Chapter 713: Chapter 141 Xuanyuan Ancestor
“Majestic as the water in the cup, real yet surreal like the flowers along the path.”
Zhou Yan sighed softly, talking to himself.
That sigh carried with him the vanity of the human world, the vicissitudes of life.
His soul seemed to undergo a transformation with the return of King Lei Yan’s memories, while an inexplicable shackle was broken.
Zhou Yan felt different, unlike anyone in this world or even this plane, feeling as if he suddenly inherited the ancient legacy of Earth.
Such inheritance was rooted deep within his heart, unshakeable and firm.
His soul had transformed, his mind had transcended, and all barriers in his cultivation realm had been shattered, which was his greatest advantage.
Yet with each step, he still needed to cultivate diligently on his own, building a solid foundation for his cultivation. The accumulated realms, although strong, were very prone to losing oneself, easily collapsing.
In comparison, steady and consistent efforts suited this lifetime better.
Suddenly, a voice echoed, belonging to the mysterious Golden Armor man within his Dantian.
“Senior, what are your orders?”
Despite possessing the memories of King Lei Yan, those were merely memories of a past life. To rise in this life, he had to forget the past achievements and earnestly identify his own path, starting anew.
So Zhou Yan still respected the Golden Armor man greatly.
It was the duty of the weak to respect the strong.
Even though he had once been King Lei Yan, he was now nothing more than a Void Spirit in the Nine Changes of Sword Void, and only under the protection of the Golden Armor man was he spared from being annihilated by blood creatures.
“During your experience of the True Void Heavenly Prohibition, did you sense my presence?”
The Golden Armor man suddenly asked.
His words carried a slight gravity, the first emotion Zhou Yan sensed from him apart from indifference.
Zhou Yan’s heart tightened, and he responded truthfully.
“Do you recall any inconsistency when you felt your own existence?” the Golden Armor man continued to inquire.
“It seems nothing felt wrong. Could it be the part of the memory that’s missing?”
“I’ve been closely observing this True Void Heavenly Prohibition; it’s very peculiar and strange. Moreover, based on your murmured analysis – my celestial fate has been extracted… I do not know who possessed such power to extract the celestial fate I governed, which represents the will of the ancient Chinese ancestors. How is it possible for someone else to draw it? And in the scene you were in before, you completely disappeared; three-tenths of your Void Spirit vanished, and I do not know where it went.”
The Golden Armor man spoke gravely.
Zhou Yan’s heart sank abruptly.
His memories had returned, but the accomplishments of King Lei Yan were not very extensive since his rise was too brief. The memories corresponding to his brother’s partial soul also couldn’t explain everything the Golden Armor man mentioned.
That gave Zhou Yan a chill.
“When you mentioned the memory inheritance, you mentioned two names ‘Venerable Ancestor Jiang He,’ ‘Evil Venerate King Lei Yan.’ There’s something you don’t know. Supreme Nine Heavens, often referred to as the ‘Nine Heavens Sword Venerate,’ have similar realms. I too once reached the peak of Nine Heavens Venerate, almost pursuing the path of immortality, yet I never heard of ‘Jiang He’ in this world; ‘King Lei Yan’ is known though, but not known to have reached such a formidable level.
This matter may be very complicated. But now with the ascension of your soul, removing the imprint of the Prison Plane of Sword Burial Ancestor Star, it is excellent; at least you can genuinely return to Earth. Later, take me back with you, and I’ll lead you to our original path westward. It’s a path of ‘Ancestor Worship.'”
The Golden Armor man pondered for a moment, analyzed briefly for Zhou Yan, then reassuringly said.
Zhou Yan had some doubts in his heart but didn’t ask, instead calling out.
“You may call me ‘Xuanyuan Ancestor,’ your bloodline and soul are now purely refined, so there’s no need to bother with those unknown changes. Currently, you are in an excellent state, and I will truly take more interest in your growth.”
The Golden Armor man explained.
Zhou Yan was slightly touched and sincerely nodded, saying, “Junior thanks Xuanyuan Ancestor for your favor.”
“Hmm, regarding Lei Yan King’s Memory Inheritance, you should have gained many benefits, but I advise you, what should be forgotten, choose to forget. In this life, you must undertake an immortal journey, and any experience from the failed last life is inadvisable. Furthermore, I have a slight suspicion that the Memory Inheritance might have been tampered with. However, I don’t know the specifics of the memory, nor can I judge. My situation currently doesn’t look good either, and I don’t have much ability to judge. But my words are not meant to alarm you unnecessarily.”
