Chapter 159: Dagger Revealed

However, the usually bustling Qingyuan Restaurant appeared exceptionally desolate today.

Aside from Sun Xuan and his group of six, along with a mere handful of chefs and waiters, there wasn't even a single customer.

The atmosphere of the entire Qingyuan Restaurant was chillingly and strangely silent.

Looking at the current appearance of Qingyuan Restaurant, a deep glint flashed through the depths of Sun Xuan's eyes.

What Sun Xuan was thinking about at this moment was not just the layout orchestrated by Yuan Dong and the other three.

The current situation of Qingyuan Restaurant actually led Sun Xuan to think about much more.

You must know that the owner behind this Qingyuan Restaurant was none other than the Qingdan Sect, previously one of the three major factions in Qinghe County, and now one of the two major factions in Qinghe County City after the decline of the Shangguan Family.

Although the Qingdan Sect suffered heavy losses in its Origin Qi at this moment, compared to the vanished Shangguan Family, it was still much better off.

Everything is subject to comparison. Right now, within Qinghe County City, aside from the Town Demon Guard, which was a court faction whose strength was relatively well-preserved, comparing the remaining two major factions meant that the Qingdan Sect had once again come out on top.

Furthermore, Town-Demon Envoy Lü Qing, the strongest expert of the well-preserved Qinghe County Town Demon Guard, had been promoted for his merits and left Qinghe County directly to go to the commandery city.

As a result, not to mention the strength of the middle and lower-layer Martial Artists, if one simply compared the upper echelons, Sect Master Li Changtian of the Qingdan Sect had on the surface unexpectedly become the person with the highest martial might in Qinghe County City at this moment.

Under such circumstances, it was hard to guarantee that Li Changtian wouldn't breed some bad thoughts.

Such thoughts circulated in Sun Xuan's mind, but Sun Xuan's movements did not stop.

It was as if Sun Xuan completely hadn't noticed the silent and eerie conditions inside Qingyuan Restaurant at this moment.

However, while Sun Xuan showed no reaction to this, Chu Lin, who was following closely beside Sun Xuan, furrowed his brows deeper and deeper.

The current situation was obviously not right.

If they went into this Qingyuan Restaurant, there was no telling what kind of danger awaited him and Sun Xuan next.

But since they had already come at this point, wanting to back down now was no longer possible.

Chu Lin also understood in his heart that having reached this place, even if he and Sun Xuan wanted to leave now, Yuan Dong and the other three would probably never let them go.

At this moment, Chu Lin glanced at Sun Xuan's calm and collected appearance. After gritting his teeth, without another word, he continued to follow Sun Xuan deeper into Qingyuan Restaurant.

"Lord Sun, a single day apart feels like three autumns.

I truly never expected that after Lord Lü was promoted to the commandery city, it would be Lord Sun who took over the vacancy of Town Demon Envoy.

In the past, this old man also interacted with Lord Lü on equal terms, and our relationship was that of old friends of many years.

Now that Lord Sun has been promoted to Town Demon Envoy of Qinghe County, as your Senior, if this old man didn't host a banquet to celebrate for you, my worthy nephew, it would seem that I don't understand etiquette!"

Just as Sun Xuan stepped into the gates of Qingyuan Restaurant, someone walked straight towards him from the front.

Sun Xuan looked closely, and who could it be if not Sect Master Li Changtian of the Qingdan Sect?

Seeing this old bastard try to slap the big hat of a Senior elder onto his own head right off the bat, a sneer flashed across Sun Xuan's Face. Then, staring at Li Changtian with eyes bright and spirited, he softly said:

"So it is Sect Master Li. At your advanced age, you just barely escaped with your life from the hands of the zombie king in the underground space.

Instead of tucking your tail between your legs and hiding safely within your Qingdan Sect to cling to life, you're in such a rush to jump out in front of this official and act all high and mighty. Are you out of your damn mind and tired of living?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the already exceptionally silent Qingyuan Restaurant instantly plunged into an eerie atmosphere where the drop of a pin could be heard.

Sun Xuan leisurely flicked his hand, then stared at the stiff-faced Li Changtian with a calm smile, not saying any more.

Li Changtian was also taken aback for a moment by Sun Xuan's unsparing words. After a brief moment, his expression, full of a fake smile, immediately turned gloomy.

The corners of his mouth twitched incessantly; obviously, Sun Xuan's words had completely infuriated Li Changtian.

Within this silent environment, wisps of Killing Intent continuously rose from Li Changtian's body.

Originally, Li Changtian had suffered heavy losses in that underground space. After fleeing back to the Qingdan Sect in a sorry state, he discovered that compared to the Shangguan Family, the Qingdan Sect's situation at this moment was actually much better.

Furthermore, Town-Demon Envoy Lü Qing of the Qinghe County Town Demon Guard was transferred to the commandery city shortly after.

