Yan Zhaoge answered with a serious expression on his face, “At least eighty percent. If I want to be clearer, I will first have to arrive at Cloud Portent Mountain and examine the area itself before I can come up with a more accurate figure.”
Fu Enshu raised the tips of her eyebrows, “If you are not blowing it out of proportion, an eighty percent success rate is already extremely high.”
“In that case, let us depart now.”
As Fu Enshu said thus, the surroundings moved whilst not under the influence of wind, countless streams of qi surging as they directly swept up Yan Zhaoge, Ah Hu, Feng Yunsheng and Sikong Qing.
“Yunsheng naturally has to head to Cloud Portent Mountain; Sikong, you go along with us as well. It will serve as a form of tempering experience, and I can guide you in martial arts along the way as well, not letting your cultivation be delayed.”
The water barrier that had been surrounding the island at the centre of the Cloud Pavilion Lake descended leisurely, as Fu Enshu directly swept along Yan Zhaoge and the others, shooting off into the distance.
Ah Hu stuck out his tongue a little as he silently sent over a sound transmission to Yan Zhaoge, “Young Master, this is also a little too much for lightning-quick efficiency, right?”
“Thinking of leaving and then leaving; saying ‘let’s depart’ and instantly departing!”
Yan Zhaoge stroked his eyebrows, “I seldom hear this anymore, also only having coincidentally heard it being mentioned before, but amongst father’s generation, when they were young, there was actually a saying being spread around.”
“Fu Enshu’s thoughts are like the days of June, fickle and unpredictable.”
“As I see it now, despite the passing of ages, this senior apprentice-aunt Fu is still the same as ever, thinking of leaving and then leaving. It’s fine if one’s used to it; it’s fine if one’s used to it,” Yan Zhaoge grinned, “Let’s just consider it as a tour that begins flightily.”
Feng Yunsheng and Sikong Qing were also slightly taken aback, but they calmed their emotions very quickly.
While the former was not as mentally active as Fu Enshu, she also had a straightforward personality, liking to get straight down to things. Meanwhile, the latter was not really interested in anything other than martial cultivation.
Led by Fu Enshu, they passed high mountains and lofty peaks, hurrying to the Mountain Domain.
Their destination was first the Infinite Mountain Territory in the middle of the Mountain Domain, then Cloud Portent Mountain in the east of the Mountain Domain.
Unlike the Heaven Domain which was divided into five Regions, the Mountain Domain was separated into ‘Territories’.
Also because the Mountain Domain possessed many hills and mountains, all of these ‘Territories’ were mostly named after the various mountain ranges of varying sizes present there.
An example would be how the region where the Sacred Ground of the Mountain Domain, Infinite Boundless Mountain was, was named the Infinite Mountain Territory.
The Cloud Portent Territory was the region where the Cloud Portent Mountain Range was located. The main mountain peak of that mountain range was Cloud Portent Mountain.
The Cloud Portent Territory was in the eastern part of the Mountain Domain, being directly bordered at its east to the Thunder Domain. To its southeast was the Earth Domain, to its south was the East Heaven Region of the Heaven Domain and to its southwest was the North Heaven Region of the Heaven Domain.
The Sealing Dragon Abyss which originated from the Earth Domain passed through the East Heaven Region of the Heaven Domain, then extended into the Cloud Portent Territory of the Mountain Domain.
The Infinite Shadowy River which similarly originated from the Earth Domain, conversely, first entered the Cloud Portent Territory and then extended into the East Heaven Region.
Because of Cloud Portent Mountain’s relation with the Giant Spirit Magnetite, although this was a border area of the Mountain Domain, it was a region which Infinite Boundless Mountain viewed with the utmost importance, closely guarding it against the encroachment of Heavenly Thunder Hall of the Thunder Domain as well as Broad Creed Mountain of the Heaven Domain.
When receiving the news of the arrival of Yan Zhaoge, Fu Enshu and the others, Infinite Boundless Mountain was also not any slow in receiving them.
With Broad Creed Mountain having vaguely divulged that this matter had to do with Giant Spirit Magnetite, Infinite Boundless Mountain would naturally prioritise it greatly.
