New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 170 [The Sighing Saintess]

After a short rest, Yuan Zhu was so excited that he didn't sleep well.

Because the hotel he chose was the cheapest type, the soundproofing wasn't great. He lay in bed, listening to the high-energy music coming from the bar on the first floor all night long.

It must be said that Taixi's musical skills are quite good.

Even a cheap bar could hire a band that could play catchy tunes and music with a style completely different from anything on Earth. This also indirectly proves the extravagant and decadent lifestyle of Taixi.

A glimpse into a region's musical level can indirectly reflect its economy and culture.

Especially on a strange planet like Duling, there have been countless time travelers throughout history. Now it is a hub connecting eight provinces, linking eight external universes, where otherworldly and alien cultures are constantly being introduced, infiltrated, and blended together... This has broadened Yuan Zhu's horizons, making him a truly unsophisticated country bumpkin.

The next morning, he got up very early, checked out of his room, and went to the gradually bustling streets. He bought a breakfast and ate it as he walked, taking in the city.

In terms of infrastructure, greening, and building height and density, this city cannot compare to the first-tier cities back home in terms of hard power.

The number and quality of high-rise buildings here are inferior to those in my hometown in China. It's at the level of the US and Japan in the 1980s; there are skyscrapers, but they're not dense enough.

If we set that aside, Taixi is far ahead of Earth in every other respect.

First, this city possesses 'extraordinary elements,' much like a global city bathed in colorful lights and electronic screens. Taixi comes with its own 'extraordinary attribute skin,' and its various extraordinary systems, after being 'decontaminated (civilianized),' are seamlessly integrated with the local architecture, instantly creating a magical atmosphere.

Secondly, numerous man-made structures appeared within Taixi City, utilizing them according to the concept of harmony between man and nature. These towering, massive structures served as the dividing line of the city, the foundation of urban parks, and were sculpted into enormous religious totems or statues. Even larger structures were directly integrated with architecture, developed into temples, hotels, and municipal buildings.

The three largest structures are directly connected to the floating islands above the sky. No need to ask around; simply looking up is enough to determine where the true 'aristocratic district'—the genuine 'upper city'—is.

After strolling around the streets for half an hour, Yuan Zhu bought a copy of "Taishi Travel Guide" at a newsstand, which listed a large number of popular tourist attractions.

There are Buddhist and Taoist temples, zoos with exotic animals, amusement parks, grand theaters, arenas, fighting squares... He quickly found the introduction to 'floating islands' in the guide.

The lowest point, the floating fragment supported by a cylindrical structure, is a high-end hotel and residential area open to the public. It has been transformed into a 'fairyland' that blends classical and modern elements, complete with pavilions, waterside terraces, and magnificent buildings.

Living here offers shelter from the wind and rain by the floating islands above, while also providing a panoramic view of Taixi City and the distant sea. The excellent view gives people a feeling of ascending to a fairyland, transcending the mundane world, and being a superior person. Therefore, it is extremely popular, and the cost of living here is outrageously high.

If ordinary people are really curious and eager, they can spend 20 yuan to buy a sightseeing ticket during the day and take the elevator to ascend to this man-made fairyland for a tour.

As for the higher and larger floating islands, they are not open to ordinary people on the ground; only extraordinary individuals who have obtained certification are qualified to set foot on them.

Legend has it that in the center of this floating island grows a celestial root plant that has broken free from the control of Kunlun. Its roots spread throughout every inch of the island's interior, and its canopy forms a dome, creating a closed 'spiritual energy ecological cycle' within the island.

Those who live there passively breathe in the 'spiritual energy of the celestial realm' every day, resulting in strong bodies and longevity. Even the 'Fairyland of Immortality' below, which is open to the public, can enjoy the nourishment of secondary spiritual energy circulation.

Yuan Zhu flipped through the tourist brochure in his hand and found the Holy Light Cathedral belonging to the Holy Seal King, as well as the Vajra Sect's Hundred-Armed Temple, the Earth God Temple, and temples related to the Twelve Fates.

Various gods and demons brazenly set up temples in Taixi, welcoming tourists to receive blessings (contamination).

Looking up at the unusually bustling floating island at the bottom, rows of 'skyscrapers' built upside down pierce into the island's interior. The surfaces of the buildings are illuminated by colorful light strips and glass, brightening the bottom that has been shrouded in shadow for years. But the view above the island is completely invisible, leaving only imagination.

"Immortal roots and spiritual plants—they remind me of the miasma-filled underworld. Do you think the control of Taixi might be in the hands of the 'Kunlun Immortal Path'?"

