Immortals of the End Times

"Brother Meng, we've come to your aid!!"

Just as Zhao Wuji and the Dream Butterfly, which was transformed from the Black-Robed Celestial Venerable, were in danger.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Suddenly, three blazing divine lights burst forth from the depths of the Jianmu tree, like the sun soaring in the sky.

Three celestial beings appeared, breaking through the void.

The leader was as majestic as a mountain, and as his blue Taoist robe billowed, it seemed as if ten thousand green peaks floated and sank, and every wisp of cloud hanging from his sleeves was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The Celestial Venerable on the left is dressed in snow-white robes, and the sword energy surrounding him has cleaved the dream river in two. With each rotation of the nine-leaf sword grass phantom floating behind his head, it leaves sword marks in the void.

On the right, the Celestial Venerable holds a jade vase, his compassionate gaze reflecting the heavens and earth.

However, the three figures stopped abruptly upon touching the darkness beyond the sky, like moths frozen in ice, or stars falling into the abyss, their brilliant divine light being swallowed up inch by inch by the darkness.

"Crack!"

The dream shattered with a crash.

Zhao Wuji's body trembled with spiritual light, and the Heavenly Venerable power covering his entire body receded like a receding tide. His eyes snapped open, but deep within his pupils remained the dark phantom of that distant sky that had devoured the heavenly light.
The sinister Daoist aura surging in the darkness seemed capable of corroding all paths and annihilating laws. It was completely different from the Great Dao of this world, a terrifying Dao distinct from that of this world.

"Is that the source of the terrifying Daoist aura that destroyed the Jianmu tree?"

As his mind gradually calmed down, he felt the mental damage caused by the backlash of the Dream Marriage Technique. He used a medical technique to heal himself by making hand seals, and then his gaze swept towards his side like lightning.

But the demon tree clone had already shed its butterfly form and returned to its original form, with its long, dark green hair fluttering wildly in the spiritual wind.

Zhao Wuji's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the distant, illusory reflection of the Jianmu tree, a mixture of reality and illusion.

The towering, illusory image of the divine tree appeared and disappeared amidst the misty fog, with thirty-three layers of celestial palaces floating among its branches, and every leaf exuding ancient Taoist charm.

It was as if everything constructed in the previous dream was just a mirage, a dreamlike illusion.

"Let's go and verify our guesses."

With a flick of Zhao Wuji's wide sleeves and the flowing Dao patterns, the two parted ways like startled swans.

He took a step forward and instantly arrived at the Gate of Mysterious Female.

The demon tree clone transformed into a streak of azure light, with the Jianmu Dao patterns flickering between its brows, instantly closing in on the illusory image of the towering Jianmu tree.

"open!"

The two simultaneously formed hand seals, and Dao patterns of the Wall-Opening Technique burst forth from their fingertips.

Zhao Wuji pointed his fingers together like a sword, and golden light emanated from his fingertips like a dragon.

"laugh!!"

Where the sword finger swept across, the void seemed to tear apart like brocade, revealing a dazzling path of light.

Once this Wall-Opening Technique is used, it can penetrate the barriers of all the heavens and myriad worlds.

At this moment, when he used it, he completely broke through the spatial barriers between the mysterious land behind the Gate of Mystery, the inner realm, and the Third Heaven.

Three paths of light intertwine like a galaxy, forming a stable triangle as the Daoist principles flow.

Tadpole-shaped Dao patterns appeared at the edge of each spatial rift, which were the 'Boundary-Breaking Golden Patterns' condensed by the Wall-Opening Technique.

If he has not yet broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, or if this inner realm and the Pot Heaven space were not created by him, then this boundary-breaking golden pattern may not be effective.

But now, it is the perfect time to unleash its power.

On the other side, the demon tree clone gently pressed its palms against the illusory image of the Jianmu tree.

"Buzz!"

