"However, there is one place, Scholar, where you must be especially careful!"
He Ying, leading Zhang Jian to the center of the Observatory Platform, noticed another peculiar altar.
On the altar, there was also a small, exquisite tower.
"The Demon Suppression Tower!"
The Zhang Family saw several ancient runes appearing on the exquisite stone tower.
Within this small tower, Zhang Jian seemed to see boundless demonic aura swirling inside.
Evidently, this is a space-type magical treasure imprisoning many demons.
However, Zhang Jian was somewhat puzzled as to why the Cave God Sect Leader went to such trouble, instead of directly eradicating these demon fiends, for imprisoning them seemed much more cumbersome.
At this moment, He Ying gazed at the small tower and said to Zhang Jian.
"This is it. The Demon Suppression Tower imprisons some demons who have committed grave errors but have not reached the most heinous level. Our Patriarch is compassionate and unwilling to kill them all outright, offering them a glimmer of hope. They can reflect on their wrongdoings inside the Demon Suppression Tower, awaiting forgiveness!
However, over the years, some demons have not only refused to repent but have become even more heinous. Scholar, you must be careful and avoid listening to their nonsense and being deceived!"
Zhang Jian nodded upon hearing this.
After the introduction, He Ying, after confirming with Zhang Jian that he had no other requests, bowed and left the Observatory Platform.
Zhang Jian stood atop the ten-zhang-tall Observatory Platform, with the fierce winds seemingly blocked by the invisible forbidden techniques surrounding the platform. His gaze looked downward, clearly seeing all the halls and pavilions around the Dong Shen Temple, let alone the distant Imperial City.
And on the other side was the Daqian Forbidden Land.
"Daqian East Mausoleum!"
Looking over, Zhang Jian seemed to see the Dragon and Tiger Qi shaking, with a grand dragon shadow meandering within, its scales thick and heavy.
As if noticing Zhang Jian's gaze, from deep within the Dragon and Tiger Qi, an invisible gaze briefly swept towards the Observatory Platform and, seeing it was the platform, swiftly withdrew.
This gaze was extremely subtle, yet it shook Zhang Jian's heart.
It belonged to a being with immeasurably profound Dao Practice.
"It seems there are more secrets behind Daqian!"
Zhang Jian secretly pondered.
This was not entirely surprising to Zhang Jian. Observing the relationship between Daqian and Dong Shen Temple, if one side overpowered the other, harmony wouldn't be possible.
...
At this time, in the outskirts of Haojing City, Jingming Daoist, donned in a Cave God Robe, was accompanied by a purple-golden Dharma Palanquin. The carriers were blue-robed warriors with bared chests and lotus crowns on their heads, followed by four elderly Daoists.
The two Yin Spirit Realm Elders, Dongzhen and Dongxuan, stood beside him, while the other two manifested strange phenomena, either with prominent horns or rosy faces, clearly indicating they hailed from the alien race.
Jingming Daoist looked towards the Observatory Platform with a hint of sigh in his eyes, and nearby, Dongzhen Daoist frowned and couldn't help but speak.
"Jingming Junior Nephew, are you truly assured in handing over the Observatory Platform to young Scholar Zhang?"
"If someone were to act while you and I are away from the capital, that young Scholar Zhang might not be able to do much!"
Dongzhen Daoist found it somewhat incomprehensible.
What kind of place is the Observatory Platform? It's the heartland of the Cave God Sect, typically reserved for the Observatory Master of Dong Shen Temple. Though symbolic, it isn't an area for outsiders to reside.
Let alone entrusting the Demon Suppression Tower to such an outsider for safekeeping.
Jingming Daoist replied indifferently.
"Second Martial Uncle, the overall situation in Haojing City has never been under our Dong Shen Temple's control, nor do I have any expectations for Mr. Zhang!"
"Then why did you…" Dongzhen Daoist frowned tightly.
"Allowing Mr. Zhang to enter the Observatory Platform is not about requiring him to exert great effort for Dong Shen Temple. It's simply about creating an opportunity, a chance to forge a goodwill bond with Mr. Zhang. If Mr. Zhang can comprehend any profound mysteries of heaven and earth from the Observatory Platform, he is bound to owe us a favor!"
"Dongzhen Martial Uncle, if what I do now seeds a deep bond with such a scholar on the path of the saints, do you think it's worth it?"
Dongzhen Daoist was momentarily speechless upon hearing this.
Worth it? It's undoubtedly a great deal.
