Chapter 60: The Old Man of Inner Demons

"Ten-grade Golden Core." Chu Feng was very satisfied.

Though the Golden Core is divided into twelve grades, anyone who attains a seventh-grade or higher can easily cultivate to the late stage, even reach the peak. When Lin Xiyue once received his help, she only managed to form an eighth-grade Golden Core. With a ninth-grade or above, one could almost certainly step into the Nascent Soul realm. Zhao Dongdong had directly achieved a ten-grade Golden Core, thanks to Chu Feng’s assistance and the power of the Great Heavenly Immortal Art.

Zhao Dongdong soon discovered the grade of her own Golden Core and was overjoyed. She seemed like a lively sprite, leaping up and throwing herself into Chu Feng’s arms, peppering his cheeks with kisses in excitement. “Husband, I’ve formed a ten-grade Golden Core!”

“Husband, thank you so much!”

Chu Feng held Zhao Dongdong gently, comforting her. “There’s no need for thanks between us. Besides, though I helped, forming the Golden Core ultimately depended on your own effort. So, it’s our Dongdong who’s amazing—ten-grade Golden Core, you’ll surely break through to the Nascent Soul realm in the future.”

“Yes,” Zhao Dongdong replied, brimming with happiness. “Of course! My grandfather only managed to form a nine-grade Golden Core, my father was even worse, just an eighth-grade, and after four hundred years of cultivation, he only reached the late stage of Golden Core.”

“It’ll be hard for him to break through to Nascent Soul,” she said, her expression turning somber.

The Golden Core grants five hundred years of longevity. If her father can’t break through, he’d only have at most a hundred years left before old age and death claim him.

Chu Feng smiled reassuringly. “Perhaps your father will find another opportunity.”

Breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm was nothing. He could even help Zhao Tian reach the Spirit Transformation realm—this was a minor matter. When the time was right, he would assist him.

Zhao Dongdong seemed to recall something and asked, “Husband, I originally needed at least twenty or thirty years of cultivation before forming the Golden Core. Yet, after dual cultivation with you just once, I was on the brink of breakthrough. I couldn’t suppress my cultivation and had to force the breakthrough. If you hadn’t returned in time, I might really have suffered a Qi deviation.”

Chu Feng’s heart ached for her. “It’s my fault, I overlooked the impact of my current cultivation. I almost caused a grave mistake. I owe you an apology. Tell me, what do you want? I’ll fulfill it for you.”

Zhao Dongdong looked at Chu Feng with eager anticipation. “Why don’t we cultivate together?”

“Very well!” Chu Feng laughed and scooped Zhao Dongdong into his arms. “Since my wife requests it, how could I refuse?”

“What’s this? A lesson with the rod, and you still haven’t realized your mistake? Let me show you how to deal with you—a good lesson indeed.”

Zhao Dongdong blushed. “Husband, please be gentle.”

“Afraid?”

“Not at all!” Zhao Dongdong exclaimed loudly. “It’s just that… you’re too powerful.”

Chu Feng smiled. “You know I’m formidable, yet you still dare to provoke me.”

With that, Chu Feng strode into the bedroom. Soon, the two were locked in a fierce struggle. Since it was their second time, Chu Feng’s movements were noticeably more vigorous. At first, Zhao Dongdong tried to argue back, but soon, only pleas for mercy remained.

The storm lasted the entire night, leaving traces everywhere the battlefield had touched.

…

Deep within the Qin Mountains.

At the border of Sword Province and Azure Province, it was also the most perilous region of Sword Province. Yet, an elderly man and a youth traversed its depths.

Upon closer inspection, one would notice both were blind. Their eyes were pitch-black, clearly not born blind, but blinded by someone.

Though the forest was filled with thorns, they remained unharmed, as if an invisible hand swept the thorns aside for them. The many venomous insects and fierce beasts that should have been present fled at their approach like mice before a cat.

If Chu Feng were here, he would certainly recognize one of them—it was Han Feng.

Han Feng, whose eyes Chu Feng had blinded and whose destiny he had seized, was cast out of the Skybreaker Sword Sect into the remote canyon outside. Yet, that was only the second time—Han Feng was still the child of fate. He was soon rescued, and his savior was also blind.

This man was the Elder of Heart Demons, the foremost cultivator among Sword Province’s freelance practitioners.

A master of the Integration realm.

Both blind, the Elder of Heart Demons had also lost his sight to another. Yet, he did not abandon himself to despair, but instead forged the Path of the Mind, using the mind as his eyes. Not only could he observe everything around him through the mind’s eye, but he could also manipulate the hearts of others with its power.

A terrifying ability.

Within the Sword Province’s cultivation world, there was a saying: Better to provoke the King of Hell than the Elder of Heart Demons. If you offended the King of Hell, at least you’d know how you died. If you provoked the Elder of Heart Demons, you wouldn’t even know how you died—he would control you in secret, making you his puppet.

On that fateful day, the Elder of Heart Demons happened to pass through the canyon and found Han Feng, blinded and lying like a dead dog.

Seeing a fellow sufferer, he took him as his disciple.

Indeed, Han Feng was the child of fate.

The two walked for an unknown length of time, finally arriving at a precipitous cliff.

The Elder of Heart Demons said, “We’re here. From now on, you’ll live with me and cultivate the Path of the Mind. As for your revenge, once you master this path, you needn’t worry about avenging yourself.”

“The Supreme Dao Sect may be one of the three strongest forces in Sword Province, but to me, it’s hardly worth mentioning.”

“As for your eyes, once you develop the mind’s eye, you’ll find they matter little.”

Han Feng bowed respectfully. “Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Though his words were deferential, Han Feng’s thoughts were not so simple.

He knew well the reputation of the Elder of Heart Demons—a giant of the Integration realm, whose Path of the Mind was renowned not only in Sword Province but throughout the Eastern Wilderness. With his eyes lost, the Path of the Mind could compensate for his blindness.

Once he received this inheritance, he had no intention of staying in the depths of the Qin Mountains forever. After all, he possessed a system—the Pursuit System. Any woman he won over would grant him rewards.

Zhao Dongdong, an SS-grade beauty.

Nangong Yanran, an SSS-grade beauty.

Lu Linglong, an SSS-grade beauty.

They were all his. Once he won them, the rewards would be immense.

He blamed his earlier foolishness, thinking that pursuing women meant simply wooing them. After the incident with the farm girl, he realized that gentle methods were best, but if they failed, force would suffice—until she fully surrendered.

What Han Feng did not know was that the Path of the Mind, though it could not reveal his possession of a system, could clearly sense his innermost thoughts.

The Elder of Heart Demons said nothing, but in his heart, a flicker of doubt arose.

Had he chosen the right disciple?