The Jianmu Dao pattern on his palm suddenly lit up, and the verdant divine light traveled along the texture of the illusory tree bark.

The profound mystery of the wall-opening technique was on full display at this moment.

The moment the azure light surged over the illusory Jianmu tree like a tidal wave, the towering, earth-shattering phantom of the divine tree trembled as if uttering an ancient dragon's roar.

Emerald-colored sap seeped from the cracks in the bark, each drop carrying the unique, refreshing scent of ancient Jianmu wood, condensing into countless life-giving Dao patterns in mid-air.

"Click, click-click!!"

Suddenly, dense annual rings appeared on the surface of the illusory tree trunk.

Each ring of a tree is like a passageway leading to different times and spaces.

The outermost rings gleamed with a bronze luster, while inside, nine divine lights appeared in succession, including dark yellow, moon white, and crimson gold.

Layer upon layer converges towards the heart of the tree, as if compressing eternity into a mere foot of wood.

"Kukaka!!"

The dragon roots of the demon tree's clone suddenly grew to a hundred feet long, plunging into the vortex of tree rings as if they were ravenous ancient beasts.

The root surface instantly revealed a texture completely identical to that of the Jianmu tree, with each root system branching out billions of crystalline filaments that precisely pierced every time node of the annual ring pattern.

"Boom!"

The moment the last hair tip disappeared into the tree ring, a mysterious, resounding boom echoed throughout the entire area.

The roots of the Jianmu phantom burst forth with boundless emerald light, intertwining with the roots of the demon tree clone to form a dazzling cocoon of light.

Countless cyan-gold Dao patterns spread across the junction as if they were alive.

Each line seems to be interpreting the supreme law that connects the past and the present.

This is precisely the most ingenious application of the wall-opening technique.

Using the annual rings of Jianmu wood as a bridge, a rainbow bridge connecting the past and present is built in the long river of time.

The tender shoots of Jianmu trees suspended above the Rainbow Bridge now seem to have transformed into tangible time markers, breathing in the rhythms of Jianmu trees from different times in ancient times.

This is precisely the 'shared resonance' that the demon tree clone, a remnant of the Jianmu tree, created by using the Wall-Opening Technique to connect the annual rings of the Jianmu tree.

At this moment, through the Wall-Opening Technique, the two ancient and modern Jianmu trees finally established a profound and mysterious connection.

Zhao Wuji turned to look at the demon tree clone and saw that it had established a mysterious connection with the Jianmu phantom through the Wall-Opening Technique. His tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

"Sure enough."

His eyes gleamed as he sensed the surging spatial power within his body.

The profound mystery of the Wall-Opening Technique far exceeded expectations; it could actually connect the Heavenly Pot Space with the mysterious land behind the Gate of the Mysterious Female.

At this moment, his divine sense swept across the entire world, and he could grasp the pulse of the heavens and earth. Even the Daoist rhyme flowing among the branches of the distant Jianmu tree was clearly discernible.

To his surprise, although he controlled this mysterious place, it was always surrounded by a vague sense of illusion.

Like a flower in a mirror or the moon in water, it is clearly within reach, yet seems to be separated by an inexplicable barrier.

Even the resonance established between the demon tree clone and the Jianmu tree carried a strange fluctuation that was a mixture of reality and illusion.

"That's really strange."

Zhao Wuji felt a slight burning sensation on the Dao seal between his eyebrows.

In this strange state where illusion and reality intertwined, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

The power left behind by the Four Heavenly Venerables within that mysterious land, along with the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, the Nine Cauldrons, the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Pearls, and other treasures that have survived to this day, are the anchors that maintain the existence of this world amidst the illusion, and are real entities that transcend time.

Like the finishing touch in painting a dragon, it gives the originally illusory painting its charm and makes it real.

Can a fake be made real?

A knowing smile appeared on his lips.

As its understanding deepened, the Daoist essence absorbed by the distant demon tree clone from the Jianmu tree became increasingly powerful, its verdant hair moving without wind, each strand flowing with ancient Daoist patterns.

