History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474

by 八月飞鹰, Ba Yue Fei Ying, August Eagle

  The two were very close and Xu Fei was a very straightforward person so Yan Zhaoge did not feel the need to mince words.

  Sure enough, after hearing what Yan Zhaoge had said, Xu Fei gently sighed. “I was still holding onto a miniscule hope, but after hearing junior apprentice-brother Yan speak on the matter, I am afraid that it may be futile.”

  Yan Zhaoge lightly responded, “All fallen practitioners, in the end, made their own choice.”

  “After falling to the devil, people are no longer human, but rather Nine Underworlds Evil Devils existing in a different place from the Nine Underworlds. They can be said to be an entirely different life form altogether.”

  “Although the newly fallen devils retain the memories of the people they once were, they treat killing just as we treat slaughtering cattle and chickens. Their previous memories are more like the remnants of a previous life.”

  Yan Zhaoge shook his head. “If it is possible, we all hope that senior apprentice-brother Shi would forsake the darkness. However, would he be willing to do so?”

  “Of course, all this speculation is predicated on the assumption that the masked assassin really is senior apprentice-brother Shi.”

  Thinking on the problem brought up by Yan Zhaoge, Xu Fei reached for the wine flask hanging at his side. Pulling out the stopper, he did not drink in a grand manner like before, but rather slowly drank a few mouthfuls.

  He slowly said, “What you just said, I understand.”

  “Even if the people he killed weren’t from our clan, we both know that there is a stark difference between a human killing another human and a Nine Underworlds Evil Devil killing a human.”

  Yan Zhaoge looked at Xu Fei. “Exchanging moves these past few times, I’ve managed to gauge a few things about the assassin. Even though he did not display great skill with his martial arts, his murderous aura is extremely cold–he truly wants to send us to our deaths.”

  “Although we don’t know of a way to revert a fallen practitioner, it isn’t impossible to first capture him and then try to slowly find a way afterwards.

  “However, you and I both know that it is much more difficult to capture an opponent rather than kill them, especially when that opponent may not be any weaker than we are.”

  “When two foes are closely matched, the outcome of the match, and life and death, can be decided in a single moment.”

  Xu Fei heard this but didn’t respond. After a moment, he nodded.

  Yan Zhaoge continued, “I have the pillar from the Great Western Desert which can suppress opponents, so I have confidence if I were to fight him one on one. However, what about you, senior apprentice-brother Xu? Of course, capturing him is best, but are you ready to brave the dangers of being killed by him and still leave him a path to life?”

  Xu Fei showed his steely resolve. He quietly said, “Yes. If this person really is senior apprentice-brother Shi, then that is my intention.”

  “If he really is irredeemably evil, then I will not let my emotions skew my actions.”

  “But before that, I have to at least try.” Xu Fei stood up and said, “I have no parents or blood relations. Instead, I grew up being raised by master, side by side with senior apprentice-brother Shi. Even if I have to take this risk, I will not hesitate.”

  Yan Zhaoge sighed, then stood up as well. “We’re still not sure of that masked assassins identity. For now, if you meet him then you shouldn’t treat him as senior apprentice-brother Shi, otherwise it could be very dangerous.”

  “If he does not use the techniques which he painstakingly cultivated previously, and only uses the Light Dark Killing Arts, then he isn’t your match. However, if you show mercy while fighting him, then the one who loses may well be you. This martial art has great explosive power, and is specialized for killing people.”

  Xu Fei nodded, “Rest easy, I will pay close attention. If someone else is trying to use senior apprentice-brother Shi’s identity to surprise me, I will naturally teach them a lesson.”

  Yan Zhaoge spoke again. “If you think this way, then that is for the best.”

  After seeing Xu Fei out the door, Yan Zhaoge looked up towards the mountain peak as the sun filtered through the leaves and branches of the foliage. “Now that Grand Master has gone into seclusion, there will be violent tides from the outside world. If our clan can tide through this tribulation, our situation will only get better.”

  “But this tribulation is not going to be overcome so easily.”

