Chapter 298: Beginner Earth and Wood Saint Body (6/6)

On his way back to the dormitory, Zhang Yu continuously experimented with various gravity combinations. He ultimately settled on a custom mode.

Since he expended less physical energy during daytime classes, he applied a full-body 20-times gravity enhancement. This allowed him to temper his body to its limits without sustaining damage, a method he dubbed the “Daytime Study Mode.” For his work at the construction site, he used a 10-times gravity mode, with specific stronger body parts enduring 12, 15, or 18 times gravity, which he called the “Night Work Mode.”

Zhang Yu understood that as his physical strength continuously increased, he would gradually raise the gravity multiplier for his training, striving to maintain a state as close to his limits as possible.

In the intense flames, Zhang Yu felt his muscles and sinews gradually deteriorate in the high heat, his powerful physique slowly turning to ash.

Under immense pressure, Zhang Yu felt his bones and tendons shattering inch by inch, his entire body gradually being crushed into a pulp.

Amidst excruciating pain, Zhang Yu felt blood flowing from his seven orifices, his internal organs gradually decaying, sensing himself inching towards death.

Inside the classroom, Zhang Yu abruptly woke up. He removed his spirit realm mask, and his eye-socket display showed that only 10 seconds remained until class began.

Zhang Yu took a deep breath, trying his best to recover from the recent grueling training in the spirit realm.

By purchasing a monthly spirit realm service from Hammer Heart Residence, combined with the consciousness acceleration feature, Zhang Yu could experience death more than ten times during each class break. Under such extreme pressure of death, he felt his Level 20 Maimed Ox’s Sacrificial Heart Manual operate wildly each time, tempering his Dao Heart repeatedly.

“Damn it… this is truly paying to suffer,” Zhang Yu muttered. His account balance: 7.3 Spirit Coins.

Dao Heart, spiritual energy, physical strength, spiritual root fusion, spiritual energy quality… With the support of Spirit Coins, Zhang Yu could feel his power experiencing another rapid increase. It made him realize how good it was to be wealthy.

A month and a half quickly passed. By the end of October, Zhang Yu’s Dao Heart had reached Level 12 (51.5), his spiritual energy was 379.3, and his physical strength was Level 12.01. Furthermore, his spiritual root fusion had reached 80%, providing him with a stronger ability to mobilize spiritual and physical power, and improving the efficiency of body refinement and spiritual energy extraction. After repeatedly absorbing high-quality spiritual energy, his spiritual energy quality reached 127, making his spiritual energy more durable when performing martial arts and slightly increasing the power of his protective aura.

The rapid improvement in his basic stats also led to another rise in Zhang Yu’s ranking over the past month and a half, moving from seventh to fourth place. Now, only Ying Xin, Gongshu Jin, and Ji Yuanxu ranked above him.

With comprehensive improvements in all aspects, and Zhang Yu gradually revealing higher-level body refinement techniques, his work efficiency at the construction site naturally increased. That day, upon returning from the site, he had earned 0.049 Spirit Coins that night.

“0.049 a day, that’s 1.47 a month,” Zhang Yu mused. “Still too slow,” he thought to himself, “I need to earn faster.”

Although his strength grew rapidly and he earned more Spirit Coins, Zhang Yu knew he had spent even more over the past month and a half. His account balance now stood at only 2.69 Spirit Coins.

“My income and expenses are still not balanced,” he thought. “But I can last until next month. If I borrow some money then, I should be able to hold out for another month or two. By that time, it should be enough.”

Besides the improvement in his basic stats and the increase in his daily wages, Zhang Yu’s greatest gain was undoubtedly the Earth and Wood Saint Body. Over the past month and a half of cultivation, in addition to pouring concrete at the construction site, he also undertook tasks such as arranging rebar, setting up formwork, and transporting materials. By changing his work during this period and finding suitable body refinement techniques, he managed to advance three more techniques required for the Earth and Wood Saint Body to Level 20. Combined with his previous Earth-Eating Divine Art, War Demon Lifespan-Sapping Art, and Limitless Tremor Meditation, he finally gathered all six sets of techniques for the Earth and Wood Saint Body.

