yasinovel Chapter 1 The Sermon of the "Air Conditioner Veteran"
Chapter 1 The Sermon of the "Air Conditioner Veteran"
2026 years.
Summer, night.
Jiang Heng, having finished a day's work, looked at Qianda Square in front of him.
All he wants to do right now is enjoy the air conditioning for a while and buy some food to fill his stomach.
Finally, I pray the subway won't be too crowded tonight.
"Ugh... This awful weather is making me feel like I'm about to burn out..."
He let out a long breath and went straight to the cooked food area on the basement level after entering the plaza.
I was thinking about whether to buy some chicken legs to treat myself later, or some beef.
However, just as he passed the air vent of the central air conditioning, his vision suddenly blurred.
next second.
A semi-transparent panel appeared in his field of vision without warning.
[In 2130, with technological advancements and the revival of spiritual energy, an era of universal cultivation has arrived.]
[At 130 years old, you refuse to be mediocre. Tonight, you step into the "Thousand Enlightenment Hall" and quietly observe the evolution of the "Air Conditioner Senior" and the rules of water-related changes.]
[Task: Meditate for 2 hours at the 'Thousand Enlightenment Meditation Center']
[Reward: Water-attribute spiritual root +0.1]
Enlightenment? Spiritual root? 130 years old?
I'm only in my early twenties...
Am I going crazy from working so much overtime?
Jiang Heng rubbed his eyes and looked around.
The pedestrians around him hurried by, and no one noticed the panel in front of Jiang Heng.
"Could it be...?"
As a seasoned bookworm, Jiang Heng quickly had an idea.
system?
A cheat that arrived a hundred years early?
Jiang Heng felt a surge of heat in his heart and no longer cared about eating any beef.
"Who cares what it is! It won't hurt to try it..."
Jiang Heng looked around and quickly found a bench nearby, intending to meditate like in movies and TV shows.
But before they even got close, they discovered that the mission had already begun.
[Enlightenment in progress...]
【00:00:59…】
【00:01:00…】
"Is this enlightenment?"
Jiang Heng checked the time as he sat down on the bench.
The surroundings were still noisy, with pedestrians coming and going, and there was no atmosphere for quiet contemplation.
But the cold air blowing from the overhead vent...
No! It's the "water-related change rule" evolved from the "air conditioning predecessor".
You really have to admit it.
When you calm down and listen carefully to the great path, the feeling of this cool breeze on your skin is truly comfortable.
After sitting for a while, my stomach started growling again.
Jiang Heng checked the time; only half an hour had passed.
"Man is made of iron, food is made of steel, even enlightenment requires food."
Jiang Heng checked the time as he walked to the nearby cooked food section.
If the countdown stops, Jiang Heng will return to his original position and stop eating.
Fortunately, his enlightenment continued.
Jiang Heng quickly ordered a cold noodle dish and paid the bill.
Back on the bench, he wolfed down his food.
Jiang Heng leaned back on the bench with satisfaction and continued his "meditation work".
Time passed slowly amidst "enlightenment" and the occasional binging of videos.
The announcement was quickly repeated over and over again over the mall's loudspeakers.
(Dear customer, Qianda Shopping Center is about to close. Please take your belongings and leave in an orderly manner.)
"Is it 9:50?"
Jiang Heng checked the time on his phone; it was almost closing time.
[Enlightenment Progress: 00:48:06]
"There's still over an hour until the enlightenment ends..."
Jiang Heng was pondering how to get through the rest of the time when the mall lights suddenly dimmed and the background music stopped.
Even the continuous "whooshing" sermons of the "air conditioner veteran" came to an abrupt end.
But the air conditioning in the mall hadn't dissipated yet.
The evolution of the "air conditioner veteran" has ceased.
Although the "air conditioner pioneer" has departed, the lingering influence of the rules it shaped remains...
The time of enlightenment keeps ticking.
The proof task is still ongoing.
But Jiang Heng looked around and saw that the mall's security guards had started using loudspeakers to ask the lingering customers to leave each area.
The "Right Protectors" of the Enlightenment Ground appeared, attempting to drive away all outside cultivators and monopolize the lingering Dao aura of the "Air Conditioner Senior"...
"These guardians... are trying to ruin my chance..."
