Chapter 844: Chapter 15: Snow Cold Sword Sect
The night in the icy cave of Jiyu is very cold, yet amidst the chill, there is faintly a trace of intense yang heat contained within.
Extreme cold births yang, extreme yang births cold.
This is a derivation of rules, a cycle of tao, yet within this realm, it is manifested.
However, the cultivators who can see this and sense this rule are indeed few in this plane.
Zhou Yan saw it and sensed it too, but these rules are already of little use to him—back in the Sword Void Nine Transformations Realm, he had thoroughly comprehended this rule.
Thus, this realm is more like a pleasant and comfortable environment to him.
Though, in truth, his heart is far from being comfortable and pleasant.
The clear wind roared past, lifting thin layers of snow from the ground, whirling them up into the sky, swaying and drifting.
The divine origin power energy in the world ripples occasionally like water waves, creating shimmering halos.
Zhou Yan wandered in this snowfield for small half of an hour, but did not rush to find the woman named ’Gongcheng Die Wu’.
In Gongcheng Qingwan’s words, Butterfly Dance Fairy is already a strong practitioner in the God Realm.
The matters of the past, Zhou Yan no longer recalled or derived, ever since returning from the Earth Ancestral Land, he had clarified the path of cultivation and methods of coping.
Now, following the footprints of Gongcheng Qingwan, he gradually discovered deep within this snowfield, a not strong, yet not weak force is encamped.
...
Yuan Ci Secret Realm.
"Letting the Heavenly Mechanism Skill of Tianji Mountain devour the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, deriving a brand-new Yuan Ci Secret Realm, has indeed protected our last bit of power, but has also severed our contact with Saint Lord Zhou Yan entirely."
Within the secret realm, an elderly figure sighed and spoke.
"Elder Wuwei, my Master will definitely return, it’s just that Chen might not be able to wait until he returns."
Beside this elder, there stood a handsome youth of considerable stature, but the marks of time had already etched into his youthful face, crow’s feet appearing at the corners of his eyes, indicating his arduous experiences.
His complexion was pale, showing an abnormal whiteness, with a sign of withered bloodline inside his body, as if he had reached the twilight of age.
"Hou Chen, you have to endure, being able to slay Jiang Li this time was a success, wasn’t it? Being able to forsake soul control and slay Jiang Li was already commendable. If your Master were here, he would definitely be proud of your actions."
"Evil King Elder, you don’t need to comfort me anymore. Chen knows his situation."
Hou Chen let out a bitter smile, a touch of solemnity appeared on his face but soon faded away.
"I once saw sister Sisi, but misunderstood her and even hurt her. Then I arrogantly sought trouble with the Jiang family, only to have my soul suppressed by the mechanical means of the Mechanical Clan, losing some secret things. I fear that the dire consequences of youthful recklessness, I won’t be able to repay in this lifetime.
Sister Sisi has since gone missing, and my Master’s parents also encountered misfortune because of it, their life and death unknown."
Hou Chen sighed lightly, his voice rather despondent.
He absolutely didn’t display the kind of spirited determination he had while fighting Jiang Li before.
However, even now, with such despondence in his demeanor, no one present criticized him.
"Sighing is useless, finding a way to survive, to fulfill your Master’s and my master Zhou Yan’s wish is the true path. Although your situation is extremely dire, almost hopeless, you are ultimately still alive. I have survived countless soul slashes, and you understand the respect for the soul, there might still be a chance and hope."
"If you give up, then I, Zhou Gucheng, will never recognize you as my younger nephew again."
Zhou Gucheng said coldly.
He remained as fierce as a sword, even though his physical condition was similarly near-desiccated and decayed, nothing could bend his straight posture.
"Uncle Gucheng."
Hou Chen nodded slightly, the powerless eyes gained a few more shades of determination.
Maybe, only Zhou Gucheng’s words could still reach Hou Chen.
"These years, I also searched everywhere for the whereabouts of Xixi and Zhou Ying, ever since our Yuan Ci Secret Realm underwent a massive upheaval, they had vanished. And the recent various rumors, although associated with their names, seemed more like a scheme. A scheme like your duel with Jiang Li, intended to sweep away the remaining forces of Yuan Ci Secret Realm."
Zhou Gucheng spoke coldly.
"The scheme was indeed cunning, but even taking me, I still struggled and counter-killed a round, but such means are ultimately elusive and unattainable, facing it later on will be an extremely arduous matter."
Hou Chen said.
"Heaven never seals off all paths, back then when we were suppressed, we never thought there would be a chance to counter-kill, but the soul power that remained was able to be utilized by them, it still remains a hidden threat."
Zhou Gucheng said with some worry.
Hou Chen remained silent, seemingly making an even crazier decision.
"Hou Chen, your current situation is not entirely hopeless. I sense that your master should be returning soon, and at that time, it will be our moment to rise. You must not give up. Even if there is utterly no hope, you should not give up. Isn’t this what your master taught you? Moreover, if you give up, what do you think will happen to Sisi in the future? If one day she returns and sees the senior brother she likes has given up on himself, how would that be?"
Zhuge Wuwei said earnestly.
Hou Chen’s body trembled slightly, his frail frame appearing even older, as an uncontrollable shivering overtook him, unable to stabilize for a long time.
...
Jiyu Mountain, a snow mountain in the Jiyu Cold Ice Cave.
