History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474
Page 91
Yan Shan was shocked, as the Purple Gold Thunder Sword abruptly vibrated!
The Xiantian Martial Scholar Yan Shan could not react in time, but as a spirit artifact, his Purple Gold Thunder Sword could, and did.
Guided by the Purple Gold Thunder Sword that was abundant with spirituality, its originally straight sword-light curved into an arc.
It was only now that Yan Shan felt the hairs on the back of his head blow upwards simultaneously, as though infinite, limitless coldness had converged at the back of his head, piercing him with a needle-sharp pain.
Not daring to hesitate in the least, Yan Shan followed through with the guidance of the Purple Gold Thunder Sword, swivelling around and striking out with his sword behind him.
Clenching his teeth hard, the Purple Gold Thunder Sword within his hands shook.
The Heavenly Thunder Hall’s direct lineage martial art, Lightning Mantra Seventy Two Swords!
Dense as rain, quick as lightning, the violent sword-light instantly transformed into a net of electricity before him as the sky filled with a purple light, obscuring the heavens and covering the earth.
But within the net of electricity, a green light shockingly penetrated through its incomparably dense area of purple light!
This scene obviously meant that Yan Zhaoge’s sword, was faster!
The next moment, the all-encompassing purple light was extinguished.
Only now did the sound of the howling wind enter Yan Shan’s ears, as he felt as though he was currently in the eye of a violent storm.
Seeing his sword-light vanish, Yan Shan’s pupils abruptly contracted as he hurriedly changed his stance once more.
But this time, the sword-light of purple lightning, no longer appeared.
Dazed, Yan Shan suddenly saw a severed arm, within which was still grasped a sword that radiated purple light, shoot up into the sky.
The severed arm was drenched in fresh blood, spilling down to stain the pure white snow below.
Yan Zhaoge reappeared once more, the Jade Dragon Sword within his right hand, looking at his opponent calmly.
Only now did Yan Shan feel an intense pain emanating from his right arm. Looking downwards, his sword-wielding right hand had actually been severed by Yan Zhaoge in a single blow!
The speed of this sword of Yan Zhaoge’s was such that without even having yet detected it, Yan Shan had already been struck by it!
Yan Shan let out a tragic cry, his left hand cradling the wound on his right arm as he tottered backwards.
It was only now that the surrounding spectators felt like they had just woken up from a dream, though not quite understanding why.
Most of them had only seemed to see a purple sword-light and a green-sword light flash by before their eyes, not having been able to see anything further.
What they saw next was a severed arm, shooting up into the sky!
The entire exchange of blows had only seemingly lasted the time it took to blink one’s eyes.
Yan Min and the others stared wide-eyed, completely unable to comprehend how it had turned out this way.
“The distance between us is very small,” Yan Zhaoge looked calmly at the collapsed Yan Shan, “Then?”
The fingers of Yan Shan’s left hand tapped around continuously, hurriedly staunching the flow of blood on his right arm.
He looked at Yan Zhaoge with an incredulous expression on his face.
Although Heavenly Thunder Hall’s martial practitioners all proudly proclaimed that of all the martial arts under the heavens, only speed could not be surpassed, it did not mean that they were really invincible at their same level of cultivation.
Of the current six great Sacred Grounds, while Heavenly Thunder Hall disciples often got one up over disciples of the other Sacred Grounds, they often met with setbacks as well.
A disciple of Infinite Boundless Mountain had once jokingly said that the Heavenly Thunder Hall were only awesome at the start of a fight, and if they were unable to quickly secure victory, they would be like meaty flesh from the underbelly of a fish.
However, Yan Zhaoge had won in what they were most proficient at, securing victory in Yan Shan’s most prided unsheathing of the sword as well as speed!
This was what was hardest for Yan Shan to accept!
Not only had he lost, it had been a complete, sweeping victory!
The faces of Yan Min and the other Zhao Region Yans were ashen.
Yan Shan, was the most outstanding genius of this generation of the Zhao Region Yan Family!
Having been groomed by them, he was also one of the most outstanding figures of the Thunder Domain’s Heavenly Thunder Hall’s younger generation.