Jiang Heng paused for a moment, then looked at the approaching 'Right Protectors' in the distance.
There's less than an hour left before you can obtain the legendary 'spiritual root'.
Jiang Heng thought for a moment, and taking advantage of the security guard's inattention, quickly got up and went to the nearest men's restroom according to the sign above.
Click...
Close the door.
Jiang Heng squatted down in the toilet, hoping to get through it.
Is anyone there? Is anyone still inside?
However, not long after, the sound of the cleaning lady pushing her tool cart came from afar.
A few seconds later, a loud knocking sounded on the door.
The cleaning lady had already arrived at Jiang Heng's door.
Although you hid in a secret chamber within the Enlightenment Grounds, a "Left Protector" still managed to find you and prepared to force his way into your hiding place.
"..."
Jiang Heng held his breath and looked at the constantly shaking cubicle door in front of him.
The Left Protector looks quite strong.
"Is anyone there? Is the person inside alright?"
It looked like the cleaning lady was about to force her way in.
Jiang Heng sighed, "I'm sorry, Auntie, my stomach is a little upset."
Jiang Heng opened the door himself.
"Are you feeling unwell?" The auntie first looked at the clean toilet bowl, then looked at Jiang Heng suspiciously. "Young man, the mall is about to close, you should go home quickly."
"Let's go right away, let's go right away..."
Jiang Heng chuckled awkwardly as he left the restroom.
The path to the hidden place was ultimately blocked by the "powerful Left Protector".
Fortunately, I had another ten minutes or so to figure it out.
【01:02:15】
What should I do?
Jiang Heng came out of the restroom and looked around the now empty mall, looking for a place to hide.
Soon Jiang Heng saw another sign.
Fire exit
"Try hiding in the stairwell..."
Jiang Heng had an idea and moved forward according to the signs.
……
In the monitoring room.
The security captain on night shift was staring at the screen in front of him.
"What's wrong with this person?"
He noticed that most of the other customers had left, but this young man in a T-shirt, behaving somewhat suspiciously, was lingering in the empty mall, looking around.
"It's been closed for almost ten minutes. What's he trying to do? Steal something? Or is he casing the place?"
The captain frowned; his years of security experience made him sense something was amiss.
This person is probably suspicious!
"Xiao Liu, go check out Area B."
The captain picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "There's a young man loitering around there. Get him out of here. This is your job. Be firm."
……
【01:08:05】
Jiang Heng had just arrived at the fire escape and was quietly checking his enlightenment time.
The sound of footsteps approached.
A stocky young man in a security guard uniform appeared in front of Jiang Heng.
"Hello sir, the mall is closed. Please leave immediately."
The expression on the face of "Right Protector Xiao Liu" was serious.
"Indeed, the path to enlightenment is arduous... Online novels really do live up to their reputation..." Jiang Heng sighed inwardly, but a genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Hey bro, you've worked hard."
As Jiang Heng spoke, he took out a crumpled pack of soft-pack cigarettes from his pocket.
I bought this a couple of days ago specifically to deal with the client.
"Just a quick smoke and then I'm off. Want one?"
Jiang Heng pulled out a cigarette and handed it over, then made up an excuse, "Brother, look, I... just made a phone call, and I don't have the key to the shared apartment."
But my friend has one, and he'll bring the key over in a little while.
It's just too hot outside, so I'll stay in the mall a little longer.
I'll be leaving in a little while.
"Didn't bring your keys?" Xiao Liu looked at the cigarette in front of him.
The cigarettes were good, and the customer was very friendly.
But it was his duty, and the captain had specifically warned him, "This person is suspicious."
"No!"
Xiao Liu shook his head decisively for the job, his voice icy as he said, "Rules are rules. Once the door closes, you have to leave."
Your friend is here; you can wait for him at one of the shops outside.
"This 'Right Protector' is so stubborn... but what he said does make sense..."
Jiang Heng knew this reason was untenable, but he just wanted to see if he could make an exception.
It seems that won't work now.
"It's only been a little over an hour. How are we going to get through the rest? Have an argument? Find something to do? Or...did something get lost?"
【01:11:52】
Jiang Heng glanced at the screen; there were still about fifty minutes left.
He glanced at the "Right Protector" again, as if he was about to pick up a walkie-talkie.
