Immortals of the End Times

Looking at the glistening dewdrop on the tip of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass in front of him, Zhao Wuji pinched his sword fingers, and the Wall-Opening Technique gathered spiritual energy that flowed through his fingertips like a dragon or snake.

"open!"

With a low shout, the dewdrop hanging on the tip of the leaf trembled violently, and a scene of thousands of sword shadows intertwining appeared inside.

"laugh!!"

Ripples spread across the surface of the dewdrop, and suddenly a deep, dark passage pierced through the void.

The chilling sword energy unique to the ancient sword domain surged forth like a burst dam, and the Nine Tribulations Sword Intent condensed into a materialized sword aura, forming a violent vortex of sword energy at the entrance of the passage.

Each streak of sword energy contained a sharp edge capable of cleaving through heaven and earth, cutting spiderweb-like black cracks into the surrounding air.

"It seems you still remember me."

Zhao Wuji laughed heartily, his eyes reflecting the majestic sword mountain on the other side of the passage.

At the mountain peak, shrouded in mist, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass radiated a crystal-clear blue light.

As the nine sword leaves swayed gently, thousands of fine sword marks appeared in the void, as if even space itself could not withstand their sharpness.

"Zheng!"

A clear, resonant sword cry echoed through the void. Zhao Wuji's sleeves billowed, and his five fingers suddenly came together to form a sword finger, forming a hand seal as he unleashed his swordsmanship.

“Swish swish!!”

In an instant, countless sword shadows appeared out of thin air.

These sword energies were not chaotic, but flowed according to some mysterious trajectory, sometimes like a dragon soaring through the air, sometimes like a starry river falling down.

As the sword energies collided, they produced a clear, ringing sound, like gold and jade striking each other, creating a three-dimensional sword realm in the void.

"Congeal!"

He pointed his sword forward sharply.

The countless sword energies converged and gathered into a semi-transparent sword barrier, like rivers flowing into the sea.

This barrier is not an inanimate object.

New sword-shaped Dao patterns continuously emerged on its surface, sometimes transforming into blooming blue and white lotuses, and sometimes condensing into a Yin-Yang Big Dipper array, completely enveloping the three-zhang space around Zhao Wuji.

Looking through the sword realm, his figure in green robes had become hazy and distorted, as if he were in another world composed of pure sword intent.

"go with!"

With a low shout, the sword realm suddenly contracted.

Zhao Wuji transformed into a dazzling sword light, leaping into the opened passage and leaving a lasting sword mark in the void.

"Shh!"

The scene before them suddenly changed, with thousands of sword energies pouring down like a torrential rain on Sword Immortal Mountain.

These sword energies, like startled swans skimming the sky, struck the sword barrier, producing a continuous clashing of metal.

Zhao Wuji stood on the void, and the void within three zhang around him was distorted by the sword realm, deflecting and refracting all the incoming sword energy.

Looking up, the towering Nine-Leaf Sword Grass on the mountaintop is stretching its body amidst the sea of ​​clouds.

Each blade of grass is like a peerless divine weapon, with a sword intent as dazzling as a galaxy flowing through its veins.

When a gentle breeze blows, the grass trembles and emits a metallic clang, as if an invisible sword aura is tearing through the sky, leaving a lingering vacuum sword mark in the clouds.

In a daze, it seemed as if a phantom of a white-robed sword immortal sat cross-legged beneath the grass.

Although the figure was blurry and indistinct, the sword intent emanating from its every move caused the entire Sword Immortal Mountain to tremble.

With a gentle sway of nine leaves, nine astonishing sword moves are unleashed.

The falling dewdrops mark the cycle of birth and death in a single realm.

"Juniors have met seniors."

Zhao Wuji solemnly offered his sword, and the sword barrier rippled with his movement.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass was a treasure that followed the ancient sword immortal in the past. It was extremely spiritual, so it was only natural for him to call this sword "senior".

At this moment, he could clearly feel that even across the sword realm, the dissipated sword energy still stung his skin like fine needles.

"This junior has come to request your assistance, senior." He stared directly at the towering sword grass, his voice echoing across the mountain peak.

"Now that the Heavenly Dao has fallen, the six great ancestral demons within the Nine Netherworlds are stirring with restlessness."

