Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 143, page 150: Spiritual Vein Crisis, Yang Pearl Extends Life (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets, 1625 pages)

In just a few days, turmoil has swept across Tiannan!
While news of the destruction of Yunfeng Cave Heaven was still spreading, another shocking piece of news had already swept through the entire Linlang Cave Heaven like a hurricane.

Peak Master Hua Qingshuang of Cold Moon Peak and Peak Master Yan Lan of Crimson Flame Peak have both broken through to the Condensation Realm!
Within a few days, many disciples of the grotto-heavens were overjoyed and discussed it enthusiastically.

"The two peak masters... actually stepped into the Condensation Realm at the same time!"

"With my Linglang Cave Heaven being the third level of the Three Condensation Realm, wouldn't I be able to overpower the Supreme and Flame Spirit Cave Heavens?"

The disciples were deeply shocked, their eyes filled with both awe and a hint of fanaticism.

In the past, there was only one person in the Concentration Realm of Linglang Cave Heaven, and that was the Cave Master.

The same applies to other grotto-heavens.

Now that the Linglang Cave Heaven has two more cultivators at the Concentration Realm, wouldn't it be able to sweep away the other cave heavens?

However, unlike the disciples' excitement and glory, many of the elders of the grotto-heavens were heavy-hearted, felt a sense of crisis, and secretly discussed the matter among themselves.

"Master Zhong has held absolute power for a century, but now that the two women, Hua and Yan, have risen to prominence, the grotto world is likely to undergo a major upheaval soon..."

"It wasn't just a few days before the upheaval that they clashed outside the Dragon Spirit Cave. Although the cave master hasn't shown any signs of defeat, I've heard that the battle at Cloud Phoenix Cave Heaven..."

"Alas, the most critical issue is that three spiritual veins are all concentrated in one cave. How can the spiritual vein sustain this? There may not be much change in the short term, but in more than ten years, the concentration of spiritual energy in the cave will be much thinner."

"That's right. Other grotto-heavens have only had one Nascent Soul cultivator for so many years. There's a reason why the Supreme Grotto-Heaven has always wanted to abolish our Linlang Grotto-Heaven and seize the dragon veins and spiritual veins of the Xuan Kingdom."

"Although our Linglang Cave Heaven has a profound foundation, it can only support a maximum of two cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage. Now, we have three at the Nascent Soul stage."

The elders were well aware of the situation in the cave and were filled with worry.

In the Dharma-ending Age, a celestial realm is not necessarily better the more powerful beings it has.

One must concentrate one's mind to deter external enemies and maintain the balance of the spiritual veins; this is the way to long-term stability.

The many grotto-heavens in the south have always been dominated by one main force that governs all directions.

The sudden appearance of several Nascent Soul Realm experts in a grotto-heaven poses a significant challenge to the most important spiritual vein resources within that grotto-heaven.

It can also easily cause turmoil in power conflicts, resulting in instability in the cultivation environment.

The Xuanxiao Cave Heaven and the Baigu Cave Heaven of the Yun Kingdom were originally two cave heavens that were split apart in this way.

Therefore, over the years, even if some elders guessed that Master Zhong was dividing and suppressing the four peak masters, they were happy to see it happen as long as it didn't affect them personally. Maintaining the status quo was the best option.

Now, however, the status quo has been broken, and the environment of the future cave will inevitably change.
Many elders were filled with mixed emotions, but the cave master Zhong Kui remained calm on the surface. He even personally bestowed the "Nine Revolutions Primordial Technique" upon the two women, acknowledging them as candidates for the next cave master.

However, in secret, they had already begun to make arrangements, trying to win over the peak masters of Lonely Cloud Peak and Mysterious Mystery Peak, sowing discord between Frost Peak and Crimson Flame Peak, and even preparing to secretly observe Zhao Wuji, this seemingly special disciple.

For a time, the Linglang Cave seemed peaceful on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents were already surging.

"Linglang Cave Heaven. There are actually two more Nascent Soul cultivators at the same time? Hua Qingshuang and Yan Lan are good, very good."

Within the Supreme Grotto Heaven.

Upon hearing the news, Bai Chengshang, the master of the Supreme Cave, snapped his folding fan shut, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"That old fox Zhong Kui actually tolerated it? Hehehe, it seems the condition of the spiritual vein in Linlang Cave Heaven is better than I imagined."

Below, an elder said in a deep voice: "According to the scouts, although Zhong Kui appeared at the Dragon Spirit Cave and fought with the two peak masters, he did not pursue the matter in the end. Instead, he bestowed upon them the Nine Revolutions Primordial Technique and acknowledged them as candidates for the next cave master."

"Ha, a strategic retreat?"

The Supreme Cave Master sneered, "That old fox Zhong Kui is seriously injured and doesn't dare to confront him head-on."

He paced back and forth, pondering, "However, this is actually a good thing for us."

"What the cave master means is..."

“The current situation in the Linglang Cave is turbulent and internal strife could break out at any moment. If Zhong Kui cannot control these two sisters, chaos will surely ensue.”

