Still, Yan Zhaoge forcibly kept his mind alert as he swivelled his head and looked towards the other side.
There, combining forces, Shi Tie and the First Seat Elder of the Sand Region finally managed to completely suppress the crimson rift.
Yan Zhaoge sucked in a deep breath, forcibly standing, retracting his left hand to his waist as he exhaled, punching out with his right fist.
As his fist-intent surged, the originally dying Devilish Domain Grand Formation suddenly lit up once more, its power at its peak, seemingly having returned to its most flourishing state.
“Eldest apprentice-uncle, prepare yourself,” Yan Zhaoge said in a heavy tone.
Shi Tie nodded, before countless black spirit patterns, resembling chains, came entangling towards his body.
The black spirit patterns converged with Shi Tie at their centre. Yan Zhaoge abruptly knelt down, one knee on the ground, punching down onto the ground with his right fist.
The Devilish Domain Grand Formation flowed strongly in reverse, countless black spirit patterns reversing their flow with Shi Tie at their centre, leading the seemingly infinite, boundless bloodred devilish qi of the surroundings to surge madly towards Shi Tie.
Shi Tie’s expression was unyielding and unchanging as his entire body resembled Vajra, eternal and solid, firm and unshakable.
He was like the rocks on a beach, never moving despite the slamming of the waves and the assaults of wild storms.
When the black spirit patterns led the blood-coloured devilish qi to his body, Shi Tie suddenly formed a ring with his hands, slamming down towards the deep red abyss below.
A great amount of blood-coloured devilish qi instantly passed through his body, infused unceasingly within the deep red abyss.
Yan Zhaoge let out a long breath, then breathed in deeply once more, resembling a whale sucking in water.
He stood up once more, striding forward, arriving before Shi Tie with a single leap.
Yan Zhaoge’s left fist that was kept at his waist mightily punched out, landing on Shi Tie’s back.
Shi Tie took the punch, and accompanied by this punch of Yan Zhaoge’s, the Devilish Domain Grand Formation flowed in reverse, all the spirit pattern chains surging towards Shi Tie’s back with Yan Zhaoge’s left fist at their centre, transforming into a bewitching, complicated rune inscribed within the air.
And below, an unresigned will emanated from the deep red abyss, which still closed with a momentum that could not be stopped.
The fragmented earth healed, the distorted space returning to normal.
The Nine Underworlds that had been about to descend had been forcibly shoved back.
Yan Zhaoge let out a long roar, changes beginning to happen to that strange rune that hovered between his left fist and Shi Tie’s back.
The rune transformed into a streak of light, splitting into two as they landed on Yan Zhaoge and Shi Tie.
One of them transformed into a mark like a brand, landing on the back of Yan Zhaoge’s left palm.
The other passed through Shi Tie’s clothes and vanished without a trace, also having transformed into a similar brand, left on Shi Tie’s back.
It was only at this moment that Yan Zhaoge finally relaxed.
Surveying his surroundings, the surrounding devilish domain had already dissipated, gone without a trace.
That terrifying aura which bewitched people’s hearts had also vanished.
Above their heads was a clear patch of sky, with the sun visible once again, the original heavens back once more.
The Sand Region’s First Seat Elder came forward, asking, “Elder Shi, Zhaoge, how do you feel?”
Shi Tie shook his head, “I’m fine.”
“I’m also fine,” Yan Zhaoge answered, “However, in the following days, eldest apprentice-uncle and I will have to slowly resolve this devilish mark. Once it completely vanishes, no further trouble will remain.”
Now, it was as though Yan Zhaoge and Shi Tie were bearing the pressure of the opening of the Great Nine Underworlds Door between themselves.
Before the devilish mark vanished, if either one of them died, the other would have to bear even more pressure.
If both of them died and the devilish mark had not completely vanished by then, the Great Nine Underworlds Door here at Yunwu County of the Sand Region might open once more.
The First Seat Elder of the Sand Region said, “We will escort you back to the clan as soon as possible. Leave the resolution of this matter to this old man.”