  Xu Fei also stopped, standing side by side with Yan Zhaoge. He squinted as he also looked at the mottled sunlight. “Although the chance of Grand Master succeeding is higher than that of him failing, at the end of the day, neither the Sacred Sun Clan nor the Heavenly Thunder Hall is going to wait for the results.”

  “Especially if Huang Guanglie successfully steps into the Martial Saint realm, the Sacred Sun Clan is likely to immediately rush to the Heaven Domain and directly pounce towards our clan.”

  “The Decimating Abyss could also take this opportunity to make an appearance. Without speaking about anyone else, just the ‘Scaly Dragon King’ Sima Chui is already an Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster.”

  “And also….” Xu Fei wrinkled his brows. His status was also incomparable to that of his fellow disciples now.

  Though his information gathering might not be comparable to Yan Zhaoge’s, he was still able to get access to information that most ordinary disciples did not know.

  Yan Zhaoge finished his sentence for him. “And also, there is another person that we must be wary of.”

  The two glanced at each other as they spoke in unison, “The Devil Saint, Yuan Tian!”

  Out of the Eight Extremities World’s known six Martial Saints, one was the Devil Saint. Despite being a lone cultivator, he was a peak existence. He was also possibly involved with the Nine Underworlds and the Decimating Abyss.

  When the incident at Clear Concealed Lake occurred, Yuan Tian obstructed the Sacred Sun Clan when they hurried to reinforce their forces with the Heaven Measuring Ruler. Afterwards, he disappeared without a trace. However, no one was foolish enough to think that it had been a coincidence.

  This person’s power was on a level that far surpassed Sima Chui’s.

  Or perhaps, it would be more apt to say that all of the Decimating Abyss’s forces that they had encountered up to this point wouldn’t even be able to stand up to a swat from the Devil Saint’s hand.

  History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 266: Sikong Qing’s persistence

  HSSB266: Sikong Qing’s persistence

  “Leader, member, ally, or perhaps assisting due to the owing of a debt?” Xu Fei said, “Or perhaps it was just Yuan Tian acting as he liked.”

  “Whatever the reason, we need to be on guard against Yuan Tian. Our clan must take him into consideration in our following plans.”

  Hearing his words, Yan Zhaoge nodded, “The Devil Saint Yuan Tian is indeed trouble; we have to be vigilant of him.”

  Xu Fei said, “Zhaoge, you must be careful in the following period.”

  His gaze fell on the devilish mark on the back of Yan Zhaoge’s left hand, “As Master’s cultivation base is after all higher, if the enemy wants to reopen the Sand Region’s Great Nine Underworlds Door, they may very likely set their sights on you.”

  Yan Zhaoge said straightforwardly, “Even if not for the Great Nine Underworlds Door, they might also focus on me. If I die, the pressure from the devilish mark will fall completely on eldest apprentice-uncle, in the process drawing his attention further. If they wanted to do something else then, it would be easier for them.”

  Xu Fei’s expression was rather grave, “That’s right…”

  He was an open and forthright person, but amidst his straightforwardness, he was also rather stable and mature, not fond of making suppositions, with some words not easily coming out of his mouth.

  Yan Zhaoge, however, immediately understood what Xu Fei had left unspoken.

  If there were st
ill spies of the Decimating Abyss in Broad Creed Mountain, especially those whose cultivation base and strength were higher, if they wanted to assassinate Yan Zhaoge, it would be extremely covert, and very hard to guard against.

  But they were also unable to look at everyone with suspicious gazes, or completely isolate Yan Zhaoge from everyone. Everything had to depend on the vigilance of Yan Zhaoge himself.

  Yan Zhaoge patted Xu Fei’s shoulder, “Relax, senior apprentice-brother Xu. I will be careful.”

  Saying thus, Yan Zhaoge smiled, “While I don’t really like it, such trouble always seems to come looking for me. It looks like I am born to be bait-the clan can just set up a circle around me, to ambush and kill spies of the Decimating Abyss.”

  Xu Fei said solemnly, “While it is like this in principle, you will be bearing a great risk.”

