Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 105: Wuji's First Merit, Plotting to Seize the Dragon Vein (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets: 110)

The Linglang Cave Heaven, the main hall for affairs.

"In the battle of Guanyun Mountain, Zhao Wuji, the commander of Mingxia, led his troops to break through the enemy's ambush, killing one person at the fourth level of Qi Refining, five people at the third level, and two corpse drivers, and destroying the Yin Corpse Locking Spirit Formation!"

A steward from the administration hall read the battle report aloud, and the hall fell silent instantly.

"This intelligence"

Behind the bamboo curtain, the elder of the Spirit Monitoring Hall put down his teacup and asked in confusion, "How could a true disciple at the third level of Qi Refining be able to kill a fourth-level enemy cultivator and even kill several other cultivators of the same level?"

The other elders and deacons in the hall were also shocked by this information.

"That's not all," the steward added. "In this battle, he single-handedly charged into the enemy formation, first slaying the cultivators guarding the formation, then dismantling the formation itself, and finally joining forces with Yu Zishan to surround and kill the remaining enemies. He single-handedly turned the tide of the battle!"

"This"

The elders in the hall looked at each other in astonishment.

"This kid actually broke the formation so quickly? Could it be that he just learned and applied the 'Hundred Solutions to Mysterious Formations' that he just exchanged for last time?"

The steward Hu from the Sutra Repository, who came to hear the battle report, was so astonished that he almost ripped off his own beard.

"A Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivator reversed his own level and killed five Stage 3 cultivators in succession?"

Elder Liang of Lingcai Hall chuckled, "Is it possible that my good-for-nothing disciple Yu Zishan did the hard work, but all the credit is being given to this Junior Nephew Zhao?"

The discussion in the hall suddenly stopped.

"That's not the case. All the specific merits are recorded in detail on the sword token, so there will be no mistake."

A burst of laughter suddenly came from inside the hall. Elder He from the Affairs Hall strode out, and the main sword token flew out from his sleeve. It swelled in the wind and clearly showed many details of his achievements.

The Hall Master of Merit suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, "This boy defeated three disciples at the third level when he was at the second level of Qi Refining. He is a born sword cultivator. It is normal for him to have such combat power. However, it is truly unexpected that he can also break formations."

He pondered for a moment, then picked up his pen and made a heavy stroke on the merit book.

"Commander Zhao Wuji of Mingxia has made the greatest contribution in this battle! He is awarded 400 major merits and 500 minor merits. He is allowed to enter the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion and choose one secret technique!"

There was a brief commotion inside the hall.

"They've already claimed the credit?!"

One of the deacons gasped, "A disciple who has only been a disciple for two years has managed to reach the top in a single battle? Although it's only a temporary ranking."

"It seems that if those two purple-robed secret disciples from Lone Cloud Peak don't make any moves, the top spot for merit this year will probably be taken by the newcomer from Cold Moon Peak."

Elder Yu, with his flowing white hair, stroked his beard and sighed, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

Soon, the battle report was quickly disseminated through the main sword order, inspiring and urging other generals to follow suit and achieve merit.

Cold Moon Peak, Snow-Covered Peak.

Hua Qingshuang leaned against the icy railing, her slender hand gently stroking the communication jade slip. The mountain breeze swept across her frosty white wide sleeves, concealing the fleeting curve of her lips into the sea of ​​clouds.

She gazed in the direction of the main peak of Linlang, her narrowed eyes reflecting even greater ambition.

Meanwhile, inside the Xuan Sha Hall of Yunfeng Cave.

Suddenly, a soul lamp shattered with a "crack." The black-clad disciple guarding the hall was startled, his face changed drastically, and when he saw the name on the lamp holder, he turned ashen-faced and scrambled towards the elder's meditation room.

"Elder Kang! Kang, Senior Brother Kang's soul lamp!"

"Soul Lamp? What happened to the Soul Lamp!?"

The gray-robed old man, who had been sitting with his eyes closed on the purple jade futon, suddenly opened them, his eyes flashing with astonishing spiritual power. The teapot on the opposite table exploded into dust with a "bang".

He abruptly swept his sleeves aside, pushed his disciple aside, rushed out of the meditation room, and entered the inner room. When he saw the shattered soul lamp on the table, he was struck dumb, his body trembling.

"My son!!"

Elder Kang let out a low growl like a wild beast, snatched the broken lamp fragments, his withered hand veins bulging, his expression one of shock and ferocity.

"My son was ordered to lead the ambush; he should have rendered a great service."

His voice was terribly hoarse, and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. "How could this happen?! Who did this?!"

A cold wind howled outside the palace, and even the rising sun seemed somewhat dim.

Several disciples who rushed over upon hearing the news were forced to kneel down by Elder Kang's overwhelming spiritual pressure as soon as they stepped into the courtyard, their foreheads instantly beaded with cold sweat.

"Investigate!" Elder Kang's sleeves billowed like raging waves, his voice like the clash of cold iron from the deepest hell. "Before sunset, I must know who did this!!"

