The passage of time, swift as a fleeting dream, carried them to the threshold of December.

In these past fifteen days, Zhang Yu had indeed spent a considerable number of spirit coins.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged in his dormitory, a white jade sphere nestled in his palm. He could sense a gentle, serene stream of mana flowing within.

This was a Xuan-forged Relic, rented for its ability to store and release mana.

According to the manufacturer’s claims, such Relics could only be produced from the cremation of Grandmasters at Vajra University, making each one unique, personally forged by the flames that consumed a sage!

However, upon questioning Zhang Pianpian, Zhang Yu learned that these Relics were mass-produced, artificial artifacts. A single artificer at Vajra University could conjure over a hundred in a year!

Though not as miraculous as advertised, it was sufficient for Zhang Yu’s needs.

After all, a single Xuan-forged Relic could hold 10,000 units of mana!

The one in Zhang Yu’s hand was rented with a full charge of 10,000 units, mana of a quality score of 200!

Though some of the mana would dissipate over time, it was still more than enough for Zhang Yu to absorb and refine his own mana quality daily for a month!

He had spent 4.5 spirit coins to rent three such Xuan-forged Relics, ensuring a constant supply of high-quality mana to enhance his own, even in the wilderness of the construction site!

Of course, these depleted Relics would have to be returned on time, or the rental fees would increase!

Anxious to avoid forgetting the return date, Zhang Yu spoke to Fuji in his mind, “Fuji, remind me to return these Xuan-forged Relics when I get back!”

For extra security, Zhang Yu set several return reminders within his ocular bone.

This was a frugal trick he learned from Yu Xinghan, like returning borrowed items just before the deadline, canceling subscriptions on the last day of a trial, or canceling continuous monthly payments after receiving the discount.

It was crucial to set multiple alarms at different times to avoid oversights and wasting spirit coins!

After confirming that the three Xuan-forged Relics were full of mana and of acceptable quality, Zhang Yu picked up another jade box that had just arrived!

Upon opening the box, a jade-green Gu worm was curled up within a crystal!

This was the Emerald Spirit Gu, rented for three months at a cost of 2.55 spirit coins!

Though resembling an insect, it was actually a magical artifact!

According to Yun Jing… it was a bio-mimicking artifact modeled after the Gu worms of the Sky Demon University!

Originally, these were intended to promote the evolution of natal spirit roots, transforming earth-grade roots into heaven-grade, or even heaven-grade into god-grade!

However, this research remained unsuccessful, requiring, it was said, another century and countless spirit coins to achieve a breakthrough!

But while the Emerald Spirit Gu could not yet evolve spirit roots, it could improve their integration!

Zhang Yu swallowed the Gu worm. The crystal encasing it melted instantly, and the Emerald Spirit Gu activated, naturally burrowing into Zhang Yu’s dantian and climbing onto his Qi Sea spirit root!

As the Qi Sea spirit root shared strands of spiritual essence with the Emerald Spirit Gu, the Gu worm reciprocated with strands of primordial energy, forming a mystical bond.

Zhang Yu had felt his spirit root stagnate after raising its integration to 90%, and ordinary methods had little effect!

He understood that the final segments of the spirit root to integrate were in the body’s most minute details, making progress increasingly slow!

But now, thanks to the Emerald Spirit Gu, he soon felt an itch spreading throughout his body, as if flesh and blood were sprouting anew!

Zhang Yu knew that this was a sign that the Qi Sea spirit root was growing again, integrating into those minute areas!

“In two or three months, my spirit root integration should reach 100%, the Qi Sea spirit root completely unified with me, never to be separated again!”

“The efficiency of mana control and spiritual essence collection should also increase by about 10%!”

Even without Daoist services in the field, his spirit root integration should still improve!

Zhang Yu continued his calculations, “With this, neither mana quality nor spirit root integration will fall behind during this trip to the construction site!”

“As for physical strength, the Nine Hells Mountain-Suppressing Belt is sufficient!”

He glanced at the Spiritual Realm Mask. As long as the construction site had Spiritual Realm network, he could use Spiritual Realm services to assist in the forging of his Dao Heart!

In addition, there were several boxes of common medicines and three crates of spirit stones to aid in breathing exercises, costing nearly 1.6 spirit coins!

Of course, in the past fifteen days, besides these preparations for the construction site, Zhang Yu had also spent a good number of spirit coins on various Daoist and Spiritual Realm services, allowing his strength to increase significantly once again!

Currently, his Dao Heart was at level 12 (90.6), his mana at 425.5, his mana quality at 136, and his physical strength at level 12.63!

He also purchased and practiced new techniques, raising seven of the Earth-Wood Sacred Body techniques, and only one more was needed to unlock a new effect!

