347: Chapter 342 Esteemed Immortals, Please Enter the Hall!

Su Lin stood on the gangway, his hands tucked inside his sleeves. He leisurely straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, his expression calm and flawless.

"That's right, Qi Deviation. Perhaps he did too many evil deeds, and the Heavenly Dao couldn't stand it anymore. That soul lamp probably wasn't of good quality either. Some other day, I'll recommend a few reliable shops to the Celestial Court; they offer warranties and exchanges," Su Lin said in a calm tone.

Lei Gang was choked by these words. In all his long life, he had never seen someone who dared to joke around like this when facing death.

"Slick-tongued. Once we reach the Ascension Temple and you're on the Immortal Execution Platform, let's see if you can still laugh."

Lei Gang raised his hand, and a blinding ball of electric light gathered in his palm.

Weapons on the hundreds of surrounding warships turned, their dense muzzles locking onto the Void Shuttle in unison. The temperature in the air rose abruptly.

"Is Guard General Lei planning to start the feast early?" Su Lin sighed. "Is the Celestial Court's way of hospitality to let guests eat cannonballs at the door?"

He grumbled silently to himself. These people really had no sense of martial ethics; they claimed it was for the Grand Ceremony, yet they brandished weapons before he even entered. If not for the need to uncover the secrets inside, he would have slapped this gate and Lei Gang into dust long ago.

"Let them pass." Lei Gang dispersed the electric light in his hand and coldly issued the order. "Let them in. The higher-ups ordered that they be taken alive. I will show mercy and let you live for another half-hour."

The golden arch emitted a dull grinding sound as it slowly opened to both sides.

The Void Shuttle restarted and glided leisurely into the gate.

The cabin door closed.

Su Hongling sat cross-legged on the floor, tossing a piece of scrap metal she had dismantled from somewhere.

"Old Man, your lying skills have regressed. Saying their soul lamp quality was poor? Even I couldn't be fooled by that excuse." She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"As long as it tricked them into letting us pass, that's enough," Su Lin walked back to the main console and sat down, picking up a teacup to moisten his throat.

Chu Weiwei pulled a soft cushion from nowhere and diligently placed it behind Su Lin's back.

"Revered Master was so imposing just now. That big dummy in the gold armor turned green in the Face; he must have been cursing internally." Chu Weiwei smiled with crescent-shaped eyes, her fingers pressing and kneading Su Lin's shoulders as if inadvertently.

A warmth carrying the scent of medicine spread over.

Su Lin let her press. This girl truly had a knack for massaging Acupoints; she could dispel most of the fatigue brought on by traversing the Void Realm.

Luo Ximei walked over, waving her folding fan.

"There are three more checkpoints ahead. Judging by Lei Gang's confident look, they have likely set up an inescapable net inside the Ascension Temple."

Gu Qiuyue fiddled with her abacus without looking up.

"I just casually measured the energy field outside. The level of those thirty-six Void-Sealing Formations is more than three times higher than what we encountered before. They really spared no expense. With so many high-tier Materials used to set up the Formations, the Celestial Court's budget must be quite generous."

Even at a time like this, she was still thinking about the Celestial Court's budget.

Looking at his disciples, a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in Su Lin's heart.

A great battle was imminent, and not one of these people was on the right track.

The Void Shuttle passed the fifth checkpoint, followed by the sixth.

The level of defense increased geometrically. The original white escort ships were replaced by jet-black heavy fortresses. The patrolling guards were no longer ordinary Earth Immortals but high-tier Law Enforcers with deep auras, fully armed.

They exchanged no words, merely watching the lonely boat sailing toward the abyss with cold gazes.

Passing through the final arch, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

There were no Void storms, nor was there a depressing dark purple sky.

A clear, washed-blue sky revealed itself before everyone's eyes.

Clouds billowed, and golden light flooded everything.

A magnificent heavenly palace, so vast it defied description, floated quietly above the nine heavens.

Stairs paved with white jade extended all the way down from the clouds, carved on both sides with patterns of various Auspicious Beasts. Immortal music drifted through the air, and exotic fragrances filled the nose. Flocks of white cranes darted through the clouds, scattering glistening feathers of light.

"They really made it look the part," Su Hongling leaned against the porthole, clicking her tongue in wonder. "This decoration style is so flashy. I wonder if these white jade bricks will crumble if I punch them."

"Second Senior Sister, can't you have some appreciation for aesthetics?" Chu Weiwei dodged back, her Face full of disdain. "These building Materials are mixed with Dust-Repelling Beads and Glazed Gold. If we knock them off and take them back, we could refine several top-tier detoxification tools."

