Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 175, pages 199-200: The Flower Clan's Vortex, the Refining of a Magical Treasure, the Empress's Wrath, the Ancestor's Journey (Parts 2 and 1, please subscribe)

"The family wants to see me."

The practice suddenly stopped.

Hua Qingshuang frowned.

For a hundred years, Wang Wujiang, the head of the family, had been in charge of the family, but he had never personally summoned his sons from outside the family.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard the voice of Hua Feng, the mistress of the third branch of the family, coming from the courtyard gate: "Wait a moment."

The rosewood door slid open silently.

The matriarch, Hua Feng, stood before the steps in a lotus-colored silk dress. She first spoke gently to the messenger disciple, "Wang Xuan, thank you for making this trip."

She raised her hand and waved it lightly, a sweet floral fragrance wafting from her sleeve. The dust that had settled on Wang Xuan's sleeve vanished silently, as if it had never existed.

The method was gentle yet contained a hidden threat. Wang Xuan's back tensed up suddenly, but he heard the mistress's tone become more and more kind: "It's just that Qing Shuang is currently breaking through to the third level of the 'Flower Goddess Moon-Guiding Technique,' and her meridians cannot withstand disturbance... It is not convenient for her to go out for the time being."

"Third Mistress!"

Wang Xuan hurriedly bowed deeply, his waist bent extremely low, but he held the token high above his head, his voice trembling, "But...but this is the patriarch's token..."

Hua Feng's gaze fell on the token, her smile undiminished, but her eyes suddenly turned frosty.

“I naturally recognize this token.”

Hua Feng suddenly stopped smiling. "However, my words will also work. Go back and tell the family head that I have guaranteed it with the merits accumulated by the third branch over the past hundred years!"

She paused, then added, "Within three years, no one is allowed to disturb the cultivation of my Hua family's bloodline."

The ancient locust tree in the courtyard moves swiftly even without wind.

Wang Xuan's expression changed slightly, and he inwardly groaned.

It seems there's something he doesn't know about involved.

But at this moment, he could only quickly obey the order and leave. Only after turning the corner of the screen wall did he wipe away a cold sweat.

He cursed inwardly, "The clan elder is clearly using me as a pawn to scout ahead... This isn't relaying orders, it's practically a death trap!"

Hua Qingshuang stared at the silver crescent mark that appeared on the back of the mistress Hua Feng's neck, feeling strange about the atmosphere.

"Qing Shuang, continue your cultivation diligently."

Seeing the main family members leave, Hua Feng suddenly turned around, her stern expression melting away like ice and snow, and gave Hua Qingshuang, who had already appeared at the door, a kind smile, "Strive to break through to the late stage of the Condensation Realm within a year, and to the Perfect Condensation Realm within three years."

She suddenly coughed, pressing a plain white handkerchief to her lips, revealing a striking scarlet glimpse, like a plum blossom blooming in the dead of winter.

Two servants rushed forward, but were frozen in place by a single glance from Hua Feng.

She slowly straightened up, took a deep breath, gazed at Hua Qingshuang's cool and beautiful face, and smiled.

"So alike, so very alike, Mistress. I can only buy you three years. During these three years, no one will disturb your cultivation."

"Good child, you can tell your mistress whatever resources you want for your cultivation."

"Three years? Why within three years?"

Hua Qingshuang frowned and asked, her curiosity growing stronger.

The mistress wore a graceful smile, but her eyes held a glint of mystery that Hua Qingshuang couldn't decipher: "Good child, knowing some things too early... is not a good thing."

Her voice suddenly lowered, with a seductive softness, "Don't you want to see your father? The mistress also knows that you have a highly regarded disciple named Zhao Wuji, right?"

"Although this child is not your disciple, he is still a promising talent of the Cold Moon Peak lineage... He is doing well now and has become the master of the Linglang Cave Heaven. The mistress will take care of him."

"Wuji!" Hua Qingshuang's beautiful eyes frosted over as she squinted at the mistress, then slowly exhaled and nodded.

"Thank you for your care, Madam!"

She sighed inwardly.

It seems Yan Lan has finally left. I wonder if Zhang Sichen, this troublemaker, has been resolved.

She paused as she turned around, then looked up at her mistress, Hua Feng.

"Qing Shuang, is there anything else?" Hua Feng asked with her usual smile.

"The person who once secretly controlled the Linglang Grotto was Zhang Sichen, the first emperor of the Xuan Kingdom."

