Chapter 58

February 3rd.

The day after the Longmen Banquet ended, at noon.

After Su Yi finished his cultivation in the mulberry forest outside the city, he returned to the Apricot Yellow Cottage and saw City Lord Fu Shan waiting there with a group of guards.

"Mr. Su."

Fu Shan smiled and approached, clasping his hands, "I have come here for two reasons: to thank Mr. Su for your righteous actions at the Longmen Banquet last night, and to present you with a gift."

As he spoke, he waved his hand.

Three guards stepped forward, each holding a jade box, and presented them respectfully.

Fu Shan explained with a smile, "These are the rewards for the first place in the Longmen Competition, which include a thousand taels of gold, ten hu of pearls, three medicinal herbs, and a top-tier Yellow Rank martial arts manual."

He paused and continued, "I took the liberty of converting the gold and pearls into silver bills, which will be more convenient for Mr. Su to carry."

He pointed to the first jade box, "This one contains eighteen silver bills, each worth ten thousand taels."

"The second jade box contains three medicinal herbs: Biye Fuling, Xueyu Shen, and Qingwen Shuangcao."

"The third jade box contains the top-tier Yellow Rank martial arts, 'Nianhua Fuyun Hand."

After hearing this, Su Yi opened the third jade box and took out the manual.

After a brief glance, he said in surprise, "This martial art is clearly suitable only for women to practice."

Fu Shan smiled bitterly, "These rewards were provided by City Lord Lijianyu of Luoyun City. His intention is clearly to make things unpleasant. If Mr. Su is dissatisfied, I will provide another manual later."

Clearly, he had already seen through the true nature of this martial arts manual.

Su Yi waved his hand indifferently, "No need, let it be like this."

With his level of expertise, he would not look at such a low-tier martial art.

"You few, take the gifts to Mr. Su's room."

Fu Shan gave the order, and the guards immediately acted.

Then, he invited Su Yi with a smile, "Mr. Su, Lingzhu Island now belongs to Guangling City and is temporarily under the control of my City Lord's residence. I came here to invite you to visit it."

Su Yi's heart stirred, remembering that Lingzhu Island was a place where spiritual energy gathered, and it produced the precious 'Qingyu Lingzhu' bamboo.

"When will we set off?" Su Yi asked.

Fu Shan smiled, "Mr. Su, please follow me. I have already prepared a carriage and horses, and we can go now."

As he spoke, he led the way himself.

Half an hour later.

A group of City Lord's guards on horseback escorted the carriage carrying Su Yi and Fu Shan to the banks of the Dacang River, thirty miles from Guangling City.

This riverbank was already within the territory of Yunzang Mountain, with lush ancient trees everywhere.

After getting off the carriage, Su Yi and Fu Shan boarded a black-roofed boat that had been prepared in advance and headed towards the center of the river.

There was a small island standing like a reef in the river, only thirty zhang in diameter.

The island was covered with strange rocks and a three-zhang bamboo grove, lush and green, while the rest of the island was barren and devoid of any vegetation.

"Hmm? Who has already landed on Lingzhu Island?"

From a distance, Fu Shan saw a boat docked next to Lingzhu Island, and two figures could be faintly seen on one side of the bamboo grove.

Fu Shan's face immediately darkened.

The attendant beside him quickly explained in a low voice, "Lord, those two should be from the opposite shore, Luoyun City!"

"Old Lijianyu, how dare he send people to Lingzhu Island? Does he really think I, Fu Shan, won't dare to kill?"

A flash of killing intent appeared in Fu Shan's eyes.

Soon, the black-roofed boat docked at Lingzhu Island.

At this moment, Fu Shan clearly saw the two figures, his brows furrowed, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

It was a young man and an old man.

The young man wore a jade robe, had a face like a jade crown, and exuded a radiant aura.

The old man wore a small black round hat, a simple robe, had an ordinary appearance, and stood quietly a foot away from the young man, slightly bent over.

"Great Perfection of Qi Gathering."

At the same time, Su Yi's gaze swept over the young man and landed on the old man with the black hat, immediately discerning something from his aura.

The four realms of martial arts: Blood Moving, Qi Gathering, Furnace Cultivation, and No Leakage.

To have the cultivation of Great Perfection of Qi Gathering means to have "transformed qi into gang," capable of walking on water and controlling it.

