Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 109: Unfair Injustice and Shady Dealings, The Emperor's Seat

In the darkness, the sword token's blue light surged, and golden patterns flowed across the merit list.

But then the seven characters "Qingluo Commander Ji Mobai" appeared like a soaring dragon and a rising phoenix, carrying a majestic aura that suppressed the entire list, even forcibly suppressing Zhao Wuji, who had been firmly at the top of the list for many days, by half a point.

Then, the gold patterns flowed, and a battle report appeared.

"A thousand great achievements! Ji Mobai led his troops in a surprise attack on Qingluo Market, single-handedly killing twelve enemy cultivators, including two Qi Refining Stage 5 prodigies (Yun Feng and Yan Ling), recapturing the market and recovering supplies!"

"What a remarkable master of the Purple Robe Secret Technique, Ji Mobai, who actually killed two Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivators in succession."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered as he pondered.

My contribution in assisting in killing Kang Laogui could be great or small, and whether I could surpass him depended entirely on whether the two elders reported it impartially.

If they harbor even the slightest selfishness.
Just as he was pondering this, the sword token suddenly trembled violently!

"Zhao Wuji of Hanyue Peak has rendered meritorious service in assisting in the killing of Kang Youyuan (eighth level of Qi Refining), the elder of Xuan Sha Hall of Yunfeng Cave Heaven!"
This line of gold patterns, like a flying sword from the sky, carries a sharp and murderous aura, fiercely cleaving into the top of the list!

They actually managed to suppress Ji Mobai's name by half an inch!
However, the amount of his merits has not been updated for a long time.

This dramatic turn of events immediately drew the attention of all the generals from all directions, who were taken aback and shocked.

Assisted in killing Elder Kang Youyuan of the Xuan Sha Hall in Yunfeng Cave? And he was a powerful cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining.
How did Zhao Wuji, who was only at the third level of Qi Refining, manage to do this?
Could there be something fishy going on? Is it that guy from Cold Moon Peak who's determined to overshadow Lonely Cloud Peak and establish his authority?
"Eighth level of Qi Refining. Assisting in the kill?"

In Qingluo Market, Commander Ji Mobai stood with his hands behind his back on the pavilion, holding a sword token, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

He didn't believe it!

He had fought against an elder at the seventh level of Qi Refining and was completely suppressed.

The gap between the mid-term and late-term is much larger than the gap between the early and mid-term.

With his Qi Refining Level 6 strength, he would be powerless against a Qi Refining Level 8 cultivator. How could he possibly assist in the battle?
Not to mention that Zhao Wuji was only an early-stage Qi Refining cultivator at the third level. In the face of the powerful spiritual might of a late-stage cultivator, he probably couldn't even stand steadily, let alone make a move.
"Someone's sabotaging us!" Ji Mobai's eyes flashed coldly, the last two words spitting out from between his teeth, "Injustice!"

At this moment, the other generals also had similar thoughts.

Even Yu Zishan, who greatly admired Zhao Wuji's strength, was somewhat taken aback when he saw the latest battle record on the sword token.

"Junior Brother Zhao used sword energy? But even that would be difficult to break through the opponent's magic weapon defense, and it might not even hit."

"Or perhaps, using myself as bait to lure out this old ghost could also be considered assisting in the operation?"

Yu Zishan became interested in this still undetermined credit.

This merit could be great or small. If it ultimately surpasses that of Senior Brother Ji, given Senior Brother Ji's arrogance...
Inside the Linglang Cave, in the Affairs Hall.

"Dare you call me absurd?" Elder Wen slammed his palm down on the tea table, shattering it. "Killing an enemy cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining should, according to custom, be rewarded with eight hundred merits! Even if Junior Nephew Zhao only assists, four hundred merits is the minimum! Who is this one hundred merits meant to humiliate?"

Across from them, an elder with a goatee sneered, "Nephew Ji just won the first merit, and now Nephew Zhao suddenly has a record of killing an eighth-level cultivator? Even with the help of the sword token, a mere third-level Qi Refining cultivator is still extremely suspicious."

"What nonsense!" Elder Wen argued. "Senior Brother Jiao and I saw it with our own eyes. How could we possibly lie? Ji Mobai got a thousand merits for killing two juniors at the fifth level. That's absurd!"

"Everyone!"

Jiao Min suddenly flicked his sleeve, and a recording bead flew into the air.

The image inside the pearl is clearly visible.

The terrifying sword wound on Kang Youyuan's corpse, which pierced from his crown to his waist, was radiating a sharp, commanding aura.

"Such injuries could not have been inflicted by anything less than a full-force attack from the Sword Order," Jiao Min said in a booming voice. "If it weren't for Junior Nephew Zhao's desperate struggle, this old ghost would have already escaped into the earth's veins. If some people still don't believe it..."

He turned around abruptly, and another object flew out from his sleeve: "This is Kang Youyuan's identity token. The sword energy remaining on it is of the same origin as Junior Nephew Zhao's sword token!"

Elder Tang flicked his sleeve and said, "The body has not been examined, and the extent of the injuries is difficult to determine."

