Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao

Chapter 1433 - 172: Forgetting the Tao for Love

When Zhou Yan saw Gu Xi, her haggard appearance deeply shook him.

Zhou Yan had always known how much Gu Xi loved him, but the scenes from the Soul Burying Starfield left him with more regret and guilt.

And after the Nine Origin Reincarnation, after rescuing Gu Xi from underground, Zhou Yan might have shown her true love for a while, but subsequent changes still made Zhou Yan harbor a thread of doubt towards Gu Xi.

Is this true love?

Can true love have doubts?

If there are doubts, is it because the love is shallow, or is this love really not as deeply rooted in the spirit as imagined?

Perhaps initially, being too engrossed in the situation, one could not clearly see true love for what it is?

Even though he stayed by Gu Xi’s side constantly at that time, at critical moments of life and death, it was always Zhou Yan who faced it alone, never considering what path Gu Xi should take if he truly died.

Some questions, when revisited after mental maturity, expose the inherent cruelty.

Is this love?

This is hatred, perhaps.

Because only hatred could make a pitiful girl get hurt over and over again.

Even if that love was deeply felt, what about Gu Xi’s experience?

In the past, Zhou Yan himself didn’t know he could be such a bastard, but now, having understood various experiences, seen through worldly affairs, and discerned the plot, Zhou Yan truly regrets not treating Gu Xi a little better—just a little bit would ease his heart, wouldn’t it?

That adorable girl who always called him ’Brother Zhou Yan’ has now become covered in scars; her heart might even be riddled with wounds.

Fortunately, there’s still a chance to make amends.

Zhou Yan felt a sense of wistfulness and guilt in his heart, and because of this situation, he didn’t use that other teardrop.

This was both the cause and the result.

Because he didn’t want to bring any more harm to Gu Xi.

Zhou Yan’s gaze flickered with a mysterious gloss, a silent sorrow and affection, a warm tolerance and guilt.

When this gaze met Gu Xi’s eyes, Zhou Yan clearly felt the dark hues within her eyes gradually fade, replaced by endless radiance and vitality.

"Xi’er."

Zhou Yan called softly, as if using all the strength in his life, a gentle call, yet genuinely heartfelt, thinking of nothing else.

In his world, there was only Gu Xi, only her alone.

Here, within these seven days, he resolved to think of nothing, only Gu Xi.

This was her time, her emotional sanctuary.

"Brother Zhou Yan."

Gu Xi revealed a lovable smile, then cheerfully ran over, like a joyful elf.

A burst of fragrant aroma enveloped Zhou Yan’s embrace.

Then, Zhou Yan tightly hugged Gu Xi, as if holding the entire world.

With such genuine emotional expression, both truly felt a mutual, intuitive connection to this deep emotion, hence their feelings erupted passionately.

Zhou Yan lifted his head, and a sincere and passionate kiss fell upon Gu Xi’s sweet lips, while Gu Xi, her trembling heart finally warming a little, felt the cold essence from her body gradually dissipate.

She was lost, lost in this beautiful emotion.

Never before had she so clearly and genuinely felt such sincere, accommodating and remorseful love.

By now, how could she not understand what was in Zhou Yan’s heart? Yet she never felt the slightest grievance, for in her heart, Zhou Yan had always cherished and loved her deeply.

As for being doubted, Gu Xi sensed it a little, but in such perilous circumstances, her very existence was worth questioning.

But Zhou Yan did not target her, and continuously kept his avatar beside her, staying with her day and night, caring for her extensively every single day.

This all was equally deeply imprinted in Gu Xi’s heart.

How many times did Gu Xi watch Zhou Yan face the grand scheming, helpless, and that wound was not because of love, but because, despite having the ability, she couldn’t help Zhou Yan, resulting in only watching their daughter being slain and enslaved by Mu Qingyan.

At that moment, the pain in Gu Xi’s heart was indescribable, but she couldn’t show it.

Now, Zhou Yan’s guilt, intertwined with Gu Xi’s guilt, due to the eruption of emotions, both were spiritually connected, feeling each other’s true intentions; thus the emotions once emerged, couldn’t be contained.

"Xi’er, let’s be wild together for these few days!"

"Brother Zhou Yan, Xi’er has long been ready, waiting for this day."

"Then let’s roam this Immortal Mountain, traverse heaven and earth, and have our own grand adventure!"

Zhou Yan said.

He used the same method to activate a concealing technique like a bubble, then brought Gu Xi into it, adding the power of the Thunder Seal, and embraced Gu Xi with intensity.

This time, the bubble flew between thousands of peaks, like the most magnificent scenery between heaven and earth.

In this kind of concealment, Zhou Yan and Gu Xi truly became one in spirit and body, a seamless union.

The passion that erupted was enough to compensate for the emotional gaps with wild movements.

...

Seven days passed quickly, and Gu Xi was radiant, as if she had gained new vitality, charming and adorable.

