Having a Heart Demon can still be useful. Not having a Heart Demon is even better, as it won't consume the Mind-Guarding Talismans.

Jia Ren made all preparations to the extreme; whether the breakthrough could be achieved now depended on the Fathead Fish Demon itself.

As time passed day by day, Jia Ren and the Insect External Incarnation remained cautiously on alert, daring not to be negligent in the slightest. This place was seldom visited by humans. There were no traces of mankind, nor Magical Beasts and Bizarre Demons. Undisturbed, it was most suitable for a peaceful breakthrough. For three consecutive months, no accidents occurred, yet he was still not at ease.

Compared to three months ago, the aura of the Fathead Fish Demon had surged, possessing a semblance of the aura of a Golden Core Great Demon. Had it advanced in rank? Jia Ren couldn't be sure; one couldn't be careless until the very last moment.

The Spiritual Energy the Fathead Fish Demon was absorbing became more and more vast, nearly depleting the nearby Spiritual Energy. In the sky, the vague shadow of a giant fish ascending, an image of it swallowing rivers and seas, began to appear.

Before the phenomenon fully manifested, it was suppressed by the prepared Essence-Sealing Spirit-Locking Array. The grade of the Essence-Sealing Spirit-Locking Array wasn't high enough to achieve a perfect seal. However, it could still reduce the impact by ninety percent, making the resulting disturbance very faint. This was equivalent to the impact of a Golden Core breakthrough being forcefully suppressed to that of a Foundation Establishment Stage breakthrough.

The disturbance was minor. The few First-Order Monsters that it attracted didn't even get within thirty li before they were sucked dry by the Sound Seizing Demon Mosquitoes.

The heavenly phenomenon continued for seven days before it finally subsided. The aura of the Fathead Fish Demon became stable, showing no signs of waking up. Using the Heart Language Technique, Jia Ren sensed only one thought: 'So many delicious Elixirs.'

One by one, the Mind-Guarding Talismans were triggered, and the protective light they emitted quickly suppressed the emerging Heart Demons. Magical Beasts also have Heart Demons, but this Heart Demon... Eat! All it thought about was eating! Jia Ren shook his head in resignation. As the Mind-Guarding Talismans were triggered, a stable passage through the Heart Demon Tribulation was ensured.

After the tribulation, the Fathead Fish Demon would reach the Third Rank. From then on, he would have an enforcer comparable to a Golden Core practitioner. The Five Elements Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect, those once-prominent old sects, didn't have a single Golden Core to anchor them. Relying solely on the strength of the Fathead Fish Demon, he could sweep the field.

Jia Ren suppressed the thrill in his heart, only to suddenly hear a strange, slight exclamation. What was that sound?! The Insect External Incarnation was on alert all around. No one was approaching. Only he was here, so how could there be someone else's voice?

"Zhen Yi? I've finally found you!"

Above the Fathead Fish Demon's head, a vast and illusory image of a huge Fish Demon appeared. It was frenziedly chasing after Ancestral Fish Sage Pills, occasionally swallowing them. One of the Ancestral Fish Sage Pills twisted and transformed into a withered, blackened human face. The face looked around with purpose, firmly locking onto Jia Ren. Even in the state of the Turtle Breath Technique, he could not hide from the demon face's gaze.

What is this thing?! A Heart Demon? Could it be… the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre?! The Bizarre Demon spoke?! This was Jia Ren's first encounter with such an event. Wasn't it sealed?

Not long ago, at the Foundation Establishment exchange meeting, he received information that the Yuding Sect had experienced an inexplicable battle. Thousands of Heart Guile Puppets were quiet, and the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre had completely vanished. This all proved that the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre had been re-sealed, and there was no need to worry about being hunted by it. Unexpectedly, as the Fathead Fish Demon broke through to the Third Rank, it touched upon a Heart Demon and encountered the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre.

Damn it! It wasn't sealed?! Why is it here? Could it be near? Jia Ren felt both fear and anger in his heart. It's like a curse that won't go away! I've already hidden here, and yet trouble still comes knocking.

One after another, the Mind-Guarding Talismans created protective lights. However, they were unable to suppress the Heart Demon, and the shadow of the black face was visibly growing larger.

"Go to hell!" Jia Ren decisively recalled his Insect External Incarnation. At the same time, he grabbed a Banishing Evil Talisman in each hand and resolutely smashed them towards the shadow. In dealing with these crooked and evil methods, there was no need to be polite; one simply greeted them with Banishing Evil Talismans.

"My strength is much greater than before, and crushing you with a Heart Demon projection is effortless," the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre let out a strange human voice, indistinguishable from a person's. A flesh and blood arm materialized in the shadow's hand and suddenly reached out to grab Jia Ren. The flesh arm swelled continuously, and upon nearing, it split into hundreds. This scene couldn't help but remind one of Bizarre Alliance Cultivators.

