179: Chapter 179 The Peach Banquet: A Confrontation Between Sages

Wuzhiqi's blunt question landed lightly amidst the immortal mist and spiritual incense of Lingxiao Palace.

The smile on Zhunti's face froze instantly, and the mask of compassionate warmth cracked with an imperceptible fissure, while a nameless fire surged in the depths of his eyes.

The Buddha light around Jieyin dimmed slightly, and he narrowed his eyes, staring at Wuzhiqi with a faint glimmer of killing intent.

As a Heavenly Dao Saint, being insulted by an ant gave him a reason to take punitive action.

However...

Zhunti glanced sharply toward the Human Race seating area.

Shi Yan leaned leisurely against a cloud couch, his fingertips casually fiddling with the immortal fruit on the table. His gaze, carrying a half-smile, swept over them lightly, filled with mockery and warning.

Fuxi stared straight at them, his deep eyes locked onto them, making it clear that he intended to protect Wuzhiqi.

The two of them were in turmoil, yet they dared not act out.

They couldn't even handle Shi Yan alone, let alone with Fuxi added to the mix. If they really acted out, the Western Sect would only end up suffering and becoming a laughingstock.

After all, besides Shi Yan and Fuxi, Xuanyuan and Chiyou were no pushovers either; as two Hunyuan Golden Immortals, they could knock all the Western Sect Disciples down in a minute.

Cannot fight, cannot fight!

Jieyin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the baleful energy in his chest. He pulled a stiff, extremely compassionate smile onto his face, though there was no warmth in his eyes.

Zhunti wore a forced, insincere smile, retracting all his anger and pretending he hadn't heard that sarcastic remark.

The two of them ignored the varied gazes of the immortals and gods throughout the hall. With a flick of their sleeves, they led the swarming, greed-filled Western Sect Disciples behind them and stepped directly into Lingxiao Palace.

The seats chosen by the Two Sages of the West were opposite the Chan Sect, farthest from the Human Race.

The Western Sect Disciples crowded into the rear seats, their eyes glowing with greed. They stared fixedly at the immortal wine and spiritual fruits on the tables, drool leaking from the corners of their mouths,

They disregarded all decorum, causing the immortals and gods below to glance at them, their contempt deepening.

At this point, the six Saints—Grand Supreme Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, Tongtian Cult Master, Nüwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti—had all gathered, and the Human Race's two Hunyuan, Shi Yan and Fuxi, were seated.

Except for the Earth Dao, all Saints had arrived.

It wasn't that Haotian hadn't thought of inviting the Earth Dao; it was purely that the Earth Dao refused to come.

Back when Venus Star went to deliver the invitation to the Earth Dao,

Ancestral Witch Gong Gong had clearly stated, "Oh, not going, not going."

"The Earth Dao will not go to the Heavenly Dao's territory."

Before the conflict between the Earth Dao faction and Hongjun was resolved, the Earth Dao would only attack the Heavenly Court.

With eight Saints/Hunyuan present, the atmosphere in the Heavenly Court reached its climax.

Just then, the host finally appeared.

Wearing his imperial robes, Haotian teleported to the center of Lingxiao Palace, accompanied by Yaochi and Princess Longji.

Haotian walked to the Heavenly Emperor's throne, his gaze sweeping over the six Saints and the Human Race powerhouses in the hall. A perfectly tempered, gentle smile spread across his face as he raised his hand in a gesture of welcome and spoke in a resounding voice:

"Esteemed Saints, Fellow Daoists, welcome to the Heavenly Court's Peach Banquet. I would like to offer you all a toast!"

After speaking, Haotian raised the jade cup on his table and drained the immortal wine within.

The six Saints, Shi Yan, and Fuxi all nodded slightly in acknowledgment, while the rest of the myriad spirits stood up to return the toast to Haotian.

With the pleasantries over, Haotian waved his hand and loudly announced, "The Peach Banquet, officially begins!"

As his voice fell, groups of Fairies arrived from outside the hall, riding on clouds. Each had a graceful figure, their clothes fluttering, and they carried jade plates and immortal cups, walking lightly between the seats.

