Bearing the blue sky

Chapter 341 Shengjing! A land of abundant resources and treasures, the center of the world!

When the news appeared in the newspapers, Shengjing's reaction was slower than expected.

It's not because nobody cares, but because Shengjing is too big.

For a message to go from print in a newspaper to becoming a topic of conversation in a teahouse, it needs to go through a process of transmission from a few people to the majority.

It needs time to ferment slowly among the wooden tables and chairs of the teahouse, and needs to be repeatedly confirmed amidst the idle chatter at the entrance of the bookstore.

Finally, it spread to the capillaries of the entire city.

But the news is indeed spreading.

And it caused a huge uproar!

"Master Tianji? Is that the same Zhu Ge who created a new Confucian path?"

"It's him! He's coming to Shengjing!!"

"Is that the person who wrote 'The Old Man and the Sea'?"

"Good heavens! I heard the other day the New Year's Eve official and he had a conflict! Could they have gotten into a fight?"

"Many of the stories in the newspaper were written by him; he was also the founder of the Human Race Newspaper."

"So he's coming to Shengjing? When?"

The news was spreading like dandelion seeds scattered by the wind, reaching different directions in Shengjing.

It falls in the corner of the teahouse, on the edge of the counter in the bookstore, and among the crowds chatting idly at the alley entrance.

Meanwhile, those who received the message began to react in their own ways.

In a study in the east of the city, an elderly man with white hair put down his newspaper, remained silent for a long time, and then said something to his disciple beside him.

The disciple nodded, turned, and left.

In front of the post station, the middle-aged man clutching the letter of submission stopped, took the sealed letter out of his pocket, glanced at it, put it back, and finally just sighed.

In a school, the teacher put down his ruler, glanced out the window, then looked away and continued lecturing, but his voice was lower than before, as if he was thinking about something else.

Many people have reacted to this.

High above, a cold snort suddenly echoed from a luxurious palace.

The palace floats among the clouds, making the towering buildings of Shengjing appear as low courtyards below it.

The outlines of cities such as Chang'an, Chaoge, and Jinling in the distance are faintly visible at the edge of the sea of ​​clouds, like jewels inlaid on the edge of the sky.

The base of the palace is carved from a single piece of dark blue jade, with intricate patterns engraved on its surface.

The patterns gleamed with a warm luster under the sunlight, like the patina that forms on the surface of ancient jade after repeated polishing.

The jade base extends downwards into nine tiered platforms, each narrower than the one above, with fine cloud-like waterfalls cascading down its edges.

The mist flowed slowly along the edge of the steps, turning into a vast sea of ​​fog at the lowest point, merging with the clouds below.

The main body of the palace rises from the base.

The walls are cast from a metal with a pale golden hue, and the surface is covered with fine relief patterns.

Some patterns outline the contours of mountains and rivers, some depict the pattern of hundreds of birds paying homage to the phoenix, and some present an abstract geometric structure that cannot be directly identified.

The patterns take on different hues depending on the light, sometimes light gold, sometimes dark bronze, and sometimes with a faint bluish-green sheen.

The nine pillars on the front of the palace are completely translucent, made of a material similar to crystal, with fine golden light flowing inside.

Each pillar is over a hundred feet tall, reaching directly to the bottom of the palace dome.

Two intersecting patterns are wrapped around the pillar, one of which is silvery-white and extends upward from the base of the pillar.

The other strand is reddish-gold and hangs down from the top of the column. The two strands meet in the middle, forming a dense, brocade-like interwoven surface.

The dome is composed of nine overlapping arched structures, each layer higher than the one below, like a staircase that is gradually rising.

The outermost layer is covered with deep blue glazed tiles, which gleam with a deep, dark luster like the ocean under the light.

The inner layers are made of translucent material, which filters out sunlight and introduces it into the hall, creating a gentle and even lighting.

At the highest point of the dome is a fist-sized pearl, perfectly round and without a single flaw on its surface.

The temple door has no doors, only a frame made of light, which has a tone between gold and white, with a faint purple halo around the edges.

The space inside the door frame seemed to be covered by a thin layer of water, and the view on the other side could be vaguely seen, but not completely.

The entire palace had no foundation, no pillars, and no structure connecting it to the land below.

