At this point, Yan Zhaoge also felt rather emotional as he looked at Ying Longtu, “Only having officially cultivated for half a year? Already at the Inner Discernment stage, an unprecedented record since following the Great Calamity.”
He smiled, “It is still too early to say for my father’s other records, but the title of the Youngest Martial Scholar will definitely be broken by Longtu.”
Hearing his words, the other disciples all exhaled a cold breath, the gazes with which they looked at Ying Longtu instead calming greatly.
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “I still haven’t finished. From cultivating inner qi into aura-qi and breaking through into the Martial Scholar realm, Longtu will also have to work hard. However, the mid inner aura Martial Scholar realm, washing and refining the internal organs with the aura-qi, and the early outer aura Martial Scholar realm, with the second washing of the bones within the marrows, would still be a piece of cake for him.”
Everyone smiled bitterly.
When the advantage possessed was just too immense, other instead wouldn’t be able to feel jealous.
Especially seeing the slow, clueless Ying Longtu-getting along with him well was actually also not hard.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 206: Fourth Level of the Martial Repository
HSSB206: Fourth Level of the Martial Repository
Looking at the youths before him, Yan Zhaoge no longer continued speaking.
Some things were good in moderation. If they knew more, it would instead be detrimental to their vigour and self-confidence.
Having reached the Martial Scholar realm, other than the mid inner aura stage and the early outer aura stage, Ying Longtu’s advantage in terms of his qi and blood would still be very clear, just not as heaven-defying as before.
Having become a Martial Scholar, the advantages in his qi and blood would mostly present itself in actual combat, his usual cultivation speed no longer being as shocking as before.
However, for the Big Dipper Body, other than blood being like dragons or elephants, the mind would still be intelligent and the senses acute.
The important bottleneck from the outer aura stage to the Xiantian stage saw spirituality being developed in the aura-qi as a martial practitioner comprehended the heavens and the earth. This would also be far simpler for Ying Longtu than for others.
At the same time, this advantage would still exist in his future cultivation, influencing him deeply even at higher cultivation realms.
Yan Zhaoge himself, through several fortuitous encounters and methods, had unceasingly improved and strengthened his physique in his usual cultivation.
And like Shi Tie, cultivating in the Vajra Body till its peak to the point of the body resembling glazed Vajra, the defensive power of his fleshly body would far surpass ordinary martial practitioners.
Such situations were still not rare, just that these had all been developed through cultivation, rather than Ying Longtu, already being gifted this at his birth.
Looking around at the younger disciples, Yan Zhaoge said, “Having good talent means that your starting point is higher, but it ultimately cannot determine your eventual accomplishments. At the end of the day, that will still have to depend on yourself.”
“Having a simple mind, Longtu focuses single-mindedly on cultivation, actually not needing people to worry too much about him.”
“It is instead everyone who has to keep their hearts stable the more things are like this,” Yan Zhaoge said mildly, “Someone’s talent being superior is not to be feared; what is to be feared is someone more talented than you being even more hardworking than you.”
“Already behind in your starting point, not putting in more effort in the process of pursuit-how ever will you surpass those ahead of you?”
Yan Zhaoge clapped his hands lightly, “If you only hope for those in the lead to stumble and fall, such things that are wholly based on luck-do you think they are reliable?”
The crowd of younger disciples all heard a warning bell sound as they came to a start, “We thank senior apprentice-brother Yan for your guidance; we will definitely work hard in our cultivation.”
Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly, swivelling his head to glance at Feng Yunsheng.
As he knew, this was akin to a model for would-be pursuers.
Even Shi Tie and Fu Enshu, those cultivating maniacs, were full of praises for her.
And with her talent originally also top notch, through her painstaking effort, her cultivation had increased by leaps and bounds, while not as eye-catching as Ying Longtu’s, her progress also causing everyone to involuntarily sigh in admiration.
Feng Yunsheng expression was normal, smiling as she looked at the crowd of younger disciples. However, exchanging glances with Yan Zhaoge, they both soundlessly sighed.
