Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

At the gate of Dongxuan City, Song Jun seemed to sense that something was off with the atmosphere.

The nearby city guards were all glaring at him with unfriendly eyes.

Of course, Song Jun wasn't afraid of these guards.

Although these guards were said to belong to the provincial government, they were in fact the lowest of the low. A disciple from a great aristocratic family like him undoubtedly had a much higher status than any guard.

But on the surface, he was naturally unwilling to start a conflict with people from the provincial government.

Besides, he was just here looking for someone. There was no need to provoke the provincial guards. If he couldn't even handle a small matter like this, he wouldn't be able to report back favorably when he returned.

"Hmph!"

"I'll remember you."

Song Jun snorted coldly. He gave the Buddha's Son a deep look, then turned and left.

The Buddha's Son watched Song Jun leave, his expression calm, not saying a word.

"Tch! So this is all a disciple from a great aristocratic family amounts to! All he can do is spit out a couple of threats and then run away with his tail between his legs!"

Seeing that Song Jun was long gone, the nearby guards breathed a collective sigh of relief. They began to chatter among themselves, their tones filled with disdain.

"Lord Buddha's Son is still the impressive one!"

"Exactly! We admire your courage to stand up to a disciple of the Song family!"

The crowd of guards looked at the Buddha's Son excitedly, their eyes gleaming.

The weak always like to huddle together for warmth.

In their hearts, the Buddha's Son who had confronted Song Jun was undoubtedly the weaker party!

Therefore, they couldn't help but favor the Buddha's Son a little, unable to stand Song Jun's overbearing attitude.

"You all flatter me."

The Buddha's Son shook his head. "I simply couldn't bear to see my savior being bullied. It was a small matter, not worth mentioning."

Hearing this, the crowd admired him even more.

"Kid, you're really lucky to have met a prodigy like Lord Buddha's Son, so gifted and unafraid of the powerful!"

"With Lord Buddha's Son protecting you, I imagine no one in Dongxuan City will be able to bully you."

Their attitude toward Ye Chen also became much warmer.

Ye Chen's face was hidden beneath his bamboo hat. He still didn't speak, just stood quietly to the side.

Seeing this, they just figured this person was indeed as the Buddha's Son had said—not fond of interacting with strangers. So, they stopped paying attention to Ye Chen and continued chatting animatedly with the Buddha's Son.

The two finally managed to break away from the city gate and disappear into the crowds of Dongxuan City.

Watching their receding figures, the guards were still sighing with emotion.

"How lucky we were to have such a pleasant chat with Lord Buddha's Son!"

...

「In the North District of Dongxuan City, inside a restaurant at a bustling intersection.」

Ye Chen and the Buddha's Son sat facing each other at a table near the window.

Ye Chen looked at the slightly trembling figure before him with a strange expression and couldn't help but say, "I say, it's been a while now. Haven't you recovered yet?"

"...What was I supposed to do?!"

"That's the Song family! The Song family!"

"I actually went and provoked the Song family! Soon there'll be no place left for me in all of Dongxuan Province!!!"

"And... and if word of this gets back to the Holy Temple, I don't even know how I'll face my elders!"

The Buddha's Son was on the verge of tears. He recalled the recent events, his heart filled with despair.

'How did I end up in this mess?'

'It's all Ye Chen's fault!'

'And to think those outsiders see this guy as my savior, little do they know my life is in his hands right now!'

'The previous confrontation with Song Jun was something I was completely forced into!'

He might have been angered by Song Jun's words and actions at the time, but now that he had calmed down, he realized just how absurd his behavior had been.

'With the Song family's methods, they've probably already planted spies nearby, secretly watching me!'

'The moment I leave Dongxuan City, they'll make their move!'

The more the Buddha's Son thought about it, the more terrified and depressed he became.

Ye Chen ignored the Buddha's Son's complaints. He casually poured himself a cup of wine and asked, "By the way, when does the Peach Blossom Banquet start?"

"Word came from the abbot. The time has been set," the Buddha's Son said. "It's in three days."

"Three days, hmm?" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "So, where do you think would be the safest place for me to stay for the next three days?"

"You... You're not planning on sticking with me, are you?" The Buddha's Son's expression changed slightly.

Ye Chen smiled but didn't say anything.

The Buddha's Son couldn't clearly see the young man's face hidden under the bamboo hat.

But it was as if he understood Ye Chen's meaning perfectly, and his face instantly fell.

"Arrange a good place for me to stay. As for my identity... you figure it out."

"I don't want to expose my identity before the Peach Blossom Banquet begins," Ye Chen said, draining the wine in his cup.

"...Understood." The Buddha's Son sighed heavily, as if he had resigned himself to his fate.

'It's not that I don't want to have a showdown with the Song family.'

'Even though there are countless great enemies in Dongxuan City, I'm not afraid at all. In fact, my battle intent is surging, and I can't wait to fight them!'

'However, with the Peach Blossom Banquet about to be held, I don't want to cause any delays for Chi Ming and the others because of me.'

'To be safe, it's better to borrow the Buddha's Son's identity for a few days and stay hidden.'

'Besides, if I really clash with those great enemies, who knows if an opponent I can't handle might appear!'

Although Ye Chen's current combat power was enough to look down on the entire eastern part of the dynasty, he was by no means an arrogant person, and he never acted recklessly.

The Song family was one of the four great aristocratic families of Dongxuan Province, and the Treasure Gathering Chamber of Commerce was the number one chamber of commerce in the Great Hong Dynasty...

Behind these great enemies, it was highly likely that opponents of extreme power were hiding.

If he acted rashly, even if Ye Chen could escape safely, he was afraid Chi Ming and the others would not be so lucky!

Therefore, since the Song family was wary of the provincial government and didn't dare to hunt him down with great fanfare, Ye Chen decided to simply lie low for now and avoid showing his face as much as possible.

Thinking of this, Ye Chen put down his wine cup and pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "Do you think the Song family has any Void Realm Cultivators?"

"The Void Realm?" The Buddha's Son's pupils contracted.

Even in a great power like the Holy Temple, which was famous throughout the eastern part of the dynasty, he had never seen a Void Realm existence!

There were ten cultivation realms passed down in the Cultivation Realm: Bone Forging, Blood Condensation, Spiritual Sea, Primordial Mansion, Divinity Transformation, Divine Might, Void Realm, Nirvana, Heavenly Dipper, and Samsara.

It seemed complicated, but in reality, most of the Cultivators practicing in the eastern part of the dynasty were only in the first few realms.

The Divinity Transformation Realm was enough to run rampant in a region, and the Divine Might Realm was enough to establish a sect and reign supreme even in the top-ranking provinces of the dynasty's east!

As the number one province in the eastern part of the dynasty, Dongxuan Province's foundation in the Cultivation Realm was undoubtedly the deepest in the entire eastern region.

But even so, those who could step into the Void Realm were still few and far between, and very rarely heard of.