It floats there among the clouds, quietly existing in the center of the sky, having been there for so long that it has become a part of this sky.

The voice came from the top of the palace, directly facing the direction of Shengjing.

The echo of that cold snort was slowly dissipating in the hall, like the last few ripples left after a stone has fallen into deep water.

A moment later, a figure emerged from the shadows deep within the palace, stopping at the edge of the light, not fully entering the area illuminated.

His silhouette was clearly outlined by the light; he was tall and wore a dark robe that reached his ankles, with fine gold patterns along the edges.

His face was mostly obscured by shadows, with only the outline of his jaw and mouth visible. He held a rolled-up newspaper in his hand.

It is the New Year's Eve official!

He glanced at the sun, which was almost within reach overhead, and said softly, "Immortal Lord Sichen, your sunlight is too blazing. Let's make it cloudy today."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint shadow suddenly appeared on the sun.

"Yes, ma'am."

The voice was flat and calm, and the sunlight seemed to dim considerably as the words fell.

At the same time, the clouds below the palace began to churn and roar, accompanied by thunder.

On New Year's Eve, the official looked down at the dark, heavy clouds below, his expression utterly indifferent.

A moment later, he returned to the palace, and then there was no more sound in the palace.

On the official road not far from Shengjing, a carriage pulled by an armored beast was slowly moving forward.

Snow blanketed the city, while dark clouds rolled across the horizon, obscuring the sun.

The armored beast's gait remained steady, and the sound of its wheels rolling over the road was still rhythmic.

Zhu Ge, sitting in the carriage, had her eyes closed and her expression was completely calm.

However, from his perspective, countless red lines were forming a net-like pattern in the sky, enveloping Shengjing in the distance.

These red spider silks were sent by Zhu Ge to allow Hua Liusha to act in the form of Yin energy, connecting all the forces in the world that he could control. The purpose of this trip was twofold: first, to resolve the root of the trouble from a year ago, namely the trouble that the world coveted after Zhu Ge created the Yi Dao.

Secondly, there is the issue of resolving the cultivation level of the Annihilation True Monarch.

-

Now, the True Lord of Annihilation is emaciated and unable to speak. He stays in his own realm like a living dead or a vegetable.

According to the New Year's Eve Official, he can restore the cultivation of the Obliterated True Lord.

The first divination performed by Zhu Ge was also like this.

That was the first divination he performed after establishing his Dao, indicating that the opportunity for the True Lord of Extinction to recover his cultivation was in Shengjing.

This time, he wants to solve two problems at once.

At the same time, the so-called Great Era of Conflict begins, and various alien races are about to arrive.

The human race was already in grave danger, and the addition of various alien races to the oppression would undoubtedly make matters worse.

At that time, Zhuge will be better positioned in Shengjing.

Shengjing is the center of this world!

As a spider, it naturally needs to occupy the center to weave its web.

"Crunch, crunch—"

The carriage continued its journey along the official road.

The armored beast's footsteps were steady and even, and its wheels made a soft, crushing sound as they rolled over the snow on the road.

The sky was overcast, the clouds hung low, and the sunlight was completely blocked. Only a layer of hazy, cold light seeped down from the edge of the clouds, casting the distant city of Shengjing as a dark shadow.

The city walls of Shengjing appeared exceptionally tall under the gray-white daylight.

Unlike other cities, it is not made of a single material, but rather composed of multiple layers, resembling a mountain range stretching across the land when viewed from afar.

It stretches as far as the eye can see!

This is still thousands of miles apart!

The lower half of the city wall is built of a kind of dark gray boulder, and the surface is covered with fine engravings, as if it has been repeatedly eroded by wind, rain and time.

The upper part of the wall is covered with a dark gold metal plate, with fine array patterns embedded in the seams between the plates, which still gleam faintly in the dim light.

The height of the city walls far exceeded that of any city Zhu Ge had ever seen.

The purple clay city walls of Jianshui City appear like low courtyard walls in comparison, and the floating structure of Yuanyang City also seems light and flimsy in comparison.

At intervals above the city wall, there is a tower, each with a different shape.

Some are square, some are hexagonal, and some are irregular ridge columns, like traces left by different builders at different times.

