Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1537 - 61: Unknown Communication

In this manner, when Zhou Yan resumed his cultivation, he initiated his transformation with renewed confidence, soaring through space, persistently venturing deeper, advancing directly from the sixth level to the ultimate ninth level.

Upon entering the extreme Sand Sea Space of the ninth level, Zhou Yan paused momentarily.

For it was a profoundly dim and desolate void, completely devoid of any sand sea.

The space itself presented as an immensely barren Land of Silence.

It resembled the aftermath of an apocalyptic cataclysm, so desolate it sent shivers down one's spine.

Within this realm, Zhou Yan first encountered a life form within the independent Holy Spirit Land of Thick Earth in the distance.

This Holy Spirit manifested as an exceptionally handsome young man, distinguished by his remarkably white, long hair.

The flowing locks cascaded over his shoulders, imbuing him with an aura of profound desolation and aloofness.

When Zhou Yan observed him with curiosity, this Holy Spirit also perceived Zhou Yan’s presence and turned his gaze towards him.

That particular gaze was distinct, lacking any malice or complex emotion; it was simply an annihilating, cold stare.

Such a look sent a tremor through Zhou Yan, from his very body to his soul, involuntarily inducing a state of uncontrollable trembling.

In this susceptible state, Zhou Yan sensed that the Thick Earth Holy Spirit Void he had meticulously crafted seemed to be faltering, on the brink of collapse.

Nevertheless, this disquieting sensation proved fleeting and swiftly vanished.

As Zhou Yan continued to observe the Holy Spirit, the desolate expression in the young Holy Spirit’s eyes also began to recede.

Subsequently, without deigning to acknowledge Zhou Yan further, he did not depart independently but remained rooted in his position.

Zhou Yan engaged in a brief period of introspection, unable to suppress his contemplation—had Yanyan and Mu Qingyan remained static before, or was there something uniquely peculiar about this Holy Spirit youth on this occasion?

Alternatively, was it merely because he had not previously forged a unique Holy Spirit World, thus encountering a divergent experience?

If all such scenarios mirrored each other, then would the killing intent previously present in Mu Qingyan and Yanyan’s eyes, and the current aloof annihilation, also be identical? Had his prior experience been different solely due to the absence of his own Holy Spirit guardian?

Or did the Holy Spirit before him inherently possess a distinct disposition?

Zhou Yan mulled over these inquiries, realizing that to ascertain the truth, it was sufficient to experience another comparable Holy Spirit Land.

However, Zhou Yan remained unaware of the total quantity of such Holy Spirit Lands available or how many he was destined to encounter.

The duration spent within any given Holy Spirit Land was, demonstrably, not extensive. With over ten days already elapsed, Zhou Yan had no insight into the potential length of his remaining stay.

Bearing these thoughts, Zhou Yan stabilized his Holy Spirit Void Space and then, akin to cradling a sphere of light, propelled himself towards the approaching Holy Spirit.

Yet, upon detecting Zhou Yan's advance, the Holy Spirit lifted his head once more, his gaze radiating an extreme aloofness and chilling coldness.

This specific gaze reappeared, and this time, Zhou Yan perceived within it a deeper layer of indifference and heartlessness.

"Hua Qiudao, may we converse?"

"I am aware that between us, numerous discordant occurrences have transpired in the past, yet each was dictated by the prevailing circumstances."

Zhou Yan conveyed his message through voice transmission, employing a singular Emperor Rune Language.

He possessed a distinct will, which he utilized to channel information directly into the opponent's void.

Would a parallel voice resonate within the opponent's Holy Spirit World?

Was the opponent also engaged in cultivation in some distant location, their paths intersecting through such a conduit across distinct temporal and spatial dimensions?

Whether such a connection was established hinged upon Zhou Yan’s discernment and the success of his communication attempt.

Zhou Yan’s query fell as silently as a stone into a deep ocean, without generating even the faintest ripple.

Hua Qiudao appeared entirely unresponsive, neither acknowledging nor reacting to the transmission.

After a prolonged period of waiting, Zhou Yan, eventually succumbing to a measure of helplessness, let out a sigh and resolved to gather his focus and immerse himself in diligent cultivation.

"Yanyan has already rejected me, and all of you harbor excessive sentiments; why then would you engage with me now?"

Much later, precisely at a moment when Zhou Yan had begun to abandon all hope of a response from Hua Qiudao, he unexpectedly detected Hua Qiudao’s desolate voice.

Hua Qiudao’s tone was ancient, so profoundly aged that upon first hearing it, Zhou Yan momentarily doubted his own perception.

Nevertheless, Hua Qiudao's reply left Zhou Yan enveloped in a cloud of perplexity and profound uncertainty.

Was genuine communication indeed possible?

Was a dialogue truly feasible?

Were they, in reality, situated within the same locale, or even existing at the same point in time?

Zhou Yan grappled with these questions internally.

While Zhou Yan could not articulate the reason for these ponderings, an instinctive conviction impressed upon him their immense, paramount significance!

Amidst these profound reflections, Zhou Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, and he uttered, "Yanyan holds her own convictions, yet I am aware that she harbored affection for you previously. However, circumstances have shifted, and many matters... are best left unspoken. If sincerity resides within the heart, even the most formidable barriers can be surmounted."

Zhou Yan's words were intentionally veiled in ambiguity and vagueness.

It was not Zhou Yan's original intention.

