The sky was bright and cloudless.

Waves of forces headed to Liangshan to deliver congratulatory gifts. Ordinary forces without a Transcendent Yang Realm expert dared not fly through the air, obediently traveling by boat into Liangshan's territory. Under the guidance of messengers, they set foot on Liangshan's land.

This territory was more like an island, with a special guest-welcoming gate. A Liangshan Transcendent Yang Realm expert greeted them here, and many Liangshan martial artists guarded the key routes.

As for the top forces with Transcendent Yang Realm experts, they could fly through the air. Under the welcoming of Second Master Lu Guangsheng, they entered the inner courtyard prepared for the birthday banquet.

Many people came to offer birthday wishes. Each force usually had more than ten people, led by elders, cautiously stepping into Liangshan.

In today's Jianghu, apart from the Ten Immortal Sects, there were not many forces with True Monarchs. Each one was a figure these forces looked up to.

And Liangshan was among the best.

It had two Yang God True Monarchs with immense power. It possessed an unknown number of Jianghu experts who had pledged allegiance. Now, it could compete with the Seven Killing Hall of the Immortal Sect in Blood Province, and its momentum was unstoppable.

Many people were clear that Liangshan was likely not a match for the Seven Killing Hall, but that was still beyond their ability to provoke. Just daring to oppose the Seven Killing Hall had already made countless forces look up in admiration.

After all, the Ten Immortal Sects were all forces with thousands of years of heritage, all of which had once had immortals, and some even still had legendary immortals.

No one dared to cause trouble in Liangshan, and the atmosphere was naturally very harmonious.

Many people had not yet arrived, but their voices came first, complimenting Liangshan's power and congratulating Chief Song Lun's birthday banquet. One rare treasure after another was proclaimed.

"Song Yuanxiu, the sect master of the Thousand Crane Sect, congratulates Master Song with a 300-year-old spiritual herb!"

"Yu Ziqing, elder of East Mountain Valley, congratulates Master Song with..."

"Shu Province..."

"Qing Province..."

Only those with status and reputation could be announced.

These were all noticed by Chen Yuan and Jiang He.

Most of the people who came were unfamiliar faces. There were not many familiar ones, at most a brief acquaintance. Forces at the level of the Ten Immortal Sects did not come.

But this was normal. The gap between the Ten Immortal Sects and non-Ten Immortal Sects was huge. A force with a bad reputation like Liangshan was generally not worthy of an Immortal Sect offering gifts.

During his observation, Chen Yuan unexpectedly discovered a familiar face.

Yan Kai!

When Chen Yuan's cultivation had not yet reached the Celestial Astral Realm, he had been assigned a task by Blue Envoy Tao Qingyuan to go to Qingshui County's Da Gu Mountain to wipe out a group of escaped soldiers.

The leader was Yan Kai. In that battle, Chen Yuan killed the Blood Demon Old Man and obtained an opportunity. Because he could use Yan Kai, he spared his life. Later, Yan Kai, grateful for Chen Yuan's act of kindness, sent him cultivation resources worth a thousand taels.

Chen Yuan spared him because the man had no Destiny. He remembered that Yan Kai had once said he wanted to venture into Blood Province. He didn't expect that he had now joined Liangshan.

But it seemed that he was doing only so-so. His cultivation had not changed, and his status seemed to be just a small leader.

Chen Yuan had no intention of seeing this old acquaintance again. He only sighed at the impermanence of the world. It had been almost two years. Yan Kai was still the same Yan Kai, but Chen Yuan was no longer the patrolling envoy he once was.

Times had changed. Chen Yuan now had an extremely high position and a great reputation. His counterparts were the Prince of Zhennan, the chief of Liangshan, and the current emperor.

But Yan Kai was still weak.

However, this was normal. Martial arts cultivation was inherently difficult. Without the support of resources and power, it was very difficult to advance further. It was normal to be trapped in a realm for many years.

"What's wrong? Do you recognize him?"

Jiang He, hidden in the void, had been observing Chen Yuan. Seeing his gaze focused on a small Core Condensation Realm martial artist, he felt a little strange.

"An old acquaintance from the past. We've met a few times."

Chen Yuan replied telepathically.

"Okay."

Jiang He didn't ask any further questions.

Yan Kai naturally couldn't detect the gaze of a Transcendent Yang Realm expert. He only felt a slight stirring in his heart, but he didn't take it to heart. He still dutifully guarded his post.