Because of this, under such circumstances, with him—a Late Stage Rank 7 Martial Artist—holding down the fort, the heavily battered Qingdan Sect unexpectedly became the most powerful faction.

Humans, once they realize their own strength has grown, tend to give birth to thoughts they wouldn't dare to entertain before.

Just like before, Qinghe County was jointly ruled by three major factions, but now, Li Changtian had the idea of letting the Qingdan Sect exclusively dominate the entire Qinghe County.

If his Qingdan Sect could exclusively dominate the entire Qinghe County, then the manpower lost previously in that underground space would no longer count for much.

With massive resources, it wouldn't take long for the Qingdan Sect's losses to be completely recovered, and further down the line, it would even achieve an extremely powerful growth momentum.

In this way, their Qingdan Sect would instead be turning misfortune into a blessing.

However, if he wanted to realize this idea that seemed more and more plausible the more he thought about it, the first person standing in his way was this newly appointed Town Demon Envoy.

Therefore, when Yuan Dong and those four double-crossers approached Li Changtian and proposed cooperating with him to kill Sun Xuan, Li Changtian agreed without a second thought.

Li Changtian even thought in his heart that this was truly someone sending a pillow right when he felt sleepy.

Just as he got the idea to exclusively dominate Qinghe County and eliminate this newly appointed Town Demon Envoy, someone handed him a knife.

This was simply the heavens wanting his Qingdan Sect to greatly prosper!

Under these circumstances, Li Changtian became even more determined to eliminate the new Town Demon Envoy and prop up that piece of trash Yuan Dong.

Then, using Yuan Dong's handle of assassinating the previous Town Demon Envoy, he would coerce the Qinghe County Town Demon Guard into ceding a massive amount of benefits to their Qingdan Sect, thereby exclusively dominating the entire Qinghe County.

As the saying goes, if one rejects what Heaven bestows, one will suffer its blame.

Now that Heaven had placed this opportunity to exclusively dominate Qinghe County into his, Li Changtian's, hands, if he didn't seize it, he would incur Heaven's wrath.

As for completely eradicating the Qinghe County Town Demon Guard, Li Changtian did not dare to do that.

After all, the Town Demon Guard was an imperial court institution—a violent imperial organization with a complete System from top to bottom.

If he, Li Changtian, dared to eradicate the Qinghe County Town Demon Guard today, then tomorrow, the Town Demon Guards from the commandery city or even the prefecture city would directly dispatch a large army to completely exterminate his tiny Qingdan Sect, leaving not even a single chicken or dog alive.

However, if it was merely controlling the Qinghe County Town Demon Guard from behind the scenes, heavily suppressing them or even encroaching upon a large amount of their interests, Li Changtian still had the guts for that.

Not only did he have it, but his guts were huge.

If the Town Demon Guard of a small county town was useless, the big shots up top couldn't be bothered to care.

If you yourself are trash and still expect the higher-ups to wipe your ass, that's simply impossible.

The big shots are busy fighting for power and profit every day; how would they have the time to manage filthy matters in a backwater corner like yours?

As long as you aren't wiped out by others and don't slap the Faces of those big shots up top, they won't give a damn about what happens to you.

Based on his understanding of these imperial court institutions, Sect Master Li Changtian dared to unite with Yuan Dong and the other four to commit such acts of assassinating the Town Demon Envoy and even secretly controlling the Qinghe County Town Demon Guard.

At this moment, Li Changtian originally wanted to first give Sun Xuan a show of force, and then slowly deal with this newly appointed Town Demon Envoy.

But what Li Changtian never expected was that this newly appointed Town Demon Envoy, Sun Xuan, would give absolutely no Face to him, a Rank 7 expert.

What he said just now was practically no different from slapping Li Changtian across the Face in public.

Not only did he fail to give a show of force, but he also lost his own Face.

This feeling made Li Changtian extremely furious and displeased.

Just as the scene grew cold and silent to the extreme, Liu Suo, who was following beside Sun Xuan, rolled his eyes slightly. Then, taking a step forward and moving his figure closer to Li Changtian's position, he directly opened his mouth to break the silence of the scene.

"Lord Sun, Sect Master Li is the intimate friend of the former Town Demon Envoy and current Left Town Demon Envoy Lord Lü. For him to call you Worthy Nephew is already considering you with high regard.

Why must you be so rude?

Your behavior simply loses all the Face of our Qinghe County Town Demon Guard.

Today, I will intercede with Sect Master Li on your behalf. If you bow your head and apologize to Sect Master Li right now, this matter will be considered over.

Otherwise, since Sect Master Li is a Senior of the Jianghu, if he wants to teach you a lesson, the likes of us won't be able to help you at all!"

As Liu Suo spoke, a sneer surfaced on his Face.

In Liu Suo's mind, this fellow surnamed Sun had arrived at Qingyuan Restaurant, and he definitely had no chance of continuing to live.

Since that was the case, why should he continue to endure humiliation and play the turtle like before?

