Chapter 841: Chapter 12: Female Venerable
However, Zhou Yan concentrated intently, and a fleeting gold gleam flashed in his eyes, revealing this woman’s false appearance. Beneath this fake facade was a stunning mature visage — a face that was nearly identical to Jiang Mingyue’s, and equally similar to Jiang Yuning’s.
"Jiang Yuning’s... mother? Jiang Mingyue and Jiang Yuning are... sisters?"
Zhou Yan felt a slight stir in his heart; at that moment, this notion emerged within him.
The feeling was so intense that Zhou Yan’s mind was convinced of this answer, even though he knew it was merely a conjecture.
Suddenly, the urge to unleash his boundless power to slay this woman loosened instantly.
The intent to kill faded, which could be sensed by others, especially cultivators of the Venerable Realm, who could detect such changes.
In that instant, the woman’s gaze didn’t change much, as if she was not surprised by what was happening. Moreover, she seemed unconcerned that Zhou Yan was aware of her identity.
Everything was as expected.
"Evil Venerate, your Wanling Blood Witch Clan has faced hardship growing up, but your actions are too bloody and unsuitable for this plane. Better to leave. I’ve seen everything regarding this matter from start to finish with my own eyes, including the deaths of Jiang Wu, Jiang Wanfeng, and Jiang Li, which shall now be set aside."
"Mother—"
Jiang Mingyue protested slightly.
"You’ve already succumbed to the Soul Cutting Skill, your life hangs in the balance, and I’m afraid you cannot replace your sister in marrying the foremost talent of the Returning True Clan, Gles, in ten years. This is fate, and it’s a life tribulation that your sister Ning’er is destined to face."
The woman murmured, seemingly deliberately conveying some information to Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan remained unchanged, merely meeting Feng Yingsha’s gaze coldly as he spoke calmly, "If you wish to wage war or plan an attack against me, I’ll naturally strike again to kill you. Although you are much stronger than Jiang Wu, this Supreme Heavenly Sword Lord, I can defeat you within a hundred moves. Since you’ve taken a step back, I, the Evil Venerate, am not someone who doesn’t know when to advance or retreat."
As Zhou Yan spoke, he casually gathered a strand of Emperor Xuan Yuan’s Energy, concentrating it into his palm. Instantly, an energy droplet as translucent as crystal and resembling a shimmering water droplet appeared in his palm.
"This is a Soul Pill for restoration, crafted with supreme divine soul power. Jiang Mingyue, take this, and within moments, you’ll be restored to your former self."
Zhou Yan spoke indifferently.
"It’s useless. Like her sister, she is a Life Soul body. Even if she is restored, regenerating that Life Soul power will far exceed ten years. Given the strength of the Returning True Clan today, delaying ten years is already my best effort for Ning’er. But none of this concerns you, Evil Venerate, does it?"
The woman smiled faintly, yet her smile was somewhat bittersweet.
Zhou Yan flicked his fingers, sending the droplet-like energy into Jiang Mingyue’s hand.
Jiang Mingyue hesitated slightly, but Feng Yingsha softly said, "Take it. It won’t be dangerous."
"Mother, why do you trust this rogue demon?"
Jiang Mingyue was puzzled.
"If he intended to kill us, we’d already be dead, so there’s no point in doubting."
Feng Yingsha smiled lightly, saying.
Jiang Mingyue sighed lightly and gently swallowed the elixir.
Moments later, her previously ruinous injuries restored at an almost terrifying speed; aside from the damage to her Life Soul, everything else seemed completely unscathed.
The astounding effect left the other cultivators present dumbfounded, witnessing what felt like the most inconceivable sight.
Jiang Mingyue was also extremely surprised, her beautiful face showing uncertainty and doubt.
Yet, moments later, she suddenly gazed at Zhou Yan with an extraordinarily peculiar look, her expression momentarily blank.
Zhou Yan didn’t look at Jiang Mingyue and Feng Yingsha again, his figure flickered slightly, departing from this realm.
Jiang Mingyue wanted to stop him, but Feng Yingsha suddenly blocked Jiang Mingyue, saying, "Let him go."
"Mother, you—"
"True or false, who can discern clearly? I only hope that in the Jiang family, we as mother and daughter can maintain our own hearts. Yue’er, you’ve been too pampered by staying by my side all these years. Once we return, don’t interfere in family matters anymore. Join me in secluded cultivation; your sister’s situation... don’t get involved. Maybe, this is her fate."
"Mother, but my sister is already—"
"No need to say anything. What’s meant to come will eventually come. I came here mainly fearing that the child Hou Chen would perish. But I didn’t expect the conclusion..."
"I didn’t expect it either. Hou Chen was indeed talented, but he is now fully self-exiled, reduced to a puppet of the Demon Heart, just like Wu Ji. Like the past Lei Yan King—"
"Don’t bring up Lei Yan King anymore. That’s the past, just... illusion."
