Promise!

Chapter 220, Yun Chang

Within the Suspended Heaven Bureau, the primordial energy of heaven and earth was extremely dense, so dense that it almost took shape, condensing into specks of azure light dust in the air. At the center of the Suspended Heaven Bureau, a pillar of light with a diameter of about ten feet descended from the Suspended Heaven Mirror. Phantom images of dragons and phoenixes flew and circled around it, and a rotating staircase was built around the pillar of light, spiraling upwards, filled with an indescribable architectural beauty.

This scene feels like stepping into another world, like a dream.

Having lived two lives, Zhuang Jin was well-informed and experienced. After a slight change in expression, he quickly calmed down and returned to normal.

This surprised Ji Tongxiu: "To be honest, Mr. Zhuang, every time I come here, I am amazed. It is said that the structure of the Suspended Heaven Bureau was personally designed by that immortal eight hundred years ago."

"Oh, really?"

At this moment, Zhuang Jin looked at the scene and suddenly thought of the immortal whose footprints covered the entire Nine Provinces, who had traveled to almost every prefecture and county, changing mountains and rivers. He thought of the fact that each of the Nine Provinces' cities had a unique place, and that each of the Nine Provinces' Suspended Heaven Bureaus also had a unique treasure, the Suspended Heaven Mirror. It was said that only the one in Luozhou and the capital Yong'an was the main mirror of the Suspended Heaven Mirror, while the ones in the other eight prefectures of Cangzhou, Qiongzhou, Zezhou, Yuanzhou, Hanzhou, Yunzhou, Lanzhou, and Jiaozhou were just secondary mirrors.

All of this seemed to be subtly connected, something was about to emerge, but some elements were still missing, making it difficult to figure out. He shook his head slightly and suppressed the thought for the time being.

"That's a bit of a tangent, Mr. Zhuang. If you're just looking to get the bronze carp token, you can do it at the manual counter or through the mechanical beast."

Ji Tongxiu explained the difference between the two: "At the manual window, you can handle all sorts of things like upgrading tokens, submitting tasks, and exchanging resources. It's more comprehensive and there are more people there. However, there are often people cutting in line for higher-level tokens, and the waiting time for appointments is longer. You can also open a token through the mechanical beast, which is relatively faster. I personally recommend the latter."

"Then let's make mechanical beasts!"

The two made an appointment at the entrance using the light screen and opened the token with their mechanical beasts, but they still couldn't avoid being cut off by a higher-level token. They waited for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, even though Ji Tongxiu had a Silver Carp Token.

Zhuang Jin had a good attitude. He knew that privileges were inevitable everywhere. Today, others were using their token level to cut in line for him. But when he got the Xuan Snake Token in the future, the privileges would be completely different. From this point of view, every time he experienced this kind of "people-friendly" treatment, it would be one less time he could have it!

The so-called mechanical beast is a coiled mechanical lion, lifelike. Touching its forehead causes a light screen to appear above its head. Ji Tongxiu then paid 100 contribution points.

"Mr. Zhuang, input your inner energy into the forehead of the mechanical lion."

Zhuang Jin did as instructed.

Rumble!
Click!

After a series of sounds, the mechanical lion opened its mouth wide, its light flashing, and spat out a token that was still slightly warm.

Zhuang Jin took it, infused it with his inner energy to activate it, and a green carp flew out, spitting out a bubble that exploded into a light screen, condensing into a user manual.

1. Your token number is: Ding Si 952759960. You can use the token to accept the Suspended Heaven Bureau mission, obtain mission vouchers and contribution points (merit points), and make payments within the area within the third ring.

2. Contribution points can be exchanged for cash at a ratio of 1:1. You can do this at the counter. The monthly limit for a Copper Carp Token is 10,000 taels.

3. The daily consumption limit for Bronze Carp Token contribution points is 1000, and the monthly consumption limit is 10000.

4. If the Bronze Carp Token is lost, a replacement requires three Bronze Carp Certificates and 100 Contribution Points. The remaining certificates and contribution points in the token cannot be recovered.

