New Chapter 68: Arduous Cultivation
They can even apply mental pressure on anyone within that field that can manipulate their minds, and injure their souls. Their lifespan also increases to over 100 times their previous lifespan.
As for immortal cultivators, they also gain an increase of over 200 times their previous lifespan, as well as other unique abilities of their will power. On average, the senses of an immortal cultivator at this stage are so enhanced that they can view and hear things thousands of miles around them.
Their physical strength also allows them to move at over 100 times the speed of sound. This makes them very dangerous predators in a world filled with normal humans, and animals.”
Hearing his words, Lain, couldn’t help but mutter in surprise, “You truly are powerful, sister Annette.”
“She truly is. Over 80% of cultivators at the body and mind cultivation stages cannot even get to her current stage without dying of old age. That is how hard it is to evolve into a higher being, as a cultivator.” Hui Shi responded.
“Not to mention, she’s only in her early years of life. You’re a gifted lady, sister Annette.” Lain, added with a look of admiration on his face. He couldn’t help but realize the difficulty of being a cultivator.
“Thank you! But I’m not really that great. I just have a great cultivation book to rely on.” Annette replied with a look of shame written on her face.
“You truly are. It takes a lot of determination and effort to get to your current stage, as every stage requires cultivators to acquire the right resources to nourish their bodies and souls. Many cultivators have even died during the process of cultivation itself, either due to using the wrong resources, not getting the right resources when they require them or just cultivating inappropriately.” Hui Shi said, because he didn’t believe the book could’ve truly helped her overcome the burdens of cultivation. Especially when she began cultivating at such a very young age all by herself, without any mentors or friends to help her get through its difficulties.
“As for the next stage. I will not go into details on it. Because what I’ve already explained should be enough for you to understand sister Annette’s powers. I also do not wish to extinguish sister Annette’s desires, or place false expectations on her mind. As each person’s experience at each stage can differ greatly from one another. Food that cannot be eaten should not be worried about.” Hui Shi added, before looking at the expectant looking Lain, with guilt.
“Thank you, brother Hui Shi, for your consideration. I truly would like to get to the next stage and figure out all its benefits by myself.” Annette said, with a look of appreciation in her eyes.
New Chapter 67: A Wonderful Gift To Mankind
“There are about 17 stages of cultivation, all together. The 17th stage is called the ascension stage. Cultivators at the ascension stage are all called true persons, due to the fact that they are all practically omnipotent, in places where true immortals and true celestials aren’t present.
Now, let’s start at the beginning. The adept stage is where all cultivators start their journey, as previously mentioned by sister Annette.
From what I’ve learned in school, immortal cultivators at that stage gain a stronger body, and have their lifespan increased from the average 50 years, to over 200 years of age.
Celestial cultivators also have their lifespan increased by an average of 40 years at this stage as well, because celestial cultivators focus on nourishing their souls, while immortal cultivators enhance their physical bodies.” Hui Shi said slowly, after seeing the confused look on Lain’s face.
He then continued. “The next stage is where immortal cultivation and celestial cultivation diverge, as they start to gain more abilities related to their specific will power. It is called the mind formation stage for celestial cultivators, and the body formation stage for immortal cultivators.
At this stage, as I mentioned before, both cultivator types start to gain magical abilities related to their unique will powers, and on average have their lifespans increased by over 40 times. With immortal cultivators having an even greater increase in lifespan than celestial cultivators.
Based on their unique will power, some immortal cultivators can even gain over 100 times their lifespan at this stage.”
“Wow! Cultivation is truly a wonderful gift to mankind. Being able to extend your life to such astronomical proportions is magnificent!” Lain exclaimed in surprise, after listening to Hui Shi.
“It gets better.” Annette added gleefully. She then looked at Hui Shi, waiting for him to continue his explanations.
“Cultivation truly is a wonderful blessing. Now, let me continue to the next stage. The current stage that Annette’s currently at.” Hui Shi said, before he continued his explanations again.
“The next stage for immortal cultivators is called the body perception stage, while for celestial cultivators, is called the mind perception stage.
At the mind perception stage, celestial cultivators in general develop the ability to fly. They also develop a small mind field around them that allows them to view and listen to everything within the field, even to a microscopic scale.
Chapter 66: Cultivation Stages
“I guess it is.” Annette replied shyly, as she gazed at the extremely handsome face of Hui Shi, with a slight blush on her face.
Ignoring the dazed expression on Annette’s face, Lain asked her, “How powerful are you? Is there a way to measure strength in this world?” with a questioning look on his face.
Hearing his words, knocked Annette out of her joyful emotions. She then stared at Lain, with a smile, before saying to him. “Based on cultivation terms, I’m currently at the body perception stage, and will soon perfect this stage, before elevating my being and proceeding into the next cultivation stage, called the body manipulation stage.
On the next stage, I should then be able to turn parts of my body invisible. Currently, other than my heightened senses, great strength and endurance, I’m only able to turn my body into various snakes, and move them at will.”
After saying this, she then flexed her arm muscles, which then began to wiggle around as if they were live serpents.
Seeing her wiggling muscles come alive, Lain became even more confused, as he thought in his head, ‘Body perception stage? What’s the body perception stage?’ completely ignoring her performance.