However, whether it was Yan Zhaoge or Fu Enshu, both of them also acutely detected that Infinite Boundless Mountain’s current attitude towards them seemed a little ambiguous.
Following the earlier war of the Eastern Tang, the current power balance of the world was indeed rather delicate.
Still, Yan Zhaoge could still more or less sense some unusual signs.
“Something’s odd…” Yan Zhaoge murmured within his heart, though not showing anything on the surface.
Together with Fu Enshu, accompanied by experts of Infinite Boundless Mountain, they set off for Cloud Portent Mountain together.
And on the way to the Mountain Domain, Yan Zhaoge and the others received a piece of news that, to Broad Creed Mountain, was definitely the stuff of nightmares.
In the third Extreme Yin Bout, the Sacred Sun Clan disciple Meng Wan, the phoenix awaiting Nirvana lying dormant in the dark, in a domineering show of a monarch returning to reclaim her throne, overwhelmed the rest of her competitors, reclaiming the Extreme Yin Crown!
As though affirming Feng Yunsheng’s past analysis.
As long as she herself did not meet with any problems, Meng Wan was currently the strongest Maiden of Extreme Yin.
The Extreme Yin Crown had returned to the hands of the Sacred Sun Clan.
The power balance of the world, instantly changed.
Although the East Coming Martial Saint Huang Guanglie had still yet to leave seclusion, the previous precarious predicament of the Sacred Sun Clan, was no more.
Hearing this news, Yan Zhaoge glanced at Feng Yunsheng.
Feng Yunsheng had a calm expression on her face, showing no signs of surprise in the least.
She also looked towards Yan Zhaoge.
With the general situation having changed, Yan Zhaoge’s current quest had become much more important.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 122: Cloud Portent Mountain
HSSB122: Cloud Portent Mountain
When Yan Zhaoge and the others received news of the results of the third Extreme Yin Bout, Infinite Boundless Mountain’s side also naturally did as well.
Although they didn’t show it outwardly, Yan Zhaoge could still feel that the people of Infinite Boundless Mountain had become much warmer towards them.
With the Sacred Sun Clan holding an even greater advantage, while Infinite Boundless Mountain wouldn’t face them directly, they would also increase their guard.
To Infinite Boundless Mountain, before they had sufficient backing to themselves do so, having Broad Creed Mountain helping them in withstanding the Sacred Sun Clan was naturally a good thing.
However, Yan Zhaoge could still feel that on the matter of Cloud Portent Mountain’s Giant Spirit Magnetite vein, their attitude was still somewhat ambiguous.
From their earlier interactions, whether intentionally or not, Infinite Boundless Mountain had seemed to reveal an inclination to cooperate with Broad Creed Mountain in some other areas instead.
Yan Zhaoge took some note of this within his heart.
Although Infinite Boundless Mountain’s attitude was rather ambiguous, led by them, Yan Zhaoge, Fu Enshu and the others still arrived uneventfully in the Cloud Portent Territory.
“Young master, it just so happens that Zhao Ming and his girl have also come to Cloud Portent Mountain,” Walking along the road, Ah Hu was busy sifting through all the reports from his subordinates before relaying the organized information to Yan Zhaoge.
Yan Zhaoge tilted his head as he though
t, “Right, the Scarlet Rainbow Sect does indeed have some business relations with the Mountain Domain’s Cloud Portent Territory after all.”
Ah Hu nodded, “That’s right, lands of solitary yin which also contain solitary yang are quite rare. For the Scarlet Rainbow Sect, they have several types of spirit grass which would only reach their highest grade in such a land.”
“That’s why they’ve rented a parcel of land at Cloud Portent Mountain and started a medicine field.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded his head. Broad Creed Mountain was aware of this matter, not having forbidden it.
While Broad Creed Mountain and Infinite Boundless Mountain also somewhat existed as competitors, the relationship between them was far less strained than with the Sacred Sun Clan.
Mutual interaction between the many powers of Broad Creed Mountain’s Heaven Domain and Infinite Boundless Mountain’s Mountain Domain was also not rarely seen.
Cloud Portent Mountain was an important location for Infinite Boundless Mountain. However, as long as they didn’t encroach on the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein, this place was still not a restricted ground for outsiders.
