Chapter 266 Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land
Although the civilizations on the continents and islands of Guixu Realm all seem to be somewhat similar to those of the ancient Blue Star Flower Farmers at first glance, there are still some differences between them.
Take architecture for example. Although there are slight differences in ancient Chinese architecture from different dynasties, most of them are wooden mortise and tenon structures. And even though they are considered the tallest buildings in Asian civilization, the houses used for people's lives are still relatively low and cramped. This is because they have to be designed in this way to cope with the cold winter.
Northern Europe, which also has a very cold climate, invented the fireplace for heating. This heating method made European architecture less restricted by the space of residential houses.
Of course, the ancient flower growers also explored a variety of heating methods, such as kangs, ground heating pipes, and cave dwellings in the northwest region, which are all heating methods used to cope with different climates and geographical environments.
But whether in Europe or Asia, most of the ancient buildings on the blue planet are dim and airtight. Even the residences of tropical or subtropical residents, such as stilt houses, are relatively tight to prevent snakes, insects, rats and ants.
This is very different from the architectural style of Guixu Realm.
First of all, there is a huge difference between the residences of monks in Guixu Realm and the houses of ordinary people.
Take Liuzhou, the relatively northernmost island, as an example. Most of the houses of ordinary people in Liuzhou are made of a mixture of stone and earth, and are mostly cast into hollow walls. In addition to maximizing warmth, this method can also set up the simplest Four Symbols Formation between the walls to provide heat on cold winter days.
You have to know that the Guixu Realm is an objectively extraordinary world, and the skills, principles, and various knowledge that the monks practiced did not come from heaven, but were created and passed down by geniuses from generation to generation. Therefore, among the mortals, there are also people with poor aptitude who have figured out some simple survival skills from generation to generation.
These skills may not be as sophisticated as those passed down by the monks, but they are extremely practical for ordinary people.
For example, the Four Symbols Formation is the most widely spread, most used, and easiest to set up series of "magic formations." Although they are called "magic formations," they are actually some simple arrangements that do not require the use of spiritual power and many natural treasures like the formation and talisman cultivation of cultivators, nor do they require opening an altar to ask for help from the gods.
The Four Symbols Formation has four branches, namely the Four Symbols Vermillion Bird Formation, the Four Symbols Black Tortoise Formation, the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Formation, and the Four Symbols White Tiger Formation. Vermillion Bird is of the Fire element, and is used to provide a heat source. The arrangement is very simple. You only need to place cinnabar stone, red crystal stone, red chicken tail feathers, and sorghum ears at the four corners of the square space, and connect these things with calcite powder mixed with wheat bran or wheat flour. This will continuously emit a certain amount of heat into the enclosed space. Although this heat is almost imperceptible in winter, it is enough for ordinary people to cope with the severe cold.
However, the Four Symbols Formation is a consumable magic formation. When the cobblestone powder no longer glows, it is necessary to replace it with a new batch of cobblestone powder. Therefore, in order to extend the service life of the magic formation, on non-winter days, people will choose to leave a space empty so that the cobblestone powder is not completely connected. In this way, the magic formation can be in a stagnant state and the spiritual power in the cobblestone powder will not be consumed.
Of course, if spirit stone powder is mixed into the coarse stone powder, the effect will be better, but the cost will be much higher, and few people use it except for local big households.
This method of heating means that in places where it is difficult to endure winter, the houses of the people will have a wide cross-shaped structure. That is, only the center of the cross, which serves as the bedroom, will be arranged with the Four Symbols Formation. As for the other four rooms, the front hall, the back room, and the left and right ear rooms, in order to save heating costs, no money will be wasted to arrange the formation.
Therefore, even if they are both counted as "three-in-one" houses, the houses of ordinary people in Zhongzhou often have three doors closely adjacent to each other, with no separate open-air space left in the front and back, while the "three-in-one" houses of ancient Huajia had separate living rooms and rooms that were not connected to each other.
Apart from this, there are very significant differences in the exterior appearance of the buildings.
In ancient times, there were few multi-story buildings. Firstly, it was difficult to maintain the stability of multi-story buildings in the era without reinforced concrete. Secondly, it was also because of heating problems.
It's different in Guixu Realm. Apart from other things, the wood of hematite can completely replace steel bars. This means that many slightly wealthy people have two- or even three-story houses. Even if the house is only one story, it is often built with a flat roof and then covered with sloping eaves, making it convenient to add a second floor directly in the future.
As for the monks' buildings, they are mainly grand and magnificent. After inheriting the architectural style of ordinary people, they are even taller and many buildings do not have walls - wind and rain can be blocked by formations, so walls are not necessary structures, unless they are places that seek privacy, such as bedrooms and toilets. Places like the halls where monks take classes simply do not bother to build walls, which can actually provide better lighting.
So, when Jingjiezi came to Chang'an City and saw the buildings of various shapes but with a unified style that he had never seen before, he was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out.
White walls, red pillars, matched with green glazed tiles, as well as various exquisite stone carvings, kiln-fired ridge beasts, carved hanging fish, and colorfully painted brackets.
As players spend more and more time in the game, they pay more and more attention to their own houses. The poor ones build their own houses, while the rich ones ask highly skilled repairmen and painters to help with the design and improvement. Compared with having to save money to deal with various risks in life on Blue Star, in the game there is no need to consider factors such as illness and accidents that may ruin the family, so players are more keen to spend money as soon as they have it.
At the same time, a familiar figure not far away attracted Jingjiezi's attention.
"Song Bozheng!?"
He called out tentatively, but unexpectedly the figure turned around and looked at him.
"Who...Nepeta? Why are you here!?"
Song Bozheng's eyes lit up, and he jumped down from the roof in surprise and joy. He walked quickly to Jingjiezi and said, "I was just thinking of finding a chance to find out your whereabouts! I heard that Taiyin Sect destroyed Taiyi Ziwei Sect two days ago, and I was worried that something might happen to you!"
At this point, he couldn't help but reach out and punch Jingjiezi in the chest with a bit of fear: "But you are such a cunning kid, I don't think you will die easily! I didn't expect to meet you here!"
Hearing this, Jing Jiezi smiled bitterly and said, "In fact, I almost lost my life. Disciples like us who switched to Ziwei Sect halfway through have always been abandoned. However, the disciples of Taiyin Sect seem to like to rob things more. They even kidnapped me and said they would exchange me for some contribution. Later, Elder Qianzhi took over Ziwei... Rong Yushan, and we were released... They are simply, simply, simply bandits!"
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