Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Li Mingliang asked with concern the moment he saw Su Han open his eyes. After all, he and Li Qingyue were bound to Su Han and naturally did not want anything to happen to him.

"I am fine." Facing the concerned gazes of the crowd, Su Han spoke to reassure them, then turned toward the Heart Sword Saint.

"The reputation of the Heart Sword Technique is indeed well-deserved. I hope that while you are aiding me, you will use the Heart Sword Technique to help temper my will!"

Su Han directly stated his request. He knew that by mastering his emotions and desires, his will would become even stronger. Hearing his words, the crowd understood why he wanted the Heart Sword Saint to use the Heart Sword Technique on him.

Previously, not many people knew of the Heart Sword Technique, and the Heart Sword Sacred Palace had always kept a low profile, so no one had ever thought of using it to temper one’s will. However, upon careful consideration, it indeed seemed to be an excellent cultivation method. This, however, was not the cultivation of Martial Arts or the physical body, but of the will. It was a unique method that was of little use to most martial artists. After all, cultivating the will was too difficult, and its effects were not as immediate as cultivating Martial Arts. But for those determined to reach the peak of Martial Arts, willpower was just as important as strength.

"It is our honor to assist Your Highness in your cultivation. We shall devote our full attention to it!" the Heart Sword Saint said, feeling a surge of admiration. Most people at Su Han’s age were rash and arrogant, single-mindedly pursuing powerful strength while paying little attention to willpower. This made it clear that it was no coincidence the Nineteenth Prince had risen to prominence.

"Open the sacred land. This prince intends to enter seclusion here for three days," Su Han said, having decided to digest his gains from the two sacred lands. After all, both Nanshu Jian Gong and the Heart Sword Sacred Palace were merely internal forces and easy to deal with. The true battle would be the vengeance he sought next.

Upon hearing Su Han’s words, the Heart Sword Saint felt a wave of relief, knowing this meant the crisis facing the Heart Sword Sacred Palace had passed. Although they had paid a heavy price, it was worth it to ensure the Heart Sword Sacred Palace’s survival.

"Please follow me, Your Highness!" The Heart Sword Saint stepped aside to clear the path, respectfully inviting Su Han to enter the village where the entrance to the sacred land was located.

"You all wait here," Su Han instructed, then stepped out of the Golden Chariot and followed the Heart Sword Saint into the village.

The village was not large. Everything was primitive, and there was nothing extraordinary about it, making it hard to believe this place was a sacred land.

"Everyone, come out and greet the Nineteenth Prince!" Upon entering the village, the Heart Sword Saint called for the others to come out of their houses and pay their respects. Previously, they had been unsure of Su Han’s intentions and had kept the villagers inside to protect them. Now that everything was settled, failing to greet him would likely cause more trouble.

At the Heart Sword Saint’s call, thirty to forty people emerged from the various houses. They were mostly women, elders, and children—the families of the Heart Sword Saint and his followers, who could loosely be considered members of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace.

"We greet Your Highness!" the crowd said, bowing respectfully. Su Han did not make things difficult for them and bid them to rise.

After the simple greeting, the Heart Sword Saint led Su Han into a bamboo house. It was his abode and also the entrance to the sacred land.

With a gesture from the Heart Sword Saint, a spatial gateway materialized. Su Han took a single step and entered the sacred land. Since Su Han was there to cultivate, the Heart Sword Saint naturally could not follow him inside. Instead, he remained in the bamboo house to stand guard, ready to intervene at a moment’s notice should any accident occur.

Su Han stepped into a magnificent landscape of mountains and rivers. Lofty peaks stood tall, great rivers surged, and ancient trees reached for the heavens. The land teemed with life, home to birds and beasts, resembling a vast wilderness.

The Spiritual Energy here was extremely rich, and a special Dao Rhyme circulated through the air. Being immersed in it made one feel their mind broaden as all vexations were seemingly cast aside.

This was a sacred land for cultivation, immensely precious to most martial artists, but Su Han only had three days and did not explore much.

Finally, I have the chance to refine the Saint’s corpse!

The Great Elder’s corpse was what Su Han had long set his heart on. By refining it, he could break through his Realm, giving him greater assurance for the fierce battles to come.

WHOOSH!

With a gesture, Su Han retrieved the Great Elder’s corpse from his Bronze Ring.

Although the Great Elder had been decapitated by a single sword strike from Wei Wenzheng, both his body and head were here. His blood was still fresh, and his corpse was so lifelike it seemed as if he had just died.

Su Han possessed many treasures. The Black Blade, the Ghostly Face Mask, and the Sword Nurturing Gourd were all artifacts beyond the reach of ordinary people, coveted even by experts of the Great Emperor Realm.

However, the most precious treasure in his possession was the Bronze Ring he always wore. At first glance, it seemed indistinguishable from an ordinary storage ring, yet Su Han relied on it every time he entered the Prison Divine Palace. In fact, it could be said that both the Prison Divine Palace and the Ghostly Face Mask existed within the Bronze Ring.

Moreover, the Bronze Ring had one paramount feature, an exceedingly precious characteristic. If outsiders were to learn of it, even experts of the Great Emperor Realm would try to seize it.

This feature was time stasis. Anything taken out would be exactly as it was when put inside, unaffected by any energy.

Common storage rings did not possess the power of time. Even if they held a trace of it, they could not halt time indefinitely. Furthermore, the more powerful the item stored within, the less effective this power of time was.

But within the Bronze Ring, whether it was a Saint’s corpse or Life Spring Water, everything was just as fresh when taken out as when it was put in, no matter how much time had passed. It was as if time within the Bronze Ring did not exist.

It is a known fact that the more precious a treasure, the harder it is to preserve. Legend has it that Divine Medicines, which are even more valuable than Immortality Medicines, transform into pure essence and dissipate into the world the moment they are plucked. With the Bronze Ring, any treasure could be stored without fear of its energy dissipating—a characteristic sufficient to drive anyone to madness.

In Su Han’s view, he could afford to lose the Black Blade, the Sword Nurturing Gourd, and even the Ghostly Face Mask, but he could never lose the Bronze Ring. It was the true foundation of his rise to power.

He retracted his gaze from the Bronze Ring. This secret is for me alone to know. I must never tell anyone.

With no one else around, Su Han had no worries about being discovered. He immediately began to circulate the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art. Wisps of Devouring Heaven Demonic Qi emanated from his body, climbing onto the Great Elder’s corpse to envelop, devour, and refine it.

Su Han sat cross-legged and began to refine the flesh and blood, charging toward the Eighth Layer of the Supreme Realm. Demonic Qi swirled around him and his Demonic Might radiated outwards, making him resemble a young Demonic Emperor.

As he continuously devoured and refined the corpse’s energy, his Aura climbed rapidly, pushing toward an even higher Realm.

This time, Su Han would certainly grow stronger.