"Even if a few of us old folks join forces, there's a high chance he might escape. This man, having undergone the Divine Spirit Eighth Transition, is already so defiant of the natural order, wielding a weapon that carries the complete essence of divinity—an Immortal Weapon. What can we do against this?"

"Do you think he would spare us any respect? Zhou Yan is now a lone figure, having almost settled the ties with the Sky Sword Sect, no longer entangled with too many relations. If he were to seek vengeance, there would be no need for the War Soul Hall to exist anymore, constantly wary of him."

"Considering how he initially took down the Sword Emperor Sect, how many times could the War Soul Hall endure such destruction?"

"Moreover, Zhou Yan is only at the Divine Spirit Eighth Transition right now and already so powerful. If this matter offends him and he escapes only to reach the Venerable Realm afterwards, what then?"

"He can be said to be one of the strongest guardians of the Dark God Domain. If he were truly punished, how could such a loss be borne?! If he were to turn and join the Heavenly Demon Camp, that would be an immense catastrophe for the Dark God Domain!"

"You all probably know that a thousand Divine Spirits cannot compare to the importance of one Venerable. But a Venerable Realm Heavenly Demon is equivalent to a Venerable of the Xuanling Heavenly Realm. A million Heavenly Demons, how many would that amount to?"

"As long as Zhou Yan lives, he can slay endless Heavenly Demons!"

"Therefore, our various approaches are not without reason! If any of you have such talents, even surpassing Zhou Yan, you likewise would receive such respect and treatment!"

"Complaints? One can only blame oneself for incompetence and being too useless! You should reflect well on this matter, recognize your shortcomings, and become stronger!"

The Wuque Venerable had explained everything, clearly stating that not even a few Supremes might capture Zhou Yan. There was no exaggeration or idle boasting, but his words were sincere, and his demeanor was cold and grave.

Thus, all the cultivators who were still dissatisfied began to see reason, realizing Zhou Yan's might and comprehending that he could indeed rival the Vast Universe Venerate of the Venerable Eighth Realm!

If so, Divine Spirits are indeed like ants in his eyes. Why would he care about countless deaths?

This scene inspired many cultivators to strive for strength, while also lessening their hatred towards Zhou Yan.

For no cultivator wishes to see such a conclusion—if one day they die, and their sect along with their loved ones and friends are hunted down and killed by their sect, how heartbreaking would that be?

Thus, the scene filled with grievances gradually became harmonious and serene.

Seeing the effect, the Wuque Venerable finally relaxed with a long sigh, feeling a bit bitter inside.

Zhou Yan's mysterious origins aside, if he really took action, crazily activating the Immortal Weapon, even the Nine Heavens Supreme would suffer heavily!

This isn't the main issue—the main issue is that Zhou Yan, being adept in the ways of Devouring and Form Manipulation, is undoubtedly a disciple of the almost invincible 'Divine Fist Venerable.'

Other cultivators might still seek punishment, but if the 'Divine Fist Venerable' emerges, thousands upon thousands of Nine Heavens Supremes wouldn't be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

Because of this, the Wuque Venerable had no choice but to step in, letting Zhou Yan go to the Soul Refining Demon Cave to slay a million Venerable Realm Heavenly Demons.

This indeed is a deathly task, for any other cultivator it's a brutal mission, absolutely impossible to complete!

But Zhou Yan is different. Zhou Yan's Ultimate Secret, realized in the Heavenly Sword Immortal Pool, completely counters entities like Heavenly Demons, Yin Spirits, and Void Spirits. Moreover, the Cultural Totem that Zhou Yan comprehended also restrains Heavenly Demons and Void Spirits!

Adding to that, Zhou Yan has previously slain 999 Heavenly Demons and Void Spirits, coupled with his formidable Form Manipulation technique, this task certainly isn't devoid of survival.

Moreover, these are still secondary.

Because even if Zhou Yan doesn't go, half a month later all sect talented cultivators must enter the Soul Refining Demon Cave for harsh training in life and death, an age-old tradition of the Wen Hua Palace, Zhou Yan merely went ahead with an added responsibility of killing a higher number of Heavenly Demons.

Additionally, since Gles became the Sky Demon Leader, Zhou Yan suffered severe injuries, and his beloved woman obviously perished—how could he not hate the Heavenly Demons?

Such a proposal is almost completely considerate of Zhou Yan's position, thus combining to establish such a task.

This also provides an explanation to the War God Hall's cultivators. At least this task seems an impossible, fatal mission to all other cultivators, and suffices as an explanation, without leaving a negative impact.

This is a method that achieves multiple aims, the best way for balance.

Otherwise, to truly move against Zhou Yan would mean that those knowledgeable of Zhou Yan's inheritance and background wouldn't take action.

After all, behind Zhou Yan is not only the Divine Fist Venerable; the Sumeru Immortal Mountain also evidently pays extreme attention and regards for Zhou Yan.

Given such conditions, dealing with Zhou Yan would only be an exhausting and fruitless endeavor—why would forces like the War Soul Hall pursue such actions? Hence, Zhou Yan was bound to be unpunished without any issues.

And the aftermath of this affair will surely be managed well by the upper echelons of the War Soul Hall and Wen Hua Palace.

