Jiang Li waited, and that wait lasted a full three days.

For three days, the island's radiance hadn't faded day or night, the fluctuations became increasingly tempestuous, and the rich Qi mechanism interlaced with the halo became like a tangible sun.

It seemed to indicate that Jiang Li's strength was advancing by leaps and bounds, and he was unabashedly dissipating his Qi mechanism, continuously exerting pressure on the opponent.

Hence, on this day, three days later, a middle-aged man with an expressionless face arrived on the island.

"I've seen Uncle Master Tianji."

Gongsun Qingyue stood on the shore, bowed to the man, and said, "We have been waiting for Uncle Master for quite some time."

"The waves behind drive the waves ahead."

Elder Tianji sighed after seeing Gongsun Qingyue, then followed her lead, heading straight toward the valley in the center of the island.

Along the trail and reaching the interior of the valley, the sound of the waterfall and the rushing streams filled their ears, and dazzling light struck their eyes.

In the center of the water pool, a sun-like orb of light floated in the air, within which a figure sat cross-legged, facing the Divine Farmer Stone Statue in the pool. Their Qi mechanisms danced and intertwined, stirring a certain feeling in Elder Tianji's heart.

Jiang Li, he seemed even more like the legendary Emperor Yan than the Divine Farmer Stone Statue.

'Has he fully developed his Divine Farmer's appearance?' Elder Tianji silently speculated in his heart.

Throughout the generations, Jiang Family Masters had possessed the Divine Farmer's appearance, but that was not because each of them had exceptional talents. Rather, it was because they had made some progress in cultivating the "Qi Tomb." With the help of both the Ochre Whip and the Divine Farmer's Cauldron, they excavated and strengthened their ancestral bloodline to form the Divine Farmer's appearance.

Those who spontaneously awakened the Divine Farmer's appearance at a low grade were extremely rare.

This was why the Ochre Whip and the Divine Farmer's Cauldron were so important to the people of the Jiang family.

After the loss of the Ochre Whip years ago, the gradual decline of the Jiang family was not only because they had lost a significant source of Spiritual Medicine but also because they had expended a great deal of manpower and resources to search for the Ochre Whip.

Without the Ochre Whip, the next Jiang Family Master would have to rely on themselves to awaken the Divine Farmer's appearance.

Jiang Li had already awakened his Divine Farmer's appearance, and now with both the Ochre Whip and the Divine Farmer's Cauldron in hand, his advancement in strength was substantial.

His previous feat of slaying Zong Zheng had proven his strength could reach fourth-rank, and now with two heavy treasures catalyzing it, he was estimated to be no weakling among the fourth-rank. Thus, it was no wonder those few had lost their patience first.

Compared to the Sect Leader, whose return was uncertain, the clearly visible progress of Jiang Li was undeniably different, adding natural pressure that was beyond comparison.

"Uncle Master, do you have any pressing matters for coming here?"

Jiang Li slowly turned around, his faint voice spreading far with the halo, seeming to come from beyond the heavens, his posture godlike, imbued with an invisible majesty of the divine and the holy.

The Ochre Whip lay across Jiang Li's lap with palms facing upward resting on it, and the Divine Farmer's Cauldron floated above his right palm.

Majestic, lofty, and grand—three terms spontaneously emerged in Elder Tianji's mind, and he felt an instinctive urge to prostrate in surrender.

"Young ones are to be feared."

He took a deep breath, and golden light emerged all over his body. Similarly transforming into the shape of the Sun Wheel, the figure of a black-visaged, thick and vague shadow wearing an iron crown, holding an Iron Whip and clad in armor, gradually appeared, countering Jiang Li's aura.

—Zhengyi Xuantan Marshal Zhao Gongming.

This was Elder Tianji's fourth-grade Dao Fruit.

Zhao Gongming was tasked with driving thunder and electricity, eradicating plagues and malaria, and expelling diseases and averting disasters, but in essence, he was also a God of Wealth, actually sharing the same origin as the Star Lord Lu Cun's Dao Fruit, which was quite suitable for Elder Tianji.

"Recently within the Sect, some disciples have made a tumult, wishing to see Nephew Jiang. To prevent chaos in the Sect, please end your cultivation soon and proceed to the Heavenly Origin Cave Heaven to study the 'Form Tomb' and calm the hearts of the disciples," Elder Tianji said evenly.

But Jiang Li didn't utter a single word and responded with a smile.

The noisy disciples were mostly likely from the Jiang family, and calming the hearts of the disciples actually meant urging Jiang Li to make a swift visit to the Cave Heaven Blessed Land—that was the key point.

Those within the Cave Heaven were in a hurry after all.

However, to expect Jiang Li to head to the Cave Heaven just like that was really too insincere.

Elder Tianji was aware of this too; seeing Jiang Li's response, he knew this nephew was very astute. The grand righteousness of the Sect and calming the disciples' hearts would not trouble him. More tangible offers were needed.

The younger generation these days was indeed becoming more and more cunning, their schemes no less than those of the old foxes. In fact, the three elders in the Cave Heaven were not as deep and patient as this younger man.

Therefore, Elder Tianji continued, "The 'Form Tomb' is of great importance. The Six Hall Elders of the Sect will all be present, with both Elder Tianquan and Elder Yaoguang entering the Cave Heaven alongside us."

