History's Strongest Senior Brother c1-1474

by 八月飞鹰, Ba Yue Fei Ying, August Eagle

  “He probably does not want to enter a direct conflict with senior apprentice-uncle Yue’s lineage of Jade Capital Crag,” Yan Zhaoge exhaled slowly, “Instead, he wishes to intercept her partway through, not giving us a chance to know at all. Since her whereabouts were unknown before, let them remain unknown forever.”

  Yan Di’s gaze flickered with a cold light as he pondered momentarily before saying, “While they will be keeping an eye on us after this, we too must keep an eye on them as well.”

  “It is precisely so,” Yan Zhaoge nodded.

  The Northeastern Exalt Liu Zhenggu now said, “Since the Earthly Sovereign and the Concealed Sovereign will not intervene directly, Broad Creed Mountain should have no major opposition in henceforth advancing westward into the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.”

  “It will be around a hundred years from now that the Ten Directions Heart’s Will Formation is to be established. Bar any major incidences, Southern Zhuang’s death will not affect the overall situation of the World beyond Worlds.”

  With the deaths of many famed peak experts like Zhuang Shen, Peng He and Zhang Shuren, while Phoenix Ritual Mountain’s Wutong Slope still had the ninth level Martial Saint ‘Phoenix Crying Southern Territory’ Mao Yuansheng, they were already destined to be unable to rule the southern Blazing Heaven Territory any longer.

  In order to avoid Broad Creed Mountain and Golden Court Mountain finding trouble for them in the future, it might even be the case that Wutong Slope’s lineage ended up going underground, perhaps even went elsewhere completely.

  “Southern Zhuang was a notable persona. If Wutong Slope does not try any hidden schemes to harm us, our sect has no intention of pushing them unrelentingly to the brink, trying to wipe them all out,” Yan Di said, “Still, if they refuse to give up, I would not mind ending this lineage of theirs for good.”

  The Southwestern Exalt Bai Tao said, “In the current World beyond Worlds, there is a small number of people who are only a mere half-step away from the Human Exalt stage and might possibly break through at any time.”

  While ordinary people might not know of this, people of their level had more knowledge of this kind.

  “Still, you, senior apprentice-uncle Yan, as well as junior apprentice-brother Yan both possess remarkable strength. At the Immortal Bridge stage, you are already comparable to Exalts.”

  “While you may be lacking in terms of title, your strength is more than sufficient to reign over the south.”

  Bai Tao continued, “Just as Northeastern Liu said, the fact that one of the current Ten Exalts has now died should not affect things much. Also, there should be people coming to fill that spot very soon.”

  “Even if this is not the case, with the strength and potential that the two of you possess, you would definitely be able to ascend the Human Exalt stage far earlier than merely within a hundred years’ time.”

  Cao Jie and Liu Zhenggu both nodded in agreement.

  Actually, if someone were to immediately achieve a breakthrough into the Human Exalt stage and take over Zhuang Shen’s position now, it would really be extremely awkward.

  Being on amicable terms with Golden Court Mountain, Broad Creed Mountain did not intend to expand their influence too greatly within the southeastern Yang Heaven Territory.

  Still, they would not stand on ceremony for those other Territories.

  If that really happened, how would the newly elected Southern Exalt deal with these two Immortal Bridge Martial Saints beneath his reign who were very likely more powerful than he was?

  Also, these two Immortal Bridge Martial Saints were of the same family.

  Let alone the newly ascended Exalts, even if it were another of the other nine current Exalts who came, besides the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua and the Earth Exalt Wang Zhengcheng, it would be a tough job for any one of them to handle.

  “It’s not that there are no exceptions…” The hearts of Cao Jie and Liu Zhenggu both jolted slightly as their gazes congregated on the same person.

  Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di were actually also looking towards that black-clothed youth beside Bai Tao at this moment.

  “Senior apprentice-brother Nie should be one of those who can attain the Human Exalt stage at any time, right?” Yan Zhaoge asked.

