History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474
Page 241
If they lost control, the demonic bloodline cultivators could step pass that forbidden boundary, awakening the bloodline of the demonic beast they were refining.
Under such a state, these demonic bloodline cultivators were generally known as semi-demonised practitioners. They would be much more powerful than they had been originally. At the same time, cultivating with the demonic beast blood as a foundation, their rate of improvement would be much quicker than that of typical demonic bloodline cultivators.
However, their humanity would regress, their bestial instincts awakening, this being irreversible as they would become half-beast, half-man.
While they might still be able to recover their original appearance, the semi-demonised practitioners were more like the demonic beasts whose blood they had refined, being bloodthirsty and brutal, beginning to thirst for the flesh and blood of humans.
Cannibalism by semi-demonised practitioners was not a rare occurrence.
Because of their familiarity with human society and its martial practitioners, the damage and chaos caused by semi-demonised practitioners were often even more brutal and terrifying than that by most demonic beasts.
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “Back in the primordial forests, with that leopard that was offed by me, when his power over thunder and lightning manifested in the form of the silhouette of a Six-Legged Flying Lightning Leopard, his gaze full of wildness and bloodthirstiness and his strength having increased greatly, that should have been him transforming into a semi-demonised practitioner after having lost control of himself, right?”
Xu Fei said, “After you broke off his arms, at the shock of it, the demonic beast bloodline within his body was awakened a step further as he completely lost human form, truly turning into a Six-Legged Flying Lightning Leopard.”
While semi-demonised practitioners would change greatly in personality, they would still be able to increase their strength through the cultivation methods of demonic blood cultivators.
However, if they lost control a step further, the demonic beast bloodline within their bodies completely awakening, the end result would be them increasing greatly in strength yet further but at the same time also turning irreversibly from a human into a demonic beast for good.
From a certain perspective, it was like a demonic beast having obtained new life with a human’s body.
Yan Zhaoge curled his lips, “I have really sinned, it seems.”
Generally speaking, semi-demonised practitioners were loathed by everyone. Due to certain psychological factors, the wariness and hostility of humans towards semi-demonised practitioners was even greater than that directed at true demonic beasts.
Here, of the Three Demons and the Four Clans, the ‘Three Demons’ did not refer to demonic beasts or the demon tribe as in Yan Zhaoge’s memories, instead referring to the current three most powerful semi-demonised practitioners of the Floating Life World.
Due to their partial demonization having caused their strength to skyrocket, these three semi-demonised cultivators could basically also be considered the current three greatest experts of the Floating Life World.
While in the Four Clans of demonic bloodline cultivators, there were as many as experts as there were clouds, speaking of one versus one battles, there were none who were able to stand against any of the Three Demons.
Normally, demonic bloodline cultivators would rely on their numerical superiority and coordination to hunt down and kill semi-demonised practitioners.
Gradually, the semi-demonised practitioners had also begun congregating by the side of the ‘Three Demons’, being accepted into organisations under them. Like demonic beasts guarding around the side of their beast king, they resisted the martial practitioners of the human race.
Other than the Three Demons and Flour Clans, there also existed some powerful pure demonic beasts in the Floating Life World, existences that people did not dare to lightly provoke.
There were conflicts between demonic bloodline cultivators and demonic beasts, and there were conflicts between semi-demonised practitioners and demonic beasts as well. True demonic beasts seldom had much interaction with semi-demonised practitioners, more of it being battling it out as both sides tried to devour each other’s flesh and blood in order to strengthen themselves.
The entire Floating Life World appeared violent and stained with blood.
Ah Hu asked curiously, “Young Master, even if Madam wasn’t born in this world, she should also have left behind some marks here, right? Have you had any news about her?”
Yan Zhaoge shrugged, “At the very least, these Eagle Feather Sect people are indeed ignorant on the matter. Of course, I also cannot press them too much.”
The two groups of people proceeded onwards together like this, arriving at the capital of the Furan Kingdom, Kanghe City.