However, while Yan Zhaoge’s encouragement was not wrong in principle, if these youths wanted to catch up to Ying Longtu, the difficulty of this would be extremely immense.
In this flourishing martial civilisation, a great advantage like this was oftentimes not something that effort could make up for.
Not only Broad Creed Mountain, the Sacred Sun Clan and the other Sacred Grounds, any single power, whether first-rate, second-rate or even lower, would devote their efforts to grooming their most outstanding disciples.
At the end of the day, their best resources would always be prioritised to a select few-this was an unavoidable thing.
Therefore very easily leading to the situation of the strong growing stronger.
The information known by Yan Zhaoge surpassed what Feng Yunsheng knew of.
For example, as Yan Zhaoge knew, the Qilin Spring Baptism of Broad Creed Mountain had actually had three chances left. After Yan Zhaoge and Feng Yunsheng had undergone the baptism, there was currently only a single chance left.
And there was at least an eighty percent chance that this chance would fall to Ying Longtu.
Sadly, also a direct disciple of Broad Creed Mountain, having always had the Qilin Spring Baptism on his mind, Lu Wen was probably going to have his hopes completely dashed.
Was this fair to Lu Wen? If he were stronger than Yan Zhaoge, Feng Yunsheng and Ying Longtu, it would definitely be unfair.
But if he truly displayed greater potential and strength than the trio, other than Feng Yunsheng, whose situation was special, Lu Wen would most likely be able to squeeze out one of the other two.
As Fang Zhun’s direct disciple, for this important reward of the clan, even faced against Yan Di’s only son Yan Zhaoge, Lu Wen could also compete for it.
Sadly, even discounting Feng Yunsheng being a Maiden of Extreme Yin, against the trio, Lu Wen didn’t possess any advantage at all, instead being inferior to them.
Yan Zhaoge and Ying Longtu having consecutively come out of nowhere, it was too strong a blow for those who were striving for the Qilin Spring Baptism.
However, for Lu Wen, even without Ying Longtu, he would still have to face the competition of Sikong Qing.
After stepping into the Martial Scholar realm, Sikong Qing’s rate of improvement had been too stunning, her potential and limelight having vaguely come to overshadow Lu Wen.
If not for Ying Longtu rising up from nowhere, for this final Qilin Spring Baptism Ceremony, Sikong Qing even had a greater chance than Lu Wen.
It was just that Sikong Qing didn’t seem to mind this much at all.
Thinking about it sometimes, Yan Zhaoge would also feel rather bad about it.
Although he had been defeated, Lu Wen could not be said to not be diligent in his cultivation, and could not be said to not be outstanding.
Sadly, new waves had surged ahead of the old, each wave fiercer than the last, causing Lu Wen to become like a large table filled full of cups.
Everyone was superb, far more superb than the ordinary martial practitioner, but resources and fortuitous happenings were, at the end of the day, limited. Only the more superb could be chosen from amongst all those who were superb.
&nb
sp; In planning for the long term, while the clan should be fair and just in terms of the grooming of its younger generation, it still couldn’t make for equality.
Good iron was used on a blade; no matter where it was, this principle didn’t change.
“When flowing against the tide, one either advances or is pushed back ah,” Yan Zhaoge shook his head slightly, bidding Feng Yunsheng, Ying Longtu and the others farewell before heading upstairs.
Currently, Yan Zhaoge could already freely enter and exit the Martial Repository’s third level as he liked.
Ever since Broad Creed Mountain had been founded, only the exalted Hantian Zhan Dongge of the past as well as his father Yan Di had ever received this privilege as a Martial Scholar.
This was the greatest affirmation of a younger generation disciple’s martial talent as well as abilities, representing the clan’s trust as well as hopes.
From a certain perspective, everything else aside, just this privilege alone distinguished Yan Zhaoge from Broad Creed Mountain’s other core, direct disciples of his generation.
What was worthy of mentioning was that while being fine with the matter of the Qilin Spring Baptism, Sikong Qing had been extremely envious of Yan Zhaoge, having obtained this reward.
