Chapter 854: Chapter 25: True Identity—Evil Venerate
Emperor Xuan Yuan’s Energy can only last for an hour. This time, the energy is insufficient, lasting less than ten minutes, but Jiang Tianxin and others arrived even faster than expected. As soon as Zhou Zheng’s sealing opened, the three of them immediately arrived.
Thus, when Zhou Yan combined the domain ability of the throne with Jiang Tianxin to engage in combat, he was actually at the peak of his combat power.
However, this was not Zhou Yan’s purpose.
Since there is not only one ’me’ in this world, there is not just one ’not me’ either.
On Earth, there are so-called ’Evil Venerates,’ like Lee Ran, who resemble Zhou Yan.
Then in this world, there is also a ’Zhou Yan,’ who can be similar to Lee Ran, similar to Evil Venerate.
The enemy can be him, Zhou Yan, and he, Zhou Yan, can also be the enemy.
Therefore, the transformation, the upheaval, is manifested in this aspect.
Thus, Zhou Yan showed some of his true nature, while also expressing a trace of the aura, battle intent, and killing intent of the black-robed man ’Zhou Yan’ seen in the derivation.
That man killed Yanyan with one move, which was all cultivation techniques converging at one point, instantly executing a sword strike, which then transformed from a sword into a punch.
Zhou Yan did not understand this Tao.
But Zhou Yan understood the Tao of form and intention transformation.
The seventy-two Heavenly Gang Transformations are enough to make all moves change into the desired form.
So, Zhou Yan knew that after killing Jiang Tianxin, Jiang Tianxin would definitely come to him again.
When Jiang Tianxin comes again, he will definitely be extremely respectful.
Certainly, the methods to confirm identity and verify Jiang Tianxin’s own judgment, right or wrong, he will definitely perform, but these are indeed very simple for Zhou Yan to deal with.
Zhou Yan calculated one thing - since Yanyan killed that Zhou Yan, that Zhou Yan was wounded and even left descendants like Qing Wan, it was to use Qing Wan against Yanyan.
Qing Wan’s identity is more akin to a clone of Yanyan.
But - Qing Wan’s personality destined that Qing Wan could not become enemies with Yanyan, and that Zhou Yan does not know about Qing Wan’s current situation. After Qing Wan engaged in dual cultivation with Zhou Zheng, there was not any noticeable change, proving that Zhou Yan either has already gone dormant or will not appear in the short term.
Then, this time gap can be filled by him, the real ’Zhou Yan,’ to impersonate.
Pretending to be others might have flaws, but pretending to be another self, there is nothing in this world easier than that.
Zhou Yan’s mind has a grand scheme, and this series of counter strategies began at this moment. Everything seems coincidental and like destiny, striking unpredictably within the strategies of the enemy, unguardable and irresistible.
...
Zhou Yan recovered for a moment, so he still remained indifferent, without showing a hint of weakness.
After all, with his ability, if he doesn’t want others to notice, people like Gongcheng Diewu would definitely not be able to tell.
Indeed, after a while, Gongcheng Diewu and others didn’t even have time to rejoice before seeing the supposedly dead Jiang Tianxin appear again.
However, this time Jiang Tianxin stood far away in the void, no longer approaching, but staring at Zhou Yan with heavy eyes, deep fear visible in his eyes.
"The era of Lei Yan King is now over. Our Jiang family genuinely wants to negotiate with you, but you forcefully strike without knowing when to retreat, why is this?"
Jiang Tianxin’s tone was harsh in appearance but timid in essence, cold and cruel, yet his anxiety exposed his cowardice in facing that person.
Zhou Yan, however, was not verbose, simply executing a single sword, with the power of the Xuanyuan Sword, concentrated in the supreme Dao of form and intention, even more evidently deriving the sword strike Zhou Yan used against Yanyan, then transforming into a punch, manifesting the Immortal Fist Intent.
This sword, this punch, returning to the truth, showed not a trace of energy fluctuation, no Great Dao resonance, no rule derivation, and not a hint of Divine Power, yet in an instant, changed Jiang Tianxin’s complexion.
He fled almost instantaneously, vanishing into thin air on the spot.
After a while, he reappeared, his expression suspicious and uncertain, his gaze towards Zhou Yan flickering and unsettled.
This change stunned Zhou Zheng and others, and Gongcheng Diewu looked as if witnessing the most incredible scene.
Earlier, Zhou Yan’s punch had no killing intent, just like a normal person swinging a punch, why did it frighten Jiang Tianxin, a Venerable, so much?
Gongcheng Diewu could not comprehend it.
"Zhou Yan... I don’t want to be your enemy. The Holy Daughter is near her end no matter what, and she is my sister. Her final request is for you to fulfill her wish. During this period, the Jiang family will definitely not take action against you!"
Jiang Tianxin solemnly stated, his expression serious, without the slightest trace of humor.
He no longer held himself above others, even hinting at a subtle humility and reverence in his soul.
These were things cultivators below the Venerable Realm like Gongcheng Diewu group couldn’t see.
But Zhou Yan sensed it.
Still, Zhou Yan remained indifferent, unchanged in attitude.
"Lead the way."
Zhou Yan finally spoke.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Tianxin finally breathed a sigh of relief, immediately manipulating the Void Dual Venerables to clear the way, and left together with Zhou Yan.
