They entered the room and the chamber sealed shut, plunging into pitch darkness where nothing could be seen.
Just as Yang Kai was wondering what was going on, a burst of light suddenly erupted. Looking up, he saw that patterns were lighting up across the floor of the chamber, gradually tracing out a vast and intricate formation.
Yang Kai understood. He stepped toward the center of the formation. The moment he took his position, a humming sound echoed from all around, as if the formation had activated.
A faint, barely perceptible tugging force emanated from the formation. Yang Kai caught on immediately, forming hand seals and settling his mind and breath. He could clearly feel his own aura being drawn by the formation, realizing it must be recording certain unique information about him.
The humming continued without cease as the formation spun on and on.
After a long while, the humming gradually subsided and the formation's glow faded, until the chamber returned to total darkness.
Yang Kai extended his senses and found that he now seemed to share a faint, ethereal connection with some part of the Universe Palace. He simply didn't know how to make use of it yet, having never practiced the Universe Escape Art. But judging by the current situation, the imprint should have been completed.
He had actually been quite curious about what the Universe Escape Imprint looked like. He'd thought he'd get a good look this time, but in the end he'd seen nothing at all — just a formation that had made contact with him.
There was nothing to be done about it if he couldn't see it. Yang Kai wandered around the room a few more times, found nothing special, and pushed the door open.
Outside, Bai Qi asked, "How'd it go?"
"Done." There was none of the discomfort Bai Qi had mentioned. Yang Kai figured it had something to do with his mastery of the Space Laws — those who didn't understand space probably felt the discomfort on their first visit.
"Good!" Bai Qi exhaled in relief, then turned and cupped his fists toward the gold-armored warrior. "Thank you, my lord."
The man gave a faint nod. "No fighting of any kind is permitted within the Universe Palace. Those who violate this rule will be killed without mercy. Behave yourselves!" With that, he sealed the chamber and departed.
His primary duty had been to bring Yang Kai here to leave the imprint. Everything else was no concern of his — whenever Yang Kai and Bai Qi wanted to leave, that was their own business. The Universe Palace would not interfere.
"Come on, come with me to buy some things," Bai Qi said, grabbing Yang Kai's arm and heading off in one direction. From the way he moved, clearly not for the first time.
The items Bai Qi wanted to buy were numerous and miscellaneous, obviously supplies for the inn. Yang Kai followed behind him, glancing around casually.
"After leaving the imprint, practice the Universe Escape Art and you'll be able to come here anytime you want. Of course, only if you're within this particular great domain. But remember — you must be within a safe distance. Once the Universe Escape Art is activated, you'll be pulled straight here. If the distance is too far, your current cultivation won't be able to withstand it, and you'll risk being torn apart."
Yang Kai nodded to show he understood.
"One more thing you need to remember: the Universe Escape Art has a slight delay after activation. It's not instant. You need to get the timing right. If you're ever being chased and killed, don't activate it right in front of your pursuers, or they'll kill you before you can escape. You absolutely must activate it from a safe distance."
Yang Kai asked, "How long is the delay?" This was something he needed to know precisely.
Bai Qi glanced at him. "With your current cultivation, roughly five or six breaths. Of course, the higher your cultivation, the shorter the delay — but even then, there's always some lag."
"Then who teaches the Universe Escape Art?" Yang Kai asked.
"I'll teach you!" Bai Qi grinned. "But there'll be a fee."
Yang Kai immediately clutched his Space Ring, eyes wary. "I'm broke!" He still owed the proprietress ten million, and he had no idea when he'd be able to pay that back.
Bai Qi said, "No money, no problem. You were in the Golden Crow Divine Palace and even snatched the Golden Crow's corpse — don't tell me you didn't grab any Solar True Fire or Solar True Gold?" As he spoke, he wiggled his eyebrows meaningfully.
"I didn't," Yang Kai said flatly.
"Don't be so stingy. I'm not picky — any amount of Solar True Fire will do."
"Forget it, I'll just ask the proprietress to teach me the Universe Escape Art. I won't trouble you."
Bai Qi was rendered speechless...
Half an hour later, the two flew out of the Universe Palace and retraced their steps. The First Inn's airship hadn't gone far — it was still waiting.
Once back on the airship, the proprietress called them in to talk. She asked about the situation, and upon learning everything had gone smoothly, said nothing much — just nodded and waved them off.
Before they left, though, she flicked a jade slip to Yang Kai. "Since you've left the imprint, you should practice the Universe Escape Art. You're well-versed in the Space Laws, so it shouldn't be too difficult for you. Go practice diligently."
Yang Kai thanked her and left with Bai Qi. Once the door closed behind them, Yang Kai held up the jade slip with a smug expression on his face.
Bai Qi's expression was so sour it couldn't be described.