Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao-Chapter 1281 - 25: The Wisdom of the Demon Heart

Zhou Yan had already slain several Evil Demons, and the results were roughly the same, but the data was not so stable. Some parts of the same Emperor Pattern were different, while some parts of different Emperor Patterns were the same. To draw corresponding conclusions, complex and repeated experiments were needed.

Even though Zhou Yan possessed formidable Calculation Power, without sufficient data, he couldn’t deduce a high-probability result.

Therefore, after pondering, Zhou Yan decided to continue slaying some Mantis Evil Demons.

But when Zhou Yan raised his eyes, he looked over a range of kilometers, even up to several kilometers, without seeing a single Evil Demon.

"This... When did I become the terminator of Demon Hearts? It seems I must conceal my true abilities; slaying Demon Hearts can’t be too easy; otherwise, these Demon Hearts probably won’t fall for it."

"Alright, let’s find a team; otherwise, if I conceal my skills, persistent attacks can be bothersome. Without being besieged, a few strikes might lead Demon Hearts to either escape or be hard to deal with."

"Moreover, with a team, I can also observe their Bloodline changes, which greatly benefits my own Enlightenment."

Zhou Yan immediately made another decision and temporarily concealed his aura using the power of the Soul Sea and Heavenly Pivot Ancient Town, making his Realm appear just at the Eleventh Layer of the Sea of Suffering Realm.

From past experiences with teams, Zhou Yan knew that the Eleventh Layer of the Sea of Suffering Realm was roughly a superior level. Over time, as transformation happens, more Cultivators at the Eleventh Layer will emerge, and this level won’t be underestimated but appropriately valued, even respected somewhat, avoiding many troubles.

Zhou Yan sensed all around, selected another direction, and quietly walked over.

As for those Evil Demons fleeing in this direction, upon seeing Zhou Yan’s Realm suddenly drop to the Eleventh Level of the Sea of Suffering, they didn’t dare to truly turn back to hunt Zhou Yan. Evil Demons around the Tenth Layer of the Sea of Suffering know well enough, immediately avoiding Zhou Yan and fleeing even faster.

Some Evil Demons, unaware of the situation, seeing powerful Evil Demons like those at the Tenth Layer of the Sea of Suffering fleeing, didn’t dare to linger; all of them started fleeing with their claws rapidly.

Many deliberately avoided Zhou Yan’s direction, fleeing towards the other side.

While Zhou Yan moved forward for more than an hour, extremely fast, finally even those fleeing Evil Demons kept a distance from Zhou Yan, and no Evil Demons continued fleeing.

Along the way, Zhou Yan didn’t even manage to slay a single Evil Demon, which made him admire these Demon Hearts as having definitely not low intelligence.

This change made Zhou Yan’s mood slightly more solemn rather than relaxed, as once Demon Hearts know to evade powerful enemies, they certainly understand the principle of ambushing weaker enemies.

In this case, the situation for Heavenly Hearts might get even worse.

Zhou Yan then walked almost half an hour more, since no Evil Demons continued fleeing, Zhou Yan slew over a hundred Demon Hearts. As he expected, even though each Demon Heart was absorbed into dust by Zhou Yan, not a single drop of energy was wasted, Zhou Yan’s Soul Sea remained unchanged.

It resembled a huge gap, like an ocean; a cup of water or even a drop entering, it would be a miracle for any change to occur.

This also proved the extraordinary difficulty level of the Realm beyond the Eighteenth Layer of the Sea of Suffering, which had already surpassed imagination.

Zhou Yan’s expression was somewhat complex; having slain another Demon Heart, the remaining Demon Hearts clearly realized Zhou Yan was extraordinary. He continuously slew three Demon Hearts of the Eleventh Layer of the Sea of Suffering, yet there was no transformation in Combat Power or Spirit, no evident progress or change.

At that moment, Demon Hearts weren’t fools, hence immediately fled with their claws raised.

The White Bone Demon Hearts vanished underground in an instant.

Not only that, but all the White Bone Hands of Demon Hearts within a kilometer radius disappeared as if they had received a signal.

Even though Zhou Yan’s Combat Power showed some difficulty when slaying these Demon Hearts, repeatedly having a massive advantage, Demon Hearts weren’t fools; they immediately knew Zhou Yan had concealed his Cultivation and Realm, and immediately fled.

Moreover, when Demon Hearts fled, they were virtually unstoppable; unless Zhou Yan exploded with more powerful Combat Power, it was extremely difficult to pursue and kill.

The White Bone Hands vanished underground, into depths unknown, undetectable. The tree bark slime penetrated space like water, seeped underground, to woods and grass, then disappeared.

Entering here might result in reappearing kilometers away, killing invisibly, escaping invincibly.

As for those Mantis, killing ruthlessly, fleeing with dual blades flashing, like cutting through space, space ripples undulating, instantly vanishing.

In terms of fleeing, all Demon Hearts exhibited terrifying capabilities and talents, virtually Divine Level.

Even Zhou Yan, with his temperament, upon seeing this scene, besides being dumbstruck for a moment, had to sarcastically curse, "Damn it, they escaped again!"

