Minor injuries require no treatment, which means Zhang Yu isn’t afraid of getting hurt during training. This allows him to undergo higher-intensity cultivation, leading to faster progress.

Furthermore, it means he doesn’t fear injury in actual combat.

What’s the true value of not fearing injury in combat? It means that for the same overtime pay, Zhang Yu’s costs are lower, allowing him to earn several times more than others. This, in turn, makes it easier for him to advance rapidly on the path of Immortal Dao…

“What a truly combat-ready physique,” Master Xinghuo mused inwardly.

Master Xinghuo thought to himself, “Even with comparable Immortal Dao potential, Zhang Yu’s foundation, possessing such a physique, far surpasses his peers.”

“The deeper one’s cultivation and the higher one’s realm, the more medical expenses skyrocket. This makes Zhang Yu’s physique even more formidable.”

Master Xinghuo then thought of his own Arcane Physique.

He recalled how, in his youth, he would fight anyone—delivery drivers, food couriers, security guards—and engage in any kind of battle: construction site brawls, debt collection confrontations, even fights over official seals. He would always pursue the most dangerous and lucrative work, fighting wherever there was more money to be made.

However, after establishing his Foundation, and especially after reaching the Golden Core stage, Master Xinghuo would always, before a battle, first consider whether his expensive Arcane Physique would be damaged. He’d ponder if he needed to switch to a ‘slacking’ set of gear.

Just as wealthy individuals often owned multiple sets of Arcane Physiques for different purposes—training, combat, etc., the less affluent would also have various sets, such as a durable but weaker ‘slacking’ set, and an expensive ‘exam’ set for peak performance. Otherwise, what if a valuable Arcane Physique got scratched or dented? Even extra maintenance costs money.

Master Xinghuo mused, “If Zhang Yu could forge his own Arcane Physique from his flesh and blood after reaching the Golden Core stage, how powerful would that be? However, he wouldn’t have the money to commission a personal Arcane Physique. To achieve this, he’d have to pursue an artifact-forging path himself, which would require considering a change of major…”

Master Xinghuo looked at Zhang Yu on the operating table, suddenly chuckled, and thought, was he overthinking things? His apprentice hadn’t even entered university yet, and he was already considering changing his major? But then, he reconsidered, thinking it was only proper to plan early.

“Which descendant of those powerful families above doesn’t have a cultivation path mapped out from childhood? By their first year of high school, they’ve often chosen their university and major; by their first year of college, they’ve secured their master’s and doctoral advisors, and their future faction path is planned.”

“Given Zhang Yu’s talent, he should also plan early, climbing step by step, lest he squander his prime years like I did by choosing the wrong path.”

Master Xinghuo felt a surge of excitement thinking about Zhang Yu’s recent performance on the battlefield: “In just an hour and a half, he cultivated the Nine Heavens Cloudforce to such a level. His martial arts aptitude is so profound that, in all my life, I’ve likely only seen one or two individuals who could compare. And such individuals are invariably candidates for the Nascent Soul or even Soul Transformation stages.”

Looking at Zhang Yu on the operating table, Master Xinghuo seemed to already envision him making rapid progress under his tutelage, earning a doctorate, forging a Golden Core, transforming into a Nascent Soul, and standing on the podium at the Ten Schools League, thanking his master, Master Xinghuo.

Zhang Yu looked at Master Xinghuo, who had a faint smile playing on his lips, and asked, “Senior?”

Master Xinghuo came back to himself, looked at the fully treated Zhang Yu, dropped his smile, and nodded gravely, “Are your injuries healed?”

Just as Master Xinghuo was about to speak with him properly, his ocular Arcane Physique displayed a stream of incoming messages.

Li Xuelian: Dad, it’s the best time to earn money with such intense fighting today. Why aren’t you here yet?
Li Xuelian: Dad? Where are you?
Li Xuelian: Dad! Overtime! It’s double pay now!

Master Xinghuo sighed and said to Zhang Yu, “I have to work some overtime first. As for your guidance, I’ll come find you after I’m done. You’ve had a tiring day, so get some good rest for now. But remember this: if the Righteous Gods approach you in a couple of days to discuss rewards, be sure to call me over. I’ll help you negotiate. If they don’t find you, then wait for me to take you to them.”

With that, Master Xinghuo ascended in a flash of fiery light. Amidst countless vibrating phones and warnings from Golden Core domains, he plunged into the battlefield, trailing a blaze of fire.

Watching Master Xinghuo depart, Zhang Yu was about to go find Bai Zhenzhen when he felt a sudden embrace from behind, a warm body clinging to him.

Bai Zhenzhen, hugging Zhang Yu from behind, exclaimed excitedly, “Yuzi! We won! Our bank account has been unfrozen too! Yuzi! We can both get into the Top Ten universities!”

Zhang Yu turned around and assessed Bai Zhenzhen’s condition from head to toe. “Ah Zhen, are you alright?”

Bai Zhenzhen shook her head, grinning, “Don’t worry, the doctor gave me a discount, and the Righteous Gods reimbursed everything. It didn’t cost me a penny.”

Just then, a series of explosions echoed. Looking at the ever-expanding battlefield, Zhang Yu said wearily, “Let’s go back.” After a day filled with successive battles, breakthroughs, cultivation, and desperate fights, Zhang Yu now only wanted to get some proper rest.

