Chapter 1702: Mysterious Transformation
First place in the Immortal Emperor Trials was allowed to enter the Everlasting Battlefield.
The Everlasting Battlefield was said to have some fabled Spirits of the Universe which could help an immortal king rise to become an eternal immortal emperor. It only opened once every 50,000 years, which was the reason for the Immortal Emperor Trials’ conception.
Wu Yu had won the Trials, and with it the privilege to enter Everlasting Battlefield and undergo one of the most important transformations for immortals.
"Patriarch, your disciple is quite something. Where did you find him? Haha!"
Grand Supreme Elderly Lord laughed from beside the Patriarch Bodhi. He seemed to be well pleased with Wu Yu. "This Wu Yu is going to take the sky palaces by storm. There hasn’t been a genius of this level for ages. I thought that Yang Qiang and Li Tianji were the cream of the crop, but Wu Yu was a bolt from the blue."
"Elderly Lord, you praise him too much. His clumsy moves are not worthy of mention, although this old coot is very happy that he has taken this lucky win."
The Patriarch Bodhi smiled brightly in return.
He had always intended for Wu Yu to win, ever since he had reserved a slot for him in the trials. Still, he had not been sure of the outcome, given how strong the competition was.
And now that things had gone as planned, the Patriarch Bodhi was naturally happy.
He waved from afar, indicating for Wu Yu to join him. He looked around once, and announced: "The winner of the Immortal Emperor Trials is Wu Yu. According to the rules, he now wins the chance to enter the Everlasting Battlefield and seek the transformation of eternal life! Wu Yu, come here."
As he beckoned, Wu Yu nodded and quickly made his way over to the Patriarch Bodhi’s side.
He was deeply moved.
A typical response from those that won. After all, this meant that they could become eternal immortal emperors on Everlasting Battlefield!
After the Immortal Emperor Trials, the Patriarch Bodhi would usually send the champion into Everlasting Battlefield before all the guests and disciples.
The Patriarch Bodhi’s Wheel of Taichi spun, preparing the Everlasting Battlefield.
Luo Pin, Full Moon of Nanshan, and Ye Xixi all watched on with eyes wide. If Wu Yu reached immortal emperor status in Everlasting Battlefield, it would represent a great improvement to their lives. Alternatively, if he failed he would become a laughing stock in the sky palaces.
Of course, they believed that Wu Yu would succeed. He didn’t usually fail, and that had built up their confidence over a long time.
But as Everlasting Battlefield opened up, an unexpected voice rang out.
"Patriarch, wait!"
This voice had come from the watching phoenix immortal beasts!
Provenance Phoenix Empress of the Six Superior Phoenix Emperors had a regal smile on her face. "I congratulate the Patriarch for finding such an outstanding disciple such as Wu Yu. A blessing indeed! However, my daughter Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord has recently gone through great transformations and reached the 9-heavens immortal king realm as well. However, she was not invited by the Patriarch. She says that she wishes to challenge the Patriarch’s disciple Wu Yu. What do you think?"
This was met with general stupefaction.
The Immortal Emperor Trials were already over. Could an encore be in the works?
The phoenix immortal beasts had actually nominated Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord? The way they said it, the transformation seemed to be a once-in-a-million-years kind of rare! But Provenance Phoenix Empress did not elaborate on the transformation.
All eyes turned to Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord, who stood completely devoid of emotion. It was unsettling and uncanny. What on earth had she been through?
It was a personal secret, and the Patriarch Bodhi could not easily ask it.
Wu Yu frowned deeply, trying to read Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord. On the surface, she was definitely Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord, although the body was shared by Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord and Nangong Wei.
Wu Yu had already sensed something off about her since the time at the Immortal Dragon Imperial Realm.
After all, he had tied things up with them and resolved their problem. He had not thought she would stab him in the back again.
Wu Yu had initially thought that Nangong Wei had been jealous of Luo Pin, but it seemed iffy at best.
He looked at Nangong Wei now, but saw no emotion in her eyes. It seemed to be neither Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord nor Nangong Wei. A completely different person......
Unreadable!
Wu Yu did not know what had happened to her, but he could confirm that she had changed thoroughly. She was neither Nangong Wei nor Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord.
