Immortals of the End Times

Outside the deep forest, Yan Lan looked solemn and vigilant.

Faced with an invitation from Wei Le, a Nascent Soul True Monarch, she suppressed the chill in her heart and forced a smile.

He transmitted his thoughts through his mind, saying, "Since Senior Wei is familiar with my master, he should also know that I am carrying out a special mission and it is really inconvenient for me to accompany you. Please forgive me, Senior."

"Ok?"

Wei Le narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

He originally intended to force the woman to stay.

However, considering that old ghost Huang Shang must have already secretly infiltrated the Sword Domain, the two of them will soon join forces.

In addition, there was the warning from the Nine Nether Demon Lord.

He hesitated for a moment, then abandoned the idea of ​​forcing himself on her. He then chuckled softly in a telepathic message, "Alright, in that case, Fairy Yan, please do as you please. Just remember to be careful. Perhaps we will meet again soon."

"That's it."

Yan Lan was surprised and doubtful, not expecting to escape so easily.

But she dared not delay, and her figure transformed into a streak of azure light as she fled into the distance. Along the way, she couldn't help but think to herself, "This Master Baiyu is acting strangely. A dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch actually tried to kill a junior from the Flying Snow Sword Sect."
They appear to be a righteous sect, but they operate with demonic methods. Could there be another hidden story behind this?

She repeatedly used her divine sense to probe behind her.

After confirming that no one was following them, they sped off towards the location where Zhao Wuji had sent the message.

After Yan Lan's figure disappeared, in the forest, Baiyu Sword Tower's swordsman Yi Chang couldn't help but ask, "Sect Master, why did you let her leave?"

Wei Le flicked his sleeves, a profound smile playing on his lips: "You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. This woman is still somewhat useful, and as long as she's around, she might even be able to lure out Lin Dengxian from the Immortal Saint Sect."

He glanced at the headless corpse on the ground and said calmly, "Go, continue searching for other Sword Sect disciples, and be sure to collect as many exploration maps as possible."

"My senior master actually encountered Wei Le, the sect leader of the White Jade Sword Pavilion, who bullied the weak and tried to kill Leng Wushuang of the Flying Snow Sword Sect?"

Thousands of miles away, Zhao Wuji's brow seal glowed slightly as he sensed the message from Yan Lan, and a sharp glint appeared in his eyes.

His eyes were serious, and he was also very surprised.

He had met Wei Le before, but he never expected that Wei Le, who appeared so respectable on the surface, would be so ruthless in private.

"Could it be that the White Jade Sword Pavilion and the Flying Snow Sword Sect have a blood feud?"

He pondered to himself, but the clouds flying beneath him never stopped.

Suddenly, he made a hand seal in his sleeve, plucked a strand of hair, and created a clone in a green robe to scout ahead.

The main body then used invisibility magic, hiding in the clouds, and continued to quietly follow.

Along the way, he would occasionally study the Pot Heaven Technique, trying to see if he could bring other living beings into the Ancient Sword Domain through it.

Within this ancient sword domain, powerful ancient spirit beasts and Nascent Soul stage monsters lurk in the shadows, making it a place fraught with danger.

He also felt intense pressure.

If we could try to bring the demon tree clone into the ancient sword domain as well, the safety aspect would be greatly improved.

As the hand seals of the Heavenly Pot Technique were formed.

Ripples appeared in the void.

The moment the Concentrated Spirit Beast was captured from the Heavenly Pot Space, before it could even flap its wings, its spiritual energy suddenly solidified!

"Shh!"

In an instant, the aura of the restriction appeared like a tide.

The plants, trees, and rocks in all directions simultaneously burst forth with fierce sword energy, like ten thousand swords being drawn from their sheaths, all merging into the restriction and locking the demonic bird firmly in place!
"Master! Master! Danger!"

The demonic bird's feathers bristled, and it was so startled that it uttered human words, "I feel... I'll die if I move even a little!"

“It really doesn’t work!”

Zhao Wuji frowned, his sword-like brows furrowed, and as he surveyed the surrounding area, he was immediately enveloped by a sword aura that made even the grass and trees seem like soldiers.

With a flick of his sleeve, he returned the demonic bird to the Pot Heaven space.

The surrounding sword energy gradually subsided, and calm returned.

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly. He flipped his hand, took out the ancient sword token, gently placed it on the ground, and then retreated.

