Chapter 360: Starting Today, I’m Abstaining from Lust!
Inside the simulated construction site, Che Yufei and Shi Yunxiang’s figures darted about rapidly as surging Gang Qi enveloped the area. A towering pagoda gradually rose from the ground under their combined efforts.
Xiao Qingxuan strode toward the pagoda, his Gang Qi swirling around him, coalescing into nine colossal dragons that coiled around him.
The nine giant dragons soared and plunged with lifelike vitality, their scales shimmering and claws flashing. Periodically, they threw back their heads and roared skyward, appearing as real as any living dragon.
In the next moment, as the dragons surged forward, Zhang Yu’s Profound Cold Warriors charged into the fray.
Through repeated training sessions, Zhang Yu had grown increasingly familiar with Xiao Qingxuan’s Nine Dragons Heavenly Gang Palm.
This palm technique condensed Gang Qi into dragon forms. As one’s cultivation deepened, the dragon-shaped Gang Qi gradually became like an extension of the body, not only possessing immense power but also enabling the wielder to unleash a variety of dragon-based martial arts.
In combat, it was akin to having nine dragons guarding one’s body, providing both offense and defense.
Even though Zhang Yu could now summon over a dozen Formless Warriors to fight, they would be shattered in a single strike by these nine dragons. Thus, he now relied solely on his Profound Cold Warriors to engage Xiao Qingxuan in battle.
On the other side, Xiao Qingxuan controlled the giant dragon, tearing apart wave after wave of Profound Cold Warriors. As he watched Zhang Yu gradually closing in, he felt a headache coming on.
“Those Humanoid Gang Qi constructs are annoying, but I can deal with them slowly as long as I’m careful not to get hit by their reflected attacks.”
“But Zhang Yu… he’s just too tough.”
“If I fight him for too long, my mismatched Bionics will take a beating.”
Xiao Qingxuan recalled their first training session, when he had tried to completely crush Zhang Yu, nearly damaging the artificial meridians in his Hand Bionic.
“Is this guy… really from the Civil Engineering Department?”
Since then, he had abandoned any thought of defeating Zhang Yu during training. Instead, he would either bypass or restrain him before attacking the training structures.
After the training session ended, Shi Huaiyu summarized, “Haha, Zhang Yu, you’ll be leading the charge in the competition! I’ve been consulting the Security Department classmates for some top-tier taunts and insults. I’ll send them to you later, get ready to unleash them!”
“You can start firing them off before the match even begins!”
Zhang Yu glanced at the insults she had sent him, his face darkening. “You guys really aren’t worried about me getting killed, huh?”
Shi Huaiyu said, “You’re so tough, you won’t die that easily.”
“Besides, killing a classmate results in immediate disqualification and full compensation.”
“Unless you run into a super-rich kid, no one’s going to kill you.”
Zhang Yu sighed, “Then what if I do run into a super-rich kid?”
Shi Huaiyu replied, “Then you just put up a token resistance and surrender immediately.”
Zhang Yu rolled his eyes and walked out with the others, chatting and laughing.
After several training sessions, Zhang Yu found the new team’s atmosphere quite pleasant. At least he felt comfortable around these “poor brothers,” as they shared tips on discounts, deals, and frugal living — a stark contrast to his previous team under Ma Xuan, where he could never get a word in.
Before leaving the training facility, Zhang Yu and his teammates split the cost of renting the simulated construction site.
They also had to cover the cost of the building materials used during the competition training.
Unlike ordinary construction projects, the competition required customized building materials that needed to be purchased not just during the event but also frequently during training.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Those old bastards in the Civil Engineering Department must be making a killing.”
Spirit Coin Balance: 7.8
In his dormitory, Zhang Yu tore open the package Bai Zhenzhen had sent him, saliva unconsciously pooling at the corner of his mouth.
“Finally, meat again!”
Having gone too long without meat, Zhang Yu couldn’t resist devouring the jerky.
But after eating this batch, he felt a strange, unsettling sensation.
A fire seemed to ignite in his stomach, burning him from within, making his entire body hot and his lower abdomen searing.
Moments later, clutching his stomach, Zhang Yu contacted Bai Zhenzhen, demanding to know what was happening.
Bai Zhenzhen frowned upon hearing his symptoms. “Could I have packed the wrong thing? These symptoms… it sounds like the meat you ate was for tonifying yin and strengthening yang.”
Zhang Yu stared blankly. “Huh? What do you mean?”
Bai Zhenzhen explained, “In ancient times, this meat was used to enhance male virility and was a favorite of the imperial court.”
“But nowadays, with so many sterilized individuals, laboratories have discovered that if you can suppress your Primordial Yang and prevent it from being released, consuming this meat can nourish your physical body, enhance your physical foundation, improve body refinement, and even temper your dao heart.”
Zhang Yu cursed inwardly, “Fucking yang-enhancing meat? You can use that for cultivation now?!”
Bai Zhenzhen warned, “But if you can’t control yourself, it will deplete your Primordial Qi.”
“Remember, you absolutely must endure! Enduring will enhance your strength, but failing to do so could set you back!” Bai Zhenzhen encouraged him. “Don’t forget our promise to compete together in the Ten Greats League.”
Zhang Yu grumbled, “Who even uses this troublesome stuff?”
“Sterilized people do,” Bai Zhenzhen replied. “It works really well for me, for example.”
Zhang Yu once again felt weighed down by something.
Having lived in Kunxu for years, he couldn’t help but wonder if he should adapt to local customs.
But then he shook his head, thinking, “Yu Xinghan is a local too, and he isn’t sterilized.”
