Chapter 693: Chapter 123 Difficulties forge true success
Upon hearing Zhou Yan’s questions, Lee Ran remained silent except for a slight pause when he spoke.
Zhou Yan was suddenly overtaken by sadness.
He saw his master, he saw his own brother, but like the Lei Yan King, these were but a wisp of guardian will left behind, having long since passed away.
What was left was a pure energy, imbued with a trace of spiritual wisdom, guarding Zhou Yan as he grew. When certain conditions for activation were met, this energy would manifest, answering and clearing his doubts in a similar manner.
It was like a pre-designed ancient array, a puppet.
The pain in Zhou Yan’s heart was indescribable.
Lee Ran’s apparition paused for a moment, his gaze clearing slightly as he said, "The seasons change, and customs transform with the wind."
"Change, it is never merely a simple word. This word, in the Tai Chu Rune, implicitly represents ’transformation,’ ’dragon veins,’ ’substitution,’ ’derivation’—’change’ is derivation, and to derive is to innovate.
Therefore, your name, surnamed Lee, is marked by the word ’change.’
But this name records an unfortunate past, so using the ancient River Map and Luo Shu, I divined and derived your name, finding it intertwined with your bloodline through hardships. Thus, I renamed you ’Yan.’
Nevertheless, a name is but a symbol. Rise in this life with the name of this era."
Lee Ran seemed contemplative, not merely functioning as a set program; he also seemed to have his own simple thoughts and judgements.
Zhou Yan nodded silently, his eyes slightly sour.
Even though it wasn’t a scene that typically invoked sighs, a wordless sadness welled up within him.
"Our world speaks of Three Worlds and Thirty-Three Heavens, of Six Paths of Reincarnation, and has a magnificent past that is nearly legendary. That was once an immensely powerful Ancestor Land, surely holding more ancient mysteries and the inheritance of Emperor Wu."
"King Wen was confined and thus interpreted Zhou Ye, Zhong Ni faced hardship and hence wrote Spring and Autumn Annals, which signifies difficulty and resilience, jade is made from tough conditions. Thus, one knows their spirit, and the spirit knows the unknowable spirit thereby is spirited. Again, to continue your future path, seek the ancient dragon forces, I pass on to you the true Great Taoist Emperor Scripture—the Emperor’s Hidden Talisman Scripture.
What’s called the ’Tai Yin Talisman Scripture’ is but one of ten thousand transformations, a mere necessity among hundreds. Compared to the Emperor’s Hidden Talisman Scripture, this Emperor scripture, the ’Tai Yin Talisman Scripture’ is like how a summer insect cannot speak of ice."
"You must understand the ’Rotating Channel,’ and remember and at least comprehend half of this Emperor Scripture."
"Now, I will pass on this great Emperor Scripture to you."
"Heed the way of Heaven, follow the acts of Heaven, that’s all. Heaven has five calamities, those who see them will prosper. Five calamities reside in the heart, enacted in heaven. The Universe is in the hands, myriad transformations arise from the body.
Human nature is of Heaven, the human mind is a device. Establish the way of Heaven, to stabilize humanity.
Heaven launches killings, changing stars and constellations; Earth launches killings, dragons and serpents rise on land; Humans launch killings, heaven and earth overturn; when Heaven and Man act together, myriad transformations find their base..."
"...To sink into water and enter fire is to court self-destruction. The Natural Dao is still, hence Heaven, Earth, and all things are born. The Dao of Heaven and Earth is pervasive, thus Yin Yang prevails. Yin and Yang push against each other, and transformations follow smoothly.
The sage knows the Natural Dao cannot be countered, hence governs it with the utmost tranquility, a measure no calendar can match.
This brings forth extraordinary instruments, birthing myriad things, Eight Diagrams and stems, divine machinery, and hidden secrets. The art of Yin prevailing over Yang, brightly progressing into the likeness."
At that moment, the entire scripture burst into a dazzling golden light, which flowed into the depths of Zhou Yan’s soul and Dantian.
The Golden Armored figure also radiated a golden luster, shining together with the endless golden light, like a Golden Armored War God.
His demeanor was solemn, his gaze seemingly piercing through Zhou Yan’s soul, seeing the exterior Lee Ran.
"You leave in peace, I will replace you and watch over his growth. With me here, what more could you worry about?"
The Golden Armored figure’s eyes conveyed an inexplicable sadness, yet also passed on a message.
Lee Ran’s apparition seemed to see through Zhou Yan’s body and soul just the same, his eyes resting on the Golden Armored figure within that narrow space, displaying a hint of confusion, yet he seemed still unwilling to leave.
All his arrangements were complete, all his hopes fulfilled, yet there was no sign of dispersal, as if he still stood firm, unable to truly let go,
Apparently, unable to watch Zhou Yan set foot on Earth, unable to watch Zhou Yan continue to grow, was his greatest regret.
"Since you have already passed away, you should recognize reality. Such persistence only brings him more pain. Originally, when you brought me forth, you had set a vast vow. Have you forgotten it?"
"Forgotten it?"
"Forgotten it?"
"Forgotten it?"
The simple question resonated like a cascade of voices echoing through Lee Ran’s apparitional will.
In that moment, Lee Ran’s apparitional gaze froze, his vision seemed to materialize all his life’s experiences.
In that moment, within that flicker of gaze after enduring the cycles of life, it ultimately froze on that scene—a sword piercing his body, his body shattering, yet he offered a gentle, kind smile to a porcelain doll-like little girl in a red princess dress.
That scene remained frozen.
His body slowly disintegrated, this annihilation even reaching the apparition of now.
Eventually, the apparition too shattered, leaving behind a trace of dust.
Zhou Yan stood rooted to the spot, having felt something different since Lee Ran had passed on the Emperor’s Hidden Talisman Scripture.
