"Loose cultivators?"

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "Let them wait in the main hall of Baiyu City."

"Yes!"

Chen Liancang quickly left, while Zheng Yi, attended by a palace maid, went to the inner chamber to bathe and change clothes.

Before long, under Chen Liancang’s guidance, a number of figures in various attires entered Baiyu City in single file.

The group was about a dozen people, distinctly divided into three factions.

As they advanced, they huddled together, occasionally glancing around.

They also quietly discussed something among themselves using secret techniques.

"What a majestic Imperial Palace!"

"The concentration of spiritual energy here is more than ten times that of the outside world! How is this possible?"

"Could it be that a cultivator is hidden deep within the palace?"

"As far as I know, Tianxingzi surrendered to Great Yu, and he is from the Celestial Secret Sect, which is best known for arrays!"

"A Spirit Gathering Array covering the entire palace? How could that be!"

"Hush! Follow my lead later."

"Alright..."

While whispering, Chen Liancang had already led several people into the main hall of Baiyu City.

"Please wait here, Your Majesty still has some matters to attend to and will receive you shortly."

Among the dozen or so people, an old man with white hair and beard smiled and said, "Please, fellow Daoists."

"Please."

As Chen Liancang retreated, a dozen palace maids filed in, served fragrant tea, and then left.

Amid the wafting tea aroma, the white-haired old man suddenly waved his hand, and a sound insulation array was immediately activated, enveloping the whole hall.

"Everyone, my sound insulation array can block out sound; feel free to communicate here."

"I will ask one more question, do all of you truly wish to join the Great Yu Immortal Dynasty?"

A bald man touched his head and chuckled, "Of course, but the premise... is whether Emperor Zhengyong is sincerely inviting us!"

"Early-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators get three spirit stones per month!"

"Middle-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators get five spirit stones per month!"

"Late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators get twenty spirit stones per month!"

"As long as the external rumors of such treatment are true, then of course, we would want to join this so-called Great Yu Immortal Dynasty!"

"Hehehe..."

Another old man in green laughed, "It’s not easy for us loose cultivators to practice; I’ve spent several decades, and at most I’ve only had a dozen or so spirit stones in my hands."

"What merits does this Emperor Zhengyong have to offer such lavish salaries?"

"The main point is, as long as you offer your soul power and ignite the soul fire, the benefits can even double!"

A woman dressed in red with an extremely charming face suddenly said, "I’ve heard that Emperor Zhengyong seems to have obtained the inheritance of the Nanke Immortal Mansion."

"The inheritance of the Nanke Immortal Mansion?"

"Is the legend of the Nanke Immortal Mansion true?"

"If not, where does this Emperor Zhengyong get so many spirit stones from?"

"Hiss... why is there no movement?"

"The Nanke Immortal Mansion, rumored to be the Sumeru Mini World of a great cultivator in the Spirit Realm, with countless treasures within!"

"Truly a stroke of luck for this Emperor Zhengyong!"

"Enough!"

The white-haired old man continued to ask, "What are your plans?"

"Elder Shi, what about you?"

"Me?"

The one referred to as Elder Shi’s eyes flashed as he said, "I don’t have much lifespan left; for the sake of my descendants, of course, the more the better."

"Are you going to offer your soul fire?!"

"Hehehe... naturally."

"You’re crazy! Offering your soul fire means your life and death are in the hands of Emperor Zhengyong, like a slave..."

"So what?"

Elder Shi said indifferently, "I don’t have much lifespan left; I naturally want to secure more spirit stone resources for my good grandson in the time I have remaining."

"I am a middle-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator; if I offer my soul fire, I can get ten spirit stones per month!"

"With these ten spirit stones as a base, coupled with the ability to cultivate in a place as rich in spiritual energy as the Capital City, maybe one day my grandson could also reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, hahaha..."

"Grandfather...!"

Beside Elder Shi, a young boy of fifteen or sixteen was full of excitement, not knowing what to say.

"Good child, don’t be sad; I’ve been clinging to life for so many years and have experienced everything."

"I had planned to find you a sect or family with prospects, but now it seems that this Great Yu Immortal Dynasty is the most suitable!"

"No matter what your thoughts are, this Great Yu Immortal Dynasty... I will enter meditation!"

"Elder Shi..."

Several people had flickering eyes, unsure of what they were thinking, and then fell silent.

They continued to wait, but after waiting for over half an hour, no one came.

Not to mention Emperor Zhengyong, even the eunuchs and palace maids were nowhere to be seen. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Elder Shi and other older loose cultivators remained calm and said nothing.

However, some young people or loose cultivators practicing special cultivation techniques became anxious.

"Why hasn’t anyone shown up? Where is Emperor Zhengyong?"

"This tea is indeed good, but surely we can’t just keep drinking tea!"

"Does Emperor Zhengyong have any sincerity at all?"

Several cultivators whispered among themselves, their eyes flickered, and some were sitting there, feeling a little restless, cautiously looking around.

"Everyone, be careful; if this Emperor Zhengyong harbors ill intentions..."

"Are you stupid? The other party is an emperor, and he’s offering such generous salaries."

"Exactly, other families or powers might rob each other, but why would the reigning emperor need to?"

The crowd was engaged in a low discussion, but four people with similar auras, men and women of varying ages, all stood up and said quietly, "Fellow Daoists, regarding today’s meeting with Emperor Zhengyong, we will not be participating."

"Everyone, until we meet again."

"Hmm?"

"Are the Four Ghosts of Shannan leaving? Why?"

"Hehehe, these four are demonic cultivators, experts in blood sacrifice, refining ghosts, and harming others, countless have died at their hands. It seems they are frightened now!"