《Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva》 Chapter 1: 1 The Dark Songstress In the dim environment, the gemstonemps swayed above, with columns of light alternating between pale purple and deep blue as the bass drum began to beat. In the quiet room, the unchanging rhythm of the drum beats entered the hearts of every audience member in this dim environment, one after another. Despite the darkness, the clear sound allowed one to ''see'' the trembling drum skin¡ªso lucid and yet intoxicating. This was an underground concert hall, a small space filled with seventy or eighty spectators. They stood in the dimly lit and fluorescently interwoven environment, fervent yet restrained, watching the only figure spotlighted on stage¡ªa ck-d songstress. The nted light only illuminated half of the girl''s face. She had eyes of ice blue, ck hair, and skin pale as snow. Partially bathed in light and mostly immersed in shadow, her delicate yet enchanting form still caused one to sumb to her charm. Her lips, as pale pink as cherry blossoms, parted slightly, and a somewhat cool voice slowly emerged amidst the drumbeats. Even with eyes shut, one could feel the voice piercing through time and space, reaching the deepest part of the soul. It was as if every cell floated in the music and rhythm, and all the world''s troubles and restlessness vanished, entering a world far away and barrenly cold. The song carried no passion, no persuasion, nofort¡ªonly endless emptiness and distance, like the insignificance and loss one feels when gazing at the stars, stripped of all trivial human emotions. The music didn''t stop. With the slender fingers plucking the guitar strings, following a long silence, a lively and life-imbued rhythm began to slowly emerge, so deliberate yet so grand, causing the audience to unwittingly shed tears. Gradually, the music ceased and the scene darkened, everything froze in ce. The finger swiping the screen halted. "Whose concert is this, looks like it has a unique style," a voice with a hint of freshness came from beside you. You looked up; the blonde girl with two horns next to you was asking, her dress white with scattered floral patterns, and seven or eight ck lines like ink sshes adorned the hem. Meanwhile, the squares made of azure and bright pink filled in between, creating a stark and lively contrast that made the dress seem bright and lively. "I stumbled upon it recently on the Star Domain Network, I''m not clear on the specifics." "Is that so, I was wondering who it was," she replied with a hint of regret, her ck horns lifting slightly, brushing against a few golden strands of hair. "Are you curious about my species?" As if noticing the curiosity in your eyes, the girl grinned and deftly began to introduce herself. "I was born in the Givillia of the Northern Federation Star Domain and carry the blood of the Orc Subspecies Bull Horn Tribe. I''m now in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain on an exchange program." ... "Why did Ie here? Although the economy of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain isn''t that great, it has a lot of history. I watched many documentaries and TV series as a child, so I was very curious and wanted toe to see it for myself, which is why I pleaded with my family to agree to a two-year exchange program." Looking at this young girl, who still held onto her innocence and aspirations, you couldn''t bear to shatter her beautiful imaginings and could only nod slightly before falling silent. Outside the circr window, a vast blue slowly approached, chasing after the ever-burning star. On the distant horizon, a golden light slowly rose, illuminating the boundless and expansivend. As it faced the endless expanse of blue and white, the spaceship slowly entered the atmosphere, with vibrations and tremors passing up from the soles of your feet and your seat. "The aircraft is now entering the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain-B2-7621 (Jade Skirt). Due to atmospheric turbulence on the outeryers of the, the aircraft will experience some shaking. Please remain in your seats with the safety armrests engaged and avoid moving about," a synthetic female voice echoed throughout the ship, and a series of half-spherical robots attached to the floor patrolled the center aisle, checking if all passengers were seated and if anyone needed assistance. "I''ll have a ss of Yellow Maple Givillian Cranberry Juice," the Bull Horn Tribe girl next to you, unfazed by the aircraft''s shaking, waved to the passing robot and ced her order. "Please wait a moment." The hemispherical robot stopped its wheels. A simple character-spelled smiley face emerged on its ck panel. Then, opening the hatch on its chest, it took out a cup of chilled juice, inserted a straw, and handed the juice to the Bull Horn Tribe girl beside it. "Thank you~" "Serving humans is our honor," the robot responded with emoticon expressions before continuing to move forward. "The little guys are pretty cute, don''t you think?" The girl bit her straw lightly, the ice cubes and the orange-yellow liquid collided inside the ss, emitting a faint luminescence. She watched the world outside the round window, where the previously dark and endless starry sky gradually gave way to the sea blue and cloud white of thes, bing brighter and brighter. The Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, a peripheral Star Domain in the Southern Federation, contains tworge and one small ster systems. In the early days, it provided the Federation with many urgently needed industrial goods, greatly supporting the frontlines during the fifty-year campaign. The R3H412-type Four-leaf Crystal was an essentialponent for the main axis cannon of the Federation''s main battleship, the "Sigh Dragon ss," at that time. Because its production required arge amount of liquid water and rare minerals, only a few areas could produce it. Located safely in the rear and coincidentally one of the crystal''s origins, the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain was highly valued by the Federation. Countless citizens migrated here under federal policies, and various industrial conglomerates built supporting facilities, which led to the Star Domain''s rapid development. Eventually, it was also named after the ''Four-leaf Crystal.'' ... But these are all stories from hundreds of years ago. Today''s Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain is just a small Star Domain in the outskirts of the Federation, with a stagnant economy and obsolete environment and facilities. Industrial pollution has damaged the environment of the inhabiteds in the Star Domain, with continuous acid rain, while funds for environmental remediation seem to be an endlessly bottomless pit. In earlier years, there were calls within the Federation to protect and improve the environment of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain because this ce was the ''heroic'' Star Domain of the Federation, contributing to the Federation''s most difficult times. But as generations passed, and the Star Domain''s environment remained unresolved, the once-prominent conglomerates withdrew from the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain. It gradually became the ''Rust Belt'' within the Federation, neglected and remote. Nowadays, it''s hard to find news about the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain on the Federation''s Interster Network, perhaps only the locals still remember that distant and glorious era. After entering the Gxy Universe, although humanity had a brilliant and dazzling heyday, as always yed out in history, all brilliance would eventually dim down progressively. With the struggle for interests, all sorts ofplex and confusing ideologies flooded the informationworks. People became frenzied and numb; there wasn''t a corner left untouched by the era''s tides or unpolluted by its baptism, nor was there any serenity or innocence left untainted. This is a sorrowful world, a world that will slowly head towards extinction. As you gaze at the world outside the window, you zone out until the spacecraft slowly stabilizes while the inside lights graduallye on. Your reflection slowly appears on the windowpane. Soft grey hair, ck eyes, a simple andmon school uniform, and the somewhat adorable,rge ck bow behind your head. If there were a highly advanced AI adept at analysis topare this face with the beguilingly dark Songstress previously on the screen, it would find many simrities in detail, but the girl''smon hair color, attire, and a certain special talent greatly diminished her presence, making people around her unconsciously ignore her, just like amon high school student on the street. "By the way, I haven''t asked for your name yet," the girl beside you finally remembers, as the ne is about tond. "Tn, Hexia Tn." The long whistling sound sliced through the atmosphere, apanied by trembling and slightly jarring brakes; the Interster spaceship slowlynded on the runway, eventuallying to aplete halt. The safety restraints on the seats deted, then lifted and opened. The passengers bustled about, talking, then stood up from their seats and headed to the exit. The overhead screens in the cabin also slowly shifted, projecting the rare and clear blue sky. A set of white numbers on the side jumped, disying the current time. [The Sixth Era, 1252, July 10th, Rose Federation - Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain - B2-7621 (Jade Skirt), 2:41:54 P.M.] Chapter 2: 2: The First Step Taken (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Homing Bird) A year ago, in the Northern Seventh District of Moly Crystal City. The mutable, prismatic crystal dome architecture teemed with people, yet it wasn''t overcrowded. The giant exhibition hall could amodate 200,000 people, and even with the ground filled with individuals, it still seemed spacious. Students wearing various uniforms held documents, queuing up in long, orderly lines, waiting in front of recruitment positions that resembled grid squares, clutching both nervousness and hope, wishing to be admitted to their ideal schools. This was also the turning point in the lives of most Federation residents. Gazing across the hall''s thousands of recruitment booths, the view finally rested on a particrly crowded one. "Hello, are you Hexia?" "Yes," a girl in a school uniform replied somewhat fearfully, nodding her head as she stared at the tall and imposing man in front of her. The man in the suit leaned back in his chair, looking at the data disyed in the holographic projection,paring the photograph with the girl before him, ... "From the standpoint of theoretical grades, Hexia, you could be said to be quite excellent. But you should also be aware that theory grades alone aren''t enough to enter our academy, right?" Suspended behind the man, the wall disyed the exquisitely crafted academy emblem, shaped like a deep blue, nearly ck rose, with thorny vines wrapped around both sides. Its texture was understated and luxurious, with a slow shimmer of light moving through it. Edith Academy (Rating: S): Ranked 4 within the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, mainly teaching Withering Sequence and Natural Sequence, mastering Withering Sequence 5: Mourning Rose, Withering Sequence 5: Eradication Eye, Withering Sequence 5: Garden Shuttle, Natural Sequence 5: Jade Skirt Rose, Natural Sequence 5: Firefly Fairy. These five secret techniques, deemed Perfect by the Federation, were practiced in transcendent professions and were the dream of countless people. The man spread his hands apologetically to the somewhat inexperienced girl in front of him. However, his gaze didn''t focus on her; instead, he casually flipped through the personal terminal before him. To him, he encountered hundreds or thousands of students like her every day; they all wanted to enter Edith Academy and soar to great heights. But gaining entry to such a prestigious academy wasn''t easy. If it wasn''t for the Federation''s requirements, their academy wouldn''t even bother setting up a recruitment booth in this hall. Most of the admissions had already been reserved in advance. "I..." Hexia looked at the tall, powerful figure. The contempt and irritation in his deep voice made her feel ashamed, her body trembling. She clenched her knees and put in her greatest effort to remain calm, trying not to think about being ridiculed by her ssmates if she failed. With a tremulous voice, Hexia said, her voice somewhat distorted, "I would like to apply for the special exemption stated in use 26 of the admissions brochure." After speaking, she lowered her head, closed her eyes, and didn''t dare to look at the expression on the opposite side. "Oh..." The man lifted his head and nced at the still-nervous girl in front of him, then spoke. "Do you have any special talents? You should know this isn''t something you can just get through winning apetition." To get into good high schools, many students participate in variouspetitions, but the quality of these events varies greatly, and some are riddled with underhanded dealings. Some real prestigious schools don''t acknowledge them. "Can I have a piece of paper, please?" Her teeth chattered, as if any show of impatience on the part of the one across from her could break her frail voice. Although she knew her talent was special, she had no confidence at the moment. After all, she was from a small town in a remote area. Many things the locals were proud of didn''t seem extraordinary to those from more developed areas or the upper echelons. "You may." The man casually drew out a nk sheet of paper andid it on the table. Luckily, the reviewing teacher didn''t make things difficult for her, or perhaps he simply disdained to trouble such a young girl. Hexia picked up the white paper, took a deep breath, suppressed the trembling of her fingers, and tore the sheet slightly with some force. Under the white light, the minute fibers at the edge spread out, making it seem roughpared to the smooth edges. "So what?" the man snorted with his nose, finding it somewhat amusing. He didn''t understand why the girl wanted to do this. "Please wait a moment." Finally, Hexia''s emotions stabilized a bit. She put the torn pieces of paper back together on the table, aligning them carefully, and then ran her index finger slowly over them. Miraculously, the paper began to mend slowly until it was perfectly intact and white again. "This..." The man''s gaze froze. He carefully took the paper back, examining it carefully, even checking it against the light above to look for any signs of previous damage. But he couldn''t find any trace of imperfection; it was as if the paper had always beenplete. If it wasn''t for what had just happened, he would have thought he was seeing things; the paper had never been torn. "Sorry, could you demonstrate that again?" The man finally put down the paper and looked at the girl before him. "I can," Hexia finally sighed in relief. At least, she had caught the attention of the reviewing teacher. What she feared most was his indifference and dismissive neglect, which would mean that her only hope was as insignificant as the dust of the mundane world, utterly unremarkable. "But, could we use something else this time, like this wallet?" Saying this, the man rummaged through his briefcase and pulled out a card-holder wallet, hovering it in the air before taking it out. "I can," Hexia nodded her head. After that, the man cut open the wallet with a tool, ced it on the table, and pushed it over. Then, Hexia picked up the cut wallet, aligned it, and slowly repeated the previous process, though this time it took much longer. As her fingertips slowly stroked over the wallet, it gradually reverted to its previous state,pletely intact. The patterns on it showed no signs of misalignment or tearing, evoking admiration. The admission area fell into a silent calm. After a while, the man picked up the wallet on the table, inspected it carefully, and then put it down. "When did you discover you had this talent?" His tone was very solemn. "About half a year ago?" Hexia recalled, not entirely sure herself, as it was also a chance discovery of her talent. "I can say that this is a very rare and special talent, but currently Ick some instruments and cannot conduct further tests. If possible, please leave your contact information, Miss Hexia Tn, and we will notify you of the review results as soon as possible." Having said that, the man finally took out the only application form of the day from his briefcase. "Yes, thank you, teacher," Hexia bowed her head in gratitude, feeling endlessly thankful, and her previously trembling body finally steadied. No matter what, at least it was the first step. ---- Name: Hexia Tn Age: 16 ce of Origin: Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain-B2-7621 (Jade Skirt), Northern Seventh District, Payin City School: Payin City Huiqing Junior High School Grades: Literature (124) Mathematics (122) Aijieka Theory (131) Elves Language (72) Laws (69) AI Logic (68) Chemical Pharmacology (70) Basic Physics (70) Transcendent Sequence: Withering Sequence 2: Dark Visitor ---- The so-called Transcendent Sequence is the method by which life condenses Aijeika particles into a core, granting life transcendental abilities, and even ascending to higher life forms. In the distant past, Aijeika particles had many names, such as mana, magic power, Yuan Force, spiritual power, and so on. This was a miracle that urred after another universe collided and ovepped with the current universe. As a special medium, it allowed the mind to interfere with the mundane world, achieving certain magical effects. The reason it''s called magic is that some abilities are difficult to exin scientifically. Perhaps current scientific technology has not yet reached a stage that can unravel all mysteries. People know how to use this power, but the true mechanisms behind it remainrgely unexined. After transforming this magical power into an orderly form, different sequences of magic were formed, such as the Natural Sequence, Radiant Feather Sequence, Withering Sequence, Spirit Particle Sequence, and so on. The Transcendent Core continuously condenses this power, advancing step by step from low to high, and is also divided into Sequences 1-9. Being able to enter Sequence 2 before high school, even in core developed Star Domains within the Federation, means a very outstanding student. Nowadays, it''s not the glorious Fourth Epoch anymore. Sequence 8 is already the pinnacle for many countries and organizations. Top graduates will be between Sequences 3-4, and such talented individuals will be weed anywhere they go. After filling in the form, Hexia stood up, held the document bag in front of her with both hands, bowed again to express thanks, and then slowly left the recruitment spot. She opened the partitioned ss door, and a wave of noise like a hot wind hit her face. Countless students lined up in long queues, standing nervously in front of various recruitment spots. Although they were speaking softly, the grand transparent metal hall housed about 120,000 students, stretching as far as the eye could see. This was the annual recruitment festival of the Northern Seventh District. Prestigious schools set up recruitment spots in the hall arranged by the Federation and reviewed the applying students. Aside from theory grades, which were from a standardized exam recorded-wide, each school set their own admissions requirements based on their style. For instance, some performing arts academies required students to be proficient in musical instruments and demonstrate on the spot. Specialized pharmacology schools would ask students topound drugs there and then. Commerce schools would specifically test the range ofnguages a student knew, and so on. Certainly, there were some especially unique ones, like the military school directly under the Federation, and the prestigious schools ranked within the top 50 of the. Edith Academy, which Hexia Tn applied to, ranked fourth within the Star Domain and was extremely powerful. Its admissions conditions were even stricter and moreplex. Students who entered were either extremely rare talents or came from tremendously privileged backgrounds. After Hexia left, the reviewing teacher didn''t let the next student enter the booth but sat there looking at the girl''s freshlypleted application, his gaze slowly moving over it, deep in thought. He wasn''t like those ordinary staffers just biding time, as a recruiting teacher from a top-rank academy he had great power, and naturally, very high expectations. Well-traveled and knowledgeable, he originally came to the Northern Seventh District merely to meet the Federation''s requirements, not expecting to recruit anyone, but unexpectedly he encountered an exception. Repairing broken things may sound rather mundane, but in the eyes of a professional, it wasn''t simple at all. Most things nowadays are industrial products. So-called ''repairs'' are essentially just recements¡ªswitching out faulty modules with new ones was manageable because standardized products could be quickly manufactured on assembly lines, which was more cost-effective and easier than disassembling and fixing each item. True repair, however, was rare and precious. It was like using a method of healing life to treat inanimate and cold objects, allowing them to mend back to their original state¡ªan ability that seems quite frightening upon closer reflection. It would mean connecting every broken molecule, reforming the bonds between atoms, and organizing them into their initial orderly state. ''If her ability could be applied to some extremely precious damaged treasures or crystal stones, that would be simply...'' the teacher thought. ''No, it''s too early to decide, and maybe this is just a smokescreen. We still need to take the items back for repeated checks with precise instruments.'' The teacher shook his head, calming his suddenly excited emotions. He continued to think, tapping his fingers absently on the desk, pondering how to report and then discuss this discovery with the upper echelons of the academy. It wasn''t until a considerable time had passed that he gathered the documents on the desk, pressed a button, "Next student, please." Chapter 3: 3: A World of Sorrow (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, Resolute Lettuce) Stepping out of the recruitment''s massive dome hall, the sky outside was overcast, with sparse droplets of rain continually falling from dark clouds, striking the ck za below and sshing water everywhere. Whoosh¡ª A gust of cold wind blew, sprinkling some rain on Hexia, the icy sensation spreading from her skin throughout her body. "This kind of weather..." Hexia looked out at the rainy world and stood together with several students who had just exited. If it were just ordinary rain, with current technology and tools, there would be no need to worry, but the rain on Jade Skirt was different, especially in the 26 northern districts, all of which were more or less affected by this corrosive rainwater. The reason for using the faceted Crystal Stone to construct the recruitment hall''s dome was to resist the corrosive rainwater; if metal ormon concrete were used, they would likely crumble within a few years,promising safety. During the rainy season in April and May each year, the rainwater on the is highly toxic, but between June and August, the toxicity gradually dilutes, and the corrosiveness weakens significantly. At that time, one could walk in the rain without rain gear. What to do, should I call for a rental car? It seemed expensive, but there seemed to be no other choice, Hexia thought to herself. Although she didn''t spend much on living expenses, she didn''t really have an ie, so she had to be careful with money. Fortunately, she had just finished junior high and entered high school, where she could do some simple jobs to earn money. After hesitating for a little while, Hexia, like the other students, reserved a hover taxi through her personal terminal and patiently waited. The grey curtain of rain draped over the world before her eyes, falling on the ground, the dome, steel structures, creating different sshes mixed with moisture and chill constantly assaulting her with the wind. Even though she knew the rain was slightly toxic, the tranquility amidst the mor still brought Hexia a faint sense of happiness. I''m almost an adult now, I''ll be able to do so much more in the future. "Hey~ Hexia~" Just as the grey-haired girl stood waiting in front of the curtain of rain, a familiar voice came from behind her. Who is this? Hexia turned around and saw three girls approaching her, wearing the same student uniforms as she was, also her middle school ssmates. "Did youe by yourself, Hexia?" One of the outgoing short-haired girls approached and then pped a hand on Hexia''s shoulder. "Uh, yes." Hexia''s expression was like that of a small bird, somewhat withdrawn and nervous. Shy, introverted, socially anxious¡ªthese were probably the moststing impressions she left on others. "Ahaha, you''re pretty brave, huh," The girlughed, then the four of them stood together and discussed how they did on the assessments that day. "ra, Mili, how did you do?" the short-haired girl asked the other two ssmates. "I think I did well. I danced a bit and one of the teachers was stunned." A girl wearing trendy crop-top clothes gestured. "Are you nning to debut as an idolter on?" "Of course, being an idol is how to make big money, and there will be countless men showering me with Gold Coins. That''s the carefree life I want, I definitely don''t want to do those rigid jobs." "Wow, that''s amazing. ra, when you be a big star, don''t forget us, okay? We''lle to lean on you then." "How about Mili?" "I went for Sreib Academy''s assessment, I should be able to pass." Sreib Academy specialized in medical professions and was mainly based on the Tidal Sequence curriculum. "Mili is being modest again. Many of your rtives are in pharmaceuticalpanies, right? Your path for the future is already paved." "That''s not true." Though she didn''t admit much, the girl''s face revealed a smile and pride that she couldn''t hide. The short-haired girl chatted skillfully with the two ssmates. Her fluent speech and social skills made the grey-haired girl beside her enviously admire. "And you, Lina?" Eventually, the grey-haired girl couldn''t help but speak up in a soft voice. She had been desk mates with Lina for a while and considered her familiar, unlike the other ssmates whom she was afraid of. "Me? Let''s talk about thatter, let''s hear about you first, Hexia." Lina teased with suspense. "I... I applied for Irene Academy. I''ve been preparing for a long time, and this time I might be able to pass." The girl hesitated a bit and didn''t mention applying for Edith Academy, as it seemed far too presumptuous. "Irene Academy isn''t bad at all. I remember you were looking at medical materials back in second year, you''ve been preparing since then, right? You indeed are a diligent student, Hexia." Irene Academy was a mid-ranked high school in the Northern Seventh District, mainly cultivating professions like doctors and nurses. However, to truly be a doctor, one would definitely need to attend university. If one only graduated from high school, they could only be nurses. "Irene Academy, that''s pretty good, I guess." Mili muttered, seemingly a little dismissive and envious. In Payin City, where the four girls lived, which wasn''t a big city, and where the middle school educational quality was quite poor, even the best student in ss being able to enter a mid-ranked high school within the district was something to be envied. "By the way, have you guys heard about Tiffen?" ra suddenly brought up. "Don''t know, what about her?" "She has a boyfriend now," ra said with an exaggerated tone. "That, it doesn''t seem too surprising." Lina casually propped up her hair by the ear. In this era of advanced information technology and early maturity, even if middle schoolers were in a rtionship, it wasn''t considered unusual. Chapter 4: 3: A World of Sorrow (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Resolute Lettuce)_2 "The problem is the boyfriend she got also has an elf bloodline, which is so charming~ I''m so jealous." "Elf bloodline, that''s indeed quite rare now, most of the elves on the have migrated away." Initially, this was developed by a consortium of the elf race within the Federation, so its name has the distinctive elf characteristic, ''Jade Skirt'', but with the subsequent industrial development and environmental deterioration, many elves have slowly left this, moving to other Star Domains in the Federation. "Exactly, that''s why I''m envious. Her boyfriend even bought her thetest ''Mo Yun Workshop'' personal terminal, I saw the online price is at least 30,000 Federation Coins." "Wow, that''s so rich." The others sighed. The ie gap between the different Star Domains within the Federation is huge, and the median ie within the ''Four-leaf Crystal'' Star Domain is 32,400 Federation Coins/year, meaning this amounts to an ordinary person''s annual sry. "That Tiffen really knows how to, even at the winter festival party, she knew to intentionally wear a dress to lure boys in, putting up with the cold weather just like that, and now who knows what tricks she pulled again, tsk tsk." "Why don''t you try it, Mili?" Lina teased from the side, seemingly ustomed to such matters. "Me? I reckon I''d have to wait until junior year. If my grades are still good by then, I could ask my aunt for some money for cosmetic surgery and beautification, I''m quite familiar with this, after all, many in my family work in rted industries." "Mili, you''re such a pushover, you''re really too timid, go for it directly, those boys are easy to deceive, don''t tell me you''ve never had a boyfriend before; it''s mainly because finding one who is rich, handsome, and single is not easy." ra ridiculed herpanion unabashedly, not caring about offending anyone with her words. "You." Mili wanted to retort and snicker back, but looking at ra''s decent figure and skin, she suddenly felt a surge of self-doubt and her voice faded. However, she turned her head and saw the gray-haired girl standing in the corner, her mood suddenly improved. "What about you, Hexia? With your looks, you should have had several boyfriends by now. Howe they don''t buy you anything?" "I, I''ve never been in a rtionship." The girl replied, slightly frightened. She didn''t understand why the fire suddenly spread to her. "Ah,e on, that can''t be true. I refuse to believe it. Nowadays, who isn''t looking for a man to spend money on them? You look quite alright, if it''s not because you''re too absorbed in your studies to the point of silliness, howe you''ve not snagged a single one?" Mili spoke teasingly, making faces as she spoke. "Hahaha." The other two nearby alsoughed. This made the gray-haired girl feel ashamed and insecure, not knowing how to respond or rebut. In their ss, those who were popr tended to be the ones who could talk and sing, or those who liked sports andbat, whereas students like the gray-haired girl, who studied quietly and rarely interacted with others, often became outsiders and transparent figures. "Who do you think you are, expecting to get ahead by studying, you fool! Hahaha!" Such mockery had been directed at introverted ssmates in the past, causing uproariousughter from many people. Although studying isn''t everything, Hexia knew this well but still felt terrible being spoken to like that. It felt torturous just standing there. Fortunately, Lina eventually broke the tension. "Alright, alright, stopughing. Hexia is nning to go to Irene Academy to be a doctor. You guys might need her help someday." That conversation put an end to the ridicule for the time being. "Now, where were we? Oh right, it was my turn." Lina loosened the hair at the side of her ear, revealing arge, round golden earring, embedded with a ruby. "I''m attending the enrollment audit of Wenliu Yi High School. You might not have heard of it because it''s a school in the South Third District." The environment in the Southern Hemisphere of the Emerald Skirt is much better than in the Northern Hemisphere, making it a wealthier region. "It''s a school affiliated with the ck Conch Group. After graduation, it''s easy to get a job within thepany." "ck Conch Group? Is that thepany that makes waterproof materials?" "Yes, that''s the one. It''s quite profitable." Lina pretended to be indifferent, but the others knew that this was a very enviablepany. Suddenly, the topic focused on Lina again, while the gray-haired girl became an object of no interest once more. However, she didn''t need the attention. In fact, being ignored allowed her to rx a little. Time slowly passed, and the car Hexia called arrived. "Hey, did you call for a car yourself? Had I known, I would have asked you to join us in a carpool. That would have saved a lot of money." Lina was a little surprised. "Oh, this." Hexia didn''t know how to respond, she could only nod her head and then quickly walked into the car, the door closing gradually after her. Once she sat in the gray hover car, the sound of rain and mor outside became quiet, and only a faint beeping noise from inside the car could be heard. The automatic AI system began to give reminders, then text appeared on the screen in front of her. [Wee aboard, your destination is: Northern Seventh District, Payin City, 653 Xuan stone Street, Skylight] [Please confirm: Yes/No] "Confirm." [Received, the vehicle is nning the route, please wait] [nningplete, beginning to drive...] The mechanical voice of the automatic AI was calm and quiet, which gradually stabilized the girl''s previously chaotic mind. Electronic AIs are really nice, at least they don''t say things that hurt one''s feelings. Inside the car, the girl hugged her file bag and leaned against the window, gazing at the gray world outside. Chapter 5: 3: The World of Sorrow (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarchs Resolution Lettuce)_3 The rain was still falling, with threads of droplets sliding down the window and then forming streaks as they rolled downward. Hexia drew patterns on the window absentmindedly with her finger, taking a while toe back to reality. In ss, she was not someone famous. Although her theoretical grades were good, besides the teachers, actually few people paid attention to this, just like in a poor school, where everyone talks about who ys well, no one worships the person with good grades. This was not something strange. In the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, the economy was sluggish, and manypanies had started to cut back on staff. Even with good academic performance, it was difficult to secure a decent job. It didn''t matter who did the job, after all. Technology had developed to a bottleneck stage, and the lives of the citizens of the Federation today had not changed significantlypared to 1,000 years ago. Without new tracks, there was no new vitality. Many jobs had also been standardized and dumbed down, meaning that they didn''t require particrly capable people to do them. Instead, rtionships and channels had be more important. This caused wealth to umte at the upper level, while the lower level indulged in various forms of entertainment andparison, worshipping luxury and consumption, after all, facing this cruel and unchangeable reality was painful. This was an era of highly advanced technology and civilization but also an era when any beautiful fantasy crashed abruptly. Humans transcended the shackles of nature with knowledge and experience, yet those same tools of knowledge and experience also turned into new chains of interest. "So this is a sad world, isn''t it?" Hexia would feel upset by her ssmates'' mockery, but she also knew that this was not just the issue of a few students. Many people were looking for an answer as to where the way outy. Of course, there was one fairly obvious way out, the cultivation of the Transcendent Sequence. The Transcendent Sequence, from 1 to 9, each time the structure of the Transcendent Core added ayer, one would advance a rank. Different structures and patterns would also bring all sorts of unimaginable abilities, astounding people. This was one of the few ways for individuals to transcend their social ss. The more powerful and special the ability, the moreplex the required structure would be. Although belonging to the same Sequence Level, the strength of two individuals could be vastly different, and this was the reason. The reason Edith Academy was so desirable was that it had five Transcendent Sequence 5 advancement methods rated as perfect. This allowed those who practiced them to have a more solid and perfect foundation, thereby being able to go further in the future. If one advanced through a rough and simple structure, Sequence 2 might be the endpoint for many people in their lifetime. After all, if the foundation was too fragile, even a slightly taller building would cause copse and destruction. The core of a High Sequence Transcendent was like an ignited nuclear fusion reactor, and the power it produced was even more special. Attempting to constrain such power while still maintaining sanity and avoiding corruption was extremely difficult, which was why throughout the whole Crystal Star Domain, the number of High Sequence Transcendents had always been low. Thinking about various matters in her mind, the grey-haired girl hugged the documents and slowly fell asleep in the car, until an hourter when a synthesized mechanical alert sounded. [The vehicle has arrived at the destination.] Have we arrived? The grey-haired girl rubbed her eyes, sat up, and felt quite a bit more refreshed. She opened the car door and stepped out, as the huge square Skylight appeared before her eyes. The sharp edges of crimson steel protected and segmented the surroundings of the central Skylight. Looking down from above, in the vast Skylight, a session of ships and Hover Cars were continuously entering and leaving, and surrounding the walls of the Skylight were lengthy terraced steps, with lights flickering and people weaving through. Numerous shops and dwellings were concealed in this underground steel jungle, with wisps of white vapor also emerging from this abyss-like Skylight, spiraling upwards. This was Hexia''s home, Payin City, an industrial city located underground. Chapter 6: 4: The Extinguished Fluorescence (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, Bi Mo Zhu Xian) Raindrops clinked and nked against the steel partitions and nted stairs, and with the asional passerby under an umbre, one could hear the pitter-patter of rain bouncing off the canopy. Hexia ced the document bag on her head, held onto the rough, corroded railing with one hand, and then hurried down the stairs. Her ck shoes sshed through puddles, making a clomping noise, and the ck over-the-knee socks were partly dampened by the rain, darkening in color. After a while, she hastily entered the structure of the Skylight, finally escaping the rain. Setting down the document bag and shaking off the water droplets, the gray-haired girl slowed her pace and leisurely looked around. Compared to the massive Skylight, this was just a small structure within its inner walls, with numerous simr entrances and exits visible in the distance, forming a web-likework leading to theplex Underworld. Pacing through the long steel corridor, Hexia and a few other scattered passersby arrived in front of the vertical elevator to wait. Click-click-click¡ª Amidst the sound of heavy gears turning and the slight tremor of the floor, therge industrial elevator slowly ascended from the depths, its edges and rust marks visible through the wire mesh. But these were all minor details. The elevator, like a rugged beast, held a unique industrial beauty¡ªsturdy, strong, and solid. Its main structure conveyed a reassuring presence. Inside, it measured approximately 16 meters in length, 12 meters in width, and 8 meters in height, potentiallyrger than many people''s homes, and it felt quite spacious as one walked in. More than 300 years ago, such elevators were mainly used for carrying goods, but now they had been converted for civilian use. Their length and width were designed ording to the size of the Federation''s armored vehicles at the time, intended for transporting the then ''Viper-R2'' medium-sized tanks. Recalling the history she had read about in documents, Hexia joined the other few pedestrians in stepping in. Her ck shoes clicked lightly on the ck grating floor, and droplets of water and dust fell through the gaps in the grate. Below the grating floory anotheryer, designed to catch dust, muddy water, and trash from above. To clean it, one only needed to spray the surface with a high-pressure water jet, then tip out the trash collected in theyer below¡ªit was quite convenient andbor-saving. In the Federation, there were more advanced high-end elevators, like ss bubble balls, quietly and swiftly shuttling through transparent tubes, spotlessly clean inside. But such things were expensive to maintain and ill-suited for industrial cities like Payin City. After a two-minute wait, the elevator began to move. Hexia watched the thick steel doors close slowly, then, amidst the whir of gears, the elevator started to descend, speeding up from slow to fast, until the sound of the gears merged into a continuous screech without pause. They would travel through 7 kilometers of deep crust inside the elevator until reaching the underground district of Payin City. The reason for housing the district so deep underground was due to historical factors. Emerald Skirt underwent rapid and substantial development during the internal conflicts of the Federation; it was a designated for military-industrial production and naturally had to be prepared for potential enemy attacks. To preserve most of the living force during orbital bombardment by starships, the industrial cities built at the time were mostly underground, with domes above the cities that had extremely sturdy armoryers to withstand prative nuclear bombardments. The ''Viper-R2'' model was also a tank well-suited for underground construction and street fighting, serving as a temporary bulwark to block roadways. More than ten minutester, the elevator suddenly emerged from the dark tunnel into a bright light, and its speed gradually decreased. The underground world, with dim orange lights, unfolded before their eyes. Steel buildings were neatly arrayed, a few hover cars flitted through the air, pedestrians strolled under the streetlights, and the neon signs flickered dimly, their images changing constantly, attempting to capture the attention of passersby. [Underground Level 42, destination reached.] The old disy screen inside the elevator shed with these words, and the thick door slid open slowly. After stepping out of the elevator, she was greeted by familiar staircases and streets. She had walked this path for over ten years, and with such familiarity, Hexia''s footsteps became brisker. Beneath Payin City, levels 1 to 30 were the crustyer, featuring only a few buildings; levels 30 to 40 were the armoryer, uninhabitable; levels 40 to 45 were the publicyers, housing numerous supermarkets, shops, restaurants, public institutions, zas, and so on. Levels 45 to 50 were the officeyers, mainly used bypanies and enterprises; levels 50 to 70 were divided into sections, some for residentialyers, others for industrialyers; below level 70y the unknown regions. What should I eat tonight? Walking along the street, the girl eyed the brightly-lit supermarket in the distance, mentally tallying how much money and budget she had left. Setting aside her emergency funds and savings for the next two months'' expenses, she only had 525 Federation Coins at her disposal. No, it should be 405 Federation Coins, since she had just spent 120 on the hover car ride. It pained her heart, those 120 Federation Coins. Thinking of this, Hexia''s mood sank, and she gestured absent-mindedly in front of herself. It was time to start earning money. Having just graduated from junior high and with several months until high school, she needed to think about how to make some living expenses. Various ideas floated through her mind as Hexia walked into the familiar supermarket. Chapter 8: 4: The Extinguished Fluorescence (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch of Pen and Ink)_3 ``` "If she walks any farther, she simply refuses to move, such a scaredy-cat." "Actually, I''m a bit scared too," the child who had been silent in the corner finally added. Was there a power outage? Hexia looked up towards the distant tunnel. This stretch was about more than 200 meters long, not particrly long, but it was pitch-dark inside due to the lights being out. After observing for a short while and detecting no anomalies, Hexia walked forward and turned on the lighting setting on her personal terminal. A beam of light shone forth, yetpared to the seven or eight-meter diameter of the tunnel, the beam was not veryrge. "Follow me," she said, turning around to see several pairs of hopeful eyes behind her. She was still a little afraid of the children, the girl thought to herself. Compared to mature and sensible adults, children''s behavior could sometimes be unpredictable, and Hexia wasn''t good at dealing with this kind of situation. If it weren''t for today''s chance meeting, she would usually stand far away. "Wow, so amazing, a big sister with a personal terminal." "There''s light for illumination." "Following her should be safe." The girl who had been crying before quieted down a bit and, holding hands with herpanions, followed behind Hexia. The current situation was much like a mother duck leading her four ducklings across a river. But the children were quite cute today, and a sense of calm brushed through the girl''s heart as she entered the pitch-ck tunnel. Her shoes clinked against the steel floor, echoing through the space. From time to time, the sound of dripping water and the flow of liquid in pipes could be heard. Leading the children, Hexia stepped forward in the darkness. She had thought it was just a minor detour on the way home until she suddenly felt an unusual palpitation. When they were a little more than fifty meters from the exit, a dark shadow suddenly darted through the cone of light from the terminal, lunging at the glowing device in the girl''s hand. The massive force almost knocked Hexia over, and her wrist throbbed with pain. The square personal terminal flew out of her grip and tumbled across the ground, rolling far away. Apanied by sounds of crushing and shattering ss, the light went out instantly. Cries of utter panic from the children filled the tunnel, creating a chaotic scene. This sudden upheaval left Hexia in a state of panic, but the screams of the children behind her constantly reminded her of the current situation. Stay calm, stay calm, think of something, this is not the time to run away These thoughts echoed in Hexia''s mind as she trembled and leaned against the cold wall, the pain in her right hand still not subsiding. She could feel the wet and sticky blood flowing over her skin. With her left hand pressed against her head, her joints stiffened, and amidst the trembling, Hexia finally regained someposure. "Hu¡ª Hu¡ª" She felt her breathing had never been so heavy and tense. With her chest heaving, Hexia slowly pushed herself up from the wall she had been leaning against and stood. "You,e behind me," she said, her voice quivering. But the children were still crying and screaming, paying no heed to her words. "Shut up!" She stomped her foot and let out a sharp yell, hardly believing it was her own voice. The children finally stopped their crying temporarily. "Get behind me now!" Her voice was fast and breathless. The children stumbled and groped their way through the darkness to get behind Hexia, who was then able to focus her attention on the enemy in the pitch-ck environment ahead. Even though she couldn''t see clearly, the sound of chewing ss fragments and metal in the darkness was as piercing and frightening as ever. A mutant beast? A malfunctioning machine? Or a deranged person? Hexia guessed at the identity of the attacker, regretting that her personal terminal was broken, otherwise she could have contacted the nearby Autonomous Unit for riot control. But there was no other choice now. With her thoughts focused, the Transcendent Core within her began to operate, and faint blue light emerged from her eyes, forming a simple symbol. Withering Sequence 2: Dark Visit, activate¡ª It was as if invisible shadows suddenly extended from her body. The previously dark tunnel was revealed in her vision as a different world. This world was one of stark cks and whites, countless web-like strands outlining everything, and right in front of her, not too far away, was a restless Soul Consciousness. It twisted and writhed, indistinct. As a Sequence 2, Dark Visit didn''t have muchbat power, but it was excellent for reconnaissance, suitable for all sorts of environments, and allowed the user to see spectral beings, shadowy creatures, and spiritual entities invisible to normal people. Machinesck a Soul Consciousness; therefore, that was ruled out. Mutant beasts didn''t have such pronounced consciousness or spiritual forms, so it was likely a crazed, out-of-control human, Hexia determined. Simr to how humans could use the Aijieka Particles to let their spirits affect reality, practicing the Transcendent Sequence could lead to the construction of a wed Transcendent Core. This, in turn, would cause psychological contamination over time, driving a person insane or turning them into a fool. This was the reason why many individuals remained at a certain Sequence level their whole lives and did not advance further. Forced advancement could result in instantaneous self-destruction or mental derangement. After observing for a few seconds, some information floated into Hexia''s mind. Out-of-control Human Physical appearance: 32-40 years old, body partially mutated Transcendent Sequence: Dragon Sequence 3¡¤Unknown (Grade: wed Copper Grade) Attack methods: Fanged Teeth (Lv.2), Raptor ws (Lv.1) ``` Chapter 8: 4: The Extinguished Fluorescence (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch of Pen and Ink)_3 ``` "If she walks any farther, she simply refuses to move, such a scaredy-cat." "Actually, I''m a bit scared too," the child who had been silent in the corner finally added. Was there a power outage? Hexia looked up towards the distant tunnel. This stretch was about more than 200 meters long, not particrly long, but it was pitch-dark inside due to the lights being out. After observing for a short while and detecting no anomalies, Hexia walked forward and turned on the lighting setting on her personal terminal. A beam of light shone forth, yetpared to the seven or eight-meter diameter of the tunnel, the beam was not veryrge. "Follow me," she said, turning around to see several pairs of hopeful eyes behind her. She was still a little afraid of the children, the girl thought to herself. Compared to mature and sensible adults, children''s behavior could sometimes be unpredictable, and Hexia wasn''t good at dealing with this kind of situation. If it weren''t for today''s chance meeting, she would usually stand far away. "Wow, so amazing, a big sister with a personal terminal." "There''s light for illumination." "Following her should be safe." The girl who had been crying before quieted down a bit and, holding hands with herpanions, followed behind Hexia. The current situation was much like a mother duck leading her four ducklings across a river. But the children were quite cute today, and a sense of calm brushed through the girl''s heart as she entered the pitch-ck tunnel. Her shoes clinked against the steel floor, echoing through the space. From time to time, the sound of dripping water and the flow of liquid in pipes could be heard. Leading the children, Hexia stepped forward in the darkness. She had thought it was just a minor detour on the way home until she suddenly felt an unusual palpitation. When they were a little more than fifty meters from the exit, a dark shadow suddenly darted through the cone of light from the terminal, lunging at the glowing device in the girl''s hand. The massive force almost knocked Hexia over, and her wrist throbbed with pain. The square personal terminal flew out of her grip and tumbled across the ground, rolling far away. Apanied by sounds of crushing and shattering ss, the light went out instantly. Cries of utter panic from the children filled the tunnel, creating a chaotic scene. This sudden upheaval left Hexia in a state of panic, but the screams of the children behind her constantly reminded her of the current situation. Stay calm, stay calm, think of something, this is not the time to run away These thoughts echoed in Hexia''s mind as she trembled and leaned against the cold wall, the pain in her right hand still not subsiding. She could feel the wet and sticky blood flowing over her skin. With her left hand pressed against her head, her joints stiffened, and amidst the trembling, Hexia finally regained someposure. "Hu¡ª Hu¡ª" She felt her breathing had never been so heavy and tense. With her chest heaving, Hexia slowly pushed herself up from the wall she had been leaning against and stood. "You,e behind me," she said, her voice quivering. But the children were still crying and screaming, paying no heed to her words. "Shut up!" She stomped her foot and let out a sharp yell, hardly believing it was her own voice. The children finally stopped their crying temporarily. "Get behind me now!" Her voice was fast and breathless. The children stumbled and groped their way through the darkness to get behind Hexia, who was then able to focus her attention on the enemy in the pitch-ck environment ahead. Even though she couldn''t see clearly, the sound of chewing ss fragments and metal in the darkness was as piercing and frightening as ever. A mutant beast? A malfunctioning machine? Or a deranged person? Hexia guessed at the identity of the attacker, regretting that her personal terminal was broken, otherwise she could have contacted the nearby Autonomous Unit for riot control. But there was no other choice now. With her thoughts focused, the Transcendent Core within her began to operate, and faint blue light emerged from her eyes, forming a simple symbol. Withering Sequence 2: Dark Visit, activate¡ª It was as if invisible shadows suddenly extended from her body. The previously dark tunnel was revealed in her vision as a different world. This world was one of stark cks and whites, countless web-like strands outlining everything, and right in front of her, not too far away, was a restless Soul Consciousness. It twisted and writhed, indistinct. As a Sequence 2, Dark Visit didn''t have muchbat power, but it was excellent for reconnaissance, suitable for all sorts of environments, and allowed the user to see spectral beings, shadowy creatures, and spiritual entities invisible to normal people. Machinesck a Soul Consciousness; therefore, that was ruled out. Mutant beasts didn''t have such pronounced consciousness or spiritual forms, so it was likely a crazed, out-of-control human, Hexia determined. Simr to how humans could use the Aijieka Particles to let their spirits affect reality, practicing the Transcendent Sequence could lead to the construction of a wed Transcendent Core. This, in turn, would cause psychological contamination over time, driving a person insane or turning them into a fool. This was the reason why many individuals remained at a certain Sequence level their whole lives and did not advance further. Forced advancement could result in instantaneous self-destruction or mental derangement. After observing for a few seconds, some information floated into Hexia''s mind. Out-of-control Human Physical appearance: 32-40 years old, body partially mutated Transcendent Sequence: Dragon Sequence 3¡¤Unknown (Grade: wed Copper Grade) Attack methods: Fanged Teeth (Lv.2), Raptor ws (Lv.1) ``` Chapter 9: 4: The Extinguished Fluorescence (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, Bimo Zhu Xian)_4 Ability: Physical Strengthening (Lv.2), Beast Perception (Lv.1) ¡ª¡ª The information above was Hexia''s assessment based on what she had learned. Though not precise andprehensive, it was currently sufficient. Her strength was not considered powerful, and now, without a suitable weapon or means of attack, the girl felt a touch of bitterness in her heart. However, she did not have much time left. The nearly beast-like creature had almostpletely chewed her personal terminal, and once it finished, it would be time to attack. Come on, think of something, Hexia. A bead of sweat slowly made its way down her forehead; she felt her back was both cold and hot, and her right hand''s nerves were still twitching from time to time, sending waves of pain. In moments of intense stress, adrenaline began to secrete. She breathed shakily, her body slightly crouched, ready to react at any moment. Currently unable to find a suitable weapon, the only means of attack was the close-range use of the Withering Sequence''s initial Spirit Purifying Form. It utilized the high lethality of the Withering Sequence against the Soul Form, dispersing and annihting the enemy''s spirit, or incapacitating them to the point of self-helplessness. But this process would take at least 5-7 seconds, and it would probably require her to hold the enemy''s head with her hand. Moreover, her body was certainly not as powerful as that of the enemy who had mastered the Dragon Sequence. Furthermore, the enemy possessed fangs and ws... Before Hexia could decide on a strategy, the enemy had finished its meal and charged at her again. In the pitch-ck surroundings, ws scraped against the metal floor, emitting a sharp, ear-piercing noise. Hot, panting breath grew steadily closer with movement. Even if she couldn''t see at this moment, the madness of the beast still caused her heart to race. With a push of her toes, Hexia moved to the side, hoping to draw the enemy''s attention and spare the children behind her from harm. At the same time, she sought an opportunity in her movements. However, her n was quickly dashed. As soon as she made a noise with her movements, the enemy, as if finally finding its target, suddenly increased its speed. Hexia had no chance to react before being struck directly. In the impact, her right arm broke with a snap, and then the intense pain nearly knocked her unconscious. Her body was flung backward, hitting the cold, damp tunnel wall, and the recoil felt as if it would eject her heart. Her vision filled with stars, she slid down the wall, while the enemy, close at hand, panted hot breath. A w pressed down on Hexia''s left shoulder with a heavy weight, carving a bloody groove, while the other opened its jaws wide, biting directly into her right shoulder. The sound of shattering bones erupted like firecrackers, followed by the noise of flesh being chewed. The severe pain nearly drained all of Hexia''s consciousness, causing her to convulse involuntarily. I''m going to die. That sense of impending doom descended instantaneously, so close that it caused Hexia to hallucinate; pleasant childhood memories, the sister she admired, the parents who yed with her, and so on... Is it all going to end here? No, not yet, there are still so many things I haven''t done yet¡ª In the pitch-ck curtain of rain, a tombstone adorned with ck flowers, a disheartened man walking away with his back turned, the mocking and cursing she endured, the ideals hidden in her heart, her longing for the future... An agonizing creaking emitted from her throat, as if her hyoid bone and vocal cords were being wrenched apart; blood flowed ceaselessly from Hexia''s body. Her only functioning left hand iled wildly, wing a slim gap away from the pressing talons, her fingers reaching with difficulty towards the enemy''s neck, smeared in blood. It''s not working, still not enough. The distance was not close enough. The knowledge taught in ss emerged in her mind like a branding iron. ''The Spirit Purifying Form is a universal form that can be used with the Withering Sequence 2 to cleanse lingering ghosts and fragmented consciousness. To confront living creatures, one must approach within 2.7cm of the opponent''s brain. Otherwise, the Spirit Purifying Magic Power generated by the form will rapidly decay and cannot effectively harm living beings.'' Human skulls have thickness, and she was not close enough! Hexia''s legs kicked frantically against the ground, creating friction as she struggled to lift her waist, trying to extend her hand higher. Just a little more, just a little closer and she could reach it. She could even touch the hair on the back of the enemy''s head, along with a few scales and debris. However, the enemy had finished chewing Hexia''s right shoulder, and then its head reared up again, fiercely biting at Hexia''s neck. The sharp fangs pierced her windpipe and throat, darkening her vision as blood began to backflow into her windpipe. Then her left hand also fell powerlessly,nding on the back of the enemy''s head. As her neck was bitten through, Hexia''s life entered its final countdown, but the enemy''s motion finally enabled her to touch the back of its head. In the midst of a beast-like tearing, a faint blue glow lit up in the pitch ckness of the underground, so tiny and weak. Slowly, the glow gradually faded away. The tunnel once again plunged into darkness, and the beast-like roars that had been there previously also disappeared, leaving utter silence. Chapter 10: 5: The Flower of Tilan (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Disillution) ``` Beep¡ª¡ªBeep¡ª¡ªBeep¡ª¡ª When Hexia Tn opened her eyes again, she was greeted by a white ceiling and the faint beeping of machines by her ear. Just as she tried to move her body, a wave of soreness spread throughout, promptly dissuading her from the idea. Soon after, the voice of an electronic AI chimed in beside her. [The patient is awake, contacting the station tform] Is this a hospital? The girl detected a familiar scent of disinfectant. She looked around and saw a lounge chair next to the bed, where a robust young man was sleeping. He was covered with a nket, leaving his thick arms exposed. She recognized this young man¡ªhis name should be He Cheng, a resident of the sameplex, basically a neighbor. Before long, the door to the ward was pushed open, and a nurse in light blue uniform entered. She was pushing a cart filled with various instruments. "You''re awake." The nurse said while skillfully checking the various indicators on the machines by the girl''s bedside. "You''re quite lucky. When you were brought in covered in blood, I thought you wouldn''t make it. "But fortunately, there were no fatal injuries. The doctor also said you were lucky to have avoided vital areas." The nurseforted Hexia Tn''s emotions, then carefully helped her sit up and asked where else she felt difort. "Ufortable...?" Hexia Tn examined her arms and felt about her neck. It seemed there were no wounds on her neck, but her right arm was wrapped in bandages and a brace, immobilized, while her left arm, though sore, could still be moved somewhat. After listening to the girl''s description, the nurse nodded. "It''s simr to what the doctor said, which is good. The fear was that your head had suffered a concussion or that the intense stimuli could have caused some kind of mental disturbance." "You''re very brave, you know. I heard that not only did you not abandon others, but you also fought to the death to kill the out-of-control one." As she spoke, she gently embraced Hexia Tn with her arm and slowly stroked her hair. "Hmm..." The girl didn''t know what to say, but a faint warmth enveloped her heart. It felt like a long time since she wasst held like this. A short whileter, the nurse let go of Hexia Tn and then smiled again. "Little Tn is not in serious danger now, but we still need to run some tests. Come on, stretch out your finger; I need to draw a little blood." Ouch, the nurse wasn''t an angel after all. The girl, a bit frightened of pain, slowly raised her left hand and turned her head away, not wanting to see the needle piercing her skin. "All done, the blood draw is over. There are a few more small tests. Just run your Transcendent Core a little, Little Tn." "Hmm." The girl obediently followed the instructions, activating her Transcendent Core and releasing a bit of magic power. "All looks normal, it seems you''re not badly harmed." The nurse then put away the instruments. "I''m going to submit the report. You''ll probably need to stay in the hospital for observation for a couple of days. For now, you can drink some water and eat something." After finishing her words, she nced at the still-sleeping young man beside her and woke him with a p. "Wake up, if you keep sleeping like this, Grandma He wille and scold you." The nurse was much rougher with himpared to her gentleness with Hexia Tn. "Who, who''s going to scold me, who dares scold me, I am..." He startled awake, rubbing his head and looking around before his eyes lit up with surprise upon seeing Hexia Tn. "Ah, Tn, you''re awake. I''m Brother He from near your house, remember? I handle the shopping in themunity..." "I remember." The girl nodded, which excited the man further. He began to talk nonstop, chiefly about how, after Hexia Tn had fainted, several children had run out of the tunnel and called for adults. Then the neighbors brought her to the hospital, and since the incident was so sudden and severe, it became widely known in the neighboringmunities. The security organization of Payin City had alsoe for post-event investigation and repairs. ``` "In my opinion," He Cheng shook his head, indicating his vast experience, "those guys are all talk. I bet in the end they''ll just install a few more surveince points and fix the street lights, and that''ll be that." Hexia knew that He Cheng was in charge ofmunity procurement and transport, very well-informed about the local news, and had a good grasp of the local institutions'' modus operandi. "What about the children afterward, are they all right?" "No big deal, they just got some scrapes and bruises, nothing serious. But you, you had us all worried sick." He Cheng shook his head again, then looked at Hexia with a serious expression. "Do you know how terrifying the scene I rushed to was? Blood everywhere, the walls and ground covered in w marks, and you lying there like a torn-up doll, parts of your bones exposed. Beautiful yet pitiable. I never noticed we had such a beautiful girl in the neighborhood before. Maybe you were too little back then¡­" As he spoke, his topic wandered off. "Cough... could you stop talking about that, Brother He Cheng?" Recalling the experiences before she passed out still terrified Hexia, and she didn''t want to hear them a second time. "All right, I won''t say anymore. You should rest. Oh, and what do you want to eat? I''ll go buy it for you." "Just a normal lunch will do." "What do you mean ''normal''? If you''re going to eat, eat the best. One must feast after a narrow escape from death. You just came back from the gates of hell; this is no time to skimp. Your Brother He Cheng will foot the bill!" he said, patting his chest. "Okay then, get me a T5 level set meal from Fragrant Bamboo Bistro, with a light taste." The Fragrant Bamboo Bistro was an affordable dining brand, with their T5 set meal costing around 80-120 Federation Coins. "Sure, I''ll get it for you. There''s one nearby. Drink some water first." After that, he walked out. While waiting, Hexia drank some water and then leaned back against the headboard to slowly ponder how she had survived. She had used the Spirit Purifying Form to convert magic power and kill the enemy, but her consciousness was already fading. Due to blood loss, she couldn''t see anything, and she began to hear hallucinations in her ears¡ªas if someone was singing, or someone was speaking right next to her. The wound on her neck made the warmth in her body drain away swiftly, and blood choking her windpipe made it difficult to breathe, to the point where she didn''t even have the strength to cough. In the end, she could only rely on the faint remnants of her unconsciousness to repair her body, just as she had demonstrated during the recruitment review earlier that day. Although she had no assistance to align and stitch up her wounds, controlling her own body seemed more fluid and proficient, without resistance. Perhaps it was in that state of unconsciousness that she had stitched up her own torn body. Hexia carefully touched her neck with a finger, feeling the delicate sensation, then closed her eyes once more to check her body with her transcendent ability. Aside from a slight shadow in her lungs, the rest of her organs were rtively intact. Her right arm probably needed more time to heal, although she could elerate the healing process... Forget it, better to wait until after discharge to heal herself. Otherwise, it would be too astonishing and unexpected. Hexia shook her head. Life had taught her much. Unless absolutely necessary, one should not reveal their unique traits. It was also a way to protect oneself. However, while Hexia was examining herself, she suddenly noticed a difference: the color of her hair seemed to have changed. Searching, she pulled the hair from the back of her head to the front. The previously gray hair had turned into soft, ck locks. Ah, what''s this? In a slight panic, the girl searched for a mirror and finally found one in the washroom of the hospital room. The pitch-ck, smooth hair that fell in front of her made the girl lose her former greenness, turning her a bit gentle and moving. And her once ck eyes had now turned pale blue, like the only orchid blooming in a dark world, with a dreamy charm in the stillness. Even though her facial features had not changed, she seemed like apletely different person in terms of temperament, possessing an unforgettable charm that one couldn''t forget after a single nce. "Do you know Hexia, in the ancient records of the elves, there is a flower that doesn''t look much different from weeds, difficult to distinguish. When other flowers bloom, it stands quietly and unnoticed in the corner. No one cares about it until autumn and winter when other nts wither and turn yellow. It remains green, until after several years, it finally blooms its sole blue flower. And those blue petals amid the cold wind and White Snow are so dazzling and beautiful." In her memory, a woman resembling Hexiay in a hospital bed, telling this story to a younger version of herself. "I know, Hexia is a bit timid and shy, always afraid to talk to others. But it''s okay, even if Mom isn''t here one day, you can still grow up strong and embrace your own season." "Don''t give up, Hexia. Keep living strongly." Not long after, her mother passed away, and standing in front of her tombstone in mourning, that was thest conversation Hexia could recall. Hexia Tn ¡ª ''Tn'' was the name of that flower in the Elvishnguage. Chapter 11: 6: Message from the Past (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarchs Grand Victory, Little Qingji) Ding dong¡ª Not long after returning to her hospital bed, the door swung open again, and He Cheng walked in with several packages in tow, followed closely behind by an elderly grandma. The elderlydy''s white hair was neatlybed, and she was dressed in a tidy outfit with striped patterns. "Tn''s awake, how are you feeling? Let grandma have a look," she said as she made her way over with the support of her cane, taking a seat beside Hexia, and meticulously examining the young girl. "The nurses all said it''s fine, so don''t worry, Grandma," He Cheng chimed in as he dragged a small table over and positioned it next to Hexia''s bed before setting down lunch. "You child, you''re really not meticulous at all. The nurses only said that there''s no serious harm physically, but for a girl, any scar is a lifetime''s impact. It''s not something to be taken so lightly," she chided her grandson, then took Hexia''s hand in hers. "It''s alright, you''re in the hospital now, and it''s very safe. The security organization has covered part of the medical expenses, and we''ve paid the rest on your behalf, so don''t worry," sheforted Hexia, addressing the concerns that had been preupying her. "Don''t overthink it, staying a few more days here is fine. One of the children you saved is my great-granddaughter, and it''s right for us to take care of you," she assured Hexia, holding her hand and saying many things to soothe her. Only then did the girle to understand their identities and the situation. It turned out that the girl who had been crying in front of the tunnel that time was indeed Grandma He''s great-granddaughter, He Cheng''s niece. Grandma He was one of the oldest residents in the neighborhood where Hexia lived. She was highly respected, having been a teacher in the past. "He Cheng''s sister and brother-inw are both working, and they probably can''t find the time to visit you right now, so I''ve asked He Cheng to look after you for the time being. Having someone around is always safer, even though this is a hospital..." Grandma He exined the family''s situation. Her children were now all in their fifties and sixties, not very mobile, and among her grandchildren who lived nearby, it was just He Cheng and his sister. However, they were usually busy with work, and didn''t have much time to look after the kids, which led to the ident. "I''m really grateful to Tn. If you hadn''t been there in front of the child, I''m afraid to imagine what might have happened," Grandma He said with emotion. "Actually, I was too confident. I didn''t inspect the area thoroughly before taking the children in," Hexia said, shaking her head bashfully. "Hey, don''t think like that and me yourself. There are too many unforeseen incidents in life that no one can predict, and you did really well, even far beyond expectation," Grandma He continued to console Hexia and then encouraged her to eat something. "This is a pristine fish and snow milk set meal I just bought from Fragrant Bamboo Bistro. It''s light in vor and nutritious too, should suit what you wanted," He Cheng said as he neatly ced the chopsticks and spoon, pulling out several boxes of fresh fruit, including strawberries, mulberries, and a box of nuts that Hexia liked. "I had He Cheng buy those. After you finish your meal, you can have them as a snack," Grandma He rified. "This..." Hexia felt somewhat embarrassed. "You''re too modest, girl, don''t worry about it, just eat," seeing the girl''s expression, the elderlydy knew what she was thinking and interrupted her straightforwardly. "It didn''t cost much. Life is what''s important, these are all trivial matters." "Thank you," Hexia nodded and then began her lunch. The fish was delicious, boneless due to its special species, and the soup was rich and savory. The meal increased Hexia''s appetite. Indeed, worthy of a T5 level set meal, its taste and nutrition were much superior to the ordinary T6 level standard set meal. After Hexia slowly finished her meal, Grandma He talked with her at length, and in the meantime, a doctor also came to check up on her. They left only after inquiring about her condition. In the evening, He Cheng''s sister and brother-inw came by. They were the parents of the little girl Hexia had saved that day and were very grateful. Both of them worked at apany on the 47th floor in Payin City and were very busy. Before leaving, they transferred some money to Hexia, but the young girl declined it. "You should ept it. You''re living alone now, and there''s no ie at home. If you don''t feelfortable with it, you could asionally help to tutor some of the neighborhood kids. Think of it as a tutoring fee," it was only after this gentle persuasion from Grandma He that Hexia finally epted the money¡ªa total of 8,000 Federation Coins, which was the leftover amount collected by the parents of the children she had saved the other day for her treatment. Although it wasn''t arge sum, it was still a gesture of goodwill from everyone. After all, most residents of theirmunity didn''t have high ies and couldn''t afford to give more. Over the next few days, more people came to visit Hexia, including her teacher, neighbors, and rtives of the children she had rescued. Three dayster, Hexia felt fine, and with the doctor''s agreement, she was discharged from the hospital. "To be discharged within a week after such a serious injury is a first for me, but since all her indicators are normal and good, there''s no reason to keep her," the doctor said as he left, also noting how lucky Hexia was. After leaving the hospital, Hexia was invited by Grandma He to stay at her house for a while. "It''s too lonely for you to be at home alone. Besides, you''re still in a recovery period, and your arm is not convenient. Better to stay with me¡ªI''m quite hale and hearty. Plus, with a few of my grandkids frequently visiting, it would be easy to take care of you," she proposed. So, Hexia went home to grab some clothes and temporarily moved to Grandma He''s house. Grandma He''s house was quite spacious, with three floors in total. The second floor was the living room and activity room, and the entrance to the residence was also on this level. The third floor housed the bedrooms and study, while the first floor contained the bathroom, shower room, kitchen, and the area for household machinery. "Hexia sister~" As soon as she entered, the girl saw the familiar little girl with arms spread wide to wee her, then she trotted over and hugged her waist. "Sister Hexia has finally been discharged from the hospital." She always remembered this older sister, but she was also very curious as to why Hexia''s hair had changed color. "It''s probably a side effect of practicing the Transcendent Sequence." Hexia came up with a somewhat reasonable exnation. Practicing certain Transcendent Sequences could indeed change one''s appearance to some extent, especially the Dragon Sequence. "I see, but sister Hexia has be so pretty, I almost didn''t recognize you." Children speak their minds so directly. Hexia felt a bit embarrassed by such straightforward praise. She was used to being unremarkable among ssmates and crowds, and she didn''t know how to respond to such directpliments. Admit it? That seemed a bit arrogant. Deny it? That felt somewhat insincere. "Thank you, Lisha will be beautiful too." Hexia bent down to look into her eyes. "This, this, probably not as pretty as sister." She hesitated and fiddled with her fingers. "Alright, Lisha,e here, let Sister Hexia sit down and rest for a while. If you could help bring a ss of water, that would be even better," Grandma He said from the side. "Yes, I''ll go get water." The little girl nodded proudly and then turned to scamper off to the back. Grandma He led Hexia to the third floor where there were several rooms. "This room used to be Lisha''s mom''s before she moved out after getting married. I tidied up again the day before yesterday, put on a new mattress, do you think it suits you?" Grandma He opened one of the rooms. The room wasn''t cluttered with belongings but had most of what one needed: a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, and a fabric sofa next to arge bay window. Through the window, one could see the artificial night sky outside, dotted with points of light like a river of stars. This night sky was synchronized with the surface observatories, as urate as possible, to alleviate the feelings of ustrophobia for residents living underground. "Most of the furniture is made of wood, I don''t know if you are used to it. Nowadays, young people seem to prefer the simplicity of egg-gold alloy." Egg-gold, a new type of alloy with a hue simr to eggshells, was soft in tone and thus widely used for household items and decorations. "I''m used to it." Hexia nodded. "Actually, my grandma was also from The East, and the furniture in their house was mostly made of wood when I was little." Hexia remembered her childhood. "Oh, then it looks like we''ll have a lot to talk about in the future," Grandma He said with a smile. "Rest well for today, get a good night''s sleep." Afterward, Hexia settled her belongings, and Lisha brought her water, then sat in Hexia''s room chatting for a good while before leaving reluctantly. In the bathroom, Hexia sat in the water, gently pouring it over her body, feeling the sensation of water droplets sliding down her arms and over her shoulders and neck, the sound of the droplets echoing clearly in the small room. Leaning against the tub wall, looking at the small ceiling above, Hexia''s body rxed as she slowly cleared the umted emotions in her heart. ''I''vee back to life, huh.'' She murmured, feeling somewhat surreal because at that moment she felt she had entered a state of death and was close to giving up. Unexpectedly, fate had given her another chance. This reprieve from disaster made her feel fortunate, and she saw many things in a more beautiful and loving light. Even the ordinary taste of white rice being chewed in her mouth revealed a faint sweetness. "No matter what, I must live on with strength..." Words from the past resonated in her ears. "I''ll remember that, mom." Chapter 12: 7: Peaceful Moments (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Yinfeng Tingsnow) Hexia drifted off to sleep in a new ce, and it wasn''t until after 10 a.m. the next day that she slowly awoke. Seeing the time, Hexia let out a sound of surprise, then sat up and began to change her clothes, wondering if waking up sote would leave a bad impression. After getting dressed and slipping on her sandals, Hexia hurried downstairs to find Grandma He sitting in the living room ying with her granddaughter. "Hexia is up. Did you sleep wellst night?" "Sister is awake. I wanted to call you earlier, but Grandma wouldn''t let me." Lisha had an expression that said it wasn''t her fault. "Now, now, it''s Hexia''s first time at our house, she certainly needs some time to adapt. Just like when you go to your uncle''s house and can''t sleep well." Grandma He consoled her granddaughter. "Okay, I understand." Lisha nodded. Afterward, Grandma He showed Hexia where to wash up and then brought over a still-warm breakfast¡ªa simple meal of bread, milk, and a fried egg. While eating breakfast, Grandma He turned on the television, and Lisha ran over to watch as well. "In order to further address employment issues, the Federal Congress has decided to raise the AI tax rate again, that is, to levy heavy taxes on the production and usage of T6 to T2 level AIs, in order to reduce the instances of AIs recing human workers, allowing more residents to gain employment..." the news broadcasted. "Here arements from various representatives on the matter." "Representative Tulun stated that this is absolutely a step backward! To give up efficient production methods for the sake of so-called employment rates will inevitably lead to the decline of the Federation''s overall strength, diminish the willingness of major corporations to develop AIs and ultimately cause the nation to lose itspetitive edge." "On the other hand, Representative Marz believes that the move is necessary because the use of AIs has deprived many Federation residents of the right to participate in society, which will inevitably lead to public order problems. Additionally, if there are no consumers, the produced goods will umte due tock of buyers and ultimately cause the copse of the entire economic cycle." "Sometimes, what constrains the improvement of productivity is not efficiency or materials, but the absence of a vast consumer market to digest them." "This concludes our report. This news was broadcasted on April 17th, Feiyi Star Domain-A2-6223 (Silver Fire Tower), at 11:15:37 a.m." It was yesterday''s news, Hexia thought to herself. Although there are instantaneous ultra-spacemunication methods among the various Star Domains within the Federation, such channels are only used for transmitting a small portion of significant information. Usually, the Star Domainworks sync up every three days. This meant that if Hexia wanted to send an email to friends in other Star Domains, the recipients might have to wait until thework synced up three dayster to receive it. Theworks of each Star Domain are not always in real-time sync with the Federation''s main; there''s a certain amount ofg. After breakfast, Hexia helped clean up the table and then sat down to chat with Grandma He and Lisha. "How is your recovery going, Hexia?" Grandma He asked with concern. "It feels okay, not much soreness anymore." The girl moved her wrist around. "That''s good." "By the way, you had just returned from the enrollment assessment, hadn''t you?" "Yes, but I haven''t received the reply yet." Hexia was a bit worried. "It will be alright." "You can stay at home and recover from your injuries for these days. Sometimes Lisha and a few other kids from nearby wille over, and you can just help them with their homework. It shouldn''t take too much time each day, and once you''re healed, you can go back." Hexia had previously agreed to tutor as a favor, and naturally, she wouldn''t refuse. She nodded and then they changed the subject. "Have you thought about what you''ll do in the future, Hexia? Although I''m old, I have many children, maybe I could help you find out about opportunities." "For the future, I''m thinking of getting a simple job during the holidays to save some money and then attend high school. I''m just afraid I won''t get in..." Hexia''s voice trailed off, sounding a bit dejected. "How are your regr grades?" "As for the theory grades, I..." Hexia recited the scores she had written on her admissions assessment a few days prior. "Those are excellent scores." The elderly woman shook her head slightly, indicating that the girl might be worrying too much. Literature, mathematics, and Aijieka Theory have a maximum score of 150; Hexia had scored over 120 in each, and in other subjects with a maximum score of 80, her grades also hovered around 70. Although there was a gap from the top students, considering the fact that she studied in Payin City, an underdeveloped city in terms of education, achieving such scores was quitemendable. The two talked for a long time, and Grandma He learned about Hexia''s family situation, which she found deeply distressing. Later, Hexia went back to her room to take a nap, then read for a while, reviewing what she had learned before, to prepare for the uing days of tutoring. That afternoon, six children came to Grandma He''s house. "It''s Sister Hexia!" "The big sister with gray hair turned into a big sister with ck hair." "Sister Hexia is a hero, even more awesome than Super Biqi!" "What''s that?" "Super Biqi is a superhero with an nce alloy structure, the Lulya System, three transforming states, and a Spirit Particle Sequence of 7. She punishes bad guys and is super strong!" It seemed to be a character from some film or show. "Can this one do it? I''m an honor student in my ss." A bespectacled kid with materials in hand scrutinized the ck-haired girl before him, doubtful that she might just be a pretty face. "Sandi, you must not speak ill of Sister Hexia." The other kids started arguing among themselves. Three of the six children were those Hexia had saved before, and they had since be her loyal little followers. Chapter 13: 7 Quiet Time (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch of Yinfeng Tingsnow)_2 "Let''s quiet down." Hexia said to the noisy children, feeling a bit overwhelmed yet powerless. Fortunately, a few of them were quite obedient, or perhaps they admired Hexia for the impressive figure she had left them with. Seeing that some of the children had finally settled down, Hexia also brought them to the living room to sit together. The floor had been covered with mats, so there was no worry about dirtying their clothes. "Let''s talk about what you''ve learned so far," Hexia began. "We learned..." The children started to say, babbling over each other, and slowly Hexia got a general understanding of their progress. Phew, thankfully, it was all within her grasp; elementary school subjects weren''t thatplex. However, considering the varying pace of the children, Hexia had them start with their homework, then slowly reviewed their notes, previous test papers and grades, gradually rifying each child''s situation. Lisha''s grades were quite good, ranked about third among them. Second was a boy named Guy, also one of the four children from that day, and the first was somewhat unfamiliar, named Sandi, the child with sses who had said he was an honors student earlier. Sandi was in the top tier, with excellent marks, nearly full scores in every subject. Lisha and Guy were more or less on the same level, in the second tier, and both were quite intelligent. The other three children were a bit more mediocre, each with their own academic weaknesses. Having organized the information, Hexia started tutoring them one by one. Instead of starting with their weaker subjects, she began by teaching the subjects in which each child was stronger, so they could capitalize on their strengths and achieve better results. Even though Hexia wasn''t very skilled in social interaction, she had indeed studied a lot in academics. That was why she could rise above the poor educational resources and attain excellent results. In today''s society, due to specialization, there was actually more need for people with distinct talents. After all, a person''s energy is limited, and being mediocre across the board was not a very good choice. The ultimate goal of learning was to apply it in practice; of course, at this stage for these children, the focus was still on getting goodprehensive scores to gain admission to good schools. By making them perform even better in their strong subjects, they could build confidence, establish a foothold among their peers, and maintain self-confidence, so as not to feel entirely inferior. Also, as they were already skilled in those subjects, making progress could be easier. Building on that foundation, then turning back to supplement their weaker subjects, because of the experience of progressing in their stronger areas, they would feel more confident and persistent, and wouldn''t give up so easily. Moreover, based on the psychology ofpletion, facing a pattern that is almostpletely filled prompts more motivation to perfect it; but facing a pattern that is severely iplete and disordered, because it looks too troublesome, there is little confidence or motivation toplete it. Over the following days, Hexia tutored the six children at home, as they didn''t have to go to school during the holidays. One day, Sandi came up to Hexia with a problem. "Sister Tn, how should I solve this problem?" "This?" The young girl brushed the hair from her forehead behind her ear and looked closely at the problem. "This shouldn''t be part of your current curriculum," Hexia noted, realizing this was something typically encountered in middle school. "But next term, I''m going to participate in apetition, and this is the material my teacher helped me find," said Sandi. "Enteringpetitions in elementary school, huh? That''s really..." Hexia shook her head, neithermenting on nor judging whether it was appropriate. The topic involves a middle rank form rted to the Natural Sequence, as well as the special Branding developed from this form, which should be learned when advancing from Sequence 1 to Sequence 2. The Transcendent Core of Sequence 1 is quite simple, essentially a small sphere of light gathering magic power of the same Sequence. It then operates ording to 7-9 formic patterns to maintain stability, possessing the most basic ability to store and output Aijieka Particles. Sequence 2 is much moreplex, roughly requiring 8-20 Brandings to maintain, each Branding consisting of 3-12 different forms; the overall workload is 10-30 times that of Sequence 1, with aplexity that soars exponentially. Therefore, Hexia being acknowledged as an excellent student for advancing to Sequence 2 before graduating from junior high was no small feat, as such students ount for less than 10% of the poption, with about two-thirds only advancing to Sequence 2 during high school. Although theplexity and workload significantly increase, starting from Sequence 2, true transcendent abilities are bestowed upon life, such as Hexia being able to see ghosts, perceive and look through ordinary materials to detect what lies behind, and even convert the magic power of the Withering Sequence through special forms to make it lethal, among other things. If Hexia were to advance to Withering Sequence 3, her various abilities would be further enhanced. For instance, her Detection Perception Ability, which previously could only scan a range of around 50 meters, would expand to 100-160 meters upon advancement, and her High Sequence core could support her in starting to use some offensive methods, such as ''Serpent Pupil Deterrence,'' ''Mental Spike,'' and so on. If she were given a gun, her Detection Perception Ability could be used to lock onto targets and link with firearms, greatly increasing her shooting uracy. However, such tactics are generally military methods and not taught in a regr high school. Amidst the simted sounds of waves crashing and the Sunshine, Hexia sat at the table, incessantly writing down forms. The ck ink sketched intricate and beautiful trajectories that were aesthetically pleasing, even toymen. "Finally, gather the vine leaf form at the tail of the Branding, connecting its trajectory to the origin, forming aplete closed loop. Do you understand?" she lifted her head, and her soft ck hair framed pale blue eyes that were like the sky, serious andforting. "I... I understand," Sandi for the first time felt a bit flustered and turned away, not daring to meet those eyes. How could she be so beautiful, Tn''s charm seems to have grown even stronger. "Do you really understand? It''s alright if you don''t, it is quiteplicated, I can exin it again," the dark-haired girl felt that the boy might be putting on a brave face. "It''s okay, I''ll figure it out myself," suddenly not wanting to admit his weakness, or perhaps wanting to seem more capable, Sandi took the materials and hurried back to his corner. Hmm? The girl tilted her head slightly, somewhat puzzled, but at this moment, the other children gathered around her again. Studying time is precious indeed, that''s the recent sentiment among the children. At the beginning, they were not very hopeful about Hexia''s teaching, thinking it would be as mundane as with previous teachers, just exining topics or giving answers and that would be it. But having spent these days together, the seemingly ornamental beauty of a girl had won them over. Children are such that they either look down on everyone or idolize someonepletely, taking their idols'' words as gospel. Right now, Hexia was in thetter stage with them. "Hexia sister, this one, this one, exin it to me first," "Don''t listen to him, this is my house, Hexia sister obviously has to exin to me first," Lisha waved her homework and papers, squeezing past her usual best friend and partner in crime. "Okay, okay, don''t rush, one at a time," Hexia kneels on the floor, looking at the children in front of her, finding them both adorable and amusing, as life became more peaceful and serene. Chapter 14: 8: Encounter at the Store (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, Yu Gong Xiao Zhi) "Is Hexia going out today?" After assisting Grandma He in tutoring the children for a while, Hexia had gradually recovered. Her injuries were now invisible. "Yes, I''ll be heading to the Upper Levelter." Hexia sat at the vanity,bing her hair and then tying it up with a blue hairband. "I need to buy a new personal terminal and also look for a suitable job." "It''s probably not easy to find a suitable job in Payin City. Moly Crystal City might be a better option." Grandma He came into Hexia''s room with a te of freshly cut melon. "Eat something before you go." "Thank you." "Most of the enterprises in Payin City are industrial, and the rest are mostly restaurants and mediocre service businesses; they''re tiring and not suitable for you." Grandma He spoke candidly about the city they were in. "Hmm, I''ll still go and have a look." Hexia nodded. Seeing Hexia so earnest, Grandma He felt a bit of tenderness for her, "Actually, a girl like you shouldn''t need to work. You should be taken care of delicately." "Not at all, everyone has to move towards independence and can''t always rely on their family." Hexia secured the hairband at the back of her head, then picked up a pair of sses from the table and put them on. Her originally smooth ck hair gradually turned into a lusterless gray, and the lively azure blue in her eyes also dimmed. Her pitch-ck eyes were hidden behind the reflective surface of the sses. The dreamy and charming girl from just a moment ago had once again changed back to her former in and unadorned appearance. "That''s quite an ability, much safer this way." Grandmaplimented from the side. Being a very pretty girl is lucky, but if onees from a poor family background, that beauty can bring its own risks, and the young woman was well aware of this. "Well, I''m heading out now." After getting ready, Hexia said goodbye to Grandma He and left the house. The spacious corridor was as usual, slightly cluttered. Under the bright yellow streetlights, people wereing and going: some to shop, some to work, and some taking children to school since the primary schools had already started. Although transportation options were increasingly developed in this era, not many people from the lower levels could afford them in order to save money. Additionally, the convenience of public elevators and tracks in the Underground City was another reason. "Hexia, good morning!" "Is that you, Hexia? Going out today?" "Yes, just buying some things," the young girl replied with a nod. "Little Tn finally feels like going out for a walk." The surrounding neighbors now mostly recognized the girl, partly because the incident before was so well-known, having been discussed by people from several nearby districts for over a week, and partly because Hexia had started tutoring at Grandma He''s house. The children she taught would talk about the girl when ying with their peers, letting many adults in the vicinity get to know her. Even though Hexia still couldn''t remember the full names or titles of these neighbors, the familiarity over this period made her feel less panicked than before. Stepping into the vertical elevator and seeing the doors slowly close, the elevator became quiet, and Hexia sighed in relief. Everyone is so enthusiastic, a feeling I''ve hardly ever experienced before. She wasn''t someone who had lived here since childhood but had moved here with her family about six years ago. Perhaps her father had some interaction with the neighbors at that time, but as a child, she didn''t know much about it. ``` The security around the neighborhood couldn''t be said to be very good, but it wasn''t particrly poor either; most of the residents had lived here for over ten years, and some households had even passed through several generations, like Grandma He''s family. Drip¡ª¡ª [Floor 43 has been reached] The elevator doors opened, and the towering buildings awash with neon signs came into view, the air bing somewhat fresher. We''re here, Hexia thought as she stepped out of the elevator, focusing on her two objectives for the day. One was to buy a new personal device; the other was to look for suitable employment. Let''s go get the personal device first, Hexia thought, turning her steps toward the bustling pedestrian shopping street on one side. Walking along the spacious street, with peopleing and going, a gentle breeze asionally swept down from above, lifting strands of hair. The blue and purple neon lights cast the girl and passersby into mottled squares of light and shadow. The stores along the street were decorated in various styles, their brightly lit interiors contrasting dramatically with the dark-colored street, as if they were two different worlds. Thesered gradient ss doors revolved, and Hexia walked into this world of light. The pure white store interior showcased various virtual projections constantly manifesting and demonstrating the capabilities of personal devices. "The ''Fire Eye Sparrow Y-1800'' is designed to handle sudden situations in life. Its Chromium me Crystal lens can gather and emit the ''me Flow Ray'' within 2 seconds, powerful enough to prate a 20mm steel structure..." "The ''Sentinel E-100'' can help you scan the surrounding area for any surveince devices within 100 meters, ensuring maximum privacy protection..." "The ''Matrix MR-4500'', your handy everyday assistant, whether it''s analysis, calction, work support, or enhancing personal defense weapons, it can let you stand out among others, nearing superiority..." "The ''Ink Painting¡¤GeWu 2700'', with its elegant style and Eastern charm, its dark frame barrier lets your elegance and tranquility remain undisturbed by the outside world''s noise." All these models demonstrated in the advertisement were the leading products of various brands these days, and they weren''t cheap. For instance, thest one was the new product from ''Ink Painting Workshop,'' priced at about 30,000 Federation Coins. Hexia''s eyes swept across these new products; although envious, she felt no strong desire to purchase them, since saving money was more important for her at the moment. Perhaps it would be better to check out some products with better cost-performance, models released in previous years that should now be discounted. However, as the girl moved around the store, she bumped into someone she knew. "Hexia, are you here to check out the new arrivals as well?" With strands of deep purple highlighting her golden short hair, Lina wore a cropped jacket that revealed her toned waist, exuding the vibrancy of youth, and standing by her was a slightly mature elf man, dressed like a business elite. "This is Lina''s friend, isn''t it?" he asked curiously, examining Hexia from head to toe. "Yes, she''s a ssmate and a friend," Lina replied openly, then moved towards Hexia. "My personal device broke earlier, so I came to take a look," Hexia said, averting her gaze slightly, feeling at that moment just like an ugly ducklingpared to the confident and dazzling Lina in front of her. "Ah, we''re in the same boat then. I''m also looking to buy a new personal device," Lina said, pping a hand on Hexia''s shoulder. "Let''s go have a look together." Too embarrassed to refuse, Hexia could only be pulled along by Lina, and the three of them approached the counter together. ... ``` "Take down that ''Purple Owl D-1260''; I want to check it out," Tn said. "Of course, please wait a moment," the sales attendant nodded with a smile and took down a personal terminal that was rarely seen from behind her. "This ''Purple Owl D-1260'' can independently create a personal stage with lighting effects and y vocals with high power and high definition. It can also temporarily project dynamic background dancers. It''s very suitable for music lovers..." Lina took it with interest and kept testing its functions, projecting dazzling stage effects in the store; she seemed to like it a lot. "What do you think, dear~" After finishing the tests, Lina hooked arms with the elf man by her side and asked him with a coquettish tone that Hexia had never heard before. "I think it''s quite nice too," the man said, sounding bored throughout but still confirmed with affirmation when Lina asked. "Then I''ll take this one." "No problem." With that, the man gestured to the salesperson. "This model costs 23,890 Federation Coins, but we have a promotion going on and can offer it to you for 22,890 Federation Coins..." "Alright, no need to say too much, just proceed to checkout." The man took the payment reader and, with a beep, made the payment. Hexia watched with amazement from the side, silently envying the ease of wealthy people. Nowadays, if she could find a job that paid 80 Federation Coins per day, it would be good, especially since she hadn''t graduated from high school yet. "Thank you~ Hehe." Lina happily took the brand-new personal terminal and yed with it in her palm before reluctantly putting it down after a short while. "Hexia, it''s your turn now. What kind do you like? Let me help you choose~" "I''ll just buy a regr one; I don''t need too many functions." Hexia wanted to save some money. "Hey, aren''t you going to buy a better one? High school ising up," Lina said, bending down to look at the various models. "No need." Hexia gathered a bit of courage to refuse. "Okay, how about this one?" Lina pointed to one of the models. [''Silver Star Gr-620'', can create realistic scenery and sound effects to let you feel like you''re on vacation anywhere and rx your mood...] "It''s priced at 12,580 Federation Coins. Although it''s a few years old, it''s said to have good reviews." "It''s still too expensive." Hexia shook her head. After Lina rmended a few more models, Hexia had to decline again and then chose one herself. "Or I could lend you part of the money, friend, and you wouldn''t have to rush to pay it back," said the elf man, who had been silent for quite a while, eyeing Hexia for what seemed like an eternity. "This... umm..." Lina hesitated. "Thanks, but... no need. I can buy it on my own," Hexia replied, looking up somewhat embarrassed. Since she was determined, they didn''t press the matter further. In the end, Hexia bought a slightly outdated model that had good durability reviews, which cost her about 4,000 Federation Coins. Actually, this price was still a bit high, but Hexia was too embarrassed to choose a cheaper model. If it hadn''t been for the presence of the two people, she would have been content with a basic model priced between 2,000 and 3,000 Federation Coins. After their purchases, the trio walked out of the shop. Lina invited Hexia for a drink, but Hexia politely declined. After saying goodbye, Hexia waved her hand and left. Watching Hexia walk out of the store, the elf man''s eyes lingered on the young girl''s charming silhouette for a long time before turning to Lina, who was absorbed in her personal terminal. "Howe you never mentioned this friend before?" "Her?" Lina looked up. "She''s not very notable in ss. I only became acquainted with her because we were desk mates for a while." "How should I put it? She''s very introverted and doesn''t talk much, just like a rock, very dull. There''s no point in discussing anything trendy with her." "I think she''s quite attractive. Doesn''t she have suitors?" "Looks, well, that''s true. Although Hexia doesn''t know how to dress up, she naturally has very good skin and indeed looks very nice. At least, there are not many among the people I know who surpass her..." Lina started to ponder. "It''s strange, indeed almost no one has pursued her. Maybe she''s too in? People overlook her unknowingly, plus she never initiates conversations with others, and she wears sses all the time." "Right, with her sses. You might not know, but she naturally has gray hair and wears sses. She doesn''t go out even during breaks, just sits in a corner, so not many people pay attention to her. Moreover, many sses in middle school arebined with other grades; there are a lot of strangers, so even fewer people talk to her." "It seems she''s an uncut jade," the elf man adjusted his silver-rimmed sses. "Hey, are you interested in her?" "Just want to get to know her more." "Tsk, I know what you men are thinking. You''re probably contemting getting both of us in your bed right now," Lina waved her hand dismissively. "Suit yourself if you want to find her, but I won''t help." "Why not?" The elf man was puzzled as he had just thought about asking Lina to set him up. "Don''t you think that''s a bit insulting? I do have my pride." "Then next time I''ll take you to the white beaches in the Southern District of the Underground City for a vacation. For those who live in the Underground City, going to the beautiful beaches outdoors is incredibly appealing." "Next time? When is that?" "Alright, this June." "Fine, you said it. I''ll ask around for you these next couple of days. Hexia seems to be short on money; it probably won''t be hard to convince her." After putting away their personal terminals, the two left the store and continued toward a high-end restaurant with a shing sign. In the Underground City, where it''s eternally night, neon lights flicker without end, and people indulge in their desires, intoxicated and bewildered. ... ... ... PS: The reader group is set up; it''s 641421559, wee everyone to join. Chapter 15: 9: The First Job (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, Lower than Dust) ``` After activating her personal terminal with her personal data, Hexia began to look for a job. First was creating a simple resume, then she connected to the localwork of Payin City. The city''s job intermediary websites were filled with various recruitment information, but most of them were for full-time jobs that required adults. [Concealment ting Engineer, work location: 60th floor, H2 Industrial Area, Payin City, 9:00-19:00, 6200 Federation Coins/month, requires Dragon Sequence 3 rted employment rmendations, and proficiency in Dragon''s Breath ting Technology...][Birch Dragon Industrial Group] [AI Logic Debugging Engineer, work location: 54th floor, A2 Industrial Area, Payin City, 9:00-17:00, 17000-24000 Federation Coins/month, requires Spirit Particle Sequence 4 or above rted employment rmendations, and proficiency in AI logic adjustment debugging, maintaining the factory''s AI production equipment...][Heavenly Cube Crystals] [Security Personnel, "Large number," "Urgently hiring," "Bonus upon joining," work location: No. 38, Spiral Crystal Street, 44th floor, Song and Dance Area, Payin City, 8000-20000 Federation Coins/month, requiresbat-rted employment rmendations, at least Sequence 3 or above, double sry upon joining with Sequence 4,e if you can fight!][Sound of the Vast Sea Bathhouse] [Pet Keeper, work location: No. 12, Ink Orchid Street, 42nd floor, Flower and Bird Area, Payin City, 3500 Federation Coins/month, requires one of Natural Sequence, Radiant Feather Sequence, Primordial Sequence, and at least Sequence 2 or above rted employment rmendations, good personality, familiar with various pet habits, girls preferred~][Hyacinth Pet Shop] ... Hexia sat on a park bench, flipping through the recruitment information in the projection, then chose some filter options, eliminated full-time jobs for adults, and was left with some odd jobs and simple work. [Restaurant kitchen staff, work location: No. 41, Gear Street, 43rd floor, Payin City, 2400 Federation Coins/month...][Arc Chord Industrial Group Staff Canteen] [Caf¨¦ Waiter, elegant work environment, generous tips, work location: 37th floor, Topstar Tower, 40th floor, Payin City, 3100 Federation Coins/month, requires good temperament, good-looking features, and well-proportioned physique.][Sweet Collision Caf¨¦] [Greenhouse cleaning staff, daily cleaning of every corner within the vegetable nting hall, work location: No. 173, nting Area, 68th floor, Payin City, 2800 Federation Coins/month, two meals provided for workers...][Budding Veggie Supply Co.] ... After browsing for an hour, Hexia put down her phone and took a short rest. Seeing all the job requirements, her slight confidence was immediately dashed. "School grades aren''t of much use in society," she silentlymented in her heart, and although she had known this would be the case, it was only now, when truly searching for a job, that she acutely felt the difficulties of an ordinary person. But, you can''t give up, Hexia. The young girl encouraged herself and then continued to filter through the options. Ultimately, she edited her resume and sent out applications to three jobs, namely ''Caf¨¦ Waiter,'' ''Private Tutor,'' and ''Safety Inspector.'' Making money really isn''t easy; no wonder some of her ssmates are looking for shortcuts, Hexia shook her head, stood up, and looked up at the majestic Daxia towering about a hundred meters before her, its brilliance flowing, thronged with office workers shuttling back and forth. Although these lights and screens could not speak, the colorful images, and every turning symbol and character, did not fail to showcase their worth¡ªas the value of brands and advertisements, and behind these neon lights and signs, the buildings, if they could be personified, their economic figures would be astonishing, so rapidly turning yet so captivating. Countless people threw themselves into this number, singing praises for it, crying, and sighing for it, only cursing that the one riding the wave''s crest was not themselves. "Beneath the wheels of the era, there''s no escape." ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Miss Hexia, hello, your application for the Private Tutor position has been cancelled. The client has reached a contract with a suitable candidate. If you wish to know the difference between you and yourpetitors and analyze the reasons, we can provide you with VIP membership services...] Turn it off, forget the VIP membership fee, Hexia decisively refused. When ites to grades, she was confident she was not inferior to her peers, but if the other party was a teacher or an excellent high school student, she figured it would be tough topete. Soon, another message arrived. [Your application for the Safety Inspector resume has been rejected. The reason given is that you are too young and not suitable for the position...] ``` A 16-year-old girl doesn''t have much to intimidate with; maybe they''d prefer to hire a burly man instead. After concluding that message, Hexia felt that it might be difficult to get a result today. Just as she was pondering if there was any other way out, a message came through. [Miss Hexia, regarding the ''Cafe Waitress'' position you applied for, the employer is interested in you and would like to conduct a brief video interview. Would you ept/decline?] With no other options, she could only give it a try. Hexia blinked and clicked confirm. The image projected on her personal terminal showed a woman around 30 years old, somewhat overweight, dressed in a professional suit and wearing sses. "Hello, is this Miss Hexia?" "Hello, yes, it is." Hexia nodded earnestly. "Hmm¡­ looking at your demeanor, it does meet our requirements. Can you tell me your height?" "I am 160 cm tall," recalled Hexia, thinking back to herst physical examination before graduation. "Your details show that you''ve just graduated from junior high school. Do you n to work directly or continue your studies in high school?" "I n to attend high school in the future, but currently, I want to work for a while before school starts to earn living expenses," Hexia answered honestly. "I see¡­" The other party seemed a bit hesitant. "We are indeed hiring, but we need long-term employees. If you can''t work long-term and only want to work short-term, the sry will be lower." "How much would that be?" "The probationary period would be 50 Federation Coins per day for a week. Upon bing a regr, it would be 2600 Federation Coins per month, including two meals during work." Although 2600 wasn''t much, it included meals, which the girl greatly appreciated. "I can ept that." "Okay then, are you free this afternoon? Come to the 37th floor of Topstar Tower." Topstar Tower is andmark building in Payin City, and also the tallest building in the underground district. The view from the top is stunning, and many young couples have their dates there. "Alright." After ending the video call, Hexia''s originally anxious heart settled a bit. No matter what, she now had her first job. First, she''d take a look. After getting ready, Hexia stood up, stepped out of the park, and looked up to see a light-filled tower standing tall at the city center, drawing the gazes of passersby. However, she suddenly felt a little hungry. . . . ps: Thanks to Disillution for creating the original music track for "I''m Not a Witch," everyone can search ''I''m Not a Witch fanmade original song'' on Bilibili - the first one that pops up is it 0 0/~ [[Stardust Minus]The Butterfly Flutters in the Center of the World[I''m Not a Witch fanmade original song]"Its name is Loranshir, I''m Not a Witch"] Thank you very much, and I hope everyone can also help by liking, sharing, and following~ Chapter 16: 10 Maid Dantalion (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, the Dedicated Daydreamer) In the vertical elevator, as Hexia looked down through the blue ss at the city''s nightscape below, the ground became more and more distant, and the pedestrians on the streets shrunk smaller and smaller. Even though the people remained the same size, when one looked down on this scene, they couldn''t help but feel a faint sense of superiority, or perhaps pleasure? Hexia wondered if this was why many top executives ofrgepanies liked to have their offices in tall buildings. [37th Floor Arrived] With the ding-dong of the elevator, Hexia stepped out to find herself on a floor filled with blue ze-style decor. The entire floor was open without walls, spanning about a thousand square meters, with a ground that resembled a deep blue starry sky, polished to perfection. Above, the simted azure sky changed subtly with one''s viewing angle, even the clouds shifting minutely, making it hard to distinguish real from fake. Mushroom-stem-like pirs supported the structure, and surrounding these pirs were circr bars, each with 1-2 maid waitresses. Perhaps due to a silence enchantment, Hexia could only hear the tap-tap of her own footsteps as she walked. It was only when she approached some bars that she could hear the conversations between the waitresses and patrons. "Hello, is this the ''Sweetheart Collision Caf¨¦''?" she asked tentatively at one of the central bars, feeling a bit anxious about whether she hade to the right ce, as it seemed quite afar from what she expected a caf¨¦ to be. Inside the bar, a maid with rabbit ear essories was crouched down, rummaging for something. At the sound of a voice, those ears perked up instantly. "Yes, yes, who are you?" she stood up, still holding a water gun in her hand. By then, Hexia got a clear view of her. The girl looked around 17-18 years old, with light chestnut short hair and a slightly round face with a few freckles, conveying a sense of liveliness. "Hello, I''m here for the job interview," Hexia projected the recruitment information from her personal terminal. "Oh, right, that. I was wondering, who would use such an outdated name anyway," the bunny-eared girl hopped out excitedly. "Follow me, the manager is over there," she led Hexia towards a corner in the distance. "Actually, we don''t usually go by the name ''Sweetheart Caf¨¦'' here. Our regrs call it ''Dream of zed ss''; that really suits the style of our establishment." Dream of zed ss, the young girl mused silently. It indeed fit the interior decoration, the sky, and ze. "The caf¨¦ thing was just because of how we initially registered for the business license ages ago. Since then, we''ve gone through various changes, new styles, new owners, new themes, but the license itself, that never changed. Actually, our current business is quite diverse," she exined as they walked, showing Hexia an almost overwhelming enthusiasm. "Alright, the manager is right ahead," she said, pointing to a woman sipping tea beneath blue curtains in the distance. Recognizing her as the one she had spoken with before, Hexia approached her. "Hello, I''m Hexia. I contacted you earlier for the job application," the girl said politely with a bow before raising her head. "Hmm, very nice, you seem well-mannered," the manager sat on a couch, sipping her tea leisurely and nodding slightly, seemingly pleased with Hexia''s demeanor. "Have a seat for now, there''s no need to be nervous," she gestured for Hexia to sit. "Okay," Hexia sat down, still feeling a tad anxious. After all, this was her first time stepping into society for a job interview, and it was impossible not to care at all. "You just graduated this year, didn''t you?" "Yes," Hexia nodded her head. "How nice. I remember when I first came to this shop after junior high and stayed ever since..." The manager''s slightly plump face revealed a nostalgic expression, like a farm pig fondly recalling the days of running through wheat fields. Although it was rude to think such a thought, Hexia couldn''t suppress the strange notion from popping into her head. "Cough, I digressed," the manager set down her tea cup. "Spend this afternoon getting used to the environment, and you can start work tomorrow. Remember to arrive before 9 a.m. daily." "Okay, ah." That''s it, the interview is over? Hexia blinked her eyes. "It''s fine, everyone is a bit awkward at the beginning, but you''ll get used to itter." After saying that, she stood up, and just then, the bunny-eared girl who had led Hexia over came over with a cold drink in her hand. "Is the manager leaving already?" She tilted her head, surprised that it ended so quickly. "I have toe back tonight, so I''ll go home and get some sleep now." She picked up the floral hat hanging on the side of the couch and put it on her head, then left ''Elegantly,'' like a family pig returning home after a stroll in the sunset. "Right, Belfeng, you take care of Hexia today." The manager, who was about to walk away, waved her hand, leaving onest instruction. "Huh?" The bunny-eared girl expressed her surprise, but couldn''t stop the other person from slowly disappearing into the distance. In the midst of Hexia''s bewilderment, the bunny-eared girl put the cold drink on the table and then sat down directly in the manager''s former spot, even crossing her legs. "Huff, the manager has been gettingziertely." "I haven''t introduced myself yet; my codename in the shop is ''Belfeng,'' but you can call me Sister Bebe if you want!" Although the girl wasn''t taller than Hexia, she seemed to really care about Hexia calling her sister. "Okay, Sister Bebe." "Mhm mhm, say it a few more times, I''ll have your back from now on." The petite girl patted her chest, signaling that she''s got it covered. Seeing her like this, Hexia''s nervousness slowly melted away. "Here, have some drink first, I just got this Trifolium Snow Crystal Milk Tea from the bar~" "Don''t worry, it''s free. Once you start working here, you''ll have plenty of opportunities to help yourself to the shop''s drinks." She said softly, raising her finger in front of Hexia. The young girl took the chilled milk tea and quietly asked, "Doesn''t the manager know?" "Of course the manager knows, she drinks it herself often. It''s something we''re used to by now, you know, it''s a necessary loss in daily operation, it wouldn''t make sense to run a milk tea shop and not let the staff drink milk tea." On her first day at work, Hexia learned how to help herself to the shop''s drinks, but it seemed this was just the beginning. "Alright, let''s start with you. How old are you, Hexia? Are you at least 16? We don''t hire anyone too young, you know." Hexia had no choice but to introduce herself once again. ... "I see, I see, I got it." The bunny-eared girl nodded while biting her straw. "First, we need to give you a nickname." "A nickname?" "Yes, you can''t be using your real name while working here, can you? It would be troublesome if customers started to harass you and disturb your private life." "Let me see which of the 72 pirs of demons we haven''t used yet..." She flipped over her personal terminal, scrolling through. "All the maid servers in our shop are codenamed after the 72 pirs of demons, and you working here will be no exception." "Hmm, there are still two unused, so alright, your codename will be ''Dantalion,'' the 71st pir demon, Dantalion." Dantalion: The 71st demon of King Solomon''s 72 pirs, Dantalion appears in various male and female forms, but always holds a book in his right hand. He teaches all arts and sciences to the Summoner, can discover any person''s secrets, know all people''s thoughts, and change them at will, can imitate anyone''s appearance, and can also create illusions. Chapter 17: 11: Andusia in the Vine Flower Room Belfeng, the bunny-eared girl, exined the basic rules of the shop to Hexia and then took her up to the 38th floor to change clothes. The 38th floor was not usually open to the public; half of it was an area for preparing meals and beverages, while the other half served as a staff rest room where a few employees would take a nap during the day or work the night shift. "What''s your size, Hexia?" the bunny-eared girl asked as she swiped her ID card to open the locker in front of her, revealing row upon row of neatly arranged ck and white maid outfits. "This¡­" Hexia had never really measured herself. "Let me measure you then, hehe~" The bunny-eared girl made a mischievous grin, which scared Hexia enough to step back. "It''s okay, just a simple measurement." Seeing Hexia scared, the girl smirked wickedly. Afterwards, Belfeng picked up her personal terminal and circled around Hexia. "All done, that should do it." The functions of personal terminals were bing more and more sophisticated, which Hexia hadn''t realized before. Not long after that, Hexia carefully walked out, dressed in the maid uniform. A ck maid skirt, white intricatece, an apron that hugged and outlined her waist, white socks, thick-soled ck leather shoes, and a white cat ear headpiece. Leading Hexia to the mirror for a detailed examination, the bunny-eared girl couldn''t help but smile with satisfaction. "I knew I wasn''t wrong about you; no wonder the manager approved you so quickly." "You know, someone came to apply yesterday, and they said she was the school beauty of some high school. But the manager, like a strict examiner, questioned her for a long time and still ended up rejecting her." "Ah, why is that?" Hexia didn''t understand. "Maybe the manager thought she had too much of a ''worldly air'' about her¡­" Belfeng tilted her head as she recalled. "Most girls here are pretty innocent, which makes them easier to manage. That''s what the manager has said before anyway." "She says that if you hire one bad apple, soon the whole pond will be polluted. So she has always preferred to err on the side of caution." "Can the manager really read a person''s character just like that?" "It seems like she actually can. Although the manager doesn''t take care of things usually, she''s quite urate in reading people. She''s said to have been in this business for more than 20 years without many mistakes." "She always boasts that she''s a capable battle-hardened worker with no illustrious reputation. As long as she finds the right people, she can save a lot of energy and work at ease and rxed." "But can she really keep people this way, considering the pay offered in the job listing doesn''t seem very high..." "Huh?" The bunny-eared girl suddenly stopped her movement, giving Hexia a surprised and even slightly shocked look. "Did you really grow up in Payin City?" "This¡­ should be true," Hexia felt uncertain after being asked that way. "This is Topstar Tower, thendmark building of Payin City, directly under federal assets, with the highest security level. It is also the highest spending area in the city district. Do you think the pay for working here would be bad?" "It seems like it shouldn''t be." "Right, right, the sry listed for recruitment isn''t high, and the base sry is small, but that''s not a problem. Most of our iees from the customers'' tips and bonuses from businessmissions," the bunny-eared girl continued as shebed Hexia''s hair. "Take me, for example, in the morning I work at the bar, weing some unfamiliar guests, doing guide-like tasks, but in the afternoon I do exclusive work, which is ying games with the customers. By the way, I''m quite a game expert." "The other maids are pretty much the same, some make pastries, some providepany and relieve the guests'' boredom, some do divination for guests, some craft handiwork, and there are even those who sew clothes for guests..." "Some guests are really strange, you know, they like to watch maids sew clothes by hand, without machinery, stitch by stitch for them, saying that it gives them a sense of homey warmth." "After the clothes are done, half of the money the guests give goes to the establishment, and the other half is ours, so actually, our ie isn''t bad at all." "Alright, the grooming is just about done." Belfeng said, standing behind Hexia, looking at the young girl in the mirror. The originally serene grey hair now looked much cuter with the white cat ear headband, a strand of hair at the side was brushed up and woven into a fine braid, then secured with a hairpin, draping down beside the face, revealing the pale and tender ear beneath the strands of hair, irresistibly endearing to look at. Around her neck was a ck cat ear-shaped bow tie, and the ck and white maid outfit was distinctlyyered, with an inneryer of white and an outeryer of ck, with the white cor and the wide, cut-outce cuffs extending from the ck. Even though Hexia didn''t understand much about fabrics and clothing, she could sense that this maid outfit was valuable, a meticulous creation undoubtedly. "Fantastic!" Belfeng gave a thumbs up. "Well then, today we''ll take our little princess to meet the guests~" "Meet the guests?" Hexia expressed her astonishment and nervousness. "No worries, I''m just joking. But you''ve got to meet your colleagues, right? Maybe I can introduce you to a few guests that are easy to get along with." Afterward, Belfeng gently nudged Hexia out of the changing room and then they headed downstairs, where, being midday, there weren''t many guests. "First off, let me think, how about we go see Sister Anan." The bunny-eared maid pulled Hexia towards a southern area, separated by ss, filled with various potted nts and blooming flowers, where a maid in her twenties was busily watering and pruning. Opening the ss door and stepping into the sshouse covered in vines felt like entering a quiet forest, surrounded by a riot of flowers, with green branches and vines hanging overhead. "Sister Anan, I''m here," Belfeng called out familiarly and then walked into the peaceful depths of the vines. "Got it, but I didn''t prepare any snacks for you this time." Hexia emerged from around the vine-draped corner, and a golden-haired beauty appeared before her, d in a predominantly white maid outfit, curvaceous, exuding a different kind of mature charm. ... "So this is the newpanion, hello, my code name is ''Andusia,''" she said, slightly surprised by the girl who stepped out from behind Belfeng, and then quickly regained her usualposure. "Hello." Afterward, the bunny-eared girl sat Hexia down to talk with Andusia. Andusia: A Demon God ranked 67th among the 72 under King Solomon, her true form is a unicorn, but if the Summoner requests, she can also take on a human shape. Depending on the Summoner''s wishes, she can temporarily produce the sounds of various musical instruments or bend trees to her will. Compared to Belfeng, ''Andusia'' was much more serene and mature, radiating a kind of nurturing light. Just being with her gave one the unconscious desire to lie in herp and take a midday nap. No wonder, it made sense that if an adult were to seekfort from such an ''Andusia,'' Hexia suddenly gained some insight into the operation of this establishment. However, the day was still long, and she was going to meet many more of the maid colleagues, thanks to Belfeng''s introductions. Chapter 18: 12: The Dragon Across the River Payin City, 69th level, Residential Area F23. The dimly lit underground streets were strewn with trash everywhere, and a faint acidic stench permeated the air, the smell of decaying matter. There were only a few working lights on the ceiling of the corridor, and the sparse illumination made the environment appear as if shrouded in fog, blurry and indistinct. Bang¡ªBang¡ª Forceful pounding sounds kepting from a corner, knocking the dust off the steel frames nearby. But even with such loud noises, the families living along the passageway kept their doors tightly closed. No one came out to peep or ask questions, maintaining an oppressive silence. Only the lit indicators on the doorframes showed that the apartments were not uninhabited. "Brother Long, that guy just won''t open the door." Finally, the haunting pounding halted, and a fat man about two meters tall stepped out and bent down to talk to a youth beside him. "Tsk..." The youth leaned against the steel wall beside him, smoking, but did not answer. His ck bangs covered his face, obscured from the single light above. "I''ll knock again." Seeing that the ck-haired youth ignored him, the fat man went back and muttered something to anotherpanion, then continued to bash the steel door. Bang¡ªBang¡ª Rust kes fell from the walls, and more dust came down from the ceiling. Thus, the minutes slowly passed by, and the youth''s cigarette finally burned out. The cigarette butt, glowing with embers, was flung into the air, hit the wall, and fell straight to the ground, kicking up some dark red specks, and then only thin wisps of blue smoke drifted up. He moved away from the light, walking over with his rudimentary short-sleeved shirt unable to hide the ferocious, scarred muscles on his arms, almost bursting through the sleeves. "Brother Long, you''re here." Seeing the ck-haired youth approach, the slim and fat subordinates immediately stepped aside, revealing the steel door that was still locked tight. "Heh." He walked straight to the steel door and kicked it ferociously. An explosive noise erupted from it, setting off the rm bells in the nearby corridor. The specially made steel door, about 25mm thick, was instantly dented inward from his kick. "Brother Long is awesome." The two subordinates bowed their heads in admiration and then stepped forward to continue violently kicking and hitting the door,pletely destroying it. Half a minuteter, the three walked in over the various debris. "Holmes, where are you hiding? Come out. Brother Long is here for you. If you have any conscience, roll out!" The slim and fat duo searched through each room in the house, while the ck-haired youth stood in the living room, looking at the photos on the wall. One picture featured a woman smiling at the camera while holding a child in her teens. Despite looking somewhat worn, there was still happiness in her eyes. However, the corners of the photo were curled and stained, suggesting it was taken a long time ago. "Brother Long, we found him. He was hiding under the bed." The previously mentioned fat man hauled a man thin as a skeleton into the living room, like dragging a dead dog, and tossed him onto the floor. "Don''t fucking y dead, lift your head, this is your Brother Long." The lean but muscr subordinate grabbed the man''s hair and forced him to lift his head. The ck-haired youth sat on the sofa, one leg casually bent on the cushion. "Holmes." He looked at the man in front of him, whose eyes were lifeless and half-dead. Seeing no reaction from Holmes, the fat man next to him pped him twice, drawing blood from his mouth. "I''ll talk, I''ll talk..." Only then did Holmes regain some rity, but he quickly slipped back into mumbling, his mind foggy. "Brother Long, I found lots of syringes in his room, must have been tripping on Hallucinogenic Potion," said the lean subordinate holding Holmes''s head. "Get some water for him, pour it down." "Yes, Brother Long." The fat man fetched a basin of water from the kitchen tap, ced it on the floor, and proceeded to dunk Holmes''s head in it repeatedly. The room fell eerily quiet, the only sounds were the sshing of water and faint heavy breathing. After more than ten minutes, Holmes began to struggle and make a whimpering noise. "That''s enough, stop." The ck-haired youth leaned on the sofa, observing the man in front of him. "Ah Long... you''vee." Holmes looked up at the youth on the sofa, his eyes weary. "Yeah, I came to see you. Didn''t you say your aunt was sick? I''ve prepared some gifts. After all, she used to cook for me, I still remember." "I... I..." He seemed to want to say something but couldn''t utter a word. "I let everyone down." Smack¡ª A severe p hit his face, sending him flying against the wall and knocking him unconscious. "Bring him over, wake him up." The ck-haired youth dropped his hand and continued to lean on the sofa. Once again, the dull ssh of water could be heard, and it took a while before Holmes, his head bloody, slowly came to. But now, his eyes were filled with fear as he looked at the ck-haired youth. "I ask, you answer." "Yes, yes, Brother Long." He finally learned to address him properly. "Where''s your aunt?" "She''s dead, passed away a month ago. The doctor said there was no cure, no money..." "Didn''t you get money from me? Where did it go?" "I... I gambled it away. Thought I could win it back." At these words, a hint of scorn and pity shed in the eyes of the two onlookers. No small-time gambler wins big at the casino. Ridiculous. "So, you''re hiding from me." The ck-haired youth nted his foot on Holmes''s shoulder, making him look up. "We''ve known each other for nearly twenty years now, haven''t we? I still remember when we were in elementary school, going to and from school together, often sneaking off to y..." Holmes remained silent. "At that time, your mother had just gotten divorced, raising you by herself, wanting to give you a good environment to grow up in. She often workedte and then came home to cook for you, and since I used to hang out at your ce after school, she would make a portion for me too. I remember all these things." "Yes..." he turned his face away, looking to the side. "We were both students from poor families, always looked down upon and bullied by our ssmates. Back then, we fought together, known as the two mad dogs of ss C," the ck-haired youth continued. "Those were the good old days," he said, lowering his legs and then standing up, slowly looking around the room as if trying to find traces of those past memories. "How the hell did you end up like this!!" Suddenly, the ck-haired youth yelled in Holmes'' ear. "It doesn''t matter if you''ve wronged me, but that''s your mother! You took the money for saving her life to gamble?" He grabbed the other''s cor and lifted him up. Holmes struggled incessantly, reaching out to grab the wrist, but the other''s arm was like a vice, immovable. Beneath the ck hair, brown eyes stared directly at Holmes, the pupils contracting like the angry eyes of a dragon, sending chills down one''s spine. After a short while, Holmes stopped struggling and looked away. "I, I... Yes! It''s me! I''m such a rotten person, you just made a bad call." After saying that, he started to choke up again. "That''s right, we grew up together, but can people stay the same!?" He suddenly roared again. "You weren''t good at school, but you found a master willing to teach you. What about me? I don''t have any Talent! I''m not good at studying, no one wants me for work, so I can only mess around behind you like a stray dog!" "Is this any way out!? My mom worries that I could die out there any day, I''m not like you, with a bunch of skills, able to fight and endure. What can I do!?" "All I could do is gamble! Gambling with my life! Betting that my life wouldn''t be so miserable, that I could win a round or two!" "Now I''ve lost the bet, can''t I just ept my fate!" After his hoarse shouting, his throat had gone dry, and the man was let go, curling up on the ground with violent shaking, his body trembling. "Is that what you think?" The ck-haired youth looked down at the man on the ground, curled up like a bug. "Yes, cough cough... that''s what I think. So what, you don''t like it, you don''t like it then kill me," hey there in despair. The ck-haired youth didn''t answer, just silently watched him. After a long time, he spoke. "Where''s aunt buried?" "On Gray Silence Street, in the cemetery, block G23, number 631..." The man on the ground slowly said, with tears flowing from his eyes. "Let''s go." The ck-haired youth left the room, and the two behind him hurried to follow, not forgetting to spit on the man before leaving. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª An hourter, the three of them stepped out of the hover car and came before a grey stone stele in an underground mausoleum. "This is the ce, Brother Long." "Buy a bouquet." "Yes, Brother Long." "Hold on, buy two." The ck-haired youth seemed to remember something and added a sentence. "Okay." More than ten minutester, two men, one fat, one thin, watched from a distance as the ck-haired youth stood in front of a gravestone, seemingly saying something, and thenid down a bunch of blue flowers. Seeing him return with another bouquet in hand, the two were slightly puzzled. "Brother Long, what''s this for?" "Going to another cemetery, toy flowers for my master as well." "Master? Is Brother Long''s master also..." "Shut up." Hispanion covered his mouth, pulling him to keep walking forward. ... By dusk, the lights in the cemetery were going out one by one, and the youth standing in front of the gravestone also entered into darkness. He had been standing there for quite a while. "Master, I''m leaving." "Even though you weren''t my blood rtive, over the years, you taught me a lot, whether it was martial arts, fighting, or life lessons... In my heart, you were no different from a father." "I thought with your poor health you would stillst another ten years or so, considering you''re a robust man of the Dragon Sequence, but I never expected that at your age you''d still be chasing the dreams of your youth, insisting on trying to advance your Sequence." "I wouldn''t have minded just trying, but not telling me, afraid I would worry, and then failing halfway, going insane and attacking some kids, ending up being killed by a 16-year-old girl..." "Sigh... I want to take revenge, but I''m too ashamed to act." "But, this isn''t just your problem anymore. Now I have to prepare for my advancement, to clear my mind of distractions and regrets for the advancement, I must meet that girl. Although I won''t kill her, I need to settle at least one regret." "I''ll talk to you next time, but by then, you''ll be seeing a different me." "Not as I am now, but as the dragon who has drunk of Dragon Blood, Qiao Long." Chapter 19: 13 The Sloth of the 7 Great Demon Kings Payin City, Topstar Tower 37th floor ''Dream of zed ss''. "Then I''ll take ''Dantalion'' with me, Sister ''Sai Gong.''" The rabbit-eared girl led Hexia away from a bar where the shelves were filled with various styles of famous liquors. A mature-looking Bull Horn Tribe maid waved at the two from behind the counter. Although their appearances seemed very different, the maid with the bull horns and Hexia were both members of humanity, the former being a subspecies branch named the Orc Race. After humans came into contact with transcendent powers, various transcendent species were born, all of which were branches of humanity. For example, the various subspecies of the Orc Race and elves and fairies that even overshadow humans in advantages, but overall, humans still dominate. "Sister Sai Gong is from the Bull Horn Tribe and a great Bartender. She''s also a master of the Primordial Sequence 4. If a customer ever bullies you, you can seek help from Sister Sai Gong," Belfeng exined some work tips to Hexia. "However, ''Dantalion'' is still young. If Sister Sai Gong offers you a drink, don''t drink it. It''s easy to get drunk," the rabbit-eared girl patted her chest as if recalling a daunting experience. "I''ll remember that." Hexia nodded, her white cat ears on her head trembling, giving her an extraordinarily cute look. "Hmm, even though it''s only the first day, I''m already feeling ''Dantalion''s'' charm." "Alright, let''s move on. Who might be free around this time?" "Let''s go see what ''Debi'' is up to." The rabbit-eared girl pondered for a moment, then took Hexia by the hand and jogged towards a corner of the hall. A whileter, the two arrived at a circr, transparentpartment that was shaped almost like an ¦¸. Many branches hung down inside the space, from which colorful birds of paradise perched. In the center of the circr space sat a petite girl in a snow-white dress, with eyes slightly closed, hands sped as if in prayer, and a faint pentagram visible upon her forehead. This pentagram was not drawn with colored ink, but rather formed by a faint golden glow that seemed to radiate from within, exuding a sacred beauty. "''Debi,'' I''m here." The rabbit-eared girl broke the original quietness as soon as she entered the circr space. Seemingly resigned, the girl sitting in the middle opened her eyes, and the birds of paradise that were once perched all fluttered into the air, circling and producing various calls. She loosened her sped hands and gently shook the bell hanging beside her. Then the birds of paradise in the air settled back down onto the branches. "You''re here." "Mhm, today I brought ''Dantalion'' to familiarize her with the environment. She''s a newly arrivedpanion." "I see... Hello, I am ''Debi,'' the 69th pir Demon God. Actually, I''ve only been here two months longer than you." Debi (Decarabia): The 69th Demon God from King Solomon''s 72 pirs, depicted as a pentagram, but also with a human form. Skilled in judging the quality of gems or birds, Decarabia can transform into a bird at the Summoner''s bidding. "Debi has a high affinity for birds and is part of the rare Radiant Feather Sequence. You could say she''s the most angelic among us Devil Maids," the rabbit-eared girl introduced to Hexia. As she spoke, the rabbit-eared girl took Hexia by the hand and sat down with the white-dressed girl who brought out some cookies and snacks from a cab at the bottom of one of the walls and ced them on the table. "Sorry, I didn''t prepare anything tasty." Her voice was so soft it seemed a breeze could blow it away. "It''s okay." In fact, Hexia was getting a little hungry, as she hadn''t had lunch. The three chatted while snacking, discussing various things about the shop. "When Raby first arrived, I was the one showing her around. She was even shyer than ''Dantalion,'' always hiding behind me, afraid to talk to others..." "But she is very talented. At such a young age, she''s already Radiant Feather Sequence 3. She''s a little genius of our city, and should be about the same age as Hexia." Afterward, Belfeng asked their ages. "I didn''t expect ''Debi'' to be younger than ''Dantalion.''" Hexia tilted her head, "Is this really not considered illegal childbor?" The Federation had restrictions on minors working, with the minimum age being 16. "That''s true, but Raby was only a month or two shy of the legal age. She''s legal now," the rabbit-eared girl waved her finger, indicating it was not a big issue. The group continued their casual conversation for nearly an hour, growing more acquainted with each other. Even though Hexia didn''t talk much with the white-dressed girl, their characters seemed simr, and many things didn''t need to be said for them to quickly findmon ground and empathize deeply, as if they had met someone who truly understood them. "As I thought, you two get along very well." Belfeng nodded, feeling she had a discerning eye. "Alright, it''s about time I went to work." The rabbit-eared girl stood up. "Want toe and watch, ''Dantalion''?~" "Me? Sure, but I don''t know how to help." "No worries, just stand by and cheer for me." Belfeng then took Hexia by the hand and waved goodbye to the white-dressed girl. "See you next time, Debi~" Afterward, they left in a hurry, leaving Debi to continue sitting in front of the small white table. "Really..." Debi shook her head but seemed ustomed to the older girl''s style. Chapter 20: 13: The ‘Sloth’ of the 7 Great Demon Kings_2 She pped her hands, and the Paradise Birds nesting within the enclosed walls flew down, pecking clean the table of leftover biscuits and crumbs before grabbing the tablecloth and neatly cing it on a shelf to the side. Once the cleaning was done, Debi lightly hopped on the ground and her body floated gently upward like a feather, resettling on the main seat of the circr space. At this moment, she was the mistress of the small White Feather Church, listening to the worries of various guests, like a pure and wless young Angel. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Elsewhere, in Belfeng''s exclusive work area, or rather, the gaming zone. Inside a blue transparentpartment, about a dozen guests were pacing as they waited. "Why hasn''t Little Bunnye today? I''m getting really anxious." "Maybe Bunny slept in again today." "I''ve been waiting to battle her, you know. This is a deck I''ve carefully adjusted over several weeks," a chubby uncle said, pushing his sses up. "My great sword can''t wait any longer. Last time we yed virtual battle, her chaotic hammer gave me a bad beating. I must have my revenge this time." "How about we y a game first? Otherwise, the wait''s going to get too boring." A young man squatting in the corner stood up. "I suppose that''s fine, but I''d still like to save my first time for Bunny." "Ugh, that''s disgusting, no, kudos to you for making gaming sound so refined." ... "Hey hey, I''m here~" Before anyone arrived, her voice was heard. Fancy little leather shoes tapped on the smooth floor before taking a high leap, white stockings, lively white ribbons, and Belfeng''s smart maid skirtpleted a nimble forward roll in mid-air, then shended firmly on the ground, hands spread wide like a hero arriving on the scene. "Ah, it''s Bunny." "Way to go, Bunny." "Bebe is finally here." The guests crowded around, and that was when Hexia carefully walked into the gaming area and stood in a corner to observe. "Who wants to challenge me today~"As she spoke, Belfeng flipped out arge copper coin from nowhere, gave it a thumb flick, and sent it spinning into the air. "Same old rule, 1200 Federation Coins a match, double to continue your life, but no more than three times." "Me, I''ll go first; I arrived first." The middle-aged man raised his hand. "Alright, Uncle Mu." As the spinning copper coin came down, Belfeng flicked it with her middle finger, sending it flying straight to the middle-aged man, who caught it deftly in his palm. "The uncle snatched it first again, damn it." "Doesn''t he have to go to work?" "I heard he was fierce at work, helped a newly establishedpany seed, and then at 40, he quit his job with a big bonus." "They say he''s earned enough money, isn''t going to marry, and it''s enough to have fun for a lifetime." "So envious..." On the other side, Belfeng and the middle-aged man entered the battlefield, while the others watched from the sidelines. "Watch closely, this is my newly assembled ''West Wind Charging Legion'' deck!"Saying this, the man inserted a stack of cards into the dueling device on his arm. [The battle begins, Round One] "My turn, I summon the ''White Horse Recruit'' 1/1, which immediately attacks upon entry, though it can''t attack the main battler, but that doesn''t matter, for every three ''White Horse Recruits'' that enter the battlefield, I can draw a West Wind Hero from my deck into my hand, reducing their cost by 1." "Oh, a rare card that allows you to selectively filter your deck," someone quietlymented from the side. The card game they yed in the field was an ancient game in human civilization that has stood the test of time. Over a long period of poprity, it underwent several revisions and changes to the rule system, and now it has be a game of infinite possibilities. The characters and troops that appear in the game are from historical or mythological figures, full of a temporal charm. "Oh, it seems the uncle is very confident," Belfeng said, sitting on a box opposite the field, looking at her cards with interest. "But just drawing powerful cards won''t beat me." "My turn, I ce the Ritual Card ''Chieftain''s g of Guffia.'' This cardsts three rounds; each round it randomly summons an Orc servant card." "First, let''s see what I draw today. My spirit animal is the rabbit, and if it''s a member of the Rabbit Tribe, you''ve already lost, Uncle." At the center of the field, a savage-style g adorned with beastly teeth descended from the sky, piercing the green meadow, and as it waved in the wind, cheers and shouts followed, then a blurred figure walked from afar,ing to a stop in front of the g. "Tribal Warrior of the Bristleback n, 1/2, when this servant is attacked, the attacker takes 1 damage." "That''s a perfect counter to the ''White Horse Recruit.'' It looks like the uncle will lose a fair amount of blood in the early game." "But it''s only the beginning, let''s keep watching." So this is card battling, Hexia thought as she sat in a corner on the side, looking at the two people engaged in battle. She had heard ssmates discuss it, but such card games were still considered a luxury. Opening card packs required a lot of money, and only a few in ss could afford to try it. ... Time flew by swiftly, and soon it was the mid-game of the battle. "Humph, my turn, I summon the ''Seasoned War Veteran''!" With that, a warrior wearing armor full of scratches and dents stepped into the battlefield. His hair was white with age; he carried a Helmet under one arm and a g Spear in the other. "The ''Seasoned War Veteran'' 3/5 upon entry summons two ''Novices Admiring Legends'' 1/2. Then I summon a ''White Horse Recruit,'' and with the ''White Horse Recruit'' already on the field, that makes five minions." "With that, I invoke the effect of ''Great Hero Lagelphons,'' when there are five West Wind Faction minions on the field, he enters y immediately without cost!" Chapter 21: 13: The Seven Great Demon Kings - Sloth_3 ``` "Come forth, the steed of battle, the dawn''s hero hailed by thousands, Lagelphons!" The warhorse neighed loudly, and the illusions of countless soldiers materialized on the battlefield. They raised their weapons, white and red ribbons and banners fluttering, and amidst the flowers and cheers, an immensely tall hero rode in on his horse. His towering figure held a giant spear and a fluttering crimson cloak, dazzling to behold. "''The Great Hero?Lagelphons'' 8/10 can attack immediately upon entry and can ignore Guardian effects, attacking the mainbatant directly. When he attacks, all friendly minions gain +1 attack power." "Although the other minions can''t attack directly right now, just Lagelphons alone can inflict heavy damage." "Rabbit''s health has gone down by more than half; she''s only at 4 points now, which is dangerous. On the other hand, the uncle still has 10 points, and that veteran still has a Guardian effect." "Oh, that''s it? I thought you had been hiding some really formidable character after keeping it a secret for so long." Belfeng propped up one leg and then started to draw cards. "My turn, let''s see... looks like I can do it." "Do what?" The uncle across was puzzled. "Ah, she says, it''s time to go." The bunny-eared girl jumped down from the box, and as she walked, she ced her card on the dial. "I activate ''True Red Blood Moon''; when health is below 5 points, this card enters the field restoring 3 points of magic power, which means no consumption." ''True Red Blood Moon'' gives a +2/+0 to Blood Pupil Sequence minions. "Then, I summon two ''Blood Pupil Tribal Warriors'' 1/1, for each I lose 1 health point upon entry, then they gain the ability to attack immediately." "Now my health is only at 2, you know." Belfeng blinked her eyes, a mischievous smile spreading across her lips. "Then, I summon ''Bloodstained Executioner?Aria''!" The dark mountains and forests appeared on the battlefield; the scene kept expanding, revealing the sky with the devilishlyrge full moon. A figure in a ck coat with a hood emerged from the forest abruptly, closing in and magnifying. Her graceful figure danced in the air, the giant scythe in her hands reflecting the cold light of the night sky. In the end, shended amidst the dark forest''s grasnds, slowly stood up, revealing the bright red pupils under her hood, burning brightly, the stunning red captivating amid the shadows. "''Bloodstained Executioner?Aria'' 7/5 kills an enemy minion upon entry. If health is below 2 points, she kills all enemy units." Streaks of bright red from the scythe tore through the air; the uncle''s minions and heroes on the field fell, dissipating one by one, clearing the scene. "However, this is not enough; let''s resonate." Having said that, Belfeng covered one eye, the other pupil turning from its usual hazel to a burning bright red, identical to that of ''Bloodstained Executioner?Aria'' on the field. The magic power of the Blood Pupil Sequence rose from her, strand by strand, the crimson magic power boiling, while the figures on the field also underwent change. The wild wind danced, the ck hood slowly receding, revealing ck long hair and a pair of ck long ears, and her clothes and weapons became more exquisite amidst the steaming crimson magic power. "When the mainbatant resonates with ''Bloodstained Executioner?Aria'', the character gains the ability to attack the enemy mainbatant directly, without waiting, and the attack damage can''t be reduced." "You''ve lost, uncle." Belfeng, exceedingly simr to the Bloodstained Executioner before her, swung down her arm. The three figures on the battlefield struck directly, the de slicing through the uncle''s body, the force of the wind knocking him to the ground. [-3,-3,-9, Mulengxin''s life reduced to zero] [The card battle ends, Belfeng is victorious!] The lights inside the battlefield were lit again, and the original characters and the illusions of the arena vanished in an instant. "The card deck of the Blood Pupil Sequence, only she can y it so impressively." "Although some rare cards have extra resonance effects, it also requires additional talent to activate them." "It''s said that when you can perfectly activate the effect of a secret rare card, it means you have an extremely high adaptability to the card''s branding pattern, and you will be able to easily advance to a corresponding Transcendent Profession in the future." "Although such rumors may be exaggerated, in any case, Miss Rabbit''s future achievements won''t be low." "After all, ''Bloodstained Executioner?Aria'' is a Perfect Level card of Blood Pupil Sequence 7..." "Truly worthy of being the Queen of Card Battles from Topstar Tower, ''Sloth'' of the Seven Deadly Sins, Miss Belfeng!" It turns out, this bunny-eared maid who was unassuming in reception of guests in the lobby, was quite the big shot within Topstar Tower. Only now did Hexia gradually realize the status of this bunny-eared girl in the store; no wonder she was called ''Belfeng'' ¨C this was ''Sloth'' from the Seven Great Demon Kings. ``` Chapter 22: 14 "The Gift of Vurowus" (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch, The Agent of Chaos) "Young man, you''ve run out of Resurrection Coins~" On the battlefield, Belfeng held a golden hammer in one hand, looking down at her opponent who had been struck to the ground. The young man with a duckbill cap covered his slightly hurting arm, moving his hands and feet before slowly standing up. "I admit defeat." As soon as the words left his mouth, the realistic-looking scenery within the arena dissipated, and the weapons in both their hands lost their luster, with the energy-formed des and hammer heads vanishing into nothingness, leaving only the handles. "Ah Kai is still one step behind. In the process of shing des with Bebe, he started off stable, but as the number of exchanges increased, gaps began to appear." "He''s probably not proficient yet. He has only been practicing with a broadsword for half a year; he''s quite the little prodigy at this rate." "Ah, I wanted to see the bunny get beaten, really wanted to see the bunny crying ''yiyi'' after getting hit." "You pervert, better stay away from me." ... Amid various discussions, Belfeng gathered her belongings and then walked over to Hexia. "I''ve finished today''s tasks. If you all want to continue ying, find someone to battle with yourselves, I''m going to rest~" "Bunny is still so casual about it zy); she doesn''t even want to earn a bit more money." "That''s why they say she''s ''slothful''." Many customers in the arena had grown ustomed to this and, after getting their fill of the excitement, each sat down to start their own games, with some groups even sitting together to start a role-ying game. A sand table that seemed real appeared on the tabletop, along with various castles and creatures that emerged from it. The characters fashioned by the yers descended into it, embarking on various amazing battles and adventures. "How about it, is it fun?" Belfeng pulled Hexia along to sit down in a corner facing away from the crowd. "Senior Belfeng is very impressive." Hexia genuinely admired her; this bunny-eared girl was not only lively, skilled in handling different types of customers but also maintained a high standard in numerous games, sports, and battles, something not just anyone could achieve. In this day and age, to be a gaming expert was even harder than bing a top professional in some fields. Because the industry is so specialized, some high-level professions might not be thatpetitive, but gaming was different. Because it''s open to everyone, with a vast base, numerous geniuses emerge, and standing out among thousands is no easy feat. "Ahaha, although they''re allpliments,ing from ''Dantalion,'' they feel especially pleasant." The ck bunny ears on her head gently wiggled, seemingly reflecting her exceptionally good mood. Looking at those movable ears, Hexia couldn''t help her curiosity any longer. "Senior Belfeng, are those bunny ears on your head real?" "They are real, yeah." The other person tilted her head. "But, I saw the edge of a headband and thought they might be artificial." "Oh this, indeed there''s a headband, to keep uniform with everyone else in the shop." She wagged her ears again. "There are not many from the Orc Race in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, so it''s quite normal to be mistaken for a human in disguise." After exchanging a few more words, Belfeng asked, "How do you feel about today? You''ve pretty much made a round of the shop, so you must have a pretty good understanding by now, right?" "Yes, I''ve met quite a few people and have really broadened my horizons." Hexia felt that she had encountered more today than in the entire past year. "You''ll get used to it after a while." Belfengforted her. In fact, she didn''t use to take care of people like this, but Hexia did look really pitiable. After all, a girl like Hexia, who was obedient, well-behaved, pretty, and cute was indeed extremely rare. Today''s girls either mess around seeking thrills or are immersed inpetitive consumption and maniptive intrigues. Although Belfeng was a girl herself, often she didn''t want to hang out with other girls of her age; it was too exhausting. She preferred to y games with the guys for rxation. After chatting about the shop situation, although Hexia had a preliminary understanding of her colleagues'' work, she still felt worried about what she should do. "It seems everyone has their own way and style, but I''m not sure what I should do." "Ah, very clever, ''Dantalion,'' to have realized this so early on." "As for your style, actually, I''ve already figured it out," Belfeng patted her chest confidently. "It would be too much to ask you to chat about life with customers at your age. You don''t need to learn the style of ''Andusia'' sister. Just be yourself, and do whatever makes youfortable at work." "Of course, you will need some time to adapt and explore in the beginning." "Tomorrow I''ll take you to meet the rest of ourpanions. The first week is mainly about getting familiar with everything." "Thank you, Sister Belfeng." Although the other person didn''t look much older than herself, Hexia was still very grateful. For someone as introverted and a bit timid as her, a person as generous, outgoing, and warmhearted as Belfeng was as dazzling as the sun in winter. "Mhm, I''ll look out for you from now on, ''Dantalion''~" Time flew by without notice, and soon it was time to clock out. At dusk, the artificial sky on the ceiling also disyed the fading glow of the sunset, staining the entire floor''s ss crystal with ayer of faint gold, exceptionally beautiful. "It''s past five o''clock," Belfeng said, sitting at a bar counter with Hexia, where a simrly dressed maid wore a uniform adorned with silvery silk flowers around the cor and cuffs, adding her own personal touch. "Sister ''Vurowus,'' do you have anything to eat for me?" The rabbit-eared maid swung her legs while sitting on a high bar stool, with her hands propping up her chin, looking at the smiling maid inside the counter. "Nope, ''Belfeng,'' you''re a rabbit; you can''t eat meat. I''m preparing this portion for ''Dantalion.''" Inside the counter, she grilled beef, and the sizzling sound apanied by the aroma of rosemary wafted into the air, quite tempting. ''Vurowus'' (Forneus): The thirtieth Demon God of King Solomon''s seventy-two pir demons,manding twenty-nine legions, he appears as arge, silver-colored sea creature. Skilled in speech and able to teach people the art of debate, he also has the power to make adversaries into friends. "Who says rabbits can''t eat meat? I want to eat something made by ''Vurowus''s'' own hands too." She lowered her arm and then propped her head on her folded arms, gazing at the serene maid cooking. "I''ve had a tough day, Belfeng. You could order something from the staff restaurant upstairs. They have special meals there." The maid with silvery trim continued flipping the steak with a spat. "''Dantalion'' is here for the first time today, which is rare, so I''m making it myself just for her. You keep out of it. Besides, it''s not like you haven''t eaten here before; why are you so greedy today?" "Because I''m hungry. I spent a lot of time today showing ''Dantalion'' around, so I''m tired." "There, you don''t need to act pitiful. I know all about Belfeng''s stamina. Even if you keep going for another whole day, you won''t get tired." Unfortunately, the maid across the counter wasn''t taken in by the rabbit-eared girl''s coquettish behavior. "Well, it''s grilled to perfection. A sprinkle of spices and paired with fluffy, sweet-smelling cold smoked rice cake, and it''s all done." After saying that, she arranged the food on a te and brought it to the counter to hand over to the patiently waiting Hexia. T4 level Purple Herb Steak Combo (Rare): Made with ingredients containing partial transcendental effects, including Purple Herb, molten beef, and cold smoked rice which can quickly restore physical strength and replenish Magic Power; long-term consumption can enhance physical fitness. "Thank you, Sister ''Vurowus.'' Hexia took thebo meal somewhat flustered, knowing that at high-end restaurants outside, a T4 level meal with transcendental effects could cost between 600 and 2000, not to mention that this one was made from choice ingredients and handcrafted with care, so its price would likely be even higher. Just this one meal was equivalent to her half a month''s sry. Seeing Hexia eat gingerly, and even a bit uneasily, Belfeng poured her a ss of fruit juice. "Don''t be nervous, ''Vurowus'' took care of the cost of the ingredients for your meal. You don''t have to worry about thepany finding out and punishing you. As for the cost ''Vurowus'' deducted, she can earn it back by making one or two extra meals for customers in a day. It doesn''t take too much time." "Ha, ''Belfeng'' makes it sound so easy." The maid inside the counter expressed that the rabbit''s statement was a bit exaggerated. "But go ahead and eat at ease, little ''Dantalion.'' Indeed, it''s just a matter of spending a bit more time, don''t be too nervous." The maids working at ''Dream of zed ss'' were used to earning and spending big, and for Hexia, who had always lived a simple life, such a scene was still too overwhelming. "Thank you, Sister ''Vurowus.'' Since her father''s departure, Hexia had lived a hard life alone and had never been cared for and loved by her seniors like today. She had thought that her first job would surely be very tough, maybe even falling into many pitfalls before struggling to find her footing. Fate is so wonderful. After more than ten years of an ordinary life full of ups and downs, it had finally brought her a bright turn in the dark tunnel. Chapter 23: 15: The Dragon of the Bathhouse After work, Hexia changed back into the ordinary student uniform she had arrived in, undid the braids Belfeng had woven for her, then put on her sses again and stepped into the descending vertical elevator. Looking at the reflection in the ss, a familiar feeling finally returned to her body. She looked up towards the top of the elevator, trying to see through walls and barriers, gazing at the luxurious ''Dream of zed ss'' high in the sky. Everything that had happened today felt surreal, as if in a haze. ''It''s just like a dream,'' Hexia murmured to herself, thankful for the day''s experiences but also worried that if she didn''t work hard, she might lose this happiness. You have to do your best, Hexia, she silently encouraged herself. Cradling a mix of emotions, the gray-haired girl made her way home. ¡­ However, as many people in Payin City left work, certain ces were just beginning to open. Payin City''s 44th-floor entertainment district, Sound of the Vast Sea bathhouse. The spacious za in front of the bathhouse was filled with vehicles. Scores of people who had worked hard all day emerged from their cars, then in groups of two or three, entered the bustling, oversized bathhouse. After umting a day''s fatigue and body odor, afortable hot bath was a rare treat, especially since Payin City was a markedly industrial city, where many workers had to wear thick protective suits, stifling all day long, and were all the more eager to unwind afterward. This bathhouse was thergest in the district, and its interior was divided into several sections and floors, based on different customer spending levels. All you had to do was pay a fee, get an annual pass, and you could enjoy it daily. Many even continued to discuss the day''s unfinished business while soaking in the baths, apanied by hot water brushing over their bodies, chilled drinks, and tasty snacks, making everything seem wonderful. Although the average spending at thisrge bathhouse was far less than that of the ''Dream of zed ss'' atop Topstar Tower, it fit better with the habits of the general public and drew farrger crowds daily, bringing in considerable revenue. Where there was profit, naturally some were envious, and this was not an industry with technical barriers or unique business models. "Long, we''re here." A hover car stopped in the za in front of the bathhouse, after which three people opened the car door and got out. Today, Qiao Long wore a carbon-colored short-sleeved shirt. The high-tensile andfortable fabric outlined his muscr contours, conveying a sense of vigorous strength. "What did they say," he asked, looking at the wide-open storefront through his sunsses. Data continuously scrolled across the lenses, capturing the faces of passersby, listing their identity data, along with ie-rted information. "These people really are rich." "The boss of Sound of the Vast Sea doesn''t want to give in. They''ve hired arge number of security personnel and purchased a lot of equipment." "So, they''re nning to resist, huh?" "It seems so; he doesn''t want to share such arge interest." "Well, that''s just it. Hogging it all for oneself never ends well, especially in Payin City." Qiao Long took off his sunsses and handed them to a skinny underling beside him. "Time to get to work." "Yes, Long," the underling replied, nodding and standing at attention before turning his head and gesturing to the others behind him. A trunk of a nearby car was opened, revealing a peculiar object with a shell resembling an engine with rotating circr contours. However, upon closer inspection, it was not an engine. After the rear door of the vehicle was opened, an underling with ck sunsses inserted an activation card into the object, then unlocked the safety and pulled down a handle. A wailing roar followed from inside the peculiar device, with faint blue particles gradually appearing in the surrounding void, being sucked into the apparatus. This continued for several seconds until, as ifpressed to the limit, they exploded outwards. A visible, faint blue ripple spread from inside the device, resonating outwards. Wherever it passed, numerous fluorescentmps burst, hover cars stalled, and surveince systems failed, plunging the surrounding area into darkness. Screams and cries erupted from the streets and inside and outside the bathhouse. "Charge!" "We only have 20 minutes, hurry, hurry, hurry!" "Go!" A prepared group of people threw open their car doors, brandished various tools, and rushed towards the chaotic bathhouse entrance. Even though the lighting was dim now, they all wore sses with night vision, experiencing no obstacle. Watching his subordinates storm in, Qiao Long walked unhurriedly toward the chaotic entrance. "When will the police arrive?" he asked the chubby man beside him. "Just after getting out of the car, I checked. They say initially there will be four neighboring Autonomous Units dispatched, and they can''t stop that; we have to deal with it ourselves." "After they receive the rm and dispatch vehicles, they''ll use the failure of routes and surveince as an excuse to dy for ten minutes, and then considering the transit time, we only have about 20 minutes." "So, you mean we have to catch the boss of Sound of the Vast Sea within 20 minutes and also destroy or take their main control T3-ranked AI" "That''s right, Long." "They really think highly of me, heh." Qiao Long flexed his fingers, and at that moment, the sound of hurried rotary des came from the sky. Fourrge rotorcraft carrying armed Riot Control Units arrived. [Analyzing the situation on site...] [A malicious high-energy electronic pulse generated by human activity has damaged the area around 38 Xuanjing Street.] [Danger level increased by 2, shooting module authorized with activation at 60% power.] [Searching for suspects...] In the nearly dark chaos, four red warning lights lit up, began spinning, and emitted alert notifications. [Please, all Federal residents on the scene, stop moving, stand by at your current location, and remain quiet!] [This is Riot Control Unit belonging to Payin City''s 44-H29 district. Weapon modules are now activated. If you do not want to be identally injured, please restrain yourselves and refrain from any actions that may be deemed as dangerous.] [Electronic pulse emission device located, analyzing the scene...] The scanning lenses on the rotorcraft focused on the peculiar device on the car that had emitted the shockwave earlier. [Source of disruption identified, no personnel around, or they have already left.] [Launching fixed spider-web control, continuing search for target¡­] Of the four rotorcraft, one flew towards the paralyzed hover car on the ground, and then a robot about 2 meters tall was deployed. Its feet touched the ground, slightly bending to absorb the impact, causing a slight tremor and raising a cloud of dust before it approached the now-deactivated electronic pulse emitter. Its rectangr head began a detailed scan of the device. [Fingerprint records in progress, collecting residual scent, connecting to the Star Domainwork forparison¡­] [Identity confirmed, beginning investigation.] "Damn it, Big Brother Long, the Riot Control Autonomous Unit seems to have found something." "What about the guys who activated it? Weren''t they supposed to drag the machines away immediately after they were done?" "That was the n, but those guys seem to have forgotten about it." "Tsk!" The Riot Control Autonomous Robot in the distance suddenly looked up, its indicator light switching from its normal yellow flicker to a sudden red, causing arge number of people in the za to scream. "Red! It''s turned red, the Riot Control Autonomous Unit is activated!" a man in a suit shouted in panic, leaning against a car. "No, don''t, who knows if I''ll get caught in the crossfire if they start shooting." [Target located, 2 inside the building, 1 running away.] [Pursuit initiated.] One of the three rotorcraft circling in the sky split off towards the street corner, while the other twonded on the ground, unloading the Riot Control Units, and then rushed into the public baths. At the street corner, the rapidly spinning propellers propelled the Riot Control Autonomous Unit closer to the fleeing man, emitting a shrill warning. [Stop, stop, please stop immediately!] [You have been identified as an important suspect. If you continue to flee, you will be arrested by force, meaning you are in danger of death!] "No, I don''t believe it; I just pulled a handle, there''s no way that leads to a death sentence, you stupid robot, don''t scare me." The man ran as he dove into the narrow streets and alleys. [Target resists capture and flees intoplex area, danger level increased by 3 levels, weapon authorization granted.] Whiz¡ª A muffled, screeching sound cut through the darkness. A bright green light briefly illuminated the entrance to the alley, then faded. Arge dumpster previously in the alley had been melted into a holerge enough for a person, with dark red molten metal slowly flowing down the edges, and the ground scorched into a long ravine. "No, no." The man seemed panicked, crawling on the ground, while the sound of the rotorcraft overhead grew louder. Whiz¡ª Another screeching sound tore through the night. "Aaah¡ª" A scream of utmost fear rang out in the alley before slowly dying down. "I''m, I''m not dead?" The man barely opened his eyes to see a strong and towering figure standing in front of him, with the smell of burnt material still lingering in the air. "Big Brother Long¡­" he recognized the boss. "Idiot, I told you not to run. As long as you don''t run, the Riot Control Autonomous Unit won''t kill you, at worst they''ll just take you to the station." Qiao Long did not turn around. While scolding his subordinate, he kept his gaze fixed on the Autonomous Unit in front of him. "Now, let me handle this, you get lost and stop holding me back." "Yes, I''m off." Eventually, the man regained some sense, limping towards the distance. [Assisting an escapee, considered an aplice. Weapon attack authorization approved.] Then anotherser beam was fired. After briefly illuminating the alley, the light dimmed, and a dark red charred area appeared on Qiao Long''s chest. It was hard to imagine that a high-energy shot capable of piercing a 20mm steel structure didn''t prate the man''s body, or perhaps that thin carbon-colored T-shirt had a high level of protection? "Hah, is that all? Seems like the Federation''s Riot Control Robots aren''t so tough, and here I was always being careful around them." He shook his hand, and faint Dragon Scales appeared on his body. The Transcendent Professions of the Dragon Sequence were mostly characterized by ferocious styles. Upon reaching a High Rank, one could even transform into a Giant Dragon, with few adversaries among those of the Same Rank and very few weaknesses. However, due to the difficulty of training, not many opted for the Sequence. Qiao Long, although his head and body were covered in charred marks, had not sustained serious injuries. Such minor wounds were not a major issue for the sturdy members of the Dragon Sequence. "I don''t have time to waste here." With that, he stomped the ground, his figure leaping like an arrow, and he kicked the hovering rotorcraft apart. The rotorcraft, suddenly struck hard, had its propellers bent and destroyed, with various parts flying off, while the Autonomous Unit it carried ejected early and rushed towards Qiao Long. The greenser light flickered on and off, but most of it was dodged by the strong ck-haired young man. He then approached the Riot Control Autonomous Unit and directly smashed its core armor with a punch, sparking a mass of electrical arcs. Tearing open the squealing chest armor, Qiao Long ripped out the AI chip from the Riot Control Autonomous Unit, then kicked the remaining mechanical limbs away, rushing towards the distant public baths. ''Now there''s only 12 minutes left.'' He silently calcted in his mind. Soon after, more explosions and gunfire rang out within the baths, ss shattered from various floors, with various cries and screams intermittently heard. Time slowly passed until, ten minutester, armored police cars with stout armor and onboard weapons drove into the za, and police officers in white exoskeleton armor jumped out of the vehicles. Only then did the situation finally stabilize. Unfortunately, those who had caused the panic had long since disappeared. Chapter 24: 16 Scattered Flawless Ice Pearls "I''m back." Pushing open the front door, Hexia steadied herself against the wall with one hand and slipped off her shoes with the other, switching intofortable slippers. Her feet, wrapped in white socks, stepped into the soft slippers, bringing a rxing andfortable sensation from the soles of her feet. Better take a shower first, Hexia thought, as she made her way upstairs. "Hexia is back," Grandma He eximed as the young girl reached the staircase, emerging from the kitchen. "Yes, I found a job today, so I only got home just now." "You seem to be in a good mood, so the job must have gone smoothly," Grandma He said cheerfully. "I''ll go change first. Dinner will be ready soon, and He Cheng and Lisha will being over to eat as well." "Mhm," Hexia nodded and ascended to her bedroom upstairs with ease. She picked out a set of clothes to change into before descending to the first-floor bathroom to shower. Compared to her own home, Grandma He''s house was muchrger, even boasting a dedicated bathroom, unlike the narrow shower stalls in standard homes. It was said that Grandma He bought it when she was young, around 50-60 years ago when prices weren''t so high and the residential area had just been developed. Since dinner was imminent, Hexia didn''t opt for a bath but instead went for a shower. The hot water that carried steam filled the shower space, and the water droplets cascaded from the showerhead. After undressing, Hexia stepped barefoot under the showerhead, wet her hair with water, then squeezed some pale blue shampoo into her palm. Shethered up briefly before applying it to her hair. Her fingertips massaged her scalp and hair strands, producing a faint rustling sound that was soothing to the ear. After washing her hair, the girl stood under the shower to let the hot water rinse off the thick foam from her head, asionally tying up her hair to allow the droplets to cleanse more thoroughly. As the foam was washed away, Hexia felt refreshed. She wiped the steamy mirror with her fingers, revealing a clear portion of the mirror''s surface where her own figure was sharply reflected. She closed her eyes and gently shook her head to shake off some droplets, then her gray hair slowly turned pitch ck, and when she opened her eyes again, a pair of dreamily azure eyes appeared in the mirror. It really is... Hexia closed and reopened her eyes, taking a moment to adjust to this appearance of herself. It always felt like the change was more than just a simple alteration of hair and eye color. Hexia keenly felt the changes in her body and consciousness¡ªever since she hade back from the brink of death that day, she sensed many things about herself had changed. Firstly, the hair and eye color. Although surprised by her hair color, Hexia found it within the realm of expectation and eptance, since her mother and sister both had ck hair; her previously gray hair had been the exception. As for the color of her eyes, that was the exceptional part. Her mother had themon ck irises, just like Hexia normally did, while her sister possessed a pair of magnificent purple eyes. Both had inherited aspects of their mother''s features, but her sister''s uniqueness was especially striking. In contrast to Hexia''s unremarkable childhood, her sister''s life had been dazzling and unforgettable¡ªan existence like that of a meteor, despite having passed away at the age of 18, still left a profound impression on many. Her sister was six years older than Hexia. When Hexia was 12, she had the good fortune to attend a winter festival with her parents at her sister''s high school. At that prestigious school frequented by the wealthy and talented, her sister still shone brightly. Famous for her unparalleled beauty and proficiency in the Transcendent Sequence, as well her natural talent in music that left people in awe, she had countless admirers. By the age of 18, she had reached Sequence 5 in the Natural Sequence, a rare Perfect Level Transcendent Profession, breaking many records and sparking both surprise and envy. Unfortunately, due to an ident, her sister died suddenly, and thereafter, grieved by the tragic loss and in poor health, their mother passed away when Hexia was 14. Do the different eye colors represent a different Talent that I have? Hexia pondered. Even though an unusual inspiration seemed to swirl within her consciousness and body, it was elusive, as if the thread she sought to grasp was nowhere to be found. Forget it, just continue showering. Hexia picked up the shower gel next to her, pouring some into her palm and began rubbing her body. Several minutester, the thin pitter-patter of the shower stopped, and Hexia dried off her hair and body with a towel, preparing to put on the clean clothes beside her. As she looked down, a few more droplets rolled off the tips of her hair and slid down her neck, providing a slight coolness. Ah... The girl shook her head, hoping the droplets would fall off quickly. Being damp was quite troublesome, it would be nice if she could suddenly be dry, she thought as she wiped her ear with a towel pinched between her fingers. Suddenly, a faint sound arose within the bathroom. Tiny ice grains and beads clinked as they fell, scattering and rolling on the floor. It was a strange sensation, from her hair, her back, a continual coolness spread, her magic power roamed lively and restless within her, her consciousness sharply clear in that instant. Even without turning around, Hexia could ''see'' everything behind and around her. What is this? She hadn''t time to get dressed, turned around to look, and the floor everywhere was strewn with crystalline beads and grains of ice, their form supremely transparent, quite different from themon but opaque white ice. Not only that, but those ces that hadn''t yet frozen began to condense rapidly as Hexia focused her gaze, and transparent, sparkling ice beads tumbled down the walls, covering the floor. Fearing to step on the round ice beads and fall, Hexia had no choice but to carefully move with the support of the wall, returning to the mirror. This is... the blue in her eyes was more vivacious than before, seemingly alive, even possessing a strange attraction that one could not help but be pulled into. The girl blinked her eyes at her reflection, and only after several seconds did she finally confirm that this was indeed herself. A manifestation of Talent? She began to search her memories and learning for descriptions of this phenomenon. There have been many unrivaled geniuses in the history of the Rose Federation, but few depicted the scene of their Talent awakening, so Hexia could only guess her situation was normal, if somewhat rare. But what should be done to conclude this? Looking at the transparent ice beads covering the bathroom floor, Hexia changed into her clothes and sat on a small stool in the bathroom, helplessly gazing down at these shiny little fellows. Her fingers brushed over the transparent beads on the floor, picking one up, and observed it closely under the light. This frozen droplet was wless and rounded to perfection, devoid of any air bubble or impurity during crystallization, presenting a pure and transparent beauty. How to restore them? Melt them? Hexia thought silently, but it seemed ineffective, as her Talent Ability did not rte to concepts of high heat orbustion. Break them down? That didn''t seem right either. Restore? At that moment, a wave of slight fatigue washed over Hexia''s mind, and immediately, the ice beads on the floor melted away, turning into tiny rivulets that flowed into the nearby drain. Atst, the matter was resolved. Hexia lifted her head to see herself in the mirror, the azure in her eyes slowly faded, returning to their usual ck, and her hair also reverted to its fine gray. Phew, that''s better. After resolving the issue, Hexia let out a sigh of relief and then opened the bathroom door. "It''s time to eat, Hexia," Grandma He''s voice called from upstairs. "I''ll be right there." Putting the clothes she had changed out of into the washing machine, Hexia stepped lightly up the stairs. Chapter 25: 17 Legendary Songstress Golden Flame Rose The bright yellow crystalmp overhead silently rotated, casting a steady glow as various prepared dishes were spread out on the table below, the center of which featured a hot soup still bubbling with bits of winter melon and ribs, apanied by stir-fried dishes and steamed pastries, among others. Not only was Grandma He present that day, but Hexia, He Cheng, and the family of three including Lisha had alsoe, making a total of six people gathering around the dinner table, asionally chatting while eating. "It''s been a long while since we''ve all gathered for a meal, it''s rare for us to be together like this today," Grandma He began. "All of you have your own things going on, and Li''an and the others live far away..." Li''an and the others Grandma He mentioned were her other children, who were not currently in Payin City and were quite old. "It''s fine, we are here to keep youpany," said He Cheng and his sister, who were considered Grandma He''s grandchildren. Their parents had passed away a long time ago. "Hehe, as long as you are safe, I have nothing to worry about. I''ve lived long enough anyway," Grandma He was quite open-minded. "Let''s drop that topic. Come,e, let''s eat. I prepared today''s meal with care. You aren''t allowed to leave any behind,"ughter and cheerful voices filled the house. After dinner, Hexia returned to her bedroom, where she finally had a moment to carefully recall what had happened earlier in the bathroom. "Freezing," she murmured to herself, then looked at the ss of water on the table. After some thought, she poured out a little and held it in the palm of her hand. The faint blue radiance surfaced again in her ck eyes, and soon the droplets of water in her palm rapidly gathered and condensed into transparent ice beads of varying sizes. A chilling sensation also began to seep through her skin. Letting the ice beads from her palm slide onto the table surface, Hexia picked up one of them, closed her eyes, and observed attentively. The ability from Withering Sequence 2: Dark Visit activated, meticulously projecting the details within the ice bead into her mind. This sensation... Hexia rose from her bed and went down to the kitchen on the first floor, then she opened the door of the refrigerator and pulled out the freezingpartment, knocking off a small piece of ice. Back in her room, the young girlpared the differences between the two types of ice. The minuscule structures within them were highlighted as if under a magnifying ss, impressing themselves on her consciousness. Compared to the ice bead with its perfectly orderly structure and no gaps, the freezer''s ice had a haphazard internal structure dotted with many small crevices, which was why the ice was opaque and off-white in color. After observing for a while, Hexia set the ice bead and the ice chunk aside. Although she couldn''t fully define it, she now knew the partial effect of her talent¡ªfreezing or rather, re-condensation. She could reorganize scattered molecules ording to a certain pattern and gather them neatly together. Was this ability only effective on water droplets, or could it also work on other substances? Hexia pondered this question. She quickly gathered other items to experiment with, such as kitchen salts, granted sugar, oils, etc. Salt and sugar, once dissolved by heating and under the influence of her ability, recrystallized into pristine crystals that even expelled previous impurities, bing exceptionally pure. The fats behaved strangely, presenting a gradation of colors, as if arranged ording to the length of the molecr chains. After finishing her experiments, it was already veryte. Considering she might disturb others and that she still had work the next day, Hexia stopped. I''ll ask at the store tomorrow, some of the maid sisters are very knowledgeable and should know more." Time passed quickly, and soon it was the next day. Because ofst night''s excitement, Hexia had actually suffered from insomnia for a long time before she fell asleep. It took a while after the rm went off for her to crawl out of bed. She sshed some cool water on her face to wake herself up a bit. After getting ready, Hexia started hermute to work. She took the vertical elevator to the upper levels of Payin City, then hopped on a vertical rail car to the city center. Afterwards, she went through a security check at the base of Topstar Tower before entering. It was just past 8 a.m., and most of the people getting on and off the elevator were employees: some in suits, some in durable work clothes, etc. Hexia stood among them, looking as inconspicuous as a small, grey duckling. After patiently waiting for several minutes, the elevator continued upward, and passengers kept departing. When the floor count passed 35, there were only two people left inside, one of whom was Hexia, and the other, a woman dressed in a grey suit who looked at her curiously before speaking. "You''re going to Dream of zed ss for work, aren''t you?" "Ah... yes," Hexia was surprised at the urate guess. "Hehe, there are only four more floors above, and the rooftop observation deck isn''t open at this time. The only ces would be Dream of zed ss or Payin City''s government institutions, and you''re too young to be a government employee. So that leaves Dream of zed ss, and since you''re new, you must be one of its employees," the woman exined. "I see," the young girl nodded in understanding. "What''s your code name? I''ll drop by Dream of zed ss in a few days to see you when I''m free," the woman inquired. "The code name is ''Dantalion'', but I''m still an intern," Hexia replied. "''Dantalion'', I''ll remember that," the career woman said thoughtfully. After leaving the elevator, Hexia arrived at the yet-to-open Dream of zed ss. Since Belfeng had not arrived, she could only wait. Maids began to trickle down in uniform, some Hexia recognized, and others were unfamiliar. "''Dantalion'', are you waiting for someone?" a blonde, full-figured maid stopped in front of her. "Yes, ''Andusia'' sister," the young girl nodded and greeted her. "That bunny probably overslept again; she often ys video gameste into the night. Youe with me," Andusia invited Hexia to follow her upstairs to change. Chapter 26: 17 Legendary Songstress Golden Flame Rose_2 Using her employee privileges, Andusia opened the door and took Hexia to the dressing room to change clothes, then helped herb her hair. However, everyone has their own style; Andusia did not choose to give Hexia cat ear headbands but picked a blooming white and green chrysanthemum instead. She secured it to the side of Hexia''s head with a special hair clip, like a tiny crown. The hairband and the bows on the cor were also in white and green, creating a naturally elegant style. Once the preparation wasplete, Andusia nodded slightly, seemingly very satisfied, and then led Hexia to start her shift at the store. "This morning, you''ll work in my flower house, watering the nts, and then I''ll teach you some details about the job." "Mhm." Compared to the stress of working at the bar or as a maid, Andusia''s flower house indeed made Hexia feel much more at ease¡ªit was also very tranquil. Seeing the expectation and seriousness in Hexia''s eyes, Andusia smiled again, helping her tidy the strands of hair on her forehead. "As long as you don''t find it too dull." In the morning, there weren''t many customers; after all, at this time, most people were working, with only a few who were very idle getting up early to talk to maids in the store or to gather with friends. In the transparent ss-partitioned flower house, vines were everywhere. In every nter, nts and flowers were growing vigorously, some even blooming. "This pot is aster. Just water it moderately; it''s quite easy to care for. The one next to it is a wild lily. Don''t water it too much..." Andusia instructed while telling Hexia about the habits of various nts and their flowernguages. Hexia watered the nts while listening. Even though she was a little tired today, her memory seemed to be exceptionally good¡ªperhaps this too was a benefit of awakening her Talent? After introducing themonly seen nts on one side of the flower house, Andusia began to talk about some nts that had extraordinary effects. "This pot here is cold Rin hanging orchid, which emits cold air to lower the surrounding temperature when room temperature exceeds 20 degrees Celsius. Though the effect of a single nt isn''t much, the upper circle of the flower house is lined with it, which is why the flower house isn''t hot butfortable. It also has a slight effect on air purification. Of course, one shouldn''t rely on it too much." Andusia pointed out the rows of green and white vines hanging above to Hexia. "No wonder." The girl blinked, feeling somewhat intrigued. Even though Transcendent nts were covered in the textbooks, seeing them with her own eyes was something else. "I usually take care of these hanging orchids because I specialize in the Natural Sequence. If I don''te to work for some time, you can go find ''Bathin.'' She is also of the Natural Sequence and can help take care of them." (Bathin: Ranked 18th among King Solomon''s 72 Demon Gods, Bathin appears as a serpent-tailed figure riding a colorful horse. She can distinguish medicinal herbs and gems and can teleport people over long distances.) "As for the other pots, that one there is Wolf''s Gold Daisy. It''s bright orange, almost golden, with petals that have extraordinary medicinal effects. Well, after the blooming period in June, we can harvest the petals and store them. "This pot here is Snow Velvet Lily, light and fluffy. In ancient times, holding a Snow Velvet Lily could let you slowly descend from a great height, though nowadays it''s mostly for ornamental purposes. Many girls like this kind of flower." Hexia spent the whole morning learning, as if she had returned to her school days, with Andusia being a wonderful teacher and mentor. She taught Hexia how to care for these flowers, shared their origins, uses, and messages, among other things. Before they knew it, midday arrived, and Andusia took Hexia to the employee cafeteria for lunch. In the afternoon, Andusia then took Hexia to another maid''s workstation. "''Botis,'' I''ll leave ''Dantalion'' in your care this afternoon." Andusia spoke to the green-haired maid in front of her while pulling Hexia, who was hiding behind, to the front. "Hehe, no problem~¡î" (Botis: Ranked 17th among King Solomon''s 72 Demon Gods, one of his appearances is that of an ugly viper. When summoned by a Magician, he takes human form, holding a horn and a sword. He knows the past and present and can distinguish between friends and foes.) This maid, around the same age as Andusia, also had an impressive figure. She had waist-length emerald wavy hair, and behind the ss partition was a thick, lush jungle, with verdant leaves and venomous flowers scattered throughout, and colorful poison dart frogs and slender snakes. If you were to say that both were in charge of nt ss houses, then ''Andusia'' and ''Botis'' werepletely different in style. ''Andusia''s ce was serene, warm, and rxing, while ''Botis''s was filled with danger, poison, and tension. No wonder Hexia felt a bit afraid, as having a vibrant green snake staring at you and flicking its tongue would naturally make you uneasy. After ''Andusia'' left, ''Botis'' approached with a bright smile. "Is ''Dantalion'' scared?" She seemed quite interested in the cute girl who dared not move. "Come on in first." Saying this, she pulled the reluctant Hexia into the jungle, teeming with poisonous creatures. Hexia could even see some scary bugs crawling on the ground. "Are all these poisonous?" The girl finally couldn''t help asking. "Yes they are, and their toxicity is quite potent, hehe." "But don''t worry, the store always has serum avable, so it''s no big deal even if you get bitten." She turned her head to reassure the girl not to worry. Chapter 27: 17 Legendary Songstress Golden Flame Rose_3 ``` "Don''t be too afraid, after all, this isn''t the real wilderness. These little guys here have been trained by me and are very obedient. They won''t bite people randomly." Though he said this, Hexia still found it hard to feel at ease. "Alright, this is the ce." After walking a short distance, ''Botis'' led Hexia to a small clear pool surrounded by stones at the deeper end. "Come, sit by the pool. I''ll teach you this afternoon''s work." Sitting down together with Hexia, Botis took a bell from his waist and started shaking it gently, eliciting a sound that was soft and pleasant. This simple melody wasn''t just an auditory sensation; Hexia could even sense a kind of light and joyful emotion from it, which helped calm her nerves considerably. As the bell tinkled, rustling sounds came from the rainforest, and creatures of various shapes crawled out¡ªcolorfully patterned and poisonous. Hexia didn''t dare look closely and closed her eyes. "Okay, you can open your eyes now, ''Dantalion''." Botis''s voice came through. The girl cautiously opened one eye, but seeing all sorts of venomous snakes, scorpions, spiders, and poison dart frogs around the pool, she was so frightened that she closed her eyes again. "It''s okay." After saying this, Botis shook the bell again to calm Hexia''s nerves. "The main product I''m producing in this area is these adorable little guys." Botis started by introducing Hexia to the various types of poisonous creatures. Most of them were beings with transcendent powers, ranging from Sequence 1-3, with a few surprising ones at Sequence 4. "Although I am only at Primordial Sequence 3, they all obey me and won''t cause trouble. As for how I''ve tamed them, that''s a long story. If ''Dantalion'' is interested, I can tell you about itter. But for today, let''s get ustomed to the work content first." "Unlike ordinary animal toxins, the poisons from transcendent creatures carry a hint of transcendent concepts. They don''t rely solely on chemical or neurotransmitter effects, which means they can''t be treated with neutralizers or serums." This exnation only served to make the girl feel more frightened. "However, if you can analyze their characteristics and make an Antidote Potion that targets them, you''ll be safe. Typically, this is rted to Alchemical Pharmacy." "While these little guys in my flower room may look scary, their secreted toxins have many uses. Some can be used in Alchemical Pharmacy, and others are ingredients for some high-end perfumes. That''s why you need to regrly collect their venom." "I sometimes can''t manage it all by myself, so I''ve asked you to help today." Under Botis''s exnations and instructions, Hexia finally nodded her head. Step by step, she tiptoed carefully to interact with these little creatures, but the process... "Ooh..." An exquisitely green snake coiled around Hexia''s leg, and then a fluffyrge spidernded on her head, while she was also holding a strikingly red poison dart frog in her hand. "Ahaha, they all really like you." Botisughed as he helped Hexia remove the spider from her head. "Here, take this. Just shake it lightly and they''ll obey." He continued to exin the key points and then handed the bell in his hand over. Hexia cautiously followed suit, took the bell in her hand, and gave it a slight shake. Then, a pleasant jingle spread out like clear chimes on a winter night, dispelling restlessness. After hearing the bell, Botis first nodded with a smile, but soon a look of surprise appeared in his eyes as he watched the bell in Hexia''s hands and her serious yet cute demeanor. Before long, the snake calmed down and stopped moving. This allowed Hexia, despite her fear, to slowly unwind the snake from her leg and ce it aside. ``` "Don''t let it go, grab its head and then make it spit out the venom," Botis instructed and demonstrated on the side. "Uh, okay," the girl carefully pinched the snake''s head, bringing it close to a ss vessel, and then gently pressed on it. The snake cooperated, opening its venomous fangs and slowly secreting colorless venom. "Very good, ''Dantalion,'' you learn quite fast," Botis gave a thumbs-up in praise and even pped her hands. "Continue, next is this blue-bottomed wolf spider." A wolf spiderrger than Hexia''s hand was ced in front of her. This wolf spider, a Natural Sequence 3 Tree Dwelling Wolf Spider, had limbs adorned with vivid blue fur, while its torso was a darker ck color. When the spider crawled onto Hexia''s hand, she was so frightened she dared not move, breaking into a sweat on her back. "Don''t panic, take it slow, touch its front legs gently with your fingers, don''t worry, I''m here for you." After a while, Hexia dared to try, and the wolf spider moved, but it was like the scene dropped frames, teleporting without the middle part. "Look at those pairs of ck gem-like big eyes, cute isn''t it?" No, not cute at all, Hexia retorted in her heart. Fortunately, after gradually adapting, she began to carefully repeat the previous process of extracting venom. Thus, with Botis''s coaxing and trickery, Hexia eventually got used to it and her speed increased greatly. As dusk approached and thest creature''s venom by the pond was processed, Botis washed her hands and then came over to Hexia, helping the girl who could not stand up because of sore legs. "You''ve worked hard." She patted down Hexia''s clothes, then gently hugged her. "Let''s go eat something, I''ll treat you today, and then I''ll tell you how I tamed these creatures." Just like the day before, the two sat at the bar in ''Vurowus,'' but today Botis was treating. "''Dantalion'' hase again," Vurowus said with a beaming smile, and then she started to prepare dinner. "Are you curious how even wild Transcendent animals can be tamed and obedient?" Botis took sips of the drink Vurowus had just mixed and began to exin to the girl. "Actually, this is a branch of the Songstress''s power, or one of its uses." "Songstress?" The girl was puzzled; she naturally knew what a Songstress meant, but had never thought about this aspect. Songstresses are not just singers, more precisely, they are Transcendents with the Talent of Soul Resonance, and singing or music is merely a means to spread and utilize this Talent. The Rose Federation, this enormous country, was established hundreds of years ago by a Color Level Songstress. After nearly twenty years of negotiation and hard work by this Legendary Songstress, 186 giant corporations and 37 Interster Organizations eventually came together, established a new twelve-article constitution, and founded the nation, marking the origin of the Federation''s initial 31 Star Domains. To this day, the Rose Federation has expanded to 239 Star Domains, yet the birthday of the Songstress titled ''Golden me Rose'' remains a national celebration day for the entire Federation. Her grand half-body portrait still stands in the Federation Council Chamber, depicting her holding a bouquet, seated in front of an ornate red chair back, nked by green leaves and blooming roses, with Fairies dancing among them. This half-elf, half-human girl performed miracles, establishing the first great state in human civilization amidst the ruins of the 6th Primordial Era. Chapter 28: 18 The Songstresss Talent "Hexia, do you know what charisma is?" Botis propped her head up, one hand idly stirring the ice cubes and drink in her cup. "Charisma is not just about one''s appearance; it includes many aspects." "There is a legend about an ancient Emperor who was overthrown and imprisoned after a major defeat. One day, he finally escaped from prison." "At that time, the country sent an army to capture him, but when the soldiers appeared before the Emperor, he spread his arms and told them, ''Your Emperor has returned.'' Thus, the soldiers turned their backs on their superiors, and even the generals had to dismount and sumb to the will of the majority." "The formation of this charisma has little to do with appearance, but because his actions and deeds had be a kind of legend. This kind of charisma that came from his personality infected countless people. They were willing to follow him, to risk life and limb, to go through fire and water for him." "Why is that? Because people saw a kind of hope in him, a sincerity, and strength emanating from deep within, attracting those around him as the Sun does." "Throughout history, those who have ended chaos and established new orders mostly possessed this trait, or at least part of it." "In transcendent times, a very small number of people have this kind of talent. Even if they are not physically attractive, their voice, expressions, and movements have a special ability to inspire trust and admiration." "The most powerful of these beings were the legendary Color Level Songstresses. When they took the stage, their emotions, their prayers, and their soulful singing could pierce the hearts of everyone present, uniting a crowd with wildly different views under a single direction." "This impact on the soul, even to the extent of changing the world, left countless people in awe and admiration, and even in retrospect, they harbored no regrets." "It''s as if a light appeared in a life mired in dark mists, and we all walked towards that light. I don''t know how to describe this feeling, but at least, I''ve never felt regret or remorse." "Many of the founders of the Rose Federation mentioned in their memoirs that looking back at the decisions they made at the time felt unbelievable, as they weren''t in line with their usual habits. Yet the subsequent developments were like a dream, smooth and harmonious, united and consistent, almost dreamlike." "Regrettably, after that ''Golden me Rose'' passed away, no one else experienced that again. Although the Federation has long been expanding, many conservative and harsh individuals would say that this is just the remnant glow of bygone days, and that this afterglow will eventually fade away." As Botis spoke, she became immersed in her thoughts, and the ice cubes in her cup had long since melted. "Ah, I seem to have said quite a lot. Where was I?" she suddenly snapped back to reality. "You were talking about the legendary deeds of the Golden me Rose." Vurowus emerged from behind the bar with a prepared meal, cing it before the green-haired maid. "Right, right, I''ve admired that predecessor since I was little, not just for her legend, but also because I was found to have simr traits." "Botis used to be a Songstress?" Vurowus asked curiously, while Hexia quietly perked up her ears. "I was indeed." Saying this, Botis smiled and raised her finger to her golden eyes. "I was discovered to have this talent in high school, so I started to learn and joined the school band." "Back then, I was a legend in school, and many people pursued me." She wiggled her fingers. "Those are unforgettable memories." "But I''m not one of those talented people. Although I have the traits of a Songstress, I''m only at the Starshine Level, not even close to the Moon Level, so I was destined to follow the path of the band, and not to think about politics or changing the Federation or anything like that." "That''s still quite impressive, Starshine Level!" Vurowus shook her head. The talent of a Songstress is divided into nine levels, broadly categorized as Star, Moon, and Sun. Star Sprout Level is the lowest, and Scorching Sun Level is the highest. Beyond the pinnacle of the Scorching Sun Level is the Color Level, deriving from the ancient description of the highest title a Songstress could achieve. In the era before leaving Earth, the most widely known were the Cobalt Blue Songstress and the Crimson Songstress. Later, it became popr to represent the most amazing Songstresses with a particr color, hence the Color Level, meaning to color the world, a miracle that changes the world. The founder of the Rose Federation was represented by the ''Golden me Rose,'' and in the Federation''s several hundred years of history, only two Color Level Songstresses have appeared. One is the founder ''Golden me Rose,'' and the other is ''Cobalt Blue Tears,'' who lived about four hundred years ago. Both Songstresses'' deeds deeply influenced the history of the Federation. "It''s been almost fifty years since a Sun Level Songstress appeared in the Federation. The most well-known now are a few Full Moon Level Songstresses. Although their influence isn''t weak, it''s nowhere near enough to change the Federation. At most, they''re just popr and admired celebrities." The lingering twilight from the simted sky illuminated Dream of zed ss, where there were few customers left. The floor, like a mirror, reflected the sky''s orange-gold hue, creating an amber-colored dreamscaped ambience. Hexia slowly ate her food, the earlier tension easing as her shift neared its end. The slight sounds of utensils against porcin filled the air as she savored the dinner Vurowus had prepared for her. Not sure what to say, there was just a faint sense of happiness. As Hexia finished her meal and continued to listen to Botis recount the past, Belfeng finally appeared, her fingertips spinning a diamond-shaped tile, her footsteps light. Chapter 29: 18 The Songstresss Talent_2 "Dantalion, you''re here~ How''s your day? I waste this morning, heard Andusia took care of you." She also sat down at the bar, ordering a cool drink. "I helped Sister Andusia with the flower room in the morning and followed Botis to retrieve venom in the afternoon." "Retrieve venom?" Belfeng was startled, her voice tinged with panic. "You didn''t get tricked by Botis into that terrifying snake pit of hers, did you?" "I''m still here, aren''t I? Watch your mouth when talking about someone behind their back. Also, why call it a snake pit? There are other animals too, like spiders and frogs." The big sister with emerald hair hugged Hexia from behind, making her slightly flustered as shey in her arms, and then started to argue with Belfeng. "Huh, keeping snakes and spiders in such a rxed and delightful shop. If I were the manager, I''d have been annoyed by now. What if it scares the customers?" Belfeng stood with hands on her hips, her ears perked up, looking dissatisfied with Botis. "You said it yourself, the manager has agreed, what else do you want to do? Or is it because you, this bunny, are actually afraid of snakes and want to settle personal vendettas?" Botis revealed a mocking smile, which infuriated Belfeng, but she didn''t dare to actually start a fight since she was truly scared of snakes. Watching the two formidable seniors argue in the shop, Hexia felt like she was just a small animal caught in the crossfire, but being held by Botis, she had no chance to escape. After the two debated for a while and neither could persuade the other, it was Vurowus behind the bar who broke up the fight, silencing Belfeng with a drink through a straw. "Alright, I won''t argue with you, little bunny. Is Hexiaing tomorrow?" "I cane." Hexia''s eyes nced to the side, hoping to get help from Belfeng, but the bunny was busy typing away on her personal terminal and drinking her beverage,pletely oblivious to her. "Coming is good~ No need to retrieve venom tomorrow; I''ll teach you something else." Observing her smile, it seemed she already had a full n in mind. Relieved to hear there was no need to retrieve venom, Hexia also breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe it wouldn''t be as scary as today. However, it seemed just like what Botis had said, despite the initial tension, by the end, she really wasn''t all that afraid of the spiders and snakes anymore ¨C perhaps that was the power of habit? Regardless, the pleasant second day of work finally ended, and she was going to have a good sleep once she got home. ¡ª¡ª After Hexia left, Botis continued sitting at the bar, sipping her rippling red wine, lost in thought about something. "You''ve got something on your mind today, staying sote. I''m about to close up." Vurowus cleaned up the bar and came out. "Indeed, a bit." "Is it about the new maid ''Dantalion''?" "Your observations are still so meticulous." Botis responded wistfully. "Because of her, I recalled many past events today. I suppose I''m quite a character with a story too." "Hehe, looks like I''ll be ying the listener today." Vurowus covered her mouth with a chuckle before sitting beside her. "I''ve told you guys before, haven''t I? I was part of a band for a while because I had the Soul Resonance trait." "Yes, I heard those days were crazy. You had a notorious reputation down in the South District No. 2; it''s only now that I realize you were the lead singer back then." "Vurowus, even a youngdy like you has heard of that? I''m truly honored." Botis showed a bitter smile; after all, she really had gone too far back then. "Back in the day, our band not only performed shows, but we indulged in death races, brawls, guild challenges, night raids, and causing trouble everywhere. I can''t figure out how the big shots tolerated us so long with no serious punishment, considering the way we few carried on." "It must have been because of indulgence, after all, our star system hasn''t seen anyone with your kind of talent for many years." Vurowus gazed at the slowly darkening artificial sky, the little star lights sprinkled throughout. "The Four-leaf Crystal Star System is in decline; if a famous songstress were to emerge, even if she couldn''t engage in politics, being active in the entertainment industry or bing a pop idol would be great publicity, bringing some economic benefits to the local area." "The trouble you caused might seem significant to others, but to those at the top, it was just child''s y, nothing to fret over. If you could bring a 0.1% change to the Star Domain, that would more thanpensate for any damage you caused." "I can''t do it." Botis shook her head. "I''ve thought about continuing to dig into my own talent, but I realized I just can''t do it. Staying at the Starshine Level is already my limit. Although my performances can make people''s blood boil with passion and excitement for a short time, this emotional impact is only temporary; as soon as the performance ends, it quickly dissipates." "No matter how well our band ys live, it''s hard to extend our influence to other star domains; at most, we be locally famous." "So, I was greatly discouraged and eventually withdrew from the scene. Those big shots probably figured out my limitation and gradually gave up on me," Botis said, somewhat despondent. "It''s okay, you''re already very fortunatepared to ordinary people. Besides, aren''t you using that talent now to tame those dangerous animals? If you weren''t so good at it, the manager wouldn''t trust you to have a corner in the store to raise those dangerous creatures." "Yes, that''s true. Although the effect on people is limited, it still works pretty well on some animals with weaker consciousness and souls." She lowered her head and took a sip of red wine. "Actually, I''m not here to talk about sad stories today." After she finished her drink, she suddenly looked up, a mysterious smile on her face thatpletelycked the previous sense of loss, making the silver-edged maid next to her feel deceived. What a bad woman. "Do you know, Vurowus, I''ve found a simr trait in ''Dantalion.'' Although I''m still not sure how high her talent is, you should understand what I mean." Upon hearing this, Vurowus''s eyes widened, surprised by herpanion''s revtion. "You mean little ''Dantalion'' also has the talent for Soul Resonance?" "Yes. During the day at work, I lent her the bell, and right then, I noticed something was off." "If an ordinary person shakes that bell, it just triggers a conditioned response in the creatures, making them obedient. But when she shakes that bell, she truly exudes a power that calms the animals and people around her." "I am more than familiar with that feeling." "The ability to spread one''s own emotions and intentions, infecting others." "Without a doubt, she will also be a Songstress in the future, and a special one at that." "At least at her age, I couldn''t stretch this ability so effortlessly. Her talent will be at least at the Moon Level, or even at the Sun Level, which isn''t impossible." "As for me, I am now someone who isn''t in the spotlight. As for you ''Vurowus,'' even though I don''t know which family''s young mistress you are, you should also understand the value of ''Dantalion.''" The maid with the silver-trimmed sleeves shook her head, "I maye from a great family, but do you think someone cherished as an heir would be working in a ce like this?" "The things you''re talking about, even I can''t reach them right now. I''ve long been on the fringe of my family, without much power, but also free." "If you want to use my hand to invest in and bet on ''Dantalion,'' I... sigh, looks like I''m about to get busy again. I thought I could enjoy a leisurely life for a while." "I''ll ask my grandfather, maybe he can give me some advice." "But before I leave, I still need to confirm that ''Dantalion'' truly has the talent you mentioned, otherwise it would be too embarrassingter on." After finishing her statement, ''Vurowus'' stood up. There weren''t many people left in the store by then. "That''s all for today." Vurowus said goodbye to Botis, picked up her bag, and walked outside. Watching the silver-trimmed maid leave, Botis also left the bar. "I never expected she was really the daughter of a prestigious family. I always thought it was just a joke, but she exposed herself after being tricked today." "Indeed, the identity and talent of a Songstress can easily make people lose their sanity," Botis said, her eyes'' faint golden glow fading. "Well, I can only do so much. When I get home, Vurowus will probablye around and then give me an earful. But it doesn''t matter. Now that she knows, she can''t stay detached like before." "Sorry, Mother in Heaven, your daughter has done something bad again today. But rest assured, she won''t regret it." After a moment of silent prayer, Botis also left the quiet and empty Dream of zed ss. Chapter 30: 19 Temisia The lights within the elevator were still so bright, yet the underground livingyers after stepping out remained so dim, the chaotic graffiti and rust stains making it difficult to associate with anything pleasant, however, Hexia was still very happy. Because life was no longer monotonous. Walking between puddles and trash, she hopped over them lightly, as if ying the childhood game of hopscotch. Her body leaped gracefully, twirling slightly in the air, her skirt fluttering in the wind before descending again. People always use such dirty and disorderly environments, scenes like those of old ruins, to highlight the world''s sorrow and cruelty, but this is incorrect. Those who truly live in such surroundings don''t feel this way; they know the smoky restaurant actually serves great food, the ground may have trash and puddles, but it is stable, without mud pits or sinkholes, and the pedestrians on the streets that seem unsettling to outsiders are actually long-acquainted folks, beings that one could converse with at any time. Those who have long been ustomed to these experiences don''t consider them suffering, but merely a part of life. Perhaps this is a kind of numbness and a mistake, but at least this mistake allows them to live in such environments without too much sadness. Too sensitive a rabbit would die young. Hexia unexpectedly thought of this saying, its original meaning was probably not this, but thinking of it this way wasn''t a big issue. She had long grown ustomed to the insignificance in life¡ªwith being bullied andughed at, just ordinary urrences. The harsher the environment, the more aggravated people became. Her ssmates weren''t very nice, but she understood that perhaps if everyone had affluent family backgrounds, they might be polite and elegant. She had seen such a world in her childhood. The ce where her sister went to school was what people considered a prestigious academy. It was a gathering of youngdies and rich kids, and she had been brought along by her sister to participate in some events during her younger years, witnessing such environments. It is precisely because of such memories and understanding that she could draw some conclusions throughparison. The anxiety of a family can be contagious. Due to the hardships of life and scarcity of resources, parents are more likely to argue over trifles, and this impatience can be transmitted to their children. A slight setback in studies or a slight w in performance would bring about reprimands, which is the most effortless way to educate, requiring no patience to analyze and consider the underlying reasons, no empathy to understand the fragile and troubled spiritual world of the child, simple and rough. After a day of hardbor, one''s mood and energy are severely drained. Do not expect such parents to have much energy left to invest in educating their children. Even if they did, it''s probably out of irritation and despair. Being introverted and timid, Hexia always tried to learn and think or lick her wounds slowly in a corner, then kept searching for ways to understand this chaotic world. Because only by understanding the cause could she ease the disquiet in her heart little by little. The unknown is always frightening, but once known, even if it cannot be changed yet, one can at least gain some eptance and a direction for solving the problem. As she reminisced about the events of the day, Hexia unknowingly arrived in front of her home. Oh no, today I got lost in thought and forgot. She looked at the narrow door before her, only then remembering that she was meant to visit Grandma He''s house. But since she was here, she might as well enter and have a look; it''s been almost a month since shest stayed here. Pulling open the dust-covered door, Hexia called out softly, ''I''m back.'' But of course, there was no response inside. She took off her shoes, found the slippers she used to wear, and walked into the dark room, then turned on the light. The small living room was cluttered with misceneous items, just as she had left it, with some dust settled on the floor and tables. She walked all the way to the room at the end, which was once her parents'' bedroom and now her own. With all the family gone, she had be the sole master of this home. Pushing open the door, the setup inside was still the same, with family photos hanging on the wall¡ªher mother smiling tenderly, her father looking somewhat hesitant, her sister ncing aside, appearing somewhat aloof, while she herself looked bewildered in her mother''s arms. She flipped over on the bed to search, then pulled out a small box from beneath the mattress. Sitting on the bed, Hexia opened the small box, which contained a delicatemp base. She activated the magic power, themp holder lit up, then automatically projected a lifelike image. It showed a familyughing and talking on the grass, then facing the camera. The entire process took no more than 30 seconds, but the sounds of joy andughter seemed so distant, instilling a sense of unfamiliarity. After watching silently for a while, Hexia turned off themp holder. She no longer cried tears like she did when she was younger. At the bottom of the box, there was also a diary, left to her by her mother. It sporadically recorded the growth of her and her sister, with her sister upying three-quarters of it, and she only one quarter. Compared to her dazzling sister, she was still young at that time and didn''t have much to speak of. [Temisia went to Saint Ingo Academy today, the number one high school on Emerald Skirt. I''m worried about whether she could adapt to the environment there, as most of the studentse from highly distinguished backgrounds, or are rare talents.] [The mid-term academy activities have begun, and I finally got the chance to visit the academy. To my surprise, Temisia is very popr at school. Shemands her ssmates like the leader of the pack, a trait of pride that I do not possess.] [The teacher called me, saying Temisia''s talent is exceptional and that she might be a great person in the future, so they want me to be more disciplined with her. Some parents haveined that Temisia is too dominant at school, causing their children to get hurt.] [I asked Temisia, and she said they provoked her first, and she was just striking back. After knowing the teacher called me, Temisia seemed quite unhappy.] [The matter was resolved, the other child''s parents apologized over the phone, admitting they hadn''t disciplined their child well.] [I don''t know what happened, but Temisia said the other side must havee to their senses, though the reason seemed far-fetched. I started to sense vaguely that this child was no longer within my control.] [Temisia''s growth far exceeded the expectations of her father and me. At the Winter Festival g in her second year at the academy, I saw her at the center of the racetrack and stage, taking first ce in both. The whole academy was filled with cheers, and the teachers and principal congratted us, saying she would be a legend, a rising new star.] [As graduation approached, Temisia went with her group to the Flying Feather Star Domain of the Federal Center to take part in the admissions assessments for top federal universities there.] [The admissions assessment ended, but Temisia did not return happy. For the first time, she asked about Hexia, then spent a long time by Hexia''s bed.] [Temisia locked herself in her room for several days. When she came out, she started to say strange things to us, as if she was about to travel to a distant world. Perhaps it was because she knew the bustling Central Star Domain was far away and that she couldn''t be with us in the future.] [Temisia is gone...] Hexia closed the diary and put it back in the box. Since her sister''s death, their mother had fallen ill and spent most of the family''s wealth. To leave the ce that saddened their mother, they also moved to the lower residential district of Payin City. The image of her sister went through several phases in her heart. As a child, her sister was a dependable and reassuring family member, taking her out to y, buying her small gifts. But as her sister moved on to middle and high school, she grew colder, almost as if she resented her own nature and had no patience for it. However, in thest period of her sister''s life, she suddenly changed again, bing extremely gentle. She told her about many school stories, how to deal with bullies, and how to utilize various adult influences, but unfortunately, Hexia never learned any of it. In the end, her sister ended her own life at home, without leaving any note. After her departure, everything at home began to change drastically, until it became what it was now. "I haven''t suffered any misfortune or extremely bad things, I was just an ident of birth... Hexia won''t understand this, but you are different from me. You will have a more brilliant life." These were thest words left to her by her sister, Temisia. Lying in bed reminiscing about the past, Hexia unknowingly fell into a deep sleep until she woke up half an hourter. She got up and went to the washroom, nning to ssh her face with cold water to wake up before heading to Grandma He''s house, otherwise it would be toote and cause worry. As the cold water moistened her face then fell away, in the dim room, Hexia turned off the tap and looked up. The other Hexia in the mirror smiled at her, and there was a light purple glow in her eyes. This is! Hexia was shocked, blinking furiously, but the image in the mirror returned to normal, and even when she used her magic power to reveal her talent, only her blue eyes and ck hair appeared. The scene from moments ago was like an illusion in her mind. After failing to find confirmation in the mirror for more than ten minutes, Hexia gave up trying. She probably missed those people in her memories too much. Chapter 31: 20 The Crying Child Who Lost His Tears In the following days, Hexia began to assist the various maids in their duties. Belfeng also seemed to intentionally allow her to interact with differentpanions, to be acquainted with all the maids in the store. Indeed, Hexia slowly discovered that the store was a real hiding ce for talent; many of the maids truly possessed unique skills, and some of them were even beyond the manager''s control, who could only persuade them with good words. In the blink of an eye, another afternoon arrived. "Hexia, this is your seventh day of work, right?" The green-haired maid fed bait to the snake in her arms while talking to the gray-haired girl. "Yes, today the manager said she would speak with me after work to tell me whether I have passed the assessment." "You will definitely pass." Botis put down the ck and white banded snake in her arms, then picked up another lush green snake wrapped around her waist. "Thank you." At this time, Hexia sat on a stone beside the pool, feeding therge spider on the table. Withering Sequence 4¡¤Ghost-face Wolf Spider (Evaluation: Superior Radiant Gold Level) Thisrge spider was the most powerful supernatural creature in Botis''s ss Jungle, with an evaluation reaching the rare Radiant Gold Level. This term is used to evaluate theprehensive strength of transcendents, ranked from low to high as follows: Gray Iron, Red Copper, Dark Silver, Radiant Gold, Condensing Bead, Colored Crystal, Angel Envoy, Key of Fate, Epic. Among them, Epic Level mostly described those Legendary sequences 9, which could no longer be seen, with the highest being Key of Fate, meaning the key to unlocking one''s own destiny, fully unleashing one''s Talent, will, etc., and refining everything about oneself to a wless and perfect state. The fluffy spider legs were somewhat prickly, and Hexia first rang a bell to calm the creature down before its prickly hair slowly softened, only then daring to feed it small pieces of food. The blue cubes were crushed by the spider''s mp-like fangs and then swallowed. After eating, the spider''s several pairs of ck eyes on its head looked at Hexia again. "Eat slowly, you''re making a mess." Hexia pushed the crumbs under the spider onto paper to catch them, then thought better of it, and simply picked up therge spider with her hands, cing it on the paper to feed, so she no longer had to worry about remnants spilling. Looking at her handling the dangerous spider so skillfully and naturally, Botis couldn''t help but want to remind her, but ultimately held back. Unknowingly, this child had already be unafraid of spiders and snakes, and even dared to knock on those disobedient ones at times, just like herself. Is this the growth rate of those with talent? Botis wondered to herself. Finally, it was time to get off work. Hexia approached a corner of Dream of zed ss, where the manager sat as usual, slowly sipping her tea. "Hexia is here, you should be used to it by now." "Yes." The girl respectfully bowed. "Very good, you''re indeed the person I chose." The manager seemed very pleased, as if a certain country creature strutted along the fields with its head held high. "Begin your official duties tomorrow." "However, before that, there are some things I need to teach you." For once, her expression was earnest. "First, the customers are not deities, and we cannot satisfy their demands unconditionally and endlessly; that would only break the rules and make business unsustainable." "If you find it difficult, refuse boldly, but your tone must be kind." "The second point, making mistakes at work is inevitable, even an experienced hand will have idents in thousands of repetitions." "After a mistake, we should try topensate, solve the problem for the customer, but unless absolutely necessary, do not apologize!" "We can deal with the problem in the capacity and tone of solving it for the customer, like friends andpanions, but apologizing would ce us in opposition to the customer." "For some unreasonably persistent customers, if you apologize, you''ll find yourself at a psychological and moral disadvantage, and they may be more demanding, asking for greater benefits, which willplicate the matter." "Furthermore, apologizing is a serious matter, and actually, you employees don''t have the right to apologize, which can humiliate certain noble customers and be greatly harmful to yourselves." "If you encounter a situation you can''t resolve, contact me quickly or a senior you''re familiar with for help, and you''d best quickly get out of the customer''s sight." "Having someone else resolve the matter can make things much smoother. I have plenty of reasons to excuse you,pensate the customer with some benefits, and that way, it''s basically quite easy to resolve." "However, when the person who made the error faces the customer directly, neither party has an easy way out." She took a sip of tea, her voice softening again. "This is the experience I''ve umted over many years in the industry, and I hope it can be of some help to you." "Thank you, Manager." This time, Hexia expressed her gratitude sincerely. "Keep it up." The manager stood up, waving to Hexia. "Life will have many troubles, but avoiding them will bring even more." After saying this, she leisurely walked away, her silhouette against the synthetic sunset somehow seeming even more imposing. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After changing out of her uniform, Hexia walked into the vertical elevator with a bag in hand. Today''s work was over; she was heading home now. The bag contained a maid outfit given to her, tailored ording to her measurements and exquisitely made. With a faint sense of anticipation and gratitude in her heart, Hexia walked on the road home. However, as she arrived at the location of the previous incident, a tunnel entrance, a strange ck-haired young man appeared before her. He was looking down, smoking a cigarette, then slowly stood up from leaning against the wall with his head back, walked to the center of the entrance, and stood directly in the girl''s way. Chapter 32: 20 The Crying Child Who Lost His Tears_2 ``` "You''re Hexia Tn, right?" He spat out the cigarette butt, twisted it under his foot with a friction so intense it made one''s heart tremble, and the steel floor even bore some scratches. The girl retreated a step, looking at the ck-haired youth in front of her, her magic power rapidly circting within, reaching out along her body. Dragon Sequence 4?Unknown (Rating: Rare Radiant Gold Level) In Hexia''s vision, the magic power of the Dragon Sequence around the ck-haired youth appeared almost tangible, issuing threads as if to ignite the air itself, imposing a suffocating heat. "I am Hexia Tn." The girl struggled to calm herself, quickly thinking of ways to deal with the situation. Running away wasn''t an option, Hexia had once been told so by someone familiar, but unfortunately, she had never managed to do so until after a brush with death, which gave her just a bit of resolution and courage. "Oh, quite honest, admitting it just like that." The ck-haired youth raised his head, his dark fringe parting to reveal intimidating golden eyes that cast a wave of oppression and fear through the cramped space. The handbag fell to the ground, the originally white bag slowly soaked by the puddles on the floor, staining it ayer of grey-ck. Hexia turned her head and started running, the familiar corridors and corners shaking in her field of vision as she quickly thought of the nearest station of the Autonomous Units tasked with riot control. The closest one was on the upper floor to the north, near a small supermarket, next to which was an unmanned police booth housing the Autonomous Units. But then, a ferocious punch from behind interrupted her thoughts. She was flung into the air like a rag doll, crashing into the corridor''s wall, wracked with agonizing pain as if her body was falling apart. In the world-upending pain, she slid down the wall and rolled on the floor twice beforeing to a stop, her body covered in abrasions and bruises. "Huh, that''s it?" The ck-haired youth pocketed his hands, stepping towards her, looking at the girl in agony on the ground. "Such fragility." After saying so, he kicked out once more, and Hexia was sent flying again, tracing a long parab in the air, rolling over the steel floor seven or eight times before stopping. Her arms and wrists were full of cuts and blood, and her knees had scraped off ayer of skin, the dark red blood moistening the girl''s thighs. "Boring." The ck-haired youth approached again and then stepped on the girl''s left hand, eliciting a miserable scream that even included the sound of bones breaking. Over ten secondster, he lifted his foot, looking down at the girl on the ground sweating coldly, convulsing and struggling, a hint of contempt and irritation flickered in his eyes. Such a boring creature, how could master have fallen to such a person... He took out his personal terminal, turned away, and walked over to the steel railings nearby, ready to make an emergency call to have someone drag the girl away. The sobs and cries behind him continued, Hexia covered her bleeding forehead with one hand, slowly struggling to her feet, knees and body in severe pain causing her legs to tremble, nearly copsing, while her vision was blurred by tears and blood, only able to discern the silhouette of the person opposite her. No more running away, Hexia, you no longer have family, no haven to turn to, nor will there be anyone to love andfort you wholeheartedly... Her calf muscles gave way, and she copsed onto the floor again, her palm supporting her on the ground and leaving the trace of fine sand, tiny grains of sand and iron filings embedding into the flesh, blurring her formerly fair skin. Hearing the thud, the ck-haired youth turned his head, watching the girl struggling on the ground to stand up. Hexia''s fingers tensed, pressing against the cold floor, she mustered her strength to stand unsteadily, her grey hair had at some point turnedpletely ck, her face smeared with dust and blood, lifted to reveal those pale blue eyes. "Interesting." The ck-haired youth put down his phone and hastened towards her, then swung out a punch. Golden dragon scales materialized on his robust arm, and the pressure of the ensuing punch was solid; watching the fist in her vision seemingly slow motion, a special symbol appeared in Hexia''s pale blue eyes. The once overwhelming me-like strike suddenly cooled in the blink of an eye, the stiff arm and fist diverted by Hexia, striking the wall behind her and leaving a deep crater, the enormous vibration and noise echoing through the corridor. However, the searing magic power of the Dragon Sequence circled back, relentlessly scouring the cold stiffness out of the youth''s arm, helping him recover quickly. By this time, Hexia had run several hundred meters away, after a brief period of self-healing, she had regained the ability to move, albeit still in a disheveled state. "You can''t escape, naive girl." The ck-haired youth growled and charged again, his eyes now devoid of prior contempt and irritation, reced with a hint of excitement, and the energy emanating from him more intense than ever, burning fiercely; it wasn''t until then that he became serious. ``` In the following minute, the two raced through the corridors, the distance between them shrinking ever closer. Hexia ttered up the stairwell, arriving at an elevator shaft. She couldn''t take the elevator as usual; the other wouldn''t give her the leisure and opportunity. Her only choice was to make use of this ancient infrastructure to move between floors. She remembered thest time she was here, when she was very young. There was no light inside the elevator shaft, and the ground was covered with plenty of dust and rust, but fortunately, there were no obstructions, allowing Hexia to move quickly. After activating her Transcendent Profession Talent, she didn''t need vision to see in the darkness. She could avoid various obstacles, an advantage she had over the dark-haired youth. Otherwise, she couldn''t keep up with the speed of this Transcendent from the Dragon Sequence. As she moved dozens of meters upward, another sound echoed in the shaft; Hexia knew the dark-haired youth had arrived, and she sped up once again. The frantic running caused an adrenaline rush, easing the severe pain in her body, but she was unsure how long she could maintain such a state. Faster, just a bit faster, her palms brushed against the rough, king railing as Hexia ran, her full focus on the task, the sound from behind growing distant. Just when she thought she could escape to safety, that there might be a glimmer of hope, a loud noise came from the shaft, followed by a dark silhouette flying through the mid-air of the corridor, then grabbing the railing and flipping into the shaft. "You can''t escape," the gold dragon eyes in the dark were terrifying, resembling the grim reaper. Hexia slowly backed away, the mysterious symbols in her blue eyes surfacing once again. "The same trick again?" The other made a sudden move, leaping and kicking off the wall, shing past Hexia''s view before mming down with his foot, sending Hexia crashing through the old railing and flinging her out. Without the protection of the railing, the girl fell into the darkness below, quickly bing invisible. Looking into the deep elevator shaft, the dark-haired youth also ceased his actions, regretting that hisst move might have been too swift. Don''t die so easily... Then he too jumped down. ... Chilled water infiltrated Hexia''s body, forcefully pulling her back to consciousness. In pitch darkness, she felt herself continuously sinking into the deep, stagnant water. All light and sound faded away, her limbs began twitching numbly, only able to despairingly sense her ongoing descent. Water filled her lungs, the sharp pain made her struggle in agony, but no sound could escape her lips, and her ears were filled with the murky sound of water. Hexia couldn''t swim and was unable to under these circumstances, a cold chill creeping up from the bottom of her heart and spreading through her limbs. Death was drawing near... Consciousness blurred amidst sharp pain, fear, and futile struggling, her limbs iling helplessly unable to grasp anything solid, just the murky frigid water flow. Whimper... cough cough... intense coughing impulses came from her chest and lungs, but the despair was that there was no way to alleviate it. Atst, her struggles weakened, her limbs stopped iling, her taut body slowly rxed, and then gradually sank down. Blue eyes stared nkly into the darkness above, gradually losing their luster... It''s all over, Hexia... The darkness spread further, finally shrouding everything, Hexia could no longer see anything, just the cold water sounds by her ears. Knowing she was about to die, she calmed, no longer holding any hope or prayers. Such is life, she supposed... She slowly closed her eyes, the only light in the darkness, a pale blue dot, also flickered and dispersed. ... Temisia didn''t know what feelings she had when she entered this pitch-ck night. If only it hadn''t been so painful and regretful. I truly envy my sister; she''s always been so calm. If I can survive, I want to be like her, not running from anything, not lying to myself anymore, facing everything with honesty. Chapter 37: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_2 Afterwards, she gently pressed her forehead against Hexia''s head, and countless memories were transferred from the other''s mind. They were Temisia''s life, experiences from her growth, praises of genius, the envy of innumerable people, the cultivation of High Rank Transcendent abilities, experiences in outsmarting others, a calm and rational mind, and so on. As long as Hexia epted these, she could quickly be stronger, and since their intentions were aligned, she knew her sister had no ill intentions; this was also for her own good. But for some reason, Hexia still felt a slight resistance deep inside... Clearly, this was the best oue, but some corner of her heart still ached, at a moment that should have been joyous, with the chance to reunite with her sister and no longer be alone. Why is that... Why is that. Why is that? Why is that! Hexia pushed Temisia away and stepped back several steps under her sister''s puzzled gaze. "Hexia?" "Sister." Hexia defiantly raised her head. "Actually, there''s something I''ve always wanted to say to you." "What is it, because I didn''t pay much attention to you before, neglected you?" "Uh, not exactly." Hexia shook her head. "Sister, you are great, outstanding, even when you went to high school, mom and dad talked about you the most." Hexia looked at the ground beside her. "I can''tpete with you, I''m always very timid, and a bit clumsy. Every time rtivese to our house, I like to hide." "I used to envy your personality, sister, and I hated my own weakness." "When I started middle school, the teacher asked us to choose a Transcendent Sequence to cultivate, preferably specializing in one." "During the test, the direction that suited me best was the Natural Sequence, just like sister, and mom also wanted me to choose the Natural Sequence." "But that time, I lied. I didn''t choose the Natural Sequence, but rather the unpopr Withering Sequence." "Do you know why, sister?" "I was scared of beingpared to you, afraid others would ask how my Transcendent Sequence cultivation was progressing. They would definitely say how Temisia was when she was in middle school." "I''m a coward, self-conscious and weak, I can only escape from things like this, so I specifically chose the Withering Sequence with the fewest people. That way, even if someone asked, I could say that because the Sequences are different, the difficulty and method of cultivation are not the same, so I can''t progress as fast as you did." "Doesn''t it sound ridiculous, for the sake of such a petty pride?" "But sister, you certainly don''t understand; that was my only way to maintain myself." "I don''t want to bepared by others anymore..." Her voice choked. "After sister left, mom quickly passed away due to grief, and then dad left too." "I lived at home alone, often having nightmares at night, sometimes only able to fall asleep with the lights on because I was afraid of the dark and of seeing strange things." "To fight against this fear, I specifically went to the library and found Dark Visitor, an obscure Transcendent Profession. It had almost nobat power and couldn''t help me find a good job or even participate in any kind ofpetition." "However, its only benefit allows the practitioner to gain the ability of Ghost Vision, to see dead spirits, undissipated Fragments of Consciousness, and so on." "Invisible things always scare people, but once you can see them, you feel secure, and since then, I''ve been able to sleep peacefully." "So, sister." Hexia lifted her head. "To avoid you, I''ve tried my hardest." "Now you suddenly tell me to merge back into one with you, I can''t do that." "But, we can only be stronger byplementing each other. You must be on the brink of death by now, and without my help, you might..." Temisia looked at her unruly younger sister. "I know." Hexia bit her lip. "I know that obtaining everything from my sister would make me powerful, but would I still be me then... People are different; sister''s pride and confidence, I never learned before, and now, I don''t want to learn." "Just let me be a coward for a lifetime, forever known as a lonely and introverted child; I know these are my ws, but now I''ve grown ustomed to them being there." "Why have you be so stubborn, getting stuck on such trivialities, you should read less of those books that dissect psychology. I''ve studied them before, but thinking too much in this way only makes one hesitate, life should be more natural and straightforward." Temisia reached out her hand again. "No, no, no." Hexia stepped back, shaking her head. "We''re different, Temisia." It was the first time she called her sister by name. "You may naturally understand many things, spontaneously adapting to various challenges of life, but not me. I''m a silly child, afraid of being hurt, cautious about trying anything, and I can only arm myself through books and various kinds of knowledge. I look for the wisdom of predecessors, constantly analyzing the reasons, only if I understand the principles and process behind what happens can I feel at ease." "But living that way is really hard and tiring, sister." Temisia looked at her with sympathy. "Perhaps, but when I''m alone at my desk writing in my diary, I feel a faint happiness." "Because I''ve recorded the day''s gains, feelings, understandings, and so on, I try to find solutions to problems, these bits and pieces nourish me." "Now you tell me that if I just ept everything from you, none of this will be a problem anymore, what was everything I did before for, doesn''t it seem ridiculous, all my tears, efforts, perseverance, would be meaningless, just superfluous things, then what am I?" Chapter 38: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_3 "My memories, my personality, everything about me, they are made up of these fragments, and now youpletely deny them. You''ve never truly epted me, even if our personalities were to merge, the new one wouldn''t be led by me. To you, this might mean strength, but for me, it means going directly to my death." "I know you mean well, sister, and perhaps you hold greater expectations for our future, but..." "I''m sorry, sister, I can''t agree to your request." Atst, Hexia''s voice had be firm. "It seems you''ve made up your mind," Temisia looked at her. "What a disobedient sister." "I''m sorry." Hexia pushed the door open and walked out. Watching her about to leave, Temisia''s gaze shifted several times,plex and indescribable. "No matter what you think, I too have my own will, Hexia. Our sisterhood is destined to have only one of us possess the Talent of a Color Level Songstress." "If you must refuse, then I can only use a sister''s prerogative to teach you." The quiet living room and the house began to distort; Hexia, startled, looked around at everything, quickly realizing what was happening. She turned around to see Temisia approaching step by step, her Transcendent Ability already in motion. Her hair flying, with stardust swirling in her purple eyes, when she lifted her hand, vines burst through the walls like thousands of snakes, wrapping around Hexia, binding her tightly so she could not move. Then, Temisia stepped closer, again hugging Hexia''s forehead, kissing her, as a multitude of memories and emotions transferred once again, their souls trembling and emitting a dazzling brilliance. It was like two wless blue-purple crystals rising in endless darkness, then slowly melting into each other, intertwining. No! I refuse! A bright light rose from the darkness, and then the crystals shattered. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In reality, Qiao Long was diving in the stagnant water of a lift shaft, doing his best in this murky, gloomy water to search for the silhouette of the girl. ''Fuck, how long has it been since the bottom of this lift shaft was cleaned, there''s actually more than twenty meters of stagnant water, we''re almost below the 70th floor by now.'' Although it''s regrettable not to give that girl a lesson, it would be an even greater guilt and mental barrier if she died here because of his own mistake. ''I''m actually saving someone, no one would believe this if I told them.'' No matter what he thought, Qiao Long continued to dive deeper, and atst, at the bottom of the water, he saw the girl who had lost consciousness, with a dim light making her face appear very pale. ''She should still be saveable.'' Qiao Long swam towards her. However, just as he was about to touch the girl, a burst of intense light shot up from her body, exploding violently, with countless shes of crystalline light illuminating the entire underground lift shaft. These crystal fragments, carrying a massive spray of water, expanded all the way up the shaft, scattering in all directions, countless droplets condensing mid-air, adhering to the walls of the shaft. After the intense shing subsided, the interior of the lift shaft had be a cavern of crystal brilliance, with countless blue and purple hexagonal crystal clusters growing on the underground walls, steel frames, and handrails. These shimmering magic power crystals brightened the whole underground, like a fantasy and magnificent crystal world. High in the cluster of crystals, two figures, one purple and one blue, stood suspended in the air, their appearances simr, their ck hair dancing. The only difference was the color of their eyes. "Temisia..." the girl with the blue eyes gazed at the figure before her. "I had no choice, Hexia. It''s your fault for not listening," she replied, extending her right hand as numerous magic power light points converged, and a purple-red Crystal Sword materialized and was grasped in her hand. ... As Qiao Long climbed up the blue-purple crystal clusters, a streak of golden light shed by, causing him to look up, just in time to see the purple girl thrust the sword through the blue girl, piercing herpletely. The purple-red Sword Edge stuck in her chest, and the blood-red patterns spread along the wound like a curse, immobilizing Hexia, who then fell from the sky. Seeing the falling figure, Qiao Long leaped out, ready to catch her, but the purple girl in the air waved her hand again, and three purple crystal shards shot down from the sky, piercing through Qiao Long''s shoulder and wrist, nailing him to the wall. "Don''t touch my sister with your filthy hands. Disgusting." Falling again from the sky, Hexianded in the crystal world below, lying at its very center, with numerous crystal clusters extending from beneath her like spikes and swords, forming a protective ring. In the sky, Temisia moved again, her back sprouting crystalline, prism-like wings that were transparent with a hint of purple, exceptionally beautiful. She then descended like a meteor, leaving behind a wisp of purple traces in the air. On the ground, Hexia opened her eyes again, struggling to lift her hand, aiming at Temisia who was diving straight at her from above, with brilliance flowing in her eyes, the crystal clusters at her side cracking like bamboo shoots breaking through the earth, growing section by section, stabbing towards the sky. Layers of crystal light were dazzling, and the spikes were deadly, obstructing Temisia''s descent from above. The crimson Sword Edge danced and swept, shattering and cutting away the blue crystal clusters, Temisia pressing onyer byyer, swiftly closing in on the bottom, until she split thestyer of blue ice crystals open. Chapter 39: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_4 Countless fragments fell, yet the inside waspletely empty. Temisia''s pupils shrank at such a scene; she quickly dodged to the side, and merely a half secondter, where she had just been standing was pierced through by crystal spikes shooting down from the sky. In the high sky, Hexia also unfolded her crystal-like wings, their color a cold blue, and in her hand she held a verdant crystal demon sword. "You''re learning quickly, Hexia," Temisia said, looking at the blue-eyed girl in the sky, knowing that was the Transcendent Profession condensed based on her own knowledge. Although the two had not fully merged, they had exchanged parts of their memories. Hexia shook her head without responding, then plunged downward. The blue wings pped in the air, leaving behind beautiful curves. "Then let''s see who''s stronger," Temisia murmured, then pushed off, soaring upwards, charging toward the azure morning star descending from above. A blue and a purple figure continuously intertwined in the crystal cavern beneath the ground, then separated again, their crimson and verdant demon swords shing again and again, scattering tiny fragments. The air was aglitter with light, the two fought from high above to the ground and then rose again, twining around each other like binary stars, colliding, until a violent sh burst forth, separating them. Hexia and Temisia looked at each other in mid-air; both were in bad shape, each with various wounds from which trickles of blood oozed, staining their dresses. Both unconcerned with their wounds, as a blue and purple crystal radiance flickered over the scars, the wounds slowly healed and became as before. Just like Hexia had learned to fight from Temisia, Temisia had also learned from Hexia the method to lick one''s wounds. The brave learned to fight; the timid learned to heal. Both had their distinct paths. "Perhaps it''s time to praise you, my dear sister," Temisia said as she slowly rose, her blood-red crystal demon sword also gradually dissolving. "However, just how much of my everything have you learned? With just that, you''ll still have no chance against me, hehehe, hahaha¡ª¡ª" Her figure continued to ascend, her crystal wings on her back bing more and more bizarre, elongating like dark purple butterfly wings, their patterns both dangerous and beautiful. A dark purple gown manifested, draping over Temisia, and then two ck roses grew from the wide sleeves of her ck lotus dress. The ck roses bloomed, petals unfurlingyer byyer, and from within their centers grew ck crystal de edges slowly extending. In a sh, a dark purple gemstone condensed on Temisia''s chest; its radiance flowed, with specks of magic power light sand gathering from the void before merging into it. Natural Sequence 5¡ªCharm Purple Rose (Rating: Legendary Condensing Bead Rank) "Don''t worry, Hexia, it won''t hurt much, it''ll all be over soon." Her dark purple butterfly wings quivered, and she disappeared in mid-air in an instant. "This is!" Hexia, in the air, moved like a refracted azure beam, swiftly dodging, yet still unable to avoid the sudden appearance of a dark purple figure. Temisia suddenly materialized behind her and thrust with her sword. The ck crystal de edge pierced out from Hexia''s chest, sttering fresh blood. The de twisted, the intense pain nearly rendering Hexia''s consciousness nk, and then the dark de was withdrawn, spraying arge amount of blood into the air. Her blue crystal wings slowly faded, and as Hexia watched the halo-shrouded figure above her head, she began to fall. The figure became smaller and smaller, and the whooshing of the wind beside her grew louder. Thump! Hexia coughed up blood as a violent shock came from behind her, her body lost strength, and she slumped in the Crystal Forest. Gradually, the dark purple wings fluttered, bringing down the beautifully bizarre figure within them. Temisia stepped towards Hexia lying in front of her, and looked at Hexia, who was now too weak to speak, and pointed her sword at her neck. The de did not strike immediately; she was waiting, waiting for Hexia to concede, to bow her head to her. Seconds ticked by, blood continuously coughed up from Hexia''s mouth, but she still stubbornly turned her face away, refusing to look at the familiar face in front of her. Seeing her so disobedient, Temisia shook her head slightly, then thrust her sword downward. Sizzle¡ª¡ª Blood dripped from the de, but it did not pierce her neck. Hexia had grabbed it, her pale fingers stained by the viscous blood, her knuckles catching the de edge, making a faint noise. Temisia swung the de, flinging Hexia''s wrist away, and then pointed it at her again. "You really don''t listen, do you? Do you think I''ll go soft if you look like this?" "If tears could soften your heart, sister, then I don''t mind crying a bit," "But you won''t, just like you know I won''t shed any more tears." In the face of the sword''s threat, Hexia struggled to rise, leaning on arge crystal column nearby. Temisia watched her sister take a deep breath and said, "I won''t go soft anymore." After speaking, her figure lunged forward swiftly, her sword thrust out, piercing through Hexia once more. This time she met no resistance; Hexia did not even try to dodge. Her bloodied hand pressed against Temisia''s shoulder, then continued to fondle forward, as if she wanted to touch Temisia''s face, but in the end it fell powerlessly down. "Don''t try anymore." Temisia released the hilt of the sword and backed away a few steps, looking at the girl she had pinned against the crystal column. "I know how you miraculously survivedst time. Although the Withering Sequence''s Spirit Purifying Form is effective on the soul consciousness, I am currently Sequence 5. The resilience of the soul consciousness is not something a low-level form like that can damage." Chapter 36: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space Once again awake, Hexia saw the familiar scene, her childhood bedroom, to be precise, the one she had lived in until the age of 12, which was different from the one she lived in now. The personal terminal by the bed went off, she picked it up to turn off the rm, and saw the current time. [Third Era 1248, September 2nd, 7:30:14 AM] This must be four years ago, she sat up, looked at the quilt by her side, the bedspread, and the cute-style stickers on the wall, filled with nostalgia. Stepping on the clean floor, she walked out of the room. In the living room outside, her father was getting ready for work, while her mother was preparing breakfast for her and her sister. "Hexia is up early today." Her father raised his eyebrows at her in an attempt to make herugh, but without sess, he waved goodbye and headed off to work. Her mother ced the warm milk on the table, then took out freshly baked bread, sliced it, and arranged it on tes. "Hexia, go call your sister down, didn''t she say she has to go back to school today?" "Ah, um..." Hexia nodded, but her feet didn''t move, as she continued to gaze at the serene and gentle woman before her. "What''s the matter, Hexia, looking at Mom like that?" "It''s nothing, I''m going to call Sister." Hexia scampered off, suddenly halting her steps by the bathroom, and walked in. "As expected." Looking at her 16-year-old reflection in the mirror, Hexia felt a pang of sorrow. It must be a dream, the her from that time couldn''t possibly look 16 years old, and the family didn''t notice anything strange either. She left the bathroom and knocked on her sister''s door; amidst anticipation and nervousness, she finally heard that incredibly familiar voice, "Come in." The ck-haired, purple-eyed girl had already gotten up, sitting by the window, gazing at the outside scenery where a few clouds drifted across the sky, and a young potted nt sat on the windowsill, its tiny leaves swaying in the breeze. "Hexia''s here." She turned around, looking at the girl who''d entered the room. The two looked startlingly alike, with the exception that the ck-haired, purple-eyed girl was more developed, as by this point in time, she was already 18 years old. "Hexia really did grow more beautiful." Upon hearing this, the girl froze in her steps. "Sister?" "Yes, I''m here." "How old do you think I look?" Hexia asked tentatively. "Around 16-17 years old? Simr to how I was at that age, why?" Temisia tilted her head, and her ck hair slid off her shoulder. "But, Sister, you''re six years older than me..." Hexia''s voice trailed off. "Yes, but my age will always stop at 18, you should know that by now." The girl across from her swept her hair aside by her ear, speaking calmly. "Why is that, Sister?" "Why, it''s hard to exin..." Temisia stood up, approached Hexia, and took hold of her hand. "Have you studied ancient history, about the affairs of the Third Era?" "I know roughly some of it." The two sat down on the bed, shoulder to shoulder, back to back. "During the Third Era, there was a human kingdom, their prince married Queen Titania of the Forest Elf Race, thus integrating the Elves into their own nation and bing stronger." "That''s the legend of the Verdant Empire." Hexia recalled. "Yes, but that''s just the surface of history. As witnesses to the marriage, a witch bestowed upon the royal family a treasure as a blessing and protection, the Holy Grail which could create twins if one drank from it." "With this treasure, every emperor of the Verdant Empire was a twin, their minds in unison, trusting each other, like two inseparable halves, twin siblings reminding each other, fixing ws, relying on one another, piecing two imperfect fragments together to form a perfect, wless whole." "Sister..." "In fact, we were supposed to be such twins..." Temisia''s voice was full of emotion. "But fate yed a joke, and the result is that we can''t form aplete whole. "However, don''t worry, Hexia, I''ve found a solution." "What is the solution?" Hexia felt a vague disquiet, because she knew what wasing. "The solution is¡ª we will merge into one again." Temisia turned around, lightly embracing Hexia from behind and sping their hands together. At this moment, a strange feeling emerged in Hexia''s heart. She seemed to be able to sense the heartbeat of the person beside her, the flow of blood, emotions, and even vague thoughts. (Hexia really is adorable) The girl turned her head in disbelief, trying to see what Temisia looked like at that moment. Flowing ck hair, eyes like purple pools with stardust moving within, an alluring and bewitching charm that captivated the heart. "What does merging into one mean?" Hexia turned away, unwilling to gaze into those eyes. "It means we willplement each other''s ws. Hexia, you want to be stronger, right? Sister can make you stronger, help you ovee your timidity and shyness." Temisia held Hexia''s hand, speaking so gently. "Is that so..." "Because we are separated, we are both imperfect, so merging into one again is for the best. Also, with my help, Hexia, you can grow quickly. Sister used to be number one in the entire school, and it was at the school ranked number one for Jade Skirt." "Hmm..." Hexia lowered her head, indeed,pared to her sister, she felt much weaker. "It''s okay, we won''t be alone any more after this." Temisia leaned down to embrace Hexia. Chapter 37: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_2 Afterwards, she gently pressed her forehead against Hexia''s head, and countless memories were transferred from the other''s mind. They were Temisia''s life, experiences from her growth, praises of genius, the envy of innumerable people, the cultivation of High Rank Transcendent abilities, experiences in outsmarting others, a calm and rational mind, and so on. As long as Hexia epted these, she could quickly be stronger, and since their intentions were aligned, she knew her sister had no ill intentions; this was also for her own good. But for some reason, Hexia still felt a slight resistance deep inside... Clearly, this was the best oue, but some corner of her heart still ached, at a moment that should have been joyous, with the chance to reunite with her sister and no longer be alone. Why is that... Why is that. Why is that? Why is that! Hexia pushed Temisia away and stepped back several steps under her sister''s puzzled gaze. "Hexia?" "Sister." Hexia defiantly raised her head. "Actually, there''s something I''ve always wanted to say to you." "What is it, because I didn''t pay much attention to you before, neglected you?" "Uh, not exactly." Hexia shook her head. "Sister, you are great, outstanding, even when you went to high school, mom and dad talked about you the most." Hexia looked at the ground beside her. "I can''tpete with you, I''m always very timid, and a bit clumsy. Every time rtivese to our house, I like to hide." "I used to envy your personality, sister, and I hated my own weakness." "When I started middle school, the teacher asked us to choose a Transcendent Sequence to cultivate, preferably specializing in one." "During the test, the direction that suited me best was the Natural Sequence, just like sister, and mom also wanted me to choose the Natural Sequence." "But that time, I lied. I didn''t choose the Natural Sequence, but rather the unpopr Withering Sequence." "Do you know why, sister?" "I was scared of beingpared to you, afraid others would ask how my Transcendent Sequence cultivation was progressing. They would definitely say how Temisia was when she was in middle school." "I''m a coward, self-conscious and weak, I can only escape from things like this, so I specifically chose the Withering Sequence with the fewest people. That way, even if someone asked, I could say that because the Sequences are different, the difficulty and method of cultivation are not the same, so I can''t progress as fast as you did." "Doesn''t it sound ridiculous, for the sake of such a petty pride?" "But sister, you certainly don''t understand; that was my only way to maintain myself." "I don''t want to bepared by others anymore..." Her voice choked. "After sister left, mom quickly passed away due to grief, and then dad left too." "I lived at home alone, often having nightmares at night, sometimes only able to fall asleep with the lights on because I was afraid of the dark and of seeing strange things." "To fight against this fear, I specifically went to the library and found Dark Visitor, an obscure Transcendent Profession. It had almost nobat power and couldn''t help me find a good job or even participate in any kind ofpetition." "However, its only benefit allows the practitioner to gain the ability of Ghost Vision, to see dead spirits, undissipated Fragments of Consciousness, and so on." "Invisible things always scare people, but once you can see them, you feel secure, and since then, I''ve been able to sleep peacefully." "So, sister." Hexia lifted her head. "To avoid you, I''ve tried my hardest." "Now you suddenly tell me to merge back into one with you, I can''t do that." "But, we can only be stronger byplementing each other. You must be on the brink of death by now, and without my help, you might..." Temisia looked at her unruly younger sister. "I know." Hexia bit her lip. "I know that obtaining everything from my sister would make me powerful, but would I still be me then... People are different; sister''s pride and confidence, I never learned before, and now, I don''t want to learn." "Just let me be a coward for a lifetime, forever known as a lonely and introverted child; I know these are my ws, but now I''ve grown ustomed to them being there." "Why have you be so stubborn, getting stuck on such trivialities, you should read less of those books that dissect psychology. I''ve studied them before, but thinking too much in this way only makes one hesitate, life should be more natural and straightforward." Temisia reached out her hand again. "No, no, no." Hexia stepped back, shaking her head. "We''re different, Temisia." It was the first time she called her sister by name. "You may naturally understand many things, spontaneously adapting to various challenges of life, but not me. I''m a silly child, afraid of being hurt, cautious about trying anything, and I can only arm myself through books and various kinds of knowledge. I look for the wisdom of predecessors, constantly analyzing the reasons, only if I understand the principles and process behind what happens can I feel at ease." "But living that way is really hard and tiring, sister." Temisia looked at her with sympathy. "Perhaps, but when I''m alone at my desk writing in my diary, I feel a faint happiness." "Because I''ve recorded the day''s gains, feelings, understandings, and so on, I try to find solutions to problems, these bits and pieces nourish me." "Now you tell me that if I just ept everything from you, none of this will be a problem anymore, what was everything I did before for, doesn''t it seem ridiculous, all my tears, efforts, perseverance, would be meaningless, just superfluous things, then what am I?" Chapter 38: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_3 "My memories, my personality, everything about me, they are made up of these fragments, and now youpletely deny them. You''ve never truly epted me, even if our personalities were to merge, the new one wouldn''t be led by me. To you, this might mean strength, but for me, it means going directly to my death." "I know you mean well, sister, and perhaps you hold greater expectations for our future, but..." "I''m sorry, sister, I can''t agree to your request." Atst, Hexia''s voice had be firm. "It seems you''ve made up your mind," Temisia looked at her. "What a disobedient sister." "I''m sorry." Hexia pushed the door open and walked out. Watching her about to leave, Temisia''s gaze shifted several times,plex and indescribable. "No matter what you think, I too have my own will, Hexia. Our sisterhood is destined to have only one of us possess the Talent of a Color Level Songstress." "If you must refuse, then I can only use a sister''s prerogative to teach you." The quiet living room and the house began to distort; Hexia, startled, looked around at everything, quickly realizing what was happening. She turned around to see Temisia approaching step by step, her Transcendent Ability already in motion. Her hair flying, with stardust swirling in her purple eyes, when she lifted her hand, vines burst through the walls like thousands of snakes, wrapping around Hexia, binding her tightly so she could not move. Then, Temisia stepped closer, again hugging Hexia''s forehead, kissing her, as a multitude of memories and emotions transferred once again, their souls trembling and emitting a dazzling brilliance. It was like two wless blue-purple crystals rising in endless darkness, then slowly melting into each other, intertwining. No! I refuse! A bright light rose from the darkness, and then the crystals shattered. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In reality, Qiao Long was diving in the stagnant water of a lift shaft, doing his best in this murky, gloomy water to search for the silhouette of the girl. ''Fuck, how long has it been since the bottom of this lift shaft was cleaned, there''s actually more than twenty meters of stagnant water, we''re almost below the 70th floor by now.'' Although it''s regrettable not to give that girl a lesson, it would be an even greater guilt and mental barrier if she died here because of his own mistake. ''I''m actually saving someone, no one would believe this if I told them.'' No matter what he thought, Qiao Long continued to dive deeper, and atst, at the bottom of the water, he saw the girl who had lost consciousness, with a dim light making her face appear very pale. ''She should still be saveable.'' Qiao Long swam towards her. However, just as he was about to touch the girl, a burst of intense light shot up from her body, exploding violently, with countless shes of crystalline light illuminating the entire underground lift shaft. These crystal fragments, carrying a massive spray of water, expanded all the way up the shaft, scattering in all directions, countless droplets condensing mid-air, adhering to the walls of the shaft. After the intense shing subsided, the interior of the lift shaft had be a cavern of crystal brilliance, with countless blue and purple hexagonal crystal clusters growing on the underground walls, steel frames, and handrails. These shimmering magic power crystals brightened the whole underground, like a fantasy and magnificent crystal world. High in the cluster of crystals, two figures, one purple and one blue, stood suspended in the air, their appearances simr, their ck hair dancing. The only difference was the color of their eyes. "Temisia..." the girl with the blue eyes gazed at the figure before her. "I had no choice, Hexia. It''s your fault for not listening," she replied, extending her right hand as numerous magic power light points converged, and a purple-red Crystal Sword materialized and was grasped in her hand. ... As Qiao Long climbed up the blue-purple crystal clusters, a streak of golden light shed by, causing him to look up, just in time to see the purple girl thrust the sword through the blue girl, piercing herpletely. The purple-red Sword Edge stuck in her chest, and the blood-red patterns spread along the wound like a curse, immobilizing Hexia, who then fell from the sky. Seeing the falling figure, Qiao Long leaped out, ready to catch her, but the purple girl in the air waved her hand again, and three purple crystal shards shot down from the sky, piercing through Qiao Long''s shoulder and wrist, nailing him to the wall. "Don''t touch my sister with your filthy hands. Disgusting." Falling again from the sky, Hexianded in the crystal world below, lying at its very center, with numerous crystal clusters extending from beneath her like spikes and swords, forming a protective ring. In the sky, Temisia moved again, her back sprouting crystalline, prism-like wings that were transparent with a hint of purple, exceptionally beautiful. She then descended like a meteor, leaving behind a wisp of purple traces in the air. On the ground, Hexia opened her eyes again, struggling to lift her hand, aiming at Temisia who was diving straight at her from above, with brilliance flowing in her eyes, the crystal clusters at her side cracking like bamboo shoots breaking through the earth, growing section by section, stabbing towards the sky. Layers of crystal light were dazzling, and the spikes were deadly, obstructing Temisia''s descent from above. The crimson Sword Edge danced and swept, shattering and cutting away the blue crystal clusters, Temisia pressing onyer byyer, swiftly closing in on the bottom, until she split thestyer of blue ice crystals open. Chapter 39: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_4 Countless fragments fell, yet the inside waspletely empty. Temisia''s pupils shrank at such a scene; she quickly dodged to the side, and merely a half secondter, where she had just been standing was pierced through by crystal spikes shooting down from the sky. In the high sky, Hexia also unfolded her crystal-like wings, their color a cold blue, and in her hand she held a verdant crystal demon sword. "You''re learning quickly, Hexia," Temisia said, looking at the blue-eyed girl in the sky, knowing that was the Transcendent Profession condensed based on her own knowledge. Although the two had not fully merged, they had exchanged parts of their memories. Hexia shook her head without responding, then plunged downward. The blue wings pped in the air, leaving behind beautiful curves. "Then let''s see who''s stronger," Temisia murmured, then pushed off, soaring upwards, charging toward the azure morning star descending from above. A blue and a purple figure continuously intertwined in the crystal cavern beneath the ground, then separated again, their crimson and verdant demon swords shing again and again, scattering tiny fragments. The air was aglitter with light, the two fought from high above to the ground and then rose again, twining around each other like binary stars, colliding, until a violent sh burst forth, separating them. Hexia and Temisia looked at each other in mid-air; both were in bad shape, each with various wounds from which trickles of blood oozed, staining their dresses. Both unconcerned with their wounds, as a blue and purple crystal radiance flickered over the scars, the wounds slowly healed and became as before. Just like Hexia had learned to fight from Temisia, Temisia had also learned from Hexia the method to lick one''s wounds. The brave learned to fight; the timid learned to heal. Both had their distinct paths. "Perhaps it''s time to praise you, my dear sister," Temisia said as she slowly rose, her blood-red crystal demon sword also gradually dissolving. "However, just how much of my everything have you learned? With just that, you''ll still have no chance against me, hehehe, hahaha¡ª¡ª" Her figure continued to ascend, her crystal wings on her back bing more and more bizarre, elongating like dark purple butterfly wings, their patterns both dangerous and beautiful. A dark purple gown manifested, draping over Temisia, and then two ck roses grew from the wide sleeves of her ck lotus dress. The ck roses bloomed, petals unfurlingyer byyer, and from within their centers grew ck crystal de edges slowly extending. In a sh, a dark purple gemstone condensed on Temisia''s chest; its radiance flowed, with specks of magic power light sand gathering from the void before merging into it. Natural Sequence 5¡ªCharm Purple Rose (Rating: Legendary Condensing Bead Rank) "Don''t worry, Hexia, it won''t hurt much, it''ll all be over soon." Her dark purple butterfly wings quivered, and she disappeared in mid-air in an instant. "This is!" Hexia, in the air, moved like a refracted azure beam, swiftly dodging, yet still unable to avoid the sudden appearance of a dark purple figure. Temisia suddenly materialized behind her and thrust with her sword. The ck crystal de edge pierced out from Hexia''s chest, sttering fresh blood. The de twisted, the intense pain nearly rendering Hexia''s consciousness nk, and then the dark de was withdrawn, spraying arge amount of blood into the air. Her blue crystal wings slowly faded, and as Hexia watched the halo-shrouded figure above her head, she began to fall. The figure became smaller and smaller, and the whooshing of the wind beside her grew louder. Thump! Hexia coughed up blood as a violent shock came from behind her, her body lost strength, and she slumped in the Crystal Forest. Gradually, the dark purple wings fluttered, bringing down the beautifully bizarre figure within them. Temisia stepped towards Hexia lying in front of her, and looked at Hexia, who was now too weak to speak, and pointed her sword at her neck. The de did not strike immediately; she was waiting, waiting for Hexia to concede, to bow her head to her. Seconds ticked by, blood continuously coughed up from Hexia''s mouth, but she still stubbornly turned her face away, refusing to look at the familiar face in front of her. Seeing her so disobedient, Temisia shook her head slightly, then thrust her sword downward. Sizzle¡ª¡ª Blood dripped from the de, but it did not pierce her neck. Hexia had grabbed it, her pale fingers stained by the viscous blood, her knuckles catching the de edge, making a faint noise. Temisia swung the de, flinging Hexia''s wrist away, and then pointed it at her again. "You really don''t listen, do you? Do you think I''ll go soft if you look like this?" "If tears could soften your heart, sister, then I don''t mind crying a bit," "But you won''t, just like you know I won''t shed any more tears." In the face of the sword''s threat, Hexia struggled to rise, leaning on arge crystal column nearby. Temisia watched her sister take a deep breath and said, "I won''t go soft anymore." After speaking, her figure lunged forward swiftly, her sword thrust out, piercing through Hexia once more. This time she met no resistance; Hexia did not even try to dodge. Her bloodied hand pressed against Temisia''s shoulder, then continued to fondle forward, as if she wanted to touch Temisia''s face, but in the end it fell powerlessly down. "Don''t try anymore." Temisia released the hilt of the sword and backed away a few steps, looking at the girl she had pinned against the crystal column. "I know how you miraculously survivedst time. Although the Withering Sequence''s Spirit Purifying Form is effective on the soul consciousness, I am currently Sequence 5. The resilience of the soul consciousness is not something a low-level form like that can damage." Chapter 40: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_5 "Is that so..." Hexia wanted to say something, but by now she had no strength left. Blood slowly dripped down; even though she wished her wound on the chest to heal, it was cursed by the ck crystal sword edge, unable to close up. In the end, was I wrong, shouldn''t I have persisted so meaninglessly... Her consciousness grew more and more dim, and shes of scenes passed through her mind, those were the moments of her recent work at Dream of zed ss. Belfeng, Andusia, Botis, Vurowus, Debi... They all took good care of her, patiently taught her the tricks of life and work, helped her dress up, made delicious food for her. In those few short days, she had felt a warmth that she hadn''t experienced in a long time. Humans are such greedy and foolish creatures; once they''ve tasted something delicious, they can''t bear to let it go; once they''ve experienced such beauty, they''re no longer content to die. After a long absence, Hexia recalled a nursery rhyme from her childhood, the ending theme of a cartoon. She had long forgotten the story of the cartoon, but the slightly sad lyrics and tune were forever etched in her heart. ... "From when did I start" "To be afraid to cry out loud" "Those few friends who give me a headache just thinking about them" "Do they still love to y tricks on people as before" "Heavens and earth turned upside down~~" "Running forward with all my might" "For fear of getting lost" ... "Breaking through the finish line to the cheers" "No one is there to dance with you anymore" "The noise from the attic has stopped urging" "The faded trophy''s gilded letters" "Emit a faint glow" ... What is this!? Temisia stepped back several paces, staring at the strange sight before her. Numerous faint golden specks of light like a delicate veil appeared beside Hexia, and her form and everything around her rippled like the surface of water. [Space is like the strings of a guitar, time is like the notes of a song, the rhythm of the world is already resonating] Time twisted at this moment, like a movie reel arriving in a rush. The blood that had spilled on the ground flew back up, then converged at the wound. The sword edge imnted in her chest withdrew on its own, then faded away, as the torn wound healed as if it was never damaged; even her torn dress returned to its clean state, without a sign of disarray. Hexia closed her eyes, scenes from her memory ying backward, her entire life''s experiences receding as if in reverse, each scene shing by. Exams, ss, studying, school, shopping, cooking, sadness, happiness, writing, listening to others, watching TV, middle school, childhood... Wait! What is that... Suddenly, she stopped at one scene in her memory ¨C it was when she was 10 years old, at a time when her sister had gone to high school and she herself was at home. "Hexia, do you know why mom''s hair is ck?" One summer evening, her mother took her for a walk in the park. "Because grandma''s hair is also ck." Hexia replied earnestly and intelligently. "That''s right." Her mother smiled and stroked her head. "But it''s not just that, where did grandma''s ck haire from?" "This... I don''t know." Hexia shook her head. "Because our family actuallyes from the ancient Eastern Continent, where all the people had ck hair and dark eyes. However, the people of the Eastern Continent were in the minority due to wars during the Fifth Epoch, andter they joined various countries." "Many traditions and customs have been lost. Nowadays, I rarely make noodles at home, and I can''t even speak or write the characters from The East. But some things have been preserved. Do you want to learn them, Hexia?" "I... I''m afraid I won''t be able to learn it. Maybe sister should learn it first, and she can teach me after she knows." "No problem, there''s no issue if you learn it first. For her, she might not need it anymore." Her mother said with a bitter smile. Temisia''s school is the top one on the, and such outdated skills are probably beneath her. "Actually, I don''t know much either, just a set of swordsmanship; normally, if you learn it, you can also exercise your body." "Originally, there should have been a matched mental method and a Cultivation Mystique for the Transcendent Profession, but all those were lost." No wonder her mother said her sister might look down on it. "Watch carefully, Hexia, I will only demonstrate it once." That evening, her mother simply demonstrated with a stick, and indeed, there was only one time. After that, her mother never mentioned it again, probably thinking it wasn''t of much use. But as with all skills, there is a reason for their creation; the traces and clues of the designer''s thought process from the old times are still evident. Those minute details in the flow of time were magnifiedyer byyer at this very moment, and then became exceedingly clear. Deducing the shape from the outline, the cause from the trajectory, the framework of the mental method from the name of the moves, countless thoughts emerged in the ovepping times, as if the interrupted melodies and chapters were beingpleted again, and everything became clearer and clearer. What seemed like only a few seconds to an outsider, Hexia felt as if she had lived years. Countless figures wielding swords vanished in a sh, each move and corresponding skill finally taking shape and branding it into her heart. This might be something entirely different from the original, but it is nheless powerful. In an instant, the light dissipated, and everything returned to the way it was before, with both standing across from each other in the crystal-filled underground. "Although I don''t know what method you used, even I understand that this ability to reverse time cannot be casually activated," Temisia said, looking at the ck-haired, blue-eyed girl before her. "How many more times can you persist, Hexia?" Suddenly, her figure teleported, vanishing from the spot. Once again, she appeared behind Hexia, stabbing out with her sword, but Hexia charged toward the ce where Temisia had just been standing, dodging the sword stab. Chapter 41: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_6 She could appear anywhere but definitely not in the same ce¡ªthat was the only certainty Hexia had. Amidst a somersault, the emerald de in Hexia''s hand shed once more with Temisia, sparks of shattering light appearing underground. As their figures interweaved, Hexia stepped on the side wall, leaped into the air like a wild goose spreading its wings, and just as Temisia prepared to strike at the opening with her rapier, Hexia soared upwards, as light as a feather. Eventually, she stopped high in the air, swung her sword, and countless crystals shattered before rapidly condensing into a brand new, antiquely fashioned longsword. The hilt was square, the de slender and eight-sided, and a blue tassel adorned the end of the sword. Wisps of magic power materialized from the void and converged upon Hexia, and the disheveled ck hair was now tied back with a Swallow Grass-blue hairband. She was wrapped in a moon-white, traditional Eastern gown, its cor, sleeves'' edges, and hem adorned with blue cloud patterns, while the dress was embellished with motifs of swallows fluttering in dance, the sleeves wide and the belt floating neatly, dignified and splendid. Natural Sequence 5¡¤Azure Bird''s Inheritance: Branch Folding (Legendary Condensing Bead Rank) ¡ª¡ª "Ho, interesting. Who did you learn this from? Don''t tell me it''s just some showy tricks¡ª" In the blink of an eye, Temisia surged upwards with speed, like a ck streak of momentary light, her jet-ck sword gleaming like thorny lightning, crossing amidst the sky. Hexia closed her eyes, no longer relying on sight to sense Temisia''s trajectory, but instead depending on her own intuition from her Transcendent Profession, along with rapid reflexes. She engaged Temisia inbat dozens of times within seconds on the spot, then suddenly rotated the de and sheathed it in the scabbard on her left hand. In an instant, her azure eyes snapped open, and a mournfully stunning huge arc sliced through the air. ''Azure Bird''s Inheritance: Swallow Clipping Moon!'' The jet-ck crystal de shattered, scattering under Temisia''s astonished gaze, and the shed arc left a bone-deep wound on her body. The figure wrapped in violet-ck butterfly wings plummeted from the sky, dodging the constant Swallow light being swung down from behind. The sword de waved with high speed, creating a thinyer of luminescence. The two rivals continued to battle in the air and then crashed into the ground, shatteringyers of crystals. Amid the debris of broken crystals, Temisia stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, looking towards Hexia who became fiercer inbat. She quickly advanced again, a jet-ck, poison sting-like short sword appeared in the palm behind her. Longswords shed, emitting a sound like gold striking jade, and tiny crystals mixed with the air wave scattered; then Temisia, like a butterfly pping its wings, swiftly retreated and then made a sudden advance with a twist while Hexia was in pursuit. The ck sword edge cut through the Swallow Grass hairband, hair scattering, and then Temisia''s left hand drove the poison sting short sword directly into her opponent''s back, the ck Cursed Seal spreading across Hexia''s back, causing her body to stiffen. But Temisia didn''t cease her swordy. After cutting through Hexia''s hairband and hair, she circled back and swung a huge arc to decapitate her opponent. At this point, neither had any room to hold back. In this extremely dangerous situation, Hexia pivoted on the tip of her foot, as if she had seen Temisia''s move behind her, twisted her body in the same direction as her opponent''s swinging sword, narrowly avoiding the sweeping de. The jet-ck crystal de passed an inch before Hexia''s eyes, taking with it some strands of her hair, and then her flipping legs kicked towards Temisia''s wrist, momentarily weakening her grip and making her struggle to hold the sword. After twisting around, a glow from the emerald de shed past, sweeping away the jet-ck magic sword from Temisia''s hand. It flew up high andnded on the crystal ground far away. Disarmed, Temisia beat her wings, shooting up into the sky, with Hexia closely following. The two were like ck and white streaks of light, swinging and swaying high in the air and then shing with each other again and again. In the end, Temisia suddenly stopped mid-air, and the violet-ck butterfly wings behind her dramatically unfurled, their seductively beautiful patterns spreading out, and a multitude of violet-ck crystal mist dispersed from the patterns like bullets, shooting downwards and sweeping across Hexia''s body. Being cautious of the unknown attack, Hexia kept swinging her sword to block, deflecting all the iing violet-ck Crystal Bullets, sending them to the surrounding walls and the shaft''s steel frames. And her caution proved correct; the Crystal Bullets that hit the objects quickly corroded and melted them, flowing down like liquid. Taking advantage of this brief gap, Temisia began to cast a brand new secret technique high in the air. She tossed the jet-ck magic sword high, letting it fly into the air, then extended her left hand, the purple Crystal Stone on her wrist turning into vines that began to grow. These vines and leaves spread out to both sides, forming long bow armsced with branches, and the hollow part seemed to create the pattern of a special Array. A flow of air went straight down from top to bottom, and as theyers of air blew, the thorny purple vines emitted a strange whistling sound. The previously thrown jet-ck magic sword also fell back down, caught by Temisia, and in her hands, the jet-ck crystal magic sword stretched and twisted into a unique spiral arrow, with numerous streams of air carrying the Magic Power of the Natural Sequence infusing it, causing the spiral long arrow to burst forth with dazzling light. Chapter 42: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_7 "Pierce through, Elf Secret Arts: Whirlwind Web Arrow!" A transparent, colorless passage of air formed instantaneously in the sky, while the arrow flew through it, unseen, as if the shooting and the hitting happened at the same moment, making it impossible for Hexia to evade. The powerful jet-ck spiral arrow pierced through her body, causing heart-piercing pain, then dragged her crashing to the ground, where it pinned Hexia''s limbs down. High above, Temisia did not rush to pursue her fallen sister but spread her arms once more, grasping the jet-ck magic swords that bloomed from the ck Rose in her hands again. The purple in her eyes slowly burned, as the jet-ck magic sword gained ayer of enchanting purple me, then the two swords in her hands merged slowly into one, finally forming a dangerous, broad ck-purple greatsword. In the deep purple, almost ck crystal, countless brandings spread like an intricate circuit, with strands of golden light flowing through them, driving theplex high-rank Aijeika forme. Annihtion. Curse. Deadly Poison. Instant sh. Oneyer after another of dangerous transcendent effects were added to the de. "Farewell, Hexia." With beautiful butterfly wings pping, Temisia descended slowly with the ck-purple demon sword in hand. Her speed was not fast, and in this gradual fall,yer uponyer of enchanting purple magic power pressed down, bringing an oppressive, suffocating momentum. On the ground, pinned down, Hexia struggled fiercely, managing to free her right hand from the seal of the ck spiral arrow, then grasped the blue ancient sword that condensed out of thin air and shed horizontally before her, severing all the spiral arrows. Looking up at Temisia gradually descending from the sky, she knew that there was no escape now. With such dense magic power and momentum, the moment she would break into Temisia''s vicinity, she would be stalled by the sticky,pressed waves of air, making it hard to move her body. What to do? A multitude of thoughts shed through Hexia''s mind. There was no time to choose carefully; it had to be this way. She discarded the sword in her hand, spread her arms slightly, and the Crystal Ground at her side trembled violently, erupting with fierce gem spikes that were not the same crystals as before but seemed like purified crystals extracted