Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 356, 451: The Daoist Master Discusses the Dao, the Jianmu Tree Supports the Sky (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Within Qilin Peak, purple mist rises from the east, and the clouds and rosy hues resemble swords.

The three Nascent Soul Dao Lords, Wentian Sword Lord, Zhao Wuji, and Cangyunzi, sat cross-legged on the jade futons in the Qilin Hall, their bodies radiating Daoist charm and flowing spiritual light, seemingly resonating with the world around them.

Zhao Wuji recounted his insights gained from over twenty years of enlightenment in the Celestial Court, and discussed and debated these insights with the two men.

He had done this frequently in the ancient Celestial Court.

The four essentials for cultivating immortality are wealth, companions, methods, and location.

Having a Daoist partner to discuss the Dao with is of paramount importance, as they can mutually promote each other's cultivation; discussing the Dao is the key.

He flipped through the "Wanshou Daozang" (Taoist Canon of Longevity) he had obtained from Huang Shang, explaining some of the Lao-Zhuang doctrines.

The text then discusses the secrets of refining the spirit in the *Huangting Jing*, and finally reveals the heavenly secrets of the Star Lord of Destiny during a calamity.

With a wave of his sleeve, the starlight intertwined into a net, reflecting a miniature galaxy within the hall, each star's movement subtly aligning with the true words of the Great Dao.

Cang Yunzi observed intently and exclaimed, "Wonderful! Fellow Daoist Zhao's method of intercepting the Dao transcends conventional logic and directly points to the fundamental principles of the Great Dao. If you can take another step forward, you might be able to glimpse the opportunity to merge with the Dao!"

As he spoke, his expression suddenly darkened, and he looked up at the gloomy sky outside the hall. "The Dao Lord of the Transformation Realm is in constant communion with the heavens and man, and truly resonates with the existence of heaven and earth."

Unfortunately, something went wrong with this place.

The Heavenly Dao has fallen, and the Nine Netherworlds have sunk into depravity, causing the balance of Heaven and Earth to be disrupted. Even those who have reached the Nascent Soul stage feel they have nowhere to go.

Cang Yunzi sighed and shook his head, "Fortunately, I am not alone on this path. Today, I am able to discuss the Dao with you two fellow Daoists and explore its mysteries together."

With sword intent in his eyes and sword energy swirling around him like a dragon, the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven said in a deep voice, "The way of the sword is simple: only ask the will of Heaven."

My sword seeks only to question the heavens: why has the Heavenly Dao remained in a state of confusion and utter depravity for millennia?

As soon as he finished speaking, the clouds outside the peak suddenly parted, as if cleaved by an invisible sword intent, revealing a sliver of the sky.

Zhao Wuji lightly tapped his fingertip, and a wisp of the true meaning of the Intercepting Dao condensed, transforming into golden threads that wrapped around the void. He laughed and said, "My Intercepting Dao is not about severing, but about seizing a sliver of life."

The rules of heaven and earth are like a net, and I only need to find its weak point, seize that one 'escape', and that will be enough to break the deadlock.

After speaking, the golden threads suddenly scattered and then quickly reassembled, undergoing countless changes, and even faintly merging with the sword energy of the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven, as if to confirm his theory.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao's path is in accordance with the principle of the incompleteness of the Heavenly Dao, and is indeed the supreme path."

Cangyunzi stroked his beard and smiled, and the image of the Nine Mountains appeared behind him, as heavy as the sky: "I, an old man, bear the weight of heaven and earth and contain all things."

Whether one challenges the heavens with a sword or seeks to uncover celestial secrets, ultimately a celestial realm is needed to contain them.

Though the Nine Heavens are perilous, our path is inherently defying the heavens.

With a flick of his sleeve, the illusory image of the Nine Mountains transformed into a small world, encompassing the Daoist essence of the three without any conflict. Instead, they mutually enhanced each other, revealing the true meaning of "inheritance".

The three had been discussing the Dao for more than ten days in the blink of an eye, yet they had all verified each other's understanding of the Great Dao and gained something from it.

