I changed the world.

Zhang Jing knew that 4000 yuan was indeed a relatively cheap rent for such a house. He had previously checked the rent in the surrounding area, and normally, similar houses would cost around 6000 yuan. This was mainly because housing prices in this world were much cheaper than in his previous life. In his previous life, it would have been difficult to rent such a house for less than 20,000 to 30,000 yuan.

"That's for the best. Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, on finding a suitable house." He Zhou looked delighted and smiled. "I've brought the contract with me. If it's convenient for you, Mr. Zhang, we can go downstairs and complete the formalities in a little while."

Zhang Jing readily agreed, so the two turned and went down the mountain. After confirming the status of the water meter, electricity meter, gas meter, internet, and the property ownership certificate, they signed the contract in the main house. They signed a three-year contract with a deposit of one month's rent and three months' rent paid in advance. Zhang Jing transferred 16000 yuan in Empire Vouchers to Zhang Jing's account using his mobile payment.

Afterwards, He Zhou handed several keys to Zhang Jing and carefully explained to him which door each key corresponded to. From then on, Zhang Jing temporarily became the owner of the mansion.

After leaving the mansion, He Zhou attentively escorted Zhang Jing back to the subway entrance where they had parted ways. The two bowed to each other and said goodbye on the roadside next to the subway entrance.

A large advertising screen at the subway entrance is playing an advertisement for Genesis Aerospace, showing a massive planetary transport ship slowly departing from the orbital spaceport.

Over the past century, with the rapid development of aerospace technology, a large amount of resources have poured into this industry, leading to an exceptionally long period of prosperity in the world economy. The entire aerospace and related industries have flourished with the influx of capital, and it is conceivable that this extraordinary prosperity will continue for a considerable period of time in the future.

“An era of rapid progress…” Zhang Jing muttered as he looked at the advertising screen.

In his view, compared to his previous life's Earth, where technology had not made breakthroughs for a long time, living space was limited, the economy was stagnant, and countries were engaged in a brutal zero-sum game, humanity had at least overcome another dangerous obstacle.

Linzhou's subway system is not very developed. Due to the high cost of building a subway, the subway company only laid subway lines on the busiest main roads, while relatively remote locations require access via bus stops.

Therefore, after taking the subway for seven stops, Zhang Jing transferred to a bus and bought eight large meat buns at a steamed bun shop on his way home.

Back in his rented room, Zhang Jing first wolfed down the steamed buns, then called his landlord to tell her he wanted to terminate the lease. The landlord was a middle-aged woman surnamed Wang, who lived next door to Zhang Jing. She was a true resident of the area and owned five rented rooms in the slums, which was the family's biggest source of income. She was a typical landlady.

After a few questions, Zhang Jing explained that he had found a better job and wanted to move to a better place. The landlord didn't say anything more, just congratulated him. Furthermore, according to the contract, Zhang Jing's rent was one month's rent as deposit and one month's rent in advance, with a one-year contract. If he terminated the lease before its expiration, the deposit would be forfeited to give the landlord time to find a new tenant. Zhang Jing didn't argue about this and agreed to abide by the contract.

Upon learning that Zhang Jing was at home, the landlord quickly came to the door. After inspecting the condition of the house, the landlord and Zhang Jing completed the lease termination procedures directly. Zhang Jing said that he would be able to move out completely before the end of this week.

After seeing the landlord off, Zhang Jing locked the door, then sat down on the bed, formed hand seals, and began his practice for the day.

This was his second time practicing. As the saying goes, "one day of practice yields one day of progress." Even with the help of the wish book, Zhang Jing dared not slack off in the slightest.

About three hours later, Zhang Jing opened his eyes, pondering to himself that the effect of this cultivation session was much weaker than his first. Although he could still sense the existence of the void, it felt as if there was a layer of glass between them, which greatly reduced the effectiveness of his cultivation.

Could it be that the grotto-heaven itself has the effect of enhancing cultivation? Zhang Jing speculated. After all, in legends, grotto-heavens were the dwellings of immortals for cultivation, so it wouldn't be surprising if they had such a function. Moreover, this was a relatively easy question to verify; Zhang Jing felt that he could confirm the answer after a few tries.

