Gateway of Immortality

The stone hall's grand doors were tightly shut.

Embedded in the surrounding walls was a ring of Moonstones, emitting a soft, gentle glow that lit the spacious hall brightly. Cushions and other furnishings were arranged in various places throughout the hall, where several cultivators from Shangyuan Tranquility Palace were meditating in seclusion.

A few Shangyuan Tranquility Palace cultivators stood beside the teleportation array, explaining to those who had just arrived via teleportation.

"Fellow Daoists, the Spirit Tide is currently at its most violent phase. Please remain here in the hall for now. Once it subsides slightly, we will escort you to Xuanlu Stronghold."

Qin Sang had arrived with the first batch. Having experienced it once before, his condition was much better than last time. He nodded at the fellow cultivators from Shangyuan Tranquility Palace and casually found a corner where he adjusted his breathing slightly and soon recovered completely.

He still remembered how, during his previous visit, the celestial phenomena had just erupted. At that time, the great array here had shielded the entire valley. Now, however, everyone had retreated into the stone hall, proving how formidable the Spirit Tide truly was.

The stone hall trembled continuously, and the multicolored barrier on the stone doors flickered erratically, revealing just how fierce the assault outside must be.

The unknown was the most terrifying of all.

No one could see what was happening beyond the stone hall, and the barriers on the doors appeared dangerously fragile. Many began to feel uneasy and restless.

Qin Sang rose and approached a man who looked to be in charge. He was a cultivator from Shangyuan Tranquility Palace. He was dressed like a middle-aged Daoist, his face pale and clean-shaven, and his cultivation had reached the late stage of the Foundation Building Realm.

"Greetings, Senior Brother. I am Qin Sang of Shaohua Mountain," said Qin Sang.

Shaohua Mountain and Shangyuan Tranquility Palace were closely aligned, and disciples from both sects typically addressed each other as senior brothers.

The man glanced at Qin Sang, and then his expression shifted to one of sudden realization. He clasped his hands and said, "No wonder you looked familiar. It turns out to be the renowned Shadowless Sword! Greetings, Senior Brother Qin. I am Chen Kuiqing."

"I don't deserve such praise..." Qin Sang replied modestly.

But he keenly sensed a subtle change in Chen Kuiqing's gaze upon hearing his name.

Not just him—several surrounding disciples from Shangyuan Tranquility Palace reacted the same way. Among those with less composure, their expressions were even more telling.

This shift was not one of admiration or respect. Clearly, it wasn't his title as the Shadowless Sword that impressed them.

He had seen this exact look just the day before, and he had already guessed the reason.

The famed Shadowless Sword, said to be Shaohua Mountain's number one cultivator beneath the Golden Core Realm, was considered one of the most promising candidates in the Small Cold Domain to form a core.

Back then, he hadn't even reached the Fake Core Realm.

Later, at Zhitian Peak, he had risked his life to seize the rare Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris Flower, which are two precious medicinal herbs that sparked envy, jealousy, and resentment in countless others.

To outsiders, once Shadowless Sword had consumed those herbs, forming a core should have been a sure thing. Shaohua Mountain was all but guaranteed another Core Formation cultivator.

Yet two years ago, shocking news emerged from Shaohua Mountain. After taking the herbs, Shadowless Sword had failed to form his core, and the entire cultivation world erupted in disbelief.

"What a waste of heaven's gifts!"

That was the common refrain. Countless people cursed in frustration, many wishing they could've taken his place. It was said that even some Shaohua Mountain disciples shared the sentiment.

Fame was a heavy burden.

Qin Sang sighed inwardly and shook his head.

True, his performance in the Chaotic Island Waters had been impressive, but he had always kept a low profile. Neither of his two astras could be used openly, and his abilities were hardly so dazzling that they deserved such notoriety, yet somehow, his name had spread like wildfire.

He knew his limits. Back then, without relying on the ebony sword, he wasn't truly the strongest of his peers.

