Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 68: Peak Master's Night Visit, Lonely Master (Sixth Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Inside the Imperial Observatory, Yu Linzi and Hua Qingshuang sat facing each other, sipping tea. After discussing the recruitment of immortals and the matters concerning Yunfeng Grotto, the topic turned to the events of the Mo family yesterday.

"Yesterday, the White Bone Dao cultivator, though only at the third level of Qi Refining and heavily injured, still used a blood sacrifice technique when he fled, killing several people."

Yu Linzi gently stroked his teacup, his face showing shame. "After the blood sacrifice, he fled at an extremely fast speed. By the time I arrived, it was too late to catch up with him."

Hua Qingshuang lightly brushed away the tea smoke with her slender hand and said calmly, "A mere early-stage cultivator, I can easily kill him next time I encounter him. Why did you mention him specifically? Is there perhaps another reason?"

“Indeed.” Yu Linzi’s expression suddenly turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, “I suspect that there may be a fellow Daoist with unfathomable cultivation hidden in the imperial city of Xuan Kingdom. His cultivation may have surpassed mine, and may even be no less than yours, Peak Master.”

"Hmm?" Peak Master Hua Qingshuang paused slightly in her teacup, her nonchalant expression finally turning serious. "What is the basis for this claim?"

Yu Linzi immediately recounted the death of Lian Yunxuan some time ago. He had asked the Emperor of Xuan Kingdom to use the dragon vein to track him down, but to no avail. He guessed that the man either had escaped from the territory of Xuan Kingdom or possessed a special technique of concealment.

He stroked his long beard and continued, "Last night, when the White Bone Sect cultivator was committing his crime, he was stopped by a mysterious cultivator and ended up being seriously injured and fleeing."

When I arrived at the scene, I could sense traces of a cultivator's actions, but I could not find them anywhere.

Left with no other option, they had to ask the Emperor of Xuan Kingdom to expend the power of the dragon vein to track it again, but who knew…

He shook his head and sighed, "That aura mysteriously disappeared during the tracking, just like the place where Nephew Lian was last involved in the incident."

Hua Qingshuang frowned slightly: "He is just a heretical cultivator at the early stage of Qi Refining. Since this person was able to seriously injure him, why didn't he just kill him? And how can you be so sure that his cultivation is no less than mine?"

Yu Linzi said solemnly, "This person may not want to forge a deadly feud with the White Bone Cave, so he only imposed a slight punishment. What's even stranger is..."

He lowered his voice, "His concealment skills are so superb that he was able to evade the dragon vein's tracking twice in a row, and his aura even changed."

Such cultivation level, if not from the same person as last time, must also be from the same lineage.

“There is such a possibility”

Hua Qingshuang pondered and nodded, "Since this person intervened, he clearly has some chivalrous heart. Such a master lives in seclusion in the city and does not want to show himself, presumably because he does not want to be disturbed."

“But he might have killed Nephew Lian after all.” Yu Linzi was somewhat speechless.

Which faction does this Flower Peak Master belong to? He had originally intended to use the other party's power to find this hidden, powerful cultivator.

Hua Qingshuang glanced sharply at Yu Linzi, "You saw him kill someone with your own eyes?"

Yu Linzi was speechless.

It's impossible to guarantee that. Even if the Dragon Vein had locked onto this person's aura that day, it only detected that the person had appeared at the place where Junior Nephew Lian died. As for whether he had killed someone, it was uncertain.

Hua Qingshuang slowly stood up and said, "Let's see if that person does something really serious next time he shows up."

She's not stupid. She wouldn't risk offending a potentially powerful reclusive cultivator based on just a few words from Yu Linzi, and then fight to the death for a few worthless people.

The regent guarding the imperial city of Xuan Kingdom is Yu Linzi, not her.

Watching Hua Qingshuang's departing figure, Yu Linzi couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly, his desire to investigate gradually fading away.

Although Lian Yunxuan is dead, he was ultimately just a mediocre gray-robed disciple. Why would he offend a potentially powerful fellow Daoist for this?

Why bother? The path of cultivation is about self-preservation. His previous stubbornness was nothing more than anger caused by the loss of his dignity.

"This fellow Daoist is quite prudent in his actions. He is hiding and avoiding me, which I suppose is also out of consideration for me."

Yu Linzi muttered to himself, "Perhaps it was Nephew Lian who offended them, which is why it might have been that old fox who did it."

Thinking of this, he felt relieved, and the pent-up frustration of the past few days dissipated with the wind.

If you can't figure something out, try looking at it from a different perspective, and then you'll understand.

Inside the Zhao family mansion, while the young apprentice Xiaoyue and the others were still in a daze, they saw the star officials from the Imperial Observatory personally escorting their master back.

Behind him followed a group of servants from the Imperial Observatory, busy decorating with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating the impression of a joyous occasion.

