No Money to Cultivate Immortality? - Chapter 801 (Patreon)

Chapter 801: Le Mulan’s Choice, Zhang Yu’s New Position

Zhang Yu wasn’t completely unprepared for the exposure of Le Mulan’s Frost Abyss Technique lineage.

After all, during the previous Exam Sect selection, Le Mulan might have accidentally revealed something unusual about herself.

And with the sect’s profound Immortal Dao technology—plus one round of inspections after another—once they started running tests on her, it wouldn’t be hard to discover the lifespan-extending effects of her Frost Abyss Technique lineage.

Zhang Yu had also considered trying to persuade Le Mulan to give up the Exam Sect, give up entering the sect, and cultivate more safely in the lower realm.

But after talking with her, he realized it would be nearly impossible.

Just like the vast majority of students from the Ten Great Academies, joining the sect… climbing the peak of the Immortal Dao… was a dream branded into their hearts. It was a challenge they would pay any price to attempt.

Le Mulan refused to give up her chance to enter the sect. That was her decision, and Zhang Yu chose to respect it.

“Still, that’s not all bad… precisely because the sect’s Immortal Dao technology is so strong, Myriad Laws Sect doesn’t lack all kinds of methods for extending lifespan.”

“Even if they discovered Le Mulan’s Frost Abyss Technique lineage, it probably won’t involve anything too terrifying. In fact… it might even be safer than getting found out in the lower realm. The lower realm doesn’t have nearly as many lifespan-extension methods as the sect does.”

Even so, Zhang Yu couldn’t ignore his companion going silent.

He looked at the three avatars in his contacts and thought, “True Lord Xinghuo… big sis… and Bu Yingshu.”

Those were the three most likely to help him find out what had happened to Le Mulan.

After thinking it over, Zhang Yu chose to contact Bu Yingshu.

…

Inside a lavish, opulent room.

Bu Yingshu listened lazily to a subordinate’s report.

She looked indifferent, but the people reporting were trembling, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

After all, the stories about this noble immortal-clan lady were far too frightening—her reputation for ruining people financially and stripping them to the bone meant they couldn’t afford even a tiny mistake.

Just then, a Law Realm figure appeared before her—something only she could see.

“Little sister, I heard you pulled off something earthshaking at the Imperial Law Pavilion. The uncles and elders are all praising you.”

The speaker was her immortal-clan elder cousin, Bu Zhenting.

Even though they were cousins, Bu Yingshu had never had a good relationship with him.

Still, both of them were among the youngest in the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan, so they interacted more than most—and inevitably got compared to each other.

In Bu Zhenting’s eyes, this little cousin of his was all ambition and no ability: lofty goals, empty talent, eyes on the sky and hands too weak to reach it—someone with none of the capability worthy of the “great bloodline” in her veins.

Ever since he could remember, Bu Zhenting had crushed her in results across the board.

That made him look down on Bu Yingshu.

To him, she was the standard “useless immortal-clan member,” wasting sect resources and immortal bloodline.

And yet, from the moment she was born… her status was far higher than his.

That fact fed a thread of jealousy beneath his contempt.

“This brat… she’s only fit to be my daughter. What right does she have to be my little sister?”

So when Bu Zhenting first heard that she had grasped the secrets of the Blood-Tide Essence Saint Visualization and completed the technique verification, he didn’t really believe it.

After all, even he wasn’t confident he could verify that technique—he’d only let the opportunity slip to Bu Yingshu because of that.

By his judgment at the time, she would absolutely fail the job; she’d just be used as a high-status stone tossed into the water to test the depth.

Only after multiple confirmations did Bu Zhenting accept that she truly had completed the verification of the Blood-Tide Essence Saint Visualization.

On the other side, Bu Yingshu looked at the “brother” who had insulted her again and again—now wearing a polite mask—and couldn’t help a smug smile.

“All you people who always looked down on me, always belittled me and underestimated me… now you know what I’m capable of, huh?”

In her heart, she sneered: “Before, I was just storing strength, building foundations. Now it’s time for me to soar. Not just you—even those old fossils in the clan who were born a few years earlier will all end up under my heel.”

She didn’t think much of Bu Zhenting either.

In her eyes, even back when she was keeping her talent hidden and quietly accumulating potential, he was only a tiny bit stronger than her—yet he’d taken far more resources.

“If all those benefits had been used on me, I might’ve awakened ten-plus years earlier.”

