Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

With Ye Chen absent, Song Yubing knew not to overstep her bounds.

After all, she and Ye Chen were not particularly close. With her current power and status, she was hardly qualified to address a figure like Hongyu Pill Venerable—a transcendent existence throughout the eastern dynasty—as a peer.

But Chi Ming and Jie Ling were Ye Chen's companions, so they naturally had no such qualms.

"Was it you who aided us earlier...?" Jie Ling's eyes flickered, her cool expression unreadable. She looked toward Hongyu Pill Venerable and spoke in a calm voice.

"Not quite." Hongyu Pill Venerable shook her head. "Although I gave the order, to be precise, the one who acted was the Guardian by my side."

Hearing this, the group was taken aback.

'Hongyu Pill Venerable has a Guardian with her?'

They had met Hongyu Pill Venerable several times on the Cloud Mist Tower Ship, but they had never realized this!

As if sensing their unspoken doubts, Hongyu Pill Venerable smiled gently. "I only met up with my Guardian after arriving in Dongxuan City."

"Before, on the Cloud Mist Tower Ship, I was indeed alone."

Chi Ming looked deeply at Hongyu Pill Venerable.

'The battle against the will of the Song family Ancestor had been incredibly difficult.'

'Yet the Guardian by Hongyu Pill Venerable's side had effortlessly obliterated that same will.'

'In the Song family Ancestor's own words, he would have to appear in person just to contend with that Guardian!'

'Just how powerful was this Guardian of Hongyu Pill Venerable's?'

It was clear now. For Hongyu Pill Venerable to become the foremost Alchemist of the eastern dynasty at such a young age, even stepping into the Divine Might Realm and far surpassing the so-called young prodigies of Dongxuan Province—it was definitely no accident!

'She must have an unimaginably powerful background and force backing her!'

"In any case, if not for the Pill Venerable's intervention, I fear we would have all perished here."

Song Yubing said.

Since Hongyu Pill Venerable's Guardian had already sealed off the area, there was no need to worry about any news getting out. The group exchanged a few more pleasantries before turning to the matter at hand.

Fan Yunshan quickly and deftly handled Chi Ming's registration. Then, he stood off to the side with a nervous expression, not daring to speak.

He was like a child who had misbehaved, waiting to be punished by the adults!

Seeing this, Chi Ming couldn't help but laugh. "It was such a simple task. If you had just registered me earlier, things wouldn't have gotten so out of hand."

Hearing this, Fan Yunshan could only manage an embarrassed laugh.

Internally, he was drowning in regret.

'He never would have imagined that a figure like Hongyu Pill Venerable was the backer for Song Yubing and her group!'

'If he'd known, he would have died before listening to Song Qiantian's vicious lies and opposing Song Yubing's party!'

After all, even without relying on the forces behind her, Hongyu Pill Venerable's personal network and the various magical treasures and spirit weapons under her control were enough to make a major power wary.

A supreme Alchemist of her standing was not someone a minor figure like him could afford to provoke.

'Even the Song family, upon learning of Hongyu Pill Venerable's presence, would likely have to think twice before daring to make a reckless move!'

"You may go."

Just then, Hongyu Pill Venerable suddenly spoke.

She looked at Fan Yunshan, her tone perfectly calm.

"I... I can go?" Fan Yunshan was taken aback, apparently not expecting to be let off the hook so easily.

"Yes."

"But you will forget everything that just happened."

"Next time, it would be best not to collude with those major powers."

"You must understand that someone specifically targeted by those major powers is not a person a minor figure like you can afford to provoke."

Hongyu Pill Venerable extended a pale, slender hand and gently patted Fan Yunshan's shoulder.

The whites of Fan Yunshan's eyes showed, and he fainted on the spot.

Chi Ming reached out, caught him, and then laid him down in the courtyard.

Flames surged in Chi Ming's eyes; he clearly still held a grudge against the fat man who had made things so difficult for them.

If Hongyu Pill Venerable hadn't spoken up, he probably would have already struck out and killed the man!

As if sensing Chi Ming's thoughts, Hongyu Pill Venerable couldn't help but sigh softly.

"I let him go for the sake of the bigger picture."

"Right now, Ye Chen is secretly wanted by numerous major powers. Here in Dongxuan City, they might still be wary of the provincial government's power and refrain from acting recklessly."

"But if the provincial government itself is angered, given its unparalleled resources and power throughout Dongxuan Province, things will become very difficult for Ye Chen, especially if they ally with the other major powers."

Hongyu Pill Venerable explained, revealing her concerns.

Her words were like a splash of cold water, causing Chi Ming and the others' faces to fall.

"Master is wanted?"

"Yes." Hongyu Pill Venerable casually produced a jade slip. "You'll understand as soon as you look at this."

They each sent a wisp of their Divine Soul into the jade slip.

In an instant, the information contained within the jade slip flooded their minds like a tidal wave.

'The four great families of Dongxuan Province are the Song family, the Jin family, the Murong family, and the Yun family.'

'Of those, the Song family, the Jin family, and the Murong family are all hunting Master?'

Chi Ming was stunned, finding it hard to believe. "It's understandable that the Song family is hunting Master. That must mean he broke through their blockade outside the city."

"But what's the deal with the Jin family and the Murong family? When did Master ever offend them?"

"Wait, Murong..." Jie Ling's brow furrowed. "Could it be that Murong Dai, the Second Commander of the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce's Punishment Office, was from the Murong family?"

"You could say that, but Murong Dai's relationship with the Murong family wasn't particularly close."

Hongyu Pill Venerable explained, "Murong Dai was only from a side branch, so she was never truly valued by the Murong family."

"Otherwise, she wouldn't have had to leave and join the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce."

Hearing this, the group nodded in understanding.

'No wonder Murong Dai never mentioned the Murong family, not even before she died.'

'In her mind, her only backer must have been the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce.'

"Speaking of which, I imagine you've guessed the rest."

Hongyu Pill Venerable's eyes glinted. "The Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce lost the True Dragon's precious blood they were transporting, and many of their experts fell at Ye Chen's hands."

"The one pulling the strings to get the Murong and Jin families to hunt Ye Chen is the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce!"

At these words, the group fell silent.

Without a doubt, the events that transpired on the Cloud Mist Tower Ship had already been secretly circulated.

The Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce must see Ye Chen as a thorn in its side!

And with the Chamber's capabilities, mobilizing the great families of Dongxuan Province to hunt Ye Chen wouldn't be difficult.

Thus, three of the four great families at the apex of Dongxuan Province had now set their sights on Ye Chen!

On top of that, there was the Xu family from Yuan Province, the Holy Temple of Yan Province, and the Valley of Death—a whole host of enemies!