As Xu Long got closer from the sky, he could see that mountain streams merged and flowed into a large river, and that all the major rivers flowed through the entire territory of Zhuzhou City and into a large lake downstream.
The entire Zhuzhou City is surrounded by water, and water flows through it, which greatly facilitates the Zhuzhou City's agricultural production and commercial development.
In ancient society, wherever a large river flowed, silt would accumulate. As the silt was deposited by the river, people would gradually cultivate the land, and it was only a matter of time before millet and rice grew abundantly along the banks.
Water conservancy facilitates commercial exchange and cultural Fusion, which in turn triggers urban development, leading to population growth. The banks of great rivers have been the birthplace of civilizations since ancient times.
Looking at the densely packed paddy fields, Xu Long knew that Zhuzhou City was definitely not small, and the number of registered households and people under its jurisdiction was enormous.
Rivers have nurtured countless lives!
The general location of the fifth fragment, as indicated by the Divination Talisman talisman, was within Zhuzhou City, but Xu Long did not know exactly where the fragment was.
However, collecting the small worlds to complete the game is not that simple, otherwise he would have already completed the game countless times and called on the Main God to initiate the transfer.
He had only been able to find the location of the fragment by sealing himself off earlier, so it seems there really was someone hiding behind the scenes watching. Xu Long hates these kinds of unseen opponents the most.
Now that he was slightly out of trouble, he thought: I should go into the city to find specific clues about the fragments!
He instructed the Vulture King to slow down again, and after descending for about fifteen minutes, a thick, dark shadow could be seen abruptly blocking the road in the distance.
As they drew closer, the dark figure that seemed to rise from the ground became clearer and clearer. A sudden burst of sharp energy spread through the air. Xu Long knew that this sharp energy must belong to the guards protecting Zhuzhou City. Only a powerful guard could possess such a soaring aura.
Zhuzhou City!
With a thought, Xu Long ordered the Vulture King to fold its massive wings and leap backward like a cannonball, carrying terrifying pressure as it swooped down towards the Zhuzhou City. Xu Long, who had been sitting cross-legged on the Vulture King's back, also stood up.
When they were several hundred meters above the ground of Zhuzhou City, Xu Long took a step. As the surrounding space rapidly distorted, his foot, which had been suspended in the air, landed steadily on the void, as if something was giving Xu Long leverage to descend.
"Bah!"
As soon as the Vulture King sensed that Xu Long had left its body, its enormous wings unfurled, and with the help of the airflow beneath it, it suddenly rose like an Airbus A380 taking off. Within a few breaths, the cry of an eagle echoed from the clouds.
This series of actions, though seemingly lengthy, actually happened in the blink of an eye. Although the Vulture King's movements were incredibly Kung Fu Hustle, his immense pressure could not escape from within and outside Zhuzhou City.
The people inside and outside Zhuzhou City seemed unaware of the earth-shattering scene that had just unfolded. Only Xu Long, with his feet firmly planted in the void, descended step by step from hundreds of meters in the air to the ground as the surrounding space distorted.
Xu Long, a cultivator at the Body Integration, did not reveal any of his aura as he carefully assessed his first impression of Zhuzhou City.
angry!
Indeed, his first impression of Zhuzhou City was that it was vibrant and full of life, which seemed to be due to its large population and countless rivers.
Having witnessed too much of the dark side of this world, Xu Long had never really taken the time to observe what a city should be like amidst the bloodshed and carnage. This was the first time in this world that he had truly experienced what a city that had given birth to civilization should be like.
Youthful energy!
As Xu Long entered the city through the north gate, he heard various sounds as he galloped past the barbican, including the sounds of knights training their horses and the clanging of armor.
After passing through the inner gate, the pace of travel slowed down. This was the inner city, where cattle and horses could be seen entering from the outer city.
The hoofprints made a crisp sound as they trod on the stone pavement. As they passed through the front of the street, Xu Long's furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
He had been pondering the characteristics of the fragments and where they might appear. The clues he knew were that they were located in and around Zhuzhou City, but where exactly?
