CHAPTER 748: CHAPTER 172: I PROMISE NOT TO FIGHT BACK!

How far can a person’s genius truly extend?

If asked this question two months ago, Xiao Fei would have answered confidently, "A genius can reach the level of Prince Gles of the Returning True Clan—a figure unparalleled in the world, lauded by all Ten Thousand Realms, a prodigious hero, the innate spirit of all beings."

But now, Xiao Fei suddenly understood another kind of genius—one whose calm, indifferent, even slightly cold demeanor belied a powerful and dominant nobility and talent.

In Xiao Fei’s eyes, even Gles paled in comparison to this kind of talent.

It was simply an idea, a judgment. Perhaps right now the gap between Zhou Yan and Gles was immense, but Xiao Fei was certain that one day, when their Realms grew closer, Zhou Yan would undoubtedly surpass Gles.

Xiao Fei could even envisage that future.

In her life, Xiao Fei, often praised as a genius by Palace Master Xiao Wanting, knew the feeling of standing above the clouds, protected by others. It was precisely because of this that she felt so deeply moved by Zhou Yan’s abilities.

Originally, she thought that knowing Zhou Yan was the identity of Lei Yan King was to hold him in high esteem, but unexpectedly, Zhou Yan’s effortless actions left her unable to recover for a long time, completely astounded.

Xiao Fei gradually felt that the Ten Thousand Realms Supreme King, Lei Yan King, was not the bloodthirsty monster as rumors suggested, who only knew how to forcibly surge levels without true comprehension of Enlightenment. As it turned out, all those rumors were unreliable.

The way Zhou Yan manipulated Heaven and Earth with a mere raise of his hand was the most potent proof.

Xiao Fei felt like she was passing through an illusion, carried by Zhou Yan’s Golden Kite Divine Soul, traveling through the Void, completely in a daze.

...

"The Void node is right here," declared a proud young man in white. "The Venerable once said that the Ancient Ice Glacier holds a point for Time Origin, which I thought was extremely difficult to find. Yet after some speculation, I realized it’s actually not so complicated."

"Indeed, the point of Time Origin is usually very difficult to discover. However, since the Ancient Ice Glacier has detached from its Plane and was pushed away into the Endless Desolate Domain Void by an unknown Great Power with the boundless technique of ’Hand Pushing Star River’, the point of Time Origin has become easy to locate."

"Hmm, just like our Returning True Clan’s lower-class Prison Plane in the Nine Origin Universe, it’s only with a point of Time Origin that there’s a chance for the Nine Origin Reincarnation. We of the Returning True Clan plan to rebuild this lower-class Prison Plane of the Nine Origin Universe and turn it into a brand-new Upper-class Plane, connected to the True God Plane. Then, through Nine Origin Reincarnation, we can seek a brand-new opportunity for Transformation."

"The Returning True Clan is truly ambitious. However, I’ve heard that the ’Nine Origin Soul Sea’ has experienced a spatial rift, emitting a beam of light to the Sword Burial Ancestor Star in the Nine Origin Universe, causing many excellent Seeds to vanish one after another."

"Perhaps it’s a next life wrought by Lei Yan King himself, an attempt at Transcendence."

"The Nine Origin Soul Sea is a consolidation of the Heavenly Dao; it’s not that easy for disruptions to occur. As for those Seeds, even if they leave the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, they still bear its mark. Beings raised in captivity, with such a mark, are like slaves branded in the Ancient Era, an imprint that cannot be changed.

How can such beings compare to us? Lei Yan King? His next life? If I, Jiang Yiqing, were to meet him, a single slap would be enough to kill him!

Lei Yan King’s previous life was nothing more than a combination of a Demon Heart and a Devouring Sword Body mutation, enabling him to become endlessly powerful. He has already given up, that’s why he’s so powerful, brilliant like a meteor, possessing only a moment’s glory!"

...

A group of Cultivators had already gathered at a glacier resembling the Soul Sea, frequently discussing among themselves.

And during this period, more Cultivators arrived here, one after another, each of them very powerful.

After all, this place held a point of Space-Time Origin, unknown to normal Cultivators. However, since the Ancient Icefield was previously pushed outside the Plane into the Endless Desolate Domain Void, this location held fewer secrets. As long as a Cultivator possessed top-tier talent, they could discover this point.

Zhou Yan, at this moment, steered the Golden Kite Sword Soul, and after descending with Xiao Fei through the Void, entered directly into this world. He could hear most of the Cultivators’ conversations.

Xiao Fei stood by Zhou Yan’s side, appearing almost like a Maid.

Some Cultivators recognized Xiao Fei and intended to greet her, but upon noticing Zhou Yan’s hidden terrifying aura and Xiao Fei’s distant demeanor, they instinctively abandoned the idea.

Zhou Yan’s gaze swept over the Cultivators indifferently before he withdrew his eyes and found a spot to settle in, also ceasing to move forward.

The point of Time Origin was shifting, but it would eventually stabilize in this area. Only after stabilizing could one utilize this point to enter the interior of the Ancient Ice Glacier.

"When the variable occurred in the Ancient Ice Glacier, I received a message from the Venerable, saying that the glacier’s shift caused many plans to shatter. It’s like someone deliberately sought to destroy the arrangements—a futile and thankless task, yet someone is doing it!"

"Hmph, thinking they can escape by such means? If any of you encounter Lei Yan King’s next life, just kill him directly. My Jiang family will provide top-level Ancient Scriptures for you to study as a reward."

"Several Venerables are alarmed; all the meticulous plans seem to have nowhere to stand."

"The Venerable is furious, so he would rather destroy everything than let him continue to grow."

