Chương 1296: Chapter 87: The Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda

Wei Qubing saw the bitter resignation pooling in Yin Wuyu's eyes. A quiet sigh escaped his heart. Having clashed with this rival for years, seeing him reduced to such a pathetic state stirred a faint sense of shared mortality within him. Yet, this pity instantly hardened into sharp vigilance. He could not afford even a shred of complacency. To avoid any unexpected complications, he had to end this battle swiftly and crush Reyn. A streak of light erupted from his body.

In a flash, Wei Qubing materialized in mid-air, hovering dozens of zhang away, facing Reyn directly.

"I am Wei Qubing of the Three Thousand Dao Sect," he announced, his voice carrying across the sky.

"Fellow Daoist, you have already defeated Daoist Yin. If you can defeat me as well, I swear on my honor that I will let you leave without further interference!" Reyn's gaze swept over him. A cold, mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His voice remained flat, yet it carried an undeniable weight.

"If I win, the two Mu Jade Swords in your possession will belong to me." Wei Qubing's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing through them. His expression darkened, and his voice dropped an octave.

"If you want the Mu Jade Swords, you had best defeat me first. Only then will you have the right to claim them!"

"Since that is the case, I shall grant your wish!" Reyn's eyes flashed with icy resolve. An immense, suffocating aura erupted from his body, surging upward like an awakening dragon. The sheer pressure of his energy stopped just a hair's breadth away from the Foundation Establishment Great Circle! In this battle, he had to unleash his power with absolute dominance. Only by displaying overwhelming, terrifying strength could he suppress the greedy designs of the spectators lurking in the shadows.

"Good! Excellent!" Wei Qubing barked, laughing coldly. Yet, the murderous frost in his eyes betrayed his rising fury. With a swift motion, he slapped his storage bag. A brilliant flash of light erupted as a miniature pagoda soared into the air. The artifact possessed nine tiers and eight distinct corners, rising like a slender, elegant bamboo shoot. Its cap-like roof gleamed with a dark, iron-like luster.

From each of the eight corners hung a delicate golden bell that chimed softly in the wind, reflecting the harsh sunlight. Though it stood barely a foot tall, it radiated a majestic, towering pressure that seemed to pierce the heavens, striking a primal dread into the hearts of all who looked upon it.

"Nine tiers, eight corners, golden bells... Could this be the legendary Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda?" a spectator gasped, his voice trembling.

"The final masterpiece forged by Venerable Desiccated Wood, the greatest artifact-refining master of the Three Thousand Dao Sect five hundred years ago!"

"What? That treasure actually exists?!"

"Rumor has it that Venerable Desiccated Wood gathered the rarest materials across the mortal realm, pouring his entire life's essence into its creation. Unfortunately, his cultivation fell short, preventing him from completing the final refinement. Even so, this Eight-Treasure Pagoda birthed a trace of true spirituality. It is a Top-grade Magic Treasure, standing just a step away from the legendary Dao-grade artifacts that possess their own consciousness!"

"Its destructive power is at the absolute peak of the magic treasure realm. It has always been kept by the Sect Master of the Three Thousand Dao Sect as their ultimate guardian treasure. To think they would entrust it to Wei Qubing... This means the sect has already chosen him as the future helmsman!"

"With this pagoda in hand, Wei Qubing can fight on equal terms with a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator! Reyn is bound to be suppressed this time. Even if his soul strength is immense and his divine abilities are formidable, he will suffer greatly if they clash with magic treasures!"

"Do not be so quick to judge. Reyn has hidden his depth well. Perhaps he still has some shocking trump card up his sleeve."

"I beg to differ, fellow Daoist. I doubt he can produce anything capable of rivaling the Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. This artifact is renowned as one of the finest treasures in the entire cultivation world of the Zhao Kingdom. Reyn might have stumbled upon some powerful legacy to learn his divine abilities, but such a supreme magic treasure cannot be acquired without the backing of a colossal sect!"