Hui Shi, after noticing the confused look on his face, couldn’t help but help him understand the cultivation stages. He took a deep breath to gather his thoughts before saying. “I know you’re confused, brother Lain. So I’ll explain to you what the cultivation stages are.
You see, after the divine beings of our past created cultivation techniques that mimicked their will powers, they created a rule brick called cultivation stages, that measured the average strength that a cultivator should have as they evolved their existence and strengthened their will power over time.”
“I see. So how many stages are there before the body perception stage? Also, is the stage pretty powerful?” Lain asked, as his confusion increased.
“Well, the body perception stage isn’t really powerful in the grand scheme of things, but it’s enough to help me survive most encounters out there. The body perception stage is only the third stage of immortal cultivation, after the body formation stage and the adept stage that all cultivators start at.” Annette replied, shyly, since she knew deep down that she was only a small fry within the vast world teeming with true immortals and gods.
Chapter 65: The Hidden Serpent
Within a minute all the blood that the snake-like muscle had bled out had disappeared into thin air. The snake-like muscle then stopped bleeding on the floor before quickly slithering back onto the arm of Annette, and wiggling itself back into its previous position on the arm.
Looking at Annette’s arm, Lain couldn’t even see a single thing out of place, after the snake-like muscle went back into position, and changed its color back to that of Annette’s skin.
“You have such an interesting ability!” Lain exclaimed in shock and awe. “It truly is a wonderful ability, sister Annette. I wonder what will power you’re cultivating?” Hui Shi asked, as his mind began to ponder the possible will powers that he had read of in the past, that this ability could possibly come from.
“My immortal will power is called the Hidden Serpent Immortal. It allows me to hide and traverse the world in secret like a hidden serpent. Being able to transform my muscles into various serpents is a subset of this power that helps me fight those who try to harm me, as well as rescue those in need.” Annette said shyly. She felt very blessed to be given such an amazing cultivation book, by the mysterious man that she met in the past.
“Hidden Serpent Immortal? That sounds like a pretty amazing will power. Congratulations for cultivating such a wonderful power. It must’ve helped you a lot growing up.” Lain stated, with a smile on his face.
“I almost lost the cultivation book many times after that mysterious man gave it to me as a child. I even threw it away many times. But each time the book was misplaced, it always appeared in my hands, after I woke up from sleep the next day, as if it was following me. The book has been a great mystery that I’ve been trying to uncover my entire life.” Annette added, as a thoughtful expression surfaced on her slightly beautiful face.
“It seems the mysterious man who gave you the book was truly a thought-provoking character. Casting a spell of sorts on the book that makes it soul bound to you is truly a unique thing to do for a child.” Hui Shi said. He also felt slightly surprised by the ability of the book to miraculously appear on Annette, every time she fell asleep.
After Hui Shi finished speaking, the light in the room slowly came back on, as the darkness surrounding the trio disappeared.
The holographic screen that was previously hovering in front of Lain, that disappeared previously also appeared again, as soon the room fully regained its light.
Seeing this, Hui Shi smiled and said to Annette. “It seems your blood is pretty powerful, for such a small amount of it to replenish the runes so quickly. “
Chapter 64: Snake or Muscle?
“How do I get this blood? And what method do I use to replenish the runes, after acquiring the blood?” Lain, asked with a questioning look on his face. He even felt a slight chill every time he thought about using blood to replenish runes.
“You can either go to a physical store here in the district, or order the blood online, through the Global Archives section on the smaller TV. Most beasts’ blood will replenish the energy within the runes, so you can also just go hunt animals outside the city or around the districts in order to acquire their blood.” Hui Shi said, as he also looked around the dark room.
“Brother Hui Shi is correct. You can use any animal’s blood. But the more powerful the animal, the more energy their blood contains, and also the less blood you’ll need to replenish the runes.” Annette added in satisfaction, since she’s been doing this for years, and knew quite a lot more about this subject than the previous ones they’ve talked about.
“In order to replenish the runes, you just need to place your stone key inside a vat of blood, or inside an animal, and it’ll absorb all the blood within. It’ll then slowly distribute the energy within the blood into the runes inside the house using invisible energy waves, while you're on the premises” Hui Shi, stated.
“You can also dump blood on the floor, anywhere in the house, and the runes engraved on the floor will absorb them, and distribute the energy within the blood all around the house.” Annette added in glee.
“Watch this!” She stated afterward, before a long, tiny muscle in her right arm started to wiggle around like a little serpent. After a few seconds of wiggling, it slowly separated from the rest of her arm, and slithered down from her arm towards the floor, as its khaki color, which resembled Annettte’s skin, slowly started to change into that of green.
Scales started forming on its long, slim body before it made it to the floor, and large snake-like eyes grew out of its head.
By the time its entire body laid on the floor, it resembled a vicious green snake, with the length of an arm.
The snake-like muscle, after reaching the floor, quickly looked at Hui Shi, and Lain, with the eyes of a dangerous predator, before blood started to seep out from in-between its scales.
The blood that seeped out of its body quickly landed on the floor, painting the floor around the snake-like muscle, blood-red in color.
After a few seconds of watching the snake-like muscle bleed on the floor, Lain soon noticed the blood slowly start to evaporate, as the runes underneath it lit up.
