Chapter 307: Wilderness Construction Site (Thanks to 'I Am a Reader')

Chapter 307: The Wilderness Construction Site (Thanks to ‘I Am a Reader’ for the Third Alliance Leader Reward)

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and before anyone realized it, it was already December.

During these two weeks, Zhang Yu had indeed spent quite a few spirit coins.

At that moment, he sat cross-legged in his dormitory, holding a jade-white orb in his hand, feeling a warm and tranquil flow of magical power within it.

This was the Profound Creation Relic Zhang Yu had rented, capable of storing and retrieving magical power.

According to the manufacturer, each time a master from the Diamond University was cremated, only one or two such relics were produced, making each one unique, personally obtained from the cremation of a master.

However, Zhang Yu later asked Zhang Pianpian and was told that these relics were mass-produced artificial goods, with a single materials expert from the Diamond University able to produce hundreds of them in a year.

Though not as impressive as advertised, they were sufficient for Zhang Yu’s needs.

After all, a single Profound Creation Relic could hold 10,000 units of magical power.

The one in Zhang Yu’s hand, for instance, was already filled with 10,000 units of magical power at 200% quality when he rented it.

Although some of the magical power would dissipate over time, it was still enough for Zhang Yu to absorb daily to improve the quality of his own magical power for a month.

He spent 4.5 spirit coins to rent three such Profound Creation Relics in one go, ensuring that even after arriving at the wilderness construction site, he could still absorb high-quality magical power daily to enhance his own.

Of course, once he returned from the site, he would have to return the depleted relics on time, or the rental fee would increase.

Fearing he might forget, Zhang Yu silently said to Fūjī, “Fūjī, remind me to return these Profound Creation Relics once I’m back.”

To be safe, Zhang Yu also set several reminder alarms in his ocular implant.

This was a money-saving trick he learned from Yu Xinghan—like returning rented items at the last minute, canceling subscriptions on the final day of a trial, or taking advantage of a continuous monthly discount before canceling it. Alarms had to be set at different times to avoid missing deadlines and wasting spirit coins.

After confirming that the three Profound Creation Relics were fully charged and of acceptable quality, Zhang Yu picked up another jade box that had just arrived.

Opening the box, he found an emerald-green gu insect curled up inside a crystal.

This was the Jade Spirit Gu, which Zhang Yu had rented for three months at a cost of 2.55 spirit coins.

Though it looked like an insect, it was actually a magical artifact.

According to Yun Jing, it was a bionic artifact modeled after the gu insects of the Celestial Demon University.

Its original purpose was to serve as a companion to spiritual roots, promoting their evolution—for example, from an Earth Spiritual Root to a Heaven Spiritual Root, or even from a Heaven Spiritual Root to a Divine Spiritual Root.

However, this research had yet to succeed. It was said to require another hundred years and tens of thousands of spirit coins in investment to achieve a breakthrough.

Though the Jade Spirit Gu couldn’t yet promote spiritual root evolution, it could still enhance the fusion rate of spiritual roots.

Zhang Yu swallowed it, and the crystal encasing the gu insect melted instantly. The Jade Spirit Gu activated immediately, naturally burrowing into his dantian and crawling onto his Sea of Qi Spiritual Root.

As the Sea of Qi Spiritual Root shared wisps of spiritual energy with the gu insect, it reciprocated with threads of primordial energy, forming a peculiar symbiotic relationship.

Ever since Zhang Yu had raised the fusion rate of his Sea of Qi Spiritual Root to 90%, he felt it gradually growing dormant, with ordinary methods proving almost ineffective.

Zhang Yu understood that this was because the final stages of fusion involved the most minute and intricate parts of the body, making progress increasingly slow.

But now, with the Jade Spirit Gu at work, he soon felt itching sensations in many parts of his body, as if flesh and blood were growing within.

Zhang Yu knew this was a sign that his Sea of Qi Spiritual Root was growing again, fusing with those subtle areas.

“This way, in about two or three months, my spiritual root fusion rate should reach 100%, and the Sea of Qi Spiritual Root will become one with me, inseparable.”

“The efficiency of magical power regulation and spiritual energy absorption should also improve by about 10%...”

Even without access to Daoist arts services in the wilderness, his spiritual root fusion rate would still progress.

Zhang Yu continued to ponder, “This way, after arriving at the construction site, neither my magical power quality nor my spiritual root fusion rate will fall behind.”

“As for physical strength, the Nine Prisons Mountain-Suppressing Belt should suffice.”

“As for Daoist heart...”

Zhang Yu glanced at the spirit interface mask beside him. As long as there was a spirit network at the construction site, he could use spirit services to aid in tempering his Daoist heart.

In addition, he had prepared several boxes of common medicines and three crates of spirit stones to assist with breathing exercises, costing nearly 1.6 spirit coins.

Of course, over the past two weeks, aside from these preparations for the construction site, Zhang Yu had also spent quite a few spirit coins on various Daoist arts and spirit services, leading to another surge in his strength.