The inner city is divided into eight horizontal and eight vertical sections, roughly forming a double "well" shape. Rows of shops line both sides of the streets, while residential houses are located in the narrow alleyways.
As you enter along the street, you see pack animals loading and unloading goods. Further ahead is a stone bridge, which is extremely wide. The ancient stone is covered with the Spot after being weathered by wind and rain.
There are docks on both sides of the stone bridge, and crowds throng the area. Every now and then, large boats pass under the stone bridge and enter the docks, and a series of orderly chants erupt from the crowd as the boatmen help the boats dock.
These eight horizontal and eight vertical lines refer to the rivers, bridges, and wharves within the Zhuzhou City!
They are the ones that have sustained the prosperity and vitality of Zhuzhou City!
Xu Long wandered around Zhuzhou City like an outsider. He had already become accustomed to the various styles of the city and was thinking about how to find fragments of information.
Divination Talisman and talismans are no longer of much use. The only way now is to investigate the local gazetteer in Zhuzhou City to find out if there are any clues. The gazetteer is a book that records things big and small in and around the city. When searching for the fragments before, Xu Long had consulted the local county gazetteer quite a bit.
Thinking of the fragments, Xu Long's spirits lifted, and his eyes involuntarily turned to the center of Zhuzhou City— the location of the prefecture. The prefecture gazetteer was usually compiled by specialists in the prefecture government office after verifying various matters of the city.
Xu Long took a step forward, and his figure was already a hundred meters away. This was not a simple case of shrinking the distance to an inch, but rather using his powerful cultivation to compress the distance to his destination. He just wanted to observe the things in the city for a while longer, otherwise he could have arrived at the government office in an instant.
Xu Long, in a secluded spot outside the government office, waved his sleeve and changed into a blue robe and black boots, the attire of a minor official in the government office.
The place he was about to enter was the core of Zhuzhou City, a place where successive governors of the prefecture had served as officials and issued orders. Over the years, it had accumulated a certain amount of positive energy. Xu Long had already observed this place using his aura-gazing technique while walking on the street.
He sensed a powerful righteous energy and abandoned his plan to force his way in. It wasn't that he lacked the strength, but rather that at this moment he only wanted to obtain fragmented clues and did not want to openly oppose the world.
Upon entering the government office, Xu Long saw dozens of minor officials dressed similarly to him. They filed into the backyard, and when Xu Long got to the backyard, he discovered that they were currently working on compiling the local gazetteer of Zhuzhou City.
He moved around several courtyards before finally arriving at the house in Zhuzhou City where he was working to help out.
Surrounded by books and papers, the man appeared somewhat thin, yet exuded a strong scholarly air as he bent over his work.
After entering the room, Xu Long ignored everything else and went straight to the pile of books. Under the pretext of helping, he quickly scanned the books for information about things inside and outside Zhuzhou City.
"Since ancient times, rivers have flowed across the land, and as the great river passed through this area, the ancestors of humankind began to live and multiply in and around Zhuzhou City. Legend has it that the Flame Emperor Shennong, is buried here."
"The ditches and canals in Zhuzhou were all dug by our ancestors, while the rivers were formed naturally. It is because of these rivers that the continuous fields and paths exist inside and outside the city."
"The granaries are full of millet and rice, a land of plenty; there is a saying that if Zhuzhou City alone is bountiful, half of the south will be prosperous."
Xu Long was a great cultivator with a powerful will comparable to that of Saint, which made him extremely fast when scanning the vast number of books. While helping to organize Kung Fu Hustle, he had already finished scanning all the books in one corner.
The local gazetteer records the general location of Zhuzhou City, as well as its prosperity, abundant resources, and peaceful and happy life. Although it did not reach the level of "no one picks up lost items on the road" and "doors are left unlocked at night," it was still like a paradise in this strange world.
Xu Long recalled seeing the dense network of rivers in Zhuzhou City from the sky. According to the local chronicles, the prosperity of Zhuzhou City was closely related to its rivers.
