Martial Saint!

Inner Scenery Land.

Lu Chenzhou asked:

"Is there still salvation after being demonized?"

The black-robed man replied:

"If one can awaken within twelve hours after demonization, there's still hope. But if even the soul is corrupted by demonic influence, then there is no saving them. After some years, they will also become a Three Filth Stone."

"I see."

The world in Lu Chenzhou's eyes was shining.

Just as he was about to step out of Black Mountain, a formless spiritual power actually ignored all his defenses and invaded his spiritual world directly, manifesting as a black-robed, spear-wielding shadow.

Its form was precisely that of Lu Chenzhou.

"So the Heart Demon still invaded?"

His heart was as calm as a still well.

"Then let's fight!"

The white-robed Lu Chenzhou sat quietly before the World Tree. He gently lifted his right hand, using a branch as a long spear; the spear pierced the starry sky, and the black-robed figure used the same spear skill to block it.

"It even knows my moves?"

Lu Chenzhou's expression was grave.

After a fierce battle, Lu Chenzhou stopped, and the black-robed Lu Chenzhou facing him also stopped; both sides stared intently at each other.

He recalled the notice outside.

[The Dao grows a foot, the demon rises tenfold.]

"The Heart Demon conjured by Black Mountain can actually replicate all my techniques and abilities. Its momentum is even stronger than mine. Defeating it through ordinary means is as hard as ascending the heavens. I would only end up like those other demonized ones—exposed due to spiritual fatigue and seized upon by the Heart Demon... To pass this trial, I need finesse."

Lu Chenzhou became interested.

He grew even more curious about the owner of this cave. He had a strong intuition: if he could successfully complete the trial, he'd surely gain immense rewards, greatly benefitting his Breakthrough Sixth and Breakthrough Seven.

He couldn't help but recall the Five Stages of Heart Realm mentioned by Senior Brother during their prior Dao discussion.

...

Demon Palace.

"Hahaha! Just as I predicted, as soon as the second trial began, four Grandmasters have already become demonized; they are all surely doomed. Back then, so many of our Demon Kings attempted the trial—almost none survived. In the end, we had to rely on Witch Master's trump card to force our way through. Looks like we still overestimated these human Martial Artists."

Qingtian Demon Emperor clapped with delight.

Gu Yue Demon Emperor also revealed a sinister smile.

"Using Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that are of little use to us, we can kill so many Grandmasters without lifting a finger. If we'd known this tactic was so effective, why risk assassination? Pity that Lu Chenzhou didn't come, or I suspect he'd die here as well. This Black Mountain grows stronger the stronger the challenger. Those Martial Arts Geniuses who pride themselves on their Martial Arts Will often have even darker inner shadows; their Heart Demons are even more terrifying."

Wang Yue Demon Emperor: "Tsk, tsk. In the future, we should seek out more Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and Ancient Cultivation Cave Mansions. Use them as traps to capture Grandmasters—it's far more efficient than assassinations."

Gu Yue Demon Emperor said: "Send my orders: have all Demon Kings and Great Demon Kings across the land search for Opening Treasures. Once found, bring them to Demon Palace. These Martial Artists crave Opening Treasures the most—they make the best bait."

Though Demon Palace has few top-level experts, the number of subordinate cannon-fodder Demon Kings and Great Demons is truly countless.

They blend into the depths of wild mountains and forests, frequently stumbling upon Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. But since these are useless to them—and eating a few people is far more satisfying—they've rarely bothered to collect them.

...

Elder Council.

Northern Guardian King was holding a meeting with more than a dozen Heavenly Kings; Golden Ruins Primordial Monarch, Hui Fa Abbot, and other top ten Heavenly Persons were also present.

These Heavenly Kings were all Lamp Holders.

