The middle-aged man said, "Yes, you. Someone important wants to meet you. Come with me to the immortal city."
I have neither kin nor friends in Taiqiu Immortal City. Why would anyone be looking for me? This fellow can't even invent a decent lie, yet he's trying his hand at swindling?
Li Chen's thoughts flashed like lightning as he rapidly considered the situation.
One moment, he felt something was wrong; the next, he felt the man surely lacked the nerve to deceive him in the immortal city's name.
Besides, whether the man was deceiving him or not, the whole affair carried a hint of something strange.
Seeing Li Chen remain motionless for so long, apparently unresponsive, the middle-aged man frowned slightly. Then, as though he had realized something, he said, "What, are you so delighted you've gone dumb? Boy, eight generations of your ancestors must have accumulated virtue-even their graves are giving off auspicious blue smoke! Someone important has taken a liking to you, so we came down here ahead of time to find you, ready to escort you to an audience at a moment's notice!"
"Do you know what this was called in ancient times? Ascension!"
"But the Ancient Cultivators have all passed into history, and we Puppet Masters no longer use that expression. For a mortal to ascend to the Celestial Palace is merely a matter of opportunity. Still, to catch an important person's eye and receive such an opportunity, you must have some exceptional qualities."
Li Chen came back to himself and operated the Puppet Chassis to say, "Senior, how should I address you?"
The middle-aged man said, "My name is hardly worth mentioning. I'm merely an attendant serving under Grandmaster Dongfang, a steward who runs errands and carries out tasks. Just call me Steward Zhuang."
"Senior