Chapter 267: Chapter 254: Overcoming the Heart Demon
The Nine-Heart Lotus was the very lifeline of the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree, equivalent to a human heart. All the fruits the tree continuously produced were derived from it—one can only imagine how precious it was!
In terms of value, a single Nine-Heart Lotus was worth more than even a hundred of the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree’s fruits combined!
Nie Yun had consumed twelve Demon Fruits, which had only advanced the fourth layer of his Spirit Rhinoceros Body Refining Technique by a small amount. If he could consume the Nine-Heart Lotus, his physical strength would definitely take another leap forward. Even if the fourth layer didn’t reach Great Success, it would be close!
It was because he knew of this legend that Nie Yun had decided to come with Baihua Xiu to find the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree. Otherwise, why would a mere fruit be enough to make him pause the search for his parents and run all the way out here?
’The Lotus of Nine Hearts, a single body with a unified heart, is born in the core of the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree, a creation of nature’s spiritual energy...’
As the information from his past life flowed through his mind, Nie Yun’s eyes suddenly flew open, a sharp glint flashing within them. The Profound Jade Sword extended from his palm, and he stabbed it toward the giant tree trunk before him.
SHHHRK!
As the longsword entered the demon tree’s body, it made a creaking sound, as if it had pierced human flesh and bone. It was a hair-raising noise.
CREAK! CREAK!
The tree’s trunk swayed, its branches and leaves rustling as if in pain. A moment later, Nie Yun felt a paralyzing numbness travel up from the sword’s blade, causing the True Qi throughout his body to tremble, threatening to explode at any moment.
’Nine hearts connecting as one... To think this Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree has reached the point where it can connect to my heart. Could it have lived for no less than three thousand years?’
Sensing the strange phenomenon in his body, Nie Yun was inwardly shaken. He hurriedly focused his Spiritual Power to resist the paralyzing sensation coming from the sword.
According to legend, the longer a Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree lived, the more spiritual it became. If attacked, it could use its Nine-Heart Lotus to connect to the attacker’s heart. All things in the universe tend toward perfection. The Nine-Heart Lotus, being one short of the perfect ten, could achieve its own completion by connecting to a human heart. This act conformed to the Great Dao. Anyone with a slightly weaker will would have their body instantly possessed and their soul annihilated!
Of course, this method of connecting to a human heart and possessing a person was not something an ordinary Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree could accomplish. It had to have survived for at least three thousand years. Spiritual Medicines that lived that long could escape on their own, to say nothing of a naturally powerful Demon Fruit Tree!
If it weren’t for the abundant Spiritual Qi here and the fact that these were the Ancient Ruins left by a Demon Saint, it probably would have escaped long ago!
’You want to possess me? A mere tree like you? Dream on!’
Nie Yun clenched his jaw.
The Demon Fruit Tree’s possession was a direct assault on his spirit, piercing into his mind. He was already in a predicament he couldn’t back out of; escape was impossible. His only choice was to fight it head-on.
BZZZT!
As if sensing the strengthening of Nie Yun’s Spiritual Power, the demon tree’s branches and leaves trembled once more. Instantly, Nie Yun felt a tremendous sound pierce his mind. It wasn’t a sharp sound; rather, it was like the beating of a drum—THUMP, THUMP, THUMP—incredibly steady.
Hearing this sound, Nie Yun felt his own heart begin to beat involuntarily to its rhythm, gradually slipping from his control.
’This is bad. Once my heart rate matches the frequency of this sound, I’ll be dead for sure!’
Knowing how terrifying the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree’s possession was, Nie Yun’s knuckles turned white and the veins on his forehead bulged.
The Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree connected to an attacker’s heart via its Nine-Heart Lotus, its goal to use the sound’s vibrations to strip away their self-control, successfully possess them, and turn them into a puppet...
’Hm? Puppets? Could it be that the puppets outside weren’t left behind by the Demon Saint, but were created by this demon tree’s possession?’
