A slap in the face!
A blatant slap in the face!
Seeing this scene, everyone understood. It wasn't that the two had no invitation; they just hadn't taken it out. Conversely, it was Zhou Tianyu who had been slandering them all along, claiming they had none. The two had never said they didn't have one.
Zhou Tianyu's face turned pale, then flushed with anger.
The Great Power of the Zhoutian Clan also felt somewhat awkward. So, the other party had come with an invitation after all, and it was the highest-level invitation at that. Those were reserved for truly important figures, ones even the Zhoutian Clan wouldn't dare offend lightly.
However, Zhou Tianyu was unwilling to let the matter drop. He said, "Elder Cangyun, our clan keeps records of everyone to whom we send such invitations. Yet, these two are unfamiliar. It's quite possible they stole the invitation. I believe they are still people who sneaked into the Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony."
Hearing this, the Zhoutian Clan's important figures also found it somewhat reasonable. After all, every person to whom a pure Tianhua silver invitation was sent was a renowned, major figure, all recorded by the Zhoutian Clan. Yet, these two before them seemed quite unfamiliar, clearly not recognized. Therefore, they also began to suspect this might be the case.
Immediately, Elder Cangyun spoke up, "Fellow Daoists, how did you obtain this invitation?"
Ye Chen replied indifferently, "Is this your way of interrogating us?"
First, they said they had no invitation and had sneaked in. Now, after they produced the invitation—and the highest-level pure Tianhua silver one at that—they still wanted to question its origin. Ye Chen felt the Zhoutian Clan's important figures were intentionally favoring Zhou Tianyu, which displeased him greatly.
"It's hardly an interrogation, just a routine inquiry," said the numerous Great Powers of the Zhoutian Clan. Seeing Ye Chen not immediately divulge the information, they frowned slightly, becoming more convinced of Zhou Tianyu's claim.
If these two had truly stolen an invitation to enter the Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony and were also slandering Zhou Tianyu, then they were absolutely unforgivable and must be severely punished.
Hearing this, Ye Chen laughed, but it was a cold laugh. "I don't want to say."
He had always been a rational and calm person, but he was not someone to be bullied at will. He had always been forceful and domineering. So what if it was the Zhoutian Clan? He feared them not.
Did they think he, Ye Chen, would just speak because they told him to? Who did they take him for?
"Don't want to say?"
Hearing this, not only the Zhoutian Clan's Great Powers but others present also felt Ye Chen and his companion were most likely guilty. Otherwise, why wouldn't they want to say?
"My apologies, but please cooperate, Fellow Daoists. State the name of the person who invited you. Otherwise, our clan will have to assume, as our junior said, that you stole the invitation and sneaked in. Our clan will then mete out severe punishment," said the leading Elder Cangyun, his tone growing several degrees colder and sharper.
A peculiar, murderous aura suddenly arose in the banquet hall. The other guests all stepped back. The once lively and bustling banquet fell into an eerily quiet stillness.
The important figures from various Imperial Clans, Immortal Clans, Royal Clans, and others who had come watched this scene with great interest, treating it as mere entertainment.
All eyes were focused on both sides, eager to see how things would develop.
However, many also shook their heads at Ye Chen and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, privately believing they might indeed be as Zhou Tianyu described.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor sneered coldly, "If we just speak because you tell us to, wouldn't that make us lose face?"
"Since the two of you are so unwilling to speak, do not blame our Zhoutian Clan for taking action," Elder Cangyun declared, slowly releasing a chilling pressure that swept out majestically, causing the surrounding void to become many times heavier. Many felt as if they could barely breathe.
"Is that so?"
Ye Chen and his companion showed no fear, instead sneering coldly, "What a fine Zhoutian Clan, truly a great clan, not hesitating to use such coercion. Truly worthy of being a great clan."
Their words carried clear sarcasm.
The Zhoutian Clan's Great Powers all wore icy expressions as they stepped forward.
Just as the atmosphere between the two sides grew tense, on the verge of erupting into battle, a figure suddenly stepped forward and spoke to the Zhoutian Clan's Great Powers: "Hold on. I believe they were invited to the Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony."
Everyone looked over. When they saw who it was, they were slightly startled.
"The Ancient Luo King, Luo Wusheng!"
Anyone who paid attention to the Human Ranking or Earth Ranking knew that the Ancient Luo King was a super Heaven's Pride ranked within the top hundred of the Earth Ranking. He had long since stepped into the Great Power realm and was far more powerful than Zhou Tianyu. He was also virtually the next clan leader of the Luo Tian Royal Clan.
However, the Ancient Luo King had entered the Chaos Pure Land with the Luo Tian Royal Clan. That Chaos Pure Land had long been sealed. After the nine Imperial Clan forces were wiped out, the other powerful experts who entered seemed to have vanished without a trace, as if completely disappearing from the world.
No one expected the Ancient Luo King to appear at the Cosmic Heaven Grand Ceremony. It was astonishing and sparked curiosity about how he escaped and what happened to the other powerful experts from various major forces.
But they were surprised by the Ancient Luo King's initiative to defend Ye Chen and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor. They didn't immediately inquire, instead observing how events would unfold.
"So it's the young friend Ancient Luo King. I never expected you to survive and leave the Chaos Pure Land. However, instead of returning to your Luo Tian Royal Clan, you're meddling in our Zhoutian Clan's affairs. Isn't that overstepping a bit?" Elder Cangyun said, his face slightly darkening.
Zhou Tianyu shouted at the Ancient Luo King, "Ancient Luo King, what do you mean by this? Are you taking their side against me?"
"What are you, to even think you can be mentioned in the same breath as me?" The Ancient Luo King glanced dismissively at Zhou Tianyu, full of contempt.
Although he had been decisively defeated by Ye Chen and forced to submit as a follower, not just any random person was qualified to be compared to him. Zhou Tianyu, this so-called super Heaven's Pride with the qualifications to be ranked on the Earth Ranking, was completely not on the same level as him, a super Heaven's Pride within the top hundred of the Earth Ranking's five hundred. He said, "I'm just stating the facts as I see them. I believe them."
"That's right, I believe them too!"
"I believe as well!"
"They were invited!"
Just as the Zhoutian Clan's numerous Great Powers were angered by the Ancient Luo King's arrogant tone, voices rang out from the crowd.
Looking over, they saw several young Heaven's Pride figures stepping forward one after another. However, when they clearly saw who they were, many in the crowd couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
Because the five young Heaven's Pride who later appeared were all, like the Ancient Luo King, super Heaven's Pride from Royal Clans ranked within the top hundred of the Earth Ranking, each extremely powerful.
They were Ouyang Guhua, Tuoba Mo, Jian Tian, and others. They all shared a common characteristic: they were super Heaven's Pride who had once entered the Chaos Pure Land.
No one expected them to appear simultaneously, defending Ye Chen and his companion, speaking up for them.
This scene caused many to look at the Zhoutian Clan with an attitude of watching a good show.