Chapter 180 - The Hongmen Banquet
Chu Linyuan looked at the extra meat in the bowl expressionlessly, then looked at Xie Zhao's expression that said "praise me quickly". He was silent for a moment, and finally did not push it away as usual. Instead, he picked up the piece of meat very slowly, put it into his mouth, and chewed it slowly.
But the red ears could not be hidden under the reflection of the bonfire.
Laughter and joy, fragrant meat and warm soup, and bright talisman lights.
This is the first New Year for Guixu Sect. On the edge of the eternal burial ground, under the gaze of the abyss, it is filled with the warmth and noise of fireworks.
However, just as this warm New Year's Eve was drawing to a close, everyone was sitting around the campfire, having had enough food and wine, listening to Su Tang tell interesting stories about the Falling Star Sea.
A dazzling golden light, like a sharp sword tearing through the night sky, suddenly penetrated the defensive barrier outside the Talisman Array Tower, and with a sharp sound of breaking through the air, it nailed the campfire where everyone was sitting!
The golden light dissipated, revealing its true form—a token made entirely of red gold and engraved with the cloud-patterned command arrow of the Immortal Alliance!
On the surface of the token, a line of cold, small characters imprinted with powerful spiritual power shone brightly:
"Guixu Sect's Headmaster Chu Linyuan and Fuxian Xie Zhao:
We have decided to host a banquet at the Immortal Alliance's Hall of Immortals during the Lantern Festival. We invite you two Daoists to discuss how to eliminate the hidden dangers of the Abyss and maintain peace in this world. The elders of all factions of the Immortal Alliance respectfully await your presence. Please do not decline.
——Decree from the Immortal Alliance Elders Council"
The dancing light of the campfire illuminated the suddenly appearing red-gold token, as well as the cold and commanding words on the token.
The warm and bustling atmosphere in the square seemed to be frozen in an instant.
The camera of Su Tang's photo stone subconsciously aimed at the token, and the smile on her little face froze.
Tie Niu's huge body tensed up, he put down the piece of meat in his hand, and his bronze face was full of solemnity.
Luo Hongyi's beautiful face was instantly covered with frost, and poisonous mist silently swirled around her fingertips.
Little White Deer held the rabbit in his arms, a hint of uneasiness flashing in his clear eyes.
The Moon-Eating Rabbit stared at the token with its ruby eyes, and a low warning sound came from its throat.
The smile on Xie Zhao's face slowly faded, and the mischievous light in his peach blossom eyes faded, replaced by a cold sharpness.
He loosened his grip on Chu Linyuan's hand, and the Jinghong Talisman Pen slid into his palm, with a vigilant golden light flowing from the tip of the pen.
Chu Linyuan slowly stood up.
His black clothes fluttered in the night wind, and his figure was as straight as a cold spear drawn from its sheath.
His cold eyes were like tangible ice cones, falling on the red-gold command arrow. Under the dancing flames, the dark-gold dragon pattern on his left cheek looked like an awakened beast, emitting a restrained and dangerous golden light.
He stretched out his hand, but did not touch the token directly. Instead, he put his fingers together like swords, and a condensed black ice murderous energy caught the token in the air.
The token was cold and heavy in his hand, carrying the unique, condescending aura of the Immortal Alliance.
Chu Linyuan's cold eyes swept over the words on the token, such as "clear the hidden dangers in the abyss", "maintain the peace of this world", "awaiting your arrival", "do not refuse", etc., and the corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly in an extremely cold and sarcastic arc.
These three words, like a cold poisonous snake, instantly entangled everyone's heart.
"Senior Brother?" Xie Zhao's voice sounded, questioning and with a hint of offense.
Chu Linyuan clenched the red-gold command arrow in his hand, and his cold knuckles turned slightly white due to the force.
He raised his head, his gaze passed over the burning bonfire, over the dazzling talisman lanterns, and looked at the Guixu Heart Lamp on the top of the tower that emitted an eternal soft light, and finally fell back on Xie Zhao's face.
