History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474
Page 545
The dim yellow river water began to fade as the heavens and earth of Circumference Mountain reappeared around them.
The streams of water returned to the Dynasty River which continued to flow southward now.
All that had happened earlier seemed now as if they had never transpired in the first place.
As the light of day appeared once more, Yan Zaoge turned and looked towards the east.
There, sword-light lit up as a few figures appeared.
The one leading them was a white-haired old man. Yan Zhaoge recognised her as a longtime Elder of the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory’s Golden Court Mountain, the Southeastern Swordsmistress of the late Immortal Bridge stage.
Wutong Slope had Zhang Shuren guarding Circumference Mountain at the border, and Golden Court Mountain naturally had experts stationed over at the neighbouring Royal Reed Sea too.
Over the years, this old woman had been the one guarding over the area most of the time.
Yan Zhaoge was on friendly relations with Golden Court Mountain and very familiar with the Southeastern Swordsmistress too.
While she had a severe and proper manner, the Swordsmistress similarly admired Yan Zhaoge’s talents as she had a rather good opinion of this youth who had just risen to prominence recently.
It was just that she was still greatly shocked as she saw Yan Zhaoge now.
She too had been keeping an eye out for anything unusual over at Circumference Mountain at all times. Having suddenly detected that something seemed to be up over here, she had hurriedly led people over to investigate.
Who knew that just having arrived at the border, there would be moody clouds and tragic winds, the nether winds howling as it was completely impossible to see what was going on inside.
The Southeastern Swordsmistress was very familiar with Zhang Shuren’s Wutong Phoenix Perching Formation. Still, she found this formation to be unfamiliar.
On having attempted to enter, she had been rendered all dizzy, nearly having been trapped within.
The ancient, distant name of the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation had surfaced within her mind, causing her to feel even more shocked.
She had been unable to ascertain exactly who it was who had set up this formation, having decided to keep from provoking them and silently observe matters from the side.
Finally, the formation gradually dissipated.
The Swordsmistress was a tough, resolute person as she led experts in passing right across the border, entering the lands of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
They ended up greeted by the sight of a very unexpected figure.
A nonchalant Yan Zhaoge waved and cupped his hands towards them, “Long time no see, Swordsmistress.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 995: All dead, every single one of them
HSSB995: All dead, every single one of them
As Yan Zhaoge gazed over, besides the Southeastern Swordsmistress, he spied many other familiar faces as well.
Besides the martial practitioners of Golden Court Mountain, Yan Zhaoge even saw Pavilion Lord Gu Hong of the North Sea Sword Pavilion and other martial practitioners who were active in the Royal Reed Sea.
Having been saved by the Shadow Mountain Sword King Long Hanhua that year, after the Grand Xuan Dynasty had been decimated, Gu Hong had returned to the north sea and rebuilt his sect.
It was just that the North Sea Sword Pavilion had been virtually decimated back then, having suffered a truly terrible blow to its vitality as it had still been recuperating in recent years.
Seeing no one from his Broad Creed Mountain, Yan Zhaoge guessed that his father, Yan Di, must have yet to emerge from seclusion. As for the others, they might have stayed at the Royal Reed Sea, not having accompanied the Southeastern Swordsmistress off to Circumference Mountain here.
After all, Broad Creed Mountain was located at the west of the Royal Reed Sea, very close to the border between the two Territories.
With something major having erupted at Circumference Mountain, Broad Creed Mountain would naturally have to guard against this cautiously.
“Little Friend Yan, what exactly…” After stabilising her mind and returning Yan Zhaoge’s greeting, this was the first thing the Southeastern Swordsmistress asked.
Yan Zhaoge simply answered, “Returning from a foreign dimension, I inadvertently ended up in the Endless Mountain Range of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory. On the way back, I encountered quite a few experts of the south.”
