Above Destiny

Chapter 555, shall we discuss it?

After winter sets in, Haizhou enjoys a pleasantly mild temperature.

The scorching sun temporarily extinguished its fierce flames, and the rays it cast seemed to become aloof for a moment. Although it was still humid, after the terrifying heat wave that was so stifling it was almost unbearable subsided, before a new wave of bone-chilling, damp cold arrived, the entire Haizhou region enjoyed a brief period of gentle warmth that could be counted in days.

Snakes, insects, and rodents in the wilderness couldn't wait to pop out and crawl around everywhere... Several of them were run over on the way here by car alone.

*Smack*, another sound.

Amidst the teeth-grinding, crisp cracking sound, Lou Feng's expression twitched once again. In a moment of distraction, a pile of bird droppings fell from the sky.

After accidentally hitting and killing a crow, the SUV seemed to become the target of all the crows, causing Lou Feng a great deal of annoyance.

"Auntie, stop laughing. You're just trying to make a difference."

Lou Feng rolled his eyes and glanced at the figure lying on the back seat playing a handheld game console.

Lou Yanyue yawned nonchalantly: "What? Auntie's going to help you wash the car? Nephew, you're getting bolder and bolder!"

Snapped.

Another pile of bird droppings.

Lou Feng is going crazy.

"What kind of hellhole did that guy surnamed Ji find? So many random things!" Lou Feng looked at the bird droppings that were evenly spread on the car window as the wipers swept them, and his blood pressure was about to explode.

Although I don't understand what happened, it must have been Ji Jue who did it!
if not?
Could it be just bad luck?
Snapped!
Buy one get one free.

Before Lou Feng could completely lose his composure, the girl, who had been laughing heartily, finally had enough of the spectacle. Wiping away her tears of laughter, she flicked her fingers, and suddenly, after opening a crack in the car window, a bolt of lightning, like a snake, shot out, gliding nimbly and rising into the sky in the blink of an eye. It dispersed the flock of crows that had been following them like shadows, and then exploded, causing the birds to flutter and sway as they fled in the sky.

The off-road vehicles slowly made their way forward on the muddy road, and soon, a long line of cars came into view ahead...

Lou Feng was completely dumbfounded.

It’s so amazing!
Traffic jams can still occur outside the city?
In this desolate wilderness, the road beside the mud pit was blocked, and you could vaguely see a large truck stuck in the mud ahead, groaning in vain as it was pulled by a steel cable.

Then, one by one, the vehicles stuck in the middle of the road started honking their horns and cursing.

As we all know, people driving outside the city never pay attention to traffic rules or show any manners. When they get on the road, all they want is the daring to floor the gas pedal and the backbone of trying their best to live.

Not to mention the outrageously loud horns of all sorts of modified cars, which startle the birds in the swamp and leave behind large amounts of bird droppings.

More and more vehicles were continuously converging, the vast majority of which were delivery trucks with familiar logos. The drivers, smoking cigarettes, stepped on the gas and cursed. Some were even squeezing in little by little along the side roads, displaying a kind of beauty that showed no regard for the lives of others.

If you're going to squeeze, then squeeze hard; find any opening you can get through...

"No, no, no, don't you old mum! I—"

Lou Feng flew into a rage, rolled down his car window, pointed at the driver who had cut in line, and unleashed a torrent of insults at him. Spittle flew everywhere, and by the end, the driver who had cut in line was so thirsty that he had to give up. In contrast, Lou Feng was full of energy and could still take on ten more.

As the aura of a Dou Zong expert was revealed and his disdainful gaze swept over the crowd, the other eager competitors who wanted to cut in line immediately slammed on the brakes.

After being told their defenses have been breached, people usually pull out their gear from their trunks to compare their strengths. But looking at the bulletproof plates on this SUV and the new entry permit pinned to the window, anyone with a bit of sense loses the will to compete.

A piece of clay chicken and a clay dog, it's vulnerable!
Lou Feng snorted and closed the car window, only then noticing the phone his aunt was holding in the back seat, its camera flashing red.

His eyes suddenly started twitching violently.

"Hey, what are you doing...?"

"Not bad, kid!"

Lou Yanyue, beaming with delight, patted his shoulder: "Next time the bureau has a meeting to discuss the budget, you'll come with me! If anyone dares to cause trouble, just speak up, and your aunt will back you up!"

Lou Feng was about to speak when he saw his aunt's smile grow increasingly dangerous: "Little friend, you don't want this video to end up on your fourth brother and sister-in-law's phones, do you?"

Lou Feng was completely devastated.

I'm so stupid for bringing you along!

No, I shouldn't have left this door!

