206: Chapter 206 The Panicked Western Gods

The gazes of all the immortals and deities in the hall were fixed upon the Haotian Heavenly Emperor, who sat upon the throne of the Heavenly Emperor.

In the center of the hall, the group of Southern Quasi-Saints, led by the Water-attribute Quasi-Saint, were all tense, their hearts filled with anxiety.

These dozen or so powerful Quasi-Saints, who roamed the Primordial World with deep foundations, completely lacked their usual demeanor as Seniors. Each of them restrained their aura, leaned forward, and hid an irrepressible tension and expectation in their eyes.

If they succeeded today, they would gain the worship of all living beings in the Primordial World, and their future path would be smooth sailing.

But if they failed... they would only be able to remain in the Heavenly Court forever, shielding themselves with the might of the Heavenly Court.

The wind stopped, and the sounds fell silent.

Ten breaths had passed from just now until this moment.

Ten breaths were usually just the blink of an eye, but now, every second felt like an entire Yuanhui.

Finally, at the eleventh breath, there was movement.

Haotian's gaze swept over the dense list of charges in the petition, passed over the Southern Quasi-Saints waiting with bowed bodies, and then faintly swept over the pale-faced Western immortals and deities in the corner of the hall.

He spoke: "Granted."

Although it was only one word, it was like Zixiao Divine Thunder, exploding within the Primordial Spirit of every immortal and deity!

Boom! The dead silence shattered instantly!

The previously quiet Lingxiao Palace instantly roared with excitement!

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting our request!!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The dozen or so Southern Quasi-Saints bowed deeply in unison, their bodies trembling slightly from extreme excitement, their voices loud and resonant, shaking the entire Lingxiao Palace.

The long-suppressed tension dissipated completely, replaced by overwhelming ecstasy and excitement.

"On behalf of the countless living beings of the South, we kowtow to thank Your Majesty for your holy grace!"

Their voices were sonorous and earnest, filled with the joy of success.

The expressions of the immortals and deities in the hall shifted slightly.

Yes! He agreed!

Among the immortals and deities, apart from the Southern Quasi-Saints, the happiest was undoubtedly Venus Star.

"I will go find Your Majesty in a few days to request a transfer from my post."

Yet, this burning joy and light did not touch the Western immortals and deities in the corner at all.

Quite the opposite, the moment that word fell, the minds of the Western Sect Disciples serving in the Heavenly Court plummeted into a ten-thousand-foot icy abyss, and bone-chilling despair instantly enveloped their Dao bodies.

The previous anxiety now turned into a bone-deep chill that spread from their spiritual platforms throughout their entire bodies.

All luck, all expectations, and all words of self-comfort were completely severed!

Maitreya, sitting in the front row, trembled violently, his plump body turning as pale as paper. All color drained from his face, leaving only endless collapse and panic in his eyes.

Countless terrifying images flashed through his mind: The Southern Quasi-Saints entering the Heavenly Court, and he, the God of Wealth of the Heavenly Court and a Western Sect Disciple remaining behind, being the first to be purged.

All his authority as the God of Wealth would be seized, and he would be driven out of the God of Wealth Palace, becoming a wanderer in the Heavenly Court with a title but no authority, and no home to return to...

"No...!!" A desperate, deeply suppressed low roar was emitted from Maitreya's throat, hoarse and full of sorrow.

He seemed to have already foreseen his future: the path ahead was vast and uncertain, filled with dark Chaos, with no peace left.

The days of relying on the West, holding a high position, and being carefree had completely ended.

The other Western immortals and deities around him were also ashen-faced, each lowering their heads and closing their eyes, their Dao Hearts trembling, leaving only endless regret and despair in their hearts.

Countless identical thoughts sprouted and swirled wildly in their minds: It's over... completely over.

Is it... still too late to resign from their Heavenly Court divine positions and withdraw from the Heavenly Court now?

No one answered, and no one responded.

In the vast Lingxiao Palace, no one would pause for even a moment for the despair of the Western immortals and deities; the suffering that belonged to them had only just begun.

The Haotian Heavenly Emperor looked down at the myriad states of the living beings below, his expression remaining indifferent, as if he had long foreseen all the outcomes.

