The Eightfold Pagoda had always been a patchwork creation. No matter how much it was refined, it should have topped out as a supreme treasure—nothing more. Yet now, with the Blood Night King's very body and spirit fused into it, reinforced by the Five Elements Land Talisman, its might had surpassed that of ordinary mid-grade Dao artifacts.
At this moment, the former Blood Night King stood atop the pagoda, holding the Great Brahma Radiant Ship, with the Sun and Moon Essence Wheels revolving endlessly around him. Fang Han had given him a new name:
The Wheel-Turning Sacred King.
His presence alone shook the ten directions and the five elements.
From this day forward, the artifact spirit of the Eightfold Pagoda would be known as the Wheel-Turning Sacred King.
The pagoda still had one fatal flaw. Its main body—the Blood Dragon Crystal Mountain—was not yet strong enough. Against truly overwhelming power, it could still be shattered. Only when Fang Han personally refined it into a Dao artifact after entering the Longevity Secret Realm would the pagoda truly take on its final form.
This was something no one else could be entrusted with.
It was destined to become his life-bound artifact.
Still, with the Five Elements Land Talisman reinforcing it—and with 3.6 million heavenly demons praying day and night, generating vast streams of faith power to temper the tower—the pagoda's body was steadily hardening. Though still far from a Dao artifact, it was no longer something ordinary forces could destroy.
Fang Han would have time. From now on, his task was simple: endlessly strengthen the tower.
"Fang Han," the Wheel-Turning Sacred King sent a thought, "within the pagoda, over twelve hundred Demon Kings have already been born. Yet many of them lack suitable artifacts or flying swords. If they were properly equipped, their combat strength would rise dramatically. With the formations from the Celestial Dragon Codex, we could train them into a terrifying force. When battle comes, thousands of artifacts unleashed at once—even experts of the Longevity Secret Realm would suffer."
The Wheel-Turning Sacred King was once Fang Han's incarnation. Their minds were linked; a single thought was enough.
"Good. Very good," Fang Han replied without hesitation.
In an instant, the seven thousand low-grade treasures, over two thousand mid-grade treasures, hundreds of high-grade treasures, and more than fifty supreme treasures stored in the Yellow Springs Diagram were all transferred into the Eightfold Pagoda.
Supreme treasures flew into the hands of the strongest Demon Kings. High-grade treasures went to the lesser kings. Mid- and low-grade treasures were distributed among elite heavenly demons on the brink of ascension.
In a heartbeat, the pagoda's interior exploded with radiant light.
Three million six hundred thousand heavenly demons. Twelve hundred Demon Kings. The strongest among them were now fully armed.
The Wheel-Turning Sacred King gave a thunderous command:
"Chi Yan Yang! Leng Yue Hua! Since you have submitted, assist me fully. Train these demons. Teach them to wield their artifacts. Prepare them for war!"
The two artifact spirits of the Sun and Moon Essence Wheels—Chi Yan Yang and Leng Yue Hua—had been completely converted by the Great Salvation Zen Light. Now loyal, they possessed deep understanding of formations and cultivation, on par with Yan himself. As former treasures of the God Emperor Hentian, they could communicate naturally with the demons.
At once, the three artifact spirits gathered atop the pagoda, issuing command after command.
Across the eight internal worlds, millions of demons moved in unison. Countless streams of treasure light merged together, their radiance forcing even the Asura demonic energy of the Yellow Springs Diagram to retreat.
Three mid-grade Dao artifacts commanding millions of demons, fifty-plus supreme treasures, countless high-, mid-, and low-grade artifacts—all linked into a single, overwhelming force.
"Fang Han," the Wheel-Turning Sacred King said after overseeing the drills, "you'll need to collect even more treasures in the future. If every Demon King is fully equipped, the power we unleash will be unimaginable. It's a shame—you gave away so many treasures when you entered the Linglong Blessed Land. Otherwise, the pagoda would be even stronger now."
As he spoke, he crushed vast quantities of Black God Pills, scattering the refined essence throughout the pagoda for the demons to absorb.
Revitalized, the demons trained once more before sitting down to pray devoutly.
Those pills could sustain them for a full year.
