I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

He Chong took a sip of tea, treating the visitor with indifference.

"Hello, hello, my name is Du Ming, and I'm a singer with a bit of popularity."

The other party shook hands with Lu Ban.

"Du Ming...singer..."

Lu Ban suddenly realized something.

He recalled what he had seen while researching at the Jiangcheng Library.

Du Danping was born into a musical family and was immersed in music from a young age, developing an excellent musical sense...

Du Danping, Du Ming, Jiang Cheng, superpowers.

It seems like there's some connection between them.

Is Du Danping not only a chosen one of God, but also a successor of this lowly sect?

Du Danping's musical talent wasn't something he developed after becoming a Chosen One like Lu Ban; he was a musical genius from the start. Thinking about it that way, he might really be a child from a traditional family with supernatural abilities.

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Seeing that Lu Ban's expression was somewhat subtle, Du Ming asked him.

"It's nothing. If your child wants to learn piano in the future, I suggest breaking his legs."

Lu Ban said decisively.

"Ok?"

Du Ming was somewhat puzzled, but quickly replied.

"There are too many people and too much chatter here, why don't you come to my house for a while?"

He Chong finished his tea and stood up.

After Du Ming paid the bill, the three of them got into his car.

Du Ming didn't have a driver, so he drove himself. He Chong sat in the passenger seat, while Lu Ban sat in the back.

"Let me reintroduce myself. This is the storyteller, Du Ming."

The popular singer glanced at Lu Ban in the rearview mirror.

"Can a storyteller really become a singer?"

Lu Ban couldn't help but feel curious.

"Nobody listens to storytelling anymore. Well, it's not that no one does, but they're all old stories. If you try to add anything else, you'll get arrested and shot."

Du Ming smiled.

"What a chaotic world."

He Chong sighed.

Outside the car window, you can see beggars asking for money, and indifferent pedestrians coming and going, only showing awe when they see the police maintaining order.

Du Ming's courtyard is located on the banks of the Lingjiang River. It is grand and exquisite. In modern times, it would be the most expensive place to live. Most of the residents here are wealthy people, which gives Lu Ban a sense of a deserted city.

"Qingyun, take Asheng to the next room."

Back home, Du Ming told his wife and children to leave.

Lu Ban glanced at the child again; he had delicate features and would probably grow up to be a handsome young man.

"This time, the Xuanjun competition has attracted a lot of people and has received a certain amount of attention. I have a bad feeling about it."

Du Ming sat down and then spoke.

"focus on?"

Lu Ban was like a curious child, asking questions at will.

"Some people are aware of the underlying issues as well as the public ones. With the current turbulent situation, there are quite a few people who want to win us over."

Du Ming took out cigarettes and matches, offered one to He Chong, but Lu Ban waved his hand and refused.

Seeing this, Du Ming struck a match, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, waited for the smoke to fill his lungs, and then exhaled a long breath.

"Moreover, I have heard that people from the West are also very interested in Xuanjun."

"Foreigners don't know anything."

He Chong took off his sunglasses, revealing deep, clear eyes that were as sharp as a spring.

"Let me make it clear beforehand that I don't want to be a Xuanjun. I'm a singer now, with a good income and a good reputation. I don't have time to deal with those things."

Du Ming added.

"?"

Lu Ban couldn't help but ask a question.

All of you are so eager to slack off, do you think the task is going to be very easy?

I'll choose it again next time.

"However, we are in a time of turmoil. If the position of Xuanjun were to fall into the hands of some people with ulterior motives, we would be ashamed before our ancestors."

Du Ming then changed the subject, giving off a feeling that "I really didn't want to become a Xuanjun, but the others are just too incompetent."

"Of course, I'm not talking about the two of you. If you can support me in becoming a Xuanjun, I will definitely repay you with gratitude."

Isn't that a coincidence?

Lu Ban looked at He Chong. This person with Yin-Yang eyes also liked to lie flat. Supporting Du Ming seemed like a good choice.

"Brother Du, how long has it been since you last picked up a gavel?"

However, He Chong did not nod, but said quietly.

What does it matter?

Du Ming countered with a question.

"In the end, the position of Xuanjun is still held by the most capable. Even if I support you, it's useless if you can't even beat the others."

He Chong glanced at Du Ming.

“I have no interest in the position of Xuanjun, but if, as you say, someone covets this position, then I wouldn’t mind taking the bait.”

"?"

Lu Ban was confused again. These people had said they didn't want to be in the position before, but now they were giving all sorts of reasons why they had to be in it. Were they just playing games?

"In that case, I also want to become a Mystic Lord."

Lu Ban suddenly said.

Du Ming and He Chong both looked at him at the same time.

"The atmosphere is right. If I don't say this, wouldn't I seem like a complete outsider?"

Lu Ban spoke with righteous indignation.

I don't know how to handle two grown men.

"...Let's see tonight first. At midnight, at the Jiangcheng Theater, we brothers will get together to discuss Xuanjun's matter."

Du Ming remained silent for a moment before speaking.

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a knock on the door.

“Mr. Lü has come again. I told him to wait in the reception room.”

It was the voice of Du Ming's wife.

"I see."

Du Ming took a deep drag on his cigarette, the crimson smoke suddenly engulfing a large portion of it. Then, through the haze, Du Ming spoke.

"This is the mayor's secretary. As I said, even influential people want to get involved. In this day and age, who doesn't want to expand their power? Would you like to go and meet him together?"

"No, I have good eyesight and can't stand too much filth."

He Chong shook his head.

Lu Ban did indeed follow.

In the reception room, a thin man dressed smartly was holding a teacup. When he saw Du Ming arrive, he immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.

After some pleasantries, the other party got down to business.

“Mr. Du, our biggest concern about your situation is that it might affect other citizens. If you need help, we can send someone to make room for you, or…”

Before the man with the gold-rimmed glasses could finish speaking, Du Ming raised his hand to interrupt him.

“Mr. Lü, there’s no need to trouble you with that. We know what we’re doing and won’t interfere with anyone else. As for any other help, I, Du, am not at that level yet.”

The secretary said a few more words, but Du Ming seemed unwilling to discuss anything further, and soon the secretary slunk away.

"They're dreaming."

After the other party left, Du Ming sighed.

What's the problem here?

Lu Ban felt that Du Ming must not have refused these people's help because of his desire for fairness, impartiality, and transparency; there must have been other reasons.

"Heh, you're young, so your elders probably haven't told you that the position of Xuanjun isn't just about managing things. Whoever becomes Xuanjun will inherit the Xuanjun's legacy, which includes methods for ascension and immortality. These things aren't very useful to the Xuanjun himself, but they're coveted by ordinary people."

Du Ming explained slowly.

"I suppose those foreigners came for these things too. There's more to Jiangcheng Mountain than just these."

"Immortality, ascension?"

Lu Ban immediately thought of Daoist Heming. In this foreign land, such words were definitely not good.

"They claim to be helping, but in reality they just want to plunder wealth and steal the secret to immortality; they're nothing but a bunch of thieves."

Du Ming chuckled softly, flicking off the ash from his cigarette.

Chapter 552 Gathering of the Nine Schools