Within a lavish apartment in the heart of Songyang City, Zhang Yu sat cross-legged in a secluded chamber on the second floor, channeling a newly learned cultivation art.

The air circulation system hummed, infusing the air with a cocktail of over a dozen potent elixirs. Zhang Yu inhaled deeply, the medicated air nourishing his physical form and stabilizing his mental and emotional state.

Some days after receiving guidance from Director Wang, the man had provided this apartment, with its monthly rent of hundreds of thousands, to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen free of charge.

Though Director Wang dismissed it as a “shack,” its amenities were top-tier in Songyang City.

At least, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had found no fault with the place during their stay.

Upon arriving at the luxurious apartment, Bai Zhenzhen had exclaimed, “Being rich is awesome, Yu-zi!”

“We’ll keep climbing higher, becoming even richer! Eating better, living better, and cultivating to greater heights! Right?”

Seeing Bai Zhenzhen’s blissful smile, Zhang Yu nodded slightly. He had to admit that in Kunxu, wealth was truly a blessing, while poverty meant a living hell where one lacked even the strength to strike a blow.

The cultivation art Zhang Yu was practicing in the quiet chamber was called the “Gilded Treasury Sutra.”

This was a method where the larger one’s account balance, the calmer one’s mind, the more resilient one became to failure, and the stronger one’s will.

The “Selfless Sacrifice of the Wretched Ox” was no longer suitable, so Zhang Yu had switched to a more fitting art for his new status.

Each time he practiced, Zhang Yu merely had to recall the numbers in his account, visualizing them in his mind. He would then feel a sense of peace and courage to face any situation.

It seemed that as long as this number continued to grow, he would possess limitless bravery.

Each time he cultivated this art, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh, “If the amount in my account continues to increase each month, the effects of this art will only become more potent, right?”

“The cultivation arts of the wealthy are truly remarkable.”

“Much better than the ‘Selfless Sacrifice of the Wretched Ox,’ that self-torturing method.”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s increasing adaptation to his new identity, Fook Ji praised, “That’s right. You’re no longer a pauper, so you should quickly adjust to being wealthy.”

“Before, your state of mind was easily affected by changes in your environment. I was worried your cultivation and money-making efficiency would decline.”

“Zhang Yu, don’t forget the insights you gained when you first began learning cultivation arts.”

“Living in this world, one must learn to adapt, changing with the environment to walk further on the path of immortality, to climb higher in Kunxu.”

“Those habits of the poor, and their understanding of the world, are best discarded as soon as possible. Keeping them will only slow your progress.”

After two hours of focused cultivation, the intelligent butler’s voice sounded, alerting him.

Zhang Yu emerged from the quiet chamber. The surrounding lights in the staircase and hall illuminated his path.

Bai Zhenzhen was lounging on the sofa in the hall downstairs, intently watching the video projection.

Hearing the movement upstairs, Bai Zhenzhen called out, “Yu-zi, come quick! The Foundation Establishment Exam registration test is starting!”

The Foundation Establishment Exam, which should have started in June, had been delayed until July due to the overwhelming number of applicants.

Various live broadcasts and replays had been arranged, turning it into a super-event watched by countless people in Kunxu’s First Layer.

Zhang Yu, in the heart of Songyang City, shared a luxurious apartment of several hundred square meters with Bai Zhenzhen. He had tens of millions in his account, and the Celestial Spiritual Root, Foundation Establishment, and the Ten Greats were all within reach.

He no longer needed to work himself to the bone as before. He only needed to practice his cultivation art each day, learn the free martial arts from high school, and live a leisurely life. His wealth in the bank grew monthly, pushing him step by step towards the Celestial Spiritual Root…

In such circumstances, though he couldn’t change the current state of Kunxu’s First Layer, at least he could still treat Zhao Tianxing and Qian Shen to meals every day, lend money to friends in need, and take care of those around him.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “This must be the happiness of the wealthy.”

“After suffering so much in Kunxu, I’ve finally become one of the elite.”

At the same time, a reporter in the live broadcast was randomly interviewing several contestants before the competition.

One person’s appearance suddenly caught the attention of Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.

Bai Zhenzhen exclaimed in surprise, “That guy… is that Yu Xinghan?”

The reporter held the microphone up to Yu Xinghan, who had just come out of the restroom, asking, “Hello, what do you usually do before a match?”

Yu Xinghan, caught off guard, was slightly dazed and replied, “Relax a bit.”

“Do you mean warm-up exercises?”

Yu Xinghan said awkwardly, “Um, something like that.”

The reporter pointed to a bottle of milky-white liquid in his hand, asking curiously, “Is that a drink?”

