Thank you, praise you
After the female student finished her questions, a group of people were still eager to get forward. Several reporters, feeling they had missed a question, wanted to go back to the red velvet column entrance and queue again.
Ling Hong and Wu Gang and other members of the Security Department agreed that the Security Department would resist or send everyone away. Once they could steal the double gap of time and space, Ling Hong would take Hu Ziyu and escape.
Wu Gang and the others still had some concerns, some trying to persuade them, some trying to stop them, but Ling Hongcai didn't want to bother with that. He first used his magic power to build a barrier to separate Hu Ziyu and the newcomers. If anyone tried to break through the barrier, he would rush forward, capture them, and throw them out of the hall.
Wu Gang left the task of persuading the team members to retreat, and he gradually retreated into the barrier with colorful dazzling lights.
He made a GIVE ME FINE gesture and asked Hu Ziyu to extend his right palm to touch it with his. The moment their palms touched, their figures suddenly switched. Hu Ziyu's appearance and clothes became Wu Gang's, and Wu Gang became him.
Ling Hong dodged, also entering the light curtain, and grabbed Hu Ziyu, who was in the form of Wu Gang. With a light leap, the two of them landed beneath the archway on Xianjing Street in the blink of an eye. As soon as he found his footing, Hu Ziyu immediately returned to his original appearance.
"How about we leave the Empress and Brother Wu Gang in Ziwei Palace and go out to stroll the streets?" he asked. Ling Hong replied, "It's okay. Xingjun and the others still have plans and won't be delayed for long. They'll just listen to the others' opinions and congratulations and then leave."
The four crimson thresholds are embossed with the Four Gentlemen of the Flower Realms: plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. Each threshold has an eave. The central plaque is made of obsidian, bearing the characters "Xianjing Street" inscribed in gold-dusted cursive script. Unlike the ostentatious archway, the sidewalks of Xianjing Street are paved with white jade, a clear emerald-white color that gleams with a gentle glow.
The walkway here is not like the automatic conveyor belt when you first ascend to the Heavenly Palace. It is only for walking and light carriages. Traditional seats pulled by animals are not allowed to enter, let alone the Tesla in the Jade Rabbit Observatory.
On both sides of the street, a variety of unique shops stood side by side. While most of them were built with antique wooden structures, a few were modern or featured unique and unusual decorations. Hu Ziyu felt like Granny Liu in the Grand View Garden, eager to see, touch, and taste everything.
"Master Hong, what do we need to buy?" Hu Ziyu asked. He opened the wallet app on his iPad. Great! Neither his bonus nor his salary had been credited to his account. There was still only 365 taels of Tianbi silver. Ling Hong clicked on his to-do list.
"First, we have to go to Fairy Zixia's shop to get two pairs of custom-made soap boots; then, we have to buy the speaker equipment, developing lens, display card, sound card, etc. that will be used during the apparition." Hu Ziyu was slightly stunned.
"So, if you want to go to the Guanghua Shopping Mall in the heaven, you can't just flick your sleeves like the queen and turn it into a loud speaker."
"No, many immortals and gods who appear in spirit or manifest as spirits like to use a megaphone to shout directly to the human world.
The human world is a permanent three-dimensional space, while the heavens are a constantly changing twenty-four-dimensional space. Even if sound waves could be transmitted, how could they not be distorted and fragmented? If they encountered a medium with insufficient supernatural powers, spirituality, or intelligence, they would be misinterpreted into strange meanings. Hu Ziyu began to understand. No wonder some mediums spoke alien languages that Earthlings could not understand at all. It turned out that this was due to the distortion of sound waves.
He didn't want the little bastard, Chu Tianqi, and his friends and teachers at school to mistakenly believe that he could only speak in that strange tone after becoming a god.
"Also, you should first imagine that if there is a medium suitable for you here, you must first mark it with a mole, and declare to the other ghosts, fairies, and gods, 'I chose this person first, don't fight for him.' To do this, you will need a token, a soul-binding rope, and a fixed medium contract." Ling Hong said as he clicked on the map on the PAD and searched for the "Messenger Tool Store."
