Immortals of the End Times

Time flies like an arrow; March has passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the pseudo-Nine Heavens of the Tiannan Secret Realm, the Sword Lord of Asking Heaven and the Sword Ancestor of the Qilin are still trapped in the eighth level, the "Vacuum Heaven of Annihilation of Laws".

Two figures sat quietly in the void, their sword energy sometimes stagnating and sometimes surging, clearly indicating that they had not yet grasped the mysteries of their own Dao.

In contrast, Cang Yunzi, who had already grasped the essence of the Dao, had already passed through the Nine Heavens a month ago and departed gracefully.

"Sect Master Cangyunzi has gained a lot this time. It is estimated that after returning, he will prepare to break through to the Nascent Soul stage."

Inside the Hutian space, Zhao Wuji pondered, holding the "Wanshou Daozang" he had obtained from Huang Shang for reference.

His gaze occasionally swept over the two beautiful figures not far away who were teaching Xiaoyue and Xiaoya cultivation.

Since the Nine Nether Demon Lord and Huang Shang were killed three months ago, the demon forces in the states beyond the river have collapsed like a crumbling building.

Those who resisted were all killed, while those who knew what was good for them became prisoners and were recruited by various beast-taming sects and grotto-heavens, where they were properly trained.

Now, part of that once demonic territory has become a new training ground for sects practicing Yin Sha techniques.

Even the surrendered Yaopeng Sect got a share of the spoils.

Upon learning the news, Hua Qingshuang quickly found the Tiannan Secret Realm and they met.

At this moment, Yan Lan and Xiao Yue were on the left and right, respectively, instructing the two little girls, Xiao Ya, on how to practice magic.

With the guidance of these two Nascent Soul cultivators, Xiaoyue and Xiaoya naturally improved at a rapid pace.

The harmonious scene of the three of them in the Pot Heaven Space has lasted for more than two months.

Zhao Wuji withdrew his gaze and put his eyes back on the "Wanshou Daozang" in his hands.

This Daoist canon was compiled by Huang Chang during the Zhenghe era of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Tracing back to the pre-Qin period and down to the Northern Song Dynasty, it encompasses almost all the essence of Taoist classics over a thousand years.

Among them are timeless classics such as the Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi.

It also includes profound scriptures such as the "Nanhua Jing" and the "Zhouyi Cantongqi".

What is particularly precious is that it also contains fragments of Guang Chengzi's "Natural Classic" and a secret copy of Ge Hong's "Biographies of Immortals" that he had never shown to anyone.

The fragment of "Free and Easy Wandering" interspersed within the Daoist canon has become a rare and unique copy.

A yellowed bamboo slip was found among the pages of the book, its characters coiled like dragons and snakes, faintly revealing the Daoist wisdom that Zhuangzi had comprehended.

This single fragment is already comparable to a Nascent Soul Dao Treasure, capable of unleashing a portion of the power of Daoist essence.

The same applies to other texts, such as the fragments of the *Huang Ting Jing*. This is also why Huang Chang was able to utilize the Mysterious Female Gate so skillfully.

Having this Daoist canon means that one has received part of the mantle of many sages who have transformed into immortals or even merged with the Dao.

No wonder Huang Chang was able to comprehend so many lost ancient Taoist techniques and quickly grasp the Dao of Withering and Flourishing, making him exceptionally powerful in battle.

However, Zhao Wuji now understands as well.

Huang Shang deduced a conjecture by studying the "Zhouyi Cantongqi" and the "Huangtingjing".

They believe that the root cause of the spiritual depletion in the cultivation world is that cultivators only take from the earth's veins without thinking of giving back.

Therefore, Huang Shang resolved to collect all nine tripods of Yu the Great in order to rebuild the cycle of heaven and man.

Although this person's pursuit of the tripod was driven by personal motives and often involved unscrupulous means, the breadth of his ambition and the grandeur of his vision are truly admirable.

Now, Zhao Wuji has also used the "Wanshou Daozang" collected by Huang Shang to comprehend the deeper mysteries of the Xuanpin Gate from the fragments of the "Huangting Jing".

Even the mysterious, undeveloped land behind the inner realm was becoming increasingly clear to him.

Meanwhile, he mastered the Daoist principles of carefree wandering and many ancient Daoist methods recorded in the fragments of Zhuangzi.

The true meaning of the soaring wind that rises ninety thousand miles high, and the method of swallowing the universe by spreading the wings of the Kunpeng.

Even the mysteries of the Six Dragons in the Book of Changes.

Although it cannot compare to the all-encompassing Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Technique, it can still be considered to be among the Taoist arts.

Huang Shang, that old monster, once survived several great calamities of the end times by relying on the Taoist tortoise breathing technique and Peng Zu's breathing method.

