Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

Even the Song family's Patriarch, Song Tingyue, frowned, feeling that Song Jun was being a bit too reckless.

"Elders, rest assured. If any unforeseeable consequences arise from my actions, I, Song Jun, am willing to bear all the responsibility alone!"

Song Jun glanced at the worried expressions of the elders present and spoke in a solemn tone.

"Can you first tell us what exactly you plan to do?"

the Song family's Grand Elder, Song Taigu, asked.

"In fact, I already have some suspicions about Ye Chen's identity, but I don't have any evidence yet, so I can't make any rash judgments."

Song Jun chose his words carefully, saying, "Tonight, I won't make a move on Ye Chen himself. Instead, I'll target the people around him to lure him out!"

He briefly explained his plan, then said, "I refuse to believe he can just stand by and watch it all happen, turning a blind eye!"

"But are you so sure that Ye Chen will attend the banquet?"

One of the high-ranking members of the Song family couldn't help but say, "Given his current situation as a public enemy, the more crowded a place is, the more he should stay away from it."

"Don't worry. Song Yubing and the others must have a way to contact Ye Chen."

"Once Song Yubing and her group are in danger, I refuse to believe they won't ask Ye Chen for help!"

"At that point, he'll have no choice but to show up!"

Song Jun said in a low voice.

Hearing this, the high-ranking member of the Song family nodded.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Remember, if it proves impossible, just let it go! On an occasion like that, you must act with extreme caution!"

"Otherwise, even the name of the Song family might not be enough to ensure your safety!"

Song Tingyue gave Song Jun a deep look and said calmly.

Hearing this, Song Jun felt a chill. He respectfully bowed his head and replied, "Thank you for the warning, Patriarch!"

...

As time passed, night gradually fell. The banquet personally hosted by Li Jianyin began with great liveliness on the eleventh floor of the Dongxuan Tavern.

Anyone who could hold a banquet in the Dongxuan Tavern was invariably an important figure of noble status and astounding background.

Furthermore, the higher the floor of the banquet, the more formidable the host's identity was considered to be!

As the number one power in Dongxuan Province, the experts from the Dongxuan Prefecture would often hold banquets in the Dongxuan Tavern.

However, Li Jianyin was the only one who could hold a banquet on the eleventh floor.

It was said that the owner of the Dongxuan Tavern was also quite mysterious, with an immense background—so immense that he even dared to show no deference to the Dongxuan Prefecture!

The fact that Li Jianyin was granted such a special honor was enough to make countless people green with envy.

But even so, he could only go as high as the eleventh floor.

As for who the top floor of the Dongxuan Tavern—the twelfth floor—was reserved for... no one knew.

Recently, due to the upcoming Peach Blossom Banquet, countless Cultivators had flooded into Dongxuan City, making the bustling streets far more congested than usual.

The Dongxuan Tavern was also packed to the brim every day, a veritable sea of people.

On this particular night, the Dongxuan Tavern was especially lively. Crowds of low-level Cultivators had gathered around, forming what looked like a boundless sea of people, all craning their necks to see.

Although Li Jianyin had extended a wide invitation to the Cultivators of his generation, in the end, the only ones truly qualified to attend the banquet were the same group of prodigies eligible for the Peach Blossom Banquet.

Most Cultivators of mediocre talent could only watch from the sidelines.

Whenever they saw these prodigies, radiant and dazzling, standing at the center of the crowd like the moon surrounded by stars, a look of envy would surface in their eyes.

They were truly dragons among men!

Tonight, they had all gathered here for two reasons. The first was that they had heard Li Jianyin would personally be hosting a banquet on the eleventh floor to welcome his peers.

The second was that they had heard the mysterious great figure would be making an appearance!

They all wanted to see with their own eyes just what kind of revered figure could make the Lord of the Dongxuan Prefecture postpone the Peach Blossom Banquet.

After all, the Peach Blossom Banquet was a grand event that had always been held in Dongxuan Province.

Although it had been suspended for a time in the past, it had, at the very least, been held without fail ever since the current Prefectural Lord took office.

No one knew the purpose of holding the Peach Blossom Banquet.

The most widely circulated theory in the Cultivation Realm was, of course, that it was for everyone to watch the prodigies compete, to appreciate the prowess of the new generation of Cultivators from the eastern part of the dynasty, and for them to spar with one another and improve together.

However, some also believed that the Peach Blossom Banquet was held for a deeper purpose.

But as for what that purpose was, no one knew.

Perhaps only those great figures who sat at the very pinnacle of Dongxuan Province knew a thing or two about it.

But regardless of the ultimate purpose for holding the Peach Blossom Banquet, the Cultivation Realm in the eastern part of the dynasty was, at the very least, highly supportive of such a grand affair.

Therefore, when news spread that the Lord of the Prefecture had gone so far as to postpone the Peach Blossom Banquet by a month just to entertain a great figure, the Cultivation Realm erupted into a massive uproar.

Countless Cultivators wracked their brains but simply couldn't imagine how terrifyingly immense the background of a great figure capable of postponing this grand event must be!

In their eyes, the Lord of the Prefecture was already a supreme existence, situated at the pinnacle of Dongxuan Province, watching over the ever-changing tides of the world with a detached smile!

As for someone even more powerful... that was beyond their comprehension. Perhaps only the legendary figures one reads about in ancient texts could compare!

The news that Li Jianyin was hosting a banquet on the eleventh floor of the Dongxuan Tavern tonight, extending an open invitation to his peers, had long since spread far and wide, becoming common knowledge.

They not only wanted to witness the splendor of Dongxuan Province's number one prodigy, but also to find out the identity of the great figure whom even the Prefectural Lord treated with such reverence!

Countless Cultivators had gathered near the Dongxuan Tavern early on, watching from a distance and murmuring amongst themselves in hushed, excited tones.

A few powerful guards stood at the entrance of the Dongxuan Tavern, their solemn gazes sweeping over the surroundings.

They were all subordinates of the Dongxuan Tavern's owner, responsible for maintaining order in the establishment.

Naturally, a place like this was not somewhere ordinary people could cause trouble.

In the Dongxuan Tavern, even someone merely serving as a guard possessed strength comparable to the Peak of the Primordial Mansion Realm!

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted in the crowd.

A series of gasps rang out as countless gazes turned toward the source of the commotion.

A young man could be seen slowly strolling over from the far end of the street.

His features couldn't be called handsome, but they were quite pleasant to look at. In his hand, he held an ancient-looking scabbard.

His steps were light and unhurried, as if he were merely taking a stroll. In reality, each stride covered dozens of meters, and in just a few moments, he arrived at the tavern's entrance.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the guards stationed at the tavern entrance immediately bowed their heads respectfully, looks of admiration appearing on their faces.