Leave the vicinity of the Ancient Sword Token.

As the distance increased, the connection with the ancient sword token gradually weakened, and the surrounding restrictions suddenly felt like chains binding him, making each step back feel like carrying a mountain.

"Click, click!!"

By the time he had retreated a hundred feet, his bones were cracking and popping under the pressure.

The surrounding vegetation and rocks erupted with sword energy once more, and countless blades of grass flew towards him like swords, their sharpness fully revealed!

It was as if if they retreated even half a step, the sword energy from all directions would instantly come and annihilate them!

He abruptly stopped, staring at the sword token floating in the distance and sneering, "What an ancient restriction!"

Zhao Wuji's gaze darkened slightly, and he flashed back to the sword token, slowly closing his fingers around it.

Within this ancient sword domain, without a sword token, one cannot move an inch.

Moreover, the higher one's cultivation level, the more terrifying the pressure of the invisible restriction becomes, like the sky collapsing and suffocating one.

"It's not yet clear whether it will endanger their lives..."

Zhao Wuji pondered and murmured.

Although the demonic bird at the late stage of the Concentration Realm was restrained and its demonic power was stagnant, it was safe as long as it did not act rashly.

However, Gu worms like the Dragon Scale King Worm, due to their weak aura, rely solely on their unpredictable and supernatural abilities to avoid being targeted by restrictions and can still move freely.

"Ah……"

Zhao Wuji chuckled, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "This restriction... seems to have sentience, able to discern strength and weakness, friend and foe. No wonder it is a place left behind by an ancient sword immortal."

He pondered for a moment, and then he had a plan in mind.

If you want to bring the demon tree clone into the sword domain, you must first obtain an ancient sword token for it!
Zhao Wuji made a hand seal, and his figure suddenly transformed into a wisp of breeze, rushing towards Yan Lan's location.

According to the records on the exploration map, my master should be near the Broken Sword Ancient Road.

Although that place is located on the outskirts of the Sword Domain, it is by no means a safe place.

Along the ancient road, countless remains and remnant souls of cultivators, corrupted by sword energy, wander. Controlled by restrictions, they transform into guardians of the sword domain, preventing outsiders from entering.

However, the exploration map also indicates that the area contains sealed remnants of ancient sword cultivators' battles. If one can comprehend these remnants, it will greatly benefit one's sword cultivation.

The many sword tablets in the Sword Valley of the Qilin Sword Sect are the remnants of images that were brought back from the ancient Sword Domain.

"Where exactly in the Sword Domain is the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great that my senior master is seeking?"

Zhao Wuji pondered in his heart, but his body did not stop, and he continued to fly forward.

"Is it in the Starfall Sword Plains? Or the Mirror Lake Sword Realm? Or perhaps the murderous Burial Sword Valley? This ancient sword domain offers opportunities, but it is also fraught with danger."

While pondering, he didn't slow down and quickly approached Yan Lan's location.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the Starfall Sword Plains.

Huang Shang, dressed in a dark blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back, holding an ancient sword token.

The surrounding spiritual energy was as dense as mist, penetrating his lungs and bringing a pleasant smile to his lips.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, his divine sense spreading out like a tide and concentrating on the blood talisman in his palm, quickly capturing Yan Lan's aura.

"Found it...over at the Sunset Sword Path."

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped, his eyes flashing like lightning as he abruptly turned to a low hill not far away.

There, a figure suddenly appeared—a disciple of the Immortal Saint Sect.

The other party clearly recognized Huang Shang as well, their expression changing drastically, and they asked in surprise and doubt, "Senior Huang... Huang Shang? What are you doing here? The ancient sword token in your hand..."

Huang Shang smiled faintly and coughed lightly twice with his hunched body.

"Your Immortal Saint Sect sent in three disciples this time, and it just so happens that you saw me... sigh."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly made a hand seal!

Instantly, the blood talisman in his palm transformed into a burst of bloody light.

"Buzz!"

The disciple felt his blood suddenly flow backward, his meridians felt as if they were being pierced by thousands of needles, and excruciating pain instantly swept through his body!

"what!!"

Just as he was about to struggle, a powerful divine sense invaded his sea of ​​consciousness like a raging sea.

At the same time, the blood in the body congealed on its own, turning into blood-red runes that were imprinted between the flesh and bones!
Huang Shang's voice, tinged with laughter, echoed in his mind.