Yan Zhaoge said, “In this battle, I used up quite a bit of strength, and I just have to recuperate properly. After that, carrying the devilish mark, it will not affect me too much in battle with others. As long as I do not die, the devilish mark will not reactivate.”
Able to resolve this great crisis, everyone here was currently smiling from the bottom of their hearts.
Shi Tie turned over, a seldom seen warm smile appearing on his usually cold, stern face as he looked at Yan Zhaoge, “Zhaoge, it’s all thanks to you this time.”
These simple words caused everyone around them to jump in shock.
Shi Tie praising someone was already an extremely rare thing. Him commending someone like this was even rarer.
Especially when the target of his praise was a member of the younger generation, a Martial Scholar.
When the news spread, it would truly be shocking to the ears, to the point of seeming unbelievable.
However, looking again at the Yan Zhaoge before Shi Tie, everyone here had their hearts relax as they instead felt that this was only natural, with it naturally meant to be this way.
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “Eldest apprentice-uncle overstates things. It’s thanks to you, thanks to every disciple of Broad Creed Mountain here, thanks to every single person.”
“This battle was incomparably dangerous-any little mistake and we would have to block off the Great Nine Underworlds Door, fighting to the death with the Nine Underworld Evil Devils, buying time for the reinforcements of the clan to arrive. Forcibly bearing the danger for the South Heaven Region on our own shoulders and taking the initiative to fight is not something anyone could have done.”
Yan Zhaoge cupped his fists in salute towards them all, “It’s all thanks to everyone.”
Elder Cong sighed emotionally, “No, it’s really all thanks to you, Zhaoge. Otherwise, we would not even have the chance to choose; we’d be left watching on helplessly as the worst case scenario played out.”
Looking at Yan Zhaoge, he sighed within his heart.
This youngster had actually borne immense pressure. Whatever the situation in the South Heaven Region, re-establishing the Devilish Domain Grand Formation here, as long as the plan failed, with the Nine Underworlds truly descending in this land, Yan Zhaoge would definitely be rebuked greatly.
Even if he saved the defenceless South Heaven Region, decreasing the overall losses, people generally unconsciously overlooked what had not happened, instead remembering more that Yan Zhaoge had caused the originally already destroyed Devilish Domain Grand Formation to recover, leading to the descent of the Nine Underworlds in the Sand Region.
Doing more, he could do more wrong. Doing less, he could do less wrong. Doing nothing-he would definitely not go wrong.
Standing out at the most critical of times originally required great courage as well as resolution.
The Broad Creed Mountain Martial Grandmasters all solemnly cupped their fists towards Yan Zhaoge, “This time, it was all thanks to Zhaoge, allowing for the reversal of the raging tides.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 258: Additional gains
HSSB258: Additional gains
With the prevention of the descent of the Nine Underworlds, the battle of Yunwu County also reached an end.
In this battle, Broad Creed Mountain also suffered some casualties, but thankfully very few.
Supporting one another, the forces of Broad Creed Mountain took care of their wounds and regrouped.Under the arrang
ements of the Sand Region’s First Seat Elder, they began dealing with the aftermath of the situation, and cleaned up the battlefield.
In this battle, the Wang Family of Yunwu County had been virtually eradicated; the few who remained had been caught to be interrogated later on.
Other than that, there were also some Decimating Abyss martial practitioners, remnants of Black Nightmare Mountain included, who had been captured alive. What awaited them was similarly harsh interrogation and then death.
Following behind Shi Tie, Yan Zhaoge left the Wang Family ancestral ground. Far away was a great amount of desert, but leaving Yunwu County, few people could be seen.
Because of the natural environment here, there were fewer people here than in the Heaven Domain’s South Heaven Region.
However, there were still a number of densely populated areas, where many ordinary people lived.
Looking at these people, Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly.
Harbouring some emotions, he swivelled his head, seeing a hint of a smile also surfacing on Shi Tie’s usually cold, stern features as he gazed at the distant town.
