Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 539 The City Lord Invites You!

Chen Fan paused in his steps.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators from various sects who had not yet dispersed all turned their incredulous gazes toward them.

City Lord Han Yueshan actually hosted a private banquet for Chen Mu?

Chen Fan's expression remained unchanged; he simply nodded and said, "Please lead the way."

The steward quickly stepped aside to lead the way, his attitude even more respectful than before.

……

The City Lord's Mansion is located in the very center of the Desolate Continent City, covering a vast area.

The pavilions and towers in the mansion are arranged in a well-organized manner, and the artificial mountains and flowing water complement each other. The concentration of spiritual energy is more than twice that of the outside world.

The steward led Chen Fan through three courtyards to an elegant tea room.

"The city lord is already waiting inside, please."

Chen Fan pushed open the door and entered.

The tea room was small, but its furnishings were extremely exquisite. Several antiques exuding spiritual energy were displayed on a rosewood shelf, and a landscape painting hung on the wall, in which the flowing water actually appeared to be flowing slowly.

Han Yueshan had changed out of his official robes and was now wearing a moon-white long gown and an iron crown. He was sitting at the tea table, personally brewing tea.

"Sit down." Han Yueshan gestured to the futon opposite him, his tone casual, as if he were greeting an old friend.

Chen Fan bowed respectfully and sat down opposite him.

Han Yueshan picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of spiritual tea.

The tea soup is emerald green and clear, with a delicate and lingering aroma. With one sip, one feels a gentle spiritual energy flowing down the throat and into the lower abdomen, making one feel more comfortable throughout the body.

"Fourth-grade Biluochun tea, something only available in the Imperial City of Dayu." Han Yueshan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "I only have a two-ounce quota each year, and I usually can't bear to drink it. Today is a good day, though."

Chen Fan put down his teacup and looked at Han Yueshan: "Lord City Lord, you invited me here not just for tea, right?"

Han Yueshan smiled and didn't beat around the bush: "Fellow Daoist Chen is straightforward, so I'll be frank. I can tell you're a Nascent Soul cultivator."

Chen Fan paused slightly as he picked up the teacup, but remained silent.

Han Yueshan continued, "I don't know why you would disguise yourself as a Core Formation cultivator to participate in the competition, nor do I intend to investigate further. There are countless extraordinary individuals in the cultivation world. You have your reasons, and I have my needs. I have summoned you here to invite you to accompany me to the Great Yu Imperial City to participate in the national competition, as a guest elder of the Desolate State City Lord's Mansion."

Chen Fan put down his teacup, his expression calm: "Guest Elder?"

"That's right." Han Yueshan nodded, his tone sincere. "As I just mentioned in the martial arts arena, the Desolate State ranks last among the thirty-six prefectures of Dayu, and it has always been at the bottom in the national competitions. The imperial court's rewards are distributed according to ranking; the lower the ranking, the fewer resources are received, and the fewer resources are received, the weaker the Desolate State becomes. This cycle continues, and the Desolate State will never have a chance to rise again."

He paused, then held up one finger: "If Fellow Daoist Chen is willing to fight as a guest elder of my City Lord's Mansion and help Huangzhou enter the top ten in this national competition, I will promise you the position of Deputy City Lord of Huangzhou City. This Deputy City Lord is not an empty title; it comes with real power, a salary, and resources. With the foundation of Huangzhou City, helping you break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage will not be a problem."

After listening, Chen Fan remained silent for a moment.

Then he slowly shook his head.

Han Yueshan frowned slightly: "Fellow Daoist, are you not satisfied?"

"No," Chen Fan said calmly, "The city lord misunderstands. I don't need the position of deputy city lord. Even without this position, I will still make it into the top ten."

Han Yueshan was taken aback.

Looking into Chen Fan's calm, still eyes, he suddenly understood something.

It seems this person wasn't rejecting his offer of friendship, but rather telling him that his ambitions extended far beyond the top ten!

You must know that the Imperial City Grand Competition is full of strong people, and there are absolutely no weaklings among those who can participate!

There is only one reason why this person can make such a boastful claim!

That means this person is very strong!

Han Yueshan was not angry at all; instead, he laughed.

The laughter carried a hint of appreciation and a touch of emotion.

"Good, good indeed, to be in the top ten without being a deputy city lord. I admire Fellow Daoist Chen's ambition. However, I must remind you of something. The Great Yu Imperial City is not like the small, desolate wasteland. It is a gathering place for heroes from all thirty-six prefectures, and hidden talents abound below the Nascent Soul stage. Your seven consecutive battles in the Desolate Wasteland Grand Competition are nothing compared to the Imperial City Grand Competition. There are peerless geniuses in the late Nascent Soul stage, disciples of Nascent Soul stage old monsters, and even spectators sent by the second-level cultivation country, Zhao Kingdom. The waters run far deeper than you think."

Chen Fan remained expressionless upon hearing this!

This made Han Yueshan pause, his gaze fixed directly into Chen Fan's eyes:

"Going it alone is certainly carefree. But if you have a city or a prefecture as your backer, many troubles are no longer troubles. Some connections are simply inaccessible without official status. Some thresholds are simply insurmountable without a powerful backer. Fellow Daoist Chen is a smart man and should understand what I mean."

Chen Fan fell silent.

He understood what Han Yueshan meant, of course.

He traveled alone in the sealed land because he was the one who established the laws of the Great Abyss Dynasty, and he was the biggest backer.

But in Tiannanxing, in the Great Yu Cultivation Kingdom, he was just an outsider, a rogue cultivator who had just emerged.

There are countless cultivators with higher cultivation levels than him. If he were to encounter an insurmountable hurdle, it would indeed be difficult for him to cope with it alone.

Moreover, his real goal was not the Great Yu Kingdom's Grand Competition, but the selection of Zhao Kingdom's tribute, and ultimately, to reach the Cultivation Alliance and find the Reincarnation Mirror.

This road is extremely long, and having an official identity as a cover would make things much easier.

He raised his head and looked at Han Yueshan: "What are the duties of a guest advisor?"

Han Yueshan's eyes lit up, knowing there was hope, and he immediately said, "Simple. Come with me to the imperial city to represent Huangzhou in the national competition. Outside of the competition, you can do whatever you want, and I will not interfere. If you encounter any trouble, Huangzhou City will be your support."

"That's all?"

"That's all," Han Yueshan said solemnly. "What I seek is to pull the desolate state out of the mire, not to find a meddling ancestor. I trust Fellow Daoist Chen's abilities, so I am willing to show my sincerity first, rather than setting conditions first."

Chen Fan picked up his teacup, drank the slightly cool tea in one gulp, then stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I am deeply grateful for the City Lord's kindness. I, Chen Mu, will accept this task."

Han Yueshan smiled sincerely, stood up, and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Good! With Fellow Daoist Chen's words, I am relieved. From this day forward, Fellow Daoist Chen will be a first-class guest elder of the City Lord's Mansion of Desolate Continent, with the same rank as the Chief Secretary of my Mansion, and all his treatment will be provided according to the highest standards."

He took out a jade pendant from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands:

"This is my City Lord's Decree. With this decree, you can withdraw spirit stones and pills from any shop in the Desolate Continent City. All expenses will be borne by the City Lord's Mansion. In addition, the guest minister will receive a monthly salary of three thousand mid-grade spirit stones. If you have any other needs, please let me know at any time."