I Come from the Deep Mountain Lakes

The mountains stretched endlessly beyond the mountains.

The dark, oppressive sky seemed to crush the spirits of all present.

Heaven Mending Realm demons herded the young elites like wolves driving a flock of sheep, forcing them deeper into the heart of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Were they heading toward the abyss?

The elites dared not think, yet couldn't help but ponder. They were exhausted from fleeing for their lives, yet even more anxious about what lay ahead.

They had no choice but to plunge into the unknown and darkness ahead.

If death awaited them soon, they would at least cling to life for a little while longer.

Gradually, the wind subsided, and the sky seemed to brighten.

A clear lake appeared ahead, with faint, glowing lights hovering above it, illuminating the entire lake with a soft radiance.

The elites stopped here, puzzled by their surroundings. They had undoubtedly reached the very depths of the Ten Thousand Mountains, yet no other demons appeared.

They turned back with a mixture of fear and confusion, only to find the Heaven Mending Realm demon that had been hunting them quietly standing behind them, as if waiting for something.

The wind often heralds something.

As it picked up speed, ripples spread across the lake, not large, but numerous.

The Heaven Mending Realm demon bowed low, as if kneeling before the entire lake.

What was happening?

The elites didn't know what to do. Their exhausted minds struggled to remain calm, and they began to retreat, distancing themselves from the lake.

*Drip.*

The sound of a droplet was faint, yet it clearly reached the ears of every cultivator.

A figure had appeared in the center of the lake, half of his body emerging from the water. His features flickered in the faint light, unclear.

He seemed to be closing his eyes, standing silently in the middle of the water, exuding an inexplicable aura of supreme sanctity, as if towering above the entire Ten Thousand Mountains.

He came from beneath the water, which symbolized boundless mystery.

The elites widened their eyes, their expressions filled with confusion as they wondered who this man was and why he was here.

Their numerous questions converged, and all eyes were fixed on the figure in the center of the lake.

Until he opened his eyes.

They were a pair of blood-red eyes. In an instant, the entire lake turned a crimson color.

The figure rose, supporting himself on the lake, slowly standing atop it. His tall, slender body was clad in a long, green robe. He spread his arms, a smile playing on his lips, and explained to the crowd,

"This is my Heart Lake."

The elites were astonished but dared not respond, remaining silent and listening.

The Heart Demon shook his sleeves and walked out of the water, his steps slow, as he continued to smile,

"To destroy a large organization, the best option is to first destroy its young blood. It's both easy and effective."

Upon hearing this, the elites trembled, realizing what the Heart Demon was referring to, and their tension increased.

The Heart Demon continued to smile, adding,

"Similarly, the best way to form an alliance with an organization or a faction is to connect with its young blood. It's efficient and effortless."

This statement eased the elites' minds a bit. Seeing that the Heart Demon did not continue speaking, the black-robed, straw-hatted cultivator, one of the elite six, couldn't help but ask,

“Honorable senior, are you looking to form an alliance with one of our sects?”

"Sect?" The Heart Demon raised an eyebrow, shaking his head with a light laugh, "I'm not here to form alliances with sects. What I want is a wisp of your collective fortunes."

The elites exchanged glances, no one daring to speak first. Eventually, the black-robed cultivator asked,

Could you please clarify how much of our fortune you require?

"This much." The Heart Demon pointed at him, and a golden wisp of fortune wrapped around his finger—the black-robed cultivator's fortune.

The black-robed cultivator visibly shuddered, staring at the Heart Demon with an expression of utter confusion, unable to comprehend such great power.

The Heart Demon shook his head, "Perhaps I'm getting old, or maybe influenced by something else, but my temper has improved. If this were the past, I wouldn't bother explaining. I'd simply absorb your fortunes in two quick moves and toss you all out."

Suddenly, a cold woman with three flying swords hanging at her waist took a step forward and questioned the Heart Demon,

"Do you truly not fear the Great Emperor from my sect coming to kill you?"

"Great Emperor?" The Heart Demon laughed genuinely, waving his hand, "I'll kill you first, and then we'll see if your sect's Great Emperor dares to come."

He raised his index finger and then brought it down.

The woman instantly felt an immense pressure, her body uncontrollably crashing to the ground. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and her flying swords creaked, on the verge of twisting and breaking.

Her sleeve tore, revealing a crude portrait. The woman in the portrait was cold and proud, with brows like twin blades, her beautiful face expressionless.

The Heart Demon paused his descending finger and asked, "Who is the person in this portrait?"

The woman had already lost the strength to speak, lying on the ground, barely clinging to life.

The other elites dared not respond, and the scene fell into complete silence.

"It's... it's her idol, the Sect Master of Fuyao Immortal Sect, Xu Zhen, who once taught... taught Lan Xie some sword techniques."

A timid voice came from the crowd.

The Heart Demon turned to look, spotting a plump little girl. His brow furrowed.

This girl carried a familiar aura. After some thought, he realized it was the Wu Xi Great Emperor.

The Heart Demon shook his head, thinking, "What kind of situation is this? I've encountered two karmic threads in one outing. Fortunately, I didn't instantly kill that woman; otherwise, it would have been bad. If Xu Zhen told the main body, the main body would surely blame me."

Thankfully, all was well.

He turned back to the female sword cultivator, Lan Xie, and nodded,

"This time, your fortune was good. Your idol saved your life. Next time, if you dare to speak to me so boldly again, you'll have to have your idol come and speak to me personally."

In summary,

It all comes down to Xu Zhen.