Not only was he as an early Xiantian Martial Scholar invincible amongst all the martial practitioners of the Zhao Region Yan Family at the same cultivation level, even their mid Xiantian martial scholars had to bow down in inferiority to him.
But such a Heaven’s favoured son, in the blink of an eye, had been defeated by Yan Zhaoge!
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 139: Thunder Rumbling Young Master
HSSB139: Thunder Rumbling Young Master
Not just those of the Zhao Region Yan Family, even the black-clothed martial practitioners of the Central Heaven Region Yan Family who had accompanied Yan Zhaoge here all revealed shocked expressions.
When a Heavenly Thunder Hall disciple clashed with an opponent with the battle being decided within the first few moves, he or she would generally have emerged the victor.
The longer the fight dragged on, the lower the chances of winning of the Heavenly Thunder Hall martial practitioner. Victories were usually in terms of speed, while defeat was generally from having entered tough, protracted battles.
Today, a Heavenly Thunder Hall martial practitioner had been speedily defeated by someone at the same cultivation level, rather than someone with a superior cultivation base-how long had it been since the entire Eight Extremities World had seen such a thing?
Yan Zhaoge stood where he was, unmoving. And it was now that Yan Shan’s severed arm, finally landed on the ground.
That right hand of his was still tightly gripping the Purple Gold Thunder Sword, which, possessing much spirituality, guided Yan Shan’s broken arm on its own initiative back to its owner.
However, just as the Purple Gold Thunder Sword moved, Yan Zhaoge’s Jade Dragon Sword followed, moving to suppress its motion as a streak of green light flashed past.
Shaken by that aura-qi, the fingers of Yan Shan’s severed hand naturally unclenched, releasing the handle of the sword.
Yan Shan glared furiously at Yan Zhaoge, “You…”
Yan Zhaoge’s expression was mild and as per usual as he captured the Purple Gold Thunder Sword with the Jade Dragon Sword.
Being heavily injured, Yan Shan was unable to concentrate, his communication with the Purple Gold Thunder Sword no longer smooth. Even while the Purple Gold Thunder Sword tried to struggle, it was still easily suppressed by the Jade Dragon Sword.
Yan Zhaoge said calmly, “You’re lucky; when you return, remember to thank Lin Zhou and his father.”
Hearing his words, Yan Shan was stunned with incomprehension.
Yan Zhaoge, however, no longer paid any attention to him. Keeping the Purple Gold Thunder Sword, he turned and walked towards the Cloud Array Spirit Flower, also waving his hands towards Ah Hu.
With a savage laugh, Ah Hu, along with the other black-clothed martial practitioners, walked towards Yan Min and the others.
The faces of Yan Min and the others all turned pale as they now remembered Yan Zhaoge’s earlier words. Even if they wanted to struggle in resistance, how were they these peoples’ opponents?
Ignoring the ghastly shrieks and howls of the Zhao Region Yans as well as the Yan Shan whose face was currently both angered and pale at the same time, Yan Zhaoge minded his own business as he went to harvest the Cloud Array Spirit Flower.
Leaving behind a ground of fresh blood, Yan Shan and the ot
hers fled in a panic.
The old man who was Yan Min’s guardian, ignoring Yan Shan’s unhappy expression, suddenly said before leaving, “The Thunder Rumbling Young Master is also in these East Strangling Snow Mountains!”
Upon hearing that old man’s words, Yan Zhaoge’s expression didn’t change in the slightest; this caused him quite some disappointment.
Ah Hu returned to Yan Zhaoge’s side.
“Young Master, when that Yan Shan moved just now, he evidently displayed an extremely strong killing intent towards you…”
While carefully harvesting the spirit flower, Yan Zhaoge replied, “Letting him return would still be of benefit to us. That severed arm of his-did he take it away?”
Ah Hu answered, “He did, and if he manages to get it done in time, it still has the possibility of being fixed back. However, as a martial practitioner, his right hand should no longer be of much use in the future.”
Yan Zhaoge said carelessly, “No matter, he trains in the sword. If his right hand can’t make it, the possibility still remains of him fighting with his left.”