Its physical body had long since been reduced to seventy percent jade, resembling a jade funerary figurine from the Xia and Shang dynasties. Only its heart and brain remained, barely clinging to life within the life-locking array, requiring it to periodically consume Peng Zu's secret medicine to sustain its existence.
Only after finding the Yanzhou Cauldron was the petrification crisis barely reversed.

"The legacy of our predecessors has truly reached this point."

Zhao Wuji sighed softly.

From his current perspective, if the immortal techniques and arts of the cultivation world were classified according to their power...

The legendary Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques are considered superior immortal techniques, while the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques are considered mid-level immortal techniques.

The enlightenment attained by sages like Xiaoyao You represents the pinnacle of lower-level Taoist practices.

This path of immortal arts and Taoist magic is divided into three levels, but even the lower level should not be underestimated.

Techniques like the Soaring Wind and the Kunpeng Devouring the Sky, if cultivated to their ultimate level, might rival even immortal arts.

However, Zhao Wuji has now fully comprehended about 70-80% of most of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques.

Against Huang Shang, he naturally had the upper hand.

However, stones from other mountains can be used to make jade.

This study of the "Wanshou Daozang" has helped him gain a deeper understanding of more mysterious and powerful techniques.

Unfortunately, his seventh Yin Pearl and eighth Yang Pearl have not yet been unsealed.

Of the four newly deciphered Earthly Fiend Techniques, only the "Finger Transformation Technique," which manifests at the end of the sixth Yin Pearl, can be performed.

When this technique is first mastered, it only takes a flick of the finger to turn stubborn rocks into beautiful jade and rotten wood into new shoots.

If one cultivates to the highest level, one can reverse Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, and alter the true nature of all things; it is truly mysterious and infinite.

"The remaining three Earthly Fiend Techniques"

Zhao Wuji stroked the Daoist scriptures with his palm, pondering, "Only when the seventh Yin Pearl and the eighth Yang Pearl are unsealed will we be able to see its full extent."

A dark glint flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes.

Last time, by taking advantage of the Heavenly Calamity and diverting the disaster eastward, he made the two demons of greed and anger bear the divine punishment for him, which was already a risky move.

If they try to repeat the same trick again, the ancestral demons deep in the Nine Netherworlds will not be so easily fooled, and they may very well be caught off guard and suffer a devastating defeat.

"We'll have to think of another way."

As Zhao Wuji pondered, six bronze rainbows burst forth from the sky amidst the billowing of his sleeves.

Boom! !
Suddenly, the thunder patterns on the surface of the Qingzhou Cauldron lit up, and streaks of purple lightning danced across its handles.

The vast water veins inside the Yangzhou Ding transformed into a dragon-shaped phantom that swirled around.

The Liangzhou Ding took root and flourished, its majestic mountain shadow suppressing all directions.

Furthermore, the Yuzhou Cauldron inhales and exhales the essence of green wood, the Yanzhou Cauldron draws upon the brilliance of the stars in the heavens, and the Yongzhou Cauldron bursts forth with the sharp energy of Geng metal.
These three cauldrons were taken from Huang Chang's hands.

The simultaneous appearance of the six cauldrons caused the spiritual energy from all directions to surge.

When the three cauldrons resonated, the divine lightning summoned by the Azure Cauldron cleaved through the Nascent Soul Dharma Domain, the Weak Water controlled by the Yang Cauldron could also erode the spiritual light of magic treasures, and the Five Sacred Mountains phantoms manifested by the Liang Cauldron were even more powerful.

If the three cauldrons form a "Heaven, Earth, and Man" formation, they are virtually invincible among those of the same realm.

Now that the six cauldrons have gathered and formed the "Six Harmonies and State Array" on their own, the faint phantoms of the land and rivers of the state are emerging. The mere emanating pressure is enough to cause the spiritual energy of the secret realm to surge.

"If all nine tripods were gathered..."

Zhao Wuji stared at the rotating array of ancient cauldrons in front of him, as if he could see the immense power of Yu the Great in controlling the floods.

In ancient times, Yu the Great used nine tripods to govern the nine provinces and define the boundary between humans and gods.

If such a supreme innate treasure, capable of suppressing the destiny of the human race, could truly unleash its full power, even the Ancestral Demon would likely have to temporarily retreat from its edge.

Just as I was pondering this, I suddenly heard a silvery laugh coming from the foot of the mountain.

Zhao Wuji turned his head to look, and saw that the little medicine boy's finger sword was as fine as silk, dancing gracefully under Hua Qingshuang's guidance.

"Sword energy condensing into threads, not bad."

Zhao Wuji smiled as he put away the "Wanshou Daozang" (a Daoist canon for longevity), and the six cauldrons transformed into streams of light that disappeared into his sleeves. He then rode the clouds down the mountain.

