Hong Gui's Search, the Campus Labyrinth

The dormitory area for second-year auditing students at Demon Capital Martial University.

As night deepened, the old dormitory building became exceptionally quiet.

"Squeak."

The door to the simple single dormitory room where Dongfang Yueming was located was unlocked and was gently pushed open from the outside.

A striking figure, dressed in a deep purple turtleneck trench coat and possessing a voluptuous figure, silently entered the room, like Ghost blending into the night.

It was the same beautiful woman who had brushed past Dongfang Yueming outside the high-speed rail station during the day.

A high-ranking member of the Great Xia Resisters Organization, codenamed "Hong Gui".

Hong Gui glanced around the dormitory room, which was almost empty except for the bed and the table, and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"As expected, he's not here."

She muttered something to herself. In fact, before even pushing the door open, she had already confirmed that no one was in the room using her extremely sophisticated senses.

She walked to the bedside, her slender fingers casually rummaging through the rather thin sheets, then pulled open the desk drawer to take a look.

Clean and tidy.

"Ugh, what a disappointment."

Hong Gui sighed, her rosy lips slightly pouting, her tone revealing a hint of gossip and helplessness that was quite incongruous with her aloof appearance.

"I was hoping to find a few erotic books hidden under the mattress."

"Have young people these days all become smarter and started watching things online?"

Hong Gui sat dejectedly on the edge of the desk, her long, straight legs crossed, lost in thought.

"This kid, running out in the middle of the night, definitely wasn't just going for a stroll."

"He's new to Demon Capital alone and helpless. Going out at a time like this is either to gather intelligence or to acquire resources to become stronger."

A glint of intelligence flashed in the Hong Gui's alluring eyes; her mind was racing.

"In Demon Capital, where can you find a place that meets both of these conditions and is open to newcomers...?"

There are only two: the underground black market, or those large auction houses!

Having made up her mind, Hong Gui stood up.

"Since you like playing hide-and-seek, then I'll personally go into these Rat holes and drag you out!"

Hong Gui swaggered out of the dormitory in her high heels.

At this moment, a few late-returning auditors occasionally passed by in the corridor, but strangely enough, these Blood Refining Realm students completely ignored this hot-bodied, eye-catching woman!

She was like an invisible person from another dimension; even if she walked right past someone, that person would be completely unaware of her presence.

Hong Gui's figure One Flash and disappeared into the night.

at the same time.

Demon Capital Martial University, Public Library.

Compared to the heavily guarded, underground "Library of Jinling Martial University," the library of Demon Capital Martial University is as vast as a city, brightly lit, and bustling with students.

Xiahou Ying, dressed in a simple school uniform, walked down the library corridor with a complicated expression.

After arriving in Demon Capital, everything here was wildly challenging her understanding of the world.

What she found most incredible was the openness of Martial Dao resources at this top-tier university.

In Jinling City, a Profound Grade Blood Refining Method or Profound Grade Blood Skill is a treasure that top families like the Xiahou Family would keep as a core secret and never let it slip out! Ordinary martial artists would have to risk their lives or become lackeys for these families to obtain it.

But here!

In the public area on the first floor of the library, those Profound Grade Blood Nourishing Method and Blood Refining Method methods, as well as Yellow Grade Blood Transformation Method and a large number of Profound Grade blood techniques, were displayed on the bookshelves like cabbages!

As long as you are a formal student at Demon Capital Martial University, or even an auditor like her, you can borrow books for free with your campus card!

"No wonder most of the students here are at least at the Blood Refining Realm..."

Xiahou Ying looked at the students carefully selecting cultivation techniques in front of the bookshelves, and felt a mix of emotions.

If such an environment existed, would the students in Jinling City still need to take such a great risk for a mere Profound Grade cultivation technique and a little bit of resources?

Just as Xiahou Ying's expression darkened.

"Hey junior, judging from your school uniform, you're an auditor from Jinling, right?"

A voice, extremely gentle and even possessing an irresistible charm, rang in her ears.

Xiahou Ying was startled and turned her head sharply.

A well-tailored young man, wearing a gold-rimmed suit and gold-rimmed glasses, who looked refined and cultured, was already standing half a meter away from her.

"Who are you?" Xiahou Ying took a half step back warily, her eyes full of vigilance. Having experienced the destruction of her family, she now dared not easily trust anyone, especially this seemingly harmless smiling tiger.

"Don't be nervous, junior."