"Now that you've discovered me, become my blood corpse puppet... You can live a little longer and help me scout the way."

An hour later.

The Sword Path of the Setting Sun, the Red Cliffs like blood, seem to have been stained with the blood of ancient demons for ten thousand years.

Dark red rust stains, like dried blood scabs, are mottled and grotesque in the rock crevices.

The place is called "Setting Sun" not because of the sunlight, but because the two sides of the canyon are blood red, as if the setting sun is forever there, which is eerie and terrifying.

"Woo!"

A sudden gust of cold wind arose, stirring up the scarlet sand and turning it into a blood-red tornado that ravaged the sky.

Fine, scattered sword energy appeared in the wind, sparks flying as it swept across the rock walls, flickering uncertainly in the dark canyon like will-o'-the-wisps.

"Shh! Shh!"

Two sword lights pierced through the air, falling like meteors onto the ancient road covered with bone dust.

The sword light dissipated, revealing two figures.
"Uncle!"

Zhao Wuji, dressed in a purple-gold robe with a qilin pattern, smiled as he looked at the corner of his mouth.

"It's great to see you again."

"how?"

Yan Lan wore a fiery red dress, her black hair dancing lightly in the wind.

Her delicate fingers brushed against her temples, her eyes sparkling with natural allure, and her lips parted slightly:

"It's only been five years, and you already miss your senior master?"

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over her carefully drawn eyebrows and eyes, a half-smile on his face: "Uncle-Master, you're in quite a good mood, even in such a dangerous place, you don't forget to draw your eyebrows and hair."

"loquacious!"

Yan Lan's red lips curved slightly as she moved closer, her slender fingers lightly pressing against his chest: "You little ingrate, your master is just afraid you won't recognize my stunningly beautiful face."

Her expression suddenly turned serious, and she lowered her voice, saying, "I have a feeling that something might happen this time. That old man Wei Le is very strange, and just now..."

I noticed something amiss with the blood talisman on my body; it only activated when I was near Huang Chang.

"You mean, Huang Shang came in too?"

Zhao Wuji frowned in surprise.

“No, that’s not it. Penglai Sword Pavilion only has one ancient sword token, which is with me. We know how many of the other sword tokens there are. How could he get in?” Yan Lan shook her head, raised her wrist, and looked at the blood talisman on her wrist solemnly. “I’m afraid there is some danger in this sword domain that triggered the blood talisman.”

Zhao Wuji pondered and nodded: "There is indeed something strange about this matter. However, the most urgent task is to find the Nine Tripods of Yu the Great."

"Ok!"

Yan Lan nodded solemnly, "After Huang Shang let me enter the Sword Domain, I met up with Lin Dengxian of the Immortal Saint Sect at the Starfall Sword Plains, but now..."

She shook her head and winked at Zhao Wuji, "Naturally, I'll join you, my junior brother, to kick Lin Dengxian away."

As she made a hand seal, a bluish-gray stone tablet appeared out of thin air; it was none other than the Zhenhai Stele.

As the hand seal was formed, the Zhenhai Stele trembled and the gray mist on its surface surged, suddenly transforming into seven illusory figures pointing southwest.

"Is it the Mirror Lake Sword Realm?"

Zhao Wuji stared at the trail of the illusory figure, his brows furrowed, thinking of the Demon Lord who had also gone to the southwest.

Before the words were finished, a thunderous roar like a tsunami suddenly came from the distant sword path.

Suddenly, the air on the ancient road in the distance distorted, dust rose, and countless sword energies burst forth from the depths of the earth.

It was as if millions of sharp swords were drawn at the same time, tearing the void into hundreds of fragments.

Wherever the sword energy tide passed, the earth cracked and mountains crumbled.

The dust and sand were swept up by the sword energy, transforming into a sandstorm of sword blades that blotted out the sky. Every grain of sand shimmered with a dazzling cold light, just like a sandstorm composed of swords!
Amidst the sand and sword energy, shadowy figures flickered.

It seemed that many cultivators' remains were crawling out of the ground, their eye sockets flickering with ghostly blue flames, their decaying bone hands tightly gripping broken swords.

As the sword hummed, it regained its sharp edge.

"The Sword Qi Tide of the New and Full Moons!"

Yan Lan's fiery red dress fluttered wildly amidst the raging sword energy. As she made a hand seal, nine crimson sword lights shot out from her sleeves. "These are sword puppets nurtured by the sword domain's restrictions!"