"Everyone, the situation regarding the Ancient Cultivation Cave Mansion is more complicated than we imagined. From the intelligence Chenzhou sent, it seems to be related to great powers of the Heavenly Heart Sect. The second trial is extremely difficult—a Black Mountain that can provoke Heart Demons. Thus far, five Grandmasters have already suffered qi deviation and demonization. Be ready at any moment: if the danger grows too great, we'll jointly use a Supreme Treasure to see if we can forcefully break into the cave and save them."

Ye Xiaoyao said:

"Let's wait and see. The difficulty of the first trial was abnormally low; hereditary trials are meant bring death. Besides, since the cave's owner left this test, there must be a way to resolve it... Chairman, you need not worry too much. As long as no high-tier power forcibly interferes with the trial, it's within reason."

Golden Ruins Primordial Monarch said:

"That may be, but to lose five Grandmasters at the outset is too heavy a loss for us. By the way—what about Chenzhou? Did he pass?"

Northern Guardian King shook his head.

"Not long ago, he also entered Black Mountain, then lost contact—likely locked in battle with his Heart Demon. Right now, only Zhang Shentong has passed the trial."

Yellow River Old Ghost's eyes narrowed.

"Even Daoist Lu hasn't passed? Then I suggest having other Grandmasters suspend their attempts. If even Lu Chenzhou can't clear it, it isn't worth continuing this trial—we should focus on breaking into the cave to save them. Lu Chenzhou has the prowess to dominate Geniuses across every dimension."

Heart's Mediator said: "From the chairman's description, I suspect the cave may be part of a great power's inheritance trial. Throughout the Great Wilderness, there are only three Heart Cultivation Great Powers; their personalities are nothing like the Primordial Mountain Cave Heaven's master. The Ape God is kind—his trials are almost free of danger. Heart Sect's trials, by contrast, are always brutal. Of the Three Realms, Heart Realm's death rate is higher than Dragon Realm and Battle Realm combined. Even Di Jialou mysteriously vanished."

On this subject, Po Suo has the most say. Of the Three Realms, only in Heart Realm have there been cases of Heavenly Kings falling.

Northern Guardian King said: "Very well. I will have Yu Cheng pause his trial and wait until Chenzhou is finished before deciding."

...

Primordial Mountain Cave Heaven.

Northern Guardian King found Mister Turtle and said, "Senior, if we were to ask for your help, what would the price be?"

Mister Turtle stroked his beard and replied, "What's going on? It's not a matter of price—I'm unable to intervene for certain reasons. If the Evil God notices, it will cause great trouble."

Northern Guardian King explained the situation.

Mister Turtle slowly said: "I'm sorry, I cannot act. Nor is there any need for me to act. If this is the inheritance trial of Ancient Emperor Lanshan, I too am unqualified to intervene. Of course, if Little Junior Brother truly faces a life-and-death crisis, that would be another matter. But Xiao Chen, you really underestimate Lu Chenzhou. A mere Heart Demon trial—what is that to him? His Heart Realm is nearly Immaculate Jade. Unless a Heavenly Demon appears personally, nothing can shake him."

"Immaculate Realm?"

Northern Guardian King's eyes widened in surprise.

When Mister Turtle had expounded on this before, he explained that in the Great Wilderness, cultivators also use a classification standard for the ethereal 'Heart Realm'. Here, 'Heart Realm' is not spiritual power or spiritual strength, but the stability of spiritual will—or one's command over negative emotions.

It is profoundly mysterious.

When judging a Martial Artist, it is common to say so-and-so's 'Heart Realm' is strong. But what exactly is Heart Realm?

No one can say for certain.

In the Great Wilderness, there are only five rough standards of division.

This is the Five Stages of Heart Realm.

First Realm: Mortal.

The vast majority of ordinary people—even Martial Artists—are at this stage, though there are degrees of strength.

Second Realm: Unpolished Jade.

This stage is generally only attained by Grandmasters.

Third Realm: Immaculate.

At this stage, one's Heart Realm is like flawless jade. Nearly all distress and negativity cannot attach. Heart Demons met below the Seventh Realm can find not the slightest flaw in such a spirit, let alone cause qi deviation or demonization.

