God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 542: Invoking the Martial Law

Gabriel observed him for a moment before exiting the room.

"Show me the way."

ChaosCleric gave a brief nod and turned, his footsteps quicker than usual. The tension in his shoulders indicated that the dinner would likely be far from peaceful. Gabriel followed without further inquiry, his white mask obscuring his expression as the hallway lamps bathed the polished floor in a soft glow.

They navigated through two corridors, arriving at a more expansive section of the residence. The faint strains of elegant music drifted from ahead, mingling with hushed voices and the gentle clinking of cups against tables.

The dining hall was immense.

Multiple long tables were arranged throughout the hall, each designated for a different faction. Warm illumination emanated from overhead fixtures, while a small ensemble played softly on the far side. While the surface suggested an atmosphere of decorum, the watchful eyes scanning the room made it evident that any semblance of peace was maintained through sheer constraint.

Gabriel perceived the seating arrangement instantly.

There were ten primary tables.

Only four were allocated to external groups.

ChaosKnight, Olympus, Holy Church, and Broken Dawn.

The remaining six tables were occupied by the Tianlan cultivation guilds. The Longsword Guild was also present, their members displaying evident pride as they regarded the outsiders as unwelcome visitors.

Gabriel entered alongside ChaosKnight, and the instant he stepped into the hall, numerous gazes shifted towards him.

Some held curiosity. Others exuded caution. A few were undeniably hostile.

ChaosCleric lowered his voice. "Our table is this way."

Gabriel offered no response, simply following him.

IceQueen was already seated at the ChaosKnight table, with Vv positioned nearby. Several key members subtly straightened in their seats as Gabriel arrived, their attention captured. He sat down with an air of composure, one hand resting on the table's edge while his gaze swept across the hall.

The animosity directed towards non-cultivators was palpable.

This sentiment was not exclusive to the Longsword Guild; several Tianlan tables observed them with the same disdain. In their eyes, the outsiders had no right to be present. The mission pertained to Tianlan, the tomb lay within Tianlan's borders, and thus, any rewards should rightfully remain within Tianlan.

At the Broken Dawn table, Sophie maintained an upright posture, while Cassie, Bunny, Ragnarok99, SniperBowLegend, and Samantha were seated around her.

Ragnarok99 periodically directed his gaze towards the entrance. His brow was furrowed, and his hand rhythmically tapped against his cup.

"He still hasn't shown up," he murmured.

Cassie glanced towards Sophie. "Did Sarah mention anything else before we departed?"

Sophie gave a slight shake of her head. "Only that he would meet us here."

Bunny leaned back in her seat, her expression a blend of frustration and concern. "That man truly enjoys making his appearances on his own terms."

Sophie's fingers rested delicately on the table's surface. "He will come."

Her voice carried a calmness that was meant to reassure them, yet even she couldn't entirely dispel the underlying anxiety. Gabriel had pledged to join them here, but the mission was already progressing towards its initial phase, and he remained conspicuously absent.

Ragnarok99 exhaled audibly through his nose. "I simply hope he isn't engaging in some perilous activity once more."

Cassie looked at him pointedly. "With him, that's usually the most reasonable assumption."

A period of silence followed amongst some of them.

Across the hall, Gabriel registered the gist of their conversation through his heightened senses but displayed no outward reaction. He merely picked up the goblet before him and took a measured sip.

Initially, the dinner proceeded without incident.

Servants moved with measured steps between the tables, discreetly placing dishes and refilling drinks. The music continued its unobtrusive melody in the background, and Liang sat at the Martial Palace table, Evelyn by his side, observing the proceedings with quiet vigilance.

For a time, an uneasy calm prevailed.

However, such tranquility was not destined to last.

A sudden, violent crash reverberated through the hall.

Bang!

One of the Tianlan martial artists violently struck his palm against his table, the force of the blow bisecting it cleanly. Cups rattled, plates splintered, and food scattered across the floor as the fractured table tilted precariously.

Numerous heads turned simultaneously.