However, even though it wasn't as good as the first time, Zhang Jing could still feel a significant improvement in all aspects of his physical functions. In addition, there was a gurgling, flowing sensation, which in the technique was called "Qi". It has to be said that the effectiveness of "All Rivers Converge at the Sea" exceeded his expectations.

Having completed his cultivation, Zhang Jing got up and began to tidy up his room. Although it wasn't exactly destitute, there wasn't much to say about it. Most of the items were bedding and clothes, along with some of his parents' belongings, books, various documents, and other miscellaneous items. As for the simple furniture and furnishings, Zhang Jing didn't plan to take them with him, as they didn't match the style of the new house, and there were better options in the new house anyway.

***

The next morning, Zhang Jing went outside and found a "peddler" to help with the move. This was a small van, common in the slums, much narrower than a regular car, making it very suitable for the narrow streets and alleys of the slums.

"Jing-ge'er, what's up? Moving?" A neighbor, an older woman, who was washing clothes at the door, asked as she saw Zhang Jing and the driver loading boxes into the car.

"Yes, we're moving. We found a new place," Zhang Jing replied with a smile.

"Oh? Where are you moving to?"

"It's in the west of the city, and it's bigger than here."

"Oh my, Jing-ge is really..." Upon hearing this, the woman wiped her hands on her apron, stood up, and took a few steps closer: "I always said that among the young men in this area, Jing-ge is the most promising!"

"Mom, what's wrong?" A child, still with a snotty nose, poked his head out from the doorway when he heard his mother's voice.

"Tiger, come here. Your brother Jing is moving out. I'm telling you, you should study hard and learn from your brother Jing. You should move out too!" For the residents of the slum, being able to move out of the slum is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, equivalent to a change in their social class.

"You flatter me, you flatter me..." Zhang Jing quickly cupped his hands in a polite gesture.

“Jing-ge’er, to be honest, Hu Zi isn’t stupid, but his grades are always just so-so. You think… maybe you could give him a little pointers?”

Looking at the earnest eyes of my neighbor, I sighed in my heart, "The hearts of parents are all the same." Whether in the ancient China or the present-day Zhao Dynasty, there has always been a tradition of the imperial examination system. In the common people, regardless of whether they are wise or foolish, noble or lowly, they all have an extraordinary belief in the power of education to change their destiny.

Having lived here for nearly five years, Zhang Jing thought for a moment and, drawing on his past life's experience, gave Hu Zi a few pointers, along with some motivational words. As for how much the child would ultimately take to heart, that was up to fate.

After giving Tiger some pointers, Zhang Jing chatted with his neighbor for a few more minutes. Seeing that the driver had already unloaded the remaining boxes, he excused himself, saying he didn't want to keep the car waiting, and then bowed and took his leave.

After bidding a reluctant farewell to the mother and son, Zhang Jing climbed into the passenger seat and watched the vehicle slowly start moving. Looking at the chaotic, dirty, yet familiar scene around him, Zhang Jing felt a strange mix of emotions.

He knew that he had fulfilled the original owner of this body's greatest wish—a leap in social class.

........................

P.S.: I saw some people asking in the comments what a lawyer is. Here's the explanation: "Lawyer" is the ancient Chinese term for a legal advisor, which in this context can be understood as a lawyer. It's a different term for the same profession in different contexts; for example, in Hong Kong, a barrister is sometimes called a "大状" (da zhuang).

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Zhang Residence

To make the move easier, Zhang Jing had the driver drive directly into the backyard through the side gate of the house. The two then carried the six cardboard boxes into the main house. Afterward, Zhang Jing settled the fare with the driver.

Watching the car drive away, Zhang Jing suddenly had the idea of ​​buying a car. In his previous life, he was an experienced driver with more than ten years of experience. He had observed that although the vehicles in this world were electric and their operation methods differed from the gasoline-powered vehicles of his previous life, the general operation was still similar.

Overall, due to more advanced AI-assisted driving technology and the inherent structural simplicity of electric vehicles, operating vehicles in this world is actually much simpler compared to gasoline vehicles.

Having his own car would make commuting much more convenient, Zhang Jing thought to himself. He planned to find a driving school to accumulate enough points before taking the driving test.

Back in the main house, Zhang Jing began unpacking the cardboard boxes he had brought, sorting out the contents and placing them in his new home. He moved his bedding to the master bedroom, and also put the books he had brought into the study, which would become his reading and internet-using space.