Who would have thought that while peacefully eating hotpot and singing in his own workshop, he would inexplicably run into Ji Jue!
As soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I received an invitation from Ji Jue, who said that he had something good to share with him and that I should come quickly.

Leaving aside his victim-like opening remarks at the start of a murder case, what good could that bastard Ji Jue possibly have to think of about himself?

Absolutely hilarious!
He originally didn't intend to pay attention, but Ji Jue kept calling and urging him, saying with certainty that he would definitely regret it if he didn't come, which annoyed Lou Feng to no end. This bastard called every five minutes, and blocking him didn't work!
It wasn't until a precious video of a manure cart was shown that the forgotten brotherhood was finally awakened, and Lou Feng immediately set off without hesitation, cursing his mother!

As for Lou Yanyue... she had recently accidentally killed too many wanted criminals and was forced to take administrative leave at home. She was so bored that she came to join in the fun.

Or rather, it was stuffed into the building's facade.

There's no way to handle someone like that, who wakes up thinking about going somewhere to be a wanted criminal, is unbearable to keep at home.

Moreover, not only is he of a high generation, but he also has a carefree personality and acts without thinking, which can easily lead to trouble.

People are genuinely scared that someone would challenge an online friend to a game at Zhongshan Park.

Considering the recent decline in the quality of people's online presence and their tendency to criticize others' posts... I might as well just pack them all up and put them up for resale.

This is the punishment for swearing!
Although only a few months had passed since the beginning of his journey, Lou Feng already had a feeling that he had been sent on a long trip.

Everywhere you look, there are delivery trucks that roam around like packs of stray dogs, coastal tricycles that Ji Jue doesn't even recognize, wind turbines and battery swapping stations, and even towns that don't exist on the map at all.

"This bastard has actually managed to stir up some trouble."

Lou Feng snorted coldly, suppressing the surging sourness in his heart.

Go ahead and stir things up, stir things up as much as you want, and make the desolate Haizhou wilderness a scene of chaos. Meanwhile, I'm quietly improving my alchemy skills, and I'll chop your dog's head off at Tian Shu sooner or later!

In fact, even someone as prejudiced as Lou Feng had to admit that Ji Jue, that scoundrel, had done a pretty good job—after all, his family also had a stake in Messenger Logistics, which was given to him as a bonus when he was raising investment.

Although from an investment perspective, this profit is nothing compared to other projects, and investment is still ongoing, Lou Guan, the third uncle in charge of Loujia Commercial, has praised it a lot.

Money in an account is just a number, but now it has real influence.

Improving stability and order in Haizhou is beneficial to everyone. There are capable people who can do it well, and they are willing to lead everyone together. Why not do it?

Along the way, he had seen the beginnings of several towns. Large clusters had appeared around the two large storage warehouses and even at the intersections of the main roads. There were even more gas stations now.

The closer you get to Xinquan, the more prosperous it becomes. You can even see factories of all sizes. The far-from-environmental chimneys are belching out thick smoke, sewage is being discharged on the spot, and there are constant roars and curses.

Factories of all kinds sprang up like mushrooms after rain, from plastic to metal parts processing. Some existed because of orders from the coast, while others simply relied on the convenience of messenger logistics to start mass production of various pins, buttons and other small handicrafts for sale.

The cheap goods have not only spread throughout Haizhou, but have also begun to be exported to Yunzhou and Longyuan. Goods that are wholesaled for a penny or two are then resold for a dollar or two. There is no shortage of middlemen everywhere. When they finally reach the city and are placed on the shelves of street stalls or ten-dollar stores, the price may have increased tenfold, but they are still considered to be good quality and cheap. As for the quality... what quality do you expect for this price?

In fact, most of the exports went to the Kuril Islands or the Middle Kingdom.

Since Chen Xingzhou started building shipyards and shipping, he has never missed a single order.

After being brutally plowed by Ji Jue several times by torrential rains, the entire wilderness, infused with new rules, seemed to begin to grow wildly.

Just roll up your sleeves and get to work. Even if you fail, you can always go back to being a garbage collector.

It's still better than picking up trash.

As a result, more and more people rolled up their sleeves, and a vibrant scene of everything flourishing came into view.

Changes with each passing day.

Various shacks and illegal buildings have sprung up like a forest and are still expanding. In the past, recruiting new employees on the coast required going deep into various settlements, but now even getting a job to drive screws in the factory requires being picked and chosen. Despite these many harsh rules, people still flock to it.

Once the contract is signed, meals will be provided for the next ten years. There will be plenty of dormitory-style beds, and skilled workers and those with certificates will be assigned rooms directly. They can even bring their families.

