Cave Heaven

The Willow Branches were like the Order Divine Lotus. They easily pierced through the Qilin heads, and hundreds upon hundreds of branches swept toward Big Gold Dog in a lethal attack.

This was the Treasure Art Su Ye had comprehended inside the Divine Temple. His understanding differed from God Emperor Qimu's. The Treasure Art God Emperor Qimu had comprehended was the ability to command countless Fierce Beasts. It seemed more powerful, but it was all surface and no substance. He had failed to grasp its true essence.

With his Heavenly Eye, Su Ye could see the essence of the Great Dao and glimpse the meaning behind the carvings. He could comprehend their true Dao rhythms and study that supreme art.

Buzz.

Runes spread across Big Gold Dog's body, especially bright around his limbs. He vanished from where he stood in an instant and appeared above Su Ye. Then he brought one foot down. Runes swirled around it, transforming it into a gigantic golden pillar, as if it were a pillar holding up the heavens.

Qilin Foot.

This was a Treasure Art of the Qilin clan. Of course, the Qilin Foot Big Gold Dog unleashed wasn't the real thing, but even incomplete, it was still terrifying enough to crush mountains and rivers.

Boom!

The enormous foot slammed down, splitting the earth. Its terrifying force left a huge crater in the hard ground, which had been stained by divine blood.

Runes spread across Su Ye's body, and a rich vitality flowed outward. Willow Trees sprang up across the lifeless ground, their branches swaying. Soon, they lashed wildly toward Big Gold Dog.

"A few broken willow trees? Watch me wipe them out."

Big Gold Dog looked at the branches with disdain. He opened his mouth, gathering golden flames within, then spat them out.

Golden flames scorched heaven and earth, melting the ground. The Willow Branches gradually turned to ash in the blaze.

Looking at Su Ye struggling to hold on amid the flames, Big Gold Dog declared proudly, "Kid, it's not too late to bow your head and admit defeat. Becoming the future overlord of the Desolate Region's human pet is your honor."

Buzz.

Runes surfaced amid the flames, devouring the terrifying golden Qilin Fire. The flames disappeared, leaving golden Willow Branches that swayed back and forth.

"..."

Big Gold Dog stared at the golden branches and blinked. His own life-bound flames had just been devoured like that?

What the hell was this?

These weren't ordinary flames. They were his life-bound flames.

Qilin Fire.

It was one of the top flames, beyond the reach of even the Spirit Fires of heaven and earth. Yet somehow, it had been swallowed.

Looks like he'd have to get serious.

Big Gold Dog stood on two legs. Runes spread across his body as his form changed, becoming half-human and half-dog. Though he was a Fierce Beast, that didn't mean his beast form was his strongest.

Su Ye looked at Big Gold Dog, astonished. He actually had this kind of ability. Ordinary Remnant Species could only take human form once they reached the Spirit Transformation Realm. Only pureblood Fierce Beasts could do so in the Cave Heaven Realm.

Buzz.

Light spread across Big Gold Dog's body. It wasn't just golden anymore, but three-colored: gold, black, and red.

"To make me use this move, you've earned enough to brag about for the rest of your life."

Big Gold Dog spoke arrogantly, then charged straight at Su Ye. He paid no attention to the Willow Branches, his body wreathed in three-colored light.

Buzz.

Su Ye didn't know what ability Big Gold Dog was using, but he sensed danger. He controlled the Willow Branches, like the Order Divine Lotus, and sent them toward Big Gold Dog.

The instant the branches touched the three-colored light, they went limp.

Su Ye's eyes widened in disbelief. His Treasure Art had actually failed. How was that possible? But he had no time to be shocked. Big Gold Dog was already upon him.

"Boom!"

The man and dog collided, unleashing terrifying force.

The three-colored light around Big Gold Dog struck Su Ye. At once, Su Ye felt his power turn chaotic, his blood and qi surge and tremble, and his body slip beyond his control.

"Pfft."

Su Ye spat blood and flew backward.

Mystical patterns appeared beneath Big Gold Dog's feet. He took one step and appeared behind Su Ye as he flew through the air, then kicked out.

"Puppy, don't push it."

Su Ye spoke as his body spun in midair. He suppressed the turmoil in his blood and qi, and terrifying power burst from within him. His blood and qi surged skyward, scattering the three-colored light around him.

Big Gold Dog's expression changed dramatically. He was about to use the mysterious Qilin Step to escape.

But Su Ye gave him no chance.

Fists as big as sandbags rained down on him.

"That feels much better."

Su Ye stretched, looking relaxed. Behind him, Big Gold Dog twitched all over, covered in wounds and stripped of his earlier arrogance.

"I'm going to break through. Stand guard for me."

Su Ye spoke, then sat cross-legged and prepared to break through into the Cave Heaven Realm.

Big Gold Dog looked at Su Ye, his gaze flickering as he considered whether to launch a sneak attack. But he quickly abandoned the idea.

This human was devious. Who knew if he was baiting him into a trap, only to eat dog meat—

No, Qilin meat.

Su Ye paid Big Gold Dog no mind. His expression calm, he entered a wondrous, self-forgetful state, forgetting everything, even himself, and sinking into a strange world.

The process lasted several days.

On this day, Su Ye's whole body shone brilliantly. His skin radiated dazzling light, and runes flew from within him, dancing through the surrounding air.

The Cave Heaven Realm was not merely a cultivation realm; it was also a method of cultivation. One opened an immortal passage, inside or outside the body, to communicate with heaven and earth.

The more Cave Heavens one opened, the more bridges one had to communicate with heaven and earth, and the more energy one could draw from it, allowing one to cultivate faster.

Cave Heavens also let cultivators glimpse the mysteries of heaven and earth and comprehend its laws. The more Cave Heavens they had, the more clearly they could sense heaven and earth, and the deeper their insights would be.

That was why many beings spent time building up their foundations in the Blood-Moving Realm, strengthening themselves as much as possible and striving for perfection, so they could open more Cave Heavens once they reached the Cave Heaven Realm.

"Rumble!"

Suddenly, heaven and earth roared. A grand, majestic sound rang out, shaking the world and making the ground tremble as though heaven and earth were collapsing.

Countless runes danced through the air, imprinting themselves upon the world as they surged toward the firmament, as if to pierce through the heavens. Dense clusters of runes shone with dazzling light.

The heavens were pierced. Within that radiance, a hazy, illusory little world appeared. Light Rain steamed upward, and Auspicious Mist flowed through it. Inside the misty little world was a spring, ceaselessly gushing forth rich Life Essence.

The hazy world looked like a reflection of flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. But on closer inspection, it seemed real—only its radiance was so dazzling that it appeared indistinct.

Surging Life Essence flowed out.

Bathed in the light, Su Ye's body shone ever more brightly. At that moment, he stepped into a new realm, and his life was elevated.

Opening a Cave Heaven meant seizing Creation from heaven and earth to nourish oneself. As long as the Cave Heaven remained, it could continuously draw in power to replenish the body and keep one's vitality vigorous.

Thus, cultivators who reached this realm almost never had to worry about running low on energy. And because Cave Heavens could communicate with the boundless void, they could draw on the power of heaven and earth in battle to amplify their strength.