"Junior Brother Wen, as the head of the Hall of Hundred Wastes, has actually abandoned the corpse of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in the wilderness. That's far too wasteful."

"You surnamed Tang!" Elder Wen's hair and beard bristled. "You've been my enemy for years, and you still want to cause trouble today? Do you expect me to carry a corpse back through the air? The spiritual energy expended would be equivalent to several corpses. How about you give me your storage bag instead?"

"Even if you deserve credit for it, so what?" Elder Tang said indifferently. "The battle of the market is a matter of overall strategy, how can it be compared to killing Elder Yunfeng?"

Elder Wen laughed in fury: "Kang Youyuan, known as Blood Impermanence, is the leader of the Four Evil Stars of Yunfeng Cave Heaven. Sixty years ago, he slaughtered dozens of my sect's disciples! His execution today is of extraordinary significance!"

"Elders, please wait."

Elder He of the Affairs Hall raised his hand to stop him, and said in a deep voice, "With Elder Jiao's photograph as proof, Junior Nephew Zhao's merit in killing Kang Youyuan is beyond doubt. However..."

He turned his gaze to Wen and Jiao, saying, "The two elders also contributed significantly."

Elder Li of the Hall of Merit pondered for a moment, then said loudly, "Three hundred great merits can be recorded."

The words trailed off.

The golden patterns on the merit list changed again, and Zhao Wuji's name suddenly shone brightly with a blue light. The merits were finally determined, and the golden patterns on the list suddenly froze—"Zhao Wuji, one thousand major merits, five hundred minor merits."

A vibrant blue light shines like a rainbow, and it has once again climbed to the top of the list!
With a mere 500 minor merits difference, they managed to suppress Ji Mobai, the main general of Qingluo.

Jiao Min clapped his hands and laughed, while Elder Tang's face immediately turned ashen.

The elders of the Affairs Hall and the Merit Hall exchanged a glance and breathed a sigh of relief.

Just moments ago, a cold voice entered their ears; it was none other than the extremely formidable Peak Master Hua.

"I wished to descend from the mountain to offer my aid, yet you all obstructed me in every way. Had it not been for Wuji's wisdom and courage, things would not have ended this way. If anyone dares to secretly sabotage me again, hmph!"

That final cold snort sent a shiver down the spines of both elders, who were unwilling to offend Peak Master Hua any further.

A cool night breeze blows along the riverbank.

Zhao Wuji stared at the list and saw that his name had risen and fallen several times, but finally remained firmly in first place. His tense nerves finally relaxed.

He still deserves the most credit!

Although he was only five hundred minor merits ahead of Ji Mobai.

But this difference of five hundred minor merits, which is equivalent to one hundred major merits, is enough to secure victory. The counterattacks in the two major markets and various strongholds are nearing their end.

Apart from the defeats of the commanders at the Iron Eagle and Dragon Cotton strongholds, the other commanders either safely arrived at the unattacked strongholds and gained a hundred merits for nothing.

Either they successfully annihilate the enemy and launch a counterattack, each gaining merit in battle, and the situation becomes clear.

"Now, how can we possibly close the gap of those one hundred great achievements?"

Zhao Wuji secretly calculated that this meant he had to kill at least three enemy cultivators at the fourth level of Qi Refining, or one cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

But those powerful enemies are not lambs to the slaughter. They fled far away when they saw the situation was not good. Why would they stay in the same place and wait for Ji Mobai to harvest them?

With 664 streams of spiritual energy flowing gently within his body, Zhao Wuji suddenly had an epiphany:
"This life-or-death battle yielded fruitful results, so it's reasonable for him to reveal his fourth-level Qi Refining cultivation upon returning to the mountain."

Although the speed of advancement is astonishing, given my current combat strength, matching this level isn't unusual.

His recent travels to places devoid of spiritual energy have indeed delayed his cultivation, resulting in a slow increase in his spiritual power.

However, we will return to our blessed land and cultivate using the spiritual veins.

Before the spring of next year, breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Induction should be a natural outcome.

With this thought in mind, he formed a hand seal, rose into the air, and transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for the Xuan Kingdom's imperial city.

After flying forty or fifty miles, he had to use the flying technique again, each time consuming three strands of spiritual energy.

Such a consumption would likely cause an ordinary early-stage Qi Refining cultivator to exhaust their spiritual energy and fall from the clouds before they could even fly a hundred miles.

As the flying technique was used repeatedly, the silver tadpole-like patterns in the second Yang Pearl became increasingly bright, most likely indicating that the wind-riding technique was being developed.

Unfortunately, the first Yang Pearl had not yet been fully accumulated, and even if the Earthly Fiend Technique in the second Yang Pearl was activated, it would be like a castle in the air.

"I wonder if the Heavenly Pot Technique is stored inside the Yang Pearl or the Yin Pearl; I hope it's the Yin Pearl."

One day later.

Inside the Penglai Palace, the imperial city of Xuan Kingdom.

On the nine-tiered jade steps, Emperor Zhaoming, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat in the main seat. His eyes, sharp as lightning, fell directly on the cultivators below him.

