Immortals of the End Times

Time flies, and five years have passed in the blink of an eye.

High in the sky above the Tiannan Secret Realm, Zhao Wuji stood suspended in mid-air, his robes fluttering in the wind. Suddenly, he waved his sleeve, his hand gestures changing rapidly like lightning.

"No water!"

With a low shout, he suddenly unleashed the water-restricting technique that had only recently been deciphered.

Within the fourth layer of the array, the overwhelming, bone-chilling rain suddenly froze, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

Each raindrop shimmered with an eerie, dark blue light, radiating a chilling aura.

This rain is anything but ordinary!
Even a single drop will cause an instant, agonizing, and soul-consuming experience.

Even the protective aura of a Golden Core cultivator would be completely corroded within three breaths.

Even more terrifying is that this rainwater not only rots the human body, but can also penetrate the dantian through the meridians, turning the cultivator's primordial spirit into a pool of yin water!
Over the past two years, Zhao Wuji has experienced firsthand the devastating power of this bone-chilling rain.

If it weren't for his numerous life-saving techniques and medical skills that allowed him to recover quickly, he would have suffered severe injuries even if he hadn't died.

"Pray for clear skies!"

At this moment, Zhao Wuji dared not pause for a moment, and the Prayer for Clear Skies Technique, which he had deciphered and comprehended, followed closely behind.

In an instant, the thick, dark clouds that had covered the area for hundreds of miles receded like a tide, and the blazing sunlight pierced the sky like a sharp sword.

The frozen, bone-chilling rain hissed under the sunlight, then dissipated into wisps of smoke.

Pray for rain!

At that very moment of yin and yang transition, the rain-praying ritual was performed once more.

The dark clouds that had just dissipated regrouped with even greater ferocity, and rain poured down like silver needles.

But this time, every drop of rain followed some mysterious trajectory, intertwining and swirling in front of Zhao Wuji.

"Congeal!"

With a soft shout from Zhao Wuji, the rain suddenly stopped falling.

Through repeated tempering by the Yin and Yang energies, it eventually transformed into a three-inch-long, dark blue needle.

The moment the needle was released, the surrounding space distorted.

The chilling power flowing through the needle caused tiny ice crystals to condense in the air within a hundred feet radius.

"call!!"

Zhao Wuji breathed a long sigh of relief.

This Bone-Corroding Rain Needle is a supreme treasure of Yin energy, found at the eye of the fourth layer of the array.

If used against an enemy, just one needle would be enough to make even a Nascent Soul True Monarch's physical body suffer.

It's been five years!
After five long years, he finally broke through the fourth layer of the rainy weather formation.

Looking back five years ago, when he first broke through the third level of the Thunderclap Heavenly Array, he was almost annihilated by ten thousand bolts of lightning.

Afterwards, he secluded himself for two years to cultivate diligently. With the skill of breaking through all laws with a single sword, combined with the Qi-restricting technique and the Cloud-summoning technique, he finally broke through the Thunderclap Heaven and deciphered the Life-Generating Technique in the fourth Yang Pearl.

As a result, his swordsmanship improved greatly, evolving into lightning-fast and astonishing strikes.

unfortunately
The fourth Yang Pearl remained ununlocked, and despite possessing the Light-Generating Technique, it could not be used.

For the next two years, he both slayed demons and monsters to complete his sect's missions and cultivated diligently.

Sometimes they would come to the Tiannan Secret Realm to try to break through the fourth layer of the array on rainy days.

After the failures of the flow-cutting technique and the air-sealing technique.

He gradually gained insight from the gloomy rain and deciphered the three major earthly evil techniques within the Yin Pearl: water prohibition, clearing skies, and rain prayer.

Today, we finally broke through the fourth barrier and successfully passed through the fourth level!
And now, his cultivation in the immortal path has finally reached the threshold of breaking through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and he is about to break through.

Zhao Wuji lightly twirled and played with the Bone-Corroding Rain Needle between his fingertips. Under the gaze of his double pupils, the dark blue needle shimmered with a chilling light.

He suddenly made a hand seal and waved his sleeve.

The Soul-Devouring Wind Pearl from the first layer of the array arrived, hovering three inches above the left palm, its body emitting a jet-black gale.

"Call the wind and rain!"

As the incantation was activated.

The Soul-Devouring Wind Pearl trembled violently, while the Bone-Corroding Rain Needle emitted a bright, eerie light.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The black gale, like a malevolent dragon awakening, instantly transformed into a hundred-foot-long pitch-black tornado.

Countless fine rain needles spun rapidly in the eye of the storm, each one reflecting a chilling blue light.

