his work efficiency in unit time.

"I wonder what the final effect of Qi Vein Flow is."

Zhang Yu calculated the time; he should be able to complete the last layer of Qi Vein Flow by August, thus gaining the full effect of Qi Vein Flow before the final exams, and he became increasingly eager.

Besides, there’s also the upgrade of Yu Xinghan’s Three-Eyed Divine Power, Zhang Yu’s own spiritual and physical unity, and his second mental method; he looks forward to completing them before the finals.

"This finals, I will surely defeat Ji Yuanshu and seize the first place in the class."

"As long as I obtain the first place in the academic year for three consecutive years, I’ll acquire the first three cultivation techniques of the Earth-Water Trinity."

Zhang Yu has coveted Ma Xuan’s Small Three Harmonies for a long time, and now in his heart he sighed, "Luckily, as long as I maintain the first in the class, I can acquire the cultivation technique."

"It seems that the university’s ranking system is truly of great value."

...

Days later, while thinking about showcasing his improved strength at the next competition team’s training, Zhang Yu received a message from the team leader Ma Xuan.

Ma Xuan: Zhang Yu, I need to discuss some specifics about next semester’s competition with you

Ma Xuan: Your talent is strong and your progress in strength has always been fast. I have always thought you could become the secret weapon of our team

Ma Xuan: Cong Na especially appreciates you and finds cooperating with you very pleasant

Upon reading this, Zhang Yu had a bad feeling, "Starting like this, it doesn’t look like good news."

Ma Xuan: However, there is now a student with a higher ranking than you who will be joining our team

Ma Xuan: The team unanimously decided that you will temporarily serve as a substitute

Upon hearing Ma Xuan’s words, Zhang Yu was slightly stunned, cursing in his heart, "This kind of crooked atmosphere of ranking supremacy in university is too rampant."

"Can rankings truly showcase all my value?"

Fu Ji said, "When your ranking surpassed Gongshu Jin last time, you didn’t say that. You can’t only believe rankings are good when yours is higher."

Zhang Yu pursed his lips; of course, he understood that university was all about rankings, whoever had a higher ranking had reason, whoever had a higher ranking had priority.

As a system assessing a university student’s value, Zhang Yu in Wanfa University City could only comply.

At least at this moment, he does not possess the strength to counter this system.

Even he himself is a beneficiary of this system.

But the position of substitute...

Zhang Yu thought that if he didn’t get on the field, even if the competition team achieved rankings, his comprehensive score would not increase much.

"Sigh, what a bother."

As Zhang Yu was troubled, he noticed the new team member had already been added to the competition team group by Ma Xuan.

"Ji Yuanshu?"

Seeing that the entrant was actually ranked above him, Ji Yuanshu, Zhang Yu frowned and said, "Just one rank higher than me."

"He mentioned transferring to the Finance Department, is it to improve his comprehensive score for competition?"

Ma Xuan: Welcome Student Ji to our team

Cong Na: Welcome, welcome [fireworks][fireworks][fireworks]

Bo Ziran: Junior Ji, long time no see

Yang Yan: Haha, Yuan Shu, your arrival is great, then our competition ranking next semester can surely hit higher

Seeing the enthusiastic welcome from everyone in the group, Zhang Yu thought it was far different from when he joined the group.

And observing the few talking pleasantly in the group, Zhang Yu felt more and more out of place in this team.

A few days later, when the competition team organized training again, even Zhang Yu wasn’t notified.

"These guys..." Zhang Yu pondered, "Looks like they’ve completely given up on me."

"Never could get along with these wealthy fellows."

"Should I switch teams?"

"Or stay here and chase comprehensive scores?"

But the next moment, Zhang Yu’s brow slightly furrowed, "Wait, if I stay in the team, no matter how many comprehensive scores are added at the end, as a substitute team member, the points added will surely be lower than Ji Yuanshu."

"Then won’t I start the next semester already behind him in scores?"

"Could this guy be doing it on purpose? Purposely using this method to suppress me? To gain an advantage in ranking?"

Zhang Yu couldn’t be certain, nor could he ask Ji Yuanshu, just adding another layer to his intention to switch competition teams.

"Forget it, let’s continue accumulating strength and prepare for the final exams first."

"Anyway, there’s plenty of time before registration ends. After the finals, once my ranking goes up, I’ll see if I can switch teams."

Therefore, in the following days, Zhang Yu felt like he was holding his breath, practicing even more diligently.

...

Time rapidly flew to late July.

There was still over a month left before the finals at the end of August.

On this day, everyone in the dormitory finally received the spirit coins from the last robbery of the Dark Seed Territory.

As they looked at the numbers in their bank accounts, everyone’s eyes flickered, as if hope was dawning.

Yu Xinghan, with a flushed face filled with joy, thought, "Now I can exchange for magic remains."

"But should I get the hand massage magic remains to further increase earning efficiency? Or get a cultivation type magic remains to enhance cultivation efficiency?"