"Well done! Well done, Commander Zhao Wuji of Mingxia! Junior Brother Zhao, and all of you junior brothers, you have truly shown the might of our Linlang Cave Heaven this time."

Emperor Zhaoming clapped his hands and laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the palace.

Under the light of the cranes carrying lanterns on both sides, Consort Li's golden hairpin swayed slightly, her slender white fingers gently holding a glass cup. Her eyes shone as she looked at Zhao Wuji in the palace and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Senior Brother Zhao is the commander who made the greatest contribution in this counterattack. He has a very promising future."

Yesterday, Senior Brother Zhao bravely and single-handedly covered the escape of us other fellow disciples, and I was extremely worried.

Unexpectedly, I later heard the news that Senior Brother Zhao had assisted in killing an enemy cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining, which was utterly astonishing!

"My beloved consort is absolutely right! Junior Brother Zhao is truly an unparalleled hero of our Xuan Kingdom! A future Dao Child of the Cave Heaven!" Emperor Zhaoming waved his dragon sleeve, "Guards, quickly bestow upon Minister Zhao a seat of honor!"

Immediately, an attendant bowed and led the way, arranging Zhao Wuji to sit on a sandalwood cloud-patterned mat to the emperor's lower left. This was the position of one of the Three Dukes, and even the myna bird Xiong Ba on his shoulder appeared more imposing at this moment.

Seeing this, none of the true disciples, including Yan Boyuan, who were sitting on both sides of the hall, dared to disagree; all of them looked on with admiration.

Yesterday alone, Zhao Wuji led the enemy alone and completely conquered them.

Not to mention that Zhao Wuji also led them to achieve many merits.

Each person earned two hundred merits on this trip, which was something many of them would have struggled to accumulate in ten years.

"This child was once unremarkable, how did he suddenly soar to great heights?"

Sitting opposite Zhao Wuji, the National Preceptor Fang wore a smile, but his heart was filled with extremely complex and suspicious feelings.

How exactly did Zhao Wuji assist in killing the enemy cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining? Judging by the merits he received, he must have contributed a great deal.

But such a record is too outrageous. Even a fifth-level cultivator like him would struggle against the pressure of the later stages. Just how powerful is this kid?
At this moment, Consort Li moved half a foot closer, her golden hairpin shimmering like scattered gold in front of Zhao Wuji's eyes. She poured wine herself, and her slender fingers "inadvertently" brushed against the back of Zhao Wuji's hand, bringing a cool, silky touch.

"Commander Zhao," Consort Li, her red lips parted slightly, her breath sweet as orchids, her captivating eyes shimmering with alluring charm, "why not tell His Majesty in detail how that old ghost, who had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, was finally brought to his death?"

The fine wine reflected the beauty's half-smiling profile, and a subtle fragrance wafted in the air; the scene was incredibly alluring and stimulating.

Zhao Wuji glared at Li Shiyu, implying that he would deal with her severely later, but he remained calm and smiling as he drank with Emperor Zhaoming, briefly recounting the events of the previous day.

Outside the Penglai Imperial Palace, the white jade square stretches out like snow.

Many invited civil and military officials sat in order of rank, but could only watch from afar as the celestial banquet was held in the golden hall.

"Imperial Physician Zhao is now truly a member of the immortal family, and a leading one at that." Minister of Justice Bu Ruozhi observed the scene in the hall from afar, tilting his wine cup and spilling fine wine onto his brocade robe without realizing it.

"Brother Zhao, you're someone I, Old Mo, can never even come close to now."

Mo Quancai, sitting at the end of the table, his Adam's apple bobbing, said, "If I had known about all that alcohol back then, I would have given him more. Why did I have to sell it? Besides alcohol, hmm, what else was there besides alcohol? I can't remember."

The words stopped abruptly. Consort Li, with a flick of her sleeve, personally poured Zhao Wuji a cup of imperial wine, and Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in surprise.

As Zhao Wuji's father-in-law, the Minister of the Imperial Clan's seat was specially moved forward three zhang by the Imperial Attendant. Facing the burning gazes of his colleagues, the white-haired old minister's hands, which were holding the jade tablet in his sleeves, trembled slightly.

His future son-in-law, Zhao Wuji, unexpectedly transformed like a golden dragon after entering the immortal realm, achieving far more than he had imagined.

Even now, it is widely rumored that his daughter, Zhixia, is no longer worthy of Master Zhao. There is a difference between immortals and mortals, and the reason why Master Zhao has not written a letter of divorce is because he is mindful of their past relationship and wants to save face.

Some people laughed, saying that if Zong Zhengqing had arranged the marriage before Zhao Xianshi went to the grotto, things wouldn't have come to this.

Now, Qianjin Nan Zhixia must remain chaste for the immortal master, spending her days in solitude, not knowing when she will finally receive his favor.

Although Nan Tao knew the situation was complicated, he could only let it be and leave it to Zhi Xia to handle.

"Fortunately," Nan Tao thought to himself, "the two grotto-heavens behind my sect and the Linglang Grotto-heaven are no longer as hostile as before. Xia will also be leading a group of disciples to come and have a get-together."

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying away his almost inaudible sigh.
(End of this chapter)