Immortals of the End Times

They sensed the faint, illusory nature of this world.

At the same time, the Dao Seal of Intercepting Dao between Zhao Wuji's eyebrows shone brightly with golden light, and the five profound Dao Marks rotated and shone, transforming into invisible sharp blades that pierced the void, trying to seize that sliver of true heavenly secret.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the true essence of the Dream Marriage Technique within the Yin-Yang Pearl flowed spontaneously, and he suddenly felt as if countless illusory Dao patterns were appearing in the world.

"The Great Dream of Three Thousand Worlds"

His eyes sharpened, and he suddenly made a hand seal.

A dreamlike, ethereal light bursts forth from her fingertips, and the true meaning of the "Dream Awakening" technique ripples outwards.

"Crack!"

At that very moment, four Daoist voices suddenly resounded from the summit of Jianmu, echoing throughout the celestial court.

The true essence of the Great Dao left behind by the Four Heavenly Venerables awakened simultaneously, transforming into chains of Dao patterns in four colors: blue, white, gold, and red, which intertwined in the sky to form the two characters 'Sealing the Heavens'.

Each stroke of the writing seemed to carry the weight of countless ages, shattering Zhao Wuji's attempt to see through the illusion.

"Uh!"

Zhao Wuji's mind was struck as if by lightning, and he staggered back three steps, a mouthful of golden blood suddenly spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, the sky brightened.

But then the majestic, mountain-like blue palace atop the Jianmu tree suddenly burst open.

One of the celestial beings, whose body resembled a mountain, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly containing the rise and fall of ten thousand green peaks.

The moment that gaze fell upon him, the clouds over the entire Xuanqiong Dao Palace seemed to freeze.

"The Immortal Official Zhao Zheng".

The voice of the Heavenly Venerable of Guangsha was not loud, but it was like the simultaneous resonance of thousands of divine mountains, causing the thirty-three heavens to tremble.

Suddenly, the Celestial Venerable waved his sleeve, and the clouds hanging from his sleeve transformed into a bridge to guide the immortals. Each wisp was as heavy as a thousand pounds, yet incredibly gentle, extending towards the direction of the Zhurong Palace.

"You are destined to meet me. Come, come."

The moment these eight words were uttered, extraordinary phenomena appeared in the celestial court.

The peach blossoms of many immortal peach trees in the Peach Garden were in full bloom, the Destiny Compass in front of the Hall of Fate was rotating on its own, and even the golden lotus where the Celestial Craftsman was giving his sermon was turning toward the Hall of Zhu Rong.

"This"

"Zhao Zheng actually managed to gain the favor of the Heavenly Venerable of Guangsha!"

An uproar erupted inside the Zhurong Hall.

The jade slips in the hands of the many celestial officials and stewards fell to the ground with a 'clatter,' but no one bothered to pick them up.

Even Xiong Shan, a body cultivator who was usually calm and composed, couldn't help but widen his eyes in disbelief.

"Senior Brother Zhao Zheng."

Yan Lingluo, her crimson sleeves fluttering, stared blankly at Zhao Wuji, who was enveloped in the guiding light. Suddenly, she smiled and solemnly performed a Daoist bow with her five hearts facing the sky.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhao, on receiving the favor of the Heavenly Venerable!"

This congratulatory remark was like a boulder thrown into a pool, creating ripples that jolted the immortals in the hall awake from their reverie.

In an instant, congratulations came from all directions like a tidal wave.

A Nascent Soul steward bowed respectfully to the ground, while a Nascent Soul Daoist sighed with complex emotions.

Even the Heavenly Craftsman Immortal Lord's eyes flashed with a hint of envy.

The Great Vehicle Celestial Venerable is a true quasi-immortal.

If it weren't for the limitations imposed by this world, reaching the true Immortal level would be a piece of cake.

They are called Immortal Lords. Although they receive salaries from the Celestial Court, reside on the Jianmu tree to cultivate, and enjoy many resources, they have never actually stepped into the realm of immortals and are far from being considered wandering immortals.

