Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 263: Pointing the Way

Di Que was still alive.

Qin Sang could only remain hidden in the shadows, not daring to reveal himself.

If he didn’t want to be trapped in the volcano, jumping into the lava was not a viable option. The chances of finding an escape route before his spiritual power was depleted were slim, not to mention the unknown dangers lurking within the lava.

Even if he found a way out, the true location of the ancient cultivator's dwelling was unclear. What kind of environment lay beyond the volcano? If he were unfortunate enough to stumble into the depths of the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, surrounded by spatial rifts, it would spell certain doom.

Even if he managed to escape alive, he would become a fugitive, hounded by Di Que. He might have to flee into the demonic domain or even leave the Small Cold Domain entirely to find safety.

And even if he escaped unscathed, without the support of a sect, how much hope did he have of reaching the peak of the Foundation Building Realm, gathering resources for Core Formation, and breaking through to the next realm?

The solution was simple: eliminate Di Que.

Once Di Que and Daoist Master Xuanyu were both gone, Senior Uncle Che and the others would surely come up the mountain to investigate. Qin Sang could simply wait by the volcano’s mouth and fabricate a plausible explanation.

Most importantly, he wouldn’t need to worry about the Jade Buddha being exposed.

Thus, Qin Sang made his move.

Of course, he didn’t have the luxury to deliberate this thoroughly.

Daoist Master Xuanyu’s overdrawn Golden Core's power wouldn’t last long and was rapidly diminishing. If Qin Sang didn’t act quickly, once the Golden Core’s power weakened further, it would cease to pose a lethal threat to Di Que.

At that point, even an injured Di Que would be far beyond Qin Sang’s ability to contend with.

When the opportunity arose, hesitation was not an option; failure to act decisively would only lead to future regrets.

Daoist Master Xuanyu might not be able to locate Di Que, but Qin Sang could assist him. With Daoist Master Xuanyu’s desperate final strike and the countless Firebirds swarming the area, there would be no better opportunity than now!

Qin Sang weighed the risks and rewards, saw a glimmer of success, and instantly decided to act.

He had prepared for such a moment, holding the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions in hand for self-defense. The banner unfurled abruptly, draining every refined soul within it, including the primary soul, in an instant.

All the soul power transformed into Ghostly Threads, and ghostly flames flared fiercely. Countless Ghostly Threads, resembling strands of hair from malevolent spirits in hell, surged toward the Firebird that Di Que had transformed into.

The fully powered Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, formed by six banners, was more potent than a talisman astra. However, the gap in strength between Qin Sang and Di Que was vast, and no collection of artifacts could bridge it.

Fortunately, Qin Sang didn’t expect the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions to injure Di Que. All he needed was to guide Daoist Master Xuanyu in the right direction.

The sudden appearance of the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions caught Di Que completely off guard. His attention was wholly focused on Daoist Master Xuanyu, and in his Firebird disguise, he couldn’t use spiritual power or spiritual consciousness, making his movements far less agile than before. By the time he noticed the Ghostly Threads, it was too late.

Whoosh!

The Ghostly Threads swept forward and instantly enveloped Di Que, burning his primordial spirit.

"The Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions!"

Di Que immediately recognized the signature artifact of the Kuiyin Sect. Realizing Qin Sang was behind the attack, his shock turned to fury. The ant he could have crushed with a single hand had not only survived but had also lain in wait, striking at the perfect moment!

As the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions appeared, the swarms of Firebirds circling nearby were startled by its energy fluctuations. They instantly descended into a frenzy, their cries growing sharp and ear-piercing.

And there were so many Firebirds.

Qin Sang’s ears were filled with the shrill cries of the Firebirds, a cacophony so intense that his ears buzzed incessantly. If not for the Jade Buddha’s protection, his primordial spirit would have been shattered in an instant.

