After the destruction of the Immortal Realm, I took in the fallen fairy.

At the entrance of the city lord's mansion.

Lin Heng and Gesang Nazha didn't have to wait long before Mi Yuanzheng came out to greet them personally.

"Young friend Lin Heng! It's been so long! Please come in."

From the very beginning, Mi Yuanzheng showed great enthusiasm towards Lin Heng.

While inviting Lin Heng into the city lord's mansion, he chatted with him like an old friend, and even glanced at Gesang Nazha beside Lin Heng seemingly unintentionally.

When he saw her distinctive sand fox ears and nine tails on her back, a hint of surprise flashed in Mi Yuanzheng's eyes.

After all, the treasures recorded in the Chaos Demon Lord's Manual might be stored in the Western Regions.

The Sand Fox Clan was once the most powerful clan in the Western Regions...

However, Mi Yuanzheng was very good at hiding it. This subtle look only flashed by, and even Lin Heng, who had always been wary of him, did not notice it.

To conceal his gaze, Mi Yuanzheng casually asked, "Didn't Uncle Tian accompany young friend Lin Heng on this trip?"

Lin Heng glanced at him, knowing that Mi Yuanzheng was definitely pretending not to understand, but he still smiled and replied, "Elder Tian has returned to the General Headquarters on business."

"So that's how it is."

Mi Yuanzheng nodded, and then said naturally, "That's a pity. Today is a joyous occasion for you, young friend Lin Heng. I thought Uncle Tian would be able to attend as well."

As he spoke, he smiled kindly and said, "But young friend Lin Heng, don't be disappointed. I have already arranged for my men to inform the other three major powers of Golden Deer City to come and honor us with their presence."

"The Deer King".

Lin Heng smiled, then feigned ignorance and asked, "What's this big day you're talking about?"

"Isn't this Lin Heng, the young friend? You've become the new owner of the Xuanji Mine?"

When Mi Yuanzheng mentioned the Xuanji Mine, he didn't mention Shen Zu at all. Instead, he said to Lin Heng in a friendly manner, "With the change of ownership of this mine, many business matters naturally need to be renegotiated. Bringing them here is to make it easier for you, young friend Lin Heng, to renegotiate the business cooperation for the mine."

"The Deer King really put his heart into it."

Lin Heng nodded with a smile.

After several conversations, he had come to realize that Mi Yuanzheng truly shared the same words as his immortal servants.

The desire to curry favor was palpable.

We walked into the main hall of the city lord's mansion.

Mi Yuanzheng did not sit in the high seat, but invited Lin Heng to sit down on the wooden chair next to him, while Gesang Nazha stood quietly behind Lin Heng.

Immediately, Mi Yuanzheng ordered his men to pour tea, and at the same time whispered to Lin Heng, "Moreover, young friend Lin Heng, besides the mine, as the city lord of Jinlu City, I also have a request to make."

"Oh?"

Lin Heng glanced at him subconsciously.

But her expression remained unchanged; she simply said to him in a gentle tone, "Your Majesty, please speak freely."

"Young friend Lin Heng, you see, the formations of our Golden Deer City used to be maintained by the former mine owner of Xuanji Mine."

Mi Yuanzheng spoke to Lin Heng in a consultative tone, "If the formation of Golden Deer City is suddenly left unmaintained, the entire city's inhabitants will be harmed by the demonic tide. As the city lord of Golden Deer City, I must also be responsible for the safety of the city's residents, mustn't I?"

Lin Heng knew that he wanted to completely replace Shen Zu and help maintain the formation of Golden Deer City.

But throughout the entire process, Mi Yuanzheng never mentioned what he wanted his help with, only talking about the consequences of the magic array being left unmaintained...

Such an expression left Lin Heng speechless.

This old deer is really cunning; he even tried to morally blackmail me.

It's as if if Golden Deer City fails to withstand the next demonic tide, it's entirely its own fault for not maintaining the magic array...

But was Mi Yuanzheng's attempt to curry favor merely for the sake of maintaining the formation?

Lin Heng did not think so.

This only explains the City Lord's Mansion's obsequiousness towards him, but it doesn't explain Aunt Xue's attitude at the Forgotten Dust Book Gallery...

After thinking for a moment, Lin Heng smiled and said, "For the sake of all the people in the city, I, as the new mine owner, will naturally help."

"Thank you very much, young friend Lin Heng... Perfect!"

As he spoke, Mi Yuanzheng took out an official document from his pocket and handed it over. "Young friend Lin Heng, would you like to take a look at it first?"

"Official appointment certificate?"

Lin Heng curiously opened the official document. "Honorary Chief Secretary of Jinlu City?"

"This is a token."

Mi Yuanzheng then handed over a plaque engraved with deer antler patterns.

"The so-called Chief Secretary of Jinlu City is a real official who can participate in the decision-making of Jinlu City and command the soldiers and troops of Jinlu City. It is also the official title with the greatest real power besides me, the city lord."

Mi Yuanzheng explained, "Of course, the so-called honorary chief historian also takes into account that young friend Lin Heng's ancient relics will not remain in my Golden Deer City forever. Therefore, if young friend Lin Heng is not here, there is no need to worry about the affairs of my Golden Deer City. The only thing that young friend Lin Heng needs to do is to maintain the formation."

He wields real power second only to the emperor, yet he doesn't have to do anything; all he needs to do is maintain the formation...

This official position is far greater than the grain official position that Cao He gave him back then.

Although Lin Heng had little interest in becoming an official, Mi Yuanzheng's overtures confirmed his earlier suspicions.

The old deer's true purpose has definitely not been revealed yet...

Seeing that Lin Heng did not respond, Mi Yuanzheng added politely, "Young friend Lin Heng, my Jinlu City is not some small city. How about you do me the honor and accept this position as Honorary Chief Secretary?"

At this moment, Lin Heng closed the official document granting him the title and smiled at Mi Yuanzheng, saying, "Your Majesty, you're too kind. But I'm a businessman. Since Your Majesty wants me to do you the honor, could you also do me a favor?"

Mi Yuanzheng's eye twitched involuntarily.

Such a generous official position is clearly a benefit bestowed upon them for free.

His use of the word "favor" was nothing more than polite formality.

To Mi Yuanzheng's surprise, Lin Heng actually followed up on those polite words and made a request...

For a fleeting moment, he thought that Lin Heng and Tian Qianchen of the General Administration Division might actually be related.

Otherwise, how could such a shameless old man have allowed me to address him as Uncle Tian just out of politeness?

And now, another shameless person, after offering a tempting official position, is trying to take more than he can afford...

However, thinking of the Chaos Demon Lord's manual and the premeditated plan, Mi Yuanzheng still politely said to Lin Heng, "Since young friend Lin Heng is the new honorary chief secretary of my Golden Deer City, I, as the city lord, will naturally cooperate with your work. I wonder what kind of help you are referring to, young friend Lin Heng...?"

"It's not a very troublesome thing."

Lin Heng waved his hand dismissively and said, "I just took over the mine, and we're short-staffed right now. I wonder if the Deer King could hand over all the fairies in the dungeon to me so I can use them?"

Upon hearing this, Mi Yuanzheng's kind and gentle smile froze instantly.

The entire main hall of the city lord's mansion fell silent.