Chapter 07 Portable Generators

Du Lengning hurriedly chased after him: "Old Luo, Old Luo, why are you being so impulsive? Do you not know the current market for the devices? This price is not expensive!" "Five pieces of high-quality celestial jade are not expensive? I helped you create a scandal in the lower realm, causing such a huge commotion and taking on such great risks, and it is only this price..."

Two individuals entered the humble thatched cottage of the Soul Immortal. The interior was as simple as the exterior. The Soul Immortal gestured with his hand, and three soft bundles of grass floated down from above. He himself "sat" on one, indicating for Du Lengning and Luo Qian to take their seats.

When Luo Qian first saw the girl's true appearance, he couldn't help but be taken aback. Even in the celestial realm, having encountered countless beauties, he was still momentarily stunned by this girl's extraordinary charm. Luo Qian sighed inwardly: after ascending to immortality, one could certainly alter their appearance at will, but how could such self-modified looks compare to the innate beauty crafted by nature itself?

Luo Qian's eyes shifted, and the topic changed: "Du Shao, do you know what I've been doing in the lower realm recently?" Du Lengning: "... ..."

The thirty-fifth girl, Pei Se-fei, donned a white samurai outfit, her expression cool and elegant, as she graced the cover of the magazine

A thatched cottage, with black smoke curling upwards. The simple wooden door and the withered bamboo fence suggest that the owner here clearly adopts a stance of non-contention and harmlessness towards the world. Du Lengning chuckled coldly and said: "Do not underestimate these decorations; the thatch on the roof is actually the highly toxic 'Heart-Piercing Grass', behind the wooden door is arranged the 'Nine Ghosts Decapitation Formation', and buried beneath the fence are the insidious 'Phosphorescent Dark Thunder'..."

A weekly magazine has a domestic circulation of only a few hundred thousand copies, but the magazine publisher is not foolish. In recent issues, the print run has exceeded 300,000 copies, which still cannot meet demand. Chen Baozi was able to obtain such a large number of magazines only through the provincial distributor.

Luo Qian furrowed his brows: "Well, alright, but..." Du Lengning, having dealt with him for a long time, knew exactly what Luo Qian meant and quickly said: "Rest assured, I will add another 1,000,000 standard immortal jade." Luo Qian reluctantly nodded: "Well, alright..."

Luo Qian naturally recognized that this was a prime location in the Ningyao Mountains: each banner represented a shop, serving both as a sign and a portal. If one was interested in the goods of a shop, simply standing beneath the banner would result in being transported inside. As for the exact location of the shops, that was another matter altogether

Sit tight and adjust the DV; Luo Qian is indifferent to the glitz of the award ceremony and the red carpet of the book launch. His sole objective is to win the championship of this competition, contestant number 35, Pei Se Fei

This competition is a significant event in the domestic gaming industry. When Luo Qian arrived at the award ceremony in City S, countless gaming enthusiasts had already gathered outside. Fans dressed in gaming attire were everywhere, and the flash of cameras was incessant, aimed at the celebrities emerging from luxury cars. There were CEOs of gaming companies, rumored actresses, and many contestants from this competition.

In order to satisfy the client, Luo Qian chose a better shooting angle, purchased front-row "guest seat" tickets, and added an additional 2,000 yuan

In the mountains of Ningyao, there lies a piece of treasure land, where banners flutter and the scene is vibrant. Countless eye-catching cloth banners dance in the wind, displaying various characters; they are not afraid of being unnoticeable, but rather fear not attracting attention.

"Lao Luo, this is the Master of Ghost Refinement, Xiao Xiangzi. Brother Xiao, this is my good friend, Luo Qian. He has some business matters to discuss with you." After Du Lengning introduced the two, she sat quietly to the side and no longer spoke.

Finally, that loophole has been filled. Luo Qian stood up, neatly arranging his clothes—he was not at all worried about his own body. What situation could be worse than this? ... A calamity for immortals, within five hundred years, whether living or dying, still a first-tier immortal. Five hundred years later ... whether he can survive that tribulation is still uncertain.