He had been disguised and entered the backyard for about two hours. He had been busy in the office, organizing all sorts of books, and had a general understanding of the appearance of Zhuzhou City.
The willpower comparable to that of a demigod scanned these mortal books without any difficulty, but Xu Long still had a question in his mind:
What is the population of Zhuzhou City?
The local gazetteer repeatedly mentions the vast land and abundant resources, as well as the large number of people, but it does not record the specific number of people. Xu Long couldn't help but turn his gaze to the center of the room.
In the center of the room, piled high with books, stood a huge desk, and a figure, buried in papers, was hunched over it.
"Call..."
A sudden gust of wind caused the lamp on the desk to dance wildly, the tiny flame shrinking rapidly in the wind before it touched the bottom of the oil lamp and reignited with a burst of sparks.
"This humble servant offers you fragrant tea; please enjoy it, sir."
He paused briefly as he was writing furiously. He raised his graying temples and glanced at the tea on the table.
He didn't immediately look at the person who had spoken. Instead, he opened his palms to protect the flickering lamp flame, then waved for the person to leave.
By this time, the minor officials in blue robes had gradually left the room, and the sound of turning pages had ceased, making the surroundings suddenly quieter.
Xu Long stared intently at the man leaning back in his chair, then extended his will and began Dream Soul Search without hesitation.
Xu Long had kept the Dream World Fragment that he obtained from Hu Chuer within his body. Even in Xu Long's eyes, who had witnessed many strange things, the function of this small fragment was quite miraculous.
He hadn't forgotten the souls of all sorts of people that had been absorbed in that dilapidated temple in Ji Province, their very thoughts contained within it; that dreamlike experience was utterly captivating.
Although Hu Chuer had not yet fully mastered the Dream World at that time, she still absorbed a considerable amount of soul energy through her utterly depraved methods.
However, the master of the Dream World could completely read the soul within it, and Xu Long saw the mystery of this Dream World Fragment.
If one could grasp some of the functions of the Dream World, then after luring someone into the dream, one could boldly read the soul of the person entering the Dream World, and whether or not to absorb their soul energy would be a matter of a single thought.
This is far more advanced than forced soul searching. In the Dream World, people reveal their true feelings and can obtain more complete memories. They can even recall things they can't remember themselves in the mysterious dream world.
All signs indicate that if the functions of the Dream World were fully mastered and developed, it would create a mysterious world. No wonder Hu Chuer harbored such deep hatred for him; it was even more painful than killing one's parents.
However, using the Dream Soul Search is not without its backlashes. If the opponent is a powerful cultivator with a soul tempered even more robust than the owner of the Dream World Fragment, then it might turn the tables on Xu Long, who dealt with Master Roshi and Hu Chuer.
However, Xu Long's soul possesses Indestructible Will that will never fade. This is a powerful will that one must possess before becoming Saint, and he is a top-tier existence in this world. He is not afraid of anyone turning against him when he uses the Dream Soul Search.
" Zhang Leshan, an official in Zhuzhou City, submitted a memorial to the emperor five years ago, which was rejected, and he was demoted to this place as an official."
" Zhuzhou City has been a city of agriculture and commerce since ancient times, and its people are generally prosperous. There are many population counts. Since I took office in Zhuzhou City five years ago, the total population is nearly three million."
" Zhuzhou City has many waterways, with numerous rivers flowing through the city. Outside the South Gate, many painted boats make a living by these waterways."
"Ta Yao Niang is a woman from a water-dwelling family, living on a boat. She is charming and endearing, and evokes pity in people."
"..."
Xu Long used the function of the Dream World Fragment to carefully read the memories of Zhang Leshan, who was an official in Zhuzhou City.
Zhang Leshan was demoted to Zhuzhou City five years ago for his remonstrance. During his tenure in Zhuzhou City, he was inevitably filled with melancholy, but he still did a very good job compiling the local gazetteer.
