Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Minor Metal certainly did not have the ability to deal with True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde.

Even though he had currently achieved Great Success of Heart Demon and gathered all Five Divine Techniques, a Perfected Lord was still a Perfected Lord. The gap in Position doomed the two to have no comparability whatsoever.

Therefore, his plan was very simple.

He thought, "A True Monarch of Foundation Establishment Perfection and Golden Core Reversal is impossible. If I want to turn defeat into victory, the only way is to let True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s own problems erupt."

According to Lü Yang’s prior instructions, his steps to become a Heart Demon True Monarch should be to first trigger True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Heart Demon, let it swallow True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde, then use his own Heart Demon to swallow the opponent’s Heart Demon, and finally have his own original consciousness counter-possess the Heart Demon.

However, Minor Metal had carefully weighed the options.

He pondered, "While this plan isn’t completely unfeasible, the success rate against a Golden Core Perfected Lord is far too low. No matter how poorly True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde performs, he is still a Perfected Lord.

"Let him be swallowed by a Heart Demon?

"That’s unrealistic."

In fact, this was absolutely true. Even though he was deeply troubled by his Heart Demon, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde had always maintained an absolute advantage and never let the Heart Demon take the lead.

However, things were different now.

He schemed, "I’ll change the order. First, I’ll feed my Major Mastery Heart Demon, along with the five Refined Heart Demon Divine Techniques... all to True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Heart Demon!"

This wasn’t even an attack; it was sheer suicide. In just a short instant, Minor Metal’s Heart Demon plunged without hesitation into True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s avatar. Immediately afterward, sensing the appearance of "delicious food," True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Heart Demon awakened on its own.

"Hmm!?"

The next second, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde realized something was wrong, but it was too late. With Minor Metal’s active cooperation, the Heart Demon’s swallowing process went incredibly smoothly.

"HEH HEH HEH..."

In an instant, gloomy laughter echoed through True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Spiritual Space. Endless purplish-black smoke materialized out of thin air, condensing into a phantom-like silhouette.

Soon, the light faded, and a figure stepped out from within.

"Tingyou!?"

Carrying intense shock, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde instantly cried out. However, his reaction was extremely fast; he immediately realized this was the Heart Demon’s Illusion Realm.

"Demon, don’t even think about messing with my mind!"

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Soul sat upright in the center of his Spiritual Space. A thunderous Daoist shout burst from his lips. At the same time, he brought his fingers together in a Finger Technique and fiercely unleashed a Sword Light.

Within the Sword Light, the Gold Attribute shone brightly.

Normally, if struck by this sword, no matter how capable the Heart Demon was, it would instantly dissipate and take three to five days to regenerate.

However, this time, the Heart Demon that had just condensed its facial features showed absolutely no intention of dodging. Instead, it grinned and unleashed a Sword Light identical to True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s. It contained the same hidden Gold Attribute and the same profound Sword Technique... No, the opponent’s was actually a bit more profound?

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Heart Spirit was instantly shaken.

Because it was too similar. It was exactly like that secret Combat he had with Progenitor Tingyou back in the day. The opponent had perfectly replicated all of his methods just like this...

"No!"

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde snapped back to reality, only to discover that the Golden Sword Light he had just unleashed was entangled by the opponent and completely swallowed in a single bite.

He thought in alarm, "It’s infecting my thoughts!

"I don’t know what it just swallowed, but this Heart Demon’s Abilities and methods have suddenly jumped up several levels. It even seems to possess a bit of sapience now?"

Thinking of this, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde made a prompt decision. His Soul firmly guarded his Spiritual Space as he directly sealed off all his senses. His seven apertures were shut off, and his main body in the outside world fell headfirst onto the ground... This move appeared pathetic, but it was actually an exceptionally precise way to find the best countermeasure.

Because he was not alone.

True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde had a very clear understanding of himself. He knew that his skills and wits were limited; if he proactively fought the Heart Demon, he would likely just shoot himself in the foot.

Therefore, he simply chose not to fight.

He reasoned, "I’ll use the stupidest method to hold my ground. No matter what tricks you have, as long as I defend my Spiritual Space, you won’t be able to take me down in an instant.

"During this time, the other Perfected Lords of the Sword Pavilion will naturally come to my aid.

"When that happens, I’ll be saved!"

In short: cling to a stronger backer.

Although the method was clumsy, it was indeed very effective. Just as True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s real body collapsed to the ground, Spiritual perception had already spread over.

