Chapter 144: Invocation

After the new Speaker took office and the old struggle and slaughter ended, Lei Yaoxing washed away everything of the past with his own blood.

After receiving an account on the surface and substantial compensation, the representatives of all parties left one after another. Chen Yubo also ran to his brother's side to ask questions.

Ji Jue leaned on the chair for a long time, raised his hand to take off the three rubber bands from the back of his head, and looked at them in his palm for a long time.

A silent sigh.

"Leaving?" Old Tang glanced keenly.

"Yeah."

Ji Jue withdrew his gaze without regret, spitting out the last melon seed: "The melon is eaten, the matter is done, what am I still staying here for? To fawn over the new Speaker? Forget it, I don't hang out with associations… How about you?"

"I can't leave!" Old Tang shouted, "That bastard Chen Xingzhou cheated me out of such a large sum, don't I need to ask for more final payment?"

"Then I wish you success in collecting your salary."

Ji Jue smiled slightly, waved goodbye to Tang Qian, and when passing through the crowd, as if by accident, stumbled and bumped into the person in front, immediately embarrassed:

"Ah, sorry."

"It's okay."

The strange woman who turned back was smiling, but when she saw his appearance, she was stunned, nodded, and hurried away.

Leaving only a faint scent of perfume, making Ji Jue stay in place for a long time.

Lowering his eyes, thoughtful.

Then, he heard the sound of the wheelchair turning behind him; it was Chen Yubo pushing Chen Xingzhou over.

The little chubby man was completely free of the depression and anxiety of the past few days, his eyes much brighter, jubilant as if he were about to sprout wings and fly to the sky.

It was indeed, soaring into the sky.

The brother of the Wilderness Gathering's manager and Yacheng's Speaker, wasn't he different from before?

From today on, all the industries in Yacheng that couldn't see the light were Chen family's private property, all decided by Chen Xingzhou's word.

And Chen Xingzhou didn't seem to be overjoyed, still calm, his smile warm and enthusiastic.

Taking the initiative to reach out.

"Mr. Ji, nice to meet you, I haven't officially thanked you yet." He looked at the back of the woman who had left, his smile pleasant, "What's wrong? If you're interested, I can introduce you."

"No, nothing."

Ji Jue answered, "Just felt like I'd seen her somewhere before."

"Normal." Chen Xingzhou said, "We're all Yacheng people, you'll get familiar with faces if you go shopping a lot."

"So that's how it is."

Ji Jue nodded suddenly, smelling the perfume scent that had dissipated without a trace, just saying, "No wonder."

"The younger generation is to be feared." Chen Xingzhou's smile was gentle, full of appreciation: "The world of the future will depend on you young people."

"Forget it, I feel like being an artisan suits me better."

Ji Jue shook his head without hesitation, "At least it's simple."

"Is it very simple?"

Chen Xingzhou was slightly stunned, hearing such a big tone for the first time, calling the artisan path that countless people spent their whole lives struggling to achieve results in "simple," yet it was so natural.

For a moment, he couldn't tell if this was the shallowness of not knowing the height of the sky and the depth of the earth, or the confidence of a true genius, and could only sigh: "Full of vigor, truly amazing."

Ji Jue nodded, just saying: "Probably because there are too many things that are harder than being an artisan, right?"

Thus, Chen Xingzhou was silent.

He said nothing more.

"What's wrong?"

Ji Jue laughed, "Isn't today a great day? Why be silent, we should celebrate."

He didn't care at all about Chen Xingzhou's attitude; whether he was the Speaker or not had nothing to do with him.

You have the ability to come to the Tide Sound Workshop and hit me?

As the savior of Chen Xingzhou's own younger brother, even if he kicked this guy's wheelchair over right now, Chen Xingzhou would probably have to climb up himself and give him a thumbs up, praising him for kicking well and kicking wonderfully.

What did he have to fear?

What did he have to worry about?

Chen Xingzhou sighed lightly, patted Chen Yubo's hand on his shoulder, and so, after Chen Yubo was slightly stunned, he took the initiative to leave, leaving the two in place.

"Just, feeling a bit emotional."

He said slowly: "All along, I felt that being able to climb to the current height, apart from city, scheming, and wrist, the most important thing was luck."

