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Chapter 996: The Vast Sky's Comfort in the Realm
Chapter 996: The Vast Sky's Comfort in the Realm
As Feng He Shou's applause died down, two attendants brought out a set of multi-panel screens, using paper partitions to completely cover one side of the corridor, leaving only a narrow passage for people to pass through.
After a while, a rustling sound was heard, as if someone was dragging their clothes as they walked in.
Then, light shone through the screens, and a short drumbeat sounded, revealing the silhouette of a graceful woman. Her slender arms and long fingers, her graceful neck, and supple waist formed a captivating and tense pose.
A moment later, the drumbeat resumed, accompanied by a rhythmic beat, and the woman began to move in various enchanting and captivating dance moves.
At first, her movements were slow and graceful, but as the drumbeat gradually quickened, her dance became faster and more vigorous, her body spinning in place with agile and robust movements.
This fast-paced dance lasted for three to four minutes, during which the woman's movements were never repeated, constantly changing at a rapid pace. Only towards the end did the dance slow down, and with a heavy beat, it came to a stop, leaving the dancer frozen in her final pose.
The lights dimmed, and the dancer retreated without revealing her face, leaving the audience with endless imagination.
Chen Chuan calmly observed the performance. As a fighter, even though he deliberately avoided looking at the real figure behind the paper screens, he could still discern from the rhythm of the body movements that the dancer was not a woman.
If his guess was correct, this was a creature from the Confluence Ground, a peculiar 'Beauty Snake' with human-like arms. He had seen this creature in some books, and its appearance was enough to startle ordinary people.
However, this creature could communicate with humans. When its shadow was projected onto certain walls, it appeared almost indistinguishable from a real woman. It was said that in the old times, the royal court had arranged for the 'Thousand Snake Dance,' which later spread to overseas regions. This dance must be the one they were referring to. But the resources and manpower of the old dynasty were far beyond what the Langtao Pavilion could compare to.
Although Chen Chuan had seen through the trick, he didn't expose it, as it would have ruined the atmosphere.
After the dance, the screens were removed, and a frame was set up in the corridor, covered with a cloth curtain. Then, a pair of men and women dressed in ancient overseas High Heaven Sect attire appeared. They wore tall hats, and their heavy, voluminous clothing reached the ground, their faces painted red.
The two stood below the frame, bowed to the guests, and then sang in unison, their bodies spinning and moving in rhythm. The performance was graceful and melodious, with the man's deep and magnetic voice and the woman's clear and sweet voice creating a harmonious duet.
At first glance, there seemed to be nothing special about this performance.
However, in reality, these two performers were life-sized puppets controlled by strings hanging from above, allowing them to execute intricate movements. The singing voices, surprisingly, came from birds hidden within their hats.
Chen Chuan had heard of these birds before; they were also trained in the ancient court. These birds could live for hundreds of years and could mimic the tone and pitch of people from the past, creating conversations between the past and the present, allowing for the exploration of ancient mysteries.
These two mimicry carved birds seemed to imitate the voices of famous singers, resulting in such a captivating and melodious performance.
If one only observed the surface, this would be an ordinary dance and song performance. However, upon discovering the hidden elements, one could unravel layer upon layer, constantly uncovering the hidden wonders within. This performance required keen eyes and a refined appreciation to fully understand its depth.
Chen Chuan recognized some of the elements, but he was certain that the art of the performance itself was exceptional, even though he didn't fully comprehend it, leaving many aspects still mysterious to him.
It didn't matter; although the performance was impressive, the aesthetic was slightly eerie.
The following acts were also full of depth and intricacy, well-crafted, and couldn't be considered bad. However, they lacked a certain vitality.
Fortunately, the programs on the field domain screens were more acceptable, featuring passionate and unrestrained indigenous dances and celebrations. Although it wasn't the tourist season, and the number of visitors was relatively low, the Anying Archipelago itself had a large population, and the gathering made it exceptionally lively.
Meanwhile, in the two central city government halls, most of the high-ranking officials waited in front of the field domain screens, anticipating the moment of field domain connection.
It wasn't just them; at that moment, in the various central cities of Great Smoothness, different factions, martial arts groups, including the Central Highest Executive Mansion, and even some countries around the world, were all paying attention to this event.
Time marched on relentlessly, and finally, at the stroke of midnight on the 22nd, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
The last few field domain signal relay stations joined the field domain connection, and all the enhanced signal equipment and auxiliary creatures were activated. At that moment, the field domain channels became more active than ever before, expanding outward with unprecedented momentum.
