Looking at Yan Zhaoge, that martial practitioner of the south secretly ground his teeth, feeling stifled though all he could do was simply lead the way.
He had originally thought that Yan Zhaoge’s movements would quickly be exposed while on the way to Vast Spirit Mountain.
Yet, no one at all was actually alerted throughout their journey.
As they arrived close to the northern main peak of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range, Vast Spirit Mountain, the place was still totally calm.
This so-called calmness was not actual calmness. It just meant that everything was as per usual.
While the martial practitioners all around were nervous and vigilant, these were only against whatever they thought Yan Zhaoge would do.
And in front of Yan Zhaoge, their vigilance was just like it was simply for show.
“So this is Vast Spirit Mountain?” Yan Zhaoge shaded his eyes with his hand, gazing far into the distance at a solitary peak which was clearly taller and more perilous than the other mountains nearby.
That mountain peak was extremely steep as it resembled a sword that pointed straight up into the heavens, soaring into the lofty clouds.
“Yes, this is Vast Spirit Mountain,” The martial practitioner of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory was currently meek as a quail.
Looking at the ever calm Yan Zhaoge, the chill in his heart was getting increasingly greater as he was hard pressed to maintain his original confidence.
“Alright, very good,” Yan Zhaoge smiled, “You can leave now.”
The other party was slightly dazed, fearing that Yan Zhaoge did not really mean it.
He knew that there were some people out there who liked toying with those weaker than them.
Who knew that Yan Zhaoge would completely ignore him after that as he sat on Pan-Pan’s back, flying towards Vast Spirit Mountain.
This martial practitioner of the south was rendered wide-eyed and tongue-tied, “He really let me go?”
His first thought was to quickly contact the martial practitioners of Vast Spirit Mountain in the vicinity and ask them to report this to Daoist East Spring and the others up on the mountain.
Still, he immediately realised that he would not be faster than Yan Zhaoge no matter what. By the time Daoist East Spring and the others received the news, Yan Zhaoge would already long since have ascended the mountain.
Also, seeing how Yan Zhaoge was simply strolling in just like that, it was like he did not care about being found out at all.
His arrogant manner had initially caused this martial practitioner of the south to feel enraged. At this moment, however, the chill in his heart was only growing more and more intense.
“Daoist East Spring and the others can definitely take care of him,” As the same thought surfaced in his mind as it had earlier, it was instead more like a reassuring thought than one he wholeheartedly believed to be true.
Amidst his thoughts, he saw Yan Zhaoge arriving at the foot of Vast Spirit Mountain before opening his mouth and proclaiming in a righteous, upright manner, “Broad Creed Mountain’s Yan Zhaoge has come. Is the owner of this place here?”
While his voice did not seem loud, the entire Vast Spirit Mountain began quaking slightly as a result!
The guardian grand formation of the mountain was stimulated as a result, countless spirit patterns surfacing amidst space before they all distorted together, actually instantly seeming like they were about to shatter!
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 973: Alliance
HSSB973: Alliance
When Yan Zhaoge arrived at the foot of Vast Spirit Mountain, many people were already gathered atop it.
The Lord of Vast Spirit Mountain, Daoist East Spring, was currently in high spirits as the owner of this land.
Most of the leaders of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range’s powers and some renowned solitary practitioners had all gathered at Vast Spirit Mountain now.
Before this, they might not have listened to Vast Spirit Mountain’s commands.
Due to the conflict between the Night Magnificence Sect and Vast Spirit Mountain, the other powers of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range had extremely high autonomy as they could improve their relationship with and gain benefits from both sides.
While it was said that those who sat on the fence and leaned towards the advantageous side were the most abominable, and they were actually offending both sides, before victory and defeat was finally decided for good between the Night Magnificence Sect and Vast Spirit Mountain, they still needed the support of the majority.
Still, their good days seemed to have finally come.
Vast Spirit Mountain made use of this chance and borrowed the authority of Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope, gaining the advantage.
It would be extremely difficult for the Night Magnificence Sect to regain their footing after this.
The other sects of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range might not be happy to lower their heads to Vast Spirit Mountain. Still, with experts of Wutong Slope having personally arrived, they all could only obediently follow and come.
Along with this momentum, Vast Spirit Mountain had solidified their advantage as they had vaguely gained the look of being the martial alliance Chief of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range.
With the Chief of the Night Magnificence Sect being in death seclusion, unable to emerge, experts of theirs had still hurried over to Vast Spirit Mountain for fear of offending Wutong Slope.
As a result, they felt even more suppressed.
It was just that the Night Magnificence Sect was only able to swallow their dissatisfaction here.
Looking at Daoist East Spring who was in high spirits, the despondence of the Elder of the Night Magnificence Sect present could not be expressed in words.
However unhappy he was feeling, that was however happy those of Vast Spirit Mountain were feeling.
“Thank you, Fellow Daoists, for coming here today on this momentous occasion,” Sitting on the host’s seat, Daoist East Spring smiled, “Today’s alliance meet is held for none other than a martial practitioner of the southeast. I believe everyone knows that he, Yan Zhaoge, is here in the eastern region of our southern Blazing Heaven Territory.”
