Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 205 - 099: Terrain is Docile, The Superior Man Bears Burden With Great Virtue

Chapter 205: Chapter 099: Terrain is Docile, The Superior Man Bears Burden With Great Virtue

"Elder Wan, congratulations, congratulations!" Zhou Yan sincerely said.

Elder Hou Wanxiao nodded, overwhelmed with excitement, almost immediately ready to kneel before Zhou Yan and perform the most solemn disciple’s salute, but Zhou Yan stopped him.

"Master Zhou..."

"Elder Wan, there’s no need for such formalities. Your enlightenment is also a result of your own opportunity. If you salute me as a disciple because of that, it would actually make me feel somewhat ashamed. If you continue like this, I will not speak of the insights on the Path of Artifact Refining that follow, nor will I allow you to witness the refining process!"

Zhou Yan earnestly said.

"Alright... alright, Master Zhou, I, Hou Wanxiao, will remember your great kindness!"

Elder Hou seemed a bit choked up for a moment, his eyes reddening, clearly moved and excited.

Zhou Yan nodded and continued, "Every hundred men have their streams, and above the streams, there are paths; every thousand men have their rivers, and above the rivers, there are ways; every ten thousand men have their rivers, and above the rivers, there are roads. Such is the Tao. In truth, if I am to discuss these matters, there’s inevitably an element of grandstanding, but indeed, it may help you at this moment.

Having one’s nature and preserving persistence are the gates to the morality of the Tao. It’s about ascension between oneself and heaven and earth. First, we use ourselves as the foundation for enlightenment, then the myriad things of heaven and earth..."

As Zhou Yan spoke, he began the Artifact Refining process.

He began crafting the Sword Spirit in a state akin to the Natural Dao.

This time, Zhou Yan didn’t infuse any emotions, but in a state similar to the Unity of Heaven and Man, combined some top-grade materials to forge an ancient Sword Intent.

When the ancient Sword Intent merged with the Origin, it acquired a Bloodline resonance. After the Bloodline resonance came Spiritual Wisdom.

Zhou Yan chose not to replicate himself, because the uniqueness of oneself makes such a template incapable of ever being transcended. Even if it were to surpass the original, it would still be confined to its inherent insignificance.

This is like copying a drawing; if the original is only of average talent, then no matter how well you copy, even surpassing the original artist, the painting still may not reach excellence, let alone compare with the works of true masters.

But if one takes nature as the copying subject, success could mean a path of self-style. As long as one keeps advancing, they can someday reach the levels of those masters.

The Sword Spirit born from nature will have tremendous growth potential. A Sword Spirit based solely on oneself would be monotonous and lack innovation. Such a Sword Spirit would also struggle to grow.

Through precept and example, Zhou Yan conveyed his insights on condensing the Sword Spirit to Hou Wanxiao, who after hearing these words, achieved Sudden Enlightenment.

Afterward, Hou Wanxiao grasped this sudden enlightenment, yet did not delve too deep, instead suppressing his excitement and watched intently as Zhou Yan refined the Rune Sword Spirit.

...

Runes formed naturally and comfortably evolved into a Dao, gradually consolidating into a domain within the Void, suppressing the growth of the Sword Spirit derived from the Origin.

Within this process, the nascent form of the Heavenly Dao started to emerge.

Although slow, the transformation was palpably clear.

It was like witnessing a newborn baby’s journey from ignorant cries at birth to the innocence of recognizing the world, and eventually, maturing in its entirety.

Amidst the Purple Flame, a mysterious scene seemed to take place in succession.

One flower represents one world; one leaf embodies enlightenment.

From its nascent form, the Rune Sword Spirit evolved into something brimming with vibrant spiritual energy, making it akin to witnessing the formation of a world, leaving an indescribable impact.

Elder Wan Hou Wanxiao watched intently, which led him to a sympathetic understanding of many things. All his confusion was gradually unravelled with this transformative spectacle.

Even without actively contemplating, this mysterious Origin Qi seemed to unlock his Spiritual Wisdom, granting him immediate Ming Wu.

However, it was only after this Ming Wu that he realized this Origin Qi was actually from Zhou Yan’s Life Origin Essence.

Even such an aged man was profoundly moved by this scene.

Life Origin Essence, how precious that is! Zhou Yan had released such Origin Energy for his sake, allowing him to comprehend these perplexities unintentionally... This sent a soul-stirring shock through Hou Wanxiao!

He couldn’t help but think that in so many years, no one had ever made such sacrifices for him, but this youth not only showed him a clear path but even bestowed his own Origin Essence for enlightenment...

Reflecting on this, Hou Wanxiao was touched and filled with shame, recalling the moment he initially doubted Zhou Yan’s ability, now feeling embarrassed and self-reproachful.

What he didn’t know was this so-called Origin Essence was merely residual energy released inadvertently by Zhou Yan while he was deriving enlightenment.

Therefore, Zhou Yan didn’t fuss over it, and it was this casual attitude that touched Hou Wanxiao, who wished to see it as such, even more.

Zhou Yan, unaware of these feelings, thought Hou Wanxiao’s emotional response was simply because he had finally seen through to enlightenment and wept with joy, so he felt happy for Hou Wanxiao.

However, Zhou Yan remained focused on the Sword Spirit’s refining. This trial was a test of his own belief; confident in success, yet he had never crafted a Sword Spirit of such intensity, so whether he could succeed as he believed was still an open question.

