The Demon Emperor of the Heart

Zhuo Mingyuan and Yuan Jie were also stunned at this moment. They had no idea what this illusory protective bell was or where it came from.

But that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

“Qin San, what are you doing?” Zhuo Mingyuan immediately shielded Yuan Jie behind him.

“What if I said my hand slipped? Would you believe me?”

“This isn’t something you can just joke your way out of.”

Qin San threw his sword to the ground and let out a bitter laugh.

“Really, I don’t know what happened just now. It felt like I lost control and attacked you.”

There was no helping it. Qin San’s killing strike hadn’t even managed to break the bell. How could he fight after that?

Could he break it if he used all his strength?

Not necessarily. If he couldn’t break it, or if breaking the damn bell drained too much of his energy, how could he continue fighting?

So Qin San, who had been in a heated state just moments ago, was now forced to calm down.

If it weren’t for this bell, even if his sneak attack had failed, the place would already be filled with traps, and he could still act recklessly.

Now, he had no choice but to back off.

Qin San continued to defend himself.

“I heard that a Demon Emperor of Heart Demons is sealed here, capable of manipulating others. I suspect he’s behind this.”

“Really?” Zhuo Mingyuan remained cautious but was slightly convinced.

“Yes, why would I have any reason to attack you?”

Zhuo Mingyuan thought for a moment and realized there really wasn’t any reason.

In the shadows, Nangong Xiyun understood the situation at a glance and then dispelled the bell.

How could Qin San’s true nature be revealed otherwise?

Nangong Xiyun could easily kill Qin San in an instant, but without evidence, what would Zhuo Mingyuan and the others think?

Killing his brother right in front of him and then accusing him of being a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect? Just because you’re a Sect Leader, does that mean you can act so unreasonably? Does the Seven Stars Sword Sect even care about justice anymore?

The next to fall into demonic corruption might be them.

Qin San noticed the illusory bell had disappeared, and his eyes lit up. However, he decided to play it safe and triggered the surrounding traps to test the waters.

In an instant, countless sword energies surged from all directions.

Zhuo Mingyuan and Yuan Jie swung their swords to block the attacks.

The barrage of sword energies lasted for five seconds before stopping.

Though they were a bit disheveled, Zhuo Mingyuan and Yuan Jie only suffered minor injuries.

Seeing that the illusory bell didn’t reappear, Qin San kicked the sword on the ground toward Yuan Jie, then drew another sword and slashed horizontally at Zhuo Mingyuan’s neck.

Zhuo Mingyuan and Yuan Jie had just caught their breath when they were met with an even more ferocious attack.

Qin San’s assault was on a completely different level compared to the traps.

“Qin San, what are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Have you gone mad?”

“Yes, I’ve gone mad.”

As he spoke, Qin San’s strikes were all aimed at fatal points. Zhuo Mingyuan, being slightly stronger, could still fend off the attacks, but Yuan Jie was a bit weaker and had already been stabbed in several places.

They were still confused, unsure why Qin San was attacking them, so they focused more on defense, their counterattacks lacking intensity.

But this couldn’t go on. Zhuo Mingyuan was the first to make a decision. He unleashed his full power, using a secret technique—Rain Transforming Heaven. Countless sword shadows instantly surrounded Qin San.

Qin San sneered, maneuvering through the barrage of swords and finding a gap. He thrust his sword forward.

The sword shadows dissipated, and even though Zhuo Mingyuan quickly switched from offense to defense, he couldn’t block the attack. His shoulder was pierced deeply.

Qin San followed up with a kick, sending Zhuo Mingyuan flying.

Then, with a swift twist of his body, he slapped Yuan Jie and launched two sword energies at her.

At the critical moment, Zhuo Mingyuan endured the pain and stepped in front of Yuan Jie, angrily deflecting the two sword energies.

“Qin San! Are you serious?!”

The sword energies just now would have seriously injured Yuan Jie, which was why Zhuo Mingyuan was so furious.

“Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Qin San covered his face with one hand and laughed maniacally. “Let me reintroduce myself. I, Qin San, am one of the Four Talents of the Seven Stars and also one of the Seven Sons of the Heavenly Demon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, demonic energy spread from his feet to his entire body. Behind Qin San, ghostly figures seemed to stretch their claws, and an evil aura swept through the area.