Hua Qingshuang's voice was as cold as a spring, "He has been at the peak of the Concentration Realm for many years, but failed to break through to the Golden Core Realm. He is still on the run. Wang Zheng failed to catch him last time."

Hua Feng nodded. "Are you worried that Zhang Sichen might make a comeback and threaten Zhao Wuji of the Linglang Cave Heaven?"

Hua Qingshuang remained noncommittal, turning and walking into the house. "I will break through to the late stage of the Condensation Realm within one year, and to the Perfected stage within two years."
Since the mistress has said she can provide all the resources she can, then let's prepare them."

Hua Feng was taken aback, then nodded in satisfaction, "Good child."

Time flies, and four months have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the southern Xuan Kingdom, another winter has arrived.

On the cold moon peak in the dead of winter, the heavy snow bent the branches of the sacred pine trees.

Zhao Wuji sat cross-legged in the center of the Pot Heaven space, surrounded by blood-red baleful energy. The five blood marrow crystals the size of pigeon eggs in front of him had turned into dust.

"The eighth level of blood evil."

He opened his eyes, and a golden light flashed in them.

A thunderous roar erupted from the great dragon's spine, its blood and qi surging like mercury, and dragon scale-like patterns faintly appeared beneath its skin.

This is a sign of the "Dragon Scale Transformation" of the Martial Arts Immortal lineage.

Reaching this level means you've reached the late stage of Blood Fiend, and your physical strength is comparable to a level two magic weapon.

Moreover, their physical body and blood are strong, allowing them to survive for a long time even in a spiritless environment, and their physical combat power is comparable to that of demonic beasts.

With a flick of his sleeve, twenty-eight golden needles flew out from major acupoints all over his body.

These are gold needles obtained from a secret family heirloom. The needle tips are carved with cloud patterns as fine as hair, forming a celestial constellation in the air.

"disease!"

As the Needle Control Technique was activated, the golden needles suddenly transformed into strands of golden threads.

Where the needle's shadow passed, a piece of black iron ore fifty feet away cracked into dust with a "hiss," yet the needle tip remained completely undamaged.

"Excellent needle! Its power is no less than that of the Frost Soul Flying Sword."

Zhao Wuji was satisfied and put away the needlework.

Four months later, he had retrieved the second part of the "Golden Chamber Acupuncture Record" and this set of family-inherited golden needle instruments from the place where his family had passed down his knowledge.

This set of gold needles consists of twenty-eight needles, with fine cloud patterns carved on the needle tails and a restrained cold gleam at the needle tips. Its quality is even better than the Nine-Turn Phoenix Feather Needles personally crafted by Master Yan, making it a fourth-grade magic weapon.

The most precious of these is a main needle called "Phoenix Nodding".

The needle's end is inlaid with a crimson crystal, which was refined by our ancestors using the essence and blood of a late-stage Nascent Soul demon beast. When the needle is applied, it can trigger a resonance of Qi and blood, stimulating the body's potential.

If combined with the secret methods in "The Art of Needle Manipulation" and "The Golden Chamber Record of Needle Acupuncture", one can not only use one's fingers as if they were an arm, puncture acupoints remotely, but also perform all kinds of mysterious acupuncture techniques.

The inheritance of these medical and martial arts principles greatly inspired Zhao Wuji's medical skills.

He tried to use his family's acupuncture techniques in conjunction with medical skills to stimulate his own acupoints, which increased the speed at which martial arts practitioners could condense their blood and evil power by 30%.

Physical functions, recovery speed, and even the recovery speed of consciousness can all be greatly improved through the Golden Needle Technique.

"Among the ancestors of the Zhao family, there were probably experts at the Nascent Soul Realm, but only a map was left in the specific family inheritance site, guiding me to Lingtai Mountain in Nan Chu Prefecture."

Zhao Wuji flipped his hand, and a map appeared in his hand.

On the map, a winding red line leads directly to Lingtai Mountain in Nanchu Prefecture, with a few lines of small text next to it—[Huangfu Mi's Hermitage].

“Huangfu Mi…”

Zhao Wuji's gaze narrowed slightly.

This man was a renowned physician of the Western Jin Dynasty. In his later years, he studied medicine and martial arts with the ancestors of the Zhao family.

Those who can leave behind a legacy in the Dharma-ending Age are by no means ordinary people.

Perhaps some extraordinary heritage is still hidden in Lingtai Mountain.

but……

He looked up to the north, his brows furrowed slightly.

