Chapter 232: The Mystic Palace
Chapter 232: The Mystic Palace
Old Qi sighed and paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on a spot. "It's 3:42 already, and time is ticking. We need to hurry."
Turning back, he said, "Chen, get out your student card and the admission notice from the Central City Academy."
Chen Chuan reached into his pocket and produced both items.
Old Qi pointed to a nearby pillar, "That place is a biofield interaction node, also known as a 'Boundary Point'. Put on the Yin-Yang Device and go up there. Show your documents, and the 'Spider Mother' will verify your identity."
"Spider Mother?" Chen Chuan asked.
Old Qi explained, "It's the largest biofield manager in Central City, but it's not human. It's a bio-consciousness entity that assists with public services. Don't worry about it for now. If you want to know more, you can check it out after your identity is confirmed. This isn't some secret information."
Chen Chuan walked over to one of the pillars and climbed onto it. He put on the bone mask again, and the two insects crawled into his ears.
He realized that the pillar wasn't made of stone as he had imagined but was more like wood. The surface under his feet wasn't smooth either; instead, it was formed by countless tiny, densely packed tendrils, creating a slightly resilient platform.
He raised his hand and patted the mask twice.
Instantly, the noisy sounds entered his ears again, but this time, he didn't look towards Central City. Instead, he focused on the pillar beneath him, which was surrounded by rapidly flashing lights. Standing there, he felt a tingling sensation.
Old Qi reminded him, "Focus, Chen Chuan! You need to concentrate and let the Boundary Point synchronize with your Yin-Yang Device. These old devices can be troublesome..."
Chen Chuan immediately focused on the pillar. As a fighter, he could easily control his attention. Gradually, the surrounding noises faded away, and the rapidly flashing lights in front of him slowed down, forming a pillar of light around him.
He looked around and noticed that every pillar along the road had a similar pillar of light floating above it. These pillars seemed to support something unknown, reaching high into the sky.
A gentle female voice greeted him, "Welcome to the Central City of Jibei Province's public service platform, 'Bosha'. Hello, visitor. Do you need to verify your identity?"
"Yes," Chen Chuan replied.
"Please wait..."
After a while, the female voice continued, "Name: Chen Chuan; Identity: Student of Central City Academy; Age: Seventeen; Current Status: Not yet enrolled."
"According to the joint management agreement between the Central City government and various companies, this student is granted temporary citizen status for fifteen days."
"Citizen Chen Chuan, please report to the academy as soon as possible to update your status and obtain long-term residency rights."
"We have detected that you have a storage account with the Wansheng Corporation. According to the platform's agreement with the Wansheng Corporation, you can authorize the unlocking of unrestricted trading rights. Do you wish to unlock this feature?"
Chen Chuan hesitated and asked, "What are the risks and permissions of platform trading?"
The voice responded, "You are currently using a temporary citizen identity and do not have the qualifications to inquire. You can consult these services after updating your identity."
"Thank you, but I don't need it for now," Chen Chuan declined.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" the voice asked.
Chen Chuan turned to Old Qi, "Mr. Qi, I've confirmed my identity. What's next step?"
Old Qi replied, "That's it. The Spider Mother has confirmed your biofield. Wait a moment, let's establish a connection..." As he spoke, he touched his neck and looked at Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan heard the voice in his ear again, "Citizen Qi Gaozheng is requesting to establish a connection with you through this platform. Do you accept?"
"I accept," Chen Chuan replied.
Old Qi's voice sounded in his ear:
"Alright, as long as we're within the Central City range, we can communicate. But your device is an older model, so it can only transmit sound without other functions. It also spams you with annoying ads. When you need public services, you'll have to find a Boundary Point.
The school-issued devices are like this. Higher-level Yin-Yang Devices don't have these issues. If you have the money, you can get a new one.
Implants are even better, allowing for tighter field connections and faster response times. You'll understand once you try it. It's like suddenly curing decades of nearsightedness. That's the feeling. Hey, Chen Chuan, you can come down now.
