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In the Colorful Cloud Chariot, a woman identical to Ning'er couldn't see what the two were doing or sense any communication, yet she still frowned slightly, looking somewhat displeased.
"Please, Holy Daughter."
This woman, with a wave of her hand, scattered a radiance like a white curtain, laying out a glorious path.
At this moment, the nine women all knelt on one knee, welcoming Ning'er to the chariot.
Ning'er glanced at Zhou Yan, sighed softly, and reached out to hold Ping'er's hand.
"Young Master... When Ping'er returns fully trained, I will guard you for a lifetime and never let anyone bully you again!"
Ping'er cried, tears streaming endlessly.
Zhou Yan held her slender hand against his heart and said softly, "Silly girl, take good care of yourself, live well... don't wrong yourself. The Young Master will await your return."
"Young Master..."
Breaking free from Ning'er's hand, Ping'er threw herself into Zhou Yan's arms, crying bitterly.
Zhou Yan gently patted her back, silently comforting her.
After a long time, reluctantly, Ping'er stepped away from the embrace, voluntarily taking Ning'er's hand and, step by step, followed her onto the somewhat mystical canopy.
Magnificent radiance filled the sky, nine phoenixes sang, an energy that connected Heaven and Earth activated once more.
The world shattered again as if a god had pierced a black hole into the heavens.
At this moment, the figures of the two girls were already completely blurred; Zhou Yan could see nothing.
He thought that everything would just pass like this.
But, just as he silently gripped the hilt of the Broken Worry Sword at his waist, a woman in white, like a ghost, suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Are you two really just family?"
The woman bore Ning'er's identical appearance, but her aura was vastly different.
She exuded a supreme Sword Dao majesty, making Zhou Yan feel very oppressed just speaking to her.
The disparity in realm was too significant.
"What other relationship do you think we could have?" Zhou Yan replied calmly.
"Well, Zhou Wangchen saved her from danger back then. Growing up together, some sibling feelings are natural. I worry only that your bond exceeds familial boundaries."
This woman in white had an aura with a halo of Tao Principle Radiance flowing around her like a divine being, but her words were soft, not overly aggressive.
Yet Zhou Yan felt uncomfortable; after all, he carried the memory inheritance of a Grandmaster and possessed a steadfast character.
He disliked being looked down upon like an ant.
"Palace Master of Bixue Palace? What do you mean by this?" Zhou Yan frowned.
"Child, don't be foolish. You think I cannot see? I do not oppose your matters, but I just want to tell you one thing."
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace sighed lightly and continued, "The Extreme Cold Sword Body requires an Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone to unlock potential.
Without unlocking potential, in Ning'er's situation, she is certain to die.
We have found the Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone, but this Supreme Treasure of Heaven and Earth is in Wangchuan Mansion.
Wangchuan Mansion laid down a condition, and our 'Snow Domain's' 'Domain Master' has already agreed.
That is, the Holy Daughter must marry.
Jiang Ning'er the Holy Daughter must marry into Wangchuan Mansion with Young Master Ji TaiXu.
Ji TaiXu has already condensed Dual Sword Souls, a genius at the 'Breaking Three' True Spirit Level!"
"Allow me to explain genius classification to you. So-called 'True Man Level' genius is manifested externally as battle prowess that can break through realm barriers and cross realms to fight! Internally, it is the Qi Column, each section of which is more powerful than an ordinary person's entire Qi Column!"
"Breaking one realm barrier to the limit of three is a True Man Level genius. Crossing major realms to break beyond three barriers is a genius surpassing True Man Level, known as 'True Spirit Level.'
A True Spirit Level genius has almost never existed throughout history! You… think it over really well."
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace spoke many cruel facts, hitting Zhou Yan hard.
But, because she bore Ning'er's identical visage, Zhou Yan couldn't bring himself to despise her.
He knew she hoped he would retreat in the face of difficulties.
Yet he was never one to fear challenges!
Dual Sword Souls? Impressive? He had no idea or interest, much less knew about Sword Souls and True Spirit Level geniuses, and his understanding was completely blank!
But it didn't matter; he had a lifetime of cultivation inheritance from a Grandmaster who could shatter the void with a punch. He did not fear.
"So what? Should I give up because of that?" Zhou Yan smiled, with a hint of mocking disdain, his gaze deeply provoked the Palace Master of Bixue Palace.
It seemed as though she was facing the once carefree, rebellious, and unrestrained Zhou Wangchen.
"Here are some elixirs and a set of Holy Level swordsmanship. You should try your best. If you cannot cultivate it, then let go of that idea for your good and hers."
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace took out a jade-green Qiankun Ring.
"No need, I don't want it. The swordsmanship of this world is too weak; I want to create my ideal Sword Dao. Dual Sword Souls? So impressive? One day, I'll create Twelve Sword Souls and annihilate him!"
