The immense and towering city wall looked like a giant standing between heaven and earth from a distance!
On the wall, the thick stone surface exuded a sense of ancient desolation and an indescribable Sword Intent.
This was an ancient city with its own grandeur, like a sleeping giant dragon that seemed capable of unleashing catastrophic disasters upon awakening.
At a glance, the vast and profound sense made one's scalp tingle inexplicably, and an inexplicable coldness rose in their hearts.
Elder Xing invoked the Sword Spirit, streaking across the long sky, emerging from the Sword Array like a gap in space. Suddenly, the wall and everything else disappeared because, in that instant, countless distances had been crossed. Elder Xing brought Zhou Yan and others to a vast square of the Great Zhou Family.
Here, at this moment, the Sword Spirit Light of various elders descended one by one, each accompanied by male and female geniuses of either the Sword Intent Realm or the Sword Origin Realm.
At a glance, groups like this formed nearly seventy gatherings!
"Hahaha, so it's Elder Xing. I wonder if there are any geniuses from the two major cities you visited this time? The six geniuses you sent earlier were truly disappointing, only at the Sword Origin Realm First Layer Heaven! This time, did you pick talents from the Fourth Qi Jie?"
An old man laughed heartily and walked over when Zhou Yan and others descended.
Then, his face, which was still smiling, suddenly turned extremely splendid at that moment! He stared at Zhou Yan, Zhou Yao, Zhou Gucheng, and others by Zhou Yan's side, his eyes almost popping out.
"Bah—"
He couldn't hold it back and immediately spewed a mouthful of Sword Qi and saliva, almost instantly opening his mouth and laughing crazily, "Ah? Hahahahaha, Sword Realm… Sword Realm one, Sword Beginning Realm, three, and also a single Qi Column, single Qi Jie… Zhou Hexing, couldn't you find anyone else? Grabbing such worthless trash… Are you out of your mind? You dare to bring such goods to the family? You're completely done for!"
The seemingly young white-browed old man looked at Zhou Gucheng and others as if they were monsters.
At this time, Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Yao, and others' faces turned bright red, their lips bit until they bled.
"Elder Ning, do you think Elder Xing can be dumber than you? You'll find out who's foolish soon enough!"
Zhou Yuan looked at the white-browed old man arrogantly and contemptuously, the words choking him, his finger pointing at Zhou Yuan, unable to speak.
"What? Dissatisfied with me? I am delighted! Let me tell you, these people this time, Zhou Ting and I vouch for them. If you dare to mess around, don't blame me for being disrespectful."
Zhou Yuan spoke dominantly.
He remained aggressive, just like when he faced Zhou Yan back then, but now, the object had changed.
"Zhou Yuan, I was merely speaking with Elder Xing. We had a previous covert rivalry, unrelated to you. Well, this time, it seems Young Master has some important matters to handle, and he's been here looking for you twice already. You better go quickly."
The white-browed elder, Elder Ning, was somewhat resentful but not angry, instead conveying information to Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yan watched this scene and understood Zhou Yuntian's strength.
He was so powerful that even Zhou Yuan, who was merely his errand holder, had such a significant position! It wasn't because Zhou Yuan had great talent, considering that the Third Level of Sword Intent Peak Realm was quite impressive, yet, sensing Zhou Yan during his appraisal, it was apparent that Elder Ning was a strong practitioner of the Sword Heart Realm.
It crossed over a grand realm, and in terms of strength, Zhou Yuan was inevitably not an opponent, but he could speak so domineeringly, and Elder Ning still had to give him face, not daring to get angry.
"Young Master is looking for me? Then I must hurry!"
Zhou Yuan was stunned. Hearing this news, the thought of standing up for Elder Xing vanished instantly, and he hastily prepared to leave.
Right then, a massive Sword Intent soared into the sky, transforming into a humanoid illusion in the celestial dome, a young man with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes. Though he appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, his eyes seemed to hold the accumulation of endless years, presenting a pair of extremely aged eyes.
His long hair fluttered, dancing with the wind, standing in the void like a Heavenly God.
His illusion was enormous, spanning a hundred yards, like a sky-pillar giant. Standing in the void, he obscured the sky, blocking half of it.
"All elders of the Great Zhou Family, each True Disciple, swiftly come to the 'Sword Soul Hall' to discuss matters!"
This line was said only once, yet it rolled like thunder, with every person's ears, mind, and heart constantly replaying this sentence.
This was a magnificent and domineering Sword Intent, directly etched into everyone's hearts.
"This person, what powerful cultivation, a realm that is deep and unfathomable..."
Zhou Yan felt uncertain, gaining several degrees of dread and caution toward someone whose realm even his soul couldn't sense.
"This person, could he not be the current Family Head of the Zhou family? Or is he someone else?"
As Zhou Yan pondered, he heard Elder Xing hesitantly say, "Zhou Yan, oversee this place. I'll be right back—hmm, Zhou Han, Zhou Ting, Zhou Yuan, follow me!"
"Yes, Elder!"
Zhou Han, Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Ting responded in unison.
"Okay."
Zhou Yan gave a simple reply, and then Elder Xing took Zhou Ting and Zhou Yuan, transforming directly into a Sword Light and flying towards the distance.
Once the elders successively departed, the entire massive hall suddenly became lively.
Zhou Yan intended to inquire with Zhou Ying beside him to get some clarity on who the person before might be, and whether it might be Zhou Yuntian. At this moment, those talented individuals brought by Elder Ning were all looking unfriendly towards Zhou Yan and others.
