Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 459 The City Lord's One Yuan Probe

There is a long table in the main hall, with the host seat in the center and the guests seated on the left.

Lin Chen was invited to the first seat for guests, with Lan Fenghuang sitting next to him, Ling Bo sitting next to Lan Fenghuang, and Mei Jiu Niang and Yao Yao sitting behind him.

Shishi and Shishi didn't sit down; they stood quietly behind Lin Chen.

Zhang Yiyuan returned to the main seat and clapped his hands.

The maids filed in, carrying various dishes and setting the table full.

The dishes were presented beautifully, not with fancy plating, but with high-quality ingredients.

Lin Chen glanced at it and saw that he didn't recognize several kinds of spirit beast meat, which were emitting a strong spiritual energy fluctuation.

This meal alone is enough for an ordinary person to gain the equivalent of ten years of arduous spiritual practice with just one bite.

The dishes were all served, and the wine was poured. Zhang Yiyuan picked up his glass:

"Young Master Lin has come from afar, let me offer you a toast."

Lin Chen picked up his wine glass, clinked it against his own, and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine is excellent, smooth on the palate with a lingering aftertaste, and its spiritual energy slowly dissipates within the body, leaving one feeling completely comfortable.

"Good wine." Lin Chen put down his wine glass.

Zhang Yiyuan smiled and said, "This is 'Tianyuan Drunk,' brewed in Tianyuan City. It's been buried for three thousand years. If you like it, take two jars with you when you leave."

Lin Chen didn't stand on ceremony: "Then thank you very much, City Lord."

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became lively.

Zhang Yiyuan clapped his hands again, and the sound of string and wind instruments began.

A group of dancers filed in through the side door, dressed in light gauze dresses, their figures graceful, dancing to the music.

The lead dancer was extremely beautiful, with a pair of watery eyes that kept glancing at Lin Chen as she danced.

Lin Chen held his wine glass, glanced at it, and then glanced at it again.

Zhang Yiyuan observed Lin Chen's expression from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips.

These dancers, and the row of maids standing behind them, were all chosen according to Lin Chen's preferences.

He sent people to the Eastern Region to investigate and learned that this overlord of the Eastern Region was good at everything except lust.

Lin Chen glanced at it a few times, then looked away and continued drinking, his expression unchanged.

But Mei Jiu Niang, who was sitting to the side, waved her round fan two beats faster.

After the dance ended, Zhang Yiyuan waved for the dancers to leave.

He picked up his glass, offered Lin Chen another toast, then put it down, his tone nonchalant:

"Young Master Lin, what are your thoughts on that extraterrestrial passage?"

The air in the main hall seemed to freeze slightly, and everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen picked up his wine glass, took a slow sip, put it down, leaned back in his chair, and smiled at Zhang Yiyuan.

"Watch while sitting."

Zhang Yiyuan paused for a moment, then laughed loudly, his clear laughter echoing in the spacious main hall.

"Young Master Lin is quite the joker."

Lin Chen said seriously, "I'm not joking. I'm just a dissolute young master who lives one day at a time and doesn't care if I die."

Lin Chen's expression was so serious that he didn't seem to be lying.

Zhang Yiyuan looked at Lin Chen, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment.

Knowing that this young overlord didn't want to have a deep conversation with him, he wasn't annoyed, and simply smiled and shook his head.

"Young Master Lin is truly carefree."

After saying that, he picked up his wine glass and changed the subject, "Since you don't want to talk about this, let's talk about the local customs and culture of Zhongzhou."

Lin Chen nodded: "This is good."

Zhang Yiyuan put down his wine glass and began to talk about the affairs of Zhongzhou.

He spoke very slowly, as if he were sorting through something.

"The forces in Zhongzhou are complex in some ways, but simple in others."

Only a handful of companies truly have the final say.

The three sacred sites are Kunlun Domain, Penglai Immortal Island, and Mount Sumeru.

The two major sects are Qingyun Sect and Tianjian Pavilion.

These five are the true leaders of Zhongzhou.

Lin Chen listened, nodding occasionally.

"Among the three holy lands, Kunlun Domain is the most powerful, has the largest territory, and the most disciples."

The current domain lord's surname is Jiang, his given name is Xuan, he has the cultivation level of a half-step True Monarch, and he has a rather bad temper.

