Chapter 1358: Uninvited Guest

"Maybe it's because neither of us went all out, so the power wasn't enough?" Jin Tong said, still unwilling to give up.

"If we really struck each other with full force, even if we had a chance to tear open the space, it would be hard for us to avoid injury. If we were caught again then, it would be troublesome." Han Li shook his head and said.

"What exactly is this breaking formation? There's not even a single flaw to find. It's like a tiger trying to eat the sky—nowhere to bite." Jin Tong scratched his head and said helplessly.

"A tiger trying to eat the sky..." Han Li's eyes suddenly lit up at these words, and he clapped his hands.

Jin Tong's eyes flickered with confusion, then he immediately understood:

"You mean, using my law of devouring to swallow this entire void and drag the barrier in as well?"

"Exactly. This grand formation barrier is ultimately built within this void, closely connected to it. Once you swallow the void, the formation will inevitably be affected. Then breaking it won't be difficult." Han Li nodded and said.

"With my devouring law fully activated, swallowing the void is not hard, but it's best not to be interrupted midway. Otherwise, repeated erosion by the Heavenly Dao will be more severe." Jin Tong said upon hearing this.

"Don't worry. Just focus on devouring this void. I'll ensure you're not disturbed." Han Li glanced casually around and said calmly.

As soon as his words fell, Jin Tong shot out behind him, heading toward a corner of the formation barrier.

During flight, his golden light suddenly surged, and he directly revealed his true form as a Devouring Gold Beetle. Opening his mouth, he bit toward the void there, and within his mouth, a golden chaotic vortex began to spin slowly.

At that moment, the void there seemed like a hollowed-out cellar, collapsing inward toward Jin Tong.

Seeing this, a smile appeared at the corner of Han Li's mouth.

Outside the formation, Zishan and the others looked solemn, with hesitation on their faces.

"The biggest mistake this time was letting that Devouring Gold Immortal, who had just regained his Dao Ancestor position..." Meng Yuan sighed and said.

"What's the use of saying such nonsense?" Zhu Yan scolded.

"Daoist Zishan, what do you say? Fight or not?" Dongli Hu was silent for a moment, then looked at the woman in purple and asked.

At these words, Zhu Yan and the other also looked at her, waiting for her decision.

"If he really escapes, none of us can bear the Supreme's punishment." Zishan took a deep breath and said.

Dongli Hu nodded, formed hand seals, and pressed on the light screen before him.

The light screen immediately rippled like a spreading wave, and then he stepped forward into the formation.

Meng Yuan lowered his eyes, looking down at the void below, as if not intending to enter immediately.

"Even with the four of us joining forces, there's no certainty of victory against those two. I'll say this upfront: if anyone still hesitates and doesn't truly exert themselves, even if they survive afterward, they won't get away unscathed." Zishan's voice suddenly turned cold.

Zhu Yan glanced at Meng Yuan with contempt in his eyes and entered the formation second.

Zishan and Meng Yuan followed closely, entering the formation one after another.

Sensing the fluctuations from millions of miles away, Han Li sneered, "Finally showing yourselves? Then let's try."

With that, his sleeves billowed, golden light flickered inside, and threads of lightning surged with a rumbling sound.

...

Tiangong Continent.

Outside the Jade Pool, beams of light continuously arrived as large numbers of immortals entered the venue, guided by heavenly court fairy boys and maidens to their seats.

Although celestial music played and fairy maidens danced, the atmosphere in the venue remained somewhat solemn.

Except for a few familiar immortals who gathered in small groups to whisper, most sat quietly on cushions, either meditating or enjoying the fairies' silhouettes, waiting for the host to appear.

Near the central area of the venue, most seated were immortal cultivation sects closely related to the heavenly court, often having excellent relations with the celestial palaces of various domains, and usually had disciples serving in the celestial palaces.

Two Great Luo ancestors, one from Tongfa Sect and the other from Cangrong Mountain, though not sitting together, were conversing via telepathy.

"Daoist Suigu, was the journey here safe?" asked a middle-aged man in a green robe.

"Fairly safe... but I heard many fellow attendees were ambushed and fell. Among them was that Daoist Huliang, whom we both know..." The old man in brocade, called Suigu, said with lingering fear.

"Did you see the formations outside the three gates? The Reincarnation Palace seems ready to show its hand and fight the heavenly court to the death." The green-robed man continued.

"The Reincarnation Palace Master is indeed a figure, but this move seems a bit rash. Choosing this time to attack the heavenly court—to put it nicely, it's staking everything on one battle; to put it bluntly, it's like looking for trouble in a latrine..." Suigu stopped mid-sentence, realizing his slip, and smiled awkwardly.

"The heavenly court is probably holding back a lot of anger too. They want to use the power of these attendees to wipe out the Reincarnation Palace in one go. Since we've taken their favors, we have to contribute, right?" The green-robed man didn't mind and continued.

"We'll just fish in troubled waters. Cultivation isn't easy... We should prioritize self-preservation." Suigu said.

"Speaking of which, the Supreme fighting the Reincarnation Palace Master is a spectacle unseen in ten thousand years. Thinking about it, I'm actually looking forward to it..." The green-robed man raised his brows and smiled.

As soon as he spoke, a commotion arose from the back of the venue.

