Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 288 - 163 The Second Path

Chapter 288: Chapter 163 The Second Path

The harsher the words, the deeper the wounds, and thus, the feelings in his heart only grew denser.

The deeper the love, the more biting the blame.

There are some things, once understood, are enough; in such environments, in such a world, explicitly stating everything is completely unnecessary.

"If you want it, go and take it. Don’t tell me about it. As for asking, have you forgotten who you are?"

Zhou Yan’s capacity for thought had leaped out of this dimension, which is why he could see so many things with utter clarity, just as if he had a premonition that Cai Ling’s arrival would certainly lead to death.

Thus, He had also discerned Hou Ling’er’s situation at this moment.

He didn’t know whether it was the influence of the Heavenly Dao Rules of this world or because he had comprehended ’dimension’ that he had become transcendent.

In any case, at this moment, he stood at a height unseen by others. He even grasped a certain rule in the unfolding of events because of this.

And for this reason, he knew the situation had become even more complex.

This sensation of stepping out of the chess game allowed Zhou Yan to no longer be shackled, to no longer be a piece controlle at the whim of others.

"I’m telling you, to let you know, you’re not important enough for me to come here specially for you. I’m not like those women who can’t achieve it themselves yet give you hope.

In this way, I’m actually respecting you. As for the ’Mingxin Mirror’... the fact that you can see there’s something wrong with me just proves that I am indeed more confused."

Hou Ling’er said gently.

The words were spoken with much more tenderness, a tenderness that truly touched the heart, creating a fondness that engendered affection.

But Zhou Yan, having experienced much, was no longer moved by these things.

He just looked at Hou Ling’er, his aged face still showing no trace of emotion, his voice already hoarse from bodily decay. He fell silent for a moment, then mused, "I’ve said before, I only walk two paths. The first path is now seemingly impossible, and of course, I don’t want to go down that route either. Because even with my confidence, I can’t possibly outplay those veteran monster-level powerhouses.

So, even if I’ve calculated everything, luring the body seizing person into my body and completing a series of layouts, in the end, when I might succeed, I might still get my body seized and replaced by someone else.

What I’ve seen, what I’ve been through, is forever just the tip of the iceberg."

"No, you can take the first path, which is, all of us working together. First, dear brother, you need to trust me, Ji Tianxu must die! Ji Tianxu has also come here, together with the people of the Heavenly Vein Clan. Once they rise, we will no longer have a chance.

And Zhou Yuntian is a crucial piece in suppressing him."

Hou Yan said earnestly.

"I can’t even trust myself anymore, how can I trust you?"

Zhou Yan glanced at Hou Yan, his voice calm. But in his words, there was also a hint of self-mockery.

This attitude was chilling and also heart-wrenching.

But this was the only hint of emotion Zhou Yan showed, seemingly involuntary, yet seemingly intentional.

No one knew why Zhou Yan was always unfazed, but at this moment, he chose to show this bit of emotion.

Zhou Yan didn’t know why he wanted to show this hint of emotion, such an action was tantamount to breaking the Great Perfection impression given by the Heartless Sword Dao.

But he wanted to show it, so he did.

In his heart, everything had ceased to be important and had become capricious.

"Dear brother... Zhou Lingzhe, I’m sorry. Please believe me, I never targeted you. The last time I faced Cai Ling, it wasn’t me running away, but that I was truly compelled..."

Hou Yan tried to explain further, but Elder Wan only sighed and shook his head.

Hou Yan had no choice but to retract the other half of the words he was about to say.

Because if Zhou Yan wasn’t listening, there was no point in him continuing to speak.

"Do you... still trust me?"

Hou Ling’er looked at Zhou Yan, her gaze calm yet complex.

"I can’t even trust myself, how can I trust you? Or do you think, I can love you more than I love myself?"

Zhou Yan stared at Hou Ling’er.

At this moment, she was beautiful, her spiritual beauty enchanting like the orchid in a secluded valley, beckoning one to embrace her, to bestow affection. This beauty included the charm of weariness, of confusion, of spiritual purity, and also of sorrow and pain.

Hou Ling’er’s days were evidently not going well.

She needed a definite answer, and deep down, she feared that very affirmation.

She was conflicted, but she herself was somewhat perplexed and didn’t clearly understand her ambivalence.

"Actually, I can, but I cannot."

Hou Ling’er did not wait for Zhou Yan’s response; instead, she offered her own.

And she seemed to know what Zhou Yan’s second path was, so she tried hard, smiling tenderly, and said deeply, "Since you insist on taking the second path, then I’ll let you see some... what you want to see, I hope.

I hope that can bring you a bit more Perfection. That’s the only thing I can do for you now."

"I’m sorry, I still love you, but I can’t love you anymore."

...

Hou Ling’er said several sentences in succession, each one laden with many emotions.

This scene left Qian Xi, Huang FuZhan, and others dumbfounded.

Such a change was incomprehensibly mystifying, but each revelation set everyone’s heart racing.

