169: Chapter 169 Daily Life in the New World: When Sword Flight is Included in the College Entrance Examination
Tianhe Great World · Earth District · Huaxia S-City.
Six o'clock in the morning. When the first ray of sunlight passes through the clouds of the Thirty-Third Heaven and refracts onto Earth's atmosphere, it presents a dreamlike purple-gold color. The citizens of S-City push open their windows as usual, ready to welcome a new day. But the sight that greets them, even if they were mentally prepared, still causes a moment of dizziness.
There is no sun in the sky. Or rather, the original sun has been replaced by a much larger celestial body emitting a soft white light—that is the main body of pangu-003. It resembles an eternal divine mountain, suspended in Earth's synchronous orbit. A Tianhe Bridge to Heaven, composed of countless runes and light tracks, like the rainbow bridge of myth, connects the Kunlun Mountain node on Earth with the First Heaven of the pangu-003.
"Morning news broadcast:" On the large screens by the roadside, it is no longer the dull morning news, but a host wearing a Daoist robe and holding a whisk (actually the original news anchor, who just changed professions). "Good morning, Fellow Daoists. Today's 'Tianhe Great World' Spiritual Qi index is excellent, suitable for Breakthroughs, Alchemy, and... sending children to school." "Special reminder: Due to the orbital merging of the two worlds' gravity, 'layered traffic restrictions' will be implemented over S-City during today's morning peak." "Flying Magical Artifacts below the Qi Refinement Stage, please use the low-altitude lanes; sword-flying Cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Stage, please use the high-altitude lanes; as for those riding abyss Demonic Beasts... please take the detour around the Third Ring Road to avoid scaring the flowers and grass."
...
S-City · A certain old residential area.
"Old Li! Hurry up! We'll be late if we don't leave now!" An auntie's urging voice comes from downstairs. Old Li (a retired worker) hurriedly rushes out of the stairwell carrying a bag of freshly bought fried dough sticks. "Coming, coming! What's the rush!"
He does not head toward the second-hand Santana in the garage; instead, he pulls out a Tianhe Senior Card from his pocket and slaps it under his feet. "Rise!" Buzz—! An Anti-gravity Wheelchair shimmering with spiritual light appears out of thin air. This is a "mobility Magical Artifact" specially launched by Tianhe Academy for the elderly; it's not only fall-proof and crash-proof but also comes with its own square dance BGM.
Old Li sits on the wheelchair, skillfully shifts into "third gear" (equivalent to 60 km/h), and whooshes into the sky. At this time, the sky above the residential area is already a scene of busy activity. Countless commuters are stepping on all sorts of Magical Artifacts—there are Flying Skateboards (originally skateboards), Jet Briefcases, and even an uncle riding a giant Pill Furnace on his way to work.
"This is... the new life." Old Li sighs with emotion, casually pulls a handful of melon seeds from his pocket, and hands them to Old Wang flying side-by-side next to him. "Old Wang, I heard your grandson got into Tianhe Middle School?"
"That's right!" Old Wang says with a face full of pride, his Flying Sword beneath him shining a bit brighter. "That kid got lucky, he awakened a 'Fire Spiritual Root' and got a perfect score in Physics! He was specially recruited into the 'Blasting Experimental Class' by Director Xiao Yan!" "I heard he can go to the First Heaven to build missiles after graduation! It's an iron rice bowl!"
"I'm envious..." Old Li sighs, "My daughter is no good, she's obsessed with that 'magical girl' stuff all day and insists on applying for the Magic God Director's 'Programming Magic Department.' Do you think that foreign stuff has any future?"
Just as the two old men are chatting in the sky. Shoom—! A sharp sound of breaking air approaches. A delivery guy carrying a delivery box, stepping on a +15 Enhanced Lightsaber, passes between the two at supersonic speed, the resulting airflow nearly blowing off Old Li's wig. "Make way! Make way! Cultivation delivery! Spirit Stones will be deducted if it's late!" The delivery guy performs a beautiful drift in mid-air, dodging a Mutated Spirit Pigeon crossing the road, and heads straight for the CBD.
Old Li straightens his wig and grumbles: "Young people nowadays! Don't they need a license for sword-flying? Going so fast, are they in a hurry to be reincarnated!"
...
Tianhe Great World · First Heaven · Nether Heavy Industry Layer.
If Earth is the "living area," then this place is the busy "industrial area." Countless Earth workers commuting via the Tianhe Bridge to Heaven are starting their day's work here.
"Hiring! Hiring!" "Scrap Iron Clan's 3rd Refinery is hiring! Requirements: Proficiency in 'Metal Materials Science' and 'Gengjin Formula'! Must have strength! Must withstand high temperatures!" "Benefits: Meals included (Abyss canteen lunch boxes), accommodation provided (staff dormitory), five insurances and one fund (Tianhe social security), and Foundation Establishment Pills will be issued at the end of the year!"
A long queue has formed in front of the recruitment booth. Standing at the very front are a group of "Civil Engineering Bros" who used to move bricks on construction sites on Earth. They are now the most sought-after talents on the entire server. Because only they can perfectly combine "Cultivation Formations" with "reinforced concrete."
"Boss, I can draw blueprints! I also know the 'Hardening Technique'!" "Boss, I have the 'Qilin Arm' bloodline (exchanged from the Main God Space), I can carry ten tons at once!" "Hired! All hired!" The Scrap Iron Clan foreman (a Clone of T-9) is so happy he can't close his mouth, "As long as you're willing to work, there are plenty of Spirit Stones!"
On the other side of the factory is a group of special "security guards." A dozen men in black suits, with their mouths twisted at a 45-degree angle, are standing neatly at the main gate. Whenever a luxury car (spiritual energy shuttle) passes by, they bow in unison and then... give a crooked-mouth smile. "Welcome... back to your position, Factory Director!"
