Longzuo Commandery City.

It has always been a place where dragons and snakes mingle, attracting not only the low-powered cultivators who come to try their luck but also the prestigious Purple Mansion families with a thousand years of heritage.

Yet among the multitude of beings, the most revered and admired is the hereditary King of Longzuo Commandery, Wu Dianshan.

In name, the lineage of the King of Longzuo is appointed by the sovereign to guard Longzuo Commandery. However, since the establishment of Daqian, the actual governance has been carried out through the Commandery Governor system.

The Commandery Governor’s Office is the true institution that, under the control of the capital, manages the affairs of the entire commandery.

The lineage of the King of Longzuo has always been titular, with little real authority. The current King, Wu Dianshan, has shown no great talent or strategy since childhood, preferring various pleasures and at most associating with some independent cultivators, but only in a gentlemanly and detached manner.

When some families encounter difficulties and seek help from the King’s Mansion, they are often generously assisted. Therefore, the reputation of the King’s lineage is generally quite good.

The King’s Mansion is not far from the Wang’s Clan of Longzuo, located at the core of the commandery city. This also shows that the Wang’s Clan was very powerful during its most prosperous period.

However, the King’s Mansion is much more imposing, with the main estate being several times the size of the Wang’s Clan.

Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Long Yan, following proper etiquette, presented their visiting cards. They used the names of the Wang’s Clan of Changning, as well as the direct disciples of Master Changchun and Master Binglan, and attached Master Changchun’s identity token.

Immediately, they were respectfully invited by the gatekeeper to a side hall. There, they were served exquisite pastries, fruits, and spiritual tea by young servants and maids, all of which were of spiritual nature.

The King’s Mansion truly lived up to its name, with an extraordinary foundation.

Even the maids and young servants were young cultivators with some achievements in the Qi Refining Realm, and they were quite good-looking. The gatekeeper, even more so, was a cultivator in the Spiritual Platform Realm.

Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Long Yan maintained a calm demeanor, simply sipping the spiritual tea. After all, the income of the Wang’s Clan of Changning was far greater than that of an average Celestial Realm family, and they were accustomed to such grandeur.

Before long.

A man in a brocade robe, the chief steward of the mansion, entered the side hall and laughed heartily, “Today, the spiritual birds in the mansion’s aviary are joyously chirping, clearly heralding the arrival of distinguished guests. I did not expect it to be the recently renowned Wang’s Clan of Changning. I am Wu Zhong, the chief steward of the mansion. I have met the head of the Wang’s Clan, Wang Shouzhe, and Ancestor Long Yan.”

A warm and hearty aura enveloped them, making Wang Shouzhe feel his enthusiasm. And he did not mention the two Masters at all, as if it was truly out of respect for the Wang’s Clan that he was so passionate.

However, Wang Shouzhe knew that in this short time, the chief steward Wu Zhong had clearly reviewed the information on the Wang’s Clan of Changning and had quickly responded.

As the top family of Longzuo Commandery, it was only natural for the King’s Mansion to collect and summarize intelligence from various cities and forts. The current Wang’s Clan of Changning was no longer the small eighth or ninth-rank family it once was.

“Wu Zhong, I have seen the chief steward,” Wang Shouzhe rose to return the greeting, graceful and full of etiquette, and took out a large number of gifts from his storage ring, “A modest gift, a token of my regard.”

Chief steward Wu Zhong, a man of wide experience, did not even look at the list of gifts, but with a glance, he roughly estimated the value of the gifts to be no less than thirty thousand Top Gold.

Wu Zhong was secretly shocked and hurriedly declined, “Head of the Wang’s Clan, you shouldn’t have brought such generous gifts. Please take them back, take them back.” He couldn’t help but recall the brief introduction in the intelligence report about the head of the Wang’s Clan, Wang Shouzhe, who was quite talented in management, and the Wang’s Clan was quite prosperous.

A casual gift worth thirty thousand Top Gold was either a sign that the Wang’s Clan was extremely wealthy and indifferent to money, or that the other party had great ambitions.

“It’s just a ceremonial gift, chief steward, don’t take it too much to heart,” Wang Shouzhe smiled, “I do indeed have a request for His Highness the King this time, hoping that His Highness can, out of respect for Master Changchun, help introduce me to Master Danding.”

Wu Zhong understood immediately and laughed heartily, “So, Head Wang Shouzhe, you are also here for the matter of Master Danding taking disciples. To be honest, many families have previously entrusted His Highness the King to seek a connection with Master Danding. However, His Highness has refused all these requests.”

Before Wang Shouzhe could speak, Wu Zhong continued, “But if it’s out of respect for Master Changchun, His Highness would surely be pleased to facilitate this.”

Sure enough.

With Master Changchun’s token, the outcome was different.

This was the way of the world in Basalt, the exchange of connections and favors. His Highness the King would agree to this request, surely because he valued the favor from Master Changchun, and should he need to ask Master Changchun for help one day, the Master would have to return the favor.

“However, the final decision still depends on His Highness the King himself,” chief steward Wu Zhong bowed and said, “Please rest here for a while, and allow me to report to His Highness.”

After the pleasantries.

Wu Zhong hurried off, and within half an hour, he returned to the side hall: “Congratulations, Head Wang Shouzhe, Ancestor Long Yan. His Highness the King happens to be free today and has decided to personally host a meal for you. Please follow me.”

