Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 364 - 016: Five Great Prefectures

Chapter 364: Chapter 016: Five Great Prefectures

The Blood Qi swiftly dried up, and the shattered debris soon settled like dust.

Zhou Yan let out a breath tinged with Blood Qi, his sword trembling slightly in his hand as the drops of fresh blood flowing on it vanished in an instant.

This woman was not a Great Power; she merely excelled in concealment and possessed the ability to seal a Great Power’s attack, which was why she seemed so formidable before being killed by Zhou Yan in one fell swoop.

Not only that, but this woman was also a genius at the Third Transformation Sword Void Realm, specializing more in Soul Attacks. In the moment she was hit by Zhou Yan’s Thunderflame Sword Intent, knowing that death was certain, she caught a glimpse of Zhou Yan’s thought, thus taking on the appearance and visage of the Holy Daughter, only to be instantly seen through by Zhou Yan.

Thus, she failed to survive once more with this usually foolproof tactic, being instantly killed by Zhou Yan’s overwhelmingly powerful move and nailed dead in the Void.

It was only at this moment that many Cultivators came back to their senses, staring at the scene in the sky in shock and awe, looking at Zhou Yan with eyes filled with terror.

Despite the unidentified woman revealing traits of the Yin Water Clan at her last moment, many Cultivators still felt a sense of loss for the ’Holy Daughter’s’ appearance.

Clearly, they were not ready to let go and take action.

Clearly, if any one of them possessed Zhou Yan’s strength and faced such a situation, they would likely be killed instantly by the woman’s ability to manipulate illusions.

When strong adversaries clash, how could they afford even a slight error? One misstep could mean death and the dissipation of one’s Dao.

These Cultivators were now murmuring with regret, but Zhou Yan ignored these people, descending from the Void, his body shook off the Blood Qi, returning to his indifferent calm.

"Zhou Lingzhe."

"Brother Zhou."

Lee Lianqing and Guan Qiushui, along with others, approached.

Lee Lianqing, with respect, became more reverent, and deep in her eyes, regrets were increasingly evident.

She was still immersed in the pain and guilt of the past, unable to extricate herself.

And Guan Qiushui, although she knew that there was no more fate between her and Zhou Yan, still ventured to call out ’Brother Zhou Yan’.

Zhou Yan silently nodded, looking at the five people here, he said, "Now that you’re all quite powerful, and with the Combat Armor and swords I’ve helped you refine, establishing a combination similar to the Three Spirit Users of the Zhou Family might not be enough to kill any formidable Void Realm adversaries, but self-preservation should be more than sufficient.

I always feel that the Holy Daughter’s call for a suitor is not that simple; there’s no need for you to take me there."

Zhou Yan said, and after a pause, he sighed, "Qiushui, I feel somewhat apologetic about the past, but it was because I lost my memory. My true nature made me restless towards you.

However, now that I’ve regained my memory, I carry unbearable pain, and for the moment, I have no desire to indulge in romantic affections.

You are a good woman, and I am not a good Daoist couple, so I can only let you down."

Zhou Yan’s words were soft, meant only for Guan Qiushui.

Guan Qiushui’s eyes immediately became moist and red, she choked up, "No, I am not worthy—"

"Silly girl, practice well, become strong. If I do not fall, the road ahead may still be long. If... you truly cannot forget me, then follow in my footsteps."

Zhou Yan interrupted Guan Qiushui’s words. With his sensing power, he did not even need to feel to know everything about Guan Qiushui’s state; he had it all under control.

That’s why he spoke those words.

He didn’t wish to speak, but the hearts of these few people were truly in pain.

He couldn’t make Feng Lingqing and the others happy, but he could lessen Guan Qiushui’s pain a little.

Even if—it was just a little, wasn’t it also a form of emotional consolation?

Heartless or compassionate.

Whether there is affection or not, after all, is a kind of life.

In life, as long as one’s conscience is clear, that’s enough.

What Dao it is, it’s just a path created by others, not one’s own.

...

Zhou Yan had actually thought a lot when he came down from the air, and he thought about not being constrained by formality and about walking his own path.

That’s why, even though he knew that silence is golden and parting on good terms was possible, he still spoke.

Time is the best healer, and if Guan Qiushui truly cared, wouldn’t it be better to leave her with hope?

When she immersed herself in cultivation, when she grew stronger along her journey, that time, her first-love-like feelings may gradually fade away.

Zhou Yan could only think so.

He gently touched Guan Qiushui’s head, very tenderly.

Although Guan Qiushui stood proudly, sacrificing her dignity to hint at him, he did not touch that lofty and soft place again.

Before, without his memory, he touched her chest out of his own desire.

Now, he touched her head, just out of his own heart.

...

Zhou Yan left, leaving behind all of the Qiankun Rings from the two female cultivators he killed to Guan Qiushui and the others, then walked away without hesitation.

When he left, Guan Qiushui wished he would touch her again.

But Zhou Yan did not accept.

He wasn’t letting go; his nature allowed him to do any outrageous things without caring. But with the current situation of Gu Xi and others, how could Zhou Yan continue such actions?

Zhou Yan commanded the Thunder Light, combining with the Void Dao from the Void Ancient Scripture, his flight speed far surpassed the traveling speed of the Emperor Qi Sword Body.

Of course, this wasn’t because Zhou Yan’s Thunderflame Sword Body was stronger than the Emperor Qi Sword Body, but because his realm had approached a threshold of Sword Soul Third Layer Heaven after devouring those two True Spirit Level foreign genius cultivators.

