Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 268 - 146: Extinction? Inheritance?

Chapter 268: Chapter 146: Extinction? Inheritance?

Zhuge Wuwei’s words, I do not know whether they were deliberate or inadvertent.

But in any case, Zhou Yan would not ponder over them in his heart anymore. Because his thoughts could only take place within the Purple Flame Void.

It was not that he was being overly clever, for even if the existence of Yanyan became known to others, even if a void such as the Purple Flame Void became known to others, nobody could possibly know what the situation inside the Purple Flame Void was or what would happen there.

On this point, Zhou Yan was very certain.

Moreover, Zhou Yan was even more certain that before his master truly passed away, the secrets of the Purple Flame Void were not known to anyone.

After his master’s death, the vast majority of his thinking actually took place within the Purple Flame Void.

Zhuge Wuwei said that a few decades of wisdom could not surpass the wisdom of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years, and this was true, but Zhou Yan did not really have just a few years of wisdom. The time within the Spiritual Lotus Secret Realm was already somewhat special, and Zhou Yan could not recall how many years had passed there.

Once one entered the state of Enlightenment within the Purple Flame Void, the change in time would also change, becoming different. Furthermore, Zhou Yan possessed nearly all of his master’s memories, so on the accumulation of wisdom, he was already not inferior to those people.

But these were things Zhuge Wuwei could not possibly know.

Because he did not know, Zhuge Wuwei’s judgments would be mistaken.

To Zhou Yan, this error seemed quite apparent. However, from Zhuge Chunqiu’s judgment, it actually appeared very logical.

Nonetheless, Zhou Yan would not divulge these matters. As long as he understood that he was not completely passive in everything, that was already enough.

"Zhou Lingzhe, in the City of No Tears, if possible, prioritize your survival above all else. It’s still that same idea; everything else is not as important as you think," Zhuge Wuwei, having come back to his senses, reminded once again.

This young yet aged man was definitely not one to speak much, because often those who calculate the Heavenly Mechanism speak too much, and they die all the quicker.

But this sentence from Zhuge Wuwei was already the third repetition; this was the third reminder.

Zhou Yan knew that such reminders would result in a certain backlash for Zhuge Wuwei himself, yet he still spoke, which was sufficient proof that even if everything else was a lie, this point at least was harmless.

Of course, surviving was indeed the most important thing because only by living could one do anything else.

"I understand, thank you for the Sect Master’s guidance. I, Zhou Yan, will remember this kindness."

Zhou Yan answered earnestly.

Regardless of whether the other’s answer was right or wrong, at least, the other had tried his best. Zhou Yan could feel this, so he showed Zhuge Wuwei the utmost respect.

"This is also what I owe you. You need not keep it in mind; doing so makes me feel ashamed. I hope that you can make use of your three chances."

Zhuge Wuwei sighed slightly; some things he chose not to continue saying, and instead, his figure gradually faded away not far in front of Zhou Yan.

The Void rippled, the surroundings subtly changed, but Zhuge Wuwei did not reappear.

Zhou Yan stood still for a moment before he descended Tianji Mountain alone.

...

The view from the mountaintop was beautiful, but only a few ever stood at the summit.

To those below the mountain, the people standing at the top became their landscape.

At this time, Zhou Yan knew that invisibly, he had already become a part of the landscape in the hearts of many genius disciples of Tianji Mountain.

Below the mountain, the air currents remained chaotic. In the same spot as before, the white-robed, feathered Zhuge Jiayue silently waited for Zhou Yan’s arrival.

As Zhou Yan flew down, she immediately came forward to greet him, saying respectfully, "Zhou Lingzhe, the Sect Master has already instructed me to lead you to the Heavenly Mechanism Ancient Array and help you open the path back."

"Isn’t Mr. Zhuge Chunqiu returning?"

Zhou Yan asked.

"He has had an epiphany and will no longer go to the City of No Tears. The Life Tribulation he faced has already passed one stage. After sending you off, Tianji Mountain will also be temporarily sealed for a while. The Sect Master said that if there is a chance, you and Zhuge Guyan can settle your affairs yourselves."

The feathered lady Jiayue spoke sincerely.

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "Let’s go."

"Yes."

Zhuge Jiayue responded very respectfully and humbly.

With her strength and status, she really did not need to be so. But it seemed that the more contact she had with Zhou Yan, the more she felt fear and respect, as if she was struggling to suppress the urge to show even more respect, which was causing her great pressure.

She led Zhou Yan forward, but she continually kept that respectful distance, executing the etiquette to perfection.

"You must be above the Second Transformation, right? Why be so overly cautious?"

Zhou Yan was silent for a long while before he finally asked.

He did not initially want to ask, but on a whim, he suddenly wanted to, and so he did.

"Zhou Lingzhe, no matter what realm Jiayue has reached, it’s only proper to respect you... Our Tianji Mountain, when faced with a Cultivator whose future cannot be calculated, will show utmost reverence. Among them, there are two who are particularly unpredictable, with one almost completely incalculable."

This person, is you, Zhou Lingzhe. And the other is someone you know, and also a woman who is infatuated with you—but I cannot say her name right now."

