Longevity begins with alchemy master

Chapter 1142 The Worry-Free Envoy
The spring chill lingered, and the cold still seeped into the air.

But inside the city, the snow has gradually melted, and birds occasionally fly in, their chirping bringing a touch of spring.

The long-silent city of Yixian is gradually beginning to come back to life.

A convoy arrived in Yixian City during this season of renewal.

The convoy was enormous, consisting of over a hundred people, all of whom were martial arts experts, and their strength was remarkable.

Upon entering the city, the procession was grand, with all the important figures of the entire Immortal City present to greet them. Naturally, this included the two strongest contenders for the position of city lord, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yun.

Such a grand display is known to all; it must be the arrival of the special envoy from Worry-Free City.

On that day, at the Yuhua Tower, the largest restaurant in Yixian City, the people of the city held a grand banquet to entertain the special envoy Wuyou.

The guests included representatives from the major powers of Yixian City, as well as all the top martial arts masters who had been invited.

Such specifications are astonishing.

……

"It was just like a superior inspecting a subordinate unit."

Late at night, Luo Chen said this as he emerged from his meditation room after finishing his cultivation.

“Indeed! Brother Luo, you didn’t see it. Everyone lined up to greet that Worry-Free Envoy. It was just like when our village goes to town to pay our taxes after the autumn harvest.”

Jing Lan looked tired, but her eyes were quite intense. Today, she was representing Luo Chen at the banquet.

Jing Lan had only been in Yixian City with Luo Chen for about three months, but the changes in her were earth-shattering.

Dressed in gorgeous clothes and adorned with jewelry, she still felt a little awkward, but the petty, rustic air of a country girl gradually faded away.

This is probably what they mean by "the environment changes the body, and the body is nourished by the environment."

Luo Chen usually doesn't concern himself with anything, leaving all the affairs of the manor to Jing Lan and the steward, Uncle Zhong. As for matters outside the manor, apart from those concerning the young city lord, Xiao Feng, Jing Lan is basically the one who handles them.

Some might think that Luo Chen is new to the city and has little influence, so no one is looking for him. But that would be a big mistake.

Not only do they exist, they have a lot!
The family that visited most frequently was that of Steward Yan Song. Luo Chen was introduced by Steward Yan, so the two families were naturally the closest.

Secondly, there are the numerous smaller factions within the city. These include shop owners, those in charge of brothels, and even leaders of small gangs.

Finally, there are some martial arts masters who have achieved a certain level of skill but have not yet made a name for themselves.

These people take the initiative to seek an audience, and their purpose is simple: fame or fortune!
Luo Chen, having reached the second level of Body Refinement, became a guest elder under Xiao Feng. This matter seemed ordinary, but in fact, the news had already spread throughout Yixian City.

Especially during the cold winter months, when many city dwellers are idle at home, they love to discuss these gossips.

Knowing that Luo Chen had become Xiao Feng's guest elder, those small forces that were not up to the level of the young city lord but had some resources took the initiative to curry favor with him, seeking protection or reliance.

Furthermore, because his cultivation level appeared relatively low, far inferior to those at the Furnace Realm, several other Body Refinement Level 2 experts frequently visited him, hoping to increase their own reputation by sparring with Luo Chen. If they were lucky, they might even catch Xiao Feng's eye. If Xiao Feng officially became the City Lord of Yixian City this year, they would become guest elders of the City Lord's Mansion. This was far more advantageous than challenging those Furnace Realm experts.

Unfortunately, to everyone's disappointment, Luo Chen, the new guest elder, ignored all the challengers who came to his door.

As for those who offered benefits to him, Luo Chen basically left them to Jing Lan to deal with.

Luo Chen would only occasionally convey his meaning when he encountered situations that Jing Lan couldn't handle.

In the end, most people were rejected, and only a small number accepted.

Therefore, in just three months, Luo Chen became a retainer of two pharmacies and a restaurant. He did nothing but enjoy generous tributes, and all he had to give up was the title of Luo Chen, a guest minister of the city lord's mansion.

During this process, Jinglan's interpersonal skills gradually improved, which led to her developing a completely different demeanor and charm from the country girl she had been a few months earlier.

Today, Luo Chen is at a crucial moment in condensing the first seed of the third stage of the Heavenly Cycle, so he naturally cannot attend the banquet at the Feathered Ascension Pavilion. Therefore, he asked Jing Lan to represent him and then come back to tell him the general situation.

Upon hearing Jing Lan's account, Luo Chen couldn't help but chuckle.

“That’s the Worry-Free Envoy, someone that the mayor of Qingshan Town can’t compare to.”

Jing Lan couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, even Chairman Wan, who usually treats Boss Zhou with utmost respect, was incredibly humble in front of Envoy Wuyou, constantly bowing and scraping. And those guest elders of the same rank as Brother Luo all abandoned their arrogance, obediently allowing Envoy Wuyou to inspect them. I imagine even if Xiao Feng truly becomes the Lord of Yixian City in the future, he'll still have to treat Envoy Wuyou with the utmost courtesy!"

The Boss Zhou that Jing Lan mentioned is the owner of a pharmacy that is now being taken care of by Luo Chen. And Chairman Wan is the chairman of the Wanji Pharmacy Association, who controls the pricing and distribution of medicinal materials in Yixian City and several other large cities in the vicinity.

Such a top figure is no less than the lord of a city, yet he still has to fawn over the Envoy of Worry-Free, which shows how high his status is!
"City of No Worries..."

Luo Chen murmured the name, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Throughout the Great Destruction Realm, there are countless martial artists and numerous experts, but most of them rely on large cities for their livelihood.

The entire seventy-two cities are primarily for the city of Wuyou.

