Chapter 289: 99% New for Personal Use (Thanks to 'Zhang Pianpian Meow' Eve for Sending)

Chapter 289: Self-Use, 99% New (Thanks to ‘Zhang Pianpian Miao’ Eve for Sending Zhang Pianpian 200 Favor Talismans)

Looking at himself in ninth place on the leaderboard and Zhang Yu in eighth, Li Xiao felt his vision darken.

"How is this possible?"

"Has his rate of improvement increased again?"

"How much money did he borrow? What did he mortgage?"

In Li Xiao's view, if a student's rate of improvement suddenly accelerated, there was only one possible explanation: they had invested more money.

Li Xiao thought to himself, "That Zhang Yu must have noticed my recent accelerated cultivation and the spirit coins I've invested."

"So, to surpass me in one go, he invested even more spirit coins than I did."

"No, at this point, there's no turning back for me."

Thinking this, Li Xiao slowly reached out and took out his Heavenly Crafting Method Skeleton.

He decided to temporarily sell one of his eye skeletons to obtain more spirit coins for further investment in the immortal path.

The thought of having to sell the Heavenly Crafting Method Skeleton he had only enjoyed for less than two months brought a flicker of reluctance to his remaining eye.

Fortunately, the performance of his Heavenly Crafting Method Skeleton was excellent. Even with just one eye, it would be sufficient for daily life.

"Once I earn money from the construction site, I'll buy another one."

…

125th Floor, Dormitory Area.

Yu Xinghan picked up the package that had just arrived and eagerly tore it open.

Zhang Yu, who was eating nearby, asked curiously, "Did your senior sister send it to you?"

Yu Xinghan replied, "Something I bought online."

He tore open the package directly, revealing an eyeball soaking in maintenance fluid.

Zhang Yu asked, "An eye skeleton? Why only one?"

Yu Xinghan chuckled and said, "Over the past two months, to buy an eye skeleton that meets my daily needs at the cheapest price, I've researched over a dozen brands and hundreds of different models."

"I've also browsed countless videos and articles reviewing eye skeletons, lurked in over a dozen eye skeleton discussion groups, and scoured the second-hand market."

"Now, I'm thoroughly familiar with the models, performance, parameters, and market prices of eye skeletons."

"Finally…"

Yu Xinghan put on gloves and carefully took out the eye skeleton from the maintenance fluid. "I managed to snag this bargain."

"A 99% new Heavenly Crafting Method Skeleton, sold individually at a cheaper price."

"But judging by the parameters of this model, even the performance of a single eye is enough for daily classes and cultivation."

Seeing Yu Xinghan's confident expression, Zhang Yu nodded and said, "I never expected someone who uses the Extreme Tiger brand to know so much about eye skeletons."

Yu Xinghan said, "Hmph, Zhang Yu, even though you stumbled upon a Time-Remnant Demon Eye, you should still learn more about method skeletons. This knowledge is beneficial, not harmful."

As he spoke, Yu Xinghan had already replaced his left eye with the newly acquired Heavenly Crafting Method Skeleton and sighed, "Using a good eye skeleton really makes a difference."

"The world has become so much clearer."

After testing the eye skeleton, Yu Xinghan didn't rush to confirm receipt or payment. Instead, he carefully removed it.

He took out a box of tools and began meticulously wiping the eye skeleton before finally placing it back into the maintenance fluid.

Zhang Yu asked, "Why aren't you using it? Is the quality not good?"

Yu Xinghan replied matter-of-factly, "Something this good shouldn't be used casually. I'll stick to my Extreme Tiger brand for everyday use."

"This eye skeleton is naturally for use during classes."

"What if it wears out faster from overuse?"

Yu Xinghan resolved to clean and maintain this eye skeleton carefully every day to extend its lifespan as much as possible.

After dinner, Zhang Yu left the dormitory and, as usual, crossed the Yuanci Passage, heading toward the area below the 100th floor.

For safety's sake, Zhang Yu would go to different areas each time for body refinement.

This time, he arrived at a blind spot in the surveillance on the 94th floor. After swallowing a piece of cement, he began cultivating the Soil-Eating Divine Art.

A dull rumble echoed from Zhang Yu's stomach. His intestines and stomach seemed to transform into a grinder. As the Gluttony Magic surged, the cement was completely pulverized into a basic material, which was then transported to the skin all over his body through the circulation of the Gluttony Magic.

This was the effect of the Soil-Eating Divine Art after reaching level 10. Besides strengthening muscles and tendons with materials, it could also be used to reinforce the skin.

"However, cement is still a bit weak. It only makes my skin tougher, and I can't use too much, or else my body's flexibility and explosive power will decline."

"For this art to truly strengthen the body, better cultivation materials are needed."

But if Zhang Yu had to spend his own money to buy materials, he certainly wasn't willing.

"I'll have to wait until I go to the construction site later to see if there are any good materials nobody wants…"

After a period of cultivation, as Zhang Yu completed another cycle of the Soil-Eating Divine Art, he finally advanced the art to level 20.

In an instant, countless images flashed through his mind. Zhang Yu felt as if he had undergone years of arduous cultivation, finally pushing this art to the limit achievable during the Foundation Establishment stage.

With the Soil-Eating Divine Art reaching level 20, Zhang Yu could now use cultivation materials to strengthen not only his skin and muscles but also all the bones in his body.

