Upon hearing the words "Golden Core True Person," Zhao Tianxing, who was in the car, was slightly startled, then disbelievingly asked, "Why would the daughter of a Golden Core True Person come to Songyang?"
Zhang Yu, standing nearby, also nodded slightly. He knew that above Qi Refinement was Foundation Establishment, and only above Foundation Establishment was the Golden Core stage.
To achieve the Golden Core stage, one would surely have graduated from a prestigious high school, successfully gained admission to one of the top ten renowned universities, and further developed within a major sect. It was hard to imagine what level of Kunxu they would have ascended to.
The daughter of such a person would, at the very least, be born into Kunxu's second layer or higher. How could she come to Songyang City, which was on the first layer?
The driver smiled faintly upon hearing this, seeming to want to show off, and slowly said, "It's not just Ms. Li Xuelian who's coming to Songyang City."
"It's said that her father, True Person Xinghuo, actually originated from our Songyang City. He's retiring now, and that's why he plans to return to Songyang City to enjoy his golden years..."
Zhang Yu, however, found it strange. A Golden Core grand cultivator returning to a beginner village to retire?
The driver continued, "This art exhibition isn't just showcasing Ms. Li's paintings. It's rumored there's also a 'Celestial Martial Arts Diagram' personally painted by True Person Xinghuo, which is said to conceal a peerless martial art."
"Among those attending this exhibition, besides those wishing to befriend Ms. Li, many also hope to study this martial arts diagram and decipher the supreme martial art hidden within it."
Songyang Central Tower.
999th Floor.
Zhang Yu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing in awe at the rolling sea of clouds below. It was his first time looking down on the entire city from such an immense height.
Adjusting his newly changed security uniform, Zhang Yu felt a pang of emotion.
Since entering the Central Tower, Zhang Yu felt as if he had stepped into another fantastical world.
If the suburban environment where he lived still somewhat resembled his previous life, then Songyang High School's infrastructure had already subtly surpassed his previous world in various aspects. As for the Central Tower before him...
Both its astonishing 999-story height and the various immortal cultivation technologies permeating the tower, filled with flowing spiritual energy, were truly dreamlike sights.
Recalling how he was transported to the 999th floor by a formation within seconds, aided by Daoist magic, yet emerged completely unharmed, Zhang Yu couldn't help but feel amazed once more.
"Though all part of Songyang City, ordinary people live in the suburbs, cultivators gather in the city center, and this Central Tower is truly the domain of the wealthy."
"Three places, all within one city, yet like three distinct layered worlds..."
Just then, Zhao Tianxing's voice sounded from behind Zhang Yu: "Zhang Yu, the captain told us to patrol. We should get going, right?"
Zhang Yu turned his head to look at Zhao Tianxing, who was also wearing a security uniform behind him.
Unlike Zhang Yu, who wore the security uniform with ease, Zhao Tianxing appeared extremely awkward and timid, looking utterly pathetic, as if he had soiled his pants.
He constantly felt like a clown in the security uniform, imagining that everyone around him looked at him with a mix of scorn, disdain, and contempt.
In reality, Zhao Tianxing was overthinking it. After putting on the security uniform, he was no longer an ordinary person; he became like a background prop in the tower, his presence barely more noticeable than the potted plants to most people.
Zhang Yu clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Chin up, chest out! We're security guards for the Central Tower, not delivery people. What are you so afraid of?"
Feeling that passersby around them seemed to be drawn by Zhang Yu's voice, Zhao Tianxing quickly said, "I get it, Zhang Yu. Just speak a bit softer, don't disturb others."
The art exhibition was quite large, occupying thousands of square meters, and offered drinks and a buffet. To Zhang Yu, it felt more like a social gathering than an art show.
The legendary Celestial Martial Arts Diagram was currently covered by a curtain, reportedly waiting for Ms. Li Xuelian to personally unveil it.
Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing were assigned to patrol an area near the edge of the venue as security guards.
Since the exhibition hadn't officially begun yet, their patrol duty felt incredibly relaxed, and it didn't trigger any ritual backlash.
After all, the ritual power on Zhang Yu was aimed at fulfilling wishes.
His method for fulfilling these wishes involved studying, cultivating, striving to get into university, working to earn money... ultimately to fulfill the evil god's wishes.
Temporary work, for instance, was part of earning money and even cultivation/study, so the ritual power wouldn't force him to do anything else.
In fact, leisurely wandering around at the moment was far more relaxing for Zhang Yu than the strenuous cultivation he had undergone in the past few days.
Just then, as the two approached the dining tables, they saw a group of attendants arranging plates and tidying table decorations.
Zhang Yu glanced over, looking at the platters of dishes being laid out, and exclaimed in surprise, "Is this... seafood?"
