Chapter 15
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Chapter 15: Central Tower
Hearing the words ‘Golden Core Expert’, Zhao Tianxing in the car was slightly startled, then disbelieving. “Why would a Golden Core expert’s daughter come to Songyang?”
Zhang Yu nodded slightly beside him. He knew that Qi Refining was followed by Foundation Establishment, and then above that was Golden Core.
To achieve Golden Core, one would have to graduate from a Key High School, successfully enter one of the Ten Greats universities, and then advance through a Great Sect. Who knew how many layers of the Kunxu Realm they must have climbed?
Such a person’s daughter would likely start at the second layer of Kunxu or higher from birth. Why would she come to Songyang City, which was on the first layer?
The driver, hearing this, smiled faintly, seemingly wanting to show off. He said slowly, “It’s not just Ms. Li Xuelian who’s coming to Songyang City.”
“Rumor has it that her father, True Person Starfire, actually hails from our Songyang City. Now that he’s retiring, he plans to return here to spend his remaining years in peace…”
Zhang Yu found this strange. A mighty Golden Core expert returning to the ‘newbie village’ to retire?
The driver continued, “This art exhibition will feature more than just Ms. Li’s paintings. It’s said that True Person Starfire himself painted a Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait, which supposedly conceals a peerless martial arts technique.”
“Among those attending this exhibition, besides those hoping to connect with Ms. Li, many attendees are coming to comprehend the Martial Arts Portrait, hoping to decipher the peerless martial arts technique hidden within.”
***
Songyang Central Tower.
999th Floor.
Zhang Yu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing in awe at the billowing sea of clouds below. This was his first time looking down at the entire city from such a height.
Adjusting his newly issued security guard uniform, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but marvel.
Ever since entering the Central Tower, he had felt as if he had stepped into another dreamlike world.
If the suburban environment where he lived still vaguely resembled his past life, the infrastructure at Songyang High School had already subtly surpassed the world he had known. And now, the Central Tower before him…
Whether it was the terrifying height of its 999 floors or the myriad immortal cultivation technologies pulsing with magic power within, the scene was truly dreamlike.
Recalling how he had been teleported to the 999th floor in seconds by a formation under the effect of Dao Arts, yet emerging unscathed, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of awe.
Even though we’re all in Songyang City, mortals live in the suburbs, Cultivators gather in the city center, and this Central Tower is the exclusive domain of the truly wealthy.
“Three distinct places, all within the same city, yet like three different strata of existence…”
Just then, Zhao Tianxing’s voice rang out from behind Zhang Yu. “Zhang Yu, the Captain sent us to patrol. We should get going, right?”
Zhang Yu turned to look at Zhao Tianxing, who was also wearing a security guard uniform.
Unlike Zhang Yu who calmly accepted the uniform, Zhao Tianxing was extremely ill at ease and timid, looking as pathetic as if he had just shit his pants.
He felt like that he was a clown in the uniform, fully convinced that everyone around him was looking at him with a mixture of contempt, scorn, and condescension.
But Zhao Tianxing was overthinking it. Once he put on the security guard uniform, he was no longer a mortal. He had become a mere backdrop in the Central Tower, his presence barely more noticeable than the landscape to most people.
Zhang Yu clapped him on the shoulder. “Stand tall and hold your head high. We’re security guards for the Central Tower now, not takeaway delivery boys. What are you afraid of?”
Feeling the passersby’s attention drawn by Zhang Yu’s words, Zhao Tianxing quickly said, “I know, Zhang Yu. Keep your voice down and don’t disturb others.”
This art exhibition was quite large, occupying a venue of over a thousand square meters. It even provided drinks and a buffet, so to Zhang Yu, it seemed more like a social gathering than an art viewing.
The renowned Heavenly Being Martial Arts Portrait was currently covered by a curtain and was reportedly awaiting Ms. Li Xuelian to unveil it personally.
Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing were assigned to a more remote section of the venue, where they patrolled back and forth as security guards.
Since the exhibition had not yet officially begun, their patrol duties were incredibly relaxed and it also did not trigger any ritual backlash.
After all, the Ritual Power within Zhang Yu was aimed at the goal of fulfilling the wish.
His method for fulfilling this wish was to study, cultivate, work hard to get into university, and earn money to ultimately fulfill the Evil God’s wish.
Temporary jobs like this were considered part of earning money and supporting his studies and cultivation, so the Ritual Power would not force him to do something else.
In fact, this state of aimless wandering was far more relaxing for Zhang Yu than the intense cultivation he had been enduring for the past few days.
Just then, as the two of them approached the buffet tables, they saw a group of waiters arranging plates and tidying the table decorations.
Zhang Yu glanced over at the dishes being laid out plate by plate, his eyes widening in surprise. “Is that… seafood?”
Zhao Tianxing looked over as well, taking in the abalone and lobster on the plates. He nodded slightly. “Yes, marine creatures. I saw the shelled ones with my mom once. They cost about 30,000 to 40,000 yuan per pound.”