from underground rocks. A towering Gem Forest rose from the ground, reaching for the sky, its colors varied and brilliant, and yet utterly transparent, reflecting multiple images. After such a move, Hexia felt a wave of weariness surge, almost causing her to lose her footing, but she managed to recover a little atst. She couldn''t use such talent abilities anymore, or else she would faint outright, she realized clearly. In the air, Temisia shattered each rising gem pir with her sword, still not reducing her momentum. She didn''t care about the speed of her descent; instead, she focused on maintaining her absolute suppression of Hexia. The ck-purple magic power burned, the greatsword waved, turning each gem pir into falling rubble. Amidst the scattered debris, a figure with ck hair and a white dress suddenly appeared, and Temisia cut down instantly, but the figure shattered like ss, nothing but a reflection illusion. Hexiaunched herself to the side of Temisia. She didn''t have any more time or strength to condense a weapon capable of shing with Temisia; she had to risk it for survival. Her pale palmnded on the de, causing it to skew slightly, dodging its swing, and then Hexia gripped the hilt of the broad demon sword as if joining hands with Temisia over the weapon. A blue glow emerged at the end of the deep purple, near-ck magic sword, and then it spread upward. The two were natural twins, and regardless of whether it was their souls or the essence of their magic power, they were almost identical, with none of the rejection that other transcendents might experience. Deep purple and pale blue fought and consumed each other within the demon sword, struggling to overpower one another, and for a moment, they were equally matched. "Now you remember you have a little sister," Temisia red at Hexia, the purple in her eyes nearly zing. "I have never forgotten, sister," Hexia retorted, her eyes also igniting with a blue magic me. "Fool!" Temisia swung the sword with all her might, trying to let the greatsword strike Hexia. "Arrogant!" Hexia followed the direction of the de, colliding with her sister once more, but this time, neither could free their hands. The two, wielding the intertwining blue-purple demon sword, wobbled, repeatedly attacking and disrupting each other, from the sky to the ground, then back to the sky again. The great demon sword swung continuously, severing steel frames inside the shaft and leaving deep, tens-of-meters long gouges and gaps on the surrounding walls. If it weren''t for the fact that this area was a rarely-traveled underground location, it would have been noticed long ago. The struggle continued until, minutester, the massive demon sword shattered, ripping apart from the middle and breaking into two halves. So, each holding half, they reformed des suited to their own familiar styles and shed again. In a corner of the elevator shaft''s midpoint, Qiao Long hid in a gap between rocks, peeking at the two battling twin sisters with as little exposure as possible, shock and astonishment filling his eyes. Was this truly the level one could achieve at their age? Even the legendary talents, at 16-17, were probably just starting to learn some advanced forme in school. Though he had never formally attended school, he was aware of the situation of transcendent practitioners from his master. Logically, if one advanced to Sequence 4 before the age of 24, they were considered highly talented. Such geniuses typically graduated from prestigious schools or were offspring of major factions. Even for top talents recorded in the Federation, reaching Sequence 4 at 16 was remarkable. Yet what was he witnessing now? Two girls, 16-17 years old, with the strength of Sequence 5 verging on Sequence 6. Furthermore, theirbat became more and more proficient as they fought, as if they were rapidly gaining years of arduous practice and refinement within an hour. Chapter 43: 22: Strings of Time, Sounds of Space_8 Theirbat skills and secret techniques were unprecedented, and mastering just one of them could have made one famous throughout Payin City. Yet in their hands, they kept emerging in endless session, rarely repeating the same moves from start to finish. What had happened to these immensely powerful twins that they were now fighting each other to the death, and neither of them held back, regardless of the risk of sustaining severe injuries themselves? However, even this legendary battle was drawing to its conclusion. To conserve their strength and magic power, Hexia and Temisia stopped employing powerful but borate skills, instead opting for a sh of swordsmanship and moves. "Fairy Secret Art: sh of a Moment!" "Azure Bird''s Inheritance: Snow Drift Boat!" High above, Temisia''s butterfly wings transformed into transparent fairy cicada wings, which suddenly pped and vanished from the spot. On the other side, Hexia also swept her sword in circles, her silver sword edge spinning with her body, scattering countless tiny sword blooms like flying snow. Facing Hexia, who was like a porcupine bristling with quills, Temisia pierced with her sword. In an instant, she was shredded by the entangling silver sword glow and then the two separated again. "Elf Secret Arts: Seven Butterflies Incarnation!" "Azure Bird''s Inheritance: Three Plucks!" Temisia''s figure shifted rapidly, and as she moved and pped her wings, seven identical silhouettes appeared, each holding a magic sword made of ck crystal. The seven figures shed together, stabbing at Hexia from all directions in the air, without a single blind spot. Hexia, however, stood still in mid-air, her sword edge slowly swinging, creating a trail of afterimages. Just as the seven figures closed in on her, the silver sword light suddenly exploded outward, like moonlight spilling over. The first sword, silver brightness fleeting, cut through three figures, turning them to dust... The second sword, crescent like a bowstring, shattered the swords in the hands of two to seven pieces... The third sword, moon bright and clear, sent one figure flying, sword and all, into a fine powder of crushed crystal... Thest figure attacked Hexia from behind, the ck demon sword piercing into her back and through her, and then Hexia''s own sword spun and stabbed into her chest, impaling Temisia from behind. The two swords crisscrossed each other as they fell slowly from the sky, separating again as they neared the ground. Their sword edges shed repeatedly in the air, with countless sparks and fragments flying off, and their bodies became weaker, their movements slower. Finally, the two stood apart in the Gem Forest, staring at each other from afar, both devoid of the strength and magic power to continue. Their blood, thick and slowly flowing, could no longer be healed with depleted magic power, leaving them to quietly feel life slipping away. "What a disgrace I am," said Temisia, releasing her bloody sword hilt and swaying against a shattered giant crystal stone. At this time, she also had to admit that Hexia had grown to be her equal. On the other side, Hexia also leaned against a crystal stone, her body too weak to stand steadily. "Sister is too proud," she said. "Ha, now you dare to talk back," retorted Temisia, not minding at all. She leaned back against the crystal, looking up at the cave ceiling adorned with crystals and gems, purple and blue crystal clusters making the dark underground sparkle like a fairy-tale dream. "It''s truly beautiful," she murmured before slowly closing her eyes, her breathing gradually stopping. Her body then dispersed like flowing sand, while the sword that had stabbed into her chest rolled off, bouncing slightly on the ground before settling with a clear, tingling sound. After a long time, purplish light spots rose from the sand, drifting toward Hexia''s body and slowly being absorbed by her, until the other pupil in her eyes also showed a faint purplish glow. "I have received your thoughts, sister..." An hourter, Qiao Long slowly mbered down into the underground. He carefully navigated through the spiky Crystal Jungle until he finally saw the wless girl surrounded by countless gemstones. She sat on a solitary gemstone throne, her eyes sadly cast down, holding two longswords in her arms, one as green as jade, the other deep purple, almost ck. Chapter 44: 23 Light Drizzle (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Hua Kai Yun Yan Shu) [Hello, Jade Skirt Northern Seventh District Life Gene Archive for your service.] "Hello, I''d like to look up my biological parents and older sister''s individual gene maps." In a quiet and impably tidy hall, Hexia stood in front of a consulting AI terminal, holding her dripping wet umbre. [The query fee is 100 Federation Coins per person. Please present your ID for verification and undergo a scan. This process will be recorded.] Drip-drip¡ª¡ª [Identity verification sessful,mencing search in the archives...] [Hello, ording to our records, there is a 99.99% probability that you are the biological child of your parents...] Upon hearing this, Hexia breathed a sigh of relief, then continued to listen. [Your gic map is identical to that of your deceased older sister. Although it is not documented, it can be inferred that you are either monozygotic twins or a clone.] Alright, that''s what I thought, Hexia had her answer in mind. "Check if my mother has any records of frozen embryos or fertilized eggs." [Such information is private to federal citizens, but ording to Article 258, Section 5 of the Resident Privacy Confidentiality Act, after the death of the resident, their family has the right to be informed of privacy information rted to themselves...] [Your mother ''Gu Yongtian'' had a record of one frozen embryo, which was retrieved after being preserved for 6 years...] So that''s how it is, Hexia stared at the lines of data appearing on the screen, eventually finishing her interaction with the AI terminal after a long while. She left the nearly empty and quiet hall, reopened her ck umbre, and stepped back into the rain-soaked world outside. The sound of rain was incessant; countless droplets fell from the overcast sky, hitting the umbre fabric, creating tiny sshes, and then sliding down the sleek surface. Her mother indeed had twins that year, but due to various reasons, did not give birth to them together, choosing instead to freeze one of them ¨C and that frozen one was herself. The umbre slowly spun, sprinkling a few droplets, as Hexia reminisced about her childhood, wondering what it would have been like to grow up alongside her sister. Perhaps many things that followed would not have happened; whether it was personality or the study of the Transcendent Sequence, everything might have gone more smoothly. But there are no ifs in life; they went through different lives, faced disparate environments, and the chance to stay in step like the legendary twins of history was now impossible. She couldn''t ept her sister because that would mean the obsolescence of her own personality. Maybe she had to go through a lot more, whether in terms of will, experience, or strength, to be mature enough to ensure she wouldn''t be influenced by her sister. Hexia looked up, the rain exposing part of her face as droplets fell on her forehead and cheeks, slowly sliding down. Although the sky remained grey and overcast, a bright light behind the clouds was now visible. Droplets gathered on her face and wrists, then formed into transparent round crystal beads and rolled down. Healing Crystal [Mythical Level]: All things gather in your hands, crystallizing, purifying; chaotic, ripped fissures heal as if never there. (Aggregation, freezing, crystallization, purity, healing ¨C rted field abilities receive the utmost enhancement.) Voice of Time Strings [Mythical Level]: Feel the rhythm of all things, pluck the strings of time. (Unknown ¨C currently, using the fragments and traces in time can restore scenes from the past and even briefly reverse time partially.) The two Talents, among them the Healing Crystal should be her original origin Talent, and her sister''s Talent wasplementary; if she was the Healing Crystal, then Temisia would be the Annihting Quicksand. The second Talent was rted to the Songstress, much of which remained unknown; she had only incidentally used a part of it that day. Descriptions of the two Talents came after she searched federated documentation and Talent ranking standards and after special rites of self-inquiry. The Aijieka Sea was, in a way, an imperfect wish machine; it allowed the sea of matter to respond to the wishes of life, though this response was limited and imperfect. After another universe collided and ovepped with the present one, special particles from another dimension seeped into this world. They acted as a kind of medium, allowing the spiritual will of present life to interfere with the material world, leading to a variety of magics and Transcendent abilities. This was also why humans rose and fell so rapidly originally. Today''s human civilization has undergone three great devastations and extinctions. The first urred in the remote 21st century, the second after the Twilight Era, and the third during the Fifth Epoch. The matter seemed to havee to a conclusion. After that day, she had to take three days off to recover and heal, then looked for past records she had left behind. With those matters handled, it was time for her to head back. She found a public cosmicwork terminal and used its service to call a Hover Car for herself. A few minutester, a ck Hover Car arrived through the curtain of rain. Entering the car, Hexia leaned back in the seat and quickly fell asleep. These few days, she had been very tired, as if no amount of sleep broke through the fatigue ¡ª probably a side effect of using her Talents. Two hourster, Hexia arrived at her home, only to find two people standing at her doorstep, seemingly waiting for her. She shook the water off her umbre, held it in her palm, then walked toward them. "Who are you?" She wasn''t as frightened as before. "Hello Miss Hexia! We¡­ we are Qiao Long''s underlings," one of the chubby men introduced himself, visibly nervous. "Hm?" Hexia tilted her head, recognizing who Qiao Long was ¡ª the man who had attacked her that day. Chapter 45: 23 Light Drizzle (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Hua Kai Yun Yan Shu)_2 "What did Qiao Long send you here for? I said we''d call it evenst time. Is he still dissatisfied?" "This..." The chubby man was in a rush and it was hispanion who started exining. "The thing is, big brother wants to apologize and offer reparation, but he''s still in the hospital recovering, so he sent us. Seeing that Hexia remained unmoved, hispanion sped up his speech a bit. "Big brother said that he identally damaged your stuff, so he sent us to deliver this to you." Afterwards, he kicked therge man beside him. "Yes, yes, I''ll open it for you." As he spoke, the chubby man picked up a silver case next to him, then opened it horizontally in his hands, revealing three transparent boxes inside, each containing atest gship personal terminal. "Thetest model from Moryun Workshop, ''Ink Painting¡¤Ge Wu 2707'', is an upgrade of the gship 2700 with the addition of phoenix and flower patterns and the ''Concentrated Ink'' frame system that can produce a transparent barrier up to 20 square meters, used to iste noise, rain, attacks, harassment, and so on." "Xeliya Group''s ''Colorful¡¤Ruo La H4-Blue'', a custom version based on thetest ''Colorful¡¤Ruo La H4'', is covered with flow-sand blue ting, capable of isting various interferences while maintaining stable and efficient operation, a helper for various kinds of work." "Qixuan Shengyin''s ''Hymn¡¤Opera F-192'', with its apanying seven-level Calming Altar Engraving System, can set up a tranquilizing altar anywhere, helping you to practice Transcendent Sequence and meditation." Hexia thought to herself that some real thought had gone into the selection of these models. The first product from Moryun Workshop focused on elegance and versatility in life. Xeliya Group''s products were famously precise and professional, providing assistance and analytical effects in various kinds of work. As for thest, Qixuan Shengyin, it wasn''t even a product of a Federation enterprise but an imported good from a distant country, beneficial for practice. Hexia had only ever heard of it, but had never seen it before. "Are you asking me to choose one?" "No, no, it''s not that, but all of them are offered to you as a reparation gift." The two replied in turn. "That''s a bit excessive." Hexia shook her head. The cheapest one would cost probably 30-40 thousand Federation Coins. And thest one might go over 100 thousand Federation Coins. "Please ept them, otherwise we really wouldn''t know what to do." "Are you trying to force me?" Hexia''s umbre handle twisted, shaking off a few droplets of water. "No, no, no, it''s just, we''re just... not good with words, we don''t know how to exin, just, um, if you don''t ept them, we will feel bad, and Qiao Long doesn''t want to upset you, he just wants to convey his sincerity. If thepensation is too light, in our eyes, it is an offense..." In their rules and worldview, making reparation is not simply aboutpensating for losses; if it was just a simplepensation, what would be the difference from a court''s judgment? It would be like an insult. Therefore, for an underworld-style apology, it at least has to be more than triple the loss to qualify as basic politeness and sincerity. "Is that so..." Hexia pondered after listening to the exnation. In fact, she didn''t want to get entangled with people like Qiao Long anymore. She might not be afraid herself, but Grandma He''s family where she was staying still had to live here long-term. She didn''t want to seriously offend anyone or force each other into a corner. "Fine, I will ept them, but on the condition that from now on you don''te looking for me, and don''t bother people around me, understand?" "We understand!" This time the two replied immediately, very straightforward and pleased. "Good, put the case down, you may go now." "Yes!" The two promptly left from the other side, even though it would take them on a longer route, but they wouldn''t have to pass by Hexia. Watching the two rapidly disappearing figures, Hexia wondered how Qiao Long had described her to his subordinates. Logically speaking, with her current appearance, she''s just an ordinary 16-year-old student, with no intimidating presence. These two were clearly the kind of people who were used to the underworld''s life of fighting and killing, and wouldn''t normally be so afraid. Actually, Hexia was mistaken on this point, Qiao Long didn''t use too many words to describe what happened. It was just that his two underlings had taken him to the hospital after which they were frightened by the massive wounds tearing through his chest and arm. They had never seen their boss so seriously injured, and the assant was reportedly just an underage girl. Moreover, Qiao Long''s reaction post-incident was also quite surprising. He repeatedly warned the two men at his side to never provoke that girl, to always be humble, cautious, and extremely careful. This made the already anxious men even more fearful, thinking that this girl must be a hidden unparalleled individual, or that she had a staggering background, hence the scene that had just yed out. After bringing the silver box into the house, Hexia put her umbre away and then returned to her bedroom. Shey down on the bed for a short rest before she remembered something, sat up, and went to the living room to open the box. She indeed needed a personal terminal right now, as the second one she bought was also damaged during Qiao Long''s attack. So both teacher and student specialize in attacking personal terminals? Hexia took out the one from Moryun Workshop, started it up, then began charging it while inputting her information, engraving it within. A few minutester, she dialed a familiar number. "Grandma? I''m staying at my ce tonight, have some stuff to sort out. I''lle over tomorrow." ... "Okay, I''ll be careful, and you too... Alright then, goodbye for now." After handling all that, she ced the brand-new personal terminal aside, leaned back on the bed, and looked at the familiar ceiling as sleepiness overtook her again. Maybe a little more sleep. Afterward, the ck-haired girl leaned on the duvet with the edge serving as a pillow over her arm, slowly drifting into sleep. Her breathing gradually evened out; a few soft ck hairs curved across her face, adding a touch of tenderness to her already dreamlike features. Her dark brows in sleep would asionally furrow, then rx, taking a while topletely calm down. At 11 p.m., Hexia woke from a deep sleep, sitting up in bed bleary-eyed, zoning out and nearly falling back to sleep, before getting up to go to the bathroom to wash her face and clear her head. As water droplets fell, Hexia looked at herself in the mirror, a hint of blue brilliance appearing in her ck eyes, which then shifted to a blurred purple. She blinked, allowing everything to return to normal. She turned on the automatic cooking machine in the kitchen, took out a very old diary, flipped it open on the dining table, and began to write. "April 28th, rainy The day before yesterday, I fought with my sister. It hurt. But I won, which made me happy." After pondering, she listened to the sizzling soundsing from the kitchen and continued to write. "I want to learn to cook, to make it as delicious as Mom''s" Then, the diary closed, and she walked towards the kitchen. Today marks the first step of learning. Chapter 46: 24 A Peaceful Afternoon (Thanks to the lovely maid Mengmeng, the Alliance Hierarch) The next morning, Hexia woke up, and she turned on the sunshinemp on the windowsill, which shone into the room like daylight, exceptionally bright. After getting up, she first took a quick shower, then lightly shook her hair, and countless water droplets condensed into crystals before falling onto her body, refreshing her. She then changed into a brand-new outfit, sat at the vanity, neatly tied her hair, and fastened a slightly oversized silk butterfly bow at the back of her head. After that, she stood up, went to the kitchen, and served herself some hot porridge. After a simple breakfast, she grabbed her personal terminal, picked up her bag, walked to the doorway, and slipped into her snug leather shoes, gently tapping to allow her toes to press into the space at the front, then she lifted the heels and fastened the straps tightly. Hexia then took another look at herself in the mirror next to her, and after finding no issues, she blinked. "I''m heading out." She said softly, then opened the door and walked out. The corridors were as messy as ever, and Hexia stepped lightly through them, nimbly avoiding various puddles and debris as she quickly made her way towards the elevator. Entering the spacious elevator with several familiar faces from the residential area, many greeted her. "Hexia is up early today." "Good morning, Hexia." "Good morning, everyone." For the first time, Hexia responded instead of keeping silent as she had in the past. Although she still wasn''t used to it, there was a sense of fresh excitement and adventure. "Hexia seems different today." "Haha, it seems so." Her neighbors said,ughing. The elevator ascended, and the screen inside broadcast recent news. "The disturbance at the Sound of the Vast Sea Bathhousest week has been resolved. ording to the report from the chief police officer, the cause of themotion was an idental activation of an electronic pulse machine from a smallpany during transport. The ensuing panic and agitation among the residents led to considerable damage." "Thepany responsible for the ident has guaranteed to cover the damages, and the operator of the Sound of the Vast Sea Bathhouse has epted thepensation. Both parties have apologized to the guests present during the incident, offering each guest a 300 Federation Coins voucher aspensation for the fright... stay tuned for further updates." "Elevator shaft G5184 was found damaged the day before yesterday, with numerous signs of a skirmish but no bodies. It''s suspected to be the result of a sh between underground gangs because the area, located on the 72nd basement level, is rarely frequented, with mostly members of the underground gangs and unregistered persons operating in this gray zone." "Due to the impact of the Southern Federation Star Domain Trade Center''smodity prices, experts predict a potential rise in industrial costs for the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain by 0.65% in the next half year, while exports appear to be weakening..." "The much-anticipated immersive film ''Please Hold My Fingertips'' will premiere at the beginning of May. The film tells the heart-wrenching story of lovers who were separated by the great war four hundred years ago, depicting their difficult choices during the conflict, their painful experiences, and ultimately their departure on a spaceship to a secluded paradise far from the chaos..." The elevator stopped, the broadcast ceased, and the doors opened. Hexia exited the elevator and continued on her way until she reached the base of Topstar Tower. She entered the tower''s elevator; the ground below gradually receded and soon the entire city slowly came into view from above. Shortly thereafter, Hexia arrived at the Dream of zed ss floor. Taking a deep breath to calm her slight unease, Hexia walked in. It was still early, and the lobby was quiet. The artificial sky overhead began to show hints of golden dawn, tinting the clouds below with a soft gold. Due to taking a few days off, today was technically Hexia''s first official day at work. Unfortunately, Belfeng and Andusia and other seniors were not yet present. After a short stroll, Hexia found the small circr chapel in the east corner, where the petite ''Debi'' was feeding birds. She had golden curly hair and wore a white maid''s dress. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Debi looked up. "It''s you, Hexia." Her voice was soft, devoid of surprise or dismay, but rather conveyed a sense of tranquility. "You''ve arrived." After speaking, she stood up, pulled open a cab door on the wall, bent down to pull out a chair, and ced it by the table. Seeing her struggle a bit, Hexia couldn''t help wanting to assist, but Debi had already positioned the chair by the time she got close. Sitting down, Hexia asked about what had happened during the days she was away. "Sister Belfeng was very worried about you. She mentioned it to me several times, although, despite what she says, she still enjoys ying games every afternoon." Quite true to character, Hexia thought to herself. "I don''t interact much with the others, so I don''t really know." Debi shook her head; she didn''t mingle much with the other maids and often stayed in her corner. Seemingly no major issues, Hexia thought, feeling somewhat relieved, and they continued feeding the birds together. Twenty minutester, Hexia stood up to leave, mentioning she was going to change clothes. "Here." Debi handed her a card. "What''s this?" "It''s my temporary ess card. You can use it to go up to the employee lounge. Otherwise, you won''t have a ce to change." "Just find Belfeng or the manager when they arrive, and register with them. Normally, you can just use your wrist identity chip to trigger the ess." "Thank you." Taking the card, Hexia nodded in gratitude. After changing upstairs, since she was alone today, she didn''t have any seniors ''kindly'' adding various essories to her outfit. Chapter 47: 24 A Peaceful Afternoon (Thanks to the lovely maid Mengmeng, the Alliance Hierarch)_2 After looking in the mirror at this rather in maid for a little while, Hexia decided to still add something; after all, it was her first day, and she wanted to make a good impression. She picked out a feather-shaped hair clip from the drawer. Its five feathers were arranged in a fan-shaped gradient, with colors from top to bottom being pure white, dusky green, meadow yellow, goose yellow, and orange-red. She clipped it beside her right ear and then took out two thin white hair ties, securing two strands of hair in front of her chest before heading out. Her first day of work had officially begun. First was to go help "Huale" (Uvall) elder sister since the peak period for hot drink sales was in the morning, and she might not be able to handle it alone. "Thank you, Dantalion, foring to help~" said the maid with milk-white hair, expressing her gratitude, then telling Hexia which items to prepare. "Hot coffee and milk tea are the mainstays in the morning, of course, our customers here definitely wouldn''t be satisfied with just ordinary brewed coffee, most are looking for T4-T3 level beverages. I''ll send you the ingredients list, just prepare ording to that, then I''ll handle the processing." "Alright," Hexia said as she looked at the information that came through, beginning to take out ingredients from the storagepartments into clean porcin bowls. These ingredients were all different, some being materials with transcendent effects, hence the environment for their storage varied as well. They were distributed across five different areas, and had to be used within a certain timeframe after being taken out, otherwise their quality would slowly deteriorate. "Purple Core Beans, Molten Core Coffee Beans, Frost Bile Powder, Starpoint Grass Leaves, Alice Red Tea, Orchid Extract..." ording to different needs, Hexia carefully weighed and added them before handing them over to the maid "Huale", the maid with a High Rank blending qualification certificate. Just like making a potion, within various transparent apparatuses, the raw materials were heated, roasted, stirred, and then magic power was used to elicit their special effects, etc. In the end, the beverages were blended. ''T4-level Orchid Red Tea, customer D-24.'' "T3-level Cold me Fusion Coffee, customer B-19." "T4-level Snow Serene Quicksand, customer D-92." Even though it seemed chaotic, "Huale" managed to skillfully produce three drinks at the same time. "Two T4-level ones can be delivered by the robots; for the T3-level one, I''m afraid I''ll need to trouble Hexia to deliver it personally." "I understand." Hexia nodded, took out a specialized tray from behind the bar, and Huale ced the drink and a bunch of fresh flowers on it. Then she thought for a moment, pulled out a note, and wrote both of their names on it. ''Blessings from "Huale" and "Dantalion"~'' Only then did Hexia set off. Carrying the tray, Hexia walked toward the west side of the hall with a slightly nervous heart, being very careful along the way for fear of bumping into someone or being bumped into, or worse, falling over. Fortunately, Dream of zed ss was a shop that upied an entire floor, which was extremely spacious and uncluttered, so there was no need to worry about someone suddenly popping out from some corner. Just like that, Hexia walked for almost 1 minute before she reached the location of the target customer. This was ady of status, dressed in a fragmented blue skirt, sitting in her chair admiring the view outside the window, her demeanor veryposed. "Hello, your Cold me Fusion Coffee is ready," Hexia said softly to get thedy''s attention, cing the tray on the table and then setting down the saucer and the cup of the drink, with the saucer containing light pink and light blue voring cubes, followed by cing a spoon next to the saucer and then arranging the fresh flowers beside the drink. Right, and the note, she smoothed it out, thinking to ce it beside the fresh flowers, but feeling it might blow away, she then decided to lightly press it under the bouquet. Thedy of status watched Hexia''s movements with neither speaking nor responding until Hexia made a final bow to bid farewell and then received a slight nod. After turning around and leaving, Hexia''s previously taut heart finally calmed down, and her steps became inexplicably lighter as she walked back to where she came from. The first time serving a meal to a distinguished guest had ended sessfully, and thankfully, this guest hadn''t made any additional requests or inquiries. Otherwise, she would have been truly flustered. After Hexia left, the noblewoman added two light pink cubes to her drink with a spoon, held it gently, and took a slow sip, savoring the taste before setting it down. She nced at the note pressed under the bouquet, making out the name on it. "Dantalion, a neer, huh..." As Hexia was serving the meal, she had realized that this was a new maid; after all, the technique was quite raw, and in the end, there was a moment of hesitation about where to put the note. Although it looked somewhat clumsy, it was strangely endearing. As someone of her age who had experienced much, her mentality had long since be calm, and she was simply intrigued by watching Hexia''s fumbling. After returning, "Huale" eagerly asked Hexia, "How was it, did everything go smoothly?" "Yes, mostly smooth, no surprises," the girl nodded. "Hehehe, well done, Dantalion~" She gave a thumbs up, and then they both got busy again. The two spent the morning in such a busy yet fulfilling way until after 11 o''clock when they slowly began to rx and have some free time. "Here you go, Dantalion," Huale passed Hexia a cup of the prepared beverage, its snow-white liquid scattered with fine stars of crystalline sand, very beautiful. "Who''s this for?" Hexia asked reflexively. "This is for you. We''re not so busy now, have something to drink and replenish yourself." Hexia took the drink, gave it a gentle shake and a close look, and as she did, Huale exined with a smile. "This is a T4 ranked beverage, Xue Xing Sha, refreshing and fatigue-relieving, good for refreshing the spirit and soothing the nerves." T4 ranked beverages all have transcendent effects. If they are said to have certain uses, then they truly do, and are not like the exaggerated ims of ancient times. "Thank you, Sister Huale." Hexia sat at an inside seat of the bar, cradling the beverage and tasting it in small sips, her legs gently swinging. A sweet taste mixed with the stimtion of the Cold Crystal tantalized her taste buds and soon her tense nerves rxed considerably. "How about a nap?" Huale suggested, seeing Hexia with her eyes closed, rejuvenating herself. "That doesn''t seem right, after all, it is work time," the girl opened her eyes and shook her head, herrge butterfly bow at the back of her head swaying with the motion. "At this time, you can take a nap in the spot under the bar where customers can''t see you. I''ll wake you up at 12 o''clock." After a moment''s hesitation, Hexia felt that sleeping during work hours was not good practice. But she couldn''t resist the sleepiness that was overwhelming her. If she continued to feel like this in the afternoon, then... In the end, she decided to follow Huale''s advice andy down at the table under the bar, resting her head on her arms to nap. Seeing her quickly falling into dreand, her gray hair moving slightly with her breathing, Huale smiled. It seems she really didn''t sleep well, this child. Approaching midday, the wind chimes inside the bar gently swayed with the circting currents of air, producing a soft, clear sound, while below them, the girl slept quietly and peacefully through her nap as time quietly slipped away. Chapter 58: Chapter 30 "Please Hold My Fingertips The hall was not busy during the day, and when the four of them entered the ticketing lobby, they could see huge screens scrolling through posters. Approaching the automatic ticket machine, several people lined up to pay, then they brought their wrists close to the reading area to register, and finally, thepletion was signified by a ''beep'' from the machine. Residents of the Federation now all have microchips imnted in their wrist bones, which conveniently allows them to register and conduct various transactions. ["Please hold my fingertip"; ticket price 325 Federation Coins; please make payment] [Paymentpleted] [Logging in information...] [ess granted, wee] With a ''beep'' from the machine, Hexia looked up towards the front and jogged a few steps to catch up. After passing through the dimly lit tunnel, the four came to a small room housing 12 pods in which people could lie down, each emitting a pale blue halo from within, especially conspicuous in the dark surroundings. Approaching one of the pods, they ced their wrists on the detection tform, data swiftly shed past, and then the pod''s door slowly rose, releasing a faint chill. "I''ll go in first." One of thepanions said andy down inside. Hexia stepped on the footrest beside her and also carefullyy down, then the transparent metal ss slowly closed over her, and countless tiny points of light swam in her field of vision. [Time: 2:42 PM, "Please hold my fingertip"] [Preparing the film, please rx as much as possible, if you feel ufortable press the emergency button on your right] [Releasing illusion smoke, neural connection starting] On Lying in the movie pod, Hexia''s field of vision gradually filled with blue-violet smoke, then illusions began to appear before her eyes, and faint music could be heard, knowing that this was the preamble warm-up for the descending movie, she rxed as much as possible, allowing the Transcendent Core and Magic Power within her to no longer resist this interference. [The descending movie will provide you with an immersive viewing experience. It is created by T4 grade three-dimensional illusions and transmitted directly into your sensory organs via weak signals, while the movie pod also simtes airflow, temperature changes, shaking, and pushing forces from within the film] [Verified by the Federal Security Audit Institution, the Ethics Committee, and the Supreme Court, it is ssified as a T4 safe grade use of Transcendent effects] [If you feel ufortable during the viewing, or if you detect illusion signals higher than T3 grade, please immediately activate your own Transcendent Core and operate ording to the Siska Form to quickly dispel the illusions and awaken] [Finally, we wish you a pleasant viewing experience] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Seagulls skimmed across the clear blue sky, their cries echoing over the water''s surface. The vast, unbounded azure ocean, with the sea breeze blowing and moist dropletsing at you head-on, even carried the faint briny scent of seawater. The view followed the seagull''s wings from the sky in a swift dive, then plunged through the atmosphere, zooming in continuously. The air currents lifted the fluffy wing feathers, with white downy barbs and slightly ckened tips, glistening with a hint of oiliness in the sunlight. Under the radiant sky, an iron dragon about a kilometer long roared across the sea, its ferocious beast-like front shaking violently on the tracks, with waves of steam continuously sting out from the pipes on either side, its long, scaly armored body reflecting golden and silver lights in the sunshine. The Furnace Train, introduced by the giant corporation ''Prison Bull Heavy Industry'' in year 583 of the Federation, was specially designed for long-distance transportation within the Star Domain. Inside the carriage, well-dressed passengers chatted with each other over luxurious tables and chairs, raising their sses, while the train remained stable and quiet despite the turbulent waves outside. "This journey represents the Wind Whale Star Domain''s willingness to ept the peace proposal and negotiate with us." A man in a white suit with gold trim raised and swirled his wine ss, speaking to hispanions. He looked confident with a charismatic smile that inspired trust, and he was none other than a high-ranking senator of the Federation, the diplomatic representative for these negotiations. "Long live the Rose Federation! May the Twelve Charters shine forever!" everyone cheered in unison. Amidst the clinking of sses, a woman in a turquoise blue dress leaned against the window, propping her cheek with her hand and slowly swirling her ss of wine. Her eyes were on the sea outside the window, but her expression seemed lost in memories and thought, her attention not present. "Tearsa, my dear sister, what are you thinking?" The blond man who had previously raised his ss came to sit beside her. "Nothing much, it just seems like these negotiations are somewhat abrupt," the likewise blonde woman turned to him. "Haha, indeed, it''s a surprise to many, however¡ª" He changed the subject abruptly. "Based on the information we''ve received, it all makes sense." ... Ever since the Federation began reforms fifty years ago, internal conflicts have continually erupted, shaking the interests of many, making it unbearable for some conservative parties, yet without reform, the umted problems of the Federation remained unsolvable, creating a difficult situation. As the two sides were deadlocked, a civil war finally broke out and has continued to this day. As the two discussed the potential oue of the war, the blonde woman suddenly looked out the window. "Are theying?" "What''sing?" The man turned his gaze outside as well. Huge sea creatures leaped from the water in the distance, sshing up waves tens of meters high, with more and more appearing, emanating a special energy fluctuation, seemingly above Sequence 5 ferocious beasts. Suddenly an announcement was heard overhead. "Sea creatures approaching the train, sea creatures approaching the train, please passengers return to your seats and prepare for the impact." Chapter 59: Chapter 30 "Please Hold My Fingertips"_2 Under the azure sky, the fierce beast-like train head spewed out long white vapors, followed by the long and lofty whistle of the steam horn. On the sea surface, the ck behemoths revealed partial dorsal fins and tentacles above the waves, cutting through the white foam as they charged toward the high-speed steel dragon. Inside the Furnace Train''s head, the massive sixteen-cylinder engine lifted and fell like a pile driver,pressing countless golden-red particles before extracting and igniting them in a burst. The essence of the Dragon Sequence''s magic power particles was infused into the gigantic core at the center. They were sent swirling at high speed through theplex, branding iron-likework of veins and pipelines, before being injected into the outbound conduits, flowing toward the carriages like blood through veins. The howling and powerful Dragon Sequence particles sped through the conduits. Where these particles reached, the outeryer of the car''s scale armor lit up with golden veins. Then, the surface of the scales gradually coated with color, as if bracing for an impact. After that, amid the roaring high-speed rush, rows of carriage tops lifted in the gale, revealing the twin dark gun barrels beneath the scale armor. Under the constant monitoring and calibration of the fire-control radar, the gun barrels began to aim at the mutant sea beasts attacking them. On the narrow screens within the twin gun barrels, lines of captions shed. [Aijieka Particle charging¡­] [Conduit preheating, choosing mode: Brilliance Mode ¦Â-ss] The base of the turret began to gather golden-red particles, which then spread along the barrel, with the internal fment arrays gradually lighting up. [Quadrant Instrument aiming initiated, beginning target assignment...] [Targets assigned, beginning to aim...] The gun barrels moved slowly, being adjusted step by step to aim at the attacking ck sea beasts under the rotation and tuning of the base dial. [Lock-on sessful, fire!] The golden-red stream of particles abruptly cut across the sea surface, dazzling and blinding even in daylight. The highlypressed strong stream of particles shed by, and a vast spray of water and mist rose from the sea, where the sea beasts charging at the train now bore several horrific charred cavities. These instantly in sea beasts slowed down, gliding forward a little due to inertia, then slowly sinking into the deep blue and pitch-ck ocean. The few sea beasts that were too distant to be affected also halted, observing their dead kin ahead, issuing low mournful sounds, and then slowly disappearing at the edge of the sea. "Start reporting the situation." Inside the train''s massive cockpit, the train captain frowned at the many segmented screens in front of him and loudly inquired through the inte. "Radar and Quadrant Instrument searchplete, 47 approaching sea beasts have been eliminated, 41 destroyed. The remaining six, due to their distance, were not included in the lock-on range and escaped turret fire. Currently, those six sea beasts are departing into the distance, and the wave emissions from their Transcendent Cores are also gradually weakening." "Good." The train captain nodded slightly, hung up themunication terminal, and then sat down. Seeing that the captain''s expression was still stern, his assistant next to him couldn''t help but cautiously lean in to ask. "Do you think?" "The oue of the attack doesn''t surprise me; this Furnace Train produced by Prison Bull Heavy Industry is designed to counter sea beast attacks. What''s embarrassing is the fact that it took until the beasts were only one kilometer away for them to be detected." "If we hadn''t handled it well today, we would have had a mark against us within the corporation, hmph!" "This is a train carrying negotiation representatives! At present, there are still millions of Autonomous Units in a standoff between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and three Starship fleets hover menacingly in space. If there were an ident, you and I would be straight off to a military court." "This, when traveling at high speeds, there is a certain dy and distortion in the observation and sensing of the surroundings... it''s unavoidable..." the assistant said as he wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. "Ha, you must have taken a pretty penny in kickbacks from Venus Workshop, speaking on their behalf at a time like this." The train captain nced at his assistant. "This, actually the quality of their observational scanners is quite decent, perhaps it''s the vibrating running environment of the Furnace Train that hinders its performance. You know how the Dragon Sequence particles aren''t too friendly to these precision instruments," the assistant continued to try and exin. "Enough, I don''t want to hear any more of this." The train captain waved his hand dismissively. "Call them up; after arrival, have them switch it to a new one. Next time Ie to inspect, if everything is up to standard, I won''t pursue these issues further," The man stood up and pped his deputy''s shoulder hard twice, almost causing him to lose his bnce. The deputy dared not retaliate, only watching as the train conductor walked away. Afterwards, the deputy hurriedly left the cockpit, while the other crew members began whispering amongst themselves. "Haha, that''s really funny. I''ve been annoyed with him for a while; he finally tripped up, huh." "That''s for sure; the train conductor used to be from the military, not many in the corporation can withstand the oppressive force from Sequence 6 of the Dragon Sequence, just him, haha." "Stopughing, he''s not some ordinary employee like us. I heard his uncle is a high-rankingpany executive. Otherwise, how would he have the chance to handle the purchasing rights for such internal device recements?" ... Even amidst the chaos of war, greed and corruption still spread within the Federation. The reformers were not much cleaner than the Conservative Faction. In fact, that''s precisely why many Star Domains were unwilling to support the reformers; so-called reforms simply shifted benefits from one group of people to another. As a result, many Star Domains experienced uprisings and turmoil. They loathed the Federation''s governance and no longer believed in any promises from those in power. These people aspired for independence from the Federation, and the disintegration of the Federation seemed to be a preferable option. This was an era of decay and rot, no longer were there awe-inspiring, blood-stirring oaths, only pleasures used to numb the increasingly vacant spiritual world. ... The scene continuously shifted, the female protagonist named Tearsa followed her brother to the enemy camp. Along the way, she witnessed the ugliness and conspiracy from both sides of the war and felt deep disappointment in both. In such a state of mind, she encountered a painter from the enemy camp. The painter had been sent to the front lines to paint for the higher-ups. Despite the ongoing war, many wealthy people thought that the magnificent war would offer views quite different from the ordinary¡ªbeauty bursting from iron and fire, blood and steel, surely something rare¡ª, so they hired him with their money to capture these poignant scenes as the eyes of the rich. "Why not take photos?" Tearsa asked the man. "Photos can indeed record the scene, but painting is different. It lies between illusion and reality and can portray the emotions within the scene in a supreme way. This kind of beauty is rare and it''s what those bigwigs like to see," "Oh, they like it so much, why don''t theye to the front lines themselves?" Tearsa sat next to the painter, observing as he sketched, while countless shells and beams of light prated the ground in the far distance, amidst the mor of battle. "That''s because they deem their lives to be more important," the painter said helplessly, shaking his head and looking at the innocent and beautiful girl beside him. "So, your life isn''t important?" Tearsa gently raised her wrist, her fingertips caressing the stubbled chin of the man, her eyes seemingly brimming with tears. "I''m a painter, this is my means of livelihood, nothing more," he shook his head, no longer looking at the young girl beside him, afraid he would never be able to escape those eyes again. "But you could pursue another dream, like taking me away from this troubling world. I would marry you, and you could boldly paint many pictures for me, many..." Her words sounded like those of a siren from myths, causing the painter to hesitate and his mind to waver. "Hehe, I was just kidding," Tearsa stood up, looking towards the distant battlefield. "I''m leaving tomorrow. The negotiations failed, and my brother, the ambassador, will soon return, and I will go back with him." "So, what do you n to do?" She turned her back to the painter, her voice trailing off, her hand on her waist, her fingertips gently swaying. "I think..." For a moment, the painter also seemed to have realized something. "I think I want to grasp your fingertips and head to a distant world..." The film slowly entered its conclusion, with the two escaping on a small spaceship from the war-torn Star Domain, heading to a distant and unknown ce. . . ps: When you say watching a movie, it really writes a movie 0 0/ Chapter 60: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng) The movie ended, and everyone came out of the viewing cabin. Regarding the movie, everyone had different opinions. Mili thought it was very romantic, while Dudu said it was all a sham, asserting that a high-ssdy from the upper echelons could never fall in love with a poor boy in reality, and guessed it was probably the fantasy of some unsessful novelist. "What does Hexia think?" Lina asked the girl. "Perhaps such beautiful things have happened in history, but people are different; everyone makes their own choices," Hexia replied. Compared to her ssmates'' certainty, she seemed quite open to epting things that were different, which was probably due to her recent bizarre experiences. "Ah~ Hexia believes it too?" Lina said thoughtfully, dragging out her words. The group left the cinema, and by now, it was already past four in the afternoon. They strolled aimlessly on themercial street, nning to browse around without any particr intent to buy anything. This was where boys and girls differed. Usually, when boys went shopping, they would head straight to the point, make a selection, and if it seemed alright, they would buy it and leave. However, for girls, shopping was mainly about the experience; they didn''t necessarily have a specific n to purchase. They might buy something if they liked it, or continue shopping if nothing caught their interest. The real funy in chatting and sharing opinions withpanions during this time. Hexia wasn''t particrly interested in shopping; she was used to being thrifty, but she couldn''t just run off when her friends were so enthusiastic, so she thought of it as an opportunity to broaden her horizons. "Let''s start at the clothing street first and see what''s new," Dudu suggested, eager to begin her favorite part of shopping¡ªbuying clothes. "A wise decision," Lina agreed. "Let''s have a look," Mili had no objections. Following the others, Hexia entered the spiral street of themercial district; the clothing street resembled a huge spiral, with stores on both sides of the street and also an automatic esctor floor on the spiral street. If you just stood on it, you could move along with the esctor or descend slowly. "Let''s check out that store first," the girls said, standing on the moving floor, with Dudu pointing to a shop in the distance with a cute decoration. "''Fluffy Home'', Dudu, I thought you always followed a mature style. Why have you switched to a cute style?" Lina asked curiously. "What mature style? I''m just over 16, not that old," Dudu retorted, clearly irritated. "It''s just that I''ve been influenced by my sister to use her hand-me-downs. She says they are brand-name clothes and bags worth thousands of Federation Coins, and she sells them to me for a low price." "As a result, I ended up looking ridiculous, and she practically swindled all my pocket money," Dudu added angrily. "Hehehe, just like a real sister," Mili giggled on the side, her mood lightening. "Let''s go have a look then." When they entered the store, it was just like the sign outside described: full of various fluffy essories and clothes, especially some stuffed animal pajamas that seemed very popr, with many styles avable. "They look pretty cute." "They feel really soft to the touch." "Ah, that''s a crocodile set. I really want it." "Are crocodiles really cute?" "But it looks impressive with its big mouth, just like a dragon." "Why not buy a dragon-shaped one then?" "Dragons are too scary, not suitable for a cute girl like me." "..." The girls chattered away inside the store, with Hexia contributing a word or two asionally. Then, she inadvertently turned her gaze outside. Something seemed to be happening outside. She saw several people hurriedly running on the street, making shouting gestures, but due to the store''s excellent soundproofing, she couldn''t hear clearly. Just as Hexia wondered whether to go outside and check, Lina grabbed her arm. "Hexia, do you like this?" Lina held up a big yellow duck pajama. "This, um... is okay?" Hexia answered absentmindedly. After hastily handling herpanions'' inquiries and discussions, by the time she looked back outside, everything seemed to have returned to normal. Passersby were moving along the street with no signs of trouble. Strange, never mind, I''ll check it outter. Half an hourter, the group finally left the store, naturally without buying anything. "Although it''s very cute, it''s still a bit childish," someone remarked. "We''ll buy it next time, maybe," possibly said because they were embarrassed. "Didn''t find the right one." The issue was, since they weren''t buying anything, why browse for almost 40 minutes? Hexia shook her head internally. "Let''s go, to the next shop." After that, the group visited several more stores, until it was close to 6 p.m. "Let''s have dinner togetherter, and then go sing karaoke," Lina suggested. "No problem." "I know a very nice restaurant; I even got a coupon for it recently. We can go there," Lina said, shaking her personal device that she held in her hand, indicating she had it covered. The others were indifferent and thus agreed to the n. Half an hourter, the four took the elevator to a ss restaurant located at a scenic spot. "This one looks very high-end," Dudu said, surveying the sign and decorations, which included uniformed human waiters inside. Usually, the serving and cleaning at a normal restaurant would be done by T6 robots, which could save a lot of money. However, human service implied higher costs. As for "Dream of zed ss," the use of robots was because it maintained the average quality of the maids and a quiet,fortable style. Too many varied humans could disrupt that style. "Hmm, the T4 level Fengbian steak here is really good," Lina exined. Chapter 61: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng)_2 "Wait, you''re saying T4 level, right?" Dudu spoke up. "Yes, what about it?" Lina asked, feigning confusion. "A T4 level set meal starts at over 1000, do we really need something so expensive just for a meal?" Although Dudu cared about face, in front of a few close sisters, where everyone''s family background was well known, there was no need to pretend. "Dudu has a point," Mili nodded. Among them, she came from the wealthiest background, but she normally wouldn''te to this type of restaurant alone, only apanying her elders to entertain guests at most. "No worries, I''ve been here with an acquaintance before, and they gave me a few discount coupons. If worstes to worst, I can also talk to him; he''s friends with the owner and can help us save a lot," Lina reassured everyone once more. "Alright then, but you said it''s on you if it''s over 300, I can''t afford that," Dudu wouldn''t be at a loss. "There''s no need to be so harsh," Mili seemed unfazed by the cost. "As for me..." Hexia was considering whether to decline, actually she wasn''t unfamiliar with T4 level set meals, since she often ate them in the restauranttely. But outside it was just too expensive. That''s about half a day''s work gone... Hexia calcted in her mind. "It''s fine," Lina patted Hexia on her shoulder, cutting off her words. "I''m treating today, is that not okay? You all look terrified," she shook her head, cing a hand over her chest, showing a pained expression as if her goodwill was misunderstood. In the end, the group still entered the restaurant. "Wee to the Alluring Prism restaurant, where we will provide you with absolutelyfortable and worry-free service." As they entered the shop, the ushers dressed as waitstaff bowed courteously, causing Dudu and Mili to be both surprised and delighted. This kind of spiel reminded Hexia of what the manager used to tell her, never to use words like ''absolutely'' or ''certainly'' in front of customers, as it was like digging a hole for oneself, and it also felt insincere and exaggerated. Though she thought this, the spiel seemed quite effective on Mili and Dudu, who were dazzled as soon as they stepped in, finding everything fabulous. Soon after sitting down, Lina started ordering the meal, and then began discussing the decor and furnishings of the ce. "See this dark gold-colored transparent tabletop? It''s made of ''Mehes Translucent Metal,'' and the porcin tes and cups are from ''Gilded Jade Sand''..." She spoke with authority, piquing everyone''s curiosity, and even Hexia wondered why the seniors in ''Dream of zed ss'' had never introduced which brand their decorations were from. Shortly after, the main course was served, freshly seared Wind Swept Ranch steak wafting a tempting aroma and hue. As it was T4 level cuisine, it had some transcendent effects. "Looks pretty good," Mili, who had experienced T4 level cuisine several times before, reacted calmly. "Wow, so this is T4 level cuisine? It feelspletely different from what I remember," Dudu had only tried it once before and her reaction was still strong. "How is it, great right?" Lina responded with a hint of pride, but her nce drifted towards Hexia not far away. The girl seemed rather nonchnt¡ªwasn''t she amazed? No no no, that must just be her personality, Lina thought. She seldom saw Hexia making a fuss. However, it was time to notify someone. She took out her personal terminal, subtly sent a message under the table, and then resumed chatting andughing with everyone. The dining experience turned out quite pleasant; after all, three of them didn''t pay, and the fourth knew someone else had covered the cost in advance¡ªthey certainly wouldn''t be distressed about it. "Guests, this is a newly tailored ''Citrus Fruit Wine''." While the group was chatting and enjoying their food, the waiter once again brought over four sses of enticingly orange-hued fruit wine, which gave off an aromatic fragrance. "We didn''t order this, did we?" Lina inquired. "Yes, but a gentleman asked us to bring it over to you," said the waiter, stepping aside to reveal a man sitting at a nearby table, dressed smartly with silver-rimmed sses, exuding the air of a business elite. "Oh, who''s this?" Dudu asked Lina, curious. "Ah, so he''s here today. That''s the acquaintance I mentioned. He says hees to this ce often and is the one who introduced it to me," Lina waved to the man, and the elf gentleman approached. "Good evening,dies," he spoke with an ent that carried a hint of the Elvishnguage. "Hello," Dudu and Mili felt ttered and scrambled to recall the etiquette lessons from school, but they couldn''t remember much at that moment and just felt nervous. The man nodded amiably in response to their greetings, then began introducing himself. "My name is Senqueerde, a friend of Lina. Didn''t expect to dine here after work and just happened to see you." Dining here after work, and alone at that¡ªit made it hard not to specte whether he lived thisvish life daily. Listening to him, Dudu and Mili''s imaginations ran wild, and seeing that he was an elf, their admiration only grew. Elves may ount for less than 1% of the federation''s poption, but with lifespans nearly three times that of humans and significant advantages in practicing Natural Sequence, they often found themselves in the upper echelons of society and were the envy of many. "Hello, my name is Mili..." "Hello, I''m..." Mili and Dudu took turns introducing themselves, even sharing some of their hobbies and interests. Finally, it was the turn of the grey-haired girl in the corner, "Hello, my name is Hexia." Her introduction was straightforward and unembellished, without extraneous details. "Nice to meet you all, I hope I haven''t disturbed your meal," he said, pulling out a chair and sitting down naturally. Chapter 62: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng)_3 Senqueerde first chatted with a few people about the restaurant, then slowly began talking about how he met Lina. "Actually, it was because of a shared passion, I suppose. We sat next to each other at a concert once and talked a lot about music. After that, we gradually became acquainted." "Yeah, I was quite surprised at the time, considering I initially thought Mr. Senqueerde was so much older than me, and he might not understand the kind of music I like. But to my surprise, Senqueerde is really well-versed. He knew a lot of things I mentioned and told me lots about the history of music and its changes," Lina said, feigning admiration, which made everyone at the tableugh. Since when did Lina understand music, Hexia tipped her head to the side, thinking the one who truly adored music in the ss was probably ra, who dreamed of bing an idol, but even she said practicing the guitar was too hard. While they wereughing and talking, Hexia spoke little. In the end, it was Senqueerde who took the initiative to speak up. "Hexia, haven''t you thought about where to go for vacation? It seems like everyone else has their own ns." "Ah, me? I haven''t really decided yet. Probably going to work part-time and save up some money since I won''t have time to work once high school starts, and there will be lots of ces to spend money then," Hexia shook her head. "That''s a pity, especially since there''s only one middle school graduation vacation. Looking back at my own graduation, I also missed out on going out with my ssmates because I was preparing for re-exams, leaving many regrets," Senqueerde shook his head. "Though studying is important, you only live once, and if you miss out, that''s it." "Yes, my sister also said the same thing. Girls need to grab hold of many things while they''re young, or they''ll regret it when they''re older," Dudu agreed wholeheartedly. "That does sound quite reasonable," Mili nodded vigorously. "Don''t keep obsessing over your part-time job, Hexia," Lina started to assist now. "You won''t save much in a month of part-time work, and a week away won''t waste much time. Life is about experiencing different things." "But..." Hexia was about to refuse when Senqueerde intervened. "It''s okay. Traveling doesn''t cost much, and just so happens ourpany is organizing a trip. As the manager, I have two spots for family or friends. It''s a vacation to the beach in South Third District, would you like to join Lina and me?" Inviting Hexia alone probably would have caused much wariness and resistance, but including a ssmate and former deskmate like Lina would lower many of her defenses. "I..." In the past, Hexia might have hesitated due to her inability to refuse people, but now, well... "I''d rather not go," the girl shook her head. For one thing, she didn''t want to ept favors for no good reason, and then there was her intuition; she didn''t particrly like Senqueerde for some reason that she couldn''t put her finger on. "You should go and have a look. It''s a rare vacation, and Hexia, you wouldn''t want to always look back on your time spent only in Payin City''s underground scene. Getting out for some fresh air would be nice," Lina grabbed Hexia''s hand, urging her once more. At this point, Dudu and Mili also sensed something amiss, but they felt somewhat favorable towards Senqueerde, and after having a free meal today, they didn''t feel right saying much. Hexia was in luck, Dudu thought; such a wealthy person was interested in her. Tch, why does it have to be Hexia, am I not pretty enough? Mili sipped her drink gloomily. "Still, I''ll pass," Hexia struggled to pull her wrist from Lina''s grasp. She rarely refused anyone, and saying such things in front of everyone made her feel immense pressure. Seeing Hexia like this ignited an inexplicable anger in Lina''s heart. What''s the deal, putting on airs at a time like this? She had assured others on Hexia''s behalf, usually sopliant, and now acting all aloof, huh. "Hexia, do you look down on me!" Lina didn''t hide her emotions any longer and stood up with a tight face. "This..." Watching the scene, Senqueerde almost wanted to facepalm. He was a respectable person, and the restaurant had a bit of a reputation. This kind ofmotion was truly undesirable. The girl named Hexia obviously wasn''t used to the world, timid, and perhaps had refused earlier out of shyness. But with time, she would warm up; however, with Lina''s interference, things would be trickier. As the two seemed ready to argue, Dudu and Mili quickly intervened to calm things down. Dudu hugged Lina, and Mili pulled Hexia aside. "Calm down, Lina. Hexia didn''t mean it; it''s just her usual shy nature," Dudu soothed Lina. Mili also spoke to Hexia on the side, "Okay, don''t mind Lina. She''s probably just impulsive. You know how she is, always a bit blunt... Just greet Mr. Senqueerde, apologize, and then you can leave. After all, he did invite us for a meal, and it cost a pretty penny." With their efforts, the situation cooled down slightly, but the mood was ruined. As Mili and Dudu thought about how to wrap up the day, say their goodbyes, and disperse, footsteps echoed from outside the restaurant. "Special police?" whispered some guests in the restaurant. Different from the usual white-dressed police, these officers were fully armed, wearing matte ck armor and helmets, with pulse rifles in their hands that radiated a deadly presence. As they entered the floor, they split up to secure the area, then checked each shop one by one. Chapter 53: 27 Diary (Thanks to Min Mengmeng the Alliance Hierarch) "Dantalion," it''s time to close up~ In the jungle, "Botis" gently shook the soundly sleeping maid to wake her. "Ah, sorry." Hexia suddenly looked up, hastily checking the time. "It''s okay, no worries." Botis waved her hand, telling Hexia not to panic. "You did your job well today." She walked over to check the reserves of venom in the refrigerator, then turned around. "Do you know what these venoms are extracted for, ''Dantalion''?" "This... is it for making medicine?" Hexia remembered Botis mentioning it in passing. "Partly, but not entirely." ''Botis'' had Hexia sit beside her. "Some of the venom is further extracted and used to create special potions, such as the Spiritual Medicines needed for certain profession advancements." When practicing the Transcendent Sequence to Sequence 4-5, one would need special resources. It might be a certain Fruit, a type of metal, or various potions, and so on. "Also, while some venoms can''t be directly used as medicines, they have other uses, like in certain rituals, etching, perfumes, poisons, and so on." "So they really are turned into poison." Although Botis had mentioned it before, she hadn''t been as detailed as today. "Yes, the control of poisons is strict, but they are indeed needed on special asions, such as dealing with some troublesome creatures. You''ll gradually learn about this." "Okay, let''s not talk about this now. Are you free the day after tomorrow? There''s some extra work, and we need your help." "What kind of work?" Hexia asked, curious. "A junior of mine, or rather, a prot¨¦g¨¦, is holding a small concert the day after tomorrow, and needs some people to help out. Check tickets, sell some merchandise, maintain order, that kind of thing." "Right, she''s not very old, around 17-18? She''s currently in high school, and the band members are all her ssmates." "High schoolers?" Hexia was a little surprised. It was unusual enough to see students in a band, let alone around these parts, and even more rare for them to hold their own concerts. "The time is from 8 PM to 10 PM, will ''Dantalion''e?" "I guess I could." Hexia thought it over briefly. Although she wasn''t used to being in environments with too many strangers, if it was just for work... "Yeah, no problem." The girl nodded earnestly. "Then I''ll be counting on you." Botis smiled back at her, her smile causing Hexia to feel slightly uneasy, as if she had overlooked something. But since she had agreed, it wouldn''t be good to go back on her word now, and ''Sister Botis'' wouldn''t trick her, right? After work, since the next day was a day off, Hexia went to the supermarket to buy some ingredients, nning to try cooking at home. Grandma He would also teach her some tips. Carefully walking in the corridor with her shopping bags, Hexia looked at the familiar walkway, the passers-by, and the children by the roadside, and her mind raced with thoughts. Although only half a month had passed, it felt as if her life hadpletely changed. Arriving at Grandma He''s house, Hexia took off her shoes, put on slippers, and put the groceries in the fridge. "Cough cough..." she heard a hacking cough from upstairs. Hexia went up and gently knocked on the door to Grandma He''s bedroom before entering. The elderly woman was propped up in her sickbed, a nightlight casting her silhouette while most of her body remained in shadow. "You''re back, Hexia." "I am back. How are you feeling today, Grandma?" Hexia knew that Grandma He''s chronic illness had red up again, which seemed to happen every May to June. "I''m feeling a bit better." Her voice carried a hint of weariness. Seeing that worry still filled Hexia''s eyes, she beckoned Hexia toe closer. "Sit with me for a while." "Okay." "Did you just get off work?" "Yes." "How''s work going? I''ve been unwelltely and haven''t asked you properly." "The work is good, everyone is really nice to me." The girl nodded her head. Grandma He sped Hexia''s hand, and the girl could feel the frailty of the old woman''s wrist and the clear outline of the bones beneath her skin. "That''s good..." Grandma He slowly nodded. "Actually, with the first job, earning money isn''t the goal¡ªbeing able just to make ends meet is already good. It''s mainly about getting used to the working environment." "I had many jobs when I was young. Worked in restaurants, did sales, and even took care of children for others." "I used to be so anxious, wondering why I could only earn so little, why it seemed so easy for others around me, and when such days would end..." She sighed. "Apart from the few born into very wealthy families, life is not easy for most ordinary people. Sometimes they can save some money, but then it''s easily spent because of various emergencies." "Whether it''s themselves, family, or friends, they consistently face unforeseen hardships that require money. If you happen to have some and you don''t lend it, it can make you seem cold-hearted and lead to gossip." "But lending money is painful; you know it''s unlikely to be repaid, and you''re well aware of how much time and how many injustices and hardships it took to save that money." "Life is like this; ordinary people face too many difficulties and can''t live as peacefully andfortably as those in the upper echelons." "I used to teach children to be kind and caring when I was a teacher, but I gradually stopped because I was afraid it would cause them to be taken advantage of and hurt..." Chapter 54: 27 Diary (Thanks to Min Mengmeng the Alliance Hierarch)_2 "Kindness is not just about doing good deeds, it also requires wisdom and strength as support, which is actually a luxury trait. Eventually, I came to think that merely abstaining from bad deeds and adhering to the basic standards of morality andw already makes one a decent person," she covered her mouth with her hand, her body trembling. "As a girl, especially a good-looking one, you''ll receive a lot of special treatment when you''re young, which can easily create an illusion that the world is supposed to work this way and that it is only natural for everyone to be ''good'' to you," she said. "But beauty inevitably fades with time, and as the special treatment slowly disappears, you might find yourself no different from those aunts you looked down upon before. If you still mor for the love and favors you received in your youth, you will be despised and unattractive," she said. "Such a decline is torturous, it breeds resentment and dissatisfaction, or self-pity and self-loathing," she said. "I''ve taught many children and seen too many simr cases. Sometimes I sigh, wondering how that lovely girl from the past ended up like this," she said. "Hexia, you''re a smart child; you might already be aware of some of what I''m saying, but always keep it in mind. When faced with temptation and choices, always stay extra calm. Don''t be easily misled by others'' sweet talk, and don''t count on getting lucky, thinking that just doing it once won''t matter," said Grandma He, leaning on her pillow, looking into the distance, seemingly lost in sighs and regrets. "You might wonder where He Cheng and his sister''s parents have gone. He Cheng''s father, my second son, became trapped in gambling, and step by step, he was manipted, not only squandering the family''s money but also racking up debts everywhere, making life unbearable for his siblings. Their work and lives were disrupted," she said. "Later, his brother and sister, my other two children, had to move to other cities, and they suffered a lot in the process, resulting in their getting married quitete. And I, in my younger days, was keen to save his life, not wanting him to get hurt or spend his life in prison. I used the family''s savings to cover many debts, which eventually led to my youngest daughter, Xia Li, being unable to afford university," she said. "Because of this, Xia Li''s rtionship with me, her mother, has grown cold, and she hasn''t visited me in 20 years," Grandma He shook her head. "In the end, he still left us, dying in an underground death race, his body blown to bits, and not even ashes returned," she said. "Originally, I had also sold this house, but it was my eldest son who returned and bought it back for me, providing me with a ce to live. Yet he also said it was thest time, and since then, visits have grown scarce; now, he onlyes to see me about once a year," she said. "Afterward, I took He Cheng and his sister under my care, slowly raising them. Thankfully, they both grew up well, without inheriting their father''s traits, which has eased my mind," she said. "Gradually, my teaching improved quite a bit, and I gained some recognition in the residential area, earning a bit of respect. As time passed, people gradually forgot the events of 20 years ago," she said. "But such incidents are not forgotten by oneself." Grandma He searched around, pulled open the drawer of the bedside table, and found an old photograph. In this era of ubiquitous electronic devices, photographs are somewhat a rarity. The photo, though old and somewhat faded, was well preserved. In it, Grandma He, in her youth, around the age of 30, is half-crouching at the bottom of a surfing slide in an amusement park with three different-sized children in front of her. The eldest was about 7 or 8 years old, the youngest just learning to walk, and the middle one holding a toy, smiling happily. "Look, wasn''t he adorable as a child..." Grandma He caressed the child in the photo, her cloudy eyes brimming with nostalgia and reluctance. "If only I had educated him properly back then," she said. Hexia looked at the photo, and it was as if she could hear the distant sounds of y, the noise of the amusement park, the children chasing, and the child holding the toy spaceman chanting, ''Fly, fly, I''m going to be a Federal Driver when I grow up, a big star and a hero~'' The silhouettes of time swiftly vanished, and as Hexia blinked, the photo returned to its simple and ordinary state, nothing out of the ordinary. "I''ve taken note, Grandma," Hexia nodded slowly. "That''s good, just be mindful. Actually, I''m afraid talking about these things will upset you; it''s quite a downer, but I can''t help it, sigh..." "Okay, go have something to eat now. Tomorrow is your day off, right? Make the most of the rare holiday, go out and have fun instead of just staying at home." "I understand," Hexia said as she helped adjust Grandma He''s nkets and poured her some water before leaving the room. Chapter 55: 27 Diary (Thanks to Min Mengmeng the Alliance Hierarch)_3 Hexia returned to the kitchen downstairs, began preparing tonight''s dinner, and thought about the past events in the family. Because of the significant age difference between the sisters, she hadn''t yed much with her older sister as a child, and it was mostly their mother who kept herpany. Her mother seemed to have poor health, often falling ill. Perhaps that was why they weren''t born together. Reflecting on life''s matter, her mother''s personality really was simple. It was as if she had seldom stepped into society, akin to a sheltered youngdy, rarely arguing with others or haggling, and she didn''t seem to have much sense of the value of money either. It was a pity that her father had gone missing. Otherwise, she could have asked him how he had managed to win over her beautiful mother. Compared to her, Dad was just too ordinary. Having prepared the meal, Hexia served a portion upstairs, ate some herself, and then ced the rest in the refrigerator. Uncle He Cheng would probably note home for dinner until around 9 to 10 p.m.; he was likely still out hauling goods at the moment. After cleaning up, Hexia took a bath in the bathroom, and then she went back to her room. Seeing the blinking light on the charging personal device, Hexia walked over and turned it on. [Hexia, you''re off tomorrow, want to hang out? ¡ª Lina] Lina had asked her to hang out a while back, but Hexia had been busy working and didn''t have the time, so she had declined. Should she reply? Hexia thought about it, Grandma He had also suggested that she should get out of the house as it seemed too gloomy to stay in all the time, and since she didn''t know where to go for fun, maybe it would be better to go out with ssmates... Even though she felt this way, Hexia didn''t really want to hang out with her former ssmates, fearing they might tease her, and she might not be able to join the conversation. But going out alone would feel somewhat lonely too... It was quite the dilemma. Hexia shook her head and started typing. [Yeah, I''m off tomorrow. Where are you nning to go?] She decided to ask first. She received a reply not long after. [There''s a new immersive movie that just came out, let''s watch it together. Then we can walk around the pedestrian street and go sing afterwards.] Watching a movie didn''t bother her, but as for singing at the end, she decided to ignore that part and find an excuse to leave early. The thought of singing in front of everyone was too embarrassing, plus she hadn''t learned much about singing. Her sister, on the other hand, was good at it. [Okay, what time are you meeting?] [1:30 p.m. at Spin Crystal Street. We''ll see the movie first, then walk around and eat, and sing in the evening.] [Okay.] After deciding on the time, Hexia put down her personal device,y on her bed, closed her eyes for a little rest, then suddenly sat up, flipped open the device again, and found the official website of the Academies for their admissions information. Irene Academy, the list of students for the second screening... Still not announced, huh? Hexia felt a little down. It was supposed to be released around these days. Edith Academy, the blue-ck Rose flower pattern spun elegantly, and as thevish interface unfolded, it showed that Hexia didn''t have enough privileges to browse. She could only see a few external announcements and advertisements, which only introduced this year''s admission regtions and didn''t provide a list of admitted students. No results yet... I have to keep trying, Hexia encouraged herself in silence. Even though she had awakened her Talent, life''s journey was still long. ... The girl wrote down her experiences and thoughts for the day in her diary, then slowly closed it. ¡ª¡ªKeep it up~ Chapter 67: Chapter 35 Assistance from a Nobility ''Dream of zed ss'' The simted sky twinkled with lightning, with streaks of rain falling from above, soon followed by the pattering sound of raindrops inside the store. Although it didn''t really rain inside the store, the environment resembled reality so closely that it was hard to distinguish the real from the fake, and sometimes people willingly immersed themselves in this illusion of rain. It was mid-May, and the rainy season had arrived on the surface of the earth, in harmony with this simted weather. Hexia was seated in Botis'' ss Jungle, listening to the sound of rain drumming on the leaves above, with a small booklet before her and a quiet,rge spider perched on her desk. The scratching of the pen on paper had its uses for mankind in the Interster Era, although not as widespread as it used to be. Since the concert that day, Hexia felt some changes within herself, though she couldn''t quite put her finger on them. Perhaps she had be more settled? At least she wasn''t as nervously on edge as before. Holding the pen, the girl tilted her head in thought, then unconsciously tapped therge spider on the desk with the end of her pen before she continued writing. She was sorting out recent events; life had thrown quite a lot at her, and without some order, it could be confusing. One, prepare for advancing to Withering Sequence 3, try to select a better job cement. Two, study music, although that dream was quite incredible, after the concert the other day, Hexia knew she couldn''t escape the things rted to being a Songstress. Three, prepare for the Academy entrance retake. Even though the retake list wasn''t out yet, considering it prudent to be prepared, it was time to review. After arranging her schedule for the next few days, Hexia used her personal terminal to scan the paper and record it in her memo. Alright, time to start today''s tasks. It should be time to help ''Huale'' with her tasks. ... Hexia passed through the hall, delivering a tray containing drinks to a familiar noblewoman before curtsying respectfully. "You''re getting more proficient, Dantalion." "Thank you, please enjoy at your leisure." "Would it be alright if you joined me for a bit?" For the first time, the noblewoman didn''t ask Hexia to leave immediately. "Of course." Hexia then stood aside, patiently waiting. The noblewoman added a few vor cubes to her drink, slowly sipped her coffee, and then leisurely set it down. "The older I get, the more I find myself enjoying sweet vors," she shared her preference. "You''re probably at the high school stage now, aren''t you, Dantalion?" "Not yet, actually. I''m still waiting for the notice. I just graduated from middle school not long ago." "Oh, that''s quite good. Have you thought about where you want to study? I might be able to give you some assistance." Although Hexia didn''t know the exact identity of this noblewoman, she could guess the woman was extraordinary, given the rarity of customers like her who regrly consumed T3-grade beverages. A cup of a T3-grade drink was priced between 8,000 and 20,000 Federation Coins, which was more than many people''s monthly sry. "I''ve applied to Irene Academy." In fact, she had also applied to Edith Academy, but that Academy''s reputation was so grand that it seemed presumptuous to mention it. "Irene Academy, hmm, not bad, but it''s a bit beneath you. Why not consider Yuanting Academy? It has a very good environment." Yuanting Academy, located in Northern First District, ranked 17th within the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain ¡ª indeed one of the best Academies. "Thank you for your kindness, but I''ve already missed the application period," Hexia responded with a touch of embarrassment. While she was certainly tempted by the offer, she also felt incredibly ttered, as she hadn''t done anything outstanding for this noblewoman. "No worries, their enrollment list hasn''t been finalized yet. You could still take the additional exams through a special channel in time." Elite Academies had various enrollment slots, some reserved for those who offered significant sponsorship and contributions to the schools. The noblewoman spoke the truth; Hexia just hadn''t expected to encounter such a stroke of luck, something she''d only heard of in rumors. "This... Thank you, but I''m not sure how to reciprocate. After all, my work has been quite ordinary." "Heh, you''re overthinking it, Dantalion." The noblewoman set down her cup. "To you, it might seem significant, but for me, it''s a small matter solved with a phone call." "Your own qualifications aren''t bad; it''s just that your background hasn''t afforded you many opportunities. I''m simply making an investment. To see a girl like you flourish in the future is indeed a delightful sight, much nicer than letting the bothersome details of life furrow your brow." "Don''t be overly grateful to me. Just think of it as if a Gold Coin has suddenly fallen from the sky for you to find. Pick it up at ease." "If you really feel indebted, then just perform well in school. Someone I rmend is definitely not going to be mediocre," she stated with a confidence that was almost certain. After a bit more conversation, the noblewoman allowed Hexia to leave. Back at the bar, ''Huale'' curiously asked why Hexia had taken such a long time, and then learned about what had transpired. "That''s how it is? Just ept it with peace of mind, Dantalion," ''Huale'' suggested quite naturally. "Can I really ept it just like that, such a thing?" "Well, for a big shot, it really is a small matter. Maybe she thinks you''re a promising prospect and decided to lend a hand following her whims." "Alright then." As Hexia slowly came to terms with this idea, she suddenly remembered she hadn''t exchanged contact details with the noblewoman, nor had the woman asked for her personal information. Chapter 57: 29 Gossip Among Classmates The gears ceased their rumbling, and the tightly shut elevator doors opened, allowing Hexia and a crowd of pedestrians to step into a world as bright as day. On the 44th floor of Payin City''s pedestrian street, the overhead dome lights illuminated the entiremercial district, making it as bright as daytime on the ground. Many young people bustled about,ughing and chatting, while shop windows glittered enticingly with numerous new products, drawing the eyes of passers-by. Hexia: [Where are you guys, have you arrived?] Lina: [We''re at the Tricolor Ice Beverage Shop, just waiting for you and Dudu now.] Hexia: [Alright, I''m almost there.] After putting away her personal device, Hexia walked towards the store across the street. In fact, she had already reached the agreed meeting ce, but feared the awkwardness of sitting alone if she entered before the others arrived, so she preferred to wait for herpanions. Entering through the revolving ss door, a st of cool air hit her, making Hexia feel a bit cold, but it was morefortable as she proceeded inside. The interioryout of the shop was a wide crescent, with ck crescent moons dotted with coffee cup-like tables and round chairs, forming private spaces. At the center of the crescent embrace was what seemed to be a small stage, though there were no performances at the moment. "Hexia, over here~" Just as she walked in and looked around, Hexia heard Lina''s call. As she approached, she noticed Mili was there too, sitting with Lina, but she didn''t seem very happy, holding her drink in thought. Lina was dressed in avant-garde style today, with short leather shorts paired with a cropped jacket, her eyes highlighted with purple-red gradient eyeshadow. "Hexia''s here, take a seat first. We''ll wait a bit longer for Dudu. By the way, what do you want to drink? I''ll order for you." "No need, I''m not really thirsty," Hexia shook her head. "You''re still as simple as ever," Lina said as she flipped through the projected menu on the table, and finally chose a popr drink for Hexia. Before long, a hemispherical robot delivered the beverage. The purple-red transparent liquid was full of bubbles, and it was incredibly cool and refreshing to drink. It contained a small amount of alcohol, somewhat simr to fruit beer. Seeing that Lina had ordered, Hexia didn''t want to refuse, so she picked up the drink and slowly sipped it. "By the way, how did yourst exam go, Hexia? Have you gotten the results yet?" Lina asked at this moment. "I haven''t received a reply yet." "It should be soon. I''ve seen ssmates either celebrating or wailing these days, some happy, some worried," she said, pulling Hexia to sit beside her. "But you''ll definitely pass, you''re one of the few in our ss who really studies hard," sheforted the girl sitting beside her. "Thank you." Afterward, the two chatted for a while about the recent situations of their ssmates. Lina did most of the talking, which included plenty of gossip, like someone confessing their love, another applying to a faraway school, and another who started dating someone from a different school. Even though they belonged to the same school and ss, Hexia felt that Lina was from an entirely different world. She always knew various bits of gossip which was surprising. Compared to her own pitifully short contact list, Lina''s stretched for dozens of pages. She was almost always chatting with someone or updating her social circle. At this moment, she took a photo of the shop''s interior and included Hexia and Mili in the shot, then posted it online. ''Out with ssmates today~¡î'' This must be what a social butterfly is like, the girl thought. After a while, another girl, Dudu, arrived, carrying a handbag and hurrying into the shop. She looked around briefly and made a beeline for Hexia''s table. "Phew, I ran into an annoying guy on the way here, so I was dyed a bit, sorry," she apologized. "No problem, what would you like to drink? I''ll order." "I''ll have a ''Crystal Pineapple Drink'' then." "Tsk, you certainly don''t skimp on my money, do you?" Lina rolled her eyes but still smiled as she ced the order. "You''re the one who said you were treating, if it were anyone else, I''d be even less polite," Dudu waved her hand, then took out her makeup case from her bag and began touching up her makeup. Only after the ''Crystal Pineapple Drink'' arrived and Dudu put away her makeup tools, closing the case, did the group start talking altogether. "What''s with Mili? She''s been quiet the whole time," Dudu looked at the girl who was lost in thought. "Her~" Lina shook her head, then continued. "Mili got her heart broken." Despite saying that, Lina couldn''t hide the smile on her face. Mili finally snapped out of her own world, "Hmph, not a single man is good for anything." "Tell us, what exactly happened?" Dudu asked, full of curiosity. However, Mili clearly didn''t want to answer, she turned her face away in a huff, and only after a little while, she turned back to Lina and said, "You tell them." "Alright, alright, I''ll express Miss Mili''s indignation then." Lina raised her finger and shook it. "It''s like this¡­" Hexia and Dudu listened to Lina''s exnation, finally understanding what had happened in the weeks since graduation. It seems that Mili''s family had introduced her to a suitor, whose family background wasn''t bad either, with parents being middle management at a pharmaceuticalpany. They both had a good impression of each other at first sight, so they tried dating a few times, shopping, watching movies, and even ying at the underground amusement park in the neighboring Okar City, and so on. Everything was progressing well until one day at the hotel, Mili identally discovered some call information on his personal terminal wasn''t right, and afterwards, she noticed that her suitor was distracted and often spacey. The rest of the story was simple, Mili had Lina find someone from the suitor''s school to dig up some dirt, only to find out he was known as ady''s man there, and then it turned out there was a girl who got pregnant because of him. This was too much of a shock for Mili, and the two of them broke up quickly. "I had my dad give the matchmaker a good scolding. What kind of people are they?" "Now that I think about it, I was the one who treated him during dates and meals, many times because I thought he was a decent person," Mili said, still puffed up with anger. "Hahaha, that''s funny, even Mili can be taken advantage of," Duduughed, pping the table. "Alright, alright, let''s not talk about this anymore." Lina smiled, consoling Mili and asking Dudu to stop provoking her. "Everyone makes mistakes in judgment sometimes. Besides, the guy really did put on a good front, sweet-talking with one set of lies after another. Otherwise how could he have deceived so many girls?" Lina waved it off. "Actually, most of the stuff people say can''t be trusted, it''s quite cheap, unless they spend real money on you, that''s the true sentiment, right, Hexia?" "Uh." Hexia didn''t understand why the conversation had suddenly turned to her. "I guess." She turned away, looking to the side. "Hehe, Hexia is shy again. Alright, I''ll stop teasing you. I just noticed you''ve been silent the whole time, wanted to get you involved," Lina said generously, holding the young girl''s hand. "That''s true." Across from them, Dudu was fiddling with her personal terminal, apparently replying to someone''s message. "By the way, isn''t raing today?" Dudu seemed to remember something. "She went on a trip, supposedly to South First District." "But isn''t South First District the administrative and education center? Most of the fun ces are in South Third District, South Fifth District." Dudu was puzzled. "I don''t know. She just said there''s some star she worships there, wanted to go to a fan meeting." "Hey, she herself wants to be an idol, so why chase after stars?" "I''m not sure about that. It seems there are such cases, quite a few minor idols openly express their admiration for some major stars, and those stars'' fans will develop a sense of kinship, feeling recognized, and then take a liking to the minor idol, which helps them gain fans," Lina shared her view. "Forget it, let''s not worry about that. We''ve been sitting here for a while now, how about going to watch a movie?" Lina stood up. "Let''s go, let''s go," Dudu pulled up Mili, who was still sulking by her side. "Stop being angry, you still have us sisters with you. Let''s go watch a movie to cool off, then forget about that guy." Afterward, the four of them walked to a nearby cinema. Now, the marquee also disyed arge, broad movie poster. "Please Hold My Fingertips" A romance spanning over 400 years. Come experience the rare beauty of love in an era of war and strife~ Chapter 58: Chapter 30 "Please Hold My Fingertips The hall was not busy during the day, and when the four of them entered the ticketing lobby, they could see huge screens scrolling through posters. Approaching the automatic ticket machine, several people lined up to pay, then they brought their wrists close to the reading area to register, and finally, thepletion was signified by a ''beep'' from the machine. Residents of the Federation now all have microchips imnted in their wrist bones, which conveniently allows them to register and conduct various transactions. ["Please hold my fingertip"; ticket price 325 Federation Coins; please make payment] [Paymentpleted] [Logging in information...] [ess granted, wee] With a ''beep'' from the machine, Hexia looked up towards the front and jogged a few steps to catch up. After passing through the dimly lit tunnel, the four came to a small room housing 12 pods in which people could lie down, each emitting a pale blue halo from within, especially conspicuous in the dark surroundings. Approaching one of the pods, they ced their wrists on the detection tform, data swiftly shed past, and then the pod''s door slowly rose, releasing a faint chill. "I''ll go in first." One of thepanions said andy down inside. Hexia stepped on the footrest beside her and also carefullyy down, then the transparent metal ss slowly closed over her, and countless tiny points of light swam in her field of vision. [Time: 2:42 PM, "Please hold my fingertip"] [Preparing the film, please rx as much as possible, if you feel ufortable press the emergency button on your right] [Releasing illusion smoke, neural connection starting] On Lying in the movie pod, Hexia''s field of vision gradually filled with blue-violet smoke, then illusions began to appear before her eyes, and faint music could be heard, knowing that this was the preamble warm-up for the descending movie, she rxed as much as possible, allowing the Transcendent Core and Magic Power within her to no longer resist this interference. [The descending movie will provide you with an immersive viewing experience. It is created by T4 grade three-dimensional illusions and transmitted directly into your sensory organs via weak signals, while the movie pod also simtes airflow, temperature changes, shaking, and pushing forces from within the film] [Verified by the Federal Security Audit Institution, the Ethics Committee, and the Supreme Court, it is ssified as a T4 safe grade use of Transcendent effects] [If you feel ufortable during the viewing, or if you detect illusion signals higher than T3 grade, please immediately activate your own Transcendent Core and operate ording to the Siska Form to quickly dispel the illusions and awaken] [Finally, we wish you a pleasant viewing experience] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Seagulls skimmed across the clear blue sky, their cries echoing over the water''s surface. The vast, unbounded azure ocean, with the sea breeze blowing and moist dropletsing at you head-on, even carried the faint briny scent of seawater. The view followed the seagull''s wings from the sky in a swift dive, then plunged through the atmosphere, zooming in continuously. The air currents lifted the fluffy wing feathers, with white downy barbs and slightly ckened tips, glistening with a hint of oiliness in the sunlight. Under the radiant sky, an iron dragon about a kilometer long roared across the sea, its ferocious beast-like front shaking violently on the tracks, with waves of steam continuously sting out from the pipes on either side, its long, scaly armored body reflecting golden and silver lights in the sunshine. The Furnace Train, introduced by the giant corporation ''Prison Bull Heavy Industry'' in year 583 of the Federation, was specially designed for long-distance transportation within the Star Domain. Inside the carriage, well-dressed passengers chatted with each other over luxurious tables and chairs, raising their sses, while the train remained stable and quiet despite the turbulent waves outside. "This journey represents the Wind Whale Star Domain''s willingness to ept the peace proposal and negotiate with us." A man in a white suit with gold trim raised and swirled his wine ss, speaking to hispanions. He looked confident with a charismatic smile that inspired trust, and he was none other than a high-ranking senator of the Federation, the diplomatic representative for these negotiations. "Long live the Rose Federation! May the Twelve Charters shine forever!" everyone cheered in unison. Amidst the clinking of sses, a woman in a turquoise blue dress leaned against the window, propping her cheek with her hand and slowly swirling her ss of wine. Her eyes were on the sea outside the window, but her expression seemed lost in memories and thought, her attention not present. "Tearsa, my dear sister, what are you thinking?" The blond man who had previously raised his ss came to sit beside her. "Nothing much, it just seems like these negotiations are somewhat abrupt," the likewise blonde woman turned to him. "Haha, indeed, it''s a surprise to many, however¡ª" He changed the subject abruptly. "Based on the information we''ve received, it all makes sense." ... Ever since the Federation began reforms fifty years ago, internal conflicts have continually erupted, shaking the interests of many, making it unbearable for some conservative parties, yet without reform, the umted problems of the Federation remained unsolvable, creating a difficult situation. As the two sides were deadlocked, a civil war finally broke out and has continued to this day. As the two discussed the potential oue of the war, the blonde woman suddenly looked out the window. "Are theying?" "What''sing?" The man turned his gaze outside as well. Huge sea creatures leaped from the water in the distance, sshing up waves tens of meters high, with more and more appearing, emanating a special energy fluctuation, seemingly above Sequence 5 ferocious beasts. Suddenly an announcement was heard overhead. "Sea creatures approaching the train, sea creatures approaching the train, please passengers return to your seats and prepare for the impact." Chapter 59: Chapter 30 "Please Hold My Fingertips"_2 Under the azure sky, the fierce beast-like train head spewed out long white vapors, followed by the long and lofty whistle of the steam horn. On the sea surface, the ck behemoths revealed partial dorsal fins and tentacles above the waves, cutting through the white foam as they charged toward the high-speed steel dragon. Inside the Furnace Train''s head, the massive sixteen-cylinder engine lifted and fell like a pile driver,pressing countless golden-red particles before extracting and igniting them in a burst. The essence of the Dragon Sequence''s magic power particles was infused into the gigantic core at the center. They were sent swirling at high speed through theplex, branding iron-likework of veins and pipelines, before being injected into the outbound conduits, flowing toward the carriages like blood through veins. The howling and powerful Dragon Sequence particles sped through the conduits. Where these particles reached, the outeryer of the car''s scale armor lit up with golden veins. Then, the surface of the scales gradually coated with color, as if bracing for an impact. After that, amid the roaring high-speed rush, rows of carriage tops lifted in the gale, revealing the twin dark gun barrels beneath the scale armor. Under the constant monitoring and calibration of the fire-control radar, the gun barrels began to aim at the mutant sea beasts attacking them. On the narrow screens within the twin gun barrels, lines of captions shed. [Aijieka Particle charging¡­] [Conduit preheating, choosing mode: Brilliance Mode ¦Â-ss] The base of the turret began to gather golden-red particles, which then spread along the barrel, with the internal fment arrays gradually lighting up. [Quadrant Instrument aiming initiated, beginning target assignment...] [Targets assigned, beginning to aim...] The gun barrels moved slowly, being adjusted step by step to aim at the attacking ck sea beasts under the rotation and tuning of the base dial. [Lock-on sessful, fire!] The golden-red stream of particles abruptly cut across the sea surface, dazzling and blinding even in daylight. The highlypressed strong stream of particles shed by, and a vast spray of water and mist rose from the sea, where the sea beasts charging at the train now bore several horrific charred cavities. These instantly in sea beasts slowed down, gliding forward a little due to inertia, then slowly sinking into the deep blue and pitch-ck ocean. The few sea beasts that were too distant to be affected also halted, observing their dead kin ahead, issuing low mournful sounds, and then slowly disappearing at the edge of the sea. "Start reporting the situation." Inside the train''s massive cockpit, the train captain frowned at the many segmented screens in front of him and loudly inquired through the inte. "Radar and Quadrant Instrument searchplete, 47 approaching sea beasts have been eliminated, 41 destroyed. The remaining six, due to their distance, were not included in the lock-on range and escaped turret fire. Currently, those six sea beasts are departing into the distance, and the wave emissions from their Transcendent Cores are also gradually weakening." "Good." The train captain nodded slightly, hung up themunication terminal, and then sat down. Seeing that the captain''s expression was still stern, his assistant next to him couldn''t help but cautiously lean in to ask. "Do you think?" "The oue of the attack doesn''t surprise me; this Furnace Train produced by Prison Bull Heavy Industry is designed to counter sea beast attacks. What''s embarrassing is the fact that it took until the beasts were only one kilometer away for them to be detected." "If we hadn''t handled it well today, we would have had a mark against us within the corporation, hmph!" "This is a train carrying negotiation representatives! At present, there are still millions of Autonomous Units in a standoff between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and three Starship fleets hover menacingly in space. If there were an ident, you and I would be straight off to a military court." "This, when traveling at high speeds, there is a certain dy and distortion in the observation and sensing of the surroundings... it''s unavoidable..." the assistant said as he wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. "Ha, you must have taken a pretty penny in kickbacks from Venus Workshop, speaking on their behalf at a time like this." The train captain nced at his assistant. "This, actually the quality of their observational scanners is quite decent, perhaps it''s the vibrating running environment of the Furnace Train that hinders its performance. You know how the Dragon Sequence particles aren''t too friendly to these precision instruments," the assistant continued to try and exin. "Enough, I don''t want to hear any more of this." The train captain waved his hand dismissively. "Call them up; after arrival, have them switch it to a new one. Next time Ie to inspect, if everything is up to standard, I won''t pursue these issues further," The man stood up and pped his deputy''s shoulder hard twice, almost causing him to lose his bnce. The deputy dared not retaliate, only watching as the train conductor walked away. Afterwards, the deputy hurriedly left the cockpit, while the other crew members began whispering amongst themselves. "Haha, that''s really funny. I''ve been annoyed with him for a while; he finally tripped up, huh." "That''s for sure; the train conductor used to be from the military, not many in the corporation can withstand the oppressive force from Sequence 6 of the Dragon Sequence, just him, haha." "Stopughing, he''s not some ordinary employee like us. I heard his uncle is a high-rankingpany executive. Otherwise, how would he have the chance to handle the purchasing rights for such internal device recements?" ... Even amidst the chaos of war, greed and corruption still spread within the Federation. The reformers were not much cleaner than the Conservative Faction. In fact, that''s precisely why many Star Domains were unwilling to support the reformers; so-called reforms simply shifted benefits from one group of people to another. As a result, many Star Domains experienced uprisings and turmoil. They loathed the Federation''s governance and no longer believed in any promises from those in power. These people aspired for independence from the Federation, and the disintegration of the Federation seemed to be a preferable option. This was an era of decay and rot, no longer were there awe-inspiring, blood-stirring oaths, only pleasures used to numb the increasingly vacant spiritual world. ... The scene continuously shifted, the female protagonist named Tearsa followed her brother to the enemy camp. Along the way, she witnessed the ugliness and conspiracy from both sides of the war and felt deep disappointment in both. In such a state of mind, she encountered a painter from the enemy camp. The painter had been sent to the front lines to paint for the higher-ups. Despite the ongoing war, many wealthy people thought that the magnificent war would offer views quite different from the ordinary¡ªbeauty bursting from iron and fire, blood and steel, surely something rare¡ª, so they hired him with their money to capture these poignant scenes as the eyes of the rich. "Why not take photos?" Tearsa asked the man. "Photos can indeed record the scene, but painting is different. It lies between illusion and reality and can portray the emotions within the scene in a supreme way. This kind of beauty is rare and it''s what those bigwigs like to see," "Oh, they like it so much, why don''t theye to the front lines themselves?" Tearsa sat next to the painter, observing as he sketched, while countless shells and beams of light prated the ground in the far distance, amidst the mor of battle. "That''s because they deem their lives to be more important," the painter said helplessly, shaking his head and looking at the innocent and beautiful girl beside him. "So, your life isn''t important?" Tearsa gently raised her wrist, her fingertips caressing the stubbled chin of the man, her eyes seemingly brimming with tears. "I''m a painter, this is my means of livelihood, nothing more," he shook his head, no longer looking at the young girl beside him, afraid he would never be able to escape those eyes again. "But you could pursue another dream, like taking me away from this troubling world. I would marry you, and you could boldly paint many pictures for me, many..." Her words sounded like those of a siren from myths, causing the painter to hesitate and his mind to waver. "Hehe, I was just kidding," Tearsa stood up, looking towards the distant battlefield. "I''m leaving tomorrow. The negotiations failed, and my brother, the ambassador, will soon return, and I will go back with him." "So, what do you n to do?" She turned her back to the painter, her voice trailing off, her hand on her waist, her fingertips gently swaying. "I think..." For a moment, the painter also seemed to have realized something. "I think I want to grasp your fingertips and head to a distant world..." The film slowly entered its conclusion, with the two escaping on a small spaceship from the war-torn Star Domain, heading to a distant and unknown ce. . . ps: When you say watching a movie, it really writes a movie 0 0/ Chapter 60: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng) The movie ended, and everyone came out of the viewing cabin. Regarding the movie, everyone had different opinions. Mili thought it was very romantic, while Dudu said it was all a sham, asserting that a high-ssdy from the upper echelons could never fall in love with a poor boy in reality, and guessed it was probably the fantasy of some unsessful novelist. "What does Hexia think?" Lina asked the girl. "Perhaps such beautiful things have happened in history, but people are different; everyone makes their own choices," Hexia replied. Compared to her ssmates'' certainty, she seemed quite open to epting things that were different, which was probably due to her recent bizarre experiences. "Ah~ Hexia believes it too?" Lina said thoughtfully, dragging out her words. The group left the cinema, and by now, it was already past four in the afternoon. They strolled aimlessly on themercial street, nning to browse around without any particr intent to buy anything. This was where boys and girls differed. Usually, when boys went shopping, they would head straight to the point, make a selection, and if it seemed alright, they would buy it and leave. However, for girls, shopping was mainly about the experience; they didn''t necessarily have a specific n to purchase. They might buy something if they liked it, or continue shopping if nothing caught their interest. The real funy in chatting and sharing opinions withpanions during this time. Hexia wasn''t particrly interested in shopping; she was used to being thrifty, but she couldn''t just run off when her friends were so enthusiastic, so she thought of it as an opportunity to broaden her horizons. "Let''s start at the clothing street first and see what''s new," Dudu suggested, eager to begin her favorite part of shopping¡ªbuying clothes. "A wise decision," Lina agreed. "Let''s have a look," Mili had no objections. Following the others, Hexia entered the spiral street of themercial district; the clothing street resembled a huge spiral, with stores on both sides of the street and also an automatic esctor floor on the spiral street. If you just stood on it, you could move along with the esctor or descend slowly. "Let''s check out that store first," the girls said, standing on the moving floor, with Dudu pointing to a shop in the distance with a cute decoration. "''Fluffy Home'', Dudu, I thought you always followed a mature style. Why have you switched to a cute style?" Lina asked curiously. "What mature style? I''m just over 16, not that old," Dudu retorted, clearly irritated. "It''s just that I''ve been influenced by my sister to use her hand-me-downs. She says they are brand-name clothes and bags worth thousands of Federation Coins, and she sells them to me for a low price." "As a result, I ended up looking ridiculous, and she practically swindled all my pocket money," Dudu added angrily. "Hehehe, just like a real sister," Mili giggled on the side, her mood lightening. "Let''s go have a look then." When they entered the store, it was just like the sign outside described: full of various fluffy essories and clothes, especially some stuffed animal pajamas that seemed very popr, with many styles avable. "They look pretty cute." "They feel really soft to the touch." "Ah, that''s a crocodile set. I really want it." "Are crocodiles really cute?" "But it looks impressive with its big mouth, just like a dragon." "Why not buy a dragon-shaped one then?" "Dragons are too scary, not suitable for a cute girl like me." "..." The girls chattered away inside the store, with Hexia contributing a word or two asionally. Then, she inadvertently turned her gaze outside. Something seemed to be happening outside. She saw several people hurriedly running on the street, making shouting gestures, but due to the store''s excellent soundproofing, she couldn''t hear clearly. Just as Hexia wondered whether to go outside and check, Lina grabbed her arm. "Hexia, do you like this?" Lina held up a big yellow duck pajama. "This, um... is okay?" Hexia answered absentmindedly. After hastily handling herpanions'' inquiries and discussions, by the time she looked back outside, everything seemed to have returned to normal. Passersby were moving along the street with no signs of trouble. Strange, never mind, I''ll check it outter. Half an hourter, the group finally left the store, naturally without buying anything. "Although it''s very cute, it''s still a bit childish," someone remarked. "We''ll buy it next time, maybe," possibly said because they were embarrassed. "Didn''t find the right one." The issue was, since they weren''t buying anything, why browse for almost 40 minutes? Hexia shook her head internally. "Let''s go, to the next shop." After that, the group visited several more stores, until it was close to 6 p.m. "Let''s have dinner togetherter, and then go sing karaoke," Lina suggested. "No problem." "I know a very nice restaurant; I even got a coupon for it recently. We can go there," Lina said, shaking her personal device that she held in her hand, indicating she had it covered. The others were indifferent and thus agreed to the n. Half an hourter, the four took the elevator to a ss restaurant located at a scenic spot. "This one looks very high-end," Dudu said, surveying the sign and decorations, which included uniformed human waiters inside. Usually, the serving and cleaning at a normal restaurant would be done by T6 robots, which could save a lot of money. However, human service implied higher costs. As for "Dream of zed ss," the use of robots was because it maintained the average quality of the maids and a quiet,fortable style. Too many varied humans could disrupt that style. "Hmm, the T4 level Fengbian steak here is really good," Lina exined. Chapter 61: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng)_2 "Wait, you''re saying T4 level, right?" Dudu spoke up. "Yes, what about it?" Lina asked, feigning confusion. "A T4 level set meal starts at over 1000, do we really need something so expensive just for a meal?" Although Dudu cared about face, in front of a few close sisters, where everyone''s family background was well known, there was no need to pretend. "Dudu has a point," Mili nodded. Among them, she came from the wealthiest background, but she normally wouldn''te to this type of restaurant alone, only apanying her elders to entertain guests at most. "No worries, I''ve been here with an acquaintance before, and they gave me a few discount coupons. If worstes to worst, I can also talk to him; he''s friends with the owner and can help us save a lot," Lina reassured everyone once more. "Alright then, but you said it''s on you if it''s over 300, I can''t afford that," Dudu wouldn''t be at a loss. "There''s no need to be so harsh," Mili seemed unfazed by the cost. "As for me..." Hexia was considering whether to decline, actually she wasn''t unfamiliar with T4 level set meals, since she often ate them in the restauranttely. But outside it was just too expensive. That''s about half a day''s work gone... Hexia calcted in her mind. "It''s fine," Lina patted Hexia on her shoulder, cutting off her words. "I''m treating today, is that not okay? You all look terrified," she shook her head, cing a hand over her chest, showing a pained expression as if her goodwill was misunderstood. In the end, the group still entered the restaurant. "Wee to the Alluring Prism restaurant, where we will provide you with absolutelyfortable and worry-free service." As they entered the shop, the ushers dressed as waitstaff bowed courteously, causing Dudu and Mili to be both surprised and delighted. This kind of spiel reminded Hexia of what the manager used to tell her, never to use words like ''absolutely'' or ''certainly'' in front of customers, as it was like digging a hole for oneself, and it also felt insincere and exaggerated. Though she thought this, the spiel seemed quite effective on Mili and Dudu, who were dazzled as soon as they stepped in, finding everything fabulous. Soon after sitting down, Lina started ordering the meal, and then began discussing the decor and furnishings of the ce. "See this dark gold-colored transparent tabletop? It''s made of ''Mehes Translucent Metal,'' and the porcin tes and cups are from ''Gilded Jade Sand''..." She spoke with authority, piquing everyone''s curiosity, and even Hexia wondered why the seniors in ''Dream of zed ss'' had never introduced which brand their decorations were from. Shortly after, the main course was served, freshly seared Wind Swept Ranch steak wafting a tempting aroma and hue. As it was T4 level cuisine, it had some transcendent effects. "Looks pretty good," Mili, who had experienced T4 level cuisine several times before, reacted calmly. "Wow, so this is T4 level cuisine? It feelspletely different from what I remember," Dudu had only tried it once before and her reaction was still strong. "How is it, great right?" Lina responded with a hint of pride, but her nce drifted towards Hexia not far away. The girl seemed rather nonchnt¡ªwasn''t she amazed? No no no, that must just be her personality, Lina thought. She seldom saw Hexia making a fuss. However, it was time to notify someone. She took out her personal terminal, subtly sent a message under the table, and then resumed chatting andughing with everyone. The dining experience turned out quite pleasant; after all, three of them didn''t pay, and the fourth knew someone else had covered the cost in advance¡ªthey certainly wouldn''t be distressed about it. "Guests, this is a newly tailored ''Citrus Fruit Wine''." While the group was chatting and enjoying their food, the waiter once again brought over four sses of enticingly orange-hued fruit wine, which gave off an aromatic fragrance. "We didn''t order this, did we?" Lina inquired. "Yes, but a gentleman asked us to bring it over to you," said the waiter, stepping aside to reveal a man sitting at a nearby table, dressed smartly with silver-rimmed sses, exuding the air of a business elite. "Oh, who''s this?" Dudu asked Lina, curious. "Ah, so he''s here today. That''s the acquaintance I mentioned. He says hees to this ce often and is the one who introduced it to me," Lina waved to the man, and the elf gentleman approached. "Good evening,dies," he spoke with an ent that carried a hint of the Elvishnguage. "Hello," Dudu and Mili felt ttered and scrambled to recall the etiquette lessons from school, but they couldn''t remember much at that moment and just felt nervous. The man nodded amiably in response to their greetings, then began introducing himself. "My name is Senqueerde, a friend of Lina. Didn''t expect to dine here after work and just happened to see you." Dining here after work, and alone at that¡ªit made it hard not to specte whether he lived thisvish life daily. Listening to him, Dudu and Mili''s imaginations ran wild, and seeing that he was an elf, their admiration only grew. Elves may ount for less than 1% of the federation''s poption, but with lifespans nearly three times that of humans and significant advantages in practicing Natural Sequence, they often found themselves in the upper echelons of society and were the envy of many. "Hello, my name is Mili..." "Hello, I''m..." Mili and Dudu took turns introducing themselves, even sharing some of their hobbies and interests. Finally, it was the turn of the grey-haired girl in the corner, "Hello, my name is Hexia." Her introduction was straightforward and unembellished, without extraneous details. "Nice to meet you all, I hope I haven''t disturbed your meal," he said, pulling out a chair and sitting down naturally. Chapter 62: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng)_3 Senqueerde first chatted with a few people about the restaurant, then slowly began talking about how he met Lina. "Actually, it was because of a shared passion, I suppose. We sat next to each other at a concert once and talked a lot about music. After that, we gradually became acquainted." "Yeah, I was quite surprised at the time, considering I initially thought Mr. Senqueerde was so much older than me, and he might not understand the kind of music I like. But to my surprise, Senqueerde is really well-versed. He knew a lot of things I mentioned and told me lots about the history of music and its changes," Lina said, feigning admiration, which made everyone at the tableugh. Since when did Lina understand music, Hexia tipped her head to the side, thinking the one who truly adored music in the ss was probably ra, who dreamed of bing an idol, but even she said practicing the guitar was too hard. While they wereughing and talking, Hexia spoke little. In the end, it was Senqueerde who took the initiative to speak up. "Hexia, haven''t you thought about where to go for vacation? It seems like everyone else has their own ns." "Ah, me? I haven''t really decided yet. Probably going to work part-time and save up some money since I won''t have time to work once high school starts, and there will be lots of ces to spend money then," Hexia shook her head. "That''s a pity, especially since there''s only one middle school graduation vacation. Looking back at my own graduation, I also missed out on going out with my ssmates because I was preparing for re-exams, leaving many regrets," Senqueerde shook his head. "Though studying is important, you only live once, and if you miss out, that''s it." "Yes, my sister also said the same thing. Girls need to grab hold of many things while they''re young, or they''ll regret it when they''re older," Dudu agreed wholeheartedly. "That does sound quite reasonable," Mili nodded vigorously. "Don''t keep obsessing over your part-time job, Hexia," Lina started to assist now. "You won''t save much in a month of part-time work, and a week away won''t waste much time. Life is about experiencing different things." "But..." Hexia was about to refuse when Senqueerde intervened. "It''s okay. Traveling doesn''t cost much, and just so happens ourpany is organizing a trip. As the manager, I have two spots for family or friends. It''s a vacation to the beach in South Third District, would you like to join Lina and me?" Inviting Hexia alone probably would have caused much wariness and resistance, but including a ssmate and former deskmate like Lina would lower many of her defenses. "I..." In the past, Hexia might have hesitated due to her inability to refuse people, but now, well... "I''d rather not go," the girl shook her head. For one thing, she didn''t want to ept favors for no good reason, and then there was her intuition; she didn''t particrly like Senqueerde for some reason that she couldn''t put her finger on. "You should go and have a look. It''s a rare vacation, and Hexia, you wouldn''t want to always look back on your time spent only in Payin City''s underground scene. Getting out for some fresh air would be nice," Lina grabbed Hexia''s hand, urging her once more. At this point, Dudu and Mili also sensed something amiss, but they felt somewhat favorable towards Senqueerde, and after having a free meal today, they didn''t feel right saying much. Hexia was in luck, Dudu thought; such a wealthy person was interested in her. Tch, why does it have to be Hexia, am I not pretty enough? Mili sipped her drink gloomily. "Still, I''ll pass," Hexia struggled to pull her wrist from Lina''s grasp. She rarely refused anyone, and saying such things in front of everyone made her feel immense pressure. Seeing Hexia like this ignited an inexplicable anger in Lina''s heart. What''s the deal, putting on airs at a time like this? She had assured others on Hexia''s behalf, usually sopliant, and now acting all aloof, huh. "Hexia, do you look down on me!" Lina didn''t hide her emotions any longer and stood up with a tight face. "This..." Watching the scene, Senqueerde almost wanted to facepalm. He was a respectable person, and the restaurant had a bit of a reputation. This kind ofmotion was truly undesirable. The girl named Hexia obviously wasn''t used to the world, timid, and perhaps had refused earlier out of shyness. But with time, she would warm up; however, with Lina''s interference, things would be trickier. As the two seemed ready to argue, Dudu and Mili quickly intervened to calm things down. Dudu hugged Lina, and Mili pulled Hexia aside. "Calm down, Lina. Hexia didn''t mean it; it''s just her usual shy nature," Dudu soothed Lina. Mili also spoke to Hexia on the side, "Okay, don''t mind Lina. She''s probably just impulsive. You know how she is, always a bit blunt... Just greet Mr. Senqueerde, apologize, and then you can leave. After all, he did invite us for a meal, and it cost a pretty penny." With their efforts, the situation cooled down slightly, but the mood was ruined. As Mili and Dudu thought about how to wrap up the day, say their goodbyes, and disperse, footsteps echoed from outside the restaurant. "Special police?" whispered some guests in the restaurant. Different from the usual white-dressed police, these officers were fully armed, wearing matte ck armor and helmets, with pulse rifles in their hands that radiated a deadly presence. As they entered the floor, they split up to secure the area, then checked each shop one by one. Chapter 63: Chapter 31: Invitation and Rejection (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Cat Mimi Mengmeng)_4 ``` "What happened?" Senqueerde stood up and walked to the front desk at this point, as he was indeed a regr here, and the staff all recognized him. "There was an ident on the street today, someone with uncontrolled powers hurt people, although it was containedter, it seems that the situation isn''t that simple," the clerk had only just found out the news through a group chat with the surrounding shops. "I see..." Although there was a possibility of mental contamination and loss of control due to leveling up and practicing the Transcendent Sequence, the probability of such incidents was actually very low. In a city of over a million people like Payin City, only a few cases would happen in a year, and even if someone lost control, it was easy to contain, so there was no need for such cautious and high-profile measures. "I can''t figure it out, I''ll make a call and see," Senqueerde, being middle management at hispany, knew quite a few people and now wanted to get some information. After a phone call, he put down his personal terminal, shook his head, and asked the clerk for a ss of fruit wine. "What''s going on?" Lina clung to his arm childishly; the fire from earlier had died down, and she also felt something was amiss, wanting to redeem herself in this man''s heart. "Nothing much, let''s all sit for a while, it will be fine once the special police finish their inspection," he didn''t actually know what was happening, as his friend had also only mentioned that Payin City was going to enforce stricter controls recently. "Alright then." Everyone sat back down and began the idle wait. The other patrons in the shop had more or less also received some news through various channels. Seeing there was no special privilege to leave, they could onlye back and wait patiently. If it weren''t for the argument earlier, the group might still be able to chat andugh, but now the atmosphere was very subdued. Seeing this, Senqueerde called the waiter once again to bring each of the four people a ss of ice cream. "Have some dessert after the meal. Don''t worry, it''s got nothing to do with us," his gesture once again earned a bit of goodwill from Mili and Dudu. As time passed by, about 20 minutester, the special police arrived at their restaurant, checking each person with their equipment. After seeing nothing unusual, they allowed everyone to leave. As they were about to go, Hexia still called out Senqueerde''s name, and then the two of them exchangedmunication IDs before departing. "Hexia has really taken a liking, huh," Dudu and Mili walked together on the way back. "Well, it''s understandable. Hexia''s home situation isn''t great, her parents aren''t around either, she''s different from us," Mili shook her head. "Mili, howe you''re so understanding today? That''s not like you," Dudu said in surprise. "People grow up, after all. After this breakup, I''vee to terms with a lot," she replied. "Haha, who knew a breakup could be such a growth experience?" Dudu and Mili slowly walked off into the distance. Elsewhere, after driving Lina home, Senqueerde also received a message from Hexia. [I apologize for making Mr. Senqueerde feel embarrassed today. Here is today''s dining expense of 1612 Federation Coins, which I have transferred to you.] [I know Lina might have said those things impulsively, and she has her reasons, but I also have my decisions, at least for now, I still want to live my life my way and not just depend on someone casually.] [Sorry to have troubled you, please delete mymunication ID once you''ve confirmed the transfer.] ¡ªHexia Tn Sitting in the car with his personal terminal down, Senqueerde looked towards the distantmercial street and said with a sigh, "I really misjudged, didn''t expect there were still girls like this nowadays." "But how long can such pridest? Today''s society isn''t one where you can survive just on pride alone." . . . . ps: Seems I''m still no good at plot twists _(:§Ù¡¹¡Ï)_ ``` Chapter 75: Chapter 38: Unexpected Visitors He kicked the minced flesh beneath his feet, analyzing its biologicalponents. A short whileter, Lude packed away the device and stood up. "It''s a mutated human, but probably not a resident of the Federation. It might be a clone created by the enemy strictly for experiments." "All the residents of Payin City are under the watch of the T2 level AI ''April''. If there''s a sudden spike in missing persons, the AI will notify the Federal Government." "That dairy factory is really convenient. Not only does it have underground dairy farming with cows, but it''s also equipped withplementary ughtering, processing, and treatment facilities. Hiding a small artificial human cultivation facility within would be a lot easier." "Clonesck intelligence, dead, they can be processed into feed for cows, and then the manure can be used as fuel in the incinerators for reuse. Eventually, it all turns to ash, and naturally, no one would find out." "The quality of evildoers these days is getting lower and lower. It really gives a bad impression," sighed Lude. "Yo, Lude, feeling all sentimental at such a young age, are we? I''ve seen far more bizarre and despicable things in my life than this," Pascal put down the ck and red box he was holding and started assembling its parts. "That''s okay, I''d rather not hear it. I''m afraid it might affect my mood during the mission," Lude shook his head. "Besides, there are countless such incidents in the history of the Fifth Epoch. Compared to those times, today''s viins are practically white lotuses." "That was indeed an era filled with darkness and devoid of all limits. No wonder the entire civilization eventually copsed." The three of them chatted to relieve the high tension and equipped themselves with various weapons and gear before continuing their exploration. Yang Che not only switched on the night vision on his goggles but also put on special tactical headphones, constantly on alert. Lude held an Eight Mountains te scanner in one hand and a ck pistol with aser sight resembling a red line in the other, while Pascal inserted special ceramic tes into his bulletproof lining and then picked up a rotating machine gun that resembled a metallic storm. Among the three, Yang Che had the strongest overall response capabilities, Lude excelled in search, hacking, and tracking, and Pascal was the heavy firepower expert. "Reinforcements will arrive in 30 minutes. Let''s hurry up and scout the area." "Understood." The three headed toward the dark cave. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Meanwhile, Hexia returned to her home. After taking a bath, she put on her pajamas, went back to the bedroom, and sat on the bed to flip through the scores she had received during the day. Her personal terminal was ced in front of the bed, and it projected a virtual keyboard into the air. After entering the scores, the notes from the music piece scrolled by, and the girl ced her fingers on the keys, getting ustomed to the tune as if ying a piano. Time flew unnoticed, and soon it was 9 PM when a knocking sound came from downstairs. Shortly after, Grandma He came to the outside of Hexia''s bedroom to ask. "A young man from the neighborhood is looking for you, says he has something important." "Who?" Hexia put away her things and walked out of the bedroom. Following Grandma He downstairs, she arrived at the door and saw the familiar face. "Qiao Long?" The ck-haired young man of the day wore a leather jacket and trousers, his eyes tinged with fatigue, as if he wasn''t in good shape. "Miss Hexia." He bowed respectfully before speaking. "Sorry to intrude upon you like this, but I''m here for a very important matter that requires your help." "What''s the matter, I''ve said it before, haven''t I?" Hexia frowned, having previously mentioned she didn''t want to see this guy again. "I know, but it really is an extremely important matter, and it won''t cause any trouble for your life," he spoke anxiously. "Hexia." Seeing him like this, Grandma He couldn''t help but speak up to the young girl. Taking a deep breath, Hexia opened her eyes, "Let''s talk outside." She asked Grandma He to stay in the house. The two of them went to a corner in the hallway where they stood still. "What is it?" The girl looked up at the figure much taller than herself, wondering what trouble could have possibly brought this person back to her. "It''s one of mypanions, whom you might have seen before, the particrly fat and tall one." "What''s happened to him?" "He was attacked underground and is currently in a critical condition, barely hanging on." "Why not take him to the hospital?" Hexia''s tone softened slightly. "It''s no use, I know the medical capabilities of Payin City today; they can''t handle such severe injuries, and besides, ambnces can''t reach that ce." "Oh?" "It was in a cave on the 72nd level underground, an area not marked on the Federation''s map." "Can''t he be moved?" the girl asked curiously. "Because he was temporarily encased in ice using special methods, moving him would make the injuries worse and he might die on the spot." Qiao Long shook his head and punched the wall, making a thud. "That''s a gray zone, isn''t it? You want me to go to such a dangerous ce?" Although Hexia was only sixteen, she still had her guard up. "I will clear the way and protect you, ensuring absolute safety on the road." Qiao Long bent down fiercely, his body almost at a 90¡ã angle. "Talking like this now, you should know what you did before," Hexia shook her head. That day, her bones had been crushed by this man, and she still remembered the pain vividly. If it weren''t for her never having killed anyone, her unwillingness to cross that line, and not wanting toplicate her future life, Qiao Long would already be a corpse. "I am very sorry for offending Miss Hexia that day, but no matter what, I ask for your help this time." His voice grew more urgent, and eventually, he pulled out a specially made secret lockbox from behind his waist and handed it to Hexia. "This is what I prepared for my advancement, which I can entrust to Miss Hexia for safekeeping as a guarantee." "This is¡­" The girl took the ck, long box, slid the button on the side, and the lid opened to reveal the liquid inside sparkling with a bright red luster. Gently shaking it, the liquid rippled with broken scales of light, giving off a warm sensation, and she could even faintly hear the sound of a dragon roaring. ''Dragon Blood Elixir (Scarlet Scale Thorn Dragon)'' [Excellent Luminous Gold Rank]: A precious Dragon Blood Potion that allows the Transcendents of the Dragon Sequence to gain the bloodline ability of the ''Scarlet Scale Thorn Dragon'' during their advancement and, after Sequence 6, the Dragon Transformation Ability. (As the Scarlet Scale Thorn Dragon itself is not very powerful, hence the rank is reduced to Excellent Luminous Gold Rank.) Feeling the Magic Rhythm within the crimson liquid, Hexia slowly opened her eyes, looking at Qiao Long with slight surprise. The potion was genuine, and its price extremely steep. On the official website, it was listed for 2.6 million Federation Coins but was not avable for purchase. If acquired through special means, the cost would be even higher. "How much did you spend on this potion?" "I found a middleman on the ck market, who used special channels to bring it to Payin City, and in the end, it cost me about 4 million Federation Coins. For this, I''ve umted a debt of approximately 800,000 Federation Coins." "I see." Hexia thoroughly sensed his expression and emotions before concluding that Qiao Long was not lying. Lying in front of a Songstress with the Talent for Soul Synchronization was not something many in the Federation could do, let alone in front of a girl with the potential for Color Level. With a sigh, Hexia lowered her arms, realizing that Qiao Long truly was in trouble. To go for the rescue or to ignore it? After all, Qiao Long wouldn''t dare to harm her at the moment. The scene fell into a brief silence and stillness. A minuteter, the girl turned around with the potion in hand, walking towards the house in her slippers. "I''m going to change my clothes." It wouldn''t do to travel far in pajamas, after all. "Yes." Qiao Long replied gratefully upon hearing her words, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Back in her room, after exining the situation to Grandma He, Hexia returned to her bedroom. She stored the potion in a spatial rift, then changed into a suit of clothes suitable for travel, and before leaving, she picked up a ck coat to drape over her shoulders. "Let''s go." Once prepared, Hexia re-emerged in front of Qiao Long dressed in sneakers and shorts, wearing the hood of her coat over her head and a mask covering her face, with only strands of her ck hair and her pale blue eyes showing from beneath the hood. "Yes!" Chapter 65: Chapter 33 Messenger in the Dark Another day at work, Hexia arrived at ''Dream of zed ss''. Not long after changing into her maid outfit, she heard her colleagues talking about something. "Last night the entire Payin City was under martialw, the special police even searched the top five floors." "Did something happen?" "It''s said there was a loss of control, and it was continuous." "Continuous?" "It means that this loss of control wasn''t an ident, but due to some human factors, so it''s taken more seriously." "I see..." Hexia walked to ''Vurowus''''s bar, where she would continue to work for the day. "Did you rest well yesterday, ''Dantalion''?" ''Vurowus'' asked curiously. "Not bad, but I got held up a bit around themercial street." "Oh, looks like you experienced it too." The maid pondered. "Well, it doesn''t concern you, um, no problem, just stay safe. After all, it was a very small fluctuation, it shouldn''t have a big impact." "If you ever feel uneasy living in the Lower District, I can help you find a ce in the Upper District, where the security is much better." "That would be expensive." Hexia shook her head. "Expensive, yes, but manageable. I also live alone, so why note live with me, Hexia?" ''Vurowus'' suggested with a smile. "I don''t think that would be appropriate, it feels like it would bother others." "Ah, your character, sometimes you think too much about others." The maid beside her shook her head. "However, this situation probably won''tst much longer." "Sister ''Vurowus''?" Hexia tilted her head, puzzled. "It''s nothing. You''re helping Botis out tonight, right? She mentioned it to me." "That''s right, Botis''s junior, do you also know her, Sister ''Vurowus''?" "I know her, but she might not know me." ''Vurowus'' said mysteriously, arousing Hexia''s curiosity. "Anyway, you''ll know tonight, no rush." "Alright." She could only temporarily trust her two senior colleagues. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Outside Dianya City, on the surface. A super spatial-temporal swift spaceship streaked across the sky, descending slowly with a long howl. Then, squads of elite soldiers d in ck-blue exoskeleton armor hastily disembarked, boarding small shuttles that went directly into the giant Skylight of Dianya City. The Skylight of Dianya City was already under strict control, forbidding unrted spacecraft and hover cars from entering, making it quite empty. Along the steel giant tunnel reminiscent of an abyss, shuttles sped quickly, reaching deep into the city''s underground districts. Several hourster. "Is this where the girl is being held?" A man in a deep blue stand-cor uniform arrived at the monitoring room. His figure was neat, his tone solemn, like an unmeltable iceberg. "Yes, Officer, this is the room where the subject under report is being held." The Chief of Police answered standing behind the officer, sweating. The room was also upied by elite patrol enforcers standing at the ready, each one of them ranked above Sequence 5, the elite of the federal special department. "No need to add ''Officer'', just call me Chief. Send me all the information about her, we need a thorough analysis on this side." "Yes, Chief!" "Also, regarding the people around her like her teachers and ssmates, announce that this girl was identally injured that day, but unrted to the case, and that she hasn''t gone out because she needs treatment and recovery." "Yes, Chief!" Although unsure why he needed to exin it that way, the Chief of Police immediately replied. "After you''re ready, bring me to see her. You''vemunicated with her before, and with you, the local Chief of Police, she might let down her guard a little." "Yes, Chief!" Subsequently, the heavy steel locked doors opened, echoing through the space, and the Officer made his way into the cold and silent holding cell. ... "Name?" "Opemiur" "Briefly introduce yourself." "Opemiur, orphan, born in the 13th Hospital of Dianya City, currently 16 years 3 months old, preparing for the re-examination of Irene Academy, went out to hang out at the invitation of a ssmate, got drunk and tricked into a hotel, then was assaulted by a stranger, and finally killed the assant." "You''re very calm, have you always been like this?" "No, I used to be just timid." "Was it this ident that changed your character?" "Yes." "Do you hate those ssmates?" "Hate." "What kind of punishment do you think they deserve?" "I..." the girl began to hesitate and struggle. "I hope they receive the punishment of thew." "Thew? ording to thew, at most they would be considered as instigators or enticers, and wouldn''t be sentenced heavily. They would just be locked up for a few days and then released. Whereas you, for having killed someone, might face a lifetime in prison." "I killed a bad person," the girl said angrily. "True, the records show that the person was a gang member, an unscrupulous viin, but as long as there is no verdict, he still enjoys the safety guaranteed by the federal authority." "How could you do this!?" "It''s not that we want to, but the order of society must be maintained like this. If everyone disregarded it, then the federation would disintegrate." "But what I want to tell you is, even if the federation disintegrated, you would still not receive justice. Instead, you would face an even darker and more brutal rule of the jungle." "Can''t you just protect the weak?" "We try our best to do so, but please also understand the helplessness of the adult world." "I understand you, but who will understand me! This is simply unfair!" "Yes, it''s very unfair to you, but what of it? No one will run around for an insignificant and unimportant person like you. Everyone''s time and life are precious, and no one is born indebted to anyone else." "If you want to be respected, you need to show that you''re worth respecting. Merely crying will at best earn a few pitying tears, but it will not change anything." "You have an excellent and special talent. Surely you''ve discovered this about yourself in the past two days, haven''t you?" "Yes." "I think the federation owes you an opportunity, a chance to change your own destiny." The investigator took out a special contract paper andid it on the table. "After you sign this, we won''t interfere with your life. You can still interact with the people around you as usual, and even apply to certain high schools and universities, etc." "But at critical moments, when the federation needs you, you will answer the call of duty." "What will I get in return?" "You will get a lot. For instance, you won''t encounter certain troubles in life anymore, and the federation will give you a subsidy every month. The ssmates who framed you will also receive their deserved punishment." "Deserved punishment, legally speaking?" "Yes, exposure and punishment for everything in their lives that vites morals and thew." "Okay, I''ll sign." Minutester, the investigator left the room with his team, headed back to the ship. They would stay for a few more days but wouldn''t reside in the city. "Why did the chief only let her sign a contract as a reserve patrol envoy and let her off? With such special talent, she should be brought to the Central Star Domain for proper protection and research..." "First rein in your eagerness to make a meritorious deed," the investigator said, looking at the data on the screen and responding calmly. "Our first priority is to reassure her, to make sure she doesn''tpletely lose faith in the federation or even join the opposition." "It''s a pity we arrivedte. Her mind and body have already suffered a great deal of shock and damage. If we rashly take her back to the Central Star Domain now, what if it triggers massive upheaval? As for whether her abilities are within a manageable scope, that''s still unknown. So, it might be better to leave her in this remote Star Domain for observation." "The reason we''re letting the police superintendent protect her social bonds, without breaking them, is to maintain her connection to those around her, so she doesn''t bepletely detached from society and take an extreme path." "Such a rare talent should be protected as much as possible. Gently persuading and recruiting her is actually the best approach. Destroying her is easy, but who knows how long it will be before the federation sees another talent like her." "I didn''t want to show her the excessively cruel realities of the federation too early, but at this point, speaking any kind of warm and nice words is like insulting her intelligence. That would only cause us to lose trust, making it more difficult to deal with thingster." "I''m not the right person for this, Miranda handles it well. Use themunication channel on the ship to inform her and tell her that good days areing." "Just say that she''s going to have a 3-4 year vacation, spending some warm and beautiful time with a 16-year-old girl." "Try to steer this girl towards the right path. If she causes destruction, that would indeed be unfortunate for the federation." "Yes, Chief." After the patrol envoy left the room, the investigator turned off the document on the interface and looked up at the cobalt blue star tear pattern at the top of the room, mumbling to himself. "May Your Highness''s radiance shine forever, Princess Emuralin." Chapter 66: Chapter 34: The Songstress in the Rain and Fire In the afternoon, Hexia sat in a corner of the hall, flipping through a book. She had learned much that wasn''t taught in ss, and regarding her future advancement, she already had many ideas. She definitely wanted to choose a profession with a certain level ofbat ability, as the past few idents had caused her quite a bit of suffering. Additionally, she aimed for a Transcendent Profession with higher evaluations. Unfortunately, among the Transcendent Professions publicly released by the Federation, there weren''t many that suited her fancy, with only Withering Sequence 3¡¤ Phantom de Swordsman (Superior Level) barely fitting the bill. Most of the Withering Sequence professions were rted to medical and research fields. As forbat-rted professions, those were mostly within the military and not made public unless Hexia considered applying to a military academy. Joining the military was something she had never considered. Hexia didn''t quite like the serious atmosphere of the military; she was somewhat indolent. If life hadn''t pushed her, she might have been content to seclude herself in some countryside, an attitudepletely opposite to that of her ambitious elder sister. Ding-a-ling-ling¡ª "I''m going to help Sister Botis now," Hexia stood up. Minutester, following Botis to the base of Topstar Tower, the two took a Hover Car to a vast, empty za. "This ce... it''s thergest bathhouse in the city center, right? Are they going to hold a concert here?" Hexia got out of the car, looking around in astonishment. "Yes, although there are theaters in the city, they''re too old and small. It''s better to rent out the vast za in front of the bathhouse, especially since they''re closed for renovations," Botis exined. "That may be true, but it''s still quite surprising." "Don''t worry, there will be more surprisester, Hexia," Botis said, shaking her finger. "Come with me." Soon, Hexia understood why Botis said there would be more surprises. The teeming crowd before her fully demonstrated what enthusiasm was. "The ticket price is 1200 Federation Coins, please make your payment." "That''s really expensive for a concert." "Hush, there are lots of people waiting behind." "I didn''t expect so many people toe to a concert announced on such short notice." "What are you guys talking about? Who is the big star?" "Uh, you queued up without knowing?" "Of course, when I saw so many people, I assumed something good was happening, so I came over." "Well, it''s the Legendary Songstress ''Prin Coco''..." ------------- South First District, Swarm''s Reign Academy. This Academy, sporting the emblem of a queen bee, is the second-ranked high school on Jade Skirt, second only to Saint Ingo Academy. Unlike the coeducational Saint Ingo Academy, this school admits only female students, truly a girls'' school. The bell for the end of ss rang, and one after another, well-dressed youngdies left the educational hall, chatting andughing as they walked along the elegant, tree-lined paths. Then there was a girl unlike the others, skating on rollerdes at high speed across the ground, creating a breeze, followed by three others dressed the same, on skateboards and rollerdes, carrying backpacks. "Wait for us, Prin~" "Hurry up and catch up. I have a performance scheduled with my senior," Prin called back. "Even if we get left behind, you can''t perform the concert alone." "That''s why I''m telling you to catch up~~" The other students within the Academy watched them speed past, already ustomed to such sights. In such a strict Academy, those who lived so freely were certainly not ordinary students. "Prin is at it again." "It can''t be helped, everyone likes her since she''s a Songstress." "If Prin weren''t busy, I could ask her for an autograph; many of my little sisters are her fans." "Ah, now that you mention it, I''dpletely forgotten," a girl suddenly remembered. Outside the Academy, at the coffee shop, a figure familiar to Hexia waited anxiously. "Why hasn''t my seniore out yet? I''ve been waiting to get Prin Coco''s autograph for you. It''s not easy to visit South First District during a break just for this," rained, her table covered with several empty drink containers. Although her dream was to be an idol, it didn''t stop her from being a fan. Her current target was the hot new Songstress of Jade Skirt, ''Prin Coco,'' who had already attained ''Starshine Level.'' While she was at the Starshine Level for now, professional institutions in the Federation predicted she still had room for improvement, with a bright future ahead. Thus, she also received significant attention and care from the Star Domain government. "Well then, let''s get started." Outside the Academy, Prin and herpanions leaped into the shuttle in front of them. Shortly after, the shuttle soared into the skies, while a massive grey shadow in the sky headed northward. ... Three hourster. Countless raindropsshed against the iron-grey surface as tightly-sealed Flight Armor met the onught of the corrosive toxic rain, rushing through the grim, dark mists at high speed. With wings spanning hundreds of meters, a hefty body, and engines roaring ceaselessly as they spun rapidly, it roared through the skies like a beast, breaking through the barriers of nature in the pitch-ck adversity. In the dark skies outside Payin City, a tiny star rapidly expanded, the ensuing screech shattering the night''s tranquility. Hover Cars on the ground also stopped at the notification''s sound, waiting in ce. Countless people inside looked up at the night sky, anticipating the thunderous grey beast above to pass. The normally bustling Skylight of Payin City was exceptionally quiet at this moment. The crimson steel walls of the Skylight unfoldedyer byyer, the numerous restrictive ropes had been released, with green indicator lights flickering on the inner walls, and screens disyed, [ess Granted]. The "gray behemoth" in the sky plunged down, bringing with it a howling gale and rain showers, while at the same time, a massive cylindrical canister also slowly descended straight into the Skylight. In the midst of the wind and rain, the hatch opened, and a figure leaped into the pitch-ck curtain of night and rain. "Prin!" Herpanions called after her toote and had no choice but to jump down as well. d in a jacket reminiscent of mes, the caramel-haired girl wore sneakers, one hand gripping a guitar, the other sping the railing of the canister. She then stepped on the canister as numerous raindrops pelted it, hurtling straight toward Payin City''s pitch-ck abyss. The wind tousled her clothes and the rain dampened her cheeks, herughter was endless, swirling in the air with her twin-tail hair in the raging storm; so wild and unrestrained, so free and exhrating, this fervor and mood seemed poised to ignite the curtain of rain. The colossal canister, carrying the four of them, passed through the lengthy underground tunnel, with four white ''Messenger'' ss fighters nking it in escort, apanying them through the 7-kilometer stretch beneath the earth. Finally, darkness was abruptly torn asunder, and the brightly lit Payin City district appeared before their eyes. Ahead of the canister, searing air streams began to spout, slowing itself down, while the intense wind pressure deformed the streams into a hemisphere shape, the heatwave it stirred buffeted them, drying the girl''s originally drenched hair as it fluttered in the wind. Then it automatically shut off, the canisternding askew in the bathhouse square of Payin City, and at that moment, countless light pirs suddenly activated, converging on the four on top of the canister. "Oh¡ª" A cry that resembled the roar of the sea reverberated across the cityscape. "Prin Coco!" "Prin Coco!" "Prin Coco!" Hexia stood amidst the tidal wave of people, looking up at the gigantic canister that had captured everyone''s attention, the tiny figure atop it blossomed like me, scorching and indomitable. The rhythmic sound of a guitar began to rise, and suddenly the entire venue fell quiet. Apanied by the guitar, the kick drum sounded, and from the intro, the song continuously ascended, boisterous yet passionate. (BGM: Faster) "I can''t sleep, for there''s a me burning in my heart" "Like being on fire, the fierce ze rolls and surges" "No longer fearful, as I steadily approach" "Though somewhat surreal, I still cherish it" "I''m moving faster and faster" "Faster and faster" The melody kept spiraling and repeating, and the emotions within built up more deeply, eventually erupting almost like a roar, dazzling and stunning. "I can''t live in a fairy tale of sham and lies¡ª" A brief pause and a deep breath, then the song resonated again amidst the constant drumbeats and guitar. "I can feel you captivating my heart" "I can''t escape this right sensation" ... The song continued unabated, and the bass joined the guitar in unison, along with the steady beating of the drums, the song once more set the rain aze, and white vapors billowed. "To survive I''m moving faster and faster" "Faster and faster" "I won''t give in, for I am proud of all my scars" "I know I''ve wasted too much time" ... The crowd waved their glow sticks, and amidst the fiery red sea, Hexia felt like a tiny boat bobbing in this erupting sea of mes. "I can''t live in a fairy tale of lies" "You''ve captivated my heart" "I can''t escape this feeling that''s so right" "I can''t live in a fairy tale of lies" "Fairy tale of lies..." Is this the power of a Songstress... Hexia slowly ced her hand over her chest, where a torrent of emotions surged, so intensely fiery. In her life thus far, countless people had conveyed to her various principles: principles of life, social norms, thews of survival. She had tried ceaselessly to understand this perplexinglyplex world, a world dazzling to the eyes yet unsettling to the spirit. But every time she learned more, a new mountain would rise before her. The rules and dictums of the world were so numerous, people went their separate ways, leading her step by step into the quagmire from which she couldn''t escape. Gradually, her heart became shackled by various chains: the manacles of rtionships, of the atmosphere, of public consensus, of unspoken rules... The inner turmoil was like dark clouds trapped in a box, constantly churning but nowhere to vent or share. Life should not be like this, it should be vibrant and colorful. Like a candle me igniting, burning through all chains. Like a clear breeze sweeping over the hills, colorful leaves rustling under the sunshine. Chapter 67: Chapter 35 Assistance from a Nobility ''Dream of zed ss'' The simted sky twinkled with lightning, with streaks of rain falling from above, soon followed by the pattering sound of raindrops inside the store. Although it didn''t really rain inside the store, the environment resembled reality so closely that it was hard to distinguish the real from the fake, and sometimes people willingly immersed themselves in this illusion of rain. It was mid-May, and the rainy season had arrived on the surface of the earth, in harmony with this simted weather. Hexia was seated in Botis'' ss Jungle, listening to the sound of rain drumming on the leaves above, with a small booklet before her and a quiet,rge spider perched on her desk. The scratching of the pen on paper had its uses for mankind in the Interster Era, although not as widespread as it used to be. Since the concert that day, Hexia felt some changes within herself, though she couldn''t quite put her finger on them. Perhaps she had be more settled? At least she wasn''t as nervously on edge as before. Holding the pen, the girl tilted her head in thought, then unconsciously tapped therge spider on the desk with the end of her pen before she continued writing. She was sorting out recent events; life had thrown quite a lot at her, and without some order, it could be confusing. One, prepare for advancing to Withering Sequence 3, try to select a better job cement. Two, study music, although that dream was quite incredible, after the concert the other day, Hexia knew she couldn''t escape the things rted to being a Songstress. Three, prepare for the Academy entrance retake. Even though the retake list wasn''t out yet, considering it prudent to be prepared, it was time to review. After arranging her schedule for the next few days, Hexia used her personal terminal to scan the paper and record it in her memo. Alright, time to start today''s tasks. It should be time to help ''Huale'' with her tasks. ... Hexia passed through the hall, delivering a tray containing drinks to a familiar noblewoman before curtsying respectfully. "You''re getting more proficient, Dantalion." "Thank you, please enjoy at your leisure." "Would it be alright if you joined me for a bit?" For the first time, the noblewoman didn''t ask Hexia to leave immediately. "Of course." Hexia then stood aside, patiently waiting. The noblewoman added a few vor cubes to her drink, slowly sipped her coffee, and then leisurely set it down. "The older I get, the more I find myself enjoying sweet vors," she shared her preference. "You''re probably at the high school stage now, aren''t you, Dantalion?" "Not yet, actually. I''m still waiting for the notice. I just graduated from middle school not long ago." "Oh, that''s quite good. Have you thought about where you want to study? I might be able to give you some assistance." Although Hexia didn''t know the exact identity of this noblewoman, she could guess the woman was extraordinary, given the rarity of customers like her who regrly consumed T3-grade beverages. A cup of a T3-grade drink was priced between 8,000 and 20,000 Federation Coins, which was more than many people''s monthly sry. "I''ve applied to Irene Academy." In fact, she had also applied to Edith Academy, but that Academy''s reputation was so grand that it seemed presumptuous to mention it. "Irene Academy, hmm, not bad, but it''s a bit beneath you. Why not consider Yuanting Academy? It has a very good environment." Yuanting Academy, located in Northern First District, ranked 17th within the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain ¡ª indeed one of the best Academies. "Thank you for your kindness, but I''ve already missed the application period," Hexia responded with a touch of embarrassment. While she was certainly tempted by the offer, she also felt incredibly ttered, as she hadn''t done anything outstanding for this noblewoman. "No worries, their enrollment list hasn''t been finalized yet. You could still take the additional exams through a special channel in time." Elite Academies had various enrollment slots, some reserved for those who offered significant sponsorship and contributions to the schools. The noblewoman spoke the truth; Hexia just hadn''t expected to encounter such a stroke of luck, something she''d only heard of in rumors. "This... Thank you, but I''m not sure how to reciprocate. After all, my work has been quite ordinary." "Heh, you''re overthinking it, Dantalion." The noblewoman set down her cup. "To you, it might seem significant, but for me, it''s a small matter solved with a phone call." "Your own qualifications aren''t bad; it''s just that your background hasn''t afforded you many opportunities. I''m simply making an investment. To see a girl like you flourish in the future is indeed a delightful sight, much nicer than letting the bothersome details of life furrow your brow." "Don''t be overly grateful to me. Just think of it as if a Gold Coin has suddenly fallen from the sky for you to find. Pick it up at ease." "If you really feel indebted, then just perform well in school. Someone I rmend is definitely not going to be mediocre," she stated with a confidence that was almost certain. After a bit more conversation, the noblewoman allowed Hexia to leave. Back at the bar, ''Huale'' curiously asked why Hexia had taken such a long time, and then learned about what had transpired. "That''s how it is? Just ept it with peace of mind, Dantalion," ''Huale'' suggested quite naturally. "Can I really ept it just like that, such a thing?" "Well, for a big shot, it really is a small matter. Maybe she thinks you''re a promising prospect and decided to lend a hand following her whims." "Alright then." As Hexia slowly came to terms with this idea, she suddenly remembered she hadn''t exchanged contact details with the noblewoman, nor had the woman asked for her personal information. Chapter 68: Chapter 35 Assistance from a Nobility_2 Could it be that she forgot? But as she was thinking this, she received a message on her personal terminal. [Dear Hexia student, wee to your application to Yuanting Academy. After review by our teachers, your application has been approved. Pleasee to our school on May 28 for the re-examination. For this, you will need to prepare the following...] The girl blinked, somewhat incredulous and surprised. How did that noblewoman know her name and specific contact information? "Dantalion, you haven''t forgotten that you signed a contract to work here, have you? And that seniordy is also one of the shareholders of the store," Huale said, knowing full well what she was thinking from the look on her face. With a mix of anticipation and absent-mindedness, Hexia finished her morning work, and then at noon, the store distributed a box of biscuits to each maid. The specially crafted metal box looked like a cut-open light blue cake, and when opened, it was densely packed with neatly arranged long biscuits, colored in five rows: pink, white, yellow, white, blue, which looked rather cute. The T4 grade sweet fragrance biscuits from ''Chiffon Homnd'' could replenish magic power, restore physical strength, and slightly increase the stability of the Transcendent Core. It was a popr product, with an official website price of 2000 Federation Coins. "So this is the snack for the month, I thought it would be chocte," Belfeng said as she opened the biscuit box and started biting one after another. Dantalion (Hexia), Belfeng, and Debi sat in a corner of the main hall, resting and chatting. "Dantalion, this is your first time getting a snack, isn''t it? Actually, it''s distributed once a month, usually around T4 grade, and it''s one of the perks of our store," she said. "When working in the store, it''s inevitable to miss meal times, but you can''t have free ess to the store''s special ingredients, so snacks are provided aspensation," the senior maid exined. "Just this box of snacks is almost as much as a month''s sry," Hexia clicked her tongue, as she had never eaten such expensive treats before. "Indeed, if you only count the base sry," the rabbit-eared maid said, shaking her ears. "I usually buy them myself anyway, because eating more is good for advancement, after all, it''s definitely not a loss once it''s been eaten~" "Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore, someone is challenging me again this afternoon. I''m off, you two chat," Belfeng said, handing the biscuit box to Debi for safekeeping before she ran off to the gaming area. "Dantalion, won''t you try some?" Debi had just opened the box, it took her small hands quite some effort to pry it open. "Hmm." Hexia was indeed a bit reluctant to eat them, but then she thought, there''s no use in just keeping them; she would regret it if they went badter on. After opening the lid, she picked up a white one and bit into it. A sweet aroma of milk exploded along with the crispness of the wheat biscuit¡ªit was very delicious... Indeed, T4 level snacks are all made so exquisitely. "Dantalion also chose white," Debi said from across, looking at Hexia and her own biscuit, appearing somewhat happy. Among the maids in the store, the two of them were the closest in age and got along the most easily. Although the seniors took good care of Hexia, it was still not as rxing as being with Debi. Elders and seniors always put a bit of pressure on people. Together with Debi, holding the box of biscuits, Hexia went to her small White Feather Church, a ce like a secluded hollow in a tree, offering a sense of peace. "Debi, you''re graduating this year too, right?" Hexia asked, curious. "Yes." "Which school are you nning to go to?" "It''s a special church high school in South First District." "A church high school?" "Right. The school is mostly filled with students from the Radiant Feather Sequence, and we also have to study the doctrines, follow the rituals, and participate in various activities." "Does the school particrly worship some kind of existence?" "In the school, we broadly worship angels. We are all followers of the angelic path, everything for the sake of a pure, primal heart," Debi said, devoutly pressing her hand to her chest, her voice like an ethereal holy song. To this day, the ''Primal Heart'' faction originating from the Twilight Era still holds sway in human civilization, and its followers,rgely from the Radiant Feather Sequence, were once known as the Angelic Sequence in ancient times. "Which angel did Debi choose to align with?" "It''s the Angel M of the Guardian Wind. Although not very powerful, she was chosen as my guiding star because she has the highestpatibility with me." There have been many great individuals in human history who, although they have passed away, their spiritual will has turned into widely-recognized concepts and symbols. If someone could align with their deeds and couple it with certain rituals, they could receive a response from the Aijieka Sea. Among these, the most famous is the ''Angel''s Descent Ceremony'' of the Radiant Feather Sequence. This Descent Ceremony does not bring ancient sages back to life but attaches some of their past abilities or powers onto the ceremony performer. There are many names for angels, but generally, the shorter the name, the more powerful the angel. The Angel M of the Guardian Wind is among the upper third rank of resident angels in the church''s hierarchy. "I vaguely remember that M was a rabbit-eared race in history, and in the murals of her being made a saintly angelter, she is depicted with snow-white rabbit ears," Hexia recalled her previously acquired knowledge. "Uh, yes, so Senior Belfeng takes extra care of me," Debi said sheepishly, her light golden pentagram on her forehead flickering as she sat on the cushioned floor, tucking in her legs. Chapter 69: Chapter 35 Assistance from a Nobility_3 "That must be because Raby is performing really well," Hexia smiled involuntarily. It seemed like she hadn''t smiled this way in a long time; ''Debi'' truly was a lovable little Angel. When the two of them stood together, Hexia was slightly taller, but now as both were lying on the soft cushions on the floor, they looked quite simr. Taking advantage of the midday closure time at the White Feather Church, the two of them decided to rest for a while. The sound of the rain pitter-pattered as dozens of birds of paradise perched on the crossbeams overhead for a nap, while the two 16-year-old girls below entered a peaceful midday sleep. In the following days, Hexia focused all her thoughts on the uing retest, and the matter of ascending ranks was temporarily pushed aside until ''Botis'' sought her out. "Phew, these days on the road have really been tiring," the senior sighed as soon as she returned to the shop. "Where did Senior Botis go?" "I took a trip to the Twilight Star Domain. There are many Withering Sequence Factions there, as well as quite a few prestigious schools." "Ah, I see." Hexia knew deep down that it must be for her sake. "But I did gain something; ''Dantalion,'' this is the Withering Sequence job information I collected for your rank advance. There are 22 Sequence 3 jobs, 5 Sequence 4 jobs, all rated Rare or above, a few are even Perfect, but the difficulty is for you to determine¡ªjust choose the most suitable one," she said, tossing an information card to Hexia to insert into her personal terminal. "As for Sequence 5 jobs and above, you''ll have to work for those yourself. This is as far as I can help you." It wasn''t that she couldn''t find them, but she felt the Sequence 5 temtes she found weren''t good enough. "Thank you, Senior." "Don''t thank me just yet, I do have a requirement, Dantalion~" the mature big sister with emerald curls said, wiggling her finger. Seeing the familiar gesture, Hexia took a step back, fully aware that whenever Botis spoke in that tone, she was about to face some troublesome matter. "Let me think, June, July... By the end of July, you should be familiar with a musical instrument and y aplete piece." "Consider that a test I have set for you." "I understand, Senior." Though there were requirements, Hexia was touched, knowing the other person had her best interests at heart. "Ahem, don''t look so serious. It''s a lot of pressure for me too. Actually, you can just go through the motions." ''Botis,'' usually so carefree, was used to havingid-back friends and felt somewhat ufortable with well-behaved and obedient kids like Hexia. After thanking Botis, Hexia looked up curiously and asked. "Senior, how did you know I have the Talent of a Songstress?" She didn''t seem to have shown it before others. "Well, I knew since that very first day." ''Botis'' picked up a bell from the corner. "This is a tool I customized for taming animals, not just anyone can use it~" "So it has such an effect," Hexia covered her mouth with a light sigh, realizing how many details she understood about life. "Maybe, Dantalion taking the route of cultivating Magical Beasts might also be a good fit," ''Botis'' mumbled to herself while looking at the thriving poisonous creatures in the jungle. "Dragon Girl Dantalion, or Maid Dantalion Missmanding Magical Beasts, that''s a bit long. The Songstressmanding myriad poisons, hmm, this title feels quite impactful..." Listening to Botis preparing various aliases for her, Hexia carefully retreated. Indeed, it''s best not to disturb this Maid Senior for now. Chapter 70: Chapter 36: Zhen Mountain Affairs Office "One at a time, don''t bump into others, okay~" As school was about to let out, the campus was bustling with life, including teachers dressed in mascot costumes, balloons fluttering in the air, various toy cars moving around, and little animated puppets dancing to music that was ying out loud. "Grandma, I''m here~" A little girl waved excitedly from afar, standing beside a flower bed with a few other children her age, her face painted in bright colors, and holding a colorful spinning paper windmill in her hand. Today was Children''s Day, and Hexia apanied Grandma He to school to visit Lisha and observe the activities taking ce there. Even though it was an Underground City, the environment at the elementary school and kindergarten was still filled with "sunshine." There were rare artificial skies, and the grass in the campus was real, with automatic robots programmed to water it daily. Thanks to the reform 400 years ago, federal regtions required kindergartens and elementary schools to ensure sufficient lighting and an environment close to nature, with reduced tuition fees, and teachers'' sries supported by the government. All this was an effort to give federal residents a more beautiful childhood, as this is a crucial period for personality development. Initially, some questioned the considerable expense, but it was eventually endorsed by the vast majority of federal citizens, andter the society did stabilize considerably. As a result, it slowly became a long-term national policy, with no further opposition. Because children are immature and physically fragile, and manyck sufficient knowledge, they don''t start training in the Transcendent Sequence. They''re only in the stage of umting theoretical knowledge, and teaching them ahead of time is illegal. History has seen those who tried to rush their children''s development. There were several internal debates within the federation, but eventually, a vast amount of data showed that practicing the Transcendent Sequence too early in life caused more harm than the slight advantage of starting early. Thus, with a final decision, this rule was established. This rule also brought another benefit, as none of the children had begun practicing the Transcendent Sequence; the gap between them wasn''t apparent, which was more beneficial for healthy physical and mental growth. Otherwise, starting from elementary school, they would face brutal in-fighting andpetitive pressure, and it''s hard to say whether those growing up in such an environment could maintain cheerfulness and avoid depression. "Oh, my dear great-granddaughter." Grandma He walked over with a chuckle, feeling much better these past few days. "Come, tell Grandma, what performance did you put on today?" "Today we acted out the story of four cotton ducks battling the dark fire Great Demon King. In the end, the Great Demon King was defeated by our super love-hearted candy bullets; he even said that it was the vor he misses and loves the most..." Hexia bent down and looked at the kids chattering around Grandma He, amused and feeling a simple joy. "This is for you, Hexia sis, here~" Lisha''s tiny hands held out three lollipops to the young girl. "They''re really tasty candies, prizes we got from our performancepetition. The teacher gave us each a box; it''llst a long time." "Thank you, Lisha." Hexia received the candies, examining thebel to see they were locally produced in Payin City, with a variety of vors. "Have one, Hexia sis, they''re delicious." A few children surrounded Hexia, and although some didn''t know her, because Lisha was their good friend, they naturally assumed Hexia was close to them as well. "Okay, I''ll try this lime vor." The girl unwrapped the candy to reveal a light green lollipop, which she popped into her mouth, the taste of mixed fruit sweetness spreading on her tongue. The vor was indeed delightful, even better than the ones she''d had as a child¡ªperhaps the manufacturer had improved them. While Grandma He, Hexia, and a few children were talking, a group of kids from a distance also ran over. Their families mostly lived nearby, and these kids had also been tutored by Grandma He, so they naturally remembered Hexia, who had once been their teacher. "That''s Hexia sis, she''s really awesome, can take down out-of-control baddies, and knows so much, even more than our teachers!" "Better than the teachers, you''re bragging again~" "It''s not just me, Sandi said so too." Sandi was the kid who wore sses during the lessons at Grandma He''s ce and was always among the top three in ss, so everyone knew him. "Sandi really said that? Doesn''t sound like him, he''s too proud, hardly speaks to us normally." "Hmph, always acting like an adult, I hate ying with him, he''s always spouting all kinds of principles, so annoying." "I''m not talking to you guys, my brother''s here to pick me up, he said he''ll take me out for a big meal today, bye~" With that, the child ran toward the school gates where a teenager in a high school uniform was smiling and waving at him. "Wow, that guy''s cutting out early again." The campus was noisy and lively, with adults and children weaving through the stalls and y areas. At the edge of the artificial sky, ayer of faint golden sunset clouds appeared, casting a purple and reddish glow across the sky. As dusk approached, Grandma He and Hexia didn''t leave with Lisha until the sky grew dark, walking away from the radiant campus and slowly entering the familiar stairwell and elevator of their apartment building. Along the way, they met plenty of neighbors returning from work; this was the busiest time in the residential area, with many people shopping for groceries or going for a walk. The small parks within themunity were filled with adults and children alike. Though the underground parkscked an artificial sky, they were illuminated with bright nightmps, making them the brightest spots in the otherwise dim residential area. Chapter 71: Chapter 36: Zhen Mountain Affairs Office_2 "What would Lisha like to eat today?" Grandma He asked her on their way. "I want to eat fish, a big fish~" "Didn''t Lisha used to eat fish very seldom? Why do you want to eat it today?" "Because my teacher said ducks eat fish, and today I yed the role of a duck, so I also want to eat fish." The child''s reasoning was so simple and clear. "Alright, Grandma will buy you a fish." The three of them headed to the supermarket, bought the evening''s groceries, and then returned home. Neither He Cheng nor Lisha''s parents had gotten off work yet, so Grandma He and Hexia started to prepare dinner in advance. Gradually, the sounds of cooking emanated from the kitchen, and Grandma He meticulously shared some life tips with Hexia. Ding-dong¡ª A ring of the doorbell caught them by surprise, because other family members all had keys and identity recognition, so there was no need for them to ring the bell. "Someone''s at the door." Lisha ran into the kitchen to inform the two adults. "I''ll go check." Hexia put down what she was holding. Viewing the image on the disy screen next to the door, Hexia felt a wave of surprise, as the visitor''s attire was indeed quite special, or rather ''old-fashioned.'' Finally, the door slid open, and the three visitors introduced themselves. "Hello, is this Madame He''s residence? I''m a member of the ''Mountain Shaker Firm'',missioned by the Payin City Government to investigate and deal with some matters," he presented his identification, which could be searched online. The attire of the three in front was rather retro, having an ancient Eastern charm to it. Their outer robes were yellow with ck edges, with wide sleeves and loose chests, their sashes fluttering elegantly. But upon closer examination, these were definitely not garments from the ancient East. They wore efficient trousers below, an ultra-fiber chest te woven underneath, carried a disc scanner on their waists, and had an electromaic rifle slung over their backs¡ªundoubtedly professionals. "Oh, who might you be?" Grandma He, hearing themotion, hade over and saw the several people outside. Seeing Grandma He and Lisha''s distinctively Eastern faces, the visitors softened their tones considerably. "Good day, madam, we are members of the firm, assigned by the Federal Government to resolve the matter of the recent uncontrolled incident..." The three of them exined in detail. It turned out that the incidents of loss of control that had urred recently weren''t limited to the one Hexia had encountered that day. Several other cases had been discovered elsewhere, with the most noteworthy one taking ce on themercial street. To prepare for the concert, Payin City had deliberately suppressed the news. Now that the concert was over, it was naturally time to start addressing these issues. "So, the Federal has asked you to assist?" "Yes, our ''Mountain Shaker Firm'' has cooperated with the governments of various northern sectors of the Jade Skirt, and has been trusted by district governments for handling difficult matters in Northern Sector 5 and Northern Sector 8 several times. Here is our firm''s rating." As he spoke, the man before her swiped on his personal terminal, revealing a logo with secret text, showing their firm''s strength rating as ''B-'', and credibility as ''A''. Generally, only firms with a credibility rating of ''A'' receive government-delegated tasks, which tend to be wellpensated. "I see." Hexia nodded thoughtfully, looking at the people before her. The man leading them appeared to be in his thirties, possessing Spirit Particle Sequence 5 abilities, while the two behind him¡ªone looking in his forties and the other just over twenty¡ªboth had Sequence 4 levels. "Excuse me, are you Miss Hexia Tn?" He looked at the grey-haired girl in front of him. On the surface, the girl seemed delicate and wore sses, her grey hair paired with amon student uniform did not stand out, and her arms and legs did not appear to be particrly strong. It was hard to imagine how she defeated the uncontrolled individual, reportedly when she was only Sequence 2. "I am." The girl nodded. "May I ask you about the details of the incident?" He pushed his sses up on his nose, a sh of pale blue light indicating that he had entered recording mode. "Sure, but let''s talk outside." Not wanting to involve or frighten Grandma He''s family, Hexia took the initiative to step outside. "Hexia." Grandma He grabbed her hand, signaling that she could refuse and not to agree too readily. "It''s okay." Hexia shook her head and then followed the three men out. The group made their way to a small activity area in the residential zone and began talking next to a bench. "My name is Yang Che, one of the firm''s operatives on this case, and I''m pleased to meet you." Though he said he was pleased, his stern and cold appearance made it difficult to share the sentiment. However, the man indeed bore no ill will, and the girl could vaguely sense the man''s emotions, a skill she had acquired after advancing to Withering Sequence 3. "Sorry, Brother Yang is like this. Let me introduce the others. The gentleman here is called Pascal, and my name is Lude, also a member of this operation." The younger man came forward to ease the atmosphere. "We arrived yesterday and have seen quite a bit of government-provided material. Now we''re divided into several teams to investigate, and we''re one of them. Because your experience is quite unique, we want to get a detailed understanding from you." "We''ll just be asking some questions, and if you''re ufortable, you don''t have to answer." With this operative''s mediation, the atmosphere at the scene finally rxed a bit. "How about we find a restaurant to sit for a bit instead? I''m quite hungry, right, Uncle Pascal?" "Right, finding a ce to sit is certainly better than standing here like fools." The uncle with grey-white hair patted Yang Che on the shoulder, after which Yang Che also nodded. The group invited Hexia to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Chapter 72 : 36: Zhen Mountain Affairs Office_3 After walking into the shop, the group looked around briefly before sitting down and letting Hexia order the meal. "We just arrived and aren''t familiar with the ce, you''re a local, so you should know what''s good to eat." "Sure thing." Hexia flipped through the menu disyed on her personal terminal and ordered 4 standard T6-level sets, each costing about 35 yuan, which was quite a good deal. The others did not mind and seemed satisfied to have a standard meal instead of emergency rations. "Please wait for a moment, everyone." The shop was run by just the owner and his wife. The owner, after seeing the order, told the kitchen to start preparing. Shortly after, the hot food was brought out, and the group began to converse slowly. "Hexia just graduated from junior high, right?" "Yes, I''m currently preparing for retests and also working part-time." "You''re very hardworking and diligent; my child is about your age and only cares about ying these days." Uncle Pascal started the conversation, and then they gradually shifted the topic towards the environment of the area. "You uncles must have been to many ces." Hexia suddenly spoke up, as she was also quite curious about the attire of the group. "Yes, what about it?" "Why do you wear such coats outside? It doesn''t seem very convenient to move around in them." "Oh, you mean this? This is the style of our firm, or a sign of recognition. After all, there ispetition between firms, and we need to stand out and be memorable." Lude talked on, with Pascal asionally chipping in, while Yang Che, the team leader, remained silent. "The founder of our firm was an Easterner who, it''s said, had ancestors who served in the royal court and fancied this style. Besides, many of the techniques and methods we use do indeede from Eastern traditions, so it''s quite fitting." "Fitting?" "Exactly, look at our ''Eight Mountains te'' which can easily search for nearby life forms and consciousnesses¡ªit''s a fine product from the ''Xiang Shu Workshop.'' We also have some Thunder Magic which is very useful against spirits." "Exorcising spirits also has to keep up with the times; now it''s an era of sweeping withser guns." Lude added on the side. After a brief introduction from the two, Hexia''s curiosity was mostly satisfied, and she began to tell them about what happened that day. "You''re saying his initial target was the personal terminal, not you, right?" "Yes, that''s right, it seems the magic power fluctuations from the personal terminal were more noticeable." ... "Did he not use any other skills besides biting?" "He didn''t seem to, his biting alone was already very strong; I barely escaped with my life." The girl shook her head. The three asked in detail, discussing amongst themselves continuously. "Looking at it this way, the opponent seems to have lost all reason, and their body has deteriorated a lot, even dropping in Sequence." "Yes, the deceased entered Sequence 4 almost thirty years ago; using their abilities should have be instinctual, they shouldn''t be this weak." "He also won some ranks in the Academy''sbatpetitions when he was young, but a major setbackter stopped him from continuing." Listening to their judgment, Hexia felt they might be underestimating her, but she didn''t mind that much. Unlike those ssmates who loved to fight for top ranks and enjoyed the spotlight, Hexia had grown ustomed to staying in the corner and even started to like the quiet and solitude, where no one bothered her and there were no conflicts or disturbances. After the meal, she held her drink cup and slowly sipped it, her mind involuntarily drifting back to past scenes from school. It was like the day she went to pick up Lisha; she had grown up with many young friends too, but unfortunately, some followed their parents to other ces and some went to different schools, gradually bing strangers. Only ra had always been in her ss, but they were the type who always knew each other without ever being particrly close. ra was also a bit shy and not very talkative during primary school, and had a bit of baby fat on her cheeks, which was hard to see now... "So for today, we''ll thank Miss Hexia for her help." After getting the information they wanted, the three stood up, ready to leave. "Yeah, no problem." After settling the bill, Lude rushed back over, "Let''s exchange contact information, Hexia; perhaps we can be of help to each other in the future." "Alright." Finally, after having her personal terminal for several years, the number of contacts in Hexia''s address book exceeded ten. Chapter 73 : 37: Underground Action ''Dream of zed ss'' Andusia''s ss room. In the lush vine and flower room, a soft sound of violin strings being yed arose, but after a few beats, the music stopped and then started again. Hexia had her eyes closed, one hand lightly touching the neck of the violin, the other holding the bow, drawing it slowly as she sought the right pitch. Not far from her, Andusia tended to the flower tea, pouring hot water into a cup slowly, then sitting beside quietly listening. The girl''s learning was not fast, her technique rather clumsy, often interrupted, and it took quite a while to find the correct cement before beginning again. However, it was heartening that she appeared to have not a trace of impatience or emotion, like a serene orchid, earnestly and carefully familiarizing herself with the instrument in her hands. So continued the session until the respite at noon ended, and the young girl slowly opened her light blue eyes, gently cing down the violin and bow. Andusia pped her hands lightly, smiling at the young girl before her. "Very good, Dantalion, you''ve improved a lot since yesterday." "Thank you." The girl carefully ced the violin back in its case, then closed it. Ever since she had agreed to Botis''s request, she took time out every day at noon and after work to practice, and this violin belonged to Andusia, who was rumored to have also yed for guests when she first arrived at Dream of zed ss, although she seldom did so now. After returning the violin to its spot, Hexia bid farewell to Andusia and, holding the hem of her ck and white skirt, passed through the vine-encircled flower room towards the ce of her afternoon work. Such was her routine until the artificial sky in the store slowly changed, bathed in twilight, marking the end of her shift, and then she proceeded to Andusia''s ce to continue her practice session from earlier. Days passed by, and gradually, under Andusia''s guidance, Hexia became familiar with ying the violin and was now ready to start learning her first piece. "Then let''s try ''Canon in D''," Andusia considered then picked a ssic piece for Hexia. After selecting the piece, Andusia handed the music sheets to Hexia for her to be familiar with and memorize over the next few days. "Let''s call it a day. Go rest well, and see you tomorrow." Leaving ''Dream of zed ss,'' Hexia went upstairs to the staff level to change her clothes, then headed home. While waiting in the vertical elevator, the girl remembered something and took out her personal terminal from her pocket to browse through it. She had been so immersed in practicing the violin almost every day for the past week that she had hardly looked at her ss group messages. "Mili''s retest results are out." "Did she pass?" "Yes, I saw the announcement from Sreib Academy." "That was fast." "Well, each academy is different, it depends on their schedule. If you get multiple academy invitations, then you can pick and choose." Afterward, Hexia checked the history log and found that many ssmates had started to attend their retests, and some had even received notifications of passing. Once you pass the retest, the rest is mostly a formality: receiving the formal invitation and then registering for enrollment. "The list for Irene Academy is also out," someone suddenly said in the group. "Let me take a look." Hexia also opened the public list with anticipation, scanned through it, and eventually found her own name. Luckily, she felt as if a weight had been lifted off her heart. However, she was troubled again when she saw the retest date because it coincided with the same day as the retest at Yuanting Academy in the Northern First District. If she attended the retest at Yuanting Academy, she definitely wouldn''t be able to make it to Irene Academy. A tough choice indeed, the girl nced at the date disyed on her personal terminal, calcting in her mind. She was confident about passing the Irene Academy retest since she had prepared for it for a long time, but she was unfamiliar with Yuanting Academy. Yet to give up such a good opportunity just for this reason would be too regrettable, and it would be a disservice to those who had shown her kindness. No matter what, she thought, start preparing first; perhaps there was still a slim chance for her to squeeze in both, like attending the Yuanting Academy test in the morning and the Irene Academy in the afternoon. With her mind upied, the girl didn''t pay too much attention to her surroundings on her way home until she reached the residential area and noticed that the atmosphere was somehow amiss today. In the spacious hallway, many people were gathered, discussing something, and from afar came the loudspeaker''s booming voice. "Attention, all Federal residents: starting today, D390 Industrial Zone and the adjacent F31 Residential District are underprehensive lockdown. No one is allowed to enter or approach!" Hexia was slightly puzzled, then saw a temporary notice posted on the wall of the hallway beside her. "Regarding the lockdown of F31 Residential District, entry and exit are prohibited." The gist was that residents should not enter, nor even approach, the area, even if family or friends were inside ¡ª attempting to cross the lockdown would result in legal consequences under Federalw, among other things. The Payin City government''s official stamp was seen below, with badges from multiple departments, indicating the local government''s serious concern. Police cars were parked around the perimeter of the restricted zone, and white-d police officers were seen patrolling continuously. Curious about the incident, Hexia checked the local forum; many people were discussing the matter online. The consensus was that this was a follow-up to a previous incident involving an unruly individual, and something serious had been discovered, although the details were being tightly controlled. Things were getting more serious, Hexia turned off the screen and continued towards her home. Chapter 74: Chapter 37 Underground Action_2 Although she was a witness herself, she had thought it was just an ident at the time, she did not expect it was just the tip of the iceberg. Now, things were escting, and arger iceberg beneath the water was slowlying into collision. D390 Industrial Zone, 69 floors underground. This was the lowest region of the city, where the air was damp and hot. Massive dark red steel pipes crisscrossed back and forth, the heavy sound of machinery forging echoed in the distance, continually striking at a fixed frequency, with therge reverberations billowing through the pipes. In the harsh industrial environment where no human figures could be seen, only lonely orange LED lights illuminated this steel jungle. Stepping on the dark red anti-rust painted steel grating emitted a metallic nking sound. Three individuals wearing deep blue goggles entered the area. They were d in uniforms with a yellow base and ck trim, not official members of the Federation, but belonging to a private firm that coborated with it. "What''s the situation, Lude?" Yang Che, holding an unlocked electromaic rifle, was on alert at the front, while the two behind him operated a special scanner to search the surroundings, and another carried a heavy firepower box, scanning the area. "It should be nearby." Lude, looking at the ''Eight Mountains te'' in his hands, adjusted frequencies and employed various search methods, the surface of the te disying different data in order to depict the situation surrounding them from multiple dimensions. "My Eight Mountains te is facing a lot of interference, something I haven''t encountered before. The other side might have some special means," Lude frowned. "The Federal Government wouldn''t hire us through usual means if they could have handled it with Payin City Government. Otherwise, why would they be willing to spend the money?" Yang Che shook his head, ustomed to troubles encountered during work. When the Federal Government came knocking with a job, one needed to be mentally prepared to face all manner of troubles, for if the matter were simple, they wouldn''t spend the money to seek them out. "The one we''re after is a cunning individual. ording to current intelligence, he was likely lurking in this milk factory, using the factory''s equipment to produce a batch of drugs." "Adding this drug to milk induces a level of addiction, greatly increasing sales." "Didn''t the Federal detection department notice this?" Lude asked, puzzled. "It depends on which level of the department we''re talking about. If the milk factory''s products are only sold locally and not shipped to other cities, then only the local authorities would check. And since Payin City isn''t a big city, the detection department can be more easily fooled. No, perhaps there''s no need to fool them at all; if the share of the profits is right, those people might just turn a blind eye," Pascal, the experienced one, answered his query, well acquainted with such practices. "If it were just mildly addictive, it wouldn''t have escted to this point, but this guy, whether out of luck or sheer madness, has discovered something new." "They say that drinking it enhances one''s mental consciousness, making it easier to seed when advancing through the stages." "This..." Lude was also startled. "If sessful, it would be at least a T3-level special spiritual medicine, retailing for hundreds of thousands of Federation Coins each." "Too bad what he''se up with isn''t anything legitimate. Although it does enhance mental consciousness, the side effects are frightening, causing mental breakdowns, memory loss, and madness." "But it wasn''t surprising for him as a researcher. The initial experimental products are bound to have many issues; it''s only a matter of constant improvement." "That''s why he found many people to test his invention, first luring and coaxing, and then disguising it as high-rank spiritual medicine smuggled from the bustling Star Domain, fooling them into not only paying arge sum but also lowering their guard." "Every year, there are those who fail in their advancement, experience problems with the Transcendent Sequence. If it weren''t for the local government suddenly bing vignt this time, it might have taken a long time to detect any abnormalities." "That I don''t know, perhaps the local government suddenly acted conscientiously this time," Yang Che shook his head. As an important member of this office who frequently dealt with those government officials, he harbored little hope for their integrity. If they managed toplete the most basic aspects of their job, they were already rare. "Alright, break time is over, let''s get back to work, and hopefully, this time we''ll catch the big fish." The brief rest came to an end, and the three continued their way through the industrial zone shrouded in a hazy white mist. Other than their own footsteps, the only other sound was the asional roar of steam. The heat emitted by these factory machines was absorbed by water flowing through the pipes, then turning to steam, partially used for generating electricity, with the remaining waste heat being pumped to the surface for heat dissipation. An hourter, the three of them arrived at a dead end, facing a sealed steel wall with ''Do Not Approach'' spray-painted on it. Lude looked at the scanner in his hand, "Although it''s sealed, ording to the Eight Mountains te, there''s actually empty space behind it." "This is the 70th floor underground, right? Going further down would breach Payin City''s district." "Who knows, the official number of floors in many underground cities isn''t reliable. Some people without legal status, criminals, and even fugitives, all converge in these areas. Maybe Payin City''s 70th underground level also has a grey area." "Shall we go in?" "Old Pascal is preparing to blow it up, I''ll send a report up, and Lude will stand guard," Yang Che decided. "Alright." With their tasks divided, they immediately sprang into action. Soon, an explosion sounded from beneath, and arge hole was sted through the sealed steel wall. The three climbed up to the hole, flipped inside, and observed the situation within. "The good news is that this isn''t a grey area, which means there aren''t any criminals obstructing us," Lude used a shlight to probe the pitch-ck depths. "The bad news is the walls are moist, there might be an underground river below, and the target could escape using the subterranean stream," Pascal spoke. "If he gets away just like that, we''re going to lose two-thirds of ourmission," Yang Che adjusted the goggles on his nose and continued to use the auxiliary AI to analyze the environment below, searching for traces of someone having passed through before. "Tch, just as I thought, nothing good everes easy." Lude spat out, clipped the Eight Mountains te to his waist, and then jumped down. A handful of sparkling points cascaded from his hands as he descended, illuminating the surroundings like res. Dark rocky walls, moist moss nts, and rugged slopes passed by in their field of vision, until suddenly a shadow burst from a corner and pounced towards the shining lights. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three shots in session, and blue streaks shed through the darkness, obliterating the unidentified creature into chunks of flesh. Yang Che, from behind, continued to grip his electromaic rifle tightly, aiming it downward to cover Lude, firing continuously until the other was safely on the ground. Seeing no more shadows emerge, Pascal also jumped down with his ck and red heavy firepower case in hand. His bulky figure, d in thick bulletproof lining, resembled a grey rhinoceros. When hended, a ssh of water erupted, and he even crushed several fragile stones. Only then did Yang Che jump down, just as they thought they had cleared all the creatures along their path, another shadow suddenly dashed out, aiming straight for Yang Che in mid-air. His electromaic rifle was slung on his back, leaving him no time to draw it. However, this operator was well-versed in such emergencies, and instantly drew the hilt of his sword from his waist, with a humming sound, a bright yellow light saber red up in the darkness. ''Bright Flow sh Light'' [Radiant Gold Level], a surge-type light saber, with ''Incandescent Electricity'' and ''Magic Power Piercing'' effects. It can be instantly charged with Spirit Particle Sequence magic power, offering enormous destructive power, but also consuming a lot. A standard Sequence 5 Transcendent could use it continuously for one minute. The de was like countless bright yellow electric mes entwined, and as it swung towards the ck creature, it emitted a session of crackling electric sparks, slicing the adversary apart and filling the underground space with a burnt stench. Secondster, Yang Chended, with the light saber already extinguished and stowed away in his hand, while chunks of charred flesh began to fall from the air, and wisps of white smoke rose in the atmosphere. Chapter 75: Chapter 38: Unexpected Visitors He kicked the minced flesh beneath his feet, analyzing its biologicalponents. A short whileter, Lude packed away the device and stood up. "It''s a mutated human, but probably not a resident of the Federation. It might be a clone created by the enemy strictly for experiments." "All the residents of Payin City are under the watch of the T2 level AI ''April''. If there''s a sudden spike in missing persons, the AI will notify the Federal Government." "That dairy factory is really convenient. Not only does it have underground dairy farming with cows, but it''s also equipped withplementary ughtering, processing, and treatment facilities. Hiding a small artificial human cultivation facility within would be a lot easier." "Clonesck intelligence, dead, they can be processed into feed for cows, and then the manure can be used as fuel in the incinerators for reuse. Eventually, it all turns to ash, and naturally, no one would find out." "The quality of evildoers these days is getting lower and lower. It really gives a bad impression," sighed Lude. "Yo, Lude, feeling all sentimental at such a young age, are we? I''ve seen far more bizarre and despicable things in my life than this," Pascal put down the ck and red box he was holding and started assembling its parts. "That''s okay, I''d rather not hear it. I''m afraid it might affect my mood during the mission," Lude shook his head. "Besides, there are countless such incidents in the history of the Fifth Epoch. Compared to those times, today''s viins are practically white lotuses." "That was indeed an era filled with darkness and devoid of all limits. No wonder the entire civilization eventually copsed." The three of them chatted to relieve the high tension and equipped themselves with various weapons and gear before continuing their exploration. Yang Che not only switched on the night vision on his goggles but also put on special tactical headphones, constantly on alert. Lude held an Eight Mountains te scanner in one hand and a ck pistol with aser sight resembling a red line in the other, while Pascal inserted special ceramic tes into his bulletproof lining and then picked up a rotating machine gun that resembled a metallic storm. Among the three, Yang Che had the strongest overall response capabilities, Lude excelled in search, hacking, and tracking, and Pascal was the heavy firepower expert. "Reinforcements will arrive in 30 minutes. Let''s hurry up and scout the area." "Understood." The three headed toward the dark cave. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Meanwhile, Hexia returned to her home. After taking a bath, she put on her pajamas, went back to the bedroom, and sat on the bed to flip through the scores she had received during the day. Her personal terminal was ced in front of the bed, and it projected a virtual keyboard into the air. After entering the scores, the notes from the music piece scrolled by, and the girl ced her fingers on the keys, getting ustomed to the tune as if ying a piano. Time flew unnoticed, and soon it was 9 PM when a knocking sound came from downstairs. Shortly after, Grandma He came to the outside of Hexia''s bedroom to ask. "A young man from the neighborhood is looking for you, says he has something important." "Who?" Hexia put away her things and walked out of the bedroom. Following Grandma He downstairs, she arrived at the door and saw the familiar face. "Qiao Long?" The ck-haired young man of the day wore a leather jacket and trousers, his eyes tinged with fatigue, as if he wasn''t in good shape. "Miss Hexia." He bowed respectfully before speaking. "Sorry to intrude upon you like this, but I''m here for a very important matter that requires your help." "What''s the matter, I''ve said it before, haven''t I?" Hexia frowned, having previously mentioned she didn''t want to see this guy again. "I know, but it really is an extremely important matter, and it won''t cause any trouble for your life," he spoke anxiously. "Hexia." Seeing him like this, Grandma He couldn''t help but speak up to the young girl. Taking a deep breath, Hexia opened her eyes, "Let''s talk outside." She asked Grandma He to stay in the house. The two of them went to a corner in the hallway where they stood still. "What is it?" The girl looked up at the figure much taller than herself, wondering what trouble could have possibly brought this person back to her. "It''s one of mypanions, whom you might have seen before, the particrly fat and tall one." "What''s happened to him?" "He was attacked underground and is currently in a critical condition, barely hanging on." "Why not take him to the hospital?" Hexia''s tone softened slightly. "It''s no use, I know the medical capabilities of Payin City today; they can''t handle such severe injuries, and besides, ambnces can''t reach that ce." "Oh?" "It was in a cave on the 72nd level underground, an area not marked on the Federation''s map." "Can''t he be moved?" the girl asked curiously. "Because he was temporarily encased in ice using special methods, moving him would make the injuries worse and he might die on the spot." Qiao Long shook his head and punched the wall, making a thud. "That''s a gray zone, isn''t it? You want me to go to such a dangerous ce?" Although Hexia was only sixteen, she still had her guard up. "I will clear the way and protect you, ensuring absolute safety on the road." Qiao Long bent down fiercely, his body almost at a 90¡ã angle. "Talking like this now, you should know what you did before," Hexia shook her head. That day, her bones had been crushed by this man, and she still remembered the pain vividly. If it weren''t for her never having killed anyone, her unwillingness to cross that line, and not wanting toplicate her future life, Qiao Long would already be a corpse. "I am very sorry for offending Miss Hexia that day, but no matter what, I ask for your help this time." His voice grew more urgent, and eventually, he pulled out a specially made secret lockbox from behind his waist and handed it to Hexia. "This is what I prepared for my advancement, which I can entrust to Miss Hexia for safekeeping as a guarantee." "This is¡­" The girl took the ck, long box, slid the button on the side, and the lid opened to reveal the liquid inside sparkling with a bright red luster. Gently shaking it, the liquid rippled with broken scales of light, giving off a warm sensation, and she could even faintly hear the sound of a dragon roaring. ''Dragon Blood Elixir (Scarlet Scale Thorn Dragon)'' [Excellent Luminous Gold Rank]: A precious Dragon Blood Potion that allows the Transcendents of the Dragon Sequence to gain the bloodline ability of the ''Scarlet Scale Thorn Dragon'' during their advancement and, after Sequence 6, the Dragon Transformation Ability. (As the Scarlet Scale Thorn Dragon itself is not very powerful, hence the rank is reduced to Excellent Luminous Gold Rank.) Feeling the Magic Rhythm within the crimson liquid, Hexia slowly opened her eyes, looking at Qiao Long with slight surprise. The potion was genuine, and its price extremely steep. On the official website, it was listed for 2.6 million Federation Coins but was not avable for purchase. If acquired through special means, the cost would be even higher. "How much did you spend on this potion?" "I found a middleman on the ck market, who used special channels to bring it to Payin City, and in the end, it cost me about 4 million Federation Coins. For this, I''ve umted a debt of approximately 800,000 Federation Coins." "I see." Hexia thoroughly sensed his expression and emotions before concluding that Qiao Long was not lying. Lying in front of a Songstress with the Talent for Soul Synchronization was not something many in the Federation could do, let alone in front of a girl with the potential for Color Level. With a sigh, Hexia lowered her arms, realizing that Qiao Long truly was in trouble. To go for the rescue or to ignore it? After all, Qiao Long wouldn''t dare to harm her at the moment. The scene fell into a brief silence and stillness. A minuteter, the girl turned around with the potion in hand, walking towards the house in her slippers. "I''m going to change my clothes." It wouldn''t do to travel far in pajamas, after all. "Yes." Qiao Long replied gratefully upon hearing her words, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Back in her room, after exining the situation to Grandma He, Hexia returned to her bedroom. She stored the potion in a spatial rift, then changed into a suit of clothes suitable for travel, and before leaving, she picked up a ck coat to drape over her shoulders. "Let''s go." Once prepared, Hexia re-emerged in front of Qiao Long dressed in sneakers and shorts, wearing the hood of her coat over her head and a mask covering her face, with only strands of her ck hair and her pale blue eyes showing from beneath the hood. "Yes!" Chapter 76: Chapter 39 Underworld The evening breeze was somewhat chilly, the wind sweeping into the hover car, ruffling Hexia''s hair as she sat alone in the back, propping her head up with her hand, her mind reying the recent events. For social outcasts like Qiao Long, Hexia had never had much fondness, and had it not been for his special Talent, which assured her he wasn''t lying, she would have never agreed to meet. epting an invitation from a stranger, let alone an enemy, to venture into dangerous territory was never a wise decision. But, possessing the Talent of a Songstress and under the perception of Soul Resonance, the feelings of anxiety and regret emanating from Qiao Long had caused her some hesitancy¡ªcould she really decline and then just watch a life pass, especially when that life was one she recognized? She stood in the hallway for a minute, pondering. If she were to refuse, though it wouldn''t be her fault, she felt she would regret the decision and grieve over it. How soft-hearted she was, chiding herself like a fool, thought Hexia. But if everyone were to live so shrewdly for their own interests, that too would be exhausting. She was simply following her instincts, doing what she felt was right; if she were to distort that, then what was the point of all her efforts? After experiencing many life changes, Hexia had long realized the truth about life; many things that outsiders cared about no longer held the same weight for her. "I cannot escape this sense of rightness," she murmured to herself. Despite her dislike for Qiao Long, in the matter of saving lives, she didn''t wish to go against her conscience. Once she had sorted out her thoughts, the young girl felt a mysterious sense of lightness in her heart, as if she had broken through some kind of mental barrier. "What situation did youe across tonight?" she suddenly asked. "I apologize, miss. I didn''t exin things clearly earlier," Qiao Long responded promptly from the front seat. "It wasn''t the usual gang fights and brawls of the lower level¡ªwe wouldn''t dare trouble your life with such matters. This time we encountered a special situation. The attackers weren''t normal humans; like your master before, they have lost their sanity and are out of control like wild beasts." "Are such urrencesmon?" Hexia had thought that only a few people had experienced situations simr to hers, but ording to Qiao Long''s description, the reality seemed quite different. "While it''s true that the Underground World is chaotic with many people taking extremes in pursuit of strength, generally, they do so out of desire or ambition and aren''t foolish enough to be madmen. That''s no different from being dead." "But this time, it has affected a wide area; it''s as if suddenly, the Underground World had this influx of people, attacking like rabid dogs, creating chaos." "Doesn''t the Federation do anything about such situations?" the girl asked, perplexed. "The Federal Government manages the residential areas above the 70th floor, while some of mypanions live below the 70th floor in a world untouched by the Star Network¡ªa rather harsh and chaotic ce." "Why are they there?" "Because most of themck proper identities, just as you imagined. Many there are the refuse of society, living without legal documentation, fugitives. But there are also historical reasons, people stranded in the underground." "In the hallways of the residential area where you live, you might have seen some banners from past protests," Qiao Long abruptly mentioned. "I''m aware. Those are?" Hexia had a sudden insight. "Yes, you''re right. In the past, there were serious protests in Payin City, or rather, throughout the northern districts. The conflict between residents and the government became acute, and the Federal Government even had to summon troops from the south to suppress it." "The decline of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain led to many social issues. Welfare benefits were continuously reduced, life at the bottom got harder, while a small portion of the upper ss was unaffected. This caused resentment to deepen and eventually erupt." "People smashed government facilities, destroyed surveince, looted supermarkets, etc. In the chaos, social order began to copse." "My master was embroiled in these events and ended up being expelled from school, with a severe record in his file, which precluded him from further studies or finding decent employment. From a bright Talent admired by all, he fell to the status of an unemployed drifter in the lower residential areas." "With threats and pacification tactics from the government''s troops, the turmoil gradually subsided. Many were pardoned, but some key participants in the conflicts were either expelled or marked with severe records in their files, bing disced and forced to flee to the Underground World for survival." "They too had children. But these kids, without Federal identification, are doomed to live there their whole lives." "My subordinate, Blu, the one you found quite stout and tall¡ªthat''s him. Hees from such a background." "He has been with me for many years now, from the age of 15 to the present, transforming from a skinny kid to the plump man he is now. I eventually spent a sum at the police station to secure an identity for him, so he can now legitimately ess some of the Federation''s facilities." "Such a record, though not particrly strong and unable to withstand deep scrutiny, is already far better than those of his brothers and sisters from the underground. He can even receive a free relief meal every month." "Relief meal..." Hexia fell into thought. She had tried that stuff too¡ªit tasted awful. It was nothing more than starch injected with artificial protein powder and other nutritional substances, then mixed evenly andpressed. One had to use hot water to soften it, otherwise, it was hard to swallow. Unless they''re beggars or truly can''t go on living, nobody would go to get such stuff to eat. However, even so, such food is a rare hard currency in the Underground World. Because there''s no Star Web or various facility terminals, Electronic Federal Currency can''t be used in the Underground World; bartering is mostly relied upon. "What do people in the Underground World usually eat then?" the girl continued to inquire. "They eat trash," Qiao Long answered. Payin City is an industrial city, with quite a few food production factories. Among them, a lot of substandard products and wasted raw materials are left over from the production of T5/T6 grade food. Although normal people wouldn''t want this trash, it is vital for sustaining the Underground World. Every year, there''s fierce fighting and killing among the gangs to im these ''scraps.'' Arge number of deaths amongst normal Federation residents would attract the attention of the management AI, but life in the Underworld is worthless¡ªthree servings of a T6 standard meal could make a street thug kill for you. Read thetest on m_v-l''e-NovelBin "Do the government and police know about this?" "They definitely know, but perhaps they don''t understand in detail," Qiao Long shook his head slightly. "As long as we maintain a certain level ofpliance and order, not disturbing the lives of residents above the 70th floor, they are toozy to bother with us sewer rats." "Sometimes we even help the police handle some inconvenient matters, such as finding people or lost items, or putting pressure on certainpanies or businesses." "Somepanies have formidable legal teams and will, within ''reasonable'' bounds, seek massive profits for themselves, then withdraw and leave the remaining problems to the government. When it is inconvenient for the government or police to act, they need us." "Sigh..." The girl sighed softly, not wishing toment on such a grim and real world. "Let''s talk about tonight''s situation instead," she then asked about the specifics of tonight''s affairs. "All right, the incident tonight mainly rtes to the sealed-off D390 industrial area, where there''s a milk factory¡ªone that we often receive ''trash'' from..." Qiao Long began to exin the chaos that started from the milk factory and then spread. ... "So, you mean, those who drank their milk all underwent a mutation tonight?" the girl sorted out her thoughts. "That''s right, as the milk was either about to expire or had already expired, it couldn''t be kept longer. After being shipped to the Underground World, it would be quickly used up," he replied. "Didn''t you check it? Oh, I misspoke," the girl shook her head. Struggling to survive on trash and expired food, how could one even consider checking for taste and safety? "We didn''t check, because it was always like this in the past," Qiao Long answered and continued. "At first, when people drank it, someone said they felt full of strength, a strange sense of excitement, and then many others responded saying they felt the same, so even more people tried it." "Everyone thought that today they had encountered a batch of superior substandard goods, the ones eliminated from the T4 grade food production. T4 grade food has some Transcendent effects. Even if expired or damaged, it would still produce such effects. Feeling strong was quite normal," he exined. "Like that, amid the scramble, the situation gradually changed. Some people''s moods became increasingly agitated, fights broke out, the impact widened, until eventually, it became unmanageable. Those who had drunk the milk also became like madmen, turning into uncontrolled entities..." "That''s all the information I know. I hope it can be of some help to you, Miss," he finished. "Uh, you don''t really have to call me ''Miss''." Hexia suddenly realized that Qiao Long''s address was incorrect; it was the umpteenth time he had referred to her that way tonight, but she had been too deep in thought earlier to notice. "I''m just a normal student, and you probably know about my family''s circumstances," Hexia denied. "It''s not rted to family wealth. You were willing to risking to the Underground World to save mypanion. Out of respect and gratitude for your character, I willingly call you ''Miss,''" he rified. "I''m very sorry about the previous incident; it was my mistake. I''m willing to ept any punishment you have for me, and if you need my assistance, you can use me as you see fit," he added. "To ''use'' is too demeaning," the girl shook her head. "But perhaps, indeed, there are some things I need your help with investigating..." she remembered her father, who had been missing for nearly a year. She didn''t know what had happened to him, why he had suddenly left their home. The secrets hidden in the past awaited her to unveil step by step. Chapter 77: Chapter 40 Going Back and Forth "We''ve arrived." The hover car stopped in a secluded corner on the 70th floor of the underground. After the two alighted, Qiao Long led the way, entering a noisy bar; with a simple wave of his hand, the two brawny men with tattooed arms standing by the entrance stepped aside to make way. Inside the riot of bright lights, booming sounds, decadence, and chaos, the girl hid herself beneath her hood and mask, her gaze sweeping over the venue with a hint of curiosity taking in the crowd indulging in the revelry. But soon, Qiao Long led her through the dance floor, opened a small door at the side, and entered a chilly corridor. With a click, the door closed behind them and the raucousness from outside was immediately muffled. "Please follow me," he said in a gravely tone, seemingly returning to his usual self. The corridor was unlit, save for a few guiding signs and LED lights at the base of the walls that cast colorful glows, coating both of their figures in ayer of blue and purple. After covering a distance, Qiao Long stopped in front of a sealed steel door, swiped a card to open it, and then turned the heavy lock to enter. Inside was a descending staircase; gripping the steel handrail, clear echoes could be heard. Following their descent for a while, they finally reached an elevator. It looked to be privately built, quite rudimentary and cramped. "This is a shortcut that leads to the underworld; we don''t usually use this route, but we''re pressed for time," Qiao Long exined while waiting. The girl nodded slightly, unconcerned about such matters. She gave a light stomp, and her perception spread out along the ground in all directions. Unlike others, the more confined the underground was, the stronger she actually became, because her talent was rted to crystal stones. She could always condense and draw out gems from the rocks to seal and close spaces, and she could also move through them at will. Since advancing, her talent ability that had been constrained by insufficient magic power had been liberated quite a bit. Now, even facing Qiao Long, she wasn''t worried. Should there be an ident, she could escape easily; this was the confidence that made her willing to venture out. It was strange when she thought about it; in shops or facing ssmates, she always felt a bit uneasy, but when facing someone like Qiao Long, she felt neither psychological burden nor nervousness, Hexia pondered with a tilted head. The two entered the elevator and then descended continuously. Two minutester, the elevator doors opened and they stepped out. Compared to the world above, the senses here were far less pleasant. Pale light bulbs lit the elevator exit, which was blocked off by iron railings, and asionally the sound of people talking could be heard. Qiao Long walked over and then yanked the door on the side of the corridor open, silencing the noise inside abruptly. "Grab your guns ande with me!" said Qiao Long, frowning at the grimy environment inside the room. "Yes, Brother Long," a group of people replied, fetching their weapons from the corners and edges of tables, then hurriedly filed out. "There''s trouble to the south, stock up on ammunition, and call up the brothers from nearby to get the cars ready." He gave rapid orders, and his men immediately sprang into action. Hexia walked over and asked as she watched their hurried movements, "Is this one of your gang''s strongholds?" "Yes, we have several strongholds like this one. The pipes leading to the upper levels are all very important," he exined briefly, then had a familiar underling find a suitable weapon. After hearing Qiao Long''s description, the underling looked at Hexia, who had lowered her hat brim, with a slight surprise, then went to a room on the side, rummaged through a newer box from the storage and handed it to Qiao Long. Upon opening the box, inside was apact and matte ck and purple pistol with a square barrel and a fixed rectangr scope. ''Ghost Shadow C-620'', though it was a model from over twenty years ago, it had good performance and was still highly regarded. It had minimal recoil,fortable grip, simple firing, and a basic chip for assisted aiming, which made it suitable for beginners. The only drawback might be insufficient power, but for small-scale conflicts in daily life, it was enough. "The road might be dangerous, so this is for your use. It will be much more convenient, and it won''t expose your identity or abilities," offered Qiao Long, after assembling and calibrating the pistol for Hexia. A gun? Though it was the interster era, firearms were still somewhat unfamiliar and dangerous to ordinary people. The Federation''s gun control was still very strict; it''s said to have learned from the chaos of the past. The girl hesitated for a moment, then took out a pair of ck and purple silk gloves from her pocket (actually from a spatial rift) and put them on, before finally taking hold of the gun. The gloves were not hers, but rather left behind by her elder sister¡ªa piece of fine equipment, which she had kept close ever since she gained her spatial ability. ''Delores Weave Gloves'' [Rare Condensed Bead Level]: Special gloves woven from Zi Daisi, flexible with excellent strength, can resistmon de shes, enhance magic control precision, and have a weakening and suppression effect on transcendent des. Theye with three effects: [Tenacity Lv.5], [Magic Suppression Lv.4], and [Magic Control Lv.3]. These were the grand prize her sister had won at a winter festival soir¨¦e at school, and were Hexia''s most treasured family heirloom. Beyond that, the family still retained several of Temisia''s dresses with transcendent effects, which Hexia hadn''t been able to wear due to size differences. Her figure hadn''t developed as well as her sister''s. Although Hexia had always been financially challenged, she had held onto these items without ever selling them. Thinking about it, she realized she was actually a hidden little rich girl, but she had never acknowledged it herself. After pocketing the pistol handed to her, Hexia followed Qiao Long out of the corridor and into the outside world. Scattered lights hung around the spacious cavern, illuminating tents below and the disorganized figures of vendors. There were also people lying haphazardly about, and the ground was littered with garbage, which included plenty of finished meal boxes, empty beverage bottles, and discarded clothes among other waste. A faintly sour stench permeated the air, as adults and children mingled about, creating a space that was neither crowded nor empty. There must be over three thousand people here, Hexia estimated as her gaze swept the area. "This way is cleaner," Qiao Long led the way, with Hexia following behind. Many eyes from the residents of the Underworld turned their attention to them. They recognized Qiao Long, the formidable enforcer of the local ''Huan'' gang, but they didn''t know the girl following him. Given her slightly awkward and cautious way of avoiding the rubbish underfoot, she probably wasn''t from the Underground World. If someone else had brought an outsider down to the Underground World, they would already have been surrounded with ill intentions. But because it was Qiao Long, they feared this formidable man, and at this moment, all remained silent, merely watching the two pass by. However, there were always one or two who were bold and liked to stir up trouble. "Hey, Big Qiao, what kind of goods did you bring back today? Looks like a fresh one; when you''re bored of her, let your brothers have a go," someone called out. Hearing this, Qiao Long''s brows furrowed. He picked up a gun from a subordinate''s hand and pulled the trigger. "No¡ª" Before the other person could beg for mercy, amid the ejected shell casings, the sliding of the gun breech, the spurt of mes, and the billowing smoke, bullets pierced through him, causing blood to spatter. After the gunfire ceased, the disrespectful many on the ground, lifeless. "Have someone clean this up; don''t leave it rotting there," Qiao Long ordered, and a subordinate hastily agreed. They continued walking for a while until they reached a parking area. Three underground off-road vehicles were already pulled out. Despite their dirty exteriors coated with different types of solidified mud, the interiors were rtively clean, likely cleaned asionally by someone. A group of subordinates rode in the vehicles ahead and behind, while Qiao Long and Tn took the middle one. After driving for some time, Qiao Long finally exined his earlier actions. "In that kind of situation, I had to act ruthlessly. Otherwise, it would send the wrong signal to the people around us, and they would swarm like starving wolves," he said. "This is not a secure area governed by the Federation, so I ask for the youngdy''s understanding," he added, followed by a long silence. Hexia thought back to the palpable fear and trembling of the man before his death, and to the intimidation felt by the onlookers. She wondered what would have happened if Qiao Long hadn''t killed him. If Qiao Long had hesitated, the surrounding people would''ve seen an opportunity and started hollering; even Qiao Long''s own underlings would''ve had myriad thoughts, instantly shattering the already fragile rtionship between the two. Was this considered being well-thought-out, or was it that she had stayed in the Underground World so long that she had be ustomed to resolving issues with violence? The young girl contemted silently. It really was better to avoid ces like this, she reasoned, though the experience had certainly been eye-opening. The vehicles sped along, but given the harsh underground environment, with no smooth or spacious roads¡ªor, rather, the existence of any road at all was something of a miracle. Sitting by the window, Hexia saw many people wandering the Underground World. Without the inte and with ack of entertainment, aside from some simple food stalls, people fought, slept, and gathered around old-fashioned equipment to listen to music and dance. The best they could seemingly do was crowd around a projected screen, watching a variety of pre-stored videos. These videos included old ssic movies, some randomly edited funny clips from the star web, and some vulgar films where the participants couldn''t really be called attractive; they twisted their bodies mechanically like animals, a spectacle difficult for Hexia to watch. There were no schools, no banks, no hospitals, no public administration; only some gang members maintained basicw and order. This was a part of Jade Skirt, neglected and abandoned, where people''s lives had degraded to bing almost animal-like. Did the Federation need people? Yes, but what they needed were ones capable of creating profitable value. Many of these abandoned individuals were twisted by the environment of the Underworld, with unpleasant personalities, almost no sense of morality or decency, and due to theck of education, they were hard-pressed to find jobs or progress beyond Sequence 3. To take them in would mean a hefty cost to public safety and strong opposition from local residents. This is why even though the government was aware of these people, they did not acknowledge or ept them. The vehicle jostled its way through the rugged underground cave. The area should have had various stgmites and columns, but they had been removed, with just a few left around the edges to prevent the ceiling from copsing. "What do these people rely on to survive?" Hexia suddenly asked. To live, one must obtain food and basic supplies, and the people of the Underground World wouldn''t just freely share their food with outsiders, nor would the gangs be keen to provide for freeloaders. "Some things are too vile and repulsive; it''s better if the youngdy doesn''t know," Qiao Long shook his head. "All right," Hexia agreed, feeling that she might not be strong enough just yet to face certain harsh and dark truths directly. She sighed inwardly. Although she was young, she had inherited some memories from the previous two generations of Color Level Songstresses and had seen the vibrant and flourishing sights of the Federation''s rise. Yet no matter how grand the ideals and beliefs, they also slowly crumbled and decayed over time. Human beings, or perhaps life itself, never seemed to learn from past mistakes. The words and images from history were always too light and distant, making it difficult to foster respect. Perhaps only profound and unforgettable pain can prompt life to mend its ways and etch it firmly into memory. Hexia slowly closed and then reopened her eyes, the pale blue of her gaze flickering faintly. For now, she wasn''t powerful enough or capable of changing the status quo. Many thoughts had to be temporarily suppressed, waiting for a time when they could be slowly realized. Chapter 78: Chapter 41 Past Events The vehicles never stopped, and half a minuteter, a burst of gunfire and screams came from ahead. "Ah¡ªhelp!" "They''ve gone mad, all of them¡ª" "No, please, don''t eat me." Bang! Bang! More gunshots rang out, apanied by the sound of metal bullets whizzing and heavy bodies falling. Three off-road vehicles came to an abrupt halt, and Qiao Long jumped out of the car, motioning for the gang members to follow him. These people pulled their bolt actions and began to cautiously advance. Hexia lightly pressed on the car seat and then leapt out, her nimble body cutting through the dark cavern without making a sound. Although ordinary people couldn''t see clearly in the darkness of the cavern and could only rely on the car headlights and some shlights, this was not a problem for her. The ability that came with her Transcendent Profession activated, and the surrounding environment appeared in her mind as if scanned by radar, not even missing the blind spots behind her. The Profession she had chosen as a child because she was afraid of the dark turned out to be surprisingly useful in this underground environment. Avoiding the stones in the dark, Hexia took the gun from her coat pocket, holding it in her palm and getting ustomed to it. Although she had never used a real gun before, the Academy had provided a week of simted electronic gun training and introduced some basic weapon usage. The Rose Federation hadn''t been at war for a long time, and military education had been shed to just this bit. It was said that four hundred years ago in the Federation, every high school student had to undergo nearly half a year of military training, get familiar with a variety of weapons, pilot fighter jets, and even perform basic maneuvers of warships. The civil wars back then were so brutal that nearly millions of people were conscripted into the army almost every month. Walking silently behind, a few gang members asionally turned around and were mildly surprised to see the quiet girl following them; she didn''t seem to be the vase they had expected. Soon, a firefight broke out ahead. The intense gunfire almost merged into one continuous roar. Under such a barrage, the deranged attackers roaming in the distance were turned into mincemeat, slowly copsing. Half a minuteter, Qiao Long raised his hand, signaling for the people behind him to stop firing. A team surrounded Hexia in the middle, protecting her as they passed through the brightly lit area. Others were checking the surroundings, inquiring about the situation of the survivors. "Where did these deranged attackerse from just now, do you have any other information?" A gang member grabbed a trembling man, propping him against the wall to speak. "I, I..." His fingers trembled, his voice filled with panic. Although the Underground World was cruel, seeing deranged attackers eat people alive was too shocking. The sight of intestines and viscera being pulled out was something he feared he could never forget. "I''ll say, say it." Seeing the gang member put a gun to his head, he finally forced himself to calm down. "They came from the east gate, yes, from the direction of the eastern pipe. At first, we thought it was an enemy attack, but then we realized something was wrong." "You didn''t resist?" Qiao Long stepped forward from the group of gang members. "We tried shooting, but one of them was tough, moved very fast, and the sporadic bullets didn''t kill him. It rushed over and crushed Will''s neck." "After that, everyone panicked, and then some began to run, and then it all fell apart, and then you saw what happened." "What about that tough one, I didn''t see any special deranged attackers just now." "I don''t know, it might have gone somewhere else, or it could be hiding in some corner." As soon as these words were spoken, everyone immediately started to look around vigntly, but they found nothing. "Above." Suddenly, a cool voice from the girl in the crowd rang out. Everyone immediately looked up as the light swept across, revealing a bloody, hideous figure clinging to the rocks overhead. The sound of continuous gunfire erupted again; everyone focused their fire, but the creature indeed moved quickly. It soon darted into the darkness, causing many bullets to hit nothing. Deranged Attacker¡¤Human Status: Minor Injury¡¤Mutation (loss of reason, akin to a beast form) Profession: shing de Sequence 4¡¤Unknown (Comprehensive Evaluation: Excellent Dark Silver Level) Abilities: Physical Strengthening, Beast Perception, de ws, Infection Hexia watched the figure slip into the turn ahead and summarized what little information she had in her mind. Although this guy was crazed and even mutated, he still retained some intelligence, knew how to hide and flee, and could perform simple deceptions and ambushes. "Never mind him, let''s keep moving," Qiao Long frowned at the direction the monster had fled and decided it was still more important to hurry and save people. "Yes," the others put away their guns, continued to protect Hexia in the middle, and pressed on quickly. The road ahead was no longer passable by vehicle; they had to proceed on foot, navigating the intricatebyrinth, but they were familiar with the path and did not hesitate. Finally, after more than ten minutes of trekking, the group reached another stronghold. In the uneven cavern, a corner was sealed with concrete and steel beams, with a steel door closed tight and several gun barrels poking out of a window on one side. The outdoor ground was littered with corpses and bloodstains, and the air was heavy with the lingering smell of char. "It''s Brother Long." Upon seeing Qiao Long leading the group, the people inside immediately called out, then pulled open the steel door, revealing a long passageway. Following the group through it and into the corridor, Hexia could hear the sounds of painful groansing from the rooms ahead. It seems more than one person was injured, she thought. The personnel guarding the way cleared a path, and after passing through two steel doors, they finally arrived at a rtively clean room. The spacious room, akin to a ssroom, contained eight beds, seven of which had people lying on them. Some were merely bandaged, others were unconscious, and two were encased in square blocks of ice, their condition obscured from view. "Ho, Qiao Long, you''re back," a woman with oddly dyed purple and green hair leaned against the wall. With dark red under her eyes and d in a deep purple jacket and leather pants, she looked like a barmaid from an underground bar. However, her probable current upation was a medical staff member here. She put down her personal terminal, which she had been fiddling with in her hands, and walked over unhurriedly. Hexia noticed she also had ck nail polish on. Really shows no respect for the profession, the girl thought. As a girl who had been preparing to apply to Eileen Medical Academy since her second year of junior high, she remembered the teachers saying that medical staff should never wear nail polish because it could interfere with treatments and leave a poor impression on patients. While many girls in her ss were caught up in various nail art trends, Hexia was one of the few who hadn''t touched such things. "Is this the doctor you hired?" she sized up Hexia, who was masked and wearing a hood, with disdain. "This is probably an underage student. Even if you had grabbed someone from a back-alley clinic, they''d be better than her, tsk." Qiao Long frowned slightly and walked over, grabbing her shoulder. "We''ll step outside, let the doctor work." He didn''t want to exin any further. Feeling the vice-like fingers on her shoulder, the woman finally sobered up a bit, "Wait a minute, you haven''t unsealed that little brother of yours yet." Having said that, she broke free from Qiao Long''s loosened grip and approached the two giant ice blocks. She ced her hands on them and soon white smoke began to rise, chilling the room by several degrees. After the smoke cleared, it revealed two pale individuals devoid of any color. "Over to you, little sis~" The woman gave Hexia a malicious nce and then followed Qiao Long out. Once Hexia saw everyone else leave, she stood in front of the two most critical patients to begin examining them. As a reserve medical staff, she had a substantial umtion of knowledge and skills in this area. Furthermore, these people were mostly suffering from external injuries, which weren''t as tricky andplex as internal ailments. Thump, the steel door closed, and Qiao Long with the purple and green-haired woman stood in the hallway waiting. The gang''s other members guarded outside, ensuring no disturbances. "Didn''t expect you''d really go to the trouble of finding someone to save them, unbelievable." She pulled out a cigarette from a box at her waist, put it in her mouth, and lit it up. "Phew, I was about to lose it." She exhaled smoke rings to ease her nerves, then nced at Qiao Long again. Seeing him leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, refusing to speak, she scoffed twice. "Why so quiet now, can''t spit it out?" "By rights, people like you and me should either be killing or getting killed any day now. Yet, here you are, caring about your littleckey. That''s just too soft." "Will you shut up if I speak?" Qiao Long opened his eyes. "No, but I''ll keep your secret," He didn''t believe the woman''s promise at all, but he knew that if he didn''t say something now, she''d probably keep nagging nonstop. "I''m not like you all." He began to recount some past events. "I''ve been an official resident of the Rose Federation since childhood, even though I was at the bottom rung, at least I had some warmth and human kindness in my life." "Blu was 15 years younger than me, and at that time I bought him from his abusive mother with a T5 standard package, and had him mix with me..." "Back then, I had just gotten acquainted with the Underground World, and things often didn''t go smoothly. To make money and fight with others, I was frequently injured and running for my life, and the people around me kept changing, one batch after another." He reached for the cigarette the woman tossed to him, ced it between his fingers, and lit it. The smoke curled up as he continued speaking. "Many people by my side are no longer alive. Every day, other than fighting for survival in the bloodshed, there was nothing else; it''s verymon for someone like me in the Underground, who might end up as a corpse on the street any day." "I was supposed to die too, that time I provoked some gang members, got swept by gunfire, and then Blu took a bullet for me, which is why I managed to escape alive." "After hesitating and struggling for many days, I still sneaked into that gang''s headquarters, hoping to find Blu and see if I could save him." "Such naive and green actions obviously failed, and the gang members caught me immediately." "But their boss didn''t kill me, thinking I had some loyalty, so he asked if I was willing to work for him." "Oh, is that how you joined the ''Haon'' gang? This is the first time I''m hearing about it," the woman said with mild surprise. "No wonder you value this younger brother so much, probably because aside from him, you don''t really have any family left." In the Underground World, ''brothers and sisters'' are important. In such a fierce environment, if you don''t have someone by your side to rely on, even sleeping is dangerous. And the ''brothers and sisters'' here don''t necessarily have blood rtions; often it''s just a coincidence that brings people together to build trust. Although there are also frequent betrayals among ''brothers and sisters'', such events are after all notmon and are despised by the people of the Underground. Besides, after betrayal, one''s reputation is ruined, and it bes almost impossible to find others who can be trusted, which is a very dangerous status, because even the strongest need to sleep and have vulnerable moments, like when using the bathroom. Listening to Qiao Long finish talking slowly, he then pinched off the remaining sparks on the cigarette butt with his fingers, threw it on the ground, and twisted it with his foot. "After hearing so much,e work with me from now on, Jennifer," he said, looking at the woman in front of him. "Aha, are you trying to recruit me? I''ve always been a frencer without a gang," the woman across from him said with an exaggerated expression on her face. That''s what she said, but she didn''tpletely refuse either. "I''ll think about itter. I have to admit, your story just now did move me somewhat." "Unfortunately, intuition tells me a woman shouldn''t so easily ept a man''s invitation. I also have a lot to consider. Joining your gang means I won''t be as free anymore." Their conversation came to a pause, and while the treatment inside the room hadn''t finished, amotion was gradually starting outside. "It''s those guys!" "They''re killing their way here again." Sessive gunfire erupted from outside, among which were mixed panic-stricken shouts and running feet. With a loud bang, the steel door was knocked open, and blood-red de ws swung amidst the sound of gunfire, tearing through the bodies of gang members one after another. Chapter 79: Chapter 42 Invisibility "Damn it!" Several glow sticks were scattered on the ground, shadows flickered in the cave, and monsters with low growls charged out, sshing through water. asionally, shes of blue light pierced the darkness, prating the flesh of the monsters at the forefront and spraying blood in their wake. Continue your saga on m|v-l''e-NovelBin Yang Che held his electromaic rifle, continuously aiming and firing. His brows were furrowed, while several teammates in the same uniformy around him. "When will the reinforcements arrive!?" "Still an hour away." From a corner of the cave behind him, Lude asionally popped his head out to fire his pistol, helping to fend off the stragglers. "We''re too far from the surface, and the SWAT team from Payin City isn''t familiar with the terrain, so they can''t get here quickly." As Lude panted, he spoke, and when his pistol ran out of ammo, he simply tossed it aside. He then groped for a heavy machine gun lying nearby on the ground; it was Pascal''s. Now the old man had passed out from shock, and the rudimentary bandaging Lude had managed was only enough to prevent his immediate death. "It would be better if Pascal hadn''t been hit. Who would have thought we''d encounter an attack of this scale, an ambush from both sides." Lude, unfamiliar with the equipment, adjusted the machine gun,ining and praying as he worked. "Is this guy raising an army underground? Hundreds of these monsters have died, and they''re stilling." He set up the heavy machine gun, nervously and carefully adjusted the fuel and power ratio, checking and operating each of the several knobs that glowed with different lights. Finally, making up his mind, he closed it and pressed down the lid. Lying prone on the ground, he swiveled the machine gun''s mount and aimed at the flesh monsters approaching in the distance before pulling the trigger. Bang¡ª The crisp sound of the ammo bursting forth was followed by a golden-red glow that shot out and then exploded. The ze from the explosion momentarily lit up the underground cave, and the wave of heat that hit their faces was suffocating and oppressive. "Don''t use that! It''s going to suffocate us." With the oxygen already low underground, a few more shots like that, and they would all suffocate. After Yang Che yelled out, Lude had no choice but to adjust the machine gun''s fuel and power form again. Thankfully, the burning fire provided a barrier, and the scene quieted down somewhat. After dragging his severely injured and unconscious teammates to the rear, Yang Che gathered the remaining usable weapons and began checking and restocking them. They had encountered numerous mutated and frenzied monsters while they chased them to this location. Thankfully, it wasn''t long before seven colleagues from the office arrived at their position to set up a defensive line and then push forward inyers. Things had been going smoothly up to this point. After reporting to those on the surface, they continued to search underground until they recently discovered some man-made underground facilities. Transparent cultivation chambersy horizontally in a crude room, with robots performing basic maintenance and surrounded by monitoring cameras. They had just arrived when they triggered an rm. Then, the cultivation chambers opened, and misshapen flesh monsters crawled out, ambushing their small team. Continuous gunfire drew their attention, but unexpectedly another group of creatures sprang from behind, disrupting the formation and causing teammates to get injured. In the dire situation, Yang Che and the others covered their teammates as they retreated to this cul-de-sac in the cave, where, free from the worry of an attack from the rear, they could take advantage of the terrain to fight back. After checking everything, Yang Che and Lude began to re-establish the defensive line and had the two who could still move fire the electromaic rifles in support from the rear. "Things look pretty bad, boss," Lude said, having repositioned the machine gun. "These monsters clearlyck intelligence, but they move without attacking each other and even know simple tactics like pincer attacks. There must be someonemanding them from the shadows." "The problem is, we haven''t figured out how they''re beingmanded, and we haven''t even seen a shadow of anyone." "Could they be using some kind of invisibility method?" Yang Che pondered calmly, then walked over to a teammate and pulled out a brand-new Eight Mountains te from their backpack. The ''Wind Seeking Eight Mountains te'', octagonal with bronze exteriors; on opening the case, one found inside an exquisitelyplex structure, like that of a clock. The Aijeika Particles, as indicated by the gold and silver branding, streamed into it, were continuously diverted for analysis, moved around in the intricate construct, and finally yielded some result. This was a scanning and detection device made specially by the ''Xuanzhi Workshop''. Though well-crafted, its obscurity meant that only a few professionals utilized it, so it was seldom countered specifically. After adjusting the parameters of the Eight Mountains te, Yang Che inserted the designated silver liquid column. A wave of faint silver ripples then spread in all directions. Projected on the Eight Mountains te, the 3Dyout of the surroundings underground appeared, and within it floated points of light representing living things. Closer to the center were stable blue lights of varying intensity, while not far away, several red agitated points clustered, indicating the chaos of these entities'' vibrations. Among these red points, a deep purple light flickered and then disappeared. "They''ve noticed us," Lude said, looking at the disy. "Right, but this might also be a good thing¡ªit could deter the enemy." Yang Che carefully observed the edges of the image, looking for potential escape routes. Soon after, he noticed an area on the upper side that seemed to be a different color. "That is..." ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª On the other side of the underground, Hexia finished checking the wounds of several people in the room. She first separated the less serious cases that were still half-conscious behind a curtain and then began to work. Chapter 80: Chapter 42 Invisibility Part 2 Faint blue Magic Power Light Sand floated in the air and then converged beside Hexia''s hand. She closed her eyes to carefully sense it, then gently caressed it, and theceration on the belly of the fat man in front of her slowly healed, with ruptured organs being repaired, blood vessels reconnecting and clearing. Subsequently, some internal bleeding and other hidden injuries were also neatly dealt with. After she was done with him, she repeated the process and healed the other few injured people. Phew, kind of tired. When finished, the girl wiped the sweat beads off her forehead, her ck hair slightly disheveled, feeling a bit exhausted. Healing others and healing oneself are not the same. She was absolutely familiar with and in control of her own body, requiring very little energy to recover, but it was different for others. After resting for a while and seeing that the others had no abnormalities and their breathing had gradually stabilized, Hexia also stood up from her seat. She pulled her hood back over from the back of her coat and prepared to leave. It seemed it was time to go back. The closed iron door twisted open, but outside was not the calmness she had seen before entering. A broken fang flew past her, hitting the wall, bouncing up, then falling down, sttering a bit of blood. Not far away, a flesh monster asrge as a lion was pressing down on Qiao Long. Its gaping maw filled with sharp fangs and teeth, it growled menacingly, exhaling a foul, hot breath, while Qiao Long held the beast''s upper and lower jaws, struggling to pry them apart to prevent them from closing. The two powerhouses were locked in a fierce struggle. On the other side, Jennifer, with her short purple-green hair, was holding a pistol and firing nonstop at a nimble beast that moved swiftly across the ceiling and walls. The creature was as crafty as a monkey but equally ferocious, its ws and teeth still smeared with blood and flesh. In the moment Jennifer''s firing faltered, the monkey-like creature suddenly pounced down, biting down hard on her gun-holding wrist, eliciting sounds of splintering bone. "Hiss¡ª" Jennifer''s face twisted in pain, but she also seized the opportunity to grab the back of the creature''s head with her other hand. A chilling cold that stiffened living things spread, and progressively, the creature mped on her wrist became motionless, and Jennifer finally threw it to the ground, where it turned stiff. Hexia walked over, and by this time, the struggle between Qiao Long and the blood lion had also changed. After regaining some strength, Qiao Long kicked the blood lion''s body, flipping it over onto the ground, and then applied force again and again. The muscles and blood vessels in his arms bulged until he tore the blood lion''s jaws apart, bringing with it steaming flesh and ghastly white bones. In intense pain, the blood lion struggled fiercely, almost overturning Qiao Long a few times, its hook-like ck ws scraping his back into a bloody mess. Unfortunately, with the huge blood loss and without its fangs and teeth, the creature''s death was inevitable. Qiao Long reached into the blood lion''s throat, continuously ripping, destroying its lungs and viscera, until the beast gradually stopped resisting and slowly became silent. "Was this another attack?" Hexia came to the two, scanning the surroundings. Many of the gang members who had been guarding outside were now dead or injured, with only a few still capable of moving. "I can''t heal this many people," she shook her head. "It''s fine, no need to trouble the young mistress here," Qiao Long stood up, shaking the blood off his hands and then looking for something to wipe them with. As a Transcendent of the Dragon Sequence, his body was robust and with strong recovery abilities, and these wounds would naturally heal in a few days. Continue reading on m_v--NovelBin Hexia did not respond but instead put her hands in her coat pockets and slowly walked out of the base, sensing something unusual outside. The cavern was still pitch ck, the dim light from a few brokenmps illuminating the surroundings, the ground marked with craters from fighting, corpses, and bloodstains. Despite the mask filtration, the air still smelled far from pleasant. The air was very quiet, as if there was no living thing around. Yet, Hexia''s gaze was drawn to a corner in the darkness that seemed empty. However, in her mind''s consciousness, there was clearly someone standing there, motionless like a ghost. Frowning slightly, just as Hexia was about to draw her gun to warn, the figure suddenly fled. ``` Is this guy the culprit behind the chaos? the girl thought. I really don''t want to get involved in an underground chase like this. She''s only 16, not even a high school student yet, with no desire to be a savior of the world. "Did you find something?" At that moment, Qiao Long came out supporting Jennifer, whose wrist had been simply cleaned and bandaged by now. "Yes, someone who can be invisible." Hexia''s voice was soft and seemed out of ce in this underground world. On hearing this, Jennifer gave Qiao Long a look. She hadn''t expected this man to actually bring a schoolgirl along; previously, she had just thought the doctor was a bit peculiar or perhaps small in stature. "Is there any way for me to see through his invisibility?" Qiao Long ced Jennifer on a nearby bench, then walked over to Hexia. "It''s unlikely for you." The girl shook her head. Although the Dragon Sequence did have secret techniques to see through invisibility, such things required a lot of knowledge. One would probably note across them until university, and Qiao Long was clearly a drop-out, with no hope of learning it any time soon. "I can see through his invisibility, but I don''t want to get involved anymore." Hexia exined as she shook her head. This chaos had already drawn the attention of the Federal Government, and for all she knew, the authorities might have already dispatched troops to crack down on the situation. Getting involved again, especially being discovered underground, wouldplicate matters and bring a lot of trouble. She wanted to attend her school''s retest in a few days, then go to school and continue on the normal trajectory of a person''s life. Helping out this one time in the Underground was an act of soft-heartedness, and she was not going to continue being soft-hearted. In today''s age, where information was rampant, even though Hexia Tn knew she had a special talent, she dared not reveal it casually. It could bring good things, but also potentially a lot of trouble. She disliked troubles, preferring the solitude of a quiet corner, watching the bustling and beautiful world, leading a simple life undisturbed. "However..." Even though Hexia didn''t want to get involved, she didn''t say she would standpletely by either. With a light touch to her forehead, specks of blue Light Sand gathered, eventually forming a palm-sized deep blue crystal in her hand. This crystal, formed by the condensation of Withering Sequence magic power and already inscribed and converted, could create a manifesting mist if crushed, allowing Qiao Long to briefly see the figure of the invisible person. "This is for you." Hexia tossed the Crystal Stone to Qiao Long, giving a brief exnation on how to use it. "You only have one chance, whether you catch him or not is up to you." Then she jumped down from the stone she had been standing on; it was time for her to leave. "Don''t forget what you promised, you''ll help me find someer." . . . ps: The songs referenced in this book can be searched on NetEase Cloud Music under ''Songs used in "Miss Witch Doesn''t Want to Be a Songstress"'' The first song "Mirror Mirror" is the intro to the opening song of chapter one, by the Chinese singer Mili. The second song "EARth" is the background music when Tn takes the superluminal flight back to Jade Skirt, from "The Shining Hassawi." The third song "Atem" is the distant singing heard by Tn as she advances in her dream, from "Rose Maiden" Mercury Lamp''s struggle to climb to the wardrobe, gaining life, then confronting True Red with music. The fourth song "Friends" is a childhood bad recalled by Tn during her battle with her sister, from the ending theme of the animation "The Legend of the Magic Beans." ``` Chapter 81: Chapter 43: The Disturbing Flute Sound Following several gang members, Hexia boarded the return vehicle and then re-entered the vertical elevator she had used earlier. Soon after, the elevator arrived at the top, taking her back to the secluded bar; by now, it was 1 a.m. Facing the cool night breeze, the girl walked along the street, still pondering the scenes she had seen in the Underworld, although life for the residents in the lower levels of Payin City was somewhat arduous, it hadn''t reached the point of being unlivable. It was just that the noisy information and various disys of ostentation made people gradually forget these details of life. In the Federation, even if residents lost all work, they wouldn''t starve to death on the streets. Walking through the streets and residential areas, there were simple security booths at regr intervals, housing Riot Control Robots to maintain public order, dense surveince, and few criminals could escape the police''s pursuit. You could say there were many corrupt ces within the Federation, but they weren''t so repugnant as to force people into untenable living conditions. The progress of the era and the unprecedented improvement in productivity had made the basic food and materials needed to sustain a person extremely cheap; just a tiny fraction skimmed off the vast industrial system was enough to provide for one. But people''s desires also grow. When everyone can breathe air, no one thinks that being able to breathe freely is anything remarkable. Isn''t it taken for granted, everyone thinks and then chases after something that stands out from those around them, something different from others. Hexia crossed the dim, deserted streets and arrived in front of a vertical elevator, waiting quietly. She wasn''t saying this approach was wrong; everyone has the freedom to pursue their ideals and desires, and shouldn''t be criticized or med, it''s just that thefort thates with the starting point makes people gradually forget how hard-won the peace they enjoy is. The elevator doors opened, and she hopped in lightly, then pressed the button for her residential floor level. The elevator started moving, andyer uponyer of light and shadows passed over her coat through the ss. Time flowed quietly, and the era moved slowly forward. Past pains had disappeared, but new anxieties had arisen. Never satisfied, never stopping theparisons, this is the source of human suffering, and also thedder of progress. The girl sighed softly and walked out when the elevator arrived, returning to the familiar streets and views. Forget it, forget it, no more thinking about these lofty principles every day. Coming back sote today, I wonder if I can get a good night''s sleep. I have to go to work tomorrow. If only I didn''t have to work someday, the girl wished silently to herself. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Underworld, the location of the ''Eight Mountains te'' squad''s office. "Lude, are you ready?" Yang Che stood at the entrance of the passage, firing relentlessly at the oing monsters, among them were humanoids and beasts. "Ready, boss." Following an explosion and a copse, arge hole appeared in the ceiling of a nearby cave. "Good, keep blowing it up, there should be an exit up there." The two had previously discovered through the Eight Mountains te that there was a huge void above this area, presumably connecting to many other ces, which they could use to move around and escape from the pursuit of these flesh monsters, rather than being trapped in a dead-end with no escape. While the two were persistently sting away, on the other side of the Underworld, Qiao Long was also in pursuit of that invisible figure. Although he couldn''t see it, he could determine its approximate location and direction by the sound of footsteps. It certainly wouldn''t work in a noisy ce on the ground, but here, besides Qiao Long, there was only the other. "You, you''ve killed so many of our people, now you will pay with your life," Qiao Long said, staring intently in a certain direction within the cave, taking steps forward, continually taunting and provoking the other usingnguage. He was usually a man of few words, but now he also employed some of the tactics used in Underworldbat. "Hiding here, are you afraid, or are you thinking of surrendering?" He lightened his steps slowly, his voice increasingly fluctuated. The opponent still did not respond, and Qiao Long no longer hesitated. He decisively crushed the blue Crystal Stone in his hand. A blue crystal mist instantly dispersed, spreading in all directions. In this flickering crystal mist, the outline of a humanoid figure finally appeared, which seemed to belong to a male. "Found you," Qiao Long said as he kicked off the ground and charged directly, bringing with him a whistling sound of burst air. He then punched out, shattering the rock wall behind the man, but the opponent still managed to escape. "Damn it," the other party cursed softly, then turned and ran, and the two of them began to chase each other again. However, the chase didn''tst long. Soon there was a loud rumble underfoot. Then, with a crash, the ground cracked open, revealing a pit, from which came bursts of gunfire. "sted open, boss." Lude looked up at the broken hole overhead and shouted excitedly. At that moment, Yang Che began to move, ordering the remaining teammates to slowly retreat, supporting each other. "What is this..." Qiao Long frowned at the sight below, pondering how these people had appeared, while the figure stained with crystal mist jumped straight into the pit. "Catch him, he''s the culprit behind this chaos!" Qiao Long wasn''t sure of the exact identity of the other party, but he knew that since they were battling those flesh monsters, they were an enemy of an enemy. "Who''s that!" the people below eximed in surprise, then looked at the dark silhouette that hadnded. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Several blue streaks shot through the darkness, aiming for the fleeing figure. One shot missed, one hit the chest, and one struck the shoulder. A sh of light passed over the silhouette, finally revealing his form. He was dressed in a tailor-made gray-ck bodysuit, which seemed to be made of special material that had an invisibility effect, but part of it was damaged and no longer fully functional. After several dodges, the dark figure once again hid behind arge rock column, temporarily avoiding the bullets. "Bang!" Then Qiao Long also jumped down into the pit, steadily approaching the figure hiding behind the rock column. However, just as everyone was nervously observing the situation and facing off, a sound of flute music came from behind the rock column, causing dizziness and confusion. Some Low Rank members even began to feel dizzy. "This isn''t good," Lude said, holding his head, barely able to stand steady, continuously tapping his head, trying to clear his mind. Apart from him, only Qiao Long and Yang Che were able to maintain their consciousness. The others fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in what seemed like great pain, as if someone were sawing into their heads with a saw. This psychic attack not only interfered with everyone present, but it also attracted the distant flesh monsters, who began to charge and attack once more. In order to protect his teammates, Yang Che had to turn his gun and shoot the approaching monsters, while Qiao Long hastened his pace towards the back of the rock column. Amidst the sounds of gunfire and roars, he suddenly rushed to the side of the rock column, and then a bottle of milky white liquid smashed towards him. The ss shattered, and the strange scent of milk filled the air. The liquid blurred Qiao Long''s vision, making him miss his target and fail again. The milk-like substance on his face also gave off a strange sensation, as if countless mosquitoes were buzzing in front of him. This was no ordinary potion, but a concentrated Magic Potion with a Transcendent effect that could induce madness. A potion that normally would be diluted to fill dozens of bottles was now all spilled on Qiao Long, causing him to feel disoriented, staggering like a drunkard. Various voices echoed in his head, and his vision became dizzy with colorful lights. It was as though he saw many familiar people¡ªhis master, his elementary school ssmates, teachers, and people he had known from the past, as well as those he deeply hated. Those people had humiliated him in the past, making his life a living hell... With a thump, Qiao Long finally knelt on the ground, and heat began to emerge from his body while his bones and muscles slowly swelled, and Dragon Scale patterns faintly appeared. "Good, very good, just like that, serve me," the dark figure sneered, then blew the mind-disturbing flute once more, adding to the chaos of the scene. Chapter 82: Chapter 44: The Ancient Calamity Things are looking bad, Yang Che screamed in his mind, shooting as he retreated, his thoughts racing. It was obvious that the ck shadow that had suddenly jumped down was the target of their operation, but now hisrades were falling one by one, leaving him the only one barely able to fight, putting them in a very disadvantageous position. Fortunately, there were not many flesh monsters left in front of them. Even if the enemy had a small base underground, they couldn''t maintain arge scale. They had already killed hundreds today; they must be close to wiping them out. As the iing monsters diminished, Yang Che finally had a moment to observe the situation on the other side. He had thought the fierce, ck-haired man could hold or defeat the target, but the reality was far from it. Qiao Long slowly knelt down, letting out a hiss like a beastly roar, while his muscles grew increasingly blood red, veins bulging with the faint emergence of dark red Dragon Scales, and his figure slowly changing. Faced with the disrupting flute sound, Yang Che''s gaze quickly swept over his teammates. He then lunged at one of them, pulling off his tactical backpack, and pulled out several small blue-white ammunition rounds. After pulling the pin, he hurled it toward where the pir was located. With a loud bang, it exploded in mid-air. There was no fire or st wave, only the piercingly sharp sound waves echoing instantaneously underground¡ªthese were shock grenades kept in reserve by their team, which he hadn''t expected toe in handy. It was like ten million whistles blowing at the ear at the same time. The sharp, ovepping sound waves burst suddenly, the violent sonic impact causing one''s vision to wobble and the brain to briefly lose the ability to think, abruptly interrupting the ck shadow''s flute sound. Yang Che was always wearing a tactical earpiece, a device designed to block out noise and prevent sonic damage, which now effectively dampened the impact of the shock grenade. He remained alert, then quickly moved to the other side of the pir. As the indistinct silhouette came into view, he started shooting. The continuous blue streaks shed in the air, and spots of blood appeared on the ck shadow, but unfortunately, due to the special-made grey-ck bodysuit, the bullets did not fully prate the protection, only causing minor damage to the surface. After being attacked, the ck shadow, enduring the dizziness and difort in his mind, began to roll, dodging the attack, and then used Qiao Long as a shield, hiding behind him. After temporarily easing the crisis, he pulled out a vial of medicine from the inside of his clothes and tossed it into his mouth, quickly recovering from his disadvantaged status. Seeing the shooting angle was poor, Yang Che elerated and charged forward, unwilling to give his opponent a chance to breathe. But he was a step toote; the opponent had already swallowed the capsule and stood up again. The special taste at the tip of his tongue instantly cleared his head a bit. The ck shadow dodged Yang Che''s shooting and picked up the flute again to y, trying to get the confused and unconscious Qiao Long to attack him, but it was not very effective. In the earlier sonic explosion, Qiao Long was affected too, but it also brought a few moments of rity to his consciousness, beginning to suppress the boiling blood and power within him. Such sudden bursts of power were not a good thing but instead triggered by the stimtion of one''s life potential. If he didn''t suppress it now, he feared that after tonight, he would age decades, or even permanently slide back in strength. Turning another angle, Yang Che aimed at the escaping ck shadow and fired repeatedly, hitting him several times, but not bringing him down. Carrying his wounded body, the opponent once again fled into the depths of the cave. At this point, Yang Che dropped the cumbersome and less powerful Electromaic Rifle and swiftly pulled out the Light Saber handle from his waist, chasing after him again. The dark, waterlogged cave was full of uneven, rocky ground, which caused the ck shadow to stumble as he fled, nearly slipping several times, and the resistance from the sshes also slowed down his speed. Yang Che caught up at this moment, and in the darkness, a bright yellow beam of light burst forth, with Incandescent Electricity continuously crackling within the vaguely visible Sword, illuminating the pitch-ck depths with its radiance. Upon spotting the figure, Yang Che did not directly pursue but decisively plunged the thrust-style Light Saber into the water on the ground. Sparks flew, and the ck shadow convulsed rapidly, his body going numb. Although such an electric current couldn''t directly kill this Transcendent being, it made him very disheveled, nearly losing the ability to resist. Removing a spare anesthetic dart from his tactical vest, Yang Che threw it again, its steel needle plunging into the wound on the ck shadow''s back, a wave of cold liquid pouring into his body. Feeling himself hit, as a professional in medical research, how could he not know the terror of suddenly being injected with a drug? Practically at the same time, he pulled out the dart from his back and inserted it into the stone wall beside him, reducing the threat of electricity with the help of the metal needle''s conduction. However, after one step, he still fell weakly into the water, after all, the anesthetic had begun to take effect. "Fuck," he couldn''t help but curse softly, then touched his wrist, where there was a device resembling a watch. He pressed it fiercely, and another dose of pre-prepared drug was injected into his body, causing it to convulse. The anesthetic couldn''t be quickly neutralized, and he didn''t anticipate facing such an attack beforehand. The drug inside the wrist device was a special form partially developed by himself, able to stimte a person''s potential, enhance consciousness, and the soul, to give an advantage during advancement. Chapter 83: Chapter 44 Ancient Calamity Part 2 As the potion flowed into his body, the previously paralyzed limbs regained some sensation, and consciousness within his mind began to stir tumultuously, filled with a violent impulse to do something, anything to release this power that had no outlet. Leaning against the rock wall, he was gasping for air with strands of heat rising from his body, and his pupils turned a dark red. At that moment, Yang Che stopped using electric shocks and instead charged forward, clutching the Light Saber in his hand. Whoosh¡ª Amidst the shrill sound of slicing through the air, the Light Saber suddenly came down, cutting through the stgmite the phantom had dodged behind, leaving a massive torn wound in its trail, charred to a crisp. If not for the high-quality Invisibility protective clothing, the other might have been bisected on the spot. Driven to desperation, the phantom grasped the flute in its hand, rolling through the umted water before suddenly blowing into it. Unfortunately, it did little to affect Yang Che, who was equipped with noise-cancelling tactical earphones. Find more chapters on m_v l|e-NovelBin He took several steps forward, shing again with his sword and severing the phantom''s flute and arm without a spray of blood, as the high-temperature light of the saber instantly cauterized and evaporated the surface of the wound. "This is your doing!" the phantom wailed as it fled, then pulled out a special cylindrical object attached to its waist, twisted it open with force, and hurled it at Yang Che. As the Light Saber came down, the cylindrical container shattered, releasing a misty fog that seemed to pour out, followed by an extremely ufortable sensation that hit right in the face. This chaotic, disorderly fog that infected and twisted everything came out and immediately started disrupting the Aijieka Particles in the surrounding air. Magic Power became difficult to manipte; consciousness slowly sank into oblivion. The rocks, the puddled water, everything underwent varying degrees of distortion¡ªlike a picture cut into countless pieces, transforming into a messy and irregr mosaic with no order or pattern left. What is this...? Yang Che swayed as if the earth and sky were spinning, and the Light Saber in his hand dimmed, losing its Magic Power supply. Suddenly, his body jolted, gaining a bit of rity, and he rapidly retreated several steps to slightly ease his difort. However, the gray fog in the cave had already started to spread everywhere. Some of the dead flesh monsters on the ground even began to convulse, taking on strange mutations as chaotic organs and eyeballs appeared over their bodies. The sight before him reminded Yang Che of an important chapter from the historical education every Federal citizen, indeed all of humanity''s descendants, should know. This was the cmity that destroyed human civilization at the end of the Twilight Era¡ªthe Chaos Phantom!!! But wasn''t this disasterpletely eradicated by the sages of times past during the Fourth Epoch? How could it still exist? Unable to imagine the terrifying impact of this horror reemerging, Yang Che could no longer focus on pursuing the fleeing phantom. Instead, his only thought was to report back to his superiors as soon as possible; this mission was definitely not going to end well. In the darkness, the culprit causing the chaos was still fleeing. As he ran clumsily through the water, he cursed incessantly. "If it weren''t for you bastards, I wouldn''t have had to expose what was found in these ancient relics; although it is the cmity that destroyed ancient civilizations, it is also the handle that pries open the door to Transcendence. With this special existence, advancing bes effortless. I just can''t understand why the ancients didn''t take proper advantage of these things." "No, that''s not right! The humans back then surely utilized it, or how else could there have been so many Sequence 9 beings in the Fourth Epoch, while now Sequence 8 is incredibly rare?" "The technology and secret techniques didn''t get lost, otherwise, how could the continuing regression of civilization be exined?" he muttered, cursing the shortsightedness of the ancients for exterminating these ''treasures'' that could elevate Transcendent power, all for the sake of so-called peace. "Life is not precious; it''s like rats that can be bred at any time. Even if this disaster causes massive death, it''s a trivial matterpared to the greatness of continuously advancing and approaching godliness." As he fled, he searched for the location of an underground river. With the help of the subterranean river, he could escape from the jurisdiction of Payin City. Then, byying low, he could find a new ce to continue his research after a few years. However, as he trudged through the water, the remaining Crystal Stone dust on his clothes began to emit a blue glow, bing more lively and flickering like the gloomy blue flowers and nts blossoming beneath the earth. Suddenly, the pale blue light dots danced in the air, slowly transitioning to purple and congregating to form a rift. The rift tore open, and a slender figure with ck hair slowly descended. d in a ck, finely made dress, her slender legs were sheathed in ck stockings decorated with golden threads, flowing with the glow of Magic Power. The upper body was draped with a ck silk off-the-shoulder shawl, exposing her wless corbone, while on her cor was pinned a purple flower that looked incredibly real, bursting with gorgeous bloom, with a purple gemstone at the heart of the flower bud, continually drawing in flickering dots of Magic Power. With a ck-and-purple rimmed parasol in hand, this dreamlike girl gently descended. Adjusting to the Magic Attire, Tn quietly hovered mid-air, looking down at the phantom below. Although she indeed returned to her home, it didn''t mean she lost the ability to return underground. Inheriting her sister''s Talent for space, she could already perform short-distance spatial shifts, and the Crystal Stone she gave to Qiao Long served as a coordinate marker. In fact, she didn''t initially n to return, only wishing to use the Crystal Stone to sense the progression of events. However, the turn of events went beyond her expectations to the point where she was forced to intervene. Chapter 84: Chapter 44 Ancient Calamity_3 When human civilization first reached its glorious zenith, it encountered the magical tidal changes of the Aijieka Sea, which instantly damaged the three crowns that supported human civilization, leading to the collective death of the Transcenders in the Aijieka Sea. The trillions of dead human soul remnantster gave birth to a virus that pervaded and distorted the world, known as the Chaos Phantom. In order to avoid this catastrophe that swept across the Milky Way, the survivors at the time had to flee and hide, until tens of thousands of yearster, they slowly rose again, re-entering this starry sea world. ording to the Eternity Covenant of human sages and Loranshia, this disaster should have been annihted from the conceptual level of universalws, so how could it appear again? Tn couldn''t figure it out, but she thought it best to stop this arch viin regardless, for its actions had already threatened the world she lived in. "Who are you!?" The shadow below looked up at the girl who suddenly descended. She appeared to be about 16 years old, not yet mature, but her special abilities, as well as her luxurious Magic Attire, made him cautious in his response. Tn didn''t speak. She didn''t want to waste too many words, which might give her opponent an opening to exploit. With a simple lift of her hand, several Azure Crystals emitting a chill emerged behind her and then, with a sweep of her hand, shot out like swords. The shadow shattered an azure crystal with his remaining arm, but soon several other crystals prated his body and the surrounding puddles. The prating power of the crystals wasn''t strong, but the cold they brought was bone-chilling. The water at his feet instantly condensed, trapping his legs so that he could no longer pull free. Then, he lost all feeling in his lower body, and his chest gradually became enveloped in coldness. Strands of cold flowed from all directions towards his pulsating heart, and intense pain yanked at him from his chest. Using hisst bit of strength, he again twisted a cylinder open, and smoke-like Chaos Phantom spilled out once more. This pervasive distortion contaminated everything, confusing the consciousness of all nearby living beings and shattering memories. So, this is the Chaos Phantom, she thought; it was previously just a perception, but now she was in close contact. Tn looked at the swirling mist before her. Although textbooks and history books described the horror of this disaster at length, she felt no danger, as if the air had just be slightly cooler. Strange, why do I feel this thing is no threat? Could it be causing me to have an illusion? Tn swung her umbre and blinked hundreds of meters away, observing from a distance once more, but still, just like before, nothing was amiss. Odd, the girl thought, closing her eyes to sense her body and Soul Consciousness in detail, checking every corner thoroughly several times for any distortion or concealment before reopening her eyes. It seems there truly is no threat. She cocked her head, approached again, and lightly raised her hand. The pervasive Chaos Phantom began to gather and then condensed into a smoke-grey crystal, which fell into her clear palm. Is that all there is to it? she thought to herself. After a few seconds, she decided it was better not to keep such a thing on her person. She ced the smoke-grey crystal back into the cylinder and sealed it again. By this time, the shadow in the water had stopped breathing, turned into a stiff statue. Tossing the cylinder onto the statue, Tn took another careful look and sensed the surroundings. Seeing that no one had followed her down, she began to set up. Soon after the setup wasplete, her figure disappeared again into a purple rift. About 30 minutester, hurried footsteps echoed underground. toon after toon of fully armed soldiers entered the waterlogged cave, and Autonomous Hover Machines flitted about, illuminating everything brightly, like daylight. Scanners also roamed, extending their waves in all directions and continuously reporting information about the surroundings. [A-141 reports no other life forms in the vicinity] [C-U25 scanplete, underground topography emerging] [Weak distortional remnants in the environment, simr to the historical data archives] [Traces of magic power in the air, analyzing... It''s Tidal Sequence magic power, consistent with the target] [Target is confirmed dead, cause of death scan analysis ongoing... determined as drowning due to loss of consciousness] [Soul Shard search in progress... Soul remnants detected but twisted and contaminated, extraction not feasible] [Searching for key items...] Minutester, two special cylinders were retrieved from the side of the corpse and ced in a nearby sealing box. "Reporting! Searchplete, key targets and items have been captured and retrieved; the site will now be sealed off." This underground cavern wasprehensively sealed off afterward, and this chaos finally came to an end. Chapter 85: Chapter 45: The Development of Elves A new day, Hexia was still dressed in her ck and white maid outfit, bustling about the teahouse. Now,pared to her initial greenness and confusion, she couldpetentlyplete some tasks. After the midday rush ended, the bar where she worked quieted down, and it was also time for her rest period. "I''m going to take a break now, Sister ''Seere''," the girl said to the maid still earnestly mixing tea beverages behind the counter. ''Seere'': Ranked 70th among King Solomon''s 72 Demon Gods, with the title of Distinguished Prince, hemands 26 legions and is under the dominion of the King of The East. His true form is that of a handsome man riding a winged steed. She knew that if ''Seere,'' the senior before her, was immersed in blending tea drinks, she might have to wait half an hour before she got a reaction unless she spoke up first. "Oh, ''Dantalion'' is back, huh? Sorry, I didn''t notice earlier. Yeah, you go take a rest. I can handle things from here." The maid appeared to be in her twenties, with thick ck hair that fell just past her shoulders and leaf-shaped hairpins by her ears. Her ck and white maid uniform was ented with green trim, adding a soft touch to her style. The bar specialized in tea drinks and snacks, and ''Seere'' herself was skilled at blending many kinds of Eastern teas. Frommon green tea, ck tea, and floral tea to dark tea and even herbal tea; to pair with these, she also made cookies and other snacks, mainly for female customers to enjoy during gatherings. Hexia had been following her around these past few days, mainly assisting with preparing ingredients and making cookies and other snacks. "By the way, ''Dantalion''," the other called out to Hexia just as she was about to leave. "Take this with you. You probably won''t get to have a proper lunch again, so have some cookies." She handed over a dainty paper box filled with freshly made homemade cookies. T4 level ''Red Berry Cookies'' (Excellent), made with special King strawberries, cranberry jam, and Dawn flour. They were satisfying and could replenish some nutrients. Their greatest advantage was their mildness and non-irritation, relieving anxiety, with trace amounts of Tranquil Transcendent Core, suitable for all sorts of people in various situations. (Favored by those who didn''t want to gain weight, had aversions to food, or picky eaters) "This..." Hexia hesitated slightly. Although they asionally used the food and drink from the teahouse, those were generally T5 grade ingredients. T4 level items were not treated so casually, just like the meals ''Vurowus'' had previously offered her, the cost of the raw materials was deducted from her own bonus. "It''s fine. This is considered necessary wastage, usually handled by us," ''Seere'' reassured her with a smile, pressing the box into Hexia''s hands upon seeing her hesitation. "Every day I make about 30 servings of sweets and cookies, and nearly 1-2 servings of them won''t be served to customers due to not being outstanding enough; they are usually dealt with in-house." "Can''t they be sold at a discount?" The girl was curious. Although ''Seere'' said the quality was not exceptional, that was onlypared to her usual standards. Outside, a box of these cookies could easily sell for several hundred Federation Coins. "No, they can''t be. Whether you eat them or not, they can''t be sold at a discount. They are either given to other maids as a benefit or thrown in the trash," ''Seere'' recollected the manager''s instructions. "The manager said that selling them at a discount would lower the prestige of the teahouse, giving off an impression of being poor and stingy. The reason we can maintain such high markups is by creating a good atmosphere and reputation, something that selling at a discount wouldn''tpensate for." "I see¡­" Hexia epted the small box of cookies, bowed her head in thanks, then waved and bid ''Seere'' farewell. As she watched the young girl walk away, ''Seere'' mused to herself. "Dantalion has been in the shop for almost a month now, so it should be time for her to start her own bar." In the vine-d flower room of the afternoon, Hexia continued the violin practice from before, but today was still about getting familiar with ying the violin, and she had to learn many of the details and nuances on the music sheet from Andusia. As time slowly passed by, ''Andusia'' asionally took over the violin to demonstrate for Hexia. Unlike her usual calm and mature image, once holding the violin, ''Andusia'' resembled an upwards gazing swan, radiating a sudden, luminous beauty, as if standing in an opera house under the gaze of thousands, performing as a renowned musician. Watching ''Andusia'' immersed in the music, Hexia forgot to learn the techniques and rhythms she was supposed to, and it wasn''t until ''Andusia'' finished ying that she snapped back to reality. Seeing the girl''s dazed expression, Andusia found it a bit cute and amusing, so she had to demonstrate slowly once more. However, this time it wasn''t as fluent as before; she made sure the girl could clearly see each step before moving on to the next one. "I haven''t yed the violin like this in a long time; I couldn''t help myself today." At the end of the lunch break, Hexia put away the violin and chatted with ''Andusia''. "Was ''Andusia'' once a professional violinist?" "I did perform professionally for a while, but I spent more time ying the cello; that was about 20 years ago." Andusia reminisced. "Wait, 20 years ago?" The girl''s eyes widened. "Yes, didn''t Belfeng tell you? I am an elf." She slightly lifted her golden hair near her ear, revealing her slender ears. "Elves have a different lifespan from humans, about three times that of humans. Right now, I''m equivalent to a 27-year-old human." "You really are an elder sister¡­" Hexia mused about Andusia''s age, but as if the other party sensed it, Andusia nced at her and then tapped the girl''s head. "Don''t apply human standards to me; I am still quite young." "Okay, ''Andusia'' elder sister." The girl apologized for her earlier impolite thoughts and then curiously asked ''Andusia'' about many things concerning elves. "There are very few elves in Jade Skirt now; where did most of them go?" "Most moved to the Central Star Domain, and some who prefer tranquility went to pioneer remote star domains." The elf with golden hair reminisced. "My great-great-grandfather was one of the first toe to Jade Skirt for terraforming. Back then, they used purple-red microorganisms to absorb and purify the sulfides that pervaded the. After that, they started to spread and cultivate various algae, until the oceans slowly turned aquamarine." "The abundant oxygen oxidized many reactive substances on the, and over time, an ozoneyer formed. After that, it was time for the seeding of nts, which didn''t go smoothly at first, since the surface was mostly rocky. Later, the rocks were gradually corroded by vegetation, creating the first soil." "By the time my great-great-grandfather finished this project, his life was more than half over, having spent about 180 years. But in the end, he was happy, for he witnessed the birth of a green with his own eyes. Lastly, he and his colleagues named the ''Jade Skirt,'' as its nted continental forests and meadows were beautifully skirt-like and staggered inyers." Perhaps only elves would have the patience and perseverance to transform a barren, as the short lifespan of humans makes it difficult for them to settle down and persist with certain things. Even in today''s Federation, the terraforming of some remotes is still led by elves, which is no wonder their numbers are few but their influence within the Federation has always been significant. Chapter 86: Chapter 46: Aftermath Influence Time flew by, and it was soon afternoon. After preparing some tea and cookies for ''Seere,'' Hexia found herself with a bit of free time and returned to the jungle room where ''Botis'' resided. Today''s ''Botis'' was squatting by a pool, teasing a bright blue poison dart frog with a ss tube, and observing it closely. "I feel like something''s missing¡ªcould it be the pigment? But that''s not what the records say," she pondered, her emerald wavy hair tilting slightly. As Hexia entered, she took great care not to step on any clumsy creatures or get entangled by them, finally reaching the edge of the pool after a little while. "Botis Senior~" "Ah, it''s Dantalion. You''vee," Botis put down the poison dart frog, then pulled the girl to sit down. "Did you sleep wellst night? There was a big incident in Payin City." "An incident?" The girl blinked her eyes, trying to look as surprised as possible. "Beneath the underground, some idents urred, and the uncontrolled ones from before were caused by someone. Luckily, the culprit was caught this time." "That''s good," the girl nodded. "But Payin City has imposed a lockdown, and I''m afraid it''s impossible to enter or leave for a short time," Botis said, sounding somewhat disappointed. Sincest night, all passages to the outside of Payin City had beenpletely sealed¡ªwhether the Skylight''s airships, ground roads, or underground rail tunnels. Aprehensive investigation was said to be underway, and the city would only reopen after assurance of safety, a process that might take a month. "I had been hoping to introduce you to a teacher, but it seems that won''t be possible in the short term." "She''s very good with singing and would suit your personality. My own style was mainly passionate rock which suited Prin well, but if you were to learn from me, it might not be as fitting." Although Botis was a former Songstress, she was aware of her limitations. Enjoy exclusive chapters from m-v l''e|-NovelBin After thanking Botis again, Hexia cleared a clean spot and sat down next to her. "Were you training that poison dart frog just now, Sister Botis?" "Ah, that''s not exactly it. I was actually trying to think of a way to evolve that frog into a Sequence 4 ''Golden Poison Dart Frog''. That variant is rare and produces a special product used to make ''Golden Poison''." "''Golden Poison'' is harmless to animals, but if it''s injected into nts, like flowers, it can preserve them forever, maintaining their vibrant bloom. Some expensive garments are embellished with this kind of ''Eternal Golden Flower'' and they fetch a pretty high price." "Some ancient Elf families within the Federation know the secret technique to create ''Golden Poison,'' but they''ve never shared it publicly, so we can only make a bit of money from the raw materials." "Is this evolution difficult?" The girl asked curiously. "It''s not that hard. Out of every 2,000 Sequence 3 poison dart frogs, one can evolve into a ''Golden Poison Dart Frog,'' but no one knows which one it will be." Botis took out a card from her pocket, inserted it into the nearby monitor, and soon images and textual data were projected in the air. Looking at the projection of the evolved golden poison dart frog, the girl seemed contemtive. Gold, huh... After feeding all the poisonous creatures in the jungle with Botis, Hexia leaned on a bench nearby and dozed off. Too many things had happened the day before, and she hadn''t slept much to begin with; the fatigue from using her Talent Abilitypounded and she sumbed to sleep almost instantly upon resting on the chair. Once finished with the creatures in the jungle, Botis was nning on talking to Hexia about some matters rted to the Songstress career, but seeing her sleeping so soundly, she didn''t have the heart to wake her. What an adorable child. Botis gently touched Hexia''s cheek with her hand, noticing its softness, then sat across from her and reminisced about some things. It had been several years since she left the Songstress and performance scene, and she thought she would never touch those things again, but unexpectedly, after meeting Hexia, she found herself busy again, even reaching out to the most aplished Songstress friend she knew from before. Was it an unexpected act of kindness, or was it because of some past regrets and unwillingness to let go, she wondered. She looked up at the simted sky above the lush green canopy, where a vast expanse of blue stretched out, dotted with a few white clouds passing by. Prin Coco''s style was very much like hers back in the day, both so passionate and vibrant, like a fire raging, but she had been even more rebellious back then, looking down on anyone who lived by the rules, always feeling that such people were too timid, holding back, afraid to release the wildness in their hearts. But now, thinking back, she felt it was a bit childish and extreme, as she shook her head slightly. A moment of passion is indeed touching, but to progress for the long term, one needs steadfastness and flexibility; otherwise, once the fire burns out, all that''s left is ruins and emptiness. In this aspect, Dantalion was much better than her, with a personality neither arrogant nor impatient, delicate yet strong; however, sometimes one can''t help but feel pity for her, as obedient children often have had a hard time in their younger years, while those who are spoiled tend to be more mboyant. It had been a long time since she had seen such a lovable and good child; no wonder everyone liked her so much. Thinking about Hexia''s matters, Botis was filled with emotions, perhaps this was fate''s coincidence. After she had given up on this path herself, fate had brought a junior with even greater talent to fulfill the regrets in her heart. After a while, she stood up and thought about the development n for this junior, feeling a few ns forming in her mind. First of all, she needed to build up her confidence, although a shy ''Dantalion'' was quite cute as it was. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After work, Hexia walked back to her residence with a light step, feeling a faint sense of satisfaction and happiness after a busy yet fulfilling day; now, even if she went back and yed games all night, she would feel at ease. But she wouldn''t be ying today, as she needed to get some good rest because in three days she had to take part in the retest at Yuanting Academy. Wait a second, to take the retest she had to leave Payin City for the Northern First District, but right now Payin City was still under lockdown... Her steps suddenly slowed down; she couldn''t be that unlucky, could she? After rushing home, she began to check the local student forum to see what everyone was discussing. Sure enough, as soon as she logged in, she saw many people talking about the lockdown. "I had nned a trip, but now I can''t go!" "It''s a once-in-a-lifetime graduation trip!!" "I''m more worried about the retest issue; they can''t just fail all the students in Payin City because of this, right?" "What exactly happened to necessitate a city lockdown, does the government realize how many people are losing out because of this?" "My family also asked around, but sadly they have no idea why, they only know it''s a high-level secret." ... In the bustling forum, not only students but also a few graduates and adults were discussing the matter, and Hexia even saw IDs of several familiar ssmates; they had been nning a trip to the south. In the noisy forum, all sorts of rumors flew around, with everyone wildly specting about the cause and process of the incident; some said it was because a dangerous person on the wanted list was spotted; others imed there was a leak in the underground industrial area, or there was some anomaly underground, or a special virus had been found. As each analysis was presented, some people even posted secretly taken photos and footage. This chaos continued until after 9 p.m., when a new public announcement put a stop to it. [All forums in the city are temporarily suspending posting; the resumption time will be announced separately.] [Students who need to participate in the retest may report to the police station with their notification information; after verification, they will be allowed to leave Payin City through a special channel.] With that, the chaotic situation was at least temporarily suppressed. Chapter 87: Chapter 47 Dream of Flowers At the top floor of Topstar Tower, within the Mayor''s office. Secretaries and public officials were busy dealing with various problems and impacts brought about by the city lockdown in a ck ss partition not far from the crowd, three people were having a conversation. "Mr. Mayor, the notice has been sent out," said the young secretary in a gray suit,ing to the side of a middle-aged man to report. "Mmm, let''s leave it at that for now," he nodded slightly, after which the secretary left the room, leaving only the middle-aged man who served as Mayor and anotherdy of distinction. "Lady Isabelle still has such a heart for the children, I''d almost forgotten this matter." "It is only that my attention is more focused in that regard, Mr. Mayor. You have too many things to worry about," the distinguisheddy said, picking up the coffee before her, blowing on it gently, then taking a small sip. "I am indeed a bit tired." Unlike his serious demeanor in front of others, the Mayor was quite rxed in front of thisdy, leaning back in his chair, his voice filled with exhaustion. "I thought it was just some rats causing trouble, but I didn''t expect to find biting sharks in the water below," he sighed. "It was also thanks to Prin holding her concert the other day; we had quite a military presence already, which prevented the situation from escting." "The issues with the Underworld have been umting for a long time, and sessive former mayors have put it off. I alsock the energy to focus on these, I thought maintaining the bnce like in the past would be enough, but now it seems it won''t do." "We don''t know how manybs and bases that dangerous fellow has hidden underground, maybe all have been discovered, or perhaps there are still some that slipped through. But we can''t risk gambling on that." "Therefore, cleaning up the entire Underworld is imperative." "Relying solely on the city''s police and armed forces won''t be enough, we''ll have to ask for additional forces from higher-ups, I expect it will be quite an expense," he said, rubbing his forehead. "We should think positively, if it weren''t for this early discovery, by the time the situation became serious, I''m afraid neither of us would be sitting here," thedy shook her head. "That''s true," he sighed, then sat up. "Lady Isabelle, you still know how tofort people as in the past. When I first met you, I was just a clueless college student." He was human, while she was a hybrid of Elves and humans, with a much longer lifespan. He then talked about some past events, during his studies in the Central Star Domain, he had seen Lady Isabelle as a guest speaker at the academy. "You probably didn''t recognize me then, after all, there were too many students present." "Xuanxinzi Academy, it truly is a distant memory," thedy reminisced. Before secluding herself here, she had been a high-rankingmittee member of the Federal Artists Association and an honorary professor at many prestigious schools. Even now, no longer holding a practical position, she still had significant influence in the educational and performing arts circles. Although she had Elf blood and came from a distinguished family in the Central Star Domain, because she was a half-blood and did not get along with many pure-blood Elf rtives, she chose to seclude herself and moved to a remote ce to live. She came to Payin City because an elder in her family had named the city, signifying "the musical chapter of steel striking," full of poetic resonance and fate, and with her status, wherever she went would not be too bad. ''Dream of zed ss'' was a venue she invested in and managed with a few local acquaintances, as a ce for her to frequent and pass the time, after all, even the best scenery feelscking without someone to appreciate it with. It was also because of her presence in the city that former songstresses and performers like ''Botis'' and ''Andusia'' came to work in this establishment after retiring from the performing arts scene, and as for ''Vurowus'', he was a younger rtive of a friend who chose self-exile to avoid participating inplicated family politics, so he was introduced to live here. The two chatted for a while longer, talking about the memories of the past and a few junior songstresses of today. "Ynduoja taught Prin for a while, and their styles are quite simr, butpared to ''Green Serpent'' Ynduoja, ''me Sugar'' Prin Coco is much more endearing to the public." "However, Ynduoja has recently discovered a promising new talent; her luck has always been good." "A promising new talent? A new songstress?" Hearing this, the mayor became interested. "It can''t be hidden from you for long, that''s right, a young songstress, only 16 years old, named Hexia Tn, currently working at ''Dream of zed ss''." "That is indeed a pleasant surprise," the mayor pondered, stroking his chin, thinking about how to leverage this songstress to promote and create momentum for his city. "You better put those thoughts aside for now, that kid is still young, not ready for public exposure yet; otherwise, it could disrupt her growth trajectory," thedy advised, shaking her head. "Very well, if Lady Isabelle says so." The mayor thought of waiting for the songstress to mature, which would probably take several years, and by then, whether he would still be in office was uncertain, so his interest waned. "It''s always good news, though; if she achieves great sess in the future, even the Governor of the Star Domain will have to heed her advice, and the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain could regain some vitality and vigor." The mayor quietly pondered, asionally tapping his fingertips on the table. "We should protect her for now, by the way, where does she live?" "It''s said to be in the lower residential area." "How can that be? It''s too dangerous there." After the recent incident, the mayor had be quite distrustful of the loweryers. "Don''t rashly disrupt someone else''s life trajectory," Lady Isabelle said helplessly, shaking her head. "Besides, she''ll be going to high school soon, so she won''t be staying in the loweryers much longer." "Since she managed to struggle and flourish from that darkness before, she won''t be trapped there in the future. We elders should just silently appreciate her. Hurrying along is not a good thing; I''ve seen too many talented individuals, who because of their early recklessness and arrogance, ruined their future and couldn''t continue in the arts," she added. "Providing her with a fair and stable tform is enough; she will make her way up step by step," thedy stirred her coffee slowly. "You truly are Lady Isabelle, having nurtured several Moon Level songstresses. Ynduoja should have listened more to your teachings back then; that child is also a regret of our Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain," the mayor said, slightly shaking his head. "As for her, even though she quit performing, she must be quite happy with her life now. There are more paths in life than one might expect, don''t be too quick to judge," Lady Isabelle exined. "Just like me, my sisters at home all advised me to stay in the Central Star Domain, but in the end, I grew tired of it. Actually, since moving far away, my rtionship with my sisters has improved. Now, I can take a superluminal spaceship to visit them several times a year; not like before when we didn''t quite suit each other." Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelBin "Let''s end our conversation here for today. Mayor, you probably have a lot on your te, so I won''t keep you," she said. Afterward, the distinguisheddy exited the top-floor office and stepped into the adjacent vertical elevator, overlooking the night view of this underground city. "Although itcks the splendor and glitter of the Central Star Domain, the echo of steely resolve here in the darkness, like a giant beast moving slowly, perhaps this kind of industrial city is indeed the backbone of the Federation," she mused. "Golden me Flower, Isenisha, the wish you left behind has bloomed in many Star Domains across the starry sea. We, the Elves, will also follow your will, turning each barren, iron-gray into one covered with forests and grasnds, where a myriad of flowers bloom." She pressed her hand to her chest, where a golden Rose ring on her knuckle shone brightly in the darkness, as if it were a real flower. Chapter 88: Chapter 48 Glazed Light Spots After Payin City entered into lockdown status, many underground factories had to pause operations temporarily. Somepanies also simply gave their employees time off in order to save on wages, making the residential areas livelier than usual. In the garden square bathed in light, some residents gathered together, some chatting, others ying ball sports to get a bit of exercise, and still others stayed at home, enjoying the rare respite. In Hexia''s bedroom, the soothing sound of waves asionally rose up, the ceiling reflecting waves of varying shades of blue, while the girl in the bed was still deep in sleep, showing no intention of waking up. As you could see, this girl slept inte, and she hadn''t gotten out of bed even as it neared noon. ck is a special color, hard to describe urately with just two characters. There''s the reflective ck of a leather sofa, the enamel-like ck of a hover car exterior, the fine matte ck, the high quality fabric that''s textured and not at all thin, and the ck of a girl''s hair through the residual light of the morning. A few strands of hair fell across the fair corbone peeking out of the pajamas, in stark contrast to her fair skin, harmonious yet with a touch ofnguor and softness, immersing one in the delicate beauty. Such a scene was like ''Canon'' in music, difficult to remember because it''s too in, too gentle, toofortable, without any astounding legend or turnaround. But if everyone were like ''Canon,'' how happy and sweet that would be. Time flowed gently until the girl''s eyshes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. Propping herself up on the pillow, her shoulder-length hair falling, Hexia shook her head and rubbed her eyes to wake up. She groped around the nket for a moment, grabbed the square personal terminal, then sat up and slid the screen open. [12:32 PM] Ah, it''s already noon, the girl thought, a bit panicked, as she stood up from the bed, her toes brushing across the starry-blue nket, then lightly hopped into slippers by the bed. She slipped them on quickly and walked brisker to the adjoining bathroom to wash up. The sound of running water, a quick wash of the face, and Hexia returned to the bedroom to change into the clothes she intended to wear out today. Then she thudded down the stairs. In the living room on the first floor, Lisha was watching a projection program with Grandma He, which was ying a popr children''sedy. "Tn''s awake." "Hexia sister~" Lisha said happily upon seeing the girl. "Are you going out?" Grandma He inquired, noticing the girl''s hurried appearance. "Yeah, I need to take care of some paperwork at the police station, then I''m off to the Northern First District tomorrow for a retest," the girl outlined her ns for today and tomorrow. "Be careful on the road." "Yeah yeah, thank you, Grandma." After changing her shoes, Hexia stamped her feet and walked out of the house. Crossing the bustling streets of the residential area, she stopped at a supermarket to buy a box of cookies for a makeshift lunch, then entered a nearby vertical elevator heading for Payin City''s Upper District. Inside the dark red, rust-proof painted steel elevator, there stood quite a few people. There was still ample space, so it wasn''t crowded. "Hey, Hexia~ you''re going to the police station for paperwork today too, right?" A girl around the same age as Hexia approached, wearing a pink id shirt and a white skirt. "Yes, Cindy, are you also going today?" This Cindy had been Hexia''s elementary school ssmate, but they went to different middle schools and had not seen much of each other over the years. They had been close friends as children due to living near each other, often walking home from school together. "I am." She nodded slightly, giving Hexia a brief once-over. Feeling a bit embarrassed being scrutinized, Hexia turned her head before asking, "Is there something strange?" "No, just that you seem to have changed quite a bit," she said with a wink at the girl. "Where have I changed?" As they chatted, the elevator reached their floor, and they walked together toward the police station. "How to describe it... It''s like the bud has blossomed. Hexia has be much prettier, as if the charm that was hidden before is now gradually being revealed," she said, thoughtfully tapping her chin. "Not really," the girl recalled looking at herself in the mirror usually and seemed not to have changed much. "Ah well, you probably can''t feel it yourself. It''s more obvious to others. If you don''t believe it, you could ask Lin''en and the others toe and give their opinion." Lin''en was also a former elementary school ssmate who used to live nearby and hadter moved to the Upper District, but they would still contact and talk in the chat group asionally. "You''ll know when you ask everyone at the next gathering. By the way, speaking of gatherings, you''ve missed quite a few, Hexia, and everyone misses you." "You used to be the vice ss president, and everyone in ss liked you too." "Speaking of vice ss president, it was just because the teacher thought I had good grades and entrusted me with the role. I really didn''t know much, and it was just elementary school anyway, kind of like ying house, not so important." The girl shook her head, and her hair swayed softly. "Hehehe, Hexia is still so shy," Cindyughed, covering her mouth. "You really don''t need to worry; it''s not like anyone''s going to eat you. They''ll probably just tease you a bit. Besides, after we graduate from junior high this time, we''re all going to different high schools, and we might see each other less in the future." "Don''t leave any regrets." "Don''t leave regrets, huh." The girl pondered. Readtest stories on m_v-l''e|-NovelBin "Alright then, let me know when you''re ready to have the gathering." "Let me think, the gatherings are usually organized by Yilin and Nokai. There will definitely be one this holiday, probably around mid-June." "That''s half a month away." "Alright, it''s settled then. You''re not allowed to skip this time, Hexia." "Okay, okay, I won''t run away anymore," the girl nodded slightly. After finishing, the two entered the bustling police station and, like many other students, lined up to handle their paperwork. After a long wait in line, it was finally their turn, and now it was time to fill out the school information and go through verification. "Where is Hexia nning to go?" "I''m going to Irene Academy... and I also have to go to another academy for a retest." "Applied to two schools?" Cindy wasn''t surprised; she was filling out her own information form as well. "The school I''m going to is Hua Liuli Academy in the Northern Seventh District. This school''s ss art is quite unique; it''s like myst bit of stubbornness." Thepetition for high-end art schools is fierce, but the ss industry is somewhat niche and singr, so it''s not as cutthroat. "I wonder if I''ll starve on the streets in the future; I heard that artists are very poor." Cindy shook her head but still wrote down that name. "If life gets hardter on, I''ll just have to rely on Hexia for help. You should be a famous doctor, I believe that." She submitted her paperwork. Although the girl always hid in the corner, her ssmates from both elementary and junior high had never doubted that she would be a doctor in the future; her personality and good grades made this path inevitable and not too difficult. "Alright, all done with the paperwork, once it''s approved, we can head back," the two girls said, holding hands as they left the room and headed to the lobby to wait. Leaning against the grey chair back, the spacious lobby seemed a bit empty. Cindy bought slushies for herself and the girl, and they enjoyed them together, talking about many past events and recalling many happy moments before slowly bringing up the current situations of those ssmates. "Saul went to the North Fourth District with his parents, Mackey was suspended and held back a grade because of fighting, Yilin passed the academy''s retest early, and Nokai is preparing to apply to a military school. Everyone has grown up." "Yeah, we''ve all grown up," Hexia said, gently stirring the fruit slushie, the crushed ice sparkling under the simted sunshine above. Memories in the passage of time, like transparent ss, usually invisible to the eye, yet when gently turned, they refract sshes of colorful light. Chapter 89: Chapter 49: The City Among the Mountains The train roared across the grey-white Gobi, with a forceful wind under the zing sun high above. The endless wilderness inspired a boundless heroic spirit, which beckoned one''s heart to sing loudly out of the open window carriages, as white curtains danced and the whooshing sound of the wind pped against one''s chest. This was the special train heading to the Northern First District; within the carriages sat graduating students who were about to take part in the assessments and re-examinations of the many prestigious schools there, decisions that would determine their futures in life. Today, Hexia also sat among them, her hair lifted by the air currents, with sunlight streaming through it, fragmenting and shimmering like light glinting off water. Her pale pink nails appeared semi-transparent in the sunlight as she slowly caressed the identity and qualification badge, her gaze drifting towards the distant expanse outside the window, contemting this vast and deste world. There were quite a few Gobi deserts in the northern part of Jade Skirt, stretches of opennd with only a few desert nts scattered within. It was said that hundreds of years ago, this ce had also been covered with grasnds and forests, but all the vegetation was destroyed by acid rain. Without vegetation to anchor it, thend turned to desert year by year, until it became the hot and empty wastnd it is now. The train sped along, departing in the early morning and passing through the desert-like Northern Sixth District, then the rugged and mountainous Northern Fifth District, the t Northern Fourth District with sparse vegetation, the halfnd, halfke Northern Third District, and the Northern Second District filled with abandoned factories and rust, finally arriving in the midst of a huge and imposing canyon¡ªthis was the Northern First District, where high mountains and canyons coexisted, a dense city conglomeration, the central hub of the northern poption. Mountains nearly a kilometer high stabbed into the sky; their grey-white surfaces were rugged with numerous ravines, typical cial topography. Lower down the mountain sides, mid-slopes were covered with verdant coniferous forests, a mix of yellow and green hues. Looking further down, even greener and tender grasnds started to appear. The colossal mountains surrounding the canyon protected it from the corrosive acid rain, preserving the world inside. Leaning against the grandeur of the mountain walls, cities sprawled among them, overlooking this magnificent world through the mist. About one third of the entire Northern Hemisphere''s poption was concentrated in the Northern First District, one of the few regions with a pleasant climate in the hemisphere. After stepping off the train, Hexia stood in the spacious square at the foot of the mountains and couldn''t help but look up at the towering peaks before her. The tips were steep, giving the impression that they might copse at any moment and inspire a sense of terror that made you want to flee from the shadows of the huge mountains. Between the two giant mountains, sunlight poured through the gap, and hover cars flew between them, with rail tracks wrapping around the mid-slopes¡ªnumerous transport trains traveled the tracks, constant roaring and liveliness resounded. In the sky, massive white airships ascended and descended from time to time, asionally shading the entire swath of blue overhead. Somended on the far side of a distant mountain, while others followed the open Gobi outside the canyon heading toward the setting sun, turning into tiny ck dots. Walking between these majestic mountains, one''s mood seemed to expand, no longer desiring to return to the gloomy and stifling underground metropolis. No wonder ssmates all wanted toe to the Northern First District to study and live, the girl couldn''t help but think the same. And this was just the Northern First District. It was said that the Southern First District of the Southern Hemisphere was even more prosperous and beautiful, unimaginable to many. Following the directions on her personal terminal, Hexia crossed the huge Cross Square, heading for the steps on one side. The steps were reminiscent of the entrance to an ancient amphitheater, about the hundreds of meters wide with densempposts along the way. Only after several turns uphill did she reach arge observation deck mid-slope. Standing there, one could overlook the vast Cross Square below, where people appeared norger than ants or sesame seeds. In the space between, sightseeing hover cars asionally flew past. [Continue straight in the direction of 2 o''clock for 620 meters, and you''ll see the stop for Line 8192. Take that hover car for 49 stations and get off at Wolf Poison Peak Station...] Following the instructions, Hexia ascended the steps and soon beheld the red station nestled amongst the mountain slopes, with its red ze-like smooth exterior walls, dark golden translucent metal corridors and windows. Upon entering the station, you would simply step on the square floating floor panels and hold onto the handlebars to be taken to your desired destination. Having reached the boarding point, the girl stepped off the square tform and joined the many people standing together in patient wait. There were also many students from out of town, who, to judge from their appearance, seemed to be here for the retest as well. "I wonder if I can pass, I''ve been training hard for half a year for this," a short-haired boy said as he shadowboxed hesitantly, d in a loose white martial arts uniform with bandages bound around his wrists, though they seemed more for show. "The academy I''m aiming for is the only witchcraft academy within Jade Skirt. In the month of March, under the stars, nxiluka, Mn Hua, may the sages among the stars bear witness for me. I will embark on the path once trod by ancient witches and achieve a great destiny across the starry tracks," a girl with a ck witch hat whispered as she prayed with closed eyes, her right hand clutching a mysterious golden pendant while her left hand waved gently in the air, pale blue trails emerging to form intricate badge symbols. "You two, if we hadn''t known each other since we were little, I really wouldn''t want to be seen with you," the only ''normal'' girl among the three retorted, pushing up her sses on the bridge of her nose and stepping back to distance herself from the other two. "Come on, Tao Hui, stop hiding. We made a pact when we were children to be legends together," the girl with the wizard hat said as she caught herpanion''s hand and looped it around her waist, then ''kidnapped'' the long-braided girl to head towards the mountain train together. "Let''s go! Our goal this time is victory!" "Whoa!" What a beautiful and vibrant scene, the girl thought, stepping lightly onto the train. Compared to these energetic students, she felt as if she were not of the same age, her mindsetpletely different. Perhaps it was the harsh living environment of Payin City that forced people to abandon many illusions and focus onpetition andparison instead. In her junior high, ssmates either worried about their future school and jobs or were obsessed with making money and scheming against each other, causing her to lose some of her own fantasies as well. However, not everyone lived such a life. Like those three students just now, they were still chasing the romantic possibilities in life, sparking not resentment but a faint envy in others. The train started moving, rushing along the side of the mountain, speeding up from slow to fast. On the other side of the windowy the abyss and tall mountains, sky and valley. The train''s speed soon hit 500 KM per hour, twirling and undting through the mountains like some ancient amusement ride known as a ''roller coaster.'' Half an hourter, Hexia, slightly dizzy, got off the train. She now stood on a high mountain teau, as neatly cut in half as if a giant had sliced right through the mountain, spanning several hundred square kilometers and adorned with elegant white buildings interspersed with trees¡ª a picture of elegance. Is this Yuanting Academy? She looked up at the grand white archway, its intricate and beautiful script flowing through it, with delicate blue crystal irises entwining around the columns. Students, d in white uniforms with fine blue edging and sapphire bow ties at the cor, wereing and going, an enviable sight indeed. Pressing her hand to her chest to muster courage, Hexia entered the majestic school gate. It''s about to begin, Hexia. Come on, you can''t fall behind your sister. Chapter 90: Chapter 50 Retest Begins Having tidied her hair and dress, Hexia stepped into the grand archway, a colorless screen of light swept over her body, making her slightly surprised, then she continued forward. In the center of the academy''s main thoroughfare, signs had already been ced. The semicircr white signs were written with colorful lettering that listed notices and procedures, surrounded by pots of various flowers. [Students participating in the re-examination, please turn right and go straight to Star Heaven Hall, the building with the star symbol at the top.] [Most areas within the academy are not open to the public, we ask for the understanding of students attending the re-examination.] [For dining and resting, you can go to the Blue Porcin Mansion on the south side of Star Heaven Hall, arge hotel exclusively for visitors from outside the academy.] [If you get lost on campus, or need assistance, you can connect to the GI835 channel to ask.] ... Although the contents of the notice board were fragmented, they essentially covered allmon questions, which reassured Hexia considerably. The ground inside the campus was made of pure white assembled floorboards, using high-quality Bright Moon Stone. This type of stone was extremely easy to clean, and it was durable and shiny, making it very popr among the Federal Upper Echelon. On both sides of the road, flowers andwns could be seen everywhere. The hanging iris streetmps adorned the environment, and the campus was especially spacious. The distance from the school gate to Star Heaven Hall was about one kilometer, and the main thoroughfare could amodate eight hover cars side by side with room to spare. Walking past seas of flowers and dense tree shades, atst, Hexia arrived in front of Star Heaven Hall. This tall white building was exceptionally grand, resembling a giant''s abode, nked by white knight statues at its entrance. The knights held shields in one hand and long halberds in the other, standing opposite each other. People walking by them were not even as tall as their feet and could only look up at these tall, carved knight statues. Inside the vast hall, the floor wasid with deep blue tiles, resembling a starry sky. These clear, deep blue ss tiles twinkled with specks of silver light, with each tile bordered by brilliant golden seams. As one walked over them, it was like strolling through the Milky Way. Although the grand doors of the hall were already open, the students who came for the re-examination did not enter but stood under the enormous door, gazing at the splendid scenery inside. The walls of the several-dozen-meter-high dome were iid with colorful, light-transmissive ss that pieced together patterns, narrating the stories of heroes from ancient legends, and on the innermost wall of the hall were life-sized paintings. An angel with luxurious wings spread her arms, her eyes closed, dressed in a light blue gradient gown, with golden hair and seven dazzling morning stars above her head. The background beside her appeared like the dark expanse of space, with the glow of star dust twinkling faintly. It was said that this was an ancient angel painting handed down through the ages, but its real name was unknown, erged and reproduced in this hall by the founder of Yuanting Academy. The girl climbed the steps, and after half a minute, she finally stopped in front of the great door. Just as she wondered why the students here did not go in, a somewhat crisp voice rose in front of her. A girl wearing a special student uniform stood in front of the door, and behind her was a row ofpanions in white uniforms. These students from the academy stood in front of the door, temporarily preventing the other students present from entering. Seeing that the number of people had gathered, the girl in the red and ck uniform took a step forward, her golden-red eyes sweeping over the entire crowd. "Your re-examination journey will officially start from this Star Heaven Hall," she said. As she spoke, the silent hall echoed with the sounds of an orchestra, lending her words a magnificent resonance that instantly overwhelmed the various discussions and conversations in front of the giant door, and the scene quieted down at once. "As the student council president and valedictorian of this year''s Yuanting Academy, I sincerely offer you my support." She pressed her hand lightly to her chest, then closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. "Those of you who have received a notification from Yuanting Academy and made your way here, I believe that mere knowledge and theory are no longer your obstacles, and thepanions our academy seeks are not just that." "Every academy has its own style and characteristics, and what we at Yuanting value most is ''bonds'', that is, the trust and unity among lives that transcends material things." "I know it''s unrealistic to expect you all to get acquainted and form teams in such a short time, and right now you are still inpetition with each other, so¡ª" She paused slightly, then pped her hands. "Our academy has prepared partners in advance for all of you participating in the re-examination," she announced. As her words fell, the tall hall within released orbs of various colors from the dome above, levitating and drifting within the space, each containing a blurry little figure within. "Within these orbs lie Transcendent creatures of Sequence 2, which have already undergone preliminary training, understand simplemands, and hold favorable dispositions toward humans." "Pleasee forward one by one, ce your hand on this square tform, release your intentions, and thepanion suited for you will descend to be your temporary partner. They will be key to your sess in the re-examination." "Let''s begin now!" Having said this, she stepped aside, and the white-dpanions behind her divided into two rows, standing to the left and right of the gate, revealing the white stone tform ced at the main entrance of the hall. "Wow, interesting." Some students looked at the floating orbs inside the hall with keen interest. "Is this like a Divine Beasts showdown?" "It doesn''t seem that simple." "Trust, huh? Seems there''s some sense to it." "I don''t believe that simple trust is enough to pass; there''s probably a real test hidden within." The voices of various discussions came from around, and Hexia, with her keen perception, inadvertently heard them all. "Bonds and trust¡­" She pondered briefly. Although she knew what these words meant, it felt like things were not that simple. Take one step at a time, she followed the others and came forward one by one. "O''Conner, from the Northern Fifth District." A boy in ck briefly introduced himself, then stepped forward and ced his hand on the stone tform. Many symbols emerged on the stone tform, followed by a flow of radiance that spread from the ground into the hall, rippling like waves of water. A dark cyan, nearly ck orb then descended, drifting towards the boy. When itnded on the stone tform, the orb cracked open to reveal a slumbering young wolf-like beast within. Its fur was as ck as hardened spines, with scarce amounts of dark cyan distributed on its legs, forehead, and shoulders. When it awoke, it revealed dark red eyes. It first bared its teeth and looked around, then eyed the boy in front of it and rubbed against him slightly to express friendliness. "Are you my partner?" The boy''s words seemed to carry both joy and surprise; he picked it up and was then led to the other side of the hall by a white-d member. "Next student, please." Following him, a girl in a golden dress came forward, and after the same action and silent chanting, a metallic-colored sphere descended, revealing a golden scorpion within, armored with a tough exoskeleton. "Though it''s a bit ugly, the color is to my liking." The girl extended her hand, letting the scorpion climb up, then also walked to the side of the hall. "She''s quite bold, isn''t she? I wouldn''t dare to touch a scorpion if it were me," someone muttered quietly. "I hope what''s left for me is a cute little animal." The students went up one after another, and slowly, it was finally Hexia''s turn. "Hexia, from the Northern Seventh District." She spoke simply, then proceeded forward under everyone''s gaze. She covered the stone tform with her hand and then closed her eyes to listen quietly, her perception seeming to wind through the stone bs into the interior of the hall. Soon, a variety of lively, distinct lives emerged in her sea of consciousness, and she ''saw'' many different Transcendent creatures. Which one should she now choose? Unlike the passive choices of others, Hexia could almost establish connections with all the orbs, which left her mired in the difficulty of choice. Chapter 91: Chapter 51 Collaborative Assessment Gazing at the deep blue orb in her hand, the girl felt a hint of surprise but still epted it. During the previous selection and sensing process, she had no time to choose from hundreds of orbs one by one, so she had to rely on some intuition or simply a random chance dictated by fate to pick this particr orb. First, the rhythm and feeling conveyed by it made her rtivelyfortable, and second, the color of the orb was the deep blue she liked. However, when the orb shattered and revealed the transcendent creature inside, Hexia was somewhat surprised. Before her was a small snake with a rounded head and blue scales, about the length of the girl''s arm, covered with blue and white scales. If it had been before, Hexia would certainly have jumped away in fear, since snakes were kind of terrifying, but now having spent a long time in Botis''s jungle room, she had grown ustomed to them, and moreover, this particr one was a non-venomous type. She hoped it wouldn''t be too silly; thinking of those foolish and disobedient creatures in Botis''s ss Jungle brought a headache to Hexia. Reaching out to the blue and white snake, it flicked its tongue to sense the tip of the girl''s finger before slowly coiling up, allowing Hexia to grasp it in her hand and pick it up; the creature''s rounded head andck of venom nds¡ªupon a closer look¡ªwere quite endearing. "Hexia, pleasee with me," a member in a white uniform instructed, leading the girl to the side of the hall. "Wow, that girl just picked up the snake directly." "What I want to know is, do they actually put snakes among the transcendent creatures they prepare?" "What kind of snake is that? It looks pretty nice." As Hexia stepped into the spacious hall, the voices behind her gradually faded, and she came to the side of the great hall to register her identity and herpanion. Afterpleting the registration, Hexia exited through the side door of the Star Heaven Hall, and ording to the academy members she had just spoken with, students who had acquired a ''partner'' in the retest had one hour to familiarize themselves with their ''partner''. "This is food for this little guy; you can use it to familiarize yourself with him and do some basic training," she was told upon exiting the hall. After walking out of the hall, Hexia was handed a small paper bag and a folded piece of paper. "Thank you." Taking the bagbeled with snacks for serpent creatures, the girl unfolded the paper. The front part of the paper detailed some precautions for interacting with the ''partner'', followed by a list of pre-setmands such as ''follow'', ''attack'', ''defense'', ''stop'', ''dodge'', and so on. Each transcendent creature has its unique abilities, and how well they can be utilized depends on the strength of their respective ''bonds'' (skills). With the bag of snacks in hand, Hexia walked to a nearby garden and found a swing to sit down on, and then she took a closer look at the small snake coiled around her arm. Indigo Snake Variant Status: Healthy (Growth Stage) ssification: Primordial Sequence 2: sh Scale Snake (Superior Copper Grade) Talent: [Antitoxin Serum] (Superior): Has a certain resistance to various toxins, and even more resistance to snake venom. [Sunlight Snake] (Superior): Under the sunshine, its abilities are significantly enhanced. Abilities: [sh Scale] (Excellent): The scales emit light that can harm many creatures'' eyes and cause intimidation. [Heat Body] (Excellent): Can heat the scales on the surface of the body, causing the creatures it constricts to die of overheating. (The temperature is not enough to cause burning) Skills: [Strangtion Lv.3] [Intimidation Lv.2] [Sunbathing Lv.2] Evaluation: A low-rank but rare variant of the King Snake species, its body color closer to the bright blue of the sky. It is said that after advancing to high rank, it can even gain the ability to fly. Such a sunny snake,pletely different from its kin, Hexia felt the rhythm of the snake and,bining this with the data researched on Star Net, deduced the above details. Gently touching the little guy''s head with her hand, Hexia closed her eyes and slowly sensed the other''s emotions and consciousness. After advancing to Withering Sequence 3: Heart Listener, her previous sensory abilities had not only greatly improved but also eliminated many deficiencies. She had integrated her own Songstress''s talent into it, acquiring the ability to listen to the emotions and simple thoughts of other creatures. While she couldn''t read minds, she could easily detect lies, feel emotions and moods, and even perceive the rhythms of the other''s Transcendent Core, analyzing the abilities and branding patterns inscribed within it. "This little guy is still a bit shy," Hexia said as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at the snake''s head, which was raised and looking around. She gently stroked it, then took out a small piece of food and ced it in front of the snake''s head. The brown meat was touched by the tongue, then opened wide to slowly swallow it down. After eating a few pieces, the little guy coiled up as if it wanted to have a short nap. Considering that the data showed it was a Sunlight Snake that enjoyed the sun, Hexia moved it to her left wrist so that it could bask in the sunshine. Feeling the small snake''s breathing and blood flow, a strange sensation slowly surface in Hexia''s heart. It was her first time sensing another life''s activities so clearly, like listening to the symphony of life, unpretentious, yet so real. After a long while, the little snake woke up, raising its head and looking around as if searching for the presence it had dreamt of being close to, until it saw those pale blue eyes. The human and the snake gazed into each other''s eyes in this way. As if a circuit had been connected, Hexia could briefly feel everything the little snake was experiencing, such as the warmth of the sunshine on its scales, the softness of the fabric of the clothes, the body temperature of the girl in front of it, and observing her pupils and face... Chapter 92: Chapter 51 Collaborative Assessment_2 This state onlysted for a few seconds before it ended, and Hexia was also surprised as she reminisced and experienced it. Perhaps this is the essence of the Songstress Talent, Soul Resonance, truly empathizing in the literal sense, thereby breaking through the barriers between minds. Time slowly passed by, and in this warm garden, the swing asionally drifted up and fell back down, lifting long strands of hair and the hem of a dress. An hour of familiar rest time came to an end. After receiving a notification on her personal terminal, Hexia, along with the Indigo Snake, left the garden and headed to the assessment location; the position for the first phase had already been sent to her. This was an open meadow, but it had been briefly transformed into a venue for the second stage of trials,id out with various obstacles, including streams to be crossed, stakes to be jumped over, tunnels to be passed through, and spinning windmill des to be dodged, among others. "The first phase of the assessment is quite simple, you just need to get past it with yourpanions. During this time, you can only use vocalmands andmunication, you can''t directly carry your panion'' through, and how you get your panion'' to follow you and work together to unlock the mechanisms of the obstacle course depends on your rapport and connection." After the introduction, the student council member stepped aside from the passage behind him and let the students participating in the second stage enter one by one. "It''s a very simple process, and it falls within my expectations," some students began to discuss, everyone had anticipated this, and it was probably just the start of the warm-up. However, was it really that simple? Soon after the first student entered the field, a rigorous test presented itself. "Little ck, hurry!" the first student to get apanion was weaving through the various obstacles with a young wolf. At first, it went smoothly, but when it came to a part where constant dodging and jumping were required, the student focused on getting through and, when he reached a safe spot and looked back, the young wolf had already fallen into the water and drifted far away. Although he didn''t know what the consequences would be for not getting through with his panion,'' since the theme was ''bonding,'' such an urrence was definitely not allowed. The student had no choice but to jump into the water, swim towards hispanion, lift it out, and then the two of them started over from the beginning. With this student setting the example, the others became much more cautious, always ensuring that theirpanions were with them. And in theter stages, the earlier students couldn''t be seen anymore, and one could only experience it for themselves when it was their turn to enter. Soon, it was Hexia''s turn. "A snake, hmm, this might be a bit difficult for you," the staff member registered. "Why is that?" Hexia asked curiously. "Among these animals, mammals are the most intelligent and the easiest to tame and obeymands, so it will be much simpler." "However, you don''t have to be too downhearted,pared to ordinary animals, Transcendent creatures are much more intelligent, so it''s not entirely hopeless." After a few words offort, he let Hexia into the field. The challenge of the adventure through the course began. First was the t grasnd, Hexia walked half a step ahead, leading the little creature at her side to follow along with her. Unlike the students who yelledmands, Hexia hardly spoke along the way, the two, one human, one snake, quietly advanced, crossing the grasnd, jumping over horizontaldders, and stepping on wooden stakes in the water to avoid the fan des. It seemed not to be difficult either; the girl lightly jumped down from thedder, and the Indigo Snake also wound its way around the railing and slid down,nding beside the girl. At thest stage, a mesh curtain split the paths of the two, Hexia''s side was t and simple, while the animal partner''s was much moreplex and full of pitfalls. Typically, the students in the second stage had to keep giving orders andmunicating to make their panion'' avoid the wrong directions and navigate around the mechanisms to ultimately pass through. Now the difficulty gradually increased, and within an hour, some students were already able tomand the animals with preset orders, but still, many couldn''t manage to do so. They could only stand in ce anxiously, issuing orders repeatedly while their panions'' looked confused and hesitant. "They stillck patience," the senior students observing from the high standsmented. "Indeed, many people are not ustomed to living with apanion who differs from them. When the other can''t quickly understand theirmands, they easily be irate and angry, but this is essentially impotent rage." "True strength lies in understanding this difference and devising ways topensate without caring in the slightest, such that those around you can catch up," "These are animals that are rtively easier to tame and simpler to get along with. If it were people, it''d be even less hopeful," Below, Hexia led her ''partner'' easily past various obstacles. Thanks to her Talent, she seldom spoke up. Sometimes, a single point of her finger was enough for the little snake to grasp the gist, allowing it to breeze through. "Yes, that direction is correct, pull down the lever," Standing in front of the sealed stone door, Hexia directed the little snake at a distance to pull down a conspicuous lever mechanism, after which the stone door lifted, and the endpoint of the first trial was reached. "Congrattions to student Hexia~" the staff inside weed her and then asked her to continue registering and filling out forms. After a simple warm-up stage, one-fifth of the students were eliminated, and the real assessment gradually began. "The second trial, defeat the illusion mice." With those words, two huge grey-white mice were released into the arena below, and the students, unable to enter the field themselves, had to rely onmands to make their ''partners'' fight one against two and ovee the enemy. The battle began. In the arena, the indigo young wolf bared its teeth and snarled, confronting its two opponents in a tense and probing standoff. In terms of strength alone, the Primordial Sequence 2¡¤Illusion Mouse (Standard Red Copper) was definitely not a match for these carefully nurtured ''partners'', but the challenge was to use wisdom andmunication to help the ''partner'' win despite the numerical disadvantage. "Run!" the student at the front issued the firstmand. After the familiarization phase and the first trial, the rtionship between the two had grown close. On receiving themand, the young wolf immediately started running. Then it was the illusion mice''s turn to hesitate, but they had been hungry for too long to resist the prey before them and also began to run into action. Their gray fur bristled, and the illusion mice in the field of view suddenly erged several times over and lunged at the running young wolf. This was the ability of the illusion mice, using illusions to confuse and intimidate their adversaries, induce fear, and facilitate their own movement. Although the student above knew these were illusion techniques, the young wolf below did not understand. In its eyes, these were two enormous creatures, forces it couldn''t resist, prompting a whimper as it panicked and fled towards the corner, even crashing into the wall. "Idiot!" Seeing the young wolf below running headlessly, the student above was furiously embarrassed because if the illusion of the illusion mouse was seen through, they were no more of a threat than ordinaryrge rats. "Whimper¡ª" The young wolf below didn''t understand and continued to frantically paddle with its limbs on the grass, trying to escape, even attempting to hide in the entrance hole on the field. Watching its rear sticking out and limbs digging at the earth, the student above couldn''t help but cover his face in embarrassment. Maybe he had given up on himself, or perhaps he couldn''t hold back anymore, he yelled again. "You fool, turn around and bite them! Haven''t you noticed how light their footsteps are when they run? It''s fake!" Although he revealed the truth, the ''partner'' animals weren''t trained to understand suchplexnguage before and only grasped simplemands. However, the dissatisfaction and anger in the shouting finally allowed the young wolf to react a little; it turned its head fearfully and resentfully, fur standing on end, facing the two ''giant'' mice approaching. Facing this snarling young wolf, the illusion mice also hesitated for a moment and didn''t charge immediately, so the two sides began a standoff again. After a series of roars and screeches, seeing that the tworge mice didn''t rush forward, the young wolf gained back some confidence. When the student above shouted "Attack" for the seventh time, it finally charged forward. Amidst a flurry of flying fur and screeches, closebat immediately broke the illusion, and the scene after Manifestation boosted the young wolf''s confidence even further. During the final moments of tearing and gnawing, it killed the two illusion mice on the field. "O''Conner, passed!" an employee outside the field blew a whistle, marking the emergence of the first student to pass the second trial. Chapter 93: Chapter 52: Defeating the Phantom Rat "It turns out it''s just chasing mice, quite a simple test." The girl who had chosen the Golden Scorpion as her ''partner'' stepped forward, looking down at the scene below. She was wearing a golden dress¡ªnot in the metaphorical sense, but literally sewn with gold threads and silk, flowing like liquid gold, in a style that was both garishly grand and refined. "The assessment begins!" With thatmand, the blocking door panels were lifted, and a Golden Scorpion entered the arena. It faced the same two Illusion Mice that the prior opponents had. Compared to the young wolves, the Golden Scorpion was significantly smaller, and in terms of strength, it might even be inferior to the Illusion Mice. However, these ''partners'' all had their own unique skills and abilities. "Such boring illusion techniques. rk, use ''Golden Armor''!" With a wave of her hand, the girlmanded, and the Golden Scorpion below charged forward, its body shimmering with metallic luster as it hardened. Facing the diminutive Golden Scorpion, the viciousness of the two Illusion Mice was provoked; they recklessly threw themselves at it, flipping it over and attempting to bite, but the golden shell resisted their teeth, preventing any real damage. "Now, use ''Poison Sting''!" Upon hearing themand from above, the Golden Scorpion below thrusted its gleaming, poisonous tail into the nose of the Illusion Mouse biting it, and soon, that mouse twitched all over and bled from its mouth and nose to death. The second Illusion Mouse was dealt with in the same manner. After being poisoned, it quickly copsed, making the entirebat exceedingly effortless. "That''s impressive,"mented one of the students retaking the test below. "How did she execute thosemands? The instruction manual provided only had some basicmands." "Perhaps this is the underlying test. Think about it¡ªif the manual says ''basicmands,'' the implication is that there are ''standardmands'' and even plexmands'' that weren''t given," analyzed a student as he pushed up his sses. "That makes sense. I thought that since they are Transcendent beings, the skills they know surely wouldn''t be limited to just simple ''attack'' and ''defense''." "But how am I supposed to know what skills my ''partner'' possesses if it doesn''t talk?" "Well, I''m afraid you''ll just have to figure it out for yourself. It''s pretty normal for a scorpion to use its poisonous stingtail, right?" The students discussed amongst themselves, finding their stride after watching the demonstrations of the first two. Subsequent students began slowly to try out variousmands and direct their ''partners'' to ovee the Illusion Mice. Some students quickly caught on,manding their ''partners'' to break through each challenge. However, some ''partners'' couldn''t understand theirmands, perhaps because they couldn''t perform the skills mentioned, and others, even though they figured out what their ''partners'' could do, still struggled to coordinate with them. "Don''t run away; it''s okay, Xiao Bai, that''s just a little mouse, and you can beat it," a girl in a pink dress said anxiously to the white cat below her. However, the cat continued to panic and dodge, showing no intention of obeying. The sight sparked a mix of amusement and pity from the audience, but there was nothing they could do to help. In the end, as the eight-minute timer ran out, the girl had to face the oue of failing the assessment. "Although she''s a sweet and gentle girl, she''s still too weak,"mented a senior from Yuanting Academy. "Being gentle isn''t bad, but being only gentle without any firmness lets the white cat think that it won''t be reprimanded or punished for not followingmands, to the point that it simply ignored her at the crucial moment." "Sigh, she''s a good kid, but it''s really not a good habit." "Let''s see the next one." In front of the battlefield, Hexia ced the small snake from her hand into the entrance paper box,forted it with a few words, and then ascended the tform of the arena. "Northern Seventh District, Hexia." After simply reporting her name, the evaluation began. The opposite passage opened, letting out two starving illusion mice. The paper box with the snake was also transported into the arena and released the indigo small snake inside. "This girl''s ''partner'' is a snake, that''s quite rare." "It must be using poison, right? For a poisonous snake to eat mice, it''s pretty simple." "Not quite, didn''t we just see a white cat being chased around by mice? Bloodline suppression isn''t that strong for transcendent creatures." "Let''s wait and see." Inside the arena, the two illusion mice shook their grey-white fur, their bodies suddenly erging, then they locked their gaze on the blue and white small snake swimming about and charged over. Faced with these two ''enormous'' and fierce illusion mice, the small snake below was momentarily panicked, turning around to flee in search of a ce to hide. Watching its panicked darting, Hexia did not give any orders but silently observed, a behavior that slightly surprised the surrounding audience. "Is she not giving anymands at all?" "Maybe snakes are hard to tame and listen, so she simply lets it do what it wants?" There''s no use in hiding, but to expect the startled indigo snake to muster resistance at this moment was too much for it, the girl thought silently to herself. Then she nced at the ticking timer; there was still plenty of time, and everything had just begun. The battlefield was notrge, and after a few chases, the two illusion mice bit the indigo snake''s body, the pain causing the little guy to tumble. "Now is the time, ''sh Scales''!" Hexia finally issued her firstmand. In a helpless situation with no escape, the indigo snake almost reflexively epted themand. A dazzling brilliance blossomed from the scales on its body, and such a close-range burst of light scorched the pupils of the two illusion mice, causing them searing pain. Taking advantage of the moment when the illusion mice were too pained to pay attention, the indigo snake broke free. The up-close scuffle and the sh also caused the illusion mice''s illusions to fail. Facing illusory mice that were not muchrger than itself, the indigo snake suddenly found courage. "Wrap around it, ''Strangtion''!" The secondmand followed immediately. With the positive reinforcement of the firstmand''s escape, the indigo snake responded to themand even quicker. It swiftly coiled around the mouse and tightened its grip, gradually asphyxiating it. However, as the other illusion mouse''s eye pain dissipated gradually, it bit the snake''s body again using its blurry vision. But the burning sensation in its mouth forced it to immediately abandon this action and instead scamper away. Time slowly slipped by, and after finishing off one illusion mouse with strangtion, the indigo snake released it. Under Hexia''s direction, it rushed towards the other illusion mouse andpleted the task before the timer expired. "Hexia, pass!" Upon hearing the staff''s voice, Hexia also let go of the tension in her heart while standing on the tform, she sighed in relief. Although she believed she couldmand the little one below her well, the indigo snake''s attack method was still too slow. If the time had been tighter, they might not have been able to kill the second illusion mouse before the evaluation ended. She would have to do something, or she might fail in theter evaluations, she silently estimated in her heart. Then she walked down the tform to the exit, picked up the little snake that swam over, and fed it several pieces of food. Chapter 94: Chapter 53 Heart-to-Heart Q&A ``` Among the students participating in the next assessment, somemanded with calm, others incessantly instructed before entering, and some bellowed with rage during the assessment. "Don''t worry about it, just go for it! If you run again, I''ll beat you when we get back!" Atop the tform, a student with a fierce expression yelled down to the pangolin below. "Squeak squeak¡ª" Threatened by both the illusion rats and themands, the pangolin fell into a panicked dilemma, but perhaps it found the student above more terrifying, as it struggled to turn around, back against the wall, facing the two iing illusion rats with a low growl. Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-NovelBin "That''s right, just like that, what''s there to fear with a body full of scale armor?" The boy above immediately felt much better. The fight began, and just as that student had said, although the illusion rats tore and bit, they were never able to inflict effective damage on the pangolin with its scale armor. After several bouts, the pangolin gradually forgot its fear and, in the midst of tearing and grappling, killed the two illusion rats. "Sally, passed!" After the staff announced the judgment, the students below were also abuzz with discussion. "This works too? Using threats and intimidation, wasn''t it supposed to be about ''bonds''?" "Exactly, that boy''s tone just now was really scary." A girl shared the same sentiment. Hearing these discussions, the boy picked up the pangolin that had justpeted, ced it on his shoulder and responded. "What do you know! In a critical moment, there''s no time for tears and gentle persuasion, you need to ensure thatmands are executed." "As long as there''s a victory, there are plenty of rewards. It won''t be mistreated, hmph." Having said that, he proudly left the field with his panion'' in his arms. There were no restrictions on methods during the assessment, and everyone had their own interpretation of ''bonds,'' showing off a wide range of skills. Some relied on mutual trust to help their ''partner'' ovee fear, some used threats and intimidation to make their ''partner''pulsively executemands, and others figured out the abilities of their ''partner,'' making victory seem effortless. Facing the difficult assessment, students were forced to make their own choices. In the end, about 60 percent were eliminated, and the remaining students were less than one-third of the original number. "We''ve tossed out the pretenders. We need to start being careful and serious about the next two stages." The top student in a ck and red uniform leaned against the office window, shifting his gaze away from the projection on the desk. "How many are left now?" She asked, and the other two in the room started looking up the information. "There are 376 who have passed the second stage, and another 207 who have yet to report to the school." "The enrollment quota for this year is 318, with 38 reserved for special channels. That means there are only 280 regr admission spots avable. Considering the students who haven''t arrived yet, we still need to eliminate one-third of them." "Actually, the students who have passed the second stage aren''t bad. They might not all be extremely talented, but at least they''re not too mediocre. Only those with excellent theoretical grades are allowed to take the retest." Another short-haired boy spoke up. "The third stage is a test created by the teachers, isn''t it? I wonder how that''s going." After speaking, one of them looked out the window towards the green hills in the distance, where white stone seats were scattered, and teachers in tan gowns were talking to the students taking the retest. "Good afternoon, you must be Hexia." A male teacher approached, holding a clipboard and wearing sses, with a coffee-colored hat on his head that matched the color of his gown, clearly marking him as a teacher of the Academy. "Hello." The girl greeted, nodding with a small snake in her arms. "No worries, don''t be too nervous. I''m just going to have a simple chat with you to avoid any misunderstandings, I''m not here to eliminate any student, nor to give marks." He smiled, easing some of the girl''s tension. "Although the style of our Academy is ''bonds,'' not everyone is suited for this path. Some talents are destined to be loners, and forcibly integrating them into a group only causes pain." "Considering this lose-lose situation, we feel it''s necessary to remind studentsing for the retest. If you don''t like this style, there''s no need to doubt your abilities or aspirations." "Everyone is so different; if you''re just twisting yourself to gain the eptance of others, that''s just too painful." ``` "Now that you know why we''re here, let me ask you some questions, Hexia." "Okay." "Which kind of person do you dislike?" The first question sent the girl into deep thought. Asking about likes is almost standard, but it''s rare in life to encounter someone asking what you dislike. "I dislike those who are pretentious and impose their narrow-minded views on others." "I see." The teacher''s pen tip briefly noted "dislikes fools" from an angle invisible to the girl. "Hexia, what kind of environment do you like, or what makes you feelfortable?" "I prefer quieter ces, probably a library or a ssroom where you can watch the sunset." "I see..." The teacher kept writing, noting down ''literary girl'' as her attribute. "What kind of guy do you find handsome, Hexia?" "I don''t really have any particr feelings about that," the girl shook her head. "Hmm," the teacher continued and recorded ''aloof'' as her attribute. "What do you think you''ll be in the future, Hexia?" "I don''t know," the girl shook her head again. "Mm-hmm." The teacher kept writing, adding ''cautious'' to her list of attributes. "What food do you like, Hexia?" "I like chiffon cake, green tangerines, watermelon, tasty rice, grilled fish, hot pot, wontons, and pan-fried steak..." The girl meticulously contemted and named quite a few things. "I see." The teacher continued, jotting down ''foodie'' and ''simple taste'' as attributes. "Can you make any of those? Could you talk about it?" "Yes, for instance, chiffon cake is..." As the teacher listened, he quietly erased ''foodie'' and wrote down ''good at life'' and ''action-oriented'' instead. "If you had to choose a dormitory to live in, which would you pick? Here, we have the Ring Bird Wind Tower, Forest Tree House, Purple Mansion, Lakeside Boat House, and Vine Courtyard¡ªeach with different perks." "For example, students at the Ring Bird Wind Tower receive a book from the Academy and colored feathers each month; at the Forest Tree House, students get five T4 grade fruits and seeds every month; while those at the Purple Mansion don''t get monthly gifts, they are able to pick a ''Dark Silver Level'' Transcendent de and extra credits at the end of the school year; Lakeside Boat House students get three Luoyue gems and one ''Tricolor Sturgeon'' monthly, a high-grade T4 food ingredient; and the Vine Courtyard gives students a potted flower and a ''Verdant Elixir'' each month, which is great for consolidating Magic Power." After listening to the teacher''s description, the girl fell into contemtion. Each choice seemed appealing, stirring the heart, but in the end, only one could be chosen. "Then, Ring Bird Wind Tower," Hexia decided after a moment. "Why is that? Based on your previous answers, you seem to really enjoy good food." The girl tilted her head slightly, blinking. "Eating is something I can do anytime, but reading is very important. Besides, I''ve always lived in a dim underground city before. If possible, I hope to be closer to the sky in the future." "I understand." The teacher closed the record board. "This is the final exam location, but there''s no rush now¡ªit won''t open until 2 p.m., you can go get something to eat." "We''ll meet againter, Hexia. I wish you all the best." He bent over to thank Hexia before leaving. Chapter 95: Chapter 54 The Girl from the Great Lake Yuanting Academy, Blue Porcin Mansion. This is a hotel within the academy, dedicated for use by visitors from outside the school, and now it''s also open to students who are here for the second round of exams. In the hotel''s second-floor restaurant, many students were dining, among them was Hexia. She ordered a T5 grade Scorched Red Fish set meal because she had never tasted this kind of fish in Payin City and wanted to try something new. Undoubtedly, the taste was really good. The sweet and tender fish had a slightly browned surface, and the apanying herbs made it rich in vor, greatly stimting the appetite. "You might as well stop looking around and trying; snakes don''t eat fish," she said. With the end of her chopsticks, the girl tapped the little snake slithering on the table, making it settle down a bit before she continued to eat. Her delicate light gray hair was soft and reached her shoulders. Because she had to give it her all in the retest, today Hexia wasn''t wearing sses, revealing her beautiful face. However, her figure was still slightly delicate and hadn''t fully developed. Among all the students there, she didn''t stand out too much. "Hello, may I sit here?" a short-haired girl with a simple headband approached her. "Of course," the girl looked around and noticed that the restaurant was getting increasingly crowded, which exined why this girl hade to share a table with her. Seeing the Indigo Snake coiled up on the table, the short-haired girl asked curiously, "Are you also here for the retest?" "Yes," she replied. "That''s awesome. I am too. Oh, and this is my ''partner,'' " she said, as if remembering something, flipped her backpack around, and from it, she cradled out arge crab with a blue back and white bottom. "Isn''t it mighty, ahahaha~" Sheughed as she introduced herpanion. "This is a ''Tidal Crab.'' They exist where Ie from. I never expected to find a partner with such greatpatibility during the retest~" "Oh, by the way, I''m Mianna, from the Northern Third District. What about you?" "I''m Hexia, from the Northern Seventh District." "The Northern Seventh District, huh? I''ve never been there, but seeing how pretty you are, Hexia, I always feel like it must be a nice ce." The girl shook her head, "Actually, it''s not that different from other parts of the north." While the two were getting acquainted, Mianna heard a call from not far away and immediately stood up. "Ok, I''ming right now!" "Hold on, let me get our lunch," she said, cing her backpack and the crab on the table, then hurried to the service window to take the te being handed out. The freshly cooked steak was sizzling on the ck te, giving off an enticing aroma and color. "Ahaha, I finally get to have a proper meal today." She picked up her knife and fork, looking eager to start. After cutting off a piece and savoring it, she chewed contentedly, enjoying the hot beefy texture. Then Mianna cut off anotherrge, oily piece of steak for the blue-shelled giant crab beside her, letting it feast as well. "I can''t shortchange my good partner," she said energetically. This kind of behavior left Hexia feeling a bit guilty, as if not giving the little snake some food was inhumane. But then she thought about it, feeding fish to a snake seemed strange, so she simply took out a bag of snacks and scooped out a handful of meat granules in front of the Indigo Snake. After getting to know each other a little, Mianna started up another conversation with Hexia. She was like a non-stop little fan,menting on everything she had seen on her way and various other gripes. "You''ve got to have a feast when youe to the Northern First District, after all. It would be a waste not to spend the money I managed to get from my old man." ... "There''s no way I could save money. He checks my wallet bnce, so I feel more at ease spending it sooner." ``` ... "We have a bigke back home with lots of fish farming, so I''m already tired of eating fish. I''m quite interested in other meats, though." ... "Have you ever been to the Northern Third District, Hexia? Next time you visit, I can take you around. The sightseeing at the bottom of theke is actually quite nice." ... "The cities in the Northern Third District are mostly built on theke surface and shores, and the sunshine is very intense. My skin got tanned like this, not naturally dark." ... "Where there''s noke, thend is basically desert, but there are many sr power stations. They stretch out for miles, and sometimes you need to wear sunsses when you go out, or else the re could blind you." After the exchange, Mianna became interested in Payin City, where the girl lived. "Isn''t it stuffy and hot living underground? I remember a teacher saying that the closer you get to the ground, the stronger the geothermal heat." "That''s true, but the rockyer where Payin City is located is not actually low in absolute altitude, and it doesn''t reach the high-heat zones. The city has a cirction cooling system that expels the heat to the surface. Additionally, the underground river in Payin City also takes away a lot of heat, so the temperature is always quite stable." "That sounds pretty good, living underground seems safe." Mianna said that in the Northern Third District, all sorts of buildings and outdoor equipment need to be waterproofed, or they would easily break down. "Each has its advantages and disadvantages," the girl nodded. After lunch, the two headed together to the site for the fourth challenge, discussing the uing assessment along the way. "My partner is Tidal Sequence 2: Blue Pincer Crab. All it does are attacks with those big pincers, and it has a hard shell, but it''s not very agile. I don''t know what the final challenge will be like, but I have a feeling it will rte tobat and won''t be easy for us to pass." Hexia also introduced the sleepy little snake on her wrist. Having just been fed, it seemed to be drowsy; indeed, snakes usually spend most of their time resting except when hunting. "Are you saying you want your partner to be stronger?" After listening to the girl''s spection, Mianna started thinking too. "Exactly. It feels like these ''partners'' have a limited set of skills, but if we help them develop a bit, they could be stronger." "Right! Exactly, that''s it!" Mianna suddenly realized something. "The theme is ''bonding,'' so it''s definitely about making partners stronger. Otherwise, simplemands would be no different from a ve rtionship." "Making ''partners'' stronger emphasizes our value as contestants. Working together, side by side, that''s our ''bond.''!" She lifted her blue-shelled crab into the air, which shone under the sunshine. "But how do we do it? Quick training or finding a way to help it evolve?" She pondered the specifics. Evolving, huh? Hexia thoughtfully looked at the little snake on her wrist, then picked up her personal terminal and started to search through the vast online database. There were many paths for snakes to evolve. Some aimed for transformation into dragons, to be like those powerful Dragon Species from myths. Others aimed to enhance their inherent Talents. Some turned into legendary creatures from ancient tales, and others aimed to enhance their Abilities, such as auxiliary ones. After all, in modern society, thebat abilities of transcendent animals were limited, but their other social functions were far more significant, like in ''Dream of zed ss,'' where Botis rarely trained her venomous creatures forbat, instead, treating them as a source of venom production. After skimming through introductions and research papers, Hexia also came up with an idea. "Hexia." Suddenly, Mianna''s voice rang in her ear. "What is it, Mianna?" The girl cautiously stepped back half a step, not because she disliked Mianna but due to a long-held reflex. "Can you help me look up the evolution paths for the Tide Caller Crab?" She held herrge crab in front of the girl, shaking it, while it blew bubbles. "Sure." It wasn''t really a big deal, so the girl nodded in agreement. Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin So they were no longer in a rush to go to the assessment point and instead sat under a tree on the grass, flipping through and discussing the information. Time quietly slipped by. ``` Chapter 96: Chapter 55 Phantom Crystal Beast On the other side of Yuanting Academy. "The fourth trial of the retry, begin," announced the staff member from the elevated tform. "In the fourth trial, you will face the challenges with a panion'', divided into three sub-trials. Stronger opponents will appear in each sub-trial, and elimination of either yourself or yourpanion will result in failure of the challenge." "Scores will be awarded based on the number of trials passed; the maximum score for each sub-trial is 10 points, and it is not required to pass them all." "Now,e forward in order and begin the challenge." After the announcement, everyone was discussing among themselves. This time, no one took the initiative to step forward, preferring to watch others to gain experience. The staff member above, not surprised by this, hung up a schedule, with the assessment time [2:00 PM - 7:00 PM]. This meant that if one registered toote, they might not even get the chance to participate before the assessment ended. "Hmph, what cowards," sneered the girl in the flowing golden dress, stepping forward once again as the first student to take the assessment. "Paw is the first to participate, with a bonus of 2 points," the staff member dered, then the assessment began. "Wow, if I''d known that going first awarded points, I would have stepped up earlier," someone in the crowd discussed. "But being the first has its disadvantages in terms of information too, it''s not necessarily a good thing." "Enough talk, let''s just watch." Paw and her golden scorpion entered the arena, while on the opposite side, a white crystal core emerged from the bottom, and soon two blue beams radiated from above, converging upon it. Before long, the crystal core rapidly heated and vibrated, then suddenly exploded. A cloud of crystal fog dispersed, then recollected, taking the form of a fanged beast resembling a fierce tiger. Primordial Sequence 3 ¡¤ Phantom Crystal Fang Beast (Standard Dark Silver Level) A puppet creature temporarily formed by a Magic Crystal Core, controlled by other transcendents or AI, often used as a training target. Although it is an expendable intended for training, the creation of such a phantom crystal beast is not cheap. It is estimated that only a wealthy institution like Yuanting Academy would use them on such arge scale. "The challenge begins!" At themand, the phantom crystal beast simting a real mythical beast burst forth like a fierce tiger, charging towards the frail golden scorpion. "Tsk," frowned the brown-haired girl in the golden dress, lifting her hand as golden spinning discs emerged from her side, rushing towards the phantom crystal beast in an attempt to stop its frenzied assault. These golden discs, with their five des, sped up briefly in the air before crashing into the beast''s path, colliding with it. The rapidly spinning des shaved off blue fragments, while the discs themselves shattered upon impact, scattered on the ground. This attack merely slowed down the creature for a moment as the phantom crystal beast still struck the golden scorpion, sending it flying. Facing the golden scorpion now airborne, the phantom crystal beast relentlessly leapt up, swinging its ws to strike it down, smashing it into a small pit on the ground, leaving it limp and unable to move. Then, the phantom crystal beastnded and pressed the golden scorpion into the ground with its paw, causing it to struggle desperately. "Roar¡ª" The phantom crystal beast growled low, turning its beastly eyes towards the approaching Paw, as though warning or threatening her. At that moment, should she continue attacking or consider her panion'' and temporarily cease her offensive? The first girl to take up the challenge faced a dilemma. "How vile..." she muttered as she lowered her arm and then slowly retreated, her eyes fixed on the phantom crystal beast. "Roar¡ª" Seeing this, the phantom crystal beast seemed somewhat satisfied. It released the golden scorpion from under its paw, sprayed it with a mouthful of crystal sand to groggily weigh it down, and then with a swipe sent it flying back to Paw''s side. This crystal sand was not fatal, but it had side effects for the uing challenges; it hindered the golden scorpion''s movements, made it difficult to absorb atmospheric Aijieka particles, and was hard to clear in a short time. This was just the first spray, and if two more were to follow, the Golden Scorpion would bepletely immobilized and dered defeated, forced to leave the field. The challenge had entered a difficult moment, and the spectators below were also discussing fervently. "This looks tough." "If it were me up there, I probably wouldn''t fare much better." "I''m only at Sequence 2. Even with another Sequence 2 partner, defeating a Sequence 3 Phantom Crystal Beast is just too difficult." Inside the arena, Paw first tried to clear the Crystal Sand sticking to the Golden Scorpion''s body, but she quickly realized that such action greatly exhausted her Magic Power. If she managed to clear it, it also meant that she wouldn''t have much strength left to fight afterwards. Sequence 2 was just the starting stage for Transcendents. Many people had abilities that were not yet perfected, and their reserves of Magic Power were not substantial, so they could not afford to waste it so extravagantly. "I can only keep going," Paw frowned, set down the Golden Scorpion, and then charged forward herself. Seeing this, the Phantom Crystal Beast, fierce like a tiger, charged once more. "Golden Shimmer Technique: Thousand Needles Through the Void." Golden dots floated in the air around Paw, circling her. Then, with a fierce clench of her fist, these floating dots instantly converged to form extremely thin, long needles. A buzzing sound cut through the air as these long needles pierced the charging Phantom Crystal Beast, embedding themselves in its body. "Shatter!" She shouted again, and the Golden Needles inside the Phantom Crystal Beast''s body instantly burst forth, sprinkling golden spots of light within its azure body. The internal fragmentation of the Golden Spikes did not disintegrate the Phantom Crystal Beast but caused its body to stiffen suddenly. It missed its target and rolled on the ground, stirring up arge amount of dirt, and collided with a distant wall. After executing this move, Paw was nearly drained. She was sweating profusely, her body on the verge of copse. After all, she was only at Sequence 2, and even with her family''s secret technique, she had reached her limit. "rk, it''s your turn!" she weaklymanded her ''partner'' to attack, and soon the little one charged forward. The Phantom Crystal Beast, still rolling on the ground, struggled as the shing Golden Needles and Spikes inside made it difficult for it to move. However, as time passed, these golden lights gradually weakened and would inevitably fade away. "Ah, the Golden Scorpion has charged up." "Look, it''s jumped right onto the Phantom Crystal Beast''s head." "That must be Poison Sting, the vivid red on its tail is almost all of its Magic Power." "It''s struck down. It''s pierced into the Phantom Crystal Beast''s ear. Now, let''s see if it works." Inside the arena, the Phantom Crystal Beast continued its struggle, finally throwing off the Golden Scorpion on its head. It managed to stand up with effort, but as it tried to charge at the Golden Scorpion again, its body wobbled and eventually copsed thunderously to the ground. "Paw passes!" "Wow, she passed the first minor challenge. That wasn''t easy." "Congrattions, Student Paw. Do you wish to continue with the challenge?" the staff above asked. "Can I give it a try? Although it''s unlikely that I''ll win, I still want to see what the second minor challenge looks like." "Certainly, Student Paw," the staff nodded, then waved his hand. Stay connected with m-v l|e''-NovelBin Three white Crystal Cores appeared at once, with blue light converging above them. After a burst of shaking and intense heating, the three Crystal Cores transformed into three Phantom Crystal Beasts, each taking the form of a tiger, an eagle, and a swift wolf. "I concede," Paw dered her defeat immediately after seeing the lineup, knowing she definitely couldn''t beat them. "No problem. As the first student to reach the second minor challenge, you are awarded 2 points, ending with a total of 14 points." "Now, may the next student please step forward." Chapter 97: Chapter 56 Departure Farewell The Phantom Crystal Beasts active in thebat arena posed numerous challenges for the students retaking the exam; most students couldn''t even get past the first minor obstacle, in the end only managing to score between 1 and 8 points based on their performance midway through. But not everyone was the same; there were always a few geniuses that stood out from the crowd. "O''Conner, congrattions on passing the first minor obstacle." In the field, the short-haired boy who always went first in the assessments stood elegantly, still apanied by the young indigo wolf at his side. "I didn''t expect this guy to have advanced to Sequence 3 already, no wonder he defeated the Phantom Crystal Beast so easily," the students below discussed. "To forge iron, one must be strong oneself, although the theme is ''bond,'' one can only help their partner if they''re strong themselves." "It seems my understanding of ''bond'' (strength) is still insufficient," a student said as he pumped himself up. "That''s right, although it''s a bit rude, you''ll look just like a fool shouting slogans without any strength of your own." "Ahaha, just wait and see the ''bond'' (strength) between me and my partner!" Ignoring the excited shouts and cheers from the students below, the challenge on the stage had already moved on to the second obstacle. "Three of them, huh? That does pose some difficulty." O''Conner bent slightly forward, his hands naturally hanging at his sides, his eyes firmly fixed on the three Phantom Crystal Beasts opposite him; he then suddenly charged forward. He took the initiative, knocking the swift wolf aside, and then struck the fierce tiger with the palm of his hand, engaging it in a scuffle. At that moment, the young wolf also followed up, joining the battle. The field was shrouded with flying dust, and after several major skirmishes, the swift wolf crumbled into dust, while the fierce tiger was badly damaged, but the eagle in the sky remained intact, swooping down from time to time. In the end, both the boy and the wolf were exhausted and defeated by the Phantom Crystal Beast eagle, lying on the field''s grass, covered in crystal sand. "O''Conner, your final score is 17 points." "Oh, that''s the highest score so far, right?" "It looks like it." As the crowd buzzed with discussion, two girls also arrived at the scene from the end of the line. "Has it started already? It looks quite intense," noticing everyone''s excited discussions, Hexia and Mianna listened closely and quickly understood the current situation. "It''s time to join in." The two of them also walked toward the high tform to get their sequence numbers. Soon it was Mianna''s turn to go on stage. "Ho ho, watch me work wonders, Hexia!" The short-haired lively girl waved at Hexia, then climbed up to thebat arena with her giant crab in tow. The crab at this point appeared more magnificent than during lunchtime, its blue back was darker, and the surface seemed coated with a crystal-like ze. Indeed, once on the field, the crab''s performance took many students by surprise. "Is this a Sequence 2 creature? It doesn''t seem like it." "Could it have advanced, in such a short time?" "That must be it, it looks exactly like the Tidal Sequence 3¡¤Blue Crystal Crab from the star web database, and its pincers are evenrger." On the field, Mianna maneuvered around the Phantom Crystal Beasts, waited for the right moment to knock them over, and then suddenly shouted, "Now!" "Use your massive pincers to strangle!" The blue-shelled giant crab on the field grasped the Phantom Crystal Beast''s neck, its pincers mping down forcefully, decapitating its head, which shattered into countless fractured crystals. "Mianna, you''ve passed." "Yay~" The girl jumped with joy, astonishing the students in the arena. "It''s rare to see someone let their ''partner'' y the main role in defeating a Phantom Crystal Beast." "Maybe this is the solution; we could try it as well." Inspired, subsequent students also began looking up information, sinking into deep thought about how tomunicate with their ''partners'' so they could understandplex forms and Branding, and then condense a stable, Transcendent Core. In the following challenges, Mianna led her giant crab partner to defeat one Phantom Crystal Beast but was still defeated and knocked out of thepetition by the remaining two. "Mianna, your final score is 15 points." "That''s higher than Paw before, she''s made it into the top 10 now." "Yeah, we have to work hard too." As the discussions grew heated, it was Hexia''s turn to take the stage. Unlike the other students, who found difficulty in the challenge, she pondered whether to let the little snake fight alone or to assist it herself. But if she took action, how much of her strength should she reserve? With her Talent, she could instantly disintegrate the crystal core-made Phantom Crystal Beasts without any difficulty or visual impact. Hiding her true strength was a necessary skill in life; keeping some cards close to her chest would always be safer. It was also a good opportunity to see how far she could go without using her Talent. ¡ª¡ª Indigo Snake Subspecies ssification: Primordial Sequence 3 ¡¤ Sunlit Stone Snake (Superior Dark Silver Level) Status: Healthy (growing, limating) Talent: [Antitoxin Serum] (Superior): Has a certain resistance to various poisons, even more so against snake venom. [Sunlight Snake] (Superior): Under sunshine, its abilities are enhanced to a certain degree. Ability: [Sunlit Scales] (Superior): Scales emit dazzling light, capable of injuring many creatures'' eyes and causing intimidation. [Sunshine Gem] (Rare): The gem on the forehead can absorb sunlight and Magic Power more efficiently, thereby strengthening itself. Skill: [Strangtion Lv.3][Intimidation Lv.4][Sunbathing Lv.4][Scorching Ray Lv.3] ¡ª¡ª "The challenge begins!" A Phantom Crystal Beast tiger leaped out onto the field, baring its teeth and ring at a person and a snake not far off, charging towards them. Chapter 98: Chapter 56 Farewell Before Departure_2 The experience of challenging on the field and watching the battle is entirely different. The tiger, seeming to rapidly expand in view, charged towards her in just 2-3 seconds, leaving Hexia with no time tomand before the fight began. Fortunately, the understanding between a person and a snake had been well established. A dazzling sh erupted in the arena, temporarily blinding the Phantom Crystal Beast, or whatever was manipting it from behind. "Now," shouted Hexia amidst the white light, "Scorching Ray!" An orange-red thin beam of light streaked across the battlefield, aiming for the distant rear, and when the shining light gradually faded, the audience saw the Phantom Crystal Tiger lying on the ground, its body split in two by the scorching ray, shattered into chunks scattered on the ground. This should be enough, the girl thought. "Congrattions to Student Hexia for passing the first minor challenge." After announcing thepletion, the staff asked Hexia if she wanted to attempt the second challenge. Upon receiving an affirmative response, three Crystal Cores emerged from the device beneath the arena, and then activated into three Phantom Crystal Beasts. When the next sh of light shone, the observing students learned their lesson and covered their eyes, waiting a while before opening them. Taking advantage of the brief moment the enemy couldn''t attack, Hexiamanded the small snake to shoot down a hawk in the sky, but the Indigo Snake had little Magic Power left. If she wanted to fire another Scorching Ray, it would require a dy of several minutes. In the arena, the remaining tiger Phantom Crystal Beast charged towards the small snake while the swift wolf pounced toward Hexia. If she used her Freezing Crystal-rted ability now, it would be easy to crush them, but needlessly revealing it seemed a bit unnecessary, Hexia shook her head and used the Withering Sequence''s unique attack method. She closed her eyes to concentrate, then opened her pale blue eyes that rippled with a deep blue luster. When she fixed her gaze on the swift wolf, a Mental Shock immediately made the Phantom Crystal Beast be dazed, stiffening up before toppling over onto the ground, sliding forward. Avoiding the tumbling impact of the swift wolf on the ground, Hexia followed up and put her hands on its body. A halo of light emerged. Soon, the swift wolf calmed down and stopped struggling, its body breaking into chunks that scattered on the ground. "That was the Withering Sequence, right? It''s quite rare," someone said. "That technique, although it seems gentle, can sometimes be quite frightening," anothermented. "The final gentleness... I''ve always wanted to say, watching a Withering Sequence doctor perform surgery is like attending a dinner party, it feels odd," someone joked. "But it''s also very impressive." On the other side of the battlefield, the Indigo Snake and the tiger Phantom Crystal Beast were fighting fiercely. Despite being covered with ayer of Crystalline Scale Armor, the ferocious gnashing and tearing still shattered itsyers and sprayed it with thick Crystal Sand, slowing it down. Watching the battle from afar, Hexia slowly raised her hand. Then, the luster in her eyes flickered, and the Phantom Crystal Beast suddenly stiffened, its actions bing sluggish. It was unfortunate that at this distance, she couldn''t quickly rush over. The girl silently thought to herself that she could onlymand the small snake to escape from the tiger''s gaping maw and swim towards her. After a few breaths, the tiger Phantom Crystal Beast recovered, shook its head, and then began searching for its target again, turning its body around. It started its second charge with a surge of momentum. But now, Hexia was holding the Indigo Snake in her arms, clearing the Crystal Sand from its body. Slowly the gem on the snake''s forehead recharged, countless points of Magic Power converged from the atmosphere, making the gem dazzlingly brilliant. Then, another orange-yellow ray shot out, piercing through the charging tiger. Its body was torn in half; albeit it didn''t splitpletely, it was still enough to kill it. As the three Phantom Crystal Beasts turned into pieces, the staff announced the clearing of the second challenge. "Congrattions to Student Hexia, do you wish to attempt the third minor challenge?" "Let''s have a look," the girl tilted her head. The Indigo Snake was already exhausted; challenging the third round was almost impossible now. So, the environment within the hall changed again, and arger Crystal Core emerged, then slowly activated under the focus of five blue beams. Soon, the contour of a roughly five-meter-tall figure emerged, finally forming into a proud,rge snake. It raised its head high, its wide belly sprawled across the ground, with blue-purple tongues flicking out and vertical pupils that struck intimidation. Compared to it, the small snake in front of it could coil around but still not match the thickness of therge snake''s neck. Primordial Sequence 4: Phantom Crystal Giant Snake (Standard Radiant Gold Level) Facing the giant snake, Hexia had to shake her head, certainly unable to defeat it; there was no need to continue trying. "I concede." "Hexia, your final score is 22 points." The extra 2 points were for being the first to reach the third checkpoint. "That''s the highest score so far." "Impressive, impressive." "But how does one pass that giant snake? It seems intended for those special geniuses." The students buzzed with discussion, while Hexia walked out of thebat area holding the small snake. "Hexia, you were amazing!" Mianna ran over, hugging therge crab. Afterward, the two filled out forms under the guidance of staff members. With that, the re-examination was almost over, and it was time to part with their twopanions. "Although it''s only been one day, I suddenly find it hard to let go," Mianna said, as she stroked the cold back shell of the blue crab in front of her. "If we cane here to study, we should be able to meet them again," Hexia consoled her. "That''s right, if you enter the Academyter, the partners from the re-examination will also be rewarded to you," a girl in a ck and red uniform approached, the student council president they had seen earlier in front of the Star Heaven Hall, followed by two student council members wearing white. Hexia and Mianna stood up and faced their senior. "It''s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Vitelina, Yuanting Academy''s student council president, and a third-year top student," she said, extending her hand. "My name is Mianna." "I''m Hexia." Guided by Vitelina, the three walked into the quiet Star Heaven Hall, where the floating light orbs had been removed, and the deep blue floor, like a starry night, was coated with a faint gold in the afterglow of the setting sun. "Let''s sit over there," Vitelina suggested, pointing to a bench in the hall, close to the giant painting of the Angel and further inside. The two council members stayed put while the three girls walked over and sat down. Vitelina was the first to speak. "Hexia, your results are quite good." "Not at all, I just performed a bit above average this time," the girl hastily waved her hand. "Hehe, a bit shy, are we?" Vitelina chuckled. Despite her youthful appearance, her demeanor was quite mature. "Well, I won''t tease Hexia anymore. On to more serious matters, would you be interested in taking a position in the student council after you enroll?" "Well, I''d probably have to wait until after I''ve enrolled to decide," she replied. She had just undergone the re-examination and hadn''t even received her eptance letter, so it felt a bit premature to consider it. "With such good results, there''s no way you won''t get epted," Mianna encouraged from the side. "Thank you," Hexia said. "You really are cautious, aren''t you?" Vitelina said, smiling. "Let''s wait for the eptance letter then. But personally, I''m quite fond of you, Hexia. I saw most of your performance during the assessment." Faced with such direct praise, the girl felt somewhat ttered and uncertain how to respond. Surely, she couldn''t just p her chest and say, "Yes, I''m that outstanding," as that would be incredibly immodest. "Well, it''s not really that special," she said, ncing away modestly. "Hehe, still so charming," Vitelinaughed, covering her mouth, then seemed to remember something. "Since you''vee so far for the re-examination, let me give you some souvenirs before you leave." In the time that followed, Vitelina chatted with them more and then had her colleagues bring over tworge boxes, handing them to the two girls. "It''s gettingte; I suppose you need to hurry back or rest, so I won''t keep you any longer." Before they left, Vitelina saw them off in front of Star Heaven Hall. "Well, see you next time, goodbye~" She waved her hand, standing elegantly as she bade them farewell. "Goodbye~" Chapter 99: Chapter 57: Cleanup Operation Sitting on the returning train, Hexia hugged the gift box in front of her, feeling as if she was in a dream. This was her first time traveling far alone, and then going to a strange and fresh ce to attend an event. Thest time was when she was very young, when she was held by her father on their way to her sister''s academy to watch their winter festival evening party. Outside the train window was the endless and empty Gobi wilderness, with the evening breeze gently blowing, bringing a bit of coolness and refreshment into the train, bathed in an orange halo light from the twilight-covered world outside. The rhythm of the train''s wheels on the tracks sounded out a regr beat, while some students nestled in their seats for a nap, others whispered amongpanions, and still others opened their personal terminals to browse through information and pages, creating a somewhat quiet environment. After the re-examination, although no notices were issued, many students already had an idea of their results. With mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, everyone discussed their future destinations,menting the passage of time, as the moment to part with their ssmates approached. Holding her personal terminal, Hexia also opened the long-unvisited ss group chat. Jones: "My re-examination results are out, I got admitted~" Everyone: "Congrattions" xN Dudu: "Are you treating us?" Bourne: "Dudu is going to fleece Jones again." Dudu: "What''s wrong with that? It''s rare for Jones to get into his ideal high school, celebrating a bit won''t hurt." Jones was a small core among the boys in the ss, keen on sports, and although his grades were average, he was always popr. He presided over many activities as well. Jones: "Alright, alright, this time I''ll splurge once. You guys rmend, is there any good restaurant? But don''t make it too expensive, or I won''t be able to afford it." Everyone: "Jones the boss, mighty and generous~" Many people joined in the teasing. Hexia swiped across the screen, then closed the page andy her head on the gift box, gazing out at the night scenes through the window, enjoying the sensation of the evening breeze brushing past. Although it was only a month before graduation, it felt as if a long time had passed, and the images of her ssmates were starting to blur. She rarely spoke in ss, seldom participated in many activities, and over time she became ustomed to staying alone in a corner. Havingpleted the re-examination at Yuanting Academy that day, she should have passed, but it was a pity that she had to forgo Irene Academy because the times conflicted. Originally, ording to the life path she had once nned, she was supposed to go to that medical school for the re-examination and be a doctor in the future. Unconsciously, her life had already taken anotherpletely different path. "Ding," a message came through on her personal terminal next to her. [Cindy: Hexia, how did it go today? Did you pass the academy''s assessment?] [Hexia: Mm, the re-examination went pretty well...] Her fingertips hesitated slightly, but Hexia still didn''t type out the words "Yuanting Academy." She supposed there would be another round of questions if she mentioned it and decided it would be better to tell everyone after the official admission. She still had a fondness and nostalgia for her elementary school ssmates. They had spent six joyful years together at that school, ying and participating in activities, many memories etched clearly in her mind to this very day. [Cindy: That''s good, let''s get together afterwards. The date is set for the afternoon of June 12th, at the Wind Dew Restaurant on Spiral Crystal Street.] [Hexia: Okay, I got it.] [Cindy: Be sure toe. ] [Hexia: I will (*^¨Œ^*)] At the same time, her ss group chat also settled on a time and ce for a get-together soon after. Jones: "So, on the afternoon of June 12th, Wind Dew Restaurant, don''t be absent~" Everyone: "No problem~" xN Unfortunately, by then Hexia had already turned off the ss group chat notifications, and by the time she looked again, it would probably be several dayster. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the Underworld of Payin City, the cleanup operation was steadily advancing. The immense dual-helix drill head continuously spiraled downward, emitting a fierce roar. The hard rock shattered incessantly beneath the massive drill head, approximately 10 meters in diameter. Water mist designed to reduce dust sprayed nonstop, and the fragmented stone dust was elevated by the threads of the drill head, moving to the sides. While drilling, the two drill heads also rotated against each other, incessantly erging the entrance of the hole. Six simrrge drilling rigs were now deployed at the lowestyer of Payin City, where they would continuously burrow downward, piercing through the subterranean rockyers to connect the once hidden Underground World entirely. These six passages were also heavily guarded, with tank after tank of Viper-S52 model tanks monitoring each level''s entry and exit points. Squads of soldiers, equipped with exoskeleton armor, began to systematically clear each level. Any individual who violently resisted would be immediately shot dead. They would not show mercy to these Underground Gang members, who were not officially residents educated and indoctrinated by the Federation. The question of what constitutes a ''person'' was hotly debated during the Fifth Epoch, even igniting a great war. Now, in the current Sixth Era, countries across the Interster had reached a basic consensus. That is, only residents who were legally born within the country and had received standard primary education would be granted human rights. All other humanoid beings, even if intelligent, would not be granted the rights of citizens. Behind this seemingly simple statementy countless bloody conflicts and painful lessons from the past. "Lay down your weapons ande out one by one. Countdown starts now." In front of the stronghold of an Underground Gang, two Viper-S52 tanks aimed their main cannons at the main door, and behind the tanks stood two fully armed squads of soldiers holding electromaic rifles, covered in white exoskeleton armor, shouting at the persistent resistors inside the stronghold. Inside theprehensive helmets, pale golden transparent metal visors disyed a variety of data indicators, while the data scanned by the detectors up front were also transmitted synchronously. "Report to the captain, there are 21 people inside the stronghold, with 12 of Sequence 2, 3 of Sequence 3, and 1 of Sequence 4. The rest have weak Transcendent Magic Power." "Received, wait another 40 seconds. If they don''t respond, let the tanks breach the outeryer, and we will proceed with the clearance." "Received, understood." Themunication then went silent. Meanwhile, inside the stronghold, the gang members were engaged in their final debate. "Tiger, what should we do?" A group of people looked toward the bald man sitting in the center, his face covered with scars, two metal bolts embedded in the side of his head, and a golden tiger branding tattooed on his body. This type of tattoo essentially involved embedding specially made metal wires into the flesh, creating a form of Transcendent branding to enhance the body. Although effective, it had severe side effects, and typically only those who operated in the gray areas would resort to this method. Your next chapter is on m v|l-e''-NovelBin "Surrender? Not a chance." He pressed his hands on his knees, his voice cold and deep. "Expect me, Arqi Tiger, to walk out like a dog begging for life? Ha, if I were to agree, what would be the point of sitting here? Twenty years ago, I vowed to stand in opposition to the Federation, to flip it upside down and humiliate it terribly." After speaking, his steel-grey eyes slowly swept over everyone in the room, several of whom couldn''t bear it and looked away, heads bowed. "Hmph." He knew in his heart that many of these guys were afraid to die. If he suggested surrender, they''d probably rush out happily. Would the Federation''s army really show mercy and let them go? He''s known for years how the Federation operates; it''s unfortunate some here still harbor hopes of luck, which isughable. But at this point, he couldn''t be bothered to remind them anymore. Once again, calls from the outside announced the final countdown. "Take your weapons, and follow me out. If you''ve joined the gang, you follow its rules, even unto death. Understand?" "Tiger... we understand." Although a few were restless, under the long-standing threat of the man before them, they never mustered the courage to object. "Good, now follow me." Picking up the massive machine gun at his feet, the gang leader led his people towards the outside, step by step. Soon, intense gunfire erupted, and the soldiers from the Federation started their counterattack. Two minutester, the gunfire ceased, and the soldiers began entering the stronghold to clear out the remaining gang members. "Don''t kill me, I surrender, I want to live." In the corner of a room, a scrawny man raised his hands, crying out in a tearful voice, yet he was still targeted by the armed Federation soldier. Bang! Bang! With disbelief, the man fell, as dark red blood slowly flowed. As the man from before had thought, in this operation, every squad of soldiers had orders to shoot the Underground Gang members on spot, never allowing them to reach the detention phase. In fact, if it weren''t for the potential of upsetting thew-abiding citizens within the Federation, they might not have spared a single one. When a person or a group of people strays from the Federation''s society and system for too long, they are no longer regarded as ''people''. Chapter 100 : 58 Each Accepts Their Fate The Federated military began to clear out the Underworld, and news of such operations quickly spread through the underground, causing panic to spread everywhere. "Brother Long, what should we do?" In a stronghold of the Haoun Gang, a group of people simrly huddled together to discuss. "Our methods are fine for dealing with ordinary people, but if we''re up against the Federation''s formal forces, even a third-tier unit¡ªthere''s no point in hoping for resistance." Unlike the people from the Underground World, Qiao Long had received elementary education from the Federation and was aware of the true situation within the Federation. The strongest military force within the Rose Federation was stationed in the Central Star Domain¡ªthe six main fleets¡ªfollowed by sixty-four cruising fleets of slightly lesser strength, distributed among various Star Domains. All of these forces were directly governed by the Central Council of the Rose Federation, representing the T1-T2 stage military forces within the country. Their equipment was always the best andtest, serving as the skeletal structure that maintained the Federation''s integrity and unity. Then there were the stationed fleets within each Star Domain, generallymanded by the Star Domain''s generals, supporting local Governors as needed and executing tasks such as escort missions, guard duty, suppression, and quelling rebellions, among others. Many of their ships and armaments were retired from frontline service, categorizing them as T3 stage military forces within the Federation. Next came the ground formal forces stationed on Inhabitables, residential space stations, and Mineral Stars, with a mix of good and poor equipment, mostly within the T4-T5 stages. Further down were the special police forces within each city, like the soldiers currently carrying out clearance operations in Payin City''s underground, roughly considered T6 stage military forces. But even that wasn''t the bottom tier. At the very bottom were the local police departments and the riot-control Autonomous Units installed in residential and living areas; they were about T7 stage armed forces. The Federation allowed some special upations to carry firearms, but these professionals had to be affiliated with licensed firms, allowing the Federation''s authorities to conduct periodic inspections and audits. The arms permitted for these civilians could not exceed those of formal officers, roughly between T7 and T7.5 stages. Although the Rose Federation''s military was not weak, it was mostly far removed from the lives of ordinary people, and those from the Underground World had even less knowledge and ess to it¡ªthe most they knew was the armed presence embodied by the formal police officers. Lacking knowledge and exposure over time, many from the underworld gangs developed a certain illusion, believing the Rose Federation to be less formidable and unable to touch them, as they had lived freely for over a decade without witnessing the Federation''s iron fist or violence. After listening to Qiao Long''s exnation, the people present became disheartened, abandoning their initial thoughts of fighting their way out to another city or remote region. "In a moment, everyone throw away your weapons, and then disperse as best you can, preferably avoiding the areas where we usually operate. Head to those underground areas where they don''t know us." "After that, just wait for the Federation forces to detain us, as long as they don''t take action against ''civilians''." Saying this, Qiao Long shook his head. In reality, he was not very confident, but there were no better options at this point. "Let''s go our separate ways, whether we will meet again is left to fate," he sighed, drew his gun from his waist, and threw it on the table. Seeing Qiao Long do so, the others followed suit, each tossing their guns out. "Without guns, the time awaiting the Federation''s sweep is the most dangerous. Be careful of retaliation and framing from other underground people," Qiao Long advised once more. "Understood, Brother Long." "That''s that, farewell. There is no longer a Haoun Gang; you are no longer bound by my orders. If you''re fortunate enough to survive in the Federation, stay away from this line of work in the future. Just live a simple and honest life; living peacefully is enough." Having said that, Qiao Long patted each of their shoulders in turn, then walked out first. Before long, the rest also dispersed, and thest fire ignited, consuming all the military arsenal and weapons left in that stronghold. After leaving the stronghold and traveling several hundred meters through the cavern, Qiao Long stopped and looked back at the two figures who had been following him. "Why did you guys follow me again? Didn''t we agree to split up? I have a record at the Payin City police station, following me won''t end well for you." The gang members with no records might survive, but he was a marked man, and the Federation''s sweep this time wouldn''t spare him. "Boss." The hefty man stood still, his expression uncertain. "You''re stuck again, dumbass." The skinny tall one kicked him, then stepped forward. "Boss, we''re still with you, no matter where you go." "Heh, following me to your death?" Qiao Long nced at the two, shaking his head. "The other day, I went to great lengths to ask that youngdy to treat both of you, not for you to throw your lives away so easily." "Holmes, teacher, and you guys were the closest to me. Now that the teacher is dead, and Holmes has changed, it would be hard for me to rest easy if you just threw your lives away like this." He punched a wall, feeling frustrated. "Boss¡­" The chubby man started to speak again, wanting to say something. "No need to say, Blu, I know you''re not good with words. I understand what you mean." Qiao Long waved his hand, then took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and leaned against the wall, looking up at the dark cave ceiling, where a few bats hung upside down. "Wanting to repay a debt, huh? You feel you can''t leave me on my own, like it would be dishonorable?" He put down the cigarette and exhaled a bit of smoke. "So foolish... tsk." He couldn''t understand why there were such fools in the Underground World. After a while, the cigarette in Qiao Long''s hand slowly burned down, and then he threw it away. "Alright, I''ll give you a task, to ease your minds." "First, I''m sure I''m marked on the Federation''s wanted list, so I''m probably doomed. You both have the resident records I had the cops handle before, just reveal your identities in time, and there might be a sliver of a chance for survival." "If you survive, do a few things for me." "First, renew the gravesite fees for my teacher and Holmes''s mother, try to ensure they''re maintained for several decades, instead of getting destroyed before a hundred years." "Also, take the opportunity to make secret inquiries in the residential area about some past events. The youngdy who saved you once asked me to find someone for her. I guess I can''t do that anymore. It''s up to you now." "When making secret inquiries, be very careful and don''t rush. Spread out your questions over time, it''s best to blend in for 2-3 years before you start, I''m afraid you''ll blow your cover if you''re too hasty. And that youngdy certainly wouldn''t want any trouble over this matter." "We are the small fry; it''s fine if we fail in our task. The big shots won''t care too much, they have more means and channels. But if you cause unnecessary trouble, it''s a grave mistake, understand?" "Understood, Brother Long." "That''s all I wanted to say, now go." He flicked the cigarette away, then stamped it out under his foot, and disappeared into the dark depths of the underground. Chapter 101 : 59 Interrogation By the time he returned to Payin City, it was already 11 p.m. All Hexia wanted to do was get a sound sleep, and he had hardly finished bathing before he passed out on the bed. Soon, the quiet breathing sounds filled the room. Unlike the peaceful residential areas during the night, the world at this moment was undergoing a tremendous change. The ring floodlights illuminated what used to be a dim and chaotic cave environment. Under the surveince of the federal soldiers, the people from the Underworld were shackled with Restraining Bracelets and then escorted to a temporary detention center. There, they would be subjected to individual scrutiny and interrogation, and based on the judgment of the examiner, they would be sent to different ces for reformation. Those with lesser offenses and younger in age might be released after a few years, while those with worse attitudes and rebellious personalities might be imprisoned for life. Even so, they were still luckier than those who had died unnoticed in the Underworld. Though they lost their freedom,pared to the average lifespan of no more than 25 years in the Underworld, their lives would now be extended by a considerable amount. "Name?" asked the examiner from behind a sturdy transparent metal partition, temporarily reassigned from other districts. "Blu," the hefty man replied humbly, seated like a small mountain on the chair. "What did you do for a living in the Underworld?" "I helped to sell damaged fruits to the people of the Underworld," he said, which wasn''t false¡ªhe really did manage such transactions for the gang before. "Oh, and where did these fruitse from?" The examiner wouldn''t believe him on his word alone. Their Transcendent Profession included certain lie detection abilities; not just anyone could deceive these experts. "They came from a supermarket in the lower residential levels. They would dump the spoiled fruits at the garbage station, and we would collect them in advance." "How did you manage to take things from the garbage station? There should be surveince and guards there." "Indeed, there are, but we had an agreement with the guards and gave them a share of the profits, so we weren''t obstructed." Hearing this, the examiner tapped his fingertips on the desk, paused for two seconds, and then continued. "Specify the location of the garbage station and the name of the person you dealt with." "I can tell you, but I hope you won''t me him. His life isn''t easy either, after all, the wages at the garbage station are very low." "Cut the unnecessary talk," said the examiner inside, his expression unchanged. "It''s in the R351 area of the Underworld 67thyer, at 12 Pai Lu Street, at the waste processing station. The person I contacted is worker G183, named Klum, 71 years old." Hearing that the contact was an elderly man, the examiner inside frowned slightly, but said no more. He entered the data into theputer terminal before him and then picked up themunicator beside him. "...Yes, it''s in R351 area. We would need you to make a trip there." After putting down themunicator, he continued the interrogation, asking about Blu''s childhood, where he grew up. Compared to the previous information, this part was Blu''s weakness; after all, he was not a true federal resident, and his identity file had been forgedter on. "When I was a child, I lived in the F23 residential area of the Underworld 69thyer..." He strained to remember the information from the file, which luckily for him was filled in by Qiao Long based on his own life experiences, and he knew quite a bit about Qiao Long''s past. "You didn''t have any friends or acquaintances as a child?" "This..." Blu hesitated. After all, he was not very bright and couldn''te up with a perfect answer on short notice. Any hastily fabricated story might be seen right through by the examiner in front of him, undoing all his previous efforts. "As a child, I''ve forgotten many friends. I didn''t fare well myself, so I didn''t want to contact them." Blu tried to keep his emotions stable and spoke slowly. This was something Qiao Long had advised him before he left: when questioned by the federal examiners, try to lean towards the truth as much as possible. Even if telling a lie, it should be simr to or evoke empathy with his actual life, so as not to be easily seen through by an examiner. "It''s impossible not to have even one person. Even if you don''t keep in touch, name someone you used to get on very well with as a child; otherwise, your words will be taken with skepticism," suggested the examiner, his fingertips slowly drumming on the desk, exerting great psychological pressure on Blu. "Stop hesitating and just say the name," prompted the examiner with a coldugh after Blu paused for several seconds, continuing to apply pressure. "Alright, there was a friend named Holmes. We were friends when we were children, but we fell out recently over an argument," Blu, unable to think of anyone else, resorted to naming Qiao Long''s childhood friend¡ªthe man who had recently lost all his money gambling. ``` "Oh, tell me the specific door number and room number of his residence." "It is..." Blu reported Holmes''s home door number. Once confirmed, the examiner directly picked up themunicator and began dialing. All federal residential housing phone numbers were linked to addresses, so knowing the door te number was as good as knowing the phone number. After ringing for over ten seconds, the call connected, and a dull, listless male voice answered on the other end. "Hello, this is the Examination Hall of Jade Skirt in the Northern Seventh District under the federation. For official business, we have some questions we need to ask you for confirmation." "Examination Hall?" A voice of surprise and panic came from themunicator. "Yes, may we start asking now?" "Ah, um... alright, ask away." It wasn''t a good idea to rashly refuse the Examination Hall, given its significant power within the federation. "As a child, did you have a friend named Blu? He ims that he has been your friend since you were young." "Blu? Who''s that, out of the blue..." The voice on the other end grumbled. The chubby man on the other side of the ss partition was a bundle of nerves as he had to exin, "We don''t get along. He''s saying this on purpose because I lent him money before, which he used for gambling, and then Holmes''s mother died prematurely because of this incident, so we had a falling out." "Oh..." The examiner responded nomittally, nced at him, and continued with the questioning. "He said he once lent you a sum of money, which was meant for treating your mother''s illness, but you gambled it away." "Bullshit! Who said that... well, who else but him..." the man''s voice was full of irritation. "Er, I understand now, I do have this friend. And don''t call me again, we''re not that close, and if he dies out there, don''t contact me either." With that, the person on the other end hung up the phone. As he watched the disconnected call buzzing, the examiner''s face betrayed a slight expression of surprise. He looked at Blu and waited silently for a few seconds. At that moment, the staff who had been investigating the trash station also replied to him with a message. ... "Yes, that trash station is indeed watched over by an old man who has been doing this job for nearly 40 years. He ims he has sold countless pieces of trash to various people, with names like Blu, Link, Yoda, etc., and he doesn''t know specifically which one we''re referring to." "Although what he''s doing is illegal, it only amounts to a vition within the scope of his duties, with the worst consequence being a fine. And since he''s old, going to jail would probably be like living infort, so we don''t have much to pressure him with during a strict interrogation." After ending the call, the examiner hung up themunicator, tapped on the desk again, and paused for a few seconds. "You''re lucky." "Although I still have my doubts, we''re in a crisis right now, with thousands of people queuing outside. We can''t afford to waste resources on a small fry like you." "You''ve passed. After being detained and reviewed for a month, you will be released on probation, granted temporary freedom. However, if youmit any vition of federalw within five years, you will be caught and returned to prison for harsh punishment." He ticked off items on the projected form in front of him and then threw the pen down. "Cherish this hard-earned freedom." Although the examiner could tell that the chubby man in front of him had lied, he also saw that he wasn''t a thoroughly wicked person; there was at least a chance for him to reform. Upon hearing this, Blu slumped into the chair as if deted, it took him a long while to remember something. "Thank you for your kindness and leniency." He bowed deeply, then bobbed several times. The examiner inside paid him no mind and instead flipped through the file of the next person to be examined. He waved his hand, indicating for Blu to clear the spot and leave. ``` Chapter 102: Chapter 60 Wavering Heart A new day, Hexia walked through the spacious ''Dream of zed ss'' hall, continuing the work of yesterday, yet today, she seemed a bit distracted. Atst, when it was time for a lunch break, Hexia headed to Andusia''s wisteria flower room. Enjoy exclusive chapters from m-v l''e|-NovelBin "Is Sister Andusia here?" the girl asked quietly and then walked in to see the blonde maid watering the nts under the trellis. With a full and perfect figure, paired with her amodating and gentle nature, ''Andusia'' could indeed be the ideal ''housewife'' image for many, except this elf woman, a former cellist, remained unmarried. "I''m here, Dantalion hase back, right?" She put down the watering can and gently waved her fingertips, a breeze blew through the flower room, lifting drops of water that sparkled in the light, creating a faint rainbow. "Sister Andusia," Hexia''s voice sounded almost coquettish, like this was the second time she had shown such behavior in front of someone other than her mother. "What''s wrong, dear little Dantalion." Andusia turned around, her face brimming with a smile as she looked at the approaching girl. "I''ve encountered some affairs of the heart," Hexia sat next to Andusia, watching the elven sister water her flowers. "Tell me about it." ''Andusia,'' worthy of being the dream of many guests, affected even Hexia with her demeanor and tone. "It''s actually not that big of a deal¡­" she slowly began to talk about the entrance exam she had attended yesterday and what she encountered along the way. "After leaving Payin City, I realized how vast the world on the surface is, students from all over, the towering mountains of Northern First District, the broad zas, the splendid ptial architecture, and so on." She closed her eyes, recalling the experience of the day before. "It felt as if I peeked out from a tree hole and saw the outside world, so varied and immensely vast." "So, when you returned to Payin City today, you felt a great sense of disparity, didn''t you?" ''Andusia'' quickly perceived the girl''s thoughts. "Yes, there''s an indescribable sense of loss," said Hexia, looking down. "Back in ss, even though nobody paid much attention to me, my good grades provided a secret pleasure and contentment, soothing my inherently shy and fearful heart." "But after stepping out this time, I suddenly found that the world is too vast. Just the Northern First District of Jade Skirt has manyndscapes and buildings I''ve never seen before, prodigies, remarkable people¡­ Looking back now, Payin City actually seems like a very small ce, and although it has millions of people, it''s just like a grain of sand within the Federation," Hexia pondered while articting her thoughts. "And it''s also underground, nothing like the majestic scenery of the Northern First District, just like a dark mine, right~" ''Andusia'' giggled and added with a covered mouth. "It''s not that bad~" Hexia turned her face away, speaking with embarrassment. "I guess you want to ask me, as an elf, I must have been to many ces and seen a lot ofndscapes, but why do I stay in the small ce of Payin City to live and work." ''Andusia'' put down the watering can, dried her hands, then walked over to the other side, washed the plucked tea leaves and flower petals, and started to prepare tea. "Maybe it''s due to a different upbringing," she said as she brought the teapot over, ced it on the stove on the table, and began to heat it. "I was born in the Twin Trees Star Domain, one of the top three bustling star domains in the entire Federation, home to many elf families and nobility, and a popr ce for officials and the wealthy to own property." "Although it is the most bustling of star domains, the Twin Trees Star Domain still retains much of its forest in its original state, with majestic giant trees throughout the woods, the shuttlecraft light as leaves quietly passing between them, animals and nts, and amber-like buildings scattered among theyered forests, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment." "The air is fresh, and people live in harmony, hardly any criminals in sight, almost like the mythical Eden. Any passerby is amiable and friendly¡­ With perfect welfare and generous terms, people are free to pursue their hobbies, and that''s where I started learning music," Andusia reminisced slowly. Listenting to ''Andusia'' recount her experiences, Hexia could only imagine such a perfect environment and dreamlike scenes with her limited ten-plus years of life. "That''s right, although it''s the Central Star Domain of the Federation, it''s like a paradise isted from the mundane world." "I love everything about the Twin Trees Star Domain. I''ve lived there for a long time, performed a lot, and made many good friends." "But you know, Dantalion, life isn''t unchanging. After getting used to that kind of beauty, the murky and chaotic world outside started to be more and more attractive to me," Andusia said as her tone shifted. "It''s like some song movements that, although melodious and graceful, after listening for a while, you might feel that something is missing, whether it''s too mild or somewhat thin, and so on." "I''m not used to the hoarse, roaring rock music, but asionally listening to it, I can also sense the tenacious vitality that bursts forth in the struggle against agonizing predicaments." "Tainted with the soil and scars, it''s like the sound of coarse metal being sharpened, the searing emotions, the unextinguished defiance in a young heart, like vivid and intense colors, colliding with a pale pink canvas, creating a dazzling image." "This too is a beauty, a beauty that I find novel and yearn for." "Actually, Dantalion is the same, only 16 years old, a bit shy and timid, but still making an effort to do some things well, watching you take steps forward, sometimes I also feel encouraged." Andusia poured the brewed tea into the white porcin teacup with gold-trimmed floral edges, with a faint scent rising. "Have a drink." "Although Payin City is a small ce, it is also the starting point of your life, many things will slowly sprout from here, and it will also start from here." "When Dantalion goes to many prosperous and exciting ces in the future and then returns to this ce where you grew up, you will have apletely different feeling from now." "Don''t feel inferior about your current background and environment; they can''t define your life." ''Andusia'' stroked the hair of the girl in her arms, those soft strands slipping slowly between her fingers, then gently patted the girl''s back. "Are you satisfied with such an answer, Dantalion?" Soft sobs came from her embrace, "Mhm, satisfied, thank you, Sister Andusia." "No problem, things will get better gradually." Andusia looked down at the still young girl in her arms, her heart filled with myriad memories. It seemed that a long time ago, she too had cried in someone''s embrace, and at that time, they had yed a song for her. (Song: Beyond the Sky, from "Xenode" end credits song) "Please tell me why I am here" "From a distantnd, I saw your figure" "I came for you" "I don''t know why I''m chasing night and day" "By the time I arrive, darkness has set in" "The road ahead is dim and lightless" "The pitch ckness is despairing, yet I still seek you" "I just want to see your smile" "I know I won''t look back and have no regrets" "Without a guiding light in the pitch dark, will you be my light?" "And atst, I havee before you, just an inch away" "My heart follows you, unto forever... " Chapter 103: Chapter 61 New Work After being enlightened by Andusia, Hexia felt much less hesitation in her heart. The next day, after finishing her morning work, she came back to Andusia''s vine and flower room, ready to practice the violin. However, today there was another maid present. She had short, silver hair, with bangs partially covering one side of her face and eyes, a slender figure, dressed in a ck dress with silver-grey trim, and her legs were wrapped in dark grey stockings that outlined her well-proportioned and exquisite physique. "This must be the newpanion, ''Dantalion,'' right?" On seeing Hexia enter, she briefly nced at the young girl with her deep blue eyes. "Yes, our newpanion Dantalion," Andusia introduced as she beckoned the girl to her side. "This is ''Mammon,'' you can also call her ''Miss Grey Crow.'' She''s one of the seven special maids in our shop, representing ''greed'' from the Seven Deadly Sins." "Hello, I''m Dantalion," the girl said with a simple curtsy, then looked curiously at this ''Miss Grey Crow.'' "Mammon''s whereabouts are very mysterious. You probably won''t see her even a few times a month. She''s mainly in charge of pricing and some external business affairs in the shop." "External affairs?" "Hmm, how should I exin this? Basically, there are asional business promotions, such as using their products in our shop, like tablecloths, hand towels, the beverages in the cabs, and many transcendent ingredients," Hexia understood. It turned out that the tablecloths, hand towels, and drinks frequently seen in the shop, along with many transcendent ingredients, came about this way. "Yeah, Mammon is very good with money and pricing. She graduated from a top university in the Federal Central Star Domain and had previously worked in arge corporation," continued Andusia. "All right, there''s no need to go into so much detail." This ''Miss Grey Crow'' stopped Andusia from continuing. She turned around, looking at Hexia with interest, the cute girl in the ck and white maid''s dress. "I''ve heard about you. ''Botis'' also mentioned you to me. I didn''t expect so much to have happened during the month I was away." She cradled the teacup in her arms, her fingers lightly tapping the side of the cup. "You''re here to practice violin with Andusia today, aren''t you? Then I won''t continue to sit here and disturb you." She finished her tea, ced the teacup and the saucer on the table, and then stood up. "However, little Dantalion, we will have many opportunities to deal with each other in the future, and you will need me," she said as she picked up a small hat adorned with feathers and flowers and ced it on her head, walking past the young girl. Seeing Hexia somewhat at a loss, Andusia smiled and said, "She still likes to tease people like that, but it''s not bad." "Andusia, sister~" Hexia elongated the tone, her mind filled with many questions about ''Miss Grey Crow.'' "If it''s about ''Mammon,'' I won''t tell you now; you will graduallye to know by yourself. Her words before leaving were true; you may be long-term ''allies'' in the future." "You''re here to practice the violin today, right? Just a moment, let me clear the table." In the time that followed, Hexia once again sat on the high stool in the flower room, the soft and bright light above her, surrounded by lush vines, she began her first movement. The melody rose from low to high, from a gentle beginning to a gradually changing climax, serene yet melodious. Perhaps it was because the clouds in her heart had gradually dispersed, her violin ying today felt much more rxed and natural, less serious than before, more content and at ease, no longer deliberately trying to memorize the score, instead following the feelings in her heart to wander freely. The piece concluded, and Hexia remained sitting there with her eyes closed for a while before reluctantly opening them. Pat, pat, pat¡ª "Quite impressive, Dantalion, I didn''t expect you to improve so swiftly," Andusia apuded her. "Not at all, it was just a spur of the moment thing," the girl shook her head. She was uncertain if she could achieve thatpletely immersed feeling again. ''It''s fine, what starts as a spur of the moment can turn into frequent bursts of inspiration, and then into a matter of routine," knowing that Hexiacked confidence, Andusia continued to encourage her. "Let''s call it a day," Hexia set down the violin, packed it away, and then sat next to Andusia. ''It''s been almost a month since Dantalion started working at the shop, hasn''t it?" the elven big sister spoke. "Yes." "It''s time to get ready for your personal bar, or rather, your personal exclusive business." ''The maids hired by the shop are not just there to assist, for instance, my flower room, Botis''s jungle, Vurowus''s Western cuisine, Huale''s prepared beverages, Debi''s small chapel, and so on." ''72 Demon Gods, and 72 maids, each with their own charm and specialty, that is the biggest attraction of ''Dream of zed ss''." "Besides, having your own bar means more ie for you, Dantalion, and you''re about to attend high school, aren''t you?" said Andusia, giving Hexia a reason she couldn''t refuse. The thoughts of evasion that she initially had slowed down. "But when I applied for the job, the manager didn''t seem to ask if I had any special skills," the girl still felt uneasy. ''So-called ''skills'' and ''abilities'' are unearthedter on. When I first came to the shop, I didn''t know how to brew tea, let alone cultivate flowers; but the shop was missing such a role and position, and my personality and abilities happened to fit, so it was settled," Andusia exined, raising her finger and gently wagging it. "It doesn''t matter if you didn''t know how before; you just need to get familiar with it over time. Think about what you can offer to customers, and don''t feel embarrassed. Work is a sacred thing; essentially, it''s a refined division ofbor after social development, a way to efficiently exchange one''sbor for other resources." "You don''t have to hunt or gather water every day like ancient primitive people, nor do you need to be proficient in a variety of minor tasks. By focusing on your job, you can earn your daily needs. Specialized work fosters specialized abilities, and the efficiency of society as a whole is thereby increased." Anticipating the points Hexia might use to evade and avoid, Andusia''s words left her without any power to rebut, she could only nod inpliance. "I''ll give it some thought," she said, though at the moment, Hexia had no clue. Surely she couldn''t use the violin she had just learned to y for an audience, that was far too unprofessional. While she pondered hard, the blonde-haired maid beside her had already prepared an idea ahead of time. "Dantalion, do you know how this Demon God is described in the myths?" ''Dantalion appears in the image of different men and women, but he is always holding a book in his right hand. He teaches the Summoner all the arts and sciences, can uncover anyone''s secrets, knows all thoughts, and changes them at will.'' ''This is a Demon God rted to ''books.'' Dantalion can start from this aspect. And based on my observations, you also like reading books, so it shouldn''t be difficult for you, right?" A book-rted theme for my business, that really is quite a challenging theme, thought the girl, lost in contemtion. Chapter 104: Chapter 62 Edith Academy A month wasn''t an especially long time, and the recruitment work of various high schools within the Jade Skirt was gradually entering the retest or final stages, and this was also true for Edith Academy, ranked within the top four in the Star Domain. South First District, B12 block. Unlike the magnificent architectural style of the Northern First District, which was built against the mountains, the buildings in the South First District were more in line with people''s past imaginations of a technological future. The entire South First District was divided into 54 giant hexagonal blocks, which fit together and could even be moved when necessary. Among these 54 blocks, 6 were designated for living services, where residents could enjoy shopping, dining, recreation, rest, beauty, and entertainment inmercialplexes as transparent as crystal pces. 12 were residential blocks with various high and low buildings and parks scattered amongst them,plete with hospitals and police stations. 