Beginner Earth and Wood Saint Body (6/6): Dramatically increased resistance to vibration, dust, poison, noise, pressure, cancer, radiation, pollution, high temperatures, low temperatures, impact, slashing, piercing, and hunger. With a life tough enough, you are a natural Saint Body for earth and wood construction; suicide would be a time-consuming endeavor for you.

Zhang Yu looked at the effects of the Beginner Earth and Wood Saint Body and understood that it could counteract many side effects of earth and wood cultivation techniques, combating conditions like vibration syndrome, pneumoconiosis, radiation sickness, noise-induced hearing loss, and cancer.

“But… is it only for counteracting the side effects of techniques?” he wondered. Although the Saint Body seemed to negate various side effects, most of its resistances were currently useless to Zhang Yu, given his powerful self-healing ability. It was less beneficial than continuing to use the University Saint Body to enhance the efficiency of his training techniques.

“Speaking of which, with so many resistances in this beginner Saint Body… could there really be a construction site this dangerous anywhere?”

Zhang Yu shook his head and swallowed a small piece of rebar that he had pulled from his sleeve. With the Earth-Eating Divine Art in operation and the super digestion power provided by the University Saint Body, it was instantly converted into nutrients for strengthening his bones. After finishing his mouthful, Zhang Yu sighed, “This construction site only provides cement to eat; it’s really hard to pick up other materials.”

For the next few days, Zhang Yu continued to study diligently during the day and work relentlessly at night. Then, one evening, accompanied by a strong tremor, Zhang Yu felt the floor beneath him subtly undulate. Although the tremor came and went quickly, it still surprised him. “Was that… an earthquake?” he wondered.

A moment later, Zhang Yu saw a reassuring notification in his eye-socket display, stating that an accidental explosion of hazardous materials had occurred in the underground levels of the university city. However, with rescue efforts underway, everything would soon return to normal.

Just as Zhang Yu assumed it was merely a common accident, half an hour later, all construction workers from the 666th floor were gathered.

Tu Lishan’s figure appeared in the workers’ eye-socket displays. “Everyone,” he announced, “we currently have an urgent task that requires manpower. There was an accidental explosion in the underground levels, and we now need a group of workers to go there for repair work. This job is urgent and carries some risks, but we are willing to offer five times the usual pay. It should last about half a month…”

Upon hearing “five times the pay,” some of those present became excited. Li Xiao, for example, clenched his fist, an eager expression on his face. Others, however, frowned and quietly retreated, like Ying Xin, who shook her head and thought, “The university is no charity. Five times the pay… what on earth happened down there?”

Yu Xinghan said with hesitation, “Zhang Yu, should we go? Five times the pay… one day of work equals five days, but they’re offering so much… I just have a feeling this isn’t that simple.”

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and directly contacted Zhang Pianpian to inquire about the situation. Zhang Pianpian replied: “There was an explosion at the underground pharmaceutical factory. The fire has been extinguished by several teachers working together, but the site sustained significant damage, and a large amount of raw materials leaked. They probably want you to go there for repair work…”

After asking his sister about the situation, Zhang Yu looked at the enrollment notification that popped up. Considering the resistances provided by his Earth and Wood Saint Body, he ultimately decided to sign up. He told Yu Xinghan, who was beside him, “Don’t rush to sign up. Let me go down and check the situation first. If it’s not right, we’ll withdraw.”

Twenty minutes later, Zhang Yu, following the directional guidance in his eye-socket display, arrived at the second basement level of Myriad Law University City. Not far away, a large gate lay cracked, twisted, and leaning askew on the ground. Beyond it was a vast expanse of ruins, the original appearance of which was no longer discernible.