Now, his Daoist heart had reached Level 12 (90.6%), his magical power was 425.5, its quality 136%, and his physical strength Level 12.63.

The purchase and practice of new techniques had also allowed Zhang Yu to master seven techniques of the Earth and Wood Sacred Body, with only one more needed to unlock new effects.

Feeling his steady progress, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but marvel, “Spirit coins are truly useful. Combined with my exceptional talent, if I keep training like this, I’ll likely reach peak Foundation Establishment levels in all stats within a year or two at most.”

But glancing at the remaining 10.3 spirit coins in his account, he sighed inwardly, “But spirit coins really don’t last long.”

On the day before departure, the flying sword sent by Bai Zhenzhen finally arrived.

...

Early December.

After taking leave, applying for online courses, packing his luggage, and bidding farewell to Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, and Zhang Pianpian, Zhang Yu boarded a flying vessel with many students and teachers from the Earth and Wood Department, embarking on a three-month journey to the wilderness construction site.

Once aboard, the students were divided into two groups and directed to separate meeting rooms on the vessel.

Tu Lishan arrived at the meeting room where Zhang Yu was seated. Looking at the group of financially struggling peers below, he thought to himself that Director Gao was probably already meeting with Gongshu Jin and the others.

“Ah, when will I ever be in charge of a class of wealthy students instead of mixing with these hard-up folks all day?”

Suppressing his wandering thoughts, Tu Lishan smiled at the crowd and said, “Students, you have all been carefully selected by Director Gao from various grades as elites. I look forward to your performance over the next three months.”

“First, I’ll create a group chat. Any updates over the next three months will be posted there.”

“Also, please check the files sent to you. They contain your assigned tasks for the project and your training plans for the next three months...”

Reading the training plan in the file, Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tu Lishan continued from the podium, “Everyone knows that the Earth and Wood Department is tough and demanding, but no one ever says we’re poor.”

“As long as you’re willing to work hard and endure hardships, the department will definitely provide opportunities for you to earn money.”

Then, his expression turned serious as he said, “To be honest about this project... there are death quotas allocated from above.”

Tu Lishan looked at each student in the room, their debts and savings already displayed in his ocular implant.

Seeing these numbers, Tu Lishan felt as though he were witnessing their extraordinary potential in the immortal path.

A senior student spoke up, “Teacher Tu, there’s no need to scare us.”

“Aside from suicide rates, demonic possession rates, homicide rates, and bankruptcy rates, our Earth and Wood Department still ranks first in sudden death rates. In our line of work... who’s afraid of dying?”

“Huh?” Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Is this really a construction site?”

He turned to look at the student who had spoken and saw a head of white hair and a face full of wrinkles, resembling someone over a hundred years old.

However, aside from the face, most of the student’s body was composed of magical prosthetics, making it hard to distinguish between youth and age.

Tu Lishan smiled slightly and continued, “Well said, Che Yufei. If you’re afraid of death, why join the Earth and Wood Department? Why pursue the immortal path?”

“With enough money, you can come back to life after dying, regain youth after aging, and extend your lifespan even when it’s exhausted.”

“Spirit coins are everything! And you all know your own circumstances. To earn spirit coins, you have to fight for them.”

“Now, the department is giving you this opportunity.”

“To keep up with the times and remain competitive in the future market, the department has decided to use the most effective, strictest, most Daoist, and most potential-extracting methods over the next three months to enhance your professional skills and immortal cultivation, increasing your future income.”

As he spoke, the first meal aboard the vessel was served to everyone.

Gazing at the white pills before him, Zhang Yu could faintly discern something wriggling and burrowing inside each one.

Tuli Shan announced, "For the next three months, the department will cover all six of your daily meals."

"Today's first meal consists of these Three-Worm Tendon-Transforming Pills."

"After taking them, they will accelerate the depletion of your spiritual energy and vital essence. But if you can endure it, it’s like carrying a heavy load—constantly stimulating your latent potential and making your physique even stronger..."

Before Tuli Shan could finish speaking, some students had already swallowed the pills.

Watching the students around him begin to eat one after another, Zhang Yu also took a Three-Worm Tendon-Transforming Pill. In the next moment, he felt a sharp, twisting pain in his abdomen, as if something were gnawing incessantly at his internal organs.

He sensed a slight drain on his physical strength and spiritual energy.

To counter this depletion, he had to breathe more diligently and dig deeper into his own potential.

"And..." Zhang Yu, feeling the strange sensation in his organs, thought to himself, "If this goes on for too long, won’t it make me sick?"

Sure enough, Tuli Shan continued, "Long-term use of the Three-Worm Tendon-Transforming Pills can affect the endocrine, cardiovascular, and spiritual root systems, leading to arrhythmia and spiritual root overload. Remember to stop taking them promptly if any issues arise."

Zhang Yu struggled to control his activated physical body, continuously healing the subtle damage to his organs. He felt that he could bear the strain inflicted by the Three-Worm Tendon-Transforming Pills.

(End of Chapter)