Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 298, 375: Three Thousand Years of Life, the Sword Lord's Entrustment (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets: 9090)

Three days later.

On the edge of Xirong Xuezhou, deep in a dark canyon, mountain mists surged, and two figures stood on a precipice.

Wei Le, dressed in a white robe, looked at the Nine Nether Demon Lord shrouded in demonic energy on the opposite cliff with a sinister gaze, and said in a low voice: "After the Sword Domain is opened, the disciples of each sect will definitely disperse to explore."

If we join forces to hunt down these disciples, seize their exploration maps, and gather the fragments of clues from the major sword sects, we will be able to pinpoint the valuable resources of many ancient immortal courts in the Sword Domain.

Even the locations of some of the seven supreme treasures, especially the Nine Cauldrons in Huang Chang's possession! This is absolutely certain.

He sneered, "Although that old monster has recovered to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, he is ultimately all alone. Once he finds the second cauldron, we can turn the tables and destroy him, killing two birds with one stone."

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's eyes, like jewels in the night, flickered slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "The Immortal Saint Sect Master, Cang Yunzi, is about to emerge from seclusion. The matter of the last Sword Cultivator Conference has clearly offended him."

"Cang Yunzi's emergence from seclusion this time is likely to allow him to enter the Ancient Sword Domain and ambush me. Turning against Huang Shang now will only force him to join forces with the Immortal Saint Sect."

“Cang Yunzi. If he comes out of seclusion, it will be a real problem.” Wei Le narrowed his eyes, his expression a mixture of surprise and apprehension.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord raised his hand and crushed a wisp of the approaching yin wind, saying calmly, "Huang Chang still has some use, so we might as well use him to gather more of the Nine Cauldrons. As for the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven and the others..."

His demonic energy surged suddenly. "At that time, I will entangle Cang Yunzi, and you, the Demon Peng Sect Master, and the other Demon Kings can take the opportunity to kill them all, preferably severing the foundation of each sect."

"The Sword Lord of Asking Heaven is not easy to deal with!"

Wei Le frowned, but then heard the Nine Nether Demon Lord suddenly change the subject: "Li Wentian is not easy to deal with, what about the others? Especially Zhao Wuji of the Qilin Sword Sect... I sensed a strange aura on him."

The Demon Lord condensed a wisp of dark light at his fingertips, as if he were calculating something. "This kind of attraction, I have only sensed before from the auras of the six Abyss Ancestral Demons at the Nine Nether Gate."

"Oh?"

Wei Le narrowed his eyes, recalling Zhao Wuji's sharpness at the sword tournament, and said in a sinister tone, "This kid is indeed strange. It's one thing to show such strong sword talent, but he also has quite a few other tricks up his sleeve. His combat power is too astonishing."

Even Huang Shang hated him to the core.

If the opportunity arises, I will certainly take care of him.

A sneer came from within the demonic mist: "No need to rush. The Sword Domain is fraught with danger, but also full of opportunities. This boy may have a great opportunity after entering the Sword Domain."

I will personally witness it then… what opportunities he might obtain; perhaps, it will bring me some surprises!

Wei Le's heart stirred, and he made a mental note of it.

He originally thought he had overestimated Zhao Wuji, the number one swordsman in the Nine Provinces.

But judging from how much the Nine Nether Demon Lord values ​​this boy, it seems he underestimated him.

Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.

At the core of the Yang family's fifth-level spiritual vein, spiritual energy surged like a tide. The demon tree avatar sat cross-legged within, its body surrounded by intertwined and surging demonic energy and demonic power. The Seven Emotions Demon Flower bloomed with a ghostly light, and the Six Desires Demon Leaf trembled rustlingly.

The pressure from the Nascent Soul was as solid as an abyss, captivating and seizing one's soul.

Suddenly, a sword token pierced through the air and hovered in front of Zhao Wuji.

His gaze sharpened, and he raised his hand to capture it, scanning it with his divine sense.

It was actually an urgent message personally sent by the Sect Master of the Qilin Sword Sect, Sword Lord Wentian:

"The Ancient Sword Domain is about to open; return immediately to prepare for battle."

"Ancient Sword Domain..."

Zhao Wuji lightly rubbed the sword token between his fingers, pondered and murmured, "There are still two months left, but this time we have to prepare in advance. It seems that this is no small matter."

He looked up and gazed into the distance, as if piercing through the cave walls, and saw directly into the ancient sword domain in the heavens, a place where danger and opportunity coexisted.