Tu Lishan’s figure appeared in the eye-socket displays of the many workers. “Everyone,” he said, “due to the explosion, the spiritual energy pathways inside the pharmaceutical factory are severed, and the formations are temporarily cut off. You will not be able to connect to the spirit realm network once you enter. Therefore, we are now sending you the factory blueprints and your respective tasks. Please proceed to your designated locations according to the markings on the blueprints… Although the fire inside the factory has been extinguished, there is still some danger, so everyone must be careful. Also, everything within the pharmaceutical factory belongs to the university and company as classified information, so you will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement…”

Meanwhile, before entering the factory ruins, Zhang Yu had already switched his Chain Law Diagram to the Earth and Wood Saint Body. Seeing the various resistances on the Saint Body filled him with a sense of security.

Next, he stepped into the pharmaceutical factory area, consulting the map as he went. He observed the collapsed factory buildings and smelled the strong burnt odor in the air, wondering what could have exploded with such immense power.

Just then, Zhang Yu suddenly stared blankly at a wall, due to a massive palm print on it. As he delved deeper, he found palm prints, fist marks, sword slashes, and similar traces everywhere in the ruins. “An accidental explosion?” Zhang Yu exclaimed in surprise. “It looks like someone was fighting here!” Fu Ji chuckled, “Hehe, it seems it wasn’t an accidental explosion after all. Someone attacked this pharmaceutical factory.” Zhang Yu was shocked. “Attacked? Who attacked here? Can anyone attack a pharmaceutical factory in Myriad Law University City?” Fu Ji replied, “Who knows…”

Just then, with a booming explosion, a wave of heat erupted nearby, engulfing several workers. Zhang Yu watched as the Qi Refining apprentices quickly dehydrated, their skin scorched by the high temperature, eventually collapsing, severely injured. Simultaneously, thick purple smoke billowed from the explosion site. Someone shouted, “Toxic materials from the pharmaceutical factory have leaked!”

Just as some workers were about to flee, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose height had swelled to five meters, scoffed coldly and said, “What are you afraid of? Everyone, don’t panic. Proceed with repairing the site as planned. As soon as the spiritual energy circuits are restored and the factory returns to the formation, the situation will quickly be brought under control.” Under his direction, the scene quickly stabilized, and Zhang Yu joined in, beginning to clear the debris.

Zhang Yu quickly discovered that the factory area was simply riddled with dangers. Explosions and heat waves constantly appeared, and various toxic substances, like a pot of chemical stew, leaked everywhere throughout the premises.

Outside the factory area, Ying Xin secretly thought, “As expected, nothing good ever comes easy.” She had come down out of curiosity to see the situation, thinking, “I wonder if five times the pay will even cover the medical expenses.”

As the high temperatures and toxic environment intensified, a large number of Qi Refining apprentices were the first to withdraw, followed by a small number of Foundation Establishment workers who also chose to give up. Ying Xin watched Zhang Yu and Li Xiao, who, despite the conditions, were still rushing in and out, continuously transporting materials and participating in the repair work. She thought to herself, “These Level One people… they’re really desperate.” “But this is pure gambling.”

Ying Xin was dismissive of Zhang Yu and Li Xiao’s desperation. In her view, such reckless effort was a degradation of oneself, a last resort born of extreme poverty. She certainly wouldn’t participate in work so dangerous it might lead to losses. However, recalling Zhang Yu and Li Xiao’s progress in rankings recently, a hint of understanding flashed in Ying Xin’s eyes. “In five months, Zhang Yu went from being in the teens to seventh place, and now he’s fourth in the entire class… only one spot behind me.” “It seems he, like Li Xiao, has indeed spent a lot of money.” “But Li Xiao has already been living beyond his means for a while and is on the verge of collapse.” Thinking of the clumsy excuses Li Xiao had made recently when she invited him to cultivate together, Ying Xin shook her head. “It seems now… Zhang Yu is also close to his limit, which is why he’s working so hard just to earn money.”