Chapter 549: Chapter 491: The Value of Life Extension
"Free?" Ji Yuanshu looked at the other with a face full of caution.
Although Ji Yuanshu was currently poorer than ever, experiencing the most impoverished days since birth, his vigilance had reached its peak after enduring many hardships.
"What good can come from something free? Who’s trying to scam me this time? No way they’re getting me this time."
Thinking this over, Ji Yuanshu took a few cautious steps back before quickly leaving.
Seeing this scene, Fu Xinyao frowned and thought, "The guys in Wanfa University’s Civil Engineering Department are really troublesome."
"Forget it, let’s take it slow."
Fu Xinyao knew that while being left here by Qiongjiang Divine Monarch to gather intelligence, she was also a pawn embedded in Wanfa University.
With the Divinity Transformation artifact, Qiongjiang Divine Monarch could descend at any time and conduct large-scale interventions from the Spirit Realm into the material world.
"Wanfa University stole Qiongjiang Divine Monarch’s magic remains; they surely won’t stop researching it."
"Nor will the Divine Monarch let it go."
Fu Xinyao thought to herself, "This battle is just an appetizer; there’s more to come."
...
Time passed with rounds of announcements from Wanfa University and Hehuan University.
Compared to immediate work and studies, even battles between two Divinity Transformation Divine Monarchs gradually became irrelevant as time went by.
Especially as time reached late February and with finals approaching, the students in University City became increasingly busy with their studies.
Right after class, Le Mulan darted through the Magnetic Channel at high speed, heading towards the dormitory.
She wanted to deliver a newly concocted potion to Zhang Yu.
Le Mulan didn’t contact him in advance because she didn’t want to waste Zhang Yu’s time.
She knew that Zhang Yu was very busy now, with every minute and second of his time being more precious than hers, often disappearing for days on end.
Le Mulan also thought about whether she could give Zhang Yu something else.
But like most students at Wanfa University, her financial situation was not good, with most of her income invested in her cultivation.
So the best thing she could give was her cultivation achievements, the potions she crafted herself.
"But the potions I make now... does Zhang Yu even care for them?"
"To him... are they just barely better than nothing?"
But Le Mulan knew that the best thing she could give Zhang Yu was only those items.
At that moment, a gust of wind swept through, and Zhang Yu’s figure flickered on the street, soaring into the sky.
Le Mulan wanted to catch up but found that no matter how fast she burst ahead, Zhang Yu’s figure only got smaller, disappearing into the anti-gravity channel in the blink of an eye.
The anti-gravity channel was a passage Le Mulan was not qualified to enter.
Looking up at Zhang Yu who shot up into the sky, disappearing into the channel moments later, Le Mulan lowered her head and slowly walked back towards the dormitory.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu arrived at the exam venue and began the final exams for the semester.
With his current capabilities, the final exams were a breeze. He easily led the field, finishing almost every exam early and leaving first.
Soon it was time for the final engineering exam.
Tu Lishan reminded the many students, "Check if the mana in your magic remains is full? Has your membership service expired? Do you have enough Spirit Realm data charges? Every year during the Wanfa exams, students face these issues. I hope our Civil Engineering Department won’t have them this year..."
As the exam began, the whole exam hall shook with a boom.
Many examinees turned to Zhang Yu’s position and witnessed the world seemingly overturn at that moment. All the materials on the construction site gained a life of their own, each one leaping, transforming, and assembling under the operation of the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain Shifting Divine Power...
The tower required by the exam was erected at a speed visible to the naked eye under everyone’s gaze.
Once Zhang Yu completed the exam first, he left the exam hall under the envious gazes of many students.
He thought to himself, "I just ran into Le Mulan on the road, didn’t I?"
Zhang Yu sent a message to Le Mulan: Are you in the dorm?
Zhang Yu: Wait for me to come over
Rushing back to the dormitory, Zhang Yu thought, "Le Mulan’s Deep Cold Technique should reach Level 2 today."
With Zhang Yu’s occasional mana infusion, especially after acquiring the Flame Sun Technique to complement Le Mulan’s Deep Cold Technique, Le Mulan’s mana and mana quality improvements, although not as astonishing as Zhang Yu’s, had already surpassed most peers at the Foundation Establishment level.
Now, as the first semester of junior year ended, Le Mulan’s mana level had long since reached 1000 units, and her mana quality was closing in on 200%.
Zhang Yu estimated that today would be the day Le Mulan’s mana quality hit 200%.
Zhang Yu awaited the upgraded effects of Le Mulan’s technique eagerly.
As soon as he entered the dormitory, Zhang Yu couldn’t wait to infuse Le Mulan with his mana.
As Le Mulan’s mana quality reached 200%, a chill surged from her body, followed by a hot stream rushing along her meridians, continuously returning to Zhang Yu’s body.
Le Mulan said with some surprise, "My mana... seems to have changed again?"
Beside him, Zhang Yu looked at the Level 2 Deep Cold Meridian on the Dao Seed Record and nodded: "Indeed, it has changed."
After some testing, Zhang Yu gradually understood the function of the Level 2 Deep Cold Meridian.
