Chapter 7, Preaching

This room is considerably larger than the one he currently resides in, and there is a door on the innermost wall, indicating the presence of an inner bedroom, bathroom, or small kitchen

We do not truly understand the gray earth, just as we have never truly seen the sky

Since there are new members joining, I will briefly introduce our congregation

The woman's slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed as she spoke thoughtfully

Shang Jianyao followed behind him once again, casting his gaze towards the surveillance camera on the ceiling of the intersection.

Ren Jie had heard that Shang Jianyao was a rather unconventional person. She was momentarily taken aback and then chuckled.

Shang Jianyao sat up straight, just like the people around him, listening attentively.

The small merchant immediately spotted Shang Jianyao sitting upright.

This is my first participation

The new world has not yet arrived; we are currently in the stage where the divine tests all beings. Only by sincerely believing in the deity of fate and entrusting oneself to this deity through offerings can one enter the new world, escape the cycle of time, attain immortality, and no longer suffer

Shang Jianyao did not ask any further questions, took a few steps to the side, and sat down

Ultimately, it will return to the mandate of fate

Come in quickly, and do not let others see.

So it turns out to be a new believer

When Shang Jianyao sat down again, she gazed at everyone and spoke

Shang Jianyao took the pen and wrote his name on the blank page that the other party had opened

Shen Du leaned forward and responded in the same low voice

It may not have opened at all

"New life is like the sun." A deliberately low voice echoed from within the room

He then raised his left hand and tapped three times

This is because similar situations are too common within the company, with reports occasionally surfacing that certain equipment has been damaged for a long time and has not been usable, merely sitting there as a facade.

We, the Life Ritual Cult, worship life and revere death, thus placing the utmost importance on rebirth and funerals

On the gray earth, among countless human beings, such rumors are spreading

The outer room is approximately 2.5 meters wide and nearly 5 meters deep. Against the innermost wall, there is a wardrobe and a cabinet. Separated from these two pieces of furniture by a bedside table is a double bed, which is positioned horizontally, leaving a passageway at the foot of the bed that leads to the inner bedroom

Shen Du immediately laughed and said

Alright, we will officially begin the preaching

He did not finish speaking, raised his head to glance at the ceiling, and signaled to Shang Jianyao to be cautious

Aunt Ren, I have just completed the registration

Her gaze swept around and landed on Shang Jianyao's face

At this moment, Ren Jie was still wearing that polyester shirt, but had changed into a pair of gray trousers. On her beautiful face, which bore some traces of time, her expression was pure and dignified

When we hold a baby, we should support the back of their head

"I can sit by the bed," the woman with the surname Li replied with a smile

She walked between the large bed and the wardrobe, scanning the crowd with a sweep of her gaze

This is what we know, but what is it that we do not know

When your parents lived here, we could barely be considered neighbors

"Hmm, Aunt Li." Shang Jianyao was not at all polite.

We must carefully distinguish the cries of infants

The figure is not unfamiliar at all; it is indeed Aunt Ren Jie, whom he saw in the "Activity Center" in the evening, a D 3 level employee serving in the company's "Strategic Committee"

"Where are you sitting?" Shang Jianyao politely inquired

We know that after the destruction of the Old World, following a prolonged period of chaos and conflict, humanity finally managed to restore order in certain regions and established a new calendar. We also understand that shadows still loom over the gray earth. The realm of order stands in stark contrast to the zones of chaos, the no-man's lands, and the various wild mountains, much like the islands in a textbook stand in relation to the sea. Pollution, distortion, and famine come in waves, relentlessly and without end

With a creak, the door swung open, and a dim yellow light flowed out, gently swaying.

We should softly hum songs when the baby falls asleep

Their voices were deep yet clear, converging into a resonance that echoed throughout the room

That area, be careful to avoid ... ...

After a roundabout journey, Shen Du stopped in front of Gate 35 in Area A

Each floor of the "living area" is equipped with surveillance cameras, but the number is limited, installed only at key intersections and in public indoor spaces

Shang Jianyao looked at the red dot, suddenly raised both hands, pinched his cheeks on either side, and pulled the corners of his mouth upwards

I commend your tolerance

However, you probably do not remember me; you can call me Aunt Li

The most lethal is the heartless disease, also known as the beastification disease in textbooks. Even today, we still have not grasped its pathogenesis or transmission patterns. We and those around us may wake up one day and have regressed into true 'beasts', unable to communicate, with only the instinct to hunt remaining

There is a red dot slowly flashing there

Ren Jie took a breath and continued speaking

We should allow infants to develop the habit of playing during the day and sleeping at night

She is in her thirties, clearly having undergone genetic enhancement, with straight black eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and upward-turned eyes, making her both beautiful and distinctive in her own right

Uncle Shen brought me here

This rumor is partially true, and there is also a part that is false

This reminded Shang Jianyao of his former home, indicating that the owner of this room is either a couple both at D 4 or above, or one of them has reached the D 7 group leader level

It is the reason for the destruction of the old world, and it is the reason why the new order can be rebuilt

Life is noble and sacred, yet it will ultimately pass away, as will the world. This is akin to how an old year always reaches its end, preparing to enter a new year

There is no need for this, as this is not a company meeting.

