“This humble subordinate, Fei Si, seeks an audience with the City Lord.” Fei Si stood atop Fire Persimmon Mountain, bowing towards the swirling clouds overhead.

The churning clouds parted like a curtain, revealing the figure of the Fire Persimmon City Lord.

Fei Si slowly ascended, offering another bow as he approached the City Lord, and began to report on the city’s affairs.

He handled almost all of the administrative matters within Fire Persimmon Immortal City. Only matters of great import were reported to the City Lord.

The Fire Persimmon City Lord primarily focused on his own cultivation.

He was the only Nascent Soul cultivator in Fire Persimmon Immortal City. As long as his condition remained stable, the entire city would remain orderly.

Currently, the most important matter was undoubtedly the Lava Immortal Palace.

The incident with the Dharma Transmission Bell had caught the City Lord off guard, but since then, he had personally taken charge, presiding over the mountaintop in the clouds and controlling the situation.

Even though the Lava Immortal Palace had erupted in turmoil several times, he had suppressed it all, preventing any significant disruption.

Fei Si emphasized the arrangements for the Fire Persimmon Festival.

The Fire Persimmon Festival was fast approaching.

“Currently, nearly two thousand Mechanical Fire Burst Monkeys have been crafted.”

“I have reached an agreement with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families that the Foundation Establishment cultivators controlling the Fire Burst Monkeys will primarily be dispatched by those three families.”

“In addition, Yuan Er, the current leader of the Monkey Head Gang, has volunteered, disregarding the risks, to participate in this event.”

“Your subordinate was moved by his loyalty, and considering the genuine need for manpower, temporarily agreed to allow the Monkey Head Gang to participate.”

“In past Fire Persimmon Festivals, this gang’s monkey pets have been the primary force in harvesting fire persimmons. Their involvement provides an additional layer of security.”

“As for the encirclement of the Shadow Devil cultivator, I have made some arrangements, all of which are detailed in the jade slip.”

The City Lord poured his divine sense into the jade slip, and saw that the arrangements were clearly organized and meticulous, with numerous contingency plans in addition to the main plan.

The main force in the encirclement of the Shadow Devil cultivator would naturally be the City Lord’s Manor and the Golden Core cultivators of the Zhou and Zheng families. The Ning family’s patriarch was still in secluded cultivation, but would make an appearance as a safeguard.

Since the appearance of the Shadow Devil cultivator, Fei Si, representing the City Lord’s Manor, had proactively contacted the other three families to discuss the encirclement.

Under this pretext, the City Lord’s Manor had united the three families.

Fei Si had secretly observed them, and found no evidence of collusion between the three families and the Shadow Devil cultivator.

“Proceed accordingly,” the Fire Persimmon City Lord approved after reviewing Fei Si’s report.

The encirclement plan did not include the City Lord.

The target was only a Golden Core cultivator, and Fire Persimmon Immortal City planned to deploy four Golden Core cultivators.

This level of combat power was more than sufficient.

From the perspective of the City Lord’s Manor, it was most prudent for the Fire Persimmon City Lord to remain stationed atop the mountain.

It was obvious that the Shadow Devil cultivator was desperately trying to enter the Lava Immortal Palace. However, the first attempt was thwarted by Zheng Shuang Gou, and the second attempt to sneak into the dungeon was discovered by Chi Dun, who was carrying a vigilance bell.

If there truly was an accomplice, then the third attempt was the ambush at the Violet Sun Estate, and the scattering of pills in the Fire Persimmon Forest, clearly meant to lure the Fire Persimmon City Lord to capture him.

The more the enemy wanted something, the less they should be allowed to achieve it!

As long as the City Lord remained stationed atop the mountain, they would be in an unassailable position.

“My Lord, I have another matter of urgency to report,” Fei Si said. “Since his last failed attempt to pass the trials, Young Master Meng Chong has once again entered secluded training.”

“He is using the Immortal Endowment Frenzied Thunder Dash far too frequently. Such a terrifying consumption of resources is difficult to sustain.”

“I am deeply worried.”

“I have repeatedly tried to persuade Young Master Meng Chong, but he has not listened and continues to act as he pleases.”

As he spoke, Fei Si handed over another jade slip.

The jade slip recorded Meng Chong’s most recent appearance during his training.

His originally robust physique was now gone.

He was visibly thinner now. His cheekbones were prominent, his eye sockets were sunken, but his eyes were becoming increasingly bright, giving the impression that he was cultivating a demonic art, burning his life force in exchange for temporary strength.

The City Lord smiled faintly: “Then let him continue to act as he pleases.”

Fei Si was stunned: “City Lord, what do you mean…”

The Fire Persimmon City Lord said in a leisurely tone: “Talent and nature are two sides of the same coin, and can be regarded as one. Expressing one’s nature is to unfold one’s talent.”

