Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 119: The Cave Master's Wedding Dress, the Holy Maiden's Invitation

"Zheng——"

A sudden hum of sword intent erupted, and a blurry image exploded in Zhao Wuji's mind!

Seven beams of eerie light split open in the void, and chains like venomous snakes burst forth, pinning a figure firmly in mid-air.

As the screen flickered, a pale hand emerged from the darkness.
"Crack!"

The sword intent suddenly weakened, and the image cut off.

"What is this...?" Zhao Wuji was shocked.

This sword intent, worn down by the passage of time, is now like a candle in the wind; its essence may dissipate completely at any moment.

He immediately formed a hand seal, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light, and began to cast the Dream Marriage Technique.

Using the dream threads formed by intention, locking onto the sword intent as a medium, and taking the blurry images displayed within the sword intent as clues, one begins to interpret the dream, tracing its origins.

In an instant, he closed his eyes as if falling into a deep sleep, and blurry images appeared in his mind, gradually becoming clearer.

Suddenly, ice-blue patterns erupted from the meridians of the cultivator bound by seven chains, his pupils gradually diffused into the shape of sword blades, and a section of his spine was slowly pulled out, radiating astonishing spirituality and purple light.

A sudden burst of intense cold air froze him solid into an ice sculpture.

The final image freezes, showing a cold ice sculpture being completely swallowed by darkness.
The dream has now come to a complete end.

Zhao Wuji awoke from his dream, pointed his sword, and retrieved the Cold Soul Flying Sword, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.

The images of marrying into my dream still linger in my mind.
"Could the person bound in chains be Hua Lengyun? Who subdued him and even pulled out his spine?"

"His condition resembled a sudden outburst of internal cold poison during a breakthrough, which was then controlled, ultimately turning him into an ice sculpture. Could it be... cold poison?"

As Zhao Wuji's thoughts raced, a terrifying guess surfaced in his mind.

Could it be that cultivating the "Six Revolutions Profound Ice Technique" is not just about having a deficiency in cold poison, but that the cold poison in one's body will eventually erupt during the breakthrough, leading to a tragic end and becoming someone's wedding dress?
Zhao Wuji guessed that this mysterious person was very likely the Lord of Linlang Cave.

"The warning was so clear. It seems there really was something fishy about the death of Peak Master Hua's father."

"If Peak Master Hua were to break through to the Condensation Realm at the peak of Qi Induction, triggering a massive outbreak of the Cold Poison..."

Thinking of this, his heart sank.

The higher you climb in this magnificent cave, the more it feels like stepping into a giant, meticulously woven net.

In this light, my attempt to seize the Yang marrow of the dragon vein seems like snatching food from a tiger's mouth!

"laugh!"

The last trace of Hua Lengyun's sword intent completely dissipated.

Zhao Wuji stood up, his sword intent still lingering, yet it caused countless sword intents within the cave to retreat.

After twenty-four days of arduous training, the sword intent left behind by the successive peak masters of the Lonely Cloud Sword Cave all submitted to it.

This place offers him no further benefit.

After he left, Ji Mobai sat cross-legged in the stone cave deep inside the sword cave for a long time, but he never heard that thunderous sword cry that shook his mind again, and he couldn't help but waver a little.

"Did I just have another auditory or visual hallucination?"

He opened his eyes, chuckled, and thought to himself that he had been too hasty in refining his sword heart, which had led him to a lower level of skill.

The more eager you are to comprehend it, the less likely you are to actually grasp it, and the more likely you are to develop illusions and develop demonic obstacles in your sword mind.

He immediately got up, left the sword cave, and went out for a stroll. Perhaps by traversing the green mountains, he could grasp the true meaning and avoid falling into a vicious cycle of delusion.

As soon as he stepped out of the pass, he bumped into several of his fellow disciples at the gate. Upon seeing him, they immediately bowed and paid their respects.

"Senior Brother Ji!"

