Promise!

Chapter 219, Connecting to the Internet

"It's Lady Constable Chu Jingchu!"

Many of the people in the Ji family caravan recognized each other, and they were all excited. Some even joined the crowd and surrounded the caravan, displaying a fanatical enthusiasm, much like fans chasing after celebrities.

Upon seeing the Suspended Mirror, Zhuang Jin concealed his aura and used a small trick. Nowadays, martial artists below the Innate Realm, whether they are in the Meridian Opening Realm or the Fetal Breathing Realm, would only perceive him as being at the same realm based on their martial arts intuition. At this moment, he followed the crowd and looked forward with curiosity.

Chu Jing had eyebrows like willow leaves and skin like solidified cream. What was most eye-catching were her long legs. She was indeed a beauty that was one in tens of thousands.

It's not just about beauty, but also about the heroic spirit and the slightly aloof demeanor that she exudes, especially when she wears the official flying fish uniform, which is brought out to the fullest.

What surprised Zhuang Jin the most was that this woman was only at the third level of the Meridian Opening Realm on the surface, but she was actually at the sixth level of the Meridian Opening Realm, several levels higher than Ji Tongxiu—she had practiced the Secret Technique of Concealing Breath, but she could not hide it from his perception.

The people around were talking about it.

"It's Lady Chu, the Goddess Constable... *slurp*"

"These scattered love flowers... could this man be the notorious womanizer in the city lately?! Detective Chu has solved another major case!"

"Those legs are so long... no, I mean, that kick was so powerful just now, it could have crushed me... no, killed me!"

……

Hearing a certain voice, Chu Jing frowned and looked at the crowd. The crowd immediately parted, revealing Zhuang Jin. The woman was slightly surprised by Zhuang Jin's appearance for a moment, then her gaze turned to one of disdain, as if she were looking at trash.

With her abilities, she could naturally tell that the words were not spoken by Zhuang Jin. However, seeing that Ji Tongxiu was beside Zhuang Jin and was still staring at him with 'burning eyes', she was naturally displeased with her pride. She snorted coldly and left with the flower thief without looking to the side.

Zhuang Jin chuckled and shook her head as she left the crowd.

Seeing Zhuang Jin's discomfiture, Ji Tongxiu covered her mouth and chuckled, but Zhuang Jin thought she was holding back: "Mr. Zhuang, since you are new to the city, if you have nowhere to stay, why not temporarily go to the Ji family? My Ji family is located in the Fourth Ring Road, so it is very convenient for you to travel around."

"can."

Zhuang Jin turned and went back into the carriage, with Ji Tongxiu following a step behind.

Mu Bai snapped out of his daze, turning his gaze away from Chu Jing, and just then witnessed this scene: his beloved cousin, who was following Zhuang Jin like a submissive wife.

He quickly shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought, then seemed to remember something, a touch of emotion appearing on his face: 'My cousin really values ​​me. I told her that cultivating a good relationship with Lord Zhuang would be very beneficial, and she actually agreed… This is exactly what it means to listen to my advice!'

……

The convoy continued forward, but after traveling a short distance, they suddenly heard a commotion ahead and slowed down.

Ji Tongxiu lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside, saying, "Ahead is 'Sai Tianxian's' tofu shop. 'Sai Tianxian's' real name is Yu Yuxian. She became famous for selling tofu on the street, and the city is full of people calling her 'Tofu Fairy.' The blockage ahead isn't just because of 'Tofu Fairy.' Today is also the day of the free clinic by Miao Yunzhen, the successor of the Immortal Physician, who is also located a little further ahead..."

Zhuang Jin didn't get off the carriage. He only caught a glimpse of the two outstanding beauties from the carriage. They were no less beautiful than the previous goddess constable, Chu Jing. He twitched his ears and heard all sorts of sounds from outside.

"If you ask me, Miss Yuxian is still the most beautiful! In this world, there are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames. What are Miss Yuxian's nicknames? Fairy of Heaven, Fairy of Tofu! Even the fairies in heaven are probably no more beautiful than her."

"That's right, I have to eat Yu Xian's tofu every day. There used to be rumors that slandered Yu Xian, saying that her tofu was made with bathwater... Heh, if that's true, I'd be even happier."

"I admit that Miss Yu Xian is nice, but I still prefer Fairy Yun Zhen. She is a descendant of the Immortal Healer, saving lives and healing the wounded, and has a kind heart..."

"It's like a three-year-old child making a choice. I, Niu, want both of these fairies!"

"Haha, it's not even dark yet, and you're already dreaming."

……

"The Goddess Detective, the Tofu Fairy, the Female Doctor... they are all young and beautiful, one in a million, and extremely popular in the city. If I didn't know that reality isn't a fictional world, I probably would have thought this was an ancient version of 'The King of Soldiers Returns to the City.'"

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly, his gaze deep: 'Existence is its own justification, but there's probably more to this than meets the eye. This prefecture is truly intriguing me more and more!'

……

The Ji family is located in the Fourth Ring Road. As they approach the central area, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth becomes increasingly abundant, reaching a level nearly 50% higher than that of the surrounding prefectures and counties.