...

After accepting the task of slaughtering a million Venerable Realm Heavenly Demons, Zhou Yan, bearing the Xuanyuan Sword alone, quickly approached the domain of the Soul Refining Demon Cave.

He did not return to the Wen Hua Palace.

Hou Ling'er went to the Sumeru Immortal Mountain, during which she encountered an interception by Gles, nearly captured in a fierce battle, but was rescued by a powerhouse from the Sumeru Immortal Mountain.

This matter, Zhou Yan also knew a little through the Hall Master of Wenhua Palace, so he was relatively at ease.

Even if he wasn't at ease, he didn't want to get too involved anymore.

Back then, he originally intended to give up on Mo Yuyao, he had already recognized his sister and turned to leave, yet in the end, he turned back to quietly watch her, leading to a change of heart once again.

If not for that moment, perhaps Gles using the same methods on other women wouldn't have been effective, and he would have sensed it with the other women.

Moreover, if he hadn't pierced that layer of window paper, not having that last meeting with Mo Yuyao, it wouldn't have led to such separation between heaven and man now.

This matter, Zhou Yan gradually understood that in this world, for any landscape, Zhou Yan should not linger.

Many of the people he truly cared about, many who cared about him, were desperately making efforts, hoping Zhou Yan could quickly achieve immortality, along the way either openly or covertly reminding him countless times—but Zhou Yan had never really listened, if he had listened, would Mo Yuyao's situation have occurred? Would Gles have had the opportunity to take advantage?

If not for this, would he have almost truly died leading to all that his family and friends sacrificed for Zhou Yan going almost entirely to waste?

Considering importance and gains and losses, isn't this lesson not enough?

Zhou Yan truly understood these in his heart, truly realized them in his spirit, so instead, he gradually became more detached, grew colder.

That is to say, actually, from beginning to end, from the Cold Pond of the Great Zhou Family, he should have walked the Heartless Sword Dao, not the Affectionate Sword Dao.

The extreme of the Affectionate Sword Dao is heartlessness, but reaching the extreme and being heartless is instead a kind of crime.

And the extreme of the Heartless Sword Dao is the affection after transcendence—that is the true Affectionate Sword Dao.

"Perhaps, I was truly wrong, if I could return to the past, then I would certainly become an incomparably cold person, abandon feelings and love, walking the Sword Burial Ancestor Star with a heartless and proud sword, completing the True God Plane, directly seizing the Holy Daughter's Life Soul, capturing the Yuan Ci Secret Realm and more.

Perhaps, there wouldn't be Xi'er's former soul-breaking soul loss, there wouldn't be the Holy Daughter's current soul loss of her life soul, nor would there be my daughter Yanyan's more disastrous pain.

Even Feng Lingqing nearly died back then, Mu Qingyan back then was in unbearable pain because of me...

The Moon Immortal of the previous life perished, Xiao Ziyi of the previous life awakened Lei Yan King's demon heart, while Red Face turned into bones because of me."

"Every person I linger with seems to meet no good end."

"Back then I cared for Jia Yongheng, later Jia Yongheng died."

"Later I cared for Wu Ji, and later Wu Ji became a demon, went mad."

"I forgave the Yaochi Saint Master, and the Yaochi Sacred Land was exterminated."

"Could it be, all of this is just to tell me, because of my own reason, all the sceneries I linger in will attract unknown dangers?"

Zhou Yan comprehended many things, realized that some of the things his brother said were not wrong after all.

If from the beginning, I had done as my brother said, though I might not have succeeded early on, I would not have been so miserable, as if living was worse than death, full of unbearable pain.

"I chose the Affectionate Sword Dao, the Heavenly Fate plan caused me to be estranged from everyone, actually forcing me to walk the Heartless Sword Dao, yet I was obsessed, uncompromising, insisted on walking my own path."

"And brought about a series of catastrophes."

"What exactly is influencing my true self?"

"Once, in the illusion of the Netherworld Heavenly Road, I saw a man on a throne in chains, through the void, he insulted me as 'trash.' I've never understood then, now it seems, am I not trash myself?"

"Although I have successfully reached the current realm along the way, it has been a series of accumulations, coincidences, if not for my brother's secret help, could I have survived?"

"Zhou Yan, oh Zhou Yan, you are no longer in your first life, nor do you know nothing, yet you are still so confused, so blinded by the situation! Until today, to suddenly awaken! You, how pitiful!"

"All your life clever, yet now, you appear so foolish."

Zhou Yan walked along the periphery of the Soul Refining Demon Cave, after gradually calming down, he thought of the root of all doubts—the Heartless Dao.

Perhaps, only by being truly heartless and devoid of righteousness, truly abandoning love, can one truly grow.

Zhou Yan understood this step, finally stood firm, his gaze became complex, yet incomparably cold.

"From now on, in this world, there is no more Zhou Yan, only a codename 'Evil Venerate.' I shall become the Evil Venerate of the Dark God Domain, cold-blooded and heartless, unruly and wild, striving for power, truly by any means necessary! Brother, from now on, I will listen to what you say."

Zhou Yan made a vow in his heart, his temperament, and with it, underwent a fundamental change.

This is also an unprecedented change, a true fundamental transformation!

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