Chapter 311: Ultimate Civil Engineering Sacred Body
Zhang Yu’s gaze swept over the rows of factory buildings, a wave of emotion washing over him.
Thanks to the formidable strength and specialized skills of the Civil Engineering Department’s Foundation Establishment students, an astonishing amount of work had been completed in just over two months. Roads had been repaired, underground transportation tunnels reopened, and new buildings erected from the ground up. Large and small Factory Protection Formations and Feng Shui Formations had been meticulously arranged both inside and outside the complex.
The project was already more than halfway completed. With only a month remaining until their departure — coinciding with the end of the semester — the transformation of the factory area was nothing short of miraculous. Compared to the desolate ruins it had been two months prior, the complex now resembled a bustling small city, ablaze with lights even late at night, its air filled with the sounds of overtime work.
Suddenly, Zhang Yu stopped short. The area ahead was cordoned off.
“Must be the Artifact Refinement Department,” he mused inwardly.
Since the newly constructed factory complex was specifically designed for Bionic production, it naturally required the installation of Bionic production lines.
The Artifact Refinement Department cultivators were in charge of the detailed construction of these production lines, especially the critical facilities, and rarely allowed Civil Engineering students to interfere.
The core technology was classified as top secret, and only members of the Artifact Refinement Department were authorized to enter and observe.
As Zhang Yu skirted the restricted zone, a pungent, rancid odor wafted through the air, causing him to frown slightly.
Ever since the Artifact Refinement Department began setting up the production lines, strange odors had intermittently permeated the air.
According to the senior students, these were pollutants emitted from the Bionic production line.
Bionics, magical artifacts, medicinal pills, flying swords, puppets… the manufacturing processes of various factories inevitably generated wastewater, exhaust gases, and other waste products.
After systematic classification and summarization, these byproducts were classified into seventy-two major categories, collectively known as the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Qi.
When the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Qi first emerged, its residual spiritual energy and Immortal Dao power led people to repurpose it for cultivation.
Some companies even collaborated with universities to develop specialized breathing techniques for absorbing the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Qi, promoting them with slogans like “Strengthen your body,” “Prolong your life,” and “Rapid body refinement.” They sold massive quantities of Earthly Fiend Qi and related cultivation arts to Cultivators at the time.
Memories of old news shared by his seniors flashed through Zhang Yu’s mind.
“But later… more and more Cultivators practicing this cultivation art developed strange illnesses, some even dying suddenly. A scandal erupted when it was revealed that the company’s laboratory had concealed the testing reports on the side effects.”
“Then the company’s leadership collectively bowed in apology, and the compensation lawsuits have been dragging on for nearly eighty years with no resolution in sight.”
Zhang Yu sighed inwardly. “Considering the lifespans of those company leaders, these lawsuits could probably drag on for centuries without issue.”
Fu Ji chuckled. “That’s just the standard compensation routine for companies in Kunxu. First, they deny anything happened. Then they apologize and say they need to investigate. By the time the investigation is complete and all the procedures are followed, they regretfully discover that the plaintiffs have already died of old age. A few years later, they declare that nothing ever happened…”
“You seem very familiar with this,” Zhang Yu remarked.
Fu Ji replied, “It’s not like I haven’t recruited company employees as believers before. I’ve seen this act play out countless times. Getting compensation from a company is harder than blowing up their headquarters.”
As they spoke, Zhang Yu had already arrived at a forest outside the factory district.
As vital energy surged through his body and Magic Power circulated, Zhang Yu had already begun his body refinement practice.
With each punch and kick, Gang Qi surged forth, muscles rippled, and the combined force of Magic Power and physical strength erupted simultaneously in every movement.
This was a result of Zhang Yu’s steadily increasing physical strength during the Foundation Establishment Stage. As his physical strength grew, his Magic Power and physical strength became increasingly fused, indistinguishable from each other in his strikes.
After about an hour, accompanied by a series of muscular contractions and expansions, Zhang Yu, his entire body radiating white steam, revealed a faint smile.
The tenth cultivation art of the Civil Engineering Sacred Body had finally reached Level 20.
Ultimate Civil Engineering Sacred Body (10/10): The more severe the injuries and the closer to death, the stronger the primary and advanced effects of the Civil Engineering Sacred Body become. Work each day as if it were your last.
Staring at the final tier of the Civil Engineering Sacred Body’s effects, Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened slightly. He summarized his understanding inwardly: “In other words… the lower my health, the stronger the first two tiers of the Civil Engineering Sacred Body become.”
What exactly were the first two tier of the Civil Engineering Sacred Body’s effects?
Zhang Yu’s gaze swept lightly across the Chain Formation Diagram.
Beginner Tier: Tremendous surge in resistance to earthquakes, dust, toxins, noise, pressure, cancer, radiation, pollution, high temperatures, low temperatures, impact, slashing, piercing, and hunger.
Superior Tier: Significantly reduced lifespan consumption when cultivating, eating, or taking medicine during the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “So, the more critically injured I am, the stronger my resistances become and the less my lifespan is consumed. Doesn’t that mean… the closer I am to death, the stronger my defense becomes, the less my lifespan is consumed, and the harder it becomes to die?”
“The closer to death, the further from it?”
Zhang Yu pondered the implications of the Ultimate Civil Engineering Sacred Body’s final tier, particularly how it could benefit him. Gradually, an idea began to form in his mind.