[This "Right Protector" sensed that your cultivation level was not low and prepared to use a transmission talisman to summon the other Right Protectors, determined to corrupt your Dao heart.]
"Okay, okay, I'll go out now."
Jiang Heng immediately agreed when he saw that he wanted to call for more people.
Since our cultivation journey is still incomplete, we should proceed cautiously.
I was "escorted" by security guards as I walked out of the mall's revolving doors.
Jiang Heng kept checking the time while trying to think of a solution.
And just as I stepped out of the mall and stood outside the door...
The moment when the hot air outside and the cold air inside collide.
Jiang Heng suddenly realized that the "Enlightenment Time" was still running and hadn't stopped.
If it stops, Jiang Heng is really prepared to go out of his way to cause trouble for the sake of his spiritual root.
"The air conditioner is amazing... the lingering influence of this great Dao has even spread beyond the 'Daoist temple'..."
Jiang Heng was overjoyed and immediately stood outside the mall entrance, less than half a meter away from the revolving door.
In theory, this place is already "outside".
Right Protectors, surely you don't actually drive people away?
"Finally gone..."
When Xiao Liu saw Jiang Heng finally come out, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He's afraid of some customers being unreasonable and troublesome, which annoys him a lot.
Just as he was about to go back, he saw the customer squat down at the entrance and start swiping on his phone.
"Hey? Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Xiao Liu frowned, his vigilance instantly rising.
He sensed that the customer was acting strangely, as if, just as the team leader had said, he was scouting the place with ulterior motives.
"Brother..." Jiang Heng raised his head, looking exhausted. "I already told you, I'm waiting for someone to bring the keys. It's as hot as a sauna outside."
I'm just getting some fresh air by the door, it shouldn't be a problem, right?
Jiang Heng pointed to the ground, then to the revolving door, "This is already outside."
"..." Xiao Liu was speechless.
The rule in shopping malls is to make customers leave the mall.
Although the area outside the gate also belongs to the mall's property, they will not forcibly evict anyone.
There are various supermarkets and shops on the street not far away.
Isn't it cooler inside than outside?
"This person in front of me, what are they after!"
The more Xiao Liu thought about it, the more suspicious Jiang Heng seemed.
"He wouldn't... be planning to sneak in after I leave, would he?"
As Xiao Liu pondered this, he decided not to leave and instead confronted Jiang Heng inside the door.
Jiang Heng was scrolling through videos on his phone.
Xiao Liu gripped his baton tightly, staring intently at Jiang Heng.
Just then, Jiang Heng saw another line of text.
[Your aura has been locked onto by the Right Protector. If you step into the Enlightenment Arena again, the Right Protector will regard you as a heretic and will spare no effort to kill you here.]
"..."
Jiang Heng looked at the warning on the panel, then turned to look at the vigilant security guard in front of him.
Kill them? Just to get some air conditioning?
Surely not?
Jiang Heng felt a chill run down his spine, fearing that the security guard might actually hit him with a stick.
"Okay, you can stay here, but don't move around."
After seeing Jiang Heng looking at him with a "meaningful" expression, Xiao Liu actually felt a little uneasy.
However, he did not leave.
He stood there through the revolving door, like a guardian deity, watching Jiang Heng squatting at the entrance.
The summer night was very hot and humid.
Before long, even with the residual heat from the air conditioning, Jiang Heng felt himself sweating profusely.
But I saw that the Enlightenment Time was still moving.
Jiang Heng felt completely at ease, and occasionally he would look up and give the security guard, who was watching him intently from inside the door, an undisguised smile of joy.
Xiao Liu felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that something was increasingly off about the customer.
Time passed second by second.
After getting bored scrolling through his phone, Jiang Heng got up and started pacing back and forth by the door.
Xiao Liu was also getting restless standing inside.
About half an hour later.
Jiang Heng suddenly realized that the countdown had stopped.
【01:45:35】
It stopped at this number.
"Not even a cool breeze has left..."
Jiang Heng looked back at the revolving door, then at the security guard inside.
Jiang Heng was already covered in sweat, and his T-shirt was sticking to his back.
The slight cool breeze earlier was not enough to ward off the heat from outside.
Xiao Liu noticed that Jiang Heng looked extremely hot.
