Still, without the core Immortal Bewitching Pill and Secluded Immortal Mantra, one would not be able to do anything to Emperor-level experts with it.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1004: The imperious embryonic Immortal Artifact
HSSB1004: The imperious embryonic Immortal Artifact
Yan Zhaoge actually felt that while the Nine Bends Yellow Formation and the Ladies of the Three Skies were powerful, their glorious battle achievements in the era of the Investiture of the Gods should mostly be attributed to that supreme treasure, the Chaotic Origin Golden Cup.
If not for the Chaotic Origin Golden Cup, it would have been impossible to fling so many bigwigs of legend within the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation.
Besides the one controlling it being the Ladies of the Three Skies, the reason for the might of the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation was its core Immortal Bewitching Pill and Secluded Immortal Mantra.
Rather awkwardly, refining the Immortal Bewitching Pill or agglomerating the Secluded Immortal Mantra could only be done by Immortals, being something mortals could not do.
As Yan Zhaoge’s cultivation base rose, he would naturally be able to exert more might when wielding the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation.
Still, without the Immortal Bewitching Pill and Secluded Immortal Mantra, its core effects would still ultimately not be achieved.
Moreover, the Royal Reed Sea lacked the necessary geographical conditions for the establishing of this formation.
Yan Zhaoge sat in the meditative position within a secluded chamber, a dark green bamboo cane appearing in his hand.
This was a unique weapon that Yan Zhaoge had forged himself, possessing miraculous effects in countering the weapons of others.
It was currently seven feet long with seven segments, being able to destroy mid-grade Sacred Artifacts with a single blow as high-grade Sacred Artifacts too were hard pressed to withstand it.
Only existences like the Extreme Yang Seal and the Extreme Yin Crown could barely withstand it. This was impossible even for the Evil Sword Taotie.
Still, it was not so awesome when used for hitting others.
Moreover, there was a gap between the mortal and the immortal. The heavenly gulf between these two realms existed between Sacred Artifacts and Immortal Artifacts as well.
While he had never attempted it before, Yan Zhaoge basically knew that the dark green bamboo cane would still not be able to break Immortal Artifacts when it was eight feet long, with eight segments.
While it might still be able to withstand one, it would probably have to be nine feet long and with nine segments for it to properly restrict Immortal Artifacts.
As for how to raise it from having eight feet and eight segments to having nine feet and nine segments, some complicated methods would be required.
This treasure would soon be facing its first real bottleneck.
Having surpassed this bottleneck, there would still be a long way to go.
The path would be difficult, but this did not mean that it could not be walked. It was just that for Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain, there were threats they presently faced which required strength urgently.
In comparison, the Extreme Yang Seal would finally be able to exert its true power for the first time.
When Yan Zhaoge ascended the Immortal Bridge, he would be able to wield its full power.
Amongst all Sacred Artifacts, this treasure was virtually something like a monarch.
“Still, just the Extreme Yang Seal alone is still insufficient…” Yan Zhaoge held the dark green bamboo cane with one hand, tapping down lightly on his other hand.
A moment later, he kept the dark green bamboo cane as space shook slightly above his head.
A massive palace appeared there, the roars of dragons vaguely resounding from within.
The door of the palace opened, revealing layers upon layers of space. Still, in the centre, at an unidentifiable distance, an inconspicuous-looking black metal wheel was hovering silently in the air.
It was none other than the Dim Radiant Wheel that Yan Zhaoge had obtained from the Dim Radiant Mausoleum.
This treasure still showed no reaction to Yan Zhaoge’s attempts to interact with it, seemingly remaining in a deep slumber.
Besides a temporary reaction in the Loathing Square Immortal Realm of the Immortal Court upon being stimulated by the martial dao of the Vast Yang Exalt Pei Hua of Vast Yang Palace’s direct lineage, the Dim Radiant Wheel had continually stayed in an ordinary and innocuous state.
Yet, Yan Zhaoge had never forgotten this treasure.
