Bai Zihe, though anxious, remained calm.
He surveyed his surroundings.
He found himself back in the initial area, right where he had first landed.
"This place..."
Bai Zihe wondered what mystery it held.
"Crack!"
"Crack-crack-crack..."
Just then, the ground split open.
A figure emerged from it, the same masked man from the beginning.
However, what Bai Zihe couldn't quite fathom was that he had already given the mask to this person, and now he had another one...
"I never expected, Bai Zihe, that you would reach the end."
The masked man saw Bai Zihe, grinned, and sighed, "Are you wondering why the fifth divine beast, the golden element, didn't appear?"
Bai Zihe narrowed his eyes.
Clearly,
this person knew a great many secrets, far more than he let on.
So he asked, "Yes, do you know why?"
"Of course..."
The masked man said directly, "It's actually very simple. You have now activated the four elements, only missing the final golden element."
"Place a drop of your own vital blood on the Chaos Treasure Box, and the aura of the golden element divine beast will appear."
Is that so?
Bai Zihe was half-convinced.
However, this masked man had no reason to deceive him.
So he pricked his finger and, as instructed, dripped his blood onto the ten-sided box.
"Hiss!"
"Hiss-hiss-hiss..."
Bai Zihe's body now contained Hellfire Blood.
When it touched the ten-sided box, it immediately produced a strong corrosive sound.
Or, it sounded like it was violently boiling on the surface.
After a moment.
The blood was completely absorbed by the ten-sided box.
"Hum..."
Instantly, a golden light erupted.
The entire ten-sided box burst into dazzling radiance.
Bai Zihe had to close his eyes, as the light seemed intent on blinding him.
But this was just the beginning.
Bai Zihe suddenly felt that the ten-sided box was incredibly sharp.
He looked down.
Indeed!
The palm holding the ten-sided box was cut by its edges, and more blood flowed out.
Gold, armored and sharp, thrives on utility and power!
It was too powerful.
"Riiiiip..."
Simultaneously, a thunderclap struck from the sky, exploding about a hundred zhang in front of Bai Zihe.
This lightning bolt...
was thicker and brighter than any lightning Bai Zihe had ever seen, giving a sense of absolute destruction.
"Rumble!"
Immediately, the thundering roar of the Thunder God also echoed from the heavens.
In an instant, the surrounding sea waves surged, creating billows dozens of zhang high, causing a violent tsunami.
It was terrifying.
"Hiss..."
Bai Zihe couldn't help but gasp.
Fortunately,
the lightning came and went quickly.
After a fleeting flash, everything slowly returned to calm.
The light about a hundred zhang away began to shimmer.
A colossal figure lay coiled there.
Needless to say,
it was the divine beast of the golden element.
Once the radiance completely subsided, Bai Zihe peered intently.
Good heavens.
It was a five-clawed golden dragon!
"Bai Zihe..."
The massive head of the five-clawed golden dragon turned, and its voice, which resonated like a thunderclap, reached Bai Zihe's ears instantly.
It sounded...
vaguely familiar.
However, Bai Zihe immediately dismissed the absurd thought.
What a joke.
He had never heard the voice of a five-clawed golden dragon before, let alone felt it familiar.
Illusion.
It was all an illusion.
"Splash..."
The next moment, the ten-sided box in Bai Zihe's hand floated to the golden element divine beast. Then, the five-clawed golden dragon pressed it...
Bai Zihe felt a familiar aura again.
But this time, it was different from the familiar aura he had just sensed.
This time, the aura...
was the familiar aura from comprehending the creation of heaven and earth by Pangu!
In other words...
it was the aura of chaos!
This made Bai Zihe's eyes widen.
The ten-sided box was indeed called the Chaos Treasure Box!
Just by activating the five elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, it exuded the aura of chaos. If it were fully opened, what then!
"Whoosh..."
The next moment, the five-clawed golden dragon tossed the ten-sided box back.
Bai Zihe eagerly tried to open it.
However, he failed again.
"It's not time yet."
The five-clawed golden dragon saw Bai Zihe's action and shook its head, saying, "We have merely helped you break the first layer of restriction on the Chaos Treasure Box."
"There are still two steps left before the Chaos Treasure Box can be fully opened."
Bai Zihe instinctively asked, "What are the two steps?"
"First, master the Qi of Chaos, and second, obtain a chaotic treasure as a medium."
Master the Qi of Chaos?
Was this a joke?
Bai Zihe couldn't help but complain inwardly.
He could barely master the five elements now, and only the most basic aspects of them, at best having only a superficial understanding.
The gap between that and completely mastering chaos...
was more than a hundred thousand li.
"The great change has begun, and it won't be long now."
The five-clawed golden dragon seemed to be able to read minds, and upon sensing Bai Zihe's thoughts, it offered comfort, "However..."
"You can now use some of the ten-sided box's functions, which is more than enough to suppress the蛊虫 in your mind."
"Even the one in your sister's head is no match for it."
"Now, while Dragon Island hasn't completely closed, hurry up and cultivate..."
Cultivate?
Bai Zihe asked in confusion, "Senior, what is this great change you speak of?"
"Dragon Island is constantly experiencing anomalies, and you want me to cultivate here?"
"And..."
"What other secrets does Dragon Island hold?"
Bai Zihe had a feeling that if he didn't ask now, it might be too late.
"The secrets of Dragon Island..."
The five-clawed golden dragon grinned and said, "You have only explored up to three layers so far. As for the remaining secrets, you are still too weak."
"Even if you knew them, it might not be a good thing."
"But..."
"Don't be discouraged. As long as you don't die, you will have the chance to come back again."
A chance to come back again?
Bai Zihe frowned slightly.
"Only that time..."
The five-clawed golden dragon's voice suddenly turned melancholy, "Perhaps things will have changed."
Things have changed, what the hell does that mean!
Bai Zihe couldn't figure it out at all.
"Alright, hurry up and cultivate."
The five-clawed golden dragon saw that Bai Zihe still wanted to ask and directly cut him off, "Cultivate here, within the Haotian Pagoda."
"The Haotian Pagoda has the ability to isolate everything."
"Even if the entire Dragon Island collapses, as long as there's no one capable of destroying the Haotian Pagoda, you will be safe within it."
"And..."
"The Haotian Pagoda will constantly absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from Dragon Island as its reserve."
So it was within the Haotian Pagoda!
Thus.
With a thought, Bai Zihe entered the Haotian Pagoda for the second time.