Zhang Jian, bearing Vast Righteous Qi, even if he doesn't become an Ancient Saint like the Yu Saint in the future, stepping back, even if he becomes a Sub-Saint or a Confucian Grandmaster, it would still be worth it.
Such beings, upon passing, whether reincarnated into Immortal Dao Lineage or drawn into the Underworld as gods, could easily achieve the Primordial Spirit Dao, thanks to their profound foundation and insight into the essence of all things.
This is the very least of it.
He might even step onto the path of a Great True Master, or even reach the realm of a True Monarch.
At this moment, Dongzhen Daoist sighed inwardly, finally understanding why the Cave God Sect Leader thought so highly of Jingming Daoist, leaving him, a 'Sincere Scholar,' in charge before leaving.
"What Sincere Scholar, this is wisdom that appears foolish!"
At this point, Dongzhen Daoist was thoroughly convinced.
...
In front of the Observatory Platform, Zhang Jian sat cross-legged on the central cushion, with several large tripods around him already lit with Soothing Incense by He Ying.
These were not ordinary Concentration Incense, but Ning Divine Aspect, which could aid Great Cultivators of the Yin Spirit Realm in their cultivation. Additionally, several layers of special forbidden techniques had been activated, enhancing the concentration of spiritual mechanism in the void.
"..."Zhang Jian could only inwardly marvel at the grandeur of Dong Shen Temple upon observing these changes.
Within him, deep in his Dantian, six vortices rotated in the Golden Core Dharma Spring, and the Golden Core Pill Qi was harmonious and full.
That was a characteristic of the Late Stage of Golden Core.
After two years of arduous cultivation, Zhang Jian hadn't stopped, instead refining the Pill Qi to perfection, recently advancing to the Late Stage of Golden Core.
On that full Golden Core, countless path marks and carvings could be seen, making this Golden Core exude a profound, ancient Dao resonance, as if nurtured by the Great Dao.
The nourishment from these path marks also made the quality of the Golden Core exceptionally dense, like a mountain.
This was a very terrifying phenomenon.
To comprehend so many Heaven and Earth Legal Principles was enough to astonish other cultivators.
At this time, many spells Zhang Jian had meticulously refined, whether the Five-Formed Sheji King Tripod, Nine Heavens Wind-Riding Thunder-Controlling Technique, Chaotic Star Technique, Soul Purification Spell, or Holy Virtue Sword Cleansing Technique, had all reached the Yin Spirit Level.
Nourished by the ample Golden Core Pill Qi, his Lifebound Treasure, Dragon Roar Sword, and Qianyuan Golden Tripod, also reached the Magical Treasure Realm.
He was, in fact, possessing the foundation for Pill Break Divinity Transformation.
But Zhang Jian had higher expectations for himself.
He hoped that before reaching the Yin Spirit Realm, he could consolidate the various Heaven and Earth Legal Principles he had comprehended into a Lifebound Technique, transforming it into a peerless Dao Foundation for ascending the Path of Longevity.
The entrance to the Observatory Platform offered him this unique chance.
The Observatory Platform contained an elusive and unsupportable special Dao resonance, which, if comprehended, would greatly aid his cultivation.
At this time, Zhang Jian ignited the Vast Flame within him. When all distracting thoughts vanished from his Divine Thought, a rich, inexhaustible Dao resonance seemed to descend on the Observing Heaven Temple.
Whether the sun and moon emerged marvelously, or the Five Elements rotated illuminating the Star River… various strange phenomena abounded, from which he comprehended some special Heaven and Earth Laws.
Unconsciously, it was as if a tangible layer of Heaven and Earth Dao resonance enveloped him.
This layer of Heaven and Earth Dao resonance exuded a sense of perfection without flaw, a gold-like solidity.
This change persisted for several days until Zhang Jian was awakened by a clap of thunder.
He frowned slightly, stepping from the cushion, and seemed to appear on the periphery of the Observatory Platform within a step.
In his sight, he saw many Daoists from the Cave God Dao lineage practicing below on the square.
It seemed someone habitually chose the area in front of the Observatory Platform as a place for practice.
Their intention, whether to put on a show or to demonstrate diligence and talent in front of the Observatory Master of Dong Shen Temple or other senior figures, was unknown.
But at this time, the various practices fell into Zhang Jian's eyes, appearing somewhat bizarre.
"Is this considered openly peeping?"
At this moment, Zhang Jian merely glanced, and instantly, part of the Grotto God Thunder Skill became clear to him.