T/N:
Heikou (Black Dragon Mouth)
Heicheng (Black Dragon City)
...
[Task: Use the Memory Stone to record the broadcast exercise competition.]
[Reward: A 200-square-meter LED screen player exclusive to the demon race, capable of 24/7 playback.]
[Item Description: Dedicated projection for the Memory Stone, can be used outdoors, waterproof, sunproof, no electricity required, powered by magic crystals, and can withstand temperatures from -200°C to 200°C.]
The system's advertisement vibe is way too strong!
She needed to ask about the Memory Stone first.
If it belonged to the Demon King, it was better not to mess with it.
"Feng Xiu, do you know what this thing in the box is?"
Feng Xiu thought carefully. "It should be a gift from the King. The King keeps his things stored away and rarely takes them out."
Yin Jixue's mind wandered to storage bags and other fantasy concepts. It wasn't necessarily far-fetched—after all, Memory Stones existed, so who knows what else was out there?
She just needed some time to process. Maybe she needed to brush up on history.
"Would the King give me a gift? Why didn't he tell me?"
Yin Jixue held the box lovingly. As expected of the Demon King, such a delicate little thing!
"The King comes and goes as he pleases. He left the palace to you, so naturally, everything inside is yours."
"Is that so?" She should have asked earlier. She had thought it was something the Demon King had left behind.
Feng Xiu nodded emphatically. "Although the King was not in Black Dragon City before he left, he gathered us and gave orders that your commands are his commands."
No wonder the palace guards and maids showed no disrespect toward her. There was none of that scheming or power-tripping drama you'd see in palace intrigue novels. She was a human living among demons—discrimination should have been inevitable. Turns out, the Demon King had her back before he left.
Now, Yin Jixue felt no guilt about using the Memory Stone.
She was about to ask how to use the Memory Stone when six characters appeared in front of her eyes:
'Start, Pause, Delete.'
The interface looked like an air conditioner remote control.
???
Wasn't this Memory Stone a bit too modern?
But she suspected it was the system's doing.
Although the system couldn't communicate with her, it could still pull off these small tricks.
Yin Jixue suddenly wanted to test the Memory Stone's function.
"Feng Xiu, help me change. I'm going out."
Clutching the Memory Stone, Yin Jixue had just stepped out of the palace when she heard the commotion coming from the school. It wasn't class time yet.
Perfect, the school it is.
The children were also discussing the physical exercises, but one child was surrounded by the others.
"Lian Ze, how do you do it so perfectly? Teach me! We're best friends!"
Gou Sheng clung to Lian Ze's leg. "Lian Ze, my mom said you can come over tonight and sleep at my place."
Yin Jixue couldn't help but laugh. One sharp-eyed child spotted her and shouted:
"Her Majesty is here!"
At this, even the usually composed Lian Ze couldn't hold back. He was the first to run up to Yin Jixue, his face practically screaming, "I want to perform for Her Majesty!"
The children didn't need to bow to her; they treated her like a teacher, as Yin Jixue had instructed.
The kids crowded around her, all wanting her to pat their heads.
Yin Jixue crouched down and patted each little head.
"I heard there's a physical exercise competition in the city. Do you want to compete?"
Lian Ze, his face red, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I... I can perform for you."
Yin Jixue looked around. "Who else wants to join? It's not a competition. You can all perform together. The first-place winner will get a brush I made myself."
"Me! Me!"
"Your Majesty, I want to too!"
"I want to join!"
The previously shy children, upon hearing about the prize, all crowded together, afraid Yin Jixue wouldn't let them participate.
Zhong Shang, the teacher, thought something had happened. When he came out and saw Her Majesty, he quickly bowed.
Yin Jixue smiled. "I came to see how the children are doing with the physical exercises. This was prepared for them, after all."
The children looked up at Yin Jixue with wide eyes. So this was something Her Majesty had prepared for them.
Zhong Shang chuckled. "This has become quite popular in the city recently. I've tried it myself, and it's made my joints feel less stiff."
Yin Jixue was taken aback. If every citizen performed the exercises seriously and correctly, it could indeed energize them and loosen their muscles.
"That's good to hear. Children are prone to fevers, so having them do morning exercises regularly will benefit their health."
Zhong Shang shook his head. "It's not just morning exercises. These kids do them during breaks, after school..."
Children are naturally curious, and this was the first time they encountered something that adults could do, but kids could too—and even better! Which child wouldn't feel proud?
Yin Jixue didn't stop them.
Since it was an impromptu competition, Lian Ze was the leader, standing in the front row with his small frame.
Yin Jixue adjusted the Memory Stone and started recording.
Zhong Shang glanced at the Memory Stone and said meaningfully, "The King holds you in high regard."
Yin Jixue was puzzled, then remembered the Memory Stone.
"Is this thing rare?"
Zhong Shang nodded. "Extremely rare. Years ago, a branch of the Xuanwu Clan, the Golden Turtle Clan, accidentally obtained a Memory Stone. They moved to the outskirts of Xuanwu City and gained the favor of the Xuanwu Clan. The development of the Xuanwu Clan owes much to the Golden Turtle Clan's business acumen."
"Outskirts? Aren't there lower demons around Xuanwu City?"
Zhong Shang shook his head. "In a trade city like Xuanwu, there's only the distinction between masters and slaves. The lowest class can only become slaves. The area around Xuanwu City has formed towns, livelier than our Black Dragon City."
Then he shook his head again. "No, not anymore. Now they can't compare to our Black Dragon City."
Yin Jixue breathed a sigh of relief. At least they weren't worse off than a mere town, or she'd be disheartened.
It seemed Xuanwu City wasn't that advanced either. The existence of slavery showed their system was still quite backward.
She didn't want Black Dragon City to become a slave society. Slavery would eventually be overthrown.
Although the Demon King was akin to an emperor, his existence was more about protecting his people. As for his own enjoyment, there wasn't much to enjoy in such a poor demon realm. He even had to go out himself to trade for food for his people.
The citizens of the city admired his strength and willingly allowed the pure-blooded, powerful Demon King to rule.
Zhong Shang had traveled the demon realm with Nan Lü in his younger years. Yin Jixue decided to find some time to have them fill her in on the world's setting —no, its history.
"So how did this Memory Stone end up in the King's hands?" Something so valuable—she suddenly felt hesitant to take it out casually.
Zhong Shang said proudly, "Naturally, the King defeated a powerful warrior from the Xuanwu Clan."
Of course, the fighting race Black Dragon Clan—who could defeat the strongest warrior?
"I'll have to bother you some time, Zhong Shang, to catch up on the history of the Cangqiong Continent."
She realized that her knowledge of the demon realm was just the tip of the iceberg. The Xuanwu Clan practiced slavery, and there was even a branch clan like the Golden Turtle Clan.
Zhong Shang clasped his hands behind his back. "Anytime, Your Majesty."
She wanted to ask if the Black Dragon Clan had any branch clans, but the children had already started their performance.
There was no denying that children doing broadcast exercises had a certain youthful vitality. For a moment, Yin Jixue felt as if she had returned to the time before the apocalypse.
Their little faces were serious as they tried their best to perform each movement perfectly, stretching and kicking without hesitation. Everyone was focused, even if a few weren't as precise.
After ten movements, Yin Jixue clapped. "You all did wonderfully. Besides the first-place prize, the rest of you will receive a big surprise."