The other party was surely already aware that these items had fallen into his possession.
Frankly speaking, Yan Zhaoge did not care much about Chen Kunhua.
This was despite the fact that Chen Kunhua was actually one cultivation level above him, being a mid Immortal Bridge Martial Saint.
He was not being arrogant here.
As compared to the ‘Earthly Young Master’ Chen Kunhua, someone was more worth Yan Zhaoge’s attention.
This person was naturally the former ‘Heavenly Young Master’ and the current Upper Exalt, Chen Qianhua.
If one were to speak of variables which might be enough to influence the overall situation for Broad Creed Mountain’s opening ceremony, this Upper Exalt was definitely one of those who were ranked in front.
Yan Zhaoge did not fear powerful enemies. Still, he hated uncertain factors.
Coincidentally, according to the many rumours circulating throughout the World beyond Worlds, Chen Qianhua who was the first person beneath the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors just happened to be the most unpredictable person ever.
One might also call him the most unstable factor.
For the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and the other Exalts, others were hard pressed to discern their thoughts because their considerations ran deep, their moods fluctuating formlessly.
At the very least, though, according to their previous actions, there were clues through which one could consolidate an overall trend and predict what they might do.
Even if some of it might be feigned, there were still clues to follow at least.
There was only the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua whose moods were fickle and unpredictable, with his actions always diverging from the expected as many of them were abnormal and contradictory too.
Even the Sovereigns and Emperors were unable to properly grasp his thoughts.
Still, whatever the case, he was indeed the most outstanding genius of the martial dao within the World beyond Worlds in recent years.
The other bigwigs treated this junior whose extraordinary talents presided arrogantly over both present and past rather well.
While Chen Kunhua’s title of ‘Earthly Young Master’ corresponded with his brother’s former title of ‘Heavenly Young Master’, if not for the tacit approval of Kunlun Mountain’s Southern High Peak’s Qilin’s Cliff’s Earthly Sovereign and Earth Exalt, it would probably have been difficult for this to spread throughout the entire World beyond Worlds in becoming publicly recognised by all.
How much of this should be attributed to Chen Kunhua’s own talent and how much of it was due to his brother’s face was very hard to tell for sure.
What Yan Zhaoge was feeling more interested in now was this: Since Chen Kunhua had come, would Chen Qianhua be coming too?
While thinking about this, Yan Zhaoge arrived at the Earth Descending Peak of his sect.
Aside from Chen Kunhua, many other guests had also already arrived at Broad Creed Mountain.
For example, martial practitioners of Ingenious Flying Peak’s Red Lotus Cliff had already arrived. Not having arrived late since they were of the Brocade Emperor’s lineage, they had arrived early instead.
Of course, Fu Ting was not amongst them.
Knowing full well the reason behind this, Yan Zhaoge did not find it strange.
Meanwhile, Pavilion Lord Gu Hong of the North Sea Sword Pavilion and Chief Zhou Haosheng of the Dim Radiant Sect had already arrived as well.
As compared to when they had previously combined forces in resisting the Grand Xuan Dynasty, the other powers of the Royal Reed Sea had already tacitly admitted Broad Creed Mountain’s dominant position now.
In recruiting disciples throughout the entire Royal Reed Sea in its opening ceremony this time, Broad Creed Mountain had also obtained the tacit permission of these powers and even their assistance.
This was the authority of a hegemon of any region. They had the foremost pick of the most outstanding local talents.
The locals naturally wished to be able to join the strongest power. Still, due to factors like the great geographical distance etcetera, it was easy for oversights to be made.
With Broad Creed Mountain being able to choose from the domains of the North Sea Sword Pavilion, the Dim Darkness Sect and the other powers in opening its doors this time, the possibility of missing out on a gem amidst the vast sea was indisputably very low.
Of course, Broad Creed Mountain seldom went so far. Similar situations were limited to large scale ceremonies like their opening ceremony this time as only then would the collecting of talents be done on such a large scale. Meanwhile, such ceremonies would naturally not be very frequent.
In a remote side hall, Yan Zhaoge met that Earthly Young Master.
This person was indeed handsome and amicable, giving off a feeling like a refreshing spring breeze.
It was said that as compared to First Young Master Chen who was off gallivanting who knew where for much of the time, this Second Young Master Chen had far-reaching connections as he was quite familiar with the others of the World beyond Worlds.
“I must apologise for coming uninvited,” Chen Kunhua was observing Yan Zhaoge too as he cupped his hands and smiled after observing him for a moment.
Yan Zhaoge returned the greeting, “You have travelled far to come here. Our sect naturally welcomes it. Please excuse any lack of courtesy there may previously have been.”
Playing with the fan in his hands, Chen Kunhua smiled, “No, I am the one who has intruded. I like making friends and going where things are happening. With your sect’s opening ceremony being one of the few major events to happen in recent years, I got a sudden urge and thus came over here. Hopefully you do not find this laughable, Young Chief Yan.”
“Making friends? Going where things are happening?” Yan Zhaoge glanced at Chen Kunhua.
These words were rather iffy.
Making friends with whom?
Going where things were happening and doing what?
