Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1544 - 68: Zhou Wangchen

Zhou Yan understood that his departure from the Holy Spirit Land was complete. Now, having ascended to the status of a half-step Saint Spirit, his battle prowess was on par with a King. This represented a monumental leap, yet an inexplicable lack of joy pervaded him; the haunting images of the Holy Spirit Land's devastation remained etched in his memory. Furthermore, the fierce duel between Zhou Wangchen and Lee Ran had left Zhou Yan with a profound sense of emptiness, rendering his own endeavors at that moment utterly insignificant.

As Zhou Yan lay in quiet repose, this very feeling of insignificance paradoxically allowed him to shed all his burdens, enabling a state of serene contemplation, devoid of thought or action.

He found himself in a realm untouched by the passage of time or space, a place devoid of sun, moon, stars, or even the fundamental laws of existence.

Within this timeless void, Zhou Yan remained unaware of how long he had been there before a subtle, ethereal white luminescence emanated from the emptiness around him.

This faint glow rapidly approached.

Soon, before Zhou Yan's eyes, the white luminescence coalesced into a Void Gate, its formation intricate yet comprehensible in every shift and change to Zhou Yan.

Upon grasping its complexities, Zhou Yan experienced a sudden revelation, unlocking a portion of the profound mysteries within the True Void Monarch Immortal Principles, leading to an incremental rise in his cultivation realm.

However, from the depths of this white Void Gate emerged a man, his appearance marked by weariness, exuding an aura tinged with melancholy and a hint of world-weariness.

At the instant Zhou Yan’s gaze met the man's, he recognized him instantly as Zhou Wangchen.

As Zhou Yan observed him, Zhou Wangchen’s gaze simultaneously fell upon Zhou Yan.

Thus, father and son encountered each other in this peculiar nexus of existence.

"Zhou Yan, do you harbor regrets?"

Zhou Wangchen's query was both sudden and delivered with an air of casualness.

Yet, Zhou Yan fully comprehended the underlying meaning in his father's words.

"Father, does regret truly alter anything? Regret is merely an evasion of reality. Certainly, there were moments of confusion and hesitation, uncertainty about the path ahead, and even the feeling that my efforts were in vain. But if I were to relive those moments, without undergoing those experiences, I might never have earned the right to stand before you now."

Zhou Yan spoke with a sigh.

"Indeed, even with regret, if given a second chance, we would undoubtedly set foot on this very path once more. For the matters that weigh upon us, as father and son, can only be resolved by our own hands."

Zhou Wangchen nodded, his agreement with Zhou Yan's sentiment seemingly profound.

Zhou Yan offered a faint, wry smile, choosing not to speak further.

He was unsure of what else could be said.

"My child, you may grasp some truths now, while others remain elusive. But as your father, I must impart this: regardless of how the heavens and earth may transform, or how the ages may pass, your identity as my son, Zhou Yan, will remain immutable."

With a face etched by time, Zhou Wangchen's voice carried an inexpressible wistfulness.

"Father, I am aware of the immense burdens you have carried and the sacrifices you have made. Therefore, as father and son, explanations are unnecessary. You are the father, and I am the son. I am also the father of Hou Chen, a father who understands the responsibilities, duties, and even the helplessness inherent in familial connections."

"Father, if you have come to see me, you must have something you wish to convey. Please, share it with me. Whether it benefits me as your child or aids you as my father, there should be no distance or unresolved issues between us."

Zhou Yan spoke with the utmost sincerity.

As the father of Hou Chen, and the father of Yanyan and Sisi, Zhou Yan truly understood the emotional state his own father, sharing the same bloodline, must be experiencing.

When profound bonds already exist within a family, explanations become redundant.

Explanations are unnecessary for those we trust, just as they are unnecessary for those we do not.

"Yan'er, you speak truly, but this time, my purpose is to assist you in reaching that final threshold. Once you attain the true King Realm, subsequent challenges will become considerably more manageable."

"Your breakthrough within this true... Holy Spirit Land has surpassed the expectations of all the Holy Spirits; this is a significant advantage, as the rapid and stable augmentation of your power is the most desirable outcome."

"However, precisely because your progress exceeded projections, certain training grounds that had been meticulously prepared for you have now become superfluous. Much effort has been expended in vain."

