Chapter 198: Chapter 156: Fame Spreads in All Directions (Part 2)

To this day, the Shadow Guard had never failed.

Suddenly, Muu Guibai looked toward the door and said faintly, "He’s back."

In the next moment, a mass of black mist drifted in from outside the door, eventually solidifying into a figure completely shrouded in a black robe.

He knelt respectfully before Muu Guibai, his voice hoarse as he paid his respects. "City Lord!"

Muu Guibai raised a hand, gesturing for him to rise. "Old Xu, how did it go? Did you find Song Changsheng?"

For some reason, Zhuang Yuechan felt her heart grow tense.

"Reporting to the City Lord, I followed the information released by the Lieyang Sect. When I found Young Clan Leader Song, he was in a fierce battle with Qian Ming, Liu Yunfeng, and others."

"Did you intervene?" Muu Guibai’s tone relaxed considerably upon hearing that Old Xu had found Song Changsheng. He was well aware of Old Xu’s strength. Forget two Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators; Old Xu could keep Song Changsheng safe even against two at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.

Old Xu fell silent for a moment before cupping his fist and replying, "No."

Hearing this answer, Muu Guibai frowned slightly. "What happened? Tell me in detail."

Upon hearing this, Old Xu recounted, without omitting a single detail, the entire process of how Song Changsheng had laid a Thunder-Attracting Array to annihilate Liu Yunfeng and the others.

After hearing his account, Zhuang Yuechan lightly covered her red lips, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

Muu Guibai couldn’t help but chuckle in bemusement. "That kid... making such a grand spectacle just to deal with two Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Where is he now?"

"Young Clan Leader Song is currently heading toward the city. He should arrive tomorrow."

"No one tailing him, I hope?" A cold glint appeared in Muu Guibai’s eyes.

"No. The Lieyang Sect seems to have given up the pursuit," Old Xu replied respectfully.

Muu Guibai nodded in satisfaction. "You’ve worked hard. Go and rest."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Old Xu dissolved into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.

"So, are you relieved now? That boy is much smarter than you think," Muu Guibai said with a smile, picking up his teacup.

The anxiety in Zhuang Yuechan’s heart finally eased. She gave Muu Guibai a graceful curtsy and said in a delicate voice, "Master, it’s getting late. I’ll go check on how my senior brothers are doing with the preparations."

With that, she practically fled the room.

Watching her departing figure, Muu Guibai sighed to himself. ’Some mistakes only need to be made once. It’s best not to interfere recklessly in the affairs of the young.’

...

「Meanwhile」

Niu Dazhuang crept furtively into a palace hall, bowed respectfully, and said, "Master, I have returned."

Zhan Tianxia, his back to him, said calmly, "Is the boy dead?"

Niu Dazhuang gave a bitter smile. "If he were dead, would I dare to return and see you?"

"Hm?" Zhan Tianxia slowly turned around. His apathetic gaze made Niu Dazhuang’s heart tremble. ’Every time his master looks at me like that, it means I’m about to get a beating.’

Fortunately, Zhan Tianxia only glanced at him for a moment before looking away.

For a time, neither master nor disciple spoke.

After a long while, Niu Dazhuang finally gritted his teeth and asked, "Master, since you deliberately spread the news about the Green Sky White Jade Pill, why did you then have me protect that boy?"

’This was what he couldn’t understand. It could be said that Zhan Tianxia had single-handedly orchestrated everything Song Changsheng had recently endured. He had originally thought Zhan Tianxia wanted to kill him using a borrowed blade.’

’But after Song Changsheng left the city, Zhan Tianxia had ordered him to follow in secret and protect his life.’

’This made no sense to him. If Zhan Tianxia didn’t want to kill him, then why not just give him the Green Sky White Jade Pill in the first place?’

’He had been pondering this question the entire journey but couldn’t figure it out, which was why he had finally mustered the courage to ask Zhan Tianxia.’

He had already braced himself for a sound beating, but unexpectedly, Zhan Tianxia fell silent after hearing his question.

After a long silence, he finally said calmly, "I actually bear him no ill will. Like his father, he has talent and perseverance, but his path has been too smooth. I created some trouble for him so that he could go further.

My impulsiveness back then led to too many regrets. Consider this... some form of compensation to him."

Niu Dazhuang was stunned. He never expected Zhan Tianxia to say such a thing.

"But what happened back then... by all rights, you did nothing wrong. If Song Xianming hadn’t interfered, you and Martial Aunt..."

