HSSB122: Cloud Portent Mountain
When Yan Zhaoge and the others received news of the results of the third Extreme Yin Bout, Infinite Boundless Mountain's side also naturally did as well.
Although they didn't show it outwardly, Yan Zhaoge could still feel that the people of Infinite Boundless Mountain had become much warmer towards them.
With the Sacred Sun Clan holding an even greater advantage, while Infinite Boundless Mountain wouldn't face them directly, they would also increase their guard.
To Infinite Boundless Mountain, before they had sufficient backing to themselves do so, having Broad Creed Mountain helping them in withstanding the Sacred Sun Clan was naturally a good thing.
However, Yan Zhaoge could still feel that on the matter of Cloud Portent Mountain's Giant Spirit Magnetite vein, their attitude was still somewhat ambiguous.
From their earlier interactions, whether intentionally or not, Infinite Boundless Mountain had seemed to reveal an inclination to cooperate with Broad Creed Mountain in some other areas instead.
Yan Zhaoge took some note of this within his heart.
Although Infinite Boundless Mountain's attitude was rather ambiguous, led by them, Yan Zhaoge, Fu Enshu and the others still arrived uneventfully in the Cloud Portent Territory.
"Young master, it just so happens that Zhao Ming and his girl have also come to Cloud Portent Mountain," Walking along the road, Ah Hu was busy sifting through all the reports from his subordinates before relaying the organized information to Yan Zhaoge.
Yan Zhaoge tilted his head as he thought, "Right, the Scarlet Rainbow Sect does indeed have some business relations with the Mountain Domain's Cloud Portent Territory after all."
Ah Hu nodded, "That's right, lands of solitary yin which also contain solitary yang are quite rare. For the Scarlet Rainbow Sect, they have several types of spirit grass which would only reach their highest grade in such a land."
"That's why they've rented a parcel of land at Cloud Portent Mountain and started a medicine field."
Yan Zhaoge nodded his head. Broad Creed Mountain was aware of this matter, not having forbidden it.
While Broad Creed Mountain and Infinite Boundless Mountain also somewhat existed as competitors, the relationship between them was far less strained than with the Sacred Sun Clan.
Mutual interaction between the many powers of Broad Creed Mountain's Heaven Domain and Infinite Boundless Mountain's Mountain Domain was also not rarely seen.
Cloud Portent Mountain was an important location for Infinite Boundless Mountain. However, as long as they didn't encroach on the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein, this place was still not a restricted ground for outsiders.
Of course, if a power on the same level such as Broad Creed Mountain also neared, that would definitely draw the attention of Infinite Boundless Mountain. A power like the Scarlet Rainbow Sect, though, was totally fine.
Ah Hu continued, "I've heard that something's up with their medicinal field; that's why Zhao Ming and Jing Yunzhi have both gone over for a look."
Jing Yunzhi was the daughter of the Chief of the Scarlet Rainbow Sect, also having entered Broad Creed Mountain as a disciple.
Yan Zhaoge said, "After we arrive at Cloud Portent Mountain, we can notify them, and meet up with them when there's time. According to etiquette, they should also come to extend their greetings to senior apprentice-aunt Fu."
Ah Hu gave a simple and honest laugh, "Yes, Young Master."
Stepping into the Cloud Portent Territory, passing by countless mountains of the Cloud Portent Mountain Range, Yan Zhaoge and the others headed all the way east.
Within the Cloud Portent Mountain range, the highest peak slowly was revealed to Yan Zhaoge's party.
The entire Cloud Portent Mountain range resembled an enormous coiled dragon, with Cloud Portent Mountain itself as the dragon's head.
At the foot of Cloud Portent Mountain, it and the surrounding mountains came together to form a small basin of land. This was where the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein was.
Meanwhile, there was a small spiritual stream halfway up Cloud Portent Mountain. This spring was known as the Yin Yang Cloud Spring.
This Yin Yang Cloud Spring was actually one of those rarely seen lands of solitary yin that also contained solitary yang.
Because of the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein, Infinite Boundless Mountain had here not just a single Elder. Other than the First Seat Elder presiding over all the affairs of Cloud Portent Mountain, there was also another longtime Martial Grandmaster specifically sitting over Cloud Portent Mountain. This Elder was dubbed the Magnetite Elder.
Adding on the Infinite Boundless Mountain Elder who accompanied them, there were currently three longtime Martial Grandmasters of Infinite Boundless Mountain congregated at Cloud Portent Mountain.
The First Seat Elder who managed Cloud Portent Mountain was surnamed Zuo. He was a middle-aged man possessing dignified features.
As Yan Zhaoge looked at this Elder Zuo, his gaze hardened for a moment.