Bai Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. Having finally defeated Wang Yin, she had no desire to risk getting involved in the remaining battles.

However, on their way back to the apartment, they quickly realized the entire route was fraught with conflicts. They constantly saw employees from various companies fighting, and even the subway system had shut down because the subway company had also joined the corporate war.

Zhang Yu had no choice but to activate his Foundation Establishment Domain.

“Foundation Establishment cultivator Zhang Yu has entered within 100 meters of your location. Please observe proper etiquette and avoid confrontation.”

Two cultivators who were pursuing someone saw the message, their expressions subtly changed, and they quickly left the street. A hidden Oasis Group employee felt a jolt upon seeing the message, promptly left his current hiding spot, and sought another. Outsourced personnel leading the search for Oasis Group employees immediately showed solemn respect upon seeing the message, saluting Zhang Yu with their gazes, and only resumed their operations after he had passed.

The respect everyone showed Zhang Yu stemmed not only from his formidable strength but also, and more significantly, from his victory over Wang Yin.

“Wang Yin was a high-ranking noble from above. Defeating him in front of so many people is like a slap in the face to those above! How could Zhang Yu’s background be insignificant?”

“Even if he has no background, he must have been chosen by those above. Otherwise, how could he have won?”

“Formidable strength, powerful backing, someone not to be provoked, not to be provoked…”

With his Foundation Establishment Domain active, Zhang Yu could sense peace and quiet wherever he walked. Even those who had already started fighting dispersed at their companions’ urging.

Akagawa, the general manager of Oasis Group, was the first to flee after Wang Yin’s defeat. At that moment, a large group of pursuers was behind him. Suddenly, he felt his pursuers’ attacks halt. He paused, slightly stunned, and looked at his vibrating phone, a strange expression crossing his face. “Is it because Zhang Yu passed by? To think I actually got a breather just because he passed by…”

A bitter smile flashed across Akagawa’s face. Recalling the scene of Zhang Yu defeating Wang Yin, he still found it unbelievable and incomprehensible, leaving him only with regret in his heart.

“Sigh, if only I had lent money to Zhang Yu back then. Or… I shouldn’t have accepted this mission to lead the pursuit against them…”

Meanwhile, as soon as Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen returned to the apartment, they immediately showered and changed. After a day of exhaustion, their bodies were still covered in blood, sweat, and various grime; it would be impossible to say they weren’t uncomfortable.

Zhang Yu said, “Ah Zhen, didn’t we agree I’d shower first? Why did you come in?”

Bai Zhenzhen impatiently replied, “I’m incredibly uncomfortable. Let’s just shower together and be quick about it. We know each other inside out, so what’s there to hide? You’re just making a fuss.”

Just then, Fuki also woke up. “What are you two doing? Did you win?” Earlier, due to the intense scrutiny of so many Righteous Gods, Fuki had voluntarily hidden herself, falling into a deep sleep, and had set a rough time for her awakening.

Zhang Yu said, “…In the end, I used the Soul-Wounding Brick to…”

After hearing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s replies, Fuki repeatedly praised them.

Bai Zhenzhen said, “But the money we borrowed earlier has to be repaid at 1.3 times the amount, which is quite a sum.”

Fuki replied, “It’s just debt repayment. What Kunxu person hasn’t been in debt before? As long as the three of us live well, that’s better than anything.”

When Zhang Yu came out after changing his clothes, he found Bai Zhenzhen fast asleep on the sofa. Since embarking on her cultivation journey, Bai Zhenzhen hadn’t slept in a very long time. She had been under constant high pressure, especially while preparing for the Foundation Establishment exam, and later, facing Wang Yin’s oppression, she barely had a moment to relax. Now, after a series of intense battles, she had finally overcome the formidable challenge of Wang Yin. Suddenly relaxed, Bai Zhenzhen drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Zhang Yu smiled faintly at the sight and lay down on the nearby sofa, intending to get some sleep himself.

However, as he stopped circulating his cultivation technique, Zhang Yu’s eyes widened a few seconds later, and he sat up. Feeling the chill brought by the ritual power, Zhang Yu helplessly shook his head and sighed, “After continuous life-or-death battles, I almost forgot about you… There’s truly no moment for relaxation.”

But after resuming his cultivation technique, Zhang Yu felt a sense of reassurance. Or rather, the moment he stopped circulating his technique, he felt an emptiness in his heart, even a slight pang of guilt for being idle.

“Sigh, I’ve become the person I once disliked. But there’s no helping it. Kunxu… is just like this.”

Wang Yin’s last words surfaced in Zhang Yu’s mind. He thought to himself, “I still need to become stronger and wealthier.”

As he circulated his cultivation technique, he once again looked at the crimson incantation on the back of the dilapidated ox in his meditation. Unlike his previous readings of the incantation, this time, as Zhang Yu read it again, he felt a faint sense of understanding dawn upon him.

“This incantation seems to be able to complete the Spirit-Sacrificing Heart Sutra of the Decaying Ox? The Spirit-Sacrificing Heart Sutra of the Decaying Ox that I’m cultivating… was actually a censored version?”