The bell rings as the sun sets, and the students pour out of the Imperial Academy, leaving. A few want to go to the martial arts club outside the school for extra training, but most head directly home for dinner and rest—nighttime is unsuitable for activities other than reproduction.

The Yao Bell Tower rings seven times, and a beam of golden light speeds from the Platinum Tower toward the Imperial Court: the principal's nightlife begins.

The Yao Bell Tower rings eight times, the sky turns completely dark, the gates of the Imperial Academy are tightly shut, the once lively academy becomes silent, invisible ghosts roam the deserted teaching buildings, and the warm yellow streetlights resemble beacons in a black sea.

Behind the Combat Technique teaching building, Li Ying closes the newly bought novel "I Really Don't Want to Be Favored," climbs over the window into the classroom to equip a set of black robes and a mask—the mask is the 'Alluring Fox' style from Wulian Commerce, which Li Ying considers to perfectly match her taste.

After preparing, Li Ying takes out a metallic badge and taps it twice nervously: "Hey, this is One, calling Zero."

"This is Zero, Number One, please don't waste energy, activate Hearts United only when necessary," the metallic badge responds with a mechanical voice.

Li Ying feels calm at heart, walks along the edges of the light through the academy. Though the academy has patrolling teachers stationed, the Imperial Academy is too vast for a few people to fully cover. With caution and a smaller group, lingering in the academy at night is almost impossible to detect.

Actually, 'playing in the academy late at night' has entered the list of "things to do before graduating" in the minds of many students, with some even losing their lives—the kind that adds lives, but there are also those who subtract lives, but those students were swiftly dealt with by the Imperial Court before Cha Huan got angry, otherwise, Cha Huan's actions wouldn't just involve a few students dying.

Staying overnight in the academy used to be a serious violation, but after Cha Huan took office, the punishment changed to the humiliating task of cleaning toilets and sweeping the streets. According to rumors, Cha Huan himself was a frequent violator who stayed overnight at the academy, which is why he holds a disdainful attitude towards students who breach the rules: "Seriously? You all got caught staying overnight at the academy? How embarrassing is this batch of students?"

Thus, it's not difficult for Li Ying to hide in the Imperial Academy at night. However, she isn't doing it for fun but for a secret mission!

She is now the Radiant Spy·Shuiyun's Thorn·Secret Investigator·Li Ying!

After spending over ten minutes, Li Ying arrives at the western district of the Imperial Academy and faces a deserted teaching building. Teaching buildings aren't immutable; they relocate continuously around Wanxiang Forest, moving every few decades due to significant wear and old age of the structures. Instead of repair, they choose to rebuild, allowing newly graduated students to experience the joy of 'graduating just as the school renews.'

The change of teaching buildings subtly reflects the academy's attitude: everything ages, embracing rebirth is the true path, the only constant is change across ages.

The only unchanged landmarks at the Imperial Academy are the Platinum Tower, White Box Library, Martial Arts Plaza, and a few other places.

And a deserted teaching building isn't immediately demolished but is provided for student club activities. Upon arrival, Li Ying sees a sign hanging at the entrance of a classroom on the first floor: "Nail Art Club."

Huh? The academy has such a club? I want to do my nails too!

Curiosity piqued, Li Ying sticks to the window, turns on the Luminous Stone light, and peeks at the Nail Art Club's scenery.

With the light dispelling the darkness, the true image of the Nail Art Club hits Li Ying's eyes: she sees a colorful, golden sparkling, bright crimson, eerie blue, mysterious purple fantasy of...

...ancient armor.

Armors from ancient ring lock, medieval brigandine, near ancient lamellar, modern scale, and contemporary leaf armor are displayed in the spacious classroom, dazzling and radiant.

She also sees the full name plaque of the Nail Art Club: "Ancient Armor Beautification Club."

"Serves them right for holding activities in such a teaching building..." Extremely disappointed, Li Ying mutters a curse, turns off the light, and continues walking.

After walking for a few more minutes, she arrives at the second abandoned teaching building. Unlike the first, this building has collapsed into ruins, overgrown with wild grass, evidently not intended for repair by the academy. However, where bipedal creatures show no interest becomes an animal paradise. Li Ying steps through the weeds, startling countless snakes, insects, mice, and rabbits.

Following her instructions, she walks to the northeast section of the ruins, but fails to find the location. As she fumbles her way, she suddenly hears footsteps behind her.

She turns around to see a person in a black robe and wearing a mask of an evil ghost behind her.

"Can't find the place?" The voice from the ghost mask is filled with suspicion.

"It's my first time here," Li Ying says honestly.

"Who's your superior?"

"Feixue."

The ghost mask seems to no longer doubt her, leads Li Ying to a concealed underground passage among the ruins. Li Ying immediately knows this must be the former teaching building of the Heaven Disaster Department—only that department likes constructing basements.

Before entering the underground passage, Li Ying taps the metallic badge in her bag. Feeling the vibrating response from the badge, she is reassured and follows the ghost mask into the basement.

The basement was evidently once a classroom but has since partially collapsed, half-buried. However, upon entering, Li Ying pays no mind to the surroundings, being completely captivated by the triangular shape displayed on the central pillar of the basement.

It's beautiful.

The triangular shape emits bright red brilliant light, the illumination consolidating into meticulously ordered shapes appearing and disappearing in the air. Though Li Ying cannot comprehend it, she is unavoidably entranced by the triangle's beauty.

Is this the... Blood Essence Stone?

Appearing so effortlessly?

The objective of the mission was achieved too easily, making Li Ying question whether she was dreaming.

Several people have already arrived in the basement, all wearing black robes and masks, properly kneeling on either side. The ghost mask also kneels on one side; Li Ying doesn't hesitate and sits at the rear.

After a moment, three more individuals arrive. When the triangle suddenly bursts with brightness, the smiling mask at the front gets up, turns to face everyone and says: "The gathering begins."

Smile looks around: "Seems we have a few newcomers. Newcomers, please raise your hand."

Li Ying and the three others raise their hands. Smile speaks: "Here, we don't use our real identities for communication. Please choose a codename connected to your mask. For example, my codename is Smile."

"Mountain Bear."

"Gray Wolf."

"Black Face."

"Enchantress," Li Ying says assertively.

Smile nods, "Since there are newcomers, we must routinely introduce the purpose of this gathering. Dear newcomers, I do not know your goals, whether it's to consume the Spirit Condensing Pill for advancement, use the Spirit Condensing Pill as a stepping stone, or covet the Blood Essence Stone... None of these matter because by obtaining the qualifications to join this gathering, those worldly desires become insignificant."

"Perhaps you wonder why we sell Spirit Condensing Pills at low prices, why we accept your entry, why we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for others... You are all smart people from the Imperial Academy, surely you have considered many possibilities, and indeed as you think: the Spirit Condensing Pill is a threshold, used to screen those with willingness, persistence, courage, and dreams."

"Only true dream chasers are entitled to join our grand plan."

Smile gently taps the triangle, which instantly explodes with shining brilliance, an invisible storm sweeps across the basement, causing Li Ying to feel like she is being torn apart, yet unable to scream!

In an instant, a frozen earth, erupting volcano, meteor showers, ocean cleaving sabers, reversed sun and moon, and other anomalies flash before her eyes, the immense power shaking her soul!

Yet in the next second, the storm vanishes without a trace, the basement remains unchanged, everyone continues kneeling in place, as if nothing happened.

"The times have changed, Combat Technique has perished, martial arts is dead."

"Cultivation, is the future."

Smile says, "Welcome to the Immortal Palace Plan."

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