5 were blocks for the Federal Government''s official business, as this was the capital of Jade Skirt, and the headquarters of various institutions were located here. 12 weremercial blocks, home to majorpanies and enterprises, and so on. In addition to the mentioned functional blocks, there were others such as spaceship ports, military bases, industrial parks, schools, and so forth. And Edith Academy alone upied one entire block, its area no less than all of Payin City. Various academy-affiliated buildings were distributed within it, and it even had its forestry,kes, ski slopes, and more. Two giant corporations that deeply cooperated with Edith Academy had also constructedbs and research facilities on campus. Clean floors, service Autonomous Units avable everywhere, a beautiful environment, a variety of professional tutors and equipment, and the academy''s vastwork of connections¡ªstudents who grew up in such an environment were like running on a speeding train, something many students from ordinary high schools couldn''t reach. The advancements brought by technology made life more convenient, but also invisibly widened certain gaps, no longer an era where one could catch up by working in istion. At this moment, the meeting in the academy''s boardroom had just concluded, and important senior personnel were leaving. "Director Hayden, good day. I''m Fernandi, and there''s something I hope to report to you," said a tall man with a document pouch, greeting an elderly man who had just stepped out of the meeting room. "Fernandi, what is it?" The elderly man recognized the man before him; after all, Fernandi had received his sponsorship when he was young, and his current work within Edith Academy was also due to the elder''s support. "Please,e with me." The corridor wasn''t suitable for lengthy discussions, so the two headed to an airy, standalone balcony. A simple wave of the hand was all it took for the nearby Autonomous Unit to bring beverages for them. "Here''s the situation..." Fernandi began to tell about a girl with special Talent he met in the Northern Seventh District a month ago. "I see, it''s not impossible to let her enter the school through a special channel, but since you''ve reported to me, you must have encountered problems along the way," said the elderly man in a gentle voice. "Yes, Director Hayden," Fernandi opened the document pouch. "Students of Edith Academy, especially those entering through special channels, must be thoroughly investigated by the Academy regarding their backgrounds and origins, and only those who are qualified and problem-free are admitted." "But this seemingly ordinary girl has brought us quite a few questions, so the review has been stuck at this stage." He spread out the documents, which included not only Hexia''s photos and various data from her time at the school, student and teacher evaluations, but also information about Hexia''s parents, especially her sister Temisia. Staring at the profile in the documents, the girl with ck hair and purple eyes sent the old man down memoryne. "Temisia... indeed, a memorable name." Four years ago, that cohort at Edith Academy was truly a gathering of geniuses. Under their lead, the academy team defeated many strongpetitors from the schools in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, until in the final battle, they came up against a girl from Saint Ingo Academy. Like a brief purple meteor streaking across the night sky, Temisia faced off against four in the final, defeating the geniuses on whom Edith Academy had ced great hopes. And those who had a chance to challenge for the top Academy spot in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain were once again brought low. "But I''ve heard that Temisiater had an ident, and Saint Ingo Academy has been very secretive about it, forbidding others from mentioning that name again," said the old man as he put down the profile card. "That''s right, but as we delved deeper into our investigation, we discovered the situation was far moreplicated than that," "For example, the father of the two sisters has quite a few unclear areas in his documented history. Now, we have confirmed that his records are likely forged. Forging documents to this extent surely involved powerful backers or actors." "Fortunately, there were some clues on their mother''s side which we could follow. Tracing her line, we''ve uncovered another identity of their father." Having said that, Fernandi took out a data card with a photo of a short-haired, capable-looking man whose demeanor did not match what Hexia remembered at all; he didn''t look like the typical office worker and had an air of ferocity about him. "A core member of Mordor Law Firm, a High-Rank Transcendent from the shing de Sequence 6; often executed investigations and evidence collection for colossal corporations, participated in patent wars, then vanished without a trace over twenty years ago..." People who operated in gray areas were valued and employed by some giant corporations, but they were treated with the same considerations as lethal weapons - relied upon, but never allowed too close. After a long pause, the old man set down the data card and closed his eyes in thought. "No wonder you hesitated. It''s not just the precedent set by her sister, but also the matter of the father''s background." "Is her father still around?" the old man opened his eyes. "No, ording to the files, her father has been missing for over a year now." "He''s probably staying clear of her to avoid causing trouble. A person like him can only bring problems to those around him as long as he''s alive. I wager he disappeared on purpose." "Logically speaking, feigning death would be more convenient, but that would be too heartbreaking for his daughter, who is still young, with her entire family gone." The two fell into another silence. Finally, the old man spoke. "Let me exin to the board of directors. You take the files and necessary documents, go straight to the Northern Seventh District to find her, and bring her to live in the South First District." "If her sister could create the miracle of the past, then as the younger sibling, she won''t fall too far behind. Edith Academy has already failed once on the path to bing number one - we cannot continue to fail like this," he slowly stood up. "Besides, I''m very curious to see the expressions on the faces of those from Saint Ingo Academy when shepetes as our Academy''s representative." "Although there''s no direct evidence, after Temisia''s death, Saint Ingo Academy did not provide any aid or support to their family, indicating the rtionship between the Academy and their family isn''t as harmonious as outsiders might think. And I just happen to know that today''s Saint Ingo Academy, despite being filled with officials'' children, has also caused arrogance and hubris among the students, with frequent infighting and contests for prestige," Having finished speaking, the old man gazed into the distance. "If not for Temisia, that shooting star, the number one position in the Star Domain would have been rotated four years ago. Those people have been sitting there for too long, practically rotting in ce." "The foundation of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain isn''t weak, but it can never develop with those bloated leeches in power... It''s time to take action." "Yes, I will set off right away." After receiving affirmation, Fernandi stood up, bent in a bow, his hesitation vanishing in an instant, his voice sounding much more resolute. Three hourster, a white airne adorned with blue Rose patterns made an emergency departure. It would fly across the vast Jade Skirt ocean, throughyers of poisonous rain and clouds, towards that remote city in the north that no one cared about, where fate would once again wrap around that destined name, an inescapable connection to their past. ps: Going live this afternoon, thest time. Chapter 105: Belated Acknowledgments Bted Launch Reflections 0 0/~ I was a bit tired yesterday and didn''t manage to write this, sorry >.< Speaking of which, this is the second time the book has gone live, I actually didn''t feel quite ready, so Imunicated with the editor again and Your journey continues at m v|l-e''-NovelBin postponed it from June 1st to June 3rd. In the meantime, I updated several chapters consecutively, and on the 3rd, I released 2 free chapters before finallyunching the VIP chapters. Those of you who have stuck with it until here are probably the long-time fans ughs) The early stages of this book were a bit chaotic, with the various plotlines not very clear. I guess many of you have noticed. In fact, this is also a result of the inner struggles and adjustments of Qing Kong. There''s actually a lot I want to write about, such as the civilizational transformations between the Fourth and Sixth Eras, their dramatic ups and downs, how Hexia slowly grew and evolved, the profound albeit hidden rtionship between the Color Level Songstress and the Federation, and the details and concepts of life across various societal strata in the Federation today. I feel like I''m the type who loves cozy day-to-day life, yet restless with just that, kind of wanting it all, or a bit discontented 0 0,, It''s like sitting in a ssroom watching ssmates y basketball, sitting inside listening to the rain tapping, or cuddling up to a warm stove and watching the snow outside the window. I don''t want to bepletely isted from the world, which would cause me a bit of panic and unease, fearful of being abandoned and left behind, obsolete. But I also don''t want to fully engage inpetition, always wanting to keep a bit of distance from the mainstream, not wanting to be engulfed by the sweeping tide of major trends, because then I feel like I wouldn''t be myself anymore. This awkward mentality, when reflected in the chapters I type, is just like this, on one hand I like it, but on the other, I resist it. (I say I don''t want it, but in my heart, I like it, right?) Cough cough, let''s stop here for now. I''ve straightened out a lot of the plotlines today. I was too eager before, fearing that if things moved too slowly, you''d give up on the book. Now that it''s already not perfect, I don''t care anymore and will just proceed at a rxed pace. I''ll slowly narrate the majestic historical changes from the Fourth to the Sixth Era, slowly tell the story of how Tn became an impressive and exceptional dark Songstress, slowly recount how the picture book in Hexia''s hands records the vivid and astonishing colors, those shining stars, those ordinary little things. I hope they all can be embellishments in your dreams. This is Qing Kong, hoping to bring you a world unlike any other. Chapter 106: Chapter 63 The Beginning of the Seven-Colored Picture Book After work, the wisteria flower room was a gathering ce for seven maids of distinct temperaments. Some sat at the table drinking tea, some leaned against the side of the doorframe, while others closed their eyes to listen, and at that moment in their midst, a figure, still somewhat childish, sat on a high stool with closed eyes ying the violin. The tranquil music flowed quietly in the flower room bathed in the afterglow, and immersing in it was like a walk under a far and azure sky with a sea of flowers sprawling across the hills and dales. The soft petals bloomed amid the sunshine, swaying tenderly and brilliantly, as if one were falling into a dream. Remembering the climb up the high tower stairs, with the warm rock walls as support, the scenery inside that white castle was so vivid and memorable. With her music, Hexia narrated that distant golden dream, the scenery she saw in her dreams that day, and the delicate emotions carried by the singing. The piece concluded. The girl slowly opened her eyes and gently touched the smooth and warm surface of the violin with her fingers, still embracing the lingering nostalgia and pleasant feelings within her heart. Once she thought it was just a dream, yet the dream felt more real and touching than reality. Even after so long, she could still recall every detail with rity. The Golden me Flower, Isenisha, her singing in the dream was so melodious and lingering, peaceful yet tinged with a hint of sorrow and reminiscence. Her conversation with Hexia was but a few words, yet it seemed to express a thousand words. "Very good, or rather, too good, so much so that I don''t know how to describe it," said one of the seven maids, the green-haired figure who wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and then looked at the girl on the high stool with a gaze full of passion andplexity. Dantalion, your achievements will far surpass mine in the future, which is something I should be happy about, but why do I feel a bit sad as well? Perhaps it was the music that infected me with this sense of mncholy for everything. "I wasn''t wrong about you, Dantalion, you truly have such an extraordinary talent," Belfeng quietly gave the girl a thumbs-up. "I seem to have even more confidence in her now," said ''Vurowus,'' who lightly sipped the tea in her hand before setting it down, smiling at the girl who was still lost in her own world. A maid with bull horns picked up the bottle and filled the ss in front of her again, passing it to the green-haired maid ''Botis'' next to her. "Today was indeed a rare performance to appreciate, you must be very pleased," said ''Sekong,'' the bartender of the establishment, who was one of the few who knew of Botis'' past. "Dantalion, keep it up," whispered the little angel ''Debi'' with a golden pentagram on her forehead. "What about it, Nabe, got any inspiration?" ''Andusia'' poured more tea for the long-haired maid with bangs in front of her and asked with a beaming smile. "Andusia~" the maid referred to briefly as ''Nabe''ined softly, nced at the blonde Elves before her, then picked up the teacup and sipped, avoiding the gaze of her friend beside her. Enjoy new stories from m-v l''e|-NovelBin Nabe Rius (Naberius): The 24th Demon God among King Solomon''s 72 Pirs, depicted as a ck crane pping its wings, mastered all arts and sciences, especially rhetoric. In the establishment, Belfeng had mentioned to the young girl about a maid skilled at making clothes, referring to ''Nabe Rius.'' She was reserved, often wearing a ck maid''s long dress, sitting in her quiet and secluded booth, seldoming out. asionally, a customer would visit this maid to ask her to tailor a garment, sitting there while watching her earnestly and step by step sew the clothes together. Scissors and threads, the old sewing machines, would dance lightly between her slender fingers, transforming the fabric into clothes that fit just right, sparking a sense of relief and happiness. "I have a bit of inspiration, but turning it into reality will probably take a considerable amount of time to ponder," Andusia had just asked Nabe Rius if she could design a set of performance clothes for Dantalion. "It might take about a month to get the design right, I wonder if you all can wait that long," she said, setting down her teacup. "That''s fine, follow your own pace," Andusia knew her nature well; rushing her would likely have the opposite effect. "Then I''ll wait patiently," said Nabe Rius, whose mood seemed to have improved considerably. Today, Hexia managed to y her first piece entirely and proficiently, which was the reason Andusia had invited everyone over. A solitary performance without an audience is regrettable, and she also wanted the young girl to gradually get ustomed to performing in front of others. The turnout today was not extensive, just the establishment''s maids, likely the least stressful environment. After setting the violin down and storing it properly, Hexia walked up to everyone with light and slightly shy steps, looking like a child waiting for praise but too embarrassed to ask for it outright. "The best, Dantalion~" ''Belfeng,'' the rabbit-eared maid, was the first to give the young girl a hug, and the atmosphere immediately shifted from calm to lively. "Dantalion''s progress has far exceeded my estimates," Vurowus spoke up. "If little Dantalion could just mature a bit more, she would definitely be a dazzling star on the stage,"mented the mature and full-figured Bull Horn Tribe maid, Sekong. "The junior I''ve taught is indeed not bad," Botis also revived with enthusiasm at this moment. "You''re still so lucky," Andusia said with a hidden meaning. "Dantalion~" Debi raised the bird in his hand, making a praising gesture towards the girl. "It''s this child," Nabe Rius mused. The few of them talked andughed noisily, and after the conversation went on for a while, the topic slowly shifted to the other purpose of today''s gathering, which was to help Dantalion think about the future direction of her business. "Does it have to do with ''books''?" Vurowus tilted his head and pondered. "How about opening a bookstore?" Belfeng''s idea was, as expected, straightforward. "But that''s toomonce," the Bull Horn Tribe maid, Sekong, by their side, shook her head. The two of them were rare beastkin subspecies in the shop, so they got along well. "A librarian?" Botis casually suggested. "But we don''t have that many books in our shop to manage," Andusia shook her head. "So what should we do, we can''t just sell the books like we do performances, can we." "Performances? Maybe that''s not a bad idea," Andusia seemed to have thought of something. "Can we really do that?" Belfeng said he''d just spoken off the top of his head. "Haven''t you noticed that Dantalion has a very good voice? If she became a voice actor, she would probably be the kind that people get addicted to," Andusia suggested. As a former musician and someone sensitive to vocal tones and timbres, Andusia was particrly attentive to this aspect. As for why Botis hadn''t noticed, one could only say that because of his passion for rock, he was more skilled in that kind of fiery enthusiasm and not so good with the finer details. "Are you suggesting that Dantalion, like singing poems, should narrate stories from books to the guests?" Nabe Rius quickly caught on. "You are my best friend for a reason, you understood so quickly," Andusia nodded. "I see," everyone suddenly got the idea. "Indeed, that seems like a viable business approach." "What about you, Dantalion? How do you feel about this idea?" "I will work hard," Hexia also felt a bit excited about this idea. It suited her much more than peddling books or exining them to others. "Very good~" "So, the final questiones." "Dantalion, what kind of stories do you want to bring to everyone? Will they be epic legends that make countless people cheer and get excited, fables that are reflective and poignant, or children''s tales as touching as vivid seven-colored flowers?" Perhaps many yearster, when people trace back through the annals of history, they will discover that on an insignificant afternoon in this modest coffee shop, the colorful picture books that would depict vast civilization epics and countless legendary stories had their first page turned here. Chapter 107: Chapter 64: An Unexpected Visit (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch 守æ’_lulu) "I understand the n." It was still that corner spot by the window, where the manager in a pink and white female suit leisurely reviewed the proposal Belfeng had submitted over a cup of coffee, with the rxed demeanor of an animal basking in the sun on a haystack. Although there wasn''t an explicit hierarchy among the maids in the cafe, there were still senior and junior rtionships. For instance, Hexia was brought in under the guidance of Belfeng, so naturally, she was considered her junior. Usually, when the manager had instructions or tasks to pass on, she would do so through Belfeng, who would organize the maids like Hexia (Dantalion), Debi, and others to handle them. The special bar counter was also organized by Belfeng before being submitted for the manager''s review. "The cost seems quite high, but considering Dantalion''s special circumstances, I''ll approve it." The manager ced the proposal on the table, picked up her ck personal terminal, and gently pressed down with her short, stout arms. Finally, a ck stamp reading ''Approved'' was embossed on the surface of the proposal. "You give this proposal to ''Leviathan''; she will be responsible for having it properly decorated." The manager mentioned another name from the Seven Deadly Sins, ''Envy,'' within the cafe. Being one of the special maids in the cafe, ''Leviathan,'' who represented the sea monster, was said to be a woman d in a whiteb coat who rarely showed herself in front of outsiders. She typically stayed in the frosty machine room below ''Dream of zed ss,'' where the AI that controlled all the facilities in the cafe, security monitors, and several standby security maintenance Autonomous Units were located. "Dealing with ''Leviathan'', huh..." Belfeng felt a bit of a headacheing on; that woman had a peculiar personality, and was someone she seldom could handle. "No worries, she will cooperate with you this time." The manager dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand before picking up her hat from the side, putting it on, and standing up. It was time for her nap again. "After the bar is decorated, you all should try it out for a few days before handing it over to Dantalion to run." With that, she waved her hand and the plump figure departed. "The manager is always like this, leaving everything to me to do." Belfeng murmured aint as shey on the table. Suddenly, she remembered certain rumors within the cafe, suggesting that the manager herself was the former bearer of the title ''Sloth'' before she joined. "Well, with the manager being the big ''Sloth,'' I guess I have to be ''Diligence.''" Her rabbit ears twitched slightly and then drooped, irresistibly inviting one to stroke them. After a while, she stood up with renewed energy, or perhaps one should say, true to her rabbit nature. "However, I will soon be preparing a room for Dantalion, and thinking about it gets me a bit excited. This time it will be a huge sess." On the other side of ''Dream of zed ss,'' Hexia was in Debi''s tiny chapel. Today, the little ''Angel'' Debi with a cute star on her forehead had just finished listening to the confessions of the patrons, and it was time for her to rest. "Is this how you normally work, Raby?" Hexia sat beside Debi, and the two youngest maids of the cafe had always been close. "That''s the way it is." Dressed in a white robe, ''Debi'' closed the ck and golden scripture and ced it on her chair, then sat down on it. Now her height was almost the same as Hexia''s. Usually, after listening to the confessions and feelings of the patrons, she wouldfort them with words of ritual from the scripture. "But such ritual words, many patrons must have heard them before, right?" The girl was a bit puzzled. "Yes, that''s right, all theforting words from the scriptures are very simr." Debi gently swung her legs, then opened the treasure box of cookies in herp, nibbling the snacks inside. She was younger than Hexia and at the age where one enjoys sweets and desserts. Stay connected with m-v l|e''-NovelBin "Do you think it''s not good to repeat the same words and stories, Dantalion?" Debi asked. "There is a bit of that feeling." "But you know, Dantalion, people don''t tire of hearing the same answers." "It''s like many stories, the general plot is always so simr, yet people still listen and watch tirelessly." "When I was in church school, the teacher told us that when peoplee to the church to confess or express their feelings, they are not necessarily seeking some novelfort or answers, nor do they always feel like they can''t go on living. They simply hope that someone is willing to sit there, listen patiently to their story, empathize, and say a few words. In this way, the corners of life burdened with misunderstandings and obscurities are somehow relieved andforted." "Stories are just a medium; the emotions they wish to convey are sincere and precious." "This is the maxim left to us by my teacher''s teacher''s teacher. I''ll share it with you, Dantalion. Though I don''t quite understand its profound meaning, it must be useful, otherwise, it wouldn''t have been passed down." "The story Dantalion wants to tell has definitely been told by others before, but, like many pieces of music yed over and over again by countless musicians, each person''s interpretation is different, surely containing their own emotions." "So, Dantalion, you don''t have to worry that your story is not novel or original enough. Even though... well, I''m not sure how to express it but..." "Dantalion should be able to do it, use your books and singing to bring othersfort and peace," Debi''s voice was childish yet sincere. "Truly an angel..." Hexia murmured softly, looking at the girl in front of her who was about her age. Though petite, as if a gust of wind could sweep her away, she was unexpectedlyforting. "Thank you, Raby." The girl nodded, her initial tensionpletely dissipating. Though the path ahead was still unclear, all one had to do was keep going. In the following days, a pir within ''Dream of zed ss'' began to be enclosed for renovation, and Hexia''s life gradually stabilized with a fixed routine of work, piano practice, studying, and preparing for the first picture book she would present. Gradually, she almost forgot that she still had to attend high school until one day after work, when she encountered the man who had been waiting at her front door for a long time. Amidst the disordered residential corridor, he stood under the light, somewhat out of ce in his crisp ck suit. "Hello, may I ask..." Although the man before her looked somewhat familiar, the girl was notpletely sure, having only seen him once at the enrollment event. "Hello, you must be Hexia, we''re meeting for the second time." The man, who was slightly burly, extended his hand, offering the girl a specially made business card. [Edith Academy, Fernandi, Position: Level B Special Envoy...] The somewhat stiff card was engraved with lifelike patterns of blue-ck roses, the emblem of Edith Academy. "I''m here to invite Miss Hexia to enroll at Edith Academy," he stated his intention outright. "Eh, isn''t there something like a re-examination required?" the girl asked, puzzled. "No need, Miss Hexia has already proven your talent to us." He then took out an assessment report from his briefcase, from a professional institution within the Federation, rating her talent based on her performance that day. Structural Integration [Perfect Level]: Physically perfect integration of splits and defects, with many undiscovered points, she might have the potential for a Legendary Talent, it''s just not all revealed yet. "ording to the regtions of Edith Academy, if one is evaluated with a Perfect Level Talent Ability, one can be enrolled without examination." "I see." Odd, if this had been before, she might have been so overjoyed she''d faint, but now she couldn''t seem to muster much excitement. Perhaps it was because she had already experienced the splendor in the Northern First District, and also obtained a spot at Yuanting Academy. Seeing Hexia''s indifferent expression, which was entirely different from her earlier demeanor, the teacher felt surprise and sensed a bad omen. "What are Miss Hexia''s thoughts on this?" "As for me... actually, I just finished the re-examination for Yuanting Academy not long ago." She didn''t want to purposely hide anything or trouble the teacher before her, so she spoke her mind directly. "Yuanting Academy, indeed, it''s also a good school." In Fernandi''s mind, Yuanting Academy was two levels below Edith Academy where he worked, but for the sake of maintaining a good image, it wouldn''t be right to speak ill of it. "However, our Edith Academy has more advantages, and I suspect that Miss Hexia might not fully understand..." He wanted to exin the situation in detail but it also wouldn''t do to keep standing outside her door. Seeing the teacher step aside to reveal the door behind him, Hexia understood that he wanted to have a longer talk with her. After a brief contemtion, she felt it wasn''t right to keep him waiting outside when he hade such a long way to see her. "I''ll open the door, please give me a moment." Using the identity chip on her wrist, she swiped open the door and then stepped inside. . . . ps: That''s it for today; I''ve written four chapters with nearly ten thousand words, and I''m tired 0 0. Continuing tomorrow, also asking for monthly votes 0 0/. For every 100 monthly votes, one bonus chapter will be added, and five for the Alliance Hierarch, with the bonus chapters striving to bepleted within this month, or at thetest next month. Chapter 108: Chapter 65: Adhere to Ones True Heart As Fernandi stepped into Hexia''s home, his gaze swept around, and without close observation, one could quickly discern that the financial situation of the household was not ideal. Upon entering the corridor after the main door, an old motorcycle with four jet nozzles stood. Its thick, wide tires nked the ability to levitate and take flight, a quality that made it exceptionally loved by many for its ability to transport people quickly and its extra agility due to its small size. However, looking at the dust settled on the motorcycle''s surface and its worn, outdated casing, it seemed the motorcycle could be older than Hexia herself. "That was bought by dad. He used to ride it to work, but it broke downter and has been left there ever since," the girl exined upon seeing Fernandi''s interest in the motorcycle, assuming he was also an enthusiast. "The ''Crossbow-Y2'' is indeed very old, but it''s also a ssic model," Fernandi reminisced about his own youthful days. Although he no longer paid attention to many of the newer models, he could recognize the old ones at first sight. After a brief exchange, they walked into the house. Hexia first took off her little leather shoes, switched into cool flip-flops, the toes wrapped in white socks tapped lightly across the hall, squatted in front of a side cab to find a pair of oversized flip-flops for temporary use, and then handed them out for Fernandi to use. Once he was seated, she continued to warm up the tea, then sat down on a bamboo mat sofa not far across from him. The ceiling light in the living room cast a bright yellow glow with a hint of warmth, making the interior look less bleak. Although the room was roughly clean, thinyers of dust had umted in the corners. Being busy with her studies, the girl didn''t have much time to take care of the house, and since domestic robots were too expensive, it stayed that way. After all, she didn''t often have visitors, so she decided to save some energy and time. That''s how Hexia reasoned with herself, but today was an exception. Fernandi wasn''t surprised by such an environment; even though he now worked at Edith Academy, he too had faced economic hardships in his youth and knew ordinary people couldn''t devote a lot of energy to maintaining so-called ''cleanliness and order''. After taking a sip of tea, he continued speaking to the gray-haired girl sitting opposite him. "I''m very sorry for contacting Hexia sote, but there were indeed some issues that caused a dy," he began with an apology. "If I had given notice earlier, Hexia might not have faced such difficulty." He began by apologizing. "But choosing an academy is, after all, an important life decision, and I would like to introduce the advantages of Edith Academy in detail, then let Hexia make her own decision." "Um, thank you for your consideration." At this moment, Hexia was keen to find out what conditions Edith Academy would offer. Did they truly value her that much? After all, there was no familiarity between them, and she had only revealed a part of her Talent. In the Federation, nearly everyone practiced the Transcendent Sequence, but about 60% of people would remain at Sequence 2, 37% at Sequence 3, and the proportion reaching Sequence 4 was no more than 3%. Among those Transcendents at Sequence 4, it would take about 50 people for one to advance to Sequence 5, with even fewer reaching beyond that. Although all were Transcendents, a minority had special Talents that made them particrly adept in certain areas, achieving effects that others could only dream of, either twice as effective or a hundred times more so. For example, someone with a freezing Talent at the same Sequence and profession, whenpared with someone without any Talent, those with an [Excellent Level] Talent could create ice blocks of about 1.5 times the volume using up all their Magic Power,pared to those without Talent. An [Superior Level] Talent could increase the multiplier to 2-3 times, an [Rare Level] Talent to 3-5 times, and a [Perfect Level] Talent to 6-10 times. As for [Legendary Level], they are off the list, requiring a Talent Ability that overturns somemon sense to be called [Legendary Level]. [Excellent Level] and [Superior Level] Talents can make a Transcendent particrly strong in a certain area, but they might not contribute much to their own advancement. With [Rare Level] and [Perfect Level] Talent Abilities, as long as Transcendents advance in professions rted to their Talents, they can get a tremendous boost, and the difficulty of advancing greatly decreases. For instance, if a person with a [Perfect Level] freezing Talent aims to advance to Primordial Sequence 5, the Frost Walker, it would be far less difficult than for someone with no Talent at all. This signifies to the world that possessing a [Rare Level] Talent ensures at least an achievement of Sequence 5 in the future, and with a [Perfect Level] Talent, one could reach at least Sequence 6. In the entirety of Payin City with a poption of about one million, and approximately 12,000 students graduating each year, there are likely only 7 to 8 individuals who reach Stage 5, and a Transcendent at Sequence 6 may appear once every ten years. As mentioned earlier, those with Perfect Level Talents need only put in a little effort to reach Sequence 6; using the metaphor of tea-picking, Edith Academy''s recruitment of Hexia would be equivalent to plucking the top-Talented student that Payin City had cultivated for nearly a decade. Despite possessing such a unique and exceptional Talent, Hexia herself wasn''t aware of how precious this was, possibly because of her sister''s presence, which had made her ustomed to such things. Subconsciously, she thought if even her sister hadn''t surpassed her, then she must be far from the top, unaware that Temisia''s Talent was beyond ordinary imagination. Fernandi pondered the conditions that Yuanting Academy had offered to Hexia, preparing to raise his own offer by two notches to break through the psychological defenses of the young girl sitting before him. ``` "Firstly, if Hexia joins our academy, we won''t just waive your tuition fees, we will also provide a subsidy of 100,000 Federation Coins each month." He estimated that Yuanting Academy could offer Hexia at most 8,000 Federation Coins a month in subsidies, and as a recruitment officer, he was quite aware of the conditions set by his counterparts. One hundred thousand Federation Coins... When the girl heard this number, she failed to catch much of what was said afterward. She began to calcte with her fingers, thinking that even if she worked at ''Dream of zed ss,'' the most luxurious ce in Payin City, she would not earn 100,000 a month. In her most frugal times this past year, her monthly expenses were only around 900 Federation Coins, so 100,000 Federation Coins meant that she could get by nearly 10 years on the leanest budget. In reality, while Edith Academy did provide subsidies for students with special talents, this amount had never exceeded 30,000 Federation Coins per month. The offer of 100,000 was after Fernandi got the approval from Director Hayden, who agreed to pay out of his own pocket, but since it wasn''t his money, he naturally wouldn''t feel the pinch. In addition, such a high subsidy took into ount Hexia''s family situation, ensuring that she wouldn''t struggle financially during high school. The pursuit of the Transcendent Sequence bes increasingly expensive, requiring investments in numerous gadgets, Spiritual Medicine, and even tutoring courses, all as costly as gold. The professional sses of some masters could charge thousands of Federation Coins an hour and still be priceless, while those who could educate themselves were few and far between. "...Furthermore, we have prepared a house for you in South First District, you can move in directly andmence living there." After missing a long string of words, when Hexia finally snapped back to attention, Fernandi had already moved on toter parts of the conversation. "Moving..." Although her current home wasn''t well-located and was rather dpidated, the thought of leaving made her somewhat reluctant. "I don''t want to move now, if I must, I''d rather wait and talk about itter." The girl shook her head. "Additionally, although the terms you offer are very tempting to me, I did participate in the re-examination at Yuanting Academy after all. To reject it without good reason is quite difficult." Before she left, Vitelina had said many things to her and even given her amemorative gift. Although these were minor things, abandoning the other party like this didn''t feel right; the least she could do was tomunicate with Yuanting Academy first. "Is that so¡­" Hearing Hexia''s refusal, Fernandi fell silent for a moment. He knew that it wasn''t a matter of how generous the offer was; he was confident that Yuanting Academy couldn''t match his offer, but Hexia still refused, indicating she did not approve of such impetuous breach of agreement. Should he call it naivety, or does she have her own thoughts and beliefs? Fernandi thought to himself, marveling at her ability to resist such a temptation. Perhaps it was a form of strength, a certainty about her own future, believing that she could gradually achieve sess even without relying on these advantages. "If it''s about Yuanting Academy, I can help youmunicate with them. The high schools under the Jade Skirt are quite familiar with each other, and I also know a few teachers at Yuanting Academy." "In that case¡­" Hexia pondered and, finding no reason to object, she nodded. "Then I''ll take my leave for today, we''ll contact Hexia again in a few days after we''vemunicated with Yuanting Academy." "If you have any questions or matters in the meantime, you can call me. Also, if you encounter any troubles in life, don''t hesitate to tell us. Hexia might not understand, but within the Jade Skirt, there is very little Edith Academy cannot do." He stood up, adjusted his clothes slightly, and confidently bid farewell to the young girl. "Thank you, Mr. Fernandi, for your kindness," Hexia said, also standing to see him off. After Fernandi left the house and was out of sight, Hexia closed the door again, then returned to her bedroom and once more sifted through some items she had kept at the bottom of a box. There was a Memory Card that held photos and videos of Temisia from her days at the school. South First District, what a nostalgic name... At that year''s Winter Festival evening party, Temisia shone like a blooming meteor on the field and stage, remaining an idol in her heart even after many years. Now she was about to embark on the same path. If she could be half as brilliant as her sister, she would be more than satisfied. This was not due to ack of confidence but because she was a different existence than Temisia. She did not long for that kind of radiance as there were many more things waiting for her in life. Whether it was making friends, raising small animals, sleeping soundly at home, or sitting by the window engrossed in a book, penning her innermost thoughts and diary, these were the things she cherished more. Not all strength is disyed through force, and steadfastly maintaining so-called peace also requires a strong spirit and strength. This was her path. ``` Chapter 109: Chapter 66: The World Beyond the Well After saying goodbye to Mr. Fernandi, Hexia continued to be busy working at ''Dream of zed ss''. Though it might be possible to receive some subsidies in high school, making her own money still felt more reliable. Just as her mother had said, when you can earn your own money, you''ll feel a tremendous sense of freedom because you no longer have to depend on anyone else. So, while the bar inside ''Dream of zed ss'' was still under renovation, Hexia finally had another holiday to look forward to. Should she go out or stay at home? Hexia sat on the bed, as the window on one side of her bedroom let in bright artificial sunshine, illuminating her lower body. Her slightly elongated legs were exposed to the sunlight, fair and radiant, the toes showing a translucent color. She had been very busy recently, with work, studying music, and asionally paying attention to school matters. Hexiay back down on the soft bedding, gazing at the ceiling above her, her nerves slightly rxed, her brows slowly easing, before her eyes closed once again. She would just stay at home and sleep today. In the sunlight-streaming window, the fan whirred, stirring a little circting air. Shortly after getting up in the morning, Tn continued to sleep, her legs first curling up, then slowly stretching out to lie on her side, her soft hair scattered amidst the nket. Time flowed soundlessly; there was no one to disturb her, no work to attend to, forgetting thoseplex forms and study materials, the young girl enjoyed a peaceful holiday. Today was June 5th, Sunday. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the afternoon, Hexia finally got up from bed, not because she didn''t want to sleep any longer, but because she was hungry. Ah¡ª¡ª After a long yawn, Hexia shook her head while sitting on the bed, flicked her hair, and stood up. With a simple two-step walk to the mirror, she bent over to look at her reflection, her ashen blonde hair contrasting with her ck eyes. A side fringe partially covered her ear, needing to be pinned back or tied up to fully reveal her delicate ear. Sitting at the dressing table, the girl neatlybed her hair, gathered the long strands on one side of her ear, then took a rubber band hair tie and tied it in front of her chest. She did the same on the other side. After getting ready, she stood up, opened the nearby wardrobe, rummaged for a dress suitable for summer outings, then slipped into a pair of strappy sandals, ready to go out. It was a sunny day. After having something to eat, she nned to take a look above ground. Having packed her things, Hexia picked up a small handbag, ced her belongings inside, and left the house. Since entering the ninth grade, due to the pressure of academics and financial constraints, she hardly had the energy to worry about other things. Every day, besides studying, she just went home to buy groceries and cook something to eat, then continued reviewing at night, a cycle that repeated endlessly. Since her father had also left, she was alone at home without anyone to rely on. Not being admitted to Irene Academy meant repetition would be extremely difficult, not only financially unsustainable but also likely to lead to a mental breakdown. Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelBin A whole year passed like that until she graduated a month ago, and she could finally catch her breath, but she couldn''tpletely rx because she hadn''t received the admission notice, and even if admitted, she had to worry about future employment. Now, these problems no longer troubled her, and she could finally rx for a while and do some things she hadn''t been able to do before. Like taking a walk on the ground above the Skylight. Though there was simted sky underground, it stillcked the grandeur and vastness of the natural sky. Entering the vertical elevator leading to the top of the Skylight, the girl watched the numbers on the screen change upwards until thest floor number showed ''0'', and the crimson steel elevator doors slowly opened. Stepping out of the Skylight''s corridor, the fierce sunshine immediately hit her, making Hexia squint her eyes. She shielded her forehead with her arm as she stepped onto the dry, nking steel staircase in the gentle breeze. Holding onto the handrail on one side, she walked down the stairs and looked outside. Before her was a nched world, the ground grey and hard, the wind carrying sand and dust that felt gritty against the skin. No wonder people rarely came out, the girl thought, yet she still relished the feeling. Outside Payin City''s Skylight, aside from a barren desert devoid of vegetation, there was only arge parking lot. Under the scorching sun, the lot seemed very deste, with hardly any vehiclesing and going. Trucks suitable for surface travel would haul their goods to the back, unload them there, then the drivers would park and go rx for a day or two below in Payin City before continuing their journey. Continuing to walk away from the metallic floors near the Skylight, Hexia stepped onto the parched earth with her sandals, her white summer dress dancing in the hot wind. She brushed the stray hair beside her ear upwards, then squatted down to examine the ground closely. Thend, once muddied by rainwater, now had irregr cracks from the baking sun. With a nudge of her finger, she could crumble the edges into a white chunky powder. Grinding the particles between her fingers, they turned into a fine dust that dispersed in the wind. Long ago, thisnd was lush with greenery, but now, corroded by acid rain, it no longer supported vegetation. Time changes everything; that''s probably what it means. Hexia slowly stood up, her forehead now slightly sweaty from the sun. She decided to head back. Chapter 110: Chapter 66: The World Beyond the Well_2 As she was walking on the scorching hot ground, a truck approached from a distance, slowly decelerating toward the parking lot. "Hi, little girl~" A man leaned out of the big truck, looking down at the girl below. "Walking by yourself out here?" The driver, who appeared to be in his forties, had robust arms and stubble on his face. "Yes, just out for a walk." Hexia had to speak loudly for the other person to hear her. "Hahaha, a walk, alright." Heughed for a while, finding the little girl amusing. "This is for you." He threw down a pale yellow straw hat. Catching the roughly edged, somewhat prickly straw hat, Hexia didn''t have time to say anything before the big truck continued on, slowly entering the parking lot. The automatic loading and unloading crane arms moved, lifting the container from behind the truck, then shifted it onto the freight elevator tracks to the side; soon, everything inside the container would be delivered underground, and the driver''s task would be done. Feeling the straw hat, Hexia ced it on her head and walked toward the parking lot, soon seeing the uncle emerge with two bottles of chilled mineral water in his hands. "Want a bottle?" He tossed one to her, and Hexia fumbled to catch it, not because she was slow but because she had never encountered such a situation before. It was very ordinary mineral water, probably the most basic T7-grade emergency beverage, useful for nothing but hydration, yet extremely cheap, and even capable of being produced automatically with personally purchased small machinery. Moving closer, Hexia could see the uncle''s ruddy face and abundant body hair; he was wearing a work uniform with some stains and grease, and there was still a lingering scent of sweat. "Why don''t youe and sit in the parking lot''s rest area? It''s not as hot there, and it''s safer." "Alright." Hexia had actually never been to this parking lot before and was somewhat curious. "You must be a child born in Payin City," the uncle casually asked while walking. "Yes, what about you, uncle?" "Haha, me? I''m from Feiji City in the Northern Sixth District. I have a daughter about your age, currently in her second year of junior high." "You travel so far?" Hexia knew that the Northern Sixth District was at least 200 kilometers away. "It''s about making a living; there''s no such thing as too far." He spoke nonchntly. "What about you, wandering outside alone? Don''t your family worry? I''m the one who saw you, but if there were a bad person who suddenly kidnapped you, there''s not even a surveince camera around." Although the security index within the Federation wasn''t low, it was impossible to dismiss extreme urrences in some remote corners. Enjoy exclusive content from mvl Hexia blinked, "I''m just walking around the edge of Skylight, I won''t go too far." "That''s good then, the area around Payin City is rtively stable. If it were a wild road in the middle of nowhere, where there are no people for tens of kilometers, one would be just like a wild animal." He spoke with a hint of emotion. "Anything can happen on the road when hauling goods; no problems are the best news." ``` "You always have your nerves on edge when running down the road, and only when you get to your destination do you get to rx." Arriving at this sparse parking lot, the two of them walked up the stairs of the rest area, finding it noticeably cooler here. The entire rest area was made of a steel structure, with only a ceiling that prevented rain and corrosion at the top, forming a V shape; below was a ventted and spacious rest hall with fixed steel seats and beds, and even lower was a part suspended by struts, through which the wind whooshed, making a whining noise. It''s not that there aren''t extremelyfortable buildings and environments within the federation, but often, to save costs and expenditures, the infrastructure in the lower and remote areas just has to be functional. People used to have a morbid fascination with high technology, believing that everything would be widely avable after technological advancement, but this statement is also not entirely urate. Technology''s continuous upgrades indeed reduce costs, but as long as a ce does not promise significant returns, or the owners are not so wealthy, it will still be limited by budget and won''t exceed its set limits. Leaning on the external walkway of the rest area, the wind whooshed by, sweeping away the sweat and bringing a wave of coolness. Gazing at the distant surface baked hot by the sun, the two continued to chat. "I really envy you kids, being able to live each day carefree. Sure, youe across some troubles, but looking back now, they probably were happy troubles." The driver uncle rested his arm on the steel railing, quietly enjoying the breeze. "Uncle, what have you been through before?" Hexia didn''t refute but asked out of curiosity. "Me? Back then, I got into fights over a girl I liked." He grinned broadly andughed. "Unfortunately, even though I won the fight, the girl I liked still didn''t end up with me." "Did she fall for the guy you fought with?" "No, it was another guy she had just met. Okay, that guy was indeed quite handsome, I have to admit." "I was so sad at the time, I cried on my friends'' shoulders and even swore I''d wait ten years for her to change her mind." "As it turned out, I can''t even remember what she looks like now. I vaguely remember she liked to wear white dresses, maybe it was the view of her back in that summer that stole my soul." The uncle looked into the distance and took another big gulp of mineral water. "People are like that, things that seem so important at the time eventually fade away." "Whew, I won''t babble with you youngdy any longer, I need to go find a ce to sleep now." He squeezed the water bottle t and tossed it into the nearby trash can, then turned and entered the rest area behind him. "I saw you walking alone just now and thought you were troubled about something, but after chatting for a bit, there''s nothing at all, really." He shook his head. "You better get back, the sun is harsh outside, and I''m sleepy." He waved at Hexia with his back to her, then shuffled his loose steps into a separate smallpartment, ready to take a good nap. "Uh, thanks for your kindness, Uncle." Although Hexia felt likeughing, she also felt a bit warm inside. She had intended to return his cap to him, but since he had gone to sleep, she had to let it be. Turning away from this parking lot, she continued to make her rounds near Skylight and then finally walked towards the steel stairs with a bit more spirit. Although she didn''t see any special scenery today, her mood seemed to have improved a lot. Just like a frog that grew up in a well, thinking that everything in the well was all it had, with people it liked, with things it hated and saddened by, happy for it, weeping for it. But as time passed, when the day came that it ventured out to faraway ces, it would slowly realize that this life within the well was just a tiny segment of its life, and that there was a long road ahead, with countless unknown sceneries and endless horizons waiting. ``` Chapter 111: Chapter 67: The Little Library A new day. After a good rest yesterday, Hexia felt like a fully charged battery, ready to tackle many different scenes today. Arriving at ''Dream of zed ss'', she followed her usual routine, changing into the ck and white maid dress before descending the stairs. "Dantalion~ hurry over here." Not long after entering the shop, the girl was called over by herpanions. "Come and see, your exclusive bar counter is about to be finished." Upon arrival, two blue-haired maid sisters pulled the girl over to a circr partition. From the outside, it remarkably resembled the White Feather Church of Debi, but it was made of a matte ck that felt like fine sand. Entering the circr interior, the ck screen wall that greeted her was embossed with the image of an open book, and behind the open book was the silhouette of a girl, exuding a mysterious aura. Stepping inside, it was like entering a miniature library, with antique brass-colored bookshelves standing along the inner walls of the circle, encircling and enclosing the small world within. Old-style wrought-ironmps that emitted a warm yellow glow extended from either side of the shelves, rendering the interior environment tranquil and soft. Enjoy more content from mvl At the very back of this tiny library, in the center, was a tall chair, its legs slightly trapezoidal, giving it an extra solid appearance. It could also be climbed like adder using the crossbars on either side, making it perfect for girls of shorter stature. Hexia might not have been particrly petite, but when she sat on this chair, she inevitably appeared as adorable as a cute doll thanks to its framing. On the back of the high stool, out of the customers'' sight, there was a storagepartment for books, pens, or even cookies and snacks. Directly facing the high stool were ten movable auditorium seats, including fabric-covered chairs, reclining loungers forfortable lying down, and grey cushions for rxing or sleeping, interspersed with two slightly lower tea tables for cing small items and serving refreshments. The overall interior was just the right size, not too stifling nor too empty and cold, creating a rxing atmosphere. "However, that''s not everything," the two maids told Hexia as they had her sit on the high stool, then urged her to speak. "The ceiling here, the surrounding bookshelves, even the floor, can all change. Just say themand, and the AI will adjust everything ording to your words," the two said, looking at the girl on the high stool, nodding in satisfaction from time to time. "For example, Dantalion might say she wants to see a lush forest and grasnd." "Alright," the girl pondered briefly, then spoke. Consequently, the room''s bookshelves were gradually obscured by falling curtain walls, and then the ceiling, walls, and floor burst into bright luminance. Secondster, as the light faded, a small vige with smoke rising from its chimneys came into view, with their position atop a small hill not far from the settlement, and Hexia seated under arge apple tree. The dappling of the tree''s shade cast her face and figure in a hazy, dreamy beauty. "The underwater scene can be changed, too." A maid continued to remark. Before long, upon the young girl''s instruction, the room seemed to turn into an aquarium, with undting blue waves overhead. Nearby, schools of fish and other sea creatures swam about, while colorful coral and seashellsy beneath their feet. The sound of water seemed to surround them, resembling some kind of song. "You can also witness scenes from outdoor adventures." The surrounding environment changed into the dark of night, and between the audience and Hexia, there was a burning holographic campfire. It crackled and popped, and looking around into the distance, one could even see the silhouettes of mountains in the twilight and the solitary dark castle atop the high mountain. "A regr caf¨¦ and the city area work, too." So, the surroundings changed once again, this time into the more lively scene of a coffee shop. Red brick walls surrounded them, and not far off, a coffee machine bubbled and released a pleasant aroma. Outside the caf¨¦''s window was a scene from the 18th century, with people driving old cars, holding newspapers in their hands, and some riding high-wheel bicycles through the bustling streets that never quieted down. "Some marvelous and perilousndscapes can also be created," she said. The y of light and shadow within the room transformed their location again into what seemed like the summit of a snow-capped mountain. Everywhere were steep and heart-stopping cliffs, with magnificent mountain ranges unfolding in the distance and the unceasing sound of the cold wind whistling by their ears. ... Various lights and shadows continually shifted, allowing those inside to feel as if they were walking through numerous real worlds, experiencing all the moving stories within them. After about an hour, Hexia ceased to explore the different features further, but the two maids in front of her seemed to still want more. "Thank you, but let''s stop here for now," she said as she lightly hopped down from the barstool''s side rail. "I am Dantalion. Who might you two seniors be?" Although they had enthusiastically brought her over, Hexia did not actually remember the two maids'' names. "I''m ''Orias,''" one maid said, pressing her hand to her chest and curtsying; a lion''s head badge was on the bowtie on her chest. "I am ''Vap.''" This maid also made a curtsy, holding her skirt. Her bowtie had a badge as well, but the emblem inside was that of a griffin. Orias: The 59th Demon God in King Solomon''s 72 pirs, depicted as a lion riding atop a great warhorse, with the horse''s tail being that of a serpent from Hell and with two such serpents in his right hand. He grants virtue, has a deep understanding of Heavenly Motion, and aids people irrespective of whether they are friends or foes. Vap: The 60th Demon God in King Solomon''s 72 pirs, appearing in the form of a griffin. He endows people with a mastery of all crafts and the sciences of philosophy. "We both work under Lord Leviathan most of the time. Dantalion, today is probably the first time you''ve met us," they said, their hair colors simr and their heights matching, almost like twins. Having introduced themselves, the two continued to question Hexia, asking if there were any features she might want to add or improve upon. "In the beginning, it will definitely need quite a few adjustments; I estimate it will enter a stable phase after a month." "Don''t be shy to speak up, Dantalion." "You can contact us anytime; here are ourmunication IDs. If any repair or maintenance is needed, you can also get in touch with us." "How about trying it out today, get the familiar staff from the store to experience it along with Dantalion?" "In the future, Dantalion could alsobine selling some small souvenirs; this would help improve revenue." "We shall not disturb you any longer then; see you this afternoon." The words of the two maids ovepped and resonated like a rhythmic echo, finished their speech, and then bowed to say goodbye together. Watching the retreating figures walking side by side into the distance, Hexia finally began to make sense of many things. She turned to look around the circr room¡ªthough notrge, it seemed exceptionallyfortable. When the door closed behind her, the inside became incredibly quiet, like a little world isted from everything else. It really suited her tastes well, the girl blinked. Chapter 112: 68th Chapter: The Flower-Crowned Maiden under the Twin Trees Although the bar was decorated exactly to Hexia''s liking, she couldn''t help feeling nervous when it was time to perform. After all, it was her first time, and she didn''t know how it would go. After work that afternoon, about 20 maids gathered in this small room¡ªif there had been space, likely even more would have entered. "Botis, aren''t youing in?" Inside the bar, ''Sai Gong'' cleaned up after closing, now having a moment to rest, she sat inside looking at Botis outside who wanted a drink. "I''d rather not." Botis held a ss of wine in one hand, gently swirling it. "There are already so many people inside, squeezing in with the juniors just feels wrong." She tipped back her head and drank most of the wine in her ss, seemingly a bit tipsy. "Ah, that''s rare to see," ''Sai Gong'' did not wish to guess at Botis''splicated emotions, she leaned against the inside of the bar, looking up at the simted sky above, which was now showing a fiery sunset. "When feelings run too deep, it''s easy to get hurt," ''Sai Gong'' said something rather cryptic. "Most whoe here to drink do so for the taste, but some purely want to vent their sadness." "Are you afraid that after Dantalion goes off to school, you''ll find it hard to let go when the timees to part?" "You may know quite a few people from working in the shop, but you just talk asionally during work; usually, you''re in the jungle dealing with poisons. Having someone to keep youpany now must be quite pleasing, isn''t it?" "''Sai Gong,'' you may be from the Bull Horn Tribe, but you''re always so broad-minded yet attentive," mused Botis, resting her head on the bar, feeling sleepy. "Should I take thatment to mean that I seem rather plump?" ''Sai Gong''ughed, not offended in the least. "The Bull Horn Tribe naturally hasrger frames; in ancient times, they were often fierce generals on the battlefield. Actually, I am considered quite slender among my people." "Enough about that." She shook her head, no longer looking at the clouds overhead, but sat up instead. "Are you really leaving the world of songstresses for good? It feels like a pity. I''ve heard your songs before too, ''Emerald Serpent,'' truly a fitting name." "Don''t mention that nickname in the shop, it''s not good," Botis said, somewhat inebriated. "Alright, it won''t be mentioned. Do you want another drink? If not, I''m going to close up shop." "Another ''Serpent Green''." "Okay~" With the sound of liquid pouring into the ss, a cup of emerald-clear alcohol was ced in front of Botis. "Here you go, your biggest impact back in the day at Four-leaf Crystal was this ''Serpent Green''. Many rockers and racers loved to have a taste," shared ''Sai Gong''. "Like jade, this absinthe mixed with just a touch of anise liqueur and cranberry juice, then shaken with ice cubes, reaches an alcohol content of 89%. Taking a drink, the aroma of alcohol and ice mixes in the throat, chilling the body and clearing the mind, followed by the kick from the alcohol, feeling as if your body is on fire. A slight drunken illusion emerges, almost as if transforming into a beast in the night." "Back then, when I was working in the night market bars of South District 3, I saw it several times before an underground race, groups ordering a round, then dashing off toward death¡ªit was simultaneously astonishing and iprehensible." "Seeing you now so mild and sentimental is something I didn''t expect," ''Sai Gong'' said after finishing tidying up the bar and then slowly lowering the white metal curtain. She came out and sat with Botis. The two continued to talk about the past, about the legends that once swept the Four-leaf Crystal Underworld: stories of band members and racers rushing towards their demise. On the other side of ''Dream of zed ss,'' within the newly built circr library. About 20 maids of differing appearances surrounded the figure seated on the high stool in the center; they either sat or leaned, and the surrounding environment was a sea of flowers gently stirred by the breeze. Therge picture book in her hands was spread open,pletely covering Hexia''s legs, and it depicted a world of autumn-yellow leaves. Elvish tones strung together like a light and ethereal song, as Hexia told an ancient story about a flower-crowned maiden named Isenisha. This Color Level Songstress, who wouldter be known as ''Golden me Rose,'' lived on a sparsely inhabited before she became famous. In the Fourth Epoch, various pioneer fleets set out from Mother Earth in search of new settlements in the vast universe. Some brought back surprising news, while others disappeared into the starry sea, their traces and wreckage perhaps to be discovered thousands of yearster. Isenisha''s ancestors were one such group, crashnding on this barren. Unable to return or contact Earth, they had no choice but to endure and develop on this. Generation after generation struggled; from initially grappling with the brink of death to slowly finding stability and eventually migrating to find more suitable ces to live. And so, this group slowly took root on the, and with gradually restored technology, they began to try and transform it. Two saplings were nted, representing new hope and the future. As the saplings grew, melodious flute sounds filled the air. The people gathered under these two transcendent gigantic trees, and the''s pervasive toxins were gradually cleansed, providing spring water that flowed between the trees¡ªpure enough to drink without treatment. As centuries upon centuries passed, the two trees grew to reach the skies, so tall that rumors abounded one could overlook most of the from the top of the canopy, and between the branches, cities hung like golden fruits. "The giant trees that hold up the world, named the World Trees." People prayed and sang, celebrating the festivals year after year, and the one who sang under these giant trees was the most beautiful girl with the most enchanting voice, chosen by the people themselves. Isenisha, daughter of a human father and an elven mother, was the 312th flower-crowned maiden beneath the twin trees. She was amon half-breed on the, who, from a young age, yed and grew up with friends from various species under the trees, and aside from differences in appearance, there were no distinctions between them in her eyes. As time gently rolled by, countless Ster Yearster, when a lost starship passed through the barren void and reached this Ster System, they were astonished by the emerald-like. "Like verdant amber, it encapsted the legacy and beautiful dreams of humanity from the previous epoch." Following the long and arduous war that swept through the Milky Way in the Fifth Epoch, many inhabitables were either destroyed or polluted by radiation and toxins, rendering them unsuitable for life. A well-preserved paradise-like such as this was exceedingly rare. The starship set its course for this uncharted and descended slowly. It brought the lost faster-than-light travel technology to the''s inhabitants and informed them of the current state of the Milky Way. The Fourth Epoch had long ended, and now it was the Sixth Era¡ªa time of ruins and remnants. Two yearster, the starship departed once more, now with a golden-haired woman in a golden dress among its crew¡ªIsenisha, and her legendary story was slowly unfolding. ... With closed eyes, listening intently, the girl''s delicate voice, like sunlight and dew threading through leaves, seeped into the restless heart, bringing it gradual calm. Technology has made everything convenient and fast-paced, but anxiety spreads through every nook and cranny, infesting the heart with no ce to hide. Cities and the intersterwork are awash withplex and abundant information that overwhelms the senses, stimting every desire and unease. It''s as if an invisible web ensnares and binds, leaving no escape, nor can one forsake it. The figure seated beneath the dappled shade of the trees, opening the picture book in hand, with a voice as melodic as a song, frees you from this mortal cage, taking you to that vast history and legendary past. There shine the once bright stars and rise and fall the stories that, while recounting days gone by, reflect each individual''s life ahead as if in a mirror. Now, have you gained the courage known as ''serenity,'' the strength to face life without anxious fear? Chapter 113: Chapter 69: The Neon Light Passage "It feels like I''ve just lived another life." After the afternoon''s trial run came to an end, a maid at the shop made such an assessment. Although immersive movies can elicit a simr sensation, the experience of listening up close to a Songstress recounting her tale was far more captivating and profound. "No, this won''t do," Belfeng dered, sitting solemnly at the table after the trial run. "What won''t do?" Huale asked, puzzled. "I mean Dantalion''s method of conducting business, it won''t do." "Why not? I think it''s quite impressive." "No, no, no, it''s not that Dantalion''s Ability iscking, on the contrary, her Ability is too powerful," Belfeng exined, waving a finger. "Well, I am a rather lively and cheerful bunny, you know. After listening to the story this afternoon, I waspletely entranced, as if my soul had left my body. The effect is just too strong," the rabbit-eared maid reasoned with her arms crossed, pondering like a great leader. "Should I switch to lighter stories in the future?" the girl asked tentatively. "That wouldn''t quite work either, it feels like something''s missing," Belfeng pondered, tilting her head, feeling that something wasn''t quite right. Letting Dantalion read those insipid, light-hearted romance stories? Somehow that didn''t seem appropriate. "Dantalion''s way of storytelling is too earnest, what I mean is, it''s like in those grand ssical theaters, where everyone sits upright and listens attentively to a sermon. Yes, that''s it, it''s just like proselytizing," the bunny realized. "This kind of appeal has reached a somewhat bewitching level," she said, trying to clear her head. "If I listen to it a few more times, I''m afraid I''ll be a faithful follower of Dantalion." "Well, although it''s definitely good for making money, I can''t shake the feeling that if we let it go on like this, it could lead to a very bad situation. Like, if a cult following of some underground religion emerged in Payin City, with everyone holding Dantalion''s library tickets as their sacred scripture." Seeing Belfeng''s somewhat worried look, Hexia could only raise her hand to speak. "I''m not that powerful, it''s just that the story chosen today was rather special." After all, it was the memory passed on to her by the ''Golden me Flower'' Isenisha, she had unconsciously released the profound emotions contained within. This was almost like abination of the abilities of two Songstresses, making the impact nearly magical in its influence; although strong, it certainly was a bit too much. "Then let''s try again tomorrow? Perhaps a lighter fairy tale," Belfeng suggested once more, nodding. "Sure," she agreed. After leaving the shop, it was already 7 p.m. Although there was no sunlight underground, and the difference was not significant, a clear change could be felt by pedestrians on the street. Many factories andpanies were starting to close, and the vertical elevators were getting crowded. Carrying her dinner purchases for the day, Hexia stood at the entrance to the elevator and stopped in her tracks as she faced the crowded queue in front of her. It was better to change the route. She changed her steps and headed towards a less crowded passage. In the dimly lit square passage, the floor had a V-shaped ovepping neon sign designate, with a seven-colored glittering purple gradient subtly dividing left and right. The walls of the corridors disyed bright screens, with images constantly changing, ying current advertising shorts. ''Still worried about the hard walk to and from work, narrow alleys, expensive parking fees, time-consuming and inconvenient taxi hailing¡­these will no longer trouble you¡­'' The characters in the footage switched, and in the end, a pair of sleek treadwheel shoes appeared. Once on, the person on screen navigated through streets and alleys with ease, even able to cling to walls, gliding over from the sides and even the top, quick and cool. ''Priced at only 1024 Federation Coins, change your life and no more worries¡ª''meflow'' Treadwheel Shoes.'' The price was indeed not expensive, and while Hexia had no intention to buy them, she felt that many others might be tempted. Compared to vehicles costing tens of thousands of Federation Coins, such shoes were definitely more convenient. Nowadays, advertisement targeting was getting more and more precise, she quickened her steps slightly but stopped abruptly after turning at an intersection. A girl, about her age, leaned against one of the corridor screens, wearing a cap on her head, a light reflective light purple jacket, shorts, and sports shoes on her lower body, with one foot slightly raised, touching the wall. Her face took on a luminescent purple tint from the screen behind her. "ra?" Hexia recognized the girl in the baseball cap. The girl who had been looking at her personal terminal raised her head, also somewhat surprised to see Hexia. "Hexia? Are you just getting off from work?" she asked, removing the lollipop from her mouth. "Uh, yes, I''ve been working recently, trying to earn some money," Hexia responded. "Sigh, sounds tough," ra said, putting her terminal back into her pocket and walking over. "Have you seen the ss group recently?" "No, what happened?" Hexia inquired, unsure if she had missed something. "Well, it''s actually better not to look." She stopped in front of Hexia, ncing toward a screen to the side and tapping her foot. "Did something happen?" Hexia hurriedly turned on her personal terminal and began skimming through it nonstop. In the days she''d been away, everyone had been talking about the holidays, school, and other trivial matters as usual, but in the past two days, there had been a conversation about Irene Academy. "The re-examination results for Irene Academy are out, but strangely, I don''t see Hexia''s name." "Wasn''t she always preparing for this?" "Could it be she didn''t go, or could she have failed so badly that her name isn''t disyed?" "I don''t know, we haven''t seen her online for a while." "If you ask me, her studying was just for show, she just wanted to build a good reputation, tsk tsk." "What about bing a doctor, huh? Probably just wants people not to look down on her, acting all high-and-mighty." "I always found her kind of gloomy, always huddled in the corner, who knows what she''s up to, acting as if she''s above everyone else." ... "Let''s drop this topic. It''s almost the 12th, did Jones make the reservation? What are we going to treat everyone to?" "It''s got to be at least a table of T5-grade seafood lobster, right~" The crowd stirred and gradually forgot about the matter with Hexia. Turning off her personal terminal''s screen, Hexia slipped it back into her pocket. Seeing her expression unchanged, ra was slightly surprised. "Don''t you care?" "There''s nothing to care about, I''m used to this sort of thing." "You''ve really changed a lot; you''repletely different from before. Well, I guess that''s a good thing," she said, waving her hand before stuffing them into her pockets, ready to walk past Hexia and leave. "Oh, right. Yilin told me that the elementary school reunion is also at the Fulu Restaurant. I thought there would be a conflict, but it turns out to be the same ce and on the same day." ra suddenly stopped. "Speaking of which, we both went to the same elementary school, and even the same middle school, and our sses were the same too. It''s such a curious fate." "Hexia, for the gatherings on the 12th, do you n to attend both, or just go to the one with the elementary school ssmates?" "The one with the elementary school ssmates; I''ve made arrangements with Cindy," they said, speaking over their shoulders. "Cindy, huh, yeah, you two were close back then." After saying this, ra fell into silence for a while and didn''t leave right away. "Actually, Hexia, you shouldn''t havee to this middle school..." After saying that, she fell silent again. She knew all too well that Hexia neither liked nor fit in with these ssmates, but the world changes. "If you don''t want to see the middle school crowd that day, I can cover for you. I''m familiar with both groups anyway, so I''ll go in first and find a spot." "Thank you," Hexia replied, her voice a bit colder than her usual gentleness. "No problem." Having said that, ra continued forward, and they each walked toward opposite ends of the corridor, growing further apart. Walking down the slightly chilly corridor, ra savored the candy in her mouth, asionally remembering things from when they were little. Back in elementary school, Hexia wasn''t like this. She had a family everyone envied, and an older sister whom ssmates idolized. Though she was a bit shy, she was always at the center of everyone''s attention, like a cherished princess. Back then, she was just an ordinary member of the ss, only able to watch from afar as Hexia, favored by teachers and ssmates, was surrounded by adoration. And throughout those elementary school years, she hardly ever spoke to Hexia. But times change. Hexia''s family fell on hard times, her sister passed away, and all the mour disappeared. Subsequently, she moved to the impoverished Lower District and attended the same middle school as ra. Although they recognized each other, with different personalities, once they reached middle school, ra''s attention increasingly turned to the stars and idol-following, rarely interacting with Hexia, who sat in the corner. Moreover, no one in the ss knew they had been elementary school ssmates. Perhaps the pressure and anxiety that had built up over the past two years caused her to underperform this time, failing to do well on the test. Thinking this, ra felt a blend of sympathy and regret. During herst chat with Dudu, she heard that Hexia and Lina had fallen out. No wonder when Hexia was brought up, Lina made sarcasticments online and even influenced several girls in the ss to speak ill of Hexia. Before, when Hexia and Lina were on good terms, despite Hexia being reserved, few would speak ill of her. Now, Hexia had lost even Lina, her superficial friend, and was left to work alone, lonely and possibly bitter. ra thought about it and felt it very poignant, which was why she had unusually offered to help Hexia just moments ago. I''m herst old ssmate; it''d be regrettable not to lend a hand. Chapter 126: Chapter 77: The Depressed Giant Spider After the gathering concluded, it was already quitete. "Do you want me to take you home?" Yilin asked, looking at Hexia in front of the restaurant door. "There''s no need." The young girl shook her head, not out of embarrassment, but because she wanted to walk alone tonight. Seeing her so unconstrained and generous, Yilin knew Hexia was not just being polite, nodded, "Then be careful tonight." "When''s your next day off? Let''s go shopping together." "Next time should be the weekend as well." "It''s a deal then," Yilin whispered. "It''s a deal." Hexia nodded, then gently hugged Yilin before waving goodbye. Watching her walk at ease into the neon-lit streets of the night, Yilin remained standing there, gazing into the distance for a long time. "Tn has grown up." Although she had been the main support today, even if Tn were alone, she would probably have been fine, though the process might have been a lot more subdued. That was just the way Tn was, always so gentle, never wanting to conflict with others.She called over her parked vehicle from nearby, then entered it. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Back at home, and after falling asleep, Hexia seemed to have a very long dream, where she revisited many past events. The emotions she had kept bottled up burst out today, resulting in a great deal of relief andfort. The next day, she went to work at ''Dream of zed ss'' once again. After changing her clothes and entering the shop, Hexia suddenly thought of something¡ªthat it might be awkward if her ssmates came looking for her. Fortunately, that didn''t happen. Perhaps everyone thought the consumption in Topstar Tower was too expensive, or maybe they didn''t want to disturb Hexia. The day flew by as usual. In the morning, she helped out at other bars, practiced the violin at Andusia''s ce at noon, and it wasn''t until the afternoon that she went to her ''library''. As this was her exclusive territory, the decor was all ording to her liking, with severalfortable chairs arranged and a few boxes of cookies and snacks hidden in small cubbies in the cab, just like Debi did. They woulde in handy at times, whether it was to treat acquaintances or for her own consumption. Today she had a trial run in front of herpanions once more, recounting the second half of ''The Poem of the Seven Chui Birds'', and then it was nearly closing time in the afternoon. The shop was fairly quiet at this time, and Hexia went to Botis''s jungle. Passing through the quiet shade of trees and bushes, she came to the pool at the very back, where Botis was feeding some poisonous creatures today. "Dantalion is here~" She called Hexia over. "How''s the violin practice going?" "I''ve gotten slightly more proficient," Hexia admitted, knowing there were still some details she hadn''t mastered and estimated it would take another month to reach a state of fluid perfection. Afterward, the two sat together, feeding the creatures and chatting, and then Botis spoke of therge spider from before. "Do you know about that blue spider, Hexia?" "What happened to it?" The girl grew concerned upon hearing Botis suddenly mention it. "Ah, it seems to have failed its advancement and is now hiding in the corner, sad and distressed," recalled Botis of the search she conducted that day. "Ah, do animals also get sad?" Hexia, like most people subconsciously thought, felt that most animals would be happy just being well-fed. "Ordinary animals aren''t demanding and are easily content, but transcendent beings are different; they be smarter and their emotions are moreplex, which includes experiencing depression and sadness," exined Botis. "I''ll take you to see it, it usually likes you a lot, always circling around you," Botis said as she stood up. Speaking, she led Hexia into the dense jungle nearby. Compared to the sparse main road they hade in on, the vegetation here was much denser, making it easy for their clothes to get scratched and even making it difficult to find a ce to step. This was also the reason why they rarely came here. After squeezing their way into the bushes and jungle, Botis walked ahead. Along the way, they encountered quite a few poisonous creatures. Fortunately, most of these little guys were tamed and did not attack upon seeing Botis. "Um, you don''t cause trouble now," Botis said, lifting a ck serpent that hadnded on her and hanging it on a nearby tree branch, then continued to lead Hexia forward until they stopped in a corner at the very end. Parting the thick purple-red grass, in the space beneath a few coiled roots, arge blue-spiked spider was perched. If they hadn''t been so familiar with it, seeing such a dangerous poisonous creature would definitely mean it was best to avoid it. Otherwise, if bitten and poisoned, that would be problematic. "Okay, it''s still here," Botis called Hexia over. "Don''t touch it for now, its mood is unstable." "Mhm," the girl bent down and looked at therge spider crouching in the grass. "It''s a variant of a certain kind of burrowing wolf spider, liking to live in the dark underground, which makes it feel safe." Seeing the two people approaching, therge spider opened its eyes, then shrank back a little, seeming not wanting to see anyone. "Still not happy, huh? It hasn''t really been eating much," Botis shook her head, pointing to the few small cubes she ced for it in the morning. "Did it fail in its ascension to Sequence 5?" Hexia asked softly. "That should be the case. A few days ago, I noticed something off with the Aijeika particles in the enclosure, a kind of remnant left over after the overflow of magic power. Then, I found massive traces of that residue on this guy," she continued. "It was supposed to be at the Withering Sequence 4, around the strength of the Superior Radiant Gold Level. This failed ascension, not only did it fail to enter Sequence 5, but its core was also damaged, and now it only has the strength of a standard Radiant Gold Level. I guess it can''t ept it, so it feels upset." Hearing Botis''s exnation, therge spider suddenly hissed a few times, clearly annoyed at Botis for revealing its scars in front of Hexia. "Okay, okay, I''ll stop," Botis waved her hands, letting the wolf spider settle down for the time being and then gave Hexia a ''see, just as expected'' look. "Um¡­" Hexia was at a loss whether to cry orugh at this moment, touched by the rich emotions of the animal. After a little while, the two observed and took care of therge spider, then slowly exited the area. "Failed in its ascension, huh¡­" The girl pondered, thinking along the way how to help this little buddy she was usually familiar with. "It''s like that with animals; their difficulty in ascension is actually much higher than that of humans," Botis mentioned on the side. Aside from the very few exceptions, the proportion of animals ascending ranks is generally lower than that of humans. For example, out of 20-30 humans at Sequence 3, one might enter Sequence 4. But among animals, it could be that only one in hundreds, maybe thousands, of Sequence 3 specimens has the luck to advance to Sequence 4. "Therefore, some Transcendents specialize in breeding and assisting animals in their ascension and employ these animals as their own power, achieving a kind of win-win and mutual assistance effect," she added. "Within the Rose Federation, the inheritance of breeders is quite ancient, and many of the precious materials we are familiar withe from such ''courtyards''," Botis exined. "''Courtyards''?" Hexia asked curiously. "Yes, those are environments specially created by breeders for those animals, suitable for their survival and reproduction. Later on, somerge factions and organizations even specifically build such ces, producing various resources, also referred to as ''courtyards''," Botis borated. "For example, the ''Three March Silks'' popr among the federal upper echelon where the ''Snowfluff Silk''es from the silk spit by the Snowfluff Scale-winged moths, and the Emerald Moon Star Domain''s ''Snowfluff Courtyard'' has the most of those moths. This T4-grade silk is used in the making of many exquisite garments; the fabric isfortable, the colors soft and beautiful, irresistible to the touch," she continued. "The other two types of the ''Three March Silks'' are each different: ''Iy Moon Silk'' is made from the fibers of a certain transcendent nt spun into yarn, and ''Dusk Moon Silk'' is said to be made using a secret technique that condenses the lingering light of the evening sun, woven into fabric by a special method," she described. "I''ve heard there''s a ''Yuanting Academy'' in the Northern First District," Hexia suddenly spoke up. "''Yuanting Academy,'' indeed, they used to be famous as breeders, possessing their own ''Wind Kite Courtyard'' in the Northern First District. However, with the environment inside the Jade Skirt deteriorating and the poison rain corroding, their ''Wind Kite Courtyard'' has been destroyed. Hence, they are not as powerful as they used to be," Botis shook her head. "This wolf spider, I chose and bought it two years ago from the ''Purple Gall Courtyard'' in the Phosphorite Star Domain. I grew familiar with it in the courtyard over a month before it was willing to follow me. Now that it has a problem with its ascension, I guess I will have to contact someone from the ''Purple Gall Courtyard'' to resolve the after-sales issue," Botisy on the table, feeling like she was about to spend a lot of money again. Asking the ''Purple Gall Courtyard''s staff to solve the after-sales issue wouldn''t be cheap, but she couldn''t just watch this big guy stop eating and drinking, sadly moping alone in a corner. Chapter 115: Chapter 71: Through the Iron Red Pupils Approaching the end of the workday, Hexia and ''Debi'' were seated around a small table inside the library. "Does Raby know where in Payin City is good to buy clothes?" The most rxed interactions Hexia had in the store were with Debi, so the lovely little angel was the first one she thought to ask. "You can go to Redwood Street. It''s more expensive, but the quality is very good," ''Debi'' replied. "What kind of style is Dantalion looking to buy? Actually, there aren''t many choices within Payin City. If you have time, you could also go to Moly Crystal City, where there are many more stores." "I probably want to buy two sets, one for everyday wear and one a bit more formal," the girl pondered. "I see," ''Debi'' tilted her head, thinking. "I can apany you shopping, but we can''t be out toote, because I need to be home by 7 o''clock." "Raby''s family is quite strict, huh." "Mhm." For the first time going out shopping with apanion from the store, after work, they both changed into casual clothes and headed straight for Redwood Street. This was an old street in Payin City, and many shops had a quaint decoration style,cking the chaotic neon lights. "Follow me." Arriving at Redwood Street, tiny Debi took the lead, indicating Hexia to follow her. Since Raby couldn''t stay too long, she directly took Hexia to the best few shops she knew. As expected, the prices were not cheap. ''Through-Iron Red Pupils,'' this store usedrge panes of translucent light red ss for decoration, leaving the entire storefront clear and transparent, showcasing hundreds of red dresses inside, from darker shades like pomegranate red and vermilion to lighter shades like crabapple and rose red, all the way to nearly white colors like pink and peach white. This shop seemed to focus on this single color and had taken it to the extreme; varying hues of red were like ovepping petals, presenting a stunning beauty. "A red palette¡­" Hexia recalled that her clothes had always been predominantly ck and blue, with only a few white pieces. Although the shop''s d¨¦cor was particrly beautiful and the clothes almost resplendent, there weren''t many customers inside¡ªprobably because wearing such vibrant red demanded exceptionally good skin and body shape from the wearer. Upon entering the shop, Debi seemed quite familiar with it and went straight upstairs, finding a clerk she knew. "I want to buy clothes for a friend, is your manager here?" Stood to the side, Hexia watched as the little angel was so direct and bold, blinking in surprise. "Ah, she is." Recognizing Debi, the female clerk quickly understood and then picked up the phone to notify. Soon, a manager wearing a white women''s suit came down the stairs. Seeing her approach, Debi spoke up in advance, "Help my friend choose some clothes, I trust your professionalism." The manager looked a bit surprised, but after ncing at Hexia beside Debi, she seemed to get it and nodded. "Please, miss,e with me." Hexia went into the fitting room where her body measurements were directly confirmed byser. Then the manager, looking at Hexia and giving it some thought, instructed a nearby clerk. "Bring down clothes A-23, B-192, and B-207 from upstairs." To finish, she added, "Also, find two pairs of the right size women''s shoes from the RJ-4 storage room, one pair of sandals and one pair of light-colored casual shoes." "Okay." It wasn''t long before two clerks brought up three sets of dresses and four pairs of shoes. Although the manager had only mentioned two pairs, considering that Hexia would choose, they prepared two extra pairs. Among the three sets of dresses, one was a summer dress suitable for the current season, alternating between lovely red and white, with off-shoulder design, followed by a row of wavy pleats, then it cinched in neatly to highlight the curves of the waist and bust, and finally flowed into a wavy skirt hem. Readtest stories on mvl The second set had a more demure style, with a top featuring light floral patterns against a white background, followed by a wide fitted waistband in white, tying into two slender straps on one side, paired with a light pink and neatly pleated skirt¡ªsimple yet beautiful. The third set was the most luxurious, entirely in a fiery, vivacious red with intricatece and a grand four-leaf skirt body, reminiscent of an ancient court princess''s formal gown, and it demanded the highest standards of body shape and proportion; anyone who was slightly overweight or had mismatched body proportions would look out of ce if they wore it. When the protective covering over the clothes was lifted, Hexia was stunned for a few seconds, feeling that either the manager or Debi had misunderstood. In fact, she had just wanted to buy a fitting dress, not something so extravagant. "Dantalion, try them on," Debi urged, her eyes sparkling with little stars, really wanting to see Hexia dressed in them. "Uh, okay." Since she was already there, she couldn''t very well back out at thest moment. Hexia entered the dressing room, first trying on the summer dress which was the closest to her preference. Soon, a beautiful young girl emerged, her fine, light gray hair and skin whiter than snowplemented by the red and pink-white dress. Her demeanor seemed utterly different from before. If she put on strappy sandals now and carried a simple handbag, she would pass as the very image of a youngdy. This wasn''tpletely untrue, for when Hexia was very young, her mother had taught her all the details of etiquette¡ªwhether it was posture or walking, dining manners, or the art of curtsying. But as sheter developed an introverted personality, her movements became more restrained, gradually fading until she became what she was now. "Indeed, I was not wrong; Dantalion has just this kind of potential." Raby seemed particrly excited about her own judgment. "This..." With her legs moving slightly, Hexia looked at her own dress, bright and unparalleled, and felt somewhat unustomed¡ªas if a mushroom that had always stayed in a corner was suddenly ced under the sun. "Then you should also try on this set from Dantalion." Saying so, Debi brought over the third and most luxurious dress. Even though Hexia felt that this evening gown would be expensive and beyond her means, seeing the sparkle in Debi''s eyes, she just couldn''t bring herself to say no and could only go back to change clothes again. Not long after, a noble and elegant young girl with her hands sped in front of her walked slowly out of the dressing room. If her gray hair were changed to gold or silver-white, some would believe her to be an elf princess. "Hmm hmm, that''s more like it," Debi circled around Hexia several times, as if she had discovered a new world. "It''s truly incredible," she muttered, while the manager and the clerks nearby were also quite astonished; after all, although Hexia had a not-so-bad appearance when she came in, there was always amon and easily overlooked illusion, but now it was as if a cover had been removed, revealing the mesmerizing colors underneath. "It''s just these few sets then, Dantalion~" Debi suggested. "Ah, I haven''t asked about the price yet." The girl thought that the money she brought might not even be enough to buy these dresses. "It''s alright, I have a membership card; I can get a discount," Debi raised the stamped card in her hand, then, out of Hexia''s sight, she stealthily gestured to the manager. "Is that so." Hexia bit her lip lightly, then asked the manager next to her for the specific prices. "The prices of these three dresses?" While responding, the manager''s expression twisted into a struggle, as though she was in a difficult position. "Just a moment, I''ll check." She decisively went behind the counter to work on it, entering data, and after ncing at Hexia and the petite figure beside her, she made up her mind. "The total price is 12,562 Federation Coins, but with the discount, we can round it down to 10,000 Federation Coins," she finally announced the number, but from the looks on the two clerks behind Hexia, it was clear that this price was definitely unusual. "It''s a bit pricey, but the quality is there." Hexia hadn''t nned on spending so much money on shopping this time, but she also knew the manager probably didn''t cheat her, as she had seen her sister buy clothes before that cost several times more. "Alright then." After hesitating a few seconds, the girl nodded her head, deciding to make the purchase despite the pain of spending so much money. Upon hearing her decision, Debi quietly made a victorious gesture, but her facial expression and movements still gave nothing away. "Okay, we will package them for you." The manager signaled discreetly to the two clerks not far away, and they understood immediately, proceeding to not only pack the three dresses efficiently but even included the four pairs of shoes as well. Having received the clothes and with time gettingte, Debi saw off Hexia at the entrance of Redwood Street before she herself had to leave. As she watched Hexia''s figure disappear into the distance of the street, Debi then turned back¡ªthe boutique they''d just exited, ''Through Iron Red Maw,'' was her next destination. "Second Miss, you''ve returned," greeted the manager, hastily approaching the blonde girl who came back alone. "Hmm hmm, remember to keep today''s matter a secret, and should that girle back, you can only say I am a VIP regr here, so I was able to get a very favorable discount price," she instructed. "Understood." The manager nodded, thinking that the earlier performance they cooperated in had indeed passed. "Not bad, your judgment," Debi, now seated on a tall stool in the store, gently spun around, her white dress and golden hair fluttering with her. "After all, she''s a friend of the Second Miss, so it''s natural to present the best status and dresses that most suit her temperament and figure," the manager said with some pride. "Alright, I won''t continue to praise you. How much exactly are those three dresses'' prices? I will make up for it, or my sister will scold me for itter when she checks the ounts." "How could that be..." Though the manager said this, she still quickly reported the amount. "The total cost is 123,000 Federation Coins. The first two sets used T5 grade high-quality fabric and were designed by a clothier from the Flying Feather Star Domain, so each dress was priced around 10,000 Federation Coins. As for thest set, it was made with the famous ''Moon-Iid Flower Silk'' from the Elf Race, with fabric costs alone nearing 30,000 Federation Coins, and after the master''s design and tailoring, the selling price would normally double." "''Moon-Iid Flower Silk,'' no wonder it felt so meticulously fine yet soft to the touch," Debi nodded slightly. "Regardless of the selling price, what about our production cost?" "Just the manufacturing andbor costs amount to about 60,000 Federation Coins, so the actual price we''re selling it for isn''t high. But, unfortunately, in Payin City, we can only sell for so much. At our main store in the Northern First District, the price might double again, with the three sets going for 200,000 to 300,000 Federation Coins." Clothing is like that, the more luxurious the brand, the steeper the markup; even a 500% premium is considered affordable. "Alright, I''ve got it. Once my vacation in Payin City is over, I''ll talk to my sister and have you transferred to the Northern First District," she assured. "Thank you, Second Miss Bettina," the manager was thrilled, her years of hard work finally paying off. Even though she had given her all for this boutique, the number of wealthy people in Payin City was limited, and those who favored the color red, even fewer. After all, as the saying goes, one cannot make bricks without straw. No matter how hard she worked, there was only so much she could do to increase performance. Now, with the rmendation of thepany''s Second Miss, she could finally look forward to a much bigger stage. "Once the holiday is over, I''ll also be going to the Northern First District to study. We''ll have a lot of time together in the future, so work hard, keen-eyed big sister," Bettina, or rather ''Dream of zed ss'' Debi, painted a new future for her family''s employee. After getting ustomed to working in ''Dream of zed ss'' at the White Feather Church, she found herself delivering such speeches more and more naturally. Chapter 116: Chapter 72: Tripartite Meeting ``` June 12th, it arrived. Today was a day off, and Hexia didn''t have to work. In the morning, after getting ready at home, she set out, not for the Feng Lu Restaurant but for ''Dream of zed ss''; the gathering with ssmates wouldn''t start until the afternoon. Standing in the elevator of Topstar Tower, slowly ascending, Hexia felt a peculiar emotion stirring within her, for today she was going to ''Dream of zed ss'' not as an employee but as an invited guest. "Hexia Tn, regarding the matter of your admission, I have already negotiated with the representative from Yuanting Academy, and I would like to invite you to a small sit-down at ''Dream of zed ss'' inside Topstar Tower this afternoon to exin in detail," Fernandi had sent her a message yesterday. Even though Hexia was surprised that Fernandi had chosen ''Dream of zed ss'' as the ce for their conversation, it was fortunate that it was her day off; otherwise, it would have been awkward to encounter a teacher while she was working at the restaurant. Having informed everyone in advance yesterday, they shouldn''t y any pranks on me today, she thought to herself. Her attire was exceptionally different today, having abandoned her usual dark, cool colors for a summer dress with alternating shades of rosy red and pale pink. She had carefully tied up her long hair at the back of her head, adorning it with silk ribbons that swayed gently with her locks. On her feet were open-toed sandals with cool straps, outlining the delicate and beautiful shape of her feet, with her light pink nails exposed, adding a touch of cuteness. Entering the familiar shop, today everyone else was also bustling within the spacious ss world, where the immacte floor reflected the azure sky, looking especially open and clean. Discover exclusive content at mvl Picking up the personal terminal at hand and inquiring about the specific location, Hexia walked toward the indicated direction. Along the way, maids would nce at her with slight surprise before being pulled away by theirpanions. Although she felt uneasy, thankfully no maid jumped out at this moment to announce Dantalion''s arrival. Finally, upon reaching the round table by the window, Hexia found that three people were already waiting for her. One was the familiar and burly Fernandi, another was a schrly-looking man with sses, and thest one was the noblewoman that Hexia asionally encountered in the shop. "Lady Isabelle..." the girl whispered this name that she had learned not long ago from Belfeng. "Has Hexia arrived? Come, sit here," she invited the girl to sit beside her, while the representatives from the two academies sat across from them. "Hello, Hexia Tn, I am a teacher from Yuanting Academy, Hugh Neil." He lightly adjusted the sses on the bridge of his nose, his countenance warm as he looked at the girl. "Not long ago, Mr. Fernandi approached our academy, which surprised us since you, Hexia, achieved the best results in our academy''s retest," he opened the conversation with an implication that Fernandi''s poaching was somewhat unscrupulous. "But Hexia initially applied for a slot at our school. It''s just that our side''s review is a bit more rigorous, hence thete announcement," Fernandi wasn''t willing to show weakness either. "Edith Academy, esteemed as one of the top four in the Star Domain, still wants to snatch students from us, Yuanting. It''s quite surprising and puzzling. Can''t you find suitable students in the vast Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, or are you just too proud, always so picky?" Despite his seemingly gentle demeanor, the schrly-looking teacher didn''t give any ground in his words. "Mr. Hugh Neil, don''t use those words to provoke me," in response to the teacher''s sarcasm, Fernandi, leaning his hands on his knees, shook his head and replied steadily; he wouldn''t lose his cool and give the other an advantage. Seeing that the two wouldn''t stop their arguments anytime soon, Lady Isabelle pped her hands, drawing the attention of both men. "Perhaps we should ask what Hexia herself thinks and see which academy she prefers." "Me?" In fact, Hexia''s understanding of the two academies wasn''t deep, limited to some official materials and the awareness about their reputations within the Star Domain. Yuanting Academy, once ranked in the top ten of Four-leaf Crystal, but that was over four hundred years ago. As the Northern Hemisphere declined due to acid rain, the influence of Yuanting Academy, reliant on the northern districts, inevitably slid, now ranking only 17th. Edith Academy, a rising star, was established a little over a hundred years ago. Allegedly, it split from Saint Ingo Academy, always viewing each other as formidable rivals, supported by profound resources. The teaching environment, instruments, and staff configurations within the academy were all top-notch, exemplifying the kind of institution that doesn''t worry about money. Many of its students were also the heirs torge enterprises, currently ranking fourth within the Star Domain. In terms of school traditions, Edith Academy has always been strict, a typical elite institution prioritizing image and rules, while Yuanting Academy offers a more rxed ambiance, advocating the concept of equality and encouraging students to pursue their personal interests. As Hexia spoke about her understanding of both schools, both teachers asionally affirmed and added information, gradually making her aware of the differences and disparities between the two academies. If one talked about the school environment and teaching strength, Edith Academy naturally had the upper hand. However, theid-back and egalitarian ethos of Yuanting Academy also held great appeal for Hexia. Seeing Hexia''s indecision, both parties began to up the ante, listing various favorable conditions. These included not only waiver of tuition and provision of stipends but also help with arranging amodation within the academy and even offering additional resources to attract Hexia. "If Hexia joins our academy, every year during your time at school, we can award you one ''Radiant Gold Level'' Spiritual Medicine." Such a level of Spiritual Medicine was worth at least 500,000 Federation Coins. "The same thing, our Edith Academy can provide three to Miss Hexia every year," Fernandi interjected nonchntly. Compared to Yuanting Academy, Edith was certainly not short on funds, and they even struggled to spend their annual budget. As the debate between the two parties seemed endless, Lady Isabelle suddenly spoke up. ``` "Perhaps, we can find apromise," "Apromise?" The two halted in surprise. Could there actually be apromise? "With today''s technology, it is not difficult for a student to attend sses remotely. Would you agree?" "This... Indeed, it''s not difficult, but schooling is not just about attending sses. There are many other activities, and during their studies, students require guidance and correction from teachers," Hugh Neil interjected. "Then they can alternate between the two schools each month," Lady Isabelle seemed to be forming an idea. "For example, attend Edith Academy one month and go to Yuanting Academy the next. A high-speed flight between the north and the south takes just over 4 hours, so it won''t be a waste of time." "I see..." Hugh Neil pondered thoughtfully. "I''m afraid that won''t work," Fernandi shook his head. "Although travel, amodation, and even school registration are not issues, the training programs of the two academies are definitely different. If she attends both, it means Hexia would have to take twice as many courses as other students." Sometimes more learning isn''t better. The mastery thates with focusing on one skill is iparable to juggling many. "I know this might not be perfect, but I still believe Hexia has the potential to do this. If you both have doubts, I can act as a guarantor, letting Hexia try out this model during her first stage of high school. If she indeed finds it unsuitable, then she can choose which academy to attend in her second year. As for the extra expenses incurred during training, I will cover them," proposed Lady Isabelle. "This is somewhat beyond my expectations, but if Lady Isabelle insists..." Fernandi knew he would have difficulty opposing the suggestion of this noblewoman. Even though Edith Academy had considerable influence, thedy in front of him was a senior figure in the Federal Education Circle with sway over many universities. He did not want to sour the rtionship. On the other side, Hugh Neil too was surprised by the proposal, but upon reflection, it seemed a good idea. If they continued topete, the pressure from Edith Academy could reach the Northern First District, and Yuanting Academy might not be able to withstand it, possibly losing outpletely in the end. Could it be that an agreement was reached in this manner? Hexia was surprised and became even more curious about the true identity of Lady Isabelle. She had managed to make two top academies concede. It seems I owe even more favors now. Seeing both parties rx gradually, Lady Isabelle smiled. "Alright, Fernandi, I will give you an extra piece of information to report back, but as a condition andpensation, your Edith Academy must be willing to make appropriate concessions in the course arrangements and not be overly harsh on Hexia," she said. "Oh, what information and secret might that be?" Fernandi did not agree immediately. "Hexia has the talent of a songstress, and not a low one at that," Lady Isabelle revealed, causing Fernandi''s pupils to contract as he turned an even more eager gaze toward the young girl. In the Federation, those with the talent for Soul Resonance are naturally more likely to be leaders and idols among people. As for Edith Academy, which aims to nurture elites, they couldn''t desire such a talent more. Unfortunately, the few songstresses born within the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain did not go to Edith Academy. Most went to Saint Ingo Academy, which ranks first, and others joined the second-ranked Peak Cluster Academy, like ''me Sugar'' Prin Coco, a rising star in the Star Domain. "Edith Academy doesn''t have teachers who specialize in nurturing songstresses, and the environment is too strict, which is not suitable for Hexia''s studies and practice as a songstress. However, if it''s for Transcendent Sequence studies and business knowledge, I believe you are professional," she added. Hugh Neil on the other side was also taken aback by the unexpected news. Although he knew Hexia was a girl with exceptional talent, he had no clear idea how outstanding she really was, only assuming that since Edith Academy was vying for her, she must be quite remarkable. The information from Lady Isabelle was truly shocking to him. It''s true that if a songstress can''t reach the Sunlit Level, it''s difficult to enter politics, but just being at the Moon ss is enough to be a star celebrated across the Federation. The immense appeal to the public, if well-leveraged, could benefit Yuanting Academy for decades with various sponsorships andmercial partnerships, not to mention attracting more talented students. "Ah, I also had my own selfish reasons for not wanting to reveal this so soon because once you know, it''ll quickly bemon knowledge in the upper echelons of Four-leaf Crystal," Lady Isabelle sighed. "You have my word, Lady. We at Edith Academy will keep this secret, divulging it only to a select few," Fernandi vowed, thumping his chest for emphasis. "Yuanting Academy can do the same," Hugh Neil assured as well. "I hope you can keep it secret. Revealing it too soon would not be good for her," said Lady Isabelle as she gently stroked the girl''s long hair behind her, causing her to modestly lower her head. I''ve troubled thedy too much today. "Now that we''ve settled this today, you should work out the details, especially regarding the courses. I hope they willplement each other rather than ovep wastefully," she finished. "Our dear and highly anticipated Hexia is only 16 years old, and this is one of her rare holidays. Let''s let her rest for today," Lady Isabelle concluded, turning to give the girl a teasing wink, apparently noticing her restlessness. After all, the clock had unknowingly passed 12 o''clock, and it was time for the afternoon party. Chapter 117: Chapter 73 Childhood Memories In the afternoon, the three-story Fenglu Restaurant bustled with activity. Olive walls adorned with bright, bud-shapedmps and floors of light green hues gave the whole restaurant an upbeat decor. As a recently opened establishment, it had released numerous advertisements throughout Payin City, and its feature of special private rooms for gatherings attracted many fresh graduates. In the hallway, numerous young faces passed by, asionally gathering in groups to chat about recent events. "We''ve graduated, and honestly, it still feels a bit surreal," Jones leaned against a second-floor window, surrounded by a few familiar male ssmates. "Where should we go after we''re done here? We can''t just say goodbye after the meal, right?" "Let''s decideter. We don''t even know what the girls have nned. It''ll be troublesome if we make up our minds now and they end up not liking it," Jones said, feeling the breeze from the window and half-closing his eyes. Ever since he received the eptance list, his parents eased up on the restrictions, and he was at the peak of his good fortune. Even doing nothing more than standing by the window and enjoying the breeze felt exhrating. "Look at him, he''s so content he might as well beughing in his dreams," Xize, not far off, couldn''t help but snark at the sight of Jones. "Ahahaha, I''m in such a good mood right now, I won''t even take issue with you guys," Jones waved his hand, signaling not to disturb his moment of peace and pleasure. The group chuckled and began discussing the future paths of their ssmates after graduation. "Our ss may have had average to below-average grades, but a few still got into good schools." "Jones doesn''t even need to be mentioned; he got lucky with his athletic ability and got into Sword Academy, ranked among the top 9 in the Northern Seventh District." "Another noteworthy one is Hus, who applied to Duke Academy in the Northern Second District. It''s a school that specializes in training mechanical engineers, tuition-free, but graduates are required to work at Duke Corporation for five years. It''s certainly an established and reputable school in the Northern Second District." "Tn wanted to apply to a military school but unfortunately got cut during the second round of tests." "Suren, I heard, went to some obscure academy in the Southern Fifth District, apparently specializing in underwater operations." "As for everyone else, there''s not much to mention. Most ended up in ordinary high schools in the Northern Seventh District. They''d be thankful even for a Sequence 3 by graduation." The group shook their heads; many among them were only Sequence 1, hoping they might reach Sequence 2 with various preparations and efforts during high school. "What about the girls? We''ve been talking about the boys mostly." "Among the girls, Hexia, Fon, and Polin have the best academic achievements, I guess." "Fon went to an academy for waitstaff, supposedly specialized in training high-end hotel staff. They have pretty high standards for appearance and physique, and I''ve heard the pay is decent after graduation." "Polin, I don''t know much about her. She transferred in ninth grade, and her parents are technical staff relocated topanies in Payin City. She''ll probably follow their career path, which would save her a lot of detours." "As for Hexia, one of the few in our ss who advanced to Sequence 2 early. It seems she didn''t do well this time; her name wasn''t on the Irene Academy eptance list. It''s quite a pity." "Is Hexia really that good at studying, though? I''ve heard the girls say she''s just pretending most of the time." "I don''t know about pretending, but managing to advance to Sequence 2 is impressive in itself," said the boy leaning against the wall nonchntly. "That''s true. If I had a Sequence 2 level before graduating, I would''ve gotten quite a few bonus points during applications." "Studying is such a pain. It''s not a big deal not to have Sequence 2. I can aim for it in high school. My dad said the same; he climbed up that way, and he thinks Transcendent Sequences aren''t all that useful. Money is what really matters. He told me to follow him and learn businesster." "Well, that''s your family. We''re not all in the same boat. If my dad were rich, I''d be lying around at home every day too," Everyone discussed their future ns. For children from ordinary federal families, aspirations often don''t soar too high. Securing a stable, decent job is the pursuit of many for a lifetime. As they spoke about where their ssmates were heading, the sounds of conversation came from outside the private room they''d booked, and soon, several girls walked in. "Wow, you guys are all here," Dudu, still dressed in her somewhat extravagant attire that belied her age, entering with a mature air. Following her were a few familiar faces: Mili, Lina, and several other close friends. Their ss had a total of 46 students, 21 girls and 25 boys. The most active among the girls were Lina and Dudu, with most of the others also associating with their circle, save for a few who were independent. Continue reading stories on mvl "Is everyone here?" With the room nearly full, someone asked aloud. "Let''s count," came the sound of people tallying up. "We''re 5 short, let me see, ra, Tn, Hexia..." Meanwhile, in another private room of the Fenglu Restaurant, a group of students also gathered, though this area was a bit quieter, withughter only asionally breaking the calm. "ra, are you leaving early?" asked a curious girl with chestnut-gold short hair, looking at the girl in the short jacket and shorts who was unusually quiet and seemed keen on leaving early. "Yeah, I''ve seen most of the ssmates already. I''m nning to leave soon, mainly because there''s also a gathering for junior high today, and I need to check that out," she replied. Chapter 118: Chapter 73 Childhood Memories_2 "Ah, a middle school ssmates'' reunion? Where is it? Can I make it in time?" The youngdy with chestnut gold short hair was called Yilin, and she was also the initiator of this elementary school ssmates'' reunion. "It''s just downstairs," ra gestured with her hand, a smile ying on her lips as if she also found it quite coincidental. "I''ll see if I have the time in the middle of it, and if I do, I''lle over." She said nonchntly, waved her hand, then pulled open the partition of the private room and walked out. After she left, another girl from a short distance away came over. "What''s up, Yilin? Did ra leave early?" Cindy came over to the youngdy''s side. "She said she has another gathering to rush off to, so I didn''t keep her. Let''s pack a portion of the meal for herter, after all, she''s still a ssmate, we can''t forget her." "You''re still as thoughtful as ever," Cindy said with a smile. "Cindy, you''ve be quite the smooth talker, ah, but let''s not talk about that. I''ve actually started to take over some business at home recently and have been taught a lot by my parents," Yilin shook her head. Explore stories at mvl Among her ssmates, her family was the wealthiest, running a modest beautypany with branches in Payin City and the neighbouring cities. "Oh right, where is Tn? Cindy, didn''t you say she wasing back today?" Yilin remembered her childhood ymate. "Her? Let me check, she should be arriving soon." Cindy picked up her personal terminal. Soon after, Cindy put down her personal terminal, indicating that Tn would be arriving momentarily. But in reality, Hexia had just left Topstar Tower and was now hailing a hover car by the roadside. "Okay, I got it, I''ll be there soon." The young girl put down her personal terminal, and a hover car slowly stopped in front of her. After getting into the car, she immediately told the driver her destination, and the hover car started off right away. Hexia didn''t expect to have chatted for so long; she reminisced about the situation earlier at ''Dream of zed ss.'' Initially, she hadn''t thought about going to both academies simultaneously, given the considerable difference in school spirit, but under Lady Isabelle''s suggestion, she had agreed to such an arrangement. At least in her view, Lady Isabelle had no ill intentions, and since Hexia herself knew very little about the Federal Upper Echelon, perhaps there was a particr reason behind Isabelle''s n. It''s better to listen to the advice of elders while young, rather than blindly making your own way without understanding the situation. The young girl pondered today''s events, her personal terminal vibrated slightly, and soon she received official admissions notifications from both Yuanting Academy and Edith Academy, with a deration of joint training even spelled out on the notifications, not the kind of standardized admission letters that are copy-pasted. "This is really..." The girl couldn''t help but marvel inwardly, realizing she might have underestimated the importance of this matter. Switching the page, she used the key code on the notification letter to ess the Edith Academy''s official website and began to search. Not long after, she was astonished to discover her name on the public examination admission list. The announcement had been issued less than a minute ago, as if waiting for Hexia to confirm the situation before formally publishing it. As for Yuanting Academy, the publication would probably be dyed. From the conversation earlier, it seemed that Yuanting Academy had been passively involved in the contention; Hugh Neil had told Hexia before leaving that a formal announcement would be madeter, after detailed discussions about the subsequent training n with the academy''s board in theing days. Feeling almost overwhelmingly favored, the young girl leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to reflect. The events of the day felt like a dream. She was once an ordinary girl for whom even getting into a good school was a struggle, but now, she had instantly be a sought-after prize for the top academies. A little whileter, she shook her head and opened her eyes again. Setting those thoughts aside for now, she was about to arrive at the ss reunion, and Cindy must be getting anxious, having called her earlier. Two minutester, the hover car stopped near the corner of the street close to the Fulu Restaurant, from where Hexia got out. The reason she didn''t disembark right in front of the restaurant was naturally to avoid certain individuals. She picked up her personal terminal at her side and called ra. "Have you arrived, Hexia? Wait a moment, I''ming downstairs now," the noise of a bustling environment filtering through the phone, along with a burst of cheering. Shortly after, ra seemed to have moved to a rtively quiet corridor to continue the conversation. "The boys in our ss were making a ruckus just now; it looks like Jones will have to fork out a big sum this time... almost everyone else is here, Cindy and Yilin are on the third floor at ''V-31''. You just enter through the side door, and I''ll be waiting for you there," she exined. After hanging up the phone, Hexia tidied up her hair and dress by the roadside and hurried to the agreed location. As she walked into theparatively quiet side entrance, ra was standing by the stair railing, browsing her personal terminal. She looked up when she heard footsteps. "Hex... Hexia?" she uttered in disbelief upon seeing the young girl in a crimson and pink-white frock, looking charming and striking. "Yes, it''s me. Sorry to keep you waiting, ra," Hexia approached, her appearance today indeed a bit ''bold'' or rather far different from the impression she typically left on others. "That dress must have cost a pretty penny," ra quipped, shaking her head slightly but not borating further. Hexia must not have wanted to appear shabby in front of her elementary school ssmates and had spent a considerable sum to buy or rent this outfit. ra understood; if she were in the same position, she probably wouldn''t want to look downtrodden in front of old acquaintances either, especially since Hexia had once been the center of attention, the girl everyone admired and cared for. Chapter 119: Chapter 73 Childhood Memories_3 Your journey continues at mvl "You go up the side staircase on this side, and when you get to the third floor, turn left; that''s where it is. Your junior high ssmates are in the suite on the second floor to the right. If you don''t go downstairs in between, you should not run into them," "Okay," the girl nodded and then proceeded up the stairs. The stairway, carpeted and with handrails of still-glossy mahogany, and the corridors illuminated by chandeliers hanging down, all entered the girl''s sensitive perception. The various voices from the rooms nearby also faintly reached her ears. With each step she climbed, the shifting perspective made the memories in Hexia''s mind roll back, scene after childhood sceneing into view. "Hexia Tn, that is my name." In the warm afternoon, standing in the ssroom bathed in nting sunshine, a little girl in a blue and white dress began to speak timidly. Outside the window, the mother and the teacher were looking at the little girl on the tform, cheering her on, then watched as she continued to introduce herself. After ss, several children of the same age crowded around her. "Hey, is your name Hexia, and Tn is your surname?" "Grey hair, wow, that''s really rare. Can I touch it?" "Hello, my name is Roke; I''m the ss president. If you need anything, you cane to me," a little boy confidently patted his chest. The little girl surrounded by everyone was terribly nervous, but still slowly began to speak. She shook her head first. "My name is Hexia and Tn is also my name. My hair is natural, uh, even though it''s not the same as my mum''s, but Mum says it looks pretty good too," the little girl said, her voice somewhat stubborn as if she was trying hard to raise her voice lest it shrink to the weak buzzing she usually spoke in. Because her mother had encouraged her the day before and had said so many things, Hexia did not want to disappoint or upset her mother; she wanted to be strong, and that was her thought at the time. Several monthster, the ssmates in her ss gradually became familiar with Hexia. "Wow, was that your sister who came to pick you up yesterday? She''s so beautiful." "Yes, that''s my sister; she''s really awesome." When talking about herself, she might be very quiet andcks confidence, but when ites to her sister, the little girl is always very happy and proud. "I''m so envious..." the other children surrounded Hexia. Two years passed, and everyone had grown up a bit. "Tn, do you want some candy? My mum bought me a big box yesterday, and I''ll give you some too," Yilin said, holding a small but exquisite box filled with colorful candies. "Yilin always favors Hexia; she brings her a share whenever she has something nice," the surrounding ssmates said, slightly jealous. "Thank you," Hexia, whose face still had a bit of baby fat from her younger days, epted the box of candies. After school, she found the ssmate who had spoken before and opened the box in her hands. "Here." In her small palm were four candies of different colors. Although the children did not know the specific brand, they vaguely knew that such candy was not cheap; it was the rare and expensive T4 grade. "For me?" the ssmate looked at the cylindrical box in Hexia''s hands. Although delicate, it wasn''t big, and in total it contained only about twenty candies. "Hmm, here you go," Hexia said, her ck eyes wide with a kind of pure sincerity. "Well..." Taking the candy, the child unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth, a rare sweetness and full-bodied feeling spreading from the tip of her tongue. "Not bad, I''ll stop saying mean things about you then," the child mumbled through the candy, feeling a bit embarrassed. Under the evening sky that mimicked the real one, Hexia continued to share her remaining candies, giving him five more before finally following her father home. The next day, Hexia brought a return gift made by her mother ¨C a dessert with an Eastern style. "Is this for me, Tn? Thank you," Yilin received it happily, and the two went hand in hand to swing on the swings. Time flowed slowly, and everyone grew another year older. "How do you solve this problem, Tn?" The younger Cindy stood troubled beside the girl, not wanting to ask the teacher since there were already several children crowded around her. "Let me tell you," Hexia said confidently, picking up a pen and starting to write for her good friend. Outside the window, children were ying with a ball, chasing each other, or sitting under the shade of trees flipping through new picture books bought by the school. "Why isn''t Tn here yet? She wouldn''t have forgotten about our agreed-upon Friday afternoon, would she? It''s our rare activity time," Yilin clutched her picture book and looked around before trotting back to the ssroom. There, she saw the girl discussing a problem with Cindy in a corner. "As expected, she''s been caught up by them again." Yilin walked over, leaned on the opposite side of their desk, and waited in boredom. It was Hexia''s birthday during the fifth grade. "This is the cake we made for Tn~" Several boys, their faces smeared with cream and holding candles, cheered loudly. Across from them, Hexia, surrounded by several girls, walked out shyly and stood in front of the cake filled with candles. "Thank you, everyone." Her cheeks flushed red as she bowed in thanks, her first time celebrating her birthday at school. Since her sister had gone to high school and gradually disyed extraordinary talent, their parents'' attention had shifted toward Temisia. At home, Hexia had been feeling increasingly neglected, hearing and seeing adults talk about her sister constantly, with some influential people even visiting from time to time. She had no choice but to hide in her bedroom. Knowing that Hexia was unhappy recently, her close friends invited her to celebrate her birthday at school. Today, after school, nobody left, all choosing to stay with her. "What wish did you make, Tn?" they asked her after she closed her eyes, prayed, and blew out the candles. "I hope we will always be good friends." The memory paused at that moment; the young Hexia, Cindy, Yilin, Roke, Mackey, and other familiarpanions held hands around that big cake, uttering their simple and wless wishes of the time. Had time really gone by so unnoticed? Hexia slowly awoke from her recollections. Those faces from the memories, she hadn''t seen them in years. Ever since her sister passed away, there had been drastic changes at home, and she had moved away from her old residence, distancing herself from those former ssmates and friends. Later, out of self-consciousness and not wanting to be seen in such a destitute and impoverished state, she had deliberately avoided them. Three years had passed, and many things had changed; nothing was as it had been. She arrived at the closed door of the suite, grasped the handle, and slowly pulled it open. "I''m back." Chapter 120: Chapter 74: Familiar Name Pushing open the door, what greeted her eyes were faces both strange and familiar. As people grew, many had changed their appearance, and the diversity of hairstyles and attire made it difficult to recognize them. However, as Hexia approached, the warm and familiar sound of their voices immediately stirred her memories. "Who is she?" "Is that Tn?" Several boys seated around looked at the figure that seemed familiar yet hard to ce. Your journey continues at §Þ?? The conversation halted for a moment, and even the students chatting previously sensed something unusual and turned around. They all watched the girl who entered the room, her appearance undeniably beautiful. Her crimson dress, paired with her soft, shoulder-length hair and the silk ribbon that swayed gently, was like a red lotus entering a dream, sending ripples through everyone''s hearts. Just as everyone was hesitating, Cindy stood up from the side room, waving her hand. "Tn~ you finally made it." "Yes, I''m here," Hexia stood still, looking at the group of familiar people, ovee with emotions, yet unsure how to express them. Suddenly, the room exploded into cheers, as people rose from their seats, and some pushed forward from inside, crowding the young girl. If it weren''t for the boys at the front who were careful, their heads might have pressed against hers. "It''s Tn, it''s Tn!" "I finally see you, Tn! I''ve missed you so much, it''s been three or four years since west saw each other." "Wuu, finally seeing the grown-up Tn, you''re still so beautiful." "Where have you been these years, Tn? You never showed up whenever we tried to meet you." "I want to hug Tn." "Why is Tn crying? Shouldn''t it be a happy reunion?" "It''s okay, Tn, everyone is here with you." The group gathered around the girl, talking over each other, while a few of Hexia''s former close friends patted her back tofort her. After a short while, Hexia''s emotions stabilized, and she felt embarrassed for crying just now. She was an adult after all; how could she still cry like when she was a child... She then began to answer everyone''s curious questions. "Sorry foring sote to see you all," she said, her gaze touching each person present,paring them to the faces in her memories, seeking out those familiar names. "A lot has happened over the years," she said, closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly. "There were some family troubles, and then I moved away from where I used to live; now I''m living on my own," she said, not wanting to make the atmosphere too depressing with her sad tale. Although she did not delve into specifics, from her few words, everyone could sense that Hexia had not had an easy time these past years, and the room fell silent for a moment. "I''m really happy to see everyone today. Honestly, I might not recognize many of you," she said, slightly embarrassed, ncing at the tabletop beside her, not daring to face so many intense gazes. "Haha, don''t worry, let''s reacquaint ourselves today. After all, we each have something we''d like to say to you," a cheerful boy said loudly, immediately echoed by everyone else. "First, let me start, after all, I was the ss monitor," the boy who spoke before spread his hands to make room, ced a chair in front of Hexia, and sat down. "I''m Nokai, Tn, you must remember me, right? I used to trouble you a lot back in the day, haha." He had a fresh crew cut and was wearing a dark tee today, sitting confidently with one hand on his knee and patting his chest with the other, introducing himself. "I remember, Nokai has grown a lot taller," Hexia recalled the past when Nokai was still not as tall as she was. "That''s because I work out a lot," he had hardly spoken a few words when someone pulled him up from his chair. "Okay, Nokai, let someone else have a turn; there''s a whole queue behind you," and with that, they lifted him up and took their own seat. The two of them each took a side of the chair, leaning against each other with one arm raised, and with an index finger, they drew a line across the center of their foreheads, lifting some strands of hair. "Jian Buyan." The other boy closed his eyes, his index finger crossing his eyebrows, then suddenly opening his eyes wide. "Chen Zhiyu." Watching their cool gestures, the girl covered her mouth with a smile and nodded slightly, signaling that she remembered the duo from her ss. Then, the two of them stood up stylishly, making room for a girl with chestnut short hair who had been waiting on the side. "I''m Yilin here." The youngdy was dressed in a blouse, with a tied ck silk scarf at the cor and a ck and white checked skirt that reached her knees. She lightly tapped her chest, looking at Hexia with soft and nostalgic eyes, then reached out her palm. "Yilin..." Hexia sped the offered hand, and the two looked at each other. It seemed as if they had a milliard things to say, but in the end, they said nothing at all. In elementary school, Yilin had been Hexia''s closest friend, often inseparable, and it was Yilin who always looked after the tearful and timid Hexia. As everyone crowded around these two chairs, they watched Hexia greet each ssmate and get to know them all over again, withughter and tears making for an unforgettable day. Perhaps this scene would remain clear in memory for decades toe. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Meanwhile, a gathering of junior high ssmates was also underway. "Everyone''s almost here, right?" Jones stood in front of a table, slowly scanning the room. "Only Hexia hasn''te," a ssmate muttered nearby. Chapter 121: Chapter 74 Familiar Name_2 "Have you called yet?" "No, not many people have her number." The ssmate beside shook their head. At this, Jones suddenly spoke up loudly, "Who has Hexia''s number? Ask what''s going on." The boys mostly shook their heads, while several girls couldn''t help but look towards Lina. Lina had interacted with Hexia the most among the girls before. "Why are you looking at me? She''s a youngdy, how could she care about someone like me, huh~" Lina frowned and turned away. Just when the scene was about to be awkward, a girl whispered something in Lina''s ear. Her expression changed, as if she had thought of something interesting, and she changed her mind. "Alright, I''ll call and ask her to hurry over." She took out the new personal terminal she had bought from beside her; amidst a dazzling disy of purple light, a projection opened up, visible to everyone. "Dudu¡ª¡ªdudu¡ª¡ª" The dialing sound began. ra, who had been browsing forums like Starweb in the corner, furrowed her brow, switched pages, and sent a message to Hexia. [Don''t answer the call, it''s nothing good.] Soon, the call timed out. There was no response from the other side, and Lina felt embarrassed in front of everyone, displeased. "We''ll askter, I think she did it on purpose, hmph." "Hey, isn''t it a shame she won''te to the rare graduation get-together?" "Forget it, forget it. She''s a good student, the future big doctor, of course, she has the privilege to look down on us." Explore more at §Þ?? "Maybe she''s lying in a hotel with someone right now. I once saw from a distance Hexia dressed as a maid entering Topstar Tower. I wasn''t sure if it was her, but thinking back now, it must have been her." "Ah, she''s ying that wild?" "Who knows? Maybe she figured out that no matter how hard she studies, it isn''t as fast as earning money this way, hehe." There was a buzz of discussion among the crowd. Hearing such gossip sparked curiosity, and they asked about the situation at Topstar Tower. "I''ve only been to the 28th floor of Topstar Tower for sightseeing, and that''s only open at specific times. Above that, it''s said to be the high-end spot of Payin City, where some city officials even temporarily reside." "Not sure, I''ve only heard a bit from my dad. Topstar Tower is supposedly funded by the government. The top floor has equipment to monitor the entire city area and has high security. Many rich people and bureaucrats frequent it; it has all kinds of facilities." "Ah, so that''s how it is. I usually have no clue." "It''s normal that you don''t know, it''s too expensive there. I heard just sitting casually costs a few thousand Federation Coins; clearly a rip-off." "Speaking of which, what was Hexia doing there? Really doing that?" "I don''t know, but think about it. She''s not someone from a very wealthy family, and you don''t see her with rich friends or rtives. She must be up to no good there." "Now that you mention it, it does seem so. Sigh, I used to think Hexia had a good figure, though she always wore thick sses and her hair was always tightly covered, so you couldn''t see her face clearly." "I should''ve pulled her sses off to have a look, considering she wouldn''t dare resist." "Didn''t Lina used to sit next to her? She should have photos." "But looking at Lina''s recent behavior, it seems she has had a fight with Hexia." "Actually, I heard that Hexia and Lina fought over a man," someone said in a lower voice. "Ah, what''s this news now? Tell me more." "I''m not sure about the details; it''s from the girls'' side. Anyway, one day Lina was out shopping with her boyfriend and called a few ssmates, Hexia was also there, and then her boyfriend started to like Hexia." "Oh, so there''s such a thing? Could it be Hexia is actually pretty?" The crowd buzzed with discussion, and it was not until the main course arrived that they gradually changed the topic. During the dinner, Jones and a bunch of boys toasted and drank, while on the girls'' side, Lina stood with her hands on her hips, so angry she couldn''t even eat. It was as if she, Lina, was even inferior to Hexia, unable to keep her own boyfriend, morphing from the big-sister image to a jealous woman scorned and stolen from. "Come on, calm down, Lina. Have something to eat." Dudu tried tofort her on the side. She felt that today''s situation was a bit off, after all, other than Hexia, only she and Mili were present that day; it wouldn''t be good if Lina started suspecting her. Actually, she wasn''t a bbermouth. She had only mentioned it to two or three people; after all, it was quite an interesting topic. "Heh." Lina let out a coldugh, pushed Dudu aside, and shot her a re, deciding not to bother with her for now. After that, she picked up her personal terminal and started typing a message. The purple light danced at her fingertips as she input a long string of words. It was full of sarcasm and not only used Hexia of ingratitude but also imed she thought of you as a friend, invited you for meals, went out together, and now you turn your face and don''t recognize people. In the end, she added, if you Hexia have a repentant heart and still know shame, you muste today and apologize, clearing things up. Not answering the phone, huh? Thinking you can just escape like that, like a hamster or an ostrich, hehe. After editing the message and hitting send, Lina put the personal terminal back in her pocket, feeling much refreshed. She knew Hexia, knew what the introverted girl valued. If you scorn her, she wouldn''t react much, but if you used her of being ungrateful and morally ckmailed her, she wouldn''t be able to escape. Chapter 122: Chapter 74: Familiar Name_3 I don''t know who taught her such a silly personality, but now that it''s be amusing to take advantage of. On the other side, at Hexia''s reunion with her elementary school ssmates, the introductions and reacquaintances were alsoing to a close. "Finally, it''s my turn," said a boy with thick sses as he sat down; he had been almost invisible in his ss during elementary school, and it was the same now. "Do you still remember my name, Hexia?" "Is it David?" the girl asked uncertainly, as indeed he had rarely spoken up in ss. "Yes, I''m David, uh..." Seeing that Hexia recognized him, he felt both happy and a bit embarrassed, especially since the girl before him was so beautiful, nearly the dream girl of every boy in the ss. "I don''t know what to say, but please keep up the good work in the future, Hexia." He touched his head sheepishly, struggling to squeeze out the words. "Thank you, I will," the girl said with a tilted head and a smile, her mood gradually improving. "Keep working hard as well, David," she encouraged. These words left the boy across from her stunned. He gazed at the girl bathed in the chandelier''s light and shadow, smiling so sweetly that the scene seemed like something out of a dream. Ah, I will, Hexia Tn, he silently noted the promise he made today, then stood up and merged back into the group of ssmates. As the introductions came to a close, everyone grew morefortable and cheerful, then gathered around the table to continue talking about their holidays and future ns. "Where do you n to go to school in the future, Tn?" Yilin sat beside Hexia, their hands linked together. "This... probably in the Northern First District," Hexia thought for a moment, deciding it would be too pretentious to im participation in two schools'' training programs¡ªshe wasn''t the type to seek the spotlight. "Oh, really?" Yilin''s eyes suddenly lit up, having feared that if Hexia went somewhere else, they would likely drift apart again. "I''m also in the Northern First District, epted by Bellflower Academy." Bellflower Academy, ranked 237 in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain and 46 within the Northern First District, is a small and exquisite academy known for cultivating flowers and garden vegetation. Being admitted to a school ranked in the top 300 of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain is quite an aplishment, as the ranking includes not only the ''Jade Skirt'' but also the habitables of the neighboring ''Spotty Pond Goose'' in the Ster System, the residential space stations ''Bi-axis Crystal U-2'' and ''Bi-axis Crystal U-3,'' as well as several major mining bases on various mineral-rich stars. Explore hidden tales at §Þ?? Within the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, ''Jade Skirt'' is thergest habitable with most of the poption, while ''Spotty Pond Goose'' has only a quarter of the ''Jade Skirt'' poption. "Now that we''re both in the Northern First District, there will be plenty of opportunities to see each other, so don''t hide away on your own anymore," Yilin said, leaning on Hexia, speaking softly. "I know, Yilin," Hexia responded quietly, catching the faint scent of flowers from the girl beside her. "You two, don''t stick so close together, okay?" Cindy interjected between them at that moment, joking and teasing. "Tn belongs to all of us, Yilin can''t monopolize her," others in the room joined in the teasing, filling the room withughter and cheerful banter. "Hmm~" At this, Yilin sat up straight, annoyed at the crowd; after all, it was she who organized this gathering, and yet she was being teased by everyone now. Just when everyone thought that the day would pass by happily and memorably, Hexia''s personal terminal rang again. She looked at the lengthy message she received and her expression froze. Seeing her like this, Yilin leaned over and caught a glimpse of the page Hexia wanted to close. Even with just a fleeting look, the malicious words shocked Yilin, and her hand rested on Hexia''s shoulder. "How can they bully you like this!" Chapter 123: Chapter 75 Rebuttal and Elucidation Yilin didn''t know how Hexia had spent all these years, only having a general idea from what Cindy had mentioned. Now, with Hexia''s parents gone and her sister having passed away years ago, she was truly alone. The thought of Tn, who used to be so lovable, possibly living an extremely difficult life made her heart ache. The scene she had just witnessed confirmed some of her suspicions. Hexia had always been somewhat timid and prone to tears since childhood. She gradually became more confident as everyone got to know her. However, it was easy to imagine her retreating back into her shell after her family underwent such drastic changes. In the Federation, the lower one''s status, the more malice one had to face. If a child from a wealthy family wore a beautiful, fancy dress, they would receive nothing but praise. But a child from a poor family might be criticized, used of pretending to be refined, criticized for having a "princessplex," or even bluntly told that their clothes were fake imitations. After all, we''re all simr people, so what makes you so different? Being different has its price. At best, you''re excluded from the circle; at worst, you''re ridiculed and oppressed by others. Yilin stood up from her seat, and this action immediately surprised many people, who turned their heads to look at her. "What happened?" Cindy also came over to the girl''s side. Seeing her ssmates gather around, Hexia was just about to try and exin when she suddenly felt Yilin''s supportive hand on her shoulder. "Let me handle this." She took the personal terminal from Hexia''s hands and carefully read through the message, frowning deeply as several curious ssmates gathered around her. "The more I read, the angrier I get!" Cindy, who was usually quite even-tempered, couldn''t help but get angry. "What happened that day, Tn? Can you tell me?" Yilin knew Hexia was definitely not the materialistic type, but she couldn''t stand by as her childhood friend was ndered like this. "Here''s what happened..." Hexia realized she had to make things clear and slowly began to recount the events of that day, along with Lina''s situation at the school. "Hmph, just some petty clown, daring to bully our Tn? I can''t stand for it. Where is she? I must teach her a lesson today." The boys nearby were outraged upon hearing the story, all wanting to stand up for the girl. "Senqueerde, whichpany does this elf man work for?" Yilin, the youngdy, wasn''t about to let Lina off so easily, immediately inquiring about her connections. Hexia shook her head, indicating that she hadn''t specifically inquired about it, and she had hardly any recollection of this man. "No worries, I''ll ask around for you," Yilin offered, taking the matter into her hands, before stepping aside to make calls to people she knew. "Yilin''s really serious this time," Cindy murmured from the side. "Although it''s not a bigpany, there are manydies whoe for beauty treatments, so Yilin''s family has quite extensive connections." "Yilin has her ways, but we as guys can''t just sit around either. Sure, we can''t do anything illegal, but it''s only right to help a friend dispel rumors," Nokai emphasized the importance of clearing rumors as he looked at hispanions. "Of course." "We must act." The duo, resembling twins, once again took the spotlight, standing in front of Hexia. Slowly, everyone in the suite began to understand what happened that day and started taking action. ¡ª On the second floor, at the junior high gathering. Jones and a group of boys were slightly tipsy. Although they were not yet 20 and couldn''t drink hard liquor, the Federation allowed them to drink low-alcohol beverages like beer. On the girls'' side, since Lina''s mood was gradually improving, everyone else also became more lively. They talked about their own things, and some discussed ns to travel during the vacation. "What you don''t know is that Lina is going to study down south in the future," a girl who was close to Lina spoke. The South was less affected by acid rainpared to the North, resulting in its generally better development and a much more beautiful environment. Traveling or studying there was considered quite desirable. "I didn''t even know which school Lina will be going to," another person said. "Wenliu Yi Academy, it''s ranked 16th in South Third District, affiliated with ck Conch Group. After graduation, it''s quite easy to intern and work at thispany." ck Conch Group was one of the medium-sized enterprises within Jade Skirt, with about 500,000 employees, famous for producing waterproof materials. Continue reading stories on §Þ?? "That''s impressive, ck Conch Group, huh? I''ve heard of them. Their products have always been in high demand because of the impact of acid rain on Jade Skirt." "That strong?" others asked curiously, only to be met with a few female students rolling their eyes. "Please, stop judging with old mindsets. Our Lina is really capable. She got in on her own, not like some who put on airs but amount to nothing when it matters." They were Lina''s friends, naturally defending her. As for Hexia, please, they hardly knew her. Then someone started boasting about the prowess of ''ck Conch Group'', saying it was one of the top 300panies in Jade Skirt. A flurry of envy and congrattions arose, putting Lina in high spirits. Indeed, looking around, there were hardly a few ssmates who were impressive, just like kids ying house. She shook her head slightly, feeling that getting to know social elites like Senqueerde early on was the sensible thing to do. With the help of this well-informed elf man, she easily secured her admission slot in Wenliu Yi Academy. Inparison, none of her current ssmates knew the admission rules or specifics about southern colleges. Chapter 124: Chapter 75 Rebuttal and Elucidation_2 The more she thought about it, the more smug and confident she became about the decision she had made earlier, and her disdain for Hexia, who had challenged her face, grew. Putting on airs, huh! Hexia''s rejection that day had made it impossible for her to save face in front of her peers; her face had flushed with humiliation, and it took days for her to recover. Fortunately, today she finally vented her spleen. Top student, she''s nothing but an unsophisticated country bumpkin who probably has never even dipped a toe in the water. Just as the private room was abuzz with the clinking of wine sses and lively chatter, the previously closed door swung open. The neer was neither a waiter serving dishes nor someone who had wandered into the wrong room; it was the long-awaited Hexia, thest of the ss to arrive. "Hexia..." Setting down the personal terminal in her hand, ra looked at the figure who had opened the door and entered, puzzled as to why she hade after all. However, her question was soon answered as following behind Hexia was naturally not just one person. Cindy, Yilin, and the ''silent duo,'' this treasure trove of personalities, ra knew that today would definitely not be peaceful upon seeing the neers. "Among you, who is Lina," Cindy stepped forward first, positioning herself in front of Hexia, scanning the room with her gaze. "I am, what about it?" Lina, at the peak of her confidence, boldly admitted this and walked over with a fewpanions by her side. "Oh, too scared toe alone, so you brought backup, huh," she scoffed upon seeing the group apanying Hexia, dismissing them. Cindy frowned, looking at the girl in front of her caked in thick makeup with a sense of revulsion. "I''m Tn''s ssmate, and I want to know exactly who has been spreading rumors and bullying," she said directly, quieting the noise in the suite somewhat. The boys from Jones''s group, puzzled and eager to watch the drama unfold, came over and spoke in low voices. "It looks like there''s a fight between Lina and Hexia, and Hexia even brought ssmates to speak for her." "They''re even bringing outsiders into this, tsk," As the crowd buzzed with spection, Yilin led Hexia to stand in front of Lina. "You''re Lina, right? I saw all those messages you sent to Tn and the insults," dered the youngdy with her thoughts well-organized, her voice cold. "Oh, you say I insult people; how did I insult anyone, is what I said not true? If not, you can ask that coward beside you who only knows how to hide behind others and y the victim," Lina said with arms crossed, utterly indifferent. She wouldn''t have been embarrassed by such a remark if she wasn''t standing here today. "You asked for it," said Yilin, the heiress poised to take over the family business, not one to be easily refuted. She knew what seasoned liars like this cared about and what they feared. Of course, she wouldn''t let Hexia exin herself; that would be an insult to her friend and unworthy of her own appearance today. "Then let me spell it out for you," Yilin raised her arm, and her index finger slowly pointed at the repulsive figure in front of her. "You, Lina Yordanka, are an outright bitch!" The most direct insult is always so in and unadorned, yet it strikes deep. Her voice was so loud, her tone so resolute and undeniable, that the entire room instantly fell silent. "You!!" Lina charged forward, her face contorted in fury, attempting to p Yilin. Lies can''t hurt people; it''s the truth that cuts like a de, and Yilin had hit Lina''s most painful spot. Such a truth was probably also clear to Hexia, but limited by her upbringing and the principles she had always adhered to, she would not directly insult someone in this way. As Lina lunged at her, Yilin flicked her wrist, deftly deflecting the iing p and then looked down with arrogance and contempt at the struggling figure before her. "Disgusting." She made thisment and then stepped back a few steps, standing once more alongside Hexia. "How can you insult and bully Lina like this!" The girls beside her helped up Lina, who had almost fallen to the ground, and then pointed at Yilin, hurling various harsh words at her, but Yilin didn''t care at all, she just held Hexia''s hand firmly, reassuring her. "Are all you boys dead? Why are you just watching as outsiders bully our girls?" Several girls, seeing that they had no way to deal with Yilin, suddenly started yelling. At this, Jones and the others had no choice but toe over. Although they were still somewhat unclear about what had caused themotion, they could no longer just sit idly by. "Hexia, can you tell us what exactly happened?" He looked at the girl across from him, whom he barely recognized, and only then did the focus of everyone present shift to Hexia, who was so stunning and beautiful that shepletely overturned everyone''s perception of her. "Tell them," Yilin whispered in Hexia''s ear, then once again stepped forward, holding Hexia''s hand. The girl walked toward Lina, who was still crying and howling, and then stopped. Seeing Hexia approaching, Lina found new hope and charged toward her, intending to p the girl she despised. However, such behavior was anticipated by Hexia''spanions and blocked in advance. Cindy and several girls grabbed Lina and also blocked the other girls around her. "The thing is like this..." Hexia began, looking directly at Lina, who had shown a side of herself that Hexia hadn''t anticipated. Hexia recounted the details of the day slowly and meticulously, without exaggeration or distortion, and her voice was clear and simple. Gradually, everyone present quieted down and listened carefully to the girl''s voice. It seemed so pleasant, why hadn''t they noticed it before. Could it be that we have overlooked a treasure these past three years. She was as pure and moving as an elegant orchid... After she finished, the people present finally began to sort out the sequence of events, and they could no longer feel sorry for Lina. "So that''s how it is. Not only did you bring trouble upon yourself, but you also dragged a ssmate into it. Shameless." While this statement was made in a low voice, because the scene was not noisy, it faintly reached Lina''s ears, agitating her. "That''s not true! You''ve all been deceived by her. She''s such a beautiful girl, she''s the most deceitful." Although admitting that Hexia was attractive was not her intention, in order to refute the ims, she couldn''t care less right now, but unfortunately at this moment, her words didn''t hold much interest for anyone. Seeing that the people''s interest in her retort was waning, Lina, unable to contain her anger, grabbed a ss from the table and violently smashed it to the ground, creating a loud shattering noise. "Idiots! You''re all idiots! You''re so easily fooled by someone else, ganging up with her to bully someone from your own ss!" "Look at the clothes on Hexia, do you really think she can afford that!?" "You''ve seen what Hexia wears normally, and there''s no one else in her family, how could she suddenlye into arge sum of money!" "What fake nobility! That''s because she has already attached herself to a rich man and looks down on everyone else!" "Also, haven''t you noticed? The personal terminal she''s holding is thetest gship model from ''Mo Yun Workshop''. She told me before that she couldn''t afford a nice one, and now suddenly she has it, how much time has passed!" "Liar, just a liar!" "Moreover, didn''t someone say before that they saw Hexia wearing a different uniform at Topstar Tower? How could a girl, struggling to make ends meet, appear in such a high-end ce¡ªit must be someone else footing the bill!" Lina spoke faster and faster, the more she said the more she felt she was right, beginning to turn the perception of Hexia among the people present around. Yes, these were indeed doubts and unresolved issues, so the crowd turned their gaze back toward Hexia once more. Faced with this situation, Yilin frowned slightly and leaned in to speak into Hexia''s ear. "Just say I lent it to you, after all, my family is rich." Hexia shook her head slightly in response to such reminders and suggestions. If she were willing to lie about such things, there wouldn''t have been the fallout with Lina today. She let go of Yilin''s hand, stepping forward on her own, while Lina''s friends nearby were not in a position to attack. She closed her eyes slightly, a hand over her heart, and spoke words that shocked everyone "Yes, the person seen at Topstar Tower was indeed me." Chapter 125: Chapter 76: The Happiness Known as Wisdom Hexia knew that her words might be misunderstood, but she said them anyway. "Yes, ever since the mishap in my family a few years ago, I''ve indeed been living in straitened circumstances, which is why I had to find a temporary job after graduation..." When you think about how most people are enjoying their holidays, some students may have to start working in society, which is a reflection of the disparities in the world. "However, the nature of the work isn''t as odd as everyone thinks; it is merely working in a caf¨¦." The girl pondered for a moment, then decided to pull out her personal terminal and bring up a photo to exin. In a world of zed colors, the ground reflected the azure of the sky, with Hexia and a fewpanions standing under a blue pir, Debi''s eyes slightly closed, seemingly resting against Hexia, Belfeng holding a water gun idly, while Huale held a serving tray in front of him. The photo''s taken by Vurowus, and it seemed to be the day Hexia finished her internship when they had a small celebration. "You started working so early? That must not have been easy." As the child of an ordinary Federal family, working during the holidays wasn''t particrly rare, but considering the appearance and demeanor of the girl before them, it was hard to imagine her doing such work. Shouldn''t she be sitting in a fancy restaurant or bar, waiting for people to hand money directly to her? Most people are vulgar and would immediately think of such things. After exining the reason, the atmosphere in the suite changed once again. Everyone began to understand the farce, but Lina still didn''t give up. "How is that possible, to earn so much money from a part-time job? She''s just a..." Her voice suddenly stopped as a hand reached from behind, covering Lina''s mouth directly. ra tried her best to prevent the struggling Lina from speaking out, which was her showing thest bit of ssmate sentiment. Otherwise, if Lina uttered anything distasteful, the situation would be irrevocable today. She knew Yilin''s family situation very well; if Lina didn''t know when to stop, the young miss would get serious. "Alright, Lina, you should stop talking," ra shook her head. Then she turned to the others and said, "I''m sorry, there''s something I never told everyone before, but I''ve known Hexia for a long time. We were not only middle school ssmates but also elementary schoolmates." "I can clearly and assuredly say that Hexia is a very nice and sincere person, who would not do the demeaning things Lina talked about. In fact, I have actually encountered Hexia on my way home from work, and I know she has indeed been working during this period." "Not many here are familiar with Topstar Tower, but since I often browse on Star Web, I happen to know some things about it. It''s a very formal and regr ce; also a direct asset of the Federal Government, it is not as trivial and chaotic as everyone thinks. If you had visited, you''d know how high its security level is." "As for whether Hexia can afford to wear nice clothes or not, I don''t think that should be our ce to doubt. Hexia''s elder sister was once a student of Saint Ingo Academy, ranked number one in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, not only that but she also won the first ce in the Winter Festival G that year, and ascended to Sequence 5 at only 18 years old. Her achievements are beyond what most of us can imagine. It''s only because of some changes over the years that she ended up studying at our academy." "Stop looking at others with your narrow perspective. It''s boring and demeaning." She let go of Lina, who now looked utterly incredulous. After exining to the middle school ssmates, ra turned back around and went to Yilin and the others. "I''m sorry I never told everyone about Hexia''s circumstances before; I see now that perhaps I should have told you sooner." She shook her head, then opened the door and walked out. Outside the door, a group of elementary school ssmates were waiting in the hallway. When Nokai saw rae out, he approached her. "That''s it, it''s over? Geez, I thought there would be a fight. We were all prepared for it," he said. "There''s probably no need for a fight now; you all can go in," ra thought for a moment and said. "That''s true," then Nokai opened the suite''s door, and a crowd streamed in. They had been waiting outside, not wanting to make the situation too aggressive, as everyone still retained some sense. But had something unforeseen happened inside, they were ready to intervene, to ensure that Yilin and Hexia wouldn''t be bullied. Seeing arge group enter, the middle school students gradually stepped back a few paces. The scene was bing a bit awkward when Jones decided to step in and smooth things over. "Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, how about everyone sits down and eats something? After all, Hexia is our ssmate¡­" It was necessary to ignore some of the nonsense Lina had been shouting earlier; otherwise, there was no making it right. Unfortunately, some people weren''t appreciative. "Why should I, Jones? Whose side are you on today, ours or the outsiders''? Was what I said just hot air?" Rough words made Jones involuntarily cover his forehead. He was the one hosting the meal today, not Lina. Was she trying to embarrass him? Left with no choice, he signaled his two friends, who despite their headache, understood what he meant. They quickly approached Lina, steadied her, and prepared to escort her out of the suite. Several girls nearby were reluctant, but under the prevailing circumstances, they couldn''t very well oppose outright. Lina still refused to leave, struggling fiercely. If she left in humiliation today, she feared she would be theughing stock of her ssmates and past friends for life. She couldn''t tolerate this shame, and indeed, if not for vanity or thepetition, how could she have reached this point today? Seeing that she wouldn''tply, and with the other students unable to use too much force ¨C after all, they were ssmates and there were so many onlookers ¨C it was then that Yilin stepped forward. She nced at the still-struggling woman and spoke to the two boys beside her. ``` "That''s it then, if she refuses to leave, I''ll just continue." The youngdy was truly angry today. "The man you brought the other day was named Senqueerde, right?" As soon as she spoke, Lina couldn''t help but stop moving. "Senqueerde, 62% Elf Bloodline, an employee of Lynch Corporation, one of the managers of the Northern Seventh District branch, mainly promotes conceptual products to the wealthy, like cups with historical charm, furniture with natural patterns, and canned air with scents of the past. Thanks to his handsome appearance and Elf Bloodline, he once achievedmendable results in the South Third District and was recognized by a few," Hexia said. "But during a sales promotion, someone pointed out that what he was selling was all sh and no substance, not even qualifying as a Transcendent creation. Moreover, because of his indiscreet lifestyle, he earned a bad reputation locally which also reflected negatively on thepany. With no other choice, he was transferred from the affluent South Third District to the current Northern Seventh District, and his position was demoted." "That must be your ''boyfriend'', right? No wonder he could get you into the chaotic Saint Ingo Academy in South Third District." Yilin projected the information she had just received on her personal terminal onto the ceiling, making it visible to everyone in the room. "I have no intention of framing you, you can be assured of that. But because of today''s incident, your ''boyfriend'' is probably going to have a difficult time for a while. I wonder how much money he still has for you to spend." Shortly after saying this, Lina''s personal terminal rang. Seeing the familiar note, the name that appeared was thest thing she wanted to see at the moment. "You!" She seemed unable toprehend, nor could she understand how Yilin in front of her had managed to gather information that even she was unaware of, but a fear born from within began to spread. Perhaps this time she had really kicked an iron te, and it wasn''t a situation she could resolve by resorting to her usual tricks, crying, shouting, or making a scene. Watching Lina leave the suite with her tail between her legs, Jones finally breathed a sigh of relief. Today had been peaceful atst. However, just when he thought he could rx for the day, an unfamiliar figure passed through the crowd and sat down next to him. "Hey, you''re Jones, right? I heard ra talking about you earlier, said you''re the boss of the boys in ss, and the ss monitor too." "Uh, yeah, that''s right." Jones slowly nodded. "I''m Nokai, also a ssmate from Tn Elementary. I think our sitting together today must be some kind of fate, don''t you think?" "Ah, haha, indeed it seems like fate." Jones couldn''t grasp Nokai''s intentions and could only agree for the time being. "How about we drink a few more together today? Actually, I have a lot to talk to you about too, like how Tn has been doing in the ss over these three years, if there have been some unpleasant moments." "Is that so..." Reflecting on the past three years, although he was not familiar with Hexia, Jones seemed to recall that he had never troubled or bullied her and began to feel more at ease. The two sat at a corner of the dining table, drinking and chatting, while the other ssmates slowly dispersed back to their rooms on the third floor. All the way, Yilin held Hexia''s hand, while Cindy and a few others still talked about Lina''s defeated look just now, which seemed especially gratifying. "Alright, let''s not talk about it anymore, or Tn won''t be able to hold her head up." Yilin whispered a reminder. "Fine, we won''t speak about it in front of Tn today, she''s always been thin-skinned." Cindy said with a giggle as she and herpanions walked away to the other side of the table. Now, the main course in the suite was slowly being served, and the party continued. However, many of the topics still revolved around the events that had just unfolded. "I think that Lina will definitely regret bullying Tn in the future." "It''s a pity I didn''t take the chance to p her amidst the chaos." "No worries, life and society will always find a way to p those like her. She actually thinks she can get far by relying on such small cleverness and tricks. If that were effective, why would so many people throughout history tirelessly develop technology and rally in politics?" "It just goes to show, it''s all cheap tactics unfit for daylight and unable to withstand any real test." "But there will always be many fools like that; after all, the world in a fool''s eyes is just that narrow, like mosquitoes in a well." "No matter how shrewd a mosquito is, it''s still a mosquito, but the clumsy frog, although it may get injured many times, will see a vast world once it leaps out." "That''s the idea, isn''t it?" "You''re suddenly getting philosophical today, hehehe~" "It''s a rare gathering, and I''m with everyone again. Usually, no one listens when I say these things." "Well, those who think a lot are always a bit more solitary." "So, would you prefer the loneliness thates with being smart, or the joy of being a fool?" "Can I choose neither? What I actually want is..." "The happiness named wisdom." ``` Chapter 126: Chapter 77: The Depressed Giant Spider After the gathering concluded, it was already quitete. "Do you want me to take you home?" Yilin asked, looking at Hexia in front of the restaurant door. "There''s no need." The young girl shook her head, not out of embarrassment, but because she wanted to walk alone tonight. Seeing her so unconstrained and generous, Yilin knew Hexia was not just being polite, nodded, "Then be careful tonight." "When''s your next day off? Let''s go shopping together." "Next time should be the weekend as well." "It''s a deal then," Yilin whispered. "It''s a deal." Hexia nodded, then gently hugged Yilin before waving goodbye. Watching her walk at ease into the neon-lit streets of the night, Yilin remained standing there, gazing into the distance for a long time. "Tn has grown up." Although she had been the main support today, even if Tn were alone, she would probably have been fine, though the process might have been a lot more subdued. That was just the way Tn was, always so gentle, never wanting to conflict with others.She called over her parked vehicle from nearby, then entered it. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Back at home, and after falling asleep, Hexia seemed to have a very long dream, where she revisited many past events. The emotions she had kept bottled up burst out today, resulting in a great deal of relief andfort. The next day, she went to work at ''Dream of zed ss'' once again. After changing her clothes and entering the shop, Hexia suddenly thought of something¡ªthat it might be awkward if her ssmates came looking for her. Fortunately, that didn''t happen. Perhaps everyone thought the consumption in Topstar Tower was too expensive, or maybe they didn''t want to disturb Hexia. The day flew by as usual. In the morning, she helped out at other bars, practiced the violin at Andusia''s ce at noon, and it wasn''t until the afternoon that she went to her ''library''. As this was her exclusive territory, the decor was all ording to her liking, with severalfortable chairs arranged and a few boxes of cookies and snacks hidden in small cubbies in the cab, just like Debi did. They woulde in handy at times, whether it was to treat acquaintances or for her own consumption. Today she had a trial run in front of herpanions once more, recounting the second half of ''The Poem of the Seven Chui Birds'', and then it was nearly closing time in the afternoon. The shop was fairly quiet at this time, and Hexia went to Botis''s jungle. Passing through the quiet shade of trees and bushes, she came to the pool at the very back, where Botis was feeding some poisonous creatures today. "Dantalion is here~" She called Hexia over. "How''s the violin practice going?" "I''ve gotten slightly more proficient," Hexia admitted, knowing there were still some details she hadn''t mastered and estimated it would take another month to reach a state of fluid perfection. Afterward, the two sat together, feeding the creatures and chatting, and then Botis spoke of therge spider from before. "Do you know about that blue spider, Hexia?" "What happened to it?" The girl grew concerned upon hearing Botis suddenly mention it. "Ah, it seems to have failed its advancement and is now hiding in the corner, sad and distressed," recalled Botis of the search she conducted that day. "Ah, do animals also get sad?" Hexia, like most people subconsciously thought, felt that most animals would be happy just being well-fed. "Ordinary animals aren''t demanding and are easily content, but transcendent beings are different; they be smarter and their emotions are moreplex, which includes experiencing depression and sadness," exined Botis. "I''ll take you to see it, it usually likes you a lot, always circling around you," Botis said as she stood up. Speaking, she led Hexia into the dense jungle nearby. Compared to the sparse main road they hade in on, the vegetation here was much denser, making it easy for their clothes to get scratched and even making it difficult to find a ce to step. This was also the reason why they rarely came here. After squeezing their way into the bushes and jungle, Botis walked ahead. Along the way, they encountered quite a few poisonous creatures. Fortunately, most of these little guys were tamed and did not attack upon seeing Botis. "Um, you don''t cause trouble now," Botis said, lifting a ck serpent that hadnded on her and hanging it on a nearby tree branch, then continued to lead Hexia forward until they stopped in a corner at the very end. Parting the thick purple-red grass, in the space beneath a few coiled roots, arge blue-spiked spider was perched. If they hadn''t been so familiar with it, seeing such a dangerous poisonous creature would definitely mean it was best to avoid it. Otherwise, if bitten and poisoned, that would be problematic. "Okay, it''s still here," Botis called Hexia over. "Don''t touch it for now, its mood is unstable." "Mhm," the girl bent down and looked at therge spider crouching in the grass. "It''s a variant of a certain kind of burrowing wolf spider, liking to live in the dark underground, which makes it feel safe." Seeing the two people approaching, therge spider opened its eyes, then shrank back a little, seeming not wanting to see anyone. "Still not happy, huh? It hasn''t really been eating much," Botis shook her head, pointing to the few small cubes she ced for it in the morning. "Did it fail in its ascension to Sequence 5?" Hexia asked softly. "That should be the case. A few days ago, I noticed something off with the Aijeika particles in the enclosure, a kind of remnant left over after the overflow of magic power. Then, I found massive traces of that residue on this guy," she continued. "It was supposed to be at the Withering Sequence 4, around the strength of the Superior Radiant Gold Level. This failed ascension, not only did it fail to enter Sequence 5, but its core was also damaged, and now it only has the strength of a standard Radiant Gold Level. I guess it can''t ept it, so it feels upset." Hearing Botis''s exnation, therge spider suddenly hissed a few times, clearly annoyed at Botis for revealing its scars in front of Hexia. "Okay, okay, I''ll stop," Botis waved her hands, letting the wolf spider settle down for the time being and then gave Hexia a ''see, just as expected'' look. "Um¡­" Hexia was at a loss whether to cry orugh at this moment, touched by the rich emotions of the animal. After a little while, the two observed and took care of therge spider, then slowly exited the area. "Failed in its ascension, huh¡­" The girl pondered, thinking along the way how to help this little buddy she was usually familiar with. "It''s like that with animals; their difficulty in ascension is actually much higher than that of humans," Botis mentioned on the side. Aside from the very few exceptions, the proportion of animals ascending ranks is generally lower than that of humans. For example, out of 20-30 humans at Sequence 3, one might enter Sequence 4. But among animals, it could be that only one in hundreds, maybe thousands, of Sequence 3 specimens has the luck to advance to Sequence 4. "Therefore, some Transcendents specialize in breeding and assisting animals in their ascension and employ these animals as their own power, achieving a kind of win-win and mutual assistance effect," she added. "Within the Rose Federation, the inheritance of breeders is quite ancient, and many of the precious materials we are familiar withe from such ''courtyards''," Botis exined. "''Courtyards''?" Hexia asked curiously. "Yes, those are environments specially created by breeders for those animals, suitable for their survival and reproduction. Later on, somerge factions and organizations even specifically build such ces, producing various resources, also referred to as ''courtyards''," Botis borated. "For example, the ''Three March Silks'' popr among the federal upper echelon where the ''Snowfluff Silk''es from the silk spit by the Snowfluff Scale-winged moths, and the Emerald Moon Star Domain''s ''Snowfluff Courtyard'' has the most of those moths. This T4-grade silk is used in the making of many exquisite garments; the fabric isfortable, the colors soft and beautiful, irresistible to the touch," she continued. "The other two types of the ''Three March Silks'' are each different: ''Iy Moon Silk'' is made from the fibers of a certain transcendent nt spun into yarn, and ''Dusk Moon Silk'' is said to be made using a secret technique that condenses the lingering light of the evening sun, woven into fabric by a special method," she described. "I''ve heard there''s a ''Yuanting Academy'' in the Northern First District," Hexia suddenly spoke up. "''Yuanting Academy,'' indeed, they used to be famous as breeders, possessing their own ''Wind Kite Courtyard'' in the Northern First District. However, with the environment inside the Jade Skirt deteriorating and the poison rain corroding, their ''Wind Kite Courtyard'' has been destroyed. Hence, they are not as powerful as they used to be," Botis shook her head. "This wolf spider, I chose and bought it two years ago from the ''Purple Gall Courtyard'' in the Phosphorite Star Domain. I grew familiar with it in the courtyard over a month before it was willing to follow me. Now that it has a problem with its ascension, I guess I will have to contact someone from the ''Purple Gall Courtyard'' to resolve the after-sales issue," Botisy on the table, feeling like she was about to spend a lot of money again. Asking the ''Purple Gall Courtyard''s staff to solve the after-sales issue wouldn''t be cheap, but she couldn''t just watch this big guy stop eating and drinking, sadly moping alone in a corner. Chapter 127: Chapter 78: The Girl in the Shade of the Falling Leaves "I''ll look after it," said Hexia to Botis. "Would Dantalion like to give it a try? However, there''s some risk involved, as it''s not as emotionally stable as usual," Botis hesitated for a moment, knowing that animals were not like humans and many things could be unpredictable. "It''s fine, I''ll be careful and give it a try." Hexia thought that even if she got bitten, she could use her Talent to freeze the wound and even heal itpletely after it broke. "Alright, but every time you approach her, I need to be watching from a distance. Otherwise, it would be hard for me to feel at ease." "Although I really like this pet, you are still much more important." Botis didn''t want to risk an ident over something so trivial. Comparatively, she had matured and be much more prudent in her actions. "I will," the girl nodded, her mind already considering ways to help the giant spider with its troubles. Since she had yet to attend Yuanting Academy, she didn''t understand how to raise Transcendent animals and could only think of doing things within her capability, like repairing its damaged Transcendent Core. "Moreover, it''s gettingte today, let''s start tomorrow if you want to do something," Botis said, looking up at the artificial sky now filled with fiery splendor. "Dantalion, don''t take this too much to heart, actually, it''s fine even if it fails." She was afraid the girl might be too preupied with this and neglect other matters. "Mhm," the girl acknowledged her kindness. Time silently flowed on, The next morning, Hexia returned to the jungle. Carefully parting the thick grass and shrubs, she stepped on the softyers of fallen leaves, also being cautious not to get her hair caught on twigs and bark. Finally, she arrived at the innermost corner, pushed aside the dark purple leaves, and saw the giant spider crouched in its freshly dug burrow. Unlike yesterday, today it was mostly hidden in its nest with only its first few pairs of legs barely visible. This is going to be tricky, the girl thought. She spread the mat she had brought between the shadows of the dried leaves and cautiously squatted down, drawing closer to the burrow. Sensing someone outside, the giant spider issued a hissing warning sound. Yet, when it recognized Hexia, it stopped hissing and slightly retreated. Feeling shy now, aren''t you? Hexia thought, then picked up the bell she usually used and gently shook it. The crisp sound of the bell echoed through the small copse as the girl closed her eyes and concentrated, spreading her emotions through the bell, creating a unique melody that resonated gently. It was like theyers of underground rivers, cool and tranquil, calming and rationalizing the mind. Guided by the sound of the bell, the girl carefully ced a stick into the burrow and softly prodded the giant spider''s foreleg. "Do you want toe out? Today I''ll let you sit on my head for a while," she offered, a condition hard for the spider to refuse. Hisss¡ª the spider inside peeked out, showing just a bit of itself with several pairs of big eyes looking at Hexia, but made no further move, probably hesitating. "Everyone else is out ying. If you don''t join in, they''ll surely be curious, and then it won''t be a secret anymore," the girl tapped the giant spider with the stick again, soothing and coaxing it toe out and y. "Come on, Botis isn''t here today, no one willugh at you," the girl reassured once more, her tone unconsciously imitating that of Isenisha''s from her memories. Among the vegetation, fallen leaves, and bushes, the girl knelt on the ground, her grey hair somewhat disheveled with a few leaves entangled in it, and some strands yfully falling, resting on the side of her cheek. Her gentle eyes warmly watched the little creature in the burrow, hesitant to emerge, giving it waves of encouragement and courage. After a while, therge spider slowly crawled out and settled onto Hexia''s knee, curling into a round shape. "Mm, it''s okay, it will slowly get better." Hexia gently stroked the tarant''s fur with her fingers, and then lightly tapped its head twice before picking it up. Returning to the pool, Hexia waved towards Botis in the distance to signal that everything was fine, and then went into the small pavilion by the water. Comforting therge spider in her arms, Hexia used her Transcendent Profession''s ability to finely sense its internal condition. Indeed, the creature''s Magic Power was unstable, even tending to leak and dissipate, no wonder it was so heartbroken. If things went poorly, not to mention advancing to Sequence 5, even keeping its Sequence 4 strength would be problematic. "Don''t moveter, I''ll help you check." The girl''s eyes shimmered with a hint of blue, and her fingertips gathered a faint glow of Magic Power, then she gently pressed on therge spider in front of her. Her delicate perception followed the spider''s silken Magic Power within its body, slowly sketching out conditions within her mind, following the Netvein, Hexia slowly ''saw clearly'' the damaged core. While it wasrgely intact, many parts were damaged, like a symbol cycle missing a corner, causing the cycle not toplete and allowing the Magic Power to not be gathered but instead to dissipate. When the girl''s perception reached her own Transcendent Core, therge spider''s body trembled, then calmed down again under her stroking, and continued to rest in front of Hexia. Because she was not familiar with the exact structure of therge spider''s Transcendent Core, Hexia could only first mend and repair the minor damages on the edges to prevent the gaps from widening. The deep blue light flowed slowly, tiny crystals emerged within the spider''s Transcendent Core, and gradually, the scars left from the failed advancement began to heal and stabilize temporarily. After more than ten minutes, Hexia opened her eyes and looked again at therge spider on her knee; it now seemed much happier, looking around with its shiny ck eyes. Just as Hexia was thinking of whether she needed to say a few moreforting words, the creature suddenly jumped from her hands, climbing directly onto her shoulder and then perching atop her head. Feeling the uncooperative spider on her head, Hexia was slightly annoyed. "You rascal, just getting better and you''re already causing trouble," she tried to grab it without sess, so the girl simply let it stay on her head for now. Since she couldn''t leave anyway, it was a good time to get some work done; she once again waved her handbell, calling other poisonous creatures in the jungle to her. Thus began another day of collecting poison and feeding. As noon approached and it was time for lunch and rest, Hexia finally moved therge spider off her head. It was the same stick as before, tapping on its head as if ying a wooden fish, as the girl repeated her instruction, "I''ll forgive you this time since I promised earlier, but there won''t be a next time, alright? Grabbing my hair can easily mess it up..." Hexia murmured, knowing the creature could definitely understand her. After soothing therge spider, she ced it back on the stone table; it was time for Hexia to have lunch, but just as she was about to leave the jungle, the white-scaled little snake that had been coiled around the chair leaped down. The girl only felt a coolness on her wrist, then saw the small snake slip up her sleeve and wrap around her arm. "Uh, no. Not you again, after burrowing into my skirt, now the sleeve..." Hexia tried to pull it out, but the clever creature hid at a spot on her arm, beyond her fingertips'' reach. If she wanted it out now, she would have to undo her maid outfit, but Hexia didn''t want to change clothes in such a ce. Having no other choice, she went to lunch with the little snake along. Chapter 128: Chapter 79: The Polaris District of Rusty Iron As an employee of ''Dream of zed ss,'' the usual dining spot is on the 38th floor upstairs, which not only has a lounge and changing rooms, but also a kitchen and dining area. There are about 70 maids in the shop, and everyone takes turnsing here for lunch, which is the busiest time around noon. "Dantalion~" From a distance, Belfeng greeted Hexia, apanied by a maid Hexia didn''t know well. "This is ''Furfa.''" When the girl approached, she introduced herpanion to Hexia. Furfa: Ranked 34th among the 72 Demon Gods of King Solomon, his image is that of a stag with a ming tail, his voice hoarse, and never speaks the truth unless forced. He can control love between men and women, manipte storms, and provide his Magician with true knowledge. The ''Furfa'' here was a maid with fiery red deer antlers, which seemed to be of a rarely seen beastman subspecies. Upon seeing Hexia, she nodded slightly, without saying much, which seemed to match her rather solemn nature, no wonder Hexia rarely saw her. "''Furfa'' is like this, she doesn''t talk much, mainly working behind the scenes," Belfeng knew herpanion very well, pulling ''Furfa'' to sit down with them. "Today, the kitchen has cut some watermelons, bought from the Northern Second District, and they''re delicious~" Although lunch hadn''t been served yet, Belfeng already seemed to know, making it hard not to wonder if she sneaked some beforehand. "T5 grade Yellow-flesh Jade Watermelon, it tastes really sweet," ''Furfa''s somewhat hoarse voice added. "By the way, I forgot to tell Dantalion, ''Furfa'' is from the Northern Second District. She''s an excellent shot, and when you''re free, Hexia, you can learn some self-defense techniques from her. I can also lend you my beloved little water gun for practice~" Belfeng''s ears waggled on top of her head as she spoke with a buoyant tone. "So Belfeng senior often ys with that little water gun to practice shooting?" Hexia was shocked; she had never heard of anyone using a water gun to practice shooting. "Um, well, the little water gun is quite handy..." Belfeng looked around for an excuse; after all, she was a bunny, and the loud noise of real guns could really scare a bunny. The three of them sat for a short while before lunch was ready, carried over from the window sill, just as they were about to start eating, something moved in the sleeve next to Hexia, and a small white snake popped its head out. "There''s a snake!" Belfeng jumped up at a dizzying speed and hid behind ''Furfa,'' her bunny ears standing straight in high alert. Secondster, she cautiously peeked out from behind ''Furfa,'' looking toward the small snake poking its head out of Hexia''s sleeve. "Well, it''s a long story..." Hexia said, picking up the snake by the head with her left hand so it would stay still, and began to exin to the two of them. "So that''s how it is..." Belfeng settled down a bit and slowly returned to her seat, but she was obviously still somewhat afraid of the little snake. "Of all the counters, the one I''m most afraid of going to is ''Botis''s jungle. There are so many spiders, scorpions, and snakes; they drop on your head unexpectedly when you walk in, just the thought of it is frightening," Belfeng confessed her weakness. "Yeah, I was quite scared the first time I went there too, buttely, I''ve been getting used to it." Hexia picked up a small piece of meat with her chopsticks and fed it to the little snake, letting it swallow it down slowly. "Alright, stay quiet inside for now, don''te out and scare people," the girl pushed the little snake back into her sleeve and then continued with her lunch. "Primordial Sequence 2''s Tree Viper, a very famous ornamental snake." Furfa''s voice was still husky and steady. "Do other ces also have such snakes?" the girl asked curiously. "Yes, but there aren''t many in Jade Skirt. It is cultivated by ''courtyards'' in other Star Domains. Some people like to keep these little snakes as pets; transcendent creatures have higher intelligence than ordinary animals, are easier to tame, and can even be safer." Furfa evaluated and then abruptly stopped speaking, continuing no further. "Furfa used to work for a security agency, undertook missions in many ces, and after retiring due to injury, came to work in our store," Belfeng introduced like this. So that''s how it was, no wonder Belfeng had previously mentioned that I should learn marksmanship from her, probably concerned about my safety. Afterwards, the three chatted for a while, and then it was time for the watermelon after lunch. As a T5-level Yellow Jade watermelon, its production process requires a certain number of Natural Sequence personnel for maintenance, which is much more troublesome than the fully automated production of T6-level standard sweet watermelons, but the advantage is also its excellent taste, and the price and profit are much higher. The three slowly talked about the watermelons that are a specialty of Northern Second District. That was when Hexia remembered the vast ruins she saw passing through Northern Second District on the train during her retest; among them were abandoned factories, a jungle of rusting steel, and buildings. "That''s because Northern Second District was once the capital of Jade Skirt." Furfa started to speak but quickly fell silent again. She was born in Northern Second District and naturally understood its history. "Before ''Jade Skirt'' was corroded by the poison rain, the northern region had argernd area, and the poption was also mostly concentrated in the various northern districts; Northern Second District, located in the ins with developed traffic, thus became the center." "Four hundred years ago, Northern Second District had a vast number of buildings on the surface and was home to nearly one hundred million people. At that time, it was also known as ''Northern Star District,''" Furfa narrated slowly. "Later, due to the erosion of the poison rain, arge number of buildings on the ground were corroded and destroyed; vast grain-producingnd and botanical gardens were also destroyed. Residents living in ''Northern Star District'' scattered and relocated, andter the regions established among the mountains and canyons took in arge number, which is today''s ''Northern First District''." "Even so, today''s ''Northern First District'' only has a poption of 50 million, which is a significant decline." "Are there still people living in ''Northern Second District'' now?" Hexia thought since they could produce watermelons, some industries must still be retained. "There are people living there, but it actually has the smallest poption among the northern districts, less than eight million." Furfa shook her head. "Rather than developing cities onnd full of ruins and scars, it''s better to establish new cities in unobstructed environments." "The economic and poption center of Jade Skirt gradually shifted southwards, and over time, the southern districts surpassed the northern ones. The capital has also been moved to South First District." "Now, ''Northern Second District'' only has threerger cities; they are quite special and not entirely buried deep underground like Payin City, but are built in the shallower surfaceyer." "It''s like the people who lived in surface cities had no choice but to expand underground. The surface and underground structures are notpletely separated." "Walking in the underground za, you can clearly see the rainwater flowing down from the dome, pouring like small waterfalls into the drainage below, while the streets and the passersby nearby continue to do business, visit temple fairs, burn incense, worship gods, and such." "It sounds like those are all quite retro activities?" Belfeng asked curiously. "Yeah, there you can find all kinds of churches and gangs, a mix of the good and the bad..." Furfa shook her head, seemingly without a solution to the situation. "To persist in not leaving such an environment surely indicates a certain kind of fixation. With the mainstream of the poption dispersed like the tide receding, the remaining reefs each have their own stubbornness and fixations." Chapter 129: Chapter 80 Leisure Time After finishing a day''s work, Hexia weed the moment of clocking out. "Okay, you''ve been with me all day, now stay in your nest honestly." The girl stood in front of a tree branch in the jungle, pressing her hand against the white-scaled snake rearing up before her. After speaking, the girl stood up, looked around, and now that the time was nearing 6 o''clock, the simted sky overhead was also slowly changing to the twilight hues of blue and purple. It''s time to head back, she thought, but she still walked a few more steps inside and found the big spider squatting in a box. The box was temporarily ced by Botis; it had a slight function of umting Aijieka particles. Although the effect wasn''t strong, it was still effective in containing the overflow of Magic Power from the big spider. After petting the much happier creature, Hexia finally left the jungle. Arriving at the changing room on the 38th floor, she changed back into her usual attire before departing. On her way home, Hexia remembered that today seemed to be Friday, which meant Lisha would also be staying over at Grandma He''s ce. I should buy something tasty on the way home, the girl thought to herself, things are not as tight as they used to be. Passing by the supermarket, she left the dim streets and entered the brightly-lit store, continuing to select and examine as usual. [T6-grade White Line Rice, 6.53 Federation Coins/500g, T6-grade Snow Pattern Cabbage, 5.04 Federation Coins/200g, T6-grade Fresh Red Meat, 22.12 Federation Coins/500g, T5-grade White Strawberries, 39.52 Federation Coins/200g, T5-grade Sugar Litchis, 35.06 Federation Coins/500g, T5-grade Yellow Watermelon, 15.31 Federation Coins/500g...] The prices of basic rice and vegetables had not changed much from the past, some seasonal fruits wereing into the season, her favorite white strawberries had gone up a bit in price, but the quality watermelons were not as expensive as she thought. After considering for a few seconds, Hexia decided to buy a box of strawberries and two boxes of litchis, costing about 162 Federation Coins, then she bought a bottle of T6-grade fizzy drink, spending another 15 Federation Coins. [Wee, now calcting your purchase...] The text appeared on the AI''s disy screen, and then the mechanical arms on both sides bagged Hexia''s items, disying each price in turn, and proceeding to the checkout. [The totales to 177.37 Federation Coins, but since you are a regr customer, you get a discount, making the final total 162.41 Federation Coins.] "Thank you." The girl extended her fair wrist, moving closer to the chip scanner, and then with a beep, the transaction wasplete. This type of small supermarket often gives a certain discount to retain regr customers, usually between 10% to 5%. Returning to Grandma He''s residence, Hexia slid open the door and walked in. "I''m back." She now lived in two ces, sometimes staying with Grandma He and sometimes at her own home. If she wasn''ting to Grandma He''s, she would let her know in advance. "Hexia''s off work." Grandma He came out of the kitchen, where she was directing and adjusting the kitchen''s automated AI for cooking. Nowadays, the kitchens of Federation residents alle equipped with automated cooking AIs, but eating the same food for too long could get tiresome. People would adjust the cooking ording to their preferences, such as adding more or less salt, or frying the food a bit longer, etc., enjoying the fun of DIY cooking. However, in some high-end restaurants or hotels, chefs still take personal charge. Transcendent abilities have brought about many changes, and some with Transcendent Professions can use special methods impossible for machines to enhance the food''s vor, making it more distinctive. For instance, after frying ingredients to vor them, instantly drying the moisture without burning them, making them crispy and delicious, or making meat slices extremely thin, managing mes delicately licking the meat then adding spices to make the vor exceptional. These maneuvers, if left to machines, would be difficult, sometimes impossible to achieve. "I''m back. Is Lisha off today? She should be on holiday, right?" "Her? She should be back soon. I heard there was an event at school today." Fridays are usually packed with elementary school activities. "Then I''ll start helping Grandma with the cooking." Hexia walked over. "No need, I''m almost done here. You''ve been at work all day, and now that you''re off, you can watch TV or take a rest." Grandma He insisted she need not help. Unable to convince her otherwise, Hexia took out the fruits she had bought and washed them, then ced them in a ss basket. Returning to the living room, the TV was turned on, Hexia ced the ss basket on the table, and started nibbling on the white strawberries she had just bought. Compared to T6-grade standard red strawberries, the T5-grade white strawberries had an improved taste, and thoughtfully had their leaves removed before packaging; after rinsing, one could eat them whole. "As Junees to an end, the corrosiveness of acid rain weakens, the northern areas reopen for the first time, and with the approaching scorching summer vacation, traveling has be a hot topic of discussion..." The news broadcasted scenic spots, captivating viewers in front of the TV. While traveling across Star Domains was an even better option, considering the economic situation of most Federation residents, having a trip around nearby areas was already a great choice. After the meal was ready, Grandma He and Hexia sat down together, patiently waiting for the rest of the family to return. As the clock approached seven, the sound of the door sliding open was followed by the lively sounds of conversation outside, then by Lisha''s cheerful call. "I''m home, Grandma!" She entered the living room with a spring in her step and saw that Hexia was also there today. "Hi, Hexia!" She leaped into the girl''s arms, hugging Hexia for a while before finally letting go. "Lisha''s especially happy today; she ced third in the school event." Lisha''s mother, He Cheng''s sister He Xiang, followed her inside. The couple set aside their belongings, changed their shoes, and then joined everyone in the living room. They chatted about Lisha''s school performance, asionally bursting intoughter, and did not begin dinner until just past seven-thirty. Chapter 130: Chapter 80 Leisure Time_2 "Did He Cheng say what time he''sing back?" He Xiang asked about her brother at the dining table. "He said he might bete tonight, and told us to just save him some dinner." "Still working so hard, sigh." He Xiang shook her head. Even though He Cheng''s transportation business was making decent money, it was also very tiring and unstable, unlike her job at thepany. Back when Grandma He was raising them, because of financial difficulties, only the elder sister He Xiang went to high school, while He Cheng started working after finishing middle school. He switched between various jobs, trying out different trades, before finally settling down in the transportation business. They were both just low-level employees at theirpany and couldn''t secure a good opportunity for He Cheng, only able to offer some advice to help. The lives of ordinary people don''t have many dramatic ups and downs but mostly consist of monotonous repetition, perhaps only the children in the family can bring a bit ofughter. Hexia quietly watched this scene, thinking if she ever had the chance, she still wanted to help Grandma He''s family. It was just a pity that she had only just graduated and it would be at least a few years before she truly entered society. For now, she would just have to be patient and grow up quickly, whether it was to help those around her or to unravel the mystery left by her parents. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the following week, Hexia officially started running her own bar. ... "...and so the youth mounted the White Dragon and flew towards the distant heavens, leaving behind the princess who had deceived him and the ignorant and hateful residents." "There would be no more salvation, no more redemption; when the darkness descended a second time, no sword-wielding hero would sh through thorns to save this fallen kingdom." "Tears became the sea ofment, people drank the bitter fruit of past deceptions and shortsightedness, and creeping monsters submerged the entire kingdom, sinking it into the abyss of bitterness and salt." The story slowly came to an end, and the lights in the room gradually brightened. The young girl sitting on a chair that resembled a blooming trellis slowly closed the book, the lingering sounds of the tale seeming to echo in everyone''s ears. A round of apuse followed, not fiery, but filled with genuine admiration, touched by the depth of the story, as if entranced. The small library''s audience was about a dozen people, half of them children. After closing up for the day, Hexia was surrounded by children asking for autographed cards, their parents looking on with satisfaction. "I got my third autograph card from Sister Dantalion!" a child proudly held up the card featuring the White Dragon and the youth, beaming with joy. "I''m going to collect all 12 cards and disy them," said a few more children happily running back to their parents after getting their cards. "That''s it for today''s session, thank you all for listening~" Finally, Hexia, holding an illustrated book, bowed to the audience in the library before the curtain slowly closed. After everyone in the small library had left, Hexia began rearranging the scattered chairs and waited for the cleaning robot at her feet to automatically vacuum up the dust and food scraps. Sitting in the tall chair, she was about to lean back and nap when a small snake head peeked out from behind her. "Okay, don''t disturb me now." Hexia took the little snake that had been rubbing against her ear down, ced it in her arms, and then continued to close her eyes for a short rest. So, after about half an hour''s nap, once the cleaning robot had tidied up the floor and chairs, she leapt down from the tall stool. The advantage of running her own bar was that, once her work for the day was done, she practically had free time; although it was only a little after 4 p.m., she didn''t have anything else to attend to. After cing the illustrated book back on the shelf, Hexia locked the cab drawers and then stepped out of the quiet little library. "Are you finished, Dantalion?" the maids from ''Dream of zed ss'' greeted the exiting Hexia with a smile and then asked about the day''s business. ... "It''s wonderful, Dantalion''s business is slowly getting on track, and there is even a bit of a fairy tale witch vor to it, hehe~" they joked. Initially, no one expected Dantalion''s sessions to be so popr with children since most of the guests were adults. Perhaps it was because the adults wanted to sit and talk but didn''t like leaving their children somewhere they didn''t trust, so they let them go to the fairy-tale-themed library at Dantalion to listen to stories. Though this was an unintended start, the effect was so good thatter, parents started bringing their children intentionally to listen to the stories. "How should I put it, adults have many worries that often can''t be spoken of, only seeking asional rxation or some form of enlightening relief." The same fairy tale may just be a fun and interesting story for children, but adults can faintly perceive the deeper meanings and sce behind it, appreciating a different kind of beauty. "Plus, Dantalion''s promotional activity is pretty good too," a maid teased. Considering attracting regr customers, Hexia had also prepared a set of postcards like illustrations from picture books; after each storytelling session, she would handwrite blessings and autographs on them, giving them to the attending guests. Each card featured a different painting and story; today''s card depicted the White Dragon soaring through the blue sky and the youth on its back, with elegant ck writing below: "May you, like the White Dragon, break free of shackles and fly towards the true sky~" Chapter 131: Chapter 80 Leisure Time_3 If someone could collect all 12 cards, Hexia would gift them a picture book. In this way, she had her own loyal audience, although not many in number, but the atmosphere was very good, free from much of the outside world''s noise andplexity. After interacting with the maids in the store, Hexia brought her pet snake to the nearby White Feather Church of ''Debi''. She peeked in and, seeing that the guests had left, she entered. Inside the circrpartment, some birds were grooming their feathers, some were chirping, and some flew down in front of ''Debi'' to peck at the food in her palm. "Hoo~" Perhaps her palm was ticklish or maybe a bit sore, Debi ced the bird feed on the small white table, letting them feast freely. "Has Dantalione?" Upon hearing familiar footsteps, she looked up to see Hexia walking in. The two knelt at the table, and from Hexia''s sleeve, a small white-scaled snake slithered out, coiled up on the table, and watched the birds pecking in front of it. "No attacking them, okay~" Hexia held the snake''s body, her finger gliding over its head, admonishing and instructing the mischievous little white snake. Perhaps understanding Hexia''s words, the white-scaled tree viper retreated a short distance but remained curiously watching the pecking birds from afar. "It''s so well-behaved, it even understands what you say," Debi said, looking at the snake with its head raised, curious and envious. Although she had many birds, they were not Transcendent animals and had limited intelligence. They could only asionally help her lift strands of hair or skirt edges, or just show off. "It does understand, but it can be naughty sometimes," Hexiamented. "Is it from ''Botis'' jungle?" "Yes, there are many Transcendent poisons there, and recently there was arge spider recovering from an injury," Hexia thought aloud. "I''ve heard about that; people even say that besides Botis himself, Dantalion is the second person in the store who can interact with those animals so easily." "Once, a bold maid entered the jungle but got bitten, and after that, no one else went in," Debi spoke of what she knew. "Bitten?" Hexia thought back carefully, it seemed her first visit there was quite easy, perhaps she was just lucky. "What happened after that? If bitten, one would need an antidote quickly, right?" "Yes, the store always has serum on hand. That was also a requirement for Botis to prepare in advance; otherwise, we definitely couldn''t keep these creatures in the store," Debi continued, then pulled out a small piece of soft candy to sway in front of the snake, seemingly to draw its attention. "Ah~" The tree viper suddenly darted out and bit the soft candy. This startled Debi, causing her to let go of the candy in her hand. Fortunately, the little one knew restraint and did not bite Debi''s fingers, otherwise it would have faced a stern lesson today. "Scaring someone again," the girl tapped the snake on the head and then helped it swallow the soft candy. After eating the treat, the snake felt a bit sleepy and coiled up on the table. "Quite a pretty one." Debi rested her chin on her arms, taking a moment to observe the snake. Tree viper scales were rather ornamental, and if not for their venom, perhaps many people would keep them as pets. Entering the Interster Era, humans'' pets became more diverse, especially since Transcendent creatures generally saw an increase in intelligence, making many previously untamable animals able to be domesticated, bing safe. Last weekend, Hexia and Yilin went shopping and saw a clothing store that kept jellyfish. In the tall blue ss tank, jellyfish with glowing fluorescence swam about, incredibly beautiful to behold. After sitting and chatting with ''Debi'', Hexia returned to her quiet little library, practicing violin on the high chair, her music melodious, until work ended. After thest gathering ended, Hexia''s life seemed to slowly enter a peaceful and stable state. Afterpleting the necessary work during the day, she would practice the violin in her spare time, asionallymunicate withpanions, and gather with former elementary school ssmates during holidays, gradually bing more familiar as before. And so, June slowly came to an end, and July gradually arrived; the toxicity of the rampant rain slowly weakened and eventually became harmless. At that time, the northern regions became active and open once again. Chapter 132: Chapter 81 Traces of the Spiders Web Under the harsh white light of the fluorescent tubes, one after another, inmates d in prison clothes were engaged in simple tasks on the assembly line, assembling someplexponents, or packaging finished products into boxes, and so on. This was the industrial district located in the lower levels of Payin City, a ce that served not only as a factory but also as a prison, detaining people who had been apprehended before. After a month of investigation and interrogation, the Federal Government of the Northern Seventh District hadrgely rified the situation in the Underworld of Payin City. The past blockades were gradually lifted, and the personnel involved in the previous incident were also progressively dealt with. "Blu!" A guard dressed in a gray-blue uniform, holding a personal terminal disying information, walked into the underground workshop. "Present!" A towering, burly man rose from the crowd, standing tall like a pr bear rising from the ice, exceptionally eye-catching. "Come with me," he gestured to Blu and led him out of the room. The two entered a room designed for conversations, equipped with rigorous surveince. "Have a seat, drink some water," the guard said, his tone slightly better than before. "Received," Blu obediently opened the bottle of mineral water on the table and drained it. Seeing him sopliant, the guard nodded with satisfaction. Although many from the Underworld were insubordinate and had foul characters, there were exceptions. "You''ve behaved well in prison and passed evaluations from all aspects. Plus, your prior offense wasparatively minor, so¡ª" He paused for two seconds, ying coy, before continuing. "You''re lucky to be released, as of tomorrow. For the next five years, as long as you abide by thew and avoid any rules vitions, you can live peacefully as an ordinary Federation citizen." "Thank you for your guidance," Blu said, his expression slightly moved, but he was at a loss for what high praise to articte. "Alright, that''s all I wanted to say. Make sure you live well from now on," the guard pped his shoulder and then walked out. Two dayster, the massive gates of the underground prison slowly opened, and several sturdy, armored transport vehicles drove out, followed by a few released individuals, among whom was Blu. He carried arge package containing his clothes and bed sheets, having asked what he could take with him before leaving, and the staff had told him what was allowed. "Here''s 500 Federation Coins as a modestpensation for your time served. Once you''re out, you should find a job as soon as possible so you can settle down," Touching the card in his chest pocket that held the Federation Coins, Blu thought back to the guard''s instructions before his departure, full of emotion. Although 500 Federation Coins weren''t a lot, they could be stretched tost a week with frugality. The most crucial thing during this time was securing a job. Now that the Underground Gang had been disbanded and the people he previously knew had mostly vanished, he had to put effort into thinking about where he could be epted. If this were the distant past, his stature would make finding a means to subsist not too difficult, but this was the technologically advanced Interster Era. Most of the heavybor was reced by machines, and those who were quick learners and intelligent were more sought after, so theing period might not be so smooth. Regardless, he was finally free. Stepping out the gate, Blu looked back at the prison fortress illuminated by the bright yellow streetlights, its thick steel structures enclosing it like a colossal beast lying on the ground. Three dayster, in the 14th wholesale market on the 45th underground level of Payin City, Blu found his first job. The job involved loading and unloading various goods in the market, paying a sry of 2400 Federation Coins monthly, including room and board. Although there were T6-grade AI machines in the market for loading and unloading, they were responsible for uniform, coded bulk goods. The distribution of small, assorted items was still more convenient and cheaper with humanbor. To salvage the declining employment rate, the Federation had already increased the tax on AI chips multiple times. Nowadays, about 90%-95% of the price of a newly manufactured AI chip goes to taxes, with a second levy based on the duration of activation and use. "Hey, big guy, we''ve got a new batch of goods,e with me," Chapter Find: In a dim corner of the warehouse, Blu sat with his vest soaked in sweat, having just finished a delivery and managing to sit for a brief few minutes. "Received," he responded in a deep voice and stood up again, following the skinny supervisor. In the loading area, trucks of various sizes were docked, orderly loading and unloading in front of warehouse doors with distinct numbers. Each door had surveince, strictly monitoring the quantity of goods being handled, and drivers only needed to input the designated order number into their personal terminals and confirm to wait. There were three transportation routes from Payin City to the outside world. The first was the mostmon ground hage road, where goods were unloaded upon reaching Skylight, then sent underground via industrial elevators. The second was the underground rail train, a transport line buried deep beneath the surface, built hundreds of years ago considering the possibility that surface rail bombardment might cut off transportation, hence all underground cities were connected via such lines. The third were the Flight vehicles or spaceships, mainly responsible for connecting the distant southern districts and space routes to other star domains. Of the three transportation channels, the subterranean line was the least costly, but generally only ferried bulk industrial materials and products. Ground transport was more flexible, amodating daily necessities and goods from nearby districts, while Flight vehicles and spaceships were the most expensive, typically reserved for imports, exports, and time-sensitive deliveries. Chapter 133: Chapter 81 Traces of the Spiders Web_2 "Come, this is the ce," said the tall and thin supervisor, directing Blu to a warehouse door where a truck with its cargopartment already open was parked, and the driver was sitting nearby, smoking and resting. "Old Gu, you finally fucking showed up; we''ve been waiting here so long we could''ve faded into nothing," the driver said, his face scruffy with stubble, his shoulders and arms bulging with muscle, his tone coarse. "Well, I''m here now, aren''t I," the skinny assistant supervisor replied briefly before checking out the boxes inside the truck. "How many boxes are there?" "31 boxes of lychee, 42 boxes of watermelon, 12 boxes of strawberries, 5 boxes of blueberries... fucking transporting watermelons is a real loss," the driver reported from his personal terminal, item by item, while continuing toin. Although watermelons had been selling well recently, their low pricepared to other fruits meant their profit margin wasn''t great. "Well, enough of that; if there weren''t things to transport, no one would hire you," said the warehouse assistant manager in his thirties after checking the order number, then instructed Blu, who stood by, to start transporting. The fruit all came from nearby districts, freshly picked from the orchards that morning, and after they were unloaded and distributed, by four in the afternoon they would be on the shelves of various supermarkets throughout the city. Since it was a short-distance delivery, there was no need forplicated coding; besides, fruit tends to spoil easily, so some loss had to be manually adjusted in the data. "Come on, Blu, move these carefully one by one, don''t drop them." "Got it." The heavyset man began to move, standing at the unloading dock nearby, taking out the boxes one by one from the truck and cing them on the conveyor belt moving slowly beside him. "Is he new here?" the driver asked, eyeing the hefty man working huff and puff not far away. "That''s right, just got out of jail," the assistant supervisor offered him a cigarette. Chapter Continue: "Not bad, he works quite efficiently," he said, lighting up and leaning back. About twenty minutester, after all the goods were unloaded, the supervisor and the driver came over to check the boxes one by one. "Hmm, these thirty-some boxes of lychees are good, all fine," the supervisor said as he closed the lid, then nced at the other side. Most of the front was eptable, but when they checked the watermelons, they found that two boxes contained cracked watermelons. "This..." the driver rubbed his hair, visibly irritated. "I''ve been careful on the road; can only say that''s how watermelons are, crack at the slightest touch, but look, they''re still pretty fresh, right?" "What''s the use of telling me that? Customers don''t see it that way; they all want the good stuff," the assistant supervisor waved it off. "Shit..." the driver cursed a few times, saying that he''d never transport watermelons again, then took out his personal terminal and transferred a small fee to the assistant supervisor. "You''ve got yourself another bargain," the driver said as he stowed away his personal terminal, picked up a water bottle beside him, and climbed into the truck, ready to start the engine and leave. "Supervisor?" Blu asked, seeing the driver just walk away. "It''s fine, let him go," as a minor warehouse supervisor, he was used to these situations and had many ways to handle such issues. "You distribute these goods to the designated shelves ording to the order numbers. In another hour, transportation vehicles from various supermarkets wille to tow them away. As for these two damaged boxes, just leave them; we''ll deal with thatter." After giving the instructions, the junior supervisor picked up his personal terminal and startedmunicating with a familiar supermarket manager. ... "Yes, that''s right, I''ll give this batch to you for half off... it''s cracked, but the quality is still good. You can put together a fruit tter, and we''ll still list the original price on the books. I''ll refund this portion to you separately... Okay, that''s settled. When the timees, just let the delivery driver know, so we don''t end up with another mix-up over the goods," he said. After finishing the call, he put down his personal terminal, twirling it happily in his hand. Today brought an additional ie, and even the sight of the perspiring, hard-working Blu seemed more pleasing. "Keep it up, Blu, I''ll treat you to half a watermelon after work to quench your craving." "Got it," Blu panted in response. As time slowly passed, Blu gradually settled into life at the wholesale market. Although his pay was low, he had found himself a small ce to stay, and asionally he could eat some of the surplus fruit. These surplus fruits were all high-quality T5 grade, and even if they couldn''t be properly shelved, they were much better than the half-rotten scraps he used to drag out of the garbage dump. So, by mid-July, Blu finally had a rare day off. He took his old-fashioned second-hand personal terminal, which he had purchased for over 300 Federation Coins, and went to the ce where Qiao Long had grown up. After asking around the neighborhood, he found that Qiao Long hadn''t returned here, nor was there any news of him. Scratching his not-too-bright head, he went to visit the cemetery, as Qiao Long had asked him to do. The ck tombstone was the same as always, with only a few withered sticks held down by a stone brick in front of Qiao Long''s master''s grave¡ªremnants of thest bouquet he had ced there. "The boss hasn''te out yet, or has he gone somewhere?" he stood in front of the grave, holding a bouquet of flowers he''d bought on the way, and slowly ced it down. After thinking for a long time without any rity, He still left a small card with his contact number under the stone brick, hoping someone would contact him in the future. Returning to Wholesale Market No. 14, just when he thought this kind of life would continue for a long time, maybe for a few more years before getting some minor responses, an unexpected call startled Blu to his feet. "Ha Ke? Is it really you?" he asked excitedly, as the caller was his regrpanion, the one who had always followed behind Qiao Long with him. The next day, Blu met his long-lostrade, who wore a baseball cap, dressed in hip-hop style, and had green paint on his face. Chapter 134: Chapter 81 Traces of the Spiders Web_3 With his hands in his pockets, Ha Ke strode through the storeroom''s gates, then stopped and gave Blu an exuberant smile. "I''m still alive, which is great, and seeing you alive too feels even better." Having said that, he let out a long howl, took a few quick steps forward, leaped up, and pounced on Blu, where they embraced each other. After a while, the two sat in a corner of the storeroom, talking about their individual experiences. "I found a hidden path ahead of time and returned to the lower residential area of Payin City, hid beside a garbage station for a week, then quietly relocated. After things settled down, I was safe." He was a smart man, slim too, easy to blend into a crowd, unlike Blu who couldn''t easily hide. "You''re incredible, Ha Ke." Bluplimented, then asked about other things. "I have no idea where the boss went, but I guess he''s still alive. A tough guy like him won''t die so easily." Ha Ke reassured Blu not to worry about that. "Have you been working heretely?" Ha Ke looked around. "Yes, the supervisor is quite nice." "Forget it, he probably just thinks you''re useful and cheap." The skinny Ha Ke understood much. "I''ve been hanging out with a bunch of Night Wanderers recently, life''s been pretty good. Why don''t youe with me? I can find you a gig as a nightclub bouncer. It''s a lot easier and you''ve got the build for it." "No thanks, Ha Ke." Blu shook his head, having been taught in prison to stay away from such industries in the future. "Uh..." Ha Ke scratched his head, momentarily at a loss with this big guy, after all, he wasn''t Qiao Long, who would follow any order given. "Anyway, let''s not talk about this now. In fact, I''ve recently stumbled upon a clue about that task the boss left us with. When we''re free, we need to go look for that youngdy." "Is it the matter of helping to find someone?" "Exactly, the Night Wanderer crowd is a mixed bag, but I managed to sniff out some news. It''s said to be information filled out during the settlement of residents years ago, and it includes details about the youngdy''s parents." "Isn''t that information kept in the archive? Do we need to inform the youngdy?" Blu was puzzled. "No, no, no, although the archive records a lot, there are things I think the youngdy herself is unaware of." Ha Ke shook his head. "When residents settle in, the localmunitymittees conduct interviews and inquiries with the new upants to get acquainted with their situations. It''s not an official or serious process, so it''s quite casual, but it''s also easy to uncover some issues." "For instance, her parents made asting impression on the interviewers back then, which I found out by spending several hundred Federation Coins to treat someone to a meal." "Is that even possible?" Blu thought it would take another half a year to dig up any bits of information, but Ha Ke had results so quickly. "I''ve only found out about her parents'' past, as for her father''s whereabouts, I''m not sure. In contrast, he left without a trace, making me suspect a professional''s handiwork." Ha Ke gestured dismissively. "Ordinary people, when drowned in huge debts, turn to unconventional methods when official channels fail, like usury, illicitbor, underground boxing or racing, and such." "But her father left no such traces. It seems he suddenly came into some money, paid off his debts, and then left quietly. The process was too smooth, nobody in the gray sectors of Payin City had any contact with him." "However, taking into ount her mother''s background, maybe a lot of things can be exined." "The old man recalled that it was over 20 years ago, the youngdy''s mother was in her prime, with a voice and demeanor immensely different from ordinary people. Back then he didn''t understand, but after traveling to other ces, he guessed that the young couple might havee from the Northern Second District." "That kind of demeanor is hard to describe, but if someone has been there, they would understand, that''s what he told me." Ha Ke, with his head in his hands, leaned back on a cushion in the corner, the two of them talking freely until a delivery truck drove into the storeroom, and Blu had to get back to work. Chapter 135: Chapter 82: Qian Lou Exhausted Like Sails It''s raining. Hexia watched the simted true sky on the dome of "Dream of zed ss" where dark clouds drifted by and the sound of pouring rain followed, causing droplets to fall into containers in some corners of the hall, sshing a few water droplets. To avoid the falseness brought by the repeated clear weather, the simted true sky within "Dream of zed ss" was synchronized with the weather aboveground. In Payin City, they even simted the night sky on the entire dome so that the people living underground wouldn''t feel too oppressed and depressed. After finishing a day''s work, Hexia came to Andusia''s wisteria flower room, where the elf maid was ying with a golden gradient kitty. Scratching gently under the kitty''s chin, the light gold cat leanedfortably into Andusia''s embrace, asionally lifting its paws to stretch. "Dantalion, are you done for the day?" Andusia looked up and greeted. "Yes, Sister Andusia," Hexia came over to her, half squatting down to gaze at thezy little cat. "It''s named ''Ran Ran'', about four months old; a friend gave it to me," Andusia introduced the affectionate little kitty in her arms. "It''s very cute, and so fluffy," the girl said carefully petting it, while a little snake poked out from her other sleeve. It slithered out, its body levitating, eyeing the little cat in front of it. Just a month ago it was Sequence 2, and now it had progressed to Sequence 3. Although it had not be very powerful, it had acquired the transcendent ability of Levitation. Species: Subspecies of Tree Viper Status: Healthy (No abnormalities) Profession: Dragon Sequence 3 ¨C Levitating Cold Snake (Rating: Rare Dark Silver Level) Talent: [Path of the Serpent Dragon](Rare): A life pursuing the way of bing a dragon. Practicing professions within the Dragon Sequence receives a small boost. [Tree Viper Poison](Superior): With a fairly mild toxicity, it doesn''t kill immediately but causes numbness at the wound and makes it difficult to stop bleeding. Ability: [Concealment](Standard): Reduces one''s own aura and fluctuations, lowering the chances of being detected. [Feigned Death](Superior): Allows oneself to enter a deep hibernation state, stopping activities, reducing consumption, almost as if dead. [Levitation](Rare): Grants limited levitation and flying capabilities, freeing oneself from the influence of gravity. [Cold Avoidance](Superior): Capable of living and moving unfazed in environments as low as -80¡ã. Skills: [Poison Fang Lv.3][Stealth Lv.3][Hibernation Lv.5][Rapid Movement Lv.2][Cold Venom Lv.2] Having progressed from the Primordial Sequence to the Dragon Sequence, it also gained some additional abilities. Since most of the branding patterns in its Transcendent Core were used to form the abilities for Levitation and Cold Avoidance, the space left forbat improvements was notrge, it only gained the ability of Cold Venom. After the progression wasplete, Hexia was not surprised by its acquisition of the ability to Levitate because this was the model she assisted in selecting and mentoring during its progression. However, she was a bit curious about the subsequent Cold Avoidance ability. How afraid of cold and death are you, to have chosen abilities that lean towards preserving life? The girl couldn''t help but hold her forehead and shake her head. During Sequence 2 it had acquired abilities like Feigned Death and Hibernation to preserve life in extreme conditions. Later, it obtained Cold Avoidance, effectively removing the weakness snakes have in moving inconveniently at low body temperatures. Thinking back to the Indigo Snake she had encountered at Yuanting Academy, that one was much more sunny and cheerful in temperament, and it also had a formidable attack power. After concentrating magic power in the gem on its forehead, it could easily cut through steel tes with a high-temperature beam. Because it liked following Hexia around so much, the little snake gradually became recognized by the maids at the store. However, when there were customers, Hexia still hid it to avoid scaring anyone. Watching the inquisitive little white snake, Andusia fetched some cat food from the drawer and gave it a bit to eat. This creature was not picky at all; anything meat-rted was pretty much fair game. "By the way, how''s that big spider in the ''Botis'' jungle? I heardst month that its injuries were slowly healing," Andusia asked Hexia, soothing the kitty that was on guard and huffing at the little snake. "That one, I gradually nursed it back to health recently, and it''s gotten happy again, but also more disobedient. Every time I go there, I have to be careful it doesn''t suddenly drop from somewhere andnd on my head," Hexia spoke with a slight hint of annoyance. Ever since that big spider recovered, it had taken to perching on her head when she wasn''t paying attention. "Hehehe, it seems like it''s very fond of you," Andusia chuckled behind her hand. "Thinking about it, Dantalion truly possesses a talent for a breeder. Even before attending the academy, she was able to do a lot that most people find difficult to achieve." "Sister Andusia, do you know much about the rted affairs of ''courtyards''?" "I know a bit. In the Twin Trees Star Domain where I was born, there were quite a few ''courtyards''. Some even raised Fairy Dragons, those rare creatures¡­" She drifted into memory. "Some transcendent creatures live even longer than humans, so breeders also let long-lived elves take on that role." "Fairy dragon scales, Firebrow parrot feathers, Care Moth scales¡ªthese are all famous special products from there. Some are used to make Supernatural Spiritual Medicines, others for secret medicines to treat diseases. The transcendent properties they contain are difficult to mass-produce mechanically, which is why the prices have always been high." "A songstress''s abilities can effect not only humans but also have a great calming effect on transcendent creatures. Dantalion pursuing this path indeed would make things much easier for her," she borated slowly. "I see," Hexia said, understanding why Lady Isabelle had suggested she attend Yuanting Academy. This would not only allow her to develop her talent as a songstress early on, but also greatly ease her work if she chose a breeder as a secondary profession, saving a lot of effort. After exchanging with Andusia, Hexia yed with the round and cute kitty once more before finishing work and leaving. Half an hourter, Hexia stopped in front of her home, holding a paper bag in her hand, because there were two familiar figures ahead. "You two?" she asked with a hint of curiosity, as the clean-up of the Underground World in Payin City was alreadyplete and most people from there had been detained. "Yes, it''s us." Blu stepped forward as Ha Ke next to him began to exin. "Our boss couldn''t get away at the time, so he entrusted us to help the young miss search for the whereabouts of your father," he exined the events of that day along with Qiao Long''s instructions. "So that''s how it is, no wonder you never came back to me to retrieve that medicine," Hexia mused thoughtfully. "Since you''vee to me, do you have a lead?" "Regarding your father''s whereabouts, we haven''t found anything so far, maybe it''s because we have limited ess to information. Maybe the young miss will have to find another way in the future." "However, we do have some clues about your parents'' origins and some past events. Would the young miss be interested?" "Hmm. Go ahead," the girl said as she walked over to unlock her door and let the two men into the living room to sit for a while. "Alright," Ha Ke said, hurrying to follow her and giving Blu a pat on the back. Once seated, Hexia poured them some tea and then sat down opposite to listen carefully. "It''s like this..." Ha Ke started, describing his recent escape from the underworld and how he hade to mingle with a subset of the Night Wanderermunity within Payin City. Night Wanderers are generally those whoe out to roam the streets at night. Most of them feel empty inside and seek thrills, frequenting nightclubs, street dances, rock, brawling, racing, and the like. These people often dress in strange fashions and usually give the police headaches in the city. While they may not be breaking thew, they often skirt the very edges of it. "After blending in, I asked about an acquaintance from the neighborhood where the young miss used to live, and then, through him, I found a retired old man, an employee from the residential area where your parents lived back then..." Listening to Ha Ke''s story, the girl couldn''t help but admire the social and innate abilities of such people. "Gradually, I got the old man to warm up to me, and finally, over drinks, I managed to get some recollections and information about the past." "Hmm," the girl nodded slightly. "Did your parents ever mention ''Jielou City'' in the Northern Second District to you before?" "Jielou City?" The girl shook her head in confusion, never having heard the name before. "It may be unknown to most, as that area is not well connected to thework, err, let''s just say it''s quite traditional and not much newses out of there," Ha Ke had only recently learned about ''Jielou City'' through the starwork. "Jielou means ''exhausting a thousand buildings like sails''. It is said that hundreds of years ago, before the Northern Second District fell into decline, its high-rises were numerous. The buildings were styled in an ancient Eastern fashion, with one ovepping the next, standing tall like a thousand sails crossing the sea. This is why it was named ''Jielou City''." Today''s human civilization originates from Earth. Whether Elves, humans, Beastmen, or the exceedingly rare Merfolk, all these species developed different cultures. On ancient Earth, divided by the oceans, different cultures emerged on the eastern and western continents. However, in the protracted wars of the Fifth Epoch, the Eastern factions suffered severely. Later, they scattered across the Milky Way. Although there are people from the East within the Rose Federation, they do not make up arge proportion, hovering around 5%-7%. Listening to Ha Ke describe that city, now full of ruins and antiquity, Hexia slowly recalled scenes from her childhood. Indeed, her mother was different from those around her; for example, she would make types of snacks that were hard to find on the starwork, and the family often enjoyed Eastern-style cuisine. asionally, one could see one or two books with archaic writing. Eastern-style items are not rare within the Federation, like her personal terminal, which is a product of the ''Ink Harmony Workshop'' known for its Eastern-style design. But like her mother, who could write Eastern characters, read ancient books, y musical instruments, and prepare Eastern cuisine, were indeed rare. These were habits and hobbies typically nurtured in a richly traditional environment. Although Hexia had been taught those upright Eastern characters in her childhood and could speak them, they were seldom used in day-to-day life, not as fluently as her mother. However, it seemed her mother had no intention of having her and her sister continue these practices. If the two girls expressed interest and asked, she would teach them some. Even in naming, she leaned toward the mainstream of the Federation, not like her own, and even wanted Hexia to have a name without a surname. Hexia was hermonly used name, while Tn was more like a pen name or a symbol of her aspirations. She didn''t directly tell others her name was Tn. When introducing herself, the girl often used Hexia, and only those close to her would call her Tn. Jielou City... The girl slowly repeated the name to herself. "This is all the information we have on your mother. After that, we might need to investigate ''Jielou City'' in detail to take the next steps," Ha Ke said. "Alright, I understand," the girl nodded lightly. "But life isn''t easy for you guys right now either, so the investigation can wait," she said. After all, nearly 20 years had passed, so a year or two more wouldn''t make much difference. "Thank you for your consideration and understanding, young miss," Ha Ke said, nodding earnestly, as the girl seemed quite amicable. After seeing the two men off, Hexia returned to her bedroom to continue rummaging through her parents'' belongings, but s, she didn''t find much. After all, having lived there for over ten years, it was unlikely that there were any hidden items she didn''t know about. "I can only look for information about ''Jielou City'' online," the girl mused as she closed the drawer full of assorted items and then switched on the projector of her personal terminal to begin searching. Soon after entering the keywords, images and text emerged. "The Vanished City of Jielou ¡ª Do you know of the glorious legends of four hundred years ago?" "''Painted in vivid colors, wielding cold steel, waving gs and dancing'' ¡ª The Nightwatch pretending to be Godly Generals in the ancient city." "Ignorance or tradition? Those who spend their lives trapped in the ruins of a forgotten city..." In the images, a series of abandoned, decrepit high-rises stood enshrouded in mists, deste and lonely, yet still faintly revealing their former glory and splendor. Chapter 136: Chapter 83 Departure Preparation "Jielou City, where every building is a floor unto itself, like a thousand sails crossing the sea." Hexia closed the materials in her hand, but the image of the broken and deste city still echoed in her mind. In the Northern Second District, there aren''t many inhabitants; nearly a million square kilometers ofnd is home to just eight million people, and most of them are concentrated in three semi-abandoned cities. Jielou City is one of them. "The liveliest event in Jielou City each year has to be the ''Flowing Fire Festival'' in mid-July. At that time, there will be more tourists and the city will be busier and safer," the forum posted such an introduction, along with some photos and videos. Layers of red banners fluttered, and the air was thick with incense as a devout crowd packed into the winding mountain paths to worship. Even in the Interster Era, some people still believe in gods. Although there are many simr doubts on the Star Net, as long as there is unease in the hearts of people, or they are not strong enough and need support and sce, the need for spiritual sustenance will arise. In the unseen presence of one who witnessed your pain and difort, you confessed the bitterness in your heart and thus felt a certain release, as if lightening your inner burden. For such beliefs, federal officials are neither advocates nor do they deliberately suppress them, as long as everything is done within defined limits and boundaries, without interference or overstepping. Having finished browsing the information online, Hexia felt it might be necessary to take a trip to Jielou City in the Northern Second District. Although she might not necessarily find any clues, there was a nagging curiosity about why Ha Ke was so certain her mother came from ''Jielou City''. The timing was this month. ncing at the calendar, Hexia suddenly realized that it coincided perfectly with the ''Flowing Fire Festival'', but then she worried whether it would be inappropriate to ask for an extended leave. "So Dantalion also wants to take advantage of the holiday to have some fun?" Belfeng stroked his chin after listening to Hexia''s thoughts. "Taking a long leave isn''t out of the question, for example, ''Botis'' who often disappears for several days beforeing to work, and ''Nabe Rius'' who needs to select fabric and flowers, also frequently takes leave." "It is possible for Dantalion to take a leave, but the steady customers that have finally starteding might partly disappear," she said with some concern. "Yes, but I''ll write a good notice, hoping that everyone can wait for me a week," Hexia thought about it and decided that was the best she could do for now. "Ah, only a week? I thought Dantalion would be going on a vacation for at least half a month," Belfeng shook his rabbit ears. "It won''t be that long." The girl exined she was nning to go to the Northern Second District. "That ce, ah, yes, the Flowing Fire in July is indeed the most suitable time of the year to visit." "But Jielou City and the whole Northern Second District are not safe," the rabbit-eared maid reminded the girl. "Payin City is a typical dense city, with Riot Control Autonomous Units every few streets and a plethora of surveince on corners and alleys, making crime rare. But the Northern Second District is different. Not to mention fewer surveince systems, some aren''t even connected to the starwork, and there are hardly any Riot Control Robots. Even the local government is semi-autonomous, controlled by the locals." "That''s why I said that tourists usually only go there in July, and because they need to maintain the local tourism economy, the local government will also be more restrained and careful during this period," Belfeng listed the precautions for traveling to the Northern Second District, which made Hexia pay more attention and contemte whether to wait a few more years until she herself was stronger before going there. However, the next day, when ''Botis'' heard about her concerns, he offered what seemed to be a good suggestion. "Dantalion can take it along. Although this guy is a bit naughty, when ites to stealth and aggression, it''s actually quite strong." The maid with emerald hair pointed to therge spider in the girl''s arms, which was eating snacks fed by Hexia, its big ck eyes rolling. "It?" The girl tilted her head, feeling that if she went out with arge spider, she would definitely be stopped by people. Seeing the girl''s confusion, Botis came over and knocked directly on the spider''s head. "Get up and work, Dantalion doesn''t believe you can protect her anymore~" Her words immediately made therge spider anxious. Afterward, the girl only felt a lightness in her hands, and then the burrow-living wolf spider jumped onto the table with azure spiky fur. The pattern on its body shone with a lustrous glow, and then it burrowed right into the shadow behind her and disappeared. Hexia hastily stood up, lifting her maid''s skirt to look around, then spun in ce, still unable to see the spider. She touched the top of her head, still nothing. Hexia blinked, a faint blue radiance flickering in her eyes, and only then did she find the creature hiding in her own shadow. Species: Burrow-Living Wolf Spider Subspecies Status: Healthy (Magic Power is exuberant) ``` Job Title: Withering Sequence 4 ¡¤ Ghost-faced Spider (Rare Radiant Gold Level) Talent: "Wolf Spider''s Poison" (Rare): Extremely toxic, causing respiratory difficulty and irregr heart rate, leading to death in a short period. "Azure Velour Spikes" (Superior): The fine hairs and spikes on the body allow the spider to perceive minute sounds and vibrations and can also be used to emit intimidating hissing noises. Ability: "Shadow Concealment" (Rare): Enables the spider to hide within shadows, making it not easily detected, akin to a ghost. "Quick sh" (Superior): Enhances the spider''s neural reflexes, enabling it to move at high speeds simr to skipped frames in a video. "Ghostly Blue Poison" (Rare): A transcendent toxin thatmon serums cannot neutralize, making the victim''s body rigid and mind unaware of the external world, as if soulless. "Chitinous Exoskeleton" (Superior): The body and limbs are somewhat reinforced, able to withstand shots from low-powered firearms. Skill: "Stealth Lv.6" "Tenacity Lv.3" "Rapid Movement Lv.5" "Transcendent Toxin Lv.5" After being nurtured by Hexia, the giant spider had not advanced, but its overall strength had risen a notch, shifting from Superior Radiant Gold Level to Rare Radiant Gold Level. If she wanted to truly promote it, the girl would likely need to acquire sufficient knowledge and secret techniques at Yuanting Academy. "So you were hiding in my shadow." The girl realized, slowly crouching down, and then with a flicker of pale blue magic power on her fingertips, she touched the top of the giant spider''s head, making it reveal itself. "Speaking of which, you all belong to the Withering Sequence career line, so coordination should be rather easy. This can fool some of the older and simpler checking devices," Botis nodded slightly. "But, is it really okay to bring this fellow out?" The girl picked up the giant spider again, holding it in front of her, observing closely. "It''s Botis'' pet, isn''t it? Also, I''m a bit afraid it might actually bite someone, and if they can''t be saved, it would be disastrous," the girl shook her head, voicing her concerns. "Well, I will prepare three doses of a specialized serum for you. Administer it to the person in time, and they''ll be alright. Besides, Dantalion, often conflicts arise because the other party thinks they can bully you. When you show some form of aggression and deterrence, most people actually won''t make a move on you, which also reduces a lot of trouble," "When necessary, you can bring it out and y with it in front of you. That will scare away many people who try to strike up a conversation or cause you trouble." ''Botis'' was like an evil older sister, imparting some necessary tactics to the small rabbit Hexia. "Really? Can I do that?" The girl was doubtful, yet she looked at the giant spider she held. "No problem. Besides, the Northern Second District is a mixed bag, even if Hexia stands out, she won''t attract attention." "Shall we try it then?" The girl finally found Botis'' words persuasive and agreed to take the giant spider on a long journey. In the afternoon, led by Belfeng, Hexia came to ask her manager for leave. "Going on a vacation and visiting rtives?" The manager ''elegantly'' sipped her flower tea, then gazed into the distance, seemingly reminiscing about her own youth. "Young people are still so energetic and impulsive." She seemed somewhat reflective. "Go ahead, but after this extended leave, you won''t be able to take another for two months." "Okay, thank you, manager." Although the manager often reminded the girl of a certain animal, in a sense, she was indeed a good person. "Mm, mm." The manager felt quite gratified upon hearing the gratitude in the girl''s voice, and a little more cheerful inside. Then, with both the girl and Belfeng watching, she picked up her handbag and slowly walked outside. It was time for her break again, and work was indeed ''arduous.'' Having sorted out her leave, Hexia was about to embark on a journey to uncover her mother''s past. She wondered if there was anyone left in Jielou City who knew her mother, or whether this was merely a journey destined for disappointment. ``` Chapter 137: Chapter 84: The Scent of Incense Fills the Tower The howling wind caressed the curtains, bringing with it the hot breath of the wastnds along with the scent of dried grass and desation. Despite the heat, the swift movement of the air still provided a refreshing coolness to the body. Once again on the high-speed train to another district, Hexia looked out of the window at thendscape. The deste earth reflected the white light of the scorching sun, with gray Gobi and rubble stretching off into the distance. Only at the horizon could she make out the faint outline of tall mountains, stacking up like giant steps upon thend. Every time she traveled afar, she was awed by the majestic scenes of this. The girl couldn''t help but shake her head, reflecting that Payin City was ultimately just a small ce. As this was a train heading to Northern Second District, there were few passengers in the carriage. There was nobody sitting beside Hexia, nor in the seats in front or behind her, with only the asional gust of wind stirring the curtains and the fabric on the chair backs, creating a rustling sound. She looked around her; the train must have been in operation for several decades, with a strong industrial and rugged style. The interior exposed some of the steel rivet structures, and even the flooring was made of diagonally patterned steel. A lot of the structure was made of steel, bypassing someplex and cosmetic decorations, which significantly reduced manufacturing costs and time. As for thefort of the passengers, the use of soft sponge cushioning was the greatest act of mercy and consideration. The stainless steel tabletop felt warm to the touch under the hot wind and sunshine. The girl rifled through her shoulder bag beside her and pulled out a brochure introducing Jielou City, which she had acquired from a travel agency in Payin City. She didn''t join a tour group for her trip, because that would have restricted her freedom too much. The train sped past the vast wilderness, advancing steadily northward. The hot breeze by the window gradually cooled, as the intense heat of summer slowly receded. Afterwards, the train climbed the increasingly high mountain steps, seemingly getting closer to the sky. The world ahead grew brighter and brighter, while the earth behind became distant and seemed to shrink, as if standing on a skyscraper and looking down at the ground below. In just a few moments, the train''s head leveled off, no longer climbing upwards, and the view ahead was a vast wilderness. Within it, towering buildings stood tall like mountains on the ground, the low ones measuring dozens of meters and the high ones several hundred meters, with their tops disappearing into the clouds, faint and unclear. [We are about to arrive at Northern Second District, Jielou City Station. Passengers, please prepare to disembark.] The sound of the AI''s announcement echoed throughout the carriage, and two semicircr Autonomous Units rolled through the aisle, checking for any passengers who were asleep or feeling unwell. As the train traveled among these mountain-like skyscrapers, the sky seemed to darken overhead, and the train''s motion-sensing lights came on in a timely manner, with bright yellow V-shaped guide icons appearing on the floor. Sitting in the carriage, Hexia looked up at the towering buildings they passed, almost all of which had been abandoned. One could see the peeling exterior walls and the exposed structural elements, with some windows and terraces for airship ess overgrown with moss and nts, streaked with rust-like water stains. What were once gracefullyyered gilded eaves were now gray and dusty. Some of the tiles hade loose, revealing the concrete and steel structures underneath. On the vast windows there remained fragments of broken, bluish ss, reflecting the bright light of the sky, making them appear exceedingly lonely. The train passed slowly under the shadow of these high-rise buildings, only to be met by a sudden, immense dry riverbed. The river had long since dried up, leaving a bed several kilometers wide, cracked and broken. A long track rose from the riverbed, crossing over to an ancient city on the opposite bank, where buildings looked like sails. As the train descended down the slope, Hexia saw through the windows on the opposite side a massive broken bridge. Nearly 300 meters high and immensely wide, it stretched out from Jielou City, fracturing mid-span over the river, exposing the ferocious skeletal steel rebars within. The other half of the bridge had already copsed, with a wreckage of steel and concrete scattered across the riverbed. Their shape and presence evoked the thought of a Giant Dragon''s severed head, leaving only half of its body forlornly standing on the dry riverbed. Crossing the extensive riverbed, the train began to climb again, rising from the bottom of the river and entering the ins within Jielou City. Compared to the utterly deste world outside, there were slightly more signs of life inside. The girl could see people living inside some of the damaged and abandoned buildings. They had covered the windows with simple stic and nailed up wooden boards, leaving only tiny venttion openings. Through the gaps between the stic and wood, one could see the clutter of items hanging in the rooms. Gradually, on the ruin-like streets, she could also see some vendors pushing carts, selling simple food to the residents. Most of these foods were homemade, mainly fried in oil, with only the asional steamed snack vendor. Because it was a high teau, water boiled at only about 85¡ãC here, so boiling wasn''t very effective for heating food, making frying more prevalent. The train slowly entered into the heart of the city, its speed also slowing down, weaving through a forest of high-rise buildings, with the brightness and shadow shifting in the windows on both sides of the carriage. Until atst, it came to a gentle stop. [Jielou City] [Arrival] [Jielou City] ... The carriage''s yellow disy board kept alternating between these two lines of conspicuous text. Then steam dispersed, and the doors slowly opened. A few passengers disembarked. Stepping onto the slightly cool ground, Hexia felt the air was a bit chilly, not nearly as hot as in Payin City. Soon enough, groups from various travel agencies began to gather in front of the station. Hexia followed the crowd, intending to briefly learn about their general itinerary and direction. Chapter 138: Chapter 84: The Scent of Incense Fills the Tower_2 "The Flowing Fire Festival takes ce over seven days in mid-July, during which the entire Jielou City will hold a grand parade with seven stages: the lighting of incense, calling upon the gods, circumambting the city, the startle dance, offering of voices, sending off the departed, and the return of the troops..." The travel agency guide was introducing the schedule to the tourists, and Hexia also listened to part of it. Afterward, she left the tour groups, exited the station on her own, and walked into the vast steel jungle. Many of the high-rise buildings along the road had been abandoned, but the first to the third floors were still being used, and a good number of shops were open for business. The neon lights in their signs, changing and flickering, were especially eye-catching and vibrant against the surrounding grey concrete and steel. The sky was flecked with drizzling rain, light enough not to matter much, but enough to dampen Hexia''s hair slightly. She quickened her pace as she crossed the spacious street to enter a shop opposite her. In this small shop, there were all sorts of handcrafted ornaments hanging up, made of jade or cinnabar, agate, and even some specially made coal stones. There was only the shopkeeper inside, who sat in a corner still busily engaged in his carving work. On hearing footsteps, he called out without looking up, "Take a look yourself if you want to buy something, and thene here to pay." He then continued with his unfinished carving piece without lifting his head. Hexia''s gaze wandered around the shop, which was less than 20 square meters, its small spacepletely filled with hanging ornaments on red cords, which gently clinked against one another when stirred by the breeze. The pendants were carved with animals, letters,ary symbols, film characters, and brief texts. The variety was astounding, seemingly able to satisfy any demand. Standing in this tiny shop, the young girl carefully examined everything. From time to time, she felt a slight brush against her ankle from therge spider hiding nearby, thankfully it didn''t show itself nor did anyone else notice it. "How much is this?" Though she wasn''t necessarily going to wear it, Hexia still wanted to buy something as a memento. She carefully picked up a turquois pendant carved with a floral design and walked towards the inside. The shopkeeper finally put down his carving tools and magnifying sses and looked up at Hexia. "This one is 45 Federation Coins." It was a very cheap price; it didn''t even cost as much as a single tasty meal. The girl was slightly surprised, then she asked how to make the payment. "Payment, huh? You must not be from around here." He shook his head, then rummaged for an old cash register in the corner and set the amount. "If you use this, it''s 100 Federation Coins," he said as he handed over the cashbox after exining the price difference. "Why is it so much more expensive?" Hexia was puzzled, but the man just shook his head, not bothering to exin. Having hit a soft nail, Hexia had no choice but to make the payment using the cash register, although 100 Federation Coins wasn''t a lot, she still felt a bit unhappy about it. Seeing the girl had paid and was about to leave, the shopkeeper called out from behind, "If you''re here for tourism, you could get a local card exchanged by someone from around here. It will save you a lot of money." After saying that, he gestured for Hexia not to bother him anymore and went back to his work. Walking on the street, Hexia continued to look around at the shops and attractions. Besides selling daily necessities, many shops offered local specialties like jade jewelry, ssical dresses, incense burners, and painted fans. asionally, the girl also saw shops selling cold weapons. In the Interster Era, where automated weapons are widespread, cold weapons have mostly lost their utility, but there are still many enthusiasts who keep them, and within the Federation, the use of Energy Lightsabers and other special weapons is derived from cold weapon techniques, so some people use them for practice. Entering one shop after another, Hexia saw many locally handcrafted items, from smallbs and folding fans torge pieces of furniture and statues. Items woven from bamboo strips also caught the attention of tourists. Her gaze shifted from one unfamiliar yet familiar item to another, and the girl remembered that her mother had once tried her hand at these crafts. However, her mother, who had been pampered from birth, wasn''t skilled at manualbor and had even beenughed at by her father a few times, before she gave up on it altogether. Following the crowds that hade to Jielou City, Hexia continued her tour along the main street, walking past the cold, damp roads. Unbeknownst to her, it was already around 2 p.m., and she started to feel hungry. "Let''s find a ce to eat," she mumbled to herself, giving therge spider hiding by her ankle a nudge with her foot, then heading towards an establishment that was obviously a restaurant. The restaurant had a sign sticking out into the air over the street, its neon lights shimmering with a gaudy brightness, disying a fewrge characters. Street signs like this were amon sight along both sides of the street and above it. Several small AI Autonomous Units also hovered above the street, transporting various small items. These units looked like older models, with their paint primarily in orange-red and ck. Some of their parts were exposed, allowing the sight of their internal mechanisms at work and the asional spark. "Probably only ground-level cities would have so many small Levitation Autonomous Units," the girl thought inparison to Payin City. Since it was underground with cramped spaces, it wasn''t possible to allow these disparate units to fly haphazardly as they would block the Hover Car passages. Therefore, express deliveries in the city were often made by vehicles or ground-operating AI Autonomous Units. Heading towards the restaurant, Hexia was quickly distracted by a street food vendor. Inside, the noodle chef, with one mechanical arm, was rapidly twirling dough, while the other hand continuously added various spices and seasonings. Then, he tossed the dough into the air, and with a smack, itnded on the chopping board. His right mechanical arm transformed again, this time into the shape of a Sword, and he began shing, cutting the dough into even pieces. Chapter 139: Chapter 84: The Scent of Incense Fills the Tower_3 After neatly shaped blocks formed, a shout erupted from inside and outside the shop, where many onlookers were tourists from other ces. They curiously watched this ancient craft before eagerly anticipating the master pastry chef''s next move. The pastry chef''s right mechanical arm transformed again, rolling and ttening the dough in front of him, and then he ced the ttened pastries upon the dark red surface of a giant toad sitting beside him. This special metal toad''s back was covered with pastries that resembled ancient coins. Due to the toad''s heat, the pastries quickly cooked, puffing up slightly and turning golden brown around the edges, emitting an appetizing aroma of toasted flour and sesame. Using his heat-resistant mechanical arm, the pastry chef then swiftly removed each pastry, stacked them on the table, and ced a small sign next to them. [Golden Toad Pastries, 80 Federation Coins each] Well, the price wasn''t cheap, but considering it was a rare trip, it was worth trying something different, so many tourists still paid and bought pastries. Following the crowd, Hexia also lined up and squeezed through to buy a pastry. After taking a small bite, the warm fragrance immediately filled her mouth, but since the pastry was too hot inside, Hexia had to stick out her tongue a bit to let it cool down quickly. Hexia, feeling tired from walking, didn''t hurry to go to the restaurant anymore. She found a clean stone stool on the street corner, sat down, and began eating her pastry. asionally, she also tore off small pieces and tossed them to the greedy spider lurking in the shadows beside her. The spider was not picky and didn''t mind that it was vegetarian. In the gloomy sky, a deep rumbling sound was heard as arge airship slowly descended from the clouds, settling down into Jielou City with smoke and water vapor, probably carrying visitors from outer space. The city was gradually bing lively, with the sound of distant bells ringing through the air. In a ce Hexia couldn''t see, in the center of Jielou City, vermillion pennants hung down, each inscribed with ck letters of some blessing script. They were densely lined up, draped over the streets, swaying like a red ocean in the moist breeze. Underyers of vermillion pennants, the local residents stood crowded, numbering around five hundred thousand, each wearing tall hats with long vermillion ribbons fluttering on top. These local residents, with solemn expressions, stood in concentric circles, gazing at the high tform in the center. Inside the tform were threerge cauldrons with joss sticks as thick as arms. Sacrificial personnel dressed in red, green, yellow, ck, and white, the five-colored fine clothes, held long silks filled with prayers as they knelt on the ground, chanting loudly. Then the long silks slowly lifted, burning mid-air, turning to dust, and drifted far away. "Now is the time, light the incense!" "Ha!" Around the high tform, ''Godly Generals'' wearing bright scale armor and with gs attached to their backs stood up from a crouching position. Some held Long Halberds, some graspedrge swords, and others wielded double maces. As they moved, the metal scale armor and ornaments nked against each other, sounding like wind chimes jingling. Several Autonomous Units floated in mid-air, leading and clearing the way. The ''Godly Generals'' dressed in bright armors and armed with various weapons escorted a pnquin covered withyers of red gauze toward the main street. Along the way, each household disyed a small incense burner, with smoke curling up, enveloping the streets. Some residents stood in front of their homes, others at their windows, praying devoutly to the passing procession, while the ''Godly Generals'' with blue and red painted faces marched with a rhythmic step, resembling heavenly soldiers in formation. Chapter 140: Chapter 85: Seeking to Find Ones Origins Over the course of the next day, Hexia traversed the major streets and alleys on the surface of Jielou City, encountering many things that felt familiar yet strange. In the Interster Era, these things were considered outdated, but now they oddly felt novel. At night, following the travel guide, she arrived at the western underground entrance of Jielou City. Jielou City was divided into upper and lower sections¡ªit could even be said that the surface part only ounted for one-quarter of the entire city, as the underground housed more buildings and poption. In narrow alleys where only four people could walk abreast, with the ground lit by bright yellow LED lights, the walls rusted on both sides, interspersed with small shops, local residents dined and shopped here after work. Exiting the alley, it was like being suspended in mid-air because below were intertwining roads bustling with traffic. Unlike the quaint architectural style above ground, the underground structures had an industrial yet ssical feel to them. Neon lights were visible everywhere, along with slowly moving trapezoidal esctors, projected figures and signs, and the glittering night market towers outlined by the lights. These mingled with the night and the underground, and the flying eaves and corners of the buildings crisscrossed, seemingly chaotic but striking a well-bnced harmony, without interfering with each other. In the evening, Hexia took a seat in a hot pot restaurant by the window. There were about a dozen patrons, and the owners were a middle-aged couple. Aside from Hexia, the other diners were mostly locals, shouting for the owner to serve the food and then discussing recent current events. "I wonder if there will be a Sword fight at this year''s celebration; otherwise, it just feels like something''s missing, not quite satisfying enough." "There probably won''t be. The current climate within the Federation isn''t too fond of such slightly gory spectacles anymore; idents are all toomon in Sword fights." "Ah, that''s a pity. I guess it''ll be the same as in previous years with the Sword dance performances. I''m so tired of them." "That''s true. The Sword dances feel light and powerless,cking tension and impact. Only a small portion of the tourists find it novel." "Actually, I''ve heard it wasn''t like this in the past; it used to be a marvel, but sadly, it waster lost." "Lost?" "That''s what the elders say. Anyway, Jielou City has lost too many things, so what''s one or two more." As they talked about other matters, bursts of horn sounds and various noises came from the street outside. "The ''Godly Generals'' are parading around the city." The locals immediately recognized the sounds and stopped eating, one after another running out to watch, even the hot pot restaurant owners turned off the stove and left. What are the Godly Generals? The girl peered out of the window curiously, but there was an exceptionallyrge crowd outside. She had to sit down again, taking a few more bites of the freshly cooked meat slices, and fed some to therge spider beside her. Since there were no other customers in the restaurant, nobody paid any attention. After petting therge spider, Hexia nced at the crowded street outside and decided to pick up the spider and ce it on her head before stepping out. The streets outside the hot pot restaurant were packed with both tourists and locals. Amidst the sounds of music, figures d in bright yellow led the way, carrying tiger emblems to clear the path, followed by resplendent ''Godly Generals'' with colorful faces and weapons in hand. They had four gs affixed to their back, stepping in sync, with their g tassels clinking as they moved. Standing on her toes, the girl eyed the parade on the street. The ''foot soldiers'' leading the way all possessed Sequence 3 strength, while the brightly dressed ''Godly Generals'' had at least Sequence 4, and a few leading ones even Sequence 5. Their stepping and formation appeared simple, but their auras intertwined to form a unity, exuding an imposing presence without anger. Every hundred meters they advanced, they would stop to brandish their Swords and strike their halberds, causing armor and chains to collide and reverberate. With this came a faint surge of energy, spiritually invigorating onlookers. Although the intensity was kept low, it was still thrilling. Only with some unique secret technique or heritage could they maintain such a poption in this age-old city. As the procession passed by Hexia, one of the ''Godly Generals'' suddenly turned and red into the crowd at Hexia. His eyes widened, and the color of his painted face seemed to bleed out, shooting directly towards Hexia above her head. Hiss hiss... Hexia heard the spider atop her head cry out in pain. She quickly picked it up and held it in front of her chest to avoid the ''Godly General''s'' gaze. Seeing Hexia protect therge spider, the ''Godly General'' huffed but said nothing further, continuing forward. Only a few noticed this interlude, while most were oblivious, simply watching the procession move on down the street. The crowd slowly dispersed, and Hexia, holding the spider back in its original form, stroked its head and checked carefully. It hadn''t suffered any serious injury but seemed to be somewhat disoriented from the impact. A person in yellow approached from the crowd and, seeing Hexiaforting therge spider, asked, "Excuse me, is that spider your pet?" "Yes, it is." Hexia replied with slight concern, holding the spider closely to show it was well-behaved, and presented the registration documents Botis had given her to the staff member. Chapter 141: Chapter 85 Seeking the Truth About Ones Origin (Part 2) The paperwork for the giant spider was in order, so the staff member nodded after checking and continued to speak. "Since it''s the Godly General''s time to patrol the city, any apparitions that appear will be swept away. If thisdy doesn''t want to be identally harmed, please keep your pet out of the Godly Generals'' path, or hold it in your arms, so it won''t be seen as a harmful entity." "I see," the girl nodded. The "Godly General" just now probably thought the giant spider was bad, squatting on top of her head. The staff member gave a few more instructions before leaving, but he didn''t go far before he turned back to look at the girl''s retreating figure. "I always feel like I''ve seen her somewhere... Never mind, I need to rush back to report; otherwise, the masters will say I''m cking off again." Letting the giant spider return to hiding in her shadow, Hexia went back to the hotpot restaurant, finished eating, and then left. At night, she slept in an underground hotel in Jielou City, with the bustling street just outside her window. Although close to the street, the soundproofing was very good. Even if people were barbequing and chatting all night downstairs, Hexia sleptfortably. The next day, she continued to explore the underground of Jielou City. Through conversations with the locals, she gradually learned some details about Jielou City and why they didn''t directly pay with Federation Coins. "It''s like this, sister," a girl holding a candied haw on a stick exined in front of Hexia. "Many things here circte internally. If we use the official payment channels, we have to pay taxes, and it involves business licenses and such. In fact, most things are handcrafted and not very standardized, which makes things troublesome. Even if a shop receives money, they need to convert it through other means to get it into their own hands." She seemed to be about 14 years old, sitting on a chair, swinging her legs cheerfully, eating the candied haw Hexia had given her. In the Rose Federation, there are detailed standards for all professions, such as the division between T6/T5 grade food and dining and what additives are allowed or not allowed during production, etc. Jielou City''s practices are closer to the earlier handicraft industry, and they have long been ustomed to the old ways, unwilling and resistant to use the Federation''s standards. After understanding, the girl''s candied haw was almost finished. Hearing someone calling her, she turned around and waved to Hexia before running towards the other side of the street, seemingly to her mother. Seeing the woman opposite her bowing politely, Hexia stood up to return the gesture and then watched as the two of them walked away. Although very conservative and traditional, the locals seemed to have an honest nature, not as restless as the residents influenced by the inte these days. They were content to live in such an environment year after year, generation after generation. The next day, Hexia continued to follow the tourists as they strolled through the underground streets and alleys. Unintentionally, she arrived in front of a famous temple inside Jielou City. The alley leading to the temple was no wider than five people. As she walked, the walls on both sides started off dark, but as she moved forward, the light gradually brightened, and vague niches emerged, which slowly became glittering and resplendent. Figures of gods with kind and smiling faces stood in the golden light, their backs against a backdrop of gold with radiating patterns, simr to the sun stamped behind their heads, with the golden light shimmering, conveying a sense of solemnity and sanctity. Above the alley, red banners fluttered and swayed. Passing through the alley, Hexia entered the inner temple, where there was a statue of a goddess dancing in the heavens, graceful in form, with ribbons like those of immortals, and the six hands holding golden hoops, bells, handbells, and pipas. ''Kinnara Heaven'' is also known as the heaven of music, the god of song. The temple''s clergy were also quite special¡ªthey weren''t real people but intelligent AIs with golden bronze bodies. In the Federation, it is now forbidden for AI to be anthropomorphized and participate in residents'' lives, including adopting human-like appearances, mimicking human behavior, and so on. Only in abandoned fringe cities like Jielou City do such old-fashioned AI units remain. It''s said that the anthropomorphization of AI caused many ethical crises and societal shocks in the past, and the Federation''s various policies have gradually be more conservative. However, not all countries are like this. Some countries adjacent to the Rose Federation consist entirely of citizens who are products of AI and biological integration. Dressed in robes, these humanoid AIs, about 2 meters tall and holding prayer beads, stood on either side of the statues, maintaining order during worship and asionally helping pilgrims with their questions and Divination. "What doth thou seek?" "I hope to be promoted to a Sequence 4 job this year. I wonder if Kinnara Heaven could bless me," a worshipper kneeled on a cushion. "The gods only help those who help themselves. If you are fully prepared and confident, you will surely fulfill your wish," the AI solemnly responded. "Thank you, master," the joyous person stood, then left with gratitude. Then, others continued to make wishes and seek answers, some leaving satisfied and others departing with trepidation. Next was Hexia''s turn. At this time, she ced the giant spider in a backpack by her side and bowed before the statue, without kneeling. Though not much of a believer in gods, she offered incense and prayers out of respect. "I hope to learn about my mother''s background and past," she murmured softly. After a long while, as she opened her eyes, inserted the incense into the Incense Burner, and was about to leave, the golden bronze master beside her suddenly spoke. "You should head to Bamboo Lane on Chenxiang Street; there you will find clues to your prayer." After which, he closed his mouth and began to attend to the next worshipper. Chapter 142: Chapter 85 Searching for Ones Origin_3 Despite her doubts, Hexia decided it was inappropriate to approach further and disturb the temple, so she continued her search for the address on Chenxiang Street, Bamboo Lane. Sadly, there was nothing rted on the Star Network, and some of the information even linked to other star domains. After leaving the temple, Hexia decided to ask the locals, but unfortunately, they didn''t have any leads either. Feeling disappointed, Hexia prepared to eat something and try the temple again tomorrow. She sat down in a restaurant, ordered her favorite dishes, and was about to enjoy her meal when a man with silver-white hair approached. He was flipping a folding fan and was dressed in an Eastern-style moon-white robe. "Hey there, miss~" he struck what he thought was a handsome pose and greeted Hexia. "Hello, is there something you need?" Hexia looked at the man before her, who seemed to be wearing some kind of perfume. "I am Feng Jianxue, from the Flying Feather Star Domain." The Flying Feather Star Domain is one of the central star domains of the Federation and is quite prosperous and wealthy. "Hmm." The girl nodded slightly, stillposed. Seeing that Hexia had no reaction to his appearance and family background, he gave an awkwardugh and continued. "The Flying Feather Star Domain is exceptionally bustling, with headquarters of many major enterprises located there, including many film and television enterprises. By chance, I am tasked with finding a once-in-a-century jade, to make it into a shining star of the Milky Way." "So?" The girl tilted her head. "Ahem, so I feel that you, miss, have the talent in this area, and I am curious if you might be interested in our enterprise." "No." Hexia shook her head, finding this guy quite suspicious. "Don''t reject it so quickly..." His voice trailed off as he unnoticeably seated himself, continuing to introduce his enterprise. "Do you know about the currently hot songstress ''White Swan'' Audrey?" "Audrey is indeed a songstress belonging to our enterprise, a true talent with the gift for being a songstress, not some fake merchandise. Miss Audrey just turned 17 and is already a Starshine Level Diva, still in her rising phase..." As he spoke, he unfolded his personal terminal in his hand, which contained a photo of him with the girl in a white dress. However, it seemed the woman named Audrey appeared quite proud and somewhat disdainful of the man beside her. As the man rattled on, Hexia was wondering how to interrupt him when a waiter approached. "Excuse me, are the two of you together?" "Yes, indeed, please bring me a portion of roasted goose, and add some Elves'' clear brew." The man quickly spoke before Hexia could. Seeing that Hexia was about to refuse, he yed his trump card. "I know where Chenxiang Street is, so please be patient, miss." Once their ordered dishes were served, he began to eat immediately, devouring the food as if he hadn''t eaten in days. Hexia slowly savored her wontons and bass slices, sipping hot soup before turning her attention to the man opposite her. "Can you tell me now?" "Oh, have you finally taken an interest in our enterprise, miss? Actually, the benefits we offer are quite exceptional as well..." "Stop, you know what I want to ask, right? If you don''t say it now, I''m leaving." She had eaten enough by now and wasn''t very hungry. "Alright, alright, just a moment, I''ll tell you where Chenxiang Street is." Seeing that Hexia was serious about getting up, he quickly spoke. "Chenxiang Street is located underground in Jielou City, at the heart of the city. It''s said that all the past city masters have lived there, and it''s where the ancestral shrine of the former Sword Guardians of Jielou City is." "Ordinary people don''t go there, so not many know about it. I just happened to hear you asking about it on the street, so I came over to see, and I was struck by your stunning beauty, utterly captivated..." Then he went on rambling again. "How would one get to such a ce?" The girl couldn''t help but ask. She was just an obscure girl with no power or status. "Well, I have a clever n. Please wait until I finish eating, and I will exin everything to you, miss. Oh, by the way, may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" "Hexia." The girl responded crisply, then shook her head. Though the man before her seemed dubious, she didn''t feel any malice from him. Having the talent of a songstress and the boon of a Transcendent Profession, it was rare for anyone to lie in her presence. This was why she remained patient instead of simply turning around and leaving. She decided to question him for now, as he seemed to know a lot. Additionally, if her mother truly came from Chenxiang Street, didn''t that mean her mother was once the kind ofdy whose hands had never touched spring water, and for some reason, she had severed ties with her family? After pondering for a moment and patting therge spider at her feet, Hexia felt a bit more settled. Coming to Jielou City, she had finally grasped a clue. Chapter 143: Chapter 86: The Girl with Snow Sleeves and a Red Skirt ``` Sitting in the hotel room, with a damp world outside the window, the sound of water pouring from the dome formed into sshing miniature waterfalls, washing over the underground streets and buildings. Hexia embraced therge spider, listening to the rain outside the window, then turned her gaze toward the small memory card on the desk beside her, which she had found and bought yesterday with Feng Jianxue in an old movie store in Jielou City. After agreeing to help the young girl search for Chenxiang Street, the two of them visited many ces, continuing their search for a way to enter the Underground Core Zone, and then at dusk when they temporarily parted, Feng Jianxue had purchased this card for the girl in an old shop. Stored inside was the celebratory scene of the "Streaming Fire Festival" from twenty years ago. "Why look for this?" Hexia asked Feng Jianxue with puzzlement at the time. Although he wanted to state some other reasons, under Hexia''s gaze, he eventually decided to reveal some truth. "Hexia, don''t you think that the sword-dancing girl who performed twenty years ago looks really simr to you?" he asked, and after saying that, he handed the memory card to Hexia with a mysteriously. "This card can be viewed in immersive mode as well as yed like a normal video, but I still rmend you experience it immersively." After saying that, he waved goodbye, his departure somewhat more carefreepared to his enthusiastic approach earlier. Latter, Hexia found an immersive theater, rented a private room, and inserted the card. Then, the Phantom Mist Crystal slowly filled the room and took her back to the "Streaming Fire Festival" from twenty years earlier. £¨"The Poems, Bin Feng, July": "In July fire flows, in September clothes bestowed." The location of Mars at dusk in May of the Xia calendar is overhead, while in July it starts moving westward from its zenith. It often refers to the time when the seventh month of the lunar calendar hints at summer''s retreat and the approaching autumn.£© The sun zed overhead in the brilliant blue sky, bathing everything in radiant light. The view descended from the sky, then plunged toward a wilderness dotted with high-roofed buildings. People wearing high hats with red ribbons followed the procession, walking slowly on the grey, deste earth to form a red river. They walked over the dried-up riverbed, over the high bridges between buildings, through tunnels deep underground, and then converged towards the elevated altar tform surrounded by high buildings in the city center. Beside the altar stood Godly Generals in bright armors, and arge incense stick was inserted into the massive cauldron at the center. The sacrificial personnel, as elders, held up silks high in front of them and chanted ancient words of prayer to the heavens; then, the silks caught the wind, ignited, and turned to smoke. And amidst the team conducting the sacrifice, Hexia saw a woman who resembled her closely. She wasn''t old, about 17, dressed in snow-white sleeves, and her underdress was a striking red that attracted people''s attention. Following the steps of her elders one by one, the young girl in white sleeves and red dress proceeded, not looking sideways, exuding a dignified and gorgeous aura. Next came a ritual simr to today''s incense circling of the city. Hexia saw the girl, escorted by the Godly Generals, step into the pnquin covered inyers of red gauze, sit down, and then the pnquin was lifted, moving slowly with the procession. ``` Withinyers of red gauze, a silhouette vaguely appeared, the figure of a young girl hazy, drawing countless residents to worship from afar. This was the grand ritual of praying to the heavens and summoning the gods, and when the girl took her seat in the pnquin, she no longer represented herself but acted as the proxy for themand of the Five Phoenixes. In the distant past, five ''Phoenixes'' brought knowledge and enlightenment to the world and thereby initiated all that came after in the East''s Huazu culture. Thus, the worship of the Five Virtues Phoenixes became prevalent in the world, a tradition that has never ceased and whose incense has never been extinguished. The procession slowly made its way through the city while the girl inside the pnquin sat upright throughout, her posture neither leaning nor tilting. It continued like this untilte into the night, when, having arrived at the ''Traveling Pce Pavilion,'' she was finally able to step out and rest. And this round-the-city tour was tost for three days. Following the recording''s visual perspective, Hexia floated toward the girl sitting in the pnquin and, after a long time, finally saw the face of the girl stepping down from the pnquin up close. Though still somewhat youthful, Hexia could confirm that she was her mother in her younger years. "Mom was so beautiful when she was young," Hexia even felt that she might have been more attractive than Temisia at 17, probably due to a difference in their style of dress. Her long ck hair, silky as satin, was swept up and then coiled into a bun, with a hairpin adorned with beaded flowers on one side and a red-feathered ornament on the other. Under the sunshine, the gems on the hair ornament twinkled subtly, the bright, changingyers of redplementing the jet-ck hair, adding exceptional beauty. When the circumambtion ended, the procession stopped in front of a towering building, where a high tform had already been constructed. Nearly a hundred swordmaids stepped forward, entering both sides of the pnquin to protect it, then two of them carefully assisted the girl in the snow-sleeve red dress out. Slowly, the bell atop the high building began to toll, and the girl in the snow-sleeve red dress walked step by step toward the high tform. Approaching the tform, a swordmaid stepped out from behind her, knelt to the side, and presented an ancient sword she was cradling in her arms. The girl slowly drew the sword, its de shining like autumn waters, bright and clear. At the celebration''s site, surrounded by hundreds of thousands, a hush fell over the crowd as they strained to see that peerlessly graceful girl. Then, the sound of a zither gently began to y, and within the high building, musicians sat on every level in solemn readiness, each holding an instrument, be it zither, flute, harp, pipa, or drum. After a soft prelude, a distant and majestic melody of strings and bamboo instruments started to y, and the atmosphere gradually intensified. Meanwhile, the girl on the tform slowly began to move. Her sword dance was slow but seamless, with no hint of awkwardness. Her wide sleeves fluttered gently against the sky, as if even the air had stilled at that moment. Although it was greatly different from what she remembered, Hexia still recognized it as the swordsmanship her mother had taught her. But at this moment, her mother''s executions bore a contrasting charm, marked by a generous and splendid elegance, even giving off the faint illusion of influencing the flow of magic power around the stage. As the girl in the snow-sleeve red dress danced with her sword, the atmosphere at the site became more and more animated, her body seemingly lighter and lighter, until she gently ''floated'' upward. Indeed, without wings or employing any extra transcendent abilities, the girl lightly touched the ground and her figure leapt up effortlessly, resembling the scene of a Flying Immortal in a mural. It was changes in the environment on the high tform that made this possible; at that moment, if a feather were to fall from above, it too would spin slowly, floating instead of falling. Her form was elegant as if a cinnabar phoenix were spreading its wings, her sleeves fluttering and sword light dazzling. As she danced and brandished her sword, the tips of her toes gradually touched the air, carrying her figure aloft amidst the high buildings, like a phoenix stretching its wings, or a redfish swimming. Atst, the music slowly came to a stop, and the girl also gently descended from the air, standing in ce, her fingertips casually trailing along the sword''s de, and her gaze emerging slowly from behind her sleeves, revealing a dreamlike and splendid beauty. Chapter 144: Chapter 87: Ancient Heritage Just as Hexia was recalling the images she saw yesterday at the hotel, on the other side, Feng Jianxue was using expensive long-distancemunication equipment to talk to someone in the Flying Feather Star Domain. "Little White Swan, I met a really beautiful girl yesterday, you know, that feeling, like an unexplored ck crystal, tranquil and translucent..." Feng Jianxue went on and on, but due to the transmission dy between star domains, it would be about several minutes before the other side could see. Sure enough, not long after, themunication device projected the figure on the other side. "So annoying, and who allowed you to give me nicknames, always trying to irritate me on purpose, right?" The girl with silver-white hair on the other side of the projection answered irritably, seemingly fed up with Feng Jianxue''s way of speaking for a long time, but unable to get away from it. "Did you go bothering people again, I''ve told you so many times, do not mention my name in public, it''s so embarrassing, wandering around all day..." Saying that, the beautiful girl on the other side crossed her arms and began scolding mode, going on a tirade. "Mhm, mhm, mhm, my little sister is still so cute, even when she scolds someone, she''s so charming~" Unfortunately, Feng Jianxue didn''t listen at all, which frustrated the girl on the other side immensely. "Ah, ah, ah, you''re going to drive me crazy sooner orter; okay, let''s not talk about this anymore, who did you meet yesterday?" She rubbed her hair vigorously, and her originally cute and beautiful image suddenly became a bit disheveled, but it also became much more approachable. "Ah, right, right, right, I met a cute girl named Hexia, mhm, really cute, she must be the daughter of Qing Luan''s direct descendant, Gu Yongrong." "Wait, who is Gu Yongrong? Oh, I remember now, I saw the image in the Sword Pce before, but wasn''t there a rumor that she died more than 20 years ago, which even led to a split inside Jielou City, and afterward the ''Godly Generals'' dominated alone?" "I thought so at first too;ing to Jielou City this time was just to confirm whether that sword was still there, and to figure out a way to steal it, since the ''Godly Generals'' didn''t get their hands on the legacy secret technique anyway." "Forget about the ''Godly Generals''; ording toter investigations by the Sword Pce, it''s possible that Gu Yongrong herself didn''t receive the inheritance, she only learned a bit of the basics. The branches of Jielou City lost the inheritance hundreds of years ago, otherwise the Sword Guardians wouldn''t have declined so much that they are nameless." "In the Fifth Epoch, with the chaos of war, the heirs of the various Upper Gates took the ssics and secret techniques to every corner of the star sea to avoid disaster, many of which vanished without a trace, and now the ones that can still be contacted are few and far between." "There used to be some organizations and powers interested in these ssics and secret techniques, but as time developed, it seems that a lot of things have be outdated now, so not many people care anymore." The girl with snow-white hair on the other side shook her head in reflection. Although she herself came from such a lineage family, it''s now hard to take pride in it, more of amemorative significance, perhaps. "Under the battleship cannon, all are equal, sigh~" She made a helpless gesture. "No, Little Mandarin Duck." Feng Jianxue became serious at this point. "It''s true that under the axe of the great ships, individual impact has diminished, but behind this industrial system there always lies an individual. If we can re-explore the past secret techniques and find ways to improve the sess rate of advancement, we can greatly increase the national power of a country. Be it in scientific research, life, or production, it will usher in great innovation ¡ª a powerful force that we cannot simply give up." He shook his head. "Uh, fine, if you say so, big brother, I can''t argue." After that, the girl leaned on the table, looking sideways at Feng Jianxue in the projection. "But, you''re usually so frivolous, you don''t seem like the type to worry about the country and the people." "That''s just the appearance I use to deceive others, while my sincere heart is only shared with a select few." Saying this, Feng Jianxue began to fan himself with the folding fan once more, appearing as if he were the only sober person in a world full of drunks. "Okay, we''ve digressed again. What were we talking about just now? Right, Gu Yongrong''s daughter. Speaking of which, her mother really didn''t tell her anything about the past, huh? I was going to test her initially." Feng Jianxue stroked his chin. "Across the street, over a hundred meters apart, but I saw at a nce that this girl was extraordinary, and sure enough, as expected, she is the descendant of an old acquaintance." "That''s you getting smitten at first sight, tsk." The silver-haired girl opposite of the projection showed her disdain. "But you can''t deny my eye for talent, like radar, never missing those girls with outstanding talents; it''s essential for an excellent Star Seeker." "Wait for a few days, I''ll curry favor with Hexia, then pull her into our group. Since your codename is ''White Swan'', let''s call her ''ck Swan''..." "Stop, stop, stop, you''re thinking way too far ahead. Aren''t you still looking for that ''sword'' of the Qing Luan branch? Besides, the girl hasn''t agreed yet ¡ª what if she thinks you''re really unreliable and rejects you? Honestly, if you weren''t my brother, I would have blocked you by now." The girl opposite vehemently criticized with contempt. "Cough cough, that''s currently in progress, but this Jielou City is really too conservative; it''s indeed difficult for outsiders to blend in." Feng Jianxue shook his head, then suddenly got a new idea. "Maybe, this is how..." ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After lunch, Hexia went to the ce she and Feng Jianxue had agreed to meet yesterday. As for why it was after lunch, naturally, she did not want to have lunch with a certain someone. Beneath the colossal stone lion that stood three to four times the height of a man, Feng Jianxue, d in his moon-white robe, remained strikingly conspicuous. He waved to greet Hexia. "Good afternoon, Miss Hexia," he strode over. "Hello, Mr. Feng Jianxue." The girl took a half step back. "Ahem, Miss Hexia, there''s no need for such wariness. Did you watch that Memory Card from yesterday?" "I did. It seemed I learned a great deal, but it also left me with even more confusion." The girl nodded, then shook her head. "That''s easily said; as long as you keep investigating, everything will eventuallye to light." "By the way, the ''Godly Generals'' will finish circling the city today. Tomorrow, they will perform a sword dance in front of the Chi Lou. Would you be interested in joining me to watch it, Hexia?" "There''s a sword dance this year, too." Hexia thought about it and finally nodded, wanting to go and see. "Then it''s a deal, hehe." Feng Jianxue shook his folding fan. "I wonder if you''ve ever learned about some of the legends from The East, Miss Hexia." "I only know about the legend of the Phoenix of the Five Virtues. I''m not familiar with the rest." "Knowing about the Phoenix of the Five Virtues is quite enough. In Ancient Times, the era of enlightenment and prosperity was ushered in by five phoenixes, and their influence has continued unbroken to this very day. Jielou City is also a sessor of one of those lineages," he continued to exin. "Just as there are now many giant corporations renowned throughout Gxy Universe, back then, Eastern cultivators also had their organizations and factions. Among the most powerful were the Thirty-Six Upper Sects and Seventy-Two Factions." "After entering the age of the stars, these Upper Gates gradually moved into Gxy Universe to pioneer, establishing sects and organizations in various Star Domains, once influencing every corner." "However, during the wars and cmities of the Fifth Epoch, many factions were destroyed. Only a few had members who fled with scriptures and lineages, and many such refugees were absorbed by the Rose Federation." "You mention all this..." The girl had some guesses. "That''s right, Hexia, your mother was indeed a direct descendant of one such lineage, and she was one who kept the past spirit alive." "No, my mother didn''t inherit those things." Hexia knew clearly; while her mother practiced the Transcendent Sequence, the methods were not unique, and she would not keep secrets from her. "Ahem, well, perhaps the lineage had been broken, after all. With hundreds, thousands of years passed, such things are often beyond help." "Actually, based on my investigation, it''s possible your mother had some conflict with your uncle. Your mother inherited the ''Sword Guardian'' lineage, while your uncle took up the ''Godly General'' lineage." "Originally, in the past, it was a primary-secondary configuration, where the Sword was the main and the Godly Generals were the auxiliary. Butter on, the ''Sword Guardian'' lineage was lost, resulting in its decline, and now the ''Godly General'' lineage reigns supreme." "Does that mean, my uncle is still alive?" the girl asked curiously. "He is alive, and it''s very possible that he''s the hidden ruler behind Jielou City. But, well... he may not be that easy to get along with. I don''t know the specifics of what happened back then, but your mother definitely had a fight with him before she left Jielou City," he said with a certain conviction. "If you really want to understand the past, you could indeed seek him out. But what happens afterwards might not be so easy," Feng Jianxue shook his head. "Would he kill me?" Hexia was puzzled. "Probably not. Although there''s a great conflict with your aunt, he probably wouldn''t go as far as to kill you, since you''re also his rtive. But, well, you might end up having to stay in Jielou City and not leave again." "He might, in order to appease the elders of Jielou City and to retain certain things, ce you in your mother''s former position. And I expect in a few years, he might even arrange a marriage for you," Feng Jianxue shook his head, indicating that this would not be good. "Ah, I see." Hexia had been somewhat happy to learn she still had living rtives, but her mood soon fell. "Let''s not talk about that now. Tomorrow we''ll go and see the sword dance. I don''t know how they''ve arranged it this year, but no matter what, ever since your mother left, Jielou City''s sword dance has been declining year after year." That afternoon, after a long conversation, they parted ways - Hexia went to Jielou City''s library or ces that sold old books and old film Memory Cards to search for more information about the past. Meanwhile, Feng Jianxue started on some of his ns and actions. Chapter 145: Chapter 88: The Ten Swords of Black Sun The next day, Hexia arrived at the observation deck in front of the red building along with the many tourists; Feng Jianxue also stood not far away. Rather than calling it an observation deck, it was more like a tform left behind after pushing down the originally abandoned buildings. In the gaze of hundreds of thousands of spectators, the procession of the "Godly Generals" slowly made their way toward the high tform, after which the sedan, broad as a carriage, was also slowly lowered. Unlike twenty years ago, there was no one sitting inside; perhaps no suitable candidate could be found nowadays, and having an ordinary girl sit within would be like painting a dragon and carving a phoenix - out of ce. So, they simply left it empty and reced it with a masked statue of a goddess. Once everything was settled, one by one, women dressed in red ascended the tform from all sides; their faces veiled with light gauze, they held Ancient Swords, their figures graceful. Although the pageantry was not weak, the multitude of people caused it to lose its original otherworldly and sacred charm, degenerating into something akin to the performances of some singers and dancers. Fortunately, most of the audience had not been aware of this beforehand, and still found it fresh and interesting to watch. The music from the red building began to y,yering string and piano melodies one above the other, as if celestial tunes passed down through the ages. In this aspect, Jielou City had indeed preserved much of its heritage; there wasn''t much difference from the past, and the moving music gradually covered the deficiencies of the sword dance, eventually reaching a state where one could watch without being brought out of the experience. Gradually, everyone immersed themselves in this melodious and ancient ceremony. Hexia, holding therge spider, was among them, her gaze asionally sweeping over the red-d sword dancers. Their Swordsmanship was essentially the same as her mother''s, but they had not received any additional inheritance; they merely went through the motions. Because they needed to maintain uniformity, some of the spontaneity was lost, but the lively scene masked these details. Just when Hexia thought the sword dance ceremony would end smoothly, a series of rapid rm sounds suddenly rang out within Jielou City, followed by the sound of gunfire and explosions in the distance. What is this? She turned her head in surprise and saw smoke rising from a corner of the city; several Autonomous Units were swiftly moving on the streets and city walls, firing continuously at fleeing figures. Although old in design, these Autonomous Units were undoubtedly part of Jielou City''s defensive and public order forces, managed by Jielou City officials. Seeing suchmotion, the audience inside gradually became restless; some began to worry, others were curious, and some tried to push their way out to see what was happening. The originally orderly crowd of hundreds of thousands slowly became noisy, and the situation looked like it was about to spiral out of control, potentially leading to a serious stampede. But then the music from the red building abruptly ceased, reced by the long tolling of a bell. Dong¡ªDong¡ªDong¡ª The bell sound once again drew everyone''s attention. At this moment,ntern-like Autonomous Units started rotating up from the red building, flying towards all directions. Thesenterns reached above the crowd, screens on their sides disying different numbers, then redsers shot out from below, separating the crowd and giving directions. "Please leave the venue in an orderly manner ording to the different sections you belong to. In the interest of all visitors'' safety, this year''s ze Festival celebration will be suspended for half a day and will resume tomorrow. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and Jielou City will offer a small gift to each guest aspensation," Jielou City officials quickly had a response in ce. Hexia stroked the somewhat restlessrge spider in her arms and began to walk out along with the other tourists. Feng Jianxue, who had been by her side earlier, was now nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, on the fifth level underground of Jielou City. Rows of bronze-colored single-wheeled robots moved swiftly. They were Autonomous Units under themand of Jielou City''s management AI, used for riot control and maintaining public order. Due to budgetary constraints, these robots typically only stationed at a few critical nodes and were only activated when needed. "Pretty quick response there," remarked a ck-d priest holding a submachine gun, leaning on a corner of the underground street, firing continuously at the iing Autonomous Units. Ratatat¡ª A session of bullets were fired, creating a relentless me in front of the gun barrel, striking those Autonomous Units and producing a tinny cacophony. Most bullets failed to prate, but a few that hit the vulnerable joints caused sparks to fly from the single-wheeled robots, rendering them on the verge of destruction. Faced with the sudden attack from both sides of the street, the Autonomous Units raised their gun-barrel arms and began to fight back. The camera and scanner at the center of the Autonomous Units rotated constantly, and streaks of red dots moved along both sides of the street, followed by a series of bullet holes appearing. "Hey, try this on for size," said a lean man in ck as he threw a grenade, which suddenly exploded. A mass of metal wires burst from the grenade, entangling the charging Autonomous Units. A surge of electricity and light shed by, causing an instant short-circuit, while the tough metal wires also sent the robots tumbling into garbage cans and debris along the roadside. "OK, that''s dealt with." "These are just some outdated things, let''s go. Not sure if nc and the rest have managed to break in yet," said the two ck-d priests, hoisting their weapons and mounting a hover motorcycle parked nearby, driving towards the site in Jielou City where the explosion had urred. And after they had departed, those Autonomous Robots lying to the side were still struggling to move, with their front screens disying symbols such as [Fei Lian-315-Riot Control]. After the explosions and crossfire, the powers within Jielou City were now alerted, and though most were restricted to the surface venue due to the festival ceremony, the core depths underground still retained considerable defenses. Bang¡ª Another loud st, and the vermillion steel gate in front was blown open with a hole as more than a dozen people d in ck Monk''s Robes, wielding various weapons, rapidly crawled in. "Who goes there!" Behind the red gates, about ten ''Godly Generals'' suddenly stood up, their faces painted blue and red and attired in bright, colorful Armor, with footsteps tread in cloud boots. The circling activities of the past few days had greatly exhausted the affiliated ''Godly Generals'', so they would asionally rotate out to rest and stand guard here. "Tsk, we''ve encountered them." The lean priest in the lead wearing sunsses seemed a bit displeased; he lifted the heavy machine gun in his hand and began firing. Blue mes shot out rapidly, and the bullets rained down like a storm. The several ''Godly Generals'' in front were directly turned into sieves, blood spurting endlessly while the ''Godly Generals'' behind reacted. "Form the formation!" "Hah!" They grouped in several, their steps peculiar, and soon after, their breathing connected, the paint and tattoos on their bodies emitting an unusual glow, as if they hade alive. "The revered one strikes down evil, misery spreads without end!" Wieldingrge swords and Long Halberds, these ''Godly Generals'' charged at these invading foes. Their painted ghostly faces turned fiercely toward the enemy, the coloring bleeding out as if imprinting onto the foe, causing the several ck-d priests in front to halt their movements, their bodies stiffening. Though the processsted only 1-2 seconds, such a gap was enough for the cold des to swing down. The cold gleam of the des streaked by, trails of blood sttered, two ck-d priests immediately beheaded and bisected, while another was cleaved diagonally in two. "Tsk!" The leader dodged a thrusting spear tip, frowning deeply, then signaled to the people behind. There was another burst of machine-gun fire, this time they didn''t care about possibly injuring their teammates up front. Despite the formidable power of the firearms, the fight was no longer as one-sided as before. The seemingly decorative, colorful Armor, once blessed with a secret technique, became as tough as real refined iron, emitting a ng ng as it deflected bullets. Only after dozens of bullets, the protectiveyers were finally exhausted and prated, bringing forth sprays of blood. Both sides battled in this corridor for minutes until thest ''Godly General'', unwilling to yield, slowly knelt down, leaning on his Long Halberd, his body already full of bullet holes, with blood flowing on the ground. Passing the body of this ''Godly General'', the remaining ck-d priests continued to advance, apparently well-prepared and thoroughly familiar with the route. After passing this barrier, they faced the vertical elevator leading directly to the core bottom level. But they wouldn''t take the elevator; instead, they blew it up, cut off the elevator car causing it to fall, then using ropes, they slid directly down. Along the way, they were continuously obstructed by Autonomous Unit Robots from variousyers, constantly exchanging gunfire. After sustaining some casualties, these ck-d individuals finally reached the ground, where they faced two massive doors tightly closed in front of them. The doors were about ten meters high, as if made for giants or colossal beasts, and the doors were emzoned with huge and ferocious figures of two ''Godly Generals,'' their sashes fluttering, arrayed in majestic Armor, one with a dark red painted face holding a long sword, the other with a pale green face wielding twin maces. These two ''Godly Generals'' red menacingly, their golden bronze eyeballs turning slowly, emitting scanningsers, as if they coulde to life at any moment. "Finally, we''ve arrived. This must be the legendary city protecting the Divine Sword, Jielou City, right? I''ve heard there''s only one main street inside. Passing through Chen Xiang Street leads to the Ancestral Shrine where the Divine Sword is enshrined, but... that''s not our target today." The leading priest whistled softly, eyeing the two ''Colossal Spirit Godly Generals'' slowly rising to their feet and stepping down from the city gate. "Still, have to deal with you first." He pulled out a pitch-ck sword hilt from his chest, and the nine ck-d priests behind him did the same. Ten pitch-ck ze Lightsabers slowly rose, hissing as they scorched the air, the priests forming a circle like a burning ck Sun. Chapter 146: Chapter 89: Confirming Cooperation "Please, all passengers move to the left and enter the evacuation channel," the floatingntern unit hanging in the air continuously broadcasted, with redsers shooting from underneath, drawing a broad fan-shaped area pointing in the direction of travel. Hexia also moved step by step among the crowd. She looked around, but at this moment could not find any trace of Feng Jianxue; the man seemed to have vanished all of a sudden. Just as she was about to follow the other passengers into the diversion elevator and leave the venue, a staff member maintaining order next to her suddenly spoke to her in a low voice. "Go to the front, the third pir from here, then turn right, hide behind it, and I''ll meet you there," the staff member said to Hexia with a mysterious smile and a wink. Recognizing the familiar voice, Hexia immediately realized it was Feng Jianxue. When had he blended into the staff? She followed Feng Jianxue''s instructions, continuing forward, then she stepped and turned near the pir to find herself hidden behind it. At that moment, the underground passage lights flickered and then went out, plunging the entire corridor into chaos. It was then that Hexia saw Feng Jianxue hurriedly approaching in the darkness, grabbing her hand, and leading her into an adjacent service elevator that wasn''t in use. Soon after, the elevator doors closed and descended directly, quickly bringing silence around them. Two minutester, Feng Jianxue and Hexia stepped out from the elevator onto a tform on the third underground level, where they could see the distant residential area and streets through the thick ss. "Once we''re in here, it''s going to be easy," he said lightly, then took out his personal terminal to continue nning their next steps. "Where are we going?" "We''re heading to the core area beneath Jielou City, of course. Hexia, don''t you want to know about your mother? Everything will be clear once we get there." "Isn''t that too risky, though?" the girl knew well about the past, but she had never dared such bold actions before¡ªtrespassing in ces forbidden and under threat of attack. "No, no, this is precisely the safest time because Jielou City''s forces are distracted by the priests. We''ll slip through unnoticed in the confusion; no one will pay attention to us." "Priests?" The girl encountered a new term. "They''re forces from Sun Burning City, one of only three hubs in the Northern Second District, along with Jielou City and Withered Tree Garden. These three ces are home to arge poption of the Northern Second District; few live elsewhere." "Their arrival this time is presumably because they''ve caught wind of something hidden in Jielou City, so they took advantage of the festival celebrations, when most of Jielou City''s forces are concentrated on the surface, to stage their attack." "How do you know so much?" "Secrets¡ªbeing a Star Seeker means staying well-informed," Feng Jianxue said with a wave of his finger, an air of pride in his expression. "Won''t we be attacked sneaking in like this?" Hexia was still a good child, unustomed to such deeds. "If we''re attacked, that can''t be helped, can it? Don''t you want to obtain what your mother left behind, or to fulfill her regrets?" "Regrets?" Hexia didn''t know what regrets her mother had in Jielou City. "Yes, your mother was a direct descendant of the ''Sword Guardians'' of Jielou City, but now what they were protecting has been seized by the ''Godly Generals.'' However, these stubborn old fools seem not to understand its value and haven''t properly utilized it," Feng Jianxue said, looking deeply disappointed at the waste. "It seems you still have a lot you haven''t told me," the girl thought over many things in her heart. Although he had no ill intent, he was indeed using her after all. Seeing that Hexia remained cool and collected, Feng Jianxue knew he couldn''t hide it anymore and decided to be upfront. "Yes, I want to find the Sword protected by the ''Sword Guardians,'' but it''s not only heavily guarded, there might also be some ancient seals. That''s why I need your help, Hexia." "Because you are the daughter of thest ''Sword Cleanser,'' Gu Yongrong, you carry her bloodline, and as long as they haven''t officially reced the ''Sword Cleanser,'' those restrictions won''t affect you. Moreover, even if they do rece them, it will certainly be a rtive of your uncle, sharing a blood rtion with you, so they won''t reject you," "Although the current ''Sword Guardians'' have lost their inheritance, as long as that sword still exists, we have a way to extract the arcane codex inscribed within it and revive its glory." Feng Jianxue openly revealed his goals and ns, step by step. After listening to the other party, Hexia didn''t let herself be swayed by the temptation; she shook her head slightly. "Although what you say sounds good, I see no need to take such a risk with you. My life is just beginning, and there are many ways for me to acquire the codices and secret techniques for cultivation. Moreover, even my mother never learned the secret techniques, so what makes you so confident you can extract them now?" "Jielou City may be backward, but it isn''tpletely cut off from the outside world. As an organization, they would be very sensitive to such technology or news. If it existed, they would likely have attempted it already." Seeing how calmly the girl with grey hair and dark eyes analyzed the situation, Feng Jianxue felt he had encountered a rare nemesis and was momentarily at a loss for words. "Then how about I throw in an additional signed photo of Miss ''White Swan'' Audrey, a close-up shot of her in refreshing swimwear? These are priceless in the Flying Feather Star Domain right now." Seeing Hexia''s eyes widen and take a small step back, Feng Jianxue had no choice but to offer another olive branch, "Ahem, then how about this, Miss Hexia, is there something you desire, or some kind of help you need? We could exchange it for that, what do you say?" "I don''t have anything particr in mind, nor do I..." Suddenly, she stopped herself. Actually, that was not true; there were many things she wanted to know, whether it was her father''s whereabouts, her sister''s experiences, or what drove her to suicide. She wanted to uncover the truth, but she was sorelycking in the information department. "I do have some things I want to know, but how can you guarantee that you''ll keep your promise in the future?" Hexia looked up at the man in front of her. "Not many know my name, but many should recognize the name ''White Swan'' Audrey, right?" He had an idea, and this man didn''t show any reluctance in using his sister to his advantage. "This..." Hexia began to search using her personal terminal. Indeed, as he imed, ''White Swan'' Audrey was a rising star songstress in the Flying Feather Star Domain, even officially endorsed by the local government. She could even see several posts about the 17-year-old girl attending formal star domain ceremonies. "I''m her older brother and her agent; this can be verified on the official website." Feng Jianxue showed her a set of encrypted codes that, once scanned and reconciled with the official website, would confirm his identity. After a check, Hexia confirmed that the man''s identity was genuine, but she was still surprised and taken aback. She initially thought Feng Jianxue was just masquerading, but it turned out to be true. Seeing that the girl believed him, Feng Jianxue nodded in satisfaction, then quickly pulled out several photos of ''White Swan'' Audrey in a bikini. The images showed the silver-haired girl strolling by the seaside and sitting in a swim ring in the water, her skin fair, and her figure, though young, seemed to possess a charm that appealed to a certain crowd. "How about that? Although Hexia might not be interested, these could sell for a high price online. Moreover, I can add a special mark on the back to denote its genuine code and certification, ensuring it has a high collection value." "I''ll take this as a down payment. Plus, you can make a simple recording. Whatever I promise is also promised by Audrey; I''ll never go back on it in the future." "Er, alright then." Hexia resignedly massaged her forehead. Although she believed his identity was true, his demeanor still made it hard for her to feel at ease. "Heh, then let''s agree on that for now." Feng Jianxue handed the photos to Hexia, then brought up the structure of Jielou City''s underground on his personal terminal. "The ce we need to go is ''Jiuliu City,'' on the lowest level, and getting there we need to face three checkpoints..." He exined meticulously. Once Hexia nodded her understanding, he put everything away. "Actually, Hexia, you needn''t worry too much. Even if you''re discovered and captured, as long as you reveal your identity in time, they definitely won''t dare to harm you." "You are her daughter, and you have every right to take back certain things. Morally, there''s no issue. The older generation inside Jielou City won''t have anything to say about it. It''s just the younger ones who don''t understand that might try to stop you." "I got it, no need to go on," Hexia shook her head, realizing that the man across from her was quite the talker. "Then let''s get moving." With their goal and n in ce, the two stepped into the elevator again, heading deep underground to the very depths of the city. Chapter 160: Chapter 98: The Dark Picture Book The train slowly started on the tracks, countless raindrops fell from the sky, striking the window, sshing beads of water, forming streams that blurred the view. The cold wind blew the curtains, bringing in the damp mist from outside. On the grey-d earth, a line of vehicles, like tiny ants, moved across the vastness. Cloaked in raincoats, holding umbres, people continually moved old things onto trucks during the rainy season, while others stood in the rain, staring nkly at the ruins of the city through the curtain of rain, bidding their final farewell. The train kept moving, faster and faster, and everything in sight gradually receded, bing more and more indistinct until it was no longer visible. Leaning against the window, Hexia quickly wrote ck letters on yellowing pages with her pen, stories depicting ancient legends. In the stories, those people, the ancient refugees who lost their homnds, had crossed the dark and empty universe toe to a brand-new world. They came for asylum and finally found a ce to live in this remotend. Small pavilions stood on deste hills, surrounded by no signs of human life, only deste grasnds and wilderness. asionally, wind fishes rode the cold currents from the north, crossing the sky. Silver wind fishes in clear weather would refract shimmering scale-light, and when they encountered moist air currents, water droplets would condense on their surfaces and fall, forming continuous curtains of rain. Wind fishes are Transcendent creatures that love rain. In such seasons, they y and shuttle through the rainwater, touring the sky as if they were in an underwater world. Gradually, more and more people lived here, and the small pavilions turned into tall buildings built along the mountains. They kept expanding, with some skyscrapers reaching into the clouds. During the rain, one could sit by the window sill and watch the Silver Scale wind fishes swimming past outside. In mid-July, the heatwave of summer slowly subsided, and the liveliest festival in the city arrived. Children, holding hands with adults, walked among the pce-like buildings, watching performances along the street: generals in bright armors, dancing girls waving long sleeves, and poets ying the lute, recounting stories. Tall buildings and pces radiated colorful lights at night, illuminating the dark sky. Flights of aircraft shuttled between these ancient and advancedyers of buildings, as bustling as thousands of birds. Although it was an age of advanced technology, people still cherished the customs of the past, passing them down from generation to generation. However, the tide of time also slowly swept over this remote corner of Star Domain. A prolonged civil war broke out, with an ever-increasing demand for military industries. Countless migrants moved from various parts of the federation, and numerous giant corporations also sent many technicians to this remote to help establish Underground Cities. Mines were opened, and the roaring of machines like giant beasts resounded day and night. These industrial giants were like the steel backbone of the federation, and under their support, one after another Sun-ss space warship took off, soaring into the vast universe. Their azure trails, like rising stars, eclipsed the day, no matter how many suns there were in the sky. Dark raindrops fell from the sky, and birds drowned in the murky waters. Wind fishes no longer visited this city; skyscrapers stood solitary in the rain, and no one was seen on the streets anymore. The decades-long brutal civil war finally ended, and reform relentlessly advanced throughout the federation. Numerous officials and nobles were sent to the execution grounds, and one after another, once-renowned giant corporations fell. After finally clearing these internal abscesses, the federation slowly weed a rebirth. Gradually, the industrial giants on this also came to a halt, the once-ubiquitous industrial groups gradually withdrew, and some buildings left toote or unable to be moved were exposed to the rain, slowly turning into ruins full of wreckage, regrettable yet inevitable. In the undting tide of the era, a city, a, and even a nation or a civilization seemed so insignificant, stirring feelings of wandering and helplessness. All that had passed was gone; grievances, iprehension, doubts, and pessimism, various emotions emerged between the lines of the story. The remaining residents guarded in these increasingly cold high-rises, watching as the deserted ruins spread slowly, until the roof tiles copsed, revealing corroded beams that once bore the backbone of the structure. Far from the azure sky, falling into the pitch-ck ruins of the underground, the residents who refused to leave wandered through these ancient and stagnant floors, and the struggle began anew with each passing day. The yellowed edges of the pages were dampened by the rain drifting in from the window, making some of the words blurred. Although it hindered reading, it also lent an air of mncholy and the sense of time''s depreciation to the story. As she neared the end, the young girl''s writing slowed, and her pauses grew longer. She pondered how to conclude such a tale. Was it merely a sad story telling of history, just a mncholic legend mourning what was no more, could there be a happy ending, could it still give people hope... "In the end, they stood in the pouring rain, letting the cold rain wash over them, and aboard the rocking and jolting vehicle, they slowly left that ce," "Without the sorrow of parting, without the relief of release, just such a in forgetting." "Not everything is worth remembering, nor does all in memory need to be beautified; perhaps forgetting is the best sce, and they will build a small pavilion on a new hillock." "That pavilion will gradually rise higher, and their children will happily frolic within it, not remembering the distressing past, not burdening their children with heavy loads, letting them grow up happy and free, no longer vexed by the past''s array of troubles." "May we all break free from the shadows of the past and start anew," the writing slowly came to a halt here. Hexia put down her pen, sitting by the window and gazing out at the world through the curtain of rain, no longer able to see the distant tiny dot of the city. Closing the yellowed notebook, she stared at the still nk page for a long time before Hexia finally wrote one more line. ''Birds drowned in ck rain¡ªmemories in the tower of a thousand sails.'' This was her seven-colored picture book, as well as the pitch-ck memories of her past. Though her mother, sister, and father had all walked through her life, in the end, they turned into dark sediments, buried deep in her memories. She would remember many words and scenes, and also forget the sorrow and sadness, no longer lingering in this ck curtain of rain. From now on, she would no longer obsess over seeking those past events and memories. Let her immature self tightly seal them in the distant past; perhaps many yearster, she would reopen this notebook, flipping through the blurred and wetted script. Life is still long, and new pages will gradually unfold. Chapter 148: Chapter 91: The Resounding Fame "Something has happened to Juliu City." In the center of the venue, on the tall Red Tower, a man dressed in ck and wearing a metal mask gazed out the window. A special beam of light prated the bottom floor, rising. It was the highest warning. If this had happened in the distant past, the region for hundreds of miles around would have entered a state of alert, and the surrounding checkpoints would have started to block off. "Sun Burning City, huh? Only they would do something like this. It seems they have discovered the ''Loach'' hidden in Juliu City." "Two years ago, the T2-level AI manager ''ck Moon'' of Sun Burning City reached its system limit and self-destructed. Since then, the various facilities within Sun Burning City gradually spiraled out of control, the Aijieka Particles interfering with each other and affecting everything. The entire region entered a state of decay, and this time, they are likely intending to steal our Jielou City''s hidden T2-level AI ''Loach'' to repair the management system of Sun Burning City," said an old man standing beside the man in ck, bowing his head in response. Now, every city within the Federation was equipped with T2-level super AIs. They received information from all aspects of the city, processed it, and made optimizations. This greatly improved the efficiency of transportation, industry, life, and all other aspects within the city. It was an indispensable part of modern life. The Northern Second District was a special case; they were in a semi-autonomous state. The government of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain had also stated that they would not supply any new T2-level AI main brains to the Northern Second District, thereby urging its residents to move out as soon as possible. However, the remaining three main cities in the Northern Second District were still persevering with the old T2-level AIs from their cities, notplying with the suggestions of the Star Domain government. "Bring up the imagery," the manmanded, looking down at the meeting ce below, which was slowly dispersing. His sword scabbard struck the floor with a sound. "Yes, Your Honor." The guards unrolled arge scroll, which revealed the situation in the Underground Core Zone. The vanguard ck-robed priests were battling with the ''Giant Spirit Generals.'' ck feathers fluttered, and the zing ze Lightsabers gradually dismembered the ''Giant Spirit Generals.'' However, during this time, they also lost four people; some were scorched by the ''Giant Spirit General''s'' flowing blue-green electric fire des, while others were directly smashed by the swinging arms and fell to the ground. "They are merely fighting the inevitable, a cornered beast''s struggle. This is Sun Burning City''sst stand," said the man in the mask, watching the scene with a calm andposed voice. "How pitiable, it evokes a sense of sorrow for one''s kin." Although Jielou City could still hold on for now, how long could such a situationst? "After the two Giant Spirit Generals fall, let the ''Godly Generals'' remaining in the city take action." "Yes, Your Honor." The reason they didn''t take action now was that the AI controlling the Giant Spirit Generals was a quite outdated model. Its friend-foe recognition and differentiation in attacking were not good, leading to a risk of friendly fire. In the Underground Core Zone, the small car drove straight for a while before stopping at a corner of the pceplex. Regardless, continuing forward would be too conspicuous and dangerous, and there was a high risk of being identally injured. "The battle has already started up ahead; let''s detour from the side," suggested Feng Jianxue, watching the battle unfolding in the distance. "Does Mr. Feng Jianxue know the way in from the side?" Hexia asked, lifting therge spider and looking towards the distance before the window grill. "It''s different from the outer checkpoint. I am more familiar with the structure and the seals inside," Feng Jianxue exined. "Because Ie from such a heritage family, I have many connections with your ancestors. And the technology of the Forbidden City that safeguards Divine Swords is uniform, having been summarized and refined by people from a thousand years ago." "There may have been individual improvements over time, but the overall situation won''t differ much. Follow me," he said, then started moving. "Mhm," Hexia nodded, nced at the battling city gate, and trailed her fingertips over the window sill, leaving behind a bit of faint blue crystal powder. As they traversed the pceplex, they saw more Jielou City guards grabbing their weapons and heading towards the battlefield; ''Godly Generals'' guarded some key entrances and exits. Fortunately, the two changed into the attire of the supporting guards and passed through the crowd with ease. After all, both had East Asian ancestry, and there was nothing unusual about their facial features or ents, which were hard for outsiders to imitate. Following the stream of people, they arrived near the front lines. Gunfire and sparks were everywhere; Hexia even saw a dark-gold Dragon Head Cannon being slowly pushed up a slope. The dragon''s head was raised high, its eyes and gaping mouth emitting bright halos of light. After fiercely inhaling the Aijieka Particles from the surrounding air into its core, the cannon, through the magic conversion patterns, created a boiling and highly destructive Magic Power. Mixed with the particle flow stimted by the internal crystals, it fired simultaneously, forming an intense gold-red beam. With one st, five ck-robed priests were reduced to ash, leaving pitch-ck pockmarks burned into the wall of the Forbidden City behind them. With less than twenty ck-robed priests left on the battlefield, the sound of whirring propellers came from the sky as Sun Burning City''sst batch of reinforcements arrived; there were about sixteen of them. Holding onto the handles of rotary-wing drones with one hand, and carrying long rocketunchers in the other, they aimed at the guards outside the Forbidden City and fired. The fiery trails tore through the sky, exploding amongst the crowds, and also destroyed the Dragon Head Cannon which had just been fired. "Charge!" As the Giant Spirit Generals slowly toppled, no longer able to block the city gate, the ck-robed priests, with their remainingpanions, fiercely rushed towards the broken entrance and leapt in. Even though enemies entered, the guards outside the city hesitated to recklessly charge into the Forbidden City because, ording to the rules, only the Godly Generals and Sword Guardians could enter this city. "Stand down for now and guard the perimeter; in the narrow confines of the city, more people doesn''t necessarily mean better," a leading figure stepped forward, and under hismand, the several hundred guards who had rushed to provide support stopped in their tracks and reorganized their defenses in front of the city gate. While they began to clean up the battlefield and remain alert for any support from Sun Burning City, Feng Jianxue, apanied by Hexia, zigzagged through a stretch of crimson bamboo forest and arrived at a side door on the other side of the Forbidden City. "Wait a moment, I''ll check," Feng Jianxue said, even though he knew the way to bypass the protections, he decided to take out that hacker chip again just to be safe. A few minutester, he set down his personal terminal, gave a hand signal to Hexia, and then pressed against the pale blue riveted door. With a stream of faint blue magic power flowing in, the door slowly lifted. "Quick, we don''t have much time, just grab the stuff and get out," Feng Jianxue urged Hexia, then he dashed into the door. Moving like a shadow, he was here one moment and several hundred meters away the next, leaving Hexia unable to keep up. Fortunately, this side door had been sealed for a long time and there weren''t any guards nearby. The few security cameras and Autonomous Units there had already been taken care of by Feng Jianxue beforehand, allowing Hexia to simply walk through. Deep underground, the lighting was not bright, and the Forbidden City cloaked in red mist had a quiet unlike that of the outside world. It seemed that few residents lived here, with only a few spots where Hexia needed to avoid in advance. Gradually, as they delved deeper, the surroundings became quieter, and Hexia could no longer see Feng Jianxue. She only relied on the small locator he had left behind to confirm the general direction and distance. If there were any points of interest along the way, Feng Jianxue would only speak up to alert her through the earpiece. On the main street at the other side, about a hundred ''Godly Generals'' d in Golden Copper Bright Armor and wielding specially crafted Transcendent des stood on both sides of the streets. They advanced in formation, their presence thunderous, charging directly at those ck-robed priests who had infiltrated the Forbidden City. Compared to the ''Godly Generals'' outside, these stationed here were much more elite and official, donning not the so-called ceremonial Five-colored Armor, but Ancient Armor that held true significance inbat. The weapons in their hands were also special des forged from transcendent materials. Rat-tat-tat¡ª A series of machine-gun bullets shot at these ''Godly Generals'', resulting only in tiny sparks sttering off the Mountain Pattern Scale Armor, and then the ''Godly Generals'' let out a collective shout. The green and red masks on their faces bled with colors, immediately rendering the front row ck-robed priests as if they were struck by lightning, their bodies stiffening before being hacked to pieces. "Damn!" Seeing that their firearms were ineffective, the leading ck-robed priest tossed his aside and took out a special ck spike from his waist. "The beauty of pain¡­" Concentrating, he muttered as he inserted the ck spike into the bone in his own chest. Only in this way could they resist the ''Godly Generals'''' Suppressing Divine Technique. Soon after, hisrades also set down their firearms, converged forward, and lined up to extract special ck spikes, then uniformly pushed them into their own breastbones. An excruciating pain that pierced to the marrow hit them instantly, yet their spirits were jolted; the previously stiffened thoughts and souls broke through the suppression once more, bing active and excited. "Only pain is this real¡­" Chanting the motto of the Angels of Pain, these ck-robed priests once again drew their Light Sabers to battle with the ''Godly Generals''. "Heh, did you really think you''re the only ones who could rely on external help?" the leading painted-facedmander scoffed and sneered as he watched the priests with Light Sabers. With one hand, he opened up his armor to reveal his exceedingly strong arms and muscles. These muscles, however, were painted with special blue pigments and were inteced with golden threads. These golden threads were a type of biomechanical imnt that could strengthen an individual''s power and quickly transfer more energy to all muscles, allowing those with the imnts to tear apart steel and tanks. Under the leadership of thismander, the hundred ''Godly Generals'' also promptly stripped off their cumbersome Golden Copper Armor, revealing arms and chests covered with green and red patterns. The previous armor not only failed to block the swing of Light Sabers but also greatly hindered their agility. "For heaven to strike down evil, grant us the inexorable might of the Heavenly Soldier Generals!" As they bellowed in unison, golden light suddenly burst from their pupils, and the golden patterns on their bodies seemed toe alive, resembling ghostly faces with divine eyes, as faint smoke drifted up. At the same time, the Aijieka Particles in the surrounding space slowed down, continuously being absorbed into the intricate patterns on their surfaces and transformed into a unique magic power. Waves of surging magic power kicked up a gentle breeze on the street. As these hundred fierce warriors roared and marched forward, it was like the rumbling of thunder, causing the ck-robed priests'' Light Sabers to dim, their ck mes trembling on the verge of extinguishment. Golden Divine Electricity wound around the des, and with each strike, it was like a thunderbolt, the golden electricity overflowing and fierce sparks exploding. Wherever these ''Godly Generals'' went, the enemy was cut down, torn apart, turning into charred chunks. In just half a minute, not a single ck-robed priest left alive could be seen in the Forbidden City. They were like heavenly warriors, their prowess awe-inspiring. Chapter 149: Chapter 92: The Apprentice Outdoes the Master In the vermilion Forbidden City, Feng Jianxue was swiftly weaving through buildings, asionally dodging patrolling squads and leaving behind markers for Hexia to follow. He knew the general location of the Divine Sword, but the guards along the way were a trouble indeed. This is bad, the sounds over there have stopped, has the battle ended so quickly? Feng Jianxue felt the pressure mounting slowly. At that moment, another team of guards passed by, apanied by several floating Autonomous Units scanning back and forth. Seeing such an arrangement, Feng Jianxue couldn''t help but shrink back, temporarily standing in a corner, not daring to make any hasty moves, while trying to suppress his body heat to lower his apparent temperature and avoid detection. Fortunately, many things in Jielou City were rather outdated. If there were new scanning detectors from the Federation, even walls would not prevent detection. Meanwhile, as Feng Jianxue ran into trouble and was stuck there for the time being, Hexia, on the other side, also encountered some problems. "You are the Second Miss, aren''t you, aren''t you, aren''t you..." In front of her, a short old man was excited, arms raised high as if about to shout something in joy. She was following the marks left by Feng Jianxue, but as she passed by a secluded pavilion, a shadow suddenly jumped out, blocking her path. "I don''t know who the Second Miss you speak of is, but it''s possible she could be my mother." With no one else rushing over, Hexia breathed a sigh of relief and thought about how to calm the person in front of her. "Mother? Could it be that the Second Miss had a child outside, how could this be, such a beautiful Second Miss, to bear a man''s child? No! This is simply, simply, simply uneptable, why? Why is it so, why won''t shee even if she''s alive?" He covered his head, suffering in agony. "She must have been forced, right, surely someone deceived her, her personality is too good, too easily deceived, I should have known, I should have known, I should have stopped her back then..." "I''m sorry to say this, but this is not a good ce to talk. Is there a quiet and secluded ce we can go?" Hexia thought quickly on her feet. "Oh, right, indeed, it''s not very safe here, follow me." After saying that, the old man led Hexia into an adjacent pavilion and carefully closed the door. The pavilion was very quiet; it seemed he was the only one living there. On the wall facing the main door hung a painting depicting the sight of a phoenix soaring. "This is much better." He had Hexia sit in the hall and brought over a pot of cool tea. "I don''t have anything warm here, only cool tea for you to drink." "Hmm, that''s okay, I don''t like things too hot anyway." The girl shook her head and then looked around, noticing the absence of any electrical appliances; it was all very quaint. After sitting for a while, the old man closely inspected Hexia who was sitting in front of him, nodding asionally, then shaking his head. "Have you noticed anything?" the girl asked softly. "Are you the daughter of the Second Miss?" the other side asked. "I should be, but my mother never mentioned Jielou City. I only learned about this ce recently and then came here." "Did she ever tell you her name?" "At home, she went by the name Gu Yongtian." "That''s her, she once said she didn''t like the term Yongrong, it''s too grand and distant." "My name is Ge Lianfeng, I am something like a distant uncle to your mother, and nearly everyone old in this city is somehow rted, nothing much to tell." His mood gradually settled down. "Did youe here to retrieve the sword for your mother?" he continued asking. "No, actually, my mother has passed away. She never mentioned it to me before." Hexia shook her head, disconste. "What, she, she actually died?" the other side incredulous. "How did she die?" the other side asked through clenched teeth. "It was an illness, my father consulted many doctors and tried many methods, but it was no use." Hexia sighed. The old man across from her fell silent, his teeth grinding audibly. "If it hadn''t been for Qian Lou''s argument with your mother..." he started, then stopped and shook his head. "Sigh, those matters... no one can truly say what was right or wrong... let''s not talk about it, so how are you doing now?" "I live alone now, but I''m doing quite well." She was afraid to admit if she wasn''t doing well, the old man across might insist on her staying. "Heh, are you afraid I might keep you here? There''s no need for that, your uncle and I have our differences, and I was one of your mother''s supporters back in the day, I wouldn''t do something so dull." "You just keep living well on your own out there, noting back could even be considered a good thing," he sighed. "Could you tell me what actually happened back then? I''ve only ever heard bits and pieces, not the whole story." "The events of those years? It would probably take days to tell in full, so I''ll just give you a general idea." "It was the lineage of ''Sword Guardians'' your mother represented, deciding to abandon Jielou City and disperse into the other cities of Jade Skirt to live, so they didn''t have to struggle futilely in this barren and chillnd." "But your uncle didn''t see it that way, or rather the elder generation at that time was opposed, seeing it as a betrayal, a betrayal of the oaths made over a thousand years. In those days, the ''Godly Generals'' protected the Upper Gate''s direct lineage, moving through interster space with many hardships and casualties, until they finally settled down slowly in Jade Skirt¡ªnow to just disperse? What was their sacrifice for then?" "The people gathered here were descendants of those who fled disasters, once scattered, they would never be able to gather again. Here we can still call the shots, but in other cities, we''d be at the bottom without power, at the mercy of others, doomed to be swallowed up, then fade away quietly." "The line of ''Sword Guardians'' also felt a deep sense of shame about this, but the helpless truth was that the ancient records and secret techniques were gradually getting lost. To keep insisting on this path had no meaning anymore; even the ''Sword Guardians'' no longer wanted their descendants to inherit this duty," he shook his head, adding that he too was once a ''Sword Guardian''. "What happened to my mother afterward? How did she leave?" Hexia continued to ask. "That''s a moreplicated story. At that time, the T2-level AI ''Shen Lou'' in Jielou City was nearing its meltdown time, so the elders in power took out treasures from within Jielou City and traded with an external power, bringing in a T2-level AI from the ck market. In the midst of this trade, some of the elders regretted and opposed it, sparking internal conflict, and your mother got involved as well." "During this, your mother was wounded by Qian Lou and imprisoned. Then there was that agent transporting the AI''s core who, seeing the situation turning sour, tried to take the things and leave, only to be stopped by us; he then took your mother hostage to threaten us." "Because your mother was the next direct sessor of the ''Sword Guardians'' in Jielou City and was the most talented sessor in a hundred years, many of the elderly had high hopes for her, so there was hesitation about whether to give up the AI core." "But that matter, for various reasons, didn''te to pass, and both sides descended into fighting again. Afterward, we saw your mother shot in the chest, falling into a pool of blood, and her body was burned to ashes," he shook his head. "So it seems that your mother didn''t die at that time; it was just a ruse. I just knew how could anyone bear to shoot such a beautiful woman." Although she didn''t die, she likely sustained hidden injuries during the conflict. Later, when she was pregnant, she didn''t dare to birth both children at once. So she cryogenically froze one. As Hexia pieced together the past, she couldn''t help but sigh deeply. The estrangement between her and her sister stemmed from this very divergence; had they grown up together, many tragedies could have been avoided. Time flowed gently by, and Hexia sat quietly in the near-dark hall for a long while until suddenly, Feng Jianxue''s voice came through the earpiece again. "Where are you? I''m about to reach the Ancestral Shrine where the Divine Sword is kept." In the darkness, this faint voice was particrly striking. The expression of the old man across changed but then, as if remembering something, he gave a bitter smile and settled back in his seat. "That Divine Sword, let''s not speak of it. In fact, it''s not worth fighting over, the power we traded with back then didn''t even care for it." "If you want to take it, go ahead, but at most, I will turn a blind eye; assisting you is out of the question." "Honestly, I don''t really care about the Divine Sword or anything like that," Hexia shook her head as she stood up, looking around. "What about you? Do you really not want to leave this ce?" Her grey hair gradually turned ck, and a pale blue light shimmered in her eyes, blossoming like Tn flowers in a pitch-ck world. With a face nearly identical to Gu Yongrong from years past, equally stunning, even surpassing her predecessor, the aura slowly emanating from this young woman, the blue Magic Power Light Sand floating beside her, and the Green Fire Ancient Sword that was condensing before her, all gave this old man an unprecedented shock and impact. "Me, I... Could it be that within my lifetime, I am witnessing the Qing Luan''s Secret Technique lost for a thousand years?" Chapter 150: Chapter 93: The Sword Dances Like a Startled Swan Hexia felt little longing for the Divine Sword or the inheritance that Feng Jianxue had mentioned; such things were not must-haves for her. However, she very much wanted to fulfill the regrets her mother had experienced in the past. Not only because she was her daughter, but also because she shared many of her mother''s views on various matters. If some customs and rules were no longer appropriate, then it was time to sever them. People cannot always live in the illusions of the past. Humans are strange creatures. If it is just for themselves, they can usually choose to endure and yield. But when it involves someone important to them, sometimes they are willing to take great risks and suffer to do certain things. Her issues with her sister had caused their mother excessive grief, leading to her untimely death. This made Hexia feel somewhat guilty as she gradually learned the truth. Perhaps the main reason wasn''t herself but her sister, yet such difort was not easily alleviated. If only she could do something to make amends, even if it involved great risks. People cannot always be calm and rational; perhaps this was quite a reckless and willful act, but once the notion arose that day, she could no longer suppress it. The practice of the Withering Sequence still required gradual progression, but the blueprint for the Natural Sequence''s Transcendent Core was well established. The Sequence 3 Transcendent Core within her slowly dissolved, and then the Magic Power of the Natural Sequence condensed even more quickly. This had always been the Sequence she was most talented in, especially with the "Voice of Time Strings" Talent. Restoring it was hardly difficult. Natural Sequence 5, Azure Bird Breaking Branch (Legendary Condensing Bead Rank), achieved. Her ck hair danced in the gentle breeze, and those eyes shimmered with a pale blue luster. Then, with a lift of her fair fingers, a Silver de Longsword condensed from aqua crystal materialized before her. "This! This is unbelievable..." The clean Magic Power spilling from the girl before him, the lightness and rhythm, the harmony and remoteness¡ªall were just like the figure described in the dusty ancient tomes. The old man before her teared up with excitement. For this, he knelt down slowly, hands touching the ground. "We, the ''Sword Guardians'', pledge to follow your noble lead, journey to the Seven Mountains, y the demonic dragon, and fulfill the unblemished vow of Qing Luan!" Having said this, he carefully took out a Token from his chest, upon which a Sword Edge passed through a Green Lotus, its tassel flowing with pride and distinction. The Qing Luan branched out five ways, each to its own house, and the one they followed was the once world-famous leader of the Five Veins, "Green Lotus Sword Cleansing Pce." The old man input Magic Power into this Token by a special secret technique. Simultaneously, in various corners of the Forbidden City, those who still retained this "Sword Command" felt their Tokens emanate a chill, and a bit of information also came through the hands clutching the Tokens. "Is this for real?" Someone sitting alone at home stared at the gleaming Token for a long time without a word. "Ge Lianfeng would not make such a joke. If the Second Miss truly has descendantsing back to im debts..." "Then we can only stand up and follow." The Sword Edges, long hidden in secretpartments in their homes, were taken out once again; the White Goose Feather Clothes, long since abandoned, were draped over their shoulders anew. The Forbidden City, which had been calming down as a cessation of hostilities began, was once again filled with chaos and tension. "What''s going on, why do I feel that the city has suddenly be disorderly again." Hidden in an attic not far from the Ancestral Shrine, Feng Jianxue looked anxiously at the scene outside the window. "Hexia couldn''t have gotten lost, right? Had I known, I would have brought her with me. Now it seems difficult to leave." He paced back and forth, eventually making a decisive choice to retreat for the time being. Meanwhile, in a descending vertical elevator, a man d in ck and wearing a mask listened to reports from nearby personnel with a cold gaze. "Her daughter? What a joke." "She could barely keep herself safe, and now she''s dragged her offspring into this mess. I thought she would be well-behaved outside and live out her remaining years, but she''s still so naive and foolish." He knew his sister too well; even though she was kind-hearted, she was too idealistic. An individual may choose to be weak and give up, but a Species cannot afford to be weak or give up. For that means annihtion and decline. "Send the order, anyone who follows the daughter of Gu Yongrong will be shown no mercy!" "Yes!" As the contemporary ruler of Jielou City, he would not be soft-hearted. Especially at this time, it was crucial to employ swift and severe measures to suppress any rifts at their inception. The garrisoned personnel in Jielou City received orders, and squad by squad began patrolling and blockading residential areas. Meanwhile, in the core level at the very bottom, soldiers d in crimson armor opened the sealed armories. Numerous Electromaic Rifles, preserved for many years, were reassembled and directed towards the Forbidden City. "We must act fast, Your Highness. We have to control the T2 level AI ''Luoyu'' in the Forbidden City before Gu Qianlou returns, to disrupt most of the resistance forces within Jielou City and seize the initiative." Ge Lianfeng exined his n as he followed behind Tn, and gradually, several aged ''Sword Guardians'' also began to gather around the two. "She is just like the Second Miss in every aspect, even the air about her is strikingly simr." The ''Sword Guardians'' who arrived remarked on Tn''s resemnce to her mother in temperament and appearance. "Has she really appeared, our five-hundred-year-long cherished wish..." Some looked at the aura emanating from Tn, lost in thought and tears streaming down their faces. "So be it, I shall devote myself to death!" "A man born into this world should not linger inactively underground like a withering tree waiting for decay!" One after another, they drew their radiant Longswords, which exuded a chill and clear brilliance. Chapter 151: Chapter 93: The Sword Dances Like a Startled Swan_2 Dozens of people... Hundreds of people... Several hundreds of people... Nearly a thousand people... As a ''Sword Guardian,'' once renowned alongside the ''Godly General,'' though they had long since declined, descendants still survived. The strife within the city erupted once more, but this time it was not against outsiders, but against once familiar faces, old friends, and even close kin. "Old He, do you really intend to go against the will of His Majesty and follow that young girl?" At the entrance to an alley, seven ''Godly Generals'' d in golden copper armor stopped around ten ''Sword Guardians'' wearing White Goose Feather Clothes. Compared to the impressively equipped ''Godly Generals,'' these Sword Guardians were inferior in both transcendent strength and equipment, with the highest among them only at Sequence 3. "Qin Sheng, don''t stop me. It was because of your hesitation back then that the second miss almost died in that chaotic battle. Today, I will not miss this chance for redemption." The Sword Guardian in white feather clothes, holding an Octahedral Ancient Sword, replied softly. "Redemption? You think too highly of yourself. I''m just reluctant to see an old friend die futilely under the sword," he raised the long-handled broadsword in his hand, and as it sliced through the air, it brought a whistling wind. "Stop right there! If you don''t leave this alley, you can still save your life. If you continue forward, I will have no choice but to reluctantly take your life." His body slightly crouched, and wisps of smoke rose from his golden copper armor, formidable and ready to strike. The leading Sword Guardian took a deep breath, and just as everyone thought he would give up and retreat, he suddenly opened his eyes, and the sword edge in his hand shed with a dim blue cold light. "Form the array!" "Understood!" Cold longswords, like birds flitting through the forest, charged toward the obstructing ''Godly Generals,'' changing trajectory mid-course to avoid the imposing sharpness of the ''Godly Generals'' and directly target their weak points. The harsh sword edges prated gaps in the armor, or undefended spots like the underarms or neck, drawing bursts of blood. "Technique of Intricate Carving!" The leading ''Godly General,'' with golden light in his eyes, then ferociously shed his broadsword, releasing Divine Electricity, splitting the attacking Sword Guardian right in half, and causing the broken de to crash against the nearby wall before tumbling to the ground. Facing such opponents, the Sword Guardians in the alley couldn''t help but engage in a bitter struggle, being pushed back steadily. In the main street''s center, where the most ''Godly Generals'' gathered, there also converged the arriving ''Sword Guardians.'' The hundred or so elite ''Godly Generals'' who had previously in the ck-clothed priest were still there, their bodies emanating intense Magic Power, while the weapons in their hands crackled with golden electric arcs, buzzing ceaselessly. "Whoever dares to step forward will be shown no mercy!" The Godly Generals shouted loudly, their voices thundering like rapid lightning, rolling down the street, causing the Sword Guardians in front to falter, some even feeling dizzy and unstable. "You guys..." Ge Lianfeng started to speak, looking at the ''Godly Generals,'' but Hexia interrupted him. She shook her head, signaling the Sword Guardians to temporarily stand behind her while she stepped forward, slowly drawing the silver-ded ancient sword from her sheath. At this time, she had changed into the clothes her mother had left behind in the city; the attire was snow-white, with wide sleeves conforming to her figure, while the belt at her waist and the lining were dyed blue like Swallow Grass, just like the color in the young girl''s eyes. One blue and one red, to distinguish herself from her mother. As she closed her eyes to recall the figure of her mother dancing the sword in front of the Red Building twenty years ago, all eyes gathered on the young girl as she began to move slowly. Her actions seemed identical to the sword dance from years before, but the fluttering sleeves and the sword''s edge suggested a breeze flowing through, passing through the alleys of the Forbidden City. The Dance of Worship was originally a means for shamanesses to manipte the earth''s dragon veins to influence the local climate and soil. Since there were no dragon veins on this, the techniques for manipting and guiding the dragon veins naturally had no use. The fact that Gu Yongrong was able to dance in the air in front of the Red Building, guiding the atmosphere with this undocumented swordsmanship, was already an astonishment without precedent. Yet Tn surpassed even that. After awakening her Talent, she could see glimpses of the auspicious light remaining from time within the remnants of the swordsmanship, thus gaining a hint of the true essence retained within the sword technique. Seeing the blue sash and cuffs fluttering, the sword light dancing, and the gentle breezes wrapping around her, the Aijieka Particles in the air started to quiet down as if acquiring that cool hue. "We can''t let her continue to dance with her sword. Forward!" Feeling the burning force on their bodies cooling down in the breeze, the leading Godly General frowned and bellowed, then these ''Godly Generals,'' like Heavenly Soldier Generals, burst forward with formidable momentum towards the slender girl in the middle of the street, their des cold, sharp, and unreservedly lethal. Amongst the blurring silhouettes, Hexia''s figure swayed like a turning swallow, gracefully navigating through the gaps of the Godly Generals'' shing des, narrowly avoiding the edges entwined with Divine Electricity, and then suddenly swinging her sword de around, inserting it into the scabbard in her left hand. In an instant, the pale blue eyes snapped open, and a tragic, stunning giant arc swept through from midair. ''Azure Bird''s Inheritance: Swallow Clipping Moon!'' The cutting arc brought by the sword de exploded among the ''Godly Generals,'' shing through the Long Halberds, broadswords, and Armor that came into contact with it, raising sttering blood. If not for Hexia''s restraint, several would have been dead on the spot. "Rebel!" Turning back around, the warrior with the painted face was not grateful; instead, he grew angrier, feeling that the young girl had not taken them seriously at all, as she was still naively holding back even then. "For heaven smites the wicked, with divine authority unwavering, I call upon the Heavenly Soldier General to possess me!" Chapter 152: Chapter 93: The Sword Dances Like a Startled Swan_3 They roared furiously again, the green and red paint on their bodies seeminglying alive once more, gold light gleaming from their eyes, while the magic power on their bodies boiled intensely with heat. All along the way, amidst the billowing white smoke and searing magic power, the des wrapped in golden divine electricity swung fiercely, and then one after another, the Godly Generals stared intently at the figure in the center, their green and red facial colors seeping out like branding irons pressing toward the young girl. Facing the secret ''Art of the Divine General'' to subdue gods, Hexia moved like a sparrow, somersaulting in the air, while her silver sword edge followed her body in a swirling dance, scattering countless delicate sword blossoms like flying snow. ''Azure Bird''s Inheritance: Snow Drift Boat!'' As those many facial branding iron marks drew near, they were shredded by the multitude of sword lights, unable to pin down the girl swift as the Azure Bird. After dodging this technique to subdue gods, Hexia once again burst into the midst of the ''Godly Generals'', her sword edge a residual shadow sprinkling as she wove through, sending down arcs of silver swords, severing the des held by one Godly General after another, blood spraying, causing the wounded Godly Generals to lose sensation in their legs and kneel on the ground. The swiftly shuttling sword edge carried a shrieking tremble in the air, fluttering like a sparrow''s feathers, while the figure in the snow-white dress and blue skirt danced and flipped like a stunning swan, ripping and shattering enemies along the way. By the time Hexia stood still again, nearly half the ''Godly Generals''y on the ground, the sword edge hanging beneath her sleeve filled with pits and scars. Her fingertips gently caressed the lifted sword body, specks of light sand flickering and falling, the scar-ridden sword edge once more restored to its original state, gleaming and captivating as autumn waters, and behind that sword edge, a pair of dreamy blue eyes slowly emerged. When all before her seemed so startling and unbelievable, the young girl standing alone in the street, donned in a snow-white dress and blue skirt, appeared to possess an almost bewitching beauty. "This... how is this possible..." The leading general with the painted face slowly knelt on the ground, covering his bleeding, numb arm, then slowly raised his head to look at the girl at the end of the road. "This is the Art of the Divine General, improved over generations with cutting-edge technology... How could it be defeated by such ancient and outdated... swordsmanship..." he murmured, his face full of disbelief and his eyes reflecting loss. "Cutting-edge, you say? Perhaps that was also something from hundreds of years ago," the girl sighed softly. Having once aspired to attend a medical school, she naturally knew of things like cybeics. In the Federation centuries ago, such things were indeed popr and could enhance one''s body to bring convenience to work. But as AI prospered and developed, people found that instead of installing various cybeic mechanisms within themselves, why not directly install them in Autonomous Units? This was not only easier to manufacture, without the worry of rejection and many other issues, but also allowed for easy recement and spared the hassle of personal control. Moreover, influenced by Isenisha, the first-generation Color Level Songstress revered by the Federal Upper Echelon, there was a natural preference for pure and wless things. This preference trickled down from the top, affecting every stratum of the Federation, with the notion that only those who were truly down and out would resort to installing such things, making themselves akin to those oily, rust-covered machines. Thus, the boom of cybeics was but a fleeting fad, eventually reced by various Autonomous Units, exoskeleton armors, and evenrge Mecha. Nowadays, it would be difficult to find residents with cybeics in the Federation. Though Jielou City was once prosperous, most people''s mindsets and memories are forever stuck in that era, unaware of the changes outside the world. Those whog behind will suffer, and working in istion was ultimately nothing but self-deception. Sword Guardians stepped over these fallen ''Godly Generals'', their eyes filled with excitement and reverence, and the girl in the snow-white dress and blue skirt ascended step by step toward the building housing the super AI ''Huanfish''. At the same time, the vertical elevator carrying the person in solemn ck descended into the Forbidden City, his face masked, slowly stepping out, looking down at the familiar yet strange girl. "You must be her daughter..." His voice contained reminiscence and aversion, which finally turned into indifference. Chapter 153: Chapter 94 The Messenger Bird The expansive vertical elevator descended like a lowering floor, and one by one, the ''Godly Generals'' filed out. They lined up on both sides, forming a crescent, gradually encircling Hexia and the other ''Sword Guardians.'' The current ruler of Jielou City, who was also the elder brother of Gu Yongrong, Gu Qianlou, stepped out slowly. He was draped in a cloak with a ck base and golden edges, resembling an ancient, solitary ruler, while the metallic mask on his face was simr to some species of bird, giving off an image of austere majesty. Beneath the mask, the ck pupils slowly swept across the crowd. He showedplete disdain for these frail ''Sword Guardians'' and only wanted to see who had been so audacious. In the end, his gaze rested on the ck-haired girl in the snow-white dress in the center. Seeing her face, simr to that of his once sister Gu Yongrong, his expression changed several times. "Take her down," he ordered. "Yes," they replied. Hundreds of colorfully-armored ''Godly Generals'' charged towards the Sword Guardians beside the girl, while thirty ck-faced, ck-armored ''Godly Generals'' with four gs flying behind them methodically encircled Hexia. Each of them possessed the strength of Dragon Sequence 5. Their presence was profound, with magic power reined in but untriggered, giving off a mysterious and dangerous aura. The so-called ''Godly Generals'' were originally official soldiers of ancient dynasties, but as humanity entered the Interster Era and the form of monarchies gradually faded into history, some of the inherited practices and secret techniques were adapted into the study of Transcendent Sequences by various factions, leading to the establishment of the precursor to the ''Hall of Divine Generals.'' Hexia felt that the auras of the thirty ck-faced Godly Generals standing before her seemed subtly connected. Their movements were like a wave of dark clouds bearing down, even causing the surrounding Aijieka Particles to slow down, creating an overwhelming sense of oppression. Resonance secret technique? Although in the past, only those of the War Sequence could resonate broadly and form an invincible military formation, the power of such a secret technique was always envied by other Sequences. Eventually, each Sequence developed simr techniques, though their scope and the number of participants couldn''tpare with the War Sequence. The ancient dynasties and the Upper Gate had long studied this, and it was likely that this ck dragon formation in front of her stemmed from such research. Hexia pondered if she didn''t reveal her special Talent Ability and relied solely on the Ability brought by her Azure Bird Severing Twigs designation, she would be at a significant disadvantage against such a force and might even get trapped and captured. Should she use her Talent Ability? If she were in the far ancient environment, Hexia might take flight like a true Azure Bird, allowing her Talent''s Ability to unfurl fully, to change this dire situation. However, this was the Rose Federation, a powerful nation with countless star systems, numerous species, and a poption reaching trillions. The force of civilization could even tear apart star systems and annihte entire small worlds. She wasn''t ready to open up and face this vast world, knowing that once her Songstress Talent was revealed, she could gain the support of countless prominent figures and even giant corporations. But Hexia still didn''t want to do that. The path of life should be one of self-exploration and experience. She wanted to see all the colors of life, whether they include tears and crying, or helplessness and sorrow. Happiness should be the tranquility that persists through storms, not na?ve purity carefully nurtured in a greenhouse. The world isn''t just rainbows; it is also filled with baseness and filth. If you don''t want others to ridicule your ideals, either keep them well hidden, or stand up and prove their wrong and ridiculousness with a fierce counterstrike. Having ideals does not guarantee sess, but the will to adhere to them can help an ordinary person through the darkest and most difficult times, gradually forging abilities far beyond the average person. This is the most precious aspect. If she relied solely on her Songstress Ability, Hexia could indeed win and change the situation before her, but if she did so too often and for too long, she might lose the courage to wield a sword ever again. If one always chooses thefortable shortcut, they may never be able to trek again on the rugged, pebbled mountain paths. The forces of inertia andziness are so great that they can gradually lead to a downward spiral, bing weaker and weaker. Since the advent of the Interster Era, the development of various technologies has made people''s lives increasinglyfortable, and the multitude of shortcuts is gradually eroding human will. Entertainment is so cheap and easy, while studying is so ufortable. Tapping on a keyboard and spraying words at people feels so satisfying, but diving into practice is tedious and mundane. The repeated deconstruction and rebuilding of cognition are always excruciating. Her eyes slowly opened, and as Hexia watched the ck-faced Godly Generals surge towards her and close in, she leapt up, her hair and dress swirling together. Her silver sword danced among the long knives and halberds flying towards her, emitting a continuous shing sound. Sparks scattered, and crystalline fragments shattered, falling through the air. After a few moments, the Sword Edge broke, dissolving into fine silver sparkles that drifted down. Then, Hexia turned in the air like a swallow, soaring directly upwards, as another ancient sword with green tassels and a silver de formed in front of her. The sword light whirled chaotically, with silver arcs like swallows streaking through the air, prating into the ranks below, breaking through the Transcendent long weapons, tearing apart the ck gs, and shredding the Armor. But the counterattack came swiftly. The ck-clothed ''Godly Generals'' changed their formation again; their presence intensified, and the sword arcs that had charged into their ranks dissipated in the oppressive aura, weakened and unable to sever the weapon shafts. "Ha!" they shouted. Then the thirty ck-clothed ''Godly Generals'' stared directly at the girl in the sky. The ck hues of their faces leached out colors that marked Hexia, causing her body to stiffen, as if struck by a heavy blow, and she spat blood from her chest. Chapter 154: Chapter 94 The Messenger Bird_2 When Hexia fell to the ground, her form not yet steady, she was immediately beset by a barrage of long knives and halberds swinging down. Even if she managed to forcibly cut through a few, new des and halberds woulde chopping down, suffocating her. In the piercing light of the long knives, the sword shattered, Hexia stumbled back several steps, and then waspelled by the long halberds thrusting from behind to flip her body to evade. In an instant, another long knife came shing down vertically, suppressing any chance she had to escape. These ''Godly Generals'' were the elite of the elite from Jielou City, not only were they powerful, but they also worked together seamlessly, gradually cornering the young girl into a dead end. After once again blocking a swinging long knife, just when Tn prepared to dodge the long halberd attacking from the side, another long knife came shing at a tricky angle, opening a long gash on the girl, instantly staining her snow-white skirt red with blood. Finally, dodging this cross attack, Tn stood again, swinging her blood-drenched arm and sleeve, while the dark red blood slowly dripped from the sword tip. Seeing this, the ck-d Godly Generals also temporarily ceased their actions, simply surrounding Tn. After all, Gu Qianlou''s order was to capture her, not to truly kill the young girl. Executing orders also depended on who the subject was; after all, no matter what, she was Gu Qianlou''s own niece and Gu Yongrong''s daughter, the one that the current ''Sword Guardians'' supported, and recklessly ughtering her was not proper. At this, Gu Qianlou snorted coldly, but did not say anything, instead stepping into the array, finally stopping ten meters away from Tn. "You came back here just to have so many people die with you?" he asked coldly. "No," Tn shook her head, looking behind at the Sword Guardians, where the battle was still ongoing. "You all back off, there''s no need to follow me," seeing that these people did not listen, she spoke again. "This is an order." The Sword Guardians had no choice but to slowly regroup and retreat. Seeing this, Gu Qianlou also raised his hand, signaling the Godly Generals to temporarily stand down. "Very good, you still have some sense." Tn sighed lightly, in truth, she had never intended to involve these ''Sword Guardians''; it would have been better for her to seek out Gu Qianlou alone. Whether she seeded or failed, she could easily extricate herself, yet Ge Lianfeng misunderstood her intention, using the Sword Command to summon everyone, resulting in the current situation. "I came back here not for revenge, nor to split Jielou City¡­" Tn started to exin. "Even my mother never told me anything about Jielou City before she died." She shook her head. "Oh? Then why are you standing here today?" Gu Qianlou''s gaze pierced through the mask, fixing on the young girl. Shaking off the blood from the sword edge, she slowly sheathed it back into the scabbard at her waist, Tn harbored many emotions, a mix of trepidation, resolve, and nostalgia. "I know that you and everyone from Jielou City have your convictions, and if we let everyone scatter in different directions rashly, it may not be the best idea; it would be handing the future over to an uncertain fate," she spoke, her words resonating with many present. "However, to continue staying here is just to relive old dreams over and over, never able to move forward. Such a future, I believe you know it too." "Hmph," Gu Qianlou did not speak to oppose. "Even the grandiose Thousand-Floored City was built step by step by our ancestors. If under such difficult circumstances back then, the ancestors could still flee here and gradually build up Jielou City, then why can''t we also establish a new Thousand-Floored-like City elsewhere?" "You speak as if it''s so simple, just a few words," a tall Godly General standing behind Gu Qianlou stepped out. "Nowadays, in every Star Domain within the Federation, which ce isn''t already upied by powerful factions, be they Transcendent Factions, giant corporations, or national organizations? They''ve long since divvied up everything there, how could we easily step in?" "Moreover, migration across Star Domains is so difficult. If it were a small poption, that''s still manageable, but what about the thousands upon thousands of people in this city? Do you also n to abandon them?" "What if we don''t go to others, but stay right here in the Jade Skirt, or even just move to other districts in the North?" Hexia spoke again. "On my way here, although barren everywhere, there were many vacantnds, especially since the economy of the Jade Skirt had migrated southward, leaving quite a bit of space empty in the northern districts." "What good is that? How is it any different from this Jielou City? Moreover, many things would need to be rebuilt from scratch." This General shook his head, finding it ratherughable. "Besides, the Federal Government of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain has also dered that they will no longer provide management AIs to the cities within the Northern Second District," he added. "If it''s within the Northern Second District, indeed there is no way, but if we move to other districts, I think we can still apply for management AIs from the Federation," Hexia spoke again, slowly. "Ha, you think you can just apply? Do you know how much a T2-level management AI is worth on the ck market?" "At least 3 billion Federation Coins, and that''s for the outdated models that were phased out." With such relentless questioning, everyone thought Hexia would be left without a rebuttal, perhaps even ashamed enough to leave and abandon her previous na?ve statements. However, after a few seconds of silence at the scene, she spoke slowly again. "What if I say that I can do it?" Actually, before in the pavilion, she had sent an email to Edith Academy to inquire, and received an affirmative response. [Receiving a message from student Hexia all of a sudden is quite surprising, but since you''ve asked this question, then we can also respond affirmatively to student Hexia.] Chapter 155: Chapter 94 The Messenger Bird_3 [With the capabilities of Edith Academy, allocating a T2-level AI is merely a trivial matter, but if it is to be installed in Northern Second District, it would require lobbying in the Star Domain Council to introduce a proposal, and it would probably take about a year to change the previous statement.] [As for your mother''s background, the Academy has long been aware of it. If you could reach the strength and influence of a Starshine Level Diva before graduation, even without relying on the Academy''s power, you could persuade the Star Domain government to yield, because it''s not an important policy, but merely a cost-saving measure adopted by the Star Domain government.] At that time, she simply sent an email inquiring whether Jielou City could receive some preferential policies from the Federation to help with relocation, but unexpectedly, Fernandi sent back a detailedption of various materials, ranging from city reconstruction to ns for relocating elsewhere. For a star school with 14 T2-level AIs assisting in scientific research, having super AIs analyze and construct ns is a matter of minutes, extremely effortless. Moreover, Fernandi had long since investigated Hexia''s mother''s background. When she asked, the other party vaguely guessed the intentions or wishes of this young girl. "If Hexia student needs some armed support, our side could be ready and arrive within two hours. Crushing the stubborn resistance within Jielou City is not a difficult task." When Fernandi said this casually during the call, Hexia finally understood the true strength and influence of Edith Academy within Jade Skirt. This is not just an academy that nurtures students, but also a behemoth thatbines many political groups,rge enterprises, numerous field experts, and stars within Jade Skirt. In the star schools ranked within the top six of the Star Domain, each one is supported by many forces and individuals standing behind. In this light, the ''me Sugar'' Prin Coco''s operation during her concert held by Swarm''s Reign seemed to the adults as nothing more than child''s y. Having arge transport aircraft directly under the Federation load up personnel and equipment from South First District to fly directly to Northern Seventh District, while the entire Payin City undergoes strict inspection and preparations days in advance and is escorted en route by ''Messenger'' ss variable fighter jets from the Federal Military. The governments of each Star Domain have always doted on their own songstresses, and such actions are even endorsed by the residents within each Star Domain. "She is the most beloved daughter of our Star Domain, it''s normal for her to be a bit capricious, right?" It must be said that beautiful and infectious divas have alleviated much of the public''s resentment toward the Star Domain government, and many policies have be much smoother to implement. This is why the Star Domain government values their own divas so highly. Although Jielou City seemed like arge organization in the young girl''s eyes, from the perspective of the entire Jade Skirt, it was just an extremely backward and remote ce, probably not even as important as Payin City. When Fernandi sent various ns to Hexia to choose from, she still did not opt for the ostentatious approach of having armed personnel deployed for her own advantage. "Just send a brand new T2-level AI. It might feel satisfying to defeat my uncle, but that would probably shatter the spirit within Jielou City." She would not do something that only looked after herself without considering the future. "Alright, the supersonic transport has taken off and is expected to arrive in one hour. Also, I wish Hexia a pleasant holiday~" Shortly after Hexia finished her previous statement, a swan-like slender flying craft pierced through theyers of atmosphere, drawing ever closer to the northern ruins that the Federal Government had forgotten. The howling never ceased as white trails streaked across the azure sky, like the messenger birds of myth carrying the decrees of fate. . . . . PS: I''d like to rmend a book from a friend, "I''m a Witch Telling Ghost Stories in Tokyo", which is a novel with a sense of daily life and a beautiful and cute protagonist, 00/~ Introduction: Waking up to find herself in 2023''s Shinjuku, Tokyo, the world has changedpletely. Neighbors, ssmates, friends, and family members are all witches, including herself. Having inherited a dpidated shrine, with a cute and sensible little sister, the only downside is being so poor that one can hardly make ends meet. With neither a job nor worshippers, and unable to pay witch school fees. As the inheritor of the shrine, she has no choice but to be an exorcism witch taking on jobs to earn money, sustain the household, and enrich her witch life. Chapter 156: Chapter 95: The Stone Venerable Deity Statue After hearing Hexia''s ount, a brief silence fell over the scene, but the Godly General cracked a smile again. "It''s fine for the young miss to make jokes, but saying such things seriously would only make one seem naive." Even Jielou City couldn''t aplish that, how could this solitary, orphaned girl do it? She looks to be at most 17 years old, what ability could she possibly have? While having ambition is good, saying so at this age only makes one seem naive andughable, many in the audience thought. Seeing that everyone had a hard time believing her, Hexia wasn''t in a hurry either, considering it a good choice to safely get through this half hour. Unfortunately, the ruler of Jielou City didn''t think so. "Although you are Yongrong''s daughter, today''s actions have still overstepped the bounds," he said. "Disband those Sword Guardians and then I will confine you for six months. Afterwards, take over your mother''s duties properly." Although he had previously looked down on Hexia, the recent battle had made Gu Qianlou recognize the girl''s extraordinary talent and he felt a fondness for her abilities. She was so young and yet so powerful. If she were well-educated and nurtured, she could perhaps one day take over his position. Besides, she was his sister''s daughter, so emotionally and bloodwise, they were not distant. "I''m sorry, that''s something I cannot do," Hexia shook her head and declined. Gu Qianlou felt waves of irritation rise in him at Hexia''s refusal to heed good advice, not only because she was defiant, but also because that expression reminded him of Gu Yongrong from twenty years ago. The girl in the snow sleeve red dress was just the same back then, andter she even left Jielou City with a stranger. Theck of support and distrust toward his own decisions had caused the elder brother''s heart to be unable to let go for a long time, and every time he thought of it, anger red. "It seems I must properly discipline you today," he said, his voice growing stern, and with a wave of his hand, those encircling ck-faced Godly Generals stepped forward once again. Like dark clouds over a city, thirty ck-faced Godly Generals generated gusts and shrill sounds of weapons, shing down in an instant. Hexia had no choice but to flip and dodge once more, and the situation grew increasingly perilous. Although it wouldn''t go as far as killing her, it was inevitable that she would get injured and subdued. If that happened, even if the flight from Edith Academy arrived, it would be difficult to use it to change the situation in Jielou City. As Hexia repeatedly flipped and considered whether to secretly use her Talent Ability to momentarily flee, a silver, snow-like glow swept into the array of the ck-faced Godly Generals,ing to her aid. "Ah, ah, ah, it seems I''ve arrivedte." Feng Jianxue, wielding a silver longsword from who knows where, stood in front of Hexia. A Cold Ice chill exuded from him, slowing the surrounding ck-faced Godly Generals imperceptibly. "And who are you!" The ck-d Godly Generals surrounding the two of them struck again, and this time their moves were much more fierce. After all, the man opposite them wasn''t Hexia, so what would it matter if they wounded or killed him? The silver de, along with the fluttering sleeves, spun likerge snowkes, as ice edges spilled and scattered, pushing back or freezing the approaching Godly Generals. This visitor from the Flying Feather Star Domain was no ordinary person. Though he appeared somewhatical and out of tune at first sight, it didn''t hinder his transformation into a notable expert when he got serious. In face of this dazzling and elegant swordsmanship, and the elusive and unpredictable footsteps and silhouette, Gu Qianlou slowly furrowed his brows. He didn''t know the man''s name, but he could guess that this was someone with a deep connection to the traditional direct transmissions of the Upper Gate from years past. "Flying Snow Swordsmanship: Lone Journey on Cold River!" After breaking away from the Godly Generals at his side, Feng Jianxue turned the de in his hand and then, like lightning, shot through the blocked crowd straight towards Gu Qianlou standing in the back. Capture the king to defeat the enemy. Instead of constantly battling with a group of ''Godly Generals,'' it was better to take down this leader directly. "ng¡ª" A crisp collision of sword and de rang out. The snow-white longsword collided with the pitch-ck Ancient Sword, sparking mes and shavings. Then both parties took half a step back before advancing again, the Snow de and ck Sword continuously intersecting on the field, causing fierce shing and striking noises. After over ten seconds, the two disengaged once more. Feng Jianxue''s moon-white robes now sported a blood-red wound, while Gu Qianlou''s wrist was also trickling with fresh blood. "Truly admirable, the current Seat Master of Jielou City," Feng Jianxue said, without sarcasm for once. After all, it was quite rare and difficult for a ce as remote and deprived of resources as Jielou City to produce a Transcendent of Sequence 6 like Gu Qianlou. "Hmph, are you afraid to reveal your identity? Still trying to divert the topic," Gu Qianlou flicked off the blood from his wrist and sword, while a servant beside him meticulously wiped clean the bloodstains with a white towel. "As for my identity, it''s better left unsaid for now," Feng Jianxue shook his head, seemingly indifferent to the scornful and contemptuous looks from the surrounding Godly Generals. "I didn''t want to cause conflict with everyone here, let''s just take what we need. But it seems something unexpected happened today. How about I take Hexia away and you all stop pursuing us?" "Absolutely not! How can we let His Highness go with you?" Before the ''Godly Generals'' could even speak, the ''Sword Guardians'' were already unwilling. Twenty years ago, a mysterious young man from the outside abducted the treasured pearl of Jielou City. Would history repeat itself now? This was simply intolerable. "Hey,e on, let''s talk this through, no need to be so inflexible. Think carefully, now is the time to stop. If we continue, it may harm our rtionships and harmony," he argued deviously while his gaze swept across the entire scene. "No need to waste words with this person, attack!" the leading ''Godly General'' shouted, and once again everyone rushed forward, forcing Feng Jianxue into battle. "This is really..." Feng Jianxue shook his head while swinging his snow-white de. The de''s light was continuous like a snowy afterimage, constantly sweeping away or dodging iing attacks. Setting aside his earlier verbose image, his figure was still quite dashing and handsome. Seeing that the Godly Generals could not subdue this foreign guest in a short time, Gu Qianlou raised his hand, signaling them to stand down for now. "Oh, so you''re going to take action personally?" Feng Jianxue looked at the other party with interest. Gu Qianlou slowly shook his head, then stomped the ground with his sword scabbard, causing an invisible ripple to spread. The floor trembled continuously, and a deafening roar kept sounding. As everyone struggled to maintain their bnce, swaying from side to side, an incredibly strong arm suddenly burst through the ground and mmed into the earth, the wind from the palm strike shattering many stones and tiles. Dodging the strike while pulling Hexia away, Feng Jianxue retreated with the girl until they were a hundred meters away before stopping. A 30-meter-tall Godly General slowly emerged from the ground, d in golden copper armor covered in rust and corrosion, with body painted in green and red. The sound of clicking gears could be heard from its joints. As it raised its head, the bronze eyeballs in its sockets turned slowly, emitting a golden light. As it gradually climbed out and stood firm, another Godly General of the same immense size rose in front of the Ancestral Shrine. These two colossal Godly Generals stood like pirs holding up the sky, overlooking the tiny people below. The roaring sounds of mechanical workings rose from within their giant bodies, and golden light shone from within the cracks in their armor,yers of dirt and rust falling away. At the same time, circr halos of golden light appeared behind the towering figures. The presence of the golden halos behind them subdued the entire Forbidden City. The Aijieka Particles slowed in their movement and the condensation of Magic Power became increasingly difficult. Soon, bands of gold and red Magic Power formed on the arms and behind these colossal Godly Generals, reminiscent of celestial ribbons adorning a general in ancient murals. These bands, made purely of Magic Power, showedplex and dense golden patterns upon careful observation, almost like Cursed Seals of enchantment, creatingyers of protective barriers over the giants that shielded against attacks. "Tsk." Feng Jianxue swung his snow-colored longsword, and the moon-white arc of light that it created collided with a distant Godly General, bouncing off like a peanut shell against steel, utterly powerless. "This one must have the fighting strength of Sequence 7, terrifying," Feng Jianxue shook his head, thinking that Jielou City''s resources were indeed substantial to have such things hidden away. "Shall we go, Hexia? Although these two big fellows are formidable, they probably aren''t fast. If we just run quickly enough¡­" He turned back to look at the girl behind him but discovered that she had vanished. With her blue hairband fluttering like Swallow Grass, Hexia lightly stepped on the roof ridge of a pavilion and leaped up, her form as light as a bird. As she reached the high skies, a blue crystalline longsword also appeared beside her. In response, Gu Qianlou stomped with his sword, and then the two colossal Godly Generals wielding 32-meter long des swung down, elerating from slow to fast, sweeping through and shattering the descending ice crystal longswords. Hexia, however, was unfazed by this, having anticipated such an oue. As the gigantic Godly General swung its de, she dove, instantly splitting into three streaks of light that coiled around the arm of the Godly General. Her sword left long gashes on the thick armor, and the blue crystal eroded the golden protectiveyer on the armor until both shattered into gray-white fragments and fell. Although these two colossal Godly Generals possessed nearly the strength of Sequence 7, they were not truly at Sequence 7. They were rigid mechanical beings with many ws and limitations. Once Hexia got close, the Godly Generals, facing a foe as nimble as a swallow by their sides, kept pping and shing, but they could never catch her. Eventually, their armor was strippedyer byyer, and the heat emitted from their bodies grew increasingly hotter. After all, thebat style of these units was too monotonous. Feng Jianxue, watching from afar, couldn''t help but admire Hexia''s audacity. He hadn''t failed to notice the giants'' weaknesses, but he wouldn''t risk his life to test them. In such intense closebat, the Godly Generals could afford hundreds of losses, but one hit, and he would never be able to escape. "However, even with their weaknesses, to be able to battle at this age against them without falling behind..." Feng Jianxue shook his head. "It''s not just me who misjudged. Even Gu Qianlou probably underestimated the extent of her terrifying talent. Among the descendants of the great Upper Gates of those years, there probably hasn''t been a more dazzling new star." Chapter 157: Chapter 96: A Myriad of Palace Lanterns ``` Grey and white stone chips scattered with each strike of the sword edge, breaking and reforming again and again, reminding one of the ancient Eastern phrase ''perseverance pays off.'' Her breathing grew rapid, sweat and strands of hair sticking to her forehead. Hexia dodged the swiftly descending giant palm once more, kicking off the azure and crimson arm while flipping backward. The sword edge drew a mournful, crescent arc in the air, severing the tattered golden-red ribbon that fluttered ipletely. Afterward, the gold covering the Godly General seemed to gradually dim, returning to a dull, earthy hue. At the same time, Hexia leapt once again, her longsword and body spinning together. Her flowing hair and the hem of her skirt formed a brief but splendid vortex in the air. Hiss¡ª The longsword plunged into the bronze giant eyeball, sparking electric light and debris. Letting go of the longsword, Hexia then rapidly retreated as the colossal Godly General fell like decaying rock, smashing heavily onto the ground, paralyzed and broken. "That should be enough, right? Even with the AI provided by the Academy, convincing the other party still requires showing sufficient strength. Otherwise, it''s like a child unting gold in the marketce¡ªadults only care about the benefits, totally indifferent to your thoughts." She hovered silently in the air, one hand holding the sword, its de draping along her snow-white sleeve, gazing down at the silent, masked man below. "Heh heh... heh heh heh... hahaha, are you mocking me!?" he pressed a hand to his forehead, his voice twisting before turning into a teeth-gritting growl. If the girl before him had pleaded in a coquettish, frail manner, he might have softened, but her stubbornness made Gu Qianlou feel aplete loss of face, as if all his actions had been as ridiculous as those of a clown. Look, Gu Yongrong''s daughter. It''s been only 20 years since you went out, and you could easily ruin the thing you take pride in, with such ease and ir. What was the meaning of all those years of painstaking effort? The turmoil back then not only ruined Jielou City''s reputation but also dragged your sister into it. What was the value in that? To kill a person is to aim at the heart. Perhaps Hexia just wanted Gu Qianlou to realize the current situation could not continue, but what she didn''t know was that not everyone takes advice willingly. To some stubborn conservatives, this was seen as a challenge to their authority, an overthrow of everything, and an ultimate humiliation. "Very well, you want to prove you''re right, don''t you? Then I shall oblige." He did not stand by as a mere spectator; instead, he leapt straight up, his broad ck robe whirling in the air, and the golden mask amidst the sleeves transformed instantly into a ming red. The scarlet sword light erupted from the sword scabbard, meeting Hexia in the sky. The Magic Power bursting forth from the deep red sword edge sent the girl flying, and the heat it contained spread like a fire toxin, suffocating Hexia. As the blue radiance flowed through her eyes and the burning on her body extinguished in an instant, Gu Qianlou, who was in pursuit, suddenly transformed again. The fiery mask changed into a yellow base with white patterns, and his longsword flew out from his hand, tracingplex Magic Power patterns in the high sky. In theplexity of these yellow, circuit board-like patterns, the longsword hovered in the center,yer uponyer of light points converging upon its form, creating a series of effects. Pration¡¤Cleaving Gold¡¤Piercing Magic¡¤Utmost Speed "Exhaustive Tower''s Secret¡¤Instant Kill Formation!" Like a beam of bright yellowser light, the sword edge thrust forth at a speed that pushed the limits of sight, piercing through Hexia in midair. As the blood-stained girl fell from the sky, everyone present gaped as if they had much to say, but at that moment, no words came out. Both the Sword Guardians and the Godly Generals felt a chill and sadness. After all, the girl was Gu Yongrong''s daughter, Gu Qianlou''s closest living rtive, and one of the future hopes of Jielou City. If she were to fall like this... The golden sword edge, having pierced Hexia, reversed and returned to Gu Qianlou''s hand. The mask on his face shifted again, turning into a shade of azure-blue. He, too, rushed toward the falling girl as if to catch and seize her. However, a spiraling snow-colored de light intercepted him midway, with Feng Jianxue blocking his way. "Cough cough..." Hexia knelt on the ground, clutching her right shoulder where a bloody gap had appeared, her body trembling. Gu Qianlou ultimately showed some mercy, not striking directly at the center of her chest. Protectors from the Sword Guardians quickly came to aid the gravely injured girl. At that moment, Ge Lianfeng looked around, spotted the nearby Ancestral Shrine, and suddenly made a decision. "Take the princess to the Ancestral Shrine; it''ll be safer there. We can also set up better defenses." "Hmm." The Sword Guardians surrounded Hexia, helping her towards the dust-covered Ancestral Shrine. Though its exterior was that of an ancient double-tiered building, it had been constructed with the highest-grade protection materials and security measures, making it exceptionally sturdy. Whether Godly Generals or Sword Guardians, all true descendants of Jielou City, could easily gain entry to the Ancestral Shrine. Once inside and the protection measures activated, it would be difficult for anyone outside to breach it. Half a minuteter, Hexia felt the wound on her shoulder begin to heal. Only then did she allow herself a small sigh of relief as her gaze swept around her. The Ancestral Shrine''s decorations were far fromvish¡ªin fact, they had a somber simplicity. nking the great hall were statues covered in ayer of dust, their original azure and crimson pigments faded and dull. Based on their mythological significance, they likely represented the sun, moon, stars, wind, rain, thunder, lightning - the deities of all eight directions. ``` Chapter 158: Chapter 96: A Myriad of Palace Lanterns_2 Along the central axis of the grand hall, there stood two majestic divine statues. They were positioned to the left and right, their heads reaching directly up to the beams of the hall''s roof, and between them, there was an openwork carving of a phoenix. Beneath ity an incense burner, and when the burner was lit, the smoke would gently curl around it, vaguely creating the image of a phoenix taking flight. However, what drew the most attention in the grand hall was the ancient sword ced horizontally behind the incense burner, sheathed in what appeared to be a stone-like scabbard with a tangle of blue silk around its hilt, culminating in a carving of lotus petals. The entirety of the grand hall was devoid of any technological constructs, likely intended to preserve the ancient aesthetic, creating a silent and timeless atmosphere. Upon entering the grand hall, everyone became much quieter out of respect for their ancestors and their heritage, no one spoke loudly. After standing up a bit, Hexia looked towards the sword in the distance, as if she could ''hear'' a peculiar melody. It was not a song, but more like the lingering fragrance of history that had settled. Was this the destiny her mother was meant to inherit...? She shook her head, then began to ascend the steps one at a time. The crowd watched silently, their already soft conversations ceasing altogether as they stood in orderly rows, witnessing Hexia walk step by step toward the end of the stairs, until her wrist, pale as the moon, reached over the incense burner and her fingers gently touched and stroked the sword scabbard. Dust scattered with each touch, as the scabbard was held in the girl''s hands, and as she grasped the sword''s hilt, a sense of kinship through blood emerged, followed by a slow withdrawal. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Outside, on the open ground, Feng Jianxue''s battle with Gu Qianlou grew more intense, but Feng Jianxue quickly found himself at a disadvantage,ining bitterly. That guy was abnormal, definitely not of the strength a normal Sequence 6 should have; he must have employed some sort of wicked technique. He absolutely wouldn''t admit it was due to his ownck of skill. After all, he was a high-achieving graduate of a federal academy, with a family secret technique to boot, so how could he be worse than these ''natives'' from underground? No matter, he had demonstrated loyalty enough; it seemed the other side wouldn''t do anything to the youngdy Hexia. If things really went south, he could alwayse backter with reinforcements to rescue her. Having thought it through, Feng Jianxue prepared to flee; he wasn''t the rigid type who clung to pride at any cost. "Today is not the day for a drawn-out battle, we shall meet again!" he said, his de sweeping through a trail of white light as he rose swiftly into the air like a huge owl, darting between theyers of red banners above and vanishing without a trace. "Hmph." After driving away the nuisance Feng Jianxue, Gu Qianlou made a beeline for the Ancestral Shrine, shattering the front door with a single kick. When he saw what was happening inside the grand hall, Hexia was slowly drawing the sword, but the scene that unfolded greatly disappointed everyone present. Following the hilt, there was only a broken de left, and by turning the scabbard upside down, several fragments of the sword edge fell out. The Divine Sword, which had once contained the heritage of tomes and secret techniques, had long been damaged by time. "Do you think we hadn''t thought of revival in those days? This is reality," Gu Qianlou said coldly, looking at the Ancient Sword in Hexia''s hands. He had drawn the sword himself when he was very young, but the oue had been disappointing. Therefore, he resolutely chose to inherit the secret technique of another branch, entrusting the line of the Sword Guardian to his sister. "Yes, it''s such a pity," Hexia leaned down and carefully picked up the fragments one by one. Seeing her still ''disobedient,'' Gu Qianlou''s anger red, and he swept the Sword Guardians aside with the sword in his hand, charging directly toward the young girl inside the great hall. Facing the approaching Gu Qianlou, Hexia slightly closed her eyes, and with both hands slowly opening, the broken Sword Edge fragments in front of her began to float gently, suddenly bursting into an extremely bright verdant light. Countless currents of air spilled out from the gaps in the broken sword, and the surging, immense Magic Power directly flung the statues in the hall into the air; then both the windows and the doors shot out a lush, verdant glow. "This is..." The fierce wind continued to blow ceaselessly, shaking the entire Ancestral Shrine until finally the chaotic inner currents ripped off the roof. Amidst the broken bricks and ruins, the young girl with long ck hair stood alone. Her eyes were slightly closed, and the Ancient Sword Fragments by her side rose with her, slowly ascending. In the astonished and shocked gazes of all, the fragments of the Sword Edge returned to their correct positions, reassembling into aplete Sword. Gu Qianlou, amid the windstorm, tried to approach the floating Hexia in the sky, but as he came closer, the strong wind pressure increased, slowing his pace more and more. Until atst, as the gradually whole Ancient Sword hovered above the girl''s head, she raised her hands, grasping the hilt with one and caressing the battered Sword with the other... The gaps upon the Sword emitted dazzling verdant rays, sweeping across this dim underground, casting its radiant light over the entire core area, whether it was the both sides fighting in the Forbidden City, the residents of the core area, or the tense people watching monitors elsewhere in Jielou City. In the brilliant light, the parts that had once disappeared slowly reemerged, coalescing into a wless Divine Sword. Qing Luan''s cries, the Zhuomo Sword As this Divine Sword emerged slowly from the emerald radiance, the phantom of a phoenix danced around it, its cries echoing through the underground. When the light dispersed, only the girl holding the Divine Sword in the void remained; its hilt was entwined with ck silk, the Sword''s body was clear and transparent, like crystal, and within this transparent body, swirls of inky ckness moved as if phoenixes were dancing¡ªexceptionally splendid. This Sword was not intended for ughter but as a ritual instrument of sacrifice, symbolizing the legacy of the Green Lotus Sword Washing Pce, representing the purification of worldly impurities and the rity of mind and heart. Holding this Sword, Hexia continuously received a myriad of secret techniques from its past, whether it was everything on the ancient Land of Divine Continent, the hesitance in entering the Gctic Era, or the sorrow of hiding from the chaos of war inter generations¡ªall reflected in her mind, inspiring a deep sense of the sea changes over time. The scenes of the ancient past evoke longing, but the relentless forward march of time transforms everything. No longer are wandering heroes needed to traverse the world, no solitary ascents of green mountains to gain a Sect''s recognition required, no decades of loneliness in the mountains to masterplete and superior swordsmanship required. There are no longer mythical beasts and demons needing Upper Gate experts to suppress and sweep away, nor do people view each other as brothers and sisters for the sake of Factions, supporting one another. The decline of the Upper Gate Sects of yesteryear was not just because the "secret techniques" were lost, but more so because these past Sects were no longer needed or adaptable to thisplex and ever-changing era. Where is the way out, after all? With a long sigh, Tn slowly opened her eyes, looking down at the ancient and deste pces and buildings below. She swung the Sword Edge in her hand, and a gentle breeze blew through the underground, illuminating dots of mellow yellow light as the Condensation of Aijieka Particles emerged from the void, floating likenterns, lighting up the dim depths. Chapter 159: Chapter 97: Farewell to the Past The light ting of the wooden xylophone, akin to the sound of water droplets falling on a stone, emanated from the old music box in the attic, slightly distorted, a popr tune from many years ago. The song was soothing and full of nostalgia, like the hazy silhouette disappearing under the setting sun, a blur that was once the best ymate of one''s childhood, but whose face and name have since been forgotten. Gu Qianlou silently sat in the attic he hadn''t visited for many years, looking at everything that was once familiar in the room, recalling some memories from the past when he was young and impulsive, dreaming of changing many things, toppling the disliked adults and predecessors. But in the end, he didn''t do so. As he grew up, he understood the difficulties in everything he did, realizing that just maintaining the status quo was challenging enough. Gradually, he had be one of those adults he used to despise, but he never regretted it. The younger self only saw a corner of the world and foolishly thought it was all there was, spouting grandiose and embarrassing words. As he grew older, he no longer made such senseless remarks. His sister was a kind and simple person, with a touch of naive cuteness and cunning. She would fantasize about many beautiful things and believe in strangers she had never met before. She used to sit in this attic as well. It was their secret base as children, where they would keep books, movies, games, and interesting and novel things brought by visitors, all too captivating to let go. However, such youthful days have long since passed. With growing experiences and age, it became harder and harder to rte to those wed stories, the bizarre plot twists meant for dramatic effect, and even the movies that moved others to tears seemed contrived and childish. Life forced one to grow up, gradually losing novelty and fun, and he slowly focused on various matters, drifting apart from his sister, until one day when she naively mentioned her ideas in front of him. He understood that these fantasies were also dear to many in the city, but such unnned and unrealistic dreams only led to injury. He exined this, but unfortunately, ''hope'' is the sweetest poison, luring those who harbor fantasies deeper into the abyss. His sister nearly died in the turmoil; afterward, he vaguely perceived the other party''s intentions and ultimately let them go. "It''s better if you leave on your own. I''ll tell everyone that you''re dead, and it''s best if you nevere back." Being heartless was better, that way one didn''t have to be sad too often and could focus on aplishing more. Eventually, he had slowly gotten used to everything as it was now, forgetting the existence of that figure. ¡­Until that familiar-looking girl appeared. "Your daughter is just as naive and stubborn as you were." He picked up the small photo frame on the desk, which contained a picture of a brother and sister, about thirteen or fourteen years old; the brother grinned broadly while the sister wore a sun hat, standing together in the sunshine. Dust swirled in the attic, and the indistinct music box slowly came to the end of its tune, quieting the room. Light footsteps could be heard from the stairs behind, with the old wooden steps trembling slightly underfoot and the rusty nails creating a creaking noise. The wooden door of the attic was carefully pushed open, and a ck-haired girl walked in, looking at the figure seated by the desk. "Uncle¡­" The title was so unfamiliar that after the girl uttered it, she did not know how to continue. The room fell silent for a few seconds before the figure stood up. "Hmm." The response was low and light, only audible due to the silence of the surroundings. Neither of them were conversationalists, they just looked quietly at one another before Hexia lowered her head slightly¡ªafter all, her mother had taught her that it was rude to stare at others for too long. "Where is Yongrong buried?" "The cemetery... in Payin City''s lower-tier, at G19 graveyard," the girl answered softly, then suddenly remembered something. "How do you know about her..." Her voice trailed off again. "Hmph, if she were living well, why would she let youe here all alone?" Although it had been many years, Gu Qianlou was still clear about his sister''s character. Shaking his head, no longer dwelling on those past events, Gu Qianlou walked past Hexia and descended the stairs¡ªthere were still many matters waiting for his attention these past few days. With the support of a T2 ss AI from Edith Academy, things had started to change. Establishing a new city was challenging, but at least there was a foundation to make it possible. With the detailed analysis and nning by High Rank AI, as well as itsprehensive coordination, just provide it with enough machinery and material assistance, and it can step by stepplete the construction of a city. Moreover, the framework of the city''s water supply, transportation, logistics, energy, sanitation, and other systems would also drastically reduce construction and operational costs due to the management of such High Rank AI. Otherwise, if the people of Jielou City had to aplish these tasks by themselves, it would be like primitives walking in a modern city, spending a tremendous cost to construct each framework, employing numerous administrative efforts for long-term maintenance, constantly making errors, and even dealing with corruption and inefficiency, making it virtually impossible to build a city that meets modern standards. ''Luoyu'' was a very outdated model; it could maintain Jielou City yet it was far too stretched to construct a new city. Moreover, it was not long before it would disintegrate, and besides, it was an illegal AI. Running it concealed beneath Jielou City was one thing, but exposing it to the outside world would be an open defiance of the rules. Although Hexia''s remarks were somewhat naive at that time, she indeed brought the foundation that could change Jielou City, and everything becamepletely different. The day after the girl received the Zhuomo Sword, the whole Jielou City quieted down. The people surrendered to the ancient and faith-representing legacy of the Sword. Then came the supersonic transport arriving through the sky andnding in Jielou City, bringing tangible and convincing material foundations. The root of the conflict vanished without a trace, and faced with such a situation, Gu Qianlou was speechless. Perhaps his steadfastness was not wrong either, but the vicissitudes of life were too unpredictable¡ªwho would have believed that such a young and fragile girl could actually change the policies and thoughts of the Star Domain government? The things that nearly a million residents of Jielou City had been yearning for over centuries had been realized so easily¡ªit all felt like an unreal dream. Such is the disparity of the world, I suppose. Descending from the attic, Gu Qianlou, together with the people brimming with anticipation and excitement, headed to the ground level. There, atop the high Crimson Tower, he revealed his figure and began delivering the speech that would change everything as it stands today. "On July 10, 658 of the Sixth Era, our ancestorsnded on this scarcely popted and started the arduous task of building a settlement. Since then, 593 years have passed, nearing six hundred years." "Six hundred years is enough time for a dynasty to rise and fall, and then rise and fall again." "We have been stagnant here for far too long, stagnant to the point of slowly losing the courage to embark on a journey forward again... Our past is no longer support but has be a weighty burden, one that is difficult to sever..." His voice softened. "It is time to let go of all this." "Whether be it the ''Godly General'' or ''Sword Guardian,'' let them rest in the history of the past; there''s no need to cling to these ancient terms anymore." "This is not only my opinion but also the ideas and suggestions of that child. Fortunately, we have waited for the ''Azure Bird'' decreed by fate." "The Azure Bird brings the branch, descends, and nations arise. We will also establish a brand-new city on thatnd." "''Starting from scratch, to open up mountains and forests,'' it will be tough, but there will be no more hesitations." Chapter 160: Chapter 98: The Dark Picture Book The train slowly started on the tracks, countless raindrops fell from the sky, striking the window, sshing beads of water, forming streams that blurred the view. The cold wind blew the curtains, bringing in the damp mist from outside. On the grey-d earth, a line of vehicles, like tiny ants, moved across the vastness. Cloaked in raincoats, holding umbres, people continually moved old things onto trucks during the rainy season, while others stood in the rain, staring nkly at the ruins of the city through the curtain of rain, bidding their final farewell. The train kept moving, faster and faster, and everything in sight gradually receded, bing more and more indistinct until it was no longer visible. Leaning against the window, Hexia quickly wrote ck letters on yellowing pages with her pen, stories depicting ancient legends. In the stories, those people, the ancient refugees who lost their homnds, had crossed the dark and empty universe toe to a brand-new world. They came for asylum and finally found a ce to live in this remotend. Small pavilions stood on deste hills, surrounded by no signs of human life, only deste grasnds and wilderness. asionally, wind fishes rode the cold currents from the north, crossing the sky. Silver wind fishes in clear weather would refract shimmering scale-light, and when they encountered moist air currents, water droplets would condense on their surfaces and fall, forming continuous curtains of rain. Wind fishes are Transcendent creatures that love rain. In such seasons, they y and shuttle through the rainwater, touring the sky as if they were in an underwater world. Gradually, more and more people lived here, and the small pavilions turned into tall buildings built along the mountains. They kept expanding, with some skyscrapers reaching into the clouds. During the rain, one could sit by the window sill and watch the Silver Scale wind fishes swimming past outside. In mid-July, the heatwave of summer slowly subsided, and the liveliest festival in the city arrived. Children, holding hands with adults, walked among the pce-like buildings, watching performances along the street: generals in bright armors, dancing girls waving long sleeves, and poets ying the lute, recounting stories. Tall buildings and pces radiated colorful lights at night, illuminating the dark sky. Flights of aircraft shuttled between these ancient and advancedyers of buildings, as bustling as thousands of birds. Although it was an age of advanced technology, people still cherished the customs of the past, passing them down from generation to generation. However, the tide of time also slowly swept over this remote corner of Star Domain. A prolonged civil war broke out, with an ever-increasing demand for military industries. Countless migrants moved from various parts of the federation, and numerous giant corporations also sent many technicians to this remote to help establish Underground Cities. Mines were opened, and the roaring of machines like giant beasts resounded day and night. These industrial giants were like the steel backbone of the federation, and under their support, one after another Sun-ss space warship took off, soaring into the vast universe. Their azure trails, like rising stars, eclipsed the day, no matter how many suns there were in the sky. Dark raindrops fell from the sky, and birds drowned in the murky waters. Wind fishes no longer visited this city; skyscrapers stood solitary in the rain, and no one was seen on the streets anymore. The decades-long brutal civil war finally ended, and reform relentlessly advanced throughout the federation. Numerous officials and nobles were sent to the execution grounds, and one after another, once-renowned giant corporations fell. After finally clearing these internal abscesses, the federation slowly weed a rebirth. Gradually, the industrial giants on this also came to a halt, the once-ubiquitous industrial groups gradually withdrew, and some buildings left toote or unable to be moved were exposed to the rain, slowly turning into ruins full of wreckage, regrettable yet inevitable. In the undting tide of the era, a city, a, and even a nation or a civilization seemed so insignificant, stirring feelings of wandering and helplessness. All that had passed was gone; grievances, iprehension, doubts, and pessimism, various emotions emerged between the lines of the story. The remaining residents guarded in these increasingly cold high-rises, watching as the deserted ruins spread slowly, until the roof tiles copsed, revealing corroded beams that once bore the backbone of the structure. Far from the azure sky, falling into the pitch-ck ruins of the underground, the residents who refused to leave wandered through these ancient and stagnant floors, and the struggle began anew with each passing day. The yellowed edges of the pages were dampened by the rain drifting in from the window, making some of the words blurred. Although it hindered reading, it also lent an air of mncholy and the sense of time''s depreciation to the story. As she neared the end, the young girl''s writing slowed, and her pauses grew longer. She pondered how to conclude such a tale. Was it merely a sad story telling of history, just a mncholic legend mourning what was no more, could there be a happy ending, could it still give people hope... "In the end, they stood in the pouring rain, letting the cold rain wash over them, and aboard the rocking and jolting vehicle, they slowly left that ce," "Without the sorrow of parting, without the relief of release, just such a in forgetting." "Not everything is worth remembering, nor does all in memory need to be beautified; perhaps forgetting is the best sce, and they will build a small pavilion on a new hillock." "That pavilion will gradually rise higher, and their children will happily frolic within it, not remembering the distressing past, not burdening their children with heavy loads, letting them grow up happy and free, no longer vexed by the past''s array of troubles." "May we all break free from the shadows of the past and start anew," the writing slowly came to a halt here. Hexia put down her pen, sitting by the window and gazing out at the world through the curtain of rain, no longer able to see the distant tiny dot of the city. Closing the yellowed notebook, she stared at the still nk page for a long time before Hexia finally wrote one more line. ''Birds drowned in ck rain¡ªmemories in the tower of a thousand sails.'' This was her seven-colored picture book, as well as the pitch-ck memories of her past. Though her mother, sister, and father had all walked through her life, in the end, they turned into dark sediments, buried deep in her memories. She would remember many words and scenes, and also forget the sorrow and sadness, no longer lingering in this ck curtain of rain. From now on, she would no longer obsess over seeking those past events and memories. Let her immature self tightly seal them in the distant past; perhaps many yearster, she would reopen this notebook, flipping through the blurred and wetted script. Life is still long, and new pages will gradually unfold. Chapter 161 Chapter 99 Steel-Soaked Guitar Strings In the quaint library, Hexia sat in the tall chair, d in a pitch-ck gown. The contrast between her snow-white skin and the dark fabric was striking. With one hand cradling the neck of the violin and the other holding the bow, she closed her eyes slightly, drawing the bow gently, and the crystal-clear sound of the violin began to resonate. Due to the confined space, the sound of the violin was not faint and distant but rather immediate. One could even hear the slight vibrations of the taut strings and the sturdy, metallic quality of the sound. The multiple tones made the sound more three-dimensional, more robust, and resonant. In fact, the strings of the violin in the girl''s hands were made from a special steel wire, not the flexible material outsiders often misunderstood them to be. The first piece was the Canon in D, theposition she had practiced the longest. The girl''s shoulders and neck moved smoothly with the violin, her delicate hands holding the bow, drawing it slowly back and forth, then with short, small movements, as the rhythm began to rise gradually. After the long, tranquil Canon, she lowered the bow slightly and nodded at herpanion, who had been ready for a while. Andusia then ced her hands above the piano on her side, while Botis sat next to the drum set, rhythmically stepping on the bass drum pedal, ushering in an uplifting and vibrant piece. The melody seemed to race up the mountains, leaping freely into the vast, azure sky before swooping down through the raging winds, presenting a panorama of vistas. As the pace of the melody shifted rapidly, the girl''s body swayed with the violin, her ck hair fluttering about her shoulders, entuating her slender and moving figure. During the performance, Debi, seated on a small stool, looked at the simple sheet music before him, asionally shaking the triangle in his hand, adding an emotive quality to the piece. As the music echoed through the small library, aside from the four maids performing in the front, there were other maids sitting on cushions on the floor, listening. They would asionally open their eyes, looking at the immersed quartet, and smile knowingly. Finally, "The Arena" came to an end. Hexia slowly opened her eyes, exhaling softly, but feeling immensely fulfilled. A round of light apuse filled the room. "Dantalion has improved so much~" "Ever since she got backst time, something seems to have changed. Even her ying seems much more generous andposed." "Isn''t that also good? After all, she''s growing up gradually. But the shy Dantalion was also very cute~" Although everyone was whispering down below, Hexia heard everything clearly. She unconsciously turned her face slightly away, not looking at those few. After setting down the violin, Botis walked over and embraced the girl, her wavy curls tickling Hexia''s face. "Dantalion did great~" whispered Botis in her ear, then released her, looking happy and proud, as if she felt that Hexia''s rapid progress was certainly partly her own doing. "With that, it seems we''ve fulfilled the promise from before." Hexia even forgot why she agreed to learn an instrument at Botis''s behest, but as she continued to learn, she gradually began to enjoy it and developed a habit of practicing every day. After finishing the performance, familiarpanions gathered around the little table, talking about recent happenings and asionally breaking intoughter. "I''ve always said ''Huale'' should get a ''Levitating Jellyfish'' as a pet. It''s not only beautiful but can also help her with many small tasks, making her work much easier." Botis leaned on Andusia''s chest, her emerald tresses mixing with Andusia''s white dress in a look both a bit disheveled andzily charming. Recently ''Huale'' finally followed herpanions'' advice and found a pet suitable for herself at the ''Floating Courtyard'' in the Illusory Cloud Star Domain. Type: Levitating Jellyfish Subspecies Sequence: Primordial Sequence 3 - Levitating Jellyfish Status: Healthy (Happy) Talent: [Levitation Body] (Superior): Extremely lightweight, can easily float and glide through the air, hardly consuming any physical strength or Magic Power. Abilities: [Five-colored Splendor] (Standard): Its transparent body can emit fluorescent lights in various colors, which also shift gently ording to its mood, creating a beautiful sight. [Versatile Tentacles] (Excellent): Its translucent, flexible tentacles can grasp, wrap, and handle lightweight objects, and can also have effects such as Cold Ice or heat, although not intense, making them non-lethal forms of attack. Skills: [Cold Ice Lv.1] [Heat Lv.1] [Electricity Lv.1] [Levitation Lv.3] [Agile Operation Lv.2] [Chromatic Illusion Lv.2] Profile: A harmless Transcendent creature born of artificial enhancement, it has be quite popr. It enjoys thepany of other animals, and can understand most simplemands. It has its own moods and emotions and would be sad if kept in confined spaces. Ideally, it should soak in water once a day, although this is not necessary if the air is humid. Now that she has this pet to share some of the simple tasks of sorting and heating things up, Huale has recently been much more at ease and doesn''t need other maids to help her. "Although it''s quite a trip to the Illusory Cloud Star Domain, getting this little buddy seems well worth it." Huale looked at the jellyfish levitating above the table, asionally touching its soft and cool body, amused by the sensation. Because of Huale''s light touch and caresses, the jellyfish disyed a light blue halo, swaying and wobbling in the air, expressing its joyful mood. "So cute(*?¨Œ?*)." Find more to read at empire "I want to touch it, too." The other maids couldn''t resist reaching out to try, but most were yfully dodged by the jellyfish, which then hid behind Huale. Chapter 162 Chapter 99 The Steel Soaked Guitar Strings_2 "It can even blush, its body turning all pink." Several maids gathered around Huale, chattering happily in discussion, while Hexia walked to a quieter spot to sit down, her fingers lightly moving on the table, asionally resting and falling. Debi saw this and ced a small piece of macaron on her palm. "Would you like one, Dantalion?" "Mhm, thank you~" The pale-yellow treat coated with milk chocte melted and dispersed its sweet fragrance on her tongue. Leaning on the shoulder of ''Vurowus'' next to her, the young mistress among the maids gently stroked the girl''s hair, as they talked about some recent events. "How was your vacation? I heard you went to see some distant rtives." "Well, they''re not that far, it''s just that we hadn''t been in contact before." The girl reminisced about the day she said goodbye. Gu Qianlou stood under the loft''s staircase; he had been silent while facing Hexia earlier, but as she was about to walk down the stairs, he stopped her to speak. "No matter what happens, you can alwayse back. This ce is also your home, a ce where you can rest and recover with peace of mind." "The matters of our older generation have passed, but you...you are different..." After speaking, he resumed his steps and left that old loft. Departing from the ruins of the Thousand-Floored City, these survivors boarded a vehicle heading to a distant ce. Looking back through the curtain of rain as they left, they would establish a new city at the foot of a mountain in the North Fourth District. ording to the records, it was a hill sheltered from the wind where they could build facilities to divert rainwater, reducing erosion on the city. Additionally, not far from the mountainside ran a river, useful for drawing water and initial industrial needs. It was one of the locations chosen by AI as most suitable for developing a new city. "Do you have any preferred names for the new city, Miss Second Daughter?" someone asked her that day. "I''m to choose?" The girl was slightly surprised. "Yes, the possibility of our new city exists because of you, Miss Second Daughter, so it''s more fitting for you to decide." The woman holding the clipboard said this; she was actually Hexia''s older cousin, although the two had never met before. "But I''m afraid to choose poorly and bring bad luck." Hexia understood some of the many connotations and taboos in Eastern culture but didn''t dare say she fullyprehended them. "Then let''s not burden ourselves with those profound meanings. The words we cherish were simply made by the ancients on a whim. It''s only because they''ve been passed down and written about by generations that they have gained so many meanings," the older cousin said, open-mindedly. Perhaps she had been briefed beforehand. "Then let''s call it ''Qian Liu,'' a light color as transparent as zed ss, simple and straightforward, without carrying too much weight, light and clear." "Qian Liu, huh? It has water, jade, it by the mountains, alongside the river. Indeed, it''s a very good name... Uh, I shouldn''t be adding those old connotations again." She shook her head in haste, afraid the girl might regret choosing such a name. "Then let''s call it ''Qian Liu.'' From now on, we won''t even use the word ''city'' because there''s no need for those fence-like city walls." After thanking the youngdy, she recorded the name on her clipboard, whichter received unanimous approval and agreement from everyone. Thus, the new city slowly began to rise at the foot of the mountain, and for many people, life turned a new page from that moment on. Back in Payin City, the girl rested for two days, recording her journey and experiences in her yellowed sketchbook. Then she sealed it and tucked it away in a corner, resuming her work at ''Dream of zed ss.'' Gradually, life returned to its routine state, until today, when she suddenly realized that she had effortlessly reached a level of ease and skill with her violin. The change in her heart, after setting down the heavy burdens of the past, seemed to make her violin y more vivaciously and effortlessly; she no longer meticulously struggled with every note but maintained the pitch and rhythm while ying spontaneously. Less stringent, more freely, without realizing it, she could y aplete piece smoothly, without any hindrance. Finally, at the suggestion of ''Botis'' and ''Andusia'', a small performance was arranged for this afternoon, which turned out to be very sessful. "Dantalion has truly begun to master it now, huh? Even if you performed in some caf¨¦s, nobody would find fault," Andusia said with a smile, though the standard for the caf¨¦s she mentioned was likely not the usual ones on the street corner but those she had seen in the Twin Trees Star Domain. Find your next read at empire "We should celebrate today. Come to think of it, Dantalion, it''s been over two months since you started working here, and soon, you''ll probably have to go to school." Time flies. Although it''s been only two months, Hexia felt that these two months were moreplex and interesting than the previous two years, filled with changes everywhere. After work, everyone gathered in the cozy library, enjoying the joyous leisure time around the table after the performance, only reluctantly parting at 8 p.m. "Got to work again tomorrow," one of the maids muttered grumpily. "Ha ha, perhaps you could ask the manager for a day off." "Taking time off means less money, forget it." She shook her head. "Ah, forget I mentioned it; actually, I''m used to it. Just sometimes feel likeining a bit. It would be nice if every day was this rxed and leisurely." "That sounds like you''re yearning for retirement..." "How can you say that..." The two chatted andughed as they slowly walked away, and Hexia also packed up her things, picked up her lightweight bag, and prepared to head home. Chapter 163 Chapter 99 A Touch of Steel on Guitar Strings_3 ``` "Wait a moment, Dantalion." Vurowus called out to her, which was rare. "What is it?" The girl turned around, now having changed out of her pitch-ck gown and into a white and blue dress. "Regarding Dantalion''s future schooling, I''ve heard from Lady Isabelle," she nodded. "I have a sister, simr in age to Dantalion, who will also be attending Edith Academy in South First District. Perhaps you can be friends, and she may be able to help you a lot." "Ah, that... sure." Though it was a bit unexpected, the girl still agreed. "What''s Dantalion''smunication ID? I''ll help you contact her first..." "It''s..." Hexia took out her personal terminal and reported her ID. Before long, an avatar with a silver leaf pattern appeared in the contact list. "Annelli Xinhuasi." The name shown under the avatar should be the real one, as there was a verification symbol next to it. This kind of verification is generally not sought after, as it costs money to maintain, but in formal business conversations, to gain trust and show reputation, many people still go for the verification. "Phew, that''s done." Vurowus sighed in relief, this seemingly simple task had apparently not been easy. "She''s also 16 this year, very smart, probably the precocious type. If you don''t get along well with her, you can tell me, and I''ll give her a good talking-to." "Cough cough, no need for that." The girl signaled for Vurowus to not worry so much; usually, this maid-sister was very calm andposed, but today she seemed a bit off. Maybe it was because of her own sister? Meanwhile, in the distant Emerald Moon Star Domain, a young woman with silver-grey curly hair was walking on a bustlingmercial street. With curly hair tips and long legs, she was followed by a dozen men in ck. These men were both bodyguards and attendants, carrying the spoils of the youngdy''s shopping for the day. "Hmm, so slow. It took my sister this long to get a contact, no wonder she''s marginalized in the family." The corner of the personal terminal in her hand had a Circle-shaped nibble, which she whirled around her finger effortlessly, spinning the valuable personal terminal through the air in loop after loop. Finally, the chirping notification sound came, and an avatar with the same grey hair appeared on the screen. "Hexia Tn..." She read the name of the girl on the screen slowly, stopping her finger from twirling the personal terminal. After pausing for a long time, she took a deep breath and then exhaled, letting go of the tension that had been hidden deep inside her. "Finally... I''ve made contact with her..." Clutching her personal terminal to her chest, she closed her eyes and reminisced. A month earlier, she had heard this name at a family meeting, followed by a debate among the adults, which involved a lot of power struggles within the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain. There were continuous visitors and negotiations until everything was decided only in thest two days. "You will act as Miss Tn''s first contact. You will not only represent the Xie Lanhuasi family, but also the joint support from our twelve major and giant corporations, including ''Grey Dust Crystal'', for Miss Tn..." A group of well-dressed business moguls sat in the conference room and dered this to her. And she was to change her previous ns, heading instead to Edith Academy for her studies. Behind every High Rank Songstress is the support of many forces, and even if they don''t have it initially, as soon as their Talent and status are revealed, countless businesses are willing to be their backers, whether for brand promotion or political considerations. Sometimes, just making your enterprise less vulnerable to harm is a huge advantage. ``` Chapter 164 Chapter 100 Cool Summer Day In the afternoon, the old-fashioned door swung open with a slight creaking sound and then shut. After removing her shoes, the girl''s toes, d in ck socks, pressed against the floor, leaving behind faint traces of mist before she switched to a pair of light and breathable sandals and walked inside the house. "Hexia''s here," hearing the movement in the living room, Grandma He, who was pruning the nts in the flowerpot on the balcony, saw the familiar figure down below. "I''m back. The shop needed some renovations this afternoon, so they let us out early," the girl said. She opened the fridge, cing the fruit box, drinks, and a few snacks that she was carrying inside, then closed it and made her way to the balcony. Although this was underground, the residential area''s top was fitted with bright day-lightmps that would slowly dim and turn off by evening. "I''ll help with the pruning too," she bent down to look at Grandma He, who was carefully trimming the pot nt. "No need, no need, just go on with your own things. There''s not much in this flowerpot, I''m just trimming for fun," Grandma He said with a smile, shaking her head and gesturing for Hexia to sit by her side. In the green zed flowerpot, a small tree grew bearing a single orange-red fruit,rger than usual and with a light white frost on its skin¡ªan improved variety of persimmon. "Why don''t you just rx at home today? It seems you rarely y," suggested Grandma He. "Rest, huh? I do feel a bit¡­" the girl touched her own long hair draped over her shoulder, which seemed in need of a good wash. "I''m going to take a shower," she returned to the upstairs bedroom to fetch clean pajamas, and then headed to the bathroom on the first floor. Cool water cascaded down, pouring through her hair, trailing down her neck, over her body, bringing thefortable chill of a summer day. After wetting her hair, the girl poured out some bath foam and sat on the stool, constantly rubbing her head. To keep water out of her eyes, her eyelids drooped slightly, and the fine sensation at her fingertips became especially distinct¡ªthe friction between strands of hair, asional droplets falling down her neck, the silence in the room punctuated by the music and talking from the neighbor''s house, and outside, the patting sounds of balls and the noises of sport, among others. Though somewhat morous, it was filled with the breath of life, much like the clinking of ice cubes in a chilled juice, calming the soul. After a short while, Hexia turned the shower back on, rinsed the foam from her hair, had a bath, then dressed in clean pajamas beforeing out. After putting the dirtyundry in the washing machine, she sat on a cushion in the living room, kneeling in front of a small fan. A breeze passed over her body and hair, and with the moisture on her skin evaporating, a refreshing feeling enveloped her. Resting her arms on the armrest of the sofa beside her, Hexia leaned against it, her body rxed and eyes unintentionally closing, ready for a little nap. More than ten minutester, Grandma He slid open the balcony door and came in to see Hexia, already fast asleep at the edge of the sofa, a kindly and amused expression on her face. This child¡­ she shook her head slightly, nced at the thin nket on the nearby couch, pondered a moment, but didn''t cover the girl with it. "Let her sleep well for a while; waking her now might just disturb her sleep," she thought. Setting down her tools, Grandma He washed her hands in the kitchen before sitting on the sofa, flipping through an album and notebook she had looked at countless times. The notebook was filled with many children''s names, all former students of hers, along with many small events andments. The children all had different temperaments: some were smart and wily, some were lively and disobedient, some were shy and quiet, some were loud and outgoing, some were timid but liked to y with others... The thick notebook was adorned with numerous photos and even some signatures. There were group pictures of a few children standing with her under a big tree. Although electronic records were convenient, she still preferred the feel of touching paper and photos. The wall clock tick-tocked as time slowly passed from 2 p.m. to just after 3 p.m. Gradually opening her eyes within the crook of her arm, Hexia felt afortable rity of mind post-sleep, but the downside was that her legs felt somewhat numb. She carefully moved, leaning against the sofa to stretch her legs out, but the sudden activity brought an intense sensation of pins-and-needles, causing her to slump over involuntarily. "Your legs must be numb," Grandma He closed the old book in her hands and looked at the suddenly stirring girl. "Mmm..." Hexia felt a bit embarrassed, but the tingling and numbness in her legs soon dissipated. She stood up again, moved her legs a little, stepped into her sandals, ascended the stairs, and returned to her room. Throwing herself onto the soft bed and rolling around a few times, she finally sat upright, hugging the quilt, and then leaned against the pillow beside her. Resting her chin on the plush pillow and sprawling on the bed, she asionally lifted her legs while her fingers swiped across the screen of her personal terminal, browsing through some recent messages and records. Yilin: Do you want to hang out the day after tomorrow, Tn? Tn: Sure (*^¨Œ^*) Yilin: Then let''s go to the Fruit Botanical Gardens. They''re not far from Payin City, just about an hour away. Tn: Okay~ Yilin: Mm, I''lle pick you up then. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In the elementary ss group, ssmates asionally posted about their holiday activities; some went on long trips with their families, some celebrated finallypleting a video game, and some shared photos of their small pets, tworge caterpir cats lying on bamboo mats, while others posted pictures of familiar faces dining out or ying ball together. The middle school ss group had be much quietertely, probably because Lina and a few other girls were not talking much; the boys, though they chatted, mostly talked about games and fun, with not much rted to their everyday lives. Gently flicking with her fingertips, Hexia eventually scrolled to the avatar of a girl she had recently met. Annelli Xinhuasi, a slightly formal profile and an avatar that didn''t resemble that of a 16-year-old girl. The avatar featured two silver leaves intertwined, their veins distinct, the entire design simple yet spirited, exuding a professionally designed ir. The Xie Lanhuasi family founded the car manufacturing enterprise ''Silver Leaf Workshop'' and currently holds 65% of thepany''s shares, allowing them absolute control. They are the evergreen tree within Jade Skirt, and ''Silver Leaf Workshop'' is also one of the top 100 enterprises within Jade Skirt, employing approximately 500,000 staff. ''Silver Leaf Workshop'' may not be the top enterprise in Jade Skirt, but it was certainly formidable. Hexia had heard ssmates chatting idly, saying that working in such a bigpany would practically ensure afortable life. Ever since they exchanged contact information that day and briefly introduced themselves to each other, they hadn''t engaged in much deeper conversation. Hexia had almost forgotten about it, but today, it suddenly came to mind again. "Hello, Annelli," she sent a message, pausing to think for a few seconds before continuing to type. "Are you also a freshman at Edith Academy?" She wanted to ask the young miss of the Xie Lanhuasi family whether she knew anything about Edith Academy. "Mm-hmm, I''m going to Edith Academy this year as well, Sister Tn," Annelli typed on the keyboard. These past few days, she had been worrying about how to cultivate a good rtionship with Hexia and was thrilled to finally stumble upon an opportunity today. This genius young miss of the Xie Lanhuasi family, who had been entrusted with high expectations from a young age, was adept in the business world but had rarely interacted with peers her age. Despite being briefed extensively, she still felt clueless about how to foster good rtionships. Being ustomed only to others ttering her and following behind her, it never urred to her that she''d have to take the initiative to greet someone today. Not wanting to be excessively enthusiastic and annoy the other person, she had suppressed the impulse to send messages these past few days and instead flipped through some rted literature, such as "How to Make Friends," "A Comprehensive Guide to the Preferences of Federation Teen Girls," "Etiquette and Manners in Conversation," "How to Host a Gathering and What to Note," "I Have Many Friends," "Why Boys Like Girls," and so on. After several days of study, Annelli finally found an opportunity to apply what she had learned today. Watch out, all my brothers and sisterspeting for attention; I, Annelli, will make a heartfelt friend today and hit it off with the future Songstress Miss! Having processed various thoughts in her mind, Annelli quickly tapped on the keyboard, replying to the message with a sense of optimism. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!