Central Building

Central Building

Upon hearing the words "Golden Core True Person," Zhao Tianxing was slightly startled in the car, then said in disbelief, "Why would a Golden Core True Person's daughter come to Songyang?"

Zhang Yu also nodded slightly beside him. He knew that above Qi Refining was Foundation Establishment, and only above Foundation Establishment came Golden Core.

To achieve Golden Core, one had to graduate from a Key High School, successfully enter one of the Top Ten Universities, then join a major Sect and climb steadily upward. Who knew how many layers of Kunxu one would have to ascend?

A person like that's daughter should have been born at least on Kunxu Second Layer or higher. Why would she come to Songyang City on the first layer?

The driver smiled faintly at this, seemingly seized by the urge to show off, and slowly said, "It's not just Ms. Li Xuelian who's coming to our Songyang City."

"I heard her father, Spark True Person, came from our Songyang City. Now that he's planning to retire, he intends to return to Songyang City to enjoy his later years..."

Listening to this, Zhang Yu found it rather strange. A Golden Core Great Expert returning to the beginner village to retire?

The driver continued, "This exhibition doesn't only feature Ms. Li's paintings. I heard there's also a Heavenly Human Martial Arts Diagram personally painted by Spark True Person, with a peerless martial art supposedly hidden within it."

"Other than those hoping to befriend Ms. Li, many attendees have come to study that Martial Arts Diagram, hoping to comprehend that peerless martial art from it."

Songyang Central Building.

Layer 999.

Zhang Yu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down in shock at the rolling sea of clouds below. It was his first time standing at such a height and gazing down over an entire city.

He straightened the new Security Guard uniform he wore, feeling a little emotional inside.

Ever since entering the Central Building, Zhang Yu had felt as if he had arrived in another dreamlike world.

If the suburban environment where he lived still bore some resemblance to his previous life, then Songyang High School's infrastructure had already quietly surpassed his previous world in every respect. As for the Central Building before him...

Whether it was the terrifying height of 999 floors or the various Immortal Dao Techniques within the building, all flowing with Magical Power, it was a scene straight out of a dream.

Remembering how, under the enhancement of Dao Arts, he had been guided by a Formation to the 999th floor in mere seconds without suffering so much as a scratch, Zhang Yu could not help sighing again.

"Though they're both in Songyang City, mortals live in the suburbs, Immortal Cultivators gather in the city center, and this Central Building is the territory of the truly rich."

"Three places, all within the same city, yet like three different layered worlds..."

Just then, Zhao Tianxing's voice sounded behind him. "Zhang Yu, the captain told us to come patrol. We should get going, right?"

Zhang Yu turned around and looked at Zhao Tianxing, who was also wearing a Security Guard uniform.

But unlike Zhang Yu's calm acceptance of the uniform, Zhao Tianxing was extremely awkward and timid... looking as miserable as though he had shit himself.

He always felt like a clown after putting on this Security Guard uniform. The looks people cast his way seemed to carry three parts disdain, three parts contempt, and three parts scorn.

But Zhao Tianxing was overthinking it. Once he put on this Security Guard uniform, he was no longer a mortal. He had become like part of the building's background, his presence in most people's eyes barely stronger than the landscaping.

Zhang Yu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Chest out, head high. We're Security Guards at the Central Building, not food delivery guys. What are you afraid of?"

Feeling as though the surrounding passersby had all been drawn over by Zhang Yu's voice, Zhao Tianxing hurriedly said, "I understand, Zhang Yu. Keep your voice down. Don't disturb anyone else."

This exhibition was quite large, occupying a venue of over a thousand square meters and offering drinks and a buffet. In Zhang Yu's view, it looked less like an art exhibition than a gathering.

The legendary Heavenly Human Martial Arts Diagram was currently covered by a curtain. It was said that Ms. Li Xuelian would personally unveil it when she arrived.

Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing had been assigned to a more remote section of the venue, patrolling back and forth as Security Guards.

The exhibition had not even officially begun yet, so the patrol was incredibly easy and did not trigger any Ritual backlash.

After all, the Ritual Power on Zhang Yu's body targeted matters related to fulfilling wishes.

And his method of fulfilling the wish was studying, cultivating, working hard to get into university, earning money through work... and ultimately fulfilling the Evil God's wish.

Things like temporary work were also part of earning money through work, or even studying and cultivation. Ritual Power would not force him to abandon them and do something else.

Instead, aimlessly wandering around with nothing to do was far more relaxing for Zhang Yu than the grueling cultivation he had endured these past few days.

Just then, as the two approached the dining tables, they saw a group of attendants arranging plates and tidying the table decorations.

Zhang Yu glanced over and looked at the dishes being set out plate after plate, then said in surprise, "Is that... seafood?"

Zhao Tianxing looked over as well. Seeing the abalone and lobsters on the plates, he nodded faintly. "They're marine creatures. I saw that shelled one before when I went out with my mom. It seemed to cost thirty or forty thousand per jin."

