Inside the ancient demon’s Interspatial Ring lay several corpses—human martial practitioners, ferocious beasts, and even other demons. There were also a few massive weapons, clearly designed for a creature of the ancient demon’s size.

What caught Ye Liuyun’s attention the most was a spiked club crafted from the demon’s own leg bone. It radiated a palpable demonic aura, unmistakably a weapon of formidable power.

Ye Liuyun kept the essence energy from the Interspatial Ring for himself but distributed the remaining resources among the giant demons, letting them divide the spoils as they saw fit. As for the spiked club, he handed it to Hatu, one of the stronger members of the giant demon clan.

Overjoyed, Hatu repeatedly thanked Ye Liuyun before immediately brandishing the club to challenge the clan leader.

In the giant demon clan, strength ruled supreme—whoever was the strongest became the leader. Ye Liuyun paid no mind to their internal struggles, though the outcome was never in doubt. Armed with the spiked club, Hatu easily claimed the title of clan leader, deepening his gratitude toward Ye Liuyun.

* * *

"Well? Did you see the resources?" the ancient demon pressed impatiently when Ye Liuyun remained silent.

"Yeah, I saw them," Ye Liuyun replied casually. "But honestly, for someone of your stature, that’s a pretty meager stash."

"Of course," the demon scoffed. "That’s just a fraction of my collection. Accept my legacy, and I’ll hand over everything in my spatial realm."

"How much more are we talking about?" Ye Liuyun probed.

"At least ten times what’s in that Interspatial Ring," the demon answered without hesitation.

Ye Liuyun nodded thoughtfully before asking, "So, how do I receive this ’legacy’ of yours?"

"It’s simple," the demon said quickly. "I’m already done for. Just absorb my soul into your consciousness, refine my heart and core, and the legacy is yours. Every part of us ancient demons is a treasure—our bones forge weapons, our flesh enhances demonic energy."

"Then why not let me find a way to restore you?" Ye Liuyun countered. "Why insist on dying?"

Though he kept the conversation going, Ye Liuyun didn’t take a single step forward, his guard unwavering.

The demon’s resources were tempting, no doubt. If a mere Interspatial Ring held so much, its spatial realm must contain even greater riches.

However, Ye Liuyun had no intention of taking unnecessary risks. At the slightest hint of danger, he would retreat immediately.

There was something deeply unsettling about the ancient demon’s words—every sentence reeked of deception. Moreover, his golden pupils detected something bizarre about the demon’s heart. It pulsed unnaturally, each contraction failing to circulate blood, as if it were an independent organ.

Were it not for the fact that the demon could still communicate telepathically and its heart continued to beat, it might as well have been a corpse. When it wasn’t unleashing its aura, even its true essence lay stagnant.

"Ah! You don’t understand—my heart has been refined to such an extreme degree that even with my true essence restored, I can no longer control it!" the ancient demon lamented.

This explanation made Ye Liuyun consider the possibility, but he couldn’t help but wonder—how could a demon cultivate itself to such a state? His curiosity piqued, he pressed further. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"How exactly did you cultivate to this point? To lose control over your own body... If I refine this heart, how could I possibly master it?"

"It’s different for you. I can’t re-refine my own heart, but you can. Once you do, you’ll gain control—and unimaginable power. You could slaughter all who’ve wronged you, reign supreme, do as you please..." The demon sidestepped the crucial details, instead luring Ye Liuyun with promises of power.

All the while, Ye Liuyun kept his golden eyes fixed on the demon. Suddenly, he noticed something—the demon’s true essence had dwindled further, even though it hadn’t expended any energy during their conversation.

A slow, knowing smile spread across Ye Liuyun’s face.

"Hmm? What’s so amusing?" The demon had clearly been watching his expression.

"I’m laughing because this heart of yours... it doesn’t belong to this body, does it? You’re just a parasite, occupying this corpse." As he spoke, Ye Liuyun recalled his falcon into his spatial realm and strode confidently toward the demon’s remains.

He had pieced it together—the heart was siphoning energy from the demon’s body. Its pulsations were entirely independent, proving the demon had long been dead. The real menace was the heart itself.

As for the demon’s soul? More likely, it was a fabrication of the heart, not the original demon’s. Though they bore a resemblance, Ye Liuyun could spot the difference.

The demon faltered at the accusation. After a brief pause, it steadied itself, watching as Ye Liuyun drew nearer. "How did you figure it out?" it asked.

Ye Liuyun ignored the question. Instead, once he was close enough, he demanded, "You can open this demon’s spatial world, can’t you? Hand over its resources."

The ancient demon let out a sinister chuckle. "Of course it can be opened. I’ve gained complete control over it. But after making me waste so much breath, did you really think you could take these resources without paying a price?"

His tone shifted abruptly, brimming with newfound confidence now that he believed he had the upper hand against Ye Liuyun.

Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun flicked his wrist, releasing a wisp of toxic energy that struck straight at the demon’s heart. His voice was icy as he countered, "How about this? Even if it doesn’t kill you, it’ll still drain you dry, won’t it?"

"How dare you poison me?!" the demon roared. Suddenly, a spectral figure—his soul essence—burst from his consciousness and lunged toward Ye Liuyun’s mind. A cruel smirk twisted its shadowy features. "Too late. Your body and soul are mine now!"

But the moment it invaded Ye Liuyun’s consciousness, the Ten Thousand Gods Token erupted in a blinding golden radiance, ensnaring the intruder. Instantly, the demon’s soul fragment was severed from the one still trapped within his heart.

"Ah! What is this?!" The invading soul shrieked in terror. It writhed violently, but no amount of struggling could free it from the token’s dissolving light.

Instead of immediately branding it with a slave seal, Ye Liuyun let the token sap its strength first. Under the relentless golden glow, the demon’s soul rapidly withered, shrinking like melting ice.

Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun chanted an incantation, summoning a surge of sacred Buddhist light that blazed within the demon’s heart. His golden pupils confirmed it—this was indeed the core of a true demon.

While the heart could still muster some resistance against the toxin, the purifying radiance proved far more agonizing.

"Stop! What have you done to my soul?!" The remaining soul fragment inside the heart howled in torment, unable to endure the pain any longer.

Ye Liuyun only smiled coldly as he drew his Demon-Slaying Blade, leveling it at the pulsating organ.

The moment the demon sensed the weapon’s lethal aura, sheer panic seized him.