"I wonder when the Ancient Divine King will arrive?"
Nan Gong Xue also murmured softly. The Great Power who had faced the Primordial Demonic Dragon alone back then had been so extraordinary and peerless in demeanor.
What kind of dazzling, radiant existence would the Ancient Divine King be?
Yet, she still couldn't forget that Great Power.
"I'm not too sure about that either," Gu Xuan said as he led the group into the Dou Heaven Hall. "But the Ancient Divine King is a truly supreme existence who transcends heaven and earth. They are like a dragon—seen only in glimpses, never in full. The world hasn't witnessed their traces for tens of thousands of years. I'm afraid even if the Ancient Divine King came, we might not necessarily know."
"Let's go in first. Perhaps we can meet many important figures inside, which would be helpful for our future cultivation."
Upon hearing this, Ziguang Tian and the others also felt it was reasonable. Moreover, with so many important figures entering and exiting through the main gate of the Dou Heaven Hall, standing here and blocking their path could lead to their utter annihilation if any of them took offense.
After entering the Dou Heaven Hall, everyone was dazzled by the sight before them.
The Dou Heaven Hall was far larger than it appeared from the outside. Space arrays had been deployed within, making the interior vast and boundless, resembling a small world. As far as the eye could see, everything was resplendent and luxurious, grand and magnificent, far surpassing even the halls of major Immortal Forces.
Here, men strode with the bearing of dragons and tigers, extraordinary in presence, with dragon and elephant auras surrounding them—clearly powerful individuals holding great authority.
Women were dignified and elegant, dressed in splendid attire.
These were figures they absolutely could not afford to offend.
"It's been a while since we parted. I wonder if that person met with misfortune?"
Nan Gong Xue suddenly thought of Ye Chen. Although the latter had always appeared quite weak, for some reason, his calm and composed demeanor, as light as the breeze, remained deeply etched in her heart.
Then she smiled self-deprecatingly. How could someone so weak, needing the protection of others, possibly enter such an occasion?
...
Dou Hall.
The highest hall of the Doumen, a level above even the Dou Heaven Hall. Only the Great Powers of the Doumen and figures like Kuang Tian, who wield authority over the Doumen as its master, could enter.
All others, even the Great Power ancestors of Immortal Forces, were strictly forbidden from entering.
Ye Chen, dressed in simple blue robes, appeared ordinary and unremarkable. He did not sit on the highest divine throne specially yielded to him by the Doumen Divine King.
The Doumen Divine King also remained standing, as did the other Doumen Great Powers. They stood respectfully behind Ye Chen, bowing their heads in submission.
Over the past half month, the Doumen Divine King had come to submit to Ye Chen's power from the depths of his heart, firmly believing that the other was definitely an existence surpassing even a Divine King.
For Ye Chen's occasional pointers had swept away all the cultivation doubts he had encountered over these tens of thousands of years, giving him a faint possibility of advancing further.
One must know that he was an Ancient Divine King, a Four Tribulation Divine King at that. His realm was incredibly high; he believed that those who surpassed him in the entire Weiyang Great World could be counted on one hand.
Those capable of pointing out his doubts could also be counted on one hand.
As for someone like Ye Chen, who could pinpoint the crux and expose flaws in just a few words, there were only two or three such individuals.
From the displayed strength and terrifying insight, it was enough to prove Ye Chen's extraordinary nature.
"Lord Chen, will you be leading us to receive the other guests at this Peach Banquet?"
Ye Chen glanced at him and shook his head. "I am not a member of the 'Doumen,' so I cannot usurp the host's role. When you see the Tong Gu Divine King, notify me. I don't wish to expose my identity—it would be troublesome."
Indeed, given Ye Chen's identity, the Holy Emperor Domain faction would surely want him dead. Appearing in person would be too conspicuous, easily attracting attention and possibly drawing Super Monarchs or even Emperors from the Holy Emperor Domain faction.
That would be a tremendous trouble for him.
After all, he didn't like such trouble.
Moreover, his true purpose was merely to meet the Tong Gu Divine King. As for these powerful figures of the Weiyang Great World, meeting them or not made no difference.
Besides, mere Great Powers and Divine Kings were not even worth his attention.
"Understood, Lord Chen!"
The Doumen Divine King assented.
After Ye Chen left, the Doumen Divine King swept his gaze over the thirteen Doumen Great Powers. "All of you must immediately strictly discipline all Doumen disciples. They are not to cause any disturbance at the Peach Banquet. This matter concerns Lord Chen's meeting with the Tong Gu Divine King."
"Especially you, Yang Taiguo. Your youngest son, Yang Cheng, is a little tyrant, arrogant and domineering. On ordinary days, we might turn a blind eye, but now he must not cause any trouble. Understand?"
His tone carried a stern, severe edge by the end.
Among the thirteen Great Powers, a middle-aged man of imposing dignity, clad in a python-dragon divine robe, was the Yang Taiguo mentioned. He immediately replied with utmost respect, "Master, your disciple understands."
Yang Taiguo, a Great Power of his generation, was the ancestral Great Power of an Immortal Ancient Kingdom developed externally by the Doumen and also a direct disciple of the Doumen Divine King.
He naturally understood the importance of the Peach Banquet to Lord Chen and dared not cause any disturbance. He thought he would immediately summon his son Yang Cheng upon returning to give him proper instructions.
At this time, Ye Chen had already silently entered the Dou Heaven Hall.
Of course, only the Doumen Divine King, the thirteen Great Powers, the Primordial Demonic Dragon, and a limited few Doumen Heavenly Kings truly knew Ye Chen's identity. The other Doumen powerhouses had been too far from Ye Chen back then and were completely unaware of his true appearance, knowing only that he was a young man.
Precisely because of this, even when he entered the Dou Heaven Hall, he was merely regarded as a young genius from some Immortal Force. The Doumen attendants showed full courtesy to Heavenly Kings, Great Powers, and Divine Kings, but paid little attention to young geniuses. They allowed Ye Chen to sample the delicacies in a corner, and no other attendant came forward to drive him away or reprimand him.
Ye Chen naturally enjoyed the peace and quiet alone.
...
Dou Heaven Hall.
"I wonder how that kid is doing now. Maybe he was eaten by demonic beasts in the Divine King Valley."
Gu Xuan sneered inwardly, thinking of that Ye Chen with his condescending expression, which made him feel quite displeased. But the thought that he might have been eaten brought him considerable satisfaction.
It was just a pity that after traveling together for half a month, he still didn't know that kid's name.
"That kid?"
Beside him, Ziguang Tian and several other Heaven's Prides looked puzzled.
After some explanation from the female cultivators of the Snow Sect, Ziguang Tian and the others immediately understood and sneered, "Don't worry, Young Master Gu. A weak trash who needs others' protection—how could he possibly survive in the Divine King Valley? He must have died long ago."
As they were speaking, a female cultivator from the Snow Sect pointed in surprise toward a corner of the Dou Heaven Hall, incredulous, "How could he be here?"
Everyone immediately looked over. They saw a tall, straight figure standing in a corner of the Dou Heaven Hall, sampling the various delicacies on the banquet table, a scene jarringly out of place compared to others toasting and clinking cups.
Who else could it be but Ye Chen!