《Edict of the Blade Fiend》 Chapter 1 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation It was a chilly fall night. Over the frozen pond, the silhouette of cranes flying overhead could be seen, illuminated by the pale light of the moon. As cranes flocked the skies, a majestic yet elegant dance reflected upon the still, shimmering surface of the pond. A young lad stood in the center, practicing his sword dance. ¡°It seems the waters are not still enough for they resist my weak, pathetic strikes,¡± said the young lad. The young lad¡¯s eyes were stained black, the very colors of strength and determination in its purest form. Due to his sheer determination, he was in a trance. He was unaware of the damage he inflicted upon himself as he bit down too hard on the edge of his cracked lips and blood-streaked down his mouth. He now resembled a bloody vampiric mess. The young lad heaved as he gasped for air to fill his lungs. The silver blade glistened as it reflected under the cold and pale moonlight. As it penetrated the water below, it moved on its own, trailing off course and completely uncontrollable. The young lad¡¯s face grew pale, as beads of sweat dripped into the pond beneath his feet and dissolved in the waters until he could no longer discern the droplets of sweat. His arms were sore and numb as he was completely drained of energy. ¡°It¡¯s either I drown and become one with the pond, or I continue to suppress my body¡¯s potential! I am still full of youth; hence I can¡¯t give up so easily. I don¡¯t wish to once again disappoint grandpa for the kindness he so generously gifted me.¡± As the young lad¡¯s mind focused on those words, the flames of his unwavering persistence lit up his soul, giving him the push of motivation, he so desperately needed. His face became paler than before as he reached out his arm to swing his long blade once again. As fatigued as the young lad may be, persistence was written all over his face. ¡­ The sands of time trickled down the hourglass. His days were spent sharpening his skills. Like any other day, flashes of his past were presented before his mystified eyes. The young lad¡¯s daily training was no common task, for it was incomparable to an uphill battle. However, at the end of the day, the young lad felt somewhat accomplished from his arduous training. Strangely enough, today, time seemed to have slowed to a crawl for every passing second, and minute seemed to drag on forever. Even though the water in the pond was icy cold, the young lad had long adapted to such harshness. His frail silhouette quivered like a wilted leaf clinging onto a branch in the middle of the pond. He could barely stand up anymore. ¡°So, this is it¡­am I destined to fail? Am I going to meet my mother now?¡± As he mumbled, a slender yet hazy figure presented itself in the form of his collective memories. A specter of a figure emerged in the deepest chambers of his heart. It appeared to want to face him, but it never did. Then it struck him as clear as the light of day. He realized the slender figure that made her presence known was none other than his own mother, who had been long dead to his father. As he faded out of consciousness, he lost the only support keeping his body upright as he collapsed into the freezing waters below. In that instant, out of nowhere, through the starry night sky, he saw a cloud of misty aurora that descended upon him as the sky lit up bright red. ¡­ ¡°Verily, I say unto you, the essence of the ancient blood feeds your soul. Master the art of The Formless Fist, and the world will bend to your will.¡± ¡­ ¡°For centuries, I have transcended the limitations of my soul, and through that, I¡¯ve gained complete mastery over my pure form. ¡°Within the pure form lies the essence and nature of one¡¯s spirit in its purest form. Buried deeper in one¡¯s spirit dwells the real awakening of primordial alchemy of the soul. ¡°In search of one¡¯s pure form, one must first seek to understand the meaning of the truth of one¡¯s pure form. ¡°In possession of the full truth comes the enlightenment of an oath in one¡¯s mind. Honor the oath, and one shall exceed the limitations of one¡¯s astral form.¡± ¡­ ¡°The secret of ascending one¡¯s skill in martial arts to the pinnacle of perfection lies within the unification of one¡¯s mind, soul and body as one entity. ¡°Knowledge seeks out those who are at peace with one¡¯s mind and soul.¡± ¡­ ¡°The Art of The Formless Fist, Form One and Form of The Dragon. Masters of this form are bestowed the ability of dragon slayers, conquer the skies in the shape of a dragon, and the skill of bone detection. Dragon folk are beings of extreme Yin, for the essence of the dragon subdue one¡¯s inner flames. ¡°The Edict of The Clouds: Dragons are ascension of flames. It birthed the clouds, and as the clouds bore the dragon, transcend your fists with the mind of the dragon. The power of this form begins with the pressure point on the palm as it circulates and reinforces the essence of the tiger, which amplifies the cycle of balance between both forms as they ascend and descend in unison and harmony within one¡¯s body. ¡°Bring your fist into submission, and it will subdue your inner flame, however, heed my warning, that if your fist opposes your will, you shall be consumed by its hellish flames. The mind fogs when one¡¯s body tires¡­¡± ¡­ A mysterious aura of energy engulfed the young lad¡¯s mind. It burrowed deep into his bones, pulling the drowning lad back into consciousness as his vision dimmed. He realized that the entire pond was now frozen solid, trapping the lower half of his body between the thick sheets of ice in inhumanly cold waters. His body was frozen stiff, and his face turned purplish as his breathing was dangerously shallow. However, the only thoughts that bombarded him were the repeating voices and mantras his mind conjured. However, in the wake of this odd moment, this young lad seemingly gained some form of enlightenment of knowledge foreign to his world. Amongst all the confusion, one thing that stood out the most was the unique style of martial arts. Completely unheard of, it was indeed one of its kind. It seemed like the pinnacle of some ancient sage life¡¯s work. ¡°Earth? The Formless Fist? What is all this? Could there be a place simply known as ¡®Earth¡¯ in this world? On top of that, could there possibly be a wagon known as ¡®the car¡¯ that could potentially travel and take flight at an inhumanly fast speed? What exactly is this ¡®computer¡¯?¡± muttered the young lad. However, the thought of this strange knowledge lingered only for mere moments as the young lad was more curious by the sheer limitless and intricate understanding of the set of unique martial arts. As unique as this event was, his body was dangerously weak. ¡°This is a realm dictated by the law of the sword, not a shroud of clue to what this foreign land known as Earth could possibly be. However, wise words were spoken by the ancient master of The Formless Fist. For a traveler to voyage as wide as the ends of the world, soon too will return to whence one¡¯s journey began. ¡°Since there was naught a skill that truly could name me its master, I shall use The Formless Fist as a foundation, utilizing the intricacy of this ancient art, I will be able to create a sword skill to call my own based on its knowledge! ¡°This ancient sage may present a tattered appearance; however, his presence alone in our realm would be appropriate to place him amongst the gods. With his teachings and graceful guidance, my skills would undoubtedly improve by leaps and bounds,¡± mumbled the young lad. He ultimately decided on his next path in life. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Yan, are you actually still training? The lengths you pushed your body to, even if you had somehow managed to exceed rank three of a swordsman, and even have reached rank one as a blade¡¯s cardinal, you would¡¯ve crippled your own body at that point!¡± ¡°There is nothing more important to a swordsman than their body. How could you have lost your way! Don¡¯t tell me that the name you made for yourself, the natural talents you possessed, was the product of your reckless training? How disappointing if that was the truth!¡± said a maiden draped in a purple silk cloak. The lass was strong and outspoken, coupled with unrivaled elegance and angelic beauty. The maiden stood atop a cavernous cliff by the pond, looking down fiercely at him. An aura of mysterious ferocity of the maiden of the sword surrounded her. Her drapes fluttered in the wind as her purple silk cloak flapped in the dirt. It was a mesmerizing yet frightful sight indeed. That fierce maiden was none other than Lady Zhou of the Zhou family, infamous for her prime beauty and wisdom, and her given birth name was Zhou Lingyi. For as long as he could remember, the maiden was Zhou Yan¡¯s idol. He admired her greatly and was also smitten by her beauty. Usually, he was quick to explain himself, however with her, he was always eager to submit to her by lowering his head in guilt and shame. However, it was different this time. He did no such thing as he was under the influence of the old sage¡¯s spirit. The lad simply looked blankly at the maiden and grinned. The grin was accompanied by a creepy yet mockingly sarcastic tone. ¡°Did I disappoint you? When have I, Zhou Yan ever disappointed you?¡± The maiden, who was always so poised, raised her eyebrows in shock. At the same time, Zhou Yan felt a strange feeling inside him as he spoke. The words poured out of his mouth too freely. There was not a shroud of worry nor the feeling to hide his thoughts as he spoke his mind. He no longer had any concerns. As the words rolled off the lad¡¯s tongue, he was caught off guard on how bold he was. He realized how great it felt. ¡°How brave of you to speak to me like that!¡± screamed the maiden. She was furious but had a hint of smugness in her tone. Zhou Yan could never comprehend his judgment in the past. However, now, he could feel that all his senses were heightened, and he could perceive the slightest of emotions. ¡°What about the tone you¡¯ve always used so boldly when speaking to me? Many moons ago, you¡¯ve never bothered about my well-being. I¡¯ve cared for you, submitted to you¡­ all in the name of love. Since then, I lowered myself to nothing more than a speck of dust. However, now, my full devotion is to the way of the sword. I shall perfect the skills of my blade, and all the women will then flock to me,¡± said the young lad, resonating with confidence and might in each word. The young maiden, Zhou Lingyi, gave Zhou Yan a confused look, and a hint of anger was visible upon her cold demeanor. Her eyebrows twitched, and she said, ¡°Looks like you have truly gone mad! Do show me what you are fully capable of on the test of might in a full moon¡¯s cycle time.¡± Holding back her rage, the young maiden left the cliff as she flipped the tail ends of her coat furiously. Looking down at the pond, he realized the ice had melted, freeing his body. Through the reflection of the pond, he saw his pale face and weak body. He felt reborn on the inside. Upon reflection, he realized that his past beliefs seemed immature and foolish. He recalled doings of his past and was revolted by his naivety and foolishness. He remembered that when he was pursuing a woman, he used to lower himself to submit to the will of the fair maiden, and it felt normal to him. In the wake of current events, he found that act to be appalling. He sighed in relief as now ridding his life of Zhou Lingyi no longer weighed on his conscience. With a deep breath of crisp cold air entering his lungs, he began the cycle of Qi energy in his body. In one swift kick, the young lad leaped gracefully from the pond and landed on top of the cliff. Turning towards the moonlight, he drew another deep breath as he began building up his inner Qi. Zhou Yan felt a strong and powerful force of energy building inside him. It is as if this energy was buried deep in his body. It was like what the old sage said; great energy was stored in the solar plexus of his body! This energy, however, did not feel like it belonged to him. ¡®If this is the inner strength, I must make this power mine!¡¯ Zhou Yan thought to himself. As he focused his mind, he started channeling every single sword skill and mantras he knew in a single breath. However, the collective Qi energy he conjured for the skills was not even a fraction to that burst of innate, foreign energy! The young lad frowned as he was puzzled. After some thought, Zhou Yan recalled the spirit of the old sage mentioning a unique ancient scroll entitled ¡®Nine Fold Yin-Yang Manuscripts¡¯. Instantly, he focused his breathing, as shown in the first stage of the scroll. He realized the methods were similar to none other than the exact mantra of his bloodline¡¯s sword skill! In this particular attempt of amassing Qi, it was violent, somewhat similar to a god-slaying sword swung wildly intending to slay a god in the young lad¡¯s body. Nothing could stand in the wake of that sudden rush of pure unhinged energy that coursed his meridians. As the Qi energy flowed through his liver meridian, it gushed through the ¡®Tai Xu,¡¯ ¡®Yuan Chong,¡¯ ¡®Shou Ren,¡¯ ¡®Qi Du,¡¯ and ¡®Zhu Yao¡¯ pressure gates of his body. It felt like an intense rush of force! At this moment, vapors of smoke emanated from Zhou Yan¡¯s body. He felt as though he had been struck by lightning as he suddenly had uncontrollable spasms. The young lad was in agony as he was tormented by every form of pain. However, not a single whimper escaped the young lad even though blood was spilled, and he was in a semi-conscious state due to the agonizing pain that shot through his bones, deep into his soul. The young lad was known for his strong will and stubbornness, and now that he was infused with the spirit of the old sage, his determination reached unimaginable new heights! Cold sweat that once soaked his long robes was now dried with the scorching heat emanating from his body, and he paid little attention to it. ¡°Huff¡­¡± exhaled the young lad. A cloud of black smoke escaped his body. Zhou Yan instantly recovered as he felt the entirety of his soul was now refreshed as he could now see things that used to be unknown to him. His fatigue and shallow breathing disappeared. He succeeded in infusing the collection of foreign Qi as his own. Through the tormenting pain, this young lad was completely reborn as he now exceeded the realm of a rank three swordsmen and attained the heights of a rank one blade¡¯s cardinal! Alas, there the young lad stood, with a wave of his hand, a stream of water from the pond launched into his grasp as it exploded in bursts of glory, showering the young lad. Seemingly baptized by the stream, the waters washed the dirt and grime from the young lad¡¯s body, purifying him. ¡°This is only the first fold, and it already contains this much ferocity. Why would I, Zhou Yan, in days to come submit to the will of anyone? I can be a natural genius! I will no longer be a burden to my family! No longer will Grandpa be disappointed in me!¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes were now stained black and his mind was as sharp as ever. He rejoiced at his newfound confidence in his future! ¡ª From 15 Feb 2020, Coins spent on books that aren¡¯t selected will be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 2 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The horizons glimmered dimly as the first blush of the morn¡¯ lit up the skies. As the first light of dawn peeked through the horizon, a single ray of light parallelly reflected the glint in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes from the tip of his blade. Throughout a restless night, the young lad gained enlightenment via the way of the sword. Zhou Yan achieved unity in his mind, body, and soul, and through this, the young lad was reborn. His rebirth was the product of infusing the cloud of primal essence of the blade as an extension of his body. As meek and as frail the lad¡¯s body was, he had a strength akin to casting a solid block of steel for hidden behind his unassuming body was an explosive energy of youth desperate to be unleashed. No longer was the young lad the same fifteen-year-old na?ve fool, for his gaze, was now pierced deep. His eyes were pitch black, as dark as the night sky that stretched across the endless stars. The instant the ray of light flashed, sluggishly, the young lad¡¯s body began to move like an idle masonic effigy. It started with an inching crawl, however, in due time, his pace quickened. The young lad¡¯s hands danced with a strange flow of movements. Unusual forms of shapes presented in the form of his odd dance¡­ This very dance mimicked the actions of a unique, primal beast. At this moment, the projection of this strange, unseen beast formed through the body of the young lad. ¡°Form of the dragon, rising blade!¡± growled the young lad. The very sword in his grasp vibrated as a definite buzz emanated from the tip of his blade. The sound echoed a bright and gleeful tone. All he could hear in front of him was a swift ¡®swoosh¡¯ of the blade as it cleanly pierced a falling leaf, skewering it through the thin silvery blade. However, unaware of how much force he used to stab the leaf, the sword that he had for three full years suddenly snapped into two, with one end clunking to the ground as the broken piece fell to his feet. Zhou Yan frowned at the sight of his broken blade, his forehead resembling flowing streams of water into several creeks. Staring down at the two halves of his broken blade, he was frustrated by the setback his blade caused him in his progress. ¡°My journey to mastering The Form of The Dragon had just begun, and there is indeed much to comprehend. However, how do I achieve such a feat when even the very basic act of controlling my strength trumps me. Perhaps, it is true that the act of enlightening a fool such as I would be an impossible task,¡± mumbled Zhou Yan sulkily. He proceeded to grab the broken sword piece off the ground when it instantly flew into the lad¡¯s palm with a ¡®swoosh¡¯! He decided not to sulk any longer and chose to put his training of the ¡®Form of The Dragon¡¯ on hold and forget about the texts in the ¡®Edict of The Nine Folds of Yin and Yang.¡¯ At the same time, the young lad decided to devote his full attention to mastering the art of the sword that the Zhou family was built upon, twas¡¯ known as ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade¡¯. The young lad, Zhou Yan, refused to believe that his natural gift, the prime talent handpicked by the entirety of the Zhou family would amount to nothing; even if he failed to comprehend the intricacies of the Form of The Dragon in the bequeathed knowledge of The Art of The Formless Fist, primarily when this lad was exceptionally bestowed! As the soul merged itself in his body, thus began the painful process of metamorphosis the young lad had to endure, as he felt the inner shackles that once bound his potential had been obliterated. Seeds of confidence sowed in the young lad¡¯s mind as he was sure that his intelligence was not as awful as what the lass, Zhou Lingyi claimed. Riding the waves of his confidence, he resumed training in the sword art of his familial ties. This sword art contained nine different forms. Each form bore its own set of complications. Before the lad began, Zhou Yan felt the first forms were no challenge to him. However, each form after the third would be no easy feat to accomplish. They required all the physical energy the young lad could muster. Every ounce of strength and will was a necessity for the young lad to perform the latter forms. Through the lens of a rank three swordsmen, it seemed that he could comprehend the first three forms, a simple feat, nonetheless. The fourth form, however, proved to pose the most difficult to him. To best describe the fifth form, it could only be done by reading the scribbles of the heavenly scrolls, which was beyond the young lad¡¯s comprehension. However, after being bequeathed with a flood of knowledge, on top of being enlightened by a full night¡¯s study of the first Form of Sword Art of The Formless, The Form of The Dragon; resuming his mastery over the sword art of his family would be as easy as water flowing down the stream into the drain. First form, second form. Third form, Fourth form. The young lad presented the fifth form in an unbroken series after repeating the fourth form only once. The sixth came as naturally and uninterrupted as the fifth. ¡­ Then he proceeded to the seventh form ¡­ After several repetitions of the seventh, the talented Zhou Yan was graced by enlightenment to perform the eighth form. Alas, at this moment, the young lad was wholly absorbed in the dance of his blade, as his real conviction alone had naught but left his mind. It was only when the gleaming rays of light reflected off the edge of his broken silvery blade, did the lad awoke from his trance. At the same moment, a wave of energy pulsated in the young lad¡¯s body. It was like several endless streams of water flowing inside as the waves splashed. The Blade¡¯s Essence of tiny silvery scalpel flowed chaotically in the new paths forged internally by the collective effort of both forces ¡®Inner Strength of the Void¡¯ and ¡®The Edict of The Nine Folds of Yin and Yang¡¯ combined. The young lad felt that it was at this very moment, his consciousness returned. In an instant, written across the young lad¡¯s cold expression was the face of sheer glee, excitement, and shock. ¡°Blade¡¯s essence¡­infused in my body is the blade¡¯s essence. This is a sign of reaching the very pinnacle in the realm governed by the essence of the blade! However, I have achieved nothing but the first rank of a blade¡¯s cardinal¡­. This could mean¡­¡± In a desperate attempt to calm his rapidly beating heart and growing anxiety, Zhou Yan inhaled deeply. In the realm governed by way of the sword, three distinctions were made. These were swordsmen, Blade¡¯s cardinal, and finally the Blade¡¯s essence. One would only be worthy of the knowledge that exceeded the limitations of this realm to a different realm afar when one had mastered the full extent of the Blade¡¯s essence! However, with only the timespan of a night, this young lad was already worthy of dwelling in the realm of the blade¡¯s essence! This sudden advancement was beyond the comprehension of any mortal men! The progression from a mere third-ranking swordsman to the first rank of Blade¡¯s essence would only be a fool¡¯s wish as the feat itself would be akin to scaling a mountain that pierced the very heavens as each rank has its distinctions to complete, together with its own set of complications. Scattered across the Canglan City were countless men of skill and wisdom. However, as skilled and as wise these men were, the achievement of this rank halted the progression of numerous more! The difficulty of this challenging task was once a thought Zhou Yan and his fellow swords mate dared not conjure in their minds. As of the present moment, infused in his body was the essence of the blade in its very primal form. How could Zhou Yan not be shocked in the wake of the sudden turn of events? Drawn to understanding the very nature of his circumstances, this young lad, Zhou Yan, apparently too, had inherited the anxious nature of his ancestors. He could no longer contain his anxiety, and his heart began to beat rapidly. In this realm governed by the essence of the blade, there were two things most valuable to a scholar of this art. The first would be one¡¯s body¡¯s physical limits and abilities, as true to the saying of ordinary folk; the strength of the body lies within the foundations of one¡¯s bones. The second would be insight, as insight influenced one¡¯s wisdom. Though the lad lacked in feats of physical talents, he was extraordinarily gifted for his unparalleled insight as Zhou Yan had undergone the test of might years ago! It did not matter that his mother was a maiden of no status and unknown origin. Zhou Yan was still bequeathed the title as a pupil of his family¡¯s sacred name. However, met only by waves upon waves of setbacks made his grandfather¡¯s heart wretch in disappointment and sorrow. Upon gazing at his grandfather¡¯s sad eyes, this saddened the young lad as his heart too wretched in agony. Currently, the young lad¡¯s body was reborn as his bones were rebuilt to a state of unimaginable invincibility, paired with his unparalleled insight, it was indeed an extraordinary event. No longer will this lad be a disappointment to his grandfather! No longer will he cause shame to his father; no longer will he be called a fraud or unworthy of his glory, nor would he be looked down upon by common folk with judgment! This lad, as of his current state, would finally be worthy of the title of a natural genius! He would finally have the ability to show the common folk his unparalleled genius talents! Thus, Zhou Yan sheathed his sword as he stretched out his fatigued body, then step by step, the young lad walked in the direction of the morning sun. Basking in the rays of the morning sun, with every step the young lad took, his path was poetic as it symbolized the arduous journey of the way of the sword. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Yan, are you aware that you are late? The incident of you pushing your body¡¯s physical limits was brought to the attention of your grandfather! Did you know that you were made an example of insolence by the entirety of the family? You were also heavily criticized by the elder sages of the family.¡± Before Zhou Yan could set foot in the academy, a sharp and slightly coarse voice echoed in the lad¡¯s ears. The voice was from a preteen whose voice had not fully matured to manhood. This lad was none other than Zhou Yan¡¯s very own cousin, Zhou Xian. Zhou Xian had proven himself to be quite the real genius, as was his perceptive insight. However, as talented as he was, his insight was nowhere close to Zhou Yan. Since many years ago, Zhou Yan had bested him in the test of insight. Since that defeat, Zhou Xian spent many days seeking guidance from Zhou Yan; however, after knowing the truth that Zhou Yan was nothing but a fool, the attitude towards his cousin changed in an instant. Fueled by his arrogance solely on the fact that Zhou Xian demonstrated more potential than Zhou Yan, he refused to address Zhou Yan by his ¡®upperclassman¡¯ status. His ignorance extended to his unwilling reluctance to even address Zhou Yan as ¡®Cousin¡¯! The full extent of his disrespect would be Zhou Xian outrightly addressing Zhou Yan by his name. This act was the pinnacle of rudeness as addressing an elder by their names meant simply dismissing the fact that they were seemingly their equal or beneath them. Zhou Yan perceived this act of audacity as nothing but an insult to the highest degree! Chapter 3 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Are you entitled to simply address me as ¡®Zhou Yan¡¯?¡± Zhou Yan menacingly gazed at Zhou Xian with his sharp eyes as a wave of pride washed over him. Zhou Yan, however, was just being playfully sarcastic as he harbored no ill will against his cousin. Since he possessed abilities beyond his wildest dreams, he no longer wished to relive the days of shame and humility. In the face of Zhou Yan¡¯s fury, Zhou Xian felt an unnatural fear. Trying to act natural, he blinked and averted his eyes from Zhou Yan¡¯s antagonizing gaze. Zhou Xian felt that Zhou Yan might be at the brink of exploding in anger. He wondered to himself as he thought that it might be because he was pushing himself beyond his physical limits and failing as usual to exceed his expectations. ¡°A meager trash like him¡­ what would I require to lower myself, a genius, to his level?¡± Zhou Xian thought to himself. Even though he felt fear, he tried to ignore it by masquerading it behind the fa?ade of his fragile pride. Upon hearing what his cousin said, Zhou Xian mustered a mockingly sarcastic smile and said, ¡°You do have a point, hahaha. It seems you are still my genius cousin, after all. I am curious to witness the lengths of how gifted your talents are! I¡¯ll give you a full moon¡¯s cycle time. If you are still as stagnated as you are now, we will see how ashamed you will feel, claiming that you know of such vast resources.¡± Zhou Yan just shrugged and ignored his comments. Zhou Xian turned around and left, filled with ignorant pride. However, Zhou Yan felt hurt as Zhou Xian¡¯s words were so bold and disrespectful. Zhou Yan trembled in rage and did not utter a single word as he clenched his broken sword tightly in his right hand. He was offended, and his blood was boiling over in fury as it awakened the pure, unstable primal essence of the blade from deep down and was at the brink of unleashing a string of unchained wrath! With every ounce of willpower, he subdued his boiling anger, confining it to his body, allowing the raging formless primal blade¡¯s essence to wreak havoc inside him instead of using it to retaliate against his cousin. The young lad was aware that he was unworthy of his grandpa¡¯s kindness due to the constant disappointment that he brought home. The kindness his grandpa showered him caused unrest amongst his peers. They felt it was unfair of the Elder in favoring the lad as they had limited access to the resources as compared to the lad. It sparked hatred towards him as he just brooded in shame despite the constant teachings and good grace of his grandfather. With that very fact in mind, it gave the young lad all the more reason to push his body beyond the limitations of his physical ability, such as when he was stuck in the middle of the freezing pond with cold winds constantly blowing at him. The lad was aware of his natural talent for perception. As talented as he was, he could not shake the suffocating feeling he felt, being unable to expand it to its full potential. However, that was in the past. He was now no longer shackled down by his previous worries. Gone were the days of his bondage in the pursuit of mastering the ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s blade¡¯ that he inherited from generations of his family. He was now able to demonstrate a feat, not even his father, Zhou Wangchen, a genius could. With a single breath, he managed to perform up to form eight of this sword art! This young lad just made history for generations to come in the Zhou family! Thus, with him being fully aware of his blessed talents, this further fueled his confidence and pride more than ever before in his life. ¡­ ¡°Elders of Lore worry not for I will speak to him about his arrogance. It concerns me as his prideful talents clouded his better judgment to the extent of feeding his temptation of unleashing fury upon me! However, I heeded your graceful advice, for I concern not with the disputes of the family, and thus I humbly backed away from his atrocious act and returned.¡± Closing in to the academy with only a couple more steps, Zhou Yan heard Zhou Xian¡¯s voice echo as he muttered those words of insanity to the air. Upon hearing such words of ignorance uttered by that imbecile, Zhou Yan was disgusted by his act of deception! Unable to defeat his annoyance, Zhou Yan was once again greeted with the deep echoey tone, by the Elder of Lore saying, ¡°Yes, it is quite admirable for you to demonstrate such swift improvements by your current standards. This boy, Zhou Yan, however, he¡¯s nothing but broken glass. Has the Elder gone blind for thinking he would be Zhou Wangchen¡¯s successor? Don¡¯t worry for him, for the likes of him could only be compared to dirt. Focus only on your training; so, you shall be able to prove the elder wrong for favoring such crude talent, which would be nothing but a joke!¡± As the Elder of Lore spoke, his gaze drifted over to Zhou Yan as he remained rooted in his spot. That very gaze was akin to the majestic work of twin bells of bronze, as the majesty of such art reflected the glimmers of cold winter rays. Hidden behind such elegance was a deep well that contained a menacing blade¡¯s essence trapped in deep slumber. Seemingly intimidated by such menacing rays radiating from the Elder¡¯s gaze, Zhou Yan felt extremely compelled to kneel in submission and prostrate in shame. However, deep within the young lad¡¯s body was his primordial, formless blade¡¯s essence, that raged in a sudden wave of primal unrest. With a loud bang, his long-flowing dark hair exploded into a messy glory as his unkempt hair billowed in the wind. That sudden burst of energy broke the nerve-racking pressure from the menacing gaze while a sudden rush of blood lust filled the air. This young lad was unrecognizable as he transformed into a completely different man. Compared to the vast realm, this lad was frail, meek and insignificant, almost comparable to a mere insect. However, the instant the menacing blood lust filled the air; his unbending will made him appear like a God of War in the presence of mere mortals. ¡°Hmm!¡± The shock was visible across the Elder¡¯s wrinkly face. He looked at Zhou Yan in amusement and surprise. ¡°Great Elder, blind was not the Elder of my household, nay. For the ones that truly are blind are none other than old fools who share your title! On a side note, I ascended to rank one of the Blade Essence prodigies, without the need of studying in this rotting academy. I am now worthy of training with no form of supervision, and no rules of our household were violated; thus, there won¡¯t be a need for me to kneel in anticipation of punishment!¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes filled with pride, and no longer will this young lad fear the prejudice of the Elder of Lore. However, he started to feel restless and irritated as the Elder¡¯s menacing gaze never left him. It was common for him to feel that way, but in the past, he felt no resentment towards such humiliation. Now, upon inheriting the soul of the ancient sage along with the sage¡¯s memories, he was graced by the knowledge of honor in kneeling. He realized that no one other than his birth parents was he allowed to bend his knee. This was a form of preservation of self-respect as he should not need to kneel before those who were unworthy. Since his rebirth, Zhou Yan felt there was no greater insult to him than kneeling for the Elder of Lore. He now realized what self-respect and pride meant. The Elder of Lore was disappointed with him and dismissed his valiance. ¡°It is not wrong what you said. This academy is no longer worthy for you to attend. However, the cost to attaining your power and leaping through progression would be overexerting your body¡¯s physical limitations, and, in the end, you will only destroy yourself! You will never truly be Zhou Wangchen¡¯s successor¡­ sigh, be wary of your progression, child!¡± It was without a shred of doubt that the young lad remained unwelcome. However, due to the bond the lad had as part of the family, all the Elder of Lore could do was regretfully bear witness to such gifted talent waste away. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart was wretched at the sight of the desolate gaze of the Elder of Lore. As strict as the Elder of Lore may be, given the position he was placed in and the status he carried, it would be required for him to show menace. All of his responsibility was in the name of maintaining order, preventing an internal conflict, and deterring external threats to the family. If every single pupil pushed the limitations of their physical body all in the name of progress like the young lad, the very foundation and order of this household would be destroyed, and the only fate that awaited the Zhou family would be death. With that sudden realization, Zhou Yan¡¯s cloud of dissatisfaction disappeared in an instant. All the young lad could do was watch the silhouette of the Elder of Lore as he walked away from the young lad with despair. The young lad finally understood the weight of responsibility and faith he had to shoulder was not solely his own. He, too, realized the bitter words spewed towards Zhou Xian was motivated by provocation, and their only purpose was to prod the young lad to work even harder¡­ However, the careless actions of the lad caused the Elder of Lore to think that his sudden progression was at the cost of his constant persistence in pushing the limits of his physical talents¡­ If that were the truth, the bones in his body would, without doubt, be destroyed. This effort would only end in vain. Even with the possession of insurmountable perception, it would only be a futile effort¡­ The young lad stood rooted to his spot, unable to move. He was tempted to scream out loud and explain that in fact, he did not force his body beyond the limits of his physical strength and that the product of his sudden progress was due to the blessing of his inborn gift of perception and the journey to attain powers enough to rival a small nation was a smooth sailing one. However, he could not bring himself to say such things. He wished not to disappoint anyone from the family. However, the young lad¡¯s heart wrenched at the sight of the disappointment in the eyes of the Elder of Lore. Excluding the Elder of Lore, the look of disdain he was given was commonplace across his peers in the academy except for Zhou Xian and Zhou Cheng as they were humoring themselves at the cost of Zhou Yan¡¯s despair. As the saying of common folk goes, ¡®Saddened was the unfortunate, angered were the act of submission.¡± With the gift of clairvoyance, comes the blessing of heightened emotions. Zhou Yan had a sudden feeling that shook him down to his core. At the same time, Zhou Yan realized that he was not called a fraud and an unworthy genius by everyone he crossed paths. On the other hand, he now understood that he was cared for by most of his peers. The only thing was, they demonstrated their feelings of care the same way the Elder of Lore did, following the saying of ¡®Saddened was the unfortunate, angered were the act of submission.¡¯ Gripping his broken blade in the palm of his hand tightly, once again, the young lad¡¯s blood boiled with fury. However, the young lad found no need to explain his case as the truth of his progress would undoubtedly be brought to light during the test of might in a full moon¡¯s cycle time, which would surprise them. Till then, he would remain humble. ¡­ Carved from a single block of pitch-black steel was an effigy of a lady brought to life by the slithering curved blade of a dagger. Only the back of the lady was carved. It was uncanny to the silhouette in Zhou Yan¡¯s visions. The effigy carved was detailed with streaks of intricately laced lines that resembled streams of flowing water. Zhou Yan was never able to grasp the intricacies of the ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s blade,¡¯ nor was he able to understand the deeper meaning of the inner workings of said technique in his recent past. However, graced by his awakening, in his current state, the young lad was able to understand entirely the very intricacy of this sword art. This very sword art reflected a perfect symphony of balance, rooted deeply in the very principles of the ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade¡¯ and it was through the very hands of the man that appeared in the face of Zhou Yan that transcended the parallels of balance in the form of ¡®the way of the sword through bond and despair.¡¯ Way of the sword through bond was the very principle that bequeathed life unto this hand-carved effigy. Life was bestowed to this object through the grace of limitless love, a relationship forged that stretched to no ends. The parallel to this balance was one of despair. The way of the sword through despair, bestowed only the purest form of desperation, wrought with its wake were the destruction of all life. Thus, the symphony of life and death perfectly reflected upon this intricately carved effigy. Only when this block of steel was reduced to a pile of metallic dust will the hands of the man finally rest. The edge of this man¡¯s eyes filled with wrinkles of age. Each strand a different tale of the bitter, unfortunate paths he traversed in life. The only testament this poor lad had of his participation in the intricate cog works of life¡¯s distant past were the windows of his soul. The gaze in his eyes read wisdom as deep as the trenches, the husks that were once his eyes were completely devoid of life. Observing the chaos, this man¡¯s hands once again started to tinker with the block of steel. This lad took a deep breath as a full jug of ale appeared in the grasps of his hand out of nowhere. Tilting his head back, the lad chugged with haste, seemingly drowning the feelings of extreme desperation. The poor lad¡¯s expression morphed from a flushed, distraught state to a ghastly pale face as it reflected the fleeting life from this lad; due to his hasty actions. Alas, his gaze met Zhou Yan as he waddled in his drunken state after he had drained every last drop of ale in that jug. The gaze was one with concern. It was the first time Zhou Yan had felt that gaze. It was not one of ignorance for this very gaze was filled with actual concern. It felt like one had experienced a full cycle of reincarnation. In short, a simple gaze felt like a millennium! Zhou Yan was troubled with intense feelings of doubt for his father, the prodigy who shouldered the good name of his family and an unparalleled genius with none to match! However, with mysterious reasons, the life of this man was reduced to nothing, but one spent with his carvings. A life spent with the same routine of carving and drowning in ale ¡ª nothing else. This meeting was per usual, as only once a week would Zhou Yan be granted the opportunity of receiving any form of guidance from his father. Before this current meeting, it was fated that Zhou Yan could never grasp the knowledge that was graced by his father. However, in light of his enlightenment and heightened senses, Zhou Yan noticed buried in the deepest depths of his father¡¯s eyes was a flash of light as ferocious and bright as a shower of meteors. ¡°This hand-carved effigy was not a crude piece of art. It was carved on its body with two different sets of the way of the sword, which are ¡®The Way of The Sword Through Bond and ¡®The Way of The Sword Through Despair.¡¯ Choose only one path to follow, child!¡± As pathetic as his father, may be, the only thing that baffled Zhou Yan was the ability of his father to conjure a carving out of thin air with the simple flick of his wrist. This carved effigy too, however, was a carving of a woman¡¯s back. It was one with hesitation, for it portrayed the indecisive nature of turning its back. Chapter 4 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°The way of the sword forms bonds, as well as the way of the sword reaps lives of plenty. Am I not able to pick both sides?¡± Zhou Yan frowned as he held the carving of the effigy in his palm. After taking a good look for a brief moment, the young lad fixed his gaze upon his father. ¡°Have you made up your mind yet, child? Will you walk the same paths as I did? Heed my word, hoarding knowledge is never as good as being a master of one!¡± In Zhou Wangchen¡¯s gaze was a hint of calmness as calm as a pool of still and unmoving water. It was a gaze without vision as it drifted over Zhou Yan¡¯s face and landed calmly on a block of fresh, dark metal, unknown to when this block presented itself in the palm of his hand. Words silently escaped him. In the presence of his own father, Zhou Yan felt tongue-tied. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart wrenched unpleasantly at the sight of his father¡¯s state of speechlessness paired with the judgment due to the vicissitudes of his current progress. Zhou Yan only had memories of immeasurable honor for this man. He chose to remember his father as a man of pride. However, at this moment, this very man was one that was indeed in shambles. Zhou Yan did not know what transpired that his own father had to fall so hard from grace. His father was once known for his immeasurable perception as his ingenuity, and vast powers trumped the boundaries of the realm. However, the current desolate state this lad was in became the joke of the common folk in Canglan City. Thus, Zhou Yan stood speechless as the only thing the lad could do was observe his father¡¯s actions while he brooded and sighed at this heart-wrenching scene. In Zhou Yan¡¯s opinion, every motion that once posed a challenge to any common-folk or his peers would no longer be impossible to him. The lad seemingly felt that whatever he was shown, he would have no issues performing that task. Perhaps, he could even perform the task better than anyone! The lad could only shut the thought in the confines of his mind, as he wished not to hint his desires to a single soul. However, in a sudden instant, the young lad felt a seemingly stagnating sensation as the movements from his father were not focused. As a result of his lack of focus, a precognitive vision of the two conflicting ways of the sword were set for a collision course with each other, thus reducing everything to dust. At this very instant, the young lad¡¯s father ceased carving and spoke to him. ¡°Be wise about your choices in the path you choose. Whichever choice you make, see that you walk that path to the very end. Only then will your path be right. Hmm¡­It seems you have awakened your true potential as the shackles of your limitations had finally been broken.¡± As the carving was in the process of being slowly chiseled, it was as what Zhou Yan had foreseen earlier, and with a sudden ¡®poof,¡¯ the block of steel was reduced to nothing but a pile of fine dust. The scene was uncanny to the finest detail. Watching the scene play out, Zhou Yan grew anxious as his heartbeat quickened. He was shocked by the accuracy of his precognitive visions; however, he was still tongue-tied. He replied with a soft, nervous mumble, and then the young lad spoke, ¡°Father, if I may speak, The way of the sword through both bond and despair was a desire you held on for a lifetime. As your sole heir, father, if I am unable to inherit your abilities, it would bring nothing but shame to your name for having an heir without skill! ¡°I have chosen to walk the way of the sword of both bond and despair as my honor to you. I have determined my path, and there is no need for further advice, father.¡± ¡°Your persistent determination will be merely an act of foolishness. Your naivety will make you lose track of your progress. As brilliant as I once was, I too had fallen to grave depravity of sorrow and failures. It is wise to first obtain power as a testament to one¡¯s might. Only then, you shall shift your focus to the pursuit of creation and the way of the sword. One must not differ from one¡¯s priorities.¡± Zhou Wangchen sighed as he reached for another jug of ale and drank from it. It was from carving that caused his face to flush as red as blood, and now, from drowning himself with the jug of ale, his face became as white as a dead person. The combination of colors seemed to reflect his pale, ghastly soul as his flesh and bones were subjected to a fiery pyre. ¡°As wide as the ends of the world could stretch, one will always return to whence one¡¯s journey began. It mattered not if it were the way of the sword through bond, through despair, through blood, through the reaping of life, through great poison, through alchemy, through water, or through deception. What paths were walked were paths laid by the ways of the sword, and the sword is nigh. I choose only the great many paths of the sword. No shackles nor bond nor contract will I be tied to walk one path alone. For there was none that concerned me.¡± The words rolled off Zhou Yan¡¯s tongue so smoothly that they shocked Zhou Wangchen as those were words of wisdom. Those words were from the collective memories of the great ancient sage. In an instant, the jug of ale in the lad¡¯s father¡¯s hand dropped and shattered on the ground into a thousand pieces with a loud ¡®smash¡¯ that echoed. Ale spilled all over the ground. The young lad¡¯s nose stung as the strong scent of ale filled the air. The burning smell of the ale reminded the lad of being seared and burnt alive. He felt that his very soul and flesh were being set ablaze atop a pyre. As blistering as his soul burned, his mind remained focused and clear. A cold, glacial wave washed over him, and it felt overwhelmingly bone-chilling! It was a unique and an odd situation for the young lad. Zhou Yan immediately worried how pale his face could possibly be. He was startled to think about how his father was able to chug a full jug of ale as if it was water. He wondered what herbs were used to brew the ale to such a degree of viscosity. However, one sure thing was the outstanding properties of these herbs that could quell the many ailments of the mind. The potency of these herbs was no laughing matter! The young lad suddenly felt nauseated as he found it difficult to hold down the contents of his stomach. Sensing the urgency of his declining health, Zhou Yan mustered every ounce of what remained of his will to infuse his primal blade¡¯s essence to expel the potent gases from the spilled ale through every crack and crevice of his body. The lad¡¯s father, Zhou Wangchen, failed to notice the events that transpired as his mind drifted to a strange trance-like state of enlightenment. The young lad, Zhou Yan, was clear and aware that his father was one with knowledge and experience that spanned his entire lifetime. Perhaps spoken words from his tongue reminded his father of something since the words originated from an unknown ancient realm from afar, simply known as ¡®Earth.¡¯ With the sage¡¯s experience following the way of the warrior through his many studies of the ancient art known as ¡®Spatial Destruction,¡¯ was no act of familiar play. His mind was occupied with deep thoughts of ¡®the way of the sword through both bond and despair¡¯ for a brief moment. The young lad felt how similar these ways were in comparison to the sword art of his own, ¡®The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade.¡¯ Since the lad had completed the eighth form, incorporating both ways in his pursuit of power would be no trouble at all. However, as smooth sounding of a task it seems, he was not blessed to fully embrace and bequeath the full understanding of the vast wells of knowledge of both distinct ways it consisted of. An unmolded and incomplete blade¡¯s essence would only bring false knowledge to the blade. Thus, the young lad never persisted. Zhou Wangchen finally snapped out of his trance in one-tenth of an hourglass¡¯ time. Within that period, Zhou Wangchen had recovered to a much more composed state of mind. As consciousness returned to Zhou Wangchen, the lad could only let out a soft sigh as he noticed the mess at his feet. He simply frowned at the sight; as his wrinkles were etched into the edges of his eyes, the collective strands were clumped into a straight line. With a single wave of his hand, the potent cloud of ale was swept away instantly as the air around them cleared. After ridding the room of the potent clouds, Zhou Wangchen looked at his son with a hint of slight reluctance. He said, ¡°It seems, your gifts were better than what I was once blessed with. With that, child, I am without worry.¡± ¡°The words you spoke were that with great wisdom. It was uncertain if you truly gained such wisdom, or they were just mere words in passing. Needless to say, as your father, I gained some insight through those words, and thus I will be leaving for an indefinite length of time,¡± whispered Zhou Wangchen. As many conversations he had with Zhou Yan before, this was the only one that rekindled the dying flame of life and was visible through his dark pearly eyes. ¡°Father, how are your injuries?¡± Zhou Yan noticed the feats his father demonstrated moments ago were indeed a feat of no simple task, and thus the young lad realized the label given to him by the common-folk, ¡®Trash,¡¯ held no truth. However, the claims of his father being a cripple by his own grandfather puzzled him. ¡°The occasional exertion of one¡¯s physical prowess keeps one¡¯s abilities sharp. Now that you have awakened your true potential, Cang Lan City will never be able to restrict you. If you could, however, set course to the Zhou household in the district of Chang Xiao. Focus on your training there. When you are there, search for the ¡®Blade of Heaven¡¯s Fiend.¡¯ It is one of father¡¯s greatest desires in life. Retrieve that blade for me, child.¡± As Zhou Wangchen spoke, he already turned his back as he was ready to leave. ¡°Worry not father, for I shall see this task be done to its fullest! If I may father, there¡¯s one thing that I wish to know. Can you tell me any news about mother?¡± Zhou Yan could no longer contain the curiosity that troubled his mind, and he had to ask the question. Zhou Yan saw how intense the love his father had for his mother. ¡°Until you understand the meaning of a blade¡¯s heart, only then will you ask about her!¡± His father¡¯s speed was unprecedented, as, in a mere instant, his father stepped out without turning his back, and all Zhou Yan perceived was a blurry mirage of his father leaving. Zhou Yan never moved an inch because he knew there was nothing he could possibly do, even with all his might, he could never change this outcome. If only he understood the blade¡¯s heart, perhaps the result of this event would end in a much different note. Everything transpired the way it did all due to his weakness! ¡­ The young lad still held on tight to the same hand-carved effigy. It was now warm to touch after being held onto so tightly. Carved on its back was the intricate teachings of both ways of the sword. Every stroke that was chiseled was filled with great emotion, as was the intricate blade work. Staring at such a piece of art incited a wave of familiarity in his heart. With a single glance, Zhou Yan understood the depths of the meaning of different ways of the sword that was carved into it. The meanings were seared into Zhou Yan¡¯s mind. He pictured out every motion and maneuvers, practicing over and over again to the dance of the blade, familiarizing his body to the training. ¡°The way of the blade through bond and despair. The sword art that balanced between life and death. Rooted deep within the nature of all life was the great attraction toward anything of Yang nature; thus, opposing anything of Yin nature. Peace and calm were the product of great opposition of both natures; thus, this law of nature bequeathed the origin of many great paths. These two distinctly different ways of the sword, were a symphony of balance, amplifying each strength, and complimenting each weakness. It truly is one of a kind sword art with none to match. Balance is the root of nature. Too much of anything will always bear fruits of misfortune, however, out of the depths of misfortune, comes bliss. A cycle of balance for life parallels death, and death would always parallel life in an endless cycle of nature¡­ This sword art is quite a simple feat to master¡­¡± muttered Zhou Yan while staring at the carving. ¡­ Deep in his thoughts, Zhou Yan stood frozen for quite some time. Seared deep in the young lad¡¯s mind were the intricacies and principles of both ways of the sword. He finally understood the very meaning of what these two distinct ways were built upon. All the young lad needed was the right moment to practice his newfound awakening. This awakening meant that this young lad had full mastery over both ways of the sword. In the process of mastery over any sword art, one must first understand the true meaning behind it, only then will one be ready to hone the skills to its full potential. It was akin to his mastery of the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade. It was only after he knew the crude swordplay and techniques to this sword art that he was able to infuse the principles of intricate depths into his crude form to bring this sword art to its full potential. Since skills were continually evolving and changing, they only serve to complement the crude swordplay. With his newfound awakening, he would finally be able to infuse the intricate knowledge that he was enlightened with, in the very skills of the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s blade. This young lad would undoubtedly bring the ferocity of this sword art to heights previously unheard of. For gaining such enlightenment with little effort, Zhou Yan grew excited at the thought of practicing the Sword Art of the Formless. Unable to resist the temptation of his excitement, once again, Zhou Yan attempted to enlighten himself in the sword art that once puzzled him. However, like before, it was an arduous task for the young lad. Within only a cycle of an hourglass¡¯ time, his efforts were futile as he was once again puzzled by it. Feeling unsatisfied, the young lad went back to practice the intricacies of the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s blade. Just as expected, the instant the young lad resumed the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s blade, as fatigued he was, with the newfound enlightenment, Zhou Yan felt incredibly relaxed. Thus, with his current state, the young lad picked up his broken sword and started practicing. The only sound that echoed through the air was the sound of his blade swooshing. Alas, the sounds of the ninth form emanated from the lad¡¯s blade, completing the sword art! The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s blade, Form nine! At this very moment, the blade essence of all nine forms was focused as one entity, as it morphed into a hiltless blade of light, piercing the nearby walls with a sudden rush. Upon closer inspection, the crack formed into the shape of a sword! After doing so, Zhou Yan sheathed his blade, and he was unable to hide the shock and joy on his face! Strangely enough, The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade had finally been unexpectedly accomplished! It seemed, as tricky as it was for him to understand the intricacies of the Sword Art of the Dragon and the Formless, it made learning and perfecting other lesser sword arts extremely easy to him, as they complimented the new heights of his skills! The series of events was unprecedented, and he had to face a scary reality! The young lad proceeded to take a deep breath to calm himself down. At that very moment, a grey silhouette of a person glided over swiftly to where he was. Chapter 5 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan stepped foot into the forbidden grounds of the Zhou Household. Upon stepping foot into these grounds, Zhou Yan was gobsmacked as he was absolutely captivated and overwhelmed by the sight of its majesty. It felt like a dream for him. It was just moments ago that the lad¡¯s father assigned him a task in seeking a cure for the ailment that plagued him for ages. However, in only four hourglass¡¯ cycle of time, there his father laid, atop cotton woven sheets. Staring at the blood-soaked body that was drowning in its own blood was indeed terrifying. The silence in the forbidden grounds was deafening. Not a single hum could be heard in the room. A slight twitch of the head was noticed as the body laid, completely drained of strength in the pool of blood. It took every ounce of strength that remained from that person to turn his head. With a coarse and deep voice, the person muttered softly, ¡°Little¡¯ Yan, is that you, my child?¡± ¡°Yes, father.¡± Zhou Yan felt a sting at the corner of his eyes that was intensifying as he tried to remain focused by mustering every ounce of will to fight back the ferocity of his incoming tears. The young lad dared not show any emotions as he feared his father would be able to sense it. Thus, the young lad inched slowly beside the blood-soaked middle-aged man and knelt beside his father. As the middle-aged man opened his blood-covered eyes, a wave of ferocity filled to the brim with extreme killer intent and blood lust emanated from his own blade¡¯s essence through his eyes. However, the predaceous nature of his sharp, menacing gaze faded away the moment his eyes drifted to meet Zhou Yan. That ferocious gaze instantly morphed into unparalleled warmth filled with love. It was a gentle and kind love that was impossible to describe in words. This kind of gentle love was a first for Zhou Yan. Never before in the countless conversations and experiences, he shared with his father did he ever felt his father¡¯s love. This paternal bond he shared was undeniably deeper than the trenches of any ocean that ever existed in this realm. The fatherly love that was showered unto Zhou Yan topped even the highest peaks of any mountains of this realm. As the young lad, Zhou Yan, knelt, his young heart wrenched as he focused on the horrific state his father currently was in. At this very moment, Zhou Yan was plagued by the questions bombarding his mind. Who could it possibly be to have harmed his own father to the state of such horror? Who could have robbed his father of the glimmer of hope he worked so desperately hard to regain by harming him to such a degree, to have obliterated all hopes of the entirety of the Zhou family? Even though, through the many failures that befell the Zhou family, how could such a majestical family stand idle and remain ignorant in such a dire situation? Zhou Yan almost lost his composure at the instant these plaguing thoughts surfaced in his mind. ¡°Heed my words child, my dear Little Yan. Rely only on the abilities of your own two hands, and never in any instant will you beg for any form of assistance from any living soul. Do you understand, child?¡± The man spoke with a soft but deep mutter under his breath as he laid still in his very own blood. Zhou Yan said nothing and reflected upon his growing regrets, ¡®Throughout these years, I have seen all the mockery and judgments from the common-folk which befell our family. Would there possibly be a living soul left to beg from, even if begging was my only intention and option left¡­? ¡®The very moment I was so gracefully blessed from the unique encounter and inherited the will and essence of the ancient sage, I have decided to never again beg from any living soul,¡¯ thought Zhou Yan to himself. In Zhou Wangchen¡¯s trembling, frail grasp was the hand-carved effigy. The lad gifted the carving to his son in his extremely weakened state after he made his last statement. Without hesitation, Zhou Yan immediately received the carving from his father¡¯s hands. The young lad, Zhou Yan, lowered his head and glanced at his father¡¯s sad face upon receiving the carving. He was stunned at what he saw. Zhou Wangchen noticed the mildly stunned expression on his son¡¯s face. He focused his weakened gaze onto his son. He had a look of glee and contempt. He whispered, ¡°You noticed, child?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Yan nodded. Zhou Wangchen was always blunt in his words. He made no exception even at this dire moment. ¡°I know with every passing moment; I draw closer to death. However, there is still value in my life. The majesty of our Zhou family will soon arrive to preserve what little remained of my life¡¯s breath.¡± ¡°If there is a future, one day, if you succeed in gaining honor from the magnificent majesty of our Zhou family, you may request that my plaguing ailments be healed by the majesty.¡± As Zhou Wangchen spoke to his son, he took a deep breath as his piercing eyes gazed at his beloved child. There was pain and remorse in his eyes. ¡°There were things, things that I can¡¯t possibly explain to you. However, you must remain determined with an unbending will of steel.¡± ¡°As I am your father, I do not fear death, but now, however, I can¡¯t die just yet. My only hope now is for you, my beloved child, to reach the peak of a blade¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°Take my words to heart, child, do not disappoint me. Before you reach the peak of a blade¡¯s heart, you are not to allow the truth of this event to plague your mind and, even more so, obsess over avenging my death. Lay this matter to rest child, for it has met its conclusion. It will take some time for our Zhou family to regain a stable foothold.¡± Zhou Wangchen¡¯s words weighed on him as his breath became weak and shallow. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart wrenched and throbbed with overwhelming sorrow. Both the lad¡¯s palms bled as he clenched his fists tightly. Even though certain things mystified the young lad, what he understood about his father was that he was a man with immense powers and for him to be stooped down to such a level of insignificance, he would have to shoulder an enormous burden of unspoken reasons to have made such a choice. From his father¡¯s words, the young lad deduced confidently that this very choice was probably the product of charity that resulted in him being able to have the opportunity for such power and success. Ever since his father fell from grace, the majesty of the Zhou family always acted coldly towards the branch of the Zhou family, for that branch never really concerned the matters of the Zhou family that resided in the Canglan City. Why did it worry them now? Zhou Yan simply inferred his own conclusions as he did not know the truth and reasons for his questions. No longer was he the same naive, clueless child the lad once was since he inherited the will and collective memories which spanned a lifetime of the ancient sage from a land afar simply known as ¡®Earth¡¯! ¡°I will honor your graceful words, father. Rest well father, all will be well upon your awakening!¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s spoken words were filled with resolve and determination. Not a single hint of sorrow and forced courage was shown on the young lad¡¯s face. However, it was through his son¡¯s unbending resolve that was demonstrated at this moment that Zhou Wangchen felt peace. ¡°Oh, how you have grown my beloved Little Yan. As your father, I am proud of how you¡¯ve matured.¡± As Zhou Wangchen softly uttered those words, his eyes grew heavier as he slowly shut his eyes. Those eyes were once known for their deadly captivating abilities, for they were responsible for captivating the hearts of countless women. The instant those eyes were shut, gone were the colors of life as his essence of life was drained until nothing was left in the presence of his voided eyes. Alas, Zhou Yan¡¯s heart shuddered along with his soul as he felt a crushing weight falling unto him. However, the young lad never succumbed to his sorrow as knelt on the floor, motionless. ¡­ Several people, too, were present in the forbidden chambers. They were the Lord of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen, The Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, The Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei, The Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wujin. They were followed by the Lady Genius of the Zhou family, Zhou Lingyi, the Third prodigal heir of the Zhou family who believed in hard work over natural gifts, Zhou Lingyao. They simply spectated from the side. Hence, not a single word was spoken. It was only until Zhou Wangchen was at the brink of death did the Lord of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen sighed as he walked over to Zhou Yan¡¯s side and reached out to pull the young lad up from his misery. ¡°Grandfather¡­¡± Sorrow was rooted deep in Zhou Yan¡¯s voice, as he assumed deep down that this situation was even more complicated than he had thought. ¡°Worry not child, your father is simply trapped in a deep slumber, he will recover soon someday.¡± Zhou Wuzhen could no longer bear his sadness as that was all he was able to say. However, these spoken words sounded shallow as far as words of comfort and condolences went. Every inch of Zhou Yan¡¯s body was trembling as he hated himself for the first time in his life. He cursed as he resented his weakness! If only his skills and prowess were as capable as that ancient sage was for his mastery of the ¡®Art of The Formless Fist.¡¯ On top of the sage¡¯s ¡®Spatial Destruction¡¯ ability, with a single wave of his hand, he was able to split mountains. If he only was as powerful as the sage, then not a single soul, living or dead, would dare bring any form of harm to his father! The only thing the young lad could do was to once again clench his fists tightly. The lad felt nothing as his fingers penetrated deeper into his tender palms. In response to the young lad¡¯s sorrow, Zhou Wuzhen let out a long sigh as he conjured a unique blade of light from the palm of his hand. The edge of his blade stretched as far and as wide as his thumb. The instant this tiny blade of glimmering light was unsheathed, an indescribable concentrated blade¡¯s menace engulfed the entire City of Canglan, instantly filling the city with an aura of death. Feeling the full brunt of that violent blade¡¯s menace, both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao¡¯s expression instantly grew pale. Sensing the imminent dire situation, the Elder of Lore surrounded them with his invisible aura of protection, suppressing the wave of menace. At the same time, the Grand Elder¡¯s hand unleashed their collective aura of protection on Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao, suppressing the wave of menace even further. Zhou Wuzhen, being the wielder of such a weapon of majesty, felt indifferent as he was unharmed and untouched by the raw blade¡¯s menace. Unfortunately for the poor lad, Zhou Yan, he was abandoned by the three elders present. However, even in the face of such a raw and unchained blade¡¯s menace, Zhou Yan¡¯s unbending will never allow the young lad to fall victim to the majestic blade. The young lad¡¯s body trembled violently as it resembled a tiny ship trapped in a vicious storm, rocking in the waves of the ocean, entirely at the mercy of the ocean¡¯s unforgiving waves as it would only require a little effort to sink that tiny ship. However, the young lad was forged with a will of steel as in the process of shaping his unbending will, keeping his back as straight as the spine of a quill, were emotions of sorrow, despair, hopelessness, and guilt. As a product of all the pain he endured, birthed his will of steel, unbending and unbroken. It seemed that nothing in this realm that befell him could force this young lad to bend! It was too at this moment, did the Elder of Lore realized the poor lad, Zhou Yan had been left to his own devices with not a single care by anyone present. His heart fluttered at the sight of this poor lad, as he noticed, painted on this young lad¡¯s face, was an expression of calm, along with a deep, focused gaze into an endless abyss, thus staring into a void of nothingness! His face was pale as it seemed to be plagued by an unnatural ailment. This very scene resembled the lad¡¯s father, Zhou Wangchen, in his years of glory! The young lad¡¯s tender lips were pursed tightly. It was so unnaturally tight that the seam between both lips formed a straight line. As the edge of his lips cracked open, a single stream of blood flowed out of the crack. It was a horrifying sight, indeed. His nose was slightly raised, causing this young lad¡¯s pale face to look even more emaciated than ever. This young lad¡¯s current expression reminded everyone of the shocking event that took place years ago. It was the young lad¡¯s father, Zhou Wangchen¡¯s bold action that echoed volumes as he swore an oath of dilapidation. In the presence of the entire family, Zhou Wangchen boldly shaved off locks of his hair with utmost determination. His very expression on that day resembled how his son currently looked! It did not matter if it were events of the past of present as without a doubt, in Zhou Wuyan¡¯s mind, his looks were, in fact, the most elegant and stunning beauty he ever laid his eyes on, and it would be forever branded in his mind. Perhaps, the only distinction was the wave of determination surrounding his father back then. In comparison, Zhou Yan can only be compared to an exhausted pile of mess. The Elder of Lore stared at the young lad with pity and sorrow. With a silent sigh in his heart, he said, ¡°Little Yan, make haste and come by my side now child, let¡¯s not stall the Lord¡¯s sealing ritual now, alright?¡± As simple as what was said, Zhou Yan could not refuse when he heard the last line. Thus, Zhou Yan silently nodded as he forced every inch of his heavy body to move. Still trembling, the young lad approached the Elder of Lore. However, in an instant, a wave of mysterious energy swept the young lad, lifting with it the unbearable heavy burden he carried. As Zhou Yan was relieved of that weight, at that moment, the young lad felt a mysterious light and irresistible pulse of energy surging through his body. The young lad felt his body was lighter than ever, almost seemingly gaining the ability of flight as energy coursed deeper into every inch of his body. The young lad, however, paid no attention to this mysterious energy coursing through his body, as he merely stood idle, observing the bright, blinding light seemingly comparable to the very light of the sun alone, engulfing his father. As his father¡¯s body was entirely shrouded by this blinding light, his body was absorbed into the very hilt of this blade of majestic light, like a black hole, sucking in his father wholly. After such a majestic demonstration, the light penetrated the heavens above with a single ¡®swoosh¡¯ forcing its way through every layer of resistance, unhindered as it zipped across the boundless night sky like a comet and disappeared without a trace. The atmosphere in the forbidden chambers was tense, and not a single soul present made a sound. However, the silence was broken with a series of coughs. The Lord of the family, Zhou Wuzhen, was coughing blood profusely from his lungs as it dissipated into a pink mist and rose into the air. ¡°My Lord¡­¡± ¡°My Lord, your health¡­¡± ¡°My Lord, are you¡­¡± The Elder of Lore, Grand Elder, and the Grand Elder¡¯s Hand were genuinely concerned and worried about the Lord of the Family. ¡°Worry not, I am fine. I am blessed by the great sage of the Majesty of our Zhou family, who is skilled in the art of healing to grace me with his potion of majestic healing. With that, I shall regain my full health in a short time, perhaps I would even be better than I ever was.¡± Hence, Zhou Wuzhen waved his hands, gesturing every elder to quell their worry. Thus, the trio of Elders, the Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei, the Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji were relieved after hearing what Zhou Wuzhen said. Chapter 6 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After a good long while of silence, The Lord of The Family, Zhou Wuzhen, reluctantly spoke. ¡°Little Yan, child, there¡¯s something you¡¯ll need to be mentally prepared to know.¡± Zhou Yan was no longer the same na?ve child he was back then. Since the fate of his father was uncertain and since he was reprimanded for pushing his body¡¯s physical limit to the extent of being labeled as trash, perhaps, more grim news would await him. Throughout his entire lifespan, this young lad was not often plagued by grim events. However, he did have a handful of experiences with them. In contrast to the archives of the sage¡¯s memories, the events that scarred his soul were indeed plenty. Thus, it was through these experiences that Zhou Yan matured and was no longer the same na?ve child without a single care in the world. This was the root of his confidence that motivated him to keep honing his skills. ¡°Speak your mind, grandfather,¡± said Zhou Yan calmly. Zhou Wuzhen sighed, ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s no secret to you with your father¡¯s current state of health¡­and if the majesty of the Zhou family¡¯s main branch were to arrive and notice how disappointingly weak the heir of the great Genius of our Zhou family is, it would not please them. That being said, the chances of them healing your father would be slim.¡± Upon hearing what had been spoken, Zhou Yan¡¯s expression was unchanged as he remained silent. ¡°And so, the three elders and I had reached a verdict, which is to send you and Lil Ning out on a journey thus, temporarily cutting ties to the family. I know you and Lil Ning are both extremely close together, so you both won¡¯t feel lonely on your way,¡± added Zhou Wuzhen. In an instant, Zhou Yan saw through their lies as he was no longer easily fooled by mere spoken words. Thus, he bluntly questioned them. ¡°What all of you want is to secretly exile my presence in the family, then allow both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao to replace me, using the opportunity that my father fought his life with to allow them to further hone their skills in the main branch of the majesty of our Zhou family. Is that right?¡± Zhou Wuzhen was slightly stunned by Zhou Yan¡¯s blunt question. A slight hint of urgency and sadness was evident on his aged face. The lad nodded and replied, ¡°You¡¯ve crippled the very foundation of your physical strength. Now, it¡¯s hopeless¡­Even if you weren¡¯t crippled, a mere rank one Blade¡¯s cardinal would still be unworthy of the main branch of the majesty that is our Zhou family¡¯s standards.¡± ¡°The careful nurturing, library of resources and even training was equally provided for you, Lingyi and Lingyao in the past. However, our Zhou family is currently going through some very trying times, and please consider how different your natural gifts are to both of them.¡± ¡°Besides, allowing both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao to pretend as your father¡¯s children would vastly increase the possibility of winning, more than you ever could.¡± ¡°What happened to your father is real, it would bring no value to him if his prodigal heir is seen as weak and useless. Hence it would only result in transcending his soul into a ¡®Blade¡¯s heart¡¯ since his prowess and genius would be worthy of him ascending into the realm of mysteries. If his soul is to be infused into an equally legendary blade, his soul would undoubtedly evolve into the ¡®Spirit of the Blade¡¯!¡± ¡°We do not wish such a grim outcome to befall the Genius of our Zhou family. So¡­ we have no choice but to upset you.¡± The spoken words from Zhou Wuzhen hit a chord in Zhou Yan¡¯s heart as his entire expression turned sour¡­ His own father would be transcended into a ¡®Blade¡¯s heart¡¯ by someone worthy of such caliber in the main branch of the Majesty that was the Zhou family? Such a request was made just to ensure the heir of Zhou Wangchen had an opportunity to study and train within the grounds of the main branch of the majesty that was the Zhou family? The young lad, Zhou Yan, had overwhelmingly mixed emotions towards this situation as the only thing that crossed his mind was just how foolish, and na?ve the Zhou family was! Will things indeed be that simple to have ended in a way they desired? The only concern in the young lad¡¯s mind was when his father slightly recovers, the fate that awaited him would undoubtedly be one that transcended into the ¡®Blade¡¯s heart¡¯! Thus, whatever that was promised or sworn held absolutely no value. Perhaps it was in preparation for nurturing the second or third ¡®Blade¡¯s heart¡¯?! The young lad, Zhou Yan, pondered for a good long while, as these thoughts alone were the result of infusing the ancient sage¡¯s memories. After such a blessing, these conscious thoughts were undoubtedly his own. Before any of these events transpired, this young lad was undeniably innocent and would never have such complex thoughts and, even more so, an ill perspective towards his entire family. However, as of the young lad¡¯s current state, every single thought that ran through his mind pointed more in the direction of the law that governed this realm. ¡°Since all of you decided on a mutual verdict, then I shall follow it through. Besides, I am in no position to speak my mind.¡± As bitter and as unsatisfied Zhou Yan felt, he knew there was nothing he could do immediately to change the outcome of the decision. Thus, he had no choice but to agree. Perhaps with his secret ¡®exile¡¯ clouding their thoughts, this too would be an excellent opportunity to spread his wings and further hone his abilities. Due to the situation at hand, there was nothing the young lad could do to change it. However, he believed that in the future, he would be able to do anything he desired. ¡°Zhou Yan, you have mistaken that you were in no position to speak your mind. However, understand that this decision was made wholeheartedly for your own good! Please do us a favor and live a fruitful yet normal and orderly life as a common-folk, alright?¡± ¡°I know you have feelings of love for me. However, I swear I will search for an extraordinary genius to be worthy of my love. Whatever you do, no matter how much effort you¡¯ve placed into your training, and no matter how much you¡¯ve improved, I will never grace you with a single glance!¡± This man was no other than Zhou Yuntian. He was from the main branch of the family. His reputation preceded him as he was one of the four unmatched geniuses in the entire Capital City of Xiao Yao. As a mere rank one Blade¡¯s Cardinal, he already grasped the meaning of the Blade¡¯s Essence! Furthermore, once he ascended to rank one Blade¡¯s Enforcer, he was already entirely enlightened by the knowledge of a Blade¡¯s Menace! As for his raw strength and prowess, not even a rank three Blade¡¯s Enforcer was of an equal match to him. ¡°He is truly an unparalleled genius! It¡¯s not wishful thinking and irrational for me as I am confident that with my very own abilities, I will be able to be better than your father, Zhou Wangchen ever was. Hence, it is only with geniuses like them, will I admire their prowess! With the current state of your natural gifts, you should stop wishing for the impossible! Be a common-folk, perhaps that life for you would be a great one!¡± Zhou Lingyi¡¯s speech was filled to the brim with arrogance. It appeared to Zhou Yan that the bond they forged as pupils who trained under the same household meant nothing as the lass had always placed herself on a pedestal and had a tendency to look down on pupils who were weaker than her. In response to her statement, Zhou Yan simply smiled and calmly said, ¡°You were right, it was my doing that disappointed the hopes and dreams grandfather had for me. Hence, the outcome today would be expected.¡± ¡°I clearly understand why everyone did what they did, and I am indeed grateful for¡­your abandonment in favor of greatness, all in the name of doing it for my father. I have no opinions on this matter but simply speaking my mind.¡± Zhou Lingyi was stunned as she did not expect Zhou Yan to be so calm. Zhou Wuzhen took a quick glance at Zhou Yan. However, there was nothing out of the ordinary. It seemed that this child was calmer than usual. It was only the Elder of Lore that seemed to be holding back his tongue as if there was something he was reluctant to discuss. However, he never spoke. ¡°Living life as a common-folk would be a good thing. Since being under the guidance of the family, it would be unlikely for him to go astray, which would bring shame to the family¡¯s good name,¡± said the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei. ¡°Yes, it is true there will be no future for masters of martial arts, like us. There were times where we yearned for the life of a common-folk, to be able to raise children without any concerns and worries of death,¡± said the Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji. Zhou Lingyao, the Third Prodigal child, had not uttered a word as the well-being of Zhou Yan was never his concern since this event transpired. He merely stared at the hand-carved effigy in Zhou Yan¡¯s left hand. ¡°Grandfather, Elder of Lore, Grand Elder, and his Hand, I will return to my chambers for a break. When the arrangements are made, just send me on my way.¡± Zhou Yan was anxious. However, the young lad never showed any apparent emotions, hiding behind his calm as he spoke. ¡°I will have the Elder of Lore send you on your journey tonight. You may bring with you the resources you¡¯ve used for the entire year. No more, no less. From here on out, you are on your own.¡± It was with a heavy heart for Zhou Wuzhen to have made such a painful decision. Zhou Yan said nothing and nodded. The young lad turned around and walked slowly out of the forbidden chambers. It seemed to Zhou Yan that throughout his life, this would be the first and last time he would ever set foot in a place of such majesty. An overwhelming feeling of dissatisfaction and disdain boiled inside him, however, not a single hint of emotion was shown on his face. It did not matter if they spoke the truth. The young lad was insulted as he was unable to claim his legal status as his father¡¯s true son. The young lad was aware of his current state of weakness and the urgent need to further his progress. Once he has become accomplished, he would be ready to return and prove himself, thus reclaiming what was rightfully his. Zhou Yan clearly knew that the moment he walked out that door, the journey ahead for him would be arduous. However, there was no regret in his heart! It was unclear to him if the situation escalated the way it did for his father¡¯s enemy. Hence, before he set foot again in the main branch of his family, he would need the presence of someone with unprecedented power to fully showcase his true potential. ¡­ ¡°I know you¡¯re only trying to provoke him, Lingyi, however, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little too harsh? His own father already fell to such an extent until the Lord gave us his birthright. How could you still act so ruthlessly?¡± After sending Zhou Yan off, Zhou Lingyao questioned as he frowned. ¡°Provoke him? I¡¯m not encouraging him with provocation since there¡¯s no need to do so any longer! ¡°It was the result of his lack of hard work that wasted all of his natural gifts. I will never change my perspective toward him, so tell me, what would I gain in provoking him? ¡°I¡¯m merely speaking the bitter truth. ¡°There was a time when 13-year-old Zhou Yuntian took down Zhou Wangchen with a single strike and caused him to cough blood on the podium, making him a living joke of the main branch of our family! ¡°How could you not have heard of such an event? ¡°Ever since that day, the reputation Zhou Wangchen held in my heart completely turned to dust. ¡°It was also then I found myself deeply in love with Zhou Yuntian. ¡°That is why I said such brutal, harsh words of truth. Else, a man like Zhou Yan who in fact pushed his body beyond his physical limits, all in the name of progress; and would rather wager his own life with so little regard¡­ Hehe, just as the Grand Elder had said before, live the life of a common-folk. This will allow him to remain on the righteous path. ¡°If he actually ventured the path of evil, he would only become the bringer of calamity.¡± The entire forbidden chamber grew silent as Zhou Lingyi spoke. At the same moment, the young lad, Zhou Yan who already walked several hundred miles from the forbidden chambers, shivered ever so slightly. He paused for a mere instant as he resumed walking with steady and firm steps ahead, leaving everything behind. Chapter 7 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The young lad returned to the old courtyard his father was once at. It was brightly lit. It seemed the necessary arrangements were made as even the servants knew about his imminent departure. Others were busy moving things, and some were emptying the room. It appeared that the lad was the last person to know the truth. Zhou Yan mustered a patronizing smile as he pondered about the current situation. If this happened before he inherited the will of the ancient sage, it would not have mattered much if he pushed his body beyond his physical ability or not. The same excuse claiming he was not much of a genius would be used by both Zhou Lingyao and his sister for the same purpose of claiming his birthright. On the other hand, the young lad might have acted out rashly since he was just a teen and caused an even greater outburst that would have resulted in him completely giving up on his dreams. No matter what the outcome was, it would ultimately be a grim one. It was destined for him to never have a glimmer of a positive outcome. In reality, the young lad had a new strategy for training that allowed him to speedily progress his different skills without stalling. No longer was his progression considered average. However, the trio of Elders, along with the Lord of the family, never bothered to examine his body or attempted to understand the changes that were occurring in his body. All they did was jump to a conclusion without much evidence to support their verdict. They were adamant in claiming that he was nothing more than a piece of crippled trash. The young lad could not help but feel skeptical about their claims. In addition to their hasty claims, they even told him what a blessing it would be for him to live the life of common-folk and ranted about his failures and disabilities, claiming how it would keep him on a righteous path, thus not bringing shame to the family. Those spoken words alone wrenched his heart as it did not matter what the intention was, but it was the audacity to say such horrible things to him the moment after his father had perished that hurt him the most. Those words would not sound unkind or unmerciful to an average child. It was precisely after that overwhelming soul-piercing blade of light was unsheathed, not a single soul acknowledged his presence. Both of his siblings, Zhou Lingyao and Zhou Lingyi, could not even withstand the sheer force of such raw power. He was the only one who could face it without a single flinch. Even so, not a single soul looked over at him with concern. No one made an effort to understand how a nobody like him could have attained such capabilities to face the raw, unhinged power without flinching. At that moment, he assumed his demonstration of might alone would give him a glimmer of hope for some recognition he desperately yearned for¡­ However, he was deeply disappointed as not a single person noticed his potential. It was clear to him now that nobody cared about him. It was evident that his presence alone had been long forgotten by the entirety of his family. Perhaps it was his position in the family that everyone perceived him as not a genius and nothing more than an average man. If not for the resources provided to him during his training, he would not even stand a chance to compete with a regular pupil of the family. ¡­ Under the pine tree in the courtyard, streams of water flowed calmly as a cool breeze blew. Painted across the night sky was a sea of flickering stars. It was what a dream should be beautiful and bright. There the young stood, reflecting upon that very same scene that transpired before. It was heartbreaking for the young lad. However, not a single complaint was uttered, nor grievances were held against anyone. Ever since the young lad knew how much betrayal, heartbreak, and endless cycles of vengeance the ancient sage went through, he realized that his situation cannot compare to that of the old sage. Thus, the young lad came to an understanding. Since he no longer had a legitimate position in the Zhou family, there would be no need for him to fulfill his obligations. ¡­ ¡°Master, please take care of yourself from now on as I, Ping¡¯er, will be taking my leave now.¡± At this moment, the young lad heard the voice of his personal handmaiden coming through one side of his ear. The young lass, whose name was Ping¡¯er, had been by Zhou Yan¡¯s side ever since he was a child. Those two grew up closely together. ¡°Are you leaving too?¡± Zhou Yan asked with a saddened tone. ¡°I, Ping¡¯er am reluctant to leave you, master, but the Mistress said you should be independent and work for everything with your bare hands, so you shouldn¡¯t rely on me any longer.¡± The young lass, Ping¡¯er, was deeply saddened as she lowered her head. Zhou Yan noticed tears welling up in her huge pearly eyes. She seemed reluctant to leave his side. With sudden realization, Zhou Yan recalled how loyal his handmaiden was despite always being a letdown in the past. This very realization tugged at the strings of his heart. However, Zhou Yan felt he was losing his very own identity after the collective memories of the ancient sage were infused inside him. This change would act as a constant reminder for Zhou Yan. Due to his inexperience in the world, this change in personality was the result of acquiring tremendous information from the collective memories of the ancient sage. Although this would change the way he interacted with people, he was determined to never forget the precious memories he shared with his personal handmaiden. The young lad was resolute in holding onto his will. This change in personality only lingered for an instant as he could not shake the intense feeling of a coincidence that events in the past and the following unique changes he encountered were part of his fate. It appeared that perhaps he had unconsciously shaken off the slight negative influence from the collective memories of the ancient sage. ¡°Pay no mind to what she had spoken. You are not her handmaiden but mine! I have no ties to that woman, so you shall join me in my future journey!¡± ¡°Ah¡­But master, she¡¯s the Mistress of the house!¡± Ping¡¯er was shocked. However, she was secretly touched and grateful for his words. It was a first for the young lass as she never knew her own master to be capable of such firm persuasion and possessed such a captivating side to his personality. However, she was worried that this exchange would bring trouble for her master with the mistress. ¡°The Lady of the House?¡± chuckled Zhou Yan sarcastically. ¡°So, what if she¡¯s the Lady of the House? Just as I¡¯ve told you before, worry not, just come along with me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no family left for you. Where would you go when you leave? You¡¯d be soiled by the trash in the family that would only want you for your looks. Follow your master, for I promise you better days ahead.¡± The spoken words of Zhou Yan were blunt. However, there was no ill intention in scaring the young lass. He was simply stating the bitter truth. It was evident to Ping¡¯er that her master was telling the truth. She became nervous as she listened to her master. It was almost as if she was troubled by the whole ordeal. A lowly handmaiden without family and without servitude to her master would be detrimental to her reputation regardless of where she headed to. It was not due to her lack of understanding of the impending reality she would have to face but her fear towards the Lady genius of the Zhou family. She dared not disobey her orders. She was more worried that this ordeal would negatively impact her master. ¡°Master¡­¡± Ping¡¯er was moved by Zhou Yan¡¯s bold statement earlier as she felt a strong urge to follow her master anywhere in this realm. However, it was also due to the kindness he had shown her that made Ping¡¯er worried about angering the mistress of the house, Zhou Lingyi. ¡°You¡¯ve been with me for all these years, am I not allowed to understand your feelings? Since we¡¯re both leaving the Zhou household, then what does our journey have anything to do with Zhou Lingyi anyway? As your master, I do not even possess the ability to defend your rights. Thus, what honor do I still have to request for anything more?¡± A strong wave of masculine confidence echoed in his speech, as was the coldness portrayed by his attitude. It was difficult for Ping¡¯er to immediately adapt to Zhou Yan¡¯s sudden show of masculinity. However, it only took a brief moment for the young lass to recover as a look of gratitude and worry washed over her. It seemed to Zhou Yan that the hellish experience this young lass been through had far exceeded his expectations. Perhaps it was his naivety in the past that he failed to notice the hesitation in her speech, which only meant that this young lass had been through hell and back. She was merely a na?ve but elegant and stunning lass. She had no clue of the inner workings of the world around her. There was a saying amongst the common folk which said, ¡®before punishment could befall a hound, one must first turn to its master.¡¯ However, these people did not even hesitate to violate his handmaiden. It made him wonder where he stood within the ranks of his family. It was too, at this moment, did Zhou Yan realize that the cause of all these unfortunate events were the whispers of Zhou Shuangshuang to Zhou Lingyi since both of them shared a solid friendship together. It was through these unknown whispers that persuaded her brother, Zhou Lingyao, to violate Ping¡¯er; thus, robbing her of her purity. As the young lad was lost in deep contemplation, a series of heavy footsteps could be heard from nearby. Alas, someone was approaching them. Judging by the sounds of the footsteps, someone within the group was a rank one Blade¡¯s Cardinal as that person¡¯s steps were uneven; since they had not yet gained the knowledge of controlling one¡¯s raw strength. Who could it be approaching them at this moment? Even as much as the Elder of Lore wished to exile him, it was unlikely of him to rush things. Hence, the only possible guess would be the Third Prodigal heir and his men. Zhou Yan had absolutely no interest in matters as trivial as that, and thus, the young lad decided to ignore their impending presence as they do not concern him. The young lad¡¯s heart wrenched at the realization of how much distress this poor lass had gone through as he noticed Ping¡¯er¡¯s eyes were completely filled with tears, and the look of sorrow was noticeable. A lass like her would be the definition of loyalty. Zhou Yan reflected upon the days of the past and realized just how blind he was of not noticing someone so close to him that experienced such extreme sorrow and humiliation. His gaze landed upon the young lass¡¯s face. Her face was elegant and stunning. One that would stun anyone with a single glance. No make-up in the world could hide her flawless grace and stunning magnificence. She had a face of flawless beauty. Like an immaculate painting, she could captivate any living soul with her beauty alone. She felt his intense gaze. This was the first time in her life to have her master pay so much attention to her. She was conflicted as she enjoyed the attention and yet she was nervous. This action had seemingly lit the embers of first love in her heart. Her cheeks blushed as she felt her entire body uncontrollably warmed up as well. It was also at this moment, Zhou Yan¡¯s focus shifted from her face as he reminisced an extraordinary moment in his heart that reminded him of a much happier time. He recalled from his memories that this adorable young lass used to tail him around when they were kids. This little girl used to cry her lungs out while yelling, ¡°Master is bullying Ping¡¯er again!¡± Unknown to him, this little girl had grown up so much. The young lad felt an unknown spark that burst into flames in his heart. His mouth moved, but he said nothing. He inhaled deeply as the young lass¡¯ scent filled his lungs. He felt an unexplainable surge of energy rush through his body. Taking a few steps forward, Zhou Yan stood in front of Ping¡¯er as he gently wiped away teardrops from her face while hugging her lovingly in his arms. Ping¡¯er was touched by his gesture of love as her elegant body stiffened. However, her entire body was trembling unconsciously. It felt like an amazing dream for her. She was in disbelief as she was so gently embraced by her master, who she always thought was invested in training and was obsessed with the mistress of the house. It felt so gentle and warm being in his embrace. Chapter 8 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Still oblivious to what had happened, she felt a gust of wind whistling in her ear, and it seemed to carry along feelings of love. ¡°Follow me as your master from this moment on Ping¡¯er. Gone were the days of suffering as I, your master, will never subject you to any forms of suffering. I will teach you the mastery of swordplay so you will no longer live the life of common-folk.¡± ¡°Master¡­¡± It was unclear to her as she felt a strong urge to give her master a tight, warm hug. She felt that right now, she was the most blessed and luckiest handmaiden in the entire realm, to have received such grace and protection from her master. At the same time, Zhou Yan, too, was excited. ¡°Master, your sword seems to be poking me.¡± As the young lass spoke, unexpectedly, she seemed to understand what had happened, thus prompting her startled scream as she struggled to free herself from his hug. ¡°Yes, it seems my little Ping¡¯er is way too attractive. It¡¯s only today that I, the young master, had noticed.¡± Zhou Yan laughed seductively as he spoke. It seemed that all his worries and problems had disappeared the moment this awkward interaction happened. ¡°Oh¡­Master, you¡¯re naughty,¡± said Ping¡¯er as she blushed nervously. Zhou Yan teased her further and laughed. ¡°Which do you, Ping¡¯er, prefer, a master that is naughty or a master who is orderly?¡± ¡°Master¡­¡± Flustered by his comment, the young lass looked up almost instantly. Nervously, she said, ¡°I¡­ I prefer Master in his current state.¡± ¡°Hahaha, now we¡¯re talking, come on now, let your master give you a kiss. If we wait any longer, it would not be as fun.¡± Thus, Zhou Yan rejoiced as he felt much better after the exchange they both shared. Even though he understood the severity of his father¡¯s condition, he felt weirdly optimistic about his future and confident about saving his father. Not a single concern, nor worry consumed his mind. ¡°Master.¡± Without any hesitation, Ping¡¯er inched closer to her master while keeping her head lowered as she blushed mildly. It was an incredibly adorable sight to watch as she shuffled closer towards her master. It was impossible for Zhou Yan to have the heart to abandon nor to ignore a lass so adorable and beautiful like her. In what way was she ever inferior to Zhou Lingyi other than the status as a lowly handmaiden? Zhou Yan could no longer understand his previous feelings and perspectives about things. Ever since he inherited the collective memories of the ancient sage, he felt that all relationships between everyone should be equally regarded. It was like the way he treated Ping¡¯er, with absolutely no gap between their social statuses. It would be undeniable for a person as scrupulous as Ping¡¯er to feel her master¡¯s sudden intimacy. ¡­ ¡°Hmph¡­ It seems like the apple never falls far from the tree to have borne such a b*stard son. It¡¯s so bold of you to even dare lay a finger on a lowly handmaiden. You disgust me!