Jiang Chen and the Old Librarian (who introduced himself as Elder Mo) escaped the library through a hidden service tunnel that led into the sewers of District 2.
"Smells like home," Jiang Chen muttered, wading through the murky water while pushing Mo's wheelchair.
"Better than smelling like a corpse," Mo wheezed, clutching the data drive. "We're safe for now. The sewers have interference arrays that block spirit tracking."
They emerged an hour later in a derelict warehouse near the border of District 9. This was Mo's safehouse—a dusty room filled with old servers, canned food, and piles of books.
"You can't stay here," Mo said, wheeling himself to a workbench. "The assassins failed. The Council will send stronger dogs. You need to disappear into Star-Sea University."
"I know," Jiang Chen set down his weapon case. "But I need resources. Star-Sea is a meritocracy. Without money or points, I'll be bottom tier."
"Greedy brat," Mo cackled. He opened a hidden drawer under the workbench.
He pulled out a simple, silver ring. It was tarnished, looking like cheap jewelry.
"Catch."
He tossed it to Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen caught it. As soon as his skin touched the metal, he felt a faint spatial fluctuation.
"A Storage Ring?" Jiang Chen's eyes widened.
"Low-Tier," Mo scoffed. "About 5 cubic meters of space. I took it off a dead Netherworld Sect courier ten years ago. It's encrypted, but since the owner is dead, you can brute force it with your Qi."
Jiang Chen didn't hesitate. He channeled his Golden Marrow Qi into the ring.
Pop.
The mental barrier shattered. Jiang Chen's consciousness swept inside the ring's space.
It wasn't empty.
Inside, stacked neatly in a corner, were glowing blue crystals.
Spirit Stones.
"There are... fifty of them," Jiang Chen gasped.
In the Federation market, one Low-Grade Spirit Stone was worth 10,000 Credits. Fifty stones was half a million credits. A fortune.
"Consider it payment for saving my life," Mo grunted, turning on a computer. "Also, there's a manual in there. The Art of Concealment. Learn it. It will help you hide your cultivation level from scanners."
Jiang Chen looked deeper into the ring. Beside the stones sat a dusty scroll and a few vials of pills.
He withdrew one Spirit Stone. The energy inside was pure, dense.
[System Alert: High-Grade Energy Source Detected.]
[Absorb to recharge Grave Entry Time?]
"Not yet," Jiang Chen put the stone back. "I need these for Star-Sea."
He slipped the ring onto his finger. It resized perfectly.
"Thanks, Elder."
"Don't thank me. Just kill them." Mo looked at the screen. "I'm uploading the library footage to a dead-man switch. If I die, the whole city sees the Council's hit squad."
"You're staying here?"
"I'm old. I'll just slow you down. Go."
Jiang Chen nodded. He picked up his weapon case.
"System. Inventory."
He touched the case. Instead of carrying it, he willed it into the ring.
Flash.
The heavy case vanished.
Jiang Chen felt his shoulders lighten instantly. No more lugging 300kg around.
"Much better."
He turned to leave.
"Jiang Chen," Mo called out one last time.
Jiang Chen looked back.
"The University Entrance Exam this year... the location is the Dark Forest."
"I know."
"Be careful. The Dark Forest is where the 104th died. Their ghosts... might still be there."
Jiang Chen's expression hardened.
"If they are," he said, "I'll bring them home."
He stepped out into the night.
He had a Storage Ring. He had a fortune in Spirit Stones. And he had a target.
"Next stop: Star-Sea University."
One Week Later.
The day of the University Entrance Exam.
Thousands of students gathered at the Central Station. The atmosphere was tense. This exam determined their entire future. Pass, and you become a Cultivator Elite. Fail, and you're fodder.
Jiang Chen stood in the crowd, wearing a simple track suit. He looked unremarkable, except for the faint, dangerous aura he tried to suppress.
"Hey! Jiang Chen!"
A familiar voice. Jiang Chen turned to see Lin Qingxue approaching. She was surrounded by a group of elite students, but she broke away to talk to him.
She noticed his lack of a weapon case.
"You got a Storage Ring?" she raised an eyebrow. "Did you rob a bank?"
"Found it in the trash," Jiang Chen deadpanned.
"Right. The magical trash of District 9." She rolled her eyes. "Are you ready? The teams are finalized. You, me, Fatty Wei, and..."
She pointed to a girl standing nearby, happily eating a lollipop while sharpening a dagger.
"Gu Linger. The Little Witch."
Gu Linger waved. "Hi, Big Guy! Did you bring snacks?"
"No."
"Useless," she pouted.
"Attention Students!"
The voice of the Chief Examiner boomed over the speakers.
"Board the train! Destination: Dark Forest Outpost. The Exam duration is 3 days. Your objective: Survival."
Jiang Chen boarded the armored train with his team. He sat by the window, watching the city skyline fade away.
As the train entered the wasteland, his System buzzed.
[Entering Zone of High Resentment.]
[Quest Generated: The Lost Battalion.]
[Objective: Find the remains of the 104th Division and retrieve the 'Black Box'.]
[Reward: Access to Continent #9999 (Beast King Realm).]
Jiang Chen touched the ring on his finger. Inside, the 50 Spirit Stones hummed.
"Black Box," Jiang Chen whispered. "The evidence that brings down the Council."
The train accelerated into the grey fog. The hunt was on.