966: The world has changed dramatically in half a year

Jiangshan City, City Lord's Mansion.

"Hahaha, Lord Jiangshan, it's been many years since we last met. I didn't expect that upon meeting again, you would have already become a Supreme Expert, leaving this old man far behind, not even seeing my shadow!"

Amidst the hearty laughter, inside the City Lord's Mansion, four people sat opposite each other, and the atmosphere seemed relaxed and pleasant.

The one who spoke was a White-Haired Old Man with kind eyebrows and benevolent eyes, wearing a dark yellow robe.

Beside the White-Haired Old Man were Miao Gouer and a Middle-aged Man with a calm expression, wearing a mask.

These three were all people from the Linshan Country Royal Family.

Listening to the words of the White-Haired Old Man opposite him, Jiangshan's gaze lingered for a moment on the Middle-aged masked Man who had a similar aura to him, then he smiled at the Old Man in Yellow Robe and said, "Brother Yu Yang, you flatter me. This old man's Breakthrough was completely by chance, it was all luck."

"Ah, you're being too modest, too modest!" The White-Haired Old Man, called Yu Yang, smiled and picked up his teacup, taking a sip as a gesture. "Lord Jiangshan, now that you have also broken through to the Supreme Realm, you are one of the few Supreme Experts in our Linshan Country. What are your plans for the future?"

Seemingly casual, Yu Yang had actually already entered the main topic with his question.

"Plans for the future?" Jiangshan looked at the people in front of him.

He naturally knew the intentions of these few people.

Before, in the eyes of these people, he was completely an expendable pawn.

Now that he had broken through to Supreme, the situation was vastly different. These few people didn't mention the matter of the God's inheritance at all, precisely to win him over without causing him to feel repulsed.

"I want to continue being the City Lord of this Jiangshan City, I wonder if the Royal Family is willing?"

"This is a good thing! With Lord Jiangshan, a Supreme, overseeing Jiangshan City, which petty villain would dare to trespass? The entire border region will surely be unprecedentedly stable!"

"Brother Jiangshan wants to continue being the City Lord of Jiangshan City, the Royal Family is certainly willing!" Yu Yang nodded, chuckling.

As his words fell, the nearby Miao Gouer slightly clenched her fist in suppressed anger. Her position as City Lord, which originally belonged to her, was taken back by the other party, yet she didn't dare to show any dissatisfied emotions.

This was the change in treatment caused by the difference in strength.

"Brother Yu Yang agreed quite readily, but shouldn't there be some difficulty? After all, the imperial decree came down before, ordering me to leave Jiangshan City immediately and be promoted to the Imperial City." Jiangshan slowly blew on the hot tea in his hand.

"No, how could there be any difficulty? It's just a matter of a single sentence." Yu Yang quickly waved his hand, appearing very eager.

"Then please ask Brother Yu Yang to thank Your Majesty on my behalf." Jiangshan knew that the other party couldn't refuse this matter and said without surprise.

"Naturally, naturally!" Yu Yang nodded, and after a brief silence, continued to ask, "I just don't know, is Lord Jiangshan willing to become a Royal Family Elder within the country?"

Royal Family Elder.

This was a circle where Supreme Experts from various countries gathered.

Supreme was the threshold, and the only condition.

As long as one joined the Royal Family Elder faction of any country, that Supreme would have an entire country as their backing!

Furthermore, the various benefits, welfare, and power were countless!

"Inviting me to become a Royal Family Elder? Aren't you worried about the enemies I've recently made?" Jiangshan was slightly surprised.

"Hahaha, if our Linshan Country were to be timid just because of the forces behind guys like Beast Supreme and Great Saint Bai Chou, then in the future, if another Supreme Expert appears in the country, who would still be willing to join us?"

"The weight of a Supreme Expert is far heavier than those threats. Lord Jiangshan, you are worrying too much, worrying too much!"

This reply made Jiangshan feel slightly better, and his view of the Linshan Country Royal Family also changed somewhat.

The position of Royal Family Elder indeed had many benefits. Normally speaking, there was no reason to refuse.

