Chapter 174: Stimulate Yu Xinghan's Potential

At Bailong High School, inside a training room.

With the door completely shut, only Yu Xinghan and Zhang Yu remained in the room.

Seeing Yu Xinghan, whose body was filled with fighting spirit, Zhang Yu curiously asked, "Calling me here so urgently, it seems like this isn't just about combat training, is it?"

Yu Xinghan looked at Zhang Yu, a memory of their first meeting flashing through his mind. Back then, he could easily surpass Zhang Yu in sports competitions. However, he was suppressed by Li Xuelian and couldn't win the championship. Recalling how Li Xuelian had dominated him in the competition, Yu Xinghan's fists clenched involuntarily. But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the distraction, and refocused on Zhang Yu.

During their recent combat training, he had felt Zhang Yu constantly improving, striving to catch up with him. Yet, he never expected that, almost imperceptibly, Zhang Yu seemed to be showing signs of surpassing him. Especially Zhang Yu's performance in the Foundation Establishment examination; his physical control demonstrated in the 'Gluttony Contest' was clearly superior to Yu Xinghan's. Furthermore, in subsequent martial arts studies, Zhang Yu exhibited astonishing learning ability.

Considering this, Yu Xinghan began, "Recently, on the path of immortal cultivation, I've encountered a very important choice. Should I confront the difficulty head-on, or should I take a detour? To be honest, I've been very hesitant."

Zhang Yu understood, nodding as he said, "Hesitation between difficulty and ease... ultimately, it means you want to face the challenge, but you're afraid of failing."

Yu Xinghan smiled wryly. "You're right. That's why I want to put some pressure on myself, and I hope to find some resolve through you. Today, we'll have a private sparring match. Regardless of the outcome, we won't disclose it to anyone. I just hope, Zhang Yu, that you'll go all out and fight me to determine a winner."

Feeling the intense fighting spirit in Yu Xinghan's eyes, Zhang Yu could tell... his opponent was looking for a defeat. Zhang Yu thought to himself, 'This guy... after this Foundation Establishment examination, he must have realized that my actual combat strength might be superior to his, right? So, he wants to lose to me to solidify some resolve?'

Zhang Yu nodded and said, "Yu Xinghan, I feel your fighting spirit, I feel your determination. But what's that got to do with me?" Go all out? Fight to the death? Zhang Yu didn't have time for such trivialities. Whether he got injured, or Yu Xinghan got injured, it would all be troublesome. Even damaging the plants in the training room would incur compensation.

Watching Zhang Yu turn to leave, Yu Xinghan had already anticipated this. After spending time with him, he had long realized that Zhang Yu, like himself, possessed powerful immortal cultivation talent, never engaging in losing ventures and having a knack for making money. Yu Xinghan immediately said, "Let's not pretend with each other. If you can beat me, I'll give you ten thousand yuan."

Zhang Yu's steps paused slightly. He said, "You're a Core Formation disciple, the top student at Bailong High School."

"You want more money, don't you?" Yu Xinghan said, "Is twenty thousand enough? This is all my personal savings; this is the absolute maximum."

Feeling the determination in his opponent's eyes, Zhang Yu knew it would be hard to increase the price further. So, he nodded and said, "As friends, twenty thousand it is. I'll give you a discount..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Yu's feet exploded with a thunderous boom, like a cannon firing, and he shot towards Yu Xinghan.

"A sneak attack!" Yu Xinghan roared, unleashing a Dragon-Elephant Mountain Collapse Palm towards the incoming Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu countered with his own Dragon-Elephant Mountain Collapse Palm. Palm met palm, and they collided violently with a loud pop in the air. Yu Xinghan recoiled a step. Seeing Zhang Yu remain unmoving, his fighting spirit ignited. "Again!"

The two first engaged in an intense exchange of Dragon-Elephant Mountain Collapse Palms. Zhang Yu quickly gained the upper hand, relying on his subcutaneous Qi protection and deflection techniques from martial arts like Boundless Cloud Hand and Indestructible Seal. Yu Xinghan then suddenly unleashed his astonishing speed, charging into close combat with Zhang Yu. In the extremely close-quarters battle, fists, palms, elbows, shoulders, knees... every part of Yu Xinghan's body transformed into a weapon. With the execution of various practical martial arts, he swirled around Zhang Yu like a storm, trying to overwhelm him.

Facing Yu Xinghan's relentless onslaught, Zhang Yu's entire body suddenly erupted with surges of white Formless Cloud Qi. Like vortices of mist, they absorbed all the attacks. Boundless Cloud Hand: Level 10 activation! More than half a year had passed since Zhang Yu obtained the Boundless Cloud Hand technique from the Dharma Competition. Therefore, in recent weeks, Zhang Yu had gradually begun to unleash the Level 10 form of this technique without reservation.

Now, his body was wreathed in white mist, forming swirling currents. He employed various techniques of pulling, shifting, deflecting, absorbing, and rebounding, not only neutralizing Yu Xinghan's attacks but also, in turn, shaking his opponent's blood and muscles, constantly damaging Yu Xinghan's body. Yu Xinghan, however, ignored it, continuing to bombard Zhang Yu as if determined to tear through the mist with his true strength and reveal the clear sky beyond.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The two fought like raging beasts tearing at each other, each move and strike erupting with thunderous roars.

After more than half an hour of intense fighting, Zhang Yu looked at Yu Xinghan, who was slowly retreating, and asked, "Are you giving up?"