¡± Before Zhou Yan could even embrace Ping¡¯er, a high-pitched voice echoed through the air. Without even looking, judging from the voice alone, Zhou Yan knew it was none other than Zhou Lingyi! She had actually come. ¡°How inappropriate. Here we are, doing everything in power for his father, and yet there he stands with reservations of lust to spare. Hence, trash like you would always be trash. How utterly useless.¡± At this very moment, another maiden¡¯s voice filled the air. This voice was laced thick with mockery and judgment. Her tone was filled to the brim with emotions of resentment and envy. More resentment could be felt through her piercing eyes as she glared into Zhou Yan¡¯s soul. Zhou Yan paid no mind to any of her judgment since he knew what Zhou Shuangshuang¡¯s purpose was for being here. ¡°My dear sister, I¡¯ve spoken countless times in the past that this lowly worthless servant like her is the embodiment of bad fortune. Look at her, how bold must she be to act inappropriately in public. She needs to know her place. Hence she must be punished!¡± A manly voice spoke. This man was none other than Zhou Cheng, Zhou Shuangshuang¡¯s brother. The very man who had reserved feelings of lust towards Ping¡¯er. He was the infamous spoiled rich lad of the Zhou family. Judging from his raw strength alone, it seemed he had ascended to rank one Blade¡¯s Cardinal. As he spoke, his gaze was focused entirely on the lass, who stood close by Zhou Yan¡¯s side, as he completely ignored Zhou Yan. The predaceous nature of his gaze struck fear in Ping¡¯er¡¯s heart, stopping her from explaining herself. She inched closer to Zhou Yan¡¯s side, utterly terrified of facing these practitioners of the blade¡¯s art. ¡°Do you happen to be deaf, Zhou Yan? We¡¯re speaking to you.¡± At the same time, Zhou Xian took a step forward. As he glared at Zhou Yan, it almost seemed like he was taking pleasure out of Zhou Yan¡¯s suffering. A sunken, weighted look manifested in Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze as his arm reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist. Although his palms were drenched in freshly dried blood that he inflicted upon himself earlier, he was unaffected as his reflexes were incredibly nimble. With inhumanly fast speed, he wielded his sword in his hand. He was so quick that not a single soul noticed it. ¡°It appears to me that you, too, can feel anger. Here I thought you had permanently destroyed your mind by your selfless action of pushing your body beyond its limits! Know your place if you know what¡¯s coming! I was sent by the Grand Elder himself to make sure you did not take more training resources that rightfully belonged to the family than you deserved. Trash like you is unworthy of anything, so have I made myself clear?¡± Seemingly sensing impending danger, Zhou Xian¡¯s pupils constricted. However, Zhou Cheng was still mockingly provoking the lad. That was not the end of it, nay, this lad was not just provoking Zhou Yan. In his gaze, he had a glint of a challenge as he started contently at the sword in Zhou Yan¡¯s hand. A thick, sinister wave of intent radiated from his gaze. It was an invitation to a challenge. He hoped that Zhou Yan would take the bait and initiate the first strike, thus formalizing the duel. However, judging from the looks, Zhou Yan, as a practitioner of the blade¡¯s art, was wielding a broken sword. A tool of such high regard and importance was broken by the hands of this lad. It was an act of disgrace to the highest degree. The only people who harbored any grievances towards him would be the group that was all gathered here at this moment. Not a single person was left out. Through the perspective of the collective memories from the ancient sage, his personality changed. He was no longer bothered by the squabbles of these children who stood in his face. Completely unfazed, a wave of a firm and cold resolve was present through his gaze. He slowly glared at each and every one of them until his eyes rested upon Zhou Lingyi¡¯s face. Zhou Lingyi frowned as she was displeased by Zhou Yan¡¯s menacing gaze. Not backing down from her stance, the lass stared back at him while holding back her anger, not willing to show any emotion. ¡°Well, then! I understand now, they may both leave.¡± ¡°Leave? You may leave this lowly scum of a servant behind! Do not ruin the good name of our Zhou family!¡± said Zhou Cheng aggressively. A flash of menace radiated through Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze. This glare of pure, unhinged menace pierced Zhou Cheng¡¯s soul in an instant. ¡°Ping¡¯er will be coming with me.¡± At this moment, a maiden draped in a white, silk cloak approached the courtyard. The lass seemed exceptionally skilled, judging from her face alone. However, it seemed unfortunate that she looked as if she was plagued by an unknown ailment as her face was pale. This unknown ailment made her look weak, almost as if, delicate. However, Zhou Cheng dared not to oppose this maiden¡¯s orders. ¡°Lady Ning¡¯er, this matter does not concern you, Ping¡¯er is a handmaiden of our Zhou family. Forgive my insolence my lady, but I cannot comply¡­¡± Zhou Cheng spoke with no intention of backing down. ¡°The Zhou family¡­How disappointing.¡± Ning¡¯er merely took a glance at Zhou Cheng as she noticed this man was adamant of not complying with her orders. As she glanced over to Zhou Yan, a look of disappointment filled her eyes as she thought about the lack of action this man showed in defense of his own handmaiden. However, this lass hid her emotions well. ¡°Master¡­ I am merely a lowly servant of no status. Knowing your heart still held a place for me, master, I have no regrets. ¡°Master, you are the most admirable man in my life. If there¡¯s a next life, I will follow you once more. I will be your handmaiden for an eternity.¡± Ping¡¯er dissolved into a puddle of tears as she slowly walked out. She was not ready to cause any more trouble for her master thus, completely submitting to them. The maiden cloaked in white merely stood idle, spectating the whole scene as she did nothing to intervene. However, the glint of elegance and beauty that was present in her eyes earlier had faded away. As of the current state, her eyes were dim and lifeless. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Zhou Yan released a long-winded breath, as his respect and bond with the Lord of his family completely vanished. He refused to believe that these men who possessed such vast power had no knowledge of the event that was currently transpiring. ¡®Would they rob him of the resources of his final year? His personal handmaiden, someone who had grown up alongside him, would they too rob her from him?¡¯ thought Zhou Yan. ¡°Ping¡¯er, there would be no need for you to wait for our next life, just serve me well in this life.¡± Zhou Yan suddenly extended his arm to grab Ping¡¯er¡¯s cold hands. At that very moment, he could feel the violent trembling of Ping¡¯er¡¯s body. He felt the silent encouragement and motivation given to him by the lady in white. It was also at this moment, the dimmed, lifeless pupils of this mysterious maiden clad in white whose name was Ning¡¯er, a lass that feared nothing with an unknown past lit up instantly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t bear to let her go?¡± Zhou Cheng provoked further. Zhou Xian simply chuckled mockingly. Zhou Shuangshuang however, simply stared at Ping¡¯er with an envious look, as she was unable to contain her emotions. Zhou Lingyi only had an arrogant look on her face as she seemingly looked down on them, placing herself on an unreachable pedestal. She almost seemed like a jester gazing down a bridge, tempted to take a leap of faith. ¡°If you can defeat me in combat, then it proves my own inability to defend Ping¡¯er. Hence, you may have her!¡± said Zhou Yan with a cold tone. ¡°Hahaha, trash like you dare to demand something so outrageous!¡± Zhou Cheng chuckled like a mad man. ¡°Master, don¡¯t fight him. Can¡¯t you see that they¡¯re looking for a reason to fight?¡± replied Ping¡¯er frantically as tears streamed down her cheeks. Without saying a word, the blade in Zhou Yan¡¯s palm morphed into a silver light, one that pierced the heavens and the very earth with a single ¡®swoosh.¡¯ This light was filled with a vast ancient menacing aura. This attack was merely a basic form of the ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade.¡¯ However, with this basic attack alone, it seemed as if a veil of water surrounded them. This scene alone was enough to shock anyone. Zhou Cheng was stunned by this attack. Before the lad could even respond with an onslaught of his own, with a sudden ¡®swoosh,¡¯ a ghastly, almost god-like energy pierced through his defensive Qi energy, deflecting the silver blade he just unsheathed out of his hands, as it pierced straight through his chest! ¡°Urgh¡­¡± A fountain of blood gushed out his gaping wound as it shot out as far as three miles away. Zhou Cheng was instantly thrown into the sky above, then was smashed onto the ground upon landing. Chapter 9 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Cough¡­¡± At this instant, this lad was overwhelmed with traumatizing fear that dug deep within him. He knew that if the sword pierced him an inch closer, he would have been dead in an instant! That was not the worst of it. If the edge of the blade had been a hairline sharper than it was, or perhaps if the blade was whole and not broken, this young lad would have been dead right where he stood! His mind was bombarded with questions, mystified by how Zhou Yan managed to unleash such an attack. However, the bitter truth was his untimely defeat! The lad was unable to satiate his growing dissatisfaction of his defeat, since he could not bear being humiliated in the presence of Zhou Lingyi. ¡°You ambushed me! Such shameless trash you are, and yet you dare to strike first without honoring or even understanding the basic rule of a duel! Perhaps your parents met their demise far too early before they could teach you the basic rules of a duel!¡± As Zhou Cheng spoke, his face contorted into a malicious expression. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Zhou Yan could not be bothered to argue with the likes of him. Thus, the young lad simply responded with an odd question. At this moment, Zhou Cheng noticed the overwhelming menace in his gaze. It was akin to a wolf¡¯s menace as he feared that if he had spoken another word, he was sure that despite being in Zhou Lingyi¡¯s presence, he would have been dead. ¡°Hmph, it seems I¡¯ve underestimated your abilities. You¡¯ve managed to master the fourth form of the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade? You¡¯ve even managed to bring out the depths and intricacy of this sword art. It is without a doubt that if you hadn¡¯t pushed your body beyond its physical limits, you would be a useless piece of trash. ¡°However, if you assume that this little showcase of your might earlier would give you any sort of leniency to do anything you please such as to harm anyone in our family, then I will never show you mercy! ¡°Since your father contributed greatly to the cause of our family in the past, if you can bend your knee, repent for your action and give yourself a tight slap across your face, I shall forget about this violation you¡¯ve done.¡± Zhou Lingyi¡¯s arrogant voice echoed loudly in the air. ¡°My Lady!¡± exclaimed Zhou Shuangshuang. She was extremely dissatisfied with Zhou Lingyi¡¯s response. Since her own brother was wounded to such a great degree, she was unwilling to leave the trash, Zhou Yan, unpunished for his wrongdoing. ¡°Speak no more of this. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Thus, Zhou Lingyi stopped Zhou Shuangshuang from speaking further with a wave of her hand. With a gentle and compassionate tone, she spoke, ¡°Be a common-folk now, there would be no need for any sort of training. This would be a good thing for you, so know your place.¡± ¡°Hahaha. How comical!¡± Zhou Yan burst into uncontrollable waves of laughter; it was unhinged madness! These maniacal waves of laughter seemingly shrouded the deafening silence of the City of Cang Lan with a cloud of a mysterious aura. ¡°Is there anyone left in the face of the Zhou family who could stand against me? What sort of tricks do they have up their sleeves to face me? There is never a need for them to send a group of trash like you for me. Do you happen to know the truth behind the hand-carved effigy my father left for me? This is because it is capable of destroying everything the Zhou family built! This happens to be a secret artifact! ¡°So, tell me, are you lot trying to force my hand in destroying everything along with myself?¡± yelled Zhou Yan with a thundering roar! At this moment, this young lad could not allow his impulsive nature to destroy everything in the wake of his fury! Judging from his current state, his raw power would be no match for Zhou Lingyi. However, he did not wish to unleash his full potential at this moment. He could now very clearly see through all their fa?ade. These lot had indeed gone mad! There were no lengths these people would never go to in the name of achieving their goals! Perhaps, everything that transpired was a carefully orchestrated illusion from the elders. However, with a little extra thought, he knew that it was solely the doing of these fools and had absolutely no connection with the elders. Worse still, these people had so delicately orchestrated the illusion of false encouragement to motivate him to do better. This was done for the sole purpose of guilting him into submission. If not, why else had the lad felt that his natural gifts were ultimately held back, shackled down even? These mental shackles felt similar¡­ to sealing his gifts completely. At this very moment, Zhou Yan truly snapped as he lost himself within the realms of his mind. He had finally gone ¡®mad.¡¯ Yelling his lungs out, with a single swing of his broken blade, Zhou Yan shaved off half of Zhou Xian¡¯s face along with his ear. Zhou Xian screamed out loud in agonizing pain. This scene alone shook every single person to the core. At this moment, Zhou Yan was extremely reckless with his unhinged power. Others present had grown increasingly cautious at the same time. ¡°Argh¡­¡± Zhou Xian let out a blood-curdling shriek of pure agony, it was a haunting scene indeed. Covered in blood, this poor lad gripped the side of his bloodied face tightly as both his hands were trembling in fear. His piercing shrieks of agony paired alongside his tormented agonizing look clearly shocked everyone present. It was notably more frightening for Ping¡¯er. It was the very first time in her life ever witnessing her master go to such lengths to defend her honor! As a lowly handmaiden of no status, she had no idea how she was worthy of her master¡¯s grace until this moment. She now knew that it was worth everything her life had to offer to serve a master of such great compassion for several lifetimes, for an eternity, and even if for countless lifetimes did she reincarnate as a lowly handmaiden, she knew it was worth everything! Ping¡¯er¡¯s heart was moved by her master¡¯s grace, and by impulse, she made the most determined choice of her life¡­ She decided to serve her master exceptionally well for eternity. It did not matter if it cost her life or even the disintegration of her soul. This young lass cared not for her own life anymore, for she had sworn a lifetime of servitude to her master alone! ¡­ ¡°Zhou Yan, so bold of you to act with such reckless impunity. Did you know that your ruthlessness had started your path of evil? You are beyond salvation!¡± Zhou Lingyi frowned as her expression was clear with extreme killer intent. ¡°You piece of trash. How bold of you to show Lady Zhou such disrespect. Who in the world gave you such courage? You need to know your¡­¡± A lass with a long and narrow face yelled out furiously while standing next to Zhou Lingyi. She was Zhou Lingyi¡¯s personal handmaiden, little Yu. At this very moment, the young lad, Zhou Yan, simply cackled in madness, then, once again, he attacked unexpectedly. The only sounds that could be heard were the slashing noises emanating from the blade. With a single swing of his blade, a dark light that resembled a viper instantly struck Little Yu¡¯s neck. Before Little Yu could finish speaking, with a spiraling light, the broken edge of the blade surrounded her pale neck. All it took was a single light spin, and Zhou Lingyi¡¯s personal handmaiden was decapitated. This was followed by a fountain of blood gushing out from the gaping hole in her neck that was once her head. The speed of blood spurting was as swift as a loose arrow. It was indeed a horrifying and daunting sight. Before the lifeless head fell to the ground, due to the jet of blood being shot out at an unprecedented speed, her dark hair was instantly stained red. Her head spun twice in midair, raining blood, before its ghastly fall onto the ground along with a glorious splatter of blood. The purple silk cloak that cladded Zhou Lingyi¡¯s body was instantly stained by the splatter of blood. Surprisingly enough, she did not manage to react in time as she still had a cold expression on her face. With that, her personal handmaiden was murdered in an instant. It was odd for her handmaiden to be murdered so easily since she was still a rank one blade¡¯s cardinal. Even so, how was this trash capable of committing such acts of inhumanity and ruthlessness? It was not only Zhou Lingyi that was stunned by this atrocious act but also Zhou Shuangshuang, Zhou Xian, Zhou Cheng, the maiden in white, Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er were all shaken by this barbaric act. The trio, Zhou Xian, Zhou Shuangshuang, and Zhou Cheng were wholly overwhelmed with mixed emotions of shock and absolute fear as their feet were trembling uncontrollably while their heart grew colder by the second. ¡°Little Xu!¡± A menacing chilly aura was forming in Zhou Lingyi¡¯s pearly eyes at this moment. A wave of extremely dense pure killer intent was radiating out of the young lass¡¯s body. This time, her killing intent was real and genuine. ¡°Since it¡¯s death you seek, then I shall oblige to your wish!¡± yelled Zhou Lingyi. ¡°Really? Then you¡¯ll die too!¡± Standing his ground without any hint of fear in Zhou Yan¡¯s heart, the lad immediately took out a dark hand-carved effigy! The two distinct Sword Ways were not the only thing carved onto the body of this effigy. It was also a hidden artifact. This artifact was capable of releasing a wave of extremely overwhelming, powerful blade¡¯s menace. Perhaps this lad¡¯s father knew some indescribable things and had intentionally left this artifact for him. Zhou Yan targeted Zhou Lingyi in an instant. Her face grew pale as the simple action of targeting her alone was filled with the impending doom of death. This situation alone was enough to terrify her. As much of a genius, she was, in the face of such raw and powerful blade¡¯s menace, she was forced into immediate submission! The haunting sensation of death scarred her very soul for the first time in her life. This instantly pushed her off her pedestal of an inflated ego. At this moment, Zhou Yan looked like a complete mess as his dark, messy hair was fluttering in the wind uncontrollably. This lad was like a vampiric demon as the bloodstains on his hair resembled a veil of blood. This young lad¡¯s manic state was seemingly unchained, free from the shackles of humanity, no longer bound by his mind. There was no longer concern for anyone or anything. ¡°Enough!¡± A thundering roar rumbled through Zhou Yan¡¯s ear, causing the young lad to instantly cough out blood. However, Zhou Lingyi was unharmed as her face had regained some colors. The looming threat of impending death before had seemingly vanished as Zhou Lingyi apparently recovered from some mysterious energy. The arrival of this man showed such great care and compassion towards Zhou Lingyi. However, he was ruthless and unmerciful towards Zhou Yan. This unfair treatment once again stirred unrest in Zhou Yan¡¯s heart! Zhou Yan began to violently cough up splatters of fresh blood, and every cough created a fresh puddle of blood as it dripped slowly from the lad¡¯s mouth. A melancholic beauty was reflected through the pools of blood, which looked like blooming flowers. The humiliation he experienced today affected him deeply. However, he refused to lash out in anger, as that would only be a foolish action. If he lashed out and fought back, the enemy would undoubtedly slay him in his spot. This was also the only reason for him to unleash fury on a lowly handmaiden and not anyone else related to the family. Regretfully for the young lad, the miracle he experienced, and all the skills learned had been wasted. Death did not terrify this young lad, nay, what was more terrifying was the young lad¡¯s determined will, forcing himself to temporarily live on! Hence, even with his blood-stained tears, this young lad would endure every bit of the pain. Since in a cycle of moon¡¯s time, he would make sure to return to the main branch of the majesty that was his Zhou family, and he would strike down and defeat every single person they deem a genius. He had sworn to reclaim the rightful status that was once his! It did not matter how difficult of a task it would be to enter the main branch of his family. However, he would never stand to see the title his father had fought so hard with his life being given to someone else that easily! Plenty of baffling thoughts plagued this young lad¡¯s mind, however, he simply stared calmly at this man who had unfairly intervened. Unsurprising to him, this very man was none other than the Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan. Judging from how unfairly this man had intervened and treated him, the little love he had for his family vanished, and just like that, what little feelings he shared with this family had disappeared entirely. An orphaned child with no parents would be subjected to a tremendous amount of bullying and judgment. As he pondered about the glory days of his father, his father¡¯s position and his father¡¯s glory, once again, Zhou Yan grew silent. ¡°The family forbids any sort of infighting, it¡¯s even more forbidden to raise one¡¯s blade! Zhou Yan, you are truly a shadow to your father¡¯s glory!¡± ¡°I¡¯m no longer a member of the Zhou family,¡± replied Zhou Yan calmly. ¡°As long as you¡¯re still in this household, you¡¯re still a member of the family! The atrocities you¡¯ve committed today are no different from a scholar to the evil arts. What disgrace you¡¯ve brought to the ancestors for committing such crimes!¡± yelled The Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, furiously at Zhou Yan. At this moment, Zhou Yan chuckled. ¡°Laugh? How dare you so shamelessly laugh right now?¡± As furious as the Elder of Lore was at the moment, he never attacked Zhou Yan since the young lad looked pale and was continually coughing out blood. His fury was similar to a smoldering hot flame relentlessly burning his flesh and soul. Chapter 10 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I don¡¯t need a single thing from this family, don¡¯t you worry. I will be leaving with Ping¡¯er and Ning¡¯er. ¡°From this day on, I will still remain as Zhou Yan. However, the matters of this family, the Zhou family, no longer concerns me. ¡°You may stop worrying now since you, as an elder, had completely severed my essence meridian to further my training. The rest of my life would ultimately be destined to live a simple life as a common-folk, so there is no longer a need for you to strike me down any further than you already had! ¡°I¡¯ve used every ounce of my potential. I¡¯ve indeed attacked them, and I have all the right to do so. I could never allow their humiliation to carry on any further! ¡°As for Little Xu, it was bold of her as a lowly handmaiden to disrespect me to such an extent, not knowing her place. She was obviously not taught well by her master, so I punished her in her master¡¯s place. This act of discipline was not wrong! Just as you said before, as long as I¡¯ve not left the Zhou household, that handmaiden would never be in a position to hurl such insults at me!¡± Zhou Yan simply spoke calmly while tightly grabbing onto the hand-carved effigy. It seemed that this night was the only time this young lad had spoken the most. ¡°Ping¡¯er, Ning¡¯er, Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Ping¡¯er took one last good look at every single soul present as if she was attempting to remember all of their faces. The ill stricken maiden clad in white, Ning¡¯er, remained silent as she approached the weakened Zhou Yan. She managed to grab him before he fell over. Thus, the injured young lad was shouldered by two elegant women, leaving behind a trail of blood-soaked footprints. The trio left the serene yet melancholic courtyard behind them. Similar to a lonely artistic conception, wherever it had gathered was where it left, as it expanded its presence to a never-ending, voidless abyss. ¡°Elder of Lore, if I may, the skills of his ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade¡¯ was impressive, and his speed was insanely quick.¡± After a long moment of silence, Zhou Lingyi suddenly made a cryptic comment as she no longer paid any attention to her murdered handmaiden. ¡°His seal was ¡®his¡¯ doing, there is not a single soul in this realm but ¡®him¡¯ that could undo this seal, so don¡¯t you worry child.¡± The Elder of Lore spoke then proceeded to let out a long-winded sigh as he continued, ¡°I can feel his essence strengthen through this very encounter. It¡¯s normal to have such power when one had pushed themselves beyond their physical limitations. Since Zhou Wangchen was an ordinary man, he, too, was defeated by Zhou Yuntian. Thus, it was not due to the lack of talents and prowess this lad possessed, nay, it was all because the right moment for him had yet to come. ¡°Zhou Yuntian was not worthy of praise because, at that very moment, Zhou Wangchen was already incapable of exerting even a fraction of his full strength. ¡°It seems that Zhou Yan can¡¯t die just yet. Well, at least, he can¡¯t yet perish by our blades. Since the situation with Zhou Wangchen is not fully over, and the lass, Ning Er, with a mysterious past was brought back by Zhou Wangchen, I fear that she cannot be taken lightly. As for now, we will not make any rash moves,¡± explained the Elder of Lore with great detail. His detailed explanation was shared with the three generations of exceptional pupils in the courtyard and was not kept a secret. ¡°Yes, by your grace, Elder, you have covered all grounds. Since this debacle finally has a conclusion, I shall train harder. In a cycle of a moon¡¯s time, upon the arrival of the main branch of the majesty that is our Zhou family, I shall impress them.¡± Zhou Lingyi nodded. ¡°If I may, Elder, I fear Zhou Yan would speak ill of our family in the open world, or perhaps, he would return to cause even more harm in a cycle of moon¡¯s time,¡± asked Zhou Xian with his irrational concerns. The lad recalled the menacing, sinister gaze present in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes. He could not help but feel that this young lad, Zhou Yan, was never as a simple man as he thought he was. ¡°He had lost all his potential and his powers. He will no longer gain such an opportunity ever again! Besides, when the time arrives, the entire family will be on high alert. Although he was a member of our Zhou family for all these years, however, not a single soul in the open world would ever know that he is truly the son of Zhou Wangchen.¡± The elder, Zhou Wuyan, chuckled as if he had planned for every possibility. ¡°Ah¡­ you truly are wise, great elder!¡± Hence, Zhou Xian was instantly relieved of his concerns. A glint of fierce, primal vengeance glimmered through his gaze. He felt content to witness Zhou Yan be subjected to such torment. ¡°My apologies, dear Elder, besides the lot of us in the family, every single pupil stood united and loyal, without question. Also, the Lord of our family, he had always sided with Zhou Yan, would he¡­¡± It seemed that some concerns still lingered in Zhou Cheng¡¯s mind. However, he was worried about something else. ¡°Worry not for the matters of the Lord of our family, just as we agreed, Zhou Yan is a piece of trash, and Zhou Wangchen was a known genius. Who do you think the lord would side with? If the future concerns you, then arrangements will be made for future occasions, hence, worry not now. ¡°On the other hand, you¡¯re concerned about the truth of this situation that will be spread by the pupils in our family. This, alone has a simple solution. ¡°We can all say, that this situation was due to the intensive training undergone by the genius of our family. It was planned since he was little. However, the truth is, Zhou Linyao was Zhou Wangchen¡¯s trueborn son. To prevent his arrogance, the family had decided to indoctrinate a lad named ¡®Zhou Yan¡¯ who was merely an abandoned child when he was discovered. Hence, he has no ties to our Zhou family. He has already been exiled and abandoned by our Zhou family after being such an embarrassment to us.¡± Upon hearing what the Elder of Lore had said, the trio was instantly stunned by his wisdom. ¡°These words were not meant for your ears initially. However, since it¡¯s by the grace of Zhou Lingyi, I shall speak without restrictions. Do not tell anyone this at all. On the other hand, whoever enters our Zhou family is not essential. What¡¯s most important will be whoever possesses the most talent. ¡°There is one more thing. This doesn¡¯t mean that there can only be two people worthy of this status. If the objective had been achieved, three or four people wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. Little Cheng, Little Xian, I have high hopes for both of you, so fight hard. A lot can change in a cycle of a moon¡¯s time,¡± said Zhou Wuyan contently. Upon hearing what had been said, Zhou Cheng and Zhou Xian were extremely excited by such praise. They were so ecstatic that both of them had completely forgotten about the injuries they had sustained earlier. ¡­ Glittering stars stretched across the night sky. It was extremely late at night at this point. Through an endless stretch of massive hills and thorny bushes, the two young lassies continued to shoulder the injured Zhou Yan as they slowly braved the treacherous path ahead. The dresses they wore were tattered and torn by the thorny overgrowth as blood-stained their ankles. Their path was completely shrouded in darkness. The only way they knew was up the massive hills as the path was invisible to them through the dark veil of night. It seemed to them that this night alone was crawling to a halt. It felt unnaturally long. Darkness shrouded them. It was as if the light of dawn was hidden from their eyes. The young lad Zhou Yan was unconscious, resembling the undead. He allowed both the young lassies to shoulder his weight, dragging him along their journey. Earlier, the trio found a safe spot to rest. However, they realized that the place was deemed a ¡®forbidden ground¡¯ and thus, they lost the sanctuary they discovered. Not a single shard of crystal could be found on the trio, and the two ladies were utterly exhausted, unable to fend off any possible threats that might come their way. In a world like this, it certainly made living a challenging thing to do. ¡°Lady Ning, why hasn¡¯t master awoken yet? His body temperature keeps fluctuating between feverish heat to bone-chilling temperatures uncontrollably¡­ Is he going to perish?¡± The green dress Ping¡¯er wore was completely soaked in her own sweat. ¡°He¡­had been mortally wounded by the echoed voice from the Elder of Lore. I¡¯m afraid his meridians are completely severed, and there isn¡¯t an immediate cure¡­for his current condition.¡± The maiden clad in white calmly spoke as the tone in her voice was soft. She simply let out a long-winded sigh after speaking. ¡°Lady Ning, then, then what should we do? It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s all my fault as a shameless, lowly handmaiden. If it wasn¡¯t for me, the master wouldn¡¯t have¡­ I deserve to die¡­¡± Ping¡¯er bawled like a mad person, as tears burst from her eyes like a geyser, soaking her sleeves. There was no break in between the mix of sweat and tears, as nothing could calm the lass¡¯ broken heart and sorrow. ¡°Ping¡¯er, this has nothing to do with you. Not a single soul could stop them if all they seek for was a reason to fight. The truth is, Zhou Yan was extremely composed and calm in the face of their provocations. If it was up to his old self, he would¡¯ve rashly fought those people without any concern of the ramifications that would¡¯ve brought him.¡± Ning¡¯er¡¯s voice was soft, yet it contained a unique calming tone to comfort Ping¡¯er, and thus, she slowly calmed herself down. ¡°Lady Ning, I know you¡¯re a lady from a powerful family of high status. Can you perhaps¡­teach me the ways of the sword? It doesn¡¯t matter if it was the way of healing, pure sword skill, spells, or traps. It does not matter to me, as long as it is powerful enough, enough¡­to avenge my master, and it¡¯ll be fine by me!¡± Intense waves of determination emanated from Ping¡¯er¡¯s voice, and her gaze alone was as sharp as a blade¡¯s edge! It seemed ironic that life could force someone so innocent and na?ve to the world around her to such a desperate state! ¡°Worry not, all will be well soon!¡± There was not much reaction from Ning¡¯er. As Ning¡¯er stared at Zhou Yan, her gaze was filled with compassion and love. As Ning¡¯er spoke, she looked around cautiously, as if she felt something watching them. She then proceeded to bend over and pulled out a mysterious golden pill. She slid the tablet into Zhou Yan¡¯s mouth. Suddenly, her soft pale hands stopped in midair. With a twitch, the pill returned to her palm. Ping¡¯er was mystified by what she witnessed. In the next instant, she watched as the feverish heat and chilling cold from Zhou Yan¡¯s body gathered at one spot as both energies of extreme heat and cold swiftly collided with one another. It then proceeded to morph into a circle of unified energy. This circle of mysterious power had an odd curve to it, and at the center of both curves, two bright spots of light could be seen at opposite ends of each curve! As clueless as they both were, Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er realized that this circle seemed to possess a concentrated raw power from the teachings of Taoism within itself! Both lassies were stunned and shocked as they observed that the spiraling circle, infused itself into Zhou Yan¡¯s body. This, in turn, healed the lad as the pale and purplish state he was in faded away. The weakened condition of his face was replaced by an indescribable state of health. ¡°Are you awake, master?¡± ¡°Are you awake, Zhou Yan?¡± Upon awakening, Zhou Yan was greeted by two gentle and soft, concerned voices. Zhou Yan smiled compassionately, merely nodding to them, not saying a word. The young lad was not passed out earlier. In fact, he was not even mortally wounded. It was merely a minor injury to him. However, as he knew the situation was dire, he was forced to pretend to be mortally injured to escape. The truth was, if it wasn¡¯t for his spatial destruction guarding his body, that thundering roar from the Elder of Lore would have ultimately crippled him for the rest of his life. Thus, his act earlier was acceptable. Just as he planned, he successfully fooled everyone and escaped unharmed. If it was not for his quick thinking, there was without a single shred of doubt in mind that he would have survived this long. The young lad now knew that not a single person in his family ever truly cared for him! Afraid of being followed during their escape, the young lad used a secret skill from the ¡®Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts¡¯ to heal his injuries and seal away his life essence. Those particular skills were blessed from a foreign realm known as Earth. It had infused the principles of Yin and Yang and the teachings of Tai Chi. On top of that, it incorporated the ¡®Scriptures of Morality¡¯ to such fine detail to yield a remarkable outcome! Throughout their arduous journey, he had successfully deceived many powerful detection skills used by an equally powerful adversary. He felt the detection skills being used by the adversary. However, the enemy sensed nothing in return. That was not the full extent of Zhou Yan¡¯s growing abilities. By using a subchapter from ¡®Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts¡¯, ¡®The Scriptures of Unbound Flexibility,¡¯ Zhou Yan felt not only did he fully recover from his injuries but once again he progressed further! Chapter 11 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A person¡¯s Essence was like a pillar of water, to which it was divided into three sections, similar to segments of bamboo. These would be the most important meridians in the world dictated by Way of The Sword. Such as countless streams that merged into the ocean; nothing could stop this flow of nature. In comparison to the twelve divergent meridians and the eight mythical meridian streams that Zhou Yan knew, it was significantly much simpler. However, it appeared more complicated from a different perspective. Zhou Yan had fully unblocked and cleared every node in the countless meridians present in his body. Thus, the young lad felt a strong rush of energy surging through his body. It was different from the shackles from his training in the Sword¡¯s Way. However, it felt closer to the segments of bamboo, deep and vast with an abysmal amount of knowledge. The act of unblocking every single meridian was an arduous task to complete. The young lad now faced a difficult roadblock to his progress as the grueling cumulation of every meridian was forced unto him all at once. From the current perspective of the young lad, it seemed the depths of the intricacies of a rank one Blade¡¯s Cardinal was a voidless, endless abyss. The young lad assumed initially that he would be using the wave of focusing the essence of the heavens and Earth into one dense and raw power by the ¡®Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts.¡¯ In addition to that, he would use his body¡¯s remaining strength by his skill of ¡®Spatial Destruction¡¯ to break through the roadblocks of this realm with a single rush of force thus ascending to the second stage of the Qi¡¯s pillar, which is better known as the second rank of a Blade¡¯s Cardinal. However, with all his strength and might, he forced a single condensed powerful wave of Qi into his body, and the energy that resonated from his body sounded like the exploding reverberating hum of a sword. As powerful as this rush of condensed, raw power was, it was still unable to break through the enormous mental fortress. After the transmutation of that powerful wave of energy in his body, the shackles that bound him to his current realm seemed to be reinforced by several folds. The recoil after such a massive attack forced a wave of blood upwards in his body, making the young lad nauseous and inhumanly dizzy. This setback almost forced him to irrationally burst out with a wave of curses and swears, due to how cold his personality was. ¡°Master¡­Are¡­you¡­Are you okay?¡± Ping¡¯er stared worriedly at her master, Zhou Yan. A wave of anxiousness and overwhelming worry was obvious from her glare. The lass spent most of the night crossing the treacherous hills and raging streams of water. Although the journey was not a lengthy one, the beautiful dress that she wore was now tattered and covered in dust. The young lad, Zhou Yan, had attained the capability of night vision. Through the veil of the shrouded darkness of the night, the pale glimmers of dim light allowed the young lad to perceive objects around him. Hence, he was able to see the worried, tattered state of Ping¡¯er and the overwhelming exhaustion of Ning¡¯er. With utmost compassion in his heart, he stared at Ping¡¯er. Without hiding any emotions, he pulled her close into the comfort of his loving arms and said, ¡°Worry not Ping¡¯er, all will be well.¡± As he spoke, he gently kissed Ping¡¯er¡¯s forehead. This simple, random act of compassion stunned Ping¡¯er as the young lass stood frozen in her spot, as her mind went completely blank. The maiden in white who stood beside her, too, was surprised by his act of compassion, and her eyes widened. She never expected Zhou Yan to share such comforting compassion towards his handmaiden at that very moment. Zhou Yan appeared to completely drop his arrogant, stubborn, and inflated ego of the past. It was as though he had totally morphed into a completely different person. Ning¡¯er stared curiously at Zhou Yan. ¡°Ning¡¯er.¡± Zhou Yan spoke with a calming voice while looking at Ning¡¯er. It was the look of utmost sincerity. ¡°Yes, Zhou Yan, the state of your current condition seems to have drastically improved. What about your body, how does it feel?¡± Ning¡¯er never avoided Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze as she was a wise maiden with the facade of a naive girl. She was known to be a young lass that was unfazed by change, extremely generous, elegant but complicated on the inside. ¡°I¡¯ll explain in great detail about my condition to you later.¡± Zhou Yan replied with a warm and indescribable sincere smile on his face. Ning¡¯er slowly avoided his gaze as both their eyes met. That strong, sentimental, deep, penetrative gaze from his black pearly eyes was not something she wished to see. She knew that at this very moment, the only thing the lad needed was his fighting spirit and not an emotional attachment nor something else. However, as she got lost in her deep thoughts, the young lad, Zhou Yan, had already made his way over to her. He grabbed her hands and clutching her palms tightly, he tugged the young lass into his strong, loving arms, embracing her whole. At this very moment, she felt a wave of searing heat. His breath was heavy and blood-soaked, yet so compassionately full of love and unexplainably calm. As she struggled to escape his warm embrace, she was instead grabbed by the waist and his strong arms wrapped around her tightly, making it impossible to break free. It was at this moment she realized Zhou Yan was not as frail and weak as she assumed. His strength was inhumanly strong as his newfound change in his personality had completely rid his previously frail demeanor that he presented himself as. He had now transformed into this exceptionally strong and confident man. This was now an extremely attractive and remarkable man! ¡°Don¡¯t struggle. Allow me to give both of you a tight hug. You both had been through so much.¡± As Zhou Yan whispered softly to both lassies, both of them had seemingly fallen into a trance in an instant. ¡°Although we did not wish to be born on the same name day of the same moon¡¯s cycle of the same year, we very much do wish dearly to die on the very same day! The instant both of you decided to follow me when I left, I am determined to never abandon both of you for as long as my lifetime stretches. ¡°I will make sure I train harder than I ever did before. This will ensure I can protect both of you for the entirety of my lifetime. No longer will I allow both of you to experience even an ounce of sorrow any longer!¡± As Zhou Yan whispered, it almost seemed as if he had spoken the most beautiful and captivating words of romance in the world. Typical under the moonlight type of romance never existed in this realm. The only thing that existed was the distinction in the various ways of the sword, the possession of crystals, training, legendary swords, mythical artifacts, swordplay alchemy, and strategy. Thus, Zhou Yan had spoken the exact words of romance from the archives of the collective memories of the ancient sage. Even more so, the lad had spoken with such indescribable volumes of genuine sincerity. It was an undeniably shocking exclamation made by the lad. This was an exclamation of self-sacrifice. A confession of compassion of the highest degree, which was extremely touching to anyone. As for both lassies, Ping¡¯er¡¯s heart was beyond moved and touched by his words, and for the calm and collected Ning¡¯er, a glimmer of admiration could be seen reflecting from her face. It almost made her unable to keep her vow of utmost ¡®purity and chastity.¡¯ She let out a long-winded sigh after a good long while, as hints of worry became visible on her face. ¡°Zhou Yan, we spent most of our childhood together. You were forbidden to train, and I was merely trash, abandoned by my family. When we were little, you attempted to ¡®heal¡¯ me, even though you knew nothing of the ways of the sword. Even though you were an extremely frail and weak kid, you were always optimistic and never once complained of tiredness. ¡°Even as we grew up, you were always kind and caring towards me, and I really felt your compassion. However, there¡¯s nothing I could do to help but instead become a burden for you to carry. ¡°I happened to have a life-saving wild card, however in that situation, I did not dare to use it because I was unsure of this wildcard¡¯s ability.¡± ¡­ ¡°I love you with all my heart, and I am extremely grateful for your compassion. However, please do not make your struggles even more difficult than it already is for my sake.¡± ¡°In my hand is a golden tablet, it can save lives, and I want you to have¡­¡± ¡°Ning¡¯er, hold on to what you own. We are not left with nothing. I have inherited my father¡¯s grace and teachings. Besides that, I still have my natural gifts and powers, so, how am I, Zhou Yan, useless trash? Both of you needn¡¯t wait too long. Just give me a cycle of a moon¡¯s time, and with that, I will return to reclaim what is rightfully mine! ¡°That was my father¡¯s obsession, and it¡¯s also the opportunity for stability in this new situation that I can provide you both with!¡± Without hiding any secrets, Zhou Yan whispered softly to both maidens while maintaining his utmost sincere gaze toward them. There was warmth in his whispers, and it seemingly landed directly onto Ning¡¯er¡¯s cheeks. The calm and collected silent lass blushed a little on her face. It was almost as if her status as a glacial deity had gracefully descended amongst the common-folk without warning. As Zhou Yan stared at her, his heart burned with amusement at the sight of her unparalleled beauty. This beauty would be the work of creation by the gods to have made a maiden such stunningly beautiful! Ning¡¯er felt an indescribable odd feeling as she was being stared down by Zhou Yan. She wanted to resist it initially. However, being comforted by Ping¡¯er by her side, she was instantly tamed like a kitten. Hence, her instant submission stopped her from struggling and resisting, simply allowing Zhou Yan to stare at her. ¡°Zhou Yan¡­ My current situation is unbearably complicated. There¡¯s no need to mention the members of your family. It was even something I had felt. I¡­am, not a normal, regular human being. ¡°I can feel that I, too, have a journey that only I must embark on. It feels like a calling in my head, speaking directly to my mind. Recently, these occurrences have been more frequent¡­ ¡°Zhou Yan, no matter what happens in the future, I need you to believe me. The moment you attempted to heal me when we were little, you already hold a special place in my tiny heart. ¡°However, I can¡¯t lose my purity right now¡­ I can¡¯t help but feel this would be extremely important to me. ¡°I will only belong to you alone. Your natural gifts¡­ I too, can¡¯t help but fear it¡¯s ferocity. ¡°I used to assume I perhaps made a mistake initially. However, as of right now, Zhou Yan, you¡¯re truly a hidden natural genius.¡± Ning¡¯er¡¯s heart was touched, thus forcing the calm, collected, and silent lass to speak more than she usually did. Even some of her words were fragmented, almost as if it was dissipating. However, Zhou Yan knew that these were her true feelings that the lass had spoken. It was due to her compassion and mixed feelings that caused her to lose her composure. ¡°Yes, anything that troubles you, I will understand. Any hardship you face, I will shoulder it along with you!¡± Zhou Yan spoke with a soft tone. He continued with a whisper, ¡°Ping¡¯er, I will do the same for you.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s words undeniably touched the hearts of these two young maidens. The trio had grown up together, struggled together and depended on each other for anything and everything. The hasty progression of current events was undeniably quickened by his recent encounters. ¡­ The calm and quiet environment was a rare occurrence. This simple cuddle was a lengthy one. The moment the embrace was broken, unknown to them, they had been hugging till the break of dawn. As the first light of dawn greeted them, both maidens were still drowsy and dazed, hence inciting a deeper sense of love in their hearts. The dew from dawn had soaked both their dresses. One lass was inhumanly adorable, and the other was calm, collected and quiet. Both of them possessed distinctly different personalities that presented to the young lad. The beauty could only be described as different and unique. Zhou Yan realized that he had an inhumanly strong urge of lust. However, at this very moment, he forced himself to resist the primal urge, even though¡­ strong, powerful flames were dancing in both his pearly eyes. Chapter 12 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Whoa¡­¡± As Zhou Yan let go of his tight and warm embrace, the beautiful and stunning maidens soon awoken from their slumber. Ping¡¯er was the first to wake up from her dazed state, and she blinked several times to freshen up a little. As she met Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze, her heart started beating fast. To contain her anxiousness, she pretended to remain asleep, hoping no one would notice her nervousness. The young lass, Ning¡¯er, however, as soon as she opened her eyes, she woke up from her blurry daze. Exhaustion and fatigue were obvious in her eyes. Her fatigue eventually faded into her naturally stunning and beautiful pearly eyes. She had a glint of confusion. However, the instant realization that the event was not a dream snapped her out of her confusion. Written across her stunningly beautiful face was a hint of a nervous blush. However, she never reacted but simply greeted the young lad with a warm smile. While staring directly into Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes, she said, ¡°Do you have a crush on me at the moment?¡± ¡°Why do you still ask when you already know?¡± Zhou Yan chuckled, as his personality seemed extremely open-minded and accepting. Ning¡¯er was slightly stunned as the lass did not expect Zhou Yan to be so blatantly blunt in admitting his feelings. Her initial assumption was that this lad was still the same old na?ve and immature person who would have been forced to say it as she used to occasionally tease the young lad in the past. An indescribable feeling of glee and joy-filled the young lass¡¯ heart. It appeared to the young lad that the more exceptional a man that she loved became, the more pride and contempt she would feel. Even if this feeling was of a little girl¡¯s immaturity, the lass very much enjoyed the way she felt. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Zhou Yan. You¡¯ve truly become even more exceptional than you were in the past. You¡¯ve rid yourself off any elegance, and thus you¡¯ve transformed into a truly handsome man of exceptional caliber. The person you were in the past was stubborn and determined yes, however, in certain aspects, you seemed dull and slightly weak.¡± Ning¡¯er let out a soft sigh as she reflected on herself as she just gave the most honest and sincere perspective from her heart. The lass somehow knew to a certain degree that she, herself was not a normal person. If Zhou Yan had been as weak and as frail as he was in the past, her foresight informed her that it would be a tremendously difficult thing for them if they wanted to be together. She was unsure why she perceived things the way she did. However, she truly knew that the foresight she felt was impeccably accurate. Upon hearing what Ning¡¯er said, the young lad too had seemingly understood and felt her most genuine feelings, and thus, Zhou Yan silently nodded. Ning¡¯er was not the only person who shared the same perspective of him. Truthfully, the young lad, too, viewed himself in the same light and wondered how his past self could be so weak and frail. He used to have bent over backward and reduced himself for a worthless woman to such an extent that the people closest to him dared not even speak to him about the tremendous amount of sorrow they had to go through¡­ This would only be seen as a worthless, wasted effort for the young lad! Perhaps the only silver lining from this would be his unbending determined heart to train harder and his adamant will to never surrender and submit to anyone. As of now, the young lad had finally been enlightened. When he reflected upon his past, there was nothing but regret. ¡°It will never happen again in the future. I was a naive reckless fool in the past and had disappointed you and made Ping¡¯er endure so much sorrow. Thus, I hereby swear that in future days to come, it does not matter if I have to climb mountains of blades or cross oceans of flames; or if things would cripple or cost me my life. I swear I will make things right, and I will make sure to take amazing care of both of you.¡± The tone in Zhou Yan¡¯s voice was calm and full of compassion. Ning¡¯er was extremely moved by his words, and thus, without warning, she gave him a kiss. Zhou Yan was more than pleased to receive her kiss. This single kiss¡­ Both girls were giggling as they whispered to each other, and with random intervals, they took turns staring at Zhou Yan with an odd gaze, as if they were speaking ill about that young lad. As the young lad sat by a boulder furiously roasting a wild hare, he looked extremely depressed. It was all due to a slip of his hand, thus causing the young lad to grab the wrong spot, which in turn prompted Ping¡¯er to scream out in agony. This also caused Ning¡¯er to assume that the young lad was touching Ping¡¯er with his hands while they were having a romantic moment. Hence, both maidens denied his ¡®pleasure-filled¡¯ escapade. This was why the young lad was in such a foul mood. Zhou Yan understood what these lassies did was not an act motivated by envious feelings, but it was simply an act of moderation. At the same time, this was done simply to liven up his mood and to prevent the young lad from lingering or dwelling in painful, sorrow-filled memories. This proves that a woman¡¯s heart is kind and most empathetic towards others. Zhou Yan¡¯s sixth sense was undeniably exceptionally sharp. He could read and steal anyone¡¯s heart. It was through this lad¡¯s demonstration of extreme care towards both maidens that caused them to share their deepest and most sincere feelings. Everything that happened or said was real and not a single bit was made up. It was also at this moment; the young lad was able to eavesdrop on their entire conversation in utmost clarity. However, the lad chose not to as he simply pretended to not hear a thing out of respect. ¡°Ning¡¯er, Ping¡¯er, come on and have some roast hare. It was made by your master¡¯s own hands. I guarantee after a bite, the scrumptious aftertaste will linger in your memories forever.¡± While the young lad, Zhou Yan, spoke intimately, at this very moment, a casual, carefree glint was visible from his gaze through his smile. However, a slight dubious intention was hidden behind his smile. ¡°Yes, master, Sister Ning¡¯er, and I had both decided to train in the future as well.¡± Ping¡¯er spoke gleefully. ¡°Ning¡¯er, you can train someone now?¡± questioned Zhou Yan out of the blue. It was also at this very moment that the young lad realized the pale look on Ning¡¯er¡¯s face caused by her ailment had faded away slightly, and she had recovered some health. The temperament of her mythical nature seemed to emanate tremendously from her entire body. It appeared as if her body had undergone a godly awakening. Her soul, however, seemed as if it was going through an unpredictable transmutation with every passing moment. ¡°Yes, Zhou Yan, earlier, when you and I¡­ did that, it felt like¡­ I was training my sword skills in a different place. The moment an attack was unleashed, glaciers formed in a million miles, and the heavens and Earth would split open¡­ that invincible feeling I felt, was too powerful. ¡°I had the foresight that I am now able to begin training.¡± As Ning¡¯er spoke those words softly, she slowly walked towards Zhou Yan and stood in front of him. She hid one last thing from him, and those were the feelings of desperation and loneliness even though she felt invincible. ¡­ As the early sun rose, while staring at that maiden, Zhou Yan once again felt the insane temptation of lust. It was almost as if he wanted nothing more than to consume the other person into his own body. That unforgettable boiling, rising feelings of lust suddenly grew inhumanly strong. With everything that the young lass said, a seemingly insuppressible odd feeling rose within Zhou Yan. It was a similar situation that those pupils and elders in his family feared most, which is facing a defenseless young lass. Her unnatural, deity-like temperament she presented herself as was what made her appear extremely sacred. However, the lad had already violated her. ¡®Hmm¡­ However¡­¡¯ thought Zhou Yan to himself. Zhou Yan wanted to implore the young lass to not leave his side using sentimental words as he wished to never part with her. However, since a premonition or foresight still meant uncertainty, the young lad did not want to lose faith in himself. ¡°Eat something, I know both of you are tired and famished.¡± Zhou Yan spoke as he tried to rid his mind of certain thoughts. He also wanted to change topics from this depressing and heavy conversation. A pure and calm deity such as her, who valued purity so much, would throw herself into his loving arms. What was there left for him to worry about? He needed to have more faith in her! The young lad grew increasingly relieved the more he thought about the situation. He then proceeded to focus and concentrate all his might to unleash his Blade¡¯s essence from his body. While counting and mumbling, the young lad managed to cleanly slice six different segments of the roasted hare. The moment the young lad unleashed his Blade¡¯s Essence, Ping¡¯er, a naive girl who knew nothing but the basics in the ways of the sword, realized that no one could unleash one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Essence¡­ without ascending to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! However, it was obvious that her master, Zhou Yan, a man who had not even reached the first rank of a Blade¡¯s Cardinal managed to unleash his Blade¡¯s Essence. It was rumored to be the result of forcefully pushing his body beyond his physical limits! However, what they had just witnessed was¡­ A simple act such as that had shocked both lassies. In an instant, they were stunned and froze in shock. ¡°Master, you¡­¡± A glint of surprise and shock completely filled Ping¡¯er¡¯s eyes. Ning¡¯er¡¯s pearly, lively eyes too were lit up with amusement. ¡°Zhou Yan, have you awakened your Blade¡¯s Essence?¡± Her expression was interesting, as glimmers of surprise reflected through her eyes. ¡°Yes, I wasn¡¯t as what you both assumed. I never pushed my body beyond its physical limitations. Instead, it was through natural means. That wasn¡¯t the full extent of my awakening. I actually had been graced by the enlightenment of the knowledge of Blade¡¯s essence, and this very Blade¡¯s Essence has the effect of changing my body¡¯s anatomy. Now, both my body and perception are inhumanly exceptional.¡± Zhou Yan never hid anything from the lassies. This was never about his inheritance of the will of the ancient sage. Thus, there was no harm in telling them. The main point was that the young lad did not want these maidens to worry about him. Thus, he hoped to give them some confidence. However, as good as the boost of confidence was, natural gifts, too, were extremely important. Hence the young lad, Zhou Yan, did exactly that, right there and then. ¡°Ah! That¡¯s amazing! Master, I always knew that you truly are a natural genius. It¡¯s only a matter of time before karma catches up to those evil fiends!¡± Ping¡¯er was ecstatic as she could not hold back her tears of joy. ¡°To say your gifts are amazing would be an understatement! That prime genius of the main branch of the majesty that was the Zhou family whose name was Zhou Yuntian had only awakened his Blade¡¯s Essence upon ascending to the first rank of a Blade¡¯s Cardinal. Even so, he was unable to utilize his Blade¡¯s Essence. However, you are already able to fully utilize your Blade¡¯s Essence when you had just recently ascended the ranks. I¡¯m certain that the ¡®Pillar of Qi¡¯ in your body must be exceptionally powerful. ¡°Your natural gifts had far exceeded his!¡± explained Ning¡¯er in detail. As Ping¡¯er listened, she was completely stunned by Ning¡¯er¡¯s detailed explanation. However, it would be impossible for the lad, Zhou Yan, to not be aware of his own talents. After listening to Ning¡¯er¡¯s detailed analysis, he knew that Ning¡¯er was indeed knowledgeable. The only odd thing was that there was some knowledge that seemed innate to her, which was the main reason most people in the family feared her and were wary of her. ¡°I¡¯ve not contested him on that point alone. Thus, it would be difficult to decide. However, I am confident that I am better than him. I would not reveal to anyone about this just yet since in my current situation, I am in no position to be of high profile,¡± said Zhou Yan. Ning¡¯er agreed with the lad and, thus, nodded in agreement. She said, ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve said exactly what I was going to say. With the way you think now, I would be more relaxed. As I recall, your natural gifts, too, were extremely exceptional!¡± ¡­ Chapter 13 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan, Ning¡¯er, and Ping¡¯er were talking to each other, as the young lad fed both the stunning maidens slices of hare with his Blade¡¯s Essence. On several occasions, the young lad did not hesitate to mouth feed both the young maidens. This very gesture of compassion by ¡®serving¡¯ both lassies had undoubtedly touched their hearts. However, unknown to the two, this gesture was merely a simple and unspectacular task to Zhou Yan. The roasted hare was seasoned with wild pepper and salt as the fragrant scent of herbs emanated through the air. As the prodigal heir of the ancient sage of the Art of the Formless Fist, every task felt almost natural to Zhou Yan while living a life in the wild. This was due to the inheritance of the archives of the sage¡¯s memories. Moreover, the young lad found it easier to understand the intricacies of the Formless Fist¡¯s Ways of The Sword in the thick and dense forest. This simple meal of roasted hare filled the bellies of both fine lassies. Both maidens were indescribably content by the meal. It was also at this moment that the young lad Zhou Yan, took out his hand-carved effigy and proceeded to open the hidden compartment. He pulled out a ring. Zhou Yan opened up the ring that revealed resources which the lad¡¯s father had stored for him. It was not much. However, it contained plenty of daily supplies. Also stored within it was a legendary sword that belonged to his father but was never used. This blade was named ¡®Sorrow¡¯s Breaker.¡¯ The reputation of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker once was unprecedented. However, its black, dark blade was now covered with thin webs of cracks. Its design was a little old-fashioned. However, it did little to nothing in hiding the extremely cold, sharp glint of the blade¡¯s edge. These were the final resources left behind by the lad¡¯s father. Heartfelt feelings were deeply ingrained and hidden behind his father¡¯s final words that were spoken to the lad back then. Although these warm feelings were from his father¡¯s heart, the young lad clearly felt every last ounce of his father¡¯s genuine emotion. Perhaps it was due to the deep roots of a father-child bond, or maybe it was because after Zhou Yan inherited the soul and will of the ancient sage which infused itself within the young lad¡¯s soul, changing its very own nature. Zhou Yan paid no mind to that as he was focused on sensing everything that was stored in that ring. The main goal of taking this extremely precious and invaluable Spatial Ring of Infinity was to take a look at whatever resources that were stored in it, for the young lad to advance his progress by leaps and bounds in an extremely short amount of time. Since Zhou Yan¡¯s relationship with both lassies were extremely close, the lad felt no need to hide this very action from them. The only thing was that he discovered very little resources he could use for his training progression. Instead, he found two long, light purple, silk woven dresses from the ring. The embroidery on the dresses looked normal. However, it seemed to possess an indescribable spiritual affinity to it as a strong ray of life radiated from it. Zhou Yan was stunned. As he lifted his head up, he took out a completed hand-carved effigy from the Spatial Ring of Infinity. After comparing the different clothing designs of both effigies, the lad was immediately struck by a wave of sudden realization that the dresses actually belonged to his mother. From the lad¡¯s memories, the woman never turned around, and he had only remembered how the woman¡¯s back looked like but somehow did not recall her face. Even from his father¡¯s carvings, it appeared he had never seen the front of the woman too. ¡°Master is this¡­ the legendary, Spatial Ring of Infinity, which has absolutely no end to how much it can hold?¡± said Ping¡¯er as she approached her master while patting her stomach. ¡°Indeed.¡± Zhou Yan nodded, as his gaze drifted from the lass¡¯ belly to the tattered dress that was torn by the thorny shrubs and bushes earlier. The pale green silk dress was covered in tears and stained with spots of dried blood. Zhou Yan glanced over at Ning¡¯er after looking at Ping¡¯er¡¯s tattered dress earlier. Ning¡¯er¡¯s condition was more or less the same. Her beautiful feet were completely stained with blood. It was a hysterical scene, indeed. Initially, the lad intended to showcase this Spatial Ring of Infinity to both lassies. However, the lad no longer had the heart to do so, and hence, he took out the two extremely stunning silk woven dresses. ¡°Ping¡¯er, Ning¡¯er, I assume these dresses were my mother¡¯s favorites while she was still alive. They have a certain spiritual affinity. The both of you can change into them.¡± ¡°Ah¡­master, this¡­ this is not right.¡± ¡°Zhou Yan, these were your mother¡¯s dresses, how can we put them on?¡± Both Ping¡¯er and Ning¡¯er voiced their strong refusal. ¡°It¡¯s only natural for people dear to me to use such beloved items. Besides, both your dresses are torn and tattered. They are a bit revealing now. Even though it offers my eyes great pleasure, however, when we leave this forest, it would be a huge loss for me if anyone were to see you both in this state.¡± Zhou Yan chuckled loudly while placing the dresses in both Ping¡¯er and Ning¡¯er¡¯s hands. It would be impossible for both the maidens to not feel the compassion and love offered by Zhou Yan. As young maidens, due to their lack of experience, to them, their first relationship was very important. In the light of a natural genius that showed them such genuine love and care, along with Zhou Yan¡¯s sweet talk, these lassies were undeniably touched by the young lad¡¯s actions. At this moment, both lassies felt tears welling up in their eyes. To a young lass, the feelings of being moved and touched could be insignificant. However, the gesture alone would most definitely be unforgettable. Let alone something as precious as these dresses with a spiritual affinity was most definitely not a regular item that could never be compared to. Something as precious and invaluable as this dress was being gifted so generously to them¡­ Zhou Yan might have thought nothing of the phrase he used earlier ¡®for people dear to me,¡¯ but it felt extremely heartwarming and touching to them. ¡­ Zhou Yan sat up in a tree in the deepest part of the forest. As he gazed into the distance, he saw a scene at the waterfall that calmed his heart. Two extremely stunning, beautiful maidens were bathing and changing at the waterfall. This scene would stir up excitement in anyone¡¯s heart. However, Zhou Yan never bothered to watch. Although the waterfall was not huge, the streams were powerful and rapid. The sides of the waterfall were narrow. A huge boulder was blocking the sides as it seemed to be a dangerous area. After Zhou Yan sent those two maidens over to the waterfall, the lad could no longer see where they had wandered off to. The lad picked a secluded spot, which only allowed him to see the movements of their angelic, stunningly smooth and beautiful arms. In rare intervals, the arms would peek out ever so slightly. Zhou Yan was extremely tempted by his raging feelings of lust as he imagined the scene behind the rocky walls. As the young lad gradually aged, the fifteen-year-old lad began to have some very interesting imaginations. ¡­ Even though Ping¡¯er was too a lady, staring at Ning¡¯er who had godlike beauty, Ping¡¯er could not help but admire her insanely captivating beauty. ¡°Sister Ning¡¯er, you truly are extremely beautiful. I am ashamed to contest with such beauty.¡± Ping¡¯er did not hide her thoughts as she spoke in a soft tone. A ray of mystifying bright light seemed to radiate from Ning¡¯er¡¯s glimmering, moon-shaped eyes. As she snapped out of her trance after a brief moment, she replied with a smile, ¡°This is nothing more than physical, outer appearance. You know, you¡¯re actually better than me, to have casually followed your master without a single worry. Me, on the other hand, seem to have way too many concerns. ¡°Even till now, I have no clue as to who I really am, not to mention, my parents and relatives. They are a bigger mystery to me¡­¡± ¡°However, Ping¡¯er is useless. When those people were bullying my master, I was no help to him at all. Instead, I was cowering in fear behind my master. I didn¡¯t even have the basic courage to face those people.¡± Ping¡¯er was blaming herself, and it seemed that the better her master treated her, the more she would blame herself. Those were extremely conflicting feelings. ¡­ As he watched from a distance, the purple dressed young lassies that stood atop the rocky walls resembled goddesses descending from the heavens with the rapid streams of water flowing down beside them. Zhou Yan felt the utmost joy and contempt as he stared at their natural, flawless beauty. The lad felt pretty amazing as these maidens of such beauty actually belonged to him. His heart was ecstatic. With a single flick of his wrist, the Sorrow¡¯s Breaker flew out of the lad¡¯s palm with a swift, clean ¡®swoosh.¡¯ As the lad stood on the edge of the blade, with the little support from the flying blade, he flew towards the direction of both inhumanly captivating maidens. As the blade flew out, paired with the perfected Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade, using the powers of the waters below, the young lad managed to conjure a thin veil of clear water. Floating on the top of the thin water veil, was the legendary sword of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker. On the edge of the blade was where the young lad stood, his sleeves fluttering along with the wind, he resembled a god standing on a layer of clouds, descending from the heavens above onto this rocky wall. The lad extended his arms as he held the soft and elegant hands of both maidens. With a slight twitch, he pulled both of them into his strong, loving arms, hugging both the beautiful lassies. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Both lassies let out a soft moan. However, neither of them struggled. While Zhou Yan flew over to greet those two maidens, he had briefly contemplated taking advantage of both girls. However, in reality, he recalled what Ning¡¯er had said, and he knew Ping¡¯er was indeed still very young. Thus, he never gave in to his primal instincts. Of course, in reality, he was extremely tempted, but he chose to act rationally. ¡­ This amazing, beautiful life lasted for two whole days. In these two days, the trio was never exhausted even though they were crossing mountains and braving streams of water. While Zhou Yan trained, he never forgot to help build the foundation of Ping¡¯er¡¯s own training in the ways of the sword. He patiently taught her some basic sword skills. Ping¡¯er¡¯s natural gifts were pretty average, but she was extraordinarily hardworking. In two days, she learned the right way to hold a blade and could perform basic sword skills. Her soft, tender palms blistered since she was hard at work in her own training and practice. However, she never gave up learning even though her palms hurt. Ning¡¯er, however, was unable to train, but she completely understood the full extent of the knowledge in Zhou Yan¡¯s intricate sword skill. That natural talent of hers was undeniably terrifying. The trio never felt pressured or stressed out as these relaxing, worry-free days did not feel like an escape but felt similar to a vacation. The peaceful and blessed days were spent in a life of complete joy and content. In the span of two days, the bond Zhou Yan shared with these two maidens grew closer than ever before. He knew that the ancient sage, through the will that he inherited, was not known to be an upstanding gentleman. He was extremely tempted to violate both these young lassies right there and then. The imagination of him tricking these young lassies into doing his bidding was unavoidable. ¡­ Chapter 14 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Thus, another night had passed. Leaning against the rocky wall, in his arms, were two stunningly beautiful lassies. He withdrew his hand from Ning¡¯er¡¯s special place, then the young lad, Zhou Yan, took a quick, light breath, inhaling the hypnotic, ambrosial milky scent into his body. The lad felt extremely blessed. However, he, too, felt uneasy. The truth was, as soon as Zhou Yan left the Zhou household, the young lad began to feel uneasy. However, nothing grim or unfortunate had happened in the three extremely blessed days. Not a single encounter with any wild beasts nor practitioners of the sword art. It was as if the trio had stepped into the Garden of Eden, and everything seemed too peaceful. ¡°No¡­¡± Out of nowhere, Ning¡¯er suddenly screamed as she jolted from Zhou Yan¡¯s loving embrace in her startled state. In that very instant, her movements were quite nimble. Her sudden violent movements instantly startled Ping¡¯er, who was still in her deep, peaceful slumber. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ning¡¯er?¡± questioned Zhou Yan with a soft, caring tone as he stood up and grabbed Ping¡¯er, who almost tripped over. ¡°Ah¡­What¡¯s wrong, sister Ning¡¯er?¡± Ping¡¯er seemed slightly uptight as she assumed there was an ambush by the enemy. ¡°No¡­Nothing, it was only a nightmare, merely a dream.¡± Ning¡¯er¡¯s forehead was covered in sweat. It seemed to her that this dream she had was no normal dream. Recalling the lad¡¯s own concerns, a storm of anxiety raged in Zhou Yan¡¯s heart. At this moment, Ning¡¯er threw herself into Zhou Yan¡¯s loving embrace. She spoke with a soft tone, ¡°Worry not Zhou Yan, I am fine.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhou Yan proceeded to gently stroke Ning¡¯er¡¯s back and hugging her without saying a word. This time, there was absolutely zero ill intentions from the young lad. However, at this very moment, Ning¡¯er once again kissed the young lad, and thus, without hesitation, the young lad promptly accepted her kiss. ¡­ Moments later, their lips parted. ¡°Zhou Yan, I need to go now. They¡¯re coming.¡± Ning¡¯er got out of Zhou Yan¡¯s loving embrace as she focused her gaze on the horizon far ahead. The ray of light resembled a veiled illusion that appeared as though it was able to break through the heavens above and shatter the ground below. ¡°Ning¡¯er, who are they?¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s entire body was trembling violently. The lad already knew that soon, an impending major event would occur. The lad was unsure what the cause was. However, he knew that the foreign land, simply known as ¡®Earth,¡¯ had gone through the Era of The Dharma Ending. The realm that belonged to the ancient sage who had mastered the skill of ¡®Spatial Destruction.¡¯ The young lad who had inherited the will made his sixth sense extremely unique! ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I can feel it. They are getting closer.¡± Ning¡¯er sighed as her entire face grew inhumanly pale. Her beauty in that ill state seemed to reach its peak. ¡°Master, sister Ning¡¯er¡­¡± The edge of Ping¡¯er¡¯s eyes grew red as the young lass had no clue what was happening. However, she knew that judging from how they acted, it seemed like something awful had happened. At this moment, a ray of blade¡¯s light descended from the edge of the heavens. It seemed like that attack was unleashed from a neighboring town. The attack pierced the skies as it attempted to slay the trio. This was an extremely powerful attack that exceeded a multitude of different realms. To protect both Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er, Zhou Yan shielded them by taking the full brunt of the attack, and thus, blood instantly spilled out of the edge of the lad¡¯s mouth. This was an extremely powerful foe who had complete mastery of Way of The Sword of Invincibility Such Blade¡¯s Menace was condensed and concentrated from absolutely nothing and was even capable of bringing death to enemies from a thousand miles away! Due to the enormous difference in Zhou Yan¡¯s skills to the mysterious foe, the young lad did nothing to retaliate. He knew that it would not make much of a difference to change the outcome, even if the lad unleashed the blade¡¯s menace from the hand-carved effigy. The lad finally realized that his foe was simply waiting for him to be far enough away from that place, to kill him in the middle of nowhere. The foe had never left him alone. This was truly the definition of removing the problem by uprooting it entirely! The young lad had also¡­finally realized why¡­ in the span of three whole days, not a single living soul was seen in the entirety of this dense forest. It seemed everything was planned beforehand by someone. Zhou Yan thought about his family¡¯s Grand Elder, the Grand Elder¡¯s hand, and the Elder of Lore¡­ It puzzled him as he was unsure of who was skilled enough to condense Blade¡¯s Menace and was capable of killing from an extremely far distance. It was a mystery to who had intended to uproot the source of the problem, which was him! When it calmed down, the young lad turned around. He looked sadly at both Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er. The lad soon realized that Ning¡¯er paid no attention to that extremely powerful and deadly Blade¡¯s Menace, and instead, her gaze was completely fixed on the distant horizon. Before this lethal, horrifying Blade¡¯s Menace descended upon the earth beneath their feet, both the Heavens and Earth contorted as if forming into an endless black hole, piercing through this very piece of heaven and earth. It was at this moment; nine rays of crackling lightning were being dragged along by a snow cloaked phoenix that pierced through this infinite spatial void. It was as if this majestic creature hailed from a vast, boundless chaotic plane, bringing along with it an infinite, endless aura of calamity as it completely obliterated this entire land. ¡°Buzz¡­¡± As both heavens and earth shattered, space and time, too, will collapse. Everything around Zhou Yan was instantly reduced to dust. The entire stretch of land within that very instant alone was completely obliterated into a barren wasteland. Gone were the dense forest and the waterfall. The boundless environment was now reduced to a layer of snowy white cinder and ash. A harrowing howl echoed from a distant plane. The piercing shrieks were heartbreaking as it sliced through the heavens and earth. It seemed, at this very moment, that the assassin was in utter agonizing misery. He was trapped in a living hell as the prayers of death were not answered. Just like that, the assassin who attempted to murder Zhou Yan was shrieking and howling in horrifying agony. It was as if his screams of agony drowned the very heavens and earth in a wave of deafening silence. This foe was imperceivably powerful. As his powers descended upon this very land, they were able to tear down and completely destroy the spatial fortress. At this moment, nine shadowed specters gradually condensed into a physical, solid form as it morphed into nine snowy odd-looking primitive beasts. They resembled a phoenix, which was magnified up to ten folds. These nine majestic, godly birds dragged along a Prismatic Wagon. It suddenly materialized in that shattered void above. The exterior of that Prismatic Wagon was as if layers of light were opened. Within it was nine exceptionally looking maidens wearing long white dresses. Every single one of them was indescribably stunning. They were like Ning¡¯er, one of a kind and unparalleled in beauty. Every single one of them looked tremendously elegant. They all wore an expressionless and monotonous pale face, but their gaze was extremely cold. They were emotionless. It was as if they were all logs. However, every single person was akin to a legendary, godly blade that was exceedingly sharp. Not a single soul was able to shy away from its gaze. In the face of such majesty, Zhou Yan was trapped in a violent quake as every inch of his body was trembling uncontrollably. The lad feared nothing, however, in the face of such majestic aura, the young lad could not keep his mind composed and calm! Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er, who were both regular people, were somehow unaffected. After the nine majestic, godly birds had materialized, they transformed into nine snow colored longswords. These longswords were enormous and engraved on its surface was an extremely lifelike picture of the majestic bird. Those nine godly blades suddenly shrunk in size as they fell onto the back of the maidens and into the scabbard of each maiden. ¡®Blade¡­Blade¡¯s spirit? The mythical, legendary invincible blade¡¯s spirit and the mythical shape-shifting godly beast?¡¯ mumbled Zhou Yan to himself. He was completely blown away as a surprising look dawned upon the young lad¡¯s face. Ning¡¯er remained silent as she stared intently at the Prismatic Wagon, seemingly recalling certain memories. Rays of prismatic lights flickered through the clouds, as the nine godly swords returned to its position. Out of nowhere, a majestic rainbow-like ray of light once again started to flicker. At that moment, within that ray of light, a choir could be heard singing. It was as if a godly figure was bestowing the godly knowledge and law of the Ways of The Sword as a boundless ray of spiritual light shone in between the heavens and earth. After being touched by that ray of light, the young lad, Zhou Yan, felt as if his entire soul was being baptized by a dense, boundless, spiritually infused liquid. His body violently absorbed the infinite energy from the very essence of this spiritual bath. Ning¡¯er, who stood by his side, was touched by the same light. Her elegant body shivered slightly as a glint of shock and sudden realization reflected through her eyes. As the Prismatic Wagon¡¯s door opened, a maiden who looked the same as Ning¡¯er walked out. The only distinction between the two was that Ning¡¯er had some humanity left in her. However, that lass was like a deity. She had an extremely cold demeanor, and not a single shred of humanity was left in her. That maiden never intended to speak. However, upon seeing Zhou Yan¡¯s blade and the dress on Ning¡¯er body, some emotions were visible through her monotonous demeanor. ¡°It seemed that Zhou Wangchen never did fulfill his promise, after all. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for our efforts in providing a solution, that blade¡¯s body of extreme cold would be an utter waste.¡± The tone in the maiden¡¯s voice was extremely cold, it was almost without emotion. ¡°Your grace, you knew my father?¡± Zhou Yan questioned with zero hesitation and reluctance. The young lad was slightly agitated, however, at this moment, this young lad was nothing more than an insignificant ant to that maiden. There was nothing he could do. ¡®It seems you¡¯re Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son, after all. That explains everything. ¡®Even though your foundations are strong, and you were enlightened that awoke your Blade¡¯s Essence, your natural gifts are only of ordinary level compared to your father. It seems that you¡¯re only slightly better than he was. What a shame¡­ you¡¯re old, and the very foundations of your bones had already been fixed. You have not reached the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before you turned sixteen. You¡¯ve wasted your time,¡¯ mumbled the young lass to herself. It was rare for her to speak that much. Zhou Yan felt this maiden was just like Ning¡¯er, a lass of few words. However, to say such things to him, this made him wonder how his own father knew a person like her. ¡°My lady, he is someone¡­precious to me, if you have any respect for me, then you shall respect him as well! His natural gifts were so powerful that it was beyond anything you¡¯ve ever understood!¡± Suddenly, Ning¡¯er proceeded to lift her head up, staring directly at the maiden in the sky. As she spoke, her entire attitude and demeanor was headstrong! Zhou Yan was surprised at such dominance, while Ping¡¯er, on the other hand, was completely stunned. ¡°Saintess, you¡­you¡¯re back?¡± That maiden questioned with a shaky tone. ¡°Yes, I have returned.¡± Ning¡¯er slowly nodded. Hints of surprise were visible on the cold, emotionless face of the young lass and the nine other maidens who served her. ¡°Zhou Yan¡­I need to leave now as some matters of utmost importance require me to handle it. However, I promise you, I will wait for you. I¡¯ll be waiting for your arrival someday and look for me in the Snow-Jade Palace!¡± Ning¡¯er had plenty to say to Zhou Yan as complicated emotions flooded her pearly eyes. However, in the end, she only managed to say those few words. ¡°Go on now¡­Ning¡¯er.¡± Zhou Yan nodded as the lad knew that in matters like these, it was obviously not her choice but something that she was forced upon. ¡°Zhou Yan, Ping¡¯er has unique gifts in other aspects. I know her secret, and I really wish to bring her with me.¡± ¡°Alright¡­it would be better to have a friend by your side. You and her alone. It seems like I would have nothing to worry about now.¡± A wave of melancholy washed over Zhou Yan¡¯s heart; however, he knew that this was Ning¡¯er¡¯s destiny, and he was in no position to stop her in the pursuit of destiny. Ping¡¯er, on the other hand, the lad knew that the heart of this handmaiden was extremely determined. She decided to walk the path of The Ways of The Sword for his sake, and hence she will train extremely hard for him. However, her natural gifts were nothing spectacular, it would be really hard to make any major progress. Judging from the horrifying raw strength of these people, he knew that in a similar encounter soon, there would not be anyone by his side for him to protect. He knew that Ning¡¯er would rid herself off any ¡®lingering¡¯ emotions, and took Ping¡¯er¡¯s future into deep consideration, thus taking Ping¡¯er along with her. The young lad understood the reason behind her actions. ¡°Zhou Yan¡­I¡­love you. It will be forever unchanging.¡± Ning¡¯er hesitated while her lips twitched slightly. She never voiced her thoughts aloud, but it was expressed in great detail through her expression. The lass was truly wise, as she never exaggerated her own expression in her current situation. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart and soul were trembling, and he was extremely tempted to hug Ning¡¯er in his loving embrace, infusing her into his soul and the deepest parts of his bone marrow. However, the young lad suppressed his emotions. Ning¡¯er seemed to be in an authoritative position. Thus, the young lad did not wish to put her in a tough position. The young lad also did not wish to provoke the exceedingly powerful maiden, due to Ning¡¯er¡¯s actions, because by doing so, Ning¡¯er would not have a peaceful life there¡­ Once again, he resented his weakness and his inability to protect the ones that mattered most to him. If only the lad had powers on par with that maiden, there would not be a need to part with his loved ones. There would be no need to depend on these people to aid Ning¡¯er in her search for her own identity. ¡°Ning¡¯er¡­I love you, unchanging even till death.¡± Similarly, Zhou Yan¡¯s lips twitched without speaking a word. However, the meaning of it was extremely obvious. ¡­ Chapter 15 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation From within the Prismatic Wagon, the maiden who resembled Ning¡¯er could not see exactly what both of them were doing and was unable to sense the interaction between the two. However, she frowned slightly as the lass seemed slightly displeased. ¡°Saintess, please.¡± With a single wave of that maiden¡¯s hand, a solid ray of light scattered through the air. It was like a layer of silk, forming into a wide, solid path of light. At this very moment, all nine lassies bent a single knee, kneeling on the ground as they received Ning¡¯er on board the wagon. Ning¡¯er glanced at Zhou Yan and sighed. She extended her arm to hold Ping¡¯er by her hand. ¡°Master¡­Ping¡¯er will return after I have fully learned the ways of the sword, and I will make sure to protect you for the rest of your life. I will make sure no one would be able to bully you any longer!¡± Ping¡¯er was bawling her eyes out as streams of tears continued to fall from her eyes. Zhou Yan grabbed Ping¡¯er¡¯s slender fingers and placed them on his chest. The young lad softly whispered, ¡°Silly girl, take good care of yourself, live¡­well, and don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. Master will await¡­your return.¡± ¡°Master¡­¡± Breaking free from Ning¡¯er¡¯s hands, Ping¡¯er ran right into Zhou Yan¡¯s embrace as she cried hysterically in his loving arms. Thus, Zhou Yan gently patted her back, comforting her. After several moments, Ping¡¯er reluctantly left his loving embrace and proceeded to hold onto Ning¡¯er¡¯s hands on her own accord. Following alongside Ning¡¯er, taking one step at a time, the lass slowly walked up the majestic heavenly scene. Majestic rays of light stretched endlessly, while nine phoenixes called out. Another wave of energy capable of piercing the heavens and earth was once again unleashed. Thus, the heavens above and the ground below once again shattered. It was as if the heavenly gods had stabbed a black hole through the heavens and earth. At this very moment, the young lad Zhou Yan could no longer see both lassies as their silhouettes were completely clouded. Thus, Zhou Yan assumed everything had reached an end. However, it was when Zhou Yan grabbed the hilt of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker that was hanging by his waist, a maiden in white appeared right in front of his face like a ghostly apparition. ¡°Your relationship with her was it only truly as relatives?¡± The physical appearance of the lass was completely identical to Ning¡¯er. However, her attitude and demeanor were distinctly different. She bore the ferocity of The Way of The Sword of Invincibility on her body. To the young lad, Zhou Yan, he found it extremely difficult and pressured when speaking directly to this young lass. This was the difference in the realms of both of their powers. The difference was just too great. ¡°What kind of relationship do you think we still have?¡± The tone in Zhou Yan¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°Hmm, Zhou Wangchen saved her from the brink of danger back then, and you both grew up together. I believe the relationship you both shared was that of siblings who would be normal. ¡°I am just worried that the relationship you both are sharing has far exceeded the boundaries of merely being siblings.¡± Zhou Yan felt slightly uncomfortable by her comments. Since he had inherited the will and the collective memories of the ancient sage, the young lad, too, had pride. The lad did not enjoy the feeling of being treated as an insignificant ant. ¡°Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace, what is the meaning of this?¡± Zhou Yan frowned. ¡°Stop being a foolish child. Do not assume I am blinded by your feelings and that I was unable to see through your intentions. I do not oppose the matters of both of you. However, I wish to tell you one thing.¡± The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace let out a soft sigh then proceeded to speak, ¡°A blade¡¯s body of extreme cold requires the Frost Snow Ore. Only then will the full potential of this blade be awakened. ¡°With Ning¡¯er¡¯s current condition, if she cannot awaken her true potential, she will actually die. ¡°We have located the Frost Snow Ore. However, this extremely rare treasure is located in the Wang Chuan Residence. ¡°The people in the Wang Chuan Residence had made a request, and our ¡®Snowy Palace¡¯s ¡®Empress¡¯ too had agreed to their request. ¡°The request was that the saintess will have to marry. ¡°Saintess Ning¡¯er will be marrying the lord of the Wang Chuan Residence, and that person is the prime genius of the Wang Chuan Residence, Ji Taixu. ¡°Ji Taixu has already condensed and mastered the infusion of the Twin Soul Blade, and therefore he is the third who was worthy of the title as a true Spiritual Genius! ¡°I shall grace you with the basic knowledge of differentiating between regular people and geniuses. These so-called ¡®true geniuses¡¯ mainly focus on raw combat prowess. They can break through the fortresses of realms and ascend beyond their own realm to face their enemies. That would be their external skills. Internally, on the other hand, they will focus on their pillar of Qi. Each segment of their Qi Pillar would be exceedingly stronger than the entirety of any regular folk¡¯s Qi Pillar! ¡°To be worthy of being named a ¡®True Genius,¡¯ one must possess the ability to breakthrough one up to three fortresses of a single realm, hence ascending further than the larger realm. Anyone who breaks through more than three fortresses of a single realm would be worthy of being named a ¡®True Spiritual Genius. ¡°Ever since the dawn of the ancient era till this very day, the existence of a True Spiritual Genius is rare, and it seemingly never existed! You should go on¡­and reflect well.¡± Plenty of truths were spoken by the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace, which were painful truths. It had given the young lad, Zhou Yan great discouragement. However, since the appearance of the lass was identical to that of Ning¡¯er, Zhou Yan could not bring himself to resent her. The young lad knew that she was merely warning him to deter him from pursuing further. However, the lad was never known to back down from a difficult situation. Twin Soul Blade? Was it really that powerful? The lad paid no mind to that skill and was in a state of ignorance and oblivion to what the Blade¡¯s Spirit exactly was and the whole ordeal about the True Spiritual Genius. The young lad completely brushed off this information! However, that was not important. Since the young lad had inherited the will of the ancient sage that was capable of Spatial Destruction with a single punch, he indirectly had more than a lifetime worth of experience than any normal folk! The young lad feared nothing. ¡°What if that¡¯s the case? Should I give up now?¡± Zhou Yan chuckled, as the young lad deeply provoked the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace with a gaze filled to the brim with mockery and extreme dissatisfaction. It was similar to when that young lass once encountered the lawless and reckless, Zhou Wangchen. ¡°Here are some elixirs and a collection of god-tier sword skill edicts. You may attempt to master it if you are unsuccessful in mastering these skills. Then, you may rid yourself of that intention. It¡¯s best for you, and it¡¯s also best for her.¡± The Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace. proceeded to take out a green jaded Spatial Ring of Infinity. ¡°There¡¯s no need, and I do not want it. The Sword Ways in this realm are simply too weak. I will create my own Way of The Sword. Twin Soulblade? Powerful? In the future, I shall invent Soulblade of Twelve, completely killing him in an instant!¡± Zhou Yan was greatly insulted by this pitiful act of charity! If, on the other hand, that lass had said, ¡°Work hard and earn the right to be worthy of spending your life with Ning¡¯er. Even if you failed, you¡¯ve done your best. Hence there will be no regrets.¡± However, no matter how the lad phrased it, the lass had a heavy dismissive and sympathetic attitude towards him! Could the lass possibly be unaware that such treatment was extremely insulting to the highest degree? The young lad felt slightly sulky, and it seemed as if he was spouting rambles of a mad man. However, in reality, that was his true feelings and desires. He had never experienced the true ferocity capable of Spatial Destruction, which was the raw power of the Art of Twelve Forms of The Formless Fist. The sword skill that transcended from the basis of such incomprehensible, unlimited, and boundless power was impossible for the young lad to imagine. ¡°Hehehe.¡± The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace chuckled softly, however, her expression was not a gentle one. ¡°The age of your bones had reached fifteen years of age, and there is one year left. One single year would be impossible for you to ascend past the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. ¡°If you are unable to ascend past the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace when you¡¯ve reached sixteen years of age, you will be unable to break the laws that govern both heavens and earth¡­Go on ahead and imagine a pleasant future as much as you wish. I believe you are still unsure of what the Blade¡¯s spirit is!¡± It seemed that the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace was no longer interested in continuing the conversation since her reaction no longer had a chuckle of pure sarcastic mockery. It was as if, that lass had heard the world¡¯s most hilarious joke ever. It was made even worse when she felt sympathetic for the extent of the lad¡¯s mad arrogance. The lass had the intention to aid the young lad initially. However, at this very moment, the arrogance and ignorance of this fifteen-year-old lad who just ascended into the realms of a simple Blade¡¯s Cardinal made her reconsider her choices. She reflected upon the countless achievements of Ji Taixu as compared to this lad, and she no longer was interested in speaking to him. ¡°I know nothing of what is known as the Blade¡¯s Spirit. However, I am clear on how to walk the path of my future!¡± The tone of Zhou Yan¡¯s voice was slightly displeased. Even if other folk had no faith in his abilities, the young lad did not enjoy this sympathetic, insulting tone. ¡°Just focus on your current path now. If it wasn¡¯t for my intervention today, you would¡¯ve been long dead!¡± The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace sounded frustrated through the tone of her voice, to the point of laughing indignantly. Her flustered, annoyed expression made her look slightly more feminine. ¡°Well then, I humbly offer my utmost, sincere gratitude for saving my only life. I shall repay your gracious act handsomely in the future.¡± In that very instant, Zhou Yan had mistaken this lass as Ning¡¯er and had almost said to ¡®offer up his body.¡¯ In the light of a maiden such as her, any vile statements spoken would result in a violent beating. ¡°There¡¯s no such need! I shall wait for your accomplishment of successfully creating the Soulblade of Twelve. Hmm¡­ if you have somehow managed to even master the Soulblade of Three, I will do everything in my power to aid you and Ning¡¯er! I will be waiting for an unparalleled genius such as you to spread your good name in my Snow-Jade Palace in the Frost City!¡± The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace grunted in frustration. As she left, she twisted her waist and flicked her sleeves, and the lass disappeared into thin air. This was a clear definition of coming and leaving without a trace. Upon watching the lass leaving in an agitated state, Zhou Yan felt an odd feeling of joy in his heart. It was as if the lad¡¯s personality had become extraordinarily sadistic. The lad was aware that he was still himself and was not influenced by the negative personality of the ancient sage. However, the truth was that the evil side of the ancient sage majorly changed the young lad. ¡®Sigh¡­I should be mad after being scorned by someone to such an extent. However, why¡­am I not even the slightest bit mad?¡¯ ¡®Both Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er are gone, and it feels like I have completely lost my soul. My heart is left with a gaping hole of emptiness. However, I feel much more relaxed. Hmm¡­ was it because I am aware that they will live a better life? ¡®I too should be worried about my father¡¯s condition, but I am not the slightest bit concerned. Is it because of my confidence in saving him¡­? ¡®Murder on its own is a terrifying act to perform. However, it excites me. I will unknowingly touch the hilt of my blade and be tempted to draw my blade to murder someone. I¡¯ve murdered Lil¡¯ Xu, and it felt amazing¡­ it made me feel alive¡­ ¡®I very much do feel an overwhelming feeling of love in my heart when I was with Ping¡¯er. However, I would also constantly think about¡­ ¡®Have I truly become a Practitioner of The Evil Arts? Or¡­ were these emotions and feelings my true personality?