Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 280 - 155: Many White Bones on the Cultivation Path

Chapter 280: Chapter 155: Many White Bones on the Cultivation Path

Zhou Yan had everything arranged properly, and within the Purple Flame Void, he silently monitored the situation outside.

Outside, the Ancient Evil Spirit had partially broken free from the Array’s constraints and suffered another heavy blow. Nevertheless, it gradually calmed down. Despite the ordeal, it managed to preserve the ’Zhou Yan’ it held captive.

At this point, to avoid unforeseen complications, the Ancient Evil Spirit did not immediately leave the Array. It was unsure if there were other treacherous Ancient Arrays laid outside, which could present challenges even to its capabilities.

Cultivators at no time wished to engage in endless battles against tirelessly working Arrays. Though the Ancient Evil Spirit possessed the power of the Void Seventh, it was equally reluctant to suffer another Ancient Array assault.

Such an attack inflicted tremendous damage on it.

By now, the chaotic and shattered Ancient Array had calmed, and the Ancient Evil Spirit no longer sensed any danger that could threaten it. Thus, it finally stirred up the majority of its energy, invoking dark mists to extract all Essence Blood from the ’Zhou Yan’ it held.

This time, without any mishaps, in merely a moment, the Essence Blood within ’Zhou Yan’ was devoured by the dark mists, and his body turned pitch-black and somewhat shriveled.

At that moment, the vitality of ’Zhou Yan’s’ physical body dwindled to an extreme limit.

Even with his true self inside the Purple Flame Void, Zhou Yan felt an overwhelming sense of terror.

Clearly, had he genuinely been outside, he would not have escaped this fate and would have likely fallen into enemy hands.

Zhou Yan felt some relief, thankful that on such a hopeless path, he had found an additional chance for survival.

And traversing this path, he could now see the beautiful light of dawn ahead.

Zhou Yan controlled his sensing power, maintaining only a faint sliver of Spiritual Sense connected with the Soul Aura of his Split Body, without displaying much else.

After the Ancient Evil Spirit had taken this step, a vast amount of Essence Blood entered its body, and it felt an inexplicable sense of Perfection, as though the Essence Blood was a potent tonic for it.

However, after absorbing the Essence Blood, its joyful expression lasted but a moment before confusion set in.

Its lizard-like face showed a hint of puzzlement, surprise, and bewilderment, as if the benefits of the Bloodline were not as substantial as it had thought.

"Could it be that I have yet to come in contact with the sealing power within the Bloodline, unable to sense the grand energy within? The Emperor Qi Sword Body’s Bloodline should be bound by the shackles of the Heavenly Dao. Why does it feel insipid? Impossible..."

The Ancient Evil Spirit, bewildered and sensing for a while, obtained no results. But this moment of doubt was quickly replaced by the allure of the Bloodline’s energy.

"Indeed, there is the energy of Thunder, the energy of the Void, and... such a powerful ancient sealing force. This Zhou Yan’s origins are indeed extraordinary. However, although the Bloodline has entered my body, I am temporarily unable to refine it because I cannot yet use Flames to surpass the fire imprint within the Bloodline. Without stronger flames, I cannot properly refine the Essence Blood. They were right; it seems I must continue my arduous cultivation."

The Ancient Evil Spirit murmured softly to itself.

Though it spoke, it emitted no sound, simply moving its lips. It appeared unguarded when alone.

But it would not know that even as its lips moved, Zhou Yan sensed everything completely.

And in doing so, it unwittingly exposed many secrets, remaining entirely unaware.

The Ancient Evil Spirit, after carefully sensing the Bloodline and muttering to itself for a moment, pushed aside the excitement in its heart and stepped out of the now-abandoned, utterly destroyed Ancient Array.

Upon emerging, it finally saw all the chaos in the outside world had ceased.

Previously, over two hundred genius Cultivators were alive; now fewer than a hundred survived, the rest having perished in the chaos of the Ancient Array.

As the Ancient Evil Spirit surveyed these people, their gazes also turned to it, becoming strangely uncertain, unsettled by its disheveled appearance.

"Zhou Yan’s Bloodline triggered a countermeasure within the Ancient Array, leading me, carrying him, to suffer extremely fierce attacks. If not for the need to preserve his flesh from destruction, with my power, how could I be so disheveled? Humph!"

Feeling a burning sensation on its face, the Ancient Evil Spirit disliked the unusual stares and, with a deep frown, coldly explained.

As expected, its cold snort made many Cultivators regain their senses. Likely recalling its terrifying Realm, none dared to look at it with those eyes of panic and surprise again.

...

"Elder, may I ask if there’s still hope for Zhou Lingzhe?"

At that moment, Qian Xi unexpectedly asked amidst a group of genius Cultivators.

