Immortals of the End Times

"The sword's hum... seems to be a summons."

Faced with the clear and melodious sword chant coming from the mountaintop, Zhao Wuji's heart stirred slightly.

He felt that the sound was as fine as silk threads, penetrating straight to his dantian, as if an invisible sword intent was guiding his consciousness.

His divine sense flew close.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass stood proudly atop the mountain. As its leaves unfurled, sword energy descended like a galaxy. Each leaf seemed to carry a realm of swords, its sharpness restrained yet captivating.

The dewdrops hanging from the tips of the leaves are crystal clear, reflecting streaks of sword light, as if they contain endless mysteries.

Suddenly, one of the blades of grass trembled slightly.

A drop of dew suddenly shot out, like a fleeting glimpse of light, instantly enveloping his consciousness.

"Hahaha!"

Suddenly, a hearty laugh exploded like thunder, causing his consciousness to tremble slightly.

The laughter was clear as a spring, yet it carried the immense power of ancient sword intent, seemingly capable of severing the long river of time and penetrating the very soul.

The scene within the dewdrops suddenly changed.

But then one sees the towering Jianmu tree, surrounded by thirty-three heavens, each heaven like a vast world.

The celestial palaces and jade towers float in the clouds, golden clouds cascade down like waterfalls, and auspicious vapors rise like the sea.

The main trunk of the Jianmu tree runs through all directions, and as its branches and leaves spread out, it seems to hold up thousands of stars. Each leaf carries a celestial city, shimmering with light and flowing with Taoist charm.

A white-robed swordsman laughed heartily as his blue robes fluttered in the wind, and he walked through the air.

Where the sword light reached, the sea of ​​clouds parted like a curtain, revealing a dazzling galaxy behind it.

With each step he took, a sword grass sprouted beneath his feet, each leaf containing supreme sword intent.

As we passed through one celestial palace after another, the stars in the sky shifted accordingly.

His trajectory shifted, as if the entire starry sky was making way for him.

The sword immortal ultimately flew straight into the chasm beyond the heavens!

But then, in the pitch-black abyss beyond the sky, three dazzling golden lights hung suspended, like the suns in the sky, their radiance so intense that even the void itself seemed to distort.

Within one of the blazing suns, the figure of the black-robed Celestial Venerable appeared and disappeared, his aura as deep and unfathomable as a prison. Just a glance from him was enough to make the branches and leaves of the Jianmu tree tremble.

These four quasi-immortal beings seem to be joining forces to fight a fierce battle against an enemy from outer space!
The moment the white-robed swordsman's sword light collided with the Daoist aura, the void shattered inch by inch like a mirror, and the pitch-black cracks spread like a spider web, devouring all the surrounding spiritual energy.

Zhao Wuji was deeply shocked by what he witnessed, and vaguely knew that this should be the cause of the destruction of the ancient Celestial Court.

The duration of this battle is unknown.

The aftershocks of the battle swept across the Thirty-Three Heavens, causing the celestial court's jade steps to collapse and glazed tiles to turn to dust.

The main trunk of the Jianmu tree burst open with hideous cracks, as if a cataclysmic disaster had descended.

"clang!!"

A sword cry that shook the universe came from beyond the heavens, and a tidal wave of intense light instantly engulfed the thirty-three heavens.

The light was so intense, like the first ray of light after the creation of the world, that it pierced Zhao Wuji's consciousness with a burning pain.

"The ancient Celestial Court... was it destroyed like this? It once had thirty-three heavens, but after its destruction, it became nine..."

Could it be that the cause is not as simple as the internal calamity of the Dharma-ending Age, but rather external?

The scene abruptly ended there, and the sword energy of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass swirled, carrying his consciousness back to his head.

"Shh!"

This crystal-clear dewdrop, detached from his divine consciousness, fell into his dantian like a galaxy, stirring up layers of spiritual ripples within the third heavenly space.

The moment the dewdrop fell, the dormant Jianmu meridians in the inner realm suddenly lit up with an emerald-like halo.

