“You should not have brought the high-grade Sacred Artifact that Shen Lingzi left for you, the Cloud Circulating Heavenly Light Sword? It would have been useless even if you had brought it.”
A treasured light suddenly emanated from his body, sword-qi shooting to the heavens, intimidating one’s soul.
Seeing this, Yan Zhaoge and Kang Ping immediately knew that the current Lin Hanhua had a high-grade Sacred Artifact on him!
Lin Hanhua asked, “You still have your fellow disciples, right? If they come over with the Cloud Circulating Heavenly Light Sword, you might still stand a bit of a chance then.”
Kang Ping’s face was expressionless. At this point, Lin Hanhua had already made his stance crystal clear.
He was dead set on protecting Yan Zhaoge. If Kang Ping did not retreat, it would be a battle to the death.
Whatever might come about as a consequence, Lin Hanhua would no longer be considering it now.
Kang Ping was completely unable to understand the reason for this, not knowing what it was which had made Lin Hanhua suddenly change his mind.
Just the appreciation of talent alone was really too mild a reason.
“Shadow Mountain Lin, just as you say, we are both cultivators of the sword,” Kang Ping said slowly.
While he did not know the reason Lin Hanhua had suddenly changed his mind, Kang Ping’s sword-qi still remained at its peak as he showed no intentions of retreating in the least.
Having been obstructed by Lin Hanhua, Yan Zhaoge did not continue struggling as he simply stopped, his gaze shifting between Lin Hanhua and Kang Ping.
“Why must Mister Kang be like this?” A voice now resounded from the side.
A man who appeared to be in his thirties on the outside appeared before Yan Zhaoge and the others.
While he struck no martial stance, his aura was still extremely powerful such that it was very easy for one to ascertain his identity as an Immortal Bridge Martial Saint.
This youth first bowed towards Lin Hanhua, “Eldest apprentice-brother.”
Seeing this youth, Lin Hanhua nodded slightly, “Junior apprentice-brother Mu.”
Seeing the newcomer, Kang Ping remained silent.
The other party was named Mu Jun, having returned to the Royal Reed Sea alongside him and Chen Zhiliang. Like Lin Hanhua, Zheng Ming and Chen Zhiliang, he was a disciple of the Southeastern Exalt, with his cultivation base being superior to that of Zheng Ming and Chen Zhiliang as he was, like Kang Ping, an expert of the early Immortal Bridge stage.
Alongside Lin Hanhua, he was acclaimed as one of the most outstanding disciples of the Southeastern Exalt’s lineage.
Seeing Yan Zhaoge, Mu Jun smiled, “This must be Little Friend Yan? I heard junior apprentice-brother Zheng and junior apprentice-brother Chen talk about you before. You truly are a remarkable genius.”
Yan Zhaoge exited the Myriad Dragon Palace, smiling, “You overpraise me.”
Kang Ping said slowly, “Green Plains Sword King, this Kang has no intention of going against the Southeastern Exalt and Golden Court Mountain. However, I must have vengeance for my wife’s death. While I am not talented, I am also not some weakling who can be pushed around easily.”
Mu Jun gazed towards Lin Hanhua, the two of them interacting with their gazes as they seemed to be exchanging words via sound transmission.
Lin Hanhua remained filled with killing intent, sharp as a sword as it was hard to look straight at him.
A short while later, Mu Jun retracted his gaze, chuckling as he appeared all harmonious, “Debts must be paid by the actual debtors. From what I know, the one who truly forced your wife into death was someone else and not Little Friend Yan before us.”
Kang Ping said mildly, “When this Kang came to meet the Shadow Mountain Sword King, this Kang’s two senior apprentice-uncles had already set off for the Virtuous Spirit Region’s Sun Moon Peak.”
The Virtuous Spirit Region’s Sun Moon Peak was precisely the location of the Radiant Light Sect’s headquarters.
Hearing his words, the corners of Yan Zhaoge’s lips twitched.
The two great Immortal Bridge Martial Saints, He Dongcheng and Gu Zhang, had simultaneously descended, and they likely additionally possessed the Cloud Circulating Heavenly Light Sword and the King Xuan Spear, those two high-grade Sacred Artifacts.
