Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

The news of the death brought by the red official document was still pressing down in the carriage when Chen Boyong shouted "Change course!" and the hunchbacked driver jerked the reins.

The black-covered carriage turned around

It drove around two long streets and stopped in front of a large house near the river.

Eight glass lanterns hung in front of the gate, and cars were parked under them.

The carriage shafts were either carved with cloud patterns or inlaid with spirit stones.

Even the horses pulling the carriage were covered in silver scales.

Li Ping lifted the carriage curtain and saw three large characters painted in gold above the lintel.

Listening to the Rain Garden

"The Shangguan family's gate is not easy to enter."

Chen Boyong stepped down from the carriage and looked up.

"Tonight's banquet follows the traditions of Jiangning."

"Now that you've entered the city, you must keep watch."

Li Ping followed and got off the carriage.

He was still wearing the same coarse cloth blouse stained with stove dust, and red marks from the friction of the iron chains remained on his wrists.

The gatekeeper, upon seeing Chen Boyong, hurriedly came to greet him.

"Your Excellency, you have finally arrived."

Please come inside quickly.

As he spoke, the manager's eyes swept over Li Ping.

He lowered his brow slightly.

Chen Boyong spoke up

"Bring a new person along so they can broaden their horizons."

"So this is the Prefect's distinguished guest."

The steward smiled even more respectfully.

Although he uttered words of invitation, his feet did not move an inch.

At the same time, his gaze remained firmly fixed on Li Ping's body.

"This young master looks unfamiliar. May I ask which cultivation sect he belongs to?"

Li Ping looked down at the clothes he was wearing.

"I was born in Xiyun County, and in the past, I worked as a night soil collector in the government office."

The manager's smile froze.

Chen Boyong glanced at Li Ping out of the corner of his eye.

"The newly appointed county magistrate of Xiyun County"

Only then did the manager relax and smile again.

However, tonight's main banquet will be attended entirely by Foundation Establishment stage immortal masters. If the county magistrate doesn't mind...

There was still an empty seat in the side hall.

外厅

Beyond this moon gate lies the main banquet area.

Before Li Ping could speak, Chen Boyong had already stepped inside.

"Since this is a rule set by the Shangguan family, then let's proceed according to this rule."

"His seat in any position will not affect his status as a county magistrate."

Li Ping stood there, watching his teacher's retreating figure.

This statement sounds like it's supporting him.

But in this garden, it feels like a fleeting, insignificant statement.

The person in charge immediately called a servant to come forward.

"Leading Lord Li to the very last seat to rest."

The servant bowed and led Li Ping around the main hall.

Inside the hall, the sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments were being played with great enthusiasm.

More than a dozen long tables were laid out along the waterside pavilion, with spiritual fruits piled up like small mountains on them.

A pale blue mist floated in the wine cup.

The monk sitting behind the desk wore bright robes, but his conversation was not about romance.

Rather, it refers to a specific mineral vein, a particular trade route, and how many spirit fields were harvested this year.

Li Ping walked past the gathered crowd.

Someone present recognized Chen Boyong, so they stood up and bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

Some people glanced at him once and then looked away.

He was led to the low table closest to the kitchen.

On the table was only a pot of cold wine and a dish of boiled beans in salt water.

Two rogue cultivators at the first level of Qi Refining were sitting nearby; their clothes had been washed until they were somewhat faded.

However, all of them wore the guest retainer tokens belonging to the Shangguan family at their waists.

After one of them saw Li Ping, he shifted his body slightly to the inside.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. May I ask which immortal mountain you cultivate on?"

"This person's cultivation level is Qi Refining Level 3, and he comes from Xiyun County."

The man's hand, holding the wine cup, paused.

"How can someone with only the third level of Qi Refining cultivation be allowed to enter the interior of this garden?"

Another person let out a sneer.

"They don't need cultivation."

"Didn't you see who they were following when they came in here? That's one of Prefect Chen's favorites."

