Far Away

The Sword Ship, covered in a pale blue protective shield, sped northward through the cold wind and sleet.

Xiao Ran sat at the stone table, drinking hot Dragon Bone Soup while working on his design.

For example, designing a semi-automatic teaching furnace suitable for Chunwa and Qiuchan can increase the difficulty of hell and add a penalty mode.

For example, designing a more fully functional female puppet could include features such as playing with the Fight the Wraith.

For example, designing a floating water massage bed with built-in massage function, and a fully automatic Filial Piety Points harvester.

For example, things like an automatic rocking crib should be prepared in advance...

Cough cough.

Xiao Ran drank the bone broth and drew pictures, he quickly regretted not having two armored soldiers escort him to the capital.

Because of the tracking device and the inspection-free passage equipment, his status as a state guest was directly exposed.

Along the way, armored warriors flew alongside the Sword Ship to the left, right, and rear, highlighting the status of the state guest.

Is this the treatment for a state guest? Xiao Ran originally wanted to enter the city discreetly and ask the young puppeteer to take him to customize a few alluring female puppets.

Wouldn't this expose my identity? Several hours later.

A fixed welcoming procession of twelve armored warriors—one at the Sword Ship and one at the stern, and five on each side—escorted Xiao Ran all the way to the capital.

Divine Martial City.

Compared to the small towns Xiao Ran had seen before, the capital Divine Martial City was magnificent and bustling.

A dense forest of steel rises from the ground, with various high-rise buildings standing side by side and connected to each other, resembling a three-dimensional mechanical city.

Divine Martial City is extremely large, stretching as far as the eye can see, and its buildings are taller than the clouds.

Flying magical artifacts of various shapes, shimmering with the light of colorful Spirit Runes, moved in an orderly fashion through the dense steel forest.

Xiao Ran then realized that what he had seen before was not a town, but the countryside.

Xiao Ran even felt a sense of awe, as if he had arrived in the future, a feeling far stronger than that of the larger and more expansive Chaos City.

Only after seeing Divine Martial City with his own eyes did Xiao Ran realize that Divine Martial City might actually have the strength to compete with the Dao Alliance.

Twelve black armored vehicles continued to escort Xiao Ran into the city.

They took a special passage through the city, bypassing the bustling downtown area, and flew two hundred miles north to arrive at the city center square.

The square is large, with many birds and tourists.

In the middle is an island area surrounded by a ring river.

There is a separate pavilion area in the center of the island.

Crafted from redwood and black iron, its classic design soars into the sky, engraved with celestial Spirit Runes, exuding a solemn and majestic yet vast and boundless sense of the future.

The invitation indicated that this was the city government building of Divine Martial City.

The State Government of the Divine Martial Kingdom is located underground in an unknown place, so the buildings in front of Xiao Ran are the highest power institutions of the Divine Martial Kingdom on the surface.

A solemn welcoming procession had been waiting for some time on the Ring River Bridge.

The young man at the head of the group, dressed in a sharp black outfit, was none other than the young puppeteer, Ding Zhenzi, who had spent the most time with Xiao Ran at the Heaven's Chosen Assembly.

"Senior Xiao, how have you been?"

Finally, Ken called me "senior"...

Xiao Ran has only been in the country for half a day, yet such a grand welcoming procession has already been set up.

"Hello."

Ding Zhenzi showed none of the arrogance and lechery she displayed in the Dark Forest; she was serious and composed, with a slightly tense expression.

"Please follow me to the City Lord's Mansion State Guesthouse."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Upon entering the City Lord's Mansion, the interior layout exudes simplicity, spaciousness, and solemnity.

There is a circular staircase in the center, and an elevator powered by Spiritual Power.

State guests naturally use the elevator.

The elevator wasn't very big, and only Xiao Yanshi was with them.

"I didn't expect you to come so soon, and alone."

Xiao Ran repeated the same old saying.

Is the Divine Martial Kingdom dangerous?

Ding Zhenzi smiled with a mixture of pride and malice.

"If you follow the rules like I do, you won't be in danger."

Arriving at the reception room on the top floor of the City Lord's Mansion.

The vast and dark starry sky dome makes one feel as if they are in a sea of stars, standing on the deck of a spaceship.

