The capital Bianliang had only just been relieved from siege, yet the lands north of the Yellow River remained under barbarian occupation. Across the Central Plains, misery reigned—wails of the people echoed through desolate ruins where dozens of prefectures and counties lay in ashes... And yet, amidst such devastation, the emperor of Great Song, His Majesty Emperor Qinzong, had no mind to rally the nation or restore the ravaged realm—instead, he was preoccupied with constructing a celestial abode for immortals?
Alas! A truly absurd and benighted sovereign indeed.
Though Wang Qiu and his companions held little regard for either Emperor Qinzong or his father, Emperor Huizong—seeing them not as tyrants but as ineffectual fools—they still agreed to take the commission, perhaps motivated by the prospect of profit. And so, Doraemon pinched his nose and accepted the order.
However, there was one problem: this careless emperor had failed to provide any concrete specifications for the construction.
"A residence for immortals? There are so many kinds! Palaces towering above the clouds, hidden sanctuaries deep in the mountains, dragon palaces beneath the sea... Hmm, since the Song capital isn't coastal, a dragon palace seems out of the question. So do we build a heavenly palace or a mountain retreat?"
Muttering to himself, Doraemon fished several fantastical gadgets from his pocket and displayed them for the others. "For digging, we've got digging tools. For flying, flying tools... If we go with an underground retreat, we should use this: the Explosive Basement."
He held up a bundle of mining explosives adorned with bizarre machinery. "Originally designed for building emergency shelters, these explosive basements come in various sizes. This one's a smaller model—it'll blast out a space underground measuring 500 by 1,000 meters, reinforce the walls automatically, and ensure perfect waterproofing and structural integrity. Entirely livable."
"Hmm... An underground chamber? That could just about qualify as a celestial grotto," Wang Qiu mused, stroking his chin. "But what about lighting? The Northern Song didn't have electricity. Candles and oil lamps might use up all the oxygen and suffocate everyone."
"No worries," Doraemon said confidently. "The Explosive Basement comes with luminous moss. Once transplanted to the ceiling, it'll illuminate the entire space."
He then retrieved another tool. "And if it's a heavenly palace you want, you'll need this—Cloud-Solidifying Spray."
"Oh, I know that one!" Wang Qiu's eyes lit up. "That's what Nobita used to make the 'Cloud Kingdom,' right? It turns clouds into solid floating islands where you can plant trees, build houses, even dig artificial lakes... This idea is brilliant!"
And so, Guo Jing quickly summarized the two immortal dwelling plans and wrote a reasonably neat memorial, which was delivered by a fretful palace guard to the eccentric Emperor Zhao Huan for his decision: would he soar to the skies, or delve into the earth?
Hours later, a panting eunuch returned with the imperial decree: "I want both!"
Three days hence, Emperor Zhao Huan—wearing his trademark underwear-over-tights superhero garb—was gleefully inspecting his heavenly estate.
As the ancients once said: In the skies stands the White Jade Capital, with twelve towers and five great cities. Now, a strange cloud, tethered by a long rope, floated directly above the palace. From the ground, one could just make out hazy silhouettes of pavilions and towers within the mist.
Standing atop the cloud, one saw a vast sea of white, winds sweeping through boundless skies. The noise and splendor of the mortal world faded into oblivion, replaced by an ethereal stillness. Here, the rhythm of drifting clouds became the measure of time—serene, pure, and profoundly tranquil.
No matter how loud the cities below, none could disturb the sanctity of this aerial sanctuary—a realm untouched by the grime of the human world.
"Indeed, this is no mere immortal's abode, but an entire celestial metropolis!" declared Zhao Huan, marveling at the scene. Beneath his feet, the solidified clouds—thanks to Doraemon's spray—had been shaped into fields, streets, rivers, bridges, and towering white cloud walls, all interspersed with verdant forests. Overhead, the endless sky stretched pure and clear, lifting the soul.
With Doraemon's cloud-specific grass seeds, lightweight water, and saplings, the once barren cloud had become lush and full of life. Meanwhile, several All-Purpose Automatic Construction Machines rumbled away, guided by an army of tiny robots, erecting Song-style walls and structures—residences, shops, and more.