Penglai Immortal Island is the most mysterious; outsiders rarely get to set foot there. The island's lord's surname is Long, but no one knows his given name; everyone calls him Lord Long. He possesses the cultivation of a half-step True Monarch. Mount Sumeru is the most—"

Zhang Yiyuan paused for a moment, then said, "The most Zen-like."

Lin Chen laughed: "Buddhist-like?"

"Once the mountain gate was closed, no one was seen. The abbot said something about 'Heaven and Earth are ruthless, but Buddha saves those with affinity,' and then he led the entire mountain into the void."

Lin Chen chuckled.

Zhang Yiyuan continued, "The two major sects are relatively low-key. The Qingyun Sect is known for its array formations, and they built most of the teleportation arrays in Zhongzhou."

The Heavenly Sword Pavilion is entirely composed of sword cultivators, possessing extremely high combat strength, but their numbers are small. They never interfere in sect conflicts, focusing solely on practicing their swordsmanship.

Zhang Yiyuan then mentioned several other forces that had dealings with Tianyuan City.

The Corpse Refining Sect was specifically mentioned, with a comment that they had "recently been tormented by Dugu Qiubai."

Lin Chen's lips curved slightly.

They drank pot after pot of wine, and the dishes were changed round after round.

The conversation ranged from the distribution of power to local customs and traditions, and from local customs and traditions to strange and unusual events, but never touched on any real business.

Lin Chen remained the same, smiling and polite.

Drink when you're supposed to drink, eat when you're supposed to eat, and compliment the dancers when you're supposed to compliment them.

But he didn't respond to any of the conversations Zhang Yiyuan offered.

Zhang Yiyuan wasn't in a hurry. He drank and chatted with the guests, his expression always calm and his laughter always loud.

The banquet lasted for more than an hour before it ended.

Lin Chen stood up and declined the accommodation arranged by Zhang Yiyuan.

Zhang Yiyuan smiled and said, "Young master, do you find my lodgings uncomfortable?"

Lin Chen shook his head: "It's not that I'm uncomfortable, it's that I'm not used to it. I'm used to being lazy and don't like living in big houses."

Zhang Yiyuan knew that Lin Chen was just making excuses, so he didn't press the matter and smiled as he saw him to the door.

Wu Huan followed behind, bowing respectfully with his hands clasped.

As Lin Chen emerged from the city lord's mansion, a night breeze dissipated some of his drunkenness.

Mei Jiu Niang walked to Lin Chen's side, slowly waving her round fan in her hand, and said with a smile:

"Will you stay at my place?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "Is it convenient for you?"

"The Hehuan Sect's stronghold isn't large in Tianyuan City, but it can still accommodate a few people."

Mei Jiu Niang smiled and said, "And—"

"And what?"

"And my master is on his way here."

Lin Chen looked at Mei Jiu Niang, and Mei Jiu Niang looked at Lin Chen; their eyes met briefly in the night breeze.

Lin Chen withdrew his gaze. "Let's go."

Mei Jiu Niang smiled and walked ahead, waving her round fan.

Lin Chen followed behind, with Lan Fenghuang, Ling Bo, Yao Yao, and Shi Shi following behind him.

A group of people strolled through the streets of Tianyuan City, slowly making their way towards the east.

Tianyuan City is much quieter at night than during the day, but there are still people on the streets.

A drunken monk leaned against the wall, vomiting and cursing under his breath.

Vendors selling late-night snacks set up stalls on the street, their steaming hot food filling half the street with its aroma.

A patrol of city guards walked over from the opposite side, led by a cultivator at the early stage of the Land Immortal realm.

Upon seeing Lin Chen and his group, his gaze lingered on Mei Jiu Niang for a moment before quickly shifting away.

The Hehuan Sect's stronghold is located on the most bustling street in Tianyuan City, with three sides facing the street and one side facing the river—a prime location.

A plaque hangs at the entrance, bearing the three characters "Immortal Lying Down," written in a messy hand, exuding a carefree and unrestrained air.

Lin Chen stood at the door, looked her up and down, then turned to look at Mei Jiu Niang:

"This is the small outpost you mentioned?"

Mei Jiu Niang blinked: "It really isn't big. It's not even one-fifth the size of the five major sects."

Lin Chen ignored Mei Jiu Niang and led the way inside.