Leaving Danxin Hall, Chen Chuan stepped onto the walkway outside. The walkway was situated on higher ground, like an open embankment ringing the lake, and not far away lay the vast, tranquil Qinghu Lake.
The guards were all down below; up here, it seemed as though he was completely alone.
Just then, a breeze blew past, bringing a refreshing coolness. Slender ripples spread across the lake's surface, and the willows on the opposite bank swayed gently.
As he stood there gazing into the distance, Kaiyang's voice sounded:
"Advisor Chen, the lakeside temperature today is twenty-three degrees, humidity forty-five percent, with a gentle breeze—ideal for a stroll along the walkway. Would you care for a cup of tea? I recommend 'Snowcup Clarity.' It can soothe restless thoughts, calm the spirit, and nourish your vital energy."
Chen Chuan said, "A cup of that will do."
A teacup materialized out of thin air within the field around him. He took it and had a sip, immediately sensing a faint sweetness on the tip of his tongue, followed by the fragrance of plum blossoms after snow lingering between his lips and teeth. At the same time, his mind seemed to become clearer and more luminous.
He realized that the beverages provided to advisors all seemed capable of nourishing the spirit, each with distinct effects. It even provided a faint boost to him, to say nothing of other advisors.
Moreover, if even the drinks were of this caliber, the provisions of food and other necessities would certainly be no lesser. Consuming them over a long period would undoubtedly yield immense benefits.
Savoring the tea slowly, he declined Kaiyang's offer of a sightseeing vehicle and continued along the walkway, taking the opportunity to sort through his thoughts.
Earlier, he had reviewed the responsibilities of an advisor, but correspondingly, advisors also wielded substantial authority.
Every advisor held the qualification to report directly to and convey messages to Tianshu, as well as an opportunity once every three months to seek counsel and receive guidance from members of Tianshu—a privilege completely beyond the reach of ordinary martial artists.
As for cultivation resources, they were tilted entirely toward advisory members, with routine cultivation resources supplied according to designated quotas.
So long as advisors fulfilled their duties each year, although rare resources like a primordial remnant were impossible to obtain again, resources of slightly lesser grade could be requested once a year.
These were not restricted to the advisors' own use either; they could be bestowed upon close associates or talented individuals they favored.
This was something Tianshu actively encouraged, as Tianshu required the Advisory Group, even while pursuing breakthroughs, to pay attention to cultivating and supporting talented martial artists—which was precisely what the various factions were currently doing as well.
Aside from these external privileges, internally, every advisor and their kin was backed by a private service agency dedicated to them. All travel, activities, daily necessities, and even security were provided by this institution.
Martial artists were even assigned to the security details. Yet, for an ordinary martial artist, being able to follow an advisor of the Supreme Security Council was an extraordinary opportunity, so such positions were not something just anyone could secure.
And this was merely a small fraction of the authority. As he was reviewing it, an external signal suddenly came in.
He checked it and found that two fellow members of the Purist Faction had taken the initiative to exchange contact details with him.
When these two advisors sent him messages, their likenesses were clearly displayed on his boundary credential. They were a man and a woman. The man, named Gao Geliang, was a burly man with a full beard, his eyes wise and bright, giving off a deeply reassuring presence.
The woman was named Tie Yinyang. She appeared half a head taller than Chen Chuan, with a fierce gaze, slightly thick brows, dark skin, and hair tied in a ponytail. Her facial features were undeniably attractive, but defined muscles were visible beneath her uniform, exuding a distinct, spirited vigor.
When the two contacted him, they had each left a message. Gao Geliang's was a polite greeting: "Advisor Chen, welcome aboard. I hope we enjoy working together in the days ahead."
Tie Yinyang was far more direct: "Advisor Chen, I've watched your recordings and battle records. You're formidable. Let's find a time for a spar, what do you say?"
Chen Chuan glanced through them, added both of them, and sent each a reply.
After exchanging greetings, their figures vanished from the field projection. Some of the other advisors had also sent over their contact information out of courtesy.
However, if advisors truly needed to communicate, they could do so through Kaiyang, so whether they added one another or not made little practical difference.
He walked for a while longer, finished the tea in his hand, and casually set it aside; the cup promptly vanished within the field.
At this point, Kaiyang spoke again: "Advisor Chen, the vehicle prepared for you is awaiting orders below the hall. Your assigned residence has been fully arranged, and your personal belongings have all been delivered. Would you like to head there first to inspect it or take a brief rest?"
Chen Chuan considered it and agreed.
Looping back from the walkway, he saw a black stretched limousine parked there, trailed by two armored vehicles, with two rows of armed guards waiting respectfully.
He glanced over and descended the steps. As he approached, the guards saluted him and held open the door.
Once he settled inside, the door was carefully closed from the outside, and the vehicle eased into motion, rolling smoothly along the road ahead.