Chapter 63: Completely Dark
‘Light weight?’ Lain thought, before getting up and double tapping on the sofa’s image inside the holographic screen.
After doing this, he then grabbed the left edge of the sofa with his left hand before gently pushing it towards his right. The moment he pushed on the sofa however, he immediately realized how light the sofa really was.
It was almost as light as the stone key in his hand, even though the sofa was much bigger. Just a gentle push caused the sofa to jeer sideways very easily. He even felt embarrassed of himself for using so much force. Feeling embarrassed, he quickly moved the sofa back to its original location.
After letting go of the sofa, Lain then looked back at the screen that followed his every move and always hovered in front of his body, and double tapped on the sofa again, in order to lock it in place.
After doing this, he then grabbed the sofa a second time in order to push it. This time, however, the sofa didn’t budge a single inch. Noticing this, he began adding a little bit more pressure to his left hand, trying to forcefully move the sofa.
As he began pushing with more force, the runes on the chairs slowly started to light up. The more he pushed the brighter the light they emitted, until the runes in the entire room started shining in a bright, bluish glow.
After pushing with more than twenty percent of his normal strength, the holographic screen in front of Lain started to shake, as it began to blink in and out of existence repeatedly, until it disappeared completely from sight. After its disappearance, the light inside the room also gave out, causing the entire room that he was within, to go dark.
Noticing this, Lain immediately gave up pushing the sofa, and released his grip.
“What an interesting magic. These runes have made the sofa almost immovable. I may need to use more than 50% of my normal strength just to make it budge.” Lain said out loud in wonder, as he looked around at the dark room which had lost all source of light.
“It truly is. But as you can see, there’s a cost to this. The energy within these runes, that’s connected to the entire house, will be depleted if you use all your strength. You’ll then need to buy the right type of blood from the market in order to replenish the energy within them. Otherwise you will never be able to use the various features of the house again.” Annette stated, while smiling at the dumbfounded Lain.
Chapter 62: Pervite
This time, only letting go, after the number following his finger stopped at 70. Seeing his curiosity, Annette couldn’t help but giggle a little, before saying. “Nifty, isn’t it? The temperature can change to your desired setting within seconds. That’s why only adults can change the settings on a key. Children are incapable of using these keys for safety reasons.
There’s even an age scanner on each key that’s designed to scan its user, in order to make sure no underage children are operating it. I know this because my chariot and home also have similar keys.”
Hui Shi eased into a smile, after hearing Annette. He then continued where she left off, saying. “Sister Annette is right. Children are truly incapable of operating this key, due to safety reasons.”
“That’s a useful feature. It shows there’s been a lot of thought put into the designs of these runes and keys.” Lain added. He then took a moment to look around the screen in front of him before finding the sofa that he was currently standing in front of.
After finding the sofa, he reached towards it, then swiped up on the sofa. After a second of swiping, he only stopped when the setting number that hovered next to his swiping finger reached 100.
”I forgot to mention what the rating numbers indicate for the sofa. Number 100 indicates complete firmness, and number 0 indicates complete softness.” Hui Shi added, in slight guilt.
“I see. Thank you.” Lain replied. He then sat down on the sofa, in order to test what the words “complete firmness” truly meant.
As soon as he sat down, he felt the difference. Before, the chair felt extremely soft and comfortable to sit on. Now, on the other hand, sitting on the chair felt like sitting on a hard rock.
Lain, while feeling the texture of the sofa, reasoned to himself. ‘It seems after the rating number reaches 100, the chair will go back to its normal texture. And since the sofa was carved out of some sort of stone, I can only feel uncomfortable sitting on its rock hard surface.’
“The texture of the sofa actually gets firmer than its original texture, due to the runes carved on it. I heard the runes of most furniture can make them much harder than they originally were. They can even turn water into a hard, rocky material. But I’ve never been in a house that doesn’t use pervite as its building material. Since all houses in our district are made of it.” Annette said, after seeing the look of realization on Lain’s face.
“Pervite is the name of the stone that all buildings and furniture are made of in this district, if you’re wondering. Even our city has many architectures made out of this stone, due to its light weight and great durability.” Hui Shi added.
Chapter 61: Temperature Change
Lastly, if you find it cumbersome to hold your stone key, you can place it in your pocket or anywhere on you, and the virtual screens around you will never disappear. You can also place it away from you, and continue using the screens, but you mustn’t let anyone touch the stone key, otherwise it’ll switch users, and close down all screens in front of you.”
“I see, brother Hui Shi. Thanks for the advice.” Lain responded, as he looked at the screen filled with games of all types in front of him.
Not feeling the need to play a game, he quickly looked up from the screen and said to Hui Shi. “Brother Hui Shi, can you please continue showing us around the house. Lastly, how do you exit a screen? I do not feel the need to delve into games right now.”
“Don’t worry. Just point at any screen inside the house and say the words ‘Exit this screen’ and the screen will disappear.” Annette responded. She then looked at Hui Shi, waiting for him to continue showing them around the house, patiently.
“Got it! Thanks for the help, sister Annette.” Lain responded, before closing the smaller TV screen using the voice command that he had just learned.
Seeing this, Hui Shi then took a short deep breath to clear his head, before pointing at the original screen that displayed the living room and saying. “Now that we’re done with the mechanics of the TV, I’ll tell you more about the house.
