Chapter 389

"These guys simply cannot be killed; even if you smash them, they can recover again! If only one could be taken back and put in the family, how good that would be!" an old man said while fighting a fierce battle.

"Don't be naive! These stone statue puppets will turn into a pile of waste stone once they leave this space!" a middle-aged sword cultivator said, chopping off the arm of a stone statue puppet, only to see that the arm recovered instantly.

"Hmph, both of you talk less; beating these guys back is what's important!" another person shouted.

"No need to be too anxious; we've been blocked, and others are the same! No one can reach the peak too quickly!" an old man said with a laugh.

"That's not wrong!" the burly man in front said with a loud laugh.

After all, according to their past experience, the time everyone arrived at the Heavenly Mandate Tower in the end didn't differ much.

However, at this moment, in front of the Heavenly Mandate Tower.

"Where are the people? How come there's not a single person?" Luo Tian stood in front of the empty Heavenly Mandate Tower, looking completely bewildered.

"Could it be that I'm late and they've all gone in?" Luo Tian felt a bit panicked.

Just at this moment...

Creak, creak...

The tightly closed gate of the Heavenly Mandate Tower emitted a sound that set one's teeth on edge.

Afterwards, the gate swung wide open, and a deep spatial passage appeared before his eyes.

"I'd better go in quickly, don't want to delay things!" Luo Tian stepped into the Heavenly Mandate Tower without a second thought.

As he entered the Heavenly Mandate Tower, the surrounding space shifted.

Looking from the outside, this Heavenly Mandate Tower wasn't considered large, but inside the tower, there was another world.

Just this first layer alone was ten thousand zhang in size.

Hum!

A ball of light suddenly lit up, floating in front of Luo Tian.

"Tower challenger, this is the first layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower. The rules for challenging the tower are as follows: the challenger will face the phantom of the tower guardian. If you can hold out for more than ten moves under the tower guardian's phantom, you can obtain a fourth-grade reward."

"Hold out for twenty moves, and you can obtain a third-grade reward."

"Hold out for thirty moves, and you can obtain a second-grade reward and gain the opportunity to enter the second layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower."

"Hold out for fifty moves, and you can obtain a first-grade reward and gain the opportunity to enter the second layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower."

"Hold out for a hundred moves, and you can obtain a hidden reward and gain the opportunity to enter the second layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower."

The voice of the light ball was emotionless, as if it were a machine.

Luo Tian roughly understood the rules and muttered to himself, "No wonder there's no one on the first layer; I suppose they must have entered the second layer? Since I'm already late, I'd better not send a message to Zhou Lao and just hurry up to meet him."

As he was thinking this, the light ball seemed to lose patience and urged, "If you have understood the rules, speak up."

Luo Tian hurriedly said, "I have understood clearly."

The light ball flickered.

Hum!

A phantom appeared in front of Luo Tian.

It was a shirtless man with dark skin, covered in scars, looking somewhat terrifying.

"This person is the tower guardian. Tell me when you are ready, and you can begin the battle," the light ball said.

Luo Tian looked at the man and said, "I have another question."

"Speak!" the light ball said.

"You said the hidden reward is for holding out for over a hundred moves... what if I defeat him?" Luo Tian asked.

Hearing this, the light ball was clearly stunned for a moment, and then, in its tone, emotion finally appeared: "Defeat him? Just you? Do you know who the owner of this phantom is?"

Luo Tian shook his head.

The other party said coldly, "This phantom is a powerhouse who suppressed a region in the ancient era, left behind when he was in the Tribulation Crossing Realm!"

"This phantom's strength is basically identical to his own strength back then! For thousands of years, he has guarded the first layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower, and no one has ever been able to hold out for over a hundred moves, let alone defeat him? If you can defeat him, I can take the responsibility to give you the highest reward! And, I will leave your phantom in the tower to replace him as the tower guardian!" the light ball said.

"Oh? The highest reward? Really?" Luo Tian's eyes lit up.

The light ball sneered, "Yes, really. I am the tower spirit of the first layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower; I have the final say on this layer! If you have the ability, go ahead and defeat him!"

Luo Tian smiled and said, "Alright then, let's begin!"

The light ball flashed, and the phantom opposite slowly opened its eyes.

Boom!

In an instant, a violent aura filled the entire first layer of the Heavenly Mandate Tower.

"Oh? It really is different!" Luo Tian's eyes lit up instantly.

Although the other party's aura was still within the range of the Tribulation Crossing Realm.

However, it was stronger than all the Tribulation Crossing Realm powerhouses Luo Tian had encountered before.

No wonder this tower spirit was so confident.

This guy was truly not just for show.

"Hehe, know fear now? Come, experience his power for yourself!" the first-layer tower spirit light ball said.

Boom!

The next instant, the phantom moved, rushing toward Luo Tian like a thunderbolt.

"Ignorant boy!" the tower spirit let out a laugh, waiting to see Luo Tian get beaten up.

However...

Boom!

The phantom's punch hit Luo Tian's chest, but Luo Tian didn't move a single bit.

"Hm? How..." the tower spirit was stunned.

And at this moment, Luo Tian frowned and said, "Looks strong, I thought it would be different, but it turns out it's just like this! I took a punch from you, so you take a punch from me."

Saying this, Luo Tian clenched his fist and smashed it back with a backhand.

Boom!

In an instant, a terrifying force slammed into the phantom.

In just a moment, the fist force passed through the body, directly shattering the phantom.

Not only that, the fist force continued unabated, slamming heavily into the Heavenly Mandate Tower.

Dong!

The Heavenly Mandate Tower emitted a piercing, loud sound, and countless protective runes lit up across the entire first layer, attempting to block the residual power of Luo Tian's fist force.

However...

Crack, crack...

The protective runes were constantly shattering, and it looked like they were about to be blown apart.