Saying this, he looked back at Chen Yubo, who was holding his phone and taking pictures of wild cats in the distance, sighing sincerely: "But now it seems, my silly brother's luck is much better than mine."

"Silly people have silly blessings, as long as you're not a fool.

If you ask me, if you stop hindering him a little, his blessings will be even more."

Ji Jue put his hands in his pockets and finally asked: "Anything else to order, Speaker Chen?"

"…Indeed, there is one more very important thing."

Amidst a brief thought, Chen Xingzhou reached out and took out something he had prepared long ago: "A-Bo told me you didn't want a penny.

When I was lying in the hospital bed, you advised him to donate that money and do more good deeds.

You are a good friend, a rare good friend in the world."

He said: "Let's do this as you said."

What was handed to Ji Jue was only a piece of paper, so thin, but the appearance and the header were so familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before.

Those were two documents.

One was a donation slip, cash donation of over 4.641 billion Federation coins, with odd amounts.

The other was a mandate for shareholding and sale, shares of more than dozens of companies, including many hot listed companies, and many valuable assets.

All were entrusted to the Chongguang Sect for holding, selling, and all the money obtained was used for charity work.

And what made Ji Jue dumbfounded was the signature on the donation slip and the mandate.

Not Chen Yubo, nor Chen Xingzhou.

It was Ji Jue…

Wait?!

Ji, Jue?

He widened his eyes, leaned in, looked carefully, confirmed repeatedly, for a long time, still confused.

Then, he saw the thing Chen Xingzhou handed over last.

A small badge.

Simply put, it was an iron brooch, with no spiritual quality fluctuation, engraved with the mark of the Chongguang Sect, and added with three layers of gold edges, with Ji Jue's name engraved on the back.

Finally, it was imprinted with the mark of the Spirit of Radiance as anti-counterfeiting.

This was the only thank-you gift provided by the Chongguang Sect for large donors, and at the same time, it was a true luxury item that was hard to find and rare to see in the vanity fair.

Because only those who had truly donated more than billions for charity, saving countless illnesses, hardships, and desperate situations, could get this badge from the hands of the Chongguang Sect.

It could not be sold, nor could it be transferred. After Ji Jue passed away, someone would specifically come to take it back and enshrine it on the Wall of Good Deeds in the Central Sanctuary.

Simply put, this was a genuine "Good Person Certificate" certified by the whole world!

As long as he wore this, Ji Jue could walk sideways wherever he went. Even if he went to the Central Earth or the Empire, anyone with eyes who saw the badge on his chest would bow and greet him, welcoming him.

Even walking straight into the Viceroy's Mansion and patting the Viceroy's bald head, telling him I think you've done some things poorly recently, the Viceroy would only smile and admit, you're right.

On the surface, it didn't have any effect, but the true influence had already covered all aspects.

No one would hate a good person who accumulated virtue and did good deeds.

And no one would be dissatisfied or disrespectful to someone wearing the Badge of Goodness from the heart.

From now on, Ji Jue was a certified doer of good deeds in the Chongguang Sect!

From today on…

"Before I came, I told the elder about you."

Chen Xingzhou smiled slightly, "The elder said thank you and wants to invite you to gather when you have time. From now on, you will always be an honored guest of the Chongguang Sect. No matter where you go, they are your friends."

Ji Jue raised his head and looked at the elder surrounded by the crowd in the distance.

The old elder looked back, and when he looked at Ji Jue, he nodded again.

His eyes were overflowing with heartfelt affinity and appreciation.

"But why me?"

In the sluggishness, Ji Jue asked in confusion: "If you really want to donate, isn't it better to use your own name?"

"If it were me, even if I donated, I wouldn't have this kind of treatment."

Chen Xingzhou laughed at himself, "The bishop told me that if you want to have results in a dignified way, donating money is useless. He asked me if I could do more good deeds in the future, but I can't do it.

I'm afraid I'm destined to do dirty work for the rest of my life, but at least A-Bo can live cleanly…"

He laughed from the heart, looking at him:

"Thank you, Ji Jue."

"Nine charity hospitals have introduced new equipment because of your donation. Next, the Chongguang Sect will use this money to promote new vaccinations throughout Haizhou. Those shares will be held by the Chongguang Sect for a long time, and all dividends earned will provide long-term hemodialysis for more people who cannot afford it."

