Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 120: Scheming Against the Cave Master, Difficult to Predict the Killing Scheme (Bonus Chapter 615 for Monthly Tickets)

Frosty mist surged and billowed over Cold Moon Peak.

As soon as Zhao Wuji stepped into the cave, the medicine boy Xiaoyue happily rushed to greet him with a cup of spiritual tea, her eyes full of joy: "My lord, you've finally returned from seclusion!"

"These past few days without you in the cave, I've felt no energy left to cultivate on my own."

As she spoke, she hurriedly put down her teacup, then frantically pulled a jade invitation card from her sleeve, nearly tripping over it as she nearly fell: "My lord! This is an invitation card from the Holy Maiden Fang of the Supreme Grotto-Heaven, sent the day before yesterday. She insisted on personally delivering it to you."

Xiao Yue's voice trailed off, her ears turning red as she stole glances at Zhao Wuji's reaction: "I heard... I heard that this Holy Maiden invited only you, my lord, could it be..."

"What are you thinking about all day, you little kid?" Zhao Wuji chuckled and shook his head, taking the jade token and flipping it open to read.

But the handwriting flowed like clouds and water, subtly conveying a sense of aloofness and pride:
To Brother Zhao of the Cold Moon:

I have heard that you are skilled in both alchemy and swordsmanship. In the past, you once used your sword to slay a late-stage enemy cultivator. Your demeanor was outstanding, and I greatly admire you.

Taking advantage of this social gathering, I wish to seek guidance on Kendo.

If you are so kind as to visit me at Qixia Villa upon my departure from the pass.

"Supreme Grotto Heaven - Fang Qinghan".

Fang Qinghan

Zhao Wuji pondered the name, trying to discern the other party's intentions.

He seemed to sense something and noticed a line of small characters appearing on the back of the letter, subtly revealed by spiritual power:
"If Senior Brother Zhao arrives, I will present him with a supplement to the 'Golden Bamboo Sword Manual' as a token of my appreciation."

"My lord?" Seeing Zhao Wuji lost in thought, Xiaoyue couldn't help but remind him, "Besides this Holy Maiden, Senior Sister Dai asked about you a couple of days ago, saying that if you come out of seclusion, you should go to the Frost Palace to see the Peak Master."

"Oh, I see."

Zhao Wuji put down the jade token and took a sip of tea.

After entering the room, he used a guiding technique to cleanse his body of the dust and grime left from his seclusion, instantly sweeping away the accumulated dirt and grime.

Looking at the blue robe of the true lineage that he had been wearing for almost a year, the black finger marks left by his former master were still on his chest.

“Now that Xia has arrived,” he said, tracing the mark with his fingertips, then suddenly shook his head. “It’s time to go to the True Inheritance Hall to get a new robe.”

These old ones are fine for everyday wear, but they're not suitable for formal occasions.

Although he never cared about these things, the worn-out robes actually made him look low-key, so why spend two source crystals to buy another one?

But since Nan Zhixia is here, we should at least tidy her up a bit.

He changed out of his robes and asked Xiaoyue to wash them.

He then took out half a piece of unrefined magical artifact liquid from the jade box.

As the pill fire was activated, the golden liquid transformed into a stream of light and entered the mouth. With the circulation of the ingestion technique, the spiritual power became even more abundant.

Zhao Wuji focused his mind on the Yin-Yang Pearl, and his cultivation progress became clearly visible:
"Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Stage 6 (38/300)"

Because he had already finished drinking the Drunken Immortal Wine and the Golden Goblet Treasure Wine, and after more than twenty days of cultivation in the Sword Cave, his cultivation speed had dropped back to the Azure Cloud level.

After more than twenty days, he had only managed to condense a little over thirty strands of spiritual energy.

He originally planned to leave the cave after finishing his training in the Sword Cave and head to Chishui Town in the Yu Kingdom to dig for wine.

However, plans can change quickly. The cultivators from the Supreme Grotto came to socialize, so the plan to dig for wine had to be temporarily put on hold.

"The Tiannan Secret Realm is about to open."

Zhao Wuji tapped his fingers lightly on the table, secretly calculating.

If one cultivates step by step, it will be difficult to break through to the seventh level of Qi Induction within six months.

However, with the help of the precious wine, he might break through the realm two months earlier.

"For me, resources like precious wine and spiritual herbs that aid cultivation are more important." His eyes flickered slightly. "Since there's no bottleneck in my cultivation breakthrough, there's no need to rush. With the resources, I can break through easily."

"It would be better to get stuck at the peak of the sixth level before entering the secret realm, and then use the resources of the secret realm to break through in one go after you come out."

