Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 287 - 162: Ruthless yet Compassionate

Chapter 287: Chapter 162: Ruthless yet Compassionate

Suddenly, all the eyes that were originally fixed on Zhou Yan were now turned toward Fairy Cai Xuan.

Some had already gathered their Bloodline Power, striving to see the real situation, while others had even mustered all their energy, prepared to face the sudden anomaly.

Zhou Gucheng was also somewhat surprised at this time, looking at this scene with a sense of doubt, as if he had never anticipated that Cai Ling would die in such a manner.

By Zhou Gucheng’s side were Zhou Ying and Zhou Qianqian, who were expressing immense despair and confusion, and they too had a few shades of bewilderment.

As they looked at Fairy Cai Xuan, they also did not know what exactly had happened.

However, the nearly mad roar of the Ancient Evil Spirit interrupted everyone’s surprise, fear, chaos, and various mental states.

Perhaps, Zhou Yan was the only one in the field who showed no abnormality,

because he was always calm, as if he had already anticipated even this scene.

"Zhou Yan, you killed Cai Ling, I will never let you off the hook! Aaahhhhhh—"

The Ancient Evil Spirit had gone mad; the fall of Cai Ling gave it an unimaginable shock.

No one could have thought that an Evil Spirit could care so much for a woman.

But this Ancient Evil Spirit had managed to do just that.

The Evil Spirit was already terrifying and possessing the Realm of Void Seventh; now, its hysterical state had wholly surpassed imagination.

Nearly everyone could foresee the terrible disaster that was to come!

"It was you who proposed that she descend into Cai Xuan’s body, what does this have to do with me? However, I’m not one to shrink under numerous debts, adding one more to my account doesn’t bother me."

Zhou Yan saw the Ancient Evil Spirit going mad but was indifferent, simply replying calmly.

"Ah—It’s all your fault, you go die!"

The Ancient Evil Spirit roared, completely crazed, holding nothing back as it lashed out at Zhou Yan.

Even at the moment of attack, it stirred up a black aura.

The roaring and tumbling black aura, with the force of clouds and mountains, was fully manifested in an instant, seemingly intending to utterly annihilate Zhou Yan!

This kind of overwhelmingly invincible attack was something no one present could block.

But Zhou Yan didn’t even try to defend himself; he serenely watched the attack come, as if he were certain he would not die!

In that instant, the violently twitching silhouette of the approaching Ancient Evil Spirit suddenly burst like a pitch-black bubble, and its body rapidly began to vaporize with a terrifying speed.

Its dark Soul struggled hard, and in its voided eyes, it seemed to suddenly see an exceedingly terrible horror, thereby becoming frightened, stunned with dread, desperate, resentful, and angry.

However, this kind of expression was only for a moment.

Then, just like Cai Ling, this Void Seventh Realm Ancient Evil Spirit inexplicably died.

No one knew what had happened.

Only Zhou Yan, his pupils subtly contracted for a moment during that instant, he saw an energy that transcended this dimension.

That strength, cutting down lives as if mowing grass, completely disregarded many rules and even many realms.

This method was immensely powerful and terrifying.

Killing arbitrarily within the Void, assassinating invisibly.

All cultivators were compelled to simultaneously turn pale with unease.

Now, there were no more geniuses left here, for all the geniuses were like lambs to the slaughter, completely powerless against such a killing move.

"Another one is dead. It’s about time for you to come out."

Zhou Yan sighed because he could not help but sigh.

In fact, as expected, the changes in this situation were often startling.

Behind Cai Xuan was the lineage of Emperor Sword Wuji.

Cai Xuan did not die, nor was there anything abnormal, but instead, it backfired against the True Self, Cai Ling, turning her into a Void Third Realm master.

This is the Void Body—the stronger the Void Body, the stronger the True Self, but if the True Self could not control the Void Body, then the True Self would be killed by the Void Body.

Cai Xuan had always shown "weakness to the enemy," but at the critical moment, she utilized the energy that transcended dimensions to suppress and kill Cai Ling, thus becoming a real True Self, shaking off the shackles of the Void Body, and henceforth no longer being a Void Body.

However, by choosing this path, it meant that she and Feng Lingqing, Mo Yuchou would be in a death duel.

Because Feng Lingqing and Mo Yuchou, due to the death of the True Self, had also achieved their True Self, but they knew too many secrets of the True Self, so they must die.

Unless Mo Yuchou and Feng Lingqing were willing to voluntarily surrender and become Cai Xuan’s Void Body, only then would there be a chance for them to live.

Nevertheless, Feng Lingqing had already freed herself from these constraints while Cai Ling was alive, thereby not bound to this rule and having no need to be in a death duel with Cai Xuan; but for Mo Yuchou, only these two paths were available.

...

After Zhou Yan finished speaking, a fluctuation occurred in the Void, and then an extremely graceful middle-aged man, carrying a handsome young man, walked out from the Void.

In the Void, a Light Saber appeared next but quickly dimmed. Accompanying the Light Saber, Hou Ling’er also emerged.

Following her was a beautiful woman in white, voluptuous and stunning.

