Beiluo, Lake Heart Island.

  As time slipped by, the one-month opening of the library pavilion that Young Master Lu had announced was nearing its end.

  More and more figures now sat cross-legged inside, poring over books with utmost focus. Some scholars, originally Confucian readers, swayed as they recited passages aloud, committing them to memory.

  Nie Shuang, the big lug, gnawed on a volume too—a fist technique from Martial Emperor City's scripture repository. He disliked weapons; bare-knuckle brawling was his style.

  His cultivation had stepped into the Body Storage realm, tempering his physique.

  His strength was surging.

  Every day after reading, Nie Changqing dragged him off for drills.

  As a Heavenly Lock expert, the training was brutal—leaving Nie Shuang sprawled like mud each time.

  But his progress was undeniable.

  Lü Dongxuan fished from a lone boat on Beiluo Lake, maintaining order in the pavilion.

  White Jade Capital's name deterred most trouble.

  Still, he watched for petty thieves eyeing the books.

  It had happened before.

  The Overlord had gone to the Western Mountains' trial tower, honing himself inside. He'd hit a bottleneck that gnawed at him.

  Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao's breakthroughs fueled his urgency.

  In Body Storage, the Overlord was invincible—his foundation rock-solid—yet Heavenly Lock eluded him.

  He didn't know why.

  Daily, after the library, he'd seek answers in the tower.

  Failure after failure left him lost.

  The trial tower's doors creaked open.

  Sweat-soaked, the Overlord emerged.

  He glanced at the spirit-misted sky, heart heavy.

  Another day without breakthrough.

  Securing his axe and shield, he headed for the island.

  Perhaps...

  He needed Young Master Lu's guidance.

  Was the demonic path truly harder?

  The library held no demonic breakthroughs.

  "King of Xiliang heading to the island again?"

  Beiluo Lake dock.

  Ferry boats now shuttled cultivators to and fro.

  An old boatman sipped wine, grinning at the Overlord's approach.

  The Overlord's massive frame dipped in nod—they were acquaintances; he crossed daily.

  He boarded, settling at the prow.

  The old man whooped, grabbing the pole.

  "King, fancy a taste of my home-brewed rice wine?"

  The Overlord paused, then nodded.

  Grinning, the boatman tossed the flask.

  The Overlord caught it, uncorked, and gulped.

  The boatman poled off, the craft gliding toward the pavilion.

  "This time, to the island proper."

  Three big swigs later, wiping his mouth, the Overlord told the ferryman.

  The old man blinked but asked nothing—he was just a boatman, eking a living in Beiluo.

  Yet Beiluo's status meant even its ferrymen commanded respect from worldly experts.

  Prime gossip fodder.

  "Aye!"

  Grinning, he poled hard, veering through lake weeds toward the island.

  Ashored, the Overlord paid silver and strode inland.

  Nie Shuang punched nearby.

  Jing Yue sat lakeside, his Jing Tian sword hovering overhead.

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  An odd aura clung to him, prickling even the Overlord's hairs.

  Ni Yu squatted by her black pot, refining pills earnestly.

  Lü Dongxuan and Lü Mu brewed tea; a girl strummed a pipa, notes tinkling like pearls on jade.

  She glanced at the Overlord, then resumed.

  Lu Changkong and Mo Beike strolled the shore, debating philosophies.

  Spotting the Overlord, they looked over.

  He and Mo Beike were old acquaintances.

  Mo smiled openly; the Overlord's face stayed stony.

  He still held no warmth for Mo.

  Lu Changkong seemed more down-to-earth lately, chuckling: "Rare for the King of Xiliang to visit. Seeking Fan'er?"

  The Overlord nodded.

  "Confused. Need Young Master Lu to clear it up."

  Lu Changkong likely knew the issue.

  But some words worked better from Lu.

  Suddenly...

  Mist parted from White Jade Capital's pavilions.

  Bamboo rustled as Ning Zhao in white glided forth.

  "King of Xiliang, the Young Master summons you."

  The Overlord blinked.

  He eyed the pavilions, squinting, then followed her up.

  Mo Beike and Lu Changkong watched him vanish, expressions neutral.

  "As cultivation booms, the Overlord grows anxious... stuck, unable to advance. For someone so driven, it's torture."

  Mo Beike said.

  He knew the Overlord well.

  "His path differs from ours..."

  Lu Changkong replied.

  "No predecessors to follow—he fords the river blind."

  "Even Fan'er's way isn't his."

  "Confusion's natural."

  "Moreover..."

  Plucking a skyward chrysanthemum petal, pipa notes in his ears, he sighed faintly: "His biggest barrier is a heart demon."

  "It hinders his cultivation."

  "Heart demon..."

  Mo Beike fell silent—he'd known from the start.

  "That old fox Kong Xiu was cunning... laid plans early."

  "But his death voided most... The Overlord's knot is the word 'affection.' Youths are like that."

  Mo's heavy bags twitched.

  ...

  White Jade Capital Pavilion.

  Lu set a chessboard, lines dancing in his eyes as he monitored the vast sea.

  That bizarre entity closed on Five Phoenixes' waters fast.

  "An oceanic beast?"

  Lu mused.

  Oceans birthed primal life, vaster than land.

  Cultivating sea creatures weren't impossible.

  But Five Phoenixes' seas paled against Tianyuan's.

  Strong beasts? Maybe. Whale-level? Far off.

  Fingers tapped a piece, then placed it.

  Footsteps echoed.

  Ning Zhao led the Overlord up.

  Dazed, he gazed at wheelchair-bound Lu in white, playing chess—like another lifetime.

  Lu unchanged: snow-white robes, serene.

