Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 34: With my guidance, we meet the Emperor at Penglai.
The next day at dawn, before daybreak, Zhao Wuji washed up with the help of his maid, and as if nothing was wrong, he took the invitation to the Penglai Immortal Gathering and prepared to go out.

After casually dealing with the uninvited guests last night, he personally traveled to the Imperial Palace in his spirit world and killed the prison warden.

He then used spiritual energy to imitate the "Supreme Seven Swords" technique, recorded in the Supreme Cult's sacred artifact, from the "Supreme Secrets."

The body of the prison warden was cut into seven pieces, and a line of words was written on the ground in blood: 'The Xuan Emperor is tyrannical; only the Supreme Holy Mother can protect the world!'

Then he left silently, becoming a dashing swordsman who killed without holding back his kills.

He believed that given the arrogance of the Supreme Sect, they would surely take responsibility for the matter when the royal family was enraged.

In a sense, he could be considered half a top son-in-law of the Supreme Sect, and family members don't stand on ceremony.

By the time Zhao Wuji went out and met up with Nan Zhixia, it was already dawn.

The two rode together in a carriage to the Penglai Palace to attend the grand gathering.

The Penglai Palace is located in the northeast corner of the imperial city.

Emperor Zhaoming initially would "rise at dawn to seek the Dao in Penglai, and return to the palace before noon to govern."

Later, he grew lazy and simply lived in the Penglai Palace for an extended period, devoting himself to the pursuit of Taoism.

The carriage bumped and swayed along the way, and the two people inside sat facing each other on one side, their moods not as calm as they appeared.

Zhao Wuji felt that his fiancée, whom he hadn't seen for more than half a month, seemed to have become even more beautiful, and her temperament seemed to have become much more outstanding.

That vague sense of threat that I used to feel is no longer perceptible.

"It seems my holy maiden wife has broken through. Perhaps she has already cultivated immortality. It seems she has excellent aptitude."

Zhao Wuji pondered in his heart.

Nan Zhixia's heart skipped a beat as Zhao Wuji kept glancing at her. She couldn't control it, and she had to maintain her dignified and virtuous image as a well-bred lady.

He simply turned his head to the side politely and smiled.

"Wuji, how have you been lately?"

"Oh, good, very good," Zhao Wuji smiled outwardly, but thought to himself, 'Just in time to kill two people and come see you.'

"That's good."

Nan Zhixia maintained an awkward yet polite smile, turned her head away, and felt that she was even more reserved than when she had faced that reclusive senior.

A silence fell over the room once again.

Zhao Wuji's mind was racing with various thoughts, and he couldn't help but turn his head away.

At the same time, Nan Zhixia turned her head to the side, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

"Uh, you go first," Zhao Wuji said with a smile.

Nan Zhixia blinked. "You should speak. I don't really have anything to say, but you seem to have some questions?"

She was very perceptive and sensed that her fiancé seemed to be testing her.

Zhao Wuji was momentarily speechless, then carefully asked, "I'm just curious, you didn't seem to pay much attention to these stories of immortal traces before, so why are you going to the gathering this time?"

"Because you're interested, I refused you once at the last Immortal Seeking Gathering. Wouldn't it be better to go with you this time?"

"That's good, thank you." Zhao Wuji gazed at Nan Zhixia's gentle smile, thinking to himself that his fiancée was really good at pretending.

He was testing the waters, so he changed the subject.

"Zhixia, you seem to know some martial arts too, right? You've already reached the Meridian Opening Realm? I'm already a Transformation Grandmaster, so why don't I give you some pointers on martial arts?"

“Okay!” Nan Zhixia said generously and readily. Her serene face seemed innocent, but her bright eyes were filled with surprise. “Wuji, you’re already a Transformation Master! That’s amazing! How will you guide me?”

"Give me your hand, let me see if your internal energy is pure."

Zhao Wuji stretched out his large hand.

Nan Zhixia was taken aback, and said in a low voice, "Wuji, although we are engaged, we haven't yet formally entered into a marriage. What if someone sees us like this?"

Zhao Wuji noticed her ears were flushed and realized his abruptness. He smiled apologetically and said, "It was my fault. I just wanted to check on you after not seeing you for so long, to see if your illness from last time has relapsed."

Nan Zhixia gazed at Zhao Wuji for a moment, then extended a delicate hand and placed it on Zhao Wuji's large hand, whispering, "This is the only time. We are not yet married, so you are not allowed to touch me in front of outsiders."

"Yes, that's natural." Zhao Wuji smiled, took Nan Zhixia's slightly cool hand, and couldn't help but squeeze it.

Nan Zhixia bit her lip slightly, her fingertips trembling slightly, but she still smiled, her bright eyes flashing, "Should I mobilize my internal energy?"

Zhao Wuji said seriously, "Hmm, try unleashing your inner energy. Don't be afraid, use your full strength."

Nan Zhixia gave a soft "hmm" and released her inner energy.

Zhao Wuji suddenly felt a surge of internal energy rushing towards him like a calf ramming into him; it was very pure and mellow.

However, the amount was not large, and it was divided into four forces, which was the strength of the fourth level of the Meridian Opening stage.

"Zhixia, your internal energy is very pure, and your basic skills are very solid. Would you mind if I used my internal energy to take a look?"

"I mind a lot." Nan Zhixia gritted her teeth, feeling resentful inside, but still maintained a gentle and dignified smile on her face. "Fine, be gentle, I've never tried this before."

"Okay, don't be afraid!"

After more than ten breaths, Zhao Wuji withdrew his inner energy, feeling quite surprised.

