Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 547 The Officialdom in the Cultivation World!

The next morning, just as Chen Fan awoke from his meditation, Qin Dao knocked on the door of the room.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, the city lord said he will take us to visit several officials in the capital today. Please prepare yourself; we will depart in a quarter of an hour."

Chen Fan responded, changed into a clean robe, hung Eleven around his waist, and pushed open the door.

Han Yueshan had been waiting in the courtyard for a long time. Today, he had changed into a brand-new black official robe, wore an iron crown, and had a jade belt around his waist. He looked much more energetic than usual.

However, a lingering melancholy was faintly visible between his brows, clearly indicating that he did not have high expectations for today's visit.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, please come with me." Han Yueshan forced a smile as he saw him come out. "The imperial city is not like the desolate state; there are some connections you can't avoid."

Chen Fan nodded without asking any further questions.

The three left the inn. Han Yueshan did not bring any attendants, only Chen Fan and Qin Dao.

He was clearly quite familiar with the capital city, and after wandering through the streets and alleys, he soon arrived at a very large mansion.

The mansion was grand and imposing, with two jade unicorns standing in front of it, and the plaque above the gate bearing the four gilded characters "Residence of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites".

Han Yueshan straightened his clothes and stepped forward to hand over his calling card.

The gatekeeper was a middle-aged cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage. He took the name card, glanced at it, grunted in response, and turned to go inside to report.

After waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the gatekeeper slowly strolled out and said, "The master is receiving guests in his study. Please follow me." He then led the three of them into the house.

The interior of the house was even more luxurious, with artificial mountains and streams, pavilions and towers arranged in a well-organized manner, and the ground was paved with top-grade spiritual jade, which felt slightly warm when stepped on.

After passing through three courtyards, we finally arrived at a study.

The study door was ajar, and laughter could be heard coming from inside, suggesting there were other guests present.

The gatekeeper went in first to announce their arrival, and came out a moment later saying, "The master said you can go in."

Han Yueshan straightened his sleeves and led Chen Fan and Qin Dao into the study.

Sitting in the study was a plump old man in a scarlet official robe, who looked to be in his sixties. He was at the Great Perfection of the Core Formation stage, had a goatee, a fleshy face, and his eyes were narrowed to slits.

Two guests sat beside him, a man and a woman, both at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, dressed in luxurious clothes and with arrogant expressions.

Han Yueshan stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble official, Han Yueshan, from Huangzhou City, greets Physician Ma."

The obese old man was Ma Wentong, a senior official in the Ministry of Rites, a powerful figure in charge of reviewing the eligibility of candidates for the national competition.

He held his teacup, not even lifting his eyelids, and simply hummed in response through his nose.

Han Yueshan took out a brocade box from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "This is a small gift of local specialties from the desolate state. Please accept it, Physician Ma."

Qin Dao stepped forward, took the brocade box, and placed it on the table next to Ma Wentong.

The lid of the brocade box was slightly lifted, revealing neatly arranged spirit stones and several spiritual herbs emanating spiritual energy.

This box alone is worth at least a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

Ma Wentong glanced at the brocade box out of the corner of his eye, his face remaining expressionless. He simply pushed the box aside and said indifferently:

"Lord Han has come from afar, and I should have treated him well, but I am currently very busy with official duties and simply cannot spare the time. Let's discuss this another day."

This is considered kicking someone out.

Han Yueshan's smile froze slightly, but he still respectfully cupped his hands and said:

"Yes, I will visit you another day."

After saying that, he led Chen Fan and Qin Dao out.

As soon as he stepped out of the house, Qin Dao couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath.

Han Yueshan waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "You're already losing your composure? There are still several more companies to come."

Chen Fan remained silent, simply following behind Han Yueshan.

That scene just now reminded him of the days when he served in the palace.

At that time, he was just an insignificant eunuch serving a master who was not in power. Whenever he sent gifts during festivals, the favored chief eunuchs would show him this kind of attitude!

He accepted the gifts, but didn't do anything about it, and wouldn't even give you a second glance. Later, when he came to power, those who had previously given him the cold shoulder knelt before him, kowtowing and behaving like dogs.

The officialdom in the cultivation world is not much different from that in the imperial palace in the mortal world.

No matter how high one's cultivation level is, one still has to bow one's head when necessary.

Unless you're so powerful that you don't need anyone's approval!

Just like those old monsters who have reached the Nascent Soul stage, they don't even bother to serve as offerings to the Zhao Kingdom, so naturally they don't need to bow and scrape to anyone.

Over the next two hours, Han Yueshan, along with Chen Fan and Qin Dao, visited three more officials.

One of them was a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel, who was in charge of evaluating officials in various prefectures and counties.

Han Yueshan presented a box of spirit stones and two 300-year-old spirit herbs. The other party accepted them, but only said a few polite but indifferent words. He didn't even let Han Yueshan finish his tea before serving him tea and seeing him off.

One of them was a senior official in the Ministry of War, in charge of issuing the talismans that restricted the Ten Thousand Demon Valley.

This man was even more arrogant than the previous two. He didn't even let them in the door, only had the butler come out to accept the gifts, said "Master understands," and then dismissed the three of them.

The last person was the Director of the Revenue Department, who was in charge of approving and distributing national rewards. Han Yueshan waited at the door for almost half an hour before being summoned. After entering, he said less than five sentences before the other party said that he was too busy to entertain him that day, so Han Yueshan could only leave his gifts and take his leave.

Chen Fan didn't say a word from beginning to end.

Han Yueshan always acted obsequiously and cautiously in front of every official, fearing that he might offend someone by saying the wrong thing.

His humble and subservient demeanor was a stark contrast to the imposing presence he exuded as the Iron-Crowned Scholar in the Desolate Continent City.

It was noon when I left the last official's residence.

Under the blazing sun, the spiritual energy on the streets of the imperial city rose in a thin, almost imperceptible mist.

Han Yueshan stood on the side of the street, exhaling a long breath of stale air, beads of sweat sliding down his temples.

Qin Dao handed over a handkerchief and said in a low voice, "City Lord, why don't we find a place to rest first?"

Han Yueshan took the handkerchief, wiped his sweat, and shook his head: "No need, let's go straight back to the inn. There are still two more places to visit this afternoon, we need to finish before sunset."

Qin Dao gritted his teeth, finally unable to hold back: "City Lord, the gifts we gave add up to at least tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, and these people accepted them without even giving us a second glance. What kind of behavior is this..."

"What's this?" Han Yueshan interrupted him with a bitter smile. "This is the officialdom. The Great Yu Cultivation Kingdom has thirty-six prefectures, and the resources allocated by the imperial court each year are limited. Who gets them, who gets more, and who gets less, all depends on the word of these officials in the capital. Our desolate prefecture ranks last and has no foundation in the court. Why should they give us a good face?"

"I've been the city lord of Desolate Continent for over a hundred years. While my cultivation isn't weak, in the eyes of these officials from the capital, I'm nothing more than a bumpkin from a remote, impoverished area. Their power is more valuable than their cultivation. If you don't serve them well, forget about national resources; they might even block your access to the talismans of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley for ten days to half a month. Then, while other prefectures are already hunting demon beasts, we'll still be waiting in line outside—that would be a real joke."

Qin Dao was silent for a moment, then said in a muffled voice, "City Lord, I don't understand. Aren't we cultivators meant to avoid this kind of humiliation? We cultivate immortality our whole lives, only to end up having to be subservient to others. What's the point of cultivating immortality then?"