The Immortal's Hidden Move, the Eternal Tower Opens

Chapter 372 The Immortal's Hidden Move, the Eternal Tower Opens

On the battlefield where the Great Thousand Southern Border meets the extraterrestrial evil race.

As the Black Corpse Demon Emperor retreated and fled, the Corpse Demon Clan army also collapsed like a house of cards. They were quickly divided and annihilated by the Great Thousand World Alliance, whose morale was greatly boosted. The deafening battlefield gradually subsided, leaving only devastation and the pungent smell of blood and burnt flesh.

Before the smoke of battle had cleared, the old celestial supreme being who had fought valiantly and nearly died in battle, along with several equally wounded generals, took to the air and arrived before Lu Yu and the others.

The old man's armor was tattered and stained with blood, but his spirits were unusually high.

He bowed deeply to Lu Yu, Lin Xuan, and the others, his voice hoarse with emotion: "I, Cang Xuan, along with the remaining comrades under my command, thank you all for your timely assistance! If you had not arrived in time, we would surely have perished here today!"

The generals behind him also saluted, their expressions filled with excitement.

Elder Lin Xuan nodded slightly and said gently, "Fellow Daoist Cang Xuan, there's no need for such formalities. As fellow cultivators of the Great Thousand World, it is our duty to help each other."

He stepped to the side, his gaze sweeping over Lu Yu and the pale-faced Mo Ciming, his voice rising a few decibels: "This time, we are able to turn the tide thanks first to Lu Yu, the holy son of the Futu Ancient Clan, and—the Mohe Ancient Clan, who spared no effort to come with their entire clan to fight against the powerful enemy."

Upon hearing this, Cang Xuan immediately turned his gaze to Lu Yu, his respect deepening. He had long heard of the young holy son's deeds, and today, witnessing firsthand his swift and decisive actions in severely injuring the black corpse, he was even more impressed.

He bowed respectfully to Lu Yu once more: "So you are the Holy Son Lu Yu. Meeting you today, I realize that your great reputation is well-deserved. I, Cang Xuan, will forever remember your kindness, Holy Son!"

Then, he turned to Maha Ming, looking at the Maha Continent that stood majestically at the forefront of the battlefield, his tone filled with admiration: "Chief Maha, your noble clan has come to our aid this time, sparing no effort to place your millennia-old foundation on the front lines. Such magnanimity and courage truly put Cang Xuan to shame. Please accept Cang Xuan's bow!"

Mo Ciming's lips twitched slightly. Facing Cang Xuan's sincere and unadulterated fervor and the grateful gazes from the countless soldiers below, he felt that mouthful of blood well up in his throat again.

He forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace, and said dryly, "Fellow Daoist Cangxuan, you flatter me. As fellow members of this great world, this is only right."

Lin Xuan observed all of this, inwardly marveling at Lu Yu's skill, but outwardly remaining calm, he smoothly continued the conversation: "Although the Black Corpses have retreated, our Great Thousand Kingdoms has also suffered considerable losses. The Southern Border defense line urgently needs consolidation after this battle. In my opinion, from now on, this Southern Border defense line—"

His gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally landing on Mo Ciming's face. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable weight: "I'm afraid we'll have to trouble the Mohe Ancient Clan. Since your ancestral homeland has taken root here and is an integral part of the defense line, it is truly a divinely bestowed barrier."

"It seems most appropriate for the nobles to take the lead, coordinate and integrate the forces of all parties, and guard this place."

Mahamin's heart sank; his worst fears had come true. This was tantamount to binding the Maha Ancient Clan to the front lines.

From this point on, they faced the evil race from beyond the realm head-on, with no room for maneuver.

He instinctively wanted to refuse, but when his gaze fell on Lin Xuan's calm yet profound eyes, then swept over Fu Tu Xuan, Tai Ming Lao Zu and others, and finally landed on Lu Yu's ambiguous smile, all his words were cut off.