It should be noted that the last person favored by the Heavenly Venerable was Jinlin Immortal Lord, who was in charge of inspecting the heavenly secrets.

Back then, the Celestial Venerable Meng Qiyuan merely tapped the back of his head three times from a distance, which helped him break through the shackles of the Dao Integration stage, and in just a hundred years, he condensed the Dao Fruit of the Immortal Lord.

Now that the Heavenly Venerable Guangsha has spoken, the name Zhao Zheng is practically synonymous with the future Immortal Lord position.

"Guangsha Tianzun"

Unlike the astonished and exclamations of the immortals around him, Zhao Wuji was struck dumb at this moment, his pupils contracting as a storm of emotions surged within him.

Just now, when the true meaning of the marriage dream was flowing, he clearly observed carefully and saw that the illusory image of the celestial court was like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in the water. Why would it disturb the Heavenly Venerable of the Vast Mansion who lives high in the thirty-three heavens?
Could it be that the long river of time flowing between the rings of the Jianmu tree can truly reflect the cause and effect of the present world from the past?

At this moment, congratulatory voices surged from all around the Zhurong Hall, but they turned into hazy Taoist chants in his ears.

"Congratulations, Brother Zhao, on receiving the Heavenly Venerable's favor!"

The surrounding Zhurong Hall resounded with cheers, the Nanming Li Fire leaped beside Yan Lingluo, and the Xuntian Sword at Lu Ming's waist rang out incessantly.

These vivid sounds, falling into his ears, now seemed as if they were separated by a layer of illusory water curtain.

The more real this world seemed, the more enigmatic and unpredictable the gaze of the Four Heavenly Venerables appeared.

"I am deeply grateful for the kind hospitality shown to me by fellow Daoists."

After a moment of contemplation, he suppressed his fear and decided to play along. With a flick of his sleeves, he performed a Tai Chi bow, causing his cloud-patterned official robe to flutter even without wind.

They come, the security.

Within this ancient and mysterious land, which merges with his own Pot Heaven Secret Realm, he has already taken control of a portion of the territory and is not worried that the Celestial Venerables of the past era can pose too great a threat to him.

He immediately straightened his clothes, and then, with a hand seal, summoned the spiritual mist from the heavens.

Amidst countless admiring gazes, Zhao Wuji, his green robes fluttering, rose into the air on the clouds, and in an instant, he had already soared onto the cloud bridge that spanned the sky.

The shadowy figures of countless mountains seemed to swirl around his robes, a phenomenon that was a result of the blessing of the Heavenly Venerable, eliciting gasps of surprise from the entire hall.

Soon, the Heavenly Venerable Hall atop the Jianmu Tree appeared and disappeared in the clouds, its glazed tiles reflecting the clear light of the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Zhao Wuji stepped onto the cloud bridge and ascended the steps, his blood-red double pupils subtly appearing in his eyes as he secretly observed his surroundings.

"Come!"

Just then, from inside the Heavenly Venerable Hall ahead came the summons of the Heavenly Venerable of Guangsha, his voice echoing like thunder from the heavens throughout the hall.

Zhao Wuji immediately felt a gentle yet irresistible force enveloping his entire body, and his figure involuntarily rose into the air, flying towards the Heavenly Venerable Palace.

A thought stirred within him, realizing that this was clearly a profound technique similar to a summoning spell.

He immediately suppressed his aura and allowed the force to lead him deeper into the main hall ahead.

The Daoist temple of Guangsha Tianzun is indeed well-deserved of its reputation.

Upon entering the Heavenly Venerable Hall, Zhao Wuji felt as insignificant as a drop in the ocean.

Inside the hall, thirty-six dragon-carved pillars support a hundred-foot-high dome, each pillar entwined with a lifelike jade dragon, whose eyes seem to hold the movement of stars.

The ground was paved with a single piece of spirit jade, and the naturally formed Dao patterns on it flickered with each step.

The walls were adorned with numerous magical treasures, each radiating a chilling aura.

Deep within the palace, shrouded in layers of Taoist aura, sat the figure of Guangsha Tianzun atop a cloud platform.