It seemed like anything could really be said of this.
“You overstate things, Second Young Master Chen. This Yan dares not claim the name of Young Chief. While my father is the current Chief, the position of Chief is not passed down through our bloodline. The elders have still yet to make any decision.”
Yan Zhaoge said nonchalantly, “As for me myself, I am used to being lazy, and probably could not really live up to something so major too.”
Chen Kunhua smiled upon hearing this, “I misspoke. Please do not take offence, Young Master Yan. It is just that after seeing your father, I have seen that you clearly preside outstandingly over those of the same generation as well. Therefore, I felt greatly emotional. Please do not take this to heart.”
“How would I? You are too polite, Earthly Young Master,” Yan Zhaoge smiled too.
The first meeting between the two could still be considered pleasant on the surface.
Still, neither side mentioned the matter of Three Foot Mountain.
It was just that Yan Zhaoge knew that the other party might not really have come simply to observe the ceremony.
What mattered was this: If he was actually hostile, would the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua be coming too?
This was really the crux of the matter.
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1020: Even without me, my legend lives on
HSSB1020: Even without me, my legend lives on
There were many rumours regarding the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua.
Never having personally seen him make a move before, Yan Zhaoge could not make a precise judgment of his abilities.
Yan Zhaoge had personally witnessed the Earth Exalt Wang Zhengcheng revealing a fraction of his strength back during the battle between the Brocade Emperor and Mars Halberd that year.
Yan Zhaoge had also seen the Little Sword God in action, he who had been called Qian Xueji when active in the World beyond Worlds but whose actual name was Long Xueji.
In comparison to
these two people, Yan Zhaoge could basically guess at the strength of Chen Qianhua who was acclaimed alongside Long Xueji and was superior to Wang Zhengcheng.
First not mentioning the Little Sword God Long Xueji, the Earth Exalt Wang Zhengcheng was a figure of legend who could virtually suppress the conflicts between Martial Saints with just his own power.
Even if those people were other Exalts!
The reason for this ‘virtually’ was primarily that this excluded the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua who was superior to him.
It might also be said that the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua was an existence who could suppress the World beyond Worlds if the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors did not make an appearance.
He was possibly one of the rare experts in all of history who could resist some True Immortals with the body of a mortal.
Of course, resisting and being suppressed were two different things altogether.
There were also two different standards for being able to resist True Immortals and being able to escape alive from True Immortals.
Yan Zhaoge could not really judge the martial prowess of this Upper Exalt who stood at the top of the World beyond Worlds’ Martial Saints as he had never personally interacted with him before.
Still, amongst the numerous uncertain variables, this was indisputably the most significant one.
This was especially so with the inscrutable uninvited arrival of the Earthly Young Master Chen Kunhua.
Had he come here just for show or was he arriving earlier before his elder brother would?
There was probably only Chen Kunhua himself who knew this.
Still, one did not reach out to slap a smiling face. With the other party having paid all the proper respects and not demonstrated any hostility, Broad Creed Mountain could naturally not refuse to let him in. Otherwise, others might see them as a joke.
Yan Zhaoge did not hesitate as he hosted Chen Kunhua at a guest lodging of the Mountain. There would naturally be other disciples of Broad Creed Mountain to take care of things after this.
As the date of the opening ceremony drew closer, the Broad Creed Mountain martial practitioners who had left looking for talents all began successively returning to the Mountain.
Most of them had headed to places outside of the Royal Reed Sea.
Something like this was actually a bit of a taboo as it might easily lead to the collective resistance of the major local powers.
Still, with the awe-inspiring authority established by Yan Zhaoge’s rampage through the south and killing of peak Martial Saints like Zhang Shuren, Peng He and Qing Shuzi that year still remaining, it made for some immense intimidation.
Golden Court Mountain who ruled over the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory did not raise any objections as well.
As this time’s opening ceremony was a special circumstance and would almost certainly never happen again, those local snakeheads of the Setting Sun Archipelago, Jade Sun Mountain Range, Green Peak High Plains and Consecutive Drum Mountain Range etcetera whose territories Broad Creed Mountain had trespassed on ultimately sighed and simply allowed this to happen.
Meanwhile, things were instead rather more convenient over in the southern Blazing Heaven Territory at Circumference Mountain and the nearby regions where the Dynasty River flowed past.
The established authority of Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain was even greater there.
While Yan Zhaoge had yet to enter the southern Blazing Heaven Territory again after the battle at Circumference Mountain back then, his legend still existed there at this point in time.
Yan Zhaoge and Broad Creed Mountain had formlessly become a crownless king at Circumference Mountain and these other lands.
Things had remained this way all these years.
Only when the Southern Exalt Zhuang Shen had returned to the southern Blazing Heaven Territory this year had this situation been alleviated somewhat.
Still, because the Southern Exalt had not immediately blown up, Yan Zhaoge still held a certain level of authority over the regions which the Dynasty Region flowed through.
Broad Creed Mountain’s martial practitioners had brought back many good seeds from those places as a result.
“Young Master, there really are some people with quite some potential this time.”
