Immortals of the End Times

Once he reached the Dao Integration Realm, Zhao Wuji felt as if the entire Pot Heaven Secret Realm was at his fingertips, as if it had transformed into a dantian within his body.

With a single thought, one can control the universe.

Within the secret realm, the originally abundant ancient spiritual energy was now entirely transformed into his own magical power.

Each wisp contains the true essence of the Great Dao, surging like a mighty river with overwhelming power.

Only now did he truly understand the vast difference between attaining the Dao and transforming into a deity.

The sheer magnitude of their magical power is like the difference between clouds and mud, vast and unfathomable.

However, even now that he has entered this realm, he still feels that his foundation is somewhat weak.

Although the Third Heaven is integrated with the ancient and mysterious land, it ultimately relies on illusion.

In terms of solid foundation, it is far inferior to the first and second Pot Heavens, which have deep roots and a long enough period of development.

"I still need to incorporate the first two great heavens into my Dao foundation to truly solidify my foundation..."

His mind raced, and he sighed inwardly at the difficulty of spiritual practice in this degenerate age.

It should be noted that his first Heavenly Pot already contained two Level 5 spiritual veins, and his second Heavenly Pot also had one Level 5 spiritual vein and one Level 4 spiritual vein. In this era, such a blessed land was extremely rare.

However, compared to the overwhelming spiritual energy within the ancient and mysterious land, which is comparable to a level seven spiritual vein, it is still inferior.

After all, this is a treasured heirloom left behind by the Four Heavenly Venerables, which is incomparable to ordinary treasures.

"However... using this as a foundation to stabilize one's realm is sufficient."

His eyes flickered slightly, and his body exuded a profound and majestic aura.

"The resources required for the Dao Integration Realm are already so staggering; breaking through to the next realm will likely be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Zhao Wuji's eyes were as deep as an abyss as he gazed at the ancient spiritual energy surging within the depths of the Pot Heaven Secret Realm. "But if in the future I also refine the Ancient Sword Domain into the Pot Heaven and forge it as my fourth foundation, perhaps I will be able to reach an even higher level."

Once he made up his mind, he immediately formed a hand seal with his fingers together.

In an instant, the golden patterns of the Dao-intercepting technique rose from his body like swimming dragons, transforming into thousands of dazzling streams of light that entered the first and second Heavenly Realms respectively.

It was the same old method.

Wherever the golden patterns of the Intercepting Path passed, the void barriers within the Pot Heaven space trembled, and the earth's veins surged.

The two once silent heavens suddenly roared like primordial beasts awakening.

Within the First Pot Heaven, two level-five spiritual veins intertwined like golden dragons, spewing out massive amounts of innate spiritual energy.

In the second Heavenly Chamber, the fifth-level spiritual vein resonated with the fourth-level spiritual vein, evolving into a spiritual totem.

Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed like lightning as he shouted, "Merge!"

But then, the true meaning of the Intercepting Dao transformed into a net that bound the heavens and the earth, condensing the two great heavenly realms into its own Dao power, and beginning to imprint the Dao seal, making it the foundation of the Dao.

"Crack crack crack!!"

The spatial barrier shattered and reformed like glass, eventually transforming into two dazzling Dao marks, which were imprinted on the Dao seal.

now.

Within Zhao Wuji's sea of ​​consciousness, three illusory images of heavenly realms floated in the form of the Three Powers, their energy interconnected, and they had all entered the Dao seal from his sleeve and dantian.

Within the Dao Seal, a small universe of its own is formed.

"It's done."

Zhao Wuji relaxed and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, which caused ripples to spread in the surrounding void.

He casually raised his hand, and a phantom image of a celestial sphere flickered in his palm.

At this moment, the three great heavens were as at his command as his limbs and bones.

With a slight exertion of his Dao power, the entire secret realm trembled, as if a single thought from him could turn the world upside down.

Just then, he suddenly activated the Time-Knowing Technique.

A flash of light from fingertips reflected the ever-changing landscape of the outside world.

"I only focused on expanding my Dao foundation and stabilizing my realm, and eight years have already passed."

He frowned slightly.

Since I began my attempt to attain Dao, seventy years have passed in the blink of an eye.

This prosperous era of spiritual revival has now lasted for over two hundred years.

The secrets of heaven have been revealed: a hundred years from now, this world will once again fall into the calamity of the Dharma's decline.

He has only a hundred years left to awaken the Heavenly Way and reverse the calamity of the end times.

