Chapter 1056: Gold Tower

Within the Guyuan Heaven.

On a small floating island stood a secluded manor. Outside the manor, mountains and rivers intertwined. Furthermore, the island was inscribed with source pattern barriers that could absorb the vast Genesis Qi from the outside world, refine it, and channel it into the island, making the Genesis Qi inside the island exceptionally pure.

This place was considered an excellent cultivation spot within the Guyuan Heaven, which ordinary individuals were not qualified to obtain. Even the elders of the Tianyuan Region were somewhat lacking in qualifications for it.

And this was precisely Zhou Yuan's cultivation residence.

Given his current status in the Tianyuan Region, although he had not yet been listed among the Grand Elders, his identity as a direct disciple of a Grand Sovereign meant that even many elders would treat him courteously.

Moreover, Zhou Yuan had repeatedly rendered meritorious service to the Tianyuan Region, so after the Battle for the Rare Treasure, Xi Jing bestowed this place upon him.

Deep within the manor, atop a small mountain, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, absorbing the Genesis Qi of heaven and earth.

Behind him, a faint platinum dragon silhouette flickered in and out of view, a low dragon roar resonated, exuding astonishing pressure.

Beneath his skin, crimson light constantly circulated. Occasionally, streaks of heat, like molten lava, would flash across his skin. The temperature he emitted while sitting there caused the small mountain beneath him to show signs of melting.

After an unknown period of cultivation, Zhou Yuan finally opened his eyes, crimson light surging within them, causing the space before him to subtly distort.

“This Great Flame Demon cultivation,” he murmured, “is indeed more difficult than the Profound Saint Body...”

Zhou Yuan murmured softly, but it was not surprising. The Great Flame Demon was, after all, a top-tier Minor Saint Art, while the Profound Saint Body was merely a Heavenly Genesis Art. The gap between them was immeasurable.

“However, if I can fuse the Seven Cangxuan Arts,” he thought, “I believe that the true Saint Genesis Art will certainly not disappoint me.”

A trace of fervor flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes. Saint Genesis Arts were extraordinary; even experts in the Nascent Source stage could not easily wield them. If he could master it, it would undoubtedly give him an extremely powerful trump card.

However, the fusion of the Seven Cangxuan Arts was more difficult than Zhou Yuan had imagined.

He had now cultivated all Seven Cangxuan Arts to Great Completion, but the process of fusing and deducing them was still not going too smoothly. Nevertheless, there had been some progress. Zhou Yuan believed that if he were given more time, he might just succeed.

As Zhou Yuan's thoughts spun, a whooshing sound suddenly came from afar.

He lifted his gaze and saw a figure land not far away, who respectfully said, “Chief Pavilion Master Zhou Yuan, Grand Elder Xi Jing requests your presence at the deliberation hall.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan nodded in assent.

“Have the Five Great Alliances made another move?” he murmured to himself.

Half a month had already passed since the Battle for the Rare Treasure. During this half-month, the Tianyuan Region's borders had become unusually quiet. The Five Great Alliances had ceased their attacks, but it was precisely this abnormal calm that made the Tianyuan Region exceptionally vigilant. Xi Jing and the other five Grand Elders were constantly guarding the Guyuan Heaven.

Now that Xi Jing had suddenly sent word, it was likely because she had detected movement from the enemy.

Zhou Yuan dared not delay. With a flicker of his figure, he transformed into a streak of light and shot into the sky.

The Deliberation Hall.

When Zhou Yuan arrived, the five Grand Elders were already gathered in the hall. He offered an apology and found a seat.

He immediately looked at Xi Jing, and noticing her solemn expression, he promptly asked, “Senior Sister, have the Five Great Alliances made a move?”

Xi Jing nodded gently. With a flick of her hand, Genesis Qi light diffused outward, directly forming a map of the Tianyuan Region's territory in the space before them.

“During this period, the Five Great Alliances ceased all attacks...”

“But a few days ago, our scouts discovered that they had other intentions.”

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed. But before he could ask, Xi Jing's jade-like finger pointed, and the Genesis Qi light screen rippled, and a tower-shaped light image gradually emerged.