The young man in the suit adjusted his glasses, his smile growing even warmer. "I'm a member of the student council's ' Resource Mutual Aid Association,' you can call me Senior Li."

"It seems like you're worried about cultivation techniques? Actually, although Demon Capital Martial University offers open resources, truly top-tier cultivation techniques and high-quality pills for breaking through bottlenecks still require a massive amount of credits to exchange for. For you auditors, earning credits by doing regular tasks is like a drop in the ocean."

Senior Li looked at Xiahou Ying, his tone filled with sympathy and temptation.

"Our Mutual Aid Association specifically provides 'campus loan' services for talented students like this junior who lack resources and connections."

"Campus loans?" Xiahou Ying frowned, instinctively feeling a sense of disgust.

"Yes," Senior Li nodded, "We can provide you with the resources you need for cultivation."

"I don't need it." Xiahou Ying refused decisively and turned to leave. She understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"Junior, please wait a moment."

Senior Li remained calm and composed. His voice suddenly became extremely Qingrou, as if possessing a strange magnetism, which penetrated directly into Xiahou Ying's mind.

"Junior, you might have misunderstood. Our loans are very reasonable."

"As long as you can reach the agreed-upon training progress on time, this loan will be interest-free."

No interest?!

Xiahou Ying suddenly stopped in her tracks, a look of shock flashing in her eyes.

How could such a good thing exist? Providing massive amounts of resources, and as long as your cultivation level meets the requirements, there's no interest involved? Isn't this practically free?

Senior Li keenly noticed the wavering in Xiahou Ying's eyes. His smile became even gentler, but a strange glimmer flickered in his eyes hidden behind his glasses.

"Yes. Because the mission of our Mutual Aid Association is to discover true geniuses."

His Qingrou voice began to echo in Xiahou Ying's ears, carrying a strong sense of spiritual bewitching.

Do you want to become stronger? Do you want to trample those who once bullied you and took everything from you under your feet? Do you want to... take control of your own destiny?

"Sign it, and these resources are yours."

Senior Li pulled out a parchment contract that smelled faintly of blood, along with a specially made quill pen, from somewhere and handed it to Xiahou Ying.

Xiahou Ying's Spirit Transformation somewhat unfocused.

The horrific scenes of the Xiahou Family's underground slaughterhouse and her brother's desperate last words kept flashing through her mind.

"I want to become stronger... I want to become stronger..."

She reached out uncontrollably, wanting to catch the quill pen.

Just as her finger was about to touch the pen tip at the critical moment!

"Buzz!"

An invisible yet extremely powerful mental fluctuation pierced Xiahou Ying's brow like a steel needle!

"Ah!"

Xiahou Ying cried out in pain, as if waking from a dream, and suddenly shivered.

When she saw the sheepskin contract in front of her, which exuded an eerie aura, she was terrified and took several steps back, her back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

"What... what did you do to me?!"

Senior Li's gentle smile froze instantly. He turned his head sharply, his gaze sweeping fiercely around him, trying to find the person who dared to ruin his plans.

However, apart from a few students engrossed in their books, there was nothing else around.

Damn it!

Senior Li cursed under his breath, knowing that the deal was off. With a grim expression, he put away the contract, strode into the crowd, and disappeared.

In the shadows not far from the bookshelf.

Hong Gui crossed her arms and watched Senior Li's departing figure, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"These loan sharks are really persistent."

"Kill this batch, and another batch pops up. Relying on the powerful families backing them, they specifically target ordinary students to leech off them. Do they really think Demon Capital Martial University is their pig farm?"

Suddenly, the special communicator on her wrist vibrated.

Hong Gui glanced down at the received ciphertext, her previously languid gaze instantly sharpening.

"In the ruins of the eastern city, ' Gray Wolf, ' the dirty work handler for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, was instantly killed, suspected to be the work of that person."

"Myriad Treasures Pavilion has already secretly spread the news to the Night Watchers..."

"Has it finally shown up?"

A smile of excitement curved Hong Gui's lips. No longer caring about the loan shark's henchman, she vanished from the library in a flash and sped off towards the ruins in the east of the city.

Inside the library.

Xiahou Ying leaned against the bookshelf, panting heavily.

Recalling the terrifying feeling she had just experienced, as if her soul had been manipulated and she was powerless to control herself, she felt a wave of fear wash over her.

"This Demon Capital Martial University... is far less glamorous than it appears on the surface."

"That 'campus loan' scheme is an absolute trap that preys on people! No interest as long as you meet the requirements? Such a seemingly free lunch must have a terrible price to pay!"