Immortals of the End Times

Inside the Xuan Kingdom's royal palace.

afterwards.

After Zhao Wuji and Empress Li Shiyu practiced together for a while, they took out the Dragon Seal of the first emperor and began to discuss the affairs of the Xuan Kingdom.

If the Xuan Kingdom is managed well, the dragon vein will flourish, nourishing the spiritual vein, and the Linglang Grotto-heaven will endure.

If they were to break free from the control of the Xuanming Dynasty in the future, this would be the core industry for Zhao Wuji's long-term cultivation of Yang marrow.

On the dragon throne, Li Shiyu wore a crimson dragon robe that was half-open, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall. Her fingertips lightly caressed the dragon seal of the first emperor, and her brows exuded even greater majesty.

"Senior brother, now that I hold the first imperial seal in my hands, those old fogies in the court should no longer dare to outwardly comply but inwardly defy me."

She smiled slightly, her fingers tracing the dragon pattern. "The implementation of the new policies is now unimpeded. I intend to completely adopt the tax system of the Xuanming Dynasty, with three out of ten taxes, and establish granaries to provide relief to refugees."

Zhao Wuji leaned against the armrest, his gaze sweeping over the book "Xuanming Tax Examination" spread out on the table.

Seeing that the Empress's red brushstrokes perfectly captured the essence of the royal family's governance, already showing some of the style described in the "Huangji Jingshi Shu" (Book of Supreme Principles Governing the World), he couldn't help but nod: "Your Majesty has truly figured out how to fleece the royal family."

"I want more than just fleecing people?"

Li Shiyu suddenly turned around, her jade-like feet stepping onto the armrest of the dragon throne. Her crimson robe slipped down, revealing her fair collarbone. "Xuanming is able to nourish two level-four spiritual veins with dragon veins, isn't that all thanks to this strategy of governing the country? Once I have also governed Xuan Kingdom well, your grotto-heaven will be as stable as Mount Tai, Senior Brother."

"The cave is currently stable, so that's fine."

Zhao Wuji shook his head slightly, pointed his sword at her dantian, and frowned, saying, "Your cultivation has declined recently. If you continue cultivating like this, when will you ever reach the ninth level of the Nine Revolutions Maiden Realm?"

The Empress's ears turned slightly red, but she raised her head and brows, saying, "I'm busy with countless affairs of state, where would I find the time?"

Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled into his arms.

Zhao Wuji used his palm-guided technique to channel energy into her meridians, helping her regulate her pure spiritual power. He said calmly, "Although Zhixia's spiritual talent surpasses yours, she cultivates more diligently. I'm afraid she's already close to the tenth level of Qi Induction."

Li Shiyu suddenly bit his wrist, her phoenix eyes narrowing. "So, it's your senior brother's fiancée? Hah."

She chuckled softly, her tone tinged with jealousy, "She's just lucky to have met you first, Senior Brother. Back then, when I threw myself at you, you didn't even give me a second glance."

Zhao Wuji chuckled, and three golden needles flew out from his sleeve and pierced her Baihui acupoint: "Aren't I helping you cultivate now? Can you say I've made amends?"

As he spoke, he simultaneously performed medical techniques and guided exercises.

Starlight cascaded down from the window, forming a cocoon of light around the two of them.

Two hours later, Li Shiyu's primordial yin essence had solidified into several parts.

Zhao Wuji put away the needles, glanced at the mountain of memorials on the table, and shook his head, saying, "I will come again another day to help you with your meditation and cultivation."

"No need!"

Li Shiyu suddenly grabbed his sleeve and took out a jade slip from a hidden compartment in the dragon throne. "I have once again sought out and trained three female officials to practice the 'Mysterious Yin Heart-to-Heart Technique'."
Although they are not of the Xuan Yin constitution, they possess a special Yin constitution, and when combined with this technique, they can ultimately help my cultivation advance.

With a light tap of her finger, the jade slip displayed a scene inside the harem, where three women in crimson robes were cultivating in seclusion.

Zhao Wuji scanned it with his divine sense, raised an eyebrow and said, "Mysterious Yin Heart-to-Heart Technique? You certainly know how to think things through."

He suddenly pointed with his fingers and transmitted some skills and experience related to sword control to Li Shiyu with his divine sense.

"Having cultivation level alone is not enough; one must also thoroughly comprehend the sword control technique."

By the time Li Shiyu came to her senses, Zhao Wuji's figure had already transformed into a sword rainbow and disappeared through the window, leaving only the echoing voice: "I will check the progress again in three months."

"We still have to wait three months?"

Li Shiyu leaned alone on the dragon throne, her expression melancholy.

As the sword light swept across the capital of Xuan Kingdom, Zhao Wuji used a guiding technique to search for the earth's energy veins.

It was discovered that the dragon vein, after being renewed a year ago, has now become completely stable.

