The next morning.
Holy Blood Academy, second-year classroom.
The other vampire students in the classroom hadn’t arrived yet.
Only a handful of the more diligent ones were training their bloodlines in the public cultivation room.
For vampires, there was never any shortcut to improving strength—only through day after day of tempering and accumulation could one succeed!
Pale golden morning light spilled through the window onto the girl’s face, lending her an ethereal air.
Lorevil, however, paid it no mind.
She sat in her seat, deep in thought.
“Counting the points from entering the Blood Hunting Ground twice, I’ve got seventy-five points in total.”
At the outer ring of Holy Blood Academy’s Blood Hunting Ground, points rankings were settled every week, with rewards distributed by tier.
The top prize was extravagant enough to drive any student wild with desire.
First, there were thirty thousand blood crystal coins—no less than a family’s monthly stipend.
Second, there was three days’ unlimited access to the inner ring of the Blood Hunting Ground.
Even just the outer ring had netted Lorevil quite a bit, so the inner ring was even more enticing.
But that glaring threshold made students balk.
The base requirement was two hundred and eighty points—in other words, you had to reach at least two hundred and eighty.
However, to get into the top fifty and claim the basic reward, you needed at least one hundred and fifty points.
Lorevil propped her elbow on the desk with her fair, delicate arm, then reached up and pressed her furrowed brow with slender fingers.
“Still a long way to go. I’m a full half short of the points I need now. And the tougher part is that I can’t afford to fall behind in class. The difficulty of making up the difference within a week is easy to imagine.”
Achieving that goal was tough.
But she had no way out.
Teacher Jerwen’s conditions for applying for Lorevil’s Special Scholarship and Independent Training Room were that she advance to Mid Third Rank within a month and meet the Blood Hunting Ground rankings—a sword of Damocles hanging over her head.
“So no matter what, I have to grind enough points before the weekend!”
Lorevil bit her lower lip, feeling that this goal was utterly unrealistic.
“But even during my bloodline’s active phase, the chance of advancing to Mid Third Rank in a month is too slim.”
She had absorbed so much Violent Blood Energy without any sign of advancement.
The bloodline inside her was as still as stagnant water, let alone breaking through ranks in a month.
Wasn’t that a joke?
Unless a miracle happened.
That Third-rank Blood Beast core could be exchanged for quite a few points, but she couldn’t bear to part with it.
Ever since her family shifted their focus from her to her younger sister Loriditia, Lorevil’s treatment had declined sharply.
Just mentioning Loriditia made Lorevil frown with a faint headache.
From what Madam Sharon had told her, her sister was now training in a secret realm, making rapid progress, and the family had high hopes for her.
As for herself, not only were resources scarce, but now her monthly stipend had to support Jingji’s daily expenses, barely keeping it running.
The pinch was all too obvious.
Looks like once Jingji stabilizes, I’ll have to cut costs and lay people off.
“I’ll keep only the most elite members and let the rest go with generous severance. I don’t have the kind of lavish backing Madam Sharon does.”
Lorevil thought silently, letting out a resigned sigh.
This morning’s practical combat class, Catherine hadn’t shown up.
The substitute was a stern middle-aged vampire teacher.
As soon as the class ended, Lorevil packed up quickly without a moment’s pause.
To meet Teacher Jerwen’s goals, she had to race against time.
Halfway down the main school road, Lorevil heard hurried footsteps behind her, accompanied by Fini’s clear call.
“Lorevil, wait for me!”
Lorevil stopped and turned, looking at the running Fini with curiosity.
“What’s wrong, Fini?”
The girl’s fair forehead was lightly beaded with sweat, her cute face flushed pink.
Her fluffy silver hair was slightly messy, yet it couldn’t hide her lively charm.
Her slender calves were exposed, smooth and white like peeled water chestnuts, soft and delicate.
Fini rested her hands on her knees for a moment, catching her breath, then said sheepishly:
“Can I team up with you to grind points? My family wants me to reach Third Order before the assessment, and I’m way too slow alone right now. If I run into a pack of Second Order blood beasts, I have to take a detour.”
Lorevil rubbed her nose and thought carefully.
Although Fini was usually a bit flighty and occasionally loud, she was reliable when it mattered.
Plus, her current strength was at the peak of Second Order.
More importantly, if Fini helped hold off the low-rank blood beasts, Lorevil could save time clearing the small fry.
The Holy Blood Academy’s team system was originally designed to let weaker vampires attach themselves to the strong for mutual growth.
“Alright. Let’s form a temporary team, then.”
Lorevil agreed readily.
“Awesome! I knew you were the best!”
The two eye-catching girls hit it off immediately.
Lorevil pulled out her communicator and sent a message to her fiancée, Noxia.
“Noxia, I won’t be back for lunch. I’m teaming up with that Fini I told you about to grind Blood Hunting Ground points. Don’t worry.”
Noxia replied:
“Got it. Come back when you’re done.”
After settling that, Lorevil felt relieved.
She had lunch with Fini, then headed to the Blood Hunting Ground registration office.
The register was still manned by the familiar Isolde.
She wore an exquisite traditional vampire outfit.
On the desk before her sat warm black tea and delicate pastries.
With slender fingers, she pinched a pastry and sipped tea leisurely, her long legs crossed.
She looked supremely at ease.
It was as if this wasn’t the entrance to the Blood Hunting Ground, but some noble’s afternoon tea party.
“Lady Isolde, please register a temporary team!”
Fini spoke up first, her face bright with excitement.
“The name is ‘Lofi Team’!”
“Lofi Team?”
Lorevil’s mouth twitched.
She thought the name was pretty random, but she didn’t argue.
After all, Fini had brought up the team idea first, so it didn’t matter.
She handed her ID badge to Isolde, and Fini placed hers on the desk too.
“Registration fee: one thousand blood crystal coins.”
Isolde extended a pale hand and said with a smile.
Lorevil paid the registration fee.
Though the fee for a temporary team wasn’t cheap, once bound, the points earned from hunting would be automatically distributed by share, saving the hassle of settling later.
For someone like her, desperate to grind points, it was worth the expense.
“Registration complete. Team valid for seven days. Best of luck hunting, you two.”
Isolde finished writing their information and handed back their badges.
Once inside the outer perimeter of the Blood Hunting Ground, Fini suddenly nudged Lorevil’s shoulder with her elbow and asked curiously:
“I heard about you and Laide’an. Yesterday afternoon, the whole second year was buzzing! Didn’t you say you were done chasing Teacher Catherine? How did that start again?”
Lorevil rubbed her forehead.
“It’s a long story. Actually, it’s a misunderstanding.”
The silver-haired girl reluctantly recounted what had happened yesterday.
“Alright, as long as you know what you’re doing. But Laide’an’s a petty jerk—he’ll definitely hold a grudge. You’d better watch your back. Don’t let him stab you in it.”
After listening, Fini said with a strange expression.
“I know. Thanks for the warning.”
Lorevil’s mouth twitched again.
Why did that feel familiar?
Still, she silently took Fini’s words to heart.
She wasn’t the family’s key heir anymore.
If Laide’an really targeted her, it would indeed be troublesome.
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