Where the pitch-black, deep blue tornado passed, the void was eroded with spiderweb-like cracks.

One can imagine how astonishing its power is!
"Summoning clouds and thunder!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly made a grasping motion with his right palm.

The Bewitching Fan flew into his hand from the second layer of the array with a 'whoosh'.

With a thunderous boom, the Thunder Spear also pierced through the air from the third array eye.

The twelve feathers on the fan suddenly unfurled, and clouds and mist surged forth like a bursting dam, instantly covering an area of ​​dozens of miles.

The tip of the Thunder Spear surged with purple lightning, tearing through the clouds with streaks of thunder, and the booming thunder shook the secret realm.

"Summoning wind and rain, summoning clouds and drawing thunder—this is a combined destructive technique that I have comprehended by combining the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques with the treasures within the Four Great Array Curtains!"

Zhao Wuji coldly observed this earth-shattering scene.

The pitch-black gale was like a monstrous dragon soaring into the sky, and the dark blue rain needles were like a barrage of arrows.

The bewitching clouds and mist descended like a curtain from the sky, while purple lightning struck like divine punishment.

Four distinct celestial phenomena merged perfectly, creating a devastating force.

Its power far exceeds that of a single spell by more than ten times!
He suddenly felt the fourth Yang Bead between his eyebrows tremble slightly.

If the fourth Yang Pearl is unlocked, the lightning triggered by the Light-Generating Technique will be like a thunderbolt striking the earth, its power more than doubled.

He clenched his fist, and all the strange phenomena in the sky, like rivers flowing into the sea, were gathered into the four treasures at the core of the formation.

With a casual wave of his sleeve, the four treasures flew into the array's core, continuing to maintain the array's operation in the Tiannan Secret Realm and forming a protective barrier.

"The Peak Master should be collecting the third Yang Marrow for me soon, otherwise the only way out will be through the Qilin Sword Sect, but..."

Zhao Wuji shook his head slightly, truly unwilling to collect Yang Marrow through the channels of the Qilin Sword Sect.

After all, it concerns the Nine Yin Nine Yang Pearls.

Based on the clues collected so far, it is possible that a few powerful figures and top sects are aware of the existence of this pearl.

As one of the top nine sects in the Nine Provinces, the Qilin Sword Sect must also be aware of this.

Although he was the number one swordsman of the Qilin Sword Sect, Zhao Wuji dared not reveal anything about the Nine Yin Nine Yang Pearl, one of the seven great treasures of heaven and earth.

He made a hand seal and summoned a cloud, which carried his figure down from the cloud, making him appear as if a true immortal had descended to earth.

This is the simplest effect of the Cloud Summoning Technique. Currently, it can summon clouds within a radius of ten miles, forming a sky-covering and sun-obscuring force, like a giant hand pressing down on the universe.

The clouds can also change according to his will, and the thickest they can currently reach hundreds of feet.

The clouds can also conceal deadly intent, transforming into offensive tactics such as "cloud swords" and "cloud thunder," or forming a cloud barrier maze to trap enemies invisibly.

When one cultivates to the highest level, one can condense a somersault cloud and travel on it, covering 108,000 li in a single somersault.

Besides this cloud technique, the other techniques he deciphered and comprehended were also not simple.

The Rain Prayer spell can summon three grades of rain, and summoning ordinary rain can relieve drought.

It summons spiritual rain, imbued with spiritual energy, which can nourish all things.

It summons malevolent rain, containing yin and evil energy that can corrode bones and destroy souls. It can also transform into "rain arrows" that pierce through gold and shatter rocks, and form "rain curtains" to trap and kill powerful enemies.

The range of the spell can be controlled at will, the duration depends on one's cultivation level, and the intensity of the rain can be determined in a single thought.

The Water-Binding Technique, at its minor level, can stabilize the flow of rivers, while at its major level, it can even sever the spiritual energy of water in the world, creating a 'waterless barrier' in aquatic environments, making it difficult even for dragon kings to control water.

It can also break water-based restrictions and suppress all water-attribute techniques.

The Prayer for Clear Skies technique can dispel various gloomy and poisonous energies, draw upon pure Yang energy, and suppress evil spirits and demonic arts.

These four techniques may not be powerful on their own.

However, when used in combination, it can create the power of 'celestial rotation'.

Summoning clouds and gathering rain, turning rain into swords, blocking water flow, and burning the sky to pray for clear skies.

What may seem like ordinary celestial phenomena techniques actually contain the secrets to manipulating creation, allowing one to grasp the changes of the heavens and the power of the universe.

Zhao Wuji descended gracefully on a cloud, his robes fluttering as the myna bird Xiong Ba flapped its wings with a "caw," its dark feathers gleaming with a metallic sheen in the sunlight.

