Immortals of the End Times

"The spiritual energy lightning tribulation could actually be resolved with the double pupils like this!"

Zhao Wuji watched as Hua Qingshuang condensed the shape of a nascent core in her dantian and secretly memorized the technique.

Although the legacy left by Daoist Xinghe mentions the three tribulations of the Golden Core stage, it does not elaborate on the countermeasures.

Now, witnessing Hua Qingshuang taming lightning with her double pupil talent has filled in the gaps in his understanding of lightning tribulations.

Just as they were pondering, the secret place suddenly trembled violently, and a bolt of lightning as thick as a bucket condensed from the dense spiritual energy and struck down.

Just then, the illusory core within Hua Qingshuang's body completely solidified.

Hua Qingshuang suddenly opened her eyes and let out a soft rebuke. Her voice was like a piercing dagger, causing rocks to fall from the secret place's rock walls.

The golden elixir inside her body spun rapidly, emitting a dazzling golden light.

Suddenly, as she opened her mouth, a golden pillar of elixir energy shot out, radiating a blazing light like the sun.

The moment the lightning struck the golden pillar, it was absorbed like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!
"Good, Qing Shuang, your golden core is complete!"

Wang Wujiang let out a low shout of surprise, his white hair dancing wildly, and suddenly he flicked his sleeve.

"All of you, get out. The ceremony is over! Go down and reflect on it!"

Zhao Wuji, Wang Feiyu, and the others were all taken aback.

The two elders were the first to react and immediately bowed and took their leave.

Although Zhao Wuji and the other two had their doubts, they had no choice but to follow them out.

"This matter is suspicious."

As Zhao Wuji stepped out of the secret place, he glanced back quietly, his eyes flashing, and he had already made up his mind.

He turned around, quickly greeted Wang Zheng, and then took to the air and left.

"This"

Wang Zheng frowned slightly. He and Wang Zheng were both from the second branch of the family. Although Wang Zheng was usually gloomy, he would never treat him so coldly.

"It seems that Brother Wang Zheng has gained some insights this time."

"War-Pupil King Feiyu chuckled, a faint blood-red light flashing in his double pupils."

Without saying another word, the group transformed into streaks of light and dispersed.

However, less than half an incense stick's time later, an invisible figure suddenly flew back.

It was none other than Zhao Wuji, who had returned after leaving!
He made a hand seal with his fingertips, and the spiritual light of the Dream Marriage Technique spread like a wisp of silk, instantly pulling the four guarding cultivators outside the secret place into the dream.

The guards, their eyes glazed over, remained on alert, oblivious to the commotion that was so close at hand.

"Array Key!"

Zhao Wuji flipped his palm and took out the Yin Pattern Stone Array Key that he had obtained from Lin Qi.

The moment it was embedded into the groove in the mountain wall, the outer array rippled open like waves.

Whoosh!
He made a hand seal to control the wind, and his figure instantly slipped into the gaps in the array as if transformed into the wind, the array patterns quickly closing behind him.

The spiritual energy within the secret realm had not yet dissipated, and the residual power of the lightning tribulation still crackled in the air.

The illusory Xiang Yu's head at Zhao Wuji's neck began to heat up intensely, resonating strongly with the real Xiang Yu's head.

He endured the burning pain and immediately suppressed it so as not to disturb the head of the Wang family.

He then used invisibility and disguise to conceal himself, moving swiftly along the shadows of the rock face.

Suddenly, Wang Wujiang's deep voice came from deep within: "Qing Shuang, how are you feeling?"

"It's okay."

Hua Qingshuang's cool reply carried a hint of weakness, "It's just that the Golden Core has just been formed and still needs to be stabilized."

Zhao Wuji held his breath and, using his invisibility technique, perfectly blended his aura into the environment.

Looking through the crack in the stone, one could see Hua Qingshuang sitting cross-legged on the high platform, his snow-white Taoist robe charred black, but a golden mark between his eyebrows shining brightly.