Yet for some reason, Zhao Huan couldn't shake the feeling that these cloud-streets looked oddly familiar...
As it turned out, Doraemon and Nobita had originally intended to build a dazzling Disneyland on the cloud—after all, what else could elementary school imaginations come up with? But Wang Qiu and Guo Jing fiercely objected. The spired Western castles bore no resemblance to Chinese immortal dwellings, and a rollercoaster beside celestial pagodas? Outrageous!
Thus, under their adamant protest, Doraemon reluctantly fed a replica of Along the River During the Qingming Festival into the machine as a design template. The result was a vivid recreation of Bianliang's glory—transplanted into the skies.
For now, Zhao Huan was thoroughly pleased and paid handsomely. However, upon seeing the price list, Wang Qiu couldn't help but gasp and pull Doraemon aside.
"Hey—Doraemon! As far as I know, the total cost of this cloud city was only about 30,000 yen. But you charged him three billion? That's a markup of ten thousand times! When did you become such a profiteer?"
"Well... it's not like I wanted to fleece him," Doraemon blushed. "But I need the money to pay off debts! And besides, if the buyer doesn't mind, why are you worried?"
That hit the nail on the head, and Wang Qiu fell silent.
Yet while Zhao Huan adored the city's architecture and landscaping, he had one minor complaint.
"Immortal sir, this heavenly palace is magnificent indeed. But it is too quiet, too lifeless. Might I bring some courtiers and servants up here to keep the place lively?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Guo Jing replied. "This cloud realm is vast enough to house thousands."
"Excellent! Only... there's one small problem. I alone have achieved the Dao and can fly freely. I cannot possibly carry all the palace maids and eunuchs up one by one!"
"Ah, transportation! Worry not, Your Majesty—I've prepared for this."
Guo Jing produced a bundle of bird-shaped hats. "These are fifty Avian Caps (see Nobita and the Winged Braves). Once worn, wings will sprout from the back, allowing the wearer to fly. Please select your most trusted attendants, equip them with these, and train them in flight. Just take care they don't fall into the wrong hands."
"Thank you, Immortal. I understand the gravity of this."
But then came a new debate: what to name the cloud city?
"Cloud Garden?" Guo Jing suggested.
"Too small-sounding," Wang Qiu objected. "This is no mere garden."
"Sky City?" Doraemon offered.
"Too blunt, too common. Lacks poetic grace," Zhao Huan frowned. "We must consult the scholars and comb the classics before deciding. For now... let's just call it New Tokyo."
...
Meanwhile, Emperor Emeritus Zhao Ji (Huizong) stood dumbfounded in a starkly different "immortal dwelling."
A massive, windowless underground chamber—airtight save for a single reinforced steel door. Yet thanks to the luminous moss overhead, it was well-lit. By Song architectural standards, it was a miracle of size and engineering.
But there were no carved beams or painted rafters, no calligraphy or art. Just some carpets, a few rough furnishings, a stove and water jars—a bare setup for a hermit, not an emperor.
"This... this is the immortal grotto my son built for me? Such squalor!" Zhao Ji exclaimed in disbelief.
"Indeed, Your Majesty," replied the eunuch with a stiff smile. "A secluded haven for Your Eminence to cultivate the Dao in peace—free from worldly distraction."
"Outrageous! This is a dungeon, not a sanctuary! Fetch that unfilial son of mine at once!"
"Alas, the Emperor is currently hosting a grand banquet in his cloud-top palace. He is quite occupied. Please, Your Majesty, do focus on your path to immortality."
And with that, the steel door creaked shut, sealing Zhao Ji in darkness.
On the inside of the doorway, a small stone plaque bore golden characters:
New Tokyo II
Moments later, Wang Qiu's Chronicles of Crossing displayed a gleaming line of golden text:
"Constructed two landmark structures (Celestial Palace and Immortal Grotto) for the Song Dynasty's capital Bianliang. Reward: +1000 points."