Immortals of the End Times

On Crimson Flame Peak.

Yan Lan, dressed in fiery red, waved her sleeve to dismiss Fei Yun, the disciple who came in to pour tea, and then narrowed her phoenix eyes, saying, "Nephew, are you really determined to go find Huang Shang now?"

"That old ghost is truly patient. I've been back for so long, yet he's managed to refrain from sending any ancient cultivators to contact me? He himself clearly doesn't have much time left."

Zhao Wuji smiled calmly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and shook his head, saying, "Uncle-Master, he is so calm only because he is relying on the fact that the Zhenhai Stele has entangled your soul and thinks that we will come begging to him sooner or later."

If he delays a little longer, he can conserve his energy and seize the initiative.

Yan Lan snorted lightly, her red lips slightly raised: "So now we're the ones offering ourselves up? Wouldn't that be playing right into his hands?"

"not necessarily."

Zhao Wuji stroked the teacup with his fingers, his eyes deep. "The reason he remains calm and collected is because he is certain that we cannot break free from the shackles of the Zhenhai Stele."

But if I could sever the connection between the inscription and my master's soul first…

He paused slightly, a confident smile curving his lips: "At that time, it will be him who can't sit still."

Yan Lan's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward slightly: "Are you confident?"

Zhao Wuji nodded: "I'm already quite confident, so we can give it a try soon."

He has mastered the double pupil technique, and with its enhancement to magic, it will greatly assist the Netherworld Technique as well. He is confident that he can untie the soul binding of the Soul-Suppressing Stele for Yan Lan.

Moreover, the Zhenhai Stele can also activate his third Yang Pearl, and he plans to decipher the new Earthly Fiend Technique in the near future.

Zhao Wuji put down his teacup and calmly said, "The patterns on the Zhenhai Stele are of the same origin as the Daoist script given by Huang Shang, but its flaws have already been revealed. Give me some more time, and I will surely be able to sever this chain!"

Yan Lan stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled and poked his chest with her slender, jade-like finger: "Good nephew! Your uncle believes in you."

Her eyes sparkled, and her smile was sly: "If it really works out, that old devil Huang Shang's face will be even uglier than if his parents had died!"

"Where are that old ghost's parents now?"

Zhao Wuji chuckled, rolled up his sleeves, and stood up, saying, "Then please wait for good news, Master Uncle."

Regarding the matters concerning the Qilin Sword Sect and the Wang family, which involved arrangements made by the Qilin Sword Sect, he did not inform Yan Lan.

He already had a plan in mind—he would need to lie low in the Linglang Cave for at least another six months.

Firstly, we need to completely eliminate the hidden danger of Huang Shang, reach a deal with this old ghost, and consolidate the foundation of the two great grotto-heavens, Wushang and Linlang.

Secondly, he could use the power of the Sword Heart Pill to break through to the late stage of the Condensation Realm in one fell swoop, thus qualifying him to join the ranks of the Wang family's guest elders.

Thirdly, we await the delivery of the generous resources promised by the Qilin Sword Sect.

but
He did not intend to join the Wang family with his late-stage Nascent Soul Realm cultivation.

That's too strange.

After all, the Wang family knew him quite well.

How could a cave master who had only broken through to the early stage of the Concentration Realm less than two years ago break through to the later stage so quickly?
This is also a major flaw.

Even if they try to brush it off with the story of a serendipitous encounter, it will be difficult to completely dispel the old fox of the Wang family's suspicions.

Fortunately, the Wang family offered special privileges to their guest advisors, requiring only that they excel in array formations.

"Besides myself, we could also place Lan Canghai, a servant in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, in there."

Zhao Wuji rode the wind away from Chiyan Peak, saying, "If things go well, I will take two of the six guest elders that the Wang family has recruited this time!"

The master and servant complemented each other perfectly, not only able to extract all of the royal family's resources, but also able to look after each other.

As for Lan Canghai, this pawn sacrificed in the face of life and death, he is the best shield!

Having considered this, a slight smile appeared on his lips.

