Immortals of the End Times

After more than half a year of arduous training, Zhao Wuji's demon tree clone and nascent soul have gradually become one.

If the demon tree's spiritual power was initially unpredictable, it has now been able to maintain a stable level of Nascent Soul for almost half a day.

After the demon tree greedily devoured the power of the nascent soul and grew strong, it now resembled a great demon king at the peak of the Golden Core stage.

Although Yang Xiong's nascent soul was weakened by being constantly drained, and even showed signs of disintegration at times, in the long run, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

When the demon tree attempts to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

This nascent soul, now completely devoured, will become the most fertile nourishment, making its foundation far more robust than that of an ordinary nascent soul, and its breakthrough speed will be as fast as thunder.

"If only we could hunt down that Purple Locust Demon King again."

Zhao Wuji flew through the air towards Tianmeng Prefecture, lost in thought.

The Purple Locust Demon King is a treasure trove; its demon core can be used to refine pills and enhance cultivation, and its demon body can be used to feed its demon tree clones.

Even better, slaying this fiend will earn at least two Grade B merits, which will be more than enough to exchange for the late-stage Golden Core chapter of the "Asking the Heavens Sword Manual" or to acquire cultivation resources.

With a slight furrow of his brow, he turned to look at the thirteen peaks of Qilin receding into the distance, then suddenly shook his head and chuckled: "Now that my swordsmanship has reached the realm of one sword, ten thousand techniques, cultivating the Heaven-Asking Sword Technique would be superfluous."

The Heaven-Asking Sword Technique can no longer improve my swordsmanship.

If someone else were to utter such arrogant words, I'm afraid no sword cultivator in the world would believe them.

But coming from Zhao Wuji, the number one swordsman of the Qilin Sword Sect who had mastered all the techniques of the sword, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

"It would be better to accumulate first-class merits and exchange them for the cultivation qualification of Qilin Sword Valley."

The thought had barely formed in Zhao Wuji's mind when it began to grow wildly like weeds.

After all, this world often enters the Dharma-ending Age, and the vast spiritualless environment makes it difficult to nurture any top-tier resources.

Although the Qilin Sword Sect is a top-tier sect, it doesn't have many of the top-level resources that require spiritual energy and a long period of time to cultivate.

This type of resource is extremely rare, except in a few special secret realms such as the Ancient Sword Domain and the Sword Tomb, and it would be difficult to find even if you searched the entire Nine Provinces.

However, there is one exception.

That is Qilin Sword Valley.

This Sword Valley is the supreme holy land that all sword cultivators in the world dream of.

The valley not only bears the unparalleled sword marks left by the Qilin Ancestor, but also the contemporary Qilin Sword Ancestor who has been in seclusion for many years to comprehend the sword.

The Sword Heart Pool within the valley is even more mysterious; cultivators who soak in it can refine their sword heart and enhance their cultivation.

However, such a treasure land is not a place that ordinary cultivators can enter.

Not only does one need to accumulate first-class merits to exchange for the qualification, but it is also restricted to those with the identity of a Sword Master, making it the core of the sect's core.

"The cultivation techniques I've accumulated from this demon-slaying expedition will be used to enter Sword Valley before the Sword Cultivation Tournament."

Zhao Wuji made his plans, then rode the sword light to cut through the sky and in the blink of an eye crossed the border of Beiyun Dizhou.

Before long, he arrived in the territory of Tianmeng Prefecture, and he spread out his sleeves.

He could summon clouds with ease, and the clouds in the sky flowed like rivers flowing into the sea, condensing into a cloud cluster about ten feet long at his feet.

The clouds shifted, pointing directly at the Tianmeng Snow Mountain on the southeastern border.

That place has now become the stronghold of the Demon Alliance.

Little Jade Fox and Xiong Ba have been lurking among them for half a year.

Even the little fox has risen to the rank of demon general and is highly valued.

Zhao Wuji walked on clouds, surrounded by mist, his figure disappearing into the vast sea of ​​clouds, and no one could see his escape light.

He lowered his eyes and looked down.

The closer one gets to Tianmeng Snow Mountain, the more desolate and bleak the scenery becomes, which is quite alarming.

In the mortal towns, nine out of ten houses were empty, bloodstains were scattered among the broken walls, and demonic energy permeated the air.

The streets were littered with bones, and the corpses were piled up like mountains, with horrifying signs of gnawing.

