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Chapter 86 Diplomatic Talks
The so-called "barbarian residence" was actually a complex of guesthouses enclosed by several streets. Once inside, the number of foreign visitors increased dramatically, and almost everyone had some exotic features. After the officer led the delegation into the barbarian residence, a special person immediately came to take charge, registering the number of people, their valuables, and weapons, and arranging their accommodations and meals—a remarkably professional process.

Chen Xuan leaned against the railing of the second-floor corridor, overlooking the bustling scene in the courtyard. His compound contained five two-story buildings, housing not only the French delegation but also several merchant groups from other regions. At that moment, he saw a dozen or so beautiful women from the Western Regions, wearing light veils and gold-leaf silk robes, walking past in groups. One of them looked up and met his gaze, giving him a seductive wink.

"What are you looking at?" Liu Shuyue walked up from behind.

“Of course it’s exotic scenery,” Chen Xuan said without changing his expression. “Although I see such scenery often, it still sparkles in my eyes no matter how many times I see it.”

She imitated Chen Xuan, leaning against the railing, "...Sometimes I really envy you. I've never seen the continent so far away, even flying in the sky, it still doesn't seem to end after more than ten days and nights. I have to say, it's a world that makes people yearn for it."

"Actually... the regions beyond the six kingdoms should be very vast, it's just that we haven't been there yet."

After all, we're all on Earth, so how much worse can one person be than another?

“Perhaps, but for me now, the six kingdoms are all there is. And the conflicts between the kingdoms have never stopped. The disciples of the sect are like splashes of water falling into the abyss. No matter what changes they make, they will be swallowed up by time.” Liu Shuyue said in a low voice, “Sometimes I really want to put down my so-called duties and risk my life to see what the world beyond the abyss is like.”

“This can definitely be achieved,” Chen Xuan said without hesitation.

"Really?"

"It's 100% true, I'll take you to see it."

Because whether it's crossing the vast wilderness from the west or traversing the abyss from the east, neither is an unattainable goal in Chen Xuan's eyes.

Especially after Mala Village has fully matured, with an army composed entirely of cultivators and equipped as Lin Qing envisioned, what demons could possibly stop them on their journey?
Liu Shuyue gazed at him for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Mm!"

"How about we go out for a stroll later?" Chen Xuan suggested. This is Chang'an, the evolved version of Chang'an. We've finally made it here, wouldn't it be a waste not to explore it properly? "Going to the other six kingdoms would take some effort, but strolling around here only requires walking."

Liu Shuyue was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Your Excellency, Divine Envoy!" Just then, Baron Milton rushed upstairs. "The Immortal Alliance has sent a guide. They say we can meet now!"

The delegation had barely finished unpacking when the other side was already prepared?

They are so efficient!
Chen Xuan looked at Liu Shuyue, who smiled and shook her head, saying, "It's alright, business is more important. I'll go back to the shop and wait for your good news."

"That's all we can do..." Chen Xuan said with a hint of helplessness. "In that case, let's send the delegation on their way."

……

The meeting place arranged by the Immortal Alliance was located in a tall tower within the city.

Compared to the surrounding three- or four-story wooden houses, it was like a skyscraper, forcing people to look up in awe. Chen Xuan naturally didn't find this kind of tower impressive, after all, the residential buildings in Tianlu Community were all over twenty stories high, even taller than the building in front of him. But in Milton, Malena, and the others' eyes, this was absolutely comparable to the Tower of Babel.

Furthermore, its design is quite imposing. The entrance to the first floor is not level with the ground, but rather suspended in mid-air—to enter the tower, one must first climb a high platform made of hundreds of white jade steps. A red carpet is laid in the center of the steps, as if guiding people to the path to heaven; the visual impact alone is extraordinary.

"There are many stairs, so please be careful not to fall." The guide's tone was filled with undisguised arrogance. "This Moon Gazing Tower is the tallest building in Chang'an City, with a total of sixteen floors. There is a banquet hall at the top, and you can overlook the entire city from the window. You are lucky to be able to meet the Grand Governor of the Immortal Alliance there... You should know that not all delegations have this privilege."

Chen Xuan had heard the tea master mention that the Immortal Alliance did not have a leader, or rather, the position of leader was usually vacant.

Only when the Central Plains are invaded by a powerful enemy or when there is a once-in-a-millennium disaster, will the Immortal Alliance select one of the leaders of the major sects to serve as the Alliance Leader, so as to command all sects to resist the enemy and fight the disaster.

Under normal circumstances, the highest-ranking person in the Immortal Alliance is the Governor.

Moreover, the governor was not a permanent figure.

This position is changed every five years to prevent the accumulation of power, and the candidates are selected from various sects.

The person who serves as governor is usually not the leader of a sect.

After all, those sect leaders are more concerned about the development of their own forces. No one wants to leave their territory for five years just to go to Chang'an City to deal with the trivial matters of the Immortal Alliance.

Therefore, this position is usually held by a high-ranking elder of the sect.

"I wonder which sect's expert is currently serving as the Grand Governor of the Immortal Alliance?" Chen Xuan asked as he walked.