In the blink of an eye, the most suitable path of spiritual practice for me has become clear.

Zhao Wuji was no longer in a hurry.

Even if he finds the precious wine outside, he can cultivate slowly. He cannot miss the opportunity to enter the Tiannan Secret Realm, otherwise he will have to wait another six years.

Six years later, if the restrictions of the Tiannan Secret Realm limit entry to those below the fifth level of Qi Refining, he would not be able to sever his own cultivation.

As for the scheme of using the Yin-Yang Pearl to conceal one's cultivation level, it is currently just speculation and cannot be confirmed.

He now even suspects that Ji Mobai and the Daoist disciple of the Supreme Cave Heaven may have deliberately suppressed their cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Induction, and were not in a hurry to break through to the late stage of Qi Induction, in order to wait to enter the Tiannan Secret Realm.

Having made up his mind, Zhao Wuji consumed and digested the magical artifact gold ingot, and noticed that his spiritual power had increased slightly.

He carefully put the remaining gold nuggets into his storage bag, saving them for supplies when he ventured out of the cave to the spiritless environment in the future.

By the time everything was settled, the moon was already hanging in the branches outside the window.

Zhao Wuji straightened his robes and headed towards the Frost Palace under the moonlight.

The information obtained from the Sword Cave should be reported to Peak Master Hua.

Inside the Frost Palace.

Zhao Wuji bowed solemnly.

“I gained some insights in the Sword Cave this time, and I truly came into contact with that sword intent.” His expression was solemn. “If I am not mistaken, it should be left by your father, Senior Hua.”

Hua Qingshuang suddenly turned around, her delicate brows slightly furrowed: "Did you gain anything?"

"Within that sword intent, there seemed to be a blurry scene," Zhao Wuji pondered. "I vaguely saw Senior Hua bound in chains, as if he had suffered a backlash from the cold poison during his breakthrough, or perhaps he had been ambushed."

He deliberately concealed the details of the dream interpretation he obtained through the Dream Interpretation Technique, only stating that it was a feeling of sword intent.

Some truths are better left unsaid.

Hopefully, this will serve as an enlightenment and warning to Master Huafeng.

"Chains. Breakthrough!" A cold glint flashed in Hua Qingshuang's eyes, and her jade-like fingers unconsciously clenched. "The Six Revolutions Profound Ice Technique... it really has a problem. My father perished in the Tiannan Secret Realm back then."

She suddenly looked up, her clear gaze seemingly piercing straight into Zhao Wuji's heart:

"Thank you."

This thank you left Zhao Wuji momentarily stunned.

Those clear eyes clearly showed heartfelt gratitude.

Zhao Wuji bowed respectfully: "Peak Master, you have helped me secure a place in the Sword Cave. I will do my utmost to do so."

"No." Hua Qingshuang gently shook her head, her black hair swaying slightly. "This is what you earned yourself. I, too, have my own selfish motives."

She turned to leave, then stopped: "People from the Supreme Grotto Heaven, if there are any contests or competitions during the gathering, the Hall of Merit will offer you rewards, then you may participate. If not, just focus on your cultivation."

"Peak Master!" Zhao Wuji suddenly said, "Are you really going to forcibly break through by expelling the poison without using the Concentration Pill?"

Hua Qingshuang's back stiffened: "Are you scared?"

“If you are afraid, I will not force you. You have already helped enough.” Zhao Wuji shook his head: “It’s not that I’m afraid. It’s just…”

His gaze was profound. "This disciple suspects that once you break through within the cave, the cave master will surely sense it."

Before the words were fully spoken, the meaning was already clear.

A cold glint flashed in Hua Qingshuang's eyes, and her jade fingers unconsciously dug into her palm.

If her father's death was indeed related to the cave master, then the day she forcibly broke through would be the day she followed in her father's footsteps.

"Breaking through to the Spiritless Land outside the Cave Heaven is even more dangerous."

Hua Qingshuang's eyes were like frost, "Other grotto-heavens will not allow outsiders to borrow their spiritual veins."

She suddenly changed the subject: "What are your thoughts?"

This was the first time she had sought Zhao Wuji's opinion.

Zhao Wuji pondered for a moment, then boldly said, "I have learned that the Xuan Kingdom's dragon vein and the grotto-heaven's spiritual vein converge. If it is outside the grotto-heaven, at that convergence point, it might be worth a try."

"Shh!"

Hua Qingshuang suddenly turned around, her cold eyes piercing straight at him like lightning.

