Failure, repeated failures.

Zhou Yan had comprehended the inheritance of the Evil Spirit to its extreme, yet he couldn’t even begin to truly understand it, as though all the Dao could be controlled at will to the limit, but then left him bound and restricted.

Zhou Yan had never experienced something this frustrating.

In any cultivation, he had always been exceptionally intelligent, capable of rapid comprehension, even able to discern the origin of many Dao at a glance.

But perhaps a wise man’s thousand thoughts might still have a misstep, or perhaps... this Dao itself was extraordinary.

Zhou Yan poured all his efforts into understanding the Dao taught by Hou Chen, yet he comprehended nothing.

Yes, although Zhou Yan knew what this Dao was, even its effects, he just couldn’t grasp it.

This meant that the last path had reached a dead end.

This meant that the last shred of hope had come to an end.

Zhou Yan tried many more times, but each attempt ended without success. Finally, Zhou Yan laughed, a laugh that was carefree and indifferent.

"I truly gave it my all, but indeed, I can’t comprehend this Dao, so your concern about me transforming into an Evil Dragon is unnecessary."

There was a subtle bitterness in Zhou Yan’s words.

This situation was actually worse than failing the transmission of Dao, because Zhou Yan seemed not even qualified to accept this Dao.

Thus, the worry of becoming an Evil Dragon seemed all the more ironic and ridiculous.

But Hou Chen didn’t laugh.

Mu Qingyan and Jiang Yuning, Qian Luoshui didn’t laugh either.

They all came to Zhou Yan’s side, silently guarding him—even if Zhou Yan failed to achieve enlightenment, so what?

The path was originally one with little hope of success, so the failure was not unexpected.

Success could be accepted; failure was actually anticipated.

After all, the probability of accepting the inheritance was too low, too low.

With such a low probability, it couldn’t be successful every time; there would eventually be a failure.

Mu Qingyan and Jiang Yuning wanted to comfort Zhou Yan, but they didn’t know where to start.

The Mother Empress, however, remained a passive observer, with a hint of mockery.

"Father, perhaps there’s another reason for the failure. Since I can learn it, there’s no reason you can’t."

"Moreover, Father, you possess thirteen King’s Marks. Under such circumstances, if you can’t inherit it, no Holy Spirit in existence can!"

Hou Chen, after a moment of contemplation, suddenly spoke with certainty.

Zhou Yan didn’t think Hou Chen was comforting him, because he understood Hou Chen.

At this moment, Hou Chen had no reason to comfort him.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan’s expression grew more somber, he said, "I’m not making excuses; indeed, there’s a feeling of being powerless, as if something’s missing."

"Missing something? Zhou Yan, are you still making excuses for your failure? Are you now unable to even bear this failure?"

The Mother Empress expressed even more sarcasm, her words carrying a cold, mocking tone.

Zhou Yan cast a quiet glance at the Mother Empress, saying, "I, Zhou Yan, do not fear life and death, do not care about pain and suffering, fear nothing, so why would I care about inheritance failure? I just truly feel the binding sense of helplessness, as if my potential had suddenly reached its limit, unable to be further unleashed."

"However, I know clearly in my heart, that’s not my limit."

Zhou Yan said with a heavy demeanor.

Although the Mother Empress had obvious mockery, Zhou Yan still adhered to his principles and didn’t argue with her.

"Is that so? Time is running out, so I’ll see how you face the series of changes that follow!"

The Mother Empress snorted lightly, seeming slightly annoyed by Zhou Yan’s explanation, even considering it a cowardly display lacking accountability.

Because of this, the Mother Empress seemed to have lost her patience to keep waiting here.

She seemed entirely disappointed in Zhou Yan, harboring no hope at all.

Hence, the Mother Empress turned around, ready to leave immediately.

At this moment, her gaze suddenly focused, looking towards the depths of the sky.

At that moment, not only the Mother Empress, but also Jiang Yuning, Qian Luoshui, and Mu Qingyan all turned their gaze towards the void in the sky.

In the depths of the sky, a very distinct fluctuation of soul energy appeared, converging with the aura of the Holy Spirit’s origin and everything else, forming a very unique figure.

This figure had extremely beautiful, captivating curves, with a charm enough to beguile all beings.

After her appearance, even the aura and presence of the Mother Empress were overshadowed.

"Brother Zhou Yan, I’m back."

When she appeared beside Zhou Yan, her voice happened to reach his ears.

It was just like in the past, like that intimate call the first time they met on the Sword Burial Ancestor Star, as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Yan was a bit stunned and then looked at the stunning and lovely Gu Xi, with a warm smile on her face, exactly the same as before. His heart was filled with immense excitement and emotion.

Gu Xi had returned.

And it was at this moment.