She thought coldly, “Bu Zhenting is nothing but a bloated winebag. He got all those advantages for free, and even so, his talent now probably can’t compare to mine at all.”

“Brother? From now on, you can relax and be my little brother.”

“No—give it a few more years, and you can be my grandson.”

Meanwhile, the moment Bu Zhenting saw that familiar smug look on her face, he thought, “There it is again… daydreaming again. My stupid little cousin. Seeing you still like this puts my mind at ease.”

“This verification of Blood-Tide Essence Saint Visualization definitely has something shady behind it.”

With that, Bu Zhenting decided to probe her.

He said, “Little sister, I heard you picked up a little pet at the Imperial Law Pavilion. Lend it to me so I can play with it.”

The instant he said it, a chill surged out of Bu Yingshu, startling the subordinates around her into panic.

“Bu Zhenting! You want to steal my things again?”

Seeing her instantly bristle—like some spined-backed dragon snapping into a hissing stance from a single sentence—Bu Zhenting’s eyes flashed with understanding.

The way she looked right now was exactly like the old days, when he’d snatched away her medicines.

Bu Zhenting smiled and said, “You’re getting worked up again. You’re grown up—why are you still acting like a kid? I’m just joking. It’s just a lower-realm cultivator. Do you think I’d be lacking? That I’d steal it?”

“Alright, don’t be mad. If it’s not okay, go take some Dharma medicine.”

“Grandfather and the others are calling you to a meeting later. Don’t forget the time.”

After the call ended, Bu Yingshu stared coldly at where he’d vanished and thought, “That bastard…”

“Dharma medicine? If Dharma medicine could fix it, I would’ve used it a long time ago.”

Thinking back on her reaction, she admitted she’d been too impulsive.

But even now, just imagining Bu Zhenting stealing Zhang Yu made her burn with anger again.

That was a specialized cultivation tool she’d spent a lot of effort taming. How could she let someone snatch it away?

And that one sentence just now… dragged her straight back to those helpless scenes where Bu Zhenting stole her resources.

That made her even angrier.

What’s more, it touched on the secret behind her talent breakthrough—she absolutely could not tolerate Zhang Yu being eyed by her elder cousin.

“Bu Zhenting—if you dare steal my things again this time, I’ll…”

Her subordinates only felt killing intent rush at their faces, making them shiver uncontrollably.

Just then, her vision flickered, and Zhang Yu’s message appeared.

When she first saw his avatar light up, Bu Yingshu jolted, almost thinking Bu Zhenting had already done something to him.

But once she saw Zhang Yu was asking about Le Mulan, she unconsciously let out a breath of relief.

“Le Mulan? That’s Xiao Yu’s classmate from the lower realm, right?”

Bu Yingshu curled her lip, glanced through Le Mulan’s information, and made a casual judgment: “Xiao Yu’s underling?”

In her view, if Zhang Yu was her pet, then Le Mulan was the pet of her pet.

Bu Yingshu replied: You came to me just for something this tiny, among tiny things?

On the other side, Zhang Yu studied the message and thought, “She’s upset again? Sigh… who knows what she’s freaking out about this time.”

After thinking, Zhang Yu replied: To a Dao Lord like you with such a noble immortal-clan status, of course it’s nothing. But for little people like us, it’s a major disaster we can’t do anything about.

Bu Yingshu snorted lightly. The subordinates around her immediately felt the atmosphere in the room loosen.

Bu Yingshu: Fine. I almost forgot how little status you lower-realm people have. Wait for my message. Bu Yingshu: Also, remember this—if any immortal-clan member comes to find you lately, contact me immediately. Right away.

Zhang Yu stared at that message and wondered, “Will other immortal-clan members come looking for me?”

As he was thinking about what it meant, Bu Yingshu sent another message.

Bu Yingshu: Found her. Spirit Essence Pavilion took her. Zhang Yu: Dao Lord, can you say a bit more? Bu Yingshu: Spirit Essence Pavilion likes the medicinal nature in her body. They plan to turn her into a new product. Bu Yingshu: Don’t worry. It’s a good thing.

In Bu Yingshu’s eyes, once a lower-realm cultivator like Le Mulan entered the sect, getting investment and raising her value—then selling herself for a good price later—was obviously a good thing. It was the kind of opportunity countless lower-realm cultivators would beg for and still never obtain.

Otherwise, for an ordinary lower-realm commodity like that, what future could there be?

In Kunxu, plenty of people wanted to sell themselves, but those who could actually sell successfully—and sell for a high price—were one in ten thousand.

