Chapter 44

When the Elder Ancestor's phrase "May you cherish this" fell,

the entire White Jade Plaza,

sank into an absolute silence lasting several breaths.

Immediately after, a roar of shouts like a landslide and tsunami,

burst forth thunderously from the mouths of tens of thousands of Gu Family members!

"We, respectfully welcome the Young Master!"

"May the Young Master be safe! May the Gu Family prosper forever!"

"We, sworn to follow the Young Master unto death!"

Tens of thousands kneel together, that force born of bloodlines linked,

converging into a fervent belief power,

soaring skyward, even causing the clouds over the Divine Island to ripple!

On the observing seats, the Ancestral Dragon Nest Dragon Emperor, the Ancient Emperor of Mountain, and others,

watching this heart‑shaking scene before them, each with a complex expression, a mixture of five flavors in their hearts.

They know,

from this moment on,

the Gu Family, already an incomprehensibly massive warship, now has a new and sole helmsman.

And this newly appointed helmsman,

his potential,

is more terrifying than any clan head in Gu Family history!

One that has a True Immortal seated, the Celestial Emperor in command,

now also adds a sole Young Master whose future achievements are boundless, the Gu Family…

What terrifying heights will its future reach?

No one dares to think, nor wishes to think.

…

…

On the high platform, Gu Yuan faced the tens of thousands of fervent gazes, his expression still calm.

He simply nodded slightly again toward those below, as if accepting the whole clan's homage.

This demeanor, light as wind and clouds, neither arrogant nor impatient,

in the eyes of the elders and heads of families, drew a silent commendation.

At such a young age, facing such great honor and authority, he can still maintain this mindset.

This child's future is boundless!

"Alright, everyone, rise."

The Elder Ancestor raised his hand,

a gentle force lifted all the kneeling clan members.

The conferral ceremony is thus formally completed.

Next comes the much‑awaited… merit‑based reward segment!

Everyone knows,

this Gu Family's campaign against the other world was a total victory,

the core Origin Dao Fruit of that world has already been given to the opponent,

helping them achieve the supreme Dao foundation, with three thousand orifices within their bodies.

But do not forget,

that it originally belonged to the opponent,

rather, it should be said that the entire Gu Family,

has plainly enjoyed the remaining 45% of resources,

which naturally includes the entire Great World,

and the resources to be produced in the future,

one could say the benefit reaches millions of Gu Family members!

And the cause of all this is this newly appointed Young Master.

Then,

what kind of reward will the clan give him,

has become the thing everyone is most curious about.

"Yuan'er."

Family head Gu Lin Tian stepped forward, looking at his perfect son, his face full of proud smile.

"You have achieved a heavenly feat for the clan; according to the rules, you shall be rewarded!"

"Last time within the clan, I, your father, already gave you that World Origin Dao Fruit, aiding your breakthrough."

"But that was what you deserved."

"Today, before the Dao friends of the Celestial Realm, I, your father, will reward you again!"

Saying that, he reached into his storage ring,

to pull out the reward he had prepared long ago.

Inside, however, lay the treasures he had amassed over countless ten‑thousands of years.

Prepare several top‑grade imperial weapons and celestial treasures!

However, before he could take the items out.

Gu Yuan, however, beat him to it, smiling as he spoke.

"Father, the bestowal need not be rushed."

"Your son also has something here, wishing to present it to you and the family."

Oh?

Gu Lin Tian was startled for a moment, looking at his son with curiosity.

"What kind of trick is this kid selling?"

"What good thing could he possibly have?"

Not only him, everyone present showed curious expressions.

Gu Yuan gave a slight smile and did not withhold anything.

He focused his mind, and within his palm a dazzling light sphere appeared out of nowhere… emitting an immortal, undying aura!

The sphere was about the size of a fist,

its whole body a strange glassy platinum hue,

its surface seemed to have countless tiny runes flowing across it,

emitting a terrifying Dao resonance of eternal, unwearied, millennial endurance!

