(Plead for votes! My cry for support is far less than others, I hope it’s effective!) How many layers does the Heavens possess? This is a question mortals have perpetually longed to ask;

in their imaginations, the Immortals reside in the firmament, and the higher one ascends, the more powerful they become. In a certain sense, this intuition is not entirely misguided.

Disciples in the Qi Induction Stage, just learning object manipulation, soar through the air—this constitutes the first layer of Heaven, called the Floating Cloud Layer. This stratum is perpetually wreathed in mist and free of danger; flying within it is akin to tasting the subtle difference between the immortal and the mortal realms.

The second layer is named the Sturdy Wind Layer. Here, all flying creatures vanish, for the sheer force of the gale can shred a mortal body at any moment. Cultivators who have achieved Foundation Establishment often navigate this layer during flight to distinguish themselves from novice Qi Induction practitioners. Their Dao foundations are set, so the sturdy winds cannot disturb their resolve, allowing them free passage.

The third layer, which they have just entered, is the Rime Layer. It is intensely cold, colder than ice itself; everything reaching this altitude freezes solid.

Only the Heart-Fire of the Golden Core can sustain and warm the body, making this the domain of cultivators in the Core Condensation Stage. Ascending further leads to the Blazing Fire Layer, where the True Solar Fire cascades down from the heavens, pooling in this region. Without the quasi-immortal body of the Nascent Soul Stage, one would be instantly reduced to ash here. Only Nascent Soul masters can move through it with ease, utilizing this localized True Solar Fire to temper their immortal frames.

Above that lies the Primordial Magnet Layer. It is rumored that the primal magnetism here is so fierce that the Primordial Spirit cannot coalesce, and the soul is inevitably torn asunder.

Only experts at the Spirit Transformation Stage can freely traverse it. Above the Primordial Magnet Layer exists the even more terrifying Thunder Fire Layer, where the tribulations of myriad eons converge. Masters in the Tribulation Passing Stage enter this region to acclimate to the power of the heavenly lightning.

Beyond that, ordinary cultivators have no knowledge.

Though Feng Zikang once separated his soul and flew beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, his understanding remained hazy and incomplete. Now, the Mechanized Beast wraps around him, soaring ever upward, having already passed through the Floating Cloud, Sturdy Wind, and Rime Layers, charging toward the Blazing Fire Layer. To enter this place would mean instantaneous incineration! Feng Zikang dared not hope that his current physical body could withstand the ceaseless, violent True Solar Fire. Anger flared within him, and he struggled with all his might, yet he remained helplessly constrained. Fortunately, the Mechanized Beast could fly no further. If it were in perfect condition, its core uncompromised, it might possess the ability to roam the Thirty-Three Heavens. But relying solely on brute force, to have flown this far in one continuous burst already pushed it to its absolute limit. It halted abruptly just before the barrier of the Blazing Fire Layer. Feng Zikang breathed a sigh of relief. After all, even this monstrosity might not dare confront the True Solar Fire head-on.

The Mechanized Beast suddenly emitted a strange sound, something akin to a cold laugh, yet utterly bizarre and chilling to the very core. Plunge! From an altitude of seventy-nine hundred zhang, the Mechanized Beast suddenly plummeted! "So that's it..."

The rushing wind forced its way into every orifice of Feng Zikang’s face, blinding him instantly. He finally grasped the beast’s intention. If he couldn't withstand the sturdy winds and rime, so be it. Since he could resist them, the Mechanized Beast was deploying its ultimate gambit. Accelerating rapidly from seven thousand nine hundred zhang, the impact of this dive alone was enough to shatter an early Qi Induction cultivator like him into dust! However, the Mechanized Beast itself was already battered and scarred; if they crashed together, it likely wouldn't fare well either?

Did it intend mutual annihilation? Feng Zikang felt the speed of the descent accelerating relentlessly. The skin around him burned unbearably.

If an observer were present, they would see a fireball plummeting from the sky, like a meteor from beyond the stars! Yet, Feng Zikang’s state of mind was like a serene lake atop a volcano—utterly unruffled. Intense killing intent seethed beneath the surface, yet his spiritual state remained placid; this wasn't blind frenzy. This calm madness, while not yet the realm of the unmoving demonic heart, was perfectly suited for combat. What now?

He had already deduced the beast’s escape plan: it would undoubtedly use its Form Transformation and Rebirth technique, escaping the fatal impact at the last possible moment. Though Feng Zikang didn't know the limitations of this technique for the beast, he was certain it demanded a significant price. With its core ruptured, the beast couldn't use other divine abilities.

This high-speed dive, even if not a strategy of mutual destruction, was a final, desperate gamble. As long as he survived this impact without sustaining grave injuries, victory in today’s battle would be assured. Indestructible Vajra Divine Ability... the sheer force would render it useless. Shadow Dissipation... Useless. Thousand Mile Movement... Useless! Illusionary Concealment...

Putting aside whether illusionary arts even work on a mechanized construct, his current level of ability was insufficient. It could only alter his immediate self, not reshape the environment on such a grand scale. Otherwise, raising the ground by a thousand zhang to trick the beast into releasing him early would have been a viable option. They had already plunged back into the Floating Cloud Layer; the downward speed increased! Five thousand zhang! Four thousand zhang! Three thousand zhang! Feng Zikang’s senses remained sharp. Though he could only squint his eyes open, the wind howling in his ears unceasing, he calmly watched the rapidly approaching rocky ground, searching for a thread of salvation.

The divine abilities he usually prided himself on were rendered moot now. Against the immense force of the Mechanized Beast, he possessed no means of resistance. Then... should he truly resort to that? A burning, frenzied flame ignited in Feng Zikang's eyes. Within his Sea of Consciousness, four towering Divine Demons circled and danced, radiating profound majesty—this was his ultimate trump card.

"To force me to this degree... the Mohist mechanical arts are truly astonishing..." This was merely a Mechanized Beast with a partially exploded core. How powerful would it be in its complete form? What kind of monstrous artifact had the ancient sages of Moism created? The myriad paths of the world, the Three Teachings and the Nine Schools, were undeniably profound. Yet, the Path of the Formless Heavenly Demon, despite its arcane depths, should not underestimate the heroes of this world! "Fascinating..."

Feng Zikang murmured within his demonic barrier, an irrepressible excitement burning through his blood—a sensation the usually cautious and reserved him hadn't experienced in ages. The will to fight! A worthy opponent!

The thrill and achievement of conquering the strong! These were the vital essences that made a man's blood burn! If all one did was slay minor pests, what joy was there, even for a demon? One thousand zhang! The jagged, rocky ground was now clearly visible! Even the patch of crimson where the giant ape had fallen was distinct. Could this place truly become his tomb?

"BOOM!" At the very instant before impact, the Mechanized Beast violently disintegrated, shattering into countless fragments of bone that scattered with the wind, completely evading the ferocious collision. But Feng Zikang struck the blood-soaked earth squarely! With a resounding crash, blood-mud flew, splattering filth across the expanse.