Arriving outside Guzhu City, Li Jizhou bid farewell to Duke Zhen and entered Guzhu City with Hong Luan.
Twenty years this life, thirty years the last, fifty years have passed with little change; the city is still the same city, but the people are no longer the same people.
This time, Li Jizhou went directly to the lush Bamboo Sea in the north of Guzhu City.
This is where Guzhu True Monarch resides, but to enter the Bamboo Sea, one must pass through the City Lord's Mansion beneath Guzhu City.
He remembered when he first came to Guzhu City in his past life, Guzhu True Monarch had already been in seclusion for two hundred years, striving for Divinity Transformation, and now it's nearing three hundred years.
"Permanent residence, resource exchange, applications for Spirit Gathering Array qualifications are all handled in the side hall; unauthorized persons are not allowed into the City Lord's Mansion."
Just as Li Jizhou reached the entrance of the main hall of the City Lord's Mansion, a guard raised his hand to stop him.
"I am here to visit Guzhu True Monarch, report at once!" Li Jizhou's expression was calm, his voice indifferent.
The guard's eyes widened instantly, staring at Li Jizhou incredulously.
After sensing repeatedly, he confirmed that Li Jizhou was at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, while he himself was a newly-promoted Fake Pill Master.
"How dare you! Guzhu True Monarch is not someone for you to..."
Yet before finishing, his expression changed dramatically, as if frozen in place, his eyes terrified as they slowly turned to Hong Luan behind Li Jizhou.
This heart-palpitating feeling was even stronger than the current acting City Lord Nie Qingyuan by at least tenfold.
Just as his mind was about to collapse, suddenly an urgent voice came through.
"Esteemed senior, your grand arrival caught me unprepared, please pardon me!" An elderly, frail, thin, blue-robed man flew over respectfully.
His gaze flickered several times on Hong Luan, whose presence exceeded that of his master Guzhu True Monarch, before settling on Li Jizhou, clearly differentiating between primary and secondary roles.
He was secretly stunned.
A woman at least at Nascent Soul Peak appearing to be a servant for a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator?
"No worry, take me to see Guzhu True Monarch." Li Jizhou waved nonchalantly.
His posture was unreserved, clearly indicating the master's identity.
Nie Qingyuan hesitated slightly, having been stuck on the Peak of Core Formation for over three hundred years, with little life left, yet entrusted by Guzhu True Monarch as the acting City Lord due to his conduct.
Normally, when seniors at Nascent Soul Stage visit Guzhu City, he has the authority to receive them in place of his master. His master's seclusion isn't kept secret, and most are aware, rarely troubling him.
But now, Li Jizhou specified wanting to see Guzhu True Monarch, making things difficult.
"The young master may not know, my master is in seclusion, striving for Divinity Transformation Realm for almost three hundred years now; it's a crucial moment, not very convenient. However, if the young master has any needs, feel free to ask, I will do my utmost," Nie Qingyuan hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.
"I wish to focus on cultivation in the Bamboo Garden, can you make such a decision?" Li Jizhou spoke bluntly.
The reason for staying away from Qianji City is due to the shielding treasure against bloodline sense not being foolproof, and concerns about Dragon Aspect and Consort Rong persistently probing the marsh.
Only by completely distancing from the region near Jiuli Dynasty can they truly escape the royal vortex.
Of course, coming here is also to search for Gua Gua.
This place is relatively lacking in spiritual energy; the most abundant place in all of Guzhu City is the Bamboo Sea where Guzhu True Monarch is in seclusion, Tier Four advanced Spirit Vein, adequately supporting his cultivation of "Cyan Emperor Creation Skill" without waste.
As soon as Li Jizhou finished speaking, Nie Qingyuan's heart jumped.
Here to seize this cultivation ground?
Thinking further, that couldn't be right; given the Nascent Soul Peak as a servant, how could they covet Guzhu City's highest Tier Four Holy City?
"Please wait a moment, I will personally report to the master!" Nie Qingyuan ultimately decided to let the master decide.
The person before him probably has an extraordinary background, beyond what he can offend.
Even his master likely couldn't compete against the forces behind this individual.