"This junior wishes to uphold the Way of Heaven and eradicate the evil scourge; I humbly request your strong assistance, senior."

"choke!!"

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass suddenly trembled, and as the grass leaves swayed gently, a clear and melodious sword sound burst forth, as if thousands of sword immortals were playing together.

Suddenly, a chilling light condensed at the tip of one of the sword leaves, just like a peerless sword immortal's earth-shattering sword strike.

"Slay the Realm!"

As if a supreme sword immortal whispered in the darkness, the cold light suddenly surged, transforming into a sword light that split the heavens and the earth.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the void was plowed into a deep ravine. The laws on both sides of the ravine collapsed, and the spiritual energy was annihilated, forming a vacuum sword mark of 'no Dao and no spirit'!

"Such a strong sword intent!"

A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in Zhao Wuji's heart, and the blood moon in his double pupils shone brightly, reflecting the terrifying sword light that was about to strike.

He spread his arms, and the sword barrier instantly solidified in front of him.

Countless sword energies intertwined to form a semi-transparent light screen, which was filled with the sword energy void domain formed by the sword realm.

"Hey!"

The moment the sword energy of the Realm of Annihilation touched the Sword Realm, it emitted a piercing, sharp sound like tearing silk.

The sword barrier, which was said to be superior to all other sword techniques and capable of blocking all other techniques, was easily torn apart like butter under a hot knife.

The sword energy, undiminished in its momentum, surged like a reversed Milky Way, slamming fiercely into Zhao Wuji's chest!

"boom!!"

His figure fell like a meteor, smashing shallow craters and cracks into the road on the mountaintop.

Before he could even get up, the pressure of swords from all directions surged in like a tidal wave.

The entire mountain's vegetation and rocks transformed into swords, and countless sword energies formed a sword prison, firmly suppressing him within this sword domain cage!
"I see."

Zhao Wuji glanced at his torn clothes and the bloody sword wound on his chest, then casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes gleaming.

Although this sword strike was powerful, it was clear that the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass was not using its full strength.

With his physical strength, he could withstand it.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass's sword cry just now was its response.

However, he would only allow him to follow and wield the sword if he passed a test.

That devastating sword energy just now was the legendary Nine Tribulations Sword Technique, the Realm Slayer!

This sword pierces the sky and breaks through boundaries, severing the laws of a region and turning the surrounding land into a desolate and lifeless realm devoid of "the Way and spirits".

Let alone his initial understanding of the sword's power to create a new realm, even a truly mastered sword technique would pale in comparison to this sword.

To break through this world-destroying sword energy, one could try using the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great or the Vacuum Mirror of Annihilation.

However, such tricks ultimately rely on external forces and are unlikely to win the approval of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.

There is only one way to truly gain the favor of this ancient sword grass.

Using one's own understanding of the way of the sword, or relying on one's comprehension of the true meaning of the Great Dao, one can directly break through this sword energy.

One must either possess unparalleled swordsmanship or profound understanding of the Dao; both require genuine skill and cannot tolerate any falsehood.

Zhao Wuji stared at the sharp sword energy before him, already having made up his mind.

Although this world-slaying sword energy is extremely domineering, it is not without its weaknesses.

He had a vague feeling that the sixth true meaning of the Intercepting Dao, "Intercepting Boundaries," which he had not yet fully comprehended, might be the key to breaking this sword.

This sword energy can be used to hone one's skills, to break swords with swords, and to divide boundaries with boundaries!

"It's better to gain insight into something than to force it."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and golden patterns flowed between his brows.

If one can use this sword energy to hone oneself and gradually comprehend the true meaning of "Boundary Interception" in the process of breaking through, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?
"Come again!"

Zhao Wuji focused his mind and calmed his spirit. His blood-red, double pupils suddenly rotated, and an eerie blood-red light burst forth from the depths of his pupils.

Those double pupils, like two crimson crescent moons, hung high in the sea of ​​consciousness, quickly beginning to simulate all the trajectories and power of that world-slaying sword strike.

In his pupils, the sword energy that tore through the void was clearly visible under the reflection of the blood moon.

