Chapter 686: Chapter 116: Blood Tablet Evil Soul
Seeing the worry on Yilan’s face for Song Xiaoxiao and the others, Zhou Yan knew that she was still harboring old affections.
Previously, witnessing the suffering and tribulations that Song Xiaoxiao and her companions went through had undoubtedly been satisfying, but hearing their agonized moans had left Yilan somewhat conflicted.
She lingered not far in front of Zhou Yan, hesitant to leave, unsure whether or not to intercede on their behalf again.
"Actually, you see, they have accepted their fate, haven’t they?"
Zhou Yan said with an indifferent smile.
"Accepted their fate..." Yilan was a bit dazed.
Zhou Yan sighed softly and said, "Yes, acceptance. I’m teaching them to accept their fate. Sometimes, resisting destiny can be seen as the act of a defiant genius; but other times, resistance without acknowledging one’s fate leads down a dead end, just like now."
"Their pain, their torment, yet they still survived and submitted to it, which shows they have lowered their proud heads. Although I intended to chastise them, in truth, we do need people to serve and assist with matters. If I didn’t do this, their insubordination would only worsen the situation. Finding a spatial node once is possible, twice is not difficult, but a third disruption would make it more than just challenging. That’s why I’m doing this, to prevent future problems, do you understand?"
Seeing Yilan still so concerned for Song Xiaoxiao, Zhou Yan inwardly sighed at Yilan’s loyalty and thus explained some of his reasons.
After listening to Zhou Yan, Yilan finally stopped pleading on their behalf.
And at this time, the ancient array began to manifest even more forms.
Now, Zhou Yan truly started to get busy. He did not trouble them anymore but instead began to solidify each base of the ancient array with Tai Chu Runes, arranging everything properly.
Time passed by in such busyness.
...
"Hum—"
The light flashed, and space quivered.
An ancient array, both austere and majestic, ascended into the air once more, reigning supreme above the Nine Heavens and descending afresh upon this ancient land.
At this moment, like a supreme divine being, Zhou Yan overlooked all beings and controlled this ancient formation.
The intricate Tai Chu Runes were used to perfection, dazzling and captivating. Even the Netherworld Goddess found herself dazzled and entranced, let alone the others.
Wei Mingqian and Yilan were initially proud and confident, then shocked and startled, and now, seeing the reverent, awe-filled gazes of countless Cultivators, their respect and admiration nearly reached a pinnacle.
...
Zhou Yan faced the endless expanse of the heavenly vault and, amidst the vast Tai Chu Runes, experienced sudden enlightenment of the rules and secrets of runes, and delved into the meaning of ’True Void.’
He felt as though he had undergone years of refinement, shedding layers of worldly dust once more.
He gazed up at the sky.
He looked down upon the earth.
His spirit was serene.
It was an unspeakable understanding, like during the establishment of the ancient array, when the baptism of Tai Chu Runes allowed his soul to resonate with that of another space-time, though it was merely an intuitive sensation. Zhou Yan gained much from it.
He felt something added to his soul and something else fade away.
"I now believe... I am the Lei Yan King. Because only I would imprint the sorrow of my heart with Purple Flame Runes amidst the Tai Chu Runes guiding to the void."
Zhou Yan felt melancholic.
With Tai Chu Runes coalescing into the ancient array, harmonizing with a path that transcended the Supreme Realm, he felt as if he experienced the Lei Yan King’s enlightenment.
At that moment, beyond time and space, his heart suddenly felt ethereal, but also empty and forlorn.
Dispensing with endless grandeur, he retreated into the immeasurable emptiness.
The Red Dust is no more, and the years are like a dream.
The Great Thousand World flourishes with countless forms, following the path of Wuwei, without a beginning.
Within the Tai Chu Runes, Zhou Yan comprehended the Lei Yan King’s signature technique ’Prosperous and Empty’ and the Silent Annihilation Purple Flame, empathizing with the Lei Yan King’s moment of sorrow.
That was not another, but himself.
For at that moment, Zhou Yan’s experience was one of recollection, not of detachment.
If previously there was doubt, now Zhou Yan could affirm that the Lei Yan King’s past was dead.
Mu Qingyan and the others lived on as the untainted next generation, while all their pains and hardships were suppressed solely by the Lei Yan King, taken away with him.
"The fallen leaves whisper through countless dusts,"
"Extravagance exhausted, I reach the gate of bitter cold."
"In the Tao is a compassionless ancient sentiment,"
"As trees yearn for each other, spring meets them once again."
"Go in peace, since you have ended the past, let me create their future. I will follow your wishes and embark on this endless journey."
Zhou Yan conveyed ancient sentiments through runes, which then dissolved into the void.
Suddenly, in the void, a vision of a Blood Pool and an ancient Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City emerged.
Within the ancient city, there was a decaying figure in black.
He peered through the endless Blood Sea waves, as if seeing past illusion, finally gazing upon Zhou Yan with a look of consolation.
His gaze fell, his body turned to bloodwater, and all faded into nothingness.
In the Great Thousand World, myriads of Holy Spirits seemed to cry out in lament.
At that moment, the Blood Sea roared wildly, and the earth was showered with black snow; everything seemed as if it had been destroyed.
Zhou Yan felt a stabbing pain in his heart as the Lei Yan King’s final will loosened.
The last thread of the Lei Yan King’s will was destroyed.
Lei Yan King had truly fallen.
