Fairy, help me cultivate.

Jiang Bailin was somewhat impatient.

Chen Yao asked, "Are we just going down there and into the city like this?"

Jiang Bailin thought for a moment, then released Chen Yao's wrist, not forgetting to glare at him again: "It's all your fault, you made me lose my composure!"

These words carried a strong sense of ambiguity. Chen Yao's ambiguous relationship with Su Ning had not yet ended, so he dared not say more about this.

Jiang Bailin realized that his words were inappropriate, put his hands on his hips and glared: "It's all because you refused to become my disciple!"

Chen Yao covered her ears: "Alright, you'd better tell me clearly what your plans were before."

"Alright, I've already infiltrated Jinchang City. You'll find out soon enough. Now... let me think..."

Jiang Bailin pressed his tiger's mouth against his fair chin, frowning as he thought seriously. Under the warm sun and clouds, he did indeed possess a charmingly mature beauty.

Chen Yao quietly admired it.

Jiang Bailin's beautiful eyes narrowed, meeting Chen Yao's gaze, so intense that Chen Yao unconsciously looked away.

She didn't think much of it, but was immersed in the process of thinking: "Whether it's Jiu Luo's aura or the Pang family's cultivation technique, they are both in the Jin Chang City Lord's mansion. But we are currently negotiating with the Pang family, so it's not advisable to break into the mansion. Therefore, we need to use an identity to enter the mansion to investigate."

"How do I borrow it? As a servant or handyman in the mansion?"

Jiang Bailin curled his lip: "Have you been watching too many plays? Even if you're a servant in the city lord's mansion now, without enough time and connections, you can't even get into the third ceremonial gate. What are you talking about for key buildings?"

"What should I do?"

Jiang Bailin thought for a moment: "Grandpa Jinlong is already here, how about this, you go find him..."

After giving a brief explanation, she gracefully floated down from the clouds and disappeared into the city of Jinchang below.

Chen Yao pondered for a moment, then landed and sheathed his sword in front of the manor ten miles outside Jinchang City.

The Foundation Establishment stage guards in front of the manor came forward: "Who dares to trespass into Lei Mansion?"

Chen Yao was taken aback, wondering if Jiang Bailin's words were reliable.

Wasn't the Golden Dragon Ancestor just here today? How come this mansion looks like it has always been the residence of a noble in Jinchang City?

"My name is Lei Tian, ​​and I am the nephew of Lord Lei Nu in another town."

He repeated what Professor Jiang Bailin had said.

The Foundation Establishment guards exchanged a glance: "Wait."

A moment later, a tall and imposing man, who was completely unlike the Golden Dragon Ancestor, walked out of the gate.

"Tian'er! Why are you so late! Your uncle has been waiting for you to death!"

The man immediately put his arm around Chen Yao's shoulder, appearing unusually intimate.

Chen Yao wanted to say a few polite words, but the man's words cut her off: "Alas, you've suffered so much. How did your family offend the Demonic Sect? But it's alright, once you're here with your uncle, you're home. In Jinchang City, we can still make a name for ourselves!"

As he spoke, the man pulled the bewildered Chen Yao into the magnificent lobby.

Chapter 138 Attending the Banquet

After exchanging pleasantries in the hall, the man who called himself Lei Nu led Chen Yao to a private study to talk.

"Ancestor?"

Chen Yao asked tentatively, because even Lei Nu, who called himself "Uncle," would not have any problem addressing him as "Ancestor."

Lei Nu nodded, his expression turning solemn: "It is I. However, given my current disguise, it is inconvenient for me to reveal my true identity."

He thought for a moment, and his joints creaked as the malevolent aura of the Golden Dragon Ancestor surged within the small study.

Now that his identity has been verified, Chen Yao understands that the malevolent aura unique to the Golden Dragon Ancestor cannot be faked.

He nodded: "Grandpa, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The Golden Dragon Ancestor restrained his murderous aura, and whether it was because he was pretending to be Lei Nu or because he looked at Chen Yao differently, his expression was very kind.

"Since Bai Lin sent you to find me, I suppose he wants me to arrange a way for you to enter the City Lord's Mansion. That's easy enough. However, I would like to remind you that we may not be able to achieve anything in Jinchang in the short term, so we need to be patient."

Chen Yao nodded: "I understand. I will follow the ancestor's arrangements."

"Well, it's good that you understand how difficult it is for us to operate under the enemy's nose. Let me give you a brief overview of the situation in Jinchang City."

Jinchang City was a relatively important vassal within the Pang clan's sphere of influence. Although it was called a vassal, the position of city lord was still firmly held in the hands of the Pang clan.

Therefore, the Jiang family wanted to find out the details of the Pang family, which is why they chose this city lord.

The current city lord of Jinchang City is named Pang Xi, an old Nascent Soul cultivator who has fallen from his previous realm.

Because of his fall from grace, his current strength is only at the late Golden Core stage.

"But don't underestimate him just because he's at the late Golden Core stage. Putting aside his past experience as a Nascent Soul cultivator, his abilities are also quite extraordinary."

The Golden Dragon Ancestor reminded Chen Yao.

Since his fall from grace, Pang Xi has been ostracized from the core circle of his family. After arriving in Jinchang, he began to give up on himself and indulge in sensual pleasures. Every night, a grand ball and debauched song and dance were held in the towering tower of the Jinchang City Lord's Mansion.

The people living in the city were bullied and exploited in every way, but strangely, not a single person dared to escape or rebel.

