Driven by curiosity, Shen Xiaobai left his classmates behind and ran toward the academy gates.
"Where are you going? Didn't you say you were treating us?"
"I'm going out to buy something. I'll owe you this meal for now and treat you next time," Shen Xiaobai said without looking back.
The gates of Xuanji Academy had an access-control system. Shen Xiaobai scanned his personally linked spirit computer and registered before he was allowed to leave. Once he spotted Yang Yao, he secretly followed her.
The academy was not located in a bustling part of Xuanji City. Since students could take care of their food, clothing, housing, and transport within the academy, there were not many shops nearby. Yet Yang Yao walked farther and farther into secluded areas, eventually entering an alley with barely anyone around, then slipping through an inconspicuous small door.
"Why so mysterious?"
Shen Xiaobai had not initially thought Yang Yao had used some "crooked path" to improve her grades, but now he could not help growing suspicious.
To avoid the joint crackdown by the Spirit Academy and the Commerce Administration Academy, many training institutions were usually set up in extremely hidden places. Those trading noncompliant nutrient solutions also tried their best to stay out of sight.
Shen Xiaobai's curiosity grew ever stronger. He hurried after her, only to discover that the small door had been locked from inside. After looking around, he spotted several little windows for lighting at the upper left of the door, three meters above the ground.
He immediately moved over the clutter piled throughout the alley. After stacking it high enough, he stood atop it and clung to the window to peer inside.
It seemed to be an abandoned factory, occupying an enormous area with a rather complicated interior. All kinds of discarded