Anyone can use an abacus, anyone can calculate. Can't everyone see what's good about it? Once there's no one deliberately obstructing or sabotaging things in the middle, they'll swarm in immediately.

And Xinquan has also changed drastically.

For a moment, the buildings on the main road almost thought they had entered the city, even more outrageous than the city itself... Although in terms of density and completion, it couldn't even compare to the suburbs, there was just too much of a mess.

There's even an elevated highway under construction, with not only the upper level open to traffic but also the lower level for light rail. The street tracks are also being planned and extended.

Various strange, moving machines roam the streets and alleys, controlling a wide range of tasks from intelligent transportation to maintaining public order under the surveillance of numerous cameras.

For some reason, these hanging cabinets all have two strange-looking pointed horns on top, like cat ears.

"Auntie, please wait for me a moment."

Lou Feng slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car, and stood in front of a security maintenance machine... well, it was like a refrigerator with short legs and arms.

Wearing two cat ears and dragging a charging cable behind it, the display screen on its head flashes emoticons. When it notices a building blocking its way, a conspicuous symbol immediately appears on the screen.

【? 】

"This is fucking bizarre."

Lou Feng frowned, looked the cat up and down, circled the entire street cat several times, even tugged at its tail and tapped its shell, ignoring repeated warnings.

Too outrageous.

Leaving aside the internal structure, as a craftsman, it's impossible that he couldn't even recognize an alchemical creation... Why would such a purely mechanical and electrically powered device possess such a mature and complete spirit of creation?

The spirit of creation is not actually that rare.

After all, the aggregation of matter and spirit is a natural phenomenon. It is normal for some things to develop a faint trace of intelligence over time and with repeated use. Not to mention all those random antiques or outrageous things that bring bad luck.

The vast majority of them are tiny, insect-like beings with no likes or dislikes, let alone the ability to think. They would simply dissipate if left unattended.

Those who can think like cats and dogs are already extremely rare, while those who can think like a Border Collie, like a CEO, are practically college students from the countryside, the kind who graduate with a combined master's and doctoral degree from Tianmen University.

The chances of this happening are so low that they can be disregarded.

It can be encountered but not sought after.

The most crucial point is—has this thing even been manufactured a year ago? Judging from the wear and tear, it's only been a month or two at most! Natural formation is a pipe dream, but artificial catalysis…

Lou Feng was horrified.

That bastard Ji Jue, his spiritual essence cultivation has reached this level?! Damn, why is he still spinning? Wait a minute, wasn't it said that his heart pivot and ethereal energy were his weaknesses?!

And what's the point?
It has absolutely no cost-effectiveness! The same complete Creation Spirit could be sold for an astronomical price if used for alchemy and creation. Even if you want to show off your skills, you don't need to make the whole of Shinsengumi have this kind of thing, do you?
That's right, the entire streets and alleys of Xinquan, from the security cats walking on the streets to the riot control cats following the patrol teams, and even the giant mortar-carrying cats on the construction site, are all alchemical creations!

are you crazy?
Lou Feng was already sweating.

"Brother, that person is so strange." A puzzled voice came from not far away.

"That's normal. They're from out of town, country bumpkins. They've never seen anything like it before."

The slovenly-faced boy glanced at it, then slowly pushed his wheelchair away, his voice drifting back: "If you encounter something like this, don't go over there and look. What if he goes crazy and bites you?"

You fucking—

Lou Feng's fist was already hardened.

Lou Yanyue, inside the car, was already laughing so hard she was doubled over.

If it weren't for the cars blocking the road behind them honking their horns like crazy, Lou Feng would have definitely argued with this brat first.

Damn it, I've had nothing but bad luck since I hit the road. I haven't even met anyone yet, and I'm already seething with anger.

People with the surname Ji are completely incompatible with me!

What bad luck!
When Lou Feng finally saw that grinning, dog-like face, he was about to raise his hand to unleash his ultimate attack. But before he could even raise his hand, a nimble figure jumped out of the car behind him, passed him, and walked straight to Ji Jue.

"Yo!"

Lou Yanyue smiled: "Ji Jue, right? He's more handsome than that kid Lou Feng described." "..."

Lou Feng's face turned green, especially when he saw that bastard Ji Jue shaking his aunt's hand back and forth and refusing to let go—oh no, just what I feared had come to pass.

They're rushing to give him a super seniority boost!
To be precise... Ji Jue doesn't need to make any plans.

Lou Yanyue was much more straightforward than him.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

Lou Yanyue raised her head and scrutinized the man in front of her. He was young, good-looking, refined, reliable, of good character, capable, and had a bright future... In every sense, he was the best of the best!