The Sword Lord of Asking the Heavens suddenly stood up, raised his eyes to look at the sky, and his eyes flashed with sword light: "Now that we have broken through to the next realm, the time is coming."

Beyond the Nine Heavens, the Fallen Heavenly Dao lurks, watching and lurking, while the lost souls wander... In another 170 years or so, the Calamity of the End of Dharma may descend once more; it is time for us to set out.”

Upon hearing this, Cang Yunzi stood up with a solemn expression and said, "We were able to handle the pseudo-Nine Heavens in Fellow Daoist Zhao's Tiannan Secret Realm."

Now, within these true Nine Heavens, all those who have lost their souls were once Nascent Soul cultivators. If these soul-lost individuals were to attack us while we are venturing into the Nine Heavens, our danger would increase exponentially.

He looked at Zhao Wuji and said, "Although Fellow Daoist Zhao's Intercepting Dao True Meaning combined with the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great can break the deadlock, we still need to be extremely cautious."

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly, and the phantom image of nine cauldrons appeared in his palm: "If Heaven wants to stop us, then I will cut off Heaven. That sliver of hope will surely be in our grasp!"

He was not exaggerating. He had mastered many of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques and was also proficient in the art of intercepting fate and destiny. Even if he was defeated at that time, he was confident that he could escape unscathed.

The three discussed for a long time in the hall and finally decided to challenge the Nine Heavens together in seven days.

Cang Yunzi's long, white eyebrows twitched slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "This time, I am venturing into the Nine Heavens to uphold the righteous path of heaven and earth and resolve the great calamity of the end times."

"Since the three of us are Nascent Soul Dao Lords, we should naturally take the lead and plead for the sake of Heaven and Earth. However..."

He paused slightly, the Dao seal of "Bearing Heaven and Carrying All Things" flowing between his brows: "We also need to summon all the immortal sects to establish rules and stabilize the Nine Provinces. Otherwise, if we encounter any misfortune, I fear the world will descend into chaos."

As his purple robe fluttered in the wind, he solemnly said, "I will personally handle this matter in the name of the Immortal Saint Sect. At that time, the Qilin Sword Ancestor will also need to accompany us and take charge of the overall situation after we leave."

"As it should be!"

"Alright!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji and Wentian Sword Master bowed respectfully at the same time.

The next moment, his green robe billowed, and Zhao Wuji transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky.

But the composed expression on his face just moments before gradually gave way to a look of seriousness.

When he spoke with Wentian Sword Master and Cangyunzi earlier, he appeared completely at ease.

But in reality, we really do need to make proper preparations.

Although he was already very familiar with that pseudo-Nine Heavens.

But as Cang Yunzi said, in the true Nine Heavens, those soulless beings corrupted by the Heavenly Dao were all former Nascent Soul Dao Lords, and it's even possible that some of them were Dao Integration Great Powers.

Not to mention the corrupt Heavenly Dao that hangs high above the nine heavens.

As he made a hand seal, the Nine Heavens Restriction Array in the Southern Secret Realm within the Second Heavenly Space immediately trembled.

The Thunderclap Spear and the other nine array treasures transformed into streams of light and disappeared into his sleeves.

In addition, the complete treasure, the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great, is now absorbing and releasing primordial energy within his First Heavenly Space, ready to break through the void at any moment.

"Some preparations are still needed."

In the blink of an eye, he had arrived in the third Heavenly Space within his own body.

The void trembled, and the vortex of the Gate of Mysterious Female flashed by and disappeared into nothingness in an instant.

Within the space of the Pot Heaven, in the realm of heaven and earth that has merged with the mysterious, a towering Jianmu tree stands majestically, its branches and leaves swaying and scattering countless points of clear light.

"Om!!"

The two-thousand-foot-tall demon tree clone suddenly opened its eyes. Its left eye shone with a blue light like a surging blue sea, with the Dao patterns of the Jianmu tree flowing around it. Its right eye shone with golden light like a blazing sun scorching the sky, and the domineering spirit of Xiang Yu resounded.

