A technologically powerful nation: The national treasure is actually myself.

Following Lin Yang's words.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, seeing Lin Yang suddenly appear, Zhao Xiongshan and the others were overjoyed: "Guest Elder Lin, you're back!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Lin Yang return.

As long as Lin Yang is still around, all the original problems will cease to be problems.

Lin Yang nodded and said, "I had some urgent matters to attend to earlier, so I left in a bit of a hurry."

"I see. Has the matter of Guest Elder Lin been resolved?" Zhao Xiongshan asked.

"Yes, it's temporarily taken care of."

Lin Yang looked at him and said, "When I came in just now, I heard people from the Western Border Merchant Guild invite Patriarch Zhao to a banquet. Why does Patriarch Zhao seem a little unhappy?"

“This…” Zhao Xiongshan was taken aback, then said, “No, it’s just a misunderstanding about some business matters. I’ll go over and explain it later.”

He was in a dilemma earlier because Lin Yang wasn't there; going there would be like being caught in a trap. But now that Lin Yang is back, he naturally has the confidence to go to the banquet immediately.

"Oh, I see."

Lin Yang didn't ask any further questions, but simply smiled and handed the local specialty from Wusong Prefecture to Zhao Xiongshan, saying:

"Master Zhao, there's no need to rush to the banquet. Let's try some of the specialties I brought from the inner palace first."

"This..." Zhao Xiongshan was somewhat taken aback. He subconsciously took the local specialty that Lin Yang handed him and put it in his mouth.

In truth, Zhao Xiongshan didn't really discern anything about any local specialties or anything like that, as he wasn't the type of person who enjoyed gourmet food.

However, since Lin Yang had brought it specifically for him, he didn't refuse.

The same applies to Zhao Chen and several other elders.

The local specialties didn't taste particularly special, but seeing Lin Yang back made me feel much more relaxed, so I started to savor each one carefully.

Only Zhao Yuan watched everyone with a smile, without tasting it immediately.

After a moment, Zhao Xiongshan smacked his lips and said, "This specialty of the Imperial Palace really tastes good, it's like there's a kind of..."

suddenly.

Zhao Xiongshan paused, as if remembering something, then his eyes widened suddenly as he looked at Lin Yang and exclaimed:
"Lin...Guest Minister Lin, wait...wait a minute, what did you just say? This is a specialty of the Imperial Household Department?"

“Yes, it’s a specialty of Wusong Prefecture. Wusong Prefecture is famous for a fruit called Wusong, which is delicious whether used to make wine or dried fruit and pastries, and has a very unique flavor.” Lin Yang nodded with a smile.

Zhao Xiongshan was stunned. He looked at the half-eaten fruit and pastry in his hand and was completely dumbfounded.

Then, he said, his voice trembling slightly:
"This...this was brought back from the Inner Palace's Wusong Palace? Doesn't that mean that, Guest Elder Lin...you went back to the Inner Palace when you left before?"

“That’s right.” Lin Yang nodded with a smile.

"This...this..."

Zhao Xiongshan felt his head buzz, and his eyes turned to Lin Yang with utter shock.

Lin Yang actually returned to the inner palace once in these hundreds of years, and even came back!
What this means is self-evident!
The cost of traveling from Xiwu City to the Inner Palace is astronomical, not to mention the round trip!
Even Lin Yang, who had already reached the Yuanhe Realm, would have virtually no chance of making a quick round trip between Xiwu City and the Inner Palace!
Unless, Lin Yang left behind all the resources he had taken under the pretext of seclusion and cultivation in previous years, without consuming them, and used them as a price to go to the inner palace.

Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to travel between Xiwu City and the Inner Palace using one's own cultivation level!

But that's obviously impossible!

Because Lin Yang's cultivation level has been continuously improving.

Therefore, those resources must have been consumed as well.

Even after consuming resources, they can still travel to and from the inner palace.

That leaves only one possibility.

That is……

"Lin...Guest Elder Lin...you...you have already broken through? Reached...the state of flawless Dao?"

Zhao Xiongshan's voice was trembling.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chen, Zhao Huoshan, and several other elders of the Zhao family reacted instantly, their pupils shrinking in shock.

They were so happy for Lin Yang's return that they completely overlooked the deeper meaning behind his words about the specialties he brought back from the inner palace.

Now, after hearing Zhao Xiongshan's words, they all realized what was going on.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became extremely tense.

Apart from Zhao Yuan, everyone else looked at Lin Yang with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, waiting for an answer.

Lin Yang didn't keep you in suspense and said directly, "That's right. During my last seclusion, I successfully broke through to the Dao Without Leaks. However, I encountered an urgent matter and needed to return to the Inner Palace right after the breakthrough, so I didn't tell you the details. I only informed Fellow Daoist Zhao Yuan."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiongshan and the others momentarily froze in their breath.