At the same time, Zhanxian spoke in Zhang Yu’s mind: “So that’s how it is. From what I know, Spirit Essence Pavilion probably noticed what’s special about Le Mulan and wants to invest in her—turning her into a potion production line.”

“Le Mulan is likely under strict custody now. Food, medicine, cultivation—everything will be controlled layer by layer.”

“Of course, in that state she’ll also receive heavy investment to raise her cultivation, but that boosting will be focused mainly on improving her ability to produce medicinal output.”

Zhang Yu asked, “What dangers does something like this involve?”

Zhanxian explained, “Right now you can think of her as a living factory. Once Spirit Essence Pavilion buys in, her body no longer belongs only to herself—Spirit Essence Pavilion will have higher decision-making authority.”

“If she’s lucky, she can become something like an acting plant manager and decide most matters.”

“If the sales are good, she might become a Divine Transformation cultivator in a few years.”

“If she’s unlucky and there are no sales, then the business fails.”

“Spirit Essence Pavilion will treat Le Mulan as a bad asset and dispose of her. Stripping tendons and bones, or reselling her to other sects… all of that is possible.”

Fu Ji said, “This is a good thing, Zhang Yu. If Le Mulan stayed in the lower realm, she’d never have a chance to charge toward Divine Transformation in this life. Nascent Soul would be her ceiling. Now she has a chance to aim for Divine Transformation—she’d probably be laughing her head off.”

Hearing that, Zhang Yu sighed in his heart, yet he understood that for many lower-realm cultivators, this really was a comparatively “good” outcome.

Because having a chance—inside the sect—to sell yourself and keep climbing the Immortal Dao was already something countless lower-realm cultivators could only dream about.

But… Zhang Yu still didn’t want his companion to end up as a “bad asset,” disposed of at will by the sect.

“Keep climbing,” he told himself. “Only by climbing higher can I shelter more people.”

In the days that followed, Zhang Yu buried himself in the work of Martial Arts Team One, making up for as much of the backlog as possible from when he’d been in the special task group.

After work, he cultivated quietly and low-key, causing no extra trouble.

He also planned to re-cultivate the chain diagram Formless Martial Performance from Martial One through Martial Twelve, unlocking the chain diagram’s fourth-layer effect.

As for his savings, Zhang Yu hadn’t really touched them.

When he left the special task group, thanks to Bu Yingshu’s repeated “tips,” his savings had skyrocketed to over 700,000 immortal coins.

But Zhang Yu knew that if he advanced to job grade 4 next and charged at the Divine Transformation realm, that 700,000-plus would disappear fast.

So he didn’t even finish paying off his loans—he kept holding onto the 700,000-plus, saving it for the future Divine Transformation breakthrough.

And besides cultivating Formless Martial Performance, the rest of his time went into refining the Immortal Dao technology inside his techniques, accumulating the rewards from the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan.

Especially those rewards that let him choose a strategic technique and raise its level by +1—Zhang Yu believed they would help him, after breaking into Divine Transformation, quickly push multiple techniques up to level 50.

After days of effort refining the Immortal Dao technology from Kunlun in the Palm and Three Worlds Ten Directions Taixu Absolute Barrier, Zhang Yu had already gained more than ten “choose a strategic technique level +1” rewards.

Outside of quiet cultivation and work, Zhang Yu also made time to meet Ye Xingli and Yu Xinghan.

When the three met, they also brought along the lower-realm outsourced trainees each of them had chosen.

Zhang Yu chose Yan Qianji, who had been in the same Artifact Refinement Department at Myriad Laws Sect University as him—because among the rejected Exam Sect candidates from Myriad Laws Sect University, Yan Qianji had the best results.

Zhang Yu hoped that after a year of outsourced training, Yan Qianji could enter the sect in the next selection.

The outsourced trainee Ye Xingli brought was Feng Tingting, who had transferred back into the Artifact Refinement Department. Yu Xinghan brought Shi Huaiyu, who had already transferred from the Civil Engineering Department into the Artifact Refinement Department.

At this moment, feeling the sect’s environment, Feng Tingting couldn’t help sighing: “I never thought… I’d have a chance to come to the sect too.”

Beside her, Yan Qianji looked at Zhang Yu with a bit of awe. He’d originally thought that once Zhang Yu joined the sect, he would definitely become a bottom-tier nobody inside Myriad Laws Sect.

