Chapter 291: I Want to Join the He Huan Study Group

Chapter 291: I Want to Join the Joyous Cultivation Study Group

Hearing Fuki’s words, Zhang Yu nodded, thinking to himself, “This place isn’t bad. I can’t sense any surveillance cameras.”

“What do you think, Fuki?”

Fuki focused her senses for a moment before replying, “Let’s do it here.”

With that, Fuki transformed once more into a tattered cloth doll, serving as the symbol of the evil deity, and was placed upon the makeshift altar of piled cement.

Next, Zhang Yu took one of his Time-Remnant Demon Eyes, using it as a medium to bridge the human and divine realms, and placed it in Fuki’s embrace.

As Fuki gestured through the air, a series of mysterious incantations flowed from her lips. In the next moment… an invisible surge of evil divine power passed through the Time-Remnant Demon Eye, connecting to the spiritual network.

Fuki sighed and said, “Alas, conditions are limited, offerings are insufficient, and the scale is small. The ritual I’m performing for you today will only have average effects.”

“For instance, the surveillance ritual can only control one camera within a 10-meter radius at most.”

“As for the anti-surveillance ritual, it can temporarily block all cameras within about 15 meters.”

With the ritual complete, Zhang Yu felt the two new ritual powers within his body and asked, “What about your own network connection? Is that done too?”

Fuki chuckled softly. “The roaming ritual is complete. I can now share the spiritual network through your Eye Relic.”

In the eyes of this evil deity, the world was no longer monotonous. She could now perceive various spiritual projections and even browse the network.

Zhang Yu quickly tested the power of the surveillance ritual.

First, he used a detection ritual to sense a nearby camera. Then, activating the surveillance ritual, a live feed appeared in his vision.

With a thought, he rotated the camera, capturing everything in its surroundings.

Reflecting on the ritual’s effects, Zhang Yu mused, “This surveillance ritual might be useful on the construction site in the future.”

“It could help me gather some unwanted ingredients.”

“But having both my own perspective and the surveillance feed feels strange… my movements have become sluggish, not as agile as usual.”

“It seems I need some practice.”

After completing the ritual, Zhang Yu moved to another spot and resumed cultivating the War Demon Life-Consuming Technique.

Over the next few days, aside from attending classes and practicing his techniques, Zhang Yu occasionally used the surveillance ritual, training himself to simultaneously manage his own perspective and the surveillance feed.

…

One day, shortly after returning to his dorm, Zhang Yu was eating his combined medicine while controlling a camera on the street outside, observing the passersby in the dormitory area.

Just then, Le Mulan’s figure appeared in the surveillance feed.

Besides Le Mulan, Zhang Yu noticed a young man accompanying her.

Xuan Ge walked beside Le Mulan, his eyes scanning the environment of the 125th floor. He thought to himself, “As expected, since Le Mulan ascended from the first floor, her financial situation is quite modest. She can only stay here for now.”

“I heard she’s even sharing a room?”

“In that case, if I show a bit more sincerity, I might be able to negotiate an even lower price for dual cultivation with her.”

“Or perhaps… I could let her stay in my dorm to offset the cost of dual cultivation.”

While calculating prices in his mind, Xuan Ge said aloud, “Student Le, the dormitory conditions on the 125th floor are rather poor, and the spiritual energy is far inferior to the upper floors. Have you considered moving?”

Le Mulan replied calmly, “The conditions here might be average, but my roommates are wonderful people. Being with them… I feel it greatly benefits my studies.”

Hearing this, Xuan Ge inwardly scoffed, thinking that any students sharing a room on the 125th floor couldn’t possibly help with studies—they were likely all paupers from the first floor.

Just then, Le Mulan said, “I’m almost there, Student Xuan… If you have something to do, you can go ahead. There’s really no need for you to come all this way.”

Xuan Ge smiled. “I’m heading this way anyway. Besides, I said I wanted to be friends with you. Can’t we chat along the way?”

“Since we’re at your dorm, won’t you invite me in?”

At that moment, the dormitory door opened, revealing Yu Xinghan, who had just finished eating his cement-mixed medicine.

He looked at Le Mulan and said, “The medicine has arrived. Zhang Yu and I ate ours since you weren’t back yet. Don’t forget to take your portion when you go in.”

Since the four of them returned to the dorm at different times, they often coordinated online, ordering their combined medicine in advance.

After speaking to Le Mulan, Yu Xinghan turned to Xuan Ge and asked, “A classmate of yours?”

The moment Xuan Ge saw Yu Xinghan, he was momentarily stunned.

Noticing the Foundation Establishment Class ranking above the other’s head, he thought in surprise, “Foundation Establishment Class?”

Just seeing the ranking felt like a wave of pressure washing over him, subtly shaking his body.

“Le Mulan is living with a Foundation Establishment student?”

While Xuan Ge was still reeling from the shock, Zhang Yu also stepped out, planning to go out for physical training.

Seeing the “8th Place, Foundation Establishment Class” ranking above Zhang Yu’s head, Xuan Ge felt the pressure in the air grow even heavier, forcing him to take a step back.

In that moment, Xuan Ge inwardly exclaimed, “As expected of the eighth rank in the Foundation Establishment Class! Just seeing his ranking brings such overwhelming pressure!”

The relaxed smile on his face turned cautious and reserved as he carefully said, “I’m Le Mulan’s classmate. My name is Xuan Ge. Greetings, seniors.”

Just then, another graceful figure brushed past Xuan Ge and entered the dormitory—it was Zhang Pianpian, returning from class for her meal.

Seeing the “49th Place, Talisman Department Foundation Establishment Realm” inscription above Zhang Pianpian’s head, Xuan Ge felt as if the air had solidified. His breathing grew labored as he thought in astonishment, “A top student who made it into the department rankings?”

