Chapter 199: Chapter 157: A Taste of Their Own Medicine

"Song Changsheng, Young Clan Leader of the Moon Viewing Song Clan, has come to offer birthday congratulations, presenting one Tier Three Low-Grade Demon Beast Inner Core."

At the sound of the announcement, Hai Dongping’s expression instantly stiffened. He turned to look back at the entrance of the great hall and, sure enough, saw Song Changsheng with a little follower who was peeking around, handing a lavishly decorated box to Qian Duoyu.

"A Tier Three Demon Beast Inner Core. The Song Clan still has some reserves, it seems," Old Ghost Bai remarked, stroking his beard and swaying his head in thought.

A Tier Three Demon Beast Inner Core might not be much to the Celestial Vein Sect, but for a Foundation Establishment Family, it was exceedingly precious.

"Both Song Yungui and Song Taiyi were renowned figures in their time. It’s only natural for the Song Clan’s foundations to be solid after several hundred years," Dai Zichen commented lightly.

"Hmph. A kid from some washed-up family without a single Purple Mansion Cultivator. What right does he have to sit on equal footing with us?" Hai Dongping muttered, his expression souring as he watched Song Changsheng take his seat.

Song Changsheng’s arrival caused a small stir in the great hall. All eyes turned to him, their gazes a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny, for his name had been heard far too often recently.

First, he had taken first place in the trial hosted by Second City Lord Zhan Tianxia. Then, he had a bounty placed on his head by the Lieyang Sect. And just yesterday, it was rumored that he had killed Liu Yunfeng of the Lieyang Sect and the Loose Cultivator Qian Ming.

Everyone wanted to see for themselves what kind of person could cause such a sensation time and time again.

After Song Changsheng clearly explained to Qian Duoyu that the Inner Core was poisonous, a middle-aged man with a face like polished jade and an extraordinary bearing came up to greet him. He smiled, cupped his fist toward Song Changsheng, and said warmly, "I am Yinn Shang, Yuechan’s senior brother. You’re a little late, Fellow Daoist Song."

Song Changsheng had, of course, heard of Yinn Shang. He was a figure not to be underestimated. He was the Great City Lord’s first Direct Disciple, possessed a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivation, and his mastery of the Dao of Music had already reached the Tier Three Level.

Rumor had it that he was the Great City Lord’s chosen successor.

This claim wasn’t baseless. In his youth, the Great City Lord, Mu Guibai, had never taken a Direct Disciple. It was only a hundred years ago that he accepted Yinn Shang, followed by a few others. The youngest was Zhuang Yuechan, who had joined just twenty years ago.

To be accepted as Mu Guibai’s first disciple, he naturally had to be extraordinary.

Song Changsheng looked up and observed him, noticing that he lacked the arrogance typical of disciples from great powers. Instead, he was exceedingly humble and polite. His pleasant conversation was like a spring breeze, and in his bearing, one could already see a faint shadow of the Great City Lord.

Hearing his words, Song Changsheng also smiled and replied, "I was delayed by some trivial matters, which is why I’m a bit late. Thankfully, I made it just in time. Any later, and it would have been disrespectful to the seniors here and the Great City Lord."

His words seemed to carry a hidden meaning, and many people’s gazes shifted toward the seats reserved for the Lieyang Sect. No one from their group had arrived yet.

Originally, Liu Yunfeng and Qii Feiyun’s group were supposed to represent the Lieyang Sect at the banquet. But now, aside from Huang Liqun who escaped with heavy injuries, the rest had all been slain by Song Changsheng. It would have been strange if anyone showed up. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"You jest, Fellow Daoist Song. Please, take your seat; the banquet is about to begin." Yinn Shang led Song Changsheng to a seat at the far end of the right-hand side—the lowest-ranking spot, close to the doors of the hall.

’I’m not dissatisfied at all,’ Song Changsheng thought. ’I’m the only one here who hails from a Foundation Establishment Influence; it’s good enough that I could even enter the great hall. The other guests of my station are all still on the mountainside.’

"Young Clan Leader, when do you think the Great City Lord will arrive?" Song Qingluo asked, his face full of anticipation. He had never seen the Great City Lord before.

"He’ll be here when it’s time," Song Changsheng said calmly, handing him a Spirit Fruit he’d picked up from the table. Raising his own white porcelain wine cup, he added, "Haven’t you heard the saying? The protagonist always shows up last."

His words had barely left his mouth when Qian Duoyu, at the entrance, announced in a loud voice, "The Great City Lord and the Second City Lord arrive—!"

The slightly noisy great hall fell instantly silent. Everyone rose to their feet as if by instinct—even Dai Zichen and Old Ghost Bai were no exception—and turned in unison toward the entrance.

Mu Guibai was dressed in his customary white robes, appearing as ethereal as an immortal with his extraordinary air. The instant he stepped into the great hall, the music of flutes and strings seemed to swell, as if it were a sound from the heavens.

’As expected, important people really do have their own BGM.’ For some reason, Song Changsheng was suddenly reminded of Qiao Feng from the novels of his past life, who always made his entrance with his own theme music.

He smiled and nodded to everyone in the hall before walking directly to the head seat. With a downward gesture of his hands, he said, "Please be seated, fellow Daoists."

Only after everyone else was seated did he take his own seat.

A step behind him was Zhan Tianxia. For once, the man had changed into a brocade robe and looked less intimidating than usual. Upon entering the great hall, he shot a brief glance at Song Changsheng before walking over and sitting down next to Mu Guibai.

Following them were Zhuang Yuechan, Niu Dazhuang, and the other Direct Disciples, a dozen or so in total.

Upon entering the great hall, Zhuang Yuechan immediately spotted Song Changsheng sitting at the very back. Seeing him safe and sound, she couldn’t help but let out an inward sigh of relief.

Sensing Zhuang Yuechan’s gaze, Song Changsheng gave a small smile and raised his wine cup in acknowledgment. Her response was to roll her eyes at him, leaving him completely baffled.

Once everyone was in their designated seats, the birthday banquet officially began. The celebratory procedures in the Cultivation Realm were much simpler than those in the Mortal World.

As the first disciple, Yinn Shang delivered a speech of thanks on Mu Guibai’s behalf, after which the feast began.

A banquet was an excellent opportunity to expand one’s social circle, and the great hall quickly grew lively as everyone seized the chance to mingle and converse. Only Song Changsheng remained at his seat, pouring his own drinks, seemingly indifferent to his surroundings.