448: Chapter 463 So you call yourself a demon?!

“Phew—”

Inside the underwater Immortal Cave, after Lu Ming forced the last trace of stagnant injuries out of his body, he slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi.

In front of him, Yun Chenzi's Golden Core Perfection dharma body had completely dimmed, turning into a withered corpse without a single trace of spirituality left.

Lu Ming raised his hand and shattered the withered corpse into powder, letting it vanish into nothingness. He then stretched his limbs, feeling the magic power refilling his body, and his heart settled slightly.

“Finally recovered.”

At this moment, pupils had regrown within his hollow eyes.

However, deep within those newborn eyes, a wisp of black and white Qi flashed by, like two fish crossing tails before disappearing into the depths of his pupils.

Lu Ming touched his eyes, feeling quite surprised.

“This Asura Tribulation Prison Scripture is something else... it can even devour Laws?”

Although most of the Yin-Yang Law Origin condensed by Yun Chenzi was anchored in his Divine Soul, his Physical Body had been closely linked to it for centuries, leaving behind some traces of the Yin-Yang Origin's mark.

While he was devouring Yun Chenzi's corpse to heal himself just now, he unexpectedly discovered that the Asura Tribulation Prison Scripture had even devoured those remaining Law marks; this was something that had never happened before.

“But why didn't I notice it before?”

Lu Ming frowned slightly, lost in thought.

He remembered that he had also devoured Li Daoxuan's corpse before.

Li Daoxuan cultivated the Thick Earth Law, so there should have been corresponding Law marks remaining in his Physical Body as well.

But at that time, he hadn't absorbed any Thick Earth Origin.

“Could it be... because I hadn't broken through to Golden Core Perfection yet and couldn't condense a Dao Seed of Law?”

Lu Ming felt this guess made some sense.

Comprehending Laws indeed requires the support of a corresponding Realm.

During the Early and Middle Stages of the Golden Core, one can't even touch the threshold of Laws; even if a Law Origin were placed right in front of them, they wouldn't be able to absorb it.

But this was just a guess; there might be other reasons.

“I can catch another one to try it out later.”

Lu Ming calculated inwardly, but his expression soon became extremely strange.

“How did I inexplicably condense a Yin-Yang Dao Seed?”

Indeed, within his Golden Core at this moment, a wisp of Yin-Yang Origin had begun to be nurtured.

Although it was still very weak, it was indeed the embryonic form of a Yin-Yang Law Dao Seed.

But the problem was, the plan he had set for himself was clearly to condense a Karma Law Dao Seed!

“Damn, I messed up!”

Lu Ming cursed under his breath, somewhat speechless.

However, despite saying that, he didn't actually care too much.

Whether it was the Yin-Yang Law or the Karma Law, to him, they were nothing more than a key to breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

As for which specific path he would take, he really didn't care that much.

Because from the very beginning, he hadn't followed the usual path. He cultivated all sorts of things, learning whatever was useful, and never had the idea of specializing in a single Dao.

Ultimately, his Dao lay in "Fusion" rather than "Specialization."

“And...”

Lu Ming suddenly thought of an even more crucial point.

“I was thinking too one-dimensionally before.”

What was Lu Ming's greatest reliance?

Naturally, it was his Golden Finger, the karma golden book.

And what was the greatest function of the karma golden book?

Of course, it was to transfer all the side effects of cultivation!

In that case, why must he limit himself to a single Law? Why not try to fuse multiple Laws?

Although he hadn't heard of anyone attaining the Nascent Soul stage with multiple Laws, it wouldn't hurt for him to try.

As for Law conflicts causing the Golden Core to be unable to withstand it?

What did that have to do with him?

If it couldn't withstand it, then naturally, a Fellow Daoist would endure it for him!

What? You say a Golden Core Immortal Master can't withstand it?

Then don't forget, there is now a living Nascent Soul True Monarch on the golden book's list.

As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.

This massive tank was enough for him to expend!

Even if one wasn't enough, there were two; if two weren't enough, then three. He didn't believe that if he dragged all the Nascent Soul True Monarchs onto the list, he still wouldn't be able to withstand the Fusion of multiple Laws!

Thinking of this, a strange light flashed in Lu Ming's eyes.

“What does this make me... a Law Devourer?”

He vaguely felt he had grasped a key point, a direction that might allow him to walk a completely different path.

But this thought only flashed by; he still needed more time to think and more practice to verify it.

“Forget it, I won't overthink it.”