If the Level 1 Deep Cold Meridian gave mana a chill, capable of freezing Gang Qi and vital energy and blood, it could disinfect and sterilize, freeze wounds, and even erupt cold poison within an opponent’s body, with a slight effect of extending longevity.
Then the Level 2 Deep Cold Meridian takes the cold characteristic a step further.
"With mana continuously operating, it can keep the body in a state of low temperature. Even when the physical body fully erupts, the temperature can be suppressed below 60 degrees."
Zhang Yu knew this was a very astonishing statistic, because after a cultivator’s physical body erupted, the heat released inside could reach several tens or even hundreds of times the normal state.
The longer the burst lasts, the higher the internal heat, imposing greater strain on the body, and perhaps even reducing the efficiency of power operation in return.
"The Level 2 Deep Cold Meridian can not only lower the body’s internal temperature, but also conduct the heat out of the body through mana while cooling."
Zhang Yu thought to himself: "In this way, it’s like, while cooling, the external temperature can also be increased."
However, in Zhang Yu’s view, although these are impressive, they’re not extremely remarkable, as Kunxu does not lack cultivation techniques, magic remains, or magic treasures and Taoist skills that can achieve similar effects.
"What is truly impressive is the use of extending longevity."
"With long-term use of the Level 2 Deep Cold Meridian, the effect of extending longevity is more evident."
"If this effect continues, extending life by 10% to 20% shouldn’t be a big issue."
"And this longevity... is money."
At this moment, Feng Tingting sent a message: Zhang Yu, did you hear? The old director of the Civil Engineering Department is having trouble with extending his flesh body’s longevity and wants to retire!
Feng Tingting: It seems the upcoming work will temporarily be taken over by Director Gao.
Feng Tingting: If there are no issues within a year, Director Gao might be made permanent.
Zhang Yu thought: "This Feng Tingting, even after getting a Civil Engineering degree, is still as gossip-loving as ever."
"However... she seems to have been talking less about gossip about artifact refining recently, preferring to spread gossip about the Civil Engineering Department."
Zhang Yu quickly sent a congratulatory message to Director Gao.
Recalling the news about the old director, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh in his heart: "Longevity, something that so many spend all their money on until bankruptcy, yet still want to continue endlessly."
Feeling the Deep Cold Meridian within his body, he looked at Le Mulan beside him, thinking: "Extending life by 10% to 20%... even if it’s halved, how much would this be worth to cultivators who’ve tried every method, with life-extension costs getting higher and higher?"
"With Le Mulan around, my future longevity will be prolonged, giving me more time to strive and work overtime, allowing me to go further on the Immortal Path."
"And this is only the Level 2 Deep Cold Meridian. If it keeps upgrading, the life-extension effect will likely become even more apparent."
Thinking of this, Zhang Yu looked at Le Mulan, his eyes shining, realizing that she was becoming more and more valuable.
But at the same time, he also understood that her situation was becoming increasingly delicate.
"Once those old Dengs whose lifespans are nearing their end discover this, they’ll probably immediately try to find a way to control Le Mulan."
"However, this control, although risky, also comes with benefits."
Meanwhile, Le Mulan also sensed the life-extending effect of her Deep Cold Meridian, and her heart was filled with shock.
Looking at the absent-minded Le Mulan, Zhang Yu thought: "The key problem is... what does Le Mulan think? Does she intend to sell this capability of hers in exchange for more cultivation resources?"
Thinking of this, Zhang Yu looked seriously at Le Mulan until she snapped back to reality.
Le Mulan: "Zhang Yu, my mana..."
Zhang Yu nodded: "I felt it too, your mana can extend life."
Le Mulan’s cheeks turned slightly red, somewhat excited, yet nervous, as she said: "What should I do?"
Zhang Yu said seriously: "I suggest you keep this matter confidential for now."
"Le Mulan, if you trust me, when I have money in the future, I can protect you and allow you to earn profits more safely through this capability."
From Zhang Yu’s perspective, Le Mulan’s Dao Seed Deep Cold Meridian, although originating from Le Mulan herself, was enhanced through his Dao Seed Record, mutually achieving each other.
If Le Mulan could continue to cooperate with him, although there wouldn’t be significant gains in the short term, in the long run, it would be safer, and the potential would increase as the Deep Cold Meridian continued to upgrade.
But he also knew that from Le Mulan’s perspective... it might not be so.
Because Le Mulan didn’t know about his Yu Shu, much less his Dao Seed Record, and he couldn’t tell her these secretive details.
Thinking of this, he sighed inwardly. If Le Mulan insisted on immediately monetizing the Deep Cold Meridian’s capabilities, he wouldn’t be able to stop her.
Hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Le Mulan recalled various moments from the past few years, remembered the scene of Zhang Yu fighting Wang Yin, recalled the times he infused her with mana, thought of those like Zhao Tianxing in his company now...
Le Mulan slowly said: "I trust you."
She thought to herself: "You might be... the most trustworthy person I’ve met since I was young."
Zhang Yu looked at the Dao Seed on her chest, nodded, and said seriously: "Rest assured, you definitely won’t regret this choice in the future."
The enhancement of the Deep Cold Meridian to Level 3 requires 5000 mana and 250% mana quality.
Zhang Yu understood that this was a level that could only be reached at the Golden Core Stage.