Swiping vertically over the sofa inside the screen, or any other furniture in the house, allows you to change the texture of it. Swipe up, if you want to increase the setting, or down, if you want to decrease the setting. Just like you do with the temperature of the room.
You can also make a furniture moveable or fix it in place, simply by double tapping its image on the screen.”
Lain, hearing his words, first decided to try the first feature that he was told about earlier. Which was the feature that allowed him to change the temperature of the room. He quickly tried swiping down across the middle of the living room within the holographic screen.
The moment he did, a temperature rating number appeared next to his swiping index finger that followed his finger down the screen. The lower his finger went, the lower the number declined as well.
When he was done swiping down, the number reached -10. After he let go of the screen, he immediately started to notice the temperature of the room drop. Fearing that he may have made a mistake, as the temperature almost went below freezing within seconds of letting go, he immediately corrected his mistake by swiping up on the screen again.
Chapter 60: Gaming Archives
“I see. Well, that answers my questions. I hope brother Hui Shi can continue teaching me about this remote key thing.” Lain finally replied, after a short sigh of relief escaped his mouth.
“Got it. I’ll continue explaining the bank balances. After you have money in your bank account, a small menu screen will always pop up whenever you use an instrument that’s connected to the government’s technology grid that requires in-menu purchases.
You can close or open that bank balance menu at any time by saying the words ‘open or close my bank menu’ but you must already have money deposited into a bank previously, for the menu to open or close at your whim.” Hui Shi said.
He then took a short second to see if Lain, or Annette, had any questions before continuing. “All the menu sections on the smaller TV screen have contents within them that require the spending of Yearning Dollars. Some pages within the Global Archives section also have virtual stores that allow you to purchase physical items using Yearning Dollars that can be shipped directly to your home from wherever they are located within the empire.
Now, let’s move on to the next section of the menu. The Gaming Archives section.”
Lain quickly pressed on the Gaming Archives button in the menu section, after Hui Shi finished speaking, then looked at the canvas below it.
In just a second, the screen changed as the pictures that were there before morphed into new pictures. The new canvas screen still had rows upon rows of pictures, but this time the pictures seen within it were different. There were more cartoon-like pictures on the new canvas than the old.
Looking at the screen filled with pictures, Hui Shi continued speaking. “Each image on this screen contains a unique game created by game developers situated somewhere within the empire.
Clicking on a picture, will either ask you to buy the game hidden within it, if it’s a game with a cost, or start the game, if the game is free, or have been previously purchased.
Unlike the other sections, some games can be played on the screen, with a virtual keyboard, that allows you to control the in-game elements. While other games create a virtual world around you that allows you to play the game using your physical body.
Many games that teach you martial arts, or cultivation techniques, require you to have enough room around you to maneuver, since they create a virtual world around you that you can practice within.
Chapter 59: The Corpse Race
“It’s actually a national crime to use human blood to make runes, but only if the blood used to make the rune is not the rune maker’s own blood. Many cities in our kingdom even ban the buying and selling of instruments that are made using human blood runes entirely, just to prevent the harming of humans to create these types of runes. So most rune makers across the empire that use their own blood to make runes, tend to make runes that are for their own personal use.
Other than human blood, rune makers tend to use the blood of various animals and creatures instead, due to the use of human blood being frowned upon and even banned by the empire.
But there is an exception to the empire’s rule that bans the use of human blood. There’s actually a race of humans whose blood can be used to make runes without it being illegal. This race is so vile in their behavior that they’ve incurred great infamy across the empire, making them wanted criminals that must be arrested on sight, otherwise only an ill fate will befall anyone around them. This cursed race is called the corpse race.” Hui Shi said, as his face shifted into one of disgust at the mention of the corpse race.
“The corpse race? I’ve heard of this race being gossiped about in the past. I heard from my friends, that the first member of this race was birthed after a deranged ghost raped a corpse. After the corpse was raped, it became pregnant and birthed a cursed being that became the forefather of the corpse race.” Annette added, as her face also shifted into one of disgust as well, at the thought of a ghost raping a female corpse.
“That is true. I’ve read many ancient records mention that the corpse race was truly birthed from the body of a corpse, after a cultivated ghost celestial from ancient times revived and raped a corpse. After the birth of their progenitor, the corpse race have wrecked havoc all over the empire, doing many vile acts, which include the killing of people, cannibalism, and the raping of corpses, until they were all hunted down by the empire, and driven into hiding.
The worst part about the corpse race is not only their ability to successfully impregnate female corpses, but their unique rune making technology that requires the blood and souls of human babies.” Hui Shi said, with his face turning even more gloomy at the remembrance of the records that he had read in the past.
“This corpse race sounds pretty cruel. It’s best If I never come across such vile beings in the future. This world truly isn’t as safe as I once thought it was.” Lain said after listening to their conversation. He couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of a corpse being raped by a ghost.
“Don’t worry. The chances of you encountering a corpse race member must be pretty low. Since I’ve been working with the law enforcement agency of our district for years, and I’ve never come across a single corpse race member.” Annette said gently, in order to help ease Lain’s mind.
