Immortals of the End Times

Zhao Wuji was searching for Huang Shang's whereabouts in order to seize the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great from him.

We must be even more wary of this old ghost becoming even more difficult to deal with after he breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage.

But now, in just nine short years, there is absolutely no way Huang Shang could have gathered the remaining seven cauldrons.

Rather than rashly venturing to the states beyond the river at this moment, it would be safer to wait until they find more of the Nine Cauldrons before making a move.

But then I thought, if we let this old ghost continue searching for the Nine Cauldrons, and he finally gathers all the cauldrons and breaks through to the Nascent Soul stage, he might become a major threat.

By then, dealing with it will likely be even more difficult.

"That old fox probably figured out what I was thinking, putting me in a dilemma."

Zhao Wuji's eyes turned slightly cold.

Huang Shang now either wants to lure him into the game of the states beyond the river, or he's betting that he won't dare to act rashly, thus gaining a chance to catch his breath and continue to strengthen his power.

"Whoosh!!"

He suddenly made a hand seal, and as the Star Calculation Technique was activated, the seven divine wheels in his sea of ​​consciousness suddenly shone brightly.

The hexagram formed by the convergence of starlight in the void appeared as if shattered gold.

Thousands of golden rays intertwined to form an obscure celestial secret, which then condensed into a blood-red ruin in mid-air.

In the northwest, the calamity energy surged like a monstrous dragon, and the demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds condensed into a hideous ghost face, which suddenly dispersed into a hundred black snakes that fought and tore at each other.

Each snake eye pulsed with a chilling, demonic flame.

"Humph!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed with a cold light, and the starlight between his fingers suddenly exploded into seven galaxies.

Deep within the divination patterns, the sinister and cold face of the old ghost Huang Shang suddenly appeared. Behind him, the phantom images of three cauldrons rotated, each cauldron bound with chains of demonic energy, the other end of which...
It even extends to the deepest abyss!

"The three cauldrons are actually connected to the Nine Netherworlds by cause and effect. It's definitely a trap... I'm afraid that this old ghost was able to find the other two cauldrons so quickly because he used the power of the Ancestral Demon."

His gaze turned icy, and he crushed the last wisp of divination light with his fingertips.

The states beyond the river are far from the sphere of influence of the Immortal Saint Sect. If they were to go there rashly, they might be ambushed by the Nine Nether Demon Lord and Huang Shang.

Moreover, Huang Shang's leap from the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm to the perfect stage in just nine years is a progress that cannot be achieved through arduous cultivation. He must have borrowed the power of the Nine Netherworld Secret Technique or the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great, and perhaps he has other trump cards.

"My lord, shall we summon all sects to besiege this old ghost Huang?"

Outside the cave, Yao Peng prostrated himself and asked for instructions, reminding him, "This old ghost has appeared near the Nine Netherworlds of the River Continent. I have a bad feeling. It's possible that the Nine Netherworld Demon Lord's demonic body has already recovered."

"No need."

Zhao Wuji dismissed the idea, knowing that the demon roc was afraid of the Nine Nether Demon Lord's revenge: "This Huang Shang is cunning and shrewd. Since he dared to set up a scheme, he must have made thorough preparations."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Yangzhou cauldron floating not far away.

The wind and thunder patterns on the Qingzhou Ding are dark and have a different feel from those on the Yangzhou Ding.

With the Nine Tripods not yet complete, even if Huang Chang had cunning schemes, he would find it difficult to unleash the true power of the Nine Tripods united as one.

"Go ahead and personally lead the group to cooperate with my senior uncle Yan in searching for unusual spiritual vein movements throughout the Nine Provinces."

He flicked his finger, and a wisp of golden light, about an inch long, shot out into the air.

Within the golden light, the Dao pattern of the character '截' (jie) appeared, disappearing into the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows of the demon roc like a swimming dragon. "If you sense the aura of the other Nine Cauldrons, immediately communicate with them using a secret technique, without alerting them."

The demon roc's feathers trembled, as it felt the golden rainbow like a leech, etching a starlight mark into its consciousness, seemingly using it as an eye to monitor the mountains and rivers.

"Daoist charm? What kind of technique is this? It intercepted my Golden Roc Eye?"

It hurriedly prostrated itself and kowtowed, saying, "Your subordinate will certainly not fail your lord's trust!"

After the demon roc transformed into golden light and fled, Zhao Wuji turned and looked northwest. As he calculated, seven stars rotated in his eyes, evolving into a celestial hexagram.

The demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds surged within the hexagram, yet remained entrenched in the abyss.

Back then, he used the light of the Big Dipper to suppress the rebirth of the Nine Nether Demon Lord's demonic fetus. Now it seems that the Demon Lord's recovery is slower than expected.

"Old Huang, it seems we should have a competition to see who can break through to the Nascent Soul stage first..."

