Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 100: The Unfettered Commander, the Storage Pot Heaven (Long Chapter, Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Saint Immortal)

Half an hour later.

Zhao Wuji successfully obtained a gourd of "Drunken Immortal's Fall" from Steward Hu.

This old fox, who was addicted to wine, ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of the "golden goblet of precious wine" and was willing to throw out the wine to fish.

He then used up another hundred merit points to exchange for a copy of "A Hundred Explanations of Mysterious Arrays" and a copy of "A Rough Explanation of Medicine Gu" from the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Tsk tsk, you're quite willing to spend money."

Deacon Hu raised his withered eyebrows and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. "Although the 'Hundred Explanations of Mysterious Arrays' is not a large-scale offensive array, if one can comprehend 30% of it, one can still barely enter the realm of array formations."

As for this "A Rough Explanation of Poisonous Drugs"...

His expression was strange. "Although it has some connection to medicine, it still requires studying the art of Gu poison. This is only a rough understanding."

He seemed to know everything about the past and present, and spoke eloquently, saying, "Although witchcraft is a minor art of immortality, it was quite popular in past dynasties."

For example, in the past, during the witchcraft incident of Emperor Wu of Han, the treacherous minister Jiang Chong used wooden dolls to frame the crown prince, which led to the crown prince's defeat and suicide, and implicated tens of thousands of people.

For example, during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, the Taoist priest Guo Xingzhen was accused of using witchcraft to bewitch Wu Zetian and was exiled to Lingnan.

In the Lingnan Gu poison case during the Song Dynasty, an official named Lin Qianzhi was executed for practicing "selecting live Gu" to kill people.

Zhao Wuji exclaimed in surprise, "I never expected that you, Steward Hu, would know so much about Gu Dao."

"That's natural." Deacon Hu stroked his beard and smiled, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes: "I myself once tried to brew wine with Gu, but unfortunately, I failed."

He shook his head and pointed at the "Rough Explanation of Poisonous Gu" in Zhao Wuji's hand, saying, "This book is derived from the 'Record of Poisonous Gu in Miao Territory,' but unfortunately it is only a fragment. Back in the Renyin Palace Coup of the Ming Dynasty, those palace maids plotted to assassinate the Jiajing Emperor, using the methods of poisonous Gu recorded in it to harm people... The prescriptions for saving people are almost gone."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Steward Hu. Learning from others can be beneficial; it's always good to study medicine more."

In the field of medicine, there is a method called "poisonous insect," but it lacks a catalyst.

He planned to first read relevant books such as "A Rough Explanation of Poisonous Gu" to accumulate experience, improve his proficiency, and gradually master it.

As for the Gu worms, he felt that the spirit-eating worms in the mining area were actually very good breeding targets.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Zhao Wuji felt a sudden urge and abruptly turned around.

He saw the clouds outside the window stained with blood, and a blue light ripped through the sky, instantly reaching him and echoing the jade pendant of true inheritance at his waist.

"Zheng——"

Amidst the clear and melodious sound, a blue jade talisman hovered in the air, with nine cloud patterns flowing across it, clearly a true message from the Linglang Grotto Heaven.

"An urgent order from the Emperor?!" Deacon Hu's expression changed drastically. Before he could finish speaking, the communication jade talisman on his waist suddenly lit up.

Zhao Wuji pointed his sword, and the contents of the jade talisman were revealed:

"The Cave Heaven is in grave danger! The Qingluo and Huangyun markets, along with seven spiritual material stores, have been attacked. The traitor Yunfeng has used Yin puppets to destroy our foundation! All disciples, proceed immediately to the Affairs Hall, receive the sword order, and slay the enemy at once!"

"The genius of Yunfeng Cave suffered a setback in just over four months, and he's already back with a vengeance."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly, and he bowed slightly to Steward Hu. With a flick of his sleeves, he had already made a hand seal and stood up.

"Whoosh——"

With a whooshing sound, Zhao Wuji transformed into a streak of light and shot straight towards the Affairs Hall.

Above the Jade Shop Square, dozens of blue streaks of light appeared like shooting stars chasing the moon, their blue robes fluttering and billowing in the clouds, their true spiritual power intertwining like a tide.

"It seems that this time, things are getting serious."

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over his fellow disciples who were arriving one after another in the air. Two of them, dressed in purple-patterned black robes, caught his attention, and he heard their discussions below.

"Senior Sister Mei and Senior Brother Ji from Lonely Cloud Peak have been alarmed! They haven't been on missions for a long time, and have already advanced to the Purple Robe Secret Master level, now possessing the strength of the fifth and sixth levels of Qi Refining."

