Chapter 1130 Profound Planning and the Eternal Gathering

Mo Yu and Lei Xiao exchanged a glance, a slightly meaningful look flashing in their eyes.

"Lei Xiao, you must be tired from your long journey." Mo Yu spoke first, his voice calm yet carrying a convincing and approachable quality.

"I have long heard of your valiant deeds in the Eastern Regions, slaying demons and monsters. Today, I have finally met you, and your prowess surpasses even the rumors."

Lei Xiao nodded slightly in return, his voice cool and clear: "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I am used to being idle. I happened to encounter a demon and dealt with it casually. It is nothing to mention."

Although his tone was calm, it exuded a dignified and unyielding air.

"Hehe, you are too modest," Mo Yu said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.

"A light feast has been prepared in the hall. Please come in for a chat. Our Eastern Region is in dire need of talent. A hero like you, with your exceptional skills and concern for the common people, is exactly what the Royal Palace needs. Would you be willing to temporarily set aside your travels and share the responsibility of protecting the Eastern Region with us?"

Throughout the Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion, whether they were Thunder Prison warriors or powerful outsiders, countless eyes were fixed on Lei Xiao with tension. Would he agree?

Lei Xiao remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the crowd behind Mo Yu, then back at Mo Yu, as if weighing his options.

Finally, he slowly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice still cold but clear as he spoke.

"I am deeply grateful for the King's kindness. The evil races from beyond the realm are the common enemy of all mankind. Although I am weak, I am willing to do my best. Since the King has not abandoned me, I am willing to enter the palace and await your command."

"Good!" Mo Yu clapped his hands and laughed, his voice echoing throughout the palace.

"With Lei Xiao's help, it is truly a blessing for our Eastern Region and a boon for the Royal Palace!"

From this day forward, Fellow Daoist Lei Xiao will be a guest elder of my Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion, holding a position of great prestige, and will not bow before the Prince!

"Thank you, King Mo." Lei Xiao clasped his hands in thanks again, his expression still calm, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

However, this scene quickly spread throughout the Eastern Region and the wider world through various channels.

The mysterious and powerful Lei Xiao has officially joined the Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion and has been granted extremely high authority!

This move undoubtedly greatly enhanced the Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion's apparent high-end combat power and deterrent force.

The addition of a top-tier expert whose combat power is comparable to the mid-to-late stage of the Immortal Realm, who is skilled in thunderous attacks and has cultivated an immortal golden body, is of great significance.

Throughout the Eastern Region, morale soared, and all factions showed greater loyalty to the Prince of Zhen Dong's Mansion and greater confidence in the future.

No one knows what kind of deep connection exists between the aloof and powerful Elder Lei Xiao and the secluded Thunder Emperor Mo Yu.

All they saw was a dazzling yet deadly purple-gold lightning bolt appearing beneath the thunder banner of the Prince of Zhen Dong's mansion.

The protective forces of the Eastern Region have gained another solid layer of protection.

……

After the much-anticipated recruitment and submission drama in front of the Zhen Dong Hall came to an end, the newly appointed guest elder, Lei Xiao, was respectfully led by the palace steward to the luxurious, secluded, and heavily guarded "Zi Lei Xuan" courtyard within the Lei Di Palace, which was specially prepared for distinguished guests.

It was announced that Lei Di would hold a formal banquet the following day to welcome Elder Lei Xiao and bestow upon him an official seal and assign him responsibilities.

However, on that very night, when the moon was hidden and the stars were few, and all was quiet.

Deep within the Purple Thunder Pavilion, in a quiet room shrouded by layers of isolation arrays, the space rippled almost imperceptibly.

Lei Xiao, who had been meditating cross-legged in the quiet room, slowly opened his eyes.

The signature, cold, sharp purple-gold lightning in his eyes quietly disappeared, replaced by a deeper, more vast tranquility, as if encompassing the chaotic starry sky.

The aura emanating from him was also undergoing subtle changes. His lofty and sharp edge as a lone wolf gradually subsided, creating a harmonious resonance with the entire Thunder Emperor Palace and this Thunder Continent.

The next moment, the floor of the quiet room silently opened, revealing a staircase extending downwards, flowing with chaotic colored lightning.

Lei Xiao stood up without hesitation, stepped onto the stairs, and entered the passage leading to the most core and most secret place of the Thunder Emperor Palace.

At the end of the passage lies the Chaotic Thunder Source Secret Realm, where Mo Yu himself is in seclusion.

Deep within the secret realm, the Chaos Thunder Lotus had transformed into a ninth-grade lotus platform, upon which Mo Yu's true form sat, his aura perfectly harmonious and flawless, as if connected to the entire secret realm and even the origin of the Heavenly Thunder Continent in the outside world.

Lei Xiao, or rather, Mo Yu's clone, stepped into the secret realm and calmly arrived at the foot of the lotus platform.

