Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

The Heart Sword Sacred Palace was one of the three great Sacred Lands within the Heavenly Sword Dynasty. Unlike the vastness of Nanshu Jian Gong or the elite nature of the Spirit Sword Holy Palace, the Heart Sword Sacred Palace was very low-key. Each generation had only one successor, and a new one would not be chosen unless the current Saint Heir died. Until then, they accepted no other disciples.

The sacred grounds of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace were located in central Bozhou, in a small village called Heart Village. The village was situated amidst a stretch of mountains and forests, far removed from the mortal world. It was tranquil and serene, like a secluded utopia. There were few people here, and they appeared quite ordinary, with no hint of a sacred land’s presence. Compared to Nanshu Jian Gong, this place was so low-key it was almost unbelievable.

Today, however, this small village welcomed the greatest number of visitors in its history.

"Your Highness, this is Heart Village!" Li Mingliang said, gesturing from beside the Golden Chariot to guide Su Han.

Su Han looked up and saw a very ordinary little village. It had thatched cottages and spirals of rising smoke, was built by the mountains and water, and was even encircled by a fence to ward off wild beasts from the forest. If not for the information provided by the Imperial Court, Su Han would never have believed that such a small village could harbor a sacred land with such a long history.

"The Heart Sword Technique is a rather unique path. Its power isn’t considered overwhelming, but it is extremely mysterious and catches people completely off guard," Wei Wenzheng spoke up from the other side of the Golden Chariot, revealing a piece of secret history. He evidently placed great importance on the Heart Sword Technique. "Three thousand years ago, the Great Heart Sword achieved Enlightenment while wandering the mortal world and created the *Heart Sword Scripture.* He later established the Heart Sword Sacred Palace. Although there has only ever been one successor per generation, the torch has been passed down continuously, allowing it to endure to this day."

There are countless paths of the sword, not just one. The Sword Cultivation Technique, the Unity of Man and Sword Technique, the Flying Sword Technique, and the Heart Sword Technique are all forms of swordsmanship. No one can say which is definitively stronger; it is simply that the Sword Cultivation Technique is the easiest to begin and yields faster results, making it the most common. Although the Heart Sword Technique had fewer inheritors, no one dared to underestimate its power. Even Su Han, who had experienced it at the hands of the Heartless Holy Son and defeated him with ease, did not dare to look down on this unique form of swordsmanship.

"Your Highness, your arrival from afar brings honor to our humble village. We are late to receive you; please forgive us!" a booming voice called out from within Heart Village. Immediately, three figures stepped out and approached Su Han and the others.

The leader was a tall, dark-skinned middle-aged man. He was dressed in plain clothes and straw sandals, with an ordinary face and large hands and feet—the very picture of a farmer. Yet his eyes were incredibly bright, like two eternally indestructible divine lamps shining with a radiance that seemed to purify one’s soul with a single glance.

Using his Nine Heavens Eye, Su Han discerned the man’s strength. He had reached the Saint Realm Ninth Layer. Though he felt slightly weaker than the Mysterious Great Sword Saint, he was by no means an ordinary individual. This must be the Palace Master of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace!

Next to the middle-aged man stood two others: an old man with yellowed teeth puffing on a dry tobacco pipe, and an old woman with white hair and wrinkled skin leaning on a cane. These two were no ordinary people, either. The old man was at the Saint Realm Sixth Layer, while the old woman possessed the strength of the Saint Realm Third Layer.

Although the Heart Sword Sacred Palace was low-key and had few successors, its strength was formidable. To Su Han, the presence of these three Saints felt no weaker than that of the five Saints from Nanshu Jian Gong.

By Su Han’s side, Wei Ying took the initiative to speak, introducing the middle-aged man. "Xing’er, that is the current Palace Master of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace: the Ask Heart Sword Saint."

Ask Heart Sword Saint! Su Han memorized the name. The man was powerful yet incredibly low-key. He was definitely not a simple person.

"The old woman with the walking stick is the previous Palace Master of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace, known as the Moon Interval Saint," Wei Ying continued. "And the old man smoking the pipe was the Palace Master before her, named the Clear Radiance Saint!"

The Heart Sword Sacred Palace had no elders—only retired Palace Masters. Su Han’s arrival with a massive army was aggressive and overwhelming, compelling these two reclusive former Palace Masters to come forth and receive him, lest they show great disrespect. The Heart Sword Sacred Palace was indeed at fault this time, and any disrespect would only invite a greater disaster. Of course, there were other people in Heart Village—their families—whom they shielded behind them, unwilling to let them be harmed.

"I am sure you already know my purpose for coming," Su Han said, his voice as strong and domineering as ever. He was not intimidated by the Ask Heart Sword Saint’s power. He remained seated on the Golden Chariot, looking down on the three of them. "The Heartless Holy Son colluded with others to ambush this prince, and I have already slain him on the spot. However, you are also guilty of failure to properly discipline him!"

The tragedy at Nanshu Jian Gong had long spread far and wide. Although the Heart Sword Sacred Palace was secluded within Heart Village, they had heard of the incident and were well aware of how formidable the Nineteenth Prince was. The people of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace had mentally prepared themselves and even devised a way to atone.

"Your Highness, this was the Heartless Holy Son’s first foray into the world. In his youthful arrogance, he provoked you, and it was his fate to pay the price. We acknowledge our guilt for failing to discipline him. We only hope that Your Highness, seeing how few people our Heart Sword Sacred Palace has, will show mercy and spare our families.

"As for our atonement, we have a humble proposal and would like to hear Your Highness’s opinion on it."

The Ask Heart Sword Saint could not afford to provoke the currently ascendant Su Han. For the sake of the Heart Sword Sacred Palace, he had to lower his stance and take the initiative to admit their guilt; Nanshu Jian Gong was a lesson he could not ignore.

"Speak!" Su Han stared at the Ask Heart Sword Saint, waiting to hear his proposal.

WHOOSH!

The Ask Heart Sword Saint reached out his hand, and a dazzling flame suddenly appeared in his palm. As the fire flickered upward, countless illusions shimmered within it, depicting hundreds of lifetimes and the endless vicissitudes of the mortal world. At that moment, a peculiar ripple spread out, making everyone feel extremely uncomfortable, as if trapped in a furnace—irritable and struggling to maintain their composure.

"The mortal realm forges the body, and its red dust forges the heart. Once this karma fire emerges, all is turned to ash," the Ask Heart Sword Saint explained as he sent the wisp of Red Dust Karma Fire floating toward Su Han. "This is a wisp of Red Dust Karma Fire, condensed from the mental power of the mortal world. It can slaughter enemies, and even a Saint would find it difficult to block. It can also be used to forge one’s own body and temper the Dao Heart!"

This flame was a rarity in the world and of immeasurable value; clearly, it was their offering of compensation.

"In addition to the Red Dust Karma Fire," the Ask Heart Sword Saint continued, "I am willing to follow Your Highness into battle. I will devote myself tirelessly and give you my all!"

It seemed the Ask Heart Sword Saint had guessed Su Han’s plans and was now voluntarily offering to fight for him. He was a Saint Realm Ninth Layer expert with extraordinary combat power. With his help, Su Han’s plans would surely proceed much more smoothly.

The Red Dust Karma Fire and the aid of the Ask Heart Sword Saint in battle—these two offers were undeniably tempting.

However, Su Han had a different idea!