The Extreme Yin Crown was a Sacred Artifact on the same level as the Extreme Yang Seal as it had great strength within the mortal realm.
If she did not encounter great devils equivalent to the Immortal realm of Daoism, Feng Yunsheng would still be relatively safe even if she entered the Nine Underworlds.
Yet, if she had yet to attain the Seeing Divinity stage and could not sufficiently exert the power of the Extreme Yin Crown, even if Feng Yunsheng could use a portion of its strength, whether she might be able to emerge from it safely if she entered its depths was very hard to say indeed.
It would be a whole different matter altogether if as a Merging Avatar Martial Saint, she had been bewitched by the Nine Underworlds, only then having ventured so deeply within.
They would have to carefully reconsider their search for Feng Yunsheng this time.
Still, since they had already come, Yan Zhaoge would certainly not let things go just like that.
“We should still go in and look around for a while,” The Brocade Emperor now said, “Perhaps Little Friend Feng is in need of our help right now?”
The Encompassing Emperor nodded, “Let us go then.”
As they ventured onwards, a shocking sound resounded by their ears which grew louder and louder till it eventually became deafening.
The light amidst the dim darkness before them gradually dispersed, black fog suffusing the area as a vicious, sinister bloodred lustre vaguely flickered.
This was no longer a crevice to the Nine Underworlds like in the Eight Extremities World as it was an existence like a boundless, bitter sea that faced the Nine Underworlds directly.
“This place is rather strange. While the devilish qi of the Nine Underworlds has also corroded space, it has not been a smooth process,” Glancing around, the Brocade Emperor said leisurely, “It is as if there is some entity which has interrupted the corrosive effect of the Nine Underworlds on space.”
The Encompassing Emperor looked around for a moment before nodding, “While related to Grand Illusory Spatial Thunder, it does not seem to be just that.”
They continued walking, finally completely entering that dense black fog.
As they strode forth, the world before them instantly changed completely.
The feeling was not like when one travelled from the Eight Extremities World to the Vast Ocean World or Floating Life World, or even to the World beyond Worlds.
Instead, it was as if one had themselves become a different lifeform, switching to a different state of being.
It was like the fleshly body had died and the soul had left the body, going from a person to a spirit.
The entire universe was barren and also restless.
Once they entered, let alone Meng Wan, even Yan Zhaoge felt slightly uncomfortable.
They had previously been in other worlds at the end of the day as they faced the assault of the devilish qi of the Nine Underworlds. Now that they were in the actual Nine Underworlds, that power which bewitched one’s mind-how would it only be a mere tenfold, hundredfold increase?
Yan Zhaoge even felt that the Faceless Devil Scripture that he had only referred to and never actually cultivated in for real before seemed to have gained a life of its own.
Borrowing the power of the Nine Underworlds, the text of the Faceless Devil Scripture in Yan Zhaoge’s memories vaguely sought to form a seed in his body to sprout within his soul.
After it had developed and grown, that would be when it tried to take over him.
Besides the Faceless Devil Scripture, there were also many other devilish arts that seemed like they were going to draw over devilish qi, becoming devils in their own right.
It was just that none of these were as intense as the Faceless Devil Scripture.
“The Nine Underworlds is remarkable indeed. I wonder how Yunsheng is doing now,” Yan Zhaoge calmed himself and circulated his profound arts, suppressing and wiping out all these inner devils.
He paid attention to the state of the Brocade Emperor beside him.
With how the Brocade Emperor was right now, one might say that it would be extremely easy for the Nine Underworlds to make use of this chance and assault him.
While he might not be physically compromised right now, the contrary should be true for his mind.
The Encompassing Emperor thought the same as Yan Zhaoge on this. Thus, he had come along this time in case such a thing happened.
The Brocade Emperor, though, appeared as per usual and wholly unaware as he seemed not to take any notice of how the two were paying attention to him.
He simply continued searching for traces left behind by Feng Yunsheng while making sure that Meng Wan was still doing okay.
With different thoughts in mind, they continued advancing forward in this world in which humans should not dwell.
The auras of living people instantly drew the attention of numerous devils.
Still, the devils that appeared in the vicinity were merely at the level of human Martial Saints at most as they naturally had no way of impeding the footsteps of Yan Zhaoge and the others.
Still, not long after they had entered, Yan Zhaoge and the others suddenly felt that the devilish qi about the area seemed to have gradually gotten lighter.
They exchanged glances, “There is indeed a unique existence interfering with this region of the Nine Underworlds and lessening its encroachment on surrounding dimensions.”
Yan Zhaoge and the others immediately identified that direction and proceeded where the devilish qi was weaker.
As they approached, the devilish qi steadily diminished.
There was a biting cold feel which was growing stronger and stronger.
Yan Zhaoge, the Encompassing Emperor and the Brocade Emperor exchanged looks, blurting out simultaneously, “Sword-intent?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1085: Sword God, Sword Devil
HSSB1085: Sword God, Sword Devil
It was indeed sword-intent.
What was even more worthy of attention was that it was not just a single source of sword-intent.
Instead, two sword-intents were colliding with ringing, metallic sounds as they clashed in mid-air.
