Be the Hardest Working Demon Cultivator!

After all, a cave dwelling isn't something you can create simply by digging a hole and adding a few facilities inside.

A cave dwelling needs to possess the six functions of Alchemy, Artifact Refining, cultivation, reception, rest, and martial demonstrations, along with a beautiful surrounding environment, to be considered the most basic level of cave dwelling.

Therefore, cultivators who reside in such entry-level cave dwellings are usually referred to as hermit cultivators in the mountains.

Advanced cave dwellings, besides the functions available in basic ones, also require facilities for mount cultivation, integrated offensive and defensive formations, puppet servants, cultivation of spiritual medicines, and the privilege to listen to the preachings of great powers.

Such cave dwellings not only occupy a unique location but can also remain undamaged for over a thousand years, which is why they have always been the dream abodes for those on the path of cultivation.

Thus, those who can live in such cave dwellings are often called carefree hermits.

And this Red Lotus Carp, a cultivator of not great power, is one such carefree hermit.

The place where he resides is none other than a high-level cave dwelling!

Located to the north of this city governed by the Nangong Family, there is a mountain peak, which this advanced cave dwelling encompasses entirely.

Tan Shuchang followed Red Lotus Carp inside and saw various beautiful maidens appearing all around. Some tended to the Spirit Plants, and the plot of land there was clearly sown with many precious medicines. Others were checking the Formation, and more were looking after several white cranes.

These beautiful maidens varied in age, with some as young girls and others showing the maturity of young women, but most of them weren't very high in cultivation, the most advanced among them barely reaching the early Carefree level.

However, the place was not without its protective forces; the strength of those few white cranes was noteworthy, since the moment Tan Shuchang stepped inside, they instantly tensed and attentively watched his every move.

Clearly, these white cranes had sensed the terrifying threat that Tan Shuchang posed.

Furthermore, there were two exceptionally strong puppets inside this cave dwelling. While they had not reached the status of Immortals, their power was enough to contend with an average cultivator able to communicate with yin and yang.

"It's a bit of an embarrassment for friends to see, after the 17th generation, my Red Lotus clan has been on the decline. I could only afford such a cave dwelling for my cultivation residence," said Red Lotus Carp to Tan Shuchang. Though he stated it in such a way, a slight look of pride was clearly evident in his eyes.

Therefore, Tan Shuchang approvingly responded, "Friend, the defensive measures of your cave dwelling indeed leave much to be desired; just any True Immortal could easily break in."

Red Lotus Carp: "..."

He was just humbly downplaying it!

However, what Tan Shuchang said made sense because that was indeed the weakest point here, so he had no choice but to grudgingly accept this remark. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Then, after thinking for a moment, Red Lotus Carp said, "Friend, your frankness is not entirely ideal; the most taboo thing between people is to speak too deeply on a superficial relationship. Speaking too much will make the other person subconsciously defensive. This is especially fatal in the bureaucratic world. Therefore, you must heed this advice now that you have received the nomination spot for future considerations."

"So winning this nomination spot means I'm going to serve as an official?" Tan Shuchang asked. It was the only keyword he could grasp from his lengthy talk with Red Lotus Carp.

"Friend, are you unaware? No matter, I can explain this thoroughly to you," Red Lotus Carp said with some surprise, but considering that these were all trivial matters, he immediately began explaining to Tan Shuchang.

Within the Spiritual Realm, as long as a clan has a True Immortal among their ancestors, even if that True Immortal has fallen, they possess nomination rights. The only difference lies in the number of nomination spots, with powerful clans, or those with a residing True Immortal ancestor, having more spots.

A cultivation clan whose True Immortal ancestor has fallen and which has declined retains only the basic ten nomination spots.

Receiving such a nomination spot means all past enmities must be set aside during the term of office, with no force or individual allowed to pursue them.

Because the cultivators nominated by the great cultivation clans are to take up positions in suppressing dangerous regions.

Such places not only hinder cultivation but also pose the constant threat of death.

According to the original edicts sent down from the Primordial Heavenly Realm, the responsibility of staffing these areas should fall on the strong cultivation clans capable of producing True Immortals because the cultivators in these families are naturally quite powerful.

But who from a cultivation family would actually want to do that?

Thus, came the concept of nominations.

To make the nomination spots more attractive, various additional perks were introduced.

"So, am I actually going to hold the fort on behalf of Red Lotus Carp?" Tan Shuchang understood the essence of the nomination spot matter, which was just another example of how only the lives of the powerful mattered.

It was the same old story.

It's unexpected that the same tricks played by mortal realm's elite could be so prevalent under the heavens of the Primordial Heavenly Realm.

Indeed, crows of the world are equally black.

"That is indeed the case, but rest assured, friend, I will do my utmost to address any concerns you may have before your departure. However, before that, you must accept a contract and a restriction will be placed on your cultivation," explained Red Lotus Carp as he took out a specially made sheet of human skin.

The human skin was purple-gold in color, filled with engravings of Buddhas.

"As you may already be familiar with, this is the ancient Buddha's divine contract. Once your name is engraved upon it, your current level of cultivation will be suppressed to the initial stage of cultivation. But fear not, friend, the suppression will only apply to your cultivation level; your Divine Skills and other techniques will remain unaffected. The reason for this is simply to go through the process," he added.