Meanwhile, the true meaning of the Dao in his own sea of ​​consciousness was also boiling.

He suddenly made a hand seal and pointed out with one finger.

"A force that can cut off the land!!"

In an instant, the auras of the Pot Heaven Space, the Inner Realm Secret Realm, and the Mysterious Land merged, forming a triple vortex of Daoist rhyme around him.

The silvery light of the celestial realm fell like a galaxy.

The green reeds in the inner secret realm surged like spring tides.

The golden glow within the mysterious land resembled the rising sun.

As the three elements cycle through the universe, each fusion unleashes the profound sounds of the Great Dao, and each turn seems to refine the illusory into the real.

The illusory spiritual mist that had just lingered near the Gate of Mystery instantly condensed into a tangible elixir.

What were originally real rock strata have transformed into ethereal clouds.

It seems to be demonstrating the supreme truth of "creating something from nothing and turning the false into the true".

The spatial power of the Pot Heaven Space and the Inner Realm began to extend mysteriously inward.

Zhao Wuji's mind trembled slightly as he suddenly felt a mysterious connection surging from the depths of the mysterious place, wrapping around his body like a spider web.

"This feeling."

His eyes flickered, noticing that this feeling of control was seven parts similar to when he had previously borne the power of the Heavenly Venerable, but with an added three parts of the resonance of heaven and earth.

He recalled the scene he had seen in the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Immediately, his divine sense surged like a tidal wave, soaring upwards along this connection, reaching the Thirty-Three Heavens.

But there stood a simple, ancient medicine furnace, stretching across the sky, amidst the clouds.

The coiled dragon pattern on the furnace body exhales chaotic energy, while the Nine Yin Pearls inside float like black jade, and the Nine Yang Pearls revolve like golden crows.

The eighteen streams of light and shadow subtly correspond to the number of stars in the celestial sphere.

"Buzz buzz!!"

The Nine Yin Nine Yang Pearls, which had been dormant within his sea of ​​consciousness, suddenly trembled violently.

The tadpole-like patterns on the surface of the pearl lit up one after another, echoing the other pearls in the furnace.

"go with!"

Zhao Wuji had a sudden inspiration. He raised his hand and lightly pointed with his sword finger, and the eighteen precious pearls in his sea of ​​consciousness flew out in response.

The Yin Pearls, like the pale moon falling, and the Yang Pearls, like the blazing sun rising, both disappeared into the medicine furnace.

In an instant, the yin and yang energies inside the furnace intertwined like dragons and snakes.

Zhao Wuji stared at the ancient medicine furnace, where he saw the real and fake Yin-Yang beads chasing each other like Yin-Yang fish.

Although the illusory Yin-Yang Pearl has no physical form, it radiates numerous dazzling Dao patterns, all of which are deciphered Earthly Fiend Techniques.

"Buzz!!"

Suddenly, the numerous tadpole-like characters on the surface of the pearl lit up, their spiritual light swirling. In the instant the real and false pearls merged, the seventh Yin pearl and the eighth Yang pearl suddenly burst forth with dazzling spiritual light.

The messages from the three sets of Earthly Fiend Techniques flowed across the surface of the pearl like mercury spilling onto the ground.

"Enter the water, capture the moon, yellow and white."

His fingertips trembled slightly as he felt the newly unsealed magical abilities.

Unexpectedly, this mysterious interplay of reality and illusion could actually transform the false into the true.

After this water-entry technique is performed, one can move freely in the water without being restricted by the water flow; it is equivalent to the 'water-avoidance technique'.

If one cultivates to the highest level, even those with bodies that have reached the Nascent Soul or Dao Integration stages will find it difficult to cross the "Weak Waters," and can traverse poisonous and forbidden areas as if walking on a smooth road!
As for the Moon-Taking Technique, after pointing to the moon as a guide, it illuminates the void, resembling a projection of mysterious light, yet it also conceals a change in heavenly secrets.