Even within Shaohua Mountain, there were many true disciples of Core Formation cultivators—people with abundant resources and strong backers who had no need to fight on battlefields just to climb the ranks.

This reputation had earned him the opportunity to enter Zhitian Peak but it had also placed him under a harsh spotlight. Who knew how many people were waiting to laugh at his misfortune?

Just wait until I return from Ziwei Palace. I'll make you all eat your words!Qin Sang thought darkly.

Feigning ignorance of their thoughts, he maintained a calm demeanor and asked, "Senior Brother Chen, how much longer do you think the Spirit Tide will last? If I remember correctly, there's still some distance between here and Xuanlu Stronghold. Is the road particularly dangerous?"

Even at his lowest, Qin Sang was not someone they dared mock to his face.

Chen Kuiqing and the others kept their private thoughts hidden, maintaining a front of utmost respect.

"Senior Brother Qin," Chen Kuiqing answered, "the Spirit Tide has been brewing for quite some time now, and it's relentless. Fortunately, its strength fluctuates like the tides. Roughly every few days, there is a brief lull. You'll need to seize that interval and proceed swiftly to Xuanlu Stronghold. As for safety, worry not. The Xuanlu Guards conduct regular sweeps during those lulls to eliminate Cloud Beasts, preventing any accumulation of danger. One of their patrol routes passes directly through this area. And should anything truly go wrong..."

Chen Kuiqing's tone dropped slightly as he subtly gestured toward the deeper part of the stone hall. "...Our senior uncle will intervene to protect everyone."

Qin Sang understood at once. So a Golden Core cultivator from Shangyuan Tranquility Palace was stationed here.

It made sense. This ancient teleportation array was of vital importance, so there could be no room for error.

...

After patiently waiting another two days inside the stone hall, the tremors on the stone doors had clearly begun to subside.

Upon receiving word, everyone rose and gathered before the entrance, readying themselves.

The vibrations grew weaker and weaker, and the barrier on the doors gradually stabilized. Yet Chen Kuiqing still made them wait another two hours before finally opening the gate.

"Everyone, off you go!" Chen Kuiqing said with a sly grin.

Whoosh!

As the great doors opened, a violent gust of wind rushed in. The few Foundation Building cultivators standing in front faltered, their breathing stalled, and they nearly lost their balance under the sudden onslaught.

Qin Sang was the first to leap out of the hall, and was immediately startled.

Before him lay a vast, open plain.

The deep valley he remembered was gone. Only the half-cliff behind him remained—the other half had been flattened without a trace!

What a terrifying Spirit Tide, to have even reshaped the terrain.

Bracing against the wind, Qin Sang hovered mid-air, silently surveying the land.

Aside from the unending gale, there were no signs of lightning, heavenly fire, or blizzards—the celestial phenomena he had grown used to. At first glance, this seemed far less frightening than the time when those phenomena descended.

But the truth became clear the moment he looked up.

Above, the skies were filled with shimmering, multicolored lights, shifting constantly and covering the entire sky. Only upon closer inspection did one realize—those radiant hues were the product of extremely condensed spiritual qi, reflecting like a boundless tide.

Looking farther ahead, the picture became even clearer.

Where heaven met earth, spiritual qi surged like an ocean tide—vast, endless, and majestic beyond measure.

Waves of immense qi clashed against one another, building ever higher until they merged into colossal tidal waves that rolled outward in all directions, wreaking havoc wherever they passed.

Everyone felt as though a true ocean hung above their heads, pouring down from the sky.

And as the waves roared, a deafening boom erupted, shaking the heavens and the earth. It struck the crowd like a hammer, making their hearts lurch violently.

The Spirit Tide was not only a visual spectacle, but also brought with it a terrifying oppressive force.

From the heavens to the earth, pressure pressed in from all directions. It made them feel as though they couldn't breathe.

A deep, helpless sense of weakness settled over them.

Only now did they truly understand—before the might of heaven and earth, they were but insignificant and fragile specks.