Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 389 - 039: Shadow of Death

Chapter 389: Chapter 039: Shadow of Death

Dawn’s light and vibrant colors revealed, the Tao Rules touched the heart.

The Energy from the battle had gradually faded away, leaving the guardian Array of the Life and Death Platform looking desolate and its aura somewhat wilted.

Below the Life and Death Platform, the Secondary Main Peak, pierced through by Energy, lay barren, a line of ruins.

Previously, ancient woods and lush flora had thrived, but now, all signs of life from here were shattered, trees withered, a trend toward decay.

It was hard to imagine that Zhou Yan’s burst of Strength, his Sword Intent slashing forth, could leave such an aura of Destruction between heaven and earth.

It was also at this time that a group of Cultivators, gradually leaving, came to their senses and noticed that this battle was far more brilliant and shocking than imagined.

These Cultivators, some of whom had looked down on Zhou Yan, especially after knowing he had previously been called a ’fool,’ had kowtowed to Xiao Tianlun and had his Cultivation abolished, paid even less respect.

But now...

These Cultivators, looking at Zhou Yan as he flew toward his Secondary Main Peak, observed with serious and wary eyes.

Outside Guanghan South Mansion.

"He won, I didn’t expect him to be so powerful."

"It seems, what we should worry about isn’t him, but ourselves."

"Although the three of us passed the registration and became geniuses of Guanghan South Mansion, this time... we really witnessed a true genius! It turns out that only those who have mastered ’Xuan Restriction’ can be considered true geniuses!"

"Yes... Brother Zhou Yan must have mastered the Xuan Restriction to be able to slay the Evil King’s Avatar, it’s a pity he has already..."

A young man in black was conversing with two young women in white.

This battle had a great impact on them.

Perhaps, not just them, but other genius Cultivators had finally put aside their pride and arrogance, genuinely contemplating their paths in further Cultivation.

"I want to go to Thunderflame Sword Body Zhou Yanxuan’s Secondary Main Peak to talk to him about the trip to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb." The black-clad young man pondered for a moment before speaking.

"The trip to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb, do you wish to join him?" One of the white-clad females immediately grasped the youth’s intentions.

"Yes, having witnessed such Combat Power, surviving in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb will be difficult. Under the Sword Tribulation, all are mere ants. Those Saints do not care how many of us die; if there’s a collision of geniuses and a Mystic Level genius emerges, that is more important than a thousand Spirit-level geniuses! So, if we can’t become Profound Level geniuses, we must first survive to have a chance!"

The young man analyzed seriously.

After his words, both women fell silent.

"Gucheng, what you said is very realistic. But can you be sure he’ll help us?" The white-clad woman who had remained silent softly inquired.

"I am certain, he will."

Zhou Gucheng’s eyes held an indescribable faith.

It seemed, in this matter, he was extremely sure.

"If you are certain, then Zhou Ying and I will go with you to see him."

The white-clad woman nodded, placing no doubt in Zhou Gucheng’s words.

Outside Guanghan South Mansion, elsewhere.

"He... he won!"

Little bell almost clapped her hands in surprise.

"I didn’t expect him to be so powerful."

Lee Lianqing stared into the distance with shock, disbelief, and an inexplicable sense of regret in her eyes.

She had missed out on a truly desirable Daoist couple.

The Xiao Tianlun she had valued was utterly crushed like an ant by the opponent.

She felt an indescribable sense of blockage in her heart, as if a silent heavy punch had slammed hard upon it.

Heartache unbearable, regretting the past.

"Master..."

Guan Qiushui, along with Lan Ruo and Xian Yue, immediately stepped forward to support Lee Lianqing.

"It’s nothing, it just... hurts a lot."

Lee Lianqing sighed, her voice filled with lament.

Guan Qiushui, Lan Ruo, and Xian Yue all remained silent.

Even Little bell was quiet now.

She also knew the past and thus didn’t know what to say.

"Having missed out, no use regretting... Now, with Xiao Tianlun dead, my heart’s knot is untied. Perhaps, I should truly seek the inheritance left by my father, to become stronger. That way, maybe I can keep up with his pace..."

"Master, you are also a daughter of the Saint with a true inheritance; you won’t be inferior to them! You will definitely enter the Nine Origin Heavenly City!"

Guan Qiushui, holding Lee Lianqing’s arm, said firmly.

This was her hope, her hope not only carried her master’s feelings but actually also contained her own.

But having watched this battle, she understood the distance between herself and Zhou Yan had grown even farther.

Atop Secondary Main Peak 15294.

Zhou Yan returned to this lonely peak.

The once-recovered Secondary Main Peak, destroyed by his single foot, was just recently partially restored, looking extremely desolate and rundown.

Zhou Yan stood solitary on this lonely mountain peak with an expressionless face.

No one knew what he was thinking.

He just stood there.

As the sun tilted toward the horizon, set, night fell, and the stars began to rise...

His body didn’t move, his gaze didn’t shift; he remained in that still state, appearing much like a statue.

But he was not a statue, for a statue could not manifest such terrifying Blood Qi that even caused the space to feel oppressive.

After a long while, Zhou Yan sighed.