“He has sought his own death in coming over to our southern Blazing Heaven Territory this time. All martial practitioners of the south should strive hard to slay him, thus bringing peace to the souls of the deceased in heaven.”
Daoist East Spring surveyed the surroundings, “This is the reason I have invited everyone here today. Besides the various Daoists of our Announcing Peace Mountain Range, also present are Mister Yuan of Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope and Mister Zhao of the southern Bright Connection Sea’s Purple Tide Sword Sect.”
Seated up front along the side was an old man with a severe, gloomy bearing about him. About his entire body circulated crimson flows of spiritual qi which resembled flames.
The old man’s eyes was not dull like that of most old people as they were instead extremely bright, simultaneously seemingly containing the silhouette of a phoenix as it flapped its wings and soared.
He looked even older than the Blazing King Peng He. Yet, his seniority was actually much lower than him.
This person was named Yuan Xiancheng, nicknamed ‘Phoenix Pupils’. He was Zhuang Shen’s most senior disciple, being renowned throughout the entire World beyond Worlds.
Even before the deterioration of relations between the south and the southeast, there had been many hidden, unseen conflicts between them.
The mainstays of both sides had respectively been Long Hanhua of the southeast who had been using the surname Lin at the time and this disciple of the south, ‘Phoenix Pupils’ Yuan Xiancheng.
Beside Yuan Xiancheng, at a lower seat to him, sat a purple-clothed middle-aged man.
This middle-aged man was not a martial practitioner of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range, instead being the Chief of a major power of the Bright Connection Sea that
lay to the south of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range. He was Chief Zhao Zhen of the Purple Tide Sword Sect.
As Yan Zhaoge tried to return to the southeast via the eastern region of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory, he would have to pass through Circumference Mountain.
He would have to pass through the Announcing Peace Mountain Range to get to Circumference Mountain.
This Zhao Zhen was on good terms with Yuan Xiancheng. With the latter having come to the Announcing Peace Mountain Range with a group hereby being formed to obstruct Yan Zhaoge, Zhao Zhen had come along to help too.
Smiling, he said not a word, only nodding in acknowledgment as he was introduced by Daoist East Spring.
While he appeared inconspicuous, none of the martial practitioners of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range present, Daoist East Spring included, dared to underestimate him.
Beneath his reign, the Purple Tide Sword Sect virtually reigned supreme over the entire Bright Connection Sea, being an important major power within the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
“Everyone here possesses formidable strength, especially Misters Yuan and Zhao,” Daoist East Spring continued, “If we trap that fella surnamed Yan, he would naturally only be able to helplessly give in.”
“Still, everyone knows that the geography of our Announcing Peace Mountain Range is too complex as it is easy for people to conceal themselves within. Looking for a person here would be no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.”
“We martial practitioners of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range whose ancestors lived here are naturally familiar with the lay of the land. Still, our combined efforts will be required to locate him.”
Daoist East Spring said, “There cannot be an organisation without a leader. Fortunately, Mister Yuan of Wutong Slope has specially left Circumference Mountain and come here, allowing us all to unite under a single banner.”
Hearing his words, the other martial practitioners of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range were inwardly snorting at them.
While Yuan Xiancheng could indeed command them, he was not familiar with the geography of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range.
The actual implementation would definitely still be left to the local martial practitioners.
And that meant him, Daoist East Spring.
It was just that Yuan Xiancheng had clearly already tacitly allowed Daoist East Spring to borrow his authority as the Night Magnificence Sect and the other powers could only grit their teeth and let it go.
Still, how stifled they must be feeling could only be imagined.
“As the host, this humble Daoist invited everyone here for a discussion on how to leave that Yan Zhaoge behind for good,” Despite naturally feeling triumphant, Daoist East Spring did not let this show on his face.
Otherwise, if he got carried away and offended Yuan Xiancheng, things would be troublesome then.
Therefore, Daoist East Spring did not act domineeringly in the least even towards the Elder from the Night Magnificence Sect.
He definitely could not force the implementation of his own proposals as healthy discussions had to take place before Yuan Xiancheng of Phoenix Bearing Mountain’s Wutong Slope made things final.
Anyway, as long as most martial practitioners of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range attended this alliance meet, his Vast Spirit Mountain would already have benefited the most from it.
Everything had been going very smoothly at first. Now, however, Yuan Xiancheng suddenly knit his white brows on his seat of honour.
Seeing this, Daoist East Spring was dazed as he thought that he might have somehow offended him.
Before he could consider how he might have done so, his connection with the mountain’s guardian grand formation relayed that some uninvited guest was actually approaching Vast Spirit Mountain.
At virtually the same time as this, a voice resounded.
“Broad Creed Mountain’s Yan Zhaoge has come. Is the owner of this place here?”
Instantly, everyone was rendered speechless, the commotion quelled as minds ceased to function.
Everyone exchanged looks, doubting their ears.
