HSSB70: Glacial Dragon’s Roar
Feng Yunsheng was to be escorted back to Broad Creed Mountain by some of the clan’s experts.
Having considered the recent high tension between Broad Creed Mountain and the Sacred Sun Clan, to prepare for the worst, a portion of the experts that had been dispatched over here this time remained to assist Elder Qin in keeping the situation in the Eastern Tang as well as the rest of the East Heaven Region stable, and deal with the Sacred Sun Clan’s retaliatory actions that might possibly follow.
After having seen Feng Yunsheng off, Yan Zhaoge returned to his lodgings, pondering as he walked.
This time, they had thoroughly offended the Sacred Sun Clan, and with the level of ability as well as potential that he had been displaying in recent days, it was very likely that they would keep a firm eye on him.
Moreover, there was also a Yan Xu watching him ferociously from the side.
With Yan Zhaoge having stepped into the mid outer aura Martial Scholar realm, even having won against the late outer aura stage Xiao Shen, his entourage of black-clothed martial practitioners was now no longer travelling alongside him.
As guards, they were already not serving much purpose. On the contrary, staying by Yan Zhaoge’s side might inadvertently cause them to become embroiled in the matter, and in that situation, who would be the one protecting who?
Still, the black-clothed martial practitioners did not leave the Eastern Tang Kingdom, having stayed on, ready to follow Yan Zhaoge’s orders at any moment.
The group consisting of Yan Zhaoge and Elder Qin soon proceeded to Overlooking Abyss City.
There, Yan Zhaoge and the others saw the corpse of the late Lin Yushao.
It was there that Yan Zhaoge finally got a good look at Lin Yushao’s true features for once, as opposed to viewing the memories of his body’s original owner which had been like watching a movie on a screen.
As Yan Xu had said, the body’s visible wounds all appeared to have been inflicted by an early outer aura Martial Scholar with the Tushita Palm.
The remnant marks left behind by purple Tushita fire permeated her entire body.
…also covering all other traces.
“What a short, unlucky life…” Yan Zhaoge fell silent.
Leaving the place, he gazed up towards the sky, “Ye Jing has really reached this stage?”
“Right, in the icy pond earlier, he seemed to have been injured once again. If he had continued using that secret technique of his to treat his wounds, it would have a severe influence on his mind.”
“That way, it is indeed possible that he would become more violent as well as antagonistic.”
Yan Zhaoge’s gaze turned cold, “If you really want to eliminate yourself from this world, I will personally send you off myself.”
Returning to their lodgings, Ah Hu said in a light tone from beside him, “Young Master.”
Seeing Ah Hu’s smile that appeared simple and honest but was, in actual fact, cheap and dirty, Yan Zhaoge rolled his eyes.
Following Ah Hu’s gaze, he saw a beautiful, graceful girl, currently standing by the roadside.
“Junior apprentice-sister Sikong, you have left seclusion?” Yan Zhaoge asked, “And from the looks of it, you’ve successfully broken through the bottleneck and stepped into the Martial Scholar realm?”
The girl was precisely Sikong Qing, a cold and aloof air about her.
She bowed solemnly towards Yan Zhaoge, “Many thanks for senior apprentice-brother Yan’s earlier pointers. After leaving seclusion, I have specially come to express my gratitude.”
“I have also heard about the matter regarding junior apprentice-sister Lin. My condolences, senior apprentice-brother Yan.”
Yan Zhaoge waved his hands, “I’m fine; thank you for your concern.”
Having said thus, he began appraising her all over, “Not bad, a sixteen year old Martial Scholar is rare even in our clan. Junior apprentice-sister Sikong indeed strives forward with great determination.”
“However, do not be complacent as a result; you should know that the Sacred Sun Clan’s Meng Wan was already a Martial Scholar at the age of fifteen.”
Sikong Qing’s expression was calm, her gaze resolute, “Yes, I know.”
“Neither proud nor impatient-very good,” Yan Zhaoge nodded, “You are completely devoted to the martial dao, with a firm will, so I am also not afraid of dealing you too strong a blow. Other than Meng Wan, the Sacred Sun Clan also had another person who had already stepped into the Martial Scholar realm when she had yet to turn sixteen.”
“And now, she has joined our clan.”
Sikong Qing said calmly, “I hope to be able to frequently exchange pointers with her in the future; I believe that I would benefit much from the experience.”
Looking at her, Yan Zhaoge suddenly broke into a smile, “However, like Meng Wan, she is also a Maiden of Extreme Yin. Their situations are rather unique; in order to obtain good results in the Extreme Yin Bouts, the Sacred Sun Clan employed some growth accelerating methods in rearing them.”
“This way, their foundation would inevitably be less stable, causing their extraordinary quick cultivation speed to drop to slower than usual in the future.”