"Then..."

"I have received Senior's kind intentions on behalf of Grandpa Jiangshan. As for the identity of Royal Family Elder, in my Junior's opinion, let's just forget about it."

Suddenly, a voice came from outside the door.

The four people who were chatting couldn't help but look over.

This was a Junior whose face still carried a hint of youthfulness. When facing the four of them, he could still maintain a composed demeanor, which made people look at him with respect.

"Little Child, don't interrupt. The matters here are not for you to interject." Miao Gouer frowned and reprimanded after seeing Du Xingchen.

"Why can't he interject?" Jiangshan's deep voice made the atmosphere at the table a little tense. "This Child's decision is this old man's decision. If he says I shouldn't be a Royal Family Elder, then this old man won't be one!"

"Jiangshan, you can't mess around with this matter. You're already this old and have this level of strength, how can you listen to a Child's words?"

"Moreover, if you don't become our Royal Family Elder, how can you resist the forces behind the people you've offended if they come looking for trouble?!" Seeing that Jiangshan had really refused, Yu Yang's tone couldn't help but become a little hurried.

However, Jiangshan still had no intention of changing his mind at all.

Looking at his posture, it seemed that all his decisions truly originated from the Child behind him!

This strange situation made the people from the Linshan Country Royal Family couldn't help but cast their gazes on Du Xingchen again.

"Little Child, you might not know the weight of the Royal Family Elder identity. You must understand that once Jiangshan becomes a Royal Family Elder, he will have the Linshan Country Royal Family as his backing, and you will also be able to have abundant Cultivation resources. In the future, you can at least grow into a Grand Sage Master. This is a completely good thing! How could you help Jiangshan refuse?!"

Yu Yang tried his best to restrain his tone towards the Junior, and his face still carried a hint of kindness when speaking.

"After Grandpa Jiangshan becomes a Royal Family Elder, can you guarantee that he will not be summoned for any reason within half a year?" Du Xingchen did not directly answer the reason for the refusal but instead asked a question in return.

"Because for the next half a year, I need Grandpa Jiangshan's help with Cultivation. If the Royal Family can guarantee not to summon him within half a year, I can help him agree to you."

This reason was sufficient, yet it didn't sound like a reason.

It was just not being summoned for half a year.

Among the Royal Family Elders of various countries, it was very normal for a Royal Family Elder not to be summoned for several years.

It's just that...

When facing Du Xingchen's request, Yu Yang was speechless, and even his gaze was a little evasive.

"Since you can't do it, then please go back, everyone. Come back after half a year, when I can Cultivate on my own without Grandpa Jiangshan's help. At that time, Grandpa Jiangshan will definitely be very happy to become a Royal Family Elder."

Du Xingchen directly made the decision for Jiangshan and saw the guests out.

Regarding this, Jiangshan himself had no objection.

His attention was more on Du Xingchen's neither humble nor overbearing attitude when facing experts, and he couldn't help but feel comforted and relieved.

Positions like Royal Family Elder, while having some appeal to him, were just that, not particularly special.

If Du Xingchen didn't want him to go, he could also refuse immediately.

"Jiangshan, is this your decision? You, a Supreme, are going to be tied to this Junior's side for a full half year?" Yu Yang asked, unable to accept it.

"This old man has said it before, this Child's opinion is my opinion." Jiangshan replied calmly.

This made the faces of Yu Yang and the Middle-aged Man wearing the mask on the other side darken slightly.

Despite this, in order not to make things awkward for both sides, they couldn't show too much emotion on their faces.

"Lord Jiangshan, the Royal Family will send someone again in a few days. Please think about this matter carefully during these days. This matter is truly not a bad thing."

"If you are not a Linshan Country Royal Family Elder, we, Linshan Country, will also be unable to help with the troubles you've provoked. You must clearly consider the advantages and disadvantages!" Yu Yang said solemnly, then stood up with some suppressed frustration.

The masked Middle-aged Man stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and Miao Gouer was one step behind.

When the three passed by Du Xingchen, they all left a lingering gaze.

