Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 184, Part 213: Changing the Cave Heaven, Xiang Yu's Head (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets 3939)

afterwards.

The dragon throne shone with golden brilliance under the glittering starlight.

Empress Li Shiyu, her crimson robe half-open, leaned against the armrest.

The phoenix hairpin in her hair had long since fallen to the ground, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, rising and falling with her breath amidst the dragon embroidery.

"Senior brother."

She lazily raised her eyes and caught a glimpse of Zhao Wuji making hand seals, casting a guiding spell.

Instantly, the sky outside the skylight appeared as if it were hanging upside down from the mouth of a well, and the power of the moon mixed with starlight fell like silver ribbons.

In the bowl with the mysterious star and cloud pattern, the star and moon guide the spirit spoon to float and sink in the waterfall of light.

The spoon, bathed in three luminous hues, instantly condensed into a drop of crystal-clear dew.

"Open your mouth."

Zhao Wuji flicked his finger, and the dew pierced the night, disappearing into the Empress's slightly parted lips.

A clear, moonlit light suddenly emanated from Li Shiyu's throat. The primordial yin energy residing in her dantian, like spring snow meeting the sun, instantly transformed into a surging spiritual tide, breaking through the shackles of her meridians.

Mysterious dark patterns spread from her snow-white collarbone to her waist.

The Qi of the sixth level of Qi cultivation suddenly erupted, causing the golden crane lamps at the corner of the hall to vibrate and hum.

"Um"

The Empress's fingertips dug deep into the gaps of the dragon scales in the relief carving of the dragon throne, her arches stretching out a breathtaking arc on the black silk.

The newly generated Yin energy of the Maiden condensed deep within the Qi Sea, becoming more than twice as solid as before, and faintly revealing a pale purple glow from the second transformation.

"Not bad. At this rate, you might be able to help me improve my spiritual aptitude once more before I break through to the late stage of the Condensation Realm."

Zhao Wuji scanned her trembling spiritual veins with his divine sense and suddenly felt the Xuanxing Cloud Pattern Bowl in mid-air tremble slightly.

Looking up, one sees the purple aura of dawn at the bottom of the bowl resonating with the dragon energy emanating from the Empress's body, outlining an unformed dragon silhouette on the bowl's surface.

The dragon energy cultivated by the "Imperial Supreme World-Shaking Technique" can indeed be supplemented by the morning glow purple energy.

"The power of Yin nourishes your primordial Yin energy, while the power of Yang nurtures your dragon energy. The balance of Yin and Yang is of great benefit to you..."

Zhao Wuji lightly lifted his fingertips, pinched Li Shiyu's delicate chin, and examined her closely.

The empress's face was as smooth and radiant as jade, her brows exuding increasing majesty, and a dragon-like aura was faintly visible. Her every move already possessed the bearing of an emperor.

He nodded slightly, secretly praising her. This woman was becoming more and more like an empress.

"It's all because of your favor, Senior Brother..."

Li Shiyu's eyes sparkled, her slender hands encircling Zhao Wuji's waist, her red lips parted slightly, her voice soft and sweet, "Senior brother, why don't you stay with me for a few more days?"

"You're so busy with official duties, reviewing memorials, how can you have time for me to keep you company?"

Zhao Wuji's lips curled slightly, his tone playful.

"Sometimes... even I think about 'choosing a handsome man over the throne'..."

Her delicate body writhed like a serpent, her chin resting on his shoulder, her breath warm and carrying a faint scent of ambergris.

"No."

Zhao Wuji shook his head, "Now that you have worked hard, the hearts of the Xuan people have finally begun to turn to you, and the new policies are being implemented smoothly. This is the time for you to consolidate your imperial power. How can you slack off?"

"Be bold!"

Li Shiyu glared at him with her phoenix eyes, feigning anger, and said, "I ordered you to stay with me for a few more days, and you're lecturing me instead?"

"Looks like... you're asking for it."

Zhao Wuji's eyes darkened, and he raised his hand to deliver a palm strike.

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound echoed inside the hall, startling the maids and servants around the hall.

Li Shiyu exclaimed in surprise, smiled slyly, leaned back, and wrapped her jade-like feet around Zhao Wuji's waist like vines, pulling him sharply.
"boom!"

The two of them tumbled into the dragon throne, sinking deep into the gold-threaded cushion, their dragon robes disheveled, their hair tangled.

