The scenery before my eyes was almost identical to that of the Sect, as if carved from the same mold; seven great halls arranged in the pattern of the Beidou Seven Stars around the mountains, just without the disciple dormitory and other buildings.

Outside the island, there was a lake, and in the distance, several islands could be seen.

Of course, there were differences.

Apart from some architecture, the most significant difference was that tangible spiritual mechanism. As far as the eye could see, the white clouds outside the mountain were formed by the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. With each breath in and out, a faint fresh air moved with it, giving one a sense of exhilaration even without absorbing it.

The abundance of spiritual mechanisms here far surpassed that of the Iron Pillar Temple's Cave Heaven by more than a hundredfold.

"It's been nearly fifty years since I last visited this Cave Heaven."

Elder Tianquan also glanced around with a hint of nostalgia, "Since Senior Sister Tianxuan sent Elder Taicheng to retire in the Cave Heaven, I have not entered. Seeing it again today, the scenery here hasn't changed."

Upon hearing this, Elder Tianji's face twitched slightly, his usually unchanging expression almost unable to maintain its composure.

That Elder Taicheng was not here by choice to retire, and moreover, he was Elder Tianji's mentor.

"Let's go."

Elder Tianji couldn't be bothered to say more to Tianquan, uttering just one word before turning around to lead the way.

Behind him, Elder Tianquan gave Jiang Li a meaningful glance, and the two spread out to the left and right, following closely behind Elder Tianji at a strategic distance.

If any conflict arose, the two from behind could directly surge forward, striking Elder Tianji with a pre-emptive move.

The three maintained this distance, making their way to the location of Tianshu Palace.

However, within the Cave Heaven, this palace was also called "Tianshu," but the scene inside was completely different from Tianshu Palace.

The vast space of the grand hall was far more expansive than it appeared from the outside, nearly a hundred zhang tall and several hundred zhang in length and width. Standing within felt like being in the land of giants. Golden pillars stood tall, and on the bronze walls to the left and right were open portals, with large turtle shells placed upside down, filled with an unknown type of grease.

Divination grass was twisted into wicks and placed on the grease, ignited to produce a bright flame, emitting a peculiar fragrance.

At the end of the main hall stood an elevated platform with a towering statue of an emperor standing majestically, as the center of heaven and earth, the entire hall seemed to exist for this one statue.

At that moment, four individuals stood before the steps of the high platform, one of them, despite having diminished in size, was still recognizable as Elder Tianpeng.

"Have they arrived?"

Sensing the arrival of Jiang Li and others, an elder in the middle with a mix of bright yellow in his hair and beard slowly spoke, his half-open eyelids flickering with Divine Light passing by, instantly raising an unparalleled majesty within the hall.

Even at a distance of two hundred zhang, Jiang Li felt the surroundings suddenly darken, as if falling into chaos, unable to see his own hands and faintly hearing a thunderous rumble as if vast ocean waves surged and thundered down, aiming to plunge him into the abyss.

It was Essence Qi.

Majestic Essence Qi compressed from all around, pressing into the space where Jiang Li stood, as if to completely crush him.

This was Gongsun Taicheng demonstrating his might to Jiang Li.

As the saying goes, habitat affects one's energy and nourishment affects the body; status and environment can change one's temperament, and upbringing can change one's constitution—a simple truth of change.

For cultivators, staying in one place for a long time, their Qi Mechanism resonates with the surrounding Essence Qi, almost becoming one entity. When the need arises, a movement of True Qi summons the force of heaven and earth, and every action carries immense strength.

Having lived in the Cave Heaven for decades, Gongsun Taicheng had long achieved this Unity of Heaven and Man. At this moment, with just a thought, he had covertly applied his technique, delivering an intimidating move.

However...

"Boom!"

The ocean-like Essence Qi that pounded against Jiang Li erupted into a turbulent roar, and the extraordinary force thundered down only to find—

He was unharmed!

Jiang Li stood firm, not seeming to react at all, withstanding it as if he were a rock amidst the sea, unwavering in the face of the surging Essence Qi.

Days of secluded cultivation, along with reviewing past cultivation techniques and gifts from Ji Jiji and Buddhist Zhen Ru, had enhanced Jiang Li's strength. At this moment, with his body united with the Innate Mountain Qi, his Qi body running with origin streams, and standing firm as a mountain, he withstood the intimidating move effortlessly.

"Boom!"

The ineffective Essence Qi backlash created a gust of wind, causing the flames within the great hall to flicker and drawing reactions from the others.

"Elder Taicheng!"

Elder Tianpeng called out in a low voice, taking a step forward.

Old and middle-aged individuals on Gongsun Taicheng's left and right also moved to stand in front of Elder Tianpeng.

Elders Tianji and Tianquan both reacted, their Qi Mechanisms intertwined, one surrounded by splendid written verses and the other enveloped in dense coppery Qi, ready to burst forth.

And Gongsun Taicheng, who had been half-closed in the eyes, now had them wide open, filled with a golden hue. He interlocked his fingers and drew, outlining human figures with Magic Talisman texts in front of him, and with a flick of his finger, he hit the center of the figure's forehead.

"Calamity in the Lord of Wealth."

An invisible Yin Force immediately intruded along an unseen connection, permeating into the body with the collision of Qi Mechanisms.

This Yin Force was capable of disrupting Qi Shu, but more so, it was targeted at Jiang Li's energy, to disorder his system. This proved somewhat challenging for the Divine Farmer's Cauldron's Suppressing Qi Shu ability to take effect.