As the saying goes, a woman needs to charm; a devoted heart to family. This beauty, appearing to be in her thirties, was already enchanting and seductive. Now, in her pure white gown, she seemed even more evocatively alluring, making one’s heart surge with a strong desire to conquer her with just one glance.

By contrast to her "seductiveness," the spiritual, ethereal, and saintly Hou Ling’er presented a completely different atmosphere—like an orchid in a secluded valley, a pure lily.

"Zhou Yan, it seems we’ve not come too late; we’ve just made it in time."

Hou Ling’er, upon seeing Zhou Yan, breathed a sigh of relief and said softly.

Zhou Yan, within the Purple Flame Void, felt a chill in his heart, yet showed no emotion, silently observing all the changes unfolding.

This game was growing increasingly complex, yet the more it did, the simpler it actually became.

Because, in any case, the one who ended up succeeding was the one who truly saw through everything, who played everyone into clapping their hands.

Zhou Yan had considered all possibilities. The appearance of Hou Ling’er and Hou Yan and others had crossed his mind, although it seemed unlikely.

Yet now, the improbable had occurred, and Zhou Yan was quickly adjusting his plans.

"You all, have you come for me?"

Zhou Yan looked at Hou Ling’er and the beautiful woman, then glanced at Hou Yan and Hou Tianjian, his gaze seemingly revealing a hint of "enlightenment."

"Qiankun Young Master, Sect Master."

At this moment, Elder Wan left the side of Gongcheng Diewu and others, approaching close to Hou Ling’er and Hou Yan, respectfully bowing first to Hou Ling’er, then to Hou Yan.

This scene undoubtedly showed that Hou Ling’er’s status was even higher than Hou Yan’s.

It also indirectly confirmed that the identity of the Heir was more important than many things—such as kinship, love, or friendship.

"You’ve done well; it’s just that you’ve suffered during this period."

Hou Yan nodded, consoling him.

"This is the duty I should fulfull as an Elder, part of Hou Wanxiao’s responsibilities," Elder Wan declared firmly, without a trace of hesitation.

After he had spoken, Cai Xuan, who had now calmed down, fluttered over with her Colorful Wings, bowed deeply, and respectfully said, "Qiankun Young Master, thank you for saving my life. Sect Master, you’ve also come."

"Yes, go and rest a bit. This suppression of those who think highly of themselves, who are in fact ’True Selves,’ has caused you to suffer. But now you see, Cai Ling and the Evil Spirit Ghost who wished to kill Zhou Yan have finally died."

Hou Ling’er smiled gently and spoke to Cai Xuan.

Cai Xuan nodded and respectfully stood aside, giving space to Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan silently watched Hou Ling’er, the beautiful woman, Hou Yan, and Hou Tianjian, waiting for their response to his question.

"We did come for you, but not entirely for you."

Hou Ling’er’s voice and appearance mostly still resembled Zhou Lingyi’s, but undoubtedly, she was far more exceptional. At this moment, she probably matched even the Holy Daughter Jiang Yuning.

Such excellence could make many male cultivators feel inferior and ashamed.

This is the current Qiankun Young Master—Hou Ling’er, also known as Zhou Lingyi.

"The moment I saw Cai Ling, I knew the situation was severe, so I left immediately. If I didn’t leave, many significant secrets would have been exposed. I was a Void Body incarnated by a soul thread, and even though an enemy to Cai Ling, would have certainly died, possibly losing many secrets because my soul was bound..."

Hou Yan’s voice was filled with much guilt and self-reproach.

"I’m sorry, I’ve always been in hiding, so I couldn’t help you, and many things were beyond my control."

Hou Tianjian also lowered his head, apologizing to Zhou Yan.

However, Zhou Yan, hearing their words, didn’t respond, not out of indifference, but fundamentally ignoring them, not caring anymore.

"The Qiankun Lineage and the Emperor Sword Lineage indeed have irreconcilable conflicts, but that’s not enough to let both sides slaughter each other, letting outsiders benefit from our fight. Thus, I also advocate for joining forces with the Emperor Sword Lineage to try and rescue you.

Of course, this is just a secondary goal, after all... Zhou Yan, you are not that important to me."

Hou Ling’er’s words were always so direct and hard to bear.

But Zhou Yan was used to hearing such words.

Just like when she said, "Why not live a life as an ordinary person, that could be quite blissful too."

That statement was not wrong. If one could choose, a lifetime as an ordinary person is indeed blissful.

Less desire means less suffering.

But understanding is one thing; accepting is another.

"You still speak so directly; it’s just a pity," Zhou Yan said calmly, his expression unchanged.

"What a pity, it hardly matters. So, it’s a pity. We’ve come this time hoping you’ll let the Eternal Spirit hand over the Mingxin Mirror. I need it to inquire about something crucial to myself."

Hou Ling’er’s gaze was beautiful, yet it appeared ruthless.

That mirrored Zhou Yan’s Heartless Sword Dao, which seemed very much alike.

But precisely because they were alike, Zhou Yan knew that behind those ruthless eyes, there actually lay much love.