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Chapter 400: Chapter 396 Yellow Dragon Commerce
Gu Jinlai did not choose to take a carriage, but walked with Zhao Yang towards the Yellow Dragon Commerce in the Southeast City District.
"Extra, extra! Liao Yuan Demon Slayer has condensed the Martial Arts Will and, as a Martial King, has stepped into the third level of Supreme power."
"The young master of the Yuan Family a born fool? No! That is the pure and flawless heart of a child! After four years of Martial Arts practice, he became a Martial Sect, only those with an undistracted mind can ascend to the Martial Arts pinnacle!"
"The Publicity Department declares that trust is the second form of identification for humans. The Holy Dynasty is dedicated to creating a trust system beyond Contribution Points. Today in the Holy Dynasty, unity and trust between people are necessary to overcome difficulties and create a brighter future together."
The streets were filled with the continuous shouts of newsboys.
In the teahouses, people also colorfully described the glorious battle that had recently taken place in Wind and Rain City.
Martial Saint Zuo Qianqiu led the rescue of three hundred fellow Humans from the fallen territories and defeated the Demon King’s Army in Phoenix Feather Valley, 1,800 miles north of the city! He slew twelve Demon Marshals and eighty Demon Generals!"
Additionally, in some places, one could see workers with badges from the City Lord Mansion distributing flyers and shouting to promote.
"The Heavenly Master Hall calls again upon all visiting Heavenly Masters, the Human Clan needs your power, please report to the Heavenly Master Hall as soon as possible. It has a large number of Heavenly Monarchs and Great Sky Lords and the best living environment. Every single Heavenly Master is an attractor for Devils, hiding in the shadows will only bring disaster to those around you. Also, we ask all the common people to urge the Heavenly Masters they know that it is only by gathering at the Heavenly Master Hall that the glorious Holy Emperor can ensure your safety."
The city’s bustling streets were visibly prosperous.
Moreover, in exchanges between individuals, people tried their best to smile and express friendliness.
But when alone, most maintained a solemn demeanor and hurried on their way.
It seemed as though everyone was holding their breath, maintaining a very fast pace of life.
They were determined to give their utmost effort to contribute to the construction of Wind and Rain City and the Holy Dynasty.
They would not allow the tragedies that happened in other kingdoms and Sects, where countless families were destroyed and scattered, to happen in the Holy Dynasty.
Day after day of hard work, along with the enlightened leadership of the Holy Emperor and the occasional uplifting news, had them utterly convinced that if they could just persevere through this period, a bright future awaited humanity.
Even if...
They might not live to see that day come, their children and grandchildren would definitely enjoy the beauty of a restored human world.
"This era..."
Gu Jinlai pondered, unsure of how to describe it.
If one really had to say, it was an era where humans were forced to stop infighting, deeply realized the threat of extinction posed by Devils to the Human Clan, and were gradually awakening.
A transitional stage from feudal society to modern society.
"All visiting Heavenly Masters need to gather at the Imperial City’s Heavenly Master Hall?"
Gu Jinlai walked for a while, then turned to Zhao Yang and asked.
"Yes."
Zhao Yang nodded, "The spirituality and Spiritual Sense of Heavenly Masters naturally allure Devils. Some Devils can even ’sense’ the presence of Heavenly Masters from tens or even hundreds of miles away."
He continued with a serious expression, "Those intelligent Demon Kings and Demon Marshals are somewhat controllable, but Demon Generals and common Devils who have not fully subdued their instincts will swarm towards the Heavenly Masters upon ’sensing’ them. If those Heavenly Masters are in the Outer City District, it’s somewhat better, but if they are in the Inner City... the lurking Devils, unable to devour a Heavenly Master, will become violent and attack indiscriminately, causing great harm to the common people of the Outer City District."
"So they need to gather at the Heavenly Master Hall?"
"Right, it’s said that in the past, the Holy Dynasty conducted experiments showing that cities with Heavenly Masters scattered all around often experienced uncontrollable attacks by devils, which were frequent occurrences. However, after the Heavenly Masters were centralized at the Imperial City Heavenly Master Hall, the number of attacks decreased by a full ninety percent."
