Chapter 288: Paper Dolls

The words fell silent.

Zhou Qingyue walked up to Ji Xue, raised her wrist, and activated her identity device.

On the holographic screen appeared an ultra-high-definition photo.

It was a girl.

Gazing at the photo.

Jiang Jian’s pupils contracted slightly.

The girl wore a plain dress and canvas shoes, appearing utterly ordinary.

Yet her bone structure and features were nearly identical to those of his sister, Jiang Zhao!

Zhou Lingling lived in Taiping Prefecture and had never met Jiang Zhao, but she knew Jiang Jian.

When she saw this girl, she immediately felt something was odd, so she secretly took the photo and sent it to Zhou Qingyue.

“When I first saw the photo, I nearly thought she was your sister.”

Zhou Qingyue said, “I had Zhou Lingling investigate—this girl’s name is Yao Tong. She originally lived in Anhezhou, Linjiang Prefecture, but after the government relocation order, she was resettled in Shangzhou of Taiping Prefecture.”

Jiang Jian frowned, murmuring, “Yao Tong.”

Deep within his spirit, a bad premonition surged.

Zhou Qingyue continued, “Not long ago, I specifically messaged your sister to ask about her.”

“When she saw the photo, your sister was also shocked.”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian quietly formed a suspicion in his mind.

He lifted his gaze to the holographic screen and said, “Stay there with Ji Xue until I send word.”

The communication ended.

Jiang Jian stared at the photo forwarded by Zhou Qingyue, his brow furrowed.

Though this girl’s appearance matched Jiang Zhao’s exactly,

her eyes and brows lacked spiritual radiance, instead bearing a dull, vacant stillness.

As he pondered,

the Yinshan Wonder trembled slightly and halted before the dimensional barrier.

“My lord,”

The Night Patrol Inspector appeared, bowing respectfully, “The Wonder has reached the edge of Chang’an Prefecture and has ceased operation.”

Jiang Jian steadied his spirit, holding the Earth Store Jade Seal, and said firmly, “There are nine here. Take them personally to Naihe Bridge, guide them to reincarnate as ghost soldiers, and assign dedicated personnel to guard them.”

With a light sweep of his black robe sleeve, nine streams of light appeared, enveloped in spirit-guiding jade energy, floating before him.

These brilliant streams were the nine Guide Spirits, fully severed from Yinshan’s rules.

The Night Patrol Inspector stepped forward, carefully taking the nine streams of light, and replied, “Rest assured, my lord. After their reincarnation, I will dispatch capable personnel to lurk secretly and watch them constantly.”

Jiang Jian nodded, said no more, and immediately activated the Jade Seal, unleashing the Wonder’s power to open a spatial portal before him!

This portal led to the surface world’s Baiye Prefecture.

Only a step away from Chang’an Prefecture’s border.

Jiang Jian tucked away the Earth Store Jade Seal, stepped into the portal, and a tremendous pulling force surged—his form vanished instantly.

In an instant,

the teleportation force dissipated.

Jiang Jian opened his eyes and looked up.

In the distance,

An endless barrier of Chang’an Prefecture came into view.

Chang’an Prefecture contained fragments of Earth’s primordial star ring.

Those transported from Yinshan Wonder could only land on the periphery of the prefecture, unable to enter directly.

Using the Yingtian Bureau’s jade token, one could easily pass verification and enter Chang’an Prefecture.

Jiang Jian opened his identity device, tapped repeatedly, and summoned an unmanned aerial shuttle.

“Destination: Seventh Realm.”

“Estimated arrival time: 1 hour 20 minutes.”

Minutes later, the unmanned shuttle launched. Jiang Jian sat inside the cabin, gazing through the viewport down at Chang’an Prefecture.

Not long ago, after the Mercury warship’s surprise attack,

the ordinary inhabitants of the surface world were filled with outrage, and their cultivation aspirations surged.

Though the damage from this incident was kept to a minimum,

30,000 Earth citizens still perished or were injured.

Among non-citizens, casualties exceeded 100,000!

For surface dwellers accustomed to peace,

Such losses had sparked massive uproar across all seventy surface prefectures, even throughout the entire Earth!

Some lost loved ones, some died violently, some were innocently caught in the crossfire, and others were brutally tortured to death.

Tens of thousands of video clips circulated and were shared on forums.

Anyone who saw those scenes of Mercury beings mercilessly slaughtering Earth citizens felt rage and sorrow rising from the depths of their blood.

After this incident, public opinion erupted!

Some hardliners demanded the Tianjing Central Authority dispatch forces to form a retaliatory fleet and strike Mercury itself!

But as Tianjing Central Authority issued decree after decree,

the anxious emotions of tens of billions of Earth citizens gradually calmed.

Tianjing’s message to the seventy surface prefectures was crystal clear:

During wartime, the Star-Controlling Palace held supreme authority over Earth and Mars.

Whether it was the Star-Controlling Palace, the Earth Alliance,

or Tianjing Central Authority on the surface,

all had ample preparations and contingency plans for any potential outbreak of war.

As Earth citizens, as long as one cooperated with Tianjing’s decrees and strictly followed orders,

this Star-Controlling War would surely end in victory.

“Seventh Realm has arrived.”

The aerial shuttle landed in the hangar, stopping outside the Seventh Realm portal.

The cabin door opened.

Jiang Jian descended the gangway as Lu Qingqing stepped forward to meet him.

She wore a woven-star embroidered dress, its layers of fabric overlapping, looking up at Jiang Jian with a complex expression.

“Regardless, thank you for reopening the Lu family’s portal.”

Lu Qingqing spoke first.

Behind her stood the Lu family’s Seventh Realm.

The entire miniature world was the Lu family’s private property!

Previously, when the Ninth Realm portal was sealed, the Lu family bank suffered heavy losses.

The Lu family bank operated across all seventy surface prefectures, not just in Chang’an Prefecture.

In prosperous prefectures, there was almost always a Lu family bank branch.

Its main businesses included banking, pawnbroking, and auctions.

The Seventh Realm was not only the Lu family’s stronghold but also the headquarters of the Lu family bank.

Yet these were not why the Seventh Realm was famous.

The largest auction house on Earth’s surface, “Surface Gold House,” was located within the Seventh Realm!

When people mentioned the Seventh Realm,

the first thing they thought of was the “Surface Gold House” auction house.

Countless spirit materials, treasures, weapons, and techniques were auctioned here.

Even items banned by ordinary auction houses—including Earth’s core resources—could be legally auctioned here.

For example, Level 5 Talent Orbs, Level 6 Talent Orbs.

For example, Divine Arts.

For example, Planetary-class warships.

For example, Palace-level attendants.

For example, Spirit-Infused Treasures.

……

These were merely the tip of the iceberg.

The Seventh Realm differed from the Second Realm.

The Second Realm belonged to the Earth-Moon Academy and had remained fully closed for centuries to cultivate its students.

Within it, a self-contained world existed, and most native inhabitants knew nothing of it.

But the Seventh Realm’s portal remained open around the clock.

And at the Seventh Layer Realm, the world’s gates stand open around the clock.

Its level of technology, customs, architecture, and way of life are identical to those of the surface world.

More importantly,

the Seventh Realm has no native inhabitants.

Today, the common people living inside are all descendants bred and multiplied by the Lu family over the past few centuries.

“To show our gratitude,”

“my ancestral elder has prepared a gift for you.”

Lu Qingqing turned aside, revealing two figures beside her.

They were a pair of paper effigies.

They stood gracefully behind her, their faces pale as paper, yet their cheeks flushed with an eerie red.

(End of Chapter)