CHAPTER 774: CHAPTER 195 TAI CHU BATTLEFIELD

Endless Ice Palace, War Soul Hall.

Though this place had proliferated into a world of its own, to its master, it was merely a land of inheritance.

Anything beyond responsibility and obligation was not within the master’s jurisdiction.

Life and death, turmoil and peace, all were the same.

The opportunities for Commandery Princess Hongyi to leave the War Soul Hall were sparse, but each departure left her feeling lost, empty, and bewildered.

In that breeding ground of reincarnation, due to loneliness and solitude, she had also transferred a Soul Split there, living out a life neither dull nor glorious.

The contention and discourse with the low-realm cultivators of that world, the perils in and of themselves, were just another form of enjoyment and cultivation.

Otherwise, how could time pass by? And how could she pay attention to Lei Yan King’s growth?

The Commandery Princess Hongyi of the Sword Burial Ancestor Star was thus also the very same Commandery Princess Hongyi; however, that was merely her Void Body.

Commandery Princess Hongyi watched Zhou Yan in silence, awaiting his answer.

She wanted to see what choice this man would ultimately make.

The choice between staying and leaving, between Affectionate Sword Dao and Lifeless Sword Dao, would reveal his true nature.

...

Zhou Yan looked at Gu Xi, who was quietly sleeping beside Commandery Princess Hongyi, and understood her intention.

The essence of Gu Xi was just Gu Xi, and the essence of Bai Ying was only Bai Ying.

Though they stemmed from the same bloodline in the past past, they had lived out individual selves as if they were Void Bodies, and were no longer the same person.

Both had developed independent personalities, complete souls, similar yet different inheritances, to the extent that they had become two complete individuals.

If a distinction truly needed to be made, it could be said they had the relationship of twins; this was the most appropriate comparison.

The Little Fox from the past life was adorable, sensible, and attentive, silently accompanying Lei Yan King.

While this life’s Gu Xi was even more charmingly naive, very silly and innocent, holding onto her reliance and affection for her kin like a child.

"If only I can go, then I shall. There’s no need to choose. Isn’t that why I came here? Otherwise, I would have returned to my Ancestor Land and bid farewell to this Star Domain."

"It’s just... when Xi’er awakens, I must ultimately depart."

Zhou Yan murmured to himself, his expression serene yet carrying an indescribable melancholy.

"Departure is for a better reunion in the future, we all understand that. If you enter now and obtain the Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone, you will have fulfilled our agreement. In the future, it will be up to you to establish the inheritance path for our Jade Fox Lineage. Meanwhile, I will merge the Endless Ice Palace with the Yuan Ci Secret Realm and reopen the Netherworld Heavenly Road to ensure the safety of your kin." Commandery Princess Hongyi softly stated.

"Or perhaps, could I take it as you threatening me with the safety of my kin and friends?"

Zhou Yan’s gaze sharpened as he questioned.

"Do you think I would? In this world, perhaps no one understands Lei Yan King better than I do, so I wouldn’t do such a thing, rest assured. I sincerely wish to make the damaged Endless Ice Palace the devouring source for Yuan Ci Secret Realm, forming an eternal secret ancestral land and protect both us, and our remaining bloodline.

These ghosts, after all, carry a whiff of the Jade Fox Clan’s blood essence, albeit mixed, they are our younger kinsmen. I too should do something for them at this time."

Commandery Princess Hongyi’s smile held a hint of bleakness, showings signs of exhaustion and weariness, as if fatigued by the erosion of time. She truly seemed tired as if waiting for this day had truly been difficult.

Zhou Yan initially intended to say more, but seeing her state, he suddenly felt a pang of empathy. But this was not seduction, not influence; the Jade Fox Clan couldn’t affect Zhou Yan, not in the past, and even less so now.

Yet, the emotional weight in Commandery Princess Hongyi’s tired eyes suddenly touched Zhou Yan’s heart, just as if he was seeing a weary glance from a Master who had passed on an inheritance.

In that moment, Zhou Yan’s heart stirred.

"Alright, then... However you wish to handle it, once Xi’er has recovered and knows all the reasons, I’ll help you reorganize the force of the Endless War Soul Hall..."

Zhou Yan’s gaze swept over the cultivators of the Ancient Ice Glacier; these cultivators had now become potential threats and must be completely eradicated.

"Actually, I wish to inquire about something — do the cultivators who die here have a chance of resurrection?"

Zhou Yan, recalling some previously tragic events and considering Commandery Princess Hongyi’s own ability to restore the rules of this world, asked.

Even though Zhou Yan knew this was nearly impossible, he still wanted to know.

"The changes here are not under my control, so I’m sorry. If they haven’t left behind a Void Soul or Lifebound Essence Blood, then there’s no possibility. If they have, you have the power of the Soul Path Vast Qi and the Cultivation Technique of the Nirvana Scripture to revive them."

Commandery Princess Hongyi seemed to understand Zhou Yan’s thoughts, thus she spoke quite straightforwardly.

Zhou Yan’s expression grew a shade darker. He nodded and said, "Take good care of my friends. After I return, I’ll inform you about the identities of the cultivators who have infiltrated here. Aside from those who had some interaction with me in my past life, you can decide the fate of the other cultivators. Life or death, that’s your choice; I won’t question it."

