Other supreme martial arts that delved into life force could be countered by it too.
This included the Phoenix True Form Scripture of the lineage of the southern Blazing Heaven Territory’s Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope and the eastern Vast Heaven Territory’s Remote Cloud Mountain’s Clear Light Locale’s Longevity Scripture.
Of course, this sword dao that was brutal to the extreme as it was filled with a decisive killing intent was similarly a terrifying harbinger of death for martial practitioners cultivating in other martial arts.
While devilish martial arts had seldom been seen in the Eight Extremities Worlds, they had once flourished for a time in the Vast Ocean World.
There was actually a small amount of devilish martial arts circulating in the World beyond Worlds too.
Ignoring the innate personalities of martial practitioners, those who cultivated in devilish martial arts were generally rather more bloodthirsty, causing more slaughters.
Still, if one were to search for a martial art that possessed the greatest killing intent in this world, no devilish martial art would be a match for this sword dao that Yan Zhaoge was currently manifesting.
Also, this sword did not give off a restless, evil aura.
This was simply because it already implied the end of life in itself.
“A sword dao of the Prime Clear direct lineage…could it be the legendary Immortal Slaughtering Sword of the Numinous Treasure Four Swords?” Yan Di quickly came to a realisation.
While he had never seen anyone utilising the Immortal Slaughtering Sword before, he had heard of its characteristics, this sword being much too famous at the end of the day.
“Exterminating Immortal sharp, Slaughtering Immortal death, Trapping Immortal doth red light arise,” Yan Zhaoge slowly nodded, “The martial art of the Prime Clear direct lineage that I obtained at the Daoist temple was precisely the Immortal Slaughtering Sword.”
If one said that the Immortal Trapping Sword extinguished space and time and the Immortal Ending Sword slew all things, the Immortal Slaughtering Sword was a sword which slaughtered all lifeforms.
Yan Zhaoge said, “Ignoring Circumference Mountain, in the battle of Vast Spirit Mountain, it was not for no good reason that Zhang Shuren and Yuan Xiancheng were beaten by me. The self-created Slaying Azure Dragon which I newly produced actually benefited greatly from the Immortal Slaughtering Sword in terms of the principles that it contains.”
“I remember you having once said that when you attempt to ascend the Immortal Bridge, besides one of the Jade Clear direct lineage’s Primordial Heavenly Scriptures, you will also require supreme martial arts of the Grand Clear and Prime Clear lineages respectively.”
Yan Di said, “In heading to the Daoist temple this time, you originally did so as you believed that it was a cave manor of a descendant of the Grand Clear direct lineage, having hoped that you would benefit off the remnant legacies of some senior of the Grand Clear lineage.”
“That’s right,” Yan Zhaoge spread his hands apart, “Who would have thought that it was instead of the Prime Clear direct lineage? That’s fine too, for I just happened to lack a supreme martial art of the Prime Clear direct lineage. It can be considered no real loss. It is just that I am still considering who to approach next to obtain a supreme martial art of the Grand Clear lineage.”
“Still, this trip to the Daoist temple was not a pointless waste at the end of the day.”
He chuckled, “Those of Three Foot Mountain and Wutong Slope will probably be sorely disappointed…”
Yan Zhaoge’s heart suddenly jolted slightly as he looked at his father.
Seeing this, Yan Di smiled mildly, “You guess rightly.”
Amidst his words, streams of qi suddenly surged out from the top of Yan Di’s head.
These streams of qi looked chaotic and dim, resembling a dim clump of clouds.
Fragmented specks of radiance flickered amidst the clump of clouds as it was neither bright nor dazzling.
Yet, it was incomparably profound as it was difficult to appraise and difficult to describe.
As the cloud qi expanded, it blossomed like lotuses.
It was blurry around the petals of the flower as it was not clearly distinct from the surrounding space at the edges.
Yet, the surrounding space and the world seemed to be centred around that lotus which resembled a cloud of stars, concaving inwards.