"Senior Brother Yu from the Spiritual Materials Hall has arrived!"

"The master of both alchemy and swordsmanship, Junior Brother Zhao, has also arrived!"

Many of the blue-robed disciples bowed and greeted Zhao Wuji as he arrived through the air.

Some greeted them warmly, while others scrutinized them with hidden gazes, yet no one dared to be negligent.

Although he has only been in the cave for a short time, his reputation is earned through sheer hard work!
After all, who would dare to underestimate these two formidable figures, who have repeatedly received top-tier ratings in the True Disciple Missions and whose advancement speed rivals that of the two "Purple Light Immortal Seeds" of Lonely Cloud Peak?

Outside the hall, hundreds of disciples in blue robes were already lined up and waiting for orders.

As the many blue-robed disciples descended one after another, the noise immediately subsided, with only the sound of the mountain wind rustling their robes.

"With so many people, it seems the disciples in blue robes were notified long ago."

As Zhao Wuji descended the steps leading to the ranks of true disciples, his gaze swept across the crowd of disciples in blue robes on the square, when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

Li Shiyu was hidden among the ranks of those dressed in blue, her delicate hand tightly pressing the medicine pouch she had been given. When she saw his gaze sweep over her, she smiled slightly and gave him a very light nod.

Just then, the bell inside the hall rang three times, and the sandalwood doors suddenly swung open.

In the center of the affairs hall, nine cyan sword tokens spun in mid-air, their chilling aura spreading like a tangible force, even dimming the candlelight inside the hall.

Elder He Ming of the Affairs Hall stood with his hands behind his back beneath the sword token, his voice like the clash of cold iron:

"The traitor Yunfeng colluded with Yanling Cave Heaven, invaded two of my markets, and destroyed seven of my strongholds! Such acts deserve to be punished!"

"He should be executed! He should be executed!"

The hall erupted in a deafening roar.

Many of the true disciples raised their arms and shouted, while the disciples in blue robes blushed, their shouts almost lifting the glazed tiles from the roof of the hall.

Zhao Wuji stood in the crowd, his ears filled with the desperate shouts of his fellow disciples, but not a trace of enthusiasm could be squeezed out of his face.

I couldn't get emotional at all; in fact, it was a bit awkward.

However, to avoid looking out of place, he mechanically followed suit, waving his fist and making a few symbolic opening and closing motions with his lips.

He had broken free of the spell of doubt himself, so his loyalty to the Linglang Cave Heaven was indifferent. He would rather be loyal to the peak master than to the cave heaven. Faced with this situation, he naturally couldn't muster any enthusiasm, only a sense of danger.

However, many of the other disciples have been in the Linglang Cave for decades, and the Bewitching Heart Curse has planted a seed in their hearts, which has slowly developed to the point that they are now fanatical.

"quiet!"

The elder in charge of affairs shook his robe sleeve, and the noise in the hall came to an abrupt halt.

But then he drew his sword finger, and a beam of azure light shot out, landing directly in front of Ji Mobai, the chief disciple of Lonely Cloud Peak.

"Zheng——"

The sword token hovered, its four gilded characters "Commander of Qingluo" shining brightly, causing all the disciples in the hall to gasp for breath.

The position of commander-in-chief!

This is a powerful position that allows one to command those in blue and green robes. Success in this position not only brings generous rewards but is also an important qualification for future elections for purple robes or peak master.

In an instant, the eyes of all the disciples in the hall gleamed with intense light, their gazes burning with a complex mix of desire and emotion.

"Commander Ji Mobai of Qingluo, heed my command!" Elder He's voice boomed.

"Disciple is here!" Ji Mobai stepped forward, his purple robe fluttering without wind, attracting attention from all directions.

"You are hereby ordered to immediately select ten true disciples and thirty maids in green robes to rush to the aid of Qingluo Market. On the day of success, rewards will be distributed according to merit!"

"Follow the law!"

Subsequently, other sword tokens flew out one after another, and in the blink of an eye, seven had fallen into the hands of the top talents of each peak.

Zhao Wuji watched coldly and noticed that Yu Zishan of the Spiritual Materials Hall had also received a sword token. At this moment, he was overjoyed and rubbed the sword token in his hand with great excitement.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a cyan sword token pierced through the air and hovered abruptly in front of Zhao Wuji, the four characters "General Mingxia" on it revealing their sharpness.

General Mingxia?

His eyes flickered slightly, but before he could think further, he heard the elder in charge of affairs speak in a deep voice:
"Commander Zhao Wuji of Mingxia, heed my command!"

