Longtai Health Massage Club.

Zhang Yu looked up at the club’s sign, nodding slightly. He thought to himself, “The civil engineering competition team’s first full training session… is taking place at a massage club.”

“Very logical, very civil engineering.”

After changing into a uniform and getting a hand tag, Zhang Yu arrived at the room where Ma Xuan and the others were. The moment he stepped in, a wave of heat washed over him. The room’s temperature was as high as a blazing furnace. Aside from Cong Na, who wasn’t as heavily built, the other four massive figures lay on the massage tables like active volcanoes, their muscles constantly radiating intense heat.

Since Zhang Yu had a past experience of visiting massage parlors daily, thanks to Mr. Wang’s sponsorship, he had developed his own criteria for evaluating such establishments. At this moment, he observed the female masseuses beside Ma Xuan, Cong Na, and the others. Their bodies were like those of Tyrannosaurs, their eyes filled with fighting spirit, and they sported stubble from long-term medication use. Zhang Yu immediately concluded that this massage club was highly legitimate.

Ma Xuan looked up and said, “Zhang Yu, you’re here?”

“Lie down first. We can talk while we warm up.”

Ma Xuan was a young man with a completely bald head, not a single strand of hair. Zhang Yu observed his jade-like scalp, wondering if it was some kind of special spiritual artifact. Ma Xuan’s hands and feet had been detached and placed aside; clearly, as they were spiritual artifacts, they didn’t require a massage. Ma Xuan was the captain of this competition team, the first to form it, and the most heavily built person in the room. Seeing multiple spiritual artifacts on him, and noticing his habitual full-stretch posture without shrinking his size, Zhang Yu knew Ma Xuan must be quite wealthy.

As Ma Xuan spoke, the other four team members also turned to look at Zhang Yu. Except for Cong Na, whose gaze was friendlier, Zhang Yu felt a strong sense of scrutiny from the other three members, who clearly hadn’t fully accepted him, a first-year student. At Ma Xuan’s invitation, Zhang Yu lay down on an empty massage table. He then heard Ma Xuan continue, “Before formal training, we’re here for a good massage to warm up. This will reduce wear and tear on our bodies during the actual training.”

“Zhang Yu, have you reviewed the specific competition rules?”

Zhang Yu nodded and replied, “Yes, I’ve read them all.” The Civil Engineering Department’s construction competition required building in a high-risk simulated battlefield environment while simultaneously enduring attacks from opponents. It was a competition that demanded strong construction ability, high resistance to attacks, and excellent pressure endurance.

Just as Ma Xuan explained the competition’s key points, Zhang Yu felt a pair of steel-like arms pressing down on him. Simultaneously, a voice asked, “Sir, do you have any spiritual artifacts on you?” It was common practice for masseuses to confirm that any spiritual artifacts had been removed before a massage. Otherwise, accidentally damaging a client’s artifact could result in a significant loss of income for a long time. Zhang Yu casually replied, “No, nothing but my eyes. Go ahead and massage.”

The next moment, immense power emanated from the masseuse’s large, fan-like hands, pressing deep into Zhang Yu’s flesh. Zhang Yu, however, merely smiled faintly and told the masseuse, “Master, I can handle a lot of force. Please use more strength.” Having consumed potent medicinal elixirs for a long time, Zhang Yu’s body had grown through continuous wear and repair. His bones were further reinforced by Secret Steel No. 20, and he was well-accustomed to intense massages from his frequent visits to parlors. Consequently, his demand for massage strength was exceptionally high. The masseuse behind him, hearing this, a glint flashed in her eyes as she silently increased the force.

“Master, hit me harder.”

“Use as much weight as you can. I can really take it.”

The masseuse exhaled sharply, activating her hand-based spiritual artifact. It became hot, generating currents that pierced Zhang Yu’s skin, reaching deep into his muscles.

On the massage table next to Zhang Yu, Bu Ziran quietly observed him. Bu Ziran was a student ranked 48th in the entire department. If Zhang Yu were asked for his biggest impression of him, it would be Bu Ziran unboxing the Myriad Craftsman Sect’s lung spiritual artifact in the group chat last time. Watching the masseuse activate her hand-based spiritual artifact and exert force on Zhang Yu, Bu Ziran thought to himself, “Oh? Is he trying to show off his physical strength through a massage?”

Bu Ziran understood that for college students entering a new circle, demonstrating strength was a necessary way to integrate quickly, much like dogs sniffing each other’s behinds upon meeting. The stronger the body and the higher its physical endurance, the greater the force required for a massage – this was known as “withstanding pressure.” In massage parlors, clients who could withstand more force were seen as more powerful and earned the respect of numerous masseuses. This was even more true in the Civil Engineering Department; the strongest person on a construction site was often the one who could endure the most.

Bu Ziran mused, “Back when the ancient spiritual network wasn’t so developed, the best way to gauge a stranger’s strength was to take them for a massage.”

“After a full massage, based on how much force they could withstand, one would know their true strength.”

