High-level martial arts: Long spear with black flames to suppress demons.

After leaving the social sciences building, the four of them followed the tree-lined path to the accommodation area for the specially admitted students.

This is a cluster of high-rise apartment buildings.

In Shanghai, a city where land is incredibly valuable, the fact that such a large area can be specifically designated for building single apartments for specially admitted students demonstrates just how formidable the financial resources behind Shanghai University and the Town Night Division are.

The rules here are simple: it's not based on student ID numbers, it's first come, first served.

Shen Chang'an found waiting for the elevator on the high floor inconvenient, so he directly chose room 308 on the third floor. Ji Lin, on the other hand, decisively took room 309 next door.

Li Xiwan and Bai Yin chose the fifth floor of the girls' dormitory.

Pushing open the door to room 308, the environment was surprisingly nice. It was a single room of over 30 square meters, with a separate bathroom with wet and dry areas, and a small balcony outside where you could dry clothes. It also had all the basic appliances you needed.

Shen Chang'an casually tossed the small suitcase next to the wardrobe and tidied up a bit.

He then glanced at his phone; it was almost 5 p.m.

Stepping out of his room, Shen Chang'an went to room 309 next door, knocked on the slightly ajar door, and then pushed it open to go inside.

He froze as soon as he stepped inside. He stepped back to check the door number, and after confirming he hadn't gone to the wrong place, he walked in with a look of utter exasperation.

The original modern minimalist single apartment has now been transformed into a quaint and antique residence.

Antique shelves, purple clay tea trays, a complete set of Ru ware teaware, and even a black and white chessboard engraved with cloud patterns on the balcony...

Ji Lin was wiping a celadon vase with a rag when she saw Shen Chang'an come in. She immediately boasted proudly, "How is it? Isn't my arrangement pretty good? This is what you call quality of life!"

"Are you here to study, or to act as a young, ancient-style scholar in a fantasy drama?"

"Alas, that is incorrect."

Ji Lin tossed the rag aside. "Life is all about rituals."

"Alright, alright, are you done cleaning up? Let's go out for dinner."

Shen Chang'an was too lazy to argue with him.

"Also, if you change out of that opera costume, people will think I've brought a monkey with me when I go out dressed like this."

Ji Lin glanced down at his meticulously tailored moon-white robe, pursed his lips, but still obediently rummaged through the box and pulled out a set of ordinary black casual clothes to change into.

The two went downstairs, and Shen Chang'an took out his phone and tagged Li Xiwan and Bai Yin in the group chat. He also sent a message to Zhang Qingqing, arranging to meet at the school gate.

"Five people...we'll have to take two taxis to get out later, that's a hassle."

Shen Chang'an muttered something to himself.

"What kind of taxi are you taking?"

Ji Lin leaned closer.

"I'll have my driver come pick us up."

Shen Chang'an looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"What's so strange about that?" Ji Lin shrugged matter-of-factly.

"Our Ji family does have some businesses in Shanghai, after all."

Fifteen minutes later.

Outside the school gate, a long, black minivan was parked on the side of the road.

Shen Chang'an looked at the car, then at Ji Lin beside him, and silently labeled him a "rich swindler" in his mind.

Zhang Qingqing, Li Xiwan, and Bai Yin arrived at the school gate on time.

Ji Lin had met the other two, but he had never met Zhang Qingqing.

He introduced Zhang Qingqing to Ji Lin: "Zhang Qingqing is like an older sister to me."

"Is she considered my older sister?"

She's two months older than me.

Ji Lin nodded.

"Hello, Miss Zhang. Since you've been in Chang'an for two months, you should indeed call me 'sister'."

Zhang Qingqing nodded politely, as if to say hello.

Once everyone had arrived, they boarded the excessively spacious minivan.

What should we eat tonight?

Shen Chang'an asked casually, as he knew absolutely nothing about the food in Shanghai.

The girls were also newcomers and looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Leave it to me."

Ji Lin patted his chest and gave instructions to the driver in the front seat.

"Go to Yu Linglong."

Yu Linglong is no ordinary hole-in-the-wall restaurant; the owner himself is a well-known cultivator in the inner world.