Right now was the absolute best time to deal with this person surnamed Sun.

Standing out right now to say such a string of words could not only infuriate Sun Xuan and make it convenient for them to make a move next,

but also secretly ingratiated himself with Li Changtian, a Late Stage Rank 7 expert, laying a good foundation for their future cooperation.

It could be considered a brilliant idea that killed two birds with one stone.

After finishing these words, Liu Suo even felt somewhat proud of his own cleverness and wit.

However, at the very instant Liu Suo revealed a look of smugness and Li Changtian showed a look of satisfaction,

a cold flash abruptly slashed across the hall of Qingyuan Restaurant in an instant.

After the cold flash passed, the look of smugness on Liu Suo's Face instantly froze.

Following closely, Liu Suo's head abruptly rolled down from his neck, and a fountain of blood instantly spurted out from Liu Suo's headless corpse.

"Retard, barking wildly like a dog, and you don't even know how to find a useful master.

That old piece of trash Li Changtian can't protect you at all!"

Sun Xuan's Face carried a trace of indifference. Within his pair of eyes, icy chills flashed, and words carrying a hint of Killing Intent slowly came out from Sun Xuan's mouth at this moment.

In Sun Xuan's hand, a long saber wreathed in dragon-shaped black Qi was currently gripped tightly by him.

Wisps of scarlet blood slowly dripped from the blade of the evil dragon saber onto the ground.

"The Feast at Hongmen set up by you four pieces of trash—Sun has already come to attend it.

Pig Yuan and Dog Li, whatever other methods you have, bring them all out right now.

Otherwise, if it's a bit later, I'm afraid you guys will only be able to go to the Hall of King Yama and perform for King Yama!"

After decapitating Liu Suo with a single strike, Sun Xuan spoke softly with a hint of overbearingness in his words.

Severed heads and fresh blood completely stimulated everyone present in the scene.

The eyes of Yuan Dong and the other three instantly turned blood-red.

They never expected that this Sun Xuan would directly draw his saber and kill someone over a slight disagreement.

What shocked them even more was that they originally thought Sun Xuan hadn't noticed that this Feast at Hongmen was specially designed for him.

Only to find out now that he had seen through their motives long ago, and coming here today was actually just going along with the flow.

Sun Xuan's current expression of overflowing Killing Intent and calm composure caused Yuan Dong and the other three to feel a lingering chill rising in their hearts amidst their anger and hatred.

Yuan Dong and the other three's expressions were ones of anger and hatred.

As for Li Changtian at this moment, he grew somewhat suspicious and uncertain.

Although Sun Xuan's act of directly striking down Liu Suo over a disagreement shocked, angered, and surprised Li Changtian as well,

the long saber in Sun Xuan's hand wreathed in dragon-shaped black Qi made Li Changtian feel somewhat apprehensive and uncertain.

Because the evil dragon saber in Sun Xuan's hand looked more and more familiar to Li Changtian the longer he looked at it.

Because he was chased out from that underground space precisely by this long saber wreathed in dragon-shaped black Qi.

His old friend Shangguan Ming also died beneath this long saber.

Because of this, he had an extremely deep impression of the black long saber in the hands of that Python-Robed Zombie.

Now, looking at the long saber in Sun Xuan's hand, the more he looked, the more it resembled the long saber in the hands of that Python-Robed Zombie.

A moment later, a thought that shocked Li Changtian's heart could not help but emerge from his mind:

"Could this Sun Xuan have actually killed that Python-Robed Zombie and then snatched that true spirit artifact in the shape of a long saber from its hands?"

As soon as this thought appeared in Li Changtian's mind, it instantly gave him a huge fright.

However, a moment later, Li Changtian negated this thought.

Because Li Changtian had personally fought against that Python-Robed Zombie, he knew very well the terror of that Python-Robed Zombie.

At that time, he, Shangguan Ming, Town Demon Envoy Lü Qing, and the branch leader of the Baihuo Cult made three Rank 7 experts, among whom there was even no lack of experts at the Great Perfection Realm of the Late Stage Rank 7.

But under the pursuit of that Python-Robed Zombie, they still ended up with two deaths and two injuries.

Therefore, by Li Changtian's estimation, if someone truly wanted to slay that Python-Robed Zombie, ordinary Rank 6 Martial Artists could not accomplish it, and if they weren't careful, they would even die beneath the saber of that Python-Robed Zombie.

To genuinely kill that Python-Robed Zombie, it would at least require a top-tier expert among Rank 6 Martial Artists, or even an expert at the Rank 5 Realm.

Yet the martial Dao Realm displayed by Sun Xuan right in front of him was merely the Middle Stage of Rank 8.

Even if his strength was extraordinary, possessing invincible methods among Rank 8, and even the strength to go toe-to-toe with Rank 7 Martial Artists, it was still impossible for him to be a match for that Python-Robed Zombie.