Not only did this embody everything they had done while alive, their remnant lustre still glowed on amidst the passing of the ages.
Viewing the flair of his predecessors, Yan Zhaoge was also filled with emotions.
However, in choosing martial arts today, Yan Zhaoge had long since made his choice. He would not choose the Immeasurable Heavenly Sabre, and also not the Limitless Heavenly Sword, his target instead being Broad Creed Mountain’s oldest supreme martial art, the Broad Creed Heavenly Palm.
Yes, Broad Creed Mountain’s oldest supreme martial art.
The foundation of Broad Creed Mountain’s martial arts had been the Clear Qi Profound Art and the Broad Creed Heavenly Palm, one internal and one external, working together in concert. Its other martial arts, the Eight Extreme Arts as well, were all based upon this foundation.
Yan Zhaoge’s reason for choosing the Broad Creed Heavenly Palm wasn’t its relative age. What truly interested him was the fact that the Broad Creed Heavenly Palm had the shadow of the Clear Jade lineage of before the Great Calamity behind it.
While the Clear Qi Profound Art seemed to be related a little to the Clear Qi lineage of before the Great Calamity.
Broad Creed Mountain’s founder, the Mountain Establishing Old Man Qiu Yuan, had excavated remains left behind from the Great Calamity, developing based on this foundation what eventually became the earliest martial legacies of Broad Creed Mountain.
It was only that Yan Zhaoge felt a little speechless by the fact that the Mountain Establishing Old Man, Qiu Yuan, had actually blended the scattered remains of the legacies of the Clear Qi lineage and the Clear Jade lineage together.
However, this was not the main thing. The main thing was that while the legacies of the Clear Qi and Clear Jade lineages were a little scattered, Yan Zhaoge was seventy to eighty percent certain that they had been of their direct lineages.
This caused Yan Zhaoge to be extremely interested.
This was because these legacies had only been possessed by the Divine Palace before the Great Calamity had descended. Yan Zhaoge’s Peerless Heavenly Scripture also originated from the Clear Jade lineage.
Yan Zhaoge’s gaze fell on that scroll and that imprinted palm mark. While they were but silhouettes, he could still feel an ancient feel emanating off them.
“During the Great Calamity that year, if I am not wrong, it wasn’t actually that the whole world was embroiled in it at the same time. Rather, the Divine Palace was the first to be affected, standing in its forefront…” Yan Zhaoge’s eyes flickered with a dim light.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 208: The fragment that fell from the sky
HSSB208: The fragment that fell from the sky
Numerous thoughts flashed through Yan Zhaoge’s mind, disappearing in an instant.
He momentarily narrowed his eyes, calming his mind till his gaze was calm and without fluctuations, only revealing the look of a younger generation disciple yearning for the clan’s most supreme martial arts.
Yan Zhaoge looked at Xin Dongping, who nodded mildly. So Yan Zhaoge walked towards the radiance of that hovering illusory shadow, his entire person stepping within.
From that silhouetted scroll, countless streams of light instantly descended, enveloping Yan Zhaoge.
A large amount of characters surfaced within Yan Zhaoge’s mind, the contents of the latter half of the Clear Qi Profound Art.
Although it had the shadow of the legacy of the Clear Qi lineage of before the Great Calamity behind it, starting with the Mountain Establishing Old Man Qiu Yuan, following the refinements of generations of experts of Broad Creed Mountain, the Clear Qi Profound Art already possessed unique profundities of its own, as befitting of an outstanding martial scripture.
Corroborating it with the scriptures stored within the Divine Palace that he had read before, Yan Zhaoge’s gains were somewhat great.
However, all of this could be slowly analysed later. What Yan Zhaoge paid most heed to now was that as he came into contact with the Clear Qi Profound Art, his consciousness seemed to pass through time and space, scenes from times long past appearing before his eyes.
Infinite tribulations descended, the heavens roiling and the earth overturning, resembling the end of the world.
A streak of light descended from the sky, breaking through layers upon layers of horizon, ripping through an infinite amount of space, descending upon the Eight Extremities World, landing in the midst of a mountain range.