This is the Dragon King Security Team. Although their smiles are bizarre, it must be said that their deterrent power is extremely strong. It is said that a few days ago, a small thief who wanted to steal scrap materials was mocked by a dozen Dragon Kings simultaneously with "crooked-mouth mockery," causing his san value to drop to zero instantly, and he knelt on the ground crying, "I have eyes but could not see!"
...
Earth · A certain key high school · Grade 12 Class 2.
The originally oppressive classroom is now filled with a cheerful atmosphere. What is written on the blackboard is no longer "XXX days until the Gaokao," but instead hangs a giant human Meridians map.
"Class is in session, students!" The class teacher (originally Teacher Wang who taught Physics) pushes the door and enters. His image has changed drastically; he no longer holds a pointer but instead carries a Low-grade Magical Artifact: Ruler, and wears a Daoist robe printed with "E=mc²."
"Today we will discuss the combination of Physics and Cultivation—Aerodynamics in Sword-Flying." Teacher Wang draws a force analysis diagram of a Flying Sword on the blackboard. "Many students can't fly fast or steady when sword-flying. Why?" "Because you only know how to mindlessly channel Spiritual Qi! You don't understand how to use fluid mechanics!" "Look here! The body of the Flying Sword must remain streamlined, and the angle of attack at the tip must be controlled within 15 degrees to minimize Spiritual Qi loss!"
The students below listen with great interest. "Teacher! If I want to fly at supersonic speed, should I install a 'Sonic Boom Formation'?" "Teacher! Is it okay if I install a 'Vector Nozzle' on my sword?"
"Good ideas!" Teacher Wang nods in approval, "But to modify a Flying Sword, you first have to pass the 'Refinement Basics' course." "Also, I have an announcement for everyone." "The Ministry of Education has just issued the 'New Gaokao Syllabus'." "This year's Gaokao will not only test Chinese, Math, and English, but also 'Cultivation Comprehensive'." "Subjects include: 'Sword-Flying Practice', 'Basic Alchemy', 'Demonic Beast Anatomy', and... 'Abyss Language Listening'."
"Huh?!!!" The whole class wails. "Abyss Language? Who can understand those 'gurgle gurgle' sounds!" "What if I only know how to blow up the furnace during Alchemy? Can I apply for an exemption?" "It's over, it's over! I'm even afraid of heights when sword-flying!"
Teacher Wang taps his ruler and says seriously: "Stop complaining! This is for your own good!" "It's a new era! If you don't practice Cultivation, no one will even want you for delivery jobs in the future!" "Look at Li Ergou (Player) in the next class, he's already reached Foundation Establishment! He's been recommended for admission to the Tianhe Academy headquarters!"
...
Thirty-Third Heavens · Dean's Office.
Li Mo looks at this "thriving" (and trope-filled) scene on Earth and puts down his teacup with satisfaction. "The Fusion is going very smoothly." "Although there's been some minor chaos, like an old lady overturning a bus with Tai Chi yesterday... overall it's controllable."
"Dean, there is a matter that needs your decision." Star Spirit Navigator walks in and hands over a report. "It's about... the issue of 'Cultural Export'."
"Cultural Export?"
"Yes." Star Spirit Navigator points to the Scrapped Draft Bubbles continuously arriving on the star chart. "Those newly joined scrapped draft worlds, while bringing population and resources, also brought a lot of... stale dross." "For example, in some 'Overbearing CEO Novels' worlds, the men are constantly 'harvesting kidneys' or 'imprisoning' people." "And in some 'Ancient Palace Intrigue Novels' worlds, the women poison each other or prick voodoo dolls as soon as they meet." "These trends are spreading to Earth. Yesterday, a malicious incident of an 'overbearing CEO forcibly kabedon-ing a cleaning lady' occurred in S-City (eventually, he was beaten away by the lady with a mop)."
Li Mo frowns. "This is indeed a problem." "We are building a 'Harmonious Cultivation World,' not an 'Ancient Melodrama Theater'." "This bad atmosphere must be rectified."
He picks up the spring and autumn brush and ponders for a moment. "Since they like to play with tropes." "Then we'll give them some... 'Anti-trope'."
"Pass the order!" Li Mo waves his hand. "Establish the 'Tianhe Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications Office' (also the Logic Correction Office)." "Captain: Thunder War. Vice-Captain: Xiao Yan." "Mission: Inspect all newly joined scrapped draft communities." "If you encounter an overbearing CEO, forcibly send him to the 'Male Virtue Academy' for further study; if you encounter a palace intrigue woman, forcibly send her to 'Labor Reform'." "Tell them: In the Tianhe Great World, only one kind of logic is universal—and that is the 'Labor Law'."
"Additionally..." A hint of mischief flashes in Li Mo's eyes. "Since Earth's entertainment industry is a bit depressed now (everyone has gone to practice Cultivation)." "Let's hold an 'All-Heavens Talent Show'." "Let the protagonists, villains, and even extras from those scrapped draft worlds participate." "Compare miseries, compare talents, compare imaginative ideas." "The top three... will be rewarded with 'Completed Status Qualification' (which means helping them rewrite their grand finales)."
"A talent show?" Star Spirit Navigator is stunned, "Dean, are you serious?"
"Of course." Li Mo stands up and looks out at the starry sky filled with infinite possibilities. "The worlds have fused." "Next, we need to take this pot of hodgepodge..." "And stir-fry it into... a peerless dish."
"And that 'Author' who has been staring at us from behind..." Li Mo whispers to himself. "Probably also wants to see what kind of chemical reaction occurs when all the tropes collide."