Only, just as he was beginning to grasp some sudden enlightenment, he saw that scene of birth and destruction in his brother’s eyes. At that moment, how Zhou Yan wished time could freeze because he understood, when scenes of time’s cycles and life’s annihilation appeared in the eyes, it signified complete disappearance.
Yet, even if he exhausted everything, the march of time remained unchanged.
Like a drop of water merging into the sea, like a speck of dust returning to the Universe.
The wind howls, the water of Yi River turns cold.
Zhou Yan’s heart bore indescribable pain, and blood tears even streamed from his eyes.
But he did not continue to wallow in pain; rather, he grew stronger and more resolute in the path ahead.
Adversity forges true strength.
Perhaps, only through ceaseless suffering could one truly climb to greater heights. Entrusted with the hopes of all, he bore the endless responsibilities of this lifetime and thus could not fall but had to rise even more mightily, sweeping away all adversities.
...
"You’ve returned..."
Back from the Soul Sea, Zhou Yan’s mental state had regained its calm.
This place was still a realm of utter darkness, the missing Zhuge Wuwei had reappeared.
"Yes, I’m back, what should be understood has been understood. What shouldn’t be understood remains unnecessary to grasp."
Zhou Yan said solemnly.
"You’ve truly grown, so let us set up a situation. You return to Yuan Ci Secret Realm, suppress your own physical body. If among the women around you, there is a pawn, your physical body will not survive, leading to your ’demise.’ They actually know about your quest and will surely try to stop you. But as long as Mu Qingyan does not face further issues, there is room for maneuver."
Zhuge Wuwei explained.
Zhou Yan nodded slightly and said, "I will do as you say and return to the Yuan Ci Secret Realm first."
"Good. The Divine Seat will allow you to move freely between here and the secret realm. When the time comes, come here directly, and I will take you through the Starry Sky Gate to the Purgatory Ancestor Star."
"Understood."
Zhou Yan agreed, his brow emitting a colorless Divine Seat, like a force of cloud, sweeping him away and vanishing in an instant.
Zhuge Wuwei stood in place for a moment, seemingly lost in a daze, wondering about something.
...
In the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, Thunder Expansion Sacred Land.
"Hum—"
Space slightly trembled as Zhou Yan materialized there.
Immediately, Jiu Que, five people, and Bai Ying felt his presence and all appeared.
"Saint Master."
Wan Jian Tian and the five respectfully exclaimed.
Their combat power was nearly divine, surpassing even the Evil King.
"Seeing such strength in you all reassures me. I plan to go to the Netherworld Life and Death Illusion Realm. It is a Hell Plane, and I know not what might occur. To remove the soul imprint from the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, I must suppress my physical body and go in the form of the soul."
"But this time, my physical body holds the vast majority of my life’s inheritance and the Supreme Dao. It must remain untouched."
"It’s enough that you all know about this; let no one else know. I am here to check in and will leave immediately."
"Here is a ’Nirvana Scripture’; Lee Xinyu, take my place and deliver it to the Fire Phoenix lineage of Feng Jiu Xian at the Nirvana Ancestor Star."
Zhou Yan spoke, handing over the lower volume of the ’Nirvana Scripture,’ which he had fully memorized, to Lee Xinyu.
"Bai Ying, upon my return, I will investigate the truth about your master inside Thunder Flame Breaking Path Mountain."
Zhou Yan calmly issued his commands, then refined his physical body into an endless blood mist, abandoning the physical form, and transforming into a thread of Void Spirit, taking the form of Divine Seat, and flew away from this void.
"The Saint Master is about to cross the greatest threshold."
"We must protect the Saint Master’s physical body."
"I along with Xiong Ba and Jiu Que are responsible for guarding; Zhou Lingyao and Bai Ying are responsible for guarding against any mishaps in the Yuan Ci Secret Realm. Lee Xinyu, you go and fulfill the Saint Master’s orders, and also remember to keep an eye on Hou Chen and others."
Wan Jian Tian spoke solemnly.
The six individuals immediately made the best arrangements and began to busily organize everything in an orderly manner.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yan had returned to Tianji Mountain.
In a dark place, Zhuge Wuwei casually swiped his hand, opening a mirror-like picture. The picture manifested a scene from Yuan Ci Secret Realm.
Wan Jian Tian and the other two guarded Zhou Yan’s physical body in the center of the Forbidden Land, sitting in a triangle, guarding day and night.
But at that moment, a strand of blood mist emerged in the void, suddenly expanding, and then a gaping void like a giant maw instantly devoured Zhou Yan’s physical body, and Wan Jian Tian and the other two were completely unaware.
The scene shifted, in another place, a pale little girl, with her hands behind her back, looked at the materialized Zhou Yan’s physical body before her, a malicious smile appearing on her face. Then, strands of scarlet blood mist emerged from her hands, circulating onto Zhou Yan’s body, corroding it everywhere. The endless life energy flowed out and entered the little girl’s body.
A healthy flush of color and a look of satisfied enjoyment appeared on the girl’s face.
"Sisi—"
Zhou Yan’s eyes widened, about to exclaim in shock, but Zhuge Wuwei instantly froze his exclamation.
Then, Zhuge Wuwei gently swiped, the image disappeared, and he then solemnly said, "As expected, you fell into the trap immediately. If we hadn’t been prepared, and you had left all your essence blood, even if you succeeded this time, there would be no hope left."
"Now, go to the Netherworld Life and Death Illusion Realm. They have sensed that you are not dead and will surely come after you. However, this little girl is controlled by the Demon Heart. You... see what you can do, whether to kill or awaken her demon heart, all depends on a single thought of yours."
Zhuge Wuwei sighed, his words imbued with a tone of desolation.