On one of its mountain peaks, a long, thin as well as profound mark was left behind.
After who knew how many years had passed, one day, someone passed through this land. Upon viewing this remnant mark, he had some thoughts as he detected the profundities within, comprehending its concept for many days as he sat quietly on this mountain peak.
Seeing that man’s features, Yan Zhaoge recognised him as his clan’s founder, the Mountain Establishing Old Man Qiu Yuan.
This scene was a record of the descended divine light. As Qiu Yuan comprehended the dao in silence, he gradually consolidated and created the process of the Clear Qi Profound Art.
The divine light was perhaps created by an aftershock of the power of some expert of the Divine Palace, or was perhaps descending wreckage from the destroyed Divine Palace.
As Yan Zhaoge approached the silhouette of that imprinted palm mark, the world before his eyes instantly turned black as it felt as though the very heavens and earth were about to collapse.
From viewing the faint marks left within, Yan Zhaoge’s mind suddenly tensed as the scene within his mind changed, with him vaguely seeing the fragment of some object penetrating through layers upon layers of space, descending from the sky, falling into the Eight Extremities World.
Having obtained this thing, with it as a base, Qiu Yuan had created the Heavenly Broad Creed Palm.
While the revealed images were simple, Yan Zhaoge’s very soul trembled, as he could feel that that fragment was very important.
Looking carefully over, as that fragment descended, directly above where it had fallen, a figure could vaguely be seen.
That fragment seemed not to have fallen by accident, instead having been intentionally thrown down by that person.
Only, it was a pity that these simple remnant images had stopped with Qiu Yuan creating the Heavenly Broad Creed Palm.
Yan Zhaoge was a little vexed.
After soothing his emotions, Yan Zhaoge pondered, “I’ve never heard anyone mention this fragment before. Was it that it was lost long ago, or that because it was too important, only the highest echelons of the clan know about it, perhaps even only being passed down amongst generations of Chiefs?”
Yan Zhaoge let out a long breath, calming his mind, “The mysteries have not been unravelled. The doubts have instead grown, just that I have obtained some clues as well as a direction.”
Temporarily burying these unsolvable doubts deep with his heart, Yan Zhaoge began carefully comprehending the profundities of the Heavenly Broad Creed Palm.
For some reason, Yan Zhaoge comprehended this supreme martial art much more smoothly than the Clear Qi Profound Art previously.
When everything was over, Yan Zhaoge slowly opened his eyes, bowing to Xin Dongping, “I have troubled Grand Uncle-Master.”
Directing a deep glance at Yan Zhaoge, Xin Dongping then shook his head, “It’s fine; return and cultivate diligently.”
As Yan Zhaoge left the Martial Repository, Ah Hu, along with Pan-Pan, was already waiting for him outside, flashing a simple and honest smile as he emerged, “Young Master, it’s done?”
“I’ve just swallowed it whole; I’ll slowly analyse and cultivate in it when we get back,” Yan Zhaoge waved his hands, “Let’s return now.”
Pan-Pan flew over once again. This time, Yan Zhaoge didn’t stop him, as he hugged this giant furball.
The current Pan-Pan was close in size to the giant pandas of Yan Zhaoge’s memories. While he was still slightly larger, at least he wasn’
t like before, rushing over with the momentum of a rampaging elephant.
Returning to his lodgings, Yan Zhaoge quietly cultivated.
One day, the dawn sun hanging overhead, as he emerged, Yan Zhaoge’s heart suddenly moved. Mentally calculating the date, he walked outside.
Following behind it, Ah Hu asked curiously, “Young Master, where are you going?”
Yan Zhaoge sighed, “To look for eldest apprentice-uncle. Today is the death anniversary of senior apprentice-brother Shi; I will also go to offer a stick of incense.”
Ah Hu blinked as he realised the situation. Not saying anything, he followed honestly behind Yan Zhaoge.
Proceeding along a mountain road, ascending a small hill, Yan Zhaoge saw two people standing there as expected.
A tall, authoritative man, precisely his eldest apprentice-uncle Shi Tie.
Behind him stood Xu Fei.