Thousands of spiritual energy threads descended, guiding the dewdrops to the core of the secret realm like stars surrounding the moon.

"Om!!"

The moment the dewdrop touched the interior soil, it silently melted away, like spring rain nourishing all things.

A phantom image of a three-inch sword grass burst forth from the soil, its nine leaves unfurling and emitting a clear, melodious sword sound.

The newly sprouted grass leaves appear as shadows, but in reality they are more solid than before, with liquid sword intent flowing through the veins, and each line resembling a miniature sword array operating on its own.

Most astonishingly, the drop of spiritual dew hanging from the tip of the blade of grass reflected a miniature image of the entire Sword Immortal Mountain.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Herb swayed gracefully in the dew, as if it had forged a piece of heaven and earth into its natal sword imprint, with a faint connection between them.

"boom!"

Zhao Wuji trembled violently as the body reshaped by the Yin-Yang Pearl was fully formed at that moment.

The newly formed skin shone like black jade, with dark gold battle patterns interwoven into a net beneath the skin.

Each line flows slowly like a river of lava.

The crackling sound of bones regenerating was like the clash of metal, and the blood surging through the bone marrow carried wisps of sword energy.

"Your body has regenerated and recovered so quickly!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his newly restored body with surprise.

He clenched his fist suddenly, and his knuckles exploded with a thunderous sound.

His arm muscles were bulging like coiled dragons and pythons, and his veins were bulging like a dragon turning over. The sheer power of his arms distorted the surrounding air.

With a slight exertion of force, a three-foot-long burst of energy erupted from his pores, crushing the falling pebbles into dust.

Upon internal inspection, the meridians within the body had widened by more than 30%, and spiritual energy surged like boiling mercury, roaring like the Yangtze River in the meridians tempered by sword intent.

The surface of the internal organs is covered with a crystalline film.

Each pulse burst forth with a clear, melodious sword cry, as if the entire body had transformed into a humanoid divine weapon.

Deep within the dantian, the three-colored nascent soul, which had already returned to the dantian, suddenly opened its eyes.

"Om!!"

Three divine lights—azure, gold, and blue—exploded like the blazing sun from beyond the heavens, their dazzling brilliance cascading down like a celestial river, illuminating the entire inner realm with every detail.

The gate of the mysterious female is now fully open.

Behind the door lies a mysterious place.

Ancient spiritual energy surged forth like a burst dam, transforming into a tangible river of spiritual mist that poured powerfully into the nascent soul.

The three-colored nascent soul sat cross-legged like a mountain, its entire body bathed in spiritual light, with Dao patterns moving around it as if they were alive.

With each breath, a large amount of ancient spiritual energy is absorbed and refined, transforming into pure magical power that flows throughout the body.

Zhao Wuji once struggled to resolve the issue of the Mysterious Gate only providing ancient spiritual energy to the inner Golden Core, but now that problem is easily solved.

The Gate of Mysterious Female no longer merely nourishes the inner landscape, but forms a perfect cycle with the Nascent Soul, with spiritual energy surging and boiling in the meridians like molten mercury.

The seven Dao patterns between the nascent soul's eyebrows lit up one after another, each pattern containing a special supernatural power.

It perfectly echoes the seven divine rings of the primordial spirit.

At this moment, the nascent soul is no longer a vessel for cultivation.

It was like a primordial deity undergoing transformation, with every inch of the infant's skin flowing with an ancient and awe-inspiring Daoist charm.

He has fully recovered.

Not only was his physical body reconstructed, but his previously depleted magical power, spiritual consciousness, and injuries were also completely restored.

The price was that one of the opportunities for physical reshaping within the Yin-Yang Pearl was consumed.

Zhao Wuji felt the surging Nascent Soul power within his body and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. This time, he had truly narrowly escaped death.

What exactly is the Nine Nether Ancestral Demon?

Judging from his previous tone, he didn't even take the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass seriously, and seemed to compare himself to an ancient sword immortal.

