The chill of early spring was still biting, its coldness seeping into the bones.
However, within the city, the accumulated snow had gradually melted, and occasionally, birds would fly by, bringing with their chirping a hint of spring.
The long-dormant Yixian City began to gradually e to life.
A caravan arrived in Yixian City during this season of revival.
The caravan was quite large, consisting of over a hundred people, all of whom were strong martial artists, attracting attention with their formidable strength.
As they entered the city, their grandeur was overwhelming, drawing out all the city’s important figures to wele them. Among them, naturally, were the two main petitors for the current City Lord position, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yun.
Such grandiosity was well-known to all, undoubtedly indicating the arrival of the Wuyou Envoy.
On this day, in the largest restaurant in Yixian City, Yuhua Building, a grand banquet was laid out for the Wuyou Envoy.
Attending the banquet were not just representatives of various major forces in Yixian City, but also all the top martial artists who had been invited.
The scale of the event was astonishing.
...
"It was just like a superior inspecting a subordinate unit," said Luo Chen as he emerged from the Quiet Room late at night after finishing his cultivation.
"Indeed! Brother Luo, you should’ve seen it. Everyone queued up to greet that Wuyou Envoy. The parade was just like when we went into town after every autumn harvest to pay grain," said Jing Lan, though exhausted, her eyes were bright with excitement, as she had represented Luo Chen at the banquet today.
Jing Lan had been with Luo Chen in Yixian City for only about three months, yet her transformation was dramatic.
Dressed in luxurious clothes and adorned with jewelry, although still somewhat uneasy, she had gradually shed the pettiness of a village girl.
Indeed, the environment makes the man.
Luo Chen usually did not manage affairs, leaving all matters large and small to Jing Lan and Uncle Zhong, the steward. As for external affairs, except for the Young City Lord Xiao Feng’s side, Jing Lan mostly handled them.
Some might think that Luo Chen, being new to Yixian City, had little foundation and thus few visitors. But those people would be gravely mistaken.
Not only were there visitors, but there were many!
The most frequent visitors were the family of Master Yan Yan Song. Luo Chen had been introduced by Master Yan, so naturally, the two families were close.
Next were many small forces within the city, such as shop owners, power-holders of gambling dens, and leaders of small gangs.
Lastly, there were martial artists with achievements in cultivation but not yet famous.
These people visited with simple purposes, for fame or profit!
Luo Chen, with his Second Realm of Body Refinement status, became a Guest Elder under Xiao Feng, an event that seemed ordinary but had already spread throughout Yixian City.
Especially during this cold winter month, many city folks, being idle at home, loved discussing these gossips.
Upon hearing that Luo Chen had bee a Guest Elder under Xiao Feng, those small forces unable to reach the Young City Lord but with some wealth sought to ally for protection or reliance.
Moreover, because his cultivation level appeared lower, far less than those in the Furnace Realm, many Second Realm Body Refinement experts frequently challenged him, hoping to increase their reputation through battles with Luo Chen. With luck, they might even catch Xiao Feng’s Dharma Eye. Should Xiao Feng officially bee the City Lord of Yixian City this year, they would bee Guest Elders of the City Lord Mansion. This was much cheaper than challenging those in the Furnace Realm.
Unfortunately, to their disappointment, Luo Chen, the new Guest Elder, ignored all challengers.
As for those who brought benefits voluntarily, Luo Chen generally left them for Jing Lan to manage.
Only when Jing Lan couldn’t handle some matters did Luo Chen occasionally send instructions.
Ultimately, most people were turned away, with only a few accepted.
Within just three months, Luo Chen became a Sacrificial Official of two pharmacies and one restaurant. Doing nothing, he enjoyed abundant tributes, offering only his name as a Guest Elder in the City Lord Mansion.
Through this process, Jing Lan’s skills in dealing with people gradually improved, resulting in a demeanor vastly different from that of the village girl she was months ago.
Today, Luo Chen was at a critical moment of condensing the first Elixir Seed in the Third Circulation, so naturally, he could not attend the banquet at Yuhua Building, appointing Jing Lan to go in his place and report back to him.
Upon hearing Jing Lan’s account, Luo Chen couldn’t help but chuckle.
"That is the Wuyou Envoy, inparable to a town mayor of Qingshan Town."
Jing Lan also exclaimed, "Indeed, even Chairman Wan, whom Boss Zhou respects, was humble to the extreme in front of that Wuyou Envoy, nodding and bowing constantly. And those Guest Elders of the same status as Brother Luo all restrained their arrogant aura, still allowing the Wuyou Envoy’s inspection. Even if Xiao Feng truly bees the City Lord of Yixian City in the future, he will have to treat the Wuyou Envoy respectfully, I suppose!"
The Boss Zhou mentioned by Jing Lan was the owner of a pharmacy now under Luo Chen’s protection. Chairman Wan was the chairman of the Wanjie Medicine Association, holding great powers over the pricing and distribution of medicinal materials in Yixian City and several nearby large cities.
Such top figures were already on par with a city lord, yet had to curry favor with the Wuyou Envoy, which showed the exalted status of this person!
"Wuyou City..."
Luo Chen murmured this name, squinting slightly.
In the Great Destruction Realm, there were countless martial artists, with experts emerging in droves, but most depended on big cities for survival.
And the entire Seventy-two Cities served Wuyou City as the primary.
The Lord of Wuyou City was, in fact, the leader of the Seventy-two Cities and revered throughout the Great Destruction Realm, hence also called the Master of Wuyou Realm!