Zhou Yan was deeply provoked by this paternalistic attitude.
Even if she had said, "Try your best, and see if you can be with Ning'er. Even if you can't, do your best with no regrets," he wouldn't have been offended.
But all along, she maintained an attitude of 'dismissal' and 'pity'! Didn't she know this was a blatant insult?
He felt suffocated, and as a result blurted out something seemingly boastful—though in reality, it was his true thought.
Without experiencing the power of the Sky-breaking Xingyi Twelve Forms' martial arts, it was impossible to imagine how domineering and wild the evolved swordsmanship would be, with boundless power!
"Haha…"
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace laughed softly, her expression no longer gentle.
"Your root bone age is already fifteen, and you have one year. In a year, you will never break through the Sword Intent realm.
At sixteen, if you don't break Sword Intent, you cannot shatter the Heaven and Earth Laws... you imagine your future so beautifully, you probably don't even know what a Sword Soul is!"
The Palace Master seemed no longer willing to speak further; it was no longer a cold laugh.
It was as though she'd heard the funniest joke, even finding this arrogance pitiably ridiculous.
Earlier, she had thought of helping him, but associating Ji TaiXu's excellence with the arrogant, unremarkable, Initial Sword Talent Realm, fifteen-year-old youth before her, she no longer wished to speak.
"I don't know what a Sword Soul is, but I know how my path will go!"
Zhou Yan's words carried a hint of displeasure.
Others distrusted his talent, and he disliked this tone of pity or sarcasm.
"First, focus on the present. If I hadn't intervened today, you would be dead already!"
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace spoke angrily, smiling with exasperation.
Her annoyed expression even added a touch of femininity to her demeanor.
"Thank you for saving my life, Palace Master. I will repay this debt one day, to show my sincerity."
In that instant, he almost considered this woman as Ning'er and nearly spoke words of offering himself.
Such words could not be spoken in front of such a woman. Speaking them might result in being beaten half to death.
"No need! I'll wait until you cultivate Twelve Sword Souls. No, even if you cultivate Three Sword Souls, I will do everything in my power to help you and Ning'er! I'll wait for you, this peerless genius, to make a name for yourself in our Snow Domain's Bixue Palace!"
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace snorted coldly, twisted her waist, flicked her sleeve, and disappeared with a 'whoosh.'
Indeed, she came like a shadow and went without a trace.
Seeing her leave in anger, Zhou Yan felt an inexplicable happiness, as if his temperament was extraordinarily 'abnormal.'
He knew he was still himself, not synchronized with that Grandmaster, but he had to admit that the Grandmaster's evil nature significantly changed him.
"Sigh... I've been so looked down upon; I ought to be angry, but why… am I not angry at all?"
"Ning'er and Ping'er are gone, and I feel like a lost soul, with a great emptiness in my heart. Yet, my heart is also relieved, perhaps knowing they'll live well?"
"My father's situation, I should be concerned, but I am not worried, confident I can save him…"
"Killing is a terrifying matter, yet I feel excitement, instinctively wanting to grip the sword, to draw and kill... I killed Xiao Xu, and I felt satisfied and happy…"
"Being with Ning'er and Ping'er, there is deep love, but I still always…"
"Have I become an Evil Sword Cultivator? Or... is this truly my nature?"
...
Zhou Yan did not leave, standing there still, seemingly lost in confusion and perplexity.
He knew that if he couldn't figure this out, he might succumb to 'inner demons.'
He silently calmed himself, sitting down right there.
The spirituality and energy of the previous radiance surged like a vast ocean, endlessly.
But recalling the Grandmaster's experience, he continuously steadied his heart, making it as calm as still water.
"What of Evil Cultivation? What of the Right Path? What is right? What is evil?"
"Who can distinguish right and wrong?"
"Yin Yang was determined by Heaven and Earth, yet Yin Yang combines only to achieve Mixed Yuan Qi!"
"Three Thousand Great Paths, all lead to the same destination!"
"A single righteous thought in the heart is righteousness, and a single evil thought in the heart is evil."
"Be true to your nature, without restraint, let your thoughts flow freely, and be unashamed, that is the Tao!"
...
Zhou Yan entered a state of enlightenment, undergoing a Sudden Enlightenment in the realm of Tao.
The Grandmaster's soul insights continuously impacted his mind and body, with further transformation of his soul, while his realm also made a powerful breakthrough, unbeknownst to him.
"Mixed Yuan Qi attains my Tao, obtaining true form outside of Tao.
True form conceals True Spirit within, Spirit hidden within Qi, Alchemy Dao complete.
If asked what true form seeks, one must know that true form aligns with true appearance.
True appearance in harmony has a True Technique, True Technique harmonizing Tao attains thorough spirit."
...
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