However, he vaguely sensed that although the Ancestral Demon's power was great, it was not as great as the white-robed sword immortal in his memory, and it might not even be comparable to the Daoist charm of the Loose Immortal Child.

Although that demonic finger contained the essence of the Dao of Transformation, it only barely touched the threshold.

If it truly is power at the Dao Integration level, even the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass might struggle to reverse the decline.

"The Ancestral Demon said that what appeared was the power of a demonic shadow, which may also be related to the power of the sacrificial offering itself, and there may be some kind of limitation." Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly as he recalled the Ancestral Demon's last words.

It seems that the ancestral demon's cross-realm power is subject to the strength of the sacrificial offerings.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord was ultimately only at the Nascent Soul stage; even if he sacrificed himself, the demonic power he could summon was limited.

Perhaps that ancestral demon possessed power at the level of Dao Integration, but it was limited in some way and could not unleash its full power.

"However, this is still very frightening."

He knew very well that without comprehending the Dao, he was not qualified to fight against a Nascent Soul Realm expert.

The gap between Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation is far greater than the gap between Nascent Soul and Golden Core, seemingly due to a fundamental difference in power and life level.

Zhao Wuji looked up at the swaying Nine-Leaf Sword Grass on the mountaintop, his mind filled with doubts.

Why can both the ancient sword domain and the Nine Nether Land accommodate beings beyond the Nascent Soul level?

In the degenerate age when spiritual energy was depleted, this was simply inconceivable.

Perhaps because the Sword Domain is located within the Nine Heavens and was once the Daoist temple of the White-Clad Sword Immortal, it is protected by some kind of immortal means, which is why it can maintain the existence of such a heaven-defying divine object as the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.

But how did that Nine Nether Ancestral Demon break through the shackles of heaven and earth?

Could it be that the mysterious Nine Netherworld, like the Nine Heavens, also harbors hidden secrets?

Zhao Wuji couldn't help but think of the figure bound by chains that he had once seen behind the Nine Heavens.

Those figures were not simple either.

His eyes flickered slightly, his thoughts racing.

"In this degenerate age, many demons were forced to flee to distant lands beyond the rivers and mountains."

He thought to himself, "That area is adjacent to the Netherworld, where all the spiritual energy flows into the Netherworld and the Yin energy is pervasive, making it a haven for low-level demons."

Thinking of this, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"In that case, the Nine Netherworlds might be a special zone that provides a living environment for those high-level demons. And what about the depths within?"

His mind suddenly cleared, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

Just then, dark gold battle patterns flowed around the demon tree clone not far away.

Xiang Yu's true blood boiled like molten lava, completely devouring and refining the corrosive demonic energy.

The thousand-foot-tall tree trunk not only recovered to its original state, but also appeared even more ferocious and powerful, with the incomparably domineering battle intent of King Xiang faintly emanating from its gnarled branches.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Deep within the tree's heart, a series of heartbeats, like the beating of drums, resounded, each one like a muffled thunderclap, causing the surrounding void to tremble slightly.

"Ok?"

Zhao Wuji flashed and instantly arrived in front of him.

The dark gold battle patterns on the surface of the demon tree's clone became increasingly deep.

It had already absorbed nearly half of Xiang Yu's true blood, and the dark gold branches faintly glowed with spiritual light, showing even greater resilience and vitality than before.

"Following this trend..."

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

In the battle just now, the demon tree clone only unleashed 50% of its battle power, yet it was already able to briefly contend with the Ancestral Demon's finger.

If you unleash your full power
Upon realizing this, he was startled.

"The complete Xiang Yu Battle Body is so domineering that it can even convert the demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds into its own power."

His gaze was deep.

"Although King Xiang was not as powerful as the Ancestral Demon, he was still a Nascent Soul cultivator. If this clone could completely control the battle body..."

Thinking of the supreme martial immortal combat power imbued with Daoist principles, a blazing light ignited in his eyes.

"Bah!"