How could the Old Ancestor of Tiannan be a pawn who doesn't understand strategy and can be manipulated at will?

The Wang family wanted to use the guest elder as a vanguard, the Qilin Sword Sect wanted to plant him as a spy, and he also wanted to seize the core resources of the Wang family.

In this degenerate age of cultivation, deceit and treachery abound, and every step is fraught with danger. It remains to be seen who will have the last laugh.

After returning to the Pot Heaven Space.

Zhao Wuji immediately began to use his double pupils combined with the Netherworld Insight Technique to observe the Zhenhai Stele, attempting to unravel the connection between the stele and Yan Lan's soul.

The Zhenhai Stele floats before me, its inscription ancient and profound, engraved with intricate Xia seal script.

At the same time, the jade slip containing Huang Shang's Daoist writings was also floating in front of him.

When his divine sense touched the inscription of the character "Yu" on the stele, the third Yang Pearl in his sea of ​​consciousness began to tremble violently, and the tadpole-like characters moved like living things.

"I wonder what kind of Earthly Fiend Technique the third Yang Pearl will be."

If it's related to Yu the Great's flood control efforts, wouldn't it be one of those three techniques: 'entering the water,' 'drinking the water,' or 'stopping the flow'?

Zhao Wuji pondered.

The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques certainly don't have any useless techniques, but that's relative.

Water entry technique?
The art of drinking water?
Flow interruption technique?
For someone with his current level of cultivation, it's already a useless thing!
With his current physical strength, even the terrifying water pressure of a deep abyss thousands of feet deep, capable of crushing fine iron into thin sheets, would only cause him slight discomfort in his internal organs.

If another 'Qi-restricting technique' is used to avoid water.
It was almost like walking on flat ground!

"The art of entering water is useless to me."

"While the water-drinking technique allows one to swallow rivers,..."

He shook his head. "Unless it's used for disaster relief or drought relief, or has other functions such as 'scare away' or 'disperse' people, it's not very meaningful."

Only the 'flow-cutting technique'.
Block rivers and seas, and open up waterways!
This piqued his interest somewhat.

"If we build a hidden underwater palace in the future, it can be used in conjunction with the 'Pot Heaven Technique'."

But then I thought about it again and it seemed rather dull.

suddenly
A thought flashed through his mind:
In ancient times, Yu the Great tamed the floods and cast the Nine Tripods.
"Perhaps these techniques, at certain specific moments..."

"It will still be of great use!"

He gathered his thoughts, and the blood moon swirled in his double pupils.

As he cast the spell, the azure light of the Netherworld Connection Technique wrapped around the surface of the stele like silk threads, deeply exploring the entanglement between the inscription and Yan Lan's soul.

"The connection between Taoist inscriptions and stele inscriptions."

Zhao Wuji's gaze sharpened.

Under the insight of the double pupils, countless transparent threads emerged from the depths of the inscription, entwining Yan Lan's soul in the distance like a spider web, with even faint traces of primordial yellow mist seeping into them.

These threads are not merely bindings, but rather, through some kind of sacrificial ritual, they bind Yan Lan's soul to the Zhenhai Stele, potentially refining her into a "living sacrifice" to nourish the spirit within the stele.

“My master’s soul has been eroded, but it hasn’t penetrated to the core yet. Fortunately, the Zhenhai Stele has been sealed in the Pot Heaven Space during this time.”

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes.

He swiftly changed his hand seals, and the azure light of the Netherworld Technique suddenly solidified, transforming into countless fine threads that traced back along the inscription to find the source of the soul chains.

His double pupils, combined with the ability to break through barriers using the Soul-Connecting Technique, allowed him to precisely pinpoint the connection point of each strand of divine soul.

"found it!"

A glint flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes, and he gathered a wisp of spiritual power in his finger, piercing into the core of the inscription like a sharp blade.

In an instant, the inscription trembled, and the dark yellow mist surged, as if some kind of will was resisting his intervention.

"Humph!"

