"Your subordinate Fei Si seeks an audience with the City Lord."
Fei Si stood atop Fire Persimmon Mountain, bowing toward the thick clouds above him.
The rolling clouds parted like curtains, revealing the figure of the Fire Persimmon City Lord.
Fei Si slowly ascended, and after drawing closer, he saluted again and began to report the city’s affairs.
Most of the business within Fire Persimmon Immortal City was handled by him, with only significant matters reported to the City Lord.
The City Lord of Fire Persimmon Immortal City spent most of his time on personal cultivation.
As the only nascent soul cultivator in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, as long as he remained in good condition, the city remained stable.
Currently, the most critical matter was, of course, the Lava Immortal Palace.
The Dharma Transmission Bell incident had initially caught the City Lord off guard, but he soon took control personally, stationed atop the mountain amid the clouds, maintaining order.
Despite the frequent disturbances from the Lava Immortal Palace, he suppressed each uprising, preventing any serious turmoil.
Fei Si focused his report on the arrangements for the upcoming Fire Persimmon Festival.
The Fire Persimmon Festival was nearly upon them.
"Currently, nearly two thousand mechanical fire explosive monkeys have been manufactured."
"I have coordinated with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families, who will dispatch foundation establishment cultivators to control the fire explosive monkeys."
"Additionally, the current leader of the Monkey Head gang, Yuan Er, volunteered to participate in this task despite the risks."
"Out of respect for his loyalty, and considering the need for labor, I agreed to allow the Monkey Head gang to assist."
"Traditionally, during each Fire Persimmon Festival, the monkey pets from the gang have been the main force for harvesting the persimmons."
"Their participation also provides an extra layer of security."
"As for the campaign against the Shadow Demon Cultivators, I have made several arrangements, all documented in this jade slip."
The City Lord infused his divine sense into the jade slip, seeing detailed and orderly arrangements with several contingency plans.
The primary forces for the Shadow Demon Cultivator campaign would naturally come from the City Lord’s Mansion and the golden core cultivators of the Zhou and Zheng families.
The Ning Family Ancestor remained in secluded recovery but would appear as a backup force.
Since the appearance of the Shadow Demon Cultivators, Fei Si had represented the City Lord's Mansion in coordinating with the other three families to discuss the matter of extermination.
Through this pretext, the City Lord’s Mansion had united the three families together.
Fei Si, observing covertly, had found no signs of collusion between the three families and the Shadow Demon Cultivators.
"Proceed as planned," the City Lord approved after reviewing the arrangements.
The extermination plan did not include the City Lord himself.
The opposition consisted merely of a golden core cultivator, while Fire Persimmon Immortal City planned to deploy four golden core cultivators, more than sufficient for the task.
From the City Lord’s perspective, his continued presence atop the mountain was the wisest choice.
It was evident that the Shadow Demon Cultivators were striving to access the Lava Immortal Palace.
Their first attempt had been blocked by Zheng Shuangjun, and a second stealth attempt to reach the dungeon had been thwarted by Chi Dun, who carried the Alert Bell.
If they truly had allies, the third attempt—attacking the Purple Sun Courtyard and leaving behind a pill in the Fire Persimmon Forest—was clearly intended to lure the City Lord into capturing them.
The more desperately the enemy sought something, the less it could be allowed to succeed.
As long as the City Lord held his position atop the mountain, he would remain unassailable.
"My lord, there is another urgent matter I must report." Fei Si continued, "After his last failed challenge, Young Master Meng Chong has once again entered seclusion for intense training."
"His usage of Wild Sprint Thunderclap is excessively frequent; the energy expenditure is terrifying and cannot be sustained."
"This deeply worries your subordinate."
"I have repeatedly advised Young Master Meng Chong, but he remains set in his ways."
With that, Fei Si presented another jade slip.
Within it were records of Meng Chong’s latest training sessions.
His once sturdy physique was now unrecognizable.
He had grown noticeably gaunt, with prominent cheekbones and sunken eyes, though his gaze had sharpened, suggesting an impression of practicing demonic arts, burning life force for short-term power.
The City Lord smiled slightly. "Let him follow his own path, then."
Fei Si was taken aback, "City Lord, you…?"
The City Lord’s tone was contemplative, "Innate talent and nature are two sides of the same coin, fundamentally interconnected. Expressing one’s nature is a way of fully unleashing innate talent."
