Seeing the two powerful Sword Cultivators, who had previously been brimming with confidence, now dead in such a tragic manner, even Chen Tianjian couldn’t help but shiver and took in a cold breath.
Even Heaven’s Chosen Girl, Feng Yunyan, couldn’t help but turn pale, her beauty marred by fear.
"Zhou Lingzhe, what do you make of this?"
Chen Tianjian couldn’t help asking Zhou Yan.
His face had also become extremely solemn, the composure that once seemed unshakable had finally vanished at that moment.
And this very scene was precisely witnessed by Feng Ling Bamboo.
In that instant, she could finally confirm that Zhou Yan was actually stronger than Chen Tianjian.
This was just an inexplicable feeling, and she didn’t know why she thought this way, but she was very certain of her own thoughts!
Looking at Zhou Yan’s calm demeanor in contrast to Chen Tianjian’s intense expression, she couldn’t help but compare them. And with comparison came discernment; Zhou Yan naturally surpassed Chen Tianjian.
Because Chen Tianjian’s current behavior displayed an inexplicable ’reliance’ on Zhou Yan.
Even though cultivators do not depend on the strong, Zhou Yan could subtly make the geniuses around him trust his judgment without question, and this was a display of capability!
Just like she did herself.
Thinking this, Feng Ling Bamboo found that Zhou Yan became even more unfathomable to her.
"No wonder my sister likes him so much, even going so far as to fall out with me. It seems, my understanding of him is still too shallow."
Feng Ling Bamboo’s thoughts became complex as she recalled many things, including her previous arrogance. Suddenly, she felt like a jumping clown, having made a spectacle of herself for so long. In reality, from the beginning to the end, Zhou Yan might not have cared at all about the series of laughable and pitiable actions she’d taken.
As she thought, she couldn’t help but sigh involuntarily, her demeanor softening significantly, as if a surge of sentimentality suddenly sprouted deep within her heart.
"Zhou Lingzhe, it seems we didn’t trust you enough... For not believing in you before, I offer my deepest apologies. Now, let everything be dictated by you! I think, no one disagrees anymore, right?"
After Chen Tianjian, the always haughty Feng Yunyan also changed her attitude, speaking softly.
Because she also realized that Zhou Yan’s knowledge of the Ancient Array was far beyond Lie Kongxi’s!
She hadn’t discerned this from any particular source, but she could feel it based on her own intuition as a genius nearing the True Spirit level.
Moreover, the more meticulously she gathered information about Zhou Yan, the more she felt his unfathomable depth. Coupled with the previous exaggerated news about him—now, Feng Yunyan no longer considered those to be just exaggerations or falsehoods. What if they were true?
Could it be that Zhou Yan was genuinely the first one to achieve the Emperor Qi Sword Body?
Feng Yunyan harbored many complex thoughts but did not show them.
However, her attitude had fundamentally changed.
And just this one thing was actually totally sufficient!
Following Feng Yunyan’s words, a group of genius figures, including Lie Wanqing and her Third Uncle, also quietly nodded in agreement.
Apart from the dreadful deaths of Lie Kongxi and True Man Han, as well as the influential call to action by Feng Yunyan and Chen Tianjian, Zhou Yan’s casual display of ancient Sword Intent had already frightened them significantly!
Zhou Yan’s sword strike, invisible and terrifying, bursting forth with murderous intent—if such a surprise attack were launched against them... Several cultivators would subconsciously think this and then realize in horror that they might not be able to withstand it!
What did this imply? It meant that if Zhou Yan made a move, they might not be able to withstand such a technique and could possibly be annihilated!
This person, who seemed to be only at the Sword Heart Third Layer Realm, was not like the weak ant they had imagined but should be regarded as a ferocious demon beast that does not spit out the bones of its prey!
Therefore, in this situation, many cultivators, as if finding an excuse to concede, began to treat Zhou Yan with utmost courtesy.
Zhou Yan felt the intentions of the cultivators around him to some extent and while his heart was filled with cold laughter, his face remained calm and detached.
"If you trust me, then let’s keep walking. Just don’t disturb the corpses of the two," he said.
Zhou Yan pondered for a moment before deciding to watch how things unfolded and to proceed slowly.
Continuing to walk was, in fact, a relatively safe method in this place. Zhou Yan had some understanding of the ancient array, but not a complete one. As for the ancient killing array here, he wasn’t entirely sure.
To study the array and also to make use of the cultivators’ abilities to help himself, Zhou Yan didn’t hold back anymore.
"Of course. By the way, Brother Zhou, your judgment on the dangers here seemed extremely precise earlier. So what about True Man Han and Elder Lie’s situation...?"
Chen Tianjian thought for a bit, then glanced at Lie Wanqing, who seemed hesitant to speak, and couldn’t help but ask.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan glanced at Lie Wanqing nearby. This woman had a decent appearance but that was all.
Compared with Feng Yunyan, she was still far behind.
But since Chen Tianjian was willing to stand up for her, Zhou Yan felt it wouldn’t be right not to respond.
"Ancient arrays are all about accumulating energy, and the most powerful energy they can accumulate is life energy. To do so, they must draw this kind of energy from somewhere to complete the transformation.
Thus, life energy naturally comes from the life energy of people and demon beasts alike, because the life energy of Heaven and Earth belongs to all things.
Where the Tao exists, so does the grand Heaven, Earth, and the grand human beings.
So, the most basic life energy must be drawn from people.
Obviously, this ancient array is such an array.
Those two refused to believe the dangers and chose to enter it; they could only be seeking their own deaths."
Zhou Yan spoke casually, but the gaze of the cultivators watching him immediately filled with a hint of wariness, as if he were an evil person who enjoyed setting others up for death.
"Since you knew, why did you just watch them go to their deaths? That’s too cruel!" Lie Wanqing could no longer restrain herself, her big bright eyes filled with anger as she glared at Zhou Yan.
It seemed as if Zhou Yan wouldn’t be allowed to get away with it unless he gave an explanation.
"Cruel? I already warned them at the start. If they didn’t listen, how can that be considered cruel of me? They sought their own deaths and now want to blame me?"
Zhou Yan looked at Lie Wanqing with deep disdain in his eyes.
That disdain stung Lie Wanqing’s pride, and she almost immediately retorted angrily, "That’s nonsense, I think you did it on purpose, you’re asking for death!"
"Indeed, I did it on purpose, so what? Death? Ladies and gentlemen, whoever helps me kill her will get an extra rescue from me when danger arises in this ancient array again, and I will also give an additional Sword Intent Crystal Stone!"
As soon as he said this, there were already cultivators looking at Feng Yunyan with a hidden intent to kill.
"Lingzhe Zhou, Wanqing doesn’t understand, she was wrong in what she did before! I hope Lingzhe Zhou can be generous. Additionally, my fellow genius fellows, if you encounter danger, Elder Lie will certainly do his best to assist everyone. I hope that everyone can remain calm for now and not act impulsively."
An elderly cultivator who was by Lie Wanqing’s side had no choice but to step forward and offer himself as a shield for her.
Sure enough, once he stepped forward, the atmosphere suddenly became a few degrees more solemn and calm.
This was an elder Magic Sword Cultivator with a unique presence, and his aura was terrifying indeed.
"Since an elder genius like you has come forward with such sincerity, before the array breaks, please take the Qiankun Rings from the two deceased and hand them to me. That will be of great help in breaking the array."
Zhou Yan looked at the statues holding the corpses and couldn’t help but murmur.
His casual and natural expression might not have meant much to others, but in the blink of an eye when Feng Ling Bamboo saw it, her heart suddenly skipped a beat—she knew someone was about to be unlucky again.