Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1558 - 82: Was I Wrong?

Silence had enveloped the hall for a prolonged period, originating from the woman adorned with a golden leaf mask.

In that entire chamber, her quietude seemed to establish an unspoken decree, as no entity, not even a Holy Spirit, dared to utter a sound in her absence.

This peculiar, unwritten rule governed the atmosphere.

Consequently, the surroundings were steeped in an even more frigid and profound silence.

"Feng Zishuang, in consideration of the past benevolence bestowed by the Xuanwu Dragon Turtle, I shall refrain from holding you accountable. Step down swiftly! As for Zhou Lingyi, do you have any final words?"

The woman shielded by the golden leaf mask spoke with an air of cold finality.

Upon hearing these words, a delicate, almost translucent pallor spread across Zhou Lingyi's exceptionally beautiful countenance.

For a Holy Spirit, such a sickly appearance was an anomaly, signaling a perilous state where the very foundation of their being was becoming worn and unstable.

This predicament represented the most dire possible outcome.

Observing this scene, a subtle yet discernible trace of mockery and disdain flickered within the eyes of the masked woman.

That subtly taunting, icy smile felt like a sharp, bone-chilling spur, piercing deeply into the heart of Zhou Lingyi.

"Mother Empress, when the four Sovereign Holy Spirits departed from the Emperor Demon Clan, certain pacts were established between them and us. At that juncture, the Azure Dragon had already morphed into the Evil Dragon Inheritance, its actions specifically designed to estrange me from Feng Zishuang. This predicament, in essence, mirrors the state of Feng Lingqing and Feng Lingzhu."

"Subsequently, Feng Zishuang was entrusted to the Xuanwu Dragon Turtle by the Azure Dragon, while your care and guidance were bestowed upon me, Mother Empress."

"Now, I simply wish to inquire, Mother Empress, have you ever truly considered both me and Zishuang as your own progeny? And what is the ultimate significance of these roots nurtured with the Life Origin Blood of the Xuanwu Dragon Turtle?"

After a brief, heavy silence, Zhou Lingyi posed her questions with unnerving calmness, her gaze fixed directly upon the woman veiled by the golden leaf mask.

Her tone had, by this point, noticeably drifted beyond the confines of respectful discourse.

"How dare you!"

"Audacious wretch!"

"What emboldens you to address me with such insolence? Hmm!"

The woman concealed by the golden leaf mask was instantly consumed by a furious rage, her eyes abruptly blazing with an intense crimson hue, as if she had suddenly transformed into a creature of unparalleled ferocity and venom.

"Mother Empress, is it possible you still refuse to acknowledge certain truths? Why maintain this obstinance? The Emperor Soul Clan offers us no future; our defiance, however, still harbors a sliver of hope, whereas complicity would inevitably lead to utter ruin."

"The intentions of the Emperor Soul Clan are far from benevolent!"

Meeting the ferocious and icy glare of the golden-leaf-masked woman head-on, Zhou Lingyi continued to speak with an unruffled demeanor, neither subservient nor defiant.

It seemed that regardless of the dire repercussions or catastrophic fate that might await her, there were certain pronouncements she felt compelled to make.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Even now, when you stand in the wrong, you persist with such words! It appears, then, that even allowing you to atone through meritorious deeds holds no value! In that case, from this moment forth, simply vanish!"

The woman cloaked in the golden leaf mask erupted into absolute fury, a potent and overwhelming killing intent surging forth almost instantaneously.

Following this intense outburst, the boundless killing intent coalesced, manifesting as a unique golden energy, poised to engulf Zhou Lingyi entirely.

"Mother Empress, I implore you, do not take her life! She is your daughter as well! How could you bring yourself to commit such an act?"

Feng Zishuang pleaded with profound anguish.

However, Zhou Lingyi no longer offered pleas. Instead, she rose, unsteady, from her kneeling posture.

Then, with a calm and detached air, she lifted her gaze to meet that of her Mother Empress, the one adorned with the golden mask, and spoke, "Mother Empress, even should you refrain from acting, my King's Mark is destined to shatter on its own accord in due time, leading to my inevitable demise. Yet, before my end, there are matters I must clarify for you, Mother Empress."

As she spoke, a deep sorrow flickered in Zhou Lingyi's eyes, and she continued, "The past suffering of the White Tiger was so immense that he harbors a profound wariness towards us, the Emperor Ancient Clan. Has this underlying reason never entered your thoughts, Mother Empress? Furthermore, the Xuanwu Dragon Turtle is renowned as the apex of Life Origin power amongst kings. What was your precise objective in attempting to cultivate the King Soul Embryo, Mother Empress? Today, do you truly perceive us merely as extensions of your life force? The very roots of the Emperor Ancient Clan's Life Ancient Tree were restored to their Origin through Xuanwu's Blood. Xuanwu himself is also the progenitor of numerous nascent beings within our Emperor Ancient Clan. What, then, is his current fate? Still imprisoned within the Silent Annihilation Battlefield, perpetually subjected to the torment and erosion of the Evil Dragon!"