His gaze returned to the Southern Quasi-Saints bowing in salute, and he slowly issued a second imperial decree:

"You have newly joined the Heavenly Court and are temporarily external deities, without exclusive positions or established authority. However, you are all of Quasi-Saint cultivation, with profound cultivation, and thus have the qualifications for seats; you may participate in this Flat Peach Banquet."

After a slight pause, Haotian lightly pointed his fingertip at the empty seats in the West of the hall: "Your seats shall be set beside the Western Sect Disciples."

As soon as these words were spoken, Maitreya's whole body stiffened, as if struck by the Zixiao Divine Thunder from before.

He was instantly forced awake from his previous despair, his pupils constricted sharply, and he hurriedly raised his head, opened his mouth, and exclaimed: "No! Your Majesty, wait! This must not happen—!!"

He had just started, and before his hurried words could even fall, they were completely cut off by a resonant and powerful response.

The group of Southern powerful beings, led by the Water-attribute Quasi-Saint, had eyes flashing with brilliant light, full of high spirits, and they accepted the command in unison: "Yes!" "We obey Your Majesty's imperial decree!"

As the voices fell, their figures flickered, moving like flowing clouds and streaming water, without the slightest hesitation.

The group of Southern Quasi-Saints, with distinguished postures, stepped out and in an instant, landed beside the area where the Western immortals and deities were seated.

The leading Water-attribute Quasi-Saint had profound Dao cultivation, his body flowing with gentle immortal light, his temperament elegant and indifferent; he appeared gentle, but hidden in his eyes were traces of killing intent.

He raised his hand and waved, spiritual light surged, and an exquisite jade seat instantly appeared, landing steadily beside Maitreya, the distance between them close at hand.

The Water-attribute Quasi-Saint sat down calmly, turned his head to the side, and his gaze fell upon Maitreya, who had a stiff face and a panicked expression.

His brows and eyes were gentle, his tone warm, just like a loving Senior looking at a favored Junior, extremely concerned: "Little friend, you seemed to have something to say earlier but stopped yourself; is there something you wish to say to His Majesty, or to us? Feel free to speak."

The gentle and refined voice rang out slowly; to the ears of others, it was full of goodwill and humility.

But to Maitreya's ears, it was like demonic sounds piercing his ears, every word striking hard against his Dao Heart, which was on the verge of collapse, dragging him completely into boundless despair.

The pressure of a Quasi-Saint, close at hand, enveloped his body.

Maitreya's scalp tingled, his mind was shaken, and his Dao body trembled; how could he dare to be the least bit presumptuous?

He hurriedly restrained all his loss of composure, quickly bowed his head, forced a stiff smile onto his face, and waved his hands repeatedly: "Senior, you have misunderstood! It's nothing, nothing! This Junior didn't say anything just now; Senior must have misheard!"

His speaking speed was extremely fast, and he was extremely panicked, fearing that one more word would invite disaster.

As soon as the words fell, he didn't dare to meet the gaze of the Water-attribute Quasi-Saint beside him for even a moment; he hurriedly turned his head away, grabbed the Flat Peach on the table with both hands, and stuffed it into his mouth all at once.

He used the act of gluttonous eating to clumsily escape, attempting to cover up his extreme panic and fear.

The other Western immortals and deities around him were in the exact same state.

One by one, they restrained their auras and lowered their heads, sitting uneasily, no longer having any of the leisurely greed they had when tasting the immortal wine and spiritual fruits earlier.

Their hearts and eyes were filled with panic and unease.

The hustle and bustle of the Flat Peach Banquet continued, with immortal music lingering and thousands of auspicious rays of light; the immortals in the hall chatted and laughed, raising their cups to celebrate together.

Only in the corner of the West was it dead silent and oppressive, the atmosphere frozen to the extreme.

The Flat Peach Banquet proceeded slowly as usual.

But everyone knew that from the moment Haotian agreed with that one word, and from the moment the Southern Quasi-Saints sat beside the Westerners, the sky of the Heavenly Court had changed.

And the days of the Western immortals and deities in the Heavenly Court from now on would have no peace at all.