"Little ghost, little fairy, little god" Compared with programs, Hu Ziyu is more keen on catching keywords.
"That's right. The key is 'small,' not the order. We don't need to take little ghosts and fairies seriously. If they refuse to give up, we'll just beat them up and snatch them away. If they're small gods like Fude, we can say a few nice words, bribe them with a few boxes of malt sugar and peanut cookies, make friends, and ask them to give them up to you. But if they're famous figures in the Upper Heaven like Guandi, the Marshal of the Central Altar, or the Lady of the Nine Heavens, even if we target them first, they'll inevitably give them up if they like them."
"Oh." Though Hu Ziyu felt a little helpless about the celestial gods, who prioritized hierarchy over virtue, he was gradually accustomed to this unshakable reality. "So, what about the graphics card and the camera?" "I've investigated. The wedding banquet... no, I mean the memorial service, has a giant projection screen. I intend to use this to clearly inform the world that the Rabbit God is real, and that you are his successor. From now on, besides Tianbao-sama, a plaque dedicated to you must also be erected in the Rabbit Temple," Ling Hong said.
Hu Ziyu suddenly felt his scalp tingling, wondering what kind of articles the reporters on both the earth and the heaven would write about this.
After a short walk, they arrived at the established clothing and hat shop jointly run by Immortal Ancestor Lianying and Fairy Zixia. Throughout Xianjing Street, the land on either side of the archway was the most valuable. Purchasing property here required not only wealth but also connections, good relationships, and patronage from the Heavenly Court.
The brand is beloved by renowned goddesses like the Queen Mother, the Heavenly Concubine, and the Moon God. Without the Moon God's guidance, Ling Hong wouldn't have been able to secure the finest fabrics for Hu Ziyu's clothing. The wooden windows automatically open on either side, revealing a simple and elegant exterior. Inside, the shop is a distinctly trendy affair, showcasing not only traditional Hanfu and Tang suits, but also traditional Chinese clothing, Western-style dresses, and traditional costumes from various cultures.
"Hello, I'm here to get my soap boots." Ling Hong said to the figure behind the counter.
"These are for the newlyweds in Lady Taiyin's household, right? Please wait a moment." The petite fairy invited the two to sit on the leather lounge chairs while Linghong walked to the welcome tea area, intending to serve Hu Ziyu and himself a cup of Four Seasons Fruit Tea. Hu Ziyu looked around, then lowered his head to play with the calico kitten that the two female owners shared.
Suddenly, a pair of tiger-patterned soap boots appeared in his sight.
"Tutu, nice to meet you. Are you also accompanying your wife to buy clothes?" A hearty and heroic voice suddenly sounded. Looking up, the person who came was indeed Wan Taian.
"Accompanying a woman to buy things is the most tiring. It's slow, annoying, and you have to carry the things! Later she'll even insist on me treating her to afternoon tea, saying that I'm famous thanks to her and it's my duty to treat her." Wan Taian spoke in rapid succession, leaving Hu Ziyu no room to retort.
"It's true that she helped me transform a lot of weapons, but! If it weren't for Tutu's appreciation, how could I have obtained..." Before the last word fell, a jade hand came around from behind Wan Taian, and the index and middle fingers respectively pinched his left and right nostrils.
"Don't just want to fuck me because I'm cute!" The enchantingly beautiful goddess only needed two fingers to lift Wan Taian, who was half a foot taller than her, and drag him out.
"Earth Goddess, don't speak so harshly, I just want to chat!" Wan Taian struggled with his hands in the air, and howled like a pig being slaughtered from time to time.
"You want to do it right after you flirt with me? Do you think I don't understand?" The goddess raised her empty left hand and gave Wan Taian a hot slap on the right cheek.
"You look too old! Can't you call me Mrs. Ford?"
"It hurts, it hurts—" Wan Taian burst into tears.
"After flirting, of course it's a date. What's wrong with you, woman..."
