Immortals of the End Times

Inside the Immortal Saint Hall of the Immortal Saint Sect, Cang Yunzi's long, snow-white eyebrows were furrowed, and his whisk moved without any wind.

"Elder Zhao, now is the perfect time for you to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage."

According to frontline reports, the sect leaders of the Tianjing Sect and the Feixue Sect are both seriously injured.

His voice was deep and solemn, “Only now, with the arrival of the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven and the Sword Ancestor of Qilin, along with the True Venerable of the Buddhist Kingdom of the Western Rong Buddhist Kingdom, at the front lines of the battle, have we managed to stabilize our position.”

Cang Yunzi summoned the Ziwei Destiny Plate, and as he activated it, the plate hummed and vibrated, releasing an astonishing image.

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's demonic body was as majestic as a mountain, and the twisted demonic seal between his brows had solidified into a tangible form, exuding a suffocatingly greedy Daoist aura with each breath.

With a wave of his hand, the Great Sun Tathagata Golden Seal cast by the Venerable One of the Buddha Kingdom shattered inch by inch like glass.

Cang Yunzi solemnly said, "The Nine Nether Demon Lord has already obtained the true essence of the Daoist teachings of that Ancestral Demon, the Greedy Demon, and his demonic power is overwhelming."

The Great Sun Tathagata Mantra of the Venerable One of the Buddha Lands was easily broken by that fellow.

"The Daoist Aura of Greed?"

Zhao Wuji frowned upon hearing this, "I've heard that the Venerable One of the Buddhist Kingdom is no less powerful than you, Sect Master?"

"good."

Cang Yunzi nodded and exclaimed, "It is evident that the Nine Nether Demon Lord has not only reshaped his demonic body, but his cultivation has also greatly improved."

The old Taoist priest used Zi Wei Dou Shu (a Chinese astrological system) to deduce that this demonic calamity might be orchestrated by the ancestral demon!

Cang Yunzi stroked his beard, deep in thought, a hint of worry appearing between his brows: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, the situation at the front is urgent; we must rush to their aid immediately. However..."

He frowned. "The Nine Nether Demon Lord and Huang Shang have been lying low for eighteen years. Their reappearance must be due to something they rely on."

Since that ancestral demon knows you possess unpredictable qualities, I'm afraid…

"Sect Master, there is no need to worry."

Zhao Wuji raised his hand to stop him from speaking, and said after a moment of thought, "Since there is trouble at the front, I should go there myself."

However, since the sect leader suspects a trap, it would be better for the sect leader to openly provide support, while I provide covert assistance, forming a coordinated attack from both sides.

Cang Yunzi nodded upon hearing this, but hesitated and said, "Based on my calculations using the Ziwei Destiny method, I feel that ominous signs are emerging."

"If that Demon Lord has already reached the Nascent Soul stage, or if the Ancestral Demon can manifest his true form in Tianmeng Prefecture."

As he spoke, he shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, I cannot accurately predict the result. I am always just a hair's breadth away from the truth. It seems that a master has used magic to disrupt the heavenly secrets. Perhaps it is that old ghost Huang Shang who is interfering!"

"That is indeed possible, and allow me to use the divination techniques I've gleaned from the Starry Chess Game to do the divination."

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly, formed a sword shape with his fingers, and paced back and forth, calculating.

As he slowly made his calculations, the celestial energy of the heavens was drawn down, condensing into seven dazzling stars that rotated in the sky, enacting the celestial trajectory.

"what?"

The hexagram's meaning flickers and is uncertain, yet it only reveals half of an ominous situation.

But then, the crimson aura of calamity surged in the Tianxuan direction like a monstrous dragon soaring into the sky, only to be abruptly cut off by a golden rainbow just as it was about to collide with the Tianquan star position.

The remaining star trails were shrouded in a chaotic mist, making it difficult to discern good or bad omens.

"interesting."

Zhao Wuji suddenly clenched his five fingers, and the starlight exploded into fragments in his palm. He then sighed and said, "It seems that we don't have enough clues. Perhaps it is indeed as you said, Sect Master. That old ghost Huang Shang is probably also using magic to disrupt the secrets of heaven. Only by going to the battlefield in person can we see the whole picture."

He wasn't surprised that he couldn't calculate all the results.

After all, he had only just learned the art of astrology.

He has devoted himself to cultivation over the years and has not used this technique often. He is still at a stage of slight success. His expertise in divination may not be as good as Cangyunzi's Ziwei Destiny.

Moreover, Huang Shang was well-versed in Daoist scriptures and was an expert in concealing heavenly secrets.

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Wuji asked, "Sect Master, are those six Ancestral Demons truly mortal enemies of the Heavenly Dao? And are they even sealed away in the Nine Netherworlds by the Heavenly Dao?"

