Chapter 178

He slowly rose, gave a slight nod to the Vastwave Emperor: "Today's matter, I thank you, Emperor; I, Li Zhangsheng, owe you a favor."

"If you ever encounter difficulties, or if the Vastwave Holy Land needs help, you can use this favor to find me once."

The Vastwave Emperor smiled and said: "Your words are too heavy; Zhou Xuan and his two companions are also notable figures, and I did not even use the Eternal Arts of Identifying Appearances, so I cannot claim to have helped."

"One thing for one thing," Li Zhangsheng said. He also knew that without someone like the Vastwave Emperor, it would be impossible to come into contact with and know Zhou Xuan and his two companions. "I have other matters; I'll take my leave!"

After saying that, Li Zhangsheng did not linger, turned and set off toward the Spacelight Realm to find Zhou Xuan and his two companions and retrieve the abducted Mu Xuan Yi.

"Please wait!"

Seeing this, the Vastwave Emperor hurriedly rose and spoke, calling out to stop him!

Li Zhangsheng halted his steps, turned to look at the Vastwave Emperor, his expression calm: "Anything else?"

The Vastwave Emperor smiled: "You have cleared every layer of the Heaven-reaching Tower; don't you want to know the origin of this tower and the Daoist arts within?"

Hearing that, Li Zhangsheng's face showed a hint of curiosity, "Oh, is this Tongtian Tower not something you created to select talent?"

The Canglan Emperor bitterly smiled and said, "Although I am at the pinnacle of the Dao Emperor, I could not create a treasure like the Tongtian Tower or the supreme Dao technique of the Fifteenth Layer; those two were personally forged by my teacher."

"My teacher is the supreme being at the very top of Yuan Zhi Sheng Tu, an Eternal Lord!"

As the four words "Eternal Lord" fell, Li Zhangsheng's eyes flickered slightly, yet there was still little ripple!!

He knows that the Eternal Lord is the highest supreme existence of Yuan Zhi Sheng Tu!

He hadn't found that the Canglan Emperor's teacher is actually an Eternal Lord!

Moreover, the Tongtian Tower and the Secret Record of Unifying Space and Time for the Fifteenth Layer both originated from his teacher's hand, which somewhat surprised Li Zhangsheng!

The Canglan Emperor continued, "My teacher's cultivation has long transcended the Dao Emperor realm, entered the Eternal realm, imperishable through ten thousand ages, untouched by space and time; even when surveying the entire Yuan Zhi Sheng Tu, only a handful of beings can match them."

"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, my teacher built this Tongtian Tower, handed it to me, and tasked me with finding someone who could truly and completely clear the Fifteenth Layer—a reverse‑heaven talent."

"My teacher left a decree: each of the Tongtian Tower's Fifteenth Layers corresponds to various trials; only the true first talent of all ages, possessing the Eternal Lord's qualification, can push through and fully clear them."

"For millions of years, countless heavenly prodigies have fallen, and no one has succeeded, until your appearance."

The Canglan Emperor lifted his eyes, his gaze burning yet respectful as he looked at Li Zhangsheng, word for word, solemnly: "My teacher said that if one day someone fully clears the Tongtian Tower, that person is the heir he seeks."

"He is willing to personally take him as a disciple, pour all his lifelong knowledge to help him enter the Eternal realm and become the next Eternal Lord!"

The entire hall fell into silence.

If this opportunity were spread, the whole Yuan Zhi Sheng Tu would go completely mad.

Being a direct disciple of the Eternal Lord is the supreme destiny that countless cultivators have exhausted ages for, never daring to dream of.

Not to mention ordinary cultivators; even a Dao Emperor‑level powerhouse would willingly kneel and beg for apprenticeship, sparing no cost to seize this chance.

Yet Li Zhangsheng, after listening, remained expressionless and shook his head slightly:

"Sorry, I have no desire to take a master, nor do I need anyone's guidance in cultivation."

Li Zhangsheng paused, then said, "As for the Secret Record of Unifying Space and Time inside the Tongtian Tower, the technique is fine and beneficial to me."

"You may inform your teacher that this Dao method counts as a favor I, Li Zhangsheng, owe him."

"If in the future he encounters difficulty or needs my assistance, he may seek me, and I will fulfill the promise."

