“…” The other party’s expression was strange as he heard Yan Zhaoge’s words.
Looking at the Dark Feather Slaughtering Golden Spear in Yan Zhaoge’s hand and the Imperious Cold Martial Armour on his body as well as the Fish Dragon Spear in the Northern Ocean Clone’s hands, the old man felt stifled by rage as he was rendered speechless at those three Sacred Artifacts.
This old man calmed his mind, directing the sword he was holding.
The sharp sword-light combined with the sword-light of the Time Flowing Sword, transforming into long rainbows that traversed the entire space.
He attempted to obtain victory with the variations in his sword arts, avoiding Yan Zhaoge’s dark green bamboo branch and attacking Yan Zhaoge himself.
If he could force Yan Zhaoge and the Northern Ocean Clone backwards, he would have a chance to rush out of the Myriad Dragon Palace.
“Oh, the sword’s not bad. It’s close to the level of my Fish Dragon Spear. It can already be considered elite amongst low-grade Sacred Artifacts.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded slightly, the old man’s face only turning darker.
Only praising the sword, not praising the sword arts and the person…
However, the old man soon didn’t have the leisure to be despondent any longer.
Wherever the dark green bamboo cane went, the numerous rainbows of light were all shattered.
Yan Zhaoge’s Dark Feather Slaughtering Golden Spear and the Northern Ocean Clone’s Fish Dragon Spear went up together, obstructing that old man’s Glorious Rainbow Sword.
The next moment, the dark green bamboo cane had slammed downwards, causing the sword-light of the Glorious Rainbow Sword to instantly dim.
This old man evaded. As Yan Zhaoge’s bamboo cane swiftly followed, it struck his shoulder instead.
His body shook all over, a Shadow Shrinking Pouch falling.
Yan Zhaoge’s gaze flickered slightly.
The old man was greatly shocked. Yan Zhaoge and his clone advanced, each spear faster than the previous as they forced him into retreat.
The Northern Ocean Clone made a grabbing motion, that Shadow Shrinking Pouch falling into his hands.
A light fragrance emanated from within. It was precisely the smell that Yan Zhaoge had noticed earlier, which had indeed originated from this old man.
“Let go of it!” The old man rushed over in a panic yet was repelled by Yan Zhaoge once more.
Streams of dragon qi that resembled chains descended within the Myriad Dragon Palace as they surrounded the old man, wanting to entrap him.
The old man brandished the Glorious Rainbow Sword, chains of dragon qi instantly shattering.
However, just after his show of might, Yan Zhaoge’s bamboo cane was descending towards him once more.
Yan Zhaoge was not in a hurry now as he instead took a defensive stance, stably guarding the entrance to the Myriad Dragon Palace.
All he had to do was prevent his opponent from escaping.
His Northern Ocean Clone retreated to the side, opening that Shadow Shrinking Pouch.
While he had not seen the actual thing before, only having read a textual description of it, Yan Zhaoge could confirm at first glance that one of the things inside the Shadow Shrinking Pouch was precisely the Bearing Heaven Ceremony Fragrance that he had guessed about earlier.
While the space within the Shadow Shrinking Pouch was broad, it was currently stuffed full. There was only a limited amount of each item, but every one of them was extremely great in quantity.
For example, there must be as much as a hundred catties of Bearing Heaven Ceremony Fragrance. It was even more exaggerated for the quantities of the other items.
Some of them were extremely valuable, being priceless treasures in the quantities that they were in.
While some were extremely rare as well, their value and uses were comparatively limited as they were not all that precious.
As these things were placed there together, they would generally seem to have no relation at all.
Even if Sacred Ground-level powers like the Dim Darkness Sect, the Radiant Light Sect and the North Sea Sword Pavilion were to see these items, it would probably be just one or two of these treasures which were rather more valuable that would catch their eye.
However, as Yan Zhaoge saw them, the sound of shocking thunder seemed to reverberate by his ears.
“Bearing Heaven Ceremony Fragrance, Earth Ocean Lung Crystals, Prime Chaos Soil…” Yan Zhaoge’s gaze was heavy, “Adding on a few other things, they would comprise the required materials for the establishing of the Bearing Heaven Efficate Formation that is used to communicate with the deification of the Earth Queen.”
The Earth Queen’s deification was known in full as the ‘Bearing Heaven Efficate Deep Virtue Great Light Earth Queen Deification and in short as the ‘Bearing Heaven Efficate Earth Queen Deification’.
It was said: Heaven Sovereign and Earth Queen, the Heavens above and the Earth below.
The ‘Earth Queen’ here referred to the deification of the Earth Queen, commonly known as Mother Earth.
The Daoists had the saying of the three Purities and four Imperials. The ancestral founders of the three Purities naturally need not be explained.
The Earth Queen was one of the four Imperials, controlling yin and yang and nourishing all things as she was like the Mother of this great Earth.
In pre-Great Calamity times, in legends from even further back in time, she had already been one of the great figures that presided above all the heavens.
Looking at the items he was holding, countless thoughts instantly flashed through Yan Zhaoge’s mind.
