"Why aren’t you going down to see A Yun, putting on airs like some reclusive Master here?"

Song Yan took a small sip of floral tea.

The aroma was intoxicating and refreshing.

"Isn’t it because I’m afraid of being cut down by that Foundation Establishment Senior next to her...?"

Song Yan felt bewildered upon hearing this: "You haven’t done anything. Why would a brother seeing his sister get cut down?"

Sheng Nian rubbed the cup in his hand, silent for a long time.

Then he spoke something shocking.

"That’s naturally because I Cultivated a Demonic Technique and became a Demonic Cultivator..."

"I’m afraid of you Righteous Path sects."

He lifted his Face; his once youthful features now bore traces of hardship.

"..."

"...Demonic Technique?"

Song Yan raised his eyebrows, enunciating each word.

"Yes."

"Who taught you?"

"...?"

This time, it was Sheng Nian’s turn to be stunned: "Aren’t you going to ask what Demonic Technique I’m learning?"

Song Yan said seriously: "The Bixie Manual?"

"Song Yesheng, what the hell did you learn after three or four years in the Immortal Mountain Dao Sect?!"

Looking at his expression, Sheng Nian felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

"..."

He took a sip of chrysanthemum tea to calm himself down.

"In any case, it’s a Cultivation Technique that cannot see the light of day."

"..."

"Alright."

Song Yan pondered for a moment, just nodding without speaking.

He knew very well what kind of person Sheng Nian was.

He was chivalrous and had a clear sense of right and wrong.

It was impossible for him to do anything heinous.

However, he was a little worried about whether the so-called "Demonic Technique" would affect one’s mind.

After all... from the three people outside Shiliang Town to Immortal Jiang Hui at Peach Blossom Dock.

All of them, after Cultivating Demonic Techniques, seemed somewhat deranged.

Currently, A Nian still seemed within the range of a normal person.

"If I find out you’ve done anything filthy or despicable, A Yun and I will personally cut you down."

These were his true feelings.

Sheng Nian, not to be outdone, retorted: "Perhaps A Yun and I will work together to take Young Hero Song’s dog head."

Song Yan was too lazy to bicker with him: "Then what are you doing at Bei Ya Mountain? Looking for A Yun?"

Sheng Nian shook his head.

"It’s just a coincidence."

"A Yan, I can’t say much else."

"The Flower Festival is not as peaceful as it seems on the surface."

Song Yan’s heart sank upon hearing this: "What do you mean?"

Sheng Nian shook his head.

"You just need to remember to be careful of someone named Liang Feng."

Liang Feng... "..."

He didn’t ask further, just nodded.

"Oh, right..."

Sheng Nian suddenly changed the subject, pointing to the Sheyang Sect Cultivator who had been following Sheng Yun in the distance.

"Do you know what that kid’s name is?"

"I think it’s Cheng Yu."

That person had introduced himself earlier; besides his arrogance, there was no other impression.

Song Yan wasn’t familiar either: "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, I just need to figure out a way to kill him."

"???"

"Did he provoke you?"

Sheng Nian’s claim of Cultivating a Demonic Technique now made Song Yan somewhat believe him.

"You don’t know."

"I’ve been watching here for days. The Sheyang Sect is patrolling and investigating, and this kid is circling Yun’er every day."

"Several times, he even got handsy!"

Sheng Nian’s eyes were terrifyingly dark.

It seemed there were no offensive eye techniques in Demonic Techniques, otherwise that Cheng Yu would probably have died on the street.

"No, no, no, what if it’s just a misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?"

"Heh heh..."

Sheng Nian turned his head and stared at him.

"Xiao He..."

"She’s practically your half-sister, right?"

"..."

"If this kid were circling Xiao He all day, and even getting handsy with her with ill intentions..."

Bang—

"..."

Someone’s teacup was crushed in his hand.

Sheng Nian showed him no Face: "You’ll have to pay for that yourself."

