Chapter 41: Prayer
Jiang Jian raised his identity device.
“13-8.”
A blue light swept over it.
The Lou family’s front gate split open to either side.
Shi Xuan sighed: “Too bad, one apartment per person.”
“It’d be nice if I could live with a roommate.”
Here, he paused.
He looked at Jiang Jian, his eyes filled with anticipation.
The other three walked over, stepped into the large elevator, and upon hearing this, all wore strange expressions.
“Don’t overthink it!”
Shi Xuan noticed the odd reaction and quickly explained, “I mean, being near Jiang Jian will motivate me to cultivate!”
One of them nodded in agreement: “That’s true.”
Doo!
The large elevator stopped at the 12th floor.
Shi Xuan turned to Jiang Jian: “Jiang Jian, want to have lunch together?”
Jiang Jian gave no clear answer: “We’ll see. Contact via identity device.”
Shi Xuan replied: “Alright, then I’ll head back first.”
The elevator doors closed.
A few seconds later.
It stopped at the 13th floor.
“Goodbye.”
“Alright, goodbye.”
Jiang Jian greeted them, then stepped out of the large elevator.
Before him was a tastefully decorated, elegant corridor.
Each room door bore a numbered plaque.
“13-8.”
Jiang Jian walked down the wide corridor and stopped before a carved wooden door.
“Room 8.”
He raised his identity device and lightly swiped it.
“Doo!”
“Verification successful!”
The lock unlocked.
Jiang Jian pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Immediately, a pleasant fragrance filled his nose and mouth.
The wooden door closed behind him.
Before him was an entire spacious residence.
“Linjiang Academy truly spares no expense.”
Jiang Jian looked at the hundred-square-meter living room.
He gained a clearer understanding of the academy’s immense wealth.
“Hello.”
A gentle voice spoke.
The machine butler approached, bowing slightly to Jiang Jian: “Welcome home.”
Its external form was that of a young woman.
Its azure eyes turned, filled entirely with mechanical coldness.
Yet it lacked any spark of spirit.
Linjiang Academy strictly adhered to laws and regulations.
It forbade the use, confinement, enslavement, or trade of non-citizens.
Thus, there were no spirit beings, ghosts, or demons here.
Maintenance of the academy’s external facilities relied mostly on expensive human labor.
In contrast,
the daily lives of faculty and students depended on machine butlers.
Under the suppression of divine technology,
machine butlers were merely machines.
They could never escape control.
“Would you like to eat?”
The machine butler extended its hand, and a screen appeared.
“Slow-simmered pork rib soup: 2 Alliance coins.”
“Sea urchin stir-fried liver: 3 Alliance coins.”
“Clear-braised beef ribs: 2 Alliance coins.”
…
The menu was abundant.
Hundreds of dishes listed.
The prices were not high.
In fact, cheaper than those in Guangling City.
Jiang Jian shook his head, glanced at it, and said: “Return to the mechanical room.”
The machine butler replied: “Yes.”
It turned and walked into the narrow mechanical room, standing motionless.
Jiang Jian climbed the steps into the hall and sat on the soft sofa.
Instantly,
fatigue and drowsiness washed over him.
He took out the “Hemostatic and Bruise-Relief Oral Tablets” and swallowed one.
The discomfort lessened somewhat.
Jiang Jian opened his identity device and looked at the bottom-right corner.
Dozens of new messages had arrived.
“Your account has received a transfer: 100,000 Alliance coins.”
“Your balance: 950,112 Alliance coins.”
Looking at his balance,
Jiang Jian’s expression remained calm.
Though this sum was considerable,
if used for cultivation,
it was not much.
“To cultivate or not to cultivate—”
“The speed of spending is entirely different.”
“For ordinary people who do not cultivate—”
“A few thousand Alliance coins suffice for a year of good food and drink.”
“But if one cultivates—”
“This amount won’t even cover a single meal.”
Thoughts churned within him.
Jiang Jian turned to another message.
“Your Linjiang City platform credit limit has been updated!”
Seeing this,
Jiang Jian opened the Linjiang network and checked his balance.
“Your remaining shopping credit: 230,000.”
“Credit is equivalent to Alliance coins but cannot be directly exchanged for them.”
Jiang Jian set his thoughts aside.
“To accelerate cultivation—”
“The Linjiang network and the academy platform are the two most important places.”
“The Linjiang network accepts shopping credit or Alliance coins.”
“The academy platform accepts only academic credits.”