  “I know that you, Zhaoge, have many unique treasures on you, and do not fear Spirit Vessel Martial Grandmasters. But what if after getting close to you, an Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster suddenly erupts? You might not be in time to hold him off long enough for the experts lying around in ambush to reinforce.”

  Xu Fei paused for a moment, his voice turning even more grave, “….if, it were an Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster, there wouldn’t even be time to react.”

  Yan Zhaoge smiled, “Senior apprentice-brother Xu, what you say is not wrong. It is indeed like this. However, the enemies are hidden while I am not-some things, we just cannot do anything about.”

  “However, I will also not treat my life so lightly. While I do not intend to be quarantined, in this upcoming period, I will lessen solitary contact with the clan’s higher echelons. Other than a few select people, I will have to apologise to the other seniors. I believe that they should be able to understand.”

  Xu Fei nodded, “It is good that you understand.”

  After sending Xu Fei out, Yan Zhaoge did not directly return to his room, instead strolling towards the outside.

  Passing through some forests, he came before a waterfall, silently watching the movements of the water there.

  After who knew how long, as Yan Zhaoge prepared to turn to leave, his heart suddenly moved slightly.

  Gazing in a single direction, he saw a figure appear in the distance. It was a girl.

  The girl had beautiful features, but a rather cold, aloof look about her. It was precisely Sikong Qing.

  It was only when she had neared that Sikong Qing discovered Yan Zhaoge. Glancing over, she could only feel like Yan Zhaoge had merged to become one with his surrounding environment, making it hard for her to detect him.

  “Senior apprentice-brother Yan,” Sikong Qing first bowed, and Yan Zhaoge nodded in return, “Junior apprentice-sister Sikong, it’s been a long time. Congratulations on your rapid progress in cultivation.”

  As compared to back at Clear Concealed Lake during the Heavenly Connection Meet then, Sikong Qing had now already broken through from the inner aura to the outer aura Martial Scholar realm.

  Yan Zhaoge could hear the flow of her blood, dense as mercury, yet still naturally flowing smoothly.

  “Are you currently at the peak of the early outer aura stage, or have you already stepped into the mid outer aura stage, now able to condense qi into weaponry?” Yan Zhaoge asked somewhat interestedly.

  Sikong Qing answered, “Mid outer aura stage, already able to condense qi into weaponry.”

  As she said this, she extended her hand, her aura-qi condensing into a sword which hovered by her side. It was precisely the trademark ability of mid outer aura Martial Scholars.

  Yan Zhaoge sighed, “It hasn’t even been a year since we returned from Clear Concealed Lake, and you have already progressed rapidly to this point. Heaven truly doesn’t restrict geniuses.”

  Sikong Qing shook her head, “As compared to senior apprentice-brother Yan’s speed from the late inner aura stage to the early outer aura stage, and then the mid outer aura stage previously, it is much slower.”

  The corners of Yan Zhaoge’s lips curled slightly upwards, but he did not speak.

  Sikong Qing’s situation was very special, very abnormal.

  Before having become a Martial Scholar, while she was also extremely outstanding, it also wasn’t especially exaggerated, basically being around the average level of direct disciples of Sacred Grounds.

  After becoming a Martial Scholar that year, her rapid improvements had caused even Yan Zhaoge to take notice.

  Amongst those of the same generation, her rate of improvement surpassed the original owner of Yan Zhaoge’s body, surpassed Lu Wen, surpassed Xu Fei.

  There was only Feng Yunsheng who was even slightly faster than her. However, Feng Yunsheng’s situation was originally special, with the Extreme Yin Scripture and the yin-yang coexisting technique as well as the stimulation of the Cold Marrow Needles in recent days, all working together in unison.

  Ying Longtu’s rate of improvement was even more exaggerated, but that was because he had the Big Dipper Body, and was therefore able to pass through the Body Refinement realm rather more easily.

  Having reached the Martial Scholar realm, while his improvement speed was still very great, it might also not be comparable to Sikong Qing’s.

