87: Chapter 084: Return 87: Chapter 084: Return “Lingqing, you need to permeate it with your soul energy and Essence Blood, condensing it into something like a lotus seed to enter its core; such fusion will be unparalleled, just as a lotus pod bears seeds.

Thus, you may dominate the Spirit Armor with the heart of a lotus seed.”

Zhou Yan instructed her immediately.

“Young Master, this Spirit Armor can actually be refined and fused with oneself seamlessly?

Young Master, you, you’ve actually crafted a high-grade Spirit Level Combat Armor!

That means, Young Master, you can now forge Spirit Level swords!

Young Master, you are already a Sword Cultivator with a Spiritual Artifact Sword!”

Feng Lingqing exclaimed repeatedly, her heart beating wildly, her breath quickening so much that her unguarded fullness undulated noticeably.

Zhou Yan’s eyes widened at this sight.

“Quick, try it on.

Yes, and then derive a set of plain white silk dresses.

The Young Master loves to see you like a saintly ice and snow maiden, and even more, loves to ravage you fiercely!”

Zhou Yan said wickedly.

“Um, Lingqing is willing to be ravaged by the Young Master.”

Feng Lingqing spoke softly with a blush on her face, revealing her feelings in a low voice, while obediently starting to refine the Spirit Armor.

…

Aside from a few minor flaws, the Spirit Armor was an extremely spectacular item.

After a series of tests, Zhou Yan could no longer resist, and once again became passionately intimate with Feng Lingqing.

The exquisite pleasure of their passionate encounter was beyond words, and Zhou Yan felt thoroughly refreshed by this harmonious balance of Yin and Yang.

The life energy in the air seemed to emit a decadent vibe due to their unrestrained joy.

Zhou Yan fiercely asserted himself over the very compliant Feng Lingqing until she was thoroughly delighted and somewhat weakened before he finally ceased his frenzied actions.

Next, Zhou Yan began refining a second set of Spirit Armor.

After the second set came the third and then the fourth.

With each new set, he grew more proficient, and the time taken decreased.

After ten sets, Zhou Yan combined the lotus pod with his Broken Worry Sword and reforged the Broken Worry Sword.

Afterward, he forged three more swords.

Following each bout of fatigue, he would make merry with Feng Lingqing to fully restore his energy, and then he would continue refining.

After three days, having reforged the blade of the Silver Snow Sword and created five more swords and having also repaired the Silver Snow Sword, he finally ceased.

Aside from his own reforged Broken Worry Sword, he kept eight sets of Spirit Armor like the Spiritual Lotus Armor for future use.

Such rare opportunities for Artifact Refining compelled him to put aside all else and diligently work to stockpile such exceptional items, also using this opportunity to hone his abilities in various aspects.

The moment for the reappearance of the black light was gradually approaching.

There was almost an hour left, which was indeed enough to forge another Green Lotus Sword, but Zhou Yan did not continue.

At this moment, he was dressed in a refined white Spiritual Lotus Armor, which could withstand the full force of Feng Lingqing’s attacks with the Silver Snow Sword.

Although the Broken Worry Sword was named so, Zhou Yan reforged it to be almost identical to the original, even preserving the residual imprint of the Sword Soul Illusion.

However, the material had been switched to those withered Lotus Leaves, so its sharpness could be imagined.

These Spirit Armors and Spirit Swords felt heavy as mountains when not in fusion; but once fused and refined with one’s Essence Blood, they were feather-light and incredibly comfortable, staying immaculate and blood-repellent.

Having amassed so many Spirit Armors and Spirit Swords, Zhou Yan also collected some of the severed withered Lotus Leaves, storing them as crafting materials for future use.

The only pity was that he could not preserve the endless life energy found in this realm; otherwise, it would represent another vast reserve of precious resources.

Zhou Yan did not dare explore beneath the Lotus Pond any further, as the previous encounter had been a major shock, and further investigation might invite even greater dangers.

This realm, this Lotus Leaf, seemed to be a magnificent treasure, but after collecting materials over a hundred times, Zhou Yan was starting to feel uneasy.

Missing one or two pieces might be inconsequential, but the considerable discrepancy could be extremely frightening if this place belonged to someone.

Zhou Yan understood that his survival owed to the sliver of Heavenly Tribulation flames from the Void Thunder Tribulation that had become intertwined with his soul, preventing the Supreme Strongman from destroying him completely with a single blow – otherwise, he likely wouldn’t stand a chance.

As beneficial as this place seemed, it likely belonged to someone, and having taken so many treasures, Zhou Yan was beginning to feel like a thief ready to slip away at the first chance.

…

Predicting the changes in the environment, Zhou Yan prepared cautiously with Feng Lingqing, awaiting the black light that would shoot through the space, signaling a Transmission Array.

At that moment, Zhou Yan and Feng Lingqing immediately mobilized boundless Sword Qi and dashed into it as a streak of light.

A terrifying feeling of being torn apart washed over him, but in an instant, it was mitigated by a faint fragrance and soft green light from the Spiritual Lotus Armor; in the next moment, Zhou Yan and Feng Lingqing found themselves in a deserted cave.

Surrounded by darkness due to the abrupt shift in light, Zhou Yan used his soul ability to sense his surroundings, revealing the details of the space around him.

This place was an abandoned mine, but the deserted Transmission Array seemed to be connected to a location steeped in a dense, gloomy aura.

A faintly cool sensation began to emerge, familiar to Zhou Yan—it was that same damp, muddy scent from the Lotus Pond.

Is this the way to the deep mud of the Lotus Pond?

Zhou Yan was still carefully sensing his surroundings when he heard Feng Lingqing’s voice, filled with surprise, say, “Young master, this place, this is actually the path to the Ancient Cold Pond in Ancient Tomb Mountain.