"I am leaving, all of you must work hard."
"Rest assured, when I say you will be safe, you will indeed be safe. Jiang Tianxin, wouldn’t you agree?"
As Zhou Yan was about to leave, he suddenly stopped, causing Jiang Tianxin a moment of worry.
However, upon hearing Zhou Yan’s words, Jiang Tianxin’s mind, sharp as always, calculated quickly and responded: "Rest assured, the Yang Family and the Fire Spirit Clan dare not make a move against you again. If they don’t come, so be it; if they do, it will be the time of their extinction!"
As Jiang Tianxin spoke, he blew a breath, deriving another version of himself, directly engraving special runes in the void, and issued the edict of the Jiang family.
If the Yang Family and the Fire Spirit Clan come again and see this edict, it’s as if they are seeing Jiang Tianxin himself. If they dare to attack, it would mean becoming enemies with the Jiang family, and the core disciples of the Jiang family will immediately know.
Witnessing this scene, Zhou Yan didn’t show any particular reaction, while Jiang Tianxin exhaled lightly, relieved once again.
"Uncle — take care of yourself."
"Uncle, please take care. Wan’er will take good care of her husband. Don’t worry."
"Zhou Yan, be extra cautious on your journey, and be wary of the Jiang family."
"Brother Zhou Yan, Gongcheng Qingyang will not let you down!"
...
Zhou Zheng, Qing Wan, Gongcheng Diewu, and Gongcheng Qingyang spoke up one after another. Their eyes were filled with nostalgia, watching Zhou Yan leave.
They had witnessed Zhou Yan’s ability to slay Jiang Tianxin’s avatar; seeing Zhou Yan so effortlessly natural, they thought Zhou Yan had nothing to fear and was incredibly confident and strong, hence not too worried.
But despite that, they still repeatedly urged, hoping for Zhou Yan’s safe return.
This concern was simple, yet enough to tug at the spirit.
During this scene, Jiang Tianxin paid attention to Zhou Yan’s expression, noticing no change, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.
Not until they left beyond the heavens, Zhou Yan’s indifferent expression suddenly reined in, showcasing a somewhat unruly proud demeanor instead.
Seeing this demeanor emerge, Jiang Tianxin was startled, thinking to himself, "It’s coming."
"Jiang Tianxin."
Zhou Yan suddenly spoke, with an attitude somewhat irreverent, seemingly not taking Jiang Tianxin seriously at all.
Yet Jiang Tianxin found this tone very familiar, very comfortable. He immediately bowed and said, "Venerable, what are your orders?"
"The matter of the Thunder Expansion Sacred Land has lingered not just for a day or two, truly disappointing you lot. This time, my obedient daughter was naughty again, and I, her Father King, was carelessly made severely disabled by her. This obedient daughter is indeed heartless, to treat me like so, alas."
Zhou Yan’s words seemed all over the place; one moment, he was talking about the Jiang family’s inefficiency, the next he was speaking of Yanyan.
But it was this very way of speaking that made Jiang Tianxin even more convinced.
For no one knew that the Evil Venerate referred to his daughter Yanyan as ’obedient daughter’, only Yanyan and the Evil Venerate themselves knew this.
Since the person in front said so, naturally, his identity could be confirmed.
"The Jiang family is quite powerless; the Ancestor is still so, injured and unable to cross that threshold without the complete power of the Immortal Evil Soul. As for Yanyan... regarding the Commandery Princess, the Jiang family is also powerless. Although Gles of the Returning True Clan has already entered into a marriage contract with the Jiang family, Gles is clearly not an easily controlled pawn."
Jiang Tianxin sighed rather helplessly.
"I will travel the world as Zhou Yan, seeking where exactly the fit of this Immortal Evil Soul lies. This matter was initially unrelated to you, but your schemes against Zhou Yan constantly ended up involving me, so I might as well break them myself. This time my obedient daughter mercilessly injured my soul, and I was intending to close in seclusion, but now at such a critical juncture, I had to personally come forward.
Moreover, you know that I’m impersonating Zhou Yan, that is sufficient. Lend a hand appropriately, and unless necessary, do not reveal this. I won’t go there this time, but stay with your family for a while, recover my wounds, and watch the changes in the Great Domain’s situation before deciding."
Zhou Yan said in a slightly contemplative manner.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Tianxin showed a hint of doubt, seeming as if Zhou Yan’s words were somewhat off.
But the next moment, Zhou Yan suddenly took out a ’Throne’ from the Great Domain, saying: "This is the Flame Throne, acquired from my obedient daughter, and it is my decree. Hold this, go to my place and fetch some divine soul power restoration items. When you get there, holding my decree, and making demands, naturally someone will hand over everything with both hands."
As Zhou Yan spoke, he handed his ’Throne’ to Jiang Tianxin.
This action scared Jiang Tianxin half to death.
"Evil Venerate, junior, junior certainly does not intend to doubt your identity, Venerable, it’s just that the transformation of events was too abrupt——"
"You need not explain; I see everything clearly."
Zhou Yan said.
Jiang Tianxin then took the ’Throne’ gingerly, cradling it carefully in his hands, his body trembling.
At this time, under the guidance of the two Puppet Venerables, Jiang Tianxin and Zhou Yan had already entered a massive Void Ancient Array Plate, descending directly through the Array Plate to the Jiang family.