Yan Lan leaned lazily against the jade table outside the pavilion, playing with a strand of hair with her fingertips. Seeing Zhao Wuji flying over, she teased him with a flicker of her eyes, "Good nephew, you've finally arrived."

Now that Old Ghost Huang Shang's entire collection is in your hands, even those few Yu tripods are yours, you must be overjoyed, right?

She smiled slightly, "As for the whereabouts of the last three cauldrons, I will do my best to find them. How do you plan to repay me?"

Zhao Wuji landed, and as he strolled with his hands behind his back, he replied with a smile, "Since you are so fond of acupuncture, Uncle-Master, why don't I perform acupuncture a few more times to repay you?" "You little rascal!"

Yan Lan's ear tips suddenly turned crimson, and her eyes flashed with a captivating charm.

She suddenly turned to Hua Qingshuang beside her, her eyes darting around, and said in a teasing tone, "Junior Sister Hua, why don't you try it too? It's been a long time since we sisters enjoyed this boy's acupuncture together."

"No need."

After instructing Xiaoyue, Hua Qingshuang's clear, cold eyes remained unmoved as she said, "I am no longer troubled by the cold ailment. My current cultivation level at the mid-Nascent Soul stage cannot be improved simply by acupuncture."

"That's a rather serious statement from my junior sister."

Yan Lan smiled even more charmingly, gesturing with her slender fingers: "This acupuncture technique doesn't need to cure illness; it's just the tingling sensation when the needle tip travels through the meridians."

A blush rose to the corners of her eyes, like peach blossoms. "It's already more enjoyable than the Jade Pool Dew. Just consider it as this kid serving us."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji couldn't help but rub his forehead and smile bitterly.

No wonder Master Yan has always been so fond of acupuncture; now I realize that he actually treats his acupuncture techniques as a special kind of enjoyment.

Just as she was feeling helpless, Hua Qingshuang didn't argue with Yan Lan. Instead, she changed the subject seriously: "Wuji, what are your plans next?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji's eyes deepened, and he solemnly said with his hands behind his back, "Now that the troubles of demons have been resolved, the world is at peace, and spiritual energy is flourishing, we should seize the time to cultivate diligently."

The day I reach the completion of my Nascent Soul stage will be the time to break through to the Divine Transformation stage.

After that, I will probably be exploring the Nine Heavens together with Sect Master Cangyunzi and Sect Master Wentian.

He looked up at the sky outside the Pot Heaven Space, "This world only has two hundred years left before it faces the Great Tribulation of the End of Dharma."

If one does not wish to endure the tribulations of the end of heaven and earth again, the only way is to venture into the Nine Heavens, unravel the true secrets of this world, and understand the origin and truth of all this.

"Break through the Nine Heavens!"

Hua Qingshuang and Yan Lan both felt a tremor in their hearts. They exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise and worry in each other's eyes.

The naive young man who needed their protection back then has now grown up to the point where he can support the entire nation.

What we are discussing now is an unprecedented feat of saving the world from collapse, and what we will do in the future is also a great undertaking that will benefit the entire land of Kyushu.

Nowadays, they can hardly offer much help anymore.

"The matter of searching for the tripod."

Yan Lan parted her lips slightly, only to find that all she could do was help him collect the last three Yu Cauldrons—a trivial matter.

"Uncle Master, there's no rush to find the cauldron. Safety is the top priority. I will instruct Yao Peng to assist you."

Zhao Wuji smiled slightly.

After the three finished discussing their future plans, Zhao Wuji turned around and gently stroked Xiaoyue's hair, then pointed out the key points of the sword technique to the little girl.

He immediately flew to the Yin Sha Spring that was churning with Xuanming Qi.

Now, nourished by the fifth-level and fourth-level spiritual veins, the Hutian Space has transformed into a four-thousand-foot-long grotto-heaven, rich in spiritual energy and shrouded in misty clouds.

In addition, with the accumulation of the Hua clan over a thousand years, the dedicated offerings of the five great families, and the massive resources provided by the Immortal Martial Sect, the development of the Pot Heaven Space has been extremely rapid.

Many of the precious Yin-Yang spiritual items have been transformed into nourishment for this level-five spring.

Even now, eight Yin Essences are floating at the bottom of the spring, their eerie light like stars, enough to perfect the sixth Yin Pearl and unlock the seventh Yin Pearl.

"pity."

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over the frost that had condensed on the surface of the spring.

If we rashly use the Yin Marrow to trigger karmic forces at this moment, we might disturb the Heavenly Dao deep within the Nine Heavens.

For the time being, he lacks the strength and confidence to withstand the increasingly clear attacks of the Heavenly Dao on his own.