He knew he had no choice.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Mohe Ming took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and immense resentment. He slowly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice low yet clear: "Elder Lin is absolutely right. My Mohe Ancient Clan—is duty-bound to do our utmost. From this day forward, we will do everything in our power to guard this place and live up to your trust."

Upon hearing this, Cang Xuan and the others showed joy, and cheers erupted from below.

Just then, Lu Yu suddenly stepped forward, a sincere smile on his face, and said in a clear voice: "Chief Maha, you are righteous!"

"The fact that the entire clan guards such a strategically important place, shouldering such a heavy responsibility for the entire world, is something I, Lu, deeply admire."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over the pale-faced Maha Ming, before continuing, "However, Lu Yu still has one matter to seek approval from the Great Thousand Palace. This action is not only to stabilize the overall situation, but also to reassure the Maha Ancient Clan's resolve to guard this place and protect the heritage of our Great Thousand World."

"What is it?" Lin Xuan asked in a deep voice, his gaze sharp.

Meeting his gaze, Lu Yu spoke clearly and slowly: "I request that the Great Thousand Palace temporarily entrust the Eternal Pagoda, currently held in the custody of the Maha Ancient Clan, to be jointly managed by my Futu Ancient Clan and the Tailing Ancient Clan."

The words "Eternal Pagoda" fell like a thunderclap!

Mohe Ming's body trembled violently. He suddenly looked up, his eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins. He looked at Lu Yu with shock and anger. The blood that he had been forcibly suppressing for so long could no longer be controlled, and a trace of dark red blood instantly spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Before Maha Ming could erupt, Lu Yu calmly spoke, his voice steady yet carrying undeniable weight: "Elder Lin, you are wise. The Maha Ancient Clan's current stronghold faces the Black Corpse Demon Emperor and his Corpse Demon Clan's forces head-on, and the situation is perilous. The Eternal Tower is of paramount importance, containing the inheritance of the Eternal Immortal Body, one of the foundations of our Great Thousand World's defense against evil. If such a powerful artifact continues to remain here—"

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the ashen-faced Maha Ming, before continuing, "If the battle situation changes and the defensive line falls, causing the Eternal Tower to fall into the hands of the Corpse Demon Clan, the consequences will be unimaginable. At that time, not only will the Maha Ancient Clan be irredeemably killed, but our Great Thousand World will also suffer heavy losses."

"It would be best to temporarily entrust the Eternal Tower to our two clans for safekeeping and place it in a relatively safe rear area."

"This move is both to preserve the foundation of the Great Thousand World and prevent its inheritance from falling into the hands of evil forces, and to relieve the burden on the Maha Ancient Clan. The nobles can now focus on dealing with the Corpse Demon Clan without having to be distracted by protecting the Eternal Tower."

After Lu Yu finished speaking, he bowed to Lin Xuan and said, "These are my heartfelt words, and they are also for the sake of the overall situation. I hope Elder Lin and everyone else will make a wise decision."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xuan gave Lu Yu a deep look, a hint of realization and complexity flashing in his aged eyes.

He originally thought that Lu Yu's relentless pressure and the forced "relocation" of the Mohe Ancient Clan to the front line were more about establishing his authority and taking the opportunity to put pressure on this wavering ancient clan.

But it wasn't until Lu Yu made the request to temporarily take charge of the Eternal Tower that the fog in Lin Xuan's heart was completely cleared up.

It turns out that establishing authority and issuing warnings were perhaps just a convenient pretext. The true goal of this young holy son, from beginning to end, was chillingly clear: he came for the Tower of Eternity, or rather, for the "Eternal Immortal Body" sealed within!

Then, recalling Lu Yu's already revealed clones possessing two primordial avatars—a near-mad thought exploded in Lin Xuan's mind like a thunderclap:

This holy son actually has the audacity to attempt to take control of the five primordial Dharma bodies?