Calculating the time, the beauty pageant in the lower realm is nearing its end. Luo Qian took a deep breath of celestial spiritual energy, preparing to descend to the lower realm, but unexpectedly, the strange situation from last time reoccurred. The celestial spiritual energy entered his body, but somehow it vanished without a trace. Having experienced this once before, although Luo Qian felt a bit anxious, he did not lose his composure.

"Do you see it? It's right there," Du Lengning said, pointing with his hand. Luo Qian followed his gaze and saw a pitch-black banner, standing on a piece of land the size of a palm, resembling a chicken among a flock of cranes, like a pair of chopsticks in a flagpole. The banner bore two characters: Ghost Refinement.

The lengthy ceremony has finally concluded. The scale and impact of this competition have greatly exceeded the organizers' expectations, leading to an expansion of the originally planned rewards for the top three, with prizes now awarded to the top ten. The awards ceremony naturally begins with the tenth place.

A green light meteor fell within the Fushan Mountains, and the green light transformed on the spot into Du Lengning. "Lao Luo, Lao Luo..." he shouted as he entered Luo Qian's cave dwelling. Luo Qian chuckled, "Du Shao, is it out of power again?" Du Lengning shook his head, "No, this time the situation is a bit troublesome. That kid Lei Ming has already researched the treasure weapon you wanted, but he can't produce it. We need to find a master craftsman." "So soon?" In less than three months, Lei Ming had already tinkered with it, and Luo Qian was indeed a bit surprised.

Pei Se-fei exited, and Luo Qian also turned off the camera and left the award ceremony. There were many performances to follow, but Luo Qian was not interested.

Luo Qian, feeling helpless, had no choice but to lay his intentions bare. Xiao Xiangzi glanced at him and said淡淡地: "No problem, since you are recommended by Brother Du, I will give you a discount. Each finished product will cost five high-grade immortal jade." Luo Qian jumped up from the mat and shouted: "What! Five pieces of high-grade immortal jade, it's not like I'm asking for a magic weapon!" Xiao Xiangzi smiled with a hint of mockery and said: "The cost here is not just for the crafting, but also includes a confidentiality fee..." Five pieces of high-grade immortal jade, it's not like I'm asking for a magic weapon!" Xiao Xiangzi smiled with a hint of mockery and said: "The cost here is not just for the crafting, but also includes a confidentiality fee..."

"Do you know the master craftsman, Du Shao?" Luo Qian inquired. Du Lengning, who had been reluctant to get involved in such matters from the beginning, frowned at the words and replied, "I do know a few people, but as you are aware, master craftsmen are all individuals of significant status in the celestial realm. How could they possibly forge something of merely treasure-grade for you?"

"Come, I will take you to see something." Standing under the black cloth, a faint light flashed before their eyes, and in the next moment, the two found themselves in a picturesque location. Luo Qian glanced around and said, "This is 'Xiushuiya' next to Ningyao Mountain. Although it cannot compare to the treasures of Sandian Liuyuan, it is still much better than my Fushan."

Luo Qian had not yet had the chance to inquire further when he was already seized by Du Lengning, who gracefully used a third-tier celestial technique, "Floating Steps," and headed towards Ningyao Mountain. Poor Luo Qian, who was still not very proficient in the first-tier celestial technique, "Skyward Leap," could only watch as someone with only slightly more time in the celestial realm had already reached the level of a third-tier celestial being, leaving him filled with envy.

Bang! He struck his own dwelling with a fist and said fiercely: "Damn it, if I really fail, Lei Ming, you can forget about ever tasting the bird food from the lower realm in your lifetime!"

