“Thank you! Thank you so much!” An Susu’s uncle showed up shortly afterwards to fetch her, and thanked the others repeatedly.

The girl might address him as her maternal uncle, but he was actually more like a distant relative. The man was a government employee in the Wula Province; he and his colleagues had been assigned a quota, requiring them to each find a candidate to go to Phoenix Mountain.

His own son was already a married man. After searching through his acquaintances, this distant niece was the only one he could find. Susu’s parents were honest farmers with little education and he had expected much persuasion would be needed, but surprisingly, the parents agreed almost right away.

The uncle found their reaction somewhat puzzling, but did not think much of it, for the farmers had been having such a rough time these years he thought this was probably the parents’ idea of finding a way out for their daughter.

Just like that, the five of them—that was, An Susu (7), You Yu (15), Zeng Ke (15), Lei Xiao (16), and Yuan Lingshan (16)—met for the first time.

The three teenagers from the three families were very well-mannered, and did not display any patronizing behavior, yet You Yu was the one leaving Susu with the best impression—probably because they were both raised in a farmer family. The two exchanged contact information before going separate ways.

You Yu went on roaming the square, which had become the playground of people from all walks of life. They hooked up or jostled, each trying to outwit the others. Such were the dynamics of the square.

That “know-it-all”, for instance, had cozied up to quite a large group of people, and formed an organization that lived off gathering and selling information. Luckily, the guy was not one of those unrealistic adolescents, and did not give his organization names like ” Suspending Mirror Division”, “Dubhe Camp”, or “Mansion of Golden Wind and Fine Rain ¹ “. The organization was named plainly as “Pavilion of Secrets”.

A bunch of people from the Northeast—mainly from the provinces of Heishui and Wula—soon teamed up like a gang. Despite their unruly appearance, they were no fools. There was no oppression of the fellows of the same trade, nor were they asking anyone for protection money. Any behavior like that, and the square would be cleared out for good by a little tap of the patriarch’s seal.

Just like so, Shengtian was attracting the attention of the whole country, Bai Town was the center of focus of Shengtian, and the square was where the spotlights of Bai Town converged. The main event had yet to begin, but everything was bustling like a fanfare out there.

“Hey, there’s an update!” You Yu was quietly observing the dynamics of various parties when a fellow shouted, “It’s the agenda! The agenda is set!”

Whoosh!

Almost everyone moved in unison: taking out their phones, they tapped the app open and checked the most recent update of Phoenix Mountain. It was very short—two lines only.

“The seven-day event will begin on June 8th; the first six days consist of lectures, and the seventh day the trials for the candidates.

“Location: the square at the mountain foot. Time: every morning at eight.”

Neither the content of the lectures nor the lecturers were mentioned, but these two lines alone were like a burning match thrown into a gunpowder barrel. The square erupted.

“God damn it! I live in Shali Village. That’s like over 50 km from here!”

“Lucky you. I’m staying in f*cking Qingchengzi, and that’s 90 km away!”

“Where the hell am I supposed to find my ride? Sh*t, I probably have to sleep on the square on the 7th.”

“Same here. I’m going to buy a mattress now.”

A lot of people were complaining, which was all about the inconvenience in the availability and travelling resulting from the great number of people. You Yu secretly rejoiced, for not only was Baoshan very close, he could also ride with Tao Yu. He would definitely be here on time.

Of course, more people cheered at the announcement than not, for choosing the square as the venue meant that they could escape the scorching heat coming from the blazing sun. With such a hot weather and so many people, holding the event elsewhere would guarantee a massive number of heatstroke victims.

***

Up on the mountain, over the cloud.

Gu Yu was standing right there, looking down at everything happening below.

That Rising Manual turned out to be very useful. As it was available to both Phoenix Mountain and the monastery, it could work perfectly as a universal escaping skill. Depending on the cultivation level of the practitioner, the effect of the manual also differed. With it, the acquired state cultivators could rise 20 or 30 meters above the ground and move for hundreds of meters across the air, whereas innate state cultivators would travel miles away in one stride as if travelling by wind.

As of a Human Immortal, well, you were looking right at it. He could actually manipulate Qi, which enabled him to stand on the cloud.

Gu Yu took in all activities on the square with a single glance. With his face remaining emotionless, one could not tell what was going on in his head. A moment later, someone called out from below. “Old Gu, gimme a hand!”

Whoosh!

Pressing his left hand at the empty air and lifting up, he pulled Xiaozhai up, then held her in his arms.

Xiaozhai also looked down at the mountain foot. “So, you do see things differently at a different cultivation state. Standing this high up, you simply have to see every other life down there as nobodies even if you don’t mean to.” Wrapping her arms around Gu Yu’s waist, she chuckled. “You’ve been here for a while. Any thought?”

“…” Gu Yu hesitated a little before answering her. “Maybe because Old Priest Tan had moved me greatly, I was a little impetuous in the beginning; all I could think of was to earn a few more opportunities for the others. However, as the date approaches, I am getting a feeling growing stronger by the day—about how insignificant I am, and how I have overestimated my capability.

“However, it then occurred to me that I should simply make a lecture fitting my level of understanding. I will do my best, and there is no shame in that. So, to answer your question: there is no thought.”

“Is that so?” Blinking, Xiaozhai suddenly raised her hand and slipped it inside his clothes, which caressed gently and finally stopped over his heart.

“Oh? It’s indeed as settled as still water…” Her perfect fingers then twiched, and there was a thin layer of electric film over her palm, which created a ticklish, numbing, and prickling sensation. The hand then moved downwards. “How about now?”