The Ancient Evil Spirit would generally not deign to answer such questions, but it was different from the other Cultivators.

Its controller could sense that the woman possessed an incredibly terrifying inheritance; thus, it didn’t dare to be overly arrogant and nodded slightly in acknowledgment, saying, "He still has a trace of Essence Blood remaining, but his life force has severely shrunk, and his Qi and blood have been devoured by me, becoming withered. Aside from his intact physical body, his life force has almost vanished.

If there were a Divine Pill or miraculous medicine now, he might still have a chance of revival, but... such things are so rare that even I have only heard of them; you should give up on that thought."

The Ancient Evil Spirit glanced at Qian Xi, then fell silent for a moment before explaining.

"So it is, alas, such a pity for this genius. You were all too hasty, why didn’t you let him try to congeal the Sword Soul?"

Qian Xi sighed, speaking with a hint of melancholy in her voice.

She felt somewhat hollow inside.

Her Master had instructed her that she had some connection with him, that there was a certain... but now Zhou Yan was to fall in such a manner, should she help him?

There was an Unparalleled Divine Medicine; her Master had indeed given her one, but that was the only one. If used, it meant one less life for herself.

Her Master only said she had some connection with him but did not say she must help him. If he couldn’t survive on his own, even if she could save him this time, what about the next? Judging from the situation, he seemed to have incurred many powerful enemies...

At this moment, Qian Xi couldn’t help but waver in her considerations. However, the thought of rescuing Zhou Yan was quickly dismissed for the time being.

"It’s precisely because of his terrifying talent that we dare not attempt it! Perhaps for others, failure is certain, but for Zhou Yan, his inheritance is somewhat special, I don’t know if it’s similar to the Evil King’s, or perhaps even more dreadful. The Evil King killed the first generation’s Emperor Qi Sword Body, it’s hard to guarantee he didn’t leave behind a vast amount of Essence Blood. And that inheritance, having even defeated the Evil King, it’s unimaginable... If that strong entity were to be reborn through Zhou Yan’s body, I fear it would throw Heaven and Earth into chaos."

The Ancient Evil Spirit unexpectedly spoke such words.

Its tone of lamentation was unlike what an Evil Spirit should have.

At that time, everyone’s gaze toward the Evil Spirit changed.

Before, an Evil Spirit was just an Evil Spirit, merely an accumulated energy form of a genius’s Ghost after death. Now, to possess such intellect and tone, it indicated that the Evil Spirit’s wisdom was at Perfection, signifying its Realm was very stable and robust.

That is to say, he was probably more than just a simple Evil Spirit.

It was at this time that Qian Xi and the Cultivators around her could see, this Ancient Evil Spirit might not be such a straightforward character.

Perhaps, even his presence here was part of someone’s deliberate arrangement.

Qian Xi suddenly realized and understood that these people, with their schemes, must have calculated everything concerning Zhou Yan long ago.

Of course, the secret of the Emperor Qi Sword Body, a Constitution unparalleled throughout the ages, would interest even the Supreme Strongmen.

Especially such an Emperor Qi Sword Body at the peak of the Sword Spirit Three Heavens, without any real backing, would undoubtedly be the sweet spot for those top-tier powerhouses researching Bloodline.

Qian Xi understood, so her slightest thought of rescuing Zhou Yan dissipated like smoke.

Coming to this Planet, she had thought about meeting Zhou Yan. Before this, she had learned about him, but she never expected that their meeting would be their final farewell.

She felt a bit hollow inside, but it wasn’t profound. Perhaps what she lamented was merely the fall of such a genius regarded highly by her Master.

She felt a kinship with his sorrow; on the path of Cultivation littered with White Bones, especially the fall of geniuses, it always causes heartache and regret.

In the moment a Cultivator dies, they are neither an enemy nor a friend, merely another sacrifice just like her and all other Cultivators.

The road ahead is long, and as she proceeds, the familiar figures beside her are destined to fall one by one.

Qian Xi’s eyes momentarily held a sorrowful look, but then quickly regained calmness. At this time, she even lost the desire to speak.

At this moment, her interest had waned greatly. Now, perhaps what she perseveres for is just to continue on this path and see the vast opportunities within the City of No Tears.

...

Qian Xi’s mindset was beyond anyone’s comprehension, including the Ancient Evil Spirit’s.

For on Qian Xi, there were items that shielded the Heavenly Mechanism, which was precisely why the Ancient Evil Spirit was so wary of her.

Possessing items that screen against the Heavenly Mechanism meant that one could not become a Void Body or a Puppet, and it indicated a significant background.

Therefore, the Ancient Evil Spirit did not wish to make things difficult for Qian Xi. Although the Void Seventh Realm seemed strong, it was actually very weak. When compared to those true Great Powers, it still falls far too short.