Soon, they arrived at the palace gate.
However, unlike the sect leaders who had crossed the wall earlier, Ling Hefan and his group walked directly up to the guards at the entrance.
Dao Ming Zhenren, the hidden expert, stepped forward and reached out to grab the guard.
Ling Hefan, with lightning-fast reflexes, stopped him.
Dao Ming Zhenren didn't understand but halted his action.
Ling Hefan shook his head helplessly.
Dao Ming, Dao Ming, you've been out of touch with society for too long!
You don't even understand the most basic social graces!
The previous group must have entered the palace.
But there has been no movement from the palace, and the guards are still standing here as if nothing has happened.
It's obvious there's something wrong here!
Attacking immediately is something only a fool would do!
A brain is a good thing, but it seems you don't have one!
The guard glanced at them suspiciously.
"Can I interpret your previous action as you provoking me?"
"Also, what's the meaning of so many of you standing at the palace gate?"
"Can I interpret this as you being unfriendly?"
As the guard spoke, he gripped his weapon tightly.
The guards beside him followed suit, all looking at Ling Hefan and his group with ill intentions.
"Commander, you've misunderstood." Ling Hefan sidestepped and sneakily handed a spatial ring to the guard: "I just wanted to ask you something."
The guard raised an eyebrow and naturally accepted the ring.
Afterward, the guard scanned the subordinates beside him.
The message was clear.
Don't see what you shouldn't, don't say what you shouldn't!
The accompanying guards stared straight ahead, as if they had seen nothing.
In their hearts, they were already contemplating.
The boss is very loyal, and they would probably have a good meal after getting off work tonight.
The guard was satisfied with the performance of his subordinates.
He withdrew his gaze and then slowly released a trace of spiritual power into the ring.
Upon seeing the spirit stones piled inside, the guard's smile widened!
"Ask what you want to ask," the guard said.
"Commander, did a group of people enter the palace just now?" Ling Hefan quickly asked.
"Wait a moment!" The guard's expression suddenly changed: "What did you just say?"
"I asked if a group of people entered the palace." Ling Hefan repeated.
"Not that sentence, the one before it."
"Commander?"
"Mm—!" The guard nodded excitedly.
In essence, he was just a doorkeeper.
The title "Commander" had nothing to do with him.
But he had always believed he was a dragon among men, destined to soar one day!
And then he would guard other gates inside the imperial palace!
The Commander nodded at Ling Hefan with satisfaction!
This fellow cultivator had sharp eyes and was clearly someone who could achieve great things!
Ling Hefan was a bit bewildered.
Is there something wrong with this person?
"I'll tell you secretly, but you must not tell anyone else." The guard leaned in and whispered: "Someone did come just now, and His Majesty entertained them warmly. If you go in now, you might still catch a bite!"
Ling Hefan exchanged glances with Dao Ming Zhenren.
If what the guard said was true, did it mean those people had reached some kind of agreement with the royalty here?
It made sense.
Although those guys seemed like weaklings to him, they were probably important figures in this remote place!
In that case, it was time for their group to make their appearance!
Get the items, and try to recruit these people.
His and Dao Ming's people combined were only twenty or thirty, a time when they desperately needed personnel!
"Alright, stop dawdling," the guard urged. "If you're any later, you'll only be licking plates."
And so.
Ling Hefan and his group entered the palace.
They walked in grandly...
There was no reaction from the people in the palace to their arrival.
Palace maids and eunuchs would glance at them at most, then continue with their work.
It was as if their appearance as strangers in the imperial palace was perfectly normal...
Guards patrolling by even kindly asked if they needed help with directions.
"No, no need..." Ling Hefan replied, dumbfounded.
"Alright, if you need anything, just ask." The captain of the guards gave a kind smile and then led his men away.
Their steps and formation were impeccably neat, clearly the elite of the elites!
"Little friend Ling, something feels a bit off," Dao Ming Zhenren said after the guards left. "Is there a hidden ambush inside?"
"It shouldn't be..." Ling Hefan shook his head. "Perhaps they mistook us for being with those people."
Dao Ming Zhenren nodded.
If that was the case, it seemed understandable.
Thinking about it carefully.
When two groups of powerful figures suddenly appeared in a small, remote country, it was not strange that they dared not resist.
And so, the group smoothly arrived at the plaza in front of the main hall.
It wasn't that they knew the way.
It was because the guards who appeared later were too enthusiastic and directly led them there...
Upon arriving, the guards politely offered a few pleasantries and then left.
Leaving Ling Hefan and his group utterly bewildered...
Mainly because the scene before them was too bizarre!
Judging by their attire, these people should be the emperor and his ministers.
But their banquet looked no different from that of rustic villagers.
The tables and benches were the kind used by ordinary people, utterly lacking in any grandeur.
Some people were even sitting on a log stump...
And the way these fellows ate was truly hard to stomach.
They were all covered in grease and food scraps, and several were even licking their plates.
What was even more outrageous was that two ministers, who had had too much to drink, were gnawing on each other's feet.
While gnawing, they mumbled, why did today's pig trotters taste a bit off...
Most importantly, they did not find the previous group of cultivators at the scene!
Hadn't they reached a friendly agreement?
But where had the people gone?
In short...
Everything was eerily strange!
The arrival of Ling Hefan and his group successfully drew everyone's attention.
The ministers immediately turned their heads to look.
The moment their gazes met, Ling Hefan and his group felt even more uneasy!
Their faces were contorted, and in their vacant eyes, there was a hint of intelligence...
They gave the impression of being a group of abnormal people!
When being stared at by a group of people with abnormal minds, one always feels uncomfortable.
Regardless of cultivation or strength.
It's just an internal discomfort...
"These fellows look unfamiliar?"
"Are they also here for the feast?"
"Luckily, we ate quickly, otherwise, we would have to share now!"
"But they look foolish, as if their minds aren't very sharp?"
...
The ministers immediately started discussing.
Analyzing with great seriousness.
"Hello, everyone." Liang Dekuai stood up and smiled kindly. "Are you all here for the feast too? Unfortunately, you're late, we've already finished eating."