Chapter 54: The Living Heart of Yama Demon

Within Yama Demon’s Cavern, Yue Feng idly fiddled with the jade token in his hand. The artifact had suddenly fluctuated a moment ago, startling him considerably.

Without the protective barrier, their current cultivation level would leave them in a dire predicament.

Fortunately, the fluctuation was fleeting.

“???” Yue Feng asked, bewildered, “Master, do you know what’s going on?”

Shi Yang looked equally bewildered. “I have no idea. For thousands of years, I’ve never heard of such a malfunction.”

A millennia-old anomaly, perhaps?

Suddenly, Yue Feng felt a gaze fix on him. He looked up to see Situ Yan’s expression fraught with a hint of panic.

Just then, the voice of Situ Yan senior, the Situ family patriarch, echoed from deeper within.

“Brother Situ, do you know something?” Yue Feng pressed, his thoughts on Yue Cai, who was still in Furnace City.

Situ Yan remained silent for a moment. Since Yue Feng had already grown wary, he decided to reveal the truth, lest any misunderstanding arise between them. “Something has likely happened in Furnace City, and it’s probably not a minor incident. What’s currently active should be the emergency barrier; the main grand barrier might have temporarily failed.”

Upon hearing this, Yue Feng’s brow furrowed. He quickly asked, “Is there any other way to get back quickly?”

Situ Yan shook his head in resignation.

‘Damn it!’ Yue Feng felt a surge of panic. Despite Yue Cai’s innate strength, she possessed no cultivation. He had placed her in Furnace City for her safety, but now he regretted it deeply.

He wished he had brought the young girl with him instead.

“Don’t worry.”

A lazy, melodious voice, warm with sleep, drifted into his ear.

“You mentioned before that something might happen to Furnace City, and Master also warned me to be careful. Among the things he gave me, there was a Teleportation Talisman and a Distress Talisman.

I heard they were the highest-grade talismans from the Heavenly Palace Institute.”

“Before we left, I gave the Teleportation Talisman to Cai’er. Even someone without vital energy can use it. It can directly teleport her to Master’s side.”

Yue Feng’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”

Wang Yu huffed, a hint of displeasure in her tone. “Would I lie to you?”

Yue Feng’s tension eased. He asked softly, “Yu’er, weren’t you asleep?”

“I was almost asleep,” Wang Yu grumbled. “How can I sleep with you swaying around like this? Put me on A-Bao. I want to sleep!”

Yue Feng, who had intended to enjoy some intimacy with Wang Yu, had no choice but to place her onto A-Bao’s back.

Wang Yu snuggled comfortably on A-Bao’s back. “A-Bao, be good. Don’t move around.”

“Alright, alright,” A-Bao replied. “I’ll sleep with my master and won’t move at all. Awoo.”

And so, the human and the beast fell into a deep slumber.

Yue Feng affectionately stroked the sleeping Wang Yu, murmuring softly, “Thank you, Yu’er.”

With the worries in his heart resolved, Yue Feng finally had the presence of mind to check on Situ Yan.

Situ Yan was indeed somewhat dazed. After all, the Situ family was already in a turbulent period, facing a reckoning. The fluctuation of the Daoist Venerable’s barrier left him utterly at a loss.

Only a Holy Land possessed the power to shake the Daoist Venerable’s barrier. Could the reckoning have arrived early?

“Cough, cough, cough.”

A series of coughs broke Situ Yan’s train of thought. He then saw that Yue Feng’s eyes had regained their resolute glint.

Yue Feng spoke, “No matter what happens, we can’t do anything about it, can we?”

Situ Yan felt a profound sense of powerlessness, forcing a bitter smile. “You’re right.”

Yue Feng looked towards Yama Demon’s abandoned land. “Perhaps what I’m about to say sounds hypocritical, but we can only focus on what’s in front of us, can’t we, Brother Situ? There’s only one path before you now. As I said before, trust your elders; they are far more capable than we imagine.”

“Indeed,” Situ Yan’s mood remained heavy, yet he now understood what was most important to him.

“Let’s go.” Yue Feng clasped his hands behind his head. “Let’s go raid Yama Demon’s old den.”

Situ Yan’s expression also relaxed. “Good.”

***

When they finally stepped inside, the sight before them left them awestruck.

Within the cavern, a magnificent volcanic waterfall cascaded. As they climbed onto a volcanic rock, they realized that this colossal waterfall was actually part of an even more immense fire giant.

The fire giant lay motionless, devoid of any life aura. The fiery waterfall flowed from its two eyes. Having personally experienced Zhao Ritian’s trial, Yue Feng understood the mental torment this poor fire giant had endured.

If not for this giant, who had bravely charged into the trial and wreaked havoc, reducing the trial’s difficulty to less than one percent of its original state, Yue Feng wasn’t sure how he would have passed it.

He felt profound sympathy and admiration for this Yama Demon, wishing him a next life free from Zhao Ritian.

“Hey, kid, go check out that fellow’s heart,” Shi Yang said to Yue Feng, as if sensing something.

Yue Feng, though puzzled, walked towards it, with Situ Yan following close behind.

Standing atop the giant’s heart, Yue Feng and Situ Yan felt an incredibly scorching heat permeating the surroundings, a heat that even their jade token barrier couldn’t entirely block.

Even more astonishing, they distinctly heard the thumping sound of a heartbeat. Situ Yan and Yue Feng’s faces changed drastically. Was Yama Demon still alive? Had they walked straight into a tiger’s den?

