Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

The atmosphere inside the Song family's main hall was oppressive and grim.

Everyone's expressions soured as they recalled everything that had happened with Ye Chen over the past few days.

Once news of the demise of Song Xuanxing and the others spread, it would not only damage the Song family's prestige but also bolster Ye Chen's renown.

And the Song family would become his stepping stone!

What frustrated the Song family's leadership the most was that even though they were certain Ye Chen was somewhere within Dongxuan City, their hands were tied. Since the city was a major hub under the Dongxuan Prefecture's rule, they couldn't risk launching a large-scale, disruptive search for him.

As a result, several days had passed, and they hadn't even caught a shadow of Ye Chen.

"Tomorrow is the day of the Peach Blossom Banquet."

"Our only viable option now might be to set an ambush on the major routes leading out of Dongxuan City."

"After all, once the Peach Blossom Banquet ends, that fellow Ye Chen will most likely choose to leave this troublesome place."

The Song family's Grand Elder, Song Taigu, spoke slowly.

Song Tingyue fell into a thoughtful silence, not immediately agreeing to the plan.

But upon hearing this, the eyes of the other Song family leaders lit up, thinking the plan was feasible.

Although blocking off all the major nearby routes would require significant manpower, they weren't the only ones hunting Ye Chen!

If they united with the other forces targeting Ye Chen to lay an inescapable net, then no matter which road he chose to leave Dongxuan City, he would ultimately walk into their trap!

And at the moment, there really was no other option.

Within Dongxuan City, they had to be wary of the Prefecture's power, which made it difficult to act freely.

Just as Song Tingyue was about to agree, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"That won't be necessary."

"Tonight, I have a way to force Ye Chen out!"

"Unless he no longer cares if Song Yubing and the others live or die!"

Song Jun strode in from outside the main hall.

His forceful, resounding words shattered the hall's oppressive silence, instantly piquing the interest of all the Song family leaders.

"Oh?"

"And what do you propose?"

Song Tingyue looked over at Song Jun with great interest.

"Tonight, I hear that the Prefecture's own Li Jianyin is hosting a reception at the Dongxuan Restaurant. He's inviting all the prodigies who are here for the Peach Blossom Banquet to come discuss the Dao and enjoy the evening!"

"They say that even the great personage whom the Prefecture Lord himself is hosting might also be there!"

"I plan to make my move there!"

Song Jun said with a sly smile.

The Dongxuan Restaurant. It was the largest and most prosperous establishment in Dongxuan City, bar none.

It covered an area of nearly three thousand square meters and had twelve floors. Thanks to the spatial Forbidden Arrays within, the interior of each floor was far more expansive than it appeared from the outside.

The Forbidden Arrays within were said to be the work of a Divine Might Realm Array Master, whom the owner of the Dongxuan Restaurant had paid millions of high-grade Spirit Stones to commission.

With the Peach Blossom Banquet being held tomorrow, many of the young prodigies planned to use tonight to relax and unwind.

Therefore, when word spread that Li Jianyin was hosting a reception on the eleventh floor of the Dongxuan Restaurant and inviting his peers, most of the prodigies attending the Peach Blossom Banquet were eager to go.

Of course, it wasn't just about relaxing.

Many were going for the sake of Li Jianyin's name alone.

After all, the host of this gathering was none other than the son of the Prefecture Lord himself, Li Jianyin!

He was also the most dazzling prodigy of the Prefecture's younger generation!

Legend had it that he was born with an innate mastery of the sword, possessing a powerful, natural affinity for it. As a child, he would sleep every night hugging a sword!

Of course, since Li Jianyin was still very young, the Prefecture Lord worried that he, not knowing how to properly handle a blade, might accidentally injure himself. Thus, he was only permitted to sleep while embracing a sword scabbard.

At the time, this became a celebrated story throughout Dongxuan Province.

The image of a small child insisting on sleeping with a scabbard taller than himself soon spread, attracting widespread attention.

Of course, there were also many who privately thought the Prefecture Lord's son was far too strange, that such a quirk was abnormal.

But when Li Jianyin turned ten, all outside whispers of doubt and speculation were silenced overnight!

Because on that day, Li Jianyin awoke having comprehended Sword Intent!

Yes, he was only a ten-year-old boy!

Prior to this, while the Prefecture Lord had arranged for tutors to guide his cultivation, his sword practice had been left entirely to his own preferences, with no requirements whatsoever.

Yet this was the boy—one who liked to sleep hugging a scabbard and had a limited understanding of the Sword Dao—who had comprehended Sword Intent overnight. How could this be anything but astonishing?

From that moment on, the Prefecture Lord finally realized Li Jianyin's astonishing talent for the way of the Sword Cultivator. The news even stirred the former Prefecture Lord, who declared he would personally take Li Jianyin as his disciple!

This undoubtedly caused a massive uproar in Dongxuan Province!

The previous Lord of the Dongxuan Prefecture was a peerless Great Sword Cultivator. He had once traveled beyond the eastern part of the dynasty to the Central Province to train with a major power that specialized in the Sword Dao.

Although he later returned to Dongxuan Province for unknown reasons, a twist of fate led him to discover Li Jianyin, a talent uniquely blessed in the Sword Dao.

From then on, Li Jianyin studied under the former Prefecture Lord and officially became a Sword Cultivator.

Since then, Li Jianyin had lived in seclusion, dedicating himself to his training. He sought only to achieve breakthroughs on the Great Dao, paying no mind to the conflicts and trifles of the mortal world.

This cloaked him in an aura of mystery.

The Cultivation Realm in the eastern part of the dynasty rarely heard news of Li Jianyin anymore. No one knew just how powerful the young man, now barely twenty, had become.

But many privately speculated that this monstrous prodigy, born with an innate mastery of the sword, was likely the number one expert of the younger generation in the eastern part of the dynasty.

No one could compare to him—not even the geniuses of the four great clans!

That was why the gathering hosted by Li Jianyin tonight was attracting so many people.

And that was to say nothing of the rumor that the great personage being personally hosted by the Prefecture Lord would also be in attendance.

This piqued the interest of even more people.

In fact, until now, the outside world only knew that the Prefecture Lord had postponed the Peach Blossom Banquet by a month in order to receive this great personage.

But no one knew this person's true identity!

However, that secret might just be revealed tonight.

And Song Jun planned to make his move at this highly anticipated banquet.

This made many of the Song family leaders break out in a cold sweat.

If anything went wrong at a banquet of this level, it could very well bring disaster upon the Song family!

Song Jun's idea was far too bold, far too risky!