Li Shiyu's lips curled slightly, her eyes filled with a triumphant smile.

The next morning.

Zhao Wuji quickly left and returned to the cave.

After cultivating, Li Shiyu benefited the most, while he only gained six spiritual powers.

Although the effect is faster than when one drinks and cultivates alone, it has a subtle feeling of a subject devoting himself to his king.

However, considering the benefits that Li Shiyu will gain to her spirituality from cultivating the "Charming Maiden Yin" in the future, this current sacrifice is worthwhile.

After returning to the Linglang Cave.

Zhao Wuji then convened a small meeting.

At the main peak of Linlang, the elders of the Affairs Hall and the assistant elder Ji Mobai were immediately summoned to discuss the matter.

Inside the main hall, a huge map was spread out on a table.

The map is densely marked with the distribution of the four southern kingdoms, as well as numerous mountains, rivers, blessed lands, and various large and small forces.

The routes taken by Yu Zishan and his disciples on their travels were also outlined in cinnabar, winding like dragons and snakes, with the furthest routes extending to Zhongzhou and Huaihai Yizhou.

"Have Yu Zishan and the others sent back any news?"

Zhao Wuji tapped the map lightly with his finger, his gaze sweeping over Elder He of the Affairs Hall.

"Reporting to the Cave Master, Yu Zishan and his group have arrived at the border of Zhongzhou. According to your standards, a cave heaven with only a Concentration Realm expert in charge is called a Lesser Cave Heaven."

They explored five small grotto-heavens and three scattered markets along the way, and recorded the general situation of each faction.

Elder He respectfully handed over a jade slip, saying, "This is a summary of the intelligence they sent back."

Zhao Wuji gently cupped his five fingers and took the warm jade slip into his palm.

His divine sense washed over Jian's body like a tide, instantly reflecting the scenery beyond the southern sky.

The malevolent aura of the Myriad Beasts Cave and the ethereal cloud formations of the Wind Spirit Cave are both faintly visible in the crevice between the three continents.

A slight smile played on his lips, and a hint of understanding flickered in his eyes.

Three months ago, he ordered the Affairs Hall to assign his many disciples the task of leaving the cave to travel.

Each disciple who goes out is given two to seven source crystals as travel expenses, depending on their cultivation level, to maintain their spirituality and cultivation during the journey.

In addition, the library will provide free access to the techniques or methods of the Five Hundred Great Merits as support.

Disciples who discover unclaimed resource points or ruins will be given an extra reward.

Where there is great profit, there will always be brave men.

Those disciples who had once cowered within the protective barrier of the cave finally gritted their teeth and stepped out of the mountain gate.

Following the "Eight Desolations Geomantic Map" personally drawn by Zhao Wuji, they spread out like a spider web to various continents, exploring resource points and the situation of various forces.

This was also a strategy that Zhao Wuji decided after weighing the needs of the development of the cave and his own planning.

The old Linglang Cave was too conservative.

The cave master was nothing but a puppet, only knowing how to guard his own corner, treating his disciples as resources, and deliberately suppressing expansion.

This closed-off approach, while keeping the cave as stable as a rock, also completely drained its internal and external resources.

However, the development of Linlang Cave has now reached a bottleneck.

They know very little about the situation in other continents and the various forces at play, like blind men touching an elephant.

The disciples inside the cave were even more timid and cowardly.

If the spiritual energy does not recover in the future, it will probably eventually turn into withered bones in the cave and decay silently.

"He dedicated his entire life to the inner workings of the grotto, so there's nothing wrong with that."

"But going out into the world opens up a wider horizon and may open up more opportunities, allowing us to lay the groundwork for a future revival of spiritual energy."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly as he pondered.

Some time ago, he had already instructed Nan Zhixia to do so and send his disciples out to explore.

That is why Wang Zheng and his companions were able to be found in the Nether Bone Abyss.

Since we have capable people at our disposal, we should make the best use of them. If we only confine them to their grottoes, like silkworms spinning silk until they die, we will be wasting the potential and value of many disciples.

Zhao Wuji snapped out of his thoughts, pointed to the map, and raised an eyebrow: "Yu Zishan and the others have been lingering on the border of Zhongzhou for ten days? Why didn't they enter Zhongzhou to investigate?"