"Little Child, you also promised to give half of the inheritance reward to my Students, do you still remember this matter?" Miao Gouer couldn't help but ask after seeing Du Xingchen.

If it were before, what she thought was that the Supreme Expert from the Royal Family would come, and all the inheritance would be snatched over.

But now Lord Jiangshan had already become a Supreme!

Her previous idea could only be called a luxury.

And since force wouldn't work, then it was time to talk reason.

Half of the God's inheritance, there was naturally no reason to ignore this good thing.

"In a few days, Senior, just bring the friends who helped out in Jiaolong Valley to Yunyong Academy in Shield City. At that time, we will give Senior's Students a satisfactory reward."

Du Xingchen did not directly refuse but replied according to the previous agreement.

His reply made Miao Gouer's expression look much better.

The moment she asked that question, she had already prepared for the other party to play dumb and for her side to break ties.

With that masked Middle-aged Man present, they were not afraid of Jiangshan, this newly advanced Supreme.

It was slightly unexpected, though, that Du Xingchen did not deny that matter.

...

After the few people left, Du Xingchen and Jiangshan stood on the top floor and looked out at the Desert before them.

Those few people had already gone far away, disappearing into the vast Heaven and Earth.

On the other side, even further away, the outline of Jiaolong Valley that had appeared in the Desert a few days ago could still be seen.

These past few days, the changes in Jiaolong Valley could be said to be immense.

Due to the scorching weather and the dissipation of spiritual energy, large areas of trees and spiritual plants within Jiaolong Valley met their demise.

The originally spiritual energy-rich Jiaolong Valley visibly withered and, under the sweeping wind and sand, was evolving towards loess hills.

And the strange beasts within it were also unable to survive in the suddenly harsh environment. They gathered one by one, forming beast hordes and running towards the surrounding Towns and forests.

Many strongholds were destroyed under the impact of this beast tide.

Just yesterday, Jiangshan City also welcomed a wave of powerful beast tide.

If Jiangshan hadn't taken action, the losses would have been severe.

Also because of the loss of Jiaolong Valley, this already barren border region saw the evacuation of countless merchants and the departure of many people.

Originally, for thirty to forty years before and after the opening of Jiaolong Valley, this place should have been very lively, but now it showed a tendency to become a no-man's land.

Unfortunately, Moyun, as the protagonist, selectively couldn't see all of this.

"The position of Royal Family Elder seems to be a trap. Xingchen, you knew this long ago?" Jiangshan, standing with his hands behind his back, spoke with sudden understanding, turning his head to look at Du Xingchen.

He naturally understood that Du Xingchen's reason about needing him for Cultivation for half a year was a fabricated excuse.

It was precisely after Du Xingchen made this request, and the people from the Royal Family side refused it with silence, that Jiangshan realized that the position of Royal Family Elder was not simple!

"The Linshan Country Royal Family has already begun to be turbulent. In at most half a year, the entire situation will greatly change."

"During this period, if you, Grandpa Jiangshan, become a Royal Family Elder, you will definitely be dragged into it and be unable to act on your own!"

As these words fell, Du Xingchen continued to state, "Grandpa Jiangshan, you've also been in contact with the Linshan Country Royal Family for so long. Do you think the Royal Family truly doesn't care about the forces we've provoked?"

"Haha, now that you say that, this old man understands." Jiangshan, realizing this, stroked his white beard. "Based on their cautious nature, they definitely care a lot about the forces we've provoked."

"Regardless of the trouble I've provoked, they still want to recruit us, not because they want to help this old man take sides, but because they themselves have greater pressure and need this old man to go to the Imperial City to help them!"

"It seems the Linshan Country Royal Family is truly becoming turbulent. It's a good thing Xingchen, you helped me refuse!"

System Space.

Ye Tian looked at the Host's performance and felt relieved.

Looking at the Host's performance, he could be a hands-off Shopkeeper for a while.

The subsequent plot points, under the Host's influence, would likely be about a week later.

During this time, he could fully plan for this World and also inspect Xiao Zao's startup status.