Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 126: Countering the Dao Child, the Gathering and Dispersal of the Immortal Path (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets: 820)

Using Ji Mobai as a shield, they blocked the Supreme Daoist's open attack.

Unexpectedly, the other side had hidden a master swordsman who was here to challenge them.

Zhao Wuji raised his eyes to look at the figure on the arena. Sensing the other party's cultivation level of the fourth level of Qi Refining, he frowned slightly but remained unmoved. He shook his head and smiled, "Since Fellow Daoist Li is the master of swordsmanship, how dare I, Zhao, show off my meager skills in front of an expert? Let's just call it a day."

He knew perfectly well that this must be a test instigated by the Supreme Daoist.

Nan Zhixia had already sent a message to remind him that the other party wanted to test his true condition after taking the medicine.

Although I don't know the specific methods, I imagine that it would only be effective if I forced him to take action.

At this moment, his fellow disciples around him were already showing disappointment because of his refusal.

After all, everyone hopes that the title of the best swordsman can remain in their sect.

There are not many people who have the ability to retain this title, and Senior Brother Zhao, who is unparalleled in both alchemy and swordsmanship, is one of them.

"Senior Brother Zhao, do you perhaps look down on my Supreme Grotto-Heaven?"

Li Jingchen, his sword energy flickering in his sleeve, chuckled lightly, "I have long admired your name on the Cloud Phoenix Kill List, and I have come here specifically to learn from my fellow disciple's mastery of both alchemy and swordsmanship."

Unexpectedly, my senior brother has been staying home these past few days, not showing his face at all. Could it be that he's afraid?

Before he could finish speaking, the disciples of Wushang Dongtian below the stage started to jeer, and boos filled the air.

"They're being so aggressive; it seems there's no way to avoid it."

A glint flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes as he looked around.

His gaze met Wushang Daozi's seemingly amused expression in the stands, then he exchanged a glance with Nan Zhixia across the distance, the two of them understanding each other without words.

He immediately raised his voice and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Li insists on exchanging blows... how about adding some stakes?"

He patted the storage bag with his palm, "If I, Zhao, am defeated, I will offer you ten source crystals with both hands."

If I'm lucky enough to win even a single move, you'll need to pay me ten Origin Crystals, how about that?"

"Ten Origin Crystals?!" Li Jingchen's face twitched.

He's not some supreme Daoist; ten Origin Crystals already represent 30% of his wealth.

However, remembering Daozi's instructions and knowing that he himself was quite skilled and had the title of the best swordsman, he gritted his teeth and agreed: "Alright! I'll do as you say!"

"That felt great!"

Zhao Wuji smiled calmly.

With this precedent, any Tom, Dick, or Harry who wants to challenge him in the future will have to think twice about their own worth and whether they have the ability to offer such a prize.

He leaped onto the arena, pointed his sword, and the Cold Soul Sword flew out and circled around him as he bowed in respect.

"Frosty Soul, is that the Frosty Soul Flying Sword?!"

A glint of light flashed in Li Jingchen's eyes as he looked at the Cold Soul Flying Sword, a hint of envy and jealousy appearing in his eyes.

No sword cultivator dislikes a precious sword, and the name of the Cold Soul Flying Sword is still exceptionally well-known in the Tiannan region.

The moment the Frost Soul Flying Sword appeared, many disciples of the Linglang Cave Heaven below the stage became excited.

A fine sword is a match for a hero, and Senior Brother Zhao's swordsmanship is just as perfect as the famous Cold Soul Flying Sword.

"please!"

After both parties exchanged greetings.

Zhao Wuji showed no politeness, his eyes suddenly flashing with sword light, like quenched cold stars, the sword's edge radiating power and majesty.

Li Jingchen, on the other side, felt a sharp sword aura pierce through his eyes, as if it were a physical object, which shocked him so much that his mind trembled.

"Eyes flashed with sword light!"

Ji Mobai, sitting in the audience, was startled, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

The Supreme Daoist, who was secretly preparing to use a supreme talisman to test the waters, was also startled. He was amazed by the sword light that suddenly appeared in Zhao Wuji's eyes, and his hand gestures faltered.

Before he could react, a fellow disciple beside him, seemingly startled, 'accidentally' knocked over a cup of tea, which spilled all over him.

At this moment, Li Jingchen on the stage was intimidated by the sword light in Zhao Wuji's eyes and had just made a hand seal to control his sword.

laugh!
A rainbow-like sword light flew over in an instant, piercing through the light shield that spontaneously formed on his outer robe.

Before the disciples of Linglang Cave Heaven below the stage could recover, they saw a white rainbow, carrying the force of wind and thunder, reach Li Jingchen's throat in the blink of an eye.

