Coming After Me?

In the desolate jungle on the outskirts of Demon Capital, a faint smell of blood drifted by on the night breeze.

Dongfang Yueming held in his hand the Profound Grade Meridian Opening Method jade slip that he had just seized.

He took a deep breath and, without the slightest hesitation, activated the system's Point Allocation function.

[Ding! Learned the Profound Grade Meridian Opening Method - "Vast Earth Bears All Things Meridian Opening Art" (0/1800, not yet Entry)!]

"System, Point Allocation! Max it out!"

[Ding! 1800 points consumed, advancing to the first level of Meridian Opening!]

[Ding! Consumed 5400 points, "Vast Earth Bears All Things Meridian Opening Art" has advanced to the Meridian Opening Perfection!]

As the final system notification sounded in his Sea of Consciousness, a thick, earthy-yellow halo, as stable as the earth itself, suddenly merged into the pure purple true energy within Dongfang Yueming's body.

"Merge!"

Dongfang Yueming's eyes sharpened, and he issued the most crucial instruction.

The newly Perfection "Vast Earth Bears All Things Meridian Opening Art" collided violently with the "Azure Wood Nether-Penetrating Art" within his body, which had already reached the Middle-Tier Perfection, in his Sea of Consciousness!

"BOOM--!!!"

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, exploded within Dongfang Yueming's body!

The vibrant Vitality and the profound yellow, under the system's supreme power, began an extremely mysterious and magnificent interweaving and sublimation!

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Fusion successful!]

[Obtained the Earth Grade Meridian Opening Technique - "The Great Wilderness Creation Meridian Opening True Scripture" (Perfection)!]

"Buzz--!"

At this moment, the blue true energy patterns that were originally coiled like dragons beneath Dongfang Yueming's skin underwent an extremely terrifying qualitative change!

The patterns not only became deeper and more complex, but also emitted a layer of almost tangible dark golden aura! This aura could not only instantly withstand extremely terrifying physical and internal energy attacks, but even more terrifying was...

The circulation of true qi within his body has broken through the limitations of the ordinary eight extraordinary meridians, forming an absolute defensive posture that is unified inside and out and endlessly regenerating!

[Upper-Tier Perfection: Inner Qi, Outer Gang Qi]!

"Call..."

Dongfang Yueming slowly opened his eyes, and two beams of dark golden light, almost tangible, One Flash across them. He casually clenched his fist, and a series of explosive sounds, as if the fist was about to burst under its own weight, filled the air.

"Upper-Tier Meridian Opening Perfection."

As Dongfang Yueming felt the terrifying, turbulent power within his body, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

"With my current level of true qi, coupled with the absolute defense of this layer of Inner Qi, Outer Gang Qi, even if I stand still, an attack from an ordinary Meridian Opening Realm cultivator wouldn't be able to harm me in the slightest."

He patted the storage bag at his waist containing twenty million black cards and an S-class longsword.

"They have money, weapons, and their martial arts skills have improved."

This trip was incredibly profitable.

Just then...

"Um?"

Dongfang Yueming's extremely keen Divine Sense suddenly trembled slightly as if struck by lightning!

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze piercing through the darkness of the night, looking in a certain direction in the center of the Demon Capital.

There, he sensed a terrifying aura, so intense it even made him feel a little suffocated, gathering and erupting at an astonishing speed!

"A clash of true energy of this scale..."

Dongfang Yueming narrowed his eyes slightly, "Not only are there a large number of the Meridian Opening Realm, but... there are also several terrifying powers mixed in, far surpassing the Meridian Opening stage, extremely condensed, and seemingly capable of altering local rules!"

"[True Power Realm]!"

And there's more than one!

Dongfang Yueming immediately thought of the "double-crossing" he had witnessed in the abandoned warehouse.

"It seems that the three major families' purge of the Pan Family is more than just a warning. Tonight, the underworld of Demon Capital is destined to be a bloodbath, a complete reshuffling of power."

He had no intention of joining in the fun. Although he was now incredibly powerful, it would be unwise to confront a group of old monsters at the True Power Realm head-on.

"Even when you're trying to fish in troubled waters, you have to be careful with the timing. If you do it now, you'll only become a target of public criticism."

Having made up his mind, Dongfang Yueming unleashed One Flash true energy, activating [The Horizon Within Reach], and his figure instantly blended into the night, quietly returning towards the direction of Demon Capital Martial University.

Half an hour later.

Downstairs in the old dormitory building of Demon Capital Martial University, where second-year auditing students are studying.

With his hands in his pockets, Dongfang Yueming strolled leisurely along the tree-lined path towards his dormitory, seemingly unaffected.

It was late at night, and the dormitory area was extremely quiet, with only a few dim streetlights flickering.

Just as he was about to reach the dormitory building entrance.

A young man dressed in a sharp suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and looking refined and cultured, was already waiting there.

