Chapter 503: Too Late

Enveloped by the spiritual domain released by Gongshu Jiu, the hearts of everyone in the hall tightened, and they quickly examined themselves and the changes in their surroundings carefully.

Han Li gripped the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords tightly, with fine arcs of electricity leaping on the blades. He found that the translucent spiritual domain seemed almost nonexistent, with hardly any fluctuations, and felt increasingly uneasy.

“The Celestial Court’s Supervisory Immortal Envoy, Lord Gongshu, has arrived on an inspection tour. Why don’t you all come forward and pay your respects?” Xue Ying stepped forward half a step, her face solemn as she looked proudly at the crowd in the hall and declared loudly.

Upon hearing the words “Supervisory Immortal Envoy,” the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.

This title not signified this person’s esteemed status in the Celestial Court, but also meant that he was at least a Taiyi realm initial stage Jade Immortal.

Hu Yan Daoist and Yun Ni exchanged glances, their expressions extremely complex.

In front of the golden light-shrouded seat, the white-haired old woman and the ancient-looking old man also frowned, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

As for Han Li, his heart tightened even more, involuntarily recalling when he encountered a True Immortal named He Kang while fighting the Mother of Mothworms in the Spirit Realm, who claimed to be an Inspection Envoy under the command of a Supervisory Immortal Envoy.

It was also from him that Han Li first learned that the “Divine Refining Art” was listed as a forbidden technique in the Immortal Realm, pursued by Supervisory Immortal Envoys and Inspection Envoys.

After hesitating repeatedly, Luo Qinghai withdrew all his techniques and divine abilities, composed his expression, and slowly walked before Gongshu Jiu, bowing with a salute, saying, “Luo Qinghai of Cangliu Palace pays respects to the Supervisory Immortal Envoy.”

“Grand Palace Master of Cangliu Palace, you’ve caused no small amount of trouble for the North Cold Immortal Palace over the years…” Gongshu Jiu raised an eyebrow and said with a smile.

“Our Cangliu Palace has always acted in strict accordance with the laws of the Celestial Court and never associates with evil like the Samsara Temple. Since the Immortal Envoy is here to handle matters of the Samsara Temple, we are not fit to participate and will not linger to get in the way,” Luo Qinghai said, seemingly unconcerned, continuing with a respectful demeanor.

With that, he nodded to Nan Ke Meng and the others behind him, intending to lead them away.

But at that moment, the translucent light curtain enveloping the surroundings suddenly flashed with golden light, and the entire spiritual domain emitted waves of intense law fluctuations.

Han Li frowned, immediately feeling that the surrounding world’s spiritual energy seemed to be sealed and frozen, with no trace of flow detectable.

“What does the Immortal Envoy mean by this?” Luo Qinghai’s expression changed slightly as he asked.

“There are some things not yet clear. No one can leave,” Gongshu Jiu said slowly.

“Luo Qinghai! Earlier you deceived me, luring me to that lake to be trapped, and later collaborated with villains like the Samsara Temple to murder our North Cold Immortal Palace’s Palace Master Xiao Jinhan. I suspect you are already a member of the Samsara Temple!” At this moment, Xue Ying suddenly shouted.

Upon hearing this, a strange glint flashed in Luo Qinghai’s eyes as he defended himself:

“You wrong me. Earlier, when I saw you trapped at the lake and had no immediate way to rescue you, I intended to find Palace Master Xiao to come back and save you. Unexpectedly, the changes here delayed me, so I stayed until now. As for Palace Master Xiao, I can swear a heart oath that our Cangliu Palace has never had the slightest neglect, let alone any intention to harm him. Speaking of which, has Palace Master Xiao indeed met with some accident? I searched all the way to this valley but never saw his venerable figure.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept meaningfully over the crowd present.

“You this…”

Xue Ying’s fair face showed a trace of anger, and she was about to speak further when Gongshu Jiu reached out a hand to stop her.

“Over the years, Xiao Jinhan has been plotting to unify the major powers of the North Cold Immortal Domain. Our Celestial Court was not originally in favor and even instructed him not to act rashly, but he was stubborn and refused to listen. Losing his life this time is his own fault,” Gongshu Jiu glanced at Luo Qinghai and said calmly.

“What? Palace Master Xiao has fallen? May I ask, Immortal Envoy Gongshu…”

Hearing this, Luo Qinghai’s brow furrowed slightly, as if greatly shocked, and he was also somewhat unclear about the meaning of the man’s words.

But then, Gongshu Jiu slowly continued, “However, now it seems he has inadvertently created a great opportunity, haha…”

With his hearty laughter, everyone in the hall suddenly felt their breathing become difficult, as if invisible forces were pressing in from all directions, and their expressions changed drastically.

Thus, various colors of light—red, blue, and others—flared up in the hall, and almost everyone released their spiritual domains in an instant.

Han Li, Hu Yan Daoist, and the others gathered together, their released spiritual domains overlapping layer by layer, each controlling their respective law power to try to counteract this force, but with little effect.

“What kind of law is this… why is it so strange?” Ouyang Kuishan’s forehead was already beaded with cold sweat as he asked in confusion.