Yu Xinghan quickly stuffed the bottle into his arms, stammering, “Um… yes… it’s… it’s a functional beverage.”

Seeing this, Bai Zhenzhen sighed, “That kid Yu Xinghan doesn’t forget to make money even before a match.”

“It seems the news from Bai Long was right. Ever since we two passed the Foundation Establishment qualification exam, this kid has been working harder and harder.”

In the following tests, Yu Xinghan’s performance stood out, making him one of the hot contestants.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “Yu Xinghan’s stats are already approaching the limit of the Qi Refining stage.”

“Yu Xinghan has a high chance of winning this year’s Foundation Establishment Exam.”

“Then… he’ll probably join the Oasis plan and become a brand ambassador with me, right?”

After watching the competition, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, dressed to the nines, went to the Oasis Building again according to today’s plan to participate in tonight’s gathering.

The building’s security system had already registered the two. Wherever they went, the doors opened directly without any obstruction, as if they were in an empty place.

Not long after arriving at the gathering, a high school student from Xiandu suddenly quarreled with another student from out of town.

“You stinky out-of-towner, how are you worthy of drinking with me?”

“Don’t think you’re so great just because you’re from Xiandu!”

As they spoke, the two climbed onto the arena. The Xiandu high school student knocked the other off the arena in a few moves, seriously injuring him and causing him to spit blood.
Then, this student from the Immortal Capital High School transferred the medical fees to the other party, and said with a face of arrogance, “Hurry up and get out of here to heal your injuries.”

CEO Wang watched this scene with a slight smile and directly rewarded this Immortal Capital high school student with 100,000 yuan.

Seeing this, more people were stirred and jumped onto the arena to challenge him. However, they were all defeated by this Immortal Capital high school student in just a few moves. The atmosphere of the entire venue was also hyped up even higher.

Seeing this, Bai Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow and thought, “Battle Spirit Root, Hand Bone Relic, and several top-notch expert-level martial arts.”

“This guy is simply armed to the teeth. His raw strength is not too much weaker than Yun Jing’s from a year ago, right?”

Suddenly, Bai Zhenzhen remembered that she had seen this person in the live broadcast of the Foundation Establishment exam. He was also a popular contender, seemingly called Ye Mantian.

“He belongs to the same family as Ye Lingxiao, right?”

With the end of the college entrance exam, Ye Lingxiao, Sheng Jie, Yun Jing, and others had already gone to the second layer, entering university.

And the strongest batch of students in the Immortal Capital high school scene had now been replaced by a new class of students.

Seeing this, Bai Zhenzhen suddenly felt a surge of emotions.

When she first participated in the Foundation Establishment exam, Ye Lingxiao and Yun Jing were so far out of reach in her eyes.

But in the blink of an eye, they had already graduated from high school, and new geniuses had emerged in Immortal Capital, occupying their original positions.

Bai Zhenzhen sighed in her heart, “There are so many geniuses in this world, generation after generation.”

Just then, she saw that Ye Mantian roared and pointed in the direction of Zhang Yu, shouting, “Zhang Yu! Do you dare to come up and fight me?”

Seeing this, CEO Wang smiled slightly. He knew that Ye Mantian wanted to seize the opportunity to perform in front of him.

But Wang had no intention of stopping him.

After all, who doesn’t like watching their cats and dogs fighting each other for the owner’s favor?

Ye Mantian’s idea was also very simple. While Zhang Yu had not yet established his foundation, as long as he exchanged a few moves with him, he would definitely leave an impression on CEO Wang.

Ye Mantian thought to himself, “Everyone is at the Qi Refining stage, and I may not be much worse than him. Besides, he doesn’t have a Bone Relic, and attending the party… he probably didn’t rent a Battle Spirit Root either. If we really fight, I have a decent chance of winning.”

At this moment, Ye Mantian was only worried that the other party would not accept the challenge.

Fortunately, under his expectant gaze, Zhang Yu slowly walked onto the arena.

To be honest, since pushing the Martial Dao Holy Embryo to its complete form, unless the opponent has mastered military-grade power, Zhang Yu is almost no longer interested in opponents at the Qi Refining level.

Ultimate Martial Dao Holy Embryo (10/10): After any Qi Refining stage martial art is used in your hands, its actual combat power will be greatly increased.

In the past six months, Zhang Yu had also conducted combat practice with Bai Zhenzhen, Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan and others.

How to say… All kinds of martial arts that had already reached the peak level of Qi Refining would once again explode in combat power when used in his hands.

Not only did the power break through the original limit, but even mediocre moves could show the effect of turning decay into magic in battle.

Even now, he only needs to operate the body protection technique and use a set of basic martial arts to be sure of defeating any high school student.

