2276 Heart of the Martial Dao
On the second stone step, the Dao Heart will of another Immortal King was condensed.
Initially, Tang Peng's Dao Heart was only at the second stone step as well.
Now that he had ascended the second stone step, he did not stabilize his mind and defend his Dao Heart. Instead, he wanted to mock Su Zimo and his Dao Heart revealed an opening that was instantly broken by the powerful will of the stone step!
This was the Carefree Step and the impact on a cultivator's Dao Heart was not strong.
Even so, a crack appeared in Tang Peng's Dao Heart. He would have to recuperate in seclusion for a period of time after returning before he could recover.
"Tang Peng has lost a lot of face this time round. He took the initiative to provoke them but ended up losing."
"He must have been too careless."
"Su Zimo does have some tricks up his sleeves. He's able to ascend to the second stone step successfully just by ascending the Dao Heart Stairs for the first time."
The surrounding inner sect disciples whispered.
When Princess Scarlet Rainbow and Liu Ping saw that Su Zimo was fine, their expressions softened as well.
Fang Qingyun raised his head slightly. Two inner sect disciples behind him understood and hurried forward to help Tang Peng down.
Even though he had already left the Dao Heart Stairs, Tang Peng did not seem to have snapped out of his stupor. His body trembled continuously and his gaze was hollow, as though he did not recognize anyone.
The Dao Heart will of the second stone step had a huge impact on him.
Even though he had already fallen off the Dao Heart Stairs after he failed to guard his Dao Heart, he could not break free from it mentally yet.
Fang Qingyun closed two fingers and a spot of spirit light condensed on his fingertip, tapping Tang Peng's glabella gently.
Tang Peng's expression froze and he fainted.
Fang Qingyun said indifferently, "Let him sleep. He'll regain consciousness after waking up."
On the Dao Heart Stairs.
Su Zimo and Perfected Immortal Jade Toad stood side by side once more.
"Not bad."
Perfected Immortal Jade Toad chuckled and said leisurely, "To think that you would be able to clear the first stone step's Dao Heart Trial so quickly."
On the second stone step, Perfected Immortal Jade Toad had a relaxed expression. While enduring the Dao Heart Trial, he could also divert his attention to speak.
Su Zimo remained silent.
"Actually, there's nothing much to the Carefree Step. The third stone step will be considered the true Dao Heart Trial!" Perfected Immortal Jade Toad continued.
Su Zimo remained silent.
The reason why Perfected Immortal Jade Toad spoke was because he wanted Su Zimo to reply.
Once he replied, he would definitely be distracted no matter what he replied.
However, Su Zimo did not fall for it and Perfected Immortal Jade Toad did not probe further. He remained silent and focused on resisting the Dao Heart Trial on the second stone step.
"Good, evil? Benevolence, heretical? I don't care at all!"
"As long as I'm carefree, be it Heaven and Earth, rules, the seven emotions or the six desires, nothing can restrain me!"
Under the influence of this Dao Heart, Su Zimo seemed to have returned to Tianhuang Mainland, to the time when he had just stepped onto the path of cultivation and only sought to be carefree!
By maintaining a carefree Dao Heart, he could live freely without restraints.
He had no burdens and could do as he pleased.
Su Zimo was gradually lost in this state and could not extricate himself.
However, when he saw countless citizens of Yan Country destroyed and homeless and Su Hong die with his own eyes, a strong emotion still burst forth from his heart!
It was as though something had broken through the fog and broken free from all the shackles of being carefree from his body.
"I want to establish a Dao!"
Standing on the second stone step, Su Zimo suddenly spoke. His voice was so soft that almost no one could hear him.
However, those words exploded in his mind like thunder!
Those were the words that he said personally back then. From then on, he embarked on an extremely difficult Dao with an uncertain future.
There was no one who could help him or give him experience on this Dao—he could only advance alone!
When Su Zimo woke up, the Dao of carefreeness could no longer affect his Dao Heart.