Spicy Strips shook his head: "Absolutely not! Taixi City is made up of remnants of the Yellow Emperor who fled from the Old Road. They wouldn't believe in the Kunlun Divine Tree. The local forces chose to plant 'immortal roots' on the floating island more as a bluff, to demonstrate their strength, and to express their stance and attitude. It's like, even though you failed in your anti-Qing restoration efforts and were driven to Alaska to live as a savage, you still stubbornly hung the head of the 'Wild Boar King' at the village entrance to commemorate your determination."

Yuan Zhu: "That makes sense!"

Spicy Strips: "Along our journey, we've passed many special landmarks with 'extraordinary attributes,' all of which have been modified to remove and purify their 'polluting' aspects, allowing them to continuously release beneficial radiation to improve the environment. The immortal roots on the [Floating Island] have also undoubtedly been processed, releasing 'spiritual energy' that is beneficial to the human body, yet free from the control of the [Kunlun System]. It's like turning a 'celestial tree' into a weapon of flesh, benefiting the entire city while trampling on the Kunlun Immortal Path."

"I also discovered a secret that's not exactly a secret: the floating island and the immortal root spirit plant together form an energy source. By inserting the structure into the floating island, energy is introduced to the surface and forms a hidden connection with the structures scattered throughout the city, putting the entire Taixi City in a state of 'extraordinary blessing,' which can effectively weaken and slow down the daily accumulation of pollution and erosion."

“For ordinary people living in this city, the normal accumulation of pollution is reduced by one-third compared to Running. In addition, there are obviously more hidden beneficial effects that take years to become apparent.”

Yuan Zhu had already noticed something amiss about this.

After the bus left the Misty Mountains yesterday, the passengers' condition improved somewhat under the sunlight, but they were still in a state of 'mental pollution' and it would be difficult for them to fully recover their health without a week of rest.

However, once the bus officially entered the outer perimeter of Taixi, the spiritual damage suffered by these passengers was rapidly repaired. Clearly, a hidden power was at work, enveloping the entire city, suppressing all evil pollution and silently protecting the health of its residents.

After silently ticking "Fairyland" on the list and adding it to his travel plans, Yuan Zhu flipped back to the "tourist map" page, found the location of District 16, and then checked the address on the note to pinpoint the subway route to [Ray God Company].

Today's plan is to first try to meet with 'A Miao'. If he can meet in person, he can reach a preliminary agreement on a deal. Then he will go to see Meng Xiyue, catch up, and get her involved in the price negotiation.

If you can't meet the person in person, you can leave a message at the company and arrange a meeting time. Then go to Taixi University to meet your teammates in person.

...

Fifteen minutes later, Yuan Zhu arrived at Taixi subway station, which was as dirty and chaotic as the New York subway. It is said that Taixi's subway lines are over 100 years old, and the line that was recently opened was 20 years ago.

Due to its age, its governance is just as poor as Runing's. The air is polluted, the equipment is dilapidated, and rats and tadpoles roam freely... The only advantage it has over Runing is that it is larger in scale, has more spacious underground space, and better public security.

In contrast, Running, rich in underground mineral deposits, naturally possesses numerous underground fissures and cavities. Beneath the simple subway lines lie more complex mine tunnels, underground fissures… a breeding ground for filth, goblins, ratmen, and monsters, making it far more dangerous. Waiting for the train, boarding.

The local subway is slower than anywhere else on Earth, a major disappointment. The lighting, ventilation, and cleanliness are all inferior to those on Earth. However, it's still far better than Running, befitting a big city.

Forty minutes later, he arrived safely in ward 16. After leaving the station, he asked for directions all the way, but after wandering around for a while, he still got lost.

Finally, he spent 1 yuan to hire a young newspaper vendor to lead the way, and after several twists and turns, he finally found a consulting shop of [Laser God Company] in District 16.

"No wonder it's a metropolis. Before coming here, in Running, everything was calculated by the cent, and I didn't spend more than 5 yuan a day. Well, after coming to Taixi, everything is priced in yuan, and the cost of employing child labor has increased more than 10 times?"

After waving goodbye to the newsboy who looked disgusted, Yuan Zhu looked up at the sign for "Laser God Military Industry". He could tell that this was not a store, and the location was relatively remote. There was a warehouse nearby where goods were stored.

Seeing Yuan Zhu standing at the shop entrance, looking around curiously but hesitant to go in, a young woman passing by asked, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

Are you an employee of this company?

