The two main functions of the Search for the Gods Technique are: first, to allow Xia Chuhe to see the memories of the chosen person; and second, to turn the chosen person into a mentally challenged person.

In this way, there is no need to worry that the district chief will contact the Moon Goddess, thereby exposing the existence of Xia Chuhe and others.

At the same time, from the district head's memories, Xia Chuhe directly felt the pressure that the Moon Goddess brought to ordinary people, and Her "evil deeds".

As the district head, he could mostly only receive one-way communication from the Moon Goddess. And the Moon Goddess's communication usually only had one purpose—to require a new Dream Star.

Becoming a Dream Star isn't limited to the Dream Star Election; you can also be "recommended" by the district head.

The dream stars who are "recommended" are usually outsiders. For example, those who pass through Dream City or are discovered by star seekers, and who are particularly compatible with the Moon God's preferences, will be brainwashed by the city's residents, represented by the district chief, and then sent to the Moon God's Temple.

These dream stars never appeared on the tour, and most ordinary citizens of Dream City were unaware of their existence.

...

If it weren't for the accidental discovery of the district chief's memories, no one would have known about this.

...

Xia Chuhe tied up the district chief, dressed him in a robe to cover his face, and disguised him as an ordinary old man.

On the day the second round of voting ended, the results were announced, and the city's residents were abuzz with discussion.

"Was the vote count rigged?"

“I also feel something’s not right. Zhang Mubai… I haven’t seen him much.”

"I didn't vote for him, did you vote for this person?"

"..."

Even though the whole city was skeptical of the voting results, no one came out to explain, and the top ten selected successfully obtained the pass to enter the final selection and go to Dream City.

Only Lu Wei ran into the street like a madman, shouting: "There's a conspiracy! The votes have been manipulated!"

Ever since the food wasn't delivered yesterday, Lu Wei had been filled with anxiety. Today, when the final voting results came out, only Lu Xiaonan's votes were eliminated, and Lu Wei completely broke down.

However, his shouts were drowned out by the doubts of the city's residents and were equally insignificant.

...

The center of Dream City is the Moon Temple, the outer perimeter of Dream City is Dream City, and then the central urban area, and the east, west, south and north urban areas.

Dream City is a city exclusively for Dream Stars, inhabited by Dream Stars, their families, and high-ranking guards. Those wishing to enter Dream City must traverse its five districts; ordinary people cannot access it.

Those who can enter Dream City, besides Dream Star and those associated with him, are Dream Star candidates who have obtained a pass.

The pass is a spherical container containing a drop of red liquid.

White Cat looked at Bai Xiaomi, Xingxing, and Zhu Guanshan, who had received their passes, and smiled with satisfaction: "This is the blood you used when you registered. It has already been certified in Dream City. Don't give it to anyone else."

Of the ten candidates sent by the West District, White Cat was able to connect with three of them, and she felt that at least one of these three could become a new Dream Star.

Xia Chuhe and the others escorted Zhu Guanshan and Xingxing to Dream City, but they couldn't get in and could only wait in the outer central city.

Xia Chuhe was giving Zhu Guanshan a haircut when a hummingbird flew into Zhu Guanshan's hair through Xia Chuhe's palm.

Xia Chuhe whispered to Zhu Guanshan, "Pay attention to the layout of Dream City, especially the weak points in the defense."

Zhu Guanshan nodded and ran over to Lu Danggui: "Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Lu Dangui coldly replied, "No."

Zhu Guanshan was not disappointed. He turned around, took Xingxing's hand, and the two entered Dream City hand in hand.

The rest of the group were unable to enter Dream City, so they temporarily found a hotel to stay in.

Compared to the base, Dream City has one major difference—its main body is on the ground. When the windproof shield was activated, Xia Chuhe almost had the illusion of returning to the modern era.

You can see outside through the hotel window.

A black and red garbage truck drove by, and a thin arm fell out from the slightly ajar compartment.

"Do you know what that vehicle is used for?" Xia Chuhe asked.

Bu Yi glanced at it and whispered, "The vehicle that transports corpses."

The price of living on the surface is the effects of pollution. Non-evolved individuals exposed to pollution are prone to genetic breakdown, leading to various mutations. Even the probability of birth defects in infants is higher than in the base.

Children with birth defects are usually thrown into garbage trucks and never have a chance to grow up. If Xingxing's brothers and sisters hadn't met Heiniu, they would have died young too.

Bu Yi said, "If I'm not mistaken, the black girl's legs are very likely also due to genetic breakdown."

Will gene therapy be effective?

“No, the process of genetic breakdown is irreversible,” Li Yue interjected.

Why don't they live underground?

"Exploring the underground requires enormous resources. In most cities, the underground is used to cultivate mushrooms and devil worms. Food is more valuable than people."

"..."

The atmosphere inside the hotel became somber.

Li Yue suddenly pointed out the window: "Look, isn't that Xingxing's younger brother?"

On the street, a strange-looking little boy secretly reached his hand into a passerby's bag...

When Xia Chuhe first met this boy, he was stealing.

This time, he wasn't so lucky.

The owner grabbed the boy's arm; the boy's hand was still inside the bag, and he was caught red-handed.

Judging from the situation, the two seemed to have said something, and it appeared that the boy was begging for forgiveness.

But this time, the owner of the lost item wasn't so easy to talk to. He punched and kicked the boy, who curled up and silently endured the blows.

As the man began to attack, Bu Yi asked, "Should we go help? If we don't, he'll be beaten to death."

Xia Chuhe: "???"

She almost forgot that this was a place where food was more valuable than human life. Stealing food was more serious than taking a life.

Xia Chuhe sighed, unable to ignore it.

She opened the window and jumped downstairs, negotiating with the owner before the boy was beaten to death: "How much grain did he steal from you?"

The owner clutched the bag, saying, "He didn't have a chance to steal it before I caught him."

Xia Chuhe negotiated with the owner of the lost property: "How much grain do I have to offer before you release him?"

The owner was skeptical: "Three jin?"

Three pounds of grain can buy a human life.

Xia Chuhe took out the grain without hesitation.

After the owner left, she asked the boy, "Why did you steal again?"

The boy was very stubborn and didn't answer.

Xia Chuhe could read hatred in his eyes.

Xia Chuhe asked again, "Did you come by yourself?"

"My little sister is here too."

Although the boy was uncooperative, Xia Chuhe still managed to find his sister who was selling scrap metal.

Without the gimmick of sponsoring stars, no one would buy these junk items.

The younger sister's eyesight was poor, and she couldn't see the bruises on the boy's body. She simply asked, "Brother, did you earn any food?"

The boy said, "I will earn food."

Xia Chuhe was worried that the boy would go out to steal again, so he stayed by the brother and sister's side for a while until Xingxing and Zhuguanshan came out of Mengcheng.

The hummingbird that was being carried along also managed to get out safely.

Zhu Guanshan was as usual, but Xingxing was unusually excited, as if she had become a different person.