He strode forward, pushing out with his palm. Where his aura-qi touched, its density weighed down heavily like an entire mountain range.
With that, it was as though the scenery before everyone’s eyes had completely changed.
They were no longer in the Sealing Dragon Abyss, but within a mountain range of lofty, majestic peaks.
As though they were being pushed by someone, the surrounding mountains began pressuring down towards them simultaneously.
Aura-qi attaining life–it had not simply materialised as a weapon’s fearsome edge, but, rather, transformed into an illusory heaven and earth to suppress the enemy.
It was a skill only possessed by those of the mid Xiantian Martial Scholar realm or higher.
Ah Hu[1] grinned, his usually simple and honest smile now seeming ferocious and savage beyond compare.
A long howl resounded, causing the surrounding area to rumble, as though a massive prehistoric beast, brutal and ferocious, had just awoken from its slumber.
Dazed for a moment, the Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioners now saw a massive black tiger appear right before their very eyes.
The howl of the tiger caused the winds to surge, a violent hurricane spreading out in all directions.
The illusory heaven and earth and its towering mountains that the aura-qi of that Infinite Boundless Mountain Xiantian Martial Scholar had transformed into was assaulted by the terrifying storm. The land quaked and the mountains shook, the surrounding rocks breaking apart.
Faced with a black nightmare of a hurricane, the mountain range of lofty, majestic peaks, collapsed.
The Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioner’s face instantly turned black as a pot’s bottom, as he cursed loudly, “Xiantian Martial Scholar!”
“You, a Xiantian Martial Scholar, being someone’s servant and follower-are you not ashamed?”
Even the martial practitioners of the Eastern Tang stared at Ah Hu in shock, finding it extremely hard to get their minds around it.
The Martial Scholar realm consisted of the following stages: Inner aura, Outer aura, Xiantian, and finally, Heavenly Connection.
With Heavenly Connection Martial Scholars generally focused on making preparations for breaking through into the Martial Grandmaster realm, seldom making worldly appearances, Xiantian Martial Scholars could be considered to be at the peak of Martial Scholars.
In the Eastern Tang and the entire East Heaven Region, Xiantian Martial Scholars were forces that could not be taken lightly.
In Sacred Grounds like Broad Creed Mountain and the Sacred Sun Clan, their Assignment Hall Elders at most only had the cultivation base of Xiantian Martial Scholars, with most of them being in the outer aura Martial Scholar realm.
Within the lands of the Eastern Tang, the leaders of many medium and small sects as well as familial powers were but Xiantian Martial Scholars at the very most, with even more of them unable to reach that level.
In the Eastern Tang royal palace, a Xiantian Martial Scholar could already be granted the position of an honorary minister.
But right before their very eyes, there was a Xiantian Martial Scholar expert, one who was already at least in the mid Xiantian stage, following after Yan Zhaoge and serving him diligently all day long.
Not as an elite bodyguard, but as a follower who was often sent running around like an errand boy.
But it was just-they could not reconcile this fierce-looking large man before them with the image within their minds of the slick fellow with the big build who had always seemed so simple and honest before this as he followed behind Yan Zhaoge wherever he went.
The Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioner stared at Ah Hu, his face livid, “It would still be acceptable if you had become the servant of Yan Wudi himself. But even though he is Yan Wudi’s son, how can you bend your head and serve him so willingly?”
“Where is your dignity; where is your pride?”
Ah Hu pulled at his ears, extending his hands in mockery as he grinned, “I’m happy, what do you care?”
Infinite Boundless Mountain’s other leading Xiantian Martial Scholar, his face similarly sunken, now said, “I remember now.”
“There was a rumour in the past that Yan Di once went all out and spared no expense in rescuing an old servant of his, even offending the Heavenly Thunder Hall of the Thunder Domain in the process.”
“But it seemed like that old servant still died later on, and all Yan Di brought back was a child.”
Ah Hu stopped smiling, his expression turning solemn, “That was my grandfather; I, Huang Huting, was that very child.”