Of course, if a power on the same level such as Broad Creed Mountain also neared, that would definitely draw the attention of Infinite Boundless Mountain. A power like the Scarlet Rainbow Sect, though, was totally fine.
Ah Hu continued, “I’ve heard that something’s up with their medicinal field; that’s why Zhao Ming and Jing Yunzhi have both gone over for a look.”
Jing Yunzhi was the daughter of the Chief of the Scarlet Rainbow Sect, also having entered Broad Creed Mountain as a disciple.
Yan Zhaoge said, “After we arrive at Cloud Portent Mountain, we can notify them, and meet up with them when there’s time. According to etiquette, they should also come to extend their greetings to senior apprentice-aunt Fu.”
Ah Hu gave a simple and honest laugh, “Yes, Young Master.”
Stepping into the Cloud Portent Territory, passing by countless mountains of the Cloud Portent Mountain Range, Yan Zhaoge and the others headed all the way east.
Within the Cloud Portent Mountain range, the highest peak slowly was revealed to Yan Zhaoge’s party.
The entire Cloud Portent Mountain range resembled an enormous coiled dragon, with Cloud Portent Mountain itself as the dragon’s head.
At the foot of Cloud Portent Mountain, it and the surrounding mountains came together to form a small basin of land. This was where the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein was.
Meanwhile, there was a small spiritual stream halfway up Cloud Portent Mountain. This spring was known as the Yin Yang Cloud Spring.
This Yin Yang Cloud Spring was actually one of those rarely seen lands of solitary yin that also contained solitary yang.
Because of the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein, Infinite Boundless Mountain had here not just a single Elder. Other than the First Seat Elder presiding over all the affairs of Cloud Portent Mountain, there was also another longtime Martial Grandmaster specifically sitting over Cloud Portent Mountain. This Elder was dubbed the Magnetite Elder.
Adding on the Infinite Boundless Mountain Elder who accompanied them, there were currently three longtime Martial Grandmasters of Infinite Boundless Mountain congregated at Cloud Portent Mountain.
The First Seat Elder who managed Cloud Portent Mountain was surnamed Zuo. He was a middle-aged man possessing dignified features.
As Yan Zhaoge looked at this Elder Zuo, his gaze hardened for a moment.
The Principal Elder of Infinite Boundless Mountain who had been stationed in the East Heaven Region of the Heaven Domain had been one of this Elder Zuo’s subordinates.
In the previous chaos of the Eastern Tang, Infinite Boundless Mountain’s movements would definitely have been determined somewhat by him.
“To our clan, Giant Spirit Magnetite is naturally of the utmost importance. Your Broad Creed Mountain suddenly paying a visit was somewhat out of my predictions,” Elder Zuo said neither hurriedly nor slowly.
Yan Zhaoge sat silently as Fu Enshu handled matters, “Precisely because of the importance of this matter, without possessing sufficient confidence in it, how would we have brought it up so easily?”
In recent years, because the supply of Giant Spirit Magnetite was gradually dwindling, there was a very real danger of it being entirely exhausted.
Within the sect, there were many elders that were trying to combat the problem of the lack of Giant Spirit Magnetite.
With regard to this matter, the clan had tried to find a solution whilst also internally limiting the amount mined.
This way, they had also inadvertently slowed down their own development.
If this problem could be resolved, enabling them to resume mining Giant Spirit Magnetite in large amounts, they would definitely make use of the chance to enter a quick stage of development once more.
Fu Enshu spoke, “Our clan comes with great sincerity; there is no need for your Infinite Boundless Mountain to worry.”
Also having an understanding of Elder Fu’s personality, Elder Zuo smiled as he heard her words.
If Broad Creed Mountain had truly come here to cause destruction, then that would be equivalent to completely pushing Infinite Boundless Mountain to the side of the Sacred Sun Clan.
However, he also had his own thoughts on this matter.
Broad Creed Mountain definitely wouldn’t come to help Infinite Boundless Mountain for no reason. Since they would be cooperating, it would be a matter of both sides obtaining and gaining what they needed. As for which side gained more and which side gained less-that was a different matter altogether.