They delivered Peaches, spiritual fruits, and immortal wine of different ages and grades to the tables of Cultivators with different cultivation levels.

The Human Race and the Saints' Disciples were the exceptions.

The immortals and gods throughout the hall raised their cups in celebration, immortal music started again, and laughter filled the air. The earlier minor episode seemed to have dissipated, leaving only the harmonious scene of a prosperous immortal banquet.

Yet, this harmony was ultimately just a facade.

At the Western seating area, Zhunti picked up a nine-thousand-year Peach and took a slow, deliberate bite.

His gaze remained fixed on the opposite Chan Sect seating area, where Guangchengzi was absent.

Zhunti understood in his heart: He really didn't come! Yuanshi, oh Yuanshi! I've caught you with proof, haven't I!

Knowing how to proceed, Zhunti put the Peach into his personal space and then spoke slowly.

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it could be heard throughout the entire Lingxiao Palace. Every word was clear and dripping with sarcasm:

"Senior Brother～ It has been a long time. The Chan Sect Disciples are as impressive as ever."

"It is just that this Junior Brother has a question. The Chan Sect has always valued hierarchy, rules, and etiquette above all else, and has always considered itself the orthodox representative of the Heavenly Dao. Why is it that today, at the Peach Banquet, the head of the Golden Immortals, Guangchengzi, has not come to attend?"

"This is the Peach Banquet personally hosted by the Heavenly Emperor, and a grand ceremony where we Hunyuan and Saints are gathered. His absence—is it because he disdains to come, or does he simply not hold this banquet, or the future seventh Saint of the Heavenly Dao, in any regard?"

Thump!

As soon as the words "seventh Saint of the Heavenly Dao" were uttered, the noise in the hall stopped instantly.

The immortal music stopped abruptly, the Fairies froze in place, and the movements of all the immortals and gods stiffened, their breathing becoming incredibly soft.

The Lingxiao Palace, which had been so harmonious just moments ago, instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Except for the Sanqing, Nüwa, and the Human Race's two Hunyuan who sat motionless, all the immortals, gods, and Cultivators present, whether they were Daluo, Quasi-Saints, or Heavenly Court officials, felt a flash of extreme panic in their eyes.

An ancient Innate Divine Saint panicked inwardly:

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! That wretch Zhunti is at it again!"

Though feeling extremely dissatisfied, he dared not let his actions show any disorder.

He hurriedly channeled his great magic power to set up a Restriction around himself, blocking his own six senses.

The rest of the myriad spirits did the same, hiding themselves for fear of being dragged into the confrontation between the two Saints and incurring Saintly Karma for no reason.

At the Chan Sect seating area, Que Liusun and Immortal Nanji's expressions changed drastically, and the jade cups in their hands cracked with a "click."

The remaining ten Golden Immortals were so frightened that they stiffened. They hurriedly put down the Peaches in their hands and bowed their heads extremely low in unison.

Their eyes were fixed on the Innate Spiritual Jade floor beneath their feet, each pretending to be focused, while muttering softly to themselves, attempting to play dumb:

"The texture of this spiritual jade is truly warm..."

"Indeed, the color is translucent, truly rare..."

"I have never seen such a flawless piece of jade..."

The group of Chan Sect Golden Immortals, usually high and mighty and imposing, were now sitting on pins and needles, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Yuanshi Tianzun's expression instantly turned visibly dark.

The Innate Spiritual Qi around him dimmed slightly, and a layer of frost covered his originally indifferent and imposing face.

Anger surged in the depths of his eyes, and his Saintly pressure leaked out faintly, making the surroundings icy and bone-chilling.

The matter of Guangchengzi was his reverse scale, the greatest stain and shame of the Chan Sect!

Now, Zhunti was using it as a Divine Ability to attack him, clearly intending to make him lose all face.

What made Yuanshi even more frustrated was that he could not refute it at all.

The fact that Guangchengzi was absent was right before his eyes.

Zhunti had simply stabbed a knife into Yuanshi's weak spot.