Zhou Yan's hand grasped the void, and a jet-black sword light suddenly fell into his hand.
The blade of the Broken Worry Sword was drenched in blood, and as it fell into Zhou Yan's hand, the blade trembled.
With this trembling, droplets of blood, like fish scales, formed into a wave-like shape, continuously seeping into the body of the sword.
This Broken Worry Sword could even absorb a thread of essence blood from those it slew!
This was a vicious weapon, a Sword of Slaughter!
Zhou Yan felt an unparalleled exhilaration within himself, as if the murderous intent in his heart had been magnified boundlessly.
But this influence, just as it appeared in Zhou Yan's heart, was instantly suppressed by his determined will, quelling this unspeakable murderous thought.
This time, facing the peerless genius aura at the Sword Intent First Layer Heaven with four Qi Jie, Zhou Yan felt considerable pressure!
Especially since, if not for the Sword Spirit Xiao Xue of the Silver Snow Sword materializing in that instant to block a strike for him, it would have been his head flying off, instead of these people's!
Even with his terrifying soul power, he hadn't detected the young man's move, yet the sword was already at his neck!
What an incredible strike! Zhou Yan didn't wish to evaluate it because, judging by the outcome, he had essentially lost.
Yet his heart was cold and determined, and knowing that with the Silver Snow Sword and the first move of the Dragon Form Swordsmanship, Canglong Sword, he couldn't kill this person, he decisively unleashed another trump card—three imprinted Sword Soul Illusions from the Palace Master of Bixue Palace.
His mind was resolute, and upon the situation where he was almost killed in an instant, he developed the resolve to cut the grass and root out the enemy.
Of course, this was also to establish authority!
Who this person was, or what backing he had, Zhou Yan didn't know, but this person had killed Zhou Wangyou and Zhou Wangqing.
Zhou Wangyou was Zhou Xian's father. Zhou Wangqing was Zhou Liang's father, also Zhou Xian and Zhou Yan's second uncle.
Zhou Wangchen was the third in the family, ranking third. Zhou Xian's father was the fourth. The eldest, Zhou Wangchou, and the fifth, Zhou Wangxin, had also been gone for a long time, their life or death unknown.
It was also today that Zhou Yan and the others learned that the second uncle and fourth uncle had been killed by this man.
No matter how, these two were also his father's blood brothers. After hearing the words of the young man with the phoenix eyes, Zhou Yan already harbored killing intent, thus he continuously watched Zhou Xian's situation.
Until that person was halfway through speaking and suddenly made a killer move, Zhou Yan reacted in one swift motion, activating his powerful soul energy to save Zhou Xian's life.
Moreover, he felt that Zhou Xian had surrendered completely to him.
Holding the Broken Worry Sword in his hand, Zhou Yan shook his soul power, and the blood on the Broken Worry Sword, still absorbing essence blood, suddenly turned to fine dust and dispersed between heaven and earth.
Then the Broken Worry Sword suddenly transformed into a sword light, with a "clang," and flew into the sword scabbard at Zhou Yan's waist.
From start to finish, he killed, slaying this entire group of geniuses without a frown or any unusual expression. This left Zhou Lingyi and others completely stunned, and even many of the geniuses watching the scene on the vast square couldn't help but steal more than a few glances at Zhou Yan, wanting to remember the look of this ruthless legend to avoid conflict with him in the future!
Before, many cultivators thought they could watch a show, witnessing the phoenix-eyed youth's invincible might in killing once more; but who'd have thought that this nearly domineering and unrivaled Destruction Sword Dao cultivator would be killed in seconds by someone today!
This made Zhou Yan's ferocious reputation spread immediately.
...
"Did you see? It's that guy who killed sixteen geniuses in Zhou Yuan's group with one sword! Zhou Yuan! The first genius of Zongyao City: fourteen-year-old Sword Intent Realm, eighteen-year-old Sword Intent First Layer Heaven peak, a four Qi Jie Destruction Sword Dao cultivator! And he was beheaded with a single sword!"
"This is a ruthless character, not to be provoked! His talent is likely extraordinary, and his strength unfathomable!"
"No sensing of Qi Column or Qi Jie, probably extremely remarkable! Zhou Yuan and sixteen others were killed in one move, showing this person is ruthless and fierce, a peerless villain. It'd be best to take a detour upon seeing him!"
"Didn't you see how arrogant and conceited Zhou Yuan was too? Zhou Yuan proactively provoked and was justly killed!"
"Zhou Yuan's sword had a trace of time law comprehension, making his strike extremely fast. He used this sword to decapitate many, but didn't expect that his own head was fated to be cut off!"
"The Zhou Family of Zongyao City, hmph, deserved such an end! Did they think having a true disciple brother here made them invincible?"
...
All kinds of discussions were carried to them from afar, but whenever Zhou Yan's gaze swept over, these voices either ceased, lowered, or disappeared entirely—his sword's power was such that it astounded all the geniuses in the square.
"Thud—"
Zhou Xian suddenly knelt with both knees before Zhou Yan at this moment.