Zhao Hao said coldly, “Your grandfather was a servant, and to repay your debt of gratitude, you too became the Yan Family’s lifetime servant.”
“What a base, spineless person. You are not fit to call yourself a martial practitioner.”
Ah Hu chuckled, “A small fry like you still talking about being fit or unfit; I can clap you dead with a single hand.”
“If you ask me, you aren’t fit to talk to my Young Master; you aren’t even fit to talk to me.”
Zhao Hao stared, a cold light flashing within his eyes, but was faced with Ah Hu’s sudden wild howl.
Under the impact of that violent aura-qi, Zhao Hao instantly saw stars, blood trickling down from his mouth and nostrils.
However excellent his knowledge and however high his cultivation had been in the past, however strong the atmosphere he had within him and his unrivalled ability at his cultivation level, it could also not make up for the huge gulf in cultivation between them as he was directly suppressed by the difference in realms.
It was virtually ‘a scholar encountering a soldier, possessing logic but unable to get it across’.
It wasn’t just Zhao Hao; the other Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioners were also all rendered dizzy and dazed, the world spinning before their eyes.
The two Infinite Boundless Mountain Xiantian Martial Scholars shouted loudly in unison, before finally managing to make Ah Hu’s howl sound less intense.
Their faces livid, no longer in the mood for words, they shot into the sky, attacking towards Ah Hu in unison.
Ah Hu chuckled coldly. Resembling a beast which swallowed all it saw without reservation, he separated his palms, preparing to withstand the two with his own power, with no intention of backing off in the slightest.
The Eastern Tang Kingdom martial practitioners wanted to go forward to help, but found that Ah Hu alone was more than enough, as he dealt with his opponents with relative ease.
“His opponents are not your typical martial practitioner; they are from Infinite Boundless Mountain, the Sacred Ground of the Mountain Domain ah.”
The Eastern Tang Kingdom martial practitioners were all wide-eyed and slack-jawed in shock, unconsciously swallowing their saliva as they found it a little difficult to accept the sight before their eyes.
It was even worse for those of Infinite Boundless Mountain, who were angered to the point of vomiting blood, “This is a servant for the Yan Family?!”
Just at this time, a terrifying atmosphere suddenly assailed.
Ah Hu’s expression turned grave, while the Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioners were all filled with joy, “Elder He has arrived!”
A Martial Grandmaster’s terrifying atmosphere that could not be falsified descended and engulfed the entire area in an instant.
[1] Reminder: Hu means tiger
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 78: Don’t look down on librarians
HSSB78: Don’t look down on librarians
The atmosphere of a Martial Grandmaster expert engulfed the surrounding area, agitating the wind and the clouds.
The hearts of the Eastern Tang martial practitioners all sunk down to the utmost depths. Even all of them combined would not be able to stand up to such an opponent.
The figure of Infinite Boundless Mountain’s Elder He appeared, his gaze landing on Yan Zhaoge and Zh
ao Shicheng.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, his expression suddenly changed slightly.
The King of the Eastern Tang Kingdom, Zhao Shicheng, who had originally been unconscious and dead to the world, actually suddenly opened his eyes at this very moment.
Their gazes clashed head-on within the air just like that.
Zhao Shicheng said mildly. “Elder He, coming over to visit personally-I have troubled you.”
As he said this, he sat up, one hand clenching into a fist, the other slapping onto the ground beside him.
With the ground beneath him as their centre, the originally faint and broken lines of spirit patterns suddenly lit up with a dazzling radiance, spreading to envelop the surrounding area.
The power of the formation increased tremendously at this moment, going from ailing and weak to strong and abundant.
A powerful force directly shocked the people from Infinite Boundless Mountain led by Elder He, causing them to consecutively take a few steps back in retreat as they were forced out of the formation.
“How is it possible that he managed to recover so quickly?” Elder He swivelled his head to look at the other Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioners.