Once you miss this opportunity, where else will you find such a shop?
"Want to talk, bro?"

She held onto Ji Jue's hand tightly, her smile delighted.

"Ah this..."

Ji Jue was stunned, his breathing becoming disordered for a moment.

Looking at the girl in front of him, he felt as if he were being electrocuted, his heart was pounding like a deer, and his breathing became rapid... How could he not be?
He's pinching the cable!

We hit it off immediately upon meeting!

Under Lou Feng's resentful gaze, the heartless Ji Jue held onto his aunt's hand tightly, but Ji Jue was already almost numb from the electric shock, and his hair was practically standing on end!

"Sorry, I don't plan on doing that for now." His expression twitched, but he managed to pull his hand back; half his body was numb.

These days, young girls are getting more and more outrageous!

"Can we get engaged first?"

Lou Yanyue laughed heartily, her face still resembling that of a high school student, hands on her hips: "It's rare to meet someone I like, I don't mind."

My dad dotes on me the most. You can take whatever the Lou family has, and you don't even have to marry into their family.

Marrying me is way more cost-effective than rigging up that kid's house!

"Holy crap, it seems so." Ji Jue thought to himself, as if struck by a sudden realization.

Lou Yanyue smiled and nudged his chest with her elbow: "Don't let my youth fool you, I have quite a bit of assets. Besides, I'm not bad looking, am I?"

"emmmm..."

Ji Jue scrutinized that slightly immature face and had to nod: "Indeed."

"You can start talking about it first. Feelings can develop over time. If not, you can always keep a mistress outside. I don't mind."

Lou Yanyue had already skillfully moved closer, putting her arm around his shoulder: "Instead of having your family throw a dead pig into your life and having to live with yourself, why not find a brother to team up with? We're all buddies, so everything is easy to talk to!"

Ji Jue couldn't help but nod repeatedly: "What you said makes so much sense."

"Hey!"

Lou Feng's eyes were practically spitting fire, and his fists hardened. "You, Ji, that's enough!"

What do you mean I've had enough?

Ji Jue was helpless. "Your aunt started flirting with me the moment we met!"

Lou Yanyue patted her chest generously: "What other requests do you have? Just tell me!"

"Hmm, if I had to say... about education?"

Ji Jue stroked his chin and pondered for a moment: "If it's a PhD, that's indeed a bit demanding. A master's degree would be better, preferably in engineering or materials science... If the relevant major is a good fit, an undergraduate degree is also acceptable. But have you considered pursuing a master's degree?"

Dead silence.

Lou Yanyue stared in disbelief.

In the silence, Lou Feng couldn't help but turn his head and chuckle...

Excuse me, but my aunt only finished junior high school! In Ji Jue's eyes, what's the difference between her and a caveman?

"You kid..."

Lou Yanyue grinned, not taking offense, and punched him twice. Ji Jue also extended his hand and solemnly shook hands with her: "Just kidding, Miss Lou, hello, I'm Ji Jue."

"Well, no wonder you've got so many girls smitten. Quite a few people in the Chaocheng Security Bureau are eyeing you, so you'd better watch out."

In just a few words, they got along well and had already made plans to have dinner that evening.

She's much more straightforward than Lou Feng. Not only is she easygoing, but she also has a very open mind. When you're in the world of martial arts, what matters is finding someone who shares your values. As long as you don't treat her like a little girl, just say what you mean and treat her like a brother.

They hit it off immediately, exchanging phone numbers and messaging apps before Ji Jue finally remembered and looked at the... well, Lou Feng, who had been ignored by the two of them.

Lou Feng glanced at him sideways, his expression indifferent.

You remembered me? Oh?! Too late!
"Oh my, isn't this Mr. Ji, the Gold Ribbon Craftsman of the Year?"

He chuckled sarcastically, "You've come all this way to call a nobody like me to your doorstep, what's the matter? Do you have something good to show off?"

Ji Jue's eye twitched slightly, and he sighed silently.

Couldn't you and your aunt switch genders...?

Lou Yanyue was much more straightforward.

He slammed a cannon into his nephew's stomach, yelling, "Speak properly!"

Lou Feng's face turned green instantly. This familiar barrage of family affection, which he had endured since childhood, was now being used even more cruelly by those who were turning against him now that they were siding with outsiders!
I feel like I'm the one who's superfluous.

How about I leave?

"Ahem, enough of the small talk, please come in, please come in. It's really not proper for guests to stand at the door. I recently brought back a lot of tea from the Chong Kwong Church, everyone should have a taste."