He murmured to himself, then suddenly raised his hand and beckoned.

The Yangzhou tripod suddenly flew in.

Within the azure spiritual mist spewing from the cauldron, more than a dozen newly condensed spiritual crystals, accumulated over the past few years through multiple spiritual veins, floated like stars.

Zhao Wuji opened his mouth and inhaled, the spirit crystals entering his stomach transformed into a torrent, which was rapidly refined by the ingestion technique.

The cultivation level reflected by the Yin-Yang Pearl began to rise steadily!
[Cultivation Level: 231843 → 250296]

"With the aid of a level six spiritual vein, an ancient and mysterious land, and the crystal condensation of Yangzhou, my cultivation speed surpasses that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators."

Although Huang Shang's cultivation level is higher than mine, he has not yet comprehended the Dao. Even though he has read extensively in the Daoist canon, comprehending the Dao is no easy task!

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered.

Since we have discerned the enemy's schemes, there is no need to fall into their trap.

The safest course of action right now is to use the resources of the Immortal Saint Sect to cultivate diligently until one's cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul stage, then use the True Meaning of Intercepting the Dao to condense the Dao Seal and break through to the Divine Transformation stage in one fell swoop!
At that time, not to mention Huang Shang holding three cauldrons, even if all seven cauldrons were combined, he would still have the power to seize them.

Beyond the river, in the states, beside the Nine Netherworld Rift.

Huang Shang stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the abyss where demonic energy surged, his robes fluttering in the gale.

Now, three months have passed, but the brilliant young swordsman he was expected to be has not yet arrived, and even the demon roc that had been secretly following and observing him has not shown up again.

"That kid, he really lived up to his reputation."

He used his fingers to calculate the secrets of heaven, and a sharp glint flashed in his cloudy eyes.

As he had expected, that cunning young man had already seen through the scheme.

"Demon Lord".

Huang Shang suddenly turned around and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the abyss.

The Nine Nether Rift suddenly boiled, the viscous demonic energy surged like boiling water, and a majestic demonic body slowly rose from the abyss.

The demonic body was over a hundred feet tall, its entire body wrapped in decaying chains, each chain piercing into flesh and blood, its ends extending into the void deep within the Nine Netherworlds.

A twisted demonic seal between his brows writhed like a living creature, exuding a suffocatingly greedy Daoist aura with each breath.

It was none other than the Nine Nether Demon Lord, who had already fully recovered his demonic body!

"I said it long ago."

The Demon Lord's voice was like the roar of ten thousand demons, shaking the surrounding rocks and causing them to crumble: "That junior has already changed the world by gaining the approval of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass on Sword Immortal Mountain. How can he be someone who is easily dealt with?"

Huang Chang smiled sinisterly: "If that's the case, then let's proceed according to the Demon Lord's previous plan?"

"Not bad!"

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's demonic eyes surged with blood-red flames as he snarled, "Since Zhao Wuji and Cang Yunzi dare not invade, then proceed according to the original plan. The spiritual energy of the Nine Provinces is now incredibly abundant; it is the time for my Holy Clan to return to the mortal realm!"

He suddenly raised his arm, causing the decaying chains binding his body to rattle loudly: "Open the Nine Netherworld Restriction, let the demonic tide sweep across the Nine Provinces! Once the world is in chaos with demons, and the six ancestral demons have devoured enough blood, they will naturally regain their full power."

Before the demonic sound had faded, four ancient and hungry waves of will emanated from the bottom of the abyss.

"That's when."

The Demon Lord's brow mark glowed with intense crimson light, "The remaining four sealed Ancestral Demon Lords will also break free!"

He suddenly turned his head and looked towards the direction of the Immortal Saint Sect, his demonic eyes piercing through the clouds for thousands of miles: "If they dare to come and fight us to the death in this Nine Nether Rift, we will have the advantage of terrain, and it will be their burial ground! The two Ancestral Demon Lords will also be able to exert their maximum strength."

"If you don't come..."

Huang Chang's sleeve held three small cauldrons that gleamed with an eerie light. He chuckled coldly, "It's a good opportunity to use this chaotic world to comprehend the mysteries of the Nascent Soul stage."

"Transformation into a Divine Being."

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's body surged with demonic energy, and the blood-red demonic pattern between his brows seemed to writhe like a living creature as he let out a low, sinister laugh: "Blessed by the Ancestral Demon, I have received the true teachings of the Greedy Demon's Dao, and the formation of my Dao seal is just around the corner."

Fellow Daoist Huang, you have read extensively and now your Nascent Soul stage is complete. You mustn't fall behind in your understanding of the Dao.

"Humph!"

Huang Chang suddenly spread his palms, and three small bronze cauldrons floated up, their ancient inscriptions lighting up one after another.