Only Absolute Peak can reach this stage.

Fourth Realm: High Miao.

At this stage, my mind rivals the lofty Heavenly Heart. Martial Arts Will becomes unbreakable. Even when facing a True God, there is no collapse of will. This is an essential condition for becoming a Great Power. With the Heart at High Miao, not only are Heart Demons ineffective—even Heavenly Demons conjured by the Three Great Wilderness Demons cannot affect you.

These four Realms have indeed been achieved—but according to what the ancestors heard from Emperor Zhan's teachings, Emperor Zhan believed that above the Four Realms, there should be one more level.

Emperor Zhan named it: True Saint.

Heart like a Saint Buddha, like a Supreme Person—heart higher than the skies. If one's Heart Realm can reach this stage, one could possess an invincible heart that even Divinity would dread.

True Saint Realm, not only unafraid of Heavenly Demons and Heart Demons—it is said the spirit can suppress the Three Great Wilderness Demons, subdue the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion, and transcend beyond the Three Realms, outside the Five Elements!

This is the Five Stages of Heart Realm.

Since Heart Realm is so abstruse, its grades are defined according to whether one can be invaded by Heart Demons and Heavenly Demons.

The reason Northern Guardian King was so shocked is that, powerful as he is, his Heart Realm remains at Second Realm—Unpolished Jade. Only Great Xia Martial Arts Absolute Peak can reach Third Realm: Immaculate...

The Eternal Immortal said that, under Xia Realm's Martial Arts System, only Absolute Peak Experts never betray the Human Clan.

Immaculate and flawless: evil demons and heretical arts cannot invade. Unless an Absolute Peak Expert willingly betrays their Dao, turning their backs on the Martial Arts Heart, abandoning further possible Martial Arts progress.

Thus, back when suppressing the secessionist rebellion, he could be certain that Cai, Dong, Wei, Ye and others could not be at the Absolute Peak. These four, their Heart Realms were flawed; their Martial Arts Heart was lost.

"Martial Arts Grandmaster, Heart Realm approaching Immaculate—Senior, is that really possible? Even Cangtian Dragon King likely only reached this as a Heavenly King."

Northern Guardian King was sweating.

This was even more shocking than a Grandmaster Entering Dao. After all, for the latter, there had already been precedents like Dragon King and Zhang Ancestor.

He was mentally prepared.

A Grandmaster reaching Immaculate is truly unprecedented.

Mister Turtle smiled and said: "Records are made to be broken. Don't mention Dragon King—even Emperor Zhan, the creator of the Five Stages of Heart Realm, only achieved Immaculate at Sixth Realm. To wield World Dao, you must have a Heart of Perfection—otherwise, how can you face the world's darkness, all of existence's negative emotions, and the bleeding, broken reality?"

...

Time flowed by.

Ancient Cultivation Cave Mansion, Black Mountain.

Lu Chenzhou stood like an aged pine upon the mountain path for two hours; mists roiled around him, sweat pouring forth like rain.

Wisp after wisp of black Qi emerged from his pores, taking shape behind him as a Six-winged Bird—a fusion of peacock and phoenix, cloaked in endless black flames.

The bird's eyes glowed scarlet, Evil Qi radiating fiercely; an formless ripple swept forth, rolling over the trialist teams on the other side of the mountain.

Qingtian Cang's face turned grim, murderous intent swirling. He raised his hand, about to strike at Lin Xia at his side.

Lin Xia's expression was savage, like a tigress. Howling, she raised her blade to block his palm strike, then spun and slashed at Qingtian Cang. Battle erupted in an instant!

Blade light and sword shadows filled the air. Dozens of trialists were affected by an invisible wave of rage—some were caught off guard and wounded, others laughed madly, bent on destroying the world.

"Hahaha, die!"

"Let all things perish!"

"All treasures are mine!"

"Pan girl, you're mine!"

"Madness. Everyone's gone mad."