"Heaven wears out my fortune, yet I thicken my virtue to welcome it; heaven exhausts my body, yet I relax my heart to supplement it; heaven narrows my chances, yet I flow my Tao to pass through..."

Zhou Yan murmured to himself, with nature as the Tao, with nature as the form and intent, this form and intent were a kind of enlightenment towards nature.

In doing this, Zhou Yan imbued the Sword Spirit with a quality of ’virtue,’ transforming it through virtue into a body of virtue and wisdom.

This was Zhou Yan’s idea.

When the Sword Spirit manifested, it possessed the heart of a gentleman and virtuous behavior; it was then a true Tao Sword Spirit.

With ancient runes condensed, the Sword Spirit could ascend once more, transforming from a High-Grade Spirit Level to a Top-Grade Spirit Level.

This was Zhou Yan’s idea.

As for virtue, virtue is the sovereign Tao of spiritual things.

Heaven’s way is strong, and the gentleman strengthens himself ceaselessly. Such self-strengthening speaks of the will and belief.

Will, to uphold, is to believe in the Path of Invincibility!

Earth’s nature is receptive, and the gentleman carries all with great virtue! To carry all with great virtue is to accumulate ’virtue.’

This so-called ’virtue’ here is the Tao of Heaven and Earth.

With virtue and heart, there is Tao!

With such grandeur, Zhou Yan condensed such a Tao, deriving a Rune Sword Spirit that shimmered with the luster of purple glaze, bearing great virtue and achieving considerable success.

After a sacrifice to beliefs, the Rune Sword Spirit underwent a transformation, presenting a vast and glorious virtue, revealing a domain of peace and harmony.

At this moment, the Rune Sword Spirit had been born, accompanied by phenomena akin to a True Spirit Level genius breaking through the ’fifth’ shackles, beckoning Heaven and Earth to bestow miraculous Tao anomalies—rainbows flying between heaven and earth, Immortal Cranes fluttering, dragons dancing with phoenixes, and auspicious deer appearing...

On the horizon, a nine-colored pillar of light flickered in and out of sight, as if even the shadowy light of Nine Origin Reincarnation was joining in this grand celebration.

This was the Miraculous Phenomena, this was the unfathomable presence, signifying that this Path of Artifact Refining had been recognized by the rules of Heaven and Earth. Thus, anomalies descended as a proclamation!

Bathed in such brilliance, Zhou Yan’s inner impurities were purified by the luminescence, his flesh becoming as translucent as crystal or glazed glass, and every last trace of minute impurities too disappeared without a trace.

Not only that, but within the glow seemed to be an energy akin to that of Spiritual Lotus Seeds, capable of cleansing one’s Soul!

Zhou Yan’s Soul suddenly grew much stronger and ascended to new heights. What minor flaws it had were now washed away by the endless auspicious and varied light, and it, too, became as harmonious as if reaching Great Perfection.

This was an unexpected gain.

Beside Zhou Yan, Elder Wan stood dumbfounded at the spectacle, his eyes nearly popping out.

He thought he had already held Zhou Yan in very high regard, but the commotion that Zhou Yan was causing had far exceeded his imagination.

He had originally thought that while he was not as accomplished as Zhou Yan, he was still far superior in his own domain—Artifact Refining. But now, suddenly feeling as if he had lived in vain for so many years.

To be recognized by the Tao of Heaven and Earth, this... this was something that, throughout the entire Southern Wilderness, only a very few could manage.

Having witnessed this, Elder Wan’s confidence in Zhou Yan’s future soared.

As for the matter of condensing the Sword Soul, at this moment, Elder Wan truly took it to heart, deciding that for Zhou Yan’s dedication to him, he must obtain that Supreme Treasure to help Zhou Yan break the punishment of Heaven and Earth and forcibly condense the Sword Soul!

As he thought this, a glow gradually enveloped him, as if Zhou Yan, sensing something, had purposely drawn the light over to him.

Then, Elder Wan’s withered body, as dry as dead wood, suddenly started to exude new Vitality Energy. At the same time, Zhou Yan also transmitted to him a mysterious and massive surge of Vitality Energy, which turned out to be the pure and incomparable Life Origin Energy.

"Master Zhou, you, you mustn’t—this is too much. If you harm your Origin, there will be no hope for the condensation of the Sword Soul in the future! You mustn’t do this for the sake of an old man decaying like me. You shouldn’t—" Elder Wan couldn’t finish his sentence as boundless energy swept over him.

"Elder Wan, the sincerity of your intentions has deeply moved me, so it is only right that I help you.

Moreover, you have a profound understanding of the Emperor Sword Lineage, and with you by Chen’s side, I would be at ease.

Once I’ve finished refining the Rune Sword Spirit and broken your trapped array, I will return to the Li Family. From that point forward, everything about Chen will become my concern.

So when I’m not there, Elder Wan, please take good care of Chen for me." Zhou Yan thought for a moment before earnestly speaking these words.

Origin Energy might be significant to others, but Zhou Yan himself wasn’t lacking, so he did not place much importance on it. On the contrary, this old man possessed profound knowledge and formidable abilities; if he were to pass away like this, it would be a considerable loss to the Emperor Sword Wuji Lineage!

"Master Zhou, rest assured, I will do my utmost to cultivate the Young Master! Furthermore, Master Zhou, if one day you need to condense the Sword Soul, please do let me know. I, Elder Hou Wanxiao, hold a tremendous secret! By then, Master Zhou, you will surely be able to condense the Sword Soul safely and unharmed!" Elder Wan suddenly, with absolute certainty, revealed a massive secret at this moment!