The Principal Elder of Infinite Boundless Mountain who had been stationed in the East Heaven Region of the Heaven Domain had been one of this Elder Zuo's subordinates.
In the previous chaos of the Eastern Tang, Infinite Boundless Mountain's movements would definitely have been determined somewhat by him.
"To our clan, Giant Spirit Magnetite is naturally of the utmost importance. Your Broad Creed Mountain suddenly paying a visit was somewhat out of my predictions," Elder Zuo said neither hurriedly nor slowly.
Yan Zhaoge sat silently as Fu Enshu handled matters, "Precisely because of the importance of this matter, without possessing sufficient confidence in it, how would we have brought it up so easily?"
In recent years, because the supply of Giant Spirit Magnetite was gradually dwindling, there was a very real danger of it being entirely exhausted.
Within the sect, there were many elders that were trying to combat the problem of the lack of Giant Spirit Magnetite.
With regard to this matter, the clan had tried to find a solution whilst also internally limiting the amount mined.
This way, they had also inadvertently slowed down their own development.
If this problem could be resolved, enabling them to resume mining Giant Spirit Magnetite in large amounts, they would definitely make use of the chance to enter a quick stage of development once more.
Fu Enshu spoke, "Our clan comes with great sincerity; there is no need for your Infinite Boundless Mountain to worry."
Also having an understanding of Elder Fu's personality, Elder Zuo smiled as he heard her words.
If Broad Creed Mountain had truly come here to cause destruction, then that would be equivalent to completely pushing Infinite Boundless Mountain to the side of the Sacred Sun Clan.
However, he also had his own thoughts on this matter.
Broad Creed Mountain definitely wouldn't come to help Infinite Boundless Mountain for no reason. Since they would be cooperating, it would be a matter of both sides obtaining and gaining what they needed. As for which side gained more and which side gained less-that was a different matter altogether.
"You said that you want to examine the location? After you've settled down as is necessary, I shall accompany you," Elder Zuo said.
Fu Enshu directly swiveled her head over and asked Yan Zhaoge, "Do you require rest?"
Yan Zhaoge resisted the urge to roll his eyes at this senior apprentice-aunt's flighty temperament, "I'm ready anytime."
Fu Enshu nodded, turning back to face Elder Zuo once more, "When it's still early now, let's go."
Elder Zuo and the other two Infinite Boundless Mountain Elders communicated with their eyes for a bit, before they all nodded.
The Magnetite Elder specifically in charge of sitting over Cloud Portent Mountain said, "Follow me."
The group entered the valley, directly entering the quarry. Feeling the flow of spiritual qi within and specially entering the pith of the quarry, Yan Zhaoge came to feel increasingly certain within his heart.
"Our current method of extracting the ore is too crude. Although our founder obtained the Giant Spirit Profound Art, he did not simultaneously look specifically into mining techniques for the Giant Spirit Magnetite with structural integrity in mind. The mining techniques that were subsequently developed are simple and violent, unceasingly harming the pith of the vein."
Calculating silently, Yan Zhaoge's face darkened within his heart, "Besides our clan, there also seems to be someone else working at restoring the Giant Spirit Magnetite vein. It does not seem to be the research of Infinite Boundless Mountain themselves, rather actually possessing some flair of before the Great Calamity…."
"Ah, no wonder their attitude is so ambiguous. They have indeed found hope elsewhere, therefore no longer feeling so passionate towards us."
"However, it seems like their current operation is still in an experimental stage, so they did not reject our offer outright."
Yan Zhaoge pondered as he stroked his lower chin.
However, he still appeared outwardly as though everything was normal.
Leaving the quarry, Yan Zhaoge toured leisurely along the basin of the valley, feeling a step further for the pulses of spiritual qi there.
"How come it feels like there is reverse yang qi going directly down from the mountain into the ground?" Yan Zhaoge wrinkled his brows as he walked out of the valley, now raising his head to gaze at Cloud Portent Mountain before him.
Halfway up the mountain, there shone the glow of fire.
Yan Zhaoge blinked his eyes, "What are they playing at? Infinite Boundless Mountain is burning down their own mountain?"
As he thought thus, Ah Hu galloped out, returning with an unconscious person in his arms. Yan Zhaoge recognized the person—he was evidently one of Zhao Ming's accompanying retainers.
After regaining consciousness, the person saw Yan Zhaoge and immediately was overjoyed.
"Young Master Yan, it's good that you are here. Fourth Prince is on the mountain, currently in conflict with people of Infinite Boundless Mountain!"
HSSB123: Asking for people at the door?
Hearing the other party's words, Yan Zhaoge unconsciously lifted his head to glance at halfway up the side of Cloud Portent Mountain, where the light of fire as well as smoke could faintly be seen.