Occasionally, survivors would huddle in the corners of the ruins, hiding themselves and not daring to show their faces.

Occasionally, one can see small cultivation families collapsing, their protective mountain formations shattered, leaving only scorched earth.

A few small grottoes, though not yet completely destroyed, have already been occupied by powerful demons. Their soaring demonic aura is like billowing smoke, and their malevolent energy shakes the surrounding area.

Zhao Wuji's gaze was cold and stern as he thought to himself, "This is the result of ignoring demons and monsters."

"Eliminating demons is not just for resources, but also for deterrence and to prevent the situation from deteriorating further..."

He was riding the clouds at breakneck speed when suddenly his brows furrowed as he keenly sensed a surge of demonic energy at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm erupting from the clouds below.

The demonic aura tore through the clouds like a blade, yet it clearly failed to detect the presence of this Golden Core cultivator.

"A spirit-concentrating demonic bird, perfect for capturing and using as a mount!"

His eyes flashed, and he suddenly made a hand seal.

The spirit patterns of the bird-taming technique burst forth from the fingertips, transforming into invisible chains that pierced through the clouds.

"squeak!!"

With a sharp cry, the Spirit Condensation Realm demonic bird was forcibly controlled by an irresistible magical force before it could even react.

When it came to its senses, a towering figure was already on its back.

"Who are you!?"

The demonic bird was immediately horrified and cried out in human language, instinctively trying to struggle.

But as soon as the thought arose, his body defied his will and turned around, flying rapidly toward the entrance of the Demon Alliance's Huai Hall, as if his mind was resisting but his body was being honest.

This body no longer seems to belong to me.

"Be my obedient mount and obey my commands, or I won't mind having some giant roasted chicken wings to go with my drinks!"

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back on the back of the demonic bird, his robes fluttering in the wind. With a casual pat on his storage bag, a jar of Lion King Star Brew fell into his palm.

"Gudong!"

The strong liquor went down my throat, and instantly it exploded in my stomach like the roar of a lion.

The surging bloodthirsty aura rose up, transforming into streams of crimson spiritual energy, which were then devoured and refined by the Blood Fiend Golden Core.

"Wow!!"

The demonic bird's feathers bristled, its eyes filled with terror.

The terrifying aura emanating from the wine made it tremble with fear.

"What kind of wine is this human cultivator drinking? It actually has the aura of a demon king's blood!"

The demonic bird trembled, "Could it be a deadly wine brewed with the essence and blood of the Demon King? Terrifying, truly terrifying!"

"Hurry up and fly!"

Zhao Wuji lightly tapped the bird's back with his toes, his tone calm yet unquestionable.

The demonic bird shuddered instantly, flapping its wings rapidly and increasing its speed by a factor of three.

With Zhao Wuji's current spiritual strength, comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator at its peak, let alone a mere bird-taming technique.

Even with a profound technique like the Spirit Exorcism Technique, controlling this mid-stage Nascent Soul demon bird would be a piece of cake.

However, the exorcism technique requires a burden on one's spiritual consciousness, so using the bird-taming technique to control such birds is more effective and more than sufficient.

At this moment, through the exchange of divine senses, Zhao Wuji already knew that this demonic bird was actually the front-line scout captain of the Demon Alliance, under the command of the Demon Roc Sect, and had only recently been promoted after breaking through to the mid-stage of the Condensation Realm.

"Demon Roc Sect"

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly as relevant records surfaced in his mind.

This sect is the second-ranked demonic sect among the nine powerful sects of the Hewai Liezhou.

The progenitor was a giant roc that reached the heavens five thousand years ago, claiming to be a descendant of the Heavenly Roc, and possessing overwhelming ferocity.

"That ancestral demon roc, having endured numerous calamities of the Dharma's decline, has naturally perished long ago."

He pondered to himself, but then thought, "However, the sect leader and elders of the Demon Roc Sect are all old monsters who have survived to this day by relying on their Qi Meridians and Nine Nether Veins during the Dharma-ending Age. Their strength is probably not much inferior to that of the Bone Nether Demon Lord."

Led by the demonic bird, Zhao Wuji arrived at Huaitangkou in Tianmeng Snow Mountain in no time.

Before long, he suddenly sensed three familiar auras and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"It's only been half a year since I last saw him, and Xiong Ba has already broken through?"

He scanned it with his divine sense.

