Countdown: Humanity's struggle to survive against yesterday

Chapter 53 Preliminary Round 1

"pass"

"Thank you for participating in the memory competition. Please do not leave. The list of those who advanced from the live stream of competition number 1766 will be announced shortly..."

"Yay!"

Upon seeing the notification, the people in the lounge burst into cheers, and more than thirty onlookers clapped and celebrated.

The sudden cheers startled all the players in the internet cafe, who couldn't help but turn their curious gazes towards them.

When they found out, they learned that a middle-aged Taoist priest had come to the internet cafe in this small town to participate in a memory competition, and had just passed the preliminary rounds.

This caused an uproar in the internet cafe; hundreds of people stopped playing games and flocked to computer A31.

People looked him up and down, pointing and whispering, making Chang Niankong feel very uncomfortable.

"Please make way, please make way..."

Yang Hongliang pushed his way through the crowd and walked up to Chang Niankong, excitedly extending his hand: "Master Chang, congratulations! Congratulations on qualifying for the city-level competition!"

Chang Niankong did not shake hands, but instead returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "Thank you for your help, Boss Yang. The results have not yet been announced, so I dare not accept your praise."

He paused, then turned and cupped his hands in apology to everyone, saying, "I apologize for disturbing your fun."

"No, no..."

Yang Hongliang naturally withdrew his hand without the slightest displeasure, and followed Chang Niankong's mannerisms, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"Master Chang, what are you saying? It's an honor for our establishment to have a contestant like you. Don't you all agree...?"

"Yes, yes, no, no, you're too kind, Daoist Master."

"That's right, Master Chang, you're too kind. Everyone saw your performance just now; it was truly amazing. We're all in the same internet cafe, and we feel honored to be a part of it," a young man said admiringly.

"That's right, that's right..."

Wei Xiaoshuai was the first to clap his hands loudly, showing no sign of the embarrassment he felt when he was the first to question Master Chang.

A round of applause erupted, and Chang Niankong, with a smile on his face, continued to return the greetings.

Principal Han seized the opportunity to bow and step forward: "Master, you answered all ten questions correctly. I suppose you will advance without waiting for the answers to be announced. May I ask which Taoist temple on Longhu Mountain you cultivate in, that you have produced such a master with such a memory?"

"I dare not accept the title of master; I merely have a slightly better memory."

Chang Niankong said in a calm tone: "As for the Taoist temple where I live, it is just an unnamed temple located on the Green Peak of Longhu Mountain."

"Could it be the Sanqing Temple...?"

A slightly overweight middle-aged man in the crowd suddenly exclaimed in surprise, and under the curious gazes of the crowd, he quickly began to describe the Taoist temple.

"The name 'Sanqing Temple' was given by the people who knew about the temple; actually, that little temple didn't really have a name..."

After the slightly overweight middle-aged man finished speaking, everyone looked at Chang Niankong with even greater respect.

Wei Xiaoshuai exclaimed excitedly, "Wow, is this what they mean by 'a true hermit lives in the city'? I thought the Taoist priest came from the biggest Taoist temple on Longhu Mountain!"

After Wei Xiaoshuai said this, everyone became even more excited.

It's no wonder they are like this; people always love to see stories of ordinary people rising from humble beginnings and enjoy hearing interesting tales of ordinary people achieving remarkable success.

The nameless Taoist temple where Chang Niankong lived, compared to the grand temple of the Zhengyi sect on Longhu Mountain, had little incense offerings and only two or three Taoist priests. It was clearly impoverished and humble, which fit the tone of this small temple.

Chang Niankong noticed the subtle changes in the expressions of the people around him. After a moment's thought, he guessed what was going on and shook his head helplessly.

There's no such thing as a major faction attacking a minor faction; this isn't ancient times.

With the development of modern technology, Taoism has declined across the country. The reason why the Zhengyi sect of Longhu Mountain is so popular is largely due to its involvement in cultural tourism projects.

There's nothing wrong with that, and it can't be said that all the Taoist priests of Longhu Mountain are driven by self-interest; it's just the way things are.

In other words, if no one understands or pays attention, how can Taoism innovate and pass on its traditions? It's all just a matter of the times.

Moreover, the truth is that the Taoist community is very united. Although the nameless Taoist temple where he lived had few people, it was still very supported and respected within the community because everyone was sincerely practicing Taoism.

Before the major setback, the local cultural and tourism department said every year that it would develop, take over and manage the area in a unified manner, but in the end it all came to nothing. This was all thanks to the Zhengyi sect of Longhu Mountain.

However, these things cannot be explained in just a few words.

"Let it be a misunderstanding!" Chang Nian thought to himself.

As I progress through the memory competition after coming down the mountain, there will be even more of this kind of discussion. If I were to explain myself every time, I would never be able to explain it all.

"Look, the results are in..."

One of the onlookers immediately pointed at the computer screen behind Chang Niankong and shouted loudly.

Chang Niankong turned around upon hearing the sound, only to see his own name prominently displayed at the top of the list on the screen.

"Constantly reciting 'emptiness' scores 100 points, taking 17 minutes and 10 seconds."

"Zhou Yun scores 100 points, in 17 minutes and 25 seconds."

"Wang Zunfu scores 100 points, with a time of 17 minutes and 37 seconds."

"..."

"..."

Last place went to Chen Yan with 90 points, taking 16 minutes and 20 seconds.

"Wow, Master Chang is awesome!"

As soon as the results were announced, Wei Xiaoshuai shouted loudly.

As soon as the sound ended, hundreds of people in the entire Moyu Internet Cafe cheered. Acquaintances clapped and celebrated, and some even held up their phones to record the whole thing.

The person who made the video knows that it cannot be saved until the next time the world goes backward, but they can't hide their excitement right now.

They felt they had to send it out, not to let the whole country know that a Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain had come down to participate in a memory competition, but just to let the people of their hometown, Lanshui Town, know about it first.

Amidst congratulations and reluctant farewells, Chang Niankong promised the internet cafe owner that he would definitely come back to participate in the city qualifying competition in seven days before finally leaving to return to Longhu Mountain.

What he didn't know was that the news spread throughout Bluewater Town the moment he left.

For residents of towns near Longhu Mountain, the fact that a Taoist priest could come down the mountain to participate in a memory competition is no less surprising than hearing that a Taoist priest could come down the mountain to slay demons and monsters these days.

Upon hearing about this, Mayor Yang of Lanshui Town simply lit a cigarette in silence before immediately convening a town committee meeting.

At the meeting, he became so excited that he kept slamming his fist on the table, repeatedly emphasizing, "This could be the second 'Grandpa Jiang incident,' and all town officials must take it seriously."

"This is not only a response to the global 'Memory Bank for the Future' initiative, but also a way to showcase the spirit of the people of Longhushan to the whole country."

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Yang said meaningfully, "Although Master Chang has agreed to come to our Lanhe Town to participate in the city qualifying competition, there are more than just our town near Longhu Mountain. In order to show our sincerity, everyone must come up with a plan..."

Although it was called a charter, all the attendees knew that Mayor Yang was worried that other towns would try to poach their staff.

Just like after the "Grandpa Jiang incident" occurred, the town mayor Zhang from the neighboring Huishi Town became famous throughout the country. As for the town mayor of Kaiping Town, to which Grandpa Jiang belonged, he is now being ridiculed by the entire internet and can't even lift his head.

Two hours later, Chang Niankong rode his electric scooter back to the nameless Taoist temple.

"Master and fellow disciples, I've brought back the pig's head meat you requested..."