Chapter 47

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed. The cooperation with the orcs was like a blazing fire, continuing to ferment in this otherworld. Spies from various races, akin to sharp-eyed eagle-owls, quietly and successively took up residence in Youge City. This city, which might have originally seemed inconspicuous, gradually radiated a prosperous glow like a dazzling star under the watchful eyes of all parties and the injection of vitality.

Shen Yi's Youge City upheld an all-embracing philosophy, opening its arms wide to any race and turning no one away. When the city's population steadily reached one million and five hundred thousand, it ceased accepting new members. By now, the streets within the city were bustling with extraordinary liveliness; a surging crowd shuttled back and forth, and all sorts of shops offered an overwhelming array of goods, presenting a scene of immense prosperity.

The newly arrived residents faced the city's overwhelming sense of technology and endless stream of novelties with a comical array of mishaps. Those tribal inhabitants accustomed to primitive life panicked upon seeing auto-cleaning robots for the first time, mistaking them for some kind of evil magical creation and hurriedly taking up arms for battle. Meanwhile, certain races that had never encountered electricity dropped their jaws in astonishment the moment light bulbs instantly illuminated, and some even knelt to pray devoutly before the lamps, believing they had witnessed a divine miracle.

However, in this cruel era where the weak fell prey to the strong and the fittest survived, inability to adapt meant elimination. The residents deeply understood this stern reality and thus mustered all their strength to learn and adapt. As time passed, they gradually emerged from their initial panic and confusion, beginning to fully enjoy the various conveniences and surprises brought by Youge City.

Bazhahi stood out as an exceptional representative among the many eager adapters. Ever since setting foot in Youge City, he had brazenly proclaimed himself Shen Yi's foremost fierce general, boldly and passionately running a martial arts gym. The gym was fully equipped with gravity chambers for physical enhancement, shooting practice rooms for honing marksmanship, and all kinds of modernized physical training apparatus. These advanced facilities acted like a massive magnet, attracting countless followers and causing his gym business to flourish with extraordinary popularity.

Recalling the past, Bazhahi had merely been a wandering, homeless petty mercenary. Every day, he struggled desperately on the brink of life and death, forced to engage in mortal combat with ferocious, brutal magical beasts for meager rewards, constantly facing tremendous threats to his life. But now, as one of the first residents to move into Youge City, he not only owned an extraordinarily cool magnetic levitation vehicle, but could also skillfully use a smartphone to chat freely with friends. These high-tech products had completely transformed his life, filling his heart with deep gratitude toward Youge City.

Throughout the year, all the races seemed to be quietly observing and learning without making any major moves. Yet, they all keenly perceived the immense value of smartphones and successively placed orders with Shen Yi. Seizing this opportunity, Shen Yi harvested massive amounts of ores, providing a solid resource foundation for the research and development of new technologies. Backed by abundant resources, Youge City's new technologies continuously iterated and renewed like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, keeping the city perpetually vibrant and dynamic.

On a sunny afternoon, the central plaza of Youge City was exceptionally lively. Amidst the bustling crowd, residents from several different races sat closely together, sparking a delightfully amusing conversation.

A chubby dwarf with a flushed face excitedly patted the tall orc beside him and said loudly, "Hey, big guy! Tell me, does this past year in Youge City feel like a dream to you? Back when I was toiling away in those pitch-black mines until I was half-dead, when had I ever seen so many bizarre yet amazingly useful gadgets!"

The orc grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth, and let out a booming laugh. "You said it! When I was a mercenary, I slept out in the open every day and lived with my head on the chopping block. Now in Youge City, I live comfortably, eat well, and have all these incredible training devices. Take this smartphone for instance—it's simply magical! I can chat with my brothers far away at any time, it's just fantastic!"

Nearby, an exquisitely graceful elf gently twirled a strand of hair by her ear and smiled. "Indeed. At first, I was full of suspicion toward these technological products, feeling they disrupted the peace and harmony of nature. But now I find they have also brought many unexpected conveniences to life. Just like the smartphone, I can capture the beautiful moments of the forest anytime and anywhere, and share what I see and feel with other elves."

A young human pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose and excitedly jumped into the conversation. "Exactly, exactly! Moreover, the technology here changes with each passing day, bringing new surprises every single time. Right now, I'm researching new technologies alongside Lord Shen Yi's team, and I believe there will be even more powerful inventions in the future to transform our lives!"

At this moment, an elderly man with white hair spoke slowly, "Ah, Youge City has brought all our races together, allowing us to learn from one another and progress collectively. In the past, this was simply unimaginable. We truly should cherish this hard-earned peace and prosperity."

Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with yearning for the future and deep affection for Youge City. Laughter echoed across the plaza, resembling the most enchanting melody of the city.