The Golden Armor Xuanyuan Ancestor spoke with gravity.
Zhou Yan listened intently, taking every word of the Golden Armor man to heart.
After losing the brand of Sword Burial Ancestor Star, Zhou Yan himself could feel the sort of ambiguous connection between his bloodline and that of Xuanyuan Ancestor, just as a junior would towards a true Ancestor.
Now, with a soul heart possessing the perfect Nine Orifice Exquisite, Zhou Yan was absolutely accurate in his assessments, so he could completely determine that Xuanyuan Ancestor wasn’t deceiving him.
“The ancient Huaxia had been prolific with talents, producing various strong and invincible immortal mythical figures. But they have all left, having transcended and at the same time suppressed that world to prevent the Great Thousand World from being ravaged, rendering everything ordinary.
They remained powerful yet did not perish, because their Dao had truly reached Transcendence. After returning, I will guide you in pursuing their Dao and embark on the ‘Ancestor Worship Path.’ Then, I will pass on to you the most original techniques of Xuanyuan Xingyi—Eighty-nine Mysterious Skills, 72 Transformations, etc., so when you return, no one will suspect any relation between you and Lei Yan King.
By dissociating from this layer, clear any relationship with Lei Yan King, that’s how you can proceed safely.”
The Golden Armor man seemed to grow more interested in Zhou Yan, almost having mapped out his future path.
“Senior, why are you suddenly so kind to me?”
Zhou Yan felt touched, yet he still asked this question directly.
“I’ve said before, you greatly resemble the son of an old friend of mine, and now, I can confirm this. You must be his descendant, and perhaps, even more likely…”
Xuanyuan Ancestor looked at Zhou Yan with a touch of kindness and said, “Your caution towards me is also commendable; it suits the identity and instincts of a Cultivator. But you need not worry about my intentions or hidden motives; I am merely a Sword Soul, a sword with spiritual essence once wielded by a Great Emperor. A sword, after all, is just a sword, and it doesn’t harbor many schemes.”
“You’re the Emperor Sword’s body, now possessing one of the Six Great Sword Bodies, so you understand best whether my words are true.”
“Ancestor, junior… junior believes you.”
Zhou Yan’s soul trembled as he sensed a strand of Sword Intent, a simple Sword Intent that only a sword could emit.
At that moment, Zhou Yan finally understood that the Golden Armor man was merely a Sword Soul nearing immortality.
A sword—its essence dictates that it will not engage in cunning and twisting paths; this is the Way of the Sword.
The supreme path of the sword would never involve the scheming and thoughts common to people, only aiding, righteousness, slaughter, and sharpness.
Nothing could be more convincing than the Golden Armor man demonstrating his true nature.
Thus, in that instant, the Emperor Sword’s body sensed the essence of the Golden Armor man, and Zhou Yan immediately believed.
The Golden Armor man was not the Thunderflame Venerable, Undying Venerable, Blood Barbarian Venerable, or from the Jiang family, nor did he harbor any desire for the path to immortality.
His desire, perhaps, was only to follow the footsteps of a Great Emperor, and nothing more.
Yuan Ci Secret Realm, Thunder Expansion Sacred Land.
“Your goal is to slay him while his Void Spirit is still vulnerable! Slay him! In your last life, your dearest fellow disciple was killed by him!”
“Seek revenge for your fellow disciple!”
A demonic voice echoed in Zhou Sisi’s mind.
Her eyes momentarily turned blood red, then quickly cleared.
Then, she looked towards the distance where a light appeared, a light that seemed to have opened the gate to Purgatory Ancestor Star, instantly enveloping and transporting her.
Her departure was so sudden and eerie, it went unnoticed. Nor did anyone know of this event.
Even the Saints couldn’t sense anything.
Only half a day later, when Feng Lingqing couldn’t find Sisi’s presence and asked about Bai Ying’s location, did Bai Ying inform Wan Jian Tian and the other Five Great Saints to search the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, then everyone became aware that Sisi had vanished without noticing.
Similarly, the original disappearance of Zhou Yan’s body, which left the Five Great Saints without any leads, now seemed to have a new direction due to Sisi’s departure.
Either Sisi had taken Zhou Yan’s body quite early, or an unparalleled powerhouse had taken Zhou Yan’s body first and then took Zhou Sisi.
This seemingly simple issue also started to tilt towards complication.