Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 461 - 110 Netherworld Eight Soul Envoys

Chapter 461: Chapter 110 Netherworld Eight Soul Envoys

"You... how could you have such thoughts?"

The Netherworld Queen was slightly panicked but quickly regained her composure and asked hesitantly.

"Originally, I was actually trash, born with some innate deficiencies, but in the hills behind my Zhou Family home, there is a Cold Pond, its waters as chilly as cold ice.

In order to reach the Sword Beginning Three Heavens, I trained with the sword in the Cold Pond every day, squeezing out my potential."

Zhou Yan got lost in memories of the past as he spoke bit by bit.

The Netherworld Queen fell silent as well, her gaze flickering, seemingly on the verge of speaking several times, yet she hesitated greatly.

"One day, I pushed myself to the limit while training with the sword. I felt the shackles ahead of me which I couldn’t break, but I also had no strength left, so I felt my consciousness slip into darkness.

I died from exhaustion, in the waters of the lake," Zhou Yan said.

The Netherworld Queen seemed thoughtful but did not speak.

"After that, I received an inheritance, or perhaps it was a stroke of fortune—my master. My master, named ’Lee Ran,’ was sometimes called ’Divine Fist Li.’ His strength was probably comparable to the peak Nine Origin Sword Saint."

Zhou Yan looked at the Netherworld Queen as he spoke. Xiao Shuang’s complexion at this moment was pathologically pale; she was biting her lips, swollen and bleeding without her realizing.

Zhou Yan sighed once more and said, "Someone told me that I shouldn’t be alive because, in fact, I had already died while training with the sword at the Cold Pond."

"But that claim was later proven false, for similar experiences had occurred several times.

For instance, once, a giant finger descended from heaven and earth, piercing through the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City and Blood Water Lake that had once appeared, and I was killed by that strike."

"Another time, it happened on Thunder Flame Breaking Path Mountain, where immense Heavenly Tribulations descended, and I was killed by the lightning."

"But someone told me that all of that was an illusion, a state between life and death at its extremity, and couldn’t be considered death, only ’Fake Death.’ It was for this reason that I realized the profound meaning of the Life and Death Sword Dao, and even gained the power to control others’ life and death!"

"To Cultivators at my level, if their souls are weaker than mine, I can simply wield the Life and Death Sword Dao profound meaning, and they will suffer immensely, wavering between life and death, enduring great terror and torment."

"All of this originated from the Cold Pond, the Cold Pond behind the Zhou Family hills, which resembles your pond so closely."

"The moment I laid eyes on this Cold Pond, I thought I had returned to the past."

"Although I have some understanding of the ’Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City’ and know that it has much to do with the past Lee Sha, in truth I know nothing."

"Lee Lianqing once told me about my past life, but even with those memories detailed for me, I still feel they are not mine, as if someone is trying to force them upon me. They are the possessions of an outsider, and even when I try to put myself in that place, I feel out of place."

"There’s also the matter of Ghost Rain Sword Soul Lee Xinyu. Although they have provided answers, I always feel that some things just don’t make sense. But I cannot find the answers."

"It’s as if the whole world is in clarity while I am the one in chaos. Or rather, while all others are drunk, I am the only sober one. This feeling is terrifying."

"Every time I less want to unravel the mystery, more doubts emerge. And once I set out to uncover the truth, it feels like a terrifying abyss, into which I could fall at any moment."

Zhou Yan muttered to himself.

He said this, and took out a bottle of wine that he hadn’t drunk for a long time, tilting his head back to take a sip.

The same Fiery Flame Sword Heart Wine now flowed like spring water, ineffective.

The wine was the same as before, but his Constitution had become entirely indifferent to any effects of the alcohol.

But the wine, although ineffective, still held a bitter taste.

"I don’t know what to say, but... Zhou Yan, no matter how the world changes, I will be by your side. Zhou Yan, you live well, and all doubts will be resolved."

The Netherworld Queen sighed softly and spoke with infinite tenderness, her eyes filled with warmth as she gazed at Zhou Yan.

"Ai, I don’t know why, but when I see you, I always end up saying what’s on my mind, embarrassing myself in front of you. I, a grown man, am so sentimental, like a woman. If word got out, I’m sure others would laugh," Zhou Yan said with self-deprecating laughter, disconsolately.

"No, they wouldn’t. I will never laugh at you because I know that these words... you would only say them to me, right?" The Netherworld Queen suddenly asserted.

Zhou Yan nodded affirmatively, and as he looked at the Netherworld Queen, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

"Zhou Yan, though there are some things I cannot say, and many things for which I have my own hardships, I still want to hint at something... surely, with your intelligence, you will be able to grasp some of it."

The Netherworld Queen saw the endless tenderness in Zhou Yan’s eyes and her heart fluttered, the hesitation becoming more evident.

However, after a long hesitation, she finally made a decision to reveal some secrets.

Zhou Yan was shocked to his core, and immediately became solemn, "If it troubles you, there’s no need to say it. After all, The more debts, the less worry. My life is filled with mysteries, and I don’t mind a little more. I was just lamenting."

"It’s okay. I won’t say anything else, just a metaphor, it won’t affect much."

The Netherworld Queen smiled gently, reassuring Zhou Yan with a look, then she pondered for a moment before speaking, "Divine Fist Li once said a phrase—’The spring silkworm may die of starvation, but will spin silk till it dies; The candle’s tears dry only when it’s burned down to ashes.’ This phrase mentions the spring silkworm."

"The growth of a spring silkworm, in the end, leads it to spin silk and form a cocoon, confining itself.

