Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!
Chapter 125: Your Balance is Insufficient

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Your Balance is Insufficient

The crowd gathered at the All Things Library could mainly be classified into four types: library members, "locals," itinerant merchants, and out-of-town "tourists".

Locals like Shu Jing, in fact, constituted the mainstream of the entire crowd. In order to survive within the absolutely safe walls, countless individuals like them would challenge the library members for entry each year.

This may be hard to understand at first,

but it becomes much clearer when compared to prestigious universities from the past, known to offer high-paying job placements to their graduates.

Passing the entrance exam for the All Things Library, akin to those universities, meant not only were your basic needs covered and a stable job secured, but it also granted local residency to your family members for a period of time, ensuring their well-being.

In this world, practically no one would dislike a life that was both safe and stable.

This was also what Shu Jing was striving to attain.

As for the purple card in his possession, it was an inheritance from his no-good "book second generation" great-grandfather.

That card was not just a Borrowing Card used for taking out books; it also served as a timer for how much longer he and his family could remain there.

Now, there were only three years left on his card’s balance, and theoretically, he could take the exam three more times.

However, in reality, he only had one chance left; applying for the library required a substantial fee—a sum astronomical for locals like them.

Many without money opted to leave the All Things Library to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

But, most "locals" tried every means to scrimp and save, continuously learning, attempting to return to the Library.

Some even took the exam every year, believing that what their ancestors achieved, they could as well. It was whispered that the money they used to apply for the exam was often dirty; they would resort to selling fake information to deceive other outlanders attempting the exam, swindling money from them.

Hearing Shu Jing elaborate further, Yang Yu began quietly calculating in his heart.

The Library’s reputation was widespread and fearless. Holding significant influence in the world, it was bound to attract numerous intelligent individuals who yearned for a peaceful life.

Through repeated exams, the inferior were weeded out, causing the continuous aggregation of talent that forged the prosperity of the Library step by step.

"Besides taking the entrance exam and paying to enter the Library, are there other ways to get in?"

Shu Jing hesitated for a moment but still shared what he knew with Yang Yu, "Apart from those two methods... if a person has made special contributions to the Library, and after thorough scrutiny by the Library, they could exceptionally become a Library member. But such opportunities are rare and not to be sought. There’s also another way to enter, which is to take the Martial Arts Exam."

"The Martial Arts Exam?"

"It is held every Thursday. The test takes place in a dedicated arena, and each week the guards are different, all being Advanced Members of the Library who are two stars or above. If you manage to defeat them or perform outstandingly, you can join the Library."

Shu Jing glanced at Bai Jin and Iyas standing next to Yang Yu, knowing that Yang Yu and they formed a team,

"You may participate as a team, but the team is limited to no more than six members, and they must consecutively defeat two Library members who are two stars or above."

So the Library even allowed for team strategies, it seems that the All Things Library truly wished to recruit innumerable talents and to carry out its neutrality to the utmost.

Yang Yu wondered about the strength of the two-star Library members...

Suddenly, he remembered the man who came and went like the wind.

Fuck, that person was a two-star!

That man named Dian Wen looked quite young; as a two-star Advanced Member of the Library at LV43, with an Intelligence over 1500, he could be deemed a genius among geniuses.

Such a person, as of now, was definitely someone Yang Yu could not beat.

Yang Yu was uncertain if there were other geniuses here, but one thing was for sure: he needed to focus specifically on dealing with the Mage profession.

Having given up on the idea of the Martial Arts Exam, that left him with only two paths: to pay money or to apply for the exam.

First, regarding the payment, Yang Yu had no idea how much it would cost to officially join the Library. If it indeed was an astronomical number, he would have no choice but to lament from afar.

Then, considering the second route, applying for the exam...

Of course, that would be no difficulty at all!

After all, I am the man who conquered the Hall of Wisdom. Not only did I flawlessly solve Scarjade’s three questions and spun it around in circles, but I also instantly understood the implied meaning in Amon’s words and utilized my own intellect to defeat Amon... With such wisdom, how can a mere exam topple me?

And if I fall short, isn’t there still Bai Jin? She is an encyclopedic book in human form, an excellent science Tool Man. With about four or five days of study, she should be able to achieve an intellect equal to mine.

As for Iyas, still at the villager’s level, and He Meng, who is always slacking off, there’s no need to include them in the battle power equation.

Having conquered the Hall of Wisdom, Yang Yu was beginning to feel a tad complacent, but that didn’t interfere with his making the right decisions.

Of course, apart from joining the Library, there were other ways of getting the information he needed.

Many people probably couldn’t afford the exorbitant consultation fees, and at such times, there must be an underworld industry that existed. As long as one found them, it could be possible to obtain the desired information at a relatively low cost.

However, finding them was extremely difficult because the Library would definitely not turn a blind eye to their acts that hurt the Library’s interests and would find ways to get rid of them along with the informers within the Library.

With a reliable method to gain Library access in hand, why bother seeking trouble and looking for those lurking in the shadows?

Moreover, information obtained through others isn’t as reassuring as that obtained firsthand.

Having thought of a method, the only issue left for Yang Yu to resolve was encapsulated in one word:

—Poverty.

After settling the bill for the four cups of Ba Fei and three slices of cake, the balance of Gold Coins in Yang Yu’s system had dropped below ten thousand.

That might be enough to live on for quite a while outside the Library, but inside, it might not even last a week. Continuing like this, he was bound to end up sleeping on the streets, not to mention paying any exam registration fees or buying information.

The entrance exam was due to start early in the cool month of June, roughly similar to the college entrance exam, about a little over a week from now.

Considering all the trash... valuable things Yang Yu had on him, he was sure to find a buyer in time to make a tidy sum. By then, not to mention two people taking the exam, even if Iyas and He Meng were to just show up, there wouldn’t be any problem at all.

Leaving the cake shop, Yang Yu tried several times to stuff a thousand Gold Coins to Shu Jing as a token of gratitude, but Shu Jing persistently refused Yang Yu’s offer.

"How about this, we three currently have no place to stay, could you introduce me to some affordable lodges around here? This Gold Coin can be considered a referral fee for pointing us to a place."

Shu Jing pushed Yang Yu’s hand back again, "As for lodgings, my family owns an inn. It’s also a little inheritance left by my worthless great-grandfather. If it’s agreeable, I’d ask you to keep your Gold Coin and, in exchange, I hope you would patronize my family’s business."

Without much thought, Yang Yu agreed straight away, "No problem."