Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1572 - 95: Thirteen True Selves

Zhou Yan remained still for a spell, his gaze encompassing Mu Qingyan, Jiang Yuning, and the others beside him, filled with an immeasurable tenderness. His eyes also held a glint of genuine relief and deep satisfaction. Indeed, he had ultimately triumphed. He and Lee Ran had successfully brought this grand scheme to fruition together. While the Bi Shui Fairy was annihilated and Li Su Nu met a similar fate during the process, this was nevertheless the most optimal conclusion achievable. Furthermore, the True Selves derived from the Thirteen Forms, though none might rival the Evil Spirit Dominator in might, were all King Holy Spirits. They were not weak and possessed sufficient power to constitute formidable guardians. He had once sworn a profound vow, pledging undying emotional devotion, and now, at long last, he could fulfill it. How could such an outcome not bring profound satisfaction?

"My husband, what about your origin? Will the origin erase everything? Will it return?" Jiang Yuning’s emotions were a complex tapestry, yet the feelings she experienced were undeniably real and intensely warm.

"I never departed, so why speak of returning? That origin inherently belongs to the Purple Flame Monarch, and that is the origin's duty and burden. I meticulously separated all of this to achieve superior advancement in every aspect."

"The origin of the Xingyi Twelve Forms constitutes my True Self; should any predicament arise, they can unite directly. Under normal circumstances, much like avatars, they accompany each of you individually, diligently planning for the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City." Zhou Yan explained with a gentle demeanor. This situation was quite comprehensible, as Jiang Yuning, despite her inability to manifest twelve forms, could still employ the Three Pure Ones Technique to create three avatars. However, her avatars lacked the perpetual independence necessary to forge an Eternal True Self, unlike Zhou Yan’s.

Zhou Yan cast a glance at Lee Ran, who responded with a slight nod. Immediately, Zhou Yan declared, "The thirteen most significant women in my life – I shall remain by your sides eternally, until the day of ultimate completion dawns. If that day never arrives, then my commitment is for eternity."

"Feng Zishuang, Mu Qingyan, Jiang Yuning, Zhou Lingyi, Bai Ying, Gu Xi, Long Xianyin, Qian Xi, Ping’er, Qian Luoshui, Fei Ya, Suxin, Fu Wanling. Among these, Feng Zishuang and Zhou Lingyi are not present at this moment, so this particular arrangement is not immediately pressing."

"Mother Empress, I shall first assist you in restoring the remaining Life Origin of the Emperor Ancient Clan. Following that, you and my two avatars can undertake the task of bringing Feng Zishuang and Zhou Lingyi back. They need not venture into the Evil Spirit Demon Domain. Since those Evil Spirit Sovereigns wished to conceal all external matters from you, any explorations you undertake would be futile." Zhou Yan articulated.

Mother Empress let out a soft sigh and replied, "Now, how could I possibly refuse? What other recourse do I possess?" A bitter smile touched Mother Empress’s lips. In the recent conflict, the Emperor Ancient Clan had been nearly decimated in an instant, revealing to her the profound ruthlessness and chilling nature of the true Evil Spirit Sovereigns. Regardless of how favorable the negotiated terms might be, when the moment of battle arrived, the sheer aftermath could devastate countless ancient tribes!

With Mother Empress’s agreement, Zhou Yan commenced his work, wielding the Evil Spirit Origin and employing the Time Flowing Back Method of the Time Origin as a supplement, to restore the depleted Life Origins. This procedure did not involve actual temporal reversal but rather compelled the energy origin to recede. The method itself was not intricate, especially in Zhou Yan’s current command, appearing almost elementary.

Following Zhou Yan’s intervention, in mere moments, Mother Empress had reclaimed a substantial amount of Life Origin. She gathered these Life Origins, allowing them to sprout innumerable roots, though not yet allowing them to fully extend. This action served as a temporary protective dormancy for these nascent lives. This was also Zhou Yan’s counsel, and Mother Empress readily accepted the advice.

Nevertheless, despite the restoration of so many lives within the Emperor Ancient Clan, an even greater number had been irrevocably lost. In light of such circumstances, how could Mother Empress feel any joy? Yet, she recognized that this kind of demise was immutable; had Zhou Yan not intervened, the conflict would have inevitably impacted them one day, leading to an identical outcome. At that point, the situation might have been even graver, with not only all lives extinguished but perhaps even her own survival precarious.

Now, with over three million lives preserved, although her heart ached, Mother Empress harbored no further animosity towards Zhou Yan. Or, more accurately, she lacked both the standing and the means to nurture such hostility!

Observing Mother Empress complete this task, Zhou Yan felt a slight easing of the regret within his heart. The sacrifice of a majority of the Emperor Ancient Clan’s lives was an unavoidable consequence, as the Emperor Soul Clan had long harbored covetous designs upon the Emperor Ancient Clan. In the absence of strength, how could one possibly negotiate with true powers? Mother Empress, though not foolish, had still naively placed her trust in the Emperor Soul Clan’s deceptive promises.

Zhou Yan retracted his Origin Power, the depletion of those Eternal Life Beings’ origins no longer held any sway over him. These amassed lives paled in comparison to the foundational strength of a King Holy Spirit.

Only then did Zhou Yan’s attention fully return to Lee Ran.

Lee Ran offered a nod, his expression thoughtful as he stated, "Then, let us commence. I shall leave Ji Wu and Jia Yongheng here with you all. Furthermore, Kong Ji’s identity will also remain within the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City. In this manner, we shall be eternally united."

