Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 121: Meeting in Summer, Testing Hearts with a Pill
among the crowd.

Two slender figures were surrounded by a group of disciples from the Supreme Cave Heaven, making them particularly eye-catching.

The woman on the left wore a moon-white flowing dress, with a golden phoenix hairpin holding a pearl shimmering among her dark hair.

Although her face was veiled by a light gauze, it could not conceal her beauty and charm; she was Fang Qinghan, a candidate saintess of the Supreme Grotto Heaven.

The woman on the right was dressed in a crimson outfit that fluttered in the wind, with a fire-patterned whip wrapped around her slender waist.

Beyond the veil, her bright eyes shone like stars, her brows exuding a blend of heroic spirit and elegant grace.

This woman is Xia Zhaoran, another candidate saintess of the Supreme Grotto Heaven.

Although his name is Zhaoran, it is actually Nan Zhixia's alias in the Supreme Grotto-Heaven.

"Zhi Xia."

Before Zhao Wuji landed, his gaze was already fixed on the crimson figure.

Even though her aura had changed slightly, her temperament had changed drastically, and even the charm in her eyes was completely different from the gentle and refined lady in his memory, and utterly different from the quiet and demure lady of his fiancée.

A person's charm is hard to change.

In the past, Nan Zhixia could still use magical artifacts to conceal her identity, but after her identity as a saintess was exposed, she could no longer deceive Zhao Wuji in the slightest.

Moreover, he has now mastered the art of guiding qi.

This pretense is futile.

"Senior Brother Zhao!"

"Senior Brother Zhao is back! The two Holy Maidens of the Supreme Grotto-Heaven have come in person, and Senior Brother is truly radiant!"

Zhao Wuji's figure had just landed.

The disciples in green and blue robes on the mountain path bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with admiration.

If it comes to swordsmanship and martial arts, they can still stubbornly claim they are not interested.

After all, for a lazy person seeking immortality, lying down and doing nothing is the best approach.

However, the ability to attract two holy maidens from the Supreme Grotto Heaven to visit together is undeniable.

After all, in the past few days, Saintess Fang had also invited several other senior brothers who had long held considerable influence, but none of them had ever taken the initiative to visit her!

In the Dharma-ending Age, a high-quality spiritual partner is comparable to a rare and precious treasure.

Many people fantasized about winning the favor of the Holy Maiden through this social event and then abducting her from another sect. Naturally, they envied Senior Brother Zhao's charm.
“My fellow disciples are certainly in high spirits.”

Zhao Wuji glanced around, his gaze lingering on Xing Yuan, Yan Boyuan, and the others for a moment, a half-smile playing on his lips. "The night is long, and none of you are able to sleep? Why not come here to admire the moon?"

He was too embarrassed to expose what these people were thinking.

Yan Boyuan chuckled dryly, cupped his hands, and said, "I've come especially to admire Brother Zhao's demeanor."

As they were talking, the crowd parted like a tide.

With a gentle flick of her wide sleeves, the Holy Maiden Fang Qinghan of the Supreme Grotto Heaven gracefully approached, surrounded by her disciples.

Fang Qinghan's eyes flickered slightly, and with a gentle wave of her wide sleeves, she quietly cast a soundproofing spell, completely isolating herself from the surrounding noise.

Her lips curved slightly upward, her voice as clear as a spring striking jade:
"I have long admired Brother Zhao's name. Upon hearing that you have emerged from seclusion, Qinghan has come to extend my invitation."

Qixia Villa has prepared the complete "Golden Bamboo Sword Manual." Would you do me the honor of discussing it with us?

The disciples around her could only see the saintess's lips part slightly, but they could not hear a single word.

But seeing that gentle smile, one knew it must be an invitation, and one's admiration for Zhao Wuji only grew stronger.

Zhao Wuji's gaze lingered briefly on the sword wrapped in ice silk at his waist, and he returned the greeting with a cupped hand:

"Since Fairy Fang has come to Hanyue Peak, I, Zhao, will naturally serve her tea. However, it is already late, so I will not disturb Qixia Villa any longer."

Not far away, Nan Zhixia quietly gazed at Zhao Wuji, who was dressed in black.

This outfit stood out remarkably among the blue robes and green garments of the disciples of Linlang Cave Heaven.

All I could hear were the respectful greetings from everyone.

The fiancé before her was no longer the ordinary imperial physician she once was.