Zhou Yan stated.

"Yes, you can rest assured on this matter. If they have no other schemes, they can be sent away according to the Heavenly Dao Rules. If they have malicious intentions, I will harvest their lives to replenish the dried Soul Sea."

"That’s good, then."

Zhou Yan nodded, then turned back and explained to the Evil King, Fang Hong, Liu Jin, and the other four about the past relationship between Princess Hongyi and the Lei Yan King, asking them to wait patiently in the Endless War Soul Hall for a while.

No one objected to Zhou Yan’s decision. In fact, having arrived here, no cultivator harbored any illusions of luck anymore.

What was there to be discontented about if they could have a stable and safe outcome?

After Fang Hong, Liu Jin, Fairy Die, Yaochi Saint, and the other four cautioned Zhou Yan to be careful, they watched as he entered the interior of the Endless Ice Palace via the Transmission Array Plate opened by Princess Hongyi.

...

The interior of the Ice Palace was a world of Extreme Cold Ice Soul, grand and spectacular, like a crystal palace, incredibly resplendent.

As one walked within, they would feel an intense cold. That kind of cold was bone-piercing, fierce, and unbearable.

Zhou Yan possessed the features of an Extreme Cold Sword Body within his Sword Body and also knew the Condensing Method of the Extreme Cold Sword Body; he simply hadn’t focused on the other Sword Bodies due to having all of the Seven Great Sword Bodies. But here and now, Zhou Yan was condensing his Extreme Cold Sword Body.

Purple Flame transformed into a scorching sun, which then shifted into Extreme Cold Intent. Zhou Yan’s Soul Body, like a physical body, exhibited Ice Sword Intent, and gradually he no longer felt a trace of the cold.

"Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone..."

Zhou Yan traversed for a long time, as if he were moving along the wheels of history, walking towards the era of Tai Chu.

Along the way, he saw many Ice Soul Stones formed from desiccated bones, but these Ice Soul Stones were lacking in divinity.

Despite this, those skeletal remains emitted a strong, terrifying presence. Each skeletal figure revealed a ghastly sight of decayed flesh, corrupted essence blood, and death.

Through the skeletal remains of the Jade Fox Clan, Zhou Yan could imagine the tragic events that once took place here.

"All died unnaturally—each skeleton could be materials for crafting Venerable Weapons, how mighty they were, yet all dead. It’s as though a demonically evil creature devoured all life in this Ancient Land in one breath... Why is it so? This place has become an unsurpassable land of doom."

The further Zhou Yan walked, the more his heart palpitated. He had been here before, seen only a corner of this Ice Mountain, and had only discussed plans with Princess Hongyi.

Now, as he personally set foot here, his heart pounded and his mood grew heavy, as if he were on the verge of suffocation.

At this moment, it felt as if a Primordial Fierce Beast were sighing and wailing between heaven and earth, its gaze fixed on him, causing him to feel a thorn in his back.

"Hum—"

Suddenly, Zhou Yan’s soul quivered, unleashing a vast and frightening Soul Power. Vast Qi shook all around, and that overwhelming sensation causing palpitations instantly vanished, everything returned to normal.

Zhou Yan continued moving forward. In front of the Ancient Land, he saw silver-white oval metal fragments on the ground, shining with a gloomy cold light.

This was a streamlined luster of metal, even in this core land it was glaringly eye-catching.

"This is Extreme Cold Secret Silver."

"It’s a top material of the Mechanical Clan."

In an instant, Zhou Yan used his own memories and understanding to arrive at this conclusion.

His heart sank.

Taking another step forward, he unveiled a corner of the cruelty of a prehistoric battle. A downscaled ancient battlefield was filled with broken swords and desolate graves.

This was the true Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb, desolate and lonely.

That once Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb was but a speck of dust compared to this place.

Rusted fragments of Damaged Immortal Soldiers, endless circular discs, gigantic mechanical arms, and the deep, invincible muzzles of wormhole electric cannons, and so on—everything was horrifying.

Zhou Yan passed through this ancient battlefield space, heading forward.

It was like he traveled through space-time, returning to the era when the Jade Fox Clan battled the Mechanical Clan.

It was as if an ancient voice was sighing by his ear, sighing, and weeping.

It was like piercing through the entire ancient era of Tai Chu, causing Zhou Yan’s spirit to nearly shatter, his soul beginning to show signs of weathering and decay.

"That... what is that? Why does my powerful soul tremble and seem on the verge of collapse?"

Zhou Yan was alarmed; in an instant, he saw a decaying Mechanical Clan’s severed arm, tightly grasping a piece of the void.

Within the void, there was a Female War God in red Combat Armor, her body pierced by a dark ray of light, pinned to the void, but her hands tightly clutched a Crystal Heart.

This was... the ultimate energy Soul Crystal!

"Is this what’s referred to as ’inheritance’?"

"Is it the Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone?"

"Why do I suddenly know all this?"

"Why do I suddenly feel such strong belonging here?"

"Back when I was the Lei Yan King, and the battle with Jiang He, why does it feel like it happened here?"

...