Chapter 104: Journey to Daishan

At dawn’s first light, the two of them opened their eyes, faces worn with exhaustion.
Weary in spirit.

Qin Ye slowly powered on his computer, glanced at the clock—exactly eight o’clock—sighed, and idly played a song. A gentle, melancholic tune filled the room. Arthas was taken aback. “You’re into dramas too?”

“...No, I’m just expressing how I feel right now...” Qin Ye typed in some keywords with a sense of resignation and began his research.

The network in Bao’an City was sealed off, but it was highly advanced. Games, films, and some knowledge forums were accessible; however, any videos or posts related to the supernatural were completely unsearchable. Moreover, local Bao’an IP addresses could not post on public networks.

“A good automatic logging saw costs over thirty thousand, not too pricey. An engineering crane truck is around one hundred and thirty to forty thousand, still acceptable. The excavators are the expensive ones—good ones cost over three hundred thousand, lesser ones still over a hundred thousand.” After more than ten minutes, Qin Ye groaned and slumped in his chair. “And that’s just the equipment... The design institute’s blueprints have four categories with twelve standards... those are the fee standards. Designing a single building costs hundreds of thousands, and since we’re designing a traditional-style high-rise, the cost will be even higher.”

Silence fell.

The two stared at each other, their eyes saying two words without speaking: Where’s the money?

Arthas probed cautiously, “How about asking your sponsor for a few million?”

“Borrow?!” Qin Ye snorted coldly, speaking with righteous indignation, “Is that even decent? I’ve been alive so long and still have to borrow a few thousand from a kid?”

Arthas blinked—this was not the Qin Ye she knew.

Her instincts told her there was more to come.

Qin Ye cleared his throat softly. “...No need to borrow... let’s just get rid of Comrade Xiao Wang... I’ll inherit his credit, with so many empty seats in Hell’s Gate waiting, why not let him have one?”

Arthas gazed deeply at Qin Ye. “You’re really dark... Actually, I think it’s not a bad idea... The death judge position is vacant now, and it’s too exhausting for you alone. This kind of familiar classmate would be very useful... Oh, but first he has to make a will naming you the heir...”

They could be said to be utterly broke, without any bottom line left.

Currently, the territory was only five square kilometers. When the underworld expanded next, it would require another huge financial investment—at least several million!

And that was just initial capital. There were also countless building materials... Ancient architecture demanded vast amounts of timber, bricks, glazed tiles... the numbers were astronomical!

Completely constructing these five square kilometers would cost tens of millions at minimum!

At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.

He hadn’t brought a phone to the new underworld and had just turned it on. Momo notified him: twenty new messages and seven missed calls.

They were either from Lin Han or Su Feng.

“Hello?” He randomly called the first one from Lin Han. The moment it connected, the other’s voice was urgent: “Where are you? Everyone’s gathered except for you. Are you planning to be docked teaching credits for missing the start of school?”

Qin Ye was baffled: “What’s going on?”

Lin Han paused, then said softly, “Did you forget? Today’s the assembly to go to Daishan City for two months of training. All teaching staff are here except you. Oh, and Leader Zhou is leading...”

Before he finished, Qin Ye hung up, grabbed a pile of clothes, shoved them into his suitcase, and hurried toward Hui University.

Just as he was about to leave, a paper crane flew out from under the bed and slipped into his clothes. Arthas’s voice sounded: “Take me with you.”

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“Is that allowed?”

“What do you mean? I am the former judge overseeing Minfeng Province! A mere soul tether can’t even manage that, yet dares to suppress an entire province?”

It was like being late for school. When he reached Hui University’s gate, two large buses were already parked. Zhou Xianlong glared at the panting Qin Ye, raised his hand, and showed off a finely crafted watch. “Take a look.”

Qin Ye cleared his throat, glanced at it nervously. “...Longines?”

Damn it...

Zhou Xianlong’s temple twitched. Are these people really reliable teachers? Won’t they just turn the students into idiots?

“Eight o’clock sharp!” Li Tao called out. He had intended to be gentle, but for some reason, he could never be mild with Qin Ye. Suppressing his anger, he said firmly, “Assembly was at seven-thirty. We notified you more than ten times last night! The mobilization meeting repeated it several times. No organization, no discipline! Instructor Qin, are you giving up your teaching credits this year?”

“Old Zhou.” Li Tao’s smiling face peeked out from the bus window. “Forget it, Instructor Qin is still young. Get on first; it’s cold outside in winter.”

Zhou Xianlong wanted to say more but shot a fierce look at Qin Ye and boarded the bus first.

Qin Ye tossed his suitcase into the compartment and slunk onto the bus. As he settled, Lin Han waved vigorously. Sitting next to him, Lin Han teased, “Got scolded, huh? Where did you go partying last night? I couldn’t find you at the hotel.”

“Go to hell, then maybe you’d see me.” Qin Ye rolled his eyes, pulling up the hood of his trendy Beijing Film Academy down jacket. “Don’t call me, I’m sleepy.”