He now exudes composure, his spiritual pressure at the fourth level of Qi Refining faintly visible, and his every move is full of the demeanor of a cultivator.

Her gaze suddenly fell on the sachet hanging from Zhao Wuji's waist along with the true inheritance token, and her heart warmed instantly, as if she were drinking honey.

"The amulet I gave him when we parted years ago, that fool still wears it with him at all times."

Such ordinary magical objects are no longer worthy of his current cultivation level and status, yet he still cherishes them and hangs them on his waist.

Upon hearing Zhao Wuji politely decline Fang Qinghan's invitation, the corners of her lips beneath her veil involuntarily turned up three degrees.

Just as I was feeling happy, I suddenly felt a warm gaze fall upon me.

She immediately moved gracefully and gave a polite bow: "I have long admired Brother Zhao's reputation. It is my great honor to meet you today."

"You flatter me, Fairy Xia."

Zhao Wuji smiled, not directly revealing his fiancée's identity. Suddenly, he spread his wide sleeves and said, "You two have come from afar. Why don't you come into my humble abode for a short while? Please allow me to serve you tea and show you some hospitality."

After saying this, he turned to face his fellow disciples who were watching, cupped his hands and smiled, "Today, distinguished guests have arrived, so please forgive me for not being able to entertain you all. I will certainly prepare wine and invite you another day."

Upon hearing this, even those who wanted to continue watching the spectacle had no choice but to disperse sheepishly.

Xing Yuan and Yan Boyuan exchanged glances, but Zhao Wuji swept them away with a glare, and Xing Yuan coughed twice before making a hasty retreat.

After all the bystanders had left, a glint of light flashed in Fang Qinghan's eyes, and her lips curved slightly: "Brother Zhao's hospitality is something I will gladly accept."

She moved with light steps, but suddenly turned her head to glance at Nan Zhixia, and said meaningfully, "Senior Sister Xia, now that we've come this far, does someone still want to hide their true identity and not even dare to show their real name to their fiancé?"

Zhao Wuji feigned surprise.

Nan Zhixia's fingertips trembled, and the smile beneath her veil suddenly froze.

She had long known that Fang Qinghan had ulterior motives for coming, but she hadn't expected her to expose her identity in public. It seemed this junior sister had been scheming, clearly sent by the higher-ups of the cave to force her to complete the task of "feeding the pill" to bewitch her husband as soon as possible!
"Junior Sister Fang is quite impatient."

Nan Zhixia suppressed her emotions, suddenly raised her hand and removed her veil, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty.

She looked directly at Zhao Wuji, her eyes sparkling with a complex expression: "Brother Zhao, it's been many years... Do you still recognize Nan Zhixia?"

"you"

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply as he looked at Nan Zhixia's face, which was a little thinner but had gained a more heroic air. He feigned shock and staggered back two steps: "You... are actually Zhixia?"
"How did you suddenly become a supreme celestial being?"

Nan Zhixia sighed softly, a look of reminiscence in her eyes: "Do you still remember the letters I sent back from my journey?"
The fairy maiden I encountered by chance in Yunmeng City years ago was actually an elder of a supreme grotto-heaven. Because she revealed my exceptional spiritual talent, I became a candidate for Holy Maiden.”

Zhao Wuji chuckled inwardly, but feigned sudden realization: "So that's how it is! I originally planned to go to Yunmeng City to find you after leaving the mountain, but the war at Yunfeng Cave suddenly broke out."

He showed a hint of apology at just the right moment.

The frost in Nan Zhixia's eyes quietly melted away.

"Tsk, tsk."

Fang Qinghan gently stroked the sword tassel with her slender fingers, a slight smile playing on her lips: "It seems like absence makes the heart grow fonder. Senior Sister Xia, you've kept it a secret for a long time~"

Her tone suddenly changed, "However, now that we've recognized each other, it wouldn't be appropriate to reminisce on this mountain path, would it?"

She glanced meaningfully at Nan Zhixia's sleeve: "Senior Sister Xia, shouldn't you ask Brother Zhao to take a look at that precious pill you specially prepared for your fiancé?"

Nan Zhixia's jade-like fingers, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, suddenly tightened, but a smile bloomed on her face: "Junior Sister is right to remind you."

When she turned to Zhao Wuji, her voice was as gentle as spring water: "Wuji, why don't we come inside and talk things over back then, since you left without saying goodbye?"