Seeing that he was not only not immersed in the shock brought by the tower, but could also calmly chat with him, the guide was somewhat surprised. "Uh... you are Master Xu Yuanqing, the Hermit of Turbid Wine from the Ascension Platform. It seems that you are not completely ignorant of the situation of the Immortal Alliance."

"Of course, you always have to do some research before you make a visit."

The cultivators who ascended to the Ascension Platform... then this governor belongs to a local gang in Chang'an City.

The group climbed onto the platform and entered the tower. A familiar mechanism appeared before Chen Xuan—an elevator in the center of the hall.

"Come on in, everyone. This mechanism can transport fifty people at a time." After everyone had stepped onto the circular platform, the guide closed the entrance gate. The guards on the first floor rang the bell on the wall, and the six ropes pulling the circular platform creaked and tightened, then the platform began to rise slowly.

Chen Xuan noticed that each floor of the tower had at least two walkways extending out like trestle bridges, which could connect to the platform at any time.

However, there is no button on the platform to control the number of floors.

It seems that the guard who rings the bell decides which floor to stop on.

"Is there a bottomless shaft beneath this elevator? Like the kind where if you step off course and fall in, there's no chance of climbing out?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Of course not," the guide said, looking surprised. "Who would build something like this right under their own feet?"

"That puts me at ease."

"Please don't worry, the ropes of the Moon Gazing Ladder have been reinforced with magic. They are impervious to water and fire and have extremely high toughness. As long as you stand firmly, there will be no risk of falling." The guide thought Chen Xuan was worried about the elevator malfunctioning, so he immediately explained enthusiastically, "In addition, if you feel scared, you can squat down or close your eyes. Doing so can alleviate your panic."

The mission's interpreter repeated the entire story, but no one reacted to it.

After all, everyone has already experienced the thrill of helicopters.

A flight altitude of 200 meters is not even in the same league as a 70-meter elevation gain from the ground.

Chen Xuan even yawned.

The guide's face immediately turned ashen.

After the platform docked securely on the top floor, he simply gestured for the banquet hall entrance to come in, and then didn't want to talk to the delegation anymore.

Chen Xuan was the first to enter the hall.

My eyes suddenly opened up.

The house here has a semi-open-air design; it's more like a terrace with a wide view than a banquet hall!

The wooden planks underfoot occupy less than half of the area, while the other half is a "sky garden" composed of small pebbles, artificial hills, and flowers. Not only are the plants here vibrant, but a stream even flows gently between the artificial hills. In terms of artistic level and landscaping difficulty, this garden hall that integrates natural scenery is far more impressive than any elevator.

More than ten people from the Immortal Alliance also attended.

The middle-aged man sitting in the very center is most likely Xu Yuanqing, the hermit of turbid wine mentioned by the guide.

"Welcome, distinguished guests, please have a seat."

Xu Yuanqing chuckled and stroked his beard leisurely as he spoke. He wasn't like those cultivators the tea master described, whose eyes were always fixed on their foreheads.

Judging from his appearance, the Hermit of Turbid Wine was probably in his early fifties. His long, black and white hair was simply tied back, and he had a goatee, giving him an unkempt and carefree look. Moreover, while everyone else had teacups on their tables, he clearly had a gourd-shaped wine bottle in front of him.

Chen Xuan tried to sense this person using the Heavenly Cloud Technique and found that this person was also the one with the most abundant spiritual energy among all the participants, about three or four times stronger than himself.

The guests were seated in the center of the hall, a step lower than the host, to emphasize the Immortal Alliance's status. However, compared to the potential need to kneel when meeting the emperor, this lower seating arrangement was practically impeccable.

What followed was a series of standard diplomatic procedures, such as introducing the mission members, displaying gifts, and presenting credentials. Chen Xuan knew nothing about these procedures, so he simply sat quietly in his chair and watched the twenty diplomatic officials bustling about.

After everyone had settled back into their places, Xu Yuanqing put down the letter of state with a sigh and said, "This is the first time I've heard of the name France. Judging from the map, it's even more distant than the Western Regions. You must have gone through many hardships to come to the East with so many gifts. I will mark the location of France on the 'Complete Map of Mountains and Seas,' so that your kingdom will not be completely unknown."

"That would be perfect," Chen Xuan replied, feigning nonchalance.

After the previous introduction, in the eyes of the Immortal Alliance, he had become an ambitious young man who had been stranded in the Western world as a child and was now seeking his way back to his roots after achieving success.

"So what kind of help did the French delegation seek from the Immortal Alliance after going through so many hardships to reach Chang'an?" Xu Yuanqing asked. "I heard from my subordinates that you seem to have come with a request."

Chen Xuan winked at Malena.

The witch stood up from her chair somewhat nervously and began to recount the war and strange events that had occurred in the English Channel.

As one of the parties involved, she is more suitable than the other members to answer this question.

With the help of a translator, it took Malena about thirty minutes to clearly explain the situation in France and the purpose of the mission.

"...Now demons can be seen everywhere along the coast. I think it won't be long before these unsinkable fleets invade the Eastern world. Before the flames of war spread to every corner of the continent, His Majesty Charles humbly requests the help of the Eastern cultivators to use their unique magic against demons to drive humanity's enemies back into the depths of the sea!"

(End of this chapter)