Forging the Dao Heart

When those loose immortals sent their spirit beasts into the Illusion Demon Realm, they felt nothing at first. Ju Hua, however, was different; his Great Dao of Heaven and Earth had reached the Dao Domain stage ten years ago, and now, a decade later, his cultivation realm had naturally ascended even further.

Ju Hua could clearly sense that he had just departed the Great Xia World and entered an independent minor world. Moreover, the barrier force between this minor world and the Great Xia World was astonishing; ordinary minor teleportation would likely be unable to bridge the gap.

Of course, if someone possessed a Great Teleportation technique capable of traversing major worlds, that would be a different matter entirely.

However, with my current strength, if I wished to force my way out, this world barrier could not stop me! Ju Hua thought to himself. He then shook his head, gripped the Mirror Stone in his hand, and stepped deeper into the Illusion Demon Realm.

Tianyang Ancestor had once provided Ju Hua with detailed intelligence regarding the Illusion Demon Realm. According to the report, the illusions within grew more realistic and terrifying the further one ventured; at the very center of the realm, even Celestial Immortals would pale in fear.

Celestial Immortals were beings who had already overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation and achieved the Dao Heart of a Celestial Immortal. One could only imagine the horror of an illusion capable of shaking such individuals.

Ju Hua traveled nearly a hundred miles in one breath. He found a towering mountain nearby and used his immortal sword to carve out a simple cave dwelling.

After setting up layers of formations and restrictions, Ju Hua sat down cross-legged within.

Ju Hua waved his hand to summon a humanoid puppet, then performed a series of hand seals to input commands. After confirming the puppet would execute them correctly, he did not hesitate further and handed the Mirror Stone to the puppet.

As the Mirror Stone left his hand, Ju Hua instantly felt an invisible force tugging at his soul.

Soon, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

"Hahaha, Brother Ju Hua truly has a sharp eye! This woman's beauty is the finest among all these maidens!" Zhuanshui Qing's laughter rang in Ju Hua's ears.

Ju Hua was slightly stunned, and then he remembered what was happening.

During his duel with Zhuanshui Pingqiu, he had displayed extraordinary strength, which led the clan leader, Zhuanshui Qing, to hold him in high regard. He had hosted a banquet in Ju Hua's honor and even summoned a group of dancing girls for him to choose from.

Ju Hua turned his head to look. A woman dressed in white was leaning against his side, looking at him with shy, coy eyes.

The woman was truly beautiful, possessing a unique temperament that made Ju Hua feel quite fond of her the moment he saw her.

No wonder I chose her! the thought flashed through Ju Hua's mind.

The banquet lasted until very late. After bidding farewell to Zhuanshui Qing, Ju Hua took the woman back to his home.

The woman's cultivation was not high, but she was quite skilled in dance. Thus, Ju Hua guided her in her cultivation and would have her perform for him during his leisure time.

Day after day, the two lived in harmony and happiness.

More than half a year later, Ju Hua was set to lead troops into battle. The woman, unable to bear his departure, invited him to an open space behind the mountain to present him with a dance she had recently choreographed.

Her dance skills were as superb as ever. She drifted through the air like a butterfly among flowers, her graceful movements blending perfectly with the surroundings, leaving one feeling completely intoxicated.

After a long while, the woman finished her dance. Before she could speak, Ju Hua suddenly asked, "Does this dance have a name?"

"It is called Longing!" The woman looked at Ju Hua with deep affection.

Ju Hua said nothing more. He simply turned around and looked at the distant mountains.

The woman sensed something was wrong. Just as she was about to step forward, she suddenly discovered an invisible barrier separating her from Ju Hua.

"Longing, longing! And yet, I almost forgot my most important kin!" Ju Hua sighed. Immediately, the distant mountains began to collapse, the destruction spreading until it reached the feet of Ju Hua and the woman.

BOOM!

Everything returned to nothingness. Ju Hua's memories flooded back in an instant, and he realized that what he had just experienced was a world created by an illusion.

However, before Ju Hua could ponder further, another invisible force acted upon his soul. He felt a brief moment of disorientation, and then he struggled to open his eyes.

"Big Brother, you're finally awake?"

"Little Sister?" Ju Hua rubbed his temples and sat up from the bed.

From the moment Ju Hua entered the Illusion Demon Realm, the blink of an eye had already seen three days pass. Suddenly, the puppet that had been guarding him placed the Mirror Stone into his hand.

A cool sensation instantly dispelled the invisible force clinging to Ju Hua's soul, and he snapped back to full consciousness.

It took him quite a while to distinguish reality from illusion, and a look of shock could not help but appear on his face.

The Illusion Demon Realm was truly terrifying. The invisible power here not only pulled him into illusions but did so in an endless cycle; as soon as one ended, another began. Without the aid of the Mirror Stone, he would likely have been completely lost in the depths of these infinite illusions!

However, only such an environment could truly temper one's Dao Heart, right? This thought crossed Ju Hua's mind. He stopped overthinking and closed his eyes to regulate his breath.

After resting in the temporary cave for a few days, Ju Hua handed the Mirror Stone to the puppet once more and plunged back into the illusions.

Three months later, Ju Hua left the temporary dwelling and ventured another hundred miles deeper into the Illusion Demon Realm.

Between tempering himself in the illusions and contemplating his sword arts and the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth during his rest, a decade passed in the blink of an eye.

During these ten years, aside from one instance where he returned to the army due to a message from Qing Muling, Ju Hua spent all his time in the Illusion Demon Realm.

The results of ten years of tempering were significant; Ju Hua's Heart Force had reached the second level: the Ice Heart Realm.

Furthermore, under the constant pressure, his Heart Force was not merely at the entry level of the second stage; he was only a step away from the third level, "Dominator."

Of course, that step was not so easily taken. In Ju Hua's estimation, if he wished to reach the third level, he would likely require a specific stroke of fate.