The chilling aura emanating from the sword tip seeped into his skin, sending shivers down Li Jingchen's spine.

"Concession."

Zhao Wuji chuckled lightly, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and the audience fell silent.

"you"

Li Jingchen's face was as pale as gold paper.

That single glimpse of sword light was so captivating that he couldn't even complete his sword technique.

When I came to my senses, a chill ran down my spine.

At this moment, he didn't even dare to move his neck, and could only say in a hoarse voice, "Brother Zhao, what skill! Your eyes are filled with sword light, your flying sword turns into a rainbow, your mastery of both alchemy and swordsmanship is truly well-deserved."

At this moment, a wave of uproar swept through the audience.

Those fellow disciples who had witnessed Zhao Wuji defeat three enemies with a single sword strike in the training ground cheered even more, seeing again Zhao's familiar style of decisive victory with a single sword strike.

On the opposite side of the stands, the disciples of Wushang Dongtian seemed to be in a dream.

Even Nan Zhixia's mouth gaped open, not expecting her fiancé's swordsmanship to have reached such a level.

This sword strike appears swift and simple; an untrained eye might think its victory lies in its unexpectedness.

But true sword cultivators understand that when facing such a realm where sword light shines and sword energy transforms into rainbows, unless their skills are comparable, they will be defeated in every battle.

Alternatively, one could use other magical artifacts or cultivation techniques to counter it.

Otherwise, judging solely by swordsmanship, the outcome would already be decided.

Although Li Jingchen was unwilling, he had to admit that he was not as skilled as others, and his eyes showed even more complicated emotions.

"When you meet a swordsman, you must present your sword." His proud swordsmanship was like a child learning to walk in front of Zhao Wuji, so he immediately said.

"I don't have a storage bag. I'll get the source crystals I lost and give them to Brother Zhao later!"

"Easy to say!"

Zhao Wuji pointed his sword, and the Cold Soul Flying Sword flew back and shrank into his storage bag.

As he turned around, he caught a glimpse of the Supreme Daoist Master scolding the disciple who had spilled tea with a gloomy face. He chuckled to himself, "The talisman controls the soul as darkness, and the sword transforms into a rainbow as light... This return gift is quite substantial."

The disciple who knocked over the teacup was not acting out of accident.

Rather, it was a deliberate act orchestrated by his fiancée, Nan Zhixia, through her tacit cooperation with the disciples of Fudan, specifically to interrupt any potential attacks by the Supreme Daoist. Did they think they could bully Zhao Wuji? They were seriously underestimating him.

Having been forced to show off, Zhao Wuji did not flaunt his achievements on the stage, but turned around and left the stage.

Knowing when to stop, having foiled the Supreme Daoist's scheme and gained an extra ten Origin Crystals, was more than enough.

Although he kept a low profile, the brilliance of his stunning sword strike had already left a deep impression on the disciples present, and his reputation as a "master of both alchemy and swordsmanship" grew ever more renowned.

"I get the feeling that everyone came out today just to see his charisma?"

Ji Mobai looked around at his fellow disciples, all of whom were staring at Zhao Wuji. Even his junior brother from Guyun Peak was stunned by the brilliance of that sword strike and was speechless.

He confidently challenged the Supreme Daoist, but after the battle, he was not as dashing and powerful as Junior Brother Zhao when he stepped onto the stage and drew his sword.

When I went to the clothes, I learned the name and the name.

Li Bai, the Qinglian Sword Immortal of the Tang Dynasty, was a master of both poetry and swordsmanship. In his youth, his sword energy could transform into rainbows, killing one person in ten steps and leaving no trace for a thousand miles. Even he could not have been more skilled than Li Bai.

"You flatter me."

"Raise it higher!"

After stepping off the stage, Zhao Wuji walked away from the crowd, smiling and raising his hand to return the greetings and congratulations from his fellow disciples. His humble demeanor won him even more favor from his fellow disciples.

"Hey? Senior Brother Zhao, your face..."

A junior disciple who was observing closely suddenly pointed at Zhao Wuji's cheek with a surprised expression.

The other fellow disciples standing nearby also looked closely upon hearing this, and saw a faint trace of rouge on Zhao Wuji's cheek, which made their expressions quite interesting.

"On your face?" Zhao Wuji's heart skipped a beat, immediately recalling Nan Zhixia's fleeting kiss, and he quickly covered his face with his sleeve and laughed:
"It must be the mischievous medicine boy in that cave playing tricks on you all. Please don't make fun of him."

His fellow disciples, however, already understood, and their mischievous smiles deepened. "When it comes to truly remarkable figures, look no further than Senior Brother Zhao!"

Zhao Wuji quickly left the crowd, his former dashing appearance replaced by a disheveled state, and he felt annoyed.