Lin Xuan remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice carrying an unprecedented level of caution and solemnity: "What the Holy Son said is indeed well-considered."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the tense expression of Maha Ming, and continued, "However, before the Immortal Emperor left, he divided the responsibility of inheritance and protection into three parts: the Great Thousand Palace, a peerless sacred artifact of the Saint Rank, was jointly managed by the elders of the palace to guard the Great Thousand."

The immortal body was then entrusted to the Maha Ancient Clan for generations to find a successor;

As for the seal that suppresses the Heavenly Evil God, it is guarded generation after generation by the most secretive lineage of tomb keepers, who are kept in complete isolation from the outside world.

"This arrangement has remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years, regardless of how the world has changed."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent, and Mahaming's tense expression seemed to relax slightly.

Lin Xuan's gaze returned to Lu Yu, carrying an indescribable solemnity: "It's not that I'm stubborn, or that I don't believe in the abilities of the Holy Son and the two races. In truth, the Eternal Tower itself—is not something that ordinary people can easily control."

He slowed his pace, speaking clearly: "Deep within the tower, besides sealing away an immortal body, there is also a contingency plan left behind by the Immortal Emperor himself."

"This tower possesses its own spirit. Without its approval, let alone control, it is utterly delusional to even attempt to move it an inch. The reason the Maha Ancient Clan has been able to preserve it for generations is because the Great Emperor personally entrusted it with a pact of protection with the tower's spirit."

His gaze swept over Maha Ming, a barely perceptible sigh in his eyes: "However, despite the Maha Ancient Clan's dutiful adherence to their duties over the years, they have failed to truly gain the Tower Spirit's approval, let alone inherit its eternally immortal body. In a sense, this Tower is still waiting for its true master."

"Therefore," Lin Xuan looked at Lu Yu, his voice regaining its calm, "the Holy Son's desire to temporarily take control of the Eternal Tower to preserve his Dharma Body is commendable. But unless—"

He paused, a faint, almost test-like expression appearing on his aged face: "Unless the Holy Son can personally go to the location of the Eternal Tower and gain the Tower Spirit's approval through his own abilities."

"If that is truly the case, this Dharma body will be temporarily protected by you and the two races, and I and the Great Thousand Palace—have nothing more to say."

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions.

Fu Tu Xuan and Tai Ming Lao Zu frowned slightly. They knew that the Eternal Tower was no ordinary structure, and the Great Emperor's backup plan was even more mysterious and unpredictable, making it extremely difficult to deal with.

After his initial astonishment, a barely perceptible hint of coldness and schadenfreude flashed deep in the depths of Mahamin's eyes.

The Ancient Pagoda had been in the hands of the Maha Ancient Clan for tens of thousands of years, and although many outstanding talents emerged from the clan, none of them could truly gain their approval.

As an outsider, even if Lu Yu is a genius, how could he possibly succeed so easily? It's nothing but wishful thinking.

All eyes were on Lu Yu.

Lu Yu remained calm, as if Lin Xuan's words were exactly what he had expected. He met Lin Xuan's scrutinizing gaze, and even a faint, almost composed smile appeared on his lips.

"In that case," he said in a clear and distinct voice, "this junior is willing to give it a try."

Not long after, on the continent of Maha, in the city of Eternal Age.

This city is not the main city of the Maha Continent, but its fame even slightly surpasses that of the Maha Ancient Clan who rule this place. The reason is simple: this city was built by the Immortal Emperor himself.

The ancient city walls are inscribed with runes that have long since faded, yet after tens of thousands of years of erosion, they still faintly exude an immortal aura that repels evil spirits.

-

At this moment, in the heart of the city, a seemingly ordinary solitary peak quietly rises, and on its summit, an ancient and mottled stone tower stands silently.

The tower is unadorned, covered with the marks of time, and even covered with a few specks of moss. It has no dazzling aura, no terrifying fluctuations, it just stands there simply.

This is the Eternal Pagoda.

At this moment, the space in front of the stone tower slightly distorted, and several figures appeared one after another.

Leading the group was Lu Yu, flanked by Fu Tu Xuan, Tai Ming Ancestor, and Elder Lin Xuan.

