Heaven's Formula

Xia Fan cast his eyes on the slowly rotating hexahedron in midair, "I have always had a problem that I couldn't understand. The casting of any spell requires the participation of people as the medium, and the naming of thought energy also shows that this 'substance' needs to be Only by being inspired by thought can it be transformed into something that can be seen and touched. The courtyard has not had a controller since a long time ago, so why can it still operate by itself for so many years?"

"Because the air in your eyes is actually a little different." Sikong replied.

"What's the difference?"

"First of all, qi is everywhere, and this idea is correct." After a few days of communication, Sikong also has a certain understanding of the theory of the Privy Council, "It is also the root of human drastic changes. As long as you can perceive it, it will It can be driven by humans. However, there is another kind of qi, which has a tendency to activate spontaneously, and even without thoughts as a guide, it can still affect reality. For example, the evil that you often talk about... "

A flash of lightning suddenly flashed in Xia Fan's mind.

In the past, it was believed that evil spirits were caused by condensed qi that could not dissipate for a while.And the condensed gas is often regarded as——

"The fuel is the soul?"

"This classical vocabulary is not correct, but it can help to understand." Sikong nodded, "Qi can affect reality, and naturally it can also affect the living body itself. In other words, after feeling the human beings, the soul will be It’s no longer a vague concept.”

"From the perspective of energy transformation, you can regard Qi as a disordered and chaotic thing. When it is gathered, it becomes an ordered entity. When order is transformed into disorder again, it is a release. The process of energy, it can be extracted, preserved and utilized, and of course it can also drive the operation of magic instruments."

This answer gave Xia Fan a chill.

He thought for a long time before he opened his mouth and said, "So it is the souls of tens of millions of people who failed to board the spaceship that make the escape tower work so far?"

"You finally found it." The latter confirmed, "So whether it is the escape tower or the moon guard protection ring, they cannot operate indefinitely. The energy of this part is limited. As far as the escape tower is concerned, when all When the subsystems are all fully loaded, they are expected to last about 150 years."

150 years... sounds like at least three generations.Xia Fan was slightly relieved by this answer, "What about the protective ring?"

"I don't know about that. The level of the protective circle is higher than that of the escape tower, and the demand for thought energy is also greater." Sikong imitated the human posture and shrugged, "Maybe it is a hundred years, or it may be ten years ... Anyway, it's not going to last forever."

Chapter 798

Xia Fan couldn't help rubbing his forehead. Even if the escape tower stops operating, humans can continue to thrive, but once the protective ring fails, the situation will be completely different.

He suddenly thought of another question, "What about when this world was first established? It's impossible to pull a group of people from the earth as fuel, right?"

"This is the disadvantage of the word soul." Sikong chuckled, "Except for fusion life forms like you, once a person dies, he is dead, and the condensed qi does not mean that the consciousness of this person still exists. Even if it is The Escape Committee will not take the act of using secondary lifeforms as fuel, let alone natural people. Your problem is actually very simple, that is, the fused lifeforms act as guides, just like the spirit-sensing ones drive magic weapons."

"Like me?" Xia Fan was slightly taken aback.

"You are still far from meeting the requirements." Sikong replied, "Just as the power of chaotic entities is far stronger than small evil spirits, the consciousness closer to the human boundary can also transform more qi. But this kind of fusion is also very It's easy to cross the border and become another kind of existence, so you'd better not try to take this step lightly."

"But you also said that I will become that kind of monster sooner or later..."

"Because it is unrealistic to expect human beings to restrain their curiosity, but before that, I still hope that you will think more about this world."

Xia Fan looked at Sikong with a look of surprise on his face.

The latter raised his eyebrows a little strangely, "What's the matter, is there anything strange on my face?"

"I didn't expect you to care about this world." He said with emotion, "I thought you wouldn't care about anything other than fulfilling the instructions given by the controller."

"..." Sikong rarely answered immediately.

The logical partition failed to provide the correct answer the first time.

How is this going?

She searched the database and found nothing corrupt or missing.Is this part of the logic obstacle coming from the escape tower part?After all, the multifunctional figure is limited in size, and she can only carry a very limited part of the data.

But that's no problem for the best control systems.

She quickly reorganized an answer, "What I care about is not the world, but once you cross the border, I can only return to a state of silence—this is not in line with the original intention of the escape tower: to serve mankind."

