Longyun's mind was now completely clear.
His eyes locked onto the beast, scanning its grotesque body, searching for a weakness.
Its skin was almost transparent, a stretched, glistening film.
And then—he saw it.
Near its stomach, a dark, round organ, pulsing slowly, inflating and shrinking like a grotesque heart.
Longyun's instincts surged.
That's it.
That must be the core. It is its weakness. If we destroy it, we can kill it.
But knowing was one thing.
Doing was another.
Despite its transparent skin, the beast's flesh was absurdly durable, comparable to an innate-grade treasure. Longyun had already felt that firsthand.
He reached into his space ring and pulled out a handful of healing pills. Swallowing one himself, he handed two more to Code B.
Both cultivators were injured—but now, their eyes burned with renewed focus.
Round two was about to begin.
Tianhai
Back in Tianhai, the night had only just begun.
Gu Jun and the others stepped out of the restaurant, laughing and talking, not yet ready to head back to their dorms.
They decided to visit a nearby nightclub to relax.
Truthfully, Gu Jun wasn't too interested—he had already drunk a little wine, and nightclubs weren't his scene.
But resisting Rong Xi's relentless persuasion proved impossible.
There were eight of them, and they split between two sleek black cars, just enough to carry the group.
The nightclub was one of Tianhai's most popular.
The moment they entered, it was like stepping into another world—flashing lights, pounding music, and the scent of perfume and alcohol.
Men were drinking.
Women were dancing.
Laughter echoed from every direction.
Gu Jun noticed several middle-aged men watching the crowd with greedy, rat-like eyes, scanning for opportunities.
Their group was escorted to a glass-covered private room, soundproof and elevated, giving them a full view of the club below.
Drinks were ordered—some alcoholic, some mocktails. Gu Jun just chose a simple orange juice.
Then—
"Let's go dance," Rong Xi said, nudging Gu Jun.
Gu Jun gave a half-smile.
"Coming here is already a compromise. Don't expect more."
"Boring," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Then she turned to Zhao Ming.
"You come with me to dance."
Zhao Ming looked stunned, unsure whether it was a joke.
Rong Xi added dryly, "Don't look at me like that. Your job tonight is to be my flower protector."
So Rong Xi, Zhao Ming, and two girls headed toward the dance floor.
Bai Xue, meanwhile, stayed behind, her role now reduced to silently glaring at Gu Jun, as if his calmness offended her.
Gu Jun simply sipped his drink and watched them dance, detached and thoughtful.
Eventually, the high-energy music faded.
The lights dimmed. A brief hush fell over the club.
Then a girl stepped onto the stage with a microphone.
Gu Jun looked up. Her beauty somewhat made him pause.
"Isn't she beautiful?" said Xiao Wei, seated beside him.
Gu Jun nodded slowly.
"She's from the Art Department, called Luo Yuxin," Xiao Wei continued. "Not one of the top ten beauties officially, but that's just politics. No backing. No connections. Still, she's insanely popular. Half the guys in the university are chasing her."
He paused, smirking.
"She's… accessible. Her dad's just a minor official in Jin Province. That's all."
Gu Jun said nothing.
Gu Jun was no longer watching Luo Yuxin on stage.
Now, his gaze shifted to Zhao Ming, who sat quietly at the side of the dance floor. The three girls had gone to the restroom, leaving Zhao Ming alone, but his eyes never left the stage.
There was no mistaking it.
He knew her.
His expression was intense, focused—not the look of a man enjoying a performance, but someone watching someone he once held close.
Several times, it seemed like he wanted to approach her. But each time, he hesitated.
She was singing, and he didn't want to interrupt.
Eventually, the song ended.
Zhao Ming stood up, finally gathering the courage to approach her.
But someone else was faster.
A young man stepped out from a VIP booth near the stage, strode forward, and grabbed Luo Yuxin's wrist forcefully, trying to drag her back toward the private cabin.
She resisted, clearly unwilling, twisting her arm to break free.
Zhao Ming immediately stepped in.
"Let her go!" he shouted, his eyes burning.
But before he could do anything more, a slap came from the side.
One of the young man's companions struck him hard.
Zhao Ming's body lifted off the ground and crashed onto a table, dishes and glasses shattering beneath him.
The atmosphere changed.
Zhou Hao's and Xiao Wei's expressions shifted instantly—especially Xiao Wei's, whose face now twisted in cold, genuine anger.
Gu Jun sipped his drink calmly, eyes flicking between the scene and his companions.
These two pampered "young masters" might act frivolously, but they clearly weren't used to seeing their own people humiliated.
Zhao Ming may be new, but he's their roommate, Gu Jun thought.
And now, he's in their circle—whether he realizes it or not.
The tension was about to explode.
Xiao Wei stood up and strode out of the booth. His voice was sharp:
"Xiao Hao, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
The young man—Xiao Hao—didn't even turn. Still gripping the girl's wrist, he sneered:
"None of your business."
"It is my business. That guy you just hit? He's my friend."
Xiao Hao laughed dismissively.
"So what?"
Zhao Ming struggled to his feet, blood at the corner of his mouth.
"Let her go," he said again, louder this time.
Now, another voice responded, one of Xiao Hao's companions who had just slapped Zhao Ming:
"Why? She agreed to accompany Brother Xiao Hao tonight. Who the hell are you to interfere?"
Luo Yuxin finally spoke, voice trembling with anger:
"Liar! When did I agree to that? Let me go, or I am calling the police."
Wang Hai's smirk widened.
"You said you'd sing tonight in exchange for a great opportunity."
"You said you'd introduce me to someone from an entertainment company!"
"Yeah," he replied coldly, "your opportunity is to accompany Brother Xiao Hao. Get it now?"
"You bastard!"
"Tch... not many people dare to curse me. Wang Hai. and police? No police dare to come here easily. And even if they come later, at that time you will be…" Wang Hai gave a creepy smile.
Gu Jun watched the man with faint amusement.
Mid-stage Bright Strength realm, he assessed casually.
From his aura, and that name... he's probably from the Wang Family.
And then he remembered something else.
This nightclub... It's under the Green Gang.
Gu Jun's eyes narrowed slightly.
The left side of Tianhai Royal University, including this area, belongs to them.
The right side is under the control of the Imperial Bull Gang.
It was somewhat interesting.