One of them had a Qi trace as majestic as Heaven itself, carrying a lofty and unreleased Position.

True Monarch Gangxing!

In the blink of an eye, the three Perfected Lords of the Sword Pavilion had arrived beside True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde. True Monarch Gangxing frowned deeply, his eyes brimming with Splendid Light.

"...A Heart Demon?"

His gaze pierced straight through True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Spiritual Space, catching sight of the phantom-like silhouette formed by the Heart Demon. The latter also looked up at him.

"BOOM!"

In an instant, Victory Sword Intent erupted the moment their eyes met! The Heart Demon’s entire body was immediately covered in countless sword scars, nearly tearing it into pieces!

A howl that shook the Divine Soul instantly resonated. The Heart Demon’s eyes blazed brightly, surrounded by a purplish-black glow. It glared at True Monarch Gangxing with malicious intent, yet it didn’t dare to be careless. It split apart directly along the sword scars on its body, transforming into streaks of purplish-black afterimages in a split second.

These afterimages scattered and took root upon landing.

Before long, dozens of silhouettes materialized out of thin air. Every single one possessed an overwhelming Qi trace, looking as though they hadn’t suffered the slightest injury!

[Outer Body]!

The fourth Heart Demon Divine Technique allowed the Heart Demon to split into thousands of clones. The Heart Demon had borrowed True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Position to unleash this Divine Technique.

Seeing this, True Monarch Gangxing paused in slight surprise.

He was familiar with Heart Demons, but he never expected that such an unpresentable thing in his eyes could actually block his Sword Intent Slash.

His frown deepened even further, especially upon seeing that the Heart Demon was completely unharmed while True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Qi trace had inexplicably plummeted.

He analyzed inwardly, "This Demon is connected to Zhengde’s Heart Spirit. It stems from Zhengde himself; the two are one entity. Unless Zhengde can achieve enlightenment on his own, Killing it is equal to Killing Zhengde."

This made things very thorny.

"HEH HEH HEH..."

Within True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Spiritual Space, the Heart Demon seemed to realize it was already in an invincible position, immediately letting out a burst of sinister laughter.

However, True Monarch Gangxing was highly experienced after all, and he thought of a solution in a flash. "No, although Zhengde has a Heart Demon, it has never lost control like it did today. All the karmic links point to Gantang Dao. Someone must have plotted against him. As long as I find the source, we can definitely turn danger into safety."

This was a very accurate judgment.

In truth, the foundation of the Heart Demon Divine Technique still rested on Minor Metal. As long as they killed him, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Heart Demon would also lose its newly acquired miraculous powers.

However, when putting this judgment into practice, a mistake occurred.

Because after that, True Monarch Gangxing didn’t choose to personally go to Gantang Dao to investigate. Instead, he subconsciously opted for the method Perfected Lords used most often.

Calculating karmic links.

However, under the [Tribulation], karmic links were subject to Impermanence. Naturally, his calculations yielded nothing. Only then did True Monarch Gangxing belatedly turn his scrutiny toward Gantang Dao.

Alas, it was too late. Minor Metal had long since left.

Or rather, even before True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde fell for the trap, he was already on his way out of the South. What stayed behind was merely his Heart Demon.

And now, he was already in the North.

Minor Metal pondered in his heart, "This scheme is already mostly complete.

"Whether it succeeds or not is entirely up to Celestial Will. As long as True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Heart Demon can swallow its host in return, I will have a chance to pursue the Dao!"

Meanwhile, atop Zenith Cliff.

A full fifteen minutes passed, yet True Monarch Gangxing’s expression grew increasingly ugly. He had exhausted all his methods, but he was completely helpless against a mere Heart Demon.

He considered, "Unless I recover my Cultivation and forcefully suppress its Profound Mysterious nature.

"But do I need to go to such lengths just for Zhengde? Forcefully elevating my Position carries severe consequences; it will whittle away my already poor condition..."

True Monarch Gangxing felt hesitant in his heart.

However, right at that moment, the previously unconscious True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde suddenly opened his eyes. He stared dead at True Monarch Gangxing, then let out an unprovoked sneer.

"A Tribulation... It truly is a Tribulation.

"Three Daoist friends, take good care of yourselves!"

Before his voice could fade, True Monarch Chengtian Zhengde’s Dharma Body trembled violently. Cracks surfaced all over his body, and then, with a loud BOOM, he exploded!