Yan Zhaoge let out a long breath, raising his left hand. Imprinted on the back of his left hand was a rune reminiscent of a brand.
This mark was red as blood, seemingly not just engraved onto the flesh and blood on Yan Zhaoge’s hand, but instead inscribed deep within his very soul.
Looking at it from the side, Ah Hu scratched his head, “Young Master, you have performed a great merit this time, but having this sort of thing imprinted on you is also very troublesome.”
“According to what you say, before this devilish mark has been resolved, if something happens to you and Elder Shi, there will be the possibility of the Great Nine Underworlds Door reappearing here in the Sand Region. Will those of the Decimating Abyss come specifically to kill the both of you?”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, “This is a very possible thing. Therefore, we are going to have to be careful of such problems surfacing.”
Ah Hu drew back the corners of his mouth, “What a headache.”
Yan Zhaoge looked at the devilish mark on the back of his left hand, “It is not completely a bad thing. There are risks,but other than the rewards from the clan, there have also been some additional gains this time.”
Ah Hu had an uncomprehending look on his face as he also looked towards the back of Yan Zhaoge’s hand, “What other gains ah?”
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, saying as he looked at his left hand, “Through this time’s incident and this mark left on my hand, my understanding of the Nine Underworlds and the Decimating Abyss has increased further.”
“Know thyself and know thy enemy, and thou shalt survive a hundred battles. The reason the incident in Yunwu County was so perilous this time was that we had not thought that the altered grand formation of the Decimating Abyss could actually lead to such an effect. Being caught unawares, we could only react on the spot.”
Yan Zhaoge put down his left hand, “While being able to react on the spot can be considered praiseworthy, how is it not something that reeks of helplessness? If we were able to let everything stably proceed according to plan, the risks would be much lower.”
Feng Yunsheng was also gazing at the devilish mark on Yan Zhaoge’s hand from the side.
Noticing her gaze, Yan Zhaoge raised his brows, “How is it? I said to you that at Clear Concealed Lake previously, I was not familiar with formations. Afterwards, I put great effort in it; only this time counts as a true show of my abilities.”
Seeing his intentionally arrogant look that demanded for praise, Feng Yunsheng could not help but laugh, relaxing greatly as she shot him a thumbs up, “Yes, yes, yes, it was this little maiden who was shallow in my knowledge previously. Please do not take my meagre experience to heart.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded satisfiedly, “Very good, this student has potential.”
Because of the devilish mark, Yan Zhaoge and Shi Tie did not remain in the Sand Region, instead setting off back for Broad Creed Mountain in the Central Heaven Region.
Before they left, they made a trip to Suzhou City together.
Xu Fei had specifically been dispatched to Suzhou as Acting Elder to fill up the gap in position here due to the chaos in the Sand Region this time.
With the matter not having occurred in the Sand Region but in the neighbouring Yunwu County this time, Xu Fei’s talents had been rather wasted.
However, he performed his duties diligently, solidly guarding Suzhou, preventing the enemy from openly attacking somewhere but covertly attacking elsewhere, leaving Suzhou exceptionally stable.
With the incident of Yunwu County having ended, Xu Fei no longer had a need to stay on here as Acting Elder. After all, him being dispatched here had been due to unique circumstances.
It was just that he wasn’t able to return to Broad Creed Mountain alongside Yan Zhaoge, Shi Tie and the others, still having to wait for the situation to completely stabilise as well as his handover to the next Acting Elder of Suzhou before he could actually return.
Seeing Yan Zhaoge and Shi Tie, after having greeted Shi Tie properly, Xu Fei lightly punched Yan Zhaoge’s shoulder, “I’ve heard about the situation-nice!”
Not re-establishing the devilish formation, with the position of the Great Nine Underworlds Door changing, the Sand Region would be secured while the South Heaven Region would face disaster.
The losses being greater, Yan Zhaoge and the martial practitioners who had assaulted the Wang Family ancestral ground would definitely be held responsible, but everyone would bear it together. Even Elder Cong who had personally destroyed the golden tower would not be pulled out alone to shoulder all the blame.