While the architecture style in Furan City still appeared rather rough, it naturally flourished much more than Muzi City over to the south borders.
That martial practitioner of the Eagle Feather Sect, Chen Shuo, was rather a warm and forthright person. He treated Yan Zhaoge and the others politely and well, also referring him to see his Master, the Chief of the Eagle Feather Sect Gao Fang.
Gao Fang was a hale and hearty looking old man with white hair and childlike features.
This old man seemed to be warm and forthright like Chen Shuo, but was deeply intelligent and experienced with age as he kept on trying to sieve out the background of Yan Zhaoge and the others amidst their conversation.
The cultivation methods of demonic bloodline cultivators were different from the martial civilisation of the Eight Extremities World.
If it were true demonic beasts, one would instead be able to determine their strength through the spiritual qi fluctuations of their demonic energy.
However, the origin of a demonic bloodline cultivator’s strength, also the foundation on which they cultivated, all lay within the demonic blood within their bodies, adding on numerous formless inscriptions on their bodies.
When not fighting, these things could all not be seen.
With their level of qi also being very low, Yan Zhaoge and the others could not easily determine the individual strengths of these martial practitioners of the Floating Life World at all.
As for Gao Fang, Chen Shuo and the others, after Yan Zhaoge and the others had intentionally retracted the auras, they too were unable to tell their cultivation bases, only able to guess at it.
As for the prying of Gao Fang, Yan Zhaoge parried all the questions that came. While Ah Hu, Xu Fei and the others all not knowing how to speak the language would inevitably lead to the other side’s suspicions, they still managed to get past it as a whole.
After Gao Fang and the others had taken their leave, Yan Zhaoge left their current lodgings and strolled leisurely about Kanghe City. There, he gained an increased level of understanding regarding the Eagle Feather Sect from the mouths of others.
This sect was indeed subordinate to the Furan royal family. It could be considered one of the few major powers of Kanghe City.
Meanwhile, the pieces of news in the Furan Kingdom that had drawn the most attention in recent days was that an envoy from the Blood Cloud Clan would soon be arriving and organising a great talent meet in Kanghe City, with the young heroes from the Furan Kingdom and its neighbouring countries all able to participate in this meet. It would be a major event for the entire land.
“While it is a different world, many things are still the same, huh,” As Yan Zhaoge returned to his lodgings, an attendant came to pour some tea for him.
As the tea arrived by his mouth, Yan Zhaoge’s nose twitched lightly, his gaze instantly narrowing slightly.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 426: Giving a blind man a seductive look
HSSB426: Giving a blind man a seductive look
Yan Zhaoge did not pause in his actions, his movements appearing natural.
However, he secretly sent a sound transmission over to Feng Yunsheng, Xu Fei and the
others, “There’s a problem with the tea; someone is here for us.”
Feng Yunsheng and Xu Fei still had their cups on the table, not yet having picked them up. However, Ah Hu and Ying Longtu had already raised their cups.
Having received Yan Zhaoge’s sound transmission, Ying Longtu appeared stunned as he froze momentarily.
Seeing his abnormalities, the serving girl by the side looked over curiously.
Yan Zhaoge smiled, receiving the cup from Ying Longtu’s hands, “What, is it too hot?”
Han Long’er blinked, then nodded blankly.
Ah Hu appeared as per usual as he only let the teacup touch his mouth, pursing his lips and not letting the tea enter as he secretly asked, “Young Master, there’s a problem with the tea?”
Yan Zhaoge lightly touched the tea with the tip of his tongue before smiling, sending back, “While it’s indeed here for us, it’s like giving a blind man seductive look. It’s inconsequential if we drink this tea.”
Hearing this, Feng Yunsheng and Xu Fei both smiled, lifting up their cups and sipping the tea lightly.
Yan Zhaoge put down his teacup, smiling warmly at the serving girls by the side, “Please prepare some food for us.”
The serving girls acknowledged his words respectfully, taking back their teacups and exiting the room.