A hint of seriousness flashed in her beautiful eyes, and her slender fingers danced like butterflies.

The nine crimson sword lights suddenly split in the air, transforming into eighty-one fiery red lotuses, each lotus heart emitting scorching sword light.

"go with!"

The Crimson Lotus Sword Formation roared out, incinerating all the sword energy and dust in its path.

The three sword puppets that rushed at them were instantly engulfed by flames, and their withered bones crumbled into ash in the scorching sword light.

"Although they were all sword prodigies in the past, they lost their cultivation after death. They were only enhanced by the restrictions and their sword skills from their previous lives were preserved."

Zhao Wuji's double pupils flickered, already discerning the clues.

Faced with the surging tide of sword puppets, he frowned slightly, raised his sword finger in the air, and made a hand seal to draw a circle.

An astonishing sword intent instantly rose from his body!

In an instant, ten thousand icy sword energies condensed from the void, transforming into a hundred-foot-long giant ice crystal sword under the guidance of the true meaning of "all laws return to one".

"cut!"

The giant sword crashed down with a deafening roar, like a pillar of heaven collapsing.

Where the sword passed, dozens of sword puppets in the front row instantly froze into ice, and then exploded into dust under the fierce sword pressure.

The ground was cleaved into a deep ravine, and the tides of sword energy on both sides were momentarily halted.

"Nephew, what skill you have! No wonder you are the number one swordsman in the Nine Provinces!"

Yan Lan chuckled, her jade hands forming a hand seal that changed once more. The eighty-one red lotuses suddenly closed, transforming into nine fiery dragons that writhed and tormented the group of sword puppets.

Wherever it went, withered bones were turned into charred remains.

"Let's go!! Before the sword energy storm covers too much area, let's break through."

Zhao Wuji gave a shout, and the two transformed into two streaks of purple and red light, speeding along the edge of the sword energy storm.

Then, a loud "whoosh!" was heard.

A mournful sword cry echoed through the heavens!

Numerous transparent sword spirits burst forth from the storm, unleashing a wave of sword intent that could drive one mad with madness.

Each sword spirit seems to retain its most prized sword moves from its previous life.

Some sword spirits can transform their swords into rainbows, their sword energy stretching across the sky like a bolt of lightning.

Some sword energies are as fine as hair, yet incomparably sharp.

Even more impressively, some unleashed ancient sword techniques that had been lost for a long time, their sword intent ancient and profound.

These remnant souls of former sword cultivators are controlled by restrictions, and the sword intent they emit is like ten thousand needles piercing their souls.

Yan Lan's divine sense and sword intent were shattered in a single exchange, and she let out a muffled groan.

"Soul Capture!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly made a hand seal.

Golden light burst forth from his eyes, like the blazing sun scorching the sky, enveloping all the incoming sword spirits.

Instantly, numerous sword spirits howled mournfully amidst the golden light, their souls rising like wisps of green smoke from ice and snow meeting the sun.

"Soul Chaser!"

He suddenly changed his technique again.

The Soul-Chasing Technique transformed into invisible chains, firmly binding the stunned sword spirits.

"swallow!!"

With a single breath, like a whale sucking in water, dozens of sword souls transformed into streams of light and disappeared into its belly.

Instantly, Zhao Wuji's sword energy surged by 30%, with even the tips of his hair bursting out with sharp sword light.

"You?!" Yan Lan's beautiful eyes widened, her red lips slightly parted, completely unable to understand the magic her junior nephew knew.

"Haha! That was great!"

Zhao Wuji let out a long roar, his eyes filled with sword intent like a galaxy spinning. He felt countless sword techniques coming to him from his sea of ​​consciousness, and his swordsmanship proficiency within the Yin Pearl increased dramatically.

This time, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

These sword spirits were all sword masters in their previous lives. They were sword cultivators who died tragically after entering the ancient sword domain in the past, and now they have become the nourishment for his swordsmanship!
With this deterrent effect, even though the hundreds of sword spirits in the other sword energy storms were controlled by restrictions, they did not dare to approach for a while.

A look of awe appeared in his eyes, which resembled ghostly blue flames.

What they feared was Zhao Wuji's strength and soul-devouring abilities, but what they respected was his astonishing swordsmanship.

However, in the blink of an eye...
"Woo!!!"

