"Hand... palm?"
A Grand Unity Golden Immortal of the Golden Crow Clan, with only a remnant Divine Soul left, murmured dreamily.
This hand merely hung silently in the air, its invisible power halting the solidified space-time below.
It wasn't targeting anyone, yet it seemed to envelop everything in this heaven and earth, including all Laws.
"No... that's wrong!"
"This is..."
Immortal King Shengyan screamed frantically in his heart. He tried his best to break free from this solidification, wanting to seek help from the ancient existences in his clan. But he found that all his thoughts, and even his connection to the Laws of heaven and earth, were "isolated" by that hand.
He was like an insect trapped in transparent amber, unable to struggle even a little.
Then, that hand, covering the sky, moved slightly.
It was just the most casual... gentle press downward.
The golden giant palm hovering above Li Taiqing's head quietly dissipated.
The control of power reached its peak. Immediately after, that hand merely closed its five fingers slightly.
An invisible power penetrated the Void Realm, directly acting upon Immortal King Shengyan's true body. There seemed to be a faint, almost inaudible crisp sound.
Immortal King Shengyan couldn't even let out a scream. His Grand Unity Golden Immortal body, which was indestructible through myriad tribulations, was completely useless at this moment, and the divine light in his eyes rapidly dimmed.
An irresistible mighty power descended. Immortal King Shengyan was forcibly compressed, transforming into a fist-sized, crimson-gold fireball that continuously emitted faint whimpers, hovering in mid-air.
On the surface of the fireball, a distorted, pained illusory face of Immortal King Shengyan flickered and vanished.
A Grand Unity Immortal King, who once commanded great influence, was thus effortlessly suppressed, turning into a "pellet" that could be crushed at any time!
The entire process was beyond imagination, chilling one to the core.
"Master..."
Li Taiqing stared blankly at the illusory hand in the sky, which bore supreme Dao might, and then at the crimson-gold fireball representing Immortal King Shengyan. What surged in his heart was not only the relief of surviving a catastrophe but also an indescribable shock and awe.
This was a Divine Thought left by Han Xuanji, one for each of his Disciples.
It would only manifest when encountering an unmatchable formidable enemy.
He originally thought it could only protect his life, but he never expected its power to be so astonishing.
Soon, Li Taiqing came back to his senses and cleanly killed all the remaining Golden Crow Grand Unity Divine Souls, leaving no hidden dangers.
Then he looked at the crimson-gold fireball. Li Taiqing was still pondering what to do. The next second, the crimson-gold fireball seemed to be pulled by some force and directly entered Li Taiqing's body.
"Is this Master's intention? For me not to worry?"
Li Taiqing's expression brightened, and he felt grateful to Han Xuanji once again.
Without further thought, he turned and left this dangerous place, lest more powerful Cultivators from the Golden Crow Clan arrive... Meanwhile, deep within "Yang Valley," the most core Forbidden Land of the Golden Crow Clan, enveloped by eternal true fire and ancient Formations.
Several unfathomably deep intentions, which had been dormant for countless eons, were awakened almost simultaneously.
A Grand Unity Cultivator of the Golden Crow Clan came here to report the news of Immortal King Shengyan's demise.
"Shengyan has fallen?"
One of them was somewhat shocked.
Shengyan was a five-revolutions Grand Unity Golden Immortal, with considerable strength and the possibility of breaking through to the Hunyuan Realm. It was unexpected that he would fall so quickly.
"Who did it?"
"I do not know... therefore, I implore all Old Ancestors to deduce the Karma involved."
The Golden Crow Clan's Grand Unity Golden Immortal said honestly.
They had also tried to deduce it, but found nothing.
"Let this old man take a look..."
A Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Grand Power of the Golden Crow Clan pondered for a moment and began to divine.
Soon, his face changed drastically, and his words came out disjointedly:
"No... this Karma, cannot be delved into... *cough cough*."
His brief words were filled with shock, and a hint of... fear, which he himself was unwilling to admit.
The other ancient existences of the Golden Crow Clan also realized the seriousness of the matter.
The atmosphere became solemn.
Several intentions communicated for a while, and finally made a unified decision.
"Let this matter rest. Do not mention it again. You may leave."
Hearing this, the Golden Crow Clan's Grand Unity Golden Immortal was also frightened by the situation and dared not ask more, nor say another word.
Leaving the Forbidden Land, he only complained inwardly.
He would never take on such a thankless task again.
Almost simultaneously, in a certain dungeon of the Golden Crow Clan.
The Nether Lord was awaiting Su Ming's reply, convinced that in the face of desperation and the temptation of power, this young man would make a wise choice.
However, the struggle and contemplation on Su Ming's face quickly receded, replaced by clarity.
He did not directly answer the Nether Lord's question, but seemed to fall into a memory, muttering softly:
"Back then... Senior Brother once said something to me."
He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the darkness of the cave, as if seeing the figure in the Myriad Phenomena Garden.
Back then, Han Xuanji had seemingly casually told him that when venturing outside, one must never easily trust others, and even more so, not lose one's direction due to a temporary predicament.
Su Ming felt that he should trust Li Taiqing more, and also trust Han Xuanji.
The deathly aura emanating from the Nether Lord paused slightly.
Su Ming's lips curved into a faint smile:
"I didn't quite understand it then, but now... I seem to understand a little."
He looked back at the Nether Lord, his eyes clear and firm, without a trace of confusion or fear:
"Nether Lord, your proposal might be very tempting, but I'm sorry, I refuse your help."
The Nether Lord's face, hidden in the shadows, seemed to subtly change. He looked deeply at Su Ming, his gaze seemingly penetrating his body.
As if he saw Han Xuanji's influence on Su Ming.
"So that's how it is..."
The Nether Lord's voice revealed no emotion, only a sense of understanding.
He had once tried to pry into Han Xuanji's existence, but found that the heavenly secrets around him were not apparent, and Karma did not taint him. Such an extraordinary existence was someone he did not wish to provoke.
However, there was still plenty of time.
He could still wait.
The Nether Lord was not angered by Su Ming's refusal. Instead, he let out an inscrutable low laugh:
"Interesting. Very well, since you have made your choice, this Lord will not force you. This God-Binding Chain shall be... a good connection, then."
As his voice fell, the God-Binding Chain wrapped around Su Ming automatically loosened and retreated as if alive.
Su Ming felt his body lighten, and his magic power and perception rapidly recovered.
He watched the Nether Lord warily, unsure of his intentions.
The Nether Lord, however, said no more. He merely gave Su Ming one last look, and his figure gradually faded like ink dripping into water, leaving only a wisp of ethereal lingering sound echoing in the cave:
"Su Ming, remember your choice... we will meet again."
"I've left some things for you, I hope you like them."
In the cave, only Su Ming remained, along with the faint lingering deathly aura.
"What exactly is this guy planning?"
Su Ming pondered in his heart, unable to figure out the other party's thoughts.
"I must find Senior Brother and ask him clearly when the time comes..."