Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 44: Soul-Searching Cultivator, Spiritual Qi Revival
Even after returning to the official residence, the cultivators' souls from the Linglang Cave Heaven had not yet dissipated.

Although this cultivator's soul strength was not as great as Zhao Wuji's, who often strengthened his soul with Yin and Yang energies, it was still much stronger than that of an ordinary martial artist, and the memories in his soul were also much clearer and richer.

With the help of the Spirit Communication Technique, Zhao Wuji finally understood that the cultivator's name was Lian Yunxuan, and he was a person from the time of the second emperor of Xuan Kingdom, Cheng Yan.

He is now over eighty years old, possesses the strength of the second level of Qi Refining, and has a crimson spiritual aptitude.

More than sixty years ago, this person was selected by the royal family and the Linglang Cave Heaven behind the Xuan Kingdom. He was chosen to enter the cave heaven to cultivate and became the lowest-ranking gray-robed cultivator.

He then relied on the scarce spiritual energy within the Linglang Cave Heaven to cultivate, and for ten years he cultivated spiritual fields and maintained spiritual arrays for the Linglang Cave Heaven day after day.

With the help of meager resources, this person cultivated to the second level of Qi Refining at an extremely slow pace. He rarely left the cave to return to the 'turbid world' along the way, and most of his memories were related to the Hengyun Mountains area of ​​the Linglang Cave.

Several days ago, Elder Yu Linzi of Linlang Cave Heaven dispatched a group of gray-robed cultivators to the battlefield of Qian Kingdom to provide assistance.

Lian Yunxuan had no choice but to follow the group out of the Linglang Cave.

However, five days ago, they suffered heavy casualties in a battle with the Yunfeng Cave Heaven cultivators behind the Qian Kingdom.

He was forced to withdraw from the battle due to his injuries and was ordered to return to the capital of Xuan Kingdom to recuperate with the help of royal resources.

On his way back, he inadvertently spotted the white fox and realized it possessed some intelligence. He then followed it and happened to catch a glimpse of Zhao Wuji riding a sword pellet in mid-air.

"This guy is too good at running into trouble. He just keeps walking right into my line of fire. Luckily, it was his own idea on the spur of the moment, and nobody knew about it."

Zhao Wuji was somewhat speechless.

Only after peering into Lian Yunxuan's memories did they learn that the other party was greatly surprised when he saw his sword pellet, mistakenly thinking that he had encountered a senior master.

Without knowing its origins, he secretly activated the talisman for defense.

Therefore, when Zhao Wuji noticed and launched an attack, this person did not hesitate to kneel down and beg for mercy.

However, sensing that the sword pellet's aura and spiritual energy were weak, suggesting it was an ordinary object, the opponent immediately activated a talisman to strike first, demonstrating their ability to be flexible, ruthless, and decisive nature.

By browsing through Lian Yunxuan's memories, Zhao Wuji realized how pathetic these cave-heaven cultivators were, and how rudimentary and low-level their techniques were.

What are these so-called Lesser Cloud Rain Technique, Fireball Technique, and Swift Movement Technique? They're not even as good as the supreme techniques recorded in the sacred artifacts of the Supreme Sect, and they're utter garbage compared to the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques.

No wonder people were amazed when they saw him wielding the sword pellet.

Unfortunately, his sword pellet was made of ordinary materials using the technique of the Sword Immortal's sword pellet, and was not a true sword technique among the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Techniques. This lowered its prestige and gave the man the courage to make a move.

"Killing this person is good, to prevent the news of the existence of the Sword-Wielding Maru near the imperial city from being reported to the royal family and the Linglang Cave Heaven, thus shrinking my living space."

Zhao Wuji thought to himself as he continued to browse and organize this person's memories, especially those related to the Linlang Cave.

These memories present clear images, allowing him to directly see the situation inside the Linglang Cave.

But then they saw that the air in that cave was filled with a thin but pure spiritual energy.

The spiritual fields stretched out like jade, and although many of the ancient mineral veins had dried up, source crystals still shimmered with faint light.

This sight ignited a burning desire in Zhao Wuji's heart. If only he could sneak in and, under the guise of mining, absorb as much as he could...

However, he soon felt depressed and resentful.

"Cultivators below the golden spiritual aptitude are required to use their own spiritual power to irrigate the spiritual fields and maintain the formations every day, which is like hard labor. It's really quite exploitative."

"However, mid-stage cultivators at the fourth level of Qi Refining, if they are women with outstanding talent, can ascend to the position of Empress and enjoy the dragon's energy, while men can become the Imperial Preceptor and wield power."

Those who remain, regardless of their qualifications, will no longer be required to perform low-level tasks and will enjoy the privileges afforded by the celestial realm.

A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator can become a Cave Heaven Elder. As for the Cave Master, he had never seen him in over sixty years of his life; he was a true Nascent Soul Realm immortal.

After browsing through the exhibits, Zhao Wuji gradually became familiar with the situation of the Linglang Cave.