And Zhou Yan was even more refreshed, with a stable realm.

During this process, Zhou Yan did not engage in dual cultivation, merely intertwining their emotions with instinctive desire, yet his realm still rose by two levels, entering the Ninth Layer of the Eternal Life Fourth Rule.

This realm presented a barrier again, but Zhou Yan did not reach Enlightenment, for his realm advanced naturally.

In seven days, everything belonged to Gu Xi, so Zhou Yan did not comprehend even the Immortality Principle.

During these seven days, Zhou Yan lived like an ordinary person without cultivation, experiencing ordinary life, forgetting all cultivation and conflict, keeping a pure land in his heart.

After seven days, when the Emperor finished alchemy, Zhou Yan and Gu Xi experienced another passionate eruption, and the burning Life Origin was unceremoniously delivered deep into Gu Xi’s body.

Thus, Gu Xi also found ultimate satisfaction.

At this time, Zhou Yan then returned to thinking about his realm and analyzing the situation.

In such a state, it was like an ultimate rebound; when no longer considering any realms, the natural transformation of the realm benefited Zhou Yan greatly, and in the moment of thinking about the Immortality Principle, he directly broke through to the extreme of the Ninth Layer of the Eternal Life Fourth Rule.

Even so, Zhou Yan did not establish the Immortal of Cutting Space, but the Immortal of Cutting Space automatically enhanced the bubble, stabilizing their space to its utmost.

After reaching the Eternal Life Fifth Principle Realm, Zhou Yan chose the Immortal Breaking Principle.

The Immortal Breaking Principle is the principle of destruction and establishment, but that is only a superficial understanding.

The key to the Immortal Breaking Principle lies in the method of dissecting and synthesizing Tao, understanding the basic elements of the Tao.

For example, Zhou Yan’s comprehension of the bloodline cells.

The rationale is the same.

This kind of progress made Gu Xi sense it, and Gu Xi finally showed a gratified smile.

Zhou Yan had no specific thoughts, nor did Gu Xi, but Gu Xi left an instinct to cooperate with Zhou Yan, precisely the refining method of reversal.

Gu Xi, in the process, still dedicated herself.

But at this time, Zhou Yan sensed it, and his love grew deeper while reciprocating with the method of dual cultivation, instantly stabilizing Gu Xi’s state, and her control over and maintenance of Zhou Yan’s Original Life Soul became even more adept.

Furthermore, each time during this period, Zhou Yan fully released his Life Origin, hoping to allow Gu Xi to conceive a child — this would be the best testament to their love.

Yet, perhaps due to some reasons, Zhou Yan and Gu Xi did not detect any unique life mark phenomena.

This scene also made Zhou Yan realize that for the Eternal Spirit to conceive offspring, the difficulty was extremely high.

Gu Xi felt a slight regret, but Zhou Yan comforted her with his gaze, letting Gu Xi know that he would surely give her a child.

In her heart, Gu Xi was exceedingly joyful and moved.

She always felt that she was the happiest woman in the world, and now, this feeling was even stronger.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan, while assisting Gu Xi in cultivation, noticed that Gu Xi was suited to the method of One Qi Three Purities, and without hesitation, taught this method of Enlightenment to her.

The future hope of the Human Clan does not lie in keeping all cultivation techniques deliberately secret and preserved but in willingly sharing them when necessary.

Gu Xi had such a talent, and Zhou Yan naturally wasn’t stingy.

Elves with such talent in the Elf Race would also learn this cultivation method, but this talent ability varies from person to person, and for non-king inheritors, the effect is merely additional protective measures and cannot reach the heaven-defying cultivation Zhou Yan achieved.

Zhou Yan and Gu Xi discussed their insights and experiences, and informed Gu Xi to go to the Elf Domain, where Zhou Yan currently resided.

Although Gu Xi was reluctant to leave the Sumeru Immortal Mountain and Bai Ying, she was ultimately unwilling to part with Zhou Yan and wanted to help him with more matters.

Besides, Jiang Yuning was there.

Jiang Yuning, Ping’er, they were also Gu Xi’s best companions, and Gu Xi’s heart already longed for them immensely.

But while yearning, Gu Xi also gravely told Zhou Yan: "Brother Zhou Yan, the Sumeru Immortal Mountain is increasingly unsafe, so the Emperor wants you to take me away first. However, if you have the chance, Brother Zhou Yan, please keep an eye on changes in the Immortal Mountain. Should danger arise, your King’s Main City should be able to save the Sumeru Immortal Mountain from disaster."

"Xi’er, I understand this in my heart. The Emperor surely has a plan, so when the time comes, the issues of the Sumeru Immortal Mountain will not be too difficult to solve. Hmm, Xi’er, accompany me to meet the Emperor."

"Alright, Brother Zhou Yan,"

Gu Xi said very affectionately.

She became once again that carefree, lovable girl—not just that, she had become a charming and adorable young woman now.

...