A Strange Thing

"Generally speaking, it should be the architectural style of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The filth and lack of toilet paper in the toilets can roughly indicate the basic quality of the residents here. The landscaping in the community is quite good, and there are even old ginkgo trees. However, I think this is probably because the old courtyard did not consider landscaping at all."

As Feng Xue walked on the cement road, stepping on this surface that was different from ancient cobblestone and rammed earth roads, and also different from modern asphalt and brick roads, she felt a sense of retroness.

Occasionally, you can see Spring Festival couplets written on red paper on the door frame, but judging from the wear and tear on the edges and the dimness of the characters, they must have been pasted up for quite some time.

There wasn't a particularly strong smell in the air, and while the sky wasn't exceptionally blue, it wasn't smoggy either. Overall, it was a region similar to Yan Country with a certain level of industrialization.

"Is it because of that Jade Pendant? Wuxia World is one thing, but to transmigrate to the modern world, and directly to Yan Kingdom, seems a bit too coincidental."

Feng Xue has always been somewhat allergic to coincidences, but considering that she has the "Lucky Alexandrite Gemstone" and "Hard-fate" Troublemaker Halo, encountering coincidences doesn't seem too strange.

As Feng Xue walked out of the residential compound, he glanced at the Apartment Building. It was similar to the apartment complex he lived in in his previous life. The gatehouse job was basically a cushy job, a job reserved for old men and women with connections to slack off. It was common for cars to go to the gatehouse to find the key and open the gate when they couldn't find the gatehouse.

With the convenience store at the entrance of the community and the workers' school across the street, Feng Xue felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had traveled back to his hometown. However, both the details in the text and the accents of the people were enough to prove that this was not the world he originally lived in.

"How interesting." Feng Xue's gaze swept across the street, and she didn't see many cars. Even Electric Bike and bicycles were quite rare. Occasionally, she could see one or two red taxis and three-wheeled vehicles with wooden planks and canopies passing by. Everything was extremely in line with the characteristics of this era.

Only...

"That shouldn't be the case!"

Feng Xue muttered to herself, although everything in front of her seemed to make sense, according to the setting that "all the doors connecting the rooms above the fiftieth floor are in worlds affected by Weird Tale", this world should not be so "normal". Even if it is not like the previous world where Game Supernatural Tale appear openly, it should still have some small special features like Chen Xiyao's.

But the fact is, Feng Xue has not found even the slightest trace of [knowledge] so far.

"Either there's some kind of Infinite City here serving as the headquarters for Weird Tale, or the Weird Tale in this world are better at disguise and concealment."

Feng Xue made a hypothesis in his mind, but his vigilance increased again. Then, he saw a strange thing.

To be honest, this thing appearing on the street might not seem strange, but placed on the brick streets of such an old neighborhood full of memories, it seems rather out of place.

Looking at the vending machine, Feng Xue took two steps forward, her expression becoming increasingly strange, because this vending machine was an old-fashioned version that was in line with this era, and it didn't even have a display window to show the goods.

Looking at the few drinks with empty boxes, Feng Xue grinned, but still stared at the entrance and casually rolled up a coin and stuffed it in.

Although he didn't know what money looked like in this world, the reason why Phantom Object is called Phantom Object is because even a machine, as long as it has the ability to recognize things, will work.

A coin, carrying the power of a forced purchase, was inserted into the shopping slot. With a soft clinking sound, a soda can rolled out. Feng Xue reached for the drink, but before she could open the can, she suddenly realized something—

"I haven't even chosen what I want to buy yet! Is this some kind of forced sale?"

Feng Xue picked up the black and red aluminum can with a rather stylish design, looked at the logo on it, and his lips twitched. Then, he threw the unopened can into the roadside trash can.

Simply put, the brand written on the can is --

<The Assassin>.

"Grass!"

Although she couldn't detect any trace of [knowledge] or Phantom Object from the can, the feeling of déjà vu made Feng Xue absolutely unwilling to drink it—what if it was an ability similar to Search According to Map, capable of directly transforming False Thing or Phantom Object into corresponding technologies and producing True Thing?

