Chapter 974: The Solar Sword Son Has Developed a Heart Demon

Jiang Ding cursed under his breath.

He spent the entire afternoon insulting that withered flesh and blood, cursing his ancestors, relatives near and far, and only then did he feel somewhat better.

“Indeed, abandoning morality brings true freedom.”

Jiang Ding exhaled deeply.

Immediately, he closed his eyes and began absorbing spiritual energy and solar essence within the endless, scorching, destructive Solar Abyss, while using the omnipresent Solar Destruction Sword Intent within the Abyss to hone his own Sword Intent.

In this cultivation, his magic power, Sword Intent, soul, and flying sword all grew slowly but steadily.

This was the Supreme Artifact of the Solar Sword Pavilion: the Solar Celestial Pool.

Mingguangzi’s stunted development was, in large part, due to the loss of the Solar Celestial Pool—no matter how much of the Solar Sword Pavilion’s final legacy he inherited, it could never compensate.

After only a few days of cultivation, Jiang Ding suddenly opened his eyes.

“Huh?”

Jiang Ding was startled and uncertain.

His magic power fluctuated erratically, his meridians in chaos; his spiritual sea was the same, showing subtle unnatural ripples.

Though faint, they were undeniably present—parts beyond his control.

In the past, his spiritual sea had been like a still lake or mirror, not a single ripple occurring without his permission; his Peak-Level Solar Annihilation Sword Intent had dominated everything.

Now, that control had developed a crack.

Though for ninety-nine percent of cultivators across the world, such minor loss of control in the spiritual lake was normal, natural.

But for him, it was not.

“What’s going on?”

“Is this still the effect of that withered flesh and blood?”

Jiang Ding’s expression turned serious.

Without hesitation, he summoned the Central Array Spirit Computer for a top-tier physical examination, even if it cost him many library points.

“Ding!”

“Examination complete.”

The Central Array Spirit Computer had detected the issue the moment it touched him—it was simple enough, just an Nascent Soul cultivator.

“Citizen Jiang Ding, you have developed a heart demon.”

“Please address it promptly.”

A medical report appeared before Jiang Ding, detailing his soul and Sword Intent with exhaustive data, fully describing the testing process and how the results were derived.

“Heart demon?”

Jiang Ding’s voice rose, but he didn’t believe it.

“A mere heart demon? How could I possibly encounter one?”

“For centuries, I’ve walked upright, done what needed killing, preserved what needed keeping, never harbored regrets, always walked my path with unwavering resolve—how could a heart demon arise?”

“How could that [33] kind of insect possibly affect me!”

How could such ants possibly affect me!

He spoke with certainty, his voice firm, radiating strong confidence.

A heart demon was a flaw, regret, guilt, an unbearable memory—things that had never existed in his life.

The Central Array Spirit Computer ignored him.

“Heart demon?”

Jiang Ding calmed down, fell silent, his spiritual sense and Sword Intent scanning his inner self.

He read extensively on Dao Hearts and heart demons from the Immortal Sects, but found no answers—no historical precedent existed, no elder’s experience could guide him.

In the end, Jiang Ding waved his hand and summoned the Solar Celestial Pool’s Moon Spirit.

Yue appeared as a celestial fairy from the Moon Palace, studying Jiang Ding with a faint smile: “Sword Son, you’ve developed a heart demon?”

She acted as if she already knew everything, unsurprised.

“Explain.”

Jiang Ding’s face darkened.

This inexplicable Dao Heart flaw directly threatened his path—he felt out of control, unable to command all things.

“It’s due to your End Dharma City Seal.”

Yue smiled faintly: “You possess the protection of Void Refinement-level power—unrestricted protection, even if it only allows escape. But it is still Void Refinement power.”

“Under Void Refinement power, all battles, killings, and life-or-death struggles among Soul Transformation cultivators are laughable.”

“Thus, your Sword Heart has lost all interest.”

“Your True Sword has grown listless, its edge dulled.”

“That is the cause.”

Yue explained softly: “Throughout history, the Sword Pavilion’s ancestors strictly forbade the Solar Celestial Pool and Sword Pavilion Transmission Messengers from interfering in any non-Supreme-Class battle involving the Solar Sword Son, even allowing the Sword Son to die in fights against peers or higher-level opponents—all for a reason.”

“The ancestors’ wisdom far surpasses our understanding.”

“In the Sword Pavilion, among the Immortal Sects, every seemingly unreasonable rule has a profound reason.”

“The Dao Sons of the Black Tortoise Celestial Palace die in every generation; the Dao Sons of the Shadow Demon Abyss lie in wait; the Dao Sons of the Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Palace are gentle as jade, befriending Dao Sons from all sects… all for the same reason.”

“Because of the End Dharma City Seal?”

Jiang Ding froze.

“Precisely.”

Yue confirmed: “This is the path of the sword cultivator—it demands constant killing.”

“Though you use external tools, your Sword Heart does not seem to accept this—after all, a scabbard is reasonable enough.”

“The Sword Heart and Sword Intent are ‘I think, therefore I am’—as long as you believe, others’ opinions mean nothing.”

“But under the protection of Void Refinement power, you can no longer deceive yourself.”

“There are two solutions.”

“First: abandon the sword path and follow the magic cultivation path, like the Eight Immortal Sects’ Dao Sons.”

“They shamelessly summon Void Refinement power to crush their enemies—whenever possible, they always bully the weak, yet their Dao Hearts remain stable, never faltering—this is the magic cultivation path, which does not value the process.”

“Bullying the weak, overpowering the inferior—this is wisdom.”

“Second: restrict the End Dharma City Seal.”

“You must ensure that, before encountering any Void Refinement-level power, even if faced with peer-level True Immortal offspring, True Phoenix chicks, or True Dragon hatchlings, you allow them to kill you.”

“Then your Sword Heart will immediately stabilize.”

“Rest assured!”

Yue said solemnly: “The Sword Pavilion’s lineage is extraordinary—if pushed to its extreme, surpassing all past Sword Sons, you may yet escape from peer-level True Immortal offspring or True Phoenix chicks.”

“Such an achievement—that is the true glory of the sword cultivator!”

Her eyes burned with fervor, longing.

She gazed at him with fervent longing.

Jiang Ding was speechless.

To surpass all past Solar Sword Sons just to have a chance of escaping a True Phoenix offspring or True Immortal offspring?

How utterly pathetic.

“Sword Son, don’t underestimate this achievement.”

Yue knew what he was thinking, and said gravely: “The sword path lies in constant self-challenge—if you can escape from a peer-level True Immortal offspring, your Sword Heart will advance dramatically, your strength will transform.”

“In time, it may no longer be about fleeing…”

“Those born with overwhelming power? They are merely whetstones for the sword cultivator…”

“Those with innate strength—what of them? They are merely whetstones for my sword Dao cultivator’s blade…”

“I will handle the End Dharma City Seal.”

Jiang Ding ignored her reckless fantasies, rose, and flew out of the Solar Celestial Pool toward the Golden Imperial Palace.

He felt no regret over restricting the End Dharma City Seal’s interference in battles below Void Refinement level—mere peer and higher-level cultivators? If they dared to show their teeth, he’d cut them down on the spot—no need for special targeting.

He felt no regret over the restriction preventing the Mofa City seal from interfering in battles below Void Refinement; mere same-rank and high-rank cultivators, if they bared their fangs, he’d cut them down on the spot—no need for any special targeting.