Today was the chief's 120th birthday banquet. If he caused any trouble, he would die without knowing how.

He had once been high-spirited, wanting to make a name for himself in Blood Province. But reality was too cruel. As a small Core Condensation Realm martial artist, he could be successful in a small county, but in Blood Province, where there were countless strong and vicious people, he was not much bigger than an ant.

Only two or three of his brothers from back then remained, and they had smoothed out his edges. Now, he just wanted to live well and rely on a powerful leader for a few stable years.

As for the patrolling envoy Chen Yuan he had once met, he had envied him and regretted not following him, but it was too late. Opportunity would not be given to those who were unprepared.

He was not the only one. How many of Chen Yuan's subordinates when he was a patrolling envoy in Nanling Prefecture did not regret it?

But what could he do?

There was no chance to start over in this world.

Many guests offering birthday wishes entered in droves. Those with high status and strong cultivation were arranged in the inner courtyard. The food and drink were all top-notch dishes, each one rare.

The spiritual wine and spiritual tea were even more superior.

Guests with lower cultivation and status were arranged in the outer courtyard, accompanied by a Liangshan Transcendent Yang Realm expert. Even so, it was already considered very respectful.

No one was dissatisfied.

After all, everywhere, there were hierarchies. They didn't expect to be able to personally say a word to the legendary True Monarch.

"Chief, all the guests have arrived." A Liangshan leader walked to Song Lun's side and whispered.

They had already understood everything about the guests who came, how many there were, and who they were. After checking and confirming that everything was correct, they informed Song Lun.

"Very good."

Song Lun nodded slightly, with a faint smile, and walked out of Liangshan's main hall, the Hall of Gathering Righteousness. The open space in front of the Hall of Gathering Righteousness was the so-called 'inner courtyard'.

He wore a large birthday robe, with his hair tied up in a bun, full of scholarly air. As soon as he appeared, he attracted the attention of more than a hundred people in the inner courtyard. Among these people were clan leaders and sect masters of top forces, as well as elders and disciples.

In addition, there were many Liangshan leaders and powerful figures. Second Master Lu Guangsheng, leader Blood Axe Fan Ying, and others also sat in the upper seats.

Seeing Song Lun appear, they all cupped their fists:

"Congratulations to Chief for his 120th birthday!"

"Wishing Master Song a life as long as the Southern Mountain pine and blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea!"

"Wishing Brother Song supernatural powers unsurpassed and unification of Blood Province!"

"Congratulations..."

Sounds of birthday greetings rose and fell, and the atmosphere was very warm.

Song Lun cupped his fist in return and said with a smile:

"It is a great comfort to Song that so many fellow Jianghu practitioners have come to celebrate my birthday. If there is any inadequate hospitality, I hope you will forgive me."

"Brother Song is too modest."

"Yes, Chief Song..."

"Everyone, please enjoy the food first. Later, Song will announce an important matter concerning Blood Province and even the entire Southern Jianghu." Song Lun smiled heartily.

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

"Chief Song, why sell off the secret? Why not tell us directly so that we are all a little itchy."

"Exactly, exactly."

"Everyone, don't be anxious, you will know later."

"Could it be related to the Seven Killing Hall?"

"Yes, I heard that Liangshan has already fallen out with the Seven Killing Hall. Could it be that they want to start a full-scale war?"

"It seems that it was not in vain to come today..."

The Jianghu martial artists below whispered to each other, and their curiosity had been aroused.

Some even tried to get some inside information from the Liangshan leaders next to them, but unfortunately, not to mention them, even these Liangshan leaders were clueless and didn't understand what their chief was selling.

In the venue, only Second Master Lu Guangsheng frowned upon hearing this, with a faint bad feeling. He always felt that Song Lun had no good intentions.

But if he wanted to think about it, he couldn't figure it out.

He just subconsciously turned his gaze outside Liangshan.

He knew that the patriarch was prepared to borrow a knife to kill someone today, and he had made all the preparations. The formation of the entire Liangshan had been secretly removed from the formation eye.

More than 100,000 troops had also had a large portion transferred away in order to weaken Song Lun's strength.

After Song Lun finished speaking, he stopped talking about what he had just said and instead took the spiritual wine from the hands of the maid beside him, preparing to toast the Liangshan leaders and Jianghu experts below.