Ah Hu scratched his head, “Young Master?”
“While cultivating at Cloud Portent Mountain, you gathered information as per usual, before reporting it to me,” Yan Zhaoge’s gaze hardened slightly, “Do you still remember which news regarding the Heavenly Thunder Hall we saw as worth paying attention to?”
Ah Hu realised, “Young Master, you mentioned Lin Zhou and his father just now…”
Lin Zhou was that young genius of the Heavenly Thunder Hall who was known alongside the similarly remarkable Yan Shan as ‘Lightning Flashing Thunder Rumbling’.
At the same time, his background was also extraordinary, his father being a Grand Elder of the Heavenly Thunder Hall who possessed great authority there.
Three years ago, in the Heavenly Connection Meet then, Yan Zhaoge had been hailed as one of the Four Young Masters of the current era alongside Lin Zhou, known as the Thunder Rumbling Young Master.
Unlike Broad Creed Mountain’s Xu Fei, Lu Wen and Yan Zhaoge as well as the Sacred Sun Clan’s Tang Yonghao, Xiao Shen and Chao Yuanlong who had basically been the most superior within their own age category, Lin Zhou and Yan Shan were really of the same age, the two of them having competed for ten over years ever since their youth all the way up till now.
Above them stood the two Grand Elders of the Heavenly Thunder Hall, who were similarly competitors.
Just like the Sacred Sun Clan’s Chief Huang Xu and the World Illuminating Lord of that generation before; just like Fang Zhun and Yan Di now.
Lin Zhou’s father and Yan Shan’s Master had also long been competing for the position of the Heavenly Thunder Hall’s next Chief.
Yan Zhaoge nodded, “Of the two, Lin Zhou’s father has always been at an obvious disadvantage. If no unforeseen circumstances occur, there is an eighty percent chance that it will be Yan Shan’s Master who prevails, and this result will also be seen very quickly.”
“If that is the case and Yan Shan wishes to die, I don’t mind fulfilling his wishes.”
“That way, of the Heavenly Thunder Hall’s younger generation, while it still cannot be said that Lin Zhou is completely unmatchable, Yan Shan’s Master will find it very hard to produce a young disciple who can contend with him within a short period of time.”
“Although the use of this is limited, it will at the very least improve the position of Lin Zhou’s father, preventing him from being defeated so easily.”
The internal conflict of the Heavenly Thunder Hall being even more of a stalemate and with both sides’ relationship increasingly likely to worsen was naturally all the better for Broad Creed Mountain.
Ah Hu nodded in understanding, “However, in recent days, it seems that the internal situation within the Heavenly Thunder Hall has actually seen a sudden change.”
“Lin Zhou’s father, continuously playing some brilliant hands, actually gradually got the situation more and more into his favour, his speaking power and influence in the Heavenly Thunder Hall rising straight up, even having the momentum of coming from behind to steal the lead.”
“The Thunder Rumbling Young Master Lin Zhou himself also suddenly improved in his cultivation, throwing Yan Shan with whom he had previously always been level.”
“The situation has now reversed, with Lin Zhou’s father holding much of an upper hand. If Yan Shan’s Master loses him as well, things will only get more unfavourable for him.”
Having finished harvesting the Cloud Array Spirit Flower, Yan Zhaoge stored it carefully, “That’s right. Suppressing the stronger and helping the weaker, causing both sides to be kept locked in a stalemate, is what we would be most happy to see now.”
“As for Yan Shan, he can first carefully get over his injuries before proceeding to properly train his left arm in the sword, following which his main opponent will still be Lin Zhou.”
Yan Zhaoge lifted his eyelids, “I have a sort of premonition that even if we inadvertently make things more convenient for Yan Shan’s Master, Lin Zhou and his father will only come to hold a greater and greater advantage.”
“The good days of Yan Shan and his Master, are at their end.”
Ah Hu was somewhat doubtful, “Young Master, why is that so ah?”
Yan Zhaoge said, “It’s just a premonition; I can’t explain it clearly.”
