HSSB244: Wanting his old life!
The Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment transformed into a purple orb, flickering with the dazzling purplish-green light of thunder.
Standing by the door of light, Yan Zhaoge held the stone rod with one hand, making a shooting motion towards the Crimson Spirit Flag Master with the other.
His perked up right thumb went down abruptly, resembling one suffering the backlash of firing a shot as his index finger that represented the mouth of the gun was raised lightly.
Accompanied by this motion of Yan Zhaoge's, the Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment above him also flickered abruptly.
In that instant, it was though the emperor that reigned over all lightning lightly blinked.
Then, the foreign dimension in which scenes of the end of the world were playing out suddenly lit up with a thunderbolt that was filled with the aura of destruction.
The thunderbolt traversed straight through the air, instantly arriving before the Crimson Spirit Flag Master.
With the foreign dimension on the brink of collapse, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was currently ignoring all else, fully focused on rushing to the door of light.
He didn't have the leisure to care about Yan Zhaoge for the moment, only wishing to first leave this foreign dimension through that door before slowly taking care of Yan Zhaoge afterwards.
Even if he failed this time, there was still next time, next next time.
As an Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster, if he wanted to kill a Martial Scholar, there would surely be a chance.
However, just as the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was speeding rapidly towards the door of light, as Yan Zhaoge controlled the Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment, An Instant's Thunder instantly descended upon him!
An Instant's Lightning, burning all one's power in a single instant, concentrated in a single strike, with power that was violent to the extreme, even surpassing one's peak strength!
Staring his eyes wide, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master roared madly, his true essence surging as he punched out with his fists.
Thunder and blazing fire intermingled as they collided between the heavens and the earth, a massive explosion instantly occurring!
At other times, whether Yan Zhaoge's An Instant's Thunder would be able to do anything to the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was still questionable.
However, at this critical moment, whether or not the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was able to take it or not, this would also be wanting his old life!
His momentum towards the door of light was forcibly terminated, as his entire person flew backwards!
The heavens and earth which had originally already been breaking apart shook mightily, completely shattering, the foreign dimension as well as everything in it all extinguished for good!
The Crimson Spirit Flag Master let out a despairing, unresigned howl of rage.
At this moment, he could only watch helplessly on as bit by bit, his fleshly body disintegrated within the air, seemingly slowly, but truly rapidly!
Unable to struggle, difficult to reverse!
The Crimson Spirit Flag Master glared furiously into the distance, where the flickering door of light was vanishing slowly.
Within the door of light, Yan Zhaoge kept the Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment as well as the pillar of the Divine Palace, the cloak of crane feathers hanging smoothly down from his shoulders.
While his mind had weakened somewhat, Yan Zhaoge's current hairstyle was perfect and his clothes neat, resembling a handsome, elegant young master.
Yan Zhaoge smiled at the Crimson Spirit Flag Master, leisurely waving at him lightly alongside the foreign dimension's destruction, "More accurately, we will never meet again. Farewell, forever."
The Crimson Spirit Flag Master wanted to let out an enraged howl, but was already unable to utter a sound.
Even at this moment where he died, he found it incomprehensible how a lofty early Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster expert like him had actually died in the hands of a mere Martial Scholar!
While he had been suppressed by the stone pillar, just given a little bit more of time, Yan Zhaoge would have run out of strength, being suppressed by him instead.
While Yan Zhaoge possessed the Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment, what could truly prove a massive threat to him was but a single strike. If he handled it carefully, he might also be able to avoid getting struck by it.
While Yan Zhaoge had the Immortal Crane Wings, before him, he could only use it to escape through the air. Given a little more time, he could still have blocked off Yan Zhaoge's path, rendering him unable to escape.
Clearly, his strength and cultivation base were superior by so much.
Clearly, despite Yan Zhaoge's many unique treasures, it was not like he had not had a chance.
Clearly, he had first snatched up the position where the door of light was.
Clearly, Yan Zhaoge did not have the strength and treasures to definitely be able to kill him…
However, the final result was him dying alongside this collapsed foreign dimension, extinguished along with this world!
