History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474

by 八月飞鹰, Ba Yue Fei Ying, August Eagle

  However, while the people of Water Crystal Palace were shocked, they were not worried.

  Facing Li Sheng, Zhang Haocheng slowly took out a certain something.

  Everyone here who recognised the origins of this object instantly had their expression change.

  In a decisive battle between the two sides, it was not forbidden for various artifacts and treasures to be used by them. Therefore, if Zhang Haocheng had just taken out a powerful treasure, no one would have felt much about it. At most, they would just have said that he felt somewhat lacking in self-confidence against Li Sheng.

  However, what Zhang Haocheng had taken out was a sword.

  Everyone knew that Water Crystal Palace did not cultivate in the sword.

  Zhang Haocheng had also not secretly learnt some supreme sword art from a fortuitous encounter. It was indeed true that he didn’t use swords.

  This sword was his spoil of war.

  A mid-grade spirit artifact was not all that rare and valuable with regard to the prominent sects of the Seven Pillars of Good and the Six Evil Sects.

  However, those who recognised this spirit artifact all knew this sword’s original owner, the ‘Roiling Sea Hero’ Leng Kun, an early Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster who was rather well-known amongst solitary practitioners.

  There was lawlessness everywhere, those lawless criminals who cared not about the background of others as they just acted as they liked and fled the scene after. Leng Kun was infamous in this regard.

  For martial practitioners like Leng Kun, the presence of the sword signified the presence of its owner.

  Now that his accompanying weapon had fallen into Zhang Haocheng’s hands, his fate did not have to be explained.

  The higher one went, the smaller the difference in strength between martial practitioners at the same cultivation level and the greater the difference in strength between different cultivation levels, with the ability of martial practitioners to surpass levels in battling a superior opponent correspondingly growing rarer and rarer as well.

  However, there were always those extreme few, those geniuses amongst geniuses and experts amongst experts, who had the ability to break this general rule.

  Whether it was Zhang Haocheng or Li Sheng, both of them were figures like this.

  Of the current top ten Essence Spirit experts, there had always been a noticeable difference between the two of them and those ranked below them.

  Even so, however, that Zhang Haocheng had been able to slay the early Essence Talisman stage Leng Kun whilst himself only at the late Essence Spirit stage still left everyone feeling stunned.

  After all, the difference between slaying an opponent and obtaining his weapon was miles apart from simply defeating that opponent in battle.

  Even though being a solitary practitioner by birth, Leng Kun’s martial foundation had not been as solid as that of those who came from Sacred Grounds like Water Crystal Palace and the Dragon Slayer Sect, he had still been a true Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster.

  His expression calm, Zhang Haocheng stood silently there with that sword in his hand. Not requiring any movements or words, he had already suppressed the domineering pressure from Li Sheng’s Shattering Extinguishing Sabre.

  While mastering a supreme martial art that others were not able to was indeed a shocking achievement, in an actual battle, it was still the final results that one would be convinced by at the end of the day.

  Even the Dragon Slayer Sect martial practitioners had stern expressions on their faces as they emotionally felt whilst being unwilling to admit it, “As befitting of the number one Essence Spirit expert.”

  Just having shown up, the heated atmosphere between the two fighters had already reached a peak.

  The other martial practitioners present all had their spirits lifted greatly.

  It was not that there were no battles amongst experts who were stronger than Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng.

  However, it was comparatively rarer for there to be a battle such as this, with the first and second ranked of the top ten Essence Spirit experts deciding who was superior in a head-on battle which might even lead to one of them dying.

  While those who had higher cultivation bases would be able to easily defeat Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng based on their higher cultivation bases, the battle before them virtually entailed the peak battle encounter possible at the Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster stage.

  Especially with both the fighters having had nine leaves blossoming into nine flowers, also individually being from the two powerhouses, Water Crystal Palace and the Dragon Slaying Sect, which really left this battle full of content and suspense.

  Even Fu Enshu felt extremely interested by it as well.