To be honest, this mansion is quite spacious. According to Zhang Jing's estimation, the main house alone is more than 100 square meters, divided into a bedroom, a living room, and a study. The total building area is more than 600 square meters. If this house were in Zhang Jing's previous life, it would undoubtedly be considered a mansion.

In this world, perhaps because the rapid development of the space industry has attracted too much capital, the real estate sector has not become a pillar industry or a reservoir of funds for the country. The long-term stable housing prices have also left little room for speculation. Therefore, housing prices in this world are far lower than in Zhang Jing's previous life.

Even so, such a house is not something that ordinary families can afford.

Just then, his phone rang. A slight smile appeared on Zhang Jing's lips as he looked at the caller ID. The caller was his childhood friend, Wang Tao, his best friend. The two had been classmates from elementary school all the way through high school, practically inseparable, and now they were both living in the same city.

"Hey, Taozi."

"Hey, Jing, I have great news for you! My internship is finally over!" came an excited voice from the other end of the phone.

"So that's why you had time to call me during work hours," Zhang Jing said with a smile. "So, you've finally escaped your misery and are about to become a corrupt police officer?"

"Not at all, I've just become a junior police officer." A slightly unnatural voice came from the other end: "I just finished the assessment process and am now waiting for assignment."

Then, as if sensing something, he added, "Ah Jing, it's rare to see you in such a good mood. Tell me, what good thing happened?"

Zhang Jing naturally knew that Wang Tao was referring to the original owner of the body before he transmigrated, burdened with heavy student loan debt, whose mood was naturally not very good every day.

"I've moved. I'm just unpacking my new place. I'll send you my location so you can check it out later."

"Sure, Jing, I'll come over after get off work. I was just thinking of getting some skewers with you."

"See you later then."

"See you later!"

........................

After hanging up with Wang Tao, Zhang Jing thought for a moment, then sent a message to his uncle back home on Qianluo, informing them of his move. Since his parents' passing, his uncle had provided him with considerable help and was one of the few relatives he still kept in touch with. His uncle quickly replied, congratulating him in a very happy tone. Zhang Jing added a few more words to let them know he was safe before ending the conversation.

After thinking for a while, Zhang Jing couldn't think of anyone else he could contact, so he shook his head and continued tidying up the room.

With the room almost tidied up, Zhang Jing checked the time and realized it was almost noon, so he ordered a rather substantial takeout meal. While waiting for the delivery, he opened the "EasyBuy" app to buy some things.

To be honest, there are quite a few things to buy. First of all, his phone screen cracked after it was caught in a sinkhole, and he hasn't had time to repair it yet. Considering his current financial situation, Zhang Jing decided to simply replace it with a better phone.

He set his sights on the "Stellar 3" smartphone developed by the Genesis Group. Genesis Group is a rising technology giant that started in the aerospace business. Driven by business logic, it now operates in multiple sectors, with its subsidiary Genesis Electronics, specializing in consumer electronics, experiencing a steady increase in market share in recent years. Its product development philosophy of "exploration, creation, and dreams" is particularly popular among social elites, especially the younger generation.

The phone that Zhang Jing was interested in had a flexible and deformable design. It could be worn as a wristband on his arm, allowing for simple operations even in this state. He could even answer calls without removing the wristband; he could simply touch his chin with his finger while wearing the wristband to answer calls via bone conduction, all without worrying about privacy.

In addition, when a larger screen is needed, the phone can gradually expand the screen through multi-folding, and can be opened to a maximum of 7 inches. If that is not enough, the phone also has a laser projection function, which can project the screen into the air above the phone, and can project a light screen up to 12 inches. However, the clarity of this mode is slightly worse than the screen mode, and the power consumption will also increase significantly.

This phone bills itself as a "phone of the interstellar era," claiming that it can withstand the harsh usage requirements of space environments, which is what ultimately made Zhang Jing decide to place an order.

In addition, Zhang Jing also chose a Kunlun "Starry Sky Series. Vermilion Bird" laptop, a 12-inch laptop with a detachable screen and keyboard design, allowing the screen to be used as a tablet. It boasts relatively advanced specifications, and its robust and durable design has earned it a high reputation among gamers.

