"This old man is Zhou Ze, the Zhou Family's external affairs elder." The goateed elder spoke with a beaming smile. "Might I ask how the two of you should be addressed?"
"Niu Meng!"
Zhou Ze nodded slightly. "So it is Fellow Daoist Niu. Seeing your extraordinary bearing and uncommon aura, I wonder where you hail from, and where you currently hold office?"
"My brother and I are merely Rogue Cultivators." Lu Ye continued spinning nonsense.
Zhou Ze's smile did not diminish. "I see. Among Rogue Cultivators of your age, few possess cultivation such as yours. Truly, every generation has its own talents! Guests come from afar. Since the two of you have come to Ding Tian City, might you allow this old man to fulfill the duties of a host?"
Lu Ye narrowed his eyes at him, then seemed to sweep a casual glance around, saying mildly, "I had not known the Zhou Family was so hospitable."
All around them, quite a few cultivators had appeared at some point, watching this side closely. Under Lu Ye's divine sense perception, these people's movements naturally had nowhere to hide. Though Xiao Xinghe could not sense them quite as clearly, he had also faintly noticed, his expression turning vigilant.
Zhou Ze laughed loudly. "My Zhou Family has always formed broad ties with heroes from all quarters. Fellow Daoist should know that an aristocratic family is not like a sect; it is not easy to establish a foothold in the Nine Provinces."
Lu Ye nodded slightly. "In that case, we will have to trouble you for a while."
"Please!" Zhou Ze turned sideways and gestured with his hand.
Lu Ye and Xiao Xinghe both walked with hands on their sabers, eyes fixed straight ahead as they passed by him.
A short while later, the