A single "Hold on!" shattered the silence as Ye Chen stepped forward.
Everyone frowned. Although they didn't know why the six Royal Super Prodigies were so determined to defend him, shouldn't he be hiding safely behind them instead of actively stepping forward? Wasn't this just courting death?
Truly foolish.
Many shook their heads.
"Courting death!"
In the back, Zhou Tianyu sneered inwardly upon seeing Ye Chen appear.
"Hmm?" Zhou Yun uttered in surprise, but when he saw it was Ye Chen, his expression abruptly changed.
His attention had been entirely on the six Royal Super Prodigies, so Zhou Yun hadn't noticed Ye Chen was also present. Now, seeing him appear suddenly, an inexplicable sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.
Could it be that the person Elder Cangyun and the others spoke of was Ye Chen?
Those who noticed the change in Zhou Yun's expression were astonished. Yet his next words left everyone utterly dumbfounded. He took the initiative to step forward, cupping his fists towards Ye Chen with a hint of respect. "Fellow Daoist Qian, my apologies. I failed to notice your presence earlier. Please forgive me. However, you—"
Fellow Daoist Qian?
The Zhou Tian Palace fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the scene before them.
That tone... it sounded completely equal.
What was going on?
Who exactly was this 'Fellow Daoist Qian'?
Ye Chen nodded. "Fellow Daoist Zhou, the two people your clansmen mentioned are us."
As he spoke, the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor also appeared.
Zhou Yun's expression changed drastically. The others felt as if struck by lightning, buzzing with shock as they stared at the scene, unable to process it.
Though they didn't know what relationship Zhou Yun had with Ye Chen and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, from the conversation, it was clear these two possessed immense backgrounds. Even Zhou Yun treated them as equals, not to be slighted.
"Supreme Elder Yun, who are they—"
Elder Cangyun and the other Zhoutian Clan members felt inexplicably panicked. Zhou Tianyu was especially so.
Zhou Yun's aged face flushed red with obvious fury. He turned and roared at Elder Cangyun and the others in front of all the banquet guests. "You fools! You actually slandered Fellow Daoist Qian and Fellow Daoist Long, accusing them of stealing invitations to sneak in! You useless trash, do you even know the person who sent those invitations was me!"
"What kind of figure is Fellow Daoist Qian? He is an Alchemy Master! And you dared to slander him? You're truly courting death! Hurry up and apologize to Fellow Daoist Qian!"
*Buzz!* It was like a meteorite crashing into a calm sea, stirring up towering waves!
What?
An Alchemy Master?
Upon hearing those words, not just the Zhoutian Clan members, but everyone present stared wide-eyed at Ye Chen, their hearts roiling with incomparable shock and awe.
This young Heaven's Pride was actually an Alchemy Master? One of the exceedingly rare Alchemy Masters in the entire Ten Heavens Ancient Domain?
Though everyone found it hard to believe that someone so young could possess such profound alchemical attainments, who was Zhou Yun? He was a generation's Super Great Power and a member of the Zhoutian Clan. He wouldn't side with outsiders against his own clan for no reason.
*Swish!* Many immediately looked towards the Zhoutian Clan, unable to suppress a sense of schadenfreude.
The Zhoutian Clan had publicly challenged and slandered an Alchemy Master in front of so many people, even attempting to capture and punish him.
If not handled properly, they would completely alienate him.
One must understand, this was an Alchemy Master, no ordinary Great Power. The influence behind him far surpassed that of a Great Power. Moreover, he was so young, his future prospects limitless. Reaching the ninth-level Grandmaster realm, or even the tenth-level Divine Alchemist realm, was not impossible.
For such a young Alchemy Master to have no major force supporting him from behind? They wouldn't believe it no matter what.
Zhou Tianyu's handsome face instantly turned deathly pale. He stared wide-eyed at Ye Chen, muttering to himself, still unable to believe it. "An Alchemy... Alchemy Master..."
How could he have believed that a guy hiding at the edge of the banquet would be an Alchemy Master, someone even the upper echelons of his entire clan would treat with the utmost respect?
And this Alchemy Master had been thoroughly offended by him.
Even if this matter was resolved peacefully, it was predictable that he would face severe punishment from the clan.
Elder Cangyun and the other important Zhoutian Clan figures were horrified, their faces somewhat pale. They turned and glared fiercely at Zhou Tianyu, the instigator. He would definitely be punished severely later.
Simultaneously, they all hurried forward, hastily apologizing to Ye Chen. "Master Qian, it was all our fault! We failed to recognize a true master! Please, Master Qian, do not hold the faults of lesser men against us! Do not take offense!"
"We were unaware of your true identity, Master Qian! We beg for your forgiveness! We shall apologize and make amends!"
Ye Chen remained silent. Beside him, the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor chuckled coldly. "Why the apologies now? Weren't you just saying you'd capture the two of us no matter what? Why apologize now?"
Hearing this, Elder Cangyun and the others turned ashen. Though they didn't know who the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was, being so close to Ye Chen meant he was also not someone to offend. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. Elder Cangyun hurriedly said, "We beg for your forgiveness, esteemed sirs! It was all Zhou Tianyu's slander! We will punish him severely!"
He then looked at Zhou Tianyu, his expression turning stern and cold as he shouted, "Zhou Tianyu! You have immense audacity! You dared to slander a distinguished guest personally invited by Supreme Elder Yun! You have truly disgraced the dignity of our Zhoutian Clan! Hurry up and step forward to apologize and admit your guilt to these two esteemed sirs!"
Although admitting guilt and apologizing in front of countless major forces, important figures, and talented Heaven's Prides would surely become a laughingstock once word spread, Zhou Tianyu couldn't care about that now. He rushed forward in three quick steps, bowing deeply towards Ye Chen and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor. "Esteemed sirs, please forgive me! All the fault is mine! I slandered you both! I'm sorry!"
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor chuckled coldly again. "If a simple 'sorry' could wipe the slate clean, what would be the point of rules?"
The implication was clear: the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was unwilling to let Zhou Tianyu off so easily.
Yet no one felt the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was overreaching. Because Zhou Tianyu had previously overreached, relying on the Zhoutian Clan's home turf to press his advantage relentlessly, attacking them again and again. Now, the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was merely giving him a taste of his own medicine.
Zhou Tianyu panicked. "Esteemed sir, what do you want?"
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor said coldly, "This lord remembers that not long ago, you said you intended to break our limbs, cripple our cultivation, throw us out of the Zhou Tian Palace, and toss us out of Zhou Tian City. What do you say now?"
Zhou Tianyu instantly turned deathly pale.