"Brother, I'm sorry, before, it was all my fault! In the future, I will never make things difficult for you again! I hereby swear, should I ever trouble Brother again, let me be unable to comprehend swordsmanship for life, shatter into pieces, and perish!"
Zhou Xian, at this moment, made an oath regarding Enlightenment!
This was a very venomous oath; if violated, one would face a complete collapse in heaven and earth law comprehension, resulting in death, soul shattering, and ultimate dissolution.
Such an arrogant person as Zhou Xian making such a vow now showed his sincerity was fully demonstrated.
"Get up!"
Zhou Yan softly said.
"Brother won't forgive me; I'll just kneel here. I, Zhou Xian, was wrong, but do I not even have the courage to admit it?!"
Zhou Xian stubbornly said.
Zhou Yan turned and glanced at Zhou Xian, reached out to help him up, saying, "I don't blame you; you need not feel guilty or blame yourself. To me, I've never cared about these things."
Zhou Yan looked at Zhou Xian at this moment, speaking calmly.
Zhou Xian stood up silently after being held up by Zhou Yan, keeping his head low, his heart feeling deeply, but saying nothing more.
Everything seemed to be understood without words.
...
On the entire square, Zhou Yan didn't wait long before Elder Xing and Elder Ning flew back.
But as soon as they landed and saw the bodies and severed heads scattered everywhere, their eyes almost popped out in shock.
"What… What happened? What… What strong person came here?"
Elder Ning asked, extremely shocked and with an ugly expression.
"No strong person came here. This group of Zhou Yuan came to kill me, and I killed them."
Zhou Yan said with a calm gaze, his expression cold, his voice indifferent.
"Killed them… you? How could you, only in the rubbish Second Level of Sword Qi, kill him, a peak Sword Intent First Layer True Man Level genius? Are you joking?"
Elder Ning exclaimed in anger, almost laughing.
"If Zhou Yan says it was him, then it was him! Zhou Hexing, don't stir trouble or get angry; you need not handle this, since I've already informed the Family Head about Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying's dual Qi Columns and two Qi Jie each!
Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying will be heavily nurtured as geniuses by our Great Zhou Family in the future!"
Elder Xing stepped forward, blocking the Sword Intent gradually emanating from Elder Ning, speaking in the same indifferent tone.
"Zhou Hexing, you're also making a joke—what, what did you say? Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying, two geniuses with dual Qi Columns and two Qi Jie each? You, you, you—"
Elder Ning initially was furious, as if the blood in his body was roaring.
He didn't make a move, but the fire inside him was boiling! Yet, upon hearing those 'dual Qi Columns' words, his body suddenly felt as if plunged into a glacier, his previously heated, agitated blood instantly cooling down.
His impulsive feelings were harshly extinguished in that instant!
This was evidently the most impactful news he had ever heard in his life!
"Truly, truly dual Qi Columns, and each has two Qi Jie? Are you sure, absolutely sure?"
Elder Ning no longer looked at the headless corpses he once pitied; instead, his gaze was firmly fixed on Zhou Hexing.
Zhou Hexing, already with a head full of white hair, suddenly stood as if explosively animated, his face also turning cold, somewhat displeased, saying, "I brought the Abnormal Treasure Stones, this testing is surely the most precise!"
"Moreover, in such matters, without certainty, do you think I'd dare report upwards?
Also, with Zhou Yan's status, if not for such talent, would those swordmen and Sword Beginning Realm practitioners have a chance to enter here?"
"Do you really think I'm a fool?!"
Zhou Hexing somewhat mockingly retorted.
Yet Elder Ning didn't become angry, simply standing dazed for a while.
His gaze quietly shifted towards Zhou Yan, then to Zhou Ying, becoming incomparably complex.
"Moreover, Zhou Yan's Qi Column not only ranks first, but his comprehension ability is also one of the best in ten thousand years. Given time, he will surely become a remarkable figure in the Carefree Main City and even the Water Domain!"
Elder Xing earnestly added.
"Well... If it is indeed so, then those people died deservedly. Zhou Yan, Zhou Ying, strive well."
Elder Ning sighed deeply, no longer demanding justice for the deceased geniuses. His look at Zhou Yan was gradually tinged with respect, his tone softening in his words.
"Yes, Elder Ning."
Zhou Yan gazed at Elder Ning, his expression softening slightly.
Zhou Ying, meanwhile, offered Elder Ning a slight smile, making him feel somewhat flattered.
At this moment, Elder Xing approached Zhou Yan, taking out a Golden Sword Seal, saying, "Zhou Yan, Zhou Ying, this is the Golden Sword Seal bestowed by the Family Head, equating to a symbol of status. After taking it, you may also view the Book Collection Pavilion's first to third floors without obstruction. Accessing the fourth and beyond the fifth level will require you to accumulate contributions to the family..."
As Elder Xing spoke, he pulled out a ten-centimeter golden small sword, remarkably like a miniature Spirit Sword, possessing a very unique aura.
Zhou Yan and Zhou Ying bowed and accepted it at the same time.