After all, due to his habits from his previous life, Zhang Jing still preferred to use computers to handle many aspects of his daily life. However, you get what you pay for, and these two electronic products cost Zhang Jing nearly 8000 yuan.

Finally, Zhang Jing also bought a peach wood doorplate online with the words "Zhang Residence" engraved on it, intending to hang it on his front door after it arrived, which is a tradition in this world.

After lunch, Zhang Jing once again used the Jade Token to travel to Lishan Grotto-heaven in the afternoon to begin his cultivation for the day. The cultivation was quite effective, similar to his first experience. At this point, Zhang Jing had a general idea that cultivation in the grotto-heaven was indeed far more effective than in the real world, and the difference was likely multiplied. Of course, Zhang Jing planned to continue observing for a while longer, believing that the conclusion would be more accurate then.

After completing his practice for the day, Zhang Jing focused his main efforts on organizing the materials in the Sutra Repository, which will be one of his most important tasks for some time to come.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Cleaning Up the Sutra Repository

After a preliminary investigation, he had made a rough judgment: regarding the architectural structure of the Sutra Repository, apart from the first and second floors which were relatively well preserved, the upper floors had completely collapsed, and the documents and books stored inside were scattered among the ruins. Zhang Jing would try his best to collect them, but as for the specifics, he could only say that he would do his best and leave the rest to fate.

Even the relatively intact first and second floors were not in good condition. After Zhang Jing's investigation, he found that both floors had been damaged to varying degrees. Based on the current furnishings and the several skeletons lying there in different ways, it was estimated that a fierce battle had taken place.

Furthermore, due to the collapse of the third floor, the ceiling on the second floor was damaged, effectively leaving it exposed to the elements. Therefore, the environment for preserving the materials is far worse than on the first floor. Thus, although there are also well-preserved bookshelves like on the first floor, the stored books show much more severe signs of weathering and erosion. How many are truly readable remains to be determined, but based on the current situation, it is certainly in worse condition than on the first floor.

To better organize the materials, he prepared a notebook and some sticky notes, intending to create an archive for them.

At the same time, he temporarily planned to clear out a part of the first floor of the Sutra Repository, and move several bookshelves that, although collapsed, were still structurally intact, to be rearranged as a place to preserve usable books. In particular, he planned to prioritize identifying and moving the books stored in the open on the second floor to be stored there.

Of course, in his mind, this was a temporary solution, and he would need to carefully plan how to arrange things afterward.

As evening approached, Zhang Jing glanced at his watch, figuring that Wang Tao should be getting off work soon, and stopped working.

After about two hours of work, Zhang Jing had cleared out a corner of the first floor of the Sutra Repository and placed bookshelves on it, while also completing some of the work of identifying the materials.

Zhang Jing discovered that after completing the Foundation Establishment stage, he could now use his divine sense to check if a Dharma treasure was invalid. This was similar to reading a book; you could choose to read only the beginning and then close the book. However, reading a Dharma treasure completely required consuming a large amount of divine sense.

Looking at the examined French collection stored on the bookshelf, with sticky notes bearing the translations attached below, Zhang Jing felt quite satisfied.

Besides organizing the materials, Zhang Jing also found a Dharma treasure suitable for his current state. This jade tablet, titled "The Record of Passing on the Torch," was likely recorded by a senior member of the Lishan School for his disciples. It described the key points and precautions for the first four stages of cultivation in the Lishan School: Foundation Building, Transformation, Night Travel, and Alchemy. It contained much of the senior member's experience, which Zhang Jing found immensely beneficial after studying it. He also gained a general understanding of his subsequent cultivation path.

Zhang Jing had originally planned to spend some time in the Sutra Repository, but seeing that it was already evening and considering his date that night, he decided to return to the real world first.

***

"Ah Jin, you're not... selling Rainbow Pills, are you?" Wang Tao was a young man with a baby face and a slightly chubby build. He was a little shorter than Zhang Jing. Ever since he walked into Zhang Jing's house, he hadn't stopped talking.

"How could that be? You know perfectly well that those scoundrels who sell Rainbow Pills, how much money can they really keep?" Zhang Jing smiled. The Rainbow Pills they were talking about were a newly emerging chemical drug in this world. Due to its addictive nature, it had been listed as a prohibited substance in most countries around the world. However, some high-priced goods of dubious origin could still be bought through some underground channels.