This always made Zhang Yu sigh with emotion: “This complete form of the Martial Dao Holy Embryo is truly capable of both attacking and defending.”

At this moment, on the arena, Zhang Yu waved to Ye Mantian: “You and Ye Lingxiao are both from the Ye clan, right? He should be considered your brother?”

“Half a year ago, I fought with him, and he was arguably the strongest opponent I have encountered since entering the path of immortality, bringing me a lot of encouragement.”

“For the sake of your brother, I will let you make three moves today, so you won’t miss out on the chance to perform.”

Looking at Ye Mantian, who was stunned on the spot, Zhang Yu flicked his fingers and urged, “Aren’t you going to attack?”

Ye Mantian snorted coldly. His muscles and magic power were like a steel spear twisted together, bursting out with a thunderous roar. He had already stabbed fiercely at Zhang Yu.

Ye Mantian thought to himself, “This is your own arrogance, so don’t blame me for stepping on your reputation to rise to the top.”

With three loud bangs, under Ye Mantian’s all-out three heavy-handed attacks, Zhang Yu remained motionless, only his body vibrated slightly, and bursts of roaring came from the air.

On the other hand, Ye Mantian’s face turned red, and he staggered back again and again, finally stumbling and falling out of the arena.

Ye Mantian raised his head and looked at Zhang Yu with a look of shock.

His three heavy blows just now hit the opponent’s body, but he felt that most of the power was first deflected, then dissolved layer by layer, like a clay ox entering the sea, and finally a powerful rebound force came, knocking him out of the arena.

“Is this guy really at the Qi Refining stage?”

“How can his martial arts be so high?”

Zhang Yu looked down at him and shook his head, saying, “Before I even made a single move, you knocked yourself down. Compared to Ye Lingxiao, you are far too far behind.”

“If he were here, he could at least take one of my moves.”

Ye Mantian’s face turned red when he heard this, but he was speechless. He could only cover his face and leave in a hurry, leaving the gathering.

Zhang Yu had already returned to CEO Wang’s table.

As soon as he came back, Wang clapped his hands and praised, “Zhang Yu, I didn’t know that your actual combat talent is no less than that of Bai Zhenzhen.”

“A few expert-level martial arts, when used in your hands, have a hint of military-grade martial arts.”

“Not bad, not bad.”

Wang looked at Zhang Yu with increasing appreciation, raised his hand, and rewarded Zhang Yu with another 500,000 yuan.

And the other wealthy people, company personnel, and children of wealthy families at the gathering also looked at Zhang Yu with increasing solemnity, both because the other party’s position in CEO Wang’s heart was getting higher and higher, and also because Zhang Yu’s casual display of strength and potential made them even more frightened.

Zhang Yu glanced at the 500,000 yuan added to his account and felt that the operation of his Golden Jade Mansion Formula was smoother.

Just as Zhang Yu casually made a move and amazed everyone,

On the other side of Songyang City,

Li Xuelian answered the phone, and before the other end of the phone could speak, she took the lead and said, “Well, I know, I have to work overtime, and it will be extended for another month, right?”

“But Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen are very busy now, so it’s not easy to make an appointment.”

“I mean, you have to pay.”
“Rest assured, just transfer the funds to me directly, I’ll handle everything.”

On the other side of the first layer of Kunxu…

True Person Starfire hung up his phone, sighing inwardly, “Thank heavens for Snow Lotus as my support. She’s reliable, I just need to transfer the money.”

Then, with a thought, the figure kneeling before him exploded in a sky-filling burst of fire. Accompanied by a miserable scream, it turned into dust.

“Damn it, couldn’t hold back again.”

“Starfire, oh Starfire, you can’t keep killing people indiscriminately!”

“The compensation is costing me too much.”

True Person Starfire secretly admonished himself, then turned to the young boy beside him and said, “It’s alright now, you can leave. In the future, don’t come to the company battlefield to scavenge for scraps. This all belongs to company property. If you mess around like this… the Corpse Collection Brigade will capture you and sell your organs, and your family won’t even receive compensation.”

The boy bowed deeply to him, then quickly ran away.

Deng Bingding’s figure materialized beside him, looking at True Person Starfire and saying, “Kid, you’re still as impulsive as ever. Your accidental kill count this month has already exceeded ten, hasn’t it?”

True Person Starfire retorted, “If I wasn’t as impulsive as ever, you wouldn’t have had the chance to hire me.”

“So, where am I going for overtime this time?”

Blazing fire erupted from True Person Starfire’s body. “I’m stating this upfront, if you keep making me work overtime like this, you’ll have to keep adding to the payment.”

“Anyway, you and the people behind you… certainly aren’t lacking this bit of overtime pay, are you?”