Chapter 684: Chapter 114: True Void Forbidden Land
Some were joyful, others worried.
For Song Qianxue and the majority of the Guardian Elders of Beixue Heavenly Palace, Lilith’s words undoubtedly presented a fine opportunity to redeem their faults.
Resources might be lost but could always be recollected, yet offending a formidable force like the Netherworld Palace, which even the Beixue Heavenly Palace of the upper-class plane dared not provoke, was an error no amount of resources could rectify.
For this reason, individuals like Song Qianxue felt far from troubled; instead, they saw hope—a chance to form good relations with the Netherworld Palace and a chance to prove their worth to those above.
Thus, regarding this matter, she immediately set about orchestrating the proceedings with great urgency.
In contrast, Song Xiaoxiao and Guardian Shui Xin shared a wry smile, feeling somewhat helpless.
Both couldn’t help but think that those disciples and elders might be rejoicing prematurely. They had taken offense at Zhou Yan merely flying over their station, despite him saving their lives. They could only wonder what they would think when they learned that Master Zhou was that very youth.
"Good fortune or disaster, if it’s fated to happen it cannot be avoided. If he truly wishes to seek revenge using this opportunity, we can only endure, for others are stronger than us," Song Xiaoxiao said to Guardian Shui Xin, resigned to their situation.
She was no longer irritable because the gap between them was too great. Zhou Yan had become someone who could influence the Holy Daughter in a short time, signifying that they had been thoroughly humbled.
She only hoped that Guardian Shui Xin, who always held herself in high regard, could accept reality and yield when confronted with the troubling reality regarding Zhou Yan.
Otherwise, Song Xiaoxiao knew well that Guardian Shui Xin awaited a very harsh fate.
"Indeed, what else can be done? Although I often take pride in the status of Beixue Heavenly Palace, I am not foolish. I thought of him as an insignificant person because of his obscure background, and so I behaved as I did. Now that I know his formidable background, it’s natural to be more respectful and to humble myself. Yielding to the powerful is just the way of the world. The strong prey on the weak, and even in upper-class planes, it’s the same. It’s not shameful," said Guardian Shui Xin with a dry laugh.
Song Xiaoxiao was somewhat startled; Guardian Shui Xin was unexpectedly open-minded!
"If he lacked the power and giving him a Low Grade Holy Artifact was enough to repay the debt, then so be it, as having a Holy Artifact could increase his chances at life. If he has power and status, then bowing and apologizing, or enduring his oppression or revenge, are all within my fate. In fact, if he can achieve all this, I even admire him. I’m quite open-minded about it, so do not worry on my behalf, Holy Daughter," Guardian Shui Xin assured her.
Song Xiaoxiao looked at Guardian Shui Xin’s calm and beautiful face and found herself at a loss for words.
...
"Goddess."
"Goddess, my Lady."
"Junior pays respects to the Goddess, my Lady."
Various respectful voices echoed from every direction.
Mu Qingyan slightly raised her hand, and waves of energy halted the worship of countless female cultivators. She spoke calmly, "Since everyone is here, I won’t say much. Lilith must have clarified what you should and shouldn’t do. I won’t stress it further. However, I must say this: those who do not follow Master Zhou’s arrangements will be personally eliminated by me to prevent any interference with the Ancient Array’s setup."
"Currently, everyone should gather according to their assignments, be ready. I will directly lead everyone to instantaneously move there, to save time. If there is anyone unwilling to go now, you may leave. If you choose to stay, then remember your duties and responsibilities."
Mu Qingyan’s voice was soft, yet it resounded loud and clear in the hearts and ears of every female cultivator from Beixue Heavenly Palace. Her voice commanded an awe-inspiring power that caused every cultivator who heard her speak to shiver in their souls, making it impossible for them to forget this matter.
"Yes, Goddess."
At this, even Lilith grew incredibly solemn, aware that when the Goddess spoke in such a manner, it signified that the issue was no idle matter but one of great importance.
In an instant, the attitude of Lilith influenced everyone else.
Seeing even Lilith behaving so, Princess Yilan and Qian He suddenly felt engulfed in immense pride, for it was because of Zhou Yan that the Goddess was taking the matter so seriously, and Zhou Yan was a person close to them.
This pride was as if it sprang from within them, filling them with immense pride.
Princess Yilan and Qian He were thus extremely excited.
Qian He even thought Princess Yilan indeed had a discerning eye – she had unjustly doubted such a distinguished figure as Master Zhou! Wise was the Princess, who had acknowledged Master Zhou early on. Otherwise, where would their current status come from? How could they stand tall and breathe freely within the proud Beixue Heavenly Palace?
Elsewhere, led by Song Qianxue, Beixue Heavenly Palace mobilized fully. Everyone had already been taking the matter seriously, but now, with the Goddess speaking so, no one dared to take it lightly.
The group convened in a grand assembly, then with a spatial shift from the Netherworld Goddess, they arrived at the Ancient Ancient Array Transmission Array Base on the Luo Shi Ancestor Star.
