Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 499 - 144: Snatching the Secret Realm

Chapter 499: Chapter 144: Snatching the Secret Realm

The Evil King is out to make use of the Netherworld Queen and the Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy, even turning the Holy Daughter and others into cannon fodder. How should this be resolved?

Trapped within the Ancient Runes on the ring, Zhou Yan had some ability to decipher these runes. However, he was himself sealed and unable to mobilize the energy needed to actuate the runes. So even if he had some power to lift the suppression of the Rune Ancient Array, he was still incapable of using it.

Yet he did not panic, but was instead considering the steps he needed to take thereafter.

The Evil King acted this way because Zhou Yan understood that the adversary must truly hate him to the bone, wanting him to watch helplessly as his plans crumbled to ashes, and as his friends met their tragic ends.

But from this, Zhou Yan could deduce that although the Evil King knew he was indeed Emperor Qi Sword Body Zhou Yan, he did not know that his Emperor Qi Sword Body had not truly fallen to complete destruction, otherwise he would not be giving him the chance to catch his breath now.

...

After suppressing Zhou Yan, the Evil King seized control of the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, and immediately commenced sensing.

Moments later, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but the thrill of excitement was far more apparent.

"Although it’s not as good as I expected, it’s the next best thing to the Spiritual Lotus Secret Realm. It’s still quite remarkable. If it blends with my Spiritual Lotus Secret Realm, the level of the secret realm will evolve again to become even higher.

"I could also obtain the Power of Heaven from it, achieving boundless potential."

"What’s rare is that I can use this opportunity to scheme against some Saints and seize the treasures in their possession."

Calculating in his heart, the Evil King, in Zhou Yan’s guise, directly controlled the secret realm and started opening the exit route.

"Uh... Fortunately, only a few hundred Cultivators have died. This is all thanks to Zhou Yan’s fast speed in finding the Secret Realm Soul and refining it... Alright, let’s blast these Cultivators out first, to catch the attention of the Netherworld Queen and her associate. After all, no one knows yet that I’ve taken the secret realm. And if necessary, I can sacrifice this Puppet Zhou Yan."

After making up his mind, the Evil King immediately unsealed his block on the Heavenly Mechanism, then took out the ’Soul Token’ of the Secret Realm Soul and began to employ his methods to force all the geniuses out of the Yuan Ci Secret Realm.

"Buzz—"

At that moment, a terrifying power sphere transmitted through Heaven and Earth, propelling all the genius Cultivators out of the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, beyond the Netherworld Heavenly Road, to the entrance where Frost Tears had entered the Netherworld Heavenly Road.

Simultaneously, the Netherworld Queen and Netherworld Nine Souls Envoy also made their move against these geniuses. The two Saints acted, suppressing all the geniuses at once, leaving them no chance to escape.

Everything was going as Zhou Yan had originally calculated, only, things were far from simple.

Because at the same time, Maid Jingtian, who served the Netherworld Queen, suddenly appeared here. She laughed, and her figure immediately became illusive.

She paid no attention to the group of suppressed individuals and charged directly towards the exit of the Netherworld Heavenly Road.

In an instant, a terrifying Netherworld Power pressed down on the Zhou Yan transformed by the Evil King.

"Ninth Soul Envoy Jiu Que, you’ve been deceived all this time. He’s not the Eighth Soul Envoy Bai Hun, he is the real Zhou Yan. Eighth Soul Envoy Bai Hun was killed by him. Everything was a plot. He’s been using you!"

Maid Jingtian, in the same moment, revealed Zhou Yan’s true identity, causing Netherworld Ninth Soul Envoy Jiu Que to be momentarily stunned.

The Zhou Yan transformed by the Evil King was also slightly stunned, realizing something bad was happening, knowing that Zhou Yan had been accounted for by the Netherworld Palace Master. But with a particularly malicious mind, he immediately transformed into a Ghost Shadow and separated from Zhou Yan’s body, using his unparalleled Escape Skill to flee with the Yuan Ci Secret Realm.

At the same time, he expelled Zhou Yan’s Ghost body that had been sealed, so that he had no chance to defend when the Evil King had already flown a great distance away.

