Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 235 - 118: Youth Fades to White Hair

Chapter 235: Chapter 118: Youth Fades to White Hair

A strand of light appeared in Zhou Yan’s eyes; he finally awoke.

Surrounding his body, there wasn’t the pressure of ruins as he had thought, nor was he underground or buried in the wilderness as he had imagined.

At this moment, he was within a light screen, a screen like a protective circle, like a bubble. It seemed to flicker constantly, yet it was incredibly resilient, protecting him thoroughly.

Zhou Yan felt that his body held endless potential, an inexhaustible energy.

This body had been reforged, refined with the Primordial Magnetic Pole Light.

The Soul-level Battle Armor and long sword he was wearing had also been reforged. Although they were still the same grade, now, just a whiff of life energy could suppress a strong cultivator at the Sword Spirit Realm.

Not only that, Zhou Yan also felt that his realm in the Sword Spirit Three Heavens had reached a peak level, where if he realized one Tao of the Heavenly Dao, he could begin to condense the Sword Soul.

Sword Spirit Three Heavens, a combat power nearing Perfection, measuring up to, if not surpassing, the fighters of the Sword Soul Three Heavens.

Sword Spirit, Sword Soul, Sword Energy.

This was the gap between two major realms; his combat power had finally broken six!

This was a matter worth celebrating. Any cultivator who could reach such a realm in their twenties would rightly be called the greatest talent in the world, and no one would complain or feel alienated, no matter how arrogant or domineering that person might be.

This was the gift of being the number one talent in the world!

But Zhou Yan felt not a trace of excitement; on the contrary, he was in great pain.

Because this light screen was left by his master, his master was already at the end of his rope, completely gone, yet still left behind such a protective barrier—an unyielding guard.

If he had been excellent enough, the master would not have departed. Even if he did depart, he would not die unappeased, still trying his best to guard him until the end.

Zhou Yan’s body shivered; he reached out and gently stroked the light screen. The pale light screen, like a bright bubble, cracked as soon as he touched it, the resilient light screen suddenly shattered.

Like a bursting bubble, or a shattered dream.

With the light screen gone, Zhou Yan’s heart twitched with anguish.

At that time, following the collapse of the screen, an almost non-existent weak silhouette appeared. This silhouette wasn’t real, just an imprint of information.

The imprint recorded his master’s final words.

"Yan’er, when you see this, the master will have forever disappeared.

Do not be sad. The master had actually long been dead, leaving behind this residual soul to ensure that the Primordial Magnetic Pole Light I left for you wouldn’t be taken by enemies.

Saying so, to give you two choices, was indeed just to deceive you.

...

The master also left behind ten Fist Intents for you, capable of shattering the void, but with severe consequences, so use them sparingly.

Finally, no more sadness or sorrow. Life and Death are determined; you must quickly grow stronger. The Nine Origin Reincarnation is about to begin. With the master’s life energy in you, the strong will see you as me, and the danger will be even greater.

However, for now, the master has left you a way out. You have learned the master’s Heart of Nature and Xingyi Tao, condensed the Origin of the Primordial Magnetic Pole Light Sword Spirit. Combined with the Undying Rebirth Technique, your soul may...

In the future, if you encounter the Primordial Magnetic Pole Light, you will be able to sense it—a first-class rarity in the world, to be treasured.

..."

The master left a lot of information, as well as many explanations, and eventually, the energy array holding this residual information could no longer contain it all.

With regret, the light screen vanished, and the last few messages left by the master dissipated like smoke.

Zhou Yan stood in the ruins that had been leveled, a desolate figure alone in the windy hollow that once was a hill, facing the endless desolation.

Like his current mood, desolate and painful.

"Master, I will reach the Void Nine Realm, go to Earth, and save your suffering wife, my Master’s Lady Lin Yuxi. If possible, I will allow your daughter to live a life carefree and filled with joy."

"Master, I will also become stronger, for Yanyan’s sake."

"Master, you fell here, yet I can’t erect a monument for you in this place, because this filthy world doesn’t deserve it! When I return to Earth, disciple will erect a monument for you then, to inscribe the story of your life."

...

Zhou Yan stood there for a long time, a solitary figure like a lonely crane. Finally, he knelt down again and kowtowed heavily three times toward the ruins.

His strength was immense, yet he didn’t use energy to protect himself; as he knocked his head down three times, the ground collapsed inward, the kicked-up dust covering his shiny Combat Armor.

He, covered in dust, with hair black as night—his soul and body now fully bonded in that moment—could no longer bear the endless pain and turned completely white.

White hair like snow, with a breeze blowing, beneath the pale and dreadful moonlight, on his handsome face, two trails of tears formed.

These were, his last tears.

From now on, he would only bleed, never shed tears again.

He lifted the Broken Worry Sword and walked step by step out of that place. Under the cold moonlight, his lonely figure, that long, thin, and drawn-out shadow, looked so solitary.

...

Battle Sky Restaurant.

Drinking alcohol, his body numbed as was his spirit.