“This works out fine. I’ve secured the treasures here, settled what needed settling, and there’s no point staying longer,” Lin Yun thought to himself.
“What’s happening? Is the space collapsing?” Elder Yan looked around, startled.
“Yes, Elder Yan, we’re about to leave,” Lin Yun said.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The trembling of the space grew more intense.
“The spiritual repository is breaking apart! It’s over.”
The distant crowd perked up.
Moments later, the quaking space exploded with a boom. Lin Yun felt the scenery vanish, replaced by blinding white light.
Soon, the light faded.
When Lin Yun opened his eyes, he was back in the desert, in the dilapidated ancient city—the entry point to the spiritual repository.
All surviving teams had returned here.
“Phew… it’s finally over,” Lin Yun let out a long breath.
This journey through the spiritual repository had been fraught with danger, especially from Prince Yi’s Tianqian royal clan, which had put immense pressure on Lin Yun. At first, he had to bow and endure.
With the repository ended, teams with good hauls were elated, sharing their joy, while those with disappointing gains sighed in regret.
Naturally, Lin Yun’s defeat of the Tianqian royal clan and forcing Prince Yi to kneel became the talk of the crowd—a major event!
The teams, regardless of their gains, left amid discussions.
For instance, the Tianqiong Clan’s team was among the first to depart on their flying vessel.
Lin Yun turned to Elder Yan.
“Elder Yan, thank you for your help this time. I’ll never forget your great kindness!” Lin Yun clasped his fists in gratitude.
“I did it to repay your favor,” Elder Yan said with a smile.
When Lin Yun had brought Elder Yan out of the Land of Exile, Elder Yan had promised to owe him a tremendous debt if he succeeded.
Lin Yun transmitted, “Elder Yan, I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess with Prince Yi. You can’t stay in the Tianqian Empire anymore—it’s too risky. Come with me to the Huoyun Empire. It’s absolutely safe there.”
“Sounds good. I don’t have any family here anyway. I’ll go with you,” Elder Yan agreed.
He continued transmitting, “But to reach the Huoyun Empire, we must use the teleportation array outside the Tianqian Empire’s capital. If Prince Yi reports this, we might be intercepted there. Crossing him is no small matter.”
Elder Yan’s concern was valid.
But it couldn’t be helped. Lin Yun hadn’t wanted to clash with Prince Yi and had endured repeatedly, but when the prince tried to kill him, Lin Yun had no choice but to fight back.
“So we need to move fast, beat the clock, and use the teleportation array before Prince Yi can report,” Lin Yun transmitted.
The only way to the Huoyun Empire was through that array, unless they crossed the Demon Beast Mountain Range…
With that, Lin Yun summoned his flying vessel, ready to make a run for it.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, a powerful spatial fluctuation swept over.
“It’s a spatial lockdown!” Lin Yun’s face changed.
The next moment.
Prince Yi and a gray-robed middle-aged man appeared in the air.
“Uncle Yan, that’s the kid!” Prince Yi pointed at Lin Yun below.
The gray-robed man’s gaze locked onto Lin Yun.
A terrifying aura, like a tidal wave, enveloped Lin Yun.
“An Immortal!”
Feeling the overwhelming presence, Lin Yun’s face paled.
“This is bad!” Elder Yan’s expression also shifted dramatically.
Prince Yi stared at Lin Yun, laughing maniacally, “Haha, kid, didn’t expect this, did you? Immortals can’t enter the spiritual repository, but my father arranged for one to wait outside to ensure my safety!”
His piercing laughter echoed across the sky.
“Look! An Immortal! A royal clan Immortal!”
The teams that hadn’t yet left looked up, exclaiming.
“Didn’t expect the royal clan to not only send a strong team inside but also have an Immortal guarding outside.”
“That kid who forced Prince Yi to kneel is done for!”
“Not just done for—he’ll wish he were dead…”
…
An Immortal’s arrival.
Everyone could already foresee Lin Yun’s tragic fate.
“Kid, you’re the one who killed our royal clan members, humiliated Prince Yi, and took his Heaven-level weapon, right?” the gray-robed Immortal said, looking down at Lin Yun.
“That’s right, it was me!” Lin Yun stood tall, his voice resounding.
He knew full well that against an Immortal, escape was impossible.
No escape method could work against an Immortal.
Having entered the Immortal Realm, they transcended the cycle of heaven’s laws, unbound by ordinary rules.
“Since you admit your actions, do you know your crime!” the gray-robed Immortal demanded, like a judge.
“Crime? What crime? I did kill your royal clan members and offend Prince Yi, but it was all his fault. He tried to kill me first. I couldn’t just let him slaughter me!” Lin Yun stood firm, his voice bold and composed.
“Prince Yi wanted to kill you, so you should’ve taken it. Daring to resist is your crime!” the gray-robed Immortal’s cold, domineering voice boomed.
“What a fine ‘resisting is a crime’!” Lin Yun sneered.
Domineering!
Unreasonable!
But Lin Yun knew that in the cultivation world, might made right.
The stronger fist was the truth.
The Immortal was right because he said so.
As the weaker party, Lin Yun’s weakness was his crime!
“Kid, I now order you to kneel and beg for mercy!” Prince Yi looked down at Lin Yun, his arrogance soaring, his voice loud.
For Prince Yi, the humiliation he suffered in the repository was unbearable.
The resentment and rage in his heart were overwhelming!
He wanted revenge!
Killing Lin Yun outright was too easy. He wanted to humiliate him first to vent his hatred!
Lin Yun laughed, “Kneel? Haha, Prince Yi, do you think that’s possible? You think I’m as spineless as you, kneeling and begging at the first scare? I clearly remember your pathetic groveling.”
Prince Yi’s face flushed red, like a crazed beast.
“You… you bastard! Bastard!”
For him, kneeling was the greatest shame of his life, and Lin Yun mocking him for it struck his deepest wound!
Prince Yi roared furiously, “Uncle Yan, act now! I don’t believe he won’t beg soon!”
