His father being like this-it was really rarer than a solar eclipse.
Xue Chuqing shot Yan Di a rather dissatisfied look.
Actually laughing at her like that in front of her son-this really!
Beneath the gazes of mother and son, Yan Di instead started laughing even more loudly.
He had not felt so happy for a long, long time.
Yan Zhaoge and Xue Chuqing could not help but shake their heads and smile too.
While there was still some awkwardness between them, it had finally eased somewhat.
They did not continue with their family talk as they simply continued with that earlier topic.
“If possible, I do not intend to go the Roving Jade Heavens,” Yan Zhaoge first expressed his stance, “While we would be safe that way, the pressure would basically fall onto senior apprentice-uncle Yue and Jade Capital Crag instead. Pressured simultaneously by both the Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns, senior apprentice-uncle Yue would be in a tough spot.”
Yan Di retracted his smile, saying solemnly, “That’s right.”
“It is not without reason that I have never been to the Roving Jade Heavens all these years,” Xue Chuqing forced a smile, “The enmity between Grand Master and the Roving Jade Heavens ran quite deep.”
Next, she suddenly glanced at Yan Di with a rather conflicted look on her face.
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di both tacitly averted their gazes.
They too had previously thought of the matter of seniority brought about by the Exalted Gold Luminary and the Exalted Wood Luminary.
Therefore, it was still best to feign obliviousness on this matter…
“The Concealed Sovereign is close with the Earthly Sovereign as senior apprentice-uncle Yue is hard pressed to maintain his position alone,” Yan Zhaoge coughed before continuing with a solemn look on his face, “We must find someone who can help senior apprentice-uncle Yue to bear this burden.”
Yan Di’s gaze flickered slightly as he exclaimed, “…The Astro Sovereign!”
“That’s right,” Yan Zhaoge nodded, “It is said that the Astro Sovereign and grandfather were on great terms. If we can find him, the pressure on senior apprentice-uncle Yue will be diminished greatly.”
“It is just that our clues are currently limited as we have no way of getting in touch with the Astro Sovereign. Though I suspect that he is in the World beyond Worlds, no news having been heard of him for so many years, it should still not be easy to find him.”
Yan Zhaoge pondered, “There is no way of knowing if senior apprentice-uncle Yue or the Earthly Sovereign will be first to return. Therefore, we cannot simply wait and do nothing. If it becomes necessary, we will have to look for the Female Emperor.”
“While her relationship with that Senior Chu may be bad, as this matter is related to the Astro Sovereign, the Female Emperor will definitely be concerned with it. We should be able to obtain some clues at the very least.”
Hearing this, Xue Chuqing inquired, “What makes you think that the Astro Sovereign is presently in the World beyond Worlds?”
Yan Zhaoge told her about the matter concerning Chu Lili.
“I see…” Xue Chuqing pondered for a moment before she said, “In that case, I think that we should make a trip to the northern Profound Heaven Territory. The Northern Exalt may know some things.”
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di were both taken aback by this.
“I am unaware of the Astro Sovereign’s situation and also do not know much about that Senior Chu. Still, Master did once mention her name when conversing with me,” Xue Chuqing explained.
Yan Zhaoge was intrigued, “What did she say?”
Even Wang Pu and the others of Yue Zhenbei’s lineage did not know much about Chu Lili’s situation.
“That Senior Chu seemed to be related to the devilish dao and the Nine Underworlds,” Xue Chuqing said solemnly.
“Nine Underworlds?” Yan Zhaoge frowned slightly.
Thinking back on his previous meeting with Chu Lili now, he was rather taken aback as he had never sensed anything abnormal at the time.
Xue Chuqing said, “While I cannot say for sure, this is a potential clue. The Astro Sovereign vanished rather suddenly back then in an abnormal manner. There is surely a reason for this.”
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di both nodded slowly.
It was also evident why Xue Chuqing had proposed looking for the Northern Exalt.
