As though unwilling to let the stalemate continue until things spiraled out of control, someone finally intervened.
An old man in gray robes at the same table coughed twice and rather stiffly changed the subject.
"Everyone, this is a joyous occasion. Let us put these petty grievances aside."
"Speaking of which, have you heard about the trouble the Buddhist Sect stirred up recently?"
Sure enough, his words caught the attention of the others at the table.
The Eight Hundred Miles of Linked Clouds lay on the border between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect, under neither side's jurisdiction.
But that did not mean the cultivators and demons here paid no attention to the two factions' movements.
They cared even more about the slightest stir on either side than the cultivators and demons in those factions' heartlands.
After all, Incense-Fire Power was scarce across the Nine Provinces these days. No one knew whether either side would reach its hand toward them next.
"Do you mean that ape demon serving the Buddhist Sect's newly emerged Buddha Son?"
"Precisely!"
The gray-robed cultivator looked grave as he raised his wine cup and took a small sip.
"I heard that ape demon announced..."
"...that he would bring three lands producing Incense-Fire Power under the Buddha Son's control within a month."
"Our Eight Hundred Miles of Linked Clouds may be remote, but there's a good chance that White Ape already has his eye on us!"
"What makes you say that?"
The gray-robed cultivator sighed and said solemnly, "Think about it, everyone. The Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect each rule their own territory. Even counting every last one, there are only a few dozen unclaimed lands along their border."
"Of those few dozen, the places rich in Incense-Fire Power have already had agents secretly planted