“You said that you want to examine the location? After you’ve settled down as is necessary, I shall accompany you,” Elder Zuo said.
Fu Enshu directly swiveled her head over and asked Yan Zhaoge, “Do you require rest?”
Yan Zhaoge resisted the urge to roll his eyes at this senior apprentice-aunt’s flighty temperament, “I’m ready anytime.”
Fu Enshu nodded, turning back to face Elder Zuo once more, “When it’s still early now, let’s go.”
Elder Zuo and the other two Infinite Boundless Mountain Elders communicated with their eyes for a bit, before they all nodded.
The Magnetite Elder specifically in charge of sitting over Cloud Portent Mountain said, “Follow me.”
The group entered the valley, directly entering the quarry. Feeling the flow of spiritual qi within and specially entering the pith of the quarry, Yan Zhaoge came to feel increasingly certain within his heart.
“Our current method of extracting the ore is too crude. Although our founder obtained the Giant Spirit Profound Art, he did not simultaneously look specifically into mining techniques for the Giant Spirit Magnetite with structural integrity in mind. The mining techniques that were subsequently developed are simple and violent, unceasingly harming the pith of the vein.”
Calculating silently, Yan Zhaoge’s face darkened within his heart, “Besides our clan, there also seems to be someone else working at restoring the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein. It does not seem to be the research of Infinite Boundless Mountain themselves, rather actually possessing some flair of before the Great Calamity….”
“Ah, no wonder their attitude is so ambiguous. They have indeed found hope elsewhere, therefore no longer feeling so passionate towards us.”
“However, it seems like their current operation is still in an experimental stage, so they did not reject our offer outright.”
Yan Zhaoge pondered as he stroked his lower chin.
However, he still appeared outwardly as though everything was normal.
Leaving the quarry, Yan Zhaoge toured leisurely along the basin of the valley, feeling a step further for the pulses of spiritual qi there.
“How come it feels like there is reverse yang qi going directly down from the mountain into the ground?” Yan Zhaoge wrinkled his brows as he walked out of the valley, now raising his head to gaze at Cloud Portent Mountain before him.
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Halfway up the mountain, there shone the glow of fire.
Yan Zhaoge blinked his eyes, “What are they playing at? Infinite Boundless Mountain is burning down their own mountain?”
As he thought thus, Ah Hu galloped out, returning with an unconscious person in his arms. Yan Zhaoge recognized the person—he was evidently one of Zhao Ming’s accompanying retainers.
After regaining consciousness, the person saw Yan Zhaoge and immediately was overjoyed.
“Young Master Yan, it’s good that you are here. Fourth Prince is on the mountain, currently in conflict with people of Infinite Boundless Mountain!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 123: Asking for people at the door?
HSSB123: Asking for people at the door?
Hearing the other party’s words, Yan Zhaoge unconsciously lifted his head to glance at halfway up the side of Cloud Portent Mountain, where the light of fire as well as smoke could faintly be seen.
That was precisely where the source of the Yin Yang Cloud Spring was located, that land of solitary yin also containing solitary yang.
The spirit field which the Scarlet Rainbow Sect used to cultivate spirit grass was also just there.
That retainer hurriedly said, “Fourth Prince and Miss Jing are both on the mountain. When the Scarlet Rainbow Sect’s spirit fields were set aflame by the Infinite Boundless Mountain people, Fourth Prince was unable to hold back, and began fighting with them.”
Yan Zhaoge straightened his neck in contrast to the tempers of Zhao Yuan, Zhao Sheng and the others, as well as Zhao Ming’s, which were rather more violent and reckless.
The other party having set the spirit field of Jing Yunzhi’s family aflame, Zhao Ming naturally couldn’t hold back his rage, not caring about whether or not he was currently within Infinite Boundless Mountain territory.
“Why do those Infinite Boundless Mountain people want to burn down the Scarlet Rainbow Sect’s fields?” Yan Zhaoge got straight to the point.
That retainer hesitated slightly for a moment before replying, “The people of a smaller-sized power of the Cloud Portent Territory, the Iron Yuan Sect, forcibly encroached on the land of a nearby manor.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 81