What a Wonderful World

The entrance to the Welcome Center was packed with all the visitors trying to register at the same time. Huoran was speaking with all the leaders of the different factions at the same time, trying to organize their entry, the dinner later, but also a tour led by himself. He was ready to show off a few more secrets with everyone and accelerate change in other countries and cities. QTV screens were hanging all throughout the Welcome Center advertising businesses on the inside.

Huoran directed everyone's attention to the screens, "Everyone, there will be a special announcement soon, I think you'll find it entertaining while you wait in line."

At his prompting, the audience shifted their gaze onto the giant screen on the wall. The current advertisement had just finished and the screen went blank. A voice began speaking as an image started to appear, "In a world where everything looked normal, a dark mysterious war was fought in the shadows."

A man who could be recognized as an artifact refiner was in his workshop when a message appeared on a light screen, 'question everything, nothing is real'.

"Follow Tang Chen as a simple encounter changes his life forever, and he discovers the truth of the world."

The man was shown avoiding capture and using artifacts to defend himself. A beautiful woman in black robes also appeared welding artifacts in her hands that shot fire and lightning. A black man wearing fashionable armor and a set of robes approached the refiner, "If you take this pill, everything returns to normal, and you never see us again. But if you take this one instead, you will discover the truth of the world."

The announcer's voice returns, "Watch the action and mystery of 'The Origin Paradigm'.

Playing in theaters starting today."

The newcomers were confused by what they just saw, but the guests who had visited before were visibly excited. Just when Kong was going to ask Huoran about it, the giant screen started playing music again, "Deep under the waves, there is the kingdom of merfolk. King Oceanus rules over this mysterious land and people in a strong but fair manner, with his queen, concubines, sons, and daughters."

The screen had gone from the air into the sea and dived deep to display a large underwater city with a giant palace. As the camera entered the palace throne room, it displayed all the characters that were introduced.

The announcer continued, "Oceanus's youngest daughter, Sirena, dreams of the world above much to the disapproval of her father."

More scenes show Sirena sneaking out to collect items from battles and shipwrecks and storing them in a secret cave.

"One day, Sirena approaches a ship at night and sees the man of her dreams", the announcer narrates, "Will she be able to get her wish? Or will it cause a war between the land and sea? Find out what happens at theaters today with 'Sirena'."

After the last scene, the viewers had a wide range of reactions from apathy to excitement to nervousness. Many of the beastkin and humans even awkwardly laughed and stayed closer to their own groups. Just as everybody was quiet and avoiding misunderstandings, the screen displayed a large rock by a waterfall that slightly shook before the title "A Westward Journey" appeared and cracking sounds were heard. Following that was another screen that appeared, 'A Westward Journey is available on Qphone, QR pod, and QTV, a new episode every five days.'

The few people that had purchased QPhones summoned it out of their storage artifacts and was about to watch the first episode when the next advertisement started playing, "New to the QR pod cafe, the old world had been changed and a more vibrant and realistic environment has replaced it. All the old modes are still available, but now a new mode is available. Go on adventures, fight in the wild, discover treasures and danger as everyone starts at the bottom and works together to learn about the new world on the origin plane. Or experience life as someone different without fear of Qi deviation or inner demons on the Myriad plane. Be a man or woman, human or beastkin, practice cultivation or martial arts of any element. Find mysterious immortals, giant monsters, beautiful fairies, and wondrous landscapes. Claim your destiny by playing 'The Destiny of the Fairy and Sword'."

As the announcer spoke, the visuals would display the same. Everyone that had been here before was once again excited to try the new mode, while the new arrivals showed curious expressions on their faces.

Huoran had personally escorted the leaders through the registration process, as well as, the bank and hotel. Though the leaders who never been here had saw the holographic images, being there in person had impressed them greatly.

"Please enter the tour bus everyone, and we will set off on the tour", Huoran announced.

They all sat down in the seats of a bus like vehicle with no roof and it began to hover in the air.

"Our first leg of the trip is a brief overview of Market Square. As you can see here is the fountain that is the center of the city, here is the Cinema where you watch 'movies' or films, the QR pod cafe, etc", Huoran directed their attention to the different businesses and shops in the city, "one thing we are proud of is that our city uses both Qi and electric power to run everything."

Kang of the Peony trading company spoke out, "why would you do such a thing?"

"Excellent question", Huoran replied, "As you all know, Spiritual Veins are natural formations that collect Qi and grow bigger and stronger over time. Once found by plants, animals, humans, or beastkins, the Qi released by the vein used to cultivate."

