The so-called county seat of Dragon City County doesn’t quite match the concept of a county from ancient times in Su Yuan’s previous life.

Just the size of the county town itself is as large as half of Taihua City.

The city isn’t just home to numerous large and small cultivation clans but also governs more than a dozen towns.

In addition, Dragon City County controls an Immortal Mountain range covering nearly a hundred miles and a vast maritime area stretching several hundred miles.

The cultivation sects on the mountains and at sea are all under the jurisdiction of Dragon City County.

Of course, none of them are particularly large sects. The entire Dragon City County has at most three to five Golden Core Cultivators, and they are all at the early to mid-Golden Core stages, cultivators who failed the public examinations.

Such Golden Core Cultivators could easily be subdued by Su Yuan.

However, no matter what, a Golden Core is still a Golden Core, not a foe that Su Youlin’s apparent identity could defeat; it’s better not to act if unnecessary.

Moreover, as he now holds the position of Immortal Official, backed by the might of the Celestial Court, Golden Core Cultivators wouldn’t dare to act rashly.

Three miles outside the city gates, the scene was already a sea of people, with representatives of various forces within Dragon City County, old, weak, women, and children lining the road to welcome him.

Su Yuan lifted the curtain at the front of the carriage, watching the scene with interest, feeling as if he had traveled back to an ancient costume drama.

At this moment, out of the welcoming crowd of no less than a thousand, a middle-aged general in iron armor, riding a unicorn dragon steed, approached with remarkable vigor.

Upon getting within a hundred meters of the County Magistrate’s carriage, the middle-aged general immediately dismounted and bowed in salute:

"I, Wang De, Assistant General of the Imperial Guard of Dragon City County, pay my respects to County Magistrate Su."

Su Yuan carefully examined the general before him, surprised to discover that this person possessed cultivation at the Golden Core Early Stage.

However, upon closer inspection, Su Yuan also noticed that the spiritual root of this Assistant General Wang had severely shrunk, obvious enough for even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like himself to see.

This was a Golden Core achieved through rapid advancement in military cultivation techniques. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Without any extraordinary encounters, this person might only reach the early to mid-Golden Core stage in this lifetime.

This gave Su Yuan a direct sense of the plight of military officers.

According to the system of the Celestial Law World, an Assistant General of a unit of five hundred soldiers is a Seventh Grade military officer, theoretically equal in rank to Su Yuan.

Moreover, this person is a Golden Core Cultivator.

But the reality is that Wang De had to bow before County Magistrate Su.

After all, a certain magistrate’s Seventh Grade was just a starting point, while Wang De’s Seventh Grade was already the endpoint.

Furthermore, with various legal restrictions, Wang De didn’t dare show any disrespect.

Nonetheless, this Golden Core Cultivator was the only support Su Yuan had on the surface; thus, he was neither overbearing nor domineering, and he spoke kindly:

"Assistant General Wang, please rise."

Wang De stood up in response.

At this moment, from the welcoming crowd emerged two cultivation practitioners at the peak of Foundation Establishment, one male and one female.

The male cultivator wore a Daoist robe, appeared to be around thirty years old, with a long beard and an aura reminiscent of an immortal.

The female cultivator, however, was adorned in silk and satin, with an attractive face and graceful figure, exuding noble air.

From their attire and demeanor, it was clear that they were not of the same group.

Su Yuan had vague guesses about their identities.

Before he could inquire further, Wang De took the initiative to introduce them:

"County Monarch, this fairy is named Lin Yanluo, representing the cultivation clans of Dragon City County, and this Daoist, known as Bai Xuan, represents the various cultivation sects under Dragon City County’s jurisdiction."

Su Yuan glanced at the two, then looked at the entire welcoming party, noticing that there were no Golden Core Cultivators from either the cultivation clans or sects present.

"County Magistrate, this little girl has already prepared food and drinks at the best Drunken Immortal Tower in the city to welcome you. Please do us the honor of attending."

Lin Yanluo smiled gently, her voice soft to the core.

Su Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly, and he responded blandly:

"Lead the way."

Lin Yanluo and Bai Xuan Daoist exchanged a subtle glance, seemingly relieved.

The two quickly led the way, and the magistrate’s grand carriage procession entered the county town.

In the private room of the Drunken Immortal Tower, full of antique charm and flavor, Su Yuan confidently sat at the head position.

Ying Ding sat at his first left, Qi Junxiang at his second, and Wang De at his first right.

Lin Yanluo sat directly opposite Su Yuan. Once the hot dishes of various rare spiritual foods were served, she cheerfully picked up a wine jug and personally poured Su Yuan a cup.

Holding the wine cup and gazing at the table full of delicacies, Su Yuan said blandly:

"There are only five of us; such an extravagant arrangement is too much of a waste."

"I, Su Youlin, have just taken office and don’t want to carry the reputation of someone who indulges in pleasure, disregarding the people’s livelihood."

Lin Yanluo laughed softly:

"County Magistrate, how dare we let you make such mistakes."

"These seafood dishes were caught by our Lin family’s own boats, and those mountain delicacies were personally picked by the disciples of Sect Leader Liuyang. They’re all local specialties of Dragon City County, not expensive at all. Please try them."

Only then did Su Yuan smile and nod.

But just as Lin Yanluo sat down, Su Yuan suddenly remarked:

"I heard that apart from Assistant General Wang, the Lin Family’s patriarch and the Six Yang Sect Leader are also Golden Core Masters."

"I’ve long admired these two great figures, yet at today’s welcome banquet, I didn’t see them. It’s quite disappointing."

At this, Lin Yanluo and Master Bai Xuan’s expressions froze.

After several seconds of tense silence, Lin Yanluo smiled and said:

"County Magistrate, my father and the Six Yang Sect Leader are inundated with duties and truly couldn’t make time today."

"Once they are free, they will surely visit your residence first thing."

"Though the two couldn’t be here today, Bai Xuan Daoist and I represent them, so whatever instructions you have for them, we can convey them on your behalf."

"Oh," Su Yuan replied, laughing lightly, "very well, then let’s eat."

"Yes," Lin Yanluo and Bai Xuan Daoist nodded promptly.

The latter picked up a piece of fish and was about to eat it.

However, at that moment, Su Yuan suddenly raised his hand and gripped the air casually.

Bai Xuan Daoist’s head abruptly halted, and the wooden crown on top cracked under a terrifying pressure.

In the next instant, Bai Xuan Daoist’s head slammed onto the table, burying his dignified features in the solid wood with shards of bowls and chopsticks embedded in his face.

"What, you actually dared to eat?"

Su Yuan sneered.

Witnessing this, everyone at the table froze, the temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and the air became thick.

Even Lin Yanluo, known for her social graces, was momentarily speechless.

It was known that Bai Xuan Daoist was among the top few strongest in Dragon City County below the Golden Core stage. Yet, against the new County Magistrate’s remote strike, he hadn’t lasted even a second.

This display of strength left Lin Yanluo somewhat shocked.

"The local cultivation clans and sects are too disrespectful, unwilling even to greet me with Golden Core Cultivators. It seems I need to take decisive action!"

Su Yuan said coldly.