Invisible Security Guard
Chapter 1448: Just Raising a Share

Chapter 1448: Chapter 1448: Just Raising a Share

The Eternal City and the Eight Great Guardian Cities presented an unusual sight. Families, taverns, and shops alike, many people were either drinking wine or tea while occasionally glancing up at the towering Tower of Heaven. Then, they’d turn to look at the sandglass placed before them.

This was also a time sandglass, but it measured the duration of twelve hours. When all the sand ran out, exactly twelve hours would have passed.

Minute by minute, second by second, everyone was waiting—waiting for what might happen after the twelve hours were over. Would there be unexpected developments? Would Yusuf Zuck still not be dead? And so on and so forth.

In short, all tasks were abandoned; everyone was simply waiting for time to pass.

Sunset Square was nearly deserted. Aside from the Eight Great Clan Elders, the Eight Great Clan Leaders, and Landyn Torres, only the outer guards remained. Even the clan leaders of the First-class Families had been expelled from this area.

The Eight Great Elders no longer exchanged words. They each harbored varying degrees of worry—what if there were unexpected events after the twelve hours? When that happened, their Eight Great Families would truly lose face.

"Swish—swish—swish—" The sand in the time sandglass emitted a faint grinding sound, its noise barely audible, yet everyone was listening intently.

Twelve hours—an instant in the eyes of Deities and higher beings—felt interminably long today to those from the Heavenly Realm.

Fortunately, after patient waiting from everyone, the twelve hours finally approached their end. The Eternal City’s populace, the inhabitants of the Eight Great Guardian Cities—all turned in the same direction, all tilted their heads to gaze at the Tower of Heaven at Sunset Square.

The sound of "Ding" marked the completed countdown, and in that instant, the Eternal City and the Eight Great Guardian Cities fell into eerie silence.

Simultaneously, the Eight Clan Elders collectively opened their eyes, Landyn Torres stood up with clenched fists, while the Eight Great Clan Leaders took a deep breath.

None of them wanted any surprises.

"Mr. Berger, your turn. My luck doesn’t seem to be working," the Pharaoh said. Twice before, he had tried without success, so for the third attempt he voluntarily yielded, hoping that change might bring fortune.

"Very well, I shall try." The Berger Clan Elder declared solemnly, snapping his fingers to conjure a streak of blood-red light that shot toward the Tower of Heaven.

"Buzz—buzz—buzz—" The Tower of Heaven quaked again, but... it was merely quaking; the individual inside still hadn’t been refined.

The Berger Elder’s face darkened instantly. The Pharaoh and others wore grim expressions, Landyn Torres was visibly stunned, and the Eight Clan Leaders were equally bewildered. The Eternal City’s residents and those in the Eight Great Cities burst into murmurs of astonishment.

Still not refined! Twelve hours had passed, and yet still not refined! Just what kind of monster, what kind of anomaly, was Yusuf Zuck? How could he have survived in there for twelve hours? Everyone knew that mere minutes—or even a single breath—inside the Tower could reduce a Superior Divine Master to liquid. And yet someone like Yusuf Zuck, merely a mid-level Divine Emperor, had persisted for twelve full hours?

This was undoubtedly unexpected, beyond all imaginations and predictions—a true act of defiance against destiny!

"What now?" The Eight Clan Elders exchanged uncertain glances, while even Landyn Torres was at a loss for what to do.

If the individual within could not be refined, the Tower of Heaven would simply remain, unable to be collected or minimized.

The Eight Clan Elders also could not continue waiting there indefinitely. They needed to return to God’s Altar.

"Let’s head back to God’s Altar. After another twelve hours, we can have someone else give it a try," the Pharaoh suggested.

"That’s probably the best option. After all, he can’t escape the tower; refinement is only a matter of time."

"Indeed, once inside the tower, death is guaranteed—it’s just a question of when."

"There’s no need to worry about him escaping."

"Ha, who in all existence could flee the Tower of Heaven? Its suppression is absolute; no one can escape."

"So really, there’s no need for concern. After a while, we’ll come back to collect it. After all, no one else knows how to handle it."

"Exactly. Let’s retreat for now. By the way, Cason Torres, you’ll need to reorganize your clan, wipe out every identified threat, and reclaim the southeastern territories. Within the next decade, you must ensure the Heavenly Realm’s peace; eliminate anyone who opposes the Eight Great Families."

"Understood. I know what must be done. Rest assured, Elders," Landyn Torres replied with a nod.

"Very well. After twelve hours, we’ll send someone to retrieve the tower again. We’ll see if he’s still alive then."

"Let’s go—let’s go." As the Eight Elders finished speaking, they transformed into streams of light, disappearing into the skies.

Landyn Torres exhaled deeply, then commanded coldly, "Nobody is to enter or leave Sunset Square."

"Understood," the Eight Clan Leaders responded in unison.

...

Meanwhile, the Eternal City, the Eight Great Guardian Cities, and even the entire Heavenly Realm were abuzz. Everyone marveled at Yusuf Zuck—the lone anomaly—who was yet to perish. His survival defied all expectations, leaving the masses speculating wildly. How had Yusuf managed to endure within the Tower of Heaven? Why had it failed to refine him within twelve hours?

Based on this logic of unrefinability, Yusuf Zuck appeared comparable to the Ancient Great Gods—possibly even the Great Gods among them. After all, even the Ancient Great Gods could only survive in such a place for twelve hours.

...

As time flitted by and the Heavenly Realm’s denizens pondered and debated, another twelve hours elapsed. After the twelve hours, another one of the Eight Clan Elders arrived—this time, it was Elder Nong.

The elderly Nong arrived quietly under cover of night. Wasting no time, he approached the Tower and attempted to collect it.

Yet, just as before, the Tower quaked violently, but it still refused to shrink in size.

Elder Nong’s expression grew grim once more as he turned and departed.

The Heavenly Realm’s populace was baffled. Just how unyielding was Yusuf Zuck? From the looks of it, even if one of the Eight Clan Elders themselves were trapped inside, they would likely not have survived.

On the third day, another Elder came forward—Elder Xia. Again, the Tower of Heaven quaked, and again, Elder Xia departed in fury.

On the fourth day, Elder Wu; the fifth, Elder Lei; the sixth, Elder Yun; the seventh, Elder Kong; and on the eighth day, it was once more the Pharaoh.

Eight consecutive days, eight attempts to refine—none succeeded.

At the end of eight days, the Tower of Heaven ceased activity entirely. A month passed before it trembled again, yet it still refused to shrink.

The many inhabitants of the Heavenly Realm transitioned from their initial shock and disbelief to measured calm. At this point, each time the Tower quaked, their reaction was merely to utter: "It quaked again."

And that was all—just a simple statement—"It quaked again, but he didn’t die."

Three months later, it quaked once more.

A year later, yet another tremor.

...

Inside the Tower of Heaven, lightning flashed furiously, flames erupted violently, and crimson torrents raged forth—the Primordial Godly Thunder, Nine Heavens Profound Fire, and the bizarre red rainfall. These three forces were unparalleled in their lethality; they could annihilate a Superior Divine Master in an instant.

Yet, at this moment, Yusuf Zuck had reverted to his true form, his body enveloped in radiant golden light. Even so, he found himself immobile; his physical state was beyond his control. This was due to the Giant Spirit Seed within him, which was frantically consuming the three forces. The seed shimmered in ever-changing golden brilliance.

The Spirit Seed was growing, absorbing the nutrients of the Tower of Heaven!