Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 207 - 101: Eight Diagrams Match Nine Palaces!

Chapter 207: Chapter 101: Eight Diagrams Match Nine Palaces!

"Zhou Lingzhe, you said that the locations for Qian, Zhen, Kan, and Gen in the four Yang trigrams have been arranged!"

Hou Cai Xuan, like a beam of Spirit Light, flew over. She arrived in front of Zhou Yan, panting and her chest heaving, and spoke with utmost respect.

Her sudden appearance brought a fragrant breeze, the aroma dazing those who inhaled it; even little Chen was momentarily stunned.

Zhou Yan instinctively inhaled the fragrance of the fair lady and felt an inexplicable heat rise inside him, compelling him to take another glance at Cai Xuan.

At that moment, Cai Xuan’s eyebrows resembled fine ink paintings, her eyes like soft autumn waters, and her face as pure as jade. Dressed in a plain Ni Chang Feather Robe, her figure was slender and graceful, embodying a spiritual yet tender aura which was beautiful to the extreme.

Cultivation, then, is the transformation of the body, accompanied by the multiple optimizations of every aspect, akin to the perfecting process of genetics.

Thus, the higher the cultivation of a Cultivator, the more perfect the beauty which emerges, but such evolved perfection always has acquired factors, unquestionably beautiful yet lacking some spiritual essence. In contrast, those born with natural beauty often possess this spirituality.

This exemplified a beauty of extreme spirituality!

Jiang Yuning, Hou Cai Xuan, Mo Yuchou, Feng Yunyan, and Zhou Lingyi were all such women.

In his naïve days, Zhou Yan was enraptured by Zhou Lingyi, captivated by this type of spiritual beauty.

In comparison, Feng Ling Bamboo, Feng Lingqing, Ping’er, Zhou Ying, Zhou Qianqian, and Gu Xi, while also incomparably beautiful, lacked that bit of spirituality.

Zhou Yan stared at Cai Xuan for another moment, seemingly catching her attention, causing a lovely blush to spread across her delicate, crystal-clear face, but at the same time, she felt an indescribable joy.

This joy was ineffable—at least, in her heart, she faintly felt that Zhou Lingzhe also found her beautiful.

"Zhou Lingzhe, you said that the locations for Kun, Xun, Li, and Dui in the four Yin trigrams have also been properly arranged."

At that moment, the voice of Chen Tianjian interrupted Cai Xuan’s lovely mood.

Chen Tianjian flew over and spoke respectfully.

Although Zhou Yan had said each should stick to their own, the kindness of the Emperor Sword Wuji Lineage still inspired genuine respect from Chen Tianjian deep from within his soul. Thus, in his speech, Chen Tianjian still conveyed a respect born from the soul.

"The eight trigrams match the Nine Palaces: the Innate Method, the Acquired Method, and the Supreme Yi Method, all have been completed — this, then, is a minor Perfection.

The eight trigrams paired with the Nine Palaces give birth to countless Tao. In the Tao of Heaven and Earth, Qian is Heaven, Kun is Earth, Zhen is Thunder, Xun is Wind, Kan is Water, Li is Fire, Gen is Mountain, and Dui is Lake."

Zhou Yan thought for a moment then began to explain.

Hearing Zhou Yan’s words, Hou Yan, Hou Wanxiao, and numerous Elders also flew over.

The foundational Arrays had been completed, now only waiting to be combined, connected to the Grand Array, and activated.

Seeing the people arrive, Zhou Yan nodded towards them slightly, then continued, "The Tao is as profound as a world unto itself; thus, having just the Tao of Heaven and Earth is not enough.

On the path of a Cultivator, Qian is the father, Kun the mother, Zhen the eldest son, Xun the eldest daughter, Kan the middle son, Li the middle daughter, Gen the youngest son, Dui the youngest daughter; in the path of Spiritual Beasts, Qian is the Horse, Kun the Ox, Zhen the Dragon, Xun the Chicken, Kan the Pig, Li the Pheasant, Gen the Dog, Dui the Sheep...

Physically, Qian is the head, Kun the belly, Zhen the feet, Xun the thighs, Kan the ears, Li the eyes, Gen the hands, Dui the mouth."

Zhou Yan outlined the grand scheme of matching the eight trigrams with the Nine Palaces and then sighed, "The trigrams intersect, the past follows, the future opposes, hence the reversal of counts is also called ’The Tao.’

Thunder to animate it, wind to scatter it, rain to moisten it, sun to glorify it, Gen to halt it, Dui to delight it, Qian to govern it, Kun to conceal it.

The Emperor emerges from Zhen..."

"Thus, no matter a hundred ploys from the enemy, a thousand Divine Skills, ten thousand Supreme Paths, this Grand Array has a million countermeasures—indeed, unless the enemy dies, the Array will not break!"

The might of this Array roused everyone’s blood to the boil, filled with heroic fervor.

At this moment, everyone present looked at Zhou Yan with a mix of reverence and fiery gazes, and little Chen was especially excited, proud to have such a Master!

Zhou Yan had explained the characteristics of the Array so these people would understand and be able to move well within it in the future.

Once Hou Yan and others had grasped the capabilities of this Ancient Array, Zhou Yan began to connect it.

At that moment, Heaven and Earth seemed to shake, emitting a fearsome aura.

As the Ancient Array gradually connected, the world seemed on the brink of Destruction; this terrifying power made even the numerous Cultivators of the Emperor Sword Lineage shiver with cold sweat.

It wasn’t that they feared death, but the sheer oppressive force was far too terrifying!

Under such pressure, inevitably, some Cultivators could not withstand it and began to vomit blood.

Consequently, powerful figures like Elder Wan finally intervened.