This place naturally did not have the kind of grand opera stage for ordinary low-level martial artists. Although some programs had been prepared, they were all after that, and presumably...some people would be surprised.

"Song offers this wine in respect to..."

Before Song Lun could finish his polite words, he was interrupted by a burst of laughter.

"How could my Seven Killing Hall be absent from Chief Song's birthday banquet? Why...are you starting without waiting for us? Are you looking down on my Seven Killing Hall too much!"

The heavy male voice resounded throughout Liangshan. All the guests, whether in the inner or outer courtyard, were shocked and subconsciously looked at a certain place in the void.

The Seven Killing Hall...had arrived!

Many people knew that according to the decisive nature of the Seven Killing Hall, once the grudges with Liangshan were made clear, it would not end well. Some people had actually guessed that the birthday banquet would not be peaceful today and had come specifically to watch the fun.

They wanted to see whether Liangshan's strength was stronger or the Seven Killing Hall, which had been passed down for thousands of years, was better. Many guesses were ultimately empty. Compared to that, they still had to speak with strength.

Of course, this was only a small part.

Most of the Jianghu martial artists and Liangshan martial artists had drastically changed their expressions and faintly felt something was wrong, thinking that today might not be peaceful and that even a battle between True Monarchs was likely to occur. The birthday banquet was Liangshan's face. If the Seven Killing Hall came to slap them in the face, how could it end without someone dying?

"Presumptuous! Today is the chief's birthday banquet. How dare you rats who hide your heads and show your tails come to make trouble!" Blood Axe Fan Ying was instantly furious and immediately shouted angrily.

"Audacious!"

"Are you seeking death?"

One by one, the Liangshan Transcendent Yang Realm leaders stood up, facing the void.

And the Jianghu martial artists who had been whispering before, whether they were top forces or ordinary forces, were now silent, obediently sitting on their chairs and watching what happened.

This had nothing to do with them. They were just here to eat.

Whether it was Liangshan or the Seven Killing Hall, they were forces that they could not afford to offend. If they said the wrong thing at this time, it might bring about the destruction of their families afterwards.

It was really not worth the loss.

Of course, there were also some martial artists who smiled and observed their surroundings. Some wanted to leave directly if they saw the situation was not good, and some wanted to see the rare battle between True Monarchs in the Jianghu.

"Where is Liangshan's Mountain Protecting Array!"

Second Master Lu Guangsheng immediately stood up and shouted "Stop thief!", because the array had been entrusted to him. Now that something had gone wrong, many people were looking at him, so he had to stand up.

In the void, after the voice representing the Seven Killing Hall was spoken, the sky above the entire Liangshan quickly began to be covered with dark clouds, and rumbling thunder sounded, no longer the clear sky it had been before.

The scene was incredibly large, and the terrifying aura covered the entire Liangshan. Those with weak cultivation even trembled subconsciously.

However, Song Lun, the white-clothed scholar who was the protagonist of this birthday banquet, did not appear flustered, as if he had expected this scene long ago, and a faint smile always hung on the corner of his mouth.

His gaze swept over Lu Guangsheng, a hint of ridicule flashing across his eyes. Then, he turned his gaze to the dark clouds in the sky and cupped his hands in salute:

"These words are a bit too condescending to Song Lun. Those who come are guests. Brother Seven Killing, why don't you show yourself?"

These words made many of the watching guests nod secretly. Leaving aside everything else, this composure alone was already extraordinary. Even if the Seven Killing Hall came to his door, he was still calm and composed.

He was indeed the Supreme on the Heavenly List, the Lord of Liangshan!

"Old Jiang, what do you think?"

Chen Yuan, hidden in the dark, frowned. Seeing Song Lun's calm appearance, he felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell what it was. It might also be that the other party was deliberately doing this to give others the impression that everything was under control.

"It seems that Song Lun also has some plans. Today is really lively." Jiang He said.

Before coming, Chen Yuan had fully disclosed everything. Liangshan had two True Monarchs, and behind them was the former Chu imperial family, the Xiang family. The Seven Killing Hall also had two True Monarchs taking action. Adding them both, the situation was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

And now, at the time of the confrontation between Liangshan and the Seven Killing Hall, it was impossible for Song Lun not to have foreseen that someone from the Seven Killing Hall would cause trouble. Then...what were his preparations?