Shen Lingzi’s lineage as well as King Xuanwen and the others who had founded the Grand Xuan Dynasty that year had all come from someplace beyond the Royal Reed Sea, settling down here. Why exactly had they done so?
The Bearing Heaven Efficate Formation had no other uses. In pre-Great Calamity times, due to her own unique circumstances, the Earth Queen had usually not resided in the Divine Palace. Some of those who had commonly thought about her had established this formation to communicate with this great power.
In the current era, someone had established this formation and sustained it for so many years. What could it be for?
These materials and treasures must have been collected by the Grand Xuan Dynasty all these years.
However, due to the anti-Xuan uprisings, many places had lapsed from the Grand Xuan Dynasty’s control, falling into the hands of the North Sea Sword Pavilion and the other powers.
The previously gathered materials had all gradually been depleted…
Could this be the reason for Shen Lingzi’s lineage finally moving a move? It wasn’t that they were concerned with the declining reign of the Grand Xuan Dynasty.
Now that the Grand Xuan Dynasty had regained the upper hand, wresting back much of its territory as well as precious resources, they were immediately rushing around collecting these materials.
Why had they established the Bearing Heaven Efficate Formation then?
A remnant legacy site of this great power had unexpectedly been found in this Royal Reed Sea that they were attempting to unearth?
Or could it be that they were attempting to search for the deification of the Earth Queen?
Might this great power still exist following the Great Calamity?
Logically speaking, she should. However, if the Great Calamity was man-made rather than a natural disaster, all this would be very hard to say…
Following the Great Calamity, whether it was the lower worlds like the Eight Extremities World and the Vast Ocean World or this World beyond Worlds he had come to, news was seldom ever heard of peak figures of pre-Calamity times revealing the magnificence of their true selves.
Yan Zhaoge licked his lips, “An unexpected surprise.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 660: Thank you for your great gift
HSSB660: Thank you for your great gift
The Gre
at Calamity of the past had always hung over Yan Zhaoge’s heart.
Following that Great Calamity, not only had tribulation descended on the great thousand worlds, no news had been heard on the numerous great experts who had been active before it as well.
This was one of the reasons for Yan Zhaoge believing that it had most likely been man-made rather than a natural disaster.
Having come to understand the secret of Shen Lingzi’s lineage, it seemed like it should be related to the tip of the iceberg of the secrets of that year. Yan Zhaoge would naturally be happy about that.
While it was indeed well said that the more one knew, the faster one would die, in knowing less, one would similarly die very easily and without knowing how they died at all. They might even have been sold out by others to count money for them.
At that moment when he had first caught a whiff of the scent of the Bearing Heaven Ceremony Fragrance, Yan Zhaoge had already vaguely guessed this in the very bottom of his heart.
Now that his guess had been completely verified, while feeling that it was an unexpected surprise, he was also feeling that it had indeed been so.
Despite the upheaval in Yan Zhaoge’s heart, not much of it was expressed outwardly.
This old man who was currently battling with him was furious as well as panicked.
The materials that included the Bearing Heaven Ceremony Fragrance had already been depleted greatly before this, requiring replenishment.
After having launched those wild tides now that swept away and suppressed the anti-Xuan troops, after having reclaimed much of their lost land, they had hurried over for collection of the materials.
Some of these things were very valuable, while some were not so valuable. Still, they all shared a commonality in that they were extremely rare.
After a large scale harvest, it would virtually be impossible to collect such a great amount of these materials again within a short period of time.
In order not to appear suspicious, he had come over alone. Who could have known that he would actually be ambushed and trapped by Yan Zhaoge here?
The old man felt regretful. He had still unconsciously underestimated Yan Zhaoge to the extent that he had instead landed himself in a precarious position. If he had focused solely on running away or waiting for reinforcements, such a fate would definitely not have befallen him.
If he was unable to retrieve that Shadow Shrinking Pouch, even if he managed to extricate himself and flee now, it would be very difficult for him to account for things to the others when he had got back.
Especially when he saw Yan Zhaoge retrieving one of these treasures, the Earth Ocean Lung Crystals in great amounts. As he saw this, he was overcome by fury and panic even more greatly.
The Northern Ocean Clone drew out a large amount of brown crystal sand from the Shadow Shrinking Pouch.
The earth-brown sand crystals flickered with red light as if flames were leaping.
It was as if each grain of sand was a single world, a tiny ember leaping in every single one of them.
With a great amount of sand crystals congregated together, they held momentous power.
Accompanied by the leaping of fire light, this brown crystal sand resembled the lungs of a human that breathed unceasingly with a large amount of spiritual qi being inhaled and exhaled in a cycle.
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “Earth Ocean Lung Crystals. These are great. It just so happens that my clone needs them. Thank you!”
This was already an extinct treasure in the Eight Extremities World and the other ‘lower’ worlds.
The Northern Ocean Clone extended a palm, light surging within as the sound of oceanic tides vaguely resounded.
Swept along by the light, that earth-brown crystal sand instantly changed in form.
The crystal sand shattered in great amounts, reduced to roiling smoke.
The Northern Ocean Clone abruptly inhaled deeply.
