Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 459 - 108 Crisis

Chapter 459: Chapter 108 Crisis

In the courtyard, there was no one else, and further away, Zhou Yan could no longer sense anything.

His soul felt as if it had lost much, not manifesting the corresponding abilities, and Zhou Yan also felt a noticeable regression in his own realm.

Originally at the peak state of the Sword Void Realm, it now seemed as if he had only just stepped into the realm, completely unstable.

Zhou Yan understood that the previous scene, where he substituted for the Holy Daughter and six others to endure suffering, had a tremendous impact on him. But Zhou Yan was not worried, as long as he could get out, with some bitter cultivation he could quickly recover. After all, he had the Nirvana Rebirth Technique, the Undying Rebirth Technique, and a massive amount of Origin Energy; injuries were the least of his fears.

Zhou Yan walked on, gradually leaving the courtyard. Outside the courtyard, the air was somewhat chilly.

In the distance, there was a large lake, its water very clear, under the cool, dim light, the lake surface was like a gigantic mirror.

On the lake surface, a lonely crane was dancing, the Netherworld aura very rich, as if this place was a nest of Netherworld Beasts, the aura extremely dense.

But this lake surface, this water, made Zhou Yan think of the time he practiced sword at the Zhou Family’s lake.

The same Cold Pond water, the same dark night.

The same dim light like moonlight.

The light spread like a gauze, blanketing the earth.

Behind him was the courtyard of the Netherworld Queen, like a castle-like courtyard.

In the sky above the lake, Netherworld Bats flew past in groups, ancient aura flowing between heaven and earth, the cold wind whistling mournfully.

For a moment, Zhou Yan had an illusion, unsure of what time it was now.

"Why are you out here? It’s quite chilly outside, your soul has suffered heavy damage and has not yet recovered; you should rest more."

Behind him, came the Netherworld Queen’s exceptionally gentle voice.

"Why are you awake? Jingtian said you would rest for several days."

Zhou Yan turned around, under the dim halo, the Netherworld Queen looked very frail and haggard.

"That girl, what would she know? Usually, once I rest, indeed there are a few peaceful days, but this time, for some reason, I suddenly woke up without any reason or cause—perhaps, deep down, I couldn’t let go of you."

The Netherworld Queen sighed, her words filled with melancholy.

Zhou Yan’s heart stirred, immediately guessing that perhaps the Netherworld Queen had heard his heartfelt words.

He was slightly embarrassed, but he naturally covered up this emotion of awkwardness.

He fell silent for a moment, then asked, "How is Little Xue?"

"She’s pretty good; it’s just that she suffered severe damage earlier. Although we share the same body and the same Origin, the destruction she faced was too severe, and she’s still in recovery now. If she can transform this time, she might evolve into a Holy-level Sword Spirit. But because of this, some past memories might awaken.

This is unavoidable, whether it’s good or bad, I don’t know."

Netherworld Queen softly said.

The two conversed casually, both seemingly deliberately avoiding something.

"Evolution is mostly a good thing, after all, many things don’t go as desired. If she becomes stronger, that’s also good. Besides, with you by her side, I feel relieved."

Zhou Yan nodded.

The Netherworld Queen didn’t reply, her expression very serene, as she gazed at the distant lake surface, seemingly lost in thought.

"You’ve really changed." The Netherworld Queen suddenly spoke, her words somewhat startling Zhou Yan.

"I say, the me now, is the real me, do you believe that?"

Zhou Yan, after a moment of silence, asserted.

"I believe, I truly believe. Earlier, when I undressed, it wasn’t to seduce you, but really to test you. If it were the old you, you definitely wouldn’t have missed such an opportunity, but now..."

The Netherworld Queen stopped midway, not continuing.

But Zhou Yan understood her meaning.

If it were the old him, he would absolutely have taken advantage of the Netherworld Queen on the spot, but the current him did not.

"Alas, let bygones be bygones, the road ahead is long. In this life, let’s focus on the matters of this life. Thinking too much is also too tiring."

Zhou Yan didn’t know what to say, he could only sigh.

"Yes, thinking too much is indeed tiring. Hmm, Zhou Yan, I know you’re worried about Jiang Yuning and the others, but rest assured, because you intervened, they are all safe for now, except for Zhuge Jiayue, the rest have gained some fortunate encounters, and each has had some sudden enlightenment."

The Netherworld Queen changed the subject, comforting Zhou Yan.

"That’s good they are safe. What about Zhuge Jiayue, what’s her situation?"

Zhou Yan asked.

"Someone was trapped here earlier, she wanted to rescue him but ended up trapped as well. Netherworld Heavenly Road doesn’t just have me as a guardian, I only live here partially because of the Frost Tears. There’s also a Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy here, occupying a part of this place. He and I have always been at odds, and he’s always harbored designs on me."

The Netherworld Queen hesitated for a moment but didn’t hide anything as she spoke.

"Netherworld Nine Soul Envoys? What kind of existence is that? I’ve only heard of the ’Eight Soul Envoys’."

Zhou Yan frowned slightly and asked.

"The Nine Souls Envoy is a stronger type of Netherworld Envoy, whose strength is second only to that of the Hall Master Level. You can consider them as strong as those in the Nine Origin Sword Saint Realm who have mastered Xuan Restriction."