Chapter 58: Blood Runes
Hearing her words, immediately brought to mind a question that Lain had in his head in the past but forgot to ask due to the situation getting out of hand earlier. After a moment to gather his thoughts, he voiced out his concerns. “Now that you’ve mentioned the gates, I was wondering, why are the gates opened completely, when the entryway is over ten miles in width? Isn’t the government afraid of people bypassing the guards and entering the city from a different location? I’m truly confused about this.”
“The answer is actually very simple. The runes on the city walls have a mind-altering effect that forces anyone intending to enter the city by bypassing the guards to subconsciously line up in front of the guards at the gates patiently. That is one of the many reasons why the runes on the walls are always glowing, as they are always actively affecting the minds of those around them subtly. The runes on the walls also serve as a surveillance system that monitors the outskirts of the city.” Hui Shi said, after hearing Lain’s question.
Dumbfounded by his answer, Lain couldn’t help but stay silent for a minute to process what he had just heard. He then said thoughtfully, “So that’s why I subconsciously desired to follow the crowd and line up, when I could’ve just walked through the opened gates?”
“Yes. I heard all city gates, and surrounding walls in our kingdom have this technology. I also heard only very powerful people can ignore the mental effects that these gates have on their minds, but these people should be very few in number in our city, and may not feel the need to go against city rules.” Annette said, as she also marveled at such a wonderful use of runes by the government.
“The technology of runes is widely used all over the world. Each city, kingdom, and empire all have their own unique way of using runes that differ completely from one another. Even the various organizations and people within these places all have their own unique runic technologies that others cannot replicate.” Hui Shi added, with a smile on his face.
“Runes are truly a blessing to the world. But since they’re made using blood, I wonder how these blood are sourced. Can human blood be used in the making of these runes as well? Wouldn’t that be a bit barbaric to use human blood to make runes?” Lain asked, as he found runes to be somewhat creepy when he truly thought about how they were made.
“It is a bit barbaric to use human blood. But since I’m not a rune maker, I truly have no idea about the rules of the empire or kingdom pertaining to rune making. Brother Hui Shi, are there runes possibly being made using human blood within our empire?” Annette said, as she started to feel slightly creeped out when she looked around in the room that they were in that was filled with glowing runes, that could possibly be made using human blood.
Chapter 57: Bank
After hearing her words, Lain did just that. He fast forwarded the video, then went back a few seconds, before stopping, and exiting the video, using the voice commands. After he said, “Exit this video.” the enlarged video screen shrank back into a corner of the screen, as other pictures magically appeared and cluttered up the screen again, as it was before.
“This is a pretty interesting section that allows you to watch videos that were pre-recorded by others, that can either teach you various life lessons, and cultivation techniques, or just help entertain you in your free time. The videos will always be here for you to watch forever, and will continue from where you left off, unless you say the phrase ‘start this video from the beginning.’ while watching a video.
But I must warn you. This section also has paid videos that require you to purchase them with money before you can watch them.”
“Money? Are you talking about Yearning Dollars? How am I going to deposit Yearning Dollars into a virtual world? How would this technology even recognize who I am?” Lain asked, with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
“Don’t worry, just go to any bank in the city with your Yearning Dollar notes and say that you wish to deposit your money into a bank account. All banks have synchronized bank accounts, although they offer their customers different benefits for depositing money into them.
Lastly, every instrument that’s issued by the government or is connected to the government’s technology system all have people recognition technologies that can easily scan the body of the person currently using the instrument, and link their available bank accounts to the instrument that they’re currently using. If you had a bank account previously, a small screen would’ve popped up when you first pressed on the stone key, that would’ve shown you your current bank balances.” Annette said gleefully, as she saw the look on Lain’s face.
“Is that so?” Lain, asked as he found it unbelievable that his current whereabouts could be linked and monitored by the government through these instruments. He even felt that it was encroaching on his privacy a little.
“Yes it is. When you arrived at the city’s gates earlier and registered yourself, all information provided there will be used to create a government ID for you that’ll follow you all throughout the empire. If you already had an ID created previously, the guards would have never asked you any of the questions that they asked, as their armors are equipped with people scanning instruments that automatically scan everyone around them.” Annette said in happiness, as she felt proud of herself for knowing such detailed information about the government and the banking system. Which she learned after years of fumbling her way through the world.
Chapter 56: Entertainment Archives
“All screens on the smaller TV screen in front of you can be projected to the larger TV, in the living room. This includes the Global Archives, and Vital Alerts sections.” Annette added, as she turned her head away from the large TV screen in the living room towards the smaller one in front of Lain.
After hearing her words, Lain quickly muttered “Return!” while looking at the large holographic screen, in order to test her words. After a couple seconds, the large holographic TV screen still had the man mouthing words in Gilbrazen, with no change to it at all. Seeing this, Lain quickly looked at the smaller TV screen in front of him, just to see the previous page filled with live event boxes appear before him again.
Seeing that changing the smaller screen didn’t affect the larger one, Lain couldn’t help but nod his head in understanding.
Hui Shi, who was quietly standing by the side the entire time, after seeing the satisfied look on Lain’s face, finally decided to continue with his introduction of the small holographic TV screen. “The next section, which is called the Entertainment Archives section, functions similarly to the Live Archives section. But the difference between the Live Archives section, and the Entertainment Archives section, is that videos in the Entertainment Archives section are all pre-recorded videos, with previously set beginnings and ends. While the live events currently viewable in the Live Archives section are all real time videos, that can end at any moment, based on their hosts’ whims.”