There were three groups of people who received Xiao Ran.

In the middle is an old man.

To the left is a group of people dressed in mourning clothes.

To the right is a girl in a white dress.

Ding Zhenzi led Xiao Ran to the old man in the middle and respectfully introduced him:

"This is our city lord of Divine Martial City, a member of the five Council of Elders of the Divine Martial Kingdom, and the City Lord Kuang Xingyuan."

"This is Xiao Ran, a prodigy of the Dao Alliance."

The old man stepped forward and gave Xiao Ran a half-bowing, which was probably a simplified version of the Divine Martial Kingdom.

"Heroes have always emerged from among the young, and I never imagined that Xiao Tianjiao would be such a young and talented man."

Xiao Ran looked up.

This is an elderly man in his seventies, not very tall, but with a very straight back and an air of authority.

She was wearing a well-tailored, crisp, traditional-style robe in gray, which looked rather simple.

A pair of protruding ears are quite eye-catching.

Xiao Ran truly did not expect that upon entering the city, he would be received by one of the five most powerful people in this country with a population of five billion.

Has the thirst for talent in this Dharma Ending Era reached such a level? Even more unexpectedly, this high-ranking city lord was actually a mortal.

This is unimaginable in any town outside of the Divine Martial Kingdom.

Xiao Ran bowed in return and said, "City Lord Kuang, you flatter me."

Ding Zhenzi then introduced Xiao Ran to a group of commoners on his left, dressed in mourning clothes and with sorrowful expressions.

"This is Yan Mo's family: his grandfather, parents, sister, and brothers-in-law."

Xiao Ran's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and said:

"Please accept my condolences. After such an incident, Mr. Xiao should return the Yan Armor. However, we are currently conducting an in-depth investigation in the hope of finding loopholes, upgrading the Yan Armor, and preventing such tragedies from happening again."

The father of the Yan Mo said, "There is no need to return it. Xiao Tianjiao risked his life to retrieve the Yan Armor and was the only one who defeated the enemy. Let Xiao Tianjiao keep this Yan Armor. I believe Xiao Feng's spirit in heaven can rest in peace."

Xiao Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank you for your understanding.

Ding Zhenzi led Xiao Ran to the right, his eyes filled with eagerness and excitement.

"This is Gao Yao, a genius puppeteer of the younger generation in the Divine Martial Kingdom. He is also currently the person with the highest puppet synchronization rate in the Divine Martial Kingdom."

Xiao Ran glanced at her and saw that she was a beautiful young girl wearing a white princess dress.

She was tall and slender with delicate features, wearing light, ladylike makeup, yet her face carried a subtle air of arrogance and a haughty, academically gifted air.

Although she doesn't look down her nose, and her pretty nose is especially beautiful.

Judging from her bone age, she's probably around forty. She's clearly at the age of a mature woman, but she has the figure of a graceful, still-developing girl, and looks like she's fourteen or fifteen. She's like a taller version of Chuyan.

She has less of an ethereal beauty than Chuyan, but more of a haughty, girlish charm.

Cultivation Level is the Foundation Establishment.

Her figure seems to have undergone artificial growth spurts, resulting in slightly delayed development, and her breasts are even smaller than Chuyan.

Gao Yao...

Is this just a rumor circulating in the Black Ring Group? Even Nan Menzi changed its name to Gentleman, so it's not really appropriate for you to just use a homophone.

Upon closer inspection, she also lacked the terrifying, world-ending aura that Gentleman possessed.

She just felt that the princess dress didn't fit her well, which made her a little awkward, sometimes frowning and sometimes touching her legs.

"Hello."

While Xiao Ran was stealing glances at the girl, the girl was openly sizing Xiao Ran.

"I'm not very good, but you're still quite handsome, much better looking than other male puppeteers."

"..."

Xiao Ran felt ashamed; the tone of his voice was indeed somewhat similar to the rumors circulating in the Black Ring Group.

A burst of laughter erupted in the reception hall; no one minded the girl's inappropriate remark.

Clearly, she is special!...

After a hasty and brief welcoming ceremony, a simple yet elegant state banquet began at the guesthouse.