Lee Ran’s pronouncements were delivered with a serene detachment, as if he had perceived the ultimate truths of existence.

Both Ji Wu and Kong Ji were indeed matters weighing on his heart; once released, that burden of concern would be entirely lifted.

"Hmm, I am prepared now; let us begin," Zhou Yan declared.

"Very well!" Lee Ran responded.

Subsequently, Lee Ran unleashed the Holy Spirit Origin and Xingyi’s Monarch Mark, while Zhou Yan commenced the Three Pure Ones Technique and Xingyi Twelve Forms in conjunction with the Holy Spirit Dao.

Thus, an unending cascade of Monarch Marks began to manifest independently, conjuring diverse figures.

A manifestation of Lee Ran, a manifestation of Zhou Yan, each achieved complete autonomy.

Lee Ran then extracted the Origin of the Xingyi Twelve Forms, integrating it with the Monarch Mark to bestow final empowerment upon Zhou Yan.

Concurrently, Zhou Yan executed the corresponding cultivation techniques, weaving them into each distinct Monarch Mark, thereby forging a fundamental synthesis of Xingyi, the Three Pure Ones Technique, and the Monarch Marks.

Consequently, within mere moments, and after navigating the transformative principles of Xingyi, Zhou Yan, who could previously divide into thirteen True Selves, now manifested as thirteen distinct Zhou Yan individuals.

Thirteen selves, each harboring identical thoughts, capable of independent action yet interconnected.

Following the execution of these maneuvers by both Lee Ran and Zhou Yan, their respective Origin figures withdrew to the periphery.

As the Origins, Zhou Yan and Lee Ran now stood as the true, singular, and indeed, the Evil Spirit Sovereigns.

At this juncture, the thirteen separated True Selves also commanded the Sovereign Power of Evil Spirits, though not with the same potency as the Origins.

Just as Zhou Yan had experienced no adverse effects from the loss of Origin prior to obtaining the Origin state, the situation remained unchanged.

A True Self is still the self; should the True Self remain with family, the Origin and True Self could engage in combat freely upon the Silent Annihilation Battlefield without any encumbrance.

Even if the Origin were to be eradicated, the True Self would persist, albeit with a slight diminution in the combat prowess augmented by the Origin.

At such a juncture, Zhou Yan would possess a Ccombat strength akin to his state before receiving the Origin bestowed by Gu Xi.

When that ultimate moment arrives, it will no longer signify, for defeat signifies the absolute end.

Zhou Yan left behind the thirteen Xingyi True Selves, while Lee Ran entrusted Ji Wu, Jia Yongheng, and a True Self Kong Ji to those remaining with him. He then initiated the boundless Holy Spirit Heavenly Road of Time Reversal.

In that very instant, spacetime fractured, splitting like a fission with terrifying rifts emerging. The colossal Magic Cube Void continued its ceaseless rotation, emitting tendrils of dreadful evil spirit energy.

Lee Ran and Zhou Yan navigated through this Magic Cube expanse, returning to the Evil Venerate Demon Domain precisely at the cataclysmic moment of the extinction of Immortals and Buddhas – the Silent Annihilation Battlefield.

The denizens of the Emperor Soul Clan, Emperor Spirit Clan, and Emperor Demon Clan were locked in their ceaseless confrontations.

As the era of Ten Thousand Buddhas concluded in annihilation, the suffering of Ten Thousand Immortals persisted.

These disparate temporal moments undeniably mirrored the Outer Realm Battlefield.

If the Outer Realm Battlefield encountered within the Soul Burying Starfield represented an initial exposure, then this locale was the true, quintessential, and vast expanse of the Demon Domain.

Upon their return to the Demon Domain, Zhou Yan and Lee Ran were immediately confronted by Fu Xi’s Holy Spirit.

Re-encountering Fu Xi’s Holy Spirit, Zhou Yan once again perceived the formidable realm occupied by Fu Xi’s Holy Spirit, a level nearly indistinguishable from his own.

However, an ineffable sense of disparity lingered, not indicative of superiority in strength, but rather arising from divergent focuses and paths of cultivation.

Each Holy Spirit presided over its unique Holy Spirit Domain, varying in magnitude and grandeur, and encompassing distinct Life Marks.

The Holy Spirit Seal is the ultimate weapon, forged when the Holy Spirit Marks converge at their zenith.

Within the perception of a true Evil Spirit Sovereign, conventional weapons cease to exist; only the Holy Spirit Seal holds significance.

Zhou Yan’s Holy Spirit Seal manifests as a sword, consolidated from the Holy Spirit King’s Mark.

It appears as a colorless, transparent, jade-like sword with a subtle purplish-red inclination.

This very form was also condensed from the Thunder Flame Magnet Sword.

The transparency, the jade-like hue, and the luminescence of this sword bear an uncanny resemblance to the short jade sword seated upon the Ancestor Dragon Warship.

At this precise moment, Zhou Yan attained the profound realization that this was, in fact, the Holy Spirit Seal.

The unparalleled legend of the ancient flying sword Ru Yu stemmed from the weapon's own supreme might.

Now, as Zhou Yan swiftly solidifies his Holy Spirit Seal, a wave of emotions washes over him – a blend of desolation and deep sentiment.

He keenly realized that his thirteen True Selves were presently alongside his beloved wives, working to reconstruct the Sacrificial Ancient City.

This city had once crumbled, ravaged by conflict. Fortunately, with the Holy Spirit's protection, the casualties within its walls were kept to an absolute minimum.