“The person outside called himself…Yan Zhaoge?”
“That Yan Zhaoge of Broad Creed Mountain?”
“He has come to Vast Spirit Mountain on his own?”
While a ruckus did not arise, everyone’s gazes were filled with disbelief as they all exchanged looks.
Daoist East Spring shot right up from his seat with an outward exclamation.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 974: The outcome of playing petty tricks
HSSB974: The outcome of playing petty tricks
Daoist East Spring’s brows were knit tightly as he sensed that his sect’s guardian grand formation was actually rippling slightly at this moment.
Off by the side, Chief Zhao Zhen of the Purple Tide Sword Sect who had not spoken much earlier turned to look at Yuan Xiancheng of Wutong Slope, “Have those of the southeast already broken past Circumference Mountain at the border?”
Everyone else gazed towards Yuan Xiancheng too.
If the person outside really was Yan Zhaoge, how had he dared to come so blatantly to Vast Spirit Mountain here?
The sole explanation seemed to be that the experts of the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory were already launching their assault.
Yan Zhaoge had received this news from somewhere, thus daring to be so audacious in his actions.
With that in mind, the astonishment on their faces gradually faded as they all began to worry.
They were worrying not about Yan Zhaoge but about those experts of the southeast breaking through the defences of Circumference Mountain.
“No, senior apprentice-uncle Zhang’s defences at Circumference Mountain are rock solid. If the southeast wants to launch an attack, they would need a large-scale invasion,” Yuan Xiancheng said calmly, “If that were the case, we would long since have received news of it.”
Chief Zhao Zhen of the Purple Tide Sword Sect nodded, “This means to say that the fella surnamed Yan is really coming here alone just like this?”
Everyone’s expressions turned strange once more as they all seemed to find it totally inconceivable.
“Could it be that he does not know that so many of us are gathered here for an alliance?” Someone asked disbelievingly.
Still, even if they were not attending this alliance meet now, Vast Spirit Mountain was still one of the two strongest powers of the Announcing Peace Mountain Range.
Entering the Announcing Peace Mountain Range, Yan Zhaoge had not borrowed the local geography to conceal himself as he had actually come to Vast Spirit Mountain instead.
This was really a boundlessly arrogant move.
Daoist East Spring inhaled deeply, calming himself as he pushed horizontally forward with a palm within the great hall.
Spirit patterns intermingled as they surfaced on his palm, transforming into a sigil which flickered with light.
Outside, streams of light circulated about Vast Spirit Mountain which towered into the clouds. The spirit patterns which had already appeared beforehand condensed completely, manifesting tangibly.
“Since he has the courage to come onto your mountain, let him come then,” Yuan Xiancheng did not move from his seat as that silhouette of a fiery phoenix within his pupils seemed somewhat brighter.
Hearing this, Daoist East Spring said, “Mister Yuan’s words make sense. It is this humble Daoist who has been petty.”
With that, Daoist East Spring retracted his palm as the guardian grand formation which enveloped Vast Spirit Mountain subsequently vanished.
“Since you have come, dare you ascend the mountain?” He asked as he sat again on his host’s seat.
Yan Zhaoge’s smiling reply could be heard, “It is naturally best that the host is at home, lest this Yan becomes an unwelcome visitor.”
The other martial practitioners of the south in the great hall simultaneously rolled thei
r eyes at this.
If you are not an unwelcome visitor, what kind of person would we consider an unwelcome visitor?
…Still, this might not actually be the case. While Daoist East Spring had motives of his own therein, this time’s meet had been organised in name for the very sake of dealing with Yan Zhaoge.
Everyone composed themselves, simultaneously gazing towards the entrance of the great hall.
They were all filled with curiosity towards that youth whose audacity rivalled the heavens.
While they had already heard news that Yan Zhaoge had been unstoppable thus far as he left the Endless Mountain Range and traversed many regions of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory, facing many local martial practitioners along the way, having heard as well of Yan Zhaoge’s domineering might in the neighbouring Broad Dong Mound Plains, not having witnessed or experienced it in person, it was only natural that they found this hard to believe.
Daoist East Spring sat within the great hall, not activating the guardian grand formation.
Still, feeling angered by Yan Zhaoge’s actions, the other martial practitioners of Vast Spirit Mountain were not planning on letting him ascend the mountain so easily.
As he ascended the mountain, numerous Vast Spirit Mountain martial practitioners utilised the local geography in establishing a great many formations, wanting to take Yan Zhaoge down a peg.
After hearing of this, Daoist East Spring chose to tacitly ignore it, wishing to sound out Yan Zhaoge’s background.
If Yan Zhaoge turned out to be too powerful and also ruthless in his actions, with those disciples of his sect being unable to withstand him, he planned to act in a timely manner to protect them then.
Having decided on this plan of action, Daoist East Spring simply waited patiently.
Martial practitioners of Vast Spirit Mountain unceasingly reported on Yan Zhaoge’s progress up the mountain to Daoist East Spring.
Who knew that as time passed, it was soon the case that no news at all was still being transmitted.
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