Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

While it was an heirloom left by Song Yubing's mother, it had been held by the Dongxuan Province government for so long that she had, in fact, never even seen the Purple Jade Hairpin.

As a result, even Song Yubing herself couldn't describe the hairpin's mystical properties.

"Anyway, as long as I can take first place at this Peach Blossom Banquet, I'll be able to get that Purple Jade Hairpin, right?"

Ye Chen said.

"That's right." Song Yubing nodded, her expression dimming. "Unfortunately, with my abilities, I am no match for the monstrous talents of Dongxuan Province."

"That is why, to retrieve my mother's heirloom, I have no choice but to ask for your help, Mr. Ye Chen."

"Of course, I only want the Purple Jade Hairpin. All other rewards will belong to you, Mr. Ye Chen."

'Of course, she wanted to reclaim her mother's heirloom through her own efforts.'

'But wouldn't the Song family want the Purple Jade Hairpin for themselves?'

'She'd never even make it past the Song family!'

'If she were to compete, there was no doubt the prodigy representing the Song family would target her.'

'She might be the leading figure of Cyan Rainbow Hall's younger generation, but compared to the monstrous talents of the Song family, she still fell short!'

"Don't worry. I will definitely get that Purple Jade Hairpin for you."

Ye Chen glanced at Song Yubing and said calmly.

While he had no desire to get involved in the disputes of these powerful clans, he had obtained a spot at the Peach Blossom Banquet in exchange. It was therefore his duty to win the Purple Jade Hairpin for Song Yubing as repayment.

"This token is the pass to enter the Peach Blossom Banquet!"

Song Yubing retrieved a token from her Storage Ring.

On the token, the word "Dongxuan" was emblazoned in a wild, cursive script. It gave off a majestic and imposing aura at first glance, with faint yet astonishing ripples of energy emanating from the calligraphy.

Clearly, the material of this token was extraordinary, and whoever had written that word must have been a powerful Cultivator!

The back of the token featured a peach pattern.

The pattern was vibrant, but its aura was ordinary—nothing worth mentioning.

Just as Song Yubing was about to place the token in Ye Chen's hand,

Suddenly, a terrifyingly sharp aura, like a cold bolt of lightning, tore through the void. It shot in from a distance, aimed directly at the token in Song Yubing's hand!

The sharp aura appeared with extreme suddenness. Everywhere it passed, the air itself seemed unable to withstand the immense pressure, producing a series of sharp CRACKS.

Song Yubing felt a lethal threat descend upon her. The hairs on her body stood on end, and her face filled with alarm.

At the critical moment, Ye Chen snatched the token from Song Yubing's hand and unleashed a punch.

A faint purple light flared. With a powerful BOOM, Ye Chen's punch shattered the sharp aura!

"Oh?"

A faint cry of surprise echoed from the distant void, as if its owner hadn't expected their long-planned sneak attack to be blocked so easily by the young man before them.

"What's going on?" a voice asked, its tone tinged with shock and anger.

"...They're here."

"We couldn't avoid them after all!"

Song Yubing murmured, her face pale.

"Them?" the voice asked, stunned.

Before the voice could ask again, a great ripple spread across the distant void.

From within the ripples, a group of figures emerged.

Their gazes—some mocking, others filled with killing intent—swept over Ye Chen and his companions.

Each of them radiated a powerful aura, but the auras of the three leaders were incandescent, almost beyond imagination!

"Song Xuanxing, Song Jiuming, Song Shanqi!"

Song Yubing gasped, a trace of horror surfacing in her beautiful, limpid eyes.

'She never imagined the Song family would dispatch such a powerful contingent just to stop her!'

'Seeing the look of utter shock on Song Yubing's face, how could he not guess who these ambushers were?'

'Clearly, the Song family had made its move!'

'All to stop him from attending the Peach Blossom Banquet!!!'

"Song Yubing, long time no see."

Song Xuanxing strode forward. He was an old man with white hair, holding a Duster. His eyes were dim and lifeless, making him look like an ordinary person at first glance.

But only those who knew him understood that this seemingly unremarkable old man was, in fact, the Song family's Punishment Elder, in charge of meting out justice. His cultivation had long ago surpassed the Seventh Layer of the Divine Might Realm!

Song Yubing fell silent. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"What? Are you so scared by the sight of us that you can't even speak?"

This was Song Jiuming, another Song family Elder. His strength ranked in the top ten among the family's powerful Elder-level figures. He had broken through to the Fifth Layer of the Divine Might Realm a decade ago, and his name was known throughout Dongxuan Province.

He was a cold-faced, middle-aged man, and he now stood upon the void, his icy gaze fixed on Song Yubing.

Merely meeting Song Jiuming's gaze from a distance brought immense pressure down on Song Yubing, as if a heavy mountain were crushing her chest, leaving her breathless.

Clearly, Song Jiuming's Divine Soul was far stronger than an ordinary Cultivator's, making the intangible pressure he exuded all the more terrifying.

"Heh heh... This is only natural, isn't it? I doubt this girl, Yubing, ever imagined it would be us waiting for her outside Dongxuan City!"

Song Shanqi appeared to be a kind and benevolent elder. He chuckled happily, seemingly oblivious to the murderous tension in the air.

And yet, the vast aura he radiated, which seemed to faintly surpass even Song Xuanxing's, made it clear that he was by no means an enemy to be underestimated.

Besides these three powerful Song family Elders, all those who accompanied them were experts of the Divinity Transformation Realm!

Each one was a renowned figure in their own right. In a place like Lei Province, any one of them could have reigned supreme, revered as a patriarch.

But here in Dongxuan Province, a land where titans gathered, they were little more than followers, trailing behind the three Song family Elders without daring to utter a single word.

Song Yubing took a deep breath, finally managing to compose herself. Her beautiful eyes were filled with gravity.

"The Song family sent all of you... just to stop me from attending the Peach Blossom Banquet!"

she said in a low, hostile voice.

Hearing this, Song Shanqi chuckled. "Yubing, don't misunderstand. We aren't here to stop you. We're here to stop the one beside you!"

With that, his eyes fell upon Ye Chen, his gaze turning sharp.