The Diary of a Renter
51. Year-end inspection
In the depths of winter, the endless corridor was warm and inviting, filled with the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon bread from Uncle Bloodaxe and the clean scent of winter sunshine woven by Shirin. Jiang Yu sat at his desk, not holding an account book, but a "Building Annual Operations Log" composed of an energy aura. It was that time of year again for the "Comprehensive Inspection Day."
This was not a simple, cursory inspection, but a thorough check that a manager must conduct. Jiang Yu needed to be like a meticulous doctor, using the Source Key to sense the building's "pulse"—whether the energy circulation was smooth, its "breathing"—whether the ecosystems of each area were harmonious, and its "body temperature"—whether the overall state of the residents was positive and stable. He lightly touched the light screen, and data flowed: Annie's "Fairy Tale Path" had achieved a new high in the "Joyful Resonance" index this year; Gulu Kitchen's "Creative Energy Flow" had fluctuated slightly but was generally active; Mo's "Silent Force Field" effectively calmed three regional energy ripples caused by cultural conflicts among visitors... All indicators were good, and the building was like a healthy and vibrant living organism.
However, when his perception, like the most delicate tentacles, extended to the lowest level of the building, to the "Slumbering Corridor" sealed by multiple layers of spacetime folds and ancient divine runes, the core of the Source Key emitted an extremely subtle yet soul-freezing tremor—like hearing a muffled echo of a giant beast stirring up the undercurrents as it turned over at a depth of ten thousand meters in the ocean.
"The Corridor of Slumber..." Jiang Yu's fingertip abruptly stopped, his brow furrowing. Sealed there were primordial beings, whom even the Supreme God had strictly forbidden to disturb except in life-or-death situations. Their "rooms" were themselves the highest level of seals, independent of the building's energy cycle, an absolute "observation zone" rather than a "jurisdiction."
At this moment, the Source Key reports: the law runes on the three main sealing gates are fading in a slow but irreversible way!
However, it was not caused by external force, but rather by something behind the door that underwent a fundamental transformation, causing the seal against its "former form" to gradually "lose its effectiveness".
An indescribable sense of heaviness, like an invisible tide, began to spread from the direction of the corridor. It was not malicious, but it carried a kind of oppressive force, almost at the level of law, that made the existing order feel insignificant. The noise in the corridor unconsciously subsided, and even the leaves of the Tree of Hope slightly folded, as if bowing their heads in awe.
52. Deep into the forbidden zone
Jiang Yu felt a sudden alarm bell ring in his mind. He immediately and quietly summoned his grandfather, the manager with the keenest senses and the most extensive knowledge of zero-sum games.
“The seal on the Sleeping Corridor is failing,” Jiang Yu said in a low voice, with an unprecedented gravity. “The reason is unknown, but the oppressive aura has begun to leak out. I must go and assess the risks and attempt to make contact.”
Zero dropped his nonchalant expression and licked his slightly dry lips: "I had this creepy feeling today... Are those old fogies about to come out?"
The administrator, an elderly man, had a solemn expression as he stroked the ancient book in his hand: "According to the ancient book, those figures were primordial shadows born alongside the rules. They were sealed not because of their evil, but because their very existence... was too vast or bizarre, making them incompatible with the order of later generations. If their essence has truly changed, the consequences are unpredictable."
He looked at Zero and the manager, "I need your help. Zero is in charge of monitoring spatial anomalies, and Grandpa is in charge of identifying changes in the seal. But the final contact will be done by me."
Passing through layers of distorted spacetime barriers, the three entered the Corridor of Slumber. The air here was as thick as mercury, and the light was extremely compressed. Only the ancient sealing runes on the walls emitted an uneasy, faint glow, as if they might be extinguished at any moment. Each step forward felt like fighting against the weight of the entire world.
The three unusually large doors, like three slumbering ancient dragons, exuded a unique and chilling pressure that sent shivers down one's spine.
【Azure Stone Gate - Azure Emperor】: Standing before the gate, it felt as if facing an ancient forest that could devour all sound and time. The breath of life was as vast as the sea, yet it carried an ultimate tranquility that brought all things to silence. Zero felt his heartbeat slow down, and his breathing became extremely difficult.
[Dark Gold Gate - Forging Heaven Lord]: An intensely restrained heat and weight, seemingly capable of crushing space, rushed towards him, like facing the core of a star forcibly sealed within the gate. Every inch of metal contained a terrifying power capable of tearing apart the rules. The tome in the Grandfather Administrator's hand trembled slightly, the words on it seemingly about to distort.
【Pure Black Gate - Emptiness】: The most unsettling, a kind of "emptiness" that reaches the very source of existence. Approaching it, one feels a blurring of self-awareness, as if consciousness is about to be assimilated into the most basic nothingness. Jiang Yu had to do everything in her power to stabilize her mind, and even the light of the Source Key flickered slightly.