Sensing that the Thunder Seal had refined all of Xiao Tianlun’s Essence Qi and soul into Origin Energy, he thought he could breathe easy, yet the unknown pressure of death prevented him from feeling at ease.

After the battle, for the first time, he felt tired. It wasn’t physical exhaustion, but his spirit that was tired—a weariness akin to the feeling of being face-to-face with the lonely and Soul Extinguishing Sword Intent.

Emptiness, numbness, nothingness, desolation.

"The ’Xuan Restriction’ Taoist method should be within my grasp, but mastering it may bring about significant changes."

"With my current combat power already so strong, I feel extremely uneasy...what fearsome event is about to happen?"

"Or perhaps...is the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb truly that terrifying?"

Zhou Yan couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Once, someone said that the Secret Realms were terrifying.

But he had ventured into the Spiritual Lotus Secret Realm, and he didn’t encounter such extreme horror.

Once, someone said that Ancient Tomb Mountain was frightening.

But he had entered Ancient Tomb Mountain several times and had always emerged unscathed.

Once, someone said the Despair Abyss in the City of No Tears was an inescapable pit where death was certain.

Yet he, Zhou Yan, had also walked out of the Despair Abyss.

Once, someone said the Thunderflame Breaking Path Mountain was extremely dangerous and beyond imagination.

But inside the Thunderflame Breaking Path Mountain, he, Zhou Yan, even comprehended the Thunder Will, unlocking the Thunder Seal...

...

In those perilous places, although indeed fraught with danger each time he entered, he never felt unease or restlessness.

But this time, the journey to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb hadn’t even started, and Zhou Yan already felt death closing in.

It was a profoundly real and terrifying sensation, as if that place would be his end.

Zhou Yan knew this feeling was not unfounded because after several Soul Transformations and now a physical reconstitution, his soul had undergone a transformation akin to Ascension! So much so that when he used his sensing power to detect those Profound Level geniuses, others could not sense them!

How defiant of the heavens this was!

But it was exactly because of this, the unsettling premonition of death made Zhou Yan feel incredibly solemn.

Zhou Yan spent an entire afternoon deep in thought, and because of this, he did not proceed to comprehend and Cultivate, instead, he was contemplating his own contingencies.

The brutal reality of battle, the bloodshed suppression, the tragic death of Xiao Tianlun made Zhou Yan deeply understand that if it weren’t for his own strength, this time, unless he utilized Fist Intent, he would die here.

Many times, he had nearly died but did not—that was just fortune, Qi Fortune. But to truly believe he would not die would be to greatly underestimate the dangers of this world.

This time, under such a crisis, Zhou Yan pondered for a whole afternoon yet found no solution.

Therefore, he had to make early preparations.

...

A streak of Thunder Light flew from afar.

Within the Thunder Light were two women dressed in white.

But this streak of light stopped before it reached the Secondary Main Peak.

"Zhou Gucheng requests an audience with Mystic Level Zhou Yan,"

the voice of Zhou Gucheng reached from afar.

"I was just about to look for you. Come here,"

said Zhou Yan softly.

As he spoke, he looked into the distance and then said, "Eternal Spirit, Young Master Ling’er, Feng Jiu Xian Lingzhe, Lee Lianqing, Guan Qiushui, and also Cai Xuan, Feng Yunyan, Mo Yuchou, I have sensed your presence as well. Come over too."

Zhou Yan’s voice was loud, and when it spread out, all the cultivators of Guanghan Southern Mansion could hear it.

All cultivators were somewhat puzzled, not knowing why the Thunderflame Sword Body was doing this.

And those named, like Feng Yunyan and Mo Yuchou, felt a little anxious.

Because they knew that this Zhou Yan was ’foolish’, only using the name because he liked the name of the Emperor Qi Sword Body’s "Zhou Yan."

This could infer that he cared deeply about that "Zhou Yan."

And they, having wronged that Zhou Yan...could this brutal and ruthless Zhou Yan torture them?

Not just Feng Yunyan and the others had such thoughts; even Cai Xuan, now fairly powerful, also had her doubts and worries.

But they did not resist Zhou Yan’s summons and, upon hearing it, flew without hesitation towards the one-five-two-nine-four Secondary Main Peak.

...

"Opening the Xuan Restriction allows one to shield against the probing of one’s spirit by the powerful."

"I haven’t mastered the Xuan Restriction, but I have the same capability."

"Now, if indeed misfortune strikes, there are some things that must be done."

"Let’s consider it...preparation for one’s own contingencies."

After summoning them, Zhou Yan carved ancient Thunder Runes onto the mountain and truly set up a Deceiving Heaven Formation.

His killing of many geniuses provided him with ample resources to fortify the Ancient Array.

He took a short time to complete the Array Formation Seal, and by the time those summoned had arrived, they were already waiting outside the array.

"Zhou Gucheng, come over first; I have something to entrust to you."

Zhou Yan looked at Zhou Gucheng with a calm gaze, but there was an unfathomable shine in his eyes.

At that moment, Zhou Gucheng felt a chill in his heart, a fleeting sense of familiarity flashed by.

But he remained composed and didn’t show any irregularity, stepping silently into Zhou Yan’s Thunder Ancient Array.