“Peerless Infinity Primordial Chaos Fortuitous Clouds?!” Yan Zhaoge nearly blurted out as even his mouth was open, though he stopped himself from doing so at the last moment.
He composed himself and gazed carefully at it for a time before finally sighing deeply to himself.
These were not the Peerless Infinity Primordial Chaos Fortuitous Clouds manifested by the Lord of Primordial Beginning of the Jade Clear lineage, a miraculous ability gained upon major completion in the Peerless Heavenly Scripture that was the first of his Primordial Heavenly Scriptures.
While this also bore the concept of the limitless universe from before the heavens and earth had been formed, it was still different from the Peerless Infinity Primordial Chaos Fortuitous Clouds.
If not for this, Yan Zhaoge might really have to suspect that he cultivated in a false Peerless Heavenly Scripture.
The peerless infinity of primordial times was one of a kind as only one person in existence was able to cultivate it in at any single time.
Before the Lord of Primordial Beginning had Transcended, the place that he had occupied had made it such that no other person could cultivate in it.
Therefore, on seeing that cloud of stars, Yan Zhaoge had truly been puzzled.
Still, he had gained an understanding of it now.
These were not Peerless Infinity Primordial Chaos Fortuitous Clouds of the Jade Clear lineage.
Instead, they represented Taiyi, Grand Simplicity, the head of the Grand Cosmos Five Manifestations of the Grand Clear lineage!
Yan Zhaoge was now overcome by an urge to whoop for joy.
He had gone searching for it, only to find it right before him!
While this was not the Taiyi Fist in itself, with this clump of clouds and his foundation of the Peerless Heavenly Scripture, with his simultaneous cultivation in the Three Purities, the Taiyi Fist was already beckoning towards him!
While searching for a supreme martial art of the Grand Clear lineage, he had found one of the Prime Clear lineage instead.
Who knew that upon arriving home, there would actually be a supreme martial art of the Grand Clear lineage waiting for him!
Such a feeling was miraculous indeed.
In spite of his joy, however, Yan Zhaoge did not lose his cool.
There were still some discrepancies between the scenes before him and the Grand Simplicity that he was familiar with.
Grand Simplicity, the head of the Grand Cosmos Five Manifestations, signifying the initial state of the primordial universe as it was without light and without shape, silent and formless.
The existence which resembled lotuses whilst also a cloud of stars above Yan Di’s head seemed like it was not simply Grand Simplicity.
“Father, this concept seems rather like Grand Simplicity, but seems to have changed in some way. Despite that, it is not Grand Simplicity that has become Grand Commencement as it seems to have leapt from the Earlier Heaven Grand Cosmos Five Manifestations to a Later Heaven martial art all at once.”
Hearing Yan Zhaoge’s doubts, Yan Di said, “Since you cultivate in the Taiji Yin Yang Fist of the Grand Ultimate Manifestation, you will naturally have a unique understanding of this. This is indeed the manifestation of Grand Simplicity, but has also undergone some Later Heaven changes. I have dubbed it the Grand Simplicity Light Cloud or Grand Simplicity Lotus.”
“Oh?” Yan Zhaoge seemed to detect something unusual from his words, “How did you obtain this Grand Simplicity Light Cloud?”
Yan Di’s expression turned strange, this being something that was very rare for him.
“What would you think if I said that it was not I who found this Grand Simplicity Light Cloud but it who found me?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1001: Yan Di
HSSB1001: Yan Di
Hearing Yan Di’s words, Yan Zhaoge’s gaze involuntarily drifted again to the chaotic clouds of starlight above his head that resembled lotuses.
“It was not you who found it, but it that found you?” Yan Zhaoge repeated, “By its own will?”
Yan Di was silent for a moment before he said, “I do not believe that this was a coincidence.”
“…Because?” Yan Zhaoge asked as he pondered.