With a wave of his hand, he cast an ancient Sword Illusion Realm over the area, shielding those Cultivators who could not withstand the pressure from any risk to their lives.

For if even their own people could not endure it, how much less so any outsiders facing many times this pressure?

The power was unimaginable.

"Boom!"

Heaven and Earth changed color, the ground split open, and an ancient palace emerged from beneath the earth—the previously sealed core of the Emperor Sword Lineage, the foundation of the Array.

After the ancient Tao Palace appeared, the clouds in all directions stirred, Zhou Yan stood in the Void, suddenly drawing on boundless energy, casting an ancient Sword Intent that connected to the four directions of the eight trigram Array.

Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, Qian and Kun, negation and affirmation.

Four Sword Arrays suddenly connected around the Tao Palace as the center, forming an array like the Major Star Formation!

Zhou Yan stood atop the Tao Palace, as sacred and inviolable as a Divine, controlling the Heaven and Earth Array with his gestures, striking awe like an extraordinary Emperor!

At this moment, the array of the Emperor Sword Lineage was finally complete!

The original Sealing Ancient Array had instead turned into a Protective Array.

The original Feixue Cold Ice Cave, a hidden Desolate Land, now shed its veil of mystery and emerged like a pillar of light, bursting skyward and illuminating the universe.

It appeared within the Ancient Tomb Mountain like the City of No Tears, now visible to the naked eye.

The beauty of all life, distinct and striking amidst the pure white snow.

Fearsome it was for any Cultivator who came to the Feixue Cold Ice Cave, to see at first glance the thriving life in this land of death.

This was emergence, but it also meant disturbance.

Yet this was also the pursuit of the Emperor Sword Wuji lineage, and they were prepared for the harsh changes from the outside world.

...

Outside the Feixue Cold Ice Cave, the land was covered with flying snow, transforming Heaven and Earth into a silver furnace.

"Brother Zhou, now that our lineage’s Heaven and Earth Restriction has been opened, many disciples hope you could stay longer. However, you choose to leave, and I feel ashamed that besides some Soul Crystals, Cultivation Resources, and some Spirit Armor, I hardly know how..."

Hou Yan stood in the snow, lamenting.

In his hand was a Qiankun Ring, a top-grade Spirit Level Qiankun Ring, containing a series of valuable resources he had prepared.

Yet, to him, these treasures could not compare to a ten-thousandth of Zhou Yan’s grace.

"Brother Hou, between us, why bother with these formalities? Your people have settled, and my task is completed. Seeing little Chenchen stable in his Cultivation is more rewarding than any recompense."

Zhou Yan interrupted Hou Yan, asking him not to be so formal.

At the same time, he took the ring, scanned it with his Spiritual Sense, took a set of Artifact Refining Material and some Elixirs, and returned the ring, saying, "Brother, you even quietly hid a Soul Device inside! This Soul Device is invaluable to the Emperor Sword Lineage, it’s wasted on me, let it all stay for Chenchen.

This set of Artifact Refining Material will allow me to refine a top-grade Spirit Level sword and a set of top-grade Spirit Level Combat Armor, so I’ll take them without hesitation."

Zhou Yan spoke earnestly.

Hou Yan was stunned, seeing Zhou Yan’s clear and determined gaze, his lips moved but he couldn’t say anything.

After a moment of contemplation, he firmly patted Zhou Yan’s shoulder, saying, "Half a year from now, our Emperor Sword Lineage will rally to Guang Han Hall to support you! If you face difficulties during your journey from Li Family, send a message in this token!"

Hou Yan said, pulling out a green jade token.

This token was delightfully green, crystal clear, and pure - clearly top-grade Spirit Jade.

But the Jade wasn’t the essence, it was the soul essence within it that mattered—it was a Soul Jade!

Using this item, it could temporarily release the soul, manifesting in the Soul Jade within a short time.

Hou Yan offered this, so at a crucial moment, Zhou Yan could summon Hou Yan’s soul from the Soul Jade!

This Soul Jade entrusted with his Lifebound Soul, given away, was like giving away his life because if someone malicious manipulated it, extracting a strand of Lifebound Soul from the Jade to refine, then Hou Yan would become Zhou Yan’s puppet!

This realization profoundly moved Zhou Yan, finally understanding the depth of Hou Yan’s trust in him.

"Brother, you..."

"Keep it, although you have your Path of Invincibility, which others shouldn’t interfere with, sometimes, judging one’s capability is necessary. The Path of Invincibility isn’t about recklessness, disregarding everything, but about having an invincible mental state and firm beliefs, so we need not cling too much to formality.

I give this to you as one of your trump cards! When chaos comes, conflicts abound. When needed, even if facing a stronger than Sword Soul Realm in the Void Realm, I can aid you with one strike to deter the world!"

Hou Yan spoke solemnly.

It was his first time speaking like this.

Zhou Yan’s heart trembled, he reached out and patted Hou Yan’s shoulder, all was said without words.

...

The mountain wind blew gently, spreading a purple mist that brought tranquility to one’s heart.

Here was the edge of the Purple Mist Sea.

After leaving the Feixue Cold Ice Cave, Zhou Yan traveled by Sword Flight to this place.

Since the Emperor Sword Wuji lineage had just opened the sealing, many matters needed tending, so Zhou Yan didn’t allow those people to send him off, choosing to leave alone.

He didn’t tell Chenchen when leaving, as he didn’t want to see Chenchen’s tear-filled eyes.

"Little brat, this Elder has waited for you for thirteen days, you’ve finally come out! Hurry over, and follow this Elder to meet our Qiankun Lineage’s Young Master!"

As Zhou Yan was observing the Tao-like purple aura in the Purple Mist Sea, suddenly, an old woman’s commanding voice rang out.

It was an imperious, commanding tone!