While they had come to an unanimous agreement on the problem of the Decimating Abyss Organisation, and had stood together against a common enemy in this time’s Clear Concealed Lake’s incident, with the battle having ended, their clash against the Decimating Abyss Organisation having reached a temporary end, Broad Creed Mountain was still Broad Creed Mountain, and the Sacred Sun Clan was still the Sacred Sun Clan.
Returning to the Heaven Domain from the Lake Domain, they still used that route passing through the Earth Domain.
While the Decimating Abyss’s headquarters was possibly in the vicinity, having just experienced a great battle, with the Sacred Grounds also having joined hands in suppressing the Earth Domain once more, it could currently still be considered safe.
Furthermore, from the Lake Domain to the Heaven Domain, if they didn’t use this route, they would have to pass through the lands of the Fire Domain.
With Huang Guanglie yet to leave seclusion, with the Sacred Sun Clan having been badly defeated in the war of the Eastern Tang, if in the third Extreme Yin Bout, Meng Wan had not won the Extreme Yin Crown, it would be fine even if Yan Zhaoge, Fang Zhun and the others travelled directly across the Fire Domain.
However, the Sacred Sun Clan currently possessed two Sacred Artifacts. While they had not yet counterattacked to regain any losses , the situation was also not all that bad for them.
If Yan Zhaoge and Fang Zhun wanted to travel through the Fire Domain, they would have to face the Sacred Sun Clan’s attacks.
Not only Broad Creed Mountain, in leading the people of Infinite Boundless Mountain in returning to the Mountain Domain, Shan Shiweng similarly used the route through the Earth Domain, rather than passing through the Fire Domain.
And on the other side, the Heavenly Thunder Hall also had to pass through the Earth Domain to return to the Thunder Domain. Otherwise, they would have to pass through the Water Domain.
Of course, the Heavenly Thunder Hall wouldn’t travel alongside Broad Creed Mountain and Infinite Boundless Mountain.
Yan Zhaoge, Xu Fei and Sikong Qing looked at Infinite Boundless Mountain’s side, then at their own side, feeling some emotions well up within their hearts.
Not counting those who had hurried to the Lake Domain later on to deal with the people of the Decimating Abyss, of the three younger generation disciples of theirs who had participated in the Heavenly Connection Meet, they currently still numbered three.
Infinite Boundless Mountain’s side, meanwhile, was a little tragic, having continuously lost Liu Shengfeng and Zhao Hao of their direct lineage, with Xiao Yu and Ji Hanru both heavily injured.
Of high-tier martial practitioners, Turbid Wave Pavilion had suffered the greatest losses this time.
While for younger generation disciples, Infinite Boundless Mountain’s spine had directly collapsed in half, with also no place to complain about it to.
Comparatively speaking, the Thunder Domain’s Heavenly Thunder Hall was also full of worrisome dark clouds in this area.
The oldest, Xie Ziyi, who was only a step away from the Heavenly Connection stage, had perished, while Chen Lin, most of her power lying in her two Ghost Wolves, had had her Extreme Cold Ghost Wolf directly sat into a wolfskin cushion by Yan Zhaoge’s Pan-Pan.
Adding to that Lin Zhou having previously been heavily injured at Yan Zhaoge’s hands, as well as Yan Shan’s sword-arm having been severed by Yan Zhaoge, the younger generation of the Thunder Domain had experienced a rarely seen setback.
Passing through the Earth Domain, arriving at where the Earth Domain, the Heaven Domain and the Mountain Domain intersected, the people of the two Sacred Grounds parted ways, returning to their own Mountains.
Fang Zhun led Yan Zhaoge and the others back to Broad Creed Mountain, with the others mostly first dispersing, while Yan Zhaoge followed Fang Zhun, the two heading to meet the old Clan Chief, Yuan Zhengfeng together.
Within the clan’s Great Hall, seated on the main position, Yuan Zhengfeng had long been awaiting.
On his two sides were Yan Di, Shi Tie and the two Grand Elders of the clan respectively.