The fact that Zhao Wuji, who seems harmless in everyday life, could reveal such secrets shows that he is hiding something she doesn't know.

As their eyes met, memories of the past flooded her mind, and the sharpness in her eyes gradually faded.

The concern in Zhao Wuji's eyes for her was genuine.

The many times they've helped me in the past, and my father's help this time, are all genuine.

"Did Li Shiyu reveal the situation regarding the dragon veins and spiritual veins to you?" She suddenly shook her head and said, "It seems that this Imperial Concubine has grand ambitions."

"She was able to evade the Bewitching Curse either because she was exceptionally skilled or because Emperor Zhaoming secretly instructed her to do so."

Hua Qingshuang gave Zhao Wuji a meaningful look, "If you have any connection with her, remember, don't become someone else's pawn."

Zhao Wuji felt a slight tremor in his heart.

He had already prepared an excuse, intending to use Li Shiyu's name as a pretext.

But little did they know that the peak master had already seen through everything.

As expected, Hua Qingshuang is no ordinary person who can hold the position of peak master even after her father's death.

“The spiritual veins are showing unusual activity, and the cave master must be aware of it,” Hua Qingshuang said thoughtfully. “If we want to use it to break through, we need to wait for a suitable opportunity.”

When their eyes met, the two intelligent people exchanged glances, often understanding each other without saying a word.

The great battle at Yunfeng Cave Heaven is imminent!

To seize the resources of the Tiannan Secret Realm, Yunfeng Cave will fight to the death before the secret realm opens.

If a major battle between cave masters breaks out at that time, it will be a good time to fish in troubled waters.

"pity."

Hua Qingshuang's eyes darkened: "I'm afraid you won't be able to wait until then; you'll need to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining."

Zhao Wuji shook his head and said, "Perhaps we don't need to wait that long."

Hua Qingshuang's eyes narrowed slightly, and she slowly shook her head: "When I break through, the cold poison and spiritual power in my body will be completely out of control. With your current cultivation level, I'm afraid your life will be in danger."

She omitted the unspoken meaning of the second half of her sentence.

If Zhao Wuji dies, she will also fail to break through.

"If I break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, I might not be able to withstand it."

Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice, "But if we miss this opportunity..."

The words were unspoken, but the meaning was clear.

If such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as a battle between cave masters is missed, Hua Qingshuang's situation will only become more and more dangerous in the future.

If he continues to break through and show his talent, it will surely arouse the cave master's vigilance.

At that time, it will be extremely difficult for him to break through the mental barrier and obtain the Yang marrow of the dragon vein under immense pressure.

Therefore, if a major battle were to break out between the two grotto-heavens, it would be the best opportunity for both him and Hua Qingshuang.

The premise is that Hua Qingshuang is willing to trust him completely without any doubt.

"This matter will be discussed later."

Hua Qingshuang sighed softly and flicked her sleeve, ultimately unable to make a decision.

In her eyes, Zhao Wuji's cultivation level was still shallow, and this plan was too dangerous.

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji had no choice but to bow and take his leave.

The doors of the Frost Palace slowly closed.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky outside, its gentle light falling on my shoulders.

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

strength!

Ultimately, it was still a matter of insufficient strength!

Given the current complex situation, even if he successfully unearthed the precious wine and cultivated desperately, he would absolutely not be able to reveal his Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivation to Hua Qingshuang within half a year.

Otherwise, not only would the opportunity in the Tiannan Secret Realm be lost, but it would also arouse Hua Qingshuang's suspicion, making it difficult for her to fully trust him.

After all, a disciple who comes from the imperial physicians is already close to the royal family. If he also shows a strange speed of breakthrough, it is hard to guarantee that he will not be regarded as a pawn planted by Emperor Zhaoming and Consort Li.

Hua Qingshuang's ability to maintain her trust in him, and even to advise him not to be used by Li Shiyu, was entirely due to his previous actions.

Especially recently, he helped her find out the cause of her father's death.

Otherwise, they would have already regarded him as a pawn planted by the royal family. It's not that simple for him to become the peak master.

"If I reveal too astonishing a level of cultivation..."

Zhao Wuji shook his head. This hard-won trust would probably crumble in an instant.

"Alright, let's not rush things and just wait and see."

A soft sigh dissipated with the wind, and he made a hand seal to descend the mountain.

Suddenly, he saw a flash of spiritual light and many figures moving about in the direction of his own cave, which surprised him.

As he flew closer, he saw what appeared to be the figures of cultivators from a supreme grotto-heaven, as well as some fellow disciples.

"Zhixia is here?"

(End of this chapter)