Chapter 472: 498 Chapter: Count of Violet_2
The Qiong Family only needs to continue investing in Baiyu’s next generation.
Then they can ensure one to two generations of wealth and nobility.
This kind of thing is absolutely beneficial without any harm.
However.
What the group is discussing now is the matter of going to Villiduo Shelter to take office.
The Security Bureau originally has its own people.
Even if Baiyu wants to take trusted aides, he can’t bring too many.
Finally, after deliberation.
Baiyu selected Ning Qian, Qiong Xue, and Jiang Xi, along with twenty skilled individuals from the Qiong and Ning families, to go to the Security Bureau to take office.
Then comes the matter of handling the marriage.
Because he wants to inherit the title, he must formally unite with someone from the Qiong Family. Of course, this union, if nothing goes wrong, is also likely to truly be confirmed.
After multiple meetings by the Qiong Family’s elders, they also confirmed the marriage partner.
There are not many women who match Baiyu’s age and are also direct blood relatives of the Qiong Family. After various exclusions.
Apart from Qiong Xue, there really isn’t a suitable candidate.
Regarding this.
Baiyu also felt somewhat embarrassed.
He’s not particularly interested in marriage; recently, he has been focused on learning and cultivation.
However, to inherit the title.
According to the Qiong Family’s words, he must go through this step.
Otherwise, it’s difficult to avoid gossip.
As for Qiong Xue, she doesn’t seem to care much either; after all, aside from eating and watching, marriage probably doesn’t have a concrete concept for her.
That’s how it is.
After handling the matter with Villiduo and clarifying with the Ning and Qiong families, Baiyu took a large group and headed towards Villiduo Shelter.
...
Villiduo Shelter is called "Mountain City."
It bears such a title because the entire city is hidden in the Spirit Realm’s primeval forest.
In the Spirit Realm.
Mountains, swamps, abyss, deserts.
These four terrains are all extremely dangerous places, ordinary people must not approach.
Having fought against alien species for so many years.
The East Prosperity Imperial has grasped the rules of the Spirit Realm quite clearly. In the Spirit Realm, what can most easily take your life is not the enemy, but the nature of the Spirit Realm environment.
A dense, uncountable number of poisonous insects.
Seemingly normal but able to consume you whole if you approach, are carnivorous plants.
The air is filled with bizarre plagues.
Haunting songs echoing under the night sky.
Suddenly living ground, mountains, rivers.
And.
Countless emerging evils.
All of these can be deadly.
If one isn’t cautious.
No one notices when the corpse has cooled.
At the beginning when exploring the Spirit Realm, those pioneers typically survived at a rate of one in a hundred.
Those who survived.
Naturally became Pioneer Nobility, reaching the peak of their lives.
But the endless corpses of those who died won’t have their names remembered by anyone.
The Spirit Realm.
For ordinary people of Canglan Star, it is essentially another term for hell.
Of course.
For Martial Artists and Extraordinaries, this place is both hell and heaven.
According to many scholars’ uncertain speculations.
Canglan Star’s Spiritual Qi Revival might be related to the Spirit Realm.
But due to the harshness of the Spirit Realm environment, the races surviving in it are all fierce and combative, with strength being paramount.
Initially, humans were absolutely disadvantaged in the Spirit Realm.
Even countries had to use nuclear weapons to suppress alien races invading from the Shelter’s entrance to Canglan Star.
Later on.
With the massive Spiritual Qi Revival, the rapid emergence of Extraordinaries and Martial Artists, and continuous appearance of genius talents among humans, the situation gradually became stable.
And now.
With divine protection evident among humans, there’s a back-and-forth in top-tier power struggles, instead of the previous one-sided dominance.
Thus, humans could control the Shelter within the Spirit Realm, securing the major passageway to Canglan Star.
When Baiyu and others arrived at Villiduo Shelter "Mountain City."
It was just enveloped in darkness.
The sky was filled with twinkling stars, with no moon, nor any large luminous celestial bodies.
The night wind was blowing fiercely.
The wind carried the scent of leaves and soil.