5. To upgrade from Bronze Carp Token to Silver Carp Token, you need to complete five Silver Carp-level upgrade tasks and use the internal energy of the Meridian Opening Realm to upgrade and activate the token.

……

"The Suspended Commander Token is bound to one's personal internal energy. Even if someone else gets it, they cannot use it. However, once the Bronze Carp Token is lost, all the vouchers and contribution points in the account will be gone. Only when you get the Silver Carp Token can you have one chance to retrieve it. The Gold Carp Token can be retrieved three times. The Cloud Pattern Gold Carp Token on the Hidden Dragon List can be retrieved nine times. It is said that when you get the Mysterious Serpent Token, there is no limit to the number of times you can retrieve your balance, and you can even overdraft."

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly upon hearing this, and began to study the token's functions. He looked at the words that appeared on the light screen after the explanation: Tasks, Balance, Exchange, Friends, Personal.

Ji Tongxiu had originally planned to guide and introduce the process, but Zhuang Jin seemed to be very familiar with it, operating the screen with ease, opening the main menu, viewing subpage information, searching by number, sending friend requests, and customizing her own page... It was all done with effortless ease and extreme fluency.

If it were someone else encountering it for the first time, they would inevitably feel shocked and unfamiliar. But Zhuang Jin was different. In his previous life, he had used countless things with complex functions. Now, the Copper Carp Token was relatively simple, with many functions and permissions not yet enabled, so it was naturally child's play for him.

……

After leaving the Suspended Sky Bureau, Ji Tongxiu led Zhuang Jin to continue exploring within the Third Ring Road. Her token was the Silver Carp Token, which, although subject to some restrictions, allowed them to enter many places within the Third Ring Road, giving Zhuang Jin a real eye-opening experience.

However, Ji Tongxiu was even more shocked. She felt that Zhuang Jin's learning and acceptance abilities were extremely terrifying, and his thinking was more modern than hers, who had grown up in the state city. Some of his questions were even difficult for her to answer: for example, whether high-level tokens would open group chat functions; whether shops could use tokens to make payments and implement random discounts when customers paid; and whether it was possible to open an online platform using tokens.

In the late afternoon, Ji Tongxiu brought Zhuang Jin to Tongfu Teahouse on the east side of the fifth floor of Zhenxiufang for a short rest.

Upon entering the teahouse, one is greeted by a multitude of noblewomen and young ladies, their eyes filled with fine silks and brocades, a riot of colors and patterns.

Those who can come here have a certain social status in the city, but they are not on the top floor. They cannot enter the seventh floor or above. The Tongfu Tea House on the fifth floor is the most famous among the Zhenxiufang below the seventh floor, so naturally they came here.

Among these women, a small number are daughters-in-law, granddaughters-in-law, and legitimate and illegitimate daughters from large families, as well as wives and legitimate daughters from first-class and top-tier second-class families. They come here for their daily lives, such as to have afternoon tea.
Another group consists of women from second- or third-rate families who occasionally come to relax and show off their superiority.

Many of the female warriors who come here to experience the "petit-bourgeois" atmosphere are actually female warriors, or other powerful women from the prefectures and counties who have come through connections. The place also thoughtfully provides paid artists to paint portraits of these women.

Where there are women, there are bound to be men, including some who are eager to seek pleasure. They display themselves like peacocks spreading their tails, and the "Hanging Commander Token" is their best asset. If a Golden Carp Token or a Cloud Pattern Golden Carp Token appears, it will surely attract a lot of attention.

—This is what surprised Zhuang Jin. The openness of a place is probably related to its economic environment. The prefectures and counties under the Great Qian Dynasty are more like the feudal era, where women are dogmatic and conservative. For example, Chen Yun and her friends have to dress as men when they go out. But within the third ring of the state capital, this core area that spans different eras, the atmosphere is extremely open. Outside, you can even see many women wearing clothes that expose their arms and legs, which is considered unconventional in this era.

Zhuang Jin and Ji Tongxiu went to a corner, where Ji Tongxiu spoke of the manager of Tongfu Teahouse: "The manager of Tongfu Teahouse is named Yu Linglong, and has the nickname 'Golden and Radiant Jade Beauty.' It is said that her background is extremely mysterious..."