"You want to have sex after the date? Do you think I'm an idiot? A poor student wants to pursue a top student. Go eat rabbit shit!" Wan Taian wanted to use his feet to hold up the two sides of the machine to prevent the beautiful woman from taking it away easily, but the right hand that was holding his nose suddenly moved down to his neck and lifted him up to the street.
Many people turned to watch. The female Wu Song fighting the tiger was truly spectacular and unprecedented. Hu Ziyu was stunned by the conversation between the two, and then he followed the crowd and took out his pad to take a few photos of the deceased beauty in the "Follow Me To" series.
Hearing the noise, Linghong hurried back and handed the fruit tea to Hu Ziyu.
"That goddess is the head of the A City branch of the Fude Palace of the Land Administration Hall. She commands all the land gods in that area, and Wan Tai'an is her personal messenger and mount." Hu Ziyu uttered an "oh" before offering a brief thank you. "I thought he was talking about Hou Tu Niangniang, but I didn't expect her to be paired with the head of all the land gods and land ladies in City A." It seems Wan Tai'an's life after his promotion won't be easy.
Earlier, when the female fairy from the Taiyin Palace held up a sign in the Ziwei Palace, asking all the suitors to gather on aisle number two, Hu Ziyu did not see Wan Taian. This man was either a comrade who was interested in the matter, or he was afraid of his master, so he did not dare to waste time squeezing into the crowd to wait for the Taiyin Star Lord's decision.
Ling Hong said: "The Queen Mother Hou Tu is the one sitting on the right side of our Star God. She is an old lady with kind eyes and a reserved personality. She just watches and remembers the ups and downs of this land silently. As for the management, it is now handed over to the direct subordinates of each branch." The childlike fairy brought two shoe boxes and placed them in front of Hu Ziyu.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting. Try them on." Ling Hong opened them for her, took out two pairs of soap boots, one pink and one purple, and squatted down to put them on Hu Ziyu.
"If it doesn't fit, you can modify it." said the fairy.
Compared to the hard-soled, pointed-toe official boots, any shoe seemed comfortable. Hu Ziyu stood up and stepped on them, finding the feel somewhat like flat rain boots, easy to put on and take off. However, they were still far inferior to the white cloth shoes he'd worn during the parade. Besides, it wasn't that he was specifically criticizing the color of his clothes and shoes; it was just that Ling Hong and Hu Tianbao's taste was somewhat unappealing to him. Furthermore, the rabbit-patterned fabric on these shoes was quite conspicuous. Fortunately, her skirt was tight enough so that only the toes showed when she walked, otherwise, she'd be a laughing stock.
"Can I not have these rabbits? Also, I remember there's a skill that can use magic to coat anything, changing the color and style. Can you help me coat my shoes in navy blue or dark brown? I'll fix it later..." The lovely fairy, who had been smiling sweetly, gradually changed her face to one that was about to cry. "But, I worked so hard to sew this on..."
Ling Hong also said with a serious face: "These two pairs of boots are perfect for your casual uniform that can switch between pink and purple colors at will. Don't make girls cry, let's go!" After that, he raised his hand to form a PAD and was about to pay the balance.
Hu Ziyu felt a surge of frustration, unable to vent it, and could only internally complain. He asked the female fairy to wrap up the torture-like boots and give them to Linghong to put in his storage bag. On the way back, he wanted to wear comfortable shoes.
As Hu Ziyu stepped out of the clothing store, he heard Ling Hong talking to an older female fairy behind him. He turned back inside and saw that the person standing behind the counter was no longer the charming fairy with a childlike face, but a graceful, elegant woman of advanced age.
"I ordered two pairs at once. Can you give me a discount? Besides, my master was about to return the goods. If I hadn't said a few good words on your behalf, would this order have been completed on schedule?" Ling Hong folded his arms, with the starry blue PAD on the counter. In the answer column of the calculation app, there was a number of about 66% off the original price.
The senior female immortal pursed her lips and folded her arms. "No, at most, 12% off. The rabbit head tag I gave you for free is made of top-grade gold thread, so it's very expensive."