"good very good."

Wang Wujiang suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, his white hair moving without wind, his eyes flashing with fanatical light.

"Do you know why I insist that you form your core here?"

Before Hua Qingshuang could answer, he suddenly waved his hand, and the restriction in the center of the platform shattered!

"boom!"

The stone gate opposite opened in response.

A suffocatingly powerful pressure surged forth like a tidal wave.

In the darkness, the ground trembled violently, accompanied by the clanging sound of chains clattering together.

A majestic head, bound by thirty-six chains of black iron, slowly rose!

Xiang Yu's real skull!

The head had its eyes closed, yet it exuded a terrifying pressure that sent shivers down one's spine, as if even the surrounding air had frozen.

"because."

Wang Wujiang's voice suddenly rose, and he stared at Xiang Yu's head with almost fanaticism, laughing loudly:

"Only your bloodline can awaken the deepest secret of the King's skull!"

"Only then, when the spiritual energy revives three years later, will I be able to completely control Xiang Yu's true skull, overcome the Nascent Soul tribulation, and break through to the Nascent Soul stage in one fell swoop!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly bit his tongue, and a mouthful of blood gushed out!

"Buzz!"

The blood mist condensed rapidly in the air, transforming into two intricate and mysterious blood-red runes.

Wang Wujiang's hand gestures changed, and two streaks of blood shot out.
A brand was imprinted on Xiang Yu's forehead!

A line disappeared into the golden pattern on Hua Qingshuang's forehead!

In the shadows, Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply as he took in everything.
Deep within the secret realm, a resonance from Xiang Yu's head suddenly resounded, as if a hidden bloodline extended from the void, subtly connecting Hua Qingshuang's golden core with Xiang Yu's head.

"what did you do to me?!"

Hua Qingshuang murmured softly, her pretty face covered in frost.

The joy of the initial formation of the Golden Elixir instantly froze.

She felt an unbearable burning pain on the golden mark on her forehead, and the golden core inside her body began to tremble uncontrollably, creating a strange resonance with the head of Xiang Yu.

Even now, she is unable to move her body, and the golden core in her dantian is covered with blood-red patterns.

"Don't worry! You are the future hope of my Wang family. How could I bear to hurt you? Everything I have done is beneficial and harmless to you."

Seeing that the connection was established, Wang Wujiang was delighted and stood with his hands behind his back, saying, "You should focus on your cultivation, stabilize your Golden Core realm, and be sure to deepen your resonance with Xiang Yu's head."

Three years from now, when spiritual energy revives, the seeds we sow today will surely bear a heaven-reaching fruit.

After saying this, he ignored Hua Qingshuang's angry glare, closed his eyes to sense, and the blood-red runes formed by his essence blood formed a hidden link between Hua Qingshuang's golden core and Xiang Yu's head. A smile of determination appeared on his lips.

Suddenly, a crimson jade talisman flew out from his sleeve, transforming into thirty-six blood-red chain phantoms in mid-air, echoing the chains binding Xiang Yu's head.

A chilling wind suddenly rose within the secret realm, and Xiang Yu's tightly closed eyes trembled slightly. His domineering aura and spiritual power were incredibly intense, and a wisp of black and red malevolent energy flowed back along the bloodline to nourish Hua Qingshuang's golden core.

Upon seeing this, Wang Wujiang burst into loud laughter: "Excellent! The Hua family bloodline is indeed destined by Heaven! The Overlord is pleased!"

Immediately, he flicked his finger, shattering the remnants of the crimson jade talisman, and turned to shout towards the stone gate, "Anren, come in and protect Miss Hua well. There must be no mishaps."

The stone gate swung open with a roar, and an elder in black robes bowed as he entered. Wang Wujiang glanced meaningfully at the golden mark on Hua Qingshuang's forehead, then flicked his sleeve to close the stone gate, resealing Xiang Yu's head behind it before leaving.

