The one-sided beating lasted for a full five minutes.
Only then did Liang Dekuai and the others stop, their hearts filled with satisfaction.
"Arrange for people to reset the tables and chairs," Liang Dekuai ordered his personal eunuch upon returning to his original seat. "Tell the kitchen to continue serving the dishes."
The sect leader and the others quickly checked their bodies.
They discovered they had suffered no injuries and their true qi circulated as normal.
Everyone blinked in confusion.
What was this all about?
Were they just ignored like this?
They had initially thought the other party comprised a group of hidden powerful cultivators, but it seemed they had misunderstood something.
However, they couldn't dwell on it for now!
This place was too strange!
They needed to retreat first and then make a long-term plan!
Everyone frantically urged their true qi and soared into the sky with a whoosh!
Liang Dekuai then instructed his personal eunuch again, "Ah, and tell the kitchen to add a few more dishes."
In mid-air, the sect leader and the others felt a surge of relief.
Judging by the other party's defenses, they were indeed a group of powerful cultivators.
Fortunately, these powerful cultivators were not very sharp-minded, otherwise, they would have met their end today!
What a stroke of luck, what good fortune...
However, the moment this thought crossed their minds, everyone's expressions changed in unison!
Their facial features contorted into looks of extreme agony!
A few even clutched their groins tightly with both hands...
Then, these individuals plummeted down like dumplings, plop, plop, plop...
The eunuchs and palace maids present immediately stepped forward, carrying these people away.
Throughout this process, their expressions were incredibly calm!
It was as if they were performing a trivial task!
Soon, new tables, chairs, and dishes were brought out, and the group continued their joyous feasting.
The entire imperial palace was once again filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
Utterly harmonious.
At the same time.
Another group of cultivators arrived at the Great Liang Imperial City!
Judging by their robes and embroidery, they were not part of the previous group.
Beside their leader, a young man stood out prominently.
A faint, almost imperceptible chill emanated from him, and a flicker of electric light occasionally flashed within his eyes.
Most striking was the sword on his back!
Its design was vastly different from the weapons of the cultivation world, exuding a foreign style.
At the hilt, an evil goat's head was carved!
Upon closer inspection, a faint, eerie red glow could be seen in the goat's eyes!
The young man's identity was all but revealed.
It was none other than the Hall Master of the Lingxiao Hall – Ling Hefan!
After obtaining Frostmourne, Ling Hefan had gone to Section Nine of Ge City to latch onto someone powerful.
He not only successfully found Li Qingyun but also became his adopted son.
Initially, Ling Hefan intended to use this identity to turn the entire Qingyun Sect into a granary for himself and Frostmourne.
Then, in time, he would gradually expand the granary to encompass all of Ge City.
However, he never expected to encounter Ye Fan on the street not long after...
The adoptive father he had just found had barely warmed his embrace before he was gone...
Later, under Frostmourne's command, Ling Hefan had no choice but to leave Section Nine...
It had to be said that Ling Hefan was, in a sense, chosen by fate.
He thought his attempt to latch onto a powerful figure had failed this time, but unexpectedly, things took a turn!
In a hidden corner next to Section Nine, he found another hidden powerful cultivator!
Under Frostmourne's subtle manipulation, the two quickly became allies.
It turned out that this powerful cultivator had narrowly survived the Master of Ge City back then and had been in hiding with a few trusted elders and disciples.
Later, driven by hatred, he had successfully broken through his bottleneck!
After that, his cultivation skyrocketed as if he had gained cheat-like abilities!
The powerful cultivator felt he was now capable and prepared to take Ling Hefan with him for revenge.
However, as soon as they returned to Section Nine, they received an explosive piece of news!
The Master of Ge City was finished!
Many people had already left Ge City!
The two saw this as an opportunity!
Unifying Ge City was within their grasp!
Especially Ling Hefan, who could already see countless souls beckoning to him!
He was just one step away from shouting that familiar phrase.
"Come, my lord."
However, just as they were about to act, two bald men suddenly appeared...
One called himself Brother Ji.
The other called himself Banana Lord.
...
Ling Hefan was utterly dismayed at that moment!
Because he recognized these two bald men, and had even fought them before!
It was precisely these people who had ruined his hard work!
As the saying goes, enemies meet, eyes flare with anger, and they immediately began fighting!
The more they fought, the more Ling Hefan was shocked!
He didn't know what forbidden substances these two bald men had consumed, but they were several times more ferocious than before!
In this manner.
Ling Hefan and the group of the hidden powerful cultivator were beaten out of Ge City...
If they hadn't run fast, they might have even lost their lives...
They ran while consuming medicine, only stopping when they had exhausted every last trace of their true qi.
While resting, they still constantly scanned their surroundings, fearing that two more bald men would suddenly appear...
Thus, they journeyed all the way to the territory of the Great Liang Kingdom.
Unfortunately, they were unfamiliar with this land and had no idea where they were.
However, Ling Hefan and that powerful cultivator discussed it and decided this place wasn't bad.
Although remote and with scarce resources, it also reduced many risks.
For now, it would be best to lay low here, recover their strength, and then slowly expand outwards.
Not long after they settled down, they encountered a group of passing cultivators.
Upon discovering that their cultivation was not particularly high, they stealthily approached.
After all, robbery was one of the fastest ways to acquire wealth, and a favorite pastime for many cultivators.
Because their cultivation was superior to the other party, they remained undetected until they were close.
Just as they were about to make their move, the conversation of the other party caught their attention.
Upon learning that the purpose of this group's journey was related to a mysterious artifact that could contend with Tribulation Period cultivators, Ling Hefan and his group were tempted!
Thus, they decided to play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, and followed these people to the vicinity of the imperial city.
Midway, Frostmourne woke up and felt something was amiss, telling Ling Hefan and the others not to follow too closely.
Consequently, by the time they arrived, the previous group had all vanished.
Ling Hefan stared intently at the distant imperial palace.
In reality, it was Frostmourne doing the reconnaissance; he was merely putting on a show.
The powerful cultivator stood quietly beside him.
When they first met, he had recognized Frostmourne's extraordinary nature and attempted to kill him to seize the treasure.
However, Frostmourne had exerted a little effort, and he had chickened out...
From then on, he began to regard Ling Hefan as a senior expert...
A moment later, Ling Hefan withdrew his gaze.
Frostmourne informed him that no powerful souls had been detected ahead.
"Young friend Ling, what's the situation?" the hidden powerful cultivator eagerly inquired.
"True Master Daoming, there should be no danger ahead," Ling Hefan said with a confident smile. "We can set off!"
Thus, the group flew towards the imperial palace.