Then, they looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lin Yang has actually reached the Dao without any flaws!

This news truly shocked them.

That is the Dao without any flaws!
There are very few like them in the entire Xiwu City and even the Western Border Prefecture!

Right now, standing right in front of them was a living, breathing Dao Wulou!

Zhao Xiongshan and the others felt their hearts race.

Suddenly, Zhao Xiongshan took a deep breath, looked at Zhao Yuan, and said with some resentment:

"Elder, so you knew all along that Guest Elder Lin had broken through, but you didn't tell us, making us all nervous for nothing. No wonder you didn't care about the Western Border Merchant Guild's probing earlier!"

Only then did he understand why Zhao Yuan had been so calm all along.

Zhao Yuan laughed heartily: "Guest Elder Lin asked me to keep this a secret, so of course I'll keep it a secret. Besides, isn't this a good way to give you a surprise?"

Zhao Xiongshan was speechless.

This is indeed a big surprise.

Their Zhao family's guest advisor is actually Dao Wulou!
What an honor!

However, Zhao Xiongshan's excitement and agitation soon subsided.

He remembered what Lin Yang had said back then.

If one breaks through to the Dao without leakage, one will leave Xiwu City.

Now that Lin Yang has achieved perfect enlightenment, it means he is about to leave, to truly depart.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiongshan's joy at Lin Yang's return and breakthrough to the Dao Perfection became even more complicated.

His feelings at this moment were the same as Zhao Yuan's when he learned that Lin Yang had broken through to the Dao Without Flaws: both were equally uneasy, conflicted, and complicated.

Zhao Huoshan, Zhao Yuan, and the others quickly fell silent.

Clearly, they had all thought of this as well.

Seeing the reactions of Zhao Xiongshan and the others, Lin Yang naturally understood what they were thinking, and immediately said the same words he had spoken to Zhao Yuan before:
"Patriarch Zhao, you can rest assured that although I have already broken through to the Dao Without Flaws, I will still stay in Xiwu City for a considerable period of time, so you don't need to worry about anything."

"Huh? Really? Really?" Zhao Xiongshan and the others were all stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with joy.

Lin Yang actually wants to stay in Xiwu City!
That means that the Zhao family now has a Dao Wulou in charge!

This is simply unimaginable!
Lin Yang nodded with a smile: "I have already told Fellow Daoist Zhao Yuan about this before, so you don't need to worry that I will leave suddenly."

Zhao Xiongshan's face turned red with excitement upon hearing this.

Lin Yang then added, "You don't need to deliberately hide my breakthrough. You can gradually take over most of the resource areas in Xiwu City in the future."

He chose to go public instead of hiding it for two reasons. First, it was to repay the Zhao family for their help over the years. Second, although he was going to focus on the Dao of Time, his cultivation still needed improvement.

More resources are also needed to assist.

Therefore, it will definitely require more resources and territory to support it.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiongshan was once again jolted with excitement.

With Lin Yang's words, the Zhao family is not only safe and sound, but also has a bright future ahead of them!
Not to mention Xiwu City, in the entire Western Region Prefecture, there is no other family with such a flawless and unparalleled way of governing!
Zhao Xiongshan could hardly imagine what kind of glorious future the Zhao family would usher in after this news was released!
Zhao Yuan bowed to Lin Yang and said, "Thank you for your help to my Zhao family, Guest Elder Lin."

He knew very well that Lin Yang could have chosen not to make this news public.

By choosing to go public, the Zhao family would be the biggest beneficiary.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, you're too kind. Let's prepare to receive our distinguished guest." Lin Yang smiled slightly.

"Understood!" Zhao Yuan nodded immediately, and then instructed Zhao Xiongshan and the others to make the necessary arrangements.

Zhao Xiongshan walked out of the main hall with a cheerful smile, glanced at the invitation from the Western Border Merchant Guild in his hand, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"No wonder Elder Lin told me earlier that I didn't need to rush to the banquet. Now, not only do I not need to attend the banquet, but the Western Border Merchant Guild will probably have to come and pay us a visit!"

Zhao Xiongshan was in high spirits and immediately began arranging for people to spread the news.

....
In less than half an hour.

The news that Lin Yang had become Dao Wulou spread throughout the entire Xiwu City.

The whole city was shocked!

Lin Yang was already nearly invincible in Xiwu City when he was in the Yuanhe Realm.

Now that he has broken through to the point of perfect enlightenment, he is truly a supreme being!

"The world in Xiwu City is about to change!"

Some people expressed their feelings.

“In the past, the five major families competed for supremacy, but in the future, the Zhao family may become the only dominant family.”

"The Zhao family really got incredibly lucky to have Dao Wulou overseeing things!"

Some people were envious and jealous.

The ordinary cultivators in the city were somewhat better off; most of them were just shocked and that was it.

But the situation is different within the other four major families.