No matter where Gu Xi went, she returned at this time.

Zhou Yan knew that after the inheritance failure, the battle of Ten Thousand Buddhas’ Extinction was likely to ultimately fail.

At that time, even Destruction wouldn’t necessarily be able to destroy together, so at this time Gu Xi’s return made Zhou Yan incredibly excited and gratified.

If there was no hope, Zhou Yan wouldn’t want any family member to leave him. Perhaps, facing this endless fate and rules, only a shared destruction would be the end.

There was no pain or sadness in Zhou Yan’s heart, only peace, a peace after seeing through everything.

"Brother Zhou Yan, is it because you can’t learn that final Evil Spirit inheritance? Actually, Brother Zhou Yan need not worry because... the missing part, Xi’er has already brought it back for you."

Gu Xi, just like before, even continued the old way of addressing him.

Every call of ’Brother Zhou Yan’ was so clear and captivating, so intoxicating.

Zhou Yan seemed to be brought back to the past by Gu Xi’s words, to the scene of meeting Gu Xi for the first time after growing up, the memories still vivid in his mind.

Even though at that time, Zhou Yan and Gu Xi were just ordinary cultivators, and their ideals were very simple, undoubtedly, the carefree days of that time were indeed worth longing for.

Zhou Yan seemed to return to the past, back to the childhood days with Gu Xi, and instantly his heart became completely calm, and that indescribable sweet feeling naturally arose in his heart.

At that moment, Zhou Yan couldn’t help it and suddenly held Gu Xi tightly in his arms.

Zhou Yan didn’t speak because he feared any words would break this moment of happiness and tranquility, even though this happiness and tranquility would only last for such a short moment.

Once calamity struck, it would be irreversible, and the dependence would be completely lost.

Time just passed like this.

After a while, as Gu Xi was embraced by Zhou Yan, her body seemed to be slightly softening, more importantly, Jiang Yuning, Qian Luoshui, and Mu Qingyan were all still here. Her disposition wouldn’t allow her to monopolize Zhou Yan alone, enjoying this unique happiness.

So, Gu Xi gently struggled to break free from Zhou Yan’s embrace and reached out her hand to softly caress his face.

Zhou Yan was still so young, but the soul beneath that youthful face had already aged countless times.

The depths of his deep and calm eyes also hid his sadness and endless misfortune.

Zhou Yan’s gaze was tranquil, but behind this tranquility, how much intertwining of vicissitudes and suffering was there?

Gu Xi felt a deep ache but also understood Zhou Yan well. Her hand gently caressed Zhou Yan’s face, as if trying to smooth out all the pain and vicissitudes in his heart.

"Brother Zhou Yan, the inheritance cannot be inherited; actually, it has nothing to do with you because the real key to initiating the inheritance was sealed by you on that Life Soul Origin."

"And I, after experiencing the world beyond the Life Magic Cube, have unlocked this confinement, so this Life Soul, Brother Zhou Yan, you can already retrieve it."

"Only by retrieving this Life Soul, Brother Zhou Yan, can you truly be the King, and the King’s Mark is not thirteen kinds, but fourteen."

"This last kind is Lei Yuan. The Thunder Origin Mark."

"Brother Zhou Yan, do you still remember the Thunder Origin Sword God? Brother Zhou Yan."

Gu Xi called endearingly, her words exceptionally gentle.

When she spoke these words, Mu Qingyan’s gaze suddenly flashed with a hint of surprise, but soon, she showed a thoughtful expression.

Afterwards, Mu Qingyan’s gaze toward Gu Xi became somewhat inexplicable and a bit unbelievable.

But in the end, Mu Qingyan didn’t say anything and instead turned her gaze to Zhou Yan.

Unlike Mu Qingyan, Qian Luoshui and Jiang Yuning were somewhat unaware of the situation. Hearing Gu Xi say this, they first felt a bit of joy and some hope arose in their hearts, but then they became a little worried about Gu Xi’s safety.

In such a situation, could there be any issue with Gu Xi?

And what had Gu Xi gone through in the so-called world beyond the ’Life Magic Cube’?

"No, impossible. How could you possibly go to the world beyond the Life Magic Cube?"

The Mother Empress was startled and then looked at Gu Xi, her eyes filled with deep incredulity.

In her view, although Gu Xi had already become a Holy Spirit and was relatively powerful, Gu Xi definitely couldn’t have the ability to go to the world beyond the Life Magic Cube and return.

Gu Xi’s abilities in all aspects clearly fell short for this.

If Gu Xi could, then her Mother Empress could also do the same, couldn’t she?

But in reality, she couldn’t. She had always tried but never succeeded.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sent Feng Zishuang and Zhou Lingyi, who had severed their roots, to that place.