"Otherwise, I will call my temple master back to sign for you. He is the number one newcomer this year, and he is extremely handsome. The 500 signed photos that Taiyin Temple hurriedly made were sold out in an instant. The next time we print more, I'm afraid it will cost more than 50 taels." Ling Hong said again.
The fairy gritted her teeth, shrugged, and said, "Okay, I'll give you a 30% discount! But I want a photo, an autograph, and an inscription."
"become!"
Hu Ziyu was completely dumbfounded.
Firstly, he was betrayed by Linghong. This assistant official would do anything to save expenses in the temple and satisfy his own preferences. Secondly, he was also deceived by the current big sister.
There are no young lolis at all. The young female fairy is the transformation of the shop owner, the fairy ancestor Leizu. In addition to attracting attention, grabbing customers, and acting as a mascot, she can also deal with customers' unnecessary and unreasonable requests.
"Why didn't you tell me that the little girl was the Immortal Ancestor Lianying?" Hu Ziyu, who was forced to pick up the brush he hadn't used for a long time and wrote the big words "Congratulations on your prosperous business", wanted to use the magical power of the One Yang Finger to poke a few big holes in his assistant's body. "Do you think my ugly calligraphy is talented? It's even hung above the counter. It's a shame..." Ling Hong curled his lips and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, when it comes to ugliness, no one can surpass Lord Tianbao.
Just the five-line handover list took me a lot of effort, even requesting the City God Temple to authenticate the handwriting. The machine ran for over a month before it successfully deciphered the contents. Hu Ziyu suddenly remembered: "The handover list! I almost forgot about it! I had Yuchan and the others study it these past few days, but they still haven't figured it out."
"No rush. Once the spiritual manifestation is complete, I'll send you the translated text. This is also a good opportunity to remind you that sight isn't always reliable. Even in the celestial realm, there's plenty of chaos and deception." Ling Hong, taking the opportunity to teach, added, "You'll have the opportunity to learn the art of transformation, the art of cloning, the art of summoning spirits, the art of invisibility, and how to combine these techniques. Of course, as your cultivation level increases, you'll be able to discern or break through the spells used by immortals, gods, ghosts, and human sorcerers of lesser cultivation than you."
The two of them turned the corner and wandered onto a less conspicuous side street. This place looked like an old tourist street in the human world, with every house featuring reddish-brown bricks and tiles paired with old-fashioned wooden and barred windows, all displaying an antique charm.
Linghong followed the map app and stopped in front of a shop with a wooden plaque that read "Jiuyi Shop".
The shop wasn't large, only about 20-30 square meters. The floor wasn't tiled, the interior was undecorated, and the walls were the same raw cement color. A shopkeeper with sparse hair and a protruding belly sat behind a rickety wooden counter, his eyes fixed on the wall-mounted TV. He didn't even rise to greet customers as they entered. Hu Ziyu thought to himself, "Heaven is really just like the human world. There are all kinds of businessmen."
Linghong slammed the shopping list on the table. "Boss, help me stock up!" The boss waved his hand. "It's almost over, just a moment." Hu Ziyu shifted his gaze to the 26-inch screen in the corner.
Isn't the news channel broadcasting the recording of his interview half an hour ago? "Do you have anything to say to the world?" The questioner is a Lingxiao line reporter from a public welfare TV station.
Hu Ziyu on TV said: "May love eliminate all bias, discrimination and chaos. May all couples in love have equal marriage rights and share the obligation to start a family." I don't know why this TV reporter's serial number is the last one.
By then, Hu Ziyu was already dizzy from answering and couldn't think of a decent response, so he just recited the petition he had signed in high school to express his support for same-sex marriage.
The camera suddenly switched to the other new priests, but only a short segment of each person's speech was broadcast.
Wan Taian: "Thank you, Bunny, praise Bunny!" Just after he finished the eight-character motto, a hand reached out from the back of the crowd and grabbed his ear. It was another classic "Follow Me To" departure scene.
Zhu Huaizi: "I...I will try my best."
Liang Yanqi: "Don't speed, don't violate traffic rules, don't break taboos, and don't use foul language."
