Chapter 16: Patrol

Zhang Yu glanced back at Zhao Tianxing, who was still standing rooted to the spot, and urged, "Get to work, Xiao Zhao! Why are you just standing around idling?"

Zhao Tianxing quickly followed suit but couldn't help but turn back to cast a few more glances at Bai Zhenzhen, who was serving dishes. He thought to himself, "If I tell them back at school, they'll never believe it—Bai Zhenzhen working a job? What happened to her family?"

After another round of patrolling, Zhao Tianxing followed Zhang Yu into an empty emergency exit stairwell. He watched as Zhang Yu suddenly sat down cross-legged and said, "Don't just stand there. Let's take a break together."

Zhao Tianxing replied, "Huh? But the captain told us to keep patrolling. What if he finds out..."

Zhang Yu interjected, "The art exhibition hasn't even started yet, so what's there to patrol? Besides, in this central building, are you really worried about something going wrong?"

With a smile, Zhang Yu added, "Besides, didn't you want to talk to me? This is a good chance for me to tell you about the 'way of the security guard'."

Hearing this, Zhao Tianxing recalled Wang Hai's instructions.

Across from him, Zhang Yu boldly declared, "Being a security guard is all about slacking off!"

Zhao Tianxing gasped, "Huh?"

Zhang Yu continued, "If you patrol a few more times or a few less, will your pay change?"

Zhao Tianxing hesitated, then asked, "I guess... no?"

Zhang Yu then asked, "With or without us, will the security level of this venue decrease?"

Zhao Tianxing scratched his scalp. "I guess... no? But..."

Zhang Yu finished, "But the time we 'steal' is our own. Alright, I'll rest for a bit now. We can go out later once the art exhibition officially begins."

Zhao Tianxing watched Zhang Yu, who had closed his eyes and begun to meditate, feeling a surge of nervousness. He was afraid of being caught slacking off by their superiors.

He glanced again at Zhang Yu, who was fully engrossed in his meditation. Zhao Tianxing admired his ability to seize every moment for cultivation, yet also felt his carefree attitude was a bit too much.

"Wait," Zhao Tianxing suddenly thought. "Wasn't I supposed to talk to him about him buying medicine? How did we end up talking about slacking off?"

Suddenly, Zhao Tianxing's eyes moved, and he pondered Zhang Yu's recent words.

Zhao Tianxing was not very good at socializing. He was sensitive and thoughtful, always caring about what others thought, and prone to overthinking.

Recalling Zhang Yu's words just now, he realized that everything seemed to align with his own actions.

"If I ask him a few more questions, or a few less, will Teacher Wang Hai stop guiding me?"

"If Teacher Wang Hai doesn't have me to gather information, will he be unable to find anything at all?"

"Has Zhang Yu already figured out what I'm trying to do? Is he intentionally hinting at me, telling me to slack off too?"

As he thought this, Zhao Tianxing looked at Zhang Yu, who was still meditating, and suddenly felt that his breathing seemed to become profound and mysterious.

As his spiritual energy flowed through his body, Zhang Yu silently circulated it through one complete cycle, advancing his Universal Qi Gathering Technique to (13/80). Right then, the art exhibition finally began.

"As expected of an exhibition hosted by Ms. Li," Zhao Tianxing exclaimed inwardly, "all the guests are either rich or noble."

Looking at the stream of guests attending the exhibition, Zhao Tianxing felt a heartfelt admiration.

Although he didn't know who any of these people were, their luxurious clothing and accessories alone showed that each item was incredibly valuable.

Even though Zhao Tianxing's father was a minor executive at a company and their family was quite well-off, he could still recognize many luxury items on these guests that his family could definitely not afford.

Just then, Zhang Yu whispered from beside him, "Old Zhao, look at that!"

Zhao Tianxing followed the direction of Zhang Yu's subtle nod and immediately saw a shimmering golden figure entering, surrounded by a crowd.

He focused his gaze and realized that the person's entire skin appeared to be covered in a layer of gold foil, reflecting faint golden light.

Zhang Yu, curious, asked, "What is that? A robot?"

Zhao Tianxing quickly covered Zhang Yu's mouth, nervously watching to see if the golden figure looked their way. Only when it didn't did he softly let out a breath.

Then Zhao Tianxing released his hand and explained, "That's the director of Xianyun Group for Songyang City. You absolutely mustn't speak carelessly."

"Xianyun Group?" Zhang Yu asked, looking curiously at the golden figure. "Then why does he... look so shiny?"

Zhao Tianxing explained, "That's a Dharma Skeleton. Didn't you know?"

Seeing Zhang Yu's bewildered expression, Zhao Tianxing figured his family probably didn't have exposure to such things, so he patiently explained, "A Dharma Skeleton... how should I put it? It's somewhat like a prosthetic limb, but far, far stronger than any prosthetic. Moreover, in terms of immortal cultivation technology, Dharma Skeletons have been developed to encompass the entire human body. It's like being able to replace any part of the human body with a magical artifact, drastically improving various abilities while retaining original functions. However, one must have spiritual energy exceeding 100 to have a Dharma Skeleton implanted in their body..."

Zhang Yu's eyes flickered at this. He knew that 100 spiritual energy was already the upper limit for cultivators at the Qi Refining stage.

He asked, "Can a Dharma Skeleton be implanted with 100 spiritual energy, or does one need to reach the Foundation Establishment stage first?"

Zhao Tianxing replied, "100 spiritual energy is enough, but this person is genuinely in the Foundation Establishment realm, comes from a prestigious family, and graduated from Ten Thousand Dharma University."

Zhang Yu understood. So a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, after graduating from university, came here to 'fry fish' – showing off and putting down these stubborn Qi Refining cultivators, right?