This place specializes in high-end private dining, with extremely high standards, only accepting VIPs with connections within the industry. Although the Ji family doesn't operate in Shanghai, they still have that much influence, so getting an admission ticket is no problem for them.

Half an hour later, the van drove into a quiet alley and stopped in front of a small Western-style building from the Republican era, covered with vines.

The private room was elegantly decorated.

Ji Lin fully demonstrated the manners of a wealthy patron. He didn't ask the waiter for recommendations, but instead recited a long list of dishes with practiced ease. Then he waved his hand, signaling the waiter to leave and not to wait on him.

"The ingredients here are all cultivated using a special method that contains traces of spiritual energy, and the taste is absolutely superb."

Ji Lin poured himself a cup of tea and began to lighten the mood with a smile.

Soon, several exquisite home-style dishes were served.

The trace amounts of spiritual energy contained in the ingredients made the food taste delicious. Even Shen Chang'an, who wasn't particular about food, was so satisfied that he ate several more bites.

Halfway through the meal, Shen Chang'an reached into his pocket, pulled out the letter with sealing wax, and casually tossed it onto the table in front of Ji Lin.

"You're so knowledgeable, can you help me identify Zhao Haitang? Who is he?"

Ji Lin glanced at the signature on the envelope, his hand hovering in mid-air as he picked up a piece of fish. His eyes flickered, and he immediately put down his chopsticks: "Zhao Haitang? You don't even know her?"

"nonsense."

"I'm not part of your circle."

Ji Lin casually picked up a napkin from the side and wiped his mouth, then said seriously, "She is a core figure of the Zhao family, one of the top families in Shanghai. At the same time, she is also a member of the board of directors of Shanghai University. In this area, she has absolutely connections everywhere."

"Then why did she contact me?" Shen Chang'an frowned slightly.

"Did you receive any special admission rewards before you came to Shanghai?"

"Yes, I received it."

"That's probably because of the special recruitment reward."

Ji Lin understood after a moment's thought and explained with a smile, "When you filled out your college application, did you think all those awards were paid for by the Shanghai branch? Actually, the majority of the money came from these top families in Shanghai."

Seeing Shen Chang'an's slightly wary look, Ji Lin waved his hand to reassure him: "Don't worry, it's not about selling your body, and you don't need to pay any extra price. This is standard practice in our circle. Back in Cangjiang Province, our Ji family often spent a lot of money to extend olive branches to those high-achieving individuals willing to settle here."

Ji Lin took a sip of spiritual tea and continued his explanation: "This deal was actually completed the moment you signed your name and chose Shanghai University. The Town Night Division acted as guarantor, so no one dared to double-cross you. This Ms. Zhao's invitation to you is probably just a formality. She spent so much money, she should at least meet you in person, get acquainted, and build a good relationship, right? It's just for a cup of tea, don't feel guilty."

Shen Chang'an nodded and took the letter back with a clear conscience.

The money's all in my pocket, it's just a cup of tea, no big deal.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Ji Lin then changed the subject.

"There should be an internal meeting for cultivators in the next couple of days, but we should only need to attend the one within the Night Town Division."

Li Xiwan, who was obediently sipping her soup from her small bowl, looked up, her face full of confusion: "Huh? Another meeting? Haven't we already checked in?"

"This happens every year at the start of the school year; it's something that all the high schools in Shanghai have to do."

"Do you know how many new cultivators flooded into Shanghai this September? More than 23,000!"

Ji Lin held up two fingers to indicate.

Upon hearing this number, even Baiyin, who had been focused on dealing with the hairy crabs, widened her cat-like eyes.

"Shanghai is not only home to Shanghai University, but also has dozens of other universities."

"Take our Zhenye Division for example. This year, we have more than 3,000 young talents transferred or specially recruited from all over the country. The remaining 20,000 are all disciples from various sects and reclusive cultivators. With so many energetic young people who possess extraordinary power gathered in this city, if the authorities don't hold a meeting in advance to give them a warning and establish rules, the security in Shanghai will be in complete chaos."