Tragedy was to befall the Radiant Light Sect.
Kang Ping’s cold gaze swept across Yan Zhaoge, “Yan Zhaoge, the Radiant Light Sect’s Luo Zhiyuan and the North Sea Sword Pavilion’s Gu Hong-none of them can even think of running!”
Mu Jun said, “At Golden Court Mountain, it was agreed that you would not be pursuing the matter of your junior apprentice-brother, Liao Zheng.”
“In having allowed for this, it shows that you do know to advance and retreat as needed.”
Mu Jun switched the direction of his words, “However, speaking of your wife’s death, it was actually really because she first tried to harm this Little Friend Yan due to past enmities, thus causing all that happened afterwards.”
“Of course, your wife had still yet to know of what was agreed upon at Golden Court Mountain then. Still, if we must calculate it, it was still your side that provoked the incident.”
Kang Ping’s gaze hardened, “What Green Plains Sword King means is that Golden Court Mountain is bent on protecting him?”
Mu Jun shook his head, “While I am naturally unable to speak for my Master, the will of my senior apprentice-brother is my will as well.”
Kang Ping fell silent, his expression turning grave.
With Lin Hanhua and Mu Jun joining hands, he would literally have no chance of success at all.
The other side possessed at least one high-grade Sacred Artifact. If they were really to go to blows, he might even be captured alive. He might not even be able to put his life on the line as he wanted as he would be resigned to suffering a needless loss at the end of the day.
The current power levels of the two sides were totally unbalanced.
He had not thought that he might see Yan Zhaoge here at Lin Hanhua’s place, thus ultimately not having made sufficient preparations somewhat.
Kang Ping’s flames of fury gradually quelled now, with his gaze turning even colder and sharper.
If he went all out and perished, even if he was unable to harm his opponents, someone would naturally be settling things with them afterwards.
However, if he did not die and was needlessly captured before being pathetically sent back all netted and defeated, the entity who stood behind him would also lose face, feeling disappointed in him. If that truly happened, there would really no longer be any hope of him getting his revenge at all.
Kang Ping was silent for a long time before he inhaled deeply, turning and leaving.
Under such circumstances, there was really nothing that he could say which would not result in a loss of his face.
However, whether it was Yan Zhaoge or Lin Hanhua and Mu Jun, all of them knew that Kang Ping would never let it go just like that.
Mu Jun sighed slightly, “He may go to the Radiant Light Sect, but he may target Gu Hong at the North Sea Sword Pavilion as well.”
“The North Sea Sword Pavilion did help us out when junior apprentice-brother Zheng’s group was securing the person who trespassed from the southern Blazing Heaven Territory. Should I go over and take a look?”
Lin Hanhua shook his head, “Gu Hong is also an Immortal Bridge Martial Saint.”
Mu Jun nodded, glancing at Yan Zhaoge through the corner of his eye and sending via sound transmission, “Senior apprentice-brother, while I do not understand why you are so insistent, notifying Master as soon as possible should be necessary now.”
Lin Hanhua answered, “Right, I will.”
Mu Jun nodded and smiled towards Yan Zhaoge before he left.
At this point in time, only Yan Zhaoge and Lin Hanhua remained.
Lin Hanhua just gazed at Yan Zhaoge, not speaking for a long time.
Yan Zha
oge’s heart jolted slightly before he heard Lin Hanhua slowly asking, “Little Friend Yan, you cultivate in a sword dao of the Prime Clear lineage?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 752: Sword of the Prime Clear lineage
HSSB752: Sword of the Prime Clear lineage
While Lin Hanhua employed a questioning tone, his gaze that was on Yan Zhaoge did not carry a hint of an inquiry at all as he seemed just to be narrating a fact.
Yan Zhaoge was rather taken aback as many thoughts instantly flashed through his mind.
After having learnt that the Earthly Sovereign had restricted descendants of the Prime Clear lineage from entering the World beyond Worlds, while he did not understand the reason for it, Yan Zhaoge had still paid attention to this.
It just happened that of the Numinous Treasure Four Swords, he cultivated in the Immortal Ending Sword which was the most proficient at variations.
With him intentionally concealing it, it would be very difficult for spectators to notice the truth.