"Silence!" Zhan Tianxia suddenly barked, cutting him off.

"Wrong is wrong. No amount of excuses can cover it up. You are dismissed."

Niu Dazhuang suddenly felt as if the man before him was a stranger. He said nothing more, gave a respectful, cupped-fist salute, and slowly withdrew, leaving Zhan Tianxia alone to face the vast, empty hall...

「Early the next morning」

The entire Luoxia City burst into a lively commotion. More than half of all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Daqi Cultivation World had gathered at the foot of Celestial Sound Mountain.

Today was the 400th birthday of the Great City Lord, Muu Guibai. Anyone was permitted to ascend the mountain and offer their congratulations, which led to such a spectacular sight.

Without invitations, they could only be seated on the mountainside, but this did not deter them. In fact, they flocked to the event, because after the banquet, the Great City Lord would not only personally play the zither, but would also lecture on the Dao for three days. For them, this was an opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss.

While the foot of the mountain was extraordinarily lively, the peak was no less so.

In the spacious hall, low tables were arranged according to the status of the various powers and Loose Cultivators in attendance. Maidservants in colorful robes moved between them, placing platter after platter of delicacies on the tables. In an instant, a rich aroma filled the air.

Even rarer Spirit Wines and Spirit Fruits were brought out, any one of which would be fought over by Foundation Establishment Cultivators if seen outside.

As Noon approached, the guests began to arrive one after another with their celebratory gifts.

Qian Duoyu stood at the entrance to the hall, greeting the arriving guests with a broad smile:

"Elder Dai of the Golden Crow Sect, here with his disciples to offer birthday congratulations! Presenting one Low-Grade Treasure, ten bottles of Tier Three Spirit Pills, and one Tier Three Treasure Robe!"

The first to arrive was Dai Zichen, and his gifts were indeed generous. Muu Guibai’s first disciple, Yinn Shang, immediately went to greet him, offering a cupped-fist salute. "Luoxia City is honored by your presence, Elder Dai. Please, take the seat of honor."

"Hahaha, the Golden Crow Sect naturally places the utmost importance on the Great City Lord’s birthday banquet. Our Supreme Elder wished to attend personally, but unfortunately, he could not get away." Dai Zichen chuckled, then, without a moment’s hesitation, took the head seat on the left.

He had just sat down when Qian Duoyu’s voice rang out from the entrance again: "Elder Bai of the Celestial Vein Sect, here with his disciples to celebrate the Great City Lord’s birthday! Presenting one bottle of Tier Four Low-Grade Spirit Pills, twenty pieces of Tier Three Treasure Materials, and two Tier Three Top-Grade Talismans!"

As soon as Old Ghost Bai entered with his disciples, he ignored the pleasantries with Yinn Shang and shot a cold smile at Dai Zichen, who was in the head seat. "You’re quick, Fellow Daoist Dai."

Dai Zichen’s expression was calm as he replied, "You weren’t slow either, Fellow Daoist Bai. Please, be seated."

He was gesturing to the seat opposite him, the head seat on the right. However, in the Daqi Cultivation World, the left side is held in higher honor. He was trying to put the Celestial Vein Sect beneath his own.

Seeing the tension between the two, Yinn Shang felt a headache coming on.

Fortunately, neither had forgotten the occasion. Though reluctant, Old Ghost Bai still sat down, but the look he gave Dai Zichen was anything but friendly.

Yinn Shang breathed a sigh of relief at this and began to receive the other guests. Gradually, most of the guests arrived, and the hall grew lively.

At this point, some of the more observant guests noticed that two places were still empty. Upon asking a maidservant, they learned the seats were for the Lieyang Sect and the Moon Viewing Song Clan.

Connecting this to recent events, the fact that both involved parties had yet to arrive couldn’t help but set everyone’s imagination running wild.

’He’d better have died on the road,’ Hai Dongping thought, a flash of resentment on his face as he stared at Song Changsheng’s empty seat.

After his encounter with Song Changsheng that day, he had tried to see Zhuang Yuechan several times, but was turned away at the door on every occasion. This treatment was completely different from how she treated Song Changsheng, which infuriated him. When he learned that the Lieyang Sect had put a bounty on Song Changsheng, he had prayed every day that Song Changsheng would be torn to pieces.

But unfortunately for him, such a wonderful dream was destined to remain just that—a dream.

"Young Clan Leader Song Changsheng of the Moon Viewing Song Clan, here to offer birthday congratulations! Presenting one Tier Three Low-Grade Demon Beast Inner Alchemy!"

...