Chapter 64 was quite fruitful, involving feigned compliance.

【As the heavy red door slowly closed, you left the bloody and oppressive underground demonic lair.】

【The Masked Man led you back into the special elevator that ascended to the surface.】

【Then, you returned to that inconspicuous gray sedan.】

【The vehicle started, driving away from the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce headquarters.】

【The car interior was silent; the Masked Man seemed to be resting with his eyes closed.】

【And the Black-Robed Figure driving the car also kept his mouth shut, not daring to make a sound.】

【Deep within your Sea of Consciousness, although your body remained sluggish.】

【Your brain was rapidly processing, frantically digesting the massive amount of information acquired tonight.】

【“The harvest from this simulation is already destined to be substantial.”】

【You calmly assessed the chips in your hand.】

【First, the Heart-Eroding Cult’s lair in Longnan City has been pinpointed—it’s the fifth basement level of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce headquarters building.】

【Second, the enemy’s high-level structure has also surfaced.】

【Aside from that mysterious newly promoted Mountain-Sea Realm Cult Master.】

【Among the remaining ten Soaring Realm high-ranking members, you have identified six.】

【And perhaps Cold Kite and Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian have already marked these individuals.】

【As for the remaining four, although you haven't seen them, you know their codenames.】

【“The Heart-Eroding Cult... has been dormant for forty years.”】

【“Relying on the remnants scattered across various places and a century-old Legacy.”】

【Over these decades, they have indeed amassed a considerable foundation.”】

【You analyzed the subtle attitudes and verbal sparring of the people in the conference room.】

【“But looking at the situation, they will likely operate independently, each ruling their own territory, for a long time.”】

【“It’s only recently that a new Mountain-Sea Realm Cult Master appeared, relying on the absolute suppression of his Realm.”】

【“Only then were these high-ranking cult members, scattered in the Chaos Zone or the dark corners of the Federation, forcibly brought together.”】

【“The advantage is strength in numbers; the resources and combat power that can be mobilized have multiplied.”】

【“However, the disadvantages are also obvious...”】

【“A group of hungry wolves accustomed to giving orders suddenly has an undisputed ‘leader’ above them.”】

【“To be ordered around and also bear the risk of exposure, they must feel terrible inside.”】

【“Each harboring ulterior motives, outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds.”】

【“This is their biggest flaw.”】

【You sneered inwardly.】

【However, none of this mattered anymore; they had no future.】

【“Their lair has been marked by the Investigation Bureau; the Heart-Eroding Cult’s demise is imminent.”】

【“They are merely grasshoppers in late autumn.”】

【Your thoughts turned to the most crucial point—December 13th.】

【“Judging by their demeanor, they truly went all out this time to ensure the success of the Blood Shadow Life Replacement plan.”】

【“It’s not just for Liu Xiyue; now, with me added, they must have prepared two dimensional secret treasures to bait us!”】

【These were not common goods, but secret treasures that could drive countless Martial Artists mad.】

【Bringing out two at once indicated that the dimensional ripple about to erupt in Changlin Park was far larger than imagined.】

【“I just wonder if these dimensional secret treasures are genuinely authentic?”】

【You recalled the scene from the last simulation, where Liu Xiyue’s strength surged and she was cloaked in Crimson Gauze after swallowing the ice lotus.】

【“Most likely true. After all, to host a parasite of the Two-Life Blood Soul Demon's caliber, the vessel must be strong enough.”】

【“The dimensional secret treasure is both bait and a catalyst to strengthen the vessel.”】

【“But...”】

【“There is indeed a fatal poison inside.”】

【“Is it necessary to greedily take this poisoned bait for the sake of a treasure?”】

【You quickly decided in your heart: it was not necessary.】

【This was not a worthwhile trade.】

【In this simulation, you still had many more important things to do.】

【“Even if I cannot remove the influence of the Two-Life Blood Soul Demon from the dimensional secret treasure.”】

【“I can still try to undergo a second Awakening in Sunset Canyon.”】

【“Although it’s dangerous there, at least there are no cult schemes.”】

【“Moreover, I still haven’t acquired the Yuan Wu Dharma Gate.】

【“That is the key to the Origin Opening Realm, the foundation of qualitative change.”】

【“Gambling my life for a dimensional secret treasure of unknown authenticity is not worth it.”】

【“Especially when there is still much room for improvement in this simulation.”】

【“The importance of a second Awakening is far less than acquiring a suitable Yuan Wu Dharma Gate after ability testing.”】

【“And then, advancing to the Origin Opening Realm is important.”】

【“Realm is everything.”】

【“Also... I must live longer this time.”】

【“Only by surviving can I see more information.”】

【Just as you were pondering these things, the car slowly decelerated.】

【“We’re here.”】

【The ceremony, going and returning, didn’t actually take much time.】

【After all, it was just a formality, to let you make an appearance before the cult members.】