Fang Zhun and Yan Zhaoge paid their greetings to Yuan Zhengfeng and the others. Unlike the last time Yan Zhaoge had come to see the Chief, this time, Fang Zhun did not get seated, instead standing where he was, first reporting in detail the complete proceedings of the Clear Concealed Lake incident to Yuan Zhengfeng.
Yuan Zhengfeng and the others had already read Fang Zhun’s report before this, but still listened patiently at his narration now.
Fang Zhun’s words were clear and ordered, objective and just, not adding any subjective judgments at all on points on which doubts still remained, only listing out the information he could already confirm in a complete, objective manner.
When he had finished, Yuan Zhengfeng nodded slowly, not rushing to say anything as he instead looked at Yan Zhaoge, “Zhaoge, you speak too.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, slowly recounting his own experience with the Devilish Domain Grand Formation like Fang Zhun had done, reporting it all truthfully except for a select few details which he slightly concealed.
Yan Zhaoge’s report included his previous comprehending of the concept of the Eye of the Thunder Emperor, absorbing the pure, refined qi within as he rose from the early Xiantian stage to the mid Xiantian stage. He also explained how he had analysed the Devilish Domain Grand Formation, and from there relied on the power of the Eye of the Thunder Emperor to break the formation.
After having finished listening, Yuan Zhengfeng said, “Zhaoge, this time, you have done very well, extremely well.”
Yan Zhaoge answered, “Some part of it was still due to luck; if I could have analysed more deeply into that Devilish Domain Grand Formation, it might have been a little easier.”
“I especially wouldn’t have to see Senior Brother Ye of Jade Sea City, Junior Sister Zhang of Turbid Wave Pavilion and the others being tortured by that Liu Shengfeng like that.”
Shi Tie’s stern expression held a seldom seen softness, “You have already done very well. Let’s first not speak of your strength; intruding into the core of the devilish domain with the cultivation of a Martial Scholar, attempting to prevent the Nine Underworlds from descending-just this spirit and courage is already very hard to come by.”
“Especially when you did not do so based on a moment’s recklessness, instead truly possessing the ability to turn the situation around.”
Opposite Shi Tie and Yan Di, the two Grand Elders similarly nodded slightly, “That’s right, you have done very well this time.”
Yan Di did not say anything, only smiling as he looked at Yan Zhaoge.
Yan Zhaoge was clearly able to see a bit of a seldom seen smile on Yan Di’s face.
That was clearly a rather proud and bragging smile, as though soundlessly showing off this splendid son of his.
With Yan Di’s current age and position, wanting to see him reveal this kind of expression in front of others was really harder than ascending to the heavens.
Yan Zhaoge expressed, you see more when you’ve lived long ah…
On the main position, Yuan Zhengfeng was evidently in a very good mood, suddenly seeming like a playful child as he turned and glanced at Yan Zhaoge.
Yaun Zhengfeng stared at Yan Zhaoge until the latter felt uncomfortable and looked away. Yan Zhaoge soon heard Yuan Zhengfeng say, “Zhaoge ah, this old man has a bit of a headache now. Your speed in contributing merits is too fast, and each merit is greater than the previous. The clan doesn’t even know what to reward you with now.”
“If the reward was light, it would be inappropriate and unfair to you, also going against our clan’s principles of being just in our rewards and punishments.”
“But on the flip side, this flimsy background of our clan will very soon be all be taken away by you, with no reward possible to be given.”
Yuan Zhengfeng was not a stern person, the old man actually being very warm, liking to play around with juniors like this when in a jov
ial mood.
However, this did not harm his dignity. The old Chief’s authority had never been established through putting on a tough, strict face.
For those who truly didn’t know the height of the heavens and the boundlessness of the earth, Yuan Zhengfeng would let them know why he was known as the Heaven Equaller.
Yan Zhaoge also understood Yuan Zhengfeng, as he smiled upon hearing this, “Grand Master should just give as he sees fit. You have always been generous, and definitely won’t mistreat me.”
Yuan Zhengfeng smiled as he pointed at Yan Zhaoge, “You ah.”
He looked towards Shi Tie, who nodded, then, looking at Yan Zhaoge, said, “The reward given to you, is a special power.”