Once the end of the Dharma arrives, even if one's foundation is as solid as Mount Buzhou, it will be difficult to escape the erosion of the Great Dao.

When spiritual energy is depleted and laws collapse, one's cultivation will decline step by step, like ice and snow meeting the sun, and one's realm will fall.

At this thought, Dao patterns flickered in Zhao Wuji's eyes, and his mind raced: "Since that powerful being from beyond the realm is the source of the end times, the outward manifestation of his Dao will become a calamity."

In fact, fighting against the end of Dharma is a battle of wits with that mysterious and powerful being from afar!

With his current cultivation at the Dao Integration Realm, facing those scattered and dissipated rules of the Dharma-ending Age is like an ant trying to shake a tree.

Even if the other party is likely still in some terrible slumber, similar to the fallen Heavenly Dao, and has not exerted its full power, it is already enough to cause the entire world to fall into the end of Dharma.

Therefore, the difference in their levels of understanding was like an insurmountable chasm.

Even if he were to reach the Dao Integration stage, he would still find it difficult to resist the influence and invasion of the rules of the Dharma End.

"but."

He clenched his fists loosely, his gaze sharp, "If I could break through to the Dao Integration Realm, step onto the Great Dao of Refining Emptiness into Truth, and overcome the Great Tribulation of Emptiness and Reality..."

When he reaches the Transcending Tribulation stage, he may be able to truly resist the erosion of the end of Dharma and open up a glimmer of hope in this coming dark age!
"Since the four Celestial Venerables of ancient times were able to join forces to block the erosion of the laws of the Dharma-ending Age, and even fight against that powerful being from beyond the realm until both were severely injured."

Zhao Wuji pondered for a moment, "At least it proves that the cultivation level of the Tribulation Transcending stage or even the Mahayana stage is enough to resist the invasion of the rules of the end of Dharma."

"However, we are probably still not strong enough to truly contend with that powerful being from beyond the realm."

Upon realizing this, the tense Daoist aura between his brows eased slightly.

The path is now clear.

Only by continuing to cultivate, refining the illusory into the real, and overcoming the great tribulation of illusion and reality, can one transcend the shackles of the Dharma-ending Age and attain the other shore.

Otherwise, they will ultimately be like clay bodhisattvas crossing the river, unable to save themselves and unable to escape the calamity of their demise.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and his gaze pierced through the cave, landing on the thirty-third heaven deep within the ancient immortal court.

There, the lineage of the Four Heavenly Venerables remains sealed.
"Now, with the Pot Heaven Secret Realm as my foundation, I have completely taken control of the three Pot Heaven spaces."

He clenched his fist, and a phantom image of the Pot Heaven appeared in his palm. The three spaces flowed like stars. "I wonder if I can use my control over the Pot Heaven Secret Realm to activate the Heavenly Venerable's inheritance and make contact with it?"

If he could obtain the inheritance of the ancient celestial venerable, perhaps he could break through the tribulation of illusion and reality within a hundred years.

Otherwise, given the imminent end of the Dharma era, the hope of breaking through to the Tribulation Transcending stage is slim.

Thinking of this, Zhao Wuji suddenly stood up.

In an instant, the overwhelming pressure emanating from him swept across the surrounding area like a tidal wave, causing the entire cave to tremble under his immense spiritual power.

This powerful aura spread in all directions, quickly alarming many cultivators within the ancient immortal court.

"This aura, this is..."

"That's the location of Inspector Zhao's cave! Inspector Zhao has broken through?!"

In an instant, the thirty-three heavenly palaces above the ancient celestial court also trembled.

The cultivators who were refining pills suddenly found the furnace fire boiling, and the old monsters who were in seclusion were startled to find the stone walls of their caves trembling.

The clouds and mist of the entire Celestial Court converged towards Zhao Wuji's cave dwelling, condensing into a magnificent cloud of celebration in the void.

"Boom!!"

A bell, seemingly from the ancient times, descended from the highest heavens. The primordial spirits of numerous cultivators trembled violently.

Suddenly, the Primordial Star Constellation at the very top of the Thirty-Three Heavens shone brightly, and countless stars formed an imperial edict rune.

"Zhao Zheng, receive your appointment!!"

The voice of the Celestial Venerable of Immortal Conferment was like the simultaneous chanting of scriptures by countless worlds, each syllable causing lotus flowers to bloom in the void.

When that black robe that blotted out the sky fell from the sea of ​​clouds, the entire river of clouds seemed to become the tassels on his sleeves.

"Today I hereby bestow upon you the title of Celestial Lord of the Star Patrol."