Hearing his words, Lain, quickly clicked on the Entertainment Archives menu button, before glancing down at the canvas below the menu. After a brief moment, the screen filled with boxes changed, as a new screen took its place.
On this new screen, instead of boxes of moving people, and things, there were various pictures instead, with titles on them. Just like on the Live Archives screen with rows of 8 boxes, there were also rows upon rows of pictures cluttering the screen, each with vivid images that drew Lain’s eyes.
Clicking on one of those images, with a title that was written in Gilbrazen, the image enlarged and took over the screen. Then a video started playing on the screen, similar to a movie.
Looking at the video that was playing, Lain couldn’t help but feel very fascinated by the technology in front of him. But as he was watching the beginning scenes of the video, he heard Annette’s voice say, “You can stop, rewind, fast-forward or exit a video, simply by saying ‘stop, rewind, fast-forward or exit this video’ while watching a video.”
Chapter 55: Live Events
You can scroll down this section, like you can with the other sections on this holographic screen, by swiping up or down on the screen.
Clicking on a box on the screen enlarges it, and allows you to hear whatever sound is currently being broadcasted from the screen. “
Lain quickly reached towards a random box that had a person talking within it, and held his index finger on it for a couple of seconds. Afterward, the box enlarged, as the other boxes disappeared from the screen.
After the box enlarged, Lain began hearing sounds that came from the holographic screen, which synched with the moving mouth of the man that was situated on the screen.
Hearing those words, Lain, couldn’t help but feel confused. But before he could ask any questions, Hui Shi said to him, “The man in front of you is speaking Gilbrazen. So I guess you’re probably confused as to what he’s saying. But don’t worry, once you use the search bar to search for live events in Svalian, only live events in Svalian will reflect on the screen.”
“It’s best to use the search bar often, as most of the popular content that you’ll find on this holographic TV screen will be in Gilbrazen. I learned that the hard way.” Annette added shyly.
Hearing their words, Lain said, “Thank you. I finally understand.” in understanding, as he looked at the man on the screen in front of him.
“Now that you’re on this page, say the words ‘project this page onto the living room’s television’ and something magical will happen” Annette said to Lain. She then looked up at the living room’s television screen in anticipation.
Hearing her words, and looking at the anticipation in her eyes, Lain quickly said “Project this page onto the living room’s television.” He then also looked over the two 40 inch holographic screens in front of him towards the large holographic screen situated in front of the wall opposite him.
Seconds later, that holographic screen that was previously playing the show Powerful Boys, quickly morphed into a view of a man who was speaking in Gilbrazen inside a live event box.
“Cool isn’t it?” Annette asked happily. “It truly is…” Lain quickly responded in wonder and awe.
“Until this live event ends, or you utter those words again while on a different screen, the holographic screen in the living room will always reflect this live event. Even if you start watching a different live event on the smaller screen in front of you, or close the two smaller screens entirely.”
Edited Chapter 54: Live Archives
Looking at the screen, Lain couldn’t help but swipe up on the screen instinctively. Doing that caused the screen to move up. After less than a second, the words that Lain first saw, at the top of screen also moved up with Lain’s swipe, and disappeared into the recesses of the screen’s top border. A large paragraph of words, then moved up on the screen to take their place.
Looking at the screen with a large paragraph written on it, Lain quickly performed a cursory read on the paragraph. Reading the paragraph made him realize that it was an introductory paragraph that told him what the site was about, as well as how to use the menu on the right side of the screen.
Lain, after reading, then slowly looked away from the screen towards Hui Shi, due to coming to a realization of what the new screen page was about. Looking into the eyes of Hui Shi, Lain asked him, with a look of doubt written on his face. “Brother Hui Shi, this technology is pretty useful. But I have a question to ask. How do I go back to the previous screen? And also, how does this holographic screen relate to the large screen in the living room that’s currently playing the cartoon?”
“Going back to the previous screen is easy, just say ‘return’, and the screen will revert to its previous page. Saying ‘forward’ does the opposite.” Annette said with a chuckle.
Lain did just that, and the screen reverted back to the previous screen, filled with rows of words that were written in Svalian. He then smiled in relief.
Seeing the smiling Lain, Hui Shi continued. “Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the Global Archives section, we should move on to the Live Archives section. In this section, I’ll show you how the two TV screens are related.”
Hearing his words, Lain quickly reached over to the Live Archives button on the menu, and hovered his index finger on it for a couple seconds. Afterward, the screen below that was previously showing the search results quickly changed to a screen filled with boxes where he could see people, places and various things that he had never seen before.
Directly below the search bar, were 8 small boxes, where people could be seen in each of them, either performing certain tasks or talking to the screen in front of them. Below those 8 boxes, were 8 more boxes. And below those 8 boxes were several more rows of boxes underneath, going all the way down, until the entire holographic screen was full.
Looking at the page cluttered with rows of boxes, with random people and things in each one, Hui Shi slowly said to Lain, “The Live Archives section lets you watch live events that occur in real time. These events, which are each separated into their own boxes on the screen, are hosted either by normal people or by the various organizations in the empire.