Yu Xinghan gasped for air, feeling a soreness and exhaustion throughout his muscles and meridians, as if he had been struck thousands of times with a heavy iron hammer. He could no longer continue the fierce battle. Yu Xinghan looked at Zhang Yu, still wreathed in mist, and thought to himself, 'This kid is too tough, isn't he?' Recalling the fight, Yu Xinghan felt that every time he struck at the seemingly light and airy Formless Cloud Qi, it was like hitting extremely tough rebar. Even if he managed to break through the misty Qi, Zhang Yu could quickly replenish it, and his magic power showed no signs of depletion. Crucially, with every strike Yu Xinghan landed... he was constantly counter-shocked, his blood and muscles vibrated, leaving him utterly fatigued to the point where he could no longer fight.

Although he had long known that Zhang Yu's leverage technique was formidable, his full-power assault had been fruitless, leaving Yu Xinghan with a strong sense of frustration and... humiliation. 'I was the one chosen by Master to become a Core Formation disciple!' 'After receiving so much investment and training from Master, and becoming a student at Bailong High School, did I... actually lose to Zhang Yu?'

Seeing Yu Xinghan's dejected expression, Zhang Yu said, "Um... are you okay? If you're fine, can you transfer the money now?"

Yu Xinghan glared at Zhang Yu. As he circulated the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Art, a burning fighting spirit was forcibly rekindled within him. He diligently remembered the unwillingness, humiliation, and frustration he had just felt, determined to transform these negative emotions into pressure to face the challenges ahead. He told himself, 'Still being stubborn? You've already lost to Zhang Yu, what right do you have to be stubborn?' At that moment, Yu Xinghan made a firm decision: he would use his supreme will to conquer his physical instincts and abstain from that desire starting today. Yu Xinghan opened his phone and recorded: Day 1 of conquering instinct.

Just as Yu Xinghan was transferring the money to Zhang Yu, Fu Ji suddenly remarked, "Did this kid undergo a vasectomy reversal? Didn't you notice some details were different when he was fighting?"

Zhang Yu thought, 'Your eyesight is way too good!' But then, he suddenly remembered that during the Foundation Establishment examination, Yu Xinghan seemed to have been arranged by the righteous gods for a surgery before continuing his martial arts training. 'Could it be that the martial art he chose requires such a surgery for recovery before he can cultivate it, like some Yin-Yang Harmony Great Art? Did he take advantage of the Foundation Establishment examination to get a free recovery surgery?' It had to be said, given Zhang Yu's understanding of Yu Xinghan, he fully believed the other boy was capable of such a thing and would seize such a benefit.

While Zhang Yu was pondering this, Fu Ji added, "Take this opportunity to introduce him to the Red Tower Group to sell his 'seeds' and earn a referral fee! Given Yu Xinghan's money-grubbing nature, he's highly likely to agree. The director who was so interested in you yesterday will definitely focus his attention on this Core Formation disciple, because frankly, this guy's 'seed' quality is definitely superior to yours. You'd get rid of a troublesome situation and earn a referral fee—isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Zhang Yu's eyes lit up at the suggestion, but he worried if Yu Xinghan would be restricted by Immortal Spark True Man's contract.

As if sensing Zhang Yu's hesitation, Fu Ji chuckled. "Targeting bloodlines and calculating the karma of descendants—those are concerns for the middle and upper echelons of Kunxu. Their control over bloodline descendants is also the strictest; otherwise, the entire Kunxu would have been filled with immortals' offspring long ago. The reason I prepared a safeguard for you in advance is because I believe you can climb to the upper levels of Kunxu. As for these guys on the first level, even a fallen Core Formation cultivator like Immortal Spark True Man wouldn't consider such things. Once Yu Xinghan becomes more famous and his strength reaches a certain level, Immortal Spark True Man might even proactively arrange a reversal surgery for Yu Xinghan and then bring him to 'sell protein'."

Zhang Yu decided to give it a try. He looked at Yu Xinghan and asked, "Xinghan, I have an easy way to make money here. Do you want to give it a shot?"

Yu Xinghan raised an eyebrow, wary. "Easy money? Is there really such a good thing in this world?"

A few hours later, inside the Red Tower Building.

Yu Xinghan, having completed his physical examination, sat somewhat nervously in a quiet room. Looking at the beautiful and enticing men and women flashing on the screen before him, he quickly waved his hand. "Don't arrange a real person for me." He thought to himself, 'Compared to other students, I now have an extra source of trouble, like a disabled person. If I get involved with a real person and fall in love too early, won't my life be ruined?'

A voice came from the screen: "Our company is committed to providing the most comfortable working environment for every 'seed' provider. Would you like us to arrange a puppet for you instead?"

Yu Xinghan waved his hand, about to refuse, when he heard the voice from the other end of the screen say, "Puppets' appearances can be freely adjusted..." After a moment of silence, Yu Xinghan asked, "Can I upload a photo, and you adjust it based on the photo?"

A few minutes later, Yu Xinghan uploaded a photo of Li Xuelian.

An hour later, a tired Yu Xinghan lay on the ground. He found his mind completely clear of distractions, and that uncomfortable feeling was gone. He tried cultivating the Heavenly Gang Qi art and found that without the disturbance of distracting thoughts, the refinement of Pure Yang Qi flowed naturally, and his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. After cultivating for an hour, he felt desire resurface within him, so he called for a puppet again.

Thus, when he had distracting thoughts, he made money; when he had no distracting thoughts, he cultivated. Earning money while cultivating, Yu Xinghan felt increasingly invigorated, though his physical energy consumption was a bit high.

"Hahahahaha, there's such a wonderful thing in this world?" he exclaimed. "Though it's a bit tiring, and protein consumption is high, with such good money, I can just eat more demon beast powder to recover!"