The immense spiritual power of the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator swept out, causing ripples to spread across the surrounding spiritual mist.

"After merging with the illusory image of Jianmu, and being nourished by ancient immortal spiritual energy, the growth rate of this clone is no less than that of me."

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly, but his gaze was fixed on the summit of Jianmu.

Deep within the celestial court, hidden behind golden palaces and jade towers, one could vaguely see the figures of Lu Ming and Yan Lingluo, fellow Daoists with whom he had spent more than twenty years.

"Perhaps we can prepare another plan and intercept the aura of these ancient Daoist friends. If we do encounter them outside the Nine Heavens, we may not necessarily have to fight a big battle."

He activated the illusion technique, and suddenly a misty cloud rose around him.

The cloud-patterned official's robes seemed to cover his body like mist, and the "Observation of Heaven" jade pendant at his waist swayed gently.

In an instant, he transformed back into the appearance of the celestial official Zhao Zheng, and then his figure turned into a gust of wind, disappearing into the celestial court.

"I hope Inspector Zhao is well!"

"Zhao Daojun's complexion is even better than that of jade branches and dew today!"

Along the way, some Nascent Soul deacons from ancient immortal courts bowed to him.

Golden-armored celestial soldiers stood solemnly, halberds in hand, while Nascent Soul deacons bowed respectfully, holding scrolls in their hands.

He smiled and nodded in return, stepping on auspicious clouds.

As they passed by the Peach Garden, they happened to encounter several fairies from the Zhurong Palace picking celestial dew.

The leader, Yan Lingluo, wore a fiery red dress and held a wisp of Nanming Fire between her fingertips, turning the morning dew into strings of glass beads. Upon seeing him, she immediately stood up and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhao, you've come at the right time. You're already in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Quickly help me see if this 'planting lotus in fire' method still works?"

As she spoke, a wisp of pure fire spirit energy emanated from the tip of her hair.

With a light twist of her wrist, the string of glass beads blossomed into a twelve-petaled red lotus phantom in the fire, a divine power of 'planting lotus in fire' that had been lost to the world for a long time.

"Junior Sister Yan's technique of transforming fire into life reminds me of Senior Chisongzi of Danxia Pavilion's skill in transforming fire essence."

Zhao Wuji pretended to stop and comment, but the true meaning of intercepting the Dao from his sleeve was like a thread, silently intercepting the wisp of the other party's aura into his sleeve.

Looking at Yan Lingluo's carefree appearance, he sighed inwardly.

Youth fades quickly, beauty withers easily; I hope this Junior Sister Yan will not become a soulless person, and that she will die peacefully in her old age.

Yan Lingluo felt a slight itch on her ears, but she took it as a morning breeze and continued to ask Zhao Wuji questions for a long time.

Zhao Wuji did not linger and pointed lightly.

A wisp of the true essence of the Water Entry Technique transformed into golden light and entered Yan Lingluo's brow. "However, the Fire of Departure is too strong and easily broken. Junior Sister, you might as well use Water of the Kan trigram as a guide."

Seeing that the girl was still in the midst of her contemplation, Zhao Wuji had already transformed into a gentle breeze and vanished into the clouds above.

As we turned through the winding corridor, we suddenly heard the whistling of a sword piercing the air.

Lu Ming of the Heavenly Punishment Division was teaching newly recruited sword attendants in the training ground, his immortal sword sometimes transforming into a rainbow, sometimes condensing into frost.

Seeing him pass by, Lu Ming abruptly sheathed his sword, the tassel drawing a semi-circle of golden light in the morning glow. He laughed and said, "Brother Zhao, wait a moment! I've been pondering your comments on the secret of the One Sword Transformation Domain day and night, and I've actually grasped a bit of its essence."

"Fellow Daoist Lu, have you already comprehended it? That would be truly a cause for celebration."

Zhao Wuji smiled and cupped his hands, but his divine sense locked onto a wisp of aura on the other party.