¡¯ ¡­ Zhou Yan never left the scene as he stood idle in his spot, seemingly lost deep in contemplation. The lad had to figure out these plaguing thoughts in his mind. If not, he would undoubtedly be driven completely mad. Thus, the lad calmed his mind down as he sat on the ground. The flickering ray of spiritual energy from before was like a raging storm in an endless ocean. However, the young lad focused solely on the experience of the ancient sage to calm his heart and cull the storm in his heart to still water. ¡®What if it was the evil arts? What if it was the righteous path? What exactly is righteous and evil? ¡®Who gets to decide which is righteous and which is evil? ¡®Yin and Yang were governed by the laws of nature. However, it was through the unification of both elements of Yin and Yang that bequeathed every element since time immemorial. ¡®As wide as the ends of the world could stretch, one will always return to whence one¡¯s journey began! ¡®If one¡¯s heart is aligned with the path of righteousness, then one shall be righteous. If one¡¯s heart is aligned with the path of evil, then one shall be evil. ¡®I shall only focus on myself as there is no need for restrictions in my alignment. If my intentions are pure, there will be no regrets. Hence, it shall open up a wide path ahead for me!¡¯ ¡­ The young lad, Zhou Yan, had now entered a state of pure enlightenment. Waves of enlightened knowledge from the ancient sage relentlessly rushed through the young lad¡¯s body and mind, causing his soul to evolve and change once again. Thus, with a single powerful force, it completely broke through the realm the lad was currently in, without him realizing what had transpired. ¡®Since time immemorial, I have transcended the limitations of my soul, and through that, I¡¯ve gained complete mastery over my true form. ¡®Within the true form lies the essence and nature of one¡¯s spirit in its purest form. Buried deeper in one¡¯s spirit dwells the true awakening of primordial alchemy of the soul. ¡®In search of one¡¯s true form, one must first seek to understand the meaning of the truth of one¡¯s true form. ¡®In possession of the full truth comes the enlightenment of an oath in one¡¯s mind. Honor the oath, and one shall exceed the limitations of one¡¯s astral form.¡¯ ¡­ Chapter 16 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation And thus, the young lad Zhou Yan had fully grasped the ways of his own principles alas, the young lad had finally broken free of the shackles within his heart. Fueling the young lad¡¯s own unbridled raw power even further was the unchained yet extremely ferocious energy freely coursing and raging through two exceedingly unique meridians within his body. Not only did that surge of such potently powerful energy completely broke through the fortress of the (first rank of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal), it too had broken through the second layer of the same realm, hence shattering completely through and into the (second rank of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal¡¯s) Ocean of Qi. Due to the change of two exceedingly unique meridians in the lad¡¯s body,hence causing his own personal Qi Pillar to mutate as well. That was no longer a single pillar of Qi, it was now separated into two intertwining, spiraling Qi Pillar. It resembled the double helix structure of a human¡¯s DNA, spiralling endlessly within his ocean of Qi! One third of each segment of the lad¡¯s Qi pillar was completely identical to the structure of when the lad had first undergone the first change to his own Pillar of Qi. This meant, the volume in one of the two Pillars of Qi had seemingly increased by three folds. Two extra columns were added on top of the lad¡¯s original Pillar of Qi forming a completely new Pillar. This newly formed pillar was not a singular structure; it was also however, two spiraling structures! This meant, the entire volume of his newly formed pillar of Qi, had been vastly increased by six folds from the original foundation! The lad, Zhou Yan could clearly visualize this change! That boundless and infinitely vast spiritual energy; such massively infinite energy was surprisingly enough, mostly absorbed into the lad¡¯s body and yet, it was only capable of breaking through two minute layers within the same realm! It was seemingly as if that energy of Spatial Destruction that was within his body had finally found a place to inhabit within his body; in addition to the infinite spiritual energy the lad¡¯s body had absorbed, was the cause of the lad¡¯s Qi Pillar¡¯s mutation, hence, it was from those conditions that had caused any real change to the lad. Zhou Yan understood deep down that the change he experienced this very time was not of coincidental cause. It was however, due to the plethora of desperate conditions and events he had faced and to which it had reached a state of bottleneck; hence, with the unique spiritual experience the lad had gone through. Thus serving as a catalyst for the exponential explosion of every ounce of his body¡¯s potential. If the lad had never gone through the different waves of unique events that had transpired this time, it would have taken the lad a significantly much longer time for any change to occur within his body. However, it was precisely the same spatial destruction energy which had emanated from the lad¡¯s body to the area around him. However, the power of Spatial destruction too was present within the lad¡¯s soul; thus, causing some change to occur as well. The lad¡¯s personal change could happen so smoothly because of the the coincidental personal enlightenment in this crucial hour, thus entering a state of pure enlightenment which was similar to the state of union between both men and the heavens. If there was one thing the young lad felt even the slightest regret was, although he possessed the full knowledge of the Twelve Form of The Formless Destruction Fist and the peculiar knowledge of a realm simply known as Earth, he did not inherit any memories of combat from the ancient sage. Zhou Yan knew any encounters of such caliber would be impossible for his past self. However, after fully grasping the vast experiences and knowledge of the ancient sage, the young lad Zhou Yan could finally be truly confident in everything the lad had to endure. It seemed there had never existed even a single shred of information for combat from the will he inherited by the ancient sage. Zhou Yan knew, if these information had existed in the first place, his very own combat prowess would have increased by at least three folds. However, the young lad too was grateful for the absence of any combat information, since he was able to pour his entire focus to understanding the intricacies in creating the Sword Art of The Formless. This was a realm governed by the Way of The Sword. Even since his own birth, his very soul was seared and branded by the mark of the sword. However the lad was not chosen by any skills or weapons, hence his avoidance in training any martial arts skills. Instead, the young lad went ahead to understand the deep intricate meaning of the different martial art skills, in order to invent his very own way of the sword. ¡­ The entire process of his enlightenment this time took roughly two whole hours. Since the fabric of space was completely shattered due to the major scuffle earlier, the very spot he stayed in was eerily quiet and not a single soul came by just yet. As the young lad, Zhou Yan stood up, through the cold sharp gaze of both his pearly eyes was seemingly two glimmering rays of the sword, fluctuating within his eyes, then proceeded to gradually infuse itself to the deepest depths of both his eyes. The tattered long greyish white robe that was dawned on the body of the young lad felt loose to his in the past, however, as of his current state, this very same robe was a perfect fit! It was extremely obvious this time, Zhou Yan¡¯s body had grown stronger and bigger than before, the progress this lad had made was unprecedented. ¡°It seems my blade¡¯s essence is no longer unstable and without form and had instead transcended itself to be the actual true essence of the blade. This meant, I will no longer be shackled down in my ascension to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! ¡°As of my current state, I have ascended to the realm of a rank three Blade¡¯s Cardinal. It seemed I achieved stability within this realm and now I¡¯m only one step away from ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! No matter how gifted Zhou Lingyi¡¯s natural gifts were, she has only ascended to the highest peak a rank three Blade¡¯s cardinal; if I were to cross paths with her once more, with my current abilities, I am more than certain I will able to strike her down instantly with a single move!¡± Zhou Yan mumbled unconsciously. This realm, the very goal he had given himself a moon¡¯s cycle worth of time to achieve; never did the young lad expected to reach this very goal at such speed. However, the young lad never felt any form of emotion for this progress. It seemed to him that the pace of his progress was a natural thing to happen. Hence his lack of reaction. With his head held his, his gaze fixed upon the distant horizon. The lad noticed in the distance, there were several rays of glimmering blade¡¯s light, slashing the very edge of the horizon, scaring the very heavens above with slashes of white light as it pierced through layers of clouds, extending from a far distance. It seemed, this place would draw plenty of attention from powerful foes, since this spot remained completely still and silent for a good long while. Staring into the distant land, Zhou Yan raised his eyebrows then proceeded to gently tap at Sorrow¡¯s Breaker that was hanging at the side of his waist. Thus, that sword morphed into a dim ray of blade¡¯s penumbra, after spiraling in the air, it landed directly in front of the lad. With a single leap, the young lad landed on the body of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker. And thus, just like that, stepping on the blade, the young lad head for the distant land ahead. Within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, one would be able to steer one¡¯s sword with pure Qi alone. This could be done when a person¡¯s heart is completely one with the blade, within that state of mind, the very sword would gain the ability of flight, carrying its wieder on its back. This was an excruciatingly complicated process, however, this was something every rank three Blade¡¯s Cardinal, practitioner of the Way of The Sword had to be accustomed to. And it was through this process that had trumped even the most skilled geniuses. Since it mattered not how skilled and gifted their natural gifted were, they severely lack the mastery of control and body coordination. However, Zhou Yan need not to endure such a process, since the lad¡¯s control over his body, the sheer will of this young lad was impeccable, hence, this task was inhumanly simple to him. The dim blade¡¯s penumbra beneath the lad¡¯s feet instantly morphed into a shining ray of Blade¡¯s light and thus, the young lad used his Blade¡¯s Essence alone to propel himself forward. In addition to extra training for the lad¡¯s mastery over his Blade¡¯s Essence, he too was able to leave that spot at a much faster pace. This was a land of conflict, it would not be wise to stay for an extended period of time. ¡­ After four hour glass¡¯ cycle, evening arrived. Zhou Yan had crossed a vast forest and had made his way into a mountainous terrain that was dubbed the ¡®Mountain of Heavenly Prophecies¡¯ Alas, the young lad rested by a clear lake. He hunted a wild hare with only the use of his Blade¡¯s Essence, then proceeded to roast his catch. At this moment, the setting sun painted the sky with a dusk toned red. It was an amazing sight to see. However, while the young lad feast on his catch, he recalled a similar scene in the past. Even though the young lad had shattered the shackles of his past personalities, and had changed him into a reckless and carefree person; he greatly missed the strong and confident presence of Ning¡¯er and the yearned for the coquettishness of Ping¡¯er. If both lassies were present by his side at a moment like this, feasting merrily on his catch while cuddling up with two stunning lassies; the young lad assumed it would be the greatest joy in the world. While the young lad got lost in deep contemplation, he could not the urge to look at his fingers, to his surprise¡­ he noticed something odd; it was a mystery to him as to when exactly did an extra ring appear around his finger. He was unsure of when exactly a special transparent, colorless ring had appeared without his knowledge. If it was not for his exceedingly sensitive sixth sense, he would not have noticed that ring at this moment. And thus, the lad was curious and exceedingly suspicious, however, he then suspected it was done by the Lady of The Jaded Palace of Snow, since she was the only person reasonably capable of pulling off such an act without being detected by him. A sinister grin grew on the lad¡¯s face as he thought about how frustrated that lass was when she stomped her feet and gave her waist a twitch while she left. Thus, the lad focused his mind in sensing the nature of this ring, however, the instant he sensed the ring, the lad¡¯s entire body violently trembled as an indescribable feeling overwhelmed his entire body. The lad felt as if he was brought to a hidden, abandoned land. He was unsure of¡­what had just happened. ¡°Do not be alarmed and do not wonder, this is only the realm of the blade. The main purpose of me bringing you here was because I had something to tell you.¡± That was the voice of the Lady of The Jaded Palace of Snow. However at this moment, not a single emotion could be felt through the echoes of her voice. This felt similar to a pre-coordinated illusion, following her own set of procedures. ¡°It was only through the full mastery and enlightenment of the Blade¡¯s essence will you be conscious and aware within the realm of the blade. Hence the ability to gain the knowledge I will be gracing you with.¡± ¡°I am the Lady of The Jaded Palace of Snow, Jiang Yushuang and the true name of Ning¡¯er is Jiang Yuning¡­ and she is my sister. However, perhaps the fate of our lives were different, and thus we both had to walk different paths. ¡°However, I wished nothing more but a blessed life for her, she found herself after leaving you, however, she wasn¡¯t as happy as I thought she would be¡­¡± ¡°Us, as maidens of the City of Frost, do not often shed tears, since it was viewed as an extremely disgraceful and insulting act for us. However, she cried for your sake.¡± ¡°Hence my return. However, upon returning I noticed you were in an extremely rare state of enlightenment, an extremely difficult state to enter even by top tier geniuses. And thus, I¡¯ve gathered all kinds of different energy from both the heavens and earth of this realm and infused them in your body, helping you breakthrough and progress further. ¡°I then created this realm of the blade with haste, then helped you murder several foes who were intruding this realm; and had also gathered all of their belongings and placed it in this Spatial Ring of Infinity. ¡°On the other hand, this blade, Sorrow¡¯s Breaker was my gift to your father back then, I never expected it to be in such a broken state¡­I had also fixed it, and within the blade, I had hidden three spectres of the blade¡¯s soul, you may invoke the spectres, and it is capable of saving your life three times.¡± ¡°Your natural gifts were indeed outstanding, it was a shame I was absent to witness the change your body went through, however, to be worthy of the title as a ¡®true genius¡¯; although it would not be a difficult thing for you to achieve, your skills were still exceedingly lacking.¡± ¡°I will not be leaving you with any form of edicts of scriptures this time, however, I will gift you with the ¡®Manuscripts of the Frosted Blade¡¯, you may study it, this is a god tier skill, its teachings and practices is sufficient enough until you¡¯ve ascended to the real of a Blade¡¯s Soul, this manuscript is amongst the most sacred and powerful in the Jaded Palace of Snow.¡± ¡°The City of Cang Lan is way too small, do venture out of this tiny city if you were graced by such an opportunity arrives. Since even the highest realm of the strongest person in this tiny city is merely within the ranks of a Blade¡¯s Menace, how disappointingly weak. ¡°We view anyone with the rank of a swordsmen an outsider when training with the way of the sword. In order to be initiated as one of our pupils, one must reach the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. However, the real training begins when one had ascended to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. ¡°One begins in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, proceeding that would be the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer then proceeding that even further would be the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace then the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart.¡± ¡°Although I am aware of how challenging this task is, however, you must be willing to do whatever it takes, to reach the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before you are sixteen years of age! It mattered not if you become a practitioner of the dark arts! As long as you¡¯ve ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace when you are sixteen years of age, only then will you have a glimmer of hope!¡± ¡°Or else, even if you were the reincarnation of the Founder of The Blade¡¯s Art, it will be completely meaningless.¡± ¡°I will leave you with a hundred top tier Spirit Crystals, a thousand mid tier Spirit Crystals and ten thousand low tier Spirit Crystals. Do not worry too much about your spiritual training, work hard¡­This entire year!¡± ¡°There is one more thing, you little perverted b*stard, it¡¯s bold of you to lust after me? Don¡¯t assume that I was oblivious to your perverted intention when you thought about ¡®repaying my grace with the complete submission of your body¡¯, however you held your tongue. However, you have my word, as long as you achieved the creation of the Soulblade of Three, like you so boldly claimed you would, I will take your intentions into consideration!¡± ¡°One final note, heed my warning you arrogant b*stard. This does not mean I recognize your potential, it was all due to the high expectations my sister has for you, hence, I chose to trust my sister. Don¡¯t you dare disappoint Ning¡¯er¡± ¡­ Upon receiving these messages, Zhou Yan was baffled and shocked by the coquettish tone and behavior from the Lady of The Jaded Palace of Snow. It seemed, the truth for his exceedingly amazing progress was aided by the help of the Lady of The Jaded Palace of Snow, she truly was Ning¡¯er¡¯s sister; it seemed family was all the same; she had a soft, warm heart but a cold, hard facade. Chapter 17 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan sighed with glee as the young lad¡¯s heart grew warm. It would be impossible for the young lad to be aware of how unworthy he was to have been graced by the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace herself since his skills were indeed mediocre. He knew that it was entirely out of the goodwill of Ning¡¯er to have her sister grace him with such treatment. Perhaps Ning¡¯er was worried and deeply concerned about him to have made such a request to her sister. As Zhou Yan reflected upon this incident, deep cracks formed throughout the entire realm of the blade. As these cracks grew closer and tighter together, the entire realm collapsed as a section of the web of cracks crumbled away, thus completely destroying that realm. As soon as that happened, Zhou Yan¡¯s consciousness returned to his body, and the entire incident felt like a vivid dream to the young lad as his gaze was still fixated at the red-painted horizon of dusk. The entire incident was seared deeply into the lad¡¯s memories. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Zhou Yan let out a long-winded sigh, as the young lad felt an unexplainable feeling of restlessness. It seemed that both Ning¡¯er and her sister had made the young lad feel peculiarly pressured. The young lad would have ignored her sister¡¯s words if she were to tell him that working hard would allow him to gain a position of power. However, since she repeatedly mentioned how important it was for him to ascend to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before he reached the age of sixteen, he could not get that out of his mind. To ascend into this realm, it would not be as simple as being completely enlightened within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. The difficulty of ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s menace was unimaginable. Even by his father¡¯s standards and natural gifts, he was unable to ascend to that realm. To put things into perspective, the enlightenment of one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace was such an arduous task to accomplish that not even one out of the billion people population of Canglan City had managed to accomplish that yet. However, the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace had told him to do whatever it takes and use whatever ruthless methods the lad deemed necessary as long as he succeeded. As the lad thought about that, something else came to mind¡­ Ning¡¯er was still in no condition to train, and she was also fifteen years of age. She also only had one year left, how would she be able to break free of this shackle? Zhou Yan lightly shook his head. This matter would have no immediate solution; hence the young lad chose to stop thinking about it. The young lad once again looked at that ring around his finger and began sensing it. There was no resistance this time as his consciousness could easily peer through the ring, sensing the realm within it. It was as he imagined. Beside the pile of spirit crystals, there was an ancient bright yellow scroll that was made out of silk. The scroll was woven using the finest satin. It felt exceedingly smooth, and reflecting off its surface was a hint of faint spiritual light. Judging from its quality, this was no ordinary scroll. Besides the scroll, there were two books titled, ¡®Introductory Blade¡¯s Formation¡¯ and ¡®Introduction to Revitalizing Blade.¡¯ These were reading materials for the general public. The quality of these books was quite low. It was possible that when the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace murdered those people, she had placed these books in the ring without noticing. Zhou Yan carefully organized everything within the ring. Most of the items in the ring were useless. Some objects were inedible but were too pretty for some people to just simply toss away. However, Zhou Yan never bothered to even look at the old, tattered armors and useless crystals that contained very little spiritual energy, which was worthless as currencies. Hence, without thinking twice, the young lad tossed those items away. Thus, Zhou Yan resumed his journey after he finished organizing his possessions and was done eating. As the young lad prepared to move on, his ears twitched, and in an instant, he shifted his gaze to look into the distance. ¡°Hey kid, you actually tossed something this valuable without even thinking? It seems to me that you have plenty of treasures left in your possession!¡± It was at this moment an ugly looking man with a sinister, malicious gaze spoke directly to Zhou Yan while standing on a pitch-black sword, levitating in mid-air. This man¡¯s horrendous face was completely covered with acne scars and an extremely obvious tumor growing out of the man¡¯s head. It looked like a smaller head stacked on top of a larger head. A single glance at this man was enough to terrify anyone. Staring directly at him would be extremely nauseating. It was unfortunate that he was unexpectedly met with a hideous man after such a hearty meal. Nine out of ten people would have violently thrown up their meal at the mere sight of this man. However, Zhou Yan never even flinched. The young lad only secretly hated his lack of perception. His mind was too focused on exploring that ring that he was completely unaware of the man¡¯s presence. ¡°What about it? Do you intend to murder me and rob me of my possessions?¡± questioned Zhou Yan cynically. ¡°Hahaha, obviously to rob you of your possessions. Murdering you on the other hand, well, it¡¯ll all depend on your performance alone.¡± The man cackled as the echoes from his laughter caused violent rippling waves on the surface of the lake. Even the wilting leaves from the trees near the lake fell off the branches. ¡°Alright then, hurry up and make your move. The faster you rob me, the faster you¡¯d get to spend some awesome time with women,¡± said Zhou Yan as he squinted at the hideous man. As the man¡¯s eyes dimmed, a malicious and sinister gaze reflected through his eyes. It was similar to a serpent¡¯s predacious gaze! The man¡¯s voice was deep and coarse. It sounded inhumanly horrible. The man said, ¡°Do you know what this place is, child?¡± ¡°This is the Mountain of Heavenly Prophecies! An abandoned land wedged between the Cang Lan City and the City of Heavenly Prophecies,¡± said Zhou Yan sarcastically as he chuckled. As the lad spoke, he proceeded to casually pick up some leftover hare that was roasting by the fire. While staring directly at that man, he took a bite, exposing a row of his glistening white teeth. ¡°Since you know where you are, how dare you still intrude in this land,¡± yelled the man. ¡°I was simply passing through to quell my hunger, and I hunted this wild hare. In which part do my chores concern you, Twin Fiends?¡± Zhou Yan answered with a sarcastic giggle. ¡°It seems that you are an arrogant fool. Perhaps your personal training had driven you mad. Such a display of arrogance, however, would be an invitation to death!¡± cackled the man. Hidden between the layers of his statement, was an evil intent to kill. Oddly enough, the man did no such thing. Once again, Zhou Yan casually took another bite of his roasted hare. The lad not only ate the meat but also the bones. As he crunched on the bones, the man started to worry as he wondered what the lad was capable of. ¡°You have all the land in the world to roast your hare, why here? Why did you also toss away such priceless treasures?¡± The man grew increasingly wary of this young lad. It made the man seem less of a reckless brute as he knew that appearance could be deceiving. As weak as anyone may seem, the actual ferocity of one¡¯s skill was still a mystery. Hence, the man kept his guard up, especially in the presence of this lad. He sensed a malicious aura emanating from the lad who sat beneath him. ¡°Perhaps, I find joy in eating roast hare and tossing crystals in the face of scholars of the dark arts,¡± replied Zhou Yan merrily. Although the lad¡¯s gaze was bright, the depth of his gaze seemed endless. Through the reflection of his gaze alone was a rippling blade¡¯s light. It was obvious through Zhou Yan¡¯s voice that he was intentionally sarcastic and carefree in his reply. However, it brought out slight honesty in the man. ¡°What purpose do you have in coming to this land? Do you seek challenge, or perhaps do you look down on me, the Fury of The Twin Fiends?¡± yelled the man furiously. With a single swing of the man¡¯s sword, the land in front of Zhou Yan split open into a two-meter-deep trench. As the trench formed, storms of dust and sand billowed around the lad. However, not a single speck of dust landed on him. The young lad remained unfazed as he sat in the spot, without the need to block the storm out with his hands. Ignoring that outburst, the young lad casually munched on his meat. ¡°I was just passing through this land. I am heading to the City of Heavenly Prophecies. I have matters to discuss with the lord of the Xiao household, Xiao Zhan,¡± said Zhou Yan calmly. However, as his hands inched closer to reach the hilt of his blade, he quickly withdrew his arm. As much as the young lad was tempted to test his might as the scholar of the Dark Arts, the Fury of the Twin Fiends did not seem to be as evil and malicious as the young lad assumed. All these people did was to rob a few people of their possessions and never intended to murder anyone. Even so, these people rarely rob the common-folk. As the lad¡¯s emotions were calmed, he decided to not draw his blade. ¡°Xiao¡­Xiao Zhan? You are acquainted with Xiao Zhan?¡± The man¡¯s expression changed drastically. Zhou Yan calmly replied, ¡°I do not know him. However, my father does.¡± ¡°Who might your father be?¡± The man grew increasingly terrified. ¡°Zhou Wangchen!¡± ¡°The blade fiend, Zhou Wangchen? You must be¡­Zhou Yan then?¡± The man¡¯s expression instantly changed as he could not believe what he had just heard. The man suddenly recalled that the young lad¡¯s very expression that instilled such fear in his heart was the same as that of the merciless killer, Blade¡¯s Fiend, Zhou Wangchen. The man¡¯s feet began to tremble uncontrollably. His body sensed imminent danger as he wanted to flee. Even the man¡¯s head was slightly numb. Even though the rumors claimed that he was a useless piece of trash, he dared not provoke Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son any further. Not to mention that this lad was Zhou Wangchen¡¯s birth son. It would be impossible for this lad to be trash. There too, was once a rumor claiming that Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son was to be the legendary, prime genius of the Zhou family. ¡°Stand still!¡± bellowed Zhou Yan angrily. His arm suddenly reached for the hilt of his sword that was hanging by his waist. A wave of Blade¡¯s Essence was targeted at that man. That man dared not provoke him any further since his prodigal reputation precedes him. The menacing fury of Zhou Wangchen still remained even though it had been more than a decade. Even with the presence of a hundred Fury of the Twin Fiends, he would not dare to provoke this lad¡¯s fury. ¡°What¡­ what do you want?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve ruined my appetite for my meal and intended to rob me of my possessions. You even have the intention to murder me,¡± said Zhou Yan calmly. Suddenly, he glanced over to look at something close to that man. He frowned while letting out a soft sigh. The lad said, ¡°Look at my hands, aren¡¯t they soft and white? Don¡¯t they resemble the hands of a woman, like a budding flower?¡± Zhou Yan extended his hands, seemingly mumbling to himself. Merely fifteen years of age, he had undergone two mutations of his body. The original tone and texture of the lad¡¯s skin was tender and white. It was as if droplets of water would form on the surface of his skin. Judging from his appearance alone, the lad truly resembled a spoiled child. The fingers on the lad¡¯s hands were slender and soft. If his hands had no bones, it would very much resemble an orchid. However, hidden in the lad¡¯s smile was a hint of malicious intent. ¡°They do¡­They do¡­¡± While staring at his hands, the man was bold enough to spit at the lad¡¯s hands. ¡°However, hands like these would love to kill. I did not intend to kill anyone initially. However, it looks like you and your friend here already had a plan to kill me.¡± In a flash, the lad¡¯s right arm reached for the hilt of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker. With a mere gentle brush of the hilt, the blade morphed into a ray of glimmering silver light. Fueling his blade with two separate Blade¡¯s Essence, the blade instantly shot out with two distinct ¡®swooshing¡¯ sounds. It was instantly followed by two agonizing screams of pure agony. Falling to the ground with that man was another man hidden nearby in a thorny bush. As they both fell, they struggled violently as their foreheads were pierced by the sharp Blade¡¯s Essence. Streams of blood violently gushed out the gaping holes on their head. However, these men were not dead yet. They could clearly see streams of blood rushing out from their foreheads. These two men had both recently ascended to a rank two Blade¡¯s Essence as Scholars of the Dark Arts. However, they were not as powerful as a regular rank two Blade¡¯s Essence person. However, their prowess was leagues ahead of any top tier master in the first rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. It baffled them as they were unable to sense such a powerful blade¡¯s essence directed at them. Regret and shock filled their hearts as they knew it was already too late to beg for their lives. Chapter 18 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°It seemed like those two men were far too weak.¡± Zhou Yan let out a light sigh, and with a single pat of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker, two distinct rays of Blade¡¯s Essence once again shot out from his blade. They spiraled mid-air for a brief moment, then with two swift ¡®swooshing¡¯ sounds, it cleanly decapitated both its victim¡¯s head. Hence, the agonizing and deafening shrieks from both men were instantly silenced. The only sounds that could be heard by the lake were the leaves rustling. After a brief moment, the spiraling blade that was orbiting the young lad returned to its sheath. The freshly slain corpses still had blood gushing out from the gaping holes in their necks. As Zhou Yan stared at them, he grinned and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never intended to kill both of you. However, it¡¯s unfortunate you figured out who I truly am. As a precaution, I¡¯ve ultimately decided to unroot any potential risks. ¡°If anything, you both forced my hand.¡± ¡°Throughout my lifetime, I¡¯ve truly felt that my sensitivity to a killer¡¯s intent had surpassed any average scholars of the blade. Hence, I would rather have taken an innocent life than to put myself in risky situations in the future.¡± The current state of this young lad, Zhou Yan, was as if he was mumbling words of madness to himself. At the same time, it looked like this lad was explaining the reason behind the murder to his victims. However, it did not matter what this lad resembled. Through the eyes of any sane man witnessing this, it would have sent shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. This lad would undoubtedly be seen as a scholar of evil, or perhaps even be seen as a mad man. ¡­ ¡°Whoa, sister, would you look at that? The man whose potential you recognize truly is amazing. He could fully grasp the intricacies of the Blade¡¯s Essence with such haste. From the looks of it, it is truly amazing for anyone to gain complete enlightenment of the Blade¡¯s Essence at the first rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. It truly is an exceptional achievement. ¡°This would mean that the full extent of his potential would actually have been the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. It appears that after the spiritual baptism, his combat prowess would have been equal to the raw strength of the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal then. He is truly impressive,¡± said a lass dressed in a long white dress with a gentle smile to a maiden in a long purple dress. The maiden whose eyes were shut had twelve pure rays of projections of the raw Blade¡¯s Essence, orbiting the young lass. Through the reflection from the maiden¡¯s gradually opening eyes, was a cold, sharp gaze that was boiling with the silhouette of a sharp blade. That silhouette lingered within the confines of her eyes. It never dissipated as she opened them. That lass looked unbelievably deity-like. ¡°Judging from his natural talents, it is quite possible for the lad to be in the third stage within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. His combat prowess, however, it¡¯s likely to be even more powerful than you could ever imagine. ¡°He was the only person in the entirety of his family to have mastered all nine forms of the basic Sword Art of the Clear Water Heaven¡¯s Blade perfectly. Now, do you think his natural gifts are simply mediocre?¡± said the maiden in purple calmly. ¡°Un¡­Unreal? Could that lad truly be that powerful?¡± That maiden in white seemed skeptical. However, the maiden in purple remained silent, as she was confident with her own judgment. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that the Holy Sword can no longer be used, or else, I would wish to once again shatter the walls between the heavens and earth. I¡¯m interested in observing that young lad,¡± said the maiden in white as she giggled. The maiden draped in purple merely glared at the young lass in response. Her expression seemed cold and slightly melancholic. ¡°Hmm, Saintess, we¡¯re both siblings. Can you not react this way? Look at how kind you¡¯ve treated that lad. Could you perhaps, grace your dear sister with a smile? Your dear sister, I was just following your orders, and in fact, took amazing care of him!¡± The maiden in white seemed slightly dissatisfied. ¡°I only wish to be at peace. The only focus on my mind is hard work and training. I do not wish to be anyone¡¯s puppet,¡± said the mysterious maiden in purple. ¡°Sigh¡­Forget it then, let¡¯s not discuss this matter any further. Instead, we shall discuss your crush. Not acknowledging your relationship with this lad in public kept my reputation safe. If this matter was to be brought to the knowledge of the nine guardians, things would be extremely troubling. ¡°However¡­ that little b*stard is very lustful. It¡¯s likely the lad will not be a loyal person. Judging from his looks, he is a womanizer.¡± As the maiden in white thought about Zhou Yan, she had exaggerated certain aspects of the lad. However, the maiden draped in purple smiled while listening to the other lass. She said softly, ¡°What does this have anything to do with the both of us treating each other so well?¡± ¡°¡­¡± As the maiden in white listened to her reply, she grew increasingly excited. However, she only responded with a bitter smile as she shook her head. It seemed that any couple who was still in the honeymoon phase of a romantic relationship would be repulsive to any ill talk about them. Unfortunately, the saintess was also in this phase. Hence, she was speechless. After some time, the lass questioned, ¡°Is the Frost Sould Ore the only thing capable of shattering the shackles of the Blade¡¯s Core of Absolute Cold?¡± The maiden in purple remained quiet as she was seemingly lost within the blessed memories of her thoughts. Her pale face slightly blushed. As the maiden in white witnessed this scene, she was puzzled as to what captivating qualities the average, mediocre lad such as Zhou Yan possessed to have captivated the heart and soul of this saintess? How would she answer the Empress in this debacle? She proceeded to give Ning¡¯er a serious stare. Upon witnessing her sister¡¯s flushed expression, she was stunned for a second as her heart skipped a beat. If she had not sensed the ¡®purity¡¯ that was still present within her body, judging from the way her sister had acted, she would have assumed the young lad had already violated her¡­ Plenty of thoughts plagued the young lass¡¯s mind. However, she took a deep breath, suppressing her own thoughts, let out a long-winded sigh, and said, ¡°Yes, there isn¡¯t any other way. It was all because the Empress herself cared deeply for you to have reached an agreement with the Wangchuan Residence. ¡°You¡¯re also aware that the current state of the Snow-Jade Palace is exceptionally weak. We were forced to make such an alliance to strengthen our powers. ¡°You too understand the fact that the Ji family in the Wangchuan Residence is the only true major family. This is the only family to have absolute control over the management of the Wangchuan Residence, and the young master of the residence is one of a kind. He is an extremely rare genius, a truly exceptional, outstanding man. However, he is such a humble man that not a single soul can compare to such a person¡­¡± ¡°I know that matters such as these do not concern one¡¯s romance. A person¡¯s romance is completely based on the bond and connection of two hearts. I have decided to follow Zhou Yan with all my heart. Thus, no matter how perfect anyone is, it would never sway my feelings.¡± The maiden draped in purple, Ning¡¯er, finally spoke her mind. ¡°Sigh¡­very well, I shall help you with everything I can. However, this matter could not be delayed for too long as it would be difficult to explain this to the Empress herself. Hence, I shall use your training as an excuse to temporarily delay this matter! One more thing, your ties with Zhou Yan, must be kept hidden from the Empress no matter what,¡± said the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace. ¡°Yes, I understand. Thank you, sister, for your help.¡± Ning¡¯er hesitated for a brief moment before finally saying the word ¡®sister.¡¯ This had made the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace pleased. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m just doing my part. If there is anything else in the future that troubles you, feel free to speak to me, and I will do my best to help you come up with a solution. ¡°That girl you brought along with you, after my intensive training with her, she progressed to a rank two Blade¡¯s Cardinal in half a day. Since she is not even fifteen years of age, ascending to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before the age of sixteen would not be a difficult task with the help of our resources in training.¡± Since the Lady of Snow-Jade Palace was in an extremely joyful mood, she proceeded to tell her sister, Ning¡¯er, everything she had been doing. Ning¡¯er simply nodded as after hearing everything her sister had told her, she had nothing to worry about. The only regret she felt was the restriction of the secret arts of the Snow-Jade Palace, which only allowed women to learn and practice, or else, she would have taught Zhou Yan these secret arts to hasten his progress. ¡­ The Mountain of Heavenly Prophecies. After looting the Spatial Ring of Infinity from the Fury of The Twin Fiends, Zhou Yan proceeded to sense whatever that was in it. Disappointingly, all he had found was some mid-tier regular crystals, several hundred spiritual essence elixirs, and a seemingly regular looking pitch-black spiritual armor. After retrieving said armor from the ring, the disappointment in Zhou Yan¡¯s face faded away into a surprised expression. While the lad focused his mind in sensing this armor, a strange message suddenly flooded his mind. It seemed there was a special message that came with this armor. This combat armor had never been used. ¡°It seems that they¡¯ve spent their wealth in purchasing some brand-new clothes. This is very likely the infamous ¡®Armor of Absolute Invincibility¡¯ from the ¡®Wan Jian Residence.¡¯ This alone would cost nearly a thousand low tier spirit crystals.¡± As Zhou Yan inspected this armor, he began laughing uncontrollably. Since the lad possessed such wealth at the moment, he actually contemplated buying such an artifact. However, it seemed that he was blessed with sheer luck. Without hesitation, he put the armor on. As his heart was swayed, the clothes on the lad¡¯s body completely exploded as the pieces fell from the lad¡¯s body. It was due to the wave of Blade¡¯s Essence that emanated from his body. A spiritual armor such as this possessed a certain spatial affinity. It could change its size on its own, and not a single speck of dust was able to land on the surface of this armor. These were only the basic ability this armor possessed. In addition to that, this armor too possessed the ability to resist extreme heat and cold. Its defensive ability was outstanding. It was also graced with astounding self-regenerative abilities, making it a highly sought-after treasure of countless scholars of the sword. However, in most small cities, not many scholars of the sword would be able to dawn such armor. This was because not many people would be able to afford a couple thousand low-tier spirit crystals on a casual whim. Within the Canglan City, however, not even someone as gifted as Zhou Lingyi was even graced by a single piece of clothing of Spiritual Affinity. Hence this meant that it was only after the generous gifts from the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace could Zhou Yan afford something so valuable. The crystals had three distinctions, which were top tier, mid-tier, and low tier. The exchange rate of each tier was ten crystals of the lower tier. This meant that a single perfect grade crystal would equal to a thousand mid-tier crystals. A thousand mid-tier crystals would equal to ten thousand low tier crystals. Even with the financial ability of the Zhou family that could afford something so expensive, they would never have purchased a single piece of clothing that was worth a million crystals. As Zhou Yan dawned the armor, the armor was a perfect fit. It felt very comfortable to wear. The young lad was worried that after wearing something like this, he would never want to wear regular clothes ever again. After savoring his newfound priceless armor, the young lad nodded as he was completely satisfied. The young lad then tossed Sorrow¡¯s Breaker mid-air, as the blade instantly morphed into a ray of light. It then spiraled around the young lad and proceeded to fall into the golden sheath that was behind the Armor of Absolutely Invincibility with a swift ¡®swooshing¡¯ sound. His blade fitted perfectly in the golden sheath. Wearing the Storm Boots that was left behind by his father and dawning a black spiritual armor, the young lad¡¯s long flowing fabulous hair was fluttering with the wind. The lad looked elegantly fierce more so when paired with Sorrow¡¯s Breaker, a legendary blade. A ferocious aura emanated from the lad¡¯s confident stance. The lad was extremely eye-catching to anyone. ¡­ Chapter 19 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After passing through the Mountain of Heavenly Prophecies, Zhou Yan finally arrived at the abandoned plains that bordered the City of Heavenly Prophecies. After traversing through the plains, he would have arrived in the city. The Heavenly Prophecies City was the neighboring city of the Canglan City. No lies were spoken in Zhou Yan¡¯s earlier statement. The lad only spoke the truth. This time, his father was not with him and the lad intended to tie up any loose ends and to do some training. The Xiao family in the Heavenly Prophecies City was not known to be a major family but not a minor one either. His father¡¯s bond with Xiao Zhan was once close, however, after leaving to a distant land, the bond they shared was completely severed. Upon his father¡¯s return, the duo had met up and interacted. The only problem was that his father¡¯s situation had changed, and his position and powers in the Zhou family had been diminished significantly. Also, the Xiao family had to worry about conflicts, both internally and externally. Due to all that, the relationship of both families had since drifted apart. To Zhou Yan, the lack of interaction between his father and Xiao Zhan was never due to his father¡¯s abandonment and the lack of value towards their friendship. He knew that his father absolutely valued and loved the friendship they both shared. The lack of interaction was due to his father¡¯s concern that his fall from grace would bring great misfortune to the Xiao family. However, Zhou Yan no longer cared about such trivial matters since the uncertainty of his father¡¯s current condition. Thus, the young lad inched one step forwards at a time against the strong wind through the shroud of darkness as daylight was once again approaching. The young lad surrounded him with his Blade¡¯s Essence to deter any wild beasts from approaching the young lad. The entire stretch of his journey had been calm and peaceful until he reached the core of this abandoned plains. Daylight came, but there was not a sign of the morning sun in the sky. The only visible light was the creeping rays of twilight through the misty shroud. The gloomy skies were shrouded by a veil of mist. The entire plains were indifferent to that at night as they were shrouded in a sea of darkness. Two to three rays of Blade¡¯s light coursed through the skies above occasionally. They flew past the lad, never landing at the spot he was. Hence, the lad, Zhou Yan hastened his speed as he quickly tracked through these plains. The young lad never flew across this long stretch on the body of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker. This was because, on the very ground he stood, was a land of immense danger. Hence, the lad had to reserve every ounce of his powers to repel threats that would come his way. A sudden drizzle fell from the heavens above. A cool breeze started to brew along with the rain, making it hard to keep the lad¡¯s eyes open. The lad squinted his eyes as tightly as he could, staring ahead. Step by step, the young lad inched through these treacherous fields. At the edge of the endless skies, two violent flashes of purple lightning collided against one another. It seemed like a brutal flashing duel between the two bolts. Suddenly, the young lad, Zhou Yan, stopped moving. Standing very still, with rain pouring down on him, he focused on that scene. ¡°Dragons are ascensions of the clouds, as dragons pierce the very heavens when soaring the skies above. Whenever one witnesses the reflection of the dragons within the still waters of a paddy field, that dragon would be amongst the clouds,¡± mumbled the lad in a trance. As he was in a trance, that very flash of lightning seemingly enlightened the lad¡¯s mind. It was as if lightning had struck the deepest core of his mind. However, he instead caught that bolt of lightning within the grasp of his hands. ¡°Even when a blow from a fist would bear remarkable results, a fist is not necessarily required. A blade itself could be an extension of the fist. Thus, there will be no need to change the form too much. Swords and fists are interchangeable! Fists can be swords, and swords are always going to remain as swords!¡± As the young lad once again focused his mind, suddenly, without warning, a violent explosion throughout his mind could be felt. It was as if his very own mind had been blown open by a bolt of lightning. At the same time, he could clearly feel every drop of his blood beginning to boil in a violent fury. The young lad felt a strong mad impulse to begin training his sword art. ¡°Bang!¡± The two rays of purple Blade¡¯s Light violently clashed against each other like bolts of charged lightning. After that, it seemed as if both the heavens and earth cracked open as waves of unrelenting thundering lightning roared in the skies above. At this moment, a figure of a person could be seen making its retreat. The figure seemed to be in a battered state. On the other hand, the other bolt of lightning instantly vanished without a single trace. Thus, the young lad, Zhou Yan, yelled out in a commanding tone as he jumped into the skies above. An overwhelmingly suffocating Blade¡¯s Essence emanated from Sorrow¡¯s Breaker that was in the very palms of his hands. While raising it high in the air, every single ounce of elemental energy from the lightning had been absorbed within his blade. ¡°Hiss¡­¡± As a bolt of purple lightning ambushed the lad, Zhou Yan did nothing to dodge it, simply allowing the lightning to land directly on him! It was at that very instant, Zhou Yan yelled out with a clear voice, ¡°Blade of The Dragon¡¯s Soul!¡± ¡°Roar¡­¡± Almost immediately, countless Blade¡¯s Essences condensed into a single concentrated sentient will. This concentrated will alone harbored immense, boundless energy. However, this seemingly infinite, raw power once again suddenly condensed and morphed into a silhouette of a dragon. However, the head of the dragon formed by the silhouette of this godly dragon, shattered after a single roar. Suddenly, every ounce of energy was drained out of Zhou Yan¡¯s body, causing the young lad to fall from the sky. The young lad never panicked. Using the physical strength of his body alone, he made two flips midair before safely and firmly landing on the ground. Both the young lad¡¯s feet were trembling as streaks of blood were trickling and dripping down his palms. This was done through an impulsive and rash act. That explosion of impulse seemingly burned and boiled every drop of blood in his body, forcing his very own will to take shape and form a small part of the Art of the Dragon Blade! At this moment, the young lad had only succeeded in molding the shape of this very skill. However, Zhou Yan knew that the raw power this attack contained was terrifyingly powerful! Every single ounce of energy in his body had been completely drained by that single move alone. It seemed this attack was extremely devastating and destructive in nature by the sheer ferocity of its power! This result was expected by Zhou Yan since he inherited the skills and moves from a master capable of spatial destruction. An attack like this must have been morphed and modified countless times to have such ferocious and immense power. Zhou Yan took a deep breath and proceeded to take two Qi Infusion Pills as he gradually recovered while standing still. It was then that the young lad realized the terrifying recovery ability his mutated body possessed. The very moment he took those pills, they were instantly infused within the empty and drained pillar of Qi in his body, thus recovering one-fifth of his energy! A change this drastic shocked Zhou Yan since it was clear to the lad that the very condition of his body was extremely unique and terrifying at the same time! Never in his life had the young lad heard about anyone being able to instantly infuse these elixirs or pills within their body! As he contemplated, the young lad took out some crystals. To his surprise, he was able to absorb these regular, unappealing crystals within his body. It was surprising for the lad to realize that his personal pillar of Qi itself had far surpassed any regular scholars of the blade! After absorbing several mid-tier spirit crystals to fully recover, the young lad once again resumed trekking these plains. However, at this very moment, he felt overwhelmed by a mysterious wave of energy approaching him. He experienced great fear, as the lad felt shivers running through his spine, and goosebumps began to form on the scalp of his head! Without hesitation, he jumped out of the way of this wave of energy, letting it through. The instant he jumped out of the way of that mysterious, menacing wave of energy, a flash of purple light struck the very grounds the lad stood just moments ago. ¡°Boom!¡± A loud echoing rumble could be heard, as the very earth beneath his feet began to quake violently. Even raindrops had been expelled outwards from that violent quakes. A sudden powerful rush of energy that resembled a halo expanded outwards. Shocked by the sudden ambush, Zhou Yan instantly steered Sorrow¡¯s Breaker to avoid this attack. However, he was not fast enough, and thus, the lad was violently struck by this attack! Then, just like a broken kite, the lad was gliding uncontrollably with this wave of energy. Calming his mind, the young lad regained control of his body. He then grabbed a handful of the Qi Infusion Pills and tossed every single pill into his mouth, recovering his own Qi energy. As the lad stood on the ground, countless webs of cracks were formed on the surface of his brand, now spiritual armor. However, the upside about this armor was its innate ability to self-heal, thus saving the young lad from revealing too much flesh. His cold expression grew frantically unstable as he stared at the spot where the purple light landed. A bitter look could be seen on his face. Standing on that spot was a maiden draped in a purple silk dress, completely soaked in blood. It was unsure when this lass actually appeared. Both her hands were completely soaked in blood as she wielded a sword. On the body of that silvery blade were bolts of flashing purple lightning. ¡°Who are you? What is this place?¡± The young lass extended her blade, pointing the edge directly at the young lad while she questioned him with a cold, fierce tone. Her killer¡¯s intent was extremely obvious. The lass that stood in the face of Zhou Yan was extremely powerful as he found it extremely difficult to speak in her weak, deceiving facade. However, in comparison with her prowess to the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace herself, it seemed slightly weaker. The overwhelming pressure was not as strong and dense as when he faced the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace. ¡°This is the Plains of The Heavenly Prophecies. Who I am is not important.¡± With a slight twitch of his arm, Sorrow¡¯s Breaker instantly fell into the grasps of his palms. ¡°Huh, Absolute Cold Soulblade? You have ties with the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace? To have been graced a soulblade by the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace herself makes you no stranger then.¡± A hint of curiosity and surprise flashed across the lass¡¯ eyes. As the curious gaze slowly faded away, the lass seemed slightly relaxed. The instant she eased up, the injuries her body sustained seemingly overwhelmed her. She coughed up a pool of blood then instantly slumped over in the overgrown bushes of the plains. Chapter 20 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The long, silver glacial sword was completely stained and soaked in blood. It was spinning around that lass, seemingly defending its wielder. However, this never lasted longer than a mere moment. The energy within that blade had faded away as the glimmering spiritual ray of light had completely dimmed. This was an indescribable obscure ray of light. Compared to the immense power earlier, it did not appear to be the same weapon. After losing that endlessly overwhelming spiritual rays, judging from the looks of this very sword, it was merely an elegant, pretty looking sword. A long, slender silver blade only for the lassies. This was similar to the mysterious glacial deity after shedding her external coat that revealed an unprecedented, most honest inner beauty. ¡®When a blade gains sentient spiritual affinity, although, from an external physical perspective, that blade¡¯s appearance would not change. However, the very core of the blade itself would undoubtedly be different. Judging from the way this blade behaves, to have her personal sword evolve to such an extent, her training must¡¯ve been even more powerful than I could ever imagine,¡¯ mumbled Zhou Yan to himself. After standing still at the same spot earlier for a brief moment, he reluctantly approached that lass. Judging from the lass¡¯ current state, it seemed that her identity and status would very likely be of high status. From the major injuries she sustained, it seemed that this lass had just experienced an extremely brutal battle. Due to the cruel nature of this realm, any common-folk, even Zhou Yan, after his change in his own personality would most definitely not save this injured lass. The harshness of reality meant that there were way too many incidents of people faking an injury to ambush passing folk. Incidents stretched from petty robbery to blatant murders. All of this was done in the name of training. Hence, countless methods had been implored in this manner. This maiden, however, based on what she said earlier, had proven her deep bond with the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace. Even if Zhou Yan were to ignore her, he still owed the Lady of the Snow-JadePalace especially after receiving her graceful aid in helping him to further his own progress and the countless valuable items she had gifted him. This generous aid graced by her was a huge favor to the lad. Even as wealthy as the Zhou family was, their combined wealth of the family would not even come close to the extent of wealth given to the lad by the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace. With this point, Zhou Yan could not bear leaving the lass alone due to her bond to the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace. Hence, he walked towards her. The maiden was lying unconscious in the damp, wet bush due to the rain. She was completely covered with blood; thus, the lass was in dire straits. The maiden¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly. It was as pure and as elegant as the leaves of a Willow Tree. The smooth, pure face of that maiden was extremely beautiful. Although her eyes were shut, her long curly lashes were twitching uncontrollably, seemingly hinting the unimaginable agonizing pain she had gone through. This pain that reflected through her inhumanly pale face and blood-soaked body was as if a demon had been inhabiting her body, feasting on her soul. As Zhou Yan stared into the sky above him, he pondered what kind of situation would come after this, and thus, he proceeded to carry this lass in his arms as he walked towards the distant land. Zhou Yan was uncertain of what the extent of her injuries was. However, since he had inherited the will of the ancient sage, Zhou Yan was well versed in the art of healing one¡¯s inner Qi. In addition to that, he had methods from the ¡®Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts¡¯ and ¡®The Scriptures of Unbound Flexibility¡¯ as reference. Hence, after walking for quite the distance and sensing no one was following them, he discovered a quiet and secluded area. These abandoned plains did not comprise of an endless stretch of flat land. Instead, these grounds had countless valleys and hills. The only difference in comparison to an actual mountainous terrain was that these plains appeared smaller. Thus, Zhou Yan carried the maiden and proceeded to sit on a steep boulder. Then, he slowly sat the lass down in a cross-legged position, directly facing him. During the entirety of this process, Zhou Yan was unable to avoid touching the lass¡¯ body¡­ It was only until¡­ the lad had seemingly heard a ¡®ringing¡¯ sound emanating from the lass¡¯ body, did the lad snapped out of his trance. The lad then proceeded to mumble to himself with a perverted yet serious look on his face, ¡®Yes, it seems her heart is fine, and no major injuries were sustained by her heart. After a thorough examination, I can confirm that there aren¡¯t any major issues.¡¯ As he spoke, the lad took out two mid-tier crystals from his ring and placed it on both her legs as he began to cycle and concentrate the transfer of his Blade¡¯s Essence. He focused on pushing this condensed Blade¡¯s Essence through every meridian channel within his body. Then, clapping both his hands with the lass¡¯ hands together, he forced the concentrated Blade¡¯s Essence into the lass¡¯ body. The lad was now able to peer within her body with the help of his vitality. He was seemingly able to visualize the condition within the maiden¡¯s body. However, this was only a crude and unthorough deduction, or else, with Zhou Yan¡¯s lustful personality, he would have abused this ability to once again to peer through the maiden¡¯s body without a doubt. At this moment, it seemed like the lad¡¯s sensory ability was clouded, and he was only able to confirm the pathways of her meridians. Hence, Zhou Yan decided to not be distracted any longer and was determined to heal this young lass. The energy from the Spirit Crystals had been slowly refined within the lad¡¯s Qi Pillar. However, it seemed like it was significantly more difficult this time. Nonetheless, he succeeded in refining the energy. However, every time the energy was refined, it felt terrifyingly enormous, but the lass, on the other hand, felt nothing more than a minute, regular energy. Every single time a wave of enormous energy was released, the lass would absorb and completely drain it in mere moments¡­ Zhou Yan was uncertain if this had any effect on the lass, but he persisted regardless. He endured it until the lad himself gradually felt extremely exhausted. However, this exhaustion was not physical. Instead, it was straining the lad mentally. After a lengthy amount of time, Zhou Yan was uncertain if his methods were working. He began to feel this healing process was ineffective, and his only hope was for this lass to wake up so he could begin to recover as well. This would be a better choice for him. Thus, he persisted until he felt the maiden¡¯s breath was still as shallow as she was before. As of his current state, he no longer could keep up with this arduous task. ¡°It seems, I can no longer save you. I have done my very best, so please don¡¯t blame me if you die.¡± Thus, Zhou Yan released the maiden after glancing at her. The instant he released the lass, the maiden¡¯s face suddenly grew pale, even though just mere seconds ago, she was recovering. Her body was as if it was unable to contain any form of energy. The energy that was forced into her had all been expelled out. The only saving grace was Zhou Yan¡¯s special meridians that had at least made her body absorb some Blade¡¯s Essence. If not, with the progression of her current condition, the only fate that would greet her was death. Zhou Yan was remorseful as he watched the lass¡¯ deteriorating condition. Her face gradually turned pale after he had spoken his mind. No matter the quality of her personality or her looks, she truly was a stunningly beautiful maiden. On top of that, she was also a close friend of the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace. This was because she noticed the soul of the blade and the brand that was infused by the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace herself. Even with the dire condition she was in, she had chosen to spare his life¡­ If it was to be him in the same situation, upon sustaining such severe injuries, he would not bother to ask for anyone¡¯s reasons. He would impulsively strike them down to preserve his life and safety¡­ The lad¡¯s heart was heavy and was in fact wrenching as he thought about those points. This lad had never been a kind man, and after inheriting the will and the collective memories of the ancient sage, this lad had undoubtedly become much more ruthless. However, at this moment, he could not explain why he felt so depressed. The maiden¡¯s body was starting to become limp as if there was no soul present in her body. She was close to slumping over. It was at this moment that the snow colored blade instantly flew out, whimpering softly. It was as if the blade was crying. The sounds emanating from the blade was extremely sad. Through the lad¡¯s eyes was a flash of shock and awe. The lad was indescribably moved by the actions of this blade. It mimicked an actual living human, as this blade was actually mourning and crying! A blade that was sentient and alive? It did not matter how vast this lad¡¯s knowledge that he had inherited from the foreign realm of ¡®Earth¡¯ was. He was extremely touched by this scene alone. That blade was frantically dancing midair, and a ray of light once again was emanating from it. However, this time it was a painful ray of white light as Zhou Yan somehow felt this blade was close to being completely extinguished. ¡°Slow down there, fear not¡­ I¡¯ll think of something else, so don¡¯t extinguish now, or else when she awakens and notices your death, she will obviously be unwilling to live alone!¡± Zhou Yan was completely blown away by the actions the blade demonstrated! He finally understood the saying in the final chapters from The Ways of The Sword, ¡®If the wielder of the blade is alive, so will the blade itself. However, when it¡¯s wielder dies, so will the blade perish.¡¯ This was all because the blade itself was sentient and too possessed feelings. The very act this blade demonstrated was the embodiment of the Way of The Sword Through Bond! Zhou Yan took a deep breath, as he spoke to the blade with the utmost respect. After he had spoken to it, the lad could clearly feel that the blade had ceased its intention of self-destruction. The glaring light slowly dimmed. However, the blade was still whimpering, seemingly calling out. Zhou Yan felt this whimper was not of despair and sorrow, but¡­ a calling of endless gratitude. Thus, Zhou Yan took another deep breath while gritting his teeth. He proceeded to take out two top-tier Spirit Crystals and a jug of ale from the Spatial Ring of Infinity his father left him. That was his father¡¯s favourite ale to drink for the sole purpose of refreshing his mind! Within this ring was not only the completed hand-carved effigy and some metal blocks but also a full jug of ale, filled to the brim. The young lad, Zhou Yan had never tried even a single drop from that jug of mysterious, unnamed ale. It was only due to the incident in the past when he spoke to his father which enlightened him and caused him to accidentally drop the jug of ale that the strong, stinging, pungent gases released, stimulated the young lad instantly! Without any other options left, he intended to use the ale to stimulate his mind in order to save this young lass. This time would be the final attempt for the lad. If this attempt was ineffective, it would not matter how powerful this lass was. There would be nothing this lad could do for her. Chapter 21 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After drinking a sip of ale, Zhou Yan felt his entire body burned with extreme heat from within. All the exhaustion and fatigue he felt mere moments ago were burnt away, and within this lad¡¯s body, there was an explosion of immeasurable power. With that, he seemingly gained a significant boost in energy. He was tempted to once again unleash his rampaging madness to train the Formless Dragon¡¯s Blade. This violent burning energy was akin to burning the fuels of life, replenishing any lost energy with an added potency and infinite boost of their original strength. Zhou Yan knew nothing about the ale. However, he knew that the long-term dependence on this ale would undoubtedly leave some dreadful side effects. His father was most probably a victim of his situation and depended on the effects of the ale to boost his natural abilities before he began carving¡­ Using this burst of immense power and his heightened state of awareness, the lad proceeded to heal the young lass with the same methods he attempted moments earlier. However, this time, the lad used some tier-one spirit crystals in healing the weakened lass. As a result, the lass¡¯ shallow breathing and dire condition gradually stabilized. She then progressively began to recover. Throughout the entire process, Zhou Yan did not feel a thing. Before he began, he was skeptical of the side effects this powerful, yet potent ale could bring. However, after drinking 5 full jugs of ale, he realized his body felt indifferent, and he knew that he was getting used to it. In every jug, he could sense a pocket dimension within the jug, since they all contained more than 8 liters of pure ale. This lad, however, had drunk 5 full jugs without any breaks in between. Hence he slowly began to become fond of the taste of ale. Even after 5 full jugs, Zhou Yan felt although his mind was still sharp and clear, he knew he had reached his limit. He felt that if he had drunk slightly more, or continued to infuse his essence, it would not end well for him. Even after having such a peculiar thought, the lad ignored the warnings and attempted to infuse his essence. However, almost instantly, he felt his blood flow begin to stagnate, and he started trembling violently. At this moment, the lad could feel the chaos rampaging within his body, which just mere moments ago was calm and without any sensation. Immediately, the lad stopped the unique healing process that he was focused on earlier. He exhaled deep and long as he let go of his grip. At this moment, the maiden clad in purple who sat cross-legged had recovered significantly. Her once pale and dire face was slightly flushed red with life. It was as if her entire body radiated a strong spiritual light. Upon noticing her recovery, Zhou Yan let out a sigh of relief as he could finally relax, knowing the lass¡¯ condition was stable. As he thought about it, the lad proceeded to stand up. Suddenly, he felt the entire world was spinning around him. This sudden violent ambush was too much for the lad to handle, and thus he collapsed almost instantly. Unfortunately for the young lad, his fall had him face-first into the young maiden in purple, and he accidentally pressed on the young lass in a very inappropriate position. ¡­ ¡°Hmm¡­¡± After letting out a soft, gentle moan, the young lass slowly opened her eyes as she repeatedly blinked to collect herself. She was sluggish to the point that opening her eyes was a difficult task. She proceeded to slowly push away the load that was weighing on her body. However, the moment she touched the heavy load, she instantly recoiled and took a good hard look at the object weighing her down¡­ ¡°You, you¡­.¡± Her expression changed drastically. By impulse, she struck the lad with her palm causing him to fly off into the distance. Without even examining her own body, with a single flick of her wrist midair, her long silvery sword flew into the grasps of her palm. A clear, excited, high-pitched sound echoed from the silver blade as it ecstatically leaped around midair. It was behaving like a really happy child. Zhou Yan found himself being flung across the area due to the violent force of her strikes. He flipped twice before landing and stumbling a couple of steps backward as he regained his balance. He felt as if he was awoken from an amazing dream. Confused and puzzled by what had just happened, he stared blankly at the young maiden. His look apparently angered the young lass further. ¡°It was so bold of you to take advantage of me in my weakened state. You b*stard. I¡¯ll kill you!¡± The young lass looked inhumanly pale as the injuries that her body sustained earlier had not fully recovered yet. However, at that point, she had not yet noticed what her body¡¯s condition was like. As she held up her blade in one hand, the long silver blade transformed into a blinding beam of light, and it was aimed directly at Zhou Yan¡¯s neck. It seemed like she truly intended to murder him at this moment. Zhou Yan was extremely confused since he had no clue what had happened. He was puzzled by the possibility of him violating her by accident when he had passed out. However, it seemed unlikely. How was it possible that he had absolutely no memory of anything that had transpired? Without any chance to think deeper, he felt the murderous blade¡¯s light charging directly at him. It was impressive how immensely powerful this lass truly was. It was fortunate that she was weakened since the ferocity power unleashed by her was equivalent to the force of an entire mountain being dropped on the surface of the earth. He knew that he was unable to dodge that attack from the blade. He was slightly intimidated, but the lad never panicked. He began to unleash Sorrow Breaker to invoke the Blade¡¯s soul Specter that was sealed within his blade, to have a fighting chance. However, as dire as the situation may be, the moment the silver blade was close enough to reach the young lad, it paused without any warning. It instead emitted a warm, compassion filled ray of light. It felt like a young maiden who was behaving in a coquettish manner, and it expressed its gratitude to the young lad. Zhou Yan was gobsmacked, and the maiden in purple was stunned as she stood frozen in place while staring in complete disbelief at the whole situation. ¡°Silver Frost, you, you¡­¡± She was only able to mutter a few words. Filled with shock, her eyebrows twitched slightly, almost as if she was unable to believe what she just witnessed. To quell her curiosity, she seemingly communicated with her blade. However, after doing so, her expression dimmed. ¡°Shameless scum!¡± She yelled at the young lad as her face blushed through the pale tone of her face. It seemed that she clearly saw how Zhou Yan had groped her breasts earlier. However, her face changed as she witnessed Zhou Yan¡¯s arduous process of healing her. Eventually, the young lass looked sad and guilty as she stared into Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze. She had an extremely complicated expression on her face, however, this time, it was obvious that this lass had an indescribable conflicting feeling that reflected through her gaze. ¡°Beautiful¡­ maiden, I believe, there has been a misunderstanding between us. The truth about your condition earlier was without a doubt¡­ a dire one indeed.¡± Zhou Yan chuckled to himself as he thought that if not a single soul knew what he had done, he would be able to deny ever groping her breasts. Alas, that cursed blade, was seemingly able to record the entire event in detail. However, the young lad was still unsure of what actually happened, but it seemed that the young lass was able to piece together the entirety of the occurrence. ¡°Did you use your personal Qi Column to infuse the spirit crystals while healing me earlier?¡± However, that young lass did not bother what Zhou Yan was going to reply as she just sighed. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Zhou Yan hesitated slightly. However, he never denied her claims. ¡°You¡¯ve used 20 mid-tier crystals, 8 high-tier crystals, and drunk the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale?¡± The lass¡¯ expression grew increasingly complicated, as she stared at Zhou Yan. A strong sense of guilt and regret could be seen, reflecting through her eyes. Staring at the young lad with those eyes wrenched his heart. He replied with a serious tone, ¡°You¡¯re right about crystals, but regarding what the ale is and what effects it has, it is still a mystery to me. However, only after I drank it was I able to regain the strength and focus on infusing the spirit crystals that healed you.¡± Zhou Yan had no ulterior motives nor other intentions. His reply was sincere and genuine. Since the look on her face scared him, it made the young lad nervous as he thought if he had done something terrifying. ¡°Sigh¡­ it seems that it is exactly what had happened. Judging from your current level and abilities, forcefully infusing top-tier spirit crystals would be an excruciatingly painful process. Even though you had violated me earlier, and I was supposed to murder you on the spot, knowing the fact that you went through hell and endured such torture to save my life, it is enough to absolve your actions for ten lifetimes. ¡°To save me, you¡¯ve destroyed and completely severed your Qi Column¡­ I am extremely sorry.¡± Her sad and depressing reply shocked Zhou Yan. His eyes were wide open. Infusing top tier spirit crystals would be a torturous process? How come he did not hear anything like that before? Drinking the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale would destroy and severe one¡¯s Qi column? He had never heard anything like that nor had the knowledge of such news. If that was the case, why did he feel like he was able to break through the realms of the blade¡¯s essence then? His Qi column was destroyed and severed? It was still spiraling like before, and its foundation seemed even stronger! There was no explanation for the lad¡¯s confusion. At this moment, the lass suddenly appeared next to him, startling the young lad. This lass could just materialize and disappear without a trace. She truly was something! The guilt on her face was truly able to cause anyone to worry! ¡°Your potential¡­ your Qi column¡­ was also completely gone¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± The young maiden proceeded to give the young lad a sincere and extremely grateful bow, and when she bent over, he was seemingly able to see the glistening white cleavage. This made his heart ignite in a raging flame of lust. However, he obviously kept those emotions to himself. ¡°The truth is, you have nothing to do with this, and my situation wasn¡¯t as horrible as you think. We just happened to run into each other. However, you never intended to murder me the instant we crossed paths, so this counts as you sparing my life. Besides, you seem close to the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace. ¡°I owe her a huge debt, so saving your life this time is only right. I¡¯m not as great as you think. ¡°Since I was exhausted in the middle of saving you, I also decided to give up. ¡°Thus, there¡¯s no need for your apology,¡± explained Zhou Yan seriously. These were truths that the young lad spoke. Although the lass felt guilty and indirectly assumed that she owed him everything, Zhou Yan did not have the heart to trick a na?ve young lass even though the outcome was tempting and awesome. Since he lived in such a chaotic society, meeting a maiden this pure was rare. ¡°You¡­ what is your name?¡± sighed the lass bitterly as she asked in a soft tone. There were hints of curiosity and awe in her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Yan, what would your name be, young maiden?¡± Zhou Yan stared silently at this stunningly beautiful and compassionate young lass. He was curious about her. After saying his name, the entire expression of the young lass changed into an odd one. It was unsure if her expression was of joy, anger, worry, or sadness. ¡°Zhou Yan¡­ Zhou Yan¡­ sigh, I didn¡¯t think¡­ I didn¡¯t expect¡­ I should¡¯ve known¡­ the moment you drank the Burning Blade¡¯ Heart Ale¡­ Sigh¡­ I¡¯ve made an insurmountable mistake¡­¡± sighed the young lass sulkily as there was a slight hint of a bitter smile and regret. Chapter 22 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he withdrew his distant gaze and stared at the lass¡¯ captivating and charming eyes. He said, ¡°You knew me?¡± That lass nodded but she immediately shook her head and said, ¡°Sooner or later, you¡¯ll understand, but now¡­ I think I might have made a huge mistake.¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s not your fault. If you truly feel guilty, maybe you can repay me with your body. Trust me, it will make me happy,¡± chuckled Zhou Yan. That maiden took a quick glance at Zhou Yan then sighed. ¡°Now is not the right time but, under one condition, I may promise you that¡­ ¡°There is still hope for your body. Within the Cavern of a million souls lies a pearl known as the Pearl of Yin and Yang. With this pearl, you may pair it with the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale while you¡¯re having fun with a maiden. Then, half of that maiden¡¯s skill and training experience will be infused within your body.¡± Upon hearing what this lass said, Zhou Yan¡¯s heart was slightly swayed. However, he was merely teasing her and did not expect this young maiden to be this¡­ naive. This naive young lass had so casually suggested the idea of venturing to some place known as the Cavern of a million souls. Zhou Yan had absolutely no idea what kind of place this ¡®Cavern of a million souls¡¯ was, and what kind of treasures that place held. Could it truly be spectacular? ¡°We shall discuss this matter later¡­ you knew my mother? My father? Perhaps someone else from my Zhou family? You seem¡­ wary of me?¡± questioned Zhou Yan seriously. ¡°You will know the truth¡­ about this matter soon. Even if you know the truth now, there isn¡¯t anything you can do with that knowledge due to your body¡¯s current condition¡­ On the other hand, my name is Feng Lingqing, and since you have lost all of your abilities, I¡­ I, together with Silver Frost will integrate as one to protect you temporarily in the form of a blade.¡± Zhou Yan was completely stunned and gobsmacked by what she said. ¡°Sigh¡­ who told you infusing spirit crystals in your Qi column would completely destroy it? My Qi column has been mutated, and it¡¯s completely fine. ¡°Who also told you that drinking the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale would ruin your body? My body is still fine, and there¡¯s not a problem with me!¡± Initially, Zhou Yan never wished to tell the lass any of that. However, judging from how far and selfless the lass would go in attempts to comfort him, was there even a reason he should be skeptical of her? He never intended to charm this young maiden by his actions as he assumed this lass was one of the strong forces he was warned about. However, this lass was obviously not related to the opposing forces mentioned by the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace. Even from the start, this lass had shown mercy in the name of the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace. On a much deeper scale, this entire event was somehow tied so closely with Zhou Yan¡¯s life. Hence, Zhou Yan hesitated for a brief moment before telling her the whole situation. After the young lad was done explaining, Feng Lingqing was dumbfounded. She stood rooted to the spot. Still was not convinced by what he had told her, she proceeded to thoroughly sense everything from within the young lad¡¯s body. She was still unable to detect the lad¡¯s Qi Column, but this time, she could feel the burst of energy similar to the blade¡¯s essence that was roaring and raging within Zhou Yan¡¯s body. It felt like a blade¡¯s spirit had been trapped in deep slumber within his body, and it would cause anyone to feel its immense pressure. Her expression changed slightly, as there was an obvious sign of shock and awe from the look on her face. Once again, she took a quick glance at Zhou Yan, and she looked like she had been staring at some sort of abomination or monster. Her expression was entertaining, indeed. After a good long while, she let out a long-winded sigh and said with a surprised tone, ¡°You¡­ truly are fine. I¡¯m afraid this natural gift belonged to our ancestors. I never expect¡­This was not expected indeed¡­¡± ¡°It appears that you are quite familiar with my matters. Thus, why did you attack me before?¡± Zhou Yan frowned slightly. ¡°I was ambushed and attacked by Qi Taichong of the Qi family. I was mortally wounded, and my life was fleeting as it reached its limits. I was unable to determine how bad my injuries were. ¡°He was confident that I would meet my end. Hence, he never hunted me down. ¡°Regarding you, though¡­ It¡¯s all because I don¡¯t know you and had no idea what your business was. It was all because I am extremely close with the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace, and since we were little, we were best friends. If she had given you three life-preserving Blade¡¯s Specters, you are obviously someone important to her. Hence, I did not kill you. ¡°However, I didn¡¯t know you were Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son, hence the earlier incident. It was only much later that I found out the truth of your identity¡­ ¡°I am unclear about most things regarding your life, but I know some things about your mother¡­ However, these things, though¡­ sigh, please do yourself a favor. Don¡¯t dwell on these thoughts too much. We¡¯ll discuss this matter when you¡¯ve ascended to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart. ¡°¡­ It looks like the circumstances are much more complicated than I¡¯ve imagined.¡± Zhou Yan took out the hand-carved effigy as he looked at the blade¡¯s menace of the sword¡¯s way of bond that was carved onto its surface. He then glanced over at the young lass and said, ¡°Your bond is extremely strong¡­ do you also practice the Sword¡¯s Way of Bond?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The young lass never hid anything from him as she nodded. Zhou Yan remained silent and sighed. Judging from how things had progressed, it was now clear to the young lad that the Sword¡¯s Way of Bond and Despair was not created by his mother, it was instead his mother¡¯s own creation. After a brief moment of contemplation, he said, ¡°That Ji Taichong, who is he to Ji Taixu, who hails from the Wang Chuan Residences?¡± ¡°You know Ji Taixu? It¡¯s true, Ji Taichong is Ji Taixu¡¯s cousin, but he is known to be extremely hot-tempered and arrogant. He is very different from the elegant Ji Taixu. Although Ji Taixu never fancied bragging and boasting, he is inhumanly cunning and ruthless. ¡°Within the confines of his home, lies a forbidden ground. It is known to be a field of the damned. There are plenty of ancient graves on this ground. It¡¯s basically a crypt. ¡°Ji Taichong would sleep in the crypts. He has a habit of sleeping amongst the ancient sarcophaguses, leaving only his head exposed. ¡°Sometimes, due to the weight of the sarcophagus that crushed his skull and restricted blood flow to his head, his face would turn purple. However, despite all that, he would remain calm and was able to recover back to normal. ¡°Thus, it¡¯s no secret for every living soul to know how sinister and evil he is. Not a single soul dares to oppose him. ¡°¡­¡± As Feng Lingqing told Zhou Yan about what kind of a man Ji Taichong was, Zhou Yan felt sick. He could feel his head gradually growing numb since a man like this was not normal. This man was the living embodiment of insanity. It was baffling to know such evil existed in the Ji family. In addition to an unparalleled genius such as Ji Taixu, this meant that the Ji family was certainly no ordinary family. Zhou Yan sighed as he was no longer pressured or intimidated by Ji Taixu. On the other hand, as for Ji Taichong, Zhou Yan felt that he would undoubtedly cross paths with him soon. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better now. You better go ahead and rest to recover from your injuries, since I have something that requires my attention. When I groped you¡­ that was because I thought you were attractive, and honestly, I was lusting for you. However, in my defense, that was a natural emotion for any normal human. Therefore, I sincerely apologize to you.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s words sounded empty. In the last couple of days, she was the only encounter he had besides the Twin Blade Fiends. Anyone else would be exceedingly powerful to the extent of him being unable to gauge which realm they resided in, which stressed him out. It was only until he witnessed the huge difference in power that willed the lad to train harder. However, at this moment, after knowing that they were his ally, he felt slightly guilty. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s okay¡­ it¡¯s okay¡­ all I have to do to heal is retreat back into the Blade¡¯s realm. Please take me along. I promise I won¡¯t be a bother.¡± Feng Lingqing was slightly hesitant as she pleaded with him. A goddess-like maiden like her actually lowered her own status to plead with him. It would be impossible for his heart to not be swayed by her. His will was strong, and he did not change his mind because of her plea. Before he could refuse her, he suddenly recalled that this young lass had some knowledge of his mysterious mother, and carrying another sword was not exactly that much of a hassle. With that thought alone, his refusal faded away. Thus, he agreed to her plea. Oddly enough, even after he agreed to her plea, she was not excited at all. On the other hand, the Silver Frost blade emanated a joyous sparrow-like sound. Upon witnessing such a scene, Feng Lingqing had a compassionate, gentle smile on her face. The lass said, ¡°I need to recover inside your body, Silver Frost, so follow this man from now on. I¡¯m glad to see that you react so happily to him. You have to listen to him and behave, alright?¡± As the young lass spoke softly to the blade, it was as if she was talking to her own daughter. She was filled with kindness. Zhou Yan was touched upon witnessing this scene. Could this truly be ¡®The Sword Way of Bond¡¯? Was the sword truly alive and sentient? Then, that would only mean that the Sword Way of Despair would be akin to a demon? This was because the only thing the sword was capable of was murder. Zhou Yan remained silent as he pondered and reflected upon his Sorrow¡¯s Breaker, as he would feel ecstatic whenever he murdered anyone¡­ After Feng Lingqing spoke to Silver Frost, that blade was like a child as it spiraled and danced around Zhou Yan¡¯s body. ¡°You do not lack training, and with that, I can rest my worries. However, remember that you have to hurry and ascend to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before you are sixteen years of age. I¡¯ll let you in on a little secret. If you have ascended to that realm, you will benefit greatly from Silver Frost, since you¡¯ll be able to interact with Silver Frost even more,¡± said Feng Lingqing softly as she smiled. Her smile alone was able to melt glaciers, and it was as if this smile was also able to bring back life to the dead. As she spoke, she could not help but wonder to herself. ¡°Sigh¡­ in this world, he was the first person to have a stranger¡¯s blade¡¯s spirit take a liking to him. It¡¯s uncertain if ¡®she¡¯ knew about his world-shattering natural gifts, but if so, what would her reaction be?¡± ¡­ As the skies slowly dimmed, the brisk fall¡¯s breeze started to blow as it cooled down their surroundings. The cold winds swept past the young lad as his sleeves fluttered in the winds. As of now, Feng Lingqing retreated into the blade¡¯s realm of Silver Frost to recover and heal, and she was in a deep slumber within that realm. Silver Frost, on the other hand, was carried on Zhou Yan¡¯s back. It had even masked its God-tier blade status from detection. The Silver Frost blade was as playful and adorable as a little girl. This blade seemed picky with people it liked as it would try to grow closer to that person¡­ and that person happened to be Zhou Yan. He flew the entire stretch of his journey across the plains on the back of his blade. The winds howled. At night, the plains were barren. By the hour, night gradually crept deeper, as the stars filled the skies. Under the shroud of darkness, glimmers of light had finally appeared. This meant that he was closing in on his destination. Thus, Zhou Yan withdrew his long blade and hung it from his waist as he walked forward. At this point of time, waves of heavy footsteps could be heard approaching. Four middle-aged men rode the back of four different pegasuses as it dragged along a beautifully intricate and luxurious carriage through these lands. There were two maidens in white following close behind the carriage as they stood on the back of their flying swords, guarding this carriage. Even though the maidens seemed harmless, their bodies emanated a heavy aura of extremely cold blade¡¯s essence. These maidens were likely to have ascended to the realms of the Blade¡¯s Essence. They seemed to be scholars of the Sword¡¯s Way of Frost! Chapter 23 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan never looked behind him. However, he was able to foresee the scene. Since enduring the process of infusing top-tier spirit crystals and being baptized by Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale, his perception was even sharper. The carriage was quickly approaching Zhou Yan as it flew behind him. He never intended to dodge out the way, and there was no sign of the carriage slowing down as it continued to advance. The carriage was swiftly closing in on Zhou Yan, and eventually, it scraped his side. At this moment, Zhou Yan was able to smell a faint yet uniquely refreshing scent emanating from within the carriage. It was a very feminine scent. The scent calmed his mind as he took a deep breath. As he was about to take another lungful, his gaze drifted over to the carriage, which was roughly 10 meters away. The carriage was covered with fresh flowers on its exterior. Some cracks could be seen from the outside. This carriage was not designed for maximum privacy in mind. As Zhou Yan peered into the carriage through the cracks, he saw a maiden clad in a light green dress sitting inside. He noticed the young lass inside had a serious look on her face. However, exhaustion was obvious on her face. It was as if problems were plaguing her mind. The lass looked pale as her eyelids began to gently close. It seemed that this young lass was resting her mind. Riding on the backs of the pegasuses were four strong men. However, the men too looked tired as they panted heavily. They were using their blade¡¯s essence alone to control their pegasuses, allowing them to fly at a much faster speed. As they flew through the plains, not a single person noticed Zhou Yan¡¯s presence. It was as if the young lad was never there. All four men were clad in long black robes. One of the men who controlled the reigns on the first row turned around to speak to another man at the back. He said, ¡°This incident truly made our lives difficult. If it wasn¡¯t for our Lady¡­ I¡¯m afraid we would not even be able to head outside.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. This is why we have to make sure that no one is following us. We have to hurry to the City of Heavenly Prophecies. It will only be then that we will ensure our success,¡± chuckled a man who was riding beside him. Both men were breathing hard as they spoke to each other. ¡°From how I see it, although the city is near, there is still a long way left for us to travel. I¡¯d say we take a short break so that we¡¯ll be able to ride on into the city with a single breath on the backs of our steeds,¡± suggested another man while wiping his sweat away. ¡°What we¡¯re doing now is literally riding on a flying pegasus, and that is difficult for you? It seems to me that you had been having way too much fun sinning with that Little Red Peach of yours, right?! From how I see things, if you aren¡¯t going to get murdered by someone, sooner or later, you¡¯d be lying dead on top of her belly,¡± yelled a man from the back furiously. As these men continued their squabble, their riding speed slowed. The two maidens in white guarding the carriage did not notice the decreasing speed, as the young lass who was resting in the carriage paid zero attention to the petty squabbles of the men. At this moment, the pegasus had pulled the carriage toward a valley of hills. The hills were not tall and were approximately 7 to 8 meters in height. All of a sudden, the pegasuses neighed to a halt. As the four strong men observed the distant terrain, they turned to report to the lady in the carriage. This action alone did not worry the two maidens guarding the carriage. However, it was at that twist of a moment that the man reporting to the young lass silently drew his long and slender blade and drove it through the lass¡¯ chest. The remaining men too had their slender, long, silver blades drawn and immediately stabbed the carriage from the lass¡¯ back. Their methods were extremely lethal as the instant their blades penetrated the carriage, they unleashed the blade¡¯s essence, and the aura surrounding them was filled to the brim with murderous intent. Although the men appeared to be brainless brutes, the truth was far from fiction. Their raw power far exceeded the strongest person within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! The attacks the four men unleashed were as swift as lightning. Each of their blades pierced forward and slashed backward. With each attack, they sealed off the carriage. At the same time, as they unleashed an infinite and boundless blade¡¯s essence, all of their essences combined and morphed into a single, powerful and potent blade¡¯s essence. Along with their gridlock formation, they instantly attacked and landed successful strikes on both maidens guarding the carriage. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± Both naturally powerful young maidens were murdered on the spot by the combined effort of the four men. Their lethal blade¡¯s essence pierced cleanly through the bodies of both maidens before they even had the time to squirm. Just like that, their long white dresses were now drenched in blood. It was baffling to see both guardians instantly slaughtered in cold blood without any effort. It seemed that the two maidens were the men¡¯s target. The four pegasuses were terrified and startled by the uproar. The beasts panicked and managed to break free from their reins, instantly making their escape. Each blade wielded by the four men had an indescribable Blade¡¯s Menace radiating from the edges. The immeasurable ferocity from their pure blade¡¯s essence alone was hellbent on murdering the young lass in the carriage. Although Zhou Yan was able to detect the extremely powerful and lethal Blade¡¯s Essence, he never expected the change in behavior. Why exactly did these men suddenly have the intent to kill their own Lady? Had they hidden their murderous intents so well and deep? Zhou Yan was intrigued and curious about the entire situation. The moment he witnessed the scene, he saw both maidens who were without a shred of doubt powerful and extremely skilled with their Blade¡¯s Essence being violently slaughtered. They dropped dead on the spot, as their blood-stained white dresses drifted away¡­ Witnessing such a violent scene greatly affected the young lad. The men possessed extraordinary skills as both the maidens were of a rank two Blade¡¯s Essence of the Scholar of the Frosted Blades, and they were effortlessly defeated. The next scene, too, made him feel slightly regretful and sad as he assumed the young lass who was in the carriage most probably died violently as well. However, the instant the young lad made such an assumption, the young lass within the carriage began to contort like a slug. It was odd, as her body suddenly morphed into indescribable chaos. She had ultimately avoided the strikes from the four men, and in addition to the impressive feat, she managed to flawlessly dodge the potent Blade¡¯s Essence. As the four Blade¡¯s Essence clashed, it seemed like it merely grazed past the young lass, even though the carriage she was in had already been blown to smithereens. Debris from the carriage was raining down from the heavens above. Alas, at this very moment, all four Blade¡¯s Essence once again morphed into a single lethal and concentrated, boundless Blade¡¯s Essence. The radiating waves of this massive energy as a single strike of the Blade¡¯s Essence would incite pure fear in anyone¡¯s heart. Even the young lad, Zhou Yan, who was watching from afar, was slightly intimidated by the potency and ferocity of this attack. He was taken aback by this intimidation he felt as he realized that every type of Blade¡¯s Essence could never be underestimated. To put things into perspective, this young lad, Zhou Yan, had inherited the will of the ancient sage! His soul and personality could never be compared to that of any common-folk! Even he was intimidated by the sheer ferocity of the Blade¡¯s Essence as it was filled to the brim with evil. However, as expected, the pale looking young lass instantly levitated midair, and underneath her feet were two rays of Blade¡¯s Essence. However, both rays of Blade¡¯s Essence were dimmed, as the ferocity of this shocking attack was completely unimaginable. The single ray of light that radiated from the blade resembled a sinister swan. It inched toward the young lass¡¯ snow-white neck. It was only three millimeters away from her neck, and at that moment, the murderous intent from the blade¡¯s light had sliced the lass¡¯ throat open. The young lass, however, instantly grabbed the solid blade¡¯s light with her slender fingers in a single swift movement! In between her tender white fingers was a solid ray of light. It was interlocked in her fingers. No matter how hard those four men tried to pull apart their swords, they were unable to break their blade¡¯s formation, thus unable to free themselves from their own attack. It also appeared as if their Blade¡¯s Essence was locked in the young lass¡¯s grasp. The four men were completely shocked, and their expression changed drastically. Without hesitating, they immediately let go of their collective Blade¡¯s Essence as they hastily retreated. The ray of light that had been in the tight grip of the lass¡¯ fingers instantly crumbled to dust with a single squeeze. With a single flick of her wrist, the specks of dust of light suddenly formed into four chilling and glimmering icy swords. The blades emanated clouds of cold mists. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± Four ear-piercing screams filled the air, as the four men grabbed their foreheads tightly. Geysers of blood spewed out of the single wound on their heads. Brain matter gushed out from the gaping wound, and a gory, bloody mess filled their hands. As the young lass stood midair, she casually took a quick glance at the men and took out a silk napkin to gently wipe away the blood flowing out of her neck. After doing so, she kept it in her Infinite Spatial Ring. It was only after she was done that she coldly glanced over at Zhou Yan since he never made a move. Thus, the young lad slowly approached the spot the young lass was hovering over. ¡°Who are you?¡± It was evident from the cold, chilling tone of the young lass¡¯ voice that she was suspicious and on high alert. Through the reflection of her stunningly beautiful eyes, her gaze was akin to sharp, chilling blades of ice. Step by step, the young lad inched closer to the young lass. His gaze was focused on this immensely powerful and beautiful young maiden. The young lad¡¯s expression hardly changed as he said, ¡°I¡¯m merely passing through these plains. What¡¯s the matter? Do you wish to kill your only witness?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to do so. I just had to make sure whether you are with these people.¡± The young lass¡¯ gaze was also focused on the young lad as she did not hide her own intentions. The young lass spoke as if she was interrogating the young lad. A chilling aura emanated throughout the area, leaving behind a bone-chilling sensation to anyone near her. The nerve-racking aura was intimidating enough. However, under the young lass¡¯ questioning stares, it somehow felt disturbingly colder. With a serious look on Zhou Yan¡¯s face, he said, ¡°If I were on their side, you would¡¯ve long been dead.¡± ¡°You have a point. I can feel that you have some extremely powerful skills that would have caused me to stay on constant guard¡­ Say, young lad, you have a familiar face, I¡¯m not sure if we crossed paths before?¡± said the young lass unexpectedly. Upon performing a closer inspection on the young lad, the young lass gradually lowered her head and stared at Zhou Yan. If the young lass had not spoken, the young lad, Zhou Yan, would not realize her intents. However, after she made her point clear, he realized that this young lass somehow looked awfully familiar to him. Chapter 24 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°You¡­ are you Little Xixi¡­ of the Gu family?¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze focused on her as he contemplated for a brief moment. Due to his advanced perception skills, with just a quick thought, he was able to dig out the deepest depths of a once familiar memory. Thus, he was able to precisely recall memories from his childhood. ¡°Are¡­ are you really brother Zhou Yan?¡± There was a clear reflection of joy through the young lass¡¯ eyes as she was unable to hide her feelings. The young lass had an unexpected rush of emotions. All the despair she felt from the death around her, the pain and sorrow instantly faded away. ¡°Yes¡­ it¡¯s me. I never expected I¡¯d run into you here of all places. Weren¡¯t you supposed to be meeting the sage of the Frost Blades? When did you return?¡± Zhou Yan was a little curious, while his face literally beamed with joy. The young lad did not envisage in running into his long-lost friend in the middle of a barren land under the shroud darkness. Meeting a long-lost childhood friend at this moment overwhelmed the young lad with joy. When the young lad was little, due to the matters of his father, he never spent much time at home. Instead, the young lad spent his days in the Xiao family¡¯s home in the City of Heavenly Prophecies. The Xiao family was extremely close to the Gu family due to the intermarital ties they shared. After generations of close relations, both families had an unbreakable bond. When they were young, Zhou Yan and the daughters of Xiao Zhan, Xiao Chaner, Xiao Liner, and this little rascal, Gu Xin, always played together every day. They were inseparable. Zhou Yan¡¯s natural gifts were impeccable, and his father started to gain some notoriety. Since the age gap between Zhou Yan and the trio of girls were not that big, the girls became his personal handmaidens as they treated him extremely well. Alas, after all those years of not seeing each other, the once weird little rascal was now a powerful figure. Zhou Yan definitely did not foresee that. Zhou Yan also never expected her raw power alone to be leagues ahead and even more impressive than Zhou Lingyi! The raw power of the young lass had far exceeded the realms of what Zhou Yan was able to gauge! After this comparison was made, Zhou Yan could not help but feel the declining power and standards of the Zhou family. Even the pupils of a minor family were able to instantly murder scholars within the realms of the Blade¡¯s Essence. ¡°I¡­ well, I have returned to the family¡¯s sect for a full moon¡¯s cycle¡¯s time already. I had some matters to attend to. Some people in the family were placed in a tough spot by the Yang family, so I had to see to those matters myself. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect people in the family to have been harmed. Even the supposedly loyal guards were deluded as well. ¡°If I didn¡¯t return, I¡¯m afraid that our Gu family and our legacy would be completely destroyed.¡± As Gu Xin sighed, she withdrew her menacing aura. As the aura dissipated, Zhou Yan instantly felt relieved. ¡°From what I recall, the Yang family was a minor family back then. How did their power grow so quickly?¡± The young lad, Zhou Yan, was slightly puzzled. ¡°Yes, indeed, but it wasn¡¯t just our Gu family. The Xiao family was affected too. Since the notoriety of Uncle Zhou Wangcheng¡¯s reputation was the only thing keeping them in their place back then, it¡¯s only natural for them to make their first move due to Uncle Zhou¡¯s current¡­ condition. ¡°If I fail to master anything this time, I¡¯m afraid the outcome would be unimaginable!¡± explained Gu Xin after pondering in silence for a brief moment. Zhou Yan frowned as he spoke, ¡°What about Uncle Gu¡­ of the Gu family and Uncle Xiao Zhan? Did anything awful happen, to¡­ them?¡± Gu Xin sighed, then proceeded to respond with a bitter chuckle as she replied, ¡°Unfortunately, I was a little too late when I returned, or else¡­ but don¡¯t you worry, brother Zhou Yan, they are both fine. They sustained slight internal injuries, and their bodies weren¡¯t able to concentrate and condense their Blade¡¯s Essence, so they were temporarily unable to recover. However¡­ I already informed all the elders via my blade¡¯s messenger. Hopefully, since all of the elders had been informed, they surely would think of a solution for me.¡± ¡°They were unable to condense and store their blade¡¯s essence? I understand. Perhaps, I have a solution.¡± Zhou Yan proceeded to close his eyes as the young lad willed himself to suppress the boiling fury from his heart. This young lad still cared deeply for them. The feelings he experienced as a child would be something this young lad held dearly as he would never forget how he felt! Although it was due to his father¡¯s unrivaled reputation, the truth was, those people were kind and compassionate to him ever since he was a child! Even though he bullied Gu Xin, Xiao Chaner, and Xiao Liner before, they had never once punished or blamed him, as he would only discipline them as his own daughters instead. Those people were pride fueled, and they were known for their firm stand on not bootlicking anyone of higher status. To be loved and spoiled by them, it filled the young lad¡¯s heart with compassion and warmth. Besides, any child would have the innate ability to tell false pretentious love from genuine love! Their current condition was almost similar to the condition that young Feng Lingqing experienced back then! Could there possibly be any connection to these events? The methods of attack used to mortally wound someone and rob them of their ability to condense and store their Blade¡¯s Essence within their body were, without a doubt, not commonly used. Hence, Zhou Yan¡¯s expression became serious. ¡°Ah¡­ Brother Zhou Yan, you¡­ what you said, could¡­ could I be correct?¡± As Gu Xin spoke, she had a surprised and joyful look on her face. In the young lass¡¯s heart, she never thought of Zhou Yan as a useless piece of trash. Instead, he was extremely honorable and capable. He was still the same man she remembered as a child. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ll have to examine their condition before coming to a definite conclusion. I came across someone who had been mortally wounded the same way they did, and I successfully got her body to retain some Blade¡¯s Essence, which resulted in healing her.¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, he thought about Feng Linqing, then the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace, then to Ning¡¯er and his adorable, lovely handmaiden Ping¡¯er. Flame of lust once again lit the young lad¡¯s heart. As he contemplated for a brief moment, he immediately rid his mind of impure thoughts, then proceeded to take out a full jug of ale. He chugged the entire jug down his throat. ¡°Gulp¡­ gulp¡­¡± The way Zhou Yan drank the ale was uncanny to Zhou Wangchen. It was as elegant as his father, and similarly, his long dark hair fluttered messily in the wind. Gu Xin was completely stunned as she watched his behavior. She used to think that the old, soft-spoken, and elegant looking Zhou Yan was her perfect Prince Charming. However, looking at how he behaved exactly like Zhou Wangchen, the rebellious yet cool and emotionless silent Zhou Yan was incredibly attractive as she felt her heart swayed heavily toward him. By making this comparison, she instantly felt that the pupils in her family¡¯s sect, who were shameless and useless, could never compare or even reach Zhou Yan¡¯s level of elegance and charm. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan is¡­ is something troubling¡­ you?¡± questioned Gu Xin anxiously. As Zhou Yan listened to her nervous question, he snapped out of his feelings of nostalgia, which was one where the young lad missed and yearned for the lassies he encountered thus far. The young lad proceeded to chuckle. It was as if all his plaguing troubles had faded away as he instantly recovered to his cheerful, spirit-filled state. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just reflecting on some events in the past. Little Xi, are you now in the realm of a rank three Blade¡¯s Essence? I can¡¯t exactly sense the realm you¡¯re currently in,¡± questioned Zhou Yan. Gu Xi nodded after hearing his question. The young lass replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve just ascended to this realm, and it was only after I¡¯ve reached this state that my masters allowed me to return home for an extended time. However, the future of my training would be incredibly difficult now¡­ That reminds me, brother Zhou Yan you are currently in the realm of a Blade¡¯s Enforcer, right?¡± As Gu Xi spoke, she leaned closer to Zhou Yan, as the young lad was able to smell waves of delightful refreshing scents emanating from the young lass¡¯ body. Half of the young maiden¡¯s body was already leaning on his side. It felt familiar to the young lad. The close bond they shared as a child never faded away from the progression of time. Thus, the young lad, Zhou Yan, forced a bitter smile and simply shook his head. The young lad said, ¡°My natural talents were severely repressed in these recent years. It¡¯s only recently that I¡¯ve reawakened my slumbering talents, and now I¡¯m merely a rank three blade¡¯s cardinal, so in comparison to Little Xi, the gap of our power level is extremely huge.¡± Gu Xi¡¯s bright spirit filled her stunning eyes as she blinked repeatedly and said, ¡°Before I recognized you earlier, Brother Zhou Yan, you were exceedingly terrifying, and somehow I can¡¯t shake the feeling that the ferocity of your powers are not weaker than mine!¡± ¡°Your perception is truly impeccable. My raw strength alone is most likely more powerful than the strongest foe of a rank three Blade¡¯s Essence. Perhaps it¡¯s not even a competition after all. Remember when I¡¯ve told you that I¡¯ve saved a person¡¯s life? That person was an unimaginably powerful foe, and after I¡¯ve saved her life, I¡¯ve grown stronger. I¡¯ve managed to kill several powerful foes who were at the highest peaks in the realms of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer, and even doing so, I didn¡¯t break a sweat.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ so that¡¯s why¡­ then, Brother Zhou Yan, were you also wronged by the Zhou family?¡± Although it was hard to believe this young lad would be wronged in the Zhou family, the young lass, Gu Xi, was no fool and was, in fact, quite sharp. Since Zhou Wangchen was no longer in a position of power, then the possibility of Zhou Yan being completely shunned by his family was high. However, she did not bring it up earlier because she noticed the clothes that were dawned on Zhou Yan¡¯s body. She could not believe that Zhou Yan was wearing none other than¡­¡¯The Armor of Absolute Invincibility.¡¯ For someone to be worthy of the armor of such majesty, the family would most likely hold him in absolute high regard¡­. ¡°This situation, though, well, it¡¯s a long story¡­¡± After contemplating the young lad never intended to hide any details of the events that transpired within the Zhou family. Hence, he gave her a good summary of everything that occurred. As the duo continued ahead, Gu Xi hugged the young lad¡¯s arm as they walked. The duo flew ahead on their swords while they continued their conversation. ¡­ ¡°What¡­ this¡­ this is just scummy!¡± ¡°They are such b*stards with the audacity they have. I would absolutely kill them with my Blade¡¯s Essence of Pure Frost. I¡¯d slaughter them all!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ were you injured then, brother Zhou Yan?¡± ¡°How wonderful, you¡¯ve awakened your natural gifts. The lot of them shall regret to have ever wronged you!¡± Thus, the young lass Gu Xi changed as Zhou Yan described the events that had happened to him. This young lass may seem like a gentle, soft-spoken, and elegant young maiden. However, the instant her words escaped the very crevices of the young lass¡¯ mouth, she was crude and rowdy. This behavior made the young lad, Zhou Yan, smile as she was no longer the na?ve young lass she once was. Zhou Yan absolutely adored and loved this feeling, as he continued to observe the young lass¡¯ expression of pure frustration. The young lad was unable to control himself as he kept patting her head. ¡°Ouch¡­ Dammit, brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re such a meanie!¡± Gu Xi responded in a coquettish manner. During their journey, Zhou Yan told her everything, and how he truly felt about the events that transpired, except those regarding inheriting the will of the Ancient sage and the encounter with the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace. Hence, just like that, the emotional barriers they had previously completely faded away. ¡°Yes, brother truly is a meanie, tell me, do you like it?¡± Zhou Yan teased with a huge smile. While the lad spoke, he gently nudged Gu Xi. Chapter 25 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At this very moment, Gu Xi felt that she was blushing from her cheeks up to the very edges of her ears. Taking a quick look at Zhou Yan, the young lass said, ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re becoming increasingly dishonest now. You¡¯ve become a bad influence, and you¡¯ve even learned to bully me.¡± As the young lass spoke, she forced a pretentious yet innocent and sad look. However, Zhou Yan could clearly see through her facade. ¡°Quit acting now. Back then, when your brother intentionally moved away from you, you had also intentionally nuzzled up against me. Do you still think you can do whatever you want like you used to? Look. Now you¡¯re afraid? You actually assume your brother was the same na?ve child? Or were you just bragging in front of your brother that you¡¯ve ¡®grown bigger¡¯?¡± ¡°Whoa¡­ brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re such a meanie! You actually meant that, and there you were, brooding over how that b*tch Zhou Lingyi was looking down on you¡­ and made Little Xi feel bad for you!¡± As Gu Xi spoke in a coquettish manner, she held nothing back when the young lass commented on Zhou Lingyi. The young lad was the first person in her life that she had such strong feelings of compassion and love for. Zhou Yan was absolutely certain that this young lass had placed him in a special and important place in her heart to be treated with such sincere and genuine feelings. As a scholar of the Frosted Bladed, a young lass who specialized in this skill, and had mastered her Blade¡¯s Essence, meant that her personality too would be as cold as ice. However, this young lass had instead treated him with such warm compassion. This caused Zhou Yan¡¯s boiling flames of lust to instantly fade away, and instead¡­ he was incredibly moved by her sincere display of affection. This young lass was truly beautiful. Judging from Zhou Yan¡¯s personality, it would be difficult for the young lad to chain down his inner beast of lust. However, at this moment, his heart was incredibly calm as he stared intently at the display of her coquettish behavior. He felt extremely blessed. The young lad lowered his head slightly as he focused on this young lass while his gaze stared into the depths of her eyes. It was as if he was able to peer into the deepest abyss of those brightly lit eyes. The young maiden, Gu Xi¡¯s heart was pounding as the young lad¡¯s gaze made her anxious. She was unable to look directly at him, as her spirit-filled eyes flickered back and forth while she peeked at the young lad. She was unable to muster the courage to look directly into Zhou Yan¡¯s warm and compassionate gaze. As the young lad, Zhou Yan continued to stare at her, he suddenly felt a stinging pain from his eyes as streaks of her blood fell into them. The snow-white skin from Gu Xi¡¯s neck was slashed open by a ray of Blade¡¯s Essence. It was a horrifying scene indeed, as the slash wound was quite concealed on her neck. The young lad was unable to bear looking at her as he extended his arm and said, ¡°What happened earlier was extremely¡­ dangerous. I was watching from a distance, and I was actually able to intervene, but I did nothing¡­ Little Xi, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, that should not concern you¡­ back then, before I recognized who you were, I even almost attempted to murder you¡­¡± ¡°You know, as time goes on, with just a blink of an eye, we are no longer the same na?ve kids we once were. Instead, we are now able to clearly see through the facade of society in this world. ¡°In this cruel world, everyone would prefer to not embroil themselves in any potential troubles even in most dire situations except if the victim was someone close to them. In most cases, plenty of folks would merely spectate. ¡°Doing so isn¡¯t wrong since it is only by doing so that everyone who chose to walk this path of enlightenment would be able to walk slightly further.¡± Gu Xi buried herself into Zhou Yan¡¯s warm embrace as she leaned on the young lad¡¯s arms that he used to caress the wound on her neck. ¡°You have a point. If I had known it was you, I would¡¯ve never allowed their death to be that swift and easy. I¡¯d skin them whole, and I¡¯d make them beg for the sweet release of death!¡± said Zhou Yan calmly. Although the young lad¡¯s tone was soft, Gu Xi¡¯s heart was completely melted by the warmth she felt from the words he had spoken. It was no secret that Gu Xi was an incredibly pretty maiden in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes. However, in Gu Xi¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yan was the most handsome and stunning man. He was unparalleled in his looks. Although there were more than ten thousand pupils who were practicing the art of the Frost Blade, only a few could stand to compete with Zhou Yan¡¯s looks. Thus, after hearing what Zhou Yan had said, it would be impossible for this young lass to feel unhappy. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re still as caring toward me as you were in the past. I¡¯m really happy, you know.¡± ¡°I should feel blessed too since you never changed either. You¡¯re still so close to me and still hold me in such high regard,¡± chuckled Zhou Yan. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, when I held your arms earlier, I was actually really nervous, since it¡¯s been years since we¡¯ve last seen each other. But now¡­ now¡­. I¡¯m no longer afraid or anxious¡­ ¡°You know it¡¯s not a secret that we, women, are never in a position to speak in this world. To most men, nine out of ten women are viewed as objects of trade. We¡¯re harvested as a source to be made into a blade¡¯s specter, a puppet, or in most cases¡­ an outlet for their pleasure. ¡°When we were little, both sisters Chaner, Liner and I loved to spend time with you, but my father used to tell me that if I wanted freedom, I¡¯d have to earn it, and when I do, I will be able to fight to protect everything I love. ¡°Although it was my aunt¡¯s choice to have me sent to the Temple of The Frost Blades, if it wasn¡¯t for me being able to be with brother Zhou Yan, I would¡¯ve never gone in the first place. ¡°Now, it seems that I¡¯ve made the right choice!¡± Gu Xi was completely honest with him and even told him her little secrets. This exchange had seemingly surprised Zhou Yan, who had inherited the will of the ancient sage. ¡°The Temple of The Frost Blade is an amazing place, and you still have to head there after this. My love for you has never changed, but due to the events that happened before, I feel indebted to Ning¡¯er. You know that if a man is incapable of defending his women, he would only be a useless piece of trash. ¡°I will train hard, and I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill my father¡¯s wishes as soon as possible. After that, I¡¯ll be able to visit you in the Temple of The Frost Blade. Till then, I¡¯ll be able to see who would dare bully my Little Xi, and if anyone does, I¡¯ll beat them so bad that their own mother would not be able to recognize them anymore!¡± explained Zhou Yan sincerely. ¡°Okay¡­ brother Zhou Yan. Since we¡¯re approaching the city, come on, let¡¯s head back to the Gu family home to rest, then we¡¯ll look for sisters Chaner and Liner tomorrow.¡± Gu Xi was ecstatic and also incredibly happy. Zhou Yan was also in an extremely delightful mood since the young lad loved the feeling of having an absolute beauty in his arms. The young lad was able to feel that this was the first time in years that Gu Xi had been truly happy. ¡­ The sky was gradually turning dark. Thus, another evening was fast approaching. Zhou Yan was hugging Gu Xi, who was literally hanging from his body at this point. She cared little of the judgmental eyes from the common-folk as the duo strolled to the outer courtyard of the Gu family home. It was only when the duo had arrived here that Gu Xi behaved. Her entire expression once again morphed into a cold, emotionless maiden. It was ironic as when the young lass behaved coquettishly toward him, his heart was exceedingly calm. However, upon witnessing her change to a cold and emotionless maiden, his heart sparked flames of lust. ¡°We have arrived, brother Zhou Yan, please follow me inside.¡± As Gu Xin spoke directly to Zhou Yan, her cold demeanor faded into a gentle, compassionate look. ¡°Yes, however, let¡¯s go take a look at Uncle Gu¡¯s condition together. Let¡¯s get this done sooner rather than later. His health is more important.¡± Zhou Yan truly cared about these people. Hence he never wanted to rest. Although the young lass never showed her emotions, Gu Xi was incredibly touched by Zhou Yan¡¯s words. She said, ¡°Father will be extremely happy when he sees you, brother Zhou Yan.¡± ¡°Yeah, but Little Xi, about this, please don¡¯t tell a soul¡­ if I¡¯ve managed to heal your father.¡± Zhou Yan made an unexpected statement after contemplating for a moment. Gu Xi was slightly stunned, however since she was known for her wit, the young lass instantly understood the deeper meaning of what Zhou Yan had meant. Hence, she immediately nodded and said, ¡°I understand, brother Zhou Yan. The truth is, from the moment my closest servants attempted to assassinate me, I knew things are slightly different now, so I can¡¯t afford to be careless. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to anything you say, brother Zhou Yan. Don¡¯t you worry.¡± Zhou Yan had expected Gu Xi¡¯s reaction and response. However, the young lad was touched by the way Gu Xi could obey him without the need to hesitate. This lass was an extremely adorable young maiden. However, at the same time, behind her intelligence and cuteness, she was indeed a one of a kind extremely charming and elegant young lass. It was only natural for Zhou Yan to absolutely adore women like her. Especially when a maiden as exceptional as she had obvious feelings toward him. ¡­ The hidden chambers of the forbidden grounds of the Gu family. The chambers were as white as ivory, and under the glimmering rays of brisk cold light, it filled the entire room with an eerie sense of despair. However, in an environment like this, the torturous pain of one¡¯s fleeting life was somehow able to be slightly suppressed. The current condition of Gu Xi¡¯s father, Gu Yan, was a lot worse than what the young lass had described. This was probably the main reason the young lass looked troubled in the carriage before. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart wrenched upon seeing Gu Yan¡¯s current state. This man was no longer the same elegant, spirit-filled man from his memories. All that remained was an inhumanly pale and wrinkled old man with a head full of white hair, shivering in a corner. Every time the old man trembled, it was as if the old man¡¯s flesh and blood were boiling hot as it seared his skin. It seemed like the most torturous and relentless pain for a man to endure! His current condition was almost exactly the same as Feng Lingqing! Even though this pain was not inflicted upon anyone else, to bear witness to such relentless agony, one would tremble alongside the victim! Anyone without an incredible feat of willpower and courage would never be able to endure such agony! ¡°Father¡­¡± Upon witnessing this scene, Gu Xi, who had been staring compassionately at Zhou Yan the entire time, was tearing up. The young lass was at the brink of breaking down into tears. Zhou Yan held her hands while gently patting her shoulders, calming her down. ¡°Uncle Gu, it¡¯s me, Zhou Yan. I¡¯ve come to visit you. I can save you, and you will be relieved from this pain immediately.¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, he glanced over to Gu Xi, gesturing toward her. Without hesitation, the young lass pulled the lever, closing the doors to the hidden chambers and instantly locking it down. Chapter 26 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Gu Yan¡¯s face was incredibly pale as every deep trench of wrinkles that were etched on his face reflected all the sorrow and despair he experienced. His eyes twitched uncontrollably as he wanted nothing more but to open them to welcome Zhou Yan. However, even this simple act alone was incredibly difficult for him. The lad was determined as he struggled to open his eyes once again. Although these actions were simple and easy for most, they appeared astoundingly difficult for him. This man had a head full of snow-white hair. Due to the fatigued state he was currently in, his entire demeanor and expression seemed a lot older and frail. However, he managed to open his eyes. The instant this lad opened his eyes, through the glimmers of his gaze, was a ray of Blade¡¯s Essence that felt similar to a surging flash of lightning. This gaze felt tense as there was a flash of lightning that swiftly approached Zhou Yan. At the same time, he noticed the compassionate and gentle look on Zhou Yan¡¯s elegant face. This face was familiar to the lad. However, the face looked slightly more arrogant and confident than he remembered. Thus, the tension and pressure that was exerted through his gaze gradually faded back into his normal, compassionate gaze. The tense and ferocious gaze that was present just mere moments ago had all faded into nothingness. ¡°Little Yan¡­ I didn¡¯t expect it to be you. It¡¯s really you¡­ all these years, have you¡­ have you been well?¡± mumbled Gu Yan with a heavy yet caring tone in his voice. ¡°Uncle Gu, I have been well, indeed. Rest your worries now,¡± said Zhou Yan as the young lad walked toward him, gently helping him to stand. Although his condition looked grim at this moment, his injuries were lighter than what Feng Lingqing sustained. Judging from the state of his condition, it seemed that his agony was only in intervals as opposed to a continuous series of agonizing torture. Hence, after observing the series of changes in Gu Yan¡¯s condition, Zhou Yan was relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. In recent years, the Gu family has fallen hard. Our family has never paid you a visit in all these years because we can¡¯t even enter the Zhou family¡¯s home anymore since we lost all positions of power. We are now left without status¡­ It¡¯s my fault¡­ your uncle is useless¡­ and the truth is, your uncle¡­ I know the struggles and sorrow you went through all these years in the Zhou family.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s heart was moved by the Gu Yan¡¯s words. In this world, some tried to pretend and hide their flaws, but eventually, their true colors would show, just like the Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan. Some only had to say little to show the utmost sincerity from deep within their bones, just like Gu Yan. Zhou Yan was no longer a child since he inherited some of the ancient sage¡¯s personality. This lad¡¯s perception was more sensitive than any normal folk. It was at this moment that he was able to sense the agonizing self-doubt and self-blame from within Gu Yan¡¯s heart. Hence, he was touched by the Gu Yan¡¯s genuine feelings. Any common folk who were refused entry by the Zhou family would obviously be displeased since they were still a Lord of their respective families. Although they were not as grand and powerful as the Zhou family, these people were not without any status and to have been completely rejected to the extent of not even be able to set foot through the main doors of the Zhou family¡­ However, through Gu Yan¡¯s statements, there was not even the slightest hint of blame toward the Zhou family. Instead¡­ it was an insurmountable amount of sincere, genuine feelings of regret. It was the regret of not being strong and powerful enough. Just by a couple sentences alone, Gu Yan¡¯s position within Zhou Yan¡¯s heart was firmer and higher than before. ¡°Uncle Gu regarding the matters of the Zhou family, the truth is, the Zhou family had, without doubt, wronged you. If I were blessed one day to be the Lord of the Zhou family, I promise you, this debacle will never be repeated ever again.¡± Zhou Yan avoided bringing up his matters. Thus he only stated his current position and status within the family. It was instead a subtle message to Gu Yan to inform the lad about the position he held in the Zhou family. Since he was unable to make any significant decisions on his own and indirectly reassuring Gu Yan that these matters were never related to him, hence he was never an ungrateful person. ¡°Yes, I understand the kind of friend I¡¯ve made. The only thing is, the direr the situation is, the more I worry about your father¡­ but now that I see you wearing this armor of spiritual affinity, it seems like they were not bold enough to cause that much sorrow and hardship onto you. Hence I may rest my worries.¡± It appeared that Gu Yan had misunderstood the whole situation. ¡°Father, this armor of spiritual affinity, truth be told, it was brother Zhou¡­ well, the family was absolutely cruel to brother Zhou¡­¡± Gu Xi was unable to hold back her emotions, hence she interrupted her father¡¯s statement. However, she only spilled the summarized gist of the whole situation that happened to Zhou Yan, indirectly explaining the relationship Zhou Yan shared with his family. ¡°Outrageous! How utterly outrageous. These people are all purebred b*stards. How could they not think? If it wasn¡¯t for brother Wangchen, their Zhou family would¡¯ve never been as glorious as they are today. These people are¡­¡± ¡°Sigh, Little Yan, your uncle¡¯s uselessness has caused you so much sorrow. I actually thought that I¡¯ve been watching over you in silence all these years. However, it turns out that you¡¯ve been through so much sorrow, and it¡¯s a shame that I had no clue what you had gone through!¡± It was obvious through Gu Yan¡¯s gaze that both his eyes were filled with remorse and guilt. All the hatred and anger that burned mere moments ago were extinguished, and all he was left with was an endless remorseful look in his eyes. The sorrow-filled look in the lad¡¯s eyes was akin to the wrinkles of a worm and burrowed deep within the depths of his wrinkles was an unfathomable deeply rooted pain and sadness. ¡°Uncle, have faith in me. Trust me. All will be well. Look at me now, don¡¯t I look healthy and well to you?¡± Zhou Yan gently patted Gu Yan¡¯s back, as it had been ages since the young lad had remotely felt the unconditional love and compassion of a father. It seemed that Gu Yan treated Zhou Yan as his own son, and even though the young lad felt these feelings as a child, they were never as genuine and deep compared to what he felt now. ¡°Alright, then. We shall not discuss this any further. Little Yan, since you¡¯re here now, you should head to town with Little Xi and perhaps by doing so, it shall put your mind at ease. The events that have happened in the past shall be left in the past, alright? ¡°When you¡¯re here, you don¡¯t have to feel like an outsider, Little Yan. Please, make yourself at home. We are merely a small family, and since we fell from grace, the people here will never judge an outsider, so what is ours is also yours,¡± explained Gu Yan caringly. ¡°I understand uncle. However, there is something you might be wrong about. It seems that the Gu family isn¡¯t as pure and simple as you¡¯d think,¡± said Zhou Yan seriously. At the same time, the agonizing pain in Gu Yan¡¯s expression earlier appeared to have slightly recovered. ¡°Hmm? Do explain Little Yan.¡± Gu Yan seemed slightly shocked. However, he truly believed everything that Zhou Yan said, and it did not matter how long it had been since he had seen this young lad. However, judging from what had happened to his father, it would be impossible for him to not place his full trust in Zhou Yan. His single question was seemingly able to sense that something unfortunate had happened to his own daughter, Gu Xi. ¡°We shall discuss this matter later. Uncle, who was the one who attacked you?¡± questioned Zhou Yan. Gu Yan let out a gentle sigh as he calmly explained, ¡°Although your uncle was just a person of low status, I was still your father¡¯s loyal personal guard. I was beside your father when he was conquering the lands, and an insurmountable amount of lives had fallen by my blade! It¡¯s only natural for others to seek me out for vengeance. Thus, how would I be able to know who was actually behind this attack? All I could do was fight whatever they had in store for me.¡± Upon hearing his uncle¡¯s explanation, Zhou Yan chuckled and said, ¡°I know you are a man of honor, uncle, and a bloody battle to the death has never fazed you. You are, in fact, just like my father. Your reputation and notoriety had such a powerful impact in this world, and to have been ambushed to such an extent, wouldn¡¯t you be glad to seek out the men for vengeance?¡± Gu Yan¡¯s face cracked a slight smile upon hearing Zhou Yan¡¯s statements. The lad replied, ¡°Indeed. I did think about it but, it did not matter who came for me as whoever dared to ambush me would only perish by my blade, but¡­ now, I¡¯ve been mortally wounded, and of course, it¡¯s natural for me to feel frustrated. However¡­ how can I possibly track that person down in my current condition?¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s expression grew serious upon hearing Gu Yan¡¯s statement. The young lad said, ¡°Although your physical state no longer allows you to avenge yourself, there are still plenty of people left in the Gu family that would be glad to do such a task for you, right?¡± ¡°Hehe, those people¡­ almost all of them had perished. The only people left in our Gu family are us¡­ the few old bones and some third-generation pupils.¡± Gu Yan closed his eyes as he spoke. Zhou Yan remained silent for a moment and said, ¡°Little Xi told me that this was all done by the Yang family?¡± ¡°Indeed, it was the Yang family. It was Yang Qingtan who attacked me, but I hold no ill will toward this man.¡± After a long while of contemplation, Gu Yan opened his eyes. Zhou Yan replied, ¡°Why not?¡± Gu Yan simply remained in silence and said nothing. ¡°Are you worried that if I were to cross blades with Yang Qingtan, I would be putting myself in a position of absolute danger?¡± sighed Zhou Yan. The young lad was not a fool. Thus, he could only conclude that. ¡°No¡­ Yang Qingtan faced me in a battle of honor. This lad has always been a man of principle. This man was never known to implore methods of leaving his victims in a state of agony without robbing them of their lives. Those were never his ways!¡± Gu Yan shook his head as he replied with a firm voice. Zhou Yan was puzzled. The young lad said, ¡°Uncle, after all, it was he who had harmed you to such an extent. Why are you still defending this man? I am confused.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand him. When I first crossed paths with him, he was still a boy,¡± said Gu Yan in a serious tone as he recalled his memories. ¡°Back then, I saw him in the rapid and violent waterfalls within the mountains of Heavenly Prophecies. He was fighting against the current, stubbornly attacking the upstream current. ¡°He was known as the abandoned and disgraced child of the Yang family back then¡­ ¡°He kept lunging upward on the rapid streams of the waterfall, over and over again with a broken, dull sword in his hands. ¡°It was back then that the determined look in his eyes touched me deeply! ¡°I can never forget about that look in his eyes even after all these years. That gaze was branded deeply into my soul. Nothing can erase that.¡± ¡°Back then, I told him that if he kept suppressing the natural potential of his body, he would be destroyed, and it will only end in a result of him being a useless piece of trash.¡± ¡°He was biting down on his lips so hard that streams of blood dripped down his mouth. This young lad did not even bother to look at me. He merely said, ¡®I am already known as the living trash of my family, and I was also exiled. Nothing can be worse than the predicament that I am currently in. Why does suppressing my body¡¯s potential result in destroying myself? Who gets to dictate that by doing so, it would never break the shackles of my true potential? I refuse to believe that I would only be a failure!¡¯ ¡°The raging current of the waterfall was as fast as lightning, and with the impact of the waves, even I, back then, would not be able to withstand more than a couple hourglass¡¯ cycle. That sheer force was one that was capable of breaking bones and severing tendons. It was ferocious and indomitable! ¡°Every time this young lad was impacted by the full force of the waterfall, he kept trying to reach higher, and every time, he would be forced down by the violent waves. ¡°There I stood, watching the young lad for two hourglasses¡¯ cycle of time, and this young lad had never once given up. However, he was also unable to succeed. His body, on the other hand, was already a bloody mess, and it was a painful sight to witness indeed. ¡°Spring had gone, and fall was approaching, but this young lad was still determined. Until one day, I didn¡¯t see him there. I had, in fact, saw him standing at the peak of the waterfall. ¡°His body was covered in a tattered mess of clothes and in his hand was a short, broken blade. However, he seemingly radiated the majestic aura of a legendary Blade¡¯s Emperor! ¡°A fifteen-year-old lad had completely broken through four realms, and this lad had awakened his Blade¡¯s Menace!¡± Chapter 27 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Throughout my life, since that incident, the only one that earned my respect besides your father, Zhou Wangchen, was the young lad. ¡°However, even though he was exiled, he was still part of the Yang family! The Yang family had always been on horrible terms with each other, and to have someone like that in their family, my bloodlust and intent to kill awoke on several occasions. Nonetheless, it was a shame that I was unable to pull through. ¡°It was because every time I was about to attack, I would picture his determined gaze. ¡°Whenever tragic moments plague a man¡¯s life, one¡¯s memories would significantly improve, as the more the effort goes into forgetting something, the harder it would be. ¡°Hence, as the young lad grew older, the only value worth admiring was that he never actually caused trouble for our Gu family. There were even several times in the past that this young lad helped out our Gu family. ¡°This time, however, there was a test of might between our family and the Yang family. He unleashed his attack and managed to strike me down with a single swing of his blade. However, he never took my life. I was instead harmed by someone else.¡± As Gu Yan explained the tales of his past, he indirectly told Zhou Yan the history of a man who shared similar experiences with him. ¡°This¡­ Yang Qingtan¡­ I never expected this seemingly silent and complacent young lad to have this much power in him. This explains why his Sword¡¯s Way of Indomitable Steel was this fast! However, based on his experience and everything this young lad had gone through, it seemed very similar to brother Zhou Yan¡¯s personal experience. It was only after brother Zhou Yan continuously suppressed his own potential did, he awaken his natural gifts,¡± lamented Gu Xi. As the young lass spoke, she glanced over at Zhou Yan. She felt her emotions toward this young lad just deepened. ¡°Huh? Little Yan, you are doing so as well¡­ that means all these years, you were tortured by the Zhou family?¡± As Gu Yan listened to his daughter¡¯s statement, his expression grew increasingly furious. He initially thought that it was only Zhou Yan¡¯s life that was sorrow-filled. However, he never expected the Zhou family to force Zhou Yan in suppressing his own body¡¯s potential, to the extent of actually harming himself! This was nothing the lad, Gu Yan, could bear to hear, as a malicious intent slowly boiled within his heart. It no longer mattered if the Zhou family belonged to Zhou Wangchen nor the fact that he had become literal useless trash. He was tempted to unleash his fury on Zhou Yan¡¯s behalf to get back what was rightfully his! ¡°Uncle Gu, about that, I will explain to you later in greater detail. You see, my current state isn¡¯t as dire and unfortunate as you think. ¡°As of now, whoever attacked you is still a mystery. Hence, I reckon we lay this matter to rest at the moment, and we shall stop our conversation for now. Regarding your injuries, I happen to know a way to heal you, so go on and sit down cross-legged, uncle, and let go of any resistance you might have. Allow me to infuse my blade¡¯s essence in your body¡¯s meridians.¡± After a brief moment of contemplation, Zhou Yan decided exactly what to do. The young lad knew¡­ that Yang Qingtan had shaken his uncle¡¯s soul, scarring it deeply. If his uncle could not overcome this mental trauma of this young lad¡­ he would be haunted by Yang Qingtan for the rest of his life. If Gu Yan had unleashed his bloodlust, Zhou Yan could feel the sudden constriction of his eyebrows, morphing his expression into a bitter look. Thus, it was obvious that each time this lad had mustered any sort of strong emotions, Zhou Yan was worried it might trigger some old wounds to hurt again. Initially, the young lad had only intended to heal Gu Yan. However, since they had been apart for so many years, the instant they were reunited, the young lad had plenty to say to Gu Yan. He wanted to share his joy and sadness with the people he cared about. That was how the young lad felt, and Gu Yan was no exception, as Gu Yan told Zhou Yan his darkest secrets. It was at this very moment that Gu Yan¡¯s injuries started hurting again. Hence, without any delay, Zhou Yan began healing him. ¡°Yes, I shall leave my life in your hands. I have lived this long, and it has been worth it. It¡¯s only a matter of time that I too will die, so don¡¯t hesitate. Do what you have to do!¡± said Gu Yan with pride. This scene was exactly the same as how Gu Xi trusted Zhou Yan before. Zhou Yan was slightly touched as Gu Xi was truly a chip off the old block and had inherited her father¡¯s pride. ¡­ Once again, nightfall approached. A cool fall¡¯s breeze blew as the sky was illuminated by a pale moon. Zhou Yan, Gu Yan, and Gu Xi were sitting in a shed. They were drinking and admiring the beauty of the twin moons in the night sky. They chatted about their past, present, and the progression of things with the current state of everything that occurred. A full day and night were spent on healing Gu Yan¡¯s wounds. Finally, after all that effort, Zhou Yan exhausted thirty mid-tier spirit crystals to fully heal his injuries. In addition to that, Zhou Yan had drunk two full jugs of the Burning Blade¡¯s Soul Ale. With that, he felt that based on his current progression, he was extremely close to finally ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. However, it seemed that he still lacked some power to break through his current realm. Zhou Yan had actually thought about infusing the spirit crystals to ascend and break through the current realm he was in. However, he also thought about the benefits it would bring if he awoke his Blade¡¯s Menace in a lower realm. Hence, he held back his progress. If he was able to awake his Blade¡¯s Menace in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal, the benefits it would reap for his future would be unimaginable! This was stated in the ¡®Manuscripts of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade.¡¯ In the manuscript, it was not purely inscribed with the teachings of the sword skill. Instead, Zhou Yan was able to grasp a series of common knowledge and everything in between, such as the different standards of a scholar of the Sword¡¯s Way, the Blade¡¯s Core of Pure Frost, Pure Yang, Indomitable Steel, Ancient Arts, Chaos and many more. Between the time Zhou Yan was done healing Gu Yan, and the time Gu Yan spent on self-recovery, he managed to read through the manuscript once more, and coincidentally, he saw the page. Hence, the young lad willed himself to hold back his tempting feelings to progress further. At this very moment, in the courtyard, Zhou Yan could only smile at the newly revitalized Gu Yan. As Gu Yan completely recovered from his injuries, he did not have a single care in the world and was adamant on inviting Zhou Yan for a drink and to have fun. Gu Yan also invited Gu Xi for her company. Zhou Yan felt that this man was hinting at the idea of taking the hand of his daughter in marriage. Normally, Zhou Yan would take up Gu Yan¡¯s offer. However, after the young lad had drunk the Burning Blade¡¯s Soul Ale, any other common ale no longer had any effect on him. Nothing could excite the young lad¡¯s palate, as the ordinary ale tasted as bland and tasteless as water. ¡­ ¡°Little Yan, I am serious. Although the Yang family was the one responsible for this attack, they never harbored any ill intent. Since the Yang family is represented by Yang Qingtan, he wouldn¡¯t commit such an atrocious act. He is also in a position of great power in the Yang family. Thus, there is no way anyone in his family would do something of this caliber behind his back. ¡°Hence, if you thought about helping your uncle, please don¡¯t harm the Yang family, alright?¡± It was almost as if Gu Yan understood how Zhou Yan felt and what he was thinking about. Hence, his reminder to him. ¡°I understand, uncle. This has been the third time you¡¯ve reminded me already. From what you¡¯ve told me, I am, in fact, a little curious who exactly this Yan Qingtan is, to be held in such high regard and praise by you,¡± replied Zhou Yan with a bitter smile. ¡°Hmm, you will come to appreciate and value each other when you¡¯ve befriended this young lad,¡± said Gu Yan frankly. ¡°Indeed. I, too, am looking forward to meeting this man whose power exceeds four realms. I also anticipate being enlightened by his aptitude as he managed to awaken his Blade¡¯s Menace,¡± said Zhou Yan casually. This realm that was governed by way of the sword was split into five different realms. They were the swordsmen, the Blade¡¯s Cardinal, the Blade¡¯s Essence, the Blade¡¯s Enforcer, and the Blade¡¯s Menace! A limitless and exceedingly higher realm existed after the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, and that realm was known as the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart! Powers that exceeded four major realms that awakened the Blade¡¯s Menace simply meant that this young lad, Yang Qingtan, had awakened his Blade¡¯s Menace before he reached the peak of a rank three swordsman! If that young lad was able to awaken his Blade¡¯s Menace in that realm, Zhou Yan was confident that he would be able to awaken his Blade¡¯s Menace as he was already in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal! This was indeed a major boost in confidence. If other folks were able to achieve such a feat, why would he be an exception? ¡°Well, the thing is¡­ Little Yan, you must mentally be ready, although it¡¯s no secret that your current natural gifts are indeed amazing. However, awakening one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace isn¡¯t an easy task. Even by your father¡¯s standards back then, it was incredibly difficult. Hence, the feat Yang Qingtan showed, which was his ability to awaken his Blade¡¯s Menace, was without the doubt the first person to do so in history! ¡°Give yourself five years Little Yan. If you can awaken your Blade¡¯s Menace in five years, you will be extremely lucky!¡± What Gu Yan said harbored no ill intention to look down on Zhou Yan¡¯s ability. He knew from the moment Zhou Yan awakened his natural gifts that his potential far exceeded his father¡¯s. It was due to that fact alone that he made that statement. Anyone who never tried awakening their Blade¡¯s Menace would never know how arduous, intricate, and deep this task was. Only those with the strongest will, impeccable perception, natural gifts, and incredible knowledge of the inner workings and detail of the Sword¡¯s Way and, most importantly, the undying devotion to walk the path of the sword would be able to awaken one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace! Before one ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, one should rid one¡¯s mind of inventing one¡¯s own Sword¡¯s Way. This act would destroy whatever foundation one had built, hence, knowing this would be the most important detail. However, Gu Yan never said a word about this. It was because revealing this detail would render useless to the lad. It would instead result in destroying everything due to one¡¯s haste. To any scholar of the Sword¡¯s Way, if the foundation itself was not firm or strong, one should never harbor the intention of building or inventing one¡¯s Sword¡¯s Way, because this act alone was an act of self-destruction. It was all regarding what Gu Yan thought to himself when he made that statement earlier. In terms of normal folk, it was common for anyone to think about awakening one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace at a rank three Blade¡¯s Cardinal. However, it was also normal for the majority of the common folk to give up and bail on this quest! If any of his future heirs had thought the same, this lad assumed he would have stood up and graced those younglings with several tight slaps across their faces. However, Zhou Yan was different. Similar to Yang Qingtan, the usual and logical method could never be applied. Hence, his statement of giving the young lad five years was the result of his blunt and direct inference. The statements Gu Yan made to Zhou Yan seemingly caused him to lament a little. Gu Yan was known for his keen eye and impeccable perception of people. However, this alone was not enough, and it was because there was still so much he did not understand about this young lad. He had no clue about his strong, indescribably limitless and powerful soul the young lad possessed, and he had less of a clue about the mutated Qi Column Zhou Yan had. Its volume was six-folds more than any common-folk. If Gu Yan knew these facts, he would never have made such a lengthy five-year statement. Five years? If he had not ascended to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace in a year, his entire life would have been wasted. What else could he possibly still discuss about? Could Gu Yan had not known about such a matter? Feeling slightly puzzled, it was also at this moment that Gu Xi awkwardly spoke up. ¡°What do you mean five years, father? My master told me to do everything I can in my power regardless of the methods to ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before I¡¯ve reached sixteen years of age, or else any natural gifts I possessed would¡¯ve been wasted. ¡°Only the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace is truly viewed as a high degree of honor. If one failed to ascend to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before the age of sixteen, then the realms of the Sword¡¯s Way would be extremely limited for the entire lifetime.¡± ¡°Huh? Is there such a saying?¡± Gu Yan was shocked. ¡°Yes, indeed. This is exactly why I¡¯m facing immense pressure, but the good thing is, I¡¯m currently within the third rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, so I¡¯ll only need to progress one more rank, and my master would help me accumulate as many Blade¡¯s Enforcers, to overcome the restrictions within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer. However, I would need to ascend to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace,¡± explained Gu Xi. ¡°Blade¡¯s Menace, awakening one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace¡­ sigh, never did I expect that something I assumed to be incredibly difficult to achieve would be a requirement for any major sect. Back then, even when I traveled across the major southern continent, I never heard of such news. It is indeed odd to me.¡± Gu Yan felt slightly remorseful. ¡­ Chapter 28 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The entire mood lightened as their conversation carried on. Using this opportunity, Zhou Yan decided to question Gu Yan about his father¡¯s past. Without hiding any details, Gu Yan told the young lad all of his father¡¯s impressive accomplishments. It was through the spoken words of Gu Yan did Zhou Yan learn that the peak of his father¡¯s powers was within the realm of a third rank, which was Blade¡¯s Menace. The realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace was an incredibly difficult realm to enter. It did not matter how fast one¡¯s progress was and how talented or gifted they were before they managed to reach the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. It was common for anyone¡¯s growth to throttle to a crawl when one had entered the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. The speed of one¡¯s training would be significantly slower, and the task of filling the entire volume of one¡¯s Qi Column was no longer a simple task that would only take a short couple of years to accomplish. The magnitude of the difficulty was to the extent that even for major sects who possessed more than enough resources would still undergo the same thing. Upon reaching this realm, the spirit crystals and pills will no longer be enough to fill the volume within this realm. Thus, Gu Yan was no exception. More than a decade ago, Gu Yan had ascended into the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. However, due to the regression of his training, the lad was demoted to a rank three Blade¡¯s Enforcer. Even till this very day, the lad remained within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer and had not recovered much progress. An important thing to note was that even if one managed to ascend to the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, upon demotion, one would still find the task of re-ascension excruciating. Thus, Gu Yan had not yet recovered his progress. After everything the young lad had been through, Zhou Yan was interested to know more about the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. The young lad was increasingly excited to reach this realm. The young lad thought to himself that due to the incredible combat prowess he had, the instant he successfully ascended to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, he no longer would bow his head in shame in Cang Lan City. Till then, he would be powerful enough to defeat anyone who dared stand in his way. Zhou Yan was thinking hard on everything Gu Yan and Gu Xi had said earlier. However, the young lad¡¯s expression suddenly dimmed as his sharp gaze glanced over into the direction of the dark shroud of night. As both Gu Yan and Gu Xi were having a delightful heart to heart conversation, the duo had not noticed this scene. It was only after Zhou Yan¡¯s erratic movements that startled the pair that they glanced over toward his direction. A man of short stature in a black robe stood somewhat in the distance. Judging from the man¡¯s looks, it was, in fact, a young lad. Although this young lad was not too old, he had grown a full clean beard. Even though his clothes were luxurious and fancy, the look on this young lad¡¯s face was grim and menacing. The young lad hid in the shroud of darkness as if assuming not a single soul would have noticed his presence. He was paying close attention to the conversation the trio were having. He thought that since these people were extremely focused on having a heart to heart conversation, it would be impossible for anyone to notice his presence. However, never did the young lad expect that the instant this thought sprouted in his mind, he had been immediately discovered. In addition to that, based on his combat prowess, his skills were the weakest among the trio. In the light of Zhou Yan¡¯s sharp gaze, this young lad¡¯s face resembled a viper¡¯s gaze, flickering in the dark. However, he was no fool, as he never unleashed any of his attacks. He simply turned around and morphed into a glimmering Blade¡¯s Light. He then took off into space, fleeing the scene. Judging from the looks of things, it seemed he failed to collect any information he was searching for. However, before Zhou Yan had a chance to unleash his attacks, Gu Xi, who was standing at the corner, suddenly clapped her hands, and a ray of Blade¡¯s Light was unleashed. The ferocity of this single ray was equivalent to a whole mountain range, as it enveloped the sky and went straight for that young lad. Zhou Yan was unable to sense the actual skills of this young lad, but upon comparison, he was at the lowest rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer. Since Gu Xi was merely a third rank Blade¡¯s Essence, Zhou Yan was worried that she was no match for this young lad. Hence without a single thought, Silver Frost that hung behind Zhou Yan¡¯s back flew out in an instant. He was worried that Gu Xi would be wounded by this man since she was no match for him. The next scene, after that, stunned Zhou Yan. It was the first time in his life to be absolutely shocked by the methods of a lass. Zhou Yan noticed Gu Xi¡¯s beautiful, long, dark, and flowing hair fluttered violently in the wind as god-like prismatic rays of light raged out of her body. At the same time, her pale white hands grabbed at the air around her, and they instantly cleanly pierced through with a sword that was equivalent to an entire mountain range. That mountain range also morphed into an infinite amount of frost blades, and without a second of hesitation, she sealed this young lad in a spiritual ice shell. The moment the ice sealed away this man, cracks formed on the surface of the ice, crushing the man inside alive as violent streams of blood dripped from his body. At the same time, both the young lad¡¯s knees instantly formed cracks, as if at any random moment, his knees would be completely shattered, and fall into a bloody mess. This very method the young lass performed on this man was swift and ruthless. If he had not seen it with his eyes, Zhou Yan would be unable to imagine this gentle, elegant and adorable young maiden was capable of murder to such an extent. Even though he did witness Gu Xi murder those four men earlier, this scene alone far exceeded its ferocity. ¡°How are you this powerful Little Xi? You¡¯re actually capable of sealing away a powerful foe who resides within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace?¡± Gu Yan was shocked. It was as if he had seen his own daughter for the very first time in his life. ¡°Father, brother Zhou Yan, this is a hidden artifact that was given to me by my master. It¡¯s only capable of being unleashed several times, and this power doesn¡¯t belong to me. Judging from this sneaky cunning man, I assumed that he was capable and powerful. Hence, I did not hesitate to use this artifact to defeat him,¡± explained Gu Xi in a casual manner. To possess such a powerful artifact and to use it at this time, this alone spoke volumes about how powerful this artifact was! This point alone was enough for Zhou Yan to highly praise this young lass. Hence, his perspective toward her sparked even more feelings of love and admiration. ¡°Hmm¡­ it seems that I am completely shocked to death. Never have I expected my daughter to be this elegant and confident. My dear Little Yan, you are truly blessed now!¡± As Gu Yan spoke, he chuckled merrily. ¡°You¡¯re bullying your daughter again, father!¡± replied Gu Xi in a coquettish manner. As the young maiden spoke, her watery bright eyes stared intently at Zhou Yan. The young lad was slightly nervous about being stared down in such a manner. Hence, he nervously rubbed his nose, pretending to not notice her. Judging from how the situation progressed, Zhou Yan was worried that if he had shown even the slightest hint of interest toward her, Gu Yan would undoubtedly shove both of them in a room and encourage them to ¡®copulate.¡¯ Of course, the young lad, Zhou Yan, would very much enjoy this. However, he was not yet sixteen, and the ¡®Manuscripts of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade¡¯ had clearly advised against breaking the pact of chastity before the age of sixteen regardless of gender. Else, it would result in plenty of limitations and obstacles in the future. The law of nature in the elements of Yin and Yang had such detailed explanations regarding this matter. Of course, the young lad did not comment on anything as he simply pretended to act as naive as possible. Gu Xi was no fool, as with a single wink of Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes, she blushed slightly as her heart was pure and beautiful. Hence, she decided to change the topic altogether. She spoke to the young lad who had been beaten into complete submission by her earlier. ¡°Although I feel that you are not a good soul, I do not wish to murder an innocent man. Speak now and state your purpose of being here.¡± ¡°Lady Gu, I was merely passing through, honestly just passing through¡­ Of course, I would also want to know if the health of Lord Gu has improved, merely out of curiosity, nothing else. I was oblivious to the true prowess of Lady Gu. Why else would I retreat?¡± As this young lad spoke, he ultimately withdrew the sinister intent he had as he was now pretending to be as naive as possible. Gu Xi nodded and replied in a serious tone, ¡°If that was true, then so be it. Since our Gu family had indeed fallen from grace, this does not mean that anyone can just wander into our humble home. Your actions justified your arrogance as you never thought of our family as a threat. Tell me, do you repent your sins?¡± Upon hearing this reply, the young lad was unsure of how he should react. He simply replied, ¡°Lady Gu, with all due respect, I had been mortally wounded by your grace. I have lost all sensation of the lower half of my body. I, as a rank one Blade¡¯s Menace scholar, had been trounced by your hands, and this is a shameful testament to me¡­ Here¡¯s the thing. To show remorse for my actions, I have some training resources on me, if Lady Gu wouldn¡¯t mind taking a look. I would be more than happy to hand you everything.¡± It seemed that the young lad understood the dire situation he was in, and thus, without hesitation, he was ready to cut his losses. Gu Xi¡¯s expression was still emotionless and cold. However, upon hearing the young lad¡¯s statements, her intent to kill had faded away. She spoke in a deep and solemn tone. ¡°I cannot undo your seal now, but you may toss over your ring, which contains all the resources that you speak of. Let me be the judge of how sincere you actually are.¡± The young lad¡¯s face had a subtle sinister expression as he struggled to remove the ring from his finger then tossed it over to Gu Xi. With a single chilling Blade¡¯s Menace, the ring immediately fell onto Gu Xi¡¯s palm. The instant she turned around, that chilling and emotionless expression faded back into her cheerful and adorable demeanor. She stared at Zhou Yan with her huge eyes as she placed that ring onto Zhou Yan¡¯s palm and said, ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, help me judge how sincere this man really is.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Without saying a word, Zhou Yan reached out to pinch her tender, soft white cheeks before accepting that ring from her. The instant the young lad witnessed this scene, a flash of sinister hatred flashed across that lad¡¯s face. This scene was swift, as the lad was able to keep his emotions hidden. However, Zhou Yan could clearly sense his feelings. The young lad had pure, sinister bloodlust. Emotions that strong would be impossible for Zhou Yan not to sense. However, Zhou Yan never responded as he knew that this young lass, Gu Xi, had contingencies and methods of her own since she was not as weak and frail as everyone assumed. Anyone who dared underestimate her real powers, even for Zhou Yan, would be at a significant disadvantage. ¡°Yes, the resources are indeed not bad. It contains plenty of mid-tier Spirit Crystals. Eighteen to be exact, and there¡¯s even one top-tier Spirit Crystal. Not bad at all.¡± Zhou Yan simply spent a brief moment to sense the contents within the ring. Although, in any normal circumstances, the contents within the Infinite Spatial Ring would be undetectable. However, if the owner¡¯s spiritual seal was undone, anyone would be able to sense the contents within the ring. Since it was being given by its owner willingly, the seal on the ring would have naturally been undone. ¡°It seems that you are truly sincere, and now I have to hold up my end of the bargain. However, how can I make sure that you won¡¯t retaliate the moment I release these seals or even attempt to steal everything you had given to us since you are aware that I¡¯m only able to unleash the powers of the artifact once?¡± As Gu Xi spoke, her eyebrows were subtly raised. It appeared that she was also plotting something. Chapter 29 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She had a focused and profound look of contemplation on her face. Along with her elegance and charming persona, she had a very fit yet attractive body that showed off her full and soft perky mounds. Her current state made her even more uniquely stunning than she already was. A sinister glare flashed across the young lad¡¯s eyes as there were hints of insane burning lust within his eyes as his gaze was fixated on a particular area on Gu Xi¡¯s body. However, it was very well hidden. He said, ¡°Based on my status, the realm I¡¯m currently in, my Sword¡¯s Way and Blade¡¯s Menace, I don¡¯t think I would even be remotely capable of doing so, right? The instant Lady Gu can ever so gracefully release this seal, I swear I will heavily repay your everlasting mercy in future!¡± That lad¡¯s tone was firm and weighted, but it seemed that this lad truly meant what he said. ¡°Besides, even without the use of the said artifact, Lord Gu¡¯s strength and powers have massively recovered, and Lady Gu¡¯s powers were undeniably powerful. In addition to me being mortally wounded, I am not confident that I¡¯ll even be a match for all of you. Also, it¡¯s uncertain if Lady Gu¡¯s artifact was only able to be used once. If that was the only artifact in Lady Gu¡¯s possession in unfavorable situations like these, think for a second Lady Gu, what could possibly prompt me to attack?¡± That lad was seemingly able to sense the hesitation in Gu Xi¡¯s mind. Hence, he immediately made such a statement. It seemed that this man¡¯s tongue was as sweet as a blooming lotus flower. He had a talent in spinning words. With a couple of statements, he was able to make himself appear the least threatening, thus, causing everyone to drop their guards. After a brief moment of contemplation, Gu Xi nodded and said, ¡°Indeed, the words you¡¯ve spoken do hold some truths. Alright, I shall release you after you¡¯ve answered some of my questions.¡± Upon hearing Gu Xi¡¯s reply, the young lad grew increasingly impatient. However, he forced himself to muster every ounce of will to appear patient. ¡°What would you like to know then?¡± said the lad softly. Gu Xi replied, ¡°Who are you? You are not local to the City of Heavenly Prophecies I presumed, so tell me, where are you from?¡± ¡°I hail from the Yang family, so I am, in fact, local to the City of Heavenly Prophecies. Regarding my name, though, please grace me the mercy of not forcing me into a corner, my Lady.¡± The dissatisfaction the young lad felt finally showed on his face. ¡°Lies. You are not from the Yang family. Are you from the Zhou family that was local to Cang Lan City? Do you intend to capture my father and to force him to be made into the raw training materials for the ¡®Blade¡¯s Heart¡¯? Did you mean to capture me as well, so that I can be made into a spiritual Cauldron?¡± Gu Xi was incredibly calm as she made those statements. The instant those statements were made, that man¡¯s entire expression changed drastically. However, he was still able to force a smile. The young lad said, ¡°What¡­ Spiritual Cauldron of the Zhou family? I do not quite understand what my Lady meant, perhaps there are some misunderstandings?¡± Gu Xi scoffed and said, ¡°It seems that you will not admit to my accusations, right? So be it, but do tell me one thing, when I went out before all of this¡­ just last night, while I was out, there was a man who I murdered and was in fact in a similar situation just as you. That man used the Yang family¡¯s name to gather information.¡± Upon hearing Gu Xi¡¯s reply, the lad¡¯s face morphed into a horrified look, the look of pure terror and fear. He said, ¡°You, you are actually the heiress of the Frosted Blade, Gu Xi? You, you, you¡­ good, since I¡¯ve run into you now, then, I¡­ I have¡­¡± The very instant this lad spoke the word ¡®have,¡¯ his entire face turned into a purplish as if he was voided of life. Gu Xi¡¯s glare changed as if with an instant, a fierce ray of Blade¡¯s Essence had been unleashed, and it morphed into a single beam of chilling ice as she had no intention of sealing away this man¡¯s fleeting life. His sinister grim and wolf-like gaze dimmed, and his eyes rolled back instantly. As the lad¡¯s face became a dark tone of purple, the edge of his mouth cracked open into a sinister evil grin. Both his eyes were inhumanly lifeless and pale. Similar to dead fish, his eyes were inflated and popped out of their sockets. Even to such an extent, this young lad was not dead yet. His stares were still focused on Gu Xi. He said, ¡°The spiritual cauldron that my master handpicked has never once slipped away. There is nothing in this world my master can¡¯t get. What is it that you¡¯ll do even if I¡¯ve told you everything? Heheheh¡­¡± The young lad let out a bizarre, coarse laugh, and his voice sounded like a broken gong. However, everyone present was still able to clearly hear what he said. The instant he finished that statement, the man¡¯s head snapped into an angular position as it fell to the very ground beneath his feet. Cracks appeared on the lad¡¯s body in segments, as each of these cracks resembled tiny, tadpole-like, dark flakes of a Blade¡¯s Core while emanating a rancid smell. This essence alone had seemingly polluted and tainted the pure, snow-white Blade¡¯s Essence of Pure Frost. Judging from how it looked, it was undeniably sinister and odd in nature. As Gu Xi witnessed this scene, she lightly sighed in slight disappointment, as she was unable to gather any information from this man, especially in front of her brother, Zhou Yan. She was also dissatisfied as she was unable to perform better than usual. However, she had only paid attention to half of what that man had said. To survive in this world, trouble would often come for everyone. If one was troubled and affected by the spoken words of the opponent, one could be unworthy of becoming a scholar of the Sword¡¯s Way. The only word that caught her attention was the word ¡®Master¡¯ spoken by that man. ¡­ Zhou Yan was unable to control his laughter upon witnessing Gu Xi¡¯s confused look. ¡°Are you laughing at me, brother Zhou Yan?¡± replied Gu Xi in a coquettish and slightly playful manner. If her father was not present at this moment, she would have flirted with Zhou Yan already. However, this act would usually be shown to the people closest to her. Thus, she had actually allowed Zhou Yan to enjoy this side of her. He was unable to pinpoint the exact reason, but this young lass who was known for her cold disposition to be flirting with him sparked some very intense flames of lust in his heart. It seemed that in terms of romantic feelings, he was already unable to resist this temptation. ¡®Could this possibly be the result of the body¡¯s changes during puberty?¡¯ questioned Zhou Yan to himself. ¡°No, no, nothing like that. Who dares to laugh at you? As your brother, I will teach these people a lesson of respect!¡± replied Zhou Yan in a serious yet joking manner. ¡°Indeed. Who would dare to laugh at my daughter? It seemed that these people were bored with life already.¡± Gu Yan replied with a teasing look on his face. ¡°You guys¡­ aren¡¯t you guys admitting to laughing at me now? You guys are awful!¡± replied Gu Xi as she stomped her feet. ¡­ The greenish ale was poured into a white ceramic cup. It was symbolic of a teasing heart of jade. Two crescent moons seemingly decorated with jade hung at the edge of the sky, emanating a soft, gentle, and comforting radiant light. Under the shroud of night and beside the pavilion, Gu Xi was blushing as her father seemingly nagged her. However, nothing was getting through to her. The waters in the clear springs were flowing as the cool breeze blew, causing a tiny wave on the surface of the water beside the pavilion. ¡°Sigh¡­ Lil¡¯ Yan was merely spectating your sword skill and even pointed out the flaws in your sword skill. Weren¡¯t you saying how you wanted to show off that Blade¡¯s Essence of Pure Frost? Look at how drunk you are right now, and you still want to show him? Look at you. You¡¯ve managed to embarrass yourself, right?¡± teased Gu Yan. ¡°Oh, you dare to speak to me, father! It was your fault to insist I drink more than my share! Are you happy now, watching your own daughter embarrass herself?¡± The flushed red cheeks on Gu Xi¡¯s face had not faded away. Instead, it was now a lot redder. Her face was as red as a ripe apple. ¡°A girl should only sometimes act foolishly in front of a boy, alright? Most men are not attracted to strong and independent women, you, only you never exactly had put in much effort in such a field . However, that alone was also your best quality.¡± Said Gu Yan compassionately. ¡°Father¡­ all I wanted to do was to stop pretending to be someone I¡¯m not. I just wanted brother Zhou Yan to worry less about me. A woman would fail to be one if she was unable to provide any form of reassurance to her man.¡± Gu Xi was persistent. ¡°Alright then, perhaps father had been overthinking¡­ your natural gifts, Lil¡¯ Yan was undeniably incredible. That sword skill you¡¯ve demonstrated earlier while being thoroughly intoxicated, from how I see it, was exceedingly powerful. However, with a single glance, Lil¡¯ Yan, you were able to point out eight significant flaws in her sword skill, which means, you are in a state of complete enlightenment¡­ this natural gift is truly amazing! ¡°Lil¡¯ Xi, father, would still nag you about the same thing. If you genuinely desire something, you will need to depend on your hard work and your freedom. You¡¯ve told me about the circumstances that Lil¡¯ Yan was facing, and I am very aware of how much this young lad has to shoulder, so you should be an understanding woman and give him all the support.¡± ¡°Father, I have never once forgotten about the dire state our family had gone through. If it wasn¡¯t for Uncle Wangchen, I would have never been the way I am now. Hence, I will support him!¡± replied Gu Xi with a serious tone. ¡°Indeed. You knowing that is what reassures me. I am glad indeed,¡± Gu Yan gave a satisfied nod. ¡­ The hidden chambers of the forbidden grounds. Their return to the hidden chambers once again was not due to Gu Yan¡¯s injuries resurfacing. It was, on the other hand, because Zhou Yan was able to clearly point out the major flaws of Gu Xi¡¯s sword skill as she attempted to teach Zhou Yan the top tier sword skill of the frost while still drunk. Hence, Zhou Yan felt that this sword skill was able to be incorporated within the Sword Art of The Formless, Dragon¡¯s Blade. With this single thought, Zhou Yan was able to enter a state of pure enlightenment. However, this time, the young lad was unhappy. Being enlightened would once again bestow incredible waves of energy to his body. By absorbing such vast volumes of energy, it would result in another mutation to his Qi Column, thus progressing further into the next realm. Nonetheless, before the young lad awakened his Blade¡¯s Menace, he was unwilling to progress further. Hence, the mutations other folks desperately hoped for was instead not just unwilling, but he would very much love to abandon this incredibly fast progress. Both Gu Xi and Gu Yan noticed the young lad¡¯s expression, and in that very instant, they lamented, as if it had taken a massive blow to their morale¡­ As he recovered, the young lad calmed his heart and proceeded to contemplate the skill that was bestowed by the ancient sage, capable of spatial destruction itself¡­ the first form of the Art of The Formless Fist¡­The Form of The Dragon. ¡®Since time immemorial, I have transcended the limitations of my soul, and through that, I¡¯ve gained complete mastery over my pure form. ¡®The true form shows when a dragon takes flight. As the dragon soars through the skies, it morphs into the cries of blades in the air¡­ ¡®Silver Frost, could you tell me what exactly would the Blade¡¯s Menace be? Was it the forging of one¡¯s will, or was it the power of one¡¯s soul?¡¯ mumbled Zhou Yan to himself. After a long while, his frustration forced him out of the puzzling thoughts. Hence, the young lad stopped contemplating the Sword¡¯s Way and proceeded to ask Silver Frost about it. The instant Silver Frost heard Zhou Yan¡¯s voice, a swift buzzing sound echoed as the blade flew out. It flew around Zhou Yan¡¯s body, spiraling continuously and finally morphed into a specter that resembled Feng Lingqing. However, this specter was significantly smaller than her. Although Zhou Yan was unable to perceive the spectral form, he was able to sense its presence. This was an odd feeling for the young lad. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, Lil¡¯ Frost do not know what this ¡®Blade¡¯s Menace¡¯ is, but I can show it to you.¡± The Blade¡¯s Specter of Silver Frost resembled a thirteen to a fourteen-year-old young girl. Her eyes were huge, and she looked extremely adorable. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart quivered as the thought of nine out of ten Blade¡¯s Specter was made by the purest souls of young lassies crossed his mind the instant he sensed the appearance of this Blade¡¯s Specter. This Lil¡¯ Frost¡­ was possibly made by a kidnapped child¡¯s soul, right? Zhou Yan was slightly reluctant to ask her about it. Still, the young lad was worried about reminding her of some painful memories¡­ or perhaps after being made into a Blade¡¯s Specter, her life before was entirely forgotten by her? Zhou Yan, however, dared not remind her of those sad and painful memories of her past. Chapter 30 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I am actually able to sense your presence?¡± Zhou Yan said in a surprised tone. ¡°Yes indeed, brother Zhou Yan, within your body was the Blade¡¯s Essence of Infinity, besides I, lil¡¯ Frost is now currently brother Zhou Yan¡¯s main sword and as long as your soul is powerful enough you will have no problem sensing my presence.¡± Lil¡¯ Frost explained. It was only at this moment, Zhou Yan finally came to understand how Feng Lingqing was able to understand everything that had happened after talking to Silver Frost. To be in possession of a Blade¡¯s spectre this unique, it seemed to record every event that had ever happened within the confines of a newly created Blade¡¯s Realm would be an astoundingly easy task. At this very moment, the young lad felt a strong surge of new emotions, a single sword, a single sword of life actually had its own personalized sentience! ¡°Since you are my temporary main sword, why do you address me as brother Zhou Yan and not master?¡± Zhou Yan finally spoke his curious mind. ¡°That was all because, in the entirety of my lifespan, the only master I have is Master Feng Lingqing.¡± ¡°Besides, I truly love you from the bottom of my heart, and after noticing how much you enjoyed being called brother Zhou Yan by Gu Xi, it¡¯s only natural for me to¡­address you as such, so do you like it?¡± Lil Frost proceeded to explain, as her expression was slightly nervous when she spoke. Staring at such an adorable sight, it was only natural for Zhou Yan to absolutely adore her. ¡°So it seems that was the reason. Of course I loved being addressed as ¡®brother Zhou Yan¡¯ by you, I also do very much love my Blade¡¯s Spectre little sister as well.¡± Zhou Yan spoke in a compassionate tone. At this very moment, the young lad had stopped perceiving a sword as an object, instead he treated it as a sentient lifeform, hence he had grown to respect it¡¯s life. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re the best!¡± Lil¡¯ Frost was ecstatic as the blade¡¯s body danced around the room and cheered merrily. It¡¯s call sounded as charming as a nightingale. Such charming cheers, could this possibly be the cries of a blade? Zhou Yan was completely perplexed. ¡­ ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, lil¡¯ Frost, I don¡¯t know what this ¡®Blade¡¯s Menace¡¯ is, but as a Blade¡¯s Spectre, I am able to unleash the Blade¡¯s Menace, brother Zhou Yan, you may try to feel it¡¯s power.¡± ¡°Alright, then go ahead and try, I would love to feel the power of the Blade¡¯s Menace.¡± Zhou Yan nodded as he focused his mind, even though the Blade¡¯s Menace was sealed within the hand carved effigy, however, when the young lad was being hunted by the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace and her people, the instant he unleashed the sealed Blade¡¯s Menace, he could not sense a thing. The only that was left behind were the three Blade¡¯s Spectre that had been sealed within Sorrow¡¯s Breaker when the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace repaired the blade; everything else was completely erased. ¡­ Hence, even till this very day, the young lad had never experienced how the Blade¡¯s Menace felt like. Not to mention, this young lad would never even come close to having an opportunity of manifesting a Blade¡¯s Spectre of his own. Hence, the young lad was extremely excited at this moment. After receiving the young lad¡¯s orders, lil¡¯ Frost proceeded to focus her mind while she carefully stood beside Zhou Yan, after doing so, both her eyes sprung open revealing her huge wide eyes, as two blinding rays of light that was as bright as the sun were unleashed out of her eyes. Instantly, both ray of Blade¡¯s light shot directly at Zhou Yan that were as fast as lightning, and before Zhou Yan could even react, he could feel the aftershock that was reverberating throughout his entire body, causing the lad to instantly cough out puddles of blood! He felt two rays of Blade¡¯s Light pierced through his soul, the impact was enough to murder his very own soul. In the deepest depth of the young lad¡¯s heart, a heavy omen of death could be felt coming from within! However, with his unbending will alone, he suppressed these intense and morbid feelings of soul destruction and the grim feelings of death.Thus, the young lad took a deep breath and struggled to sit down. ¡°Ah¡­Brother Zhou Yan¡­you, are you alright¡­¡± Lil¡¯ Frost was completely horrified, since Zhou Yan¡¯s soul had been shred to pieces, she was extremely frantic at the moment. Suddenly, Zhou Yan was unable to sense lil¡¯ Frost¡¯s presence, however, the instant he was about to crumble, he was able to hear the panic from lil¡¯ Frost¡¯s voice. Zhou Yan cracked a bitter smile, since this naive child had only unleashed one tenth of her Blade¡¯s Menace and just from that alone, had almost killed him. This¡­this was beyond the realm of imagination. Zhou Yan had finally understood why exactly he felt immense pressure whenever he was faced with terrifyingly powerful foes. That was the pressure that had been exerted by the raw Blade¡¯s Menace! This Blade¡¯s Menace was truly terrifying! As the young lad reflected upon everything, he proceeded to take out a piece of Spirit Crystals as he got ready to recover from the injuries he had sustained, However, at this moment a flash could seen coming out from a void, Feng Lingqing flew out and had appeared next to Zhou Yan¡¯s side while frantically saying,, ¡°Are you alright Zhou Yan? Silver Frost went a little too far, since her mind is similar to a seven or eight year old child¡­you¡¯ll need to be careful alright!¡± Feng Lingqing who had rushed out in a frantic state let out a huge sigh of relief upon noticing that Zhou Yan¡¯s life was not in danger. However, it seemed the young lass had rushed out in a hurry as the edge of her mouth had streaks of blood, and upon noticing that, Zhou Yan knew she had forced herself out in a state of utmost urgency. The young lad felt a slight warm feeling in his heart. Thus he remorsefully said, ¡°I¡¯ve been careless, all I wanted was to awaken my Blade¡¯s Menace earlier, I didn¡¯t expect this Blade¡¯s Menace to be this potent and powerful. Sigh, I was indeed careless.¡± Zhou Yan chuckled bitterly. ¡°Don¡¯t you do that next time alright, the truth about awakening one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace was actually condensing your own will into a sharp blade, and it¡¯s through that, you would give form to your Blade¡¯s Menace. ¡°Another thing to take note of, even by doing so, this is only the most basic form of Blade¡¯s Menace. True Blade¡¯s Menace stems from the soul, morphing the soul into the form of a blade is the key to the power of the Blade¡¯s Menace! ¡°So to put things in simpler terms would be, the Blade¡¯s Menace is simply the soul¡¯s blade and the ferocity of one¡¯s will.¡± ¡°The ferocity of one¡¯s soul morphed into the form of a Blade is the true meaning of Blade¡¯s Menace?¡± Zhou Yan was suddenly enlightened, since it seemed his combat prowess had massively increased after painfully mastered the Form of The Dragon, hence everything that was impossibly difficult to understand that was spoken by Feng Lingqing was extremely simple to him. ¡°You¡­Understood it¡­?¡± Feng Lingqing was stunned. ¡°Indeed, I understood every bit of it.¡± Zhou Yan replied as he nodded. Zhou Yan knew, he had seemingly broken ¡®The laws of Nature¡¯. ¡°It seems to me, you are not far from actually awakening the basic form of Blade¡¯s Menace now. If it¡¯s possible for you, work harder, strive to morph your soul into the form of a blade before the age of sixteen!¡± Feng Lingqing was stunned, as this natural gift was literally breaking the laws of nature! After she was done speaking, the young lass turned around and got ready to disappear. At this very moment, Zhou Yan was unsure where a sudden rush of strength came from, however, he was able to grab onto Feng Lingqing¡¯s arm, and with a slight tug, he pulled her into his loving arms. ¡°This time, I¡¯ve made you worry, and had indirectly injured your body even more. Let me heal you now.¡± As Zhou Yan hugged this young lad, he gently patted her back. Although his actions were somewhat bold, however, this young maiden never resisted him. ¡°Sigh, you are indeed your father¡¯s son, the chip of the old block. Like your father, you are a living breathing lustful man!¡± The young lass sighed. However, it felt slightly flirtatious and frustrated. From the tone of her voice, it sounded slightly submissive and odd. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you marry this lustful man then.¡± Zhou Yan teased as if ignoring her complicated emotions. Both Feng Lingqing¡¯s cheeks were blushing slightly. She said, ¡°Marry you¡­in future, I¡¯m worried you wouldn¡¯t say the same thing¡­I¡¯ll be attending to my wounds now, since this debacle has interrupted my healing state, so I would be hibernating for a little longer.¡± The tone of her voice sounded slightly conflicted, she was tempted to struggle out of Zhou Yan¡¯s embrace, however, she had seemingly thought about something, and with that, she tiptoed and proceeded to kiss Zhou Yan on his forehead then after doing so, her body shattered like fragments of glass as it dispressed into a cloud of messy Blade¡¯s Essence then finally it entered Silver Frost¡¯s body. ¡°This young lass knows way too many secrets, however she refused to share even the slightest with me¡­sigh.¡± Zhou Yan sighed. He felt an empty feeling of loneliness from within his heart. However, this feeling only lasted a mere moment as the temptation of awakening his Blade¡¯s Menace massively eclipsed his own feelings. Hence, he carefully recalled everything Feng Lingqing had told him, and repeatedly thought about that ferocious and potent explosion of Blade¡¯s Menace from Silver Frost. The young lad reflected upon his thoughts repeatedly. Whenever he felt his body and mind exhausting, the young lad would shift his focus to study every detail of the Manuscripts of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade, then study the ¡®Introductory Blade¡¯s Formation¡¯ and ¡®Introduction to Revitalizing Blade¡¯ two distinct manuscripts, in order to expand his knowledge, thus never limiting his search for knowledge. During this entire process, it seemed Zhou Yan had completely forgotten about the passage of time. ¡­ The young lad had no clue how much time had passed, however, Zhou Yan felt a thick layer of dust had been collected around his body, finally, the young lad snapped out of the enlightened state he was in as he slowly opened both his eyes. It seemed under this state of pure enlightenment within the realm he was in, had seemingly reached its limits, if the young lad had not made an effort to deliberately suppress his progress within his realm, he would have ascended to the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence way earlier. However, it seemed that he had remained in the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. The lad had not ascended yet. However, the instant both his eyes were opened, there was a hint of Blade¡¯s Menace forming within his eyes. Within those clear pupils, it was as if two rays of Blade¡¯s spectre had just been birthed as it danced around his eyes. However, this state was unstable. ¡°Sigh, it seems I am still unable to unleash the same potency as lil¡¯ Frost¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace, and it¡¯s merely the unstable condensed shape within my eyes¡­although I have fully understood what the Blade¡¯s Menace is, however, the process of condensing and giving it shape would require a really long time¡­¡± Zhou Yan was certain he had been completely enlightened by the true meaning of the Blade¡¯s Menace however, it was only after he had been enlightened, he knew to fully shape his Blade¡¯s Menace, it was uncertain how long it would take to accomplish this task! At the very least, he was able to collect and focus his Blade¡¯s Menace in his eyes. However, he was only able to maintain it for a brief moment, this process was not as smooth as he hoped it would be, and the act of focusing and giving his Blade¡¯s Menace shape would be exceedingly out of his reach¡­ ¡°Being enlightened is a major progress, I should take it one step at a time¡­¡± The young lad sighed, as he was displeased of his result. However, he knew he had done everything he could¡­ The moment he stood up from the ground, there was a mark of where the young lad once sat, as around that spot was a thin layer of dust. ¡°Did I really¡­took that long?¡± Zhou Yan panicked, if a cycle of moon¡¯s time had passed, he would have been in deep trouble! ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯ve been in confinement for a week now, both sisters Chan Er and Lin Er had been waiting for you outside for six days and six nights now. Father said there were some slight movements coming from where you are, can you come out now?¡± Gu Xi¡¯s voice could be heard coming from outside the hidden chamber¡¯s door. If the young lad was still training, he would not be affected by these sounds, however, now that he was ready to get out, the young lad was able to clearly hear those sounds. ¡°Oh thank god¡­it¡¯s only a week.¡± Zhou Yan let out a sigh of relief and proceeded to reply in a cheerful tone, ¡°Yes, I am now ready to get out, sisters Chan Er, Lin Er and lil¡¯ Xi, you guys can come in now.¡± Chapter 31 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan met both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner when he was little, but he had not seen both his childhood friends all these years. As the doors of the hidden chambers opened, he was unable to contain himself. The once snot dripping, crybabies who used to hide behind the young lad while crying out ¡®Brother Zhou Yan¡¯ were now fully grown elegant young maidens. Those two young lassies were almost uncanny. There were slight hints of shyness yet elegance on their faces. Both their skins were soft and tender. They seemed to emanate a radiant glow from their bodies as they both wore the same white silk woven dresses. They resembled deities as they were absolutely stunning. Zhou Yan had encountered a handful of mysteriously unique young maidens, and he knew that the better one¡¯s progress was, the more stunning one would be. This was all due to the mutation one had to undergo as one progressed and ascended into a higher realm. Besides, based on the foreign land known as ¡®Earth,¡¯ its ¡®science¡¯ had explained that this progress as a genetic mutation, causing one¡¯s body to be gradually perfect. However, both of the maidens who were in front of this young lad lacked training as they were only in the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. Still, when the duo stood side by side, they could seemingly distract anyone away from their progress as both of them were inhumanly beautiful. They both looked similar. However, their temperaments were distinctly different. One was as beautiful as the flowers in spring, and the other was as pure as the fall¡¯s moon. This stunned Zhou Yan when he first laid his eyes upon them. As Zhou Yan took his time analyzing their looks, both young maidens stood at the same spot nervously as they refused to come any closer to him. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan?¡± said the spring flower-like young maiden skeptically while staring at him nervously. On the other hand, the fall¡¯s moon-like young lass stared at him with an emotional gaze as her breathing grew increasingly unstable. ¡°You¡¯re Liner, and you¡¯re Chaner, I presume. The both of you sure are pretty,¡± said Zhou Yan while staring at the lassies. ¡°Um¡­ Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re finally in the City of Heavenly Prophecies?¡± Xiao Liner seemed not as close as she was before, as she was unsure of what to talk about. She was a little excited previously. However, now that she had finally seen him, she was uncertain of how to interact with the young lad. At the same time, Xiao Chaner¡¯s face blushed slightly as she, too, was unsure of what to say. It seemed that they had plenty in mind to speak. However, they were unable to. The close-knit bonds they shared as children seemingly drifted apart as time passed. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, Chaner, Liner, let¡¯s head out for some shopping,¡± suggested Gu Xi at that moment, breaking up the awkwardness between the trio. ¡°Hmm, if that¡¯s the case, then¡­ Chaner, Liner, it¡¯s been so long, I will buy you both a gift.¡± Zhou Yan smiled as he noticed that it was more difficult than he had imagined when facing the duo. It seemed like an invisible wall was built in between their relationship, and it felt significantly different when he first met Gu Xi. Zhou Yan took no offense to this whole ordeal, as the only thoughts that came to his mind were perhaps it was due to the passage of time and that the two young lassies had indeed grown up, so a change in personality was to be expected. Hence, it was a natural and reasonable response. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯re still as elegant and casual as you used to be.¡± Xiao Liner smiled, revealing her beautiful pearly whites. ¡­ The Complex of Treasures within the City of Heavenly Prophecies. The management who ran the Complex of Treasures was an influential person, but not a single soul knew who this person was. The Complex of Treasures existed in every city, and every product that was sold there was unfathomably luxurious that not even a regular major family would be able to afford such products. Thus, Zhou Yan brought Xiao Liner, Xiao Chaner, and Gu Xi over to the Complex of Treasures. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, this place¡­ we shouldn¡¯t be here, I think we should leave¡­¡± Before they could enter a strictly guarded masonic door, Zhou Yan heard Xiao Chaner¡¯s voice. Zhou Yan took a quick, curious glance at her, smiled, and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Shopping here is something I can afford.¡± ¡°But¡­ the cheapest item in here is charged with Spirit Crystals¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡± Xiao Chaner looked down in guilt. ¡°It¡¯s fine. What¡¯s a little crystal going to cost me anyway?¡± Zhou Yan smiled compassionately at Xiao Chaner, who was blushing. Xiao Liner, on the other hand, had a cold and uninterested expression on her face. She paid absolutely no attention to what Zhou Yan had said and even glared at her twin sister with disgust. That glare seemingly said, ¡®Wow you¡¯re a fool, how could you not see the obvious carefree attitude from Zhou Yan?¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s a little crystal going to cost me? You speak words of an arrogant fool. Do you actually think you¡¯re a Lord of the Zhou family? You¡¯re nothing but a walking breathing useless trash, an abandoned child of the Zhou family.¡± At this moment, the voice could be heard reverberating through the air, instantly breaking the stoic and amazing atmosphere they had built. Zhou Yan turned around, and the young lad noticed a slender looking man with a cold, tense gaze along with a mocking smile on his face. This man was assaulting Zhou Yan with his words, while his perverted gaze seemingly violated both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner¡¯s bodies. This gaze was filled to the brim with perversion and hints of intentional offense. This look seemingly startled Xiao Chaner, and almost instinctively, she inched closer to Zhou Yan, sheltering her from that man. Xiao Liner, on the other hand, was unaffected, as she glanced over to meet the man¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you know me?¡¯ Zhou Yan¡¯s eyebrows twitched as the young lad moved his arm subtly. However, he did not reach for the hilt of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker that was hanging by his waist. This young lad was more than capable of murdering with a single word. However, he willed himself to temporarily suppress his bloodlust. ¡°The trash of the Zhou family. This abandoned child is nothing more than an imposter using a false status and was merely done to perhaps motivate him by provocation¡­ everyone in Cang Lan City was talking about this, so tell me, why do I not know about it? ¡°We, the members of the Xie family specialize in the trade of information through the blessing of the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting. Tell me, do you think this entire ordeal could be kept hidden away from me?