"Whether it's true or not, I can't be sure, after all, I've never personally witnessed any conflict between the Heavenly Dao and the six Ancestral Demons deep within the Nine Netherworlds."

Upon hearing this, Cang Yunzi frowned slightly, shook his head with a wry smile, and said, "Even what I witnessed in Sword Immortal Mountain last time was something I had never seen before in my life."

However, according to the "Nine Netherworld Chronicles" of my Immortal Saint Sect, the Nine Netherworld is actually the place where the filth of heaven and earth returns to nothingness, and it is also the outlet for the turbidity of the Heavenly Dao in the past.

Those six ancestral demons were primordial demonic beings born from endless filth and evil.

With a flick of his sleeve, a profound yin-yang symbol appeared in the void: "In the words of Master Zhang's Tai Chi Yin-Yang theory, just as yin and yang are mutually generating and mutually restraining, as long as the Heavenly Dao exists, the Ancestral Demon will be forever sealed away."

This is a fundamental principle of nature: when the day is bright and clear, the night lies dormant.

"Is this what they mean by 'good triumphs over evil'?" Zhao Wuji said thoughtfully.

"Exactly."

Cangyunzi nodded, pointing his whisk towards the northwest, "Ancient books say: 'The Way of Heaven is like a torch, and the Ancestral Demon is like a shadow.'"

Though those demons could perpetuate themselves by exploiting the evil thoughts of all living beings, they could never cross the line. Unless…

He paused, his eyes beneath his white eyebrows suddenly sharpening, "Unless the Way of Heaven weakens and Yin and Yang become unbalanced."

Zhao Wuji gazed thoughtfully at the sky outside the window. "So, the collapse of the Celestial Court and the overturning of the Thirty-Three Heavens back then, could it be..."

"Fellow Daoist, you are wise."

Cang Yunzi nodded solemnly, "It is likely that the Nine Nether Rift appeared in the mortal world precisely because the Heavenly Dao was damaged. However..."

He rolled up his sleeves and said, "As long as there is still a sliver of heavenly secret in the Heavenly Dao of this world, the Ancestral Demons will forever remain caged beasts. Otherwise, they would have already come out in droves and caused a catastrophe to shake the world."

"If that's the case, I understand." Zhao Wuji's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he began to make his own plans.

Cang Yunzi's expression shifted slightly. "Fellow Daoist, do you have any plans?"

Zhao Wuji pondered for a moment and said, "It's not really a plan, just some ideas that are not yet fully formed. I won't go into them for now. When the time is right, you will know about them, Sect Master."

Cangyunzi nodded upon hearing this and did not ask any further questions.

After a brief discussion, Cang Yunzi handed over the sect's affairs to Pang Xixue to take charge, and then transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the sky.

Zhao Wuji flashed back to his cave dwelling.

With a flick of his sleeve, the summoned Demon Roc Sect Master immediately transformed into a golden-robed old man and knelt down in worship.

"Lord!"

The demonic roc prostrated itself on the ground, its forehead pressed tightly against the jade brick.

"Is the teleportation array I asked you to set up in the states beyond the river still intact?"

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as lightning.

Yao Peng raised his head obsequiously, his golden eyes flashing: "Reporting to my lord, that secret place was meticulously crafted by my Yao Peng Sect in the past, and I personally supervised its construction."

Although the sect has long since abandoned its evil ways and embraced the light, that place is extremely well-hidden and no one has ever discovered it.

"it is good!"

Zhao Wuji nodded slightly: "Over the years, have you and my Uncle Yan found anything while searching for the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Yao Peng suddenly straightened his back, his face full of pride, "Over the years, I have worked day and night, leading Senior Yan to travel all over the Nine Provinces, and finally discovered two suspicious places."

Senior Yan is currently lingering outside the ruins in Yizhou, Huaihai, seemingly still finalizing the location, but…

It shrank its neck, "The restrictions on those ruins are strange and difficult to break in a short time."

"Huaihai Yizhou."

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered slightly, then he waved his hand, "Let's postpone this matter for now. You go over there to protect Uncle Yan. I'll come over after I've dealt with things at the front."

"Yes!"

The demon roc transformed into golden light and fled.

Zhao Wuji flipped his hand, and an ancient teleportation token floated in his palm.

This token is entirely dark blue, with mysterious patterns covering its surface. It is the ancient teleportation token obtained from the Dragon-Trapping Abyss in the Sword Tomb of the East Sea.

With this command, there is no need to set up an array; one can directly lock onto the corresponding teleportation array and teleport there.

"go with!"

A flash of inspiration appeared at Zhao Wuji's fingertips, and the teleportation command suddenly burst forth with a dazzling silver light.

In an instant, the void twisted, and his figure rippled and disappeared like a reflection in water.