With the emergence of a Daoist master in the Zhao family, their interests will naturally suffer the most.

However, no one dared to harbor any disloyal thoughts in the face of a being who had attained perfect enlightenment.

Instead, they immediately prepared generous gifts, and the elders of the Yuanhe Realm from various clans personally went to the Zhao family to offer their congratulations, hoping to protect as much of their own interests as possible.

No one doubted Lin Yang's breakthrough.

Because of such a major event, the Zhao family, unless they were fools, would not dare to fabricate or spread rumors.

Lin Yang also showed great respect by meeting the other four major families who came to pay their respects.

When the elders of the four major families saw Lin Yang's aura, which seemed to have returned to its original simplicity, they were even more convinced that Lin Yang had broken through to the Dao without flaws, and they all showed extreme respect.

With the departure of the elders from the four major families, Lin Yang's breakthrough was definitively confirmed.

Within Xiwu City, many powerful families began to watch with growing anxiety.

I wonder what Dao Wulou will do next.

Even ordinary disciples of the Zhao family enjoyed unprecedented treatment, becoming the focus of attention and even befriending others.

For a time, the Zhao family members walked with an air of superiority, enjoying immense prestige.

At the same time, as Lin Yang expected, the military officials of the Western Border Prefecture also personally paid a visit.

Because there are usually no Dao-less experts in the Western Region Prefecture.

Only in the event of a major incident will the Ancestral Temple send a Dao-less expert to handle it, and Dao-less experts will be sent to patrol regularly or irregularly.

The Western Prefecture officials are overjoyed at the sudden emergence of a Dao Wulou within their ranks.

At the same time, they were very respectful and polite.

Because a Dao Wulou from this prefecture will most likely replace the Dao Wulou occasionally assigned by the Human Ancestor Hall to take over the main affairs of the Western Prefecture.

This not only means that Dao Wulou will be stationed in the Western Border Prefecture in the future, but also that he will become their long-term superior to the prefectural army.

Therefore, the one who came to pay a visit was the prefect, Sima Ming.

Sima Ming is at the peak of the Yuanhe Realm and is one of the best in his class, which is why he is able to serve as the head of the Western Region Prefecture.

His arrival made the Zhao family extremely nervous.

After all, Sima Ming represents the officialdom and the Temple of Human Ancestors.

Zhao Yuan personally led Sima Ming to the main hall, feeling both nervous and honored.

The Zhao family actually received a personal visit from Sima Ming!
Zhao Yuan was almost getting carried away.

However, this feeling of detachment comes and goes quickly.

He knew perfectly well who was responsible for all of this.

If it weren't for Lin Yang, even if the Zhao family worked hard for several generations, they would never have had the chance to come into contact with someone like Sima Ming.

He led Sima Ming to the main hall, then tactfully left, personally guarding the outside of the hall to prevent any foolish clansmen from disturbing him.

Inside the main hall.

Sima Ming politely bowed to Lin Yang and said, "Greetings, Senior Lin. I apologize for not being able to pay my respects to you immediately."

Lin Yang waved his hand and said with a smile, "Lord Sima, you are too kind. It is understandable that you are busy with your affairs. Besides, I only just received the news from you."

"Thank you for your understanding, senior." Sima Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Lin Yang did not seem to be the kind of eccentric old monster.

After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Lin Yang would soon become his direct superior.

If it's that kind of eccentric old monster, then you're bound to suffer later.

Lin Yang, however, failed to discern Sima Ming's thoughts and immediately began chatting with him.

He mainly asked some questions about the Temple of the Ancestors, to which Sima Ming answered.

He didn't know much about the Temple of the Ancestors.

But now that he has become Dao Wulou, it is estimated that someone from the Human Ancestor Hall will soon come to contact him, so take this opportunity to learn more about him.

After chatting for a while, Sima Ming, seeing that Lin Yang had asked enough questions, pondered for a moment and said:

"Senior Lin, you advanced to the Dao-No-Flaw level in Xiwu City. I just heard you mention that you were not originally from Xiwu City. If I may be so bold as to ask, does Senior Lin plan to return to the Inner Palace or stay in Xiwu City?"

When he arrived, he was unaware that Lin Yang was not a local of Xiwu City.

But Lin Yang had casually mentioned it during their conversation, which is why Sima Ming asked about it now.

This not only concerns his own future prospects, but also some matters concerning the Western Frontier Prefecture.

Lin Yang had learned some things and rules from his conversation with Sima Ming, and upon hearing Sima Ming's words, he understood Sima Ming's thoughts.

This is to find out whether he is planning to return to the Inner Palace to accept a position at the Ancestral Temple, or stay in the Western Region.

He smiled and said:
"To be honest, I've spent less time in the Inner Palace than in Xiwu City, so I'll continue to stay in Xiwu City for the foreseeable future."

Sima Ming felt a sense of relief for no apparent reason. (End of Chapter)