Upon hearing these words, the guards who had originally intended to report to the Battle Saint King nodded inwardly.
If they were truly friends of the Battle Saint King, how could they not have an invitation? They were most likely people trying to slip through the cracks.
Such individuals were not uncommon during these days of the grand feast. It was just that hearing the name of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan had caused a momentary pause, feeling somewhat familiar.
Hearing this, Gu Qingyang's eyes widened. "Luo Hua, what do you mean by that? My Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan were indeed old acquaintances of Uncle Ye Chen, the Battle Saint King. This is absolutely true. It's just that we only recently emerged from the Dragon Tomb world, so Uncle Ye Chen didn't know and thus didn't send an invitation."
Clearly, Gu Qingyang and the others were acquainted with the Tianluo Wangzu and other clans, but they seemed to be at odds, not on friendly terms.
The Young Master of the Tianluo Wangzu couldn't help but let out a loud laugh, looking down from a position of superiority with a thick layer of mockery. "Gu Qingyang, don't waste your breath making excuses. No invitation means no invitation."
With that, he waved his hand, revealing a gilded invitation.
"Apologies, we cannot verify if you are friends of His Highness the Battle Saint King. Without an invitation, you may not enter," the guard said.
"Forget it, forget it. Let's go. Consider it our mistake," Gu Jiuhua could only shake his head with a sigh of helplessness, coughing violently several times. His entire body trembled, making him appear even more hunched and aged.
"Father, back then, you clearly led our clan to help the human race fight against the alien races. Not only did our clan suffer heavy casualties, but you were also injured by an alien Divine King, brought to such a state. And now look, not only are the humans ungrateful, but without an invitation, we can't even come to pay respects and seek help from the Battle Saint King. We're not allowed to enter. You shouldn't have helped the humans back then," Gu Qingshan hurriedly supported Gu Jiuhua, his eyes reddening with blame.
"Qingshan!" Gu Jiuhua glared at his younger son. Though ill, his imposing might was undiminished, forcing Gu Qingshan to swallow his complaints, though he turned his head away, full of resentment.
Then, Gu Jiuhua cupped his fists towards the guard with an apologetic smile. "My apologies, my son is still young. Please do not take offense. We will leave now."
With that, he led away the unwilling Gu Qingyang and the resentful Gu Qingshan.
"Wait!" But at this moment, the Tianluo Wangzu Young Master Luo Hua suddenly spoke up, stopping Gu Jiuhua and the others. He had naturally heard everything and sneered repeatedly. "Gu Jiuhua, ah Gu Jiuhua, you should have just left quietly. But to claim you suffered heavy casualties helping the humans and that you're old acquaintances of the Battle Saint King... Hah, your courage is not small, daring to spout such nonsense even in the human Imperial City. I suggest we sweep them out and expel them from the Imperial City."
The expressions of Gu Jiuhua and the others changed. Being denied entry to the Heavenly Palace was one thing, but now being expelled from the Imperial City was going too far.
The Heavenly Palace guards exchanged glances, feeling somewhat hesitant. After all, the other party was just complaining, and what if they really were old acquaintances of the Battle Saint King?
"Gentlemen, if you are concerned, my Tianluo Wangzu can take action and expel these people who dare to slander the human race," Luo Hua said to the guards, then turned to the royal clan experts following him. "Men, break the arms of these people and then throw them outside the Imperial City, so they never dare to set foot in human territory again."
"Yes!" From behind the Young Master, two Great Power-level elders stepped forward, radiating fearsome auras as they strode forward, intending to attack the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan.
Gu Jiuhua wanted to block them, but suddenly began coughing up blood incessantly. His Dao injuries flared up, his face pale, his aura withered.
Beside him, Gu Qingshan, still young, felt terror in the face of the royal clan elders.
Gu Qingyang grew anxious. Now, he could no longer care about anything else. He shot into the sky, directly charging into the Heavenly Palace.