Recently, he has vaguely sensed unusual activity in the heavens.

The spiritual energy from all directions was restless and uneasy, as if an invisible force was stirring up the universe.

Especially a month ago, he used up four sun essence crystals to transform into yang marrow, and converted many spirit stones into yang energy, finally enabling the fourth yang pearl to be perfected and its life extended.

However, this move once again alarmed the Heavenly Dao.

Even though he managed to escape into the Pot Heaven Space in time, he still felt a wisp of energy locking onto him, like a bone-deep infection.

This time seems different.

Even though the Yang Pearl could eliminate the karmic force, the faint sense of being locked in remained, as if foreshadowing a great calamity to come.

However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and this strange change has also made his perception and connection with the heavens above even more acute.

Now, one can even vaguely sense a vast phantom emerging from the first heaven within the nine heavens.

"That is probably the location of the ancient sword domain!"

He closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, his divine sense sweeping over the magical treasures such as the Bone-Corroding Yin Rain Needles displayed in the Tiannan Secret Realm, and then looking inward at the three golden cores in his dantian, shining like the sun, his expression calm and undisturbed.

These are all his trump cards.

"After the fourth Yang Pearl was perfected, I was able to extend my life by three thousand years and further improve my physical body by relying solely on the Yin-Yang Pearl."

He clenched his fists loosely, and a thunderous sound seemed to rumble between his bones. "Now, my martial arts cultivation is once again on par with my immortal cultivation after consuming the Creation Jade Spirit Pill... It's time to set off."

He looked at the demon tree clone opposite him and scrutinized it.

At this moment, the clone had already used the illusion technique to transform into the appearance of Yang Xiong, with the same aura and expression.

If he were to unleash his full power and manifest the true form of the tree demon Xiang Yu, combined with Xiang Yu's true head and right arm, his combat strength would be terrifying, enough to crush ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

After a moment of contemplation, he raised his hand and made a hand seal.

A flash of spiritual light appeared at his fingertips, imprinting several Earthly Fiend Techniques suitable for the Demon Tree clone into the clone's sea of ​​consciousness.

The Great Strength Technique can cause this demon's body to surge with brute force, capable of shattering mountains and splitting the earth.

Invisibility allows this clone to move stealthily and disappear without a trace, with numerous vines penetrating the ground to kill silently.

The Demon-Slaying Technique is specifically designed to subdue demons and evil spirits. Its sharpness is unparalleled, and it is invincible when dealing with powerful demons.

The Wind Control Technique allows the relatively slow-moving clones to move with lightning speed, advancing and retreating freely.

Medical skills, combined with the powerful life force of the demon tree clone, are used to heal wounds and prolong life, making it virtually invincible and the greatest trump card for survival.

With these five skills at your disposal, your clone's combat power will be greatly increased. Even when facing a strong enemy, you will be able to handle the situation with ease and move freely.

"After I leave, you should join forces with the Wang family, first take down the Lü family, and then plot against the Yang and Zhou families."

Zhao Wuji gave the order in a cold voice.

All three families possess the remains of Xiang Yu.

The Lü family, possessing Xiang Yu's heart, the Yang family of Hongnong, holding his left leg, and the Zhou family, possessing his left arm, right foot, and other remains, are the most powerful and have the deepest foundations.

"know."

The demon tree clone calmly agreed, its eyes cold and gloomy.

Zhao Wuji knew that with the clone's current strength, as long as he could take down any one of the three families of Lü, Yang, or Zhou and seize the new remains of Xiang Yu, his strength would increase dramatically once again!
For other families, refining Xiang Yu's remains might be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

But it was not difficult for Zhao Wuji's clone.

After all, he already controlled Xiang Yu's head, the dragon's head, and was further protected by Hua Qingshuang's Hua clan fortune, making the refining of the remnant body even more powerful.

However, of the three families, the Zhou family is the most difficult to deal with.

This family were descendants of Lü Sheng who changed their surname. In the past, they had competed to collect the remains of other Xiang Yu's bodies, but they gradually declined in modern times due to the decline of Buddhism.

After everything was arranged, Zhao Wuji gave Yang Su some more instructions, and then, without further delay, stepped directly into the teleportation array.

With a flash of inspiration, his figure vanished, and in the blink of an eye, he returned to the cave dwelling of the Qilin Sword Sect.

"Xiaoyue and Xiaoya went to Zhongzhou to purchase spiritual materials and haven't returned yet."