As Yan Di extended his hand, the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud above his head drifted downwards, resembling a small, dim, intricate lotus which silently hovered above his palm.
“The very first time I set eyes on this Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud, I felt an inexplicable, exceptional sense of closeness to it,” Yan Di’s expression turned increasingly strange, “Also, I instantly realised its identity right there and then.”
“While I am extremely familiar with the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud, from what I remember, this should be my first time ever seeing it.”
At this point, Yan Di halted slightly.
After a while, he finally ventured slowly, “It sounds rather strange, but I seemed to feel…a mother’s embrace?”
Hearing this, a thoughtful look appeared on Yan Zhaoge’s head as well as he carefully observed the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud above Yan Di’s palm.
“After this Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud ended up with me, without even having to refine it, I could already easily wield it like a part of my body, just as if…” Yan Di considered it before saying, “Just as if it had always belonged to me in the first place.”
Yan Zhaoge pondered for a while before suddenly asking, “That time in the Brocade Emperor’s Minor No Hatred dao arena seems to be the first time you headed to extradimensional space?”
Raising his palm lightly as the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud returned above his head, Yan Di said, “That’s right, it is precisely so.”
“I too have considered what you speak of. Perhaps it had been waiting for me in extradimensional space all along. When I arrived in extradimensional space, it automatically came to seek me out.”
Yan Di’s expression turned tranquil.
“The problem is, why?” Lightly rubbing his temples, Yan Zhaoge raised his head and looked at his father, “It was waiting for you all along, seemingly being yours in the first place. You feel a sense of closeness and familiarity with it too…”
Yan Di understood what Yan Zhaoge was implying.
He too had been suspecting the same in recent days.
“Back in the Eight Extremities World that year, when the Decimating Abyss rampaged and Broad Creed Mountain suffered a tribulation, there was chaos that occurred within our family as well.”
Yan Di said slowly, “What Yan Wendao and the others said was true.”
“I am not of my parents’ flesh and blood.”
“I learnt of all this a long time ago. Also, it was precisely Father himself who told me the truth.”
“It is just that I have always taken myself as a member of the Yan Family, and others within the family do treat me as family too. To me, that is already enough.”
“Whether or not I am the Family Head is not important to me. However, since Grandfather passed down the position to me, I would not refuse him and leave him disappointed.”
Hearing his father’s narration, Yan Zhaoge nodded silently.
Those suspecting Yan Di’s identity at the time had possessed a letter personally penned by Yan Di’s father, Yan Zhaoge’s grandfather.
From the handwriting, it had not been forged.
Ever since then, Yan Zhaoge had basically known the truth.
“Back then, our family had still yet to move to the Heaven Domain’s Central Heaven Region as we were still at the Thunder Domain’s Zhaozhou,” A look of reminiscence appeared on Yan Di’s face, “Father picked me up in the wilderness amidst the mountains. Because of what I had on me, he ultimately brought me back to the family.”
Now, he retrieved two jade pendants, placing them before Yan Zhaoge.
These two jade pendants were exactly the same as they formed a pair.
While both were very ordinary and not very precious treasures, they were rather intricate as they possessed a beautiful appearance.
A single character was inscribed on each of these jade pendants.
‘Yan’ and ‘Di’.
Seeing this, Yan Zhaoge smacked his lips, “It may be the surnames of two people.”
He spoke no further.
It was extremely likely that one was a man and the other a woman.
Still, Yan Zhaoge knew that his father had definitely guessed this too.
“Because of this, father brought me home,” Yan Di picked up that jade pendant with the ‘Yan’ character inscribed on it, “At first, he thought that it was a child lost or abandoned by a member of our family. However, following multiple investigations, he confirmed that this was not the case.”
“While I was not a member of the family, father thought that since we were both surnamed Yan, there was fate that existed between us. Therefore, he personally adopted me.”
Now, Yan Di picked up that jade pendant with the ‘Di’ character, “I would obviously be surnamed Yan, and as for my name, this is where it originated.”
