The Demon of a Heart with Eight Hundred Schemes

"You want to use the Heavenly Dao to kill me?" Gu Qingfeng laughed, his smile brimming with disdain.

"Then this Emperor is quite curious—why would the Heavenly Dao listen to you? Compared to me, the threat from the Outer Realm Demons is far greater, isn't it?"

"Hahaha..." The Heart Demon Lord's laughter grew louder, filled with triumph. "Gu Qingfeng, have you ever wondered why the fifth tribulation of the Heavenly Human stage in your Cangming Realm is the Heart Demon Tribulation?"

Gu Qingfeng's expression shifted slightly as a realization struck him—there must be a deep connection between the Heart Demon Lord and the Heart Demon Tribulation.

"Figured it out? Let me enlighten you. Since the very birth of the Cangming Realm, I have been invading it, sending my avatars to inscribe the Heart Demon Dao into its very fabric.

That’s why your fifth tribulation is the Heart Demon Tribulation—because my Heart Demon Dao has long become an inseparable part of the Cangming Realm!

The Heart Demon Dao is like a parasitic worm, feeding on its host’s essence until it grows strong enough... to take control!"

As his words fell, the radiance of the Heart Demon Dao’s laws erupted from his body.

At this moment, the Heart Demon Lord seemed to transform into an eternal sun, his brilliance illuminating the entire Cangming Realm.

The Heart Demon Dao spread like a plague, instantly engulfing the heavens and the earth.

The sky darkened abruptly, as if the world had descended into apocalypse.

Then, countless squirming black demonic runes, resembling tiny tadpoles, appeared out of nowhere on the silver-eyed giant’s body, writhing madly toward their destination—the Eye of the Heavenly Dao.

Like a tidal wave, the dense swarm of demonic runes surged into the Eye. The silver-eyed giant let out a roar of agony, clawing desperately to stop them, but it was futile.

"Hahaha... succumb to demonic corruption, Heavenly Dao!" the Heart Demon Lord cackled wildly.

His actions mirrored how heart demons invaded cultivators, driving them to madness—except now, his target was the Heavenly Dao itself.

Gu Qingfeng watched the scene quietly, an inexplicable urge to laugh rising within him.

"Are you really this selfless?

This Emperor hereby crowns you the Most Touching Family Member of the Cangming Realm!"

Soon, all the demonic runes had flooded into the Eye of the Heavenly Dao, which now flickered with an eerie crimson glow.

"Hahaha... Gu Qingfeng, you may be able to absorb the power of demons, but what about the Heavenly Dao?

If I recall correctly, you were once bound by the Heavenly Dao’s chains—proof that its power can suppress you! That is your weakness!"

Gu Qingfeng nodded in agreement. "You’re absolutely right."

And in his mind, he added: Before you corrupted the Heavenly Dao, that is.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully erased this Emperor’s weakness.

Such a considerate 'family member' is truly rare.

What a pity for the old ghost. This was a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

The old ghost had set his sights on the Heavenly Dao, only for the Heart Demon Lord to lurk even deeper in the shadows, his schemes older and more concealed. Even without Gu Qingfeng’s interference, the old ghost was doomed to fail.

And what of the oriole hunting the mantis, only for the eagle to swoop in?

This was it.

Now, the Heart Demon Lord stood like a triumphant mastermind, stepping out from the shadows to corner the protagonist in a "hopeless" situation before launching into the classic villainous monologue—a fatal flaw among antagonists. After all, having orchestrated such an elaborate plot, how could he resist boasting about his brilliance?

"Gu Qingfeng, let me share another secret. In other realms, the Heavenly Dao doesn’t harvest the Emperor’s Dao. Cultivators who reach the Quasi-Emperor stage and forge their own path can ascend to immortality through the Path of Transcendence in the Boundary Sea, seeking eternal life.

So, do you know why the Cangming Realm’s Heavenly Dao is different? Why it harvests the Emperor’s Dao?"

Gu Qingfeng wasn’t particularly interested, but considering the Heart Demon Lord’s 'gift' of delivering himself from millions of miles away, he might as well humor him.

"Was this also your doing?" Gu Qingfeng played the perfect straight man.

The Heart Demon Lord laughed smugly. "Indeed! As all know, the Heavenly Dao is impartial and emotionless. But through the Heart Demon Dao, I slowly instilled it with selfish desires!

The Heavenly Dao’s greed became this: I nurture all living beings, yet none repay me.

Why should I raise you, only for you to leave and ascend elsewhere?

Once corrupted, the Heavenly Dao erased all knowledge of immortality, devised countless schemes, and began harvesting the Emperor’s Dao.

Other realms don’t even have the concept of the Mandate of Heaven—it’s merely a tool the Heavenly Dao uses to reap the fallen Emperor’s Dao.

Well, Gu Qingfeng? This is the truth of the Cangming Realm! Hahaha... I alone severed the path to immortality for an entire realm! Are you not astonished?"

"Mm. Astonished," Gu Qingfeng replied flatly, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

"Do you know why I did this?"

This time, the Heart Demon Lord didn’t wait for an answer, too eager to gloat. "Because I needed to feed the Heavenly Dao, to make it stronger—so the fruit it bears would be sweeter.

And now, it’s at its ripest."

He glanced at the Heavenly Dao Giant, its eyes now fully crimson.

"Gu Qingfeng, did you really think I went to such lengths just because you insulted me from afar?

Hahaha... I’ve cultivated for endless ages—do you think I lack the patience to endure a few taunts?

Coming for you was merely incidental. My true goal was to harvest the Cangming Realm! Though now, it seems priorities may have shifted. You’ve given me quite the surprise."

"So, the Longevity Demon Lord and the Oath Demon Lord were just your pawns, tricked into doing the hard work of opening the passage, only to be sacrificed?"

"Those fools... Enough. It’s time for you to die, Gu Qingfeng." The Heart Demon Lord’s triumphant expression vanished, replaced by cold calm.

By now, the Heavenly Dao Giant’s eyes had completely transformed into an eerie red, not a trace of silver remaining.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Gu Qingfeng applauded slowly. "Truly worthy of the Heart Demon Lord—eight hundred schemes in that twisted mind of yours. So, you were stalling for time."

The Heart Demon Lord regarded him indifferently. "Correct. The Heavenly Dao’s vastness requires time to fully corrupt.

That was your last chance to act, but you let my words trap you in my design."

A savage grin curled Gu Qingfeng’s lips. "And what makes you think this Emperor didn’t let you trap me?

You delayed for the Heavenly Dao’s corruption—but I’ve been waiting too. And I’ve been far more impatient than you."

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