Nan Chu Prefecture is far beyond Zhongzhou, with the two places separated by tens of thousands of miles.

The vast wilderness of this world is so expansive that even a cultivator might not be able to traverse it all in a lifetime.

From Tiannan to Nanchu, it's equivalent to crossing two "Central Plains"!

"That's all."

Zhao Wuji put away the map, shook his head and chuckled: "The current inheritance is sufficient, the Martial Immortal Path can directly lead to the Concentration of Spirit, and the combination of acupuncture and medicine is more than enough."

"We can explore Lingtai Mountain another time."

"call!"

Zhao Wuji exhaled a long breath, his fingers flashing as he performed hand seals.

With a clang, the Frost Soul Flying Sword hovered in mid-air, its blade gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light.

He slightly closed his eyes, and his consciousness surged toward the flying sword like a tide.

He transformed his divine sense into the attribute of Xuanbing, turning it into wisps of divine sense fire, which slowly tempered this level-four magic weapon, transforming it into a magic treasure.

A level four magic weapon is meticulously crafted from level four spiritual materials, making it arguably the strongest magic weapon that a Qi Refining stage cultivator can wield.

It is even the embryonic form of a magic weapon for the Concentration Realm!

However, in this era of Dharma decline, the vast majority of cultivators at the Concentration Realm still use third- or fourth-grade magic artifacts.

Only those ancient monsters with profound knowledge and who have lived for hundreds of years can possess one or two true magical treasures.

For example, Zhong Kui's Nine Revolutions Primordial Spear and Primordial Sword in the past, and the renowned Falling Sun Starlight Sword of Xuanxiao Cave Master...

These magical treasures were all nurtured by divine consciousness over many years before they were able to transform, and their power was more than two times or even three or four times stronger than ordinary level four magical artifacts!
but.
The amount of spiritual energy consumed daily in nurturing a magical artifact is far beyond what an ordinary cultivator at the Concentration stage can withstand.

After all, in this desolate world where spiritual energy is exhausted, the spiritual veins of most cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage are only of the first grade.

They cultivate every day, but the spiritual power they can condense is very little, and it is even more difficult to strengthen their divine sense.

If one is distracted in nurturing the magical artifact, it will deplete one's mental energy, inevitably causing one's cultivation to stagnate or even regress!

Therefore, in the Dharma-ending Age, it may take a hundred years of accumulation for a small grotto-heaven to possess a magic treasure.

An hour later, the surface of the Frost Soul Flying Sword was covered with dark blue ice patterns, and the cold air emitted by the sword blade condensed into fine frost flowers.

Zhao Wuji's spiritual energy was nearly 30% depleted, and the originally abundant silver mist in his sea of ​​consciousness thinned by 30%.

"In this degenerate age, nurturing a sacred object is truly no easy task."

Zhao Wuji smiled bitterly.

If it weren't for the abundant spiritual energy within the Linglang Cave,

Such a consumption is enough to allow an ordinary cultivator at the Concentration stage to recuperate for seven days.

After a short rest, he then activated the twenty-eight golden needles.

The cloud patterns on the needle's tail lit up one after another, flowing like a starry river under the guidance of divine sense, while the main needle, "Phoenix Nodding," emitted and emitted crimson light.

Once the last golden needle has been refined.

He pressed two fingers together against the Baihui acupoint, and seven golden needles suddenly flew up and pierced the vital acupoint on the top of the head.

The moment the needle array took shape, it was like a refreshing rain to nourish the parched sea of ​​consciousness.

The silver mist visibly recombine and slowly recovers.

This is precisely the mystery of the "Seven Star Acupuncture and Gathering Spirit Array" in the "Golden Chamber Acupuncture Record".

When used in conjunction with formation techniques, the results are excellent.

"The secret to nurturing a child's health requires a 49-day introductory phase."

Zhao Wuji gently stroked the Cold Soul Flying Sword with his fingertips, feeling the chill emanating from its blade. "Then comes the eighty-one-day consolidation period."

He estimated that to fully nurture a magical artifact into a magical treasure, it would require at least a year of continuous nurturing.

"It really took a lot of effort."

In this degenerate age, even a cultivator like him, who possesses a blessed land and grotto-heavens, finds it quite strenuous.

However, daily nurturing can indeed significantly enhance the power of magical artifacts. In one's spare time, it's worthwhile to nurture them.

His gaze swept across the desk.

Originally, he only had the Frost Soul Flying Sword as his only decent magical artifact, but now he has a set of twenty-eight level-four golden needles.

