Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 245 - 125 Heavenly Mountain Sacred Land

Chapter 245: Chapter 125 Heavenly Mountain Sacred Land

Some people, some things, personal experiences can inspire trust.

Unreserved trust.

As for that man in colorful clothes, Zhou Yan felt a sense of familiarity, but when he showed his face, Zhou Yan still froze momentarily, his mind going blank for an instant.

This person, Zhou Yan could confide in, could even give a lot for him, but he hadn’t expected that now, this person stood at such a vantage point.

Like an unreal dream, this world was changing too swiftly.

In the instant Zhou Yan froze, the man in colorful clothes turned again and transformed into a flying crane of light, about to disappear.

Perhaps to anyone else, the turn of his body seemed perfectly ordinary, but that look he cast outside the Sword Illusion Realm, that moment frozen in time, remained fresh in Zhou Yan’s memory.

Zhou Yan felt a flash of shock in his heart, and then a moment of doubt.

What was this person’s purpose in doing this? Could it be a covert reminder to him?

Possible? Or impossible?

Zhou Yan was somewhat bewildered.

When they first parted, this person hadn’t even reached the Sword Heart Realm, so how could he have experienced such growth in such a short time?

And that personality... it was entirely unlike the amiable person from his memories.

Was it possible that he was wearing a false mask even when talking to that woman in colorful clothes? Was there a need for such a thing?

Or was it intentional, to let himself see his face, to make him think more?

As Zhou Yan pondered, his heart grew more confused.

Since parting with Uncle Gu Yan, not much time had passed, just a few short years, and there had been no news of Gu Yan since then.

He had vanished from the world.

Now he appeared again, seen within the Sword Illusion Realm, both dashing and profoundly mysterious.

When he spoke, he always kept his hands behind his back, bearing an ineffable and profound aura, like that of a truly important figure.

Such transformation was shocking.

Zhou Yan wasn’t incapable of accepting the unimaginable, but certain events were so sudden that they were deeply jarring.

Despite the initial shock, Zhou Yan quickly regained his composure.

Gu Xi hadn’t told him about her father, and he hadn’t asked. But seeing her somewhat haggard appearance, and Xiao Zhan, who was also once unfindable but now followed his own father, if Gu Yan wasn’t there, it would explain everything.

Zhou Lingyi could be someone else’s Ding Furnace, so some people might awaken some memories at the onset of the Nine Origin Reincarnation—memories sealed away by powerful beings who deliberately entered Reincarnation.

This... was perhaps the only answer that could explain the problem.

Knowing this was because Zhou Yan, having amalgamated all of his Master’s knowledge, was far more insightful than the average Cultivator.

He took a deep breath, calming his emotions, his expression still as placid as an ancient well, without a hint of emotion showing.

"You... saw it, right? This Sword Illusion Realm was recorded by our Domain Master, and won’t be discovered by them. However, because their powers are great, the image turned out a bit blurry and hard to see clearly."

Feng Yunyan couldn’t help but explain.

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "I understand now, so you can lead the way."

Feng Yunyan smiled wryly, sighing, "Alright."

After speaking, she retracted the Sword Illusion Realm, but as she did, Zhou Yan still caught the moment that colorful-clothed woman turned, his eyes also catching her as she tried to persuade Gu Yan to stay.

But the man in the colorful clothes, turning into the light, just shook his head, then disappeared without hesitation.

The woman’s brow furrowed, her face showing traces of unforgettable worry, then she seemed contemplative, looking toward this side of the Sword Illusion Realm as if instinctively sensing someone peering at her, a gesture that might simply be instinct.

But in that moment she looked, Feng Yunyan’s hand trembled ever so slightly, then swiftly concealed it and stored away the Sword Illusion Realm.

Feng Yunyan might believe that Zhou Yan hadn’t seen anything, but Zhou Yan’s soul, now containing his Master’s soul aura, already partly not of this world, how could it not sense even this?

In that moment, Zhou Yan had seen the woman’s face, and just like the initial familiarity, this woman too was an acquaintance of Zhou Yan’s, once behaving somewhat like a Flower Fanatic toward him—Mo Yuchou.

Spiritualist Mo Yuchou, who had once shown the strength of the Double Sword Soul Realm, had a past encounter with Spiritualist Feng Xia.

Within the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City, dressed in green Spirit Armor, Spiritualist Feng Xia worshiped Ji Wudao of the Ji Family to the extreme, mocking Zhou Yan and was killed by him. Meanwhile Spiritualist Mo Yuchou, from beginning to end, seemed to harbor a fondness for him, Zhou Yan, a feeling he could sense himself.

Yet now, seeing this scene, Zhou Yan couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation.

This must be real, because the instincts of looking at the observer and the spontaneous motion couldn’t be faked.

But Gu Yan had said, this woman had appeared in many forms... then... was her current appearance true or false?

And what was her true appearance?

Likewise, the Gu Yan who appeared here, was he real or fake?

You should know, arranging this Sword Illusion Realm for Zhou Yan to observe at this moment might also be a part of someone else’s plan. Perhaps, those who already understand Zhou Yan would deliberately create an opportunity for Feng Yunyan to present the Sword Illusion Realm to him.

Even the way Feng Yunyan deliberately acted covert and evasive in the last moment could be a method to intentionally convey some kind of message to Zhou Yan.

This was not outside the realm of possibility.