Zhao Wuji walked into the house from the backyard and saw that the formation in the cave was still running and the medicine furnace was silent and without fire, so he knew that the two girls had not returned yet.

With fewer familiar faces in the house, the years of spiritual practice seem rather desolate.

With a slight thought, he stepped out of the cave.

Four sharp sword intents swept over him like a gentle breeze, clearly sensing his presence.

"Welcome back, Your Highness!"

The four sword attendants bowed in unison, their robes fluttering as the sounds of swords mingled. The leader, Shi Yijun, her eyes like autumn water, clasped her hands in greeting, unable to hide her joy, and said, "With Your Highness's guidance, this disciple finally grasped the essence of sword energy differentiation a month ago!"

Although the three people behind him had not broken through, their backs were straight as swords.

The youngest, Chu Hongxiu, winked playfully: "Since Senior Sister has already gone ahead, how dare we slack off? Next time, we will definitely let His Highness see our 'Sword Qi Splitting'!"

"Not bad, you are all humble and teachable."

Zhao Wuji smiled slightly, flicked his fingertips, and four strands of sword intent entered the brows of the four people respectively. "Sword energy is like a person. It should have both a strong backbone and a tender heart. Only when it can be both strong and gentle can it be called sword energy."

"We will heed Your Highness's teachings!" The four bowed in unison.

"Go down and comprehend it!"

Zhao Wuji's sleeves billowed, and a streak of azure light shot through the sky, heading straight for the main peak of Qilin.

Wherever it passed, the cultivators flying through the air stopped and bowed, their expressions full of reverence.

The title of the number one swordsman in the Nine Provinces this year belongs to the Qilin Sword Sect. Zhao Wuji has become the pride of all the disciples of the Qilin Sword Sect. The level of courtesy he receives has already surpassed that of many elders and is almost no less than that of the sect master, Sword Lord Wentian.

In front of Qilin Hall.

Where the sword light fell, the sea of ​​clouds churned.

"Brother Zhao! You've finally arrived!"

Outside the hall, Xiao Chenzhou stepped forward, laughing loudly, his storage bag bulging at his waist. "How do you see my mid-stage Golden Core cultivation? Though it can't compare to a monster like you."

He suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice, "But they're much stronger than Fei Yuan and the others, hahaha, taking care of a few demon kings is a piece of cake! I almost killed a demon king on this trip, but unfortunately it escaped."

"Oh? Then you still need to practice. I've never let the Demon King escape."

Zhao Wuji smiled faintly. He was familiar with Xiao Chenzhou and could take a joke, so he made a sarcastic remark.

Kong Jingxian, who stood to the side with his arms crossed, remained silent.

Four years have passed, and he should have been proud to have advanced from the middle to the late stage, but compared to Zhao Wuji, who obtained the Creation Jade Spirit Pill, he was still slower.

It should be noted that when Zhao Wuji was in the early stage of the Golden Core realm, he was already in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm.

"Senior Brother Kong."

Zhao Wuji suddenly looked at Kong Jingxian and said, "I heard that you have already comprehended the stage of light differentiation and shadow differentiation of sword light? It seems that you are not far from comprehending the myriad techniques of one sword."

Kong Jingxian's cold expression softened slightly, and he was about to reply when suddenly a dazzling sword light from beyond the sky cleaved through the sea of ​​clouds and appeared inside the hall in a flash.

"Meet the sect master!"

Everyone immediately bowed respectfully.

Before the Qilin Hall, the jade bricks gleamed with a clear light.

The Sword Sovereign of Asking Heaven stood on the void, surrounded by sword light that flowed like a galaxy.

His gaze was sharp as a sword, sweeping across the three faces one by one, finally pausing slightly on Zhao Wuji.

"The Ancient Sword Domain will open in two months."

The Sword Lord of Asking Heaven spoke in a deep, resonant voice, as if the sound of metal clashing together could be heard: “Because of the changes at the Sword Gathering, the dangers within the domain are even greater than before.”

We must not only contend with the deadly intent of the Sword Domain itself, but also guard against the Nine Nether Demon Lord leading his horde of demonic giants to intercept and kill us.

His eyes flashed with sword intent, as heavy as frost and snow: "This trip is tantamount to bringing the battlefield of good and evil into the ancient sword domain! The three of you must be careful then."

"Yes!"

The three solemnly agreed.