As this possibility suddenly occurred to him, a chill ran down Nie Yun’s spine.
The three puppets that had fought the Seventh Prince were no weaker than Qii Yang even after losing their consciousness. When they were alive and aware, they were likely several times stronger than he was now. For such powerful Ultimate Venerable Peak Powerhouses to be turned into puppets, it was a testament to the demon tree’s terrifying strength!
’Steady... hold steady!’
The thought that even people stronger than him had been turned into puppets caused Nie Yun’s mental defenses to falter for an instant. The beat of his heart slowly began to sync up with the thumping sound.
Nie Yun knew that the moment they synchronized completely, he would be doomed. He screamed inwardly, his mind focusing with every ounce of his will.
’I have to find a way to escape. I’m a Soaring Water Master, I have the ability to control water. Even if I’m being restrained by the Demon Fruit Tree right now, if I give it my all, I can definitely get away. That’s better than just waiting here to die! Besides, I can’t die. If I die, what will happen to my father, my mother, my sister, and my brother? Who will save them...?’
The thought of retreat began to sprout in Nie Yun’s mind.
If he let go and withdrew his sword now, there might still be a thread of life. But if he continued this stalemate, he could very well be turned into a puppet by the Demon Fruit Tree, forced to live in this gloomy seawater for all eternity, never to escape!
If he really became a puppet, everything would be over. There would be no one to save his parents and siblings, and his rebirth would become meaningless...
And her... if he died again, wouldn’t he fail to see her one last time?
’No!’
Just as Nie Yun’s wavering heart rate was drawing closer to the frequency of the sound, he suddenly recalled a beautiful, otherworldly face. A jolt went through him, and an unprecedented power surged from his heart. His eyes began to shine with an unshakeable, determined light.
’In my past life, it was because of my indecisiveness that I didn’t even call out to my father as he was dying, leaving him to pass on with regret! As my brother lay dying, I never spoke a word of praise, and he couldn’t rest in peace! And her... if only I had let her know my feelings sooner, she wouldn’t have let out such a sigh before her death... I cannot retreat. If I back down now, my rebirth will have been for nothing. I might as well be dead!’
CRACK!
As his thoughts cleared, Nie Yun felt a tremor in his mind. His Spiritual Power seemed to shatter some kind of chains, and in an instant, it surged explosively once more!
Above the Ultimate Venerable Level was the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm. This Realm was about seizing the fortune of creation from heaven and earth, fighting against the heavens, and borrowing life from them. If a person was naturally cowardly and only knew how to retreat from adversity, how could they ever defy the heavens, change their fate, and rise above all others?
Since his rebirth, Nie Yun had relied on the experience of two lifetimes, and his journey had been smooth sailing. He hadn’t encountered any real obstacles, and the inertia from his past life had begun to resurface. If he had allowed that to continue, forget about recovering to his previous peak—it was doubtful he could have even reached the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm!
Cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall back!
Without shattering the chains on one’s heart, how could one ever climb to the peak?
Having shattered the shackles on his heart, the aura within Nie Yun’s Qi Sea began to churn. In an instant, the thousands of Spirit Stones he had gathered in his Storage Dantian turned to dust, and his power shot up like a rocket, instantly reaching the Mid-Stage Ultimate Venerable Peak!
His True Qi Power broke through, soaring from the previous 500 Elephant Giant Power to a full 2,000!
With his True Qi at 2,000 Elephant Giant Power and his physical strength, augmented by his Great Strength Dantian, capable of unleashing 1,000, it meant that a single strike from Nie Yun’s sword could now unleash a force of at least 3,000 Elephant Giant Power!
"Break!"
Feeling the explosive surge in his power, Nie Yun let out a great shout as the Profound Jade Sword erupted with a fierce torrent of energy!
BOOM!
The massive Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree immediately exploded from the inside, and a lotus-shaped object abruptly appeared before him. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
