A while later, Yan Zhaoge resumed his footsteps, continuing to walk on water as he proceeded for a set distance, before then halting again.
Walking and halting like this, with those motions of his arms ceaseless.
The clouds surrounding Yan Zhaoge was made to stick by his side, gradually coming to form an increasingly large mass of qi which moved alongside him.
“Viewing the changes of the Clear Concealed Lake has indeed caused me to have some other thoughts on the martial dao.”
Yan Zhaoge pondered, “Stepping into the Xiantian stage with spirituality forming in one’s aura-qi; having reached the mid Xiantian stage, the aura-qi can form an illusory heaven and earth, birthing the changes between true and false a step further, seeking the secrets of the heavens and earth.”
“Within this, perhaps there are some things that I can use.”
As he pondered, Yan Zhaoge was suddenly taken aback slightly, “Hmmm?”
Following alongside him, Ah Hu asked, “Young Master, what is it?”
Slightly narrowing his eyes, Yan Zhaoge surveyed his surroundings, “This formation, seems to have changed ah.”
Ah Hu was baffled as an uncomprehending expression appeared on his face.
Yan Zhaoge didn’t continue saying anything. Like alchemy and artifact forging, formations were a comparatively independent field of study on its own. While being closely related to the martial dao, attainment in formations was not completely dependent on a martial practitioner’s cultivation base.
And the spirit formation that enveloped the Clear Concealed Lake before them had only changed very slightly, such that it was not very obvious.
While Ah Hu had already reached the Heavenly Connection stage, never having studied about formations before, him not being able to detect this change was not surprising at all.
To Yan Zhaoge, formations were also his weak point. However, that was only in comparison to his abilities in other areas.
In comparison to other Martial Scholars, Yan Zhaoge’s attainment in formations was similarly outstanding.
Moreover, in recent days, Yan Zhaoge had just happened to be intentionally making up for this and raising his proficiency in formations, thus being extremely sensitive in matters relating to them.
At this moment, he very quickly detected this anomaly.
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “Cough, is this an aftereffect of Infinite Boundless Mountain previously spreading news as they thought to overpraise me to death?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 155: Testing Yan Zhaoge’s mettle
HSSB155: Testing Yan Zhaoge’s mettle
In terms of their overall benefit, the restoration of the Giant Spirit Magnetite had been extremely rewarding for Infinite Boundless Mountain.
But because they had completely fallen out with the Heavenly Thunder Hall, losing their previous beneficial stance of being able to advance or retreat as they liked, having to enter battle personally and unarmoured, to Infinite Boundless Mountain, they had undoubtedly been harmed in terms of their initiative in the overall situation.
What was even more frustrating was that they didn’t have any other choice.
Although those of Infinite Boundless Mountain had made a very rational decision and joined the side of Broad Creed Mountain and Jade Sea City in standing against the Sacred Sun Clan and the Heavenly Thunder Hall, in the eyes of Broad Creed Mountain, Yan Zhaoge who had spurred this on had performed a huge merit, while Infinite Boundless Mountain had rather complicated views on this.
While they held no proof whatsoever, some of Infinite Boundless Mountain deeply believed that Yan Zhaoge had premeditatedly dug a hole for them that they just had to jump into.
Therefore, ever since half a year ago, some rumours regarding Yan Zhaoge had spread from the Mountain Domain, praising him as being rare within the heavens, hard to seek on the earth.
Let alone the current younger generation and Yan Zhaoge’s peers, looking at that momentum of his, it seemed like even his father Yan Di had not suppressed those of his generation so greatly that year.
In attending the Heavenly Connection Meet this time, Yan Zhaoge had long been mentally prepared for this, knowing that many people would be attempting to test his mettle.
Infinite Boundless Mountain’s Liu Shengfeng would be the number one candidate for this.
It must have been difficult for Infinite Boundless Mountain to have suppressed this ferocious beast to not come looking for him during his stay at Cloud Portent Mountain.
