Immortals of the End Times

Within the cave.

The gnarled branches of the demon tree intertwined with the Dao seal, and the azure Dao aura flowed like a spring stream thawing, meandering along the veins.

As each line lights up, a section of the branch transforms into a jade-like texture, and as the leaves unfurl, ancient patterns remarkably similar to the annual rings of the Jianmu tree emerge.

"Jianmu. The path to heaven."

The demon tree clone murmured in a low voice, its dark gold battle patterns intertwined with its azure Daoist charm, as if reenacting the scene of Jin Linzi's attainment of Dao.

It was originally a remnant of the Jianmu tree, and even devoured three other tree species.

At this moment, encountering the Daoist charm of the Jianmu tree is like a wanderer returning home. His understanding of the Daoist charm within the Dao seal is far more profound than that of Zhao Wuji.

Fragments of Jin Linzi's enlightenment contained within the many Daoist principles flashed back in his divided mind and spirit like clear images.

Jin Linzi sat cross-legged in the Jianmu Cave, as if he had transformed into a giant, towering Jianmu tree.

The "bearing the heavens and carrying all things" principle gleaned from the roots penetrating the nine netherworlds.

The meaning of "unyielding" that I realized when the branches pierced through the thirty-three heavens.

The "all rivers run into the sea" philosophy experienced when the leaves receive the celestial energy of the universe.
"I see!"

Suddenly, the main trunk of the demon tree clone burst forth with a soaring azure light, and thousands of branches, like arms, reached into the surrounding void, while its roots burrowed into the spiritual veins of the sacred mountain to draw spiritual energy.

His spiritual pressure was rising steadily in the late Nascent Soul stage, and he even showed faint signs of enlightenment.

"Letting my clone comprehend the Dao of Jianmu is indeed much easier than me comprehending it myself."

Zhao Wuji closed his eyes to share his insights, but his mind was as if being pushed to another realm by a giant wave.

Enlightenment!

Where does his path lead?
What is his path?
In an instant, countless memories flashed by like a revolving lantern.

Before he entered the Daoist path, he devoutly and eagerly searched through ancient books for immortals and the Dao.

Upon first entering the Linglang Cave Heaven, witnessing the solemnity of the immortal gates, one is determined to climb to the top.

Having lurked in the Wang family for many years, he suddenly overturned the chessboard with his hidden ruthlessness.

The Qilin Sword Sect broke through the barrier with their swords, their sword energy soaring into the sky and revealing its sharp edge.

When facing the Ancestral Demon on Sword Immortal Mountain, he was resolute and unyielding.

When facing the will of Heaven, there is that untamed spirit of "If Heaven destroys me, I will create Heaven."
"My Way"

His mind suddenly cleared, like a mirror suddenly shattering, revealing his true self.

Immortality is a wish, and freedom is a natural instinct.

What runs through the entire story is that sharp edge that cuts through the shackles!

Just as the Jianmu tree stands tall and upright, its Dao is...
"cut!"

The Daoist voice boomed like thunder. As soon as the word was uttered, the seventh divine wheel between the nascent soul's brows lit up with a bang, revealing a faint Daoist aura.

It is not "in accordance with the times" but rather "inheritance".

It is not a "carrying" that is obsequious.

It is not a struggle to seize a sliver of heavenly secrets!
In the battle for immortality, only interception can break through.

Cut off the last glimmer of life in the Heavenly Dao, and fight for the eternal and indestructible true meaning.

"Zheng!"

Within the inner realm, the illusory image of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass trembled incessantly, its chaotic sword energy resonating with the Daoist principles.

The scene of using stars as pieces and reversing the course of fate on a chessboard of stars in the past is now superimposed.

"This glimpse into the Dao, this understanding of its essence, is my opportunity to transform into a Nascent Soul cultivator!"

Zhao Wuji's mind cleared, and all the pent-up emotions in his heart vanished.

Understanding one's own path is like parting the clouds to see the moon, finally revealing the road ahead.

The word "截" (jie) was like a beacon in the dark, illuminating his path to becoming a deity.

For future cultivation, you only need to take this path as your foundation.

Continuously try to understand its true meaning.

Once one's cultivation reaches perfection, one can naturally and effortlessly condense a unique Dao seal that belongs only to oneself.

"call!"

With a slight flick of his sleeves, the portal to the inner sanctum opened wide, revealing a thunderstorm raging outside.

The rich spiritual energy of the sixth-level spiritual vein of the Immortal Saint Sect poured down like an inverted celestial river.