He snorted coldly, his double pupils blazing with blood-red light, and the azure light of the Netherworld Technique suddenly transformed into sharp sword intent, more than doubling the Netherworld Technique's deterrent effect.

A gust of soul-devouring yin wind instantly transformed into azure light and swept across, blowing the soul chains apart and severing them inch by inch.

"Crack!!"

A faint cracking sound came from the stele, and Yan Lan's soul threads snapped one by one, while the Xuanhuang mist was completely devoured by the power of the Yin Pearl.

However, just as the last few main chains were about to break, the Zhenhai Stele suddenly unleashed an ancient pressure.

The phantom images of the Nine Tripods appeared, and a certain will seemed to awaken deep within the inscription!
"There's a hidden trick up their sleeve?! Is there a remnant, unconscious spirit within this stele?"

Although startled, Zhao Wuji remained calm. His double pupils instantly analyzed the changes in the inscription, and the azure light of his Netherworld Insight Technique suddenly transformed into sealing power, briefly suppressing that will. "Sever it!"

He let out a low shout, and the dark blue light swept across the army like a fierce whirlwind.

"clank!"

Finally, the nine main chains snapped.

Yan Lan's soul imprint receded like the tide, completely breaking free from the constraints of the Zhenhai Stele.

On Crimson Flame Peak.

Amidst the rising steam of the hot spring.

She suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes.

That shackle that had bound his soul for many years.
It vanished into thin air at that moment!

"Ah"

She parted her red lips slightly and couldn't help but let out a soft moan of pleasure.

"This nephew of mine was truly well cared for."

She stretched out her jade-like fingers and gently stroked the water's surface, creating ripples, then lightly touched the tiny pinholes on her back.

"Junior Sister Hua, oh Junior Sister Hua"

"You really left a good treasure for your senior sister. It's a pity, he's going to the Wang family to find you soon. How come you're still so attractive?"

A hint of resentment and defiance surfaced in her eyes.

She has been fighting with Hua Qingshuang her whole life, and even now, she still wants to fight.

at the same time
Three thousand miles away, in the Azure Heaven Cave!
"boom!"

The blood array suddenly trembled, and Huang Chang, who was sitting cross-legged within it, abruptly opened his eyes, his face turning ashen.

"Who dares to desecrate my sacrificial text?!"

In front of the Zhenhai Stele within the Hutian Space.

"It's done!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed like lightning as he stared at the radiant Zhenhai Stele.

"This unconscious spirit is quite proactive after it awakens, but how is it possible for it to bind with my soul?"

He ignored the call and continued to study the inscription.

With the insight of his double pupils combined with the ability of his Netherworld Technique to break through restrictions, he has precisely severed the chains of his soul.

Now that Yan Lan's soul is completely free, and Huang Shang's scheme has been utterly shattered by him, it is Huang Shang who will be unable to sit still next!
Seven days later, inside the Pot Heaven Space.

The Zhenhai Stele floats in mid-air, its surface shimmering with pale gold inscriptions from the Nine Tripods.

Zhao Wuji suddenly opened his eyes, and the blood moon spun in his double pupils.

The second set of tadpole-shaped characters within the third Yang Pearl in the sea of ​​consciousness fully illuminated, revealing a message:
"Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques: Flow Interruption Technique: Beginner (0/100)"

"It really is this technique."

Zhao Wuji shook his head slightly as a flood of information about the Flow Interruption Technique entered his mind.

Cut off the river's flow and demarcate the land to form a border!
Seal off the water magic, break the formation and slay the demon!
The key principles of the techniques flowed through his mind:
Cut off rivers, lakes, and seas, open up waterless areas, and divide rivers into land.

Cut off water-based spells to render them ineffective.

It is specifically designed to counter water-attribute formations and aquatic spirits.

However, it is less effective in spiritual waters such as the Weak Water and Flowing Sand River.
"It turns out that water-based spells can be severed so that I can use them to collect level-three spiritual veins from the Seven Clouds Sect in Huaihai Yizhou in the future."

Zhao Wuji felt somewhat comforted.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, made a hand seal, and slashed through the air at the Yin Sha Spirit Spring in front of him.