Because a servant had come to inform them beforehand, when Zhuang Jin arrived with the convoy, the Ji family patriarch, Ji Gongji, along with a large family of over a hundred people, were already waiting outside to greet him.

"Welcome, Venerable Zhuang. For some reason, I feel an instant connection with you. If you don't mind, Venerable Zhuang, you could do me the honor of staying at my Ji family's residence before obtaining the Xuan Snake Token and the Three Rings House. That would be an honor for my family."

Zhuang Jin and Ji Tongxiu had made it clear that it was just a deal: the Ji family would help Zhuang Jin complete the promotion mission until he obtained the Golden Carp Token, and after he obtained the Black Serpent Token, he would give the Ji family the recommendation quota for this year's White Deer Martial Academy.

This is already a good deal for the Ji family. Completing the eight tasks of upgrading from Bronze Carp to Silver Carp and then to Gold Carp will certainly require a lot of manpower and resources, but the opportunity for their descendants to enter Bailu Academy is even more precious!
Now, Ji Gongji's invitation for Zhuang Jin to stay at the Ji family's residence is not only to enhance the Ji family's prestige but also to strengthen the relationship and leave behind a lasting legacy.

—If it weren't for their daughter Ji Tongxiu, no one else could invite a Celestial Venerable to stay. For a second-rate family in the state capital like theirs, the words "it's an honor to have you here" were indeed not empty words. And once Zhuang Jin obtains the Xuan Snake Token and acquires various privileges, even a little bit of what he manages to give away will be enough for them to enjoy endlessly.

Thinking of this, Ji Gongji looked at Ji Tongxiu with satisfaction, feeling that his daughter had finally come to her senses.

Although he rejected that纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) from the Xiantian family before, isn't this getting involved with Zhuang Jin? That's a good thing. How can the son of a Xiantian Venerable compare to the Xiantian Venerable himself?

"I'll accept your offer with utmost respect, then please do!" "Your Excellency, please go first!"

Zhuang Jin didn't stand on ceremony any longer, and with a flick of his sleeves, strode inside.

The banquet had been prepared in advance. Because of his status and position, Zhuang Jin naturally sat in the head seat, the most prestigious position. Ji Gongji arranged for Ji Tongxiu and his sister Ji Tongxiao to accompany him. The latter seemed somewhat unwilling, and the smile on her face seemed forced.

Ji Tongxiao's looks were no less than her sister's, but Zhuang Jin no longer cared about such things. Women were just a link and a diversion; what mattered most was the Ji family's ability to get things done.

Judging from the current situation, the patriarch of the Ji family is shrewd and not a fool. He should be able to fulfill the agreement, and that's enough.

—Even if there are any problems, just switch to another company. The power comes from within, so there is nothing to fear.

On the contrary, arriving in the state city for the first time was like entering an unexplored new map in a game. Zhuang Jin was full of curiosity. After a quick lunch, he asked Ji Tongxiu to take him to explore the area within the Third Ring Road and to obtain the token of the Suspended Sky Bureau.

It's worth mentioning that the old man Ji Gongji was quite perceptive. Mu Bai seemed to want to go along, but he pulled him aside to ask questions and leave, creating some alone time for Zhuang Jin and Ji Tongxiu, which left Mu Bai quite disappointed.

……

The Ji family lived on the Fourth Ring Road, not far from the core area of ​​the Third Ring Road, only a few miles away, and they arrived quickly.

It is the height of summer in June, and today is a sunny and hot day. However, once you enter the Third Ring Road and come into the blue light curtain of the Suspended Mirror, you will feel a refreshing coolness. At the same time, the concentration of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth will rise rapidly. Compared with the following prefectures and counties, it has already exceeded twice.

However, none of this could attract Zhuang Jin's attention at the moment. He stared at the scenes before him, his expression dazed, as if he were in another world.

In the Third Ring Road, at each stall, the buying and selling transactions were not conducted with gold or silver. After the customers agreed on a price, they took out their tokens, activated their inner energy, and a koi fish, which was either green, silver, or gold, appeared, spitting out a bubble that burst open and formed a light screen above the token.

Then, the customer clicks to pay on the light screen, sets the amount, and the internal information is verified and confirmed. The customer's token koi swims away and touches the head of the store's token koi. A number appears above the customer's token koi, indicating a decrease of a certain number, while a number appears above the store's token koi, indicating an increase of a certain number.

At this point, payment is complete, and the customer leaves with their belongings.

Mobile payment!

Zhuang Jin sighed inwardly, looking up at the Suspended Heaven Mirror: 'Does this extraordinary treasure, the Suspended Heaven Mirror, create a local area network within the three rings of its aura?'

Ji Tongxiu was not surprised to see Zhuang Jin looking dazed. He knew that when people from the prefectures and counties first came and saw these things, they were all shocked and could not recover for a long time. Some even regarded it as a fairyland and knelt down and wept.

"When Mr. Zhuang first arrived, he was amazed by what he saw, but after a while he got used to it. It was actually just a different form of transaction."

