Song Changsheng never expected to be used as someone’s shield, and a passive one at that.

"This Fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. I wonder, which senior’s esteemed disciple might you be?" a strikingly handsome man asked with a chuckle as he walked up.

The man was truly stunning, dressed in a white, crescent-embroidered robe. He was slender, with features as picturesque as a painting, and carried an air of nobility.

If not for his chest being as flat as a board and the presence of an Adam’s apple, Song Changsheng would have suspected he was a woman in disguise.

Of course, disguising one’s gender was a simple matter in this world. The main reason Song Changsheng was certain he was male was the fiery look in his eyes when he glanced at Zhuang Yuechan. It was the look of raw desire.

Speaking of which, Song Changsheng had never actually seen Zhuang Yuechan’s face beneath her veil, but judging by everyone’s reactions, her beauty must have been on par with that of Xia Wanyun from the auction house.

"I only came up the mountain a few days ago, so it’s perfectly normal that you haven’t seen me. May I ask what business you have with me?" Although the man had rudely blocked his path, Song Changsheng’s words remained polite. ’He didn’t want to start trouble, but if trouble came knocking, he wouldn’t back down, either.’

Seeing that Song Changsheng didn’t introduce himself or his background, a hint of disdain flashed in the beautiful man’s eyes, and his tone took on an even more arrogant edge. "My name is Hai Dongping. And you are?"

"Song Changsheng! It’s you!"

Before Song Changsheng could reply, someone else blurted out his identity. He turned and saw a group of cultivators in crimson robes rushing over, their demeanor threatening.

A closer look revealed some familiar faces.

The people who had just arrived were from the Lieyang Sect, here for the celebratory banquet. He knew them all. In fact, three of them were the very same men who had ambushed Dongtian Xie in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Song Changsheng had set them up, and only three of their original group of five had survived.

Those three, however, didn’t recognize Song Changsheng. The one who had exposed his identity was someone else—a man he had personally defeated. It was none other than Qii Feiyun, whom he had beaten during his Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony!

"Song Changsheng, do you remember me?" Qii Feiyun strode menacingly before Song Changsheng and demanded. His eyes glinted with a mixture of excitement and hatred.

’He had finally gotten his chance. Defeat at Song Changsheng’s hands was the greatest shame of his life. All these years, he had dreamt of the moment he could wash away that disgrace. Now, that opportunity was finally here!’

’Why wasn’t this guy around for the ambush on Dongtian Xie?’ Song Changsheng mused. ’If he’d been there that day, I would’ve just gotten rid of him then. It would’ve saved me a headache today.’

"What, too scared to answer?" Qii Feiyun pressed when he saw Song Changsheng’s silence.

Song Changsheng slowly shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "I was just trying to figure out who you were. You see, I’ve defeated so many people, it’s a bit hard to remember them all right away."

"You!!"

Qii Feiyun was so furious he was practically shaking. If he weren’t holding back, he would have slapped him right across the face!

"What a detestable brat. How did you even get up here?" Liu Yunfeng, the one who had barely escaped Dongtian Xie with his men, chimed in coldly.

"Senior Brother Liu, do you even have to ask? A member of a broken-down family that doesn’t even have a Purple Mansion expert. He must have used some underhanded method to worm his way up here," an Earth Fire Sect disciple jeered, prompting a wave of derisive laughter.

Upon learning that Song Changsheng was from a Foundation Establishment Family, the arrogance in Hai Dongping’s eyes grew even more conspicuous. ’In his mind, they were no longer even in the same league.’

Song Changsheng watched their performance with cold eyes, his heart as still as water. He knew they were deliberately trying to provoke him. If he couldn’t hold back and attacked first, he would be breaking Luoxia City’s rules. Then, they would have a legitimate reason to swarm him and take him down.

He was no wet-behind-the-ears rookie. He watched their antics, completely unmoved. ’Just a bunch of pathetic clowns,’ he thought.

"Gentlemen, Young Clan Leader Song is a guest my Master personally invited. Please, mind your words." Rather than watch the drama unfold, Zhuang Yuechan decided to intervene, effectively silencing them.

"Invited personally by the Great City Lord?"

Liu Yunfeng, Qii Feiyun, and the others suddenly looked as sick as if they’d swallowed a fly. In the Daqi Cultivation World, the title "Great City Lord" carried extraordinary weight.

’Zhuang Yuechan hasn’t been seen for days, yet today she’s with this nobody. And he was personally invited by the Great City Lord. Could it be...?’ A sharp glint flashed in Hai Dongping’s eyes, and his gaze toward Song Changsheng gained a new layer of hostility and wariness.

Song Changsheng’s Divine Sense was exceptionally sharp; he glanced at the man, feeling rather speechless. ’Is there something wrong with him? How bizarre.’

"Fellow Daoist Zhuang, there’s no need to waste our breath on them. Let’s head to the Dao Discussion Hall, or we’ll be late." A fight wasn’t going to break out here, and Song Changsheng had no interest in wasting time trading barbs with these people.

Zhuang Yuechan nodded. She simply couldn’t stand their smug attitudes. Since Song Changsheng didn’t seem to mind, there was no need for her to continue putting them in their place.

Watching their retreating figures, Hai Dongping’s eyes narrowed. He walked up to Qii Feiyun and said, "I am Hai Dongping, disciple of the Vagrant of the Vast Sea. You all seem to know that Song Changsheng quite well. Would you be interested in stepping aside to talk?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Facing disciples from a Purple Mansion Influence, Hai Dongping’s earlier arrogance completely vanished.

Surprised, Qii Feiyun sized up the other man. He cupped his hands and said, "So you are the esteemed disciple of Senior Vast Sea. I am Qii Feiyun of the Lieyang Sect. Fellow Daoist, you seem quite interested in that Song Changsheng?"