His fingers swiped the screen as he opened the academy platform.
In the upper-right corner of the page, the remaining credits are displayed.
“Your remaining credits: 800.”
Jiang Jian browsed the academy platform.
He gained a clearer understanding of the uses of credits.
Credits are extremely important.
They can be used to purchase usage time in the campus cultivation chambers.
The campus cultivation chambers are incredibly expensive.
One hour costs 10 credits.
Their special feature lies in the array within the chamber.
The array connects to the Prefectural Temple of Prayer.
The Prefecture’s Divine Messenger personally arranged it, imbued with divine power.
Cultivating inside the chamber greatly increases the cultivation speed of the Shenque acupoint!
In addition,
Special facilities within the campus and rare spiritual materials unavailable elsewhere
Can all be purchased with credits.
Closed the academy platform.
Jiang Jian made a brief inventory of his assets.
“950,000 Alliance Coins, 230,000 shopping credit, 800 credits.”
“These are my foundation for the coming cultivation.”
Jiang Jian swiped across the screen, turning his gaze elsewhere.
“Level 1 Talent Orb, random type.”
“Level 2 Talent Orb, selectable type.”
“Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon, selectable.”
“These items have not been shipped yet.”
“But now, I must choose in advance.”
He pondered for a moment.
Jiang Jian selected “Level 1 Talent Orb” and opened it directly.
“Congratulations, you have obtained a Level 1 Talent Orb: Body, Revitalize and Strengthen the Body.”
“Please wait for shipment.”
Jiang Jian clicked to delay shipment, then selected the “Level 2 Talent Orb.”
He opened it again and chose “Art.”
Generally speaking,
“Art” Talent Orbs are the most expensive.
So for the selectable type, Jiang Jian did not hesitate.
A Level 2 “Art” orb is worth tens of thousands of Alliance Coins.
Jiang Jian planned
To list the unused Talent Orbs on Linjiang Network and sell them for Alliance Coins.
A flow of light surged.
A few seconds later,
A flash of light passed.
“Congratulations, you have obtained a Level 2 Talent Orb: Art, Wind Rises.”
“Please wait for shipment.”
Seeing this, Jiang Jian’s eyes brightened slightly.
He clicked to delay shipment again.
Then he opened Linjiang Network and listed the original email information for sale.
Talent Orbs are highly valuable.
To resell them, you must provide clear proof of origin and verify their existence.
“Listing failed!”
“Detected: Academy-exclusive Divine Gift Talent Orb — cannot be listed!”
“Return to your school platform and reclaim credits!”
The Linjiang Network alert kept sounding.
Jiang Jian fell silent for a moment, then reopened the academy platform.
The idea of reselling for Alliance Coins was unfeasible.
“Level 1 Talent Orb: Body, Revitalize and Strengthen the Body.”
“Reclaim value: 20 credits.”
“Level 2 Talent Orb: Art, Wind Rises.”
“Reclaim value: 300 credits.”
“Confirm reclaim?”
Jiang Jian did not hesitate and clicked confirm immediately.
“Reclaim successful!”
“You have received 320 credits.”
“Your remaining credits: 1120.”
Meanwhile,
The shipment information in the email vanished.
“The Divine Gift Weapon must be chosen carefully.”
Jiang Jian turned to another email.
“Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon, selectable.”
This was a freshman benefit from the First Academy.
Among 1,800 new students,
Only the 50 students of the First Academy
Could receive the benefit of a Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon.
The Second Academy received only Level 1 Divine Gift Weapons.
“Unowned Divine Gift Weapons can be used after a simple binding ritual.”
Jiang Jian opened the email and went directly to the selection page.
“Attack, Defense, Arraying, Control, Suppression, Restoration.”
The six types of Divine Gift Weapons appeared.
He thought for a moment.
Jiang Jian selected “Restoration.”
Instantly,
Vast amounts of information flooded forth.
“Heartloop Bracelet, Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Calms the mind, slowly restores Qi.”
“Herb Ring, Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Increases divine affinity, enhances Qi circulation speed.”
“Bone Pendant, Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Enhances physical strength, strengthens meridians.”
“Prayer Jade, Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Increases divine affinity, slowly restores Qi.”
“Silver Necklace, Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Clears the mind, repels evil spirits.”
…
Restoration-type Divine Gift Weapons came in many varieties.
Divine Gift Weapons differ from Talent Orbs.
The Shenque acupoint can hold only one Talent Orb.
Therefore,
Most people possess only two talents.
The first is their innate talent.
