Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1575 - 98: Holy Spirit Evil Venerable

"I must wait for approximately three more hours; then, it will be close to perfect. That moment will be when I head to the Emperor Soul Clan."

Zhou Yan articulated his words with a heroic resolve, as if entrusting a precious heirloom.

Lee Ran’s fist clenched spontaneously, his body quivering subtly, yet he made no move to dissuade Zhou Yan. Instead, he spoke, "I am fully aware of your intentions. Never forget your core purpose, and never forget your origins, no matter the circumstances."

"If you find yourself truly at your limit, leaving behind a fragment of your origin is not a failure."

"Take this with you."

As Lee Ran uttered these words, a blood-red crystal coffin materialized within his palm. This object, glistening like fresh blood and radiating a brilliant light, was clearly no common artifact.

"This..."

At Zhou Yan's attained cultivation level, few things remained hidden from his perception.

However, this blood crystal coffin was utterly inscrutable, defying his comprehension.

Within it seemed to reside something of immense terror. The more he attempted to probe its depths, the more profoundly unfathomable it appeared.

Zhou Yan was taken aback, even experiencing a rare jolt of astonishment.

Given his advanced mental fortitude, moments of genuine surprise were exceedingly uncommon. Yet, this blood crystal coffin evoked a deep sense of awe within him.

This reaction alone served as ample proof of the item's extraordinary nature.

"This artifact has resided within my consciousness since my reincarnation, a fortuitous discovery. Yet, I have always felt incapable of unlocking its true potential."

"From traversing the Soul Clan, journeying to the Heavenly Road's terminus, exploring the Void Ancient Land, and enduring countless other trials – none yielded its secrets."

"Even now, as the Evil Spirit Dominator and the foremost Holy Spirit Monarch, I remain unable to unravel its mystery."

"Accept it. Should you face utter defeat, coalesce your origin into intent and seek refuge within it. This may just preserve your life."

"As long as you persist, hope endures!"

Lee Ran proclaimed, extending this foundational artifact toward Zhou Yan. However, Zhou Yan’s hand reached out, gently pushing it back into Lee Ran’s grasp.

"This item is intrinsically linked to your very essence. I surmise its presence has aided your survival through numerous perils. Precisely because of this connection, I cannot accept it."

"Rest assured, I will not perish. I possess a premonition that assures me of my survival!"

"You understand, at my current level, such a premonition is almost invariably accurate."

"Moreover, during the Three-Life Soul Nourishment ritual, my father, Zhou Wangchen, though depicted as the Evil Emperor, did not appear as a villain. He manifested as a father, a kind and loving paternal figure to his son, a man burdened by sorrow, tragedy, and deep emotion."

"Such a portrayal, what significance does it hold? I am profoundly eager to uncover its meaning."

"I have honored my commitments to my wives and fulfilled my duties towards my son and daughter. However, I have yet to attain a profound understanding of my father and mother."

"Now that my mother has departed, while my father, as the Evil Emperor, stands in opposition to our Human Clan, the opportunity to encounter him would be meaningful."

"Whether it leads to madness or destruction, it aligns with my ultimate desire."

"Brother, I am also aware of your ambition to explore a wider world. Therefore, in comparison, my journey approaches its conclusion, while yours is still unfolding."

"When you eventually discover a more expansive and wondrous realm, and I am still contending with my current circumstances, pray take me with you then. At that juncture, as brothers, we shall share a drink and revel until intoxication, agreed?"

Zhou Yan inquired with a smile.

Lee Ran’s eyes welled up, his body betraying a tremor, and with an expression etched with complex emotion, he responded, "Very well! That day is destined to arrive!"

"Indeed, that day is absolutely certain to come!"

Zhou Yan affirmed with a smile.

Lee Ran mirrored his smile.

An unspoken understanding flowed between the two sworn brothers, transcending the need for words.

...

The passage of time felt accelerated, particularly these few hours, which vanished with astonishing speed, as if time itself ceased to exist.

In the blink of an eye, the precise moment Zhou Yan had calculated arrived.

Zhou Yan rose to his feet, and Lee Ran immediately followed suit.

"Brother, I must depart now. Stay safe as well."

"Acknowledged."

Lee Ran found himself at a loss for words, or rather, at this juncture, what further pronouncements were necessary?

He simply fixed his gaze upon Zhou Yan’s countenance, his very being, as if striving to eternally etch this image into his heart.

Even though, in absolute truth, this image was already indelibly imprinted upon his soul, never to fade.

Within Lee Ran’s perception, Zhou Yan’s form began to emanate a vast aura of evil spirit Qi, and the suppressed fury from before surged uncontrollably.

At that precise instant, Zhou Yan appeared to embrace a form of madness, then directly wove countless singularities, vanishing completely at the periphery of the Silent Annihilation Battlefield.

Observing the now vacant expanse, Lee Ran experienced a profound sense of emptiness, a subtle melancholy briefly shadowing his features.