  But his cultivation... unfathomable.

  Before, Lu's presence crushed.

  Now? Like a leisurely young lord.

  Return to innocence!

  The Overlord's heart tightened—only vastly superior strength achieved that.

  "Young Master Lu..."

  Ning Zhao warmed wine.

  Lu eyed the Overlord—long unseen, shrouded in confusion, lost in darkness.

  No path ahead.

  Lu sighed inwardly. The Overlord's talent was strong; progress once swift.

  But founding Xiliang, the Master's death, exposed schemes... he'd faltered.

  "Is this the curse of kingship?"

  Leaning on his chair, Lu murmured.

  Eyes flashing, he saw the Overlord's dragon qi dimmed.

  Brows raised.

  He'd hoped the Overlord would pillar Five Phoenixes, rival Tianyuan.

  Stalled by obsession? Pity.

  Lu slapped the chess box.

  It floated to the Overlord.

  "You're lost."

  The Overlord caught it, placed a piece.

  Lu responded; they played.

  "Young Master Lu, how do I break through? Must I get beaten?"

  The Overlord frowned earnestly.

  Lu was speechless—what twisted logic?

  "You walk the demonic path. Demon is mindset. Is endless slaughter, bloodbaths the only way?"

  Sleeves rolled, piece down, Lu eyed him.

  He saw the path; no surprise.

  Young Master Lu's level? Likely demonic lord tier.

  "You don't grasp what demon truly is."

  Lu shook his head.

  "Remember becoming demon, stepping onto the path?"

  The Overlord froze, mind drifting—Wolong Ridge, encircled by tens of thousands, guarding a carriage, sacrificing to demonhood, rivers of blood...

  That's when.

  Utter exhilaration, soul clarity.

  "You have a heart demon. To break through, shatter it. Demonic path suits Heavenly Lock best... but most perilous—one slip, heavenly tribulation reduces you to ash."

  "Heart demon... what?"

  Fists clenched.

  "Don't evade. Demon? Mindset. Shatter chains, unbound, all for your heart's desire—that's demon."

  "Demons hold obsessions. They make or break you."

  Pieces cluttered the board.

  The Overlord stared, piece in hand, nowhere to go.

  Dead end.

  "Think Heavenly Lock strong?"

  "Just entry. True powerhouses... beyond imagination."

  "Cultivation: genius or not, unshackle your heart, or trail mediocrity, a stepping stone."

  Lu wiped the board clean.

  Ning Zhao brought hot wine.

  Lu sipped.

  The Overlord sat silent, untouched.

  Lu didn't disturb.

  He favored the Overlord—potential Five Phoenixes pillar, Tianyuan rival.

  Wasted on obsession? Shame.

  Pure minds suit dao best—no obsessions, swift ascent.

  Lu figured he was pure-minded.

  Watching the pondering Overlord, he finished his wine, smiling.

  "Show you true great cultivation. Might inspire."

  The Overlord snapped back, puzzled.

  No explanation.

  Lu pointed at his brow.

  Buzz...

  Ripples spread.

  The Overlord felt seized, streaking like lightning.

  ...

  Dongyang County.

  Red Dragon Gate.

  Scorching heat melted earth.

  A flame-wreathed dragon species jerked up.

  Sharp eyes fixed the gate, flames snorting from nostrils.

  Red Dragon—most irascible heavenly dragon.

  Suddenly, its expression shifted.

  Thunder flickered in the gate.

  White-robed Lu on Thousand Blades Chair appeared; little Yinglong on his shoulder, outing-excited.

  Spotting Red Dragon, eyes lit.

  Flapping chubby wings, he flew before it, puckering for a water arrow.

  Red Dragon's massive eye glanced.

  The arrow evaporated mid-air.

  Little Yinglong's eyes bulged.

  Oh no?!

  Mouth churning bigger surge.

  But Red Dragon straightened, roaring deafeningly.

  Terrifying flames erupted.

  Engulfing little Yinglong.

  Flames cleared.

  He exhaled steam, charred and bewildered.

  This little red... so feisty!

  Big bro's dignity... gone?!

  Lu pinched the scruff of the rallying dragonet.

  Gently stroked Red Dragon's head.

  The Overlord beside: dumbstruck.

  One of the eight dragons... Red Dragon?

  "Go."

  Lu mounted.

  Red Dragon soared, fire streak over Dongyang.

  Dongyang sea edge.

  It circled.

  On the beach...

  Lu on his chair, chin propped, fingers tapping armrest, waiting.

  The Overlord tense.

  Distant horizon: thick clouds rolled in.

  Oppressive, breathless.

  "Young Master Lu, this..."

  Lu hushed him—watch.

  His gaze pierced: endless sea, massive shadow approaching, waves towering!

  "Ancient giant whale."

  "Infant Transformation strength, no spirit yield—fine. But charging like it wants trouble..."

  "Sensed Five Phoenixes' weakness, come to bully?"

  "Think this Lu Ping'an is pushover?"

  Lu smirked.

  The whale was intelligent, no doubt.

  Likely detected fused origins, bold to claim Five Phoenixes as plane lord.

  Far off...

  Sea exploded.

  Huge shadow breached.

  Boom!

  Colossal body slammed, waves meters high barreling toward Dongyang.

  The whale opened maw, eerie roar.

  Earth quaked.

  Terror aura stormed the sea like floral tempest!

  Dongyang walls: citizens panicked—waves would devastate.

  The whale sensed Lu.

  Under his stare...

  This Tianyuan stowaway leaped, hovering, raining seawater!

  Huge eyes locked on coastal Lu.

  Ten-thousand-meter whale!

  Born aloft!