Zhao Yang said this, seemingly guessing what Gu Jinlai wanted to say, "The Ancient Martial King is worried about attacks by Demon Spirits, right? But the Heavenly Masters congregated in the Heavenly Master Hall aren’t just sitting idly by; not only do they exchange knowledge with each other, exploring how to become Heavenly Monarchs, Great Sky Lords, or even the creator, but they also developed a variety of divine, strange devices, elixirs, and improved crops."
"Devices? Elixirs? Crops?"
"Right, many devices and among the most famous..."
Zhao Yang’s gaze shifted to the surroundings of the city.
At each of the four corners of the city stood a tower that stretched into the sky, and at the top of every tower, there was an object resembling a rhombus-shaped gem.
"It’s the Demon Refining Divine Crystal!"
He spoke with a hint of pride, "The Demon Refining Divine Crystal absorbs a special energy and can emit Demon Extermination Divine Light that slays all approaching Demon Spirits within three hundred miles, even Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits cannot withstand several rounds of firing from the Demon Refining Divine Crystal. It’s said that some treasures can even threaten more powerful Demon Spirits, so, we have no fear of Demon Spirits at all."
"The Demon Refining Divine Crystal."
As Gu Jinlai entered the city, he vaguely sensed the mystery contained within the towering spires at the corners of the city walls but didn’t expect they actually had the function of slaying Demon Spirits.
However, he frowned shortly after, "Three hundred miles? That covers only one hundred and fifty miles both inside and outside the city. If I remember correctly, the Outer City District spreads over more than two hundred miles."
Zhao Yang’s expression changed slightly and only after a while did he speak, "The Demon Refining Divine Crystals are not easy to create, and even though the Heavenly Masters are doing their utmost to reduce costs, having four Demon Refining Towers in a giant city is already the limit..."
Speaking of this, a spark lit in his eyes, "Therefore, we need more Heavenly Masters to go to the Heavenly Master Hall, to join the research and development team, creating Void Mirrors that can discern the truth and deception of enemies and devils, elixirs that can accelerate the Cultivation of Demon God Warriors, and crops that yield thousands of catties per mu."
After finishing, he looked around, "It is precisely because of the collective wisdom of the Heavenly Masters that a large number of Strange Objects have been created, allowing Wind and Rain City to house thirty million people without apparent chaos. All these are the great achievements established by the Heavenly Masters, as well as the Heavenly Master Hall that assembles many Heavenly Masters,"
Heavenly Masters Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Beast Taming.
This is what many people think Heavenly Masters should do.
The Holy Dynasty is no exception.
However...
Gu Jinlai took another look at the Demon Refining Divine Crystal.
The Heavenly Master Hall could create such Supreme Demon Extermination Treasures, capable of even eradicating Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits.
Plus, some treasures that could threaten even the Spirit Venerable...
Whether or not to station Heavenly Masters locally really wasn’t important anymore.
"We’ve arrived; ahead is our Yellow Dragon Commerce."
Zhao Yang said and pointed ahead to a...
Mall?
Gu Jinlai closely examined the building before him, a six-story structure.
It indeed resembled a mall.
Outside was a parking lot full of rather luxurious horse carriages, and the first floor was sumptuously decorated, making extensive use of transparent glass.
Differently colored "electric lights", and even the floor beneath was lined with neat and clean flooring.
Through the main entrance, one could vaguely make out a variety of shops inside.
Clothing, food, elixirs, books, delicate accessories, and even amusement parks—it truly resembled the trend of a modernized marketplace.
This unprecedented sense of familiarity hit Gu Jinlai hard, momentarily dazing him.
In contrast, Zhao Yang appeared very calm, and even instinctively puffed out his chest.
Although Yellow Dragon Commerce’s flagship mall had only been open for two years, its unique business philosophy and decoration style had made it one of the most famous malls in Wind and Rain City.