What surprised Xu Long the most was that he found the population of Zhuzhou City from Zhang Leshan:
Nearly three million!
It is important to understand that in ancient times, population size was always a problem that troubled officials due to various natural disasters and man-made calamities.
There was no advanced industrial productivity or hospitals here that could save lives at any time. In the extremely underdeveloped society of ancient times, people's lifespans were greatly reduced, and fifty was considered a long life.
It's important to understand that this bizarre and chaotic world, teeming with demons, is far from peaceful. The Tushan Clan, which Xu Long previously annihilated, was a top predator, and the amount of blood they needed to devour upon awakening was only about 100,000 people.
A population of nearly three million in one place is simply a terrifying number!
Xu Long suppressed his surprise. He had previously guessed the population of Zhuzhou City Zhuzhou City seeing its prosperity, but now, knowing the exact number in Zhang Leshan's dream, he felt a sense of doubt.
This doubt came and went quickly. Before Xu Long could investigate further, he quickly shifted his attention to the "Ta Yao Niang" group.
According to Zhang Leshan's recollection, the prosperous output of Zhuzhou City led to a large population, and various industries flourished. Among them, the "service industry," which was tailored to local conditions, was particularly distinctive.
The "Ta Yao Niang" group consists of special service industry workers in Zhuzhou City. Zhang Leshan came to Zhuzhou to serve the people of Zhuzhou, but he had nowhere to express his melancholy and unfulfilled talent.
On the boathouse outside the South Gate, at a gathering of officials, amidst the bright lights and revelry of the banquet, surrounded by beautiful women, in the midst of singing and dancing, in the misty haze of girls offering toasts, and in the bosom of the swaying maidens...
Zhang Leshan's melancholy and frustration at not being recognized for his talents were relieved, and he felt a lingering, satisfied release. For the first time, he thought that being demoted to Zhuzhou might not be so bad after all.
Good heavens, it seems that regardless of time or place, perverts are the primary consumer force!
After Xu Long finished exploring Zhang Leshan's dream memories, he did not reclaim the function of the Dream World Fragment. At this time, Zhang Leshan was still asleep, leaning against the chair.
Xu Long suppressed his thoughts about Zhang Leshan's romantic encounter with Ta Yaoniang in the Dream World; now, the first person, Wu, was searching for the fifth fragment of the small world!
After a while, Xu Long, dressed in a blue robe and black boots, slowly withdrew from the backyard. No one in the government office noticed this inconspicuous little character. After cautiously leaving the city, he boarded the Vulture King, which had been waiting on the ground for a long time, in a secluded place.
A strong wind blew up, and the Vulture King soared straight into the sky. It had come from the north and headed south, but this time, after taking off, the vulture Vulture King headed south at full speed. The clouds in the sky cracked silently, and the Vulture King's wings tore through the sky.
Just ten minutes later, the bright sunlight shining through the thick clouds suddenly dimmed, and the Zhuzhou City also darkened slightly. Something silently swept south across the sky, moving at an extremely fast speed that made it impossible to see anything.
"Smack!"
Half an hour later, inside the Zhuzhou government office, a gentle breeze blew into the backyard room, and the oil lamp on the table suddenly burst into flame. " Zhang Leshan," who was leaning against the chair, slowly opened his eyes, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
The flames on the table occasionally burst into sparks in the dim room, casting a long shadow of Zhang Leshan, who was leaning against the chair.
For a fleeting moment, the flames, burning the wax, leaped up and cast thick, god-like shadows on the wall.
This time, Zhang Leshan didn't use his palm to protect the flames that were fluttering in the wind and seemed ready to be extinguished at any moment. He simply looked coldly at everything around him.
He then subconsciously looked up at the sky, a glint of light, seemingly not belonging to ordinary people, flashing in his faint eyes. Under the flickering light, Zhang Leshan's face seemed somewhat blurry at this moment.
People inside and outside Zhuzhou City naturally had no idea what was happening in the clouds ten thousand meters above; at most, they felt the sky darken.
