Chapter 627: The Crown Prince’s Trial

Surrounded by the Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong, Gu An’s shadowy figure remained calm as if he had long expected their arrival.

He didn’t respond to Purple Dragon Star Lord. In his view, Purple Dragon Star Lord wasn’t qualified to speak to him. At this point, there were no misunderstandings to clear up.

The Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong were here for Tian Hao. As his master, Gu An naturally had to step forward.

Moreover, the battle between celestials and gods would inevitably affect countless lives. Gu An wasn’t the kind to tirelessly play the role of a savior, but if he encountered a calamity that mortals absolutely couldn’t overcome—one he could resolve with ease—he wouldn’t stand idly by.

Consider it repayment for all the lifespan he had extracted from this world.

Gu An slowly turned to face Purple Dragon Star Lord.

The other seventy-one immortals of Jin Dong merged their celestial light into one, forming a grand formation beyond the mortal realm. The formation invoked the laws of the Grand Dao, subtly suppressing Gu An.

Purple Dragon Star Lord was a Supreme Purity Golden Immortal, while the others were Measuring the Heavens Golden Immortals. Their formation exceeded the limits of what a Supreme Purity Golden Immortal could withstand. Although it wasn’t enough to subdue a Heaven-Opening Grand Luo Immortal, it could sweep through any being below the Grand Luo Dao Fruit Realm.

“This formation is the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation. No one below the Grand Luo Immortal Realm can escape it!”

One of the immortals declared arrogantly.

After all, a Grand Luo Immortal wouldn’t set foot in this realm.

If their target was at such a level, they would have long since taken him away—there would be no need for them to remain in the Heavenly Spirit World.

The distant spectators, both cultivators and Xiantian Human Race demons, all watched anxiously, not daring to move.

Tian Hao, Yuan Songzi, Lü Xian, and Tian Yao'er were all confused.

What exactly was a Grand Luo Immortal?

Those from Wushi Dao Field, however, had heard the term in Gu An’s writings.

They weren’t surprised. They had long suspected that the so-called myths their master wrote about were real stories.

Zhu Guanghan, on the other hand, paled as he gazed at the Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong. Something had clearly dawned on him, filling him with intense unease. He wanted to flee.

With the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation in place, those outside could only perceive its overwhelming aura—they couldn’t personally experience its suppressive force.

However, simply gazing upon its celestial radiance filled them with an overwhelming sense of insignificance.

It was as if merely touching that celestial glow would reduce them to ashes.

Gu An’s shadowy figure remained silent. He was waiting for either Xuan Su Immortal Lord or Tai Yi Immortal Lord.

From what he could deduce through karma, neither of them should interfere—at least not in the short term.

As he stared at the Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong, he considered how best to deal with them.

Killing them outright was pointless.

Even if he obliterated them, they could resurrect through the power of the Heavenly Dao.

However, just like what he had done to Heavenly Spirit God, he could seal them away, preventing them from reviving and forcing them to endure endless torment.

Seeing that Gu An refused to speak, one of the Jin Dong Immortals grew enraged.

A burly figure stepped forward and roared, “Senior Brother, let’s just kill him! Since our target is right before us, why hesitate? We are immortals!”

As immortals, they had absolute confidence.

Becoming immortal meant eternal existence.

The only ones they feared were other immortals.

If an opponent wasn’t an immortal, no matter how strong they were, the Jin Dong Immortals wouldn’t back down.

After all, they had Heavenly Court as their greatest backing.

Through the endless ages, they had endured countless tribulations.

They had seen and overcome all.

Purple Dragon Star Lord studied Gu An deeply for a moment. Then, he nodded slightly.

At that signal, the seventy-one Jin Dong Immortals attacked simultaneously.

Their celestial light erupted, expanding rapidly.

Winds howled, flames raged, thunder roared, and torrential rains engulfed Gu An’s shadowy figure in an instant.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Within the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation, a deafening explosion erupted. Blinding light flashed, dazzling the onlookers, making it impossible to see what was happening inside. However, they could clearly feel the overwhelming presence of the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation.

Yuan Songzi, Tian Hao, and the others instinctively stepped back. It was an innate response, a fear that no rational thought could suppress—even Zhu Guanghan, who had already reached the Vast Heaven Free Immortal Realm, was no exception.