After the state banquet, in the City Lord's Mansion Top Floor Garden.

City Lord Kuang Xingyuan and Xiao Ran sat together at a round table, drinking afternoon tea.

Even though it was already evening.

There were only two people in the entire rooftop garden.

The tea was just ordinary tea, with a fragrant taste and a slight bitterness.

The lid of the cup rippled with wisps of steam, and Kuang Xingyuan gazed into the distance at the Kuang Xingyuan, which resembled a mountain range ablaze with flames.

"You took our country's important Yan Armor without permission, but we did not pursue the matter and even treated you as a state guest. You should understand our intentions."

Xiao Ran nodded.

"Um."

Kuang Xingyuan:

"Now that we've reached this point in the Dharma Ending Era, you should understand that the path of cultivation is a path of inevitable death; it's just a matter of time."

Xiao Ran did not agree with the statement that "with the system by his side."

"But cultivation can lead to longevity, accumulate experience in dealing with the Wraith, and make one stronger. It is possible to find a way out before the Spiritual Energy is exhausted."

Kuang Xingyuan smiled slightly, then lifted his cup, blew out the steam, and took a sip of tea, appearing very confident.

"Power can be replaced by Yan Armor, and we will develop Yan Armor are more suitable for civilians to drive, which is equivalent to mass-producing cultivators; as for lifespan, we have a Paradise Tree Project, which will allow people's souls to reside in Paradise Tree before they die. The souls in Paradise Tree can remotely control Yan Armor, which can also be considered a way to extend lifespan. If the technology matures, it is not impossible to achieve immortality."

Good heavens! Is this the start of building a soul server, allowing everyone to mechanically ascend to immortality?

Xiao Ran was somewhat impressed by the foresight of the Divine Martial Kingdom.

"Is it really okay for me to tell an outsider about this secret plan?"

Kuang Xingyuan smiled and shook his head.

"Since you successfully piloted Prototype Machine, you've been no longer an outsider."

"Yeah?"

Xiao Ran smiled awkwardly, feeling a little uneasy.

"I heard that your Cultivation Level is not high, only at the Qi Refining Realm. Even if your combat power is amazing, you will eventually turn into dust like me in a few hundred years. According to the current progress, our Paradise Tree Project will be fully mature in just a few decades at most."

Can I buy a life-extinction pack?

At my speed as a time traveler, I would have saved the world long ago!

However, the Paradise Tree Project is still something to aspire to; if the Dharma Ending Era are irreversible, perhaps this is humanity's only hope.

If the concentration of Spiritual Energy decreases further, cultivators will not be able to maintain their lifespan. Even if they can live forever, their Master, Senior Uncle, and Chuyan will not be able to withstand the erosion of time.

But the idea that the Paradise Tree Project could be fully matured in a few decades sounded as unbelievable to Xiao Ran as electric vehicles could completely replace gasoline vehicles within five years.

"What does the Divine Martial Kingdom want me to do?"

Xiao Ran asked directly.

Kuang Xingyuan calmly said:

"I'm not asking you to give up your current identity, nor am I asking you to betray the Dao Alliance or Zongzhi Mountain. We just want to become your partners."

"How exactly do you do it?"

"You will receive Honorary Citizen citizenship of the Divine Martial Kingdom and regularly guide our puppeteers to improve the synchronization rate between humans and puppets. If you care about your reputation, this can be done in secret. The treatment is not an issue."

Salary is not an issue... If you're talking about that, I don't care about my reputation!

Before coming here, everyone said that Divine Martial Kingdom was dangerous, Xiao Ran really didn't expect that City Lord Kuang would be so easy to talk to.

"The reason I came here this time is actually to borrow your country's Spirit Machine Factory to upgrade my Yan Armor."

Kuang Xingyuan looked troubled.

"Upgrading the level requires a redesign. Not only will it be difficult to meet the material requirements of the next level, but the physical and spiritual energy consumption of the puppeteer will also increase a hundredfold."

Xiao Ran then took out a drawing.

"There's no need to upgrade the level. I just want to customize one. This is my design."

Kuang Xingyuan glanced at the design drawings, frowned slightly, and suddenly became cautious.