What was noteworthy for Yan Zhaoge was that with his fame increasingly growing over this past year, the younger generation experts of the Eight Extremities World had gradually begun overlooking his age as well as cultivation base.
Because Yan Zhaoge’s actual achievements in battle were just too glorious.
Easily killing Xiao Shen at the same cultivation level, defeating Chao Yuanlong at the same cultivation level, and defeating the Xiantian stage Ji Hanru whilst in the late outer aura Martial Scholar realm.
The results of his battles with Lin Zhou and Yan Shan had also begun to spread.
In terms of age as well as time spent cultivating, many of these opponents still surpassed Yan Zhaoge by not just a little.
And all of those aforementioned were elites of the Eight Extremities World’s younger generation amongst those of the same age, geniuses recognised by the entire world.
Randomly picking out one of them, even if they were to compete with most other martial practitioners of the six great Sacred Grounds of the same cultivation level, they would possibly also be able to suppress their opponents, perhaps even surpass levels and defeat the strong as the weak.
But these geniuses, had all met defeat at Yan Zhaoge’s hands!
Of the Eight Extremities World’s current younger generation, these splendid battle achievements of Yan Zhaoge’s were all numbered amongst the top few.
Because of Ji Hanru and Xiao Yu, Liu Shengfeng had not been able to successfully make a move earlier, but Yan Zhaoge had never thought that attending the Heavenly Connection Meet, his first opponent come to test his mettle would be someone of Turbid Wave Pavilion.
After all, faced with the current strong gales and raging waves of the Eight Extremities World’s general situation, Turbid Wave Pavilion still stood very stably as a neutral party.
His hands behind his back, Yan Zhaoge surveyed his surroundings, feeling carefully.
He was now no longer comprehending the principles of the heavens and the earth, rather feeling for the circulation as well as spiritual qi flow of this formation.
“En, from the looks of it, they only want to deflate my momentum as well as spirit, more being a sort of test for me,” After carefully pondering for a moment, the corners of Yan Zhaoge’s mouth lifted slightly upwards.
The formation before him was naturally nothing more than some simple bewildering mist.
If this formation set down by the Elders of Turbid Wave Pavilion really faced an enemy invasion, it would display a strong power to repel the incoming enemy.
This formation actually only had a slight change to it, not possessing any offensive power whatsoever.
Trapped within, Yan Zhaoge would at most only lose his way, being unable to walk out of the Clear Concealed Lake, as well as return to Clear Concealed Island at its centre.
Of course, it was precisely because this change in the formation was so slight that a Heavenly Connection Martial Scholar like Ah Hu had not been able to quickly detect it.
Also, if the change in the formation had been too great, it would have immediately alerted all the Martial Grandmaster experts of Turbid Wave Pavilion here, as well as Fang Zhun and the others.
“A formation set up based on the geography here, with its base still this Clear Concealed Lake’s lawless dao of the changes in clouds and water…”
Yan Zhaoge smiled nonchalantly, striding out once more, just that as he progressed this time, the rhythm of his steps had become extremely
strange, with him sometimes even walking backwards.
As he walked, the aura-qi around Yan Zhaoge’s entire body surged, treading till the lake water beneath his feet rippled unceasingly.
Accompanied by his breathing, the surrounding cloud qi congregated around him unceasingly, with the feeling arising of winds rising and clouds surging.
With Yan Zhaoge at its centre, a hurricane arose on the surface of the lake, moving alongside Yan Zhaoge, causing chaos in the lake water as well as the surrounding clouds wherever he went.
The hurricane’s momentum expanded ceaselessly, beginning to spread outwards to the surroundings.
Following closely by Yan Zhaoge’s side, Ah Hu opened his mouth wide, and after watching for a moment, began grinning widely as he chuckled, “Wanting to compete with my Young Master?”
On Clear Concealed Island, within the hall of a bamboo house was a massive mirror the height of a person.
The wavelike surface of the mirror depicted the scene of the lake’s surface.