"When combined with array formation techniques and needle manipulation skills, the destructive power of this set of golden needles is quite good." Zhao Wuji's lips curled slightly, but he sighed softly, "Unfortunately, for now, it's not as good as the magic treasures Xuanxing Cloud Pattern Bowl and Star Moon Spirit-Guiding Spoon."

He put away the gold needles and went to the window.

Outside the window, the medicine boy Xiaoyue was giggling as she threw a snowball at the myna bird Xiongba, which was flapping its wings.

This heartwarming scene softened his stern expression.

"It's time to go to the Pot Heaven Space."

With a light wave of his sleeve, ripples spread through the void.

As soon as you step inside, a rich spiritual energy rushes towards you.

The purity of the spiritual energy within this Heavenly Pot is in no way inferior to that of the Luminous Cave Heaven!

Beneath the spiritual veins within the space, the Xuanxing Cloud Pattern Bowl and the Star and Moon Spirit-Guiding Spoon, imbued with the light of stars, moon, and sun, are condensing into true dew.

The spoonful of Three Lights Dew had already accumulated to half a spoonful, containing seven or eight drops.

He didn't rush to use these precious true dews that could restore and strengthen divine consciousness, but instead allowed them to slowly repair the cracks on the spoon.

Four months ago, when he obtained these two treasures of the Xuantian Sect, he poured all the morning purple energy he had taken from the disciples of the Xuanming Dynasty into the bowl and spoon.

From then on, he performed guiding techniques every day, drawing upon the light of the sun, moon, and stars to continuously nourish the pair of magical treasures.

Now, the original eight cracks on the Star and Moon Spirit-Guiding Spoon have been repaired to only three.

"After absorbing another half spoonful of True Dew, the Star Moon Spirit-Guiding Spoon should be able to fully recover."

Zhao Wuji stared at the bowl and spoon, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

This Xuanxing Cloud Pattern Bowl is a supreme defensive treasure, capable of gathering the light of the sun, moon, and stars to protect the body, making it a life-saving weapon.

If combined with the Star and Moon Spirit-Guiding Spoon, one can condense a drop of Three Lights True Dew every day, which is of great benefit to the cultivation of divine consciousness.

However, each time the broken Star Moon Spirit-Guiding Spoon condenses true dew, new cracks will appear.

If this continues, it may become unusable.

Therefore, for the past four months, Zhao Wuji has been using guiding techniques to activate the three lights and carefully repair this magical artifact.

We can use it fully once it is completely repaired.

"This set of magical treasures is truly a case of a pearl being buried in dust!"

Zhao Wuji gently stroked the Xuanxing Cloud Pattern Bowl with his fingers, a smile flashing in his eyes. "Only my guiding technique can draw upon the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars to truly unleash the power of this treasure... Heh, even in this damaged state, I can restore it to its original state!"

He chuckled softly, then looked around.
Now, within the 52-zhang-square-meter space of the Pot Heaven, the Blood Fiend Blood Pool and the Yin Fiend Spring are on the left and right respectively, with the Yin and Yang energies circulating and forming a perfect balance.

These two pools alone can provide him with five strands of Yin and Yang energy every day without harming himself.

As a result, the 20,000 units of Yin energy required for the second Yin Pearl have now been fully accumulated.

He had harvested all the blood marrow crystals from the stone platform beside the blood pool to enhance his martial arts cultivation.

However, three Blood Marrow Grass plants have already produced thumb-sized crystal fruits, and perhaps more will grow in the future.

The Yin Sha Spring continuously seeps out pure Yin energy, which condenses into frost on the spring's edge, nourishing the Netherworld Grass and Nourishing Spirit Flower transplanted from the White Bone Cave and the Supreme Cave.

These flowers and plants are both extremely precious, as they can strengthen the spirit and nourish the consciousness.

"Farming in the Pot Heaven Space is now incredibly efficient! This is a treasure land, a treasure land that my Ancestor Tiannan always carries with him."

Zhao Wuji sighed, noting that the Pot Heaven Space had evolved into a multifunctional ecological miniature realm that combined cultivation, resource nurturing, and the nurturing of magical artifacts.

It can be considered a rare "miniature paradise" in the Dharma-ending Age.

If the space expands in the future, it can incorporate the spiritual veins of the Supreme and Exquisite Cave Heavens, and integrate them into a large cave heaven that can be carried around.

But that's still a long way off.

"The next advancement in the Heavenly Pot Technique will be at the 'Mastery' level..."