"Break"

The spiritual spring split open in response, revealing a three-zhang-deep vacuum in the center!
If the water encounters a natural barrier, it will naturally find a way around it.

"It's okay."

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to the two sets of undeciphered tadpole-like characters on the third Yang Pearl, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"I wonder what other surprises await us."

He was looking forward to things like Nightmare Prayer, Star Number, and Immobilization.

Suddenly, the jade talisman at my waist trembled.

Yan Lan's voice came through the jade talisman: "Junior nephew, come to Crimson Flame Peak immediately! The ancient cultivator general under Huang Shang is here to pay homage to the mountain with Huang Shang's written order."

They invited me to the Azure Netherworld Grotto-Heaven to exchange the Sea-Suppressing Stele for the Lesser Golden Elixir Method of the *Huangting Neijing*!

"Huang Shang."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed, he stood up, flicked his sleeve and left the Pot Heaven Space, storing the space inside his sleeve, and then rode the wind to Crimson Flame Peak.

On Crimson Flame Peak, General Gu Xiu, his gaunt body wrapped in tattered armor, was placing a blood talisman on a table.

Seeing Zhao Wuji arrive on a cloud, a ghastly smile appeared on his skeletal face: "Does Cave Master Zhao also intend to interfere in Lord Huang Shang's transaction?"

"I have the Zhenhai Stele in my hands, and I happen to be interested in the Huangting Inner Strategy. Does Lord Huang Chang not wish to grant my request?"

Zhao Wuji landed with his hands behind his back and smiled calmly.

Upon hearing this, a deep sense of apprehension flashed across General Gu Xiu's eyes.

He already knew that the spiritual connection between the Zhenhai Stele and Yan Lan had been severed.

According to Lord Huang Shang's speculation, the person who could intervene and forcibly sever this connection could not possibly be a newly emerging cultivator of this era, but most likely an old monster from the past who had thoroughly studied the Daoist scriptures.

Recalling his past speculations about the relationship between Zhao Wuji and Tiannan Patriarch, General Gu Xiu, a blood corpse puppet, felt a chill run down his spine.

Looking at Zhao Wuji's harmless, pretty-boy appearance, how could he be a rising star? He's clearly an old monster and giant in human skin!
"Could it be that Yan Lan has become this man's furnace?"

"The general seems nervous when he sees me?"

Zhao Wuji strode into the hall, a gentle smile on his face: "There's no time to lose. I'm willing to go with my master for this deal."

"good."

Yan Lan leaned back lazily, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed: "I will only go if my nephew goes."

As she spoke, she subtly gave Zhao Wuji an approving look.

General Gu Xiu gritted his teeth. From Zhao Wuji's calm and composed attitude, he could not see any fear of Huang Shang. Zhao Wuji must be some old monster who had been lying in wait for many years!

However, out of confidence in Lord Huang Shang, he still snorted coldly, put down his teacup, and said in a deep voice.

"Alright! Lord Huangshang only wants to reach a peaceful deal, and I hope you, Cave Master Zhao, won't try any tricks."

Zhao Wuji chuckled upon hearing this.

How much misunderstanding and hostility is this towards him?
If the deal can be completed peacefully, that would be best. Does he look like the kind of person who would resort to tricks?

His willingness to go in person stems not only from his increased strength and confidence.

It was also because Lan Canghai had been secretly and closely monitoring Qingming Cave Heaven for more than a month that he had already realized that Huang Shang, this living dead man, could not possibly go far from the blood array within the spiritual vein and the cave heaven.

Therefore, as long as he controls the scope of the transactions, with his current methods and strength, he can advance or retreat at will.

On the contrary, if we send Uncle Yan alone, it might be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—a one-way trip with no return.

"General, lead the way."

Zhao Wuji waved his sleeve and turned around calmly. With a flick of his double pupils, he saw through the seemingly imposing corpse of General Gu Xiu.

The blood puppet's body was already rotten inside, with four fatal flaws.
(End of this chapter)