Lu Ming shook his head, temporarily suppressing his chaotic thoughts.

Now was not the time to think about such things; his crisis had not yet passed.

Having experienced that Life and Death crisis, his current state of mind was actually clearer than before, allowing him to see many things plainly and understand his current situation better.

He hadn't forgotten the glance that final existence had cast toward him; he had clearly been targeted.

Being targeted by a Nascent Soul True Monarch was no joke; even though he was currently within the Xuanling Secret Realm, the day would eventually come when he had to leave.

With his current small stature, he couldn't possibly withstand the wrath of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, so he needed strength!

Even if he couldn't confront a Nascent Soul True Monarch head-on, he needed means to escape.

“I'll refine Yun Chenzi's fortune first.”

Lu Ming sat cross-legged, his mind immersed. He began to circulate the Asura Tribulation Prison Scripture to refine the newly appeared wisp of fortune in his Dantian.

With his first experience, this refinement was much smoother.

The refined and purified fortune flowed like a gurgling stream, slowly merging into Lu Ming's entire body under his guidance and transforming into pure Golden Core Origin power.

Without much effort, it was completely digested.

However, at the moment the final wisp of providence merged into his body...

Boom!!!

Lu Ming only felt his vision go dark, and in the next instant, he was already in a strange Void Realm.

There was no sky, no earth, only endless gray darkness.

Mist surged all around, and from within it came faint whispers, wails, and sinister laughter, as if countless invisible things were peeking from the shadows.

“Is this... the Heart Demon Tribulation?”

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow.

He had heard that the strangest part of the Earthly Tribulation was the Heart Demon Tribulation.

This tribulation comes uninvited, specifically striking when a Cultivator's mind is relaxed, stirring up their deepest inner fears.

He just hadn't expected that by merely refining a wisp of fortune and slightly improving his cultivation, he would attract this thing.

Just then, a figure slowly condensed within the mist.

The figure was blurry at first, then gradually became clear, finally taking a human shape.

Looking closely, it was actually Lu Ming's own appearance.

Except that "Lu Ming's" face wore a strange smile, and his eyes flickered with a dark light.

It looked Lu Ming up and down, as if admiring a fine piece of art.

“Jie jie jie jie—”

The Heart Demon let out a piercing, strange laugh that echoed in the void, making one's scalp tingle.

“How long has it been... a newcomer has finally arrived in the Heart Demon Domain!”

Licking its lips, the greed in the Heart Demon's eyes grew even more intense.

“Look, how delicious... let this demon see what fears are hidden in your heart?”

And this Cultivator before it—just looking at his aura made its mouth water!

The Heart Demon hesitated no longer, turning into a streak of dark light and lunging toward the depths of Lu Ming's Divine Soul!

...

However, when it broke into Lu Ming's inner world, it suddenly froze.

Because here... there was nothing!

No fear, no obsession, no regret, no pain—none of the things it was usually familiar with.

Looking around, there was only an endless void.

That void was like a deathly silent space, empty of everything, leaving it with absolutely nowhere to start.

“This... what's going on!”

The Heart Demon looked around blankly, the sinister grin on its face completely frozen.

As a Heart Demon Dao Abomination that had lived for who knows how many years, it had seen the inner worlds of too many Cultivators.

Some feared death, some feared failure, some feared loss, some feared loneliness...

Deep in the heart of every Cultivator, there was a dark corner where their deepest obsessions and fears were hidden.

Even those Cultivators with a Perfect Dao Heart must have something hidden deep inside.

Perhaps awe of the Heavenly Dao, wariness of death, or persistence on the path of Dao.

While these things aren't entirely fear, they can still serve as soil for Heart Demons to grow.

But this person before it...

Had nothing!

Just as the Heart Demon began to fall into self-doubt...

It suddenly felt a wave of hair-raising dread.

It subconsciously looked up and discovered in horror that a giant face was currently looking down at it from the sky.

But in those eyes, there was curiosity and inquiry, but even more so, mockery and amusement.

“So you're the f*cking Heart Demon!”

From above the firmament, Lu Ming's voice rolled down like thunder from the Nine Heavens.

And following his words was a giant hand that blotted out the sun, reaching straight down from the sky!

The giant hand's five fingers spread out, covering the entire sky, and like picking an object from a bag, it snatched the Heart Demon directly into its palm!

“No—!”

The Heart Demon let out a shrill scream, struggling frantically!

But that giant hand was like cast iron, remaining completely motionless!

“This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!”