Zhuge Jiayue fluttered her beautifully radiant white wings with a rainbow halo, captivatingly enchanting and bewitching, just like her voice, charming and beautiful.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan turned to glance at Zhuge Jiayue, his gaze lingering on her beautiful face for a moment before he said, "The person you’re talking about, it shouldn’t be Zhou Lingyi."

"Mm, it’s not her. Her fate is also quite peculiar, but it’s within controllable limits. As for who it is, I can’t say, and Zhou Lingzhe, you shouldn’t guess either. Even if you did guess, it’s actually pointless and would only make your journey ahead even more difficult due to unnecessary concerns," Zhuge Jiayue spoke softly.

Her words even carried a hint of consolation.

Zhou Yan understood and could feel it.

He sighed deeply and said, "Indeed, what does it matter if I guessed it? If I’m not even qualified to be a pawn, the more I know, the more troubles arise."

Zhuge Jiayue nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of shared experience, "Isn’t it the same for the Tianji Clan? It seems like everything is seen through as mere illusion, but this doesn’t place the Tianji Clan above others; instead, it only allows us to survive in the crevices.

If it weren’t for the Sect Master’s immense strength, we would have already become abandoned children. Today’s Tianji Clan is no longer as glorious as before, which is why the Sect Master exiled his own son to the outside world, to fend for himself in life and death..."

"Your Uncle Gu Yan, the people around him, were actually all killed by the Sect Master himself. Gu Yan’s lover, his Daoist couple, his family, were in fact all destroyed by the Sect Master.

Only through deep-seated pain can one develop the powerful will to proceed. Without the harsh tempering of heartlessness, one cannot withstand the world’s development.

So, in reality, we are just a group of pitiful people."

At this moment, Zhuge Jiayue became somewhat sentimental, pouring out many words.

These words did not resonate with Zhou Yan, instead raising some doubts in his mind, questioning the purpose of Zhuge Jiayue speaking so openly.

Meeting only once, why would one bare one’s heart like this?

"Jiayue Fairy, I do not understand your intentions. Could there possibly be a role for Zhou Yan to serve you?"

Zhou Yan frowned slightly.

A woman lamenting to a man—this man must be cautious.

"Zhou Lingzhe, Jiayue means no harm, just stating a wish. If one day the Tianji lineage were to perish, Jiayue hopes that Zhou Lingzhe would carry on the Tianji Clan’s inheritance and pass it on to someone capable."

Zhuge Jiayue made a rather cryptic statement.

"Tianji lineage, perished? Inheritance?"

Zhou Yan was visibly shaken, filled with doubts. Until now, what was this all about? He knew nothing of any Tianji Clan inheritance.

Not knowing anything, how could he talk about inheritance?!

"Yes, perished, inheritance. Despite being favored by Heavenly Dao, we are also suspected of outshining our superiors, and this is the unchanging truth of Emperor’s way. When things reach their peak, they decline, and everything must revert. Being extremely favored by Heavenly Dao is the moment of being abandoned by it."

Zhuge Jiayue’s words made Zhou Yan’s heart lurch.

His eyelids twitched a few times, because these words seemed to be about the Tianji lineage, but, the implications of what Zhuge Jiayue said were far from simple.

Being extremely favored by Heavenly Dao to the point of abandonment, everything must revert... What if everything was reversed? If one were abandoned and suppressed by Heavenly Dao to the extreme, could it be ’great love is silent’? Could it transform into a powerful favor?

Zhou Yan felt that this point was the real purpose of Zhuge Jiayue, not anything else.

Clearly, Zhuge Jiayue was helping him. Or perhaps, Zhuge Jiayue had her own little consideration, or maybe, Zhuge Jiayue had received instructions from Zhuge Wuwei.

But regardless of which it was, Zhou Yan felt that this trip was truly worthwhile.

The Tao of enlightenment can be difficult or simple depending on the type of enlightenment. If one hasn’t attained it, then there is no enlightenment. But if one has, then complete understanding is achieved.

With Zhuge Jiayue’s guidance, Zhou Yan had had an insight, while Zhuge Jiayue seemed as if she knew nothing, not mentioning it further and instead falling into a mysterious silence.

After a long while, Zhuge Jiayue added, "Zhou Lingzhe, would you be willing to grant Jiayue this somewhat presumptuous request?"

"If I succeed in condensing the Sword Soul without dying, then I agree," Zhou Yan responded, gazing deeply at Zhuge Jiayue and nodding in acceptance of the request.

"Mm, Zhou Lingzhe, a lucky person will always have Heaven’s blessing, you will surely succeed."

Zhuge Jiayue breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a rare smile.

Her beauty shone even when unsmiling, but when she did smile, it seemed as though the world changed, becoming harmonious and beautiful.

Zhou Yan finally understood what ’a smile that topples cities’ meant, because this phrase was insufficient to portray Zhuge Jiayue’s beauty at this moment. Her beauty, blending perfectly with Heavenly Dao, made Heaven and Earth lose their luster.

But this beauty could not shake Zhou Yan’s heart.

Even if Zhou Yan could gaze continually at her wings, her full and proud breasts, he felt no stirring in his heart.

"When you smile, you are very beautiful. If none of these events had happened, I might have been captivated by you."

Zhou Yan sighed, feeling an aged sentimentality.