Ao Botong: "My dragon relatives and friends have set the worst example for temple etiquette. For this, I am deeply sorry."
Linghong didn't have the patience to wait, so he stretched out his hands and forcibly turned the boss's head around to face the customers.
"I give you money to make but you don't want it, so why bother watching TV? If you want to watch something, watch me!" "Hey, young man, you are one of the three lowest-ranking guys in the industry..." The boss was about to start scolding, but when he turned around, he found that standing in front of him was one of the two stars who had appeared on the news just now, as well as the top of this round of the list.
He immediately put on a business-like smile, but betel nut slag and leftovers from the previous meal were still stuck in his mouth. "Oh, oh, sign for me, and I'll give you 20% off!" Ling Hong pouted. "No way! Do you think my temple master is an underground idol? 30 taels for an autograph, 50 taels for a photo, 100 taels for a handshake. If you want to date, we can negotiate the price." Hu Ziyu rolled his eyes inwardly for the thousandth time.
In drama, others sell out for fame, but this was his first time selling out for money. After five minutes of negotiation, the boss offered Hu Ziyu a 69% discount and two command flags in exchange for an autographed photo. With the token, soul-binding rope, and contract for his incarnation as a medium in hand, the next stop was developing and sound equipment.
The two of them walked out of the old-fashioned alley and into a shopping district dotted with modern buildings. Along the way, Hu Ziyu couldn't help but complain, "My portrait rights, personal freedom, and right to choose my own romantic relationships need to be published. At least don't print that casual photo. Isn't this formal suit quite nice now? At least it makes me look presentable, and it even has a bit of a scholarly air and a certain aura that can be used to scare people off."
"That one is better. Now, neutral and pink teenage idols are popular, like Song Xinghe. They are very popular." After a pause, Ling Hong said, "You should know that immortals do not have the so-called right to their portraits or names. Otherwise, if mortal believers want to erect your statues, portraits, and plaques, they must first obtain authorization from the various halls in heaven." Hu Ziyu sighed, "Okay, I'll admit these two points for the time being. However, the right to personal freedom and the right to love autonomy should always be there."
Ling Hong replied in a split second, "No. In the future, if you receive a distress signal from a great believer, it's different from ordinary prayers. It's an emergency that needs to be addressed immediately. Whether it's an incarnation, a clone, or a spirit medium, it can't be ignored. If you ignore it, the incense will be severely diminished. As for the freedom of love, look at the gods and Buddhas in heaven. Which one is married?"
"But, aren't the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother a couple?" This was the first thought that formed in Hu Ziyu's mind. However, he seemed to have heard that the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother were just classmates during their cultivation period, and that the relationship between the two gods was not one of respect and equality.
"That's because there have been rumors on earth that the two gods are husband and wife. Therefore, they must enter the Lingxiao Palace hand in hand as a pair and work together to rule the entire heaven. After all, gods must always meet the expectations of mankind in order to receive incense and survive for a long time." Ling Hong said.
Hu Ziyu understood that although the gods in heaven seemed to have great powers, they actually had many reasons to do so.
"But this is different from pushing me into the human flesh market for others to bid on." Ling Hongcai didn't want to pay attention and asked: "Do you know who the wife of the Immortal Ancestor Yingying is?"
"According to mythology, she was the legal wife of Huangdi. Could it be that this is not actually the case?" Hu Ziyu asked.
"That's true, but a hundred years after their marriage, the Immortal Ancestor discovered that Fairy Zixia was his true love. Due to myths and anecdotes, opposition from both families' friends, and various moral objections, it was impossible for her to divorce the Yellow Emperor. The freedom of marriage you speak of was impossible from the beginning. Even if Lord Tianbao tried to bring them together, it would be in vain. At that time, the words written in the marriage book would be erased for no reason, or certain permissions would be suddenly disabled. If you re-apply to activate it, the system will pop up a warning image or even threaten to reduce the user's merit."
Hu Ziyu was a little confused. Why was the marriage between the two fairies forbidden, while no one wanted to interfere with the gods and demons' love affair? Now, after Chu Tianqi arrived, how would the gods and immortals in the sky view their relationship? Furthermore, with some in the Dragon King Palace showing goodwill and others expressing considerable hostility, he was undecided about how to respond to Ao Botong's feelings.