In the distance, within the mountains and forests, Xiong Ba's demonic aura surged, revealing that he had broken through from the tenth level of Qi Induction to the Condensation Realm.

At this moment, the fat bird stood proudly on the branch, its demonic aura surging like black clouds. The great demonic power of the Condensation Realm made the surrounding lesser demons tremble.

Seven or eight brightly colored female birds circled around him, diligently preening his feathers and occasionally emitting charming calls. Some were parrots, others were myna birds, chattering and mimicking human speech.

"Master, your feathers are truly magnificent!" "Exactly! Much better than those scruffy birds from the Demon Roc Sect!"

"Gah! Ba! Of course!"

As Xiong Ba proudly spread his wings, ready to receive the praise of the birds, he suddenly felt a chill on his neck, and all the feathers on his body instantly bristled.

"Huh? This...this feeling."

Its pupils suddenly contracted.

This feeling was all too familiar to him.

Every time she does something wrong and her master notices it, she has this kind of sudden urge.

"Get out of the way!"

The tyrant suddenly flapped its wings, sending the group of female birds tumbling about. They nervously turned their heads to look around, their claws gripping the branches so tightly they cracked.

"Gaba, has the Unbound Master arrived?"

"Xiongba, you're living a carefree life. Go and meet up with Xiaoyu and the others immediately!"

In the distance, amidst the clouds, Zhao Wuji withdrew his divine sense after issuing the order. He shook his head slightly, seeing Xiong Ba's sly, peeking-out appearance, which was as annoying as ever.

"Soul Chaser!"

The next moment, he made a hand seal, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

In an instant, the souls of demonic beasts within a thousand-mile radius lit up in the sea of ​​consciousness like sparks, with clear distinctions between strong and weak.

"found it"

His gaze sharpened, locking onto a particularly intense beam of soul light deep within the mountains.

The aura was as cold and gloomy as ancient wood, and seven or eight slightly weaker demon souls guarded it. This was the location of Ji Zihuai, the master of Huai Ren Hall.

"guide!"

His fingertips shifted again, guiding the energy in motion, his gaze piercing through layers of mist.

Deep within the demon's lair, spiritual energy swirled and demonic energy surged.

Clearly, Ji Zihuai had extracted all the spiritual energy from the small cave heavens she had conquered into her nest to consolidate her own foundation, while also raising lesser demons to expand her power.

"It's no wonder that demons and monsters are disliked for such a short-sighted approach of draining the pond to catch all the fish."

Suddenly, a powerful divine sense swept over like a raging tide.

"You noticed it so quickly; your spiritual sense is quite strong."

Zhao Wuji lightly pinched his sword finger, and the invisible magic runes flowed, causing his figure to disappear without a trace from the back of the demonic bird.

"Hmm? From the Demon Roc Sect?"

A powerful divine sense swept across the demonic bird like a blade, coldly questioning, "You feathered beast, what brings you here to trespass on my territory?"

The demon bird was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

With such a large, powerful human cultivator on its back, couldn't it see him? It was clearly being coerced.

Suddenly, its feathers bristled, and it was terrified.

The human expert on my back was just here a moment ago, how did he suddenly disappear?

Just as they were wondering what was going on, Zhao Wuji suddenly transmitted his voice in their ears: "Tell it that you have important military intelligence from the front lines to report."

The demonic bird's heart pounded wildly. Without hesitation, it cried out in a shrill voice, "King Purple Locust! I have urgent military intelligence to report from the front lines!"

"Oh?" A hint of suspicion flickered in the Purple Locust Demon King's divine sense. "Why should I be informed of the military situation at the front?"

The demonic bird was also somewhat bewildered.

Yes, what information should I report? I'm racking my brains trying to figure it out.
"Very well." The Purple Locust Demon King pondered for a moment, but finally could not suppress his curiosity. "I grant you permission to enter and report."

As if granted a pardon, the demonic bird immediately flapped its wings and flew swiftly inward.

But after flying no more than a hundred feet, it suddenly slowed down, a hint of fear flashing in its eyes, and secretly transmitted its voice: "Master, the one lurking in the deep valley ahead is the Purple Locust Demon King, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator."

This old man specializes in the Dao of Spirit and Soul; his divine sense is incomparably powerful. Even ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivators wouldn't dare to provoke him easily. "You..."

"Noisy."