Where the sword's edge passed, space crumbled inch by inch, and the spiritual energy channels were severed as if by an insurmountable chasm, turning into a chaotic and desolate death zone devoid of both morality and spirit.

Within the cold gleam of the sword energy lies the supreme truth of the ancient sword immortal's "one sword to sever all laws," even the laws of heaven and earth must bow down in submission.

"Such a sword strike is simply flawless."

His blood-red eyes trembled violently, and two streaks of golden blood seeped from the edges of his pupils.

When the double pupils deduced to the extreme, they saw that the sword energy was perfectly natural, like a calamity descended by the heavens, and they could not find the slightest flaw.

"Double pupils cannot be simulated or deduced; the only way is to try it out personally and find its weaknesses in actual combat."

He closed his eyes and concentrated, and the golden pattern between his brows suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light, the five profound Dao marks revolving endlessly like the stars in the heavens.

The sixth faint phantom emanated chaotic energy at the edge of the Dao Seal.

He slowly exhaled, and suddenly his eyes shone with a fierce light.

"Boundary Interception!"

A shout resounded like thunder. He joined two fingers together as if they were swords, and the true meaning of the Dao was transformed into thousands of golden threads that intertwined in the void, condensing into a Dao sword that seemed both real and illusory.

The sword's blade was covered in flowing patterns that resembled the workings of creation, and wherever the sword's edge passed, fine cracks appeared in the void, like glass.

"laugh!!"

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass swayed gently, and a cold glint suddenly appeared at the tip of its blade.

The sword energy of the Realm-Slaying Sword tore through the air, causing the void to collapse inch by inch wherever it passed, forming a pitch-black chasm.

The moment the two sword energies collided, Zhao Wuji's Dao sword melted away like ice and snow.

He groaned and flew backwards for a hundred feet, a trickle of golden blood spilling from the corner of his lips.

"What a powerful sword aura capable of destroying worlds!"

He wiped away the blood, his eyes gleaming with a blood-red moon-like light, having already discerned some more clues with his double pupils. "Again!"

At first, his World-Slaying Sword Qi crumbled the moment it came into contact with the World-Slaying Edge.

Every confrontation is like a mayfly trying to shake a tree; at most, it can only last for a breath.

But with each defeat, he gleaned a glimpse of the true meaning of "Boundary Interception" from the sword energy.

That is a power that breaks through the shackles of boundaries, capable of severing the chaos beyond the heavens and breaking the chains of the nine netherworlds. The true meaning of 'severing boundaries and destroying laws' is contained within the Sword Qi of Slaying Boundaries.

That is the supreme sword path that transcends the Five Elements and surpasses Yin and Yang.

Zhao Wuji simply settled down atop Sword Immortal Mountain to cultivate his Dao, using the sky as his blanket and the earth as his mat.

Every morning, he would condense his sword with the true intent of the Dao of Interception and clash with the sharpness of the Realm of Extermination three thousand times.

His Taoist robe had long been torn to shreds by the aftershocks of the sword energy, and his body was covered with dense sword marks, but he was too lazy to use medical techniques to repair them.

This involves using one's own body to experience the sword intent contained within the sword's edge and sword energy.

The sixth mark among the golden lines on his brow became increasingly clear through this process of refinement.

My understanding of "boundary interception" has become increasingly profound.

Three years have passed in this way, and his World-Slaying Sword Qi can now withstand the World-Slaying Edge for ten breaths.

The sword weaved through the gaps in the laws like a dragon, sometimes transforming into an inverted celestial river, and sometimes becoming a mountain that stood eternally.

Although it was still severed by the Extinction Realm, a trace of the mystery of 'severing the realm and destroying the law' could already be glimpsed.

This day.

"boom!!"

The moment the morning light pierced through the sea of ​​clouds, Zhao Wuji suddenly let out a long howl.

The golden pattern between his eyebrows burst forth like the sun, radiating a magnificent golden glow.

The sixth Dao mark, resembling the light of an axe that split the heavens, solidified completely.

Every line flows with profound Taoist charm, and the turns and twists of the brushstrokes seem to contain the birth, death, and reincarnation of countless worlds.