  A warm smile appeared on the black-clothed youth’s usually cold, resilient face, “I can already do it now. Still, I will wait a little longer.”

  “I came here this time to congratulate senior apprentice-uncle Yan’s and junior apprentice-brother Yan’s Broad Creed Mountain. Still, it is not that our Jade Capital Crag is greedy for an Exalt position, seeking to be rulers of a Territory.”

  His tone was casual and breezy as if he was saying something which could not be any more normal.

  Heard by anyone else, they would probably find this as shocking as thunder across a flat plain.

  Still, all those present, including Yan Zhaoge, Yan Di, Yuan Zhengfeng and the others of Broad Creed Mountain did not find this to be any surprising at all.

  The Heaven Emperor and the others had primarily placed their attention on the Female Emperor Jie Mingkong initially.

  Still, when Bai Tao and the others had appeared, besides the Heaven Emperor whose expression was as per usual, Zhuang Shen, Lang Qing and the others clearly had vigilant expressions on their faces.

  This was not just wariness of Jade Capital Crag which they hailed from. It was also wariness with regard to their martial prowess.

  It was just that the Southwestern Exalt Bai Tao was not who Zhuang Shen and the others had been exceptionally concerned about.

  It was that cool, silent black-clothed youth!

  “Two centuries ago Little Sword God, one century ago Heavenly Young Master.”

  This was a rather widespread phrase in the World beyond Worlds.

  Besides this, there was another similarly famous line.

  “Kunlun’s God Shocking Dragon, Youth Enlightening Eight Sects.”

  The latter parts of both sayings referred to the same person, the former Heavenly Young Master and the current Upper Exalt, Chen Qianhua.

  Before Chen Qianhua had attained the Human Exalt stage, in his travels about the World beyond Worlds, he had given pointers and brought enlightenment to eight major powers, aiding them in further refining their martial arts.

  These eight major powers which were scattered about the World beyond Worlds had all become renowned lineages that presided over a region now.

  The southeastern Yang Heaven Territory’s Green Peak High Plain’s Three Foot Mountain had only been one of them.

  The eight great sects all had supreme martial arts which specialised in different areas as they even possessed vastly different styles. Still, they all had many experts as they were clouds and profound martial arts.

  Yet, it was only because of the enlightenment from Chen Qianhua that the martial arts of these eight sects had achieved the flourishing state they were at today.

  While Chen Qianhua had been young and yet to attain the Human Exalt stage at the time, he had already vaguely been worshipped and respected by these eight major sects as their overlord.

  He possessed the wondrous reputation of ‘Youth Enlightening Eight Sects’.

  The earlier part of the second phrase, ‘Kunlun’s God Shocking Dragon’, referred to another person.

  This person’s name was Nie Jingshen, or Nie Shocking God.

  While he was younger than Long Xueji and Chen Qianhua, he was publicly acknowledged in the World beyond Worlds as yet another otherworldly genius following the Little Sword God and the Heavenly Young Master.

  He was the final disciple of the Sword Sovereign Yue Zhenbei at Kunlun Mountain’s Northern High Peak’s Jade Capital Crag.

  Shocking God Sword, Nie Shocking God.

  It was rumoured that he was an orphan whom the Sword Sovereign had happened to meet by chance.

  When they had met, the Sword Sovereign’s sword had reverberated within its scabbard!

  This oddity had
caused the Sword Sovereign to feel startled and curious too as he had brought him back to Jade Capital Crag where he had raised him, meanwhile also christening him Nie Jingshen, or Nie Shocking God.

  His name was Shocking God, his title was Shocking God, and his sword arts also shocked the world and caused all otherworldly spirits to weep in shock.

  He had once battled to a draw with the lofty Northwestern Exalt Lian Zulin back in the past.

  That had merely been simple sparring as they had let it end in a draw just like that.

  They themselves aside, no one knew how things might have ended if they had battled to the death.

  Lian Zulin had only said a phrase which had circulated widely afterwards.

  Of the Sword Emperor’s lineage, Shocking God reigns on top.