That was the heart of the Martial Dao!
It was to advance courageously without any fear!
Right then, Perfected Immortal Jade Toad stepped onto the third stone step and turned to look at Su Zimo with a faint smile. "I'll wait for you at the front."
Before his sentence was finished, Su Zimo had already stepped onto the third stone step!
A commotion broke out in the surrounding crowd.
More than half of the tens of thousands of inner sect disciples present could not reach the third stone step.
But now, this Grade 1 Heaven Immortal who had just joined the inner sect had already surpassed most of them!
"This is bad."
However, Elder Zhong had a grim expression and said worriedly, "The third stone step is the Killing Step and is the most dangerous. Once one's Dao Heart is lost, there's a high chance that they will enter Qi Deviation and their cultivation will be destroyed!"
When Perfected Immortal Jade Toad saw Su Zimo following closely behind and ascending the third stone step as well, the smile on his face disappeared and his expression gradually darkened.
This time round, he did not say anything more to provoke Su Zimo.
That was because on the third stone step, even he had to focus his attention and manage his qi to defend against the impact of the Killing Dao Heart!
Although he could ascend the third stone step, he had never crossed it.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"The Dao of killing lies in one's heart!"
"Any attachments, obstacles, obstructions and karma only have the word, kill!"
"The only way to destroy everything and all living beings is to kill and carve out a bloodied Great Dao so that there will be no more obstacles ahead!"
The moment he stepped onto the third stone step, Su Zimo felt a chilling killing intent that was so thick that it almost materialized and descended!
In the Dao of killing, no matter what one did, right or wrong, there was only a single word—kill!
Killing intent enveloped him and attacked his heart!
If one's Dao Heart was not strong, resolute or pure, there was a high chance that they would sink completely into the killing intent and lose their rationality, resulting in Qi Deviation!
Su Zimo defended his Dao Heart and endured the killing intent on the third stone step continuously.
The will to kill was far more terrifying and dangerous than the longevity and carefree wills from before and the impact was even stronger!
However, no matter how strong this killing intent was, it could not shake Su Zimo's heart of the Martial Dao!
The two true bodies were telepathic. The Green Lotus True Body's Dao Heart was not the only one on trial on the Dao Heart Staircase—it was also the Dao Heart of the Martial Dao Prime Body!
Although the Green Lotus True Body was the one stepping on the Dao Heart Stairs physically, the Martial Dao Prime Body that was in the Fiend Domain was also enduring the tempering and baptism of his Dao Heart.
No matter how strong the killing intent was, it could not defeat the boldness of the heart of the Martial Dao!
"I want to establish a Dao!"
"I want to break free the shackles of fate that bind every single living being in the world!"
"I'm going to change the fate of all living beings!"
"I'm going to allow all lives in this world the ability to cultivate and become immortals!"
The Dao of killing could destroy everything, but it could not destroy Su Zimo's heart of the Martial Dao that was the Great Dao of true martial arts!
Bang!
Su Zimo let out a long howl and his gaze was like lightning. He advanced against the tide and suddenly strode onto the fourth stone step!
The cultivators were shocked and in an uproar!
Perfected Immortal Jade Toad on the third stone step was still trying his best to defend against the impact of the killing intent and was even struggling.
Su Zimo's actions caused his Dao Heart to waver. He was invaded by the killing intent and almost lost it!
"This is bad!"
Perfected Immortal Jade Toad was alarmed and focused hurriedly, wanting to stabilize his Dao Heart and persevere a little more.
Right then, Su Zimo glanced sideways and said indifferently, "Senior Brother Jade Toad, I'll wait for you at the front."
Those words were initially used by Perfected Immortal Jade Toad to agitate Su Zimo. Now, it was the final straw that crushed his Dao Heart!
"You!"
Perfected Immortal Jade Toad was enraged and killing intent surged.
The moment that killing intent appeared, it was unstoppable and burst forth like a ferocious beast!