The other party politely replied, "Yes, are you a customer here to pick up goods? If so, please show me the delivery note so I can confirm. Please come in."

Yuan Zhu shook his head: "I'm not here to pick up goods, I'm here to find someone."

"Looking for someone?" The other person looked curious. "Is it an employee working at the company? Please tell me their name and I'll help you contact them."

Yuan Zhu: "No, I came here on someone's recommendation to discuss business. Ah Miao, Ah Miao from Cat Street, have you heard of him? Someone told me that I could find him here."

After saying that, Yuan Zhu took out the 'business card' that had no words on it, but only a strange symbol, and showed it to the other party.

Upon hearing the name 'Ah Miao,' the young woman immediately recognized him and replied enthusiastically, "Of course I know him! He's one of our senior partners and a secondary distributor, responsible for handling some troublesome orders. If you're in a hurry to find him, you can try your luck at the central square of District 16; he's representing our company at an event there. If you're not in a rush, please come back tomorrow, and I'll inform him and leave a message for you."

Yuan Zhu thought for a moment and replied, "Then I'll register here first and make an appointment in advance. Then I'll go to the place you mentioned and try my luck."

The young woman responded, "Please rest assured, I will pass on the message for you. Also, the other party is actually very easy to find. Once you arrive at the central square, just ask where the representative of [Ray God Company] is, and you will find them. Moreover, since you also have this card, the other party can sense your presence within a certain range, so please keep it with you at all times."

"I know, thank you."

After setting the appointment time, Yuan Zhu quickly headed towards the central square of District 16, following the route provided by the other party.

As he got closer to the square, many more excited and joyful young people gathered nearby, mostly young men with some well-dressed young women, all converging in the same direction.

Not only that, but many people were also carrying banners of encouragement, flags of support, signs, cameras around their necks, and semi-mechanical mice with modified shooting functions in their hands... They gathered in an organized manner towards the 16th District Plaza.

They were talking as they traveled.

Yuan Zhu mingled in the crowd, following behind the group, and started eavesdropping. He then overheard terms such as "Saintess of the Sigh Selection Competition," "Preliminary Elimination Round," and "Jellyfish Girl Assassin Group."

The more he listened, the more uneasy he felt. It seemed that a selection competition for the "Saintess of Sighs" was taking place in the main square of District 16 today. Within District 16, preliminary rounds were being held to eliminate teams through talent showcases, selecting the four strongest teams. These teams would then compete against teams from other districts, round after round, until the most popular "Saintess Idol" of the six months was finally chosen.

Because the theme was "The Sighing Saintess," it particularly attracted male viewers, and Yuan Zhu blended in seamlessly into the crowd. Well, in terms of physique, looks, and temperament, he far surpassed the lecherous men around him, thus receiving frequent stares from men and suggestive glances from women of average appearance.

Yuan Zhu didn't care much about these things. He even ignored the advances of the senior students from [Rain Academy], let alone this group of ordinary girls.

He glanced around and spotted a seemingly lonely and withdrawn otaku in the crowd. He strode up to him, patted the man's shoulder aggressively, and then hooked his arm around the man's neck. The man tried to struggle free but couldn't manage it.

"Brother, don't be nervous. Are you also looking at legs and girls?"

The autistic youth looked terrified and answered nervously and in a panic, "I...I...I..."

"Don't be afraid, I'm also here to see a doctor about my leg. Since you seem so kind, why don't we stroll around arm in arm?"

Although Yuan Zhu's smile was filled with a 'wild kindness,' carrying a hint of bullying, the taciturn youth still managed to glean goodwill from his tone and demeanor. He wasn't the kind of bad guy who would use his physique to target lone prey and extort money.

After confirming his safety, the young man stammered, "I...I didn't come to see your leg. I...I came to support Jiang You!"

Yuan Zhu asked, puzzled, "What is soy sauce?"

This time it was the young man's turn to be dissatisfied: "Don't you know Jiang You? She's the most popular candidate for Saintess, proficient in musical instruments and dance, and the representative of [Bai Shuang Company]."

"Isn't this a beauty pageant? What does it have to do with other companies?"

The young man was annoyed: "Don't you understand anything? Then what are you doing here?"

"Of course we're looking at the legs! Isn't this a beauty pageant?"

The young man sighed: "The [Saintess of Taixi] is not a simple beauty pageant. It is a 'spokesperson competition' in which major companies and groups participate to select the most outstanding contestants to become the annual representative of [Taixi City] and radiate influence to the outside world."

(End of this chapter)