He suppressed the body activation induced by the Crippled Ox Body-Sacrifice Heart Art, bringing it to a halt.
Then, he strode confidently back to the construction site and resumed his work.
This time, however, Zhang Yu refrained from self-healing when using cultivation arts like the Battle Demon Life-Shattering Art and Limitless Vibration Zen.
Not only during work, but even when taking medicine with each meal, he forcefully suppressed his body’s natural healing impulses.
Visibly, Zhang Yu grew increasingly exhausted. His muscles, vital energy, and physical strength weakened, and within days, strands of white hair appeared at his temples.
Yet, thanks to the Civil Engineering Sacred Body, Zhang Yu sensed that his seemingly frail body was growing increasingly resistant to external environmental stressors.
Moreover, the amount of lifespan drained during cultivation, eating, and taking medicine steadily decreased.
One day, Zhang Yu grabbed a large handful of Life-Draining Heavenly Secret Powder, mixed it thoroughly with Primordial Fissure Bloodburst Pills, and swallowed the mixture in one gulp.
Through days of excessive eating and drinking, combined with the effects of the Civil Engineering Sacred Body, Zhang Yu had gradually accumulated experience, even vaguely sensing the drugs’ impact on his body’s lifespan.
For instance, after taking the medicine, the potent medicinal power violently stimulated his vital energy and Magic Power, causing them to surge wildly and accelerating the efficiency of his breathing technique and body refinement.
During this process, Zhang Yu could sense something subtle being consumed within his body — a force that seemed to be his life force, representing his remaining lifespan.
Several more days passed. Zhang Yu’s forehead now bore a dark shadow, and his body, ravaged by drugs and various cultivation arts, was riddled with holes like a sieve.
Yet, even in this state, when Zhang Yu consumed another lifespan-depleting drug, he discovered that its effect on his Lifespan… was almost negligible.
Moreover, the Battle Demon Life-Shattering Art and the Limitless Vibration Zen, both Civil Engineering Cultivation Techniques, found it increasingly difficult to harm him.
At that moment, Zhang Yu realized that within his body… as his physical form was continuously battered, the resistance granted by his Civil Engineering Sacred Body steadily increased, eventually reaching a miraculous equilibrium between destruction and resistance.
Sensing this equilibrium, Zhang Yu began increasing his drug dosage day by day, seizing this free feast to frantically enhance his cultivation.
Previously, relying on the drug-consuming capabilities of his University Sacred Body combined with the revitalization of his physical form, he could bear a considerable number of lifespan-depleting drugs with minimal Lifespan expenditure.
Now, bolstered by the Civil Engineering Sacred Body, Zhang Yu could consume massive quantities of such drugs with virtually no Lifespan cost.
However, to the onlookers, Zhang Yu’s weakened state… clearly signaled his deteriorating condition.
Fu Ji pleaded, “No, Zhang Yu! You can’t eat any more! If you keep this up, you’ll end up in the Bachelor’s to Junior College Program, becoming a Junior College Student! You’ll be stuck at Fengdu Junior College with Zhao Tianxing as your classmate, cultivating your souls together!”
Watching Zhang Yu continue his frenzied drug consumption like a madman, Fu Ji grew both furious and frantic. “What new technology have these pharmaceutical companies developed? What exactly have they added to these drugs?”
Inside the room, Che Yufei, observing Zhang Yu’s pale face, finally couldn’t help but ask, “How much do you earn per day?”
Zhang Yu replied casually, “About 0.13 Spirit Coins or more, I guess?”
Che Yufei frowned. “Wait… 0.13 Spirit Coins a day? Is it really worth risking your life like this?”
Lately, Che Yufei had been checking on Zhang Yu every day, half-expecting that one day he’d find him… transformed from a colleague into raw material.
Zhang Yu said flatly, “It’s not about the money. I’m just seizing this rare opportunity for self-indulgence and treating myself.”
Che Yufei was stunned. Since high school, he had seen countless Study Demons and watched one person after another become obsessed with the Immortal Dao, but Zhang Yu’s level of obsession still managed to leave a deep impression on him.
Stroking his full head of white hair, Che Yufei finally couldn’t hold back. “Lifespan isn’t something you can monetize like this. What you’re doing is suicide.”
“Look at you — your body hasn’t even started aging yet, but you’re already so frail.”
“Then look at me.”
Che Yufei stroked his white hair and beard, saying, “The doctor says I have at least ten more years to live, meaning I’ll definitely finish university.”
“Among all the sixth-year students in the Civil Engineering Department, my aging rate is the highest. Do you know what that means?”
“It means I’m maximizing my lifespan utilization. I’m living long enough to graduate while pushing my potential to its absolute limit — truly the art of longevity.”
“Now, do you want to know my secret to maintaining my health?”
“Two things: moderation and perseverance.”
“One massage daily, no more than one lifespan-depleting medicine per day, and no overtime exceeding 24 hours at a stretch.”
“Stick to these three rules, and you too can convert your lifespan into cultivation while still living to finish university.”
“After that, just work hard, earn money, and buy more lifespan.”
Che Yufei genuinely didn’t want Zhang Yu to die suddenly. After all, such capable Foundation Establishment students in the Civil Engineering Department were rare. Losing even one would increase the workload for the senior students.
Zhang Yu thanked Che Yufei for his well-intentioned advice, then ordered two more servings of medicine. Che Yufei shook his head repeatedly, thinking to himself, “This guy… he must be drowning in debt.”