Chen Chuan descended from above, gazing once more at the distant Central City. The chaotic and disorderly scenes had vanished, replaced by a structured and orderly landscape. Each building was bathed in light and shadow, creating a vibrant and colorful display, yet still concealing its darker aspects.
It was as if a once monochromatic painting had been imbued with vivid hues, enhancing its brilliance while simultaneously concealing its shadows.
At this moment, the city seemed more than just a silhouette on the horizon; it was a place where dreams and reality converged, the center of heaven and earth.
Finally, he understood why it was called Central City.
Lao Qi spoke to him, "It's quite amazing, isn't it? That's why those who come to Central City rarely want to leave. They live here without the Yin-Yang Device..."
He pointed to the implant behind his ear, "You can't see or touch those things. You can't access convenient services, buying and selling things is difficult, and you're restricted to specific transportation routes. You can't conduct convenient account transactions, and others may even refuse to communicate with you. It's like living in two different worlds."
Chen Chuan asked, "Are there people in the city who don't use this?"
"Of course! There's a group in the city that rejects all of this. They refuse to enter the real world, and we usually call them the Skeleton Clan. There's a gang in the city called the Skeleton Gang, and they never use this device. There are also some crazies who constantly spread rumors that the Yin-Yang Device is a conspiracy from above, meant to control us and make us reject wearing it."
Lao Qi glanced at Chen Chuan, and under the mask, Chen Chuan could clearly see a flash of orange light in one of his eyes.
"Yes, you currently have only a temporary identity permit, valid for fifteen days. You need to go to the Academy and get a student card from the University to update your identity and become an official citizen."
He turned and walked towards the car, "Let's go. We've already wasted over twenty minutes, and it's already past four. We should enter the city before nightfall."
Chen Chuan followed, but he paused to think. He allowed his Second Self to bear the external assault and glanced at Central City. Instantly, the brilliance faded, but as he released the barrier, it quickly returned.
He returned to the car, deep in thought.
Lao Qi got into the driver's seat and reminded him, "Chen Xiao Ge, I advise you to always wear the Yin-Yang Device. With it, you can move freely within Central City and access various information and services. Otherwise, you won't get far."
After a moment's thought, he added, "But if you go back and change your implant, remember not to casually add strangers to your contacts..."
As he chattered on, the SUV drove forward for ten minutes. Suddenly, a sharp buzzing sound rang out, causing Lao Qi's expression to change. Chen Chuan did not remove his bone mask, and in front of him, a blood-red cross-shaped light pattern appeared on the road.
"Damn, it's a roadblock inspection," Lao Qi cursed, slapping the steering wheel. "Some lunatic is causing trouble in the city again."
He turned to Chen Chuan and said, "This inspection might take until nightfall. I think we should take a detour. What do you think, Chen Xiao Ge?"
Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Qi, didn't you say there would be trouble?"
"It's still better than being stuck here. Who knows when they'll lift the blockade? If it's a day or two, are we just going to wait outside? We need to think of something."
Chen Chuan suggested, "Mr. Qi, you know this place better than I do. You decide."
"Alright!"
Lao Qi was decisive, hitting the steering wheel a few times before turning the SUV around and driving down the highway. He headed south, but once they left the road, his demeanor changed from relaxed to vigilant, carefully observing their surroundings.
After about a quarter of an hour, a sharp sound rang out in both their ears, accompanied by a cold voice, "Vehicle ahead, you are required to stop for inspection. Repeat, you are required to stop for inspection."
"Damn it, we've encountered a border patrol car," Lao Qi cursed.
Chen Chuan looked back and saw two armed patrol cars with light machine guns mounted on top approaching from both sides.
Lao Qi had no choice but to stop the car, knowing that they would not hesitate to shoot if he didn't comply with the inspection.
Reluctantly, he said, "We have to get out and be inspected." He opened the door and stepped out.
Chen Chuan also got out of the car.
The two patrol cars stopped about twenty meters behind them, and three patrol soldiers wearing helmets, goggles, and thick combat uniforms emerged. Each held a submachine gun.