A solemn expression on his face, as Xu Fei saw Yan Zhaoge and Ah Hu approach, he nodded lightly, completely without the open, relaxed smile that he usually had on.
Shi Tie swivelled his head, looking over, “Zhaoge is here? You are too kind.”
Yan Zhaoge bowed toward Shi Tie, “Eldest apprentice-uncle, stay your grief.”
Shi Tie’s expression was calm as always, “I’m fine.”
He looked forward once more, his gaze falling on a grave. While it was simple, its surroundings were remarkably clean, with no weeds about it whatsoever.
A tablet stood erect before the grave, on it engraved ‘Grave of Beloved Son Shi Songtao.’.
Beside this grave lay two others.
Yan Zhaoge and Ah Hu were both completely silent. Tablets also stood before these two graves, revealing the identities of their owners, Shi Tie’s daughter-in-law as well as grandson respectively.
The three graves were actually only graves which held articles of clothing, but this caused their hearts to be even more stifled, because when Shi Songtao’s family of three had met danger, even their bones had not been found back.
They stood silently behind Shi Tie. Sending one’s own descendants off was always a massive tragedy.
Looking at Shi Songtao’s engraved name, the figure of a handsome youth surfaced within Yan Zhaoge’s mind, his features bearing a ninety percent resemblance to Shi Tie, the two virtually having been shaped of the same mold.
Yan Zhaoge had not personally interacted with this senior apprentice-brother Shi before. All of his understanding of him originated from the memories of his body’s original owner.
Shi Songtao had been even older than Xu Fei. When his fame had resounded throughout the Eight Extremities World, with him hailed as a Heaven’s favoured child of this generation of Broad Creed Mountain, Yan Zhaoge had still been a child, just beginning his cultivation.
As opposed to the stern and serious Shi Tie, tough and upright, Shi Songtao had been a little more moderate, but the two were both similarly warm and caring people.
In their youth, Xu Fei and Yan Zhaoge had received a lot of care and guidance from this senior apprentice-brother.
At that time, Shi Songtao had been a high-spirited young man, also having tied the knot with his lover, having a son early on, blissful to the extreme.
Even Shi Tie had indulged in incomparable bliss those few years, smiles appearing much more often on his face.
But sadly, all of this was now part of the past.
As Shi Tie stood there, his entire person resembled a statue, having already stood there for thousands of years.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 209: Golden talisman forming qi, Opening furnace to forge treasures
HSSB209: Golden talisman forming qi, Opening furnace to forge treasures
Shi Songtao had treated people warmly and with sincerity, being an extremely popular person. Every year, many old acquaintances of his arrived to pay their respects to him, just that by a tacit understanding, they all avoided the dawn.
Other than Shi Tie himself, only a direct disciple would accompany him to visit Shi Songtao’s grave.
Yan Zhaoge thoughtfully coming here, Shi Tie naturally wouldn’t refuse him.
After they offered up sticks of incense to Shi Songtao’s family, Shi Tie said, “I appreciate your sentiments; you should go back to rest.”
Yan Zhaoge and Xu Fei exchanged glances, before leaving with Ah Hu in tow.
On their way back, as Yan Zhaoge turned to look back, he saw Shi Tie still standing there silently.
Beside him, Xu Fei sighed, “Master still blames himself.”
Yan Zhaoge also sighed along with him. As one of the few in the know, he understood the meaning in Xu Fei’s words.
That year, when Shi Songtao’s family of three had met danger, Shi Tie had actually had a chance to reinforce them. However, it just so happened that the situation had been critical at that time, with Broad Creed Mountain’s interests being greatly at risk, and of everyone present, only Shi Tie had the ability to stop it.
Faced with this situation where he was pressured by both sides, Shi Tie finally still chose to protect the clan’s interests. However, like this, he was unable to save his descendants in time, eventually having to send them off as their elder.
This was Shi Tie’s greatest regret. The him whose conscience was always clear to the heavens and the earth, only felt guilt towards his own kin.