The brownish mist instantly transformed into an earth dragon as it was absorbed within the body of the Northern Ocean Clone!
At the same time, the Northern Ocean Clone struck a fist stance, manifesting his martial true intent.
His true essence hovered above his head, condensing into an actual scene as the desolate wilderness of times long past seemed to appear once more.
Amidst the boundless, ancient ocean, an incomparably massive fish-roc bobbed up and down, a fish in water and a roc in the air as it shocked all throughout the nine heavens.
Now, as the Northern Ocean Clone unceasingly absorbed the Earth Ocean Lung Crystals, the scenes condensed of true intent above his head gradually began changing as well.
The ocean still remained. Still, it was no longer as ancient and desolate.
The earth’s crust at the seabed changed unceasingly. Underground fire would gush sometimes as well, but it was gradually changing subtly most of the time.
As generations passed and time flowed by, the vast oceans and the endless fields gradually changed.
However, that powerful roc remained an eternal existence throughout the ages. Not only did it not wither and age, it instead grew increasingly stronger with the accumulation of the ages.
Meanwhile, the aura emanated by the Northern Ocean Clone grew stronger and stronger as well, rising unceasingly with seemingly no end to its momentum.
Seeing this, that old man felt bitter, “It is actually like this? The Earth Ocean Lung Crystals actually helped him to attain a higher level, benefiting the martial art he cultivates in in progressing further?”
“The martial art he cultivates in, on the step of the body, avatar and spirit merging, is precisely one that benefits immensely from the Earth Ocean Lung Crystals!”
“Without such a great amount of Earth Ocean Lung Crystals, who knows when he would have been able to take this step. Now, however…”
The old man had the urge of slamming his head against the wall now.
Earth Ocean Lung Crystals were extremely rare, not being that easy to collect. They had spent great effort on its acquisition.
It would usually be rare to see Earth Ocean Lung Crystals on such a great scale. It was due to the Grand Xuan Dynasty having deployed a great amount of manpower and resources that they had been able to obtain so many of it in a rather short period of time.
Otherwise, if Yan Zhaoge had gone to look for it himself, even if he had known where it was, wanting to mine and obtain so many of them would still have been difficult.
If it had been too few, while it would still have been of help to the Northern Ocean Clone, the use that it would serve would naturally have been correspondingly lowered as a result.
How would it be like it was now, with the oceanic amount of earth-brown sand crystals shattering unceasingly as the Northern Ocean Clone absorbed it into his body, refining it in an endless stream.
The Northern Ocean Clone had also unceasingly absorbed and refined the dense qi of true dragons of the Myriad Dragon Palace previously, tempering his body as he established a stable foundation.
Now that he had the fortune of obtaining the Earth Oceanic Lung Crystals, he instantly arrived at the gateway towards a whole new level.
The Northern Ocean Clone’s aura rose unceasingly, till at one point in time, it seemingly broke through a bottleneck!
The scenes formed of the roiling true essence above his head were retracted, vanishing completely.
A vast half-black, half-golden light flickered within the Northern Ocean Clone’s eyes, resembling the vast ocean, resembling the great earth, resembling the sky.
A faint human silhouette seemed to surface within the pupils of the Northern Ocean Clone before very quickly disappearing.
While it was faint, one could still tell that it bore a fifty percent resemblance to the Northern Ocean Clone and another fifty percent to Yan Zhaoge himself.
It was precisely the spirit born of the Northern Ocean Clone after Yan Zhaoge had refined him now being closely connected to Yan Zhaoge’s own, resembling one entity of two bodies.
The old man’s heart trembled.
The powerful force emanated from the Northern Ocean Clone amidst his movements caused him to feel fear.
He was familiar with the Northern Ocean Clone’s current state as well.
Qi and blood of the fleshly body, thoughts of the spirit, martial true intent-all these merged perfectly as one, becoming completely indistinguishable and inseparable from one another.
Third level of the Martial Saint realm, late Merging Avatar stage!
“Thank you for your great gift,” Yan Zhaoge chuckled, retreating as he no longer clashed with that old man.
That old man could already no longer care about the Bearing Heaven Ceremony Fragrance and the other lost treasures now as he only hoped to leave this place alive!
However, Yan Zhaoge’s Northern Ocean Clone descended from above, instantly arriving before him!
From all the acupoints of the Northern Ocean Clone’s entire body simultaneously gushed light that was half-golden and half-black, a violent power shaking space itself.
The sword-intent that was able to slow the surrounding time amidst space now actually affected the Northern Ocean Clone’s martial true intent.
Time seemed to surge in reverse, everything returning to the primordial wilderness of ages long past.
The old man wielded his Glorious Rainbow Sword, but Yan Zhaoge had already passed the dark green bamboo cane he was holding to the Northern Ocean Clone just before he did so.
The Northern Ocean Clone struck down with a single cane, the sword-light instantly dimming.
Within his other hand, the domineering Fish Dragon Spear roared as it whistled through the air!
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 661: An unprecedented path
HSSB661: An unprecedented path
The Northern Ocean Clone successfully broke through into the third level of the Martial Saint realm, the late Merging Avatar stage.
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