Silence fell for the journey. Three hours later, the three bright red characters for Daishan City appeared under the sun.

As the provincial capital, the toll station entering Daishan City was incomparable to Bao’an City’s. Spanning a full hundred meters, with seven entrances channeling steady traffic flow, shaded by lush trees.

The entire toll station was designed like an ancient ceremonial archway. Lanterns fluttered in the breeze, and the gilded roofs shimmered with splendid grandeur, imposing and magnificent.

Qin Ye opened his eyes at the perfect moment.

As if rehearsed, all the resting instructors simultaneously opened their eyes, thoughtfully gazing toward the provincial capital’s toll station.

Ordinary people might see only a grand toll station, but they perceived something deeper—

For instance... the presence of Yin energy.

“Scarcely believable.” Qin Ye supported his head and murmured.

Travelers who slept on the bus hated chatterboxes like Lin Han, but now that Qin Ye spoke, Lin Han immediately unleashed a torrent of words: “Of course, most supernatural outbreaks happen in prefecture-level cities or counties. The provincial capital finds and eliminates them one by one. Predatory zones are very rare. If there are any, they’re containment and predation zones. The capital has a radiating effect; if trouble arises here, the entire province is thrown into chaos.”

“Fellow instructors.” At that moment, Li Tao stood in the front row and smiled. “Daishan City, the provincial capital of Hui Province, has over a thousand years of history. After I and Principal Xu finish the handover, we’ll return to First Cultivation University. Some words should be said upfront.”

He ceased smiling, scanned the bus, and spoke solemnly: “Please remember the following carefully.”

He raised a finger. “First, you are here to study, not to slay demons. Nothing in Daishan City is your concern. It is the core of Hui Province, guarded by constables and soul captors. Any proactive involvement by you is overstepping.”

“Second...” His expression darkened. “First Cultivation University is still a school, and schools award teaching credits. Teaching credits affect your benefits and are evaluated every semester. Cherish every opportunity to earn credits.”

He smiled faintly. “For example, now.”

“Sixty-one days over two months, rounded to sixty. One point per day of stable study at the main campus of Hui University, calculated at the end of two months. Sixty points is passing. After study, phase one teaching credits are tallied and ranked A to D, with A being a perfect one hundred, D being sixty passing.”

Qin Ye’s brow twitched slightly but said nothing, listening on.

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Without giving anyone time to react, Li Tao continued: “Third, you must not reveal your identity, or it will be considered a leak.”

“Fourth, Daishan City has a research project team working with SRC on a topic. Disturbing them is considered obstructing research. If you want to be confined, go ahead. Hence, no forceful interruptions of unrelated personnel.”

“That’s all—four points. When you complete your studies, the school will organize the first round of lectures to evaluate your two months’ progress.” He paused, then smiled slowly. “Fellow gardeners, teaching credits are precious. Please... do not score below sixty.”

Li Tao sat down. Murmurs filled the bus, but he ignored them. Qin Ye furrowed his brow, thoughts racing.

This old man... there’s something in his words.

Getting through sixty days peacefully was understandable. Cultivators were often free spirits, and without constraints, who knew what chaos might arise. But even if they completed sixty peaceful days, that was only sixty points.

The perfect score was one hundred.

Where did the extra forty points come from?

They weren’t allowed to meddle in local government affairs, so were they supposed to compete with professors in teaching?

“There must be a loophole in his words, but... this is how cultivators should be...” Qin Ye wrapped himself tighter in his down jacket and murmured, “Even though First Cultivation University is a school, it is a very special school. Cultivators are the first line of defense against Yin spirits. Just teaching without spirit and courage is useless.”

“And among this group, several have S-grade potential. Making them all mere teachers would be unacceptable even to Zhou Xianlong. Then...”

A paper crane stealthily flew into Qin Ye’s down jacket and whispered close to his ear, “They want you to compete.”

Arthas spoke softly: “Since ancient times, cultivators have been inseparable from the underworld, once called Qi Refiners, striving to contend with heaven itself. The world brims with opportunities; those who do not seek or fight for them can only settle for mediocrity.”

“Looks like your cultivation world hasn’t forgotten its original purpose. The school’s foundation is sound. I’m rather interested in these two principals... How long before they die?”

Qin Ye whispered back, “I don’t know... but I sincerely hope they die soon and transcend quickly...”

Since discovering so many empty seats at Hell’s Gate, Arthas and Qin Ye’s judgment of talent had shifted.

Oh? Talent, huh?

Average at best...

Then this official wishes you a painless death and grand prospects beyond the grave.

Qin Ye shook his head, dispelling the strange images in his mind, and whispered, “So... the teaching credit evaluation starts officially now?”

“Of course,” Arthas said lightly, “And the first test is your ability to seize opportunities.”

“I guess your First Cultivation University never minds cultivators exploiting loopholes; what they mind is fools getting caught. Cultivators who blindly follow rules won’t survive the endless Yin spirits. Observant, alert, and opportunistic—that’s the elite they want.”

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