The scorching air seared Li Xiao’s throat, sending waves of stinging pain through his lungs.

He felt the surrounding heat and could only circulate the arcane energy within him, temporarily converting it into icy power to cool his body.

He continued to traverse the dangerous factory area, clearing debris, transporting supplies, building temporary fortifications, sealing toxic leaks, and assisting in the restoration of spirit energy pathways and magical arrays…

Although Li Xiao was exceedingly careful, an accidental explosion still left him with extensive burns.

The constant inhalation of residual toxins in the air caused a dull ache in his internal organs, and his limbs gradually felt a faint numbness!

Despite the danger and hardship of the work, the thought of the fivefold pay energized his weary body!

“Once I finish this stint, when Ying Xin and the others ask me to cultivate together again, I won’t have to refuse!”

“And I won’t have to worry about this month’s loan interest!”

As Li Xiao sped up to deliver a batch of spirit-conducting materials, he suddenly detected a peculiar fragrance!

In the next instant, Li Xiao felt a dizzying sensation, staggered, and collapsed to the ground with a thud!

He struggled to rise, but his usually robust limbs felt weak and limp. After twisting and turning, he fell back to the earth!

Simultaneously, the sweet aroma in the air intensified, blurring his consciousness!

“Not good, a toxic leak…”

Li Xiao bit his tongue, trying to clear his mind, but the poison struck swiftly and powerfully, rapidly draining his strength. He could barely feel the power in his hands and feet!

“I can’t let this continue, the poisoning will only get worse…”

A flicker of fear appeared in Li Xiao’s eyes as he desperately strained to keep his eyes open, fighting the increasing drowsiness!

He was genuinely afraid that if he closed his eyes for even a moment, he would awaken in the depths of the spirit realm!

To find that to pay for the medical expenses to treat the damage to his body, his physical form had been mortgaged, and his soul was awaiting assignment to a work detail to repay the debt!

“Damn legs, stand up for me!”

A wave of regret washed over Li Xiao: “I shouldn’t have been so reckless!”

“What if I earned a little less, spent a little less…”

Just as Li Xiao was filled with fear and remorse, a pair of large hands seized his neck, lifting him like a kitten!

Then, the sound of rushing wind filled the air, and the scenery blurred before his eyes!

When he came to his senses, he found himself and several other workers tossed onto the open ground outside the factory entrance!

Breathing the normal air outside, Li Xiao felt a surge of relief. He looked at Zhang Yu’s departing figure, his gaze becoming complex!

Ying Xin, watching this scene, thought to herself, “He risks bankruptcy to make money, and still has time to save people?”

She shook her head, no longer wanting to witness this, and left!

At that moment, several security guards approached and said to Li Xiao and the others, “Please cooperate with us. We need to check you to prevent you from accidentally carrying dangerous substances out of the factory!”

Li Xiao knew this was to prevent them from smuggling anything out!

Just then, several packages of raw drug materials were found on one of the workers!

A guard exclaimed, “Captain, we’ve found the one who stole two tons of materials!”

The worker was aghast and said, “I only stole these two packages!”

“I didn’t steal two tons!”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu had already re-entered the billowing smoke and dust!

Zhang Yu’s physical body had been forged through countless trials and was far stronger than others of his cultivation level!

With the blessing of the Earthwood Sacred Body, his physique had terrifying resistance to the dangers within the factory!

The scorching heat swept over his skin like a warm breeze!

The toxic substances in the air poured into his nose and mouth, bringing a sweet fragrance!

As for the unexpected explosions, the shrapnel propelled by the blasts, and the rolling toxic smoke… none could harm Zhang Yu!

Even when his body sustained injuries, he used the Self-Sacrificing Ox Art to revitalize his body, accelerating the healing!

Thus, Zhang Yu returned to the spot where Li Xiao had collapsed, thinking, “Now there’s nobody here!”

He found the area where the toxins had leaked and collected the seemingly unwanted alloy fragments!

Wiping the corner of his mouth, Zhang Yu, though he longed to devour the alloys, resisted.

After all, the current environment was dangerous, and he needed the Earthwood Sacred Body to ensure his safety!

Without switching to the Great Learning Sacred Body, and without its super-powered digestive abilities and enhanced cultivation techniques, both the efficiency and effect of consuming the materials would be greatly reduced!

So, he decided to gather them first, and before leaving the factory after work, he would find a safe location and switch to the Great Learning Sacred Body to begin his feast!

Thus, Zhang Yu worked in the factory while collecting unwanted wild delicacies!

Zhang Yu felt like a villager at his first seafood buffet. His biggest problem was that he didn’t know which dishes were valuable or beneficial, so he took a little of everything to sample!

