From within the Prismatic Wagon, the maiden who resembled Ning’er could not see exactly what both of them were doing and was unable to sense the interaction between the two. However, she frowned slightly as the lass seemed slightly displeased.

“Saintess, please.”

With a single wave of that maiden’s hand, a solid ray of light scattered through the air. It was like a layer of silk, forming into a wide, solid path of light.

At this very moment, all nine lassies bent a single knee, kneeling on the ground as they received Ning’er on board the wagon.

Ning’er glanced at Zhou Yan and sighed. She extended her arm to hold Ping’er by her hand.

“Master…Ping’er will return after I have fully learned the ways of the sword, and I will make sure to protect you for the rest of your life. I will make sure no one would be able to bully you any longer!”

Ping’er was bawling her eyes out as streams of tears continued to fall from her eyes.

Zhou Yan grabbed Ping’er’s slender fingers and placed them on his chest. The young lad softly whispered, “Silly girl, take good care of yourself, live…well, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Master will await…your return.”

“Master…”

Breaking free from Ning’er’s hands, Ping’er ran right into Zhou Yan’s embrace as she cried hysterically in his loving arms.

Thus, Zhou Yan gently patted her back, comforting her.

After several moments, Ping’er reluctantly left his loving embrace and proceeded to hold onto Ning’er’s hands on her own accord. Following alongside Ning’er, taking one step at a time, the lass slowly walked up the majestic heavenly scene.

Majestic rays of light stretched endlessly, while nine phoenixes called out. Another wave of energy capable of piercing the heavens and earth was once again unleashed.

Thus, the heavens above and the ground below once again shattered. It was as if the heavenly gods had stabbed a black hole through the heavens and earth.

At this very moment, the young lad Zhou Yan could no longer see both lassies as their silhouettes were completely clouded.

Thus, Zhou Yan assumed everything had reached an end.

However, it was when Zhou Yan grabbed the hilt of Sorrow’s Breaker that was hanging by his waist, a maiden in white appeared right in front of his face like a ghostly apparition.

“Your relationship with her was it only truly as relatives?”

The physical appearance of the lass was completely identical to Ning’er. However, her attitude and demeanor were distinctly different.

She bore the ferocity of The Way of The Sword of Invincibility on her body. To the young lad, Zhou Yan, he found it extremely difficult and pressured when speaking directly to this young lass.

This was the difference in the realms of both of their powers. The difference was just too great.

“What kind of relationship do you think we still have?” The tone in Zhou Yan’s voice was calm.

“Hmm, Zhou Wangchen saved her from the brink of danger back then, and you both grew up together. I believe the relationship you both shared was that of siblings who would be normal.

“I am just worried that the relationship you both are sharing has far exceeded the boundaries of merely being siblings.”

Zhou Yan felt slightly uncomfortable by her comments. Since he had inherited the will and the collective memories of the ancient sage, the young lad, too, had pride.

The lad did not enjoy the feeling of being treated as an insignificant ant.

“Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace, what is the meaning of this?” Zhou Yan frowned.

“Stop being a foolish child. Do not assume I am blinded by your feelings and that I was unable to see through your intentions. I do not oppose the matters of both of you. However, I wish to tell you one thing.”

The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace let out a soft sigh then proceeded to speak, “A blade’s body of extreme cold requires the Frost Snow Ore. Only then will the full potential of this blade be awakened.

“With Ning’er’s current condition, if she cannot awaken her true potential, she will actually die.

“We have located the Frost Snow Ore. However, this extremely rare treasure is located in the Wang Chuan Residence.

“The people in the Wang Chuan Residence had made a request, and our ‘Snowy Palace’s ‘Empress’ too had agreed to their request.

“The request was that the saintess will have to marry.

“Saintess Ning’er will be marrying the lord of the Wang Chuan Residence, and that person is the prime genius of the Wang Chuan Residence, Ji Taixu.

“Ji Taixu has already condensed and mastered the infusion of the Twin Soul Blade, and therefore he is the third who was worthy of the title as a true Spiritual Genius!

“I shall grace you with the basic knowledge of differentiating between regular people and geniuses. These so-called ‘true geniuses’ mainly focus on raw combat prowess. They can break through the fortresses of realms and ascend beyond their own realm to face their enemies. That would be their external skills. Internally, on the other hand, they will focus on their pillar of Qi. Each segment of their Qi Pillar would be exceedingly stronger than the entirety of any regular folk’s Qi Pillar!

