I will eventually become a divine being through accumulating constantly

Ning Yuantai grinned and said.

Upon hearing this, Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Come in first, Yuantai."

He stepped aside to let Ning Yuantai enter.

Lazily lying on the sofa, Miao Miao saw Ning Yuantai and snorted disdainfully yet proudly.

Just as she had expected, he would come over during mealtime...

However, it was truly unfortunate that today, around ten o'clock, she had urged Xue Jing to cook early, and by almost eleven, the food was already prepared.

Unfortunate, so unfortunate, guess what, Mr. Ning arrived just after they had finished eating!

"Hey Xue, have you eaten yet?"

Ning Yuantai looked at the bowls and plates on the table that had not yet been cleared and his heart skipped a beat.

Xue Jing smiled and replied, "Just had my meal, why, haven't you eaten yet?"

Ning Yuantai chuckled awkwardly and quickly waved his hand, "No, no, I've eaten too..."

He dared not admit that he had not yet eaten, lest Xue think he was trying to impose and hinting to have a meal prepared for him...

Ning Yuantai would rather starve than do that; what merit did he have to have Xue cook especially for him...

Miao Miao glanced sidelong at Ning Yuantai.

He knew his place...

"Xue, I've coordinated with them, and I happen to know a top executive at Xu's Biology. They said we could visit today between four and five in the afternoon..."

Upon hearing this, Xue Jing patted Ning Yuantai on the shoulder:

"Thanks a lot, Yuantai."

Ning Yuantai waved his hand, "It's nothing, being able to help you is an honor for me..."

"But we need to leave soon, Yuan City is quite far from Sky Center, and since the 'White Crow' has reclaimed the Dragon Core Airplane, we have to take a much slower aircraft..."

Xue Jing nodded, "No problem, let's go..."

He paused, then smiled, "Are you sure you don't want to eat something?"

Ning Yuantai scratched his head, knowing that Xue Jing had seen through his plan to come over at mealtime to eat and sheepishly replied, "I'll just buy some compressed nutrient bars on the way..."

Xue Jing asked curiously, "What is that?"

Ning Yuantai explained, "It's a product from the Inner Ring, designed for people with high physical demands and nutritional needs who find eating a hassle. It's pretty convenient, the only problem is the taste is not so great..."

...

The exterior looked like an RV without wheels, or a massive loaf of bread, with blue flames jetting from the rear, slowly rising and heading away from Yuan City.

Xue Jing sat in the aircraft's seat, turning his head toward the transparent windows.

The towering Sky Center stood above the land, its immense size giving the illusion of being right before his eyes.

"The aircraft is faster than driving, but it still takes about four to five hours to reach Sky Center."

Ning Yuantai, while taking out a glass bottle beverage from the fridge, said.

"We won't get stopped by the security company this time, will we?"

Xue Jing laughed.

Ning Yuantai flicked off the bottle cap with his finger and casually said:

"That won't happen, last time we were stopped because Yuan City's Chief Councillor had a complete security lockdown, so any unregistered flying vehicles had to be inspected... The aircraft we are in is registered to Zhige Base, so it was reported beforehand."

Xue Jing nodded, "That's good then."

He gently stroked the soft fur of Miao Miao sitting next to him.

"By the way, Xue, there's one more thing."

Ning Yuantai scratched his face and said.

Xue Jing looked at him, indicating for him to go ahead.

"Once we get there, the executive from Xu's Biology that I know will come to meet us... When that time comes, you don't need to talk to him; just leave it to me."

Xue Jing asked curiously, "Oh? Why?"

Ning Yuantai thought for a moment and then said with difficulty, "You know, although I never rely on my family's connections, I have reached where I am today all by myself...but still, I am a member of one of the Thirteen Great Families."

"And among the Thirteen Great Families, many people...have rather odd ideas," he said.

Ning Yuantai used a rather euphemistic term.

"If you are not one of the Thirteen Great Families, speaking with them might result in some disrespectful words and actions," he continued.

"Put simply, in their eyes, those who are members of the Thirteen Great Families are different from the 'commoners' outside the Thirteen Great Families," he said.

Upon hearing this, Xue Jing's eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded and said, "I see, I understand now."

Ning Yuantai sighed, "Although not all members of the Thirteen Great Families are like this, there are not a few who think this way, including an executive from Xu's Biology that I know."

"In any case, leave all the interactions to me later, I fear that person might be disrespectful to you..."

Xue Jing said softly, "I understand, after all, one has to beg favors... I can put up with a bit."

...

Several hours later.

Three thirty in the afternoon.

Xue Jing looked through the plane's window, marveling at the 'Sky Center' growing increasingly larger in view.

From a distance, it was already awe-inspiring, but as they drew closer, its true enormity and the pressure it exerted became tangible.

It seemed endless... Even Xue Jing, with his Level 10 'Aiming' ability and vision far beyond human limits, could not see how wide the diameter of Sky Center really was.

Around Sky Center, at varying heights, floated thousands of different flying vehicles, moving in and out.

From a quick glance, Xue Jing could see about hundreds of different floors, each with a unique exterior and different decorating styles, but together they subtly formed a harmonious aesthetic.

Insignificant.

Never before had Xue Jing felt so insignificant.

It was as if facing a Giant God that reached the skies, where even his knees were unseeable, the feeling of helplessness, and even... comfort.

Yes, comfort, strangely enough, he really felt it.

"When a person faces a supreme being that can dictate life and death, control his fate, all struggle becomes utterly unnecessary, and one tends to find comfort in that," Ning Yuantai remarked by his side.

"...These are the words once spoken by that commander from Cease-Blades," he added.

"Most people spend their lives seeking 'comfort,' so, if such beings truly existed, it might not be a bad thing... Perhaps that's the comfort the followers of the Monotheistic Church seek," he suggested.

Xue Jing laughed, "That's an interesting way to put it..."

As their aircraft neared Sky Center, it continued to ascend.

"Xu's Biology is located on the 1002nd floor of Sky Center, approximately six thousand meters above ground. We'll fly directly there..." Ning Yuantai explained.

During the ascent, Xue Jing looked through the window, observing the various flying vehicles moving in and out around Sky Center, feeling as if he had arrived in the future.

A few minutes later, the aircraft slowly stopped, hovering midair.

The cabin door gradually opened; Xue Jing looked up, faced with a highly technologically-themed floor, where alloy doors slowly slid open to both sides, making a 'hiss' sound.

When the doors opened, a tall young man in a light blue suit with a slicked-back hairdo and standing at the entrance with open arms.

"Long time no see, Ning!" he said with a smile, stepping forward to embrace the descending Ning Yuantai.

Ning Yuantai broke free and waved his hand, "Xu Mude, I've told you not to call me 'Ning.' I am where I am today... "

While they conversed, Xue Jing also descended from the aircraft and, following what Ning Yuantai had said, did not approach to speak but overleapt them to enter the building directly.

What met his eyes was the highly technological interior decor, filled with devices and equipment whose functions Xue Jing could not understand.

"Hmm? That man who just entered, that must be Xue Jing you mentioned?" Xu Mude said, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Xue Jing walk into the building,.

"How could he bring a cat along?"

...