The Supreme Cave Master's eyes gleamed. "After the destruction of Yunfeng Cave Heaven, although its spiritual veins were destroyed, two of the two markets and several spiritual material points have been taken over by us."

Although Yanling Cave Heaven and Linlang Cave Heaven each received a market town and two spirit material points, the real lion's share is in our hands.

"Now that Zhong Kui is seriously injured, and Hua Qingshuang and Yan Lan have just entered the Nascent Soul stage, their internal strife is fierce and their foundations are not yet stable. If we don't take this opportunity to expand now, when will we?"

He waved his sleeve and said coldly, "Pass down the order to secretly support the spies in the Linglang Cave and sow discord between Zhong Kui and those two women."

Especially Zhao Wuji.”

Bai Chengshang smiled and said, "This boy is highly regarded by Hua Qingshuang, and he has great talent and potential. He is now our most useful piece!"

"What does the cave master mean?" the elder beside him asked, bowing, but Bai Chengshang suddenly stopped.

"The chosen saintess, Xia Zhaoran, was secretly contacted by him."

Bai Chengshang narrowed his eyes and paced back and forth, saying, "Give him a taste of sweetness, support his growth, and let him secretly instigate the conflict between Hua Qingshuang and Zhong Laogui."

At the right moment, I want him to play his greatest role by surprise.

His fingers unconsciously touched the storage bag, thinking of the fragment of the [Earth Vein Spirit Pivot Diagram] lying inside.

If the time is right, he would like to give this map to that kid so that he can secretly take control of the dragon spirit veins of the Linlang Cave.

When we deal with that old devil Zhong Kui, we must be wary of him resorting to desperate measures and imitating the old immortal Yunfeng's tactic of fighting to the death.

"In this game, we should always leave ourselves a backup plan." He chuckled suddenly, but his voice was as cold as ice as he gave the order.

"Also, continue to monitor the Yunfeng Cave ruins. Report any unusual activity immediately!"

Inside the imperial palace of the Qian Kingdom, Ancestor Yanling's face was gloomy, and crimson flames surged around his body, clearly indicating that his anger had not subsided.

"Old Ghost Bai, you were the least injured and exerted the least effort this time, yet you consumed the most resources!"

He gritted his teeth, but quickly let out a cold laugh.

"However, Linlang Cave Heaven is currently beset by internal and external troubles. Zhong Kui is seriously injured, and although Hua Qingshuang and Yan Lan have broken through to the Condensation Realm, they are unlikely to pose a threat to us in the short term."

"Pass down the order to intensify the plundering of the remaining resources. It's a pity... Qian Kingdom has lost the spiritual vein of Yunfeng Cave Heaven, so only the dragon vein still has some value."

There was a gleam of cruelty in his eyes.

"Send more people to guard the ruins of Yunfeng Cave and keep a close watch on the Blood River ruins!"

"That blood-red light that blooms every night must be strange!"

Deep within the now-ruins Yunfeng Cave, broken walls and rubble are scattered everywhere.

As night fell, eerie golden-red patterns appeared on the surface of the Blood River abyss beneath the shattered main peak, writhing like living creatures. Skeletons at the riverbed slowly rose and fell, while fragments of rusted armor and Taoist robes drifted with the current.

The spies from the major grottoes stationed nearby, seeing the situation inside the Blood River from afar, were all terrified.

"boom!!"

Suddenly, a beam of blood-red light shot into the sky, illuminating half the horizon, but it vanished in an instant, as if suppressed by some force.

Deep within the Blood River, the dragon patterns on the stone pillars glowed faintly before quickly fading away.

Faintly, a hoarse whisper seemed to echo from the bottom of the river.

"Soon"

At this moment.

In the courtyard outside the cave dwelling on Cold Moon Peak in the Linglang Cave Heaven, Zhao Wuji stretched, and moonlight shone through the spiritual mist onto his slightly tired face.

He rubbed his sore wrists and sighed, "These past two days, I've been treating two peak masters with acupuncture. The physical and mental exhaustion isn't so bad, but this feeling of tension... tsk, it's even more grueling than alchemy."

"You've worked hard, sir! Let me try to massage you with the new technique I just learned."

The young apprentice, Xiaoyue, obediently circled behind him, clumsily forming hand seals to condense a wisp of gentle wood-elemental spiritual energy at her fingertips. She gently massaged his shoulders, smiling as she said, "But recently I feel that the spiritual energy of our Cold Moon Peak seems to have become much more active. Even the spiritual herbs you planted last month have sprouted."

Zhao Wuji closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment, then suddenly raised an eyebrow: "Oh? This is probably also a blessing for the Peak Master after his breakthrough."

The amount of spiritual energy required for cultivation in the Concentration Realm is enormous; some people might not be so overjoyed, right?

Xiaoyue stuck out her tongue and lowered her voice: "When I went to Ziyun Palace to buy medicine this morning, I did hear a steward muttering something about 'the spiritual veins being in short supply'."

"Ha, you're quite the listener."