Their widened eyes reflected the celestial glow of the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation, their pupils trembling in shock.

Gu An’s figure had completely vanished, engulfed by the formation’s brilliance. Yet, the aura emanating from within was so terrifying that it made everything else seem fragile in comparison.

They couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of devastation this kind of power would bring if it descended upon the Heavenly Spirit World.

All those present were powerful cultivators, yet they felt as though this aura alone was enough to reduce the entire world to ashes. If even they couldn’t endure it, how could the mortal realm withstand such a catastrophe?

If it was this overwhelming outside the formation, then what was happening inside?

Just as this thought surfaced in everyone’s mind, the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation suddenly shattered.

Gu An’s figure reappeared.

He casually lifted a hand, and in an instant, the Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong transformed into seventy-two golden lights, flying into his palm. In the blink of an eye, they shrank, disappearing completely.

Gu An clenched his fist, and in that moment, two streaks of purple light flashed across his face, partially hidden beneath the shroud of demonic energy.

The surrounding void suddenly shifted.

The blood-red world that had momentarily vanished returned, as if everything had been reset.

To those witnessing this, it felt like an eternity had passed, even though only a brief moment had elapsed.

By the time they snapped back to reality, Gu An had already disappeared.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

The deafening roar that had accompanied the Jin Dong Absolute Immortal Formation gradually faded.

Even Lü Xian, Tian Yao’er, and the others were left in stunned silence.

They had expected a world-shattering battle—but in the end, it had been over in an instant.

Zhu Guanghan hovered in midair, his entire being dazed, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

For the first time, he did not know what to do.

The Dao Court cultivators turned to look at him, equally uncertain.

Because they could not defeat Zhu Guanghan.

The vast sky stretched endlessly, clouds pristine and white, with a single rainbow arching across the horizon.

Beneath the rainbow stood a small pavilion, floating upon the clouds. Within the pavilion, two Daoists sat across from each other, engaged in a game of Go.

The board resembled traditional Go, but the pieces were not simply black and white.

One of the men was a white-haired immortal with a handsome face. A silver cloth band covered his eyes, and a golden pattern marked his forehead. He wore an immaculate white Daoist robe, and behind him floated a painting scroll, radiating divine light. Within the painting, a landscape of mountains and rivers rippled like reality itself.

This was Tai Yi Immortal Lord.

His right hand hovered over the board, holding a single piece, yet he did not place it down, seemingly deep in thought.

Sitting across from him was a yellow-robed Daoist, his face aged, his hair streaked black and white. His expression was solemn, his presence awe-inspiring. Strands of golden-red divine light coiled around his body like flowing silk ribbons, and behind him, a shadowy mirage appeared—two majestic divine beasts intertwined in an eternal struggle.

The yellow-robed Daoist finally spoke. “You truly intend to interfere in the matters of the Heavenly Mandate? The Son of Heaven is many, why focus so much on a single exiled prince? You even went as far as sending the Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong?”

Tai Yi Immortal Lord replied, “There are indeed many Sons of Heaven. Many have been exiled. But he is different.”

“He was once deeply favored. Now, he has fallen into the cycle of reincarnation. To me, this is not exile—it is a trial. If it were true exile, there would be no need to conceal the will of the Heavenly Dao.”

The yellow-robed Daoist shook his head with a slight smile.

Tai Yi Immortal Lord finally placed the Go piece onto the board. “There have been many Sons of Heaven who ascended to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, but only one has ever been brought there from birth. I will never forget the sight of the ten thousand immortals bowing to him.”

The yellow-robed Daoist smirked playfully. “And for that, you intend to oppose Xuan Su Immortal Lord? You should know that he has powerful backing.”

“So long as I do not break the laws of the Heavenly Dao, what does it matter how powerful his backers are?” Tai Yi Immortal Lord countered.

Just then, his brows furrowed slightly, and the golden pattern on his forehead shone brightly.

The yellow-robed Daoist picked up a Go piece and chuckled. “What’s wrong?”

Tai Yi Immortal Lord remained silent for a few moments before responding.

“The Seventy-Two Immortals of Jin Dong have been defeated.”

“The one who acted possesses immeasurable power. Even they were unable to probe his true depth.”

“The only thing certain is that he does not bear the fate of the Heavenly Court.”

The yellow-robed Daoist raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Few dare to oppose the Heavenly Court.”