Zhao Wuji rubbed his fingertips, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "At that time, this technique will be more deeply connected with divine sense, and it might really be able to be cultivated as a secret realm of the Yellow Court!"

He glanced at the swarm of insects gnawing at the magical artifacts of the White Bone Cave in the blood pool.

With a light laugh, he turned and disappeared like the wind.

After four months of cultivation, not only did his martial arts cultivation level improve, but his immortal cultivation level also increased by more than a hundred points.

Even more remarkably, several techniques have also broken through simultaneously, and are now displayed within the Yin-Yang Pearl.

Formation Technique (Mastery): With just a sweep of divine sense, one can see through the weaknesses of ordinary formations and restrictions, breaking formations is as easy as tearing paper!
Invisibility Technique (Mastered): When one's figure is concealed, even an old monster like Zhang Sichen, who has reached the peak of the Concentration Realm, would find it extremely difficult to detect his whereabouts!

Qi-Sealing Technique (Mastered): Not only can it enhance the power of magical artifacts by adding "Qi-Sealing" effects, but it is also more cunning and difficult to deal with when sealing the spiritual power of others.

Medicine and talisman water techniques (slightly accomplished): Although no new supernatural powers have been developed, the efficiency of healing talismans has doubled, which is icing on the cake.

Wind Control Technique (Slightly Accomplished): Transform into the wind to evade attacks, increase escape speed by 40%, and even condense wind shields and wind blades!

"It's time to take Wushang and Baigu to check out the situation near Black Sand Village."

Zhao Wuji walked out of the Pot Heaven Space and arrived at the Octagonal Pavilion on the main peak of Linlang.

Not long after, a Xuanjia cultivator from the Xuanming Dynasty who had stayed in the cave came to report respectfully.

"My lord, Xuanming has sent word that Wang Zheng will be returning to Xuan Kingdom to pursue and eliminate Zhang Sichen. This time, he has also brought his helpers."

"Oh?" Zhao Wuji looked at the Xuanjia cultivator who was giving the report.

He had already taken control of the other party.

Wang Zheng wanted to leave two nails in the Linglang Cave to keep watch, but little did he know that the nails had already transformed into the shape of Zhao Wuji.

Do you know the identity of the accomplice?

"I don't know!"

"Understood. I'm about to go out. If Wang Zheng comes, just tell him I've gone out to find spiritual herbs. Is there anything else?"

Zhao Wuji waved his hand.

He didn't intend to stay in the cave and fawn over Wang Zheng, and since he was about to leave anyway, out of sight, out of mind.

"My lord, there is one more matter!"

The Xuanjia cultivator continued his report, "Xuanming discovered that a figure claiming to be the Ancestor of Tiannan has emerged in Tiannan."

This person's cultivation level is unknown, but his strength is extremely high. Wang Zheng suspects that this Tiannan Ancestor may be Zhang Sichen in disguise, plotting a conspiracy.

"Oh?"

Zhao Wuji was surprised and found it amusing.

Unexpectedly, his disguised identity was discovered by the Xuanming Dynasty so quickly, and a serious charge was pinned on Zhang Sichen's head.

But this is fine too, it lets Zhang Sichen continue to attract hatred and firepower.

"Understood, let's go down."

He waved his hand to dismiss the Xuanjia cultivators, then took out the Cave Master's Token, explained the various matters within the cave to the peaks and elders, and then rode the wind away.

The number of elders and peak masters in the Linglang Cave Heaven far exceeds that of the Wushang Cave Heaven, making it a place teeming with talent.

Not to mention the elders and deacons, even among the disciples, there are figures like Ji Mobai and Lu Yongnian who are about to take over.

Therefore, Zhao Wuji, as the cave master, only needed to issue orders on a daily basis, and could let go of many things, saving a lot of energy.

Soon.

In the Xuan Kingdom's imperial palace, the luminous pearl in the Zixia Hall shimmered with a hazy glow under a silken veil.

Empress Li Shiyu was reviewing memorials late at night.

The imperial brush in his hand, hovering above the memorial, suddenly paused.

A pair of well-defined hands were wrapped around my waist without me noticing, and the unique scent of snow pine from Cold Moon Peak, accompanied by a familiar voice, wafted from behind my ear.

"Your Majesty is diligent in governing; would you like me to grind some ink?"

Zhao Wuji's fingers brushed over the jade bracelet on her wrist and pressed against Li Shiyu's flat stomach.