"Unexpectedly, behind all the major powers, including the Xuan Kingdom's royal family, are actually immortal cultivation sects that survived from past dynasties."
In the current spiritually barren environment, these sects can only rely on the remaining spiritual energy in their grotto-heavens to maintain their lineage. Any new resources will inevitably lead to fierce competition.

It is rumored that the upcoming opening of the Tiannan Secret Realm has triggered a sudden war between the hidden geniuses behind the Qian Kingdom.

Zhao Wuji pondered the words "Tiannan Secret Realm," as he was interested in any resources related to cultivation.

"Furthermore, the Linglang Grotto-Heaven proclaims that the depletion of spiritual energy is not eternal. Just as the tides rise and fall in the ocean, spiritual energy may eventually run out, but it will also recover in the future."

"Spiritual energy is reviving."

His eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if he had lifted another layer of the veil covering the world.

If spiritual energy can be revived in the future, it will be another golden age of cultivation.

Those with the spiritual aptitude of Qingxia are undoubtedly geniuses, and their cultivation speed will be remarkable. Therefore, these cultivators in the grotto-heavens are all cultivating to prolong their lives, waiting for the day when spiritual energy recovers, and seeing who can survive until that day arrives.

However, Lian Yunxuan did not know when the spiritual energy would recover.

His previous idea of ​​trying to contact the royal family, explore the secrets of their cultivation of immortality, and become one of their own to obtain resources was correct.

The Linglang Cave Heaven contains a wealth of resources for cultivating immortality.

However, in today's resource-scarce era, it is clearly only available to a very small number of exceptionally talented or capable individuals.

Before Lian Yunxuan's memories had completely faded, Zhao Wuji quickly memorized some of the rules and scenes of the Linglang Cave.

In the end, the opponent's soul dissipated, and Zhao Wuji also felt slightly tired.

This trip was quite exciting; the fight just now had already depleted four strands of his spiritual energy.

It could even be described as extremely dangerous. Without the old fox's help, he might not have been able to easily defeat the injured Lian Yunxuan.

The main reason is that the sword pellet is a mortal object, and its Yin Wind Divine Soul spellcasting effect is not as powerful as the real person's presence.

But the gains are also huge.

He remembered the old fox who had helped him before.

"Although I am sincere, let's meet again in three days. My sword pellet also needs repair. That old fox is very strong, and he also has a magical artifact."

Zhao Wuji's soul returned to his physical body, and he quickly used a guiding technique to dissipate the soul aura of the cave cultivator, leaving no trace.

After recovering from his cultivation for a while, he picked up the pelt given to him by the white fox and examined it.

More than half an hour later, he finished reading the contents of the ancient book recorded on the fur.

The fourth set of tadpole-like characters on the first Yin Pearl has been 70% revealed, and a message has appeared: "Seventy-two Earthly Fiend Techniques: Marrying Dreams!"

"It really is this technique."

Zhao Wuji was startled, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Just as deciphering the invisibility technique requires studying the "True Teachings," completely deciphering the Dream Marriage technique also requires further study of the superficial aspects and consolidation.

This is the result of persistent effort; things will naturally fall into place.

He first put away the fur, then walked out of the cultivation room. Outside, the spring night was still lively.

Zhao Wuji took out the damaged bladed sword pellet and played with it in his hand, thinking about Lian Yunxuan's memories, and seemed to be deep in thought.

"Magic artifacts require spiritual materials and source crystals, combined with a special refining method to be crafted."

Three days passed quickly, like sand slipping through your fingers.

As the festive atmosphere of the Xuan Kingdom's New Year gradually subsided, the death of Lian Yunxuan, a cultivator from the Linlang Cave Heaven, did not cause any ripples.

Zhao Wuji observed for three days but did not hear any movement or rumors.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for the 'dead ghost' who died at his hands; the commotion after his death wasn't even as great as that of the two eunuchs.

At least after the deaths of the Imperial Prison Attendant and the head eunuch, Eunuch Lin, the Xuan Kingdom's royal family conducted a thorough investigation for six or seven days.

During the Spring Festival these past few days, the Imperial Hospital did not schedule him for consultations or duties.

Zhao Wuji was happy to have some free time. After visiting several familiar households, he stayed at home, reading books, refining elixirs, and cultivating his spiritual practice.

Over three days, he sent people to repair the bladed armor and sword pellets. Lacking spiritual materials and methods to forge magical artifacts, he could only temporarily make do with ordinary tools.

In addition, he also used the art of pill manipulation to refine an optimized version of the Bigu Pill.

One optimized Bigu Pill can replace a day without food, reducing the pollution of the spirit by impurities, and the effect is already quite good.

Long-term consumption will accelerate the recovery of depleted spiritual energy.

However, this optimized fasting pill requires ginseng and poria cocos, making it quite expensive.

On the third day, it was the time Zhao Wuji had agreed to meet with the old fox spirit.

However, at the same time, he finally figured out the handwritten copy of "Zhen Gao", which completely deciphered the invisibility technique in the first Yang Pearl and allowed him to comprehend the invisibility technique.

A flood of information about concealment of form and spirit rushed into his mind, helping him quickly master the art of invisibility.
(End of this chapter)