Hua Qingshuang stared intently at Wang Wujiang's back, the strange suction force emanating from his golden core sending chills down her spine.

She gripped her sleeve tightly, a resolute glint flashing deep in her double pupils.

Just then, the gate to the secret realm slammed shut again.

The dome of the secret passage suddenly twisted for a moment, and a familiar divine thought entered Hua Qingshuang's sea of ​​consciousness:
"Peak Master, do not be alarmed, Wuji is here!"

"Wuji?!" Hua Qingshuang's heart skipped a beat. "You're actually here?"

She immediately sensed the slight restlessness of the Dream-Attracting Worm within her body, which was using its divine sense to probe the condition of her Golden Core and Bloodline.

Hua Qingshuang understood immediately and relaxed, allowing Zhao Wuji to investigate.

This unusual activity should have alerted the secret realm's restrictions.
However, Zhao Wuji, who was already familiar with the formation here, quietly suppressed them with his array formation technique.

The array patterns had just begun to ripple when he casually smoothed them out.

"Thankfully, there's no immediate danger."

Just as Zhao Wuji was pondering, the spiritual waves stirred up by the array technique startled Elder Wang Shouyun, who had just entered the secret realm.

"Ok?"

The instant Wang Shouyun turned around!

"Crack!"

In the shadow of the stone wall, Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the Dream Marriage Technique poured out like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing Wang Shouyun!
"who!?"

Wang Shouyun was shocked, and the Overlord Contract in his consciousness suddenly erupted with blood-red light.

However, a phantom image of Xiang Yu suddenly appeared on Zhao Wuji's face.

With its double pupils wide open in anger, the blood patterns in its consciousness instantly crumbled inch by inch under the suppression of this illusory head.

"Unrestrained!"

Upon seeing Zhao Wuji, Hua Qingshuang's face immediately lit up with joy, but then she was somewhat astonished.

Because the person standing in front of her at this moment was not Zhao Wuji, but Wang Zheng.

"It's you?! Young Master."

Wang Shouyun was greatly shocked and astonished.

Zhao Wuji used his left hand to perform the Tongyou Incantation, and the Yin spirits stirred up like a gust of yin wind. With his right hand, he used a golden needle with a ghostly blue light from the talisman water technique to pierce the elder's crown.

Just as the ghost was about to struggle, it was forcibly locked in place by the blood-red threads wrapped around the needle's tail.

"Ugh!!"

Wang Shouyun's spirit trembled violently. Before he could struggle, three more hissing sounds rang out. The three vital acupoints on the back of his head, Yuzhen (the occipital bone), and Dazhui (the cervical vertebra) had been nailed shut by the golden needles controlled by the talismanic water technique.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the two Blood Gu Insect Kings burrowed into the seven orifices and roamed through the meridians, devouring the spirit.

As the needle trembled, Wang Shouyun's pupils dilated, and his last bit of clarity was shattered by the Nirvana Sword Intent pulsating from the needle tip. He stood frozen in place like a puppet, his black robe fluttering without wind.

"you"

Hua Qingshuang stood frozen, staring at the 'Wang Zheng' before her with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.
His aura and demeanor were completely different from his usual self!
"Peak Master, it's me."

Zhao Wuji's divine sense arrived again, accompanied by the familiar restlessness of the Dream-Attracting Worm within her body. Hua Qingshuang finally confirmed the true identity of the person before her.

"Unrestrained."

Her tense nerves relaxed slightly, and she couldn't care less about the mystery of this transformation technique. She immediately used her divine sense to urgently ask:

"My golden core was just beginning to form, but it was controlled by the patriarch using a secret technique! This technique actually connected my essence, energy, and spirit to the head of Xiang Yu."

A hint of surprise flashed in Hua Qingshuang's eyes: "What's even more terrifying is that the patriarch used his blood essence as a catalyst to link the three of us together. I suspect..."

