Chapter 313: Ultimate Civil Engineering Sacred Physique (Thanks to 'Handsome Little Cool Overlord')

Chapter 313: The Ultimate Civil Engineering Saint Body (Thanks to ‘Jade-Faced Little Cool Overlord’ for the Alliance Leader Reward)

Zhang Yu’s gaze swept over the rows of factory buildings, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of emotion.

Thanks to the formidable strength and professional skills of the Civil Engineering Department’s Foundation Establishment students, in just over two months, numerous roads had been repaired, underground transport passages had been opened, buildings had risen from the ground, and protective arrays and feng shui formations of various sizes had been set up both inside and outside.

Most of the project had already been completed. There was only one month left before departure, which also marked the end of the semester.

Compared to the ruins of two months ago, the factory area was now unrecognizable. From a distance, it resembled a small town, brightly lit even late at night, with the sounds of overtime work echoing everywhere.

Suddenly, Zhang Yu stopped in his tracks because the area ahead was sealed off.

He thought to himself, “It must be the Artifact Refining Department.”

Since the newly built factory area was specifically for producing Dharma Remains, it naturally required the installation of Dharma Remains production lines.

The specific construction of these production lines, especially the critical facilities, was handled by the Artifact Refining Department’s cultivators. In most cases, Civil Engineering students were not allowed to touch them.

The core technology was classified as confidential. Apart from members of the Artifact Refining Department, no one else was permitted to enter or observe without authorization.

As Zhang Yu bypassed the sealed-off area, a foul, fishy smell gradually filled the air, causing him to frown slightly.

Ever since the Artifact Refining Department began setting up the production lines, strange odors had occasionally wafted through the air.

According to senior students, these odors were pollutants emitted during the operation of the Dharma Remains production lines.

Whether producing Dharma Remains, magical artifacts, elixirs, flying swords, or puppets, factories inevitably generated waste such as wastewater and exhaust gases.

These byproducts were systematically categorized into 72 major types, collectively known as the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiendish Energies.

When the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiendish Energies first appeared, due to the residual spiritual energy and immortal Dao power they contained, some people repurposed them for cultivation.

Some companies even collaborated with universities to develop cultivation techniques specifically for absorbing the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiendish Energies. They promoted these techniques with slogans like “strengthen the body, prolong life, and accelerate physical refinement,” selling large quantities of the energies and related techniques to cultivators at the time.

Zhang Yu recalled the old stories shared by his seniors.

“But later… more and more cultivators who practiced these techniques developed strange illnesses or died suddenly. The companies were also embroiled in scandals, with laboratories accused of concealing reports on the side effects.”

“Then the company leadership collectively bowed and apologized, but the compensation lawsuits have been dragging on for nearly 80 years without resolution.”

Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, “Given the lifespans of those company executives, these lawsuits could easily go on for another few hundred years.”

Fuji chuckled, “It’s a common tactic for companies in Kunxu to avoid compensation. First, they deny anything happened. Then they apologize and say they need to investigate. After the investigation and procedures are complete, when it’s time to compensate, they regretfully discover the plaintiffs have already passed away. A few years later, they claim nothing ever happened…”

Zhang Yu remarked, “You’re quite familiar with this.”

Fuji replied, “I’ve had company employees as followers before. I’ve seen this trick many times. Getting a company to pay compensation is harder than blowing up their building.”

As they spoke, Zhang Yu arrived at a grove outside the factory area.

With his blood and qi surging and his magical power circulating, Zhang Yu began his physical refinement cultivation.

With each punch and kick, fierce energy rose, his muscles bulged, and the power of his magical energy and physical body merged seamlessly, erupting simultaneously in every move.

As Zhang Yu’s physical strength continued to improve during the Foundation Establishment stage, his magical energy and physical body became increasingly integrated, indistinguishable from one another when he struck.

After about an hour, as his muscles expanded and contracted, Zhang Yu, now steaming with white vapor, revealed a faint smile.

The tenth technique of the Civil Engineering Saint Body had finally been pushed to level 20.

Ultimate Civil Engineering Saint Body (10/10): The more severely injured or closer to death, the stronger the primary and advanced effects of the Civil Engineering Saint Body become. Treat every day as if it were the last day of your life and work accordingly.

Looking at the final effect of the Civil Engineering Saint Body, Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened slightly as he summarized it in his own words: “So… the lower my health, the stronger the first two effects of the Civil Engineering Saint Body become.”

What were the first two effects of the Civil Engineering Saint Body?

Zhang Yu’s eyes swept lightly over the technique diagram.

Primary: Resistance to earthquakes, dust, poison, noise, pressure, cancer, radiation, pollution, high temperatures, low temperatures, impacts, slashing, piercing, and hunger is greatly enhanced.

Advanced: The consumption of lifespan during Foundation Establishment cultivation, eating, and taking medicine is significantly reduced.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “This means the lower my health, the stronger my resistances and the lower my lifespan consumption. In other words… the closer I am to death, the stronger my defenses, the lower my lifespan consumption, and the harder it is for me to die.”

“The faster I die, the harder it is to die?”

As Zhang Yu pondered the implications of the final layer of the Civil Engineering Saint Body, especially its benefits for him, a plan gradually formed in his mind.

