Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

The animosity between the Sacred Temple and Ye Chen went without saying.

A Supreme Elder of the Xu family from Yuan Province had died at Ye Chen's hands. Naturally, the Xu family would not let him go.

Then there was the Valley of Death.

They had lost a Celestial Tier assassin to Ye Chen, an unbearable loss.

Moreover, the Valley of Death had always abided by one principle: once an assassination mission was accepted, it had to be completed no matter what. Failure would only tarnish their reputation as the world's foremost organization of assassins.

Perhaps Mu Liuji's death had made the Valley of Death wary, and they might not seek trouble with Ye Chen under normal circumstances.

But the moment Ye Chen showed any sign of weakness under pressure from the other major powers, these hidden enemies would surely reveal their fangs and deliver a fatal blow!

In other words, while the Valley of Death might not seem to be openly opposing Ye Chen, the threat they posed could not be ignored.

After they finished reading the contents of the jade slip, a heavy mood fell over the group.

It was as if they were surrounded by a pack of wolves.

It would be no exaggeration to say they had enemies on all sides.

Furthermore, in addition to the enemies mentioned in the jade slip, many other major powers had developed grievances with Ye Chen during the conflict at the Dragon Prison Cave in Lei Province.

With the Peach Blossom Banquet about to begin, people from all those major powers had gathered.

If Ye Chen were to appear, they would not let him off easy!

Even Song Yubing couldn't help but remark with a wry smile, "So the situation has already become this dire?"

Hongyu Pill Venerable's expression was complex. "Otherwise," she said, "why would I have told you all to do your best not to make an enemy of the Provincial Government?"

"As the rulers of Dongxuan Province, the Provincial Government ensures that no matter how many major powers gather here in Dongxuan City, none of them dare to act recklessly. At least on the surface, they'll have to show some restraint."

"But if the Provincial Government also decides to target Ye Chen, then there will be no place left for him in all of Dongxuan City, or even the entire Dongxuan Province!"

Song Yubing's face turned pale, and Chi Ming's expression grew solemn.

Jie Ling remained silent.

Hongyu Pill Venerable wasn't just fearmongering.

She was speaking the truth.

The situation they faced was truly that grim.

"Before the Peach Blossom Banquet begins, you all should lay low in the city. Try not to go out unless you have to."

"Here in Dongxuan City, no matter how much they hate you, they won't dare to do anything rash!"

"Of course, you can't let your guard down completely. You must still be wary of anyone setting up a Forbidden Array nearby to block off auras."

Hongyu Pill Venerable added a reminder, "As for when Ye Chen will rendezvous with you... that depends on what he decides."

"Speaking of which, why is only Master wanted, while we seem to be perfectly fine?" Chi Ming couldn't help but ask.

From start to finish, the jade slip had only mentioned Ye Chen.

Yet nothing had been said about them, his companions.

It was undoubtedly strange.

After all, if they wanted to target Ye Chen, why would they spare the people closest to him?

"It's to lure the snake out of its hole, of course." Before Hongyu Pill Venerable could explain, Jie Ling spoke up, her tone as cold as ice, betraying no emotion.

"Lure the snake out of its hole?" Chi Ming and Song Yubing both looked over.

"That's right."

Hongyu Pill Venerable gave Jie Ling a deep look before taking over the explanation. "They're deliberately letting you lower your guard. In reality, they've had people monitoring you in secret this whole time."

"They're just waiting for Ye Chen to show himself and make contact with you!"

Upon hearing this, Chi Ming finally understood.

No wonder Hongyu Pill Venerable had said earlier that whether Ye Chen would contact them depended on his own decision.

After all, with Ye Chen's perceptiveness, how could he not see through this trap?

If Ye Chen feared no threat, he would naturally take the initiative to contact them.

But if he was worried they might get hurt, he might just hide his tracks and not show his face in the city at all.

Chi Ming's expression grew complicated. "No wonder Master rushed us away as soon as our flying ship arrived in Dongxuan Province."

"He didn't meet with Steward Mo and the others, nor did he come to say goodbye to you, Pill Venerable."

"He was worried you'd be implicated because of him!"

Song Yubing glanced at Hongyu Pill Venerable and couldn't help but add, "I was even wondering at the time if you might hold it against him, Pill Venerable."

Hongyu Pill Venerable didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I understand his good intentions, so how could I possibly blame him? He just probably didn't guess that I have my Guardian here in Dongxuan City. No matter how deep the mire he's dragged into, I have my own ways of getting out."

As she spoke, the expression on Hongyu Pill Venerable's delicate face suddenly changed.

"Someone's coming."

She knit her elegant brows. "You all need to leave, now. I'm afraid the disturbance here has been detected."

"Is it one of the experts from the Provincial Government?" Song Yubing asked nervously.

"Yes."

"I'll handle things here. You need to leave, now," Hongyu Pill Venerable urged once more.

Hearing this, they understood that staying any longer would only make them a burden to Hongyu Pill Venerable.

They had successfully registered anyway, so they didn't linger, leaving one after another in the direction Hongyu Pill Venerable indicated.

Song Yubing and the others had only just left when ripples spread through the void above. A lean, middle-aged man stepped out, his dignified and solemn gaze sweeping over the area below.

"Hongyu Pill Venerable?" The middle-aged man's brow furrowed slightly as he took in the mess on the ground. "Shouldn't you give me an explanation for this?"

"I'm so sorry that such a trivial matter has troubled you to come in person, Lord City Lord."

At that moment, another spatial ripple pulsed, and a stunningly beautiful woman emerged from within.

She stood in mid-air, auspicious clouds at her feet, exuding an overwhelmingly powerful aura. Her eyes, however, were filled with amusement.

"It's you?"

Upon seeing the newcomer, the middle-aged man known as the City Lord couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. "This is Dongxuan City. Even for the sake of the Provincial Lord, you had best show a little restraint."

"This junior would never dare to overstep her bounds. I will explain what happened here to you clearly, Lord City Lord."

"If, after that, the Lord City Lord still intends to hold me accountable, I will bear the full responsibility!"

Hongyu Pill Venerable said, bowing her head slightly but speaking with a poise that was neither servile nor overbearing.

"..." The City Lord glanced at the smiling woman nearby, an irrepressible flicker of apprehension passing through the depths of his eyes.

He sighed again, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Then tell me what happened."

Anyone could tell that his tone had softened considerably from when he first arrived.

...

"We're about to enter Dongxuan City."

"But I'd advise you not to make a high-profile entrance."

The Buddha's Son gazed at the great city in the distance, which lay like a coiled dragon and a crouching tiger, before turning to Ye Chen beside him with a complex expression.