He handed over the container within which was sealed the Cloud Array Spirit Flower over to Ah Hu, “Keeping low-key and careful, making sure not to alarm anyone as much as possible, get this back to Broad Creed Mountain as soon as possible.”
After thinking for a while, Ah Hu said, “My target is also very obvious, and will easily attract the attention of others; why not you send someone else instead.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, “You can arrange for it; just remember that this thing is very important, and has to be handed over to my father in person.”
Ah Hu agreed, and went to make the arrangements.
Seeing Ah Hu’s departing figure, Yan Zhaoge thought about how some things were inconvenient for him to talk clearly to even Ah Hu about.
Regarding Lin Zhou’s and his father’s sudden rise to power, it had not actually been just a prediction of his.
Putting together and analysing some of the information reports that he had received, Yan Zhaoge had actually had even more speculations.
“Lin Zhou, interesting…” Yan Zhaoge lightly raised his brows as many thoughts instantly flashed through his mind.
In the memories of his body’s original owner, in the Heavenly Connection Meet three years ago, Yan Shan, being in seclusion, had not participated, but the Thunder Rumbling Young Master Lin Zhou, he had actually met in person.
Still, at this moment, before Yan Zhaoge’s eyes, two other silhouettes vaguely took form, vaguely coming to merge with the figure of Lin Zhou.
“Disperse, and carefully search this East Strangling Snow Mountain. The Heavenly Thunder Hall’s ‘Lightning Flashing Thunder Rumbling’ both appearing in this place at the same time-there’s bound to be something up,” After pondering for a moment, Yan Zhaoge recovered and instructed the retainers accompanying him.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 140: Sacred Artifact Fragment
HSSB140: Sacred Artifact Fragment
The East Strangling Snow Mountain was large, but at the end of the day, its special characteristics that people would take heed of were still limited.
Not long after, the black-clothed martial practitioners reported back that between the mountains to the south there was an unusual flow of spiritual qi.
It actually seemed like there was a hidden yet extremely strong spirit formation there.
Yan Zhaoge and Ah Hu immediately hurried in that direction, following which Yan Zhaoge raised his brows slightly, “It really is a massive spirit formation.”
After feeling carefully, he could detect that the strength of the spirit formation was currently rising unceasingly.
Ah Hu grinn
ed widely, “Young Master, such fluctuations of power-it isn’t something that people have set up here, but rather an ancient formation that has long existed!”
“Usually it is completely obscured, making it hard to detect.”
“Now, with people having set it off, the spirit formation has activated, its strength rising, forming an existence like a boundary that is gradually reaching its peak.”
Rubbing his huge hands, Ah Hu smiled till only his teeth and not his eyes could be seen, “This is very possibly a cave dwelling left behind by a senior expert who has long since died; we’ve struck it rich this time. Luckily we made it here in time; it really is that arriving coincidentally beats arriving early.”
Carefully observing the fluctuations of the formation, Yan Zhaoge gradually came to a realisation, “The legacies that were left behind in the Eight Extremities World following the Great Calamity cannot be considered too ancient; they’re at the very least far from the time of the Glacial Dragon Martial Saint.”
“While the one who left the legacy should not have reached the Martial Saint realm, this spirit formation is somewhat profound, remaining hidden and inactivated.”
“Even having been set off now, its spiritual fluctuations are still limited to the few mountain peaks in the vicinity; if not for me having specially sent people to search all around, we would not have been able to discover it from further away.”
As he thought thus within his heart, Yan Zhaoge swivelled his head to glance at the happy Ah Hu, “You yourself also said that the formation was only set off just now because of people; this means that someone has gone on ahead of us.”
Ah Hu gave a simple and honest laugh, “If someone has gone on ahead, you, Young Master, can come up from behind ah.”
“With Yan Shan heavily injured and retreated, it should most likely be that Thunder Rumbling Young Master Lin Zhou, right?”
He rubbed his hands, “Such legacies, though ancient and worn down, still likely contain some defensive measures. Even if Lin Zhou has entered first, if he wants to crack them, it will also not be easy. Conversely he would even be sweeping the path ahead on our behalf.”