Di Que, at the center of the Firebirds' cries, bore the brunt of the onslaught. Though his primordial spirit was powerful, even he couldn’t completely ignore the impact. The flames surrounding his body fluctuated violently, faintly revealing the outline of his physical form.

Once he began defending himself, there would be no turning back. More and more Firebirds were being roused, swarming in to surround him completely.

Feeling the sonic waves growing stronger with terrifying intensity, Di Que sensed his primordial spirit wavering, teetering on the edge of collapse. His heart surged with dread.

To make matters worse, Daoist Master Xuanyu, from outside, noticed the commotion. The Heavenly Blade Talisman shifted direction and locked onto Di Que, flashing toward him with lethal precision.

Daoist Master Xuanyu, fully resigned to death, cared not whether the path ahead was a dead end.

"Courting death!"

Di Que’s hatred for Qin Sang surged to an uncontainable level. In this perilous moment, knowing there was no retreat, he turned and unleashed a burst of spiritual power, aiming to kill Qin Sang first!

Qin Sang’s heart sank. Without hesitation, he tapped his Corpse Puppet Pouch, releasing both a malevolent corpse and a zombie. The zombie was instantly obliterated by the spiritual power, and though the two malevolent corpses joined forces, they managed to hold out for only a fleeting moment.

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Next, several streaks of light shot out from Qin Sang’s Mustard Seed Pouch, a collection of protective artifacts he had amassed over the years.

Each artifact was formidable in its own right, but they too were destroyed as effortlessly as dry twigs.

Qin Sang remained remarkably composed, his peripheral vision closely monitoring the chaotic surroundings.

The Firebirds also noticed his presence. Waves of fiery whirlwinds swept toward him. Instead of evading, Qin Sang shielded his vital points and intentionally met one of the flames head-on. Agonizing pain wracked his body, leaving him severely injured, but the powerful impact allowed him to evade Di Que’s attack.

The spiritual power strike grazed Qin Sang’s back, ripping away a large section of flesh and exposing bone beneath.

Gasping in pain from his mounting injuries, Qin Sang’s vision was suddenly filled with a blinding white light. The Firebirds were engulfed by the light, their screeches now tinged with panic.

Amid their cries, the furious shouts of Daoist Master Xuanyu and Di Que’s manic roars echoed through the chaos.

It worked!

Delighted, Qin Sang ignored his searing pain and quickly retracted the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions. In a final bold move, he gathered the remaining Ghostly Threads and made a quick grab at the heart of the white light before retreating at full speed.

His body was a wreck, not a single piece of intact flesh remaining.

Either the Firebirds’ fiery tornado or Di Que’s strike alone could have easily killed him.

Recalling the perilous situation he had just survived, Qin Sang felt a lingering fear. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and hurriedly swallowed one of Di Que’s healing pills. Wiping away the stench of blood from his body, he concealed himself once more.

Upon retrieving the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions, Qin Sang noticed it had captured none other than Di Que’s Mustard Seed Pouch. His heart leaped with joy—this gamble hadn’t been in vain. The loss of the refined corpses and artifacts was well worth it!

The Mustard Seed Pouch was sealed by Di Que’s barriers. However, with Di Que now dead, it had become an unowned object. More importantly, Qin Sang recognized that the barriers were constructed using the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound.

Thanks to Di Que’s relentless pursuits, Qin Sang’s expertise in barrier techniques had advanced significantly. Moreover, he was exceptionally familiar with the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound. With some effort, he believed he could dismantle the barriers.

Suppressing his excitement, Qin Sang stored the Mustard Seed Pouch and cautiously surveyed the battlefield. A flash of white light burst from the cluster of Firebirds. To his surprise, Daoist Master Xuanyu was still alive.

The dimming white light revealed a tattered talisman and a Golden Core, riddled with cracks.

Crack!

The Golden Core and talisman shattered simultaneously, disintegrating into specks of light that scattered into nothingness.

Daoist Master Xuanyu’s primordial spirit emerged, now so ethereal it seemed on the verge of vanishing.