Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 616 - 052: Consider it a lesson

Chapter 616: Chapter 052: Consider it a lesson

Void, Thunderflame, Emperor Sword, Destruction.

The Four Great Sword Forms within one body, at the peak of the Nine Changes of the Sword Void, Zhou Yan had also grasped nearly seventy percent of the entire secret techniques of the Tai Chu Rune and the Soul Killing Divine Tao and the Netherworld Life and Death Bridge movement technique as part of his foundation.

And beyond that, he had truly comprehended the Method of Transcendence, understanding the Supreme Dao of Form and Spirit.

This was Zhou Yan’s achievement in less than nine years of secluded cultivation.

Nine years ago, Zhou Yan had no inkling of what he would achieve today. Even if he did, such thoughts seemed far-fetched. Back then, he never believed that within a decade, he could reach the pinnacle of the Nine Changes of the Sword Void.

At that time, he was still troubled by Sword Intent and Sword Soul.

Now, nine years had passed, and a new goal loomed ahead of him, the distant prospect of the realm of Sword Saint.

Perhaps, if the Breeding Ground world ever possessed true transcendence, then the realm of Sword Saint would be indispensable.

Before the realm of Sword Saint lay the Nine Refinements of Sword Tribulation and the Nine Sword Ancestor Paths.

Each level of the Nine Refinements of Sword Tribulation would have to endure three disasters and five tribulations, the Five Decays of Heaven and Man. Each step would be fraught with immense risk.

The Nine Sword Ancestor Paths required a comprehension of a particular Dao to its ultimate extremity for each level.

Only after such realms would one reach the Nine Origin Sword Saint Realm.

After mastering the Nine Paths, one must trace back to the origin, seeking the source of Tao and understanding the Original Dao.

Comprehending one origin among the nine would make one an One Origin Sword Saint.

A Nine Origin Sword Saint would be a powerful being who had grasped the Nine Origin Skill.

Only upon reaching this realm could one qualify to comprehend the Original Dao.

The Original Dao is the starting point and the endpoint of all Daos, something that can be intuited but not conveyed in words.

Having accepted the Void Sword Body, Zhou Yan’s understanding of the realm of Nine Origin Sword Saint had previously been limited to the literal meaning of the term. But now, Zhou Yan was keenly enlightened about the various relationships encompassed within it.

On his journey to the Heavenly Heart Secret Realm, Zhou Yan had embraced all the inheritance of the Void Sword Body, as well as some corresponding knowledge. This made his perspective broader and took his understanding a step further.

It was for this reason that Zhou Yan’s understanding of the subsequent realms was so comprehensive.

The road ahead was still long.

...

Heavenly Punishment Forest.

Yun Shu used her elixirs to fully heal the injuries of Zhou Wangchen and the others, then devotedly resolved their questions and doubts regarding cultivation, teaching by word and example without reservation.

Previously, upon receiving the message from Prince Xia Ming, some of the Xia Family Elders believed that while the Zhou Family and Li Family had some capability, there was no need for the Xia Family to grovel before them. However, Xia Feng, the current acting master of the Xia Family, resolutely agreed with Xia Ming’s view, despite objections.

From that moment, Xia Feng strictly reprimanded the Xia Family members and significantly improved their attitude towards the Zhou Family and Li Family members.

Before this, many members of the Xia Family inwardly seethed with indignation, feeling that both Zhou Family and Li Family were dependent on their graciousness for survival, an untenable prospect. However, bound by the authority of the Family Head, they had to submit, harboring a smoldering resentment.

Now, not only was there no more resentment, but they also felt fortunate! For even an extraordinary woman and powerful figure like Yun Shu treated the Zhou Family members with the utmost respect.

Anyone with discerning eyes could clearly see that Yun Shu was even deliberately ingratiating herself without a trace of the pride expected from a top talent.

Was it that Yun Shu lacked the power or the bearing, or was it in her nature to be servile?

Of course not. Yun Shu was obedient and gentle only towards people like Zhou Wangchen, Li Yunjin, and Xiao Zhan; against others, her ruthlessness was frightening. She was undoubtedly a merciless, cruel Demoness who killed without batting an eye.

But if such a Demoness could treat the Zhou Family members so, how could they compare themselves to Yun Shu? Thus, it was only right for them to be kind to the Zhou Family members.

Yun Shu’s behavior had indeed made the Xia Family members genuinely correct their attitudes. At the same time, they began to anticipate the rumored Zhou Yan.

What kind of strength, what kind of talent must one possess to make a woman like Yun Shu lower herself so?

The Xia Family members were no fools. They had their own considerations and now that Yun Shu had shown herself, it meant that Zhou Yan was sure to appear soon as well. Whether or not there was an opportunity, Xia Family Master Xia Feng had already gathered some of the more famous and beautiful young members of the clan, instructing them to observe the current situation carefully and learn to choose their paths for the future.

And this just so happened to align perfectly with these young women’s wishes.

"Previously, those who had designs on Li Qimeng and Feng Ling Bamboo; now you all can rein in your hearts! Judging by Lord Yun Shu’s attitude, this Zhou Yan is no simple character. Our Xia Family is also in turbulent times. Although we do not fear trouble, we should avoid stirring up unnecessary problems as much as possible. Both the Great Zhou Family and the Li Family boast ancient inheritances—it’s merely that we Xia Family activated our inheritance earlier.