This was especially so when Yan Zhaoge had even used An Instant’s Thunder as cover, thereby making it even more difficult to be noticed.
Kang Ping was similarly extremely powerful and knowledgeable. While he might still be less knowledgeable than Lin Hanhua, he was still far from comparable to the ordinary person.
Also, he had earlier personally traded blows with Yan Zhaoge, directly facing his sword.
Yet, Kang Ping had not noticed anything abnormal, while somehow, it was Lin Hanhua who had been a mere spectator who had somehow managed to see through the Immortal Ending Sword Manual?
Could it be that Lin Hanhua had not actually noticed it, merely having felt something suspicious?
And now, he was actually just probing him out with words?
Yan Zhaoge pondered rapidly, but he now heard Lin Hanhua continue, “Who taught you your Immortal Ending Sword?”
With this, Yan Zhaoge knew that Lin Hanhua was not actually simply probing him out.
Instead, he truly recognised the sword-intent of the Immortal Ending Sword.
How had he done it?
A slight glow flickered within Yan Zhaoge’s eyes.
There was only one possibility, and that was that Lin Hanhua too cultivated in a sword dao of the Prime Clear lineage, this being the same Immortal Ending Sword Manual as Yan Zhaoge!
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “The Sword King is indeed discerning. When in the lower worlds, I indeed coincidentally obtained a remnant legacy of one of the Numinous Treasure Four Swords, the Immortal Ending Sword.”
“Seeing such a formidable martial art, this Yan was naturally overjoyed and could not help but cultivate in it. It was only after having come to the World beyond Worlds that I learnt about the decree of the Earthly Sovereign.”
“I am not of the Prime Clear lineage. I hope that the Sword King will not tell others about this, and thank you first here.”
Lin Hanhua glanced deeply over at Yan Zhaoge, saying after a long time, “Your Immortal Ending Sword does not contain the imprint of the Jade Clear lineage, not being what was passed down by the Lord of the Dao and Conduct. Instead, it is truly of the direct lineage of the Prime Clear lineage.”
A long, long time ago, during the battles of the Investiture of the Gods, the legendary four Immortal Exterminating Swords belonging to the Lord of Numinous Treasure had once all fallen into the hands of the Jade Clear lineage.
It was a disciple of the Lord of Primordial Beginning, the Lord of Dao and Conduct, who had obtained the true Immortal Ending Sword.
With this, the sword-intent of the Immortal Ending Sword had ended up flowing into the Jade Clear lineage. Still, it had been a little different from that of the Prime Clear lineage at the end of the day.
Afterwards, descendants of the Lord of Dao and Conduct had seldom passed on this martial art. It was thus that the Jade Clear lineage’s Immortal Ending Sword had already long since gone extinct before the time of the Great Calamity.
The Immortal Ending Sword Manual stored in the Martial Repository of the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace was the most orthodox of the Numinous Treasure Four Swords, originating from descendants of the Prime Clear lineage who resided in the Heavenly Court.
Therefore, after hearing Lin Hanhua’s words, Yan Zhaoge’s pupils dilated slightly.
Being able to distinguish between the Immortal Ending Sword of the Jade Clear lineage and the Immortal Ending Sword of the Prime Clear lineage, the difficulty of such was at a whole new level.
If it were said that Lin Hanhua was not versed in the Immortal Ending Sword, the entire heavens’s worth of divinities would not believe it.
Also, Yan Zhaoge could be certain that Lin Hanhua too cultivated in the Immortal Ending Sword of the Prime Clear lineage!
Therein lay the problem. The Shadow Mountain Sword King Lin Hanhua was not simply renowned throughout the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory. He was also a well-known figure of the entire World beyond Worlds.
Even the Earthly Sovereign might be familiar with him, being aware of his existence.
Lin Hanhua’s sword dao was forthright and unyielding and he had clashed with innumerable people before. Could it be possible that he had actually never been exposed as cultivating in a sword dao of the Prime Clear lineage all this time?
Yan Zhaoge was the one who very much wanted to ask him where he had learnt his Immortal Ending Sword from.
If he had obtained it through a fortuitous encounter, that would still be fine. Yet, if Lin Hanhua was truly a descendant of the orthodox Prime Clear lineage, that really boggled one’s mind somewhat.