Zhao Wuji swept his divine sense across the area and his gaze fell on the fungal demon that had grown to several feet in size beside the spring not far away.

More than two decades have passed.

The spirit fungus that was subdued from the Sword Tomb and Dragon Abyss back then, which had reached the Golden Core stage, has now successfully condensed into a Nascent Soul.

The mushroom caps unfold like a canopy, their inhalation and exhalation revealing the aura of a primordial infant.

However, these fungal demons do not have a nascent soul; they are only comparable in terms of magical power and aura, but their actual strength may be much weaker.

However, its special talent can also unleash terrifying destructive power at certain times.

At this moment, the nectar condensed on the mushroom cap of this fungus demon, with just a little guidance and brewing, can be transformed into a heavenly treasure-level spiritual wine.

He lightly tapped the wine jar with his finger, and the amber-colored wine rippled with concentric circles and golden bubbles.

This level of spiritual brew can even enhance the cultivation of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Now, within the Pot Heaven Space, spiritual herbs are piled up like mountains, and resources are as abundant as the sea.

What he lacks is simply the accumulation of knowledge and experience.

Once one's cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul Realm, one can begin to accomplish that earth-shattering feat that concerns the fate of the Nine Provinces.

Zhao Wuji turned and flew into the pavilion, intending to enter and cultivate, when suddenly he sensed something in his mind.

Turning around, I saw Yan Lan gracefully entering with Hua Qingshuang.

"Is my junior disciple going into seclusion so soon?"

Yan Lan's eyes sparkled, her red dress fluttering. "You were just saying you wanted to repay your senior master, and you've already forgotten?"

A sly smile curved her crimson lips. "Now that my junior sister has been cultivating, who knows how many years it will take? Why don't you perform acupuncture on me and Junior Sister Hua first?"

She suddenly pushed Hua Qingshuang, who was both aloof and somewhat shy, forward, saying, "So that we can have a good time."

Zhao Wuji shook his head and chuckled. He noticed that the usually aloof Flower Peak Master now had a faint blush on her snow-white cheeks, and even the ice crystal pendant on her earring was flushed with a rouge-like blush.

She pursed her lips and turned her face to the side, but never truly broke free from Yan Lan's hand.

This situation surprised Zhao Wuji, who wondered what method his senior uncle Yan had used to persuade Peak Master Hua to change his mind.

However, he was not disappointed.

With a wave of his hand, golden needles flew out from his storage bag. He laughed and said, "Very well. It's been a long time since I've performed acupuncture on anyone. I wonder if I've become rusty. The reputation of Physician Zhao from the Imperial City, as well as the miraculous acupuncture skills of my Zhao family, must not be lost."

"Hey?"

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Lan suddenly smiled and placed her hand on his wrist: "What's the rush?"

She pointed with her jade-like finger to the misty area behind the pavilion, "Your wine pool and hot spring draws from precious wine and spiritual spring water; you should let your senior uncle and junior sister bathe in it first."

Before she finished speaking, Yan Lan had already pulled Hua Qingshuang into the rising mist.

Only a soft laugh mingled with the aroma of wine wafted over: "Nephew, don't mistake the acupoints later."

"This senior brother"

Zhao Wuji shook his head and chuckled.

Suddenly, a "splash" was heard from the spring.

Hua Qingshuang's usually cool voice lost its composure: "Senior Sister! Don't do anything rash!"

The last note abruptly turned into a soft tremor, as if Yan Lan had spilled the fine wine onto her icy, jade-like skin, which she never showed to anyone.

At this moment, amidst the rising steam of the hot spring, Hua Qingshuang's usually neatly tied black hair was now plastered to her snowy back, as wet as if splashed with ink.

The aroma of the wine made the icy beauty blush and her eyes sparkle. Even the frost that never melted over the years turned into a rosy glow on her cheeks. She let go of her usual reserve and became much more passionate.

Amidst the fragrant aroma of wine, Zhao Wuji stood quietly under the eaves, listening to the murmuring water from the hot spring and Yan Lan's teasing voice. Even his calm Dao heart was slightly disturbed.

It was as if I could see the frost and snow that never melted on the Cold Moon Peak in the past winter.

On countless nights when the stars appeared, behind the icy palace doors, a warm jade lamp always illuminated that aloof figure, whose long, snow-white hair fell onto the stone bed, melting the ice that filled the room.

"Nephew/Grandson~"

After an unknown amount of time, a melodious melody suddenly drifted from behind the rocks.

Yan Lan's call, mingled with the ripples of the hot spring, interrupted Zhao Wuji's reverie.

But amidst the fragrant mist, a half-protruding lotus-root arm, adorned with water droplets, revealed itself, its fingertips forming an arc like a crescent moon.

"Come on~"

(End of this chapter)