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back on the bird's back, his voice as cold as ice as his robes fluttering: "I have come here precisely to meet this old locust tree. I do not wish to squeeze this soft persimmon."

His tone was calm yet undeniably authoritative: "Keep flying."

"Yes, yes!" The demonic bird trembled with fear, unable to disobey, and could only silently pray that this expert could defeat the Purple Locust Demon King.

Better to die for your fellow Daoist than for this poor bird!
This Purple Locust Demon King usually acts all high and mighty, calling them "flat-haired" all the time.

It's fine if he's dead. Anyway, he wasn't the Demon King of the Yaopeng Sect. The death of one of them frees up a lot of resources.

"These demons are truly all hypocrites, harboring ulterior motives!"

Zhao Wuji grasped the demon bird's thoughts and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Before long, his divine sense had locked onto three familiar auras.

Little Jade Fox, Xiong Ba, and Cowardly Tiger have now gathered together in the mountains and forests.

"Get ready."

He quickly transmitted his voice secretly, his voice as cold as iron: "I will make my move against the Purple Locust Demon King later. At the last moment, you should pretend to defeat me."

After this battle, your position at Huaitang will be unshakeable by any demon beast. As for the other great demons…

A cold glint flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes: "Leave none alive."

Xiao Yu's fox ears twitched slightly, and she exchanged a glance with Xiong Ba, both of them understanding each other perfectly.

Although they are also demons, they have lived in human areas for a long time, and they are really not used to being mixed in with real demons for the past six months.

Having witnessed too many scenes of cannibalism, murder, and massacres, I was powerless to stop them, yet I already knew that I was not on the same side as these demons.

It is exactly what we need to do to eliminate these demons.

The demonic bird flapped its wings and flew swiftly, disappearing into the heart of the deep mountains in the blink of an eye.

But the black fog surged like a tide, and the miasma blotted out the sky and sun.

The ground was littered with white bones, piled up like mountains, and there were even uncorrupted corpses entwined by vines, hanging between withered trees.

A towering purple locust tree stands in the center, its trunk as thick as a mountain, its bark cracked like scales, its branches twisted like ghost claws, exuding a suffocating, eerie aura.

"Flat-haired Mao, what's the military situation at the front?"

The Purple Locust Demon King's hoarse voice was like the friction of an old tree, causing hundreds of branches to move without wind.

However, before the words were even finished, the tree suddenly trembled violently.

A domineering and unparalleled divine sense pierced through his brain like a celestial sword, fiercely penetrating his sea of ​​consciousness!

"what!!"

The Purple Locust Demon King suddenly let out a shrill roar, and his divine core, which he had always been proud of as hard as iron, was torn apart.

The branches lashed wildly, shattering the surrounding rocks into pieces.

Right now
Zhao Wuji made a hand seal with his sword fingers, simultaneously activating the Bird Taming Technique and the Gathering Technique, and his spiritual power was rapidly released.

The seven powerful demons in the valley, who were being disturbed by the noise, suddenly had their pupils shrink, and their demonic power surged uncontrollably. They felt an irresistible command and control descend upon their minds in an instant.

"No! Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry! I must kill you!"

The demons roared in terror, their eyes filled with fear and struggle.

The closest ape demon had bloodshot eyes and sharp claws like knives. With a touch of manic excitement, it tore through the bark of the purple locust tree, its fangs deeply embedded in the trunk.

Although the demon's body was trembling, it was as if it were bathed in glory and was extremely excited, as if completing this command was the highest honor.

"You bastards! How dare you!"

The Purple Locust Demon King roared in pain, and its roots burst forth from the ground like giant pythons.

A grotesque vine, as thick as a beam, pierced through the ape demon's chest and abdomen in an instant, bringing with it a shower of blood.

The demon king's eyes widened in anger, still unable to understand why his trusted confidant would suddenly betray him.

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back on the back of the demonic bird, his robes fluttering, his eyes as cold as ice.

Below, deep in the mountains, demonic mists churned, marking an important stronghold of the Demon Alliance, only a few hundred miles from the headquarters where the Demon Lord resided.

If they were to act rashly at this moment, the abundant spiritual energy, distinct from demonic energy, would be like a beacon in the darkness, instantly alerting the Nascent Soul Demon Lord at headquarters.

Therefore, the best strategy is to let these demons fight each other first, and then reap the benefits when they are both severely weakened.
(End of this chapter)