Up till now, while graves of clothes had been erected, Shi Tie had actually still not given up hope. Whenever there was a chance, he would travel to the place of that year to investigate, hoping against hope that Shi Songtao’s family would still be amongst the living. After all, up till now, he had not seen their remains.
Sadly, five years had passed without any findings whatsoever, his last hope also being extinguished little by little.
Xu Fei murmured, “If he could redo things, would Master make the same choice?”
He was speaking to himself, and not expecting Yan Zhaoge to answer. Yan Zhaoge walked silently by his side.
Xu Fei sighed, continuing, “Despite his grief, despite his self-blame, despite his feelings of guilt, it is possible that he would still make the same choice, isn’t it. Master, he…”
Yan Zhaoge asked softly, “If it were you, senior apprentice-brother Xu, bearing that responsibility, between you and your kin, who would you choose?”
Xu Fei was silent for a long time before he answered, “I don’t know; perhaps I would only be able to give an answer to this when truly facing such a situation.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, the two no longer speaking as they walked side by side. Reaching a split in the road, they cupped their fists towards each other, taking their leaves as they returned to their individual lodgings.
There, Yan Zhaoge sat in the meditative position, closing his eyes and calming his heart as he wallowed in his thoughts.
After a while, Yan Zhaoge reopened his eyes, taking out a golden talisman.
This golden talisman had been obtained by Yan Zhaoge at Clear Concealed Lake after killing the fallen Xie Ziyi within the devilish domain.
Looking at the profound, complicated patterns on the golden talisman, Yan Zhaoge considered earnestly, “It seems to be a somewhat strange, uncommon kind of writing. It should be something that only appeared after the Great Calamity.”
Yan Zhaoge laughed bitterly. Like the relics left behind by the Glacial Dragon Martial Saint, these things that had only appeared following the Great Calamity yet could still be considered ancient caused him to feel the most helpless, just happening to be where the weakest point of his knowledge was.
However, Yan Zhaoge was also working on bolstering his deficiencies in this area. Currently looking at the golden talisman, it was not like he was completely struck off-kilter.
“It looks a little like the writing of the extreme north, only used by a small amount of people who resided there?”
After analysing it for a moment, Yan Zhaoge instructed his followers, “Appropriate some books regarding the old texts of the north of the Jin Region fo
r me. Take as many as you can, the older the better.”
Of the Thunder Domain’s six regions, the northernmost that was directly bordered to the Extreme North Ice Sea was the Jin Region.
Very quickly, black-clothed martial practitioners sent over the things Yan Zhaoge wanted.
After poring through the books for a while, Yan Zhaoge gradually formed an idea within his heart. Lightly tapping on that golden talisman with his finger, his fingertips cut out several marks, adding to the patterns on it.
Those marks remained on the surface of the golden talisman, not dissipating in a long time.
Yan Zhaoge retracted his finger, scrutinising the almost complete patterns on the golden talisman a final time before clapping down on it with a single palm.
The golden talisman suddenly erupted with a dazzling light, actually transforming into specks of fluorescent light as it vanished without a trace.
Seeing this, Yan Zhaoge instead revealed a satisfied smile. Next, he saw those specks of golden light drift about, condensed rather than dissipating as they transformed into a mistlike state, hovering within the air.
Sucking in a deep breath, resembling a great whale sucking in water, all that mist was instantly inhaled by him.
For that one moment, Yan Zhaoge’s lungs felt like they were blazing with smoke and fire.
With Yan Zhaoge’s current cultivation realm, his internal organs had all experienced countless tempering by his aura-qi.
The uncomfortable feeling lasted but a moment, fading very quickly.
Looking within his body, Yan Zhaoge saw those specks of golden light drift about unceasingly, applying themselves uniformly to the surface of all his blood vessels, seemingly applying a golden lustre over each and every one of them.
Even the smallest, tiniest blood vessel was no exception.
Yan Zhaoge calmly inhaled and exhaled, circulating his qi and blood, the flowing of his blood resembling the roiling of scalding lava as heavy roars resounded.
After circulating his aura-qi through thirty-six cycles, Yan Zhaoge halted his cultivation, the faint golden light on the surface of his skin disappearing in a flash.
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