Having watched the commotion to his heart's content, Ji Jue quickly changed the subject. He was genuinely afraid that Young Master Lou would explode in anger and lash out at him. If he had begged and pleaded to bring him over, wouldn't he just be looking for a sucker to pay the bill?
What's the deal with the chicken flying and the egg breaking?
"What kind of tea do you want? My family owns several tea plantations; do you think we need your tea leaves?"

Lou Feng became increasingly vigilant and wary. The more generous and enthusiastic Ji Jue was, the more scheming he was, and he couldn't afford to be careless: "Get to the point!"

Lou Yanyue stopped getting involved and watched the two bickering with a smile.

This trip was definitely worthwhile!

"Alright, come with me—"

Ji Jue walked ahead, waved, and opened the elevator door.

We're all craftsmen, there's really no need for this kind of romantic drama. We all know each other, so less formality is better than anything else.

The elevator began to descend straight down.

Number changes.

"Oh ho, so you've come to show us around your sweatshop?" Lou Feng sneered. "Could it be that you've gone crazy from arresting people and are now going after your competitors? The National Security Bureau is right here, so you better watch out."

What exactly lies beneath the coastline has been the subject of much gossip and rumors; everyone knows it by now.

It's unclear whether these words were meant as sarcasm or a reminder.

This thing is always so weird!

That's so contradictory.

Ji Jue couldn't help but want to roll his eyes.

The elevator goes down, and down again.

There were no cries or screams, and no smell of blood or decay in the air. The only sounds were the smell of engine oil and the low rumble of machinery.

Ding--

The elevator doors opened, revealing a huge underground plaza outside.

Looking up, rows of steel frames are connected to each other, and countless pieces of equipment rise and fall on the tracks. The towering skylights, like launch pads, extend all the way into the deepest part of the darkness.

Thanks to the air purification system, there was no stuffiness at all; instead, it was chilly.

What hit us was a wave of heat so intense it was hard to breathe, and even a crystalline light that seemed to cover the entire ground!

Spirit Crystal!

Amidst the elaborate rituals, countless spiritual crystals rose from the ground, ranging in size from half a meter to over ten meters, varying in thickness and length.

"hiss……"

Lou Feng gasped, his scalp tingling, and he stared in disbelief.

It's not that I haven't seen it before, but precisely because I have, I understand how astonishing the investment is behind this seemingly magnificent landscape...

Holy crap, a columnar spiritual energy computing array covering several kilometers!
are you crazy!
The production of spiritual crystals and the sale of related equipment... The Lou family themselves are in this business, so how could they not know the terrifying costs behind it?

Immediately, his whole body felt hairy.

Just one or two of these things are enough to support the normal use of the workshop. After all, in addition to the flow of spiritual matter and the intensification of spiritual intelligence, the function of these crystals is to serve as carriers of the soul!
Good news! Ji Jue has pulled back from the brink and is no longer running the underground factory.

Bad news, it seems he's gotten involved with the Ten Thousand Soul Banner...

What exactly is this bastard trying to do?
Lou Feng tensed up, becoming wary, fearing that the guy's next words would be to ask fellow Daoists to enter the banner and help him!
Ji Jue walked calmly ahead, weaving through the crowd, gesturing for them to follow.

"Isis."

“Sir, I am here.” Under the shimmering silver light, a faint outline emerged from the reflection of the crystal, as if it were omnipresent.

"Release the blockade and externalize the spiritual essence."

"Okay, the lockdown is lifted. Countdown: 3, 2, 1—"

Amidst the gentle countdown, a sound like a tidal wave arose. As a massive amount of mercury flowed away, the seal of solid alchemy was lifted, and wisps of illusory light emerged from the lifeless spiritual crystals.

Every little bit.

Each of those scattered rays of light seemed to be a reflection of the soul, a nascent form of the spirit of creation—but now, as countless rays of light rose, flowed, and appeared outward from the Crystal Forest, what Lou Feng could see was an endless ocean of light rushing towards him.

When all the lights went out, a magnificent and dazzling sea of ​​stars surged forth from the deepest darkness of the earth, covering everything.

What one senses is the subtle consciousness stirring within countless spiritual elements; what one hears is a magnificent song formed from endless gentle murmurs.

"This is……"

In the ocean of countless creative spirits, Lou Feng trembled, almost suffocating: "What is this?"

"This is the good stuff that we went to so much trouble to bring you to Xinquan."

Ji Jue smiled and spread his arms: "Now, please allow me to introduce to you both the work I oversaw and completed, a magnificent creation brought together by all the spirits of creation that you see here."

"A colossal intelligent complex."

"—[Lord of the Flies]."

　Sorry, I should have updated earlier, but I've been partying for days, drinking too much, and I've suddenly gone deaf again...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)