Chapter 16: The Murderous Sword, Part 5

The Heart Demon first fixed him with a steady gaze, then glanced around left and right, a look of intrigue spreading across his face. After Qingyi Xi’s death, the Star Pivot Palace struggled to hold itself together, showing signs of collapse. With a flick of his finger in midair, the trembling Star Pivot Palace instantly stabilized.

“It truly works,” the Heart Demon said with surprise, eyeing the finger that had just performed the spiritual technique. He slowly smiled, “This secret realm is quite something. No wonder Qingyi Xi clung to it and refused to leave.”

Obviously, outside the secret realm, he could only exist as a ghost beside Fu Heng, but the unique nature of the Qingshan Secret Realm allowed the Heart Demon to manifest, granting him powers that could pierce heaven and earth.

The Heart Demon’s cultivation was on par with his true self; before him stood a rare transcendent cultivator undergoing the tribulation.

Cultivators who defy fate can, even at the Nascent Soul stage, command the weather over an entire area and alter the natural order. Many who barely crossed into the Nascent Soul stage with little hope of further advancement would seek to guard a piece of the mortal realm. Those even closer to transcendence could, with a single hand, pluck stars from the heavens.

What would an evil demon with such power do?

Leng Fangxie was certain that if the Heart Demon could manifest outside the secret realm, he would wreak havoc across the entire Fuyuan Realm, stirring endless chaos.

But for now, he was confined within the secret realm.

Unable to act at all.

Though the Fuyuan Realm was temporarily stabilized, Leng Fangxie himself still stood before the Heart Demon.

“Why so wary? How could I harm you? You are the most beloved disciple of Fu Heng and me,” the Heart Demon said with a playful smile. “Look—”

With another flick of his slender finger, all the pain in Leng Fangxie vanished without a trace.

“I removed the backlash for you. Knowing you were captured and traveled thousands of miles to help you, why would you suspect me?” His expression shifted to one of dejection and grievance. Such a look on Fu Heng’s face disgusted Leng Fangxie immensely.

Yet his words were somewhat thought-provoking. Previously, he believed Fu Heng and the Heart Demon were natural enemies, and it was Fu Heng’s delusions that caused the Heart Demon to proliferate uncontrollably. But now, hearing the Heart Demon’s words, their relationship seemed less antagonistic than he had imagined.

Recalling Qingyi Xi and his Heart Demon serpent, who also interacted harmoniously, with the serpent obeying his commands like a pet.

The weight in Leng Fangxie’s heart grew heavier.

The Heart Demon continued complaining in a rambling manner about how difficult Qingyi Xi was to deal with. He had spent a long time outside the secret realm negotiating with Qingyi Xi, then praised Leng Fangxie’s cleverness and adept responses, saying their cooperation was what enabled them to defeat the world’s greatest demon.

Finally, the Heart Demon suddenly said, “I love you so much, how could I ever hurt you?”

Then he stepped forward.

Fu Heng usually favored simple robes and bore a faint smile at all times, treating everyone with ordinary regard and never arrogance. If not for his lofty position in the heavens, no one would suspect he was a Daoist Master capable of piercing heaven and earth. Many cultivators revered him, believing the Saintly Sovereign cared deeply for all living beings. Over time, Fu Heng became more of a symbol of peace.

Yet beneath the saintly title, he had once fought across thousands of miles, challenging opponents far beyond his level, fierce and indomitable, though his usual gentleness concealed this ferocity.

Now dressed in a dark black robe, his brows and features radiated malevolence, the faint violent aura flaring like fire meeting oil, instantly igniting and exuding overwhelming intimidation that pressed heavily on Leng Fangxie.

Especially those words just now, which unsettled Leng Fangxie profoundly.

Unlike Fu Heng, the Heart Demon lacked self-control. Having appeared alone in the Star Pivot Palace, chatting idly with Leng Fangxie for so long, his intentions surely extended beyond mere conversation.

Unfortunately, the Heart Demon had chosen the wrong moment. Leng Fangxie sneered silently.

He shot the Heart Demon a cold glance, pointing toward the increasingly loud thunder roaring above. “The heavenly thunder tribulation is imminent. You evil demon, do you really want to test the power of the heavenly tribulation?”

The Heart Demon shook his head honestly but did not leave. He stopped in place, accepting Leng Fangxie’s sharp, knife-like gaze, seemingly enjoying it.

“The heavenly tribulation cannot harm me. Besides, if I leave, how will you survive? You are the most important person to us. If you die, Fu Heng cannot live either.”

With that, Leng Fangxie collapsed back onto the couch, watching helplessly as the Heart Demon approached, sat beside him, and gently lifted him into his arms, just like Fu Heng used to do. But the Heart Demon’s aura was dark and dense with a gloomy atmosphere. Leng Fangxie felt like a crane trapped in a swamp—deeply uncomfortable.

The Heart Demon must have noticed the disgust on his face, for a heavy “tsk” sound came from above. Moments later, the dark chill receded, replaced by a faint fragrance of the Moon Maiden.