Zhao Wuji sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, his breathing subtly harmonizing with the rhythm of heaven and earth, while carefully comprehending the true meaning of the Dao of Interception.

The Nine Yin Nine Yang Pearls hang in the sea of ​​consciousness, swallowing the Yin and Yang energies of heaven and earth like a whale swallowing the sea; this is the 'Interception' technique.

The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Techniques manipulate creation and open up a path to survival in desperate situations; this is also known as "interception."

If he were to ascend to the Ninth Heaven in the future, and resolve this calamity before the end of the Dharma, and confront the Heavenly Dao directly, he would surely seize that sliver of life from the Heavenly Dao!
As he was deep in thought, he suddenly noticed that the rain outside the window had just stopped and the thunder was fading away.

"Boom!!"

The final bolt of lightning cleaved through the clouds.

Zhao Wuji suddenly raised his head.

The sky was clear and bright, with a seven-colored rainbow spanning east to west, cutting the remaining lead-gray clouds in two.

Where the rainbow light passed, the clouds rolled and retreated, as if silk had been cut by an invisible blade.

"The Way of Intercepting Heaven"

His pupils contracted sharply, and a glint of light seemed to flash in his eyes.

The magnificent sight of the rainbow bridge suspended in the sky was just like the true meaning of the Dao he had come to understand.

To carve out a sliver of clarity from chaos, to carve out a path to survival from dire circumstances.

"Wow!"

His sleeves billowed like clouds.

Zhao Wuji formed a sword with his fingers and slashed it through the air.

Golden light burst forth from his fingertips, condensing into a hundred-foot-long, dazzling golden rainbow that pierced the sky like a celestial sword, severing the surging river of spiritual energy in front of him.

"laugh!"

The severed spiritual energy solidified in mid-air like insects in amber, with fine, pale purple Dao patterns flowing across the cut surface.

That was a sliver of the Daoist essence he had just grasped.

"This technique is quite good."

Zhao Wuji clapped his hands and laughed, then made a hand seal to guide the movement.

The severed river of spiritual energy, like an inverted celestial river, poured into his seven orifices as a torrent.

"Take it!"

As Zhao Wuji made a hand seal, the pores all over his body suddenly opened up, and the ingestion technique started to operate spontaneously like a gluttonous beast devouring the sky.

All 365 acupoints simultaneously transformed into vortexes, frantically refining the incoming spiritual energy.

"boom!"

The three-colored nascent soul within the dantian suddenly opened its eyes, and the seven divine wheels burst forth with dazzling golden light.

The nascent soul's body expanded and solidified at a visible speed, and a strange pattern, resembling neither a sword nor a rainbow, appeared between its brows, piercing through the seven divine rings.

That was a wisp of the Daoist essence that I had just begun to comprehend, the prototype of the Daoist seal that would later appear!

"Crash!!"

The spiritual energy surged like an angry dragon entering the sea, and the cultivation level jumped wildly under the reflection of the Yin-Yang Pearl, increasing by tens of thousands in an instant.

Ordinary techniques could hardly induce such a strange phenomenon.

Only a rudimentary form of Taoist art that incorporates the true essence of Tao can reveal such profound mysteries that rival the creation of heaven and earth.

"Wonderful!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly burst into laughter, and as his sleeves fluttered, the vortex of spiritual energy dissipated.

He gazed at the golden afterimage swirling in his palm, a glint of light in his eyes: "This technique was merely something I wielded casually, yet it subtly embodies the true meaning of the 'Interception' Dao."

Before the words were finished, the golden rainbow at his fingertips suddenly twisted and deformed on its own, transforming into Dao patterns that meandered and swam in the air like swimming fish.

Each line seemed to have torn the void into fine cracks, which had been unable to heal for a long time.

Just like the rainbow that spans the sky after a rainstorm, it is a sign that heaven and earth have used their great power to cut off the clouds.

This Rainbow Light Technique, which he created himself, has now transformed into a rudimentary Daoist technique capable of 'intercepting' a sliver of heavenly secrets amidst the torrent of myriad laws.

"The greatest truths are the simplest; they are nothing more than this."

He gently cupped his five fingers together, drawing the flowing Dao patterns into his palm.

The moment the skin came into contact with the Dao pattern, it produced a clear and melodious sound like the clash of metal.

This seemingly ordinary rainbow light technique is actually an important milestone on his path of cultivation.

The first prototype of a Taoist technique, derived from a trace of Taoist essence comprehended by oneself, may one day rival the Earthly Fiend Techniques!