Unexpectedly, the mysterious route to the Cold Pond that no one has been able to find, we’ve stumbled upon it by mistake.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan was taken aback for a moment before finally opening his eyes.

Behind him was a rather dark place, but relatively calm, without the feeling of significant danger.

However, in front of him, Zhou Yan only took one glance and immediately felt the presence of countless hidden Sword Arrays, like evil ghosts, staring intently at this place.

Zhou Yan’s expression became more solemn, and his gaze shifted even further ahead, where heaps of White Bones had turned into Bone Powder, seemingly about to be scattered into the wind with the lightest breeze.

On the ground, Qiankun Rings, rusted Spirit Armor, and dull, lackluster Swords all lay quietly scattered about in disarray, looking somewhat terrifying.

“This place is one of great peril; should one enter, it’s likely a death trap without hope of survival.”

Zhou Yan carefully tested the waters, and as his Soul Energy ventured forward, he immediately sensed an immense fear, for as soon as the Soul Energy approached a place a hundred meters away, it felt as if a colossal devouring force wanted to consume his Soul!

Had it not been for the traces of Tribulation Lightning within his own Soul Energy—a presence that seemed to deter the devouring force from using its full strength—he might not have been able to stay in this place at all.

“Ah…

Young master, I’ve never heard that the Ancient Cold Pond is a place of great danger.

Legends say that at the depths of the Cold Pond’s waters, there lies an Extreme Cold Ice Soul Stone that can awaken the supreme talent of an Extreme Cold Sword Body.

Moreover, the water of the Cold Pond can transform one’s constitution into an Extreme Cold Sword Body,” Feng Lingqing recounted the information he knew.

“Oh?

Is that so?

But even then, this is not a place we can enter.

Don’t try to probe with your soul sensing ability either; it could lead to disaster,” Zhou Yan warned.

“Yes, young master, I understand,” Feng Lingqing replied obediently and compliantly.

“Let’s leave this place!

Alas, I have no idea how long we’ve been in that Spiritual Lotus Secret Realm.”

Zhou Yan looked around and, without further hesitation, turned and walked away.

In such a land rife with killing intent, it was best not to visit.

In such a place, apart from his Soul Ability, which could appropriately navigate the perils, it would be futile for anyone else, no matter how strong.

Leaving the safety behind them and making their way out through a stone forest, Zhou Yan and Feng Lingqing walked out pleasantly.

By then, Zhou Yan had already trimmed his once long hair to about half a meter, tying it up on top of his head as he did at the beginning.

After passing through the stone forest, they came upon an old estate.

Zhou Yan recognized it; this place was in Carefree Main City, near Treasure Pavilion—a place he had been through on his way to the Pavilion.

Along their original path, Zhou Yan and Feng Lingqing gradually arrived back at the site of the Zhou Family of the Great Zhou in Carefree Main City.

Along the way, Feng Lingqing seemed to have a breakthrough sign due to his extreme sensitivity to energy changes in the external world and some special insights into the Sword Soul.

After discussing with Zhou Yan, he entered the void within the Silver Snow Sword for Sudden Enlightenment.

Zhou Yan, carrying the Silver Snow Sword and slinging the Green Lotus Broken Worry Sword over his shoulder, headed toward the Zhou Family.

On this journey, Zhou Yan only learned after inquiring that it had been merely three and a half years since they set off for the Sword Origin Pool!

Zhou Yan found it strange that the time spent in the Sword Origin Pool was real, and yet in the Spiritual Lotus Secret Realm, it seemed as if there was no concept of time at all.

It was because of this revelation that Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief; as long as it hadn’t been ten or a hundred years, then everything was still manageable.

…

The entrance of the Zhou Family was bustling like a marketplace.

Zhou Yan’s beard had grown long, his hair had too, and he had changed into a new set of Spirit Armor, which altered his aura.

To avoid drawing too much attention to his appearance, he had adjusted the proportions of his cheekbones, temporarily transforming into another person.

He had chosen to do this not only because he had gained strength, but also because he was concerned that his “death” might have led to his part of the family suffering greatly.

Although he did not believe that Zhou Cangmu would be so pragmatic, with the significant resources he was now bringing with him, he naturally wanted to observe the current state of the Zhou Family.

Now, something significant seemed to be happening at the Zhou Family, and he watched closely, wanting to see what changes had taken place in three years.

As he released his Soul Power, he immediately heard murmurs saying, “Did you hear?

This time, Zhou Yuntian, the number one genius of the Zhou Family, is going to compete with the previously mentioned Zhou Wangchen.”

“Indeed, Zhou Yuntian, with Dual Qi Pillars each having four Qi Jie, is an Emperor Qi Sword Body with exceptional talent.

Even a powerful force from Wangchuan Mansion has taken notice and wants to recruit and cultivate him!”

“Zhou Yuntian wishes to showcase his abilities by battling Zhou Wangchen.

It’s said that Zhou Wangchen has grasped the essence of the Lifeless Sword Dao and has realized the True Tao, which is quite remarkable.”

“That’s just hearsay!

Who knows?

Just like three years ago, the so-called number one genius at the True Spirit Level, the cultivator hailed as Zhou Yan Spirit, who broke through level four, is he not now dead in the Sword Origin Pool’s sacred land?”

“The talent of Zhou Yan was indeed quite good.

After investigation, it was confirmed that he truly advanced from the Sword Beginning First Layer to the Sword Origin Second Layer Heaven within a month, with Combat Power capable of breaking level four, and the descent of Tao Rules as testimony!”

“But he’s dead now, and dead is no different from a waste!”

…

Many Cultivators were already whispering among themselves.

All sorts of conversations, Zhou Yan’s Soul Aura sensing them, heard every word quite clearly.