Someone blurted out, “If we only make a move on Broad Creed Mountain, not laying a hand on Golden Court Mountain, would the Brocade Emperor still act?”
Lang Qing did not mind him suddenly interjecting as he just nodded slowly.
That Wutong Slope martial practitioner’s expression suddenly changed slightly, “Could some of those rumours be true? The Brocade Emperor is choosing a groom for Red Lotus Fu? The one he has set his eyes on is that fella surnamed Yan?”
Hearing this, Zhuang Shen looked at Lang Qing with an enquiring look on his face.
While Wutong Slope hated Yan Zhaoge to the core, they had to admit that he was probably the most outstanding person of the World beyond Worlds’ younger generation in recent years, a favoured son of Heaven.
The name Fallen Deity was widespread even in the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
“We cannot say that he does not intend this for sure. Still, this should not be the case,” Lang Qing shook his head, “Word from Ingenious Flying Peak is that Yan Zhaoge once rescued Fu Ting. Thus, they wish to return this debt.”
Zhuang Shen pondered for a moment before saying, “The Brocade Emperor might not able to act.”
“Oh?” Lang Qing was rather taken aback as he looked at Zhuang Shen.
Beside him, Mao Yuansheng coughed dryly before elaborating, “It is not that the news you received is erroneous. What Chief means that is while the Brocade Emperor might want to lend a hand, when the time comes, he might not be able to do so.”
Lang Qing knit his brows, “Why do you say that?”
Zhuang Shen spoke some words in a low tone. Lang Qing’s expression changed.
“I would like Brother Lang’s help in ascertaining if my method is viable,” Zhuang Shen requested.
Lang Qing pondered for a moment before slowly nodding, “There seems to be a high chance. There is indeed much certainty of success.”
He turned to look at Zhuang Shen, “It looks like Brother Zhuang has been plotting for a long time.”
Zhuang Shen said calmly, “This was initially because of Golden Court Mountain. While the Heaven Emperor is in a conflict with the Brocade Emperor, I still wanted to make some more preparations.”
“Still, it is now for that Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain.”
“There is no need to be disappointed, Brother Lang. If I do not guess wrongly, Cao Jie will definitely act to aid Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain. We still share a common enemy.”
Lang Qing said, “Brother Zhuang speaks rightly. Still, since you have this move, I would prefer that you wait for a while longer.”
Zhuang Shen nodded, “Awaiting the Heaven Emperor’s return?”
“That’s right. A gentleman does not mind waiting ten years to exact his revenge. Moreover, the circumstances are far from requiring as many as ten years,” Lang Qing said, “With the Brocade Emperor, there will be the Heaven Emperor to stop him. Without the Brocade Emperor, there would be a surefire chance of winning. There would not be a chance of an accident happening in the least.”
“There is a high chance of your method succeeding, Brother Zhuang. Still, we also have to consider the scenario where the Brocade Emperor is still able to rush over and make it.”
Zhuang Shen’s expression was calm as he slowly said, “You speak rightly, Brother Lang. Actually, even if the Brocade Emperor cannot act, our combined might still cannot be assured of taking him down for sure. I already intended to seek further assistance in the first place.”
Lang Qing asked, “Who do you intend to look for?”
“I believe Brother Lang knows the appearance of that Yan Zhaoge,” Zhuang Shen asked rather than answered, “Don’t you feel that his appearance is similar to someone’s?”
Lang Qing focused his mind as an image of Yan Zhaoge quickly flashed through it, being compared with all those within his memory.
It would have been fine if Zhuang Shen had not mentioned it, but now that it had, Lang Qing too gradually gained his suspicions.
“That disciple of Hu Yuexin’s, Xue Chuqing?” Lang Qing frowned, “They are related by blood? Mother and son? While there is a resemblance between their brows, there are also many who appear similar yet are wholly unrelated…”
At this point, the Western Exalt Lang Qing suddenly halted, his gaze flickering as he appeared to be pondering something.
