Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

It was no wonder the guards of the Dongxuan Restaurant were so respectful.

The youth before them, with his restrained aura and serene, calm demeanor, was none other than the son of the current Dongxuan Prefecture Lord—Li Jianyin!

He was a peerless prodigy of the Sword Dao who had loved to sleep while clutching a sword as a child and had naturally comprehended Sword Intent!

Moreover, his master was the previous Prefecture Lord of Dongxuan Province from the prior generation. He had once left the eastern part of the dynasty and traveled to the Central Province, a place where the foundations of cultivation flourished, to secretly study the Sword Dao.

No one knew just how powerful the previous Prefecture Lord truly was, nor did anyone know what level this youth had reached in his comprehension of Sword Intent!

"He... he's Li Jianyin?"

"That legendary, monstrous genius?"

Many eyes converged on Li Jianyin as the crowd watched on with curiosity.

They had all assumed that a supreme talent of the Sword Dao like Li Jianyin would be a sharp, flamboyant young man. They never expected his aura to be so peaceful and serene.

"We prepared the Lingtian Pavilion on the eleventh floor long ago, Young Master. We were just waiting for you! Some of the other prodigies for the Peach Blossom Banquet arrived early, but we didn't presume to let them go up since you weren't here. We've had them wait on the tenth floor instead!"

Faced with the guards' respectful and subservient attitude, Li Jianyin simply smiled faintly. "Thank you for your trouble."

Those few simple words made the guards feel overjoyed, as if they'd received a great honor!

The surrounding Cultivators were also stunned.

No one had expected that the most famous young prodigy in all of Dongxuan Province was not at all arrogant, but instead seemed very approachable!

"Young Master Li, I've heard much about you!"

Just then, another young Cultivator walked out from the first floor of the restaurant.

He was clad in flowing white robes, a jade flute hanging from his waist. He was handsome and dashing, with a suave and debonair air—a completely different style from Li Jianyin!

"Brother Bai, so you arrived early?" Li Jianyin was startled to see him.

"Of course. I was just waiting for you, Young Master Li." The man in white smiled faintly, his handsome face drawing many gazes!

"My apologies for the wait," Li Jianyin said, a hint of apology in his voice, as he walked into the Dongxuan Restaurant alongside the man in white.

The guards on both sides merely bowed their heads respectfully, forming two neat rows to create a wide path for the two to pass through.

"Could that man in white be the great personage the Prefecture Lord has been secretly hosting?"

Everyone was shocked and uncertain, finding the man in white's face completely unfamiliar.

But the fact that he could walk shoulder-to-shoulder with someone like Li Jianyin undoubtedly meant his identity was far from simple!

"Silence!"

"The identity of that great personage is not something you can casually discuss!"

A thunderous shout echoed through the air as a burly, middle-aged man led a patrol team to the front of the Dongxuan Restaurant.

Everyone recognized this burly man, and their expressions immediately filled with awe.

He was none other than one of the great generals of the City Lord's Mansion, Jiang Quguang!

He was usually responsible for maintaining order in Dongxuan City and was a genuine Divine Might Realm Cultivator!

It was worth mentioning that the City Lord's Mansion and the Prefecture were actually two different entities.

To be precise, the City Lord's Mansion was subordinate to the Dongxuan Prefecture. The Prefecture itself was established within Dongxuan City, serving as the highest institution for both the city and the entire Dongxuan Province.

The City Lord of Dongxuan City was merely one of the high-ranking officials of the Prefecture.

As if to prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings, Jiang Quguang swept his cold gaze over the Cultivators and said in a deep voice, "That great personage has no time for such foolishness. The young master in white from before is merely an Attendant to the great personage."

"You are all Cultivators of our Dongxuan Province. If you encounter that great personage in the future, don't make fools of yourselves and bring shame upon our province."

After this brief explanation, Jiang Quguang led his patrol team past the crowd.

Everyone stared at each other, their hearts filled with dread.

'In that great personage's eyes, the banquet hosted by Li Jianyin was nothing more than "foolishness," a farce not even worth their time?'

Just who was Li Jianyin?

Yet even an Attendant of the great personage could walk shoulder-to-shoulder with him as an equal.

This was undoubtedly even more shocking.

Having failed to see the great personage with their own eyes, the crowd only grew more curious about their true identity!

...

"Are you sure you're not going?"

Inside an inn deep within a secluded alley, the Buddha's Son stood before Ye Chen's door, frowning as he asked.

"I'm not going."

Ye Chen replied calmly, "You know how sensitive my identity is right now."

"Going to a place with so many people and prying eyes will only cause unnecessary trouble."

"But that's a banquet hosted by Li Jianyin, the number one young prodigy of Dongxuan Province! Aren't you the least bit curious what that legendary figure is really like?"

The Buddha's Son seemed unwilling to give up, pressing on.

Even he had long heard of Li Jianyin's great name.

Many even speculated that Li Jianyin had been quietly accumulating power in seclusion, and this Peach Blossom Banquet might be the moment he finally shines!

Prodigies from outside Dongxuan Province didn't even dare dream of competing with someone like Li Jianyin; they would be satisfied just to achieve a high ranking at the Peach Blossom Banquet.

"Aren't you also known as the reincarnation of a true Buddha, a Buddhist cultivation prodigy the likes of which the Holy Temple hasn't seen in a hundred years?"

"What? Has his reputation alone already intimidated you?"

Ye Chen's indifferent voice drifted from the room.

Hearing this, the Buddha's Son froze.

"Or are you just trying to use this banquet as an opportunity to put me in a dangerous situation so you can escape my grasp?"

The Buddha's Son's expression shifted at Ye Chen's words.

'He saw right through me!'

"You'd best give up that idea."

"The fire seed I planted in you can't be removed by anyone in this world but me."

"With a single thought, I can burn you to ashes. You'd be wise not to get any funny ideas."

Ye Chen said coolly.

"You..."

The Buddha's Son's pupils shrank, a chill seeping into his heart.

He had spent the last few days terrified and completely under Ye Chen's thumb, even obeying his orders to gather information for him around the city.

The main reason he was so obedient was the fire seed inside his body!

That fire seed was filled with an extremely demonic and evil power. Though just a faint wisp, it felt as if it could devour his entire mind and soul, leaving him too afraid to make any rash moves!

It wasn't that he hadn't thought of seeking help from his master, Master Jialan, when he was away from Ye Chen.

But the results had been deeply disappointing.

Even Master Jialan couldn't detect anything unusual in his body!