  However, as she stood there, the experts of Water Crystal Palace and the Dragon Slayer Sect all paid attention to her.

  The polluted undercurrents that usually surrounded the Deep Sea Corridor where the three seas met had actually disappeared to be replaced by Sweet Pouring Raindrops that they were seeing now for the first time. Their hearts could not help but pound even more at that.

  The two figures that were indistinctly visible within the water vein formed of the Sweet Pouring Raindrops rather attracted their attention as well.

  While Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng were both focused primarily on each other, they could not help but be concerned by the unexpected situation before them as well.

  Some martial practitioners whom they were acquainted with hurriedly explained the situation. After hearing about it, the Water Crystal Palace and Dragon Slayer Sect martial practitioners all frowned.

  The leading martial practitioner of Water Crystal Palace, Elder Dong, asked in a heavy tone as he looked at Fu Enshu, “Are you a member of the Sacred Evil Sect?”

  Fu Enshu’s expression was indifferent as she answered, “I only heard about that sect by word of mouth a few days ago.”

  Elder Dong and the others were all still frowning in consideration when a Spirit Rhino Island martial practitioner hurriedly exclaimed, “The youth who was with her broke through a powerful barrier in the Bewildering Maze Sea using the Blood Ghost Heavenly Talisman of the Sacred Evil Sect! My sect’s senior apprentice-uncle Fang confirmed it personally, it can’t be wrong!”

  Hearing his words, Fu Enshu did not seem troubled, merely laughing contemptuously.

  Elder Dong asked, “Are you talking about Fang Zhaohong? Where is he?”

  That Spirit Rhino Island martial practitioner pursed his lips, “It was precisely because senior apprentice-uncle Fang saw through that youth’s deception that he was slain and silenced by the demonic Sacred Evil Sect.”

  “Senior apprentice-uncle Yue, what do we do now?” A Dragon Slayer Sect martial practitioner approached the leading Elder, asking him quietly.

  The leading Elder of the Dragon Slayer Sect, Elder Yue, shook his head, “Just watch and see.”

  The Sacred Evil Sect was strange and mysterious. While it was one of the Six Evil Sects, the other martial practitioners who followed the path of Evil felt extremely cautious regarding them as well.

  Li Sheng opened his mouth for the first time since he had appeared, his voice cold as a sabre, “Killing a mere Jiang Xiong isn’t worth anything much.”

  Gazing at the figures within the water vein formed of Sweet Pouring Raindrops, Zhang Haocheng said, “However, it is said that he is still in his twenties.”

  Li Sheng said coldly, “I am not concerned about whether he really is from the Sacred Evil Sect. In having come here today, I intend to have a battle with you to see who between us is the true number one Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster of our Vast Ocean World.”

  “If I do not perish after having battled with you, I will naturally meet him in battle then.”

  Zhang Haocheng said, “In having killed Jiang Xiong, it is already sufficient proof that he has the qualifications to battle with the two of us. Having actually never heard of a person such as him before this, I feel inclined towards exchanging
some moves with him first.”

  Li Sheng’s expression turned cold.

  Zhang Haocheng continued, “In him being here, it also influences the battle between us. The three of us should be the most powerful amongst the Vast Ocean World’s Essence Spirit Martial Grandmasters, right? Let’s not bother our Essence Talisman stage Elders. We can just spar here for a bit.”

  He condensed his voice with his true essence and transmitted it towards the water vein formed of the Sweet Pouring Raindrops, “What do you say?”

  Before his words had landed, a light laugh suddenly resounded from within the water vein, “Are you sure you want to get beaten up by me? Now why would you want that?”

  The next moment, an unceasingly flickering glow surged from within the water vein as Yan Zhaoge’s figure slowly rose upwards amidst that radiance.

  Li Sheng was greatly enraged by those words while Zhang Haocheng knit his brows as well. However, as they looked over, they were instantly stunned on the spot.

  Everyone present was rendered wide-eyed and tongue-tied.

