Immortals of the End Times

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed.

The news that Zhao Wuji, the master of Linlang Cave, had become a guest elder of the Wang family was quickly spread through the eyes and spies of various forces.

In a short time, three of the six positions the Wang family had reserved for guest advisors had been filled.

Of the three who were hired, apart from Zhao Wuji, who had only recently gained some fame in Tiannan, the other two were already well-known.

The master of Haishan Cave, Lan Canghai, roamed the East China Sea for decades and was infamous for his fierce reputation.

Fang Yi, the master of Xueyin Cave, is a veteran powerhouse in Beiyun Dizhou, whose sonic attack techniques are superb.

However, Zhao Wuji's unparalleled skill in both sword formations also became known during the Wang family's assessment.

Inside the Sword Pavilion of the Qilin Sword Sect.

Mo Wenjian stood by the window with his hands behind his back, holding a communication jade talisman in his hand, his expression revealing a hint of surprise and satisfaction.

"I never expected that this young friend Zhao would become a guest elder of the Wang family so easily?"

He muttered to himself, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, "It's much faster than I expected."

The higher-ups of the Qilin Sword Sect were originally discussing whether to provide additional resources to help Zhao Wuji break through to the late stage of the Condensation Realm so that he could participate in the Wang Family Guest Elder assessment as soon as possible.

After all, the number of guest advisors recruited by the Wang family this time is limited. If they are all filled, it will be much more difficult to place more people later.

However, this proposal was quickly rejected.

After all, the Sword Heart Pill, such a precious resource that was previously invested in, could only be allocated one per year even to the Seven Great Sword Masters.

In an effort to win over Zhao Wuji, the Qilin Sword Sect has already offered three of them, and even included additional ancient spirit stones, source crystals, and other resources.

If we give them more, how will the other disciples accept it?
But who would have thought that Zhao Wuji, with his mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation and his unparalleled sword and formation skills, would be exceptionally selected as a guest elder of the Wang family!
"This young friend Zhao has saved us a lot of trouble."

Mo Wenjian thought to himself that this investment was well worth the money and had relieved a lot of his pressure.

After all, Zhao Wuji was the person he recommended to the Qilin Sword Sect.

"but……"

Mo Wenjian frowned slightly. "The situation within the Wang family is complicated. Although young friend Zhao has already entered the game, it remains to be seen whether he can truly access the core secrets."

He pondered for a moment, then immediately made a hand seal to send a message, and a wave of divine thought was transmitted through the jade talisman.

The Wang family residence is located inside the Jianyu Tower on Minglong Mountain.

Zhao Wuji was meditating in his fourth-level spiritual vein cave when the communication jade talisman at his waist suddenly trembled.

Mo Wenjian's divine sense emanated from the jade talisman, carrying a hint of admiration: "Young friend Zhao, I didn't expect you to pass the Wang family's guest elder assessment so quickly. It seems we all underestimated your abilities."

Zhao Wuji smiled slightly and replied with a hand seal: "Elder Mo is too kind. I was just lucky."

"luck?"

At the other end of the jade talisman, Mo Wenjian shook his head and chuckled, "I've already heard the news. With sword energy and thunderous sound combined with unparalleled array formation techniques, this isn't just luck."
Within the Qilin Sword Sect, there are only a handful of people who are proficient in both of these arts.

His tone suddenly became serious, "However, now that you have joined the Wang family, remember that the mission is of utmost importance."

"Elder Mo, rest assured."

Zhao Wuji glanced at the array patterns that were faintly visible outside the cave and said calmly, "However, the Wang family has many spies. Unless I take the initiative to contact them in the future, I would appreciate it if Elder Mo would refrain from sending messages too frequently, so as to avoid any unforeseen complications."

"It's natural."

Mo Wenjian pondered for a moment, as if considering his words, and finally only sent back one sentence: "Take care, I'll be waiting for your good news."

The jade talisman's spiritual light gradually faded.

A glint of light flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes.

Several tasks assigned by the Qilin Sword Sect.