It was just that there might be a different significance behind this embryonic Immortal Artifact as things were not as simple as that.
As compared to clear, visible risks, the unknown called for more wariness and fear.
Also, Yan Zhaoge was still pondering on how to turn this treasure into a true Immortal Artifact.
Recalling the changes with the Dim Radiant Lamp back then and linking this with the relationship between it and the Dim Radiant Wheel, one would easily be able to guess that if there were twelve high-grade Sacred Artifacts like the Dim Radiant Lamp, the Dim Radiant Wheel would be completed.
When facing the attacks of high-grade Sacred Artifacts, the Dim Radiant Wheel would indeed still act passively by devouring them.
If it were twelve of these which delved into the concepts of light or dimness or those like the Dim Radiant Lamp in which light and dimness both existed, would the effects be better than if it were twelve random high-grade Sacred Artifacts?
“No, probably not…” Yan Zhaoge murmured to himself, “The Dim Radiant Wheel’s foundation is simply the Dim Radiant Twelve Arts, with their concepts all originating from the same legacy.”
After pondering for a time, Yan Zhaoge retrieved an object.
It was a golden wheel whose surface circulated with light, resembling sunlight.
This was none other than the high-grade Sacred Artifact, the Sun Moon Wheels, of the Radiant Light Sect of the Royal Reed Sea that year.
Still, while it had formerly consisted of a pair of sun and moon wheels, only the sun wheel remained as the moon wheel had long since been lost.
Yan Zhaoge hesitated slightly for a moment before retrieving something else.
It was another high-grade Sacred Artifact, a sabre.
It was the high-grade Sacred Artifact, the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre, which he had just obtained not long ago. It had originally belonged to Three Foot Mountain.
“It is a pity that the high-grade Sacred Artifact of the Vast Yang Exalt, Pei Hua, was destroyed by the Little Sword God Long Xueji. Otherwise, it would have been more suitable,” Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “Still, if he had had his high-grade Sacred Artifact with him back then, I might not have been able to take him down.”
After analysing the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre for a time, Yan Zhaoge nodded satisfiedly, “It is indeed more of the blazing of the great sun rather than the concept of the light of the sun. Still, it has deeply grasped the profundities of the principles of the sun, still being suitable.”
It was not that he could not bear to part with this sun wheel.
Instead, he feared that without the moon wheel, possessing only the sun wheel as the Sacred Artifact was deficient, it might be unable to exert sufficient effects to verify his guesses.
The Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre was complete and without flaw, also being stronger than just the sun wheel alone.
After some consideration, Yan Zhaoge grabbed the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre, flinging it towards the Dim Radiant Wheel!
The sabre transformed into a blazing streak of golden flames, resembling the descent of the sun as it smashed down towards the Dim Radiant Wheel that seemed totally inconspicuous.
Sensing the hostility of the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre and the destructive power that it possessed as a high-grade Sacred Artifact, the Dim Radiant Wheel that had been sile
nt all this while finally rumbled.
A stream of light shot out from one of its twelve slots, sweeping towards the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre.
The Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre jolted for a moment before the sunlight and flames dissipated completely and it regained its appearance as a sabre.
Next, this high-grade Sacred Artifact slowly flew towards the Dim Radiant Wheel on its own accord.
Some years back, the King Xuan Spear had nearly been captured by the Dim Radiant Wheel. It was just that Yan Zhaoge had stopped this from happening.
He did not make a move this time, instead just observing patiently.
Then, he saw the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre landing in a slot of the Dim Radiant Wheel.
The Dim Radiant Wheel ceased rumbling while the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre vanished as well.
After observing for a moment, Yan Zhaoge could not sense the Dim Radiant Wheel having become stronger or more complete.
Instead, sunlight was emitted from that slot which the Golden Sun World Incinerating Sabre had been sucked into.
Upon approaching it, Yan Zhaoge discovered that there seemed to be a whole universe within.
A Golden Crow was struggling unceasingly within, streaks of sunlight essence being drawn away by this universe.
