Chapter 227: Chapter 196 Guest Eater_l

“Why?”

Xu Mu responded using Divine Intent.

“Because you have no connection!” Han Rui said.

“What connection?”

Xu Mu’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Of course, it’s the relationship with the Musician Mansion. Actually, the spots have already been predetermined!” Han Rui sighed.

This was indeed as Xu Mu had speculated.

“If that’s the case, why did you come, Brother Han?” Xu Mu asked with a glint in his eyes.

“With no Spirit Stones to make connections and without losing hope, I’m here to try my luck! I just didn’t expect them to reject even a genius like Brother Xu. It seems that the Musician Mansion is truly beyond redemption!” Han Rui said with a bitter smile.

Xu Mu didn’t feel much about it.

It’s inevitable for an organization that has been established for a long time to become decayed, he just didn’t expect it to decay to this extent.

He originally thought that with his talent, he could at least get in, he didn’t expect this to be utterly ignored.

Regrettably, he didn’t have many resources on him that he could use to bribe them.

“Friend Han, you didn’t come all the way here just to tell me this, did you?”

“Of course not. I hope you can give me the piece of music you just played. While I can’t get you into the Musician Mansion, I do have a better place!” Han Rui said with a mysterious smile.

“A better place? Where?”

“The Prince’s Mansion”

If there is an emperor, there will naturally be princes. However, the princes of the Sea Race Empire are not like ordinary princes.

In order to preserve the purity of their bloodline, the royal family implements an internal marriage system and doesn’t break off any branches to weaken its power.

However, there are always exceptions.

Occasionally there are clan members who fool around outside and give birth to half-bloods.

The imperial family did not kill these people but segregated them as a supplement to their own power.

If there are exceptional talents within them who have made meritorious services, they have the opportunity to be bestowed with the title of prince.

Not everyone is a hard cultivator, some are naturally fond of pleasure, and some are older. They all have their own music mansion and recruit musicians to perform for them.

The treatment of these influential people’s music mansions might even be better than that of the court musicians. The only downside is that they still have to serve in the military.

For their musicians, no matter how good the treatment is, it can’t compare to not having to serve in the military. But for Xu Mu, this didn’t matter.

The key point is, by joining these influential people’s music mansions, he won’t be able to access the royal family, so no matter how good the treatment is, it’s useless.

“Thank you for your kindness, Friend Han. Allow me to consider it for a few days!”

Xu Mu politely declined but didn’t completely shut down the idea.

“Alright!”

Han Rui hadn’t expected him to accept outright. He left his address so Xu Mu could find him directly once he had made his decision.

When the time comes, Han Rui could act as a middleman by offering the pieces to the other party, helping Xu Mu secure a chance to join. Of course, he would also benefit from it.

“Friend Xu, you need to be careful in the next few days. Those people from the Musician Mansion are likely to approach you privately. Don’t be fooled by their honeyed words, they’re all blood-sucking leeches.”

After saying this, Han Rui finally parted ways with Xu Mu.

No sooner had Han Rui left, than another few people arrived, as if they had been waiting. Their goals were similar to Han Rui; they all wanted the pieces and offered to give recommendations. Xu Mu declined each of them gently, only taking note of their addresses.

“This is getting interesting!”

Xu Mu muttered to himself.

After waiting at the door for a while, he saw a downcast Tang Lin.

“Brother Tang, how did it go?”

“Don’t mention it!”

Tang Lin waved his hand, his face glum.

“I think the dishes I cooked were quite good. Why wasn’t I selected?”

Even now, he was still somewhat confused.

Looking at Tang Lin’s demeanor, Xu Mu guessed that he had probably encountered a situation similar to his own.

He didn’t expose it.

“If it didn’t work this time, then just try harder next time.” Xu Mu comforted. “There won’t be a next time! I’ll be serving in the military next year unless I breakthrough to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment before then! Tang Lin said with a bitter smile.

According to the law of the Sea Race Empire, if one cannot breakthrough to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment before the age of a hundred, they must serve in the military. This rule applies not only to the Foundation Establishment stage but to every level of cultivation.

It’s like a screening mechanism.

Those with high talents could focus on cultivation, while those with lower talents are bound for the battlefield.

