"I don't know if you can help us defeat Elina, but I trust my instincts and believe you can work miracles. Moreover, I know Dao Lao too well! So, if you don't have the ability to defeat Elina, why would you risk returning to the Spirit Realm? Isn't that right, Dao Lao?" Judge Yan said, fixing an expectant gaze on Dao Lao.
"Hmph! Old Yan, you're really overestimating us! In fact, we just want to return to the Spirit Realm before Elina launches her attack, to inform you early and prepare yourselves. As for expecting us to deal with Elina—," Dao Lao coldly snorted. Despite speaking so seriously, he still didn't want to elaborate on how Elina planned to attack the Spirit Realm. He didn't want Judge Yan to know too much about the Dark Chain Plane from him, lest Judge Yan become implicated.
"Well, whatever the case, you coming back to report will give the Spirit Realm enough time to prepare for Elina's ambush. Even if Elina's attack is as severe as Dao Lao says, we can at least be mentally prepared in advance and minimize losses when the actual attack occurs!" Judge Yan said.
"It's best if you can think like that. Of course, if everyone can work together to stop Elina's attack in time, we can leave here with peace of mind! By the way, Judge Yan. Once the Spirit Realm defeats Elina's ambush and investigates the situation regarding Purification Squad P1557, can the Spirit Realm then lift the pursuit and let us leave?" Hao Yun asked eagerly.
Judge Yan silently tasted his hot tea before asking with a concerned tone, "Even if you can leave, then what? Have you three friends thought about where you would go once you leave the Spirit Realm?"
Judge Yan's question immediately stumped Hao Yun and the others. Because they also wondered where they would go after leaving the Spirit Realm. Even if the Spirit Realm didn't hold them responsible, could they continue to stay in the Spirit Realm? Obviously, Hao Yun and the others wouldn't do that. Even if the Spirit Realm made an exception to allow them to stay, they had no intention of continuing to stay in this world whose true nature they had already seen through.
However, after leaving the Spirit Realm, where exactly should Hao Yun and the others go to survive? Should they return to the Dark Chain Plane and find a way to return to Uryll, to serve as assistants with Heinrich in the Dark Chain Plane forever? Or should they find a way back to the Dark Void and spend their time by the sea with the Mother of Mold, enjoying life? Neither of these ideas seemed realistic. Because Hao Yun and the others felt that even if Uryll or the Mother of Mold would take them in, they couldn't survive there for long. Moreover, both Uryll and the Mother of Mold had hinted in their conversations with them that they hoped the three of them would have the opportunity to embark on their own new journey in the future. But how could they start a new journey? Just thinking about these issues gave them a headache.
"No matter how things develop in the future, at least I can provide you with a reliable haven, and you three friends don't have to run around anymore. I think with my status, coupled with your behavior of always considering the safety of the Spirit Realm until the end, the Spirit Realm will definitely agree to my request." Seeing Hao Yun and the others looking worried, Judge Yan took the initiative to assure them.
"I appreciate Judge Yan's kindness. However, for me, my haven in the Spirit Realm is my hometown, my hometown on Earth. But that place will no longer exist. So, unless my Earth world in the N38th spacetime line can be saved, otherwise this place has lost its meaning for us to stay." Hao Yun responded, implying whether Judge Yan could find a way to help him save the world in the N38th spacetime line of Earth?
"Alas! Everything there is already destined. For that Earth world, everything has already ended!" Judge Yan said helplessly. It was evident that he didn't want to see the Earth world in the N38th spacetime line heading towards destruction. But clearly, he was also powerless to do anything about it.
Judge Yan advised, "Since both you and I understand why the Earth world in the N38th spacetime line is heading towards destruction, and understand the relationship between the Dark Chain Plane and our Surface Plane. So you should know that wanting to stop the destruction of this Earth world with our own strength is a fantasy."
"How would we know if we don't try? Maybe we can find a way to force them to give up this purification task by preventing Elina's attack?" Dream Jia said anxiously.
Judge Yan frowned and asked, "Oh? So you want to use Elina's situation to threaten the Spirit Realm into submission? Hmph! You've all been officials of the Spirit Realm. Do you think the Spirit Realm is so easily threatened? And even if your threat can succeed for a while, how can you be sure that the Spirit Realm won't find a way to destroy this Earth world again in the future? Moreover, the Dark Chain Plane only plays an auxiliary role in this destruction. The Earth world where Mr. Hao is located is the culprit of this disaster!"
Hao Yun and the others couldn't argue against Judge Yan's statements. However, the issue lay in the fact that the Spirit Realm had not allowed this Earthly world to evolve naturally according to its own lower realm laws. Instead, driven by its own interests, the Spirit Realm had openly violated its own established laws of the lower realms and actively accelerated the Earthly world's path towards destruction. Not to mention, in their attempt to resolve issues in this Earthly world, the Spirit Realm had caused wanton destruction to Earth NX, far across the Dark Chain Plane. Such selfish and self-serving actions by the Spirit Realm had already implicated them deeply in the Earthly world's impending destruction.
