Chapter 285: Earth and Wood Holy Body, Ranking Continuously Rises

Seeing the Dao Seed flash across Zhang Pianpian’s body, Zhang Yu wondered, "Is it necessary to gradually understand a person and observe them demonstrate more techniques to slowly discern their Dao Seed?"

Recalling his interactions with Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan, Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Indeed, Yu Xinghan and I know each other through and through, and I've also had extensive contact with Le Mulan, including many in-depth discussions."

"It seems that to understand my sister's Dao Seed, I'll need to get to know her much better."

Considering that he and his sister now shared a dorm, there would be ample time for interaction, making it easy to gradually understand her Dao Seed, just as he had seen the Taicang Talisman flash earlier that day.

After his sister left, Zhang Yu opened the "Mana Treasure" platform, which had been introduced by his mana class teacher, Li Mingbo.

"To sell mana in a single transaction, a minimum of 1000 units is required," he read. "For quantities under 1000 units, a weekly or monthly contract is necessary, committing to a stable daily supply of mana."

Zhang Yu then checked the price for selling 100 units of mana daily, which had a quality rating of 113.

Staring at the dizzying string of zeros after the decimal point, he couldn't help but curse, "This mana is ridiculously cheap!"

Fu Ji chuckled, "Well, of course! The spiritual energy here is incredibly abundant, and dorms are far cheaper than cultivating at the spiritual veins on the first floor. This means a huge number of people can sell their low-quality mana."

"With so many sellers, how could the price be high?"

"The more students at Myriad Laws University cultivate, the greater the mana supply becomes. This allows wealthy individuals to access cheaper mana, while students are compelled to continue cultivating, constantly improving their mana and its quality to command a decent price."

Fu Ji sighed, "Students here are like mana engines, constantly absorbing spiritual energy and expelling mana—and they even pay to do it voluntarily!"

Zhang Yu realized, "Low-quality mana, especially in small quantities, won't sell for a good price at all."

"If I can't sell large quantities of mana even after its quality improves, it's better to prioritize physical cultivation and prepare to earn money at the construction sites."

Zhang Yu understood that his ten years at the university were precious, and every step of his plan was crucial for improving his grades and ranking, requiring utmost caution.

After receiving Zhang Pianpian's reminder and some deliberation, he decided to alter his cultivation plan.

"Since I now possess the University Saint Body," he mused, "cultivating any technique is incredibly fast. Whether I focus on Dao Heart, mana, the physical body, or any other aspect, it won't be an issue."

With this in mind, Zhang Yu decided to temporarily abandon his original goal of completing the 'Qi Meridian Flow' set.

"The 'Qi Meridian Flow' will have to be postponed for now."

"First, I'll focus on body refinement, then earn a significant amount of money at the construction sites. With that capital, I can further boost my cultivation efficiency."

"Concurrently, I'll try to conceal my true strength as much as possible, avoiding anything too sensational..."

His previous cultivation wasn't entirely in vain, however. The Primordial Fetal Breathing Scripture allowed him to constantly absorb spiritual energy and refine mana, making it an indispensable breathing technique even if he were to focus primarily on physical cultivation.

At that moment, Zhang Yu opened the Grand Library within his Eye-Skull, his gaze scanning through the volumes of expert-level body refinement techniques.

"The only Foundation Establishment stage body refinement technique I currently possess is the Spring and Autumn Endless Zen."

"Level 10 Spring and Autumn Endless Zen is a component of the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo, while Level 20 is part of the Martial Dao Sacred Body."

Zhang Yu guessed that the Martial Dao Sacred Body was likely the Foundation Establishment version of the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo.

"Based on the effects of the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo, its primary functions are resistance to damage, self-healing, and enhancing martial power."

"However, I'm currently in a phase of rapid development. Pursuing high offense, high defense, and high health... isn't very meaningful right now."

From Zhang Yu's perspective, what good was it to be a powerful fighter just after entering the Foundation Establishment stage? Earning money was far more crucial.

