283: Inner demons manifest

Inside the light gate, on the path of heart-questioning.

Yao Delong opened his eyes abruptly, no longer having any trace of indulgence in his gaze, only the monstrous rage of having been fooled and the resolute clarity to sever everything!

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, that silent, pitch-black Heart Sword projection hummed and trembled, and the gloomy Nirvana Sword Intent, like a waking Vicious Beast, frantically battered the remaining fragments of the illusion.

"Heart Demon! Get out!" He bellowed, his voice shaking his Sea of Consciousness!

Hum—!

The space ahead distorted, and the dense Heart Demon tribulation Qi gathered and condensed like ink.

As light and shadow shifted, a figure slowly emerged, stepping onto the bluestone stairs.

The moment he saw the figure clearly, Yao Delong's pupils constricted slightly, but then the corners of his mouth curled into a strange arc.

The newcomer wore a mysterious black robe, his posture was tall and straight, his sword-like brows slanted into his temples, his star-like eyes were as deep as an abyss, his nose bridge was high, his lip line was distinct, his face was so handsome it was almost demonic, and his whole body exuded a powerful aura of looking down on the world.

Those brows, those eyes, that outline—they were exactly the same as Yao Delong himself!

It was just that one was in white, open and upright, and the other was in black, deep and somber.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…"

Yao Delong rubbed his chin, looking up and down at this "self" condensed from his own Heart Demon, and couldn't help but exclaim: "You're really handsome, kid! This skin, it's perfect!"

"Pfft—!"

Outside the Secret Realm, in front of the wooden house, the Green-Haired Girl who was holding a teacup sprayed a mouthful of spiritual tea straight out!

Her large emerald green eyes widened, and her small face was full of astonishment and a mix of laughter and tears.

This kid… what time is it?

Facing the most dangerous manifestation of his own Heart Demon, his first reaction was actually to… compliment himself on being handsome?!

Just how narcissistic can one be?!

However… the Green-Haired Girl glanced at the two tall figures inside the light gate—almost identical yet with vastly different temperaments—and had to admit that this kid's appearance was indeed born extremely well, so well that even an old thing like her, who had lived for who knows how many years, couldn't find any fault.

"Hmph! Glib-tongued, you don't even know you're at death's door!"

On the grass in the distance, Luo Tianying, who had been struck by the Green-Haired Girl and whose aura was withered, endured the severe pain and stared viciously at the light gate, cursing wildly in her heart: "Quick! Heart Demon! Kill him! Tear him apart! Make his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"

Inside the light gate.

The black-clad Yao Delong heard this, and the arrogant expression on his face paused slightly, then he let out a weird, cackling laugh, his voice carrying a bewitching power: "Why wake up? Yao Delong? In that illusion, you are surrounded by everyone like stars around the moon, your talent is unparalleled, no one dares to call you trash, and no one will hate you or target you!"

"All the extravagant hopes you once had while looking up at the Dao of immortality in the mortal world and struggling at the bottom of the Yin Yang Sect have become reality! Power, strength, beauties… all within reach! That is the life you should have!"

He spread his arms, as if embracing that illusory beauty: "Come back! What's wrong with indulging in it? Why struggle to survive in this cruel reality?"

The smile on Yao Delong's face faded, his eyes became incomparably firm, and he slowly shook his head: "Because, the current me has people I care about, and there are people who care about me!"

Since his Transmigration, his talent had been as poor as dust.

Who was it that, in his most humble and desperate moments, never left or abandoned him?

It was Revered Master Leng Yuekui! That seemingly cold but actually soft-hearted woman.

The meticulous care when he entered the sect, and after knowing his talent was terrible, the madness of sparing no resources and running everywhere to collect Heaven And Earth Treasure for him… although it was all in vain in the end, Yao Delong had never forgotten that kindness!

And there was Junior Sister Lin Qingxue!

When he obtained the System and his cultivation was still low, and the road ahead was confusing and difficult, it was she who silently accompanied him, lending a helping hand when he needed it, and giving encouragement when he was lost.

