Chapter 1214: Reverse Invisible Web

Sun Luyuan found himself speechless in the face of Baihua's questions. Dark golden glazed light enveloped him. Its power, surpassing the Hedao realm, sent frantic warnings through Sun Luyuan's spiritual senses, yet he dared not make the slightest move.

"Junior... junior..." Usually articulate, Sun Luyuan found himself unable to utter a complete sentence under the oppressive, almost tangible killing intent emanating from Baihua. Indeed, for cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the concept of the Longevity Realm was simply too distant and incomprehensible.

"Hmph, just as Xiao Tian said. Sneaky and clearly ill-intentioned." A cold glint flashed in Daoist Baihua's eyes. The dark golden light surrounding Sun Luyuan, as if possessing a will of its own, began to erode him.

"Don't worry, with my strength, even if Daqi is a dragon's pond or a tiger's den, I can escape unscathed." For some reason, Sun Luyuan suddenly remembered the boastful words he had told his younger brother before embarking on this journey. A profound sense of absurdity welled up within him. "Could it be that I'm going to die here?"

Just as Sun Luyuan, his spirit utterly crushed, was despairing and awaiting death, a voice, like a melody from heaven, halted Daoist Baihua's movements.

"Bring him before me."

Though the tone was calm, it conveyed infinite majesty. Upon hearing it, the mischievous youth's expression instantly changed, the playful look vanishing from his face as he bowed respectfully from a distance. Daoist Baihua, too, responded to the voice. The initially aggressive glazed light transformed into several ropes, firmly binding Sun Luyuan.

Following the two, Sun Luyuan was led into the Daqi pocket world, specifically to its tallest spired palace. Inside the grand hall, it was vast and solemn. A figure sat enthroned at the far end. Shrouded in mysterious light, the figure's face was utterly indiscernible to Sun Luyuan.

"Kneel!" the mischievous youth commanded coldly.

Sun Luyuan was a Hedao cultivator, holding a crucial position in the Dharma Protector Hall. Apart from beings like the Loremasters and Mirror Keepers, he stood at the very apex of the Immortal Alliance's power. Yet, before the ruler of this pocket world, he showed no hesitation whatsoever, kneeling instantly and decisively. If even Longevity Realm beings could be commanded, what was he, a mere Hedao cultivator?

"Greetings... Saint Emperor," Sun Luyuan uttered tremblingly, prompted by the mischievous youth.

"Sun Luyuan." The Saint Emperor spoke his name directly, then in just a few words, revealed a detailed summary of his background. This sent a chill down Sun Luyuan's spine, leaving him trembling uncontrollably. However, the Saint Emperor's next words instantly dispelled the chill in his heart and filled him with immense relief: "I already know your purpose. The Holy Dynasty does not oppose those from the Myriad Immortals Alliance who wish to surrender." He added, "It is always good to minimize bloodshed."

The Saint Emperor's immensely majestic voice resonated throughout the palace. "As the first to pledge allegiance to the Holy Dynasty, you shall indeed receive a reward."

A clear, icy light materialized beside the Saint Emperor and instantly shot towards Sun Luyuan, coming to a steady halt before him. Sun Luyuan gasped. An intense chill swept over him, causing a layer of frost to form on his face. He rapidly circulated his spiritual energy to dispel the icy aura.

Sun Luyuan focused his gaze, seeing that what had stopped before him was a pale blue sword.

"This is the 'Ten Thousand-Year Ice Sword'," the Saint Emperor commented. "When the chilling energy within it is activated, it can instantly freeze an entire province of Xuanhuang. While you possess the cultivation realm, your combat prowess is truly too weak. You might be good at escaping, but if you were to genuinely fight someone to the death, I fear you couldn't even defeat a few of my disciples."

Sun Luyuan dared not refute, merely nodding repeatedly in agreement.

"Consider this sword a gift for your self-defense."

Only after the Saint Emperor spoke those words, and under the mischievous youth's somewhat disapproving gaze, did Sun Luyuan, as if in a dream, finally begin to refine and put away the Ten Thousand-Year Ice Sword.

"Thank you for your grace, Saint Emperor," Sun Luyuan said, overcome with joy.

"Since you have joined my Holy Dynasty, you must not waver in your loyalty from this day forth. Tian'er, I leave him in your care."

The mischievous youth bowed his head, replying, "Your disciple understands."

"You may both leave now," the Saint Emperor said dismissively.

Baihua transformed into a streak of light and was the first to depart. Sun Luyuan, meanwhile, followed slowly behind Ouyang Tian.

"You, follow me," Ouyang Tian said with a cold snort, giving Sun Luyuan a once-over.

"How should I address you?" Sun Luyuan asked with a brazen smile, unfazed by the other's attitude after having received a valuable gift.

"Just call me General Ou."

Without further words, Ouyang Tian first led Sun Luyuan into the Holy Heart Palace in the Holy Capital City. The hall, only slightly lower than the Saint Emperor's throne, was filled with tens of thousands of people. Old and young alike, they all wore devout expressions, praying to a statue at the center of the grand hall. The statue's face was indiscernible, but its form was identical to that of the Saint Emperor Sun Luyuan had just encountered.

All the Holy Dynasty citizens praying there possessed cultivation. Yet, Sun Luyuan's Hedao aura, which he hadn't yet consciously suppressed, had no discernible effect on them. They all gazed steadfastly at the Saint Emperor's statue, completely absorbed in their devotion. Their minds seemed to intertwine into a vast network, rendering the mere power of a Hedao cultivator utterly incapable of disturbing them.

Ouyang Tian led Sun Luyuan through the hall and into a secret chamber within the Holy Heart Palace. Inside the room, dozens of the Saint Emperor's devotees knelt. All of them had attained the Golden Core cultivation realm, and their faith in the Saint Emperor was even more unwavering than those outside. Within the secret chamber, the Saint Emperor's faceless statue still stood.

"You should also take the oath and pray," Ouyang Tian instructed, transmitting a passage of vows to him.

Sun Luyuan naturally did not refuse. Imitating the other devotees, he knelt before the Saint Emperor's statue and began chanting. As Sun Luyuan performed the ritual, the Saint Emperor's majestic and sacred form seemed to truly appear before his eyes. What unsettled him even more was an invisible force that emerged from the void. It slowly affixed itself to him, connecting him directly to the Saint Emperor.

Sun Luyuan felt as if he were a fly inadvertently caught in a spiderweb; though he didn't struggle, he was sinking deeper and deeper.

"What kind of power is this?"

Sun Luyuan was horrified. Even the Mirror Keepers required secret techniques to control their subordinates. To achieve such profound control with just a few simple words... It was utterly unprecedented!

But Sun Luyuan also knew there was no turning back for him now.

Once the oath was complete, Ouyang Tian's demeanor immediately softened considerably. He tilted his head slightly, as if listening intently. Then he told Sun Luyuan, "You have a restriction placed by the Myriad Immortals Alliance within you. Removing it rashly might alert them, so for now, it's best to leave it be."

"However, rest assured, with Master's power protecting you, this restriction cannot harm you."

Ouyang Tian's words greatly put Sun Luyuan at ease.

"Now that you've joined our Holy Dynasty, you can't just take benefits without contributing. Here is a list..."