Starting with the consumables of the Demonic Sect, one can barely achieve immortality.

The fog outside the Hall of Longevity did not seem to cover a wide area. Soon after the mountain hawk set off, Yan Cheng could no longer sense the fog.

Time slipped away like quicksand; it seemed like only a few moments had passed before the hawk came to rest atop a hillside.

The group stepped out from under the hawk's wings and looked down at the secluded stone courtyard at the foot of the hill. It seemed that this was the site of the cave dwelling ruins left by the Heavenly Corpse Path, the "Corpse Nurturing Courtyard".

"That being said, it looks more like a stone fortress than a monk's cave dwelling."

Yan Cheng's gaze was cold, but when he looked at Tiantong, who was fixing the hawk to the ground under Takasugi, his pupils froze for a moment.

Beneath the towering fir trees whose canopies blocked out the clouds, several black feathers drifted down.

Fog crows fly!

In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Yan Cheng's mind:

"How could this be... This place is already far from the area of ​​the Sea of ​​Uncertain Fog..."

Immediately, a burning sensation rose in my heart.

Thanks to the elevation of his status brought about by the wondrous [Hidden Radiance], he has now cultivated the "Hidden Mist Concealing Origin Technique" to the limit that a Qi Refining cultivator can achieve.

However, this technique emphasizes escape rather than instantaneous movement, and Yan Cheng's current speed of transforming into mist is still insufficient to deal with a surprise attack from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

However, as long as he obtains the Mist Raven Feather and integrates it into the Qi Palace where the Unstable Mist resides, he can master the technique of instantaneous mist transformation.

By then, even if a Foundation Establishment cultivator makes a move, he should be able to escape with ease!

Yan Cheng was eager, but knew it was inappropriate to show anything unusual in front of Tian Tong, so he just stared intently at the pile of crow feathers on the ground.

After a long silence, a hint of surprise first appeared in his eyes, then turned into deep disappointment:

"My spirituality is exhausted..."

"Is this waste material left behind by someone who practiced esoteric arts?"

Since the spiritual essence within the raven feather had already been drained, it was of no use to him now.

The celestial child bent down, picked up a black feather from the ground, turned his head, and smiled at Yu Caiying:

"As expected, my senior sister came."

"This place is just an empty mountain; who could force her to use her escape technique?"

"This is a signal left for us, meaning that she cannot enter that morgue. Living beings cannot pass through the restrictions and can only stop here."

His next words, however, were transmitted telepathically:

"She's telling us to relax and focus on finding the treasure inside, without worrying that she might suddenly appear and compete with us."

"Sigh, Senior Sister is being too polite. We've been her fellow disciples for many years; how could we not know her character?"

Tian Tong's smile was sinister:

"If we really come across something so valuable that even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator would envy it, even if she doesn't try to take it, do you think we'd dare not offer it up?"

Yu Caiying glanced at him but did not respond.

She herself may not have the courage, but can you, Tendo, be the same?

You are the vessel for the future possession of the Palace Master. The more your cultivation increases, the happier the master above will be.

How could Huang Tong possibly risk her life just to compete with you for the treasure!

If she were to acquire an extremely valuable treasure without any support or assistance, she might not dare to keep it without permission.

"But...do I really not dare to keep this treasure to myself?"

Upon hearing this thought, Yu Caiying was immediately terrified.

If even she had such thoughts, how could Huang Tong, who had been in a high position for so long, not be wary!

Tendo looked her over, his gaze filled with pity.

The lives of those who cultivate lower levels are largely determined by the single thought of those who cultivate higher levels.

Even if the higher-ups only had a momentary suspicion, eliminating the lower-ups to ensure absolute safety was as insignificant as wiping a speck of dust off a robe!

The eyes of this genius among corpse cultivators gleamed with divine light.

The cave dwellings and ruins left by ancient cultivators are both an opportunity and an excellent trap to lure and kill those with ulterior motives.

In these places with strong restrictions, the control that the upper cultivators have over the lower cultivators will naturally be weaker than usual.

But precisely because they know this, adults are even more vigilant, keeping a close eye on the students with the same intensity as a lion hunting a rabbit.

How can we allow ants to attain enlightenment and transform into dragons and tigers in a single day!

……

The Heavenly Corpse Path stronghold had been abandoned for a long time. When Yan Cheng and the others pushed open the gate and stepped into the courtyard, they were greeted by a strong, musty smell.

Yu Caiying frowned deeply, and Pei Yi immediately covered her nostrils with her hand:

"What's with this smell? Even if a cultivator died here, the smell wouldn't be this foul!"

Tian Tong chuckled:

"If it were an ordinary cultivator who had died, his remains and flesh would have been nourished by spiritual energy, and naturally he would not have emitted such a strong stench."

"But it's a different story if it's a group of cultivators who practice Yin Sha."

Everyone was startled by his words.

Li Bai asked:

"Senior brother, are you referring to us? This physical body has been dead for a long time, so it hasn't..."

Tiantong waved his hand, smiling as if he didn't care, and continued speaking:

"This is why His Majesty instructed everyone to cultivate Yin Sha only after death."

"In ancient times, the path of corpses was not as prosperous as it is today. If cultivators of the Heavenly Corpse Path wanted to perfect the path of corpse evil, they could only try and fail at the cost of the lives of countless lower-level cultivators."

"For example, forcing a large number of kidnapped living people to cultivate corpse demons or something like that."

As the stone steps and corridors before them grew increasingly dark, Tian Tong waved his sleeve, and a ball of light the size of a palm flew out from his sleeve, hovering lightly in front of him.

It was the Taiyin spiritual artifact, [Tian Su Yin Yue].

The bright moonlight illuminated the path ahead, allowing everyone to see the scenery on both sides of the corridor.

Those were prisons.

Behind the rusted steel fence, sewage flowed across the land like thick ink.

Sitting listlessly in pools of sewage are mummified corpses with different faces, dressed in prison uniforms.

Ordinary people would probably only feel horrified upon seeing this scene.

However, all the cultivators present were corpse cultivators who had been forcibly awakened by the Hall of Longevity using secret methods and brought into the Xuan Hall to cultivate the path of corpse demons.

Seeing this scene, it would be impossible not to feel a sense of shared sorrow.

Tian Tong Xi said:

"In that era, the cultivation methods of the Corpse Fiend Path had not yet developed to the point where living people could cultivate with their yang bodies."

"Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the fall of the Zhou Dynasty and the rise of various kingdoms, the Heavenly Corpse Path captured hundreds of mortals and taught them the art of killing. In the end, only a handful of them survived."

"These poor fellows are imprisoned in dark dungeons like criminals, enduring day and night the chilling, malevolent energy coursing through their bodies like sharp knives gouging out their veins and melting their bones."

"Even in death, they cannot find a coffin to rest in. With the Heavenly Corpse Path abandoning this stronghold, the corpses of these guys will be left here forever."

He added quietly:

"Let's properly thank these seniors."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid you all won't even live to see death. You'll be dragged into the hall to practice the Corpse Fiend Technique before you even die, and not one out of a thousand will survive."

"Even cultivators are not ordinary people; in the eyes of the big shots above, they are not even considered consumables."

"Whether I live or die, no one will care."