To one side of Chen Chuan's field of vision, a three-dimensional map materialized, its markers indicating his real-time position.
Simultaneously, whenever he looked at any building, annotations appeared, allowing him to view data such as its year of construction, architectural style, current function, foot-traffic information, and security clearance level.
If he was interested and wished to delve deeper, historical imagery comparisons, architectural blueprints, structural cross-sections, and various relevant data indexes could all be displayed.
Nor was this limited to this area alone; upon checking, he discovered that so long as he wished, he could view most places across Zhongjing and news from them through Kaiyang. Even information from government departments was transparent to him.
He could even retrieve and observe past records of various ministries as well as public conferences currently underway.
From this, it was evident that the advisors of the Advisory Group truly stood at the pinnacle of Great Shun's power, wielding an authority whose scope surpassed even that of the executive government.
After browsing through that, he checked the profiles of the security personnel in the motorcade. All of them had been assigned to him by the Advisory Group.
If he was dissatisfied, however, he could naturally have them replaced.
He pondered the matter. Now that the New Year holiday had passed, it seemed he could arrange to transfer his own security detail from Jibei Dao over.
He personally had no need for protection, but the resources his team could obtain here in Zhongjing—or rather, by his side—were unmatched anywhere else.
Besides, whatever tasks he needed undertaken were best entrusted to people he had faith in.
The vehicle had driven forward for only a few minutes, seemingly not yet having exited Tianyuantang, when Chen Chuan saw a brilliant array of multicolored light appear ahead, unfolding in cascading layers like light refracting through a sheet of water.
After merely a few breaths, the radiance dispersed, and he found that they had entered an entirely separate domain.
Before him stretched an expansive, crystal-clear lake reaching all the way to the horizon. Several islands were linked by covered bridges, lush with flourishing blossoms and trees, adorned with ancient-style waterside pavilions and towers whose faint eaves poked through the branches. A warm breeze swept across the lake, carrying the occasional chime of bronze bells hanging beneath the eaves.
After driving along the lakeside road for a short while, two or three cranes skimmed across the water, their shrill cries echoing from overhead.
On the other side of the lake, an entire complex of modern-style buildings stood quietly between the grassy slopes and the shoreline.
Upon entering this place, one's spirit grew noticeably invigorated. This was undoubtedly a ritual field space. From the information Kaiyang provided at that moment, all residences of Advisory Group advisors were situated within spaces of this kind.
Next, all he needed to do was imprint his spiritual field onto the ritual center, and the area would be registered under his name. Even if he eventually stepped down from the position of advisor, he could transfer it to his family and friends.
Once ownership was established, virtually no one could enter without his consent, as finding the entrance to this place was fundamentally impossible.
Unless one could destroy the entirety of Chiqiu, there was no way to shatter the ritual foundation that sustained this place.
If advisors wished to visit one another, they could travel directly from here to any fellow advisor's residence so long as they obtained the other party's permission, completely bypassing any external passages.
This appeared to isolate them from reality, yet in truth, was it not also a form of restraint upon the advisors, and a measure of protection for ordinary people?
Residing here, advisors had all their daily cultivation and resource needs satisfied without any need for conventional contact with the outside world. Such isolation had both advantages and disadvantages, but the benefit to ordinary people was far greater.
The vehicle continued toward the modern manor beside the lake. Only upon arriving did he discover that behind the hillside stood another cluster of buildings facing the opposite direction. Inside, there was a sleek recreation area equipped with various leisure amenities, and further out lay a stretch of sandy beach looking out over boundless waters.
The sea naturally had its boundaries, but just the portion he could sense was more than enough to accommodate Chaocai Lake from Jibei Dao.
At this point, Kaiyang said, "Is there anything about the residential area that is not to your satisfaction? I can make adjustments for you at any time."
Chen Chuan looked over the various architectural blueprints that surfaced before him, each projecting its actual effect onto the physical buildings in the distance as he browsed them.
He had no intention of making alterations right now. Instead, he was considering whether to bring his aunt's family here to live, though that would depend on their own wishes.
Here in Zhongjing, defenses were indeed far more solid, but other nodes along the Ring of Worlds were equally vital. If trouble arose in Jibei Dao, he would certainly return to help defend it.
Furthermore, this place was not as secure as one might imagine.
He glanced at the map. Right at the very center of the entire area was a conspicuous void. Although nothing seemed amiss on the surface, he could distinctly sense an incessant stream of energy seeping through from the other side.
He asked, "That leads to the Everliving Fissure, doesn't it?"
Kaiyang replied, "Yes. The Everliving Fissure is connected to your residence, which also facilitates your watch duties."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Then let's not go to the residential quarters just yet. Kaiyang, take me over to the Everliving Fissure for a look."
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Chapter 1477