Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 25: The Art of Qi Restriction, A Reclusive Master
It was the beginning of winter, and a round, cold moon, like a goose egg, was surrounded by delicate wisps of clouds, its pale, cool light illuminating the Vermilion Bird River in the Golden Palace City.

Inside a private residence near the riverbank.

Zhao Wuji sat by the window, facing the lamplight, and thoroughly deciphered the incantation within the small bowl, a sacred artifact of the Supreme Sect.

"Water and fire, dragon and tiger, yin and yang, nine cycles of cultivation completed, the golden elixir is formed upon knocking on the gate."

With the final incantation fully understood, the third set of tadpole-like characters on Zhao Wuji's first Yin Pearl was also illuminated.

Numerous spells, incantations, key points, and insights quickly surfaced in his mind.

"The Qi Restriction of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Techniques (Beginner's Guide: 0/100)"

"Another method has been added to protect the path."

Zhao Wuji carefully comprehended the technique and realized that, like other techniques, this Qi-restricting technique had different effects at different levels.

For example, Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty regarded it as a kind of qi circulation method, believing that its method was "to control it with qi".

Currently, beginners can use their skills to create long ropes or walls of energy to imprison their targets.

Or one can channel their energy into the body's surface to form an invisible armor that can protect against weapons and temporarily isolate one from water and fire.

When cultivated to a high level, one can cure poisons and heal wounds, and even seal the spirit and lock the meridians to immobilize the enemy's body.

Zhao Wuji was quite satisfied at this moment.

The first Yin Pearl contains four Earthly Fiend Techniques, three of which have already been deciphered: Manipulating Pills, Connecting with the Netherworld, and Restricting Qi.

The fourth type of marriage dream may also have a chance to be solved in the future.

He composed himself, his gaze falling on the sacred bowl in his hand, considering what to do with it next.

He had been studying this sacred artifact of the Supreme Sect for some time.

Aside from the fact that its incantation can activate the Earthly Fiend Technique, it has no other special features and does not store any spiritual energy.

As for the so-called "Supreme Technique" in the bowl, it is actually a Taoist cultivation method that draws spiritual energy to cultivate, leading directly to the Golden Core Path, and it is also accompanied by several minor techniques.

However, cultivation requires complicated steps such as consecration with holy water from the Supreme Sect, which is a huge step compared to the Earthly Fiend Guiding Technique.

"Try driving it and see the effect. If there's nothing surprising, then secretly take it to test Zhixia's reaction."

Zhao Wuji channeled a stream of spiritual energy into the sacred artifact bowl, and the entire bowl immediately radiated spiritual light.

The relief carvings of the Big Dipper and flowing cloud patterns on the outer wall seem to come alive, shining brightly.

The pattern inside the bowl, resembling a yin-yang symbol, began to rotate on its own. Fine red and blue lines appeared on the rim of the bowl, corresponding to the yin and yang meridians in the human body, accompanied by vivid incantations, as if guiding people in cultivation.

at the same time.

In the antique-style boudoir of the Nan family mansion, Nan Zhixia was listening to her maid talk about her future son-in-law's recent situation.

Upon learning that Zhao Wuji had refined two more batches of Golden Spear Fiery Pills, attracting some wandering poets and dandies in the city to offer high prices for them, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. He shook his head helplessly, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"It's good that he didn't go to the Rime Cave to look for the Moon Dew Grass."

Some time ago, after risking exposure to test Zhao Wuji, she had actually decided to give up on trying to pry open her fiancé's mouth and find clues about Protector Xu.

Because she also realized that Zhao Wuji was very clever.

Even if he knew something, for his own safety, and perhaps even for her safety, he would never reveal any information about the Supreme Sect.

She once said that there was moon dew grass inside the rime cave, hoping to lure Zhao Wuji out of the city so that she could personally take action, intimidate him, and force her fiancé to reveal the information.

But now, she has gradually come to accept things as they are, no longer willing to do anything to hurt Wuji, and is preparing to find other ways.

Just then, she suddenly noticed the Ye Ling Sword at her waist trembling slightly, faintly emitting an attractive and summoning aura.

"A sacred artifact!?"

Nan Zhixia's eyes changed slightly. She pretended to be nonchalant and dismissed the maid beside her. Then she quickly went into the inner room and disappeared behind a hidden door.

Inside the courtyard by the Vermilion Bird River, Zhao Wuji was observing the changes in the sacred artifact, the small bowl, trying to find something of benefit to himself from this magical artifact and squeeze out its last bit of value.

Suddenly, his powerful spiritual senses detected something amiss.

An unusual, suppressed spiritual energy seemed to awaken within the bowl.

A fragmented scene suddenly flashed into my mind.

On an ancient and oppressive high platform, a woman dressed in a pure white cloak sat cross-legged, her face indistinct, surrounded by spiritual energy, silently chanting a supreme incantation while making hand seals.

Below the high platform, a large number of people prostrated themselves on the ground, chanting the name of the Supreme Holy Mother, creating a solemn and awe-inspiring scene.

