Nima!
All the cultivators were startled.
Sand Dune Dragon…
This creature's power far surpassed the Tribulation Crossing Realm, and a single strike could easily obliterate them.
Run!
Sweat beaded on their foreheads as the cultivators fled in all directions with all their might.
“Roar—”
But just then.
The Sand Dune Dragon suddenly let out a heaven-shattering roar.
This roar…
Pierced the soul, sending shivers from the deepest parts of their being, yet it carried a faint lack of vigor, tinged with a mournful cry.
Then…
The Sand Dune Dragon plummeted towards the desert floor at extreme speed.
“Rumble…”
The next moment, the Sand Dune Dragon crashed heavily onto the desert, kicking up a wave of sand that spread in all directions.
Thick dust and sand instantly engulfed the area.
And the Sand Dune Dragon…
After falling, it spewed a mouthful of pus-like blood, struggled in agony, and wailed incessantly, appearing utterly pathetic.
Then, everyone paused mid-air, no longer fleeing.
All the cultivators were stunned.
“Huh, what's going on?”
“It looks like the Sand Dune Dragon has some internal injuries!”
“A golden opportunity! If we just wait from a distance, this beast will die eventually. Then its dragon blood, dragon tendons, dragon hide, dragon scales, everything, will be a treasure!”
“Indeed, such a massive Sand Dune Dragon, one person can't possibly consume it all. We're rich this time!”
“Yes, yes, rich!”
The cultivators didn't understand what had happened to the Sand Dune Dragon.
But they all understood.
The Sand Dune Dragon was facing a great crisis, possibly even death.
Thus, all the cultivators grew excited.
The more powerful a demonic beast, the more precious its components.
Like the Sand Dune Dragon before them.
Who knew how many years it had cultivated to reach this size? Its flesh, bones, hide, tendons, and so on, were all rare materials for artifact forging.
They would be top-grade for crafting magic treasures and spiritual artifacts.
“Aowu…”
“Roar—”
The Sand Dune Dragon thrashed about.
The cultivators maintained their distance, watching and waiting.
And Bai Zihe…
“This must be the Sand Dune Dragon’s dragon core!”
After a long and arduous journey, Bai Zihe finally reached the location within the Sand Dune Dragon that resembled its dan tian.
Before him.
Sat a soccer-ball-sized, orange-yellow spherical object.
It emanated a dense aura of earth element, allowing Bai Zihe to recognize its true nature.
“It is.”
The small tower’s voice echoed in Bai Zihe’s mind.
Receiving confirmation, Bai Zihe acted.
“Swish…”
With a thought, he intended to envelop the object and transfer it into the Haotian Tower, thus ensuring its safety.
However.
The moment Bai Zihe made his move.
The dragon core, as if possessing life, attempted to flee into the distance.
“Eh…”
Bai Zihe, after a brief moment of surprise, quickly understood.
A dragon core, in essence, was a type of demonic core, the most vital part of a demonic beast, its most potent weapon.
Sometimes, it could even be used to attack others at a critical moment.
“Let me do it.”
The Haotian Tower volunteered, emerging from Bai Zihe’s sea of consciousness.
“Swish…”
The instant it appeared, the Haotian Tower radiated countless rays of light.
The light was indigo, directly enveloping the fleeing dragon core. Bai Zihe also felt an immense power.
“Hum…”
Instantly, the dragon core froze in place, unable to move further.
My goodness.
Bai Zihe was utterly dumbfounded.
This was the power of the second layer of the Haotian Tower?
It could even immobilize the dragon core of a Sand Dune Dragon. This was too terrifying, undoubtedly another trump card!
Using the endless light of the Haotian Tower to stun opponents, then unleashing the “Heaven Splitting Earth Shattering” with the Xuanyuan Sword – who could withstand that?
Bai Zihe immediately conceived a combo.
He soon thought of another matter – since the Haotian Tower had unlocked its second-stage functions, had the Xuanyuan Sword, Pangu Axe, and the like also unlocked their second-stage functions?
This was undoubtedly a massive boost to Bai Zihe’s combat strength.
Only.
He had no time to dwell on these matters now.
Bai Zihe looked at the dragon core being absorbed into the Haotian Tower, his heart burning with excitement.
“This thing…”
Bai Zihe eagerly asked, “How should it be used?”
After all, this inner core was exceptionally large. Even for alchemy, it could likely be used to refine many pills.
“Place it in one of the array nodes of the Spirit Gathering Array.”
The Haotian Tower explained, “The Spirit Gathering Array will release all the robust earth elemental energy contained within it.”
“You can continuously absorb it while you cultivate.”
“However…”
“This process will be quite lengthy.”
“If you wish for it to be faster, you can directly consume it.”
Bai Zihe choked.
Consume this thing in one go?
“You heard correctly.”
The Haotian Tower, sensing his doubt, continued, “Consuming it is the best solution. For others, there would be the risk of exploding from the energy.”
“But for you, having comprehended the Five Elements Profound Truth, you can withstand the explosive energy and consume it directly without issue.”
This.
Bai Zihe remained hesitant.
After all, it didn't look like something that could be casually eaten.
“Let’s put it away for now…”
As the dragon core was removed by the Haotian Tower.
Outside, the Sand Dune Dragon reached its most desperate, maddest, and most agonizing moments.
“Roar…”
“Aowu…”
Its roars grew more tragic and spine-chilling with each passing moment.
Its struggles became more violent, creating massive sandstorms that spread in all directions across the vast desert.
Each impact on the desert caused the earth to tremble.
Amidst these violent reactions.
The Sand Dune Dragon met its end.
As.
Its cries became hoarser and lower, its movements weaker and slower, all the cultivators knew.
The Sand Dune Dragon had reached the end of its life.
“Roar…”
With the final, mournful cry,
The Sand Dune Dragon’s twitching gradually ceased, and it finally lay silent.
“It's dead!”
“This beast is dead, hurry!”
“This Sand Dune Dragon must have cultivated for over a thousand years. Quickly, snatch it!”
“Dragon core, dragon tendons, dragon blood…”
The cultivators surged forward, pouncing on the Sand Dune Dragon’s carcass, eager to quickly seize the treasures they desired.
Whether it was the dragon blood.
Or the dragon tendons.
Or the dragon core…
To them, all were exceptional treasures.
For instance, a small cup of dragon blood, once digested, could strengthen their physical bodies, making them more powerful.
However…
Just as they approached.
“Pfft…”
A tear suddenly ripped open the seemingly indestructible abdomen of the Sand Dune Dragon.
A figure emerged, startling everyone.
Upon closer inspection.
It was none other than Bai Zihe.
“You, you, Bai Zihe, how could you…”
“Impossible, absolutely impossible!”
“Bai Zihe, how did you come out of the Sand Dune Dragon’s belly?”
“Could it be that Bai Zihe, this Sand Dune Dragon died because you were inside its belly?”
“This…”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Dugu Jian’s face turned extremely grim.
They had only watched the Sand Dune Dragon struggle, but Bai Zihe emerged from its insides, which implied what?
It implied that Bai Zihe was the first to taste the spoils!
And they, at best, would get leftovers from Bai Zihe!
“Everyone…”
Bai Zihe was also stunned for half a second, not expecting so many people to be outside in such a short time, but quickly recovered and chuckled, “Apologies, it's all mine.”
“Please, step aside.”