If he was a direct descendant of the orthodox Prime Clear lineage, what about his Master, the Southeastern Exalt?
The Three Sovereigns Five Emperors, Exalts of Ten Territories were jointly acclaimed in this world. It really could not be that the Earthly Sovereign was unaware of the Southeastern Exalt’s background?
If it were really like this, it was impossible that he could have attained his current position.
Was it that the Southeastern Exalt had hidden the matter for his disciple or was it that for some unknowable reason, the Earthly Sovereign had intentionally overlooked Lin Hanhua’s existence?
Or was it that Lin Hanhua had betrayed his original lineage, leaving their tutelage before only becoming a disciple of the Southeastern Exalt afterwards?
There were too many possibilities that were hard to say for sure. Meanwhile, it was also very difficult to say what Lin Hanhua intended with his current attitude.
While he had protected him, helping him to obstruct Kang Ping, he still could not let down his guard around him so easily.
Even as countless thoughts flashed through his mind, there were no changes in Yan Zhaoge’s facial expression whatsoever as he smiled, “Thank you for your tips, Sword King. I was unsure of all this beforehand.”
Looking at Yan Zhaoge, Lin Hanhua said after a while, “You already know of the Earthly Sovereign’s decree now. You must know that this is not to be taken lightly.”
Yan Zhaoge said solemnly, “I understand.”
Lin Hanhua nodded, ceasing to discuss this topic or why he had wanted to protect Yan Zhaoge who was proficient in the Prime Clear lineage’s legacy.
He changed the topic, “Kang Ping still desires to kill you, merely having been temporarily sent into retreat by me and junior apprentice-brother Mu.”
“It is even to the point that after having dealt with the Radiant Light Sect, he may assemble the others of the Grand Xuan Dynasty and come here, exerting pressure on us to hand you over.”
Yan Zhaoge said, “I will be careful. Many thanks to the Sword King this time.”
Lin Hanhua shook his head, “It is fine.”
After taking his leave of Lin Hanhua, Yan Zhaoge did not immediately leave as he stood amidst space in deep thought.
Feng Yunsheng, Ah Hu and Xiao Ai exited the Myriad Dragon Palace. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
They had previously remained in
the Myriad Dragon Palace, hidden within the formation of the Dim Darkness Sect’s branch altar.
None of them had thought that Yan Zhaoge might actually face his most threatening tribulation ever since his arrival in the World beyond Worlds then.
“Young Master, we are leaving just like this? It was not easy at all for us to gain the protection of the Shadow Mountain Sword King,” Ah Hu asked curiously.
Yan Zhaoge said, “Kang Ping came unprepared this time. He will not be so easy to get rid of again.”
“Lin Hanhua having been willing to help, we should naturally thank him. Still, it does not feel good constantly bringing trouble to others. Most of the time, we ultimately have to depend on ourselves.”
“Moreover, we still cannot be sure now why Lin Hanhua helped us.”
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “If we were to remain here, our whereabouts would be definite as it would be equivalent to trapping ourselves and not doing anything at all. This is not a situation that I would like to see.”
“In temporarily leaving, while there will be risks, so long as we move about covertly, it would not be so easy for our enemy to find us.”
Nodding, Ah Hu suddenly laughed as he gloated, “The Radiant Light Sect is in for it this time. If Kang Ping rushes to their headquarters as well, it will be hard even if they do not want to be decimated.”
Yan Zhaoge’s eyes narrowed into slits as he seemed to think of something, “The Radiant Light Sect is indeed going to suffer tragically. Still, when this will happen cannot be said for sure.”
“I’ve only just realised this. This matter is not as simple as it seems. Someone is trying to go fishing.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 753: The endangered Radiant Light Sect
HSSB753: The endangered Radiant Light Sect
“Going fishing?” Ah Hu looked at Yan Zhaoge, seeming rather taken aback.
Yan Zhaoge said, “Because Lin Hanhua has protected me, Kang Ping and the Grand Xuan Dynasty are temporarily unable to find trouble with me as their rage has been directed fully towards the Radiant Light Sect and the North Sea Sword Pavilion.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 415