Only now would the Three Remnant Souls of Heavenly Soul Mountain truly emerge.
Zhou Yan felt a profound sadness as he suddenly understood that the previous breaking of the Ancient Array was not for any other reason but because the Lei Yan Demon Soul had long awaited someone who could comprehend the Tai Chu Rune to unravel the Lei Yan King’s final will.
Realizing this, Zhou Yan felt a chill in his heart—if that was the case, then once the Lei Yan King’s will vanished, the Three Remnant Souls on Heavenly Soul Mountain would reappear and attract the attention of countless people.
"Finished..."
Zhou Yan’s heart skipped a beat.
Immediately, he snapped back to reality, no longer concerned with anything else, and suddenly exclaimed in alarm, "No good, Goddess Mu Qingyan, Lilith, and all the heavyweights from Beixue Heavenly Palace above the level of Sword Tribulation, follow me instantly into Ye Sha Ancestor Star’s Heavenly Soul Hall! There’s great trouble, someone wants to destroy everything on Heavenly Soul Mountain and seize the divine artifacts within its Forbidden Land."
At this moment, Zhou Yan no longer had the state of mind to explain anything. He could only rely on the supreme authority he had established beforehand, forcibly treating all of Beixue Heavenly Palace’s people as subordinates to help him capture the Three Souls of Heavenly Soul Mountain.
He could not explain, but at this time, with the authority he had previously established, as well as his relationship with Mu Qingyan, he did not need to explain!
Upon hearing Zhou Yan’s words, Mu Qingyan’s complexion changed immediately.
Previously, Zhou Yan’s meticulousness in arranging the Ancient Array and his outstanding abilities in various aspects had deeply shocked her and everyone from Beixue Heavenly Palace.
Now, as Zhou Yan suddenly made such a statement, Mu Qingyan’s first thought was that it was impossible, but immediately afterward, she considered the current upheaval and, being as astute as she was, knew right away that Zhou Yan was not exaggerating!
Moreover, she had previously promised Zhou Yan three favors, and without any hesitation at this moment, she immediately deployed her Divine Skills, sweeping up the crowd and flying towards the Ancient Array.
"Boom!"
The rebuilt Ancient Array, precise and powerful, swapped space-time in an instant; everyone felt as if the world had suddenly turned upside down, and then they found themselves in another star domain.
...
"He finally died, and without that will, these three Immortal Evil Souls will allow me to become the Supreme of Heaven and Earth, no longer having to bow down to anyone."
A Blood-furred Monster with blood-red eyes stared into the endless darkness of the void, murmuring to itself.
Its body continuously bled, and the blood flowed like raging waves over its surface, but this had no effect on it or its surroundings.
"I told you, what you could not do, I would do for you. But although you were satisfied with him, I am not."
"So, I will let him condense the bodies of the Three Immortal Evil Souls and then directly seize his Soul Seed. In this life, I will surely give birth to the Immortal Evil Soul, and only with my true Demon Heart can I control the Evil Soul."
"I hope you arrive soon... Huh, you’re actually coming right now... Good, very good."
Blinding light shot out from the eyes of the Blood-furred Monster.
...
The black hole in the void slowly closed.
Yet inside, one could still see the endless darkness and the cold eternal starry sky.
Beyond this darkness lay the domains beyond the stars, and beyond the darkness lay Ye Sha Ancestor Star.
The origin of Ye Sha Ancestor Star was extremely mysterious and ancient, virtually unknown to anyone on the star.
This Ancestor Star was vast and majestic. Upon entering, Zhou Yan and all the others could feel an ancient, majestic, and vast aura weighing down upon them, inspiring awe and fear.
It was an extremely ancient Life Ancient Star, with a divine aura of reverence.
"Ahead lies Heavenly Soul Mountain, about half an incense stick’s worth of flight time from here. I will immediately take you across,"
Mu Qingyan’s face was somber. Upon arriving at this planet, she immediately grew solemn, sensing more than Zhou Yan had.
Without waiting for anyone’s response, she once again swept up Zhou Yan and the others and flew away.
"Buzz—"
Space trembled, and in an instant, as if by instantaneous movement, Zhou Yan and the others appeared at the foot of an ancient, Blood Qi-filled mountain range.
Here lay Heavenly Soul Mountain.
As soon as they arrived, Zhou Yan immediately sensed the scent of death.
Not just him, but everyone’s complexion changed at this moment.
The force from Heavenly Soul Hall had long since vanished, seemingly having retreated a while ago; that much was clear.
But on that bare mountain stood a colossal blood-colored stele, a hundred meters tall, dominating the mountaintop.
This made the entire mountain seem like a gigantic tomb magnified countless times.
On the giant blood-colored stele, there were no inscriptions, but there was a blood-colored human face.
This face, expressionless and cold, looked down on all living beings with a gaze that pierced through the flesh, exuding a bone-chilling coldness and killing intent.
Anyone who witnessed such a scene would immediately feel a chill in their heart, and their soul would tremble in fear!
Zhou Yan’s heart sank, knowing that something must have changed, and that must be due to the fact that he had previously stirred the will of the Lei Yan King, leading the Lei Yan King to disappear without regret, thus propelling the situation to change.
He felt rather heavy-hearted.
At this moment, Mu Qingyan also felt a shadow envelop her heart, and even to her, the scene before her eyes seemed like a path to death.
For the power of the evil being on the stele was enough to crush her.