Human residents pursued technology with an increasingly fervent passion. Young inventors immersed themselves in laboratories day and night, neglecting sleep and food as they studied how to better integrate technology with daily life. They experimented with novel materials to forge lighter, more formidable weapons, and utilized advanced techniques to improve the city's energy supply. Whenever a new invention was born, they would cheer like children, their eyes flashing with excitement and pride. The elderly gathered on park benches, basking leisurely in the sun while discussing the hardships of the past and the happiness of the present, marveling at how technological progress had made life so wonderful.

Orc residents, while enjoying the conveniences brought by technology, never ceased their pursuit of strength. They sweated profusely in the gravity chambers, and every muscle ache made them feel themselves growing stronger. Using training software on their smartphones, they formulated scientific exercise routines to constantly challenge their limits. On the training grounds, they sparred with one another amidst earth-shaking roars; that persistent obsession with power commanded awe. They knew deeply that in this challenging world, only by possessing formidable strength could they protect themselves and those they loved.

Elven residents skillfully combined their love for nature with technology. They used smartphones to record the growth and changes of flora and fauna in the forest, utilizing data analysis to better protect the natural environment. They planted all sorts of exotic flowers and rare herbs in the corners of the city, simulating natural surroundings through technological means to fill this technological metropolis with vitality. They expressed their praise for life through music and poetry, carving out a tranquil spiritual sanctuary within the bustling city.

Dwarf residents contributed to the development of Youge City through their exquisite craftsmanship and unique understanding of technology. In their workshops, they blended traditional forging techniques with modern technology to craft breathtakingly exquisite, sturdy, and durable weapons and equipment. Their meticulous control over details and pursuit of quality earned their creations high acclaim. In their eyes, every piece was the crystallization of their own dedication, and they felt immensely proud to participate in the city's construction.

Within this多元 symbiotic city, the emotional bonds between residents grew increasingly profound. Whenever residents encountered difficulties, helping hands from different races were always extended. This cross-racial friendship and mutual aid turned Youge City into a warm, big family. People here no longer rushed about merely for survival, but rather pursued a better life and realized their own dreams.

The prosperity of Youge City not only transformed the lives of its residents but also planted seeds of hope in their hearts. They deeply understood that this city was their shared home, requiring collective effort to protect and develop. In this challenging and opportunity-filled otherworld, Youge City stood like a bright lighthouse, illuminating the path forward for its residents and helping them find their own happiness and direction amid the fusion of technology and culture.

As time marched on, the story of Youge City continued to unfold. On this land, the residents painted a vibrant and colorful scroll with their laughter, tears, hard work, and persistence. They looked forward to an even brighter future for Youge City and firmly believed that under Shen Yi's guidance, the city would create even more miracles, becoming an eternally shining pearl upon the continent of the otherworld.

New Sights in Youge City

Meanwhile, after a lapse of a full year, a man and a woman reappeared before the gates of Youge City. Looking at the endless stream of incoming and outgoing crowds, they were none other than Hu Yu and the Demon Emperor.

The Demon Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, a flash of complex emotion crossing his gaze, and sighed, "Even after a year, I still haven't figured out how that thing called a ghost fighter jet operates. This kid named Shen Yi truly gives me far too many surprises." His tone carried both perplexity regarding unknown technology and admiration for Shen Yi.

Hu Yu's attention, however, was captured by something else. Her eyes widened as she pointed ahead, her tone filled with astonishment. "Look at that! It's a Tauren dragging a young human girl into the city, insisting on buying her a smartphone." Hu Yu's pretty little face bore an expression of utter disbelief, as if she found it hard to accept the scene before her.

The Demon Emperor followed Hu Yu's pointed finger and saw a towering Tauren smiling brightly as he pulled along a young human girl. The Tauren gestured with his hands while muttering continuously, apparently introducing the benefits of the smartphone to the girl. The girl wore a shy expression, yet her eyes gleamed with curiosity and anticipation.

"This Youge City is truly wondrous; different races can actually coexist so harmoniously," the Demon Emperor murmured to himself. In his understanding, barriers between races had always been insurmountable chasms. Yet in Youge City, he witnessed an entirely different spectacle.

"Father, there are so many fun things here. The last time I came, I didn't even have time to explore properly," Hu Yu said excitedly, her eyes sparkling. She couldn't wait to delve deep into the city once more and explore those novelties.

"Let's go take a look," the Demon Emperor said with a smile. Infected by the atmosphere of the city, he too wished to experience it firsthand.

The father and daughter walked into the city amidst the crowd. Shops lining both sides of the street offered an overwhelming array of goods, dazzling visitors with countless novel items. Hu Yu tugged at the Demon Emperor, looking at this and touching that, brimming with childlike curiosity.

Watching his daughter's joyful expression, a trace of warmth stirred within the Demon Emperor's heart as well. He realized that although Youge City was filled with unknowns and challenges, it also brought boundless joy to his daughter. Perhaps occasionally stepping out of the imperial palace to experience a different world here was not a bad choice after all.