Beyond the river, on a sheer cliff thousands of feet high, lies a vast expanse of land.

A blinding beam of light suddenly tore through the darkness in the mountain crevice.

"Om!!"

Within the mountain crevice, the shifting array patterns rippled like water.

Zhao Wuji's figure stepped out from the spiritual light, his clothes fluttering as the surrounding wind howled like a dragon, stirring up clouds like waves.

His gaze swept across this former secret site of the Demon Roc Sect with lightning speed.

Beyond the cliff, a sea of ​​clouds churned, and a fierce wind whipped at one's face. The distant scenery was shrouded in mist, making it an excellent hiding place.

"The Northwest Nine Netherworlds, the Frontline of Tianmeng"

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Given his current location, if he were to rush to the Tianmeng Prefecture battlefield with all his might, he could arrive more than ten days earlier than Cang Yunzi.

Seeing the demonic energy piercing the sky like a pillar in the northwest, he pondered for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "In that case, why not follow my heart and explore the lair of these demons to gather more clues and find out the truth."

"hidden!"

With a flick of his fingers, his figure dissolved into the void like ink dissolving into water.

Even the slightest breeze stirred by the hem of her clothes was abruptly cut off.

At this moment, let alone ordinary demons, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to detect the living person standing on the cliff edge if their divine sense swept over the area.

"Let's see what secrets the Nine Netherworlds, known as the most filthy and evil place in the world, hold."

With a light touch of his toes, his figure soared into the air like a ghost, summoning a cloud to envelop him as he swept towards the northwest.

With the ability to conceal his form and spirit through invisibility techniques, as well as numerous other earthly evil arts, Zhao Wuji was confident that he could escape unscathed anywhere, as long as he didn't venture deep into the Nine Netherworlds.

Only by remaining hidden in the shadows can one fully utilize their abilities and break through the impasse with overwhelming force.

His eyes flickered slightly as he looked inward into his mind's eye.

But within the sea of ​​knowledge, the Yin-Yang Pearls hang high, and the seventh Yang Pearl already has two tadpole-like patterns that shine like morning stars.

The sixth Yin Bead features three sets of gleaming runes.

These were all the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques that were triggered and deciphered when they ventured into the pseudo-Nine Heavens within the Tiannan Secret Realm.

"Unfortunately, I haven't been able to comprehend and apply it yet."

Zhao Wuji pondered.

Now, the thunder essence accumulated inside the Qingzhou Cauldron is enough to break through the Seventh Yang Pearl.

Within the Pot Heaven Space, the Xuan Yin Marrow Liquid, precipitated from the Yin Sha Spring, was enough to perfect the Fifth Yin Pearl and unlock the Sixth Yin Pearl.

But whenever he thought of the Chain of Calamity he had seen on Sword Immortal Mountain, he repeatedly gave up the idea of ​​immediately unlocking the Yin-Yang Pearl.

Now, there is no ancient sword domain to conceal the secrets of heaven, nor is there the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, a supreme treasure left by an ancient white-robed sword immortal to protect the path.

He wasn't sure if he could escape if he forcibly unlocked the Yin-Yang Pearl.

"unless."

His eyes shone brightly, and the true meaning of intercepting the Dao flowed between the seven divine wheels.

The mark running across his brow was slightly warm, as if echoing a daring idea.

Slowly, a sinister smile crept onto his lips, and a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes.

Unless those six Ancestral Demons are used as shields!
This insane thought had already taken root in his mind like a venomous snake when he sought confirmation from Cangyunzi about the opposing relationship between the Heavenly Dao and the Ancestral Demon.

"If Heaven wants to destroy me, then I will borrow Heaven's power to slay the demon."

A hint of clarity and decisiveness appeared in his eyes.

If he succeeds, the Heavenly Tribulation triggered by the lifting of the Yin-Yang Pearl's seal will be borne by those six immortal and indestructible Ancestral Demons!

"Boom!"

At this moment, the demonic clouds ahead surged like raging waves, and streaks of pitch-black demonic energy coiled around the sky like giant pythons.

Below, on the vast, desolate land, one could see...

Tens of thousands of demons were galloping past in battle formation, each with horns and claws, emitting a savage roar that shook the heavens and the earth.

The towering demonic elephants at the very front had the remains of cultivators, still breathing, pierced through their tusks, each step crushing the scorched earth beneath them.

"Roar!!"

A serpent demon with bony wings on its back suddenly roared to the sky, and a bloody tiger clutched in its claws was burned by demonic flames, with charred flesh and blood raining down.

The demons fought fiercely, tearing and biting at each other, their sharp teeth clashing and sparks flying everywhere.

"If these demons were to invade the other eight states, it would surely lead to a bloody catastrophe."

Zhao Wuji witnessed the scene of people eating raw meat and drinking blood below. Wherever the entire demon army passed, people and animals alike were turned into food.