Ruan Ping was currently standing before the mirror, watching the scene displayed on it expressionlessly. He was graceful as usual with an extraordinary bearing about him, just that he was no longer as mild as he had seemed before as a piercing sharpness could be seen within his gaze.
It was now that he finally revealed some of the pride and ambition of a young person.
Looking at the Yan Zhaoge within the mirror, pondering slightly for a time, Ruan Ping extended his hands, wanting to touch the mirror. But just before he touched it, his hands suddenly paused.
Then, someone pushed the door and entered. They were two girls, both in the green garb of Turbid Wave Pavilion’s direct disciples like him.
The two girls both wore bamboo hats with veils draping down that concealed their features.
The taller girl at the front took off her bamboo hat, revealing warm, hearty features. While her looks were only somewhat better than average, they had a style of their own.
Seeing her, Ruan Ping retracted his hand, dipping his head slightly, “Senior apprentice-sister Xie.”
Coming before the mirror, glancing at the scenes within, the female disciple of Turbid Wave Pavilion surnamed Xie instantly knit her brows, “Junior apprentice-brother Ruan, where is the need for this?”
“These past days, I’ve heard his name till even my ears are beginning to fill with calluses,” Ruan Ping smiled, “So I just want to test him a little, to see if under that famed name the warrior exists true.”
“In the rumours, he is extremely all-rounded. Thus, I want to test out his attainment in formations.”
“This is actually very good; not having to really fight, we can also exchange blows.”
“I also don’t intend to make things difficult for him; if he really is trapped within the formation, after a period of time, I will personally enter to escort him back to Clear Concealed Island.”
That senior apprentice-sister Xie gazed deeply at Ruan Ping for a moment, “Our clan’s Elders have already unanimously agreed not to interfere in the fight between Broad Creed Mountain and the Sacred Sun Clan, so why do you just have to make things difficult for Junior Brother Yan so?”
“It shouldn’t be because of Meng Wan, right?”
Ruan Ping smiled, “I agree that I am unable to forget the Sacred Sun Clan’s Junior Sister Meng, but even more so, I will also not forget that I am a disciple of Turbid Wave Pavilion. Even if I still have the intention of chasing her, I would also hope to receive her over here, rather than me actually going over there myself.”
“It is more like you protecting Yan Zhaoge like this, senior apprentice-sister Xie; it shouldn’t be because of that Senior Brother Xu of Broad Creed Mountain, right?”
That female disciple surnamed Xie replied mildly, “I will strictly abide by the decisions of our clan’s Elders, clearly separating and distinguishing such from my own private matters. Furthermore, Senior Brother Xu is extremely confident in Junior Brother Yan, and does not need me to take care of him.”
She looked at Ruan Ping, “In telling you, I am reminding you that there is still time for you to stop now. Otherwise, the one who loses out will only be you.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 156: Under that famed name the warrior exists true
HSSB156: Under that famed name the warrior exists true
Hearing the words of that girl surnamed Xie, Ruan Ping raised his brows, swivelling his head to look at the surface of the mirror.
Within the mirror, on the surface of the lake, as Yan Zhaoge strode winds rose and clouds surged.
As he walked, his gaze swept the area, before suddenly coming to rest on a single spot.
Within the bamboo house, Ruan Ping’s heart skipped a beat as the Yan Zhaoge on the mirror’s surface was clearly looking straight into his eyes.
Separated by the formation, by layers and layers of scenery, the two seemed to have crossed over that boundless distance.
Gazing over, Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly.
Ruan Ping instantly knit his brows. Separated by the formation, Yan Zhaoge actually still couldn’t see him, but this scene meant that Yan Zhaoge could still clearly detect that someone was watching him through the formation.
Looking at the mirror once more, Yan Zhaoge’s rhythm was strange as he suddenly advanced at times and suddenly retreated at others. The Ruan Ping who was extremely familiar with formations could instantly tell that Yan Zhaoge had the ability to leave the formation on his own, returning to Clear Concealed Island.
As he walked, he caused the winds and clouds to roil; he was actually coming back to influence the formation himself.