It was time to seriously send his old friends on their way.

......

On the other hand, Su Luo and Li Siyi were still cultivating.

“Did you hear something?”

Li Siyi sensed something, but the place where Qin San and the others were fighting wasn’t nearby. It was a bit far, so she wasn’t entirely sure.

“I don’t know. Focus on your cultivation.”

Su Luo naturally knew that a fight had broken out.

But it wasn’t his concern. Lin Xuan would handle it, and Elder Yan could end it in an instant. What was there to say?

It was better to just wait here for the outcome.

Meanwhile, beneath the formation, the Demon Emperor of Heart Demons was panicking.

Why aren’t they cultivating anymore?!

What’s with the fighting? Finish cultivating first, then fight!

Cultivating would rapidly deplete the power of the seal, but now, with only Su Luo and Li Siyi, it was useless.

Although they were the ones consuming the most energy overall, more people meant more power.

The Demon Emperor of Heart Demons had finally gotten this opportunity, but now he could only watch it slip away.

No, he couldn’t wait any longer.

After much deliberation, the Demon Emperor of Heart Demons decided to sacrifice a part of himself to escape.

Time was running out. He could feel the secret realm was on the verge of collapse. If he didn’t escape, he would disappear along with the realm.

However, if he left now, his strength would drop to the Nascent Soul level. In the past, he could crush beings of this level like ants.

But now, he had no choice.

If those few had cultivated a bit more, his strength would have been greater.

Unfortunately, it seemed those outside were no longer using the formation to cultivate.

Still, he had to thank them. If they hadn’t cultivated, he wouldn’t have been able to split off even a part of himself.

The Demon Emperor of Heart Demons widened his eyes and muttered something under his breath.

As he chanted, the cultivation rooms in the formation began to explode one after another.

The entire cultivation formation lost its function.

Su Luo and Li Siyi were also stunned. They had been cultivating peacefully, so why had the rooms suddenly been destroyed?

But Su Luo quickly stood up, sensing that something foul was present.

Black, unknown substances began seeping from the ground.

Bit by bit, they gathered in the air, continuously coalescing.

Su Luo’s expression turned slightly serious. He felt that things were taking a bad turn.

Li Siyi, on the other hand, was almost suffocated by the oppressive aura of the unknown substance.

She trembled as she looked at the thing forming in the sky. “What is that?!”

“Don’t ask. Let’s run.”

Li Siyi circulated her spiritual energy, resisting the invisible pressure around her, and prepared to flee. But then she noticed Su Luo hadn’t moved.

“Aren’t we leaving? You said to run.”

“What’s the point of running?”

Li Siyi almost slipped. Weren’t you the one who said to run?

“This is no time for jokes. Be serious.”

Su Luo shook his head. “It’s too late.”

It was happening faster than he expected.

The coalescing substance took the form of a middle-aged man—thin, disheveled, and surrounded by demonic energy.

“I’m out. Finally, I’m out. The taste of freedom.”

“I’ve lost count of the years, but I, the Demon Emperor of Heart Demons, have returned to the world!”

“Hahahaha.”

The Demon Emperor of Heart Demons spread his arms, reveling in the joy of regaining his freedom.

Su Luo felt it was necessary to act now. Otherwise, no one would survive.

His strength might be lacking, but it wasn’t impossible to fight.

“Oh ho, young man, your fighting spirit is commendable.”

The Demon Emperor of Heart Demons noticed the change in Su Luo and couldn’t help but praise him.

“But don’t be nervous. Although crushing you would be as easy as crushing ants, I don’t advocate for violence. So, come out.”

The Demon Emperor of Heart Demons snapped his fingers, and darkness spread from his fingertips. In an instant, the entire secret realm was plunged into darkness.

Then, the darkness disappeared, and everything returned to normal. But the Demon Emperor of Heart Demons had already completed his spell, unleashing his signature move.

The Materialization of Heart Demons.

“I don’t advocate for violence. I prefer to watch you fight among yourselves.”