Kang frowned, "Yes, but what does that have to do with my question?"

Huoran smiled, "Over time, more beings will use the Qi in the environment until there is a tipping point where the amount of Qi absorbed is higher than vein can supply. At the time the vein will eventually shrink to nothing and the community that was created there will crumble. By using alternate sources of energy, I can extend the life of the vein. Why use Qi to power wasteful and unnecessary things?"

All the leaders was considering the ideas presented by Huoran when he spoke up again, "Welcome to the next stop of the tour, our farms and workshops."

Chief Bloodclaw was confused as they were facing a cliff and said, "Our race might not be known for farming, but I'm sure you need to have fields to do so Daoist Wei."

Huoran was walking towards the cliff and when he heard this he responded, "No, you are correct, you do require fields to farm."

He waved his hand and a hidden door opened in front of everyone, "Please come inside everyone."

The crowd made their way inside and saw a row of portals, while men and women would walk into or out of a portal.

"What is this, Daoist Wei?", Sect Master Liang asked.

"I have created spacial artifacts that house our farms and workshops", Huoran replied, "With the assistance of my master of course."

A wave of shock ran through the leaders, artificial realms?

"How safe are these realms, Daoist Wei?", Sect master Zhan inquired.

"Very safe", Huoran answered, "Even if someone found the door and broke in, they would immediately suppressed or killed by the arrays protecting this area. Also the area is under constant surveillance, and only my master would be able to move through here unobstructed."

Most of the leaders nodded their head at this in approval.

"Let's enter the first life realm, it's the location of most of our warm weather farms and workshops", Huoran said as he went through the portal.

Everyone followed, and what appeared before them was the side of a mountain leading into a plain. Rice paddies were all long the slope and fields of all manner of grains, fruits, vegetables, and other crops were everywhere. When the leaders looked at these fields, there appeared to be a transparent glass hood over each section.

"Why are your fields like this, Daoist Wei?", Razortalon asked.

"Well, this is due to a misunderstanding that we discovered people have about spirit herbs", Huoran said.

This made most of the leaders look at Huoran in interested.

"Can you explain this in a way more clear?", Razortalon responded.

"Yes, I'll be happy to", Huoran replied, "The two biggest factors in spiritual plants is time, but more importantly, the concentration of Qi in that area. We have tested and found out that higher concentration of Qi there is, the faster a spiritual herb will mature. That's why you see all these fields and planters, they prevent Qi from leaking and we can adjust the Qi levels to higher levels to accelerate the maturity of the plants. Not only that but the ground, water, and fertilizer given to the plants are very rich in Qi as well. When it matures, the usable parts are sealed in containers to keep them fresh and prevents Qi leakage. The rest of the plant is recycled as fertilizer or animal feed."

"You raise animals here as well?", Ironclaw's deep voice appeared.

"I'll bring you to our animal pens and stables", Huoran said.

The topless bus quickly flew to a different area and thousands of cows, pigs, chickens, and more came into view.

"These are all farm animals I bought and brought back here from mortal cities", Huoran explained, "They have a very healthy diet, and have grown to look like this now. This is just another example of how Qi management has helped us grow."

Huoran directed the bus and they oversaw all the fields, fruit orchards, fish lakes, caverns for mushrooms, and animal pens before heading towards the workshops.

At one point, Kong had looked at the mountain slope before asking Huoran, "Daoist Wei, you didn't happen to acquire this land from a mountain range in Xian region, did you? This looks awfully familiar to a hole that suddenly appeared in our region."

"Wow, strange", Huoran said before entering the workshops.

Kong had a smirk on his face as he understood Huoran's words.

The group toured the workshops and saw how they made talisman paper, draw talismans, and create arrays. They exited the first portal and entered the second portal which was severely cold as ice and snow were present.

"Daoist Wei, didn't you take a trip to the Fu region a few years ago?", Sect master Zheng asked, "It just so happens that one hundred kilometers of land disappeared and the ocean almost reaches Ice River city now."

"Now that's quite the coincidence, sect master", Huoran acted aloof again.

The Black Turtle sect master grumbled some since he also understood what had happened. Huoran continued the tour through the workshops of the artifact refiners and alchemists. The tour exited the second realm and went through the last one where the group was amazed by Huoran's submarine. They looked on at the merfolk who farmed seaweed, raised fish, and produced pearls with shellfish. After one last stop through the workshops of the merfolk, Huoran brought everyone back to Market Square.

"I hope you enjoyed the tour, I have to get ready for the feast so I will see you in a few hours and we can speak more then about what we saw today and business."