The implication was, of course, that they were releasing Elder Tianpeng.

If Elder Tianpeng were released, then with Tianpeng, Tianquan, and Jiang Li, there would be three individuals at the fourth-rank, while the possible lineup from the opposing side would be the three Supreme Elders plus Elder Tianji—three versus four. There was a difference in numbers, but in a real fight, it was uncertain who would win and who would lose.

And among these three old Dengs, two belonged to the Gongsun Family, bound to hold back in a fight, likely to be restrained.

"So they only want to stop me, not intending to kill?" Jiang Li thought to himself, then smiled and said, "Protecting the Sect is my duty, I will head to the Sect's Cave Heaven now."

Having pushed the opponents back to this point was enough; any further delay, though it would buy time, risks were that complications could arise in the prolonged wait. Jiang Li was ready to meet with the three old Dengs.

He drifted lightly to the shore, his body's radiance gradually receding, while Gongsun Qingyue extended a gentle hand, and the Wordless Heavenly Scripture ascended, replacing the Ochre Whip as the center of this island.

The existence of this secret place was all thanks to the Ochre Whip; now that it had departed, they had to rely on the remaining Dao Artifacts to maintain it temporarily. Later, it would be necessary to relocate the island into the Cave Heaven Blessed Land to ensure its environment could be preserved in the long run.

"I'll have to trouble you to maintain this place for now, sister."

As Jiang Li spoke, he softly called out, "Xiao Tian."

A red shadow flashed by, and the little red dog flew out from some corner.

Ever since it arrived here, it either spent its days eating Spiritual Medicine or sleeping, making everyone wonder if it was a dog or a pig with such an ability to sleep.

When it flew over, it was still bleary-eyed, looking like it had just woken up.

"Stay here and guard sister. If anything endangers her, I won't let you off," Jiang Li warned the lazy dog.

Xiao Tian murmured softly, rubbing against Jiang Li's shin, seemingly understanding, it appeared quite obedient.

[But Jiang Li was taken aback as it approached, his mind greatly shaken.]

[An invisible force used Xiao Tian as a medium, entering his body, its source...]

The Karma Collection refreshed with a line of text: [The source was the starlight chains around Xiao Tian's neck.]

Jiang Li felt his body grow somewhat stiff.

...

...

Crossing hundreds of miles of waters, Jiang Li quietly returned to Qiao Mountain Island with Elder Tianji, avoiding others. They arrived behind the Tianshu Palace at the summit, facing the Heavenly Origin Platform overlooking a sea of clouds.

Elder Tianquan had already received the notification and arrived there. Seeing Jiang Li and Elder Tianji arriving together, he naturally stood by Jiang Li's side and whispered, "The spiritual mechanism within Heavenly Origin Cave Heaven is vibrant enough to be ranked among the foremost in this world. The environment inside is close to that of the pre-End of Dharma era. The three Supreme Elders have been residing in the Cave Heaven for a long time, they surely can merge with the spiritual mechanism, achieving Unity of Heaven and Man. You must be careful."

Unity of Heaven and Man in the Five Turbid Evil World adds to one's burden, even leading to death. But if it were in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, that would be a real enhancement.

Being one with the surrounding Heaven and Earth, every move can harness the Qi of Heaven and Earth. It was the basic capability of a strong cultivator before the End of Dharma.

The gap in realms could widen even further within a Cave Heaven Blessed Land.

Of course, there were advantages and disadvantages. Staying in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land for too long, resonating with the spiritual mechanism and achieving Unity of Heaven and Man, would cause extreme discomfort once outside the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, possibly drawing upon Five Vile Qi and turning to ash instantly.

This is why various powers only use Cave Heaven Blessed Lands for cultivating Spiritual Medicine and for Elders to recluse, instead of training disciples there.

A disciple raised in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land skips one or two hundred years of hardships, living a retired life, and basically has no chance to venture outside.

Hearing this, Jiang Li nodded slightly, acknowledging the caution, and at the same time, a faint smile appeared.

Unity of Heaven and Man? Coincidentally, he was capable of that too.

And he had another technique that would allow the old ones to feel the outside world they had long missed.

At this moment, sensing the arrival of Jiang Li and the others, the sea of clouds churned, fog crawled, and an ancient and majestic stone gate slowly rose from within the sea of clouds.

Amid the low grinding noise, the two stone gates opened, Pure Light shone through, a distinct spiritual mechanism purer than the Five Turbid Evil Qi emanated out, causing visible changes to the surrounding environment.

'This spiritual mechanism... is much stronger than the Cave Heaven at Iron Pillar Temple.' Jiang Li sensed briefly, feeling an intangible lightness, as if his body had significantly lightened.

The space around started to change, invisible ripples appeared, and in a blink of an eye, they were in a different Heaven and Earth.

Without entering the gate, when the stone doors opened, the three of them had already entered the foundation of the Dinghu Sect—the Heavenly Origin Cave Heaven.

They remained on the stone platform, even the mountain was the same as before; the stone gate still stood before them in the sea of clouds, but the space had changed.

The scene within Heavenly Origin Cave Heaven seemed like another Dinghu, with terrains and mountains identical to those of the Sect.

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