Chapter 862: Chapter 33: Jiang He’s Killing Intent
Jiang Tianxin no longer dared to question anything. Additionally, Zhou Yan’s words today were truly comprehensive and carried the aura of a superior being, without anything out of place.
As for the loss of almost thirty percent of the soul power in the Soul Nurturing Space, Jiang Tianxin didn’t mind it, at least it showed that the other party accepted the ’goodwill’ of the Jiang family.
Sacrificing some resources to forge closer ties with the ’Evil Venerate’ or an existence of similar stature was already a worthy investment.
"Venerable senior, this junior will take their leave now."
Jiang Tianxin respectfully left.
Zhou Yan continued to pace in the Soul Nurturing Space, yet the things on his mind became more numerous.
After Jiang Tianxin’s departure, Zhou Yan took out a ring, sensing its heavy feeling and the resources stored within, making a series of decisions in his heart, while a fire seemed to ignite in his eyes.
This fire was akin to the Silent Annihilation Purple Flame, radiating a spinning and dispersing reverse brilliance, before quickly vanishing from Zhou Yan’s eyes.
The nine great sword bodies within Zhou Yan seemed to be activated simultaneously, undergoing a series of unique changes bit by bit, and his soul too seemed to be in a state of irregular arrangement, preparing for something.
After Jiang Tianxin left, Zhou Yan sat silently in the Soul Nurturing Space, always preparing for something.
Zhou Yan knew that when the next day arrived, life and death, victory and defeat, would all be laid bare.
"Zhou Yan... if it truly comes to that point, use the Emperor Qi Dragon Transformation Technique to integrate me completely into the Xuanyuan Sword, so that it may unleash one-ten-thousandth of an Immortal Strike against Jiang He, which should suffice."
Time had passed for a long while, and as dawn was about to break, the Xuanyuan Ancestor seemed to understand something, transmitting his voice to Zhou Yan.
"Ancestor, you need not worry, I have already left a contingency for the Xuanyuan Sword. If I fall, then you will stay with Zhou Zheng, and if he dies too, then the Xuanyuan Sword will fall into Hua Qiudao’s hands.
In this world, even if all cultivators perish, Hua Qiudao, having great merit bestowed upon him, is nearly invulnerable; a doomed situation will not befall him. He can carry you further."
Zhou Yan transmitted his voice.
At this moment, he seemed no longer to conceal his contingency plan.
The Xuanyuan Ancestor fell silent for a while, then transmitted his voice, "This night, you have prepared certain things. Although I cannot see through them, I vaguely feel that this is the choice between life and death. And as I see your preparations, I too have understood some things. I think that even if I have the chance to be resurrected, I would still remain a mere Sword Soul Saint Spirit, and advancing further would be fraught with countless difficulties. If I were to somehow succeed, then what? To live through endless ages? By that time, companionship would probably only be loneliness and desolation.
I thought about the things you said before, and suddenly feel you are right, so I have been assimilated by your mindset, believing that sometimes, what should be abandoned might indeed be best left behind."
The Xuanyuan Ancestor suddenly seemed somewhat melancholic, yet Zhou Yan maintained his silence.
"If that moment truly comes, let us fight together. By then, I shall empower you with space power, allowing you to kill the enemy more effectively."
After pondering for a moment, Zhou Yan seemed to tacitly approve of the Ancestor’s approach.
"Empower me with space power, and then have me swept away by it in an instant to escape, correct? Carrying your hope and continuing to live, not wanting to burden me? Zhou Yan, in truth, in your bones resides a person of great sentiments and righteousness. If other cultivators heard your words, they would surely believe you, but I know you only want to send me away. Yet, I am quite gratified."
The Xuanyuan Ancestor was very wise.
Zhou Yan’s method was ineffective against him.
"Jiang He has arrived so early; it appears he should know I am not the Evil Venerate. This isn’t my first encounter with Jiang He, but I truly wish to know, who exactly is Jiang He."
Zhou Yan seemed to murmur to himself.