You should know, at his current Realm, such a slight move, if one were truly intent on it, how could Zhou Yan not sense it?

Regardless of the outcome, Zhou Yan appeared very indifferent, as if he saw nothing, paying no attention, nor displaying any abnormality.

In fact, he began to analyze every possible scenario that might occur and the corresponding strategies he would need to address them.

Among these strategies, which were the ones he must undertake so that at least when his enemies made their move, he wouldn’t seem so passive?

Just like this time, he had assumed the form of a Swallow in the void, yet Feng Yunyan grasped his presence in no time and was waiting for him along the way.

This point alone compelled Zhou Yan to take the situation seriously.

Although he was well aware that all of this might be a setup, there was one thing Zhou Yan could be certain of: these people feared him.

Knowing this was enough. Power that made the enemy wary was the most advantageous factor among the many unfavorable ones against him.

...

Feng Yunyan controlled the Flying Crane at an extremely fast speed, seemingly venting the humiliation brought upon her by Zhou Yan’s earlier abuse at a breakneck pace.

But no matter how fast she flew, Zhou Yan followed unhurriedly by her side, which inexplicably irritated her.

She felt a vague restlessness in her heart, and this made her somewhat dissatisfied with everything about Heavenly Mountain Prefecture.

So, after taking a deep breath, she spurred her Essence Blood and doubled her speed.

Speed was an aspect she was very confident in, believing that Zhou Yan, a Sword Spirit Three Heavens, would be unable to keep up and then feel embarrassed.

Yet before her thought could take shape, Zhou Yan had already surpassed her. He left her behind quickly and somewhat seriously said, "You could actually go faster. There’s no need to slow down on my account. Though my body is nearly broken, I can still handle this pace."

Hearing Zhou Yan’s ’earnest’ words, Feng Yunyan almost spit blood, but she bit back her anger. She then pushed a bit more of her Essence Blood, matching Zhou Yan’s pace by reaching her own limit.

Throughout the journey, her heart was filled with resentment, and she had no energy left to contemplate the unusual, shameful sensation lingering on her chest, where Zhou Yan had carelessly touched.

This continued until she suddenly reached the core domain of Heavenly Mountain Prefecture, only then she realized the importance of what she had been neglecting.

But by now, she had no inclination to say anything. Hence, she simply gave Zhou Yan a complex look and turned to enter the domain’s mountain range.

Zhou Yan silently followed her into the mountains as well, soon witnessing the spectacular flow of streams and the Sword Spirit lights, conjured by other Cultivators, flying towards them continuously.

Once inside the Ancient Array in the mountains, the environment changed fundamentally as if they had arrived in another world.

Here the mountains were clear and the water pure, with spring reigning all year round.

At this time, many Cultivators had already emerged.

A woman in white clothes like snow, and another in colorful clothes like a butterfly, flew over first.

Behind them, a lot of Cultivators familiar to Zhou Yan also gradually appeared.

Seeing the woman in white, Feng Yunyan immediately bowed respectfully, but was gently stopped by the woman’s gesture.

"You may step back."

The woman spoke, her teeth as white and beautiful as shining Spirit Jade.

"Yes."

Feng Yunyan respectfully responded and then flew downwards.

"Zhou Lingzhe, welcome to our sub-domain of the Snow Domain under the command of Heavenly Mountain Prefecture—Heavenly Mountain Sacred Land."

"This is Fairy Cai Xuan from the lineage of Emperor Sword Wuji, who has come as a guest. The rest are your old acquaintances."

The woman in white clothes like snow introduced gently, her calm and graceful tone gave her an air of purity like snow and an ethereal coolness. As she spoke, fragrant winds wafted through, with the faint glimmer of auspicious light and mystical Anomalies flickering in the air.

Zhou Yan simply nodded without directly answering.

The woman in white clothes like snow seemed quite enthusiastic, moving a few steps closer to Zhou Yan. Around him, the opposing aura from the Heavenly Dao naturally manifested, weakening the powerful aura and light of her Tao.

She was taken aback, then exclaimed with surprise, "Zhou Lingzhe has indeed extraordinary talent. Now it even seems that the Heavenly Dao has begun to resist you. Does this mean you are starting to condense your Sword Soul?"

Her question caught the attention of everyone around her, including Fairy Cai Xuan and others behind her, who all showed shocked expressions.

However, after the shock, their gazes more or less revealed pity, since evidently no one believed Zhou Yan could succeed.

"Quite ordinary really, my body’s destruction hasn’t yet stabilized. To talk about condensing a Sword Soul is still far-fetched, although I am flattered by your high regard. However, Domain Master should know of some friction between me and these friends here. Now, why would you bring them to meet me?"

Zhou Yan’s voice was somewhat cold, as he glanced over those behind the woman in the white clothes like snow. Chen Tianjian, Lie Wanqing, Yang Qingtan, Ji Shuitian, Li Cangsheng, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Qianqian, and even Zhou Ying, along with past acquaintances like Zhou Momo, Zhou Bi, and Zhou Yao, were all present.

Zhou Yan’s gaze swept over their faces, which displayed a range of complex expressions, but most looked extremely troubled.

It seemed everyone was aware of a big secret that he, Zhou Yan, didn’t know.

It seemed, to them, everything was done out of necessity.

Of course, there was one exception, and that was Li Cangsheng. The moment he saw Zhou Yan, the murderous intent in his eyes was on full display, unreserved.