Currently, Broad Creed Mountain still rather lacked manpower in the World beyond Worlds.
Therefore, Ah Hu had previously been dispatched outside as well, only having returned not long ago.
It was the same for Xiao Ai as well. Still, it was another thing which Xiao Ai had been more interested in ever since returning to the Mountain.
“Young Master, Young Master, this maid saw that Earthly Young Master just now. Though he cannot be compared to Young Master, he is still a remarkably handsome guy!”
Xiao Ai’s fists were clenched with her eyes shining as she said excitedly to Yan Zhaoge, “If he’s yet to find a partner, he can get an A- rating!”
Yan Zhaoge rolled his eyes, “Xiao Ai, you easily make me worry like this. Just a single hot guy scheme by the enemy would be enough to take you down.”
“How is that possible?” Xiao Ai waved her hands, “Only Lord and Young Master are A+. However outstanding anyone else is, they can still only be an A at most.”
Hearing her words, Yan Zhaoge did not know whether to laugh or to cry.
“In that case, shouldn’t I feel relieved then?” Yan Zhaoge put a hand on his head.
While this girl was still man-crazy, she had still finally agreed not long ago to make a special exception for Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di in her evaluation standards.
Only their evaluation ratings did not take into account whether they were already taken.
Sitting there, Xiao Ai put her hands on her cheeks, “I heard that his brother the Upper Exalt is even more extraordinarily handsome. I just wonder-how is he when compared to the Brocade Emperor?”
Yan Zhaoge rolled his eyes.
The Brocade Emperor Fu Yunchi could be said to be the man with the most outstanding looks of all.
Still, as Xiao Ai had said, while the Brocade Emperor caused the man-crazy her to salivate, he only had an A rating.
Of course, because this A person was just too outstanding, with no one being able to surpass it, the girl had made another exception and added an A^ rating that was between the A and A+ grades just for the Brocade Emperor alone. Yan Zhaoge and the others had all nearly spit out their meals at this.
“Today is the day of the opening ceremony, Young Master…” Ah Hu looked at Yan Zhaoge, “How do I say this? It is unnaturally calm.”
Yan Zhaoge said, “It is the calm before the storm. Since the Heaven Emperor has already returned, it will be today if something happens. It did not happen earlier, and it will definitely not happen later.”
As he said this, other disciples of Broad Creed Mountain came to report that the most heavyweight guest thus far had arrived.
The lord of the Southeastern Yang Heaven Territory, the Southeastern Exalt Cao Jie, was here.
Yan Zhaoge went forth to receive him. There was no need for words as they met each other as a tacit understanding had already been reached.
“I have something that I would like to ask the Southeastern Exalt.”
While a major incident would definitely be happening later that day, Yan Zhaoge was composed as he calmly sent to Cao Jie via sound transmission, “This thing may be a bit sudden. It is regarding my mother.”
Cao Jie knit his brows as he looked at Yan Zhaoge.
“To tell you the truth, I have been once to the lands of the Immortal Court, already knowing about some things. I’m guessing that my mother’s matter is related to the Immortal Court,” Yan Zhaoge asked, “I wonder if my guess is correct?”
Cao Jie slightly relaxed his brows before knitting them up again, not immediately replying as he instead asked, “This information cannot be allowed to spread.”
Basically knowing what Cao Jie was thinking, Yan Zhaoge did not bother
mentioning that his situation was different from Fu Ting’s as he nodded, answering, “You can rest assured. I understand.”
Now, a streak of sword-light suddenly flew over from the west, descending towards Broad Creed Mountain.
Broad Creed Mountain was familiar with this person. It was none other than the Southeastern Swordsmistress.
The Swordsmistress landed on Broad Creed Mountain without obstruction, arriving before Yan Zhaoge and Cao Jie.
Looking at Yan Zhaoge, she did not exchange words with Cao Jie via sound transmission as she instead said straight out, “Something’s up!”
“The flow of the Dynasty River is rapidly weakening. If this continues, the flow will surely break within the day!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1021: Everything rests on today
HSSB1021: Everything rests on today
The Dynasty River was a renowned major water vein of the World beyond Worlds.
It originated from the central Jun Heaven Territory’s Screen Moat Snowy Mountain, heading southeast as it passed through the central Jun Heaven Territory and the southern Blazing Heaven Territory, flowing for billions of kilometres.
Back in the battle at Circumference Mountain that year, Yan Zhaoge had shocked the world due to none other than this Dynasty River which had enabled him to establish the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, trapping and killing three late Immortal Bridge Martial Saint experts.
Even though Yan Zhaoge had returned to the southeast after that battle, never having again gone to the southern Blazing Heaven Territory, the martial practitioners of Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope had dared not even take a single step within the domain of Circumference Mountain again before the return of the Southern Exalt.
It was not just Circumference Mountain. The Wutong Slope martial practitioners had retreated from all the areas within the southern Blazing Heaven Territory that the Dynasty River flowed through.
The entire eastern region of the Southern Blazing Heaven Territory had virtually been tacitly acknowledged as Yan Zhaoge’s dominion.
Without the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, the Dynasty River itself was still a natural moat for many.
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