Chapter 1358: Unwelcome Guest

"Perhaps there wasn't enough power because we didn't go all-out," Jin Tong suggested, unwilling to give up on her idea just yet.

"If we engage in an all-out clash, we may be able to tear open this space, but there's also a good chance that we'll sustain injuries in the process, leaving ourselves vulnerable to those four Dao Ancestors," Han Li replied with a shake of his head.

"What the hell is up with this array? It doesn't seem to have any weaknesses to exploit! It's like we've been devoured into the belly of some mighty beast!" Jin Tong exclaimed in a disgruntled manner.

Han Li's eyes abruptly lit up at the mention of the word "devoured", and seeing this change in his expression, an idea also quickly occurred to Jin Tong.

"Maybe I can use my devouring law powers to devour this entire space and suck in the array in the process!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking. This space serves as the foundation for this array, so if you devour this space, then the array will surely be affected. Once that happens, it shouldn't be difficult for us to break it," Han Li replied with a nod.

"It won't be difficult for me to devour this space, but ideally, I don't want to be interrupted in the process. Otherwise, if I have to use my law powers over and over again, that'll only accelerate my assimilation with the Heavenly Dao," Jin Tong said.

"You focus on devouring this space, I'll make sure that you're not interrupted," Han Li said in a confident manner.

With the decision made, Jin Tong immediately began flying toward a corner of the array.

Along the way, she took on her Gold Devouring Beetle form and began tearing at the space around her, while a golden vortex took shape in her gaping mouth.

A chunk of space instantly came collapsing toward her, and a pleased smile appeared on Han Li's face upon seeing this.

Outside the array, Zi Shan and the others were looking on with hesitant expressions.

"We shouldn't have trapped that Gold Devouring Immortal in there with him," Meng Yuan sighed.

"Way to state the obvious! What the hell do we do now?" Zhu Yan snapped.

"What do you say, Fellow Daoist Zi Shan?" Dong Lihu asked, and the other two Dao Ancestors also turned to Zi Shan for a verdict.

"If we let them escape, we'll have Gu Huojin to answer to, so I'm afraid that's not an acceptable outcome," Zi Shan sighed.

Dong Lihu nodded in response, then pressed a palm down onto the spatial barrier before him.

A wave of ripples surged over the spatial barrier, allowing him to step into the array.

Meanwhile, Meng Yuan lowered his gaze toward the space down below, seemingly not intending to enter the array right away.

"Even the four of us combined aren't guaranteed to be able to defeat those two, so if any of you try to hang back or refuse to put in your full effort, then even if you manage to survive, you won't be getting away free of consequences, do I make myself clear?" Zi Shan warned in a cold voice.

Zhu Yan took a disdainful glance at Meng Yuan, then entered the array after Dong Lihu, while Zi Shan and Meng Yuan brought up the rear.

Han Li was immediately able to detect the arrival of the four Dao Ancestors, and he directed his gaze toward them as he sneered, "You've finally decided to show up!"

......

Heavenly Palace Continent.

More and more prestigious immortals continued to enter the Bodhi Banquet venue in the Jade Pond Paradise before being guided to their seats by the celestial maidens of the Heavenly Court.

Even with the beautiful music and dance performances put on by the celestial maidens, the atmosphere in the venue was rather solemn.

Aside from a very small number of acquaintances who were gathered in small groups, quietly chatting among themselves, the majority of the banquet's attendees were seated on their cushions, either meditating with their eyes closed or silently watching the dancing celestial maidens, waiting for the arrival of their host.

Most of the seats near the center of the venue had been occupied by representatives of sects that had very close ties with the Heavenly Court, and they were often on very good terms with the immortal palaces of their respective immortal regions.

The two Great Encompassment Stage patriarchs of the Dharma Union Sect and Molten Chamber Mountain weren't sitting together, but they were communicating with one another through voice transmission.

One of them, an azure-robed, middle-aged man asked, "Did you enjoy a smooth journey on your way here, Fellow Daoist Sui Gu?"

Sui Gu was a brocade-robed elderly man, and he replied, "I did, but I heard that many of our fellow daoists were attacked and perished on the way here, including Fellow Daoist Hu Liang, who you and I are both familiar with."

"Have you seen the armies assembled outside the eastern, southern, and western heavenly gates? It looks like the Reincarnation Palace is out in full force this time," the azure-robed man continued.

"It's very impressive that the Reincarnation Palace Master has been able to oppose the Heavenly Court all this time, but it's far too reckless of him to be attacking at a time like this. In fact..."

Sui Gu's voice abruptly trailed off into an awkward smile as he realized that he was speaking on matters that he had no right to comment on.

"I'm sure the Heavenly Court also wants to take advantage of this opportunity to eradicate the Reincarnation Palace once and for all. Given that we are guests of the Heavenly Court, perhaps we're obligated to help out," the azure-robed man said.