A few low murmurs suddenly rang out from the surroundings, clearly indicating that some people had not expected Zhao Wuji, a disciple who had only recently joined the sect, to be given such an important task.

Zhao Wuji reacted swiftly, clenching his fist to obtain the sword token, and immediately stepped forward, solemnly replying:

"Disciple has received the order!"

The elder in charge nodded and continued:
"You are to select five true disciples and twenty female warriors to rush to the aid of Mingxia's stronghold! On the day of success, rewards will be given according to merit!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Wuji bowed in greeting, but in that instant, his powerful spiritual senses keenly detected a cold gaze coming from behind the bamboo curtain in the hall, like a frost blade touching him, vanishing in an instant.

"Is the Peak Master behind the curtain?"

His mind raced, and he instantly understood—

"Is this an invitation for me to claim credit?" Before I could ponder this further, the bamboo curtain stirred slightly, and the elder of the Hall of Merit stepped out, his voice booming:

"The victors of this counterattack are—"

"The one who performs the best service will be awarded a storage bag! The rest will be rewarded with ancient spirit stones, Qi Gathering Pills, and third-tier magic artifacts."

"A storage bag?!"

The moment these three words were uttered, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

Many disciples in green robes widened their eyes, while the true disciples in blue robes were momentarily speechless.

This is a priceless treasure that is almost extinct in the Dharma-ending Age!

Nowadays, the Void Stone and Mustard Grass used to refine storage bags have long since disappeared.

Therefore, storage bags are extremely precious, and are almost exclusively reserved for peak masters and elders.

In the list of supplies in the Hall of Merit, a storage bag requires 3,000 merit points to exchange for.

An ordinary gray-robed disciple could not accumulate even one great merit in his entire life.

A disciple in blue robes is considered extremely fortunate if he can accumulate one hundred great merits in his lifetime.

Therefore, storage bags are legendary treasures for most disciples.

"They even rewarded me with a storage bag!"

Zhao Wuji was also eager, thinking of the storage bag in the sleeve of Peak Master Hua.

He had briefly come into contact with it during acupuncture treatments and had long coveted this treasure.

If one could obtain a storage bag and study it carefully, perhaps one could truly glimpse the basics of the Pot Heaven Technique.

However, he quickly took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the burning sensation in his heart.

The cultivators of Yunfeng Cave Heaven and Yanling Cave Heaven are not like rice stalks standing there to be harvested; they must remain cautious.

Just then, it was time for the nine commanders to be selected.

The nine generals were clearly distinguished according to the importance of their respective tasks.

Ji Mobai, the chief disciple of Guyun Peak, stepped forward first, standing with his hands behind his back. Wherever his gaze fell, the blue-robed disciples straightened their backs, their eyes almost overflowing with fervor.

Even more extreme, some stepped forward, clasped their hands in a gesture of respect, and pleaded, "Senior Brother Ji, I am willing to go with you!"

"This person, once a Purple Light Immortal Seed, at the sixth level of Qi Refining, is truly a prodigy of the Grotto-Heavens."

Zhao Wuji watched coldly from the sidelines, but when it was his turn, the scene suddenly fell silent.

Although he was famous, he had only been in the cave for less than a year, and on the surface he was still at the third level of Qi Refining.

Many of the blue-robed disciples hesitated, most unwilling to take the risk.

Even the disciples in blue robes lowered their heads, fearing they might be called out.

Compared to this newly appointed leader, they would rather follow the veteran and true master like Yu Zishan, who has accumulated prestige over many years.

"Brother Zhao!"

Suddenly, a clear voice called out. It was Yan Boyuan from Ziyun Palace, who was winking at him with a mischievous look on his face.

"Brother Yan."

Zhao Wuji chuckled and immediately pointed at him.

They then chose Mao Zizhen, who had taken the initiative to signal, and another familiar junior brother.

Of the remaining two blue-robed disciples, he randomly pointed to two familiar-looking fellow disciples to make up the numbers.

When it came time to select disciples in blue robes, there were more applicants.

Li Shiyu had already quietly stood at the front, her eyes clear and bright, conveying her thoughts from afar.

Li Nianwei, who was promoted to Qingyi last month, also smiled with pursed lips, her expression revealing her anticipation.

Junior Brother Xing, who had once delivered the classics, scratched his head and raised his hand enthusiastically. The three blue-robed followers from the mining area also stood up and waved.

"Six people is enough."

Zhao Wuji's lips curled slightly as he glanced at the remaining hesitant disciples in blue robes, a sneer in his heart.

"If you lack courage, don't force it."