He said: "From now on, you will always be a friend of the Chongguang Sect."

"…"

Ji Jue was silent, lowering his head, looking at the badge in his hand.

Less than a week of protection had actually brought such a huge reward, although he had never thought of keeping this money for himself, even if Chen Xingzhou took the initiative to give it to him, he wouldn't want it.

But at this moment, he was still cheering for Chen Xingzhou's gift, feeling happy from the bottom of his heart.

Just, what price was hidden behind such a huge donation?

What was this again?

Reward?

He smiled indifferently, not pulling or pushing, and put the badge into his pocket in a dignified way, finally asking: "With such a small thing, for the savior of your own younger brother, is it too stingy?"

"A little meager gratitude, it doesn't hinder you and me from being good or enemies in the future."

Chen Xingzhou pressed the armrest of the wheelchair, straightened his body, and asked solemnly: "Although it's mostly nonsense, I still want to ask—any interest in joining the Wilderness Gathering?

The Speaker is elected every ten years. With your talent, maybe it's easy. No, maybe with you, I won't even be able to sit in this position for ten years."

"Sorry, no interest at all."

Ji Jue waved his hand decisively: "You can keep that kind of thing and play with it yourself."

The rain stopped, time to go.

Having asked for leave for so many days, he still had many things to do.

It's noon, be fast, and he can still pick up Old Yao and the others from school on the way.

Just like that, Ji Jue turned and left without any nostalgia or hesitation.

Crystal water droplets dripped from the eaves, and the coastline outside the gate in the distance glowed with sparkling waves, so shining.

The wind blowing on his face became so refreshing.

The tide surged, as always.

Just like the distant sound half a month ago.

Outside the gate of the cemetery, Ji Jue finally looked back, taking one last look at the elusive truth.

The beginning of everything, the start of this bloody storm, originated from Chen Xingzhou's younger brother Chen Yubo being attacked by Lei Yaoxing, and then, the news that Lei Wuye was critically ill spread like wildfire…

And why did this attack start?

A baffling bet, a sports car enthusiast who never dared to exceed 80 mph, a rich second generation used as a gun, a woman who was still missing, and an unlucky guy Ji Jue who was outsourced and dragged into it by chance.

For this, Chen Xingzhou, whose reverse scale was touched, turned against Lei Yaoxing, opening the prelude to the turmoil.

But… a few small fry, and a sniper?

Could such small roles really be responsible for opening the prelude?

If you want to attack, why at the finish line? Wouldn't it be more convenient to put a stone in the middle of the road?

If you want to be safe, wouldn't it be simpler to shoot them to death in the crowd? If Ji Jue had really let go back then, would that shot have hit?

And where did the mysterious woman who indirectly triggered all this in the club go with her perfume scent?

Why did Lei Wuye suddenly go from being in his prime to being on the verge of death in a few months? Why did Lei Yaoxing take one wrong step after another, gradually walking to the point of being an enemy to everyone?

Why was this funeral so timely?

And that bullet fired at Chen Xingzhou, no one noticed, and no one blocked, such an unbelievable superb shooting technique, whose hand did it come from?

Too many mysteries, they had become untraceable and unverifiable with time.

With the new Speaker taking office, everything would be gradually covered by dust, and together with those who knew too much, buried deep underground.

But at this moment, Ji Jue couldn't help but start thinking, if it were himself… putting himself in his shoes, what would he do?

The answer is no answer.

It's as if at this moment, some results are destined to have no results.

So, let's stop here.

There is no need to delve into everything else, this is the result that everyone will be satisfied with.

For artisan apprentice Ji Jue, the turmoil on the Dark Side of Yacheng had ended, and everything that followed had nothing to do with him.

The world that belongs to him is not in this wilderness.

"Goodbye, Bai Lu."

Ji Jue looked back, looking at the surging sea waves under the embankment by the road.

In the reflection of the tide, the Bai Lu stood in the distant wilderness, quietly staring at everything.

Survival, hunting, competition, death.

This chaotic and cruel wilderness phenomenon…

From beginning to end, the Bai Lu witnessed everything.