Yet, swiftly, this expression transmuted into one of steely resolve.

Concurrently, Lee Ran also vanished without delay, opting not to return to the Human Clan encampment situated within the Silent Annihilation Battlefield.

...

Emperor Ancient Clan, Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City.

Within the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City, one of Zhou Yan's thirteen intents, a True Self, suddenly went berserk and vanished, leaving Jiang Yuning and the others bewildered.

This perplexing event mirrored what transpired with Zhou Yan's two True Self incarnations who were accompanying the Mother Empress in their search for Zhou Lingyi and Feng Zishuang.

Unbeknownst to the Mother Empress, Zhou Yan seemingly succumbed to a destructive rage, transforming into the Evil Dragon before disappearing.

The Mother Empress appeared deeply astonished, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

Nevertheless, Zhou Yan's vanishing act had become an undeniable reality.

...

Emperor Soul Clan.

Soul Power Origin Land.

Countless streams of black essence coalesced into turbulent whirlpools.

These whirlpools had remained dormant for eons.

However, upon their reawakening this time, the whirlpools began to expand, causing a monumental upheaval throughout the entire Emperor Soul Clan.

Swiftly, a colossal azure dragon materialized within the Soul Power Origin Land.

This majestic five-clawed azure dragon radiated a brilliant, icy blue luminescence. Wherever its glow extended, an abundance of Creation Power manifested.

Within this potent environment, all the powers possessed by a King Holy Spirit, such as merit and creation, could be unleashed to their fullest potential.

It appeared that within this domain, the formation of a King Holy Spirit was effortlessly achievable.

Furthermore, within the very heart of the whirlpools, a colossal black dragon emerged.

This fearsome black dragon, adorned with blood-red scales, exuded an aura of terrifying intensity.

Its glow possessed a unique, captivating allure, projecting the supreme majesty befitting a King Holy Spirit.

All the holy spirits of the Soul Clan, who had been following the azure dragon, now found themselves prostrating before this immense black dragon.

Even the azure dragon, after a moment of stunned disbelief, immediately retracted its Cold Ice Power and knelt in homage to the black dragon.

"Azure Dragon Ao Qing offers respects to the Holy Spirit Evil Venerate. Ao Qing humbly begs forgiveness for his prior disrespect."

"Rise."

A voice, chilling and imperious, echoed forth. The Evil Dragon then unfurled its eyes, revealing a terrifying scarlet gleam within.

Subsequently, the Evil Dragon reshaped itself into the form of a strikingly handsome young man clad in black robes.

This black-robed youth exuded an aura of profound coldness, a sinister charm, and an overwhelming, invincible presence.

The azure dragon, now transformed into a middle-aged man, sported a rugged, unkempt beard, lending him a rough appearance.

"Holy Spirit Evil Venerate, your return is finally upon us."

"It seems the matters on the Silent Annihilation Battlefield are now nearing their conclusion."

The azure dragon, Ao Qing, spoke with profound reverence, his voice laced with an indescribable awe.

The young man in black garments nodded, a hint of wistful nostalgia crossing his features. "It appears they were all mistaken. It turns out I am the Holy Spirit Evil Venerate. Even I have only just discovered this truth. Haha."

"Indeed, Holy Spirit Evil Venerate, this is the pinnacle of your wisdom."

"Those hypocrites should have been utterly annihilated long ago."

"The true Eternal World mirrors our Emperor Soul Clan, existing solely to follow commands, demanding nothing else," the azure dragon declared.

At this juncture, a peculiar halo shimmered on the forehead of the black-robed youth. However, with a casual gesture, he swatted it away, causing it to dissipate instantly.

"Since I have already embraced the path of Evil, the past is naught but a puppet manipulated by counter-schemes. Why struggle? Even if you do, it will be futile. I am the Holy Spirit Evil Venerate. Even if you tried to dominate me, could you possibly send this information back? Once returned, do you truly believe those hypocritical immortals and buddhas would grant you a path to survival?"

"To prevent any future repercussions, would they spare the woman, the son, the daughter who carry your bloodline and genetic legacy? Zhou Yan, oh Zhou Yan, you are far too naive," the young man in black mused to himself.

He then raised his hand and struck his own forehead once more.

Instantly, the pulsating halo on his forehead dispersed into a fine mist.

Witnessing the form of Zhou Yan within the mist shatter completely, Azure Dragon Ao Qing was utterly shocked.

"This... Holy Spirit Evil Venerate, Zhou Yan, was at least a fragment of your emotional attachment... You... you actually annihilated him entirely?"

"Emotional attachments are indestructible. After a period, they will regenerate. Therefore, its destruction is inconsequential. He need not retain this memory; preserving that untainted, simple innocence is sufficient."

"On a related note, where is my father?"

"The Evil Emperor... the Evil Emperor has already entered a deep slumber."

"Hmm? What transpired?"