It seemed that in these two's eyes, this magnificent heavenly palace was either a punching bag or a building Materials market.

Su Lin couldn't be bothered to respond to them. He gathered his Divine Sense, silently sensing the operation of the Laws in this space.

The seemingly peaceful fairyland was actually hiding murderous intent. Those drifting auspicious clouds were filled with dense monitoring Formation patterns. Every white crane flying past was actually an exquisite rune Puppet.

Under the guidance of the reception Formation, the Void Shuttle landed steadily on a white jade plaza.

The plaza was already filled with all kinds of luxurious flying ships and exotic beast-drawn carriages.

Many Immortals wearing gorgeous Daoist robes were gathered in twos and threes, exchanging pleasantries. They wore polite yet distant smiles, congratulating each other, presenting a scene of harmonious Immortal life.

The cabin door opened.

Su Lin was the first to walk down the gangway.

He was still wearing a simple green robe, without any Magic Treasure to display his status, appearing somewhat shabby among this group of bejeweled Immortals.

The seven disciples followed him down one by one. Although they had restrained their auras, their ethereal beauty and the hard-to-hide aura of those in high positions immediately attracted the gazes of many on the plaza.

"Is this the newly ascended Golden Immortal who allegedly took over Tianhai City?" Someone whispered in the distance.

"He looks ordinary, but those female cultivators behind him are all stunning."

"Shut up. I heard he wiped out Xuan Ming in one move; we can't afford to provoke such a ruthless character. Anyway, the Celestial Court has its own arrangements; let's just watch the show."

The whispers were quiet, but they fell into Su Lin's ears without missing a word.

He didn't care in the least. A flock of sheep domesticated by the Celestial Court had long lost the blood and spirit a cultivator should have.

"City Lord Su, I've long admired your name." An Old Man with a goatee walked up with a smile. He wore a brocade robe embroidered with money patterns and had a potbelly, looking like a wealthy man from the mortal world.

"I am Jin Yuanzhou, the Tower Revered Master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. I heard that City Lord Su not only has heaven-defying cultivation but also brought several disciples who are peerless in both talent and beauty. Seeing you today, the rumors are truly well-founded."

Su Lin looked at this fat man who had voluntarily approached him and raised an eyebrow slightly. Everyone present avoided him like the plague, but this Old Man was quite bold.

"Tower Revered Master Jin is too kind," Su Lin cupped his hands casually.

Gu Qiuyue walked to Su Lin's side, her golden eyes scanning the fat man up and down.

"Ten Thousand Treasures Tower? Why haven't I seen this name on the merchant association register of the Taihuang Immortal Domain?" Her tone was blunt, giving the other party no Face at all.

Jin Yuanzhou was not annoyed and remained smiling.

"This young lady is very straightforward. The Ten Thousand Treasures Tower deals in niche trades, so naturally, we are not in the public eye. It is fate that we can meet fellow travelers here today."

He lowered his voice and leaned in closer.

"Since you are all new here, you might not know the rules of this temple. Today's banquet is not easy to eat. If you need any items to save your lives, this Old Man has some good stock, and the price is negotiable."

So, he was a salesman taking advantage of a crisis. Su Lin couldn't help but laugh. The talents in this Immortal Realm were truly diverse; even when disaster was imminent, he could still think about doing business.

"Many thanks for Tower Revered Master Jin's kindness, but we brought our own gear," Su Lin politely declined.

Su Hongling patted the hilt of the sword on her back, making a dull clanking sound. The meaning was clear: if they really had to fight, this thing was more useful than any life-saving item.

Jin Yuanzhou sighed regretfully and walked away, shaking his head.

"That fat Old Man is definitely no good," Su Hongling muttered, staring at his back.

"He is a dead man," Luo Ximei opened her folding fan and fanned it gently. "Someone has planted a chain Gu inside him. As soon as he leaves this plaza, the Gu will devour his internal organs."

Su Lin's gaze narrowed upon hearing this. The Celestial Court not only wanted to deal with him, an anomaly, but it seemed they also intended to use this Grand Ceremony to clean out all the disobedient troublemakers. Their appetite was truly not small.

"Honored Immortals, please enter the hall!" A resonant voice came from the main hall that pierced the clouds.

Two rows of warriors in gold armor blew long conch shells. The dull sound of horns echoed in the sea of clouds. The Immortals who were previously scattered on the plaza put away their smiles, lined up, and walked toward the main hall with solemn expressions.