Zhuang Shen said, “That’s right. It would be fine if only their appearance was similar. Still, I noticed one thing.”
“You and I both know that Cao Jie has protected the descendants of the Dim Radiant Sect. However, even if that brat surnamed Yan did not acquire an Immortal Artifact in the Dim Radiant Mausoleum, he still benefited from Yin Tianxia’s remnant legacies for sure. With him not being an orthodox descendant of the Dim Radiant Sect, Cao Jie was not enraged, instead actually having been constantly watching over him? This is not normal.”
Hearing Zhuang Shen’s words, Lang Qing stroked his beard, “It is suspected that Hu Yuexin’s descendant may have inadvertently acquired a clue left behind by Yin Tianxia. It is because of that Yan Zhaoge’s relation to Hu Yuexin’s descendant that Cao Jie views him in a different light?”
“That’s not right…” Lang Qing shook his head, his eyes narrowing into slits, “It was not inadvertently. From the looks of it now, Hu Yuexin and Yin Tianxia were close from the very start. It was because of that that what Yin Tianxia brought back ended up in Hu Yuexin’s hands, now being in the possession of that descendant of hers!”
He opened his eyes, “What a Dim Radiant Emperor, what a pulling the wool over everybody’s eyes. His successors were never his descendants of the Dim Radiant Sect in the first place, instead being that lineage of Hu Xinyue’s.”
Zhuang Shen nodded, “Cao Jie should be in the know to some extent.”
Lang Qing looked at him, “In that case, the people you wish to seek for assistance…”
“Fellow Daoist Oneheaven of the east,” Zhuang Shen replied, “Lian Zulin of the northwest.”
Daoist Oneheaven was the Lord of the eastern Vast Heaven Territory, the Eastern Exalt who ruled Remote Cloud Mountain’s Clear Light Locale.
Lian Zulin was the Lord of the northwestern Dim Heaven Territory, the Northwestern Exalt who ruled the Red Sea.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1016: Unprecedented event in the Royal Reed Sea
HSSB1016: Unprecedented event in the Royal Reed Sea
Yan Zhaoge’s mother, Xue Chuqing, was secretly a wanted fugitive in some parts of the World beyond Worlds.
While she might not be a wanted fugitive for sure, there were many who wanted to find her.
This was mainly in the central Jun Heaven Territory, the eastern Vast Heaven Territory, the northwestern Dim Heaven Territory and the western Turtle Heaven Territory.
Now that they knew that Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di might be related to Xue Chuqing, they had acquired an extremely powerful clue in their search for her.
Therefore, Zhuang Shen was confident of inviting the Eastern Exalt, Daoist Oneheaven, and the Northwestern Exalt, Lian Zulin, to provide their assistance.
Still, as Zhuang Shen mentioned the name of the Northwestern Exalt, he looked over at Lang Qing.
Generally speaking, the relationships between the eight Territories of the World beyond Worlds aside from the central Jun Heaven Territory were not all that harmonious for the neighbouring Territories.
Adding up all the major and minor conflicts, even if they did not culminate into irreconcilable enmity, things would still be extremely tense between them.
It was just that while some could be suppressed, others would gradually rise to the surface.
This was not just manifested in the relationship between the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory and the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
The relationships between the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory and eastern Vast Heaven Territory, the eastern Vast Heaven Territory and the northeastern Sky Heaven Territory and the northeastern Sky Heaven
Territory and the northern Profound Heaven Territory were all not that good.
Similarly, there were also many conflicts between the western Turtle Heaven Territory and the northwestern Dim Heaven Territory.
The Western Exalt Lang Qing had a composed expression on his face, “She and I share a similar opinion on the matter of Hu Yuexin’s descendant, at least.”
“It is precisely for this that you will be inviting her this time. I trust that she will not refuse.”
Zhuang Shen nodded, “That’s good then.”
