Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1564 - 87: Gu Xi Returns

Failure had struck again and again.

Zhou Yan had pushed his comprehension of the Evil Spirit's inheritance to its apex, yet the true essence eluded him. It felt as if all the Dao could be grasped and manipulated at will, only to bind and restrict him in the end.

Zhou Yan had never encountered such a maddening predicament.

In every cultivation endeavor, he had always displayed exceptional intellect, grasping concepts with astonishing speed and even discerning the origins of many Dao at a mere glance.

Perhaps even the wisest among us can falter, or perhaps... this particular Dao was simply beyond compare.

Zhou Yan poured every ounce of his being into understanding the Dao imparted by Hou Chen, yet he grasped nothing.

Indeed, while Zhou Yan was aware of what this Dao entailed and its potential effects, he simply could not seize its core.

This signified that the final path had reached an impasse.

This meant that the last flicker of hope had been extinguished.

Zhou Yan attempted the process numerous times more, but each endeavor concluded in failure. Finally, Zhou Yan let out a laugh, a sound devoid of tension and filled with detachment.

"I truly gave it my utmost effort, but indeed, I cannot comprehend this Dao. Therefore, your worries about me transforming into an Evil Dragon are unfounded."

A subtle undertone of bitterness laced Zhou Yan's declaration.

This turn of events was actually more devastating than failing the mere transmission of the Dao; Zhou Yan felt unworthy, as if he didn't even qualify to receive this profound teaching.

Consequently, the fear of becoming an Evil Dragon seemed all the more absurd and cruelly ironic.

However, Hou Chen offered no mirth.

Neither did Mu Qingyan, Jiang Yuning, nor Qian Luoshui.

They all drew near to Zhou Yan, standing in silent solidarity—even if Zhou Yan faltered in his enlightenment, so what?

The path itself was fraught with immense difficulty, making success a long shot; thus, failure was not entirely unexpected.

Achieving success would have been a blessing; anticipating failure was, in a way, logical.

After all, the probability of successfully accepting the inheritance was infinitesimally small.

With such a minuscule chance, success could not be guaranteed every time; eventually, failure was bound to occur.

Mu Qingyan and Jiang Yuning wished to offer words of comfort to Zhou Yan, but they found themselves at a loss for how to begin.

The Mother Empress, however, remained a detached spectator, a hint of disdain playing on her features.

"Father, perhaps there exists another reason for this failure. If I can master it, there is no logical reason why you cannot."

"Furthermore, Father, you possess thirteen King’s Marks. Under such circumstances, if you are incapable of inheriting it, no Holy Spirit in existence would be able to!"

Hou Chen, after a brief period of contemplation, suddenly declared with unwavering conviction.

Zhou Yan did not interpret Hou Chen's words as attempts at consolation, for he understood Hou Chen implicitly.

At this juncture, Hou Chen had no motivation to offer mere comfort.

Upon hearing Hou Chen's statement, Zhou Yan's expression grew graver. He responded, "I am not seeking to make excuses; I truly feel a sense of powerlessness, as though something essential is absent."

"Absent something? Zhou Yan, are you still attempting to rationalize your failure? Can you not even bear the weight of this disappointment?"

The Mother Empress's voice dripped with further sarcasm, her words laced with icy mockery.

Zhou Yan cast a quiet glance towards the Mother Empress and stated, "I, Zhou Yan, do not fear life or death, nor do I shy away from pain or suffering. I am fearless, so why would I concern myself with the failure of an inheritance? I simply perceive a genuine feeling of being held back, as if my potential has inexplicably hit a ceiling, incapable of further expansion."

"However, I know deep within my heart that this is not my true limit."

Zhou Yan spoke with a heavy heart.

Despite the Mother Empress's overt disdain, Zhou Yan remained steadfast in his principles, choosing not to engage in an argument with her.

"Is that so? Time is of the essence, so I shall observe how you confront the subsequent cascade of events!"

The Mother Empress let out a soft snort, appearing slightly irked by Zhou Yan's explanation, perhaps even perceiving it as a cowardly evasion of responsibility.

Consequently, the Mother Empress seemed to have lost her patience for lingering any longer.

She appeared thoroughly disillusioned with Zhou Yan, harboring no lingering hope whatsoever.

With that, the Mother Empress turned, preparing to depart immediately.

At that precise moment, her gaze abruptly sharpened, fixing its attention on the distant expanse of the heavens.

In that instant, not only the Mother Empress but also Jiang Yuning, Qian Luoshui, and Mu Qingyan all directed their attention towards the ethereal void above.

Deep within the celestial realm, a remarkably distinct ripple of soul energy manifested, intertwining with the very essence of the Holy Spirit and all else, coalescing into a figure of extraordinary uniqueness.

This figure possessed exquisitely alluring curves, radiating a charm potent enough to mesmerize all beings.

Upon her arrival, even the Mother Empress's aura and presence were rendered inconspicuous.

"Brother Zhou Yan, I have returned."

