Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 367: Entering the Valley

After making the introductions, the shop manager took his leave. "Daoist Kong is very familiar with Endless Valley. If you have any requests, feel free to ask him. I won’t disturb you three any further."

The three of them stepped into the wooden hut one after another.

Inside the room, there was no one else.

Kong Xin got straight to the point, skipping any idle chatter. "Please, have a seat. Earlier, the senior sent me a message asking if I knew of a place where Huanglong Grass grows. So, you two plan to enter the valley to collect Huanglong Grass? Do you have any other purposes?"

Wandering Man let out a hum and asked in return, "Daoist Kong, do you truly know where Huanglong Grass grows?"

Kong Xin admitted without hesitation, "That's right. I do know of a place where Huanglong Grass grows."

"However, I must warn you in advance, the place is not safe. It was already quite dangerous before, but after the recent beast tide, a flock of Tiger-Winged Eagles suddenly appeared and made a nearby rocky hill their nest."

"Among them are more than a dozen beasts in the Demonic Spirit Realm. They are extremely territorial and restless. What makes them even more troublesome is their demonic eyes, which can see through invisibility. Ordinary immortal cultivators would find it difficult to hide from them."

"Attempting to harvest Huanglong Grass means running the risk of being discovered by these creatures."

"I make a living through hard work and have no intention of throwing my life away. I can only lead you to a safe area within the depths of Endless Valley. From there, you'll have to proceed on your own. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you."

"You may ask around—every other guide follows the same approach."

Wandering Man frowned. "If you don’t wish to lead the way, that’s fine. But at the very least, you should explain the terrain and the route clearly to us, shouldn’t you?"

Kong Xin nodded. "Of course."

For Qin Sang and Wandering Man, Huanglong Grass was merely an excuse. They didn’t particularly care if they could collect it or not. Since getting information about the location meant they were already close to reaching the second zone, they agreed to join Kong Xin’s group. freewёbnoνel.com

Kong Xin, having gained two more clients, beamed with joy.

Unfortunately, his face was so unnaturally pale that, combined with his smile, it made him look even more eerie.

"There are still three more Daoists arriving tomorrow morning. You two might as well stay at my humble abode to rest and recuperate for the night. We’ll set off in the morning. Also, before entering Endless Valley, you’ll need to prepare some supplementary items. I’ll make a list for you. Better to be fully equipped than to fail halfway."

Qin Sang and Wandering Man had no objections.

Kong Xin, having spent years navigating Endless Valley, knew its conditions better than Wandering Man. The list of supplies he provided was exceptionally detailed, with each item clearly labeled with its intended use.

The total cost wasn’t high, so they purchased everything as a precaution.

Just as they were about to return to the wooden hut, Wandering Man suddenly sent a voice transmission, "Brother Qin, what do you think of this Kong Xin?"

Qin Sang paused mid-step, glanced at Wandering Man, and asked, "Senior, what do you mean?"

"His complexion is unnaturally pale—it’s likely a side effect of his cultivation art," Wandering Man mused, "I don’t sense any demonic qi or blood qi from him, so I can’t tell what kind of art he practices. For it to have such a visible impact on his body, it’s probably some kind of demonic art."

"This is Endless Valley. It wouldn’t be surprising if Kong Xin is a demonic cultivator," Qin Sang remarked, "I don’t sense any bloodthirsty qi from him, and he appears to be in full control of his faculties. Since you mentioned that Tianfeng Tower has a solid reputation, and the manager was willing to vouch for him, at least on the surface, he isn’t some reckless madman."

Recalling his own Spirit Evasion Art, Qin Sang pondered for a moment before adding, "Of course, it’s also possible that he’s just extremely good at hiding it. As long as we keep an eye on him and act first at the slightest sign of trouble, there’s nothing to worry about."

Wandering Man grunted in agreement. "You're right. If he behaves and leads the way properly, all is well. But if he dares to play any tricks, we’ll make sure he learns a lesson he’ll never forget."

They waited another night in the market.

The next morning, everyone had arrived.

Apart from Qin Sang, Wandering Man, and Kong Xin, there were four more people—three men and one woman.

The first to arrive was the woman. She wore a crimson robe and a veil that concealed her face, but her figure was striking. Her demeanor was cold and distant.

The second was a cultured-looking middle-aged man who, upon joining the group, took the initiative to introduce himself as Bao.

Both of them were Foundation Building cultivators.

The last two to arrive were an old man and a young disciple—a master and a disciple. The elder was in the early stage of the Foundation Building Realm, while the disciple’s cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Realm.

Aside from the Bao-surnamed man, the others showed no interest in getting to know each other. They had merely gathered under Kong Xin’s lead and would part ways upon reaching their destination.

Kong Xin stood up and said, "Fellow Daoists, now that everyone is here, let’s set off."

The woman in red had already grown impatient from waiting. She shot an annoyed glance at the master-disciple pair and, with a sharp tone, questioned, "Why is there a Qi Refining Realm cultivator among us? If his weak cultivation attracts trouble, are we supposed to clean up after him?"

The disciple’s face flushed red with embarrassment.

The old man placed a restraining hand on his student’s shoulder and chuckled. "Rest assured, Daoist. My disciple and I are merely here to search for a spiritual herb to cure an illness. We have no intention of venturing deep into Endless Valley and won’t be a burden to you all."

The woman in red snorted but said nothing more.

Seeing the situation settle, Kong Xin let out a quiet sigh of relief and quickly urged everyone to move.

The marketplace was not far from Endless Valley. The group traveled on their flying artifacts, and within an hour, they arrived at the valley’s edge.

There, a towering wall of blood-colored mist stood before them. This blood miasma was thick and viscous, undulating like a flowing liquid.

As soon as he stopped before the miasma, Qin Sang caught a whiff of an overwhelming metallic stench. Almost instantly, he felt a slight dizziness creep over him, a testament to the miasma’s potent toxicity. Without hesitation, he channeled his spiritual power, forming a protective barrier around himself to keep the blood miasma at bay.

Yet, just as deadly as its poison was the piercing cold that radiated from within the mist.

The young disciple, shivering uncontrollably, turned nearly as pale as Kong Xin. He hugged himself tightly, pressing close to his master in a futile attempt to keep warm.

Kong Xin glanced at the disciple and said, "Now would be a good time to bring out your protective artifacts. Once we enter the blood miasma, do not stop channeling them under any circumstances."

Qin Sang and Wandering Man each retrieved a jade pendant, holding it in their palms.

Upon activation, the Demonic Qingyang Fire within the pendants surged forth, rapidly forming a layer of azure flames around their bodies.

A sizzling sound echoed through the air as the flames burned away the encroaching blood miasma, instantly dispelling the bone-chilling cold.

Though it was a type of demonic fire, it carried an aura of pure yang energy—unyielding and fierce—an oddity that drew murmurs of intrigue.

It was likely that this aura originated from the Divine Qingyang Gale.

The others also activated their own defensive measures.

The woman in red summoned a crimson cloth that surged with radiant light, enveloping her entire form.

Bao and the master-disciple pair also used artifacts imbued with the Demonic Qingyang Fire, though theirs were of noticeably lower quality compared to Qin Sang’s jade pendant.

The most peculiar among them, however, was Kong Xin.

In his palm, he held a pill the size of a dragon’s eye, its surface glowing a deep crimson. Flames roared atop it as if they would never be extinguished.

From the pill, a dense wave of demonic qi emanated, thick and oppressive.