Besides, this stuff isn't something you absolutely have to drink, so Feng Xue thought she should think it over first.

Feng Xue casually tossed the salt into the trash can and wandered aimlessly along the cement road.

Apart from that strange vending machine, the scenery returned to normal.

The aroma of stir-fried dishes wafting from the streets; tables already set up at the dark open-air food stalls, waiting for workers to finish their shifts; a dumpling restaurant with Ultimate Move that looks like it's doing brisk business; and narrow storefronts selling locks, fishing gear, stationery, and all sorts of other trinkets.

Looking at the rows of plastic bottled drinks labeled "Assassin" on the shelves of the convenience store, Feng Xue suddenly felt that she might be being a bit paranoid. After all, she had seen drinks with names like "Scream" and "Season 5" before, so calling them "Assassin" didn't seem to be a big problem.

Of course, that's what they say, but Feng Xue would absolutely never touch that thing. After all, in the world of Weird Tale, you never know when you might fall victim to something.

Only...

Suddenly, a flash of Spiritual Light struck Feng Xue. She immediately took out her Little Notebook and wrote down some words that could be described as demonic. Then, as if nothing had happened, she continued to investigate the customs and culture of this world.

"Boss, give me a stir-fried snail, twenty skewers each of grilled beef tendon and grilled pork tendon, thirty skewers of tripe for hot pot, and a pitcher of ice-cold beer!"

"Okay, please wait a moment!" Although he was a little surprised that Feng Xue had ordered so many seats by herself, the owner didn't say much. He had seen many customers come to reserve seats by themselves beforehand. After giving a greeting, he immediately started tossing the wok...

Feng Xue sat on a small stool, her elbows propped on the low table, scanning the men and women who were gradually gathering around. She listened to their casual chatter, but her gaze was fixed on the television set placed in the corner of the food stall.

This was one of the reasons Feng Xue chose this place; after all, while many small restaurants have TVs, it's quite rare to see one at a street food stall.

Well, in this day and age, it's actually quite common.

Continuing from last time:

The Legend of Sword and Fairy is a well-known IP in the Xianxia genre, right? Does it have Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages? The elders of Mount Shu, right? Is it really that kind of story? The characters of Zuo Ci and Yu Ji, right? Do such things even exist? You won't admit that your ideas are ingrained in your mind.

There are countless orthodox schools of cultivation, and even Daoism wouldn't dare claim to be the originator, because the concept of immortals existed before Daoism, and how to become an immortal has been a pursuit for countless people since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. To use a system that has only existed for less than twenty years as a benchmark—where's your shame? Where's your brain?

Of course, you might not be convinced by just saying this, so let me tell you the specifics.

Ever since the concept of immortals existed, people have been constantly thinking about how to become immortals.

During the Warring States period, the various schools of thought included Yin-Yang theory and Five Elements theory.

There are legends of Xu Fu sailing to find immortals as early as the pre-Qin period. Xu Fu was a member of the Dan Ding lineage, which means alchemy.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling founded the Zhengyi Dao sect, which marked the beginning of the system of ordaining immortal officials.

During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, new schools of thought emerged, such as fasting and eating jade.

It is worth mentioning that these major branches often interact, merge, and then split again.

For example, the Dan Ding School is further divided into two branches: External Alchemy and Internal Alchemy. External Alchemy involves using external objects, while Internal Alchemy seeks power within the body.

Traditional alchemy, including invoking deities, using talismans, and employing feng shui, can all be broadly categorized as external alchemy.

The so-called Golden Elixir Path, Yin Spirit and Yang Spirit, all belong to the Internal Alchemy School.

The currently popular method of cultivating Qi and building a foundation to mastery, structurally speaking, is nothing more than a small branch of the inner alchemy branch on the great tree of the Dan Ding School. To use this to summarize the entire school, I think I need a more severe word than [ignorance].