"There is no point in arguing. Let us watch. The outcome will be decided shortly." Nearby, Yin Wuyu's pupils contracted. The bitterness in his heart deepened. He had competed with Wei Qubing for years, yet now his rival was the designated successor of his sect, while he himself had fallen into such a wretched state today. At this thought, his expression grew incredibly bleak. Watching Wei Qubing summon the pagoda without hesitation, Reyn felt a flicker of genuine appreciation.

This opponent possessed excellent tactical awareness. Having witnessed Reyn dominate Yin Wuyu in soul strength and divine abilities, Wei Qubing knew he stood no chance in a mental or magical duel. Thus, he bypassed those areas entirely, choosing to crush Reyn with the raw, overwhelming power of a supreme magic treasure. It was the most logical, pragmatic decision. Maximizing one's strengths while avoiding weaknesses was a fundamental rule of cultivation combat.

To pit one's weakness against an opponent's absolute strength—just as Yin Wuyu had done by unleashing the Mad Dance of Demonic Thoughts against Reyn's monstrous soul—was nothing short of self-inflicted humiliation. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"This treasure is the Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, the guardian treasure of my Three Thousand Dao Sect," Wei Qubing warned, though his actions remained utterly ruthless.

"Its power is boundless, and even I cannot fully control its lethal force. Be careful, fellow Daoist!" With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the pagoda upward. The artifact expanded in mid-air, radiating a dark, iron-red glow as a suffocating wave of spiritual pressure rolled outward. Infused with his mana, the pagoda trembled slightly. The eight golden bells chimed in a rapid, cheerful melody, circling Wei Qubing once before unleashing a torrent of murderous, ancient energy that locked onto Reyn from above!

Reyn's expression shifted slightly, his eyes darkening. The sheer spirituality of this pagoda surpassed his expectations. It truly deserved its reputation as a Top-grade Magic Treasure sitting on the very threshold of the Dao-grade. Yet, in the very next instant, an unyielding battle intent erupted in his eyes. What if it possessed spirituality? As long as it had not crossed into the Dao-grade, the outcome of this battle remained undecided! With a cold snort, Reyn slapped his storage bag.

An unremarkable, flat object flew into the air. It was his newly upgraded and refined Top-grade Magic Treasure—the Heaven-Turning Seal!

"Go!" Reyn tossed it upward. The seal hovered above his head, rotating slowly. From a distance, it looked exactly like a common, mundane brick. Wei Qubing stared blankly for a moment at the sight. He swept his Divine Sense across the object, and a bizarre expression quickly crept onto his face.

"Do you truly intend to fight me with this magic treasure, Fellow Daoist?" Wei Qubing asked, his voice laced with disbelief. Above his head, the Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda trembled violently. It was as if the artifact itself were shaking with silent laughter. A wave of disdain and irritation rippled through the air from its spiritual core. To a high-level treasure like this, being forced to clash with such a weak piece of junk was nothing short of an insult.

Reyn smiled faintly and opened his mouth to speak. But in that exact instant, his pupils contracted. He masked his reaction immediately, his breathing returning to its steady rhythm within a single heartbeat. The Heaven-Turning Seal, hovering before him, had actually sensed the mockery coming from Wei Qubing and the pagoda. In response, it radiated a faint wave of fury! Reyn focused his Primordial Soul, carefully tracing this ephemeral ripple of consciousness.

Had he not utilized a secret technique to deepen his connection with the Heaven-Turning Seal during its recent refinement and upgrade, he would have missed this subtle vibration entirely. A magic treasure possessing its own spirit—this was the hallmark of a Dao-grade artifact! When an artifact's power reached a certain threshold, it stood a chance of developing a sliver of self-awareness.