And in the patrol vehicle, there were soldiers aiming their rifles at them.
One of the patrol officers looked at Chen Chuan, and a flash of light flickered in his goggles, "Temporary Citizen Chen Chuan, Wu Yi student, no implants."
Another patrol officer pointed his gun at them and said, "We currently suspect you are involved in a case of damaging company and public property. Please come with us for investigation."
Lao Qi cursed, "We just came back from outside to Central City. How could we possibly damage the city's property? Are you guys insane?"
The patrol officers showed no reaction to his tone but replied, "In terms of time and location, you are suspects. Please cooperate with us."
Lao Qi's expression turned sour. He knew the character of these border patrol officers. If they caught the real culprit, it would be fine, but as citizens, they would be released soon after. If they couldn't find the culprit, they would use them as scapegoats, and it would cost a fortune to hire an Advocate to fight the case.
"I don't want to go back with you for the investigation," Chen Chuan said at this moment.
The officers in front raised their guns cautiously, aiming at him, and those behind also moved their guns towards him.
Chen Chuan then held up a card in front of him, and as he made this move, he abruptly appeared within two meters of them, even though he was originally seven or eight meters away.
A flash of light appeared in the patrol officers' goggles, "National Infinite Defense Permit, Grade B... Target Strength Assessment: Tier Three..."
The patrol officers glanced at each other and then lowered their guns. Without a word, they retreated to their vehicle and drove away, leaving behind a large cloud of dust in the empty space.
Chen Chuan calmly watched them leave, put away his Infinite Defense Permit, and walked back.
Lao Qi watched him return, swallowed, and said, "I was saying... Chen, you, what did you just show them?" He hadn't even reacted when Chen Chuan suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Just the Infinite Defense Permit," Chen Chuan replied casually.
"Infinite Defense Permit?"
Lao Qi looked at him. He knew about this permit, as many students from Wu Yi University had it. But more importantly, it was the inhuman speed that Chen Chuan had just displayed.
This speed, combined with the Infinite Defense Permit, was a clear message to the patrol officers not to overstep their bounds, or else there was no telling how the situation might unfold.
He was just a commissioner, not very familiar with Wu Yi Academy's affairs. Previously, he couldn't associate Chen Chuan with the Combatants from Wu Yi Academy, but now he felt they were probably of the same kind.
Once they were back in the vehicle, he looked at Chen Chuan with a hint of reverence in his eyes. His speech became more cautious, no longer as casual as before.
The vehicle drove on without encountering any further obstacles. Along the way, they came across two more armed patrol vehicles, but neither stopped them for inspection.
"So many patrol vehicles, something must have happened..." Lao Qi muttered. The SUV passed between two confronting skyscrapers and climbed onto an overpass.
By this time, as the sun set in the west, the sky had completely darkened.
As they entered the city, colorful lights flashed on the inside and outside of his bone mask. Lights and shadows on the road and protective walls fell like silk ribbons onto the car, colliding and creating splashes of light and shadow that merged into the rapidly flowing neon lights on the ground as the vehicle drove over them.
On both sides of the overpass stood towering skyscrapers of varying heights. Some were within arm's reach, seeming to press down as they passed by, while others were far away in the distance, accompanied by the twinkling lights on the ground that stretched to the horizon.
The contrast in spatial distance created a sense of vast and surreal detachment in one's heart.
An hour later, the vehicle descended from the overpass, and as it turned at an arc-shaped bend, Lao Qi pointed and said, "Look, that's Wu Yi University."
Chen Chuan saw a skyscraper ahead, with a full moon floating above it. The building had eight angular faces, and at its height, one could see flying eaves and corners, rainbow bridges, and corridors. Amidst the floating light ribbons and surrounding clouds, there were amber-colored flying lanterns hovering outside the skyscraper, slowly rising upwards.
Lao Qi glanced at him and said, "It's beautiful, isn't it? Your Wu Yi Academy, oh, the official name is... Mystic Palace."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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