Nan Zhixia, through some unknown means, also concealed her formidable strength, just like him.

He didn't dare to probe too much, and remarked with admiration, "Zhixia, your fundamentals are very solid. It seems I have nothing to teach you." Nan Zhixia remained silent for a moment, her pretty face still flushed, and blinked, saying, "This feeling is very strange. Can I try to enter your body with my internal energy?"

Zhao Wuji quickly withdrew his hand in refusal, "No, your skill is still too weak. If you rashly enter my body, you will be injured by my powerful internal energy."

Nan Zhixia was so angry that she almost lost her composure. She knew that Zhao Wuji was being cunning and wouldn't let her investigate.

But the other party's behavior seemed to indicate that they had sensed something, as if they were testing her.

"Did my mention of the Supreme Sect and Moon Dew Grass arouse his suspicion last time?"

Nan Zhixia was somewhat suspicious. When she withdrew her hand, her palms were already slightly sweaty.

She smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear.

Thinking of his current cultivation level, which had already entered the path of immortality, and his hidden spiritual power, and the sacred artifact, the small bowl, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Wuji, perhaps soon I will be going to sweep my mother's grave. I don't know when I will return. When you turn back, give me a drop of blood from your fingertip. I want to calculate our fate."

"Can blood from a fingertip be used to determine marriage?" Zhao Wuji couldn't help but laugh.

He vaguely guessed the other party's intention; the sacred small bowl contained a method for testing spiritual aptitude by dripping blood.

It seems his fiancée is planning to test his qualifications.

But what is the meaning of this approach? Is it an intention to recruit him into the Supreme Sect?
"Wuji, don't ask so many questions, just give me a drop."

"Okay, I'll give you an IV drip later."

Soon, the two arrived by carriage outside the Penglai Palace in the northeast corner of the imperial city.

It was already daylight.

The vermilion gates of the Penglai Imperial Palace opened one after another, and golden-armored imperial guards stood guard with halberds.

In the palace square, a bronze crane holds a lamp and spits out flames, with wisps of blue smoke rising like a dragon in flight.

The carriages of many high-ranking officials and dignitaries arrived one after another and stopped here, where they dismounted and walked.

Zhao Wuji and Nan Zhixia got off the carriage together.

He then spotted his acquaintance, Minister Bu, exchanging pleasantries with someone in a low voice not far away.

Those who received invitations to come here were all officials of the fifth rank or above, and Zhao Wuji had only met many of them once.

He and Nan Zhixia didn't like formal social interactions. When someone greeted them, they would bow and nod in return. After checking their invitations, they entered the palace.

"My dad arrived a long time ago. We'll just follow along and watch the show, and be careful what we say and do."

Upon entering the palace, Nan Zhixia offered a reminder.

Zhao Wuji glanced at the other person's fair profile, smiled and nodded.

The two discreetly entered the palace and walked to the square, where they stood in a corner, listening to the ministers discussing the war in the north and other national affairs.

Nan Tao, the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, was standing prominently among the crowd ahead.

He was tall and vigorous, and when he saw Zhao Wuji and the other man enter, he nodded to them in greeting.

Not long after, a sharp shout shattered the silence of the Penglai Palace, like a golden blade cleaving through silk.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

"Meet the Emperor!"

The assembled officials, like wheat fields flattened by a raging storm, spread their robes and held their breath in concentration.

A series of footsteps, unhurried and unhurried, appeared as if stepping on the gaps in a person's heartbeat.

A pair of dark dragon boots embroidered with gold thread stepped across the scarlet carpet.

Emperor Zhang Zhaoming, dressed in a black Taoist robe with dragon patterns and a jade tablet hanging from his waist, slowly ascended the steps.

His eyebrows were sharp and his eyes were like cold stars. As he walked, his robe sleeves fell like surging clouds. He laughed heartily as he approached.

"Everyone loves you!"

His voice was like the clinking of metal and jade, like some kind of musical instrument, accompanied by laughter, which clearly indicated that he was in a good mood and was very approachable.

Everyone expressed their gratitude and then stood up.

Zhao Wuji and Nan Zhixia were inconspicuous in the corner, but at this moment he had already sensed a very thick dragon aura gathering in front of him, even drifting to his location, causing the Yang Pearl to become restless.

However, at this moment, he dared not rashly absorb the dragon energy with the Yang Pearl.

The reason is that Emperor Zhaoming today seems quite different from the one I first met from afar two years ago.

Although he was laughing, his laughter was imposing and his laughter was like the roar of a dragon in the heavens, displaying a terrifying aura. It was likely that his martial arts strength had reached the level of a Grandmaster of Returning to Truth.

But then he saw him sit on the dragon throne on the red steps with a wave of his sleeve. His skin was fair and glowing, like a jade sculpture that had never seen the sun. Only a touch of vermilion on his lips made his eyebrows and eyes appear even more profound. His surface was calm, but his eyes were fierce and intimidating.

Beside him, the Imperial Preceptor Fang Shiyu wore a purple-gold crane cloak, his silver hair was tied up high, and he held a nine-section green jade staff with a copper bell hanging from the top. He remained silent, making him appear even more unfathomable.

"This emperor seems to have become much stronger."

Nan Zhixia lowered her eyes, suppressing the pounding fear in her heart.

Zhao Wuji felt the Yang Pearl was restless and his spiritual senses detected a strong threat coming from the emperor sitting on the dragon throne and the national advisor beside him.

Immortal cultivator!
An absolute cultivator!
Moreover, his cultivation level was much higher than his. A person who controls the resources of a country in the Dharma-ending Age is indeed not simple.
(End of this chapter)