The look in his eyes was still as cold as ever, but without any trace of the mockery and hostility he had shown when facing the Immortal Alliance's order. Instead, it held a powerful calmness and protective determination that was enough to crush any conspiracy.
"Go." The cold voice was firm and decisive, with only one word.
Xie Zhao looked at the calmness and determination in his eyes, then looked at the red-gold arrow in his hand that represented the "invitation" from the Immortal Alliance. The coldness and sharpness in his peach blossom eyes slowly faded away, and the familiar, lively and dangerous light rekindled.
He spun the Jinghong Fu Pen around his fingertips, and a smile of roguery and great fighting spirit appeared on his lips:
"Okay! Senior Brother! The Immortal Alliance is inviting us to dinner. How disrespectful would it be if we don't go?"
He walked over to Chu Linyuan and deliberately bumped his shoulder against his arm. The sound was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the silent square:
"It's just right... Let them see how hospitable our Guixu Sect's 'Abyssal Specialties' are!"
A talisman flashed at his fingertips, and a small, golden turtle shadow was silently imprinted on the back of the red gold arrow as if it were a prank.
The turtle holds its head high, its eyes looking arrogant, and looks vivid and lifelike.
Chu Linyuan's cold eyes swept across the talisman turtle, and then fell back on Xie Zhao's face, which was full of the word "troublemaking".
This time, the corners of his tightly pursed lips twitched upwards almost imperceptibly. Although it was subtle, it was like ice suddenly cracking, carrying a tacit understanding and indulgence.
The talisman-shaped turtle with its head held high and looking down on the red gold command arrow became the final footnote of this New Year for Guixu Sect.
The warmth of staying up all night was frozen by the cold "invitation" from the Immortal Alliance, but there was no panic in the Immortal-killing Square.
On the contrary, the previous warmth was replaced by an almost excited clamor with a strong fighting spirit.
"Family! The Abyss' annual drama is about to begin!" Su Tang held up the repaired photo stone, her psychic eyes gleaming with astonishing brightness as she swept the camera across the crowd ready to go. "The Immortal Alliance's Hongmen Banquet? The Guixu Sect's life-or-death game? Wrong! It's a face-slapping and stepping-on lesson! Stay tuned to this livestream!"
The Iron Ox's gigantic body was grunting as it reinforced the hull of a temporarily modified spindle-shaped warship, which was entirely cast from the black rock of the abyss.
He used the Guixu Dragon Spine Hammer as a forging hammer. Every blow was accompanied by condensed stellar brute force, leaving a restrained silver glow on the dark and rough hull.
"Senior Sister Luo! Do you think this shell is hard enough?" he asked in a muffled voice, his huge eyes glancing towards the herb garden from time to time with a hint of flattery.
Luo Hongyi had a cold expression on his face as he stuffed bottles of venom and potions of various colors that exuded a dangerous aura into a specially made storage bag.
Hearing Tie Niu's voice, she didn't even look up. A wisp of dark green poisonous mist shot out from her fingertips, accurately corroding a tiny energy node burr on the warship's hull. Her voice was stern: "Stupid ox! No matter how tough you are, you can't withstand the full force attack of a Divine Transformation cultivator! Don't just stand there! Bone-Erosion Incense and Seven Steps Backwards onto the ship! I'll let those hypocritical guys in the Immortal Alliance have a taste of it!"
"Okay!" Tie Niu responded immediately. His huge hands carefully picked up the bottles and jars with skull labels on them, as if they were rare treasures. His movements were so gentle that they formed a huge contrast with his huge body.
The little white deer held the rabbit in his arms and stood quietly beside the base of the talisman formation.
The star map rune on the Moon-Eating Rabbit's back lit up slightly, and its ruby eyes scanned the direction of the abyss vigilantly.
White Deer's clear eyes fell on the Guixu Heart Lamp on the top of the tower. Her little hands gently stroked Bunny's fur and whispered, "Bunny... don't be afraid... the lamp is here... the key is here..."
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