The figure was shrouded in a radiant glow, with a nine-layered golden wheel of Daoist aura slowly rotating behind its head, making it impossible for anyone to look directly at its true form.

Zhao Wuji felt that even a single glance would cause his primordial spirit to tremble, as if he were offending the majesty of Heaven. He quickly lowered his eyes to avoid offending the Heavenly Venerable and respectfully bowed down with the etiquette of a celestial official: "Your humble servant Zhao Zheng greets the Heavenly Venerable. May I ask what instructions the Heavenly Venerable has given me in summoning you?"

The Heavenly Venerable of the Vast Mansion looked down and scrutinized Zhao Wuji, his gaze sweeping over him with an almost tangible intensity.

In that instant, Zhao Wuji felt as if all his secrets were about to be seen through, and even the Dao Seal of Intercepting the Dao in his sea of ​​consciousness trembled slightly.

"The universe is vast, and every era will give birth to a favored child of destiny."

The Celestial Venerable's voice was like heavenly music, yet it carried the weight of time and vicissitudes: "This child is both a variable and a vanished one."

"I sensed within you a trace of something beyond destiny."

Zhao Wuji's heart trembled violently, and his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously tightened.

He never expected that his special identity as a variable in the present world would be seen through by this supreme being at a glance.

But then he remembered that the Heavenly Venerable of Guangsha had still addressed him as "Zhao Zheng," and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that what this supreme being saw was still his disguised identity in the Celestial Court.

Therefore, it seems that if Zhao Wuji were to receive divine guidance from Guangsha Tianzun on behalf of "Zhao Zheng" at this moment...

Could it be that Zhao Zheng from the Celestial Court in the past also gained the favor of the Celestial Venerable for this reason?

Or perhaps this was Zhao Zheng's destined opportunity, unrelated to his intervention? This intricate web of cause and effect is like an unbreakable shackle of the Heavenly Dao, and even with Zhao Wuji's current mastery of the Dao of Interception, he cannot fathom its mysteries in a short time.

While he was pondering, Guangsha Tianzun did not give him any more time to deduce.

The figure shrouded in a radiant glow gazed at the Dao Seal of Intercepting the Dao between Zhao Wuji's brows, and nodded slightly: "I observe that your Daoist techniques are profound, and you have already grasped three-tenths of the true meaning of the Dao Integration. Your comprehension is truly exceptional. However..."

The Celestial Venerable paused, his voice booming like a great bell, causing ripples of Daoist energy to spread throughout the hall. "Your magical power is still shallow, and your cultivation is still lacking."

If one can advance further in their cultivation and strengthen their foundation, the realm of Dao Integration will be within reach.

Before he could finish speaking, Guangsha Tianzun suddenly raised his finger and pointed.

A wisp of chaotic divine light had already appeared at his fingertips.

This single finger strike seemed to pierce through a shackle on the very fabric of heaven and earth.

In an instant, the spiritual energy that had been dormant for countless ages within the Heavenly Venerable Hall suddenly surged, condensing into dazzling ribbons of light visible to the naked eye, each shimmering with seven-colored radiance.

This is no ordinary level seven spiritual energy, but rather immortal spiritual energy that has been tempered by the primordial immortal fire of the Great Vehicle Celestial Venerable!
Each strand contained profound Daoist charms approaching the level of a true immortal, and at this moment, it surged into Zhao Wuji's body like a celestial river flowing backward.

"This is."

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply, and his whole body trembled violently.

Ordinary spiritual energy enters the body like drinking water, but as soon as this immortal spiritual energy gets close, the pores all over his body open spontaneously.

Each wisp of immortal energy was as heavy as a mountain, yet as light as a feather, containing a breathtakingly profound Daoist charm.

Even more astonishingly, this celestial energy possessed its own spirituality, actively entering his meridians like weary birds returning to their nests. Wherever it passed, the flesh, blood, muscles, and bones of his body trembled with joy.

"The Great Expansion is fifty, its use is forty-nine."

Just then, the sermon of Guangsha Tianzun began.