On the squares of the two central cities, where giant field domain screens were erected, they flickered and displayed two scenes from each other's locations.
This scene showcases two central cities, and in this moment, all the spectators below and those in front of the screens are captivated by the sights above.
Off-screen voices begin introducing themselves to the citizens of both cities and conveying greetings on behalf of their respective sides, eliciting cheers and applause.
After a brief exchange of greetings, the Governor of Jibeidao Central City, Qi Wei Zhao, and the Governor of Donghaodao Central City, Su Shang Rong, appear simultaneously on the screens, exchanging respectful greetings and expressing their sincere wishes for each other's cities. They announce that real-time information connection between the two cities is now established, and the Skyline is officially in place.
As their words conclude, the crowd erupts in enthusiastic cheers, and a burst of colorful fireworks blooms in the sky, intertwining with the neon lights, as if illuminating the entire sky in an instant.
Following the governors' speeches, a spokesperson from the Government Hall steps forward to outline the specific allocation and implementation plans for the Skyline.
Skyline resources will be prioritized for government departments and major national enterprises, gradually opening up to domestic and international companies, and eventually benefiting the general public. The two central cities will take approximately three to six months to complete this process.
Due to limited resources, anyone requesting usage must apply in advance. However, those who have invested early and have a stake in the two interconnected companies, such as the Fusion Boundary Company, have been allocated a portion of communication rights.
Large corporations like Canglong Company and Yuan Yang Development Group naturally get the biggest slice of the pie, as there are abundant resources and land to be developed overseas, while Jibeidao Central City can provide various technical support.
After the two cities are linked, all relay stations and surrounding islands along the route will benefit, and a vast radiation belt will form around the information channel, gradually spreading to the counties and islands surrounding the two cities.
In the next step, all lower-level administrative areas of the two cities will be included, leading to deep integration in administration, military, and economy, with immeasurable benefits.
However, on the 22nd and the following day until dawn, information resources will be fully open for one day, allowing citizens of both cities to enjoy real-time interactive communication.
Chen Chuan watched the entire event at Langtao Pavilion, and after the field domain announced the connection, he also tested it by communicating with several members of the Safety Decision-Making Group on Erwen Island, as well as colleagues from the Defense Bureau, and even sent a message to his aunt's family to let them know he was safe.
After that, he didn't continue to occupy the resources but instead enjoyed the sweet dew with Feng He Shou while watching the performances from Donghaodao.
He wasn't completely relaxed, though; he also kept an eye on various news sources. If any Beyond-Limit Power emerged to cause trouble at this time, he would promptly take responsibility for handling it, as the vast ocean was more challenging to defend than Jibeidao, with its open access for all. The internal enemies of Great Smoothness had been suppressed, but it was hard to predict any potential moves by foreign powers.
Fortunately, with comprehensive information communication in place, even if someone tried to cause trouble, they couldn't stop the true advancement of the Skyline.
The celebration continued until nearly dawn, and while there were no significant disturbances, the two central cities were well-prepared for security, capable of handling any situation unless it involved Beyond-Limit Powers.
At this moment, the fire in the hall's stove went out, leaving only a wisp of blue smoke.
Through the open hall door, the snow outside remained, but a crisp and cheerful birdcall could be heard.
Chen Chuan stood up and walked outside, and the attendant immediately opened the snow-blocking curtain above.
He walked to the front of the steps, his gaze passing over the high courtyard and toward the distant sea and the faint morning glow on the water.
Chao Ming emerged from its warm nest in a vermilion flower tree in the courtyard, shook its feathers, and, having enjoyed a good meal the night before, chirped towards the light on the sea, its voice distant and clear.
Feng He Shou also came out and stood beside him.
Chen Chuan said, "Thank you, Feng He Pavilion Master, for your hospitality yesterday. The Skyline between the two cities is now officially connected, and I should be on my way."
Feng He Shou, knowing he had important matters to attend to, bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Chen, if you visit Erwen Island again, just let me know, and I will be ready to receive you."
Chen Chuan nodded slightly and said, "Feng He Pavilion Master, farewell."
He reached out, picked up the Snow Lord Saber from the sword rack, and descended the courtyard steps. After a few steps, he looked up, and with the support of the force field, his body slowly levitated.
Then, a flash of white-golden light shot into the distant sky, and Chao Ming let out a chirp, leaping from the tree and swiftly following, soon disappearing into the sea and sky bathed in the morning light.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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