With Yan Zhaoge’s current cultivation base, without entering the formation’s core and not touching the treasures that had been used to set it up as well as its foundational spirit patterns, if he wanted to directly shake such a massive formation, he still quite lacked the strength to do so.
However, continuing with this, the changes in the formation would only grow larger and larger, very quickly alerting the experts of Turbid Wind Pavilion.
Fang Zhun and the others were all there. With Turbid Wave Pavilion staying strictly neutral and not wanting to start an enmity with Broad Creed Mountain, this matter of him making things difficult for people with their formation thrown before his clan’s Elders, Ruan Ping would be hard pressed to avoid a scolding.
Moreover, he was now completely unable to do anything to Yan Zhaoge.
If he wanted to continue raising the power of the formation to form a killing formation, the Xie Youchan beside him would already first not agree to it.
Xie Youchan said calmly, “If you wanted to test Junior Brother Yan’s attainment in formations, it can already be considered that you have achieved what you set out to do.”
Falling silent for a moment, Ruan Ping laughed, “Indeed extraordinary; under that famed name the warrior exists true.”
Saying thus, he extended his hand and exerted some force to wipe the mirror.
The scenes on the mirror instantly vanished.
On Clear Concealed Lake, Yan Zhaoge suddenly smiled slightly, being able to feel that the earlier anomaly in the formation had already vanished.
Yan Zhaoge laughed lightly, slowing his steps as the clouds and wind at his side that were stirred by his aura-qi also gradually calmed down.
Following behind him, Ah Hu gave a simple and honest laugh, “Young Master, the other party has lost?”
Yan Zhaoge shrugged, “It can’t be considered a loss; Turbid Wind Pavilion and our clan originally also have no enmity between us. It is not like everyone is like him, having nothing better to do, bored till the point of seeking out trouble.”
Very quickly, the mists before him parted as one tall, one short, two girls garbed in green and wearing bamboo hats walked on the water, arriving before Yan Zhaoge and Ah Hu.
The tall girl removed her bamboo hat from which hung a veil, revealing a slightly ordinary face that still possessed a style of its own. It w
as precisely Xie Youchan.
“What a high attainment in formations Junior Brother Yan has,” Xie Youchan said, smiling, “Just now, my hands itched and I played a little joke on you. Here, I apologise; please do not take it to heart.”
Looking at Xie Youchan, Yan Zhaoge blinked, then laughed, “Senior Sister Xie’s words are too heavy. It’s only a small matter-how can I blame you for it? If Senior Brother Xu knew about it, it would be tragic for me.”
“However, next time, you should at least warn me beforehand ah; just now, I was not prepared for it at all.”
Yan Zhaoge did not just recognise the girl before him, he was even rather familiar with her.
Xie Youchan, one off the elite direct disciples of Turbid Wave Pavilion’s younger generation, with a cultivation of a late Xiantian Martial Scholar. She was stronger than Ruan Ping, being only a half-step away from the Heavenly Connection realm.
Thirty this year, in the eyes of mere mortals, Xie Youchan could already be considered an old maid. However, with her talent and potential, looking at her potential future cultivation attainments, counting by longevity, thirty years could really not be counted as much.
The female martial practitioners of the Eight Extremities who remained unwed their entire life were also not few.
Yan Zhaoge could also be considered to be familiar with her. However, like Ye Zhongzhou, this familiarity stemmed from a relationship with Yan Zhaoge’s fellow disciple, the ‘Heavenly Roc’ Xu Fei.
Xie Youchan broke out laughing, “Junior Brother Yan jokes. The last time I met with Senior Brother Xu, he was praising you the entire day for having grown face for Broad Creed Mountain.”
“Oh…an entire day…” Yan Zhaoge chortled, “There’s something wrong oh…”
Xie Youchan pointed towards him a little, “You ah…”
She swivelled her head to look towards the short girl beside her, “This is my junior apprentice-sister Zhang Yao, whom you’ve never met before. Get to know her a bit; if Little Yao’er is outside next time and you see her, please take care of her a little.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 100