Ah Hu asked Yan Zhaoge, “Young Master, what is it? I, Brother Xu and Miss Feng all checked it, but were unable to detect any abnormalities.”
As Feng Yunsheng and Xu Fei looked over as well, Yan Zhaoge laughed, “Because it wasn’t prepared for us in the first place…no, it should be: it was prepared for us, if we were demonic bloodline cultivators like them, or demonic beasts.”
Hearing his words, pondering expressions appeared on the faces of Ah Hu and the others.
Because only Yan Zhaoge had mastered the commonly used language of the Floating Life World, the others all still being in the painstaking midst of learning it, in his interaction with Gao Fang and the others, the explanation given by Yan Zhaoge was that they were rural villagers living far from any civilisation, their ancestors having lived on their own in secret since long ago.
While Gao Fang and the others might not believe it, they should at least not have guessed for the time being that they were not even people of the Floating Life World in the first place.
Thinking by what they were used to, they had taken Yan Zhaoge and the others to be demonic bloodline cultivators like them.
“The combination of Tuoluo Fragrance and Valley Essence Grass has a very powerful tranquilising effect on demonic beasts, able to weaken their spiritual force and cause them to be in a weakened state for a long period of time, unable to draw on their strength,” Yan Zhaoge shrugged, “It’s originally used to capture beasts, but if my predictions are right, it should work against demonic bloodline cultivators as well.”
“However, to us, it’s just like having added flavouring to the tea.”
Feng Yunsheng frowned, “Using this, it shows that they haven’t seen through where we come from.”
Xu Fei said quietly, “Repaying gratitude with enmity ah.”
“Drugging the tea should only be the first step,” Yan Zhaoge spread his hands apart, laughing.
Beside him, Ah Hu stood up, grinning savagely as he rotated his wrists and his neck in preparation.
……
“They’ve all taken the tea?” Gao Fang stared like a eagle at the serving girls before him.
They said rather frantically, “Other than that youth, the three men and that woman all drank it.”
Gao Fang nodded, “That’s good then. You are dismissed.”
The serving girls hurriedly left, Gao Fang saying to the long, thin man beside him, “After a moment, we will be able to take action.”
“The stronger a demonic beast or martial practitioner, the smaller the effect of the medicinal fragrance. Because we are unable to determine their true level of ability, we might not be able to succeed. If the strength they exhibit surpasses our predictions, I hope that you can lend a hand.”
That tall, thin man in the appearance of a scholar asked, “Are you sure they have a Pixiu? After the Great Calamity, Pixiu have been extinct, not even a single one having been discovered. Our understanding of them is limited only to the ancient texts, no one having seen what one truly looks like.”
Gao Fang gave a definite answer, “Relax, its distinguishing characteristics are exactly the same as in the ancient texts. This old man can guarantee that that is a young Pixiu of pure blood.”
The tall, thin scholar nodded, “That’s good then. I’ll be able to account for it to His Highness afterwards.”
“Master, why are you doing this? They saved the lives of me and my junior apprentice-brothers,” Chen Shuo looked uncomprehendingly at Gao Fang.
Gao Fang stroked his white beard, “Fool, how can you be sure that they don’t harbour malicious intentions? How do you know that they aren’t intentionally borrowing the power of our sect to get close to His Highness in an attempt to do harm to him?”
Chen Shuo was taken aback, “They aren’t even fluent in speaking our language; who would find this kind of assassin…”
Gao Fang said mildly, “How do you know that it isn’t feigned?”
“If you are so easily cheated and duped, if something really happened afterwards and it was traced back to you and to our sect, what then?”
As Chen Shuo’s lips moved, Gao Fang glanced at him, “Next time, be more alert.”
The tall, thin scholar turned and looked at Gao Fang, smiling a little disdainfully as he thought, “Before your disciples, you still have to act like this?”
A reason Gao Fang had moved was that he had set his eyes on the Pixiu Pan-Pan.