"The greater the innate talent, the more potent the natural impulses."
"Fully exercising one’s nature is the best way to unlock the full potential of innate talent."
"Now, tell me, how has Meng Chong progressed over the past month or two?"
Fei Si replied, "His progress has been astounding, leaving your subordinate in awe."
Indeed, that was the case.
Initially, Meng Chong couldn’t even avoid the Thousand-Pound Hammer Stand.
Later, he managed to evade the hammer, only to be caught by the golden thread net.
Eventually, he passed through the net but struggled with his speed, ending up sliced by fine threads.
After intensive training, he adapted completely to high-speed movement, becoming agile and swift, easily overcoming numerous obstacles.
The City Lord continued, "From the jade slip, I observe that he is on the brink of a breakthrough."
"Previously, he used Wild Sprint Thunderclap in a straightforward, monotonous manner. Now, he’s adjusting his breathing rhythmically."
"He is beginning to grasp the concept of moderation, of the ebb and flow."
"When he breaks through, he’ll gain a sense of rhythm—fast within slow, slow within fast—and increase his speed further."
"At that point, he will achieve balance. This embodies the cyclical nature of Yin and Yang, all things coming full circle."
Fei Si, suddenly enlightened, said, "I understand now."
"The nurturing of nature can enhance innate talent, and the progress of innate talent can refine nature."
"Previously, Young Master Meng Chong only knew to charge forward recklessly."
"This breakthrough will temper his nature, enabling him to balance force with restraint."
The City Lord smiled, "The path of cultivation is precisely that—when Yin reaches its extreme, Yang is born, and vice versa. When one reaches the limit, transformation occurs."
"Possessing supreme talent is the very seed of immortality, not something to be treated with conventional wisdom."
"Since he has fully unleashed his supreme talent, let him explore and develop it thoroughly. As his application of talent advances, his nature will also improve."
"Meng Chong has a cultivation path that is uniquely his own."
"As long as it does not endanger his life, we should refrain from undue interference."
"We should supply him with pills to replenish his strength as much as possible."
"Moreover, assemble a team to assist him in the future."
"The challenges of the Lava Immortal Palace cannot be tackled by a single individual."
"Cooperation is the true path to mastery. The Sage of the Three Sects was indeed a compassionate soul, aiming to save all beings."
Fei Si responded eagerly, "When Young Master Meng Chong altered his cultivation, the mansion had already organized thirty people to join in."
"After his first exploration, the reformation team was expanded to fifty members."
"Unfortunately, they mostly lack innate talent and are still progressing, with some distance left to reach the peak of the third layer."
"According to my information, our mansion’s reformation team is performing the best."
"The Zhou family ranks second due to their Spirit Mist Formation, while the Zheng family is third, and the Ning family is last."
The City Lord nodded, offering a faint word of praise, "Your work is thorough."
Fei Si beamed, about to respond when a voice suddenly rang out, "Meng Kui."
"Since you’ve grasped the cycle of Yin and Yang, why covet the Lava Immortal Palace? Aren’t you worried about going too far?"
"Who’s there?" Fei Si shouted angrily, releasing his divine sense to search for the intruder.
The Fire Persimmon City Lord appeared mildly surprised and gestured for Fei Si to remain calm.
The City Lord gazed toward the clouds on the right.
There, a figure slowly materialized.
It was a middle-aged man in a red brocade robe with black embroidery on the edges.
His face was square-shaped, and his pupils were deep black, dotted with golden light.
He did not conceal his golden core aura as he faced the City Lord and Fei Si, wearing a calm smile that subtly overshadowed them.
Seeing the familiar brocade robe and the insignia on the man’s waist indicating "Divine Constable Division," Fei Si’s eye twitched, and he hastily saluted, "Fei Si greets the divine constable. May I be so bold as to ask for your esteemed name?"
The man smiled slightly, "I am Zhu Xuanji."
"Zhu?" Fei Si’s heart stirred slightly as he considered, "The Zhu surname belongs to the royal family. Could this person…"
Zhu Xuanji nodded openly and confirmed, "You have guessed correctly. I am not only a member of the Divine Constable Division but also part of the Southern Bean Kingdom’s royal family."
"I am here to investigate the Lava Immortal Palace!"