At first, it sounded like a clear spring babbling under the moon, washing away the dust from one's soul. Gradually, it transformed into a grand and majestic sound, and finally, it resonated like thunder from the heavens, shaking Zhao Wuji's mind with every syllable.

Instead of obscure and difficult-to-understand maxims of the Heavenly Way, this Heavenly Venerable of the Vast Mansion clearly explains the ultimate principles of Heaven and Earth.

From the interaction of the Five Elements to the cycle of Yin and Yang, and from the evolution of celestial phenomena to the mysteries of destiny.
Zhao Wuji suddenly realized that this was the intention of the Heavenly Venerable of Guangsha to guide and promote him, which was a rare and precious opportunity.

He immediately sat down, absorbed the spiritual energy of the immortals, and listened to the Heavenly Venerable preach.

He felt that the many fragments of Dao seals he had previously devoured and the incomplete insights he had plundered were now, under the Heavenly Venerable's sermon, flowing like rivers into the sea, spontaneously merging and becoming integrated.

The immortal energy within his body was rapidly refined, with each strand transforming into pure magical power that permeated his limbs and bones.

The Dao Seal between his eyebrows shone with an unprecedentedly brilliant golden light.

The five Dao traces wriggled and intertwined like living things, and as they collided with each other, they were faintly about to condense into a sixth profound pattern.

So engrossed in cultivation, he lost track of time, and the voice of the Heavenly Venerable of the Vast Mansion had long since disappeared, leaving only Zhao Wuji to cultivate and comprehend on his own in the empty Heavenly Venerable Hall.

One day, Zhao Wuji suddenly felt a clear mind, as if he had broken through an invisible shackle.

Suddenly, the Dao Seal between his eyebrows burst forth with five-colored rays of light, illuminating his Purple Palace as if it were daytime.

The previously blurry sixth illusory image is now becoming clearer among the Dao traces, like a dormant true dragon that may break free from its seal at any moment.

He finally touched the edge of the sixth kind of Dao Interception True Meaning!
The sixth level of the Dao of Interception: Interception of Boundaries!

This shows that his understanding of the essence of the Great Dao has reached the threshold of the perfect transformation into a divine being.

Although the accumulation of magical power is not yet complete.

However, the wisp of immortal spiritual energy bestowed upon him by the Celestial Venerable of Guangsha was now radiating divine light of creation deep within his Dao foundation.

"boom!!"

His long-dormant magical power suddenly erupted.

Like a silver river cascading from the heavens, it gathers a dazzling Dao foundation within the dantian, reflecting the Dao seal in the sea of ​​consciousness.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the once dormant Dao Seal of Intercepting the Dao now seemed to be ignited like a chaotic fire, with the primordial spirit burning fiercely within it.

Each flame pulsed with a breathtaking Daoist aura.

His bones cracked and popped, revealing a dense array of Dao-intercepting runes.

The flesh and blood were crystal clear, like glass without any impurities.

The meridians expanded like rivers, surging with a vast, almost liquefied, magical power.

The most astonishing thing was the change in spiritual pressure outside his body.

The originally restrained aura gradually increased, transforming into a tangible golden flame that shot into the sky.

The entire Heavenly Venerable Hall was illuminated as brightly as day, and some of the hanging magical treasures jingled, as if responding to this sudden breakthrough.

His magical power broke through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm—it was a natural progression!
"The Celestial Venerable's casual guidance has brought me such great fortune."

Zhao Wuji slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with the swirling stars of the Milky Way yet remaining calm and serene. "My cultivation has broken through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and my understanding of the Dao has become even more profound, almost reaching perfection. Once I truly comprehend the sixth Dao of the Intercepting Realm, I can step into it."

This breakthrough, which would make ordinary cultivators ecstatic, was as natural to him as the changing of the seasons.

Spring grass sprouts without arrogance, autumn leaves fall without sorrow; one can be said to be unmoved by honor or disgrace, with a mind as clear as a mirror.

He looked around and realized that the Heavenly Venerable of Guangsha had already disappeared.

Inside the empty hall, only a few wisps of Taoist incense lingered, proving that the earth-shattering sermon just now was not an illusion.