It wasn’t Great Perfection, rather close to a peak state, and due to the Soul Sword embodying ’three containing nine’, such a transformation required accumulation.

The accumulation would finally shatter its fetters at the moment the Holy Daughter’s Life Soul arrived, breaking through three major realms in one fell swoop to reach the Sword Spirit Three Heavens.

As for constitution, Zhou Yan, after personally experiencing it, couldn’t say which of the two constitutions was stronger; each had its advantages. However, when it came to combat power, the Emperor Qi Sword Body was indeed a hair’s breadth stronger, but this slight edge actually made little difference.

Now, with the two Sword Bodies merged into one, displaying only one of them naturally seemed to be somewhat stronger than either one alone, which is why Zhou Yan’s combat power had become even greater than when he possessed just the Emperor Qi Sword Body.

If both were to truly merge, his combat power would grow even stronger.

Originally, speed had been Zhou Yan’s weakness, but now, with the innate unparalleled speed of the Thunderflame Sword Body combined with the Void Ancient Scripture... Zhou Yan rode the thunder, passing through heaven and earth, instantaneously moving with the transformation of the Ancient Arrays, his speed had become monstrously swift.

In the Southern Wilderness, Cang Flame Prefecture, Water Domain.

Guang Han Hall.

Guang Han Hall was enveloped in cold air all year round, the chill so intense it made this part of the world seem desolate.

But now, there had been changes from what had been seen before.

Ancient cities seemed to spring up overnight, spreading across all the areas of Guang Han Hall in the blink of an eye.

They stretched for millions of kilometers, all within the confines of Guang Han Hall.

Mountains stretched endlessly, rising and falling like a series of winding dragon veins.

One of these ancient cities was located at the head of a dragon.

There lay the main hall of Guang Han Hall.

Guang Han Hall itself was a subdomain of the Water Domain, existing in the form of a hall, vast in land area.

Even within Cang Flame Prefecture, it held a terrifying status.

Not to mention, now that the Holy Daughter had awakened, becoming the number one extraordinary woman of the world, it naturally caused Guang Han Hall’s fame to spread far and wide.

Outside the main hall of Guang Han Hall, within an ancient, cyan-hued tavern.

Zhou Yan leaned against a window, pouring and drinking by himself.

He had been here for two days.

Yet, he hadn’t been in a rush to join the registration for the marriage alliance.

Because there had been a change in the rules of this registration, and it had been paused for four days now.

In these few days, it seemed the whole world had undergone mysterious significant changes, making the whole world seem listless and unsteady.

Zhou Yan felt that something monumental had happened, yet he could not guess it, nor did he know what sort of event would occur.

He merely needed to wait, wait for the qualification to seek the Holy Daughter’s hand in marriage, which would suffice.

And today was the day when the registration would reopen.

"Ladies and gentlemen... after consultation between the Holy Daughter’s Butterfly Saint Immortal and other native and foreign saints, it has been decided to combine the Four Deserts and Three Islands to form an independent capital—Nine Origin Heavenly City.

To establish the Nine Origin Reincarnation opportunity and participate in the monumental opportunity to testify in the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, we have set up Guanghan South Mansion in our Southern Wilderness.

Carefree East Prefecture is established in the East Wasteland, Guanghan South Mansion in the Southern Wilderness, Haoran Western Prefecture in the West Wasteland, and the Asking Dao Northern Prefecture in the Northern Desolate.

Netherworld Island, Yuhun Island, and Tianji Island of the Three Islands have jointly established Heavenly Capital Middle Mansion.

Now, with the Five Prefectures newly established, the selection ceremony begins. As per the Holy Daughter’s request, the search for a consort for the Holy Daughter will merge with the selection trials of our Southern Wilderness’s Guanghan South Mansion.

That is to say, the Holy Daughter’s consort can only be selected from the geniuses of Guanghan South Mansion.

With the appearance of the Five Prefectures, the final geniuses from each will receive enlightenment from the saints’ Tao and gather together to enter Nine Origin Heavenly City."

"The endless geniuses of Nine Origin Heavenly City will embark on a journey of conquest across heaven and earth, setting forth to the Heavenly Emperor Universe."

"This matter is related to the great changes of the Nine Origin Reincarnation heaven and earth ordeal and cannot be taken lightly."

"The Southern Wilderness hopes that all those with talent will participate."

"Those who hide and do not participate, unless it is utterly necessary, will be searched by the saints’ Soul Consciousness and disposed of in ash and smoke if discovered! Even the children of saints are not exempt."

"Life Tribulation Level Experts, emerge and guard the Five Great Prefectures."

"Ancestor-level experts, descend en masse to guard Nine Origin Heavenly City."

"The saints themselves are responsible for protecting the Ancestor Star."

"From this point forth, the world’s structure will change, and the races must not devour each other. However, challenges are not forbidden, nor is internal strife or battles to the death."

"Additionally, a combat arena for life and death battles has been set up. Those with great enmities can resolve them in life and death battles, eradicating hostilities between clans and powers. Such enmities must not continue in the outside world."

This voice resonated throughout the entire Southern Wilderness.

It was the voice of a saint.

This saint was very familiar to Zhou Yan.

It was ’Yao’.

He had actually emerged from seclusion.

Zhou Yan realized where the imminent danger in his heart was coming from.

If he was still the Emperor Qi Sword Body, then in such an allocation, those Life Tribulation, Ancestor-level, and Saint-level experts would have had means to scheme openly to cause the death of Emperor Qi Sword Body Zhou Yan.

Because now, everything was out in the open, with a life and death battleground, no one could escape death.