“But it’s not ancient times anymore. With Zhang Yu’s current stats, under the full power of a masseuse’s spiritual artifact, lasting five minutes would be impressive…”

Ten minutes later, Bu Ziran gazed at Zhang Yu with some surprise. “Is this guy… really not just holding on?” Zhang Yu felt the waves of power penetrate deep into his flesh, gradually erasing the accumulated fatigue and damage from recent days, leaving him with a sensation of invigorating soreness.

Twenty minutes later, the masseuse behind Zhang Yu began to break out in a cold sweat. She felt like she wasn’t massaging a person but a collection of spiritual artifacts. “This guy’s bones are so hard. Does he really not have any spiritual artifacts inside him?” Thirty minutes later, the masseuse, seeing her hand-based spiritual artifact continuously signaling warnings, had to stop and request a substitute from Zhang Yu. If she continued to massage with such full force, her hand-based spiritual artifact would suffer severe wear and malfunction.

Zhang Yu’s situation quickly drew the attention of the others. Ma Xuan chuckled and said, “Junior Zhang Yu, it seems your body protection techniques are well-practiced. Your physical endurance far exceeds your current level.” Zhang Yu smiled faintly and replied, “I just have a higher tolerance, that’s all.” At the same time, Bu Ziran and the others’ gazes towards Zhang Yu completely changed. Clearly, his performance during the massage had earned their approval.

Afterward, the six of them left the massage parlor and headed to the Civil Engineering Department’s simulated construction site for training, working together to familiarize themselves with each other’s methods. Watching Zhang Yu unleash several humanoid qi projections to work simultaneously, Cong Na’s heart stirred again. “Ma Xuan was right; this guy’s progress is indeed incredibly fast.”

“When I sparred with him before, he could only fight for short periods with vague qi projections.”

“How long has it been? Yet he can already maintain such detailed humanoid qi projections to work?”

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ma Xuan struck out with his palm, and invisible ripples surged through the air. Then, under his palm’s influence, the ground actually rose, like rolling waves, engulfing various materials on the construction site before depositing them in different positions. Zhang Yu watched this scene, a slight shock in his heart. “This power is so similar to the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Moving Divine Power.”

Seeing Zhang Yu’s surprised expression, Ma Xuan chuckled and explained, “This is the Minor Triad, achieved by mastering the first three of the Seven Civil Engineering Arts. It allows control over earth energy, manipulating the ground beneath one’s feet with an invisible force field.” Zhang Yu asked curiously, “Can it manipulate any type of ground material?” Ma Xuan replied, “Most metals and minerals are no problem.”

As Ma Xuan spoke, he proudly activated the Minor Triad to control the terrain. The earth, like water waves, deformed at will under his command, at times swallowing building materials, at times encasing structures to form protective walls, and at times pulverizing a newly built wall into dust. Although the other team members also had their unique techniques, Zhang Yu coveted Ma Xuan’s Minor Triad the most. Zhang Yu thought to himself, “If I can maintain first place in my class for the first three years of university, I’ll also be able to master this technique.”

In the following days, competition training became another part of Zhang Yu’s daily routine. Although it didn’t take up much time, it made his life even more fulfilling and busy. After repeated unsuccessful attempts at achieving the integration of spirit and flesh, Zhang Yu was mentally prepared to spend spiritual currency. To explore new sources of income, he contacted an individual involved in underground spiritual energy transactions, intending to sell his spiritual energy.

They met in a deserted alley, still below the 100th level. As with every previous meeting, the other party was completely enveloped in a black mist, making it impossible to discern their appearance or any information. However, while Zhang Yu had always purchased spiritual energy from them in the past, this time he wanted to sell it. The person in the black mist said, “We can help you find clients, but a brokerage fee is necessary. Also, we first need to test the quality of your spiritual energy.”

Zhang Yu calmly replied, “No problem, go ahead.” The person in black mist tossed a Profound Creation Relic to Zhang Yu, instructing him to inject spiritual energy into it. Zhang Yu took the relic and channeled his spiritual energy into it. However, he did not activate the power of his Deep Freeze Spiritual Meridian, only injecting a moderate amount of his normal spiritual energy. After injecting approximately 500 units of spiritual energy in one go, Zhang Yu handed the Profound Creation Relic back to the other party.

Soon after, the Profound Creation Relic appeared in Li Xuelian’s hands. Tasting the quality of the spiritual energy within the relic, Li Xuelian murmured, “Such rapid progress.”

“And he can sell spiritual energy now, which means his total spiritual energy and recovery speed must have increased significantly.”

“Has it only been a year?”

“Father’s judgment truly wasn’t wrong…”

Just then, a message appeared in Li Xuelian’s eye artifact.

Yu Xinghan: Senior Sister! Any jobs available?

Li Xuelian had initially been quite pleased to see Yu Xinghan making a name for himself in the dark massage world. But now, seeing Zhang Yu, who had already started trading spiritual energy underground, Li Xuelian couldn’t help but sigh.