This was akin to when Zhou Yan’s team initially, seeing a Bull-horned Beastman, perhaps could fight, but when they were at the First Layer of the Sea of Suffering if they suddenly saw a Mantis at the Tenth Layer of the Sea of Suffering, would they linger? Afraid when the Mantis appears, it’s instant life-threatening panic running.

Isn’t it the same now? Zhou Yan, in these Demon Hearts’ eyes, has already become a super fierce creature. Not fleeing is a dead end.

This scene, after Zhou Yan concealed his aura, became much better overall, but once he took action, this result often repeated after several times.

Having a team, in such aspects, would be much better.

Zhou Yan sighed helplessly, then shook his head and continued forward.

Now, having not encountered a Heavenly Heart for so long, one can imagine to what extent the Heavenly Hearts have suffered losses. Of course, Zhou Yan can be certain that once he encounters a Heavenly Heart’s team, its scale will likely be increasingly large.

Dozens, hundreds, or even thousands.

Because only within such a team is there a possibility for growth and survival.

More and more small groups unite into larger teams after surviving life-and-death trials.

Zhou Yan also deduced this trend. Along the way, he saw numerous decayed human clan bones, many of which had just perished, with fresh bloodstains on severed limbs.

This indeed indicated the emergence of larger teams.

After advancing for over ten minutes, the sound of battle came from ahead.

In front of Zhou Yan, some demons dared not flee forward and instead escaped to the sides.

When Zhou Yan was not far from the team’s members, their battle had just concluded.

On the ground, thirteen Heavenly Heart practitioners lay dead, including five female Heavenly Heart practitioners whose bodies were brutally mangled. Their once charming and beautiful bodies were now bloody and unrecognizable.

Even Zhou Yan couldn’t help but feel a hint of regret seeing beautiful women killed in such a violent manner.

He lamented not just the loss of the cultivators’ lives but also the absence of a Daoist couple’s protection for such cultivators.

Among the Heavenly Heart practitioners, even now, the status of female cultivators remains low. This is not just due to innate talent and combat power. In the bloodline Zhou Yan studied, the Emperor Seals in females are inherently less complex and profound than those in males because there are fewer female Controllers, indicating an inherent weakness in the Emperor Pattern bloodline.

However, others remain unaware of this, and Zhou Yan hasn’t delved deep into the topic. This conclusion was drawn from the differences between Su Qin and Zhang Yu.

Now, facing the deaths of female Heavenly Heart practitioners, this conclusion becomes even more certain.

"Thirteen more have fallen."

"Our team is down to only three hundred seventy-three members. Sigh, who knows how many of us will survive in the end."

"Seven hundred eighty-one have died."

"Perhaps, the next ones will be you and me."

"What can we do? Living one more day is a blessing."

"Luckily, our three team leaders are now strong at the Twelfth Layer of the Sea of Suffering Realm."

"Yes, more than thirty are at the Eleventh Layer of the Sea of Suffering."

"Even so, no matter how powerful others are, ultimate reliance is on oneself when danger strikes. If you’re not strong, you only become a burden."

"Our team is fortunate. If other teams can’t unite, while they may ensure the safety of some members, the stronger get stronger while the weak lack opportunities to fight and become weaker."

"What can be done? Surviving is no small feat. Walking alone, how could you survive?"

"True, though if one could survive alone, they’d become incredibly strong."

"Walking alone, surviving, do you think you’re ’Black Tyrant’ or ’Xiong Paunchy’?"

"Black Tyrant is so ugly, and there’s also the Heavenly Heart Bear Demon. But indeed, their combat power is astonishing and must be among the Summoned."

"We best not mention Black Tyrant and Liu Haoxin; he’s quite the character—eccentric and moody. That bear even eats people, it’s very fierce, and has ties with the ’Lei Yan King.’ Best left unspoken."

"Indeed, we—"

...

A group of Heavenly Heart practitioners quietly discussed, and at this moment, Zhou Yan felt a chill in his heart, a glint flashed in his eyes.

Black Paunchy... Liu Haoxin?

Bear Demon... is that Xiong Ba?

Zhou Yan instantly captured some information.

But it seemed that Xiong Ba and Liu Haoxin were solo warriors? In this case, their combat power was certainly strong, but also very risky.

However, Zhou Yan wasn’t worried about their safety. If one still couldn’t feel at ease about the two of them, then any concern was unnecessary.

Zhou Yan believed that with their abilities, survival shouldn’t be an issue. This is a testament to his trust and recognition of their abilities.

Having gone through everything, Zhou Yan wouldn’t casually worry about the safety of Xiong Ba and others, because being worried would indicate a lack of trust and confidence in their abilities.

This would imply that their abilities hadn’t earned Zhou Yan’s recognition.

As Zhou Yan pondered, he didn’t inquire about Xiong Ba’s situation to the discussing practitioners. In Ancestor Dragon Main City, if they became Summoned, they’d meet eventually, so there’s no rush now.

Moreover, being so far away, asking would expose that Zhou Yan could sense everything from such a distance.