Zhou Yan had reached the Sword Qi First Layer Heaven realm, and the changes in his Qi Column filled him with much more confidence about the future.
Yet, these accomplishments paled compared to his satisfaction with other aspects. Through the honing of Sword Intent, due to the matching of nearly ten cultivation techniques, Zhou Yan's perspective broadened significantly.
After continuous understanding, he seemed to have grasped some kind of... mysterious entity, greatly advancing his understanding of the Dragon Form Swordsmanship.
What Zhou Yan cared about the most was his progress in Sword Intent, which made him extremely happy.
As for cultivation realm, Zhou Yan had already completely let go of any concern for it.
After comprehending Sword Intent, even if it involved pure refining of Spirit Crystals, he could accumulate Sword Origin and raise his cultivation realm to the Sword Intent Realm without regard for cost.
However, at not yet sixteen years old, with time still on his side, Zhou Yan did not wish to pay an unimaginable price or destabilize his realm to forcibly raise his cultivation level—this would be his last resort after exhausting other options.
In fact, from the fact that his Qi Column could refine Spirit Crystals, Zhou Yan contemplated this possibility; and when treating Gu Yan's injuries, as the Spirit Crystals were consumed, Zhou Yan sensed the potential for this possibility.
Accumulating cultivation realm also requires a process of understanding.
His comprehension of Sword Qi was nearly perfect, and although his realm had not yet reached Sword Energy Three Realms Perfection, realm improvement was not a major problem. Sword Origin involves a process of Sword Qi Transformation, a transformation process, which could also be achieved through the accumulation of substantial Spiritual Energy.
However, without proper Sudden Enlightenment, the foundation might be unstable, making future improvements in this area exceedingly difficult.
Unless necessary, Zhou Yan hoped that each advancement would be a natural progression to Great Perfection rather than simply for the realm.
...
Zhou Yan stood up, with a look of contemplation mixed with exhaustion in his gaze.
For so many days, he had been painstakingly pondering and comprehending, without day or night, relying on the stimulation of Fiery Flame Sword Heart Wine.
He did not know what side effects the wine might have, but he could feel that his soul seemed to be evolving and growing stronger step by step.
It was an inexplicable feeling, but Zhou Yan trusted this judgment.
He stood with his hands behind his back, looking out through the small skylight in the secret room, seeing part of the scenery outside.
It was midnight, and the dual moons were half-suspended, intertwining like Tai Chi of Yin and Yang.
Zhou Yan gazed through this small skylight at the limited view of the dark Heavenly Vault, feeling a calmness in his heart.
In a week, he would go to the Zhou Family; he had thought that with his strength, after defeating Zhou Lingyi, he might be selected. But Gu Yan wasn't a fool, so why was he acting as if he were going to his death?
This forced him to suppress his impulse and continue to calmly understand the Tao.
He felt somewhat tired, somewhat exhausted. It had been a long time since he had eaten or slept well.
"The moon, like Tai Chi, with moonlight as Yin. The Extreme Yin Sword Body can absorb moonlight, deriving supreme Moonlight Sword Intent, born extraordinary.
Compared to those with such special constitutions, what am I?
In such a vast world, how long can I continue to struggle?"
As he looked at the Heavenly Vault, he suddenly felt a touch of sentiment. He had never been a sentimental person, not in the past and not now.
But at this moment, perhaps due to the growth of his soul, he felt inexplicably moved.
He thought about many things, allowing himself a moment of mental rest, not restraining his thoughts, letting them roam free and unbound.
After an unknown amount of time, the dual moons, rotating like Tai Chi, transformed into a ring-shaped fish eye pattern, intensifying the Moonlight Power between Heaven and Earth.
At this time, seemingly without reason, Zhou Yan's soul suddenly stirred.
He didn't know why, but as this stir began, he experienced an extremely strange feeling, and a flood of insights suddenly emerged in his mind.
"That Grandmaster could break the void, and I almost acquired most of his soul and Enlightenment Experience; why am I still so weak?"
"Having merged with such a powerful soul and with a trace of Breaking Void Internal Power refined into my body, I shouldn't be this weak!"
"The powerful who shattered the void, with a strand of essence, can break the void!
The Palace Master of Bixue Palace used Shattering Void power to traverse, a power unimaginable in terror!"
"It seems, I have overlooked something important!"
"The soul of that Grandmaster has immense potential, and I have overlooked it!"
Seeing the change of the dual moons into a fish-eye shape, with even a tiny trace of Moonlight Power transforming Heaven and Earth, Zhou Yan's heart, like the change of moonlight, suddenly experienced a peculiar transformation!