When he saw Dongfang Yueming approaching, a very professional yet slightly condescending and gentle smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Hey junior, getting back to the dorm so late? Judging by your school uniform, you must be an auditor from Jinling Martial University, right?"

The young man in the suit adjusted his glasses and stepped forward to greet him. "I'm a member of the student council's ' Resource Mutual Aid Association.' You must be short of cultivation resources since you're new to Demon Capital, right?"

Are they selling student loans?

"Not interested." Dongfang Yueming didn't even glance at him, simply walking past him and heading upstairs.

"Junior, don't be in such a hurry to refuse."

The young man in the suit wasn't angry at all; instead, he stepped forward and blocked Dongfang Yueming's path again. Although his tone was gentle, his eyes turned somewhat cold, as if he had this "country bumpkin" from out of town completely under his thumb.

"Our Mutual Aid Association's loans are the best benefit for you auditors. As long as you sign this contract, we can provide you with all kinds of precious pills, and even Profound Grade cultivation techniques, interest-free!"

As he spoke, the young man in the suit pulled a parchment contract from his briefcase and shoved it in front of Dongfang Yueming.

"As long as you can reach the cultivation progress we agreed on on time, we won't charge a single penny of interest! This is a windfall, something many people would kill for."

His Qingrou voice once again carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, power of mental manipulation.

However, this minor mental attack was like a gentle breeze brushing against a boulder in the face of Dongfang Yueming's extremely stable Sea of Consciousness, not even causing a ripple.

Dongfang Yueming stopped and glanced casually at the parchment contract.

With his Clear as Watching a Fire eyesight, he instantly saw through the dense clauses and found a line of tiny characters hidden in the corner, written in extremely fine special ink.

[If the borrower fails to reach the agreed cultivation level within the stipulated period, or dies unexpectedly during cultivation, their body, bones, essence, blood, and all personal belongings Mutual Aid Association.]

The body belongs to the other party?!

Dongfang Yueming's pupils contracted slightly.

This isn't a student loan; it's a blatant "contract of servitude"! A death warrant that trades meager resources for human flesh and blood!

He immediately thought of the massive Variants forces operating underground in Demon Capital, and the extremely secretive human trafficking channel of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

"I see..."

A murderous intent surged within Dongfang Yueming.

These student council scumbags from Demon Capital Martial University are actually part of that black industry chain!

Under the guise of "mutual aid," they forcibly accelerate the growth of the students' qi and blood with resources, then set an impossible cultivation period or tamper with it. Once the time is up, these hastily grown ordinary students will "legitimately" become the private property of the Mutual Aid Association due to breach of contract or death, and will ultimately be sent to the table of Variants!

"Get out!" Dongfang Yueming's voice was as cold as ice.

The young man in the suit was taken aback, seemingly not expecting that Dongfang Yueming would not only not be swayed, but would also have such a firm attitude.

The smile on his face vanished completely, Spirit Transformation extremely fierce.

"Kid, don't be so stubborn! In this Demon Capital Martial University, if you offend our Mutual Aid Association, I guarantee you won't be able to move an inch! You might not even see the sun rise tomorrow!" he threatened blatantly.

"Yeah?"

Dongfang Yueming sneered, looking at him with extreme mockery, "In this highest institution of learning in Great Xia, you're engaging in such cannibalistic practices, and the school administration doesn't care?"

In fact, the moment the young man in the suit stopped him, Dongfang Yueming's extremely keen Divine Sense had already sensed two extremely calm auras, at least at the Peak Blood Transformation Realm or even Half-Step Qi Gathering Realm, walking slowly towards them from hundreds of meters away.

"The school authorities?"

The young man in the suit seemed to have heard the biggest joke, and sneered with extreme disdain.

"What do you know, you country bumpkin? This is Demon Capital Martial University..."

Just as he was about to spout his nonsense...

"Cough cough."

A very authoritative dry cough came from the other end of the tree-lined path.

Two middle-aged men, dressed in the uniforms of senior executives of Demon Capital Martial University and wearing badges of the Academic Affairs Office on their chests, strolled over with their hands behind their backs.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the arrogance on the young man's face vanished instantly, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "Director Zhao, Director Li, what brings you two here?"

The fat man, referred to as Director Zhao, waved his hand and fixed his extremely authoritative gaze on Dongfang Yueming.

"You're that second-year auditing student from Jinling?"

Director Zhao's tone carried an unquestionable, commanding air.

"This officer is right. The Mutual Aid Association is an outstanding student organization that our school strongly supports, aiming to help students from other places who are facing difficulties."

He pointed to the parchment contract, his eyes extremely cold, his words filled with undisguised threat and coercion.

"Since the Mutual Aid Association willing to give you this valuable spot, it's your honor."

"You have to sign this contract, whether you like it or not!"