Subject to their bloodline, the Sea Race often had rapid progress in the beginning, but once they reach the limit of their bloodline, their progress would sputter out, each further step akin to ascending the heavens. The proportion of the Sea Race’s Foundation Establishment Stage and Golden Pill could reach a frightening one thousand to one, with the majority being from the King and Imperial Clan.

“Isn’t there still time left? Maybe there’s a turn of events!” Xu Mu comforted.

“Let’s hope so!”

Tang Lin could only console himself like this.

However, his mind was already veering towards battle skills and Magic Artifacts; if he doesn’t start preparing soon, it’ll be too late.

To serve in the military unprepared was simply too dangerous.

Not long after Xu Mu returned to his residence, someone knocked on the door. Opening the door, he was greeted by a stranger from the Sea Race he had never seen before. The stranger had a wax-yellow skin, his forehead full of dark spots, and was wearing a white robe with the emblem of the Musician Mansion.

“Are you Xu Mu?”

The dark-spotted Sea Race person arrogantly queried.

Xu Mu’s brows furrowed slightly as he said: “Indeed, how may I assist you?” “Lord Qingyan appreciates your talents and wishes to hire you as his client. Sign the contract!”

Having said that, he handed Xu Mu a piece of paper made from a special seaweed.

“Who is Lord Qingyan? I’m not familiar with him!

Xu Mu questioned without accepting the paper.

“He is the musician who conducted the exam at the Musician Mansion today. Qingyan is a purple-robed musician of the Musician Mansion. It’s a blessing from your past lives that he sees potential in you. You should sign this immediately!”

The Sea Race person with dark spots said impatiently.

“Oh!”

Xu Mu suddenly recalled the conversation he had had with Han Rui.

He accepted the contract and examined it only to find, it was worse than signing a contract with a bloodsucker. Even a heartless capitalist would shed tears upon reading it.

There were no benefits whatsoever. Sometimes, he even had to pay out of his own pocket. The only thing he could get was an empty promise of a promotion in the Musician Mansion.

This empty promise was quite attractive to the commoner musicians. Unfortunately, it held no appeal to Xu Mu. Being battered in his previous life had given him the experience to see that this was a bad cheque.

A banal charade!

“Sorry! I have no interest in being a client.”

Xu Mu returned the seaweed paper with the contract to the man.

“What did you say?!!”

The dark-spot Sea Race person couldn’t believe his ears. He couldn’t fathom someone refusing such a generous offer.

You see, this contract was much better than any Qingyan had offered in the past. No one could have refused, especially a young Sea Race like Xu Mu. After all, military service could be lethal. Everyone would cling tightly to any opportunity to avoid it.

“I said you can go now!”

Xu Mu was in no mood to deal with these arrogant musicians from the Musician Mansion and flatly told him to leave.

“Are you sure about this? An opportunity like this comes only once. If you decline, there won’t be a second chance! It’s not every day that someone earns the approval of the lord!”

Xu Mu simply returned to his room and closed the door without uttering a single word.

This act annoyed the dark-spotted Sea Race individual.

“An ignorant snob! Humph!”

The Sea Race person with dark spots turned around and left coldly.

To offend Qingyan was to offend the Musician Mansion. A commoner musician like Xu Mu couldn’t hope to remain in the imperial capital after offending the Musician Mansion. He might as well be dreaming.

Every place has its own circles. In the imperial capital, the Musician Mansion was the highest authority within the musician’s circle. If you offend them, you won’t survive here.

Back in his room, Xu Mu was already considering a new plan.

His goal was to obtain the material in the Imperial Mausoleum, not necessarily to become a musician. If one path was closed, he would just find another one. However, after all the years he’d spent here, he wouldn’t be where he was today if there were any easy methods.

Just then he thought of Han Rui.

“It might be worth considering a roundabout solution. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll find another way. The worst-case scenario is wasting a few years.” His plan was to join the Prince’s Mansion first, build up his reputation, and then, when the time was right, switch to the Musician Mansion, ideally becoming a purple or silver-robed musician.

Only with a sufficiently high status could he mingle with more members of the imperial family and gather the information he needs.

Without delay, he left his place and headed towards the address given by Han Rui.