The city gate was cast from multiple layers of thick metal, and its surface was covered with dense array patterns. The direction of the array patterns formed a complex symmetrical pattern, resembling the structure of some kind of lock.

On either side of the city gate stood a stone statue. The statue on the left was a crouching giant beast with a lion's head and a tiger's body, its back covered with fine scale patterns.

The statue on the right is an old tree with gnarled roots, its trunk entwined with vines and runes, and its canopy spreading out in the air above the city wall, obscuring a patch of sky above the city gate.

Even the city gate itself was magnificent, comparable to a high mountain.

And there are also things on this ground city.

The endless pavilions and towers, layer upon layer, reach high into the sky, above the dark clouds, and even seem to reach the sun.

The flying magical artifacts and various people flying around created a lively scene.

This is Shengjing!

The carriage stopped several thousand miles from the city gate, unwilling to go any further.

Liu Jianjian jumped down from the carriage shaft, her face full of shock: "This is Shengjing."

Not to mention Liu Jianjian, even Zhu Ge was deeply shocked.

I've seen many large cities in my past life, but none like Shengjing are unique.

It's like looking at a mountain and running until the horse dies.

They could see Shengjing, but they didn't know when they would actually reach the city gates.

Moreover, Shengjing naturally has its own regulations, so it's estimated that it won't be easy for him to get in.

Zhu Ge stepped down from the carriage, stood at the edge of the official road, and looked up at the giant city that stretched across the horizon.

The outline of Shengjing appeared exceptionally vast under the gray-white daylight.

It is not a city, but a cluster of buildings and walls that stretches from the ground to the clouds, with layers of pavilions forming a dense silhouette against the gloomy sky.

The towers on the city walls, the floating pavilions, the covered bridges spanning different heights, and the flying boats and aircraft shuttling between the pavilions together form an extremely complex yet orderly scene, like a giant net that has been carefully woven.

"It's too big." Liu Jianjian stood beside him and sighed again, "I used to think Yuanyang City was big enough, but compared to Shengjing, it's like a pebble on the roadside."

"Yes————" Zhu Ge's gaze was moving along the outline of the city wall, extending upwards from the city gate, passing through the floating pavilions in the middle layer, and reaching the highest point above the clouds.

That is the place where the New Year's Eve Official is located, the Human Palace!

At a distance of about a few miles from them, the array stars within his body could sense the existence of the first array.

It was a fine line extending along the ground, like concentric circles carved into the entire land, covering the entire area extending outward from the city gate.

"There's a formation ahead," Zhu Ge said intently. "More than one."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jianjian composed herself and remained silent.

Zhu Ge walked a few steps along the official road and stopped about several tens of feet away from the edge of the first array.

The texture of the array pattern was more refined than he could perceive from a distance, like a pattern carved on the surface of the soil with some kind of extremely fine spiritual energy lines, with a faint blue luster at the edges.

He stopped at the edge of the formation, without crossing that boundary.

A moment later, a young man dressed in a blue formal robe walked out from inside the formation. His steps were unhurried, elegant and composed.

"Registration is required to enter the city." His voice carried a calm tone that had been repeated many times: "Name, origin, purpose of entering the city."

Zhu Ge looked at the young man and felt the aura flowing around him.

He was at the third realm, and his cultivation level wasn't particularly high, but the standard robe he wore was engraved with some kind of identity mark, indicating that he was on official business.

"Zhu Ge." Zhu Ge said calmly, "I came from Yunjiang and entered the city to take care of some business."

A blank roster and a pen appeared in the young man's hands.

The register makes a slight rustling sound when it is unfolded, and the paper on the surface gleams with a very faint light as it is turned. Every entry record is automatically saved.

He didn't look up, his gaze fixed on the entries being filled in on the roster. His movements were steady and fluid. After writing for a while, he spoke: "Unfold all the storage bags, spatial rings, personal spaces, and other miscellaneous items for me to review and inspect."

coming.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ge didn't react, while Liu Jianjian instinctively wanted to curse, but she held back after glancing at Zhu Ge.

Zhu Ge then spoke calmly: "I have come here to destroy the old rules and establish a new order. Hmm, I don't like the rule you're talking about right now."

""

"I want to go in now, are you going to stop me on behalf of your master, the New Year's Eve official?"