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Faced with Dream Jia's inquiry about their attire, Judge Yan could only remain silent for a moment before changing the subject. "Ah, well, regardless, it's best for you all not to leave here for now. After all, you're now considered fugitives by the Spirit Realm, wanted for treason. So, as the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth District of the Earthly Spirit Realm, both publicly and privately, I cannot allow you to roam freely within the Spirit Realm. You must accept close monitoring by the Spirit Realm until all relevant issues are resolved. Until you receive the Spirit Realm's final judgment, you must stay here!"
With that, Judge Yan's stern tone returned, and he continued somewhat reluctantly, "Ah, my friends! Honestly, I really don't want you to continue stirring up trouble! You simply can't resist the will of the Spirit Realm. Your every radical action is akin to a moth flying into the flame! So please, my friends, just stay calm here in my hall for now! As long as you stay here, I can ensure your safety! As for questioning Elina's ambush, if we truly need to, I will return immediately for help!"
Judge Yan stood up and strode towards the door of the hall. At the same time, a powerful energy confinement woven from divine power appeared and quickly imprisoned half of the Judgment Hall where Hao Yun and his companions were.
Seeing this, Dao Lao immediately questioned sternly, "Old Yan! What do you mean by this? Are you really going to keep us imprisoned here?"
Judge Yan turned back, with a wry smile on his face. "Old Dao, I'm doing this for your own good! Besides, I've already lost too many loved ones! I don't want to lose you three friends because of your impulsiveness!"
With a wave of his hand, all the light in the hall disappeared. At this point, Hao Yun and the others could only rely on the faint blue-green light emitted by the energy barrier that imprisoned them to barely discern each other's figures. They couldn't even see Judge Yan's figure anymore, let alone the appearance of the hall outside the confinement.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure the safety of my three friends! Please rest here peacefully for now, while I assist the Inspection Department in handling the matters of Purification Squad P1557 and Elina. After that, I will return to help you clear your names!" Judge Yan concluded.
As Judge Yan's voice faded in the Judgment Hall, all the remaining space outside the confinement woven by divine energy was immediately filled with a powerful energy field that appeared out of thin air. Soon, this energy field solidified into a resilient energy wall resembling several layers of elastic keratin, sealing Hao Yun and his companions tightly within the Judgment Hall.
"Damn it!" Hao Yun cursed as he fiercely stabbed the divine energy gelatin layer around him with his Phoenix Blade, only to find that while the layer seemed elastic, it was incredibly sturdy. No matter how hard he tried, his Phoenix Blade left no marks on this gelatinous layer.
Meanwhile, after Judge Yan left, Dao Lao returned to the table, continuing to sip on the seemingly ever-diluted tea with great composure. He calmly advised, "Hey, I suggest you both conserve your energy! This type of divine energy keratin layer is specifically used to construct antimagic prisons. Without the strength of a high-ranking priest or knowledge of how this layer is constructed, no one can break through this gelatin wall."
"So this stuff is used to make antimagic prisons?" Hao Yun exclaimed, then stabbed the gelatinous wall a few more times in frustration.
Hao Yun had heard Master Gu mention the term "antimagic prison" before. Besides temporarily containing captured moldling energy, this prison also imposed lifelong imprisonment on those sentenced to be chained, as well as those who committed the most heinous crimes. However, because Hao Yun had only recently joined the Spirit Realm, he had only heard of this terrifying prison term and had not yet seen the actual object.
"That's right. Old Yan has essentially created a miniature antimagic prison here. Hmph! It seems that the three of us have been classified by the Spirit Realm as the most heinous criminals. Otherwise, Old Yan wouldn't have used such high-specification prisons to imprison us. Of course, I think Old Yan did this to appease the Inspection Team. By doing so, Old Yan won't make the Inspection Team think that he's intentionally favoring our crimes," Dao Lao remarked while savoring his tea.
Through Dao Lao's words, Hao Yun naturally understood Judge Yan's intentions. After all, Judge Yan only wanted to temporarily imprison himself like he treated prisoners. However, beyond that, he would certainly not treat himself as he did with other prisoners. Therefore, Judge Yan's approach was essentially a way to protect Hao Yun and the others from the true punishment of the Spirit Realm.
Although understandable, Hao Yun certainly did not want to be imprisoned here forever. Elina was still at large, and no one knew where she was at the moment? It's also unclear when and where she will attack the Spirit Realm. More importantly, Earth NX's replacement procedure for Hao Yun's homeland has already begun. If Hao Yun does not seize the time to find a breakthrough, then these two Earthly worlds will really be reset in destruction!
But how easy is it to escape from an antimagic prison? Not to mention the strength of the prison's firmness; even with their current strength, the three of Hao Yun were not qualified to challenge the imprisonment of the antimagic prison. Therefore, for now, the three could only temporarily set aside their thoughts of violent escape, take advantage of the opportunity to ensure their personal safety, and adjust their state so that they could quickly recover from the weakened state caused by their forced return to the Dark Space and Dark Chain Plane, returning to the Spirit Realm.