As more and more guests arrived, Zhang Yu spotted two more individuals who seemed to possess Dharma Skeletons: one with eyes like gemstones, and another with a halo appearing behind their head. Their appearance was strikingly different from the other wealthy individuals around them.

These two, along with the golden-skinned director from Xianyun Group, seemed to form three centers of attention, constantly drawing Qi Refining cultivators who looked as if they wanted to kneel and kowtow to them.

Zhao Tianxing, by now, seemed to have gradually gotten used to his security guard uniform, no longer appearing so awkward watching the guests come and go.

As the two patrolled, they inadvertently overheard some conversations among the guests.

Some marvelled at Ms. Li Xuelian's immense wealth and power.

Others praised the excellence of the paintings at the exhibition and estimated their immense value.

Naturally, some also spoke of the "Heaven and Human Martial Arts Painting" personally painted by a Golden Core True Master.

"Brother Li? Could it be that you've also come to study the Heaven and Human Martial Arts Painting personally created by Senior Xinghuo?"

"Of course. If any young prodigy under 18 can master the martial arts within it, Senior Xinghuo will directly take them as a disciple. This news has long spread throughout our Songyang cultivation world, so how could I not come?"

"What? There's information like that?" Zhang Yu thought to himself. "And it's spread throughout the Songyang cultivation world? How come I didn't know?"

Perhaps small fries in the cultivation world weren't deemed worthy of knowing?

However, Zhang Yu suppressed his questions for now, deciding to carry out his duties as a security guard.

He approached the speaker and politely asked, "Sir, are you alright?"

The young man who had just spoken had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, clearly an extraordinary individual. He looked at the security guard, puzzled. "What could be wrong with me?"

The young man stated proudly, "I am Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School. Can't you see I'm talking to a friend?"

Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing looked at him, then at his so-called 'friend'.

It was a box placed on the table, its surface covered in a distinctive wooden grain, and its size looked exactly like an urn.

Zhang Yu couldn't help but think, "Is he schizophrenic? Driven mad by studying?"

However, Zhang Yu did know a little about Ziyun High School, which the young man mentioned. It was a top-tier high school, even more formidable than Songyang High School, one of Songyang City's three most prestigious schools. The old Zhang Yu wouldn't even have qualified to apply, let alone dared to dream of attending.

It was said that Ziyun High School's past principals were infamous for their cruel methods, appalling pressure, and hellishly strict school rules.

Everything at Songyang High School paled in comparison; the legendary campus caste system, students with poor grades eating in toilets, the rule that the weak should kneel before the strong, and so on... all were enough to make students from other high schools tremble with fear.

Looking at Lian Tianji, who was currently talking to an 'urn', Zhang Yu couldn't help but sigh, concluding that Ziyun High School truly drove people mad.

But just then, the 'urn' spoke, "Brother Lian, these two security guards must have misunderstood."

"I am Li Xingyu, a Soul Cultivator student from Mangshan High School."

Mangshan High School? A Soul Cultivator student?

Zhang Yu remembered – wasn't that the high school he had once tried to apply to?

Although he knew that Soul Cultivator students, besides having lower total score requirements for the college entrance exam and pursuing a specialized path, also had to abandon their physical bodies.

But seeing the 'urn' on the table, he was still greatly shocked. "Mangshan High School really does turn people into ghosts."

Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing quickly apologized and departed. Then they watched as Lian Tianji and Li Xingyu conversed for a few more moments, and then four propeller-like devices extended from the 'urn', which then flew away like a drone.

Watching this scene, Zhang Yu secretly felt grateful that his original self hadn't chosen the path of a Soul Cultivator. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to cultivate an air of immortality, let alone be a true immortal cultivator.

"Wait," he thought. "That Soul Cultivator student has no physical body. How does he plan to practice the martial arts from the Heaven and Human Martial Arts Painting?"

He then recalled the information the two had just shared about the Heaven and Human Martial Arts Painting.

"If that's true, then this art exhibition will probably attract many talented youths under 18, all just trying to master the peerless martial arts depicted in that painting?"

Thinking this, Zhang Yu found himself growing even more excited about the exhibition.

With a salary of 400 per hour, not only did he get paid and see a show, but he also had a chance to comprehend peerless martial arts. Who said this job was bad? It was fantastic!

He turned to Zhao Tianxing beside him and asked, "How about it, Old Zhao? Are you interested in the peerless martial arts from the Heaven and Human Martial Arts Painting?"

Zhao Tianxing naturally shook his head.

He knew himself well. Such a thing, which by its very description could only be mastered by true geniuses or the wealthy, had no relevance to ordinary people like them.

Not only was he uninterested, but at that moment, he only felt like retreating. Even if the Heaven and Human Martial Arts Painting were unveiled soon, he wouldn't even want to try, fearing he would make a fool of himself in front of everyone.

A moment later, Zhao Tianxing, who had just begun to adapt to his role as a security guard, wished he could cover his face and run away, immediately shedding his uniform.

Zhang Yu glanced at Zhao Tianxing, who had quickly turned away, then looked in the direction Zhao Tianxing had been facing. He immediately spotted several familiar faces.

"Huh? Isn't that Qian Shen? And aren't those other guys from our school too?"

Qian Shen was an academic overachiever who had consistently ranked second in the grade since the beginning of the school year, always right behind Bai Zhenzhen in overall scores.

Zhang Yu patted Zhao Tianxing's shoulder and said, "Old Zhao, look, aren't those our classmates?"

Zhao Tianxing quickly pulled Zhang Yu closer, nervously saying, "Turn around quickly! Don't let them see us!"