Were it not for the absence of particularly high-end goods and the rich profits of exclusive items, the business alone might even have hoped to propel Yellow Dragon Commerce into the ranks of Wind and Rain City’s top six leading guilds.
Even so, under the leadership of Vice President Feng Yushu, Yellow Dragon Commerce had still achieved significant development and was firmly in the top ten of Wind and Rain City.
Her backing, the Feng Family, had thus gained much fame.
However...
The Vice-President was still a woman, and having created such a successful Yellow Dragon Mall had caused quite a few in the Feng Family to turn green with envy, especially since the second elder had taken over as president, and recent times had been somewhat difficult.
If she could woo this Martial King, without doubt it would greatly alleviate the pressure from her family.
"Who designed this mall?"
At this moment, Zhao Yang heard Gu Jinlai’s somewhat agitated inquiry.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Yang felt more confident about winning over the Martial King, "It was designed by our Vice President Feng. She was informed that the Ancient Martial King was coming, and is currently waiting inside the commerce hall with the president and several housekeepers... Martial King, this way please..."
Gu Jinlai quickly followed Zhao Yang and entered the large building through another entrance of the mall.
Thinking about the layout and design of this giant structure, he felt quite conflicted.
There was anticipation, yet also apprehension.
It wasn’t long before the two arrived outside a hall.
At the moment, a group of six people was waiting at the entrance of the hall.
Upon seeing Zhao Yang and Gu Jinlai, the middle-aged man in his forties or fifties who was leading them strode forward excitedly, saying, "Is this the Ancient Martial King who saved hundreds of our merchants’ sons? Please give me, Feng Leiming, and our Feng Family, an opportunity to properly thank you..."
Gu Jinlai, however, directly asked, "Who is the designer of the Yellow Dragon Mall?"
Feng Leiming was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "The Ancient Martial King wants to see my niece Yu Shu? I’ll have her come over to accompany you at noon..."
"I want to meet the designer of the Yellow Dragon Mall."
Gu Jinlai said straightforwardly.
Feng Leiming’s face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly said, "Of course, of course, call Yu Shu here."
As he spoke, he gestured with an open hand, "Martial King, please come inside."
Subsequently, the group entered a room similar to an "office."
Soon, tea and snacks were served.
"To thank the Ancient Martial King for your help to Yellow Dragon Commerce, our Feng Family is willing..."
Feng Leiming kept promising benefits in Gu Jinlai’s ear, seeming to want to draw him into the guild.
But Gu Jinlai hardly paid any attention and instead glanced toward the door from time to time.
After about ten minutes, hurried footsteps were heard outside.
Immediately afterwards, the door was pushed open, and a girl who appeared to be
...in her twenties came into view before Gu Jinlai.
No!
Her appearance of being in her twenties seemed to be deliberately styled to look more mature, and her real age...
...probably sixteen or seventeen.
But this was not the point.
The point was her attire.
Her dress...
A simple long hair left hanging down the shoulders, tied with blue ribbons into two butterfly knots, wearing an off-white dress...
The length just exceeded the knees.
She was also wearing a pair of white shoes.
This was...
A style of dress full of Blue Star influences for young girls.
The girl, Feng Yushu seemed somewhat irritably to glance at Feng Leiming, then her gaze quickly fell upon Gu Jinlai as she said with a blossoming smile, "I apologize, Ancient Martial King, I had some matters to attend to just now and couldn’t properly welcome your arrival..."
"Did you design the Yellow Dragon Mall?"
Gu Jinlai interrupted her and inquired.
"It was me."
Feng Yushu replied and was about to say something else to salvage the relationship with this valuable guest—who would certainly become an important martial force for the commerce hall if he joined—making up for the earlier slight of not arriving promptly to greet him.
At that moment, however, a cautious, probing question came to her ear.
"Odd change, even constant?"
Instantly, it was as if a bolt of lightning had streaked through Feng Yushu’s mind.
It left her dizzy and disoriented.
She blankly responded instinctively, "Symbols in quadrants?"