"Hmm." Ji Mobai smiled faintly, his hands behind his back. "Have you accumulated enough merits to come to the Sword Cave for training?"

"Uh, this..." The leading disciple hesitated, just about to speak.

Ji Mobai sighed to himself, "The sword intent of the past peak masters in this sword cave is truly profound. During my comprehension this time, I vaguely heard the sound of swords thundering and sensed the sword intent of a king. I have benefited greatly."

Upon hearing this, the disciples exchanged glances, then exclaimed in unison, "Congratulations, Senior Brother!"

One of them lowered his voice and said, "According to what you're saying, Senior Brother, wouldn't Zhao Wuji of Cold Moon Peak have gotten a huge advantage? With his talent in swordsmanship, he's probably stolen quite a bit from our Sword Cave."

"Huh? What?" Ji Mobai's expression suddenly turned serious. "Zhao Wuji also entered the Sword Cave?"

"Indeed." The disciple asked in surprise, "Senior Brother Zhao was in seclusion in the Sword Cave for twenty-four days before he emerged. Senior Brother... we didn't even meet him?"

Ji Mobai frowned slightly: "I was so focused on refining my sword heart that I didn't notice it."

He was somewhat surprised and doubtful at this moment. If what he had comprehended earlier was not an illusion, and Zhao Wuji was also cultivating in the Sword Cave, would he also hear that thunderous sword cry?

With the opponent's terrifying swordsmanship talent, almost a born swordsman, will he be able to comprehend many things?

"Senior Brother Ji is truly single-minded; he is a role model for us all!"

The leading disciple looked on with admiration, “Senior Brother only came out after three months of seclusion, while Senior Brother Zhao of Cold Moon Peak went in and out twice in just twenty-four days.”

Such indecisiveness, like the tortoise and the hare race, even with talent, will make it difficult to achieve great things.

"Oh no, I didn't mean you're a turtle, senior brother. What I meant was..."

"It's alright! I understand."

Ji Mobai shook his head and flicked his sleeve, but his brows relaxed slightly.

Indeed, how much can one comprehend in just twenty-four days?
“Senior brother’s emergence from seclusion is perfectly timed,” another disciple quickly chimed in with a smile. “Many disciples from the Supreme Grotto-Heaven arrived three days ago, and a get-together is imminent.”

"Though the two holy maidens wore veils, their natural beauty was undeniable."

He stole a glance at Ji Mobai and flattered him, "Only a prodigy like Senior Brother is worthy of the Holy Maiden's favor and to unveil the veils of those two Holy Maidens." "Nonsense!"

Ji Mobai flicked his white sleeves, his sword intent sharp and resolute. "The way of swordsmanship lies in purifying the mind. If there is no woman in your heart, your sword will naturally be divine!"

"Ah, this." The disciples immediately became solemn and respectful, not daring to say anything more, secretly realizing that they had been too shallow.

After descending Lonely Cloud Peak, Zhao Wuji realized that something was amiss in the atmosphere within the cave.

Only after asking a passing disciple did they learn that it was actually cultivators from the Supreme Grotto-Heaven who had come to the grotto-heaven to participate in a social gathering.

They are now staying at the 'Qixia Courtyard' located on the east side of the inner gate of Linlang Cave.

Although the official gathering has not yet taken place, many true disciples of the Blue Robe have already come to visit.

The area around the main peak square and Qixia Courtyard was especially bustling with people.

"Have you heard? Hong Yanjia, the Daoist of the Supreme Cave Heaven, is an exceptionally talented individual with the Purple Light Spirit! He's at the sixth level of Qi Induction cultivation and also possesses an ancient magical artifact called something like 'Ring'."

"Those two holy maidens are truly remarkable; they broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining in just over a year after they entered the sect!"

Hearing the murmurs, Zhao Wuji paused slightly.

"That's right. When the Tiannan Secret Realm opens in the future, that Daoist may not be able to enter, but the two Holy Maidens might. They might even be the main force at that time."