The newly born dragon energy was even three times stronger than before.

Clearly, the new policies implemented by Li Shiyu are beginning to show results, people's sense of happiness has improved, and the dragon's energy is also recovering and growing.

At this moment, he suddenly sensed unusual activity from the Yin Sha Spring within the Pot Heaven Space.

"Is the Yin Marrow about to be formed?"

He stopped abruptly, flicked his sleeve, and the Pot Heaven Space appeared between his sleeves.

His figure stepped into the world within the pot.

But not far away, at the Yin Sha Spring, Xiao Yue and Xiao Ya were seen retreating in fear.

On the Yinquan stone platform, the wine yeast swelled up like an eight-immortal table, with mycelium entwined around a cluster of dark blue crystals writhing wildly.

"My lord! This wine fungus suddenly went berserk and swallowed the gem in your spring!"

"How dare you! You dare to devour the treasure I've painstakingly raised?"

Zhao Wuji snorted coldly and made a hand seal to cast the Stone Boiling Technique.

The moment the yellowish-brown flames enveloped the fungal mass, the fungus trembled violently, its mycelium curling up as if screaming in agony, and it hurriedly expelled its yin essence.

Zhao Wuji raised his hand and grabbed a piece of Yin marrow the size of a pigeon egg, which flew into his palm.

The wine fungus trembled and hurriedly climbed onto the stone platform, no longer daring to cause any more trouble.

"The Yin Marrow has finally been cultivated; this is an unexpected delight."

Zhao Wuji examined the Yin Marrow in his hand, which emanated an astonishing chill, and his expression was filled with surprise and delight.

Successfully cultivating the first Yin Marrow means that a second and a third can be cultivated in the future.
As long as he has enough Yin spiritual materials, he will no longer be troubled by accumulating Yin marrow.
"However, I still have to worry about the Yin-type spiritual materials. The Yin-type materials I fed in the past were nurtured by gathering resources from several major grotto-heavens, such as the Supreme, White Bone, Sea Mountain, and Linglang."

Zhao Wuji shook his head; upon realizing this, his excitement diminished considerably.

With a thought, his Yin Marrow vanished instantly and was absorbed into the Yin Pearl.

A new message suddenly appeared on the surface of the second Yin Bead:
[Yin Qi (20000/20000), Yin Marrow (1/2)]

"Only one more piece of Yin Marrow is needed for the Yin Pearl to be complete."

Zhao Wuji was thrilled.

He immediately thought of the third Yang Pearl that had already been unlocked.

"It's time to comprehend new techniques. The head of Xiang Yu behind the Nine Cauldrons Dragon Suppression Diagram will trigger the new Yang Pearl Earthly Fiend Technique."

Upon realizing this, he immediately prepared to leave the Pot Heaven Space.

"Ka!"

Xiong Ba flapped its wings, its plump body suddenly swooping over, its black bean-like eyes staring straight at him, clearly wanting to go out with him.

This myna bird had been cooped up in the Pot Heaven Space for too long, and its body had become rounder.

Every time Zhao Wuji left, she would rush about anxiously, but she was always blocked by the illusion array.

"What's wrong, can't stand it anymore?"

Zhao Wuji chuckled and reached out to rub its head. "Don't worry, I'll let you run around freely after I return to my cave."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeves, rode the wind, and transformed into a streak of light, swiftly returning to the Linglang Cave Heaven.

He placed the Pot Heaven Space along with the Illusion Array in the valley of Cold Moon Peak, and let Xiao Yue, Xiao Ya, and Xiong Ba leave the Pot Heaven Space to get some fresh air.

"Gah! Ba!" The plump bird that Xiong Ba had raised couldn't wait to fly out of the pot and let out a noisy and domineering bird cry.

This immediately attracted the female mynahs that had been guarding their empty nests on Cold Moon Peak for a long time to flap their wings and come over.

Zhao Wuji shook his head and chuckled, then turned into a streak of light and headed straight for Crimson Flame Peak.

At the invitation of my senior uncle Yan, I painstakingly performed acupuncture on him.

A quarter of an hour later.

The moment the golden needles were returned to their case, Yan Lan lazily sat up, her crimson robe slipping down her shoulders to reveal a large expanse of snow-white skin.

She gently stroked the lingering warmth of the needle with her fingers, glancing sideways at Zhao Wuji: "You brat's needlework skills have improved quite a bit. It's a pity that Junior Sister Hua is now in the Wang family and can't enjoy such a pleasure, otherwise the two of us could share it."

Zhao Wuji paused slightly as he wiped the needle tip, and Hua Qingshuang's aloof and icy face suddenly appeared before his eyes.

He lowered his head to hide the smile in his eyes and put the family heirloom golden needle into the red jade box: "After I finish dealing with your transaction with Master Huangshang and settle down in the cave, I may go to Beiyun Dizhou."