  At the time, Nie Jingshen had been at the eighth level of the Martial Saint realm.

  History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1048: Geniuses of Daoism

  HSSB1048: Geniuses of Daoism

  The current Nie Jingshen had already long since attained the ninth level of the Martial Saint realm.

  At the same time, he was publicly acclaimed within the World beyond Worlds as the martial practitioner who was most likely to become a new Exalt.

  Just like him, the likes of Qing Shuzi would be a mere step away from the Human Exalt stage as they could break through that bottleneck at any moment.

  Still, even if the likes of them beat him to it, that would still not be anything worth being happy about at all.

  Some gossipy people had once theorised something like this in the World beyond Worlds.

  Amongst Martial Saints, it was indisputably the Upper Exalt Chen Qianhua who was ranked first.

  The one who was ranked second was also obvious, this being the Earth Exalt, Wang Zhencheng.

  Yet, the one who was ranked third was Nie Jingshen of the ninth level of the Martial Saint realm!

  This had not received widespread acknowledgment due to the prestigious nature of the Ten Exalts.

  Still, it was worth thinking about how Nie Jingshen’s own senior apprentice-brother, the Southwestern Exalt Bai Tao, as well as the other Human Exalt experts, had all not flared up in dissatisfaction over such a saying.

  At the present time, those who were in the know were actually all looking forward to seeing how things would be like when Nie Jingshen accomplished the Human Exalt stage.

  The Little Sword God Long Xueji who had still been using the fake name of Qian Xueji back then had been active for too short a time in the World beyond Worlds as fewer people knew of him now.

  Rather than that, everyone wanted to see who exactly was the superior between the Heavenly Young Master and the Shocking God Sword.

  And now, yet another new legend had arisen.

  The phrase ‘A lineage’s father and son, Duo Fallen Deities they are’ was currently beginning to spread rapidly within the World beyond Worlds.

  The ones who were being evaluated as such were Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di, who were well deserving of their reputation in having mightily withstood the Heaven Emperor and slain the Southern Exalt in the battle of the Royal Reed Sea.

  The person who had evaluated them as such was the current most outstanding younger generation expert of the World beyond Worlds, ‘Shocking God Sword’ Nie Jingshen.

  It was the combination of these two that caused the wondrous reputation of the Yan Family’s Duo Fallen Deities to swiftly seep into the hearts of those of the World beyond Worlds at a rapid pace.

  Many people felt emotional at how the resurgence of Daoism really seemed to be happening now.

  Apart from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, numerous shocking geniuses had appeared in recent years.

  Long Xueji who had made a fleeting but shocking appearance, the current number one Martial Saint Chen Qianhua, Nie Jingshen who was not an Exalt but surpassed some, and finally Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di who had both only risen to prominence over the course of the past decade or so.

  These were all genius-like figures who only appeared once in a hundred or even thousand years following the decline of Daoism in post-Great Calamity times.

  Meanwhile, their collective appearance over the past couple of centuries caused people to feel that following so many years of gradual accumulation following the Great Calamity, now was finally when their efforts bore fruit.

  Yan Zhaoge and those of Broad Creed Mountain had heard rumours on Nie Jingshen long before this.

  It was just that before today, they had not imagined that there was actually such a connection between them.

  While it was said that Nie Jingshen was the person closest to the Human Exalt stage in the World beyond Worlds, no one outside of Jade Capital Crag knew that this black-clothed youth had already reached the point where he could achieve his breakthrough whenever he wanted.

  If not for the events at Broad Creed Mountain today, he might already simply have done so by now.

  And now, Nie Jingshen’s stance was equivalent to saying that Broad Creed Mountain would not meet any real opposition in advancing into and taking over the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.

  Of the other late Immortal Bridge Martial Saints who might be able to successfully attain the Human Exalt stage within a short upcoming period of time, none of them would be confident of suppressing Yan Zhaoge and his father as they were now.

  Even if they successfully completed their breakthrough, they would still not want to go step on mines in the southern Blazing Heaven Territory.