"The Supreme Holy Mother!?" He was shocked and quickly cut off the transmission of spiritual energy.

However, the image in his mind had barely faded when the spiritual light in the bowl remained undiminished, and the awakening energy within it surged forth even more rapidly.

Zhao Wuji swiftly formed hand seals to unleash the Netherworld Connection Technique, his eyes radiating a powerful and intimidating aura. "Boom!—"

A faint sound seemed to erupt in the air, and the ripples that swept out of the bowl quickly disappeared.

"Who?"

A startled exclamation dissipated along with the ripple, and the small bowl fell onto the table with a 'pop,' its spiritual light dimming.

Zhao Wuji gave a light snort, and the layer of ghostly light protection formed by the Netherworld Technique to safeguard the soul dimmed a bit, almost collapsing.

"Was that... the divine thought of a cultivator? Or perhaps the Supreme Holy Mother?"

He stared at the small bowl on the table with a look of surprise, his eyes shifting.

If his ability to communicate with spirits hadn't already reached the initial stage, he probably would have been injured in that exchange.

"These great religions have all used underhanded methods to protect their sacred artifacts."

Zhao Wuji became alert, stroking the rim of the sacred artifact bowl, and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

This "hot potato" needs to be dealt with in a different way.

He took out a mask from his pocket, put it on his face, and darted out of the courtyard, appearing on the banks of the Vermilion Bird River, preparing to head towards the Southern Prefecture.

However, at that moment, his spiritual sense suddenly detected a familiar and powerful aura rapidly approaching his location.

"That aura belongs to the Supreme Sect's candidate saintess? Zhi Xia? She arrived so quickly!"

Zhao Wuji's eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes flickered slightly.

Suddenly, he swiftly placed the sacred bowl in his hand beside the grassy bank of the river, and with a leap, he darted like a ghost into the woods behind him, retreating rapidly.

Before long, a petite figure wearing a pink veil appeared on the riverbank and immediately spotted the sacred bowl placed on the grass.

However, her eyes were wary, and she did not immediately reach for the sacred artifact. Her sharp gaze suddenly swept towards the forest on one side, and as her aura fluctuated, her figure suddenly darted across the water and into the forest. She clenched her palm into a knife and casually unleashed an Ice Wind Palm Knife.

"Om-"

The powerful internal energy instantly transformed into a sharp and surging blade of energy, slashing down and splitting the large trees in the forest in an instant.

Click——!
The tree was instantly cleaved in two by a single stroke, its branches covered in frost, and its leaves shattered into ice crystals before they could even be shaken off.

A figure had already dodged ahead of time, flashing like a ghost behind another tree.

"Sneaky, come out!"

With a cold shout, the woman darted away, her robes billowing in the wind against her curvaceous body.

Her fingertips traced her waist, and a blue light, like a dragon emerging from the abyss, caused the Ye Ling Sword to tremble in mid-air, its hilt glowing brightly with the source crystal.

Suddenly, I heard the faint sound of incantations in my ears, and an alarm bell rang loudly.

But before she could unleash the Ye Ling Sword, she felt as if the surrounding air had suddenly solidified into walls, crushing and imprisoning her within.

"Spells!?"

Her expression changed drastically in horror, and she immediately activated the Ye Ling Sword, causing the ice crystals to condense into a seven-foot-long sword aura.

It instantly cut through and shattered the layers of air barriers, leaving the ground cracked like a spider web in its wake.

But the next moment, she suddenly realized that the powerful internal energy in her body was also starting to run wildly out of control, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground. Her body trembled violently, and she was in great pain.

In just a short while, the air transformed into tangible ripples of airflow, forming strands of air that entangled and seemed to trap her.

In this critical moment, Nan Zhixia could no longer conceal her full strength. With a sharp cry, the necklace around her neck instantly came undone, and her aura exploded.

Buzz! —

The Leaf Spirit Sword emitted a pale blue light, and abundant spiritual power flowed like a whirlwind to converge at the tip of the sword, instantly breaking through the layers of air chains.

"Zhixia!?"

Deep in the forest, Zhao Wuji's keen senses immediately detected the change in the aura of the candidate saintess opposite him, which turned out to be exactly the same as Nan Zhixia's.

Although the other person was wearing a veil and his face was not visible, and his body type was completely different, he was still able to make a general determination.

Just as he was about to unleash the sword pellet, he retracted it into his sleeve. His voice changed, and he adopted the air of a reclusive master, giving pointers to the impetuous junior in a condescending manner.

"Young lady, why be so aggressive? I was merely curious about your sacred artifact and wanted to take a look. I have no interest in it. Take the artifact and leave. Don't provoke me!"

Nan Zhixia paused after breaking free of the energy cord, both shocked and furious, realizing that she had provoked a powerful senior expert.

But in this degenerate age, besides the Imperial Preceptor and the Demon Queen, how could there be such a master hiding in the Imperial City?

Could it be that this person is not afraid of the chaotic, spiritless environment, causing their spiritual power to dissipate...?

(End of this chapter)