Leng Fangxie had always loved its bright color; the Sword Peak was filled with Moon Maiden flowers. At dusk, as the golden sun sank and the sky turned a myriad of colors, a subtle, perfect fragrance would permeate the air.

Above the dome, dozens of dragon-shaped lightning bolts roared and rolled, accompanied by thunderous rumbles, like war drums beating as heavenly soldiers took the field.

Cultivators of the Fuyuan Realm must undergo this heavenly thunder tribulation to break through and gain the approval of heaven and earth. Without it, their cultivation would be unstable, and advancement impossible.

The more gifted and powerful the cultivator, the stronger the thunder they must endure. It was said that on the night Fu Heng entered the tribulation, thunderclouds rolled across half the sky of the Fuyuan Realm, and people feared the world’s destruction.

With Leng Fangxie’s talent and cultivation, this tribulation would not be easy and required careful attention.

But now, trapped in the Heart Demon’s embrace, he could only watch as the thunderbolts flashed and the power of the tribulation grew ever more intense.

The Heart Demon paid no heed, examining Leng Fangxie’s right hand with care—from the plump, rounded nails to the slender, strong fingers, down to the thin layer of calluses left by sword practice on the palm. Every detail fascinated him, and he stroked the flesh repeatedly.

At that moment, the first thunderbolt struck, destructive enough to destroy heaven and earth, yet it halted abruptly above the Star Pivot Palace. A quarter-hour later, Leng Fangxie felt a faint electric current enter his body, transforming his flesh.

The Heart Demon explained, “Evil demons are despised by heaven and earth. Great demons like Qingyi Xi periodically trigger heavenly thunder tribulations. This Star Pivot Palace was specially made to weaken the tribulation’s power. With some of my methods, those purple dragon lightning bolts can only rage above your head and cannot strike you. The benefit is that the light still shines upon you.”

Heaven’s way has no consciousness, unlike scheming cultivators. Throughout history, many cultivators sought ways to evade tribulations, but none have ever done so as easily and without repercussions as today.

“But your tribulation is powerful. This Star Pivot Palace will be destroyed after this time.”

“No need to worry.” The Heart Demon cupped his face, eyes full of tender affection. He gazed at Leng Fangxie with a dazed look and said, “Time like today, when I am alone with you, is rare.”

Leng Fangxie turned his head, unwilling to meet his gaze.

The Heart Demon persistently used his knuckles to turn him back, face to face. As he bent over, his black hair fell like silk strands beside Leng Fangxie.

The Heart Demon’s pupils were like blood-red garnets. Leng Fangxie had seen such rare, dazzling gems in some cultivators’ eyes before. But placed in a person’s eyes, they appeared menacing and sinister, radiating a malevolent aura.

Those sharp phoenix eyes blinked, and a warm, wet kiss landed on Leng Fangxie’s brow, fleeting yet intense.

“I really want to pin you to the bed and play,” he said crudely, his words uncouth, hands strong and rough.

To the Heart Demon, Leng Fangxie seemed completely naked, his flawless body displayed as they engaged in earthly pleasures. But no matter the teasing words, the Heart Demon never truly touched him. The most scandalous act was a single kiss.

Just like the one branded recently on his cheek.

Leng Fangxie forced himself to ignore the sticky, festering sensation and asked the Heart Demon a question, “You have been entangled with Fu Heng for a long time. What will happen in the future?”

He recalled Qingyi Xi’s last words before death, a feeling of dread hard to suppress. Facing the Heart Demon now was the perfect opportunity to unravel the mystery.

“Oh?” The Heart Demon seemed intrigued. His right hand left his waist, climbing up Leng Fangxie’s stiff spine to the nape of his neck, gently kneading like a cat. He seemed thoughtful but did not answer immediately. Instead, he said, “I thought you hated Fu Heng deeply. Didn’t expect you still cared for him. After all, he raised you like a brother and father, and before his flaws showed, he was the best master. But if you knew when his filthy thoughts began, I bet you would hate him enough to kill.”

Leng Fangxie said nothing. Neither did the Heart Demon. The two seemed locked in a standoff, eyes meeting. Leng Fangxie truly did not want to speak, but the Heart Demon treated it like a game, his expressionless face slowly breaking into a smile.

After the last thunderbolt fell, the tribulation faded.

In the resounding aftermath, the Heart Demon withdrew his hand and stood, speaking softly, “You think I am an evil demon, a calamity, the reason Fu Heng is the way he is? The cause of that unholy master-disciple bond? The reason for his inner demons? Actually, he is far more unbearable than you imagine.”

Though the path had been turbulent, he had ultimately obtained the Primordial Pearl and even smoothly entered the Deity Transformation stage. Leng Fangxie should have been happy but felt nothing but heaviness in his heart.

The Heart Demon bound him within a red cord and left on his own, abandoning the many disciples of Jiucheng.

Leng Fangxie had no mood to think further. The closer they approached the Jiucheng peaks, the more uneasy he became.

Perhaps because the tribulation had just passed, dark clouds rolled across the horizon, heavy and oppressive, blocking the sun, as if brewing a torrential downpour.