“But with the Sacred Sun Clan’s and our own Broad Creed Mountain’s background, even if their future cultivation speed were to decrease, that would only be relative to themselves. They would still be far faster than most people. Also…”
Hearing Yan Zhaoge’s words, Sikong Qing finished his words for him mildly, “Also, the Extreme Yin Crown has the effect of increasing the cultivation speed of Maidens of Extreme Yin.”
“After having secured a victory in the first Extreme Yin Bout, during the year where the Extreme Yin Crown was in her possession, Meng Wan’s cultivation soared by leaps and bounds, being far faster than was usual for her.”
“That Senior Sister from Jade Sea City who won the second Extreme Yin Bout over Meng Wan also saw her cultivation progress tremendously after having taken over possession of the Extreme Yin Crown.”
Sikong Qing’s gaze was resolute and unwavering, “Many thanks to senior apprentice-brother Yan for the reminder. I definitely won’t be complacent.”
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “Very good. Now that you have already reached the inner aura stage for Martial Scholars, the next step will be to use your newly-formed aura-qi to open the acupoints around your body.”
“After that has been achieved, you will have reached the mid inner aura Martial Scholar realm. What comes next would be the washing of the internal organs, strengthening your body a step further.”
“When you are capable of forming a wall of qi with the aura-qi within your body, you will have reached the late inner aura stage. At that time, the strength of your body, be it in terms of attack or defence, would have greatly increased, and you could begin your preparations for breaking through into the outer aura stage.”
“One step at a time; stably and steadily. I believe you can do it.”
Sikong Qing nodded, “I will work hard; thank you senior apprentice-brother Yan for worrying about me.”
The two parted ways. Gazing at Sikong Qing’s departing figure, Yan Zhaoge was silent for a long time.
Ah Hu came up to the front, giving a simple laugh, “Young Master, Miss Lin just departed, and you are already planning to eat up Miss Sikong? That’s not very good…”
Yan Zhaoge said impatiently, “Can you not always be thinking about your lower half?”
Ah Hu scratched his head, “Why did Young Master look at that Miss with that kind of gaze then?”
Yan Zhaoge squinted his eyes, “Perhaps it was just me hallucinating, but having stepped into the Martial Scholar realm, Sikong Qing appears like she has undergone a compete renewal, some heaven-shaking, earth-overturning changes having happened to her body.”
“While from a Martial Artist to a Martial Scholar there exists a heavenly gulf, and managing to cross it would mean a completely new world, the changes on Sikong Qing seem to be even greater than that, just that this feeling is still very indistinct.”
Ah Hu gazed for a long time at Sikong Qing’s figure which was almost already out of sight, before he said, puzzled, “Young Master, other than having broken through to become a Martial Scholar, I just can’t see what other changes she has on her.”
Yan Zhaoge pursed his lips, “Perhaps.”
“Right, earlier, I asked you to send people to follow that Zhao Hao. Do you have anything to report about that?”
Ah Hu replied, “He has made no movements for the time being, from the looks of it appearing far more law-abiding than all of you say.”
Yan Zhaoge nodded, “Continue observing him closely, but don’t come into contact with the people from the Eastern Tang.”
Temporarily pushing everything else to the back of his head, after returning to his lodgings, Yan Zhaoge took out the Nine Treasures Ice Gourd that he had obtained from Elder Qin.
This object’s original use was to store and preserve other items, especially some types of spirit grass as well as spirit medicines.
Once some spirit medicines were plucked, the spiritual qi within them would dissipate very quickly, rendering them useless. At such a time, having a Nine Treasures Ice Gourd would prevent one from encountering miserable failure.
After removing the stopper from the gourd, Yan Zhaoge retrieved the Profound Jade within which the Glacial Dragon Bone Soul was sealed.
The power of the Glacial Dragon Bone Soul had already been partially absorbed by Yan Zhaoge. Now, Yan Zhaoge began absorbing its essence into his body once again.
Under the nourishment of the essence of the Glacial Dragon Bone Soul, Yan Zhaoge’s cultivation base began rotating unceasingly as the essence was continually being transformed for his own use.
With the help of the Peerless Heavenly Scripture, Yan Zhaoge could achieve this grand feat that most Martial Scholars would find it hard to perform for real, thereby increasing his cultivation speed.
However, this time, while he was cultivating, Yan Zhaoge had one of his hands pressing down upon the Nine Treasures Ice Gourd.
The essence of the Glacial Dragon began circulating between the Profound Jade, the gourd and within Yan Zhaoge’s body.
Gradually, the cold air around the Nine Treasures Ice Gourd grew thicker and thicker. From within the gourd, the roar of a dragon could also faintly be heard.
The figure of a white dragon now faintly appeared on the surface of the gourd.
Yan Zhaoge smiled, “Glacial Dragon’s Roar, complete.”