An aura of killing intent exploded within the hall, causing the beams and pillars to vibrate and hum. Several disciples instantly turned ashen-faced.

At this moment, as dusk settles over Guanyun Mountain, the smoke of battle gradually dissipates.

The corpses scattered on the ground turned to ashes in the raging fire, and the leaping flames completely devoured the last vestige of the possibility of the Yin puppet rising from the dead.

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back in front of the cave, the flickering firelight casting interlaced shadows on his cold, handsome face.

His gaze swept over the neatly stacked battle flags to the side, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

The results of this battle far exceeded expectations.

The hundreds of strands of Yin energy he secretly absorbed from the bodies of more than ten Yin puppets had already compensated for his losses in this battle.

Not to mention the more than thirty source crystals and multiple magical artifacts they acquired, especially the spirit shield and spirit armor of a Qi Refining cultivator at the fourth level, which were all of considerable value.

Although the spirit armor had been pierced by the Frost Soul Flying Sword, it could be reused after being taken back to the cave and repaired by the steward of the Artifact Hall.

"Senior Brother Zhao, I'm all better now. You can come in and treat me."

At that moment, Li Shiyu's voice came from inside the cave.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji turned and entered the grotto, the sound of dripping water particularly clear in the darkness.

Li Shiyu leaned against the stone wall, her blue robe half-undone, revealing a hideous claw mark on her jade-like shoulder and back.

The bluish-black poison gas swirled around the wound, creating a stark contrast with the pale skin.

In the biting cold, her trembling figure appeared exceptionally frail.

This Yin Puppet Cold Poison has seeped into the subcutaneous meridians. If it is not removed in time, at best the flesh and blood will stiffen and turn into a half-puppet, at worst the spiritual root will be polluted and the cultivation will be completely destroyed.

"Senior Brother Zhao..." Her voice trembled slightly, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes, "This poison... is there any cure?"

"What, you don't trust my medical skills? I specialize in treating this kind of Yin-evil cold poison."

Zhao Wuji chuckled, and seven golden rays suddenly appeared between his fingers.

Amidst the twinkling stars, the golden needles had precisely sealed the major acupoints around the wound, firmly locking the rampant poison gas in one corner.

The next moment, he activated the Yin Pearl, quickly absorbing the Yin energy that had invaded the other party's body.

After a while, he infused another wisp of pure yang energy into it to strengthen its foundation and nourish its vital energy.

At this point, there's basically nothing to worry about. "Hmm," Li Shiyu suddenly tilted her head back, her body trembling slightly as if she'd been electrocuted.

A long-awaited warmth spread through her limbs and bones, making her feel so comfortable that she unconsciously straightened her toes.

A tingling sensation ran through her, and her smooth back almost pressed against the chest of the person behind her.

"That familiar warmth."

In a daze, she bit her lower lip, as if she had returned to the scene in the Cold Palace when Zhao Wuji performed acupuncture on her.

I haven't felt this warmth in a long time.

"Don't move, the needle hasn't been removed yet." Zhao Wuji frowned, his tone slightly somber.

Li Shiyu seemed not to hear, instead raising her peach-blossom-like face and breathing softly, "Back in the cold palace, on a cold night, my senior brother administered acupuncture to me in this very way."

Her slender fingers traced the tip of the gold needle. "This penetrating warmth is something I can't forget. Senior brother, how about... inserting a few more needles, deeper?"

As she spoke, her waist swayed slightly, and her blue robe brushed almost imperceptibly against Zhao Wuji's wrist.

"You are now Linlang's disciple, not a concubine in the deep palace. Have some self-respect."

Zhao Wuji's eyes darkened.

"Snapped!"

A slap landed heavily on her buttocks, the crisp sound echoing in the cave.

Li Shiyu gasped, her ears turning bright red, but then she heard a cold voice behind her:
"If you try anything funny again, I'll use the hilt of my sword to force the poison out of you."

Outside the cave, the mountain wind howled, but Li Shiyu suddenly chuckled. Dark blue-black poisonous blood meandered down her jade-like back, congealing into a breathtaking ink stain at her tailbone, like white paper stained with blood.

"I love your mischievous side, Senior Brother."

She suddenly turned around, her beautiful eyes boldly gazing at Zhao Wuji, her arms outstretched in front of her, her arched eyebrows slightly raised, and her breath sweet as orchids.

"Senior brother, have you thought through your suggestion from that day?"

Zhao Wuji was not intimidated by his imposing manner. Instead, he played along, boldly admiring the sights with his eyes. He put the golden needles back into the box and said, "You're playing with fire."

He sneered, "I've seen your skill in setting fires, but I've never seen your ability to put them out. Don't play with fire and get burned."

"Senior Brother." Li Shiyu bit her red lips slightly, creeping closer like a snow fox, her black hair cascading down, exuding a seductive charm. "I am already grateful enough, how could I dare..."

Before she could finish speaking, an iron hand suddenly locked onto her snow-white neck!

"what!"

With her hair disheveled, she was slammed against the cave wall. The cold stone made her body tremble, and her previous composure instantly turned into panic.