Looking at the vanishing door along with Yan Zhaoge, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was really, truly unresigned.
Knowing thyself but not thy enemy…
While Yan Zhaoge was currently already virtually famed under the entire heavens, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master suddenly discovered now that his understanding towards this young man was still limited.
Could it be that risking entering this soon-to-collapse foreign dimension in order to kill Yan Zhaoge, had been a mistake from the start?
Along with this final thought, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was completely decimated within the air, an Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster dying just like that!
Travelling through the door of light, Yan Zhaoge felt pain like his body was being ripped apart, the feeling even more evident than the first time he had entered it, to get to the foreign dimension.
Exiting the door of light, re-entering the Eight Extremities World, Yan Zhaoge turned and looked back at the gradually vanishing door, smacking his lips, "This trip, really was…"
Consecutively wielding the pillar of the divine palace and the Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment had left Yan Zhaoge extremely weak, even weaker as compared to back at Clear Concealed Lake then.
However, he was still in a pretty good mood, as this trip into the foreign dimension left behind by Loose Practitioner He had been a successful one, with him seeing somewhat great gains.
Landing on the ground, Yan Zhaoge saw that jade coin which had activated the spirit formation completely shatter, turning directly into dust.
Ah Hu was waiting by the side, alongside Xu Fei who had remained on this side of the rift in order to watch over the spirit formation, as they both came up to him, "Everything okay?"
Yan Zhaoge snapped his fingers, smiling, "From this day on, I figure that we will not be seeing the Crimson Spirit Flag Master anymore."
Ah Hu breathed in a breath of cold air, grinning happily and foolishly, just not knowing what to say.
Xu Fei also revealed a seldom seen surprised expression for a while before recovering, "Right, I should first hurry and get junior apprentice-sister Feng back."
Re-entering the Eight Extremities World through the door of light, Ah Hu had briefly summarised the situation, and Xu Fei had sent Feng Yunsheng to immediately hurry to Broad Creed Mountain's Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster closest to Suzhou City for assistance.
He himself had remained over at the spirit formation, preparing to reinforce Yan Zhaoge alongside Ah Hu. In the end, what they had seen was instead Yan Zhaoge strolling leisurely out of the door of light.
Now, even if the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was still alive, the foreign dimension had completely shattered and the door of light was also gone, with no possibility at all of him chasing murderously over in pursuit. Naturally, Suzhou City would also not have to waste time looking for other Martial Grandmaster experts.
After being called back by Xu Fei and hearing of the situation, Feng Yunsheng's face was also filled with disbelief.
The Crimson Spirit Flag Master was an Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster, having already nurtured his own true martial spirit and refined his aura into essence.
While both Spirit Vessel Martial Grandmasters and Essence Spirit Martial Grandmasters were Martial Grandmasters, they were two completely different concepts altogether.
Seated in the meditative position, whilst moderating his condition and recovering his energy, Yan Zhaoge smiled, "It held the element of chance. At the end of the day, what killed the Crimson Spirit Flag Master was actually that foreign dimension. If not for it having collapsed, it would be hard for me to claim his life with my current methods."
"Having withstood a few waves of my attacks, I would then have been the one in trouble."
Xu Fei looked at Yan Zhaoge, "I heard about it from Huting. From the beginning, was it that you were planning to kill him by spatial collapse, even specially dragging things out before you returned over to this side?"
Yan Zhaoge smiled, "I am guilty that there was still some deviation in the plan, with the spatial collapse happening just that little later than I had predicted. In such a situation, the situation could change in the blink of an eye, and things nearly got out of hand. Luckily, I still succeeded in the end."
Feng Yunsheng, Ah Hu and Xu Fei raised their heads in unison, "You really calculated it ah-is this sort of thing really something that can be calculated so precisely?"
HSSB245: Returning in glorious victory!
Ah Hu looked at Yan Zhaoge with a face full of adulation, "Young Master, you really are too awesome. This was not like back then when that old scoundrel Yan Xu was heavily injured; the Crimson Spirit Flag Master just now was at his peak condition. Whatever methods you used, facing off alone against an early Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster and rendering him dead-you must be the first in history?"
