Immortals of the End Times

On Sword Immortal Mountain.

Zhao Wuji walked up the winding mountain path with his hands behind his back.

As his robes fluttered, sword energy surged from all around him like a tide, but it all vanished upon touching the sword mist flowing around him.

The misty sword fog suddenly transformed into a chilling sword domain, with sword light swirling and shredding the incoming sword realm.

Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.

But ahead, on the rock wall, all the demon kings were sealed tightly like insects in amber.

The sword realm formed by the sword energy was like transparent glass, with fine, spiderweb-like silver-white sword patterns flowing across its surface.

Each line seemed to writhe like a living creature, sometimes transforming into a swimming fish, sometimes condensing into a flying bird, outlining a chilling sword pattern in the void.

Inside the Sword Realm, countless sword energies pierced through like silver needles.

Fine, hair-like sword threads coiled around the demon's body, each contraction raising plumes of blood mist.

Each flash of light caused the demon lord to let out a wail.

The sword marks on the rock face were growing on their own, like living vines.

After the newly sprouted sword energy pierced the wound, it frantically absorbed the demon blood, carving deep, bone-revealing furrows into the demon lord's body.

The entire rock wall has been transformed into a sword-bound cage, and even the falling withered leaves shatter into wisps of smoke the moment they come into contact with the sword boundary.

Seeing Zhao Wuji approaching, the Nascent Soul demon's golden eyes narrowed sharply, and a low growl like a trapped beast escaped his throat: "Zhao Wuji! If you dare to take advantage of someone in distress, Lord Jiuyou will surely summon you!"

"The Nine Netherworld Demon Lord?"

Zhao Wuji raised his eyes to look at the mountain peak, a mocking and cold smile playing on his lips.

But the demonic flames surged high above, and the black-robed figure was unable to break through the sword grass restriction.

He lightly flicked his sleeves, and a clear, melodious sword sound rang out. "If he could really come down from the mountain peak and do something to me, he should have come down long ago in these seven years."

The words trailed off.

With a clang!
The Soul-Splitting Frost Sword suddenly appeared from his sleeve, its cry like a dragon's roar echoing through the heavens!

The moment the sword was drawn, the entire mountain path was instantly frozen, and the temperature plummeted to the Xuanming realm.

Wherever the sword passed, thousands of prismatic ice crystals condensed in the void, each one reflecting a chilling sword light, making the mountain path seem like an extremely cold illusion.

In the blink of an eye, the hundred-foot-wide icy domain completely sealed off all the demon kings.

"what?!"

At the mountain's neck, Cang Yunzi suddenly raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

The sect leader of the Immortal Saint Sect stared intently at the azure longsword, a rare look of astonishment appearing on his face: "This sword... is actually the Soul-Splitting Cold Light?!"

The flying sword in his sleeve trembled and resonated, as if it were being attracted.

Within the icy realm, countless sword energies flowed like swimming fish, their sharpness unmatched.

"Roar!!"

The demon kings' golden eyes blazed with fury as they struggled, and suddenly a pair of fleshy demon wings unfurled from their backs.

Hundreds of scarlet blood blades burst forth from between the wing bones, but were shredded into dust by the frost sword energy the moment they touched the icy domain.

"puff!"

Its fangs bulged out, spewing out its highly corrosive innate demonic fire. That eerie green flame, powerful enough to melt gold and iron, froze into a crimson ice sculpture within the sword domain, before crashing to the ground and shattering into pieces.

"Demon Lord, save me!!"

"How dare you, Zhu Zi!"

The demonic clouds on the mountaintop suddenly surged, the Nine Nether Demon Lord's black robes fluttered, and two beams of dark blood lightning shot out from his demonic eyes.

The terrifying divine consciousness of a fully formed Nascent Soul cultivator solidified into a ten-thousand-foot-tall demonic statue that crashed down from the mountaintop.

The golem spewed soul-corroding demonic flames from its seven orifices, and the 'Nine Netherworld Spirit Devouring Seal' in its palm spun like a black hole, distorting even the Sword Tomb's restrictions wherever it passed.

"Yu!"

Zhao Wuji remained calm and composed, then suddenly made a hand seal.

The seven divine rings between his brows suddenly lit up, and the golden light of the exorcism technique burst forth like the sun, condensing into a ten-thousand-foot-long golden rainbow that shot into the sky.

The golden light resembled a golden crow spreading its wings, and as its fiery feathers unfurled, it tore the golem into a sky full of flames.