Yan Zhaoge received the two jade pendants from him, carefully appraising them one in each hand.
“Father and mother saw me as their own, and I was not unaware of this at all beforehand,” Yan Di exhaled slowly, “It was only when the family encountered danger when moving from the Thunder Domain’s Zhaozhou to the Heaven Domain’s Central Heaven Region that father told me this right before he died.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, “In other words, Grandfather…he too did not know where you come from.”
Yan Di nodded slightly, looking at the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud above his head, “With so many years having passed, I am not concerned with seeking out my true origins. Still, it seems that somehow or other, the answer seems to be getting closer to me.”
Father and son exchanged looks, both shaking their heads.
It would still be fine if Yan Di’s origins were ordinary.
Yet, if there was a greater story behind it, it was very difficult to tell if it spelled calamity or fortune.
The Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud here was indeed great. Yet, who could know that the roots of trouble were not secretly concealed within?
Yan Zhaoge ceased in his thoughts as he instead smiled, “With this Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud protecting you, the attacks directed at you by the myriad arts of this world will all diminish greatly in effectiveness. Many will even fail to exert any effect.”
“With it, you are virtually on undefeated ground even before entering battle with many opponents.”
Having originally already been extremely domineering as his attacks shocked the heavens, as he now gained the protection of the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud, Yan Di had become extremely mighty in terms of both offence and defence.
“A battle can see countless variations in an instant, and the Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud is not absolutely impenetrable,” Yan Di remained calm, “For example, the Heaven Earth Within Sleeve of that Qing Shuzi of the Heaven Emperor’s lineage that you faced last time was considerably difficult to guard against.”
“Trapped within the sleeve, even if one is not injured, they would still have lost the initiative.”
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “With this Grand Simplicity Splendour Cloud present, unless the Heaven Emperor comes to deal with you himself, a supreme martial art like Heaven Earth Within Sleeve that leaves most people helpless would really be useless against you. Still, speaking of the Heaven Emperor…”
“He is currently away from the World beyond Worlds, but he might retu
rn after he receives the news,” Yan Zhaoge knit his brows slightly, “After we wrecked his plans in the Royal Reed Sea, in consideration of his status, he only found trouble with the Southeastern Exalt previously, never having targeted us.”
“Now that I have slain Qing Shuzi and Daoist Leading Mist, the Heaven Emperor has a legitimate reason to directly make a move.”
Hearing this, Yan Di said mildly, “Those who kill can themselves be killed. Since they came to encircle and kill you along with those of Wutong Slope, being slain instead due to inferior skill is just natural.”
“If the Heaven Emperor wants to come, we battle. If I am superior, I kill. If I am inferior, I am killed. This is a principle that all martial practitioners know from the very first day they begin to cultivate.”
Yan Zhaoge said, “Us killing is fine, but being killed probably wouldn’t feel all that good.”
“It is just that time waits for no man. The problem now is that time is likely running out.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1002: The momentum lies with me, I am unstoppable
HSSB1002: The momentum lies with me, I am unstoppable
When Yan Zhaoge said that time was running out, it did not merely refer to the matter with the Heaven Emperor.
The Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen now truly had irreconcilable enmity with Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain.
Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope’s lineage had a total of three ninth level Martial Saints.
‘Treasured Branch Suppressing Peak’ Zhang Shuren, ‘Blazing King’ Peng He, and ‘Phoenix Crying Southern Territory’ Mao Yuansheng.
In the end, two of them had been slain by Yan Zhaoge. Adding on ‘Phoenix Pupils’ Yuan Xiancheng who was comparable to a ninth level Martial Saint, over half of the peak experts of Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope had perished at the battle at Circumference Mountain.
While one might say that Wutong Slope would never fall so long as the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen was still around, it had still suffered a great blow to its vitality this time.
It was even the case that Zhuang Shen’s own son, Zhuang Chaohui, had been killed by Yan Zhaoge.
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