"Oh?"

Yan Lan suddenly grabbed his sleeve, the phoenix pattern on his chest beneath the collar of his robe rising and falling with his breath. "The Wang family is no benevolent family. What do you lack now besides a higher-level spiritual vein? Why bother getting involved in this mess?"

"What I'm after is the Wang family's even higher-level spiritual vein."

Zhao Wuji responded calmly, thinking to himself, "And that mysterious head of Xiang Yu!"

"Why bother? You could actually choose the Qilin Sword Sect; at least they have a good reputation."

Yan Lan pointed her fingertip at his heart, at the same spot where he had once stood in his blazing black robe: "Besides, if I obtain the Yellow Court Inner Classic from Old Monster Huang Shang, both of us can try to form a false core within the Inner Realm."
The required resources would be much less, and perhaps even a level four spiritual vein wouldn't be needed to form the pill.

"Whether it's the Qilin Sword Sect or the Yellow Court Inner Classic, as my senior master says, they're all the same path!"

Zhao Wuji nodded and said, "However, it's always good to have a few more routes prepared."

Especially for spiritual veins and some rare resources, the earlier you plan, the better.

Otherwise, if one day in the future spiritual energy truly revives, many old monsters will emerge from the mountains, each with profound strength.

"If we try to seize these resources then, it will be much more difficult, and we'll have lost our advantage." "My nephew is indeed farsighted."

Yan Lan gently gathered her robes, and the ribbon around her waist tightened suddenly, outlining her graceful figure.

She turned back with a slight smile, a hint of amusement flashing in her phoenix eyes:
"However, news of our return has probably already reached the ears of that old monster Huang Shang. Even if we don't go looking for him, that old bastard will send people to come knocking on our door."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood.
There must be spies from the Azure Cave Heaven within the cave!

This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

"Don't worry, Master Uncle, I already have a plan."

He planned to use a large-scale dream-marrying technique to construct a dream field within the cave, encompassing everyone.

It can not only break the bloodline curse of the Xuanming Dynasty, but also uncover the hidden agents planted in other grotto heavens.

We'll wipe them all out and eliminate any future troubles!

Having explained his thoughts, Zhao Wuji transformed into a streak of light and departed.

Yan Lan watched his departing figure, her red lips slightly pursed.

Although I don't know how skilled my junior apprentice is in the art of talismans, the scene of him controlling the Blue Ocean is still vivid in my mind.

Moreover, she has already guessed it.

This junior disciple is none other than the "Tiannan Patriarch," who has become a formidable figure in southern China in recent years!
Such methods are naturally trustworthy.

However, what puzzled her even more was why Zhao Wuji had changed so dramatically after breaking through to the Condensation Realm, and the methods he displayed were as if an old monster had possessed him.

Therefore, for some time, she was actually observing and testing the waters in secret.

As a result, neither their interactions within the Sword Tomb, nor the kindness shown to her by her junior disciple who gave her the sword fruit, nor her unwavering focus while administering acupuncture, were unusual.

Even his attitude towards Hua Qingshuang and Li Shiyu and others is exactly the same as before.

In this way, her doubts gradually dissipated.

It is speculated that Zhao Wuji may have had some kind of fortuitous encounter in the Tiannan Secret Realm in the past.

Or perhaps even earlier, they had already encountered some extraordinary events.

After all, his actions of learning talismans, setting up formations, and collecting spirit-eating insects to make Gu worms were all things he had already done before going to the Tiannan Secret Realm.

Zhao Wuji was unaware of Yan Lan's many thoughts.

When we left Crimson Flame Peak, it was already dusk.

It was autumn, and the red leaves on Chiyan Peak were like fire, dyeing the forests in vibrant colors.

As evening approached, it was the perfect time for him to cast spells and construct a grand dreamscape.

"Let's first find out the recent movements of our many disciples who are away from home."

Zhao Wuji flew to the main peak of Linlang and summoned Elder He and Ji Mobai from the Affairs Hall to report the situation.

"Reporting to the Cave Master, Yu Zishan and his disciples have successfully arrived in the Lingtai Mountain area of ​​Nanchu Prefecture after receiving the third batch of supplies."

"They sent back detailed route maps and the distribution of forces along the way via long-range communication arrays."

At this point, Elder He paused slightly:
"But shortly after the message was sent, their entire team of disciples suddenly lost contact."

"Loss of contact?"

Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow.

Elder He's forehead was covered in sweat: "I have tried to contact them many times without success. I'm afraid the outcome is more likely to be dire."

"Tap, tap"

Zhao Wuji tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.

At this moment, Ji Mobai stepped forward:
"Cave Master, the descendants of the Tao family of Feihua City that you mentioned."