"Really..." Xia Fan didn't delve into it. He noticed some wet marks on the bottom half of the other's hair and shoulders, and asked curiously, "Where were you when it rained last night?"

"On the tree tower."

"Why don't you go home?"

After returning to Jinxia City, he also arranged a residence for Sikong, which was in the new residential area.

"There is no fault, so there is no reason to go back and fix it." Sikong said.

"You won't stand here all night...until we arrive in the morning?" Xia Fan frowned.

"This saves energy. I don't need to sleep or eat. Interrupting the system will be harmful." She said disapprovingly, "Besides, the multifunctional doll has a good waterproof and moisture-proof function. stays dry for a long time."

But not like a real person.Xia Fan thought to himself.

Although it doesn't make much sense to worry about this, but he doesn't want to see the other party's appearance independent of the rain.

"That's good, if the project is not busy, you can help me take care of Miss Luo." He thought for a while and said, "Her eyes have lost most of their vision, and it is quite inconvenient in daily life, especially when listening to reading and writing. I think her situation would be much better if you were there."

Of course, this is an excuse.

Luo Qingqing doesn't need anyone to take care of her, she is also a very delicate girl, and she usually lives with Luo You'er, with these two people looking at Sikong, there should be no chance of her standing alone in the rain The situation at night.

"I'll do it." Sicon simply nodded, "If that's your request."

……

Jinxia City XC District, in a secluded house.

Zhou Sheng brought the last wine bottle to his mouth and poured it for a long time, but not a drop of wine came out.

He threw the bottle on the ground angrily, "There's no wine."

There was no answer around.

He suddenly raised the volume and said, "I said I'm out of wine, didn't you hear me!?"

Still no one in the room responded.

He half-closed his eyes and looked around the room, everywhere he looked was a mess, there was no other person except him.

That's right, yesterday the last servant couldn't bear his yelling and beating, and left the Zhou mansion with his luggage. Now he is the only one left in the whole house.

Of course, it was also that person's fault!In the past, how could servants dare to leave without saying anything?Without redemption of the contract of prostitution, sooner or later he would be beaten up and brought back when he walked out of the gate. Even if he was lynched to death, no one could say no.But it doesn't work now... What prohibits human trafficking and restricts personal freedom is a felony, which makes this group of servants more emboldened.With the support of the government, they can run however they want!

I don't even think about who will pay for the losses of the big family!

Forget it, go get yourself some drinks...

Zhou Sheng stood up unsteadily, took out the money bag at his waist, and poured it into the palm of his hand.Falling into the palm, only a few pieces of silver remained.

Seeing this, he felt a surge of rage.

Has the Zhou family ever been in such a mess?

Not to mention that his family is rich and powerful, at least they are well off. It wasn't until he accepted Fei Nian's dispatch and returned to Jinxia City to work for the Privy Council that his family situation took a turn for the worse.At that time, he not only had to arrange accommodation for the spies, but also had to pay for their unreasonable expenses.Even when the salary and food were not paid in time, the Zhou family would pay in advance!After so many months of squandering, there is not much savings left, and the ten-state coalition army has also suffered a complete defeat. The previously promised top three positions have become a joke!

He couldn't imagine how such a huge imperial court would lose to Jinxia City.

From then on, Zhou Sheng fell into despair.

He thought that the princess's people would come to him soon and take him into prison, but he didn't expect that the Bureau of Affairs did not launch a large-scale search after the war.The remaining spies completely disappeared from his field of vision, and he didn't know whether those people had gone away or joined the princess.

However, such days are definitely not pleasant.

The cloud of arrest was always hanging over his head, every time someone knocked on the gate of the house, Zhou Sheng would feel terrified.It's not that he didn't think about leaving, but that also meant that he gave up the mission entrusted to him by the court, and even the last chance of turning things around would no longer exist.

It was already a desperate move for him to send his whole family to Liuzhou. If he wanted to escape from Jinxia in despair, what would be left of the Zhou family?

Could it be that he is a dignified Jinshi and will live by begging in his next life! ?

This is the path that the talented Zhou would never choose.

Just as he stumbled into the yard, the gate of the house was suddenly pushed open, and a man walked in.

Chapter 799 The Way Out

"It's you..." Zhou Sheng stared at the other party for a long time, "Why do you still come to me now?"