"Of course we have to show ourselves. Today, we came to offer birthday congratulations to Chief Song. The Seven Killing Hall has specially prepared a gift for you. I think you will be satisfied."

As soon as the voice fell, the dark sky churned and cracked open a gap. A coffin made of black jade slowly fell from the void. "This coffin is made of top-grade black spiritual jade, which can preserve the corpse for hundreds of years. Coffins also have the name of promotion and wealth. How about it? Is Chief Song satisfied with this gift?"

Waves of ripples appeared in the void, like a mirror on a lake. A man in black robes slowly appeared, with a ghost mask on his face. This person was none other than the Palace Master of the Seven Killing Hall, the ninth on the Supreme List, True Monarch Seven Killing!

This was the tradition of the Seven Killing Hall. Whoever served as the Palace Master would be known as True Monarch Seven Killing in the Jianghu. As soon as he appeared, all the martial artists present felt a chill in their hearts.

This person seemed to have no power, but there was an inexplicable killing intent shrouded in their minds.

Song Lun raised his hand, and an invisible force held up the black jade coffin, placing it beside him. He said to the Palace Master of the Seven Killing Hall in the void:

"Song is very satisfied with this gift, but unfortunately, I can't use it now. I can prepare one for Brother Seven Killing instead. Hmm...aren't the other Yama Kings going to show themselves?"

"It seems that Chief Song was indeed prepared."

True Monarch Seven Killing stared deeply at Song Lun, but he still didn't panic at all. With a wave of his hand, four black-robed men suddenly appeared in all directions, surrounding the entire inner courtyard.

Chen Yuan's second maternal uncle, King Chujiang Chen Huaiyi, was among them. The other ones were King Qinguang, King Pingdeng, and King Songdi. All of them were surrounded by powerful auras.

The weakest one also had Spirit Refinement Realm cultivation. As soon as the four appeared, it seemed that a large formation was connected, and the power was even greater!

Five Yama Kings!

The people below all contracted their pupils. This was almost an all-out effort, but thinking about it, it seemed very normal. Liangshan's strength was not weak. If fewer people came, how could they destroy Liangshan?

"Are there only these few?"

Song Lun's gaze swept over the Yama Kings of the Seven Killing Hall one by one, seemingly disappointed.

"What? Does Chief Song think it's not enough?" King Chujiang snorted coldly.

"Not enough, far from enough..." Song Lun slowly shook his head with a smile on his lips.

This posture made all the guests present and the Liangshan leaders below startled, guessing whether Song Lun was also prepared.

But...what could he prepare?

True Monarch Seven Killing was an existence in the top ten of the Supreme List. He could easily fight two opponents alone, not to mention the mysterious King Chujiang. Unless Song Lun could invite other True Monarchs to appear.

However, this was undoubtedly more difficult.

There were only so many well-known True Monarchs in the Jianghu. At most, there were only a few dozen. Some were not even in the Central Plains. Moreover, even if they were True Monarchs, how many dared to oppose the Seven Killing Hall?

Weren't they afraid of being liquidated afterwards?

Second Master Lu Guangsheng frowned slightly, his eyes flickering.

"Then Chief Song might as well call out all his helpers. It just so happens that I also want to see who wants to be at odds with my Seven Killing Hall." The Palace Master of the Seven Killing Hall said calmly, not seeming to be in a hurry to take action.

Song Lun's eyes gradually turned serious. He didn't look at the Yama Kings of the Seven Killing Hall above, but turned his gaze to the Liangshan leaders in the inner courtyard and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow Taoists, brothers, what Song said just now was to announce something that could affect the entire Blood Province and even the South, and now I will tell you.

Since Brother Seven Killing is not in a hurry to take action, why not listen to it as well."

"Hehe, good."

"We Liangshan brothers are all ambitious people, but we are harmed by traitors because we have no way to serve the country. Who is born willing to be a bandit? Who wants to be scolded as a robber all their lives?

To tell you the truth, Liangshan can have what it has today thanks to the hands of a clan. This clan is the Xiang clan of the former dynasty. The Xiang family harbors hatred and is full of thoughts of restoring the country. They actually want us Liangshan brothers to be their wings and do things that have no return!

After thinking about it again and again, Song Lun was terrified and unwilling to let all his brothers fall into this situation, so he has already pleaded guilty to the current Holy Emperor!"

——————

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