"Moreover, if I were to survive, all would be well. But should I perish, Zhou Yan would undoubtedly descend into madness. Should he then embrace the mantle of the Evil Dragon, this lingering resentment would become our ultimate sorrow. At that point, would the Emperor Ancient Clan value us, or the unbridled fury of the Evil Dragon, Zhou Yan?"

Zhou Lingyi articulated her points with measured calmness.

This was, in effect, a direct confrontation with her own Mother Empress.

Feng Zishuang found herself quite taken aback by Zhou Lingyi’s audacious declaration.

Indeed, it wasn't only Feng Zishuang; every soul within the Life Hall of the Emperor Ancient Clan was stunned into silence by Zhou Lingyi’s unexpected boldness.

Zhou Lingyi had always been known as a gentle and demure Holy Spirit, making her current assertiveness all the more surprising!

"Are you issuing a threat to me? Do you believe I wouldn't dare to act against you, thus leading you to behave so arrogantly?!" The Mother Empress's tone dripped with haughtiness.

"Why would you possibly refrain from acting? You showed no mercy even to the Xuanwu Dragon Turtle, such a venerable senior, with such ruthless abandon. How could you possibly hold back now?"

"As for acting arrogantly, that notion departed long ago." Zhou Lingyi's voice carried a distinct edge of mockery.

Yet, amidst her taunting, a flicker of bewilderment briefly crossed the golden-masked woman's eyes.

Subsequently, the golden-masked woman's expression shifted once more, becoming unusually varied.

She remained silent for a considerable time.

Feng Zishuang felt an urge to intervene, to implore Zhou Lingyi to cease her provocations. She also wished to dissuade the Mother Empress from enacting any severe punishment.

However, a strange impasse seemed to have formed between the two parties.

Zhou Lingyi uttered no further words, and the Mother Empress did not erupt into renewed fury.

Eventually, the heavy atmosphere of silence and void was shattered as the Mother Empress gathered her focus once more, inhaling deeply.

"We shall revisit this matter later. Zhou Lingyi, Feng Zishuang, I shall grant you passage through the Singularity Gate. Upon your exploration and retrieval of vital information, you shall earn meritorious deeds for redemption. As for Zhou Lingyi's penalty, we will defer it until your return. Should you not return, punishment will be irrelevant, replaced only by oblivion."

"There is no need to deliberate further on the issue of the Xuanwu Holy Spirit," the Mother Empress stated calmly after a brief period of thought.

With a subsequent wave of her hand, the very fabric of reality inverted; the once bright heavens transformed into an abyss of unending darkness.

Employing a technique that seemed to cup the sky in a single hand, it instantly expanded, revealing a terrifying, boundless background brimming with potent King Energy.

Zhou Lingyi offered no verbal reply, nor did she possess any inclination to engage further.

Feng Zishuang harbored some reservations, yet the Mother Empress's commands bore the weight of absolute authority, making them exceedingly difficult to defy.

Consequently, Zhou Lingyi’s bold actions were truly astonishing.

"Perhaps that particular destination offers a different path, not merely a Desolate Land," the Mother Empress, still veiled by her golden mask, suddenly remarked, her tone softening slightly, her words carrying an inexplicable weight.

She then added, "I shall go and see Zhou Yan now. Zhou Lingyi, you are correct; perhaps, evasion is not the ultimate solution. I intend to observe Zhou Yan’s capabilities and his creative endeavors."

After a moment of quiet introspection, the Mother Empress, remarkably, seemed to set aside all her previous anger.

Then, with a subtle gesture of her hand, an immense and formidable surge of energy manifested, creating an endless Singularity Sky Road Channel that swiftly drew Feng Zishuang and Zhou Lingyi into its depths.

Following their absorption, the Mother Empress turned her gaze to the remaining Holy Spirits and other life forms within the hall, commanding with icy finality, "You are dismissed!"

"Yes, Mother Empress."

All the diverse life forms and Holy Spirits bowed in unison before departing.

Within the opulent hall, only the woman adorned with the golden leaf mask remained, utterly alone.

"Was I mistaken? Genuinely mistaken?" Her voice, now tinged with a chilling bewilderment, echoed as if she were engaged in a solitary, ongoing dialogue with herself.