“The higher the talent, the stronger the nature.”

“Only by fully leveraging one’s nature can one maximize the potential of one’s talent.”

“Let me ask you, how has Chong Er progressed in the past month or two?”

Fei Si said: “His progress has been rapid, leaving this subordinate in awe.”

This was indeed the case.

In the beginning, Meng Chong could not even dodge the Thousand-Catty Hammer Platform. Later, he dodged the hammer but failed to evade the Golden Silk Fishing Net. After that, he broke through the net, but could not control his speed and was cut into pieces by the fine threads.

After his special training, he had completely adapted to the extreme speed, his movements becoming incredibly agile and swift, easily traversing the various obstacles.

The City Lord continued: “I see from the jade slip image that this special training has also brought him to the verge of a breakthrough. Previously, his use of the Frenzied Thunder Dash was straightforward and monotonous. Now, he has begun to adjust his breathing, creating undulations.”

“He has gradually come to understand that rigidity cannot last, and that there is a principle of yielding to advance.”

“Once he breaks through, he will be able to have rhythm, to have slow within the fast, and fast within the slow, and to accelerate even further within extreme speed.”

“At that time, he will be able to have both tension and relaxation. This is the Yin and Yang rotating and transforming, and all things becoming complete circles.”

Fei Si suddenly understood: “I see.”

“Nature can foster talent, and the progress of talent can also improve nature.”

“Young Master Meng Chong previously only knew how to rush and charge. Once he breaks through this time, his nature will be improved, allowing him to be both taut and relaxed.”

The City Lord smiled: “The path of cultivation is like this, Yin giving birth to Yang, and Yang giving birth to Yin. As the saying goes, when things reach their limit, they change.”

“Possessing supreme talent is like having the seed of immortality. It cannot be treated with ordinary logic.”

“Since he has fully activated his supreme talent, let him fully develop and mine it. As the application of talent progresses, his nature will also be improved.”

“Chong Er has a unique path of cultivation that belongs only to him.”

“As long as it does not endanger his life, there is no need to forcefully interfere.”

“We will provide him with nourishing pills, and try our best to help him replenish his nutrients.”

“In addition, we should gather manpower and form a team to assist him in the future.”

“The trials of the Lava Immortal Palace are difficult to overcome alone.”

“Coexistence and cooperation are the key to success. From this, it can be seen that the venerable elders of the three sects are truly eminent monks, indeed possessing compassion and seeking to deliver all beings.”

Fei Si quickly said: “When Young Master Meng Chong began modifying his cultivation, the manor had already organized thirty people to modify their cultivation together.”

“After Young Master Meng Chong returned from his first exploration, the size of the modified cultivation team expanded to fifty people.”

“However, they lack talent and are still modifying their cultivation, still some distance away from reaching the peak of the third level.”

“According to your subordinate’s inquiries, our manor’s modified cultivation team is in the best condition. The Zhou family is ranked second because of the Gathering and Scattering As-You-Wish Spirit Creek Formation. The Zheng family is third, and the Ning family is the worst.”

The City Lord nodded, and praised lightly: “You are thorough in your work.”

Fei Si was delighted, and was about to respond when a voice suddenly rang out: “Meng Kui.”

“Since you have deeply understood the principle of Yin giving birth to Yang, why are you still so greedy for the Lava Immortal Palace? Are you not worried about overdoing it?”

“Who is it?” Fei Si shouted in alarm, releasing his divine sense to search for the enemy.

The Fire Persimmon City Lord, however, revealed a hint of surprise, and waved his hand at Fei Si, telling him to remain calm.

The City Lord turned his gaze towards the clouds on his right.

There, a figure slowly materialized.

It was a middle-aged man, dressed in a crimson brocade robe with black embroidered edges.

He had a square face, and within his dark pupils, specks of golden light flickered.

He did not conceal his Golden Core aura, and faced the City Lord and Fei Si with a dignified demeanor, a faint smile, and an aura that actually suppressed the two of them.

When Fei Si saw the familiar brocade robe, and the three large characters “Divine Catcher Division” on the middle-aged man’s waist badge.

His eyes twitched, and he quickly saluted: “Fei Si greets Divine Catcher-General, may I be so bold as to ask for your esteemed name?”

The middle-aged man smiled slightly: “This humble one is Zhu Xuanji.”

“Surname Zhu?” Fei Si’s heart trembled slightly, and he thought to himself, “The surname Zhu is the imperial surname, could it be that the person before me…”

Zhu Xuanji nodded directly, acknowledging frankly: “You should have guessed it. Indeed, Zhu is not only affiliated with the Divine Catcher Division, but also a member of the Southern Bean Immortal Kingdom’s royal family.”

“I am here to investigate the Lava Immortal Palace!”