  A scene of light arose above Yan Zhaoge’s head, ten spirit leaves appearing, a single spirit flower swaying from each of these spirit leaves.

  History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 512: When a dragon wants to eat a tiger, why masquerade as a pig?

  HSSB512: When a dragon wants to eat a tiger, why masquerade as a pig?

  The Vast Ocean World martial practitioners were all rendered wide-eyed and tongue-tied, “…Ten leaves blossoming ten flowers?!”

  To all of them here, this was a scene that only existed within the legends, not having appeared in the Vast Ocean World of post-Great Calamity times.

  Even in the great thousands of universes of before the Great Calamity, ten leaves blossoming ten flowers martial practitioners had also been legendary existences.

  Looking at this scene, Fu Enshu was stunned as well, “In the post-Great Calamity Eight Extremities World, Yan Di was the first, and he is now the second.”

  Carefully thinking back, she found that Yan Zhaoge’s illusory scene was greatly different from even Yan Di’s.

  Yan Di’s ten leaves blossoming ten flowers had been inscribed with runes. While they had been profound and indiscernible, they had also been clear and distinct.

  Meanwhile, on Yan Zhaoge’s tenth spirit leaf and tenth spirit flower, the scene of chaos was instead displayed on them as it was even more abstruse, even more mysterious.

  Currently looking at Yan Zhaoge, the Vast Ocean World martial practitioners were even overwhelmed a little by a fear of the unknown.

  This was especially true for the martial practitioners apart from Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng who looked first at Yan Zhaoge and then the two of them as they felt on tenterhooks, “Nine leaves blossoming nine flowers are already so powerful, presiding over all their peers. Now, how powerful an existence could that ten leaves blossoming ten flowers person be?”

  Regaining their wits, the gazes with which Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng were looking at Yan Zhaoge were filled with an intense desire for battle.

  Yan Zhaoge’s current expression was calm as the clear current formed of the Sweet Pouring Raindrops as no ripples could be seen in it at all.

  “In having come to this Deep Sea Corridor, it was because I have a matter to take care of. Before having come here, I did not know that the two of you were planning to fight here.”

  Yan Zhaoge spread his hands apart, smiling as he said, “Even now, I am of no mind to interfere with your battle. If you want to fight for the title of number one Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster, just do it as you wish. Why do you have to look for me?”

  Zhang Haocheng said mildly, “Yet, you are currently in the Deep Sea Corridor where we are to hold our duel.”

  Yan Zhaoge laughed, “I am indeed just passing by, staying temporarily for a time. When I am done with my matter, I will naturally leave. Not having completed what I am here to do, I just cannot switch locations.”

  “However, in actual fact, I staying in this water vein here does not influence the two of you duelling. If you really want to decide a victor and determine who the number one Essence Spirit expert is, you can just fight between yourselves. It isn’t important at all whether I am here…”

  Li Sheng strode forward, the sabre-light around him retracted and not visible but the baleful qi and killing intent about his entire body instead more sharp and decisive, “I underestimated you earlier, not having thought that your foundation would actually be so sturdy.”

  “Still, ten leaves blossoming ten flowers might not definitely be able to win against my nine leaves blossoming nine flowers.”

  “In having wanted to act just now, it was because you were a hindrance.”

  “Now, however, as compared to Zhang Haocheng, I wish to battle with you even more!”

  Yan Zhaoge blinked, “Why is that necessary? There really is no real conflict or enmity between us. Instead, I am rather more interested in spectating this duel between the two of you from the side.”

  He was indeed interested in spectating this duel between Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng. Their relatively powerful cultivation bases was not the only reason for this. Most importantly, the current scene had awakened some of Yan Zhaoge’s memories from long ago, causing him to find it somewhat flavourful and entertaining as a result.

  Something along the likes of ‘On the night of the full moon, a battle atop the Forbidden City’.