But is the Bai Lu the only one witnessing all this?

At that moment, the young man who turned away from the wilderness raised his head and finally saw it.

The huge manifestation covering the world and encompassing all things above the firmament—formless to the greatest, imageless to the highest, vast as the sea and rising as flames. It was like a long road with no end in sight, endlessly upward, advancing toward a higher place…

It was looking at him, from beginning to end, silent and wordless.

As if, waiting for a long time.

The world was silent for a moment, under the eaves of the cemetery, residual rain dripped, scattered in a piece of tender green, light manifested.

The conversation of the people in the hall stopped suddenly, as if sensing something, looking back at the sky in the distance.

"Invocation of Supreme Goodness?"

Tong Ting looked up, sighing suddenly, "Never seen 'that one' favor an artisan to this extent."

"I thought it would be the Bai Lu."

Old Lin shook his head with regret, "What a pity."

"Supreme Goodness flows from all things, and what hunters and beasts pursue are spoils and the wilderness. But from the wilderness, all living beings can also have a heart of transcendence, a thought of climbing…"

The elder of the Chongguang Sect looked up at the vast rising thing, smiling silently, "Even the people present at this moment, aren't they also harboring the intention of rising?"

Ambition and ideals are one and the same.

All phenomena in the world come from this.

Some say humans are turned from monkeys.

Perhaps, the moment the monkey conceived the idea of walking upright, this simple wish was destined to lead the world to the current chaos and madness?

This heart of transcendence has nothing to do with good and evil, nor has it anything to do with nobility or humbleness, morality or status.

When the beast looked at the world before it, after fear and hesitation, the moment desire sprouted, the first primate in the world was born.

Everything in the world starts from the original thought of transcendence.

This is the origin of the soul.

"So, are you here?"

In the sound of the tide, the young man who turned away from the Bai Lu and left sighed, reached out, toward the sky.

Clenching the brilliant flowing light that fell from the sky!

For a moment, he seemed to see countless phantoms roaring like sea tides.

All that once was, the Ji Jue of the past…

The tender baby babbling, reaching out to hold a toy; the survivor of the flames shedding all tears, crawling out of the ruins; the embarrassed young worker bowing his head, gritting his teeth to carry bricks; the lucky applicant receiving a wrench from Lu Ma; the student walking into the gate of Tianmen University with his head held high; the soul unwilling to sink rising from a nightmare, returning to the world; the Ember Chosen wearing the Blade of Change slashing a sword…

And even at this very moment, the artisan bathing in the sea breeze, looking at the scorching sun and the firmament again.

From the past Ji Jue, to the present Ji Jue, extending into a line from the remnants of time.

Clearly the age, identity, and situation all seem to be completely different, but it also seems as if they have never changed.

All living beings in the world are indistinguishable here.

The dying Lei Wuye still wanted to hold onto power in his final moments; Chen Xingzhou, who fell to the bottom, swore to get ahead; Lei Yaoxing, who waited for many years, wanted to take over everything; and the unwilling small fry wanted to ascend to the stage…

Even if the appearance and identity are completely different, this motivation comes from the same source.

The poor will crave wealth, the weak will yearn to become stronger, those who have nothing will be greedy for power, and those who hate the status quo will resort to ideals…

Even if sinking into a quagmire, unable to extricate themselves, they still unwillingly want to raise their heads. When looking at the sky, they can't help but crave to… touch the stars!

After such a thought emerged from the mind, it was hard to forget.

Thus, the heart of climbing became increasingly intense.

Ultimately unstoppable.

Just like that, the frogs at the bottom of the well began to yearn for the unreachable light above their heads, and the trapped beasts sinking in the quagmire would also instinctively pursue the mountains.

Struggling hard, climbing upward.

Perhaps there are higher peaks above the dangerous peaks, and perhaps there is another layer of high heaven beyond the high heaven.

But as long as there is a high place in the world that cannot be reached, this heart of transcendence cannot be severed.

—This is, 【Ascension】!

Recommend an old friend's book "Crossing into the Demon Martial World, I Became the Know-It-All of the Jianghu"

Honestly, I was also shocked that he suddenly opened a book with a mask, anyway, recommend it~ ===== CHAPTER 145 =====