The individual responsible was broad-shouldered with a rugged face, marked by thick arms and a prominent scar near his jaw. His robes bore the insignia of one of the six Tianlan guilds, and his aura was far from negligible. His face was flushed with anger, as if he had been suppressing his emotions since their arrival at the station.

His name was Gao Ren.

He held the rank of captain within the Iron Fist Hall.

Gao Ren pointed a deliberate finger towards the tables occupied by the outsiders and declared, his voice booming.

"How much longer are we expected to maintain this charade of normalcy?"

An immediate silence fell over the hall.

Liang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Gao Ren continued, undeterred. "Why are these non-cultivators present? Why are we sidestepping the obvious question? This is Tianlan's mission. The Buried God's Tomb is situated within our lands, intrinsically linked to our history, and we possess a far deeper understanding of it than anyone seated at those foreign tables."

His gaze traveled across ChaosKnight, Olympus, the Holy Church, and the formidable Broken Dawn.

"Distributing the spoils with those from other kingdoms and guilds will only serve to strengthen their power. Why should our own hard-won gains become their treasure trove?"

A chorus of agreement rose from the assembled Tianlan cultivators.

"He speaks the truth," a voice echoed from a different section of the hall.

"This treasure should have been kept within Tianlan."

"Martial Palace and Longsword alone would have been sufficient."

"Why give away six portions of our hard-earned fortune?"

The atmosphere in the hall shifted dramatically, growing heavy with tension.

The invited guests from outside Tianlan did not receive this change well. While Olympus remained outwardly composed, a few of their members wore expressions as cold as ice. The Holy Church displayed no outward reaction, though their robed figures observed the agitated cultivators with keen eyes. A palpable tension returned to the Broken Dawn table, and the simmering anger of Ragnarok99 flared once more.

ChaosCleric let out a soft, knowing click of his tongue. "And so it begins."

IceQueen's expression remained largely unchanged, yet her eyes seemed to gleam with a newfound, chilling intensity.

Liang raised a hand, pressing two fingers against his own forehead as if to ward off a mounting headache.

For the first time, a look of genuine weariness crossed his features.

"This matter has already been settled," he stated, his voice firm despite his apparent fatigue.

Evelyn cast a subtle glance in his direction. "It appears they are not in agreement."

"They rarely agree unless the outcome directly benefits them," Liang responded, his tone low and measured.

Gao Ren, recovering from the damage to his table, stepped forward, his chest heaving with unbridled fury.

"We demand the immediate revocation of these tokens," he proclaimed, his voice ringing through the hall. "Let the four external groups return them forthwith. Tianlan will then ensure a just redistribution amongst its own."

Several other voices joined the chorus of dissent.

"Revoke the tokens!"

"Grant them to the deserving Tianlan guilds!"

"The Martial Council must rectify this grave error!"

Liang finally rose from his seat.

A hush fell over the great hall once more, though the undercurrent of dissatisfaction remained strong. His gaze swept over Gao Ren and then to the other cultivators who had voiced their support.

"The Martial Council officially approved the invitation list," Liang declared, his voice carrying authority. "The Emperor himself has granted his sanction. Your current position grants you no authority to overturn such a decision here."

Gao Ren's jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white. "The council's decisions can indeed be challenged."

Liang's eyes narrowed, a sudden, sharp wave of killing intent emanating from his very being. "Choose your next words with the utmost care, Gao Ren."

Gao Ren lifted his chin defiantly, unwilling to back down now that the attention of the entire hall was upon him.

"I invoke the ancient martial law!"

The instant these words left his lips, several Tianlan cultivators visibly straightened, a ripple of recognition passing through them.

Even among the outsiders, a palpable sense that the implications of this declaration were significant could be felt.

Liang's expression darkened considerably. "Gao Ren..."

The man chose to ignore the implicit warning.

"In Tianlan, when a decree from the Martial Council, or even the Emperor himself, is brought into question through the application of strength, the ancient laws permit a challenge via combat. If their right to hold these tokens is doubted, they must prove their worthiness."

His gaze settled pointedly on the four tables occupied by the external factions.

"Let them fight then. A righteous spar. If they can demonstrate their strength and prove they are worthy, they shall retain their tokens. If they fail, they will relinquish them."