First, we need to find out the true intentions of Wang Wujiang, the head of the Wang family;

Secondly, we need to clarify the Hua family's position;

Thirdly, it was to find out the weaknesses in the formation that sealed Xiang Yu's head within the Wang family.

These three tasks were exactly what he wanted to figure out, so it was a coincidence.

However, being a newcomer, he still needs to plan carefully.

Next, we should make good use of these level four spiritual veins to prepare for breaking through to the peak of the Condensation Realm and the Lesser Golden Core stage.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged near the hot spring source inside the Sword Rain Pavilion, surrounded by spiritual energy like mist.

The concentration and purity of spiritual energy here are far superior to those of the Linglang Cave.

He made hand seals and activated the guiding technique, causing the pure spiritual energy of the fourth-level spiritual veins to surge along the meridians and condense into strands of spiritual energy within his dantian.

"Fifteen dishes a day"

Looking inward at the fluctuating values ​​on the Yin-Yang Bead, Zhao Wuji's lips curled into a slight smile.

This speed is more than five times faster than when we were in the Linglang Cave.

No wonder the Wang family was confident in recruiting guest elders and cultivating six invincible cultivators below the Golden Core stage who had reached the peak of the Spirit Condensation realm.

At this rate of cultivation, any cultivator in the late stage of the Condensation Realm with exceptional spiritual talent can break through to the Perfect Condensation Realm within a few years, without considering any bottlenecks.

"Wow!"

He patted the storage bag.

A fragmented array plate flew out of the bag.

It was the fragment of the "Nine Dragons Locking Spirit Array" that I received from the Affairs Hall yesterday.

Zhao Wuji gently stroked the crack with his fingers, and double pupils appeared in his eyes, reflecting the chaotic array patterns deep within his pupils.

"Repairing this formation isn't difficult for me, but it would be best to delay it for as long as possible."

He made a hand seal, deliberately making the repair marks on the edge of the array plate look rougher, and then put it into his storage bag.

For the past two weeks, besides his daily cultivation, he has been working on repairing the Nine Dragons Locking Spirit Array of Minglong Mountain, as instructed by Wang Shouyue.

However, he only repaired one percent of the formation each day, but reported to the Wang family that the loss of spiritual materials was 50% higher.

The array masters that the Wang family is currently training are still too inexperienced to see through the trickery.

The Wang family once had a master of formations, but unfortunately, he passed away two years ago when his lifespan ran out.

Since then, the protective formations of the six immortal mountains of the Wang family have successively developed flaws.

Although it's a small problem, it adds up and eventually becomes a hidden danger.

The Wang family had tried to seek outside help, but the family's core formation involved secrets, and outsiders were ultimately not as reliable as their own retainers.

Moreover, if outsiders want to get involved, they must at least sign a blood pact to ensure that royal secrets are not leaked.

In this way, Zhao Wuji, a guest advisor who is proficient in array formations and has already signed a blood pact, becomes even more important.

So, he went along with it and, on the grounds that "simple repairs are only a temporary solution," proposed to re-forge the array plate of the Nine Dragons Locking Spirit Array.

In this way, he could legitimately refine array plates and repair arrays, while secretly embezzling a lot of spiritual materials to line his own pocket.

That's his skill.

With his mastery of array formations, creating a flawless array plate would be a piece of cake for him.

But how could those half-baked array masters in the Wang family possess such skills?

Therefore, even if he overstated the loss of spiritual materials by 50% each time, no one in the Wang family could detect the flaw.

It wasn't that the Wang family's actuaries were dull-witted, but rather that Zhao Wuji's array formation techniques far exceeded their comprehension.

Now, all those extra spiritual materials, such as Yinwen Stone and Dragon Blood Sand, are quietly lying in the Pot Heaven Space, becoming his private collection.

Among them, most of the Yin-attribute spiritual materials were thrown into the Yin Sha Spring to nourish the Yin marrow and help it to develop.

He then filled a small portion of the source crystals and spirit stones into the Pot Heaven Spirit Vein, slowly expanding this small world.