The person who came was none other than Mr. Chen Qiran, Chen Qiran, who had been romantically and recited poems together before.

After he came back from Shangyuan, he naturally thought about helping his brothers. After that, he went to Gyeonggi to be an official, and everyone could accompany him.Unexpectedly, in just over two months, these partners have all changed their temperaments. They not only rejected his offer, but also advised him not to oppose Jin Xia, especially Mr. Fu Cheng of the Affairs Bureau.

After that, they simply chose to stay behind closed doors, not even accepting his posts.Zhou Sheng was astonished by this almost breaking behavior. You must know that when he left Yancheng, they sent each other ten miles away and flattered him that he would definitely go to high school.The difference between the two attitudes is so great that the talented Zhou often scolded the other party for treachery.

"I left a door sticker before, but I never got a reply. I tried to push the door this time, and found that the door was unlocked..." Mr. Chen seemed to want to explain why he entered without warning.

Zhou Sheng interrupted him directly, "If you have something to say, why are you here?"

The other party showed a wry smile, "Young master Zhou, don't you invite me to sit in the room?"

He was silent for a moment, and finally nodded, "There is no more tea."

"Ordinary cold water will do."

When the two returned to the house, Zhou Sheng poured a glass of water for each other—even if this group of people turned their faces and turned their backs, he still considered himself a gentleman, and he still had to show the proper etiquette.

"It can be said now."

Mr. Chen hesitated for a moment, "I saw your name on the house transaction register... Do you want to sell this mansion?"

Zhou Sheng couldn't help staring, "How did you see—" But the next moment he had an epiphany, "You are working for the Bureau now?"

"Yes, I am a clerk in the Housing and Urban-rural Development Department. Although I am not a serious official, it is still a stable position. It is much better than doing nothing in the past." Chen Qiran replied unequivocally.

Zhou Sheng felt the veins on his forehead throbbing faintly.

Could it be that this guy came to the door today to humiliate himself on purpose?

Back then, it was agreed that they would obtain fame and fame together and honor their ancestors, but now he has voted for the rebels!

"Yes—so what?" Zhou Dacai gritted his teeth.

"If you are really short of money, I can help you a little, and Mr. Hu and Mr. Lin should also be able to help—"

"No need!" He snorted coldly and interrupted the other party again.Yes, he was indeed short of money, so short that he had to register and sell the Zhou Mansion to solve the urgent need, but this was also a proof of his loyalty to the court.It is impossible for the rebels to win forever, and when the righteous path is rebuilt and everything is clear, his efforts will be rewarded a hundredfold.

"That's right..." Mr. Chen sighed, "If you think about it, Zhou's great talent will not ask for such a small fortune. In fact, I have another way to get you out of the predicament. Recently, the construction department is forming a new team , If you want to repair a brand new water supply system, manpower is very tight. I think with your ability, with a little training, you can take on an important position in the team, definitely better than me..."

Is he recruiting himself for the rebels?

Absurd!

"I remember that guy Xia Fan said that the bureau doesn't need people who have achieved fame?"

"It was like this at the beginning, but now the standards have been relaxed." Chen Qiran explained, "As long as you have no criminal record, you can report to the secretariat. However, my assessment will be stricter, and the road to promotion is not from a school. Those graduates went so well."

It's hard to understand... Zhou Sheng shook his head in disbelief. Although Mr. Chen was a bit poor in his studies, he was still a serious scholar, and now he wanted to compete with a bunch of mud legs for positions in the rebellion regime, and he seemed to be fighting with You Rong. Yan, this is too ironic!

But what is the water system?

Is there a risk of water shortage in Jinxia City?

After listening to his question, Chen Qiran took the initiative to explain, "Of course not. Yancheng is close to the sea, and the Jiujiang River passes by in the northwest. There must be no shortage of water. But now there are more and more residential buildings, and the number of floors has also increased from one floor to On the third floor, fetching water has become a rather inconvenient matter. The Bureau intends to solve this problem so that residents can use clean water without leaving home."

Just... for this reason?

Zhou Sheng was stunned. Several families shared the same well. Isn't it normal to fill up the water tank every day?That's right, the building has been repaired to the third floor, but it's not like there were three-story buildings in the past!For example, restaurants, inns, and spring buildings, all of which have been built up to four or five floors, and they are not carried up by people bucket by bucket. Has anyone found this inconvenient for hundreds of years?