On land, a single leap can cover ten zhang, and one's breath can be as loud as thunder, with true qi radiating outward.

This realm is just a step away from the Master level of Furnace Cultivation!

Such a character would be considered a top-tier existence in Guangling City.

Even City Lord Fu Shan only had late-stage Qi Gathering cultivation, falling short of this black-hatted old man.

But soon, Su Yi's gaze shifted away; a Great Perfection of Qi Gathering was not worth too much attention.

Taking this opportunity, he began to quietly observe Lingzhu Island.

Not long after, he nodded inwardly, realizing that the island was connected to the water veins of the Dacang River, and not far from Yunzang Mountain, where the essence of the mountains and rivers converged on this island.

It was indeed a blessed land where spiritual energy gathered, even better than the mulberry forest he had been seeking. No wonder it produced the spiritual material Qingyu Lingzhu.

At the same time—

The young man in the jade robe and the old man with the black hat also noticed the commotion and looked over.

"May I ask if you are City Lord Fu Shan?"

The young man in the jade robe asked with a clear and loud voice.

He was only seventeen or eighteen years old, but his every move exuded a noble aura.

Even facing City Lord Fu Shan, he treated it as a matter of course.

"Indeed, it is I. May I ask who the two of you are?"

Fu Shan's eyes were sharp, and he immediately saw the extraordinary nature of the two, subtly waving his hand to have the attendants remain on the black-roofed boat.

He and Su Yi then boarded Lingzhu Island together.

"My name is Zhang Yuanxing, from the Zhang family of Yunhe County City."

The young man in the jade robe smiled and clasped his hands, "City Lord Fu, I once heard my father say that among the nineteen cities of Yunhe County, there are only a few who can be considered worthy. City Lord Fu is one of them. Now that I see you, you are indeed remarkable."

Yunhe County, the Zhang family!

Fu Shan's pupils slightly contracted, and his expression became more solemn, "May I ask the esteemed name of your father?"

The old man with the black hat, who had been standing beside the young man, spoke calmly, "My master is the current head of the Zhang family."

Fu Shan was inwardly shocked, and his expression became even more solemn, "Indeed, to be so highly regarded by your esteemed father, I am truly honored."

Zhang Yuanxing smiled slightly, as if he had anticipated Fu Shan's reaction, "City Lord Fu, you won't blame me for coming uninvited, will you?"

Fu Shan shook his head, "How dare I."

Zhang Yuanxing nodded and then looked at Su Yi, who was beside Fu Shan, his brows showing admiration, "Last night, I was also at the Longmen Banquet and saw the battle between Mr. Su and Mo Tianling. It was truly spectacular and left me in awe."

He paused and smiled, "However, I have also heard about some of Mr. Su's past and understand your current situation in the Wen family... It seems to be not good. If Mr. Su wants to change this situation, I can help you."

Fu Shan inwardly sneered; the young men of the Zhang family of Yunhe County were indeed noble and extraordinary.

But the Su Yi beside him was a transcendent existence, even the Lingyao Princess had to address him as 'Mr.'!

How could he possibly need someone else's patronage?

Su Yi raised his eyes and looked at the confident and composed young man, his expression calm, "Have you heard the saying, 'When someone offers you something for nothing, it's either a trick or a trap'?"

The old man with the black hat's eyes flashed with a cold light, "Young man, be careful with your words, or you might bring disaster upon yourself!"

But Zhang Yuanxing waved his hand with a smile, "Old Xiong, don't be angry. Mr. Su speaks his mind, which is exactly what I admire about him."

He paused and said to Su Yi, "Mr. Su, there's no need to worry. I want to help you purely because I admire your talent and martial arts cultivation. For someone of your caliber, staying in this small Guangling City is like a pearl being covered in dust!"

Su Yi's expression was strange; he hadn't heard anyone speak to him like this in a very long time.

Seeing Su Yi silent, Zhang Yuanxing seemed to think he was hesitating and smiled confidently, "Mr. Su, rest assured. If you are willing to follow me to Yunhe County City, I guarantee you will have the opportunity to shine and make a name for yourself in Yunhe County!"

Su Yi was taken aback, "So, you mean... you want me to be your retainer?"

The old man with the black hat snorted, "In Yunhe County City, there are many young talents willing to serve my young master, but those who can be appreciated by him are few