Previously, upon leaving, Mu Qingyan had left a Subarray Plate here, which allowed them to lock onto a transmission point. After leaving, Mu Qingyan could use this transmission point for instantaneous return, avoiding the need for a return trip.
Due to restrictions on major spatial nodes, this kind of linked array plate was activated out of necessity.
Otherwise, a Divine-level Expert would not be confined to the Ancestor Star of an inferior plane.
The Heavenly Soul Hall knew all of this, so naturally, they destroyed the Ancient Array with the primary aim of annihilating the Space Laws. Such destruction, generally speaking, even a Divine-level Expert would be unable to repair, and the reason lay here.
Because finding someone who not only has profound knowledge in Void Laws but also understands the Tai Chu Runes and is skilled in ancient arrays is extremely difficult.
Deep understanding of Void Laws, if not a pure Void Sword Body, is nearly impossible for any Cultivator, unless it is one of those Great Powers specialized in the Space Department, but such individuals would never come to a minor place like Luo Shi Ancestor Star to repair a Transmission Array for such a low-grade plane.
By the same token, those proficient in arrays might not understand Tai Chu Runes. Even with the status and capability of the Netherworld Goddess, known as the ’Extraordinary Woman of the Ten Thousand Realms’, she has only a basic understanding of Tai Chu Runes, let alone proficiency?
Without proficiency, the Ancient Array simply cannot be rebuilt.
To repair it, in upper-class planes, there might be many Cultivators capable of doing so, but to rebuild it is tantamount to a fool’s dream.
That’s why Mu Qingyan grew to respect Zhou Yan a great deal more, because Zhou Yan’s abilities were indeed heaven-defying and immensely powerful.
...
Void without limit, desolation everywhere.
Zhou Yan looked upon the changes in this part of heaven and earth, feeling a different mental state, understanding the difficulties King Lei Yan had faced, his heart knot had been untied, and his emotions buried.
Perhaps, that solitary grave in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb, buried what once was the life of King Lei Yan.
The physical body of that fool Lee Sha lay buried in that patch of land.
There, only the occasional sorrowful caw of a crow could be heard.
Zhou Yan stood in this part of the world, his mind in turmoil and unable to find peace due to Mu Qingyan’s emotional changes, the transformation of her nature, and her naming herself ’Yanyan’.
Yet he still calmed down.
The road before me stretches far and I shall seek through ups and downs. The path ahead remained distant.
If possible, he only wished for King Lei Yan to revive, to face everything, and the price, even if it was his own death, Zhou Yan.
At this moment, Zhou Yan truly let go of everything and looked upon it lightly.
If his life’s continuation carried the blood and pain of relatives and friends, then he, Zhou Yan, could also offer himself.
"Actually, there’s another method, and that is to achieve immortality, allowing all thoughts that are obstructed to become smooth. Though it’s a road of no return, you’re fortunate to have a sliver of chance."
Suddenly, a voice resonated from the depths of Zhou Yan’s heart.
Then, a golden figure revived and awoke within his soul’s Dantian.
"Senior."
Zhou Yan transmitted his spirit, speaking with respect.
The words of the man in golden armor filled Zhou Yan with an even stronger fighting spirit and a fiercer self-confidence.
"This part of the world carries a familiar breath, it should be the Demon Soul Breath. It’s a very intimate and nostalgic breath... However, this place resembles a perilous forbidden land I once encountered, hmm... it should be the ’True Void Forbidden Land’, a very dangerous place, so you must be careful."
The man in golden armor seemed to be sensing something and suddenly spoke out.
Zhou Yan was slightly surprised.
He knew that if there was anyone he could trust, besides Master Lee Ran and some people from Tianji Mountain, it would only be this man in golden armor.
Because with the abilities and status of the man in golden armor, there was absolutely no chance of scheming against Zhou Yan. The strength of the man in golden armor could not be measured by realm.
"Senior, do you mean..."
Zhou Yan felt uneasy, guessing some of the dangerous circumstances based on what the man in golden armor implied.
"I’m merely in a state of Annihilation and suddenly sensed that your life force was cut off once. This indicates that you will face a tremendous danger soon. You are a descendant of an old friend of mine, inheriting his soul and bloodline, and you also have the capability to embark on that ultimate path, so I do not wish for you to fall here.
However, what I can help you with is ultimately limited. Every river of time in each plane follows its rules, and with my special identity, once I intervene directly, it will bring forth a terror exceeding the planes."
The man in golden armor suddenly explained some issues.
He had not provided any explanation to Zhou Yan before, but this time, he explicitly gave many details, which seemed somewhat unreasonable.
Yet it was precisely because of this that Zhou Yan knew that the fusion with King Lei Yan’s Three Souls would undoubtedly be far from smooth.
At that moment, Zhou Yan also remembered that Zhuge Wuwei mentioned that the condensation and repair of the Three Souls of Heavenly Soul Mountain was an extremely perilous process.
Zhou Yan remembered that when Zhuge Wuwei spoke these words, his expression was also very solemn.