It roared, its eyes filled with unbelievable terror.

In the Heart Demon Tribulation, it should have held the absolute advantage!

A Cultivator should be at their most vulnerable when facing a Heart Demon in their own inner world! This was the authority granted to it by the rules of heaven and earth!

But why...

Why was this person completely unbound by the rules?!

Why was he able to control everything so freely within his own Divine Soul?!

This wasn't right!

This wasn't logical!

“Who are you! What kind of monster are you!”

It screamed hysterically.

Lu Ming didn't answer.

He just looked at the terrified little thing in his palm with great interest.

It wasn't that he hadn't experienced Heart Demons causing trouble before, but the feeling was completely different from this one.

The difference was that this Heart Demon was conscious, giving off the feeling of a unique living organism!

Lu Ming actually knew a bit about this.

Heart Demons have no race or physical form; they are Dao Abominations produced by Dao-transformation when a Cultivator fails their tribulation.

Because of its special birth, it was granted a trace of the power of rules by the Heavenly Dao.

But precisely because of this, Heart Demons are not free. They reside in the Heart Demon Domain year-round, only appearing when a Cultivator triggers an Earthly Tribulation, inciting their inner delusions and hindering their Breakthrough.

During this process, all negative emotions produced by the Cultivator are the most delicious food in the eyes of the Heart Demon.

So the more you fear the Heart Demon, the stronger it becomes.

Once you are lost in the Heart Demon Tribulation, everything of yours will be devoured by the Heart Demon, leading to a failed tribulation and the birth of a new Dao Abomination.

And so it goes in cycles, a never-ending Reincarnation.

But if you overcome the Heart Demon with great wisdom and perseverance and succeed in the tribulation, then everything of the Heart Demon will naturally become an aid for your ascension.

This is the Heart Demon Tribulation!

Fair, yet cruel!

Many Cultivators may be gifted and have excellent Aptitude, but because their obsessions are too deep, they suffer a crushing defeat when facing the Heart Demon, ultimately falling at this stage, which is truly regrettable.

As for why Lu Ming had no fear in his heart?

What kind of immortal path joke is that!

What does he have to be afraid of?

Is it failing the tribulation?

Please, he has the karma golden book and an infinite margin for error. With that, why would he fear failing a tribulation!?

As long as there are enough Fellow Daoists, he could even undergo tribulations every day for fun.

As for the Nascent Soul True Monarch?

Hehe, just a consumable, no need to care.

Calculating it all, there was absolutely nothing that posed a threat to Lu Ming, so what was there for him to fear?

He feared nothing!

Thus, there was this strange scene before us.

The Heart Demon Dao Abomination that should have been at ease in the Heart Demon Tribulation, and the Cultivator who should have been scurrying in a panic, had now swapped roles, with the latter directly overturning the natural order and seizing control of the Heart Demon.

Looking at the Heart Demon Dao Abomination still struggling for its life in his palm, Lu Ming curled his lip.

“Forget it, I have nothing to say to you.”

He really couldn't see any research value in this thing.

Ultimately, it's just the leftover dregs of a Cultivator's failed tribulation; rounding it off, it's no different from garbage.

So to Lu Ming, it was neither edible nor useful—completely worthless.

Thus, he only took a few more looks before quickly losing interest.

Then, he wasted no more words with the Heart Demon and slightly tightened his fingers.

The Heart Demon in his palm then saw the five fingers toppling toward it like five mountain peaks.

“No—!”

The Heart Demon's eyes were full of despair, but it could only let out one final scream.

Bang!

After a dull thud, the Heart Demon was crushed alive by him, turning into countless spots of light that dissipated into the void.

The Earthly Tribulation... was passed just like that, ending rather anticlimactically.

Outside, in the underwater Immortal Cave.

Lu Ming slowly opened his eyes, feeling his cultivation had deepened once again, and nodded with satisfaction.

“This isn't hard at all. Why does everyone else look like they're on the verge of death during their tribulations? It made me a bit nervous at first.”

Lu Ming bragged a bit; if other Cultivators heard this, they would surely roll their eyes at him.

You have cheats, you're so noble, you're so great!

To this, Lu Ming could only say that having cheats really allows one to do whatever they want.

This little interlude soon passed, and Lu Ming didn't take it much to heart.

Now that his cultivation has advanced a step further, next...

Lu Ming stood up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Immortal Cave's stone walls to look into the distance.

“It's also time to go explore the opportunities in the Xuanling Secret Realm.”