Zhao Tianxing also looked, seeing abalone and lobster on the plates... He nodded slightly, "They're marine creatures. I saw the shelled ones when I went out with my mom; I think they cost thirty to forty thousand per jin."
"But this is the Central Tower, so it's normal for them to have these, right?"
Seafood was not uncommon for Zhang Yu in his previous life, and he had eaten it frequently.
However, within Kunxu, at least on its first layer, marine life was extremely rare. The original Zhang Yu had only seen it online; in reality, he had never even seen it, let alone tasted it.
This was because there were no oceans in the entire 20 million-plus square kilometers of Kunxu's first layer.
It was said that the marine life available on the market was either imported from higher layers of Kunxu or cultivated by various organizations in artificial marine environments.
Hearing Zhao Tianxing mention the price of tens of thousands per jin, Zhang Yu secretly gasped. "That expensive?"
"What benefits do these provide? Can they increase spiritual power?"
It was no wonder Zhang Yu thought this way. In the immortal cultivation world he knew, both as his original self and now, everyone advanced by any means necessary, striving with all their might to improve their spiritual power, martial arts, Daoist techniques, physical bodies, and Dao Heart...
Clothing, food, housing, transportation... every aspect of life was connected to improving one's cultivation.
"Benefits?" Zhao Tianxing pondered upon hearing this, then shook his head. "I've never heard of any benefits from eating these. I think they're just for good taste."
"Just for good taste?" Zhang Yu stared at the platters of delicacies on the table, slightly stunned.
As Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing secretly observed the dining tables together, a cool, clear voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
"You two security guards, instead of patrolling properly, what are you sneaking around doing here?"
Startled by the voice, Zhao Tianxing spun around and quickly explained, "We weren't doing anything..."
But upon seeing the person behind them, Zhao Tianxing froze on the spot.
Zhang Yu, however, calmly turned around, looked at Bai Zhenzhen, and said, "Oh? It's Ah Zhen. What a coincidence, are you here for the art exhibition too?"
Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxing, realizing the person was a classmate, felt his security uniform grow even uglier and more unsightly. He awkwardly twisted and fidgeted, as if desperately needing to relieve himself right there.
The thought that if word got out among their classmates that he was working as a security guard, he would be labeled as poor, a laborer, short on money, and his status and reputation within their social circle would plummet, made Zhao Tianxing squirm even more.
Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu expressionlessly and said, "I didn't expect you two, so young, to cut out decades of detours and come here to be security guards."
Zhao Tianxing quickly waved his hands, explaining, "No, that's not it, classmate Bai Zhenzhen. I just came with Zhang Yu."
Zhang Yu, however, clapped a hand firmly on Zhao Tianxing's shoulder. "Why are you panicking? You're a temporary security guard earning 800 per hour, an hourly wage that can cover an ordinary person's food and drink for ten days! Countless people would envy that."
"Huh?" Zhao Tianxing was slightly taken aback by this. He had never considered an hourly wage of 800 to be particularly impressive.
But as he looked at Bai Zhenzhen, who had suddenly fallen silent, he felt a chill emanating from her.
Zhao Tianxing was never very familiar with this talented girl who ranked first in the entire grade. He only knew that she always seemed aloof and unapproachable, only eating with Zhang Yu, Zhou Tianyi, and a few others.
In fact, Zhao Tianxing's social circle had tried inviting her, but always without a response.
In his mind, Bai Zhenzhen was a prodigiously talented yet extremely proud and unapproachable girl.
Now, seeing her expressionless and silent, Zhao Tianxing felt as if she were angry.
"Zhang Yu must have said something to upset her."
As he squirmed and racked his brain for something to say to lighten the mood, he heard Bai Zhenzhen coldly ask, "You can get 800 per hour?"
"Yes." Zhao Tianxing nodded foolishly, not understanding what she was getting at.
Just then, a call came from the other side of the dining tables. An attendant, who was setting up, shouted, "Newcomers, hurry up and bring the dishes! What are you standing around for?"
Bai Zhenzhen said to Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing, "I'm going to get the dishes now. We can talk later."
At the same time, she thought to herself, "Damn! Security guards can earn 800 an hour? I only get 500! If I had known, I would have become a security guard instead."
Only then did Zhao Tianxing notice that Bai Zhenzhen's attire was identical to the other attendants. He said, shocked, "Bai Zhenzhen is working here too?"
"What's so strange? Who in this world isn't working?" Zhang Yu, however, had recognized Bai Zhenzhen's attire immediately, and to him, given her financial situation, it was perfectly normal for her to be working.
Yet, the thought that she could maintain her overall grade as the top student while working part-time secretly astonished him.
"Ah Zhen's talent is truly extraordinary. Among all the newly admitted disciples of my Songyang Sect, she's probably only slightly behind me."
[8 minutes ago] Chapter 1429: Stone Jar Reveals a Shocking World
[16 minutes ago] Chapter 771: Entering the Tomb
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