Zhang Yu's gaze moved across the summaries of expert-level techniques in the Grand Library. By reviewing these descriptions, he discovered one Chain Law Map set after another.

"Volcanic Melting Bones, Kunpeng Young Embryo, Blood-Burning Body..."

Zhang Yu pursed his lips. While he could see the names of various sets listed under the expert-level techniques, even he wouldn't know their specific effects unless he actually mastered them.

"I can only guess from the names."

After a frantic period of browsing and selecting, Zhang Yu finally chose a set: the Earth-Wood Saint Body.

While the other sets all seemed promising, for Zhang Yu, it always came back to the same point...

"What's the use of being able to fight? Among us university students, it's about who has more money."

After listing the body refinement techniques under the Earth-Wood Saint Body from lowest to highest price, Zhang Yu first chose the cheapest expert-level Foundation Establishment stage technique, named the Earth-Eating Divine Art.

This Earth-Eating Divine Art involved condensing a gluttonous mana, which would then break down ingested materials to temper the physical body and increase its strength.

As the technique advanced, the ingested materials progressed from basic soil to cement, then concrete, and eventually rebar and alloys. The stronger the materials consumed, the more powerful the body-tempering effect.

Of course, while this Foundation Establishment technique involved consuming materials to strengthen the body, it differed from actual eating. For instance, though consuming rebar and cement could reinforce the physique, one couldn't survive on them alone; regular meals were still necessary.

As Zhang Yu browsed the technique's introduction, he noticed a line of crimson warning beneath it.

"This technique is a legitimate body refinement method," it read, "and does not condone any theft from construction sites. Practitioners are urged to acquire training materials through legal means."

Zhang Yu paused, slightly taken aback. He scrolled down further and saw a series of news reports detailing thefts from construction sites: eating stolen cables, rebar, concrete, and even demon kin...

"This must be a warning to practitioners of this technique not to steal materials from construction sites to consume, right?"

After spending 0.3 spirit coins, Zhang Yu acquired the digital rights to the technique.

After a quick read-through, he recalled Zhang Pianpian's warning. This time, he didn't practice by the dorm entrance but instead hurried to the areas below the 100th floor of Myriad Laws University City.

Zhang Yu stepped through the magnet-channel. His first sensation upon reaching the 99th floor was... silence.

There were no figures on the streets, only dusty gray concrete pavement.

The air was devoid of advertisements, projections, or signs...

The entire 99th floor, whether observed with the naked eye or through the Eye-Skull, was unusually silent, as if completely uninhabited.

Zhang Yu's gaze swept over the buildings lining the streets, revealing that most windows were dark.

He wondered to himself, "Is this floor simply sparsely populated?"

Though it felt peculiar, Zhang Yu wasn't inclined to investigate the matter further at the moment. Activating the power of his internal detection ritual, he confirmed that there were indeed far fewer surveillance cameras on this floor.

Descending to the 95th floor, Zhang Yu located a corner free of surveillance cameras.

The entire descent, from the 99th to the 95th floor, had been utterly silent; Zhang Yu hadn't encountered a single person.

"Are all the ordinary people concentrated on lower floors? Are these floors simply less populated?"

Shaking his head and suppressing his growing doubts, Zhang Yu refocused his attention on cultivation.

He consumed a pre-prepared piece of cement, then condensed gluttonous mana, and began cultivating the Earth-Eating Divine Art.

As he cultivated the technique, Zhang Yu felt an astonishing, unparalleled force suddenly erupt within his digestive system. In an instant, aided by the decomposing power of the gluttonous mana, it pulverized the cement.

Zhang Yu was startled by this phenomenon, realizing, "The University Saint Body... has granted me food digestion capabilities at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage."

"In this state, the power my digestive system can unleash is likely far greater than the strength I can exert with my hands."

Upon this thought, Zhang Yu suddenly realized that the digestive power granted by the University Saint Body was remarkably compatible with the Earth-Eating Divine Art.

The next moment, he was once again cultivating with full concentration.