“To be worthy of being named a ‘True Genius,’ one must possess the ability to breakthrough one up to three fortresses of a single realm, hence ascending further than the larger realm. Anyone who breaks through more than three fortresses of a single realm would be worthy of being named a ‘True Spiritual Genius.

“Ever since the dawn of the ancient era till this very day, the existence of a True Spiritual Genius is rare, and it seemingly never existed! You should go on…and reflect well.”

Plenty of truths were spoken by the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace, which were painful truths. It had given the young lad, Zhou Yan great discouragement.

However, since the appearance of the lass was identical to that of Ning’er, Zhou Yan could not bring himself to resent her.

The young lad knew that she was merely warning him to deter him from pursuing further.

However, the lad was never known to back down from a difficult situation.

Twin Soul Blade? Was it really that powerful? The lad paid no mind to that skill and was in a state of ignorance and oblivion to what the Blade’s Spirit exactly was and the whole ordeal about the True Spiritual Genius. The young lad completely brushed off this information!

However, that was not important. Since the young lad had inherited the will of the ancient sage that was capable of Spatial Destruction with a single punch, he indirectly had more than a lifetime worth of experience than any normal folk! The young lad feared nothing.

“What if that’s the case? Should I give up now?” Zhou Yan chuckled, as the young lad deeply provoked the Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace with a gaze filled to the brim with mockery and extreme dissatisfaction.

It was similar to when that young lass once encountered the lawless and reckless, Zhou Wangchen.

“Here are some elixirs and a collection of god-tier sword skill edicts. You may attempt to master it if you are unsuccessful in mastering these skills. Then, you may rid yourself of that intention. It’s best for you, and it’s also best for her.”

The Lady of the Snow-Jade Palace. proceeded to take out a green jaded Spatial Ring of Infinity.

“There’s no need, and I do not want it. The Sword Ways in this realm are simply too weak. I will create my own Way of The Sword. Twin Soulblade? Powerful? In the future, I shall invent Soulblade of Twelve, completely killing him in an instant!”

Zhou Yan was greatly insulted by this pitiful act of charity!

If, on the other hand, that lass had said, “Work hard and earn the right to be worthy of spending your life with Ning’er. Even if you failed, you’ve done your best. Hence there will be no regrets.”

However, no matter how the lad phrased it, the lass had a heavy dismissive and sympathetic attitude towards him! Could the lass possibly be unaware that such treatment was extremely insulting to the highest degree?

The young lad felt slightly sulky, and it seemed as if he was spouting rambles of a mad man. However, in reality, that was his true feelings and desires.

He had never experienced the true ferocity capable of Spatial Destruction, which was the raw power of the Art of Twelve Forms of The Formless Fist. The sword skill that transcended from the basis of such incomprehensible, unlimited, and boundless power was impossible for the young lad to imagine.

“Hehehe.”

The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace chuckled softly, however, her expression was not a gentle one.

“The age of your bones had reached fifteen years of age, and there is one year left. One single year would be impossible for you to ascend past the realm of the Blade’s Menace.

“If you are unable to ascend past the realm of the Blade’s Menace when you’ve reached sixteen years of age, you will be unable to break the laws that govern both heavens and earth…Go on ahead and imagine a pleasant future as much as you wish. I believe you are still unsure of what the Blade’s spirit is!”

It seemed that the Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace was no longer interested in continuing the conversation since her reaction no longer had a chuckle of pure sarcastic mockery.

It was as if, that lass had heard the world’s most hilarious joke ever. It was made even worse when she felt sympathetic for the extent of the lad’s mad arrogance.

The lass had the intention to aid the young lad initially. However, at this very moment, the arrogance and ignorance of this fifteen-year-old lad who just ascended into the realms of a simple Blade’s Cardinal made her reconsider her choices. She reflected upon the countless achievements of Ji Taixu as compared to this lad, and she no longer was interested in speaking to him.

“I know nothing of what is known as the Blade’s Spirit. However, I am clear on how to walk the path of my future!”

The tone of Zhou Yan’s voice was slightly displeased.

Even if other folk had no faith in his abilities, the young lad did not enjoy this sympathetic, insulting tone.