"Crack!!"

Within the icy realm, the demon kings' bodies had been frozen into azure ice sculptures.

The sword energy of the Soul-Splitting Frost Sword was like a dragon writhing and killing, and the surface of the ice sculpture was instantly covered with spider web-like cracks.

It roared in despair, and its skull suddenly exploded. A nascent soul carrying an ancient sword token broke through the ice and took advantage of the gap created by Zhao Wuji's shaking of the forbidden sword realm. It transformed into a stream of dark blue light and was about to escape.

"Are you able to leave?"

Zhao Wuji chuckled lightly, his sleeves billowing suddenly, and streaks of dark gold vines emerged like raging dragons from the sea.

The Seven Emotions Demon Flower patterns on the main trunk of the demon tree's clone suddenly lit up, crimson like blood.

"Um?!"

At the summit, the Nine Nether Demon Lord's demonic eyes narrowed sharply. The moment his divine sense swept over the dark golden vines, he actually detected a trace of pure Nine Nether Demonic Qi!

"This aura"

His demonic body beneath his black robe tensed abruptly, and ghostly fire blazed in his eyes: "This is actually comparable to the pure Netherworld demonic energy of my Nine Netherworld Devouring Spirit Technique? What exactly is this boy hiding in his sleeve?!"

Just as he was filled with surprise and doubt, the tip of the dark gold vine flicked out like a snake's tongue.

The six demonic leaves, like human hands forming hand seals, unleashed blinding blood-red light from the Soul-Chasing Runes, transforming into chains that bound the demonic infant.

"Do not!!"

The demonic infant screamed shrilly, and the ancient sword token burst forth with a blinding cold light, trying to break free, but the Six Desires Demon Leaf suddenly curled up, like a ferocious mouth suddenly closing.

"Crack!"

The moment the demonic leaves closed, the entrance to the Pot Heaven space flashed and disappeared within Zhao Wuji's sleeve.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's divine sense only caught a trace of familiar and pure Nine Nether Demonic Charm, and that aura seemed to originate from the blood of the Nine Nether True Demon!

Suddenly, Zhao Wuji seemed much more mysterious in his eyes.

This child is definitely not just from the Qilin Sword Sect; he must have other lineages.

Zhao Wuji casually stored the corpses of the demon kings into his sleeve-shaped space, allowing the Dragon Scale Gu King and Blood King Gu to devour them.

Although this demonic body appeared powerful, it faintly exuded a mixed aura, which was not entirely compatible with the nascent soul and spirit that had just been absorbed.

"It seems this fellow's title of 'one of the demons' is nothing more than a product of possessing the bodies of other demon kings. He probably practices some evil technique that steals the life essence and cultivation of others."

He scanned the demonic body being devoured by Gu worms within the pot's interior with his divine sense and shook his head slightly.

From his current perspective, having comprehended and come into contact with the 'Path of Divine Transformation'.

This piecemeal approach to cultivation will ultimately fail to lead to the attainment of the Great Dao.

Zhao Wuji's sleeves billowed like clouds as he calmly ascended the steps.

The restrictions along the mountain path sensed the presence of a living person, and instantly thousands of sword energies burst forth from the cracks in the rocks, condensing into a transparent sword realm in the void.

Each sword aura seemed to possess a spirit, weaving together into a vast net, and where the net covered, the air condensed into substantial sword energy.

Once caught up in this forbidden sword realm, one's fate will be no different from that of the demon kings.

"break!"

He flicked his finger, and the misty sword energy around him suddenly surged.

The incoming sword net touched the sword mist and instantly melted away like spring snow meeting boiling water. The transparent sword threads, imbued with ancient sword intent, dissolved inch by inch.

Tiny sparks burst forth from the fracture, tracing countless azure paths through the void.

Upon reaching a treacherous section, the entire mountain path suddenly twisted and wriggled as if it were alive.

On the rock walls on both sides.

The sword marks, each over a foot deep, simultaneously glowed with a cold, eerie blue light. Each mark seemed to be a sword cultivator who had been asleep for ten thousand years suddenly opening his eyes, transforming into the 'Nine Tribulations Questioning the Heart' restriction.

Nine sword shadows descended from the void.

The sword tip was aimed directly at Zhao Wuji's primordial spirit and nascent soul in his dantian, turning into a killing move that directly attacked his Dao heart.

"Om!!"

Within Zhao Wuji's third dantian space, the illusory image of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass swayed gently.