To be able to open a teahouse in the Zhenxiufang restaurant, and occupy such a prime location on the fifth floor, one must naturally have an impressive background.

"Manager Yu Linglong is as famous as the goddess constable Chu Jing, the tofu fairy Yu Yuxian, and the successor of the medical fairy Miao Yunzhen, but she doesn't seem to be here right now."

'The Goddess Detective, the Tofu Fairy, the Successor of the Immortal Physician, the Female Manager of Tongfu Teahouse…tsk tsk, this city truly produces a plethora of beauties!'

Zhuang Jin narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, took a sip of tea, and was slightly surprised. This tea actually had two or three tenths of the effects of the Shen family's Cloud Hidden Tea, which was quite rare.

As the two were drinking tea, a handsome man in his early twenties, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with gold patterns, approached. He looked at Ji Tongxiu and casually revealed the cloud-patterned gold carp token at his waist: "My name is Cen Huakun. I wonder if this young lady would do me the honor of joining me for a simple meal on the seventh floor?"

The surname Cen is not ordinary; it belongs to one of the three most prominent families in the city: Cen, Ge, and Shangguan.

"This is Young Master Cen Huakun, ranked ninety-ninth on the Hidden Dragon List?!"

"It is indeed this person. The three great families are truly remarkable. Cen Huakun is not a core member of the Cen family, yet he is still listed on the Hidden Dragon List." "I have heard that Young Master Cen is a womanizer, but he is quite generous in his spending."

……

Amidst whispers, many people looked on with expressions of anticipation, especially towards Zhuang Jin.

Zhuang Jin didn't speak, continuing to drink her tea, seemingly intimidated by Cen Huakun's strength and background, and thus held back.

"Thank you, Young Master Cen, but I am already engaged and must politely decline your offer." Ji Tongxiu glanced at Zhuang Jin and refused directly.

Even if she hadn't followed Zhuang Jin, she wouldn't have been so easily deceived and misled by Cen Huakun.

This isn't to say that Cen Huakun's identity is fake. In Cangzhou City, no one would be foolish enough to impersonate one of the three great families. Rather, Cen Huakun is the kind of spoiled brat who was abandoned by the Cen family and rose through the ranks by taking pills. Even so, he would be more than a match for the legitimate daughter of a second-rate family. However, he has the personality of a playboy. Playing around is fine, but wanting to marry her and achieve upward social mobility in the city is just wishful thinking.

"In that case, forget it." Cen Huakun showed some courtesy towards women, didn't press the matter, and turned to leave.

He just wanted to ask Ji Tongxiu because she fit his aesthetic, and if it didn't work out, so be it. Anyway, with a wide net cast, there would always be women.

"stop!"

Zhuang Jin had only been observing Ji Tongxiu's attitude before. If he remained indifferent now and let Cen Huakun leave, he would truly be a Ninja Turtle.

"Oh, I wonder what advice this gentleman has for me?" Cen Huakun turned around and looked at him casually, his expression somewhat irritating.

At this moment, he was indeed thinking of deliberately picking a fight, letting Zhuang Jin make the first move, and then taking the opportunity to teach Zhuang Jin a lesson. This way, Ji Tongxiu would see her man's pathetic and useless side, and perhaps she could change her mind.

“You are not worthy of being called my brother. Your father may be qualified, but he can still give you some pointers—didn’t he teach you manners when he released you?”

As Zhuang Jin spoke, she raised her hand and swung the teacup in her hand, throwing it away.

boom!
Wow!
The teacup smashed directly onto Cen Huakun's forehead, causing him to bleed profusely instantly. Tea poured down his forehead, soaking his face and making him look utterly disheveled.

Cen Huakun was a martial artist specializing in the breath control technique. He could easily dodge a teacup, but just a moment ago, he felt himself being locked onto by an aura.

"A Primordial Venerable?!" His expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in horror.