When Zhou Yan gazed over, these eight young men and seven young women, led by a man in a green robe with disheveled hair, walked over arrogantly.
"You all are the supposed geniuses from Canglan City? Among you, who is Zhou Wangyou's son?"
The young man scanned Zhou Yan's group with a condescending look, overlooking them.
When he spoke, the group behind him looked at Zhou Yan and others with expressions as if watching a play, a look like seeing dead men.
Everyone had the same expression.
Zhou Yan was slightly disturbed in his heart, a ripple subtly forming.
If one person showed such an expression, it might be blind trust, but for this crowd of geniuses, everyone exhibiting such a look… Coupled with Elder Ning's earlier arrogant mockery of Elder Xing, there must be a brilliantly exceptional character among this group.
Being meticulous in thought, he showed no sign for the time being but intended to see what this person would do.
However, he still released his Soul Power, and after some sensing, Zhou Yan discovered that this person had reached the Peak of Sword Intent First Layer Heaven!
His age didn't exceed eighteen! That meant he must have reached the Sword Intent Realm before sixteen, to potentially advance to the Peak of Sword Intent First Layer Heaven before eighteen!
Zhou Yan thought deeply. His Soul Power penetrated more precisely into this young man's Qi Column Qi Sea, sensing from afar—a sudden realization struck him.
Indeed, this youth was Single Qi Column Four Qi Jie!
He couldn't help but feel more solemn, and at this moment, Zhou Xian had already stood up proudly!
"I, Zhou Xian, am the son of Zhou Wangyou. Who are you, this mongrel, to dare bark here?!"
Zhou Xian was extremely arrogant, especially since he didn't know this rampant pop-out figure's realm, and confident in being just below Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying with his Single Qi Column Three Qi Jie, he became equally pompous.
"Oh? So, it's you, the mongrel! Back then, your father Zhou Wangyou and someone named 'Zhou Wangqing' died by my hand. Today—die!"
As he spoke, everyone thought he had more to say, but at that moment, two terrifying Sword Intents suddenly shot out from his eyes!
This was the Sword Intent of destruction and slaughter!
This person cultivated a notorious—Slaughter and Destruction Sword Dao!
Those two Sword Intents seemed to suddenly fixate Zhou Xian's soul. In that moment, he felt like he was going to die!
It was soul-targeting carnage, the two Sword Intent lights abruptly penetrated his soul, and he felt his death was imminent!
But at that moment, a torrent of Soul Energy surged like a massive wave.
Zhou Xian shuddered violently and then discovered that he was still standing intact, except that Zhou Yan had already stood in front of him.
Zhou Yan, with his back towards him, seemed to block those two terrifying Sword Lights for him, saving his life.
Moreover, Zhou Yan seemed to have selflessly infused his Soul Energy into him, saving his nearly shattered soul!
At this moment, Zhou Xian's heart was deeply touched!
Proud as he was, he suddenly lowered his head.
...
"Eh? Another one courting death!"
The youth's face was chiseled like a knife's edge, with eyes narrow and long like a phoenix's, flashing a kind of sinister cunning light.
He spoke as his hand reached for the hilt of his blood-red long sword at his waist like lightning, and a flash followed. Zhou Yan felt his neck sliced by a sword.
Zhou Yan's pupils shrank. This sword move was unseen, and the opponent had already struck.
Yet, he didn't feel the threat of death because the Sword Spirit of the Silver Snow Sword rippled almost instantly, transforming silently into a transparent shield, enveloping his neck.
"Clang—"
A muffled sound occurred, and that youth stepped back abruptly six steps, while Zhou Yan stood still, unharmed.
Zhou Yan's expression remained unchanged, staring at the youth with eyes akin to looking at a dead man.
And the youth's pupils contracted abruptly, a look of extreme shock and seriousness surfacing on his face!
Meanwhile, the group of males and females beside him, who appeared as spectators, were utterly stunned, their expressions frozen!
That lethal strike targeted the opponent's neck, leaving them motionless, not to mention that their number one genius with widespread infamy was instead repelled six steps by a rebound!
Who was this young man really?
"Survive my three strikes, and you may leave!"
Zhou Yan stared at the individual, eyes filled with killing intent.
"Go ahead!"
The man shouted coldly.
Zhou Yan moved, and the Broken Worry Sword at his waist suddenly emanated a Sword Soul.
There was no earth-shaking momentum, nor any heaven-and-earth-shattering Sword Intent, only a Sword Soul illusion that streaked through like a startling flash of snow-white thunder, blindingly bright as if it would pierce all eyes!
"Whoosh—"
A Sword chime resounded!
"Poof—"
The Slaughter Sword Dao phoenix-eyed youth's head suddenly soared into the air, a spray of blood gushing like a column!
"Poof poof poof poof poof poof—"
The fifteen young men and women behind this youth had their heads soar simultaneously into the air at this moment.
With this sword move, Zhou Yan activated one of the Sword Soul Illusions sealed within the Broken Worry Sword, exterminating this youth and the fifteen young men and women in one fell swoop!
One by one, the heads landed half a minute later, rolling like blood-soaked balls before Zhou Lingyi, Zhou Lingyao, Zhou Xian, and the others.
On those faces, the expressions of the young men and women seemed still struck in disbelief, confusion, bewilderment, and terror...