As the blades of grass unfurled, a trace of sword intent emanated from them, flowing through the body's meridians.

The sword intent, though seemingly weak, devoured the nine sword shadows the instant it touched them.

The nine towering sword shadows seemed to see a king, and instantly the sword energy retracted, making way for them.

“Indeed, they share the same origin.” Zhao Wuji’s eyes flickered slightly.

This phantom of the sword grass was given to me by a white-robed sword immortal with a flick of his finger when I performed the Summoning Immortal Technique.

It must be related to the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass on the mountaintop, but we don't know what cause and effect it might have.

After this brief interlude, he had already stepped onto the mountain neck platform.

The mist ahead dissipated, revealing the figure of Cang Yunzi sitting cross-legged.

The Immortal Saint Sect Master's three-zhang sword domain was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it still maintained a pure sword intent that was terrifying.

"Young friend, you are truly blessed."

Cang Yunzi suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with sword light, which landed on the Soul-Splitting Frost Sword swirling around Zhao Wuji. "Not only did he comprehend the Starry Chess Formation and activate the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, but he also obtained this Soul-Splitting Frost Light."

"Oh?"

Zhao Wuji looked surprised and moved, and immediately clasped his hands in a salute: "Sect Master actually recognizes this sword?"

The Soul-Splitting Frost Sword is a replica of the Nine Heavens from the Tiannan Secret Realm, and is one of the core treasures of the array.

He had secretly investigated for many years without finding a single clue, but unexpectedly, he found a clue here with Cangyunzi today.

"I know a little. To be honest, I only heard my late master mention the origins of this sword." Cang Yunzi stroked his beard and sighed, his expression slightly wistful, and his gaze towards Zhao Wuji was full of complex emotions.

Now that things have come to this, he has vaguely guessed some of Zhao Wuji's situation.

It's likely that he wasn't the only one who guessed it; the demon lord on the mountaintop probably already saw through the trick as well.

After all, their journey to the Ancient Sword Domain was originally intended to verify that answer.

At this moment, near the mountain peak, Huang Shang transmitted his voice to the Nine Nether Demon Lord, saying, "Demon Lord! The Sword Domain will close in only two years. If we don't give it our all now, we will both return empty-handed!"

The old Taoist's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he stared intently at the mountain peak: "If you are willing to help me reclaim the Qingzhou Cauldron, I have one last method that can allow you to get close to the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass!"

The demonic clouds on the mountaintop suddenly surged, and the black robes of the Nine Nether Demon Lord fluttered wildly.

His demonic eyes swept across the mountain neck below, his divine sense swept over the Qingzhou Cauldron at Zhao Wuji's waist, and then looked at the Daoist scripture in Huang Chang's palm. Suddenly, his demonic eyes flashed and he smiled coldly: "Old ghost, you better not disappoint me!"

That's what he said, but in reality, he already had other ideas in mind.

He had even changed his mind and no longer wanted to easily approach the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, but instead wanted to deal with Zhao Wuji instead.

"Nine-Leaf Sword Grass"

The Demon Lord's black robes fluttered without wind as he looked up at the immortal herb that seemed to be emitting sword energy.

The sword intent hanging down amidst the unfurling blades of grass now seemed to him like a deadly trap.

The experience of struggling for more than a decade has caused this powerful figure in the demonic path to waver in his judgment for the first time.

"perhaps."

The ghostly flames within his demonic eyes flickered uncertainly, and his divine sense subtly locked onto the figure in the green robe below.

He was willing to take great risks to seize the Ancient Sword Token and enter the Ancient Sword Domain because he knew that a major change was about to occur in this world.

This variable is likely related to the calamity of the Dharma-ending Age, and may be the hope for the end of all Dharma.

He originally thought the variable lay in the Ancient Sword Domain, which is why the sect leader of the Immortal Saint Sect made an unprecedented move to enter the Ancient Sword Domain.

Within the ancient sword domain, the only certainty that can be called a variable, or even change the pattern of heaven and earth, is this Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, which no one has been able to obtain for thousands of years.

Even the Nine Tripods of Yu the Great are somewhat inferior.

Even after seeing Huang Shang's presence, he had wavered in his resolve.

The variable that is suspected is Huang Chang, an old monster who has survived since the Song Dynasty. His insistence on collecting the Nine Tripods of Yu the Great in order to change the calamity of the end times may be the real change in the world of this era.

