Gateway of Immortality

Apart from that, there was nothing unusual in the courtyard.

No traces of spiritual arrays remained, nor was there any hint of the ever-present peril of ancient barriers. Not even a single shadow of an ancient beast could be seen. It looked no different from an ordinary mortal courtyard, yet it existed within the mysterious Ziwei Palace.

Qin Sang and the others were all filled with doubt, but seeing how aloof Chenyan remained, none of them dared speak rashly. They had no choice but to bury their questions deep in their hearts.

Just then, a streak of light suddenly flew into the courtyard. Chenyan caught it in her palm and took a glance. Her lips moved slightly as she murmured something, then flipped her hand and sent the light back the way it came.

They waited for nearly a quarter of an hour before a white streak of light approached.

It was Dongyang Bo. Senior Uncle Fengming and Iron Crown had already vanished without a trace. It seemed they had each gone off on their own to search for treasure.

Once Qin Sang and the others stepped forward to greet him, Dongyang Bo waved his hand, signaling them to retreat to the side.

"Lady Chenyan is indeed protective of the younger generation," Dongyang Bo said with a smile, eyes resting on the backs of Qin Sang and his companions, "It's thanks to your unwavering care that the five of them were brought here intact."

Chenyan let out a cold snort. "Daoist, you said so yourself, without them wielding the five-elemental beast seal during the trial through the celestial array at the heavenly mountain, we'd have no chance of breaking through. Naturally, I had to ensure their safety. What exactly do you mean by these words?"

Dongyang Bo quickly waved his hands. "Please don't overthink it, Lady Chenyan. I was merely making an idle remark... Oh, by the way, earlier when the Spiritual Infant cultivators from both regions gathered to deliberate, many Daoists learned that Shaohua Mountain had gained another Spiritual Infant expert. They were eager to meet you. I've helped you avoid the encounter for now but this isn't a long-term solution. We can't delay it forever."

Chenyan considered for a moment. "Let's speak of such matters after we've left Ziwei Palace. Will the Sin Abyss's sudden ambush affect our entry into the heavenly mountain?"

"Not at all!" Dongyang Bo shook his head confidently. "An opportunity like this only comes once in several centuries. Now that we're already here, how could we leave without trying? After leaving Ziwei Palace, the two regions will surely set aside their grievances and join forces against the enemy. The details can be discussed after we're out. However..."

Dongyang Bo's tone suddenly shifted, and he chuckled. "This ambush from the Sin Abyss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for us. That old bastard self-detonated his life-bound astra, and the other Tianxing Alliance cultivators were either killed or badly wounded. I doubt any of them are in the mood to compete. With more than half of our strongest rivals eliminated, our chances are all the better. When the time comes, we'll be counting on you."

Chenyan said gravely, "As long as you keep your promise and help me rescue my master, I'll hold true to our agreement. I've already sworn an oath, you needn't worry."

"I trust that Lady Chenyan is a woman of her word!" Dongyang Bo clapped his hands and laughed, then looked up at the vast sea of clouds. "We've already lost too much time. We still have to pass several checkpoints in the outer halls before reaching the inner palace. Even with the two of us working together, bringing these five along means we must remain extra cautious. If anything unexpected happens, we won't be able to find another batch of Foundation Building cultivators in Ziwei Palace."

Qin Sang and the others stood silently at the edge of the courtyard, not daring to eavesdrop on the two grandmasters' conversation.

After a while, Dongyang Bo beckoned them over, and they quickly stepped forward.

Dongyang Bo said, "To save time, Lady Chenyan and I will take you directly to the inner palace. If we encounter danger along the way, just use the five-elemental beast seal for protection and follow our orders without question..."

Naturally, Qin Sang and the others had no objection. They firmly committed Dongyang Bo's instructions to memory before setting off.

Dongyang Bo took the lead, with Qin Sang and the other five maintaining their formation in the center, and Chenyan bringing up the rear.

The seven of them rose into the air, flying straight toward the depths of Ziwei Palace. For the sake of the five younger cultivators, their speed remained moderate.

Above them hung a dense layer of clouds, and the sky was filled with chaotic streams of energy. They flew only slightly higher than the ancient trees below, allowing for a broader view.

Looking far into the distance, they saw hundreds, perhaps thousands, of similar courtyards and palaces arranged in neat rows. The sight was overwhelming.

Most of them had collapsed and decayed, abandoned like the one they had just left.

But some palaces remained intact, even radiating the glow of ancient barriers.

Scattered across the landscape were towering pillars of light in varying colors, clearly marking extraordinary locations.

Surrounding the palace complexes were steep mountains that blocked the view completely. What lay beyond was anyone's guess.

Qin Sang also noticed something strange.

So many had entered Ziwei Palace, yet hardly anyone dared to fly in the open air. Qin Sang only spotted a few scattered silhouettes in the sky.

He quietly glanced at the protective shield around them. The turbulent currents outside crashed against the barrier but were easily repelled.

It seemed these currents were far more dangerous than they appeared.

Dongyang Bo's goal was clear. He headed straight for the tallest peak nestled deep within the palace complex.

This mountain was unlike the others. It was barren and lifeless, with not a blade of grass in sight. Jagged rocks lay scattered everywhere, as if the entire mountain had been piled together with stone. Sheer cliffs loomed on all sides, rising straight up like knife edges.

Perched on those boulders were several dark figures. They were still far off, too distant to see clearly.

Yet those shadows seemed alive. Qin Sang couldn't help but glance at them a few more times.

Layer upon layer of jagged rocks formed steps like those of a pyramid, and near the summit stood a simple yet imposing stone hall built entirely from massive slabs, conspicuous against the barren landscape.

It was the only sign of human construction across all the surrounding peaks. The other mountains bore only dense, flourishing ancient trees.

Are we heading into that ancient hall?Qin Sang wondered silently as he withdrew his gaze and looked down below.

Along the way, he had seen numerous figures darting between the ruins. Though they dared not fly, they moved swiftly. Some rushed toward the intact palaces, but the majority, like them, had their sights set on the stone hall atop the rocky mountain.

Their path remained clear, and they soon arrived at the base of the mountain.

Only then did Qin Sang see clearly what those dark figures were—each one a demonic beast resembling a bald vulture.

These creatures didn't seem particularly powerful, but their numbers were staggering.

From the foot of the mountain to its peak, every single boulder had one perched on it. There must have been hundreds of thousands, densely packed and overwhelming, enough to make one's scalp go numb.

Qin Sang couldn't help but recall the hive of Blood-Winged Ghost-Headed Wasps he'd seen in Endless Valley.

This mountain was clearly a nest of demonic beasts, and these vulture-like creatures were far more formidable than the Blood-Winged Ghost-Headed Wasps.

Because they had been delayed earlier, they weren't the first to arrive.

By now, others were already beginning their ascent.

Each of them relied on different methods. Most used some form of concealment to mask their presence and aura, trying to slip past the beasts undetected.

One Golden Core cultivator held a black gourd that released foul-smelling black smoke. The stench it emitted caused the vulture-like beasts to perceive him as one of their own.

Just as Qin Sang was wondering what method Dongyang Bo might employ, a sudden voice rang in his ears. "Up the mountain!"

The next moment, Dongyang Bo casually waved his hand and unleashed a sword strike.

The sword qi arced like a rainbow, cleaving through every demonic beast in their path, carving a clear road up the mountain.