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept between the two women, the various complex expressions he had feigned on his face disappeared, and he suddenly laughed heartily: "Good! Old friends and new acquaintances are all here, it's time to brew tea and discuss the Dao!"

He turned and gestured for him to leave, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

With his experience, Fang Qinghan's aggressive questioning and Nan Zhixia's hesitation, how could he not see Nan Zhixia's current predicament and passive situation?

Outsiders only knew that the two holy maidens of the Supreme Grotto Heaven had taken the initiative to visit him, which seemed to show his extraordinary charm.

Little did they know that there were clearly dangerous hidden dangers hidden within.

It's normal for Nan Zhixia, his fiancée, to want to see him, but Fang Qinghan is clearly a beautiful but venomous snake with ill intentions.

Soon, Zhao Wuji welcomed the two holy maidens into the courtyard, summoned the medicine boy Xiaoyue to serve tea, and recognized Nan Zhixia.

"Miss Nan! You...you've also started cultivating immortality?"

Xiao Yue caught a glimpse of the Supreme Celestial Jade Token at Nan Zhixia's waist, her almond-shaped eyes filled with astonishment.

"Xiaoyue, it's a long story. I guess I had some good fortune in it."

Nan Zhixia smiled, and suddenly a sachet embroidered with peach blossoms slid out from her sleeve. "I also brought you a gift this time, your favorite Fragrance-Nourishing Pill. I added some spiritual herbs inside."

"Miss Nan still remembers!" Xiao Yue's eyes reddened slightly, and she quickly raised her delicate hands to accept it.

Fang Qinghan smiled and said, "I'd rather broaden my horizons and see what kind of precious pill Senior Sister Xia is going to give to Brother Zhao."

"Bastard!"

Nan Zhixia's slender hand, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, suddenly clenched, causing ripples to spread across the teacup in her hand, as if she were engaged in a battle of wits.

Zhao Wuji, however, stepped in to defuse the situation, laughing, "Zhixia, what precious elixir do you have to give me? Why not show it to me? My alchemy skills are now worlds apart from what they were in the mortal world."

Before the words were finished, a telepathic message was quietly sent into Nan Zhixia's ear:

"It's alright, just take it out."

Nan Zhixia received the telepathic message, her beautiful eyes trembled, and she stared at Zhao Wuji, a look of astonishment flashing across her face.

Looking at Fang Qinghan on the side, she seemed completely unaware.

She suddenly realized that her fiancé was even better than she had imagined.

She was no longer the weaker little imperial physician she once was.

She hesitated for a moment, but under Fang Qinghan's intense gaze, she finally placed the jade medicine bottle on the table.

Before he could even introduce them, Zhao Wuji snatched the medicine bottle away.

"Let me see what kind of precious pill Zhixia gave me?"

He uncorked the bottle, poured out a dark red pill, pinched it between two fingers and examined it closely under the lamp, and couldn't help but exclaim "Eh!"

This made Fang Qinghan and Nan Zhixia's hearts skip a beat, wondering if he had figured something out.

"This fragrance is seven-tenths similar to that of the Golden Jade Pill?"

Zhao Wuji brought the pill close to his nose and sniffed it lightly, then looked at Nan Zhixia with a smile, "Could it be a spiritual pill to enhance cultivation?"

Nan Zhixia's long eyelashes trembled, and she suddenly made up her mind: "No."

“Excellent!” Fang Qinghan interrupted, smiling, “Brother Zhao truly lives up to his reputation as a master of both alchemy and swordsmanship. He has a keen eye; this pill is indeed effective in enhancing cultivation.”

"Wuji." Nan Zhixia parted her lips slightly, then quickly transmitted her voice: "There's something wrong with the pill, don't take it."

She was ready to tell the whole story and did not want to drag Zhao Wuji into a quagmire.

Fang Qinghan immediately sensed something and her eyes turned slightly cold.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji smiled and said, "Zhixia really cares about me, saving all the good pills for me."

He suddenly tilted his head back and swallowed the pill.

"Wuji!!" Nan Zhixia suddenly stood up and exclaimed.

"You?" Fang Qinghan's mouth opened slightly, her eyes instantly filled with seven parts astonishment and three parts secret joy.

This task was completed far too easily.

This Brother Zhao didn't need much persuasion; he took the medicine on his own.
(End of this chapter)