Feeling his strength improving step by step, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but sigh, “Spirit coins are truly useful, and with my unparalleled talent, if I continue like this, I might be able to raise all my stats to the peak of Foundation Establishment in just one or two years!”

But looking at the 10.3 spirit coins remaining in his account, Zhang Yu sighed inwardly, “But spirit coins are also quickly spent!”

The flying sword sent by Bai Zhenzhen finally arrived on the day before departure!

Early December!

After requesting leave, applying for online courses, preparing his luggage, and bidding farewell to Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, and Zhang Pianpian!

Zhang Yu boarded a flying ship with the other students and teachers of the Earth-Wood Department, embarking on a three-month journey to the wilderness construction site!

Upon boarding the flying ship, the students were divided into two groups, each heading to different conference rooms on the ship for meetings!

Tu Lishan entered the conference room where Zhang Yu was, looking at the poor students below, thinking that Director Gao should already be meeting with Gongshu Jin and the others!

“Ah, when will I be in charge of the rich kids’ class? Instead of always hanging out with these miserable wretches?”

Suppressing his thoughts, Tu Lishan looked at the crowd and smiled, “Everyone, you are all elites carefully selected by Director Gao from various grades. I am very much looking forward to your performance in the next three months!”

“I’ll create a group chat. Any news will be announced in the group over the next three months!”

“Also, please accept the documents I’m sending to you. Inside are your assigned tasks for the upcoming project and your training plans for the next three months!”

Looking at the training plan in the document, Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow slightly!

Tu Lishan continued, “Everyone, all the departments in the university know that Earth-Wood is hard and tiring, but no one ever says we are poor!”

“As long as you are willing to work hard, the department will definitely give you opportunities to earn money!”

The next moment, his expression became serious as he said, “To be honest, this project has a quota for deaths!”

Tu Lishan looked at each of the students, his eyes already seeing the debts and savings behind each of them!

Looking at these numbers, Tu Lishan seemed to see the extraordinary immortal potential in each of them!

A senior student said, “Teacher Tu, no need for the scary talk!”

“Aside from the suicide rate, demonization rate, murder rate, and bankruptcy rate, our Earth-Wood Department is still number one in sudden death rate. In our profession, who is afraid of death?”

“Ah?” Zhang Yu pondered, “Is this really going to a construction site?”

Zhang Yu turned to look at the student who spoke, finding that he had white hair and wrinkles, looking like an old man over a hundred years old!

However, aside from his face, most of the rest of his body was made up of arcane construct, so it was impossible to tell the difference between old and young!

Tu Lishan smiled slightly and continued, “Student Che Yufei is right, why do Earth-Wood work or practice immortal dao if you’re afraid of death?”

“As long as you have money, you can be resurrected after death, regain your youth after old age, and extend your lifespan even when your lifespan is exhausted!”

“Spirit coins are everything, and you understand your own conditions. If you want to earn spirit coins, you have to fight!”

“Now the department is giving you this opportunity!”

“In order to adapt to the development of the times, and to continue to compete in the future market, the department has decided to use the most effective, strictest, most immortal dao, and most potential-squeezing method to improve everyone’s professional skills and immortal dao cultivation, and increase everyone’s future income in the next three months!”

As he spoke, the first meal after boarding the ship was placed in front of everyone!

Looking at the white pills, Zhang Yu could vaguely see something wriggling inside!

Tu Lishan said, “For the next three months, the department will cover your six meals a day!”

“Today’s first meal is the Three-Worm Tendon-Changing Pill!”

“After taking it, it will accelerate the consumption of your mana and Qi, but as long as you can withstand it, it will be like carrying a heavy load, constantly stimulating your potential and making your physique stronger!”

Before Tu Lishan finished speaking, a student had already eaten it!

Watching the students around him start eating, Zhang Yu also ate a Three-Worm Tendon-Changing Pill. The next moment, he felt a colic in his abdomen, as if something was constantly gnawing at his internal organs!

He felt his physical strength and mana beginning to flow slightly!

To resist this loss, he had to work harder to breathe and dig deeper into his potential!

“Moreover…” Zhang Yu felt the abnormality in his viscera and thought, “If this goes on for a long time, won’t this make me sick?”

Sure enough, Tu Lishan said, “Taking the Three-Worm Tendon-Changing Pill for a long time will affect the endocrine, cardiovascular, and spirit root systems, causing arrhythmia and spirit root overload. Everyone, remember to stop taking it in time if problems occur!”

Zhang Yu worked hard to control his activated body, constantly healing the slight damage to his viscera, feeling that he could bear the damage of the Three-Worm Tendon-Changing Pill!