Both turned around and were stunned.

On the white jade path in the center of the venue, a thin Daoist in black-and-white robes was leading a tall man in a black robe and a veiled bamboo hat, completely concealing his face, toward the front of the venue.

"Eh, who is this? So arrogant, to be escorted by Qingqiu Zhenren?"

"Not daring to show his face... Wait, this attire, could it be..."

"Could it be that person?"

"Impossible! How dare he come? And alone? Is he tired of living?"

"Heh, if it really is him, why wouldn't he dare? By the way, I heard that the Supreme Xuan Yuanjie has fallen, likely by this person's hand..."

"Tsk, incredible. This Bodhi Feast is going to be lively!"

"Daring to oppose the heavenly court in secret for so many years, truly extraordinary courage!"

...

As the two advanced, exclamations of surprise and continuous discussions arose along the way. Many, shocked, stood up, some with anger, others staggering back—various reactions, all different.

"The, the Reincarnation Palace Master..." Suigu's expression changed drastically as he murmured.

The green-robed man was also speechless, staring fixedly in that direction.

Although the Reincarnation Palace Master had never shown his true face and rarely appeared in the world, his whereabouts had always been one of the most secret matters in the entire True Immortal Realm. However, those present at the main venue were mostly no ordinary individuals, so they could still recognize him by his attire and the aura he exuded.

At Suigu's words, whether they recognized the Reincarnation Palace Master or not, everyone turned their gazes toward him, putting even Qingqiu Zhenren, who was leading the way, under pressure, with a few cold sweat beads forming on his forehead.

The Reincarnation Palace Master seemed completely oblivious, ignoring the surrounding chaos, not even glancing sideways, and simply followed Qingqiu Zhenren forward.

"Reincarnation Palace Master, how dare you come?" Suddenly, a roar came from the front of the venue.

Yu Menghan's expression changed at the sound. She looked up at Cangwu Zhenjun not far away, wondering why such a seemingly good-tempered elder would suddenly fly into such a rage.

Her master, Meng Po, also looked gravely at the black-robed man in the bamboo hat.

Seeing this, Qingqiu Zhenren felt a headache coming on.

Back then, Cangwu Zhenjun had no descendants, only a true disciple he regarded as his own son.

While serving at the Zhutian Celestial Palace, he was once ordered to pursue Gan Jiuzhen and even pushed her to the brink, but she eventually escaped by luck.

Later, without Gan Jiuzhen's knowledge, the Reincarnation Palace Master sent Tanlang, one of the Eight Reincarnates, to lead a force to attack the Zhutian Celestial Palace, slaughtering all the celestial envoys from top to bottom, including Cangwu Zhenjun's only son.

That incident later became a cold case. Except for the Reincarnation Palace Master, no one knew why the Reincarnation Palace had made such a bloody move without warning.

From then on, Cangwu Zhenjun harbored a death feud with the Reincarnation Palace,一心 wanting to kill Tanlang and the Reincarnation Palace Master. The terrifying scar on Tanlang's face was left by Cangwu Zhenjun.

The Reincarnation Palace Master glanced at Cangwu Zhenjun, whose aura had suddenly surged, and asked:

"And you are?"

Hearing this, Cangwu Zhenjun trembled uncontrollably, enraged. His body blazed with red light, fully unleashing his Dao Ancestor pressure, as if about to fight to the death with the Reincarnation Palace Master.

"Daoist Cangwu, no..."

Meng Po, while shielding Yu Menghan behind her, reminded him.

But at this point, Cangwu Zhenjun wouldn't listen. He took a big step forward, shaking the entire Jade Pool.

"Daoist Cangwu, the Reincarnation Palace Master is a guest invited by the Supreme. You must not cause trouble here." Seeing this, Qingqiu Zhenren had no choice but to stand in the middle and advise.

Cangwu Zhenjun's eyes blazed with fury, veins bulging on his forehead, and he squeezed out two words through gritted teeth:

"Move aside..."

Qingqiu Zhenren did not leave but frowned, his expression darkening.

"Daoist Cangwu, calm down..." Just then, a majestic voice rang out from the sky, echoing like a great bell throughout the Jade Pool.

Hearing this, everyone's expression turned solemn, and they all looked up toward the sky ahead.

Cangwu Zhenjun stiffened, slowly loosened his clenched fists in his sleeves, and turned around bit by bit.

Behind him, near the seven tables by Jingming Lake, clouds and rosy clouds danced above, golden lotuses surged on the ground, and the fragrance of orchids filled the air. Several figures materialized out of thin air.

In the center sat a middle-aged man with a face like jade, slender eyes and brows, and black long beard at the corners of his mouth and chin. He sat on a wheelchair seemingly carved from white jade—this was the Time Dao Ancestor, Gu Huojin.

A wide white robe spread from his body, draping down in front of the wheelchair. Around his waist was a golden sash, with a nine-dragon jade pendant hanging on the right side, next to a golden tassel.

On his left stood an old woman in red, leaning on a crane-headed staff. She had bright red hair, a face full of wrinkles like knife cuts, appearing decrepit but with fierce killing intent in her expression.

She was none other than Chi Meng's ancestor, the Fire Origin Dao Ancestor, Chi Rong.