Still, a moment later, this all ceased.
That Golden Crow seemed to have survived a major calamity, yet was still trapped within the space of that universe, unable to extricate itself.
“This is a phenomenon manifested from the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre after having been captured by the Dim Radiant Wheel. Yet, it has not been refined and absorbed by the Dim Radiant Wheel,” Yan Zhaoge pondered on this, “From how this went, it actually looks more like…”
It was like the Dim Radiant Wheel was disdainful of the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre, refusing to assimilate with it.
At this, Yan Zhaoge did not know whether to laugh or to cry.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1005: Dim Radiant Twelve Arts
HSSB1005: Dim Radiant Twelve Arts
The Dim Radiant Wheel was not disdainful of the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre itself.
Instead, it was disdainful of the concept contained within this Sacred Artifact.
In other words, it was disdainful of the Golden Crow World Incinerating Scripture.
To be fair, though, the Golden Crow World Incinerating Scripture was a fairly profound martial art.
If the Golden Crow World Incinerating Scripture was not okay, the Vast Yang Scripture of Vast Yang Palace was most likely not okay as well.
The Dim Radiant Sect’s own comprehensions of the principles of light of the sun were not okay too.
Under such circumstances, how was the Dim Radiant Wheel qualified to be so arrogant?
“What it wants are supreme martial arts which surpass it,” Yan Zhaoge realised, “The Dim Radiant Emperor Yin Tianxia was ambitious indeed. What he wanted was advancing upwards throughout, always aiming higher.”
“Therefore, the Dim Radiant Wheel is attempting to assimilate with martial arts with concepts more profound than those of the Dim Radiant Sect. With that, it will be incomparably powerful on the day success truly comes.”
It was not that it definitely had to surpass the martial dao of the Dim Radiant Sect in all areas.
The Dim Radiant Sect’s martial arts were varied and all-encompassing. They had been sorted out and categorised by Yin Tianxia into many categories that touched on many principles.
The dao of the light of the sun was simply one of those.
So long as a martial art was superior to the martial arts of the Dim Radiant Sect in the dao of the light of the sun, the Dim Radiant Wheel would be interested in it.
The sole exception was the Dim Radiant Lamp that belonged to Yin Tianxia himself.
This Sacred Artifact had been used to establish the basic foundation for the Dim Radiant Wheel.
Yan Zhaoge looked at the universe within the slot of the black metal wheel and pondered for a time before retrieving another item.
This was a sword which rippled with lustrous light and flickered with purple radiance. The sound of tides vaguely resounded from within as it was like the vast, mighty sea was merged with it.
This was the Purple Sea Sword of the Purple Tide Sword Sect that had belonged to the ‘Purple Tide Swordsman’ Zhao Zhen, their Chief. He had come from the Bright Connection Sea to assist Wutong Slope’s Yuan Xiancheng, yet had been slain by Yan Zhaoge instead at Vast Spirit Mountain. His high-grade Sacred Artifact had thus naturally fallen to Yan Zhaoge.
During that great battle, this sword had nearly been broken by Yan Zhaoge.
There were still multiple cracks running down its length as it was as if it might break into several segments at any moment if one were not careful enough.
Still, its vast, mighty sword-intent remained majestic.
With a flicking motion of Yan Zhaoge’s hand, the Purple Sea Sword transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the Dim Radiant Wheel as well.
In the end, just like the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre, it was devoured by a slot on the Dim Radiant Wheel.
This time, Yan Zhaoge discovered a problem.
While the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre and the Purple Sea Sword had not been devoured into the same slot, they both seemed to have gone to the same place.
Multiple purple tides of the sea surged within the slot where the Golden Crow had been earlier, instantly transforming into an ocean.
Yan Zhaoge pondered for a while before realising, “This is the slot where the Dim Radiant Lamp was devoured in the Dim Radiant Mausoleum back then.”
