Retaining　the　chemical　heterogeneity　of　2:14:1　main　phase　grains　and　forming　continuous　grain　boundary　(GB)　layers　are　considered　two　significant　contributions　to　high　coercivity　in　multi-main-phase　(MMP)　Nd-La-Ce-Fe-B　sintered　magnets.　In　this　work,　the　trade-off　between　chemical　heterogeneity　and　the　GB　layers　in　MMP　Nd-La-Ce-Fe-B　sintered　magnets　was　tackled　by　designing　the　composition　of　LaCe-free　alloys.　The　coercivity　of　the　MMP　LaCe-40　(LaCe/TRE　=　40　wt.%,　TRE:　total　rare　earth)　magnets　prepared　by　replacing　conventional　Nd30.5FebalM1.8B0.96　(Nd-normal)　with　Nd42.1FebalB0.79　(Nd-rich)　as　a　LaCefree　alloy　increased　by　52.7%,　reaching　an　ultra-high　coercivity　of　11.10　kOe.　Analysis　of　the　microstructure　showed　that　chemical　heterogeneity　was　retained　in　the　MMP　LaCe-40　sintered　magnets　prepared　with　Nd42.1FebalB0.79.　In　addition,　thick　Nd-rich　hard　magnetic　shells　and　continuous　GB　layers　were　constructed.　On　the　one　hand,　magnetization　reversal　of　the　LaCe-rich　grains　was　hindered　by　the　adjacent　strongly　magnetic　LaCe-free　grains.　On　the　other　hand,　this　enhanced　the　anisotropic　field　of　the　LaCerich　grains　and　weakened　the　ferromagnetic　coupling　effect.　These　provided　a　guarantee　for　preventing　the　nucleation　and　propagation　of　reversed　domains,　thereby　achieving　high　coercivity.　This　study　offers　a　new　solution　for　the　contradiction　between　the　retention　of　chemical　heterogeneity　and　the　regulation　of　the　GB　structure　in　the　MMP　Nd-La-Ce-Fe-B　sintered　magnets,　creating　the　conditions　for　further　improving　the　coercivity　of　magnets.　(c)　2022　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.