The doors of the great hall were a hundred zhang high, entirely cast from a type of deep-sea Cold Iron that emitted a cold light. The moment they stepped over the threshold, a vast pressure rushed toward them. The space inside the great hall was infinitely magnified by Formations, and a thin layer of white mist covered the floor. Hundreds of white jade tables were neatly arranged on both sides.

In the deepest part of the great hall, the high and mighty jade throne was empty.

Su Lin led his disciples to the seats allocated to them and sat down. The tables were filled with rare fruits, and the wine jugs contained Immortal brew that emitted a rich fragrance.

Chu Weiwei leaned close to the fruit plate, sniffing gently, and a morbid smile immediately appeared on her Face.

"Revered Master, Seven Frost Powder has been added to this wine. Although drinking it can increase one's cultivation by a hundred years, it will cause one to unknowingly dissipate their protective Immortal Qi. It seems they intend to let us go on our way comfortably."

"Just don't drink it," Su Lin picked up the wine cup and toyed with it at his fingertips.

Cold Moon sat upright behind the table, her purple-gold Phoenix robe looking exceptionally solemn in the white mist. Her gaze swept over the Immortals opposite who were already impatiently drinking, and her eyes revealed a touch of pity.

"They don't even know death is imminent; how truly pathetic."

The great hall gradually filled up. There were about a hundred newly ascended Golden Immortals, as well as envoys sent by various major domains to observe the ceremony.

The atmosphere gradually became lively. Some toasted each other, while others talked and laughed loudly.

Just then, a blinding golden light suddenly descended upon the jade throne in the depths of the great hall.

The golden light dissipated. A man wearing a nine-dragon imperial robe and a flat-topped crown appeared on the throne.

He did not emit any pressure, but the air in the entire great hall froze instantly. All the laughter and talk stopped abruptly. Those Immortals who were still holding wine cups just a moment ago put down their cups, stood up respectfully, and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Emperor!"

The uniform sound of worship echoed in the great hall. Only Su Lin's table remained, with eight people sitting upright, not even lifting an eyelid.

Su Hongling even picked up a piece of pastry from the table and threw it into her mouth, chewing it with a crunch. This crisp chewing sound was particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall.

All gazes instantly converged on their side. The surrounding Immortals looked at them as if they were looking at a group of dead people about to be dismembered.

The Emperor's gaze fell upon them. It was a condescending gaze without any emotional fluctuation.

"City Lord of Tianhai," the Emperor spoke slowly, carrying the power of Law that could not be defied. "Not kneeling when seeing this Venerable One, are you dissatisfied with this Celestial Court?"

Su Lin put down his wine cup, stood up, and brushed the dust off his green robe. He looked directly into those high-and-mighty eyes, a lazy smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Everyone is here to eat at the banquet. It's a banquet, after all; standing is so tiring. My legs aren't good, and I can't kneel. If the Emperor finds me an eyesore, why not just kick me out?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a collective gasp of cold air resounded in the hall. They had seen people seeking death, but they had never seen anyone rushing to be reincarnated like this in front of the Emperor.

The Emperor did not get angry. He just waved his hand lightly.

"Since your legs are not good, you won't need to keep them in the future."

The words had barely fallen. The white jade stone pillars on both sides of the great hall suddenly exploded.

Countless dark golden chains shot out from the pillars, interweaving into an airtight net that directly enveloped Su Lin's table. At the same time, a dozen beams of light descended from the ceiling, each containing a gold-armored warrior holding a long spear.

"Kill," the Emperor spat out a single word.

Those gold-armored warriors did not hesitate in the slightest, their long spears carrying the power to pierce the Void Realm, stabbing toward the eight people in the net from all directions.

"Is this all you've got?" Su Hongling swallowed the pastry in her mouth, grabbed her great sword, and charged straight at them.

She did not dodge the incoming long spears but swung her great sword in a wide arc, slamming it hard into the warrior in the lead, just like playing baseball.

A dull sound of impact rang out. That warrior didn't even have time to scream; he and his armor were smashed into a cloud of golden blood mist.

"So brittle?" Su Hongling pursed her lips. "These Celestial Court thugs aren't even as durable as the gatekeepers in Liuyun Town."

Chu Weiwei stood up with a smile, shook her sleeves, and a large expanse of deep purple smoke instantly spread out.

"Big guys are brittle, of course; Weiwei added some ingredients for them. Everyone, taste the flavor of this Bone-Eroding Soul-Melting Incense, how is it?"

Those gold-armored warriors who rushed into the smoke immediately slowed down. Dense white smoke emerged from the surface of their sturdy gold armor, and within just a few breaths, the armor, along with the flesh inside, melted into a pool of foul-smelling pus.