  “It is just that while your sect has inherited the name of the East Peak of Daoism from the legends, you will have to develop in the south,” Wang Pu smiled.

  Those present could not help but smile.

  Meanwhile, Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, his eyes gleaming as he seemed to be thinking about something.

  “Everyone, this Yan has something to request. I hope that you can assist us if possible,” Yan Di now said, “I may also have to bother the Female Emperor.”

  Cao Jie, Liu Zhenggu, Wang Pu and the others all had solemn looks on their faces as they were feeling curious inwardly.

  Yan Di was such a proud and resilient person as it was seldom that he asked others for help. Even when he had been facing pressure from the Heaven Emperor and four great Exalts earlier, he had been utterly fearless. Yet, he was now taking the initiative to ask for help. This was not a common sight indeed.

  Yan Di said, “I had a senior apprentice-brother whose descendants have been compromised in some way. We were initially unable to detect this. Only after this Yan and my son’s cultivation bases had grown were we able to realise this abnormality.”

  “Still, the things that we can tell are still very limited. Therefore, we would like for you to help us take a look at them.”

  He and Yan Zhaoge possessed extraordinary strength that far surpassed the norm. Still, for some matters, a certain cultivation base was required before they could do it.

  “It is related to the Nine Underworlds,” Yan Zhaoge now added solemnly.

  Having been in the Heavenly Court’s Divine Palace before the Great Calamity, he possessed great knowledge and discernment abilities as he could even see through some things that Yan Di could not. Still, only just having ascended the Immortal Bridge, he was definitely still limited somewhat.

  Hearing the Nine Underworlds being mentioned, the expressions of Nie Jingshen, Cao Jie, Bai Tao and the others all turned solemn.

  This was the number one tainted, filthy ground of evil beneath the heavens that had stood in opposition to the entirety of the great thousand worlds in pre-Great Calamity times.

  Numerous devils danced in chaos, countless experts existing amongst them.

  The Great Calamity seemed to have affected the Nine Underworlds too.

  Still, they remained all-pervasive as they encroached into the various worlds of post-Great Calamity times.

  A gate to the devilish Nine Underworlds had opened in the Eight Extremities World that year as True Devils had
very nearly descended.

  With them now sealed, only then had the Eight Extremities World heaved a collective sigh of relief. It was already the limit for them as no one would even consider the idea of counterattacking.

  This was unlike the Flame Devil World whose strongest expert was merely the Great Flame Devil King who was comparable to a third level Martial Saint. He had been slain by Yan Di and the others with the formation that they had established back then.

  While the Flame Devils were on their home ground and possessed a major advantage as a result with a huge increment to their strength, after Yuan Zhengfeng and the others had attained the Seeing Divinity stage, they were really no longer worth mentioning at all.

  Having once been harmed the most greatly by the invasion of the Flame Devils, the first thing that Broad Creed Mountain had done with its newfound strength had been to counterattack the Flame Devil World, completely destroying the place.

  The current Flame Devil World was already completely consigned to the dustbin of history by now.

  However, the Nine Underworlds were a whole different story altogether.

  Encroaching on and invading the Eight Extremities World was just a special characteristic of the Nine Underworlds.

  The devils that had nearly descended that year were merely some little underlings who really meant nothing at all when compared to the entire Nine Underworlds.

  The actual great Devils truly targeted the entirety of the great thousand worlds as the likes of lower worlds like the Eight Extremities World, the Vast Ocean World and the Floating Gate World did not actually mean much to them.

  Thus, the sealing of the gate to the Nine Underworlds in the Earth Domain of the Eight Extremities World had not done much besides leading to the unhappiness of the minor devils in the vicinity of the gate.

  As for those of the Eight Extremities World, it was impossible that they would take the initiative to open that devilish gate.

  It was just that the situations of Shi Jun and Ying Yuzhen were very unique.

  The fact that even Yan Zhaoge who had already ascended the Immortal Bridge stage was unable to get to the bottom of this entailed that the Devil who had left marks on them back then was definitely not simple.