When Bai Zhenzhen curiously asked her question, Zhang Yu immediately recounted the situation with Le Mulan and the potion.

In the end, he could only smile wryly and say, “No idea if this sweat Le Mulan’s dripping has any side effects. It’d suck if the tutoring money I earn can’t even cover the medical bills.”

But Bai Zhenzhen’s eyes sparkled. “You’re saying her sweat restores stamina, excites the nervous system, boosts mana—and going by what she said, even heals injuries?”

“That’s basically a miracle cure!”

“Next time, bring me some. I’ll give it a shot. I’ve got high tolerance—side effects don’t scare me.”

Zhang Yu realized that, despite being in Kunxu for a while now, he still often felt out of place.

For example, the idea of collecting rich people’s sweat—even if he tried to steel himself for it, he could never quite convince himself it was okay.

Seeing Zhang Yu silent, Bai Zhenzhen added, “Then why not ask Le Mulan when she’ll let us both train with her? Didn’t she mention considering it during the tournament?”

She figured, if Zhang Yu wasn’t willing, then she’d just collect the sweat herself.

Zhang Yu casually replied, “She said she needs more time to adjust before taking us both on at once. Don’t know what she’s adjusting to, though.”

“I alone had her drenched in sweat. What kind of adjustment lets her handle both of us at the same time?”

As he spoke, Zhang Yu glanced down at Bai Zhenzhen’s legs—her skin exposed to the open air. The scars she’d earned during the martial arts tournament were completely gone.

Her skin was smooth and flawless, like porcelain. Zhang Yu smiled and said, “Ah-Zhen, your scars are all healed? Then you can go all out now without worrying about reopening them.”

Bai Zhenzhen nodded with a smile and rolled up her sleeve, showing off her newly repaired skin. “What do you think? Not bad, right? Looks pretty much the same as before.”

Just as Zhang Yu was about to compliment her soft, pale skin, he noticed a logo from HeartWound Medical and asked in confusion, “What’s this?”

“Oh, that? An embedded ad from the surgery. Unless you’re a premium member of the hospital or pay an extra two grand, they won’t remove it.”

“I wasn’t about to waste that kind of money. My metabolism’s fast—should clear out in a few weeks anyway.”

Zhang Yu nodded. If it would fade on its own, there was no need to spend extra.

Then he asked, “How much was it? I’ll reimburse you.”

Bai Zhenzhen showed her e-receipt. “After discounts, it was 38,888. They threw in a physical exam, too.”

Once he transferred the money to her, Zhang Yu’s savings dipped to just over 170,000. He sighed—it was way too easy to burn through cash.

Bai Zhenzhen let out a cheer and hugged Zhang Yu from behind. “A reward for you, Yuzi.”

As the Zhen Spirit Root settled into his dantian and spiritual essence surged from all directions, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but let out a soft groan of comfort.

Bai Zhenzhen skipped off to the side. “You go cultivate a bit. I’ll be done with makeup soon.”

She began putting on her wig, tattoo stickers, padding—preparing for her part-time gig in the shady world of Dark Tutoring.

Meanwhile, with the Spirit Root inside him, Zhang Yu once again activated the Great Sun Qi Sea.

At first, nothing happened. But after a moment, the Zhen Spirit Root seemed to start syncing with the technique, subtly assisting him in gathering Light essence.

After one full breathing cycle, Bai Zhenzhen finished her disguise. Zhang Yu had no choice but to pause and continue testing the Spirit Root’s support in the park later.

…

Three hours passed in a flash.

Beside the park’s little lake, bathed in office lights, moonlight, and the glow of street lamps, strands of Light essence were steadily absorbed and refined by Zhang Yu into mana.

He had advanced the Great Sun Qi Sea to Level 2 (11/20).

Now, no trace of light remained on his body—instead, he appeared increasingly shrouded in shadow under the night sky.

Thanks to the Zhen Spirit Root, the darkness even expanded around him to a radius of several dozen centimeters—like an invisible cloak of shadow.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, “No doubt about it. The Zhen Spirit Root really is syncing with this new technique, boosting the efficiency of absorbing Light essence and refining it into mana.”

Fu Ji, observing this from within, was even more impressed. “Bai Zhenzhen’s evolution-type Spirit Root is incredible. It adapts to any technique or cultivation direction. It’s practically a universal root.”

“Right now, it’s already boosted the efficiency of the Great Sun Qi Sea by at least ten percent. Who knows how high it’ll go if it keeps adapting?”

Curiosity stirred within her. “Right now, it’s at the level of a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Could it eventually evolve into a Divine Spirit Root… or even an Immortal Spirit Root?”

Fu Ji couldn’t say for sure—but the possibility intrigued her.

After all, above the Heavenly tier were the military-grade Divine Spirit Roots, and above those, the Immortal Spirit Roots reserved for the Ten Major Sects.

“If Bai Zhenzhen’s Spirit Root evolves to the Immortal level… it’d be a fortune from the heavens—but also a disaster waiting to happen.”

…

The night passed.

In the early morning sun, Zhang Yu carried Bai Zhenzhen on his back, jogging from the outskirts toward the city.

By now, the Great Sun Qi Sea had advanced to Level 3 (14/30). Even without consciously channeling it, his body was passively absorbing energy on its own.

At Level 3, the passive effect was about 30% as strong as active breathing.