"Because in people's minds, Pangxi is almost an omnipotent and omniscient being."

The Golden Dragon Ancestor spoke with a solemn tone, clearly indicating that even he harbored deep apprehension towards Pang Xi because of this rumor.

There is no one in this world who knows everything and can do everything.

Chen Yao didn't believe it.

The Golden Dragon Ancestor nodded: "But to this day, no one has been able to figure out how Pang Xi planted such fear in the hearts of the city's people. According to my preliminary investigation, although he bullies and oppresses the people, he has not carried out any reign of terror."

"Illusion?"

“There is no indication that a spell has been cast.”

The Golden Dragon Ancestor paused, then changed the subject: "Let's not talk about that for now. Pang Xi has started to rest from that evil Pang family technique, so his strength may increase considerably. But he has fallen from his cultivation level, and his meridians are no longer what they used to be, so his true cultivation level probably won't change much. Our mission is to take advantage of attending the City Lord's ball to find out the inside story of Pang Xi and his technique, and then find an opportunity to investigate Jiu Luo's aura."

He pondered for a long time: "I was thinking, could it be that Pang Xi's rule over the city was aided by Jiu Luo... However, it shouldn't be, after all, Pang Xi has been the city lord for more than two hundred years, while Jiu Luo's aura only recently appeared in Jinchang City, from the city gate, to the central square, and finally disappeared in the city lord's mansion."

Chen Yao was only concerned about Jiu Luo's whereabouts: "If that's the case, Jiu Luo is indeed very likely in the City Lord's Mansion. So, Ancestor, shall we go to the ball tonight?"

The Golden Dragon Ancestor shook his head: "I need to spread the news of your arrival to the nobles in the city first, and then..."

He looked Chen Yao up and down a few times, then leaned closer and asked, "Can you dance?"

Chen Yao was taken aback, then shook his head: "No."

“Then you’ll just have to study for a while. As for news about Jiu Luo, don’t worry. It’s fine as long as she stays in the City Lord’s Mansion. Once she comes out, we’ll know. At that time, you can go after her directly, and you won’t need to try to get into the City Lord’s Mansion.”

Chen Yao agreed with his statement.

So, for the next ten days, Chen Yao actually started taking dance and etiquette classes with a dance teacher hired for him by the nobleman "Lei Nu" of Jinchang City.

This city of Jinchang is truly strange; its culture and customs are completely different from those outside...

Chen Yao always felt something was off after attending each class.

As he changed his clothes after the course ended, he pondered this.

The Golden Dragon Ancestor arrived at the spacious glass balcony: "I heard from your teacher that you have almost mastered the dance and etiquette. Get ready, change into the clothes I prepared for you, and let's go to the banquet!"

Chen Yao put on clothes that were a bit too gorgeous, boarded the gold-inlaid and jade-embroidered carriage, and sat on the velvet cushions.

A sleek, shiny blue-gray horse galloped towards the main city.

Is such extravagance really necessary?

Chen Yao had never worn such luxurious clothes before, and felt uncomfortable with them. He twisted his sleeves and said to the Golden Dragon Ancestor.

The Golden Dragon Ancestor showed no sign of being unaccustomed to the local customs: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

The carriage quickly entered the city. Chen Yao lifted the curtain and looked out, feeling that the lives of ordinary people in the city were completely out of place compared to the magnificent city walls he saw from outside.

Not to mention the filthy streets, the corners were crowded with beggars in tattered clothes and with listless expressions, and even the occasional city dweller walking by had a solemn expression, giving people an extremely oppressive feeling.

"This city of Jinchang always gives me the feeling that a golden exterior hides a bunch of maggots."

"It was Golden Dragon Ancestor speaking softly."

Chen Yao nodded: "All that glitters is not gold; it's rotten inside."

"That's a very good description."

Jinlong nodded to Chen Yao with a sense of sympathy.

The two chatted as the carriage arrived at the city lord's mansion, with its towering gold-inlaid arrow towers.

"Lord Lei Nu, accompanied by his son and nephew Lord Lei Tian, ​​attended the meeting—"

The Golden Dragon Ancestor led Chen Yao out of the carriage and handed the invitation to the eunuch at the gate who was announcing the fate. The eunuch shouted.

"He's more like a secular emperor."

Chen Yao said in a low voice.

"Tyrant, incompetent ruler."

The Golden Dragon Ancestor transmitted his voice.

The eunuch who was leading the group rushed over and led the two across the long city gate passage, through a wide and well-maintained magnificent road, and stopped in front of a giant building made of white jade spirit stone and composed of multiple towering spires.

The eunuch who was supposed to guide them disappeared.

As nobles gradually gathered here, the enormous, exquisitely carved gate suddenly swung open.

Colorful lights gradually spread out from the cracks in the door, and elegant, melodious music filled the air.

The reserved and proud nobles, with their necks stiff and heads held high, slowly strolled into the dazzling array of light sources.

"Let's go!"

Golden Dragon Ancestor and Chen Yao also followed them inside.

As soon as Chen Yao entered the gate, before he could even adjust to the blinding light, he felt himself being stared at by a pair of eyes that seemed to come from nowhere.

Chapter 139 The Lady in Full Dress

The feeling of being watched was fleeting, but it left a deep impression on Chen Yao. He was certain that this was not an illusion, so he turned to look at the Golden Dragon Ancestor and found that he also had the same wary look in his eyes.

"Be careful in everything you do; success doesn't have to be achieved in one battle."