Upon seeing this, the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven nodded, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He didn't say anything like, "If you're afraid, you can back out now," or any other nonsense.

Moreover, given their personalities, it's impossible for them to quit.

The path of cultivation is inherently about defying fate and fighting against destiny.

If we shrink back now, when the great calamity of the end times arrives, we will not even have the right to survive, let alone seek the Dao and become immortal.

"Although the Sword Domain is dangerous, it also offers many opportunities."

He pointed his fingers like a sword, a clear light gleaming between his brows. "The exploration map that our ancestors risked their lives for is now passed on to the three of you."

Before he finished speaking, three sword intents shot out from between his brows. "You must swear an oath with your sword hearts that this diagram will never be revealed to anyone!"

"The Jingyun Sword Sect has an exploration map, and so does the Qilin Sword Sect. It seems that anyone who went to the ancient sword domain in the past would have left behind an exploration map."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly as he thought to himself.

At this moment, Xiao Chenzhou, who was standing to the side, began to swear an oath, his fingertips flashing with crimson sword light, his voice booming like a bell: "I swear by my sword heart!"

Kong Jingxian also pointed his sword at Ning Shuang, uttering each word slowly and deliberately: "Those who disobey will have their Dao heart shattered!"

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji did not hesitate, pressed his fingers to his heart, and solemnly said, "I swear to live and die with the sword!"

To gain something, you naturally have to give something in return.

Besides, making an oath doesn't really count as a sacrifice.

Given the wonder of his spirit-controlling technique, once the exploration map is memorized, it's virtually impossible to obtain the sword map from him.

After the three swore an oath, sword patterns simultaneously lit up between their brows.

A wisp of divine consciousness imprint has transformed into a vast landscape and entered the sea of ​​consciousness.

That was an exploration path drawn with the blood of generations of sword cultivators from the Qilin Sword Sect.

The blood-red marks mark the most deadly places, where even Nascent Soul stage demons meet their end.

Hidden within the shimmering golden light are numerous opportunities within the Sword Domain.

There were also countless tiny characters recording the deadly traps and points to note within the sword domain.

"Alright, the remaining key points are all in the diagram. You may proceed."

The Sword Master of Asking Heaven lowered his fingers and put his hands behind his back, his sword robe fluttering even without wind, but his gaze was fixed on Zhao Wuji. "You stay."

Xiao Chenzhou and Kong Jingxian exchanged a glance. Although they had doubts, they knew that the sect leader must have a deeper meaning.

The former winked and mouthed "I want to give you special treatment" to Zhao Wuji, while the latter gave Zhao Wuji a deep look, then left the hall with his sword.

Zhao Wuji looked at the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven, his eyes waiting for a reply, but he did not speak rashly.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

After pondering for a moment, the Sword Lord of Asking the Heavens stared at Zhao Wuji and said meaningfully, "Wuji, your talent in swordsmanship is even greater than mine. Your future achievements may even surpass mine."

Upon hearing this, the spiritual energy within the hall momentarily stagnated.

Zhao Wuji looked surprised. Did he keep him around just to praise him?
"I'm keeping you here because I need to ask you something."

The Sword Master of Asking Heaven's robes fluttered without wind, and his voice suddenly became solemn, "In the future, are you willing to take on the position of Supreme Elder of my Qilin Sword Sect? To step in and turn the tide when the Sword Sect is in danger and its life force is collapsing?"

"Um?."

Zhao Wuji looked surprised. "Sect Master, your words are premature."

He hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "However, if the sect is in trouble, this disciple will certainly lend a hand. After all, the sect has provided a lot of resources to cultivate this disciple to achieve what he has today."

This sudden entrustment felt like making final arrangements.

But why would Tianjianjun, who is at the height of his power, do something so unusual?

"Has the Sect Master sensed danger in the journey to the Ancient Sword Domain?"

A sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart, but he saw that the sect leader's eyes held a deep, unfathomable sword intent, which did not seem to be a joke, nor did it allow for any excuses or hesitations.

Seeing Zhao Wuji agree without hesitation, the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven showed relief and appreciation, saying, "Neither I nor the Ancestor misjudged you."

He paused, then continued, "The reason I kept you here to ask these questions is because this trip to the Ancient Sword Domain will be accompanied by my ancestor. It will be extremely dangerous, and if anything unexpected happens..."

"The Ancestor is going too?" Zhao Wuji asked in surprise.

Then they saw that the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven had summoned an ancient sword.
(End of this chapter)