He figured, like with the Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Technique, once he reached Level 10, the passive and active effects would probably even out.

As the morning light grew stronger, Zhang Yu felt sunlight pouring into him like sparks, fueling his Great Sun mana cycle and refining it into his own power.

The sunlight intensified the circulation of his internal mana. Golden currents surged through him like living fire, ravenous for more solar Light essence.

His dantian felt like a blazing furnace, feeding off the light and spitting out increasingly dense Great Sun mana.

And yet, Zhang Yu felt no discomfort. Instead, it was like basking in sunlight on a cold day—warm and comforting.

He noted that daytime was clearly the optimal time to cultivate this technique—its efficiency was leagues above nighttime.

“Yuzi, your skin’s getting darker,” Bai Zhenzhen suddenly remarked.

Indeed, the intense operation of the Great Sun Qi Sea made Zhang Yu look like he was wrapped in shadow, several shades darker than before.

He quickly checked his body and realized it too.

Crap. Did I turn Black?

Good thing this is Kunxu. Anywhere else, using this technique might get me shot every day!

Fortunately, the Great Sun Qi Sea included methods to cancel out anomalies. With a thought, he suppressed his mana just slightly, and the shadows vanished instantly.

Bai Zhenzhen was intrigued. “If you keep leveling this up and your body absorbs more light, will you go pitch black? Could be useful for hiding your identity.”

“If that happens, maybe you could dodge ticket fees, avoid surveillance… even steal stuff or rob people—”

Ah-Zhen, what the hell! That’s way too much! Who told you turning Black makes crime easier?

Just as Zhang Yu was about to scold her, Bai Zhenzhen added, “Eh, forget it. That all sounds like more trouble than moonlighting in Dark Tutoring. You even have to file taxes.”

Zhang Yu couldn’t help but agree—taxes really were the cornerstone of law and order in Kunxu.

On the way back into the city, his phone buzzed. A message from Yu Xinghan.

Yu Xinghan: You’re looking for a place to rent?

Zhang Yu guessed he must’ve seen the post on his Moments and was checking in.

Since Yu Xinghan was a Gold Core Disciple, Zhang Yu figured he might have a spare place to rent out.

He replied: Yes.

Yu Xinghan: My place is kind of big. Want to co-rent?

Zhang Yu frowned and replied: A Gold Core Disciple rents?

Yu Xinghan: My sect believes in never buying property. Invest in yourself instead.

Zhang Yu thought, Yep—Xinghuo Zhenren really is the poster child for broke Gold Core types. Can’t even afford a place on Kunxu’s first floor in Songyang City. Thank god I didn’t join his sect.

Then Yu Xinghan quoted a monthly rent of over 100,000. Zhang Yu instantly regretted his earlier thought.

He replied: Not into co-renting.

He thought that was the end of it—until another message came in. A shopping link.

Yu Xinghan: Click this for me.

Zhang Yu blinked, checked the link, and sighed.

Wow. Even Kunxu has click-for-discounts now?

Yu Xinghan, you’re a Gold Core Disciple—do you really need to scrape for coupons?

Zhang Yu ignored him.

Over the course of the day, he got even more messages about renting.

While cultivating on the rooftop, he heard from Qian Shen.

Qian Shen offered a 20-square-meter micro apartment owned by his dad. Monthly rent: 6,000.

Zhang Yu was tempted. For city prices, that was a steal. Clearly a friend’s discount.

During lunch at the cafeteria, Song Hailong messaged him.

He sent photos of a much bigger place—better lighting, huge balcony. Perfect for cultivating the Great Sun Qi Sea.

Except… why were there four washing machines?

When Zhang Yu asked, Song Hailong replied: Haven’t sent all the photos. That’s just the maid’s room.

Then came shots of the entire 200-square-meter home—with a rent north of 100,000.

Zhang Yu replied: Too spacious. Not my style.

After school, Le Mulan reached out.

Photos showed no bed, no sofa, no kitchen, no TV. Just a medicine cabinet, a meditation chamber, training equipment, and… a washing machine.

It was about 60 square meters, decorated in standard Immortal Dao style. It fit Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen’s needs.

Except for one thing—the Purple Cloud Pharmaceuticals “Speedy Sanitize” spray unit at the door made him a little uneasy.

And there were two bathrooms. Why?

Le Mulan: It’s across the street from Purple Cloud High. I used it for a while. You only need to pay 2,000 a month.

Le Mulan: But if you move in, we’ll do sparring practice there from now on.

Le Mulan: Easier than hauling gear to school.

Le Mulan: One of the bathrooms is mine. You two can’t go in.

Zhang Yu did the math. That “exclusive” bathroom was about 30 square meters—half the apartment.

He grumbled to himself. So the real estate is just your off-campus toilet? How many private bathrooms do you need, seriously?

Zhang Yu: Deal. I’ll take it.

Reviewing the day’s housing offers, Zhang Yu made a new discovery.

Yu Xinghan, Song Hailong, Le Mulan… these rich kids definitely had money behind them.

But somehow, Le Mulan seemed far less cautious about spending.

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen called from the rooftop.

“Yuzi, it’s time. We’ve got to head to White Dragon.”

Today was the scheduled day for live combat training with Yu Xinghan and Song Hailong at White Dragon High School.

And just thinking about sparring with a Gold Core Disciple sparked a flicker of anticipation in Zhang Yu’s eyes.