Edited Chapter 53: Global Archives
These pages allow you to browse through information that these people wish for you to learn. You can also find Global Archives pages that allow you to connect and interact with various people all over the empire in real time, as well as other miscellaneous pages that I may not be aware of.
The Global Archives section is filled without countless links, so it may be very difficult for you to browse through. So If you’re looking for a specific page to browse or specific information to learn, click on the search bar at the top of the screen. After clicking on it, you may then type or speak words that you wish to find in the Global Archives section, before clicking on the search bar again and the search bar will locate all web pages related to those words.”
Hearing his words, Lain, quickly clicked on the Global Archives menu button at the top. He then looked down at the canvas below, only to find various rows of words, cluttering up the screen.
These words however were mostly written in Gilbrazen as well, so he could only shake his head in defeat. He then clicked on the search bar. After clicking on the search bar, a small holographic screen quickly popped up in front of the search bar, that looked like a small keyboard of sorts with Svalian letters situated on it.
Lain quickly took a moment to understand what the holographic keyboard was, then typed the words ‘How to learn Gilbrazen’ in the search bar using the keyboard, before clicking the search bar again.
After clicking the search bar, the holographic keyboard phased out of existence, as the Global Archives screen quickly changed from words written in Gilbrazen to words written in Svalian.
Svalian words in neat rows now filled the screen. Each row of words was a sentence that talked about teaching Gilbrazen. After a moment of thought, Lain clicked on one of those rows of words.
After clicking on the row of words, the screen filled with words quickly changed, as a new screen took its place. Looking at the new screen with Svalian words that said “A Beginner’s Guide To Gilbrazen” situated at the top of it, Lain couldn’t help but feel impressed.
The new screen’s background was dark green in color, and the words on the screen were all written using a unique dark blue font color. Even the font style of the words were a bit more curved, and cursive than the font style on the previous screen that was straight and rigid in styling.
On the right side of the new screen, was a rectangular menu column, colored in dark green, with a black, thin, border around it.
Edited Chapter 52: Gilbrazen
“Sure. I’ll begin by letting you know more about the menu at the top section of the screen. On the menu you will find the Vital Alerts button as the first button on the left side of the menu. Clicking this button brings up vital information that the city, kingdom, or empire wishes to share with its citizens.
It is where you can learn all important happenings that have occurred or are currently occurring within the empire that the kingdom, city or empire wants you to be aware of.” Hui Shi stated.
Hearing Hui Shi's words, Lain quickly reached towards the Vital Alerts button on the menu. After touching it for a couple seconds, the white canvas below the search bar changed.
Replacing the white canvas was a screen of words that were written in a foreign language. Hidden amongst these words were sections of words that Lain could actually understand. These words seemed to be written in the kingdom’s native language that Lain grew up learning, Svalian, which is the Sval Kingdom’s official language.
Seeing the screen filled with words that he couldn’t understand, Lain couldn’t help but ask, “What language is that? Is that a language spoken by certain people in our kingdom?” as he pointed at the screen filled with foreign words.
“That’s Gilbrazen, the Gilagesh Empire’s official dialect.” Annette said, as she also looked towards the screen in curiosity.
“Gilbrazen is actually a mandatory language to learn in school within our empire. I’m surprised you’ve never learned it. But I guess it’s understandable, as Yearning Sweet Town sounds like a very rural area of the kingdom.” Hui Shi added, as a look of doubt appeared on his face.
“I was actually homeschooled, and my foster father only taught me Svalian, which he said was the official language of the kingdom, and all I need to learn in order to live a normal life. So I never learned Gilbrazen.” Lain replied, in slight regret. Since it now seems that he had to spend some time in the future learning Gilbrazen, otherwise he may look idiotic in front of others.
“We’re in the same boat here, brother Lain. I’ve also been trying to learn Gilbrazen in my spare time as well, since I also missed out on school in the past, growing up.” Annette added shyly.
“Well, this brings us to the next menu section, called the Global Archives. This section will help you learn Gilbrazen, if you ever wish to in the future. Clicking on the Global Archives button on the menu, will bring you to its page. Where you can scroll through links that take you to archive pages created by various citizens and organizations that are situated within our empire.
Edited Chapter 51: A New Screen
Swiping a finger across the holographic television situated on the opposite wall of the sofa. Allows you to increase the volume of the sounds emitted from the television.
Pressing on the television for more than 2 seconds, brings up a unique television menu, that allows you to surf the web, watch television programs, and the various news and public information available for the citizens of the kingdom to peruse. Through the web, you can even find unique games that you can use to entertain yourself.”
Lain, after listening to his instructions, reached towards the holographic television screen in front of him that was hovering in front of the wall, and let his finger rest on it for a couple seconds.
Just a second after he did this, a new holographic screen popped up on the left side of the previous screen that he was interacting with. This new holographic screen, as he looked over at it, had the same dimensions in width and length as the old one that’s currently still showing the living room area.
Inside the new screen, was a menu section at its top, which had a row of these words; Vital Alerts, Global Archives, Live Archives, Entertainment Archives, and Gaming Archives. Below the menu was a rectangular search bar that was white in the middle, with a red border.