Zhao Wuji made a hand seal with his fingers together, using his time-knowing technique to deduce the secrets of heaven.

As the starlight shimmered at his fingertips, it revealed the image of the alternation of the sun and moon.

Fifteen years have passed in the outside world since I attained enlightenment!

However, those who cultivate themselves are actually least concerned about time.

Looking back in a daze, the scene of being bathed in celestial energy, the Heavenly Venerable preaching, and the sound of the Dao resonating in my ears is as clear as if it were yesterday.

"We've been occupying this Heavenly Venerable Hall and causing trouble for quite some time now."

Zhao Wuji felt slightly embarrassed. He got up and slowly stepped out of the Heavenly Venerable Hall. Suddenly, he saw a Taoist boy in a crane-feather cloak standing in the swirling clouds outside the hall.

The boy wore a jade hibiscus crown, the tassels of which swayed gently in the wind. He held a whisk made of black jade, which he casually draped over his arm.

His face was like a piece of white jade, with a cinnabar mark between his eyebrows that subtly exuded Taoist charm.

Seeing Zhao Wuji emerge from the hall, the boy smiled, flicked his whisk and placed it on his left arm, then made a Ziwu hand seal with his right hand and bowed to his chest. His wide sleeves drooped down, carrying wisps of pure and ethereal aura: "Immortal Zhao, please wait. The Heavenly Venerable has decreed that if you awaken, you may go to the outer heavens to take a look. This will not only broaden your experience but also help you comprehend the mysteries of the Dao."

"Oh?"

Zhao Wuji paused, took a closer look at the young Taoist, and felt a slight tremor in his heart.

But one could see that the other party's body was surrounded by clear energy, and there was a faint sign of the Five Elements Converging at the Origin and the Dao Wheel manifesting behind his head. He was actually a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage!

Such a person would not be considered an ordinary individual even in the ancient Celestial Court, yet in this Heavenly Venerable Hall, he is merely a messenger boy.

Zhao Wuji dared not be negligent and solemnly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Immortal Child."

The young Taoist flicked his whisk and returned the greeting with a smile: "Immortal Zhao, you are too kind. When you are promoted to Immortal Lord in the future, you may give me some guidance."

As the other person spoke, wisps of Daoist energy emanated from their sleeves, and they turned and drifted away.

"Did the Celestial Venerable of Guangsha send me to take a look beyond the heavens?"

Zhao Wuji looked up at the sky above him. The Heavenly Venerable Palace where he was now was the thirtieth level of the thirty-three heavens.

The outer reaches of the heavens are not far away.

He immediately stopped talking, made a cloud-summoning spell, and a cloud of auspicious energy rose from beneath his feet, carrying him straight to the outer reaches of the thirty-third heaven, while his mind was filled with turbulent thoughts.

When this ancient celestial court was at its peak, the thirty-three heavens were intact, and the Jianmu tree still connected the three realms, which was completely different from the broken, chaotic, and dangerous nine heavens of later generations.

More importantly, the Heavenly Dao of this realm has not yet fallen, and may not even have a concrete form. The various Heavenly Venerables represent the Heavenly Dao.

"If the world is truly as I suspect, an illusion..."

Zhao Wuji stared intently at the approaching edge of the sky, his clothes fluttering in the strong wind, his expression solemn.

Fifteen years ago, he used the True Technique of Marrying Dreams as a guide and the Dao Seal of the Cutting Dao as a blade, intending to cut open the illusion of this world.

However, he was injured by the backlash from the Daoist chains left behind by the Four Heavenly Venerables, which alerted the Heavenly Venerable Guangsha.

Now it seems that this Celestial Venerable not only did not blame him, but also, after learning of his variable identity, intended to grant his wish and even allowed him to go to the outer heavens.

This is indeed a great opportunity.

By venturing beyond the heavens, we may be able to glimpse the fundamental differences between the ancient celestial court and the world of today.

The age-old mystery of the end times, and the specific state of the illusory world that he speculated about, might be hidden behind this ancient, primordial chaos.
(End of this chapter)