Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

"I can state with certainty that each of the Four Great Families of Dongxuan Province has, at some point, produced a Void Realm expert!"

However, after a moment of thought, this was the Buddha's Son's decisive reply.

"What makes you so sure?" Ye Chen asked, his interest piqued as he raised an eyebrow.

In his view, while Divine Might Realm experts were powerful, they could no longer be considered a threat.

What truly warranted his attention were the Void Realm Great Powers, who stood above the Divine Might Realm and had already mastered spatial power!

Indeed, upon stepping into the Void Realm, one could perceive the subtle power of space.

Casually tearing rifts in space, making spatial jumps, and the like... for a Void Realm Great Power, these were all trivial, commonplace matters!

Unlike the Divine Might Realm, where one cultivated divine might, mastering spatial power was the true hallmark of breaking through to the Void Realm!

The Buddha's Son glanced at Ye Chen, his expression growing solemn. "Dongxuan Province is the region with the most powerful cultivators in the eastern part of our dynasty. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi here is much richer than in the outside world."

Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but nod to himself. This was something he had noticed long ago.

After setting foot in Dongxuan Province, the circulation of Spiritual Power in his body had quickened slightly.

This was something he had never experienced outside of Dongxuan Province.

Then, the Buddha's Son continued, "According to ancient records, the major powers in Dongxuan Province that stand above the rest of the Cultivation Realm often managed to accumulate their astonishing foundations only because they produced Great Powers who reached the Void Realm."

"However, those Great Powers who reached the Void Realm have either long since gone into seclusion, meditating in isolation to comprehend the mysteries of the Great Dao, or they have already left Dongxuan Province."

"Left Dongxuan Province?" Ye Chen was taken aback.

"That's right. The cultivation resources in Dongxuan Province are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of Void Realm Cultivators."

"Those among them who wish to ascend to even higher realms will often choose to leave Dongxuan Province and head for the Central Province!"

"That is the most prosperous and flourishing land of cultivation in the entire Great Hong Dynasty!"

"Any Cultivator who is determined to ceaselessly pursue the Great Dao will almost always end up settling in the Central Province."

"Therefore, while I'm not certain if there are any Void Realm Great Powers currently in Dongxuan Province, I am sure that those great families and clans have produced such monumental figures in their past."

The Buddha's Son's expression was grave, and his tone grew much more solemn when he spoke of the Void Realm Great Powers.

'The Void Realm, huh...'

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

'One should always consider the worst-case scenario.'

Although the Great Powers who reached the Void Realm had most likely left Dongxuan Province, making the Divine Might Realm the strongest force in their absence... who could guarantee that those great families and clans didn't have a Void Realm Great Power remaining behind to stand guard!

Or perhaps a Void Realm Cultivator had returned to Dongxuan Province after adventuring in the outside world. That was also a possibility!

With their world-shaking mastery of spatial power, they could travel freely throughout Dongxuan Province, and it was doubtful that many cultivators could even detect their presence.

Therefore, Ye Chen had to prepare for the worst.

If he entered a life-or-death conflict with a major power like the Song family, it was highly likely he would provoke a Void Realm expert into action!

'With my current combat strength, how many rounds could I possibly last against a Void Realm Great Power?'

Ye Chen was confident in his ability to suppress any enemy below the Void Realm. But if he were to face a true Void Realm Great Power, that would be a different story.

He would never be so blindly arrogant as to think he could already go toe-to-toe with a Void Realm Great Power.

Spatial power was one of the most profound and unpredictable forces in the world.

A Void Realm Cultivator who had mastered spatial power was, without a doubt, far, far more dangerous than a Divine Might Realm Cultivator!

This was a threat that even the current Ye Chen could not afford to underestimate!

Considering all these unknowable consequences, Ye Chen became even more resolute in his decision to remain hidden within Dongxuan City.

'At the very least, I have to wait until after the Peach Blossom Banquet starts before making any other plans.'

'At that time, no matter how deep the foundations of powers like the Song family are, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly at the Peach Blossom Banquet, right?'

'And as long as Chi Ming participates in the Peach Blossom Banquet, he is one hundred percent guaranteed to take first place!'

'With his Divine Might Realm strength, he is more than capable of easily dominating the younger generation of cultivators in Dongxuan Province!'

Seeing Ye Chen lost in thought, the Buddha's Son couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. "Aren't you overthinking things a bit? Surely you aren't worried that the Song family would dispatch a Void Realm Great Power to deal with you?"

"Those kinds of existences are completely elusive. They've long since transcended the Cultivation Realm of Dongxuan Province, like lofty gods looking down from on high!"

"Although the great families have definitely produced Void Realm Great Powers in their history, it's not even certain if any still exist in Dongxuan Province today. You're worrying unnecessarily."

Hearing this, Ye Chen laughed too. "Well, you and I are in the same boat anyway. Even if a Void Realm expert really does make a move, I'm sure the power backing you won't just stand by and do nothing, right?"

At these words, the Buddha's Son was rendered speechless, a frustrated look on his face.

'It was just as Ye Chen said. If word got out that he was spending time with Ye Chen, he would likely be implicated and treated as Ye Chen's accomplice by his enemies!'

'How utterly disgusting!'

'I'm supposed to be Ye Chen's enemy too! But now I'm being used as a weapon by Ye Chen to deal with a completely different set of enemies!'

It made the Buddha's Son feel as nauseated as if he had swallowed a dead fly.

Yet, the Buddha's Son didn't dare to refute any of it. He could only offer a hollow laugh.

...

Since entering the city, Ye Chen had been sticking close to the Buddha's Son, using his identity as cover.

He had even brazenly walked through the city with the Buddha's Son several times, fully aware that multiple gazes were spying on him from the shadows.

'In any case, this is Dongxuan City. Even if my greatest enemies want to move against me, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly here.'

'Plus, with the Buddha's Son as cover, it would be difficult for them to find an open reason to move against the Buddha's Son's supposed "lifesaving benefactor"!'

During this period, the Buddha's Son also met with Master Jialan.

That night, Master Jialan had specifically summoned the Buddha's Son to tell him that a great personage would be visiting Dongxuan City, and that he must make a good impression.

The Buddha's Son immediately realized that this "great personage" Master Jialan spoke of was likely not the same one the Provincial Governor had met with earlier.

But Master Jialan was extremely secretive, refusing to reveal the slightest detail before the great personage's arrival. He only told the Buddha's Son to perform well at the Peach Blossom Banquet.

After taking his leave from Master Jialan, the Buddha's Son was utterly shocked, almost unable to believe it.

He knew that Ye Chen had actually been secretly nearby the whole time, never straying far.

And yet, Master Jialan, the abbot of the holy temple, hadn't sensed anything amiss at all!

One had to understand that Master Jialan was the master who had taught him everything. He commanded all the monks and, in the Buddha's Son's mind, was an incredibly powerful Divine Might Realm Cultivator!

Yet even he couldn't detect a trace of Ye Chen!