Come in and speak

In Ningyao Mountain, every inch of land is extremely valuable. It is not that there are no wealthy individuals who can open shops here, but for the immensely talkative immortals, setting up a banner and opening a shop nearby, while attracting customers through a portal, is the most economical way to conduct business

Amidst the applause, flowers, and flashing lights, after a period of commotion, the final champion of this competition, contestant number 35, Pei Se Fei, took the stage to receive her award. Luo Qian quickly raised his DV, capturing the moment Pei Se Fei emerged from backstage and walked onto the red carpet.

Back in the celestial realm, before Luo Qian could even settle down, Du Lengning rushed in with great urgency: "Old Luo, hurry, I have already found the person. Come with me to take a look."

In the lower realm, Luo Qian opened the magazine in his hand and turned to the page with the rankings. Beauty number 35 held the top position, having already established a gap of nearly 100,000 votes over the second place. With two weeks remaining until the final moment, the championship was essentially decided, and the suspense had dissipated.

Celestial Realm

Luo Qian's eyes nearly popped out: "Goodness, I thought I was already quite sinister, but I didn't expect someone to be even more venomous than I am!"

Luo Qian diligently fulfilled his duties, and although Pei Se-fei's beauty exceeded his expectations, it had nothing to do with him. He no longer belonged to this world, and the people in this world would have no connection with him.

Luo Qian held the ticket, standing inconspicuously to the side

Luo Qian turned around and left: "Farewell"

Luo Qian flew back alone to his cave in Fushan and suddenly thought, if the treasure crafted using that kid Lei Ming's method does not meet his requirements, then wouldn't his five million standard celestial jade be wasted

"Xiao Xiong, Xiao Xiong!" Du Lengning called out twice, and a shadow floated out from the gate, dressed in a black robe with a pale face, presenting a sinister appearance. "So it is Brother Du, the young master of Ning Yaoshan, visiting my humble abode. What brings you here?" The words were polite, but spoken in his cold, icy tone, they felt like a provocation. Du Lengning had already understood his temperament and chuckled, "Naturally, one does not visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason."

It is not easy to find a skilled craftsman who meets the requirements of Luo Qian; they must possess a certain level of skill, have no notable reputation, and be able to keep secrets. Meeting one of these conditions is simple, but fulfilling two is quite difficult, let alone satisfying all three. Du Lengning did not expect to find someone so quickly. Interestingly, just yesterday, someone spent thirty high-grade celestial jade to purchase a piece of land on Ningyao Mountain. Ningyao Mountain is also a prime location in the celestial realm, and establishing a business here is not inexpensive. Thirty pieces of high-grade celestial jade are equivalent to thirty million standard celestial jade, and with such a large sum of money, one could only buy a piece of land the size of a mat in Ningyao Mountain.

Sitting cross-legged in his own cave, with five hearts directed towards the sky, he engaged in a series of breathing exercises. The spiritual energy on Fushan Mountain was thin, and this time, the 'gap' seemed to have a larger appetite; Luo Qian distinctly felt that the spiritual energy he absorbed during this session was one-third more than the last time.

Moments later, after their discussion, Luo Qian and Du Lengning reached a consensus. Du Lengning patted his chest and assured that he would definitely find a suitable master craftsman for Luo Qian. Luo Qian made no guarantees, but if Du Lengning failed to handle matters in the lower realm, the young master of the distant hall would certainly not let him off the hook

"Pa!" Luo Qian tossed the magazine in front of Du Lengning and lazily leaned back in the comfortable chair of Guanyan Tower: "Du Shao, I have fulfilled all the promises I made to you." Du Lengning immediately spotted the girl on the cover, excitedly grabbed it and examined it for a long time, then began to flip through it frantically: "Lao Luo, the award ceremony, and the award ceremony! I want to see..." Luo Qian quickly waved his hand: "That won't do. I can go down myself, but I can't take another person with me." "Brother Luo, that's not what I meant. I want you to go down, record it for me, and then bring it back so I can watch it, right?"

