The aroma of tea filled the air, and Hua Ershisan's face lit up with joy. He reached out, brought the teapot closer, and took several deep breaths, as if unwilling to let the fragrance escape, considering it too precious.
"Kid! Speak up, what do you want to know?" After sniffing deeply, Hua Ershisan looked at Lu Fan and asked.
"You say whatever you want, and I'll listen. You tell me what you can, and I'll hear what I can," Lu Fan said with a slight smile.
"You're quite greedy, aren't you! You want to hear everything about Hua Rong Mansion with just one pot of tea?" Hua Ershisan rolled his eyes.
"Tsk! You're just a gatekeeper, how much can you possibly know? I even think I'm giving you too much tea! If you don't want to talk, then forget it." Lu Fan pouted and reached out to take the teapot back.
"No, no, no... then let's just chat casually!" Hua Ershisan quickly reached out and snatched the teapot back.
"Hua Rong Mansion has been around for hundreds of years, but it wasn't called Hua Rong Mansion back then. It was known in the martial world as the Unified Alliance, arguably the largest force in the martial arts world.
Later, during a time of national crisis, the Unified Alliance evolved into Hua Rong Mansion, hidden from the world. However, its influence didn't diminish; it expanded exponentially. This is because only those who have surpassed a certain level can enter Hua Rong Mansion. At the same time, Hua Rong Mansion restricts all its members from interfering in martial world affairs, making it seem as if Hua Rong Mansion has vanished from the face of the earth.
In reality, Hua Rong Mansion's intelligence network spans across China. Not a single ripple in the martial world escapes the eyes of Hua Rong Mansion. However, these matters are only known to those at the highest levels of Hua Rong Mansion. People like us are rarely allowed to step beyond the gates of Hua Rong Mansion," Hua Ershisan explained.
"Oh! So you're the gatekeeper. In other words, you're actually the person with the highest martial arts skill in Hua Rong Mansion. No one can slip past your watch," Lu Fan said with a slight smile.
"Holy cow... you guessed that? Alright, I am considered among the top ten in Hua Rong Mansion. However, after you arrived, I'll be ranked eleventh. The top five in Hua Rong Mansion couldn't keep you, so how could I?" Hua Ershisan's eyes flashed, and then he said calmly.
"Then where do all these powerful individuals in Hua Rong Mansion come from? Are they all remnants of the Unified Alliance?" Lu Fan looked at the grand courtyard of Hua Rong Mansion and suddenly asked again.
"Hahaha! If they were people left from the Unified Alliance, how old would they be now? These people are naturally recruited from all over the martial world.
Hua Rong Mansion receives news, and if someone reaches a certain level, they will send recruiters to bring them back. This not only expands Hua Rong Mansion's strength but also prevents major upheavals in the martial world. If everyone could act as recklessly as you, wouldn't the martial world be in chaos?" Hua Ershisan glanced at Lu Fan.
"Tsk... you're killing the conversation! I'm not talking to you anymore!" Lu Fan pouted and stood up to leave.
"Someone has already settled the matter with the Shen family for you," Hua Ershisan's voice came from behind.
Lu Fan shook his head slightly. He wasn't surprised by this at all. Without looking back, he walked directly towards his small courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, Lu Fan observed it carefully. The courtyard wasn't large, but it was enough to surround the house and create a small vegetable garden.
"Hua Thirty-Five! Haha! Congratulations on your recent marriage!" As Lu Fan completed his circuit around the small courtyard, Hua Fifteen and Hua Sixteen appeared before him. It had to be said that these two were remarkably well-informed.
"I don't have any wedding candies, so have some fruit!" Lu Fan tossed two apples their way and then entered the house.
"Wow... these apples are so delicious! So delicious!" The two took a bite of the apples and were immediately overjoyed, following Lu Fan into the house.
"Hua Thirty-Five! On your wedding day, why are you back home instead of honeymooning? Did you have a tiff with your new wife?" Hua Fifteen asked with a gossipy demeanor.
"Hua Fifteen! Hua Rong Mansion has so many powerful individuals, all recruited from various places across China. So, there must be many influential families throughout China, right? Since I'm bored anyway, why don't you tell me some interesting stories about the martial world?" Lu Fan said with a smile.
"Of course! There are at least eight hundred to a thousand powerful families in China. Each occupies its own territory, and any one of them could be considered a major force. Take the Yan family, with whom you have the best relationship; they are practically rich enough to rival the nation. However, there are dozens of such families across China!" Hua Fifteen said excitedly.
"Oh? It seems my horizons were indeed narrow. As they say, there's always someone better and something beyond the beyond!" Lu Fan said with considerable excitement.
"Then... are there any cultivators in Hua Rong Mansion who have surpassed the Transformation Realm?" Lu Fan asked, his eyes wide.
"Ah? We truly don't have any! For us old folks, once our lifespan is up, we either die or are close to it. Hua Rong Mansion is essentially a place for retirement. With Hua Rong Mansion's resources, we can live a few more years. As for transcending to a higher realm... alas! Don't even think about it!
Alas! But, Thirty-Five, you have great potential! You're so young and already possess such strength; you can save at least a hundred years of cultivation. It's not impossible that you could break through to a higher level... the Soul Realm! That is a realm that defies heaven!" Hua Fifteen's eyes shone with a beam of light as he spoke.
The Soul Realm... a realm that invites heavenly jealousy, which will then seek to destroy it with heavenly lightning. If one can endure it, they become like an immortal. Who wouldn't aspire to such a state?
"The Soul Realm!?" Lu Fan's eyes also lit up.
"Thirty-Five! I heard... you have pills that can enhance cultivation? Can you... hehe!" Hua Fifteen rubbed his nose and said with a grin.
"Yes! But my pills are very expensive!" Lu Fan said with a sly smile.
"Money... money! Money is too vulgar! How about this, if you need anything done, we can help you," Hua Fifteen scratched his head. There was no salary in Hua Rong Mansion. All their money was kept by their families, and they hadn't brought it out. Where would they get money? Besides, money was useless in Hua Rong Mansion.
"Then help me plant vegetables around the small courtyard. I like fresh vegetables," Lu Fan's eyes darted, and he tossed a small packet of vegetable seeds.
"No... you can't be serious? Asking us two old men to plant vegetables for you... Alright, alright! This is a small matter, too easy." Hua Fifteen swallowed hard and, looking dejected, took the seeds and went out.
*Swish... swish... swish...* A few jade stones were tossed from Lu Fan's hand, forming a Seven Stars Gathering Spirit Formation within the room. Lu Fan smiled slightly. Cultivating here in the future would also be quite good.