"Wait, wait!" she kicked her feet frantically. "Senior brother, my Nine Revolutions of the Maiden's Record is not yet fully mastered."

Zhao Wuji's usually calm gaze held a hint of amusement as he tightened his grip, watching the allure in her eyes gradually turn to panic: "After all that effort to seduce her, you want to call it quits at the last minute?"

"Senior brother~" Li Shiyu suppressed the suffocation, lightly licking the corner of her lips with her tongue, "I have better bargaining chips."

"That's it?"

Zhao Wuji loosened his grip slightly, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool. "A mere empty promise is not worth me making an enemy of that old man Zhaoming for you."

A glint flashed in Li Shiyu's eyes, and she suddenly chuckled, "As expected, Senior Brother is not the kind of mediocre person who indulges in beauty."

She traced the spiritual veins on Zhao Wuji's wrist with her fingertips, "But does Senior Brother know how special my physique is? It's not as simple as just golden light spiritual talent."

After mastering the "Nine Revolutions of the Maiden's Record," if I volunteer to be the cauldron, I can help my senior brother break through to the pinnacle of the Purple Light realm.

"The pinnacle of purple light?" Zhao Wuji's pupils constricted slightly, and he felt that even the sound of water droplets dripping in the cave became clearer.

"or."

Her red lips brushed close to Zhao Wuji's ear, her breath carrying the cool fragrance of orchids, "Let's follow the old path of Emperor Zhaoming. With our combined spiritual talents, we're sure to give birth to a prodigy, at least one of the most outstanding talents."

Her voice lowered, "But if I do this, my spiritual talent might fall to that of Senior Brother Qingxia. Which one would you choose?"

"No matter which one, we will face the wrath of Zhaoming and become enemies of the Xuan Kingdom's royal family."

Zhao Wuji said calmly, and casually put Li Shiyu's body down.

Although he said that, he was deeply moved inside.

This seemingly absurd bet had actually stirred a sense of excitement in him.

Li Shiyu probably thought he possessed the golden light spiritual talent, but she didn't know that his true foundation was only the Azure Cloud talent.

If one can use this to break through to the Golden Light realm, it would still be a stroke of good fortune.

More importantly—the Xuan Kingdom's dragon vein!
Those abundant yang energies were crucial to him. The unsealing of the second and even third yang pearls would likely require absorbing a large amount of yang energy and yang marrow, ultimately necessitating the depletion of the dragon vein.

Although there might be some hope of obtaining a large amount of yang energy from Yan Lan, the peak master of Crimson Flame Peak, that Uncle-Master Yan is much more difficult to deal with than Old Man Zhaoming, and there might not even be any yang marrow growing there.
"If you want to seize the dragon vein of the Xuan Kingdom, you can't get around the cave master."

Zhao Wuji's voice suddenly turned cold, "What are your plans?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly paused, feeling a sense of comfort. He couldn't help but look down at Li Shiyu, who was busy at work, and snorted coldly as he grabbed her loose hair.

"Answer my question first!"

Li Shiyu suddenly raised her head, a dangerous smile curving her lips, her eyes burning with ambition: "Tiannan is in chaos now, and Yunfeng and I, Linlang, are locked in a life-or-death struggle. This is an external threat."

She gently pointed her slender, jade-like finger at Zhao Wuji's chest, "As for internal troubles, since you, Senior Brother, have treated the Flower Peak Master, surely you can see some clues about the whirlpool within the cave?"

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted slightly, and his fingers tightened involuntarily. "Li Shiyu, Li Shiyu, you are truly no longer the simple fisherwoman you once were."
How many secrets do you still have that I don't know?
How did you analyze these messages?

"Hey~"

She cried out in pain, but instinctively placed her soft hand on the back of his, her red tongue swirling alluringly at her lips: "Senior brother, I can even offer you my Nine-Colored Profound Yin Body, what else could I possibly be hiding from you?"

She suddenly lowered her voice, "These are all pieces of information that I learned from that old man Zhaoming."

"Do you really think that old fox is willing to be the cave master's puppet?"

Li Shiyu suddenly sneered, a cold glint flashing in her eyes that seemed utterly incongruous with her charming face. "The secret arrangements made over the years... even the cave master might not be fully aware of them."

"He nurtured me for more than just the sake of having a spiritually gifted offspring?"

Li Shiyu narrowed her eyes. "What he wants is to remove the empress, the cancerous tumor that the cave master planted next to him, and to pave the way for the next generation to become emperors."

Let the Zhang family bloodline become the true supreme ruler, not a puppet forever controlled by others!

She looked up at Zhao Wuji and said, "I just want to be a bluebird that follows my senior brother's sword light. I would rather eat the wind and drink the dew and soar through the nine heavens than be a sparrow in a gilded cage to be played with!"

Zhao Wuji lowered his eyelids slightly and said in a deep voice, "Tell me the secret of the royal dragon vein."

If the Imperial Concubine is used as a chess piece, and the sword is aimed at the dragon vein, this game is in line with his previous plan to use the Xuan Kingdom's dragon vein as the foundation of Yangzhu!

(End of this chapter)