Encountering three Foundation Establishment students in a row, Xuan Ge’s thoughts shifted repeatedly, eventually settling on a single question: “Why is Le Mulan living with three Foundation Establishment students?”

“Could I have misjudged her? Does this woman have better connections and background than I thought?”

At that moment, Xuan Ge abandoned his original plan of using money to persuade Le Mulan into dual cultivation. “If Le Mulan truly has connections, then it shouldn’t be me offering money for her to cultivate with me.”

“Instead, she should be the one offering money to cultivate with me to improve her grades… That makes more sense.”

“I almost lost out…”

Xuan Ge sighed in relief, then wondered, “But she doesn’t seem interested?”

“Could it be she doesn’t know the benefits of dual cultivation?”

“If she focused solely on academics in high school and never looked into such matters, it’s not impossible.”

“Then I should thoroughly explain the necessity of dual cultivation during university.”

“But…”

Thinking of the two men and two women in this small dormitory, Xuan Ge’s heart trembled: “Could this be a Joyous Cultivation study group? Have they already formed a dual cultivation team? Is that why Le Mulan isn’t interested in me?”

“Indeed, dual cultivation with me can’t compare to dual cultivation with Foundation Establishment students.”

Imagining Le Mulan receiving guidance from three Foundation Establishment students in this small dorm, and the possibility of them engaging in wild, all-night quadruple cultivation after school, Xuan Ge felt a profound sense of… envy toward Le Mulan.

“You actually managed to match into such a high-level group.”

Xuan Ge had always believed he belonged in the Joyous Cultivation University, but his elders forbade it.

Now, looking at Zhang Yu, he desperately wanted to shout, “Can I join?”

Just then, Zhang Yu noticed Xuan Ge’s dazed expression and asked curiously, “Huh, why are you still here?”

Xuan Ge took a deep breath, ultimately not daring to voice his thoughts. He only whispered, “Senior, I’ll take my leave now.”

“See you tomorrow, Student Le.”

However, in that moment, Xuan Ge resolved to find out whether this place was truly focused on dual cultivation.

If so, he would spend a fortune to get in.

If not, he would have to properly educate Le Mulan about the benefits of dual cultivation.

Zhang Yu looked at Le Mulan again, always feeling that her gaze toward him had been somewhat strange lately. "Is there something on your mind?"

Le Mulan quickly lowered her head and said, "N-no, nothing."

She thought to herself, "Could Zhang Yu have noticed? Impossible, I haven’t had the chance to make a move yet."

"Has his guard really heightened since that last incident?"

Le Mulan frowned slightly. "Lately, he leaves early and returns late every day, only staying in the dorm during meals... and when he’s on calls with Bai Zhenzhen."

"And whenever it’s mealtime, Yu Xinghan is always there too..."

Seeing Le Mulan lost in thought, Zhang Yu curled his lips, temporarily setting aside his doubts, and headed back to the space below the 100th floor to continue his physical training.

...

Over the next few days, with Zhang Yu’s diligent daily cultivation, he finally managed to elevate the War Demon Life-Consuming Art to level 20 on the eve of the exam.

His basic attributes had also improved significantly: Dao Heart reached level 11 (87.3%), mana reached 314.2, and physical strength reached level 11.29.

At the same time, Zhang Yu’s understanding of the War Demon Life-Consuming Art deepened once again, and his mastery over the application of this technique’s potential eruption reached an unprecedented level, as if he had undergone years of arduous training.

The operation of unleashing potential through the War Demon Life-Consuming Art became increasingly seamless and effortless in his mind.

With a low shout from Zhang Yu, the muscles all over his body bulged with prominent veins, steam rising wildly from his skin, which turned a deep crimson, as if about to drip blood.

Zhang Yu could feel that, with the activation of the War Demon Life-Consuming Art and the reverse flow of mana within his body, his physical strength temporarily increased by a full 1.5 levels.

At this moment, relying solely on physical strength, he could completely overpower his former self.

However, Zhang Yu could also sense that countless muscles throughout his body were tearing, and his internal organs were operating under extreme strain. Any forceful exertion would inevitably lead to a backlash, resulting in broken tendons and fractured bones.

But in the next instant, Zhang Yu’s swollen muscles seemed to deflate, shrinking noticeably all over his body.

Zhang Yu could also feel that the temporary boost in his physical strength had decreased from 1.5 levels to 1.0 levels.

Then, his muscles relaxed once more, and the crimson hue of his skin gradually returned to normal.

The temporary enhancement in physical strength further dropped from 1.0 levels to 0.8, and then to 0.5.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "This is the effect of the War Demon Life-Consuming Art at level 20, allowing me to control the degree of potential eruption within my body at will. I can maintain it as low as 0.1 levels without issue, and at its peak, I can even surpass 1.5 levels, achieving the effect of a double eruption."

As for how powerful the double eruption effect might be, Zhang Yu hadn’t tested it yet and had no immediate plans to do so.

"At my current level, a temporary boost of 0.8 levels in physical strength can be fully sustained with the Remnant Bull Sacrifice Technique alone."

"And if combined with the regenerative power of the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo, a temporary boost of 1.2 levels in physical strength should also be manageable."

"If further supported by healing medicines or Daoist techniques, even a temporary boost of 1.5 levels in physical strength would come with little cost to my lifespan."

The next moment, Zhang Yu deactivated the War Demon Life-Consuming Art, and all the unusual phenomena on his body vanished.

The following day, the three-month foundational course came to an end, and the Foundation Establishment Class faced its first examination.

Thanks to ‘I Am a Reader’ for sending a Zhang Yu to Le Mulan.

(End of Chapter)