The next day, as dawn broke, Zhao Wuji stepped out of the cave. Wang Yutang, who was guarding the door, immediately came forward and gave him a graceful bow.

This woman who guided him has now become his personal attendant at Minglong Mountain.

According to custom, as a guest of honor in the Wang family, this woman should do her best to fulfill all his requests.

But Zhao Wuji knew perfectly well what was going on.

This woman was also a spy planted by the Wang family next to him.

However, after her previous setback, she learned her lesson and became increasingly respectful, even showing a hint of cautious flattery.

"Senior, shall we still go to the North Cliff Formation Eye today?"

Holding the jade slip containing the record, Wang Yutang asked softly.

"Let's go to the west platform first."

He deliberately pointed in another direction.

That was the very place he had recently discovered that was peculiar—the secret retreat of the Flower Peak Master.

Wang Yutang, without suspicion, respectfully led the way.

Her slender waist swayed gently with her steps, exuding a deliberate charm.

As you walk towards the misty area, the stone steps appear and disappear.

suddenly
Zhao Wuji's neck gleamed slightly with golden lines, and his double pupils suddenly appeared!

In an instant, the three mountain ranges seemed to vanish, and a hidden spot in the northeast corner came into view!
"As expected, it's here."

He pretended to bend down to examine the array patterns, while secretly pressing his palm on the earth vein nodes.

The array formation technique spread along the direction of the spiritual energy, clearly sensing the array formations surrounding the secret realm.

Deep within the formation, a familiar, cool aura emerged—it was Hua Qingshuang.

"Senior?" Wang Yutang couldn't help but speak when she saw him standing there for a long time.

"The array patterns here are more complex than expected."

Zhao Wuji suddenly made a hand seal, outlining patterns on the array plate, "Go and report to Elder Shouyue that we need another ten catties of Yin Soul Jade."

After the woman hurriedly left, a wisp of the Dream-Marrying Technique's spiritual power flew out from his sleeve and silently seeped into the earth's veins.

The Dream-Attracting Insect trembled gently within the secret place, transmitting the image of Hua Qingshuang's eyelashes trembling back to her sea of ​​consciousness.

"Who's spying here?!"

Suddenly, a cold shout rang out like a thunderclap, and the array surrounding the secret realm suddenly lit up with a blinding spiritual light.

An old man in black robes stepped out from the shadows of the mountain wall, his withered hands clenching into fists. The surrounding spiritual energy instantly condensed into chains, coiling around him like venomous pythons.

Zhao Wuji did not move, but only slightly raised his eyes, and immediately observed the late-stage aura of the Concentration Realm circulating around the old man.

"My name is Zhao Wuji, a newly appointed guest of the Wang family, and I have been ordered to repair the Nine Dragons Locking Spirit Array."

He bowed calmly, the dragon pattern on his dark blue robe gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and the black dragon token at his waist trembled slightly, emanating the spiritual pressure unique to a guest elder.

The old man in black robes had lightning-fast eyes. He swept his gaze over the robes and token, and his tense expression relaxed slightly. He smiled and said, "So it's Elder Zhao. My apologies for not recognizing you. I've heard of you before."

With a flick of his withered hand, the chains of spiritual energy crumbled inch by inch.

"However, the formation here is currently intact and does not require repair."

The old man flicked his sleeve, and the array patterns on the mountain wall flickered for a moment. "If Guest Zhao has the strength, he might as well go to the array platform on the north cliff first."

"Okay, thanks for reminding me."

Zhao Wuji did not insist, and smiled and bowed.

Deep within a secret place.

Hua Qingshuang, who was sitting cross-legged on the jade platform, trembled slightly with her eyelashes. She had sensed Zhao Wuji's aura through the Dream-Guiding Insect in her body and the activation of the formation just now.

She formed a secret hand seal with her fingers hidden in her sleeve.

The Dream-Attracting Insect stretched its body within her dantian, transmitting a wave of divine thought:
"Wuji, I am well. Congratulations on becoming a guest elder of the family."