As for the Heaven’s Chosen Girls in our clan, I know your aspirations are as high as the heavens and you wish to find superior Daoist couples. Previously, you looked down upon the people of the Zhou and Li Families, but now, you might want to reconsider. As for Zhou Yan, if you have the ability, I would naturally be pleased to see it, but someone like Lord Yun Shu seemingly hasn’t succeeded, so I’m not optimistic about your chances. Of course, if you settle for someone else in the Zhou or Li Families, it wouldn’t be a bad choice either.

This doesn’t require much elaboration from me as the Family Head. In this respect, you must learn from Xia Ming."

While Yun Shu was solving Li Yunjin’s doubts, Xia Feng quietly brought together most of the Xia Family members, sharing his thoughts.

Xia Feng’s thoughts originally aligned with the majority of the Xia Family members’ thoughts. Now that Xia Feng had spoken out, naturally, it received the agreement of these clan members.

"Who would have thought that the Zhou Family would produce such a character, one who rose with an incomparably dazzling brilliance in the past and who has not fallen since then, instead becoming even more renowned across the Sword Burial Ancestor Star."

A Xia Family member sighed.

"This Zhou Yan, when our Xia Family left, he was already showing signs of prosperity. Yet, who could have imagined that in merely nine years, he would rise meteorically like a comet. This is truly astonishing!"

A Xia Family Elder said with emotion.

"Back then, when we, together with the Li Family and Zhou Family members, mentioned Zhou Yan, it was met with much disdain and indifferent laughter. Now, those of our Xia Family geniuses of the same age as him are at most at the Sword Soul level. Even the most outstanding amongst them barely step foot into the Sword Void Realm, and compared to Zhou Yan, they are like fireflies to the bright moon. It’s a pity. In fact, the Xia Family had a complete chance to ally with the Great Zhou Family, but we were arrogant and haughty, fancying ourselves as the Imperial Family, hence we rejected the Great Zhou Family."

A Xia Family young lady in white sighed softly.

Her words were met with the agreement of many clan members.

"Hmph, you all think Zhou Yan is so great, but no matter how impressive, he is just a Cultivator below the Sword Tribulation Realm, not a Sword Ancestor or Sword Saint. What’s there to admire so much? To bend over backward for such a person, have you all lost your dignity?"

A young Xia Family member said with a cold laugh.

The pride in his eyes had always been there and never waned.

He was proud and talented and had always looked askance at Xia Ming.

"Xia Rui, what do you mean by that? You know in your heart, we are not trying to please anyone; rather, it’s about following the rules of Qi Fortune. When a genius’s rise is astonishingly fast, and most enemies opposing this person end up badly, one must learn to seek good fortune and avoid disaster—not to be enemies with such a rising Qi Fortune. This could suppress one’s own Qi Fortune and invite unnecessary trouble!

We Cultivators are not afraid of trouble, and the Xia Family does not lack backbone. It’s about recognizing a trend, a trend towards Harmonization! Don’t you understand this yet?"

Xia Feng’s expression turned grave as he spoke in a cold voice.

Xia Rui’s words had placed the Xia Family members on the level of those who feared death and acted cowardly, naturally causing much discomfort within many Xia Family members.

Xia Rui sneered, his face showing scorn as he said, "You may be afraid, but I do not care. A genius who has lost his peaks, who lacks the pride of his own, what difference does he have from trash? Hmph, Li Yunjin and Feng Ling Bamboo, I have set my sights on them, and no one will take them from me! As for Zhou Yan? I will make him understand who the real genius is! Is he at the Sixth Transformation Peak of Sword Void? So am I! His combat power seems impressive, right? But I also hold a Holy Artifact, and my compatibility reaches an astonishing 99%. Destroying him will be as simple as cutting grass!"

Xia Rui sneered coldly.

"What, you’ve reached a 99% compatibility with a Holy Artifact?"

Xia Feng’s face suddenly changed, with a hint of shock and disbelief in his voice.

"Heh heh."

Xia Rui coldly laughed without speaking further.

"Then why didn’t you act, when we faced unpredictable dangers earlier?" The lady in white questioned sharply with a cold expression on her face.

"First, because I had not seen Feng Ling Bamboo and Li Qimeng, I did not act, since I didn’t know if they were dead or alive. Second, if I didn’t suppress people like Li Wuxian and others, their increasingly strong capabilities would make Feng Ling Bamboo and Li Qimeng think they no longer needed to rely on us.

So, letting them get hurt, suffer a bit, or even losing a few lives can serve as a lesson! It’s just unexpected that at the critical moment, it was Yun Shu, a woman who stepped in. They could consider themselves lucky."

"Although Yun Shu is strong and I am no match for her, she must also be wary of me. I felt it, even if she didn’t show it."

"And anyway, such a ruthless woman, although quite intriguing, is not to my taste. Her influence affected my decisions, but she also saved many of our clansmen; I wouldn’t fail to know when to advance or retreat."

After thinking for a moment, Xia Rui dropped his pretentious stance and revealed his mindset.