Chapter 15: Central Tower

Hearing the words “Golden Core True Person,” Zhao Tianxing in the car was slightly startled, then said in disbelief: “Why would the daughter of a Golden Core True Person come to Songyang?”

Zhang Yu also nodded slightly beside him. He knew that above Qi Refining was Foundation Establishment, and above Foundation Establishment was Golden Core.

To achieve Golden Core, one must have graduated from a key high school, smoothly entered one of the top ten elite schools, and then developed within a major sect—who knows how many layers of Kunxu one would have climbed?

The daughter of such a person would be at least on the second layer of Kunxu from birth—how could she come to Songyang City on the first layer?

The driver smiled slightly upon hearing this, as if he wanted to show off, and said slowly: “It’s not just that Ms. Li Xuelian is coming to our Songyang City?”

“It is said that her father, Starfire True Person, originally came from our Songyang City. Now that he is about to retire, he plans to return to Songyang to spend his remaining years…”

Zhang Yu found this strange when he heard it: a Golden Core great power returning to a newbie village to retire?

The driver then continued: “This art exhibition isn’t just Ms. Li’s paintings. It is said there is also a Celestial Martial Demonstration painting personally painted by Starfire True Person, which supposedly hides a peerless martial art.”

“Among those coming to this exhibition, besides those who want to befriend Ms. Li, there are many who wish to study the Martial Demonstration painting and try to comprehend that peerless martial art.”

…

Songyang Central Tower.

999th Floor.

Zhang Yu was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, somewhat shocked as he looked at the rolling sea of clouds below. This was his first time standing at such a high altitude overlooking the entire city.

Adjusting the new security uniform he had just changed into, Zhang Yu felt a bit emotional.

Ever since entering the Central Tower, Zhang Yu felt as if he had arrived in 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 surpassed the world of his previous life in various ways, and the Central Tower before him…

Whether it was the terrifying height of 999 floors or the various immortal techniques filled with flowing magical power inside the building, it was all a dreamlike scene.

Recalling the process of being pulled up to the 999th floor by the formation in just a few seconds under the enhancement of Dao techniques, yet emerging completely unharmed, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but feel emotional again.

“Even though they are all in Songyang City, mortals live in the suburbs, cultivators gather in the city center, and this Central Tower is the territory of the truly wealthy.”

“These three places, though all within one city, are like three different layered worlds…”

Just then, Zhao Tianxing’s voice sounded behind Zhang Yu: “Zhang Yu, the captain told us to come patrol. We should go, right?”

Zhang Yu turned his head and looked at Zhao Tianxing, who was also wearing a security uniform.

However, unlike Zhang Yu’s calm demeanor after putting on the uniform, Zhao Tianxing was very nervous and cowering… looking like he had shit his pants.

He always felt that wearing this security uniform made him look like a clown; the gazes of the people around him seemed to carry three parts contempt, three parts scorn, and three parts disdain.

But actually Zhao Tianxing was overthinking it. After putting on the security uniform, he was no longer a mortal; he became like a background prop in the building. In most people’s eyes, his presence was only slightly higher than the greenery.

Zhang Yu patted him on the shoulder and said: “Chest out, head up. We’re security guards at the Central Tower now, not delivery guys. What are you afraid of?”

Feeling that the passersby around seemed attracted by Zhang Yu’s voice, Zhao Tianxing quickly said: “I got it, Zhang Yu. Keep your voice down, don’t disturb others.”

The scale of this art exhibition was not small; it occupied over a thousand square meters of space and provided drinks and a buffet. In Zhang Yu’s view, it was more like a gathering than a place to view paintings.

And the legendary Celestial Martial Demonstration painting was covered by a curtain, said to be unveiled personally by Ms. Li Xuelian.

Zhang Yu and Zhao Tianxing were assigned to a relatively peripheral area within this venue to patrol back and forth as security.

And since the exhibition hadn’t officially started yet, the patrolling was extremely relaxed, and it didn’t trigger any ritual backlash.

After all, the ritual power on Zhang Yu was aimed at fulfilling wishes.

And his method to fulfill the wish was to study, cultivate, work hard to get into university, work to earn money… ultimately to achieve the evil god’s wish.

Things like temporary work were also part of working to earn money and even studying and cultivating; the ritual power wouldn’t force him to switch to other activities.

On the contrary, this state of strolling around idly was much, much easier for Zhang Yu compared to the past few days of intense cultivation.

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

Zhang Yu glanced over and, seeing the dishes being set out one by one, exclaimed in surprise: “Is this… seafood?”

