「A few days later.」
It was another night of the full moon.
The Demon Disciples stood in the courtyard, a chill running down their spines.
Before them stood an ancient Giant Bronze Cauldron, filled with bubbling, scarlet blood—all of it from the Demon Disciple, Jiang Feng!
"Senior Brother Chen He, save... save me..."
Jiang Feng's face was a mask of terror. His body was so shriveled he barely looked human, and gruesome gashes had been cut over the meridians on his wrists and ankles.
Dark red blood trickled out like a babbling brook, flowing steadily into the Giant Bronze Cauldron.
He wanted to resist, but Li Cang's ancient, deeply-lined face was expressionless. He just stood there quietly, an Ancient Bronze Long Sword glinting coldly in his hand. The pressure from his Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer cultivation was so immense that Jiang Feng couldn't even move a finger.
Chen He, the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer Demon Disciple whom Jiang Feng saw as his savior, stood with a dazed expression, not saying a word, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Zhou Kai's lips trembled. "Instructor Li, haven't our loans... haven't they reached their due date yet? Why is Brother Jiang Feng..."
Li Cang replied, "Your loans with me are not yet due. However, the interest on your loans from Incense Master Zheng and Junior Sister Wu is."
"One is an Inner Sect Incense Master, and the other is an Elder's Direct Inheritance disciple. Their interest must be paid monthly."
"Jiang Feng owed the most. He couldn't even repay ten percent of the interest, let alone the principal. According to the rules, his case is being handled as overdue, and Reincarnation has been arranged."
The Demon Disciples were horrified.
The loan agreements never said the interest had to be paid monthly!
Zhou Kai tremblingly took out his contract. In a spot no bigger than a grain of rice, he found the clause. His heart instantly turned to ash.
'Damned Holy Sect! They're nothing but animals!'
After being completely drained of his blood, Jiang Feng didn't die immediately, as his Cultivation was still intact.
Just then, a fragrant breeze washed over them, and a graceful Female Cultivator in a pink dress appeared.
"A representative of the Inner Sect's Yihong Pavilion, here on orders to collect loan interest... Floating Capital Loan of 1,600, interest of 80. This exceeds the limit."
The pink-clad Female Cultivator looked Jiang Feng up and down, her voice sweet and delicate. "Your Spiritual Blood has already been drained. What a pity. In that case, on behalf of Senior Sister Wu, I'll take this skin of yours to make a Soul Banner."
Jiang Feng was aghast.
The Female Cultivator didn't care whether Jiang Feng was willing or not. With a flash of light, a small dagger appeared in her slender, jade-like hand. In moments, she had slowly peeled off a complete, blood-drenched sheet of human skin!
The graceful Female Cultivator's fine figure was faintly visible beneath her pink dress, her proud peaks enough to make one's blood boil.
Yet not a single Demon Disciple present dared to harbor any improper thoughts. They were all pale-faced, trembling uncontrollably.
This Female Cultivator's methods were simply too cruel!
Jiang Feng was on the verge of death, in so much pain he wished for it, but strangely, he was still conscious!
After the pink-clad Female Cultivator, a large-headed doll came out, hopping and skipping.
"Artifact Refining Hall miscellaneous worker, here on orders to collect a Demon Disciple's Spirit Bones. Unauthorized personnel, keep back."
"Debt of 400, interest of 12. This exceeds the limit."
The large-headed doll wore a red dudou and made funny faces, giggling as it dismantled Jiang Feng's skeleton...
In the end, all that was left of Jiang Feng were his shriveled internal organs and a Divine Soul Little Man in his Spirit Platform Sea of Consciousness.
"Bullshit Holy Sect! You animals from the Demon Sect! I'll never let you go, even in hell!"
Jiang Feng's Divine Soul let out one last, hysterical cry.
A magnificent beam of light descended from the sky, striking him with a brand of debt and guiding Jiang Feng into Reincarnation.
Li Cang said, "Alright, the interest on Jiang Feng's loans has been collected. Now, it's your turn."
Hearing this, the Demon Disciples' faces went pale with fright.
One of them even lost control of his bladder. A warm liquid streamed uncontrollably down his pant leg, instantly soaking his shoes and socks as a strong, foul stench filled the air.
"Instructor Li, no! I don't want to die!"
With a THUD, the Demon Disciple fell to his knees. He kowtowed like a pestle grinding garlic, his snot, tears, and the foul liquid mingling into a mess.
"Relax. Your interest is low, mostly just three to five Contribution Points. Even if you don't have it, it's fine. For every one Contribution Point you owe, you can give one liter of Spiritual Blood. That will count as paying your interest and passing the check."
The Demon Disciple was like a drowning man clutching at a straw. He actually started laughing with joy and voluntarily stepped forward to slit his wrist.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Instructor! I'll give my blood now!"
Many of the Demon Disciples felt the same way, as if they had survived a catastrophe.
'So we can live after all.'
