"Benefactor, you are originally not of this realm."

"Since the great master has seen through with wise eyes," his voice contained the gasps of extreme pain, "do you want to slay the demon and eliminate the monster?"

"The sea of suffering has no bounds," the monk chanted a Buddhist mantra, "one can only save oneself."

"Thank you for the great master's compassion," his voice was intermittent, "I cannot save myself."

"See through the obstacle of emotions."

"I won't."

"If you don't, you cannot live."

"I won't."

"A mortal body of flesh and blood cannot bear the heavy pressure of karma."

The corner of the young master's lips curled into a powerless smile, "What if I attain enlightenment?"

"The higher the cultivation, the heavier the heart demons, the greater the karma. Even if you live temporarily, you are merely clinging to life."

"I have no heart demons."

"The heavenly way will not allow it. You will still be barely clinging to life."

"Then let me cling."

He still smiled, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, leaning against the wall. "Monk, you said all things in the world can become the Way-"

Between life and death, the spiritual platform is empty and clear.

The red dust of the world, the surging Xijiang River.

The vicissitudes of worldly affairs, greed, ignorance, and anger.

Not seeing through, not forgetting. He opened his eyes again, his breathing gradually calming, no longer on the verge of death.

"First Heaven," the monk looked at him, "Forgive my offense, but may I ask what enlightenment you have attained?"

The young master's tone was indifferent: "Heretical and demonic ways."

He leaned against the wall, gazing outside the door, waiting for someone to come.

As the flashes of swords drew near, the first to enter was a girl in vivid red clothes and a golden mask.

The girl's heavy sword was 'Shattered Kunlun', slaying ghosts and spirits. After a fierce battle, her breath was disordered.

Propping her heavy sword on the ground, she surveyed the surroundings: "You--"

The monk joined his palms and bowed slightly to her: "Benefactor."

Chen Weichen, in the shadowy corner, was the second to be discovered.

The girl's voice was cold and sharp: "Why are you here?"

Chen Weichen waved the brocade pouch in his hand weakly: "I heard there was something good here. As a mere mortal, I couldn't help but be greedy. The monk and I saw eye to eye and snatched it before you."

"You!" The girl was furious. She raised her heavy sword, about to chop down on his head: "Give me the Jinxiu Ashes-- or I'll take your life!"

There was a sound of metal clashing. It was actually the young master using his fan handle to block this strike.

The girl sneered: "Just the first heavenly realm, and you dare to show off."

With that, she infused her qi into the sword, chopping down with vast righteous energy.

Chen Weichen knew he was no match and lazily leaned against the wall, awaiting death.

Perhaps someone would come to the rescue-- hard to say.

Sure enough, with the clear ring of sword qi, the long sword Jiuya blocked the heavy sword 'Shattered Kunlun'.

The girl questioned in confusion: "Ye Jiuya--"

Ye Jiuya frowned slightly and said to her, "He's one of our people, and he has the Annihilation Incense."

"I dare not claim to be one of your people," the young master in the corner laughed fearlessly. "I only wish to be Swordmaster Ye's alone. Just thinking of it makes me want to die of joy."

Seeing him gasping for breath, looking like he was about to die, the girl said with disgust, "Why would Swordmaster Ye want you?"

"Perhaps it's because..." He coughed a few times, his voice weak, fresh blood seeping from the corners of his mouth. "He sees that my three hearts are equally deep and shallow, a rarity seen only once in a thousand years among ordinary people."

"Three hearts, you--" The girl's eyes suddenly widened, even her voice trembling slightly: "You..."

For a moment, she was utterly dazed and at a loss.

Ye Jiuya placed his hand on her forehead: "Guard your heart, come back to your senses."

It was too late.

She had likely traversed a heart demon realm to get here, her state of mind already shaken. Provoked by Chen Weichen's words, she took a step into the demonic path, her eyes tightly shut, her breath stagnating. She collapsed softly like a withered, blood-red frosty flower.

The frosty flower that fell from the branch was caught by Ye Jiuya. White robes contrasted with red, a fitting match.

The girl was heard murmuring in her daze: "Emperor Yan..."

The young master's tone was very displeased: "One after another, all thinking of him-- it seems this Emperor Yan has caused quite a bit of karma."

The monk on the side took the Shattered Kunlun sword and cut the girl's fair wrist, drawing blood to cast a spell: "Who will enter the illusion to save her?"

"I will," Chen Weichen stepped forward, offering his own hand. "She was harmed by me."

"I'll go," said Ye Jiuya. "Your state of mind is unstable."

"Although my mind is unstable, even if I get lost in the illusion, no matter how prosperous it is there, as long as Swordmaster Ye personally comes to find me, I'll surely be captivated and obediently follow back," Chen Weichen smiled faintly. "But if Swordmaster Ye fails to save her and gets trapped in the illusion himself, without your beloved Emperor Yan here, no one will be able to retrieve either of you."

Ye Jiuya looked at him coldly, his gaze almost a glare.

"Chen Weichen," he said frostily, word by word, "Since you say Emperor Yan is not here, how can you be confident in rescuing Lord Canlong?"