Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Heart Sutra of Myriad Demons

Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Heart Sutra of Ten Thousand Demons

Eunuch Li was about to withdraw.

Emperor Yangwei suddenly said, “Wait. Gather the experts and accompany me to the southern outskirts of the city. I want to see what tricks Young Master Wu is playing!”

Eunuch Li wanted to dissuade him, but considering Emperor Yangwei’s immense resources and confidence, he simply agreed and went off to assemble the masters.

Soon, the experts were gathered outside the palace. Emperor Yangwei, accompanied by Lord Ma Yan, emerged.

Lord Ma Yan’s heart trembled. The group numbered over a thousand, each radiating vigor and strength — clearly all masters, likely at the Bone Refining stage, though their exact levels were unknown.

Emperor Yangwei’s wariness towards Wu Hong stemmed from the latter’s exceptional nature. During the siege at Blackwood Cliff, what was presumed to be an easy victory was thwarted by an innate-level Elder of Ten Thousand Poisons, who wiped out over ten thousand Bone Refining masters.

Within the imperial palace, such Bone Refining-level Yulin Guards were rare, and those gathered here were the elite of the elite, all mid-stage Bone Refining experts. Their numbers paled in comparison to the ten thousand initial-stage Bone Refining Yulin Guards at Blackwood Cliff, but their superior cultivation made up for it; in terms of fighting power, they were nearly equal.

Emperor Yangwei boarded the Nine-Dragon Golden Palanquin, surrounded by Bone Refining experts, heading straight for the southern city outskirts. As the emperor toured, citizens on the streets knelt in reverence.

The spectacle was immense, and even Lord Ma Yan felt a surge of pride as waves of worship washed over him. He was accustomed to commanding respect in the underworld, but never had he been honored so openly by the masses.

The procession arrived at the southern outskirts. Emperor Yangwei, his guards, and Lord Ma Yan were stunned.

The scene was truly magnificent. Scarlet clouds swept the sky. Wu Hong sat cross-legged not far away, golden true energy nearly materialized, forming a thousand-armed Buddha about ten meters tall. The Buddha’s main pair of arms cradled Wu Hong at its abdomen, while the other 998 arms extended from its back, each forming a different seal, and at the center of every palm was an eye — bizarre and yet sacred.

Around Wu Hong, crowds of martial artists, men and women, young and old, sat cross-legged, enveloped in golden light, their faces serene and dignified.

On the outskirts, countless citizens witnessing the scene cried out that the Bodhisattva had descended, kneeling to pray fervently.

They ignored the arrival of the emperor, treating him as invisible.

“This… is unbelievable! Is the legendary Sutra of the Tathagata Palm truly so miraculous?” Lord Ma Yan murmured.

Rumor had it that Wu Hong practiced the Sutra of the Tathagata Palm, a peerless martial art in the realm.

Emperor Yangwei frowned. “I don’t think this is the Tathagata Palm Sutra. It might be an innate-level scripture. Wu Hong seems unrestricted in his cultivation; he can practice even before reaching the peak of the acquired stage.”

His insight, though bold, was met with silent agreement, for the situation was too unusual.

The golden ribbon-like energy compelled anyone it touched to sit and meditate immediately.

Some martial artists watching from afar, uncertain whether the phenomenon was auspicious or ominous, kept their distance, treating the golden ribbons as venomous serpents.

“What is Wu Hong doing? Has he really become a Buddha and is now delivering sentient beings?” Lord Ma Yan felt an overwhelming aversion to the golden energy, a desire to leave, and muttered darkly.

It wasn’t just Lord Ma Yan; Emperor Yangwei and his guards were equally unsettled.

Emperor Yangwei was about to suggest they leave.

Suddenly, Lord Ma Yan seized a nearby Bone Refining guard and said, “You, go and see what Wu Hong is up to!”

Normally, it would take some effort for Lord Ma Yan to subdue a guard — these men were formidable — but at that moment, the guard was weakened by the oppressive golden aura emanating from Wu Hong, his strength reduced by two-thirds. Lord Ma Yan, being a peak acquired-stage master, easily subdued him and, with a sweep of his hand, flung the guard toward Wu Hong.

The guard screamed as he sailed through the air toward Wu Hong.

The other guards glared angrily at Lord Ma Yan, ready to seize him at Emperor Yangwei’s command.

Lord Ma Yan smiled sinisterly, ignoring their hostility. He knew Emperor Yangwei wouldn’t turn against him over a single guard.

Indeed, Emperor Yangwei remained silent. As the guard neared Wu Hong, golden energy enveloped him.

The guard’s face contorted in pain, his true energy surging, black energy clashing with golden energy.

But the black true energy seemed to meet its natural nemesis, retreating rapidly.

Soon, the golden energy penetrated the guard’s body. Suddenly, the black energy within him burst forth, attempting to break through the golden layers and escape.

“Huh—what’s happening? Does true energy possess its own intelligence?” Lord Ma Yan exclaimed in confusion at the strange sight.

Emperor Yangwei’s expression changed dramatically. Only he understood the implications. Others did not know why Emperor Yangguang had ascended to the innate stage so suddenly, but Crown Prince Yangwei knew perfectly well.

Both Emperor Yangguang and Yangwei had cultivated a demonic art, long aware of the existence of innate-level beings in this world.

The demonic art was evil beyond compare. Yangwei had learned it by chance, secretly studying it while Emperor Yangguang was away.

No one knew what grade the scripture was, only that it could assuredly elevate one to the innate stage.

Its name was the Heart Sutra of Ten Thousand Demons. It had master and servant techniques. Once, it was the national treasure of the Great Li Dynasty, but its use bred public outrage and national decline, eventually leading Emperor Yangguang and King Wuwei to overthrow the dynasty.

The Heart Sutra’s greatest trait was the rapid advancement it offered: the master cultivated the main technique, while servants practiced the corresponding servant method. Anyone cultivating the servant method had to swear absolute loyalty to the master to continue their training.

It was akin to entrusting one’s life to the master. What no one realized was that the servant method could be taught endlessly to others.

Progress was swift, but if a servant met with disaster, the demonic true energy within them would automatically flow back to the master’s body.

Emperor Yangguang’s ascent to the innate stage was out of desperation. He was lustful and greedy, obsessed with the endless glory and wealth of the mortal realm. He sought to extend his lifespan by reaching the innate stage before old age.

Over decades, Emperor Yangguang nurtured more than ten thousand soldiers at the Bone Refining stage to practice the servant method of the Heart Sutra, sending them to eliminate Wu Hong. But when the Elder of Ten Thousand Poisons ascended to the innate stage, the entire army was destroyed in an instant.

Those ten thousand Yulin Guards died, but their demonic true energy did not perish; it surged toward the capital, entering Emperor Yangguang’s body and causing his true energy to rise rapidly, eventually reaching a level the world could not contain, triggering divine tribulation and forcing his ascension to the innate stage.

Such an evil art was best suited for the leader of a sect or someone with immense power. Although the Heart Sutra had master and servant techniques, anyone cultivating the servant method had to swear a demonic oath of loyalty. If there was the slightest insincerity or rebellious intent, their body would immediately explode.

As emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, Emperor Yangguang naturally had many who trusted, worshipped, and respected him, willing to serve as his servants. Once the ten thousand Yulin Guards trained in the servant method of the Heart Sutra, they became utterly obedient, incapable of defying any command — even if Emperor Yangguang ordered them to kill their own parents.