With a flick of his finger, the Celestial Venerable of Immortal Sealing caused lotus flowers to bloom in the void. An eighth-grade red lotus blossomed layer by layer beneath Zhao Wuji's feet. "You govern the celestial orbits of the human world and control the fortune of the mortal realm. I bestow upon you the Four Symbols Crown!"

Before the words were finished, the four corners of the Celestial Court suddenly trembled.

A ten-thousand-foot dragon shadow rises from the eastern azure sky, a platinum tiger leaps from the western sea of ​​clouds, heavenly fire in the south condenses into the wings of a vermilion phoenix, and mysterious ice in the north manifests as an intertwined tortoise and snake.

The phantoms of the Four Divine Beasts appeared together, each carrying a star chain that intertwined to form a celestial lord's crown, which landed on Zhao Wuji's head.

The moment the Four Symbols Crown landed on his head, Zhao Wuji felt as if his primordial spirit had been bathed in sweet rain.

Although the crown was illusory, it seemed to exude the true Daoist aura of a Celestial Venerable.

The Azure Dragon's aura makes thoughts flash like lightning, the White Tiger's malevolent intent tempers the divine sense to unparalleled sharpness, the Vermilion Bird's fiery patterns burn away distracting thoughts, and the Black Tortoise's mysterious ice guards the spiritual platform.

In a daze, it seemed as if the chanting of celestial beings echoed in his sea of ​​consciousness, enhancing his divination abilities several times over.

"This is the Immortal Venerable and Immortal Lord of the Ancient Immortal Court. He truly possesses the power and benefits corresponding to his rank, and is not merely a name."

His pupils shrank.

He could clearly feel a genuine blessing from the Heavenly Venerable hidden deep within the crown.

Even in this illusory celestial court, the amplification of Daoist energy cannot be faked.

This proves that the celestial officials of the ancient times were not just empty titles; they not only possessed real power but also had the blessing of the Heavenly Venerable's Dao power.

At this moment, as the Heavenly Venerable's decree was issued, the entire ancient celestial court suddenly shone brightly.

The spiritual energy rivers of the thirty-three heavens roared in unison, as if witnessing this coronation ceremony.

Those originally illusory palaces and pavilions now appeared somewhat solid under the illumination of the Four Symbols Crown.

The sounds of worship echoed throughout the celestial realm, spanning millions of miles.

Countless golden lotuses bloomed from the void, and three thousand streams of spiritual energy, like necklaces, hung down from the heavens, making Zhao Wuji appear as if he were made of crystal.

"Congratulations, Celestial Lord of the Stars!"

Amidst the sea of ​​clouds, numerous cultivators bowed in unison. The True Immortals who usually sat high on lotus thrones and the Star Officials who rode on auspicious clouds all bowed respectfully to Zhao Wuji.

Cranes arrived carrying lingzhi mushrooms, auspicious beasts prostrated themselves in worship, and the spiritual veins of the entire celestial court resonated with them.

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back amidst the eight-petaled red lotus bathed in a myriad of rosy light, his gaze sweeping across this illusory world like lightning.

Wherever the eye can see, the void spontaneously conjures up the scene of the secret realm of the pot heaven.

This is a sign that the words of a great being who has attained enlightenment have become law.

Although the scene before him was a dreamlike celestial realm, the karma he had accumulated over decades of cultivation here was as heavy as Mount Buzhou.

"Thank you, fellow Daoists."

A thought struck him, and he smiled casually, offering a simple Daoist bow.

With a flick of his sleeves, his figure shifted from ethereal to tangible, transforming into specks of starlight that vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already in the deepest part of the Thirty-Three Heavens.

This place has been sealed off by the Four Heavenly Venerables with the Supreme Heavenly Venerable Great Dao. The four-colored chaotic energy fell like a curtain from the sky, sealing off the entire void so tightly that it was impenetrable.

The azure cloud seal of the Celestial Venerable of the Great Mansion transformed into a magnificent palace of billions of feet, with the image of a collapsing galaxy hidden among the upturned eaves.

The Jade Pure Heavenly Venerable's glazed Buddha light condensed into a twelve-petaled lotus platform, each petal engraved with the swastika mantra. The chanting sounded like a great bell, causing golden lotuses to fall from the sky.

The Nine Tribulations Sword Marks of the Nine-Leaf Celestial Venerable crisscrossed, each sword mark seemingly severing countless ages of time and space, with faint phantom images of nine blades of grass cutting down the sun, moon, and stars.