“From this day on, you can act without reporting matters when encountering them, handling them at your own discretion, only needing to report the matter afterwards. You are allowed to immediately make prompt decisions of your own and handle the matter as you deem fit, and can deploy the clan’s resources to assist you.”
After a slight pause, Shi Tie said, “Any matter.”
Yan Zhaoge let out a long breath.
In Broad Creed Mountain’s entire history, from its founding up till now, this power, had never been possessed by a Martial Scholar!
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 201: Remains from before the Great Calamity
HSSB201: Remains from before the Great Calamity
Generally speaking, this freedom to act was the highest privilege available only to Broad Creed Mountain’s First Seat Elders.
Strictly speaking, some First Seat Elders didn’t even have such a privilege, or rather only possessed it in some domains or some specific places.
For example, in the East Heaven Region, the East Elder possessed such a privilege, but outside of the East Heaven Region, he longer possessed it.
In Broad Creed Mountain’s history, there had yet to appear a First Seat Elder who was still a Martial Scholar. Therefore, there naturally hadn’t been a Martial Scholar who had obtained such a privilege.
Yan Zhaoge could be considered unprecedented in this area.
This was his reward for having successfully broken the Devilish Domain Grand Formation, preventing the Nine Underworlds from descending.
From a certain perspective, this reward was not because Yan Zhaoge was a younger generation disciple, nor was it because of his outstanding talent in the martial dao.
This reward was actually an affirmation of Yan Zhaoge’s abilities, an affirmation of his handling of various major incidents that had cropped up.
In some regards, this reward was also from Yan Zhaoge’s accomplishments in the war of the Eastern Tang, the Giant Spirit Magnetite Vein at Cloud Portent Mountain and many other things, all the way to this time’s battle of Clear Concealed Lake. It was an accumulation of Yan Zhaoge’s great performances that led to the clan’s trust in his abilities to rise to a whole new level, therefore resulting in this unprecedented reward.
Following the battle of Clear Concealed Lake, Yan Zhaoge’s fame had truly shaken the world, not as the son of Broad Creed Mountain’s First Seat Elder Yan Wudi, not as a talented younger generation disciple, but as a person who, while young, was already able to influence this world’s global situation.
Broad Creed Mountain’s internal division had already adjusted their view towards Yan Zhaoge before this, and this time, Broad Creed Mountain’s bigwigs had raised their evaluation of Yan Zhaoge a step further.
Giving him greater authority and freedom meant that they trusted more in his abilities, but also meant that he would hold greater responsibilities in the future.
Yan Zhaoge was already mentally prepared for this.
While he had the power to make decisions on the clan’s behalf on the spot, this didn’t mean that he would be completely free of blame. If he performed a heinous crime, he would still have to pay for it.
Just like the East Elder, Elder Qin, before. By principle, he should have authority in everything that happened in the East Heaven Region.
And in actual fact, this was indeed true for most things.
However, in the matter of whether or not to accept Feng Yunsheng, while Elder Qin could have directly made the decision on his own, if it had turned out to be a big mistake, he would have had to take full responsibility for it.
Yan Zhaoge was alright with this. After all, while enjoying privilege, it was only natural to bear responsibility.
“I am young and inexperienced, and fear that I might not be able to bear this burden. However, since the clan believes in me, granting me such a power, I will work to the best of my abilities,” Yan Zhaoge bowed solemnly towards Yuan Zhengfeng.
Yuan Zhengfeng smiled, “Zhaoge being so serious-how long has it been since I last saw it?”
“Relax, this is a reward for you, and not adding weight to your shoulders. Currently, your most pressing matter is still cultivating diligently.”
Yuan Zhengfeng sighed in praise, “Although there were many coincidences and fortunate incidences involved, your current cultivation speed indeed leaves people staring in wonder. You spent too much time on various miscellaneous studies in the past; looking at it now, having thrown them away, your martial cultivation speed has also been raised up.”
Yan Zhaoge’s expression didn’t change, “I found a bit of a balance, just that in terms of those miscellaneous studies, there were many a times when I was actually pushing on with all I had.”