After all, the Dao Alliance has gone to great lengths to infiltrate the Divine Martial Kingdom and uncover Divine Martial Kingdom underground fortifications, employing every possible trick in the book, so we must be on guard.

"The design drawings are beautiful, but to realize the functions you designed, the materials are not a big problem, but the Spirit Runes are very difficult to create."

"I've redesigned the entire set of Spirit Runes."

Kuang Xingyuan was slightly taken aback. He took out a lens that resembled a magnifying glass and examined the Spirit Runes blueprint in detail.

He was also a Spirit Runes master, and although he wasn't among the top-tier ones, he could still tell the level of these Spirit Runes at a glance.

"You wrote all of these yourself?"

Xiao Ran nodded modestly.

"I loved tinkering with these things when I was a kid, until I saw the Yan Armor and it all became clear."

Kuang Xingyuan was surprised and impressed.

It's unbelievable that the Divine Martial Kingdom, with its five billion people, would lose to a cultivator in the realm of Spirit Runes.

He took a sip of tea and made a sigh of admiration.

"We can build you a brand new Yan Armor based on your blueprints."

Xiao Ran hurriedly asked:

"This Yan Core my Lifebound Sword, making it easier for me to control. Can't I install it?"

Kuang Xingyuan shook his head firmly, his graying temples being lifted by the evening breeze, revealing a touch of vicissitude.

"Unfortunately, the underground fortifications of the Divine Martial Kingdom are the foundation of the nation. Unless you offer your spiritual blood, sign a contract, and fully join the Divine Martial Kingdom, you cannot allow your personal belongings to enter the underground fortifications."

"Oh..."

Xiao Ran took a sip of tea with a slight disappointment. The tea was hot, but his heart was Bing Bing.

Kuang Xingyuan added, "However, since you've come all this way, you can find some private machine repair shops to assemble it. We can supply the materials and we'll also cover the cost for you."

Xiao Ran thought to himself, "This is the only way."

The most difficult thing to deal with is the materials, followed by the cost. Since the Divine Martial Kingdom has already provided them, there's not much difference between assembling them at the official Spirit Machine Factory and doing so.

"That's so embarrassing."

Kuang Xingyuan laughed and said, "I've already seen your Spirit Runes design. I have a photographic memory for this, so I might be able to use it in the future."

Xiao Ran didn't mind.

"It's alright. We're all fighting for the survival of humanity, just on different paths. There's no need to be enemies. Strengthening communication and cooperation is the right way."

Kuang Xingyuan smiled.

"If everyone in the Dao Alliance had the talent, magnanimity, and foresight of Xiao Tianjiao, what would there be to worry about in the Dharma Ending Era?"

"You flatter me, mine lord."

"However, not everyone in the Divine Martial Kingdom is as easy to talk to as I am. There are some hardliners in the military, so you'd better be careful."

"Clear."

"Even if we choose a large repair shop and work at full capacity to assemble the Yan Armor, it will still take several days. You can stay at Gao Yao's house for the next few days. She is the future Goddess of War of the Divine Martial Kingdom and will protect your personal safety."

"Good."

Xiao Ran naturally understood this tactic.

Just like how Hua Lian, the most outstanding young female cultivator from the Dao Alliance, approached him at the Heaven's Chosen Assembly, the Divine Martial Kingdom also sent its most outstanding female puppeteer to approach him.

Ultimately, it was all about testing and recruiting this outstanding talent.

In this Dharma Ending Era, talented individuals are of paramount importance.

Even criminals in the Divine Martial Kingdom are reformed into talented individuals.

Speaking of which, Xiao Ran is also a murderer, and the murderer was a member of a powerful family, yet he still lives a carefree life outside.

Because everyone shares a common enemy, an enemy that is rarely seen when using teleportation arrays.

If you walk in a straight line from Zongzhi Mountain to the Divine Martial Kingdom, you will see ruins and skeletons all along the way.

Countless Wraith floated in the air, devouring the last Spiritual Power on the True Spirit Continent...

The brief meeting ended as night fell.

Ding Zhenzi led Xiao Ran City Lord's Mansion.

The city was filled with neon lights, flashing Spirit Runes, flying car headlights, and a lively atmosphere... It was no less impressive than any major city in Xiao Ran's previous life, giving it a feel of the city that never sleeps in 2077.

