Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao-Chapter 1283 - 27: Wisdom in Simplicity

However, precisely because of this, a person who is like a ’treasure’ can survive to the Eleventh Layer of the Sea of Suffering Realm, which is obviously not easy. This indicates that, in their original team, they might have been well cared for, thus their combat power might be a bit lower.

Thinking this way, coupled with Zhou Yan’s own claims of his abilities in ’Artifact Refining’ and ’Array Refining,’ Hua Ru Xi and others did not consider his combat power.

Although not a pillar of combat strength, Zhou Yan’s prowess is indeed not a burden. Furthermore, in terms of Artifact Refining at the Eleventh Layer of the Sea of Suffering Realm, there’s clearly a significant enhancement to weapons, greatly boosting battle capabilities.

Therefore, he is indeed a ’must-have talent’.

"I am Zhou Neng, sharing the surname ’Zhou’, Brother Zhou Yan, let’s communicate more."

The young man smiled, his words amiable.

Zhou Yan nodded at once, saying, "So it’s Brother Zhou Neng, no wonder at first glance you seem like me, both so handsome and charismatic, it turns out we are from the same family."

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Zhou Yan really knows how to speak, but I indeed think so too."

Both laughed, while Yan Ruxin rolled her eyes at the pair, evidently showing a hint of disdain.

On the contrary, Hua Ru Xi glanced at Zhou Yan more closely, seeming vaguely to sense that this Zhou Yan is not simple.

Afterward, Zhou Yan came to understand all three hundred and seventy-three people present, memorizing everyone’s name and ability characteristics, and had brief exchanges with each person.

Upon communicating, Zhou Yan interacted with them respectively, apart from sensing that indeed ten or more harbor some malicious intent, the other Heavenly Hearts were quite good.

Each team establishes its own rules, whether it is to grow and rise in adversity, or resort to unscrupulous means and mutual slaughter, all really depends on personal choices.

Previous teams opted for mutual slaughter, others chose mutual support, some focused on strengthening themselves and stood alone as kings, viewing others as ants or servants, truly there’s every kind of scenario.

Yet the bodies of Heavenly Hearts encountered along the way, Zhou Yan noticed some clues, most still choosing genuine unity like the team before him.

After all, those who passed the Heavenly Heart test would not make mistakes in major issues, so when choosing unity, most are commendable and truly admirable.

Just like the first team Zhou Yan encountered, in the last ten, whether it be leader Fang Zhongze or Yi Xueyao, both were outstanding talents, sigh-worthy heroes.

Perhaps their lives were small, yet their moral values, their nature, and responsibility, their breadth of mind, were so great.

Because of this, after Zhou Yan slew Fang Zhongze, he actually felt a bit heartache for the first time, which is a huge reason he took immediate action to save Yi Xueyao upon last seeing her sacrifice.

Such lovely people, actually abound among the Heavenly Hearts.

Just like in this team of three hundred and seventy-three before him, Zhou Yan sensed that only seventeen had malicious intent, with unknown dangers lingering, while the rest were quite good.

Zhou Yan is adept in Merit Creation Power, having parts of Qi Fortune and Fate Secret Technique, his sensitivity towards these things is unimaginably keen.

Thus, those with abnormal thoughts are hard to escape his discerning eye.

However, under the present circumstances, Zhou Yan said nothing more, as the current situation really does not suit speaking out; after all, he, Zhou Yan, is just a new member, saying anything won’t be believed.

Moreover, there might even be backlash, ending up being branded as a malicious outsider.

So Zhou Yan merely kept these seventeen in mind, saying nothing and prepared to quietly observe what these seventeen intended to do. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

After the introduction, Hua Ru Xi began leading everyone in clearing up the remains of the deceased Heavenly Hearts.

Facing the mournful sisters dead, previous joy thoroughly disappeared; under such circumstances, joy is just a temporary remedy against pain, but the pain that resurfaces afterward is even stronger.

Zhou Yan noticed as Hua Ru Xi faced one particularly tragic woman with broken bones, mangled flesh; her eyes sparkled with tears, as if trace of tears flashed.

In this brutally fierce world, countless Heavenly Hearts have died, always seen in heaps, many cultivators long lost tears, yet Hua Ru Xi still had them; it must be said that this deceased woman was likely someone special to her.

With Hua Ru Xi’s ability, if she truly fought to guard this woman, she believes this woman wouldn’t die; thus, her not saving this woman was clearly for the overall situation.

Perhaps saving this woman could instantly lead to the death of other Heavenly Hearts...

Zhou Yan suddenly felt some sentiment towards his powerful calculation ability and his mood grew a bit heavy again.

This deduction is clearly sorrowful, likewise knowing more things and possessing powerful intelligence clearly isn’t always pleasant.

Because it lets people know more pain.

At this moment, Zhou Yan noticed Hua Ru Xi collecting the Qiankun Rings and even weapons from dead Heavenly Hearts, then digging into the ground, burying some Heavenly Hearts.