"But this is the Central Building. It's normal for them to have things like this, right?"

Seafood had not been uncommon to Zhang Yu in his previous life, and he had eaten plenty of it. But in Kunxu, at least on Kunxu First Layer, marine creatures were incredibly rare. Even the original Zhang Yu had only seen them online. Forget eating them—he had never even seen them in person.

That was because across Kunxu First Layer's more than twenty million square kilometers... there was no ocean.

It was said that the marine creatures on the market were either brought in from higher layers of Kunxu or raised by certain organizations in artificially created ocean environments.

And hearing Zhao Tianxing mention prices of tens of thousands per jin, Zhang Yu secretly clicked his tongue. That expensive?

"What benefits do you get from eating this? Does it increase Magical Power?"

It was no wonder Zhang Yu thought so. Whether it was the original Zhang Yu or the current Zhang Yu, in the Immortal Dao world he had encountered, everyone advanced by any means necessary, doing everything in their power to improve their Magical Power, Martial Arts, Dao Arts, body, Dao Heart...

Clothing, food, housing, travel... everything in daily life was related to raising one's cultivation.

"Benefits?" Zhao Tianxing thought for a moment after hearing this, then finally shook his head. "I've never heard of any benefits from eating it. It seems like it's just because it tastes good."

"Just because it tastes good?" Zhang Yu stared blankly at the platters of delicacies on the table.

As Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing secretly examined the dining table together, a cold voice suddenly sounded behind them.

"You two Security Guards, why aren't you patrolling properly? What are you sneaking around here for?"

Hearing that voice, Zhao Tianxing jumped in fright. He turned around and hurriedly explained, "We weren't doing anything..."

But when he saw who stood behind them, Zhao Tianxing froze on the spot.

Zhang Yu, however, turned around leisurely and looked at Bai Zhenzhen. "Oh? It's A-Zhen. What a coincidence—you came to see the exhibition too?"

After realizing that the newcomer was a classmate, Zhao Tianxing only felt his Security Guard uniform grow uglier and more embarrassing. His body twisted awkwardly, as though he were holding in a shit right where he stood.

Especially when he thought about how news of him working as a Security Guard might spread through the class, with labels like poor, working for money, and short on cash being pasted onto him one after another by his classmates, sending his standing and reputation in their circle plummeting like a rock, Zhao Tianxing twisted even harder.

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu expressionlessly and said, "I never expected you two to take a few decades' worth of detours out of your lives at such a young age and come work Security here."

Zhao Tianxing hurriedly waved his hands and explained, "No, Bai Zhenzhen. I only came along with Zhang Yu."

But Zhang Yu suddenly slapped a hand onto Zhao Tianxing's shoulder. "Why are you panicking? You're a temporary Security Guard earning 800 an hour. The purchasing power of one hour's wages can cover a mortal's food and drink for ten days. Who knows how many people would envy that?"

"Huh?" Zhao Tianxing was slightly stunned. He had never thought there was anything impressive about earning 800 an hour.

But as he watched Bai Zhenzhen suddenly fall silent, he felt a chill radiating from her.

Zhao Tianxing had never been particularly familiar with this genius girl who ranked first in total score for their year. He only knew that she had always been cold and distant, keeping strangers at arm's length, and only ate with Zhang Yu, Zhou Tianyi, and the others.

In fact, Zhao Tianxing's own circle had tried inviting her before, but they had never received a response.

In his mind, Bai Zhenzhen was a supremely gifted but proud and unapproachable genius girl.

Seeing her expressionless and silent appearance now, Zhao Tianxing felt that she seemed angry.

Zhang Yu must have said something stupid and made her angry.

While he twisted anxiously and racked his brains over what to say to ease the atmosphere, Bai Zhenzhen coldly asked, "You can earn 800 in an hour?"

"Yeah." Zhao Tianxing nodded dumbly, not understanding what she meant.

At that moment, a shout came from the other side of the dining table. An attendant arranging the table called out, "New girl, hurry up and bring the dishes over! What are you standing around for?"

Bai Zhenzhen said to Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing, "I'm going to bring out the dishes first. We can talk later."

At the same time, she secretly thought, Damn! Security Guards can earn 800 an hour? I only make 500 an hour. If I'd known, I would've come to work Security.

Only then did Zhao Tianxing notice that Bai Zhenzhen was dressed exactly like the other attendants. Shock filled his face as he said, "Bai Zhenzhen is working here too?"

"What's so strange about that? Who in this world isn't working?" Zhang Yu had recognized Bai Zhenzhen's outfit at first glance. Given her financial situation, he thought it was perfectly normal for her to work.

But when he considered how she could still maintain first place in total score for their year while working, he was secretly astonished.

"A-Zhen's talent is truly no small matter. Looking across all the new disciples under Songyang Sect, she's probably only a notch below me."

(End of Chapter)