But along the way, they repeatedly saw people greeting Zhang Yu respectfully—clearly, Zhang Yu had considerable standing in the Imperial Law Pavilion.

Shi Huaiyu connected to the Law Realm while thinking, “Damn… a sect really can bet on anything?”

Meanwhile, True Lord Wuxiang looked at the six of them and thought, “Feels like… there are going to be more and more lower-realm people.”

As time flowed into March…

Zhang Yu officially received his confirmation notice, becoming the official team leader of Martial Arts Team One, advancing from job grade 2 to job grade 3.

At the same time, Zhang Yu learned that Bu Yingshu had also successfully been confirmed, becoming the Martial Performance Pavilion’s deputy pavilion master at job grade 6, and he sent his congratulations.

After that, Zhang Yu continued waiting quietly for his next transfer order.

One day after work, Ye Xingli’s Law Realm projection descended. She looked at Zhang Yu and said, “Junior brother, the notice should be coming soon, right? Dao Lord Bu has been arranging manpower on a huge scale. They’ll probably transfer you to the Martial Performance Pavilion any day now.”

Yu Xinghan looked excited. “If it’s a grade-4 sect affairs officer role in Martial Performance Pavilion, and Dao Lord Bu values you this much, she should make you deputy head of a key department, right?”

“Deputy Minister Zhang!” Yu Xinghan laughed. “Then you’ll be a Divine Transformation Divine Lord.”

When time reached April…

While Zhang Yu was talking with his team members, his eyes flickered—and he saw a projection descend from the sky: Gu Qingya, the head of the Review Department.

Gu Qingya said, “Team Leader Zhang, Pavilion Master Si wants you to come over.”

Hearing that notice, the surrounding team members all showed envy and complicated awe.

Watching Zhang Yu’s departing back vanish, Shen Qingyun couldn’t help saying, “The pavilion master is personally talking to Zhang Yu? Is he getting an exceptional transfer?”

Another team member said, “Exceptional again? If he rises another step, that’s two promotions in one year. They can’t possibly promote him three levels in a row and make him a minister directly, right?”

Shen Qingyun said, “Dao Lord Bu personally asked for him. With an immortal clan’s influence, it’s not impossible.”

“Besides, since Team Leader Zhang arrived, he drove the performance of three martial-arts teams to soar, and he even participated in verifying an Immortal-Class technique. Whether in merit or seniority, he’s qualified. And with Dao Lord Bu’s side at Martial Performance Pavilion desperately needing people, why wouldn’t an exceptional promotion be possible?”

Everyone who heard it couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

True Lord Wuxiang thought, “Even if it’s only deputy minister… that’s still deputy minister after just a bit over a year in the sect. That’s way too young.”

“At this age, becoming deputy minister means becoming minister later and reaching grade-5 sect affairs officer, breaking into the Refining Void realm… that’s basically guaranteed. Wouldn’t that mean establishing a law is right in front of him?”

True Lord Wuxiang knew that only cultivators who established a law truly had a ticket into the sect’s upper ranks.

“If this keeps going… maybe one day he might even have a chance to climb to the pavilion master’s seat?”

In that moment, True Lord Wuxiang seemed to see a new star of Myriad Laws Sect rising—about to shine in all directions.

At the same time, inside Pavilion Master Si Xuxiao’s office at the Imperial Law Pavilion, the grade-7 sect affairs officer looked at Zhang Yu and said, “Team Leader Zhang, in the year-plus since you entered the sect, you’ve done very well. Your results are obvious to all, and you haven’t wasted the opportunity the sect gave you.”

“Now, on behalf of the Imperial Law Pavilion, I grant you the position of deputy minister of the Shadow Correspondence Department, promote you to a grade-4 sect affairs officer, grant you a Divine Transformation certificate, and order you to transfer to the Old Days Graveyard to report in.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yu abruptly lifted his head and met Si Xuxiao’s face—calm as an ancient well, not a hint of emotion visible.

Si Xuxiao continued, “I hope you don’t disappoint the sect’s expectations. Work harder there, and continue to burn bright for the sect.”

That very day, the news spread through the Review Department: Zhang Yu had been transferred from the Review Department to the Shadow Correspondence Department and sent to the Old Days Graveyard to handle soul cultivator maintenance.

Soul cultivator maintenance was small in scale and low in profit. It had never been valued, and compared to Zhang Yu’s former martial-arts review work, it was like mud versus clouds.

As for the Old Days Graveyard itself, it was a small realm that Myriad Laws Sect disciples avoided like the plague.

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