Zhao Tianxing also looked over, seeing the abalone and lobster in the plates… and nodded slightly: “It’s sea creatures. I saw that shelled one when I went out with my mom; it seems to cost thirty to forty thousand per jin.”

“But this is the Central Tower; having these is normal, I suppose.”

Seafood—Zhang Yu had seen and eaten quite a lot of it in his previous life. But in this Kunxu, at least on the first layer, marine creatures were extremely rare. The original Zhang Yu had only seen them online; in reality, he had never even seen one, let alone eaten.

Because within the entire first layer of Kunxu, covering over 20 million square kilometers... there was no ocean.

It was said that the marine life on the market was either imported from the higher layers of Kunxu, or artificially bred by certain institutions in man-made marine environments.

And upon hearing from Zhao Tianxing that the price was tens of thousands per jin, Zhang Yu was secretly astonished: "That expensive?"

"What benefits does eating this thing bring? Can it increase magical power?"

No wonder Zhang Yu thought so — whether the original Zhang Yu or the current one, in the immortal cultivation world he had encountered, everyone was advancing by any means necessary, striving with all their might to enhance their magical power, martial arts, dao techniques, physical body, dao heart...

Clothing, food, shelter, transportation... everything in life was related to improving one's cultivation.

"Benefits?" Zhao Tianxing thought for a moment upon hearing this, then finally shook his head: "I've never heard of any benefits from eating this; it seems it's just for the taste."

"Just for the taste?" Zhang Yu was slightly stunned as he looked at the plates of delicacies on the table.

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

"You two security guards, instead of patrolling properly, what are you sneaking around here for?"

"!"

Hearing this voice, Zhao Tianxing was startled, turned around, and quickly explained: "We weren't doing anything..."

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

Zhang Yu, however, turned around casually and said to Bai Zhenzhen: "Oh? It's Azhen. What a coincidence, you're here to see the art exhibition too?"

And Zhao Tianxing, upon realizing that the newcomer was a classmate, felt his security uniform become more and more unsightly and embarrassing, his body twisting awkwardly as if he were about to defecate on the spot.

Especially when he thought that if word got back to the class that he was working as a security guard, labels like poverty, working a job, lack of money, etc., would be plastered on him by his classmates, and his status and reputation in the social circle would plummet — Zhao Tianxing twisted even more.

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu expressionlessly and said: "I didn't expect you two, at such a young age, to have taken a shortcut in life by becoming security guards here."

Zhao Tianxing quickly waved his hand and explained: "No, Bai Zhenzhen, classmate, I'm just here to accompany Zhang Yu."

But Zhang Yu suddenly slapped Zhao Tianxing on the shoulder: "What are you panicking for? With your hourly wage of 800, enough to cover ten days of ordinary living, you're a temporary security guard that many would envy."

"Huh?" Zhao Tianxing was stunned for a moment, never having thought an hourly wage of 800 was anything impressive.

But as he looked at Bai Zhenzhen, who suddenly fell silent before him, he felt a chill emanating from her.

Zhao Tianxing had never been very familiar with this top-ranked genius girl in their year; he only knew that she had always been cold and distant, keeping to herself, and only ate with Zhang Yu and Zhou Tianyi.

In fact, the social circle Zhao Tianxing was in had tried to invite her, but had never received a response.

In his heart, Bai Zhenzhen was a talented yet aloof and hard-to-approach genius girl.

Now, watching her expressionless and silent, Zhao Tianxing felt as if she might be angry.

"Zhang Yu must have said something wrong and made her angry."

Just as he was twisting around, racking his brain for something to say to lighten the mood, Bai Zhenzhen asked coldly: "You make 800 an hour?"

"Yeah." Zhao Tianxing nodded dumbly, 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: "Hey, newbie, go serve the dishes! What are you standing there for?"

Bai Zhenzhen said to Zhang Yu and Zhao: "I'm going to serve the dishes first. We'll talk later."

At the same time, she thought to herself: "Damn! A security guard makes 800 an hour? I only make 500 an hour. I should've become a security guard."

And Zhao Tianxing only then noticed that Bai Zhenzhen was wearing the same uniform as the waiters, and said in shock: "Is Bai Zhenzhen working here too?"

"What's so strange about that? Isn't everyone in this world working?" Zhang Yu had recognized Bai Zhenzhen's attire at first glance, and in his view, given Bai Zhenzhen's financial situation, it was perfectly normal for her to work.

However, thinking that she managed to maintain her top rank in the year despite working, he was secretly amazed.

"Azhen's talent is truly extraordinary. Among all the entry-level disciples under my Songyang Sect, I'm afraid she's only a notch below me."