The reception for Steve Jobs was massive. Not only were almost all of his closest friends present, but many prominent figures from the political and business worlds also attended. It was estimated that over 500 celebrities had gathered, creating an unprecedentedly grand event.
Of course, their attendance wasn't driven by genuine warmth towards Jobs. They were there to see him in person, to confirm if he was the same man they remembered, and not a look-alike. If it was indeed the real Jobs, they intended to inquire about his transformation.
As Jobs disembarked the plane, he received unexpected news: the current President of the United States had cut short his foreign visit and returned to the country, arriving almost simultaneously with Jobs.
This was a pure coincidence, with no prior arrangements. The new President warmly invited Jobs to accompany him, and Jobs, not wishing to refuse at this juncture, found himself in an event that transformed a simple arrival into a grand gathering of America's elite. The President, seizing the opportune moment, suggested hosting a banquet to welcome Mr. Jobs. Thus, the entire entourage proceeded to a newly opened hotel in New York, the Deyue Lou.
The name itself indicated it was a Chinese restaurant. However, this establishment differed from other Chinese restaurants in the United States. In America, if restaurants were categorized by type, Western restaurants like burgers and pizza would naturally rank highest in number. But the competition for second place was fierce. Before 2020, Mexican cuisine held this position undoubtedly, due to the large Mexican population in the US who, accustomed to their own flavorful dishes, found American cuisine unappealing. Consequently, Mexican restaurants were the second most numerous.
However, by now, Chinese restaurants had surpassed Mexican ones. This shift was largely attributed to the global spread of Chinese films and the outreach activities of Chinese Taoism, which encouraged many Americans to explore Chinese cuisine. Strangely, after trying Chinese food, Mexicans discovered that Sichuan and Jiangxi cuisine were even more to their taste than Mexican food, leading to a situation where more Mexicans frequented Chinese restaurants than Mexican ones, causing many Mexican eateries to decline.
Yet, anyone who had visited the US knew that Chinese restaurants there were almost always Americanized versions, producing dishes that Chinese people found unpalatable. Deyue Lou, however, was an exception. It was a restaurant specializing in authentic Chinese cuisine, occupying six floors in the heart of New York. The décor was inspired by the Deyue Lou of the old Beijing era and was stunningly luxurious.
Remarkably, despite its refusal to cater to American palates, Deyue Lou attracted a large number of American patrons, predominantly from the business and political circles. They found that dining together at round tables was conducive to business negotiations. Moreover, the authentic Chinese cuisine offered many dishes that appealed to American tastes. It was also a rare establishment that offered a completely vegetarian menu, catering to the growing number of distinguished Taoist practitioners. Consequently, the restaurant flourished.
On this occasion, the President himself hosted a banquet at the entirely booked Deyue Lou to welcome Jobs, who could not refuse. However, as the meal commenced, many at Jobs' table, particularly the President seated to his left, were astonished to find Jobs eating with an almost unbelievable appetite. He consumed more than half of the dishes on his plate and even managed to eat three bowls of rice, leaving the President, who could barely finish one bowl, utterly dumbfounded.
All his familiar friends felt certain this Jobs was an imposter. After all, since turning fifty, Jobs had never eaten more than a small bowl of food. How could he possibly consume so much? Many began to cautiously probe him with questions, including shared anecdotes and conversations known only to him and Jobs. To their surprise, Jobs answered every question correctly, reinforcing his identity as the real Jobs.
Finally, someone posed the question, "Mr. Jobs, are you feeling particularly hungry?"
"Nonsense, why would I eat so much if I wasn't hungry?" Jobs wanted to retort, but he restrained himself, stating calmly, "My physical body underwent a process for over a year. While it was miraculously preserved from decay, the internal vitality and blood had been severely depleted. It requires a substantial amount of food to replenish. Furthermore, the body is the vessel for the soul. If a person's primordial spirit has achieved immortality, its return to the physical body will significantly increase the strain on the body. Ideally, the depletion would be compensated by spiritual energy, but this world has entered an era of decline where such energy is scarce. Therefore, I must rely on the flesh and blood of plants and animals to mend my deficiencies. This is not an advanced method, but it is necessary. Thus, my appetite will likely remain at this level in the future!"
Of course, Jobs was fabricating the story. He had never died, and his body had no depletion of vitality. The truth was that after receiving the Taiyin spiritual energy, his body had undergone rejuvenation, and his desire and capacity for procreation had greatly increased, leading to a surge in his physical needs. Hence, Jobs' immense appetite persisted, and he couldn't reduce it. He had tried to revert to the diet of his cultivation days, but this resulted in rapid aging and severe respiratory problems, forcing him to rely on large injections of glucose to stabilize his condition. Over time, Jobs chose to prioritize a full stomach.
"So, Mr. Jobs, you have truly achieved immortality!" the surrounding individuals exclaimed in astonishment. They had assumed he had merely been hiding in China for a year.
"I wouldn't say I've achieved immortality, as it's exceedingly difficult to ascend in this era of spiritual decline!" As various films, television series, and novels related to cultivation spread globally, particularly in the United States where many adults grew up with the "Immortal Path" film series, they became exceptionally familiar with cultivation terminology. Much like Chinese people were intimately familiar with terms like Orcs, Dwarves, Mages, Assassins, Magic, and Battle Qi, Americans in this world possessed a deep understanding of cultivation and could readily list and define its terms. Over time, even these influential figures had acquired some knowledge of cultivation-related vocabulary. Therefore, when Jobs uttered these words, some terms were phonetic transliterations from Chinese, and everyone present understood them.
"Then, Mr. Jobs, how did you achieve rejuvenation!" someone finally asked the crucial question. Everyone at the table, including the President, leaned in attentively.
"While I have not achieved immortality, I have reached the realm of refining spirit to return to emptiness. My primordial spirit can now leave my body. Although the duration is not yet long and I cannot entirely break free from the body's constraints, I did spend a year on the Taiyin Star."
"Taiyin Star? Do you mean the Moon!" the President exclaimed.
"Precisely, the Moon. After my primordial spirit departed my body, I felt a pure energy guide me upwards. When I realized it, I was already in outer space, with Earth beneath my feet and the Taiyin Star before me."
"So, I curiously flew towards the Taiyin Star!"
"Did you meet the Moon Goddess Chang'e?" someone nearby asked excitedly.
"Chang'e has long since vanished. However, I saw the remnants of the Guanghan Palace!" Jobs replied.
"Guanghan Palace? That's impossible. Our lunar exploration missions have completely surveyed the Moon, and there are absolutely no architectural remnants!" the President stated.
"The Guanghan Palace does not exist in the physical universe but in the liminal space between two worlds. You can think of it as the area between the three-dimensional and four-dimensional realms, a place accessible only to souls."
"In fact, when you all die, your souls will enter this realm and witness scenes you can scarcely imagine—scenes that exist only in myths and legends!" Jobs declared, feeling uninhibited and speaking freely, as no deceased person could return to debunk his tale.
"Then, Mr. Jobs, what did you encounter within the Guanghan Palace?" the crowd inquired with curiosity. Few truly believed his words, merely finding it an amusing story.
"A drop of Taiyin spiritual energy!" Jobs stated slowly. "This substance is formed from primordial Yin energy. Cultivators who consume it can strengthen their primordial spirit, while mortals who consume it can regain their youth and vital essence."