The Yanzhou Cauldron swallows and spits out the illusory image of all things growing, the Xuzhou Cauldron appears with surging spiritual energy, and the Yongzhou Cauldron manifests the cycle of yin and yang.

As the three tripods resonated, they unexpectedly intertwined in the air to form a fragmented map of the Nine Provinces!
"By combining the three cauldrons, one can glimpse the true meaning of the Nine Cauldrons, the supreme treasure. Furthermore, this old man has thoroughly studied the Daoist canon."

Huang Chang's cloudy eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, "On the path to becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator, I may not be any slower than the Demon Lord!"

"Ha ha ha ha!!"

The Nine Nether Demon Lord suddenly burst into wild laughter, the sound waves causing rubble to fall from the abyss's fissures. Amidst the overwhelming demonic energy, his demonic body grew taller and taller, transforming into a ten-zhang-tall demonic shadow.

Those scarlet demonic eyes, like two golden moons hanging in the sky, stared intently at the three small cauldrons, their eyes filled with both greedy desire and a hint of fear.

The pale gold runes flowing on the cauldron were the suppressing power left behind by the ancient human emperor!
Demons and monsters must not be allowed to touch it.

"When we both break through to the Divine Realm..."

The Nine Nether Demon Lord clenched his demonic claws, speaking slowly and deliberately, "Why wait for that old Taoist Cangyun and that brat surnamed Zhao to come knocking? I will personally lead my demonic army to raze the Immortal Saint Sect's gates to the ground!"

Before the words were finished, an ancient and hungry roar suddenly came from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds, as if the Demon of Greed could no longer contain himself.

Time flies like an arrow; eight years have passed in the cycle of seasons and seasons.

Eight years ago, the Nine Netherworld Rift that stretched for thousands of miles across the land outside the Yellow River suddenly opened like the gaping maw of a ferocious beast, spewing out a terrifying demonic aura that blotted out the sky.

The remaining demons offered a million blood sacrifices to strengthen the ancient ancestral demon lurking in the deepest part of the Nine Netherworlds.

Even more terrifying was that the six ancestral demons descended demonic energy from afar, transforming half of the demons into ferocious demonic puppets. When scarlet demonic patterns covered their bodies, their cultivation levels skyrocketed.

The already weakened demonic forces spread like wildfire, and a dark, surging tide of demons surged out of the lands beyond the river.

Wherever it passed, mountains turned into pools of blood, rivers surged with bone fragments, and the land of China was once again stained with a bloody wind.

However, the sects of the other eight states were not to be trifled with either, and they all united to resist and exterminate the demonic forces.

They forcefully pinned the demonic tide to the border between the three states of Hewai Liezhou, Xirong, and Tianmeng.

This resulted in fierce and brutal battles every day between sword energy and demonic energy at the border battlefield.

Just as the calamity was raging...

"Hmm~"

Within the Second Heavenly Secret Realm, two melodious and lingering soft chants suddenly rang out.

On the jade couch in the clouds, Li Shiyu's crimson palace dress was half undone, and the pink mist formed by the true energy of the maiden intertwined with Nan Zhixia's icy and cold smoke.

The two women had fair skin with a rosy glow, and their black hair was intertwined like a waterfall.

"break!"

Zhao Wuji's body was covered in blood, and he suddenly opened his eyes, his spine emitting a crisp sound like a dragon's roar.

The three-colored nascent soul leaped out from the crown of the head, and the seven divine wheels exploded with dazzling golden light like the blazing sun.

The terrifying spiritual pressure of the late-stage Nascent Soul stage materialized into tangible ripples, turning the sea of ​​clouds within a radius of several hundred feet into a vacuum.

"Ugh!"

Li Shiyu's delicate body trembled violently, her crimson palace dress fluttering wildly in the air currents.

Her eyes suddenly widened and almost rolled back, and a dazzling beam of purple and red light suddenly shot out from her spine.

The spiritual power of the late Golden Core stage is like a volcanic eruption, and the Maiden Mark between the eyebrows has turned deep purple.

"Wow!!"

Changes occur suddenly.

Suddenly, a brilliant purple beam of light shot out from Zhao Wuji's spine, its brilliance condensing into nine auspicious clouds shaped like lingzhi mushrooms in the void.

It was even a deep purple with a hint of red, which made the two women's alabaster skin glow with a beautiful rosy hue.

"Husband!"

Nan Zhixia's usually cold eyes widened unusually, "Your spiritual affinity has reached 80%!"

Reaching 80% spiritual affinity means having achieved an unimaginable level of mastery over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji's speed of absorbing and exhaling spiritual energy has increased by more than two times compared to eight years ago!
Even Nan Zhixia couldn't help but feel envious and happy for Zhao Wuji.

