Chapter 15: Central Tower

Hearing the name "Golden Core True Person," Zhao Tianxing, who was in the car, was slightly startled, but then followed with disbelief: "How could the daughter of a Golden Core True Person come to Songyang?"

Zhang Yu nodded slightly beside him. He knew that above Qi Refinement was Foundation Establishment, and above Foundation Establishment was the Golden Core stage.

To achieve the Golden Core stage, one must have graduated from a top high school, successfully entered one of the ten prestigious universities, and joined a major sect to develop further. One could only imagine which layer of the Kunxu they would have climbed to by then.

The daughter of such a person would, at the very least, be born into the second layer of Kunxu or higher. How could she come to the first-layer city of Songyang?

The driver smiled upon hearing this, seemingly in the mood to show off, and said slowly, "It's not just Ms. Li Xuelian who is coming to our Songyang City."

"It is said that her father, Spark True Person, hails from our Songyang City. He is planning to retire now and intends to return to Songyang to live out his golden years..."

Listening to this, Zhang Yu felt something was strange. A Golden Core powerhouse returning to the "新手村" (starting village) to retire?

The driver continued, "This art exhibition features more than just Ms. Li's paintings. It is said there is also a 'Celestial Martial Arts Diagram' personally painted by Spark True Person, which supposedly hides a peerless martial arts technique."

"Among those attending this exhibition, besides those wishing to make Ms. Li's acquaintance, many are here to contemplate the diagram, hoping to comprehend that peerless martial arts technique."

...

Songyang Central Tower.

The 999th Floor.

Zhang Yu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the rolling sea of clouds in shock. This was his first time standing at such a height to overlook an entire city.

Adjusting his newly changed security uniform, Zhang Yu felt a sense of wonder.

Ever since entering the Central Tower, Zhang Yu felt as if he had stepped into another dreamlike world.

If the suburban environment where he lived was somewhat similar to his previous life, then the infrastructure of Songyang High School had already subtly surpassed the world of his previous life in various aspects. But the Central Tower before him...

Whether it was the terrifying height of 999 floors or the various immortal Dao technologies filled with circulating mana within the building, it could only be described as a dreamlike scene.

Recalling how, under the enhancement of his Daoist arts, he had been guided to the 999th floor by a formation within seconds without a single scratch, Zhang Yu couldn't help but feel moved again.

"In the same Songyang City, mortals live in the suburbs, cultivators gather in the city center, and this Central Tower is the domain of the truly wealthy."

"Three places, though all within one city, are like three different layered worlds..."

Just then, Zhao Tianxing's voice sounded from behind him: "Zhang Yu, the captain sent us here to patrol. We should get going, right?"

Zhang Yu turned around to look at Zhao Tianxing, who was also wearing a security uniform.

However, unlike Zhang Yu, who wore the uniform with composure, Zhao Tianxing was extremely awkward and timid... looking like a man who had just soiled his pants.

He felt like a clown in this security uniform. The gazes of the people around him seemed to carry three parts disdain, three parts contempt, and three parts lowliness.

But in reality, Zhao Tianxing was overthinking it. Once he put on this uniform, he was no longer a mere mortal; he had become part of the building's background. To most people, his presence was only slightly more noticeable than the greenery.

Zhang Yu patted his shoulder and said, "Chest out, head up. We are security guards for the Central Tower now, not food delivery drivers. What are you afraid of?"

Sensing that the passersby around them seemed attracted by Zhang Yu's voice, Zhao Tianxing hurriedly said, "I know, but keep your voice down, Zhang Yu. Don't disturb others."

The scale of this art exhibition was not small, occupying over a thousand square meters and providing alcohol and buffet dining. In Zhang Yu's view, it was more like a party than an art viewing.

The legendary "Celestial Martial Arts Diagram" was currently covered by a curtain, reportedly waiting for Ms. Li Xuelian to unveil it personally.

Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing had been assigned to a relatively peripheral area of this venue to patrol back and forth as security.

Since the exhibition had not yet officially begun, the patrol was incredibly relaxed and did not trigger any ritual backlash.

After all, the ritual power within Zhang Yu was targeted toward the completion of wishes.

And his method of fulfilling those wishes was to learn, cultivate, work hard to get into university, work to earn money... and ultimately fulfill the wishes of the Evil God.

Since temporary jobs were a part of working to earn money or even studying and cultivating, the ritual power would not force him to switch to something else.

In fact, this state of aimless wandering was much more relaxing for Zhang Yu than the bitter cultivation of the past few days.

Just then, as the two approached the dining tables, they saw a group of waiters arranging plates and tidying the table decorations.

Zhang Yu glanced over, and seeing the dishes being laid out one by one, he said in surprise, "Is this... seafood?"

