Chapter 1153: A Rejected Invitation

Subsequently, the hunters heard an even more shrill, even more majestic tone. Compared to the madness-inducing melody of distant violins, it sounded more reassured, more accommodating, with a specific goal in mind—but simultaneously taunting and mocking.

Hong Xi, feeling uncomfortable, clutched her ears tightly, but she suddenly found that the tone seemed to pierce through her soul. Clutching her ears was useless.

The witch of dreams remarked, "Enjoy the banquet."

Her gaze was intent and seemed to convey a deeper meaning. Zhang Lie was just about to ask her to explain when the doors to the great hall were flung open.

Countless servants were furiously banging at formless drums and playing nausea-inducing flutes that only produced a single tone. The guests alongside them began to screech and scream in a crazed manner.

Within the door, there echoed the low, frenzied beat of a madness-inducing drum, the hollow, monotonous howls of a demonic flute. The darkest chaos, filled with an air of destruction, slowly emerged and began to seep into everything.

A kaleidoscopic view appeared before them, revealing a deep abyss filled with black worlds and suns.

All the guests present were staring avidly at the chaos, their eyes filled with awe and reverence. Those weren't the looks of subordinates, but rather of fanatics and zealots, who would be more than willing to sacrifice their lives if need be.

That was the peak of chaos. All paled in comparison to that frightening strength. Just looking at it gave Hong Xi a splitting headache. She unconsciously lowered her head. Zhang Hanxiang felt the same way and didn't dare look at the chaos directly, and the other members of Team Zenith were all affected to some extent.

"How impressive. There are very few guests who are daring enough to look at our leader directly. You must be strong," the witch of dreams murmured.

Zhang Lie explained, "This isn't the first time I'm witnessing him. I did so during the superior kings' meeting as well."

The witch of dreams replied, "That doesn't count. He sealed away a part of his body and attended the meeting. Well, part of his body is sealed away now too, but peeping and looking at him are two different matters entirely."

Yang Ze gaped. "This is only a fraction of his strength?"

Just that fraction was enough to corrupt half the world.

The witch of dreams shrugged. "The leader's main body is in another location in space. He has more important affairs to take care of, so he only ever participates in the banquet with a portion of his body. At any rate, if his whole body were to appear here, all of us would suffer for it."

The king of chaos' strength was such that he could kill a superior king just by standing in front of one.

The king of chaos was draped in what felt like the source of darkness, from deep within the stellar abyss. A gust of cold and the stench of decay swept toward them.

Beside the king of chaos was a massive milky-white blob, with large red eyes the size of rugby balls, supported by skeletal, angular legs with circular suction cups at their base.

It had no arms, just three spines on its back that stabbed deeply into the ground. Its head made one nauseous, formed by layers of layers of some white gelatinous substance, covered in swollen, bulging eyes. At the very center was a massive beak filled with sharp teeth. As the head squelched and wriggled, the bulbous eyes gazed in different directions.

The three back spines moved back and forth like oars, dragging the heavy body forward. The beak opened, releasing a shrill, chaotic screech.

Zhang Lie frowned. "What in the world is that?"

"Don't be rude in front of her. She's the All-Mother, our leader's companion." The witch of dreams gritted her teeth, clearly envious and jealous of her position.

Zhang Lie scrutinized the entity, which looked somewhat like a decaying cloud of mist. At times, that mist would aggregate to form vile organs and limbs, sticky black tentacles, a mouth drooling with saliva, or distorted legs with cloven hooves like those of a goat. Zhang Lie shuddered.

His lips twitched as he remarked, "Your leader truly has unique taste."

The king of chaos turned to Zhang Lie. A discordant note pierced through his eardrums. His words were near-impossible to comprehend, but somehow Zhang Lie understood his meaning: the king of chaos was summoning him.

The king of chaos sent out another garbled transmission, but everyone seemed to be able to parse it.

"Welcome all to my night banquet. I am honored that you would attend. I've invited a few special guests over, nine extremely interesting hunters from the draconian world. They're very strong, and they managed to take down the superior kings of antiquity. Everyone, please treat them kindly and welcome them."

Countless servants were furiously banging at formless drums and playing nausea-inducing flutes that only produced a single tone. The guests alongside them began to screech and scream in a crazed manner, their voices echoing in the great hall.

The king of chaos sent another garbled transmission. "Step forward."

Fearlessly, Zhang Lie strode up to the king of chaos and looked directly at him.

The king of chaos' tone was approving. "Excellent gaze. You're the most unique existence I've ever seen in the third realm."

Upon hearing the king of chaos' evaluation, the guests revealed all sorts of expressions: there were the jealous, the envious, the contemplative, the awed, and the resentful, among others.

The witch of dreams murmured, "I've never heard our leader evaluate someone else as highly."

The king of chaos asked, "Are you interested in being a member of this great hall?"

Zhang Lie rubbed at his temples. "Are you trying to recruit me?"

The king of chaos replied, "You understand me correctly."

Zhang Lie refused him instantly. "I don't intend to become subordinate to another."

The guests were shocked and angry, incensed by the disrespect that Zhang Lie had shown.

However, the king of chaos guffawed. "I don't intend to treat you like a subordinate, just a companion. We can pass through a lonely eternity together, striving for something better, advancing forward all the while."

Zhang Lie replied resolutely, "I'm still very young, and I have companions of my own. I'm not lonely, and no matter how enticing your invitation is, I won't accept. I have my own path forward."

The king of chaos sounded regretful. "What a pity."