However, for these ordinary descendants, a slight darkening of the sky did not move them to reflect, or rather, the question of how to solve dinner that night was a much bigger headache.
The first two questions were not important to Zhang Leshan, who was working in the prefectural government. Although he had been demoted to this place, he was still a proper official in the Zhuzhou City government. In modern times, our old Zhang would have been a civil servant with a formal position!
The highest-ranking official in the Zhuzhou City government was naturally the Prefect, but he was also a pillar of the government. Compiling the local gazetteer was just part of his job, and drafting laws and regulations was also his duty.
Because of his power, everyone must show him respect!
Zhang Leshan had no other hobbies. He had long been tired of the routines and human nature of officialdom, and his heart had become numb from wasting his years in Zhuzhou City.
Those smiles and kind words were only meant for the officials in the government office; who could understand Zhang Leshan's melancholy and his unfulfilled ambitions?
Zhang Leshan didn't know this before, but it was through the boat girls at the boat workshop that he first felt the beauty and uniqueness of Zhang Leshan Zhuzhou City. All his grievances were released in the gentle and full breasts of the boat girls.
Ah, no! Ugh!
The purpose of the visit was naturally to investigate the service industry in Zhuzhou City. The purpose of the visit to the boat boarding workshop was to inspect whether there were any leaky or dilapidated boats. Finally, the visit was also to express condolences to the unique group of boat-riding women who contributed a great deal of tax revenue to the government.
Although the way of expressing condolences was a bit special and the time spent on it was a little longer, it fully demonstrated my dedication and responsibility as a resident of Zhuzhou City Zhang Leshan!
Zhang Leshan tidied up the books in front of him, glanced at the sky, and thought, "Hmm, it's about time I put down my work and go visit the Ta Yao Niang group."
It's all part of the job, so let's not differentiate between us!
The prosperity of Zhuzhou City spurred the development of the service industry, and the riverside outside the South Gate was filled with painted boats. There were many boat houses on the river. Looking north, it was already dark, and it was a full moon.
The space between the water and the sky was pitch black, yet from a distance it looked like twinkling lights, as if the Milky Way had fallen into the sea and was flowing in a mighty torrent. The interconnected drumbeats sounded like the city's unique clock.
The women of the Tiaoyaoniang (a type of boat-riding troupe) lived on the boat houses and entertained guests there. They would watch the painted boats of all sizes on the riverbank, and at night, the colorful lanterns would illuminate the South Gate as if it were daytime.
According to Zhang Leshan, who has been compiling the local chronicles for a long time, the rivers, large and small, inside and outside Zhuzhou City have made great contributions. They not only bear the heavy burden of agriculture and commerce, but also support the dense service industry along the river.
You've really worked hard!
This was certainly not Zhang Leshan's first time having a banquet at the boat shop. After leaving the south gate, he summoned a small boat and arrived at the large teapot at the entrance of the boat shop, where he immediately spotted the official.
"At the behest of the adults, I, a lowly servant, will guide them."
The large teapot in front of the door rushed to greet Zhang Leshan, then led him through the doorway and skillfully took the heavy coat that Zhang Leshan had taken off.
Zhang Leshan gave the order, "Bring four small side dishes to flatten the dish, three large dishes to light up the plate, and a pot of warm wine, Chen Shao's will be fine!"
Alright!
As soon as Zhang Leshan sat down, he casually began to speak. After listening to the same recipe as usual, the servant who was serving him responded and went to the kitchen.
Zhang Leshan sat leisurely in the banquet hall of the boat shop, occasionally joking with the waiter beside him, asking if there were any wealthy guests recently, or if any wives had married or entered into marriage.
The waiter was extremely respectful to him and answered all his questions.
The shipyard was decorated in an extremely high-class manner. The banquet hall was filled with antiques, draped with gold-flecked curtains, and a band was playing traditional Chinese string and wind instruments. In the front hall, twelve geishas dressed in palace attire were dancing to music.
To a modern person, all of this, with its distinctly antique charm, would certainly look down upon all the trinkets on the bar street.