Fortunately, Shi Yang interjected, “I didn’t expect this fellow to have such tenacious vitality. The person is dead, but the heart is still alive.”

“???” Yue Feng questioned, “What does that mean?”

Shi Yang explained,

“Zhao Ritian cultivates Heart Fire. Those struck by his techniques often feel their divine sense and even their soul being scorched, eventually burning outwardly in the form of flames.

This was something Yama Demon, a master of external fire, greatly envied. His desire to devour Zhao Ritian was precisely to obtain Heart Fire.”

“Yama Demon was the pinnacle of external fire, but he had no counter for Zhao Ritian’s Heart Fire. His final battle was already compromised by Zhao Ritian’s trap, causing his mind to become unstable.

Ultimately, the Heart Fire incinerated all his divine sense and will. However, Heart Fire couldn’t burn Yama Demon’s physical body, which is why Yama Demon’s heart can still maintain such vitality.

Yama Demon’s body was never truly dead from the start.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Yue Feng remarked to the unsuspecting Situ Yan. “Brother Situ, there’s no need to panic. Yama Demon should be dead; it’s just his heart that’s still alive.”

After hearing this, Situ Yan observed for a while and exclaimed, “This Yama Demon is truly formidable. His heart is still alive after such a long time since his death.”

Suddenly, a flicker of light flashed in Situ Yan’s eyes, as if he had thought of something, but then his brow furrowed again.

“Hehe,” Shi Yang chuckled, seeing Situ Yan’s expressive face. “This kid is torn.”

Yue Feng asked, “What’s wrong?”

“This kid has probably thought of the wondrous uses of Yama Demon’s Heart and wants to absorb its essence, but he doesn’t know how to tell you,” Shi Yang said. “However, that’s not the best method.”

Yue Feng asked curiously, “Then what is the best method?”

Shi Yang said blandly, “A heart transplant. Replace your own heart with Yama Demon’s heart.”

“Holy moly, you can do that?” Yue Feng exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes, and it’s not uncommon. It’s just that this is Yama Demon’s heart, so it’ll be a bit more troublesome. You decide what to do,” Shi Yang said, then stopped interfering.

‘Should I make the decision myself?’ Yue Feng mused, his inner turmoil settling. He then turned to Situ Yan. “Brother Situ, are you interested in this Yama Demon’s Heart?”

Situ Yan awkwardly replied, “Um, Brother Yue, I…”

Yue Feng, however, was quite straightforward. “This heart is yours. However, Yu’er and I put in a lot of effort, so you’ll have to compensate us well.”

Situ Yan was pleasantly surprised. “Of course! All of Yama Demon’s other possessions belong to you two. I won’t take a single share.”

Yue Feng was astonished by Situ Yan’s generosity. He had indeed wanted the larger share, but he hadn’t expected Situ Yan to give them everything. Yue Feng said, “Isn’t that too much?”

Situ Yan said solemnly, “While I’m not entirely sure how much Yama Demon’s legacy is worth, all of it combined is certainly not as valuable as Yama Demon’s Heart. Brother Yue, your sacrifice is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

Yue Feng smiled. “Aren’t we friends?”

Situ Yan paused, then also smiled. “Yes, we are friends.”

At this moment, they were no longer superficial friends brought together by mutual benefit, but true brothers who had shared adversity.

“Oh, right, Brother Situ,” Yue Feng told Situ Yan, “You’d best use this Yama Demon’s Heart for a heart transplant. The effect might be better that way.”

Situ Yan paused again, immediately pondering the possibility.

Yue Feng, meanwhile, went to complete what his master and the others hadn’t: looting the corpse.

It had to be said, Yama Demon’s collection was indeed rich, mostly essential items for fire cultivators. Of course, the most crucial was Yama Demon’s cultivation technique.

Yama Demon was, after all, masterful in external fire cultivation. If combined with the Heart Fire he currently cultivated, the effects would undoubtedly be significant.

Yue Feng had initially wanted to share it with Situ Yan, but he refused, stating that his sect’s cultivation technique was more suitable for him and not inferior to Yama Demon’s.

To this, Yue Feng could only sigh, ‘One man’s treasure is another man’s trash.’

For a lone cultivator like him, a Heaven-Reaching Realm cultivation technique compiled by an Emperor-Tier expert was a priceless treasure, but for the true disciples of those Holy Lands, it was nothing rare, not even as good as their own sect’s techniques.

After inventorying the spoils, Yue Feng asked Situ Yan about his plans. Situ Yan hoped to refine and store Yama Demon’s Heart here, then return directly to Furnace City, as he was still very worried about the Situ family.

Knowing Situ Yan’s intentions, Yue Feng bid him farewell, intending to continue his journey. When Situ Yan asked if he needed help, Yue Feng also declined, knowing Situ Yan’s mind was no longer settled.

Yue Feng woke A-Bao, then, carrying the sleeping Wang Yu and the ever-energetic Xiaoke, continued his journey. This time, Yue Feng planned to first visit the mansion left by Haotian Daoist Venerable.

“Ah, a great harvest, a great harvest,” Yue Feng muttered as he walked, examining his collection in his storage ring.

“Tsk, tsk, a pauper,” Xiaoke continued his reckless behavior. “Back in my day, I was a big spender. This meager haul? Didn’t you see the Situ family wouldn’t even deign to look at it? Haha! Let me take you to my vacation villa and show you what real wealth looks like!”

Yue Feng shook his head helplessly, following Xiaoke towards their destination.

Somewhere, an eighteen-year-old girl was still on her way.