As the Daoist aura within the cave gradually subsided, Zhao Wuji suddenly opened his eyes, a fleeting shadow of chaotic sword light seemingly appearing in them.

"The prototype of the Dao Interception has been formed, but it still needs to be further understood and verified in the outside world." He stood up, leaving the demon tree clone in the cave in the Pot Heaven Space to continue to comprehend the Dao imprint. His sleeves rolled up, and he stepped out of the cave.

a few days later.

Outside the thirty-six main peaks of the Immortal Saint Sect, the sea of ​​clouds surged like raging waves, perfectly embodying the phrase "cutting off the clouds and waves."

A fierce wind howled atop the mountain, and Zhao Wuji drew his fingers like a sword, slashing through the air.

"laugh!!"

The golden light at his fingertips surged a hundred feet, like a celestial sword cleaving the churning sea of ​​clouds in two.

At the cross-section, the clouds condensed like glass, lingering for a long time, revealing a sliver of blue sky.

Just like the Rainbow Bridge that once cut through the sky, but with an added touch of Taoist charm and true meaning.

"The clouds and waves are unpredictable yet their momentum can be broken; this is the way of celestial phenomena."

As night fell, he climbed to the observatory.

As the astrological art was activated, the starlight falling from the heavens transformed into chess pieces on a chessboard.

But then one could see the Purple Star shift, the Big Dipper hang upside down, and a wisp of calamity energy invaded the star trails from the northwest, like a venomous snake coiling around them, turning the starlight across the sky a dark red.

"The shifting of stars and constellations also contains an opportunity for interception! If this is combined with timely intervention and guidance from astrological numerology, perhaps..."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he drew his fingers into a sword, pointing it straight at the sky.

Seven dazzling starlight beams instantly burst forth from between his fingers.

The Big Dipper seemed to follow his sword finger, cascading down like seven waterfalls of stars, like the Milky Way.

"Congeal!"

The star waterfall converged in the palm of my hand, condensing into seven crystal chess pieces.

The surface of the chess pieces is decorated with a celestial map, each line seemingly compressing endless starlight, containing a hint of the Daoist philosophy within the star-studded chessboard.

"go with!"

Zhao Wuji let out a low shout and casually tossed the chess piece into the air, sending it soaring into the sky like a shooting star.

The first white piece struck the Ziwei star position, and the imperial star immediately burst forth with dazzling golden light.

The remaining six black pieces were arranged in six directions, forming a star-studded killing array in the void.

"Break!!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes seemed to shimmer with starlight as he used his astrological technique, drawing a line in the air with his fingers.

"Crack!"

The celestial orbit of the calamity star was severed in response.

The aftershocks swept across the far reaches of the world.

Seven unprecedentedly large stars suddenly lit up the northwestern sky.

The seven luminaries—Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang—shine together, resembling a great dragon of starlight that stretches across the sky, forming a chain of stars to slay demons.

"boom!"

In the forbidden area of ​​the Immortal Saint Sect's sacred mountain, Cang Yunzi's whisk suddenly moved without any wind.

The sect leader, who had reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage, suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze beneath his white eyebrows piercing through the clouds like lightning.

"This is."

He quickly calculated with his fingers, and the seven copper coins on the Ziwei Destiny Chart simultaneously stood up and spun.

Cang Yunzi's figure flickered, and a Bagua formation suddenly appeared beneath his feet. In an instant, he teleported to the Star Gazing Platform.

"Wow!"

The moment he stepped onto the stage, his Taoist robe fluttered wildly in the violent starlight.

The star trails in the sky above looked like an overturned chessboard.

The starlight emitted by the Big Dipper hangs upside down like a spoon, flowing backwards like a waterfall!
Even more terrifying was the figure sitting cross-legged in the void ahead.

Zhao Wuji was surrounded by a visible silver-white Daoist aura, each strand of which seemed to compress endless starlight into it.

Wherever he pointed, the stars shifted like pieces falling on a chessboard.

"Daoist charm?!"

Cang Yunzi's white beard trembled, and his expression was one of horror.

He had cultivated Taoism for eight hundred years, and this was the first time he had ever witnessed someone who had not yet reached the Nascent Soul stage triggering extraordinary phenomena of Taoism.

Even he is still exploring and comprehending; even if he truly comprehends it, he may not be able to evoke such Daoist imagery.

Even in ancient classics, this would be considered a heaven-defying act!

"Could it be this Fellow Daoist Zhao?"