Once that spark ignited, the treasure gained the potential to transcend its mortal limits and evolve into a true Dao-grade artifact—a Dao Artifact. When Reyn had finished upgrading the Heaven-Turning Seal, he only knew it had reached the rank of a Top-grade Magic Treasure. Only now did he realize that a fragile thread of consciousness had sprouted within it. Though weak, it was undeniably real. Feeling the seal's indignation, a surge of profound joy rushed through his heart.

Slowly raising his head, Reyn fixed his gaze on Wei Qubing. A calm, knowing smile played on his lips.

"Indeed, this is my magic treasure," Reyn said smoothly.

"I must warn you to be careful, Fellow Daoist. Even I cannot guarantee complete control over it right now. If something unexpected happens in a moment, you had better run as fast as you can." Yin Wuyu's face darkened instantly upon hearing those words. He let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"You should worry about your own skin first!" Yin Wuyu sneered.

"Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, suppress him!" With a sharp gesture, Yin Wuyu pointed his finger toward the floating pagoda. Instantly, a brilliant explosion of black and red light erupted from the structure. Under the shocked gazes of the onlookers, the pagoda swelled rapidly. Within breaths, it expanded to a towering eighty zhang, standing between heaven and earth like a pillar holding up the sky. A violent wave of mana surged through the atmosphere, carrying a scorching heat.

Above the massive pagoda, a dense cloud of dark flames spanning dozens of zhang began to churn, resembling a localized apocalypse of heavenly fire descending upon the mortal realm! The sheer pressure radiated by the activated artifact was not a single bit weaker than that of a true Golden Core cultivator. Its terrifying power was on full display. Whoosh! A deafening roar tore through the sky.

Supported by the roiling sea of fire, the towering Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda descended with crushing momentum, screaming through the air as it plunged toward Reyn. The sheer atmospheric pressure cracked the ground beneath them, kicking up a storm of dust.

"After five hundred years of nurturing, the power of this pagoda has clearly reached incredible heights," an onlooker murmured in awe.

"With this level of might, it can easily claim to be the strongest magic treasure beneath the Dao-grade!"

"Its activation literally changes the weather. This power has already transcended the limits of ordinary magic treasures. Give it a few more centuries, and it might actually evolve into a Dao Artifact, becoming the ultimate treasure of the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world."

"Though Reyn's divine abilities and Primordial Soul cultivation are astonishing, the magic treasure he is using is simply too pathetic. Judging by its aura, it barely reaches the level of a Mid-grade Magic Treasure. I fear it will be utterly obliterated in their very first clash." Nearby, Ge Yucheng's face was grim. The sudden revelation that Wei Qubing had received the official endorsement of the Three Thousand Dao Sect to become the next Sect Leader was highly unsettling.

It stirred a deep, restless irritation within his chest. Hmph! If the future leader of the grand Three Thousand Dao Sect, armed with their sect-protecting treasure, is utterly crushed by Reyn, his current glory will turn into his greatest humiliation, Ge Yucheng thought with a cold sneer. Let's see if you can still inherit the Sect Leader's throne then. Yet, despite his spiteful hopes, Ge Yucheng's eyes remained dark. He knew the true power of the Eight-Treasure Exquisite Demon-Suppressing Pagoda all too well.

When fully unleashed, its might rivaled a Golden Core expert. Deep down, he knew his wishful thinking was highly unlikely to come true. Even if you summon those skeletal puppets to temporarily hold off the pagoda, Wei Qubing has already been acknowledged as the successor. That means that other treasure must also be in his hands by now... If he unleashes both magic treasures simultaneously... this battle will be exceptionally perilous. Everything depends on you now, Reyn.

Xing Tianxie stood with a heavy expression, his dark gaze shifting between the two combatants. Complex emotions flickered in his eyes as he calculated the potential outcomes. Jun Wuqing exchanged a glance with the Luoyang Sect disciples behind him. Shock was written all over their faces, quickly followed by a collective wave of relief. Had they disobeyed their sect's orders and tried to seize the Mu Jade Sword by force, facing such monstrous opponents would have ended in absolute disaster!