"Not good!"

After descending on Jingtian, the Avatar of the Netherworld Palace Master immediately noticed something was amiss. With an angry shout, she chased after the Evil King.

Stunned, Netherworld Ninth Soul Envoy Jiu Que realized the Palace Master had arrived and saw through Zhou Yan’s poisonous plan. With a heart filled with rage, he immediately turned to slay the defenseless Zhou Yan.

"Courting death!"

The Netherworld Queen erupted suddenly, the Power of Death fiercely aimed at Netherworld Ninth Soul Envoy.

The gathered geniuses were shocked and all turned pale. As the force that sealed them weakened, they all desperately ran for their lives, daring not stay there any longer.

"Go! Run for it!"

Zhou Yan shouted angrily at the Holy Daughter and the others.

His body was sealed, and he couldn’t muster any strength, making him a target that the Evil King used to distract people.

"Pfft—"

In the head-on battle, the Netherworld Queen was no match for the Netherworld Ninth Soul Envoy, already at a disadvantage after one move, spitting out blood.

Nearly mad, Netherworld Ninth Soul Envoy’s thoughts turned to all that had transpired, thinking himself a complete fool, deceived to such an extent.

Hysterical, he discarded everything and furiously slew towards Zhou Yan.

In such a state, the Netherworld Queen gradually succumbed.

Elsewhere, the Netherworld Palace Master blocked the Evil King, thwarting his well-laid plans.

The two immediately engaged in a groundbreaking battle.

Even as a Divine-level Expert, the Netherworld Palace Master had great limitations possessing Maid Jingtian, yet the Evil King, having undergone Transformation, nearly possessing the strength of a Divine-level Expert, was not slain by the Netherworld Palace Master in one move.

As they fought, Heaven and Earth seemed on the verge of shattering, Energy raged furiously, turning everything upside down!

...

"I’m going to slaughter you! Ahhhhhh!"

Like a madman, Netherworld Ninth Soul Envoy Jiu Que charged at Zhou Yan with intense hatred, while the Netherworld Queen continuously spat blood, soon defeated and forced to fall back.

"You dare touch him? I’ll fight you to the end! Xiao Xue, merge and evolve!"

At this juncture, Netherworld Queen Xiao Shuang shouted furiously, suddenly summoning the Sword Spirit Xiao Xue from within her.

"Sister, at last, we can fight together again! Brother Zhou Yan, hold on!"

Little Xue smiled, as if leaving her final words.

Then Xiao Shuang and Little Xue’s bodies shone brightly, deriving a terrifyingly powerful Holy Sword, carrying the power of light and holiness.

With the emergence of the Holy Sword, the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoys were immediately suppressed.

But the battle between the Netherworld Palace Master and the Evil King suddenly spilled over to this side.

A beam of Ghost Light from the Netherworld Palace Master pierced through Frost Tears, blasting the Holy Sword sideways and striking the Evil King.

The Secret Realm Soul Card on the Evil King’s body was knocked away and flew out, streaking through the sky like a shooting star.

"Hiss—"

Bolts of Thunder Light suddenly descended, and Kong Ji, Wu Xu, the Yaochi Saint, and a seductive female saint appeared almost at the same time, rushing toward the Secret Realm Soul Card.

"Thinking of taking my master’s Soul Card? Ask me, Bai Ying, to act again!"

Bai Ying appeared with Wan Jian Tian and Xiong Ba.

Bai Ying, with a single move, covered everyone with the Ten Thousand Years Soul Path.

"Damn it, with the Soul Path suppression, I’ll slap every single one of you to death!"

Xiong Ba erupted in fury, his giant palm like a mountain, ferociously slamming down on all the saints.

Wan Jian Tian also unleashed the Ten Thousand Ghost Sword Dao at the same time.

The scene became utterly chaotic.

All plans and arrangements seemed to crumble at that moment, as no one had anticipated the intervention of Wan Jian Tian and his allies.

Faced with the Ten Thousand Years Soul Path, all cultivators instantly lost their abilities.