Subsequently.

Under Wu Zhong’s arrangement, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Long Yan met King Wu Dianshan in an elegant courtyard.

The courtyard was filled with exotic flowers and plants vying for beauty, with intricate pavilions and towers, and a pond of several acres with many spiritual fish.

A middle-aged man in a python robe and a purple-gold crown was leisurely fishing with a purple bamboo rod. He did not look imposing but rather exuded a relaxed and comfortable demeanor.

Upon seeing Wang Shouzhe and Long Yan, he did not wait for Wu Zhong to introduce them but instead greeted them with a smile, “These two young talents must be the proud disciples of Masters Changchun and Binglan, Wang Shouzhe and Long Yan, right? Come, come, sit down and have some tea.”

In a short time, some relevant information about Wang Shouzhe and Long Yan had clearly been reviewed.

As prodigies of the Purple Mansion Academy, their status was indeed extraordinary, and they would be respected and flattered wherever they went, but this did not include within the King’s Mansion.

The King of Longzuo himself was a Purple Mansion Mirror cultivator and also a King of Daqian, with an extremely revered status. Although the direct disciples of the academy were extraordinary, they could not compare with him.

The reason for such a courteous reception from His Highness the King was not only because of the exceptional talents of Wang Shouzhe and Long Yan but mostly out of respect for the two Masters, especially since Wang Shouzhe came bearing Master Changchun’s token, clearly asking for a favor.

However, even though His Highness the King did not put on airs and showed an approachable demeanor, Wang Shouzhe and Ancestor Long Yan still maintained the attitude of juniors and respectfully greeted the King.

Despite the King’s appearance as a middle-aged man, he was actually five to six hundred years old, with unfathomable cultivation, and could not be casually disrespected.

After following proper etiquette.

The King hosted a small dinner for them by the pond in the courtyard.

The banquet did not feature any exotic delicacies like dragon liver or phoenix marrow, but rather some ordinary spiritual dishes, exquisitely prepared and appetizing.

Wu Dianshan was initially just showing face to Master Changchun, but as he casually conversed with Wang Shouzhe, he discovered that his thoughts were extremely sharp, and his insights were extraordinary. The casual remarks revealed unique perspectives, often inspiring Wu Dianshan.

“Interesting, interesting, young friend’s insights into worldly affairs are indeed sharp and indescribable,” King Wu Dianshan laughed heartily.

After half the banquet, Wu Dianshan grew increasingly appreciative of this junior, no wonder the intelligence report said that the Wang’s Clan had risen from a destitute ninth-rank to a seventh-rank within just twenty years.

“Do you enjoy fishing, King?” Wang Shouzhe observed several times that King Wu Dianshan seemed to love fishing, often referring to fishing anecdotes.

“It’s just a pastime when I have nothing to do. You’re young and wouldn’t understand, but after living for over five hundred years, you’ve tried everything and gradually lose interest in everything,” King Wu Dianshan said, “I have to save some fun for myself, afraid that once I tire of it, it will be hard to find joy again. Shouzhe, do you also like fishing?”

I did in my previous life, but I haven’t played much in this one.

“Not particularly, it’s just that my Wang’s Clan is located by the An River, and we have some fish catches every year.” Wang Shouzhe touched his storage ring, and a seven-foot-long peculiar fishing rod appeared in his hand, “This fishing rod is a leisurely creation of mine, please give me your guidance, King.”

“This rod is so short, and it has some iron rings, and what is that spinning wheel below?” King Wu Dianshan became interested, taking the fishing rod and marveling, “I’ve lived so long and have never seen such a peculiar fishing rod. Shouzhe, what is special about this?”

“This rod is called a lure.” Wang Shouzhe explained truthfully, “It’s specially designed for catching aggressive predatory spiritual fish. To craft this rod, I used the old sections of a five-thousand-year-old purple bamboo, and the fishing line is made from the silk of a sixth-order spiritual insect, the Nine Nether Ice Soul Silkworm, twisted into thirty-two strands. It’s strong enough to hold any spiritual fish below the fourth order. King, you see, the lure bait is different from ordinary fishing bait…”

“It’s a fake bait…”

“Correct, because the essence of fishing is different. Ordinary fishing is passive, while lure fishing requires active engagement…”

Thus, Wu Dianshan was amazed and couldn’t wait to try it out.

Ancestor Long Yan was speechless on the side; Shouzhe really could connect with anyone.

…

Time flew by, and several days passed.

Since Master Danding was like a carefree crane, without a residence in the commandery city, his disciple selection event was held in the largest alchemy workshop in the city—Tianyuan Dan Workshop.

On the day of the selection, countless candidates registered, rushing from various parts of the commandery city, all hoping for this opportunity.

Among them were descendants of great families, offspring of ninth-rank minor families, and many unaffiliated families and independent cultivators, all trying their luck. It seemed as if being chosen by Master Danding as a disciple would allow them to soar to the heavens.

Outside Tianyuan Dan Workshop, it was a sea of people.

The seventh son of the Wang’s Clan, Wang Shouye, and a beautiful woman squeezed through the crowd, barely managing to register and receive a test number plate, which read three hundred ninety-six.

This made him smile wryly; with so many competitors, he feared he wouldn’t even pass the preliminary round.

…