"He wants to merge the three of us into one!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji's expression changed drastically, and he immediately stepped forward, saying, "Let me see what's going on."

He thought to himself: Wang Wujiang has revealed his true intentions, but he hasn't really made his move yet.

According to him, the spiritual energy will revive in three years.
That would be the real opportunity for the other side to make their move against Hua Qingshuang!
But these three years were also a torment for Hua Qingshuang, a time when Wang Wujiang was laying out his chess pieces.

The course of the game unfolded exactly as the Qilin Sword Sect had predicted.

The only difference is
Although the Qilin Sword Sect knew that the Wang family had something to scheme for, they failed to see through Wang Wujiang's true intentions. Now, Zhao Wuji has glimpsed some of the secrets behind it.

Even if he cannot decipher Wang Wujiang's secret technique at this moment, he can still send the information back to the Qilin Sword Sect and ask the sect's seniors for help.

This perfectly fulfilled the agreement with the Qilin Sword Sect—to find out Wang Wujiang's true intentions!
Thinking of this, Zhao Wuji slowly stepped forward.

Suddenly, the phantom image of Xiang Yu's head appeared on his face, and his eyes transformed into double pupils as he carefully examined Hua Qingshuang's internal condition.

"you"

Hua Qingshuang was taken aback at first, and then her usually cold and aloof face blushed slightly.

Although he knew in his heart that the person in front of him was Zhao Wuji
But being stared at so closely by Wang Zheng's face still made her feel indescribably awkward and embarrassed.

Meanwhile, outside the royal family compound, in the desolate wilderness near the capital of the Xuanming Dynasty, withered trees and gnarled branches rustled in the night wind.

Hua Lengyun, his black robes fluttering, stood with his hands behind his back, the outline of Balong Mountain reflected in his double pupils.

Beside him, a cloaked figure with restrained sword intent gazed in the direction of Balong Mountain. He sighed and slowly raised an old face from under his cloak, revealing himself to be Mo Wenjian of the Qilin Sword Sect.

"Brother Leng Yun."

Mo Wenjian shook his head and said, "Now that your daughter has achieved the Golden Core, Wang Wujiang's 'Six Dragons Paying Homage to the King' plan is about to be officially launched."

Brother Leng Yun, you've been lying low for so many years, are you planning to continue being a coward? As far as I know, you must have some plans in secret.”

"Humph!"

Hua Lengyun's black robe billowed, and within three zhang of him, fallen leaves instantly froze into ice crystals and fell. "Your Qilin Sword Sect's reach is too far."

His double pupils swept across the distant outline of Balong Mountain, his voice like the clash of cold iron: "I don't know when you started paying attention to the position and preparations of my Hua Clan, but what does our plan have to do with your Qilin Sword Sect?"

Your Heavenly Sword Master is still conserving his energy to avoid the end of the Dharma, and your ancestor will not leave seclusion early for me.

If we act now, I, Hua, will only serve as a pawn, cannon fodder, to scout ahead for you!

Mo Wenjian was momentarily speechless, then shook his head and chuckled: "It seems you know better than anyone that now is not the right time to make a move."

The probing look in his eyes faded: "I was overthinking it."

His tone suddenly shifted, tinged with amusement: "However..."

"If you didn't come here to fight, why did you risk leaving the mass grave at the border and sneaking back to this area?"

His eyes flickered slightly. "Could it be..."

"Just to watch your daughter Jindan being controlled?"

"This is not a good thing. Doesn't it hurt your heart to see this? You, Hua Lengyun, may have a cold name and a cold personality, but your heart is not cold."

"enough!"

Hua Lengyun spoke in a low voice, her eyes flashing with a sharp light, "I know some of Wang Wujiang's plans. I've come to confirm that I will save my daughter myself, however..."

He suddenly looked at Mo Wenjian, his eyes sharp, "We need to use the people your Qilin Sword Sect has planted in the Wang family."

(End of this chapter)