"This"

Elder He smiled wryly, "Three days ago, Yu Zishan informed us through a long-distance communication array that Zhongzhou has set up checkpoints at the border to prohibit cultivators from other states from entering."

Yu Zishan and his group had already entered Zhongzhou, but the spirit-monitoring array detected their presence and drove them out as if they were smuggling themselves in.

They dare not venture further in now, so they sent word back for the cave master to decide.

"Smuggling...driving away cultivators from other states at the border?"

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly, his expression surprised. "When did Zhongzhou become so xenophobic? How long has it been since Dongtian sent anyone to Zhongzhou?"

Elder He pondered for a moment and said, "According to the records of the grotto-heaven, the most recent intelligence about the Central Plains was more than sixty years ago."

Back then, the Central Plains was still wide open, never driving away outside cultivators... This current measure—who knows which force is behind it, and when it began?

Zhao Wuji pondered for a moment, then coldly said, "Send a message to Yu Zishan, instructing them to break into smaller groups and infiltrate separately to try again."

If we are still driven away, we will give up for now and instead explore the Southern Chu Prefecture.

"This"

Elder He looked troubled and said, "Yu Zishan and his party traveled from Tiannan to Zhongzhou, which took them more than a month."

The message sent three days ago stated that they had already used up most of the source crystals they carried. If they forced their way deeper, they feared their spiritual energy would be depleted before they could even return…

Zhao Wuji's eyes turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "How can the path of cultivation be smooth sailing in every way?"

If we shrink back from even this small difficulty, how can we talk about expanding the territory of my magnificent cave? And expect any reward?

With a flick of his sleeve, he said in a tone that left no room for argument: “Tell them they are not to return without obtaining any valuable intelligence!”

"Yes!" Elder He's heart skipped a beat, and he dared not say another word.

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly. Now that he was the cave master, he still had to be careful with his approach of using both kindness and severity, and he couldn't always please everyone.

His expression softened slightly as he looked at Ji Mobai beside him: "Mobai, your cultivation seems to be progressing quite well?"

Ji Mobai bowed respectfully, his expression calm: "Reporting to the Cave Master, I have broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining and am currently stabilizing my realm."

Zhao Wuji nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad. You are exceptionally talented. Before entering the secret realm, you suppressed your cultivation and deliberately did not break through to the seventh level of Qi Induction. Now, your accumulated strength has finally paid off, and your breakthrough is a natural outcome."

After a pause, he added, "You are responsible for following up on the situation of Yu Zishan and the others. If any new information is sent back, report it promptly."

Furthermore, cultivation must not be neglected; the future of the Linglang Grotto-heaven will still require elders like you to uphold its dignity.”

Ji Mobai solemnly agreed: "I will keep in mind the teachings of the Cave Master."

His heart was also filled with complex emotions. Despite his best efforts in cultivation, he still couldn't see the back of his former junior brother, Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji is now a powerful expert in the Condensation Realm and is the Cave Master.

Although he was also promoted to become an elder of the side hall of the affairs hall by him, there was still a gap.
Even his master, Hou Baichang, has not yet broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

At this moment, Elder He added, "Besides Yu Zishan and others, other disciples who went out for training have also sent back messages one after another."

Lu Yongnian led a team to explore Yizhou in Huaihai and discovered an ancient Moon Spirit Grass resource site, but unfortunately it has been abandoned.

Lin Qingyao, on the other hand, met several rogue cultivators in Beiyun Dizhou and obtained some rare spiritual herb seeds through trade.

"That's right, it's best to gain something this way!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji smiled slightly: "It seems that the disciples of my Linlang Cave Heaven each have their own opportunities."

His gaze fell on the map again, his fingertips gently tracing the route of Nan Chu Prefecture, and he had already made up his mind.

"If we can't get into Zhongzhou, then have Zhixia send another team of disciples from nearby Wushang Cave Heaven to supply Yu Zishan with supplies."

We must travel to Nanchu Prefecture and find the location of Lingtai Mountain.

Only by combining these two great grotto-heavens can their greatest advantages be realized.

Zhao Wuji offered a few words of encouragement to the two men, then waved his sleeve to dismiss them.

After the palace doors closed, he stood alone in the empty hall, his hands behind his back, gazing intently at the map spread out on the table, his eyes as deep as an abyss.