He selected all those he knew well, and then chose fourteen more people.

He knew all too well that in such dangerous missions, the worst thing was for the team to harbor disloyal intentions.

Rather than choosing powerful but unpredictable fellow disciples, it would be better to bring along these old acquaintances who, though of average cultivation, can be entrusted with one's life and death.

"Congratulations on Senior Brother Zhao's promotion to Commander!"

Yan Boyuan clasped his hands in a fist and laughed heartily, and his fellow disciples immediately swarmed around him.

Li Shiyu's eyes flickered slightly, intentionally creating momentum for Zhao Wuji, and she said with a meaningful smile, "Being able to travel with General Zhao, who is proficient in both alchemy and swordsmanship, even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, Junior Sister will feel very at ease. After all, with Senior Brother's medical skills, even if he is injured, Senior Brother can bring him back to health with a single needle."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the unfamiliar disciples, who had previously been tense, relaxed slightly.

Upon seeing this, the three men in blue robes from the mining area immediately chimed in, "Senior Brother Zhao's medical skills are extraordinary! Last month, Junior Brother Wang was attacked by malevolent energy, and Senior Brother Zhao saved him with just three needles!"

"Hey, Senior Brother Zhao's swordsmanship is even more amazing! He single-handedly dealt with three waves of insect swarms in the mining area."

"They're all good at playing the straight man."

Zhao Wuji smiled inwardly, gave Li Shiyu an approving look, and then waved his sleeve, ordering, "We'll depart in two hours. Go and collect the supplies immediately!"

The crowd responded with a resounding roar, and the previously tense atmosphere immediately eased.

Frosty mist swirls around Cold Moon Peak.

After handing over all the trivial matters of the cave to Xiaoyue, Zhao Wuji went to the Frost Main Hall before the assembly time.

Master Huafeng has just returned from the Affairs Hall. He has come to say goodbye and also to seek some guidance.

"Junior brother!"

As soon as they arrived at the hall, Dai Zhiyun stomped her jade-like feet to greet them, her pretty face full of annoyance: "I wanted to wait for you to choose, but even though I was hiding in the crowd, that scoundrel Han picked them all!"

Zhao Wuji chuckled upon hearing this: "Senior Brother Han is as gentle and refined as jade, and he is also Elder Chang's chief disciple. Wouldn't following him be better than following me, the newly promoted commander?"

As he spoke, he winked meaningfully, "Besides, from what I've observed, Senior Brother Han seems to..."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Dai Zhiyun's cheeks flushed instantly, and she flailed her fists wildly.

She knew Han Shixiong's feelings, but firstly, she hadn't made any plans in this regard, and secondly, Han Sisi's overly delicate name always made her feel resistant, let alone now that her junior brother had pointed it out to her face.

"Come in, everyone."

Suddenly, Hua Qingshuang's voice rang out from inside the hall, like a cold spring striking jade, instantly shattering the enchanting atmosphere in front of the hall.

Dai Zhiyun felt as if she had been granted a pardon and rushed into the hall as if fleeing. Zhao Wuji shook his head and chuckled.

He straightened his robes and immediately entered the hall, where he bowed.

Hua Qingshuang's eyes narrowed slightly, and her cool voice echoed in the hall, her words nothing more than common advice such as to act cautiously and preserve one's life.

Finally, she gazed at Zhao Wuji with her beautiful eyes and said softly:
"Are you wondering why you were chosen as the commander-in-chief?"

She lightly tapped the table with her fingers, her frosty sleeves fluttering slightly.

"This is my intention."

"Sure enough."

Zhao Wuji feigned sudden realization and bowed respectfully: "Since it was arranged by the Peak Master, there must be a deeper meaning behind it. This disciple would like to hear the details."

Hua Qingshuang's cold eyes softened slightly, clearly quite satisfied with his unquestioning attitude, and she immediately nodded:

"The rewards bestowed by the Hall of Merit for this mission are all genuine treasures, not empty words."

She paused slightly, then continued:

"Furthermore, performance during this trip will determine the number of people admitted when the 'Tiannan Secret Realm' opens in the future."

At this point, she glanced lightly at Dai Zhiyun standing to the side and shook her head slightly:

"Your senior sister Dai is not capable of this, so you cannot force her, otherwise you may lose your life."

I can only place my hopes on you—if you were the commander-in-chief, you might be able to claim the greatest credit; at the very least… with your abilities, you could certainly distinguish yourself.”

At this point, her tone softened, and a rare hint of concern appeared in her eyes:
"But remember—safety first, and don't do anything foolish or reckless..."

(End of this chapter)