Just then, a sound came from the distant rocks.

He subtly sensed that Cang Yunzi's aura was gradually stabilizing amidst the nearby mountain ruins.

He immediately made a hand seal and put the demon tree clone, which was still recovering and becoming stronger, into the Pot Heaven Space.

"Whoosh!"

He moved like lightning, instantly appearing beside Cang Yunzi.

The sect leader of the Immortal Saint Sect was dressed in white robes stained with blood, his Daoist crown shattered, but the sword mark between his brows still gleamed faintly. He was healing himself and, upon noticing his arrival, nodded slightly in greeting.

"Sect Master Cangyunzi, I'm here to heal your wounds!"

Zhao Wuji gave a reminder, then made a hand seal with his fingers together.

Using his medical skills, verdant life burst forth from his fingertips, nourishing Cang Yunzi's injuries like spring rain.

As the spiritual energy of the green wood circulated, the wound on Cang Yunzi's chest, which had been corroded by demonic energy, healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his pale face gradually regained its color.

at the same time.

Beyond the rivers and mountains, in the mysterious and dark Nine Netherworlds, demonic energy surges ceaselessly like a tide.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's nascent soul floated in the thick demonic mist, his body wrapped in six Netherworld chains, as he was dragged toward the altar at the bottom of the abyss.

The altar was entirely black, its surface covered with twisted demonic patterns, each one writhing and roaring like a living creature.

Six stone pillars, engraved with ferocious dragon patterns, surround the area, with the inextinguishable Netherworld Demon Fire burning atop them.

"By the Ancestral Demon."

The demon infant of the Nine Nether Demon Lord knelt before the altar, his voice filled with weakness and awe.

Before him were chains that bound and sealed him, each as thick as a mountain, with viscous demonic liquid flowing over its surface.

At the center of the chains, a blurry, enormous demonic figure could be vaguely seen, its mere aura distorting the void.

"Nine Netherworlds, that kid is not simple. I am somewhat familiar with some of the spells he used."

"Crash!"

The chains on the altar suddenly trembled violently, and the thoughts of the Greed Demon emanated like gusts of cold wind: "The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass is actually helping him. This child is very likely the world-changing force that I asked you to find!"

"variable?!"

The demonic infant's primordial spirit trembled violently, its demonic runes flickering uncertainly. "So it was him! It really was him! I guessed it before."

He was both terrified and ecstatic, as if he had seen a demonic path leading to heaven.

Deep within the altar, five even more ancient thoughts are slowly awakening.

The demonic infant's primordial spirit trembled even more violently.

He knew that as the variables became apparent, the other five ancestral demons would soon awaken and return.

The格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall structure and patterns of the world) is about to change.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's nascent soul immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his voice humble: "Ancestral Demon above, your grandson is willing to leave the Nine Nether once more to capture that variable for you!"

A chilling laugh suddenly echoed from within the altar, the chains vibrating violently and clanging like metal on metal: "With your meager skills? You couldn't even subdue this brat before, and even this Ancestral Demon Shadow was hindered by the Sword Domain."

The demonic infant's primordial spirit trembled, but then the ancestral demon's voice suddenly changed: "However."

Thick demonic liquid suddenly seeped from the gaps in the chains, condensing into a twisted demonic rune in the void: "If I help you reshape your physical body and then infuse it with supreme demonic intent, there might be a chance."

Upon hearing this, the demonic infant spirit was both surprised and delighted, and the demonic runes on its surface flickered violently.

He naturally understood what this meant.

Although the physical body can be restored and reshaped, if it is infused with supreme demonic intent, it means that it may be devoured by the Daoist and demonic intent of the ancestral demon.

But if he can ultimately pull through, perhaps he will be able to break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future.

More importantly, once the balance of power in the world changes, the calamity of the Dharma-ending Age will be ended.

Once one reaches the Nascent Soul stage, their cultivation will no longer be restricted; at that time, they will be free to soar like birds in the sky.
(End of this chapter)