"Damn it, that kid charged into the Heavenly Palace! Act quickly, stop him from entering and disturbing the distinguished guests' feast!" the guards protecting the Heavenly Palace urgently shouted.
"Gentlemen, rest assured. I will stop him." Swish—
The Tianluo Wangzu Young Master volunteered, shooting into the sky with a swish. Though young, he was actually a Seventh Heaven super Great Power, extremely powerful, far stronger than Gu Qingyang by many times.
He caught up to Gu Qingyang almost in the blink of an eye.
"Ah—" Gu Qingyang roared, attacking and clashing with the pursuing Tianluo Wangzu Young Master. Great Power laws bloomed, drawing the attention of all sides.
A hundred years had passed. He too had become a Great Power, though not as strong as his opponent, standing in the Second Heaven realm, considered a standout among the younger generation.
Now, Gu Qingyang let out a great roar. His entire body suddenly transformed. Countless crimson scales appeared all over his body, covering him completely. Two spiral-patterned sharp dragon horns grew from his head, and a dragon tail sprouted from his back. His hands turned into dragon claws, as if he had become a dragon-man. His aura suddenly grew much stronger, actually comparable to a Third Heaven Great Power, quite extraordinary.
"Oh? So you really are from the dragon race. But a mere Second Heaven Great Power dares to contend with me? Seeking death!" The Tianluo Wangzu Young Master sneered coldly, cold light shooting from his eyes like clashing heavenly swords. His imposing might surged as he charged forward like lightning.
Boom—
In just two or three exchanges, Gu Qingyang was defeated. Even in his dragon-man combat state, it was useless. The gap between them was too great, like the difference between clouds and mud. With a tearing sound, one of his arms was ripped off, spraying blood across the sky.
"Look, isn't that the Young Master of the Tianluo Wangzu? Who's the kid whose arm he tore off?"
"I heard that kid didn't have an invitation, tried to slip into the human feast, was refused, and forced his way in."
"Hah, the human feast isn't something just any stray cat or dog can enter. Even royal clans barely qualify. Trying to force your way in requires paying a bloody price."
Within the Heavenly Palace, many distinguished guests attending the feast revealed cold smiles.
At the main gate of the Heavenly Palace, seeing this scene, Gu Qingshan cried out in sorrow, "Brother!"
Gu Jiuhua also spat out a mouthful of blood, grieving, "Qingyang, my son!"
In the sky, Gu Qingyang, missing an arm, his face pale, shouted towards the deepest Imperial Hall, "Uncle Ye Chen, I am Gu Qingyang! Can I not see you even once more?"
Swish—
The Tianluo Wangzu Young Master grabbed Gu Qingyang's head with one hand, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "At a time like this, you still hope to randomly claim the Battle Saint King as your uncle? Look at what status you have."
"Originally, my Tianluo Wangzu had a grudge with your Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan since ancient times. Your clan's Tyrant Dragon Divine King severely injured our clan's Divine King. Now is the perfect chance to kill you all and settle the ancient enmity!"
The cold smile on his lips grew increasingly icy and cruel. Terrifying energy was about to erupt from his palm, intending to shatter Gu Qingyang's head and annihilate the soul within.
But at this very moment, heaven and earth suddenly solidified. The Tianluo Wangzu Young Master couldn't move at all, as if restrained there, unable to budge. In his heart, only a surge of horror poured into his eyes.
One who could restrain heaven and earth and restrain him here was undoubtedly a super powerhouse, far surpassing him, at least at the Divine King realm.
Just as he struggled to look towards his father, signaling for him to save him, he found his father's eyes also filled with an indescribable look of terror, as if he had seen some super terrifying figure.
The Tianluo Wangzu Young Master's heart sank sharply, because at that moment, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Who did you say you were going to kill?"
When he turned his head with difficulty to look, he saw a peerless figure that made all between heaven and earth lose their color—
The Battle Saint King!