After that, Fang Han would need to find new sources of energy. But a year from now, who knew what he would become? Perhaps he would already have entered the Longevity Secret Realm. Perhaps he would find more fragments of the World Tree.
Treasure light surged skyward, slicing in all directions.
The Yellow Springs Diagram itself nearly burst apart.
"Incredible… truly incredible," Yan muttered, stunned. "I can barely suppress the Eightfold Pagoda anymore. It could break free at any moment. Without the Sun and Moon Essence Wheels, I might still control it—but now…"
Only after everything was settled did Fang Han withdraw his divine sense and mana from the Yellow Springs Diagram.
To the outside world, none of this was visible. All anyone saw was Fang Han standing motionless on the platform, his body shimmering with light. They assumed he was simply assimilating the three supreme divine abilities.
They had no idea that his strength had multiplied dozens—no, hundreds—of times over.
Fang Han clasped his hands and bowed to the lofty Linglong Immortal Venerable.
"Many thanks, Immortal Venerable. These three supreme divine abilities will benefit me for a lifetime. If I one day achieve true cultivation, I will surely protect the disciples of Linglong Blessed Land."
Then Linglong Immortal Venerable spoke, her words shocking the entire assembly.
"Fang Han, I will give you a choice. Leave the Feathered Immortal Sect and join Linglong Blessed Land."
The crowd erupted.
Linglong Blessed Land had never accepted male disciples.
Even Fang Han was stunned.
"Join Linglong Blessed Land?"
"Yes," she said calmly. "If you do, I will appoint you Vice Sect Master. When I ascend to the Immortal Realm, you will inherit full control of Linglong Blessed Land. As for leaving the Feathered Immortal Sect—I will speak with Feng Baiyu. You may still return there in the future."
Fang Han shook his head slowly.
"I have received much from the Feathered Immortal Sect, yet I have not repaid it. To leave now would weigh too heavily on my conscience."
Linglong Immortal Venerable asked again, her voice suddenly profound.
"Fang Han, tell me—if I were to shatter a single star into dust, would the grains be many?"
"Countless," Fang Han answered truthfully.
"And if I shattered all the stars in the cosmos into dust?"
"So many that even immortals could not count them."
"If you enter Linglong Blessed Land," she said, "the benefits you gain will exceed even that number."
Her words struck like a supreme Wish Technique, shaking Fang Han's very soul. For a moment, he nearly accepted.
But deep within him was an unshakable vigilance.
He trusted no one completely.
Only himself.
That belief solidified his mind.
"Even benefits greater than the dust of all stars are but illusions," Fang Han said firmly. "Only one's own cultivation is real. Thank you for your kindness, Immortal Venerable—but I will not leave the Feathered Immortal Sect."
"Well said," Linglong Immortal Venerable replied, unangered—almost pleased. "This is the true nature of a cultivator. Beyond the self, there is nothing. Very well. You may withdraw."
Fang Han transformed into a streak of auspicious light and returned to his seat.
The birthday banquet continued for three days and three nights. There were divine performances, rare fruits, celestial wine, miraculous pills—an endless spectacle.
During this time, Fang Han fully familiarized himself with his transformed body, golden core, divine abilities, and artifacts. Everything moved as easily as thought.
His golden core—bearing ninety-three divine abilities—continued accumulating immense energy, preparing to transform into a Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Aspect.
But he discovered a problem.
The energy required would be astronomical.
Even with the World Tree absorbing vitality nonstop, it would barely make a dent.
His golden core was simply too powerful.
"So I'm poor again," Fang Han sighed inwardly. "I can't just refine pills anymore. I'll need to seek out treasures, artifacts—anything that can supply energy."
Most of his artifacts had gone to the demons under the Wheel-Turning Sacred King. From now on, he would need to gather even more.
After three days and nights, Linglong Immortal Venerable delivered a final exposition of the Linglong Great Luo Scripture. With that, the banquet officially ended.
"Honored guests," Qiuxi Rain announced, her voice rolling across the heavens, "the celebration has concluded. Please return to your immortal mountains."
Mount Sumeru blazed with golden light.
Brilliant rainbows appeared beneath the feet of every guest, carrying them away from Linglong Blessed Land.
Including Fang Han.
Moments later, Linglong Blessed Land vanished completely. The mirage over the sea dissolved, leaving nothing behind.