That was precisely where the source of the Yin Yang Cloud Spring was located, that land of solitary yin also containing solitary yang.
The spirit field which the Scarlet Rainbow Sect used to cultivate spirit grass was also just there.
That retainer hurriedly said, "Fourth Prince and Miss Jing are both on the mountain. When the Scarlet Rainbow Sect's spirit fields were set aflame by the Infinite Boundless Mountain people, Fourth Prince was unable to hold back, and began fighting with them."
Yan Zhaoge straightened his neck in contrast to the tempers of Zhao Yuan, Zhao Sheng and the others, as well as Zhao Ming's, which were rather more violent and reckless.
The other party having set the spirit field of Jing Yunzhi's family aflame, Zhao Ming naturally couldn't hold back his rage, not caring about whether or not he was currently within Infinite Boundless Mountain territory.
"Why do those Infinite Boundless Mountain people want to burn down the Scarlet Rainbow Sect's fields?" Yan Zhaoge got straight to the point.
That retainer hesitated slightly for a moment before replying, "The people of a smaller-sized power of the Cloud Portent Territory, the Iron Yuan Sect, forcibly encroached on the land of a nearby manor."
"When the owner of the manor did not acquiesce, a conflict broke out between the two, wherein his son injured someone of the Iron Yuan Sect. In retaliation, they broke through the manor's defences, wanting to kill to vent their anger."
"Miss Jing having sat down as a guest at that very manor before, as a longtime acquaintance of the family living there, she rushed over to save them as soon as she came to hear of this piece of news."
"In the end, the Chief of the Iron Yuan Sect, being familiar with one of the disciples of Infinite Boundless Mountain here, instead got over reinforcements, coming to ask for people at their door."
"Fourth Prince and Miss Jing were not willing to hand them over; thus, the other side promptly headed to burn down their spirit field."
Yan Zhaoge raised his head slightly, "Intentionally, huh?"
That retainer was greatly shocked, "Young Master Yan, Fourth Prince did not want to make an enemy of Infinite Boundless Mountain on purpose, only…only that…"
"I'm not talking about Zhao Ming's side," Yan Zhaoge waved his hands, swivelling his head to look at Ah Hu, "Go and inform senior apprentice-aunt Fu."
Ah Hu scratched his head, "Young Master, Infinite Boundless Mountain has three higher echelon bigwigs here; that's quite a few Martial Grandmaster experts…"
Yan Zhaoge shook his head, "At the present moment, this bit of things still isn't yet sufficient to alarm someone of their level; Infinite Boundless Mountain will definitely also send someone lower to handle it first."
"In asking you to inform senior apprentice-aunt Fu, it is to allow her to understand the situation and be prepared for it. If those bigwig figures really are alarmed and come to deal with it themselves, we will not be afraid."
"In rushing over now, it is in case the other side possesses an expert that can make Zhao Ming suffer a loss."
Saying thus, Yan Zhaoge strode off ahead up the mountain.
Standing at the mouth of the valley, currently discussing a new martial technique that Fu Enshu had just passed down to them, Feng Yunsheng and Sikong Qing could not but ask curiously, "Where is it that you are going?"
Yan Zhaoge pointed towards the black smoke halfway up the mountain, "There are fellow disciples of our clan who are in conflict with people of Infinite Boundless Mountain up there; let's head over and take a look."
Taking a quick glance at each other, Feng Yunsheng and Sikong Qing both nodded, following behind Yan Zhaoge.
On the mountain road, an Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioner came over to block them, "Happenings on the mountain; newcomers halt your steps!"
Yan Zhaoge said mildly, "If I do that, your Mountain's Giant Spirit Magnetite Vein will see harm."
The other party stared blankly, "The vein is at the foot…"
Yan Zhaoge didn't cease walking, as he instantly strode past him, "You would not be able to bear that responsibility."
That Infinite Boundless Mountain martial practitioner wanted to block him, but felt a strong wind directly assault him, directly suppressing his intended words back down into his chest, completely unable to open his mouth at all as his figure was also constantly pushed back in retreat.
Not saying a word, Feng Yunsheng and Sikong Qing followed closely behind Yan Zhaoge, rushing up the mountain.
Arriving in the vicinity of the fire halfway up the mountain, Yan Zhaoge swept his gaze over his surroundings and saw that within the dense smoke, there were people currently clashing.
One of them was precisely Zhao Ming, his opponent being a middle-aged man with the cultivation of a mid outer aura Martial Scholar, not using the martial arts of Infinite Boundless Mountain. That should be the Chief of the Iron Yuan Sect.
This middle-aged man was being suppressed by Zhao Ming, but there were quite a few people near him helping him to surround and attack Zhao Ming.
