28: Immortals arrive in Pyeongtaek

Peaceful days passed quickly. Although the outside world changed day by day, for Lu Xuan in West Mountain Village, there was no difference.

"Is the Family Head in?"

Lu Dafu had already adapted to his identity, and calling out felt quite natural to him.

As the eldest son of the family, he usually handled business at the Main Family on behalf of his father, but the relationship between the two families was kept secret from the public.

"Shitou, take your brothers to Butler Ye's place."

He called his son to take the other brothers to Ye Wentao's place to practice martial arts. Usually, his wife would bring them, but today he had business, so he brought them himself.

"Uncle Lu, the Family Head is in the study."

The one who greeted him was Zhao Xiao Lei. He had been learning from Ye Wentao for over half a year and now handled things quite decently.

"Da Fu, what is it?"

Lu Xuan saw Lu Dafu coming and asked directly. After all, to reduce suspicion, Lu Dafu usually didn't come here.

"Family Head, my father received news last night that Immortals will be arriving in Pingze County in a few days to build a Immortal Fate Pavilion. I don't know exactly what it's for."

"Immortal Fate Pavilion?"

"It's likely related to those Immortals from Jade Emperor Mountain."

Currently, Jade Emperor Mountain in the imperial city of the Yue Kingdom is famous throughout the world. Countless people offer incense and pray at the foot of the mountain every day.

"In a bit, come with me to the county town to investigate."

"Yes!"

The sun was high in the sky, but the summer heat was gone. Instead, it was warm and intoxicating.

Now, Pingze County had returned to its former state, even becoming more prosperous.

Except for the County Magistrate, the other positions like Registrar, Thousand-man Commander, and Commander had all been replaced by people from powerful families in the imperial city or the commandery capital.

There were rumors that because it was near the Green Wave River, almost all the commanderies and counties of Great Yue along the Green Wave River had been carved up.

Entering the county town, Martial Artists, who were rarely seen in the past, could now be encountered almost every hundred paces. Although most were third-rate or second-rate Martial Artists, it was still quite startling.

Almost all the shops on both sides had changed, and those entering and leaving were all rich or noble.

"Da Fu, why do you think these noble families are coming to Pingze County for no reason?"

"This... Family Head, I can't figure it out either."

"We'll split up. Meet at the city gate at sunset."

"Yes!"

Lu Xuan walked alone and soon followed the crowd to the Immortal Fate Pavilion.

Although the Immortal Fate Pavilion hadn't opened yet, there were plenty of people watching the spectacle at the entrance.

"I wonder what this Immortal Fate Pavilion is?"

"Could it be related to Immortals?"

"Can commoners like us also Cultivate to become Immortals?"

"What are you thinking? It must be for the high officials and nobles."

Lu Xuan watched for a while but didn't gain any useful information, so he prepared to leave.

"Lu Xuan?"

A voice rang out.

Lu Xuan was a bit puzzled; he had no acquaintances in the county town.

He turned around to look.

"Lord Wang?"

The newcomer was indeed Wang Yuanhua.

Wang Yuanhua also thought it was a coincidence. In his view, he and Lu Xuan should have had no further contact after that incident. But seeing him again today and thinking about everything that had happened over the past year, he called out to Lu Xuan.

"How have you been lately, Lord Wang?"

Lu Xuan still had a very good impression of Wang Yuanhua.

"Sigh, don't mention it. Shall we find a place to eat and chat?"

Lu Xuan readily accepted Wang Yuanhua's invitation. After all, he didn't know anyone in the county town, and through Wang Yuanhua, he might be able to learn about the situation in advance.

Zuixian Restaurant was packed with people.

Lu Xuan treated him and requested a private room.

Before long, the food and wine were served, and Lu Xuan personally filled Wang Yuanhua's cup.

"How have you been lately, Lord Wang? I see your face is full of worry. Is something troubling you?"

Lu Xuan initiated the topic. Since Wang Yuanhua had invited him, he naturally followed the lead.

Wang Yuanhua finished his drink in one gulp.

"Sigh~"

"It's fine to tell you. Everyone knows anyway."

"Brother, you live in the countryside. Do you know about the Immortal slaying the demon?"

"This matter has spread throughout the world. Even toddlers probably know about it."

"Well, then you definitely don't know this: the heavy rain that fell all night after the demon was slain was where the Opportunity lay. Now, the commanderies and counties along the Green Wave River and its tributaries have been completely carved up by the powerful noble families."

"And our Pingze County not only sits by the Green Wave River but also has many tributaries. A few months ago, the official positions in this county town were seized by the powerful families coming down from the commandery capitals and the imperial city."

"This... Doesn't the Imperial Court care?"

Lu Xuan knew that such actions of seizing and occupying official positions were equivalent to rebellion.

"The Imperial Court is currently too busy to look after itself. The hidden Martial Saint experts throughout the world have come out one after another. Now, with the emergence of Immortals, although various places are nominally under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Court, they actually listen to orders but do not follow summons."

Speaking to this point, Wang Yuanhua paused and looked around.

Then he leaned close to Lu Xuan's ear and whispered.

"Inside info: Your Majesty reached an agreement with these people, trading these places for a large amount of resources. Only three commanderies around the Imperial Capital were kept, and the rest were all distributed."

Lu Xuan was shocked in his heart. He hadn't expected things to turn out like this, but he calmed down instantly. What did this have to do with him?

"Then what about the Immortal Fate Pavilion in the city?"

"That was naturally directed by the Immortals."

"The path of Immortal Cultivation is itself a Heaven-Defying act. I heard that you need something called a Spiritual Root to Cultivate. This Immortal Fate Pavilion is for testing Spiritual Roots."

Wang Yuanhua didn't know much either, only that it was for testing Spiritual Roots.

"It will open in a few days. At that time, Younger Brother Lu, you can go and test it. Maybe you even have a Spiritual Root."

"Becoming an Immortal ancestor and attaining longevity is truly enviable."

Wang Yuanhua's face was full of longing, but he couldn't help but feel dejected when he thought of his age.

The two chatted for a long time, drinking jar after jar of wine and adding dishes twice.

"Lord Wang, you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk. I'm happy today. If you need anything in the future, just come to me."

This time, Wang Yuanhua was sincere; he truly found Lu Xuan's company very agreeable.

After seeing off Wang Yuanhua, Lu Xuan found Lu Dafu, and the two returned home.

He had his own considerations regarding the Spiritual Root.

Until his own children became Martial Saints or reached the Innate realm to reverse-manifest a Spiritual Root, Lu Xuan did not intend to let them test their Spiritual Roots.

As for Old Lu, Ye Wentao, and the others in the courtyard, he would not stop them.

If someone had a Spiritual Root, whether they stayed or left would be entirely up to them. Currently, he couldn't keep someone with a Spiritual Root anyway.

However, from what Wang Yuanhua said, it seemed that the Imperial Capital and commandery capitals had already finished testing for Spiritual Roots, and the number of Spiritual Roots was scarce; otherwise, there would be no reason to be so envious.

"I must go and see on that day. If the number of Spiritual Roots is high, there's no need to worry too much. But if the number of those with Spiritual Roots is scarce, then the secret that all of them can Cultivate must not be exposed."

However, due to the return of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, Lu Xuan and Lu Jingan found it a bit easier to practice martial arts these past few days. Combined with the decoction of qi and blood grass, it was twenty percent faster than before, and the speed was still increasing, far from reaching its limit.

Lu Xuan estimated it was caused by the blood and qi being more likely to resonate with the body after the increase in Spiritual Qi. However, this was a good thing. A goal that would have taken ten years to achieve might now be completed in seven or eight years if luck was on their side.