Ji Tongxiu explained to Zhuang Jin, "Within the Third Ring, within the area covered by the Suspended Sky Mirror's light curtain, you can use your inner energy to activate tokens. Mr. Zhuang, please take a look. The koi that appear after the tokens are activated are: green for the Bronze Koi Token, silver for the Silver Koi Token, and gold for the Golden Koi Token. The one with a cloud below the Golden Koi is the token of a master who has made it onto the Hidden Dragon List... The even higher-level Xuan Snake Token, when activated, will produce a Xuan Snake... This is used to pay contribution points."

"Oh, contribution points are also called merit points. You need to accept missions from the Suspended Heaven Bureau to obtain them. After completing the missions, you will not only receive contribution points, but also corresponding level certificates... Basic cultivation resources can be exchanged and traded with contribution points, while some precious resources require certificates."

"In the Suspended Sky Bureau, contribution points can be exchanged for gold and silver. Different levels of tokens have different monthly quotas, but gold and silver cannot be exchanged for contribution points... Contribution points can be used for private transactions, but tokens cannot be traded."

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. The rules are as they are, but things may not always be the same in private, right?" Zhuang Jin withdrew his gaze, let out a soft breath, and asked casually.

"Yes, Mr. Zhuang sees it clearly. This is only the official rule. In private, there are many forces that accept gold and silver and exchange contribution points. The certificate cannot be traded, but it can be exchanged for resources and then traded."

As Ji Tongxiu spoke, he led Zhuang Jin on a stroll forward.

The scene was extremely lively and bustling, with stalls and shops selling all kinds of exotic beast meat and rare medicinal herbs of very high quality. Almost every shop and stall was run by martial artists who had mastered the skills of fetal breathing or meridian opening.

Along the roadside stand rows of white jade buildings, each with a plaque above its entrance bearing the inscriptions of various names: Divine Weapon Workshop, Celestial Garment Workshop, Delicacies Workshop, Fruit Workshop, Vegetable Workshop, Poultry Workshop, Star-Picking Tower, Mythical Beast Workshop, and Ascending Immortal Pavilion, each with nine stories.

"Within the Third Ring Road, only Silver Carp Tokens can be used to rent stalls; Golden Carp Tokens can be used to rent shops; Hidden Dragon Ranking warriors get discounts when renting shops... However, those below the Innate Realm can only rent, not sell."

"As for the Divine Weapon Workshop, Heavenly Garment Workshop, and other affiliated industries of the Suspended Heaven Bureau, ordinary people can only enter the first three levels of the nine levels; those with Bronze Carp, Silver Carp, and Gold Carp Tokens can enter the fourth to sixth levels; above the seventh level, apart from those with the Hidden Dragon List who can unlock access and enter in some areas, only innate Venerables can enter the seventh level and above with the Mysterious Serpent Token or the Mysterious Serpent Token's affiliated token."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly upon hearing this, paying more attention to some details: within the Third Ring Road, the flow of people was orderly; the ground was as smooth as if it had been polished with water, so clean that it could reflect a person's image, without a single piece of trash or stain; customers were used to paying with tokens, and shopkeepers were polite and attentive. Even if there were one or two disputes, the patrol team would come quickly and handle them fairly without accepting any bribes...

The attention to detail revealed the excellent management practices, reminding him of the top-tier commercial centers of his previous life.

What is most shocking is that 70-80% of the people I saw were martial artists. In the counties below, martial artists with the ability to open meridians and those who can breathe embryos are extremely rare. Here, there are countless such martial artists. I even sensed the aura of many people at the innate realm along the way.

"Cangzhou, with its seven million square kilometers of land and 110 million people, is a gathering place for the elite of the entire prefecture. It also possesses the extraordinary treasure, the Suspended Heaven Mirror, left behind by immortals. Through the combined influence of the Great Qian Dynasty, powerful clans, and various other factors, over eight hundred years of evolution, this small, timeless core region has been created within each prefecture."

Having witnessed it firsthand, Zhuang Jin finally understood what Teng Yuansong had said back then: compared to the prefectural city, the counties and prefectures below were indeed like people living in a primitive state.

……

As they ventured deeper, Zhuang Jin was filled with awe. Just to name a few things, the concentration of spiritual energy in the third ring was twice that of the counties below, three times that of the second ring, and an astonishing four times that of the first ring!
Upon arriving at the Suspended Sky Bureau in the center of the first ring to obtain the token, the patrol teams became increasingly dense as they approached. They were all led by Nascent Soul martial artists, and some even exuded an aura that made Zhuang Jin feel chills to the bone. He subconsciously reduced his presence to the minimum.

Directly above the Suspended Sky Division, the Suspended Sky Mirror hangs high in the sky. With Zhuang Jin's eyesight, he can discern that it is a regular dodecahedron, with rays of light swirling and weaving around it, incredibly profound. It also contains a vast and unimaginable amount of energy. As it slowly rotates, it causes the sky within the three rings, spanning dozens of miles, to ripple like water.

Zhuang Jin took a deep breath and followed Ji Tongxiu into the Suspended Sky Division. What he saw and felt the next moment caused his expression to change slightly.

……

(End of this chapter)