Zhou Yan sensed that some questions were beyond his reach to directly ask. Much like how he couldn't inquire of Hua Qiudao directly, "What is the current night?"

Such inquiries seemed to disturb an unseen, yet stable, equilibrium.

Nevertheless, Zhou Yan posed his questions indirectly. If Hua Qiudao, by chance, let slip some veiled truths, it wouldn't constitute a violation of 'revealing heavenly secrets.'

Regardless of his underlying agenda, Zhou Yan remained cautious, steering clear of any topics pertaining to the passage of time, the expanse of space, or the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Dao's grand designs.

As anticipated, upon hearing Zhou Yan's words, Hua Qiudao's eyes flashed with a momentary brilliance, only to be immediately overshadowed by a deeper melancholy.

"No, she will never forgive me. How could she? I was wrong, profoundly wrong. I committed the most foolish act imaginable. Even if you, Zhou Yan, were willing to accept me, I could never accept myself. There is no need for you to continue seeking me out anymore. Leave, Zhou Yan. I understand that out of past goodwill, you have eternally banished me to the True Void Holy Spirit Land, but this solitude is the only path to my self-transcendence. Should I one day truly achieve transcendence, my white hair will revert to its youthful black, I shall regain my vigor, and only then will I formally propose marriage, conquering all obstacles..."

Hua Qiudao emitted a sigh, uttering words that left Zhou Yan utterly astonished.

Even though these revelations were not intentionally shared secrets, Zhou Yan perceived their significance with profound clarity.

Hua Qiudao's voice eventually diminished into silence, and the very space he occupied seemed to detach, like a drifting bubble, breaking free from its confinement within the Thick Earth Elemental Holy Spirit Land.

Simultaneously, Zhou Yan sensed a profound instability in the surrounding heavenly expanse, as if it were on the verge of complete dissolution.

"This... this truly connects different temporal junctures to the True Void. But is it the future or the past? If a future iteration of Hua Qiudao encountered the present me... what am I in his current perception?"

"And why are Yanyan and Mu Qingyan also situated within such an environment? Could it be a form of 'exile' they are enduring?"

A cascade of thoughts surged through Zhou Yan, causing his heart to constrict and a peculiar chill to course through his veins.

Zhou Yan felt an intuition that he was on the precipice of uncovering a fundamental truth, one that constituted the ultimate secret of all immortal beings!

He perceived himself to be mere inches away from this profound revelation, separated only by a thin veil of enigma.

Once this final layer of obscurity was pierced, all would be laid bare!

Taking a steadying breath, Zhou Yan suppressed further contemplation, fearful that the Thick Earth Original Holy Spirit Land might collapse. Its destruction would undoubtedly halt his cultivation progress.

Previously, Zhou Yan had felt on the cusp of the King Realm. However, after enduring countless spiritual transformations within this sacred ground, he now grasped the immeasurable chasm separating the King Realm from beings of eternal life!

Zhou Yan could no longer accurately track or quantify the myriad transformations he had undergone.

Yet, despite these numerous advancements, he had not attained Great Perfection in the Triple Realm of the Eternal Nine Rules!

To say nothing of the escalating difficulty of cultivation and transformation as one progressed further.

Zhou Yan now focused his intent, holding his breath and clearing his mind of all extraneous thoughts. He hastily began to coalesce his King's True Void World, drawing upon his Thick Earth Original Mark to consolidate his power and advance his spiritual echelon.

This arduous endeavor, undertaken with Zhou Yan's full might, spanned nearly three hours before he finally broke through to Great Perfection in the Triple Realm of the Eternal Nine Rules, thus entering the Early Stage of the Fourth Layer.

Furthermore, at this critical juncture, Zhou Yan's Thick Earth King's Seal had fully materialized into a Thunder Flame Sword-shaped Seal, significantly enhancing the potency of his King's Mark.

Concurrently, the spatial integrity of the Thick Earth Origin began to falter, appearing as though it might shatter at any moment.

Zhou Yan, unwilling to gamble with fate, and hesitant to return directly to the Yuan Magnetic Land, chose instead to breach the unstable space, thereby exiting the Thick Earth Land.

Under these pressing circumstances, Zhou Yan once again departed the Sand Sea World of the Thick Earth, venturing into an entirely novel domain.

Zhou Yan ceased dwelling on Hua Qiudao's enigmatic affairs. However, the unfolding panorama before him, occurring in the wake of his encounter with Hua Qiudao, sent tremors through Zhou Yan's mind and body, catching him completely unprepared!

Ahead, the void shimmered, revealing itself to be the Heavenly Pool Thunder Marsh.

This was none other than the Primordial Font of Thunder Element!

The Thunder Element, in its essence, was intrinsically linked to Zhou Yan's very being.

This particular domain comprised not nine layers, but a singular, distinct location.

The Heavenly Pool Thunder Marsh.

Within the depths of the Thunder Marsh, Hou Chen remained an infant, cradled within the pool's waters, his tiny form adorned with remnants of Immortal Bone and Blood Fetus.

Zhou Yan observed this scene in silent awe, as if struck by an invisible bolt, rendering him momentarily breathless.

No matter the preceding sights, none could compare to the sheer astonishment evoked by the scene unfolding before his eyes.

Zhou Yan had never, in his wildest imaginings, conceived of encountering Hou Chen in such a state – an infant, swathed in blood, resting within the Heavenly Pool Thunder Marsh.

Had Hou Chen's youthful visage been present, Zhou Yan might not have been so profoundly shaken.