I have to get lucky right away.

Chapter 660 A Beautiful Day

Thanks to the openness and order of this new oil city, which was so different from what he had experienced before, Chen Xuan had the most relaxed and pleasant day since leaving Chang'an.

There were no fake monks crammed into the Zen temple, no zombies in the freezing cold, no war between two countries caused by an elopement, no sudden pursuit, no strange and inexplicable rituals, and no city lord or monster jumping out to demand his "heart" or anything else.

The city seemed like a normal, modern metropolis that had prospered because of the oil industry, full of a busy and pragmatic atmosphere, while also brimming with a rare festive spirit due to the upcoming holiday.

During the day, he slept in late, a rare occurrence for him, and then strolled around the city with Feng Xue. The streets were wide and clean, lined with shops selling everything from local handicrafts to imported modern appliances.

He could even see faces from all over the world: blond, blue-eyed engineers in suits, local businessmen in headscarves, workers of various skin colors... All of this gave him a long-lost sense of the "bustle" and "vitality" of the normal world. Although the smell of burning oil still lingered in the air, making Chen Xuan uncomfortable, it didn't seem so unbearable anymore.

He even had the spare money Feng Xue gave him to buy some relatively practical local handicrafts on the roadside, intending to give them to the neighbors who had taken care of him in the past after everything was over.

In contrast to Chen Xuan's rare display of relaxation, Feng Xue continued to analyze the flow of willpower in the city.

Those oil pipelines seemed to also function as energy loops, using the lifeblood of industry as a carrier to connect the emotions of the city's inhabitants.

Undoubtedly, this city also draws on the emotions of its residents and even visitors. However, unlike Zelan's exploitative approach, the city's administrators, while drawing on these emotions, also create a reward system that fosters more positive feelings.

In particular, the blazing flame in the city center, which seems to consume a lot of oil every day, plays an important symbolic role, like a statue of a god or Buddha, serving as a carrier of the city's "faith".

"Interesting... Is this the orthodox way to use the emotional magic system? Gathering positive emotions such as joy, hope, and prayer through celebrations and faith, and transforming them into usable energy through specific rituals and mediums to nourish the city. It feels like the folk world using the Nian beast and evil spirits as firewood... Although the efficiency may not be very high, it is sustainable and has a virtuous cycle. It seems that the managers here are farsighted, at least much more so than the previous ones."

Feng Xue thought this way, but then realized she was being simplistic. It was called sustainable development, but the core issue was still profit. This city could do this because it had huge profits from the oil field and could provide residents with sufficient emotional feedback. In contrast, in a poor and remote place like Zelan, if they really wanted to provide feedback, the city lord would go bankrupt.

"Well, it's somewhat like a productivity revolution." Thinking of this, Feng Xue shook her head. The viciousness on this land was, in a sense, forced by the environment. It had been like this for thousands of years, and now that technology is quite advanced, it has become a kind of inertia.

But he had no intention of changing any of this; at least until he returned to the Heavenly Court, it was not convenient for him to make drastic changes to this ranch world.

……

As night slowly fell, the city's festive atmosphere reached its climax. The "Fire Jumping Festival" had officially begun.

The central square was packed with people, the enormous torch tower blazing brightly, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. People gathered around small bonfires lit across the square, laughing and singing, then, encouraged by elders or teased by friends, bravely leaping over them. Children screamed, both frightened and excited; adults, however, seemed much more composed, each leap accompanied by heartfelt wishes for the New Year. Chen Xuan squeezed to the edge of the crowd, feeling this fervent joy and vibrant life force, the tension that had been building in his heart for so long finally relaxing completely. He was even infected by the excitement, clumsily but successfully leaping over what seemed to be the gentlest bonfire, drawing good-natured laughter from several local children nearby. He scratched his head sheepishly, but felt a strange sense of exhilaration.

At that moment, he almost forgot his destiny and the hardships he had endured along the way, as if he were just an ordinary young man traveling in a foreign land who happened to be caught up in a lively festival.

The fire-jumping festival lasted a long time, until late at night when the crowds gradually dispersed. Chen Xuan, still flushed with excitement, strolled slowly towards the inn with the flow of people, reluctant to leave. The streets were still adorned with colorful lights, and the air was filled with the lingering scents of fireworks and laughter; his mood was relaxed and carefree.

However, just as he turned into a relatively quiet alley not far from the hotel, a figure appeared in front of him without warning, blocking his way.

He was a tall man wearing a pure white robe, with an ancient style, unlike the modern clothes commonly seen in the city or the desert robes he had seen before.

His face was hidden in the shadow of his hood, making it difficult to see clearly, but he exuded an indescribable aura of majesty, purity, and antiquity. He stood there quietly, as if he had existed there since time immemorial, completely out of place with the slightly disheveled post-festival environment around him.

Chen Xuan was startled and instinctively stopped in his tracks. The ease and comfort he felt vanished instantly, replaced by an instinctive sense of vigilance and pressure.

At the same time, a feeling of "it's finally here" began to take hold of his mind.

Feng Xue's focus, however, was entirely different. His gaze, ever since the other person appeared, remained fixed on the top of his head, where a glittering golden destiny star shone—

Ahura Mazda

Chen Xuan felt a heavy, mountain-like pressure envelop him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. His internal energy circulated rapidly on its own, and his [Journey to the West] destiny radiated a slightly warm glow, barely resisting the invisible divine power.

The white-robed man slowly raised his head, and from beneath the shadow of his hood, a pair of all-seeing eyes seemed to be fixed on Chen Xuan. He didn't speak, but a grand and ancient spiritual force resonated directly in Chen Xuan's mind, filled with undeniable majesty:

“Travelers in a foreign land, you carry with you an aura of turmoil and chaos.”

The festive lights at the alley entrance flickered on and off, casting eerie shadows. The joyful laughter that had just filled the air seemed to have been completely shut out. The alley and the outside world were now two separate worlds.

The atmosphere instantly became as heavy as solidified lead.

(End of this chapter)