The message came in fits and starts, but it made Zhao Wuji's lips curl into a barely perceptible smile.

He walked away on the clouds with his hands behind his back. The black-robed old man behind him stared at him like a leech until his figure disappeared into the clouds and mist before retreating back into the shadows of the mountain wall.

"It seems the Peak Master is truly important to the Wang family; even during cultivation, he has elders protecting him."

Zhao Wuji pondered to himself, then suddenly remembered the interrupted message from last time, and a glint flashed in his eyes, "No, this situation seems more like surveillance and prevention."

Considering Hua Lengyun and Zhang Sichen's past secret alliance, this could be seen as a test of the Hua family's stance by the Qilin Sword Sect.
There was also the discussion between the young masters of the Lü and Yang families at the Thousand Machine Market.
Various clues flashed through his mind, and a strange light appeared in Zhao Wuji's eyes.

"Though outwardly glamorous, undercurrents are surging. The peak master may seem to be highly regarded, but sooner or later he will be drawn into an even greater vortex."

However, given Hua Qingshuang's intelligence and her relationship with Hua Lengyun, she must be fully aware of the situation.

However, Wang Wujiang's momentum is already established, so instead of resisting head-on, it's better to take advantage of the situation to enhance our strength.

"This game of chess is getting more and more interesting."

Zhao Wuji's lips curled up slightly.

He came to the Wang family with his own purpose, not just to investigate the peak master's situation.

The muddier the water in the Wang family's waters, the more it suits his taste.

After repairing today's formation, Zhao Wuji had three more pounds of Yin Soul Wood in his sleeve.

Upon returning to the Sword Rain Pavilion cave, he stepped directly into the Pot Heaven Space and instructed Xiao Yue to plant the Yin Soul Wood next to the Yin Sha Spring.

As soon as the dark wooden block touched the spring, it exuded wisps of yin energy, which intertwined and entangled with the evil energy in the spring.

After settling in, he entered the attic, made hand seals, and cast the Dream Marriage spell.

His divine sense, like a thread, pierced through the void and reached the location of the White Bone Cave Master Wei Ding.

Through the perspective of a dream, he helped this loyal servant resolve the crisis of the formation and temporarily move to the position of the Gate of Life to prolong his life.

Although they offered assistance, it was ultimately done remotely.

He was also unable to use Wei Ding's body to perform formation techniques to break the formation, and could only rely on his double pupil supernatural power to barely move him to a living position and save his life.

After dealing with this matter, Zhao Wuji remotely sensed the location of Bai Chengshang in the Haishan Cave Heaven.

Seeing that the Penglai Sword Sect had not yet attacked under the banner of "eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path," he felt relieved and continued his cultivation.

Winter goes and winter comes again.

In the blink of an eye, a year and a half has passed.

Outside the Sword Rain Tower, the entire building was covered in snow.

Inside the building, Zhao Wuji sat cross-legged, his body circulating spiritual energy like a babbling brook, continuously flowing into his dantian.

The guiding technique has reached an outstanding level, efficiently guiding the pure spiritual energy of the fourth-level spiritual vein. The Dao patterns on the surface of the illusory core are becoming increasingly clear, faintly revealing profound meaning.

After a year and a half of growth, he has become more composed and exudes the air of a master in every gesture.

Nourished by the fourth-level spiritual vein, his cultivation level has steadily improved to the late stage of the Condensation Realm (8921/9999).

"More than eight thousand strands of spiritual energy. I'm just one step away from achieving the perfect state of Spirit Condensation."

Suddenly, the unusual activity of the Yin Sha Spring within the Pot Heaven Space startled him awake.

He slowly opened his eyes, his double pupils flashing slightly, his gaze piercing through the void and landing on the space of the pot-shaped heaven.

Within the vast expanse of over 160 zhang, spiritual veins coiled like dragons, brimming with spiritual energy.

Beside the Yin Sha Spring, a newly condensed Yin marrow floated silently, its eerie light swirling and radiating a chilling aura.
(End of this chapter)