The Immortal Sealing Dao Patterns of the Immortal Sealing Celestial Venerable are like a net covering the heavens and the earth, with the majestic heavenly power flowing between the patterns, commanding all living beings.

The four great Dao principles intertwine to form a network, transforming the void where the Inheritance Hall is located into a furnace of the Great Dao.

The Dao Fire in the furnace burned the heavens, scorching countless brilliant Dao marks in the void. Deep within each mark was the illusory image of the Heavenly Venerable, sometimes performing magic with his fingers, sometimes questioning the heavens with his sword, all incomparably grand and solemn.

Even the remnants of the Celestial Venerable's will caused the void to crackle and pop.

As soon as Zhao Wuji's Dao Integration aura approached, the ancient and dormant Dao essence here began to awaken.

It emitted a grand and majestic sound, like a resounding bell, which shook his mind and spirit.

"We still can't get close for the time being."

Zhao Wuji's expression was solemn as he gazed at the four intertwined Dao seals before him, which firmly sealed the inheritance of the Four Heavenly Venerables.

The surging Daoist energy flowed like the tide, each strand as heavy as a mountain, making it difficult for him to advance an inch.

"If I hadn't already broken through to the Dao Integration Realm, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to cross the barrier of the Thirty-Three Heavens, let alone get close to this place."

His eyes were burning.

Even though his cultivation has greatly increased, he is still like an ant looking at the sky when faced with the joint seal of these four ancient celestial beings, unable to cross the line even half a step.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered, and his gaze fell on the Nine Tribulations Sword Mark among the four Dao Marks.

He pondered that if he could wield the supreme treasure, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, he might be able to use it as a starting point to be the first to access the inheritance of the Nine-Leaf Immortal Venerable.

Now that he has broken through to the Dao Integration stage, he may be able to pass the Nine Swords Trial of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, which he previously failed to pass.

With this thought in mind, he rolled up his sleeves, a ripple appeared beneath his feet, and his figure vanished in an instant.

When it reappeared, it was already in front of the sword shadow of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.

"open!!"

He made a hand seal and slashed down with one finger, using the Wall-Opening Technique to gather spiritual energy, which moved like a dragon or snake, tearing open a dazzling gate of light from the dewdrops on the sword shadow.

His figure transformed into a stream of light and disappeared straight into it.

"Zheng!!"

At the summit of Sword Immortal Mountain, a clear and melodious sword cry, like tearing silk, suddenly rang out.

Zhao Wuji's figure broke through the air and descended on Sword Immortal Mountain.

In an instant, all nine leaves of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass trembled slightly, and his figure was reflected in the dew-kissed tips of the leaves.

"Today I have come to test my sword once more!"

Zhao Wuji formed a sword with his fingers, and what his fingertips exhaled was no longer spiritual energy, but the Dao power condensed in the Pot Heaven Secret Realm.

"choke!!"

Instantly, the first leaf of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass lit up, and the World-Slaying Sword Qi tore through the sky, causing spiderweb-like black cracks to appear in the void.

However, when it touched his three-zhang Dao Domain, it was like snow meeting boiling water, and was forcibly severed by the true meaning of the boundary-severing intent.

"break!"

As the sword finger traced a profound trajectory, the sword light, capable of severing realms and destroying laws, was cleaved in two in mid-air, emitting a clear sound of shattering glass as it vanished.

The second sword severed cause and effect, the third sword disrupted yin and yang, and the fourth sword brought down the Star Ruins in quick succession.

Zhao Wuji easily resolved all of them.

The fifth sword, Burying Souls, unleashed a storm of primordial spirits; the sixth sword, Overturning the Vast Ocean, stirred up a vast tide of swords.

Zhao Wuji remained unmoved, while the Four Symbols Crown, blessed by the Heavenly Venerable within his sea of ​​consciousness, shone brightly.

The Azure Dragon coils around to protect the spiritual platform, while the Black Tortoise and the Mysterious Ice guard the Purple Mansion. No matter how the sword cries out like weeping and lamenting, the Dao heart remains as clear as a mirror.

He quickly passed the last few sword strikes together.

"Keng!!"

The Eighth Sword Suppresses Reincarnation, which suddenly descends.

The leaves of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass suddenly grew larger, forming a scene of obscuring the view with a single leaf, hanging down like a celestial monument pressing down from above. Countless phantom images of sword tombs immediately appeared in the void, filled with a deathly aura.