The Xuanyuan Ancestor, however, no longer spoke.
Their opinions couldn’t be unified, and thus, they could only proceed by trial and error.
"Evil Venerate, old Jiang He has arrived."
A casual voice, aged, yet it carried a very unique aura.
This aura seemed to affect one’s mind, causing an uncontrollable impulse to kneel and worship the other party.
Zhou Yan’s heart slightly tightened, and as his thought moved, the Divine Monkey Sword Soul flew out from within his Soul Body.
Holding the Devil Suppressing Stick, the Divine Monkey Sword Soul faced Zhou Yan, but at this moment suddenly turned around, facing away from Zhou Yan.
Taking a step forward, Zhou Yan plucked a strand of silvery hair from the back of the Divine Monkey Sword Soul’s head.
This was one of the three life-saving artifacts.
The moment Jiang He appeared, Zhou Yan had already sensed the pressure of death, and he immediately realized his speculation was correct.
Jiang He had already discovered that the Evil Venerate was not the true Evil Venerate.
After removing this strand of white hair, Zhou Yan directly inhaled it through his nose and mouth, swallowing it into his abdomen.
Following this, Zhou Yan drew on all the Emperor Xuan Yuan’s energy he had gathered, instantly elevating his cultivation to the peak state of the Sword God Sixth Transition Realm.
At the same time, Zhou Yan activated all the abilities of the sword bodies, aligning all souls according to the previous soul rune configuration, with the Demon Heart Sword Body as the primary soul.
Zhou Yan took a deep breath, and the ring was swallowed into his mouth, the spatial shielding within which Zhou Yan had not yet dissolved or devoured the endless soul power within.
Having done all this, Zhou Yan, bearing the Xuanyuan Sword on his back and holding the Flame Throne, calmly walked out of the Soul Nurturing Space.
"Evil Venerate, as agreed that day, the next time we meet, it shall be in another battle against Jiang He. This time, let’s not talk about anything else, let’s just have a good fight first."
Jiang He appeared to be an elderly figure with a somewhat withered build, yet his aura was as deep as an abyss and immeasurable in depth.
His appearance was rather ordinary, with graying temples and white-streaked beard not unlike any average elder, but Zhou Yan knew this was definitely not Jiang He’s true appearance.
What exactly lay hidden beneath this ordinary facade, perhaps only Jiang He himself knew.
"Fine, if you wish to fight, then fight we shall."
Zhou Yan looked at Jiang He with neither humility nor arrogance, unaffected by Jiang He’s immense aura.
"Jiang Family Void River."
Jiang He said.
Next, the entire person stepped forward first, shattering the Void and entering a celestial river.
Zhou Yan likewise did not hesitate, stepping forward.
Zhou Yan knew that Jiang He, though seemingly casual, had already locked onto his every movement. Should Zhou Yan make any unusual movements or attempt to escape, he would surely meet with a thunderous assault of immeasurable power, with no chance for chance discretion.
Yet Zhou Yan had no intention of leaving just like that, and thus followed Jiang He without hesitation.
With Void Power unfolded, Zhou Yan’s combat power as a Venerable meant he did not fall behind Jiang He.
The Void River was a Star Domain’s Star River, but this portion of the Star River was merely an Ancient Battlefield of the Jiang family.
With a cold expression, Jiang He watched Zhou Yan, saying, "No matter who you are, having the qualification to fight with me, Jiang He, grants you the qualification to act as you wish within the Jiang family."
"Make your move; I will not retaliate but will take your strike."
As Zhou Yan spoke, endless immortal evil soul power circulated from his mouth, and this power, like Hongmeng Origin Energy, transformed into a white light, suddenly flying out and standing in front of Zhou Yan after circulating in his mouth.
This was a Tao body derived from the ’immortal’ power, manifesting from Zhou Yan’s original form.
"You’ll merely use a soul Tao body and soul split to take my killing strike?"
Jiang He’s face turned slightly grim with killing intent shining through.