The strange tacit understanding and cooperation between the Immortal Saint Sect and Huang Chang, in particular, convinced him even more.

This old ghost is very likely the key being capable of changing the格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall situation and destiny) of the world.

Therefore, when Huang Shang offered to cooperate and help him reach the summit to obtain the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, he was secretly delighted.

They thought they had seized this 'variable piece' from the Immortal Saint Sect.

However.
Zhao Wuji's sudden emergence and subsequent astonishing performance overturned his previous ideas.

"Could it be that Zhao Wuji is the variable? He's only just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and yet he's already comprehending the Dao from the Starry Chessboard."
His swordsmanship is so profound; at such a young age, he's already comparable to Cang Yunzi, possesses the Qingzhou Cauldron, and can directly activate the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass!

As the Nine Nether Demon Lord pondered this, a startling thought exploded like a thunderclap.

Perhaps from the very beginning, the real turning point was not the grass on the mountain, nor the old ghost Huang Shang, but the young man who seemed to have stumbled into Sword Immortal Mountain by chance!
"We must control the variables. Otherwise, given this child's talent and ruthless demon-slaying abilities, he must be nipped in the bud!"

The Nine Nether Demon Lord suddenly turned his head, his demonic voice like the clash of cold iron from the Nine Netherworlds: "Old Ghost Huang! This child is no ordinary person. Now he has broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and his swordsmanship is unfathomable."

Taking him down isn't difficult, but we must be wary of Cangyunzi interfering.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's demonic eyes flashed with a ghostly light, and a divine sense, like a venomous snake, quietly entered Huang Chang's ear. "There's no rush to seize the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass. When this boy comes up the mountain later, I will help you seize the Qingzhou Cauldron from him."

But if Cangyunzi also makes a move, you must step in and try to stop him!

Huang Shang's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "Alright!"

This collaboration may seem disadvantageous to him, but it is actually just right.

He knew perfectly well that although Cang Yunzi was also at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, his sword technique of transforming a domain was unfathomable.

Although he had broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage in the past few years, he was not confident of defeating Cang Yunzi.

However, if it were merely a matter of maneuvering, his acquired magical abilities and experience would be more than sufficient.

He knew very well that Zhao Wuji was not simple and had a powerful and terrifying clone.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord must have seen this as well, which is why getting Zhao Wuji's job was actually more difficult than dealing with Cang Yunzi.

At the mountain's neck, the sword's aura was like frost.

Cang Yunzi, dressed in white robes, stood with his hands behind his back. As he spoke, Zhao Wuji was deeply shaken upon hearing the name of the owner of the Soul-Splitting Frost Sword, and frowned in confusion.

"Jin Linzi?"

Cang Yunzi frowned slightly, noticing the subtle change in Zhao Wuji's expression. His eyes flickered, as if he was weighing something.

After a moment, he nodded slightly: "That's right, it is indeed Senior Jin Linzi."

He made a soundproof sword incantation with his fingertips, instantly enveloping an area of ​​ten zhang in an invisible sword domain: "It is rumored that this senior is at least at the Nascent Soul Dao Lord realm, or even..."

Cang Yunzi raised his finger and pointed to the sky, a rare look of awe in his eyes: "It may touch upon a higher level. My master once said that this person's origin can be traced back to ancient times."

Cang Yunzi lowered his voice and said solemnly, "My Immortal Saint Sect's founder, Shui Yunzi, once traveled the world and encountered this senior. After discussing the Dao together for a period of time, he greatly admired this senior and even said that he had received guidance from him."

And this senior's explanation of the Nine Heavens theory, as well as that supreme treasure that could manifest the Nine Heavens with one's own body."

His words abruptly stopped, his gaze shooting like lightning towards the azure longsword in front of Zhao Wuji.

"It is indeed your Soul-Splitting Frost Sword!"

After he finished speaking, he saw a barely perceptible tremor pass through Zhao Wuji's expression, and pondered, "Young friend, you were able to obtain this Soul-Splitting Frost Sword, could you perhaps be a descendant of the senior Jin Linzi?"

Zhao Wuji's heart was indeed in turmoil, but he maintained his composure on the surface.

This is because the person named 'Jin Linzi' is clearly the name of the Nascent Soul cultivator who possessed the ancient Immortal Court behind the Gate of Mysterious Female using the Immortal Invocation Technique.

He didn't take it too seriously at the time.

After all, in the ancient Celestial Court, even Nascent Soul Dao Lords were referred to as minor cultivators, which was quite common.