Since entering the boatyard, Zhang Leshan's eyes had been constantly scanning his surroundings. While he was on the riverbank, he had explored the waterways in various ways to find anything different. Although he seemed to be chatting leisurely on the boatyard, he had not stopped thinking about this place.
After a while, a waiter came to pour wine for Zhang Leshan. They were already familiar with this official from the government office, so their words were naturally full of respect and flattery.
Amidst the flattery of his servants, Zhang Leshan soon became slightly tipsy, his cheeks flushed a little more than when he arrived.
The people and things around him gradually became blurry. He didn't put down his wine glass, nor did he stop thinking. However, to outsiders, it seemed that the official was getting drunk a little faster tonight.
A woman emerged from behind the pillars and curtains of the boatyard shortly after. She smiled at Zhang Leshan Zhang Leshan moment she saw him, but her pupils constricted sharply when she got closer and saw his face.
The strange look in the woman's eyes when she saw Zhang Leshan disappeared in an instant; she even had a smile on her face.
The woman was dressed in a red silk robe, her hair was styled in a bun and adorned with delicate pearl and jade ornaments, and her cheeks were heavily powdered. A strong, almost intoxicating fragrance emanated from her, making her instantly recognizable even before she approached.
The owner of the boat shop, Madam Song!
"Your Excellency is in high spirits, but the boat house is fully booked tonight. The young ladies will all be resting here. If you have something on your mind tonight, please speak here. We cannot accommodate you overnight at the boat house. We are truly sorry, Your Excellency."
Madam Song approached Zhang Leshan, first waving her hand in a gesture of respect, then rose and personally poured Zhang Leshan a cup of wine. After serving Zhang Leshan the wine, she slowly spoke a few words.
"I can't stay overnight either?"
"Um... I'm so sorry, sir."
Zhang Leshan didn't look at Madam Song; he simply picked up his wine glass and stared at the liquid, muttering to himself as if he were a drunkard.
Seeing this, Madam Song's pupils dilated slightly, and then she frowned and said to Zhang Leshan with a wronged expression.
It should be noted that Zhang Leshan was an official in the Zhuzhou City government, and even the prefect treated him with great respect. However, since the boatyard was full, he could not be allowed to stay overnight, which was by no means a sign of disrespect.
Madam Song was just a businesswoman; she would never refuse Zhang Leshan's silver notes, nor would she dare to refuse the officials of the Zhuzhou City government. Despite his seemingly drunken state, Zhang Leshan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Madam Song dared not neglect Zhang Leshan, so she declined to let him stay overnight and hurriedly called over a few boatmen from the boat shop to keep him company with drinks.
At that moment, a fragrant breeze wafted through the air, and two more beautiful women sat down on either side of Zhang Leshan. They clinked glasses, exchanging sweet whispers, creating an atmosphere of Wuxian romance.
Zhang Leshan, a seasoned veteran of countless romantic encounters, was confident he wouldn't be stumped by such a simple trick.
Everyone has lustful desires; even Heaven cannot forbid them, and even Kami cannot escape them. I, Zhang Leshan, can only enjoy them to the fullest.
Those two rosy lips, light as a touch, and those delicate fingers, firm as jade, made a sudden surge of heat within the two young women. They wondered where the old master had learned such seductive skills in just a few days.
A fragrant breeze filled the banquet hall. The waiter changed into warmed daughter's red wine. Under the candlelight, the young lady had an apricot-shaped face, peach-blossom cheeks, red lips, and a pink neck. I, Zhang Leshan, frequently raised my cup on the table with one hand, while the other hand groped inside the young lady's sleeve.
Despite his graying temples, Zhang Leshan's lust had not subsided, while the two young women beside him had experienced their desires reignited several times.
Zhang Leshan's face was flushed. He seemed to be half-drunk between the two women, performing some kind of Kung Fu Hustle in the sleeves of the two women. Then, with a mouthful of wine in his throat, he swallowed it in one Kung Fu Hustle while the two women leaned against him.