"It's already a stroke of luck for a peasant like me to be able to cultivate qi, if it weren't for the prefect's influence."

"I'll never even get close to Tingyu Garden in my entire life."

Li Ping took the wine pot and poured himself a full cup of wine.

The wine is ice cold.

He didn't drink.

The hall suddenly fell silent.

A young man in a purple robe came down from the second floor.

The young man was approximately twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and a bluish-green jade pendant hung from his waist.

With each step taken, a spiritual light emanated from the soles of the boots, radiating outwards.

Behind him followed four armored guards, all of whom possessed the cultivation level of the late Qi Refining stage.

Shangguan Zhao

Li Ping did not recognize this person.

However, all the guests surrounding him stood up, and even the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been chatting happily gave him some face.

This alone is enough to prove his identity.

Shangguan Zhao raised his hand, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall.

Finally, it landed beside Chen Boyong.

"Uncle Chen, you have arrived here in person. Your nephew was unable to appear in time to greet you."

Chen Boyong held the glass of wine in his hand.

"Where's your father? Why doesn't he come out for a drink?"

"My father is currently at a crucial stage in breaking through a cultivation barrier, and he truly cannot detach himself from his affairs."

Shangguan Zhao smiled and said

"Tonight is just a gathering of the younger generation, and I, your nephew, am in charge of hosting them."

"The effect is exactly the same."

Chen Boyong did not respond to what the other party said.

Shangguan Zhao lowered his gaze and happened to see Li Ping at the last seat.

He was stunned for a moment at first, then a smile appeared on his face.

"Master Chen is surrounded by many spiritual masters, but this one looks unfamiliar."

"I wonder which family's outstanding talent this is?"

"My name is Li Ping, and I came here from Xiyun County."

Chen Boyong said

"He defended the city for me during the recent beast tide."

Shangguan Zhao drew out his voice.

"So that's the same Magistrate Li who led a bunch of peasants to keep wild animals out of the mountains for days?"

He stepped down the stairs and stopped in front of Li Ping's desk.

All eyes in the hall were drawn to this spot.

"I heard that Magistrate Li didn't even have a proper background before."

"Just a clerk copying books?"

"It is possible for a noble scion to emerge from a poor family and receive such care and attention from Uncle Chen."

"This is truly an immense blessing."

Li Ping stood up and bowed.

"Young Master Shangguan, you flatter me too much."

You've misunderstood; I wasn't praising you.

Shangguan Zhao's smile remained unchanged.

"I was actually praising and admiring Chen Shibo's magnanimity."

"Jiangbei County has countless talents, yet Uncle Shi prefers this kind of peasant."

"Opening up many avenues has truly broadened the horizons of this younger generation."

A few people couldn't contain themselves and let out very low laughter.

Shangguan Zhao looked down at Li Ping

"But the path to immortality is perilous; relying solely on knowing a few characters and using some clever tricks won't cut it."

"But he might not be able to save his life."

"Magistrate Li, do you think what I said is correct?"

The two rogue cultivators lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

Li Ping raised his eyes.

Shangguan Zhao has reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Any one of his four guards could easily kill him in this garden.

At this point, forcibly fighting for a breath is futile.

But he remembered that anger.

"The lesson that Young Master Shangguan taught us is indeed very correct."

Li Ping clasped his hands together and bent over even lower.

"Li is dull-witted; how could he possibly enter this garden?"

"It all depends on the teacher's rules."

"In the days to come, I will definitely stick to my duties and not bring shame or disgrace to my teacher."

Shangguan Zhao wanted to see him get angry.

What was unexpected was how readily Li Ping admitted to the matter, as if a heavy punch had been thrown into a pile of cotton.

The smile on his face faded slightly at that moment.

"Being able to recognize your place is a sign of intelligence."

"The water in Jiangning City is much deeper than the water in Xiyun County."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the head of the table.

"Shangguan Zhao, stop looking down on others with your dog-like eyes!"

A loud, reprimanding voice said