A mournful ghostly howl suddenly came from the depths of the distant storm, sounding like the wailing of ten thousand souls, causing the entire tide of sword energy to freeze!
A boundless and profound nascent soul power suddenly erupted, sweeping across all directions like a raging sea!

"Nascent Soul?!"

Zhao Wuji's pupils shrank sharply, and a blood moon spun deep within his double pupils. In the depths of the sword energy tide, dozens of sword souls were swallowed up as if by an invisible giant maw, instantly turning into green smoke and dissipating.

At the eye of the storm, a scarlet figure emerged, stepping over countless ghostly shadows.

The Demon Lord's pair of eerie green eyes flickered uncertainly in the storm, his scarlet robe fluttered in the wind, and sword energy gave way wherever he passed!

"Heh heh, what a magnificent Heavenly Qilin!"

A chilling laugh pierced the eardrums like ice from the deepest hell. The Demon Lord unfurled the Soul Banner, and countless wronged souls wailed in agony.
"In my seven hundred years of life, this is the first time I have ever seen a cultivator with such profound attainments in the Dao of Souls, capable of devouring a sword soul!"

"Demon Lord!" Yan Lan's pretty face turned pale, and her fiery red dress fluttered wildly under the violent spiritual pressure.

"It's really troublesome!"

Zhao Wuji's sword-like eyebrows shot up, and he grabbed Yan Lanhao's wrist, causing his purple-gold qilin-patterned robe to flutter even without wind.

"go!"

"Zheng!!"

The Cold Soul Sword was drawn from the sleeve like a dragon's roar, its light enveloping the two of them and transforming them into a stunning rainbow that pierced the sun, instantly tearing apart layers of sword energy!

"Want to go?"

The ghostly flames within the Demon Lord's eyes surged, and the Soul Banner unfurled abruptly: "Ten Thousand Ghosts Lock Souls!"

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"

Countless hideous ghostly figures surged out from the banner, transforming into a torrent of chains that blotted out the sky.

Each link of the chain is made up of twisted vengeful spirits, whose shrill screams are enough to shatter one's soul!

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

The mournful howl was like ten thousand needles piercing the soul, shaking the surrounding area and causing all vegetation to break and rocks to crumble!
Zhao Wuji didn't even turn his head, and slashed his sword through the air.

"Exorcise the spirits!"

The void behind him shattered like a mirror, and a dazzling golden streak shot out!

The golden mark was like the sun revolving, and wherever it passed, thousands of ghost locks were like snow meeting the blazing sun!
"Chucky!"

The chains of vengeful spirits melted away inch by inch, and those distorted faces let out a final, mournful howl in the golden light before turning into wisps of green smoke and dissipating!
The Demon Lord paused slightly, his ghostly eyes narrowing: "Interesting."

In that brief moment of delay, the sword rainbow ahead had already traveled a thousand feet!

"Humph!"

He snorted coldly, and his scarlet robe suddenly exploded, turning into a cloud of blood mist.

The next moment, three ghostly figures, neither real nor illusory, burst out from the blood mist and surrounded the area from three different directions!

Most strangely, wherever these three ghostly figures passed, even the sword spirits within the raging tide of sword energy retreated in terror, as if they had encountered a ghost king.

"Master's nephew!"

Yan Lan scanned behind her with her divine sense, and the overwhelming pressure of the Nascent Soul followed her like a shadow, as if it would devour the two of them in the next second.

She pursed her red lips tightly: "If you take me with you, it will only slow you down... Let's go our separate ways!"

"No need."

Zhao Wuji smiled faintly, then suddenly tightened his grip on her fair wrist:
"Uncle-Master, have you forgotten how I led you and the Peak Master back to Yunfeng Cave Heaven? Although this Demon Lord is only at the Nascent Soul stage, he's still a ways off from catching up with me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly made a hand seal, and the magic gesture between his fingers flew like a phantom.

"Shifting the scene!"

The void suddenly distorted, and the already weak tide of sword energy around them was torn apart by an invisible hand, creating a dark rift.

The two figures appeared as if they had fallen into a mirror.

In an instant, it transformed into a blur of reality and illusion.

With a soft "whoosh" sound.

Only a wisp of breeze remained in the same spot.

The relentlessly pursuing Demon Lord suddenly felt his surroundings change, and a mist appeared ahead.

Suddenly, a cliff appeared, blocking his path, and his expression changed.

"What kind of illusion is this?"
(End of this chapter)