If this technique is cultivated to its highest level, it can obscure the sun and moon and disrupt yin and yang.

If combined with astrology and eclipse techniques, one can even deceive the heavens and alter one's destiny!
Finally, there is the Yellow and White Technique, a secret technique passed down by ancient Qi cultivators. Using elixirs as a guide, it can turn stone into gold and transform ordinary iron into celestial materials. It can be called the supreme method of alchemy and weapon crafting!

The remaining three Yin-Yang beads, which have not yet been unsealed, remain dormant.

However, the Daoist aura faintly flowing within the pearls already foreshadows that once these three Yin-Yang pearls are unlocked, they will inevitably unleash even more Earthly Fiend Mystic Arts.

At the same time, the ancient spiritual energy generated by the fusion of the three spaces was like a reversed spiritual river, surging wildly into the Dao Seal of Intercepting the Dao between his eyebrows.

"Om!!"

His Dao seal immediately radiated a dazzling spiritual light, each line seemingly carrying the ancient Daoist essence.

Zhao Wuji suddenly sensed something and his divine sense swept across the depths of the mysterious place.

At the summit of that towering Jianmu tree, the Dao traces entwined around the four illusory figures of the Heavenly Venerables seemed to be pillars spanning the past and present, firmly anchoring this world where reality and illusion intertwine.

"I see."

His eyes flickered slightly, and he saw through the mystery.

Perhaps it was the four great Dao principles left behind by the Four Celestial Venerables, like the four pillars of heaven, that forcefully lifted this mysterious land from the river of time.

Only in this way can this place exist between illusion and reality, enduring through the ages.

Zhao Wuji's gaze narrowed slightly as he sensed the invisible Daoist energy flowing through the mysterious earth.

He suddenly made a hand seal, and the Dao patterns on the Jianmu tree clone in the distance surged like a blue tide.

When the two worked together to refine it, they were able to touch a trace of the lingering charm of the Great Dao that had never dissipated since ancient times.

That was the supreme power left behind by the Four Heavenly Venerables.

Each strand contains profound mysteries that transcend even the divine.

"Could it be."

A startling thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

The existence of this mysterious place is probably the work of the Four Heavenly Venerables.

Those seemingly scattered treasures of inheritance and remnants of Daoist charm are actually the Daoist lineage deliberately laid out by the Celestial Venerable.

Perhaps one day, he will completely refine this world.

Those four Heavenly Venerable Great Daos that have suppressed countless ages will then reveal the final secret to him.

"Could it be that this mysterious place is the site where the Dao lineage of the Four Heavenly Venerables was passed down?"

Zhao Wuji pondered in his heart.

However, for now, he still needs to accumulate strength. Only by gradually refining and controlling this mysterious land with the Wall-Opening Technique in the future will he have the opportunity to come into contact with the Dao of the Four Heavenly Venerables...

He suppressed his burning desire and immediately flew towards the Celestial Court atop the Jianmu Tree.

The moment you step into the Jianmu Immortal Court, you are greeted by a wave of spiritual energy so dense it's almost liquefied.

The celestial palace was majestic, its glazed golden tiles reflecting the glow of the heavens, with jade steps stretching upwards amidst swirling clouds and mist.

The heavenly soldiers holding halberds stood solemnly on both sides, their auras deep and unfathomable, each possessing the power of a Golden Core cultivator.

"This ancient celestial court actually has Nascent Soul cultivators as stewards, Deity cultivators as celestial officials, Dao-merging cultivators as celestial officials, and those who transcend tribulations as celestial lords..."

With a quick calculation, he already knew the strict hierarchy of this ancient celestial court, and understood it perfectly.

In an instant, the True Meaning of Intercepting the Dao, combined with the Illusion Technique, wrapped around his body like silk threads, intercepting the approaching person and their momentum, surging forth.