He did not bow, because there was no need to.

The two are one, sharing the same soul and common will.

"My true self," Lei Xiao said, his voice calm and slightly different from the cold tone he had previously displayed to the outside world. It was closer to the voice of Mo Yu himself, yet it also carried a trace of immortality.

Mo Yu, the true form on the lotus platform, slowly opened his eyes and looked down to meet the gaze of his clone, Lei Xiao.

In an instant, intangible information and insights flowed like mercury, rapidly exchanging and synchronizing between the two.

All the battles, insights, and experiences Lei Xiao had gone through over the years in the outside world were instantly absorbed and digested by his true self.

The deeper understanding of the Dao of Thunder that the main body gained during his seclusion, as well as some higher-level plans, were also transmitted back to the Thunder Sky clone.

"Thank you for your hard work." Mo Yu nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"His performances over the past few years have been very good. The character of Lei Xiao is now real and substantial enough."

"It's my duty," Lei Xiao's clone replied.

"Through the tempering and training I received during my battles abroad, I have greatly benefited in improving my strength and refining my immortal body."

My strength is now firmly established at the mid-stage of the Immortal Rank. Combined with the Immortal Thunder Intent and Thunder Battle Techniques, I am more than capable of dominating anything below the Saint Rank.

“Very good.” Mo Yu’s true form had a profound look in his eyes.

"You went to such great lengths to conceal your identity and independently create the persona of Lei Xiao. Besides adding a top-tier fighter with a clean background to the Prince's mansion and numbing the eyes that are secretly watching, do you know the most important purpose behind this?"

A flash of purple-gold lightning appeared in Lei Xiao's clone's eyes, and he slowly uttered four words: "Eternal Gathering".

“Not bad.” Mo Yu himself nodded.

"The Eternal Gathering will reopen in less than two years. The opportunities within the Eternal Tower, especially... the legendary inheritance qualification that has been preserved since ancient times and contains immortal essence and an eternal body, are of paramount importance to me and to our future path."

He paused, then continued, "My true self, as the King of Zhen Dong and the Eastern Guardian of the Great Thousand Palace, is too much of a target and involves too many people. Every move I make is under the watchful eyes of countless people, especially the evil races from outside the realm and certain treacherous forces in the Great Thousand Realm, who will definitely keep a close eye on me."

If I were to participate in the Eternal Gathering as my true self, there would be too many variables, making me an easy target, and it could even trigger unnecessary chain reactions. Even the Maha Ancient Clan, who have protected my Eternal Immortal Body for millennia, would never allow me to interfere.

Mo Yu knew that if he participated in the Eternal Gathering, the other competitors would have no chance at all. Therefore, the Maha Ancient Clan would definitely use this as a reason to verbally prevent his participation.

In addition, Mo Yu knew that to obtain the Eternal Immortal Body, he also needed to gain the approval of the remaining will of the Immortal Emperor. However, he himself had never cultivated the Immortal Golden Body. Based on this alone, it would not be easy to gain the recognition of the Immortal Emperor.

“But Lei Xiao, you are different.” Mo Yu’s lips curled into a subtle smile.

"You have a mysterious background, a good relationship with the Prince of Zhen Dong's Mansion but are not a subordinate core member, and you are powerful but have a relatively clean background."

It would be perfectly reasonable for me to attend the Eternal Gathering as a powerful rogue cultivator or as a guest elder of my royal palace. It wouldn't attract too much attention, and at least it wouldn't directly lead people to think of my true self's deeper schemes.

The immortal golden body you've deliberately displayed over the years is the best preparation and explanation for your competition for the Eternal Immortal Body. To anyone else, it seems perfectly logical, even inevitable, that you, Lei Xiao, would vie for such an inheritance.

Upon hearing this, Lei Xiao's clone nodded.

Since he was created by the original body, he has possessed the strength of a Spiritual Grade Heavenly Sovereign. Later, he received the cultivation method of the Immortal Golden Body from the original body.

As for why Mo Yu possesses the cultivation method of the Immortal Golden Body, it's quite simple. The Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion now controls a region, and back then, the Immortal Emperor scattered the cultivation methods of the Great Sun Undying Body and the Immortal Golden Body to various places. It was only natural for Mo Yu to collect a copy.

Lei Xiao said with a firm gaze, "The Eternal Gathering is a brutal competition, bringing together countless hidden geniuses and ancient inheritors from all over the world. To obtain an immortal body, one must first ascend to the top of the Eternal Tower, pass numerous trials, and defeat all competitors."

"On my journey, I will ascend the Eternal Tower in the name of Lei Xiao, and gather all the heroes of the world. That immortal body is mine to possess."

"Hehe, you are me, and I am you, so of course I trust you." Mo Yu smiled slightly and said, "After the banquet at the Prince's Mansion tomorrow, you should temporarily go into seclusion under the pretext of consolidating your cultivation and comprehending your gains."