¡± ¡°So, you are from the Xie family. This explains your arrogance! However, does the Xie family dare to threaten the pupils of the Temple of The Frost Blade?¡± Zhou Yan never said a word. It was instead at this moment, Gu Xi stood up, and without hesitation, she used her status as a pupil of the Temple of The Frost Blade. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re the special heir, handpicked by the master of the Temple of The Frost Blade, Gu Xi?¡± The young lad of the Xie family was shocked as his expression morphed into a horrified look upon hearing Gu Xi¡¯s reply. ¡°Exactly! If you dare offend brother Zhou Yan with your words again, I will not hesitate to unleash my blade!¡± Gu Xi¡¯s words spoke volumes as it was filled to the brim with bloodlust. Judging from her progress, not even Zhou Yan was close to her current level. It did not matter how powerful this young lad of the Xie family was and how far his training went. His entire face turned pale by the sheer pressure of Gu Xi¡¯s words, and he swayed uncontrollably. ¡°Hmph, trash!¡± Gu Xi scoffed, as she turned to Zhou Yan and said in a much gentle and compassionate tone, ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, let¡¯s not be bothered by the likes of him, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± Zhou Yan nodded. However, this ordeal never affected him as he was not bothered the slightest bit as the man was a sole traveler. As Zhou Yan turned around, his field of perception had not been deactivated. Hence, he was able to sense a robust burning hatred and bloodlust coming from the lad¡¯s body. He was unsure as to why this lad thought that way. However, it was not a difficult thing to imagine, as that lad was certain that both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner would be his prisoners. However, he was not too bothered by that, since all he had to do first was help treat Xiao Zhan¡¯s injuries. With the Lord of the Xiao family¡¯s status, he was not that worried about the insignificant brat of the Xie family. As the young lad and the trio of maidens approached the Complex of Treasures, at the same moment, an astounding looking young lass in a purple Armor of Spiritual Affinity walked out of the Complex of Treasures. She glanced at Zhou Yan, as a hint of shock and surprise reflected through her eyes, then looked at both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner and finally, Gu Xi. She bowed in absolute respect towards Gu Xi and said, ¡°It seems the true heiress of the Temple of The Frost Blade had made her grand presence here. Lady Gu, please.¡± ¡°Indeed, I have. Please, there is no such need for any formalities. After all, this was my brother Zhou Yan¡¯s proposal. He was about to buy us all a gift!¡± Gu Xi cracked a gentle smile as it was evident that she was not affected by that young lad from the Xie family. ¡°Oh, it is Lord Zhou¡­ my apologies, my apologies. Lord Zhou, this way, please.¡± This young lass took another glance at Zhou Yan. Even though she made no effort to sense his level of training, she was staring at him in a very odd manner, and she made no effort to hide it. Zhou Yan knew that this entire ordeal was due to his exile from the Zhou family. It seemed that news had traveled from Cang Lan City all the way to the City of Heavenly Prophecies. It was apparent that most common-folk too had known about it, and it was through the very gaze of this young lass¡¯ eyes that she was utterly skeptical of his progress, his powers, his identity, and even his purchasing power. However, the young lad had no such need to explain anything. ¡°Do you happen to have any better Armor of Absolute Invincibility in store? I would like to have three,¡± said Zhou Yan in a casual manner. The Armor of Absolute Invincibility was indeed something easy to obtain. Plenty of scholars were fond of the armor since it was capable of self-mending. As a pupil from the Temple of The Frost Blades, Gu Xi was indeed worthy of such an artifact. However, she was currently short on funds. Ever since Zhou Yan made his way here, he thought about gifting the three young maidens this armor after he had first-hand experience with the benefits the armor had provided. The young lad was calm, however after he had made such a bold statement, even Gu Xi, who had plenty of experiences too, was stunned. Both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner were utterly shocked. ¡°This¡­ this is way too expensive!¡± exclaimed Xiao Chaner shockingly. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± Xiao Liner stuttered slightly as her gaze reflected feelings of complete shock and curiosity. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, please, there¡¯s no need for something so luxurious¡­ truly. Look at the clothes we¡¯re wearing now, it¡¯s still fine. Besides, it has some form of resistance ability, too,¡± said Gu Xi as she covered her mouth. Hints of skepticism and admiration were reflected through the young lass clad in purple who was their merchant guide as she thought if¡­ that was, in fact, the legendary useless trash which had been given the identity of ¡®Zhou Wangchen¡¯s¡¯ son, this man was very different to that adopted and abandoned baby who had been given the name ¡®Zhou Yan¡¯ than she had imagined! Chapter 32 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Although the young lad was clad in the Armor of Absolute Invincibility, the young maiden remained skeptical as to if this young lad indeed could afford such a luxury item. However, she did not reveal her skepticism. Hence, after her slight moment dwelling in suspicion, she said in a soft tone, ¡°Sir Zhou, there are numerous types of this Armor of Absolute Invincibility. The most regular one would cost you eight hundred and fifty low-tier Spirit Crystals, the slightly better one would set you back at nine hundred and thirty low-tier Spirit Crystals, and the perfect grade one would be a thousand low-tier Spirit Crystals. ¡°Alright, give me three perfect grade Armor of Absolute Invincibility then!¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, he took out the empty Infinite Spatial Ring from the man he murdered, and with just a thought he connected it with his Pure Jaded Ring of Frost¡¯s Light to transfer three thousand low-tier Spirit Crystals into the empty ring. After doing so, he casually flicked the ring over to the young lass. With a swift ¡®swoosh,¡¯ the ring instantly fell into the merchant guide¡¯s palm while she was still suspicious. ¡°I shall pay you first, to prevent any unpleasant experience while we browse the merchandise later. Hence, rest assured, you can provide us with your services without a shroud of doubt.¡± Zhou Yan was brutally blunt to the young lass. It seemed like he was able to clearly see through the young lass¡¯ worries. Gu Xi and the remaining maidens were shocked as they felt this exchange was like an actual dream, and before they could react, Zhou Yan had already paid for it. They never expected such an outcome! The young lass in purple was blushing heavily. She felt ashamed and regretful after Zhou Yan made that statement. ¡°Sir Zhou, I must apologize¡­ for my behavior earlier.¡± Upon sensing the contents within the ring, this young lass bowed sincerely towards Zhou Yan. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Since I was called useless trash, and although this was indeed the truth, it still doesn¡¯t mean that a useless piece of trash is incapable of possessing purchasing power.¡± Thus, the young lass pouted and dared not to speak another word since Zhou Yan¡¯s reaction was hard to read as he was subtly smiling. This was all because of what Zhou Yan had said, and it seemed like self-mockery. However, at the same time, it had subtle hints of teasing, which startled her. The young lass was immediately humbled and welcomed all of them with utmost respect into the inner confines of the Complex of Treasures. The inner confines of the Complex of Treasures were extremely luxurious. It was akin to a grand palace. In addition to that, this place was extremely concentrated with the spiritual essence of both Heavens and Earth. It would allow anyone to feel that taking a breath of air in this place was better than the arduous training outside. Zhou Yan knew that this effect was the result of some Swordplay Alchemy that gathered plenty of spiritual essences. It would be evident as countless of nomadic scholars ventured into this spot in search for training resources and to pledge fealty to the Complex of Treasure, since it was no secret how great and majestic this place was. Any influential scholars who specialized in Swordplay Alchemy would be able to pull off this effect without breaking a sweat. As they walked through the outer plaza into the inner chambers, Zhou Yan and the trio of lassies were led to a chamber for important guests. It was extremely crowded outside as it was seemingly an ocean of people. However, as they entered the chamber, they were hardly anyone there. It was an insanely massive place as an entire high-class shopping district was in there. As they watched from a distance, there were only a few people, with the occasional group of ten wandering in this area. As Zhou Yan and his group entered and while the lad was watching the people in this area. A few groups of people, too, were observing them. It was apparent that they made no effort to hide the surprised and shocked expressions on their faces. ¡°Sir Zhou, the Armor of Spiritual Affinity is right over here,¡± said Lil¡¯ Die in an extremely humble tone. Zhou Yan nodded as he turned around to speak to both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner. However, this time, both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner did not budge, and even Gu Xi stood quietly at the same spot. Following the gaze of the trio of lassies, Zhou Yan realized that a couple hundred meters away was a young lass draped in a purple dress. Standing not far from her was a tall and burly middle-aged man with a long beard, and that man was walking with a beautiful middle-aged maiden. Standing beside them was the same young lad from the Xie family, nodding humbly, seemingly being wholly complacent and submissive. As Zhou Yan glanced over, that young lad from the Xie family met his gaze, and Zhou Yan was able to sense the sinister and ruthless gaze from his eyes. That lad had a sinister expression as he was seemingly grinning. Zhou Yan met plenty of people before. However, this was the first time he saw such a sinister and malicious gaze that pretty much fit anyone who felt so much hatred. As their gazes met, that middle-aged man and maiden walked towards them. ¡°Liner and Chaner. What in the world are you doing here? Why aren¡¯t you two training at home?¡± The beautiful middle-aged maiden had completely ignored Zhou Yan¡¯s presence and spoke directly to both of them. ¡°Aunty, we¡¯re¡­¡± Before Xiao Chaner even had a chance to speak, that maiden proceeded to cut her off and said, ¡°Forget it, not another word. Next time, please remember to stop interacting with these unimportant, b*stard men. Hurry back home, this isn¡¯t a place for you both! ¡°One more thing, since you, Gu Xi, had pledged your undying loyalty to the Temple of Frost Blades, then she is our enemy of the teachings of the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting. Since that¡¯s the case, you should cut ties with Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner, to prevent any unwanted complications to you in any future conflicts.¡± ¡°He is brother Zhou Yan, and, and not some b*stard men you¡¯ve claimed! How could you say that about brother Zhou Yan, aunty!¡± Xiao Chaner snapped back. ¡°Lady Lan, although the teachings of our sect are distinctly different than the sect you¡¯ve believed, we are still in fact, relatives. Thus, why is there such a need to do something like that? Besides, if it wasn¡¯t for brother Zhou Yan¡¯s father, the Gu and Xiao family would¡¯ve never existed. It¡¯s alright if you do not wish to meet brother Zhou Yan, but there is no need for you to insult brother Zhou Yan.¡± Gu Xi¡¯s expression morphed into a serious and bitter look. ¡°You keep saying ¡®Zhou Yan¡¯ and ¡®Brother.¡¯ You truly have a knack in making others envious of you. However, I have never made a mistake in my words, and this person who you call ¡®Zhou Yan¡¯, was merely adopted by the Lord of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen. He was just an abandoned baby, nonetheless, all for the sole purpose of training and humbling the true heir of the Zhou family, Zhou Lingyao. ¡°Only Zhou Lingyao was the trueborn child of Zhou Wangchen. This person is nothing more but a useless trash of an imposter, a b*stard child, so to speak! ¡°And you guys were completely oblivious to that since you were fooled by that person! Hmph, that¡¯s so bold of you to pretend to resemble Zhou Wangchen. I can¡¯t believe the audacity of some people!¡± The moment this maiden made such a bold statement, both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner were instantly gobsmacked and baffled as they stared at Zhou Yan with complete disbelief. They seemingly hesitated, as if they were thinking about something. At this moment, Gu Xi stepped up by Zhou Yan¡¯s side, unwilling to move an inch. Zhou Yan stared with a blank look at the reaction of these people, as he had now understood the Zhou family was never as simple as he had imagined. Judging from the way things had progressed, it seemed that the Zhou family never just wanted to strip him of his identity. Still, they had also intended to replace his status and identity with Zhou Lingyao. Thus, although he was utterly shocked by the news, he kept his emotions hidden. It seemed that the powers of this maiden and the middle-aged man were both around the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. Hence it did not matter how powerful this young lad was as he still very much lacked the combat prowess to attack these people. ¡°The Zhou family had made an official statement about this matter, and still you guys won¡¯t believe? We shall cease any more discussion about this matter since you are no longer a child. Hence, you guys can no longer be as unreasonable as you were. ¡°It¡¯s true that Zhou Wangchen had graced our family the opportunity to rise into greatness. However, we had also done plenty to repay him back. Then, your father, Xiao Zhan, was crippled, which meant that my brother was also crippled. This was the result of Zhou Wangchen¡¯s goodwill that he had graced us, which had been repaid in full years ago. ¡°Thus, there is no need for the relationship with Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son anymore. Besides, Zhou Wangchen isn¡¯t as glorious as he was back then anyway¡­¡± ¡°If you guys wish for freedom and to earn a blessed life in the future, then you should work hard towards that goal. Train in the ways of the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting and be handpicked as the heiress. Both of you should begin learning from Sir Xie Feng and let him guide you. Then, the chances of being favored by the Elder of the teachings in the ways of the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting would be a lot higher!¡± As this maiden spoke, her words seemed weighted and were blunt and realistic. Since there was a shift in Zhou Yan¡¯s personality, he was now able to remain calm. If this had been the young lad in the past, he would have irrationally argued with that maiden, all to prove that he was indeed Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son and the entirety of the Zhou family was lying¡­ He now knew that it would be impossible for this maiden to have no clue that he was indeed Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son based on the events that had happened during his childhood. Since he had spent most of his childhood days in the Xiao and Gu family¡¯s home, how could this maiden not know the truth? It seemed that she had intentionally not sought out the truth, and the Xiao family were, in fact, very obviously bribed by the Zhou family. Perhaps, it could also be because they had not heard any news about him and was uncertain if he had come all the way to the City of Heavenly Prophecies just for the Xiao family after his father¡¯s death. Hence, this maiden¡¯s statement was based on someone else¡¯s assumption. It was very likely that this maiden knew that as when Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner made their way here, during the entire walk, everyone had seemingly grown closer, and Zhou Yan had even brought up some events of the past. Thus, how would they not understand or definitively know who he was? Also, if they were oblivious to his identity, they knew Gu Xi was incredibly smart, so how could they possibly believe that Gu Xi was foolish enough to make such a misjudgment? However, both of them hesitated. If they were oblivious to the truth and were unable to judge what was, in fact, the truth, Zhou Yan could not blame them, since they never knew anyway. However, they could positively tell that he was, in fact, Zhou Yan, the son of Zhou Wangchen, but regardless, they hesitated¡­ Hence, he finally knew the real reason why the young lad of the Xie family was relentlessly targeting him and had stared down both sisters. He also came to realize why he seemingly felt distant from the sisters. He finally knew why. It was all due to the different choices they made. In the face of a greater benefit, the sisters had chosen to give up on the ¡®fallen¡¯ and decided to accept the help of the Xie family that would indirectly help strengthen their family. All these thoughts manifested in his mind at this moment. He was disappointed as if he had been betrayed by the choices these sisters made. The young lad hated this feeling. He frowned slightly. However, at this moment, Gu Xi, who was standing beside him, had seemingly sensed this feeling from him. She grabbed his shoulders compassionately in an attempt to comfort him. Without saying a word, the actions she demonstrated gave him a tremendous sense of comfort. ¡°Aunty¡­¡± Both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner lowered their heads as a slight feeling of remorse could be heard when they called out to their aunt. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare call me aunty. Have the both of you forgotten how your father had fallen?¡± yelled the maiden in a cold voice. Both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner trembled slightly, and eventually, they slowly lifted their heads and stared with a remorseful and apologetic gaze towards Zhou Yan. They said, ¡°Sir¡­ Zhou, we¡¯re so sorry¡­¡± Chapter 33 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°You guys have never wronged me. It is I who had wronged the Xiao family.¡± Zhou Yan chuckled as he felt a strong pull at his heartstrings when he was being addressed as ¡®Sir Zhou.¡¯ Zhou Yan was known to value nostalgia as the position Gu Xi, Xiao Chaner, and Xiao Liner shared in the young lad¡¯s heart was a special one. However, upon being addressed as ¡®Sir Zhou,¡¯ it made the young lad¡¯s heart grow colder. He smiled pridefully, then proceeded to take out a jug of ale and tilt his head back to take a drink. This action was uncanny to how Zhou Wangchen used to behave, coughing after drinking some ale. As he coughed, his inhumanly pale face would turn red as if he was plagued by some ailment. It was as if his very soul was being burnt by the merciless ocean of ale. At this moment, Zhou Yan instinctively unleashed the Nine Folds Yin-Yang Manuscripts to hide away the waves of Blade¡¯s Essence within his body. He presumed this maiden had some ties with the Zhou family, and before he gained notoriety and recognition from the main branch of the Zhou family, he never wished to reveal his true potential. Thus, due to him hiding his training and progress and not having any suppressing strength, the potency of the ale caused him to act the way his father did. Thus, where the young lad stood at that very instant, it seemed as if Zhou Wangchen was actually present at that moment. All those years ago, even when Zhou Wangchen was at his peak confidence, every moment that he was plagued by troubles, he would present himself in that very same scene. The only people who witnessed this scene back then were the people closest to Zhou Wangchen, and they were Xiao Zhan, Xiao Lan, Gu Xi¡¯s father, Gu Yan, and several more. However, the current Xiao Lan seemingly forgot the events of the past as if he was lying through the teeth as he had mercilessly insulted and provoked Zhou Yan. Everyone fell silent after they saw Zhou Yan¡¯s act. ¡°Zhou¡­ Zhou Wangchen¡­¡± exclaimed the middle-aged Lord of the Xie family, Xie Xikun, as he rubbed his eyes in confusion. His exclamation attracted the attention of others. He chuckled awkwardly in a ploy to hide his embarrassing state. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Sir Zhou.¡± Xiao Chaner continued to apologize. However, Zhou Yan no longer paid any attention to her. At the same moment, the merchant guide said in a very hesitant tone, ¡°Sir Zhou, would you still want the Armors of Absolute Invincibility which you just ordered?¡± ¡°I do. Of course, I do. Do me a favor and help these two fine maidens in picking out something that suits their spiritual affinity. The other one, though, get her something that is white and has an affinity to frost, okay?¡± Zhou Yan proceeded to cough a couple of times to show his ¡®weakness.¡¯ He had done it on purpose. Based on the nature of the ancient sage, he knew that was precisely what he had to do at the moment. ¡°No¡­ There¡¯s no longer such a need. When we enter the sect of the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting, we¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to get that in future,¡± said Xiao Chaner with guilt. Xiao Liner, on the other hand, seemingly banished the thought of greed after she came to a concluding decision. ¡°Sir Zhou, this item is way too expensive. Since you are no longer my brother, Zhou Yan, I too do not wish to receive anything from you,¡± said Xiao Liner calmly. Her voice was void of emotions. Hints of painful regrets reflected through Xiao Chaner¡¯s eyes. However, upon hearing everything Xiao Liner had said, she stopped explaining anything. Upon witnessing such a scene, Gu Xi¡¯s expression turned pale. She was still hugging Zhou Yan¡¯s shoulders tightly without saying a word. Zhou Yan could feel her disappointment and her boiling rage. He knew that it was all because she could sense his sufferings. Hence, Gu Xi¡¯s face was inhumanly cold. ¡°It does not matter if you both aren¡¯t willing to accept it, but my words are as good as gold. If you both do not want it, then you both may either toss it away or sell it off. Whatever you do no longer concerns me,¡± replied Zhou Yan in a calm voice. Initially, the young lad assumed this shopping trip would brighten up the mood of both the young lassies, to forget about all the troubles that plagued them hence, bridging the gap of their relationship. However, never did the young lad expect this event to end up like this. If the young lad was able to ignore all the goodwill his Uncle Xiao Zhan had graced him as a child, that raised and cared for him for a couple of years, he would undoubtedly have left the scene without any hesitation. ¡°Since this Sir Zhou wants to demonstrate his pretentious pride, there is no need to reject his offer of generosity.¡± The man who stood next to Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner, Xiao Lan, had a mocking and judgmental look on his face. At the same time, the arrogant young master of the Xie family, Xie Feng, heard the intentional provoking tone from Xiao Lan¡¯s statement, which attempted to provoke Zhou Yan. The lad was secretly gloating in his heart since he was inhumanly furious when he noticed both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner by the side of a wanted man by the Zhou family! His sole purpose was to assassinate this useless trash since he was very much aware that an elder of his family had been brutally murdered by the accidental and unintentional provocation of a legendary and powerful foe. This entire debacle was evident to him. Thus, the instant his gaze landed on Zhou Yan earlier, his eyes were boiling with insatiable fury, as he was tempted to unleash his Blade¡¯s Essence of The Forge to violently slaughter this useless trash! The young lad¡¯s fury was already raging at that point. It worsened upon witnessing the maidens of his dreams, interacting so friendly and casually with that trash. At this moment, he felt significantly better as he witnessed the relentless treatment by the Xiao family towards Zhou Yan. ¡°Aunty, how is that okay?¡± Xiao Chaner struggled internally, as her eyes were filled with guilt. On the other hand, Xiao Liner had recovered to a calmer and a much more composed state. ¡°You dare disobey your aunt¡¯s words? How do you expect to succeed in anything? Do you not want the mid-tier spiritual Sword Art? Oh, so you don¡¯t want an opportunity to awaken your Blade¡¯s Menace then. Hmph! If you don¡¯t know how to choose, then you are destined to be a lowly material for someone else¡¯s Spiritual Cauldron then! ¡°As for him, he¡¯s merely a b*stard child, one with no natural gifts. What kind of results would he expect to achieve? Not to mention the progress of his training was completely wasted. No matter how hard he pretends, he could never hide the fact that he¡¯s a useless piece of trash!¡± Xiao Lan¡¯s words were insulting as she grinned at Gu Xi, seemingly scoffing at her inability to speak. It was apparent that the first half of the statement was meant to insult her, and the second half was to provoke Zhou Yan. It would be impossible for Gu Xi to be oblivious of this fact. However, at this very moment, her attention was not on her statement. Instead, it was solely focused on Zhou Yan alone. The young lass was worried about Zhou Yan¡¯s fury. If Zhou Yan was to unleash his rage, the entire situation would without a shred of doubt spiral out of control, and things would never be as simple anymore. This was especially so when there was going to be a test of might that would be held in the schoolyard of the Zhou family in twenty days. Hence, if that were to happen, Zhou Yan would lose the opportunity to enter. Upon recalling what her father said before about Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner¡¯s odd behavior, she made some changes. She did not breathe a word about the matters of Zhou Yan. She only stated that Zhou Yan had visited and was dwelling in the hidden chambers. Gu Xi now knew that she made the right decision. ¡­ Xiao Chaner was unable to speak after hearing what Xiao Lan had said. For the sake of her future, there were some things that she would have to sacrifice at the moment. Xiao Liner, on the other hand, had made up her mind way before this, when she thought about learning under the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting. Upon noticing the hesitation and fear from both of them, Zhou Yan finally made a statement in an attempt to win them back. The young lad said, ¡°You both can still choose to follow me. If I give you the Armor of Absolute Invincibility now, it will enable you to do more than you can ever imagine. Well, this was the reason in the first place for me to offer them to you.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Chaner was slightly anguished, as she let out a bitter laugh and said, ¡°Sir Zhou¡­ The Sword Master of Smelting had already promised to train both of us with all his might.¡± ¡°So be it. This is no longer important,¡± replied Zhou Yan casually as he tilted his head back to guzzle more ale. His heart no longer wrenched in regret for both lassies. Instead, he felt regretful for Xiao Zhan¡¯s sake. For someone with a reputation of a heroic figure of praise like Xiao Zhan to have birthed such daughters, and in comparison, to Gu Xi, these young maidens much lacked the basic emotion of compassion. However, Zhou Yan knew that this world he lived in was merciless and ruthless. It was only with the lack of compassion one would be able to walk further. The balance between compassion and the lack of it was a vast and significant distinction in the ways of the sword, no matter which way one may follow. Here, at this moment, it was very clearly divided into two distinct ways. This was a lesson many scholars yearned to acquire. It was also excruciatingly obvious. In terms of choices, both young lassies had chosen their ways, and they were no longer the once naive and foolish girls who blindly followed others. Instead, they had grown to be maidens who were very capable. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡± Xiao Chaner continued to apologize. Her voice was shaky as her eyes dimmed. Xiao Liner had a cold and emotionless face, one without sadness. ¡°There is no need for an apology. You both never owed me anything. All you did was merely chasing a goal, and I am only a pretentious piece of trash with the little wealth my father had left me. With my personality, I presume that I would be left with nothing in a couple of days. I can never compare nor compete with a major sect, and it would be impossible for me to provide you both with any better resources,¡± said Zhou Yan calmly. At this moment, that young lass in purple was walked towards them with three Infinite Spatial Rings. Those Infinite Spatial Rings were intricately designed. However, there was limited space, and it was only able to hold one Armor of Absolute Invincibility. The space was equal to that of a gift box. ¡°Ladies, these are for the twins¡­ a lighter green tone would match their spiritual affinity better, so I¡¯ve picked one with an affinity to nature. As for this one¡­ I¡¯ve followed Sir Zhou¡¯s request and picked one that has a better affinity to frost.¡± As the young lass explained, with her quick wit, she gave Gu Xi the frost affinity armor first before handing the others to Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner. Gu Xi accepted without any hesitation. However, Xiao Liner hesitated for a brief moment before taking the ring. Xiao Liner, on the other hand, hesitated for a long while before accepting the ring. ¡°Alright, now we are done for good. This armor would be my way of repaying Uncle Xiao Zhan for raising me as a child. Thus, this is where we cut our ties.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s tone was icy, but at this moment, his emotions were not as stable and composed. This was because if he remained a ¡±low profile¡¯ by using a monotonous and emotionless voice, it would undoubtedly draw more attention to him. ¡°You¡­¡± Xiao Liner had a frowned slightly. However, after a while, she calmed herself and said, ¡°Forget it. It doesn¡¯t matter what you think, Sir Zhou, since¡­ things had ended this way. We have our own choices to make, and you can never understand a scholar¡¯s burden since there is no need for you to resume training. Let¡¯s just pretend we never met, so this would preserve the amazing childhood of brother Zhou Yan¡¯s memories.¡± After hearing her statement, Zhou Yan chuckled coldly as there was a slight hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes. However, he did not say a thing. ¡°As a person that doesn¡¯t know his place, you think you¡¯re worthy of being Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son? You¡¯re merely an abandoned child adopted by the Zhou family, and you dare to act as if everything belongs to you!¡± scoffed Xiao Lan. Chapter 34 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Let¡¯s go, Lil¡¯ Xi.¡± Zhou Yan felt empty as the young lad had no intention of exposing the capacity of his powers in the Complex of Treasures. Hence he was unwilling to linger any longer. Since there were zero emotions in his words, and all the feelings he placed into his words were not reciprocated. Thus, he saw no reason in having any ties with these people. ¡°Yes, brother Zhou Yan, let¡¯s go.¡± Gu Xi was incredibly compassionate in an attempt to melt Zhou Yan¡¯s frozen heart with the warmth of her love and limitless sympathy. As the duo left, they paid absolutely no mind to even grace the faces of these people with a single glance. Thus, they left this place of wealth and luxury under the grand sendoff by that maiden in purple. At the same moment, there was a young lass in red, leading a young lad that was carrying a huge black sword on his back into the Complex of Treasures. As the maiden in red walked in, the lass in purple, along with other young maidens in purple, instantly welcomed them into the inner plaza with a gracious bow. The maidens cheered in unison, ¡°Praise to the great Elder Guardian!¡± ¡°Yes, carry on with your work. I will be escorting and tending to the needs of the new Lord of the Yang family, Yang Qingtan. Do what you were ordered to!¡± The instant the maiden in red spoke, the entire inner chambers of the complex burst into endless cheers as the environment became significantly livelier. As of the current moment, everyone was excited to meet Yang Qingtan! The young lad was not even older than thirty years of age, and the progress of his training had reached the peak of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. In addition to his combat prowess, it was no secret that this lad was able to challenge any strong foes head-on who were in the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace! This man was now the most respected and praised. This man was a true natural genius of the Blade¡¯s Menace realm! ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it¡¯s actually Yang Qingtan!¡± ¡°He actually got into the Chambers of Prestigious Guests. Well, it¡¯s only fitting, given his ties to the Complex of Treasures¡­¡± ¡°He is actually so elegant! It¡¯s completely out of my expectations. To think I¡¯ve imagined him to have a back of a tiger and a waist of a bear¡­¡± ¡°The one and only legend of the Yang family, Yang Qingtan. He¡¯s even more exceptional in person than I¡¯d imagine¡­¡± ¡­ Although there were not many people in the main chamber, the instant Yang Qingtan made his presence known, he immediately became the main topic of discussion amongst the folks that were present. ¡°It is a pleasant surprise for Lord Yang to be here.¡± The Lord of the Xie family, who stood next to Xiao Lan, who remained silent before this greeted Yang Qingtan as he humbled himself before him. ¡°It is my greatest honor to be graced by the grandeur of the Lord of the Yang family,¡± said Xiao Lan in a humble tone. However, Yang Qingtan was not even interested in their discussions, and even more so, the words of the Lord of the Xie family and Xiao Lan. He barely even glanced at them. His glance drifted past Gu Xi, Xiao Chaner, and Xiao Liner, and his gaze landed on Zhou Yan. It was a gaze filled to the brim with the intense pressure of the Blade¡¯s Menace. However, there was zero intent to kill coming from that gaze. It was done to gain the attention of someone that possessed a similar nature to him. ¡°Zhou Yan of the Zhou family?¡± There was a hint of shock and surprise coming from the deepest depths of Yang Qingtan¡¯s eyes, as he questioned with a cold tone. ¡°Indeed, and you must be Yang Qingtan of the Yang family?¡± Zhou Yan stared at that man. The lad was perhaps about 1.9 meters tall. He also happened to have a broad shoulder as he carried a sizeable pitch-black sword on his back. The lad¡¯s back was almost entirely covered by the sword. ¡°Indeed, I am! You are exceptional! I shall wait for you! Work hard on your journey!¡± Yang Qingtan had a low-pitched voice that sounded slightly coarse. He had a slight weighted tone, with a seemingly penetrative voice. ¡°Worry not! Whatever that you are capable of, I would be too!¡± Even though Zhou Yan¡¯s reply was cold, Yang Qingtan had grown a significant reputation in the young lad¡¯s heart. This man was emanating an intensely dense aura of Blade¡¯s Menace. However, not a single person was able to sense even the slightest hint from him. Thus, the young lad had finally known the real reason behind why Gu Xi¡¯s father went out of his way to defend this lad. Since by interacting with this lad for a short and brief moment, Zhou Yan knew he was never the type to harm Gu Yan with such a brutal method! ¡°Hopefully so,¡± replied Yang Qingtan After he replied, he proceeded to casually turn around and walk towards the direction of the main hall. At this moment, the maiden in red who stood beside Yang Qingtan glanced over at Zhou Yan curiously as if she was puzzled by why such a person would be valued so highly by Yang Qingtan. As the Elder Guardian of the Complex of Treasures, no news would be unheard of by her, and she was very much aware of everything about Zhou Yan. Thus, she was confused by Yang Qingtan¡¯s refusal of acknowledgment towards the Lord of the Xie family and Xiao Lan but had instead fully acknowledged and greeted a useless trash with respect. She had plenty of questions in her heart, and most probably all the scholars too who had spectated this exchange. However, she never probed further. ¡­ As Zhou Yan left, the entire Complex of Treasures returned to its much peaceful state. The environment never changed due to Zhou Yan¡¯s absence. Both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner were slightly depressed now. However, Xiao Lan¡¯s entire expression was extremely bitter. ¡°This young lad, Yang Qingtan, who in the world does he think he is? Greeting a useless trash with respect and had the audacity to ignore our presence! I am utterly furious!¡± exclaimed Xiao Lan. ¡°Cease your anger, sister Lan, the glory of the Yang family has not faded away yet. Just allow them to be as arrogant as they want for now,¡± replied the Lord of the Xie family, Xie Xikun, with a cold chuckle. ¡°The main reason for him greeting that trash was perhaps the assumption of that trash being on par or close to his power level, having the ability to infuse and condense the ocean of Qi and unleash his full potential! However, he was completely oblivious to the fact that this lad, Zhou Yan, was already a useless piece of trash. Thus there is no way for him to even compare to his full potential, right?¡± Xie Feng interrupted at that moment. Intense feelings of envy fumed in his heart after the lad had seen Zhou Yan offer the gift of the Armor of Absolute Invincibility. This young lad himself did not even have one in his possession, and a useless trash like him was able to so casually afford three as a gift! This made him exceedingly furious and jealous of the immense wealth Zhou Yan had access to. A useless trash like Zhou Yan was unworthy of such wealth. ¡°Sister Lan, Xie Feng speaks the truth. Don¡¯t let yourself be bothered by this matter,¡± said Xie Xikun. Xiao Lan nodded as her mood lightened. ¡­ ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, brother Zhou Yan¡­¡± Gu Xi, who was flying alongside Zhou Yan, apologized with an extremely remorseful tone. ¡°This has nothing to do with you, but I¡¯ll have to know. How much have you told them about my matters?¡± Initially, Zhou Yan did not mind exposing his raw strength and powers. However, after knowing both the Zhou and Xiao family had formed such an alliance, he wished to keep his true potential hidden for some time. ¡°I¡¯ve said nothing. Father told me they were not the same as they once were all those years ago. However, I was a little skeptical, and assumed it was the changes in personality with age¡­ but after I returned from my master¡¯s sect, and all the matters that were going on with my family, I never had much contact with them. ¡°Since you were still in solitary confinement, I went out to search for them and told them that you were here. Thus, they¡¯ve waited for you at my house. ¡°Regarding the matters which concerned you, I¡¯ve told them nothing. I thought these things were only up to you to share. Never did I expect that this thought alone has kept me from doing something that I would regret for the rest of my life.¡± Thus, it was only after Gu Xi, who explained everything that had happened beforehand, did Zhou Yan understood that his Uncle Gu Yan had already known all this time that the Xiao family had indeed changed. However, he assumed it was kept from him to shield him from the potential hurt he might feel, in addition to his dislike of gossiping behind a person¡¯s back. Zhou Yan understood the man Gu Yan was. Hence, he was able to clearly see through this entire incident. ¡°Yes, then that would be excellent. That means, in the next twenty days, I would temporarily be a useless piece of trash. I will now be able to use this time to practice the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace that I¡¯ve been recently enlightened by,¡± lamented Zhou Yan. ¡°Blade¡¯s¡­ Blade¡¯s Menace? Brother Zhou Yan, have you already been enlightened by the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace?¡± Gu Xi responded with a shocking expression. It shocked her that much that her entire body trembled. ¡°Yes indeed, I have been enlightened during my time spent in solitary confinement, but since it wasn¡¯t exactly the right time to speak of this news, I intended to share it at a much later time. Now it seems, I have indeed made the right choice, or else, if they had learned about it, I¡¯d assume I would never be able to be at ease,¡± lamented Zhou Yan once more. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Gu Xi let out a frantic sigh, as the only thing this young lass was unable to comprehend was that the purpose for both her sisters¡¯ training was to be with brother Zhou Yan since that was the promise they had made back then. However, after they had begun training, had they forgotten about their goals? Perhaps, they had gotten greedier and could no longer look up to the brother Zhou Yan from their memories? Her sadness was not for Zhou Yan. Instead, it was directed at the choices both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner had made. ¡°Don¡¯t sigh, alright, I love how you look when you smile. Later, when we¡¯re back at the hidden chambers, you can put on your spiritual affinity armor for me to look at alright?¡± Zhou Yan took a deep breath as he rid his mind of the puzzling plaguing thoughts from earlier as he told Gu Xi with a smile. ¡°Alright.¡± Gu Xi¡¯s cheeks slightly blushed as she thought about the romantic potential they had shared in the past. She now looked even more stunning and adorable. ¡­ The outer bounds of the Complex of Treasures, The City of Heavenly Prophecies. ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t those the infamous twin beauties of the Xiao family? How did they both possibly have the financial abilities to shop here, let alone the time and mood? Could it be that they¡¯re both selling their bodies?¡± yelled a provocative voice. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s possible. If they do not sell their bodies, how else do you think the Xiao family would regain their glory days?¡± Another mocking and provocative voice spoke while chuckling. ¡°You imbecile, ignorant scums. Both Liner and Chaner had become a pupil of the Sword¡¯s Master of Smelting, and they have received insurmountable support in training. How dare you from the Xu family act so arrogantly?¡± Before Xiao Liner or Xiao Chaner had a chance to speak, Xie Feng stood up and glared at the two men sinisterly. As the lad spoke, a dark ray of light formed in his hands. In an instant, two beams of Blade¡¯s Essence that emanated a cold and chilling aura were unleashed. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± The rays of the Blade¡¯s Essence shot out with immeasurable speed, and before both the fat and slender looking young lad in grey robes could react, they were instantly decapitated. Due to the sudden impact from that momentum, their lifeless heads shot up into the sky and spun in twice before hitting the ground. It was only at this moment did both the gaping holes of their necks shot out a fountain of blood in unison. Their blood-curdling shrieks of horror stopped. Their stiffened bodies collapsed onto the ground and twitched a couple of times. ¡°Did you see that sister? The ones who had insulted and bullied us, the lords of the Xu family, had thought so little of master Xie Feng. I believe you now realize that you would rather have a strong pillar of support behind you, and with that, you will never be bullied again. That alone is an irrefutable fact! Do you still think we¡¯ve made the wrong choice?¡± questioned Xiao Liner with a smile. Xiao Chaner had a complicated expression on her face. She sighed quietly and did not reply. ¡°Liner speaks the truth. That brat is a useless piece of trash, and still, he acted so arrogantly. Not to mention, his audacity to pretend to act the way Zhou Wangchen used to. This fool does not know the horrors of death! It would be a miracle for people like him to survive!¡± cackled Xiao Lan repeatedly as she spoke. Chapter 35 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Since Yang Qingtan had spoken to Zhou Yan and he had completely ignored her, Xiao Lan grew increasingly resentful toward Zhou Yan. ¡°Yes indeed. For your future¡¯s sake, it would be better if you forget those immature memories of your childhood sooner rather than later! If Zhou Wangchen was still at his peak¡ªa rank three Blade¡¯s Menace incredibly powerful man¡ªperhaps that would be much better. However, Zhou Wangchen himself is now in a horrible state himself. After all these years of suffering for Zhou Wangchen¡¯s sake is more than enough!¡± Xiao Liner continued to advise Xiao Chaner. ¡°Yes, I understand. I¡¯ll do my best to forget about it. Only then will I be able to live my own life.¡± Xiao Chaner was reluctant, but she gave a decisive nod. Upon hearing those words, Xie Feng was feeling slightly envious. However, after knowing they had completely let go of any lingering feelings toward Zhou Yan, he felt slightly better. As the lad thought about the incident of how arrogant the Xu family was toward the Xiao family, he felt a slight twitch in his heart and proceeded to say, ¡°Father, Aunty Lan, the Xu family do not know their place and had the audacity to lay their hands on us within the walls of the Complex of Treasures. I¡¯ll bring some of our men to lay waste to the Xu family¡¯s home. This should be an amazing gift for the Xiao family! ¡°After all, if the Xiao family had taken the Xu family¡¯s resources, regaining their glory would be a much easier task to do.¡± ¡°Alright then, discuss this matter with all four Elder Ambassadors who are powerful rank one realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace scholars. Allow them to accompany you. Before you murder anyone, remember to plan ahead and leave no one alive. Remember, leave no future threats. Kill everyone, alright?¡± Xie Xikun stroked his long beard while nodding satisfyingly. The middle-aged beauty, Xiao Lan was very impressed and delighted by Xie Feng¡¯s actions. This planned massacre of the Xu family was not only to completely uproot the entirety of the Xu family. The young lad planned to use the opportunity to also murder Zhou Yan and capture Gu Xi in order to violently violate her to his heart¡¯s content! ¡­ In the Gu Family¡¯s home, within the confines of Gu Yan¡¯s courtyard¡­ ¡°Yan¡¯er, you know your Uncle Gu Yan had no say in this matter. You should know to be just and righteous. Don¡¯t allow your pride and anger get the better of you and leave him to his own devices alright.¡± Zhou Yan was sitting under an old Pine tree in the courtyard. Cool breeze was blowing as the streams of water flowed calmly. The entire environment was a peaceful one. After Gu Yan was told about the incident that had occurred, he was indescribably boiling with insatiable fury. JKnowing his personality, since he had recovered all of his strength and it was also seemingly stronger than he previously was, he had almost stormed off for a confrontation. However, it was only after Gu Xi had calmed him down that made him much more stable. As he calmed down, he became worried about Xiao Zhan¡¯s condition. As Zhou Yan sat alone in that spot, Gu Yan ran over to him in order to ¡®advise some rationality¡¯ into him. ¡°That I know, Uncle Gu. I¡¯ve never said anything about not saving Uncle Xiao Zhan. My personal grudges are something I¡¯m able to clearly differentiate. Uncle Xiao Zhan is responsible for raising me. He¡¯s also like a father to me and he has done way too much for me. I can never ignore all of his goodwill. ¡°Whatever that was spoken in the Complex of Treasures was only directed to them, so you may cease your worries.¡± Zhou Yan calmly explained. ¡°Sigh, then it¡¯s fine. However, the most tragic person would be¡­ your Uncle Xiao Zhan. You¡¯re aware of your Uncle Xiao Zhan¡¯s personality. If he knew his own daughters treated you this way, I¡¯m pretty sure he would be so furious, he¡¯d cough up blood. ¡°The Xiao¡¯s family¡ªboundless worries!¡± Gu Yan frowned as he lamented. Zhou Yan smiled relaxed and carefreely. He said, ¡°Of course they would never let him know. If he had known about it, I¡¯m pretty sure they would say I was merely a replacement left behind by my father. But that¡¯s not true. They would say the trueborn heir to my father is actually Zhou Lingyao all along.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ How unfortunate.¡± Gu Yan¡¯s rage had morphed into feelings of endless regret. For most scholars, especially the lords of a household, they had to bend to reality. It mattered not how powerful one¡¯s powers are, for there would be plenty of consequences and other concerns to worry about¡ªone which would never allow a fierce and explosive battle with one¡¯s enemies. He had never feared death, but there were plenty of matters he had to take care of in managing the entirety of the Gu family. Judging on the ability of the current state of the Gu family, in what way can the Gu family compete with the Zhou family? There was nothing the Gu family was able to do! Even if he had gone directly to the Zhou family, it would only result in himself being murdered by his enemies. Anyone who had not ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace would only be useless trash! ¡°I¡¯ll heal Uncle Xiao Zhan, but it¡¯ll be in the next eighteen days. When that day comes, after I¡¯ve fully healed Uncle Xiao Zhan, I¡¯ll head directly over to the Zhou family to compete in the test of might. That way, I¡¯ll be able to take back what¡¯s rightfully mine!¡± ¡°Yes indeed. Your uncle has been busy managing the matters of this family lately. I¡¯ve fired all of our servants, and now, not many people are left in our Gu family. It¡¯s better off for all those with ill intentions to leave. That way, I would¡¯ve cleared most of my troubles, thus, I would be able to pour all of my focus in the search of my Sword¡¯s Way.¡± Gu Yan made his most definitive decision in that instant. Since this lad spent most of his life holding down the fort of a minor family in the City of Heavenly Prophecies, the future was shrouded in a mist of uncertainty. Besides, he would have to embark on a journey to the Zhou family soon. This man once dreamt about standing in a glorious pride but that dream was far too out of reach then. Thus, he decided to venture on a new journey. This lad was excited for that day to come sooner. ¡°Is there such a need, Uncle Gu? You¡¯ve spent so much effort and poured countless heart and soul into building this family¡­¡± Zhou Yan was a little emotional. However, he knew there had to be a major reason for his Uncle Gu to do something of this magnitude. He knew part of the reason would be his Uncle Gu accompanying him to the Zhou family, and was more than certain this man had expected to perish in that journey with him. Therefore, it was similar to stating his final wishes and penning down a will. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m happy knowing my Little Xi made incredible progress and gained somewhat of a position of power in the Temple of the Frost Blades. I owe you far too much to ever count in all these years. This time, even if I would head into the forbidden grounds, the land of pure despair of the Blade¡¯s Soul, I would fight by your side to the end!¡± ¡°Uncle Gu¡­¡± ¡°Take good care of my Little Xi alright, Yan¡¯er? She¡¯s a strong maiden, but in the face of people she cares so deeply about, she would never have any ill intentions toward them. She showed you her strong side in hopes of ceasing your worries toward her, and also, this would allow her to protect everything she cares so dearly for.¡± Gu Yan explained in a serious tone. ¡°Uncle Gu, I know. I know Little Xi is amazing and I love her dearly.¡± Zhou Yan replied sincerely. ¡°Then, it¡¯s good to hear¡­ Good to hear indeed. However both of you choose to develop your relationship in future is something this old man will never intervene, but remember Yan¡¯er, always leave yourself a contingency plan. Never back yourself into a corner. If you find yourself in an extremely life-threatening dire situation, do whatever it takes to survive! Only with survival, you¡¯d be able to do anything. ¡°However, if you were dead, then every single future plan that you¡¯ve set up would be impossible to accomplish! ¡°Thus, be it just or evil, the sword art of bond or despair, you may as well toss it all aside and ignore everything¡­¡± ¡­ Thus, the entire noon was spent having a conversation with Gu Yan. It seemed like Gu Yan was leaving behind his final words. The truth was, Zhou Yan wanted to tell Gu Yan that going to the Zhou family was not as dire and grim as Gu Yan thought. However, the young lad did not say anything that was in his mind since he was able to tell from the serious tone in Gu Yan¡¯s words that the whole situation with the Zhou family felt odd. Seemingly, the entire Zhou family was far more complicated than the young lad had imagined. ¡­ Thus, the shroud of night approached. Zhou Yan watched as Gu Yan brought every single manuscript from the hidden archives of the Gu family. He was in deep focus in his thoughts. That was the only thing the young lad had requested from Gu Yan, and Gu Yan agreed to it without a single shred of hesitation. Although he had no clue what Zhou Yan wanted them for, upon realizing that Zhou Yan spent only seven days to be fully enlightened by the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace, he had no reason to question him. A true legendary genius would always act weirdly. All of this behavior was nothing more than normal. That was how Gu Yan thought. If Zhou Yan had known it was all due to his request that made Gu Yan think he was being weird, it would have made Zhou Yan burst out in a series of uncontrollable laughter. At that moment, Zhou Yan was studying the countless manuscripts since he was seemingly able to detect that subtle aura of Blade¡¯s Menace emanating from Yang Qingtan¡¯s body. Thus, he was determined in pouring all of his attention in understanding what kind of secrets such Sword Art held. This current change had suddenly enlightened Zhou Yan that all of the knowledge and intricate details in every single variation of the Sword Art had most probably originated from the different variation of the Blade¡¯s Menace. This meant that in order to be fully enlightened about the knowledge of the Sword Art of the Dragon, the first thing this young lad should do was grasp the full knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace of the Dragon! Thus, the young lad would be completely enlightened by the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace of the Dragon! The knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace of the Dragon. Various intricate experiences and various distinct knowledge was the very foundation of its Blade¡¯s Menace. However, due to the countless variations of knowledge, it had made unifying all of its essence of intricate knowledge into a singular unit of Blade¡¯s Menace impossibly difficult! Thus, the only thing the young lad was able to do was sift through the countless intricate knowledge as a reference point. This thought had been in Zhou Yan¡¯s mind for quite some time. However, no matter which sect he pledged allegiance to and requested help from any person of power, he would be unable to gather enough resources in such a short time. Hence, in the end, he would have to rely on the main branch of the Zhou family. In order to do so, he would have to showcase how much potential and how powerful he truly was, with a surprise this massive, he would have no problem gaining as many resources as he required! Thus, with that fact alone, even if anyone of ill intentions were to bring trouble his way, as long as that person was not attacking him head-on, this young lad feared nothing. Hence, at the same time, he would be able to use the opportunity within his stay in the main branch of the Zhou family to search for any news about his father and any possible solution to help his father. This was the plan the young lad had in mind for a while now. However, all he lacked was a massive collection of knowledge, hence he could not help but be excited about gaining entry within the walls of the main branch of the Zhou family, earn his right to enter the forbidden library, and be one step closer to completely mastering the Sword Art of the Dragon! In comparison to all of the other sword arts he had witnessed, it was without a single shred of doubt in his mind this ancient sage who was capable of Spatial Destruction, the art of the formless fist which was capable of literally destroy any laws of both heavens and earth; this ancient sage was undoubtedly the strongest person who had ever lived, none could even come close to his skills! All this young lad was striving to accomplish was incorporating the intricacy of the Art of the Formless Fist into his sword art, hence indirectly forging his very own personal sword art! Hence, the young lad studied book by book, manuscripts after manuscripts for its knowledge while drinking the Burning Blade¡¯s Soul Ale and slowly allowed his mind to be enlightened by the Sword Art of The Dragon. When the young lad felt he had reached a dead end as his mind was burning in a shroud of fog, he would divert his focus into studying the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade and other manuscripts. This way, he would indirectly be enlightened by the knowledge of the Sword Art of the Dragon and gain a strong and concise understanding of how other sword art worked. With that, he would be able to change its form to a better version of any sword arts he had learned. The signature sword art of the Zhou family, ¡®Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade¡¯ had been completely mastered by Zhou Yan. However, with the repeated study of that sword art, he was capable of transforming it to a much more advanced version of that sword art. Initially, he attempted combining the second form with the first, then combining all three forms into one single form, four forms in one¡­ All until he had continuously remained in a state of complete enlightenment for ten whole days, and thus, the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade had been successfully incorporated all nine forms into one attack! Within the ten days of the young lad¡¯s training, his progress had ascended into the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. Since he had been enlightened with the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Essence, and was only able to unleash an unstable and imperfect form of Blade¡¯s Essence, Zhou Yan was not the one to initiate the process of ascension on his own. Thus, with the current pace of how this young lad had progressed, he was able to make the transition of the realms without any major hindrance and it was all due to this reason alone; the double-helical mutated Qi Column of the young lad had once again mutated, and each segment had increased by half of its original volume. Meaning, him being in the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, and his Qi column being half full, would only require half of his original effort to completely fill the entire pillars! This was only his Qi column, and it was already six times bigger than the normal volume of any common-folk, or else, he would be able to single-handedly break through the first, second, and third rank of the same realm! This natural talent was inhumanly terrifying! Chapter 36 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation To have been graced with such a change the very instant the young lad ascended into the first rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence resulted in the young lad¡¯s immense confidence in his future. However, the progress this young lad had made was not enough to satisfy him since the young lad was capable of condensing his Blade¡¯s Menace, even if it was unstable. His combat prowess had increased more than ten fold, hence, this progress alone had undoubtedly expanded his horizons. Due to the young lad being in a constant state of enlightenment, he was seemingly able to get a better grasp of the more spiritual and mysterious arts. Therefore, his knowledge of the Sword Art of the Dragon had massively improved just because of that fact alone. The most important thing to Zhou Yan at that moment was to awaken his Blade¡¯s Menace. He was unable to understand why he was unhappy since his improvement in that area was actually massive. As for the ascension into a higher realm, that was no longer a huge concern nor was it important to him. After the young lad was enlightened by the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace, he would be able to forcefully infuse Spirit Crystals to ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer and all the way into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace since the side effects would no longer be a concern to him. The only thing was since the young lad had not reached the age of sixteen yet, and there was still plenty of time left for the young lad to progress, not thinking about the stability of one¡¯s realm just for the sake of ascending to a higher realm would be an extremely dangerous and risky thing to do. Hence, Zhou Yan was unwilling to pay such a high price imploring such a method. This would only be used as a last resort for him. The truth was the possibility of infusing the Spirit Crystals within one¡¯s Qi¡¯s pillar came to his mind when the young lad was healing Gu Yan¡ªhe felt it while his Spirit Crystals were depleted. The collection of Qi within one¡¯s realm would also require the need for one¡¯s full enlightenment of that realm¡¯s knowledge. The young lad¡¯s mastery over his Blade¡¯s Essence was extremely close to perfection. Even though he had not ascended into the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, the ascension of his realm was never exactly a huge problem for him. The realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer was the mutation of one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Essence, and this process of mutation required a huge volume of Qi for the change to happen. The only concern was if one had taken the enlightenment of one¡¯s knowledge lightly, in most cases, it would cause one¡¯s foundation to be incredibly unstable. Fixing such a major flaw in the future would be extremely and insurmountably difficult. Hence, it was a last resort for him. Zhou Yan wished to fully master and perfect his mastery within his realm before ascending into the next one, thus, his hard work in training was never solely for the sake of ascension. ¡­ Alas, Zhou Yan stood up. There were hints of deep contemplation and slight exhaustion in the gaze of both his eyes. In these couple of days, the young lad had spent all of his time sinking his mind in thinking about the knowledge which would most definitely bring him enlightenment. Thus, day and night the young lad worked hard sharpening his mind, and the only thing keeping his mind focused and sharp was the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale. He was unaware of what side effects this ale would bring butto the young lad, he could seemingly feel the growth and change of his soul, as if it was slowly taking one step at a time growing ever so stronger. It was an odd feeling for the young lad but Zhou Yan was now convinced by how accurate his judgment was. The young lad laid on top of both his hands behind his head. He was able to look out and stare into a partial sky through a small opening on the ceiling. It was already late night at that moment, and both crescent moons were orbiting one another¡ªit resembled the depiction of the Eight Trigrams. Thus, Zhou Yan gazed out the small opening into the beauty of the night. Staring into the shroud of the serene darkness, his heart felt incredibly peaceful. There was a week left before the young lad would be required to head out on his way to the main branch of the Zhou family. He initially assumed that all he had to do was defeat Zhou Lingyi in battle with pure strength and skill alone, and he would ultimately be selected. However, he was unclear of why Gu Yan was in such a grim mood¡ªit seemed as if he was greeting death. This forced the young lad to silence his deafening anxiety, as he calmed his heart to continue studying. The young lad felt slightly exhausted and drained. It had been a while since he had a bite to eat and had a good night¡¯s rest. ¡°The depiction of the moon held the same principles of the Eight Trigrams¡ªthe radiance of a moon is a body of pure Yin. Blade¡¯s Core of Pure Yin possessed the ability to condense the radiance of the moon¡¯s light, hence transforming it into the Blade¡¯s Menace of Infinite Moon¡¯s Radiance. A unique form indeed. ¡°How can I compare to these unique bodies? ¡°How long can I struggle in this unimaginably vast world?¡± Thus, the young lad stared directly at the crescent-shaped moons as he suddenly had an epiphany. This young lad was never easily touched by anything, not in the past nor would he be in the present.¡± However, at that moment, perhaps it was due to the spiritual growth of the lad¡¯s soul, as he felt he had gained more moments of epiphanies. The young lad thought about plenty of things, and moments of reflection like this were like a brief break for him since his mind was able to wander without any limits to wherever his heart desired. It was uncertain how much time had passed. However, as both moons spiraled and orbited one another, it spun and morphed into the shape of the Eight Trigrams and suddenly transformed into an object similar to a fish¡¯s eye, causing the night sky to be much more radiant than usual. At the same time, seemingly without reason, the young lad felt a sudden resonation of his soul. The young lad was unsure of the exact reason but the moment his soul began to vibrate, he could feel a mysterious feeling within as things that were overlooked or were never once thought about flooded his mind all at the same time. ¡°I have for a fact inherited most of the experience of that Ancient Sage who was capable of Spatial Destruction. Why¡­ How am I still so weak?¡± ¡°Since it was such a powerful soul that had infused within me¡ªnot to mention a slight spatial destruction energy that was also imbued in me¡ªit would be impossible for me to still be this weak!¡± ¡°Anyone powerful enough for spatial destruction, even with its essence alone would be enough to shatter the very fabric of space itself! ¡°That Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace made her way to me with the energy of spatial destruction itself. That outburst of energy was so terrifyingly powerful, it¡¯s beyond anything I could ever imagine!¡± ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve overlooked a significantly important detail!¡± ¡°That soul of the Ancient Sage has so much potential imbued within it, and I¡¯ve completely ignored it!¡± Zhou Yan stared at the fish-eye-esque change in the twin moons. The slight change in the radiance of the moonlight would greatly shift the tone of the earth underneath it. Thus, Zhou Yan¡¯s heart was symbolically parallel to the moon¡¯s radiance, hence an immediate change occurred within him. Alas at that moment, with a newfound determination, the young lad stood firm on the ground as he temporarily set aside any sword¡¯s way of this world and proceeded to focus on the principles of knowledge from the collective memories of the Ancient Sage. After the major paradigm shift in attitude, Zhou Yan felt as if his forehead had cracked open into a bottomless, terrifying unimaginable abyss. The young lad also felt a sudden spiraling wave of energy coming from the deepest depth of his forehead. Zhou Yan proceeded to use his sharp and keen sense of perception to sense the nature of the energy. However, with a sudden pull from this whirlpool-like energy, the transformation he had just witnessed from the twin moons up in the heavens was going through another series of changes. At that moment, it seemed the surrounding area had been completely silenced. Not a single sound could be heard around him. It was as if the young lad had arrived at an abandoned void, drifting without direction in its vast emptiness. As he looked up into the heavens above, the sky above was without color, filled by a dull tint. As the young lad looked beneath his feet, all he could see was a light greyish fluid¡ªit was similar to a thick extra strong glue. It was also deafeningly silent. ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s all this?¡± Zhou Yan was in a panicked state as he stood frozen in place. Then, a specter manifested in the void the young lad was in. It stood directly in front of the young lad. All this specter did was stand still in place, without moving an inch; and just like that, Zhou Yan felt a strong wave of terror while he was seemingly suffocating. However, that was besides the point. The most important detail was this specter of a man was none other than¡­ the Ancient Sage! ¡­ The instant he laid his eyes upon this man, Zhou Yan felt a strong wave of panic in his heart. A sudden thought rushed into the young lad¡¯s mind¡ªas this felt like a trap from the heavens¡ªhow exactly did this happen? The young lad felt as if his very existence, his life would be reaped away. What can the young lad do to resist in the presence of someone so unimaginably powerful? However, even if that was the only thing he knew, he was unwilling to submit without a fight. ¡°Worry not child, for this is merely a personification of my own thoughts.¡± At that moment, the specter suddenly emanated a shred of unique energy causing Zhou Yan to be at ease. Any mental guard the young lad had placed in the face of this specter would have little to no effect on it. Hence, Zhou Yan¡¯s expression changed to a much more relaxed one. The young lad had given up resisting since it was painfully obvious to him that there was nothing he could do that would even remotely affect this specter due to the immense gap of power between them. Since the specter said it would do him no harm, the young lad decided to put trust in it. Because if he refused to do so, there would be no escape for him. ¡°Your grace, what exactly has happened to you?¡± There were hints of gratitude in the young lad¡¯s heart since though he was unable to do a thing but to submit completely to the specter, this specter of a man truly had once graced him with its aid. He had such a thought in mind, and it was the young lad¡¯s true feeling when he expressed his most sincere concerns toward the specter. ¡°I¡­ My condition is a long story, hence there¡¯s no such need for an explanation. However, you may be rest assured that whatever that you received and inherited from me was a major part of my soul¡¯s essence. Hence, cleansing a pure and clean soul would be of great help to you.¡± That specter spoke with a soft tone. Zhou Yan nodded as he took a huge, sincere bow and proudly exclaimed, ¡°Please accept my bow as your pupil, master.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Good to know that you¡¯re showing such gratitude. It pleases me.¡± That specter never stopped Zhou Yan¡¯s action, as he nodded satisfyingly. ¡°This time, I was met with a calamity of lightning. It shattered my enlightened knowledge and principles, hence, there were plenty that I¡¯ve abandoned. I was merely left with another soul as I reincarnate to relearn what I¡¯ve once lost. ¡°If there¡¯s a day in the future for you to travel the vast universe, perhaps there¡¯s an opportunity for us to meet one day.¡± ¡°The universe is like a river. It passes through countless civilizations. Its shore contains plenty of other universes as well, and around it are plenty of calamities of lightning within the void. Remember, in any given moment, scholars should always have a humble heart, to feel small and insignificant, or else the inflated ego of one¡¯s heart would only result in one¡¯s demise. ¡°My entire lifetime I¡¯ve persisted in many, many principles and at the same time, given up on countless more. ¡°Hence, the calamity of lightning has shattered my soul, and I would have a fresh new start to relearn my ways. ¡°There¡¯s no need to give up on anything because of something that holds you back, and at the same time, there¡¯s also no need to persist in something because of any sort of pressure that might force you to do so. ¡°You¡¯re no exception to this principle. ¡°Beneath your feet lies the power of the soul. The scholars of your realm study the way of the sword, and even the soul itself is in the shape of a sword. Therefore, the law that governs this realm is the law of the ¡®Sword¡¯. ¡°But as wide as the universe stretches one would still find its way back to the point one had originated from, so what if it¡¯s the law of the sword? I shall help you once more. Thus, I shall help you shape your soul into the shape of a sword!¡± Just as the specter spoke, with a single wave of its hand the grey energy that covered the heavens and earth instantly collected and condensed around the young lad. This void was seemingly about to collapse on itself! Zhou Yan was incredibly terrified in his heart. There were no limits to this man¡¯s power as there was no scale to measure this man¡¯s limitless power! Although Zhou Yan had been infused with the will of the Ancient Sage¡¯s soul, Zhou Yan felt he was unworthy to even be an ant in the presence of this majestic man. Even though it was only how he felt about that limitless power, Zhou Yan believed in the presence of this man, if the man willed it, a single glance alone would be enough to murder the Lady of the Snow-Jaded palace more than a thousand times! It was an indescribable feeling, the only word that even came close to describing such majesty would be powerful and immense¡ªnothing else. ¡°Buzz¡­¡± Both the heavens and earth exploded. However, the space the young lad stood on was incredibly stable as if it was unaffected by the explosion. Zhou Yan was puzzled as it was a mystery to the young lad for where he was at. An infinite wave of energy, just with a single wave of this man¡¯s hand, had formed into a blindingly eye-piercing white light. Then, both the specter¡¯s hands were seemingly performing the Embracing Tai Chi as the true depiction of the Art of the Formless Fists manifested itself. Each punch was as solid as steel, and limitless specters of twelve forms of Divine Beasts manifested itself as they sent roars into the air before vanishing in the direction of the aureole. Chapter 37 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Thus, the shape of a sword slowly formed. This was the sword of the soul! A sword forged from the very essence of the soul. It was radiating an eye-piercing infinitely blinding white light, instantly lighting up the dark void. Thus, the formation of the sword silhouette sped up, and the main body of the silhouette became even more specter-like. However, this sword had already taken shape and thus, was emanating an immense and heavy spiritual energy. ¡°This is seventy percent of the soul that I¡¯ve abandoned. Everything that you¡¯ve been imbued with were merely fragments of some memories and a couple shreds of the energy from my soul. It wasn¡¯t in its complete form. ¡°These soul energies will be stored within the deepest depths of your mind directly at the center of your forehead. ¡°And this is the soul¡¯s dimension. ¡°Your realm, the realm of the ¡®Sword¡¯, and the soul¡¯s dimension contains vast and immense power. When this realm expands during a person¡¯s birth, that person would be deemed exceptional, and you¡¯re one of the most outstanding people. ¡°Besides that, you¡¯re one of great ambition. One with an exceptional will. ¡°I¡¯ve once had my eye on Yang Qingtan. Unfortunately he was unworthy as he was not close enough to be my match. Hence, this man only inherited a fragment of my powers, and it was through the backbreaking traumatic change in his life did his strength and powers greatly improve. ¡°And you¡­ Your soul was similar to the souls of people from China on Earth¡ªit matches mine perfectly. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t aware that you were a local in this world, I would¡¯ve assumed you were from my world. However, the various cultures within this one are extremely similar to the culture of China from Earth, hence it was not entirely odd. ¡­ ¡°You¡¯re still not ready to control this sword-shaped soul yet and are even more unprepared for it to be absorbed into yourself, but you can continuously and repeatedly observe this sword-shaped soul with your soul; keep continuous contact with it. ¡°As of your current state, your soul possesses some form of condensing potential, and it¡¯s capable of detecting and sensing the training progress and anyone¡¯s power level. When you can concentrate your soul and manifest the specter of the Divine Beasts, then you¡¯d be able to condense the Blade¡¯s specters of the Divine Beasts, hence manifesting the Blade¡¯s Soul of the Divine Beasts. ¡°When that happens you would be ready to inherit everything I have to offer.¡± ¡°Master¡­¡± Upon hearing what his master said, Zhou Yan was completely shocked and absolutely blown away. However, upon noticing the specter that had begun to fade away, Zhou Yan was reluctant to watch it leave. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel this way. I¡¯ve told you. I¡¯m not dead yet. My main soul has been reincarnated and given a new start in life. However, that¡¯s an extremely dangerous and complicated place, but at the same time it contains plenty of great opportunities. It¡¯s impossible for me to bring all of this to that world, so why don¡¯t I find myself an heir to my power and legacy right? ¡°Coincidentally, everything that you¡¯ve experienced, the things you¡¯ve encountered in your youth is similar to what I¡¯ve been through, and most importantly, you¡¯re extremely fitting and worthy to inherit my legacy! ¡°The main purpose of me doing all of this was to prove something. The two ways of the sword that I¡¯ve studied weren¡¯t wrong. Although I¡¯m capable of spatial destruction, I¡¯ve been struck by the Calamity of Lightning, but we can each study one of the two ways of the sword that I¡¯ve been devoted to. ¡°If there¡¯s a day in the future where we meet, we can each compare the results of our studies.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Yes master, I will not fail you!¡± ¡°Very well, knowing you have such a genuine heart proves that everything I¡¯ve done thus far has been worth it. However, heed my words. Any unpleasant thoughts can be used as motivation for training, hence the most important principle of training with my ways would be following your heart. ¡°But there are some things that I¡¯ve yet to accomplish, hence this resulted in my harrowing tragic fate when the Calamity of Lightning struck me. Almost all of my godly-majestic forms were completely obliterated! ¡°Hence, you must heed my word!¡± ¡°I, as your pupil, will take your wise words to heart!¡± Thus, Zhou Yan once again bowed with the most sincere respect. ¡°Excellent, someday in future when you¡¯re able to escape into the vast universe, we¡¯ll truly be able to sense each other¡¯s presence. ¡°So rid yourself of any intentions of searching for me before then. ¡°However, if you fail before that, then so be it. It means our paths were never meant to converge.¡± The majestic specter let out a soft sigh. After doing so, it looked toward Zhou Yan seemingly assessing the progress of his growth and training. After grasping a good understanding of the results of the young lad¡¯s training, it nodded in pure delight and satisfaction. At that very moment, Zhou Yan was humbled as he paid full attention to everything the specter had told him. At that moment, the specter had also suddenly pointed directly at Zhou Yan¡¯s body. Zhou Yan made no attempts to resist the specter, but he was able to clearly feel the instant the specter pointed at him. That specter¡ªhis master¡¯s silhouette¡ªwas fading away and dematerializing from this dimension. Then the young lad¡¯s body trembled as his eyes shot open. Thus, the young lad was once again staring at the moons out the opening on the ceiling. He was being basked by the gentle moonlight. Everything that happened earlier felt like a dream. However, Zhou Yan knew it was undoubtedly real. That was all because the young lad could very clearly feel he was no longer the same person he once was. The young lad sensed a change in him and could clearly feel his spiritual affinity become massively better. The only difference was, the young lad¡¯s soul was not molded into the shape of a sword, it was still the same as before¡ªunstable and unshaped. However, the instant the young lad used the incredibly sharp and keen spiritual energy to sense the void within his forehead, he was able to clearly bear witness to the huge majestic Sword of the Soul that stretches into the very heavens above! That was the pure spiritual energy of the ancient sage. It was the result of the Calamity of Lightning that had been purified and forged by his soul¡ªthe spiritual energy that was indescribably pure. The instant the young lad extended his keen sense onto this giant blade, he was immediately greeted by a violent rush of extremely powerful spiritual energy pouring out from the huge blade. Thus, Zhou Yan felt as if he was being baptized in a spiritual fountain. Thus, every inch of the young lad¡¯s body was instantly rejuvenated with incredible feelings of delight and contempt! The previously unstable and unshaped soul solidified and became more stable instantly. In addition to such great improvements¡ªjust like that enormous blade¡ªthe young lad¡¯s soul began shaping itself. As Zhou Yan detected such a change to his own body, he was completely stunned. However, the young lad collected himself immediately. Only someone as powerful as his master would have such unimaginably immense power from a single fragment of his soul. Thus, the young lad was grateful for Yang Qingtan to be incompatible with his master to be graced with such an opportunity! No wonder he had a familiar feeling upon meeting that person since that man had also been graced with an insignificant minute help by his master! ¡®However, even with such a minuscule amount of help, Yang Qingtan was able to progress to such an extent.¡¯ ¡®And I¡¯ve inherited seventy percent of Master¡¯s strength!¡¯ ¡®Seventy percent of a person capable of spatial destruction¡­¡¯ he thought to himself. Thus, Zhou Yan took a deep breath to calm his heart. The young lad had never once thought about any of this before. He naively believed that all of the drastic changes happening to him was because he inherited the will of the Ancient Sage, without any other factors in play. However, after the young lad reflected and gave this situation a much deeper thought and after what had transpired tonight, he finally realized the naivety of his foolish mind before. This was the only reason for everything that had transpired in his life. Thus, without a moment of hesitation Zhou Yan continuously focused his attention on shaping his soul and at the same time repeatedly sensing the enormous Sword of the Soul. Alas, due to this process, another subtle change occurred. This time, the young lad felt no anguish or pain. In addition to that, Zhou Yan felt inhumanly relaxed as a wave of unbound relief washed over him as if he had been completely cultivated within the waters of spiritual essence¡ªit was indescribably comfortable. Thus, the sands of time slowly slipped away. Zhou Yan, who was completely immersed in his cultivation, had completely forgotten about time, his realm, and his sword skill training as he was completely invested in the cultivation of shaping his soul. Alas, after countless attempts in shaping and molding his soul, a loud ¡®boom¡¯ could be heard from Zhou Yan¡¯s soul as his soul suddenly exploded. It was in that instant, Zhou Yan felt his soul completely shatter. However, the young lad was not afraid as he knew it was the first sign of transformation in the process of shaping his soul! As expected, after that moment of inhuman torturous pain, Zhou Yan felt a huge wave of infinite spiritual energy rushing toward him, and this time, he was finally able to absorb more spiritual energy from the enormous massive sword that was contained in his forehead. Within this rush of spiritual energy, it brought with it a tiny flashing ray of purple light from the Calamity of Lightning. Zhou Yan knew this was most probably the ray of light from the Calamity of Lightning but he could not explain why and how this lightning found its way there. Although it was merely a shred of lightning, the energy contained in it made Zhou Yan uncomfortably curious. Fortunately, the energy from the lightning did Zhou Yan no harm as this shred of energy had seemingly been infused in him. The moment this tiny shred of energy from the Calamity of Lightning entered his soul, he could feel his unstable soul finally solidify completely. A young lad who looked exactly like Zhou Yan stood silently at the very center of his forehead. The void within his forehead had been divided into two layers; the enormous blade was housed in the innermost layer, and the outer layer contained Zhou Yan¡¯s soul. Alas at this moment, the young lad¡¯s soul had finally been solidified and had also mutated. Thus, with a single thought, this soul flew out of Zhou Yan¡¯s forehead and landed on top of his head. ¡°Disperse!¡± With another thought, that soul immediately dispersed into a collection of formless spiritual energy. ¡°Gather!¡± Another change of thought and this formless collection of unbound spiritual energy once again gathered and condensed instantly into the appearance of Zhou Yan while levitating midair. ¡°Form Sword!¡± Thus, with another thought the soul immediately manifested the specter of the enormous blade. With a soul that had been solidified and given form, the enormous blade that was manifested seemed slightly specter-esque! Zhou Yan frowned as he thought of why it became a specter, and then proceeded to control it differently. The moment that happened, the enormous blade once again morphed into the appearance of an actual sword. This time, that sword felt extremely life-like and solid but the ferocity of this blade was far inferior to that enormous specter of a sword. ¡°I think I¡¯m beginning to understand now.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s heart lit up with delight as the shaping of one¡¯s soul progressed from a mere specter to a solid form¡ªthis would undoubtedly benefit him greatly. A scholar¡¯s ability to gain enlightenment was closely related to how powerful one¡¯s soul was. A massively powerful soul would have an inhuman affinity toward achieving enlightenment. Since Zhou Yan¡¯s soul had been mutated and evolved to such an extent, Zhou Yan¡¯s ability to gain enlightenment had reached an immeasurable height. ¡­ After a good long while, Zhou Yan finally snapped out of his enlightened state, and it was only when he had regained consciousness did he realize the light that shone through the opening from the ceiling was not from the moon but was in fact sunlight. It was uncertain how much time had passed. However, since not a single person came to bug him, Zhou Yan knew it was still not close to the time he was required to head toward the Zhou family home, which meant from the moment he entered a state of enlightenment to when he had snapped out of it did not take more than twenty days. Thus, Zhou Yan proceeded to assess his training progress. The moment he sensed his body, he was shocked to find that just by training his soul, his progress had ascended to the very peak of the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace! This pace was seemingly too fast of a progress! In addition to his ascension, the young lad¡¯s Qi Column had undergone another change too. Just like his success in shaping his soul, the young lad¡¯s body had seemingly also greatly evolved! Zhou Yan recalled the process of training his soul and the amazing feeling from the baptism of spiritual energy¡ªboth his eyes lit up in absolute delight! Chapter 38 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Yan was pondering for a second before he once again gathered his soul and proceeded to physically contact the enormous blade graced by the soul of the Ancient Sage within his forehead. As expected, another wave of refreshing spiritual energy poured out of it, and Zhou Yan¡¯s body and soul felt a rush of indescribable feelings of limitless pleasure and comfort of the highest degree. However, the young lad was not solely doing it for the experience¡ªhe was closely observing the changes and mutations that happened to his body. As expected, the young lad felt his body had subtly grown to a more solid form. It seemed as if his muscles were tangled, and it felt as if they were being forced down onto him as it slowly disappeared and dispersed into the void. ¡°So this is what it all meant! The strength and power of a soul can be used to strengthen and reinforce my very own physical body! With this alone, why is there a need for me to be concerned about not being able to keep up with the other geniuses?¡± Zhou Yan was exceptionally delighted from the bottom of his heart! Upon sensing the change of his physical body, he proceeded to sense his Qi Column and as expected, his double-helical Qi column had been mutated instantly to four additional segments on each helix! The twin Qi columns of four segments were filled to the brim with extremely pure Blade¡¯s Essence. It was like a Blade¡¯s specter that was still in a deep slumbering state, and it felt inexplicably menacing. These twin Qi Columns each were divided into four separate segments, meaning Zhou Yan would have eight segments to a single segment of a regular folk! This would result in not just a boost in every field, Zhou Yan would be better than anyone just by collecting and storing energy alone¡ªhe was now stronger than anyone within the same realm as the young lad by eight folds! This was literally breaking the laws which governed the realm! Zhou Yan was unable to imagine what kind of shackles and limitations he had just broken! His Qi Column had been mutated and evolved into an unimaginable state. The young lad wondered what kind of shackles would he be able to break if he had mastered the shaping of the soul of Divine Beasts? Thus, Zhou Yan had suddenly become extremely excited. As much as the segments of his Qi Column contained, this meant he would be required to work harder than any common folk and the training he would require would be more arduous than anyone else. However, Zhou Yan no longer cared about any of this! If he wanted to be stronger and more powerful than anyone else, that meant he would be required to work harder than anyone else! ¡­ Zhou Yan no longer had any worries or concerns about his journey to the Zhou family household! His heart was filled with pride and confidence! As of then, regardless of his combat prowess nor the strength of his soul, just with Silver Frost alone he was more than capable of murdering anyone. Furthermore, the Sorrow¡¯s Breaker was sealed with three Blade¡¯s Specter. The test of might in the Zhou family was fast approaching but Zhou Yan had nothing to fear as he was ready. Thus, the young lad proceeded to cackle out loud uncontrollably. As Gu Yan and Gu Xi were alerted by his cackling laughter, the duo went to the main door of the secret chamber where Zhou Yan was at and arrived at the same time. ¡°Yan¡¯er, are you done with your confinement now?¡± ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, are you coming out now?¡± Gu Yan¡¯s worried voice and the mix of sincere compassionate voice from Gu Xi resonated through the walls. Due to Zhou Yan dispersing a portion of the energy from his soul, he was able to sense their presence. The soul¡¯s energy penetrated the walls and landed on the duo¡¯s body but they felt nothing amiss. ¡°Uncle Gu Yan¡¯s powers resided at the peak of the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer, just one more step till he ascends into the first rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. Gu Xi, on the other hand, was in an almost perfect state as a third rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence¡­¡± As the young lad assessed their power levels with his soul¡¯s ability, both of the duo¡¯s realms manifested in Zhou Yan¡¯s detection field. However, the duo felt nothing as they were unable to sense his presence as he was doing so. It was as if they were completely oblivious to the fact that Zhou Yan was spying on them with his soul. They were unaware of the training of the soul and were even more clueless to a soul¡¯s ability, hence, their detection solely relied on anything physical that could be picked up by their senses. However, one¡¯s soul¡¯s ability was a much sharper form of one¡¯s reliance on senses. It was an amazing skill to have since it would be difficult for anyone to detect a soul¡¯s presence. In the world governed by the laws of the sword, not a single person would undergo soul training. Instead, it was through the arduous training in the ascension of one¡¯s realm to reinforce and strengthen one¡¯s soul on its own. This alone would be the soundest evidence. Thus, Zhou Yan stopped investigating the duo and proceeded to withdraw his soul¡¯s energy. He replied, ¡°Uncle Gu, Little Xi, I¡¯m done with my confinement and I¡¯m coming out. You two may come in now.¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, with a wave of his hands, the switch to the door at a distance was instantly pushed by a wave of Blade¡¯s Essence. This wave of Blade¡¯s Essence was incredibly swift and powerful, but not a single hint of bloodlust was within the Blade¡¯s Essence. As of then, Zhou Yan¡¯s soul¡¯s ability was impeccable and his progress was showing. Besides Zhou Yan¡¯s incredibly talented skill of gaining enlightenment, his mastery and control over his Blade¡¯s Essence was also incredibly outstanding. If Zhou Yan was to travel by steering his flying sword using his control over his Blade¡¯s Essence, his speed would be abnormally fast! A groan was heard. Thus, the door opened and Zhou Yan was greeted by Gu Yan and Gu Xi¡¯s extremely delighted expressions. It mattered not what the circumstances were. To have such a great leap in his progress under such a short span of time and was able to be placed in a state of solitary confinement and inner peace was a rare enough occasion. Since the situation with the Zhou family had progressed to such an extent, but Zhou Yan could still focus his mind in deep concentration and was able to study in peace¡ªwithout even mentioning the other strengths in Zhou Yan¡¯s personality and just by his attitude alone¡ªGu Yan was extremely impressed by the young lad¡¯s growth. ¡°Uncle Gu, Little Xi, I must apologize for causing both of you so much worry in the recent days.¡± Zhou Yan spoke in a compassionate tone. ¡°Yan¡¯er what are you saying!? Secluding yourself in pure solitary confinement resulted in such a huge leap in progress. Look at you now! A changed man. Even your aura is different! It¡¯s like you¡¯ve been completely reincarnated. This natural gift of yours is truly spectacular!¡± Gu Yan replied as he was unable to contain his excitement. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you¡¯ve ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence already? With what I¡¯m feeling now, I¡¯m not even confident to challenge you to a fight.¡± Gu Xi replied with a shocking and surprised expression. Since Gu Xi¡¯s perception and detection skills were impeccable, she was able to sense the incredible mutation in Zhou Yan¡¯s soul. She felt like a rushing waterfall, as the depths of Zhou Yan¡¯s power was incredibly deep. It was also with some thought and analysis that got her to such a conclusion. ¡°Yes indeed I¡¯ve ascended to the peaks of the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, and my combat prowess would be stronger than any powerful foe that resided in the first rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer. So Uncle Gu, Little Xi, the both of you may cease your worries now!¡± Zhou Yan explained calmly. At that moment, Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze was burning with spirit! As this was no longer the exclamations of confidence. ¡°What? Second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! You¡­ You were just in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal before this. How could you ascend so quickly¡­¡± In that instant, Gu Yan could not believe what he had just heard but upon noticing that Zhou Yan was not jesting about, he took a deep breath to calm all of the excitement and shock within his heart. This¡­ this speed of progress¡­ was¡­ was¡­ terrifying! With how fast things were progressing for this young lad, he would without a doubt ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer soon, meaning it would only be a matter of time before he awakened his Blade¡¯s Menace. The shackles of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace were seemingly non-existent. The thought of this young lad ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before the age of sixteen seemed extremely far-fetched and impossible before, but that thought had completely faded away into nothingness. Judging from the speed of progress, ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace in a year was extremely possible. He was no ordinary genius¡ªhe was an actual monster! Hence, Gu Yan realized that his initial assumption of telling Zhou Yan to ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace in five years was placing him on a pedestal, but in actuality it was an underestimation on his part. Gu Yan had a slightly bitter expression on his face. Compared to Zhou Yan, his progress did not even improve in his own realm. In fact, it had regressed and this made him extremely embarrassed. ¡°Yes, yes indeed this is way too fast. Brother Zhou Yan, remember you shouldn¡¯t rush your progress. In the study of the ways of the sword, one must always strengthen and train hard to fortify one¡¯s foundation¡­¡± Although Gu Xi was surprised and delighted, she was also slightly worried. ¡®Yes, I¡¯m well aware of that. My training this time enlightened me on some things. Let¡¯s put it this way; the various ways of the sword were an attachment or an upgrade to the Blade¡¯s Menace, hence this allowed me to ascend by two whole realms. ¡°Back then, I deliberately suppressed my progress before I was enlightened by the knowledge of the Blade¡¯s Menace. Now, under the immense buildup of power I was able to break through the walls of two whole realms, but it¡¯s actually normal. ¡°Hence, you guys may cease your worries.¡± Zhou Yan explained seriously. Since the young lad possessed an immensely powerful soul and an impeccable keen sixth sense, hence, he was able to sense anyone¡¯s emotions. On top of that, after he had undergone a mutation to his soul, a single look at Gu Xi and Gu Yan and he was able to sense the immense worry from the duo. Hence, his serious explanations. The young lad intended to cease any worries from the people who actually cared deeply for him. This was a decision he made back then. ¡­ As Zhou Yan ended his solitary confinement, he realized Gu Xi was about to leave too. It was two days before the young lad had to venture into the confines of the main branch of the Zhou family. Thus, another night approached. The hustle and bustle of the day had all faded away, leaving behind a deafening silence in the City of Heavenly Prophecies. Only the rustling noise from the leaves of the Pine tree in the courtyard were heard as the wind blew. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, I¡¯ll be leaving tomorrow. Can I be your company tonight?¡± Gu Xi had completely buried herself in Zhou Yan¡¯s arms as she whispered. Listening to the monotonous sounds of the wind, they felt every moment slipping away from them slowly. She did not wish to part with Zhou Yan but the day after tomorrow would be the day Zhou Yan ventured into the main branch of the Zhou family. With her abilities, even if she was to accompany him on his way, it would only cause Zhou Yan to worry about her. Furthermore, the time that her sect had given her was up, and if she refused to return, it would only bring her master trouble. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll hold you like this then. Allow me to explain some sword art principles that you don¡¯t understand.¡± Zhou Yan whispered. As Zhou Yan hugged Gu Xi, it felt like the young lad was hugging the entire world around his arms¡ªit felt peaceful and grounded in his heart. Gu Xi felt a rush from the flames of lust burning inside her. She had seemingly made up her mind as she rid herself of any hesitation and said, ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, tonight, I would like to¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve understood some principles from my studies, and there was clear instruction to avoid doing it before the age of sixteen, because doing so, it would interrupt with the progress of gaining enlightenment. ¡°And you know that if we haven¡¯t ascended to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before the age of sixteen, it would have dire consequences. So Little Xi, just wait till we both are sixteen, and then we shall be a couple. What do you think?¡± Zhou Yan was burning with the flames of primal lust too. As he hugged Gu Xi in his arms, he proceeded to pull her closer and hugged her tighter as if he wanted to press Gu Xi into his body. However, he willed himself to hold back such primal urges, as he spoke with a calm mind. ¡°Alright¡­ Brother Zhou Yan, Little Xi shall wait for you.