The Netherworld Queen explained.

"So they are the peak existence in the Nine Origin Sword Saint Realm, an invincible existence below the Sword God?"

Zhou Yan was shocked and said.

"Invincible below Sword God? Above Xuan Restriction, there’s still the Original Dao, so he can’t be considered invincible in the Nine Origin Sword Saint, but with his capabilities, it’s almost the same."

The Netherworld Queen gave a light smile and spoke softly.

"As for these realms, I’m not aware of them, nor can I judge them. If Zhuge Jiayue is constrained, then... That man named ’Gu Yan’?"

Zhou Yan inquired.

"Yes, his name is indeed ’Gu Yan’. Do you... remember him?"

"He is my uncle. Once, my father considered him as close as a brother. He has a daughter named Gu Xi..."

Zhou Yan reminisced about the past, recounting tales from his childhood and other events such as the previous Heavenly Destiny plan.

He told the Netherworld Queen all of these, without hiding anything except the secrets about his cultivation in Xingyi Fist and his daughter Yanyan, Purple Flame Void, and other such matters.

The Netherworld Queen listened intently like a faithful audience, absorbing most of Zhou Yan’s life experiences.

"Ahh... Gu Xi’s situation must have been deliberately erased. Otherwise, with your Undying Rebirth Technique and Nirvana Rebirth Technique, you could have saved her.

You say this, and I suspect that you have indeed become chess pieces in someone else’s game, entering here to acquire the Yuan Ci Secret Realm.

There are saints who wish to snatch the Yuan Ci Secret Realm with your tactics and then, once you leave, seize the victorious fruits directly through you."

The Netherworld Queen analyzed seriously.

"Huh? You’re saying someone deliberately orchestrated this scene? But the Primordial Magnetic Pole Light from Wan Jian Tian was especially gifted to me! Wan Jian Tian couldn’t possibly be plotting against me, right?"

Zhou Yan was startled as he remembered the words of the Qingyao Xuanzhe. Qingyao Xuanzhe had mentioned that entering Frost Tears was falling into a saint’s trap.

At the time, Zhou Yan was somewhat confused; now, with the explanation from the Netherworld Queen, he fell silent.

"Wan Jian Tian possesses the Primordial Magnetic Pole Light, so perhaps they themselves have been used. Among the new saints, several have had their eyes on Frost Tears for more than a day or two and indeed have some means... I understand this matter clearer than you.

Now, Jiang Yuning has entered Frost Tears, and because you helped them bear the calamity, she gained the chance to potentially restore the ’Vast Qi’ she once cultivated vigorously.

If ’Vast Qi’ is restored, she could use this power to confine the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoy, even kill the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoy with ’Vast Qi’.

Thus, securing the Yuan Ci Secret Realm for you becomes almost certain."

The Netherworld Queen said with concern.

"This... you mean, as soon as the Holy Daughter kills the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoy, the Yuan Ci Secret Realm will automatically integrate with me because of the map? And if I refine the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, I will be targeted by the saints, who will then kill me to seize the Yuan Ci Secret Realm?"

Zhou Yan’s face turned pale.

"Yes. Plus, once Jiang Yuning uses Vast Qi, she would be surpassing the Supreme Realm using a saint’s methods, definitely causing her soul to shatter; if she had recreated her Life Soul, she would just be badly injured but not fatally so. But you said her Life Soul is already lost."

The Netherworld Queen spoke gravely.

"How does this sound like a chain trap within a chain? My suspicion is, who could foresee so far, even foresee the enmity between you and me? And even foresee that the Holy Daughter would be willing to help me kill the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoy? Clearly, something is amiss here. If someone truly has such profound strategies, wouldn’t they control the fortunes of Heaven and Earth, aspiring to become the Sovereign?"

Zhou Yan was utterly shocked.

He couldn’t believe someone could scheme to such a degree since all this was still conjecture.

"You aren’t a saint, so you can’t conceive of a saint’s methods. Let me put it this way, if you really want to set up a trap, regardless of any changing factors, the rules would certainly be within the changes in the trap. It’s like setting up a labyrinth; no matter how many paths the labyrinth might have, even though there seem to be endless possibilities, ultimately all paths exist in the mind of the one who created the labyrinth.

Thus, once you enter the labyrinth, no matter how you walk, it doesn’t matter, because the result is—you have to walk out of the maze, entering through an entrance and exiting through an exit.

What happens in the process doesn’t matter and doesn’t need to be worried about.

Do you understand this analogy? That’s the trap."

The Netherworld Queen, sensing Zhou Yan’s misunderstanding of a saint’s methods, hence made an analogy, explaining everything in detail and clarity.

"That means, entering Frost Tears, who gets the opportunity, who gains the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, or even who refines the Yuan Ci Secret Realm isn’t important; what’s important is the outcome... First, the Holy Daughter kills the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoy; second, someone then obtains the Yuan Ci Secret Realm.

Then, no matter who it is, leaving Frost Tears will face a saint moving to kill and seize the Yuan Ci Secret Realm.

And this act will not be public; the genius who seizes the Yuan Ci Secret Realm will die under normal circumstances in Frost Tears, and it’s also possible that many will witness that he was not killed by a saint, right?"

Zhou Yan spoke with a cold expression.