  Curiosity was something possessed by everyone, and Yan Zhaoge was not an exception. However, he was only curious, and did not have any intentions of probing. After all, Sikong Qing was not an enemy.

  Looking at Yan Zhaoge, Sikong Qing’s gaze was a little strange.

  Yan Zhaoge touched his own face, “What, have flowers bloomed on my face?”

  Sikong Qing shook her head, “No, it is just that looking at senior apprentice-brother Yan, I thought about some things.”

  Yan Zhaoge found himself interested, “Oh? What things?”

  “I personally experienced Clear Concealed Lake previously, and while I was not at Yunwu County in the Sand Region this time, I have also heard about it.” Sikong Qing said, “Senior apprentice-brother Yan accomplished what most Martial Grandmaster experts could not.”

  “While from olden times up till now, I can’t say for sure whether you are the strongest Martial Scholar, you might just be the most capable Martial Scholar.”

  Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly, “Therefore?”

  Sikong Qing said, “Therefore, I think that I need to change a little.”

  “You doubt yourself?” Yan Zhaoge appraised her, “Doubt yourself for having had nothing else on your mind all along, not dabbling in formations, artifact forging as well as other auxiliary studies, instead being fully devoted to the martial dao, unsure on whether this path is truly the correct one?”

  Sikong Qing said calmly, “No, I have never wavered.”

  “I firmly believe that my path is not wrong. Although Clear Concealed Lake and the winds and rain about to descend on our clan now have made me feel insignificant and powerless, I have never ever doubted my choice.”

  “My insignificance and powerlessness just stem from me being too weak.”

  Looking at Sikong Qing, Yan Zhaoge saw a seldom seen shine in her eyes as she continued, “What I feel is that the environment I have been in has always been too safe.”

  “Educated under the protection of the clan, while it is also a productive form of cultivation, while I can say that I have been cultivating diligently, it has still been too safe.”

  Sikong Qing looked straight at Yan Zhaoge, “I want to go out for a bit; going a little further than is safe, going to experience more things, tempering myself, with life and death up to the heavens.”

  History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 267: Advancing towards the Martial Grandmaster realm

  HSSB267: Advancing towards the Martial Grandmaster realm

  Looking at Sikong Qing, Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly.

  Yan Zhaoge did not disagree with Sikong Qing’s intentions.

  After all, this was a world of martial practitioners. When one possessed unparalleled power, everything else became insignificant in comparison.
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  The most straightforward example was the Devil Saint Yuan Tian. Not requiring any other methods, just standing there, he already intimidated.

  In the current Eight Extremities World, a Martial Saint had the ability and worth to ignore most rules. Most of the time, it was only other existences at the same level which could restrict them.

  As Sikong Qing said, she found herself powerless more because her current cultivation base was still low.

  Actually, she couldn’t be blamed on this. Looking at her age and time spent cultivating, she had already surpassed countless people. It was just that she had been swept up in a situation which her cultivation base and strength were insufficient to deal with.

  Most tragedies in this world actually stemmed from this.

  From a certain perspective, Yan Zhaoge was in the same situation as well. It was just that he had other methods for dealing with things.

  And it was precisely because he could always solve problems that, by common logic, were unsolvable for someone of his current cultivation base and strength, that Yan Zhaoge possessed his current status and fame.

  Looking at Sikong Qing, Yan Zhaoge said, “Earlier, when you went out for tempering, while there would always be people leading you, on the whole, they would leave you be except in life or death crises. The clan also takes into account the effect of tempering.”

  Sikong Qing said, “Even so, we would still have some feelings of reliance within our hearts.”

  She looked at the distant waterfall, listening to the rumbling sound of the water, “Being able to be where she is today, those two solitary years of being murderously pursued was very important for senior apprentice-sister Feng.”

  “Although, that was not a good thing.”

  Yan Zhaoge knew that what Sikong Qing spoke of had nothing at all to do with Feng Yunsheng’s Extreme Yin Physique, as well as the Cold Marrow Needles and Extreme Yin Scripture.

  What she was referring to was Feng Yunsheng’s great strength that far surpassed those of the same generation.