Zhao Tianxing also looked over, seeing the abalone and lobster in the trays... and nodded slightly. "It's marine life. I saw those shelled ones when I went out with my mom; they seemed to cost thirty or forty thousand per jin."

"But this is the Central Tower, so it's normal to have these here, right?"

Zhang Yu had seen and eaten plenty of seafood in his previous life.

But in this Kunxu—at least in the first layer—marine life was an extremely rare existence. The original Zhang Yu had only seen it online; in reality, let alone eating it, he had never even seen it in person.

This was because within the 20 million square kilometers of the first layer of Kunxu... there was no ocean.

It was said that the marine life on the market was either imported from higher layers of Kunxu or farmed by institutions that created artificial marine environments.

Hearing the price of tens of thousands per jin from Zhao Tianxing, Zhang Yu was inwardly stunned. "That expensive?"

"What are the benefits of eating this? Does it increase mana?"

It was no wonder Zhang Yu thought this. Whether it was the original Zhang Yu or the current one, in the immortal Dao world he encountered, everyone was advancing by any means necessary, exerting all their strength to improve their mana, martial arts, Daoist arts, physical bodies, and Dao hearts...

Clothing, food, housing, transportation... everything in life was related to the improvement of cultivation.

"Benefits?" Zhao Tianxing thought for a moment and finally shook his head. "I've never heard of any benefits to eating this. It seems it's just for the taste."

"Just for the taste?" Zhang Yu stared at the array of delicacies on the table, momentarily stunned.

Just as Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing were secretly observing the dining table together, a cold voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

"You two security guards, why aren't you patrolling properly? What are you doing sneaking around here?"

Hearing this voice, Zhao Tianxing jumped in fright and turned around to explain quickly, "We weren't doing anything..."

But upon seeing the person behind him, Zhao Tianxing froze on the spot.

Zhang Yu, however, turned around nonchalantly and said to Bai Zhenzhen, "Oh? It's Ah Zhen! What a coincidence, you're here for the art exhibition too?"

Upon realizing the newcomer was a classmate, Zhao Tianxing felt his security uniform became even more hideous and ugly. His body twisted awkwardly, as if he were desperately trying to hold in a bowel movement.

Especially when he thought that if his job as a security guard were spread through the class, he would be labeled with "poverty," "part-time job," and "short on money," causing his status and reputation in their social circle to plummet, Zhao Tianxing's twisting became even more intense.

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu expressionlessly and said, "I didn't expect that at such a young age, you would take a shortcut of several decades and come here to work as security."

Zhao Tianxing hurriedly waved his hands, explaining, "No, it's not like that, classmate Bai Zhenzhen. I'm just accompanying Zhang Yu."

Zhang Yu suddenly slapped Zhao Tianxing on the shoulder: "What are you panicking for? You're a temporary security guard with an hourly wage of 800. Your hourly purchasing power can satisfy a mortal's food and drink for ten days. If you told people, they'd be envious."

"Huh?" Zhao Tianxing was momentarily stunned. He had never thought an hourly wage of 800 was anything special.

But as he looked at the suddenly silent Bai Zhenzhen, he felt a chill emanating from her.

Zhao Tianxing had never been very familiar with this genius girl, who ranked first in the grade. He only knew that she was always cold and distant, only eating with Zhang Yu, Zhou Tianyi, and the others.

In fact, Zhao Tianxing's social circle had tried to invite her, but they never received a response.

In his mind, Bai Zhenzhen was a girl of extraordinary talent, but also extremely arrogant and difficult to approach.

Seeing her expressionless, silent state now, Zhao Tianxing felt as if she were angry.

"Zhang Yu must have said something to make her mad."

Just as he was twisting around, agonizing over what to say to lighten the atmosphere, he heard Bai Zhenzhen ask coldly, "You make 800 an hour?"

"Mm." Zhao Tianxing nodded foolishly, not understanding what she was getting at.

Just then, a call came from the other side of the dining table. A waiter who was setting the table shouted, "Newcomer, hurry up and carry the dishes! What are you standing there for?"

Bai Zhenzhen said to Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing, "I'll go serve the food first. We'll talk later."

At the same time, she thought to herself: *Damn! Security makes 800 an hour? I only make 500 an hour. If I had known, I would have worked security too.*

Only then did Zhao Tianxing realize that Bai Zhenzhen's clothing was identical to those of the waiters. His face filled with shock: "Bai Zhenzhen is working here too?"

"How rare. Who in this world isn't working?" Zhang Yu had recognized Bai Zhenzhen's attire at first glance. In his view, given Bai Zhenzhen's economic situation, working was perfectly normal.

However, thinking that she could still maintain her rank as number one in the grade while working, he was secretly alarmed.

*Ah Zhen's talent is truly extraordinary. Looking at all the entry-level disciples in my Songyang sect, she's probably only a step behind me.*