As the two passed each other, the True Meaning of Intercepting Dao, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, precisely intercepted a trace of the other's aura.

He didn't linger and continued on his way.

As they approached the Hall of Fate, they happened to see the Star Lord of Fate riding out in his chariot.

This Daoist official, with a jade tablet hanging from his waist, was surrounded by profound stellar Daoist energy.

Zhao Wuji quickly stepped aside and bowed, but secretly cut off the object in his sleeve.

A wisp of energy, barely perceptible to the naked eye, fell from the sleeve of the Star Lord of Fate and was quietly intercepted by him.

"what?"

The Star Lord of Fate suddenly stopped, looked around suspiciously, and spun a celestial disc rapidly in his palm.

Zhao Wuji's back stiffened slightly, but then he saw the immortal lord shake his head and chuckle as he made a hand seal: "So it's the seventh star of the Big Dipper flickering. It seems the Nine Nether Rift is fluctuating again."

Having said that, he rode away in his chariot, soaring into the sky.

As the starlight faded into the distance, Zhao Wuji breathed a sigh of relief and continued on his way, his green robe fluttering in the wind.

As I passed by the Forest of Ten Thousand Laws Stele, I heard a commotion.

But he was shocked to find two Nascent Soul deacons arguing heatedly over the inscription. Zhao Wuji sighed as he witnessed this scene; he had encountered these two ancient Nascent Soul cultivators many times before, and they almost always ended up arguing here.

This also made him more discerning; although the various figures and scenes of the ancient celestial court were real, they were all illusions that had passed like fleeting clouds.

These people from the past often find themselves trapped in scenes from bygone times, repeating the same actions over and over again.

The lower one's level, the more this is true, like a game expansion pack that is constantly being reloaded and replayed.

However, he still patiently went forward to persuade them.

"Greetings, Inspector Zhao!"

Upon seeing him, the two Nascent Soul deacons immediately stopped arguing and began to perform the ceremony.

Despite being only two Nascent Soul cultivators, Zhao Wuji still managed to unleash his True Meaning of Interception, intercepting a wisp of their aura.

Six days passed by in this stop-and-go manner.

He secretly seized the aura of most of the cultivators in the Ancient Immortal Court using his Intercepting Dao True Intent.

Only a few Dao-aligned masters and immortal lords are unable to get close to him due to their status.

As for the Four Heavenly Venerables atop Jianmu Mountain.
He looked up at the clouds, where the sky seemed to be filled with the radiant sun, inspiring awe and reverence.

"The only way to intercept the aura of these powerful seniors is by using the technique of summoning immortals."

Zhao Wuji shook his head with his hands behind his back, dismissing the idea.

He suddenly smiled and said, "Very well, everything is ready now."

His gaze swept over his fellow celestial officials who were shuttling back and forth in the sea of ​​clouds.

These lifelike figures have all become the fuel for him to seize power and influence, and they have all become familiar faces to him.

"If such Dao-merging powerhouses truly still exist within the Nine Heavens..."

He gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Then we can use immortal techniques to resolve them one by one."

With a wave of his wide sleeves, Zhao Wuji sent his demon tree clone into motion, transforming it into a towering azure shadow that burst forth from the illusory Jianmu tree.

"Boom!"

The two-thousand-foot-tall demon tree clone stepped out of the Jianmu tree, and every time its dragon-like roots rolled across the ground, it caused the earth veins within a hundred miles to tremble.

The Dao patterns on the Jianmu tree surged between the cracked bark, each breath inhaling and exhaling a massive amount of spiritual energy, forming a violent vortex of spiritual energy around it.

When its branches spread out, they blocked out the sky and even tore a huge gap in the clouds above the Immortal Saint Sect.

As Zhao Wuji's robes fluttered, he landed lightly on his clone's shoulder like a falling leaf.

He stood with his hands behind his back, feeling the immense pressure brought by the movement of his clone.

Every grain on the emerald wood resembled a winding mountain range, making him feel as if he were atop an ancient sacred mountain.

