Chapter 1225: Chapter 1224: Old, Can’t Keep Up with The Times

Zhongshan County, Governor Mansion’s rooftop.

The Governor Mansion was the tallest building in Zhongshan County. Standing here, County Magistrate Zhou could see the entirety of Zhongshan County’s beautiful scenery without any obstruction.

He reached out as if trying to grasp the nearby street scene, as though he could control the entire Zhongshan County with just a stretch of his hand.

The cool night breeze brushed through, stirring his thoughts.

He recalled Man Gu’s performance during the meeting tonight and could not help but clench his fists tightly, making them creak.

"With Man Gu here, this Zhongshan County is probably not mine alone."

"Sir, Man Gu was really disrespectful to you at the meeting," Zhou Hai’s personal guard stood behind him, expressing indignation on his behalf.

County Magistrate Zhou shook his head and laughed it off, "After all, he is a disciple from the Seek Dao Sect and the current top scorer. It’s normal for him to be arrogant and not take someone like me, the county magistrate, seriously."

A hint of coldness flashed through County Magistrate Zhou’s eyes, "But he also needs to know that it took me a hundred years to rise to this position today, and it was certainly not by being kind-hearted!"

"Even if he is a disciple from the Seek Dao Sect, after all, this world ultimately belongs to Great Xia, and the Seek Dao Sect is just one of the five Immortal Sects."

"Once in the official circles of Wild State, you need to follow the rules of Wild State’s official circles."

He had connections all over the official circles of Wild State!

Thinking of this, County Magistrate Zhou subconsciously touched the Storage Ring on his middle finger, his trump card in navigating through Wild State’s official circles.

"Where is the Storage Ring?!"

County Magistrate Zhou suddenly widened his eyes; his Storage Ring had disappeared without a trace!

That was something he absolutely could not allow others to get their hands on!

...

After the night shift, on the way back to the Government Office, Lu Yang looked at the streets, which were slightly busier than usual in the early morning, and felt puzzled.

"Old Meng, have you noticed that there seem to be more outsiders coming to our county?"

Quyi County wasn’t a tourist attraction, and logically, there shouldn’t be so many outsiders.

"Indeed, there are quite a few more, and have you noticed? All these people are cultivators, from the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, to the Spirit Transformation realms."

Compared to the number of mortals, cultivators were extremely rare. The sudden influx of so many cultivators suggested that this matter was probably not so simple.

After returning to the Government Office, the two decided to inquire with Man Gu.

"Oh, the increase in the number of cultivators? It’s because there’s a Secret Realm about to open," explained Man Gu.

"We have a Secret Realm in our county?"

"No, not here. There’s a Secret Realm left behind by a cultivator from the beginning of the Great Xia period on a mountain not far from our county. It’s called the Four Treasures Secret Realm."

Man Gu walked to the courtyard, pointing towards a distant mountain. It was early morning, and a misty fog enveloped the mountain, adding a mysterious aura to it.

"It’s that mountain over there, called West Mountain. Deep in West Mountain, there lies a Secret Realm."

"The Four Treasures Secret Realm opens once every hundred years. The Secret Realm has three levels, corresponding to the Golden Core Stage, the Nascent Soul Stage, and the Spirit Transformation Stage. Cultivators from these three realms can all participate in the trials of the Secret Realm."

"The counties near West Mountain will see a rise in cultivator appearances, and it will be lively for a while."

"We’ve only just reached the Spirit Transformation Stage," lamented Lu Yang and his companion, wishing there was a Tribulation-Passing Level Secret Realm that they could try to venture into.

The highest was Spirit Transformation Stage, so they wouldn’t interfere.

"Little Yang is really naive; only an Immortal can create a Tribulation-Passing Level Secret Realm."

"That’s also true, this level of Secret Realm isn’t something you just stumble upon."

"Even if you do run into it, there’s no need to go, right?" Fairy Eternity said matter-of-factly, "After all, it’s built by Immortals. If you want the rewards from the Secret Realm, just find the Immortal who built it and ask directly for the rewards."

"Uh, that’s not necessary either." Lu Yang, with his thin skin, could not bring himself to do such a thing.

In the following days, more and more cultivators arrived in Quyi County. Although there were many cultivators, probably because they did not want to cause trouble before the opening of the Secret Realm, they all behaved themselves, and the public order in Quyi County remained as usual.

Lu Yang and another strolled on the streets during the day, occasionally hearing exclamations.

"Look, that’s Kong Wen from White Horse Temple, it’s said that he has mastered one of the Six Spiritual Powers of Buddhism, Telepathy, no schemes can hide from him!"

"Master Shi Chan from the Suspension Temple highly praises him."

Draped in a kasaya, Kong Wen held one hand upright at his chest, chanting the Diamond Sutra, seemingly oblivious to the exclamations around him.

"The Azure Dragon Saint Son from the Quadruple Sect is also here, his Azure Dragon Killing Skill is recognized as unparalleled in this age, even comparable to a Sword Cultivator!"

"The Quadruple Sect even purchased Dragon’s Blood for him. After bathing in the Dragon’s Blood, his Azure Dragon Killing Skill has reached an initial mastery. Magic artifacts can hardly harm him!"

The Azure Dragon Saint Son, a muscular man with dragon horns, was a Dragon-man, followed by many followers.

"The Eldest Senior Brother from the Tinghai Sect is here too. Ever since most of the high-ranking members of Tinghai Sect were captured, it has been in decline. It’s said that the remaining leaders abandoned their differences, stopped their backstabbing, and started nurturing him as a seed of revival!"

"There’s also the Holy Daughter from the Seven Star Holy Land, rumoured to possibly be the next Lan Ting..."

"A direct disciple of the Sect Leader from the Shura Sect..."

Lu Yang and his companion exchanged glances, seemingly not recognizing any of these people.

"We’re old, out of touch with the times." Lu Yang sighed, his back to his companion; despite the reactions of the people around, he didn’t recognize anyone, surely a sign these were all rising talents.

"Time flies, leaving no one behind." Meng Jingzhou also shook his head and sighed.

"Wait, these people are about our age, and some are even older, like this Azure Dragon Saint Son."

Meng Jingzhou, using his Spiritual Sense with a slight probe, could determine the bone age of these individuals, all peers.

Having heard Old Meng say this, Lu Yang remembered; they had seen the Azure Dragon Saint Son for the first time, but had met the White Tiger Saint Heir during their Foundation Establishment Stage at the borders of Great Xia.

At that time, Lu Yang had just learned Imitation Fist and had kindly shaved the White Tiger Saint Heir’s head.

"Peers are only at the Spirit Transformation Stage." Lu Yang had thought peers would at least be at the Void Refinement Stage.

At least the peers he saw were all at the Void Refinement Stage, like Man Gu, Li Haoran, Tao Yaoye, Lan Ting, Shi Chan, etc.

Even Zhao Po was at the Void Refinement Stage.

"Boss, two fried dough sticks please." Passing by a stand, they suddenly felt hungry.

"Ah, this is the downside of cultivating too quickly, no common language with peers." Both sighed one after another; perhaps this was the cost of reaching the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.

Kong Wen and two constables brushed past, his pupils suddenly shrinking.

Due to his Telepathy just developing, he couldn’t yet control it well. He continuously used Telepathy to hear the thoughts of those around him.

But the minds of these two constables were terrifyingly calm, completely silent to his powers!

Who are they?!

Lu Yang, eating his fried dough stick, noticed Kong Wen using Telepathy on him and flashed a profound, inscrutable smile.

The two passed by Kong Wen, who stood frozen, the sound of one of their telepathic messages echoing in his mind.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t speak of our affair to anyone."