【The car stopped at the familiar dilapidated alley entrance.】

【Still in the same spot.】

【Principal Liao Xianyu’s black official car was still parked there.】

【At this moment, the car window was open.】

【Under the dim streetlights, you could see five or six cigarette butts scattered on the ground beneath the window.】

【Principal Liao Xianyu was leaning against the seatback, a nearly burnt-out cigarette between his fingers, his eyes flickering in the darkness.】

【Seeing the Blood Ghost’s car approach, Principal Liao Xianyu’s body suddenly tensed.】

【He immediately extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand, pushed open the door, and quickly got out to greet them.】

【The Masked Man lowered the car window.】

【“The person has been brought back, unharmed.”】

【Principal Liao Xianyu ignored the Masked Man and eagerly looked at you in the back seat.】

【When he saw you still sitting there “intact,” though expressionless.】

【But at least with all your limbs, and no obvious bloodstains on your body, Principal Liao Xianyu’s tense shoulders visibly relaxed.】

【That feeling of relief did not seem fake.】

【“Good... at least he’s still alive.”】

【Although this was an extremely hypocritical self-consolation, in his heart.】

【As long as the student didn't die in his hands, his guilt seemed to lessen a bit.】

【“Remember your promise.” Principal Liao Xianyu said coldly to the Masked Man, without any pleasantries.】

【“Of course.” The Masked Man chuckled lightly and raised the car window.】

【The gray sedan silently retreated into the darkness.】

【Principal Liao Xianyu opened the car door, helped you into the passenger seat, and carefully buckled your seatbelt.】

【“Come on, let’s go back.”】

【The vehicle started again.】

【This time, Principal Liao Xianyu deliberately opened all the car windows.】

【“Whoosh—whoosh—”】

【The cold wind of the late autumn night poured into the car, whistling.】

【He drove very fast.】

【As if he wanted to use the rushing draft to thoroughly wash away all the nauseating smells that might have clung to the car.】

【Throughout the journey, he remained silent, his face shifting between light and shadow under the alternating streetlights.】

【Twenty minutes later.】

【The car entered the administrative district where the school was located.】

【When the lights of the distant administration building came into view, Principal Liao Xianyu turned his head.】

【Looking at you, still in a “hypnotized state,” he softly uttered a secret phrase to release control.】

【“Buzz—”】

【The virtual persona instantly receded, and your main consciousness regained control of your body.】

【You controlled your eyelids to flutter a few times, then slowly opened your eyes.】

【What greeted your sight was the familiar campus scenery.】

【You looked somewhat blankly at the windshield ahead.】

【And through the rearview mirror inside the car, you saw Principal Liao Xianyu’s slightly nervous face.】

【“Hmm?...”】

【You let out an unconscious murmur, your body trembling slightly, as if just waking from a deep sleep.】

【Principal Liao Xianyu had been observing your reaction through the rearview mirror.】

【Seeing you wake up, he immediately put on a concerned expression and said gently:】

【“Oh, Li Ang, you’re awake?”】

【“Want to sleep a bit more? I think you’re really tired; you fell asleep in the car without saying a word.”】

【You rubbed your face hard, stretched with a grimace, looking like you had just come to your senses.】

【“Ah? We’re here?”】

【You looked out the window and scratched your head, a little embarrassed.】

【“I’m really sorry, Principal, I fell asleep on such a short drive... Maybe I’ve been practicing my cultivation a bit too intensely lately.”】

【Principal Liao Xianyu, as if afraid you might notice something amiss, quickly followed your lead and helped you smooth things over.】

【“Normal, normal! Young people are just like that.”】

【He smiled and waved his hand, “When they’re working, they’re full of energy, eager to punch a hole in the sky.”】

【“But once they relax, they just crash. I was like that when I was young too; it’s your body protecting itself.”】

【“Speaking of which, it’s my fault for dragging you out to do business in the middle of the night, putting you through all this.”】

【“It’s nothing, nothing!” you quickly said.】

【“How can you blame yourself? You were also helping me apply for a subsidy; you were doing it for my good.”】

【Seeing your look of unreserved trust.】

【A flicker of pain passed through Principal Liao Xianyu’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it.】

【“Haha, alright, no more idle talk.”】

【He parked the car and unbuckled his seatbelt.】

【“Let’s quickly go up, sign and stamp the documents, submit the Materials, and you can go back and rest early.”】

【“Okay, Principal.”】

【The subsequent procedures were unremarkable.】

【You followed Principal Liao Xianyu to his office and signed several pre-prepared.】

【Most likely perfunctory application documents.】

【Ten minutes later.】

【You walked out of the administration building, holding an application receipt stamped with a red seal.】

【Principal Liao Xianyu escorted you all the way downstairs to the apartment building, watching your figure disappear on the small path leading to the teachers' apartments.】

【Only then did he let out a deep sigh and turn back into the darkness.】