After leaving the awards ceremony, Luo Qian did not return to the Immortal Realm immediately, but instead visited his own stronghold. It had been a long time since the last vandalism incident, and the police had ceased their inquiries. Upon his return, Luo Qian paid a full year's utility bills in one go, and the expression of the neighborhood aunties changed as well, shifting from a scrutinizing gaze towards a fugitive to one of admiration for a promising young man

However, Luo Qian did not dare to be negligent. He called Chen Baozi, who was in City D, to inform him that he would continue to purchase fifty thousand magazines every week and keep investing.

Du Lengning said: "The success rate of manufacturing is not one hundred percent. Considering material loss, along with labor costs and sealing fees, this price is not expensive." Luo Qian sighed helplessly: "Alright then, since you still owe me money, let this debt be transferred to him. I won't go in; you can talk to him." Du Lengning agreed and turned back.

Luo Qian revealed a smile and put away the magazine—he still needed to take this back to report to Du Lengning. He did not go to see Chen Baozi; the task was completed, and that kid would automatically disappear.

Luo Qian said, "Oh, could he be a Soul Immortal?" "It's not that simple," Du Lengning replied. "He is indeed a Soul Immortal, but more importantly, this word 'ghost' reassures those who have ulterior motives. Those who come to Ningyao Mountain inevitably have some matters that cannot be seen in the light of day, so this concept of 'ghost refining' perfectly meets their needs..." Luo Qian smiled faintly and whispered, "Just like us, right?" Du Lengning smiled and nodded, not noticing that Luo Qian had successfully changed 'I' to 'we.'

In no time, Ningyao Mountain was already in sight; the third-tier celestial technique was indeed incomparable to my pitiful "Skyward Leap". It arrived so quickly.

Luo Qian shook his head: "This guy's business must not be doing well." Du Lengning chuckled and said: "Old Luo, you don't understand this: it's called a gimmick. The more low-key it is, the more it stands out in the noisy Ningyao Mountain. I went to check it out yesterday, and this guy's business is actually quite good. The brilliance lies in that one word 'ghost'"

I found a newsstand and bought a magazine. The cover featured a striking headline: Phoenix Cup COSPLAY Competition, Annual Champion: Pei Se Fei. The girl's name was printed in an enormous explosion font, even more eye-catching than the banners in Ning Yao Mountain.

The girl today shed all her adornments, presenting a natural face to the world. Dressed in a fitted light gold evening gown, she accentuated her graceful figure, walking lightly as if she were a fairy descending from the clouds. Despite the numerous scandals surrounding this competition, and the controversies that had previously surrounded this champion, at this moment, Pei Se-fei completely captivated the entire venue with her beauty and elegance, ... the warm applause continued for a long time ... despite the numerous scandals surrounding this competition, and the controversies that had previously surrounded this champion, at this moment, Pei Se-fei completely captivated the entire venue with her beauty and elegance, ... the warm applause continued for a long time ...

Damn it, what a loss! When Luo Qian saw that the tickets for the award ceremony were priced at 3,000 yuan each on the poster, he felt he had been taken advantage of: the high-definition 3 million pixel DV hanging around his neck cost Lao Luo 13,000 yuan, and with the ticket price of 3,000 yuan, the total cost had already exceeded 20,000 yuan, far beyond Luo Qian's expectations

The venue is arranged in a manner that is rich in gaming characteristics, reportedly representing one of the main scenes from a new online game soon to be launched by a primary sponsor. The sky is a grayish-blue, the sunset resembles a ruby, and the walls are adorned with paintings of an elven forest, while a scaled-down model of a giant beast's cliff stands prominently in the venue

As the competition progressed, it became evident to everyone that without vote manipulation, one could hardly make it onto the rankings. Who among those capable of vote manipulation lacks some form of background? The magazine is exceptionally shrewd, broadening the scope of awards to ensure that those who should not be offended each receive a consolation prize.

From taking the stage to receiving the award, Pei Se-fei's final remarks were very appropriate. She neither displayed overwhelming emotion with "tears in her eyes" nor did she deliberately present an attitude of "unfazed by honor or disgrace." Her poised and graceful demeanor won the admiration of everyone present.