Linghong led him up an iron-gray apartment-style elevator to a centralized electronic parts store. Hu Ziyu, a lifelong penniless man and not one for shopping, felt somewhat disillusioned after the trip. Only the general knowledge book exhibition at the first-floor entrance to Shennong Temple piqued his interest.
"Master Hong, I don't understand those electronics. Can I go back upstairs and read a book? We'll meet up at Dakou later," he asked. "Of course, but why don't you try out these devices yourself?" Ling Hong pulled out his pad, pointed at the store's advertising website, and asked the clerk to show him each product.
"No need. Just buy the one you think has the best value for money and is affordable."
"Okay, but to avoid you running into any lechers, please keep the Celestial Pearls on. If necessary, call me loudly. Xinyin is also fine."
"Okay." Hu Ziyu summoned his PAD and switched it to "Hide" mode, saving him from having to keep it in his hand. He weighed his wallet, which only held three hundred and sixty-five taels of silver. He wondered what he could buy. He couldn't just use autographed photos to impress shopkeepers everywhere he went.
The several men tending the stall were all faces he had never met before. By the name tags, he realized they were all from the Medical Extension Department. Perhaps because there were so few customers, they greeted him cordially and introduced books and publications. He smiled and nodded at each one, explaining that he was just browsing and didn't need to bother with any greetings.
Before long, a set of the Three Realms Medical Encyclopedia with online teaching videos attracted Hu Ziyu's attention. The original price of 12,200 taels was reduced by 70%, and it cost ten times his travel expenses.
Alas, I am penniless.
A male immortal who looked like a foreman came forward and said, "This customer has excellent taste! This encyclopedia of medicine covering all three realms is on sale for a limited time at only 3,600 taels. It's the only one of its kind, so you'll be making a killing!"
"Well, I'm going to start my internship next week, so I might not have time to watch it." Hu Ziyu tried hard to convince himself not to spend money. What's more, he didn't have any money on him.
"The Time God has the most time, how could he not have time?" The foreman jumped up with an extremely exaggerated expression: "Could it be that you are the engineer from the Jinchan Institute who finally got a special leave?"
"No, no..." Hu Ziyu shed a tear of sympathy for Jin Chan's colleagues. An immortal recognized him and shouted, "It's the new Rabbit God!"
"It's true. It is said that the Pharmacy Department wanted to poach someone, but they were beaten up by the Moon God and the Jade Rabbit Temple assistant officer. He vomited several liters of blood on the spot." The person next to him also said.
"Ah, I am so incompetent that I didn't know you were the one visiting me." The foreman held Hu Ziyu's hands and shook them up and down several times.
"Photos and autographs can be used to offset your purchase! If you write a letter to encourage us, the discount will be doubled!" Hu Ziyu's head ached again when he heard the letter. He quickly pulled his hand back and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I haven't received my salary or bonus yet. I'd better wait a while and...consider it."
"It's no big deal if I don't get paid," the foreman persisted. "Installment payments, salary advances, that's all fine. Otherwise, you can use collateral: property deeds, magic weapons, immortal attributes, personal credit, high-level app permissions... Oh, and don't you have a Overlord Peach? That's worth a fortune!"
Hu Ziyu thought: "If I sell the peaches, Ling Hong will definitely kill me. Besides, the peaches are still tied around his waist." Shaking his head, Hu Ziyu was about to leave when the foreman hooked his shoulder and continued: "Give us the peaches, and I will give you an extra set of DVDs on the history of medical development and an illustrated guide to the peaches." Hu Ziyu slapped the foreman's hand away. He had to use all his strength to suppress the urge to give the other person a rising dragon punch on the jaw.
"I'll give it to you as a gift to establish a bond and to make amends. Or rather, please let me give it to you." Suddenly, a young man's voice sounded from behind the two of them.
From all around came the sounds of the immortals exclaiming, shouting, and greetings to the priest.
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