Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao-Chapter 653 - 086 Intentionally Picking Faults

"True Man Lü, three Enlightenment hours in the Fighting Divine Domain."

Zhou Gucheng approached the entrance of the Fighting Divine Domain and spoke to the guard who was a direct disciple of a Saint.

"Hmm? It has always been one hour before, but now it’s three hours. Could it be that you’ve made a breakthrough in your Realm?"

The guard, a green-robed Cultivator, looked at Zhou Gucheng in surprise and asked.

"Indeed, I have had some gains, just enough to qualify for three hours of time. If True Man Lü doesn’t believe me, feel free to test me," Zhou Gucheng said calmly.

The gatekeeping green-robed Lü surname Cultivator took another look at Zhou Gucheng, then suddenly, he seemed to recognize Zhou Gucheng’s identity and said, "You, you are the one who followed Zhou Yanxuan... Zhou Gucheng?"

"It is I."

Zhou Gucheng slightly relaxed his stern face and nodded.

"Since you are of Zhou Yanxuan’s lineage, and you believe you meet the requirements, then go in directly. I am sure there will be no mistake. Your lineage is indeed astonishingly powerful."

The gatekeeper disciple, True Man Lü, was taken aback and immediately became more polite.

Because, he remembered something—once, when his master and the Evil King were together, the Evil King had said that Zhou Gucheng, Zhou Ying, and the others of Zhou Yan’s lineage had immeasurable futures...

He was about to say a few pleasant words to Zhou Gucheng to build rapport when suddenly a voice called out.

"Hold on—"

"Hmm?"

Zhou Gucheng frowned slightly. Was someone really causing trouble?

He stopped in his tracks and turned around, only to see a party of five people approaching from afar, stepping across the Void. Their voices had sounded distant at first, but by the time their voices reached him, they had already descended from the Void, standing not far in front of Zhou Gucheng.

These five people, four men and one woman, were all once associates of Pang Wanchuan.

Seeing this, Zhou Gucheng knew in his heart that some people had started to jump out again. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

However, now these people had truly come to the right place.

Zhou Gucheng sneered inwardly but asked without any change of expression, "Is there a problem?"

"Indeed, there is a restriction in the Fighting Divine Domain. It’s always the one with the longest time allowed to enter first. I am entitled to three hours, while you have the capacity for only one. Naturally, I should enter first. As for you, simply a Void Realm Fifth Transformation. Facing those of Void Realm Nine Changes or even Tribulation Realm True Men, you should humble yourself and not be so arrogant."

The leading young man sneered as he said this.

His tone was condescending, and when he looked at Zhou Gucheng, it was as if he were looking at a clown.

"Humble down? True Man Xiao Qiuchen, do you know who this person is?"

The door-guarding direct disciple of the Saint, the green-robed Cultivator, said coldly.

Not to mention that there was no such rule as priority entry based on the length of time, even if there was, Zhou Gucheng currently also had the entitlement for three hours. Why then was he being challenged? Did Xiao Qiuchen truly not know of Zhou Gucheng’s background, or was he deliberately picking a fight?

Perhaps he really didn’t know?

Based on this thought, the green-robed Cultivator instinctively gave a reminder—though his tone of the reminder was not kind.

"Heh, True Man Lü Yan, you are taking things too seriously. What does it matter who he is? The Nine Origin Heavenly City has tens of thousands of talents from the entire Nine Origin Universe. Do you think I, Xiao Qiuchen, must recognize every insignificant person that comes along? Ridiculous! In this world, strength reigns supreme. We five are now entering the Fighting Divine Domain. If this Taoist friend disagrees, I invite you to a contest; we’ll see the truth beneath our hands. If you don’t have the guts, then just roll out on your own and save yourself the embarrassment here!"

Xiao Qiuchen sneered.

He directly dismissed the reminder from the Saint’s direct disciple Lü Yan, deliberately ignoring Zhou Gucheng’s identity; it was a way to retain an exit strategy.

He could later claim ignorance as an excuse to be let off the hook. Moreover, the Nine Origin Heavenly City did not forbid contests, with such disputes happening a thousand times daily. One more or one less was not surprising. As long as it was not to the death, it was within the rules, and there was no need to worry about anything. The geniuses were gathered together for competition, weren’t they? The Saints even encouraged battling to the life and death, as long as they left some leeway at the end.

Considering this, Xiao Qiuchen was confident that he had Zhou Gucheng at a disadvantage.

He deliberately suppressed Lü Yan’s words to prevent Zhou Gucheng’s identity from being revealed, preferring to fight first and talk later.

Sure enough, once he said this, Lü Yan immediately realized that Xiao Qiuchen was here to pick a quarrel. He had intended to say that even the Saints were wary of Zhou Yan’s clan, so you should stop causing unnecessary trouble.

But seeing Xiao Qiuchen’s smug and irritating demeanor, he held back.

"If you don’t seek death, you won’t die. Since you’re looking for a thrashing, then let’s fight, and the more brutal, the better! Last time I heard the Saint Master talking, he thought highly of Zhou Gucheng, so can this man be bad? Do you see how I, as a Saint’s direct disciple, show great courtesy to Zhou Gucheng?"

Lü Yan was very displeased, but after thinking it over, he didn’t say much more. His duty for these few days was to guard the Fighting Divine Domain. Other matters didn’t concern him—whatever their fate was not his problem.

Nevertheless, he gave Zhou Gucheng a slight nod as a gesture and conveyed through his eyes: "Brother Zhou, go for it, don’t let down those of Zhou Yanxuan’s lineage."

Zhou Gucheng saw the meaning in his eyes and seemed to understand it immediately, sending back a ’don’t worry’ look in return.

