Immortals of the End Times

Several days later, news of the Red-Eyed Demon King and the Thirteen Demon Princes' demise swept across the states like a hurricane, its spread far exceeding expectations.

Outside the gate of the Qilin Sword Sect, a group of independent cultivators thronged around the notice board, eager to read the demon-slaying battle report issued by the sect.

Someone exclaimed, "Zhao Jianzi, at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, has consecutively slain a late-stage Golden Core demon and a Golden Core demon prince. Such a feat is rare even in an era of abundant spiritual energy!"

Within the Thirteen Markets, the Sword Sect cultivators spread the word, making the scene of Zhao Wuji, the First Sword Master, fighting the Crimson-Eyed Demon King alone even more astonishing.

"With that single sword strike, the sky darkened, and the sun and moon lost their light! As the demon king's head flew up, a beam of blood shot into the sky for a thousand miles!"

"The sword light split apart, like a cascading galaxy. The demon king couldn't even withstand it for half a breath before being beheaded!"

The cultivators in the area were deeply shaken and turned their heads to look.

"Master Zhao, you are actually this powerful?"

"It's so scary, so scary!"

Previously, although Zhao Wuji overpowered all the heroes in the Qilin Sword Tournament and seized the position of the number one swordsman with the force of a dragon crossing the river, it was ultimately just an internal power struggle within the sect and could not be considered as truly awe-inspiring throughout the land.

Compared to swordsmen like Kong Jingxian who slay demons and monsters and accumulate great military achievements, his seniority is still shallow and his prestige has not yet been truly established.

But now, all the disciples of the Sword Sect have come to a deeper understanding of the First Sword Master's abilities—his sword should not have shone only on these thirteen peaks.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji's past achievements were also brought up, such as joining forces with Wentian Sword Lord to kill Wang Wujiang, the head of the Wang family, and slaying the Pig Demon King.

In a short time, the name of Tian Qilin of the Qilin Sword Sect became increasingly renowned.

Zhongzhou Baiyu Sword Tower.

The majestic white jade pavilion stands atop the sea of ​​clouds.

Inside one of the white jade pavilions, which was entirely carved from Xuanbing jade, several elders dressed in snow silk silver sword robes stood on both sides, holding intelligence jade slips, their expressions solemn.

The head elder sat in the main seat, with a three-foot-long ancient sword that slayed dragons floating behind him. The sword was wrapped in wisps of oppressive power, causing the spiritual energy in the entire pavilion to stagnate like iron.

"Zhao Wuji has risen to prominence in just half a year, yet he was able to borrow the power of Xiang Yu's true head to slay a demon king and kill a demon prince!"

Moreover, his skill in splitting sword light has surpassed that of Kong Jingxian. In the future, he may become a major threat to our sect's disciples in their conquest of the Ancient Sword Domain.”

The chief elder pondered for a moment, then a sword token suddenly flew out from his sleeve and hovered in the center of the celestial map: "Issue my sword decree."

The entire pavilion instantly lit up with three thousand sword patterns, transforming into an ultra-long-distance communication array: "Immediately contact the Immortal Saint Sect and preside over the restart of the Nine Provinces' First Sword Cultivator Tournament!"

He pointed his fingers like a sword, and a white light cleaved through the sea of ​​clouds. "This time, we will not only determine the number of sword domains, but also... cut off the edge of the Qilin Sword Sect!"

Upon hearing this, the elders were all shaken. Was the Nine Provinces' Number One Sword Cultivator Tournament about to begin?
In the battle for immortality, those with swordsmanship must fight!
Now that Zhao Wuji has slain the Demon King and gained great fame, he is destined to compete with the world's top swordsmen at this sword cultivator tournament!

The contest between swordsmen is not about recklessness, but about sharpness!

At this moment, the White Jade Sword Tower initiated the restart of the Nine Provinces' Number One Sword Cultivator Tournament, not out of fear.

Instead, the goal is to seize this opportune moment to severely weaken the many Qilin Sword Masters of the Qilin Sword Sect, paving the way for the future Ancient Sword Domain.

The states beyond Hebei.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, and a blood moon hung in the sky.

A demonic palace stands atop the towering Bone Mountain, its entire body cast from Netherworld Iron, its surface covered with scarlet demonic patterns that writhe and exhale malevolent energy like living creatures.

For miles outside the palace, not a blade of grass grows; only countless wronged souls are chained to the rock walls, wailing and turning into fuel to nourish the demonic flames.