"I think self-preservation should be our top priority at all times," Sui Gu objected.

"A clash between Supreme Lord Gu Huojin and the Reincarnation Palace Master will truly be a battle for the ages. I must admit that I'm rather looking forward to seeing it happen," the azure-robed man said with a smile.

As soon as his voice trailed off, a small commotion suddenly rang out from behind them, and they turned to discover a thin figure in a black and white daoist robe leading a black-robed man into the venue, the latter of whom had his face completely concealed behind a veiled hat.

"Who is that? He must be someone very important to have been personally escorted here by Daoist Master Qing Qiu..."

"Could it be..."

"Could it be him?"

"No way! Even if he dares to come here, surely he wouldn't do it alone! Does he have a death wish?"

"Why wouldn't he dare to come alone? I heard that Supreme Lord Xuanyuan Jie has recently met his demise, and it was most likely at his hands."

"Well, well, well, things are certainly going to get interesting now!"

......

As the two figures made their way down the white jade path, the nearby banquet attendees erupted into chatter, and many of them had risen to their feet with stunned and apprehensive expressions.

"It's the Reincarnation Palace Master!" Sui Gu exclaimed in a quiet voice, while the azure-robed man was looking on in a speechless manner.

The Reincarnation Palace Master had never revealed his true appearance to anyone, and his location had always been one of the biggest mysteries of the True Immortal Realm, but all of the banquet attendees present were some of the most powerful figures in existence, and they were able to identify him based on his attire and his aura.

Under everyone's intense scrutiny, even Daoist Master Qing Qiu was beginning to feel the pressure, and a few beads of cold sweat had appeared on his forehead.

In contrast, the Reincarnation Palace Master seemed completely unflustered, not even bothering to spare a glance at the stunned bystanders as he followed along behind Daoist Master Qing Qiu.

Right at this moment, a thunderous roar suddenly rang out from near the front of the venue.

"There is no place here for you, Reincarnation Palace Master!"

Yu Menghan was rather startled by this outburst from True Lord Cang Wu. He had appeared so mild and amicable just a moment ago, yet he was suddenly livid with rage.

This was exactly what Daoist Master Qing Qiu feared would happen, and he was left at a loss for what to do.

True Lord Cang Wu had no descendants, only a prized disciple that he regarded as his own son.

Back when he had been serving in the Blazing Heavens Immortal Palace, he had been sent out to capture Gan Jiuzhen, and he very nearly succeeded, but she was ultimately able to slip away from what had seemed like a dire situation.

In the wake of her near-capture, the Reincarnation Palace Master sent out Tan Lang of the eight reincarnation envoys to attack the Blazing Heavens Immortal Palace, slaughtering all of the Heavenly Court cultivators inside, including True Lord Cang Wu's prized disciple.

To this day, it remained unclear to everyone except for the Reincarnation Palace Master why the Reincarnation Palace had retaliated against the Blazing Heavens Immortal Palace in such brutal fashion.

From that day forth, Tan Lang and the Reincarnation Palace Master had been regarded as sworn enemies of True Lord Cang Wu, and the scar on Tan Lang's face had been left behind by none other than True Lord Cang Wu.

The Reincarnation Palace Master took a calm glance at True Lord Cang Wu, then asked, "Who're you?"

True Lord Cang Wu was even more infuriated to hear this, and his aura instantly swelled to a peak, putting his almighty power as a Dao Ancestor on full display as he prepared to throw himself at the Reincarnation Palace Master.

"Don't be reckless, Fellow Daoist Cang Wu!" Meng Po warned while shielding Yu Menghan behind her.

However, True Lord Cang Wu's fury had driven him far beyond the point of rationality, and he ignored her warnings as he took a step forward, causing the entire Jade Pond Paradise to shudder violently.

"Please stand down, Fellow Daoist Cang Wu. The Reincarnation Palace Master is an esteemed guest that was invited here by Supreme Lord Gu Huojin himself," Daoist Master Qing Qiu declared as he reluctantly stepped forward to mediate.

"Get out of my way!" True Lord Cang Wu spat through gritted teeth as veins began bulging on his forehead.

Daoist Master Qing Qiu's expression darkened slightly as he prepared to pacify True Lord Cang Wu by force.

Before the situation could escalate any further, an authoritative voice suddenly rang out across the entire Jade Pond Paradise.

"This is a day for celebration and peace, Fellow Daoist Cang Wu..."

Everyone immediately looked up into the heavens upon hearing this, while True Lord Cang Wu stopped cold in his tracks, then slowly turned back as he forcibly stifled his own fury.

Immediately thereafter, several figures suddenly appeared behind the seven jade tables situated right next to Pure Clear Lake, bringing with them a pleasant aroma.

At the very center of the group was none other than Gu Huojin, seated on his white jade wheelchair, and to his left was Chi Rong, the Essential Fire Dao Ancestor.