Perhaps it was because Xiao Liu was young and couldn't bear to stand there, or perhaps he was bored standing there and wanted to talk to someone, so he pushed open the glass door and leaned half his body out.
"Hey buddy, who are you waiting for?"
The moment he pushed open the door, a cool breeze rushed out again.
"It's been over half an hour. Even if your friend had to crawl, he should have reached the top by now, right?"
"Sigh, don't even mention it, bro..."
When Jiang Heng saw the Right Protector open the door, the lingering aura of the Great Dao reappeared, and the countdown resumed, he took the opportunity to ramble on, trying to get him to open the door a little longer.
"I'm waiting for a guy who drives for ride-hailing services."
Jiang Heng waved his phone.
"He just texted me saying he's taken on another job and asked me to wait a little longer..."
"It's the middle of the night, I don't have my keys, and unlocking is too expensive. What can I do?"
Jiang Heng spoke sincerely, casually offering a reason to shift the blame to a non-existent ride-hailing driver.
"That's true..."
Perhaps it was Jiang Heng's "miserable state" that touched the Right Protector, who was also a working-class person.
Xiao Liu's previously wary expression softened somewhat.
"Working in this line of work is exhausting, the night shifts are grueling, and the pay isn't great..."
He complained, then leaned against the door frame and chatted with Jiang Heng a few meters away.
"Hey bro, what do you do? You look like you just got off work too?"
"I just started at a new company. I'm doing odd jobs every day, like serving tea and water, making copies, and all sorts of other tasks."
Jiang Heng wasn't lying this time. "Unlike you, at least you're freer."
"Freedom? I think I'm just torturing a hawk..."
Xiao Liu pouted, "At least you're in the company office. Here... we have to guard against all sorts of unexpected things at night..."
The two were just a few meters apart, one by the door and the other outside.
They started complaining about work, life, housing prices, and games.
The initial tension dissipated.
It's like two friends who bumped into each other late at night and are chatting about everything under the sun.
Xiao Liu pushed the door open wider to let more cool air out and let his new friend enjoy the breeze.
Jiang Heng's countdown continues.
【01:55:45……】
Jiang Heng chatted with the "Right Protector" while glancing at the control panel.
Before we knew it, the time had come.
……
【02:00:00】
[You have successfully meditated for 2 hours at the 'Qian Da Wu Dao Chang' and quietly comprehended the rules of water-related transformations of the 'Air Conditioner Senior'.]
[Water-attribute spiritual root +0.1]
The moment the mission was completed.
Jiang Heng felt a faint, cool aura slowly rising from his lower abdomen and instantly filling his limbs and bones.
next second.
Jiang Heng wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.
It seemed that the moment his spiritual root increased, he also gained a more acute perception of the sultry, hot air in the air.
"Is this... a success?"
Jiang Heng was so excited he almost jumped up, but remembering there were outsiders present, he forcibly suppressed his joy and continued to exchange a few casual words with Xiao Liu.
Just then.
A taxi with its "For hire" sign lit up was slowly driving down the street ahead.
"Hey! The car's here!"
Jiang Heng also made an excuse to leave, waving to the taxi.
The taxis were also parked on the side of the road.
"Brother, let's go!"
As Jiang Heng spoke, he walked toward a taxi parked by the roadside.
"Okay, hurry home, it's getting late," Xiao Liu said, then called out to Jiang Heng's retreating figure with a smile, "Brother, remember to bring your keys next time!"
Jiang Heng opened the car door, turned around and waved to Xiao Liu, feeling very happy.
"I'm leaving now, 'Right Protector Little Liu,' thank you for tonight..."
Jiang Heng smiled at Xiao Liu and then got into the car.
"Driver, to Jinyuan Residential Area."
The car door closed and it sped away.
Xiao Liu stood at the empty mall entrance, watching the taxi's taillights disappear.
"This guy is really something, he stood there for an hour in that lukewarm doorway..."
He shook his head, turned and walked into the mall, where the air conditioning was locked inside.
……
The back seat of a taxi.
Jiang Heng leaned back in his chair, a mixture of exhaustion and joy on his face, and looked at the panel in front of him.
The 'Character Attributes' are displayed above.
You have successfully entered the 'Cultivation Realm'.
Your lifespan: 26/78
Your combat power: 0.98
[Spiritual Root: Water (0.1)]