The usually cold and aloof girl displayed a rarely seen emotion of envy.
To Yan Zhaoge, he could slowly take his time to tour the third level and below. What drew his attention more now was the fourth level.
Sucking in a deep breath, Yan Zhaoge ascended the stairs.
Moving from the third to the fourth level, Yan Zhaoge clearly felt as though he had passed through some kind of barrier.
The fourth level of the Martial Repository had an independent defensive formation.
And the one who presided over this formation was this old man before Yan Zhaoge’s eyes, directly lying sideways across the floor as he pretended to be sleeping soundly.
He was also the First Seat Elder of Broad Creed Mountain’s Martial Repository.
Earlier, he had already heard from Yuan Zhengfeng that Yan Zhaoge had obtained special permission. If it had been anyone who had openly ascended like this, he would have beaten them out long ago.
As Yan Zhaoge stepped onto the Martial Repository’s fourth level, the old man opened his eyes, looking at him calmly.
Yan Zhaoge smiled slightly, bowing to him, “Grand Uncle-Master.”
Perhaps other younger generation disciples would not know, but Yan Zhaoge was clear on how remarkable this old man before him was.
That year, it was this old man who had competed with his Grand Master, Yuan Zhengfeng, for that generation’s Clan Chief position.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 207: Broad Creed Mountain’s origin, News on the Divine Palace
HSSB207: Broad Creed Mountain’s origin, News on the Divine Palace
When conversing casually with his father, Yan Di had once mentioned that with his current cultivation base, in all of Broad Creed Mountain, other than his Master Yuan Zhengfeng, there was only one person over whom he was not certain that he could definitely clinch victory.
This person was the current First Seat Elder of the Martial Repository, who had competed with Yuan Zhengfeng for the position of Clan Chief in the past, Xin Dongping.
After earnestly considering for a time, Yan Di had clarified that of all the Martial Grandmasters under the heavens whom he knew of, other than Yuan Zhengfeng, there was only Xin Dongping for whom he lacked that confidence.
After he had lost to Yuan Zhengfeng that year, Xin Dongping had always been cultivating holed up within Broad Creed Mountain, seldom going out into the world. At least, of the current younger generation of the Eight Extremities World, there were already very few who knew of his existence.
Even Broad Creed Mountain’s younger generation only knew that the First Seat of the Martial Repository’s, Elder Xin, was a longtime elder of the clan, being of the same generation as the old Chief and the two Grand Elders. Very few truly knew of exactly what kind of figure Elder Xin was.
However, with his background, and with how he was currently highly regarded within the clan, he had access to a lot of information inaccessible to many of his peers.
For example, of those of Broad Creed Mountain who was proficient in all its Eight Extreme Arts, there were currently only four people, including his father Yan Di.
Other than Yan Di, the other three were Broad Creed Mountain’s number one expert, the old Chief Yuan Zhengfeng, Yan Zhaoge’s second-apprentice uncle Fang Zhun, and this Xin Dongping currently right before him!
Of Broad Creed Mountain’s Three Supreme Arts, Fang Zhun cultivated in the Limitless Heavenly Sword, Yan Di cultivated in the Immeasurable Heavenly Sabre, whilst attempting to create a martial art more suitable for himself, and Yuan Zhengfeng cultivated in the Heavenly Broad Creed Palm and the Immeasurable Heavenly Sabre.
While Xin Dongping was the only person other than Yuan Zhengfeng who was proficient in two of Broad Creed Mountain’s Three Supreme Arts.
While cultivating in more martial arts didn’t mean that one’s combat prowess would definitely be greater, Broad Creed Mountain’s Three Supreme Arts were all not easy to cultivate. Having been able to achieve it like Yuan Zhengfeng only spoke of Xin Dongping’s remarkability.
While they would not admit it openly, the other Sacred Grounds, the Sacred Sun Clan included, all privately acknowledged Broad Creed Mountain to be the strongest of the entire Eight Extremities World in terms of Martial Grandmasters.