"It seems like everything has been completely overturned, and all efforts have been for naught. I don’t know the specifics, but for now, I just hope to get my hands on the Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone to use it to quell my soul, eradicate the Demon Heart, and make further progress."

...

Zhou Yan listened carefully. With his current ability as one of the Seven Great Sword Bodies and the sensing strength of his Nine Orifice Exquisite Heart, he could completely sense that type of sound transmission between cultivators.

The secrets of those cultivators couldn’t be concealed from Zhou Yan either. In the high-level planes, Zhou Yan might not be a match for them, but in this Ancient Ice Glacier, Zhou Yan was stronger than all of them.

Zhou Yan habitually touched his nose and pondered. The Jiang family members were here this time, along with quite a few from the Returning True Clan and the Blood Barbarian Clan, as well as other Sky Demons, Heavenly Beauty Clan members, and Netherworld Clan members. However, many people seemed to have received the Venerable’s command to slay him, Zhou Yan, on this ground.

Was everyone aware of Zhou Yan’s entry into the Ancient Ice Glacier? Some had even publicized the ’Essence Qi’ of his soul from his time on the Sword Burial Ancestor Star. If Zhou Yan were still in his previous state, these cultivators would have been able to identify him immediately.

"As expected, the Xuanyuan Ancestor was right. There’s an unknown scheme targeting me, but now it has been forcefully crushed by the Xuanyuan Ancestor. Their plans have fallen through, and they will definitely ’destroy their nets in despairing hysterics’. If they cannot obtain what they want, then their path leads to destruction."

Zhou Yan mused to himself. From the information he had gathered, he understood that at the moment when the Ancient Ice Glacier was disturbed, the Venerables immediately knew their plans had failed and began issuing killing orders. This alone indicated that a part of the Lei Yan King’s missing memories had been tampered with and that, in the final battle between the Lei Yan King and Jiang He, the Lei Yan King had been defeated.

"Nowadays, they can’t record or grasp my aura, and revealing my true identity while embarking on a killing spree isn’t really an issue. Moreover, once I leave this place, I will return to Earth and transform again. By then, if I’ve truly mastered the Eighty-nine Mysterious Skills and the 72 Transformations, should I worry about being recognized? So, shall I go on a killing spree, leaving all these high-born geniuses here? Or devour them to use as energy for further growth? But by doing so, might I attract the attention of the more powerful beings, forcing them to descend here?"

Zhou Yan couldn’t help having such thoughts.

Now that the Xingyi True Dao had transformed into the real Divine Tao and the various changes of the Xingyi Divine Essence, the twelve forms’ transformation didn’t possess a single characteristic. His abilities were inscrutable, and combined with the strength of the Emperor Blood, others could not grasp his aura at all. To cause havoc in the true form of the Lei Yan King and then leave without a trace would indeed be exhilarating.

And the others could only bear it in silence, unable to voice their hardships, unable to find his trail.

Having made his decision, Zhou Yan no longer intended to conceal or hide himself. He prepared to officially take up his former reputation—the name of the Lei Yan King—and make his move again.

At this moment, through the void, three women in white muslin dresses and two men in green scholarly robes descended.

Amongst this group, the two men and two women had somewhat exotic petal-shaped ears, their eyes very large, the men handsome and the women breathtakingly beautiful, exuding a natural spirituality in their appearances.

At a glance, Zhou Yan knew they were from the Returning True Clan.

"Prince Feng Laisi, that settles it then."

"Mmm, I will keep an eye out for this person for you. Venerable Yichen need not worry."

"Worried? I’m not worried, but I’m afraid he’ll hide and not dare to show himself. Then, it would be impossible to search the Ancient Ice Glacier. If we get teleported back and other Venerables snatch up the opportunity to forcefully refine it, then we’ll have suffered a great loss. Someone like Lei Yan King, with his pariah identity in this life, I, Jiang Yichen, would squash him with one finger. There’s no cause for concern."

"Venerable Yichen is a great talent indeed."

"The Jiang family’s inheritance is immortal, with a foundation of over a million years. Every disciple cultivated by Elite Hall is so strong; it’s shocking!"

...

Some cultivators started discussing openly, greeting Prince Feng Laisi and Venerable Jiang Yichen enthusiastically.

This Jiang Yichen, Zhou Yan took note, was quite similar in appearance to Jiang Tianxin and had a bit of her independent spirit, but he exuded a slightly effeminate vibe, making him hard to like.

This person was exceedingly arrogant and conceited. The young arrogant cultivator who had previously claimed he could kill Zhou Yan with a slap had also come to Jiang Yichen’s side.

Zhou Yan noted that this person was Jiang Yiqing, also one of the ’Yi’ generation geniuses from Jiang Family’s Elite Hall.

As Zhou Yan was just itching for an opportunity to stir up trouble, seeing the two of them arrive, he smirked and casually took Xiao Fei with him as he approached them.

"Brothers Jiang."

Zhou Yan advanced with a slight smile.

Jiang Yichen was slightly taken aback, and the other cultivators also stared at Zhou Yan in astonishment, disregarding Xiao Fei by his side, and asked warily, "Who are you?"

"Lei Yan King, Zhou Yan."

Zhou Yan said calmly, a smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Yichen, Jiang Yiqing, and the Returning True Clan’s Prince Feng Laisi, as well as the female from the Returning True Clan known as ’Yun Laisi’, suddenly turned around at this moment, their gazes fixed on Zhou Yan with curiosity.

"So many of you want to squash me with a slap? Come now, don’t rush, either come at me one by one, or all together—I promise not to fight back."

Zhou Yan stood with his hands behind his back, speaking indifferently.