"Although Daoist Xinghe's predictions of the heavens were somewhat inaccurate, the revival of spiritual energy should occur within sixty years."

"If the level three spiritual veins are enough, I will try to break through to the Golden Core stage when the spiritual energy recovers."

If that's not enough, I'll just keep my cultivation at the peak of the Concentration Realm; that would be the best course of action."

His gaze swept across the continents, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "These disciples who are currently exploring outside are my eyes and ears."

The secret treasures of Lingtai Mountain in Nanchu Prefecture and Xuantian Sect in Huaihai Yi Prefecture both require prior planning.

Having made up his mind, he rolled up his sleeves, put away the map, and turned to walk into the depths of the cave.

The Nine Cauldrons Dragon-Suppressing Diagram hangs high at the confluence of spiritual veins, with dragon spirit crystals as its eyes, its oppressive aura like that of a prison.

Zhao Wuji stared intently at the dragon's eyes, his gaze slightly closed, his hands forming the Dream-Marrying Seal. Instantly, spiritual energy, like threads, coiled around the dragon image, weaving a hazy halo.

"Buzz!"

As spiritual energy seeped into the painting, his consciousness seemed to fall into a chaotic dragon aura.

All around him was surging golden dragon energy, like a raging torrent, each surge almost crushing his dream.

"This dragon energy... is so domineering!"

Zhao Wuji's mind trembled slightly, and the dream constructed by the Dream Marriage Technique continued to crumble under the impact of the dragon's energy.

It seemed as if it was about to completely collapse at any moment.

However, this long-awaited oppression caused the dormant Dream Marriage Technique to continuously transform amidst destruction, with the proficiency displayed within the Yin Pearl constantly increasing.

Just as the dream was about to shatter.

"boom!"

The proficiency of the Yin Pearl Dream Technique has reached a peak.

A profound feeling suddenly welled up in his heart, and his previously easy-to-master skills broke through at this moment, entering a state of consummate skill!

In an instant, the dream, which was on the verge of collapse, was revived like a withered tree in spring.

The broken boundaries were quickly repaired, becoming even more stable than before.

The originally hazy and chaotic area of ​​dragon energy gradually became clear under the analysis of the Dream Marriage Technique.

"The Duke of Zhou's interpretation of dreams reveals the sun after the clouds have parted!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly understood, his divine sense cutting through the fog like a sharp sword, and the scene before him suddenly became clear.

"This is……?!"

What came into view was a bloody scene!
A mutilated corpse lay across the void.

The severed limbs floated in the blood mist like shattered mountains.

Dark golden blood slowly seeped from the massive penetrating wound in his chest, pressing out fine ripples in the void.

The severed head floated not far from the corpse, its black hair dancing wildly like an angry dragon, and the domineering aura between its brows solidified into a crimson smoke that soared into the sky, stirring up the winds and clouds in all directions.

Those wide-open, angry pupils were like two blood moons hanging high in the sky.

Even though he had been dead for a long time, the void still trembled wherever his gaze fell, as if he might tear apart the dream at any moment and unleash the wrath of the overlord once more!
Even more terrifying was that the corpse was surrounded by an extremely dense aura of martial arts immortals, churning and bubbling like boiling magma.

Each surge was accompanied by the sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses, as if thousands of troops were roaring and charging amidst a murderous aura.

It exudes a suffocating sense of oppression.

The dream space trembled violently under this pressure, and the boundaries constructed by the Dream Marriage Technique continued to crumble.

boom!
Suddenly, the dream jolted, and the remains of the body vanished rapidly in four directions.

Only a head remains, still floating in the blood-soaked dreamscape.

"Xiang Yu?!"

Zhao Wuji was shocked and immediately recognized the identity of the corpse.

According to legend, after Xiang Yu was defeated and committed suicide at the Wujiang River, his body was dismembered to claim credit. Among those dismembered were even his former acquaintances. Later, these dismemberers formed five major families.

However, now, Xiang Yu's head is being suppressed inside the giant gate behind the Nine Cauldrons Dragon-Suppressing Diagram.

"Where exactly is this giant gate? It seems I can only enter through a dream constructed by the Dream Marriage Technique?"

Zhao Wuji made a hand seal, attempting to extend the power of the dream towards the head of Xiang Yu, whose eyes were wide open in fury, at the center of the sea of ​​blood.
(End of this chapter)