Below the search bar, was a white canvas, similar to the one from the holographic screen next to it before the living menu button was pressed.
Looking at the new screen that popped up, Lain couldn’t help but feel impressed. He even marveled at the level of technology that could turn mindless runes into such a versatile object as the screen in front of him.
While looking at Lain marvel at the screen, Annette couldn’t help but say, “This television is very useful in our empire. Almost everyone uses it to gather information these days.”
“Yup. It is vital to sharing information across large distances.” Hui Shi added, as he smiled at Annette and Lain.
Lain, hearing their words, quickly nodded his head. He then thought for a few seconds before replying. “I see. Can you please explain to me how it works? I’m becoming more interested in this television thing by the second.”
“Brother Hui Shi, please help us. I’m also not fully familiar with televisions. Because I spend most of my time either cultivating my will power or completing tasks given to me by our law enforcement agency.” Annette said, as she shrugged her shoulders in regret for being too busy to learn things properly, even though she was born and raised in such a technologically advanced city.
Edited Chapter 50: Stone Key
Annette, hearing his words, couldn't help but shiver in fright. “Ancient Garund Temple. It seems I may have heard of this place before, I just wasn’t aware of what it was at that time. Thanks for your warning, brother Hui Shi. I’ll stay away from its premises in the future, if I ever venture to an area close to it.” She said, as she finally realized her lack of strength. She then thought in her head, ‘Who knew this empire houses such dangerous places.’
Lain could only say, “Thank you, brother Hui Shi. I’ll try to avoid going to these untouchable zones in the future as well.” as he marveled at the mysteries of the world in his head.
Hui Shi, after waiting for a couple of minutes while the other two contemplated their own ideas in their heads, finally realized that they had no more questions to ask him, so he slowly stood up and said to them. “Brother Lain, why don’t I show you around your new home, that way you can understand how to navigate it in the future, since you may not be used to our city’s architecture.”
Seeing Hui Shi get up, Lain, and Annette followed, with Lain saying, “Thank you, brother Hui Shi. I’ve been meaning to ask you how this key works as well.”
Hearing his words, Hui Shi walked over to Lain, bypassing the standing Annette that was situated between them, and said, “This key functions as both a remote and a key. As long as you have the key on your person, you can push open the front door of the house at any time, and it’ll open without resistance.”
He then pointed at the stone key that Lain held in his hand and said, “Push in the middle of the key, and a holographic menu will pop up in front of you.”
Lain, hearing his words, quickly pushed at the center of the stone key, which concaved slightly at his touch, before a holographic screen appeared in front of him that was as wide as a 40-inch TV.
Inside the screen, was a menu with words at the top, and a blank, white canvas below it. On the menu were the words, doors, living room, kitchen, bedroom 1, and bedroom 2.
Looking at the menu that popped up, Hui Shi then said, “Click on the living room menu button at the top. It’ll display all the settings and changes that you can make within the living room.”
Hearing Hui Shi’s words, Lain quickly reached towards the living room section of the menu, accurately touching it. After Lain’s hand reached the living room section, a clicking sound echoed from the holographic screen, before the blank canvas below the menu showed a 3D version of the living room for Lain to see.
After the screen reflected the living room, Hui Shi continued, “Swiping with a finger vertically across the middle of the screen allows you to change the temperature of the room to your liking.
Edited Chapter 49: Ancient Garund Temple Is Untouchable
Because there are many places within our empire that are called untouchable zones. These are places where unfathomable characters dwell within. Places that our empire cannot control. It seems Yearning Sweet Town may have become a new untouchable zone that the kingdom is currently unaware of.”
“My hometown, Yearning Sweet, is too peaceful for it to be a dangerous, untouchable, place where you can’t visit. My family does not harass outsiders either, so it will always be safe to visit it in the future if you ever decide to visit my hometown on your own.” Lain said, after hearing the anxiety in Annette’s voice.
“Thanks brother Lain, for your kindness.” Annette, who heard his answer said, after finally letting go of the slight anxiety in her heart. She then asked another question that was on her mind, after hearing Hui Shi’s words. “Brother Hui Shi, what is an untouchable zone? I’ve not read much about the world, so I’m not sure what you truly mean.”
Lain, hearing her question, also nodded his head. He then perked his ears up in order to listen carefully to the answer of such an interesting subject.
Hui Shi couldn't help but answer after a moment spent gathering his thoughts, “Untouchable zones as I mentioned before are zones that are technically not under the control of our empire. Why are these zones not under our empire’s control?
Well, it’s because within these zones dwell monstrous figures and heritages from ancient times, with powers that can rival our empire.
The closest untouchable zone to our city, other than the new Yearning Sweet Town, is called the Ancient Garund Temple. This temple houses the lineage of a fallen god from ancient times, long before our empire was founded.
Due to the strength of the people who dwell within the temple, it was deemed unconquerable by our empire. There are even tales of demigods dwelling within the temple currently, but I am not truly sure if those tales are accurate, since the temple had locked its doors to outsiders since ancient times till now.
Now that I’ve mentioned the temple, I must warn you. Some untouchable zones, like the Ancient Candle King Sect, and the Ancient Evil Dungeon, may be opened to visitors, but not the Ancient Garund Temple. Never dwell within the premises of this temple, for you may never return.”