Zhou Yan walked over naturally, helping dig pits, burying Heavenly Hearts’ corpses.

Before this, Zhou Yan had never done such things.

However, at this moment, Hua Ru Xi seriously engaged in this task, her focused expression making her seem like an innocent little girl.

Such innocent and pure expressions, even if only for an instant, Zhou Yan felt as if he’d never forget it in his entire life, completely engraved into his mind.

"Perhaps someday I too will die, with no wish for Heaven and Earth or humanity to remember me, but hope someone would bury my still warm corpse.

I don’t want to die, leaving myself exposed to the wilds, presenting my beauty in a cruel and inhumane way, full of sin and ugliness."

"Do you think I am naive?"

Hua Ru Xi said softly.

```

Zhou Yan just realized that at this moment, Hua Ru Xi was very vulnerable, and also... sentimental.

This shouldn’t be an era for sentimentality, nor such a time, because this world doesn’t have the time or ability for a person to harbor melancholy and sorrow.

"You won’t die, at least not before I do."

Zhou Yan suddenly said seriously.

At that moment, Zhou Yan had never felt so earnest and so firm in his words.

That sentence was like a kind of inexplicable guardianship, yet also like a promise.

Hua Ru Xi’s delicate body trembled, her gaze suddenly locked onto Zhou Yan’s eyes; she saw a pair of plain, ordinary but exceptionally bright eyes.

"Perhaps, but it’s a pity that today’s world truly leaves one with no heart to care for a Daoist couple, otherwise, you would truly be a fine man. Though you have a bit of a pretty boy aura, elder sister quite likes it."

Hua Ru Xi’s slender and fair fingers extended out, gently tapping Zhou Yan’s forehead, then silently withdrew.

Then, she concealed all her emotions, becoming much colder and more distant, speaking again: "For the deceased cultivators, if we have time, we’ll collect their bodies and bury them. If not, we can only focus on staying alive. But their weapons and resources cannot be wasted, it’s not disrespectful to them, rather it is respect."

"Only by using the resources they worked hard to acquire and growing stronger, can we benefit our descendants in the future."

"Someday, Ancestor Dragon Starfield will proudly stand above all starry skies, becoming the true king hegemon, no longer enslaved as servants!"

Hua Ru Xi’s tone was very serious and solemn, stating the reasons, reflecting on the past and future, all while not letting her emotions affect the others; instead, she was full of Vast Qi and charisma.

This will subtly influence all who contribute, working together will boost morale, inspiring more effort and struggle for the future.

This is a respectable woman.

Also a very pitiful woman.

Because her sorrow and grief, no one can understand.

Her powerlessness can only be kept in her heart.

Her distress can only be hidden deep inside.

All her negative feelings, she can only bear alone, unable to express, otherwise team morale would drop, would fall.

After she spoke, she stopped, all the Heavenly Heart cultivators were suddenly motivated, filled with Battle Intent, full of renewed combat power.

Every task, the Heavenly Heart cultivators approached earnestly, those sitting down reflected on the flaws in their battles, making up for their shortcomings.

At this time, Zhou Yan felt that he should do something, help carry some of the burden.

Previously, Zhou Yan was only planning to hide his capabilities within the team, then study the Tao.

But now, Zhou Yan changed his mind, planning to follow this team, see where this team could go.

Zhou Yan stood up and said: "Anyone who has refining materials can bring them out. My current artifact refining skills are quite average, I can only help you refine weapons that increase combat power by ten percent. However, fortunately my refining speed is decent; I can refine a piece in three to five minutes."

"So anyone with refining materials shouldn’t worry, because even though my abilities are so-so, I’ve never failed at refining."

Zhou Yan said with a mischievous smile.

He seemed quite unserious, and also a bit silly, but once his words were spoken, the team immediately became stirred up.

A ten percent increase in combat power!

Three to five minutes to refine a weapon!

Never failed at refining!

Is this defying the heavens?

Is this a heaven-sent lucky star?

At this moment, everyone jumped up, looking at Zhou Yan with extreme astonishment!

Even Hua Ru Xi, Zhou Neng, and Yan Ruxin, who were under immense pressure, forgot about the massive pressure, all staring at Zhou Yan with extreme surprise, their gaze almost dumbfounded.

"Hmm? Why are you looking at me like this? Could it be that my handsomeness has stunned you? Actually, I know I’m very handsome, but you’re so shocked, I’m a bit embarrassed."

"Hmm, it’s okay for female cultivators to look at me this way, male cultivators, please don’t look at me like this. I... I, Zhou Yan, don’t like men."

"Hehe."

Zhou Yan said with a mischievous smile, seeming quite bashful.

This was his casual demeanor, embodying true intelligence masked as foolishness.

Because in such an environment, only a character like this could alleviate everyone’s mental and physical stress.

Zhou Yan thought very highly of this team, so without displaying combat power, it was very necessary to show off in other aspects appropriately!

...