At this moment, he suddenly calmed his heart, just standing there, temporarily abandoning all the knowledge of the Sword Dao of this world, first familiarizing himself with some Enlightenment Laws in the Grandmaster's memory.
Once this mindset changed, Zhou Yan felt as if his brow suddenly split open, a terrifying unimaginable black hole, suddenly whirled like a vortex deep within his brow.
Zhou Yan's sensing power sensed it, and suddenly, as the vortex pulled fiercely, the scene of the dual moons' moonlight halos he was just looking at abruptly changed.
At this time, suddenly everything around became silent, with nothingness all around.
It was as if he had arrived in a desolate void, floating in the void, everywhere empty.
He looked up at the sky, which was colorless and murky.
Looking down, there was a shallow gray liquid beneath, like a viscous jelly, desolate too.
"What... what is this?"
Zhou Yan stood there in astonishment.
At this moment, a shadow suddenly condensed in the void, standing in front of Zhou Yan shortly thereafter.
Just by standing there, the person made Zhou Yan feel a terror so suffocating it wasn't the main point; the main point was that this person was actually the... Grandmaster!
...
The moment he saw this man, Zhou Yan's heart trembled violently.
He suddenly thought, how could such a pie-falling-from-the-sky situation occur? Most likely, he might be facing a body seizure.
Compared to such supreme powers, what resistance could he possibly have?
However, even knowing this, Zhou Yan absolutely refused to resign to his fate.
"You needn't worry. I am but a wisp of obsession."
The shadow suddenly released a peculiarly unique energy that relaxed Zhou Yan's vigilance significantly.
His so-called defense and caution had no restrictive power against this shadow.
Zhou Yan's expression changed, but he soon became relieved.
He simply stopped resisting because he knew anything he did would be futile against such an opponent.
And since the person claimed no harm, Zhou Yan chose to believe it.
For there was no other way.
"Senior, what has happened to you?"
Zhou Yan's heart was still grateful; since he couldn't resist, and this person had indeed been kind to him, he decided to treat it with magnanimity.
Having this thought, he sincerely cared about the shadow.
"I... my story is long and better left untold. However, rest assured, what you received was a significant inheritance of my purified soul, stripped of extraneous elements, and it will immensely aid you."
The figure spoke softly.
Zhou Yan nodded before bowing deeply, respectfully saying, "Master, please accept the disciple's obeisance."
"Well... I am gratified that you have such intention." The figure did not stop Zhou Yan's action and nodded with satisfaction.
"This time, I encountered the Void Thunder Tribulation, my understanding of the Dao divided, so I abandoned much, taking another soul for reincarnation.
If in the future you could wander beyond the universe, perhaps we might meet again."
"The universe is a river connecting various civilizations' planes. The riverbanks harbor many different universes, with Void Thunder Tribulations surrounding. Cultivators must always possess a humble heart, recognizing their smallness, or inflated confidence will often lead to downfall...
In this life, I held onto much I should not have, giving up much I could not...
Thus, the Void Thunder Tribulation tore my soul, prompting my reincarnation to practice self-cultivation anew.
There is no need to abandon what you do not wish to for restrictions, nor insist on what should not be for pressure.
Therefore, you should do the same."
"Underfoot lies soul energy. In your world, all cultivate as Sword Cultivators; even souls are sword-shaped, so here the Tao revolves around the 'Sword.'
But three thousand Taos, differing paths converge to the same goal, and what of the sword? I shall assist you just this once, helping you condense a sword-shaped soul!"
As this was spoken, he waved his hand, gathering a boundless gray energy around him.
The void seemed as if it were about to collapse!
In his heart, Zhou Yan felt an endless astonishment, this man, so powerful beyond measure, so powerful that Zhou Yan could no longer fathom his strength!
Even having merged souls with him, Zhou Yan felt, before this man, himself was not even fit to be an ant.
Such strength was merely a feeling, yet Zhou Yan believed that even Bixue Palace's Palace Master before this man, with just one look, could be killed a thousand times over if he desired!
It's an indescribable sensation, for besides strength, Zhou Yan felt nothing else.
"Buzz~"
The heavens and the earth exploded, but this space remained exceedingly stable, unaffected, and Zhou Yan found it peculiar, not knowing where he stood.
Boundless energy, with a wave by this shadow, turned into a dazzling white light.
Then the shadow circumscribed his hands like Tai Chi, beginning to derive various True Intents of Xingyi Fist, each punch thrown, like hammering iron, with endless twelve-form Divine Beast images roaring, consistently flying into the white light.