The second is the Talent Orb placed in the Shenque acupoint for cultivation.
But Divine Gift Weapons have no such restriction.
As long as one’s Qi is sufficient,
One can activate ten Divine Gift Weapons simultaneously.
“Nevertheless,”
“The campus materials still issued a warning.”
“The number of Divine Gift Weapons should not be excessive.”
“One or two is most suitable.”
"Every divine gift weapon must be bound through a ritual before it can be used."
"Too many bindings."
"They will cloud your Qi and hinder your cultivation."
Jiang Jian pondered for a moment.
He had already made up his mind.
He would limit his divine gift weapons to just one for now.
Han Guang Sword was a naturally bestowed divine gift.
It required no binding ritual at the Prayer Hall.
It did not count among them.
"Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Wish Jade. Increases divine affinity and slowly restores Qi."
After a moment of viewing, Jiang Jian’s gaze settled here.
He did not hesitate.
He directly selected this option and tapped confirm.
"Level 2 Divine Gift Weapon: Wish Jade. Confirm receipt?"
Jiang Jian confirmed again.
"Congratulations! Receipt successful!"
"Please await further notification!"
He swiped away the communication and shut off his identity device.
Jiang Jian lay on the sofa, eyes half-closed.
Sleepiness surged like a tide.
"Since the Divine Gift Ceremony."
"I haven’t had an episode in a long time."
His thoughts were chaotic.
Countless ideas flashed through his mind.
Without realizing it,
Jiang Jian fell into deep sleep.
It seemed he had dreamed a long dream.
In the dream, everyone from the academy had turned into terrifying monsters.
They were grotesque and horrifying, moving through building after building.
Emitting shrill, unbearable screams, they frenziedly tore and bit.
The light cast by the stars turned crimson.
Afternoon, 5:00 sharp.
The daylight dimmed.
Jiang Jian jolted awake.
Beads of sweat glistened on his pale forehead.
"What kind of strange dream was that?"
Jiang Jian’s face was pale as he gasped, "Housekeeper, a mocha."
The dream was, of course, false.
Yet through this, Jiang Jian vaguely realized:
His inner state was deeply unsettled.
The disorientation of facing an unfamiliar environment.
The confusion toward cultivation.
The fear of the unknown.
All these intertwined.
Forming a bizarre, hallucinatory dream.
"My inner composure is still insufficient."
Jiang Jian closed his eyes.
After several dozen seconds,
he opened them again.
His gaze had regained its firmness.
"No matter what, I must hold fast to my heart and not be disturbed by external things."
Amidst the turmoil of his thoughts,
the housekeeper stepped forward, offering coffee with a gentle voice: "Three Alliance coins."
The cup steamed.
Jiang Jian reached out to take it, then tapped his identity device: "Prepay 1000 Alliance coins. From now on, all food and drink purchases will be deducted directly without reporting."
The housekeeper’s eyes flickered with light and said, "Understood."
"Your account expenditure: 1003 Alliance coins."
"Your remaining balance: 949109 Alliance coins."
A notification came through his identity device.
Jiang Jian frowned slightly.
He opened his message notifications.
Set the rule: "No communication for expenditures under 10,000 Alliance coins."
The next second,
Jiang Jian seemed to recall something.
He found the communication with Jiang Zhao and tapped to open it.
Over the past two days,
Jiang Zhao had sent over a dozen messages.
Most of them
were reminders for Jiang Jian to take his medicine.
Through these messages, Jiang Jian learned
that Jiang Zhao had arrived at Anhe Academy, completed her dormitory registration, and officially enrolled.
Anhe Academy, though also a Divine Gift university,
was far too small.
It could not compare at all to Linjiang Academy.
Linjiang Academy’s first-year campus alone
could match twenty Anhe Academies.
"Since the Divine Gift Ceremony, I haven’t had an episode. Don’t worry."
Jiang Jian paused, then sent a message.
A few seconds later,
a single "beep" sounded.
Jiang Jian opened the real-time communication.
The girl’s sweet voice came through: "Jiang Jian, you finally replied!"
"I’ll tell you, the academy gave us 10,000 Alliance coins in shopping credit!"
"I’ve never seen so much money!"
"The food here is free—of course, meals and lodging are fully covered!"
"Even eating at the cafeteria, you only need ten Alliance coins a day!"
…
She went on uninterrupted for several minutes.
Finally, she paused.
Jiang Jian was speechless. "You…"
Before he could finish,
"By the way, Jiang Jian."