Zhao Wuji chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and simply snapped his fingers.

There was a rustling sound in the distant bushes, and Xiongba flapped its wings and flew out with a 'whoosh'.

Then a silver-white fox peeked out, and it was none other than Xiaoyu.

As soon as the white fluffy creature approached Zhao Wuji, it darted onto the stone table with a "whoosh," its paws scurrying across the surface while chirping softly.

"Wait a few more days before leaving. The spiritual energy in this cave is much more abundant than outside. You're about to break through."

Zhao Wuji realized that Xiaoyu wanted to leave the cave and was worried about the tribes outside, so he shook his head to stop her.

Two days ago, he summoned Xiaoyu and Xiongba to the vicinity of Hengyun Mountain Range, and then took Xiaoyu into the cave.

The Peak Master is now a candidate for Cave Master.

As a disciple of Cold Moon Peak, his status and identity naturally rose accordingly, and the Spirit Monitoring Hall dared not say anything about him raising a few spirit pets.

Therefore, he also plans to begin implementing the blood bank program.

The combined cultivation of martial arts and the immortal lineage will not only make his physical body stronger, but will also help improve many of his medical and martial arts skills.

He then turned to Xiong Ba, who was hovering around, and asked, "These past two days you've been wandering around the peaks, have you caught any whispers?"

Xiong Ba landed, stretched out his two wings and made a 'cawing' sound.

"Xuanji Peak has strengthened its sect's formations? The number of patrolling disciples has increased by 30%."

"Peak Master Yan cleaved the stone lion at the entrance of the Spirit Monitoring Hall with a single sword strike this morning? My senior uncle..."

Zhao Wuji understood the bird language and chuckled, "...Also, the cave master sent people to the Yunfeng Ruins. Hmm, the Song Dynasty relics in those ruins are said to be quite amazing."

Under Xiaoyue's curious and interested gaze, he chatted with Xiaoyu and Xiongba for a while longer.

He then abandoned his two beastly friends to play with Xiaoyue and went into the cave alone.

A few days ago, inside the Dragon Spirit Grotto, the first Yang Pearl was completely perfected with the help of the powerful dragon energy and a piece of Yang marrow.

This also successfully deciphered the second Yang Pearl, revealing the three sets of tadpole-like characters that had accumulated and lit up on it, representing the Wind Control Technique, the Heavenly Pot Technique, and the Talisman Water Technique, respectively.

However, of the three techniques, only the Wind Control Technique was successfully deciphered.

The progress of the Pot Heaven Technique is only 50%, which means that it is clear that simply using and observing the storage bag is not enough to fully decipher the technique.

Zhao Wuji wasn't in a hurry.

Now, with two candidates for cave master at the Concentration Realm backing him, Emperor Zhaoming seems to still be trying to win him over, and he also has the identity of a spy for the Supreme Cave Heaven to use.

He has many channels to obtain more ancient books and materials, and will eventually decipher the secrets of the Pot Heaven Technique.

At this moment, on the table inside the cave, several ancient books that had just been delivered still exuded the fragrance of ink.

Zhao Wuji casually flipped to a page, on which was clearly recorded a fragment of the "Pot Heaven Contains Emptiness".

"Not urgent."

He closed the book again.

Today, he plans to use the first perfected Yang Pearl to complete the first perfect set of Yin-Yang Pearls, elevating his life and transforming his body and soul once again.

The first single bead, when perfected, can extend one's lifespan by a hundred years.

The two beads, when perfectly aligned, can double one's lifespan and even heal the dead by restoring flesh to bones.

But the so-called Yin pearl steals longevity, while the Yang pearl prolongs life.

The lifespan stolen by the Yin Pearl was taken from the Heavenly Dao, and it also contains cause and effect, meaning that a Heavenly Dao calamity will occur a hundred years later.

Only by accumulating full Yang Pearls can one purify the karmic obstacles of Yin Pearls, refine the chaotic lifespan into "flawless vitality," and resolve or weaken calamities.

He once used the first Yin Pearl to steal lifespan from the heavens, undergoing a marrow cleansing and purification process, which brought about a hundred-year lifespan calamity.

Now, using the first Yang Pearl to prolong life can also purify karmic obstacles and resolve or weaken the hundred-year lifespan calamity.

Only through this harmonious balance of Yin and Yang can the power of this treasure, which even the Venerable Zhang of Wudang cherishes, be truly revealed.

He sat cross-legged on the futon, his mind completely absorbed.

In the sea of ​​consciousness, the Yin Pearl glowed with an ink-like light, while the Yang Pearl shone with a fiery red light, outlining a pattern resembling the Tai Chi symbol.

Inside the Yang Pearl, the Yang marrow floated amidst the surging Yang energy. With a thought, the golden light of the Yang Pearl instantly illuminated all the meridians in his body.

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered over the sky a thousand feet above the cave, and a terrifying bolt of lightning, seemingly familiar, was brewing within the clouds, as if some enormous creature had been disturbed from the shadows.
(End of this chapter)