Dimensional passageways often appeared that led from the northern Profound Heaven Territory to lands of tranquil stream as it was the frontline of the World beyond Worlds with regard to the Nine Underworlds. One of the Northern Exalt’s duties was to watch over these dimensional passageways that would appear unstably from time to time.
If this matter concerning the Astro Sovereign and Chu Lili was related to the Nine Underworlds, the place where the Astro Sovereign could most likely be found was not Kunlun Mountain in the central Jun Heaven Territory but the northern Profound Heaven Territory.
“Whether we can find the Astro Sovereign is still uncertain,” Yan Zhaoge rubbed his temples, “Even if we do manage to find him, the Astro Sovereign may not aid us for sure.”
It was not that the Astro Sovereign might be unwilling to help.
Rather than that, there was most likely some unique reason that had caused his disappearance back then.
If he was being held back by something and was unable to extricate himself, he might not have the ability to help them then.
Yan Di said slowly, “There is also one potential problem that we have to consider.”
“The possibility of the Earthly or Concealed Sovereign making a breakthrough,” Yan Zhaoge’s gaze flickered.
Unlike the Sword Sovereign Yue Zhenbei who had risen to prominence relatively later, the Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns had both been Sovereigns for several thousands of years, having long since come to stand at the peak of their current cultivation realms.
Who knew when they might successfully achieve a breakthrough?
“Therefore, we have to make other plans too. The correct way is to have multiple ways at once.”
Yan Zhaoge snuck a peek at Xue Chuqing as he said this.
Understanding his meaning, Xue Chuqing shook her head, “No need to look at me like that. I am unclear on Great Grand Master’s whereabouts too.”
The Great Grand Master that she spoke of was naturally the Exalted Wood Luminary of the Kunlun Nine Luminaries from back then.
“What about the Bright Connection Emperor then?” Yan Zhaoge asked.
While the Bright Connection Emperor might not be able to help bear the pressure of the Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns, if she knew of the whereabouts of her Master, the Exalted Wood Luminary, it would really be a wonderful thing.
“Grand Master has already passed away,” Xue Chuqing sighed.
“Oh…sorry,” Yan Zhaoge forced a smile.
Xue Chuqing shook her head, “No matter.”
She slowly said, “It is not that there is nothing else we can do at all, though. While Great Grand Master’s situation is unclear, we could attempt to contact someone else.”
“It is just that there is no way of guaranteeing if they will respond after receiving this message.”
“Also…” Xue Chuqing paused momentarily before saying, “I have some reservations regarding contacting this person.”
Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di were both intrigued by this, “Why do you say that?”
“Firstly, the other party has already long since left the World beyond Worlds, being amidst the endless extradimensional space. We do not know where or how far away he is and he has left no items behind as well. Normal methods wouldn’t work,” Xue Chuqing said, “We would need a special way to contact him.”
“This method was not passed down through my lineage as it was obtained from another source. Having analysed it in private, I feel that it is not so simple.”
Xue Chuqing explained, “In having roamed the various lands all these years, I hav
e actually been making preparations for this. It is just that my progress has been limited due to some restrictions.”
“By connecting the places you have previously been at, something special can be observed…” Yan Zhaoge’s eyes lit up, “Because the false trails you left behind are far too many, it is very difficult to identify the actual locations, so I am currently still unable to tell what exactly you are setting up. So there is really something unique here?”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1163: Exalted Solar Luminary
HSSB1163: Exalted Solar Luminary
Rather surprised, Xue Chuqing gazed at Yan Zhaoge for a time, “You are really not simple, Zhaoge, to be able to tell even this.”
Her gaze was rather playful as she said, “This is not just about the level of one’s cultivation base. This also concerns many secrets which are unknown to most.”
“In my adventures over the years, I have had quite a few fortuitous encounters. Don’t underestimate me!” Yan Zhaoge curled his lips.
He sneakily appraised Xue Chuqing, “I was even wondering earlier if it could be some grand formation that is able to blow up the entire World beyond Worlds.”