"Brother... this thing... feels even more sinister than the Annihilation that chased us back then!" Zero's voice trembled unusually, and cold sweat seeped from his palms.
"This pressure... is more restrained, and more terrifying than described in the records." The old man who managed the situation said in a hoarse voice, his eyes filled with shock at the unknown.
53. The Question of Order
Jiang Yu took a deep breath, knowing that retreating would only allow the crisis to fester in the unknown. He stepped forward and activated the Source Key with all his might. A gentle yet firm light of order emanated from him, not as a form of confrontation, but as if lighting a lighthouse in a raging ocean, proclaiming the rules and order of this place.
He first faced the azure stone door, which he felt was the most "stable," merging his consciousness with the Source Key and issuing a clear and solemn "question," like a judge striking his gavel, the sound echoing in the silent corridor:
"I am Jiang Yu, the administrator and anchor of order in this world. I have sensed anomalies in the seal and the presence behind the door. Please state your current situation and intentions."
Silence. Deathly silence. As if an eternity had passed, a life force as vast as the starry sea and as ancient as the primordial beginning slowly emerged, carrying a hint of scrutiny, and gently touched the light of the Source Key.
"The holder of order..." An ancient voice resounded directly from the depths of my consciousness, hoarse yet full of wisdom, "A long slumber has allowed me to witness the ultimate end of life. Growth and decay, noise and silence, are of the same origin. I am weary of the meaningless cycle and seek... inner balance."
54. Equal Contract
Jiang Yu felt a chill run down his spine. He sensed the other party's wisdom and power, which far exceeded his comprehension and was almost akin to the rules themselves, and he also sensed their genuine desire to seek "balance." This was by no means management, but rather an equal exchange.
He adjusted the fluctuations of the Source Key, reducing its decree and increasing its exploration and acceptance: "This world advocates symbiosis under order. If you wish to stay here, you must abide by its basic laws and be willing to fulfill a contract and contribute your strength to the stability and prosperity of this world."
"Agreed." The response was concise and powerful. A jade seed, containing immense yet extremely restrained life force, slowly floated out. "This is the 'Seed of Reincarnation,' embodying my new understanding of the cycle of life. It can serve as a token of the contract and a testament to power. My name is the Azure Emperor."
Jiang Yu solemnly accepted the document, sensing the vast power of the laws within, and nodded, saying, "The contract is established. Welcome to the realm, Azure Emperor. Your existence and wisdom are the greatest blessing to this world."
The subsequent exchange with Duan Tianjun and Xuyin was equally shocking:
The "Star Core Steel Embryo" gifted by the Forging Lord is as heavy as a star, and its interior is sealed with a forging power akin to creation, embodying "the will to forge".
The fragments of "Echoes of Creation" shared by the virtual voice are ethereal and profound, directly enhancing the understanding of the essence of rules, and are "listening to and responding to the poem of order".
The three doors were not fully open, but rather gaps remained for communication. The three primordial beings each created their own domains behind the doors, quietly blending into the background of the building. Their very existence acted as a stabilizing force, making the building's energy flow more substantial and solid than ever before.
The roots of the Tree of Hope seemed to have penetrated into a deeper dimension, and the nascent "seed of the world" among its branches and leaves was solidifying and growing at a visible speed. The "mental reality" phenomenon throughout the entire building seemed to have gained a more profound and ineffable depth, originating from the primordial universe.
The residents could vaguely sense that quiet yet powerful "background presence," feeling both an instinctive awe and an unprecedented sense of security, as if they had a solid backer.
Uncle Blood Axe looked at the star core steel blank that was the token of the Heavenly Monarch and muttered, "This thing... I feel like even if I smashed it with all my might, it wouldn't even leave a mark... There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."
55. Reflection and Outlook
At night, Jiang Yu wrote down profound reflections in her diary:
Snow on [Date] (My heart is surging with emotion, and I can hardly calm down for a long time)
Today's inspection revealed tremendous changes.
They met the truly "ancient" ones—the Azure Emperor, the Heavenly Forging Lord, and the Void Sound.
Their existence is as profound as the starry sky; their mere presence makes one feel one's own insignificance and the weight of order.
Talking to them is not about management; it's about signing an equal contract about the future and existence.
What they contribute is not resources, but the depth of rules and wisdom represented by their very existence, which is the most valuable blessing to the building.
Thus, the building has a more solid foundation and a broader space for imagination.
Upon inspection, having come to this point, I realized my own insignificance, but also knew that the road ahead was vast.
Goodnight, my three ancient and wise neighbors.
Goodnight, home that holds endless possibilities and hope.
Closing the diary, Jiang Yu felt an immense weight of responsibility on her shoulders, yet her heart was filled with peace. The Source Key pulsed warmly, as if it were working alongside those three calm and vast forces to protect this ever-deepening world.
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