¡± Gu Xi was blushing heavily as she acted in an extremely coquettish manner. Although she was ashamed that she had boldly asked for such advances and had failed, her heart was extremely delighted. She knew with a person like Zhou Yan and his speed of progress thus far, he would need not to care about any restrictions and laws about the way of the sword, and ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace to him was as simple as hammering a nail through a wooden plank. Hence, his progress would not be affected much. He was actually thinking about her, and if it was not for her he would not need to hold back. ¡ª From 15 Feb 2020, Coins spent on books that aren¡¯t selected will be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 39 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Since the young lass had hugged Zhou Yan¡¯s body as tightly as she physically could so it would be impossible for her to be oblivious of the rising manhood. However, she persisted. He was a little flirtatious, but he was able to buckle down and be serious just for her sake. Was this not enough? As she pondered, both her eyes were completely in a trance of love, thus, the young lass did not attempt to hide away her feelings as she graced Zhou Yan her soft, tender lips. Zhou Yan, on the other hand, could very clearly feel Gu Xi¡¯s most sincere feelings. Hence, he felt warm in his heart and without a moment of hesitation, he proceeded to kiss her lips passionately. However, his hands were not as honest as they slid underneath Gu Xi¡¯s dress and proceeded to passionately and seductively grab onto her smooth, white round dough. The young lad played with it to his heart¡¯s content. ¡­ Thus, evening sun rays peeked through the clouds. This time around, Zhou Yan sent Gu Xi off alone¡ªeven Gu Yan was not present. Gu Yan was aware of Zhou Yan¡¯s incredible combat prowess, and so they left in an extremely low profile state. Since the Gu family had been dissolved, the finances of the Gu family were all gone so it would never draw any unwanted attention to them. Besides, Gu Xi was a pupil of the Temple of the Frost Blades. Judging from her status and powers, no common-folk would dare to be on bad terms with her. After saying his farewells to his daughter at home, Gu Yan did not follow them and left the remaining time to the reluctant-to-separate lovers. At the moment, Zhou Yan had already sent Gu Xi out of the main gates of the City of Heavenly Prophecies and were closing in on the vicinity of the Mountains of Heavenly Prophecies. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, you should return now. The senior pupils of my sect will be coming to pick me up in a short while. I had destroyed the carriage that belongs to my sect, hence I¡¯m unable to be in contact with anyone from my sect since alchemy symbols that were in the carriage are in ruins.¡± Gu Xi was incredibly reluctant to part with Zhou Yan. However, she was forced to face it, hence she willed herself to collect her emotions. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait till the people of your sect come pick you up, only then will I leave, since I was in solitary confinement in recent days and had been ignoring you.¡± ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, being in solitary confinement is the right thing to do. If you were to abandon your training for my sake, I would regret it¡­ My seniors are here.¡± As Gu Xi spoke, her gaze was focused at a distance. There were four young maidens clad in a white silk dress, each riding on a pegasus that was pulling a carriage. Like a rainbow, it was drifting closer toward where the duo stood. This was a unique sight to witness since the pupils in that sect had such a method of transportation. From the perspective of any regular scholars, such a method of transportation was extremely excessive and luxurious. However, upon witnessing the prismatic wagon from the arrival of the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace, and knowing it was an even more luxurious and majestic scene, Zhou Yan felt extremely calm. Upon staring at the carriage, Zhou Yan proceeded to unleash his detection skill of his soul, and with a little sensing from the young lad¡¯s soul, the power level and the appearance of both lassies that were present in the carriage had manifested into the young lad¡¯s mind. Both of these lassies were draped in a white dress. The clothes the ladies wore had a better spiritual affinity than the maidens riding on those pegasuses outside. A long silver sword sigil was visible on these maiden¡¯s dresses. Amongst both lassies, there was one who had a fit and slender body with a slightly mature appearance, the other one looked slender and adorable, and seemed like she was still very young. Judging from their combat prowess, one had ascended to the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace and the other was in the third rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. Even though Zhou Yan had unleashed his Soul¡¯s detection ability twice, none of these maidens had a clue about Zhou Yan¡¯s presence. As Zhou Yan withdrew his Soul¡¯s ability, that carriage had landed not far from Gu Xi. As the doors opened, both maidens proceeded to step out of the carriage. These maidens glanced at Zhou Yan first, as an impressed and surprised gaze reflected through their eyes. It was only after that did they look at Gu Xi. ¡°Sister, when your carriage was fully destroyed your seal wasn¡¯t broken so we didn¡¯t rush to you at that time. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already had your vacation at your home for so long, master told you to come back for your training to hasten the process of becoming a Blade¡¯s Enforcer so you may ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand, Ninth Sister, Youngest Sister. Then¡­ Allow me to say a few words to Brother Zhou Yan before we part.¡± Gu Xi nodded. She knew it was all due to the high hopes and respect her master had for her to have graced her with such a treatment. Or else, why would her master care so deeply for her when there were plenty of other pupils in her sect? ¡°Thirteenth Sister, is this your infamous lover brother?¡± A tiny slender and adorable young lass who stood next to the quiet young lass spoke whilst blinking in a teasing manner toward Zhou Yan. ¡°Yes¡­Yes, he is.¡± Gu Xi¡¯s face was slightly blushing as she admitted almost immediately. ¡°Whoa¡­Thirteenth Sister, you truly know how to pick your lover though. Just look at how handsome he is.¡± That tiny slender looking young lass replied with a surprised tone. ¡°Youngest Sister, how could you say such a thing, hurry up and¡­apologize to Sir Zhou now.¡± The Ninth sister was also slightly blushing as she was ashamed of how bluntly the Youngest Sister was speaking. ¡°Oh it¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t be offended when the Youngest Sister speaks the truth with her blunt nature.¡± Zhou Yan replied with a gentle smile, as he thought about how nice these pupils of the Temple of the Frosted Blades were since their personality seemed grounded. ¡°See, all I was saying was merely the truth. Only pretentious people will be resented!¡± The Youngest Sister added. Before Zhou Yan had a chance to speak, his body suddenly shivered slightly as he shifted his gaze to a distant horizon. Upon noticing Zhou Yan¡¯s behavior, the trio of maidens grew curious. ¡°You¡¯ve been following for some time now. Show yourself!¡± Zhou Yan spoke in a cold tone. ¡°Show yourself!¡­ Show yourself¡­ Show yourself¡­¡± The young lad¡¯s voice echoed in the nearby forest as it resonated all around the area. However, the entire area was deafeningly silent, as there were not any drastic movements that could be detected. ¡°Xie Feng, as minor and insignificant as you are, you¡¯re still a man of reputation. Could you not cower? You don¡¯t even dare to yourself?¡± Zhou Yan scoffed as his gaze was filled to the brim with absolute disdain. ¡°Hmph, never did I expect useless trash such as you could sense my presence! So be it. Today, I shall allow you to die in glory! ¡°But before that, I shall enlighten you with what exactly is ¡®Raping before murder¡¯!¡± ¡°Elders from the tavern, it was this brat! His Infinite Spatial Ring contains at least a hundred thousand Spirit Crystals. I witnessed him gifting three Armor of Absolute Invincibility without even flinching!¡± Xie Feng spoke to several elders who stood next to him. All four elders were indescribably old as all of their faces looked exactly like shriveled up trees. Not even the slightest hint of Blade¡¯s Essence could be detected from these elders. They were standing idly by and were like a blade that had been stripped away of its sharp edge by the sands of time! However, this was the Blade¡¯s Menace of Hidden Restrain! Only extremely powerful elders of the Blade¡¯s Menace could master such form of Blade¡¯s Menace! As Zhou Yan glanced over to those elders, all four of them looked directly at him at the same time. All four of their gazes were like a bronze gong, as all of them unleashed two rays of light in that instant toward Zhou Yan¡¯s body! If Zhou Yan was to take a direct hit from a gaze filled with Blade¡¯s Menace, the young lad would undoubtedly be mortally wounded in an instant! However, the young lad feared nothing. As the blade¡¯s light was approaching him, with a gentle twitch of his hand, Silver Frost that was being carried on his back instantly fell into his hand. The young lad unleashed a series of rippling waves from the sword in his hand, and with a series of ¡®Swooshing¡¯ sounds, the young lad immediately extinguished that menacing light that was being unleashed from the eyes of all four elders. ¡°Hmm?¡± Amongst all four elders, two of which let out a confused sound, as the remaining two stood like the undead, silent and emotionless. Every move from their seemingly shriveled up old bodies was filled to the brim with a heavy wave of bloodlust. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve underestimated you for having such a skill! However, the more toys you possess, the more excited I would be! That¡¯s because in a few moments, all of those will be mine.¡± As Xie Feng cackled, a menacing and ruthless gaze reflected from his eyes. Those were the gaze of a viper. ¡°Stay alert and be careful sister, these four elders are powerful foes in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace!¡± The Ninth Sister who stood behind Gu Xi spoke with an extremely serious look on her face. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± As Zhou Yan stared at Xie Feng, he had an extremely calm expression. Since there was no longer a need for the young lad to hold back his powers, the young lad immediately unleashed his Blade¡¯s Menace. ¡°Blade¡¯s¡­ Blade¡¯s Menace?¡± ¡°Impossible! Impossible! You¡¯re nothing more than useless trash¡ªa b*stard child. How could you possibly awaken your Blade¡¯s Menace? Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!¡± As Xie Feng felt a strong menacing wave of Blade¡¯s Menace, his entire expression drastically changed as both his eyes were instantly bloodshot red¡ªhe looked inhumanly furious. However, Zhou Yan said nothing. Instead, the young lad cracked an extremely sinister smile in the face of the entire group of people who were ready for combat from their deadlock formation. ¡°Silver Frost, today, I shall use your body to manifest the first form of the Sword Art of the Dragon¡­ Pale Dragon¡¯s Blade!¡± Zhou Yan only bothered to speak to himself, as if he had completely ignored the existence of this group of people. However, his sinister grin made all four elders extremely nervous and the guard they kept up had seemingly been reinforced. Thus, Silver Frost danced in the air while emanating a cheerful buzz. With a single tap of Silver Frost, every ounce of blood within Zhou Yan¡¯s body began to boil, as the double-helical Qi Column began to rotate, and at the same time, every single meridian channel within the young lad¡¯s body was flowing smoothly as an immeasurable amount of energy began to rage and roar! Silver Frost alone was a spiritual blade, and on its own was already incredibly powerful since a single Blade¡¯s Menace from Silver Frost was capable of murdering Zhou Yan in an instant. With the additional energy pouring into Silver Frost from the energy from the enormous blade within the young lad¡¯s forehead, Silver Frost unleashed an explosion of ancient essence. The instant this essence was unleashed, the faces of all four elders instantly morphed into a drastic expression of pure fear. Without a single shred of hesitation, the four elders instantly proceeded to retreat in a manic episode! An enormous explosion of energy was unleashed within their shriveled up bodies¡ªenergy that was more than ten times stronger and potent than the attack they unleashed moments earlier! Not a single soul was able to imagine these shriveled up old bodies of these elders could unleash such powerful energy and at the same time had an explosion of Blade¡¯s Menace of such caliber. However, as powerful as these men were, they were retreating as their lives depended on it! Standing behind Zhou Yan were both the Ninth and Youngest Sisters in addition to the four maidens who rode on the pegasus. They were all stunned by such a display of power. Gu Xi, on the other hand, was shocked beyond belief! ¡°Buzz¡­¡± From within Silver Frost¡¯s body, a menacing green dragon manifested itself. After it roared and raged, this green dragon split into five projections and shot out in five different directions. This ancient beast of the gods was seemingly raging from both the heavens and earth! ¡ª From 15 Feb 2020, Coins spent on books that aren¡¯t selected will be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 40 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± Five Specters of The Pale Dragon were emanating an extremely menacing aura, and suddenly it shot into the four elders in black as they stood shocked, frozen, and completely wide-eyed. Thus, after that the Specter of The Pale Dragon faded away. ¡°Boom.¡± Five series of explosions could be heard as it was followed by harrowing ear-piercing shrieks. It was silenced as soon as it began and sounded like someone¡¯s neck had been snapped while they shrieked. It was a harrowing sight. Blood splattered all around the area as a rain of blood began to fall from the heavens above. The four elders who were in the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace were instantly murdered by a young lad whose powers were merely in the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! This scene had only taken a single attack¡ªone single move. Even Gu Xi, who was extremely close to Zhou Yan, was utterly shocked upon witnessing Zhou Yan unleash his attack for the very first time. Both her eyes were wide open. The Ninth Sister, the youngest pupil, and all four pegasus riders were also completely stunned by what they had just witnessed. With a single wave of Zhou Yan¡¯s hand, Silver Frost let out a buzz before materializing in the void and falling into Zhou Yan¡¯s hands. With a gentle wave, that sword instantly fell back into the sheath that was on Zhou Yan¡¯s back. Thus, Zhou Yan proceeded to make a grabbing gesture midair, and all of the Infinite Spatial Rings from the bodies instantly flew into Zhou Yan¡¯s hands. The young lad proceeded to sense the items that were stored within the ring. It was nothing too valuable that Zhou Yan wanted. ¡°Everyone who has witnessed this scene will get a gift from me!¡± As Zhou Yan spoke he added another Infinite Spatial Ring onto his palm, then with a single flick of his wrist, all six rings fell into the hands of the six maidens except for Gu Xi. At that moment, the Ninth Sister, Youngest Sister, and the four Pegasus riders snapped out of their shocked state as they trembled uncontrollably. The sheer ferocity of Zhou Yan¡¯s powers and his prideful temperament gravely surprised and stunned them! As these lassies received the Infinite Spatial Rings from Zhou Yan, it felt like a dream to them. ¡°Ninth Sister, Youngest Sister, please accept the gifts Brother Zhou Yan had given you guys alright,¡± Gu Xi said in a gentle and compassionate tone. ¡°Sure¡­ I, Ru Xue, humbly give you my thanks, Sir Zhou.¡± ¡°Then, I, Liu Xu humbly thank Thirteenth Sister¡¯s lover!¡± ¡°I, the inner guardian,Qianqian, humbly thank Sir Zhou for your generous gift.¡± ¡­ As these lassies took turns expressing their gratitude toward Zhou Yan, he replied each one with a gentle and passionate smile. This was a drastic difference to the temperament Zhou Yan displayed when he slaughtered those extremely powerful foes in an instant. This young lad was the literal definition of a peculiar man. His appearance was also the literal peak of beauty. In addition to his outstanding combat prowess, he also emanated elegance and pride. Furthermore, this young lad seemed to possess a unique personal charm to his appearance¡­ All of these attributes caused every single maiden who had received an Infinite Spatial ring from the young lad to be inhumanly charmed by him. After replying their gratitude with courtesy, the young lad proceeded to approach Gu Xi. At that moment, Gu Xi was completely star-struck as she stared with intense admiration and love toward the young lad. Since her lover made such an impression in the presence of the sisters in her sect, it made her extremely proud and blessed at the same time. ¡°Little Xi, this was specially made for you. Hold on to it alright.¡± Zhou Yan took out an intricately designed Infinite Spatial Ring which contained an exorbitant amount of resources within it. There were fifty top-tier Spirit Crystals, five hundred mid-tier Spirit Crystals, and five thousand low-tier Spirit Crystals! This amount was half of the total resources he had received from the rare incident! However, Zhou Yan was not even the slightest bit bothered by it since he had an enormous pool of spiritual energy from the enormous sword of the soul. After infusing the essence of the spiritual energy, the young lad¡¯s body, realm, and soul had been heightened and improved. A single source of energy was capable of improving three different attributes, hence this was a better resource compared to his dependency on the Spirit Crystals alone! Hence all of the herbal pills and Spirit Crystals were exactly like a form of currency and nothing else to him as of then. Moreover, all of the maidens that Zhou Yan cared about, both Ning¡¯er and Ping¡¯er, were under the care and protection of the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace, hence, there was nothing the young lad had to worry about. Gu Xi, on the other hand, spent most of her days within the confines of the Temple of the Frost Blade. The young lass¡­ A pupil of the Temple of the Frosted Blade who could not even afford a mere Armor of Absolute Invincibility¡­ Hence, it was only natural for Zhou Yan to be concerned about her wellbeing and to be worried about her struggling efforts to get her hands on any training resources which would put her at risk of danger. Thus, Zhou Yan spoke in a gentle tone and Gu Xi delightfully accepted Zhou Yan¡¯s gift as she felt extremely blessed while being stared at with absolute admiration and envy by the sisters from her sect. Reflected through both her stunning eyes were hints of happiness that shone from the very depths of her soul. She proceeded to sense the contents within the ring. After doing so, she was completely stunned. Time and time again the young lad had moved her heart, given her the joy of surprise, excitement, and a deeply rooted feeling of being completely baffled¡­ However, time and again, they were all sincere and genuine feelings from the young lad¡¯s heart. It was exactly like the resources that were placed within the ring. It was so shocking, it had nearly caused her soul to pass out. ¡°This¡­ this¡­. too expensive, too¡­¡± Gu Xi was stuttering as she attempted to speak. ¡°Those are merely currency. As long as you¡¯re doing well, nothing else matters.¡± Zhou Yan spoke in a gentle and compassionate tone. The young lad¡¯s words had also touched the hearts of all of the six maidens in white. How many men were willing to do so much for the sake of caring for their maidens in this world? Even if that maiden was an extremely powerful scholar, her status and position of power were not exactly glorious anyway¡­ As these maidens witnessed their exchange, tears had seemingly filled their eyes as they felt slightly envious and desperate. ¡­ ¡°But, brother Zhou Yan needs this even more than I do¡­¡± Gu Xi refused such an exorbitant amount of resources. ¡°I¡¯ve only given you half, and I have another half to myself. Besides, I can no longer use these resources for my training. I¡¯m walking a new Sword¡¯s Way of my creation, hence, I¡¯ll have no regrets and no need for these Spirit Crystals.¡± Zhou Yan stared at Gu Xi with a serious gaze as he seriously explained to her. As Gu Xi focused on Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze, she pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, I, Little Xi, will always be yours, forever and beyond. This lifetime and every single lifetime after this!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± While hugging Gu Xi tightly, Zhou Yan proceeded to give her soft luscious lips a tight and heavy kiss in the presence of every single person there. At that very moment, Gu Xi never attempted to shy away as she compassionately embraced his kiss. ¡­ ¡°Wow, that kiss¡­ seems magical. How I wish I could kiss Brother Zhou Yan too. You¡¯re so lucky!¡± Liu Xu, the Youngest Sister whispered while she was slightly blushing. The Ninth Sister who stood next to her was also blushing heavily on her cheeks. The only thing she could do was cover the Youngest Sister¡¯s mouth with her hands, stopping her from speaking. However, her words had escaped faster than the Ninth Sister could stop her, and the other four maidens had also heard everything that she had said. Upon overhearing what she had spoken, these maidens stared at Zhou Yan with a look filled to the brim with pure admiration and envy. ¡­ ¡­ Zhou Yan had always hated the feeling of parting ways with people he cared about. However, it seemed things that he hated the most would often happen to him in his entire lifespan. Not a single soul would be able to refuse destiny¡¯s plans. Even so, as the young lad sent Gu Xi, who was just mere moments ago embraced in his arms, on her way. The young lad was in a daze as he felt the emptiness in his arms. The attack the young lad had unleashed earlier was not part of the young lad¡¯s immense power. It was in fact due to the nature of Silver Frost which had an ability to manifest projections! In other words, the Silver Frost is a spiritual blade which within itself was sealed with a spirit, so even in the hands of common-folk it would still possess the ability to murder a strong foe in the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence with a single toss! Zhou Yan had ascended to the very peaks of the second rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, and based on his ability and the scale of his absolute power alone, if the young lad were to use Sorrow¡¯s Breaker, he would be capable of going head to head with any strong foes of the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer without breaking a sweat. However, in the face of anyone within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, the young lad would stand no chance facing up against them! The only difference was since it was during an ambush by extremely powerful people, the young lad was forced to show off his immense power, in order to cease Gu Xi¡¯s worries and to show her that he was incredibly powerful! At the same time, he wanted to show Gu Xi¡¯s sisters from her sect that she was taken, and this master of hers was unlike any common-folk and should not be trifled with! All of this was carefully planned by the young lad. Not to mention the young lad intended to murder Xie Feng for quite some time now. Since he was blessed by such an opportunity, and since the young lad would be traveling to a distant land soon, he had qualms killing this man. Since the Xiao family had allied with the Xie family, the death of Xie Feng would have no correlation to the Xie family. Hence, there was nothing Zhou Yan had to worry about. Hence, if the young lad had to hold back killing anyone, he would do no harm. However, if the young lad was to unleash an attack, he would leave no living behind and completely uproot any possible future threats! By borrowing the Silver Frost¡¯s ability to manifest projections of attacks and his vast knowledge in sword arts, Zhou Yan¡¯s first attempt in unleashing the Sword Art of The Dragon was immeasurably powerful and invincible, hence a single attack would shock the very heavens and earth! A single attack caused the death of five people! Amongst these five people, four of which were powerful scholars who had ascended to the very peaks of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace were all instantly slaughtered by a single attack! What kind of power was this? As Zhou Yan reflected on the event, he began to tremble slightly. Thus, unknowingly for him, someone as insignificant as an ant could have progressed to such an extent! Facing the setting sun, Zhou Yan reflected upon his lack of power and combat experience multiple times, and after doing so he returned to the Gu family household. ¡­ On that very night, both Zhou Yan and Gu Yan arrived at the Xiao family home. This time, the young lad had not seen both lassies, Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner. It seemed like both of them were intentionally avoiding him¡ªseemingly judging his uselessness and completely avoiding him. After having a brief conversation with Xiao Zhan within the walls of the hidden chambers, Zhou Yan proceeded to heal him from his injuries with the use of some Spirit Crystals. However, Xiao Zhan seemed to be aware of certain things which were tied to the Xiao family and had intended to be left for dead. However, since he had fully recovered from his injuries, he was no longer acting rashly. The lad lived as if he had not recovered and since he had exiled himself to live alone in this secluded spot, he fully intended to live the life in complete anguish. However, it seemed Zhou Yan had read his feelings. Just like his father, Xiao Zhan seemingly knew that there was nothing he could do to change anything without power. Hence, he secretly kneeled in endless guilt without Zhou Yan realizing¡­ He was saving up his strength in hopes of one day providing Zhou Yan the greatest support with his power alone. Hence, Zhou Yan lamented and had also seemingly understood why both of his daughters, Little Lin¡¯er and Little Yan¡¯er, were so desperate in their search for power before he had an opportunity to display his strength and power. As much as the young lad understood the motive being their actions, he was unable to accept the feelings of being betrayed by their actions. However, he was still incredibly grateful and respectful toward Xiao Zhan. The young lad would begin his journey tomorrow toward the Zhou family in order to regain what was rightfully his! Tomorrow, he would no longer have to bear the label of ¡®B*stard Child¡¯! He would be able to regain the title of his father¡¯s trueborn child fair and square in the presence of everyone! Tomorrow, the young lad would no longer live in the shadows. He would be able to finally suppress anyone who had schemed against him and deliberately brought him harm with his natural gifts! The young lad had been waiting for the arrival of this day for a long while now! Chapter 41 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Canglan City, Zhou Family Academy. An ocean of people was present. Due to this event being very closely tied to the reputation of the Zhou family, if the Zhou family were to be in good terms with the main branch of the Zhou family, then the future development for the Zhou family would be naturally amazing. Hence, with that in mind, the Zhou family sent out invitations to plenty of famous scholars to witness this selection of genius event. It mattered not if the guests invited were from a minor family or any known genius of any family¡ªeveryone was invited. This was done to show the influence the Zhou family had, and at the same time show how good the reputation of the Zhou family in Canglan city was in the presence of the main branch of the Zhou family. ¡°Everything has been done in order, my Lord. There shouldn¡¯t be a problem. As for that person, according to Xiao family¡¯s intel, he had been staying in the hidden chambers of the Gu family for seven days now. However, he doesn¡¯t seem to be too powerful. ¡°However, he seems to be carrying an exorbitant amount of Spirit Crystals on him.¡± A pale-looking elderly man spoke. ¡°Hmm, it seems his father has left him some things, but that¡¯s within our expectations. However, we didn¡¯t expect Ning¡¯er¡¯s support to come to her aid that fast! It was someone capable of shattering the very shackles of the heavens and earth. The only person capable of doing something of this magnitude would be the person supporting her from the shadows! ¡°Those people didn¡¯t listen to what we¡¯ve told them. Ambushing Ning¡¯er without thinking¡­ It serves them right! Now the Xie family has the audacity to demand reimbursement from us! They don¡¯t know death!¡± ¡°We shall wait until the Lord of Canglan City dies, then we¡¯ll be able to take this city. Until then, we shall plan our next moves carefully. ¡°The Xiao family has fully submitted to the Xie family¡¯s will and now, Xiao Zhan is a cripple. His life is now a living hell; the Gu family had already been dissolved and thus Gu Yan himself is no longer capable of doing much. He¡¯s now in the same condition as Xiao Zhan. ¡°Hence, there isn¡¯t much to worry about with these people.¡± Another elderly man with a deep gaze spoke; his expression remained cold and emotionless. ¡°My Lord, why hasn¡¯t the main branch of our family made their presence yet? Could they possibly¡­¡± ¡°Insolence! Elder of Lore, the combat prowess of these people far exceeds the third rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace so their detection skills are extremely far-reaching. If whatever you just said were brought to their attention, you¡¯d stir up unwanted troubles! ¡°Our Zhou family are just mere branches to the main branch of our family. Them gracing us with their presence is something we should be extremely grateful about, and we should never feel the slightest bit displeased.¡± The elderly man clad in black frantically explained. He had a serious look on his face as he was observing the distant land, and only after sensing nothing approaching did he finally relaxed. ¡°Ahh¡­ forgive me, my Lord.¡± The Elder of Lore had a remorseful expression as he too gazed into the distant land frantically. At that time, some major families were gradually making their appearance. As the Zhou family guard announced their presence, Zhou Wuzhen¡ªLord of the Zhou family, the Elder of Lore, and the others proceeded to greet these families. A test of might was a grand event of any major families, and any families who had no intention of making it a high profile event would usually just hold the event amongst its family members. However, if there was an intention to make it an extravagant event, they would usually open up their doors and invite plenty of well-known people from important families to spectate. The Zhou family had always assumed Zhou Yan was nothing more than useless trash, so naturally they were not worried¡ªeven if he came to disrupt the order and peace of the event. Even if he were to make his presence known, useless trash without any abilities like him would never be taken seriously by anyone! Until then, the Zhou family could very openly announce his ¡®B*stard child¡¯ identity, and this itself would result in the Zhou family gaining more glory and status! Hence, not a single soul was even the slightest bit concerned about Zhou Yan. ¡­ ¡°Lord Huang, I never expect you to grace us with your presence. It has been so many years now. Lord Huang¡¯s incredible mastery of your Blade¡¯s Menace truly would be a spectacle to bear witness for anyone!¡± ¡°If it isn¡¯t Elder Ling. Elder Ling¡¯s current prowess would put our Huang family to shame, and it seems you¡¯ve made significant progress to your strength!¡± ¡°Hahaha, you flatter me too much¡­ Hmm, the Lord of the Region of a Thousand Despair is also present! This Zhou family truly has a reputation for themselves!¡± ¡°Hey, it seems you¡¯re oblivious to everything, right? This time, the Zhou family has invited their main branch. As you know, a city holds more power than a district, and a capital city would hold more power than a city! In every capital city, it governs a hundred and eight cities. Anything that holds more power than a capital city would be a region. ¡°The main branch of the Zhou family was the governor of the Xiaoyao Capital City and our Canglan City, hence they¡¯re an extremely powerful family which has significant power of influence! They¡¯re one of the four major families! ¡°Even though they govern the Xiaoyao Capital City within the Water Region, their reputation still stands! Hence, why shouldn¡¯t the Lord of Canglan City dare not to show his presence here? ¡°Whoa¡­Who knew the Zhou family had this much power of influence?¡± ¡°Of course they do. Do you know a man named Zhou Wangchen? He had made a huge and significant reputation to himself within the walls of the main branch of the Zhou family, although, unfortunately in the end he lost all significance to his reputation¡­¡± ¡­ Both Zhou Yan and Gu Yan were standing close to both of these elders; since the duo had disguised their appearance and had entered in a low profile manner, their presence was not detected by anyone. In this event, anyone without an invitation would be denied entry, hence Zhou Yan proceeded to casually murder a lord from a minor family whom Zhou Yan had some grievances with. After stealing the invitation, the young lad proceeded to enter alongside Gu Yan. As of then, not much drastic change had occurred in the Zhou family¡ªeven in security and defense of the household, no clear strict protocols or formations were visibly deployed. Hence, Zhou Yan glanced toward Gu Yan, as they had already understood that in fact, the entirety of the Zhou family had not even bothered to take them seriously under the state of complete ignorance and oblivious to the full extent of their powers. This meant they had made everything easier for the duo. As both of their gazes met, the duo made mental preparations to be ready to adapt to any sudden changes to their plan. At that very moment, a huge shadow suddenly stretched across and covered the entire clear blue sky. Every single person instantly looked up to the sky. Sprawled across the sky was a huge black eagle. As it flew across the sky, it shredded a spatial void with a sharp squawk and was flying above the crowd¡¯s heads. At the same moment, upon a humming sound, that huge majestic black eagle morphed into a dark blade with the carving of an eagle. It then suddenly flew into the void and vanished without a single trace. However, after that display, a prismatic light appeared. Within that prismatic light, a flying ship which had a carving of a sigil of a centipede on the body appeared out of it. As the flying ship materialised, an elderly man was the first to step out of that vessel followed by a pair of young lad and maiden. The young lad had long flowing purple hair which was fluttering in the wind¡ªhe seemed extremely attuned to his spiritual nature. His body looked slender and tall. This man resembled a menacing sharpened blade¡ªhe was even emanating a sinister and menacing aura from his body. Standing next to him was a young lass clad in a light green dress with an affinity to the spiritual nature. Her long flowing dark hair reflected the spiritual radiance of the night sky as it was draped on her shoulders, the young lass¡¯ slender shoulders were as if masonwork was done onto perfecting such slender shoulders; her waist was incredibly tiny as if restraints were placed around it to keep it in shape; her hands were as soft as the budding leaves and her face was as pretty as a fully bloomed flower. Her skin was bright as it glimmered as light reflected upon it, the young lass was seemingly emanating an elegant spiritual aura as her cheeks blushed, both of her eyebrows were thick, luscious and dark. This young lass was terrifyingly stunning. As Zhou Yan stared from a distance, he was slightly surprised. It seems as if after this young lass had surpassed the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, various spiritual radiance would gradually manifest itself from her. This alone was enough to charm any soul. Using the young lad¡¯s soul¡¯s ability in detection, his soul casually phased through this trio of people, thus, in an instant, the young lad had grasped an understanding of the realms the trio were currently residing in. This spiritual strength seemed peculiar and unique as not a single person would be able to remotely sense its presence. Under Zhou Yan¡¯s detection, he found out that this elderly man had ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart. Zhou Yan could not judge the actual power level of this elderly man¡¯s skills since he dared not probe deeper into this man¡¯s Qi Column. The duo, on the other hand, had ascended to the very peak of the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. These people were not older than twenty years of age, but the realms they had ascended into¡­ Not even the infamous Yang Qingtian could remotely come close to being an actual competition to these people. Ascending into such a realm was a quality Zhou Yan would have to admire as of then. After Zhou Yan was done gauging what these trio of people were capable of, he withdrew his ability. Although the couple was unable to sense his presence, that elderly man suddenly focused his gaze as he glared at the direction to where Zhou Yan stood. Zhou Yan¡¯s heart twitched slightly as he immediately recalled his soul¡¯s ability while collecting his emotions at the same time. That elderly man¡¯s glare was as bright as the burning sun. The instant his gaze swept toward him, the lords, elders, and even the lord of the Region of A Thousand Despair who stood around Zhou Yan had a drastic change to their expressions as they immediately bowed while an obvious wave of fear washed across their faces. After doing so, the elderly man¡¯s gaze shifted to Zhou Yan. Although the young lad had infused the powers of the Nine-Folds Yin Yang Manuscripts to keep his essence hidden, he did not make an effort to diminish his status by bowing toward him, as he calmly stared back at the elderly man. Moments later, the elderly man proceeded to stare at Silver Frost as if he was contemplating something. Silver Frost was also keeping its essence hidden. However, the elderly man¡¯s gaze suddenly lit up as he emitted a shred of unimaginable radiance. Thus, the elderly man proceeded to once again take another glance at Zhou Yan as hints of admiration could be seen from the man¡¯s gaze while he gently nodded his head toward Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan¡¯s emotions of pure skepticism immediately faded away. Since the young lad was not using Sorrow Breaker, he had kept it away. Since Feng Lingqing was slumbering within Silver Frost¡¯s body, he was unable to keep it away within his Infinite Spatial Ring, hence it was hanging from his waist. Although Silver Frost kept all of its Blade¡¯s Menace hidden, this elderly man had seemingly noticed something from it. Zhou Yan was slightly nervous, but since things had progressed to such an extent, the young lad no longer had any concerns toward the outcome of the entire debacle. He would do absolutely anything, even if he exploded into a manic state; he would do it in the name of earning the right to enter into the main branch of his family. In the name of fulfilling his father¡¯s wishes and obeying his father¡¯s words, it mattered not if the young lad had to scale mountains of blades nor swim across an ocean of flames. He would make sure it was done with everything in his power! This was the purest determined will from the young lad¡¯s heart. At that very moment, the young lad was unsure if this elderly man had cracked a sincere smile or merely putting on a facade. He was able to notice the unique and odd nature from Silver Frost, hence it mattered not which was it in the end. The elderly man had gazed toward the young lad with a hint of admiration, hence this meant everything was not as dire as he had imagined. Zhou Yan proceeded to calm his mind and collect himself, and it was only after that did he realize that Gu Yan, who had been standing next to him, was completely soaked in sweat. ¡°This man truly is powerful! He should at least be in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart! Truly a spectacle!¡± Gu Yan lamented. ¡°Kind friend, you have a keen eye. That elderly senior is not only slightly more powerful than the elder of my Ling family, nay. His power is totally beyond imagination!¡± The lord of the Ling family spoke in high praise. ¡°Could it be that spectacle earlier¡­ was a Blade¡¯s Specter? A Blade¡¯s Spectre can morph into the Soul of War. It seems that this elderly man has high hopes in ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Spectre!¡± The Lord of the Region of A Thousand Despair lamented as his eyebrows constricted. Chapter 42 ¡°Blade¡¯s Specter? Soul of War?¡± As Zhou Yan heard these words being spoken, every ounce of blood was raging within his body! Thus, the young lad immediately thought about his master and the words that were given to him. If there was a day in future, where the young lad was able to unleash the specters of all twelve Divine Beasts¡­ twelve Souls of War¡­ attacking in unison¡­ This was a result the young lad was extremely excited to achieve, but it would be without a shred of doubt an exceedingly arduous process. Based on the young lad¡¯s incredible skill of gaining enlightenment, it was no secret the art of the formless fist was unimaginably difficult to learn. However, he would have no problem understanding and learning about other fields. However, Zhou Yan was very much aware that a skill capable of spatial destruction, in his eyes, would be difficult to understand, and other factors that would tie to understanding such a skill would require the young lad to learn and understand a principle that was beyond his realm of understanding. Although the young lad had not yet grasped the knowledge of said principles at the moment, with his persistent study of said skill and other sword arts, the difference became painfully obvious. It was exactly like the mysterious realm of people of China; after sitting for an exceptionally difficult test then going back to simple math problems, everything that was easy before would be even easier. Thus, Zhou Yan was very much aware of the situation he had found himself in. However, he enjoyed sinking his mind into exceedingly difficult principles to study, and it was only with that alone that he felt massive improvements had occurred to him. ¡­ ¡°The Lord of the minor branch of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen, and the respective elders within the minor branch and everyone present alongside him gives their most humble greetings to the Lord of the main branch of the Zhou family, Elder Zhou, young masters, and ladies of the aforementioned.¡± Zhou Wuzhen was the first to step out. Next to him was the Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei, and his hand, Zhou Wuji. Present at that scene with them were the people Zhou Yan resented wholeheartedly¡ªZhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, Zhou Xian, and several other people. Using his keen detection skills from his soul, Zhou Yan was shocked to realize Zhou Lingyi had actually ascended to the peak of the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence! And she was incredibly stable in that realm! Zhou Lingyao¡¯s combat prowess had reached the second rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer! It seems he had remained in said realm for quite some time now! What exactly was going on? Zhou Yan¡¯s soul¡¯s detection ability could very clearly sense this situation, hence his expression morphed into a cold and sinister undertone. If the young lad¡¯s training progress had not massively improved to an unimaginable extent, and if he had remained in the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, without even mentioning Zhou Lingyao, just Zhou Lingyi alone with her natural gifts and actual skills would have given him no chance to win! Zhou Yan¡¯s combat prowess was more than capable of facing up against opponents in several realms higher than he was. However, since Zhou Lingyi was still the prime genius of the Zhou family, she would be capable of shattering the shackles between realms. Her skills peaked at the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence so her progress was even more astounding than any scholars in the third rank of the same realm! Since that was the case, if Zhou Yan had remained in the third rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal, the gap between his realm and the third rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence would be unimaginably wide making the battle incredibly difficult for the young lad. Moreover, if he was faced against Zhou Lingyao once more, his opponent would undoubtedly seize this opportunity to murder him! Zhou Yan lamented in his heart. As expected, there were plenty of hidden risks and dangers in this event! Not a single soul told him about Zhou Lingyi¡¯s progress in her realms, but it seems his expectation of her progress to her actual progress was indeed too wide of a gap. Hence, Zhou Yan could not hold back the thought of staying on guard and being exceptionally cautious in the face of these people who were known to be wolves in sheep¡¯s clothing. However, he had finally grasped the full extent of these people¡¯s actual powers. The realm he had currently ascended into was the same as Zhou Lingyi, but in comparison to the quality of both of their Qi Columns, Zhou Lingyi would not even come close to being an actual contest with him. The full extent of Zhou Lingyao¡¯s powers, on the other hand, was actually in the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer¡ªhe had entirely exceeded the young lad¡¯s progress by three whole realms! This battle would most probably be an arduous and difficult one! However, if Zhou Yan successfully defeated Zhou Lingyao, his reputation would echo across the entirety of Canglan City! Slaughtering an opponent three realms above him would show that he was the true born natural genius! Even within the main branch of his family, Zhou Yuntian who had defeated an opponent two realms above him was enough to be completely placed on top of the highest pedestal! If that was the case, what exactly would await the young lad? Since accomplishing such a feat would be unimaginably difficult and would without a shred of doubt take every ounce of the young lad¡¯s ability, but this was the only thing he wanted! Zhou Yan had already made the decision in his heart! ¡­ ¡°Alright then, since everyone here is a member of our Zhou family then we shall disregard any formalities. Can everyone please stand up.¡± With a single wave of that elderly man¡¯s hand, an endless wave of majestic aura stretched across the entire heavens and earth. The pupils and elders who were kneeling moments earlier were all lifted from their knees by that majestic aura. This gesture was literally the work of god itself since every single soul present at that moment was completely stunned. ¡°We as your pupils, humbly thank you, Grand Elder.¡± The crowd of the pupils in the Zhou family immediately bowed to show their respect. In that moment, the lord of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen, walked up to them and said, ¡°Grand Elder of the Zhou family, Lord Zhou, and Lady Zhou. A total of ten pupils would be taking part in this test of might. ¡°Amongst these ten pupils, the one that holds the best natural gift is none other than Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son, Zhou¡ª¡± ¡°I, Zhou Yan!¡± Zhou Yan loudly exclaimed as he walked out immediately. His exclamation silenced the crowd of people. In such a critical moment, Zhou Yan made no effort to hide away the full extent of his powers. As the young lad walked, a thick aura of Blade¡¯s Menace was gradually emanating from his body. ¡°Buzz¡­¡± A wave of Blade¡¯s Menace instantly manifested itself, and this very scene alone had immediately captivated every single person¡¯s attention. ¡°Zhou Wangchen¡¯s trueborn heir is me, Zhou Yan alone! Both Sword¡¯s Way of Bond and Despair, principles engraved in my father¡¯s carvings and my father¡¯s Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale, are irreplaceable by anyone!¡± ¡°Any schemes would speak no volume in the face of true power and bloodline! I, Zhou Yan, can never be replaced!¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, waves of Blade¡¯s Menace were exploding out of his body, completely robbing Zhou Wuzhen of the chance to speak! The young lad was able to feel countless sinister-filled gazes staring directly at him, seemingly about to swallow the young lad whole and completely erase his existence. However, the young lad was not even by the slightest bit bothered by it. If the young lad had not made his first move by standing out in the face of the crowd at that moment, he would never be graced with another opportunity again! As the young lad spoke, his face twitched and his entire appearance instantly changed. Suddenly, the young lad took out an entire jug of ale, tilted his head back, and started drinking it! With another twitch of his arm, the nine forms of Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade concentrated into a mix of Blade¡¯s Menace, as his Blade¡¯s Menace had incorporated the principles from both the Sword¡¯s Way of Bond and the Sword¡¯s Way of Despair. This resulted in a balance that heavily reflected the knowledge of principles of the Eight Trigrams as this energy spiraled continuously with pure balance. ¡°Bold little beast who doesn¡¯t know it¡¯s place¡­¡± Just as the Grand Elder of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuwei, was about to unleash a volley of insults, Zhou Yan¡¯s words and actions earlier had completely dampened the sounds of his words. Thus, he was completely stunned. Never did he expect that Zhou Yan would blatantly appear out of nowhere. This single action had completely derailed their plans! ¡°Yes, not bad indeed. Truly reflects Zhou Wangchen¡¯s temperament! Strong and firm bones, not bad. In terms of bloodline, the blood that courses through his veins is the very same blood as the entirety of our Zhou family, and it seems you¡¯ve actually ascended into the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace and had already awakened your Blade¡¯s Menace, meaning, if you were to condense your blood within waters of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer¡¯s Pond, then there¡¯s high hopes of you successfully ascending into the realms of the Blade¡¯s Menace before the age of sixteen. This is truly spectacular.¡± At that very moment, that elder with a head full of white hair from the main branch of the Zhou family was extremely impressed by Zhou Yan, as feelings of amusement were obvious in his expression. Hence, he proceeded to acknowledge and reassure Zhou Yan¡¯s ability. Zhou Wuzhen was stunned as his expression was completely frozen by that single statement. In that instance, countless people in the crowd were completely shocked. Hence, the entire area had drowned in complete silence as every single person who was staring at Zhou Wuzhen had an indescribably odd gaze. However, at the same time, that stunningly handsome lad who had been standing next to that elder pridefully glanced at Zhou Yan and said in a cold tone, ¡°The elder praised you, but don¡¯t you people dare assume your people are truly incredible. You small village people dwelling in a tiny place like this. If it wasn¡¯t for our family¡¯s grace taking the liberty of dropping by after some time, do any of you people think that you¡¯re meant for greatness? ¡°The elder has praised you, then you should know better to kneel as a display of gratitude for his praise. How could you not even know that? It really seems that people from small villages do not understand the basics!¡± This lad was seemingly displeased with Zhou Yan¡¯s arrogance, or most probably it was his bold showcase of his Blade¡¯s Menace that had offended him. Even his gaze, as he stared at Zhou Yan, seemed hostile. ¡°We originated from the same roots, so there¡¯s no need for infighting! Could it possibly be that this lad assumed he was worthy of replacing this elder, hence he was in a position which allowed him to speak for the elder? How would you know if I truly was ungrateful toward the elder?¡± Zhou Yan replied in a cold tone. His gaze was similar to the lad¡¯s gaze¡ªarrogant and hostile! The young lad feared nothing! Zhou Yan was aware that if he was not arrogant enough in the main branch of the family, he would never gain any recognition nor status, and it would only result in him being bullied! In this world, there would never be a submissive and weak genius, because the submissive and weak were all dead! ¡°You insolent fool! In terms of position and status, how would you even be in a position to speak to me? Even in the progression of realms, I¡¯m in a higher realm than you, and I¡¯m older than you. HYou seek death to disrespect your seniors! It mattered not if the Lord of the minor branch of our family is also present here. Even he would not be able to save you!¡± After the lad was done speaking, waves of bloodlust poured out of his eyes. This lad was in the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace; to murder Zhou Yan would be an extremely easy task for him, under the condition Zhou Yan did not use his trump card¡ªthe Silver Frost. ¡°Sir Zhou, do so as you please. This animal had not been taught by his parents. Such an insolent and arrogant fool¡­¡± The Elder of Lore said in a cold tone at that moment. Zhou Yan glared at the Elder of Lore and proceeded to stare directly at that lad. He said, ¡°You¡¯re the insolent one! A moon¡¯s cycle of time ago, I was merely in the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. However, even then I had already awakened by Blade¡¯s Essence! Twenty days later, I ascended into the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, and I awakened my Blade¡¯s Menace! And now, a moon¡¯s cycle later I¡¯m already at the peak of the second rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. I¡¯ve also gained a slight mastery over my Blade¡¯s Menace! ¡°You¡¯ve been training longer than me, but in terms of natural gifts, I¡¯ve already surpassed you eight streets away. How would you even contest against me? In terms of value, I feel no shame; I¡¯m Zhou Yuntian¡¯s equal and you dare touch me?!¡± Zhou Yan was astoundingly arrogant and was behaving manically. However, the statements he made were intentional! He made no statements about his combat prowess, but only mentioned the pace of his progress! However, he caused a shocking uproar in the academy just with that statement alone. No one knew how shocked Zhou Wuzhen and the others felt after listening to Zhou Yan¡¯s words! They also did not know that flames of envy were raging in the hearts of Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, and Zhou Xian. Even more of a mystery to everyone after Zhou Yan¡¯s statement were the expressions of the other elders and lords from Canglan City. They looked incredibly surprised and unimaginably puzzled. This¡­ This young lad was undoubtedly an incredibly rare genius! If what the young lad said was true! Waves of discussions began at that very moment! Although the claims of Zhou Yan being ¡®an abandoned child by birth¡¯ had been spreading across the entire city, there were also plenty of people who were skeptical about the legitimacy of such claims since they knew the Zhou family were no fools as they would never train an abandoned child. Thus, with such a statement by Zhou Yan, the young lad¡¯s words were closer to the truth. However, many were not convinced by his claims of progressing from the first rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal into the second rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence in the span of a cycle of moon¡¯s time. After the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal would be the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. Progressing through four realms in a cycle of moon¡¯s time was not impossible since there were herbal pills and Spirit Crystals to aid such progress. Hence, it was not too difficult doing so, but awakening one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace in such a short span of time seemed to be beyond the realm of possibility¡ªnot a single soul was convinced of such a feat. ¡­ Chapter 43 ¡°What are you? You insolent fool dare compare with brother Yuntian? What a joke! ¡°Your father? Your glory? All that assumed glory was nothing more than trash, and this talk about how powerful your father was? It took a single strike from brother Yuntian and your father had ended up coughing up blood whilst kneeling! ¡°Hmph, do you not know this was the most shameful event to have happened to the minor branch of your family? What glory could you possibly be worthy of? Do you still think your father¡¯s reputation is something you can be proud of?¡± The young maiden clad in green walked out at this moment as she unleashed a volley of heartless and cold insults! As she spoke, the young lass was bold enough to unleash her Blade¡¯s Menace to instantly exert an enormous pressure onto Zhou Yan. Thus, Zhou Yan¡¯s entire body trembled as he seemingly felt as if his ocean of Qi was about to shatter like a pane of glass. However, since the young lad had experienced and endured the absolute torture of having his entire soul shatter, this pressure had little to no effect on him. Zhou Yan stood his ground with a menacing gaze, as he refused to submit. This young lass was ruthless in her methods. If he had not been baptized by the spiritual energy of the enormous blade, he would undoubtedly end up kneeling whilst coughing up blood at this moment, repeating the same way his father had fallen. It would bring the young lad absolute shame! This young lass was bold enough to implore such an underhanded method without anyone noticing, and had intended to shame him! Such scum! Thus, Zhou Yan¡¯s veins were protruding outward from both his arms as his blood boiled with the flames of rage, the young lad feared nothing even if he was going to slaughter both of these people on where they stood! However, the young lad knew he would not have such an opportunity to murder the both of them here. That elder was immensely powerful so even if the young lad used Silver Frost and one of the sealed Blade¡¯s Spectre from within Sorrow¡¯s Breaker, it would do little to no harm toward the elder. ¡°Enough!¡± With a single wave of the elderly man¡¯s hand he had broken the tension from the exertion of Blade¡¯s Menace by the young lass. As he was protecting Zhou Yan, his gaze shifted to Zhou Wuzhen and spoke in a cold tone, ¡°The words he had spoken earlier; awakening his Blade¡¯s Menace in a cycle of moon¡¯s time. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ my Lord¡­ It is true!¡± Zhou Wuyan¡¯s expression was slightly displeased and he seemed to be in a depressed mood. However, under such circumstances he dared not to deceive anyone since getting to the bottom of the truth regarding this matter would be an exceptionally easy task to do! If he truly was deceiving the elder, it would not matter if he was a Lord¡ªhad the elder murdered him with a single attack there would be little to no repercussions. Since the entire situation had progressed to such an extent¡ªone that even he was unable to imagine what the outcome was¡ªthe only thing he hoped for was that Zhou Yan would be murdered by someone in the academy! ¡°If that was the case then this young lad¡¯s natural gift is indeed outstanding.¡± As that elder spoke, his gaze shifted to Zhou Yan and said, ¡°If you have an exceptional natural gift it¡¯s only natural for the family to cultivate your talents. However, you¡¯re in no position to disrespect your seniors nor elders. This time, I¡¯m willing to drop this matter since your father had fallen from grace and was unavailable to teach you the basic values of respect. However, after this time I don¡¯t wish to see a repeated offense from you!¡± ¡°Yes, Elder.¡± Zhou Yan was boiling with fury as this elder who seemed like a good lad had actually sided with that lass! After using such an underhanded method this elder still sided with that young lass! If he was unskilled, would this mean his complete utter demise on the spot? ¡°There¡¯s no need for your dissatisfaction as good as your natural gifts are, it would serve no purpose when you¡¯re dead, hence you¡¯ll only end up as useless trash. Raw strength and power are the most important values!¡± ¡°The final stages of the selection would be held later and would be a fight to the death since you¡¯ve fully mastered your Blade¡¯s Essence. It would be such a waste if you were murdered by someone else out there, hence it would not benefit the family.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act arrogantly if you¡¯re without power! A genius who¡¯s dead is no genius!¡± ¡°Know your place!¡± The casual statements made by the elder himself moments earlier had seemingly offended Zhou Yan as he felt incredibly displeased in his heart. On the surface, what that elder said seemed similar to a piece of heartfelt advice. However, Zhou Yan was no fool hence it would be impossible for the young lad to not be able to read between the lines of the elder¡¯s words. The final note would always be that the young lad¡¯s father would forever be remembered as a living joke in the eyes of the main branch of the family. Hence, if the young lad had been selected to enter the main branch, it would be an insult to Zhou Yuntian. This elderly man actually feared Zhou Yuntian! Although such a possibility was unlikely but after much detailed reflection and analysis, Zhou Yan realized exactly what this elderly man was concerned about. Since all that young lass talked about was ¡®Brother Yuntian¡¯, it was obvious the relationship this young lass shared with Zhou Yuntian was not a normal one. ¡°As you wish, Elder!¡± Zhou Yan took a gentle bow and did not say anything else. The young lad¡¯s main goal for the outburst earlier was only to show that he was still very much alive and to put a stop to anything Zhou Wuzhen and his accomplices had planned. Thus, he had achieved that goal. At the very least, even though being Zhou Wangchen¡¯s son was seen as a ¡®disgrace¡¯ by others, this young lad had very much proven his own identity! At least for now, not a single soul would dare to call him a b*stard child! No child would call its mother ugly, and a hound would never feast on its young! Hence, it mattered not to Zhou Yan if his father had become a living joke to every soul in the world. He would stand by his father¡¯s good name to teach everyone that his father, Zhou Wangchen, was not disgraced by being forced to kneel on the ground as he coughed up blood after being beaten by Zhou Yuntian; instead, Zhou Wangchen had a son named Zhou Yan who had beaten Zhou Yuntian to the extent of forcing him to beg for mercy! Thus, the young lad had accomplished the first goal he had set before. Any matters after the fact would not be a concern nor would the young lad be bothered by any of it as he would be busy getting ready for the second round of the test of might! Only by partaking in the test of might, would Zhou Yan be allowed to face off against Zhou Lingyi! Hence, with such an opportunity, the young lad would be able to murder Zhou Wuzhen and everyone she cared about! Only ones who were close to the victims would be in anguish, but vengeance was often sweet and satisfying for the executioner! Since these people treated him as such and had gone so far as to shame him, it was only fair for the young lad to burn every bridge and to slaughter every single person these people cared about the most. Only then will they know pain and anguish! The seeds of bloodlust had sprouted in Zhou Yan¡¯s heart. However, he kept his emotions hidden and remained in an emotionless calm demeanor as he was no longer bothered by the countless skeptical looks nor the gaze of pure admiration by anyone. It was stated within the Nine-Folds Yin Yang Manuscripts, ¡®Bothered not by the powerful, as one should leave the powerful be; for the mountains will still be caressed by the wind. Bothered not by one¡¯s menace, for the moonlight still shines on a wide creak.¡¯ Hence, the young lad was not bothered or affected by the menacing and sinister glare by the couple who stood next to the elder. They were invisible to the young lad. Standing by Zhou Yan¡¯s side was Gu Yan. He stood silently without saying a word¡ªit was as if Gu Yan was the young lad¡¯s loyal servant. However, Gu Yan felt extremely emotional by Zhou Yan¡¯s actions¡ªhe felt excited and proud of the young lad! At the same time, Gu Yan was burning with the flames of wrath by how poorly Zhou Yan had been treated! However, Gu Yan was merely holding the status of a ¡®servant¡¯ so his abilities were nowhere close to even being a threat to these people. If he made a move to attack these people, it would be a deathwish for him! However, he never feared the grips of death since he was determined to lay down his life in this journey. Still, it would only bring more trouble for Zhou Yan if he acted rashly. Moreover, since those people knew their place and did not deliberately attack Zhou Yan, hence he had no reason to attack as well. Thus, he silently stood by Zhou Yan¡¯s side. Even though he too was faced by the cold mocking grin of the couple, he stood his ground. ¡­ ¡°Alright, since Zhou Yan entered in such haste, then this current test of might would be participated by eleven candidates.¡± ¡°The first test would be age followed by the assessment of realms. After that would be the test of enlightenment, and then the main branch of our family¡¯s Qi Column¡¯s assessment! The final event would be a fight to the death!¡± Zhou Wuzhen stood next to the lord of the main branch of the Zhou family¡ªhe spoke with respect. After he was done speaking he turned around and bowed in servitude, and then sat alongside the lord of the main branch and that couple. This time, the lord of the main branch of the Zhou family did not hesitate nor refused anything. He gradually walked onto the podium in the academy. At the same time, the eleven candidates including Zhou Yan slowly walked toward the center of the academy. ¡­ ¡°It was unexpected that Zhou Yan would have such natural gifts. It seems that Zhou Wangchen would¡¯ve some form of hope now.¡± A middle-aged man spoke with a smile at a tavern near the academy. ¡°Father, what are your opinions about me getting into the main branch of the Zhou family, in comparison to brother Zhou Yan¡¯s natural gifts?¡± A charming and beautiful voice of a young lass spoke next to the middle-aged man. ¡°Well, to put things simply, you have a twin Qi Column with two segments each. The multiple of two is four, meaning your Qi Column¡¯s ability is stronger than any common-folk by four folds! This means that at your age, you¡¯ve already surpassed Zhou Yuntian.¡± That middle-aged man explained with a soft tone. ¡°Back then, when Zhou Yuntian was your age, he was merely in possession of a single Qi Column of three segments! Twin Qi Columns? Hehe, Ying¡¯er, your natural gifts are the best in the entire city! ¡°A genius with twin Qi Columns has always existed since the days of old! Based on my observation, this Zhou Yan lad would only have a single Qi Column of three segments. The best this lad could do was shatter the shackles of three whole realms. You, on the other hand, have twin Qi Columns with two segments each! ¡°All it takes is one more mutation¡ªand it matters not which Qi Column gets another segment¡ªthen you would have six segments! However, if both Qi Columns were mutated into three segments each and the multiple of three is nine that would result in nine segments! ¡°Nine segments are known as ¡®Emperor¡¯s Essence¡¯. You have the potential to own the Emperor¡¯s Essence. How would that Zhou Yan lad even compare to you? ¡°This is the difference between a single Qi Column and a twin Qi Column! ¡°Hence, it mattered not if there was an extremely rare genius in possession of a single Qi Column with seven segments. That person wouldn¡¯t even come close to being a competition to your twin Qi Columns which has two segments each! ¡°All it takes is a single drastic mutation from you to form nine segments. That person with seven segments would require two mutations to have nine segments. ¡°However, a Qi Column¡¯s mutation would get increasingly difficult the further the progress is, and to hasten one¡¯s mutation would require significantly more resources! ¡°So, do you understand the importance of each segment of the Qi Columns? ¡°Such a shame for Zhou Yan! If he had twin Qi Columns, I believe that the elder wouldn¡¯t hesitate to send him back to the main branch of the family and keep him absolutely safe. Too bad all he had was three segments. However, these three segments are also extremely rare. ¡°Do you that lad, Zhou Yuan, and the main reason for his anger? I believe it¡¯s most probably due to his envy over Zhou Yan¡¯s three segments!¡± That middle-aged man patiently explained, but as the adorable young lass listened to her father¡¯s explanation, she exclaimed as it seemed this was the first time the young lass had ever heard anything like that. ¡°I see. That explains why the elder spoils me that much, and why sister Zhou Ting was so envious of me¡ªit was all due to how naturally gifted I was!¡± The young lass exclaimed in surprise and excitement. ¡°Yes indeed. Why do you think the pupils from the other minor branches were brought away but we were allowed to be accompanied by a Blade¡¯s Specter to experience anything from anywhere? This is all due to the special treatment, right? However, keep this to yourself, and do not exclaim it everywhere you go especially since the main branch of our family isn¡¯t as united as you think. You would still need to be careful.¡± The middle-aged man spoke compassionately as he drank some ale whilst smiling delightfully. ¡°Yes father, I understand! So it seems I¡¯m actually that gifted and I was completely oblivious to it! It explains why my training was so easy and smooth. I was unaware of what the Blade¡¯s Menace was before, but now that I¡¯ve awakened it training is becoming increasingly interesting. Father, I have a feeling I¡¯m close to ascension again. I¡¯m very close to ascending into the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer.¡± The young lass spoke as she chuckled gleefully. ¡°Close to ascension again? Great! Excellent! Truly impressively fast! Zhou Yan had only spent a cycle of the moon¡¯s time to ascend from the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal to the second rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence. Although it was without a doubt exceedingly fast but my beloved daughter could awaken both her Blade¡¯s Essence and Blade¡¯s Menace in a cycle of moon¡¯s time and ascend into the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer. Just as that young lad had said, your natural gifts have surpassed his by eight streets! Hahaha, this is a delightful description indeed!¡± That middle-aged man spoke in pure delight and satisfaction. He adored his beloved daughter even more now. ¡°You¡¯re such a meanie father. If brother Zhou Yan had known what you had spoken about him, he wouldn¡¯t be happy about it.¡± That young lass spoke. ¡°I had close ties with his father¡ªwe used to drink ale and battle together. When you were a child, we ventured through this city for a moon¡¯s cycle time. Zhou Yan had only spent a cycle of the moon¡¯s time with you, but it was at that time the both of you had formed a bond together! You haven¡¯t even forgotten about him it seems!¡± That middle-aged man spoke with a smile. As the young lass heard what her father had spoken, her cheeks blushed slightly. Chapter 44 ¡°That explains it. Zhou Yan¡¯s mother was a legendary beauty and Zhou Yan is extremely elegant and handsome as a child. He was like a reflection through a Spirit Crystal and has an attractive nature in him¡ªyou would be drawn to him so that¡¯s normal. ¡°However, it seems besides his amazingly stunning looks, he was also wildly charming in addition to his unbending will. This lad truly is the crux of all maidens!¡± This caused plenty of maidens to panic as this young lad was being critiqued. ¡°However, Ying¡¯er, you should keep your distance from Zhou Yan in the future. Instead, you should mingle around Zhou Yuntian. It might grant you some status of power so that no one would ever bully you. ¡°Of course, if you can mutate two extra segments of Qi, then you can forget about Zhou Yuntian completely. ¡°Man seeks his way up, just as water flows its way down. As the elder said, a genius who is dead is no genius and would only end up as useless trash. Zhou Yan had been through hell. His father was known for his pride and blind arrogance and had made plenty of enemies. If you¡¯re close to him and have become his friend, you¡¯ll only bring trouble onto yourself. ¡°Before you can be in control of anything you should avoid inviting troubles onto yourself. Do you understand?¡± ¡°How can you say such a thing father?¡± This young lass who,just mere moments ago felt like a moth drawn to a flame, was incredibly displeased as her entire expression had changed to a cold one. She frowned as her stunning eyebrows contracted, seemingly hinting at how unreasonable her father was behaving. ¡°Ying¡¯er, as your father I forbid you from ever catching feelings for him!¡± ¡°Who¡­ who told you that I have feelings for that arrogant lad, father?¡± Ying¡¯er blushed. ¡°This Zhou Yan is truly an exotic man amongst all the other men. Both his parents have praisable values indeed so it¡¯s only natural for you to catch feelings for him! However, have you ever thought about if this lad was unable to protect you, it will only bring you trouble! ¡°And you, my daughter. You¡¯re an unimaginably stunning beauty of elegance. Compared to that Zhou Ting, you have far exceeded her beauty! Then, based on your natural gifts I¡¯m sure there are plenty of lads from the main branch of the Zhou family who would adore your beauty! ¡°If you have anyone you absolutely resent, you may tell me what this person looks like. As your father, I will ensure the outcome of that person to be a torturous and agonizing one.¡± ¡°Hmph, father. Are you praising me or are you criticizing me?¡± The young lass acted in a childish manner while she stomped her feet on the ground as she felt slightly displeased. The gaze from this middle-aged man was filled with hints of worry. Although it may seem as though the middle-aged lad was jestering with his daughter, this would temporarily prevent his daughter from having any ties with Zhou Yan. Not a single soul knew about their secret¡ªnot even anyone from the main branch of the Zhou family. However, this middle-aged man had in fact seemingly known some things regarding the life of Zhou Wangchen¡¯s wife! That maiden had once caused a massacre of an entire city, it was a terrifyingly powerful force! If Zhou Yan was acknowledged by that immensely powerful force, then he would be more than certain that his daughter had indeed found herself a good and stable man! However, judging from such a ferocious external force, would that mysterious figure even bother to glance at Zhou Yan who merely possessed a three-segmented Qi Column? Without the support of such a powerful force, Zhou Yan was merely an acknowledged genius by the main branch of the Zhou family. If his daughter ended up with him, he worries her future would be unsafe¡­ Hence, he was forced to be worried and was also forced to brood in regret. ¡­ ¡°No mistakes Yan¡¯er, remember!¡± Gu Yan¡¯s voice was a little shaky as he spoke to Zhou Yan. In the face of countless exceptionally powerful foes he could not help but feel completely useless! This feeling had deeply hurt his heart, hence he finally understood the despair and hopelessness Xiao Zhan had felt¡ªthe same regret-filled gaze could be seen on his eyes. In that dark and dimly lit hidden chambers, Xiao Zhan was so hopeless to the extent of not even bothering to bring up his daughters¡¯ names! He was completely in unimaginable shame to bring up his daughters, his pride and joy, in front of Zhou Yan! It was also at this moment Gu Yan truly felt exactly like how Xiao Zhan did. He was unable to truly experience what it truly felt like before, since it was not too heavy of a blow to his heart, since his daughter had never wronged Zhou Yan, and thus, Zhou Yan was finally able to gain some form of support. However, after being greeted by such a cold and merciless gaze he had finally decided on something in his heart. ¡°Yes, Uncle Gu I know!¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, he had turned around to walk onto the podium. The young lad was unsure how exactly the assessment of Qi Columns would be. He was also oblivious to the talks about the number of segments in a Qi Column since not a single soul told the young lad about it. It seemed that even Zhou Wuzhen was clueless about it before this event. However, after Zhou Wuzhen mentioned the assessment of Qi Column as the final assessment, it made Zhou slightly confident in his heart! Although, he felt that the truth about his twin Qi Columns could never be known by anyone out there. Hence, when the young lad astral projected his soul, he observed the Qi Columns of the others in great detail. The young lad was shocked by what he had discovered! When the young lad observed the realm progression of every single person earlier, the young lad was able to easily detect that almost every single person was only in possession of a single Qi Column of a single segment! However, upon much closer inspection of Zhou Lingyi, he was shocked to discover that Zhou Lingyi had two segments. Zhou Lingyao, on the other hand, also had two segments! This revelation drastically surprised Zhou Yan since he used to assume his very own Qi Columns and segments only differed slightly than the common-folk. The young lad had never once thought that everyone else would have such drastic differences! Even Zhou Xian was completely oblivious to everything as Zhou Yan was. He also assumed that every single person had a single Qi Column with three segments just as he did! Upon such discovery, Zhou Yan hesitated if he should reveal the truth about him possessing a twin Qi Column. He was puzzled and was unable to come to a conclusion. It was no secret to the young lad that he was very much aware of how exceptional his natural gift was¡ªthis alone had given him a tremendous advantage. But his trump card of having a twin Qi Column each with four segments¡­ He was reluctant to reveal that to anyone. This thought he had in his mind was conflicting and making him frustrated. He wanted nothing more than to prove his worth and skills but was reluctant to reveal too much about himself! However, the young lad would be unhappy if anyone was more powerful than he was in the test of might. Thus, when he was in line for the assessment he looked slightly hesitant. The hesitation on the young lad¡¯s face made the mocking smirk on the couple¡¯s face who was standing next to the elder extremely obvious. ¡°Useless trash who dare not even go forth to be assessed. It seems he depended solely on herbal pills to ascend into a higher realm!¡± That lad mocked coldly and seemed as if he was mumbling to himself. ¡°His fear for an assessment would only mean he was guilty of something. It¡¯s obvious that there are things he kept hidden. Besides that reason, why else would he act like that?¡± That maiden spoke in a displeased tone. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Zhou Ting, enough with the both of you. Just watch!¡± The elder of the main branch of the Zhou family spoke in a stern manner. As he spoke, both the arrogant youths who had never even acknowledged Zhou Wuzhen¡¯s presence started to behave more appropriately. ¡°Yes, Great Elder.¡± Although both Zhou Yuan and Zhou Ting were slightly displeased, they responded with a humble and respectful bow. The elder of the main branch of the Zhou family nodded and proceeded to squint his eyes while continuing to spectate this test. ¡°Zhou Shan, eighteen years of age, rank three in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, failed!¡± ¡°Zhou Lingyao, sixteen years of age, rank two in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer, passed!¡± ¡°Zhou Lingyi, fifteen years of age, peak of the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence, passed!¡± ¡­ Thus, one by one the assessment of each pupil passed. Amongst the ten candidates, three were eliminated. ¡°Zhou Yan¡­¡± Alas, it was Zhou Yan¡¯s turn. The invigilator of the assessment was the Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji. He was staring at Zhou Yan with a slightly sinister glare as Zhou Yan walked to his side. At that moment, grasped in his hand was a unique Blade¡¯s Specter. This was used to assess a person¡¯s age and realm progression. An assessment like this would be the most accurate assessment. ¡°Sword Boi, fifteen years of age, peak of the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence¡­ Pass.. passed!¡± Zhou Wuji held back his burning anger. He clenched his teeth as he forced those words through his teeth. At that very moment, plenty of the members of the Zhou family stared at Zhou Yan with a gaze filled with emotions of encouragement. Plenty of people were still adamant and stood by Zhou Yan¡¯s side in support because they knew Zhou Yan was in fact ¡®abandoned¡¯ by the lord of the family and was never an ¡®abandoned child¡¯. Since at the end of the day it mattered not what anyone would say, Zhou Yan was still part of the Zhou family, and within the Zhou family, the third generation youths were still incredibly united. ¡°Hehe.¡± Zhou Yan smirked at the Hand of the Grand Elder. His smirk was slightly sinister, and he no longer behaved in a way which respected the elders. Since these people were unworthy in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes! They had schemed so heavily in order to guilt Zhou Yan; to cause the young lad to assume he had, in fact, become a burden to everyone around him and that he should die. These actions, these pretentious forged bonds just for the sole purpose of entrapping him¡­ With that thought alone there was no reason left for the young lad to grace these people with any form of respect. Through Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes were hints of sinister undertones that were reflected through his grin. That grin made the Hand of the Grand Elder extremely uneasy. Hence, the Hand of the Grand Elder took a couple of steps backward as he stared at Zhou Yan with pure fear. He took a deep breath in order to suppress all of the fear and panic in his heart. After doing so, he exclaimed, ¡°After the assessment by this Blade¡¯s Specter, eight candidates had passed. The next assessment would be a test of enlightenment! ¡°In my hand is a jaded rock, and hidden within it is a unique knowledge of Blade¡¯s Menace. I shall place it here, and everyone please stand ten meters away before you begin to grasp any form of enlightenment from it. ¡°After a joss stick¡¯s worth of time, everyone would present the knowledge each of you had gained from this test. This is to assess everyone¡¯s ability to gain enlightenment. ¡°Until then, the Grand Elder himself would be in charge of assessing all of you.¡± The Hand of the Grand Elder fought through immense pressure to make his statement. After doing so, the second test began. This time, it was a test of enlightenment¡ªan assessment of one¡¯s innate ability to grasp knowledge. By standing ten meters apart, one would not be affected by everyone¡¯s ability to gain enlightenment. To have an accurate and deeper understanding of the intricate meaning of that jaded rock was an extremely difficult task. It was on it¡¯s own a baffling feat! Even without anyone¡¯s interruption, how much can one truly learn from in a single joss stick worth of time? Moreover, this was done with the constant interruption of people¡ªand it was not only interruption from one person¡ªand they expected everyone to gain some form of enlightenment in under a joss stick worth of time? Such were the words of madmen! As every pupil present understood the rules, they knew in their hearts that this was an impossible task. However, this was not arranged by their Grand Elder. This test was arranged by the elder of the main branch of their family, so how would these people dare to oppose his orders? Even if it was impossible, these people still had to try! ¡­ Chapter 45 ¡°So be it. If not a single soul is remotely close to being better than me in the contest of enlightenment then I¡¯ll keep the double-helical Qi Column hidden. ¡°It seems I can use the immense spiritual energy from the enormous blade to mask or hide my Qi column¡ªI¡¯m certain no one would be able to detect it with that! If they can do so then it would be my fate to bear!¡± Thus, Zhou Yan pondered for a moment as his heart became relieved. If the apparatus that was used to determine one¡¯s Qi Columns was unable to truly detect the growth of his Qi Column, he would not be weaker than anyone else in any other field. If that apparatus was truly spectacular and was able to accurately detect it, and if the young lad was unable to keep it hidden then it would undoubtedly cast a storm greater than anyone had ever seen! Zhou Yan and the other pupils of the Zhou family stood at the very center of the academy. Standing on both his sides were Zhou Shuangshuang and Zhou Xian whose combat prowess had ascended to the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace! Zhou Xian¡¯s expression dimmed as Zhou Yan approached them. It was obvious that he was completely unhappy about the whole ordeal since he had never favored Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan was better than him in every way¡ªeven the maidens in his family favored and absolutely adored Zhou Yan instead of him! Even when Zhou Yan was known to be useless trash, the situation remained the same! This made him feel as if Zhou Yan had robbed him from all the glory that was rightfully his! If Zhou Yan had never existed then all the maidens in the family would naturally favor him instead, and he would be able to enjoy the perks that all women would provide him with! Just with that thought alone made him exceedingly envious and at the same time fear Zhou Yan since he improved and progressed at such a terrifyingly fast pace. The young lad¡¯s internal feelings were extremely conflicted. Although Zhou Yan was in a turmoiled state, Zhou Shuangshuang felt something else entirely! She had always had romantic feelings toward Zhou Yan, but he never once bothered to even acknowledge her. When she had made the first move back then, Zhou Yan had the audacity to give her a stern and heartless reply. He told her to know her place and behave accordingly and even said the only maiden he loved was Zhou Lingyi, and thus, embarrassing her completely. Hence due to a series of unfortunate events, the love she felt for him had slowly morphed into feelings of hate, and she made it her life¡¯s goal to make Zhou Yan¡¯s life as miserable as possible! However, when Zhou Yan left for an entire cycle of a moon¡¯s time, her heart had suddenly grown empty and she started treating every other lad as a replacement to Zhou Yan just to entertain herself. She saw Zhou Yan again after a cycle of the moon¡¯s time, and it was when Zhou Yan was especially high-spirited and elegant. Thus, it sparked up feelings of admiration, joy, and excitement once again. However, she was also reluctant and unwilling! A man such as him would only belong to her alone¡ªnot a single maiden would be allowed to snatch him away from her! Even Zhou Lingyi would be no exception! Hence, as Zhou Yan stood silently, the young lass felt a burning flame in her heart! She felt as if her entire body was melting! If it was not due to the situation and the place they were in, she would instinctively jump into his arms! ¡­ Although not a single soul was able to tell how both of them truly felt at that moment, Zhou Yan was able to very clearly detect and sense everything from a distance. Thus, because of that, Zhou Yan grew even more resentful towards Zhou Shuangshuang, this b*tch. Even though she had stunning looks, Zhou Shuangshuang was not the type of maiden that would spark feelings of admiration in Zhou Yan¡¯s heart¡ªeven if she was completely obsessed with him and had an insatiable lust for him. As lustful as Zhou Yan¡¯s own nature was toward a maiden like that, Zhou Yan was not that desperate to satiate his feelings of lust with a maiden who had slept with countless other men. Hence, Zhou Yan made no attempts to hide away his resentful gaze after sensing the lass¡¯ true feelings. If this young maiden had behaved appropriately during the time of her crush on him, perhaps Zhou Yan would not have reacted this way. However, the young lad had a special detection ability and he was able to very clearly see such a nauseating scene flash before his eyes! This young lass, Zhou Shuangshuang had actually been in very inappropriate contact with her brother, Zhou Cheng. Although such actions of incest were already unacceptable, this young lass had fantasized about Zhou Yan¡¯s appearance whilst she had been committing acts of incest with her brother! As Zhou Yan was faced with such an image, the young lad almost puked his guts out from the feeling of sheer disgust. There were plenty of scums who existed in this world, but never had the young lad expected for Zhou Shuangshuang to sink so low with such an innocent appearance. It seemed Zhou Shuangshuang felt the disgust and hatred filled stares coming from Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze, which almost caused her to furiously curse at him but the young lass held her emotions back! ¡°Hmph, you dare look down on me. All that you have is your natural gifts. You¡¯re nothing compared to Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao. I¡¯ll show you in a brief moment how well my innate ability of enlightenment is! ¡°And there will come a day, you shall kneel in front of me to lick the bottoms of my boots and beg me! ¡°Any man I, Zhou Shuangshuang, desires will be mine. None will slip away!¡± Zhou Shuangshuang swore in her heart maliciously. ¡°Such scum!¡± Zhou Yan was foaming in his mouth as he proceeded to withdraw his over-sensitive detection ability. This was the first time he felt that having an over-sensitive detection ability was also a form of torture. The young lad exclaimed loudly, even Zhou Lingyi who was standing nearby heard him. Zhou Lingyi was still adamantly prideful. She glared with an extremely cold gaze toward Zhou Yan, and after a mere moment she withdrew her glare. ¡°Useless trash!¡± That young lass loudly exclaimed as well. It seems she had no restraints over her morals. Zhou Yan chuckled but his eyes flashed a sinister gaze. However, the young lad remained silent. Although that comment was entirely intended for Zhou Shuangshuang alone, Zhou Lingyi assumed Zhou Yan had directed the insult at her, hence her outburst. However, Zhou Yan made no effort to explain himself since in his heart that young lass Zhou Lingyi was scum too! Since that was the case and the young lad had already made an outburst, then nothing could be done. ¡°Hopefully after the assessment of the Qi Column, we would be given the opportunity to face off against each other in the test of combat!¡± Those sharp blade-like stares from Zhou Lingyao¡¯s eyes glared in the direction of the young lad in that instant¡ªit was filled to the brim with malice filled essence! ¡°It shall be as you wish!¡± Zhou Yan cackled loudly. The final test of combat? If the young lad attacked him, would he still allow those people to live?! A concentrated wave of bloodlust gathered at the deepest depths in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes. Since he had completely disregarded his honor, then there were no restraints left on him! Then, a battle he shall have! At that very moment, Zhou Yan decided not to hide anything during the assessment of the Qi Column! He refused to believe that his natural gifts alone would not be enough to kill these people in an instant! The young lad intended to use the test to make a name for himself in the pages of history! He refused to believe that the main branch of his family would not acknowledge such pure talent! As long as the young lad¡¯s natural talent was enough to shake the heavens, then these people would submit completely and would not hesitate to bend their knees and lick his boots! An unspeakable wave of rage boiled within Zhou Yan¡¯s heart! He had always remained silent after he had been challenged time and time again! Now that he was back there¡ªwithout even needing to experience it¡ªthe young lad was able to very clearly tell just what kind of people his family members were! Even though most of the people in his family were still nice, there were those who had schemed against him to make him live under the guilt of the false love and care these people had shown him. Even after all of their intentions had been exposed, these people had the audacity to respond with such malice and hate¡­ The more the young lad reflected, the more violent the flames of rage burned. However, the young lad was aware that this very moment was a time for enlightenment. He assumed that Zhou Lingyi was merely trying to make Zhou Yan lose control of his emotions and distract him from entering a state of enlightenment. Zhou Yan proceeded to take a deep breath, thus channeling his rage into his twelve divergent meridians and diverting his rage away from any essential meridians for his sword¡¯s way. As a result, the young lad would no longer be affected in the process of gaining enlightenment. Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze gradually grew deeper and focused. The young lad stood in a completely frozen state. It was as if the young lad had never existed, and within an instant, the young lad had entered a complete state of ¡®enlightenment¡¯! When the young lad was in the hidden chambers back then, he constantly stimulated his soul with the help of the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale. As a result of that, he solidified his soul and was no longer in an astral form, and by doing so had greatly benefited the young lad! One of the many benefits was entering a state of complete ¡®enlightenment¡¯ by unifying ¡®both the mind and body¡¯ became extremely easy for the young lad! This feat was unimaginably difficult for anyone to accomplish, but he was able to silence and calm his heart in an instant, entering a state of pure enlightenment! There was an ocean of people spectating in the field¡ªincluding those who were spectating from the outside¡ªin addition to the guests who were staying at the tavern nearby. At that very moment, it seemed that the entire city had been silenced. A dim, pale light was flowing through Zhou Yan¡¯s body. Though it was dim, it had a strong affinity to the nature around him, and this unique essence had also affected the people around him. It mattered not if it was Zhou Xian, Zhou Shuangshuang, Zhou Lingyi, or Zhou Lingyao; it was all due to them being affected by it that had helped them enter into a state of enlightenment faster than usual! This meant Zhou Yan¡¯s state had indirectly increased the remaining seven people¡¯s innate ability to gain enlightenment! ¡­ ¡°Hidden within that jade is a unique sword¡¯s way. It most probably reflects the deeper meaning of the many fallen leaves in fall; it is a type of Blade¡¯s Menace which reflects ¡®autumn¡¯.¡± Zhou Yan was instantly enlightened and had grasped the deeper meaning of that object. ¡°Autumn is a melancholic season. It sheds away the heat of summer as it hints at the chilling breeze of winter. ¡°This is a season to settle. It is the season to consolidate our individual skills which seemingly condense and retain better. ¡°This is also a season of harvest. In such a season, under the laws of the heavens, five different types of grains would be harvested.¡± ¡­ Thus, Zhou Yan patiently grasped all of the knowledge that he had been enlightened with. In less than half of a joss stick¡¯s length of time, Zhou Yan had fully understood seven out of the nine major intricate and deeper meanings in that object. In addition to that, from the flaws in the jaded rock, visions of various moves that incorporated the deeper and intricate meaning of autumn had manifested itself in Zhou Yan¡¯s mind. Following the cracks in that jaded rock represented a method of passing knowledge. This was a unique artifact for passing down any knowledge. Based on the essence sealed within it, Zhou Yan was able to determine that this artifact had only taken a few days to be made. Thus, based on all those facts alone, Zhou Yan had fully grasped seven principles out of nine from the deep secrets of autumn. The final two seemed to be harder to understand. Since he was trying to prove his potential, and after noticing there was still time left, the young lad clenched his teeth as his gaze had once again morphed into a deep concentrated focus. Zhou Yan stopped staring at the rock and suddenly proceeded to shut both of his eyes. He had actually diverted all his focus into gaining any form of enlightenment from the Blade Menace of the Dragon! This attempt was difficult, and it seemed the young lad had made no progress. However, sudden sparks of enlightenment had seemingly sparked in the young lad¡¯s mind¡ªthis was a direction of gaining enlightenment of the sword¡¯s way. There was a slight twitch in the young lad¡¯s heart, and before he was able to open his eyes, the detection ability of his soul had heard some whispers about him from some people. ¡°Bold of him to close his eyes in a state of enlightenment. From the looks of it, it seems he had strayed from gaining any enlightened knowledge from this jaded rock! He didn¡¯t even bother to look at the rock!¡± ¡°Yes indeed. What a shame. I thought he would be able to at least grasp three or four principles from it under these circumstances, but it seems hopeless now!¡± ¡°Three to four principles? Are you joking? You think a sword art from the main branch of the Zhou family would be that easy to master?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Judging from his natural gifts, if he was in a constant state of enlightenment then there is hope for three principles! But now even two principles would be enough to praise the heavens!¡± ¡°Your words speak the truth!¡± ¡­ Waves of discussions echoed toward him. The volume of the sound was not loud but in Zhou Yan¡¯s current state everything around him was extremely clear. Hence, the young lad was able to hear everything that was being spoken. The young lad snickered coldly in his heart and he was now determined to grasp the eighth and ninth principles! Since he was already doing it, he would make sure the things he had done would have a drastically insane impact on everyone, or else, he might not even be bothered to do anything in the first place! Chapter 46 Zhou Yan was in a state of complete enlightenment. In such a state, the young lad once again felt an enormous resistance as he attempted to gain enlightenment of the knowledge of the Sword Art of the Dragon. However, after finding the right direction when he was attempting to gain knowledge, he had an immense motivation to pour every ounce of his heart to learn even if the topic of study was incredibly difficult. Hence, whenever he was tasked with studying or gaining enlightenment from any other fields, it would be a relaxing and easy thing for the young lad to do. This time was no exception. All it took for Zhou Yan was his deep concentrated focus in gaining enlightenment from that jade, and different thoughts, ideas, and principles began to flood the young lad¡¯s mind. After doing so, the young lad stopped trying to wrap his head around the Sword Art of The Dragon as he diverted his entire attention to fully unlock the deeper secrets of the eighth and ninth layers. This time, his attempts in doing so were extremely smooth and were met without any resistance. Zhou Yan had not only fully understood the hidden secrets and deeper meaning of that sword art, but he had also gained full control and complete mastery over all nine forms of that sword art from the jaded rock. That meant Zhou Yan had fully understood the deeper, more intricate meanings and all nine forms of said sword art. This entire search for enlightenment had never even taken a single joss stick¡¯s worth of time. However, since there was still plenty of time left, Zhou Yan proceeded to once again get himself in a state of enlightenment in order to have a deeper and more conclusive understanding of the Principles of Autumn¡¯s Secret. Although the time spent to do all of this was short, the young lad had already gained plenty of knowledge. After a conclusive study, Zhou Yan had successfully mastered the Principles of Autumn¡¯s Secret. Since Zhou Yan had poured all of his heart and soul into the mastery of the sword art within this jaded rock, as he was spent in enlightenment, he realized this sword art was far more complex and held a much deeper depth compared to the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade of the Zhou family. Its ferocity was also far superior to it. ¡­ ¡°That¡¯s it, times up.