Chapter 8: Modern Construction Is Intense

More than half an hour later, after the Supreme Dao Sect’s elder completed the inspection, the alarm was lifted.

People gradually emerged from the various sect outposts and schools.

The owner of a flying sword paint shop, delayed by some matter, returned to find several people loitering outside his door.

Huh? Is business coming my way?

But when he saw the scene inside the shop—especially the several people standing beside the computer, from which leaked sounds unsuitable for public playback—

Who the hell touched the computer!…………

Xu Xing, who caused all this, had already exchanged spirit stones for some of this era’s currency and was preparing to rent a place to stay.

In the city center, a dozens-story tower bore large characters on its side—【Jianzong - Zashi Hall】.

Jianzhou is the largest prefecture under Jianzong’s rule; the city of Xuanjian hosts a branch of Jianzong’s Zashi Hall, specifically for handling such matters.

Accommodations rented through Jianzong’s Zashi Hall are relatively expensive, but they offer simple procedures and extremely fast processing.

At the entrance stood two guards: one carried a long sword on his back, the other had a spinning sword pellet hovering beside him.

Both were at the Golden Core realm, their waists adorned with white jade plaques, indicating they were outer-disciple cultivators of Jianzong.

It looked rather abstract.

The flow of people in and out was considerable, yet Xu Xing’s entry drew no attention.

As one of the Seven Immortal Sects, Jianzong possessed absolute confidence—no one would dare cause trouble within Jianzong, even at a mere Zashi Hall branch.

It was only because of the recent clash between Xiao Ning True Person and the demonic cultivator that they had deployed two Golden Core sword cultivators as guards to uphold appearances.

The interior layout of the Zashi Hall resembled the bureaucratic halls in Xu Xing’s memory: a massive Xuanlight Mirror hung above, with information rapidly scrolling across its surface.

Most staff behind the service windows were only at Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment realms; only one or two were Golden Core, all young cultivators. One area was clearly labeled—【Jianzong Cultivator Internal Channel】.

This was a small perk for Jianzong cultivators.

Seeing no one else around, Xu Xing walked straight over and produced a blue jade plaque.

“Hello, I’d like to rent a residence.”

The attendant here was a girl who looked about Zhang Yunlu’s age, one of the few Golden Core cultivators here, an outer-disciple of Jianzong.

【Name: Zuo Yuning】

【Realm: Golden Core】

“Understood, please wait a moment—I need to verify your identity first.”

Zuo Yuning took the blue jade plaque and inserted it into a device resembling a card reader. Instantly, several lines of text and a photo appeared on the computer screen.

【Name: Xu Sandao】

【Realm: Nascent Soul】

【Position: Outer Disciple Law Enforcement Office Executive】

The data was simple enough—cultivation was a private matter, and the sect did not investigate its disciples deeply. But… Xu Sandao?

Wait, Uncle, as a Jianzong Nascent Soul sword cultivator, is it appropriate to use such a name?

After mentally scoffing, she confirmed the face matched the photo, then pulled out a square device with a thumb-sized indentation in the center.

“Please, Uncle, input a trace of magic power to confirm your identity.”

Xu Xing nodded, raised his hand, and injected a trace of magic power from the Grand Void Sword Scripture at the Nascent Soul level.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

Huh?!

Why isn’t it responding? It never delays normally. She stood up and slapped the computer twice, then offered Xu Xing an apologetic smile: “Sorry to keep you waiting, Uncle.”

Please don’t malfunction now—she didn’t want any trouble on such a quiet post.

Thump! Thump!

Finally, text appeared on the screen.

“Verification passed.” She exhaled in relief, her face regaining its professional smile: “Alright, Uncle, do you have any specific requirements for the residence?”

“Quiet and spacious is fine.”

After reviewing options, she quickly handed Xu Xing a file.

“How about this one? It’s near a spiritual vein node, with abundant spiritual energy. As a Law Enforcement Office Executive, you qualify for a thirty percent rent reduction.”

Xu Xing glanced at it casually: “Fine, I’ll take it.”

Hearing his agreement, Zuo Yuning pulled three small wooden plaques and a certificate from her drawer, returning them along with the blue jade plaque.

“This is the array core. Go to the payment counter to pay, and someone will escort you there.”

“Thank you.”

With a bow, Xu Xing turned and left.

Watching him walk away, Zuo Yuning sat down and tapped the magic power verification device.

In the cultivation world, disguises were never lacking—not just appearance, but even magic power aura and soul vibrations could be faked.

But this new magic power verification system was linked to the Supreme Ancestral Sword—no cultivator could conceal their true magic power essence before the Ancestral Sword. It should have responded instantly, with zero delay.

Thump! Thump!

She tapped it twice more, then, satisfied, returned the device to its place.

Her Master always said: if something breaks, hit it twice. If it still doesn’t work, then it’s truly broken.

…………

Evening arrived, thick clouds blanketing the entire sky, occasional muffled thunder rolling through—it would be a heavy rain.

The Central Continent was vast beyond measure; Jianzhou alone equaled the combined surface area of dozens of blue planets from his previous life, so Xuanjian City sprawled across an area rivaling the largest provinces of his previous life.

The city’s most famous residential district featured neatly arranged three-story villas, their interiors exquisitely designed.

Xu Xing had already signed the contract and now held the small wooden plaque-shaped array core, gently touching it forward.

Hum~ The air rippled in concentric waves, and the array enveloping the villa opened a passage.

It was a crude Soul-Dazing Spirit Gathering Array—only capable of deterring cats, dogs, mosquitoes, ants, and rodents.

Even a Qi Refining cultivator could break it by force.

『It also includes a pill-refining chamber, an artifact-forging room, a spiritual spring, and a quiet room equipped with Clear-Soul Incense—all leisure and entertainment facilities are provided.』

『Most importantly, this place is protected by Jianzong—even today’s demonic cultivator dared not strike here.』

Overall, it was similar to the cave dwelling he rented before his seclusion, but far more comfortable.

『I’ll improve the array later, to prevent accidental intruders.』

Entering the villa, Xu Xing wandered through each room; embedded in every wall were several diamond-shaped crystals—the array’s “air conditioning” base.

These were invented by Shenghuang Yuan, capable of regulating temperature within a limited range, though their upper and lower limits were low, so they were classified as auxiliary arrays.

After touring the place, he walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window and watched raindrops the size of beans fall, flowers and grass swaying in the wind.

He looked up at the sky—lightning flickered, storm brewing.

Suddenly!

A fist imprint shot into the sky far away, striking the thick clouds directly.

In an instant, blinding light filled the air—the heavy clouds were “squeezed” to the edges, like a gray painting with a perfect circular patch erased by an eraser.

On a nearby TV, a construction team was being interviewed.

“Due to construction needs, we have decided to make minor adjustments to the weather. This action has been approved by Jianzong’s Zashi Hall. Please, no cultivators imitate this.”

On screen, a figure in the distance slowly withdrew his fist—clearly, he was the one responsible.

Modern construction is intense.

(End of Chapter)