Every year, vast amounts of resources were sent to Wuyou City, and countless experts went there for its fame. It was even said that every hundred years, the Master of Wuyou Realm would specially invite those City Lord level experts who had reached the Fourth-Tier Impermeable Realm to Wuyou City to collectively explore the Path of Martial Arts.
Ten years ago, Xiao Feng’s father, the Master of Yixian City, was also invited, and he has not returned to this day.
It now seems that this invitation can be considered mandatory, not something one could refuse if they wished not to go.
And today, the Wuyou Envoy expressly named all Furnace Realm experts in the city to attend the banquet, resembling more of an "assessment test."
Could it be early observations to see which experts have a chance to break through to the Fourth Realm of Body Refinement, in preparation for the next centennial invitation?
What exactly is it about Wuyou City that attracts so many martial arts powerhouses?
And what’s the situation that makes the Master of Wuyou Realm invite top experts every hundred years?
Just from an unparticipated banquet and the knowledge he gained from reading ancient books, Luo Chen analyzed many things and derived numerous speculations.
Jing Lan looked at the pondering Luo Chen, her enthusiasm for attending the grand banquet gradually faded, replaced by anxiety.
"Brother Luo, are you going to Wuyou City?"
Luo Chen was taken aback, responding with a question: "Why do you ask?"
Jing Lan whispered, "I heard them say that other martial arts powerhouses came to Yixian City, became guest elders, all trying to gain the Young City Lord’s favor and seize benefits. But you seem to have never made similar moves, even the positions of the sacrificial official at the three shops you agreed to seem just to give me something to do. I feel...you won’t stay in Yixian City forever."
Because if there’s nothing sought, one wouldn’t stay for long?
Luo Chen smiled faintly, not denying.
"Maybe I’ll go!"
Jing Lan’s face showed a clear look of desolation.
"But it’s still early."
Luo Chen’s next words made the woman feel a little better, but only a little; after all, Luo Chen was going to leave.
And according to Luo Chen’s current plans for himself, maybe the next time he leaves, he won’t take her along.
"Go and rest, you’re tired too," Luo Chen said.
Jing Lan nodded, and before she left, reminded Luo Chen to attend Xiao Feng’s private banquet tomorrow.
After she left, Luo Chen shook his head and sighed lightly.
How could he not understand a woman’s mind, but after all, there is a difference between immortals and mortals, and he never had feelings; now he’s just repaying her with a life of wealth and glory, repaying a lifesaving grace.
As for going to Wuyou City?
It’s indeed still early, at least from a mortal’s perspective, that might mean a lifetime.
"Xiao Feng’s banquet?"
Luo Chen recalled what Jing Lan had just mentioned, smiling wryly.
Although somewhat troublesome, he still planned to make a trip.
The third rotation has already condensed the first Circulation Pill Seed, and the next cultivation will e naturally, no need to rush.
Xiao Feng treats him quite respectfully, and usually they can give him some face.
Meanwhile.
In the largest restaurant of Yixian City, Yuhua Building’s sky character room number one.
A young man in a white robe, with a noble temperament, stood by the railing, hands behind his back, gazing at the moon.
Footsteps sounded from behind, followed by a respectful voice.
"Lord Envoy, the list you requested has arrived."
With a casual gesture, the Wuyou Envoy received the list, and as he turned the pages, names appeared one after another, gradually matching those martial artists attending today’s meeting.
This list not only records those people’s realm cultivation but also their backgrounds and origins, their master cultivation techniques, as well as a large amount of past battle records.
People like Granny Yu under Xiao Feng, the Red Fire Old Monster, and others were all on it.
However, after flipping through it, the Wuyou Envoy closed the booklet with little interest.
"A bunch of mediocre individuals!"
If these words were spread, they would surely shock countless people, since the ones on this list are all strong beings in the Furnace Realm!
Yet in the mouth of the Wuyou Envoy, they’re merely labeled as "mediocre."
Only the black-clothed man behind the envoy nodded his head.
"My Lord is right; among them, few are outstanding, even though the two brothers from the Xiao Family are hiding some of their abilities, they’re just newly entered into the Furnace Realm and unlikely to achieve a golden body in a hundred years."
But then, the black-clothed man changed his tone.
"However, this trip isn’t entirely fruitless. At least that old guy named Tie Xiong seems to have a cultivation level resembling the Leakless Realm, and might catch the Realm Master’s Dharma Eye."
The Wuyou Envoy frowned slightly, "Tie Xiong..."
He murmured a word, but quickly shook his head firmly.
"This person may not make it; there’s still qi mechanism leakage. It’s obvious that even if he has fortunately broken through to the Leakless Realm, his golden body is still imperfect, probably achieved by force through a secret technique. The Realm Master won’t value such opportunists; Tie Xiong might be torn apart by the universe’s resonating qi mechanism as soon as he approaches that door."
The black-clothed man was taken aback; his strength wasn’t as strong as the Lord Envoy, and he couldn’t see as clearly.
Upon hearing such an analysis, he could only feel helpless.
"Then this trip might end fruitlessly."
The Wuyou Envoy patted the railing, "Forget it, a good seedling isn’t that easy to find. Maybe another hundred or two hundred years later, another strong existences like Xiao Feng’s father might emerge in Yixian City! Let’s go inventory the goods, and after the martial arts fight concludes, we’ll return to Wuyou City!"
"Yes, Sir!"
After the black-clothed man left, the Wuyou Envoy closed the window, looking disinterested.
This trip to Yixian seemed like a mere routine task, with nothing surprising to speak of.
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