“Just focus on your current path now. If it wasn’t for my intervention today, you would’ve been long dead!”

The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace sounded frustrated through the tone of her voice, to the point of laughing indignantly.

Her flustered, annoyed expression made her look slightly more feminine.

“Well then, I humbly offer my utmost, sincere gratitude for saving my only life. I shall repay your gracious act handsomely in the future.”

In that very instant, Zhou Yan had mistaken this lass as Ning’er and had almost said to ‘offer up his body.’

In the light of a maiden such as her, any vile statements spoken would result in a violent beating.

“There’s no such need! I shall wait for your accomplishment of successfully creating the Soulblade of Twelve. Hmm… if you have somehow managed to even master the Soulblade of Three, I will do everything in my power to aid you and Ning’er! I will be waiting for an unparalleled genius such as you to spread your good name in my Snow-Jade Palace in the Frost City!”

The Lady of The Snow-Jade Palace grunted in frustration. As she left, she twisted her waist and flicked her sleeves, and the lass disappeared into thin air.

This was a clear definition of coming and leaving without a trace.

Upon watching the lass leaving in an agitated state, Zhou Yan felt an odd feeling of joy in his heart. It was as if the lad’s personality had become extraordinarily sadistic.

The lad was aware that he was still himself and was not influenced by the negative personality of the ancient sage. However, the truth was that the evil side of the ancient sage majorly changed the young lad.

‘Sigh…I should be mad after being scorned by someone to such an extent. However, why…am I not even the slightest bit mad?’

‘Both Ning’er and Ping’er are gone, and it feels like I have completely lost my soul. My heart is left with a gaping hole of emptiness. However, I feel much more relaxed. Hmm… was it because I am aware that they will live a better life?

‘I too should be worried about my father’s condition, but I am not the slightest bit concerned. Is it because of my confidence in saving him…?

‘Murder on its own is a terrifying act to perform. However, it excites me. I will unknowingly touch the hilt of my blade and be tempted to draw my blade to murder someone. I’ve murdered Lil’ Xu, and it felt amazing… it made me feel alive…

‘I very much do feel an overwhelming feeling of love in my heart when I was with Ping’er. However, I would also constantly think about…

‘Have I truly become a Practitioner of The Evil Arts? Or… were these emotions and feelings my true personality?’

…

Zhou Yan never left the scene as he stood idle in his spot, seemingly lost deep in contemplation.

The lad had to figure out these plaguing thoughts in his mind. If not, he would undoubtedly be driven completely mad.

Thus, the lad calmed his mind down as he sat on the ground.

The flickering ray of spiritual energy from before was like a raging storm in an endless ocean.

However, the young lad focused solely on the experience of the ancient sage to calm his heart and cull the storm in his heart to still water.

‘What if it was the evil arts? What if it was the righteous path? What exactly is righteous and evil?

‘Who gets to decide which is righteous and which is evil?

‘Yin and Yang were governed by the laws of nature. However, it was through the unification of both elements of Yin and Yang that bequeathed every element since time immemorial.

‘As wide as the ends of the world could stretch, one will always return to whence one’s journey began!

‘If one’s heart is aligned with the path of righteousness, then one shall be righteous. If one’s heart is aligned with the path of evil, then one shall be evil.

‘I shall only focus on myself as there is no need for restrictions in my alignment. If my intentions are pure, there will be no regrets. Hence, it shall open up a wide path ahead for me!’

…

The young lad, Zhou Yan, had now entered a state of pure enlightenment.

Waves of enlightened knowledge from the ancient sage relentlessly rushed through the young lad’s body and mind, causing his soul to evolve and change once again. Thus, with a single powerful force, it completely broke through the realm the lad was currently in, without him realizing what had transpired.

‘Since time immemorial, I have transcended the limitations of my soul, and through that, I’ve gained complete mastery over my true form.

‘Within the true form lies the essence and nature of one’s spirit in its purest form. Buried deeper in one’s spirit dwells the true awakening of primordial alchemy of the soul.

‘In search of one’s true form, one must first seek to understand the meaning of the truth of one’s true form.

‘In possession of the full truth comes the enlightenment of an oath in one’s mind. Honor the oath, and one shall exceed the limitations of one’s astral form.’

…