Zhou Wangchen let out a sigh before continuing, "Yan'er, at the Jiang family's estate, I have been cultivating two nascent seeds for you, nurturing two True Holy Spirits. Nevertheless, you will need to employ your own capabilities to fully claim them."

"If you are amenable, I shall guide you to the domain of Buzhou Mountain, a unique dimension akin to the Holy Spirit Land, where the Jiang family resides."

"There, you will initiate the Holy Spirit conflict, challenge Jiang Tianxin and Jiang Tianling, subdue and vanquish them, and ultimately seize the Holy Spirit Origin."

Then, you shall finally breach the final barrier, achieving the ultimate metamorphosis of the Eternal Nine Rules and the Ninth Layer of True Void.

The animosity between King Lei Yan and the Jiang family, coupled with the True Void Heavenly Prohibition, signifies both the seed you've sown and the harvest you now reap. Their genesis of the Sword Burial Ancestor Star was the root, and your current appropriation of their Origin is the consequence; these interconnected causes and effects are ultimately reversible."

"Ultimately, Jiang Tianxin and Jiang Tianling are naught but lambs destined for slaughter."

"In this realm, true suffering eludes the definition of suffering, and pain is not truly pain. Lee Ran understands this more profoundly than I. In fact, the very path of the Mechanical Emperor owes its formation to his counsel."

"This device is a chip. It will elucidate the genesis of calamities and will deeply transmit information, calibrated against your combat power index."

When the opportune moment arrives, you will progressively uncover the ultimate verities that have thus far remained concealed from you..."

Zhou Wangchen exhaled a sigh as he imparted these words.

Subsequently, a crimson chip materialized within his palm.

The chip, bearing a resemblance to both a sarcophagus and a desiccated husk whose innards had been meticulously hollowed out, presented an uncanny form.

As Zhou Wangchen presented this chip, it was as if he had shed the final, oppressive burden, his frame aging by centuries.

The genesis of this chip was, without question, far from ordinary.

Zhou Yan was cognizant of this fact, yet he extended his hand to receive it.

Under such an emotional state, the acts of giving, accepting, and enduring all manifest as expressions of familial devotion.

Whether for another's advantage or for the fortuitous destiny this luck portends,

Attentive listening and unwavering obedience constitute the sole forms of filial piety befitting such a revered father.

Beyond this, Zhou Yan knew not what further actions he could undertake.

"Father..."

Zhou Yan's voice caught in his throat.

Zhou Wangchen offered a gentle nod, a serene, contented smile gracing his warm and benevolent countenance.

He gazed resolutely into the distance; an unforeseen future awaited Zhou Yan, still shrouded in enigma.

Yet, within Zhou Wangchen's gaze, certain outcomes appeared to have already taken shape.

"The duel between Hou Chen and Fairy Bi Shui has concluded."

"Hou Chen was defeated by the narrowest of margins, a mere half-move."

"The malevolent spirit embodied by Fairy Bi Shui has ultimately prevailed."

"Consequently, I must depart to avert certain impending events, Yan'er. Prior to my departure, I shall convey you to Buzhou Mountain.

Thereafter, upon your successful attainment, you shall be expelled from Buzhou Mountain by the Holy Spirit Land, akin to an energetic discharge.

At that juncture, I shall seek you out and awaken Mu Qingyan to assist in the resurrection of Feng Zishuang."

"Feng Zishuang holds immense significance for you."

Zhou Wangchen remarked, concurrently executing a supreme manifestation of the Forget Love King's Dao.

This Dao, intangible and invisible, surged through every quadrant of heaven and earth, converging a singularity into a luminous portal that pierced the boundless void and the abyssal depths.

...

(My physical health has been precarious for an extended period, yet I have persevered. Recently, some readers have noted a decline in quality, which I acknowledge and find deeply unsettling. Here, I offer my sincerest apologies to all. I am committed to writing with renewed dedication henceforth, striving for a more complete conclusion. The new work, "Heavenly Emperor Dragon Soul," progresses at a deliberate pace, primarily focusing on the ingenious character Lee Ran, presenting unique writing challenges. However, upon the completion of this current book, a surge of creative output is anticipated. Initially, I juggled writing this novel alongside my employment, driven purely by passion and aspiration, which limited my writing hours. Once this story concludes, Can Jian will devote his full attention to writing, ensuring both elevated quality and accelerated delivery. I kindly request everyone's understanding and continued support~ My gratitude to all.)