I hadn't been willing to wipe away Zhi Xia's fleeting kiss, but it turns out her rouge was of pretty good quality.

That very night, Li Jingchen personally brought ten Origin Crystals to Hanyue Peak.

This person was completely different from his aggressive demeanor during the day; in private, he was extremely polite and respectful, humbly seeking instruction in the art of sword control.

For the sake of Yuan Jing, Zhao Wuji offered a few pointers. The other party was overjoyed and left happily.

"We're quite well-off with the source crystals."

He put the crystal into his pocket and stood alone on the cliff edge, gazing at the lights of Qixia Villa. "It's a pity that Zhixia will be setting off tomorrow."

Parting after a short time is a common occurrence in the cultivation of immortality.

The path to immortality is long and arduous, and we are still in the process of seeking and exploring. We must not indulge in the pleasures of life.

As he turned around, he looked back at the peak master's sleeping quarters.

The palace stands alone atop the highest peak, like a frosty moon in the sky, cold and inviolable, awe-inspiring and unapproachable, only to be admired from afar.

Silently I ascend the western tower alone, the moon like a hook.

Zhao Wuji recited a sour poem, then shook his head and went into his cave to cultivate in seclusion.

Just as he was hesitating whether to send a message to Xia to say goodbye, the jade talisman at his waist lit up first.

The next day.

It was before dawn.

The appointment was made after dawn.

"These are Soul-Connecting Talisman Pills. The main pill is in the green bottle. Don't get them mixed up."

"Here is another Dragon-Tiger Pill. Keep it for when you break through to the next realm."

In a secluded mountain valley, Zhao Wuji gave detailed instructions, delivering some pills to Nan Zhixia.

“I’ve already taken the Dragon Tiger Pill once, so this one will be…” Nan Zhixia was about to decline when Zhao Wuji interrupted her.

"This is a top-grade Dragon-Tiger Pill. Take it; you'll need it someday."

Nan Zhixia felt a warmth in her heart and no longer declined.

With a light flick of her wrist, she took out a peach wood talisman from her sleeve: "This is a substitution talisman. Replace the talisman you're wearing."

"A substitute talisman?" Zhao Wuji was shocked and looked at the peach wood talisman that was handed to him.

He had heard of this talisman before; it was a first-tier, third-level talisman, and quite precious.

He was about to decline, but was stopped by Nan Zhixia's resolute gaze.

The only option is to accept it.

“You performed very well yesterday.” Nan Zhixia’s smile softened. “After returning, Daozi was very angry, but Junior Sister Fang insisted that you had been affected by the Bewitching Heart Pill, and that the next step was to appease and recruit you, and slowly influence you, and not to provoke or test you anymore. Therefore, Daozi also behaved himself.”

I bet the next time we meet, Dongtian will definitely ask me to bring you some good things, or even help you accomplish something.”

As she spoke, a look of worry suddenly appeared between her brows: "But there must be a task for me. I've heard that we may soon be going to war with Yunfeng Cave."

"It's alright." Zhao Wuji smiled and took Nan Zhixia's small hand. "I can handle it."

"Mmm," Nan Zhixia's cheeks flushed red, and she nestled into his arms, showing her shyness and reluctance.

The two lingered for a moment.

As she finally left, the saint hurriedly straightened her disheveled clothes, feeling both ashamed and annoyed, yet also quite reluctant to part.

When it came time for the formal farewell, he could only watch from afar with his disciples, and it would be difficult to be so close again.

With the departure of everyone from Wushang Cave Heaven, the multi-day social gathering finally came to an end.

The bustling Linglang Cave has returned to silence.

But this tranquility did not last long before it was broken by the tense atmosphere coming from the border.

With the Yunfeng and Yanling Cave Heavens eyeing each other covetously, and the Tiannan Secret Realm about to open, the situation is bound to become even more tense.

"After this gathering, the two great grotto-heavens, Wushang and Linlang, will likely be the first to launch an attack, stirring up a bloody storm."

Zhao Wuji guessed that even if Wushang Cave Heaven intended to attack Linlang Cave Heaven in the future and seize the position of Xuan Kingdom's overlord, it would only reveal its true intentions after dealing with Yunfeng Cave Heaven.

Before that, he wouldn't be used much; instead, he would be cultivated and supported in an attempt to be of great use at a critical moment.

And this suited him perfectly.

Only by strengthening oneself with the power of the supreme grotto-heaven can one be more confident in confronting the grotto-master in the future, seizing the Yang Marrow, and taking control of the grotto-heaven.

After three days of quiet cultivation in his cave, Zhao Wuji was invited by Li Shiyu to sit in her boudoir at the foot of the mountain to discuss the matter of returning to the capital to intimidate the Empress.

And this imperial concubine is very efficient; she has already brought good news.
(End of this chapter)