"Yi Tianxing, where is that treasure you obtained? Hand it over, break through the Yin-Yang Barrier, and let the true treasure emerge. Then, we can each fight for it based on our own abilities. If the Yin-Yang barrier isn't broken, no one will get anything. You're holding onto it — what are you plotting?"Mo Xie sneered coldly at Yi Tianxing, his voice sharp and full of provocation.
"That's right, Brother Yi! Bring out the treasure. Let's reveal the true prize first! It's pointless to keep stalling here. I'm itching for a fight already," Niu Ben laughed heartily, casually flipping the massive axe in his hand.
"Hisss!!"The giant serpent also fixed its icy gaze on Yi Tianxing, letting out a low, menacing hiss, clearly growing impatient.
Even Fu Hongxue and Bu Jingyun turned their attention toward Yi Tianxing.
His actions, different from the others', subtly pushed him into isolation. Right now, everyone was equally driven by curiosity and greed for the treasure. If no one could proceed because of Yi Tianxing, the consequences would be dire.He would become everyone's enemy.
"I did obtain a treasure," Yi Tianxing said steadily, his expression emotionless, though a strange flicker passed through his eyes. "It's called the Heart of the Swamp. Just like the seven artifacts floating above, it is a core of primal elemental power. However, I truly cannot bring it out."
"You obtained it, yet you can't take it out? Are you playing games with us?"Mo Xie laughed coldly, clearly skeptical.The others also looked at him with disbelief.
"The Heart of the Swamp has already been fused into my personal artifact. It can no longer be separated. In other words, it's now part of my life-bound treasure," Yi Tianxing said calmly.
"What? You fused it? In such a short time? That's impossible!"Tong Chui, the great blacksmith, exclaimed in disbelief.
He knew better than anyone how difficult it was to refine a primal elemental core. No matter how early Yi Tianxing might have arrived at the Bagua Platform, there was no way he could've completed the fusion so quickly.
"Exactly! If you didn't want to hand it over, just say so. No need for a lie that even a child could see through!"Mo Xie sneered, refusing to believe him.
"You can believe it or not, but the Heart of the Swamp has indeed been merged into my treasure. This tower."With a thought, Yi Tianxing summoned the Primordial Heaven Emperor Tower, which floated gently above his palm, radiating extraordinary light from its six distinct layers.
His eyes briefly flickered toward the seven floating artifacts, a subtle and unfathomable glint in his gaze.He released a faint trace of the Heart of the Swamp's aura from within the tower.
Ding ding ding!!
The moment the aura appeared, the seven artifacts in the sky shone even more brilliantly, emitting a pulling force so strong that the tower trembled and let out a series of clear chimes.
"It really is the aura of a primal treasure! The Heart of the Swamp has truly been fused into the tower!"Everyone immediately sensed the resonance. Yi Tianxing hadn't lied.
Everyone's heart sank. Their expressions turned dark.This situation was beyond frustrating — to have come so far, only to be stopped by such an unexpected twist.
"The Heart of the Swamp no longer exists as an independent treasure. It's now part of the tower. I can't separate it even if I wanted to," Yi Tianxing said, shaking his head.
"Your tower resonates with the treasures in the sky. If you send it up, maybe it can take the Heart's place and help break the barrier!"Mo Xie suggested sharply.
"That's not just a treasure anymore — it's my life-bound artifact, tied to my soul and blood. If anything goes wrong, it could damage it... or worse. Besides, what if it damages the other treasures? Who would take responsibility?"Yi Tianxing flatly refused.
This was absolutely reasonable: for a cultivator, a life-bound artifact was sacred. If damaged, it could injure their very soul. No one would casually risk such a thing.
The group fell silent.
"Send it up!" Niu Ben shouted. "If anything goes wrong, we'll deal with it later. Whether the tower or the other artifacts are damaged, we'll accept the consequences. Let's fight for the treasure first!"
"Agreed. Even a slight chance is worth it!"Mo Xie joined in.
Even the giant serpent nodded in agreement.Tong Chui also expressed his approval.Fu Hongxue, Bu Jingyun, and the stone giant all nodded silently.No objections — meaning tacit approval.
Humph!
Yi Tianxing snorted heavily, showing visible reluctance.But inwardly, he was laughing coldly: Good, good. Exactly what I wanted. I was wondering how to swallow these treasures... Now you're handing them over yourselves!
This was all part of a plan he had devised the moment he sensed the Bagua Platform's changes.
"Go!"With an expression of dissatisfaction, Yi Tianxing released the tower.Immediately, a powerful force pulled it into the sky, where it floated among the seven artifacts, their combined radiance growing stronger.
Whoosh!!
Suddenly, the seven treasures began to revolve around the tower.Without warning, the Heart of the Earth shot into the tower like a stream of light.
"Not good — something's happening!"
"What's going on?!"
Everyone's expressions changed.Inside the tower was one of their treasures. If it were damaged, the loss would be unbearable — yet they couldn't stop the process.
Ding!!
The Primordial Heaven Emperor Tower trembled, and another layer appeared, making it a seven-story tower. A heavy gravitational space was newly formed inside it.
Good. The more the better.Yi Tianxing maintained a worried look, but inside, he was ecstatic.
He was planning to devour all the artifacts into the tower!
"My Heart of the Earth!"Niu Ben cried out in anguish.
But it wasn't just the Heart of the Earth.One after another: the Flame Core, the Spring of Water, the Eye of Wind, the Thunder Pool, the Heaven's Heart, and the Mountain God's Seal — they all merged into the tower.
With each fusion, the tower gained another floor, its aura growing deeper and more powerful.Finally, after merging all the treasures (plus the original Heart of the Swamp), the tower became a thirteen-story behemoth, containing the very essence of the Eight Aspects of Heaven and Earth.
At that moment, the entire Bagua Platform's energy surged into the tower.It seemed to acknowledge the tower as the new, merged form of the original eight artifacts.
Boom!!
With a loud roar, the tower shot forth divine light, flashing with countless mysterious runes.Under the platform's tremendous power, it smashed into the Yin-Yang barrier.
The impact was thunderous.The dense Yin-Yang mist was forcefully shattered, scattering like a broken lake surface.
Countless strands of Yin-Yang energy flickered and danced.
"Good! It really worked! Even though we lost a treasure, if we can break through and obtain the true relic, it's all worth it!"Initially, everyone had been furious at losing their artifacts.But seeing the tower's direct assault on the Yin-Yang barrier filled them with excitement.
The true treasure hidden within was the ultimate prize — and they were finally about to seize it.