¡± The hand of the Grand Elder of the Zhou family had a serious expression on his face. This time, he hoped Zhou Yan would not show off to an extent which would draw him attention since he did not want the young lad to use the opportunity to be taken seriously. However, this was a fair test, and the results could never be forged. Hence, all he was able to do was stand idly by and watch, but it seems that this lad had a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes since he knew Zhou Yan was exceptional in the study of enlightenment! He was very aware of the situation, and it was all due to that fact alone that made him worried. Zhou Yan can never rise to glory or else the entire fate of the Zhou family would be exceedingly worrying! As he pondered on that thought, obvious bloodlust was written across his face. It was extremely obvious. If it was not for the presence of the elder of the main branch of the Zhou family, he would have actually murdered Zhou Yan right where he stood. ¡°Now, don¡¯t think for a second that all of you are lucky. You will take turns explaining what sort of enlightened knowledge you¡¯ve gained from that test. After that, the elder of the main branch of the Zhou family himself will be assessing each one of you within this Swordplay Alchemy circle! ¡°This Swordplay Alchemy circle is branded with a specter¡¯s memory. The memory will be used to showcase what you¡¯ve learned, and then later be used for comparison! ¡°If you guys were unable to gain any enlightened knowledge from the test and instead presented a nonsensical speech, the offender will be disqualified from the test the instant such acts were discovered! ¡°If there is any newfound enlightenment after you¡¯re done presenting, the newfound knowledge will not be taken into account. ¡°That being said, however much enlightened knowledge that you have gained before is what will be taken into account!¡± ¡°Right now, the summarized conclusion shall be presented first. Whoever goes first will be determined by the results of the test of might earlier, so Zhou Lingyao, you¡¯ll be the first to present your knowledge!¡± ¡°Yes, Hand of the Grand Elder.¡± Zhou Lingyao proceeded to take a gentle bow of respect as he pridefully glared at Zhou Yan. Not only was that a gaze of challenge, it was also a glare filled with confidence! ¡°What I¡¯ve learned was the sword art that reflects the falling leaves in autumn! I¡¯ve fully grasped four principles, hence I¡¯ve mastered four different movesets!¡± Zhou Lingyao was calm but at the same time filled with pride. Even the tone of the words he had spoken was weighted¡ªit sounded extremely powerful! That single statement alone shook the entirety of the Zhou family academy! Even that couple from the main branch of the family had hints of surprise in their gaze when they stared at Zhou Lingyao! This expression alone had been noticed by plenty of people, meaning Zhou Lingyao¡¯s innate ability to gain enlightenment was extremely outstanding! ¡­ The academy¡¯s exterior ground, within the tavern. ¡°Four different movesets, meaning there were four intricately deep principles. Ying¡¯er, your understanding is the same too, but in terms of mastery over a specific moveset, you would need to master one more than him. I didn¡¯t expect the Zhou family to have such genius.¡± That middle-aged man stared from a distance, unable to contain his excitement while he spoke. ¡°Father, how much do you think Brother Zhou Yan would be able to grasp from this?¡± the young lass, Ying¡¯er, questioned excitedly. ¡°This is not an easy prediction to make, but judging from how confident he looks, and if his natural gifts were as impressive as his father¡¯s, then I¡¯m certain he would at least be able to grasp three intricate hidden meanings and three movesets. To say he would be more impressive than Zhou Lingyao would be a stretch.¡± After a deep moment of contemplation, the middle-aged man broke everything down and made such a conclusion. ¡°Father, isn¡¯t your strength an impressive judgment of people? How can you not be able to decisively judge Brother Zhou Yan?¡± Zhou Ying lamented in a displeased tone. ¡°My beloved daughter, your father isn¡¯t as exceptional as that elder from the main branch of our family to possess such high intellect! Besides, I¡¯m merely in the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. This realm is still exceedingly far from the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart. ¡°Without ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart and only having a blade¡¯s core with an extremely high affinity to the spiritual nature isn¡¯t exactly much help! ¡°Furthermore, Zhou Yan is¡­ How should I put this in words¡­ Odd. It¡¯s most probably due to the bloodline this young lad shared with his mother. All of this is nothing but a shroud to your father! ¡°The only thing I can conclusively determine is he is most likely in possession of a three-segmented Qi Column. ¡°This is only wild speculation.¡± The middle-aged man had a bitter laugh as he was unable to do a thing while he was facing his daughter¡¯s dissatisfaction. He too was slightly displeased since he knew Zhou Wangchen¡¯s full extent of his prowess all those years ago. Plenty of women had been charmed by him. How else do you think that mysterious odd maiden would even end up with Zhou Wangchen? And now, Zhou Yan was exactly like him years ago. As a matter of fact, Zhou Yan was better than he once was. Even his daughter was¡­ behaving like that¡­ How could this end well! He was forced to worry about that entire situation. ¡°Forget it. Leave it all to fate. If things were fated, there¡¯s little I can do to avoid it.¡± As the middle-aged man pondered, he was finally able to feel relieved. He was originally a casual lad and never intended to do anything that involved power. The main reason he repeatedly pushed for his daughter to strive for better was entirely for her own benefit. However, after noticing how much she unconditionally cared and paid attention to Zhou Yan, he had completely submitted to fate. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Lingyi, you may present!¡± ¡°What I¡¯ve learned was the sword art which encompasses the brisk nature of autumn. I¡¯ve grasped four principles! Mastered three forms of movesets!¡± ¡­ ¡°What?! four principles once again? This means she fully grasped four deeper and intricate meanings! Meaning¡­ the Zhou siblings are exceptional geniuses of enlightenment!¡± ¡°The Zhou family had birthed geniuses!¡± ¡°Both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao are worthy of the title of ¡®twin Ling geniuses¡¯. Truly marvelous!¡± ¡°The bottom line of the Zhou family, even if it were the minor branch, is completely beyond the realm of imagination!¡± Plenty of discussions were happening all around the area. Zhou Yan was calm as he had an emotionless demeanor toward all of the discussions. His expression resembled a puddle of still water; a calm surface of an ancient well. At that very moment, the young lad simply allowed these people to celebrate while they still could since the celebrations these people were enjoying would gradually become sorrowful! As the young lad was focused on his thoughts and was paying absolutely no mind to any of them, he unleashed his soul¡¯s ability to gain insight from the discussions of people of powerful status. The young lad was also interested in knowing what these people thought of Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, and his own innate ability to gain enlightenment. He was keen to know what conclusions they made. As he unleashed his soul¡¯s detection ability, the instant it was dispersed around the area of the Lord of the Region of A Thousand Despair and Elder Ling, he was able to hear Elder Ling lament, ¡°This young lad, Zhou Yan¡­ I¡¯ve concluded earlier that his Qi Column might actually be a single Qi Column between three to four segments. ¡°However, even if it were four segments, it would still be unable to compare with a twin Qi Column! The people in possession of a twin Qi Column are like the prime genius lass, Ying¡¯er. She happens to have a twin Qi Column of four segments in total. If she had undergone a massive mutation once, she would be able to possess a twin Qi Column with three segments each. Thus, there¡¯s a total of nine segments making it the ¡®Emperor¡¯s Blade¡¯s Core¡¯. Twin Qi Columns with three segments each would make it as heavily weighted as nine Oceans of Qi. In other words, her raw prowess alone would be nine folds stronger than any folks! If that was the case, she would be able to break the bindings of the heavenly laws, and this would result in gaining an exceedingly amazing amount of luck making her the most cherished soul of all!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve felt it too. That Zhou Yan having three segments is an oddity on its own. His Qi Column seems to be curved? It slithers like a worm. Truly odd indeed. ¡°However, I dared not to observe longer since they were in a deep field of concentration and focus earlier. I wouldn¡¯t want to interfere. That elder of the main branch of the Zhou family truly is an outstanding figure indeed.¡± The Lord of the Region of A Thousand Despain spoke in a deep tone. ¡°Yes indeed, based on our observations done by conjuring a realm supported by the Blade¡¯s Menace, was an undetectable move, however, this alone seems disrespectful to others. However, this very event truly was a spectacle to all.¡± Elder Ling lamented. ¡°The Qi Column is truly important. Anyone who has ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace would be able to determine anyone¡¯s ability by conjuring a realm of the Blade. This method to determine one¡¯s potential was acknowledged by all. If the other person was oblivious to it, then there isn¡¯t much fault doing so right? Elder Ling, you¡¯re still too humble,¡± The Lord of the Region of A thousand Despair replied with a smile. ¡°Yes indeed, times are different now. However, I¡¯m also curious. Has something awful happened to the brains of the Zhou family to have them relentlessly target Zhou Yan? What¡¯s the meaning of all of this?¡± Elder Ling was slightly puzzled. ¡°This matter alone has a huge reason behind it. Think about it this way. Without such methods, how else would they obtain the manuscripts of the Invincible Sword¡¯s Way? Besides that, there¡¯s another major secret of Zhou Wangchen. But in regard to that matter, I¡¯m in no position to speak. ¡°But, Zhou Wuzhen¡¯s intentions, truly, were deep. The waters of this family is something I would rather not get stained from. However, this was all because I¡¯m uncertain when exactly an insanely powerful monster figure would suddenly appear from the Zhou family. ¡°Hehe, anyone who had intentions of scheming against the Zhou family would only be shooting themselves in the foot!¡± The Lord of the Region of A Thousand Despair spoke whilst chuckling coldly. ¡­ Zhou Yan was very surprised by what these people said. Any person who had ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace would be able to determine a person¡¯s Qi Column through the shroud of the Blade¡¯s Realm? Someone¡­ actually had a twin Qi Column too? Twin Qi Column of three segments represented the Emperor¡¯s Blade¡¯s Core? Then the four segments on each side of his twin Qi Columns, the multiple of four was sixteen¡­ What kind of Blade¡¯s Core¡­ Would that be? The limit was nine and he had very casually surpassed that limit¡­ What exactly did all that meant? The more Zhou Yan understood, the more puzzled he seemed. It seemed as if his Qi Column was truly an oddity. Chapter 47 Zhou Yan was suddenly extremely delighted and was tempted to understand what the comments meant for other people, just like that, he realized the terrifying nature of his double-helical Qi Column from the conversations of others. Thus, feeling curious, the young lad immediately sensed the current state of his Qi Column. He was not bothered by Zhou Xian who had gone up the podium to present his newfound enlightened knowledge. Upon closer inspection, Zhou Yan finally found something odd. On his Qi Columns, the first three segments of the Qi Column on the left were just like any regular folks. They were as smooth as polished jade, and there was nothing odd about it. However, the bottom segment of the left Qi Column had shreds of thin purple lightning coiling around it! Meanwhile, the first four segments of the right Qi Column were completely covered with the same lightning! As Zhou Yan¡¯s soul approached the lightning to sense its nature, he was met with a tender and numb feeling¡ªit was as if this lightning was someone extremely close to his soul. Thus, with a single thought, the entirety of the Qi Columns were filled with the tiny shreds of purple lightning coiling around it. Then, the young lad proceeded to examine his Qi Columns from an outsider¡¯s perspective. All he did was a simple scan and something odd had happened¡ªhis Qi Columns had vanished. From an outsider¡¯s perspective, there was nothing that could be detected from him! Thus, the young lad proceeded to only cover one Qi Column with the lightning coil, and as he expected only one Qi Column could be detected. The young lad proceeded to try several more times and concluded that his Qi Column was able to stay undetected due to the lightning coils around it. He was unsure if his Qi Column was in such a state during the test, but he felt such a possibility to be extremely likely. Since he was given such an encounter, Zhou Yan felt the need to at least try! The best-case scenario for the young lad was without a doubt to use the exposure of both his Qi Columns to place himself in a better position, but he was unwilling to show off more than two segments for each Qi Columns. He figured that two segments for two Qi Columns would yield the best result. Thus, Zhou Yan had decided on that, and hence he waited patiently waited for the Assessment of Qi Columns. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Shuangshuang.¡± ¡°What I¡¯ve learned was the sword art of fall¡¯s season. I¡¯ve been enlightened by three forms, hence I¡¯ve learned three moves!¡± Zhou Shuangshuang initially heard a rumor that even Zhou Yan would find it difficult to grasp the enlightened knowledge of three forms. She was delighted and her ego had been inflated since she had achieved such a feat! However, Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao¡¯s performance far exceeded her progress which made her slightly uncomfortable and displeased. ¡°Come on up Zhou Yan!¡± Zhou Yan was the final person to present. The Hand of The Grand Elder in the Zhou family did it intentionally; the reason was not that he had gracefully given more time to Zhou Yan to enlighten himself. Instead, it was done in hopes of having Zhou Lingyi and the others before him to destroy any form of confidence the young lad had in his heart. Hence, he paid close attention to Zhou Yan¡¯s expression, but unfortunately for him, Zhou Yan¡¯s expression was as calm as a puddle of still water. Nothing much had changed from his expressions, and this sparked his hidden resentment toward the young lad. He thought to himself that the young lad was merely putting on a facade and was merely pretending to stand his ground. As he pondered, he noticed Zhou Yan staring at him with a resentful glare. His gaze was filled to the brim with mockery and challenge along with pure and heavy feelings of dissatisfaction. He was drastically affected by such a stare as he was unable to contain his bloodlust. At the same moment, the elder from the main branch of the Zhou family suddenly glanced at him. Thus, with a fearful expression, he instantly withdrew his bloodlust as he waited patiently and honestly at the same spot he stood. ¡°What I¡¯ve learned was the deeper meaning of autumn. The Sword Art of Pure Autumn, nine principles, nine forms of movesets, and all nine principles had fully been mastered by me!¡± Zhou Yan spoke with pride. As he stood, he paid no mind to the baffling, skeptical, and surprised looks on those who had been spectating the event. Instead, he took out Sorrow Breaker from his Infinite Spatial Ring and pointed directly at the Hand of the Grand Elder with his finger. Suddenly, an immense and violent wave of Blade¡¯s Essence proceeded to spiral on the podium. Countless leaves from every single tree began to fall as a layer of frost formed on the branches. The Principles of Autumn¡¯s Secret, a reflection of wilting leaves, followed by the parallel of frost and more; in an instant, all nine forms of changes had occurred! This had directly destroyed the impossible ¡®mastery¡¯ over these hidden and deeper principles, and thus, destroyed the impossible ¡®law¡¯ of stacking all nine principles into a single move. This scene alone made every single person who was spectating unimaginably surprised¡ªeveryone was staring at the display wide-eyed. Zhou Yan¡¯s display had completely ignored the rules of this assessment; not only did the young lad exclaim his mastery, he had also demonstrated the ferocity of stacking and form changes of all nine principles into a single move! After a wave of silence, countless elders from countless families including the Ling family, the Huang family, Zhu family, and that Lord of the Region of A Thousand Despair gave him a standing ovation! However, it was unclear who had started to applaud in order to show the respect they felt after such a shocking display! The first round of applause came, then immediately after that, the second wave, the third¡­ After that, a thundering roar of applause instantly filled the entire area¡ªit was unending. ¡°Nine principles, nine forms¡­ All perfectly mastered!¡± ¡°All nine forms. With an enlightened ability like this, his future would be unstoppable!¡± ¡°The lowest realm for him would be the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart! This young lad¡¯s natural gifts would be able to spread across the entirety of Canglan City and Xiaoyao Capital City. His reputation would ring for generations!¡± ¡°Nine forms¡­ Unexpectedly, he had actually mastered all nine forms and principles!¡± ¡°Zhou Yan is truly her son!¡± ¡°If she had known, she would be extremely proud of him.¡± ¡°Zhou Wangchen truly has an heir now!¡± ¡­ Countless voices of discussions echoed through the entire area after five minutes of endless applause. At that very moment, the extremely handsome young lad had an inhumanly bitter look on his face. His gaze was filled with extreme sinister and malicious intent. It was almost as if Zhou Yan¡¯s display of power had completely derailed his plans. At the same time, that young lass clad in a green dress twitched her eyebrows. Her expression was inhumanly cold as she stared at Zhou Yan¡ªher gaze seemed extremely complicated. The only person without a reaction was the elder from the main branch of the Zhou family. He did not seem bothered by any of the discussions from the crowd of spectators. It was only after these people had been silenced that he began to speak. ¡°Zhou Yan, have you any idea what rules are?¡± The elder spoke in a cold tone and every sound from the waves of discussion was instantly and completely silenced. Everyone¡¯s focus was on Zhou Yan. ¡°As your pupil, I understand, but I do think that natural gifts trump any rules!¡± Zhou Yan felt a slight twitch in his heart as he knew this elder from the main branch of his family was challenging him once more. He was also hit by a sudden wave of realization that to enter the main branch of his family would be an extremely difficult thing to do! Zhou Yan was uncertain of what the exact reasons were for these people to relentlessly stand in his way. He was puzzled. However, since the young lad had come this far, he had no fear left in him even though the path ahead of him was an endless deep abyss. He would still take a leap of faith since his father was there, and his father¡¯s ¡®final wishes¡¯ had also instructed him to go there! Zhou Yan knew nothing about a sword named ¡®Heaven-Fiend Blade¡¯, but his father had stressed its importance to retrieve this sword from the main branch of his family. Hence, the young lad would do everything in his power to enter the main branch! ¡°Such an immature train of thought! You¡¯ve already committed an act of insolence toward your elders. This time, the rules were clear. All you had to do was present what you¡¯ve learned and demonstrate it in a hidden swordplay alchemy that I¡¯ve set. Only the final presentation would you show your skills on the podium for all to witness! ¡°This test is done within my Blade¡¯s Realm, and everyone can witness it. Cheating would be impossible! ¡°You¡¯ve demonstrated your sword skill, but this would allow some people to seize the opportunity to gain some guidance from your display. Even if they initially grasped four principles, perhaps in a brief moment, they would¡¯ve been enlightened to six different principles. Hence, even after they¡¯ve demonstrated their sword skills, they would¡¯ve mastered six forms under my swordplay alchemy¡¯s records. ¡°Without taking the sword skill into account, this would greatly benefit their enlightenment ability! ¡°Your single action has ruined the fairness of this test. It isn¡¯t fair for the other minor branches of our family. ¡°Hence, the results from your test of enlightenment would be disqualified! Are you willing to accept this verdict?!¡± The elder had spoken with majesty, and the displeased and bitter expressions from the faces of the couple who were standing by his side had morphed into a completely delightful and satisfied one. Zhou Yan knew in that instant thay this was deliberately done to target him once more! The only thing was, both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao were made a complete fool to pretend to be his father¡¯s children. Zhou Yan had a slight frown, but it was also in that instant he came to realize perhaps this elder was aware of this debacle and had pretended to remain oblivious. If Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao entered the main branch of his family, and since they were not the legitimate children of Zhou Wangchen, they would not cause any problems with Zhou Yuntian. Were all of these concerns deliberately taken into account for Zhou Yuntian¡¯s sake? Thus, preventing Zhou Yuntian from being shamed? It was the only logical reason the young lad knew. Other than that, Zhou Yan was unable to think of any other reasons for such an action. However, although things had progressed to such an extent, Zhou Yan was not even the slightest bit bothered by it. The heavens and the earth would be the greatest witness to his unprecedented ability to gain enlightenment. Even though the score for this test was a huge zero, it meant nothing. Could this possibly hide his impressive ability of enlightenment? It would be impossible! ¡°I, as your pupil, humbly accept your verdict for you as the elder is just and fair.¡± Although the young lad scoffed in his heart, Zhou Yan was able to reply in pure humility. ¡°Alright then.¡± Since Zhou Yan had not reacted with hostility and calmly accepted his verdict, plenty of spectators in the crowd nodded since they respected Zhou Yan for being able to remain calm and not react rashly. Hence, they took another glance at Zhou Yan. ¡°For your tests¡ªbased on the rules previously stated¡ªif any of you presented more than what you¡¯ve initially learned, all of your scores will be given a zero!¡± ¡°Yes, great elder!¡± The pupils of the Zhou family bowed in unison. Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, and the others amongst them were calm. Zhou Xian, on the other hand, was taking joy in Zhou Yan¡¯s situation as there were obvious hints of glee and delight in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan patiently took a deep breath as he forced his rage through the twelve divergent meridians in his body. At that moment, the fuming boiling rage within him caused all his meridian to heat up. Based on the prideful nature of that ancient sage, this was a major insult to him. Even so, the young lad had to hide his anger¡ªat least temporarily! Zhou Yan was also aware that if he had not demonstrated his skills at this moment and only showed his skills within the swordplay alchemy, there was a possibility of an unforeseen ¡®accident¡¯ that might result in his fall! Hence, his punishment was given in a lackluster half-baked reason. It was obvious that this elder sided heavily toward Zhou Ting and that lad, Zhou Yuntian. Therefore, he repeatedly brought troubles his way. However, the more trouble the elder gave him, the more determined Zhou Yan was to enter the main branch of his family. He felt that after entering into the main branch of his family, he would be in a position to thoroughly crush these scums as he would have grown older and stronger! Hence, today¡¯s humiliation would be repaid in a hundred folds in the near future! Chapter 48 Zhou Yan stood silently on his own; there was not a single friend next to him. Every genius that was selected this time was extremely close to Zhou Lingyi. Even if there was someone who had zero ties with Zhou Lingyi, it would be man¡¯s nature to love Zhou Lingyi. Now he was on horrible terms with Zhou Lingyi, so being hated by everyone was an expected outcome. The demonstration was a swift one. These seven people dared not add anything they observed from Zhou Yan¡¯s demonstration of enlightenment in their presentations and took the safer route in completing this test. The next test was the assessment of the Qi Column. This time, the elder of the main branch himself would be overseeing the test. He took out an ancient rock the size of a human. This rock was extremely life-like and resembled a maiden sitting atop the cliff. In her hands was an instrument that resembled a flute. This maiden looked as if both her eyes had been gouged out¡ªunderneath her beautiful eye lashes were two hollowed out pits; her eyeballs were not there. This scene felt odd but as the maiden sat, she somehow emanated a melancholic and depressing aura. ¡°Go ahead Zhou Lingyao!¡± ¡°Yes Elder.¡± Upon receiving the orders from the elder from the main branch of the Zhou family, Zhou Lingyao walked with his utmost pride as he quickly approached that rock. ¡°Pour your detection energy into the maiden¡¯s instrument. After that, a spiritual energy will engulf you but don¡¯t resist it.¡± After the elder from the main branch of their family finished explaining, he proceeded to watch the hollowed out eyes of the maiden. Thus, Zhou Lingyao approached the rock and did exactly as the Grand Elder had told him to and proceeded to pour all of his detection energy into that wooden like object. At that moment, there was a shroud of extremely depressing Blade¡¯s Menace emanating from the maiden. After that, the hollowed out eyes lit up instantly as two swift ¡®swooshing¡¯ sounds could be heard while two rays of bright light shot out of the hollowed out eyes. Two rays of light filled with hints of spiritual energy shot out! ¡°Hmm, not bad. A single Qi Column, two segments! An outstanding Qi Column indeed!¡± The elder from the main branch of the family stroked his long white beard as he nodded satisfyingly. ¡°You¡¯re next Zhou Lingyi!¡± ¡°Yes, Great Elder.¡± ¡­ ¡°Swoosh swoosh!¡± The same rays of white light shot out of the hollowed out eyes. ¡°Zhou Lingyi, similar to him, Single Qi Column with two segments!¡± ¡­ ¡°Zhou Xian, Single Qi Column, three segments!¡± ¡­ When it was Zhou Xian¡¯s turn, his results had caused a shocking uproar of countless people. Every single soul was able to very clearly understand how that hollowed out carving of a maiden worked. If the hollowed out eyes lit up on one side, that represents the existence of a Qi Column. If a single ray of light had been emitted from the eye, that would represent a single segment, and two rays would be two segments! When it was Zhou Xian¡¯s turn to be assessed, a single side from both hollowed out eyes of that maiden lit up, then instantly shot out three rays of light. This display instantly made countless spectators stand up from their seats to cheer in shock! The uproar Zhou Xian caused was actually not lighter than the one Zhou Yan caused earlier! Although Zhou Xian himself was also stunned, the reaction from his expression after that resembled a state of mad joy! The instant the elder from the main branch of his family was done speaking, Zhou Xian unleashed a series of manic cackles out loud. ¡°Zhou Yan, I would love to see what you would have in your possession to compete with me! Whatever resources, whatever enlightened abilities, the most important foundation is still one¡¯s Qi Column. You useless trash. What would you have in your possession to possibly compete with me?¡± Zhou Xian was extremely ecstatic as he felt in that moment he was the best in the entirety of the Zhou family! Never had the young lad expected something so mundane, his ordinary assumption of his single Qi Column of three segments, would hide such amazing natural gifts! Hence, his sudden acknowledgement of his amazing talents made him feel like a blessing that had fallen from the heavens above! Thus, he continued to cackle as his expression looked slightly hideous while he spoke directly toward Zhou Yan. As Zhou Yan watched his mindless behavior, he cracked an expression filled with mockery. His expression angered Zhou Xian, but he did not say anything in response and merely stared at Zhou Yan with a prideful gaze. That glare was seemingly hinting at Zhou Yan, ¡®I¡¯m invincible in the attributes of the Qi Column, so do you think useless trash like you could possibly defeat me?¡¯ ¡­ After Zhou Xian was Zhou Yan¡¯s turn. He was the last person to be assessed since the people after Zhou Yan were all in possession of a single Qi Column with a single segment. Hence, pupils who were favored in the assessment of the Qi Columnsso far were Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, and Zhou Xian. The entire academy instantly was silenced as Zhou Yan walked onto the podium. Almost every single person was focused completely on Zhou Yan alone. Since the young lad had put on a shocking display in the earlier enlightenment assessment, it seemed his ¡®manic¡¯ presentation caused his results to be completely disqualified and discredited. This alone made plenty of scholars lament since they felt that it would be extremely unfortunate if the young lad was denied entry into the main branch of the family due such a reason. However, the assessment of the Qi Column seemed astoundingly important so these people wondered what sort of display would Zhou Yan have then? Under such excitement, the entire academy gradually became silent. That elder from the main branch of the Zhou family watched in silence even though he had already assessed his Qi Column earlier under the shroud of the Blade¡¯s Realm. Even though he somewhat had an idea of what the results would be, the prediction may not be accurate. Every speculation would never be as accurate as an assessment, especially since this test would very accurately determine the condition of one¡¯s Qi Column. Hence, even though the elder had an idea of what the results would be, he watched Zhou Yan carry out the test in silence. Besides, a single Qi Column with three segments had already appeared in one of the members of this family. Having another one would not yield a huge reaction. With that thought in mind, both of these people stared at Zhou Yan¡ªtheir gaze filled with the emptiness of disregarding whatever the young lad did. Zhou Yan paid no mind as he could very clearly feel he had destroyed some sort of plan which was the result of the immense resistance and challenge he had faced thus far. He pondered about what exactly he would do during the test of combat after this assessment was over. Perhaps these people might continue using this result against him? If it was not for his father¡¯s persistence, even if the main branch of the family begged him to join them, he would never even be bothered to move an inch. However, all of this was done in the name of his father to retrieve the ¡®Heaven-Fiend Blade¡¯ from the main branch of his family! What kind of blade this might be, or whose hands did this blade ended up in was completely unknown to the young lad. However, Zhou Yan knew this blade was extremely important to his father. Hence, he took a deep breath as he stared directly at this carving of a blind maiden. It seems as though a strange wave of emotion flashed through his heart, feeling as if he had met this maiden from somewhere! Zhou Yan was frowning slightly since with the current state of his incredible memory, it made no sense to him that he was unable to put his finger down on where exactly he had met this maiden! His memory was impeccable and it seemed that he would never come across any moments his lack of memory would make things shrouded and unclear to him. Hence, after pouring every ounce of his focus into recalling from the archives of his memory because he was unable to recall where he had seen this maiden and felt that it was quite an unfortunate omen. Thus, since Zhou Yan could not recall any of it, he decided to forget about it. Hence, he focused on his detection ability, and before doing anything else he coiled the purple lightning around the bottom two of his segments on each side of his Qi Column, revealing only two segments on each side of his Qi Columns. Only after doing all of that did he pour his detection ability into the bamboo flute shaped instrument. In that very moment, the young lad was also focused on observing the changes in that peculiar maiden¡¯s eyes. As expected, immediately after doing so a wave of Blade¡¯s Menace filled with sorrow and sadness invaded him. Zhou Yan felt as though his soul started to resonate and vibrate. In that single instance, he felt an endless wave of sadness. This was an indescribable feeling of sorrow and despair, an endless sorrow, endless despair, and an endless shroud of darkness and depression. At the same time, his soul seemed to have ventured into a dark void and arrived at an endless void with no borders. Within this void, it contained the maiden from that peculiar carving. She was facing her back toward Zhou Yan while her dark hair draped onto her shoulder. She did not turn around but it seemed this maiden knew everything. ¡°This isn¡¯t a place you should come to¡­ Return now¡­¡± The maiden suddenly projected her thoughts into Zhou Yan¡¯s mind, as Zhou Yan felt as if his soul had been struck by lightning. While the young lad trembled, he felt as if the entire galaxy had been flipped over with a wave of destruction. Thus, he suddenly returned to his body. However, he realized his eyeballs were no longer present in his eyes, and a hollowed out void was there in its place. He felt two waves of burning energy building up in his eyes, and could no longer hold back any of it. He seemed to have gone mad. However, he felt that his current state would be exactly as the peculiar carving of that maiden as both of his eyes were shooting out rays of light! However, he was unsure how much light had been expelled from him¡­ As the light was being expelled from him, his entire body grew cold and his consciousness awakened. However, the young lad soon realized that the frozen time had once again begun moving. It was only at this moment, the eyes of the peculiar carving of that maiden gradually began to light up. Both of her eyes had been lit, and at the same time two rays of light shot out from her eyes! ¡°Twin Qi Columns, each with two segments!¡± The elder¡¯s expression instantly changed drastically. It was as if he was completely baffled by the result¡ªthey were exceedingly shocking! As the young lad trembled, a sudden wave of aura capable of reaching the heavens and earth exploded from him. It felt as if a frail and tiny elderly man had morphed into a giant within an instant and this aura manifested itself in that moment. ¡°Twin Qi Columns, each with four segments! This is a genius who broke the heavenly laws! No, it will not fall. This is truly an earth shattering genius from the ancient days! The main branch of our Zhou family, and our Zhou family would soon rise to glory!¡± ¡°May the heavens above watch over the majesty that is my Zhou family!¡± That elderly man¡¯s expression grew exceedingly complicated as he took another glance at Zhou Yan. His entire gaze had completely changed. After that, the wrinkles on his face that were caused by pure excitement instantly relaxed. This gaze, his current gaze was indescribabl¡­ emotional. This time, Zhou Yan was able to feel the gaze from this elderly man had changed¡ªit was as if his gaze had gone through a cycle of mutation! His natural gifts paired alongside his twin Qi Columns had changed his fate! He knew there would be no shackles that would hold him back from entering the main branch of his family. Thus, the young lad stood on the same spot, unmoving. Both his eyes stared calmly at that elderly man. No longer was insanity filling his gaze; nay, not even the displeased emotions that the young lad felt earlier. Nothing was left in the young lad¡¯s eyes. That was all due to how massive of an impact facing the back of that maiden earlier had onto him. All of his focus were no longer on the current matters in hand. ¡­ Chapter 49 The entire academy burst into an uncontrollable uproar! A genius with two Qi Columns was a rare sight that would only happen once every millennium based on the total population of the Xiaoyao Capital City! As the Grand Elder stared at the peculiar carving of a maiden, he was unable to calm his heart. This time, the test of might had two people who had such a rare mutation, truly was an even rarer occurrence in a millennium! This would undoubtedly be the first-ever Spiritual Genius of the Zhou family! However, if he was selected and brought back to the main branch of the Zhou family, what can they do after exhausting all of their resources in training Zhou Yuntian? As the Grand Elder pondered, there was already a series of applause from the spectating audiences below the academy. This time, Zhou Yan had exploded in talent after staying complacent and silent for so long. He showed those people who disliked and judged him what he was truly capable of. Within the walls of the main branch of the Zhou family, even some elders or actual geniuses would be ignored and looked down upon by the members of the main branch of the Zhou family. However, after witnessing such an incredible glorious feat by Zhou Yan, this astounding aura of retribution felt amazing to the young lad. Hence, following Gu Yan¡¯s lead, some untalented, third-generation pupils exploded in a series of applause and ignited the exciting mood of the entire academy. Although both Zhou Wangchen¡¯s legs were broken and caused him to kneel in shame back then by Zhou Yuntian, but his talents and combat prowess was still acknowledged by many! As of then, Zhou Yan had made an extremely shocking entrance, thus all the cheers and applause was an expression of their emotions. It meant he had finally regained his glory, and nothing was able to stand in his way! Once again, another endless series of applause filled the entire area. Some people were also cheering his name, ¡°Zhou Yan! Zhou Yan! Zhou Yan!¡± This was admiration of the highest degree of honor! ¡­ A wave of people was cheering as different cheers filled the scene, but Zhou Yan was extraordinarily calm. It was as if he was finally able to see through everything. An aura of unspoken vicissitude was emanating from his body, but it was all due to the cool demeanor he portrayed that made him even more attractive! Thus, Zhou Yan glanced at the spectators and proceeded to take a serious and sincere bow. He did not say a word¡ªhis actions were enough to speak for him. With that action, he was able to win the hearts of seemingly every single spectator present. ¡°Zhou Yan, Twin Qi Column. Each with two segments, ancient Qi Column. Perfect grade!¡± That elderly man with a head full of white hair spoke with an uncontrollable shaky voice. The couple who stood next to the elderly man both had a complicated and fearful gaze in their eyes as they looked at Zhou Yan. ¡°This test truly is excellent. Since Zhou Yan is such an outstanding genius, four extra nominated names will be added to the prize list and he will be in charge of naming these names. ¡°Based on the quality of Zhou Yan¡¯s Qi Column alone, he wouldn¡¯t be required to participate in the test of combat. The fight to the death for the Zhou family will be canceled. ¡°These extra names will be decided by Zhou Yan alone. Anyone besides the Zhou family will not be accepted. ¡°And thus, this shall be the end of the test of might; any grievances or grudge, be it personal or nay shall be settled under the shroud of personal hours. Should any arise, all personal grudges shall be settled before one enters the walls of the main family, and violation to this rule shall pay the price with one¡¯s life. There will be no hatred between members of our family, hence, no exceptions shall be made. Anyone caught violating this rule will be murdered! ¡°However, one may choose to end one¡¯s hatred or grudge in a battle to the death after one has announced to do so within the barriers of the swordplay alchemy! ¡°All you lot have half a day remaining! After half a day, the flying ship shall arrive to gather those who have been selected. I shall use my Blade¡¯s Specter to travel across the void, thus bringing those who had been selected back into the walls of the main family. ¡°This time, besides Zhou Yan, there¡¯s Zhou Ying from the City of Ten Thousand Changes who also possesses a twin Qi Column. The first thing both of you would do upon your arrival at the main branch of our family is to head directly into the Blade¡¯s Cardinal pond in order to undergo a mutation which will awaken your potential, and thus ascending directly into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal!¡± ¡°On a final note. To all of the spies in this event, heed my warning. Both of them who have the twin Qi Column are the geniuses of the main branch of our family. Anyone who even so slightly intends to murder these two shall be faced with the wrath of the main branch of our family. We shall unleash the Blade¡¯s Specter within the Holy Sword to massacre the entire city! The lines of the majesty that is our Zhou family should never be crossed and should never be challenged! ¡°Heed my words everyone!¡± ¡°Alright, after so much has been said, everyone may leave now!¡± With a single wave of the elderly man as he was speaking, an invisible layer of swordplay alchemy instantly faded away. It seemed a wave of indescribably menacing energy had instantly faded away without a trace. Thus, countless scholars from countless families had left in that moment. It was also at that moment, it mattered not if it was Elder Ling, the Elder of the Region of A Thousand Despair, or the third generation geniuses from the Huang family, all of them were exceedingly shocked by such a display of power. The unimaginably powerful elderly man who unleashed the immensely menacing swordplay alchemy did it in a way where none of the countless people witnessing the event were even remotely aware of a skill being used! That skill was an unimaginably heavenly-law breaking move! ¡­ ¡°Elder Xing, how are we going to report to our master now?¡± Zhou Yuan had a bitter look as he sighed in the flying ship. Zhou Ting had a conflicted look on her face, but she finally lamented and said, ¡°We didn¡¯t expect him to possess a natural gift which was so beyond our expectation. But, his father has already¡­¡± ¡°I shall discuss this matter with the lord of our family when we return. The Zhou family¡­ With twin Qi Column. This is the first time for the Zhou family to have a genius in possession of a twin Qi Column. As talented as Zhou Ying was, she¡¯s still a maiden, and is still too weak to walk the path of the Sword¡¯s Way. ¡°This young lad, Zhou Yan, is truly exceptional. He has gone through two of our deliberate challenges, and after he came to realize we were stopping him from entering the main branch of our family, he managed to earn his right to enter with his sheer natural gifts alone, forcing us to withdraw our deliberate hindrances¡­ ¡°Forget it. The glory of our family is still the most important matter at hand. Hence, we¡¯ll make him a direct competition of our master. Besides, our master has been too prideful recently. Having someone motivate him might be a good thing.¡± The elderly man lamented. ¡°There isn¡¯t much of a choice for us, this Zhou Yan truly is a spectacle. As much as I resent him, I can¡¯t say that I¡¯m not impressed by him since he has the twin Qi Column. A genius with a twin Qi Column is truly unimaginable. Even though I¡¯ve already crossed him, I will not fear him regardless. ¡°The most I can do is avoid crossing him any further.¡± That young lass Zhou Ting, replied with a sigh. That young lad Zhou Yuan had a cold, sinister undertone on his face. He proceeded to speak in a soft and low pitched tone, ¡°I¡¯m concerned about the rapacious nature of that b*stard. Wasn¡¯t that Zhou Wangchen unwilling to accept our family¡¯s arrangement all those years ago? He desperately wanted to be with that wench from the brothel, and as a result of that, had completely given up on our master¡¯s sister! Zhou Yan is a maniacal, arrogant and inexperienced lad. He knows how unrivaled his skills are and yet, reeks an air of arrogance. This type of character truly makes me unwilling to let go of my hatred toward him! ¡°That was beside the point. What if he had grown uncontrollably stronger and happened to discover the truth about his father. I¡¯m concerned he would be a difficult threat to deal with. I say it¡¯s better that we deal with this problem from its roots!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was inhumanly cold as his expression was exceedingly sinister. ¡°The situation with Zhou Wangchen isn¡¯t all unsalvageable. Even if it was, he would bring no benefit to our family with the current state he¡¯s in. ¡°However, Zhou Yan is completely different. He¡¯s the hope of our family¡¯s future! Moreover, with his impressive ability to gain enlightenment, there¡¯s a high possibility for him to ascend into ¡®that¡¯ realm. With that feat alone, he might be the key to open ¡®that¡¯ door.¡± The elderly man being addressed as Elder Xing by Zhou Yuan explained long-windedly. However, the final line of that statement instantly caused a massive reaction from both Zhou Yuan and Zhou Ting. They were unable to calm themselves for a long while. ¡°That¡­ that door¡­ Impossible!¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed with a surprised tone. He could not convince himself to believe that outcome. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s anyone who could possibly compete with his Qi Column and enlightened ability alone? Do you assume our capital city can go up against an entire region? Even if it were the Water Region and the Pale Flame¡¯s Region alone, I¡¯m afraid such talent is extremely hard to seek out! ¡°In the entirety of all major residences out there, the only top tier residence would be the Wang Chuan Residences! The master of the Wang Chuan Residence, Ji Taixu, was also in possession of a twin Qi Column. Everyone knew the moment he opened his doors. ¡°So, do you understand my hasty decision now? ¡°Expand your horizons. Expand your heart! ¡°Upon reaching a certain level, a person¡¯s value would be allowed to break plenty of regulations. What Zhou Yan said before was true!¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s nothing more than Zhou Yuntian¡¯s scuffle with that young lad¡¯s father. Therefore, by treating Zhou Wangchen well and with respect, Zhou Yan would most likely repay our kindness. ¡°That guy, Gu Yan, that he brought along with him seems to be extremely close to him based on his actions. ¡°Hence, it¡¯s decided. This matter shall be settled with exactly what I¡¯ve told you. Both you should stop deliberately causing him trouble now.¡± ¡°As you wish, Elder Xing.¡± Zhou Ting nodded without any hesitation, but Zhou Yuan sighed as he was still displeased judging from the dissatisfaction in his gaze. However, he knew Zhou Yan had already proven his worth, thus the lad could not do anything anymore. He lamented with a sigh and said, ¡°I¡¯m concerned, this lad would never let us go so easily.¡± ¡°Then you should start forming a bond with him, or you should show how genuine and sincere you are to him! Our Zhou family can allow the disregarding of rules placed in our household for any geniuses to ease things for them. ¡°All those years ago, Zhou Yuntian was able to step on Zhou Wangchen because of his natural gifts. Our family has always valued geniuses, but we¡¯ve also hoped by doing so we would be valued by all of the other geniuses, hence motivating more geniuses to be better!¡± Elder Xing explained. ¡°Yes indeed. I, as your pupil, understand that, but I too have my pride. I¡¯ve been by my master¡¯s side for a long while now, and I¡¯m unwilling and unable to put down my pride to get closer with an arrogant, mindless man like Zhou Yan. ¡°The most that I can do is stop bothering him from now!¡± After Zhou Yuan had spent a long while contemplating and hesitating, he found himself unable to apologize to Zhou Yan. It was Zhou Ting, on the other hand, whose gaze seemed conflicted¡ªit was as if she was contemplating a huge decision. ¡­ The Zhou family household. Zhou Yan was taking a walk with Gu Yan in the household. The young lad returned to the little courtyard that once belonged to him, and as he had expected, the courtyard had been taken over by Zhou Shuangshuang and Zhou Cheng. Zhou Yan was not even willing to grace both of these people of pure disgust with a single glance. However, as the young lad arrived at the courtyard, they had a delightful yet awkward expression on both of their faces as they approached Zhou Yan. The Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji, was following behind these two people. ¡°Zhou Yan, you should always keep an open mind to everything. When you arrive at our main family¡¯s household, the people you should pick are Zhou Shuangshuang, Zhou Cheng and Zhou Shan. Their natural gifts are pretty impressive as well. You should never let your anger or personal vendetta get the better of you.¡± As the Hand of the Grand Elder spoke, he was speaking with the tone of a wise elder; and even more so, he had assumed he was still an elder. Zhou Yan glared at that man. A rush of bloodlust raged through his eyes. ¡°Zhou Yan, you intend to kill me but you can¡¯t? Although I have treated you poorly, I¡¯m still your elder! In terms of status in the family, I¡¯m still your grandfather and your father¡¯s cousin! We¡¯re related by blood. You dare murder me!¡± Upon staring at Zhou Yan¡¯s glare, it was uncertain why Zhou Wuji was overwhelmed with fear, but he was also suddenly angered by it. Especially since when Zhou Yan was still a child, he had treated him quite well! Although the main reason behind it was because of Zhou Wangchen¡¯s impressive prowess. However, when he recalled that incident, he did not feel as if he had wronged Zhou Yan. Instead, he felt how disrespectful and ungrateful Zhou Yan was! Chapter 50 Zhou Yan stared directly at that elderly man, as his hands, heart and Blade¡¯s Menace could be unleashed in an instant! This man who had ascended into the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer and had already awakened his Blade¡¯s Menace¡ªthe hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji¡ªwas completely unable to shield himself from the extremely potent heavy Bloodlust coming from Silver Frost. However, Zhou Yan noticed some people gradually walking out of the courtyard. Zhou Momo, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Bi, Zhou Shan, Zhou Lingyao, Zhou Liang, Zhou Yao¡­ These people were not the pupils of the infamous Ten geniuses. They were merely regular pupils of low reputation from the minor branch of the Zhou family. The clothes they clad on their backs were tattered and torn. However, their gaze was completely focused on Zhou Yan. These were gazes of excitement, admiration, respect, and¡­ hope. Those were eyes filled to the brim with sincere feelings of endless hope. They were hoping for some recognition or status¡ªto be given glory. Upon observing these pupils who were wearing extremely worn out tattered clothes¡ªsome of whom were cousins¡ªZhou Yan did not unleash his fatal slash. It was not because he was incapable of murder but because the hand of the Grand Elder no longer had any concerns about his life. However, the pupils of the Zhou family had been leaving at a rapid pace and there was very little that remained. Most of the pupils who left went to the main branch of the Zhou family, meaning the strength of the Zhou family would undoubtedly have grown to a much more powerful status! It mattered not what Zhou Wuji had planned. At the end of the day he was still an elder of the Zhou family and had served the Zhou family for years on end. If he perished, it would only result in a much tragic fate for these poor pupils. This third generation of pupils had never once bullied him nor had they judged him. In most cases, they stared at him with a gaze filled with encouragement and their most sincere blessings. Hence, Zhou Yan did not unleash his fatal strike and decided to let him live. ¡°Please make sure you serve the Zhou family with the best interest which would benefit the family in mind. Or else, I will return one day and the first life I reap will be yours!¡± Zhou Yan scoffed as the threatening Blade¡¯s Menace finally faded away! Zhou Wuji was completely soaked in a cold sweat. He was instantly relieved the moment that menacing Blade¡¯s Menace faded away. ¡°Rest assured. As cruel as we were, we do it for the greater good of the Zhou family! Since you¡¯ve proven your potential and our mistakes, and seeing that we¡¯ve come this far, then we elders truly have a lot to manage and reorganize on the matters of the family! ¡°Your true potential has been exposed and it was unparalleled. So rest assured that your father¡¯s matters wouldn¡¯t be an issue! ¡°However, it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re pleased, I still have to tell you this. The main branch of the Zhou family takes talent and skill extremely seriously. If the four people you bring with you aren¡¯t powerful or skillful enough, it¡¯ll make them look down on the minor branch of our family! Zhou Cheng, Zhou Shuangshuang, Zhou Shan, Zhou Liang, and the others are quite talented and skillful. You should pick them!¡± Zhou Wuji remained prideful as he spoke. Zhou Yan took a single glance at the hand of the Grand Elder. The young lad calmly said, ¡°If the Lord of the household, Elder of Lore, Grand Elder and everyone else had refused to show themselves and had instead sent you, a fool who would be willing to offend people even if it invites death, then you truly are an idiot!¡± ¡°So what if that was the case. I¡¯ve watched them grow up with my own two eyes, so to do this for them falls in line with my responsibilities! Since I¡¯ve already crossed you then if you have to kill me just do so as you please!¡± Zhou Wuji replied without hesitation. Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze drifted across Zhou Cheng and the rest of the people. He then proceeded to cackle in a cold tone before he said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing impressive about their natural gifts, so why not pick someone from a younger generation? ¡°The very foundation of the main branch of our Zhou family and those major families have always been forcefully promoted before the pupils had even ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, and to think they still cared about natural gifts? I¡¯ll no longer discuss this matter with you. I¡¯ve decided to bring Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Momo, Zhou Bi, and Zhou Yao with me. The four of them are the youngest in our family and their natural gifts had not taken shape yet, so they would have the advantage of ascending into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace under the careful cultivation and care of the main branch of our family. They would be exactly like any other pupil in the main Zhou Family so no time would be wasted. ¡°If you guys are willing then follow me. If you¡¯re not, then I shall go alone! I have very little words to spare so do what you must!¡± Zhou Yan turned around and left as he flicked the sleeves of his clothes. At that very moment, the four pupils who had been named by Zhou Yan knelt on the ground in unison. Amongst these four pupils, their ages ranged between thirteen and fourteen years old. The weakest person in that group was Zhou Yao who was merely a rank three swordsman. The young lad had not even ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal. The remaining three people in the group had ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal, but they were all still in the first rank of that realm! To be in such a laughable realm, it would be shameful to present the four of them alongside the young lad! ¡°Can you actually present their progress there? Wouldn¡¯t they be the laughing stock of the entirety of the main branch of our family?¡± The Hand of the Grand Elder¡¯s expression morphed into a bitter look as he seemed extremely frantic. ¡°Who dares to make fun of any of them? In the presence of me, Zhou Yan, which soul would dare do such a thing?!¡± Zhou Yan turned around immediately as a wave of extremely powerful spiritual energy exploded from Zhou Yan¡¯s body¡ªit was extremely tense and heavy. It was an explosion of spiritual energy from the enormous Sword of the Soul. Under such immense pressure, the Hand of the Grand Elder immediately coughed up blood before he had any time to react to such power. ¡­ ¡°Alright then, so be it! It pleases me to know how much of an open mind you kept to bring your brothers and sisters alongside you into the main branch of our family. ¡°Whatever that had happened before this was my fault and I¡¯m unworthy of being your grandfather. I shall bend my knee as retribution to my mistakes! ¡°Since things have progressed to such an extent, I no longer have much to say. Just take care of yourself!¡± At this very moment, Zhou Wuzhen and the others who were with him brought the Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei, and the Third Elder, Zhou Wude to face Zhou Yan. They walked in at the same time and proceeded to kneel in the face of Zhou Yan. As they knelt, the Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji, the third prodigal heir Zhou Cheng, and Zhou Shuangshuang also bent their knee at that moment. At the same time, most of the remaining members of his family were all kneeling in front of Zhou Yan. The only people that refused to bend their knees were Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, and Zhou Xian who were standing behind the elders. The trio were discussing something, and as they walked out the courtyard, they were greeted by this scene. At that instant, Zhou Lingyao¡¯s gaze was as calm as a puddle of stagnant water. Zhou Xian, on the other hand, had an extremely displeased, sinister gaze, and an aura of hatred emanated from the young lad¡¯s body. The only person that had somewhat of a reaction was Zhou Lingyi. Her pupils constricted slightly as she saw that scene, but the young lass stood her ground. Reflected through her gaze as she stared at Zhou Yan was a burning emotion¡­ of a declaration of war! ¡®There will come a day when you too, will be forced to bend the knee by my hand. This will be retribution for the shame you¡¯ve caused when you made every single member of our family, including grandfather, kneel before you!¡¯ The young lass made an oath in her heart! Zhou Yan proceeded to look at Zhou Lingyi, and then shifted his gaze to look at the people who were kneeling in front of him. The young lad said nothing and made no attempts to ridicule these people. The young lad turned around and calmly said, ¡°Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Momo, Zhou Bi, and Zhou Yao. The four of you can get up now. Hurry up and get your preparations done. Meet me at the academy in a short while. Follow me to the main branch of our family, and I¡¯ll make sure that I train and cultivate all of your skills well.¡± As the young lad spoke, he had already left the scene. However, as he left the courtyard, the young lad had finally spoken after remaining silent for some time. He said, ¡°Zhou Cheng and Zhou Shuangshuang. As siblings, you both met up every night for contact of intimacy. You have committed a crime of incest. Such scum! How could they be allowed into the walls of the main branch of the Zhou family just to bring shame? ¡°Zhou Shan, Zhou Liang, and the others are all over the age of eighteen, and although their current realm is impressive, they were lacking in other attributes. Hence, there isn¡¯t any long term potential as bringing them along would yield no drastic progress. ¡°The four pupils that I¡¯ve chosen possess the possibility of mutating their Qi Columns. Their ability to gain enlightenment is impressive. They have the most potential amongst the third generation of youth in our Zhou family! ¡°Furthermore, Zhou Xian, you resented me this much that you intended to kill me even though I¡¯ve never wronged you! Instead, I once took the liberty of passing you my knowledge in hopes of making you better! Your hatred stemmed from envy! ¡°If you¡¯re unable to smother the flames of envy within your heart, you¡¯ll never succeed in your lifetime!¡± ¡°Zhou Lingyao, your intentions were sinister and deep. You¡¯re capable of doing whatever it takes in the name of becoming stronger, so I have no words for you. However, do not forget. You and I are brothers! Infighting within our family has no meaning!¡± ¡°Zhou Lingyi. I¡¯m not guilty in the face of heaven, nor have I sinned against men! I¡¯ve never once requested for them to bend their knees¡ªit was done so willingly! So, your hatred¡ªthe so-called shame you feel¡ªis unreasonable! ¡°Put yourself in my shoes. If you were me today, what exactly would you have done? ¡°I have lost my mother at a young age, and my father has been crippled. I¡¯ve been living with the tormenting guilt I bear for my inability to succeed. The main reason why I have to relentlessly suppress my physical potential was so that I would never see the disappointment from my family and friends. However, little did I know that display of disappointment was nothing more than a facade! ¡°I had been shamed, never appreciated, hunted to death for a thousand miles¡­ ¡°All of these will be water under the bridge after you guys have willingly bent your knees. ¡°Even moments before my father¡¯s death, he has never blamed any of you, so I shall act the same way¡ªI¡¯ll stop blaming all of you. However, don¡¯t mistake my forgiveness for mercy. My forgiveness was done in the name of my father whose condition was a mystery. ¡°With my abilities alone, slaughtering all of you will be as easy as trimming grass! However, in the name of our kinship and bloodline, I shall bury the hatchet. ¡°And thus, from this very moment on, I¡¯ll have no correlation nor ties to the Zhou family. I will no longer be of relation to any of you, and all of you will have no ties to me!¡± Zhou Yan let out a long sigh after speaking his mind. The young lad had already thought about every consequence the instant he was tempted to murder the Hand of the Grand Elder. If the Hand of the Grand Elder had been murdered, the Grand Elder would not leave this matter unchecked, nor would the Elder of Lore; even the Lord of the Zhou family would never lay this matter to rest. In the end, everyone would perish! However, the young lad did not fear such a consequence since he was more than capable of slaughter. The strongest amongst these people was merely in the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. That alone was not threatening nor powerful. However, at the end of the day, the young lad thought about his father and reflected upon the scene where countless pupils within his family had cheered for him and were excited for him as he stood his ground in the academy. These pupils were innocent and more than anything they were adorable! These people had never wronged him. If every significant person of the Zhou family were dead, it would only result in the complete fracture of the Zhou family. These pupils would be forced to leave their homes, and without the care of the family, they would be exactly like drifters in the wind¡ªone without status and would live the life of a lowly scum. Hence, the young lad pondered about plenty of things and said everything from the very bottom of his heart. However, this did not mean he was unable to exert dominance! Hence, after the young lad was done speaking his mind, Silver Frost which was in the grasp of his hands, flew out with a swift ¡®swooshing¡¯ sound. An infinite and immeasurable amount of spiritual energy was unleashed and drained directly from the enormous blade of the soul, and infused directly into Silver Frost¡¯s body. After obtaining such an enormous amount of energy, it manifested five gigantic specters of a pale dragon! ¡°Roar!¡± The pale green dragon emanated an immense aura of despair. It was as if this divine beast had originated from ancient days. It¡¯s infinite menacing, raging aura stretched across the sky¡ªdisplay of power was undoubtedly invincible! ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± The five specters of the pale dragons instantly burrowed into the young lad¡¯s father¡¯s courtyard. With a thundering ¡®boom¡¯ the entire courtyard was reduced to debris. Thus, five massive terrifying trenches appeared in that spot and it seemed as if a category nine earthquake had just occurred. The earth was heavily quaking from that single attack. ¡°My combat prowess exceeds three ranks and is no longer out of reach! Slaughtering all of you is as easy as trimming grass! All four Elders from the Xie family who were all incredibly powerful scholars in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace along with Xie Feng had all perished with this single attack. They were all incapable of fighting back! ¡°And now, I believe all of you are clear with how sincere I am!¡± After Zhou Yan was done talking, he turned around and left the scene for real this time. While Zhou Yan left, this entire incident was clearly witnessed by all of the incredibly powerful scholars in the tavern outside. Hence, Zhou Yan¡¯s single action had gained him notoriety that would span across the land! The young lad was finally worthy of the title of ¡®true genius¡¯ as his reputation skyrocketed instantly! ¡­ Within the void and in the flying ship, the elder with a full head of white hair, Elder Xing, was baffled by such a display. He said, ¡°Can you see now? This man¡­ His combat prowess is top-tier compared to Lord Zhou Yuntian. In all honesty,he may even destroy the latter¡¯s natural gifts!¡± ¡°Incredible! This man, at the very least, still possessed a shred of humanity. In such a tense situation, had he made his move to murder the members of his family, it would be completely acceptable. However, he did no such thing! ¡°I have decided I will apologize to him.¡± As Zhou Ting pondered, she finally made a decision. ¡°I will not apologize. It¡¯s without a doubt that he is powerful, but from the things I¡¯ve done, I regret nothing. Even if the fault was mine, as long as I know in my heart, that alone is enough! Why should I make him assume that we are making an effort to grow closer to him?! ¡°Besides, my current realm exceeds his by a longshot. I refuse to believe by my insane hard work alone I wouldn¡¯t be in the lead! Who¡¯s to say a person progresses faster in training because one¡¯s Qi Column is in a perfect quality?! The more powerful a Qi Column is, the harder it is to break through the shackles of the realms. Hence, as the difficulty of his training progresses, the resources that he would spend for his training would be infinitely more than anyone!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression seemed conflicted, but he could not let go of his pride since the young lad still felt that Zhou Yan¡¯s status was too insignificant. How could he allow an elite of the main branch of the Zhou family apologize to the likes of him?! Chapter 51 Canglan City, Jaded Sky Ocean¡¯s Tavern. ¡°Look father, Brother Zhou Yan is as gifted as me, so you wouldn¡¯t forbid your dear daughter from her pursuit of love and in turn would love to train alongside him right?¡± Zhou Ying chuckled cheerfully, her heart grew increasingly excited as she stared at her father. She was also oblivious to the fact that the silhouette she had adored since childhood had seared into her mind even after all these years apart. ¡°Al¡­alright then, as long as you¡¯re happy,¡± the middle-aged man replied with a bitter laugh. ¡°You truly¡­can¡¯t¡­underestimate Zhou Yan! Never did anyone expected, even me. I had foolishly assumed he was merely in possession of a single Qi Column with three segments, who would¡¯ve known he had a twin Qi Column each with two segments! ¡°Based on what he had said, all of this change happened in a cycle of moon¡¯s time. Truly a terrifying change.¡± Everyone present in the tavern paid extra attention to everything Zhou Yan was doing. However, after they had bear witness to Zhou Yan¡¯s talents and potential, these people were all silenced. To have a man such as Zhou Yan appeared within the Zhou family, a huge number of pupils flooded into the main branch of Zhou family despite the circumstances Zhou Yan had found himself in. It would be without a shred of doubt that Zhou Yan¡¯s reputation and status would be heightened and if this family had any hope to fall from glory, it would be an extremely difficult feat to accomplish! Those scholars who once had an ill perspective of Zhou Yan had given up those thoughts as they no longer dared to cross Zhou Yan. At the same time, Zhou Ying¡¯s father, Zhou Han, had changed his perspective toward Zhou Yan as he felt extremely conflicted. He knew there was very little he could do to stop his daughter, however, feelings of concern and worry had faded away, as he had a sudden excited hope¡­ If his daughter was graced by the opportunity to live with Zhou Yan, then, genius their children would be. If he was in possession of a twin Qi Column with three segments each, forming a Emperor Blade¡¯s Core, would his heir be free from the shackles of the Essence of the Emperor? Thus forming a Blade¡¯s Core of unimaginable special properties? Just by birth alone, the soul would have the potential of forming a Blade¡¯s Spectre, would it be graced with incredible powers? As the lad thought about all of that, he had become increasingly excited. Indeed, it was emotions of pure excitement! Regardless of power or potential, the only thing he hoped for was his daughter to live a better life. It was the encounter with Zhou Yan which had caused the lad to assume his daughter would have a difficult life ahead. However, now that the young lad had proved his worth even to the infamous Elder Xing¡ªwho was known to make things difficult, he was amazed by young lad¡¯s demonstration of natural gifts. ¡°Yes I know but the only thing that I don¡¯t is if brother Zhou Yan would still remember me¡­¡± As Zhou Ying spoke in a cheerful tone, hints of admiration and excitement flashed across her eyes, there were also some¡­awfully unique radiance from her eyes. She recalled when she was still a mere child and was clueless to the world around her, she had seen Zhou Yan¡¯s manhood and was curious to the reason of it being absent on her body. She had even go as far as doing a detailed search for the reason of the differences in their anatomy¡­ As she recalled the incident, she had felt extremely embarrassed by it. However, there was an odd feeling of warmth in her heart as the young lass had found it difficult to forget about the memories of those days. Although she was a naive child, she was filled with innocence. It was worth recalling. ¡­ As he noticed the coquettish blushing demeanor of his daughter along with some hints of confusion, he shook his head and thought, ¡®Zhou Wangchen¡­you were the crux of countless women back then and now, your b*stard child has arrived. It seems plenty more women in the world would have been violated soon¡­ Sigh¡­ How I envy and admire you!¡± As he spoke in his heart, he suddenly saw an unbelievable sight, he noticed five spectres of the Pale Dragons from a distance! At the same time, most of the scholars in the tavern had all stood up instantly as they stared at the courtyard that once belonged to Zhou Wangchen! Boom! Five spectres of the Pale Dragons had instantly blown through the entire courtyard, leaving behind five enormous and deep trenches in the shape of a sword in the courtyard. That explosion of Blade¡¯s Menace was capable of instantly murdering a scholar in the peak of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace! This was a truly menacing and immensely powerful attack, it felt like the raging roars from the ancient God of War! Thus, in that instant, not only was Zhou Han and Zhou Ying, every single scholar on that floor was completely shocked by what they had just witnessed! The strongest people in Canglan City was only in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace and these strong and people of immense power were all in the peak of the first rank of that realm, since when a scholar had reached the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, the training that followed would be indescribably difficult! From the very beginning of this realm was an enormous trench! This trench was not something that would be able to be completely filled to the brim in a short span of time! Hence, if a person was capable of killing such a powerful foe in a mere instant, every single person could not stay calm. With Zhou Yan¡¯s powers alone, he was more than capable of killing them in an instant! They had always assumed they were the elders and the natural gifts of the younger generations would never even come close to their level! However, Zhou Yan¡¯s single attack, that earth shattering attack, was evidence enough to tell them, Zhou Yan could never be underestimated! His combat prowess alone had unknowingly become their equal, even more so, far exceeded what they were capable of! This truth was painfully obvious to them. As much as they hated to accept this fact, they had witnessed his powers with their own two eyes and this was without a shred of doubt the truth! A hard inhale can be heard coming from the rooms of the tavern, it seemed after a deafening silence, someone could no longer hold back their emotions as they nervously inhaled with complete shock! At this moment, not a single soul was sitting down as everyone stood with complete amusement! ¡°If Zhou Yan would never fall from grace, then this lad would be a genius that breaks the very balance and laws of the heavens! Such an abomination of nature! ¡°A man like him, his name would be known in the Valley of Prosperity, his reputation would cause an uproar in the City of Waters, no, the entire Compound of Pale Flames!¡± An elderly man with a head full of white hair mumbled. The instant he opened his mouth, his loose teeth were exposed while his entire body trembled! This man was one of the elders of the Huang family. This man was extremely close to being dead due to his age and had not been capable of breaking through the peak of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. Now, he was extremely close to death! However, upon witnessing such a scene, his already shrivelling body had an unexplainable excitement as his slumbering blood had seemingly begun to boil! He felt, after he had witnessed the five spectres of the Pale Dragons¡­his soul had been shaken and it was through that he had finally seen a new sword¡¯s way and Blade¡¯s Menace! That instant spark, made the elderly man extremely excited as he suddenly yelled, ¡°I¡¯ve been enlightened, I¡¯ve finally been enlightened! This lad, Zhou Yan, truly is a one of a kind genius. The instant this odd Blade¡¯s Menace were unleashed, the entire heavens and Earth shook, this alone had graced me with a new Blade¡¯s Menace!¡± The elderly man exclaimed like a mad man, as both his eyes were bloodshot red as his elderly body suddenly seemed bigger. ¡°Congratulations, Elder Huang!¡± ¡°The great Elder of the Huang family had suddenly been graced with enlightenment ascending into the second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, his age spans centuries, truly something worth celebrating for!¡± ¡°To be enlightened at this moment, Elder Huang truly has been blessed, your great reputation would echoe into the future!¡± ¡­ Thus, various congratulatory greetings were being wished at this moment. Elder Huang excitedly replied whilst breathing heavily, ¡°This is all thanks to Zhou Yan¡¯s unique and ferocious demonstration of Blade¡¯s Menace, hence resulting in me being graced with something new. Everyone should contemplate and reflect upon it, I believe everyone would be able to gain something great from it.¡± Thus, Elder Huang had praised Zhou Yan to such a high honorable regard, even the way he had addressed Zhou Yan had changed. As he spoke about Zhou Yan, all the judgements and critiques he had before changed to honorable appraisals with the most respect! In that single instance, he had been thoroughly captivated by Zhou Yan¡¯s prowess! Thus, as Zhou Yan had gained instant fame as his reputation had now shocked the world, he had gained the most respect from the main branch of the Zhou family and was even given four names. His actions of mercy by sparing the lives of the family members that had wronged him and had buried the hatchet won the respect of many scholars! His attitude, this rash, and sincere attitude had gained the respect of different major families! ¡­ The Zhou family. The courtyard remained in a state of deafening silence after Zhou Yan left. Those five deep trenches laid on the spot they formed silently. This was still a terrifying scene to witness. The Zhou family was silenced and it was like the loneliness of death. Those few people who were targeted by Zhou Yan had mixed expressions. Zhou Xian had a conflicted look. However, he had taken whatever Zhou Yan had spoken to him to heart in order to reflect upon it later. Zhou Lingyi¡¯s expression was cold but in fact, she had been slightly moved. Hence, her face looked complicated. However, after listening to everything Zhou Yan had to say and had thought about how he felt in his shoes¡­ Her arrogant and prideful cold gaze instantly dimmed. This was the first time in her life to have put herself in the shoes of another person. These emotions had heavily affected her, causing her to feel lost because of some of her actions Could she truly be wrong? However, who would have expected a useless trash such as Zhou Yan would suddenly rise to glory? If Zhou Yan had not changed so drastically, would the Zhou family be completely ruined? These were the puzzling thoughts that were plaguing Zhou Lingyi¡¯s mind. At this moment, Zhou Lingyao had a serious look on his face. However, he had seemingly been silenced. Without a word, this young lad walked alone and left the courtyard. ¡°Lingyi, Lingyao, Xian¡¯er.¡± Zhou Wuzhen called out to the trio. ¡°Zhou Yan was right, we kneel now, it is to admit the fault of our mistakes in planning and our severe oversight. But we also did not anticipate this change to happen. ¡°However, mistakes were made. So as we kneel, we¡¯re doing so willingly. This has nothing to do with him. As he had said earlier, if he wanted to murder all of us, it would be as easy as trimming grass. ¡°That fight to the death, thank the gods it never happened, or else, the three of you¡­ ¡°Next time, when you three enter the main branch of our family, don¡¯t make his life unnecessarily difficult even if you resented him in your heart. He¡­has had a horrible and tragic life, it was all because of his struggles that he had achieved today¡¯s status. ¡°You¡¯ve seen his hard work. ¡°To even think that I, his own grandfather, have hired someone to murder him¡­ Because of that incident, I had thought about leaving no potential threats behind in future¡­ Even a tiger would not feast on its young, for all that I have done, I too, deserve to kneel¡­¡± ¡°Grandfather, but if it wasn¡¯t for Zhou Wangchen¡­¡± Zhou Lingyao was still unsatisfied, as he finally spoke his mind to protest. ¡°What has happened in the past should stay in the past!¡± Zhou Wuzhen¡¯s gaze was slightly lost. Although both his eyes were still slightly bright and had not been affected by anything, the edge of his eyes showed the deep wrinkles that seemingly had hidden plenty of despair and anguish. ¡°Yes, grandfather, we will never cross him again. However, now that he has a status and had cut ties with the Zhou family, we¡­me at least, would not submit without a fight,¡± Zhou Lingyao replied in a cold tone. ¡°Yes, as long as there aren¡¯t any conflicts between you and him, anything else will be left to fate! Another thing, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Momo, Zhou Bi, and Zhou Yao, the four of you should go and pack your things now. ¡°We had been too arrogant and in the end resulted in taking sides. We had never once grew any concerns about the matters of your natural gifts. However, just as Zhou Yan had spoken, if he claims your potential to be great, then he should be right. ¡°When you arrive at the main branch of our family, work hard, do not fail Zhou Yan¡¯s name, causing him to be the laughing stock of others, do you understand?¡± ¡°We do, we shall heed your lessons, our lord.¡± Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Momo, Zhou Bi, and Zhou Yao replied in unison. Zhou Wuzhen nodded as he closed his eyes seemingly reflecting on the events of the past. In that instant, he aged. ¡­ Chapter 52 A silver, enormously wide flying ship landed from the skies above. Waiting patiently within the flying ship was Elder Xing, Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Ting. They were standing silently on the left side of Elder Xing. On his right was a middle-aged looking man with a long black beard who seemed to be extremely flirtatious. Standing next to the middle-aged man was a young maiden who seemed to have a pair of glimmering spirit-filled eyes. That young lass was completely focused on Zhou Yan. The young lad¡¯s gaze drifted passed these people and as his gaze was met with that adorable young lass¡¯ aggressive stares who seemed to possess a strong spiritual affinity, Zhou Yan felt a slight twitch in his heart. Since the young lad was used to seeing maidens with beauty that could only be compared to a deity, he was able to keep himself composed as he was not the type of person to seemingly forget about the world around him upon meeting such a rare beauty. This slight impulsive twitch in his heart was caused by meeting this young maiden who had a strong sense of familiarity coming from her. However, since both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner had greatly affected him, even if he was able to tell who that person was, he no longer possessed the heart to be close to anyone. His personality had become increasingly grounded as all his impulsive nature gradually faded away. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, it¡¯s me, Ying¡¯er. Do you still remember me?¡± However, Zhou Yan remained idle. As the flying ship stopped, Ying¡¯er stepped onto a single ray of Blade¡¯s light as she elegantly walked toward the young lad and appeared out of nowhere next to him. She then proceeded to very excitedly talk to him. That cold emotionless gaze from Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes earlier was seemingly invisible to her. ¡­ As Zhou Yan unleashed his soul detection skill, he was able to very clearly sense Zhou Yin¡¯s intentions and thoughts in addition to all the warmth and excitement within her. Hence, his heart felt warm in that instant. The young lad had no intention to use his detection skills on this young lass, but due to the unique nature of soul¡¯s detection, he was very clearly able to pick up on their intentions and their thoughts for anyone who was not grounded enough in their personality. This was exactly like committing a crime of voyeurism! However, if one¡¯s personality was as grounded as Elder Xing, no matter how hard the young lad attempted, he would not be able to read the elder¡¯s thoughts nor sense their intentions even by the slightest. However, to Zhou Ying, Zhou Yan did not wish to repeat what had happened with Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner so he proceeded to probe further with his detection skill and stretched his detection skill to the fullest. Hence, he had instead sensed a sincere and genuine feeling of ¡®admiration¡¯ from her. That was a conflicting feeling of ¡®admiration¡¯ and ¡®favoritism¡¯ but it was probably not anything related to romantic feelings. It felt more like¡­ admiration for an older brother. Hence, Zhou Yan could not tell the difference between what kind of feeling that way, although it was solid and sincere. The young lad was touched and his heartstrings were pulled. His cold frozen heart had a slight hint of warmth. Hence, after contemplating for a brief moment, the young lad proceeded to excitedly speak up. This was a similar event to after the young lad ran into Gu Xi¡ªthe feeling of catching up with someone who had been estranged for several years felt amazing to the young lad. ¡°Ying¡¯er? You¡¯re Ying¡¯er from the City of Ten Thousand Changes?¡± Zhou Yan spoke in a surprised tone. ¡°Yes indeed, I¡¯m Ying¡¯er. I¡¯m so happy that brother Zhou Yan still remembers me!¡± Zhou Ying cried tears of joy. The young lass did not hesitate as she lept excitedly into Zhou Yan¡¯s arms. Zhou Ting who was witnessing this entire exchange stared with a uniquely interesting gaze while Zhou Yuan, on the other hand, was completely shocked as both his eyes were completely wide open¡ªhe cracked an interesting expression on his face. The muscles on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face were slightly twitching. He spent so much effort pleasing Zhou Ying but she had instead given him a very cautious stare, as if she was keeping her guard up against a potential rapist. However, this man Zhou Yan, who had only been in contact with Zhou Ying for mere moments¡ªthe goddess in his heart¡ªhad actually lept into Zhou Yan¡¯s arms! In that very instant alone, Zhou Yuan was so stunned he seemed like a mad man. ¡°In our time¡­ You¡¯re the best in your ability in gaining enlightenment; your Qi Column is also the best and now, even your ability to flirt with maidens¡­ Is your natural beauty that well regarded, you little pretty boy?¡± Zhou Yuan was completely speechless and had no idea what he should do in this situation. His prideful nature meant that he enjoyed defeating opponents with regards to status, position, skills, and more. However, at his current state, he was no longer in a position to win in any field. Even in terms of his bloodline, though Zhou Yan hailed from the minor branch of the Zhou family. Zhou Yan¡¯s position in the family was insignificant but his lineage had some correlation to the main family. It was only due to Zhou Wuzhen¡¯s father¡¯s mistakes in the past that resulted in his exile from the main branch, forcing him to settle elsewhere. Nevertheless, the blood that coursed through Zhou Wuzhen¡¯s father¡¯s veins was the purest blood that had ties to the main branch of the Zhou family¡­ ¡°Hmph, Zhou Yan, I salute you! The deliberate challenges I made toward you before were simply due to the assumption that you had a mere three-segmented single Qi Column within my realm of the blade. Although that was impressive, the main branch of our family doesn¡¯t lack talent of that level, which was why I never bothered to even take you seriously. ¡°For the things I¡¯ve done before, I take full responsibility. I sincerely apologize!¡± After pondering about it for a long moment, Zhou Yuan made the first move to apologize. This arrogant lad who had been obsessed and hellbent on surpassing Zhou Yan had apologized at this moment. At that moment, Zhou Ting gazed at him with a look of disbelief. As Zhou Yan was enjoying the embrace he shared with Zhou Ying, upon hearing such words of genuine sincerity from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth, the young lad was slightly stunned. However, he soon understood the deeper meaning of his words. Since it was no secret that Zhou Yan had an immeasurable natural gift, it was natural for these people to stop their attempts in crossing him. Hence, these people would never want to have any new grievances nor grudges with him which explained their moves in attempts to grow closer to him. ¡°Zhou Yan, my previous behaviors had crossed the line. I too, sincerely apologize to you.¡± Zhou Ting spoke with a sincere and genuine tone. She had a gentle voice, and as she spoke she had actually knelt on one knee! Although it was only a single slender and stunning leg. ¡°Sigh¡­ Please get up. Although this thing happened in the past, it¡¯s over now so let it be. If any of you stick to your old roots and deliberately bring trouble my way without knowing your place, then it¡¯s only natural that I would be forced to do something about it. ¡°But I felt the sincere and genuine feelings from both of you¡­ ¡°Since we¡¯re all from the same family, this entire debacle will be water under the bridge.¡± Upon witnessing Zhou Ting, who was known for her arrogance and prideful personality, taking the liberty of humbling herself and bending her knee, Zhou Yan had initially hesitated. However, upon much deeper thought, he decided to bury the hatchet after knowing the extent of his powers and the pride he inherited from the ancient sage¡¯s soul. Besides, Zhou Yan only inherited a fragment of the ancient sage¡¯s soul, and that ancient sage was a majestic figure of immense power who was capable of Spatial Destruction and judging these people¡ªalthough the powers of these people were indeed worthy of praise¡ªthese people were merely ants in comparison to that ancient sage. Bluntly speaking, these people were mostly younger than twenty years of age so they were nothing more than prepubescent brats¡­ An example to better describe the entire scenario would be as if a mischievous child had beaten up a young lad, then as the young lad grew stronger, this child proceeded to kneel in order to reflect upon his guilt and the attitude of the child had also greatly improved. Would it then be justifiable for the young lad to return the child¡¯s favor by violently beating the child up? There were plenty of thoughts that had flooded Zhou Yan¡¯s mind, but it was never solely out of the mercy of his heart since he was never known to be merciful. Both Zhou Yuan and Zhou Ting would have some form of position within the walls of the main branch of the Zhou family since they were brought there by Elder Xing. Both of them were still in their youth and the extent of their combat prowess had reached the very peaks of the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace¡ªthis feat alone was extremely impressive! Even if Zhou Yan unleashed every single trump card in his possession, he still would not be able to murder both of these people. Moreover, Elder Xing was also present with them. How exactly would it be possible for the young lad to unleash any form of attack? Even if the young lad held back his attack, making them his enemies would undoubtedly only make his future incredibly difficult. Although Zhou Yan himself did not fear such an outcome, the young lad worried that these four pupils clad in tattered and torn clothes who were handpicked by him, would have an astoundingly difficult time there. As of then, now that both of them had made their first moves in offering peace, the wisest choice would be reducing any unnecessary troubles in order to temporarily train in peace which would result in progressing further without any hindrance. If the duo had any ill intentions in the future, slaughtering them when that time came would not be too late. These were Zhou Yan¡¯s thoughts, and although on the surface he may seem to accept a truce between them by burying the hatchet, it all depended on both their future performance. As expected, after Zhou Yan made his statement of peace, Elder Xing smiled. ¡°Yes indeed. Peace would always result in the greatness and prosperity of our family. This would be without a shred of doubt the best outcome, but since both of you, Zhou Yuan and Zhou Ting have already apologized, then you both shall show how sincere you are. There will be no meaning if it were just plain-spoken words without action.¡± Elder Xing replied with a smile. ¡°Yes indeed. That is right, Elder Xing. Your words speak the truth.¡± It felt slightly agonizing for Zhou Yuan as he took out an Infinite Spatial Ring. The young proceeded to take out a long blade that had an incredible spiritual affinity, and he spoke with a delighted tone,¡±This is a blade of spiritual affinity from an ancient site. Although it was slightly damaged, just pour your intentions into it, and it¡¯ll heighten your innate ability to gain enlightenment¡­ ¡°I admit that I¡¯ve acted irrationally and impulsively which has probably offended you, brother Zhou Yan. Hence, this blade will be my peace offering to show my sincere apologies.¡± ¡°This is armor with spiritual affinity and works better than your Armor of Absolute Invincibility. Its defensive abilities are exceedingly better and sealed within it are some fragments of Blade¡¯s Menace. It allows its users to have an easier time in awakening one¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace. It¡¯s a perfect, one of a kind artifact since it also has the ability to heal from any damages inflicted by any form of Blade¡¯ Menace¡­ So I hope you, brother Zhou Yan, can bury the hatchet and forgive my previous rash behaviors.¡± Zhou Ting took a sincere bow to show her most sincere remorse. ¡°Yes indeed. Since I¡¯ve already made it clear that I will bury the hatchet about the events that happened in the past, everything that has happened before will all be forgiven. Since both of you truly are this sincere, and if I refuse to accept your gifts, that might show that I¡¯m arrogant. Hence, knowing how sincere you both are, I shall gladly accept your gifts.¡± As Zhou Yan spoke, the young lad proceeded to accept both items. Although these items were indeed amazing artifacts, it would do very little to benefit Zhou Yan. However, if they were given to Gu Yan and Xiao Zhan, these perfect grade items would be a perfect fit for both of them. ¡°Of course, you deserve it.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded immediately as he spoke humbly. The more he interacted with the young lad, the more he understood that Zhou Yan was actually an amazing person of quality. Even as he spoke, Zhou Yan never once expressed any form of pride for being an unparalleled genius, nor any form of arrogance which showed the invincibility of the main branch of the Zhou family. Instead, the young lad acted very humbly. This was exactly like any normal conversations would go¡ªspeaking as equals¡ªbecause he behaved as any common-folk would. Unknowingly, he made people feel like there was never a pedestal they conversed on the same level, as equals. This was a unique charm, and it would attract anyone to be tempted to grow closer to him. As much as Zhou Yuan thought of Zhou Yan as nothing more than a pretty face, even he would be forced to admit by interacting with Zhou Yan, that he was tempted to pour his heart and soul to genuinely be his friend. Hence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s immediate reaction was to nod in agreement as he felt no need to be ashamed of such an action. Zhou Ting had similar thoughts in her mind too but had instead adored Zhou Yan¡¯s display of ¡®elegance¡¯ and ¡®forgiving¡¯ nature. It was as if Zhou Yan was never even bothered by any of her antics¡­ from the very beginning. It was an odd feeling for her. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, brother Zhou Yuan, and sister Zhou Ting. Knowing the three of you have reconciled is an amazing occasion that has happened. Hence, when we arrive at the main branch of our family, we shall rely on each other and be each other¡¯s support to improve for the better; together in the future.¡± Zhou Ying replied with a smile as her crescent moon-shaped stunning beautiful eyes lit up with immense feelings of hope and excitement. Chapter 53 ¡°That¡¯s for sure!¡± Zhou Yuan spoke with absolute certainty. ¡°Yes indeed, that¡¯s exactly how things should be!¡± Zhou Ting spoke in a confident tone. As Elder Xing witnessed this scene, he had an extremely warm compassionate gaze, and it was instead Zhou Yin¡¯s father, Zhou Han, who had a worrying gaze in his eyes. As he noticed how close his daughter had grown to Zhou Yan, and even had such great plans for the future third generations of the youth in the Zhou family, he felt slightly remorseful. He said in his heart, ¡®If things were truly that simple, then all will be well. However, the main branch of the Zhou family had sealed Zhou Yan¡¯s father away and had even reaped his soul from his body, mixing it within a Blade¡¯s Spectre¡­ ¡®That man of great potential and reputation and the first acknowledged genius of the Zhou family, Zhou Yuntian, has been in horrible terms with Zhou Wangchen so when Zhou Yan enters the main branch, it would be hard to say if Zhou Yan would be able to train in peace. ¡®Would Zhou Yan be alright if there was a lack of resources in the early stages of cultivation? Although he is truly gifted, it¡¯s just a concern that his resources will be exhausted within this crucial year. ¡®On top of that, to cultivate a true genius who has a twin Qi Column requires an endless stream of resources and the main branch of the Zhou family spent most of their resources on Zhou Yuntian. It seems that Zhou Yuntian had the most control over distribution rights within the main branch of the Zhou family, so when Zhou Yan enters its walls, would he be able to receive any of those resources for his twin Qi Columns? ¡®These things are very likely to occur! ¡®However, things might move toward a good direction. We cannot be sure.¡¯ Zhou Han did not make an effort to predict since he was not in a high enough realm to predict the luck and fate regarding the development of the main branch of the Zhou family, hence he was completely oblivious to anything connected to the foresight of the main branch of the Zhou family. Furthermore, he was not even able to foresee Zhou Yan¡¯s destiny and that he would be sent to the main branch of the Zhou family. Hence, this was even more impossible to predict. He was slightly worried, but he said nothing since the third generation of youths were able to bask in such a rare moment of joy. He was unwilling to cause any worry for the things that had not happened yet and was even more unwilling to destroy such a painfully joyous occasion that Zhou Yan single-handedly made possible. ¡­ Zhou Yan paid no mind to the joyous and laid back environment. He knew the world he lived in was a cruel one and based on the collective memories of the ancient sage, the young lad was able to very clearly see the turmoil and anguish that the ancient sage had gone through. There were plenty of memories of painful betrayal as well. There were plenty of betrayals done without reason, and it only occurred when one was left with not enough leverage. Hence, all he could do in response to the naive suggestion by Zhou Yin was nod and smile without saying much. Besides, he could not disappoint a beauty that was so willing to leap into his arms! After the young lad had a brief conversation with Elder Xing and the others, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Momo, Zhou Bi, Zhou Yao, and the rest arrived alongside Zhou Lingyi. As of then, Zhou Yan had already grown closer with Zhou Ying, Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Ting. However, he grew significantly closer to Zhou Ying to the extent that they were becoming closer than they were during childhood. Zhou Yan recalled that he was actually quite sensible as a child but was slightly more mischievous as he intentionally lured Zhou Ying to examine his tiny manhood, while the young rascal casually examined the tiny slit of that young lass¡¯ special place. He was merely four or five years of age back then. It was indeed an age of mischief. All of these events should have faded from his memories, but after he had inherited the will of the ancient sage¡¯s soul, fragments of memories after the age of three gradually returned to him. The image of the girl peeing from that time still resembles what he was seeing in that moment. As Zhou Yan recalled, embers of lust were suddenly burning in his heart as he thought to himself if he was truly that evil. Thus, his mind drifted toward a sinister thought. He wondered if Ying¡¯er still remembered this event, and what that special place of hers looked like now? As the young lad pondered, he could catch a glimpse of Gu Yan¡¯s nervous demeanor from the corner of his eye, hence all the negative thoughts faded completely from his mind. Zhou Yan immediately turned around and said while looking directly at Gu Yan, ¡°Uncle Gu, do you¡­ not wish to follow alongside me?¡± ¡°Yan¡¯er¡­ It seems you¡¯ve seen through my emotions¡­¡± Gu Yan said with a bitter laugh. ¡°Yes, Uncle Gu. If anything¡¯s troubling you, you may tell me. All will be well. As long as it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll do all I can to fulfill your wish.¡± Zhou Yan replied sincerely. Gu Yan nodded as his heart was incredibly touched. Even though there was an obvious drastic difference in Zhou Yan¡¯s status¡ªeven Elder Xing greeted him with a smile when speaking to him¡ªbut he still treated Gu Yan with such respect! He was incredibly moved but it was all due to that fact alone that he was even more determined in his final decision. ¡°Yan¡¯er, the thing is¡­¡± Gu Yan began to speak. At this very moment, Zhou Yuan, Zhou Ting, and everyone around them was curiously listening to what Gu Yan had to say. These people had always assumed Gu Yan was merely Zhou Yan¡¯s servant, but never did they expect that Zhou Yan would treat this ¡®servant¡¯ with such respect. Not a single display of pride nor arrogance could be seen from the young lad¡¯s behavior. To have treated anyone with such sincere and genuine respect, in all honesty, even Zhou Lingyi was moved by his gesture. She stared at Zhou Yan, and even she was unaware of how long she had been staring at the young lad. ¡°I¡¯m glad to watch you enter the main branch of your family, and knowing you¡¯ll no longer be plagued by danger and risks assures my heart. ¡°However, I¡¯m worried about brother Xiao Zhan. I wish to care for him, to be by his side, and to regain his glory once again. ¡°This journey to the Zhou family made me understand plenty of things. And to watch you manifest the ferocity of the pale dragon from your sword seemed to have given me some form of newfound enlightenment¡ªit seems I¡¯ve touched the very edges of the Blade¡¯s Menace. ¡°Hence, I can no longer accompany you on your journey to the main branch of your family. Besides, I was only a personal guard by your father¡¯s side and hold a very low position. To be able to watch you grow is enough for me¡­¡± Gu Yan had spoken plenty. He had also found his calling, and he no longer had the ability to protect Zhou Yan in the current state he was in. ¡°Alright Uncle Gu. Since you have decided, then I wish you well in the pursuit of your dreams. This is my Infinite Spatial Ring. I want you to have it. ¡°Within this ring holds an edict that would teach you the complete mastery of the Sword Art of Fall¡¯s Water Heaven Piercing Blade, my knowledge in the mastery over the Sword Art of Pure Autumn, in addition to the full guide for gaining enlightenment over both the Sword¡¯s Way of Bond and Despair and The Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade along with some Spirit Crystals¡­ Uncle Gu, I¡¯ve promised to let you venture out on your journey then you too, have to promise me to accept these resources and train well. ¡°We shall meet again someday.