  Such a classic scene, such a cool battle in the limelight-he wished that he too would have the chance to be part of such a world-shaking battle watched by all under the heavens in the future…

  His gaze shifting between Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng, Yan Zhaoge commented rather interestedly, “There is no number one scholar, and there is no number two martial artist. The top two of the top ten ranked Essence Spirit experts have never truly clashed head on before. The rankings were arranged by others, and they have always been in contention.”

  “Finally having the chance to clash today in a decisive battle at the Deep Sea Corridor, the victor will be the undisputed number one Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster expert. There will be no future contention about this thereon in the future, the title completely and rightly deserved.”

  “You are divided between Good and Evil, and this battle can create an overarching momentum for your side, seeing whether it is Evil that can never defeat Good or Evil that has diminished the Good.”

  “As soon as the result of this battle spreads, it will surely become a legendary story of the Vast Ocean World. I view that your strengths are indeed unordinary. If you do not die young, you will definitely become legendary pillars of these heavens and earth in the future, today’s battle also destined to become part of your future legend.”

  Yan Zhaoge spread his hands apart, smiling, “With such great stuff ahead of you, why do you have to create unnecessary trouble for yourselves?”

  Li Sheng strode forward once more, his sharp sabre-intent beginning to lock down on Yan Zhaoge, “Not having battled with you, how can I know myself to be number one?”

  However, just as he had locked onto Yan Zhaoge with his sabre-qi, Yan Zhaoge’s gaze abruptly grew bright, piercing into his eyes such that they hurt!

  Yan Zhaoge said calmly, “To be honest, your reaction instead makes me think better of you. How can a martial practitioner be submissive, let alone to one at the same cultivation level? Whoever is stronger and whoever is weaker will naturally be known with a battle. Wanting to battle with me is only a natural thing.”

  “However, you seem to have misunderstood something?”

  Amidst his words, the spiritual flowers within the scene above Yan Zhaoge’s head swayed as the profound runes gradually showed signs of merging.

  Everyone was stunned, “This is…wanting to form his spirit talisman, stepping into the Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster realm!”

  Raising his head and looking at the scene of spirit leaves and flowers up above him, Yan Zhaoge then sa
id mildly, “In having manifested my spirit flowers and spirit leaves, it was not because I wanted to fight. It is because I myself am about to perform my breakthrough.”

  “I am a little interested in watching the two of you duelling. However, my interest in personally clashing with the two of you is not great.”

  “You actually don’t have to mind me, because I will soon no longer be an Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster. Not battling with me, you will still be able to determine who the number one Essence Spirit expert is.”

  Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng both felt stifled.

  Looking at the rather dazed Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng, Yan Zhaoge laughed, “You see, I don’t usually do things like masquerading as a pig to eat a tiger. When the mood comes every so often, I might actually play that once in a while, but most of the time, I really won’t do it.”

  “If a wolf wants to eat a tiger, they can masquerade as a pig, causing the tiger to feel complacent. That is a very natural thing.”

  “When a dragon wants to eat a tiger, why masquerade as a pig?”

  While his tone was mild, it deeply impacted the hearts of everyone here.

  Zhang Haocheng was silent for a moment before he finally strode forward, saying in a heavy tone, “Water Crystal Palace’s Zhang Haocheng. Please instruct me.”

  Li Sheng inhaled deeply before a brilliant light shot out from within his eyes, “I heard that your name is Yan Zhaoge? Surnamed Yan, there is enmity between us now. This Li wants to stop your advancement into the Essence Talisman Martial Grandmaster realm!”

  “The enmity from obstructing one’s dao is as great as the killing of one’s parents.”

  Li Sheng roared explosively, “With such a great enmity, you should be willing to fight, right?”

  Looking at Zhang Haocheng and Li Sheng, admiration instead surfaced within Yan Zhaoge’s gaze.

  The merging runes above his head shockingly came to a temporary halt.

  Nodding appreciatively, Yan Zhaoge then extended his hand and made a ‘please’ gesture towards the two, “Your hearts towards the martial dao are pure and determined. Alright, let us exchange moves then.”