Chapter 556

Ding Xuan widened his eyes and swallowed hard.

Though his cultivation base was shallow and he could not discern the other's exact realm,

from the aura just now displayed, he could be certain the man was at least a Sun Wheel realm cultivator!

Thinking of this, he no longer cared about his own lapse in decorum.

He quickly rose from his wooden chair, turned toward Zhang Long, and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Elder."

"Your esteemed presence has brought honor to my humble abode; I am deeply honored. I failed to greet you at the gate—please forgive my rudeness..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Long's gaze flickered slightly, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

He had not, despite his ties to the Cangwu Jiang family, used that connection to bully others or lost his respect for the strong.

Such tact explained why, with only a Purple Mansion cultivation base, he had managed to forge a bond with the Cangwu Jiang family.

Zhang Long shook his head: "You are the mayor of Wudan City, Ding Xuan?"

Hearing the man had come specifically for him,

Ding Xuan's heart jolted, and he asked cautiously: "That is this humble one."

"May I ask, Elder, who are you?"

Seeing he had found the right target, Zhang Long gave a slight nod: "Qin, Zhang Long."

At these words, Ding Xuan's pupils shrank, and he instantly understood.

Others might not know—but

as an official of the imperial court,

how could he not have heard the name of the Demon Dragon General?

Realizing the man before him was a Ten Thousand Forms True Lord,

Ding Xuan instinctively felt tense.

After all, this was a being who could obliterate him with a mere breath.

Like an ant facing a lion.

How could he not fear?

But he had weathered great storms and been shaken by the Jiang patriarch before.

After his shock, he quickly regained his composure.

He lifted his head slightly, stole a furtive glance at Zhang Long from the corner of his eye, and asked nervously: "May I ask, General Zhang, what brings you here today? Is it... the Cangwu Jiang family?"

The moment he learned the man's identity, he had already guessed.

After all, with his meager strength, he certainly could not have drawn such a visitor.

The only thing worthy of drawing this man here was surely the Cangwu Jiang family.

The next moment,

Zhang Long's reply confirmed his thoughts.

"Correct. I originally came specifically for the Cangwu Jiang family."

"By the King's order, I was to invite them to assume the position of Prefecture Lord, but when I visited Cangwu Mountain, the Jiang patriarch refused."

"Even when I lowered my request and offered to invite a Jiang clan member instead, it was still rejected..."

Upon hearing this, Ding Xuan felt no surprise whatsoever.

After spending this time interacting with the Cangwu Jiang family,

he had long since learned the mysterious patriarch's temperament.

He had no ambition to rule or dominate.

He was utterly uninterested in worldly affairs.

If left undisturbed, free from outside interference,

the Jiang patriarch might meditate in seclusion on Cangwu Mountain until the end of time!

Looking back at the unfortunate clans the Jiang patriarch had wiped out,

which one had not first provoked a member of the Cangwu Jiang family before suffering such disaster?

Then Ding Xuan sighed: "Alas, General Zhang, since the Jiang patriarch has already refused, why come to me—a mere Purple Mansion cultivator?"

"Do you wish me to persuade the Jiang patriarch?"

"Though I am close to him, once he speaks, no one can defy him."

"Not even I can sway him in the slightest—doing so might bring me death!"

"You are a Ten Thousand Forms True Lord, revered throughout all of Qin."

"You are magnanimous—please do not trouble a lowly Purple Mansion cultivator like me; it would demean your status..."

Afraid Zhang Long might say something outrageous,

Ding Xuan spoke without pausing, rattling off rapidly, shutting down every possible avenue!

Seeing this, Zhang Long smiled.

He grew even more convinced that Mayor Ding Xuan was truly an exceptional man.

With his abilities, to be stuck as mayor of a remote town was a gross waste of imperial talent.

Had his cultivation base been higher, he might well have become a Prefecture Lord himself.

Sima Nan truly had blind eyes.

He failed to properly utilize such talent.

No wonder he had failed to recognize Gaoshan and provoked the unfathomable Jiang patriarch.

After all, his vision was simply that narrow.

After that, once Ding Xuan had finished speaking.

Under his intensely nervous gaze, Zhang Long said in a deep voice, "Clan Leader Jiang's strength is overwhelming; I would never touch his tiger's whiskers, let alone make things difficult for you."

Hearing this, Ding Xuan's heart eased, and he couldn't help but exhale a breath of stale air.

But very soon, his heart was filled with doubt once more.

If it wasn't for Clan Leader Jiang, then what was it for?

Surely it couldn't really be just for me?

That would be utterly absurd!

Just as Ding Xuan was wavering between shock and suspicion, feeling exceptionally curious.

Zhang Long's voice rang out again, making his body jolt!

"The Great King has decreed: if the Cangwu Jiang clan is unwilling to take the position of Prefecture Lord of Tiandou Prefecture Prefecture, then this Prefecture Lord position shall be yours. What do you think?"

The Prefecture Lord position, taken by me?

Ding Xuan's eyes went wide, filled with disbelief!

He never could have imagined that this overwhelming wealth and status, which countless people dreamed of, would one day suddenly land on his own head!

One must know that although this Tiandou Prefecture, among the thirty-six prefectures, only ranked among the lower tier.

Yet the Prefecture Lord position required at least a cultivator at the Moon Wheel realm or above to be qualified to hold it!

But now, an outrageous thing had happened.

His own cultivation base was merely the Purple Mansion realm—how could he leap across several major realms, stepping over numerous cultivators of the Origin Sea realm, Star Wheel realm, and Moon Wheel realm, to take the seat above them?

Without the Cangwu Jiang clan as a backing, he feared that the moment he took the seat, he would be skinned alive by these jealous people, or die in some accident.

Beads of sweat the size of soybeans kept breaking out on Ding Xuan's forehead.

His fists clenched tight, his gaze drifting and unsettled.

Since Clan Leader Jiang looked down on it and chose to refuse.

Then this Prefecture Lord position delivered right to his doorstep—should he take it or not?

At this moment, Ding Xuan couldn't help but fall into a fierce inner struggle.