After circling him three times, it landed steadily on his shoulder and affectionately nuzzled his cheek.

After more than five years of arduous cultivation in this Tiannan Secret Realm, this silly bird has actually reached the ninth level of Qi Induction. A faint golden light emanates from the edge of its beak, clearly indicating that it is only one step away from the Concentration Realm.

The little jade fox has undergone a complete transformation, growing much larger. Its five pale purple tails dance like wheels, and cloud patterns formed by demonic energy flow around the tips of its fur. It is now a great demon at the peak of the early stage of the Condensation Realm, only a step away from the middle stage.

Even that cowardly tiger from back then is now majestically dozing under the demon tree, its black and yellow fur faintly showing tiger stripes, and its Qi-inducing level eight aura rising and falling with its snores.

Thanks to the opportune moment of spiritual energy revival, the semi-depleted level-four spiritual vein within the Tiannan Secret Realm has now fully recovered its magnificent grandeur.

A misty haze enveloped the valley, and the spring water gurgled and tinkled.

Even the cracks in the rocks sprouted glistening medicinal herbs.

Even more surprisingly, the spiritual veins within the First Heavenly Vein Space advanced on their own within five years, transforming into Level 4 spiritual veins as well.

In this way, he would essentially possess two level-four spiritual veins all by himself.

If we include the Wang family's ancestral vein, which has been restored to level five spiritual veins.

Nine years have passed since the revival of spiritual energy, and this land has finally regained its former prosperity, with "spiritual rain nourishing all things and purple aura coming from the east."

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back under the demon tree, watching the spiritual mist rising from the secret realm.

Suddenly, he made a hand seal, and the spiritual patterns of the Beast Gathering Technique and Bird Taming Technique intertwined and flowed at his fingertips, transforming into profound runes that were then injected into the bodies of the two beasts and the bird.

In an instant, the little jade fox's five tails emitted a shimmering, clear light.

The cowardly tiger's fur revealed black and yellow demonic stripes.

The edges of the myna bird's wings were even plated with a layer of gold.

Under the influence of magic, the demonic power of the three beings circulated spontaneously, and their cultivation levels subtly improved.

"go."

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhao Wuji sent three jade slips into their claws and beaks. “Go to Tianmeng Prefecture and the vicinity of Xirong Xue Prefecture, infiltrate the demon ranks, and find out the recent movements of the Demon Alliance, especially the whereabouts of the Old Demon Bone Nether.” In recent years, the Demon Alliance has risen to prominence, uniting thousands of demons and monsters from the states beyond the river, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the righteous cultivators of the Nine Provinces.

His forces are numerous powerful demons and demonic cultivators, with each demon king occupying a mountain stronghold. They devise insidious schemes to ambush demon-slaying cultivators across the Nine Provinces, and have already occupied many territories in Tianmeng Prefecture and Xirong Snow Prefecture.

Last year alone, four Golden Core cultivators fell to their claws, including two true disciples of the Kuanglan Sword Sect.

The vice leader of the Demon Alliance, Bone Nether Demon Lord, is the biological father of the Thirteen Demon Princes who was killed by Zhao Wuji back then. In recent years, he has made countless arrogant statements about taking Zhao Wuji's life.

After scanning the jade slip with her divine sense, Little Jade Fox stood up upright, her five snowy tails spreading out like a peacock's tail feathers, her emerald green fox eyes burning with fighting spirit: "Don't worry, Wuji, I will definitely find out all the information for you."

The cowardly tiger shrank its neck, its paws nervously pawing at the ground, and it let out muffled whimpers.

The myna bird, Xiong Ba, darted around with its eyes darting about, shouting "Gaba obeys!" but its wings flapped slowly, clearly intending to shirk its duties.

Zhao Wuji snorted coldly, and the spirit patterns of the Beast Gathering Technique flickered at his fingertips, causing Xiong Ba to tremble all over.

"If you dare to outwardly comply but inwardly defy me..."

He glanced at the myna's glossy feathers with a half-smile, "Perfect timing, I'm still missing a black feather cloak."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Ba's fur stood on end, and he dared not try to be clever again. He muttered curses under his breath, but in the end, he flapped his wings and followed Little Jade Fox and Cowardly Tiger out of the secret realm.

"If you don't find out any useful information, at least help me find some Nascent Soul stage demons or Golden Core stage demon kings. Preferably ones that can fly, I need them!"

Zhao Wuji gave a loud instruction, and with a series of hand gestures, the four treasures of wind, clouds, rain, and lightning resounded, causing the secret realm's gate to open wide and releasing the three demons.