The Patriarch Bodhi was troubled by Provenance Phoenix Empress’ suggestion.
After all, he himself had laid down the rules of Immortal Emperor Trials, and now a champion had been crowned. If Wu Yu still had to fight Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord, it was too unfair to Wu Yu. After all, that was not in the rules.
Logically, Wu Yu had no obligation to accept Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord’s challenge.
But at this time, Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord stood up and shouted coldly in Wu Yu’s direction: "Wu Yu, I want to challenge you! Do you dare to put a chance at the Everlasting Battlefield on the line?"
"When I arrived, you were just starting the finals. But to me, your strength is nothing, even if you beat Yang Qiang in the end! I am unconvinced by your win!"
These words were spoken with an icy face. Wu Yu felt like he was being addressed by a stranger.
If it had been Nangong Wei, Wu Yu believed that there should be jealousy there.
If it had been Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord, then she should show some anger.
But there was nothing in her eyes besides an unfeeling, uncaring character. It was perplexing, a mystery that he had no answer for.
However, her words had indeed fanned the flames within Wu Yu.
First in the Immortal Emperor Trials, but his strength was nothing?
First, and she was unconvinced?
He had been through such hardship, defeated so many experts! Be it Li Tianji or Yang Qiang, he had had to risk his life to clinch victory over them.
How could he be expected to take her "unconvincing" lying down?!
No matter what had happened to her, Wu Yu would not let his hardwon prize be slighted like that, and even dismissed outright. If so, then what did his efforts count for?
On a deeper level, Wu Yu wanted to find out what had happened to Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord!
If he fought with her, perhaps he would find some clues?
As for losing, Wu Yu was not worried. He had already defeated Yang Qiang and Li Tianji, and even if she had some superhuman transformation, she would not be much stronger than them.
As long as Wu Yu was careful, he should be able to win.
"If that’s how you feel, then I accept your request."
Wu Yu nodded guardedly.
Many immortal emperors were unhappy with this result.
"That’s too unfair, isn’t it? Our junior brother Wu here went through so much in order to win, and now this girl from the phoenixes wants to challenge for the Everlasting Battlefield’s right? How is that fair?"
"It’s too unfair to junior brother Wu. But since he has accepted the challenge, that shows he isn’t afraid, and is confident of winning."
"Hard to say. Look at all those Six Superior Phoenix Emperors. They’re so damned smug about this incredible transformation of hers - they’re hiding something. I’m sure of it."
"Hide all they want. What can they possibly pull off in front of the Patriarch Bodhi? But that Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord is strange indeed. Something’s odd."
The immortal emperors muttered.
They could not interfere with Wu Yu’s decision, and the Patriarch Bodhi naturally respected his wishes as well.
"In that case, then the two of you will fight a year from now. The winner will win the right to enter Everlasting Battlefield."
The Patriarch Bodhi nodded in agreement after some pondering. He announced: "This battle is not part of the Immortal Emperor Trials, but merely a challenge between you two, using the Everlasting Battlefield as the stake."
The phoenix immortal beasts were very pleased with this decision, and the Six Superior Phoenix Emperors returned to the stands, preparing for the challenge.
Wu Yu returned back as well.
He had been injured badly in the fight against Yang Qiang, and needed time to heal. The Patriarch Bodhi had secured this time for him to recover and recuperate, so that he could face this battle in his best state.
He had already won the Immortal Emperor Trials. If he lost in this challenge, that would be a real upset indeed.
Both of them spent the year preparing.
Many of the immortal emperors who had planned to leave, such as True Lord Erlang, Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord, Father of Thunder and Mother of Lightning, The All-Seeing and The All-Hearing, all now decided to stay. To them, a year meant nothing. It would pass in an instant.
And since there was still a good battle to be had, they would not just pass up on it.
This had been the most interesting Immortal Emperor Trials in recent history, with a mortal-born cultivator taking the win and now a gatecrasher in the mix.
"If this Dancing Flame Phoenix Lord beats Wu Yu, things will get very interesting."
Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord, the Four Heavenly Kings, and Marshal Tian You all thought to themselves. They were very excited about this mysterious transformation that Provenance Phoenix Empress had hinted at.
The answer would reveal itself in a year’s time!