His attention was focused on the Celestial Venerable, the White-Clad Sword Immortal, and the Scattered Immortal Child.

Who would have thought that the Nascent Soul cultivator he casually possessed would later become the great power who created the Tiannan Secret Realm!

Moreover, he even gave guidance to Shuiyunzi, the former founder of the Immortal Saint Sect.

Zhao Wuji looked at the Soul-Splitting Frost Sword, pondered for a moment, and said, "I only obtained this sword by chance in a secret realm, so I can't be considered a successor of Senior Jin Linzi."

His eyes flickered slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Over the years, I have been searching for the origin of this sword. It is truly unexpected to hear the sect leader reveal its secrets today. Thank you for clearing my mind, sect leader."

"Oh?"

Cang Yunzi raised his snow-white, sword-like eyebrows slightly, vaguely guessing that Zhao Wuji must know something.

But he did not ask any further questions.

He turned around with his hands behind his back, pointing towards the misty mountain peak as his robes fluttered: "Young friend, have you come for that Nine-Leaf Sword Grass?"

His silver hair, tied up under his jade crown, danced wildly: "Now, on the mountaintop, the Nine Nether Demon Lord is like a vicious tiger, and Huang Chang is also eyeing us covetously. If you don't mind, young friend, I am willing to lend a helping hand."

"Oh? It would be wonderful to have the sect leader's help."

Zhao Wuji's gaze narrowed slightly. "But didn't the Immortal Saint Sect and Huang Chang have a history of cooperation?"

"cooperate?"

Cang Yunzi shook his head and smiled, "Huang Shang has survived since the Song Dynasty, and seems to be burdened with destiny. Moreover, he has lofty ambitions and indeed has the will to collect the Nine Cauldrons and change the end of the world."

“In the past, my master used the ‘Ziwei Destiny Chart’ to deduce the secrets of heaven and predicted that there would be changes in the Dharma-ending Age.”

In the past three hundred years, I have cast the divination seven times, and each time it points to the present age.

As he spoke, a three-foot-long green light suddenly burst forth from his fingertips, drawing a hexagram in the void that resembled a reflection in water or a flower in a mirror.

As the hexagram patterns flowed, the seven stars could be faintly seen hanging upside down, which was the 'Ziwei Destiny Chart' divination technique secretly passed down by the Immortal Saint Sect.

"When I first met Huang Shang, I learned of his ambitions and background. The divination suddenly became clear, and I believed that the turning point lay with this man."

The hexagram suddenly trembled violently, and the seven stars shifted.

The once clear phantom of Huang Shang distorted and dissipated like a reflection in water, replaced by a wisp of ethereal sword energy that seemed to linger around Zhao Wuji.

Cang Yunzi's eyes suddenly brightened, and he looked at Zhao Wuji and smiled, "Until you appeared, young friend, this divination seems to have changed again."

A sudden mountain wind arose, blowing the divination symbols away like smoke, and then bursting forth with a three-colored glow.

The three colors of cyan, gold, and blue intertwined, which were exactly the same as Zhao Wuji's Nascent Soul Divine Light!
Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly.

The golden body of the primordial spirit in the sea of ​​consciousness suddenly opened its eyes, and the seven divine wheels turned like the sun, with golden rays cascading down like a waterfall, suppressing all the ripples of emotion in that instant.

"A variable?"

He nodded slightly, his voice calm.

Indeed, he had long heard of the Immortal Saint Sect's so-called "changes in the universe".

However, he concealed his true thoughts even more deeply.

These old monsters all speak very eloquently.

But he didn't want to see what others said; he only wanted to see how to do it.

"Zheng!"

A clear, resonant sword cry suddenly echoed across the mountain peak.

Cang Yunzi's three-zhang sword domain suddenly expanded, and the sword qi restriction that had been clinging to him like a bone-deep sore collapsed inch by inch.

As the white robes billowed, countless transparent sword threads shattered like ice crystals, refracting thousands of cold glints in the void.

The sect leader of the Immortal Saint Sect stood with his hands behind his back. The mountain wind swept past his hair and jade crown. His eyes under his sword-like eyebrows were as calm as an ancient well. There was no trace of the embarrassment of being suppressed by the Sword Realm.
Previously, observing Huang Shang as a "variable" was merely a matter of waiting and seeing how things would unfold.

And now.

New variables have emerged, and it is time to act accordingly.

"Young friend Zhao, please!"
(End of this chapter)