'As long as we can live, anything is fine! If we reincarnate, we won't be ourselves anymore!'
Even so, a Demon Disciple had at most four liters of Spiritual Blood in their body. If not for their Cultivation, they would have been dead the moment they were drained dry!
"Instructor Li... I... my Spiritual Blood has been drained, but it's still not enough to cover the loan... Can't you be a little flexible?"
A Demon Disciple was shaking like a leaf, his body withered and his face a mask of despair.
Qin Xuan took a closer look and saw that it was Cao Da.
Zheng Qi's Cultivation Technique Loan had a monthly interest rate of 3%. Li Cang's medicinal elixir loan was 4%. Wu Mengmeng's Floating Capital Loan was 5%.
Cao Da had maxed them all out. He had to pay 16.6 Contribution Points a month in interest alone. Four liters of Spiritual Blood wasn't nearly enough.
Li Cang said, "No need to rush. I have an overdue loan available, specifically for situations like yours. The interest is just a little higher."
A monthly interest rate of ten percent!
Cao Da swayed and staggered backward. In despair, he signed for the overdue loan, prolonging his pitiful existence.
Seeing this, Zhao Youliang was suddenly filled with sorrow. His chest heaved violently, yet he couldn't draw a breath, as if an invisible hand were squeezing his throat shut.
'The Holy Sect's methods for manipulating our mental states are too brilliant. They're completely flawless!'
When it was Zhao Youliang's turn, he was fortunate enough to have the 10 Contribution Points given to him by Elder Sun, which saved him from disaster.
He looked at Qin Xuan, his eyes full of gratitude.
But when he remembered that a moment of greed—exceeding Senior Sister Wu's limit just once—had landed him with a 100-Contribution-Point loan and forced him to spend all 10 of his points, he was filled with regret.
He swore that from now on, he would stick close to Brother Qin Xuan and cling tightly to his thigh!
'This Holy Sect is really something else. It can even interfere with Reincarnation?'
Watching Jiang Feng's Divine Soul Little Man disappear over the horizon, Qin Xuan clicked his tongue in amazement.
Qin Xuan didn't care at all about the 3 Contribution Points that had been deducted.
As long as he didn't take out any more loans, he could hold on for at least another two months.
However, Qin Xuan's relief didn't last long.
On this day, Qin Xuan had just located the seventh Mystic Gate within his body. The seven points of starlight resembled the seven stars of the Beidou, connected from head to tail, shining brilliantly.
Before Qin Xuan had a chance to celebrate, he suddenly heard an announcement from Li Cang.
"You all have lived in the Demon Disciple Dormitory for free for two months. According to Sect regulations, starting today, a rental fee of 1 Contribution Point will be collected every seven days."
"Those unable to pay in full will be treated as having an overdue Holy Loan!"
CRACK!
The words struck the Demon Disciples like a bolt from the blue.
Some even broke down completely and chose to escape through suicide.
Unable to take it anymore, one Demon Disciple, with lightning speed, slapped a palm against his own skull.
"Day after day, my cultivation doesn't increase, but my debts just keep growing! This isn't Cultivation, it's Demon Cultivation!" the Demon Disciple cried out, bursting into tears.
In an instant, a spray of red and white splattered everywhere.
The thick, metallic scent of rust lingered in the air.
Li Cang said, "Foolish. Committing suicide in the Holy Sect is the worst possible offense."
Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a clap of thunder suddenly boomed across the sky.
A ferocious black aura descended from the heavens.
It was a Foundation Establishment Great Demon!
"This humble one, Li Cang, greets you, my lord."
Li Cang immediately dropped to his knees.
"I am an Inspection Envoy from the Punishment Hall, codename Geng Qi. I am here on orders to apprehend a malicious loan defaulter. Unauthorized personnel, stay back!"
Geng Qi gave a cold sweep of his gaze and produced a scarlet Magic Talisman. Instantly, ripples spread through the air as if an Array had been activated, and a faint image of the Demon Disciple's suicide reappeared.
Seeing this, Li Cang hastily retrieved several glowing Spirit Stones from his storage bag, holding them up with both hands. His rear was raised high in the air, which, combined with his aged, wrinkled face, made for a somewhat comical sight.
The Inspection Envoy accepted the Spirit Stones, his expression unchanged.
"Investigation concludes: Demon Disciple Wang Hai has maliciously defaulted on his loan. His status is converted to that of a Soul Cultivator. His Holy Loan is doubled, the interest rate is doubled, and a demerit will be recorded in the Holy Sect's Contribution Hall archives."
"Instructor Li Cang, for failure in supervision, you are sentenced to three days of confinement as a warning to others."
Geng Qi waved his hand, and Wang Hai's previously dissipated Divine Soul Little Man solidified once more. The palm-sized Divine Soul Little Man's face showed a human-like expression of terror.
"Thank you, my lord! Li Cang accepts the punishment!"
...