Now that he has passed through four layers of array barriers and mastered four array core treasures, he can mobilize a portion of the secret realm's array power.

At least within this Tiannan Secret Realm, one can open any portal at will, instead of being confined to the initial entrance.

However, even now, despite his extensive inquiries through the Wang family and the Qilin Sword Sect, he still hasn't been able to find out which powerful figure built this Tiannan Secret Realm.

"A chance encounter can lead to unexpected success."

Zhao Wuji muttered to himself, "Perhaps one day, by chance, the truth will be revealed."

Or perhaps, the Heavenly Demon Pavilion that Zhixia runs in Zhongzhou can help me find some clues.”

As he pondered, his figure flashed, and with the help of the secret realm's array power, he directly teleported to the front of the demon tree.

This demonic tree is no longer what it used to be!
The thick tree trunk is like a coiled dragon, and the dark bark is covered with mysterious patterns that faintly glow.

The branches and leaves blocked out the sun, each leaf as if carved from black jade, exuding a rich aura of demonic spirit.

Above the treetops, clouds and mist swirl, and flashes of lightning can be faintly seen, as if forming a small world of its own.

In terms of sheer aura, it is comparable to a demon king in the late Golden Core stage!

It should be noted that when Chu Tianyun borrowed its power back then, he was already able to unleash the combat power of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Now, under Zhao Wuji's careful cultivation, the demon tree has not only increased in strength, but also promoted the expansion of the second pot heaven space, which is now more than 300 zhang wide!
The demonic tree seemed to sense his arrival, its branches and leaves moving without wind, making a rustling sound, as if greeting him.

The tree trunk trembled slightly, and a powerful surge of demonic energy spread out, causing even the surrounding spiritual energy to vibrate.

Zhao Wuji reached out and gently stroked the tree trunk, feeling the immense power contained within. His eyes flickered slightly: "It seems you're not far from breaking through."
"The Great Swordsman Tournament of Kyushu will begin in a year, and I need to prepare for my breakthrough!"

Zhao Wuji stepped out of the Pot Heaven Space, his figure condensing like smoke and clouds within his cave on Qingyu Peak of the Qilin Sword Sect.

The moment it appeared, it felt the spiritual energy from all directions surge in like a tide, so dense that it almost condensed into spiritual liquid.

Every breath felt like drinking nectar, and every pore on my body opened up.

"As expected of a level-five spiritual vein of the Qilin Sword Sect!"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his purple-gold unicorn robe fluttering even without wind, sensing the surging spiritual energy within the cave.

Today, all three level-four spiritual veins of the Qilin Sword Sect have been restored to their peak level-five spiritual vein state.

Two of the five level-three spiritual veins have been promoted to level four.

The other secondary spiritual veins also saw their prices rise accordingly.

The entire sect was filled with spiritual energy, which was as abundant as a sea of ​​clouds. Compared to its peak period, it had recovered about 70% of its former glory.

In contrast, only one of the Wang family's two level-four spiritual veins has been promoted to level five.

In terms of both concentration and quantity of spiritual energy, it is ultimately inferior.

"but."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly. Currently, the spiritual energy revival across the Nine Provinces is in full swing.

At this rate, in at most six years, when most of the world's fourth-level spiritual veins recover to the fifth level, it will be a time of complete spiritual prosperity!
"I wish to break through to a higher realm. You who are guarding me outside, any trespassers—will be executed!"

Before the words were finished, six sword lights flashed like startled swans outside the cave.

Six sword attendants knelt on one knee, their swords drawn three inches from their sheaths, their cold gleam illuminating the entrance to the cave.

"I will obey Sword Master's decree!"

The leading female swordswoman clasped her hands in response, her voice as resounding as a sword.

The six figures dispersed like ghosts, instantly forming a sword formation.

Wherever the sword pointed, streaks of sword energy intertwined in the void, completely enveloping the entire cave.

"good!"

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly, then turned and stepped into the inner room.

Wisps of spiritual mist already lingered on the white jade futon.

He spread his sleeves and sat cross-legged on the prayer mat.

The jade platform beneath him was covered with intricate spirit-gathering array patterns, which were now gleaming with a faint blue light.

As he gently closed his eyes, his consciousness flowed like a river of stars.

Within the Purple Mansion, three golden cores of varying sizes shone brightly, slowly rotating under the vast divine sense, emanating a chilling pressure.
He observed the surface of the Yin-Yang Pearl in his sea of ​​consciousness.

His cultivation level had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm (29983/30000), just one step away from completion.

His cultivation in the Martial Immortal Path has also improved considerably.