In an instant, his robes transformed into the robes of a celestial official with cloud patterns, and a jade plaque bearing the inscription "Celestial Mirror" hung at his waist, his aura ethereal as mist.

He had already transformed himself into an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator within the ancient Immortal Court.

"Now I've become a minor celestial official in the Celestial Court!"

Zhao Wuji raised his sleeve, examined himself, and smiled slightly.

Then they ascended on clouds.

Along the way, one sees many celestial officials coming and going, some riding cranes, others riding clouds. When they meet, they first observe the rank of the jade plaque at their waists, and those of lower rank must pay their respects first.

At this moment, a group of Nascent Soul deacons hurried by, the leader holding a jade book with a solemn expression.

As the golden chariot of the celestial official passed by in the distance, all the cultivators made way and stood respectfully by the roadside.

He used his identity as a celestial official to travel among the magnificent palaces and pavilions.

Whenever he passed by a Nascent Soul cultivator, the True Meaning of Intercepting the Dao between his brows would strike like a snake spitting its tongue, quietly seizing the momentum of the person and stealing sparks of enlightenment from the scattered Daoist rhymes.

Upon arriving at the Immortal Peach Forest, they suddenly heard the clear and melodious sound of a sword.

But then they saw two fairies in colorful robes debating swords.

One man's sword transformed into a rainbow, while another's sword energy became threads; they were arguing over whether 'splitting light into shadow' or 'light splitting into shadow' was superior.

He stood with his hands behind his back, observing quietly for a moment, a faint glint of blood-red light flashing in his eyes.

These two are still at the level of differentiating sword light, and are indeed two levels below his level.

However, the subtle yet powerful force hidden within the Rainbow Cloud Sword Intent is remarkably similar to the Huai River Sword School's "Drawing a Blade to Cut Water".

"It seems that not everyone in this ancient celestial court is a sword immortal."

He shook his head slightly to himself, then continued walking with a gentle flick of his wide sleeves.

As I turned through the winding corridor, I suddenly had an epiphany and stopped to concentrate.

Within his mind, the lingering power of the Celestial Venerable who had previously possessed him surged like a tide, and he suddenly gained some enlightenment.

Those profound truths that transcend the Heavenly Dao actually resonated mysteriously with the Dao Seal of Intercepting the Dao.

Every fluctuation seemed to be rebuilding his foundation, causing golden light to appear around him.

Just then, a loud laugh came from the distant cloud platform:
"This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. Are you a new colleague in the Celestial Patrol Division?"

Not far away, three celestial officials were seen sitting and discussing the Dao.

The leading yellow-robed cultivator was bowing and asking questions, with three wisps of pure energy hanging down from his jade crown, clearly indicating that he was a Dao Lord in the Nascent Soul Realm.

Zhao Wuji snapped out of his daze, hesitated for a moment, and then bowed in return, saying, "I am ashamed, I have just been assigned to inspect the incense offerings in the lower realm."

A female cultivator nearby covered her mouth and chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, what a fortunate opportunity! This patrol duty is the most lucrative, as it allows us to glean some offerings of merit."

As the group chatted and laughed, he secretly made hand seals in his sleeves, allowing the true essence of the Dao to flow quietly. From the Daoist aura scattered by these ancient cultivators, he extracted a trace of the operating method of the "Gathering Spirit Immortal Technique".

Although this method is merely a rudimentary technique for cultivating the foundation of immortal children, it secretly contains the profound meaning of "embracing the original essence and guarding the oneness".

"Truly worthy of being called the Celestial Court."

Zhao Wuji couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

Just then, a distant chime of a cloud bell was heard, and a group of Nascent Soul deacons hurriedly lined up.

The solemn posture with the jade tablet hanging at the waist clearly indicates that he is welcoming a distinguished person.