He had previously held a neutral stance towards Xue Chuqing’s matter. If the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors did not give a definite order, he would ignore things with her.
Now that Zhuang Shen had vaguely sensed the relationship between Yan Zhaoge and Xue Chuqing, however, Zhuang Shen’s stance regarding this matter had naturally changed.
“Although we have no actual proof, my guess that Yan Zhaoge is related to Hu Yuexin’s descendant should not be wrong,” Zhuang Shen asked, “That being the case, should I invite Elder Wang to act?”
Lang Qing shook his head, “While he may be able to give us some extra leeway, it is unknown if he would personally act.”
Zhuang Shen raised his head slightly, slowly exhaling, “When the Immortal Artifact within the Dim Radiant Mausoleum ended up in the hands of that Yan Zhaoge back then and the news spread, he did not make a move. This makes it hard to tell if he would act now.”
Regretful looks appeared on the faces of the Wutong Slope martial practitioners behind him.
The ‘Elder Wang’ that Zhuang Shen and Lang Qing spoke of referred to none other than the Earth Exalt, Wang Zhengcheng!
He was the lord of the central Jun Heaven Territory, one of those who stood at the peak of all the Martial Saints of the World beyond Worlds.
More importantly, Wang Zhengcheng acted according to the will of the Earthly Sovereign most of the time.
“No matter,” Zhuang Shen’s gaze was deep as an abyss as he slowly said, “We will contact Daoist Oneheaven and Fellow Daoist Lian.”
Lang Qing said, “We need to communicate with the others too, making some appropriate concessions when necessary lest others cause trouble in our domains when we head southeast.”
Zhuang Shen nodded, slowly saying, “Since that is so, let us wait for the Heaven Emperor to return to the World beyond Worlds.”
“When we left seclusion, the Heaven Emperor and the Brocade Emperor too became able to free themselves from extradimensional space. The Heaven Emperor has long since known of the deaths of Qing Shuzi and Daoist Leading Mist. While the Brocade Emperor arrived quickly, the Heaven Emperor will probably not be that much slower than him.”
Zhuang Shen turned to look in the direction of the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory, “Grand opening ceremony? It just happens that we managed to make it in time. Since that is so, we will come over to give you some congratulations on that day.”
……
Broad Creed Mountain quickly learnt the news that the Southern Exalt had finally returned to the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
This was because the Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie similarly returned to the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory.
After learning of the various events which had transpired, the Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie felt them to be rather out of his expectations.
Still, he quickly made the relevant arrangements.
Cao Jie expressed a definite stance regarding Broad Creed Mountain’s opening ceremony. He would be coming personally to attend it.
With that, Broad Creed Mountain and Golden Court Mountain both understood that the Southeastern Exalt would be giving Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain his full support.
At the same time, Yan Zhaoge and the others learnt from Cao Jie that the Brocade Emperor Fu Yunchi had already returned from extradimensional space in recent days, returning to the World beyond Worlds.
News was transmitted from Kunlun Mountain’s Ingenious Flying Peak’s Red Lotus Cliff, confirming this as fact.
The news that the Heaven Emperor had yet to return with the Brocade Emperor possibly having returned first instead caused most people to inwardly heave a sigh of relief.
After thanking the guest from Ingenious Flying Peak, Yan Zhaoge went on with his preparations neither hurriedly nor slowly.
“From the looks of it, after experiencing a peak, the conflict between the Immortal Court and Buddhism has gradually regained stability,” Yan Zhaoge thought, “Bar any major incidences, a hundred years should pass before the next peak occurs.”
A hint of gloominess flickered within Yan Zhaoge’s gaze.
With the end of the all-out battle between the Immortal Court and the blessed lands, the conflict between the two sides was transitioning to merely one of normal tensions.
With that, the Immortal Court might be able to spare more attention for the World beyond Worlds.
The negative aftereffects from him having obtained the Dim Radiant Wheel might gradually begin to show.