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s words were sincere and it was from the very depths of his heart. His actions had touched the hearts of every single person present at that moment. Through the young lad¡¯s actions, there were no hints of pretentious behavior nor was it a facade. He was not pretending to act this way due to the number of people present. Zhou Yan¡¯s every word and every action was filled with an indescribable temperament of pure genuine feelings¡ªit was as if the young lad had completely ignored the presence of every single person around him. In the young lad¡¯s world, contained only Gu Yan alone. ¡°Yan¡¯er, this¡­ This is too much¡­¡± Gu Yan intended to refuse but Zhou Yan¡¯s words were immeasurably sincere and the tone the young lad used was ¡®weighted¡¯. This meant if Gu Yan refused to accept the young lad¡¯s gift he was disregarding all of the young lad¡¯s feelings. However, if he accepted such an exorbitant amount of resources¡­ How could he even possibly have the heart to accept such a gift? It was impossible for Gu Yan to be unaware of what an exorbitant number of Spirit Crystals Zhou Yan had gifted him since before his daughter had left, he received a message via flying sword telling him that his daughter received an unimaginable amount of Spirit Crystals from him and asked him not to worry¡­ It was all due to that reason alone that he was determined to venture into this place with Zhou Yan. A place he knew he would have a high possibility of dying! Would he still retain his humanity to accept these resources after his daughter had already received plenty from the young lad? This thought alone caused him to fall into a state of endless hesitation as he was wedged between two hard spots. If he had given Zhou Yan just slightly more than what he had already done for him, then all of this would no longer be an issue. However, it was also due to his inability to set foot into the Zhou family household all these years that he was unable to be of much help to Zhou Yan. It seemed watching Zhou Yan suffered so much in the Zhou family caused him to feel extremely guilty. ¡°Uncle Gu, with the relationship we shared, do you still find the need to refuse? You¡¯ve already allowed little Xi to follow me then there¡¯s no need to feel estranged. ¡± Zhou Yan said in a soft tone as in that single instance he was able to sense the conflicts in Gu Yan¡¯s heart, hence he had made his move to console Gu Yan. The heavens above would be the best witness toward the immeasurable sincere heart in this family! To have a relative this sincere, everything else would be worth it. Zhou Yan would have no use for those resources since he had already gained enlightenment. The resources were no longer as important to him as before. Both of the slightly expensive treasures were gifted by Zhou Yuan and Zhou Ting, which were of no significant use to Zhou Yan. As for the Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven¡¯s Blade, he had already memorized the sword art by heart. Hence, Zhou Yan felt there was nothing too extravagant about that. He did not say too much as all he wanted to say was in that single statement. However, it was that single statement alone which had a massively greater impact that a million words combined. ¡°Yes, yes, yes indeed. Then, I will wholeheartedly accept. It seems your uncle¡­ has climbed the social ladder.¡± Gu Yan was both surprised and incredibly touched as the edges of both his aging eyes were already welling up with warm tears. Streaks of aging tears fell from his eyes. In his lifetime, he had spilled plenty of blood but not a single drop of tear had fallen from his eyes. However, in that single instance, both his eyes stung as his emotions were seemingly uncontrollable. ¡­ This scene had affected plenty of people¡ªeven Zhou Xian who was known for his arrogance, had turned his head to face the opposite direction. This single scene taught these people that every single person was still human, and was not as low as scum which anyone could simply step on! Hence, before looking down and stepping on anyone, they should take a second to ponder about how exactly the other person would feel. This scene made every single person slightly aware of the deeper intricate meaning behind the Sword¡¯s Way of Bond. It was as if Zhou Yan had infused the principles of the Sword¡¯s Way of Bond in his every word and actions. Every single word and action from this young lad was seemingly filled with the teachings and principles of the heavens! Zhou Yan himself was an extremely handsome young lad, and now it seemed that his temperament was also outstanding, since he was also emanating a hidden yet elegant aura from the ancient sage. This alone would cause countless maiden to have an unforgettable and deep perception of the young lad. At this very moment, the pupils chosen by Zhou Yan¡ªZhou Momo, Zhou Bi and Zhou Yao¡ªwere completely charmed by him as Zhou Yan¡¯s position as their idol was unshaken and firm in their thirteen-year-old hearts! However, Zhou Yan paid no mind to this scene since he no longer found the need to hide the emotions he felt, seeing that the young lad was never bothered by how people had perceived him to be. Hence, he would only do things according to his heart and do anything he desired to do. Hence, while facing Gu Yan and upon realizing the determined will he had in his pursuit of knowledge, the young lad made no attempts in stopping him from leaving. Besides, the power dynamics within the main branch of the Zhou family was slightly more complicated than usual, so Zhou Yan was unsure if Gu Yan¡ªan outsider¡ªhad followed alongside him would be in any risk of danger since it was not guaranteed that because of Zhou Yan¡¯s natural gifts, the members of the main branch of his family would assure that Gu Yan would never be bullied. Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Yao, and the other third-generation of youths in the Zhou family on the other hand, were still at a very young age so if they were bullied, that would just be part of their training. However, Gu Yan was older and if he was insulted, then it would have affected him in a much greater way since he would be shamed by all. Since Gu Yan was determined to train alongside Xiao Zhan, after Zhou Yan¡¯s careful assessment, Zhou Yan promised him without any hesitation. Chapter 54 Zhou Yan did not think of anything else. All he did was feel everything Gu Yan felt closely as he too felt the same. This was the same feeling he once felt; the guilt of disappointing his family. Perhaps it was something else since he was living a lie back then, but Gu Yan was currently living in the most realistic reality. Thus, Zhou Yan placed the Infinite Spatial ring into the palms of Gu Yan. Within it was most of the resources the young lad used for training and most of the loot the young lad had picked up after murdering his foes; these were all valuable items. Leaving behind ten top-tier Spirit Crystals and a hundred mid-tier Spirit Crystals all for himself. The remaining twenty-two top-tier Spirit Crystals, three hundred and seventeen mid-tier Spirit Crystals, and close to three thousand low-tier Spirit Crystals were all given to Gu Yan. In addition to all of that, almost all of the herbal pills and everything else were also given to Gu Yan. This Time, Zhou Yan had cleared most of the items on him and was pretty much left with Silver Frost, the Pure Jaded Ring of Frost¡¯s Light, and his Sorrow¡¯s Breaker. The instant Gu Yan sensed the items that were placed within it, Gu Yan was incredibly moved and his emotions were almost uncontrollable as he sobbed slightly. Words were unable to describe how Gu Yan felt. Thus, Gu Yan left with everything Zhou Yan had given him. It was also at the same time that everyone noticed Zhou Yan had someone this close to him, and Gu Yan¡¯s existence was something everyone dared not to ignore. Since no one knew what the circumstances were, not a single soul dared to bring any harm to anyone close to Zhou Yan. As Gu Yan left, Zhou Yan watched him walk into the horizon as he stared at Gu Yan¡¯s back until it was no longer visible. As Zhou Yan snapped out of the trance-like state, the young lad had an empty feeling in his heart. Since he was not powerful enough, it mattered not if these people were his maidens nor men, they would eventually leave the young lad. Zhou Yan hated an outcome like this, but after countless farewells, it seems the same would always happen. The young lad sighed as he took out the Burning Blade¡¯s Heart Ale and proceeded to tilt his head back and started drinking it. At this moment, the young lad had suppressed and kept his training progress hidden, allowing the ale to course through his body as he enjoyed the feeling of the ale burning his flesh and soul. This feeling made the young lad feel alive. Under these feelings, Zhou Yan felt ever so slightly even more connected to his soul and body. In these moments of loneliness, he would spend it all brooding over Ning¡¯er. In this world, although he had countless encounters with other maidens, he was unable to tell where their relationship stood. However, he knew from the very depths of his heart that the maiden he loved most was Ning¡¯er. The very core of this relationship differed from any other relationships the young lad had. Since this one was pure and it did not involve any other external influence. It was under such feelings that the connection between the soul and body was able to grow step by step to a much closer connection. Unknown to Zhou Yan, these series of changes he had demonstrated caused every single person that was present to assume they were, in fact, witnessing the reincarnation of Zhou Wangchen. Zhou Yan¡¯s temperament, his arrogance was very similar to how Zhou Wangchen used to behave. If the young lad had taken out a dagger and proceeded to carve on a block of metal to make a tiny hand-carved effigy, without question, every single person would assume Zhou Wangchen had indeed returned. However, as they stared at Zhou Yan¡¯s current state, regardless if it was Zhou Ying or Zhou Lingyi, they could feel the depression and loneliness that was emanating from Zhou Yan. ¡°Train hard Zhou Yan. Grow stronger. And with that, the people around you will never leave your side again!¡± Elder Xing let out a soft sigh as he consoled Zhou Yan. ¡°Yes indeed, brother Zhou Yan. Don¡¯t feel sad. We¡¯re still with you right?¡± Zhou Ying felt an odd wave of sadness washing over her as she reflected upon the series of events. Zhou Yan was indeed a man who very much valued the people he truly cared about without needing to hide his emotions away since everything was so simple and direct for him to express. However, it was all due to that fact alone that the way the young lad was behaving wrenched anyone¡¯s heart who had witnessed this scene. At the very least, Zhou Ying felt if she was able to share the weight of his pain, then she would not feel this sad too. ¡°I understand, my Elder.¡± As Zhou Yan nodded, the young lad silently collected his emotions. ¡°Glad you understand. Yes, now that everyone¡¯s here, we shall get going.¡± As Elder Xing spoke, he glanced at Zhou Wuzhen and several others with him who were standing at a distance. He said, ¡°Since such an unparalleled genius, Zhou Yan, who made an appearance within the confines of Canglan City, and the remaining pupils such as Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Xian, and the others were also commendable, hence the main branch of our family will without a doubt grace everyone with incredible reward. Thus, your hopes of returning to glory days would be much bigger now! ¡°On a side note¡­ Zhou Wuzhen, you¡¯re to be expected to perform better in the coming days. Then, you might be given a chance to return to the main branch of our family, which would fulfill your father¡¯s dream.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I, as your humble pupil, humbly thank your grace of generosity!¡± Zhou Wuzhen¡¯s voice echoed from a distance¡ªhe sounded extremely emotional. Thus, Elder Xing nodded in response and with a single wave of his hand, a wave of energy swept Zhou Yan, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Xian, Zhou Lingyi, and everyone present into the flying ship. Then, that flying ship had seemingly undergone some changes as the space around it started to warp, morphing into a unique dimension. At that very instant, a wave of a parrot-like cry resonated around them, as a pitch-black sword that resembled an oddly curved blade sliced through the sky and suddenly opened up a void in the fabric of space. ¡°Swoosh!¡± A flash of electricity shot through the void. It seemed as if an ancient city had been erected within the endless void. Zhou Yan felt as if the space he resided in felt like a flying saucer coursing through the vast expansion of the universe. As they approached the ancient city, Zhou Yan felt an indescribable feeling of majesty. That was an odd feeling of surprise and baffling shocking amusement. Coursing through the endless void? Zhou Yan marveled as they moved forward. Upon ascending into the realm of the Blade Heart, would one have the ability to control the swordplay alchemy of a Blade¡¯s Spectre, which would allow traveling across the endless void? As Zhou Yan pondered, he proceeded to look toward the people around him. Everyone reacted the same way he did. The only people who seemed to be used to witnessing such a majestic scene was Zhou Ting and Zhou Yuan. Everyone else had seemingly fallen into a state of amusement. It seems as though traveling across the endless void had shaken and stunned them to their very core. As they were approaching the majestic ancient city, it seemed as if space itself had gradually folded into their field of vision. The closer they were to the ancient city, the more violent trembles Zhou Yan felt within his soul. It was indeed an odd feeling, as if something out there was calling to him. Every wave this sound called to him, it would resonate within his soul. Zhou Yan was not sure what was happening, but as they approached this ancient city, Zhou Yan developed a peculiar feeling of intense familiarity to that place. It was as if¡­ the young lad had once ventured into this land before. However, Zhou Yan could very clearly recall that he had never set foot into this ancient city¡ªnot even once! The young lad had followed his father to countless locations, but the only place this young lad had never set foot in was this city! As Zhou Yan took a deep breath, he rid his mind of any peculiar thoughts and focused his efforts into calming himself. After doing so, he proceeded to sense this ancient city with the powers of his soul. This time, as the young lad¡¯s soul had just arrived at this ancient city, he was overwhelmed by an indescribable chilling essence. This essence was heavy, extremely cold, and filled with great sadness¡ªit was exactly the same as the essence from the peculiar rock that was carved in the shape of a maiden. ¡°This place¡­ this very place seems to emanate the same essence from the carving of the maiden from that rock right?¡± Zhou Yan mumbled in a soft tone¡ªit sounded as if he was speaking to himself. His words were not directed to anyone, but it seemed he was questioning everyone around him. ¡°Really? I don¡¯t feel anything!¡± Zhou Yuan felt indifferent after sensing his surroundings in great detail. ¡°Yes, I feel nothing too!¡± Zhou Ying was slightly focused on her thoughts and replied after doing so. ¡°I feel nothing. Zhou Yan, are you sure you aren¡¯t hallucinating?¡± Zhou Ying said after she had examined everything in great detail because she, too, felt nothing. ¡­ ¡°There¡¯s a hidden shattered dimension. There¡¯s an ancient site hidden in that dimension, and it¡¯s called ¡®The Mountain of Abandonment¡¯. ¡°And that peculiar rock carving of a maiden was a treasure from there. ¡°This Mountain of Abandonment hasn¡¯t been opened for a great number of years now. Whenever it opens, it¡¯s not restricted by any laws. Within its grounds are plenty of treasures capable of breaking the heavenly laws¡ªa dire and dangerous place it is. Hence, even if it was opened, not many souls would willingly venture into these lands. ¡°Since you can sense the essence from these ancient grounds, it means two things. The first would be a sign that this mountain would open soon, and the other would mean that your soul¡¯s ability to gain enlightenment is exceedingly powerful! ¡°So train hard Zhou Yan. I believe that it would be no difficulty for you to ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart.¡± After Elder Xing assessed the situation, he proceeded to explain. Zhou Yan was slightly shocked by the revelation as he immediately nodded and said, ¡°So it seems. I humbly thank my Elder for gracing me with your wisdom.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention it. If you¡¯re puzzled by anything in the future, you may seek my assistance! When we¡¯ve arrived at our main family¡¯s household. I shall request directly from the lord of the family in order to grant you the Seal of the Golden Sword, hence you will be given access to our family¡¯s library which would allow you to learn and understand plenty of things. ¡°Another thing. Since there are two unbound geniuses with twin Qi Columns, the Pond of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer would require an extreme amount of herbs, so the ritual of baptism within the pond of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer will have to wait for a later date. Also, the number of names might be restricted, so the four pupils that you brought along with you would most probably be denied access to it temporarily¡­ This is not to spite you but there¡¯s a possibility that it may happen so best if I explained to you right now to prevent any ill thoughts or misunderstandings.¡± Elder Xing considered even the slightest detail which impressed Zhou Yan. As things had progressed to this extent, it would be impossible for him to not understand any of this. It seemed that Elder Xing was more than impressed by his natural gifts and had made plans to fully provide him with all the training and resources to cultivate the young lad¡¯s talents. It seemed like a probable conclusion for the members in the main branch of the family to make. ¡°Yes, I understand. Anything that¡¯s done before I¡¯ve reached sixteen years of age wouldn¡¯t be a problem since there¡¯s a great opportunity before then.¡± Zhou Yan replied while nodding his head. Since the mutation of the twin Qi Column would have greater importance than anything else. ¡°As long as you understand then all things would be well. We¡¯ll be approaching soon so I shall tell you guys about the tales of Xiaoyao Capital City.¡± Elder Xing nodded delightfully as he focused his gaze to a distant vast ancient city. He said with a soft tone, ¡°The Xiaoyao Capital City was not known as it now is. Back in the days, it was known as the Pale Night¡¯s City! However, the lord of the Pale Night¡¯s City trained tirelessly to ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart, but unfortunately, the Blade¡¯s Heart had shattered. This resulted in his demise. ¡°Then, the Lord of the Li family¡ªwho¡¯s also currently still a majestic figure¡ªLi Xiaoyao, who after he had ascended into the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart, defeated the lord of the Yang family and had also defeated the lord of our Zhou family with a single attack. Therefore, he was given the title of the Lord of Pale Night¡¯s City. ¡°Hence, Pale Night¡¯s City was renamed to Xiaoyao Capital City and had conquered a hundred and eight cities. ¡°There are four major families within Xiaoyao Capital City. These four families hold great power of influence within the hundred and eight cities in the Region of Waters. ¡°In order of ranking based on the powers and influence of these four major families, they are The major Li family, the major Zhou family, the major Yang family, and the major Xia family. ¡°There was once an extremely powerful man who once broke the laws of heaven itself that hailed from the Li family¡­ Hence, even to this day, the reputation of the Li family stands, and in the entire Regions of Waters, the family¡¯s reputation was also significantly pronounced! ¡°Any members of the Li family were able to walk freely with the pride of their name even in other capital cities¡­ ¡°Hence, when you guys have any interactions or happen to run into any members of the Li family, remember to be humble. The Li family are known for their arrogance, but they¡¯ve never had any conflicts with our Zhou family, and instead, had built somewhat of a diplomatic bond. Hence, the Li family would never deliberately bring trouble to our Zhou family. ¡°However, there¡¯s always an exception to any situation, so don¡¯t in any way assume that little diplomatic bond between our Zhou family and Li family allows any of you to act however you desire. Do not, in any way, deliberately provoke anyone from the Li family¡­¡± After Elder Xing was done telling the tales of Xiaoyao Capital City and explained the power dynamics of the families, every single person was able to see Xiaoyao Capital City manifesting in front of their eyes. Chapter 55 Staring at a towering majestic huge wall from a distance, it looked as if a giant shouldering the very heavens above! Waves of ancient and indescribable Blade¡¯s Menace were emanating from the peak of this huge, thick and heavy wall. This was an ancient city that clearly possessed its very own temperament, it felt like a huge dragon trapped in a state of slumber. However, it seemed if this beast had woken up, a terrifying calamity would befall the world. Just by a glance, staring at the majestic yet unspeakably mysterious environment, it would make everyone uneasy, while uncontrollable waves of bone-chilling feeling engulfed everyone¡¯s hearts. Elder Xing unleashed his Blade¡¯s Spectre to transport everyone across the very heavens above, as they brought out of a tiny void in space. Then, the huge wall and everything around it had all vanished. It seemed that Elder Xing had transported everyone across a huge distance; they had now arrived at a huge complex of the main branch of the Zhou family. It seemed there were waves of other elders arriving at this location in a flash of their Blade¡¯s Spectre¡¯s light. Every single one of these people was followed by lads and lassies who had ascended to the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace or the Blade¡¯s Enforcer. Taking just a quick glance around the scene, there were groups of people gathering in this complex and there were in total close to seventy groups of people! ¡°Hahaha, well if it isn¡¯t Elder Xing, so after traversing two great cities, what sort of geniuses did you bring with you this time? The six geniuses that you had brought along with you last time was far too disappointing, merely the first rank in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Enforcer, what a joke! This time, could you possibly have found someone with four segmented Qi Columns?¡± An elderly man chuckled loudly as he approached after Zhou Yan and the other people that came with him had landed. However, his initial laughing and cheerful demeanor changed into an interesting look! He was staring directly at Zhou Gucheng and several other people around Zhou Yan as his eyes were seemingly popping out of his socket. ¡°Boom¡­¡± Without holding anything back, the elderly man spat out a mixture of his saliva and breath filled with Blade¡¯s Essence. He then proceeded to cackle like a madman. He said, ¡°Ah? Hahaha, a swords¡­swordsman, another one, two, no three Blade¡¯s Cardinal, let¡¯s take a look at their Qi Column, a single Qi Column with a single segment¡­ Elder Xing, it seems you can¡¯t find anyone and you had to pick these useless trash¡­ have you gone mad? You dare bring these people into the family, oh boy, you are done for now!¡± That elderly man who never looked that old stared at Zhou Gucheng and the others around him as if he was staring at a monster. At this moment, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Yao and the others were blushing heavily and even their lips were almost bleeding from biting down nervously. ¡°Elder Ning, you think Elder Xing would be even more manic than you? You will know soon enough who was the mad one!¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the elderly man with a pride-filled gaze. Before a single sentence could escape his mouth, the elderly man pointed directly at Zhou Yuan without giving him a chance to speak. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, you detest me? But I¡¯m very much delighted! Let me tell you something, these people are under the protection of me and Zhou Ting, if you dare do anything rashly onto us, then don¡¯t blame me for being disrespectful!¡± Zhou Yuan spoke in a prideful manner. It was the same arrogant attitude he had used onto Zhou Yan back then, however, it seemed that the target of his arrogance had changed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I was merely speaking to Elder Xing, we were secretly competitive, and this has nothing to do with you. Yes, it seems there are important matters for the master to attend to, and he has come searching for you twice now, hurry up and get to him then.¡± That elderly man was slightly displeased, however, he was not furious as he sent a message to Zhou Yuan telepathically. After witnessing such a scene, Zhou Yan had finally understood how truly powerful Zhou Yuntian was. He was in so much power, even someone as insignificant as Zhou Yuan had such a high position of power! This was all due to how naturally gifted Zhou Yuan was and although it was outstanding to be in the peak of the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, after Zhou Yan had sensed Elder Ning with his soul, he was clearly able to tell that Elder Ning was a powerful man in the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart. Based on raw combat prowess alone, Zhou Yuan was not even close to being a match to Elder Ning whose powers exceed an entire realm. However, his explosive pride and his speech had caused even Elder Ning to collect himself and would not dare to grow furious at the lad. ¡°Master was looking for me? Then I should get going now!¡± Upon receiving such news, Zhou Yuan had a slight tremble as the initial intention he had to stand up for Elder Xing faded away while he darted off from the scene. At that very moment, a sudden wave of immensely potent Blade¡¯s Menace was shot up into the very skies above. A huge specter of a human manifested on the very heavens above, this was a young elegant looking lad, his age seemed to be younger than seventeen or eighteen, however through both his eyes, they seemed extremely aged as if those were the eyes of entire millennia, a pair of aging eyes nonetheless. His long flowing hair was fluttering in the winds, as he stood in the heavens above, he seemed like an actual majestic deity. His specter was enormous, it seemed as if his specter was shouldering the entire weight of the heavens above. As he stood in the heavens above, that specter was wide enough to keep half of the entire sky shrouded in darkness. ¡°To all the elders of the majesty that is our Zhou family, please make your way into the Tower of Souls for a discussion!¡± This statement was only spoken once, however, it sounded like a roar of thunder. This voice echoed deep in everyone¡¯s ears, mind and heart. This was an enormously menacing rush of Blade¡¯s Menace, as it instantly branded itself directly into everyone¡¯s heart. ¡°This man, the powers of this man was immeasurable, even the realm he resided in was unpredictably high¡­¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s heart grew nervously unstable, since he was unable to even grasp this man¡¯s realm with the ability of his soul. He had grown cautious toward this man. ¡°This man, could it possibly be the current lord of the Zhou family? Or could it be someone else?¡± As Zhou Yan pondered, he heard Elder Xing spoke to him in a hesitant tone, ¡°Zhou Yan, I¡¯ll leave you here at the moment, I¡¯ll be back in a few moments¡­Yes, Zhou Han, Zhou Ting and Zhou Yuan, come along with me you guys!¡± ¡°Yes, great elder!¡± Zhou Han, Zhou Ting and Zhou Yuan replied in unison. ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Yan replied with a single word, as Elder Xing morphed into a ray of light while he brought along Zhou Ting and Zhou Yuan before flying off into the distance. Thus, all of the elders gradually left the scene as the mood of the entire palace began to liven up. As Zhou Yan was about to question Zhou Ying who was standing next to him about the identity of that man earlier and could that person be Zhou Yuntian, however, he noticed the group of people that were brought here by Elder Ning earlier were staring at Zhou Yan¡¯s group with a malicious gaze. As Zhou Yan glanced toward these people, he noticed a series of eight people that consisted of seven young lassies that were led by a young lad clad in a green robe and messy hair walking toward them. ¡°You people are the geniuses from Canglan City? So which of you is the son of Zhou Wangyou? That young lad was staring at them with a judgemental gaze, he drifted his judgemental gaze across everyone in Zhou Yan¡¯s group. As that lad spoke, the maidens who stood behind him were glaring at Zhou Yan and the people in his group with a mocking gaze. It seemed like they were¡­staring at the dead. Every single person was staring with the same look. If it was a single person with such a look, there would be a possibility of that person was merely having blind faith, however, under the same judgemental look by a group of people¡­in addition to Elder Ning¡¯s mockery earlier, then there would be a high possibility of an exceptionally powerful person amongst these people. Zhou Yan grew cautious, however, it was not shown on his face, as the young lad was merely interested in finding out the true intentions of these people. However, the instant Zhou Yan unleashed his soul¡¯s detection ability, under detailed scrutiny, he was shocked to discover the lad that stood in front of him was in the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace! It was even more baffling as his age was not older than eighteen years of age! This meant, the young lad would absolutely be required to ascend into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace before he was sixteen, only then would he reach the very peaks of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace! As Zhou Yan began to focus deeper, his soul¡¯s ability stretched deeper into the young lad¡¯s Ocean of Qi, as he observed the lad¡¯s Qi Column from a distance¡­ his heart had a slight tremble. As expected, this young lad was in possession of a single Qi Column with four segments! The young lad¡¯s heart grew heavier after that discovery. However, in a sudden moment, Zhou Xian stood out with pride. ¡°I, Zhou Xian is the son of Zhou Wangyou, where did a b*stard child like you hailed from, to have the audacity to bark like a hound here?!¡± Zhou Xian was acting like a mad lad, especially it was unsure of where all of the young lad¡¯s madness came from. He was arrogantly confident that with his single Qi Column of three segments was merely behind Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying, thus, his extreme display of arrogance. ¡°Oh, it seems the b*stard child was you! Your father and another man whose name was ¡®Zhou Wangqing¡¯ perished by my hands all those years ago; well today though¡­Die!¡± As the young lad spoke, everyone assumed he had more to say, however, during this very moment, two inhumanly terrifying rays of Blade¡¯s Menace shot out from the young lad¡¯s eyes! That was a Blade¡¯s Menace filled to the very brim with a wave of destruction! The Blade¡¯s Menace this lad trained was the infamous skin-crawling Blade¡¯s Menace, the Blade¡¯s Menace of Murderous Destruction! Both rays of Blade¡¯s Menace had seemingly locked onto Zhou Xian¡¯s soul in a sudden moment, and in that single instant, he felt he had already died! However, at the same moment, a rush of spiritual energy began violently flooding into Zhou Xian¡¯s body. Zhou Xian trembled violently, then after that, he was shocked to realize, Zhou Yan was standing right in front of him as he stood at the same spot completely unscathed! Zhou Yan¡¯s back was facing him, it seemed Zhou Yan had shielded him from those terrifying rays of light, saving his life. In addition to that, it seemed Zhou Yan had also poured his own spiritual energy from his soul into his body, saving his soul from almost being completely shattered! In that single instant, Zhou Xian¡¯s heart was moved beyond belief! Thus, the young lad lowered his prideful head. ¡­ ¡°Hmm? It seems another lad has a death wish!¡± This young lad had a sharp face, it seemed as if a knife had carved into his face, he had a pair of long luscious eyelashes as a sinister gaze flashed across both of his eyes. As the lad spoke, with inhuman lightning-fast speeds, he had reached for the hilt of his blood-stained sword that was hanging by his waist. The next instant, a flash of light rushed by Zhou Yan as he felt his neck had been slashed by that single move. The pupils in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes constricted, as he could not even remotely anticipate nor see this single slash coming from his opponent. However, Zhou Yan never felt the pressure of death, since Silver Frost had reacted to that slash in an instant, it had manifested an invisible defensive barrier around Zhou Yan, blocking that slash from his neck. ¡°Clang¡­¡± A loud low-pitched sound echoed through the air, and the young lad stumbled six steps backward from where he stood. Zhou Yan was standing, unmoving at the same spot. Zhou Yan¡¯s expression was unchanged, as he stared emotionlessly at the young lad as if he was staring at the dead. The dark pupils of that young lad contracted in response to that, as a look of surprise and seriousness morphed on the young lad¡¯s face! The series of lads and lassies that stood by his side were all frozen as if they were all witnessing a tense play. They were all shaken to their very core! This lethal attack had slashed across his opponent¡¯s neck and all that lad did was stood idly by without any form of reaction. On the other hand, the prime genius in their group stumbled six steps behind just by the recoil alone! This opposing young lad, what kind of powers could this young lad possibly hold in his possession? ¡°You may leave if you are still standing after three strikes from me!¡± Zhou Yan stared at this group of people with a huge wave of bloodlust pouring out of his eyes. ¡°Do your worst!¡± That lad yelled with a cold tone. As Zhou Yan¡¯s hands moved, Sorrow¡¯s Breaker that was hanging by his waist instantly manifested a single Blade¡¯s Specter. There was no earth-shattering display, nor were there any massively surprisingly potent Blade¡¯s Menace, instead, it was merely a single invisible Blade¡¯s Specter, it was similar to a flash of lightning, the light that was emanated from that Blade¡¯s Specter was blindingly bright and cold, it was as if that light was about to stab everyone¡¯s eyes! ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± A single hum from the blade could be heard! ¡°Thud¡­¡± In a single instant, the head of that young lad who was capable of unleashing a Blade¡¯s Menace of Murderous Destruction instantly shot up into the sky as a fountain of blood gushed out of the gaping hole from his neck! ¡°Thud, thud, thud¡­¡± Fifteen young lad and lassies who stood behind the young lad had all been decapitated, in a single instant, all of their heads shot up at the same time. Zhou Yan had unleashed one of the three sealed Blade¡¯s Specters that were within the body of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker in that single attack and thus, with an instant he had slaughtered that young lad along with fifteen other lads and lassies!¡± Hence, in the span of half a minute, one by one these heads fell onto the very ground beneath his feet. These were like balls that were stained in blood, as they roll by Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao and Zhou Xian¡¯s sides. Etched on the faces of these heads were interesting expressions of shock, loss, fear, and despair¡­ Chapter 56 Zhou Yan simply made a grabbing gesture midair, and a glimmer of dark light immediately fell into his hands. The body of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker was soaked in blood and the moment it fell into Zhou Yan¡¯s hands, the entire body of the blade was still shaking. Thus, with vibration recoils of the blade, droplets of blood fell like scales of a fish, as the scales of blood fell from the blade, it left behind a wave-like pattern on the blade, seemingly assimilating into the body of the blade itself. The blade of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker had absorbed the essence of the blood from an enemy! This was now an omen of death, a blade of murder! Zhou Yan felt euphoric all over his body, it was as if all of the bloodlust had been amplified in him. However, as soon as this change had manifested in his mind, Zhou Yan mustered up every ounce of his willpower to suppress his insatiable bloodlust. This time, he was facing up against an insanely powerful foe whose powers peaked at the first rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace and this foe happened to be in possession of four segments of Qi Columns. Thus, Zhou Yan felt the immense pressure from him! Especially, if it was not for Silver Frost manifesting the Lil¡¯ Frost specter to block the incoming attack, it would have been Zhou Yan¡¯s head that was decapitated at this moment! Even with the young lad¡¯s incredible keen and sharp perception ability from his soul, he was unable to foresee that lad¡¯s movements, and before he was able to react, the lad¡¯s blade had already grazed Zhou Yan¡¯s neck. Such a powerful attack, however, as much as Zhou Yan hated to reflect on this battle, he knew in all actuality, he had lost this battle. Since it was Zhou Yan¡¯s cold and ruthless nature, and after Lil¡¯ Frost had blocked that strike for him, and after he had known that the First Form of the Dragon, Pale Dragon¡¯s Blade was not enough to murder him, hence the young lad had decided to use his other trump card, and that was one of the three Blade¡¯s Soul that had been sealed in the body of Sorrow¡¯s Breaker by the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace. In his split-second decision, and after he had felt so close to the grips of death, he had decided to completely uproot any future threats to him. As expected, this was also to establish dominance at this moment! Zhou Yan was unaware of what sort of supporting menacing powerful figure this foe had, however, this man had murdered Zhou Wangyou and Zhou Wangqing. Zhou Wangyou was Zhou Xian¡¯s father and Zhou Wangqing was Zhou Liang¡¯s father, who was also Zhou Xian¡¯s uncle. Zhou Wangchen was the third sibling in his family, and Zhou Xian¡¯s father was the fourth. The eldest sibling, Zhou Wangchou and the fifth sibling Zhou Wangxin had not made an appearance for quite some time now. It was a mystery if those two were actually alive or dead. It was also today that Zhou Yan and the others knew that both of his uncles were brutally murdered by this man. It mattered not what had happened in the past, both of these men were still his father¡¯s siblings and after he had heard everything that was spoken by that perceptive young lad, his bloodlust grew, and it was all because of that, Zhou Yan was even more concern about Zhou Xian¡¯s condition. Until, the lad had the audacity to unleash a lethal attack while he spoke, with a swift reaction, Zhou Yan proceeded to unleash his enormous spiritual energy directly from his soul, thus, saving Zhou Xian¡¯s life. The young lad was able to feel Zhou Xian was completely put out of commission by him. Zhou Yan held Sorrow Breaker in his hand and as his soul¡¯s energy reverberated, the blood that was being infused into Sorrow Breaker¡¯s body was instantly turned to dust and disappeared into nothingness. In the very next moment, Sorrow Breaker had suddenly morphed into a ray of light and with a single ¡®clang¡¯, it fell directly into its sheath that was hanging by Zhou Yan¡¯s waist. From the very start, as the young lad murdered until he had slaughtered this entire group of geniuses, he had never even flinched, as his emotions remained unchanged. Without mentioning how shocked and utterly surprised Zhou Lingyi and the other people that were with her, every single genius present in that scene were staring at Zhou Yan, as if they were searing the murderous look on Zhou Yan¡¯s face into the very depths of their mind, as a reminder to never cross this man ever in future! Before all of this had taken place, all of the other scholars were assuming they were going to witness the immense power and how invincible this young lad was, however, never had they expected, this immeasurably powerful young lad had been murdered in a single instant by someone! This had made Zhou Yan¡¯s murderous reputation instantly spread across every corner in the main family! ¡­ ¡°Did you see that? It was that man who had single-handedly murdered all sixteen geniuses in Zhou Yuan¡¯s group with a single attack! That man was the prime genius of all time, that man who had ascended into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace when he was merely at the age of fourteen, he reached the very peaks of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace when he was eighteen years of age, a scholar who had practiced the Blade¡¯s Menace of Murderous Destruction, and was in possession of a single Qi Column of four segments! This man was decapitated by a single attack!¡± ¡°This is a man of pure malice, it would not be wise to cross him! I assume his natural gifts literally break the heavenly laws itself, the full extent of such power is immeasurable!¡± ¡°This man is not normal, since his Qi Columns and its segments were undetectable! Zhou Yuan along with sixteen people were all slaughtered with a single move, truly, this lad¡¯s methods were indeed ruthless, a legendary murderer, if we had ever run into this man in future, it would be wise to turn the other way!¡± ¡°Have you not noticed how arrogant Zhou Yuan was behaving? It was Zhou Yuan who had incited the challenge first, so it serves him right to be slaughtered!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s blade had grasped some form of temporal ability, as the speed of his blade strikes were inhumanly fast. He had used that blade to decapitate plenty of heads, however, it had never crossed his mind that karma would come for him that his very own head had now been decapitated by someone else!¡± ¡°Zhou family of the Glory City, hmph, serves him right to end this way! So he thinks his arrogance is justified for having a brother as the true heir to receive any form of teachings?¡± ¡­ Plenty of discussions echoed from a distance, however as Zhou Yan turned his gaze over to them, these sounds had dampened in volume or some had even stopped entirely, then gradually faded out entirely¡­his¡­sword skill with such ferocity had stunned and completely shocked every single genius that were present in that scene. ¡°Thud¡­¡± At this very moment, both Zhou Xian¡¯s knees had hit the very ground beneath their feet as he bent his knee toward Zhou Yan. ¡°I am truly sorry brother, back then, I had wronged you! I will never cause any trouble to come your way in future! I hereby solemnly swear, if I have brought trouble your way brother, I will never be enlightened to learn any form of Sword¡¯s Way for the rest of my life, and I will be reduced to ashes and even through death will I never find peace!¡± Zhou Xian had sworn an extremely serious oath at this very moment! This was an extremely vile oath, if this oath had been violated, due to the heavenly laws, his ability to gain enlightenment would be completely disrupted, and thus, his entire body would crumble into dust, his soul would shatter, hence completely vanishing from existence! For an arrogant lad like Zhou Xian to have made such an oath in that moment clearly showed how sincere and genuine his feelings were. ¡°Please get up!¡± Zhou Yan spoke with a soft tone. ¡°Brother if you refuse to forgive me, I shall remain kneeling here. I, Zhou Xian had made a huge mistake, I can¡¯t possibly lack the courage to admit how wrong I was right?!¡± Zhou Xian spoke with a determined tone. Zhou Yan turned around to give Zhou Xian a glance, he extended his arm to help him up and said, ¡°I never blamed you, there is no need for your self-blame nor guilt. From how I see it, to be honest, I¡¯ve never cared about any of this.¡± Zhou Yan spoke with a calm tone as he looked at Zhou Xian. It was only after he was held by Zhou Yan did Zhou Xian gradually stand up. His head was lowered significantly as his heart had been incredibly moved, however, the young lad remained silent. It seemed words were difficult to escape his mouth as his feelings were heavy. ¡­ Zhou Yan had not waited for too long in the plaza as Elder Xing and Elder Ning had both flown back at this moment. The very instant these two had landed, they were greeted by bodies and heads that were scattered all around the plaza, their eyes were instantly wide open in response to witnessing such a grim scene. ¡°What¡­what happened? What¡­what kind of strong foe had come here?¡± Elder Ning¡¯s expression was incredibly bitter as he questioned with a shocking voice. ¡°No powerful foe has made its presence, Zhou Yuan and his group of people were all slaughtered by me.¡± Zhou Yan had a calm gaze in his eyes, his expression was cold and emotionless, as even his voice sounded eerily calm. ¡°Slaughtered¡­ by you? You, a second rank Blade¡¯s Essence trash, could possibly kill someone that had ascended to the very peaks of the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace like him? You are spouting the words of a mad man right?¡± Elder Ning let out a bitter chuckle through his waves of wrath. ¡°If Zhou Yan had claimed it was done by him, then it was indeed him! Zhou Hening, don¡¯t cause any form of trouble nor should you fuel the flames of your wrath. You should stay out of this matter, that was because I had told our lord about both Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying being in possession of a twin Qi Column! Both Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying will be the prime focus of our resources and cultivation of their skills for our family soon!¡± Elder Xing stood out at this moment, he had blocked Elder Ning¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace that was emanating from his very own body. The tone of his voice was also calm. ¡°What¡­are you saying Zhou Hening, what in the world are you saying? Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying, the both of them are in possession of a twin Qi Column each with two segments? You, you you¡­¡± Elder Ning¡¯s wrath was starting to rage violently in his body, it was as if the blood in his body was also boiling. However, he never unleashed any attack, but the waves of fury were boiling in his body! However, the moment he had heard the phrase, ¡®twin Qi Column¡¯ his entire body felt as if he had fallen into a glacier as the boiling blood had instantly cooled down. The rash and violent intent he had earlier had been violently extinguished and purged from his mind. It was obvious when he heard such news, it had given him an unprecedented impact. ¡°True, truly a twin Qi Column, and each with two segments? Are you certain, truly certain?¡± Elder Ning had completely ignored the corpses that were beyond salvation on the ground, as in that moment, his gaze was completely focused on Zhou Hexing. ¡°So you assume I dare to report this entire matter when it was unconfirmed? Also, based on Zhou Yan¡¯s status alone, do you think these people who were merely in the realm of a Swordsmen and Blade¡¯s Cardinal could possibly enter these walls?¡± ¡°You actually thought that was true didn¡¯t you, I have completely lost my mind then?!¡± Zhou Hexing replied with a mocking tone. However, Elder Ning was not angered by it as he stood at the same spot, frozen in shock. His gaze proceeded to calmly stare at Zhou Yan then drifted to Zhou Ying. Those gazes had become incredibly complicated. ¡°Also, I must add, Zhou Yan¡¯s qualities weren¡¯t only his Qi Column alone, his ability to gain enlightenment was impeccable that a man like him would only exist once a millennia or two. Give him some time, he shall be an incredibly powerful person in the entirety of Xiao Yao Capital City and the Water Region!¡± Elder Xing replied in a serious tone. ¡°Yes indeed¡­if that is the case, then these people, it serves them right to die. Zhou Yan, Zhou Ying, work hard now.¡± Elder Ning was completely shocked as he no longer cared to seek justice for the geniuses who had perished, as he stared at Zhou Yan, hints of respect had flashed across his face, even the tone of his voice had become gentle. ¡°Yes, Elder Ning.¡± The gaze in Zhou Yan¡¯s eyes too had become gentle as he looked directly at Elder Ning. Zhou Ying, on the other hand, had responded with a gentle smile, as she was shocked to receive any form of compassion by Elder Ning. It was also at this moment, Elder Xing approached Zhou Yan¡¯s side and proceeded to take out a Seal of the Golden Sword and said, ¡°Zhou Yan, Zhou Ying, this is the Seal of the Golden Sword that was graced by the Lord himself. This is a symbol of status after you have accepted it, you both may use this item to enter into the first to the third floor of the forbidden library. ¡°The fourth to the fifth floor is reserved after you both had contributed to the family alright¡­¡± As Elder Xing spoke, he took out a tiny ten-centimeter golden dagger. This dagger resembled a shrunken Blade¡¯s Specter, it was emanating a unique essence. Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying proceeded to accept it with a bow. Chapter 57 Thus, after all of that was done, Zhou Yan had seemingly felt a unique spiritual essence emanating from the tiny golden dagger, this had caused him to resonate some energy from his soul, as the young lad was instantly connected with that mysterious spiritual essence. As this entire process was taking place, not a single person was even remotely aware of what had been transpiring. Zhou Yan was the only person that was able to sense what was happening. After this scene had taken place¡­ Zhou Yan could very clearly feel that this dagger had formed a connection with his heart as a mark of his soul was branded onto the dagger. And at the same time, Zhou Yin too had felt something. She was also able to feel the peculiar energy emanating from the dagger. However, she paid very little attention to it, she had instead picked up the dagger and was observing it closely, like a little child picking up its favorite toy. This curious and naively innocent expression of hers had made his heart grow ever so slightly in love with the young lass even by Zhou Yan¡¯s nature, Although Lil¡¯ Yin was not as stunning as Ning¡¯er and lacked the temperament Feng Lingqing had, however, she was innocently adorable, the extremely adorable persona was expressed through her personality. Upon facing such a young lass, anyone would be tempted to take a huge bite on her face¡­ In all honesty, every time Zhou Yan laid his eyes on her, he would recall the incident when he was little and had closely inspected her pink tender slit, thus causing him to resist the urge to grow closer with her in order to prevent him from ever losing control. As the young lad was reflecting upon his memories, he somehow felt that someone was staring at him. Without even looking, he knew it was Zhou Lingyi who had been focused on him. This young lass was the genius demon of the Zhou family¡­ and now ironically, she was focused on the young lad. As the young lad reflected on his past, he had unknowingly bid farewell to the naive foolish young lad he once was, as he felt he had grown to be a much more grounded and mature lad. ¡°Alright now, Zhou Yan, Zhou Yin. The both of you should follow me to meet up with the lord of the household. Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Yao, you guys could wait here for a moment, there will be some pupils to come get you both settled in a few moments.¡± ¡°Yes, Elder.¡± Thus, Zhou Yan and everyone around him bowed with respect toward the elder as they replied in unison. ¡­ The main branch of the Zhou family was astoundingly massive! This was the first thought that came to Zhou Yan¡¯s mind. Elder Zhou Xing transformed into a ray of Blade¡¯s Light as he brought Zhou Yan with him to fly across a great distance. However, even if they were traveling from the complex to the Tower of Souls, it was baffling since they had not arrived yet! Zhou Yan noticed countless idly standing buildings in a messy arrangement in a huge courtyard, and each of these buildings had its own Swordplay Alchemy protecting it! This huge display of power had completely shocked Zhou Yan who was already in possession of the ancient sage¡¯s collection of knowledge. Thus, the Blade¡¯s Light of Elder Xing had flown for six whole minutes before arriving at a giant palace. This was an enormous glimmering palace of crystal, at the exterior of such majestic palace was surrounded by a variety of Swordplay Alchemy, this formed an indescribable majestic aura, under such a display of majesty, none could avoid staring at such a beauty. With Zhou Yan¡¯s massively powerful soul, a single glance by him had completely stunned him upon staring at the building. He was unable to recover from it for half a day! The enormous sword that was present in his soul was slightly reverberating, this had caused a massive amount of spiritual energy to flood into his body. Hence, the young lad had finally found his purpose under such a majestic display. ¡°Not bad, to be able to recover in such a short span of time, truly a top tier genius!¡± Elder Xing praised. It was only at this moment that Zhou Yan began looking around every corner of this building with a curious look. Thus, he noticed Zhou Ying who was standing by his side was still under an unimaginable trance. Upon witnessing such a situation, Zhou Yan had grown cautious of everything around him. It seemed to him that if anyone was to blindly explore any location in this family, they would die without knowing the exact cause of death. As the young lad pondered, Zhou Ying was blinking repeatedly as if she was confused and lost. However, the gaze of her eyes began to light up as she stared at Zhou Yan with a confused and puzzled look. She said, ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, have I made a mistake again, to cause everyone to worry about me?¡± ¡°No, the aura in this place was just too overwhelming, it had suppressed our souls, this was also due to the fact that we are unfamiliar with this place, hence we were overwhelmed by it the first time we lay our eyes upon it. The next time would be better.¡± Zhou Yan explained. ¡°Yes, that would be good. As long as it was not a mistake is absolutely fine.¡± Zhou Ying breathed out a sigh of relief as she gently patted her chest, causing her majestic peaks to bounce around a little. Any maidens who had undergone training would in most cases develop their bodies well, especially their breasts, most of the time it would morph from a very soft state into a comfortably firm state. This alone is a blessing to all men in the world. Zhou Yan could not hold back his temptations to grope that young lass as flames of lust were burning spectacularly in his eyes. Under such stares, Zhou Ying¡¯s face began blushing heavily, as she too felt the intense flames of lust in her. However, she said in her heart that her Brother Zhou Yan was not behaving seriously now. ¡°You would make mistakes? Could it be the inheritance of the bloodline in your branch who was merely known as ¡®the mad¡¯?¡± After merely walking for a couple of steps, Elder Xing stopped walking in a sudden moment as he questioned Zhou Ying with a puzzled look. Zhou Yan was able to feel the surprise and awe from his eyes! ¡°Yes indeed, it has a weird effect of causing one¡¯s body to increase in size¡­for a maiden, it would be ugly for a maiden. It has always terrified me to end up like that, since if that was the case¡­It, it would be inhumanly embarrassing for me, and at the same time, I too would look inhumanly ugly.¡± Zhou Ying was behaving in a slightly coquettish manner. To any young lass, if their bodies had grown bigger, they would resemble an ugly muscular lad, perhaps it would not bother someone else, however, Zhou Ying had never fancied this change, thus, this had haunted her and had become her crux in her heart. ¡°The main thing about this entire situation is still related to one¡¯s bloodline. There is a saying from your branch that people from your bloodline would possess the Heavenly Spirit Blade¡¯s Core, however, if you had mutated into an Emperor¡¯s Blade¡¯s Core and at the same time having the Heavenly Spirit Blade¡¯s Core in your possession, this entire worry of yours would be solved completely. ¡°There is another benefit from that, since if you are able to awaken a twin Blade¡¯s Core, then you could potentially become an incredibly powerful foe to master the Twin Soulblade. ¡°Twin Soulblade¡­along with a twin Qi Column, then, you would be able to break the heavenly laws! You would have the possibility of becoming a true spiritual genius!¡± Elder Xing¡¯s words had slightly stunned Zhou Yan. The title of a true genius was given when one is unable to face an opponent three realms above and was capable of shattering the shackles of an entire realm. A person like this would be formally addressed as ¡®Holy Lord X¡¯ A true spiritual genius, on the other hand, was capable of shattering the shackles of three realms and was also capable of leaping across the walls of one major realm. A person like this would be formally addressed as ¡®Spiritual Lord X¡¯ A spiritual genius had not been present in the records of an entire millennia. Hence, Elder Xing would be extremely emotional to think about such hope. ¡°So that¡¯s the case. Then in the name of the preservation of my beauty, I shall train hard and master the twin soulblade!¡± Zhou Ying replied in a serious manner! As Zhou Yan heard these words, he cracked a bitter smile. At this very moment, the young lad had realized what exactly was the twin soulblade, hence he had now known why exactly did the Lady of the Snow-Jaded Palace would scoff at his claims of the ¡®soulblade of three¡¯. A single Blade¡¯s Core was the very foundation of a Blade¡¯s Soul. Twin soulblade would require two Blade¡¯s Core! Zhou Ying had hopes of manifesting the Emperor¡¯s Blade¡¯s Core, and now it seemed, she possessed the Heavenly Spiritual Blade¡¯s Core at birth, and it¡¯s potential had not been awakened yet. It seemed if she was baptized in the Blade¡¯s Cardinal Pond, she would have awakened a twin Blade¡¯s Core by then. In addition to her Twin Qi Column¡­this alone was a terrifying natural gift. The young lad on the other hand? Zhou Yan was unsure of what kind of Blade¡¯s Core he had in his possession since he was completely left in the dark in these matters, all he knew about these was absolutely nothing. However, the only thing he was certain was the Qi Columns he had in his possession was four segments each, this alone had exceeded the very foundations of the Emperor¡¯s Blade¡¯s Core, at the very least, he was in possession of a Blade¡¯s Core even more powerful than an Emperor¡¯s Blade¡¯s Core! ¡°Alright then, we shall hurry now, we would not want to keep the lord himself waiting.¡± ¡°Yes indeed.¡± ¡­ Within the interior of the grand palace, there was a variety of Swordplay alchemy surrounding the inner chambers. Clouds of colors were manifesting at the very top of the grand palace. The moment Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying had arrived at this spot, the very center of this majestic grand plaza was filled with various scholars who were wearing an array of colorful spiritual armors. These people were seemingly in their youths, however, almost everyone¡¯s aura was as experienced and aged as Elder Xing. It seemed unpredictably heavy and deep. Amongst these people was a young lad they had seen earlier, he was sitting on an extremely tall seat. This man¡¯s appearance was exactly the same as the enormous specter they had seen earlier, judging from the looks of it, he seemed like the lord of the family. At the bottom right corner from where he was seated, stood a menacing lad clad in black battle armor. He was emanating a ferociously terrifying aura from his body. This lad had a head full of long black hair. The tone of his hair was as dark as ink. His long black hair was draped on his shoulder, as an aura of sinister undertone was emanating heavily from his body. This lad was like a blade, he stood idly by as if a godly sword had been unsheathed. There was an indescribable menace coming from that lad¡¯s body. Zhou Yan had not unleashed his soul¡¯s detection ability as he stood on the same spot, unmoving, However, as his gaze landed on that lad, that lad was already staring at Zhou Yan in an instant! This gaze was predatory in nature, there was no hint of humanity from such a gaze! It seemed there was a slumber godly deity that was sealed within his body, if that lad had unleashed any form of attack, the very heavens and earth itself would shatter. This man was inhumanly terrifying! Zhou Yan trembled slightly in his heart, as he had grown cautious to such a person! Even if the young lad had unleashed all of his trump cards, he would not even be remotely close to be a match for that man! ¡°I, Elder Zhou Hexing, had brought along two incredible pupils in possession of twin Qi Columns each with two segments. These pupils are as follows, Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying. We are humbled by your grace, our lord.¡± As Elder Xing spoke, he had taken a step beforehand by bowing humbly before ending his statement as a form of respect. ¡°I, as your pupil, Zhou Yan is humbled by your grace my lord.¡± ¡°I, as your pupil, Zhou Ying is humbled by your grace my lord.¡± ¡°Very well, the both of you may step forward.¡± That menacing young lad spoke with a coarse elderly voice, it seemed in exception to his appearance, everything else in his body had aged. However, a man like this had an indescribable aura of pride without the need to display his wrath. This alone would cause anyone to feel uncomfortably tense. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± With Elder Xing¡¯s lead, Zhou Yan had not caused a scene in this place, even Zhou Ying was behaving quite obediently. ¡°Zhou Yan, Zhou Ying, the both of you should go through the same test again, to show every single elder here.¡± The Lord of the main family spoke casually, however, there was an irresistible menace to his speech. With a single wave of his hand as he spoke, a peculiar rock carving of a maiden manifested itself at the very center of this palace. This was even more terrifying than the peculiar rock carving from earlier, similar to before, the eyes of this peculiar carving of a maiden was also hollowed out. Since the lord of the main family had spoken, Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying could not do a thing to resist him, thus, they proceeded to carry out the test immediately. Chapter 58 Under the orders of the Lord of the main branch of the Zhou family, Zhou Yin was the first to approach the huge stone carving in the wall. After doing so, that towering four to five meters tall stone carving¡¯s hollowed-out eyes shot out two radiant beams of light. Upon witnessing such a display, plenty of elders who were present in the huge palace were completely shocked. Some elders who were sitting on a jaded chair stood up and stared completely at Zhou Yin who was standing next to Zhou Yan at the moment. ¡°Yes indeed, truly a magnificent Qi Column with amazing natural gifts, twin Qi Columns each with two segments!¡± That young lad with an aging gaze nodded delightfully, then proceeded to shift his gaze toward Zhou Yan. At the same time, Zhou Yan too was staring at the Lord of the main branch of the Zhou family ¡°I know about your matters, as long as you have value, to us, the main branch of the Zhou family would be willing to make any significant sacrifices! ¡°Show off your great potential Zhou Yan, as long as you¡¯ve presented a spectacular display of power, your father¡¯s problem would be significantly easier to take care of.¡± A young lad spoke calmly, as there were hints of deliberate temptations in his words. Zhou Yan¡¯s Qi Column was completely covered with the purple lightning coil, as he had intended to keep his true potentials hidden from anyone. Hence, whatever the Lord had spoken to him, was solely intended to test him. With a slight twitch in his heart, without too drastic of a change in expression, Zhou Yan stared at the Lord of the main branch of the Zhou family and exclaimed, ¡°My Lord, I shall do my best!¡± ¡°Very well, you may begin!¡± Hence the young lord with an aging gaze silently nodded at Zhou Yan, as a gesture of courtesy. Thus, Zhou Yan did exactly what Zhou Yin did moments earlier, he poured his detection skills into the stone carving, however, this time, the stone carving had seemingly trembled as both the hollowed-out eyes began to glow brightly! Furthermore, through the hollowed-out eyes, two extremely blinding rays of light instantly shot out of both eyes. This blinding radiant light was ten times brighter than the light that had shot out from Zhou Yin¡¯s test earlier! ¡°Excellent! Such pure energy from the Qi Columns!¡± ¡°Truly a perfect grade!¡± ¡°Amongst all the twin Qi Columns, this was indeed the best quality!¡¯ ¡°Such an astounding genius!¡¯ ¡­ Zhou Yan¡¯s current display of power shocked every single person present! It was also at this moment that stone carving had seemingly come in contact with something seemingly forbidden and in that instant, it completely crumbled into dust. This was a high-tier assessment rock carving, and in that moment, it had actually crumbled into nothingness! This was completely beyond their imagination! However, it was all due to that fact alone, the extent of how amazing Zhou Yan¡¯s natural gift was, was completely beyond the realm of their imagination! ¡°Yes indeed Zhou Yan, your natural gifts, truly are spectacular. It is without a shred of doubt that your natural gifts were the best in the entirety of our family!¡± The youthful Lord of the main branch of the Zhou family spoke with utmost confidence and certainty without hesitation. ¡°My lord, Zhou Ying was born with the Heavenly Spiritual Blade¡¯s core, based on her natural gifts, she should be slightly better than Zhou Yan. Although, Zhou Yan¡¯s Qi Column was better than Zhou Ying. However, Zhou Ying¡¯s situation though¡­¡± Elder Xing spoke hesitantly, however, he had sought out the truth from facts by the way he had spoken. This time, Elder Xing had not sided with anyone, since it was him who had discovered it firsthand, hence, he was able to collect even more talented genius pupils. Any elders in any family would never ignore this fact. ¡°I am aware of this fact, however, Zhou Yan¡¯s innate enlightened ability was impeccable, and it was possible for this young lad to be in possession of an extinct Blade¡¯s Core, the ¡®Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core¡¯. That was due to the fact that this peculiar assessment rock was only capable of opposing the Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core. Hence, both of these people, the natural gifts they possessed were impeccable!¡± The youthful lord spoke in a comforting tone whilst smiling. ¡°Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core?¡± *Long ago in a galaxy far far away* Every single elder including Elder Xing had an immediate drastic reaction upon hearing such a revelation. Their entire expression changed drastically, as they glanced back at Zhou Yan once more, their gaze looked odd. Zhou Yan, on the other hand, was slightly confused by exactly what this ¡®Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core¡¯ they were talking about. He knew that ¡®Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core¡¯ had close ties to his soul, perhaps none was aware of the secret of his soul, and it was impossible for anyone to detect it¡­and what kind of Blade¡¯s Core would this Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core be? Zhou Yan was puzzled and he had somewhat of an idea on his own. However, he was uncertain what kind of potential such a Blade¡¯s Core would hold since, the Imperial Soul Blade¡¯s Core might actually be fake. However, at this very moment, the young lad had made no attempts to deny it. ¡°Zhou Yan, I need you to stay calm, I shall explain your father¡¯s situation to you in a brief moment.¡± That youthful lord stared at Zhou Yan with a compassionate gaze, however, the pride of a lord remained. ¡°Yes, I as your pupil understand.¡± Zhou Yan¡¯s gaze had hints of deep contemplation, however, he had immediately nodded his head. ¡°As you may know, to any major family, in order to keep it¡¯s glory perpetually, huge volumes of resources are something one can never lack. ¡°And this resource, especially under the situation of a Blade¡¯s Specter or a Blade¡¯s Heart, a spectacularly pure soul of a maiden is perfect, however, a soul like this would be a rare thing to find, and often it was one of those inhumanly talented, genius maidens. ¡°Within the bloodline of our family on the other hand, if that pupil had been crippled, and if that pupil was deemed a genius, we may extract that pupil¡¯s soul, to be refined in flames, with the help of scholars who specialized in Swordplay Alchemy, spells and smelting to forge a holy artifact which was infused with a Blade¡¯s Specter. ¡°Your father had once committed an unforgivable crime to the members of our Zhou family, this had resulted in the death of a maiden that was known to be a genius, truly spectacular figure nonetheless. ¡°And now, that maiden¡¯s brother had become a genius himself, and since your father had awakened his Blade¡¯s Heart, however, it was him who had crippled himself in order to repent for his sins, this had given our family a brand new Blade¡¯s Heart¡­then, this itself would very much benefit our family¡¯s future development indeed. ¡°Although his soul had been extracted, and was being refined in flames, however, to any member of our family, we often leave behind a sliver of hope for resurrection before the very last second, this is done to prevent any better contributions to occur. ¡°Hence, you may cease your worry for your father, since you are in possession of such incredible natural gifts, then I shall personally aid your father, I will sacrifice ten percent of my own training to reunite his soul and his body once more. ¡°This way, even if he were met with any future complications, this would cause a mutation to occur for his ascension into the realm of the Blade¡¯s Heart once more.¡± Although the youthful lord was calm as he spoke, however, through his eyes, it seemed he had hidden away his entire life behind the shroud of his eyes, these were indescribably complicated indeed. However, every word that was spoken by this lad was incredibly sincere. Thus, Zhou Yan¡¯s initial nervous heart had calmed down. He had assumed it would be a complicated process. However, it seemed to him at this very moment, this debacle would be an easy fix. ¡°Step forward Zhou Yuntian.¡± The lord of the main branch of the Zhou family spoke while he glanced over to the terrifyingly menacing young lad clad in black battle armor. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± That prideful young lad in black spoke with respect as he approached Zhou Yan¡¯s side. ¡°That Heaven-Fiend Blade that belonged to Zhou Yan¡¯s mother, I need you to hand it to him.¡± The lord of the main family suddenly spoke after contemplating for a brief moment. Upon hearing such a statement, that young lad frowned and said, ¡°My lord, please forgive me for I am unable to comply with such an order! This Heaven-Fiend Blade, if the lad Zhou Yan wanted it, he may take it from me with his skills! ¡°If he doesn¡¯t even have such a skill, then he would be unworthy of any resources the family owns!¡± Zhou Yuntian cackled coldly. Zhou Yan frowned as he stared at Zhou Yuntian with a cold glare and said, ¡°My father¡¯s Heaven-Fiend blade, how did it end up in your hands?¡± ¡°Oh, then we shall talk about your mother as a prime escort from a brothel!¡± Zhou Yuntian had a sinister gaze as he mocked Zhou Yan with his words. ¡°Then, that would mean your sister doesn¡¯t even remotely come close to an escort right? Or else, why would my father abandon your sister?¡± Zhou Yan snapped back at him with a vile insult immediately. A strong wave of bloodlust exploded from Zhou Yuntian. However, this wave of bloodlust was immediately negated by the Lord¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace that was unleashed from his eyes. ¡°The benefits of the family should always come first for any matters within our family. Any minor squabbles can be excused, however, one is not allowed to destroy the natural gifts of a genius! ¡°The both of you are the most amazing geniuses in our family, you both may fight one another, may resent one another, but remember, you both may never cripple another¡¯s training progress nor natural gifts, you both are even forbidden to murder one another. Do you both understand?¡± At this very moment, as the lord of the main family spoke, he sounded incredibly serious. As he spoke, none would dare oppose him since every single person could feel the tense wrath from his tone! ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± Zhou Yuntian had a bitter look on his face as he stared with pure resentment toward Zhou Yan, those gazes were inhumanly maddening. It was obvious that anything that tied to his sister would be his bottom line, and that line should never be crossed. However, Zhou Yan feared nothing as he glared at that man who had once beaten his father and had forced his father to kneel while his father coughed out blood. This humiliation was done intentionally. ¡°Hmph, the better one¡¯s natural gifts are, the progress to any attributes would be even more difficult! I shall wait for you to prove your abilities! You shall remember what you had spoken today!¡± Zhou Yuntian¡¯s expression was incredibly bitter. However, he was holding back the flames of his wrath. Zhou Yan smirked as his gaze was filled with manic pride. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare act so pridefully this early even though you are in possession of a twin Qi Column, this was not an impressive natural gift to begin with!¡± It seemed Zhou Yuntian had thought about plenty of things as after a manic fury flashed across his eyes, he seemed more confident than he initially was! Chapter 59 Even after witnessing Zhou Yuntian¡¯s outburst, Zhou Yan was not affected by it even by the slightest bit. He had instead slowly unleashed a sliver of detection skill, slowly dispersing his soul¡¯s ability. Thus this time, he was interested in knowing what Zhou Yuntian was thinking about for acting in such a rash manner. This time, Zhou Yan was being extremely reckless with his soul¡¯s ability and it was focused completely on Zhou Yuntian alone. As expected, while Zhou Yuntian was cackling and the instant Zhou Yan¡¯s soul came in contact with Zhou Yuntian, Zhou Yan was able to sense something out of place in that instant. However, it was also in that instant, Zhou Yuntian¡¯s expression dimmed as he kept his guard up and took a quick suspicious glance at Zhou Yan. In that moment, he had a complicated nervous expression of pure skepticism, it was as if in the previous instant, he too was able to sense something. Zhou Yan scoffed in his heart as he noticed the nervous suspicious look on Zhou Yuntian¡¯s face. Since all of the immense ability of his soul was graced by his master and the mutated energy from the Calamity of Lightning. Furthermore, his master was a person capable of spatial destruction; as powerful as Zhou Yuntian was, it would be impossible for him to detect the presence of his unique spiritual energy. Zhou Yan was able to conclude that the cause of such an alarming reaction from Zhou Yuntian was because he felt something that was clearly able to see through his powers, hence raising an alarm to him. At that moment, Zhou Yan¡¯s heart had grown serious while he put on a facade, one with an expression where he was completely looking down on Zhou Yuntian. However, it was an undeniable fact that Zhou Yuntian was an incredibly powerful opponent, judging from his raw strength, his blood concentration and his natural gifts, just from those facts alone made Zhou Yan felt slightly uneasy, to put things into perspective, this feeling Zhou Yan felt, even if he was to use all of his trump cards, it would still be a difficult battle. Thus, Zhou Yan had gained some insight of Zhou Yuntian¡¯s thoughts, and had learned some secrets about his opponent, this made Zhou Yan slightly more confident. Yes indeed, confident and grounded. The events that were to happen this time, was all due to Zhou Yuntian¡¯s intentions in mutating his natural gifts, fracturing it to several fragments, and it was due to this process, he had gained a hidden treasure that was probably able to split his Qi Columns. The only results in splitting one¡¯s Qi Columns were either the destruction of one¡¯s Qi Column or the successful division of one¡¯s Qi Column forming a twin Qi Column. Zhou Yuntian had this thought for quite some time now and he had also been collecting plenty of manuscripts of swordplay alchemy and materials, just for the sole purpose of doing so. The lad had been preparing for it for a very long time and now he was seemingly almost done and since there had been a change in the family¡¯s dynamics, he had decided to put all of his eggs into one basket. As Zhou Yan sensed his thoughts since Zhou Yuntian was in an enraged state, he was very easily able to grasp this message. However, it was also due to that, he felt the immense pressure from his rage. Anyone who was willing to put his entire natural gift in line just for a bet, had already won the instant that person was determined in doing so. That was all because he had fully overcome the immense consequences of becoming a literal useless trash if he had failed. ¡°Just do exactly as it was planned about this matter. You guys may retreat now.¡± Since the seemingly youthful Lord had noticed Zhou Yan and Zhou Yuntian were merely having a verbal squabble, he nodded delightfully and never said anything else. He had left Zhou Yan and other people to continue working on everything they were supposed to be doing. Anything that would happen in future, Zhou Yan knew there was no need for him to be worried even for the slightest bit, since he was now in possession of the seal of the golden sword. At the very least not a single soul would dare challenge his position and status. As Zhou Yan pondered, he proceeded to take a humble bow toward the lord along with Zhou Yin, only after doing so, the duo left the Tower of Souls with Elder Xing. In this place, it mattered not who was present here, anyone would feel some pressure from the environment. It was an indescribable feeling of pressure, as anyone would feel the Tower of Souls was not a safe spot to linger in. Unless Zhou Yan was left without a choice, he would not willingly dwell even for a second in this area. ¡­ ¡°To all pupils, all elders had reported their messages to the Elder of Lore, and the elder himself had prepared everyone¡¯s identity tag, this will be distributed by me, Zhou Yang alone! The order shall be given from one¡¯s natural talents ability, I shall call out your names and you will come up here to collect. ¡°After everything has been distributed, a pupil will come to you to show you the training ground in which you shall undergo your training¡­¡± At this very moment in the complex, there was a young lad clad in a black combat armor standing on a pillar of light. The young lad¡¯s eyes glimmered as he stared at the pupils from the minor branches of the Zhou family beneath him, hints of pride and arrogance were emanating from his words, this man was obviously a man of high status and power. After the young lad was done speaking, he noticed every single pupil bowing to him, hints of delight and satisfaction flashed across his eyes as he stood above the rest of the pupils. That was pure emotions of satisfaction as he stood above countless pupils. He enjoyed every bit of it. Besides, this man was in possession of every single person¡¯s information, with the right amount of threats and troubles, he would indirectly gain some form of benefits from doing so. This had always been the most favorite thing this lad enjoyed doing. Since every single pupil present here was not any spectacular genius, since, amongst these tags, none was golden or silver. This meant, even if these people were dead, the family itself would care very little to their loss! ¡°The useless trash you lot are, you lot didn¡¯t even earn the golden seal, then it depends on how you lot behave this time!¡± The young lad in black, Zhou Yang had a sinister grin as he thought about plenty of schemes in his heart. ¡­ ¡°Senior Zhou Yang, this is a unique Spiritual Armor, it was discovered by accident from an ancient site by me. With a single glance I know Senior Zhou Yan is a man of wisdom, I hope Senior Zhou Yang would help provide guidance to me, please enlighten me to what unique properties this spiritual armor possessed.¡± An elegant and stunning young lass looked directly at this young lad in black, as she had obvious hints of earning favor from that young lad through her face. It was obvious that amongst these pupils from the minor branch of the family, there would exist a few pupils who would bend the rules this way. ¡°Yes indeed, this spiritual armor is indeed strange, since you had so sincerely asked for it, then I as your senior shall help you study the properties of this armor, after I am fully enlightened by what knowledge this armor might hold, I shall return this armor and the secrets to you, then, you may ¡®interact¡¯ with your senior more often.¡± Zhou Yang chuckled as he was incredibly satisfied in his heart. This was the ¡®ninth¡¯ gift he had received today, he never expected these pupils who were not even worthy of the golden seal to have so many incredible artifacts in their possessions. ¡°Yes, then I as your pupil humbly thank you, Senior Zhou Yang.¡± That maiden clad in a green dress was slightly ¡®delighted¡¯ and ¡¯emotional¡¯ as she spoke. ¡°Hahah, you may leave now, the training grounds for pupils from the Jade-Water City is located at the second westbound courtyard.¡± ¡°Ah¡­thank you, Senior Zhou Yang for your care!¡± This young maiden was behaving reluctantly initially, however, upon hearing her training ground, her entire expression changed to a much surprised and delightful look, it was obvious that it hurt this young lass to gift her spiritual armor, however, upon being assigned a training ground, the impact of her hurt had faded away, furthermore, it was all due to being assigned a training ground, she had began to sincerely thank her Senior Zhou Yang. Zhou Yang had a flirtatious, teasing look on his face as he spoke in his heart, ¡°I¡¯ve been doing this for plenty of years now, as long as you pupils were sincere in your gifts and offerings, I will do you pupils no harm. ¡°Or else if your hearts were unsatisfied with your offerings even if you guys were reluctantly in your gifts which would result in your desperate resistance against me, this would bring no benefit to me as well.¡± As he pondered in his heart, he had called out to another group of people. This time, it was the pupils from Canglan City. ¡°Canglan City? Canglan City¡­the city where the hound Zhou Wangchen hailed from!¡± As the young lad called out these names, the young lad¡¯s expression grew bitter, since it was painfully obvious that not only did the young lad hated this city, he had absolutely resented this entire city! However, the young lad had not expressed his resentment. ¡°I, as your pupil, Zhou Lingyao is humbled to meet Senior Zhou Yang.¡± As Zhou Lingyao approached him, he was followed by Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Xian and the other people in their group. ¡°Just you alone assume you are worthy of addressing me as Senior Zhou Yang? Oh, not bad it seems, you have two segments in your Qi Column, you are still a genius regardless! However, none of you lot are given a golden seal, although you have a bronze seal instead, however, you lot seems weaker than the other pupils of our family¡­Have I made a mistake? A lad within a trash realm of a swordsman is here just to fill in the quota? ¡°You lot shall head to the twenty-ninth southernmost training grounds.¡± ¡°The southern area? Isn¡¯t that spot for the weakest pupils of the family? That spot is known for keeping beasts, how could we¡­¡± As Zhou Xian heard such a statement, his voice had suddenly increased in volume, it sounded slightly sharp. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Displeased with your arrangement? You intend to challenge me by your display of insolence?!¡± As Zhou Yang glared at Zhou Xian, after a single cold scoff, Zhou Yan felt as if his entire body had been struck by lightning as he instantly began to cough out puddles of blood and it seemed he had completely lost control of his body, he knelt on the ground instantly. ¡°Hahahah, you lot from Canglan City are all nothing but a bunch of trash, normally would only end up bending your knees whilst coughing up blood! Just like that lad, Zhou Wangchen, his arrogance was impeccable, however, in the face of a truly powerful genius, he had been beaten to the extent of actually coughing out blood whilst kneeling with a single attack!¡± Zhou Yang cackled, however, he realized the entire atmosphere around the area had grown weird. Plenty of pupils were staring at him with surprise, fear, and absolute terrified gaze, it seemed as if he had committed¡­ an insurmountable mistake. Zhou Yang was unconsciously surprised and afraid in his heart, however as he glanced at the pupil that he had punished in great detail, that pupil was merely in possession of three segments of a single Qi Column and there was nothing too special about it¡­ Could it possibly be due to an unknown powerful force behind these people that he was unaware of? He had grown increasingly nervous, as the pupils around him were staring at him with ¡®shock¡¯ and ¡®fear¡¯, had made him even more uptight. However, as he looked at the wounded Zhou Xian that was kneeling on the ground that was persistently gritting his teeth as even his lips were completely swollen red from biting down too hard, he pridefully scoffed at him and said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, do you still intend to fight me? To have ill thoughts about me? I will for a fact kill you where you knelt, and there is nothing you can do about it! ¡°Hmph, you don¡¯t know courtesy nor respect, if you are unwilling to head to the southernmost area, then, by all means refuse to go. Stay here and wait for the grips of death to take you then!¡± Zhou Yang had deduced the situation in secret as these people had a possibility of being abnormal, however, upon knowing the full extent of these people were merely worthy of a couple of bronze seals, he had instantly relaxed and calmed down. ¡­ Zhou Xian had felt an insurmountable amount of humiliation as the biggest hope he wished for was his cousin, Zhou Yan to be present here at this moment and if he was, everything would be better for him. This was the first time in the entire span of his life that he realized his own cousin was better than him in plenty of aspects. ¡ª From 15 Feb 2020, Coins spent on books that aren¡¯t selected will be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 60 If only his cousin, Zhou Yan was here, if only they were given the seal of the golden sword¡­ However, at this very moment, he was being forced to bend his knee, an insult and shame to the highest degree, but not a single soul would be willing to stand up for him. ¡°Brother Zhou Xian!¡± The instant Zhou Xian was sinking in an ocean of despair, hopelessness and shame, a clear and beautiful voice touched the deepest chambers of his heart. This was from a lass, whose name was Zhou Momo, whom he had never exactly favored¡­ All because in the family, her mother was merely a lowly handmaiden, hence he assumed she was without any position of power. This was a young lass whose strong silent romantic feelings the young lad was able to notice. However, the young lass had made no attempts in making the first move nor had she boldly spoken to him before. A young lass who was merely in the first rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence stood out for him in that moment. ¡°Zhou¡­ Momo¡± Zhou Xian mumbled in silence, as he attempted to resist the pressure on his body. However, he coughed out a puddle of blood. ¡°Yes, Brother Zhou Xian, don¡¯t you worry, we will all be well! Those who dare bully us, will not end well!¡± Zhou Momo stared coldly at Zhou Yang, and as she approached Zhou Xian, she used her slender body to help Zhou Xian up from the immense pressure that he had been inflicted by. This was a pressure exerted from the Blade¡¯s Menace. Although Zhou Yan was in the second rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, when he was being faced against an opponent as weak as Zhou Xian, embarrassing him in front of a crowd of people would be an extremely easy task to do. Hence, at this moment a mere maiden whose powers were merely in the first rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Essence had the audacity to stand against him, This thought made Zhou Yang laugh. ¡°All you lot from Canglan City are nothing more than a bunch of scum, and you lot still naively assumed that your Canglan City once had Zhou Wangchen and that alone gave you lot the right to act so arrogantly? You fools still think you were living in an incomparable glory? With my current status and position of power, murdering all of you is as easy as slaughtering dogs and hens, and you fools think I do not dare to do anything to you?!¡± Zhou Yang was furious, however, he was smiling through his fury, then proceeded to exclaim, ¡°Kneel for me! Anyone who dares defy me will be murdered!¡± As the lad yelled, he unleashed his second rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace, incredible ferocious Blade¡¯s Menace. As the Blade¡¯s Menace was unleashed both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao instantly coughed up blood. However, the both of them forcefully resisted this immense pressure and had refused to bend the knee! ¡°Hmph! Ignorant fools!¡± As Zhou Yang noticed that with his sheer force alone was not enough to force these two to bend the knee, he proceeded to increase the output of his powers! It was also at this moment, the first person to stand up for this lad was Zhou Momo, she was barely able to resist this immensely powerful force from the Blade¡¯s Menace alone, as she felt like her body was suddenly about to explode as webs of cracks had began to form all over the young lass body! Strands of cracks that were stained with blood were pouring out of her body without any signs of stopping, this was a ghastly sight indeed, terrifying to everyone around. Her snow-white dress was also beginning to form webs of cracks, if the blood had not mixed with the cracks on her dress, her inner beauty would be on full display for everyone to witness. The bones in both of her legs had instantly snapped, however, she had remained standing, and was staring with a gaze of pure rebellion at Zhou Yang, that gaze was seemingly hinting at him saying, ¡°I will never submit! Brother Zhou Yan will avenge us!¡± ¡°You still refuse to bend your knees? Not bad, you have some foolish courage! Then, I shall make sure you lot remember this lesson! ¡°Do remember, the Zhou family from Canglan City are all lowlife hounds, if you lot refuse to wag your tails as a hound would do, then you lot should never have come here!¡± It seemed Zhou Yang had recalled some events in the past as his entire expression had morphed into a much ferocious look in an instant! ¡°If you are truly capable, then by all means, kill me! The prime genius of our Canglan CIty, Zhou Yan will stop at nothing to avenge us! You will never have things your way soon enough!¡± The young lass, Zhou Yao had been braving the immense power from the lad¡¯s Blade¡¯s Menace as the edge of her mouth was already bleeding, while she struggled to inch her way forward! She had struggled painfully to get words out of her mouth, however, she had spoken her mind and was standing by Zhou Momo¡¯s side. It was not only her who had stood out, Zhou Bi and Zhou Gucheng too had stood forward. This group had initially consisted of seven people, besides the raw prowess of Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao, it was obvious that Zhou Xian¡¯s powers were not enough to face this man, however, Zhou Gucheng and the other people, were barely at the first rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Cardinal, how could they possibly face such ¡®powerful¡¯ foe? However, although their outcome was death, they boldly stood forward. At this very moment, Zhou Lingyao¡¯s gaze was seemingly on fire, however, Zhou Lingyi, on the other hand, had completely morphed into an extremely cold and emotionless young lass, the duo too had stood directly in front of Zhou Xian. The initial grief and sadness Zhou Xian felt for having no one stand up for him had instantly been surprised by such a gesture. Thus, in a sudden moment, he felt incredibly guilty for Zhou Gucheng who was merely a rank three swordsman stood up for his sake, he was incredibly moved and remorseful at this moment. Due to the lack of power, they had ended up being oppressed and humiliated by someone else, furthermore, even a young lass who had very clear feelings for him would be murdered by this man! And a genius like him was incapable of defending a maiden who stood by his side! ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Zhou Xian roared like a mad lad, he was being overwhelmed by a series of emotions as he rushed toward Zhou Yang as if he was fighting for his life. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, you lot from Canglan City are all low lives! Whoever this Zhou Yan lad is, who knew what kind of waves this insignificant loach could possibly cause? And now as everyone has witnessed, it was Zhou Xian who had committed insolence beforehand, it wasn¡¯t I Zhou Yang who had made the first move!¡± Zhou Yang laughed as a cruel sinister undertone flashed across his eyes, it was similar to a predaceous wolf, while an indescribable sinister aura emanated from his very own body. This was an indescribable ferocious glare, under such a situation, Zhou Yan glared directly at Zhou Bi, Zhou Yao, Zhou Momo and Zhou Lingyi as the lad¡¯s face had grown even more sinister and menacing than before! It seemed he had intended to completely strip these stunning maidens off their clothes, presenting their bodies to everyone to the entirety of the plaza! He had unleashed a wave of Blade¡¯s Menace directly into Zhou Xian¡¯s soul, he had intended to rely on his pure Blade¡¯s Menace¡¯s powers alone to completely destroy Zhou Xian! At the same time, he had unleashed his Blade¡¯s Essence, an infinite and boundless Blade¡¯s Menace were as if there were millions of hidden blades emanating an indescribably menacing bloodlust. However, it was at this very moment, the entire scene had seemingly frozen in time. A young lad and an elegant young lass walked into this area, that young lass was incredibly adorable, however, her face was inhumanly cold, the young lad on the other hand, those pair of eyes¡­ Those were eyes of incredibly predaceous nature, Zhou Yang had never witnessed such menacing gaze in the entirety of his lifespan, however this gaze seemed to possess an invisible burning ball of flame within, it was burning his very own soul, suffocating him! In the face of such menacing gaze, he felt chills coursing through the entire length of his spine! ¡­ As the young lad returned to the plaza with Zhou Ying, Zhou Yan was still in an incredible mood, however, he sensed something was amiss coming from the plaza itself, thus,without a moment of hesitation, he unleashed his soul¡¯s ability to sense the entire situation from a distance! Thus, upon sensing what had went wrong in that scene, the young lad felt as if his entire face had been violently stomped on, as his blood began to violently boil. This was an indescribable menace of wrath, never had the young lad thought, after he had reached such an extent, after receiving the Seal of the Golden Sword, there were still some incredibly ignorant fools who dared cause him trouble in that spot. This was literally an insult to the young lad! Could it possibly be due to the lack of impact from his earlier display? Or could it possibly be there was a certain group of people in the main family who specialized in dwelling on the hate of Zhou Wangchen or perhaps the resentment of the entirety of the Zhou family from Canglan City? With a single detection skill, Zhou Yan was able to very clearly perceive everything as it took place. He willed himself to suppress all of his anger in his heart, as he wanted to watch if the Zhou family would unite when one of them had been bullied by someone else. If there were none who had stood up for Zhou Xian earlier, he would not be bothered to save these people! However, as the young lad watched, Zhou Yan was remorseful as even a rank three Swordsman, Zhou Gucheng had stood out for Zhou Xian. Zhou Lingyao and Zhou Lingyi were both mortally wounded. Zhou Momo on the other hand¡­was beyond salvation. Her soul had been shattered to pieces and her body had been completely severed to multiple pieces, the only difference was, there was no immensely powerful wave of energy crushing her body. If there was another wave of energy crushing her body, her entire soul would fade away from existence. Although this young lass had never favored Zhou Yan initially, however, she loved Zhou Xian. However, Zhou Yan was aware that she had merely naively disliked him, and never possessed any ill thoughts toward him. To have picked her alongside him this time, Zhou Yan was delighted to notice the remorse and gratitude in her eyes. However, this time, with a mere test that was done by Zhou Yan alone had almost indirectly caused her death! Thus, Zhou Yan was unable to bear the weight of such an outcome since he was a man who valued close bonds. It was only natural for the young lad to allow the people which he had brought along with him to perish before they had a chance to grow and develop their potentials. It mattered not if those people had initially disliked him back then. In the end, they shared the same bloodline with the young lad, these people were his brothers and sisters, and it mattered not to the young lad if occasional squabbles had happened, however, it would be a different tale if his own family had been bullied by an outsider. Zhou Yan was in an incredibly bitter mood, as his bloodlust had been unleashed toward this young lad who dared so casually murder the members of his family! In addition to that fact, it seemed even by killing this man would do little to satiate his immense bloodlust. ¡°Little Frost, with my current abilities, am I capable to instantly murder this man? How vast would your powers be if you had fully unleashed them?¡± As Silver Frost had been unleashing an immensely powerful Blade¡¯s Menace, the young lad had been discussing this matter with Silver Frost throughout the entirety of his journey, after it had held off the lethal wave of energy that was closing in on Zhou Yao and the others with her. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan, if you had unleashed the full extent of your powers, I believe your combat prowess is equal to a second-rank Blade¡¯s Enforcer scholar, however, if you had used the Blade¡¯s Specters from your trump card, then it is possible to murder this man whose powers were in the second rank of the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. However, it was not guaranteed! ¡± ¡°However if you had unleashed the powers of your soul within my very own Blade¡¯s Specter, then the sheer power alone is stronger than any scholar who was in the very peaks of the third rank within the realm of the Blade¡¯s Menace. However, this would have two significant side effects.¡± ¡°The first might be stopping my master¡¯s training¡­ although this was not exactly a major problem, however, it would have caused some minor complications.¡± ¡°The second would be, if Brother Zhou Yan had used the strength of your own soul, it would cause some serious complications to your own soul, although your soul is significantly powerful, however under such forceful unleash to your soul, in addition to how much you had exhausted from your soul¡¯s powers earlier, if that stress continues, you would cause irreparable damage to your soul, it would completely drain your soul.¡± The Blade¡¯s Specter of Silver Frost, Little Frost explained. ¡ª From 15 Feb 2020, Coins spent on books that aren¡¯t selected will be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Thank you for your understanding.