Xiong Ba launched a palm strike, like an unparalleled killing force.

The Ten Thousand Ghost Sword Dao released by Wan Jian Tian, in this place, was the most powerful and invincible Sword Dao!

The Holy Sword, at this moment, broke free from the suppressive force of the Soul Path and suddenly struck towards the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoys’ Jiu Que.

An absorbing force devoured its way through, and the Netherworld Palace Master took Jiu Que into his grasp, and although Jiu Que felt grateful, in the next moment, the scythe-like Sword of Slaughter from the Evil King burst out with an unparalleled killing intent and slashed at the Netherworld Palace Master.

But the Netherworld Palace Master immediately pushed Jiu Que forward to block the lethal strike while his own figure appeared instantly in front of Kong Ji and Wuxu Saint, seizing the Secret Realm Soul Card from Kong Ji’s hand.

The Evil King’s scythe-like giant sword split the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoys in two, and his body burned rapidly as if he were about to die instantly.

Jiu Que’s gaze was fixedly on the fleeing Netherworld Palace Master, who had taken the Soul Card, filled with intense hatred and resentment.

He recalled the days that, despite being used by Zhou Yan, were warm and cared for; though being exploited, these days were unprecedentedly satisfying.

He also remembered Zhou Yan’s words, "Jiu Que, if one day you find that I’ve done something wrong, I hope you won’t be angry. The shackles of fate make many things beyond our control. Regardless of anything, life or death, I, Zhou Yan, will remember you, my good subordinate."

These words echoed in his ears as his loyalty to the Netherworld Palace Master crumbled completely.

Even so, he made an inexplicable decision—he knew he was about to fall.

Before his death, he saw the sorrow and powerlessness in Zhou Yan’s eyes as he was sealed, along with a hint of guilt.

He suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with melancholy.

...

The Evil King’s strike not only unleashed a wave of energy that undid Zhou Yan’s seal but also did so in a way that was beyond everyone’s expectations, yet seemingly profound.

"Run!"

The Evil King suddenly communicated.

He was transmitting this message to Zhou Yan, a move seemingly covert, with an expression of urgency.

Yet, all cultivators could sense this scene; the Evil King meant to frame Zhou Yan as having actually taken the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, not the Netherworld Palace Master.

Sure enough, with those words, Zhou Yan immediately drew the attention of everyone.

The Soul Path suppression from the Ten Thousand Years Soul Path that could have ensnared many saints was broken free of by the Holy Sword, the Netherworld Palace Master, and the Evil King almost all at once.

Xiong Ba’s and Wan Jian Tian’s attacks landed, and Kong Ji, Wu Xu, the Yaochi Saint, as well as the unnamed seductive female saint faced a devastating suppression and were nearly killed on the spot.

But because the Netherworld Palace Master and the other powers nearly transcended the Saint Level, they forcefully broke free from the Soul Path attack, leading to a backlash that injured Bai Ying instantly and weakened his control, enabling Kong Ji, Wu Xu, and other saints to catch their breath instead of being instantly slain.

At this moment, the Netherworld Palace Master had already made his move; the four saints joined forces and narrowly dodged, but Kong Ji was severely harmed by the Netherworld Palace Master, with half his body shattered, and a Soul Token in his hand was seized by the Netherworld Palace Master.

Yet the four saints, including Kong Ji, did not panic; instead, their expressions turned solemn and they simultaneously turned to attack Wan Jian Tian and his allies.

The scene was thrown into complete disarray.

Zhou Yan recovered from the seal and didn’t attack right away; instead, he suddenly unleashed an Endless Netherworld Power, extinguishing the infernal flames burning on the Netherworld Nine Soul Envoys, preventing them from dying instantly.

"If you trust me, join forces with the Frost Snow Holy Sword!"

"Bai Ying, Xiong Ba, Wan Jian Tian, Frost Snow Holy Sword, and Jiu Que, let’s join forces, first slay the Evil King! Kong Ji, Wu Xu, and the other saints, don’t act rashly; the key item, the Secret Realm Soul Card, is still in the hands of the Evil King!"

After Zhou Yan acted, he roared furiously.