“Reaching Circumference Mountain, there was ‘Treasured Branch Suppressing Peak’ Zhang Shuren blocking the way and the ‘Blazing King’ Peng He coming over in pursuit. In order to deal with this, I had to set up a formation based on the local geography.”
The Southeastern Swordsmistress gazed fixatedly at him, “If I did not see wrong, this formation of yours actually seems like the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation of legend?”
“That’s right,” Yan Zhaoge frankly nodded, “It is precisely the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation.”
Looking at these people who all had solemn expressions on their faces, Yan Zhaoge smiled, “While adventuring around outside, this Yan once entered a cave manor which was of the direct lineage of the Dragon Gate Emperor of the Yellow River Dragon Sect in the past.”
“Oh?” The gaze of the Southeastern Swordsmistress relaxed slightly.
Everyone else exchanged looks, seemingly unable to understand.
The Southeastern Swordsmistress explained, “In pre-Great Calamity times, Immortals from the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace of above the nine heavens would occasionally descend into the mortal world, leaving behind their legacies.”
“One of them founded a sect known as the Yellow River Dragon Sect, giving himself the title of the Dragon Gate Emperor and stirring things up greatly.”
“Of the Jade Clear direct lineage, the Yellow River Dragon Sect possesses two core martial arts. One is the Cyclic Heavenly Scripture of the Earlier Heaven Three Scriptures of the Primordial Heavenly Scriptures, while the other is the Dragon Gate Profound Art personally created by the Emperor.”
“Yet, its guardian grand formation was that Nine Bends Yellow River Formation.”
“It is rumoured that after the Ladies of the Three Skies of the Prime Clear lineage entered the Heavenly Court in the past, the numerous supreme martial arts of Three Immortal Island thus entered the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace of above the nine heavens as well. The Nine Bends Yellow River Formation of the Dragon Gate Emperor probably originates here.”
“Sadly, following the Great Calamity, the Dragon Gate Emperor and the Yellow River Dragon Sect have vanished into the long river of history. I only know of them through some historical records.”
As the Swordsmistress spoke, she turned to look at Yan Zhaoge, “I have long heard that your Broad Creed Mountain possesses the legacy of the Cyclic Heavenly Seal. Could it be that it originates from the cave manor of that Yellow River Dragon Sect too?”
Despite saying these words, there was still appraisal and vigilance in the gaze of this old granny.
Back when Yan Zhaoge had battled the Star Plucking Practitioner Guan Lide, the Immortal Ending Sword had left wounds in the heavens and earth of the Royal Reed Sea, not fading for a long time.
This had been attributed to Guan Lide to account for things to everyone both within and outside of the southeast.
Still, it would be impossible for the Swordsmistress and the others not to suspect anything at all.
Adding on the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation now, corroborating the two, this seemed even more out of the ordinary.
“As the Swordsmistress says, my sect’s Cyclic Heavenly Scripture originates from none other than the cave manor of the lineage of the Yellow River Dragon Sect,” Yan Zhaoge lied without twitching an eyelid, “That aside, there was naturally the Dragon Gate Profound Art too.”
Now, Yan Zhaoge turned and punched out within the air.
His true essence manifes
ted as a long, roiling river within the air, the river water rotating as a large whirlpool was formed.
The countless torrents of the whirlpool collided unceasingly as a terrifying momentum which could destroy the heavens and extinguish the earth was formed.
“This Yan has only looked through the Dragon Gate Profound Art once, not having cultivated deeply in it. Please forgive my lack of true prowess in this area.”
With that, Yan Zhaoge retracted his palm.
His Dragon Gate Profound Art was the orthodox version…
The Southeastern Swordsmistress looked silently at Yan Zhaoge.
She had never personally viewed the Dragon Gate Profound Art and the other direct lineage martial arts of the Yellow River Dragon Sect before, only having read some descriptions in the ancient texts.
The martial art executed by Yan Zhaoge was no different from that which had been described.
This was a good thing then.
They would be able to explain this to others.