"So this is the true meaning of the barrier separation technique!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly stood up, the dust that had accumulated around him was shaken off, and his three-foot-long beard moved without wind.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass reflected in his eyes was no longer a spiritual plant, but transformed into countless crisscrossing sword paths.

The swaying of each blade of grass subtly echoes the movement of the stars in the sky, and the dewdrops on the tips of the blades seem to float with fragments of the sun, moon, and stars.

"Boundary! Sever!"

He pointed his sword and drew a mysterious trajectory in the air, the invisible blade of Dao formed by the true meaning of interception tearing through the void.

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass responded immediately.

'Crack! Crack! Crack!'

The Daoless Domain constructed by the Sword Qi of the Realm of Annihilation crumbled inch by inch like glass.

A chaotic rift, spanning a hundred feet, suddenly appeared between the mountain paths of Sword Immortal Mountain.

This is truly 'using boundaries to separate boundaries'!
Using the Daoist principles of Intercepting the Dao, he forcefully extracted a unique set of laws of heaven and earth from the Extermination Sword Domain.

"Om!!"

The ancient sword domain suddenly trembled, as if it were boiling because Zhao Wuji had broken through the world-slaying sword energy.

The spiritual energy from all directions transformed into nine materialized dragons, roaring as they burrowed into the acupoints all over Zhao Wuji's body.

His body suddenly glowed with a jade-like luster, and mountain and river patterns appeared between his bones. The sword marks that had previously covered his body disappeared.

Within his dantian, a Yin-Yang Dao diagram emerged beneath the Dao foundation.

The surging magical power was like a celestial river bursting its banks, gushing through the meridians and producing a metallic clang.

Deep within the sea of ​​consciousness, five dazzling Dao traces intertwined with the true meaning of the newly born Intercepting Realm, forming a net.

With each rotation of that seal, the primordial spirit's form would grow ten feet larger, eventually transforming into a hundred-foot giant sitting upright in the Purple Mansion of the Sea of ​​Consciousness.

The golden pattern at the center of his brow had solidified into a tangible form, and the sixth stage of the Dao trace had fully developed.

At this moment, every breath Zhao Wuji exhaled drew in spiritual energy from thousands of miles away, creating a tide.

As you exhale, the clouds and mist swirl around you; as you inhale, the mountains and rivers resonate with your breath.

Within the Dao Domain that naturally formed around him, three zhang in diameter, the earth, fire, wind, and water returned to chaos, and the cycle of the four seasons began to evolve.

With every gesture, even the sharp sword energy of the ancient sword domain would give way, as if subjects were meeting their king.

The transformation into a divine being is complete, and all the steps are naturally taken!
His figure standing atop the mountain peak at this moment resembled a peerless sword drawn from its sheath.

The sheer pressure emanating from it was enough to shred the wandering sword qi of the Realm of Annihilation into a rain of light before it even got close.

"choke!!"

The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass seems to possess a spirit.

The second blade of grass trembled slightly, like a crescent moon hanging in the sky. As the tip of the blade emitted a cold glint, a crystal-clear sword light cleaved through the sky.

Where the sword's edge passed, time stood still, and countless threads of cause and effect shattered like glass.

It was a sword aura that severed the karmic ties of the past!

"Causal Sword Qi?"

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed, his expression turned serious, and he suddenly pressed a finger to his brow.

Block the road!

Extract the essence of the Heavenly Dao!

"Locking the secrets of heaven!"

With a clear shout, Zhao Wuji's golden markings between his brows suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light.

Countless chains of Daoist energy, gleaming like flowing gold, burst forth from the void, unfolding like a net from heaven and earth, pinning the scattered threads of cause and effect to the void.

Each chain vibrated with a sound that echoed the Great Dao, as if the laws of the heavens were manifesting.

"Zheng!"

His sword barrier expanded in response, and a galaxy appeared upside down on its surface.

The positions of the twenty-eight constellations lit up one after another, transforming into a celestial sword formation that rotated endlessly.

The incoming causal sword energy had just entered the eye of the Big Dipper formation when it was immediately entangled by thousands of sword shadows.

The numerous sword energies manifested as countless intertwined red lines, each connected to a different trajectory of fate.

"Chucky!"

The causal red thread rubbed violently against the Starry Sky Sword Array, sparking blinding sparks.