This colossal creature that walks in the real world has no effect on the celestial lords and officials in the mysterious and illusory celestial court.

Only atop the Jianmu tree, the four illusory figures of celestial beings who have suppressed eternity seemed to sense something.

Their gazes, seemingly capable of piercing through the river of time, flickered slightly before quickly returning to silence.

"Let's go."

Zhao Wuji lightly patted the trunk of his clone tree, and the two immediately transformed into streams of light and rushed out of the mysterious land.

As dawn broke outside, it was exactly the time of daybreak on the seventh day.

"Log in!"

He made a hand seal with his fingers together, and ripples spread out from his feet.

The void rippled like water.

With a single step, his figure appeared outside the gate of the Immortal Saint Sect.

But the Immortal Saint Sect's sacred mountain, shrouded in mist, was right before their eyes, and the spiritual light of the mountain-protecting array shone brightly in the morning glow.

Zhao Wuji stood proudly on the shoulder of the demon tree clone, looking down at the dozens of spirit boats outside the Immortal Saint Sect's mountain gate, which suddenly appeared as tiny as toys.

The banners of various immortal sects and Taoist schools fluttered violently in the gale, clearly indicating that Cang Yunzi's efforts in recent days had begun to bear fruit.

At this very moment, inside the Tai Xu Hall of the Immortal Saint Sect.

The pillars of the hall, carved from millennia-old ice, once reflected the spiritual light emanating from the cultivators of various sects, but now they were dimmed by the stagnant atmosphere within the hall.

"Amitabha!"

The Buddhist True Venerable of the Western Rong Buddhist Kingdom's prayer beads burst forth with dazzling golden light. This Nascent Soul Great Perfection Buddhist cultivator put his hands together and said, "Cangyun Daojun, it is not that this humble monk is afraid of battle."

It is indeed inappropriate for the three Dao Lords, who are only at the initial stage of the Divine Transformation Realm and the True Lord of Demon Subduing and Manifestation Realm, to attempt to break through the Nine Heavens so soon.

There are still 170 years until the end of the Dharma-ending Age.

After the old Buddha finished speaking, the Flying Snow Sword Sect Master solemnly added, "That's right. If the three Dao Lords could nurture themselves for several more decades, wouldn't their chances of breaking through the Ninth Heaven be even greater if they joined forces then?"

Upon hearing this, the representatives of the sixteen sects inside the hall all whispered among themselves and nodded in agreement.

Cang Yunzi, who was sitting upright on the cloud-patterned jade throne above, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Buzz!"

The moment the Dao Seal of Bearing Heaven and Carrying All Things appeared between his brows, the spiritual energy in the entire hall seemed to suddenly freeze.

"You..." Cang Yunzi's long, white eyebrows moved without wind, "Are you perhaps questioning the strength of the Demon-Slaying Saint and the Heaven-Asking Sword Lord?"

"Your Excellency is wise and discerning!"

The Zixiao Sect members hurriedly rose and bowed, saying, "How dare we?"

"That's all."

Suddenly, a jade scroll flew out from Cang Yunzi's sleeve, unfolding into a map of the Nine Provinces in the void. His divine spiritual pressure, as deep as the ocean, enveloped the entire area. "I summoned you here not for discussion, but to inform you."

The entire hall of Nascent Soul True Lords fell silent in fear.

He lightly tapped his fingertip, and the map suddenly split into three golden rainbows: "It is our duty as gods to uphold the heavens and earth and resolve the end of the Dharma."

After I and the two Dao Lords departed, the affairs of the Nine Provinces were taken over by the Qilin Sword Ancestor, Elder Pang, and the True Venerable of the Buddhist Kingdom.

“Amitabha, well said! The three True Lords all possess the great righteousness of sacrificing themselves for righteousness.”

The Buddha's rosary beads paused slightly, and he finally sighed and stopped trying to dissuade him.

"boom!!"

Suddenly, a tremendous earthquake shook the mountain gate, causing the glazed tiles of the entire celestial palace to tremble violently.