Li Jizhou nodded, watching Nie Qingyuan depart quickly.
"Young master, Hongling has a request." Not long after Nie Qingyuan left, Liu Hongling's voice came from the Blood Evil Realm.
Li Jizhou understood her concerns; fifty years ago, Cangming Dynasty commissioned the Shangguan family from Eastern Desolation Central Domain to dispatch two Nascent Soul masters to capture An Liuli and Liu Hongling, Liu Hongling has always been worried about her clan, now returning to Guzhu City, her heart is naturally uneasy.
"Rest assured, once we're settled, I'll assist you in visiting the Liu family."
Liu Hongling's Divine Soul Forbidden Spell was cast by Cangming Dynasty's left Chancellor, Hong Guangxiao; with Hong Guangxiao's Void Refining Realm's Divine Soul Forbidden Spell, non-Harmonization Dao experts cannot resolve it, so she can only stay within the Blood Evil Realm to avoid being killed by the curse.
"Thank you, young master!" Liu Hongling was grateful, but even more bewildered.
Three years ago in Yunzhou, Li Jizhou had Hong Luan send her a message, directly revealing her identity, even bringing up Master Huangshi back then.
It greatly shocked her.
Currently, Li Jizhou even knew about her clan members in Guzhu City.
This man, could it be the reincarnation of Master Huangshi, who greatly benefited her in the past?
Considering this, Liu Hongling shook her own head.
When Li Jizhou was killed by the ancestor of the Shangguan family twenty years ago in Yan Kingdom of Eastern Desolation, he was only at the Peak of Core Formation, not yet capable of seizing a body, and as for reincarnation... That is a legendary Secret Skill mastered only by Heavenly Lords beyond the Reincarnation Law, even a Quasi-Immortal Monarch cannot guarantee it.
In the end, Liu Hongling gave up thinking wildly; at present, such thoughts are useless, and had it not been for the young master's aid in Yunzhou, she would have remained a tool for Cangming Dynasty, perhaps even killed one day.
Before long, a stern voice echoed.
"Fellow Daoist, what brings you to see this old man? Please come in."
Li Jizhou raised an eyebrow; is Guzhu True Monarch still putting on airs?
He decided not to dwell on it, taking Hong Luan with him and swiftly flying into the Bamboo Sea.
Soon, outside a wooden house in the center of the Bamboo Sea, Li Jizhou met the famous Guzhu True Monarch from his past life.
Wearing a bamboo-colored robe, his complexion was rosy, looking healthier than his senior disciple, Nie Qingyuan.
However, with a slight probe from Hong Luan's Divine Sense, she confirmed he hadn't achieved Divinity Transformation!
"Guzhu True Monarch, it's an honor to meet you." Li Jizhou walked forward generously and sat down.
Guzhu True Monarch maintained a calm expression, though his heart grew wary.
Just as his senior disciple described, this youth must have an extraordinary background.
A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator meeting a senior at Nascent Soul Peak could still remain so composed; he must have grown accustomed to seeing Nascent Soul True Monarchs and perhaps even Divinity Transformation Dao Lords frequently.
Regarding the woman behind him, whom Nie Qingyuan couldn't sense, he could—with difficulty, a half-demon beyond his capabilities.
Despite the wariness, he breathed a sigh of relief, given his status, there was no possibility of contention for this cultivation ground.
After some quick pondering, Guzhu True Monarch displayed a hint of respect on his face, unprecedented for Nie Qingyuan: "May I ask what the young master intends to do?"
"I wish to borrow this place for deep meditation for a while, but there's no need to worry, you may continue your seclusion." Li Jizhou confessed.
"..." Guzhu True Monarch was slightly dazed.
Does this tone suggest I should even be grateful for being allowed to continue my seclusion?
"How long does the young master wish to meditate?" Guzhu True Monarch forcibly suppressed his inner disdain.
Hong Luan stepped forward, picking up Guzhu True Monarch's teapot, pouring a cup for Li Jizhou, then respectfully offered it to him.
Li Jizhou lightly pinched the teacup, sipped slightly, then raised his head to gaze at the sky: "Short—three to five years, long—thirty to fifty years!"