In less than three breaths, spiderweb-like cracks had already appeared in half of the sword realm.

But those broken causal threads also transformed into specks of golden light in the annihilation, like shattered starlight of destiny.

"Well done!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly formed a sword with his fingers, seizing the secrets of heaven.

Tracing back along the broken causal threads, they forcefully extracted a wisp of Daoist essence from the torrent of cause and effect.

As the sword energy and Daoist principles collided, the entire sword domain trembled.

The lingering aftershocks burst forth in the void, creating a magnificent golden glow, much like the sunrise tearing through the night.

As the sword energy struck, the causal threads snapped.

He forcibly intercepted it with the power of "Boundary Interception" and used it to nourish his own Daoist essence.

"Zheng!!!"

The third sword leaf of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass suddenly overlapped and trembled, and the two leaves intertwined, revealing the image of Tai Chi breaking apart.

The black and white sword energies, like yin and yang fish, connected head to tail, suddenly reversed the origin of the five elements.

Wherever it passed, the void spontaneously evolved into a chaotic vortex, and even the spiritual energy on the mountain peaks began to clash with fire.

"The third sword strike is to reverse Yin and Yang?"

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply, and he suddenly made a hand seal with his fingers together, the Zhenwu Sword flying out of his sleeve with a clang.

As the sword trembled, the true meaning of intercepting the Dao condensed into a phantom image of the Eight Trigrams on the sword.

Heaven and Earth are positioned, while Kan, Li, Zhen, and Dui each perform their respective duties.

The Zhenwu Sword thrust out, like a stabilizing needle, plunging into the boiling chaotic sea.

"Certainly!"

The moment the sword tip touched the black and white sword energy, the Bagua diagram suddenly began to rotate.

The secrets of heaven and earth were forcibly intercepted and transformed into golden threads that weave a net.

The rampaging Yin and Yang energies, like weary birds returning to their nests, were stripped away and devoured layer by layer by the sword net.

The Zhenwu Sword suddenly glowed with a chaotic light, as if it had just undergone the tempering of the creation of the world.

"boom!"

Suddenly, the leaves of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass trembled violently, like a cascading river of stars.

At the tip of the fourth sword blade, a point of starlight suddenly expanded a million times, transforming into a meteor sword light that roared in.

It is the fourth sword, 'Falling Star Ruins'!
Before the sword light even arrived, the entire Sword Immortal Mountain began to shake violently.

The ancient, wandering sword energy was attracted by the starlight and condensed into a materialized rain of swords in the void.

Each raindrop seems to contain fragments of ancient stars, trailing a dazzling tail of light as it falls.

Zhao Wuji was once again plunged into a fierce battle.

This sword energy contained the power of ancient stars, vast and unparalleled. Although his Intercepting Boundary True Intent was strong, it was difficult for him to completely dispel it.

However, during a lull in the fierce battle, Zhao Wuji gradually came to his senses.

The Nine Tribulations Sword, formed by the unification of the nine swords of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, can cleave the heavens and the earth, sun and moon.

The unification of the nine swords is just like the fusion of his six great true meanings of the Dao of Interception.

To break these nine swords, one must combine the six true meanings of "Severing Heaven," "Severing Earth," "Severing Fortune," "Severing Law," "Severing the Dao," and "Severing the Realm" into one.

In that case, he will definitely be able to enter the realm of Dao Integration!

"So that's how it is... There are three thousand great paths, but they all lead to the same destination!"

He suddenly looked up at the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, "When I master this sword, it will be the time when the six true meanings of the Intercepting Dao merge and I will completely step into the Dao Integration stage!"

In the instant his mind became clear, Zhao Wuji's body transformed into a sword realm, gradually fading into nothingness amidst the rain of swords, as if merging with the Daoist aura of the entire Sword Immortal Mountain.

However, only a clone of his figure remained here, while his true form went to the ancient immortal court.

To break through the final five swords and step into the Dao Integration Realm, relying solely on the insights gained at the Nascent Soul Realm is ultimately insufficient.

Only the profound truths of the Great Dao left behind by the great Dao-merging beings in the Thirty-Three Heavens can mend the final deficiency in his Dao foundation.
(End of this chapter)