Yan Zhaoge smiled, shaking his head, "Just like that time when Yan Xu was beaten half-dead by eldest apprentice-uncle, this time actually cannot count as well. If father captured that Crimson Spirit Flag Master alive and sealed his cultivation base before I slew him, it would still be me having rendered an early Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster dead, but would that be a thing to be proud of? Obviously not."
Feng Yunsheng sent him a sidelong glance, "Pretend, continue to pretend, who knows how pleased with yourself you are feeling inside."
Yan Zhaoge chuckled, not speaking.
Xu Fei also laughed, after which he patted Yan Zhaoge's shoulders, "If you can avoid taking risks, it would still be best to do so. If something happened to you, little apprentice-uncle would be very sad."
Hearing his words, Yan Zhaoge stopped smiling as he nodded, "Senior apprentice-brother Xu speaks true."
Faced with great danger in which the chances of survival were slim, this senior apprentice-brother Xu himself would continue talking and laughing naturally, his heart broad and without fear, but he still didn't wish to see his fellow disciples face such danger.
A sad look flashed across his face for a moment, as he had clearly thought of his Master Shi Tie and his pain of having to send off his descendants prematurely.
Xu Fei and Shi Tie were close as father and son, and he had viewed Shi Songtao has his true brother back then.
The incident that year had been the regret of Shi Tie's entire life, while similarly, Xu Fei had also been weighed down by it.
Looking at Xu Fei's expression, Yan Zhaoge knew that he was thinking of Shi Tie and his son again.
Looking at Xu Fei, Yan Zhaoge sighed, similarly falling silent.
While Ah Hu and Feng Yunsheng didn't understand Xu Fei like Yan Zhaoge did, they also stopped conversing happily at this moment.
Regathering his spirits, Xu Fei clapped his hands, smiling, "Speaking of which, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master should have been the strongest living expert of the Five Spirit Flags. With you, Zhaoge, having killed him, while the Five Spirit Flags may not completely dissipate in the wind, it will be very hard for them to stir up any huge waves again. Zhaoge, you have performed a great merit for our Broad Creed Mountain once more."
"It's just a pity that it was a matter on an individual scale, lacking proof. It might be slightly harder for you to claim a reward for it."
"However, if the Crimson Spirit Flag Master is not seen for the next few years and after, it would barely be able to count as proof."
Xu Fei smiled at Yan Zhaoge, "But speaking of which, while killing the Crimson Spirit Flag Master is not a small achievement, it is incomparable to those great achievements of yours before this."
"The clan is virtually running out of rewards to give you. A few years later, the merit of killing the Crimson Spirit Flag Master will probably mean nothing much to you."
Yan Zhaoge waved his hands, "However small mosquitoes are, they're still meat, right?"
Xu Fei pointed at Yan Zhaoge as he looked towards Feng Yunsheng, smiling, "Listen to him, listen to what he says. A lofty Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster becomes a mosquito in his mouth-what level of arrogance is this?"
"It is indeed junior apprentice-sister Feng who understands him better. Just pretending to be humble in front of us; who knows how pleased he is with himself within his heart."
Feng Yunsheng and Ah Hu both began laughing uproariously, Yan Zhaoge shrugging as he just smiled.
Having gotten rid of the Crimson Spirit Flag Master, it was actually fine whether or not the clan rewarded him for it. At the end of the day, it was still a matter that eased his heart.
With Yan Zhaoge's rate of improvement, there would surely be a day where the Crimson Spirit Flag Master would cease to be a threat.
However, having an Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster always looking to him for revenge before this had not been a very comfortable feeling.
Moreover, this Essence Spirit Martial Grandmaster was actually pretty realistic. The person whom he hated the most was Yan Zhaoge's father, Yan Di.
However, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master would definitely be unable to defeat Yan Di. If he dared to appear before Yan Di, he would directly be put to death by him with a single slap.
Unable to beat the old one, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master changed his target to the young one, setting his eyes on Yan Zhaoge.