But then a golden chariot swept across the sky, its Dao-Merging power causing all the clouds along the way to bow low. It was clearly a Dao-Merging Realm immortal official traveling.

He then stepped aside and retreated to the side of the jade railing.

However, just as the golden carriage had traveled three zhang away, the hanging cloud-patterned jade curtain suddenly moved without any wind, and the cloud-patterned jade curtain was slightly lifted.

But then he saw a purple-robed immortal official with a jade token bearing the inscription "Heavenly Inspector" on it, who actually nodded and smiled at him: "Young friend Zhao, since you have just arrived at the Celestial Court, you can go to the 'Qingwei Pavilion' to receive a Divine Tempering Pill and a jade slip of the 'Mysterious Heaven Strategy' as a means of settling in."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Zhao Wuji immediately looked up and saw that familiar face.

"Senior Jin Linzi?"

His heart skipped a beat, his gaze narrowed slightly, and he pondered to himself: "Could it be that this identity transformed from the true essence of the Dao has unintentionally stirred up some cause and effect? ​​Otherwise, how would this ancient Jin Linzi recognize me?"

He immediately focused his mind and used his fingers to perform astrological incantations. As the hexagrams shifted, he realized that the cause and effect were not confused.

Rather, the true meaning of the Intercepting Dao secretly coincided with the destiny trajectory of a "Zhao surname immortal official" in the Celestial Court, and the two even had seven parts similarity in their aura.

"Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Official."

He bowed respectfully, his sleeves concealing a hidden Daoist intent, and he gleaned a trace of the "Yellow Springs Boundary Decree" from Jin Linzi's Daoist aura.

After the golden carriage had gone far away, two Nascent Soul deacons by the roadside whispered: "Immortal Lord Jin Linzi's personal investigation of the Yellow Springs and Azure Heavens this time, could it be that the Nine Nether Rift has stirred up trouble again?"

Another person scoffed: "A thousand years is a cycle, those vengeful spirits have long been suppressed by the roots of the Jianmu tree... Shh, watch your words!"

"The Yellow Springs and the Azure Heaven... could they be the Nine Netherworlds of later generations?"

A glint flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes, and with a flick of his sleeve, he rose into the air on a cloud.

As you pass by the 'Danxia Corridor', you will see dozens of fairy children with their hair in topknots holding long jade brooms, gently brushing away the morning dew that has condensed on the corridor pillars.

Occasionally, a dewdrop falls to the ground and transforms into a palm-sized rainbow phoenix, emitting a clear and melodious cry before flapping its wings and soaring into the sea of ​​clouds.

"This spiritual dew has actually taken human form. The immortal energy of the ancient celestial court is truly abundant."

Zhao Wuji sighed and flew to the distant 'Forest of Ten Thousand Laws Stele'.

Two Nascent Soul cultivators nearly engaged in a magical battle over a piece of golden seal script manifested with Daoist aura.

However, a cough from an old man, the spirit of the stele, sent him spitting blood and staggering backward, causing the Nascent Soul cultivators around him who were studying the inscription to burst into laughter.

Zhao Wuji couldn't help but chuckle in agreement, secretly making a teleportation gesture in his sleeve to capture a wisp of the Daoist charm emanating from the Stele Forest.

The clouds beneath their feet never stopped, and in the blink of an eye, they gracefully landed in front of the nine-tiered jade platform of Qingwei Pavilion.

The mark between his brows was slightly warm, subtly capturing the surrounding people and their power.

As the illusion technique flowed, the unique Daoist aura ripples of ancient cultivators appeared all over his body.

In these celestial ruins, the air is thick with ancient spiritual energy, so dense it seems to permeate everything, and the sounds of great Dao-merging beings discussing the Dao can be heard from time to time, creating a resonance between heaven and earth.

He clearly felt that the Dao-Intercepting True Meaning within his body was eagerly absorbing these insights, and his cultivation was advancing at a visible speed.
(End of this chapter)