“What?” Xue Chuqing did not know whether to laugh or to cry, “If I really dared to do that, even before the Earthly and Concealed Sovereigns make a move, the Sword Sovereign would already have taken care of us.”
Yan Zhaoge asked, “What exactly is this formation for?”
Xue Chuqing replied, “Its foundation is the Area Latitude Formation, with some adjustments having been made atop that.”
The Area Latitude Formation was a famed bewildering formation of pre-Great Calamity times that formlessly bewitched people.
It ruled the heavens and the earth in its vast entirety.
Simply put, if Xue Chuqing completed the formation and stayed within, with the help of the River Diagram, those who would be able to locate her in this world would really be very limited indeed.
This Area Latitude Formation encompassed the entire World beyond Worlds and many lower worlds.
The Area Latitude Formation’s miraculous aspects lay with how it could only be dispelled rather than broken through after it had been formed.
The only exception was if the foundation of the formation was uprooted completely.
That would mean having to destroy the World beyond Worlds and numerous lower worlds.
Of course, it was naturally not an easy thing to establish such a massive Area Latitude Formation.
One also had to guard against someone realising its existence before it was successfully established, next working to wreck it.
Therefore, Xue Chuqing had still been covertly setting this up even up till today.
Yan Zhaoge sighed inwardly in admiration. She could be so meticulous and cautious, actually plotting such a major thing even as she was being pursued by others.
Still, he was more concerned about the latter part of her sentence, “Some adjustments? You mean a unique way of contacting someone like you were talking about earlier?”
If it was just the standalone Area Latitude Formation, Yan Zhaoge would have identified it previously.
Other experts with high attainments in formations might be able to detect this beforehand too.
With numerous false trails thrown into the mix along with an additional variation, Yan Zhaoge had been unable to quickly distinguish this.
“That’s right. It is combined atop the basis of the Area Latitude Formation,” Xue Chuqing said, “Only with such a massive foundation can the formation be supported, transmitting a message while there is no way of ascertaining the other party’s situation.”
Yan Zhaoge realised, “It is equivalent to circulating the Area Latitude Formation in reverse, using it to look for that person before transmitting a message.”
“An Area Latitude Formation that can encompass the entire World beyond Worlds would naturally be incomparably effective.”
Xue Chuqing nodded, “That’s right. It is just that I have a strange feeling in following this technique for setting up the formation. It is like there are some other profundities within, just that I presently cannot tell what it is.”
“Oh?” Yan Zhaoge just had to be concerned about this.
Amongst the Kunlun Nine Luminaries of the past, the Exalted Wood Luminary had been renowned for her vast repertoire of knowledge.
As a direct lineage descendant of hers, Xue Chuqing had perfectly inherited this feature.
Amongst the World beyond Worlds’ Martial Saints, considering not their cultivation bases but only the extent of their knowledge, Yan Zhaoge could not think of anyone who could be mentioned in the same breath as his mother besides himself and Chen Qianhua.
If even she had her doubts, something must surely be up here.
“Just keep this in mind for now,” Yan Di now said, “There are generally gains where there are losses in this world as it is seldom that there is a perfect plan. We can only weigh both sides and make our decision.”
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, “Who is it that you are preparing to contact?”
“The Exalted Fire Luminary.”
On hearing this name, the first image that flashed through the minds of Yan Zhaoge and Yan Di was of a massive halberd that was wreathed in blazing fire.
“If it is the Exalted Fire Luminary, I believe that…he was the most solitary person of the Kunlun Nine Luminaries?” Yan Zhaoge asked rather uncertainly, “Even if we do manage to contact him, would he be willing to help?
While the Exalted Rahu Luminary Jian Shunhua was more on the solitary side, it referred more to how she was decisive and single-minded, not taking other people’s considerations into account.
Still, the greatest loner had to be the Exalted Fire Luminary.
From the information Yan Zhaoge currently grasped, while this bigwig had been one of the Kunlun Nine Luminaries, he had seldom participated in the affairs of the World beyond Worlds as legends regarding him were the rarest amongst the nine.