On the snow mountain, there is a faction known as the ’Snow Cold Sword Sect.’
At this moment, Gongcheng Diewu was discussing something with a gray-clothed elder.
In this grand hall, there weren’t many people, only three or four, yet the atmosphere within made it feel very oppressive.
"Although Najia of the Fire Spirit Clan is not a remarkable figure, the Fire Spirit Clan itself is a large race. It is rare for anyone to take a liking to Qing Wan, marrying her off would just buy us, the Snow Cold Sword Sect, some time."
"Otherwise, how could we face the threat of the Yang family? If we establish a connection with the Fire Spirit Clan, the Yang family wouldn’t dare act rashly even if given a hundred chances. Once we understand the inheritance of the once Turquoise Pool Sacred Land, our Snow Cold Sword Sect will have the hope of resurgence. That way, if the Yaochi Saint ever returns, she won’t be so disappointed.
We, who were cared for so diligently by the Saint Master, can’t sacrifice a bit for her now? I know you care for Qing Wan, but you must realize, this world is so cruel. With the personality of the useless one Qing Wan likes, what could he even do?"
The two elderly women said in succession.
Although these two women had somewhat aged, their faces remained extraordinarily beautiful, exuding a holy purity and an intense Sword Intent that revealed their equally passionate natures.
"Indeed, Sect Master, you must think carefully. We watched Wan’er grow up, and seeing Zhou Zheng’s nature, if he were like Zhou Yan or his father Zhou Xian, he wouldn’t disgrace Wan’er. But that Zhou Zheng is still Zhou Family’s member, and now, every Zhou Family member has ended either tragically or with broken families; even those who survive by luck bear strange, deadly poison, their Bloodline Power completely sealed by some unique strength, with no future at all."
"Wan’er following him would only lead to a painful end. Moreover, this young man lacks the poise Zhou Yan once had, constantly acting foolish, repeatedly hurting Wan’er, which will only continue to hurt her. On the other hand, although Najia of the Fire Spirit Clan doesn’t come from as noble a background as Prince of Glais, not even born legitimate, he is still courteous and well-mannered, a fine figure. Although not as talented as those talented youngsters of the past, when compared to Zhou Yuntian and others from the Zhou family years ago, he is not far behind.
Had Zhou Yuntian lived until now, he would not be lesser than us. How could people like him be lacking?
Wan’er with such a person, someone who understands the bigger picture, who knows how to care, would surely find happiness!"
A middle-aged man sighed lightly.
His face bore some worry, seeming somewhat powerless regarding Zhou Zheng’s matter.
"I understand this matter, but would our punishment for Zhou Zheng be too much for him to bear?"
Gongcheng Diewu cared little about Qing Wan’s situation, showing more concern for Zhou Zheng instead.
"Sister, you—"
The middle-aged man looked at Gongcheng Diewu in surprise.
"You know Qing Wan’s destiny better than I do. It might be quite extraordinary, so I’m not worried about her matters one bit. Perhaps what fate has in store, we may not be able to decide. I don’t believe marrying her off to Najia of the Fire Spirit Clan can be so easily arranged. Nor do I believe that expelling Zhou Zheng would keep them from being together. Fate is a very strange thing."
Gongcheng Diewu sighed.
"Sister, could it be that you still can’t forget that person? But even so, even if he comes back, how would Qing Wan’s matter be explained? Would he believe Qing Wan is a child born from your Taoist Enlightenment, after seeing his future self and having an affair? It’s simply impossible."
The middle-aged man hesitated slightly, not speaking this part directly, but transmitted via special means instead.
Gongcheng Diewu paused slightly, transmitting the message: "I merely had a Tao enlightenment without meeting anyone through the rules, much less anything related to Zhou Yan! That’s just your assumption, a mere illusion, nothing to take seriously. Qing Wan inheriting the special Enlightenment Immortal Body, the ultimate form of Tao Physique, you should not make reckless remarks. Don’t bring this up again, nor think of it."
Gongcheng Diewu sternly transmitted.
The middle-aged man merely smiled indifferently, saying, "Sister, you are truly naive. Just because of an unknown, possibly nonexistent Lei Yan King, you sheltered Zhou Xian’s child, now even expelling him from the sect to save his life, sealing Yang family’s mouth, filling them with resentment towards our sect. I truly don’t understand—"
"Qingyang, stop. Didn’t you and Zhou Yan appreciate each other back then too? Could it be that, despite the planet transforming into a plane, us gaining enlightenment of the rules of the Plane Power, elevating to the realm of Sword God, you now look down on the past Taoist friends? If so, leave. I don’t have such a brother."
"Sister, you know that’s not what I meant, don’t act irrationally, can you? We’re discussing Qing Wan’s matter, Zhou Zheng’s life and death are no longer related to us—"
"Shut up. As for Qing Wan’s matter, I said you cannot control her fate, and you’ve never believed me, but—"
Gongcheng Diewu abruptly stopped speaking, freezing for a moment, as she sensed countless strong presences pressing toward the Snow Cold Sword Sect, aggressively.
Such enormous murderous intent could be sensed clearly even from an endless distance.
"It’s over—the Yang family has come to kill."
Gongcheng Qingyang’s face suddenly turned a few shades paler, his bright eyes gleaming with anxiousness.