There are only a few innate Venerables in the city, and Cen Huakun knows them all. He avoids them when he sees them, not daring to offend them. Zhuang Jin is a newcomer and he doesn't know him. He never expected that Zhuang Jin, an innate Venerable, is actually in the Tongfu Tea House on the fifth floor of the Zhenxiufang, pretending to be a weakling and disguising himself as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

— Zhuang Jin was actually still in that small skill state. Martial artists below the innate level would all perceive that they were at the same realm.

Upon hearing this, the others in the teahouse looked at Zhuang Jin in shock, their eyes filled with awe. Some of them, who were familiar with the upper-level rules, even felt a little sympathy for Cen Huakun.

Ji Tongxiu felt the center of attention, but she wasn't nervous at all. On the contrary, she enjoyed the feeling of being the focus of attention. In particular, Zhuang Jin's attack on Cen Huakun had a sense of "raging for a beauty", which made her feel an indescribable sweetness. At this moment, she was even more radiant and looked even more beautiful.

The fact that women of the same sex repel each other only fueled the envy and jealousy of many women, who secretly cursed her as a "little bitch" or "little slut."

"Senior is right. I was blind and have no right to criticize you. I apologize to you." Without uttering any harsh words or threats, Cen Huakun, his face pale, immediately bowed down.

Zhuang Jin was about to speak.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the doorway: "Brother, you are of innate caliber and have the moral high ground. Even if you don't cripple this person's martial arts, breaking one of his arms or legs will make his parents come to thank you and give you gifts."

“Even if you kill him, according to the Cen family rules, at most his parents will cause you trouble. There are two possibilities: one is that his parents have many children and, upon learning of this, they think he deserved it and won't pursue revenge; the other is that they want revenge, but since neither of his parents is at the Innate Realm, they can't take revenge. Cen Huakun is exactly both of these. It's true that Cen Huakun is a member of the Cen family, but he has many parents and children, none of whom are at the Innate Realm, only at the Fetal Breathing Realm.”

Zhuang Jin looked in the direction of the voice and was momentarily stunned when he saw the person who spoke. The person had an indescribable heroic spirit, which made him subconsciously think of the likes of Hua Mulan and Mu Guiying. It was a kind of neutral beauty that could be appreciated and captivated by both men and women.

At the same time, he also realized something: why the goddess constable Chu Jing, the tofu fairy Yu Yuxian, and the healer Miao Yunzhen he had met before all seemed to have a slightly discordant feeling, as if something was missing. Now he finally understood.

'Those three women don't possess this kind of relaxed confidence that comes from within. Compared to this woman, it's like comparing a high-quality replica of an antique to the real thing,' he thought to himself.

However, what shocked Zhuang Jin even more was that, sensing the vitality in this girl, who was two or three years younger than him, she had already reached the second level of the Innate True Qi Realm: 'I haven't encountered any bottlenecks, and I only broke through to such a level at this age. What makes this girl so special?'

Little did they know, the other party was equally shocked: 'I am from the Shangguan family, one of the three great families of the state capital, and one of the candidates to become the next head of the family. I possess unparalleled talent, having been trained from a young age using various powerful medicinal methods and secret techniques, and practicing martial arts in an environment rich in spiritual energy and abundant in rare resources. Yet, at this age, I have already reached this level… This person seems to be about the same age as me, yet he is at the same level as me. How is that possible?'

It was out of this curiosity that she spoke just now.

"Shangguan Yunchang?!"

Upon seeing this woman, Cen Huakun instinctively shrank back, then awkwardly forced a smile: "Sister Shangguan, why are you trying to ruin me?"

"Sister? Please call me Young Master Shangguan!"

As Shangguan Yunchang spoke, she snapped her folding fan shut and looked at a noblewoman beside her: "Sister-in-law, please tell me, am I a man or a woman?"

The woman, in her forties or fifties, glanced at the black snake token at the other woman's waist and, being addressed as "sister-in-law," felt a surge of joy. She blatantly lied, saying, "It's a man! It's a man!"

"Young lady, you speak!"

It's a boy!

“You speak too!” Shangguan Yunchang turned her head and looked at a young man in blue robes who had been hiding and timid ever since she appeared.

The young man in blue instinctively stood up: "Third Sister is a man!"

After a few breaths of silence, the room erupted in laughter.

……

(End of this chapter)