Inside the hall, twelve dragon-shaped demonic pillars supported the dome, their shafts wrapped with the dried corpses of cultivators whose life essence had been drained.

The Bone Demon Lord sat high on the Xuanbing Throne, beneath which stood an altar made of ninety-nine skulls of Nascent Soul demonic beasts and Golden Core cultivators, trembling with rage.

"Crack! Crack!"

The message talisman exploded between the Demon Lord's fingers, and the demonic soul imprisoned within was instantly devoured by demonic fire.

The demonic flames inside the hall suddenly surged three zhang (approximately 10 meters), melting the Yin Marrow crystals suspended in mid-air into poisonous mist.

Several kneeling demonic cultivators inadvertently inhaled the inhalation, and their flesh and blood immediately rotted away, turning into bones.

"How dare a mere junior slay my general and demon prince!"

The Demon Lord grinned maliciously, and spiderweb-like blood-red demonic patterns appeared on his pale face.

He slammed his fist on the armrest of the throne, causing the entire palace's earth veins to tremble and creating a bottomless pool of blood below. The splattered blood corroded the remaining palace walls, creating numerous holes.

"Wait until the spiritual energy is fifty percent stronger!"

The Demon Lord rose, his black robes billowing as he stirred up the Netherworld winds. "I will join forces with other Demon Lords to revitalize the Netherworld and personally lead the campaign against Beiyun. At that time, I will also take the opportunity to strip this boy of his golden core and refine his banner! I will extract his soul to light a lamp!"

The demonic cultivators under his command trembled and crawled on the ground. One of them accidentally struck the bone bell at his waist and was immediately grabbed by the demon lord from a distance, his head exploding.

The others pressed themselves firmly against the ground, their foreheads freezing into ice before the cold sweat could even fall.

This demon lord, who ruled over the states beyond the river for a thousand years, had already cultivated his supreme demonic arts by sacrificing hundreds of thousands of living beings during the Dharma-ending Age.

Now lying low, waiting for a time when spiritual energy flourishes... to open the Nine Netherworld Demon Gate and wash the mortal world in blood.

Inside the Penglai Sword Pavilion in the East Sea, Huang Shang's jade tablet turned into dust.

"What a Zhao Wuji..."

He glanced at Yan Lan, who was sitting upright in Mingxuan behind him, and said coldly, "I really underestimated this boy's growth rate. No wonder even Xinghe has placed his bet on him."

However, don't expect him to come and save you later.

The only person you can rely on is yourself.

"If you cannot help me find the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great within fifty years, then you and I should prepare to go to the Yellow Springs together!"

"Who wants to go to the underworld with you, you old coffin stuffer!"

Yan Lan snorted coldly, surrounded by seven small swords suspended in mid-air, their tips emitting a cold light, clearly trying to comprehend some profound sword technique. She said sarcastically.

"Don't worry, I'll find the Great Yu Cauldron before you die. Then you can save your Ghost Heaven and Earth, and I'll go find my good nephew for a drink!"

She said this aloud, but inwardly she was surprised, wondering what great thing her junior apprentice had done this time, but it seemed to be something good.

Huang Shang was used to her sharp tongue. He sneered and walked out of Mingxuan with his hunched figure, which was shrouded in a heavy sense of twilight. The setting sun outside the corridor was like blood.

There is not much time left for him.

Two months passed in a blink of an eye.

While cultivators across the land were still discussing the heroic feat of slaying the demon king with the "Heavenly Qilin" sword, Zhao Wuji had already gone into seclusion to cultivate within the Pot Heaven Space.

Over the past two months, he has not only repeatedly refined the Crimson-Eyed Demon King's blood-red inner core.

Using the Crimson-Eyed Demon King's single eye as the main ingredient, supplemented with dozens of rare and precious medicinal herbs, they successfully refined a batch of Crimson-Eyed Pills.

When the elixir was completed, crimson clouds filled the sky within the cauldron, and a phantom of a lion demon seemed to roar within the furnace.

In the end, it condensed into nine blood-red pills, with golden patterns hidden on the surface and radiating a scorching aura.

"This pill contains the power of the Crimson Eyes. Taking it can greatly enhance the power of the double pupils, and may even allow one to unleash a pillar of destructive light like that Crimson Eyes Demon King."

"If this supernatural power is combined with swordsmanship techniques that use the eyes as swords..."