"Hmph! Don't underestimate yourself!" someone suddenly sneered. "Among those at the fourth level of Qi Refining, who can rival our Senior Brother Zhao Wuji? Senior Brother Zhao also reached the fourth level of Qi Refining in just one year."

"That's right!" one disciple exclaimed excitedly. "I think the disciples of the Supreme Grotto Heaven, and even the Holy Maiden, are very interested in our Senior Brother Zhao and have taken the initiative to invite him to meet."

The two saintesses invited very few disciples, mostly senior brothers from various peaks and halls who were at least at the fifth level of Qi Refining. Unfortunately, Senior Brother Zhao was currently in seclusion in the Sword Cave.”

As the group was boasting and discussing, they suddenly noticed a figure standing quietly at the back of the crowd.

The disciple froze, then hurriedly bowed, "Senior Brother Zhao! When did you emerge from seclusion?"

The crowd stirred slightly, and they all turned around. Upon seeing Zhao Wuji, they immediately bowed and paid their respects.

"I heard Junior Brother Xing bragging about me as soon as I came out, so I stopped to listen."

Zhao Wuji shook his head and chuckled, returning the greeting with a cupped hand.

This humble demeanor immediately made everyone feel closer to him.

"Hehe, Senior Brother Zhao, your achievements are all genuine!"

Xing Yuan scratched his head and laughed, then his eyes suddenly lit up, "Oh, right, Senior Brother! A Holy Maiden from the Supreme Grotto-Heaven has specially invited you to Qixia Villa for a chat!"

Many fellow disciples have visited me in the past few days, but you are the first one to be invited by me!

"Oh?" Zhao Wuji's heart stirred slightly, and he thought of Zhixia. "Do you know the name of that saintess?"

"His surname is Fang. As for his given name, I don't know."

"Senior Brother Xing, that Saintess Fang didn't call out to you, so don't make things up," someone joked.

"Fang?" Zhao Wuji wondered. Could it be that Zhixia had changed her name to disguise her identity?

He continued to inquire and learned that the other saintess's surname was Xia, which stirred something within him.

"Could it be that the one surnamed Xia is Zhi Xia? Why was it Saintess Fang who invited me?"

As his thoughts raced, he decided to return to Cold Moon Peak first.

After all, the social event has not officially started yet, so it would be presumptuous to visit them without prior notice.

not to mention.
He "should" be unaware of Nan Zhixia's identity as the Supreme Saintess.

"If she is willing to acknowledge me, she will find an opportunity to tell me."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly, "However, this invitation from the Holy Maiden is a good opportunity to find out the truth."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with everyone, Zhao Wuji made a hand seal and flew back to Hanyue Peak.

Inside Qixia Villa.

Nan Zhixia sat alone by the window, her fingertips twirling a pink and white begonia. She tore off the petals one by one, scattering them on the table.

"See him...don't see him..."

With each piece she tore off, she murmured a word, her brows furrowed.

A jade bottle sat beside the table.

The bottle contained the elixir that the Supreme Mother had given her.

If she were to give this pill to Zhao Wuji, it would drag him into an even deeper quagmire, and it would also mean that her identity as the Supreme Saintess would be impossible to hide any longer, and she would have to be completely exposed, which would require a great deal of courage.

Will he accept my current identity?

The moment this thought arose, she experienced fear for the first time in her life.

As a saintess, she had always been calm and composed, but at this moment, her heart was stirred.

Unbeknownst to her, the man she was already engaged to had quietly taken root in her heart.

"Damn it, Junior Sister Fang actually invited him to meet me before I could!"

She suddenly crushed the remaining petals, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes.

Just then, the sound of maids talking suddenly came from outside the window, and the message that "Senior Brother Zhao of Cold Moon Peak has emerged from the Sword Cave" could be faintly heard.

Her fingertips trembled, and the petal juice stained her nails red as she looked at the last petal in her hand.

"See?".
(End of this chapter)