With the great game-changing move of the Decimating Abyss this time that surpassed everybody’s predictions, if blame really had to be ascribed, it would be that all of Broad Creed Mountain’s plans, from top to bottom, had been seen through by the enemy, not being a mistake of the combatants.
While with the reestablishment of the devilish domain, while the South Heaven Region would be secured, if they failed to shove the Nine Underworlds back in and they descended in the Sand Region, as the one who had suggested this method, Yan Zhaoge alone would have to bear at least half of the blame.
Even if all of Broad Creed Mountain’s higher echelon experts knew that Yan Zhaoge’s plan had actually prevented the worst case scenario, lightening their losses, and he had instead performed well rather than done wrong, those lower-ranked martial practitioners, especially those in the Sand Region, might not be able to understand this point.
At that time, things would be greatly made difficult for Yan Zhaoge, resembling the pressure of a collapsing mountain.
If Yan Zhaoge had instead kept his silence, he would be safe from most reproach. At the same time, it would be hard to blame everyone for the incident, and even if he was punished, he would be punished alongside everyone else, with the punishment not being too great.
But that was not his choice. He stepped forward bravely, bearing the immense risk all on his own. Even if he was not punished, he could face a situation where he was the target of countless ignorant fingers, the scourge of all.
Looking at Yan Zhaoge, Xu Fei sighed lightly, “Yan Zhaoge, nice one.”
Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly, “If it were you, if it were eldest apprentice-uncle, you would also make the same decision.”
Xu Fei also smiled as he patted Yan Zhaoge’s shoulder.
Yan Zhaoge retracted the smile on his face, hesitating slightly for a moment before he said, “There is something that I think you should know.”
Saying thus, Yan Zhaoge glanced at Shi Tie, standing not far away, “Eldest apprentice-uncle already knows.”
Listening to a few sentences of Yan Zhaoge’s, Xu Fei was stunned on the spot.
Possessing a firm and stable will, he immediately recovered after a moment’s shock, falling into a deep silence.
Looking at the uncontrollable grief that had surfaced within X
u Fei’s eyes, Yan Zhaoge let out a vast sigh, “At present, I still cannot confirm it, with it only being my personal suspicion. However, if it is…I mean in that off chance that it is true, I think you should be prepared for it.”
Within the Devilish Domain Grand Formation at Clear Concealed Lake, Xu Fei had also clashed with that masked Martial Grandmaster. His brows were tightly knit as he thought back to the scenes of that time.
Xu Fei shook his head, removing the wineskin from his waist and gulping down a fierce mouthful of it before he wiped his mouth, saying emotionally, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Parting ways with Xu Fei, Yan Zhaoge, Shi Tie and the others rushed back without rest to Broad Creed Mountain.
While the journey was a long one, led by Shi Tie, they still arrived back at the clan very quickly. Someone was already waiting there for them, along with some good news.
“The escaped Elder Liu, has already been caught by Elder Yan.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 259: You lack the qualifications
HSSB259: You lack the qualifications
Elder Liu was the one who had directed the devilish qi from the Sand Region to the South Heaven Region from behind the scenes.
After Elder Wang, yet another Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster higher echelon expert of Broad Creed Mountain had been corrupted by the Decimating Abyss and the Nine Underworlds.
After his identity had been exposed, he had immediately attempted to flee, but had still been unable to flee from the hands of Yan Zhaoge’s father, Yan Di, eventually being captured.
When Yan Zhaoge saw this old man once more, despite his dispirited appearance, his gaze was intractable, holding no fear as he just smiled coldly, looking at Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di.
The old Chief Yuan Zhengfeng, Fang Zhun and Shi Tie included, they all frowned as they looked at Elder Liu.
“For senior apprentice-brother Wang, it was a problem of longevity,” Yuan Zhengfeng said slowly, “What about you, junior apprentice-brother Liu? Why have you come to this stage today?”
Swivelling his head to look at Yuan Zhengfeng, Elder Liu appraised him with a rather strange gaze.
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 153