Xiaoyue and the others looked at each other in bewilderment until Star Official Li Nianwei, still somewhat dazed and shocked, began to recount her story, at which point they snapped out of their daze.

"My lord... has been recruited as a celestial being!"

"Still top-quality!"

The servants in the mansion were silent for a moment, then erupted in uproar.

Even if they were unfamiliar with the affairs of the cultivation world, they still knew what "superior" meant.

Not to mention that anyone with a celestial seed is completely different from ordinary mortals, so everyone couldn't help but rejoice and celebrate. Zhao Wuji looked at the lively scene inside and outside the mansion, with neighbors coming to congratulate him and some even bringing gifts, and he felt a mix of emotions.

Having always been low-key, he was quite unaccustomed to being so high-profile all of a sudden, but he found it rather exhilarating.

But after the initial excitement, looking at the bustling scene around him, he seemed somewhat bored.

It seems he still prefers quiet. He can watch the excitement, but ultimately he still needs to return to quiet cultivation. There's a saying that goes, "A master is lonely."

But today was different, and he allowed his servants to organize the celebration.

When a child born into a wealthy and powerful family is born with extraordinary talent, they often hold a grand banquet for three days and three nights, celebrating without end.

The current liveliness in the mansion is nothing out of the ordinary.

"The key to cultivating immortality lies in perseverance and maintaining inner peace. Although I can now live openly and proudly, I must guard against arrogance and impatience; cultivation is the foundation."

Zhao Wuji reflected on his own actions, went into the room alone, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and carefully listed the necessary materials for the Dragon Tiger Pill given to him by Tao Fei on Xuan paper.

I plan to go directly to the Imperial Observatory and the Imperial Medical Academy tomorrow to inquire further.

Now that he has become a celestial being, shouldn't he be able to access some forbidden spiritual materials controlled by the royal family?

As Zhao Wuji pondered this, the door to the alchemy room opened and closed again, and he had already entered the cultivation room.

The noise from the outside world seemed to be shut out by an invisible barrier, leaving only a quiet room.

The excitement is for others to see; spiritual cultivation is for oneself.

The current top-grade golden light spiritual essence can last for at least two and a half months.

If I drink another two catties of Jinzun wine, I can last until the height of summer without any problem.

With such talent, and combined with his minor mastery of guiding techniques, he can now condense two streams of spiritual energy in a single day.

At this rate, it will take at most a month and a half to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

However, while one can display one's spiritual talent, one's true cultivation level must be put on hold for now.

Fortunately, with superior spiritual resources as cover, even if I reached the third level of Qi Refining within a year of entering the cave, it would not arouse suspicion.

"The difference between the middle stage and the early stage of Qi Refining is quite significant. After entering the middle stage, the difficulty of cultivation should increase considerably."

As Zhao Wuji focused his inner energy, he couldn't help but think of Nan Zhixia.

He was still unaware of his fiancée's spiritual qualities.

However, given that she is a candidate for Holy Maiden of the Supreme Sect, her spiritual talent should be of a high level, or even higher.

If Nan Zhixia had already used a sacred artifact to examine his aptitude last time, she would probably be surprised and uncertain upon hearing the news of the Golden Light Spiritual Talent from the Imperial Observatory today.

However, he wasn't too worried.

The sobering stone temporarily enhanced his spiritual qualities.

Nan Zhixia always thought of his good points. Before leaving, she even helped him go deep into the rime cave to collect herbs. In addition, given his own exceptional talent, he wouldn't be foolish enough to be affected by a sobering stone. They could share it together in the future.

not to mention.
Now that his strength has grown and he has powerful backers with intertwined interests, he has the confidence to protect the treasure.

As his thoughts gradually settled, Zhao Wuji entered a state of clarity.

As the night deepened and the hustle and bustle of the outer courtyard subsided, he had already guided the Yin and Yang energies, condensing two streams of spiritual power, and his cultivation level had quietly risen to the third level of Qi Induction (12/100).

He opened his eyes, exhaled, and was about to get up when suddenly his spiritual sense, guided by the earth's veins, sensed something and he was startled.

He quickly channeled the abundant spiritual energy in his dantian into the Nine Yin Nine Yang Pearl.

A moment later, a clear, ethereal voice pierced the silence of the training room, like snow falling into a cold pool:

"Wuji. I apologize for disturbing your cultivation by visiting at night."

The voice carried a hint of surprised approval, "It's rare that you haven't been swayed by superficiality, haven't followed the crowd in celebration, but instead have chosen to quietly cultivate yourself."

Under the moonlight outside the window, a tall and graceful figure appeared. "Such a temperament is rare."

The candlelight flickered inside the room, and Zhao Wuji was surprised.

Unexpectedly, Peak Master Hua visited him late at night, which was clearly not just to praise his attitude towards cultivation.
(End of this chapter)