When Yan Zhaoge's strength had risen to the point that the Crimson Spirit Flag Master could no longer beat even him, the Crimson Spirit Flag Master would naturally no longer have come looking for Yan Zhaoge.
Instead, he would most likely have switched his focus to an even younger, weaker Broad Creed Mountain disciple.
Yan Zhaoge would naturally no longer have to be worried at that time, but at the end of the day, there would still be someone facing the threat of the Crimson Spirit Flag Master.
There was only being a thief for a thousand days-since when was there guarding against a thief for a thousand days?
Able to cleanly slaughter the Crimson Spirit Flag Master, putting a definite stop to future troubles, Yan Zhaoge was extremely satisfied, at what could be considered an unexpected gain.
And while an element of luck had been contained within, leaving the foreign dimension left behind by Loose Practitioner He this time, Yan Zhaoge had also had somewhat great gains.
After taking his leave of Xu Fei and Feng Yunsheng, Yan Zhaoge returned to his lodgings, beginning to inspect the many treasures that he had obtained this time.
First and foremost was naturally Yan Zhaoge's initial primary target, the Life Illuminating Immortal Stone.
Yan Zhaoge had just know that Loose Practitioner He had one, not able to truly confirm beforehand whether it was really placed within that foreign dimension.
"Looks like my luck is still not bad," Playing with that Life Illuminating Immortal Stone in his hands, a hint of a smile was revealed at the corners of Yan Zhaoge's mouth.
Having obtained the Life Illuminating Immortal Stone, there would no longer be a need to seek out a substitute item.
After breaking through into the Heavenly Connection stage and accumulating and consolidating his foundation slightly, he would be able to begin attempting crossing through that heavenly gulf into the Martial Grandmaster realm.
Of course, ambitions were faraway things, and he should step firmly on the ground right beneath him, first achieving his breakthrough into the Heavenly Connection stage.
However, with Yan Zhaoge's current foundation, the difficulty of that would not be high.
Other than the Life Illuminating Immortal Stone, there was still an expected surprise, naturally the unique treasure, the Immortal Crane Wings.
After having entangled with the Crimson Spirit Flag Master, its spiritual qi had been depleted very greatly, unable to be used for a time like the Eye of the Thunder Emperor fragment.
However, nourished by its master Yan Zhaoge, when it had recovered its lost vitality, it would be able to display its true flair once more.
Along with that Life Illuminating Immortal Stone on that short table previously had been a few other things, all cleanly taken away by Yan Zhaoge.
Amongst them was a medicinal bottle, containing pills that Loose Practitioner He had previously concocted. However, with the ravages of time, all the way from before the time of the Great Calamity up till now, while some of these pills were still efficate, the spiritual qi of some had already gradually dissipated completely over time.
Yan Zhaoge was not particularly concerned about this, as his attention was currently drawn by another object.
It was a scroll formed on a beastskin of who knows what beast.
Unfurling the scroll, Yan Zhaoge saw that it was completely empty, with only a square-shaped pattern right at the centre.
By the looks of it, this pattern should have been left behind by some kind of seal.
Looking carefully, Yan Zhaoge saw that that pattern resembled a sun.
The pattern appeared very ancient, but as Yan Zhaoge focused on it, he felt a piercing pain in his eyes, as though he was looking at the true sun itself.
This beastskin scroll was an object of Loose Practitioner He, left behind in the foreign dimension. Before Yan Zhaoge and Lin Zhou had entered today, it had always been lying there, being an artifact of before the Great Calamity, thus naturally having nothing to do with the current Sacred Sun Clan.
However, as Yan Zhaoge knew, the Sacred Sun Clan had similarly been formed on the foundation of unearthed remnants of the martial civilisation of before the Great Calamity alongside the comprehension and development of martial practitioners afterwards. Tracing it back, the Sacred Sun Clan still had some roots from before the Great Calamity.
Yan Zhaoge stroked his lower chin, "This seal might be related to that Divine Sun Scripture legacy of legend, though who knows how an imprint of it might have landed in Loose Practitioner He's hands."