Supreme Sword Exalt

Ling Ya gazed at the demoness indifferently. “Come back and remain with me for a hundred years. If need be, I can even provide countless lovestruck fools as nourishment for your cultivation. During this time, I won't lay a hand on you, but you are free to attack me. If you can kill me, that is your victory. What do you think?”

Zhong Yu’s heart leaped. This was what he feared most about Ling Ya. He didn’t just kill people, but also crushed their hearts thoroughly.

Over countless years, few of those schemed against by Ling Ya died by his own hand. Most were tormented by his various methods until their dao hearts collapsed, ultimately ending their own lives. It was very terrifying and utterly vile.

Zhong Yu felt certain that as long as the demoness returned, she still wouldn’t escape Ling Ya’s grasp even after a hundred years.

Ling Ya glanced once more at Gu Han, a flicker of regret in his eyes. “Of course, before you return, you must still kill him. Sever your attachment, retread the path of heartlessness, and restore your real Heavenly Demon Physique!”

Gu Han froze for a moment before looking at the demoness. “Is this the way to save her?”

Ling Ya smiled. “Of course. It’s the simplest and the only way.”

Gu Han finally understood why the demoness had never told him how to save her, no matter how many times he asked.

The demoness chuckled. “Silly you... If I asked you to kill me, could you do it?”

Gu Han fell silent because he could never do it.

The demoness found her answer in Gu Han's expression, a hint of satisfaction appearing on her face. “I can’t do it either.”

He was her mortal world, while she was his one and only.

Ling Ya felt greatly disappointed. “Chenyin, I’m only trying to save you!”

The demoness gazed adoringly at Gu Han. “I promised him that I’d only be Mo Chenyin, not a demoness.”

Gu Han’s heart ached as he held her even tighter.

Ling Ya didn’t seem surprised by her reaction, sounding somewhat emotional. “For a Heavenly Demon, you sure are passionate! You’re really beyond salvation. But Chenyin, don’t you want to take revenge for your entire clan anymore? What about your grandfather, or your parents?”

The demoness trembled. “W-what did you say?”

Ling Ya sighed. “We were in a kind of a rush last time, so I didn’t have time to tell you the truth. Mo Chenyin... could a mere mortal have come up with such a name?”

The demoness turned pale, vaguely feeling that Ling Ya’s words concealed another secret.

“Zhong Yu, tell her the truth.”

Zhong Yu bowed, then stared directly at the demoness. “Understood. A thousand years ago, there was a rather well-known cultivator family in the Tiannan Realm, the Mo family. One day, a baby girl was born into the family, with the extremely rare Profound Yin Physique.

“Overjoyed, the Mo family named this girl Mo Chenyin. That is you, Junior Sister. Think about it, impoverished mortals can barely read a few words. How could they possibly come up with a name like yours?”

The faint light in the demoness’ eyes, which had disappeared for ten years, was rekindled.

Zhong Yu understood what Ling Ya wanted and went on. “Not long after, a mysterious person massacred the Mo family. From the old ancestor down to the servants, all died, leaving only you. Master then took you and placed you in the hands of an old beggar, altering his memories. This beggar is the one you believed to be your grandfather.”

Gu Han’s fists clenched tightly as he stared fixedly at Ling Ya. This man's scheming, foresight, and ruthless methods all exceeded Gu Han's imagination.

Zhong Yu explained, “Junior Sister, only master and I know about this matter. Originally, killing your so-called grandfather would have been enough to set you on the Heavenly Demon path. Until today, there had been no reason to reveal these secrets to you.

“You probably never imagined that your entire life has been under Master’s control. You cannot escape! Oh, right. I was the one who slaughtered the Mo family.”

These words completely shattered the last shred of the demoness’ rationality. In an instant, a layer of light rose in her eyes, growing stronger and stronger. A cold aura erupted, blasting Gu Han back a great distance.

She cried, “LING!!! YA!!!”

Ling Ya smiled. “Chenyin, ten thousand years ago, I happened upon the Myriad Transformations Heavenly Demon Physique, that demonic path’s secret scripture. Even though I searched bitterly, I couldn’t find a suitable candidate for it.

“Fortunately, the Great Dao took pity on me and let me encounter you. Now that you know the truth, can you still let go of your hatred? If you don’t kill me, can you be content?”

The moment he finished speaking, the light in the demoness’ eyes grew even stronger.

Zhong Yu said cautiously, “Master, if we let her—”

Ling Ya smiled. “It’s fine.”

Heartlessness was the final stage of the Heavenly Demon path. Hatred and such would also be discarded. Of course, he also wouldn’t allow the demoness to grow strong to that extent.

He pointed at Gu Han. “Chenyin, my earlier words still stand. If you want revenge, kill him and restore your real Heavenly Demon Physique!”

“Do it!”

Ling Ya’s form flashed, and the demoness landed beside Gu Han. Before Gu Han could react, she had pierced his chest, carrying him far away.

In the distance, Ling Ya nodded in satisfaction. “Yes! Just like that!”

Blood gushed out, staining Gu Han’s robes red. Yet, as if oblivious to the pain, he gazed sorrowfully at the demoness. “Why? Don’t you want revenge anymore?”

Though the strike seemed fatal, in truth, it avoided all his vital points.

The light trembled briefly, revealing the demoness’ misty, teary eyes. “Silly you, I was lying to that old dog. Didn’t I promise you that I wouldn’t be a demoness, but Mo Chenyin? How could I go back on my words?”

As she held him gently, she murmured to herself, “Thank you for staying by my side for ten years. I don’t want revenge anymore, nor do I want your opportunity. I don’t want anything, as long as you live.”

A wondrous, icy breath slowly rose from her, condensing into the mist in her eyes. The mist wavered, then transformed into a single tear that seemed to contain endless mystery and creative intent.

Tainted by this wondrous breath, a faint, barely audible sound came. It was the bodhi seed, which had remained unchanged in her hand for over ten years. A hair-thin crack had appeared on the seed.

***

At the same time, within the God-Slaying Formation behind the Tianlong Temple, the chanting stopped again.

The old monk opened his eyes, turning serious.

Wu Xin was taken aback. “Master, what happened?”

He flicked his robe, sending down a beam of light that enveloped Wu Xin. “Wait here for a moment. I will return shortly.”

Then he pressed his palms together and vanished in an instant.

Wu Xin didn’t care. He just stared at the massive head in the air above. “An existence like you must be very powerful, right? I didn’t expect you to have your head cut off and sealed here. How tragic, how pitiful—”

The order divine chains suddenly pulled extremely taut. The ground trembled slightly, and the endless red mist also went berserk. The three eyes on that head opened wide, fixing directly on Wu Xin. Their gaze was cold, devoid of any emotion, as if looking at an ant.

Wu Xin acted as if he hadn’t seen it. He slowly stood up and then left as well.

“How sad. I’m not playing with you anymore. The living beings of this world are heavy with sin, entangled in karma.” His tone was compassionate, his gaze was clear and pure. Yet hidden in the deepest part of that gaze was endless violence and madness. “I must liberate them one by one, make them escape the sea of suffering! Such is my vow!”