“But this is the Central Tower. It’s not surprising they have these things.”
Seafood was not rare for Zhang Yu in his previous life, and he had eaten plenty of it.
But here in Kunxu, at least on the First Layer, marine creatures were an incredibly rare sight. The original Zhang Yu had only ever seen them online. He had never laid eyes on them in person, let alone eaten them.
This was because the entire First Layer of Kunxu, spanning over 20 million square kilometers, had no ocean.
Rumor had it that the seafood available on the market was either imported from the higher layers of Kunxu or cultivated in artificial marine environments created by certain organizations.
Hearing Zhao Tianxing mention a price of tens of thousands of yuan per pound, Zhang Yu was inwardly stunned. “It’s that expensive?”
“What benefits does eating this stuff offer? Does it increase your Magic Power?”
It was no wonder Zhang Yu thought this way. Whether the original him or his current self, in the cultivation world he experienced, everyone was striving relentlessly to advance, pouring all their effort into enhancing their Magic Power, Martial Arts, Dao Arts, physical strength, and Dao Heart…
Even the basic necessities of life like clothing, food, shelter, and transportation were all intertwined with the pursuit of raising one’s cultivation.
“Benefits?” Zhao Tianxing pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “I’ve never heard of any benefits from eating this. It seems to be purely for the taste.”
“Purely for the taste?” Zhang Yu stared at the array of exquisite dishes on the table, slightly stunned.
Just as Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing were sneaking glances at the feast, a cold voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
“You two are security guards. Why are you sneaking around here instead of patrolling properly?”
Startled by the voice, Zhao Tianxing spun around and hastily explained, “We weren’t doing anything…”
But when he saw the person standing behind them, Zhao Tianxing froze on the spot.
Zhang Yu, however, turned around leisurely. Seeing it was Bai Zhenzhen, he said, “Oh? It’s A-Zhen. What a coincidence to see you at the art exhibition too.”
Beside him, Zhao Tianxing realizing it was a classmate, suddenly felt his security guard uniform become unbearably ugly and shameful. He squirmed with embarrassment, looking as if he was in a need to relieve himself.
Zhao Tianxing squirmed even harder at the thought of his classmates discovering his security guard job. The inevitable labels of poverty, part-time job, and being broke would be slapped on him, and his reputation and social standing would plummet.
Bai Zhenzhen stared at Zhang Yu expressionlessly and said, “I never thought people so young would already be taking a shortcut and skipping decades of struggle, just to end up as security guards.”
Zhao Tianxing quickly waved his hands and explained, “No, no, Classmate Bai Zhenzhen, I’m just… here accompanying Zhang Yu.”
Zhang Yu, however, clapped a firm hand on Zhao Tianxing’s shoulder. “What are you so flustered about? You’re a temporary security guard making 800 an hour. In a single hour, you can earn enough to cover ten days of a mortal’s food and drink. Countless people would be envious if they knew.”
“Huh?” Zhao Tianxing was taken aback, having never considered an hourly wage of 800 to be anything special.
But as he watched Bai Zhenzhen, who had suddenly fallen silent before him, he felt a distinct chill emanating from her.
He had never been very familiar with this genius girl who consistently ranked first in their class. All he knew was that she had always maintained a cold and aloof demeanor, keeping her distance from others and only ever eating with Zhang Yu and Zhou Tianyi.
In fact, Zhao Tianxing’s own social circle had tried inviting her to join them before, but they never received a response.
In his mind, Bai Zhenzhen was an exceptionally talented prodigy who was also incredibly arrogant and difficult to approach.
Now, seeing her expressionless face and utter silence, Zhao Tianxing figured she must be angry.
Zhang Yu must have said something wrong to upset her.
As he fidgeted and racked his brain for something to say to lighten the mood, he heard Bai Zhenzhen ask coldly, “You can make 800 an hour?”
“Huh?,” Zhao Tianxing nodded dumbly, not grasping the point of her question.
Just then, a voice called out from the other side of a dining table. A waiter who was setting the table shouted, “New girl! Hurry up and bring out the dishes!! What are you standing there for?”
Bai Zhenzhen said to Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing, “I have to go get the food. We can talk later.”
At the same time, she cursed inwardly. Damn! A security guard can make 800 an hour? I only get 500. If I had known, I would have become a security guard too.
Only then did Zhao Tianxing notice that Bai Zhenzhen was dressed in the exact same uniform as the other waiters. His face was a mask of shock as he said, “Bai Zhenzhen is working here too?”
“What’s so strange about that? Who in this world isn’t working to get by?” Zhang Yu had recognized Bai Zhenzhen’s attire at first glance. To him, given her financial situation, it was perfectly normal for her to have a job.
Still, the thought that she could maintain the top overall score in their grade while also working left him secretly astonished.
A-Zhen’s talent is truly extraordinary. Looking at all the new disciples of i came across in Songyang High School, she’s probably only a hair weaker than me.</em