Jiang Zhao spoke again: "I got a school allowance. I spent a little, and still have 1200 Alliance coins left. I’ll transfer some to you."
Jiang Jian fell silent for a moment, then said: "I have money."
"You spend fast at Linjiang Academy. I’ll send you 1000 Alliance coins first."
Jiang Zhao firmly shook her head: "I don’t need it. At school, meals and lodging are free. I don’t spend on clothes, food, or transport."
Jiang Jian was startled. "Jiang Zhao, don’t eat the free food. Pay for meals—it’s not expensive."
Jiang Zhao laughed lightly: "It’s fine. Even the free meals are better than what we ate at home."
Divine Gift universities provide free meals and lodging.
But the free food is not good.
To enjoy the gourmet meals from the private kitchen, you must spend Alliance Coins.
Linjiang Academy also has a free cafeteria.
But.
No one ever goes there.
The vast majority of students use their robot butlers to purchase meals.
“1,000 Alliance Coins—transferred to you.”
Jiang Zhao left those words and immediately ended the real-time communication. “Remember to take your medicine!”
Beep.
Call ended.
Jiang Jian stared at his identity device, his expression shifting between dark and light.
“Your account has received a transfer: 1,000 Alliance Coins.”
“Your balance: 950,109 Alliance Coins.”
A notification tone sounded.
Jiang Jian acted as if he heard nothing.
He turned his head and looked out the window.
A gloomy sky.
Like ten years ago.
……
……
……
Guangling City, Shadow District.
Public Care Center.
“I don’t want to go!”
“I don’t want to go either!”
“You go!”
“I won’t go!”
People shoved each other, their faces filled with terror.
Every week, the guardian takes away one person.
They call it “adoption.”
But those sent away vanish as if erased from the world, never to reappear.
In the corner.
A girl sat alone, her expression vacant.
Until the eyes of others.
Fell upon her face.
The courtyard fell suddenly silent.
Someone ventured to speak: “Let her go.”
People exchanged glances, all nodding unconsciously.
“Yes, let her go!”
“That guy isn’t here—let her go!”
“Yes!”
They grabbed the girl’s clothes and dragged her toward the courtyard gate.
“Don’t blame us!”
“We don’t want to die either!”
“Every week.”
“The guardian takes one person.”
“Last week it was your brother.”
“This week it’s your turn!”
As they spoke,
The fear on their faces gradually faded.
It turned cruel.
Suddenly,
One of them, quick-witted, sensed something.
He trembled as he lifted his head.
The next second,
His eyes widened, his face flooded with terror: “That guy’s back!”
At those words,
Everyone froze, as if petrified.
They stood rooted, not daring to move.
One bolder soul gritted his teeth: “Last week, he was adopted—how could he come back?!”
No one dared to answer.
At the gate,
A boy walked calmly into the courtyard, his face expressionless.
The group instantly stiffened, halting their actions.
One man trembled and explained: “The guardian said a dignitary is coming today to adopt—someone must be sent.”
The boy showed no expression and said nothing.
He naturally knew the “rules” of this Public Care Center.
The law in the Shadow District wasn’t called law.
The law of the Public Care Center wasn’t called law either.
Here, “rules” reigned supreme.
Every few days,
Non-citizens would arrive at the Public Care Center.
Disguised as “dignitaries,” they came to adopt.
Then,
Someone would be taken away—and never return.
Back then,
Jiang Jian was still young.
He couldn’t understand.
Why did those “dignitaries” look so grotesque?
Not a single one looked human.
Why did those sent away show such terror, fighting desperately?
Later,
Jiang Jian understood.
But he had also grown up.
“The guardian?”
The boy held his wooden sword and smiled.
“You mean the one who sent me away last week?”
“She’s gone to a quiet place now.”
“I sent her there.”
The boy murmured to himself.
He walked through the courtyard.
His wooden sword moved.
Like falling leaves, drifting petals, snowflakes on the breeze.
Heavy bodies kept thudding to the ground.
After fifteen seconds,
Before the boy,
Only the dazed girl remained.
“Brother… brother…”
The girl lifted her head, her cracked lips trembling.
Her face was pale, her expression still vacant.
But she recognized the boy before her.
The boy watched her in silence.
After a long while, he spoke: “On this trip, I met someone.”
“He taught me a way to cure you.”
To his words.
The girl understood nothing.
She only kept
murmuring the words in her mouth.
“Brother… brother…”
……
……
……
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