The cultivators observing from the sidelines perhaps also understood that, now that the Ancient Evil Spirit had perished, their own lives and deaths were no longer in their hands.

Therefore, at this moment, not a single cultivator made any noise, even their breathing became hushed. They did not dare to take a deep breath, not wanting to bring about a disaster that could crush them.

"Young Master... you..."

Beside Hou Ling’er, a beautiful and seductive female cultivator shivered, looking at Hou Ling’er with some emotion.

"Elder Qianqian, there’s no need to worry. Zhou Yan... since it’s his final wish, I will definitely fulfill it. Compared to that, what’s a little damage to the Qiankun Sword?"

Hou Ling’er smiled, her complexion looking pale for the first time.

Her voice, at times cold and at times gentle, clearly fluctuated between ’Hou Ling’er’ and ’Zhou Lingyi’. This ambiguity was probably the reason for her confusion.

"The final wish..."

These words suddenly stunned Elder Qianqian into speechlessness.

"This..."

Her words stuttered out involuntarily.

And her words also suddenly made everyone understand Zhou Yan.

As a person approaches death, their words are truthful, their words are mournful.

Recalling the words Zhou Yan said at the brink of life and death, everyone finally understood that Zhou Yan’s second path was to choose self-destruction.

It was the path of death.

"Zhou Lingzhe, you must not, absolutely must not do it!"

Huang FuZhan was the first to cry out in alarm.

He seemed unable to comprehend that Zhou Yan would choose such a path.

"Zhou Lingzhe, don’t act rashly out of sheer stubbornness, as long as you live, there’s hope!"

Qian Xi, too, was deeply moved. Whether true or false, if Zhou Yan truly intended to die, then all strategies would crumble effortlessly.

The method to break the chess game might be elusive due to the game’s complexity, but what about destroying the chess pieces? The game would no longer exist!

And Zhou Yan’s choice to self-destruct could not be stopped.

That terrifying Fist Intent, capable of killing a mighty enemy, might not land due to the difference in realm, but killing oneself was too simple, and no one could stop it.

Even if an Ancestor descended, they could not stop such an action, for even they could not withstand such self-destructive Fist Intent!

At that instant, everyone was frightened by Zhou Yan’s madness.

In truth, many did not care whether Zhou Yan lived or died, but if Zhou Yan destroyed himself with a punch, that punch could potentially shatter this piece of Heaven and Earth.

For when one’s own capacity to endure the Endless Fist Intent collapses leading to destruction, the remaining, self-guarding Fist Intent would explode in its entirety.

This is the Destruction Storm, a force capable of obliterating Heaven and Earth.

It’s akin to a ’Blast Talisman’, which when simply released, is just a mere explosion with limited force.

But seal this Blast Talisman within Sword Intent, as if confined within a sealed space, and then detonated. Exploding within that confined space, alongside the Sword Intent, results in a terrifyingly augmented force.

Striking others imposes limitations, lessening the force. But there are no such constraints when striking oneself; the release is the full eruption of Fist Intent, a force that could pierce the heavens.

Who could survive such power?

At this time, Huang FuZhan, Qian Xi, and the others were all trembling.

And the cultivators who knew the truth were filled with immense fear, as if this development was profoundly disastrous, adding frost to snow.

Many cultivators had completely despaired. Not to mention the lack of any path, now there was the threat of death from all sides, making survival nearly an extravagant hope.

Under such an influence, many cultivators’ souls involuntarily burst, turning into heap upon heap of White Bones, due to the pressure of the City of No Tears’ Despair Abyss.

Decayed skulls, like rubber balls, rolled down, tumbling a few times among the other bones, becoming one with the countless White Bones.

One after another, genius cultivators thus perished.

This aura of despair seemed to be amplified infinitely, and in an instant, over thirty male and female cultivators died in despair, turning into White Bones.

The remaining cultivators who survived were drenched in cold sweat.

But at this time, no one dared to blame Zhou Yan for anything, because they did not have the standing to do so. The weak had no right to be clamorous here.

"The City of No Tears, the Despair Abyss, is truly an aura of despair. But without despair, where else could one interrogate one’s own heart?"

Hou Ling’er sighed, and before her, another terrifying Light Saber appeared, like a Divine being, suppressing all disturbances here and peacefully flying forward.

"Follow me, my friends, there’s no need to worry, no one will die for now."

She spoke calmly and then took the lead.

Behind her, Elder Qianqian was the first to follow closely.

Afterward, Hou Yan, Hou Tianjian, Elder Wan, Cai Xuan, and others followed suit.

Zhou Yan did not hesitate either and followed along.

Seeing this, Zhou Taiting, Zhou Yuntian, Yang Qingtan, Qian Xi, Gongcheng Diewu, Gongcheng Qingyang, and others all likewise followed.

This impressive entourage was now exceptionally silent, quietly anticipating the events that would allow Zhou Yan to be ’satisfied’.