To people of the Floating Life World, a rare, powerful spirit beast entailed many things. Most importantly, it meant that it might give them a powerful bloodline power.
On the other hand, in having conversed with Yan Zhaoge’s group, while Gao Fang had not been able to find out anything from him, he had felt Yan Zhaoge’s intention of wanting to establish contact with the Furan Kingdom’s royal family.
Chen Shuo’s description of someone amongst Yan Zhaoge’s party being able to instantly kill the serpent of mixed blood from far away left a sense of unease and crisis in Gao Fang’s heart.
There were already too many people with the Furan Kingdom’s Crown Prince. This had already caused the Eagle Feather Sect to feel incomparably jostled amongst that crowd.
How did the tall thin, scholar not share similar sentiments? This was also the reason for his willingness to help this time.
“Even if they have combat power remaining having drunk that tea, we don’t definitely have to kill them ourselves. Just forcing them to step past that boundary and turn partially demonised would be sufficient,” The tall, thin scholar said, “At that time, there would naturally be many wanting to exterminate them.”
“Master, this disciple still feels like this is not good…” Chen Shuo said earnestly after having been silent for some time, “I…”
Before he could finish speaking, Gao Fang waved his hands. With that, martial practitioners came forward and carried Chen Shuo away.
As Gao Fang swivelled his head, he saw that tall, thin scholar staring nonchalantly at the lodgings of Yan Zhaoge’s group before them, seemingly not paying any attention to the little dispute between master and disciple at all.
“This old man will go first. Please act as my support if necessary,” Having said thus, Gao Fang strode forward.
He strode forward like a dragon and like a tiger, his back arched slightly upwards as he held fearsome momentum, resembling a massive eagle that was shooting downwards from the skies.
Looking at Gao Fang’s back, the tall, thin scholar’s gaze flickered, “Having cultivated the bloodline power of the Brilliant Flying Eagle to such an extent-it is truly a rare thing. Even I am not confident of being able to beat this old man. There are so many who have pledged thei
r allegiance to the Crown Prince, but those who are forever able to remain standing in this Kanghe City are but a mere few. The current achievements of the Eagle Feather Sect were indeed not a matter of luck at all!”
Watching Gao Fang enter, he thought, “Perhaps I won’t even be needed to make a move?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 427: Old eagle hunting little chickens
HSSB427: Old eagle hunting little chickens
After Gao Fang had entered, not a bit of disturbance resounded from within.
The heart of that tall, thin middle-aged scholar first relaxed, “Looks like it was completely effortless. The cultivation levels of those people were lower than expected, all having been directly drugged out.”
However, doubts very quickly surfaced within his mind, “Still, if they were that weak, how could they have slain the mixed blood serpent with a single strike?”
He kept his patience, focusing on the house Yan Zhaoge’s group was residing in.
However, as time passed, nothing stirred within at all as Gao Fang and the other martial practitioners of the Eagle Feather Sect did not emerge as well.
The tall, thin scholar vaguely felt that something was wrong.
There had not been any fluctuations in any bloodline power at all. Those foreigners aside, even Gao Fang and the others seemed not to have made a move.
While everyone loathed semi-demonised practitioners, when it truly came down to life or death, in order to obtain greater power to turn defeat into victory or secure their lives, there would always be some who gave up on their human bodies and chose to partially awaken their bloodlines, turning into semi-demonised practitioners.
With the middle-aged man’s understanding of Gao Fang, the old man’s persistence in that area was not as stubborn as it usually appeared.
Still, Yan Zhaoge and the others aside, the middle-aged man hadn’t detected any signs of Gao Fang awakening his bloodline and transforming into a semi-demonised practitioner as well.
“Could it be that the other side was too powerful, having instantly captured or killed Gao Fang without even giving him the opportunity to awaken his bloodline?” The middle-aged scholar was shocked by such a thought, “It shouldn’t be so, right? Gao Fang is also one of the top figures of Kanghe City, at least; otherwise, how would he have gained a spot by the Crown Prince’s side?”