Walking on the bridge across the river, seeing Xiao Ran's naive and unworldly expression, Ding Zhenzi extremely proud.

"How about it? With my personal guarantee of your strength, the city lord is very easy to talk to, isn't he? Others don't get this kind of treatment."

"Good."

"Have you reached an agreement with the city lord?"

"All done."

Xiao Ran responded half-heartedly.

"It's probably due to the difference in physical constitution between men and women. Most of the high-level puppeteers in the Divine Martial Kingdom have always been women. If you come, you can hold up half the sky for us men!"

Why are they even fighting with male boxing?

"Don't count on me too much; my methods may not work for everyone."

Xiao Ran poured cold water on Ding Zhenzi.

Ding Zhenzi, however, was still immersed in excitement.

"You'll be staying in the city for a few days, right? Come on, come stay at my house. I still have a lot of knowledge to learn from you."

Xiao Ran said, "It seems the city lord wants me to stay at that girl's house."

Ding Zhenzi was taken aback and suddenly stopped.

"You mean... Gao Yao?"

Xiao Ran scratched his head.

"Yes, I think that's the name."

"..."

Ding Zhenzi's face darkened, his slightly boyish handsome face shining brightly in the green neon light.

"Impossible, that doesn't make sense. Gao Yao is still a minor, she's my goddess, it can't be..."

Xiao Ran smiled and said:

"The city lord said that she was asked to protect my safety. If you can protect my safety, I don't mind staying at your house."

Ding Zhenzi, her face contorted in despair, was utterly hopeless. In her despair, she recklessly gave up and shamelessly declared:

"I can't protect you, but I want to be protected together with you..."

Just then, a blinding white light shone down from the sky, making it impossible for Xiao Ran and his companion to open their eyes.

Then came the roar of engines exploding through the air.

Xiao Ran raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light and could vaguely see a flying hearse that looked like a motorboat. It swooped down and landed at the bridgehead, blocking Xiao Ran and Ding Zhenzi's path.

A punk girl dressed in a black bodysuit straddled a jet ski, took off her helmet to reveal her delicate features and heavy smoky makeup, and was chewing on something, almost as if she had strung beads on her tongue.

"You're Xiao Ran?"

Xiao Ran stared for a long time before recognizing the woman's identity from her petite, round breasts and striking long legs.

"Gao Yao?"

Pop! The girl blew a durian bubble, which emitted a strange fragrance that seemed to be a mixture of engine exhaust fumes.

"That is my name... So you are Xiao Ran?"

Good heavens! Xiao Ran had just seen her looking uncomfortable in a princess dress in the state guest room, but he never expected that this girl would be a motorcycle girl! The black, snakeskin-like bodysuit tightly hugged her long, shapely legs.

She has full thighs, long calves, and plump calves; she is the epitome of beauty.

The problem is, the girl changed her clothes, but Xiao Ran didn't. So why did she ask him, "Are you Xiao Ran?"

"Didn't we just meet?"

The motorcycle girl shrugged slightly, saying indifferently:

"Oh, I didn't really notice. Get in the car."

I didn't really care. Was the compliment about my looks just a lie? Xiao Ran suddenly felt like he was no longer loved.

"What are you standing there for? Get in the car!"

The girl urged.

Xiao Ran simply couldn't imagine that this motorcycle girl was a rumor circulating in the Black Ring Group.

Helpless, he braved the cold wind and climbed onto the flying motorcycle, sitting tightly on the narrow back of the vehicle behind the girl.

After fidgeting and hesitating for a while, Ding Zhenzi finally mustered her courage and spoke, albeit somewhat nervously:

"Senior, can you take me with you? I'll take care of Xiao Tianjiao's food and lodging."

The words had barely left his mouth when a sudden roar filled his ears, and a plume of black exhaust fumes sprayed back onto his bewildered face.

Ding Zhenzi wiped the soot off her face, staring at the motorcycle that had long since disappeared, and thought to herself—

As expected, there are still some things my senior hasn't taught me! —————

Chapter 191 The King of Lewd Talk: Sibalama

Chapter 192 The King of Lewd Talk: Young Master Hun Dun