The Lord of Worry-Free City is actually the Lord of all seventy-two cities. The entire Great Destruction Realm reveres him, hence he is also known as the Lord of Worry-Free Realm!

Every year, a massive amount of resources are transported to Worry-Free City, and countless experts flock there. In fact, every hundred years, the Lord of Worry-Free City will specially invite those city lord-level experts who have reached the fourth-order flawless realm to come to Worry-Free City to discuss martial arts together.

Ten years ago, Xiao Feng's father, the Lord of Yixian City, was also invited in the same way, and he has not returned to this day.

In retrospect, this invitation was practically mandatory; there was no way to simply refuse it.

Today, the special envoy Wuyou specifically requested that all the experts in the Furnace Realm within the city participate in the banquet, which seemed more like a "test to assess their abilities".

Is this a preliminary observation of which powerful individuals have the potential to break through to the fourth stage of Body Refinement, in preparation for the next century-long invitation?
What kind of opportunity does Wuyou City hold that makes so many martial arts experts flock there?
What circumstances led the Lord of Worry-Free Realm to invite top experts every hundred years?
Based solely on a banquet he had never attended, combined with the knowledge he had gained from reading ancient texts, Luo Chen was able to analyze many things and generate numerous speculations.

Jing Lan looked at Luo Chen, who was deep in thought. The enthusiasm she had shown for the grand feast gradually faded in her eyes, replaced by unease. "Brother Luo, are you going to Worry-Free City?"

Luo Chen was taken aback, and instead of answering, he asked, "Why do you ask that?"

Jing Lan said softly, "I heard them say that other martial arts experts who came to Yixian City and became guest elders were all thinking about how to gain the young city lord's attention and how to seize benefits. But you never seem to have made any such moves. Even the three shops you agreed to serve as guests seem to be just to give me something to do. I feel... you won't stay in Yixian City forever."

Is it because I have no desires that I will not stay long?
Luo Chen smiled slightly and did not deny it.

"I'll probably go!"

A clear look of dejection appeared on Jing Lan's face.

"But it's still early."

Luo Chen's next words made the woman feel slightly better, but only slightly, because Luo Chen was ultimately going to leave.

According to Luo Chen's current plans, he might not take her with him on his next departure.

"Go and rest, you must be tired," Luo Chen said.

Jing Lan nodded and reminded Luo Chen to attend Xiao Feng's private banquet the next day before leaving.

After she left, Luo Chen shook his head and sighed softly.

He could understand a woman's thoughts, but ultimately, there was a difference between immortals and mortals, and he was never moved. All he was doing now was repaying her with a lifetime of wealth and honor, and repaying her for saving his life.

As for going to Worry-Free City?

That's definitely a long way off; at least from a mortal's perspective, it could be a lifetime.

"Xiao Feng is hosting a banquet?"

Luo Chen remembered what Jing Lan had just mentioned, and a smirk appeared on his lips.

Although it would be a bit of a hassle, he still planned to go.

The first seed of the third level of the Heavenly Cycle has been condensed. The subsequent cultivation will be a natural process and there is no need to rush.

Xiao Feng treated him with considerable respect and usually gave him face in their interactions.

at the same time.

Inside Room No. 1, Heavenly Class, Yuhualou, the largest restaurant in Yixian City.

A young man in a white robe, exuding a noble air, stood by the railing, gazing at the moon with his hands behind his back.

Footsteps sounded behind me, followed by a respectful voice.

"Your Excellency, the list you requested has arrived."

With a casual wave of his hand, the list landed in his hands. As he turned the pages, one name after another came into view, and the martial arts masters present today gradually matched these names with his own.

This list not only records the cultivation level of those individuals, but also their backgrounds, their main cultivation techniques, and a large number of past achievements.

People like Granny Yu and Old Monster Chi Huo, who were under Xiao Feng's command, were all above him.

However, after flipping through the book, Envoy Wuyou closed it rather boredly.

"They're all mediocre!"

If these words were to get out, they would surely shock countless people, since those who could be included on this list were all powerful beings at the Furnace Realm!

However, in the mouth of the Worry-Free Envoy, he only received the evaluation of "mediocre".

Only the man in black behind the special envoy nodded.

"What you say is true, sir. There are few outstanding ones among them. Even if the two brothers of the Xiao family are holding back, they are only at the initial stage of the Furnace Realm. It will be difficult for them to achieve the Golden Body after a hundred years."

But then, the man in black changed his tone.

"However, this trip was not without its gains. At least that old fellow named Tie Xiong has a cultivation level that seems to be at the Unfailing Realm, and he may be able to enter the eyes of the Lord."

The Worry-Free Envoy frowned slightly, "Tie Xiong...?"

He muttered something, but quickly shook his head firmly.

"This person is probably no good. There is still some leakage of energy from his body. It is clear that even if he has managed to break through to the Flawless Realm, his golden body is still not perfect. It is estimated that he broke through by force using a secret technique. The Realm Lord will not look down on such a person who takes shortcuts. I am afraid that if Tie Xiong gets close to that door, he will be torn to shreds by the leakage of energy interacting with the universe."

The man in black behind him was taken aback. He was not as strong as the special envoy and could not see clearly.

Hearing this analysis from the other party, one can only feel helpless.

"Then this trip will probably be fruitless."

Envoy Wuyou patted the railing. "Forget it, good talents aren't so easy to find. Perhaps in a hundred or two hundred years, this Immortal Remnant City will produce another strongman like Xiao Feng's father! Let's go and inventory the goods. After the martial arts competition ends, we'll return to Wuyou City!"

"Yes, my lord!"

After the man in black left, Envoy Wuyou closed the window, looking bored.

This trip to the immortal realm seems to be just a routine procedure, with nothing surprising about it.

(End of this chapter)