“And there’s Joyful Union University — who says Immortal Cultivation requires sterilization?”
Yet, feeling the turmoil within him, Zhang Yu couldn’t resist asking, “How long before this stuff kicks in?”
“How much did you eat?” Bai Zhenzhen asked.
Seeing the nearly empty bag of jerky, she gasped, “That much?! You’ll probably have to endure for a month or two.”
“A month or two?!” Zhang Yu gasped. “Won’t that be dangerous?”
Bai Zhenzhen suggested, “When you can’t take it anymore, practice your cultivation or martial arts. That should help release some of the pent-up energy.”
“Just hold on. The effects will be powerful, and it’ll greatly enhance your physical body.”
“With such a massive amount, I’m afraid you’ll lose control and things will spiral out of hand.”
“Yu Zi! You must resist! Every day you endure brings you one step closer to the Ten Greats League!”
“Wait a minute…” Bai Zhenzhen’s gaze sharpened. “Where are your hands? Raise both hands!”
Zhang Yu raised his hands. “What are you suspecting? How could I possibly fail to hold out for such a short time?”
Bai Zhenzhen sighed. “Well, if you really can’t resist, just give up.”
“At Heavenly Sword University, I’ve seen many students practicing dual cultivation, some even with their artifact spirits, or achieving human-sword unity with their flying swords…”
Seeing Zhang Yu’s expression soften, Bai Zhenzhen pointed a finger at him and snapped, “I knew you weren’t resolute enough! Your physical body is too strong, your vital energy too abundant. Stimulated by all this flesh, you’re like pouring oil onto a fire.”
“No, I’ll have to conduct random check-ins from now on.”
“You must answer my calls immediately, understand?”
Bai Zhenzhen pleaded earnestly, “Mom isn’t doubting you, it’s just… I’m afraid you’ll lose control temporarily, your university grades will plummet, and you’ll ruin your promising future!”
After hanging up, Zhang Yu felt the increasingly scorching heat within his body. He took a deep breath and methodically began practicing the Heaven-Turning Seal, executing each movement with deliberate precision.
As Gang Qi surged and palm shadows danced, Zhang Yu felt a stream of scalding heat gradually seep into his body, nourishing his flesh and blood bit by bit.
“This stuff is truly remarkable,” he thought. “The more I move, the more invigorated I feel.”
“But… it’s so agonizing,” Zhang Yu thought inwardly.
“No! I must endure with my indomitable will!”
Admonished by his Elder Sister, warned by A-Zhen, and burned by the internal fire, Zhang Yu gradually realized he couldn’t continue as before.
“I must abstain from lust!”
In the following days, Zhang Yu felt the intermittent burning sensation within his body, as if wound up like a clockwork toy, driving him to train and work even harder.
Before he knew it, late September had arrived. His Profound Yellow Mountain-Suppressing Seal and Heaven-Turning Seal had both reached Level 20. Combined with the Spring and Autumn Endless Zen, he had finally mastered two cultivation arts of his Foundation Establishment Stage Martial Dao Sacred Body.
He had also thoroughly learned and absorbed the four core courses of the Artifact Refinement Department: Magic Artifact Engineering Drafting, Principles of Magic Artifacts, Magic Artifact Design, and Fundamentals of Rune Etching.
Meanwhile, his Spirit Coins continued to burn away like wildfire. Fortunately, subsidies from his construction work and Magic Power sales barely kept him afloat.
Spirit Coin Balance: 7.5
Construction Site, 667th floor.
Yu Xinghan massaged Ying Xin’s shoulders while watching the swirling dust clouds in the distance.
Ying Xin winced, drawing a sharp breath. “Ease up,” she said. “I didn’t expect someone so slender to have such a strong grip.”
Yu Xinghan smiled slightly. “It’s because I’m precise. My force penetrates deep into the damaged tissues of your muscles.”
“If you like it, feel free to leave a good review.”
Since becoming his mentor’s disciple, Yu Xinghan had joined their massage company, finally becoming a certified male technician. He could now openly massage his classmates without suspicion.
Ying Xin watched Zhang Yu through the swirling dust and remarked, “That’s the Purple Firmament Heavenly Net Formation, right? The transportation technique from the grand construction cultivation arts.”
Amidst the billowing dust, Zhang Yu unleashed a claw-like hand strike. Streams of Purple Qi surged forth, forming a vast net that ensnared massive amounts of construction debris in a single sweep.
Yu Xinghan nodded. “The Dao of Transportation progresses from simple to profound. Ordinary people using Gang Qi for transportation are limited to small-scale operations.”
“Once you can cast the advanced-level Purple Firmament Heavenly Net Formation, your transportation capacity will increase tenfold or more, transforming your approach from a minor path to the grand Dao.”
Ying Xin nodded in agreement. A tenfold increase in transportation capability? That certainly qualifies as the grand Dao.
Watching Zhang Yu’s movements, strands of Profound Yellow Qi flowed through his hands, making the originally heavy construction debris float as light as feathers. A flicker of envy flashed in Ying Xin’s eyes.
“The Profound Yellow Mountain-Suppressing Seal… combined with the Purple Firmament Heavenly Net Formation to reduce cargo weight, it further enhances transportation capacity.”
“When paired with the Heaven-Turning Seal to increase weight, it further enhances ground-flattening efficiency.”
“Truly a foundational cultivation art of the Civil Engineering Department.”
Seeing Zhang Yu working tirelessly back and forth, barely pausing for a moment, Ying Xin’s admiration deepened. “Even after becoming the top student in the class, he hasn’t slackened in the slightest. He seems even more driven than before.”