"..."

Song Yan rubbed his forehead slightly and let out a soft breath.

"Killing him... that’s not necessary."

"Just cripple his arms."

...The two chatted for a few more sentences in the teahouse, then Song Yan got up to leave.

Watching his departing back, a faint voice echoed in his mind.

"This fellow countryman of yours is quite interesting."

"What?" Sheng Nian asked with interest: "You, an ancient Devil Head, are also interested in a Righteous Path Cultivator now..."

"Righteous Path? Demonic Path? Heh heh heh..."

"There was never any distinction in the first place."

"And haven’t you noticed? When it comes to killing, he gets along very well with you..."

"..."

Sheng Nian’s smile vanished, and he fell silent.

The voice continued: "Only Qi Refining Stage 6, not even Late Stage, yet full of demonic thoughts..."

"Hm?"

"Demonic thoughts?"

"Yes... truly interesting."

"I have never felt such a heavy Heart Demon in a junior before the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Sheng Nian frowned: "Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

"I could have reminded him just now."

"Hahahaha... remind him?"

"Kid, who do you think you are?"

"..."

Sheng Nian was silent, not understanding what this meant.

"Do you know that even his Master, Elder, or even the Sect Master of Cave Abyss Sect, if they knew he had a Heart Demon, wouldn’t say a word?"

"This... why is that?"

"Hmph, you don’t even know what a Heart Demon is, yet you dare to claim to offer guidance."

The voice was utterly disdainful.

"As far as this venerable one knows, there is no method in this world that can remove a Heart Demon through external forces."

"That thing can only be resolved by oneself."

"No one can help him except himself."

"Then what should be done?"

"What should be done? Heh yo... Great Philanthropist Sheng, take care of yourself first."

"Besides..."

The voice paused slightly.

"How do you know if the influence of a ’Heart Demon’ on him is good or bad...?"

Sheng Nian was suddenly startled.

Good... or bad?

Wasn’t something like a Heart Demon inherently evil?

"Hahahaha, juniors are just juniors."

"Juniors in this small, confined place are even more pedantic and ignorant."

The faint voice was filled with extreme mockery for the ignorant.

"Today, this venerable one will teach you another principle."

"In this world, all things."

"There is fundamentally no distinction between good and bad, or good and evil."

"These Righteous Path Cultivators, when they hear of a Heart Demon, fear it like a tiger."

"They speak of resolving it, removing it, and so on..."

"Little do they know, the so-called Heart Demon is nothing more than the evil thoughts, obsessions, greed, desires, delusions, and murderous intentions within a person’s heart..."

"When these things gain sentience, they become Heart Demons."

A sudden realization dawned on Sheng Nian’s mind.

"This venerable one asks you..."

"Were these things bad from the start?"

"..."

Silence.

"Mortals, Cultivators... all living beings in the world, who isn’t seeking advantage and avoiding harm?"

"Desiring spiritual treasures, insatiably greedy."

"Desiring immortality, deludedly wishing."

"Desiring to ascend the immortal Dao, stubbornly clinging to delusion."

"If not for these..."

"How could Cultivators climb inch by inch, step by step, to achieve the great Dao of eternal life?"

Sheng Nian suddenly spoke: "So... it’s because these desires are too much, too strong, and when things reach an extreme, they reverse... that’s why they become Heart Demons."

"Wrong again."

The voice seemed to have anticipated Sheng Nian would say that.

"Looking through history, whether Righteous Path or Demonic Path Cultivators, those who were destroyed by Heart Demons..."

"It wasn’t because their demonic thoughts were too strong."

"Ultimately, it was because they couldn’t control them."

"We Demonic Path Cultivators never make excuses for ourselves."

"If one possesses enough mental fortitude and Comprehension Ability to control the netherworld within their heart..."

"Then, without a doubt, the stronger the demonic thoughts..."

"The stronger that person will be!"