Countless models of magic remains immediately surfaced in his mind, all carefully selected and compared during the days when he couldn’t afford a new one.

On the other side, Le Mulan looked at the numbers in his bank account and thought to himself, "With my own savings, it should be enough for the advanced surgery for super metabolism."

Upon reaching the second floor, under his brother’s guidance, Le Mulan quickly discovered that the companies had already developed advanced super metabolism surgery.

Zhang Yu was also looking at the numbers emerging from his eye artifact.

Although he had sold some mana in the past two months as a subsidy, Zhang Yu had spent quite a bit on pills, spirit stones, Taoist skills, magic treasures, etc., resulting in a continuous decrease in savings.

But with today’s addition of spirit coins, his account now had a hefty 42.9 spirit coins.

Suddenly, Zhang Yu was filled with excitement; it was the first time he had so many spirit coins.

And then the question came... where to spend them?

"The Taiqing Talisman my sister mentioned always requires 50 spirit coins."

"42.9 spirit coins to 50 spirit coins doesn’t seem much, but with my current income, even if I skimp and lower the speed of cultivation improvement... it wouldn’t be possible to save up in 2 or 3 months."

"The key is this Taiqing Talisman... I still don’t know what its effects are."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Conversely, if I spend it on Spirit-Mind Unification, I could immediately cultivate a second mental method."

Regarding Spirit-Mind Unification, Zhang Yu had been attempting it for some days now, and although there were slight improvements, there was no hope of success in the short term.

This led him to gradually give up on the possibility of breaking through on his own and prepared to choose to invest money directly.

On one hand, there was waiting another 2 or 3 months, with the unclear Taiqing Talisman ahead.

On the other hand, there was Spirit-Mind Unification, successful in not too long and having clear functions, along with a second mental method.

Particularly, Zhang Yu also considered that the finals were just over a month away, and this decision was crucial to his success rate in achieving the top of the class.

"Still, Spirit-Mind Unification and striving for the second mental method is the way to go."

After some contemplation, accompanied by the chilling spread of ceremonial power, as if urging him not to stop, Zhang Yu eventually donned his spiritual interface, delved into the Spirit Realm, and in the next moment, arrived at the Hammer Heart Inn.

...

An empty, pure white small room.

One line of text appeared before Zhang Yu: "Hello, I am Artifact Spirit 3001001 of the Hammer Heart Inn server, delighted to serve you."

"What do you need?"

Zhang Yu said, "Spirit-Mind Unification, the one priced at 30 spirit coins."

As soon as Zhang Yu’s words fell, the previously pure white small room quickly expanded, transforming into a scenic pavilion with mountains and water in no time.

Underneath the original text appeared a courtly-dressed beauty, smiling brightly at Zhang Yu, saying, "Hello, Mr. Zhang Yu, please have some tea."

Zhang Yu casually accepted the teacup handed over, gazing at the original simple small room that had now turned into a luxurious courtyard, thinking to himself, "It changed really fast, truly catering to one’s status."

"But there’s a certain satisfaction in my heart... consumerism indeed is pernicious."

Zhang Yu asked, "Could you first introduce how you help me achieve Spirit-Mind Unification?"

The other party said, "Hammer Heart Inn has collected a vast amount of breakthrough experiences from cultivators, allowing us to select breakthrough experiences that match your situation and simulate the environment of someone else’s breakthrough for you."

"And once you purchase this service, you can simulate a breakthrough once a day."

"According to our company’s current data, the longest breakthrough duration so far is 29 days."

Zhang Yu’s eyes moved, and he said, "So you’re saying that after purchasing this service, even someone with the worst aptitude can achieve Spirit-Mind Unification in 29 simulation breakthroughs?"

The other party smiled and said, "You could understand it that way."

Upon confirming Zhang Yu’s intent to subscribe to the Spirit-Mind Unification package service, a price list, contract, various promotions, and packages quickly appeared in front of him.

"No membership, no participation in activities, no additional services, just 30 spirit coins to achieve Spirit-Mind Unification..."

Just as Zhang Yu finished speaking, he hesitated upon seeing the installment payment option offered.

"How many installments?"

"12 installments, 3.3 spirit coins each? Starting deductions next month?"

Silently calculating, Zhang Yu thought, "So that’s repaying 9.6 spirit coins over a year?"

"Could relying on the temporarily freed-up spirit coins from installments earn me 9.6 spirit coins in over a year?"

While Zhang Yu was pondering these, the courtly-dressed beauty in front of him said, "If you do the installments now, there’s a free mental method compatibility test, helping you determine the second mental method best suited for you."

Zhang Yu made up his mind and said, "I’ll do it."

He understood that after achieving Spirit-Mind Unification, he would undoubtedly need to choose a second mental method.

After signing the contract, Zhang Yu first underwent psychological and willpower tests.

Based on his mental method, psychological condition, Dao Heart level, and other parameters, a simulated breakthrough environment matching Zhang Yu’s conditions was swiftly generated.