Not considering the distant Immortal Court, the stances of the bigwigs of the World beyond Worlds who were close at hand were already hard to grasp for certain now.
The door of the Myriad Dragon Palace which hovered above Yan Zhaoge’s head opened, the space blurry within.
Now, a completely transparent silhouette appeared, next gradually turning clear till finally a huge black metal wheel appeared.
Of the twelve slots on the wheel, nine of them were currently flickering with either bright or dim light, rotating along with the wheel.
While it looked ordinary, those concepts contained within were vigorous and tyrannical to the extreme.
Because it had yet to be completely refined, it would still not be easy to draw on its power.
Even so, however, there was momentous power within that one would really sigh at.
This was precisely the Dim Radiant Wheel.
After a long time, this treasure was already much more refined than before as it unceasingly worked towards grand completion.
It had already long since stopped completely ignoring Yan Zhaoge like it had in the past. While it was impossible for it to be as acute as Sacred Artifacts, Yan Zhaoge had already gradually gained a strong mental connection with it.
Yan Zhaoge was setting the three remaining slots aside for the time being.
His cultivation base was still low at the present moment. While he was proficient in the forging of artifacts, the time was still not ripe for it to be completely refined into an Immortal Artifact.
Still, going by his original plan, this was already enough.
With a complete Immortal Artifact not being achieved, there was not much of an actual difference between nine slots and eleven slots in his plan.
Keeping a few high-grade Sacred Artifacts would be beneficial to raising the combat power of he and his sect.
Before Broad Creed Mountain’s official opening ceremony, the Ten Exalts had already returned from Kunlun Mountain as the Brocade Emperor had also managed to return from extradimensional space.
While the Brocade Emperor had come back a little earlier, the Heaven Emperor would probably not be much far behind as he would likely be returning before their opening ceremony too.
While the Southern Exalt had not stirred ever since returning, Yan Zhaoge did not believe that he would let things go just like that.
Everyone might just be awaiting the arrival of that single day together.
It would be an unprecedented event in the Royal Reed Sea.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1017: A big stage, I like it
HSSB1017: A big stage, I like it
“Who knows how many people have all set their eyes on our opening ceremony this time…” Yan Zhaoge pondered, going through his preparations once more.
This was one of the rare times in which Yan Zhaoge was not sufficiently confident of a battle which he would be engaging in.
Before the final moment, no one could
know how many enemies they would face, who they were and how many helpers they might have.
Things were very unclear as the factors involved were too many and the information at hand little.
For example, his mother had once had an encounter with the Northeastern Exalt as they had left pretty good impressions on each other.
Still, it was completely unknown whether this bigwig would provide his assistance.
The ties between them did not run all that deep, and there were also no tensions which existed between the Northeastern Exalt and the Southern Exalt.
Why would the other party want to help them?
Moreover, there was also the pressure of the Heaven Emperor.
Why would the Northeastern Exalt offend the Heaven Emperor for no good reason?
On the contrary, if the relationship between him and Xue Chuqing were made known, the Eastern Exalt, the Western Exalt and the Northwestern Exalt might all come finding trouble for them.
While these things were not definite, it was still necessary for Yan Zhaoge to consider them.
This could be imagined making a rather bleak guess from his understanding of some things.
Due to a lack of information, there were some things that he did not know at all, which could lead to occurrences that completely surpassed his expectations at any moment.
For example, what were the opinions of the World beyond Worlds’ Three Sovereigns with regard to his mother, the Dim Radiant Wheel that he possessed and the late Dim Radiant Emperor?
What were the stances of the other three Emperors besides the Brocade Emperor and the Heaven Emperor?
What were the stances of the remaining Exalts of those ten?
It was impossible for them to know themselves as they knew their enemies, with many projections possibly being completely wrong.
Still, Yan Zhaoge was neither flustered nor fearful as he just unceasingly brushed up on his plans.
Making sure that he did the best he could without exposing any flaws or openings was most definitely the basis of everything.
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