The two leading Xiantian Martial Scholars shook their heads bitterly, their faces filled with utter incomprehension and disbelief.
They said softly, “When we caught up to them, his injuries were very grave. The only difference between him and a dead person was that he still barely breathed.”
“There is definitely no reason for him to have recovered in such a short time.”
“This is virtually seeing a ghost in broad daylight!”
Wiping the traces of blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhao Hao stared at the Yan Zhaoge by Zhao Shicheng’s side, his palms still pressed on Zhao Shicheng’s chest and back.
“What a shocking speed; how in the world did he do it?!”
Zhao Hao gnashed his teeth, fresh blood leaking from the corner of his mouth once more.
He was proficient in alchemy and medicine, standing at the very peak of this world. Other than a very select few, there were no others who were qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as him.
But helping Zhao Shicheng to recover in such a short period of time, was not something that he would have been able to do!
He had seen how Zhao Shicheng had been initially, seen how grave his injuries were.
But now, Zhao Shicheng had actually managed to regain his consciousness, as well as reactivate the formation once again. This went completely against his predictions.
Zhao Hao sucked in a deep breath, “It is not just that Golden Needle Liberating Pill technique; he is extremely proficient in all aspects of alchemy and medicine as well!”
Elder He’s gaze similarly landed on Yan Zhaoge, “The Broad Creed Young Master is not a dragon among men but a dragon amongst dragons-the rumours were actually true?!”
Let alone having completely gone against the expectations of the people from Infinite Boundless Mountain, even the Eastern Tang Kingdom martial practitioners were all shocked and startled by what had just transpired.
A warning bell sounded in the hearts of some, “It shouldn’t be a technique that excites one’s potential, forcefully causing His Majesty to awaken now at the price of his injuries deteriorating afterwards, perhaps even leading to his eventual death?”
“Don’t tell me that it is the moment of clarity before his death, the remnant radiance of the setting sun?”
Detecting the worried and troubled gazes of those around him, Yan Zhaoge couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
“I say, you guys, don’t look down on librarians, that occupation ah.”
Zhao Shicheng nodded towards Yan Zhaoge, then directly stood up, “This King was temporarily afflicted with a minor ailment; it is already fine now.”
“Thank you Elder He for personally taking the trouble to rush here to visit me, but this Sealing Dragon Abyss is not a place suitable for conversing.”
“After we have departed, This King will throw up a banquet within the royal palace-we will attend Elder He and you others of Infinite Boundless Mountain with hospitality then.”
Elder He looked at Zhao Shicheng, frowning.
He did not believe that having suffered such grave injuries before, Zhao Shicheng had already completely recovered.
Still, he could not grasp for sure how much of his power Zhao Shicheng currently still possessed.
How much of the power of Jingyang City’s grand formation Zhao Shicheng could currently still draw on was also an unknown.
If Zhao Shicheng was at his peak state, assisted by the power of the grand formation, Elder He would not be his match.
Zhao Hao’s gaze moved between Yan Zhaoge and Zhao Shicheng repeatedly.
Zhao Shicheng, however, did not even glance at him once.
When Zhao Shicheng had assisted Broad Creed Mountain in repelling the Sacred Sun Clan in Jingyang City previously, Zhao Hao had completely lost all hope in him.
And with Zhao Hao having appeared at this place and time accompanied by those of Infinite Boundless Mountain, Zhao Shicheng now lost all hope in Zhao Hao as well.
Zhao Shicheng looked at Elder He, saying calmly, “This is not the place for conversing; This King will first take his leave. Elder He, please leave as you will.”
Saying thus, he extended his palms forward before pushing down at the air beneath him.
The spirit patterns of the formation vibrated, currents of qi flowing and rising, swirling to envelop Yan Zhaoge, Ah Hu and the other Eastern Tang martial practitioners with Zhao Shicheng at their centre, before rising towards the entrance of the Sealing Dragon Abyss.
Elder He’s face was sunken-he was really not satisfied if he had to give up just like this.