"devil."

Li Shiyu's delicate hand trembled, and the tip of her brush spread out an ink flower, just like her trembling body.

She took a step back, her gold-embroidered shoes under the imperial desk instinctively pressing against Zhao Wuji's cloud-patterned boots: "The Cave Master has trespassed into the Forbidden Palace and harassed me; his entire family should be executed."

"I'm getting ready to go out."

Zhao Wuji smiled faintly, flipped his palm and caught the imperial brush, "When Your Majesty examined the cultivation technique last time, the primordial yin energy in your dantian wasn't this domineering. Has your cultivation improved again?"

"How can it be so fast?"

Li Shiyu's ears turned red, and just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly let out a soft moan and felt her chest being pressed down.

"You!" the empress frowned and scolded, "There are still maids and servants around."

"It's alright, they've already fallen under an illusion."

"Go to my bedchamber!"

Li Shiyu's legs suddenly tensed beneath her dragon robe, and she turned her head back with a hint of reproach in her phoenix eyes.

Little did they know that the lingering sunset glow at the corners of their eyes was more captivating than any imperial majesty.

"Time is of the essence, so let's cultivate here!"

Zhao Wuji smiled calmly, then suddenly pushed aside the writing brush and ink on the table, shoving Li Shiyu onto the table.

Instantly, the phoenix hairpin fell to the ground.

On the memorial, the vermilion annotations were immediately crushed into a patch of bright red.

"Gently. I grant your permission."

The Empress groaned, her fingernails scratching five shallow marks on the table. She kicked over the incense burner with her jade feet, and sparks flew onto the overlapping sleeves of their clothes.

afterwards!

It is already midnight.

The sound of the drum could be heard from afar.

Empress Li Shiyu's hair was now disheveled and cascading down like a waterfall.

Panting, she grabbed the ink-soaked memorial and slammed it to the ground, shouting, "Damn it! My morning court session tomorrow is ruined! And this guy just packs his bags and leaves!"

Even as he said that, he felt a significant increase in spiritual energy in his dantian, which made him feel somewhat delighted.

After her senior brother advanced to the Concentration Realm, she, the bluebird following behind the sword tassel, ate much better.

In the night sky, Zhao Wuji flew under the night sky, now sporting the weathered old face of the Tiannan Patriarch, his eyes gleaming with a faint cold light.

Two figures followed silently behind, none other than Wei Ding, the master of the White Bone Cave, and Bai Chengshang, the master of the Supreme Cave, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news.

"The Empress's taste is good, but unfortunately, cultivating together now only improves my spiritual energy by a small amount, barely enough to offset three days of arduous training."

Zhao Wuji sensed the three new streams of spiritual energy in his dantian and shook his head inwardly.

The gap in strength between him and Li Shiyu is still too large.

However, considering that the other party possesses the Xuan Yin Body and cultivates special techniques.

There are still second and third job advancements, and even the most effective ninth job advancement, waiting in the future, so it's not a loss to cultivate them now.

Ultimately, they are raising their own pets, unlike Zhang Zhaoming, who is being raised by others.

"Lord!"

At this moment, the Supreme Cave Master Bai Chengshang flew in, his withered hand holding a jade slip that gleamed with a faint light, and respectfully handed it over.

"This is the intelligence I have gathered over the past few months from Yizhou in the East China Sea, as instructed by you."

Bai Chengshang lowered his voice to a very low level, "It is rumored that the Penglai Sword Sect opened the Sword Tomb Secret Realm three days ago, attracting cultivators from various grotto heavens to go there."

As for news about Yan Lan…

He paused, a shadow crossing his eyes. "There is no definite news yet."

However, rumors have recently circulated in the East Sea that a ruthless female cultivator has incurred the wrath of the Sea Mountain Grotto-Heaven, reportedly for stealing a valuable treasure. Her identity remains unconfirmed, and it's unknown whether this is related to her…

"Hmm," Zhao Wuji pondered, then looked at Wei Ding, the master of the White Bone Cave.

"How's the investigation going, where I asked you to gather intelligence on the Xuanming Dynasty and the Wang family, especially about the Third Branch of the Hua Clan and Hua Qingshuang?"

"This"

Upon hearing this, Wei Ding forced a fawning smile onto his withered face, quickly stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this old servant has mobilized the spies from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and the Xuanxiao Cave Heaven to spy on several strongholds of the Xuanming Dynasty and has learned some information about the third branch of the Wang family."

(End of this chapter)