Even without deliberately playing them down and diminishing them, there was already very little information regarding the Exalted Fire Luminary’s exploits.
Still, no one would dare to say that he was just there to fill up the numbers.
On those rare occasions where the Exalted Fire Luminary made a move, they would always be huge, heaven-shocking, earth-shaking affairs.
It was just that he was an exceptionally solitary person as he was never said to have been especially close to anyone.
“This is something which few people know of,” Xue Chuqing said, “I once heard Master mentioning that some enmities and entanglements seem to have existed between Great Grand Master and the Exalted Fire Luminary.”
“It is just that Master did not know any specifics too, only having heard it coincidentally mentioned by Grand Master in the past.”
Yan Zhaoge took note of Xue Chuqing’s words, “Enmities…entanglements?”
“That’s right,” Xue Chuqing nodded, “Therefore, even if we do manage to contact the Exalted Fire Luminary, it is difficult to say how he might react.”
“Still, since someone gave me pointers on how to contact him, that means that there surely is hope.”
Xue Chuqing paused momentarily, “It is just that…”
“It is just that the person who gave you pointers in looking for the Exalted Fire Luminary may also be scheming something,” Yan Zhaoge continued, “It should not be targeting you. Things could not have gotten any worse for you who were being pursued. Thus, this person probably truly hopes that you will be able to contact the Exalted Fire Luminary. This would be their actual motive as well.”
Xue Chuqing said, “That’s right. This is another reason for my reservations right now.”
“Speaking of which, who was it who got you to look for the Exalted Fire Luminary?” Yan Zhaoge raised his brows, “Looking for him will be useless. Since he got you to look for the Exalted Fire Luminary, he himself would definitely be u
nwilling to show up to provide assistance.”
Before giving an answer, Xue Chuqing looked at Yan Zhaoge.
Yan Zhaoge was rather perplexed at first but soon vaguely thought of something.
Indeed, Xue Chuqing now said, “When I was hiding around with aliases before, I heard some rumours regarding the two of you and Broad Creed Mountain.”
“One of them was that you obtained the Extreme Yang Seal, Zhaoge.”
Yan Zhaoge realised with a start, “The Exalted Solar Luminary, Gao Han!”
Yan Zhaoge was extremely familiar with this name.
Even though he had never seen him in person before, he was actually relatively more familiar with Gao Han amongst the Kunlun Nine Luminaries.
The Extreme Yang Seal was still in Yan Zhaoge’s possession right now.
“How did you obtain the Extreme Yang Seal, Zhaoge?” Xue Chuqing asked.
Yan Zhaoge explained the process, to which Xue Chuqing sighed, “It was still a guess previously, but since the Exalted Solar Luminary already left that crevice to the Nine Underworlds in the Eight Extremities World long ago, that person who gave me a tip was most probably him then.”
History's Strongest Senior Brother Chapter 1164: Heavenly Lords of Daoism
HSSB1164: Heavenly Lords of Daoism
“The Exalted Solar Luminary, Gao Han…” Yan Zhaoge felt rather dissatisfied as he considered this.
It was doubtless that he was a part of someone’s scheme.
While the other party’s actual target might not be him, he was being used as a part of the process.
Yan Di too frowned.
“No matter,” Yan Zhaoge suddenly laughed after pondering for a bit, “We can all just take what we need. Most importantly, let us see who will still be laughing at the end.”
“He wishes to borrow your hand, mother, to sweep the Exalted Fire Luminary into this. There must surely be a reason for this. If we can understand where the problem lies, there might still be room for us to manoeuvre.”
Xue Chuqing said slowly, “The greatest possibility still lies with the ideological split in the World beyond Worlds from back then.”
As there was only a single disciple per generation and their predicament was perilous, descendants of the Bright Connection Emperor’s lineage would often unreservedly transmit all they knew to their disciples lest the knowledge be lost for good.
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