The group carrying the fruit trays arrived at the location of Qingtian Great Power.
Seeing it was Gu Xuan, Qingtian Great Power's majestic face was full of smiles. "Gu Xuan, you are very good."
Receiving the ancestor's praise, Gu Xuan's heart grew even more resolute. He glanced at Ye Chen, thinking, 'Let's see how you handle this later.'
"Come, follow me to pay respects to the various Ancient Divine Kings."
Qingtian Great Power spoke, leading the Qinghua Sect experts, along with Gu Xuan, the Four Talents, Ye Chen, Ning'er, Nangong Xue, the Star Sky Quasi-Monarch, and others towards Doumen Divine King, who was in close conversation with the other Ancient Divine Kings.
Qingtian Great Power strode forward, bowing and cupping his fists towards the various Divine Kings. "Qingtian of the Qinghua Sect pays his respects to the Divine King Lords."
The twelve Ancient Divine Kings, including Doumen Divine King and Hunshan Divine King, nodded slightly, their expressions unchanged.
Although he was a Half-Step Divine King, so what? Not having truly stepped into the realm of Ancient Divine King, he remained unworthy of their regard.
Qingtian Great Power then cupped his fists towards Doumen Divine King again, saying gratefully, "Divine King Doumen, Qingtian, leading the Qinghua Sect members, thanks you for specially bestowing the Mitian Peaches upon Gu Xuan."
The Ancient Divine Kings were already the center of attention. Hearing Qingtian Great Power's words, everyone suddenly understood—those many Mitian Peaches were a reward for Gu Xuan.
Immediately, numerous scorching gazes fell upon Gu Xuan. Basking in the spotlight, Gu Xuan seemed to grow taller by a few inches, a smug look appearing on his handsome face.
He shot a covert glance at Ye Chen, the provocation in his eyes unmistakably clear.
Ye Chen watched with a cold sneer, thinking, 'Look at you, all puffed up. In a moment, you'll learn what it means for extreme joy to beget sorrow.'
The other Ancient Divine Kings, however, looked at Gu Xuan with surprise. Although they could see Gu Xuan's talent was decent, it was merely decent.
As Ancient Divine Kings, ancient existences who had roamed the mortal world for over a hundred thousand years, what kind of geniuses hadn't they seen? There were plenty more monstrously outstanding than Gu Xuan, even among the present crowd. Yet, they had never seen Doumen Divine King bestow such a reward.
They were quite puzzled. Why would Doumen Divine King reward Gu Xuan with thirty Mitian Peaches?
They couldn't figure it out.
"Reward for Gu Xuan?" Doumen Divine King was also slightly taken aback. "Who is Gu Xuan?"
As these words fell, the smugness on Gu Xuan's face instantly froze.
Qingtian Great Power, the Qinghua Sect members, the Four Talents, and all those who had assumed the reward was for Gu Xuan stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded.
It wasn't a reward for Gu Xuan?
Qingtian Great Power's face also stiffened slightly. "Divine King Doumen, these Mitian Peaches... weren't they bestowed by you upon Gu Xuan?"
"Of course not. I don't know him. A mere junior, where would he have the qualifications for me to bestow anything upon him?" Doumen Divine King directly denied it, striking Gu Xuan like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
At this moment, Gu Xuan suppressed the raging waves in his heart, forcing them down with all his might, while also feeling immense confusion.
If it wasn't a reward for him, then who could it be for?
Nangong Xue?
While not impossible, she probably couldn't compare to him.
Purple Light?
Ren Jing?
Also impossible.
Who exactly was it?
Suddenly, Ye Chen's words from not long ago surfaced in his mind: 'Maybe they really are for me?'
Could it really be a reward for this kid?
He couldn't believe it, refused to believe it, his heart roaring with denial. But from the corner of his eye, he saw Ye Chen looking utterly calm and composed, as if he had already foreseen all of this.