Earth-Eating Divine Art, Level 1.

Fu Ji observed her surroundings, thinking, "This place is completely deserted, and there are surveillance blind spots. It would be quite suitable for setting up a ritual."

"Since I ascended to a Level 2 Evil God, I've been in Myriad Laws University City without an opportunity to establish a new ritual. This might be my chance..."

After some thought, Fu Ji decided to observe for a while longer. Once she confirmed the area was sufficiently safe, she would suggest Zhang Yu prepare the ritual.

In the following days, apart from attending classes, Zhang Yu spent his time below the 100th floor, practicing the Earth-Eating Divine Art.

The Remnant Ox Self-Sacrifice Art and Primordial Fetal Breathing Scripture remained active 24/7, continuously enhancing his Dao Heart and mana with the aid of the University Saint Body.

As for his performance in class and the results of basic data tests, he used an anti-detection ritual to slightly obscure them, ensuring his progress appeared less astonishing.

Outside the Law-Skeleton Rental Center.

Li Xiao, Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin, and others emerged, chatting and laughing.

"I'll be going now."

"Alright, let's continue tomorrow."

"No problem. Do you really think I don't have enough spirit coins for this?"

After sharing a few laughs with his classmates, Li Xiao walked cheerfully toward his dorm. Simultaneously, his Law-Skeleton displayed his current class ranking.

Seeing that he still held the 10th position with 295 points, the smile on his lips widened.

Glancing down, he was suddenly surprised: "Zhang Yu climbed from 19th to 18th place? 272 points. Is he finally making progress?"

However, Li Xiao merely shook his head. Half of the three-month basic curriculum was already over; Zhang Yu certainly couldn't catch up to him now.

A few days later, promptly at midnight, Li Xiao checked the class rankings again. He saw himself still at 10th place with 296 points, then looked at Zhang Yu, who had risen to 16th place with 275 points, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"He's gaining points so quickly?" Li Xiao thought to himself. "It seems he's no longer haphazardly practicing basic techniques as he was before."

If Zhang Yu had surpassed Li Xiao in a single leap, with his ranking skyrocketing instantly, Li Xiao might have simply given up on the competition.

But watching Zhang Yu steadily climb the ranks day by day, Li Xiao's only thought was to exert more effort and spend more spirit coins to utterly suppress him.

Just then, a message from Ying Xin popped up in his Law-Skeleton: "Shall we go to the Soul Cloud Sea together today?"

Li Xiao immediately replied, "Yes! Let's train for ten hours today."

In the days that followed, Li Xiao cultivated with even greater diligence. His account balance dwindled, his debt on lending platforms mounted, and his cultivation continued to improve day by day.

And the first thing he did every morning, promptly at midnight, was to check his and Zhang Yu's rankings.

14th place, Zhang Yu, 279 points.

Li Xiao wondered, "How much money has this guy spent?"

12th place, Zhang Yu, 284 points.

"He's probably borrowed no less than I have."

11th place, Zhang Yu, 296 points.

10th place, Li Xiao, 301 points.

"Formal classes are starting in just one month," he thought. "I absolutely cannot lose here..."

Watching Zhang Yu steadily close the gap in their overall scores over the past few days, Li Xiao felt increasingly anxious.

"As long as I get into the construction sites... only then can I repay my loans!"

"The competition on the immortal path is all about seizing the initiative! Otherwise, falling behind even a single step means perpetually lagging."

"If I can't be the first to enter the construction sites, the pressure of my loans alone will severely hinder my cultivation efficiency."

"Zhang Yu... does he want to compete in our immortal potential?"

"Then bring it on!"

"Teacher Tu will surely take me to the construction sites first!"

At this thought, a hint of ruthlessness flickered across Li Xiao's face, and he immediately opened the collateral function on the lending platform.

Several days later, Li Xiao once again opened the leaderboard updated at midnight.

His eyes were fixed intently on the rankings.

9th place, Li Xiao, 308 points.

8th place, Zhang Yu, 309 points.