Everyone looked up in surprise and saw the sea of ​​clouds suddenly tear apart, and a colossal tree reaching for the sky burst through the air.

Long! !

The morning mist was torn apart by the violent shockwave, and the two-thousand-foot-tall demon tree clone descended like Mount Tai crashing down.

The roots, like coiled dragons, stomped on the ground, stirring up visible tides of spiritual energy that caused violent ripples to spread across the Immortal Saint Sect's protective mountain array.

"boom!!"

As the giant tree moved, its branches swept across the clouds. With just a slight movement, it stirred the morning mist within a hundred miles into a spiral vortex.

The various spirit ships were like small boats on a raging sea amidst the violent gales.

The Azure Phoenix Treasure Ship of the Purple Cloud Sect tilted thirty degrees due to the shockwave, and the wind-avoiding pearl inlaid at the bow cracked with a spiderweb pattern.

"Th-what is that?"

The elder of the Tianjing Sword Sect saw a sky-covering, azure-gold canopy reflected in his eyes. Each leaf was imbued with the Dao patterns of Jianmu, and the spiritual light shimmering between the veins stung the eyes of many cultivators.

Countless horrified divine senses crisscrossed:
"A two-thousand-foot-tall spirit tree demon?! How dare it cause trouble at the Immortal Saint Sect? Could it be that something has happened again in the provinces beyond the river?"

"Not good! Stabilize the Dharma Boat!"

"This aura is overwhelming even to a Nascent Soul Dao Lord? Could it be the reappearance of an ancient remnant species? No, look at the tree demon's face, it looks somewhat like... what is it?"

Just as dozens of spirit boats were about to lose control and collide, a figure appeared in the surging spirit mist.

But then they saw a figure standing with his hands behind his back at the top of the tree canopy. His robes fluttered as the golden light of the Dao seal between his brows flowed, making him look like a celestial being descending to earth.

The seemingly ordinary wood grain beneath his feet was actually the shimmering pattern of a Jianmu tree, over a hundred feet wide.

"It is the Dao Lord who vanquishes demons and manifests sainthood!"

"This demonic tree is probably a manifestation of the True Lord's divine powers and magic, or it may be a cave spirit beast like the Demon Roc."

It is unknown which Nascent Soul True Monarch was the first to exclaim in surprise, and the sound wave spread like wildfire.

Outside the Immortal Saint Sect's mountain gate, the flags of various sects fluttered in the spiritual pressure storm, as if they were all bowing down towards the demon tree, as if in worship.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Cang Yunzi laughed loudly, his hair and beard bristling, and the Nine Mountains Dharma Form unfolded with a roar.

He stepped out into the air and took the initiative to greet Zhao Wuji outside the mountain gate, and said with a smile, "I didn't expect that your clone has become such a force to be reckoned with, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

With your Jianmu clone here, fellow Daoist, our chances of conquering the Nine Heavens this time should be three times greater!

These words struck like a thunderbolt, causing an uproar in the valley below.

"A clone of the Jianmu tree?"

"Wasn't the legendary ancient celestial court, the Tongtian Jianmu, destroyed long ago?"

"This clone seems to have appeared before during the Nine Provinces First Sword Cultivator Tournament, but it had a different identity then. I never expected it to be a remnant of the ancient Jianmu tree?"

The divine senses of the cultivators from various sects intersected, and they all saw horror in each other's eyes.

It should be noted that the fact that the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass recognized the Demon-Slaying and Saint-Manifesting True Lord was already astonishing.

The fact that the Nine Tripods of Yu the Great came into his hands was even more of a feat of defying fate.

Now even the legendary Jianmu tree has transformed into its clones.

Could this Demon-Subduing and Saintly Manifestation True Lord truly be the one ordained by Heaven to break the calamity?

"Truly worthy of being the prodigy of my Qilin Sword Sect!"

The Qilin Sword Ancestor laughed heartily: "With these three supreme treasures, perhaps they truly can shatter the nine heavens with their swords."

These words gave the surrounding cultivators, who had been feeling uneasy, a boost of confidence.
(End of this chapter)