The group stepped onto the elevator platform, which was surrounded by railings made of pale yellow light columns to prevent anyone from accidentally falling off. As the platform slowly rose, Фэн Юань thought of something, walked to the light column, grasped the solidified light column with both hands, and Agunas glanced at Фэн Юань and said irritably,
"What are you up to again? Don’t cause trouble for others, okay?"
After confirming that the light column hadn’t changed, Фэн Юань jumped back onto the platform, clapped his hands, and said,
"I was thinking, how exactly does this thing ensure safety? Just relying on this railing wouldn’t stop a mischievous kid, right? Surely they can’t just say no children allowed here?"
’We follow to prevent such things from happening,’
the Wood Lantern explained with a satisfied squint, and after a while, the platform slowly stopped. The group proceeded along the passageway to another interior space. It was only then that they realized the platform didn’t have floor selection functionality. Фэн Юань looked at the Wood Lantern puzzled and asked,
"So those elevator platforms can’t freely choose floors?"
’No.’
’Each tower can only go to specific different floors.’
"Tsk, you’d really get lost here without a guide. By the way, how long did it take you to record all the routes inside this place?"
Фэн Юань pursed his lips and asked curiously while looking at the Wood Lantern. It paused for a moment, and new characters appeared in the smoke above its head,
’One month and seven days.’
"I knew it, I guessed as much. Wait, how about this restaurant? I’ll give it a try."
While speaking, Фэн Юань spotted a shop with a blue canopy and jogged over. Dou Yanlan frowned as she surveyed the winding corridors. She didn’t really doubt the Wood Lantern, as the distribution of the Octagonal Towers within the Кианта Pavilion was indeed irregular with varying spaces on each floor. Considering the height of the Кианта Pavilion, remembering the internal routes in a month was quite commendable.
"Interesting, even inside there are plenty of defense measures. Are they afraid someone might sabotage it from within?"
Veronia examined the ancient tower body beside her and said quietly. Белусир was silent for a while and then said,
"They are best at creating miracles."
"Creating miracles? Humans can only be said to be good at it, while we can casually pull off what they call miracles,"
Veronia said with a smug smile. Agunas glanced at Veronia and said irritably,
"If you were to do something beyond your Authority, what do you think the result would be? Could you really compare with humans?"
With a sidelong glance at Agunas, Veronia replied displeased. At this moment, Фэн Юань returned, regretfully saying,
"No, this place’s taste is too spicy for me. Are there any others?"
The group followed the Wood Lantern and continued forward. After walking for a long time, Фэн Юань frowned slightly, looked up at the ceiling with lanterns hanging, and said,
"This place always feels a bit oppressive. Although the floor height is about three meters, it gives me a feeling like a slum. Although it’s clean here, but..."
Due to the chaotic distribution of the Octagonal Towers within the Кианта Pavilion, the interiors were not very spacious. The shops nestled in the gaps between the towers made each floor slightly disorganized. Even though Chidu City continuously strived to make the tower spaces more rational, that sense of chaos couldn’t be completely avoided.
Additionally, the presence of tower passages made it very easy for people to get lost here, which is why there were groups of Wood Lanterns at the entrance of the Кианта Pavilion waiting to provide free guidance services.
Without them, many people would likely get trapped inside Кианта Pavilion, unable to find the exit. Ци Чэнь looked around in confusion and asked,
"Doesn’t this place seem unsuitable for being a shopping mall? Why must they do this?"
"Not so bad, although this place can make people dizzy, it does have its uniqueness. Besides, apart from this, there’s not much suitable use you can find. You can’t just leave it wasteland here, can you? Not to mention, that such a tall Кианта Pavilion with patrolling alone requires so many Духовные звери. At least like this, it can be self-sufficient,"
Фэн Юань said, glancing at Pomiti atop Kong Qing. Along the way, they had asked the Wood Lantern how many companions it had living here, and the answer was indeed surprising, with nearly ten thousand Wood Lanterns residing in this area providing guide services. Just thinking about it, Фэн Юань could imagine how large the daily expenses were.