Mahaminze lagged half a step behind, his face ashen, his gaze fixed on the stone tower with a complex mix of pride stemming from generations of guardianship and resentment stemming from an inability to control his fate.

As soon as the group appeared, they clearly felt the faint pressure emanating from the Eternal Tower, a pressure that seemed capable of suppressing eternity. Even powerful figures like Lin Xuan and Fu Tu Xuan couldn't help but show a touch more solemnity in their expressions.

"The Pagoda of Eternity"

Lin Xuan gazed at the mottled stone tower, his aged eyes revealing reminiscence and sighs. "Since the Great Emperor left, it has remained here, witnessing the vicissitudes of the world."

Lu Yu did not respond. From the moment he stepped into this place, his gaze was fixed on the stone tower. Deep within his senses, the broken glass body, dormant in the core nurturing space of the Holy Floating Pagoda, was emitting a barely perceptible tremor.

He stared at the stone tower for a moment, then turned to look at Lin Xuan and Mahaming, and asked, "How do we open this tower?"

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible chill appeared on Maha Ming's face. He preemptively spoke, "Hmph, the Eternal Tower has its own operating rules. It only opens during each Eternal Gathering to allow geniuses from all sides to enter and attempt to inherit the eternally immortal body left behind by the Immortal Emperor."

"There are still hundreds of years until the next Eternal Gathering. The tower gates are tightly closed; how can you open them just because you say so?"

His tone was marked by obvious rejection and certainty, as if he were stating an unalterable ironclad rule.

The Eternal Pagoda had been in the hands of the Maha Ancient Clan for tens of thousands of years, and some of its rules had already been figured out. This was one of the reasons he felt somewhat at ease. The time hadn't come yet. No matter how capable Lu Yu was, could he possibly forcibly shake the rules left behind by the Great Emperor?

Elder Lin Xuan nodded slightly, confirming Maha Ming's statement: "What Chief Maha said is true. The opening of the Eternal Tower is indeed related to the Eternal Gathering cycle, which has been a precedent for tens of thousands of years."

However, after listening, Lu Yu showed no disappointment or difficulty on his face. He shone the light back onto the mottled stone tower, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Standard practice?" he murmured to himself, as if savoring the meaning of the word.

The next moment, he said no more, his mind focused, and he carefully drew upon a wisp of the original aura of the damaged Dharma body within the Holy Pagoda.

This aura was faint yet incredibly pure, carrying the most fundamental "immortal" essence of the Eternal Immortal Body, quietly spreading from his body.

The moment that wisp of energy was released, hum!

The stone tower, which had been silent as a mountain and seemed unchanging since time immemorial, suddenly had its ancient patterns, which looked like lifeless objects, light up, and an indescribable, vast wave slowly rose up.

Mahamin's confident expression froze instantly, turning into incredulous horror: "This—how is this possible? The Tower Spirit has not yet responded to the Eternal Gathering!"

Lin Xuan, Fu Tu Xuan, and the others were also shocked, clearly this scene was beyond their existing understanding of the Eternal Pagoda.

Lu Yu felt the spiritual gaze emanating from the stone tower, filled with scrutiny and a hint of doubt, and the loosening sensation emanating from the invisible barrier within the tower; he understood.

He calmly said, meeting the surprised and suspicious gazes of the crowd, "It seems that the so-called established rules may only apply to outsiders."

Before he finished speaking, he took a step forward.

That pure, immortal aura acted as a key. At the bottom of the stone tower, space slightly distorted, and a passage, flowing with chaotic light and only wide enough for one person to pass through, silently appeared.

"The tower gate is open," Lu Yu's voice rang out clearly, "This junior will now enter and give it a try."

Without lingering, he moved and plunged straight into the chaotic halo, his figure instantly swallowed up.

The passage behind him flickered slightly before slowly closing, and the faint light on the surface of the stone tower gradually faded, returning it to its previous silence.

Only the group of people with different expressions remained on the summit.