With Li Zhangsheng's strength, he naturally needs no one to take as a master!

Nonsense, any supreme Dao technique is merely a glance for him; why need others to point it out?

However, he did study the Secret Record of Unifying Space and Time and benefited, which does count as owing someone a favor!

The Canglan Emperor was slightly stunned by the words!

Refusing the Eternal Lord's invitation to take a disciple?

This is the most outrageous, most unbelievable sentence he has heard in millions of years!

If it were anyone else, they'd surely kneel on the spot to give thanks and cling tightly to this eternal opportunity, but the one before him directly refused, only willing to repay a favor!

Yet the Canglan Emperor, seeing Li Zhangsheng's calm yet resolute gaze, knew the man's mind was set, impervious to words.

He no longer urged the apprenticeship, suppressing his shock, and with a slight smile said, "Your intention, I will convey to the teacher unchanged."

Then the Canglan Emperor spoke again, with some sincerity: "Sir, this time you intend to go alone to the Zhou Guang Realm to seek Emperor Zhou Xuan?"

"The Zhou Guang Realm and my Canglan domain are separated by tens of millions of light‑years; Zhou Xuan is a domineering, ruthless person, with countless strong subordinates and profound foundations."

"He and I are both top‑tier emperors of Yuan Zhi Sheng Tu, equal in status; if I accompany you, out of respect for me, he will most likely hand the person over directly, avoiding a dispute."

"I wonder, sir, whether you need me to accompany you?"

The Canglan Emperor willingly set aside his imperial bearing to accompany Li Zhangsheng to the Zhou Guang Realm, naturally to befriend this future eternal‑level existence!!

After all, Li Zhangsheng is a millennium‑level prodigy who cleared the Tongtian Tower!

Li Zhangsheng heard this, looked at the Canglan Emperor, and smiled, "Your kindness, Emperor, I understand."

"However, no need, I can go by myself!"

He goes to the Zhou Guang Realm precisely to engage in the dispute!

Anyone daring to seize him would render the Zhou Guang Sacred Land unnecessary!

As the words ended, Li Zhangsheng lingered no more; his form flashed, his white robes fluttered, he tore through the void, and his figure vanished instantly into the endless spacetime!

In the hall, the Canglan Emperor stood alone, watching Li Zhangsheng's departing direction, shaking his head with a bitter smile:

"So this is the teacher's so‑called first talent of all ages? I feel a bit pressured in his presence!"

"Teacher, the person you were looking for has been found."

"But this person's temperament is so lofty, far beyond imagination; to take him as a disciple, you must come yourself!"

Murmuring to himself, the Canglan Emperor called out, "Zhuge Xiao, come over!"

A moment later, Zhuge Xiao appeared beside the Canglan Emperor, bowing respectfully, "Your Majesty."

The Canglan Emperor asked, "How long did that person take to clear the Tongtian Tower?" He had learned that someone had cleared it and had rushed there, but had not discovered how much time Li Zhangsheng spent, so he was now curious to know, also to report to the teacher.

"Your Majesty, that white‑clad youth used less than... half an hour," Zhuge Xiao said, his voice trembling slightly.

"What did you say?!" the Canglan Emperor's whole body jolted, "Only less than half an hour? What joke is that, are you sure?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the opening time of the Heaven-Reaching Tower this year only started today; it's been less than an hour since it opened." Zhuge Xiao said.

Hiss!

Canglan Emperor took a deep breath of cool air!

All matters of the Heaven-Reaching Tower have been entrusted to Zhuge Xiao and three people to oversee; he hasn't paid attention to the Tower's affairs for a long time!

Heavens!

To clear the Heaven-Reaching Tower in less than half an hour—what does that mean?

"I understand, you may leave." After the Canglan Emperor calmed down, he then waved his hand.

"Yes, Emperor!" Zhuge Xiao clasped his hands and took his leave.

After Zhuge Xiao left, the Canglan Emperor took out a piece of lustrous black stone.

He activated the stone, and moments later, a huge and imposing figure was directly projected.

"Canglan, what do you need?" the huge and imposing figure asked.

The Canglan Emperor respectfully clasped his hands and said: "Teacher, the Heaven-Reaching Tower has been cleared by someone… he… he took less than half an hour..."