“Having fun, aren’t you?” Gu Yu rolled his eyes at her, and pulled the pretty hand out of his shirt, asking, “How did your preparation go?”

“I don’t need preparation.”

“Are you that confident?”

“Why can’t I be?” Xiaozhai retorted. “At the end of the day, what we’re doing is the popularization of concepts, so we’d better keep them plain and common rather than profound and difficult. We’re cultivators all right, but we’re also modern people in the first place. How much preparation do we need for communication between modern people?”

Before Gu Yu could reply, she went on.

“We all know the saying: the economic base determines the superstructure.

“The current principal contradiction is that despite the emergence of the new relations of production, the productivity has not developed along with it. Five years is a long time for individuals, but it is too short for society as a whole, and is in no way long enough for a transition to take place.

“Our mind lags far behind the facts. Cultivation is happening, but people’s understanding of cultivation is not moving forward with it. Since the authorities will do nothing to change the ideology, we have to take that task.

“All countries are rebuilding their social systems now. When that is completed, a new global system will be established. We will then have to deal with a global market, the flow of commodities and people, and things like administrative organizations, legislation, understanding of history, education system, as well as disciplines and schools of cultivation… those will really be a handful!”

“…”

Gu Yu eyed her for a long moment before turning to the other way—he refused to talk to this straight A student (that was crushing him with her knowledge again).

Xiaozhai grinned, and did not say anything else. Looking into the distance, she saw verdant peaks rising over one another beneath them, each standing taller than the next. Not far from those were the closely built buildings and the boisterous crowd. Further out, the sky seemed to turn into a golden red as the heated air rolled out in waves, wrapping everything inside.

“It feels hotter this year,” she said all of a sudden.

“The outbreak of the spiritual essence is reaching its peak, and the abnormality will be even more severe these couple of years.”

“When are you going to use your Rain-praying Talisman, then?”

Turning back to look at her, Gu Yu smiled. “When it’s supposed to be used.”

***

Western slope, the beast farm.

The “farm” was much, much bigger than the name suggested, and covered an entire area of two small hills. Those civets, golden cat, and Francois’ langurs that Xiaojin brought back had all been thrown into this area, and were raised in free-range conditions.

There were no locks of any kind. Long Qiu only had to draw a line with her sword at the entrance and exit, and the animals could not stay far away enough from the line.

Right now, Xiao Qiu and Xiaojin were sitting on a big tree, watching the three piglets running around.

“Jin Jin!” Long Qiu knitted her brows, and said in vexation, “I have been thinking about it for a long time, and I still think we can’t have them inbreeding. We must find a mutated breeding pig for them. Oh, and a nice-looking sow.”

“Pfffft!” Xiaojin lost her footing at those words, and almost fell off the tree. “Sis, I have been sitting with you for hours, and that’s what’s been bothering you?”

“Why not? That’s a very important matter.”

“Do you have any idea what is happening now? You’re thinking about breeding pigs instead of preparing for the lecture?”

“But, but…”

“No buts! You’re wasting my time! Bye bye!” She jumped off the tree, fuming.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m taking a walk.”

“To see Priest Chao again? Something’s up with you these days!” Long Qiu jumped off behind her.

‘Hm?’ Xiaojin stopped abruptly at those words and narrowed her eyes. “What’re you trying to say?”

“No, I don’t…” The two girls had never had a real quarrel, and seeing that her teasing seemed to have pissed Xiaojin off, Long Qiu was flustered. “I’m just curious. Do you, do you like him?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Ever since the priests of the monastery moved into the manor, you have been going there every single day. It’s not just me; the others are talking about it too. I just wanted to know.”

“…” Xiaojin stared at her for a long while before she was herself again. She then sighed. “Others can talk all they want, but you should know me better. It’s just so lonely up here, and I need someone to hang out with…”

“You have me!” Long Qiu cut her off, not convinced at all.

“It’s not the same thing. We’re like this, and it’s another thing between me and him…” Long Qiu was a blank canvas in terms of relationships, and Xiaojin found it pointless trying to explain to her. She then gave her a straightforward answer. “I don’t like him; not in this lifetime. I’m not interested in the friends with benefits thing, so I need him as a bromeo to keep life interesting. Those guys from the monastery are actually pretty nice. They’re all very talented and can talk beautifully… well, you won’t understand. See ya!”

After that, she ignored Long Qiu, and ran happily down the mountain all the way to the manor.

She only realized that something was amiss when she was at the front gate. Yells were coming from inside, sounding as if two sides were arguing. She was about to enter when the door to the hallway opened, and a distressed Li Dong walked out.

“Miss Jin! Great! You’re here!” At the sight of her, Li Dong seemed to have found a savior. He ran to her in a hurry.

“What’s wrong? Somebody giving you trouble there?” she asked.

“Those delegations are impossible!” Li Dong lowered his voice and said, “Another butch of people arrived this morning—the ambassadors of some nine countries. The arrangement was to have them stay in a hotel in the city, but when they were brought there, they would not have it, and insisted to live on the mountain.

“Brother Shui thought it inappropriate to refuse, and since we have enough rooms in the manor, he agreed to have them here. They were only here for like a minute when they heard about our agenda, then asked to be part of the internal communicating session. The men of the BIMAUP can never agree to that; they’re talking about it inside now.”

The delegations attending the lecture were all from the surrounding smaller countries this time.

The western countries such as Germani and Gaul did not send any diplomatic notes, for Ernese and the others had had their discussion with Gu Yu already. With the alliance formed among the European countries, they were busying themselves with development work, and had no time for the lecture at all.

Xiaojin’s face darkened at Li Dong’s words. “Who’s asking for trouble?”

“Who else? The oh-so-great Goryeo, of course.”