Although he was no longer completely confident in his success, he did not hesitate and risk wasting any time, instead immediately moving to obstruct Yan Zhaoge, Zhao Shicheng and the others.
But at this time, an intense tremor suddenly emanated over from the distance.
A cold, majestic sword-qi was transmitted over, slicing through the very air itself as the canyon within the Sealing Dragon Abyss seemed about to completely break apart.
“It’s Broad Creed Mountain’s East Elder and the Sacred Sun Clan’s East Rising Lord; they are rushing over here!”
An imposing sword-qi broke through the sky, blocking the path of those from Infinite Boundless Mountain.
A golden sword-light lit up, clashing with that imposing sword-qi once more.
However, the chance for the group from Infinite Boundless Mountain to chase down and attack Yan Zhaoge and the others had already passed; it was already too late.
Elder He’s face dimmed, “We have missed the opportunity; the situation here on out is something that we have no confidence over.”
“Let’s go. Contact our clan’s Elder to determine whether we should retreat or proceed on.”
He looked towards Zhao Hao, “If you continue to remain in the Eastern Tang, it will be difficult for you to produce any results in the future.”
Zhao Hao fell into a deep silence.
Yan Zhaoge, Zhao Shicheng and the others had also felt Elder Qin and the East Rising Lord approaching just now.
Not only that; Elder Kong and that female Martial Grandmaster expert of the Sacred Sun Clan had long since left the Sealing Dragon Abyss in the midst of their fight, causing the heavens to roil and the earth to overturn wherever they fought as they swept over a distance spanning several hundred kilometres long.
“Uncle, the chaotic streams of baleful qi within your body have not been completely expelled yet,” Yan Zhaoge looked at Zhao Shicheng as he continued, “How confident are you about the situation over at Jingyang City?”
His expression slightly pale, Zhao Shicheng concentrated on that faint connection for a while before slowly saying, “Shilie, has already invaded and entered the royal palace.”
�
�With the help of the Sacred Sun Clan’s people, Royal Uncle cannot withstand him; control over half of the grand formation has already been wrested over by him.”
“With This King currently not within the Royal Palace, regaining control of it would require quite a bit of effort.”
Zhao Shicheng hacked forward with his palm. The currents of qi swirled, bringing Yan Zhaoge and the others to land safely on the ground.
With the current worrying condition of his body, Zhao Shicheng all the more had to conserve his energy for the battles that would ensue.
Luckily, all the cities within the lands of the Eastern Tang had relay stations[1], so they didn’t have to worry about their mode of transportation.
“If we rush back to Jingyang now, we might not be able to make it in time, and Zhao Shilie’s advantage will only grow,” Yan Zhaoge said, “Uncle, I actually have a plan; perhaps you could try it out.”
Zhao Shicheng turned to look at him, “Oh? What are your thoughts, Zhaoge?”
Yan Zhaoge said, “Our clan’s Spirit Wind Canyon; not far from Overlooking Abyss City, while also quite close to the Sealing Dragon Abyss.”
“A certain amount of resources are stored there; we can attempt to set up a reversal formation.”
Zhao Shicheng’s gaze lit up, “Reversal formations are not easy to set up. Saying this, Zhaoge, you must have a way of doing so?”
Yan Zhaoge said, “I have the plans for the formation in my hands; we can place our bet on it.”
“While I say that it is a bet, it still presents more hope than if we returned to Jingyang City.”
Zhao Shicheng was moved by his words, but he asked with a sound transmission, “If it’s the Spirit Wind Canyon, the Cloud-Veined Crystal quarry …”
Yan Zhaoge similarly replied with a sound transmission, “The war has already begun. Elder Xu Chuan being a capable person, he should already have made the necessary arrangements. There is no need to worry about the secret being exposed.”
“While the people from Infinite Boundless Mountain were obstructed by Elder Qin, on the territory of the Mountain Domain just outside of the Eastern Tang, many troops are definitely stationed and awaiting orders, poised to strike.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 55