Fang Zhun laughed from the side, “You could say that all this is the crystallisation of your lengthy accumulation.”
They all laughed.
Yuan Zhengfeng thought of something, “Speaking of miscellaneous studies, Zhaoge has some knowledge on ancient texts, and is extremely interested in the remains left behind from the before the Great Calamity. As this old man knows, you also personally unearthed many remains?”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, “Yes, Grand Master.”
He looked at Yuan Zhengfeng. Since he was asking like this, there was most likely a continuation to it.
Could it be that the clan had unearthed remains of before the Great Calamity that had never been discovered before? If it was like that, Yan Zhaoge was really a little interested.
Yuan Zhengfeng said, “In the great desert of the Wind Domain, someone of the clan discovered a piece of remains, very likely being something that existed before the Great Calamity, left behind after the Great Calamity occurred.”
“However, the text on the remains is extremely strange, and it is very hard to decipher and understand the meaning within.”
The Wind Domain, at the west of the Heaven Domain, also bordering the Mountain and Fire Domains, had thousands of miles of yellow sand, with tall mountains and long rivers; its environment was rather terrible, to the point that even Martial Grandmasters found it hard to bear.
In the vast expanse of the great desert, when trapped within, it was very possible for one to lose their sense of direction, finally dying in the sea of sand, forever losing their lives.
However, although the conditions there were extremely terrible, the heavens birthed numerous objects to nourish its citizens. The broad, boundless Wind Domain, its danger and natural disasters aside, also possessed many rare treasures and resources.
After the Wind Domain’s Sacred Ground, Black Nightmare Mountain, had been destroyed one year, Broad Creed Mountain, the Sacred Sun Clan and Infinite Boundless Mountain had all sent their troops in, each taking hold of a piece of its territory.
Broad Creed Mountain had originally held the greatest advantage, almost possessing all of it themselves, but following that incident with the Fire Devils that year, Broad Creed Mountain had deteriorated from its peak, losing most of its territory in the Wind Domain, especially being continually pushed back in those conservative years when they had maintained a low profile.
While the Sacred Sun Clan, rising to become the number one Sacred Ground as it was now, had grabbed control of the Wind Domain’s territory on a large scale
.
Currently, more than half the territory of the Wind Domain was under the Sacred Sun Clan’s control.
Broad Creed Mountain and Infinite Boundless Mountain had both pushed in a foot in the Wind Domain, conflicts having been incessant where the three Sacred Grounds met.
In the battle of the Eastern Tang earlier, Broad Creed Mountain had won greatly, and other than counterattacking the lands of the Fire Domain, it also expanded its territory in the Wind Domain, its speaking power and domain of control greatly increasing.
Hearing that it was indeed remains left behind from before the Great Calamity, Yan Zhaoge got even more interested.
Looking at the Grand Elder seated below him, an old woman of the same generation as him, Yuan Zhengfeng said, “Junior apprentice-sister He, let Zhaoge peruse it a bit, seeing if he can have any gains from it.”
The old woman, Elder He, nodded, retrieving a crystal and handing it out.
Yan Zhaoge took the crystal, infusing his aura-qi within. As his aura-qi shook, light instantly shot out from the crystal’s exterior.
The light formed a projection in mid-air, forming an illusory scene.
An all-encompassing black tempest swept along the ocean of sand beneath it. The natural conditions of many places in the Wind Domain were still unfriendly as before.
In the surface of the desert up ahead, something that resembled a stone pillar could vaguely be seen.
The stone pillar was partially revealed outside of the yellow sand, looking incomplete as it had signs of being damaged.
And inscribed on the surface of the stone pillar were patterns that whilst carrying a heavy air, were also profound and complicated.
Looking at those patterns, it could vaguely be felt how remarkable they were, yet it was hard to understand their purpose and what they meant.
Everyone here other than Yan Zhaoge had already seen it before, and not just once, but looking at it again now, they were still drawn in by it.
Seeing the stone pillar within the illusory scene, Yan Zhaoge’s pupils instantly dilated.
Your mother!
A vulgarity very nearly left Yan Zhaoge’s mouth.
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 124