“It seems to be some kind of law of Qi… and this person’s application of law power surpasses even Feng Tiandu and the others…” Hu Yan Daoist said with a grim expression, pondering.

Han Li remained silent, but his thoughts were racing, already calculating how to escape from here, though it was clearly not the best time.

It seemed his earlier premonition had been correct. This gathering at the Minghan Immortal Mansion, with its convergence of various powers and especially the addition of the North Han Immortal Palace, had stirred up no small commotion and ultimately attracted a great figure he could not afford to provoke.

With his current mid-stage Golden Immortal cultivation and the application of the power of time laws, he could act with impunity among Golden Immortals, but against a Taiyi, he was still no match.

In the end, he had delayed his departure a bit too long.

The Golden Immortals in the hall already found it hard to maintain their composure, let alone Nanke Meng, who was only a True Immortal.

Though she was within Luo Qinghai's spiritual domain, she still felt her breath constricted, her body wracked with pain, and a constant ringing in her ears that nearly drowned out all other sounds.

"Too overbearing."

Seeing his beloved disciple trembling, pale-faced, and on the verge of collapse, Luo Qinghai finally flew into a rage.

He grabbed at the air before him, and blue light erupted from the void around Gongshu Jiu, instantly coalescing into a massive whirlpool of water that swallowed him up.

Within the whirlpool, blurry blue water dragons twisted their bodies, continuously contracting the vortex, pressing inward with immense force as if to repay in kind, crushing his body to pieces.

Yet between the water whirlpool and Gongshu Jiu's body, there seemed to be an invisible wall of air; no matter how the vortex squeezed, it could not advance an inch, let alone break through.

Luo Qinghai seemed to have anticipated this as well. While tightening his hand to increase the vortex's power, he nodded to the white-faced scholar and the others.

Earlier, forcibly using the power of the Taiyi realm had cost him greatly, and now merely trapping Gongshu Jiu temporarily already felt strenuous.

The white-faced scholar and his three companions understood immediately. With a flicker, they positioned themselves around him and Nanke Meng.

They flipped their palms simultaneously, producing the four jadeite tokens once more, holding a token in one hand while forming hand seals with the other.

As chanting arose, the strange sea-beast patterns engraved on the jadeite tokens blazed with light, each emitting a blue radiance that connected to form a square grand formation.

The four token holders quickly turned deathly pale, clearly suffering immense consumption. At the same time, the ground within the formation began to reveal intricate and complex runes, filled not only with water vapor but also faint spatial fluctuations.

"The Four Seas Roaming Formation... I've only heard that it requires setting up four sea-sacrifice arrays to activate this top-tier spatial teleportation formation, yet now it can be used with just four artifacts. Grand Palace Master Luo, you truly keep your talents well hidden." A gentle voice came from within the water whirlpool, carrying a hint of admiration.

Luo Qinghai's expression shifted slightly, but he did not reply. Instead of merely clenching his fists, his hands began to rapidly form hand seals.

Gongshu Jiu was right; the four pale-faced scholars were indeed deploying the 'Four Seas Roaming Grand Formation,' albeit a simplified version. Its power naturally could not compare with the original formation, but it was still enough to help them escape from this place.

The runes at the center of the formation grew brighter and brighter, and the spatial fluctuations emanating from them grew stronger and stronger.

Just as the formation was about to activate, the water dragon whirlpool suddenly burst apart with a loud bang.

Around Gongshu Jiu, a chaotic layer of white air currents enveloped him, extending only three inches from his body, yet they howled like a storm, with even thunderous sounds coming from within—an awe-inspiring display of power.

“Didn’t I say that since some matters remain unresolved, no one can leave?” he said, still wearing a smile, yet it sent chills down the spines of the Cangliu Palace disciples.

With that, he suddenly reached out a palm and clenched it into a fist.

Four consecutive bangs rang out!

The four tokens held by the pale-faced scholars exploded one after another, turning into powder.

The grand formation, about to activate, also shattered with a bang, dissolving into scattered blue specks of light that dissipated.

The four who had been powering the formation simultaneously spat out mouthfuls of blood. Only the pale-faced scholar and the black-bearded old man remained standing, while the other two collapsed to the ground.

The pale-faced scholar and the old man quickly flipped their wrists, each taking out a pill and swallowing it.

Within Gongshu Jiu's domain, the flow of natural energy ceased, and external spiritual energy could not enter. No one could restore their immortal spiritual power by absorbing natural energy, so they could only rely on taking pills or using immortal essence stones to draw immortal spiritual power.

He glanced at Luo Qinghai, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, then stepped forward and walked toward Han Li.

As he passed by the Cangliu Palace disciples, they clearly saw a distortion and bending in the void. The two collapsed Cangliu Palace Golden Immortals had their bodies sunken in various places, crushed into two bloody meat patties.

From the blood and bones, two small blue infant souls flew out, frantically and panickedly flying toward Luo Qinghai.

But before they could fly even a few feet, they were swept up by a current of air and pulled into Gongshu Jiu's sleeve.

Luo Qinghai watched this scene, the veins on his temples bulging and twitching, but in the end, he only clenched his fists and did nothing.