While the Swordsmistress was tough and unyielding, she was well aware of who her friends and who her enemies were.
There were many things that it was difficult to feign ignorance regarding, such as Guan Lide previously and Long Hanhua now.
“You can be considered blessed by fortune, Little Friend Yan. With you around, it is no wonder that Broad Creed Mountain is thriving today,” The Swordsmistress praised before changing the topic, “You said just now that besides Zhang Shuren, Peng He came to Circumference Mountain too?”
Yan Zhaoge patted the head of Pan-Pan beside him. Pan-Pan emitted a low cry, flying down to the ground below.
“Besides Zhang Shuren and Peng He, there was also another ninth level Martial Saint expert,” Yan Zhaoge said, “Of the lineage of Illusory Coming Peak, head disciple of the Heaven Emperor, Qing Shuzi.”
Hearing this name, the expression of the Southeastern Swordsmistress turned stern.
Despite being much younger than her, as a fellow late Immortal Bridge Martial Saint, Qing Shuzi’s fame surpassed hers greatly.
While the two had never clashed before, having personally witnessed Qing Shuzi in battle in the past, the Southeastern Swordsmistress knew that she was probably somewhat inferior to him.
Zhang Shuren, Peng He, Qing Shuzi.
This lineup of late Immortal Bridge Martial Saints was sufficient for all those beneath the Human Exalt stage to feel suffocated.
If they suddenly attacked the southeast, the Swordsmistress believed that she would definitely be unable to withstand it. She might even perish on the spot.
“As for where they are now…” Yan Zhaoge turned, seeing Pan-Pan flying back up.
Currently, there were a few corpses heaped on Pan-Pan’s back.
Some had died in a very ugly manner while others were barely even recognisable.
“This Yan did not control my strength such that most of the corpses are difficult to identify from their facial features,” Yan Zhaoge said rather apologetically, “Still, those who battled with me at Circumference Mountain are all here, every single one of them.”
As the martial practitioners of the southeast thought about what this entailed and looked at those corpses, they were all rendered dazed on the spot.
The Southeastern Swordsmistress hastily stepped forward, gazing fixatedly at a corpse there which was missing an arm.
That was precisely the corpse of Qing Shuzi.
While one of his arms had been wrenched off by Yan Zhaoge, his head penetrated straight through by a sword-glow, his appearance had not been damaged.
Having seen Qing Shuzi in person before, the Southeastern Swordsmistress was naturally able to identify him with a single glance.
Yet, just this look alone was sufficient to render this longtime Elder of the southeast who had experienced numerous events before dazed like an wooden chicken!
The next moment, she regained her wits as the first thing she did was gaze into the surroundings.
She was looking for traces of any other experts who might have arrived. Still, there was nothing to be found.
Then, there could only be one explanation.
These dead experts had all been slain by a single Yan Zhaoge!
“How did he do it? Even with the Nine Bends Yellow Formation…” The old granny uncharacteristically lost her composure as she turned and stared at Yan Zhaoge in shock and disbelief.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 996: Yan Zhaoge, the fallen deity
HSSB996: Yan Zhaoge, the fallen deity
The Southeastern Swordsmistress was inevitably shocked.
What did the death of Qing Shuzi by Yan Zhaoge’s hand entail?
If she were to clash with Yan Zhaoge, she too would likely be slain.
A late Immortal Bridge Martial Saint, slain by a Seeing Divinity Martial Saint?
Before today, this would virtually have been an unimaginable thing for the Southeastern Swordsmistress.
Now, however, this was something that she could not but acknowledge.
This was especially so when it was not just Qing Shuzi who had perished within the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation. According to Yan Zhaoge, Zhang Shuren and Peng He had died there too.
Both of them had died beneath Yan Zhaoge’s Cyclic Heavenly Seal with their heads smashed and their skulls split as their features were barely recognisable.
Corroded by the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, their fleshly bodies were not as sturdy as before.