With his martial arts of Broad Creed Mountain, Zhao Ming's martial prowess was far superior to his opponents'. Even while surrounded, he could still manoeuvre around with few problems and with strength to spare, even having the leisure to protect a little boy in the process.
It was only that Zhao Ming was hassled to the point of being unable to extricate himself. Looking rather anxious, he looked to the side.
There, a girl was currently clashing with a disciple of Infinite Boundless Mountain.
That girl was precisely Zhao Ming's lover and a fellow disciple of theirs, Jing Yunzhi.
Both of them were in the mid inner aura Martial Scholar realm, one of them utilising Broad Creed Mountain martial arts, the other utilising Infinite Boundless Mountain martial arts, the result however being Jing Yunzhi being suppressed and placed at a disadvantage.
Looking at it, there was actually the feeling of her being stuck in a situation with perils around every corner.
Carefully distinguishing for a moment, Yan Zhaoge remembered the information report that he had once viewed back in the clan, revealing the other party's name to be Hou Xiang or something of the like, a genius of Infinite Boundless Mountain who had just risen up in recent years.
In the vicinity of the fire, a few corpses were already strewn about. From their attire, they were all of Zhao Ming's and Jing Yunzhi's side.
Glancing around, Yan Zhaoge said directly, "Junior apprentice-sister Sikong help junior apprentice-sister Jing; junior apprentice-sister Feng help junior apprentice-brother Zhao."
As Feng Yunsheng stroked the handle of her sword, not waiting for her to ask it herself, Yan Zhaoge directly motioned with a flourish, "Murderers, must die."
Saying thus, Yan Zhaoge waved his sleeve, causing numerous strong winds to surge, dissipating the blazing fire and the dense smoke before them, first moving to extinguish the fire.
Beside him, Sikong Qing, not saying a word, unsheathed her sword, a cold light flickering as she directly replaced Jing Yunzhi, engaging that Infinite Boundless Mountain disciple Hou Xiang in battle!
Feng Yunsheng also invited herself in. As she brandished her sword, the clouds and the winds changed, the resulting violent momentum of her stroke directly pushing back the many people surrounding Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming let out a long howl, the sword within his hands rising upwards, creating sword shadows that resembled seven stars shooting through the sky as he focused solely on that outer aura stage middle-aged man, attacking and pressuring him to the point that his back was streaked with sweat.
That Infinite Boundless Mountain disciple Hou Xiang was greatly enraged, "People of Broad Creed Mountain, dare to be so arrogant in our clan's territory?"
Extinguishing the blazing fire, Yan Zhaoge didn't even turn over to glance at him as he just said casually, "Those who died here all died from blades. Being bare-handed, you are evidently not a murderer. Therefore, you can rest easy; you needn't die."
Feeling stifled for a second, Hou Xiang then continued smiling coldly as he looked at Yan Zhaoge, "Today, I've really come to experience new things; never before have I seen people who've come for a favour be so arrogant!"
"I know who you are, and also what you've come to our Mountain Domain for."
"However, you still seem to be a little unclear: to put it more plainly, it is currently your Broad Creed Mountain that has need of our Infinite Boundless Mountain!"
"With the Extreme Yin Crown having fallen to the Sacred Sun Clan, even if their East Rising Martial Saint doesn't leave seclusion, just from their two Sacred Artifacts alone, it is already not something that your Broad Creed Mountain can withstand alone!"
Hou Xiang wasn't very old, looking like he had still yet to turn twenty. Already being in the mid inner aura Martial Scholar realm at this age, it was somewhat hard to come by.
Even more so was his martial prowess. In fighting with Sikong Qing, up to now, he had yet to fall to a disadvantage, being able to both attack and defend as he executed his techniques in an orderly manner.
He smiled coldly as he looked towards Yan Zhaoge, "In coming to Infinite Boundless Mountain, to put it bluntly, you have come to seek reinforcements, wanting my clan to resist the pressure of the Sacred Sun Clan alongside you."
"In the war of the Eastern Tang earlier, if my clan had not stood by the side and done nothing, instead having provided assistance to the Sacred Sun Clan, even with you allied with Jade Sea City, it is still unknown which side the victory would have gone to."
"Now, it is the same. Jade Sea City has lost the Extreme Yin Crown, and is also having its attentions occupied by the Heavenly Thunder Hall."
"If we help your Broad Creed Mountain, you will no longer have to fear the Sacred Sun Clan; if we help the Sacred Sun Clan, your Broad Creed Mountain will immediately be finished!"
His palms crossing each other to shock the edge of Sikong Qing's blade aside, he shouted severely, "Open your eyes wide and put on a proper attitude of asking for a favour; this is not a place where you lot can run amok as you like!"