The ringing of the swords seemed to traverse distant time, arriving all the way in the present age.
Even from a great distance away, that sharp, biting sword-intent caused a chill to run throughout one’s entire body.
As Yan Zhaoge and the others approached and felt that sword-intent, their hearts jolted in unison.
The gazes of the Brocade Emperor and the Encompassing Emperor simultaneously fell on Yan Zhaoge.
Yan Zhaoge muttered aloud, “Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword…”
From his interactions with Wang Pu and the others at Kunlun Mountain, he was not unfamiliar with the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword.
Moreover, he had personally witnessed that shocking sword by the Sword Sovereign Yue Zhenbei in the Royal Reed Sea that year which had split the heavens and opened the world.
Yan Zhaoge discovered that one of these two sword-intents was precisely of the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword which had been created by his own grandfather, Yan Xingtang.
Yue Zhenbei’s sword-intent had been inherited from him, pure and refined.
The Brocade Emperor and the Encompassing Emperor clearly recognised this sword-intent too as the latter wondered aloud, “I just wonder if this was left behind by the Sword Sovereign in the past, or if it was…the Exalted Gold Luminary?”
“The other sword-intent is not of the Prime Clear lineage, though,” The Brocade Emperor appeared rather interested.
While the combatants from back then had possessed deep cultivation bases, having been able to persist till now with such intact integrity without being corroded by the Nine Underworlds was in large part due to the fact that these two clashing sword-intents had attained a subtle equilibrium, thereby resisting the weathering of time together.
The other sword-intent was clearly suppress
ed by the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword. Still it was remarkable nevertheless as it could still be considered a rare existence beneath the heavens.
Yan Zhaoge and the two Emperors could all tell that it was not from any of the Numinous Treasure Four Swords of the Prime Clear lineage.
The Prime Clear lineage’s Numinous Treasure Four Swords had collectively always been the highest ever accomplishment in the dao of the sword for Daoism.
In the eyes of many Daoist martial practitioners, especially those of the Prime Clear direct lineage, the Numinous Treasure Four Swords were also the greatest ever sword arts existing in this world.
Over the years, some challengers would only occasionally appear who possessed the qualifications to challenge the sword arts of the Prime Clear lineage.
Yet, it was merely being qualified.
For instance, there was Cultivated Deity Jade Cauldron from the legendary era of the Investiture of the Gods, a personal disciple of the founder of the Jade Clear lineage, the Primordial Heavenly Lord.
For instance, there was the Purple Tenuity Emperor who had later been one of the Four Imperials of Daoism. He had created a new lineage of his own from one of the Grand Clear direct lineage’s Later Heaven Five Ultimates.
The two of them had been acclaimed alongside the Lord of Plentiful Treasure of the Prime Clear direct lineage as Daoism’s three peak sword cultivators.
In truth, though, there were many more powerful sword experts of the Prime Clear lineage as the Lord of Plentiful Treasure was simply the best amongst them.
Outside of Daoism, a famed swordsman had once been produced from Buddhism just after the Gautama Buddha had Transcended. It had been a real sight indeed as he had then sparred with descendants of the Prime Clear lineage.
Still, after the life cycle of that Buddhist swordsman had ended, Buddhism’s sword dao had again fallen silent.
Still, one had to note that while these experts had been outstanding as they had been able to compete with sword cultivators of the Prime Clear lineage, the sword daos of their legacies ultimately were still less mighty and renowned than the Numinous Treasure Four Swords.
Perhaps it should be said that they had challenged not the Prime Clear lineage’s sword dao, but rather merely the Prime Clear lineage’s sword cultivators.
The first actual challenge to the Prime Clear lineage’s sword dao had actually come after the Great Calamity.
It was Yan Zhaoge’s grandfather, the Exalted Gold Luminary Yan Xingtang, who had made a name for himself on the world’s stage, creating the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword atop the sword dao of Cultivated Deity Jade Cauldron, thus creating a real opponent for the Numinous Treasure Four Swords for the first time.
Of course, it could not be said that the current Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword was definitely comparable to the Numinous Treasure Four Swords.
Still, those with vision could all discern the potential within.
The Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword was only restricted in its accomplishments because Yan Xingtang himself had not reached the peak with his cultivation base.
If he had not died young, with his talents and genius, his sword arts would surely have advanced unceasingly along with his cultivation base.
He would eventually have created an ultimate sword art that was truly on the level of the Numinous Treasure Four Swords.
Before this, it was the Purple Tenuity Emperor who had had the greatest chance of doing so. Still, all such efforts had ceased following the Great Calamity.
That the same fate had befallen Yan Xingtang caused countless people to sigh wistfully.
Still, in the Nine Underworlds, there was currently a sword art that was not of the Prime Clear direct lineage which was able to compete with the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword.
It was not a sword art of Buddhism or the sword arts of the Purple Tenuity Emperor.
Instead, it was a…devilish sword!
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such a sword art of the devilish dao from pre-Great Calamity times…” Yan Zhaoge mused as he looked at the Brocade Emperor and the Encompassing Emperor.
The Encompassing Emperor pondered, “Thinking about it more deeply, this sword-intent of the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword was more probably left behind by the Exalted Gold Luminary.”