Heavenly Mechanism preserves fortune and welfare, dispels misfortunes and commands control, but it also signifies calamity for those indebted—retribution must be repaid. Gongsun Taicheng cultivated curse magic with this Dao Fruit, adept in the technique of Curse Nightmare Victory, and at this moment, he intended to use it to wreak havoc upon Jiang Li's body.

Suddenly, Jiang Li felt a chill slithering through his body like a snake, cold and formless, throwing his True Qi into disarray.

For Gongsun Taicheng, he could sense the extremely pure Essence Qi emanating from Jiang Li, and through invisible Yin Force, he detected Jiang Li's vast power.

He was startled in his mind and was about to make a further move.

At this instant, however, the vast Qi Mechanism underwent a transformation, becoming void and decayed, resembling a rotting heaven and earth harboring a portent of decline and fall.

Yin Force invaded, Qi Mechanism interacted, and this aura was also transmitted into Gongsun Taicheng's perceptions.

"Cough!"

Gongsun Taicheng suddenly coughed, his face taking on a grey pallor.

"You—"

He forcibly mustered his energy with a swift move and dissipated the human figure formed by the talisman, forcibly expelling a stream of already tainted True Qi.

"You're actually harboring the Five Vile Qi within you, how is this possible?"

Gongsun Taicheng, though having lived long within the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, was still knowledgeable about the outside world; at the very least, he was aware of Zhang Daoyi and the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique.

Yet even with the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique, it only transformed the Five Vile Qi into a spiritual mechanism, never storing the Five Vile Qi within one's body for utilitarian purposes—typically it would be gathered outside the body to defend against Magic and True Qi.

But Jiang Li manifested the Five Vile Qi internally, causing Gongsun Taicheng, who employed curse magic, to suffer backlash.

"It seems the elder isn't too comfortable with the Five Vile Qi."

Jiang Li exhaled a breath of murky air, ignoring Gongsun Taicheng's question, only responding with a taunting laugh.

Curse magic connects with the other party to erode with Yin Force; this connection is actually bidirectional, and if it fails, one would suffer great backlash. However, for those not skilled in this technique, it's difficult to establish this reverse connection, and one would generally only passively endure hits.

But Jiang Li did not need to establish a reverse connection; he only needed to transform the Five Vile Qi inside his body, which then allowed Gongsun Taicheng to reap what he sowed.

He had diligently studied the Demon Cleansing True Qi for several days, achieving significant results, but whether it was his own limitation or a misdirection in his research, Jiang Li had not grasped the method of transforming the Five Vile Qi into a spiritual mechanism. Instead, he uncovered the secret of converting the spiritual mechanism, Essence Qi, into the Five Vile Qi.

The former Jiang Li, by assimilating his Innate Qi with the external Five Vile Qi, transformed his True Qi into Evil Qi. The process was akin to mixing ink with water to produce inkwater.

Now, Jiang Li did not require this intermediary and could directly transform the Five Vile Qi, achieving true self-sufficiency.

Regrettably, this had little use for cultivation, and if not for the One-foot Hammer, Jiang Li wouldn't dare to undergo such a transformation. It's known that once transformed, the Five Vile Qi could not be changed back to True Qi.

'Why do I always manage to twist proper Magic Doors into crooked paths? It was the case with the Heavenly Escape Sword Skill, and so it is with the Demon Cleansing True Qi.'

Reflecting on his gains from these days, Jiang Li felt a bit weary.

A proper cultivation technique, in his hands, had turned into a crooked path, and it didn't benefit his cultivation much.

However, fortunately, his gains came in handy.

The brief exchange drew to a close, not even waiting for the others to make a move, as Gongsun Taicheng suddenly took a hit.

Witnessing this, the two Supreme Elders simultaneously stimulated their True Qi, drawing upon mighty Essence Qi. At the same time, rows of Magic Talisman light and shadow emerged in the hall, faintly taking form into an Array.

With a strong spiritual mechanism here in the Cave Heaven, the Array could be operated year-round, and this grand hall was covered in Array restrictions. Once activated, it could unleash the wrath of thunder.

Both Elder Tianpeng and Elder Tianquan had already erupted with Qi Mechanism; Elder Tianpeng's figure was even expanding, preparing to revert to his original form.

As the two sides seemed on the verge of battle, Elder Tianji suddenly spoke, "Nephew Jiang, let's call it enough. The master dares not to strike you fatally, and if you retaliate excessively, you'll suffer backlash. If you're injured, it won't be advantageous for the upcoming heavenly trial."

"Oh, now that makes it seem like I'm the one at fault."

Jiang Li remained composed as he stood there, with a smirk on his face, casting a glance at the three Supreme Elders. His gaze swept over the activated Array, as if to estimate its power.

The already tense atmosphere grew even heavier.

"Forget it."

Jiang Li suddenly spoke up, preempting the unfolding confrontation, "After all, Jiang Li's greatest virtue is his reverence for his teachers and respect for the Tao. Today, I shall save face for Uncle Master Tian Ji."

He exchanged a look with Elder Tianji, gave a slight shake of his head, and then proceeded directly forward. He calmly covered the two hundred zhang to reach the high platform.

"So, this is the place? The 'Form Tomb'······"

Jiang Li looked up toward the statue on the high platform, intuitively grasping its significance without further explanation.

Arriving at the high platform meant access to peruse the "Form Tomb."

Proceeding without halting, the three Supreme Elders blocking the way changed expressions upon seeing this, their faces betraying reluctance. Nonetheless, Gongsun Taicheng was the first to step aside.

The ability to use the Five Vile Qi within this Cave Heaven Blessed Land suggested a significant restraint on the three, if not outright nemesis. A single misstep could even trigger personal decay.

Thus, they ultimately chose to yield.

"Thank you."

Jiang Li politely nodded his thanks, then ascended the stairway.

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