Chapter 804: Chapter 27: Killing with a Borrowed Knife
Ye Kongxing left filled with worry.
Hua Qiudao stood on this main peak for a long time, letting the chilly wind between heaven and earth blow upon him, and remained motionless for ages.
If he were to lecture, even at his advanced age, Hua Qiudao knew that due to the limitations of this Land of Dharma Decline, it would be impossible to satisfy all cultivators.
Hua Qiudao just felt that he losing face was inconsequential, but if this led to Zhou Yan and Lee Ran’s reputations being tarnished, he would feel a certain amount of guilt and self-reproach.
"It’s all my incompetence to blame. If I had some ability, at least that Granny Qiu wouldn’t run rampant like this. Has the Fu Xi Clan really forgotten the ancient teachings of their ancestors?"
Hua Qiudao sighed inwardly, his face bore a few expressions of desolation.
At his age and cultivation, it’s not right to feel desolate, but when he saw the dawn of hope and then that hope suddenly disappeared, the impact was undeniably significant.
If there had never been hope, if Zhou Yan had never appeared, and if the matter of lecturing had not occurred, Hua Qiudao might not have had any change in emotion and would have been as usual.
But now that he had seen hope for the road ahead, and that hope suddenly vanished, Hua Qiudao found it hard to accept.
"Alas... perhaps it’s destiny, destined to destroy this last pure land of cultivation of ours."
Hua Qiudao sighed, but his young and handsome face now carried a hint of weariness.
"The lecturing will continue, and when the time comes, I will replace Zhou Yan in delivering the lectures. I am Lee Ran."
Zhou Yan’s Divine Monkey Sword Soul appeared out of nowhere like a shadow in the void, manifesting an ancient aura.
The Devil Suppressing Stick in the Divine Monkey Sword Soul’s hand exuded an aged will that seemed to flow across its surface, giving off a very shocking impression.
"Ah—"
Hua Qiudao was startled, standing there in shock.
Someone had appeared beside him without his knowledge; it was simply astounding!
However, upon hearing the other’s name, Hua Qiudao not only did not feel sluggish in his reaction but rather felt extremely excited.
"S-senior, can you help save Fellow Daoist Zhou Yan? I’m worried he’s in trouble..."
Such a figure as Hua Qiudao was so excited that he even stuttered after the instant excitement, which was enough to show his state of mind.
"Zhou Yan? My brother’s matters, I have my own plans. You need not worry. As long as I don’t want him to have trouble, he will never have trouble."
Divine Monkey Sword Soul Zhou Yan spoke indifferently in Lee Ran’s tone.
Having spoken, like a ray of light, the Divine Monkey Sword Soul disappeared from this realm, as if it had never appeared.
It was only then that Hua Qiudao snapped out of his daze, sensing around his body, but found nothing unusual; the previous scene was as if it were a mere illusion.
However, those few words still lingered in his ears, letting Hua Qiudao know that all of it was indeed real.
"Senior Lee Ran must have used methods akin to True Void or illusions to transmit his voice to me, so this matter should be regarded as never happening. During the lecture, even if something unexpected happens, I can persist. Now, with Senior Lee Ran’s words, I don’t need to worry too much. However, I must show a trace of worry appropriately, though I don’t know if someone is targeting us, but since the senior has informed me so discreetly, I must not be careless."
Hua Qiudao muttered to himself.
...
Fu Xi Ancestral Land.
Zhou Yan realized the path of ancestor worship and the heart of the Sword Ancestor within a world of a grain of dust, gaining tremendous insights.
This world inherently has no path to ancestor worship, but with the presence of numerous cultivators with sincere hearts, a path emerges.
The path has always been underfoot, and has never changed.
Zhou Yan meditated here for a long time, remaining unmoved even as a whole day passed.
During this period, Granny Qiu’s soul body came to investigate the vicinity several times, ultimately finding nothing, finally suspecting she was being overly cautious, and thus stopped coming here.
Zhou Yan through the Nine Orifice Exquisite Heart vaguely sensed that her previous series of statements were meant to confuse and divert attention, deliberately speaking in such a manner to unsettle any nearby presence to confirm if any secrets were leaked.
Yet most of the initial information was indeed true.
Upon confirming that there was indeed no eerie presence overhearing anything, Granny Qiu’s soul body left completely satisfied.
At this moment, Zhou Yan ceased his world comprehension but still utilized the Way of Form and Intent transformation to become a grain of dust, flying through the void with features of the Void Sword Body, gradually progressing.
In this way, it would not cause any change in aura.
Drifting along like a speck of dust on the wind, Zhou Yan soon reached the depths of the Fu Xi Ancestral Land.
This ancestral land is indeed a true ancestor land.
Upon entering the inner range, Zhou Yan immediately sensed a soul-penetrating energy impacting his soul.
In the distance, a thousand peaks lined up like divine weapons, with mighty cliffs spreading like an unfurling screen.
The sun reflects on the mist lightly locking the greenery, the rain retreats leaving a cold, dark hue. Dead vines entwine ancient trees, old crossings lead to secluded paths.
Strange flowers and auspicious herbs, cultivated bamboos and towering pines.
This divine place, causing hearts to tremble. This divine nature, arouses fascination.
Zhou Yan came back here, like a wanderer returning home, seeing the glorious past of the ancestors, the withering present, and as if seeing the desolate and bleak future.
For a moment, Zhou Yan’s heart felt heavy and ancient.