Zhao Wuji's expression finally hardened slightly, and the three great heavens within his sea of ​​consciousness resonated loudly.

"open!"

As he made hand seals, the sword technique that erupted was no longer sword energy, but a projection of three entire small worlds.

The mountains and rivers of the Pot Heaven Realm collided violently with the Reincarnation Sword Tomb, and the aftershocks shaved away a layer of Sword Immortal Mountain with a rumbling sound.

When the smoke and dust cleared, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass suddenly fell silent.

The nine sword grass leaves simultaneously emitted a chaotic blue light, and the energy flowing in their veins was no longer sword energy, but a sword light resembling the primordial Dao, as if the world had been created.

"Nine Swords Return to One"

Zhao Wuji's expression was extremely serious, and he finally summoned his flying swords, including the Soul-Splitting Cold Light Sword and the Blood Fiend Needle Sword.

His body was filled with the true intent of the Dao, like a celestial river flowing backward, and the six layers of Dao patterns rotated endlessly on the sword blades.

"Qiang!!"

The Frostfire Sword and all the other flying swords sang in unison.

On the spine of each sword, the flowing golden patterns of the Intercepting Dao actually materialized, like an ancient golden galaxy entwining the sword body.

The void of the sword domain trembled.

Countless ancient sword energies, intimidated by this power, retreated and formed a vacuum sword realm around Zhao Wuji.

"Here comes the sword!"

With a clear shout, his sword technique suddenly changed, and all six swords merged into one.

That primordial sword light, returning to its original simplicity, had already arrived before our eyes.

Before the sword light even arrived, the entire ancient sword domain froze, as if the river of time had been severed, and the vast landscape was frozen in time like a painting.

This sword strike, devoid of brilliance or dazzling light, contained the primordial sword intent that created the world, as if it could trace back to the primordial chaos and reenact the primordial era.

"Block the road!!"

Zhao Wuji spread his arms, and the Dao seal between his eyebrows shone brightly.

The sixfold true meaning of the Intercepting Dao erupted with a thunderous roar.

Heaven, Earth, Fortune, Law, Dao, and Realm—six layers of Daoist principles intertwined at the sword's edge, condensing into a dazzling sword blade in the void.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be thousands of miniature versions of the Nine Tribulations Sword Qi, such as "Slaying the Realm," "Severing Cause and Effect," and "Disrupting Yin and Yang"!

This is an interception of the Nine Tribulations Sword Dao, using their own methods against them!
The six paths of the Intercepting Dao are united as one, and the nine swords are returned to one.

"Tsk!!!"

The six golden sword blades collided with the Primordial Sword Light in mid-air, without any earth-shattering explosion, only the silent ripples of the annihilation of the Dao principles.

The void atop Sword Immortal Mountain was like cracked glass, revealing countless spiderweb-like chaotic fissures.

Within those cracks, Zhao Wuji used the true meaning of the Intercepting Dao to unravel the Nine Tribulations Sword Dao rhythm inch by inch, and then condensed it into equally fierce sword energy to counterattack.

"boom!!"

Ultimately, like meteors colliding, the blinding radiance of the Dao principles engulfed heaven and earth.

When the light faded, Zhao Wuji's blue robe was completely torn, and a deep sword wound on his chest revealed the bone.

On the opposite side, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, standing proudly for millennia, now displays its ninth leaf.
But it was being gently pinched between his two fingers.

Clang!

The divine herb rooted on the mountaintop suddenly trembled violently, its entire body radiating a clear, glass-like light.

The nine illusory sword leaves rotated like stars, each rotation accompanied by a mighty sword chant, causing countless ancient swords throughout the entire sword domain to hum in unison.

In an instant, the grass leaves left the soil and transformed into a three-foot-long green sword hanging in front of Zhao Wuji.

The sword's blade is as clear as ice, containing nine illusory leaves floating within. Wherever the sword's edge points, the sea of ​​clouds splits open into a deep ravine.

This means that the precious Nine-Leaf Sword Grass has truly recognized him and is willing to let him wield the sword.

"Haha."

Zhao Wuji laughed loudly, the moment his five fingers gripped the hilt of the sword.

"Boom!"

Sword Immortal Mountain suddenly trembled violently.

Numerous sword energies, dormant for millennia, surged into the sky like pilgrims, traversing heaven and earth, and condensing into a sword mark that spanned the heavens and earth.

This supreme treasure, which once accompanied the ancient sword immortal in slaying the sun and moon, finally recognized its master and blocked the path after the nine tribulations were completely broken!

(End of this chapter)