Apart from the abundant unwanted materials, Zhang Yu coveted the raw drug materials!

However, without activating the Great Learning Sacred Body, he dared not eat them randomly. He would collect them and savor each one after transforming!

At the factory entrance!

Li Xiao felt much recovered. At least his limbs were no longer numb, his head was no longer dizzy, and the pain from his burns was vividly clear!

During his rest, Li Xiao saw Zhang Yu carry injured workers out of the factory and leave them on the ground nearby!

Li Xiao’s gaze toward Zhang Yu grew increasingly complex!

In his eyes, wasting work time helping others was utter foolishness!

“Hiss…”

Feeling the increasing pain from the burns, Li Xiao knew that his studies and cultivation would be affected if he didn’t treat them.

Fortunately, the spirit network was still connected outside the area!

With a thought, he summoned a remote medical service!

Soon, a doctor’s figure appeared in his optic implant and examined him. After five minutes, a medical student arrived at Li Xiao’s side!

With several blasts of arcane energy, the placement of silver needles, and the ingestion of a medicinal concoction, Li Xiao felt much better!

But minutes later, when the medical bill appeared in his optic implant, he felt injured once more!

“0.78 spirit coins? How can it be so expensive?”

Although medical insurance covered some of it, Li Xiao knew it would still be a significant burden. His insurance premiums would skyrocket next year!

Before he could calm down, he discovered that his insurance claim had been denied!

“Why won’t they reimburse me?”

Just as Li Xiao was arguing with the insurance company, his monthly loan payment reminder arrived!

His loan interest was already three days overdue!

Li Xiao hesitated and contacted his uncle!

Uncle: First, send me your credit information and spending details.

Uncle: 30 spirit coins?

You’ve spent so much in just five months?

Li Xiao: My classmates invited me to cultivate. I can’t refuse or I’ll fall behind.

Li Xiao: And good optic implants are essential. Otherwise, my learning efficiency will suffer!

Seeing that his uncle no longer responded, Li Xiao sighed deeply!

Just then, Earth Strength Mountain announced that the rescue and repair work at the factory was again increasing wages, now eight times the normal pay!

Looking at the billowing smoke in the distance, Li Xiao gritted his teeth!

“One more gamble. As long as I earn this money, as long as I have this eightfold salary, as long as I’m more careful, I can get through this…”

Thinking of the various immortal services and products he enjoyed with Ying Xin and the others, thinking of the optic implant he had sold, and thinking of his current ranking!

Li Xiao couldn’t accept losing all these things!

He understood deeply that in Kunxu, you could lack everything, but you couldn’t lack money!

He stood up once more and charged into the billowing smoke!

Not just Li Xiao. With the salary increase, some of the workers who had quit, been injured, or left, began to return, plunging into the factory area!

Inside the factory!

Seeing the increased number of workers, Zhang Yu frowned slightly. Too many people made it inconvenient to scavenge!

“Especially these Qi Refining trash. How much is an eightfold salary? Is it worth being so desperate?”

Zhang Yu shook his head. Fortunately, the toxic smoke was his best cover, allowing him to continue his activities!

Because he was collecting so much, Zhang Yu hid the materials in several deep ruins. Then he discovered that some of them had been taken!

“Damn it… I knew I wasn’t the only one scavenging!”

Before leaving work, Zhang Yu retrieved the remaining items and went to a safer location!

After confirming that there were no cameras with a detection ritual, Zhang Yu opened his Yu Scroll, found the Chain Method chapter, and dragged the cultivation methods, switching from the Earthwood Sacred Body to the Great Learning Sacred Body!

Then he grabbed several metal fragments and swallowed them!

The digestive power of a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator activated instantly. With the blessing of the Soil-Eating Divine Skill, he pulverized the alloys and refined them into his bones!

Zhang Yu thought, “Hmm, this alloy is tough, it should strengthen my bones!”

“This polymer material has both flexibility and strength, I can refine it into my skin!”

“What is this gelatinous substance?”

“Alas, my knowledge is lacking. I need to research it…”

Thus, Zhang Yu ate while noting the properties, appearance, and taste of the various materials!

“Wild ones are tastier!”

Zhang Yu quickly discovered that not everything could be digested!

At least three extraordinary materials, even with his digestive power and the added benefit of the Level 20 Soil-Eating Divine Skill, could not be broken down. He had to spit them out!

With this experience, Zhang Yu became more cautious about the raw materials leaked from the factory. He feared eating something he couldn’t handle!

Zhang Yu thought, “I must ask my sister, to identify what these things are!”

Zhang Yu felt the importance of knowledge and information. Otherwise, he would be in a buffet, but not know which items were valuable!