Zhao Wuji made a hand seal and used the pill-manipulating technique. He lightly touched the pill and immediately felt a burning sensation in his eyes. Deep within his double pupils, he seemed to see crimson flames flowing, indicating that he had already analyzed and discerned the effects of the pill.

In addition, the slaying of the Crimson-Eyed Demon King, who was in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, finally deciphered the demon-slaying technique within his third Yang Pearl.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji's gaze was fixed on the alchemy furnace in front of him.

The inner core of the Crimson-Eyed Demon King in the furnace had turned into liquid and was gradually condensed into a black and white pill under the alternating tempering of the flames.

He made a hand seal with his sword fingers, and the cold flames at the bottom of the furnace suddenly turned blazing, and nine mysterious patterns immediately appeared on the surface of the pill.

"Congeal!"

With a soft shout, the pill burst from the furnace and slowly rotated, hovering three inches from the palm of the hand.

The elixir has undergone nine cycles of refinement, achieving a balance of Yin and Yang, resulting in a Nine-Cycle Yin-Yang Elixir that is even more refined than the previous one.

"Made from the inner core of a demon king in the late Golden Core stage, it is indeed extraordinary." The pill pattern reflected in Zhao Wuji's double pupils faintly formed the shape of a lion demon roaring to the sky. He couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly. "Even if this pill cannot help my martial arts cultivation break through to the mid-Golden Core stage, it can at least greatly shorten my cultivation time."

He flipped his hand to put away the precious pill, and his gaze swept over the Star River Daoist who was sitting cross-legged and meditating in the formation not far away.

At this moment, Xinghe Daoren had fully adapted to the body of the Thirteen Demon Sons. His demonic energy subsided, replaced by a righteous stellar power from the Xuanmen sect.

"How is your recovery, fellow Daoist?" Zhao Wuji asked casually.

Xinghe Daoist opened his eyes, his eyes sparkling with starlight, and cupped his hands in a smile, saying, "Thanks to the physical body provided by Fellow Daoist Zhao, I have now stabilized my early Golden Core cultivation, and the Xuantian Sect's 'Zhou Tian Xing Dou Jue' has also recovered some of its power."

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly and said no more.

"Condensation!"

Zhao Wuji made a hand seal with his sword fingers, and the Nine-Turn Yin-Yang Pill transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the jade box. Then, he flicked his finger and the Crimson Eye Pill flew into his mouth like blood jade.

"boom!!"

The moment the pill entered his throat, his whole body trembled violently, and his eyes seemed to fall into a molten hell.

The blazing power of the pill exploded from his throat, transforming into thousands of fire snakes that shot straight into his eyes.

His eyes instantly became bloodshot, and two lines of bloody tears seeped from the corners of his eyes.

"Humph!"

He groaned, veins bulging on his neck, his hands flashing like phantoms as he formed hand seals.

The ingestion technique's spiritual patterns bloomed in his palm, transforming into a yin-yang symbol, which he pressed against his temples to forcibly refine the raging pill power.

"Zizzizi!"

A dark gold hue spread from the depths of the pupils, and sparks flew as the eyelids opened and closed.

The once blood-red double pupils now resembled two furnaces, with crimson magma churning inside, each tremor distorting the surrounding air.

"open!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly roared and opened his eyes.

"boom!!"

Two thick, crimson beams of light shot out from his eyes, causing the void to twist and explode wherever they passed.

The edges of the beam of light were wrapped with dark marks, like two evil dragons tearing open the barrier of the heavens and burning holes about ten feet long in the edge of the restriction.

The pierced barrier was as red as a branding iron, and it burned for more than ten breaths before slowly healing.

"What!?"

Inside the formation, Xinghe Daoist's face paled in horror, and he gripped his clothes tightly.

Even though he couldn't see the specific situation through the barrier, he could still feel the destructive aura contained in the beams of light shooting from Zhao Wuji's eyes.

"Good guy!"

The old Taoist's voice trembled, his eyes reflecting the pair of dark golden pupils in the distance: "This Fellow Daoist Tiannan has actually refined the Demon King's divine power into his innate pupil technique."

"This Crimson Eye Pill actually allowed me to comprehend the Crimson Eye One-Eyed Divine Power with just one pill!"
It seems my food-consuming technique's refining effect is too strong.