He controlled the bodily activation brought by the Remnant Ox Shedding Body and Mind Technique, bringing it to a halt.

Then, he strode toward the construction site and resumed work.

However, this time, while working and employing techniques like the War Demon Life-Consuming Art and the Limitless Vibration Zen, Zhang Yu deliberately refrained from healing himself.

Not only during work but even while eating and taking medicine, he forcibly suppressed the impulse to heal within his body. As a result, he visibly grew more exhausted day by day. His muscles, blood, qi, and stamina began to weaken, and after a few days, even strands of white hair appeared at his temples…

But correspondingly, Zhang Yu could feel that, under the enhancement of the Civil Engineering Saint Body, his seemingly frail body was growing increasingly resistant to various external conditions.

Moreover, the lifespan consumed during cultivation, eating, and taking medicine was diminishing further.

One day, Zhang Yu grabbed a large handful of Life-Damaging Heavenly Opportunity Powder, mixed it with Cracked Origin Blood-Burst Pills, stirred them together, and swallowed them all in one gulp.

Through days of excessive consumption and the effects of the Civil Engineering Saint Body, Zhang Yu had gradually accumulated experience and could even vaguely sense the impact of the medicine on his body’s lifespan.

For instance, after taking the medicine this time, under the forceful stimulation of the drug’s effects, his blood, qi, and magical energy surged wildly within him, accelerating the efficiency of his breathing and physical refinement.

During this process, Zhang Yu could feel something subtle within his body being consumed—it seemed to be his life force, representing his lifespan.

Several more days passed. By now, Zhang Yu’s forehead had darkened, and his body, ravaged by drugs and various techniques, seemed riddled with holes.

Yet, in this state, when Zhang Yu took lifespan-reducing drugs again, he found that their consumption of his lifespan was almost negligible.

Moreover, techniques like the War Demon Life-Consuming Art and the Limitless Vibration Zen were finding it increasingly difficult to harm him.

At this moment, Zhang Yu realized that within his body… as his physical form was continuously damaged, the resistance brought by the Civil Engineering Saint Body grew stronger and stronger. Eventually, this destruction and resistance reached a peculiar equilibrium.

Sensing this balance, Zhang Yu increased his drug dosage day by day. He wanted to seize this opportunity for free, unrestrained consumption to frantically improve himself.

If, before, relying on the drug-taking ability of the University Saint Body and bodily activation, he could bear a considerable amount of lifespan-reducing drugs with relatively low lifespan consumption…

Now, under the enhancement of the Civil Engineering Saint Body, Zhang Yu could consume large quantities of lifespan-reducing drugs with almost negligible consumption.

But to those around him, Zhang Yu’s weakened state clearly indicated that his condition was deteriorating.

Fuji pleaded, “Don’t do it, Zhang Yu! You can’t keep taking these! If you continue like this, you’ll drop from undergraduate to vocational college and become a vocational student! You’ll end up at Fengdu Vocational College, studying alongside Zhao Tianxing as a soul cultivator!”

Watching Zhang Yu continue to take drugs like a madman, Fuji grew both angry and anxious. “What technology have these pharmaceutical companies developed now? What exactly have they added to these drugs?”

…

Inside the room.

Che Yufei looked at Zhang Yu’s pale face and finally couldn’t help but ask, “How much do you earn in wages per day?”

Zhang Yu replied casually, “Probably more than 0.13, right?”

Frowning, Che Yufei said, “No… with a daily wage of 0.13 spirit coins, do you really need to go this hard?”

He made it a point to check on Zhang Yu every day upon returning, wondering if one day he’d find that his colleague had turned into wild materials.

Zhang Yu said calmly, “It’s not about the money. I just want to reward myself while I have this rare all-you-can-eat opportunity.”

Che Yufei was shocked. Although since starting high school, he had encountered countless study maniacs and people who had grown obsessed on the path of immortality, Zhang Yu’s level of obsession was enough to leave a deep impression on him.

Touching his own head full of white hair, Che Yufei finally couldn’t hold back and said, “Lifespan shouldn’t be cashed out like this. What you’re doing is called suicide.”

“Look at you now—your body hasn’t even started aging, but you’re already this weak?”

“Now look at me.”

Che Yufei stroked his white hair and beard, saying, "The doctor says I have at least ten years left, which means I can definitely finish university."

"And among the sixth-year students in the civil engineering department, my aging rate is the highest. Do you know what that means?"

"It means I make the most efficient use of my lifespan, ensuring I live long enough to graduate while pushing my potential to the limit. You could say I’ve mastered the art of preserving life."

"And do you know what my secret to longevity is?"

"Two things: moderation and perseverance."

"One massage a day, no more than one life-shortening drug per day, and no overtime exceeding twenty-four hours at a time."

"As long as you stick to these three principles, you can be like me—converting lifespan into cultivation while still surviving through university."

"Then all you need to do is work hard, earn money, and buy more lifespan."

Che Yufei genuinely didn’t want Zhang Yu to die suddenly. After all, capable foundation-building students in the civil engineering department were rare. Losing one would only mean more work for the upperclassmen.

Zhang Yu thanked Che Yufei for his kind reminder and then ordered two more doses of medicine. Che Yufei shook his head repeatedly, thinking to himself, "This guy... must be deep in debt."

(End of Chapter)