When the time is right, you can quietly go to the venue of the Eternal Society. I will arrange everything at the Prince's Mansion and provide you with the necessary support and cover.

Remember, until the Eternal Gathering ends and Lei Xiao's true identity achieves its ultimate goal, your relationship with my true self, on the surface, is one of appreciation and being appreciated, recruitment and loyalty. This play must continue.

Lei Xiao's clone nodded slightly, said no more, turned around, and merged into the chaotic lightning, disappearing into the secret realm.

They came and went without a trace, as if they had never existed.

On the lotus platform, Mo Yuben closed his eyes again, but a calm smile, as if he had everything under control, appeared on his lips.

"The Eternal Body... With it, I will have mastered two original Dharma bodies. In the future, I will find an opportunity to have the other three clones cultivate the Endless Light Body of the Floating Pagoda Ancient Clan, the Tai Ling Sacred Body of the Tai Ling Ancient Clan, and the Night God Ancient Body of the Black Sky Ancient Clan respectively."

By uniting the five primordial Dharma bodies, my foundation will be incredibly solid. At that time, all four bodies will shine brightly, returning to their origin and merging into one… The path to dominion may then become clearly visible.

As the murmur subsided, the Chaotic Thunder Source Secret Realm returned to silence. Only the eternally evolving lightning silently recounted the profound scheme laid out by a peak powerhouse in order to ascend to the highest realm and protect everything…

The next day, after a grand welcoming banquet was held for Lei Xiao, the entire Thunder Prison and the Eastern Region knew that the Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion had gained another top expert.

While many powerful figures were curious about what changes this top expert's arrival would bring to the Zhen Dong Prince's Mansion, something surprising happened.

In the following period, the newly appointed guest elder, Lei Xiao, actually immersed himself in seclusion and cultivation, blocking out all information from the outside world and completely disappearing from everyone's sight.

Lei Xiao's actions left many people completely baffled, but given his status and position, no one would dare to question his behavior.

However, as time passed, while Lei Xiao was in seclusion cultivating, and even as his reputation gradually faded over the past two years, the Great Thousand World began to stir with excitement.

The source of this uproar was the "Eternal Gathering" that the Maha Ancient Clan was about to hold.

Unlike the grand gatherings of other powers, the "Eternal Gathering" of the Maha Ancient Clan is the focus of attention throughout the entire world, because the purpose of the "Eternal Gathering" is to select a master for the "Eternal Immortal Body".

The Eternal Immortal Body is one of the five original Dharma Bodies in the vast world, although it ranks fourth on the list of ninety-nine supreme Dharma Bodies.

However, everyone knows that the five original Dharma bodies are not ranked in any way; they are just different in their special abilities. So, to be precise, the five original Dharma bodies should be considered to be tied for first place.

However, the title of "Eternal Immortal Body" is even stronger, because the supreme Dharma body cultivated by the strongest being in the ancient world, the Immortal Emperor, was the Eternal Immortal Body.

Therefore, the power of an eternally immortal body is self-evident.

For a supreme dharma body of this level, not to mention ordinary heavenly supreme beings, even saint-grade heavenly supreme beings would covet it.

However, the Eternal Gathering has rules: only those who have cultivated an immortal golden body are qualified to participate, and the opportunity to participate is only once in a lifetime.

Although the conditions are somewhat harsh, this does not prevent the "Eternal Gathering" from becoming one of the most important events in the world, because everyone wants to know who will ultimately possess the legendary "Eternal Immortal Body".

Therefore, as the time of the "Eternal Gathering" approached, the entire world turned its attention to the Maha Ancient Clan.

……

Inside the Purple Thunder Pavilion, the moment Lei Xiao opened his eyes, it was as if two dazzling bolts of lightning shot out, the spiritual light directly piercing through the thick protective spiritual barrier and striking the ground outside.

The surging spiritual energy surged through the pavilion like a tidal wave, causing the entire Purple Thunder Pavilion to tremble violently, as if it were about to collapse.

This sight attracted the attention of many powerful figures in Thunder Prison, and when they saw that it was the Purple Thunder Pavilion that had been quiet for a long time, they were immediately surprised.

After all, the newly appointed guest elder had remained completely silent for two years after joining Thunder Prison, which led to Lei Xiao's name gradually disappearing from public view.

However, some clever people had a sudden realization. Considering the recent uproar over the Eternal Gathering in the Great Thousand Worlds, and the rumors that Elder Lei Xiao also cultivated the Immortal Golden Body, could it be...?

While outsiders continued to speculate, the commotion at Zi Lei Xuan lasted for a while before gradually subsiding.

The light in Lei Xiao's eyes also faded, returning to calm, but his dark eyes appeared even more profound.

He slowly turned his gaze toward the direction of the Maha Ancient Clan, and murmured to himself.

"The Eternal Gathering, is it finally about to begin...?"