“In the devilish domain of the Nine Underworlds, battling the Jade Illusory Heaven Opening Sword in a battle of the sword-an old legend vaguely comes to mind.”
“Sword Devil, Yin Shiyang!” The Brocade Emperor agreed.
Yan Zhaoge’s gaze flickered, “Sword…Devil?”
The Brocade Emperor said, “Let us not make baseless speculations. We should get closer and take a look.”
“Good idea,” Yan Zhaoge nodded as they now proceeded up ahead.
The black fog before them gradually faded, the devilish qi of the Nine Underworlds now no more as lustrous white light instead flickered that was exceptionally conspicuous within this devilish domain.
A metallic lustre was vaguely visible on the surface of the white light as a thunderous roar vaguely seemed to resound too.
Yan Zhaoge and the others realised, “Right, so there are traces left behind by Grand Illusory Spatial Thunder here. Coupled with the two clashing sword-intents, it is no wonder that it has been able to remain in so strong a state after so long a time.”
While the Immortal Thunder itself was no longer in existence, along with the two sword-intents, it had once created a small, independent space within this corner of the Nine Underworlds in the past.
While everyone felt a biting cold chill from the two sword-intents as they entered their domain, they were not attacked by them.
Within this dimension, coming into contact with that intermingling sword-intent, a scene instantly appeared before their eyes.
Two shocking sword-lights, one black and one white, flew over from the distant sky, cleaving apart endless devilish qi and dark soil of the Nine Underworlds as marks were left behind in the heavens and earth of the devilish domain.
The sword-lights collectively descended, shattering a clump of Grand Illusory Spatial Thunder as a new dimensional space was ultimately formed.
Yan Zhaoge knew that this depicted how the place had been formed back then. He gazed towards the source of the sword-lights with all his might.
Two silhouettes were visible there, one purple and one black.
They suddenly halted, two men distinctly coming into view.
The black-clothed man roared towards the heavens, “Alas, I still cannot defeat you!”
There was endless hatred, stubbornness, fury, indignation, unwillingness and a sense of loss therein that seemed to have condensed to become tangible, surpassing the boundaries of space and time to encompass the entire space.
Across from him, a purple-clothed youth stood composedly with his solitary sword.
The scenes ended at that point.
Still, before they vanished, Yan Zhaoge caught a glimpse of that purple-clothed youth’s features.
It was none other than his grandfather, the Exalted Gold Luminary and Sword God, Yan Xingtang!
“Your grandfather, the Exalted Gold Luminary, experienced countless battles in the past. Besides accomplishing the name of Sword God as he dominated the Roving Jade Heavens, he wrote many other legends too.”
The Encompassing Emperor said slowly, “One of these was his great battle with the Sword Devil, Yin Shiyang.”
“No one knows exactly what happened. Ultimately, though, after defeating the Sword Emperor, the Sword God slew the Sword Devil as well!”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1086: Twelve Devilish Gods
HSSB1086: Twelve Devilish Gods
“Yin Shiyang…” Yan Zhaoge repeated that name.
The Encompassing Emperor glanced at Yan Zhaoge, no longer having any reservations as he recalled what had happened at Star Reflecting Lake, “It is rumoured that the Sword Devil Yin Shiyang used to be a martial practiti
oner beneath the reign of the Immortal Court.”
“He possessed outstanding talent rare in this world for the dao of the sword.”
“Sadly, he cultivated at the Immortal Court ever since young, worshipping the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord. While he pushed open the door to Immortality afterwards, the dao that he had comprehended was lacking as his foundation was hence unstable.”
The Encompassing Emperor shook his head slightly, “It should be said that he was held back. If he had been able to enter the tutelage of we of orthodox Daoism, his future would probably have been immeasurable.”
He restricted his voice in saying so, not letting his words enter Meng Wan’s ears.
If Meng Wan learnt too much about the Immortal Court and the Immeasurable Heavenly Lord, she would naturally come to understand that the Brocade Emperor had not considered her welfare in the least back at Star Reflecting Lake.
The Brocade Emperor did not mind others knowing that cultivation deviation had befallen him.
Still, it was different for Meng Wan.
It was too hard to predict what sort of reaction the Brocade Emperor might have if she learnt the truth.
Therefore, while he would not hold back in speaking to Yan Zhaoge about this, the Encompassing Emperor still chose the method of sound transmission so as to keep Meng Wan from listening too.
The Brocade Emperor said mildly, “While Yin Shiyang of the legends was of the Immortal Court, his strength at the same cultivation level was not much inferior to those from our orthodox Daoism as it even surpassed many others.”
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “That is indeed quite a remarkable feat.”
“Back then, his first battle of the sword with your grandfather, Senior Yan, ended tragically. As he cherished talent and felt it a pity, your grandfather spared his life,” The Encompassing Emperor continued, “He was unresigned and challenged him again, meeting yet another tragic defeat.”
“In the end, in order to remedy his deficiencies for a decisive battle with your grandfather, Yin Shiyang forsook the external dao of the Immortal Court and joined the Nine Underworlds, becoming a devil right there and then.”
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