Now, all the many ancestors had already gathered together.

Some doubts were thus resolved.

Zhou Yan’s mood instead shifted from heavy to gradually calm.

He had achieved the King Realm, and in an instant his combat power swelled to an extreme degree.

If the King Realm also had divisions, then Zhou Yan’s Realm would be the Ninth Level of Perfection of the King Realm, equivalent to the very pinnacle state of combat power among Kings.

At this moment, Zhou Yan could in fact already be mentioned in the same breath as Pangu and Nuwa, and even faintly surpass them somewhat.

However, there was nothing here worth being proud or glad about.

Stepping into the King Realm should have been the greatest, most joyous event, but at this time, facing such a situation, Zhou Yan felt only a sense of Fate’s responsibility and pressure.

Zhou Yan took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Nuwa and Pangu, and said, "No matter what the situation is, we’ve already come to this step. Whatever needs to be done, however it should be done, everyone can still discuss it more carefully. Although time is a bit rushed, in many matters, there are still some turns of chance."

"Careful planning is unnecessary. The great war is still ongoing. We are here only as projections and must return."

"The Ancient Life Clan and the Emperor Ancient Clan are relatively stable, but there are still upheavals and crises. For the moment, you are only staying here, only acting as guardian to some of the wounded."

"Also, you must as soon as possible familiarize yourself with the use and creation of some rules, and then... we shall meet again on the Silent Annihilation Battlefield."

After Pangu and Nuwa left these words, their figures gradually faded away.

After that, Mu Qingyan and the others also began to sink into the space between Zhou Yan’s brows, and in this process, Zhou Yan himself was actually unable to stop it.

This situation was abrupt, yet also very natural.

Zhou Yan knew that the space between his brows was in fact a uniquely created Space, a place born of the union of all rules; the Elf Domain and Purple Flame Void were located there.

And Mu Qingyan and the others in truth also lived within it.

If Zhou Yan did not leave that previously created Reincarnation Land, Mu Qingyan and the others would actually bear a great burden.

After staying for a while, the Immortal Phoenix Peacock and the others also departed, and on the scene, only Zhou Lingyi and Hou Chen had yet to leave.

Zhou Yan had been unable to stop these people from coming.

Nor could Zhou Yan persuade them to stay when they left, because every single one of them—or rather, every Holy Spirit—was very busy.

Zhou Lingyi stood not far in front of Zhou Yan. Her figure looked somewhat weakened, yet was still filled with powerful Ancient Energy of life; the traits of the Ancient Life Clan seemed in this moment no longer concealed, all fully revealed.

The faint golden aura was profoundly calming to the heart, intoxicating to the Spirit.

"Zhou Yan, it really hasn’t been easy for us to make it to this step."

Zhou Lingyi sighed, her words tinged with a certain bleak desolation.

Zhou Yan rarely saw her lament. Especially in the later stages of his growth, Zhou Lingyi—or rather Hou Ling’er—had in his memory always been an independent and strong young girl.

Now, hearing Zhou Lingyi speak in this tone, Zhou Yan could not help but feel a trace of wistfulness.

Zhou Yan’s gaze fell upon Hou Chen, who was still lying in that unknown Void; Hou Chen’s body was still covered in blood, still bathed in blood, exuding wisp after wisp of a shocking, soul-stirring Evil Spirit aura.

Zhou Yan nodded. He cast out a unique Primordial Magnetic Pole Light; the aurora transformed into a very natural Singularity Sky Bridge, its changes akin to the particle changes of the Netherworld’s Netherworld Particles.

Within such a method, the singularity quickly wrapped toward Hou Chen.

However, before it could even touch Hou Chen, the Blood Light spreading from Hou Chen’s body became even more blazing.

In that instant, Hou Chen transformed into a blood-colored Evil Dragon. The Evil Dragon looked incomparably ferocious and savage, roaring and struggling in the unknown Void.

But in the very next moment, the Evil Dragon suddenly turned back into Hou Chen, became Hou Chen as a youth, and then continued to change, turning into Hou Chen as an infant.

After that, he continued to transform, becoming an Immortal Bone Blood Embryo.

Only, after this process was frozen for a split second, it suddenly reversed, and Hou Chen once more became a handsome youth, his entire body shrouded in blood-colored Blood Qi.

His condition seemed to have recovered greatly; no bloodstains or wounds could be seen anymore, and that Blood Qi also gradually drew back, returning into his body.

Very soon, he looked toward the Void, as if through the Void he had seen Zhou Yan and also seen Zhou Lingyi.

At once, he took a single step, crossing the Endless singularities of the Void, and traveled toward Zhou Yan.

"Zhou Yan, don’t worry. His state is quite good; he won’t be in danger for the time being."

Zhou Lingyi said in consolation.

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "Before I became a King, I might have worried a great deal. After becoming a King, I suddenly stopped worrying, because I know that in every respect, Chenchen is outstanding, highly capable. Even among Kings, he is one of the very top tier."

"With such strength, he no longer needs my worry."

"I am only, as a father, feeling pity and affection for my son, that is all."

Zhou Yan said with a sigh.

Zhou Lingyi let out a soft breath, and said in a slightly desolate tone, "If we had muddled along together without knowing the truth, perhaps we wouldn’t have so many troubles. In many things, not knowing really is better than knowing. When you don’t know, you can be willful and feel no pressure. Once you know, you can’t avoid having to face it."