Initially, Lü Yan had some concern that Zhou Gucheng might not be able to win, but after seeing Zhou Gucheng’s look, he suddenly became very certain—Zhou Gucheng could not be much inferior to Hou Chen.

With this mindset, Lü Yan suddenly became highly anticipative of this battle. He felt this fight was going to be extraordinary.

"If you want to fight, then we’ll fight."

Zhou Gucheng spoke indifferently.

He had always been a man of few words, and this time was no different.

With just a few simple words, he made clear his combat intent.

"Step aside, and let me see just how capable this little brat is to dare to compete with me, Xiao Qiuchen, for the privilege of entering the Fighting Divine Domain first! Heh!"

Xiao Qiuchen’s face darkened as he spoke coldly.

As he talked, he had already begun to stir up boundless energy, causing the sky to shatter and the earth to split, creating an enormous commotion!

This was a deliberate show of force designed to attract other cultivators to watch!

But Zhou Gucheng merely glanced at him indifferently, paying no heed and not caring at all.

"Kneel!"

Suddenly, the seemingly arrogant and disdainful Xiao Qiuchen, upon seeing crowds of cultivators sticking their heads out to watch the battle, suddenly exerted an imposing and invincible aura. With the authority of having just entered the First Refinement of the Sword Tribulation, he unleashed his full might to suppress Zhou Gucheng, demanding Zhou Gucheng to kneel!

Such an attack was rare—calm before, but like a mountain crashing down upon action. It was definitely not a casual act of suppression, only done to deliberately insult someone.

"This..."

"Is this a deep-seated hatred, or is it deliberate humiliation? It seems many cultivators enjoy insulting others in battle lately, following that little overlord’s example?"

"What’s the situation? This is already the one thousand three hundred thirty-seventh fight today. Why do they all seem so keen on fighting? Are they seeking breakthroughs through battle?"

...

The surrounding cultivators were all discussing among themselves.

However, some of them quickly recognized Zhou Gucheng’s identity, yet they all seemed to have thought of something and remained silent. It seemed they all harbored some sort of schadenfreude in their hearts.

None dared to offend Zhou Yan’s circle directly yet could not resist the urge to encourage others to offend Zhou Yan’s circle, embodying the idea of ’better him than me.’

But Zhou Gucheng’s response surprised everyone.

Under such an attack from Xiao Qiuchen, he didn’t even attempt to resist! He let his body endure Xiao Qiuchen’s assault and came out completely unharmed!

"What? He’s, he’s completely unharmed? How is that possible?"

Xiao Qiuchen’s heart sank abruptly, his pupils contracted, and his face revealed utter shock.

...

In the Luo Stone Ancestor Star, within the Wansheng Divine Dynasty’s Treasure Pavilion Branch.

"Princess... Could you be deceived by this person—"

The Branch Squad Leader of the Treasure Pavilion, the elderly man dressed in black, now expressed his worries through a voice transmission.

He knew the Princess had grand ambitions and possessed the unrivaled grace and talent of the Wansheng Divine Dynasty’s number one saint, with a potentially astounding future. Thus, having sworn his allegiance, he took matters concerning the Princess very seriously.

"Wei Mingqian He, you’ve said this once, and that should be enough. Don’t even think about it again, understand? Master Zhou is Yilan’s mentor, and furthermore he’s an Ancient Sword Cultivator who studies the Divine Tao. He possesses an exceedingly noble divine bloodline, with a status far above my own! From now on, you must never disrespect Master Zhou again; otherwise, even with all your loyalty, I will not be able to keep you by my side."

Princess Yilan’s heart was slightly discontented, and her expression grew colder than before when Wei Mingqian He had made mistakes.

Wei Mingqian He shuddered internally and immediately bowed deeply, repenting, "What the Princess says is most correct. Mingqian is muddled, actually doubting the Princess’s insight and judgment. I realize my mistake."

"If you truly realize your error, that is well and good; it seems you have some discernment. If, however, your words are insincere and you still harbor delusions about exposing Master Zhou or similar thoughts, then you are truly foolish. You know my capabilities and determination. Do you think I, Yilan, would make a mistake in judgment, or be deceived like a little girl?"

Princess Yilan seemed to see through the elderly man’s thoughts, promptly questioning him with a rhetorical question.

Wei Mingqian He’s heart sank again; his thoughts were completely transparent to the Princess!

His expressions fluctuated for a moment, showing some indecision. Although he was somewhat aged, his position as the Branch Squad Leader of the Wansheng Divine Dynasty on Luo Stone Ancestor Star donned him with certain capabilities.

Now, he hesitated on whether to speak further, voicing the concerns of a ’servant.’

"Squad Leader Mingqian, although you have been working on Luo Stone Ancestor Star, I have learned about you. I know you are capable and decisive. It is commendable that you can set your heart on serving me loyally and without reservation. However, you have not fully understood some things."

Princess Yilan let out a soft sigh and suddenly spoke.

This time, she came to seek Wei Mingqian He because there were matters she needed him to handle, but before asking for his help, she needed to convince him.

To convince him to hold a respectful awe towards Master Zhou—her mentor.

She had arranged for Zhou Yan to stay in an upper room to rest. Although she claimed to be helping Master Zhou with errands, in reality, she was ensuring their paths would not be hindered by other troublesome incidents.

These matters might appear trivial, but often, it’s the small things that can ruin everything.

"Princess... Mingqian is dull-witted..."

Wei Mingqian He had realized the implications, but he needed to hear the Princess’s explanation. Now that he had decided on his loyalty, any matter concerning the Princess’s safety must be pursued relentlessly.