"The disciples did indeed find Tao Fei, but..."

He looked troubled.
"But Tao Fei refused to believe that you had invited him, instead thinking that we wanted to steal his family's medical skills."

"The disciples dare not use force, therefore..."

"Oh?" Zhao Wuji chuckled, understanding Tao Fei's concerns and suspicions.

Indeed, if he were to suddenly hear that his former friend had become a high-ranking cave master in just a few years after entering the cave, he would probably think it was a scam.

"Well, as long as he's safe and sound, that's fine."

After a moment's thought, Zhao Wuji took out the scroll of "Miscellaneous Refining Techniques" from his storage bag and casually tossed it to Ji Mobai.

“Return this item to Tao Fei, so that it may be returned to its rightful owner.”

Although this miscellaneous skill had once helped him understand the mysteries of the stone-boiling technique, it was now of little use, so he might as well return the favor to an old friend.

Once the trivial matters were settled, he waved his sleeve, signaling the two to leave.

next moment.
"Buzz!"

He suddenly formed a hand seal, his ten fingers flying like blooming lotus flowers, and a golden light suddenly shone from between his eyebrows, as if there were divine fire burning brightly.

"boom!"

His divine sense surged like a raging tide, spreading more than sixty miles in an instant, sweeping across the entire cave heaven, and resonating and trembling with the spiritual vein nodes of the mountain-protecting array!

In an instant, a hazy dreamlike mist descended from the void, enveloping thousands of mountains and valleys.

The auras of over a thousand disciples flickered like starlight, all reflected in his sea of ​​consciousness...

"Dream!"

With a low shout, the ripples of the Dream Marriage Technique swept across the mountains, instantly pulling the entire grotto into a vast dreamscape.

An elder who was reviewing documents in the deacon's hall suddenly fell asleep at his desk.

On the sword-fighting field, the disciples, sweating profusely, nodded vigorously.

Even Elder Yu Linzi, who was in seclusion in the Jade Rain Palace, suddenly opened his eyes, but could not resist the overwhelming drowsiness.

Only Yan Lan on Crimson Flame Peak seemed to sense something, and the phoenix jade pendant at her waist emitted a faint light, keeping the dream mist out.

"Has the apprentice begun?"

On Lonely Cloud Peak.

Hou Baichang, the master of Lonely Cloud Peak at the tenth level of Qi Refining, felt his eyelids drooping. Just as his Clear Sword Heart was about to resist, he saw thousands of dream butterflies fluttering in. Soon, he could not resist the strong drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep.

"boom!"

Suddenly, countless dream bubbles exploded in the world of consciousness.

Zhao Wuji's will hung high like the moon, overlooking thousands of flowing images, like a god who controlled dreams.

Countless dream images floated around him like bubbles in his mind.
Some outer disciples knelt in their dreams begging for Concentration Pills, and some stewards secretly counted their hoarded Source Crystals.

Furthermore, he saw Elder Yulinzi secretly meeting with a secret envoy from the Xuanming Dynasty in a dream.

On the surface of the Yin Pearl, the proficiency of the Dream Marriage Technique fluctuated and increased continuously.

However, the intense consumption of his spiritual energy caused his temples to throb.

Suddenly, a blue light in a dream caught his attention.

In the dream of Han Sisi, a disciple in blue robes, he was feeding a "Heart-Peeping Gu" unique to Qingming Cave Heaven with secret medicine, and even tried to use this Gu to influence Dai Zhiyun.

"Unexpectedly, even Han Sisi has been controlled by the Azure Netherworld Cave."

Zhao Wuji witnessed this scene, and a complex expression appeared in his eyes.

This Han Sisi was the husband of Senior Sister Dai of Hanyue Peak, and one of her former commanders.

Back then, on Cold Moon Peak, he personally presented a congratulatory gift to the couple.

The old friends are still here, but the place has been infiltrated.

Inside the cave, it looked like an iron barrel, but in reality, it was drafty from all sides.

"Wow!"

He flipped his hand and took out a Spirit Nourishing Flower. Spiritual fire flickered at his fingertips, and in an instant, he refined a drop of crystal-clear true dew.

He tilted his head back and swallowed it, and his depleted spiritual energy was instantly restored as if bathed in sweet rain.

"It's time for a thorough cleaning!"

Zhao Wuji formed hand seals and activated the Dream Marriage Technique at full power.

Starting today
Linlang Cave will truly become an impregnable entity, allowing no one else to touch it even a little bit!
But this is far from enough.

The vast lands and rivers of the south will become his foundation in the future!
Before the spiritual energy revival arrives, he must ensure that the identity of the Ancestor of Tiannan is truly worthy of his name.

Even if he travels to other continents to seek opportunities in the future, Tiannan will be developed into his rear immortal land, with manpower and resources readily available.
(End of this chapter)