Ren Jie's voice gradually became softer, and her expression grew increasingly sacred

Shang Jianyao stepped forward and said sincerely

She paused for two seconds, and after the meeting with Shang Jianyao concluded, she said in a low voice

We should gently pat the baby's back to help him expel the gas from his stomach

Please take a seat

Uncle Shen brought me here

Ren Jie nodded in satisfaction and then said

Praise your tolerance! The congregation once again swayed their arms gently and spoke in a low voice

Indeed. Shen Du surprisingly agreed with Shang Jianyao's statement

Ren Jie looked at Shang Jianyao and continued speaking

Shang Jianyao did not count, but seeing the fully occupied situation, he felt there were at least ten people.

It is false to say that the "executors" destroyed the old world out of anger; this is merely an inevitable result of normal development

A short, low sound that varies in pitch is hunger; a fierce sound indicates anger; a sudden loud, very sharp sound followed by a long pause that transforms into a gentle lament is pain

We should allow infants to sleep on their backs

After approximately two to three minutes, the door leading to the inner chamber opened, and a figure emerged.

We must breastfeed

It is said that this is related to the chaos when some surviving humans hurriedly retreated into underground buildings during the time of the Old World's destruction

Shang Jianyao's gaze gradually became vacant, his mouth slightly ajar, unable to close.

Alright, go ahead and take a seat, the 'Guide' is about to begin the sermon. The woman with the surname Li pointed to an empty low stool.

Ren Jie’s eyes flickered slightly, as if she were contemplating something, and then she revealed a smile

Upon reaching the intersection, he turned off the flashlight and cautiously moved along the wall to the right

Shen Du and others either turned back or leaned to the side, gazing at him with the same bewildered expression

In comparison, both the "internal ecological zone" and the "factory zone" have significantly more surveillance cameras, yet they still fall far short of the numbers found in the "research zone" and the "management zone"

The large bed is accompanied by a small living room consisting of a reclining chair, a square stool, a low stool, a coffee table, a writing desk, and a fabric sofa.

All of us present here have, in fact, never left the company and have never truly set foot on the surface.

The woman who opened the door saw Shang Jianyao, who was positioned to the side behind Shen Du

Do you know me?" He looked at me with curiosity

Shang Jianyao imitated their movements and said

Certain actions of the old world angered the deities, and thus they were destroyed by them. The survivors, having undergone trials, were saved by them

Life is of utmost importance

The information we have regarding the gray soil comes solely from the company's broadcasts, the introductions in the textbooks, and the descriptions provided by the surrounding 'safety' personnel, all of which have undergone prior confidentiality screening

So it turns out, it has already been verified through investigation

The woman smiled and said

At this point, except for Shang Jianyao, everyone else extended their arms in unison, mimicking the act of cradling a baby and gently swaying.

Moreover, it has been 46 years since the new calendar was established, and it is quite normal for certain equipment to show signs of damage. The corresponding production lines may have remained unreconstructed due to reasons such as resource shortages, loss of technology, and lack of documentation, making replacement and maintenance impossible

Shang Jianyao followed Shen Du's gaze, looked at the intersection ahead, and said with a smile

She glanced around and cleared the way

Indeed, there exists a group of deities in this world, who collectively govern the passage of time, each managing different months, and are thus respectfully referred to as 'The Time Keepers'. Of course, they are also known by other titles such as 'The Supreme Beings', 'The Gods of Time', 'The Celestial Deities', 'The Saviors', 'The Artists of the Past', and 'The High Priests of the Present'

Shen Du recognized the identity of the woman as Shang Jianyao, and without any further doubt, strode into the room and casually turned off the flashlight

Shang Jianyao stood up, took two steps forward, and greeted.

He made a funny face

Shang Jianyao followed behind, surveying the surroundings and taking in the entire situation of the room.

Our sect is called 'The Rite of Life', and we believe in the most unique figure in 'The Year of Governance', the 'Master of Fate' who presides over December. He represents the end of the year, but also symbolizes the arrival of the new year. He is the terminator of the old world and the initiator of the new world

Applause, the business community warmly applauds.

However, one must still be cautious, as the company has always been very strict regarding matters related to religious beliefs. Shen Du reminded, holding a flashlight, and walked forward

Then, he rubbed the facial muscles that had been pressed by the flashlight, mimicking Shen Du, and moved along the wall.

Today's content primarily concerns new students

At this moment, two candles are lit on the coffee table, casting a dim yellow glow, and there are quite a number of people seated around, both men and women, young and old.

"Little merchant, please register first." The woman at the door took out a soft-covered notebook from somewhere.