From Qi Condensation to Golden Core, all the way, she had never been absent!

They cared about him, and he cared about them!

This bond was his warmest anchor in this cold world!

The past him escaped because of inferiority and closed himself off.

But now, he had the System by his side, just like a bird breaking free from a cage, soaring freely in the vast sky!

He not only wanted to live for himself, but also to protect the people who cared about him and whom he also cared about!

"Care? Bonds? They are just excuses for the weak!"

The black-clad Heart Demon sneered, black Qi churning in his eyes, "Since you are obsessed and won't wake up, then… disappear completely!"

Before the words fell, the Heart Demon's figure suddenly disappeared!

A sharp, unparalleled sword light, carrying the vast meaning of Pure Yang, tore through the air and pierced straight at Yao Delong's face!

It was the killing Move of the Pure Yang Limitless Sword Canon—Blazing Sun Piercing the Day!

"Well come!"

Battle Intent rose in Yao Delong's eyes, his Sea of Consciousness stirred, and the ancient sword burning silence appeared in his hand instantly!

The same Move, "Blazing Sun Piercing the Day," carrying an equally impressive Pure Yang Sword Intent, fiercely met it!

Clang—!!!

The two swords clashed, exploding with dazzling golden-red light!

Violent Sword Qi shot out in all directions, stirring the surrounding Heart Demon tribulation Qi until it rolled incessantly!

The two figures instantly fought together!

Sword light was like a waterfall, and fist wind was like thunder!

Various exquisite sword Moves from the Pure Yang Limitless Sword Canon were used with ease, and their powerful physiques collided with a roar!

From sword techniques to physical arts, from movement techniques to the use of Yuan power, the black-clad Heart Demon's Moves, proficiency, and even the power he unleashed were exactly the same as Yao Delong's main body, not a single bit different!

"Hehehe! Do you see? I am you! Everything you know, I know! How will you defeat me?"

The Heart Demon laughed wildly, his offensive becoming more and more fierce.

Yao Delong's pressure increased sharply, and he felt solemn in his heart: "Sure enough, the hardest thing to overcome is oneself!"

The Heart Sword in his Sea of Consciousness hummed, Heart Sword Power condensed on the burning silence, and he slashed out with one sword, carrying a cold edge that could sever the Divine Soul!

"Heart Sword? I can do it too!"

The Heart Demon sneered, and a pitch-black Heart Sword projection also condensed in his hand, carrying the same cold and Nirvana-like aura, colliding fiercely!

Boom!

The two Nirvana Sword Intents, which were from the same source but opposite, collided, and silent annihilation ripples spread out, shaking Yao Delong's Divine Soul with a stinging pain!

Evenly matched!

The battle fell into a stalemate, and neither could do anything to the other in the short term.

But Yao Delong knew that in this home court of the Heart Demon tribulation, the longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it was for him!

The Heart Demon's power seemed endless!

"Must break the situation!"

Yao Delong's brain worked rapidly, looking for flaws.

What was the biggest difference between him and this Heart Demon?

It was the System!

It was that mysterious Golden Finger that could not be copied!

A thought flashed instantly!

He slammed a fist against the Heart Demon, borrowing the force to pull away.

At the same time, his consciousness sank into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, communicating with the cold mechanical voice:

"System! Detect that Earth Rank High Grade Demonic Path Martial Skill "Soul-Extinguishing Hand" in my storage ring! Can you modify its operating method so it can be driven by Yuan power? And upgrade it to the Perfection Realm!"

[Ding! Detected Earth Rank High Grade Demonic Martial Skill "Soul-Extinguishing Hand".]

[Analyzing… Modifying operating method, removing reliance on Demonic Essence, converting to be driven by a combination of Yuan power and Divine Sense… requires 50 yin yang points.]

[Upgrading this modified Martial Skill to the Perfection Realm… requires 100 yin yang points. Or, detected that the host possesses 'skill mastery card' x2, use them?]