The moment it appeared, all the lights in the Supreme Hall Plaza seemed drawn toward it!

A terrifying aura that surpassed imperial authority and even faintly brushed the immortal Dao realm spread from the sphere!

"What… what is this?!"

"Such a frightening aura! My Dao heart trembles!"

"Immortal! It's an immortal aura! This must be a treasure linked to the immortal realm!"

Below the high platform, everyone was shaken by this sudden turn of events.

Even the heads of the various families seated at the ceremony,

upon seeing the light sphere, their pupils contracted sharply, their faces filled with horror!

"Is this… the origin of an immortal body?!"

Elder Gu Linjiang let out a startled cry,

his once‑cloudy old eyes

stared fixedly at the light sphere in Gu Yuan's hand, his breathing becoming rapid.

As the supreme elder of the Gu Family,

he had once been fortunate enough, in ancient texts, to read records about the origin of an immortal body.

It is something that only a true immortal body,

after its fall, could possibly condense into a core of Dao fruit essence!

Its value even surpasses that of a complete celestial artifact!

Because it represents a shortcut to the immortal Dao!

"Indeed, it is the imperishable immortal body origin!"

Third Elder Gu Xue Dao was also shocked,

he felt from the sphere a Dao resonance utterly different from his own, indestructible and untouched by all laws.

This resonance matched the legendary "imperishable immortal body" exactly!

On the high platform, family head Gu Lin Tian and the patriarch,

upon seeing the origin, also fixed their gazes.

They exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes.

"Yuan'er, where did you obtain this?"

Gu Lin Tian suppressed his surprise and asked gravely,

This item is far too precious.

Even for the Gu Family, such a grade of treasure is rare!

"Reply, Father."

Gu Yuan had long prepared his reply, answering calmly:

"This item was obtained by me on the Xuan Tian Continent, when I pacified Undying Mountain, by chance from the treasure vault of the Eternal Daoist."

"I observed its Dao resonance as extraordinary, so I brought it back."

That excuse was not a good one.

But anyway, the Eternal Daoist has already been refined into a spirit weapon,

unless his father or his grandfather asks,

no one else can do anything.

"I see," Gu Lin Tian suddenly understood.

He just said, this kid somehow got such a treasure.

It turned out to be a captured war prize.

"This item conflicts with my Eternal immortal body's Dao resonance and cannot merge."

"Your son thinks that keeping such a treasure here would be wasteful. Better to present it to you, Father."

"Father, you are the Sovereign of the Heavenly Emperor, only one step away from the True Immortal realm; perhaps this imperishable immortal body origin, combined with the universal Xuan Tian World origin, could help you glimpse that sliver of opportunity!"

Speaking, Gu Yuan lifted the imperishable immortal body origin with both hands.

Respectfully, he placed it before Gu Lin Tian.

Boom!

These words and this action were like a divine thunder from the Nine Heavens, hammering down on the celestial spirit caps of everyone present!

Everyone was stunned.

They each widened their eyes, opened their mouths, and stared dumbfounded at the father–son pair on the high platform.

Present… to his father?

He… he wants to give this heavens‑sized celestial bond,

this supreme treasure that could drive the whole immortal realm mad, to his father?

Even Gu Lin Tian himself,

upon hearing his son's words,

and seeing the celestial body essence he handed over, was completely stunned.

In his eyes, deep as the starry sky, a massive wave surged!

He looked at his own son,

at his sincere and clear gaze,

at the core in his hand that radiated immortal divine light…

An indescribable, scorching emotion surged from deep within his heart!

Moved, gratified, proud…

He, as a father who has lived for over a million years, what storms hasn't he seen?

What kind of treasure hasn't he possessed?

Yet at this moment, he feels his once still, ancient‑well heart of the Heavenly Emperor,

suddenly… uncharacteristically, beating wildly!