"Mother, I..."
Jiang Mingyue hesitated to speak again, seeing Feng Yingsha’s sorrowful expression, she couldn’t continue.
She wisely shut her mouth.
In one’s life, after spending over a decade learning how to speak, the following decades, hundreds of years, or even endless years are spent learning how to keep silent. This is undoubtedly a kind of inexpressible sorrow.
At this moment, Jiang Mingyue felt this sorrow.
...
The mountain winds roared, the soul-shaped fetus submerged into the flesh, and Zhou Yan’s seven apertures began to fracture, seeping terrifying streams of blood.
Blood kept flowing, endlessly dripping onto the ground.
The blood lacked divine power, merely the blood of flesh and bone, for its energy had been drained dry by the previous battle.
Such intense exhaustion made it impossible for Xuanyuan Ancestor to communicate with Zhou Yan, and he fell into slumber once again.
It was Zhou Yan’s first time ruthlessly slaying a powerful Venerable.
Yet, he did not regret it.
Zhou Yan couldn’t understand why his heart ached so unbearably.
When together with Jiang Yuning, Zhou Yan had no knowledge of her mother, Feng Yingsha, or her sister, Jiang Mingyue.
Zhou Yan only knew Jiang Tianling, Jiang Tianxin, and others, only knew how much Jiang Yuning had sacrificed for him.
But why, from Feng Yingsha’s gaze, did Zhou Yan see an endless desolation—that sense of helplessness that came from such eyes?
It seemed that the Holy Daughter, Jiang Yuning, had already met with misfortune?
Zhou Yan’s heart was truly in turmoil, compounded by her current state of wishing for death over life; he felt as though his life had abruptly reached its end.
Powerful strength demands powerful sacrifices.
Zhou Yan walked step by step, leaving behind a path drenched in crimson.
The blood stained the path, creating a long, bleeding trail.
The cold wind howled.
Unknowingly, Zhou Yan arrived at the desolate land of Ji Yu Cold Ice Cavern.
Here lay the coldest mood, the harshest weather.
In this plane, this region’s terror is no less than a cultivator’s desolate land.
Coming here, Zhou Yan seemed intent on freezing himself, burying himself in this land.
From within his body, Linglong Tower almost uncontrollably flew out, followed closely by Hua Qiudao, Liu Haoxin, and Zhao Xiaoxiao emerging from the tower.
"Master."
Seeing Zhou Yan’s state, Zhao Xiaoxiao burst into tears, hurriedly supporting him, her delicate body trembling.
Her voice choked with emotion; she understood that Zhou Yan’s previous strength must come with terrifying sacrifices, yet she hadn’t expected everything to come so quickly.
"Master, please hold on!"
Liu Haoxin grew anxious with reddened eyes, focusing all his strength on clenching his fists, reminiscent of confronting his sister’s demise, demonstrating his resentment and helplessness.
He thought, if he were strong enough, none of this would occur.
This scene further stimulated Liu Haoxin’s resolve to become stronger.
"Blood Sect Master, take a seat; I will act as your protector with the power of merit. If you esteem me, do not refuse."
Hua Qiudao sighed softly. With his experience, he saw through much, though wouldn’t speak of it.
Zhou Yan nodded slightly, unreservedly sitting cross-legged on the snow, quietly concentrating and holding his breath.
"Immeasurable Venerable."
Hua Qiudao first murmured softly, then recited cryptic scriptures, suffused with ’Vast Vow’ power, warm enough to gradually ease Zhou Yan’s soul-weary, near-death feeling.
Before long, that feeling of preferring death over life finally subsided.
As Zhou Yan moved, soul power rebounded, reflecting Hua Qiudao’s merit power back.
Hua Qiudao awakened, finding sweat had beaded on his forehead, yet saw that Zhou Yan’s injuries had finally stabilized, and his body stopped bleeding externally, allowing a sigh of relief.
Though still very weak and pale, Zhou Yan no longer felt enveloped by a dense aura of death.
Seeing this, Hua Qiudao felt slightly at ease.
Only at this moment did Zhao Xiaoxiao and Liu Haoxin also breathe a sigh of relief.
"Blood Sect Master, don’t do such things again. The soul is the fundamental basis of a person; preemptively digging out your roots may temporarily strengthen them, but also makes it easier for the constructed building to collapse."
Hua Qiudao spoke earnestly.
"I know, but there was no choice. At that moment, not acting meant certain death. Though risking it entailed the danger of dying, it still offered a glimpse of hope. Cultivators strive for survival amidst a thousand avenues."
Zhou Yan smiled faintly.
Though his smile lacked its previous charm, it touched hearts even more deeply.
"Alas, indeed. The blame lies in our insufficient strength. This time, considering the stance of the female Venerable, we ought to retreat; the survival difficulty within this kind of clan appears formidable."
Hua Qiudao stated.