In many places in the Spirit Realm, certainly due to the terrain, electricity couldn’t be used.
Moreover.
Frequent encounters with evil intrusions into human bodies that cause uncontrolled mutations among Extraordinaries.
Due to occasional small-scale Simulation Realm events occurring.
Hence Mountain City completely abolished electricity, using solely steam engines for all driving needs.
And for lighting.
They use rather primitive candles, oil lamps, and so on.
Even electrical usage, when present, consists mostly of battery-powered appliances with very limited use.
"Hello, President!"
In front of the Outer City gate.
Shang Yufei, with a group of veteran Mutual Aid Association action department’s senior operatives, welcomed them outside the city.
This is also to avoid unnecessary trouble.
The Shang Family is a rather peculiar clan.
Generations have worked in the Veterans Mutual Aid Association, and through it have established themselves. Now they have secured a foothold in Mountain City, counting as a moderately sized family.
Upon hearing Baiyu’s permanent presence at the Shelter, naturally, she put on her full spirit.
Though the President is young.
However.
The energy behind him should not be underestimated.
At the right moment, even a pig can fly.
Perhaps the Shang Family is about to catch an opportunity this time and soar to the sky.
Therefore.
Shang Yufei pays extreme attention to Baiyu’s matters.
After all, this person is not only her immediate superior but also concerns the future development of the Shang Family.
As the Outer City gate opened a gap.
Steam carriages carrying luggage and goods drove from outside into the city.
The Count of the Qiong Family, titled "Violet."
As for why there’s such a title, it’s rumored that the first Pioneer Count of the Qiong Family loved violets, and his mansion was filled with violet flowers.
Ultimately.
Hence, he was granted the title of Count of Violet.
The Qiong Family’s fief, after so many years, has long become incomplete due to interchange, relocation, alien wars, and so forth.
Back in Zenith City, those shops were properties exchanged from the family’s fief.
Now Zenith City is destroyed.
The Qiong Family’s fief is already nominal.
Moreover, the Count of Violet title in the generation of Qiong Yue was to disappear due to no heir.
Now Baiyu has inherited it. While this name is preserved, there’s no fief attached.
Longyun Mountain devised a compromise.
Inside the core area of Mountain City’s inner city, there’s a sizeable estate, just right for Baiyu as the Earl’s Mansion.
This estate’s market listing price is astronomical, with mere examination of the zeros dizzying anyone.
Except for some exceptionally wealthy fool, anyone living in the Spirit Realm wouldn’t come to purchase such a luxurious item.
Therefore, the estate has been idle for over ten years without being sold.
The monthly maintenance and repair costs are no trivial matter.
Moreover, Count Bene, feeling guilty about his own actions, is willing to provide a substantial amount of money to support Baiyu.
Thus.
This rather frighteningly large residence was obtained by Baiyu half-bought, half-gifted.
"The Earl’s Mansion is in the innermost core area of the city, the safest place of the whole shelter. Let me guide you there now."
Shang Yufei stated concisely.
The convoy formed by steam carriages is extremely conspicuous in the shelter’s darkness.
Glimpses from shadowy spots on the roadside appear from time to time.
Mountain City is divided into inner and outer cities, the inner city is where Martial Artists and Extraordinaries reside, with each house requiring rent payments.
Moreover, to enter the inner city.
One must pass certain assessments.
The Outer City District.
Doesn’t possess the inner city’s favorable living conditions.
Mostly comprising injured Martial Artists, Extraordinaries, and poorly performing, impoverished pioneers.
These people.
Mostly come to the Spirit Realm seeking a chance for the future, wishing to achieve success.
But most can only live mediocre lives, often worse off than before. After all, the brutality of the Spirit Realm surpasses common imagination.
With veteran Mutual Aid Association senior members clearing the way.
Throughout the journey.
The convoy of over twenty steam carriages encountered no obstructions.
Those in the Outer City know whom they can provoke and whom they cannot. Those lacking foresight have long become a patch of yellow soil outside the city.
Passing through the Outer City District.
Crossing the bridge over the moat, entering the inner city, the environment of the whole Mountain City suddenly changes.