"Strengthening the bones is probably the best use of this art."

Zhang Yu closed his eyes to sense the level 20 Soil-Eating Divine Art and sighed inwardly, "After all, many high-strength materials are often unsuitable for strengthening flesh and blood, but for bones…" "It took over half a month to finally cultivate this level 20 body refinement art."

Through this period of diligent cultivation, Zhang Yu's various attributes had significantly improved.

His Dao Heart reached level 11 (73.8%), his magic power reached 300.6, and his physical strength reached level 11.12.

"With the University Saint Body and a level 20 art, my progress is rapid."

However, after hearing Zhang Pianpian's reminder, Zhang Yu naturally didn't fully reveal these attribute increases, ensuring that the rate of improvement in his overall score wasn't too conspicuous in the class.

"With magic power breaking through 300, I can actually equip a second method skeleton."

"But forget it…"

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Method skeletons are too expensive. I'll stick to the plan Starfire True Person laid out for me, continue refining my body, and prepare for switching to the Artifact Refining Department later."

During this period, besides studying and cultivating, Zhang Yu had also inquired about the various rules for switching departments.

"The latest opportunity is in the third academic year. If I fail to switch departments by the third year, I'll never be able to."

"I need to earn enough money within three years and strive to improve my body refinement strength."

…

The next day.

During the Dao Heart class.

Teacher Feng Jiu, in the form of a phoenix, continued teaching step by step, as if reading from a script, just like in the first class.

At the same time, her gaze swept over the many students present, and a line chart of each of their performance changes appeared in her eyes.

"Ji Yuanshu, first in Dao Heart in the class, no abnormalities."

"Gongshu Jin, second in Dao Heart in the class, no abnormalities…"

"Li Xiao, the progress of his Dao heart has accelerated, noted as a loan promotion target, added to the pending sales database."

"Zhang Yu, the progress of his Dao heart was initially stable, suddenly accelerated a month ago, then stabilized again, added as an observation target..."

After categorizing and annotating the students' data and records, and sending them deep into the spirit realm, Feng Jiu continued teaching the students with unwavering composure.

...

In the mana class.

Li Mingbo's main focus remained on the top-tier students in the front rows.

However, whenever his gaze swept over Zhang Yu in the back row, he would always linger a moment longer.

The primary reason, of course, was that this student had not used his discount coupons on the Mana Treasure platform—neither buying nor selling mana.

The secondary reason was that the student's mana progress had been quite impressive lately, ranking among the top ten in the class, making him one of the outstanding students.

"I just wonder if this kid's progress is the result of borrowing money for cultivation or if he truly has talent."

At least from his performance, Li Mingbo couldn't tell. Unlike Li Xiao beside him, whose eyelids twitched from time to time, seemingly often affected by notifications displayed in his eye socket, causing his expression to shift.

Sometimes, he would be listening attentively one second, only for his face to change drastically the next.

Coming from the same background, Li Mingbo understood this situation all too well.

"This kid has taken out quite a few loans."

...

In the body refinement class.

Lang Yougong nodded repeatedly as he looked at Zhang Yu. "Your recent improvement in body refinement intensity has been good. Keep it up."

"And don't neglect the matter of spiritual root fusion."

Observing this student who had mastered the 20th level of the Spring and Autumn Endless Zen and used the Time-Residual Demon Pupil, Lang Yougong sighed inwardly, convinced he hadn't misjudged. This student's background was definitely extraordinary, which explained his rapid progress and rising rankings.

After receiving some guidance from Lang Yougong, Zhang Yu suddenly said, "Teacher Lang, Yu Xinghan is having some difficulties improving his spiritual root fusion. Could you offer some guidance?"

Yu Xinghan shot Zhang Yu a grateful look before turning to Lang Yougong with an expectant expression.

Lang Yougong was slightly taken aback. His wolf ears twitched before he replied cheerfully, "Yu Xinghan, if you have questions, why not ask me directly? Would I ever refuse to guide my own students?"

As Lang Yougong guided Yu Xinghan, Zhang Yu activated his Time-Residual Demon Pupil, clearly recording every movement at 128 frames per second.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "This way, I can guide Yu Xinghan in the future to improve his spiritual root fusion and then replicate his Dao Seed Three-Eyes Divine Ability."

Meanwhile, as Lang Yougong instructed Yu Xinghan, his eye socket penetrated the other's skin and muscles, observing Yu Xinghan's eyes. He thought curiously, "This guy... his eye socket and Li Xiao's are a pair, aren't they?"

"One for each? Such a close bond?"

...

That night, after mastering the Earth-Eating Divine Art, Zhang Yu began cultivating the second technique of the Earth-Wood Sacred Body—a foundational-stage technique called the War Demon Life-Consuming Art.

This technique was born for combat, designed to unlock the body's potential. When needed, it could reverse mana flow, stimulating the body's latent abilities in a short period to forcibly unleash power far beyond its limits.

During this process, as power was exerted beyond its limits, it could manifest the might of overwhelming force. However, because the power exceeded one's control and endurance, it would not only cause tendons to snap, bones to fracture, and internal organs to rupture but also severely wear down the body, consuming one's lifespan.

With the changing times, this once life-risking technique for killing enemies was now used by Earth-Wood practitioners to work themselves to the bone.

(End of Chapter)