As she materialized beside Zhou Yan, her voice reached his ears with resonant clarity.

It felt just like in the past, reminiscent of that intimate greeting when they first met on the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, as if no time had passed and nothing had changed.

Zhou Yan was momentarily taken aback, then gazed upon the stunning and lovely Gu Xi, her face alight with a warm smile, precisely as he remembered. His heart swelled with overwhelming excitement and deep emotion.

Gu Xi had returned.

And it was at this precise juncture.

Regardless of where Gu Xi had been, her reappearance occurred at this critical juncture.

Zhou Yan understood that following the failure of the inheritance, the battle of Ten Thousand Buddhas' Extinction would almost certainly end in defeat.

At that juncture, even the formidable Destruction might not be capable of bringing about mutual annihilation, so Gu Xi's timely return filled Zhou Yan with immense excitement and profound gratification.

If there was no sliver of hope remaining, Zhou Yan wouldn't wish for any of his loved ones to depart from him. Perhaps, in the face of this unending fate and immutable rules, only a shared annihilation would mark their ultimate end.

Zhou Yan felt no pain or sorrow in his heart; only a profound peace, the kind that settles after one has seen through all illusions.

"Brother Zhou Yan, is it because you could not master the final Evil Spirit inheritance? Actually, Brother Zhou Yan need not concern yourself, for... the missing component, Xi'er has already retrieved it for you."

Gu Xi, true to form, continued addressing him in their old, familiar way.

Each utterance of 'Brother Zhou Yan' resonated with such clarity and captivation, utterly intoxicating.

Zhou Yan felt as though Gu Xi's words had transported him back in time, to the very moment he first met her after coming of age, the memories still remarkably vivid in his mind.

Even back then, when Zhou Yan and Gu Xi were merely ordinary cultivators, and their aspirations were simple and straightforward, undoubtedly, those carefree days were indeed precious and worth cherishing.

Zhou Yan seemed to regress to the past, back to his childhood days spent with Gu Xi, and in that instant, his heart found complete tranquility, accompanied by an indescribable sweetness that bloomed within him.

At that moment, Zhou Yan could no longer restrain himself and spontaneously enveloped Gu Xi in a tight embrace.

Zhou Yan remained silent, fearing any words might shatter this moment of pure happiness and serene calm, even though he knew this happiness and tranquility would be fleeting.

Once calamity struck, its repercussions would be irreversible, and any reliance would be utterly lost.

Time simply flowed by, undisturbed.

After a brief interval, as Gu Xi was held securely in Zhou Yan's arms, her body seemed to yield slightly. More significantly, Jiang Yuning, Qian Luoshui, and Mu Qingyan were all present. Her innate disposition forbade her from monopolizing Zhou Yan, savoring this unique bliss all to herself.

Thus, Gu Xi gently stirred, extricating herself from Zhou Yan's embrace, and reached out a hand to softly caress his face.

Zhou Yan still appeared so young, yet the soul residing beneath that youthful countenance had aged countless times over.

The depths of his profound and tranquil eyes concealed his sorrow and an immeasurable misfortune.

Zhou Yan's gaze was serene, but behind this outward calm, how much intertwined vicissitude and suffering lay hidden?

Gu Xi felt a pang of deep heartache, yet she understood Zhou Yan intimately. Her hand gently traced his face, as if attempting to smooth away every trace of pain and hardship from his heart.

"Brother Zhou Yan, the inability to inherit it was not your fault, for the true key required to initiate the inheritance was sealed by you onto that Life Soul Origin."

"And I, after journeying through the realm beyond the Life Magic Cube, have managed to break this seal. Therefore, this Life Soul, Brother Zhou Yan, you may now reclaim it."

"Only by reclaiming this Life Soul, Brother Zhou Yan, can you truly ascend as the King, and know that the King's Mark comprises not thirteen, but fourteen kinds."

"This final kind is Lei Yuan. The Thunder Origin Mark."

"Brother Zhou Yan, do you still recall the Thunder Origin Sword God? Brother Zhou Yan."

Gu Xi's endearment was palpable, her words exceptionally tender.

As she uttered these words, Mu Qingyan's gaze flickered with a hint of surprise, but swiftly, a contemplative expression settled upon her features.

Subsequently, Mu Qingyan's look towards Gu Xi took on an inexplicable quality, tinged with disbelief.

But ultimately, Mu Qingyan remained silent, turning her attention instead to Zhou Yan.

In contrast to Mu Qingyan, Qian Luoshui and Jiang Yuning seemed somewhat bewildered by the unfolding situation. Upon hearing Gu Xi's declaration, they initially felt a surge of joy and burgeoning hope, only to then become concerned for Gu Xi's safety.

In such circumstances, could Gu Xi possibly be unharmed?

And what trials had Gu Xi endured in the so-called realm beyond the 'Life Magic Cube'?

"No, that's impossible. How could you possibly have traveled to the realm beyond the Life Magic Cube?"

The Mother Empress exclaimed in shock, her eyes fixed on Gu Xi, radiating profound incredulity.