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

Chapter 575 The Reason? Qin Taiyue's Plan!

Wang Zhenyue said no more, turned around and transformed into a streak of crimson light, disappearing into the sky.

Wang Zhennan glared fiercely at Chen Fan, his eyes filled with such venom that he seemed to want to devour Chen Fan alive, but in the end he gritted his teeth and left with Wang Zhenyue.

With the departure of the two Nascent Soul Grandmasters, the terrifying pressure that had enveloped the Forbidden Garden dissipated by more than half. The cultivators from various prefectures breathed a sigh of relief, many of them their backs drenched in cold sweat.

On the high platform of the Forbidden Garden, Qin Taiyue sat back down in his purple-gold official chair, his face still as stern as ever, as if the confrontation just now had never happened.

He waved his hand, signaling the stewards behind him to continue handling the aftermath of the national competition, while he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly scanned the water mirror with his gaze.

Chen Fan stood on the plain, looking in the direction where the two Nascent Soul ancestors of the Wang family had disappeared, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

What happened just now seemed calm, but was actually extremely dangerous. If Qin Taiyue hadn't made a move, he would have already been preparing to use the golden bowl to escape.

However, if he did that, he would be completely out of the running for selection by the Zhao state, and all his previous plans would be in vain.

Now that Qin Taiyue has stepped in to protect him, although it is only temporary, at least he has secured the opportunity to go to the State of Zhao.

As for how the Wang family would hunt him down after the Zhao state's selection process was over, that's a matter for later.

If he can obtain the tribute token in the selection of the Zhao state at that time, he will be a member of the Zhao royal family, and the royal family will have to think twice before trying to touch him.

If they can't get the offering token, they can always resort to the same old trick and hide with the golden bowl.

With Tiannanxing being so vast, he didn't believe the Wang family could find him.

However, one thing surprised him quite a bit.

Why did Qin Taiyue want to protect him?

According to this person himself, it was because he was the top scorer in the national competition and needed to represent Yu the Great in the selection process for the State of Zhao.

The reason is reasonable, but upon closer inspection, something just doesn't feel right.

Wang Teng was also a candidate from Youzhou. With Wang Teng dead, the points from Youzhou would naturally fall to other people. The court could send someone else to Zhao, and it wasn't necessarily the case that he was indispensable.

Qin Taiyue offended the royal family for the sake of winning first place in the national competition; the price was far too high.

Unless, in Qin Taiyue's view, the possibility of Chen Fan winning the position of honor in the Zhao State selection was far more important than the Wang family's reputation.

Or perhaps Qin Taiyue had other plans.

Chen Fan went through these thoughts in his mind, but showed no sign of it on his face.

He straightened his robes and turned to walk towards the ranks of the desolate state.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, I heard a series of hurried footsteps behind me.

"Guest Minister Chen!" Han Yueshan strode after him, his face filled with relief at surviving the ordeal and barely concealed excitement. "That was truly a close call! If it weren't for Minister Qin's intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Guest Minister Chen, you've survived such a calamity; you're sure to have good fortune in the future!"

Qin Dao followed behind Han Yueshan, grinning from ear to ear: "Fellow Daoist Chen, I, Old Qin, almost rushed up to fight you to the death just now! Luckily, the city lord held me back, otherwise I'd probably be a pile of charred remains by now!"

Chen Fan glanced at Qin Dao and nodded slightly, acknowledging the gesture.

Golden Sword Master and Medicine Master also stepped forward and offered their congratulations.

Although Tie Zhenshan and Sha Wanli were still somewhat awkward, they both clasped their hands in greeting, their attitudes being many times better than before they entered the valley.

Ma Chengkong, along with four Nascent Soul cultivators from Liangzhou, watched from afar, wanting to approach and speak to them several times, but ultimately dared not get close.

Just then, a steward dressed in black robes strode down from the high platform, went straight to Chen Fan, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, Minister Qin requests your presence for a chat."

Upon hearing this, the surroundings immediately quieted down.

Han Yueshan and Qin Dao exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of unease in each other's eyes!

After all, although Qin Taiyue had protected Chen Fan earlier, who knew whether this private meeting would bring good or bad fortune?

Chen Fan remained expressionless and cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for leading the way."

The black-robed steward stepped aside to lead the way, guiding Chen Fan through the crowd and towards a bamboo grove behind the high platform of the Forbidden Garden.

The bamboo grove is serene and secluded, a world apart from the hustle and bustle outside the Forbidden Garden.

The forest path is paved with white pebbles, and tall, slender bamboos stand on both sides, their leaves rustling in the night breeze. Moonlight filters through the leaves, scattering silver fragments across the ground.

At the end of the path was a simple bamboo house, with a spirit lamp hanging in front of it, and a stone table and two stone chairs placed under the lamp.

Qin Taiyue had changed out of his official robes and was now wearing a moon-white long gown, sitting at a stone table brewing tea.

His tea-brewing technique is quite particular. He first washes the tea three times with spiritual spring water, then slowly brews it over a low flame. The tea has a delicate and lingering aroma that permeates the forest.

"Sit down." Qin Taiyue gestured to the stone chair opposite him, his tone casual, as if he were greeting an old friend.

Chen Fan cupped his hands in greeting and sat down opposite him.

Qin Taiyue picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of spiritual tea. The tea soup was emerald green and clear, with a misty spiritual aura. It was clearly a fourth-grade Biluochun tea.

It was even better than the pot of wine that Han Yueshan had served him in the desolate city.

Chen Fan picked up his teacup and took a sip. He felt a gentle spiritual energy slide down his throat into his dantian, making him feel much more comfortable.

"Good tea," he said calmly, setting down his teacup.

Qin Taiyue also picked up his teacup and took a sip. His gaze lingered on Chen Fan's face for a moment before he slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Chen must have many questions in his mind: why did I stand up for you, why did I offend the Wang family, and why did I invite you here for tea alone?"

Chen Fan did not deny it, but simply waited quietly for what would follow.

Qin Taiyue put down his teacup, leaned back in his stone chair, and gazed at the swaying moonlight in the bamboo grove. His tone was tinged with a touch of melancholy:

"The prestige of the Great Yu Cultivation Kingdom among the thirty-six prefectures has been declining year by year. The major prefectures such as Youzhou, Yunzhou, and Leizhou are outwardly respectful to the court, but behind the scenes they govern themselves and have deep connections with the Eight Great Families. The court's orders do not leave the capital, and the prestige of the royal family is getting worse year by year."

He paused, then turned to look at Chen Fan: "Do you know why?"

Chen Fan did not respond.

"Because no Nascent Soul cultivator is willing to risk their lives for the imperial court," Qin Taiyue answered himself. "Those rogue Nascent Soul cultivators are either living carefree lives or have joined the Eight Great Families. The imperial court has the resources of a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Great Perfection stage, but it can't mobilize many capable people. Among the thirty-six prefectures, only a handful are truly loyal to the imperial family."

He picked up the teapot and poured Chen Fan another cup, his tone calm yet carrying a profound meaning: "I observed you for seven days in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. To be able to crush your peers with your late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation and kill more than a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators from Yunzhou and Leizhou is a feat rarely seen even in the selection process of the Zhao Kingdom. You showed no fear towards the Eight Great Families and were even more decisive in killing the Wang family. This courage and method are exactly the kind of people the court needs."

Chen Fan picked up his teacup and said calmly, "Is Minister Qin trying to recruit us?"

Qin Taiyue shook his head: "It's not a matter of recruiting. I can see that your ambitions are not in the name of Yu the Great, so I'm standing up for you today not to ask for your gratitude, nor to ask you to sell yourself to the court, but simply to make a deal."