Moreover, this also assured him that behind Кианта Pavilion was definitely Chidu City’s government. Otherwise, no one else would have the capability to gather so many Wood Lanterns, and it’s possible that these Wood Lanterns were gathered with the assistance of Chidu City from other places.
After all, even though Wood Lanterns have strong reproduction abilities, they are still Духовные звери, and their population isn’t as large as imagined.
The group wandered around Кианта Pavilion for a long time and finally found a suitable restaurant. Sitting on wooden chairs, Фэн Юань looked at the antique-style wooden table and glanced at the blue canopy overhead with an odd smile,
"It’s a pity there’s no sun here; otherwise, we could experience what it felt like to eat at a roadside stall during the Dynasty Era."
Due to space limitations, even though the restaurants inside Кианта Pavilion tried to create individual compartments, they still resembled the street vendors during the Dynasty Era. Of course, the food here was naturally much better than street stall food.
Фэн Юань glanced at the Wood Lantern and curiously asked,
"Aren’t you going to eat something? I’ll treat you~"
Shaking its body to express refusal, the smoke above the Wood Lantern changed to form words,
’No need.’
’We have our own food.’
’No need for guests to spend money.’
"Are you saying that even if we willingly want to treat you, it won’t do?"
Seeing the firm refusal of the Wood Lantern, Фэн Юань didn’t persist, since it was the other’s principle, he naturally didn’t mind too much. Picking up a brochure to read, Фэн Юань asked,
"By the way, is it possible for us to go to the highest point?"
’The Pavilion top?’
"Yes, can we go there?"
Upon hearing Фэн Юань’s question, the Wood Lantern didn’t answer immediately. After hesitating for a while, it formed words with the smoke above its head again,
’Requires an application.’
’Cannot go up without the guards’ consent.’
The group could understand this, since the top of Кианта Pavilion must definitely house those devices or facilities that collect Energy. If not, they wouldn’t restrict access to tourists.
As for obtaining consent, Фэн Юань, who held a special permit, indicated that it wouldn’t be too difficult. Although that place wasn’t open to tourists, the reason was to prevent damage, and in their case, it likely wouldn’t be refused.
"It’s strange; while walking around, it seems we haven’t seen any windows,"
filling a cup of tea for each of the Flower Leaf Tree Three Духовные звери, Ци Чэнь asked in confusion. Clearly, from the outside, the Кианта Pavilion appeared to have many windows, but while walking inside for so long, he hadn’t seen a single one that let sunlight through.
"That’s the Outer Pavilion, right? I remember the Кианта Pavilion being divided into two sections, inner and outer, and the windows you see from the outside are mostly for decoration."
Thinking for a moment, Фэн Юань said. Even though he hadn’t particularly minded this detail, with Ци Чэнь mentioning it, he recalled indeed not seeing any windows along the way, which didn’t surprise him much.
Given Кианта Pavilion’s height, if there were real windows, and some child were to climb out, it would cause quite the trouble. Also, considering Кианта Pavilion’s height, Фэн Юань suspected that the Outer Pavilion wasn’t just for decoration but also intended to protect against external elements like thunder and natural disasters affecting the interior.
’The Outer Pavilion is a defensive measure and isn’t open to visitors.’
The Wood Lantern timely supported Фэн Юань’s conjecture. The function of the Outer Pavilion needn’t be secretive, as it couldn’t possibly prevent Духовные звери from attacking externally; it simply wasn’t open to visitors for safety considerations.
Seeing Agunas looking at him, Фэн Юань took a sip of tea and said irritably,
"Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not so bored as to wander the Outer Pavilion where it’s not fun. Plenty of ways to enjoy a high-altitude view without needing to do that."
Xiao Ji’s eyes brightened, turning to Фэн Юань. Veronia chuckled and said,
"Aren’t you fond of visiting peculiar places? Doesn’t the Outer Pavilion qualify?"
"It’s mainly not very fun. I never said I’d roam construction sites or such unless I had other matters to attend to."
Rolling his eyes, Фэн Юань replied speechlessly.

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