Zhou Lingyi seemed to have many things she wanted to say to Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan was silent for a moment, tacitly acknowledging Zhou Lingyi’s words.

"You have given so much. I’ve already remembered almost everything about the Ancient Life Clan. And I already know that Zishuang and Qingyan initially approached me as undercover agents, and only afterward did they develop real feelings. These feelings have not faded over the Endless years, but instead become even deeper."

As Zhou Yan spoke, he added, "Then what about you, Ling Yi?"

"For what did you give so much, and for what did you become so deeply attached? Feelings? The feelings between us have clearly already exceeded the scope of mere emotion."

Zhou Yan mused, and said.

"Yes."

"But as for this, when Gu Xi returns, you’ll understand."

"Zhou Yan, do you know what the Azure Dragon’s final destination was?"

"I do not."

Zhou Yan’s heart tightened slightly, yet he instinctively rejected it.

Zhou Lingyi fixed her gaze on Zhou Yan. After a long time, a faint, indescribable sorrow flashed through her eyes as she said, "One King Avatar of the Azure Dragon was refined. Its Endless Bloodline derived a supreme race, a supreme yet Ordinary race that gathered the strengths of all Life."

"That race is the Human Clan."

"That ancient Planet carried the cultural inheritance of dragons; emotional civilization itself has its Origin and reasons."

"Then tell me—how do you think the Azure Dragon should treat such a race?"

"To the Azure Dragon Saint Spirit, this is a humiliation."

"Zhou Yan, no matter what, I will always be your guardian. If you love me, perhaps I will grow old with you in this life."

"If you do not, it doesn’t matter. The emotional guardianship of the Ancient Life Clan, apart from being together, also lies in guardianship itself.

Then I will transform into a Life Ancient Tree, accompanying every moment in the world of the Elf Domain. Because that is where you once lived."

Zhou Lingyi said this with a smile.

Zhou Yan’s heart was moved because of that.

Words like these could only be spoken from the extremity of emotion.

"I have the Twelve Forms of Battle Soul, the Thirteen Monarch Seals, and the Soul of Self. Afterwards, I can derive the Thirteen King Holy Spirits."

"Among them, there will be one, separate and unique, that belongs to you."

Zhou Yan had long since foreseen the outcome, so he let out a soft sigh and spoke.

This was a promise—not merely to share a lifetime of white hair, but to accompany her forever.

Moreover, a companionship that was unique.

Upon achieving King Realm, the King’s Marks are manifold, existing independently, and the Soul-Slaying King also allowed Zhou Yan to possess the Thirteen Forms of King Holy Spirits.

This was Zhou Yan’s current foundation.

Precisely because of this, the instant he stepped into King Realm, he could already stand alongside Pangu and Nuwa, Hong Jun, the Moral King and the other Kings.

He could compare to Mu Qingyan’s Combat Power in her Evil Spirit state as a King.

"With this answer from you, I am already satisfied. Even if there is no result at all, I have never felt that any price I paid was even the slightest bit unworthy—Zhou Yan, Hou Chen is here; I shall return to my clan."

As Zhou Lingyi spoke, she suddenly looked into the distant Void with a trace of sensing, then directly transformed into a pale golden leaf. The leaf fluttered and swayed like a falling leaf in late autumn.

Only, in the process of that leaf’s descent, it grew older bit by bit, withered, turned yellow, turned transparent, until it completely vanished.

At the same time, Zhou Yan saw Hou Chen’s figure appear in the Void.

"Master. Father."

Hou Chen appeared. Upon seeing Zhou Yan, blood-tears flowed from his eyes as he directly knelt before Zhou Yan.

"Chenchen, rise. We, as Master and disciple, as father and son, share a bond of Spirit—there is no need to pain each other like this."

Zhou Yan showed an incomparably warm smile. Although Zhou Lingyi’s earlier actions made that smile appear somewhat pale, this was already the kindest and warmest smile he could muster.

"Father."

Hou Chen’s entire body trembled, yet he still did not rise at once. Instead he kowtowed three times in succession, then, shivering, stood up like an ordinary person.

"The battle is still fierce. Chenchen, tell your father—what do Nuwa and the Pan Emperor mean to do?"

Zhou Yan spoke softly.

All those ancestors of the Human Clan had departed, and now Hou Chen had come. That alone was enough to show that the things to come had almost all been arranged.

"Father, Chenchen has failed in many things. Now, I can only teach some of my abilities to father."

Fatigue and shame appeared on Hou Chen’s face.

Yet just as that expression emerged, Zhou Yan stretched out his hand, in whose palm flowed a mighty Nirvana King Energy.

The Nirvana Origin Energy flowed like streams of Clear Spring, watering Hou Chen’s heart; at the same time, it changed his bleeding eyes and ashamed expression.

What appeared instead were bright, jet-black eyes, and a healthy, flushed face carrying a confident smile.

"Chenchen, you wish to teach me the Evil Dragon Inheritance, don’t you? Let us begin. Remember this: no matter what you have done, you will always be my Zhou Yan’s disciple, my son. This point is eternal and unchanging."

"As for right or wrong, true or false, it does not matter."

Zhou Yan’s voice was gentle and kindly.

This was neither indulgence nor extremity.

It was because, regardless of right and wrong, regardless of true and false, the fact that Hou Chen was his child would never change.

A father would never lose his fatherly love because his child had erred.

All the more so since Zhou Yan was perfectly clear in his heart how much Hou Chen had sacrificed and how many hardships he had endured.