While the younger generation didn’t know Xin Dongping, the elder generation would not forget that Broad Creed Mountain still had such a first class figure.
Although it was rumoured that having lost to Yuan Zhengfeng, Xin Dongping had lost part of his spirit, with a barrier being left behind in his heart, finding it hard to achieve a breakthrough into the Martial Saint realm like Yuan Zhengfeng, in the Martial Grandmaster realm, the deterrence Xin Dongping’s strength presented was not much inferior to Yuan Zhengfeng’s.
Xin Dongping remained lying on the floor of the Martial Repository’s fourth level, not getting up.
However, he was seriously appraising Yan Zhaoge with his eyes, nodding after a while as he cut to the chase, directly asking, “Are you choosing one of the Three Supreme Arts to cultivate in now, or will you wait till you have become a Martial Grandmaster?”
Imparting the latter half of the Clear Qi Profound Art to Yan Zhaoge was already something that would definitely happen.
Yan Zhaoge being allowed to cultivate in the Three Supreme Arts was also a sure thing; it was only just a matter of time.
“I wish to try now,” Yan Zhaoge smiled as he answered, “I choose the Heavenly Broad Creed Palm.”
Xin Dongping did not ask further, directly nodding as he pointed upwards.
The ceiling of the Martial Repository’s fourth level instantly shone.
Within the light, four illusory shadows appeared, one in the middle, the other three surrounding it in a triangular formation.
Gazing over carefully, Yan Zhaoge saw that that illusory shadow in the centre was a scroll, which contained the latter half of Broad Creed Mountain’s orthodox direct lineage Clear Qi Profound Art.
Around the scroll hovered three things: a sabre, a sword and an imprinted palm mark.
As Yan Zhaoge’s gaze fell on that sabre, a domineering, heroic man seemed to appear before his eyes, mighty to the extreme, his momentum as majestic as the heavens.
The exalted Hantian, Zhan Dongge!
The number one expert of Broad Creed Mountain ever since its establishment, and also the number one expert of the Eight Extremities World following the time of the Great Calamity.
What evoked the regret of countless people was that such a Zhan Dongge had actually still possessed great room for improvement. If he had not died early, who knew what heights he could have attained.
It was precisely when Zhan Dongge had been Chief that Broad Creed Mountain had been in i
ts golden age.
Before Zhan Dongge, Broad Creed Mountain had actually only possessed a single most supreme martial art left behind by its founder, the Broad Creed Heavenly Palm.
Afterwards, Zhan Dongge had created the Immeasurable Heavenly Sabre, increasing the number of Broad Creed Mountain’s most supreme martial arts.
Yan Zhaoge gazed towards the other side. As his gaze fell on that sword, an illusory scene surfaced before his eyes, as another figure appeared.
This person bore some resemblance to Zhan Dongge, but had a calm, quiet temperament, seeming like the great earth which could bear all things.
Zhan Dongge’s blood brother, also Broad Creed Mountain’s Chief following Zhan Dongge, the Heaven Diviner Zhan Xilou.
Experiencing the first major decisive battle with the Flame Devil World, Broad Creed Mountain’s vitality had been greatly harmed, plummeting down from the highest peak to the lowest valley. It had been this quiet and peaceful looking man who had led Broad Creed Mountain out of its darkest ages, welcoming the new light of dawn once more.
Following that, like his brother, Zhan Xilou perished in yet another great battle with the Fire Devils, dying heroically in battle.
Other than his personality, Zhan Xilou’s martial path was also different from his brother’s, as he opened up a different path for Broad Creed Mountain.
He created the Limitless Heavenly Sword, which came to be known alongside the Broad Creed Heavenly Palm and the Immeasurable Heavenly Sword as the Broad Creed Three Supreme Arts, at the same time also being hailed alongside three other supreme sword arts as the Four Great Sword Arts of the current Eight Extremities World.
The exalted Hantian and the Heaven Diviner were the most legendary and colourful pair of brothers of the Eight Extremities World following the Great Calamity, their influence on Broad Creed Mountain deep and far-reaching.
History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474 Page 127