It was a golden pagoda, nine stories tall. Each level was inscribed with ancient, abstruse source patterns. The power of these source patterns was such that even Zhou Yuan's Divine Soul, currently in the mid-stage of the Transformation Realm, felt a stinging sensation. This left Zhou Yuan secretly astonished. One had to remember that these were merely illusions; he wondered what kind of power the true pagoda would possess.

“What is this?” Zhou Yuan asked with a solemn expression.

“We don't know...”

Sect Master Xuankun said in a low voice, “In recent days, although the Five Great Alliances have temporarily halted their attacks, they have begun constructing this pagoda beyond the borders of the Tianyuan Region...”

Xi Jing's fingertip tapped down, and Zhou Yuan saw on the map, along the border of the Tianyuan Region, nine light dots emerge. These light dots completely encircled the entire Tianyuan Region.

And those light dots were clearly the nine-story golden pagodas being constructed.

“These nine golden pagodas must be the work of Grand Sovereign Wanzu,” Xi Jing said slowly. “Source patterns of this caliber are difficult even for us to inscribe. The few Law Domain experts of the Five Great Alliances are certainly incapable of this.”

As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. Grand Sovereign Wanzu had indeed made a move again.

“Can we destroy them?” Zhou Yuan frowned deeply. Although he did not know the purpose of building these golden pagodas, it certainly wouldn't be anything good for the Tianyuan Region. Therefore, if destruction was possible, it would undoubtedly be the first choice.

Xi Jing shook her head and said, “After learning this intelligence, we immediately dispatched elite teams to try and destroy them, but the Five Great Alliances had heavy troops guarding them. Moreover, these pagodas contained an unusually dangerous aura, causing even us Law Domain experts to feel a tremor in our hearts.”

Sect Master Xuankun also nodded, his expression grim, saying, “We all know that these golden pagodas are certainly a scheme against the Tianyuan Region, but for now, we can only watch helplessly.”

Clan Master Bianchang slammed his fist on the table before him. The table remained unmoved, but the space around it shattered like glass. At this moment, his face was clouded with gloom. Presumably, this feeling of helplessness was making him extremely frustrated.

Zhou Yuan also sighed inwardly. Clearly, after his previous failure, Grand Sovereign Wanzu had not only not ceased his actions, but had instead become even more aggressive.

And facing Grand Sovereign Wanzu's aggressive stance, the Tianyuan Region was helpless, able only to defend passively.

“What do we do next?” Zhou Yuan asked after a moment of silence.

Xi Jing took a deep breath and said, “Although we don't know the exact purpose of the nine golden pagodas, based on our deductions, the enemy is likely still targeting the Guyuan Heaven. Therefore, for the coming period, we will fully guard the Guyuan Heaven.”

“Only by relying on the Guyuan Heaven and utilizing the power of the Twin Lotus Saint Treasure ‘Heavenly Candle Eye’ can we hope to contend with Grand Sovereign Wanzu's scheme.”

There was a look of determination in her eyes. If Wanzu truly pushed them too far, then they would fight to the bitter end!

Zhou Yuan nodded gently. That Twin Lotus Saint Treasure, the “Heavenly Candle Eye,” was the sun hanging high in the sky above the Guyuan Heaven. This treasure was ranked fourteenth on the All-Heavens Saint Treasure Record, its power boundless. Even Law Domain experts would tremble under its might.

This treasure was also the Tianyuan Region's last reliance.

Zhou Yuan's gaze turned to the map. He gazed at the nine golden pagodas standing on the border, and sighed deeply in his heart. This Grand Sovereign Wanzu was truly detestable.

However, in a gamble of this magnitude, his humble Heavenly Sun stage cultivation could not play any role.

So, next, they could only wait and see what Grand Sovereign Wanzu truly intended to do...

And as Xi Jing and the others waited with some anxiety, a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Under the watchful eyes of various factions, the nine golden pagodas outside the Tianyuan Region's borders finally began to take shape.

It was as if a storm of destruction was brewing, intending to extinguish the blazing fire of the Tianyuan Region.