Eventually, when the silkworm breaks out of the cocoon to become a butterfly, it can soar in heaven and earth, achieving its true transformation.

But after the self-confinement, inside the cocoon, the silkworm facing abandonment by the whole world at that crucial moment, must face nothing but darkness.

If it cannot break out to be a butterfly, that cocoon becomes its prison, the grave it wove for itself."

"So sometimes, self-confinement does not guarantee one can fly high, and one may play with fire and burn themselves. But without self-confinement, one cannot fly high or see the sky’s landscape."

The Netherworld Queen spoke softly.

Zhou Yan thought of many things in an instant, but in the end, he suppressed much of his speculation.

He gave up thinking and simply took the metaphor as an inspirational story.

He also knew that this was what the Netherworld Queen meant.

"Bound within a cocoon... Inside the cocoon, the entire world is indeed dark. Either die in the darkness or burst out of it. Xiao Shuang, thank you. No matter what lies ahead, I will bravely move forward."

Zhou Yan said resolutely.

"Okay, I will be with you. Your plan this time is very dangerous, but remember what I said. When necessary, just ’sacrifice’ me. I can help you block the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy for a while. You must survive on your own."

The Netherworld Queen said softly.

"Xiao Shuang, trust me, I am ninety percent sure about this situation. How could you think I would use you as cannon fodder? There’s no way I, Zhou Yan, would do that in this life!"

Zhou Yan said definitively.

"Fool, only if you survive is there any hope. Given my current situation, I have no way to survive in either world. If I can die for you, frankly, I would be glad to—"

"Don’t talk like that anymore, you’re showing a lack of confidence in me! I already said, if you disobey, I will immediately commit suicide!"

Zhou Yan was somewhat angry, directly interrupting the Netherworld Queen’s words.

"You look so handsome and dashing when you’re angry."

The Netherworld Queen’s gaze was blurry, seemingly completely captivated by Zhou Yan’s aura.

"This face is Lee Sha’s, not my true one. My real face is like this."

Zhou Yan’s face muscles twitched, and the Netherworld Queen’s sudden ’Flower Fanatic’ behavior rendered him speechless. Therefore, he appropriately transformed into the image of the Emperor Qi Sword Body.

The Netherworld Queen’s eyes widened with surprise, her face colored with delight as she gazed adoringly, "You look even handsomer like this!"

"..."

Zhou Yan was quite at a loss for words.

However, with the Netherworld Queen, Xiao Shuang, looking so delicate and lovely now, it relaxed his mind quite a bit.

...

"The Netherworld Beast is here, how should they act? I will let them listen to you directly."

By the edge of the Cold Pond, the Netherworld Queen shackled a Netherworld Beast, allowing Zhou Yan to analyze it.

It was a unicorn-like Flying Horse, very unique, with a special way of energy operation.

"This Netherworld Energy, I think I can simulate it. Let me try."

After careful consideration for a long time, Zhou Yan combined Deceiving Heaven Technique with the Natural Dao to change his body’s energy distribution.

Utilizing the method of the Purple Flame Void, which could Devour Netherworld Energy and derive Origin, Zhou Yan directly reversed the process to derive pure Netherworld Energy using Origin Energy.

With this reversal, his flesh gradually began assimilating with the Netherworld Energy.

But as soon as his body encountered the Netherworld Energy, like being scorched by flames, it could not endure and turned to ash.

With just one hand exposed to the Netherworld Energy, it was immediately penetrated and reduced to nothingness.

"The body cannot withstand Netherworld Energy, but the Netherworld Energy you produced is very pure, almost comparable to that of the Netherworld Palace Master’s..."

The Netherworld Queen said in shock.

"Yes, I know. Otherwise, how would I be confident in plotting against the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoys?"

Zhou Yan dismissed the Netherworld Queen’s amazement and after a moment of hesitation, said, "Since the body cannot endure the power of Netherworld, then... let the Soul be dominant. In that case, my body must be sealed away for now."

After analyzing, Zhou Yan realized his body could not bear the power of Netherworld and decided to temporarily abandon his physical form.

"I have a Crystal Coffin. If you leave your body, it must be properly preserved. I will take it out to conserve your body."

The Netherworld Queen said after pondering for a moment.

"A Crystal Coffin? Indeed, this item is excellent for preserving the body. Then that’s even more perfect."

Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised.

"That was prepared for myself, thinking that one day I would lie in it. But I didn’t expect you’d use it first. However, as good as it is, there’s a downside. If your soul is damaged, the body will suffer too, and if your soul is destroyed, then only human skin will remain of the body."

The Netherworld Queen explained.

"Don’t worry," Zhou Yan said with confidence, smiling assuredly.

Then his Soul flew out of his body, and with the Deceiving Heaven Technique combined with the Natural Dao, he derived a pure Netherworld Body.

Simultaneously, his appearance changed, and in that moment, a new Identity Badge appeared on him—it was, in fact, the Identity Badge of the Netherworld Eight Souls Envoy.

At that moment, Zhou Yan’s appearance and aura, even his temperament and energy fluctuations, did not show the slightest anomaly, indistinguishable from a real Netherworld Eight Souls Envoy.

The Netherworld Queen was completely astounded, staring at Zhou Yan for a good while before inhaling sharply, "It’s uncanny. You really do look like a Netherworld Envoy!"

"I am the Netherworld Eight Souls Envoy."

Zhou Yan gave a wicked smile, his voice dark and ominous, matching a Netherworld Eight Souls Envoy in every aspect.