Zhao Wuji's eyes were like those of someone immersed in magma, with crimson flames seemingly surging deep within his dark golden pupils.

If the remaining pills are refined, it might even stimulate the awakening of a stronger pupil technique within Xiang Yu's double pupils.

"The Peak Master's double pupil realm is also very high. If he takes this pill, he should also be able to master the Crimson Eye Divine Power."

He rolled up his sleeves, took out four Crimson Eye Pills, sealed them in a cold jade box, and left them to be given to Hua Qingshuang later.

The remaining five were lined up in a row, hovering in front of him.

"Refining!"

Zhao Wuji made a hand seal with his sword fingers, and five Crimson Eye Pills flew into his mouth at the same time.

"boom!"

The moment the pill entered his stomach, his whole body trembled violently, and his eyes turned as if molten lava had been poured into them, his dark golden pupils instantly turning blood red.

Deep within the pupils, two intertwined lines appeared.

A blood moon, as domineering as Xiang Yu's double pupils, appeared; a destructive blood light, like that of a red-eyed demon king, appeared!
"The 'Heaven-Burning' technique within Xiang Yu's double pupils was actually activated to a trace."

With a thought, the blood moon in his pupils transformed into a flowing crimson-gold light.

As far as the eye could see, the air twisted and boiled, and clusters of spiritual fire suddenly ignited out of thin air!

"Excellent! Once Xiang Yu's true head is completely refined in the future, perhaps the unparalleled ferocity of 'Double Pupils Burning the Heavens' can truly be reproduced."

The crimson-gold light in Zhao Wuji's eyes gradually faded, and he took out the newly refined Nine-Turn Yin-Yang Pill.

The pill slowly rotated in his palm.

The black and white energies intertwined like swimming dragons, and the nine mysterious patterns on the surface faintly revealed the phantom of a lion demon.

"It's time to break through to a higher realm."

His gaze was intense as he lightly stroked the pill pattern with his fingertips: "If this pill is not powerful enough, then use Yin Marrow to make the third Yin Pearl perfect, thus achieving a double tempering of the body!"
At that time, his martial arts cultivation might be able to advance directly to the mid-stage of the Golden Core True Form realm!

"Gudong!"

The moment the pill entered the mouth, the Yin and Yang energies within the Pot Heaven space suddenly boiled!

"boom!!"

The immense medicinal power erupted like a volcano, and the violent medicinal energy exploded from the throat, transforming into thousands of fire snakes that surged towards the limbs and bones.

The three golden cores within Zhao Wuji's body trembled violently at the same time, and his dantian and qi sea surged like boiling water.

The dragon scale patterns on the surface of the Blood Fiend Golden Pill suddenly shone brightly.

The true forms of the dragon and the evil pig broke free from the golden core's restraints, transforming into two streams of blood-red light that surged and roared through the meridians.

The sounds of dragons roaring and pigs howling intertwined, causing a buzzing or humming sensation throughout the body's acupoints.

"Click! Click! Click!"

The bones crackled like thunder, and jade-colored marrow light emanated from the bone cavity.

Golden lines spread wildly between the flesh and blood, each muscle fiber was taut like a fully drawn bowstring, and fine, scale-like pale golden lines appeared on the skin surface.

"laugh!"

Zhao Wuji's full head of black hair moved without wind, and the ends of his hair emitted a crystal-clear spiritual energy, bursting out fine sword energy that tore the surrounding air apart with transparent cracks like a spider web.

The martial arts elixir burns fiercely like a furnace, its flames scorching the meridians until they glow red.

The spiritual energy golden core and the inner vision golden core transformed into a yin-yang vortex, devouring the dissipated energy of the core.

The inner landscape began to solidify, and the Gate of Mystery creaked and trembled under the impact of violent energy.

Where the three dantians meet, crimson demonic energy erupts like a volcano.

A crimson-eyed lion demon phantom roared to the sky amidst the pill fire; it was the remnant essence and blood left over from refining the demon king's inner core.

However, Zhao Wuji could clearly sense that the speed at which the Blood Fiend Golden Core was trembling and growing was still insufficient, and the degree of physical strengthening was still inadequate!

"If that's not enough, then add another raging fire!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his divine sense suddenly locked onto the third Yin Pearl.

The three Yin marrows that had been prepared beforehand, along with the thirty thousand Yin energies that had been accumulated for a long time, were all activated at this moment.

The Yin Pearl steals life!

(End of this chapter)