The auspicious cloud beneath his feet stood out conspicuously in this environment filled with demonic energy.

That pure white against the dark sky was like snow falling into an inkwell.

"fog!"

He pointed his sword and made a hand seal, and the Mist Formation Technique was activated.

A thick fog suddenly rose up around them, turning the white clouds into dark clouds, merging with the demonic energy that filled the sky.

The dark clouds concealed all their brilliance, moving stealthily with the wind like a true dark cloud.

Half a day later, a hideous "scar" suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.

That was a rift in the Nine Netherworlds that stretched for nearly ten thousand miles, like a wound cleaved open by a giant axe of a celestial being.

Thick demonic energy gushed out like pus and blood, staining the surrounding world dark red.

"Crash!"

Countless demons crawled out of the cracks like ants. Some resembled humans standing upright, but had eight legs.

Some resemble jackals, but have three ferocious heads.

Each demon was shrouded in a tangible aura of evil, as if it were a vengeful ghost that had just crawled out from the deepest part of the underworld.

"Jiuyou!"

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted, and he slowed the cloud's movement.
Meanwhile, dark clouds loomed over the border of Tianmeng.

A massive army of demons, blotting out the sky, swarmed across the scorched earth, their crimson flames turning half the heavens red.

A thousand miles away, the spirit boats of cultivators from the eight states formed a great array, and countless magical houses manifested as pavilions and towers in the clouds.

Furthermore, thirty-six war fortresses floated like stars, radiating dazzling spiritual light.

Such a fortress, which consumes a great deal of spiritual energy, would have been unthinkable in the past, during the Dharma-ending Age.

"Boom!"

The demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds and the pure and ethereal light collided fiercely in the center of the battlefield, creating a spiritual energy storm that stretched for hundreds of miles.

However, the seemingly formidable demon army was actually filled with strange and grotesque soldiers.

Some of the demonic birds dragged their rotting wings, while the giant millipedes were covered in demonic runes on their shells. Many more were walking corpses catalyzed by demonic energy.

On the moving demonic mountain where demonic clouds surged, Huang Chang and the Nine Nether Demon Lord sat facing each other across a table.

Those once rampaging demonic giants who roamed the land are now either reduced to ashes or have fled to the deep mountains.

This seemingly powerful demon army can't even muster a few demon kings.

Aside from the barely surviving White Bone Scorpion Demon King and the lurking Demon Dragon in the deep sea, only the Nine Nether Demon Lord, a Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of his cultivation, remains as a force to be reckoned with.

But even a single Nine Nether Demon Lord had already swept away several Nascent Soul True Lords who had gathered from eight states.

With Huang Shang, who also possesses the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of his cultivation, they were able to restrain the several top Nascent Soul experts who had rushed to the scene.

"Demon Lord, wait another half month at most."

As he sat down, Huang Chang's gaze was fixed on the distant spirit boat. His hoarse voice, like the spitting of a venomous snake, said, "Whether that brat Zhao comes or not, the Demon Lord will use the Demonic Greed Dao to activate the Nine Netherworld Spirit Devouring Array, in conjunction with my Nine Cauldrons Sealing Technique."

A ruthless glint flashed in his cloudy eyes: "The Sword Lord Wentian and the Qilin Sword Ancestor must both die, becoming sacrifices for you, Demon Lord, to summon the Ancestral Demon."

"Sacrificial offerings!?"

The Demon Mountain suddenly trembled, and the Nine Nether Demon Lord laughed loudly, his demonic power sweeping across the four directions like a tidal wave.

"good!"

The Nine Nether Demon Lord's ten-zhang-tall demonic body exuded overwhelming demonic energy, with viscous demonic energy churning and boiling behind him. An ancient phantom with six pairs of twisted demonic horns manifested from the chaos.

As the phantom flickered, its abyss-like demonic eyes emitted a heart-stopping aura of greed—it was none other than the legendary Demon of Greed!

"I have already received fifty percent of the Dao essence bestowed by the two Ancestral Demon Lords, and I can condense a Dao Seal and break through at any time, let alone a mere Zhao Wuji."

His demonic claws suddenly pointed towards the Immortal Saint Sect: "Even if that old Daoist Cangyun comes in person, I will definitely make him perish!"

Huang Shangqi stood up and walked out slowly, a profound smile playing on his lips. He said calmly, "I also look forward to the day when the Demon Lord ascends to the Divine Transformation Realm!"

He narrowed his eyes, calculating in his mind.

If he could use the Demon Lord's hand to get rid of that brat surnamed Zhao and seize the Yangzhou and Qingzhou cauldrons, he would have already collected all five cauldrons.

The day the five cauldrons unite will be the day Huang Chang attains enlightenment and transforms into a deity.
(End of this chapter)