He was deeply shaken, suddenly recalling the words of the Ancestor's notes: Only those who touch the origin of the Great Dao can conceive of the Dao's essence before reaching the Divine Transformation stage.

Such figures were known in ancient times as 'Daozi'.

At this moment, the celestial phenomena above the states beyond the river suddenly changed, and the demonic clouds were instantly pierced with countless holes.

The surging demonic energy within the Nine Nether Abyss, as if encountering a natural enemy, emitted a hissing wail under the sudden surge of starlight.

It melted and dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Um?!"

In the deepest part of the Nine Netherworld, the two ancestral demons who had awakened simultaneously raised their heads.

The chains of karmic fire binding their demonic bodies rattled, and for the first time, a hint of surprise flashed in their scarlet demonic eyes.

The starlight that pierced through the Nine Netherworlds contained a Daoist aura that astonished them.

Clearly, someone interfered with celestial phenomena, causing the stars and their light to move and creating this imagery.

Could it be that there are already Nascent Soul Dao Lords in this era?

Even those who have just reached the Nascent Soul stage and condensed their Dao Seal will find it extremely difficult to manipulate the stars and control their light unless they have comprehended the Dao of the Stars.

Deep within the Nine Netherworlds, the Nine Netherworld Demon Lord, who was reshaping his demonic body, suddenly groaned, and his demonic flames dissipated.

He was horrified to discover that the Big Dipper, which stretched across the Demon Abyss, not only weakened the demonic energy but also affected his reborn demonic fetus!

As a result, he may not be able to leave the Netherworld and return to the mortal world for the next three years.

"You bastard!!" the Nine Nether Demon Lord roared.

At this moment.

On the Star Gazing Platform of the Immortal Saint Sect, the golden rainbow at Zhao Wuji's fingertips suddenly dissipated, and his face instantly turned ashen.

The three-colored nascent soul within his dantian was withered and curled up, the seven divine wheels were dim and lifeless, and even the phantom of the nine-leaf sword grass in his inner realm had its leaves drooping. The strike that had just severed the star track had almost drained seventy percent of his spiritual power.

"Cough cough!"

He swallowed the metallic taste in his throat, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and a smile gradually appeared on his face.

Just now, I had a sudden inspiration and used the true meaning of the Intercepting Dao to activate the Star Numerology technique, which actually allowed me to manipulate the stars and change the timing of the seasons!

"I see."

Looking at the starlight patterns flowing in his palm, Zhao Wuji understood.

This is the Way of Intercepting Heaven.

To seize a glimmer of hope from the impossible!
It is not about following fate, but about seizing a ray of clarity from chaos.

It's not about following the predetermined path, but about carving out a path of change in dire circumstances.

"pity."

Zhao Wuji slowly closed his five fingers, and the starlight Dao patterns disappeared into his skin.

Although this technique contains astonishing Daoist principles, it is also the very essence of Daoist principles that makes it successful, and the very essence of Daoist principles that makes it unsuccessful.

Even with his current mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, his ability to forcefully alter the course of events is ultimately insufficient.

If I had maintained this state for even a moment longer, I fear even my Dao foundation would have been damaged.

This technique should be considered the true trump card.

In the future, when the calamity of the end of Dharma descends, when the Ancestral Demon of the Nine Netherworlds appears in the world, and when the Heavenly Dao's One Eye overlooks all hope of annihilation, seize that sliver of opportunity!

He suddenly made a hand seal, and the rich spiritual energy of the sixth-level spiritual vein of the Immortal Saint Sect poured in like a celestial river flowing backward, surging wildly into the acupoints all over his body.

The nascent soul, like a thirsty infant, opened its mouth to swallow, and its withered body began to fill up at a visible speed.

"boom!"

Even more astonishingly, the severed starlight, like a waterfall, transformed into specks of starlight that spontaneously entered the Nascent Soul's brow.

Suddenly, the seven divine wheels burst forth with dazzling golden light, and the Dao mark that pierced through the seven divine rings became clearer, revealing specks of starlight that gradually became richer!

"Wow!"

On the surface of the Yin-Yang Pearl, his cultivation level soared from 23123 to 38949, instantly advancing by 10,000 points!
"Fellow Daoist Zhao"

At this moment, Cang Yunzi's exclamation came from not far away, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me. I never thought that Fellow Daoist Zhao would have already passed away before me."

His whisk moved without wind as he flew closer, praising, "To have comprehended the rudiments of Dao at the mid-Nascent Soul stage—no wonder both the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass and the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great are acknowledging you, fellow Daoist."

(End of this chapter)