Lu Yun’s eyes narrowed. If it still wasn’t enough, he would just have to find more.
Once he reached Yanjing, he planned to acquire a large number of powerful tonics, no matter the cost.
Centennial ginseng, premium Lingzhi, Polygonum multiflorum, snow lotuses—as long as it could provide modified value, he would buy it all.
If 499 modified value points weren’t enough, he’d aim for 500. If 500 wasn’t enough, he’d aim for 600.
Regardless, he had to gather enough points to modify the "Mountain-Breaking Inch Force Fist" as quickly as possible.
This time, Lu Yun was going to see it through to the very end. If all else failed, he would resort to eating the piece of Immortal Flesh he had been saving for Jingteng and the others.
A day and a half later, the port of Yanjing City finally came into view.
As the capital of the Daxia New Country, its prosperity was a given.
Vessels of all sizes crisscrossed the river. Most conspicuous, however, were the figures in blue and white official uniforms patrolling the docks.
Inspections at every port in Yanjing City were extremely strict. Officials gathered in groups of three and five, guarding the entrances to the docks and carefully scrutinizing every disembarking passenger.
Brother Chen hurried out of the cockpit and approached Lu Yun, speaking cautiously. "Senior, we’re about to dock. Do... do you have any other instructions?"
Lu Yun didn’t look at him, just watched the approaching docks and said lightly, "No."
Brother Chen nodded. After a moment’s hesitation, he lowered his voice. "Then please take care, Senior. And thank you for everything on this journey."
With that, he bowed, backed away, and quickly departed.
He had finally arrived in Yanjing.
"Stop! Who are you? Where are you from?"
An inspector in a gray uniform blocked Lu Yun’s path. Notebook in hand, he sized up the older man who leaned on a Purple Vine Staff and wore a simple, gray cloth robe.
At his words, Lu Yun retrieved a neatly folded certificate from his robe and handed it over.
The inspector took the certificate and opened it. It read: "Advisor to the Yun Port City Divine Land Martial Arts Demonstration, Lu Yun."
His eyes widened instantly. He immediately looked up and sized up Lu Yun once more.
’An advisor for the Yun Port City Divine Land Martial Arts Demonstration? Doesn’t that mean he’s a Grandmaster of Huajin?’
The inspector then lowered his head to scrutinize the certificate again, carefully checking every single word.
’It’s real. The texture of the paper, the pattern on the seal, the anti-counterfeit markings—it’s all authentic.’
The inspector’s expression instantly turned deferential. He returned the certificate with both hands, his back bending unconsciously. "So you’re Advisor Lu! Forgive my disrespect! Please, come in! This way!"
He stepped aside to clear the path, shooting a look at his nearby colleagues, signaling them not to block the way.
Yun Port City and Yanjing City weren’t far apart, so the people who made their living on these docks naturally understood the weight behind the title "Martial Arts Demonstration Advisor."
That title belonged to a Grandmaster of Huajin.
Even in a city like Yanjing, teeming with hidden masters, a Grandmaster of Huajin was a major figure—the kind of person who could command a guest-of-honor seat among the nobility in their sprawling mansions.
As Lu Yun walked out of the port, the bustling prosperity of the street before him was overwhelming.
The wide, straight street was paved with bluestone slabs and lined with a dense array of shops selling cloth, medicine, food, and foreign goods, their signboards hanging one after another.
Clerks stood at doorways, shouting to attract customers. The street was exceptionally lively, thronged with a bustling crowd. Some wore long robes, some wore Western suits, and others wore simple jackets. A few blond, blue-eyed foreigners even strolled past, arm-in-arm with women in qipaos, laughing and chatting.
And, of course, there were the newsboys, weaving through the crowd like fish in water.
"EXTRA! EXTRA!"
"HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT TO CONVENE A CABINET MEETING IN THREE DAYS! WILL DISCUSS THE FIERCELY DEBATED TOPIC SWEEPING THE NATION!"
"EXTRA! EXTRA! MAJOR NEWS!"
Hearing this explosive news, Lu Yun stopped and raised a hand, flagging down the fastest-running newsboy.
"Paper, sir?"
"Yes."
As he spoke, Lu Yun pulled a banknote from his robe and handed it over.
It was a one-hundred Daxia Yuan note.
The money had, of course, been "borrowed" from those unlucky members of the Qingli Gang. He had lost the gold coins he’d been carrying somewhere during his struggle with that bizarre foreigner.
The newsboy took the money and glanced down. His eyes went wide as saucers. "Huh? S-Sir, this is... this is way too much!"
Lu Yun said nothing more. He simply took the paper, turned, and walked over to a rickshaw parked at the side of the street.
The rickshaw puller was squatting by the handlebars, gnawing on a flatbread. Seeing someone approach, he scrambled to his feet and put on a wide smile. "Where to, sir?"
Lu Yun stepped into the rickshaw. Only after he was seated did he leisurely unfold the newspaper. Without looking up, he said, "Shenteng Mansion."
"Huh?"
The puller froze, thinking he must have misheard.
’Shenteng Mansion?’
’That’s in the heart of Yanjing City, where all the high-ranking officials and nobles live.’
’An ordinary rickshaw puller couldn’t even get close to that place. You’d be stopped halfway unless you were carrying a dignitary or had special permission.’
’How would a simple puller like me have ever been to a place like that?’
The puller could only ask cautiously, "Sir, you did say Shenteng Mansion?"
"Don’t worry. No one will give you any trouble."
Hearing this, the puller gulped. He looked at the older man sitting in his rickshaw and knew at once that he had picked up someone important.
"Right away! Sit tight, sir!"
The puller stuffed the rest of his flatbread into his mouth in one go, wiped his hands, gripped the handlebars firmly, and took off at a run.
Lu Yun leaned back against the seat, unfolded the newspaper, and began to read it carefully.
The front-page headline was printed in large characters: [PRESIDENT TO HOLD CABINET MEETING IN THREE DAYS; PUBLIC HEATEDLY DEBATES NEW EMPEROR SYSTEM]

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