Unfortunately, the Nine Transmissions of the Charming Maidens can only be practiced by someone with a rare and exceptional Yin Body like Li Shiyu; otherwise, she herself would have wanted to practice this technique.

Congratulations, Senior Brother, on breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage!

Li Shiyu slowly recovered, her crimson palace dress half-undone as she turned around, her aura of a beautiful woman swirling like smoke and clouds.

The blood-red mark between her eyebrows had turned into a deep dark purple, clearly a sign that the Maiden had reached the Great Perfection of the Nine Transformations of Cultivation.

Over the course of eighteen years, she not only reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm in her cultivation, but also cultivated the Nine Revolutions of the Maiden to its peak.

She should have been overjoyed at this moment, but her fingertips unconsciously tightened the belt around her neck, and a barely perceptible sadness flashed in her almond-shaped eyes.

The moment the chameleon's true energy was fully delivered, a sense of emptiness welled up in her heart.

I can no longer use this as an excuse to get close to my senior brother.

For him, who is about to become a god, will he lose his value?
After all, what do personal feelings between men and women matter when it comes to the future path of becoming a Nascent Soul Dao Lord?
"After eighteen years of hard work, success has finally come naturally."

As Zhao Wuji opened and closed his eyes, purple lightning flashed, and his spiritual pressure as a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was as deep and boundless as the ocean.

Upon introspection, the cultivation level reflected in the Yin-Yang Pearl caused him to raise a slight brow:
Cultivation Level: Late Nascent Soul Stage (1249/500000)

However, when his gaze fell upon Li Shiyu's forced smile, he suddenly chuckled and brushed his fingertips across her taut knuckles: "This cultivation speed is even shorter than the forty years I predicted. Shiyu, you've worked hard."

Wen Liang suddenly grasped her trembling hand in his palm, and the essence of his interception transformed into golden threads that entered her meridians, completely intercepting her unease.

The combined power of the three Golden Cores makes the spiritual energy required to accumulate for each minor realm terrifying.

If it weren't for the hundreds of spirit crystals condensed by the Yangzhou Cauldron and the spiritual energy of the ancient and mysterious land, it would be difficult to break through even after another ten years of cultivation.

Of course, Li Shiyu's enhancement of his spiritual aptitude also played a crucial role in this.

"To share my senior brother's burdens is my duty."

Li Shiyu's ears were tinged with rosy hues, and the knot in her heart instantly disappeared.

She stole a glance and saw Nan Zhixia's drooping fingertips curl slightly, then suddenly a bright smile bloomed on her face, her crimson sleeves billowing like clouds, as she grabbed that fair wrist.

"Sister Nan, please come with me."

She transmitted her voice secretly, saying, "Senior Brother has just broken through to a higher realm; let's let him consolidate his strength first."

"Yeah! Go ahead."

Zhao Wuji's gaze was gentle and warm. "Zhixia, you're about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage too. You can't fall behind."

Nan Zhixia's bright eyes rippled slightly, a warmth spreading through her heart. She nodded, and the two women departed.

"Wow!"

As the beautiful figure disappeared into the distance, Zhao Wuji casually made a hand seal, and the true meaning of intercepting the Dao transformed into a golden rainbow that swept across the area.

The spiritual energy river within the Pot Heaven space was forcibly cut off into a vacuum hundreds of feet long, and fine Dao patterns appeared at the cut surface.

After eight years of comprehension, the Dao trace that was initially as thin as a hair has now grown into a coiled dragon, flowing between the divine wheels with a Dao rhythm that makes one's heart tremble.

The final opportunity is needed to solidify the true Dao seal.

Elder Zhao!

Just then, the cave's protective barrier suddenly trembled, and Pang Xixue urgently transmitted her divine sense through the barrier: "Sect Master, please summon us urgently! The Nine Nether Demon Lord and the Old Demon Huangshang have appeared in Tianmeng Prefecture, and Sect Masters Tianjing and Feixue are already seriously injured!"

"That old devil has finally shown himself?"

Zhao Wuji's eyes snapped open, and purple lightning condensed into a three-foot-long sword beam in his pupils.

The spiritual pressure of the late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator erupted suddenly, shattering the floating spiritual crystals around him into dust.

Eight years of dormancy, this is the moment we've been waiting for!
"The true meaning of intercepting the Dao"

He loosely clenched his five fingers, and the Dao traces between the seven wheels emitted a trembling sound like a dragon's roar.

The Daoist principles I had previously comprehended amidst nature were ultimately lacking the sharpness forged through blood and fire.

"Fight against Heaven, seize its opportunity!"

As he rose, his robes billowed like clouds, and illusory sword lights appeared behind him.

"Fight the earth, break its momentum!"

With each step, Dao patterns bloomed in the void.

"Fight against others!"

Zhao Wuji burst out of the barrier with a long laugh: "I shall temper my Dao seal with demonic blood!"

(End of this chapter)