After observing carefully for some time longer, he saw the purple waves manifested of the Purple Sea Sword rising and ebbing, appearing very normal.
The strange part was that the universe within this slot did not draw away the essence of the great purple sea like it had done with the essence of the sunlight of the Golden Crow earlier.
It was not that it was disdainful of it. Instead, it showed no reaction at all.
On seeing this scene, Yan Zhaoge completely understood it all.
The sword-intent of the Purple Sea Sword and the sword-qi of the Purple Tide Sword Sect which manifested as a purple sea delved into the profundities of the vast, mighty sea.
Meanwhile, this was not within the range of martial arts of the Dim Radiant Sect.
Although Yin Tianxia had sought to collect martial scriptures from all around to improve his own in forging the Dim Radiant Wheel, he had never intended to expand blindly.
The legacy of the Dim Radiant Sect’s martial arts was already extremely refined with his efforts. There was no need to continue branching out as the point was to continue improving ceaselessly.
The purple sea of sword-qi was unnecessary for the Dim Radiant Wheel.
Thus, while the Purple Sea Sword had been ‘devoured’, in truth, the Dim Radiant Wheel had never planned on doing anything to it at all.
This was unlike the Golden Crow World Incinerating Sabre, which it had tried before giving up on.
So in that case, what martial concepts were the Dim Radiant Wheel interested in?
Yin Tianxia’s Dim Radiant Twelve Arts actually already hinted at this.
The former Radiant Light Sect and the Dim Darkness Sect had both been of the Dim Radiant Sect’s orthodox tradition, just that their legacies had been deficient due to various reasons.
The martial scriptures of the two sects had actually originated from those of the Dim Radiant Sect.
Primordial darkness, the absence of light, dim brightness, illusory light, illuminating light…
Extreme Yang with similar principles to the Golden Crow World Incinerating Scripture and the Vast Yang Scripture and the opposing force of Extreme Yin.
All these made up the Dim Radiant Twelve Arts.
Although Yin Tianxia had perished at a young age, his talents a
nd genius had still shocked the world.
“Whether it will absorb and refine the concept contained within a Sacred Artifact is one thing,” Yan Zhaoge muttered itself, “Whether it will collect the Sacred Artifact itself is another thing altogether.”
“These two are actually independent. While the latter services the former, providing it a foundation, the two are actually unrelated.”
Realising this point, Yan Zhaoge gained a hypothesis.
He cultivated in the Dim Radiant Twelve Arts, though primarily just the last of them.
As for the earlier arts, the eleventh was called Wilderness Devouring.
If a martial practitioner cultivated in this art, they would be able to absorb the strength of their enemies.
This concept might be the reason why the Dim Radiant Wheel had been devouring other Sacred Artifacts.
Yan Zhaoge observed the slot that was manifested as a universe and bore the Purple Sea Sword and Golden Crow World Devouring Sabre after they had been devoured.
“If each slot does not correspond to a high-grade Sacred Artifact, instead corresponding with one of the Dim Radiant Twelve Arts, this slot should correspond to the eleventh art, Wilderness Devouring.”
Fingering the exterior of the Dim Radiant Wheel, Yan Zhaoge thought, “This art is the foundation of the Dim Radiant Wheel that the Dim Radiant Emperor established with the Dim Radiant Lamp.”
Absorbing the Dim Radiant Lamp had not been accomplished by the Wilderness Devouring art, instead having been caused by the mechanism for the forging of the Immortal Artifact established by the Dim Radiant Emperor at the start.
The capturing of the other Sacred Artifacts would have been caused by the Wilderness Devouring art that had already been inscribed on the Dim Radiant Wheel.
In the many long years thereafter, even if Yin Tianxia himself died, the Dim Radiant Wheel would still have the possibility of growth.
The growth of the Dim Radiant Wheel would be accomplished by the addition of various martial arts that would allow the legacy of the Dim Radiant Sect to reach a whole new level as the Immortal Artifact was further refined, being unrelated to the high-grade Sacred Artifacts themselves.
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