The two Banishing Evil Talismans turned into red flames, falling onto the flesh arm and instantaneously igniting it. Flames spread rapidly along the arm, about to consume the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre along with it. The Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre's projection, realizing the flame held a power terrifying to it, decisively severed the flesh arm.

Behind it emerged the shadow of a colossal tree hundreds of zhang tall. It was made entirely of flesh and blood, and one could see lines resembling human blood vessels and meridians running throughout it. The Flesh-Giant Tree transitioned from illusory to reality, manifesting as a true Bizarre Demon.

Reacting promptly, Jia Ren tossed out two Banishing Evil Talismans. Then, with the Ancient Talisman Wings on his back beating, he rose up, wreathed in waves of Wicked Flame a zhang high. Clutching two more Banishing Evil Talismans, he charged quickly toward the Fathead Fish Demon.

The Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre's projection originated from the Fathead Fish Demon's Heart Demon and needed to be extinguished at its source, or the trouble would only escalate. The fight could not drag on; once the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre fully materialized the Flesh-Giant Tree Bizarre Demon, Jia Ren would face two Bizarre Demons at once.

Under the Spirit Eye Technique, Jia Ren saw countless illusory black roots sprouting from the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre, digging into the Fathead Fish Demon's Sea of Consciousness. With every passing moment, it plundered spiritual power from the Fathead Fish Demon, growing in strength. If the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre was not dealt with and allowed to act freely, the fish he had painstakingly raised might end up under its control. With two Bizarre Demons, one being a Third-Order Great Demon, there was absolutely no chance of victory. A quick resolution was imperative!

Before Jia Ren could launch his attack, a myriad of illusions emerged before his eyes. A vast blood sea surged forth, transforming into a thousand-zhang-long crimson dragon that struck towards him. The illusion was incredibly lifelike, as if reality were unfolding before him. Should he be injured by such an attack within the illusion, he would suffer the same harm in reality. This was the terrifying nature of the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre.

At that moment, the 'Talisman Garment' lining his Robe activated, erupting with a thick purple halo. The Talisman Garment was not a magic artifact but a special inner coat he had specifically prepared for holding Evil Warding Talismans. It had a total of forty pockets, each containing twenty-five Extraordinary Saint Level Evil Warding Talismans—a thousand in all. This way, in case of an unexpected encounter with a Bizarre Demon, he would not be caught unprepared, having to scramble to retrieve Evil Warding Talismans. He had three additional sets of similar Talisman Garments in his River Mountain Bag as spares.

Over a thousand Evil Warding Talismans activated, creating a purple halo that enveloped him. With the Evil Warding Talismans for protection, the thousand-zhang-long blood dragon illusion shattered, revealing the true location of the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre.

Enhanced by the Divine Wind Talisman's effect, Jia Ren beat his Wicked Flame Wings, closing in on the target with astonishing speed. When the distance between them was less than three zhang, the Wicked Flame Wings struck left and right, transforming into two huge flame blades that crossed and slashed at the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre.

Just as the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre was about to strike, its expression twisted and became ferocious. Its entire body was ignited with purple flames. This was different from when it first broke free and encountered Jia Ren, where only slightly over seventy Evil Warding Talismans were used. This time, it faced a thousand, even more formidable than before. The burning purple flames caused it unbearable pain.

The Flesh-Giant Tree behind it solidified, taking a step forward to shield the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre. It too was set alight with purple flames, appearing transparent and ethereal. The two Wicked Flame Blades passed through the illusion as if it were foam, striking directly upon the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre.

Before the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre could disappear from its spot, it was struck by the Wicked Flame Blades. Its two arms, burning with the Burning Evil Flame, fell straight to the ground.

"AH!" A hair-raising scream came from afar as the figure of the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre materialized a zhang behind Jia Ren. The severed stumps of the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre's arms were ablaze with both red and purple flames, which spread across its entire body. The Bizarre Demon's power became fuel for the flames, making the Wicked Flames even more intense.

Faced with two different kinds of restraining flames, the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre was in excruciating pain, its eyes filled with deep-seated, unforgettable hatred.

After striking the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre, Jia Ren didn't wait to see the results and quickly threw a thousand Evil Warding Talismans onto the Fathead Fish Demon. Cutting off the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre's source was the only way to resolve the issue. If the Bizarre Demon did not die, both he and the Fathead Fish Demon would perish here.

Evil Warding Talismans activated on the Fathead Fish Demon, transforming into an intensely hot purple glow that grew brighter by the moment. The Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre was not its true body but had descended here through the Fathead Fish Demon's Heart Demon. With its power source cut off, the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre's figure began to fade and twist.

"Zhen Yi, I will wait for your Golden Core!

"That will be the time of your demise!"

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