In recent years, he has been slaying demons and monsters, using demon blood to refine pills for cultivation. With the resources provided by the Qilin Sword Sect and the Wang family, his cultivation speed has not fallen behind much, and he has steadily improved to the mid-stage of the Golden Core True Form (13003/60000).

Meanwhile, the inner golden core floated in the center of the Purple Mansion. Although it was smaller than the golden core that was the size of an egg, it exuded a profound Daoist charm.

"If the Gate of Mysterious Female cannot be opened wider, the cultivation speed of the Inner Realm Golden Core will always be limited. I also cannot focus on cultivating the Inner Realm Golden Core while supplementing it with my own Golden Core. Ultimately, I will have to make some choices."

He probed the mysterious and ancient portal within his dantian with his divine sense.

He has now smashed open the door, leaving only a three-inch gap.

Wisps of mysterious spiritual energy seeped out, nourishing the inner golden elixir.

However, three inches is the current limit.

If the cultivation speed of the inner realm golden core is to be further improved, it would be necessary to blast open this door even wider!
"Fine, let's break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm first!"

Zhao Wuji composed himself.

"Seize the sun and moon in the dantian, refine them; seize the universe in the sea of ​​consciousness."

Zhao Wuji silently recited the incantation in his mind, his hand gestures changing rapidly.

His spiritual energy suddenly surged, transforming into a raging Dao fire that enveloped his entire body.

The flames were no ordinary flames; they were formed from pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

It was intense but not scorching; instead, it was like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, calming his elixir.

The golden core grew stronger in the Dao fire, the Dao patterns on its surface became clearer, and faint sounds of dragon roars and phoenix cries could be heard.

"Now, spiritual energy has revived, and our fortunes have turned."

"Boom!"

The entire Azure Feather Peak trembled, and the spiritual energy of the fifth-level spiritual vein poured in like a celestial river flowing backward, transforming into a visible vortex of spiritual mist that surged wildly into his seven orifices and hundreds of bones.

This astonishing phenomenon of spiritual energy immediately alarmed the entire Qingyu Peak.

"That's... the cave of the First Sword Master?"

At the sword-practicing arena halfway up the mountain, dozens of disciples practicing swords all looked up.

All around, spiritual energy flowed like rivers flowing into the sea, forming a vortex hundreds of feet in diameter above Zhao Wuji's cave, swirling and emitting thunderous roars.

"Is Senior Brother Zhao about to break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm?"

A disciple in blue robes cried out in alarm.

The older senior brother standing next to him was utterly shocked: "Senior Brother Kong only broke through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm last year, and Senior Brother Zhao has only been a disciple for six years. This speed..."

Inside the cave, Zhao Wuji's golden core continued to expand in size under the torrent of spiritual energy.

The golden core, originally the size of an egg, is now as round and full as a goose egg. The Dao patterns on its surface flow like a starry river, and the strange phenomenon of the sun and moon shining together appears and disappears on the surface of the core.

"Only when I have completed my mission can I achieve my goal."

Zhao Wuji suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils radiating golden light like two blazing suns, and the stone walls of the cave seemed to melt like wax under his gaze.

His hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals, while his golden core trembled violently in his sea of ​​consciousness, emitting a resounding Daoist sound.

"Let go and live a carefree life, like an immortal beyond the mortal realm!"

With a clear and resonant whistle, the golden core trembled violently, and the Dao patterns on its surface solidified completely.

In an instant, the entire mountain peak was bathed in a magnificent glow.

The sky was filled with brocade-like clouds, and auspicious clouds of nine colors gathered from all directions, forming a cloud canopy of celebration at the summit.

"This is the foundation."

On the nearby Cloud Sword Peak, an elderly man with white hair looked astonished: "Qingyun Huagai... This is an extraordinary phenomenon indicating that the Golden Core cultivator has an extremely profound foundation! The First Sword Master actually has such a profound foundation."

"boom!"

A beam of purple-gold light shot into the sky, and Zhao Wuji's figure stepped out into the air.

As his robes fluttered, nine golden dragons of spiritual energy coiled around his body, and with each step he took, it seemed as if golden lotuses were blooming.

The aura emanating from him was as deep and boundless as the ocean, causing countless fellow disciples around him to involuntarily bow in respect.

"Congratulations, Master Zhao, on breaking through your realm!"

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Your Highness!!"

Amidst a deafening roar of congratulations, Zhao Wuji looked around, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and smiled and nodded.

He felt the surging spiritual power within his body. Both his Immortal Path and Martial Immortal Path Golden Cores had reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. His gaze pierced through the clouds, looking towards the higher and more distant Nine Heavens:

"The path to immortality is long, and now we've taken another step forward."

(End of this chapter)