"Are you sure?" He frowned, "How can I get water without leaving the house? The Bureau of Affairs won't deliver the water to the door in person, will it?"

"No, it's even more miraculous than that!" Speaking of this, Mr. Chen suddenly regained his spirits, and he said with joy, "Residents don't even need to prepare buckets and water tanks, as long as they turn on the switch, water will gushes out from the pipes and directly Delivered to the home! In addition, several switches can be installed in one family’s home, so you can get water wherever you want, which is very convenient! I was still wondering why these newly built residential buildings reserve a well that runs through the whole building , neither for people to pass through, nor like a place for dumping dirt, it was only later discovered that this thing was premeditated!"

"Wait, is this a plan or did you see it with your own eyes?" Zhou Sheng was extremely surprised. According to the other party, this is definitely an extremely complicated project.Jinxia City is now overpopulated, even more crowded than Shangyuan City. If you want everyone to have running water in their homes, you may have to spend tens of thousands of taels of silver on the masonry materials alone.What's more, water is an amorphous thing, and it is easy to leak. He has only heard that some big families will specially make running water and underground drains, so that people in the inner courtyard can also use water and sewage. Fantastic.

"Of course I saw it with my own eyes!" Mr. Chen said in a trembling voice, "If I hadn't actually seen it, I wouldn't believe that the Bureau of Affairs would be able to do this. I heard that it is the Bureau of Mechanical Engineering that keeps the water flowing in the pipeline. The mechanisms provided, these things can continuously inject water into the pipes, and the pipes are divided into main and branch pipes. The latter is made of bamboo joints and combined with each other with glue, so it is very fast to manufacture. In order to verify the feasibility of In addition, a special building was built beside the Jiujiang River, even if it is five stories high, it is easy to climb up the water."

"What about the cost?" Zhou Sheng questioned, "This thing should cost a lot of money, right?"

"I don't need a penny." Chen Qiran replied, "The Bureau will bear all the expenses. Only when residents waste water will they charge punitive fees."

Chapter 800 The Thorn in the Heart

Here it comes again, this kind of all-inclusive approach is simply a big cake.Zhou Sheng thought to himself, before Jinxia City implemented some currency reforms and issued its own banknotes, he knew that the rebels had financial problems.

When the Bureau of Affairs launched a school to let all the children in the city go to school, he realized that there would be such a day sooner or later.A large part of Yancheng's income comes from the salt industry, but now that Jinxia has been regarded as a thorn in the side and a thorn in the flesh by the court, it is naturally impossible to obtain a large amount of salt money from Gyeonggi as before.Expenditures are far greater than income, so it is no wonder that the internal treasury is not becoming increasingly tight.

And Princess Guangping and the others naturally had to make new big moves in order to prevent the public from noticing.

The current prosperity of Jinxia City is actually built on a crumbling attic - even if he can't see the accounts of the Bureau of Affairs, he can guess that the current government must be heavily in debt.

It's a pity that a small place is still a small place, and not many people can see this clearly.

"How about it, Brother Zhou, do you want to give it a try? I can recommend it for you." Seeing that he didn't answer for a long time, the other party continued to persuade him.

"...Why can't you understand, Brother Chen?" Zhou Sheng said impatiently, "So many examples in the book have proved that the rebels are just a cloud of smoke after all, even if they can flourish in the early stage, it is just a waste of time to go to court." The foundation laid by the church. To become a country, it is not enough to have an army. Without the support of scholars and family members, it cannot be regarded as a real foothold. Now let me ask you, apart from the square inch of Shenzhou, Are there any other state cities who have come to the princess's side?"

Mr. Chen was dumbfounded.

Even if the other party didn't answer, Zhou Sheng knew that of course he didn't.For the set of policies promulgated by Her Royal Highness, it is strange that the gentry in other places can support it.

"But... Jinxia City has won against the Allied Forces of Ten States..."

"The Allied Forces of Ten States is just the power of Qiguo and one country." Zhou Sheng shook his head. When he went to Gyeonggi before, he had already seen that there is a powerful force that is already uniting all the countries in the mainland. "If you listen to my advice, you should quickly resign from the Bureau and stay at home honestly."

"Brother Zhou—"