Gu Xuan laboriously raised his head, mustering his courage, and asked in a trembling voice, "May I ask, Senior Doumen Divine King, who are these Mitian Peaches bestowed upon?"
"Bestowed?" Doumen Divine King shook his head, making Gu Xuan and the others heave a sigh of relief. Since it wasn't a 'bestowal,' it meant they hadn't lost yet.
But Doumen Divine King's next words made their hearts sink like a stone and left everyone present utterly dumbfounded: "How dare I 'bestow' them? These Mitian Peaches, I saw this young friend's imposing bearing and extraordinary demeanor, so I specially gifted them to him. I wonder if you, young friend, like these Mitian Peaches? If it's not enough, you—you can just ask. However many you want, there will be that many."
As he spoke, he cupped his fists from a distance towards Ye Chen, his tone quite polite, even carrying a faint, almost imperceptible trace of respect.
Shock!
Astonishment!
Everyone present was utterly shocked.
These Mitian Peaches were all gifted to Ye Chen, not bestowed?
Don't think 'gifted' and 'bestowed' seem the same; their actual meanings are vastly different.
'Gifting' implies an equal attitude; 'bestowing' is from a superior to an inferior.
The difference of a single word, a world of difference!
Moreover, Doumen Divine King even said, 'However many you want, there will be that many'?
Instantly, all eyes were on Ye Chen, countless gazes falling upon him.
Unbelievable!
At this moment, there were also super-powerful beings from the two major factions hidden among them, their auras concealed. No one could recognize these existences who were at least beyond the Ancient Divine King realm.
Their gazes also fell upon Ye Chen. For some reason, they all felt a sense of familiarity.
Beside Blood Prison Divine King, Sheng Xu, dressed in snow-white robes like a banished immortal, slightly furrowed his sword-like brows, also having this feeling.
But to avoid being recognized, Ye Chen had used a Dao technique to alter his appearance and his original aura. No one could recognize him.
The Star Sky Quasi-Monarch also had his own Dao technique concealing him, similarly unrecognizable.
Thus, even a Sovereign of Antiquity like Sheng Xu couldn't recognize him.
Thump, thump, thump—
Beside them, Gu Xuan, Purple Light, Ren Jing, and the other five all stumbled and fell to the ground.
Their eyes were filled with shock and utter disbelief.
Nangong Xue covered her slightly agape cherry lips with her jade-like hand, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, full of astonishment.
The two female cultivators from the Xue Sect were the same.
Ning'er's gaze at Ye Chen was filled with adoration.
Ye Chen reached out and ruffled Ning'er's beautiful hair, making her grumble discontentedly, "You messed up my hair, bad big brother."
Ye Chen laughed heartily.
Hunshan Divine King, Blood Prison Divine King, and the other Ancient Divine Kings looked at Ye Chen with both shock and suspicion. Yet, despite being Ancient Divine Kings, they couldn't sense the slightest trace of divine power fluctuation from this young man, as if he were completely ordinary.
Who exactly was he?
Moreover, they all faintly sensed that Doumen Divine King was quite polite towards him, even carrying a hint of respect that was hard to detect.
As for Blood Prison Divine King, suspicion arose in his heart. Could this be another super existence from the outer world, like Lord Sheng Xu?
At this moment, Ye Chen looked at Gu Xuan, Purple Light, Ren Jing, and the other five, and said with a faint smile, "Gentlemen, please fulfill your promise immediately and strip naked for a run."
Whoosh—
All eyes turned, countless gazes falling upon Gu Xuan and the others.
They instantly felt the heat of those stares.
Especially Gu Xuan. If he really stripped naked and ran now, his face would be utterly lost. Moreover, doing so before all the Great Powers and Ancient Divine Kings of the world, needless to say, he would never be the successor of the Qinghua Sect again.
Gu Xuan said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist, please don't go too far. Leave some room in all things, so we can meet again in the future."
His words carried a hint of threat.