Still, their outer garments were something that the Southeastern Swordsmistress could not be any more familiar with.
As longtime Elders of the lineages of the hegemons of the south and the southeast, she had already associated with Zhang Shuren and Peng He for a very long time prior to this.
With the dead Qing Shuzi lying over there, there was clearly no need for Yan Zhaoge to fake corpses.
This caused the Southeastern Swordsmistress to feel even more shocked.
Zhang Shuren and Peng He were both late Immortal Bridge Martial Saint experts.
They both cultivated in direct lineage martial arts of Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope, both possessing their own areas of specialisation as they possessed remarkable strength.
Battling one against one, the Southeastern Swordsmistress could not say for certain that she would be able to slay either one of them.
Now, these people had clearly all died at Yan Zhaoge’s hands.
“Could it be that the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation which he set up far surpasses imagination? The Southeastern Swordsmistress was bemused.
Previously, while she had not truly barged into the Nine Bends Yellow River formation, upon the appearance of the formation, the Southeastern Swordsmistress had gone to test out its might.
While the formation was very powerful as it was even able to suppress the cultivation bases of late Immortal Bridge Martial Saints, it would still have no way of slaying martial practitioners like herself all on its own.
Moreover, there had been three of them.
Also, looking around, other martial practitioners of the south seemed to have been present as well.
As the Southeastern Swordsmistress scanned the area, she had already spotted Yuan Xiancheng!
‘Phoenix Pupils’ Yuan Xiancheng was the most prided disciple of the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen and a peak figure amongst the new generation of experts of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.
Yet, even a figure like this had been slain by Yan Zhaoge.
“Was it the Immortal Artifact?” The Southeastern Swordsmistress thought of a possibility now.
While a Seeing Divinity Martial Saint wielding an Immortal Artifact was similarly inconceivable, she could really think of no other method which Yan Zhaoge might have used to slay Qing Shuzi and the others.
However, she was unable to sense the majestic, remnant aura of an Immortal Artifact.
With that, yet another hypothesis was disproved.
Even the knowledgeable Swordsmis
tress felt rather at a loss at this moment.
Yan Zhaoge ignored all those gazes that were looking at him like he was a monster, continuing, “Besides those three, there was also Wutong Slope’s Yuan Xiancheng and someone else of the lineage of Illusory Coming Peak.”
“He is Daoist Leading Mist, also a personal disciple of the Heaven Emperor,” The Southeastern Swordsmistress said stiffly.
While she had never seen Daoist Leading Mist in person before, she had viewed images of him.
While the Heaven Emperor did not have many personal disciples, all of them were renowned within the World beyond Worlds.
Looking at all those corpses, the Southeastern Swordsmistress had already identified Daoist Leading Mist too.
“I actually clashed with Zhang Shuren and Yuan Xiancheng at the Announcing Peace Mountain Range to the west of Circumference Mountain. Then, they retreated to Circumference Mountain, and Qing Shuzi and Peng He’s group caught up as well,” Yan Zhaoge said, “Fortunately, water from the Dynasty River happens to flow by Circumference Mountain, thus allowing me to set up the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation. Otherwise, I would really have been unable to do anything to them.”
“The Nine Bends Yellow River Formation encompasses the entirety of the Circumference Mountain Range. All the other martial practitioners of the south in the vicinity were drowned by me as well.”
The surging waters of the yellow river had filled the various lands of the Circumference Mountain Range as it had truly resembled a chaotic flood that could destroy the world itself.
Still, beneath Yan Zhaoge’s control, while the river waters were ferocious, they had not disturbed the ordinary locals.
The floodwaters had avoided all the places where people lived, only having given them a shock.
Still, the local martial practitioners and their lineages had not been so lucky as they had all been assailed by the waters of the yellow river of nine bends.
While Yan Zhaoge did not mind killing people, he did not slaughter people wantonly.
While those powers had suffered a tribulation, no one had been killed as they had only had their guardian grand formations destroyed.