Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 439: Light Band

Vice Island Master Xiao’s figure flickered rapidly as he departed without hesitation.

Streaks of evasion light swept across the sky above them, following Vice Island Master Xiao as he headed south.

Qin Sang keenly sensed that some of the gazes directed toward him carried a sense of shared helplessness, indicating that he was far from the only one forcibly conscripted by Vice Island Master Xiao.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Mu!"

Someone flew out of the group on their sword and landed in front of them.

"Junior Brother Zhan!"

Mu Yifeng recognized the newcomer and introduced them to the others.

It turned out that he was a fellow junior brother from the same sect.

"Junior Brother Qin, this is Junior Brother Zhan Yi. He is a direct disciple of Senior Uncle Che and is highly valued by him, often stationed at Stargazing Island to carry out tasks. And this is Junior Brother Qin Sang, Junior Brother Xie, and Junior Brother Mao... Junior Brother Zhan, is Senior Uncle Che not here?"

Zhan Yi shook his head. "Master is in the east, just like Senior Xiao, gathering people. The situation arose suddenly, and the island lacks manpower, so they had no choice but to conscript disciples from various sects who were traveling nearby."

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang sighed inwardly. It seemed that escape was truly impossible—no matter which direction he chose, he would not be able to avoid being drafted.

Mu Yifeng hesitated before saying, "Junior Brother Qin is here on Senior Uncle Qi Yuanshou’s orders, overseeing our sect’s herb garden. He has an urgent mission and must return to report. Is there any way to accommodate this?"

Zhan Yi glanced at Qin Sang with an apologetic look and sighed lightly. "I'm afraid not. The conscription order was issued personally by the Island Master, and no one is allowed to disobey. Even if Senior Uncle Qi himself were to come, he would likely be unable to extricate himself once intercepted. Senior Brother Mu, having just returned from the battlefield and still recovering from serious injuries, can be granted an exception and return to Stargazing Island to recuperate. However, Senior Brother Qin and the others must make this trip."

"Uhh..."

"Forget it."

Qin Sang shook his head, stopping Mu Yifeng from pleading further. "Let’s not make things difficult for Junior Brother Zhan. We’ll make the trip as required. As for the other junior nephews, I leave them in Senior Brother Mu’s care."

Mu Yifeng had exhausted his options and could only say, "The battlefield is chaotic, far more dangerous than ordinary combat. Junior Brother Qin, you must not be careless. If anything happens, discuss it with Junior Brother Zhan."

Zhan Yi cupped his hands and assured them, "Rest easy, Senior Brothers. If it is within my ability, I will certainly assist. Besides, our primary goal this time is to rescue Senior Fang and the others. There may not even be a full-scale battle. The island master has personally gone ahead, and our masters are simply taking precautions. There is no need to worry too much."

Mu Yifeng led the Qi Refining disciples back to Stargazing Island, while Qin Sang and the other two had no choice but to follow orders and accompany Vice Island Master Xiao southward.

Along the way, Qin Sang inquired about Vice Island Master Xiao’s background from Zhan Yi.

It turned out that this man was not from any of the major sects but was instead the disciple of the city lord of Yinshan Stronghold. His cultivation had already reached the late stage of the Golden Core Realm, making him highly esteemed on Stargazing Island—second only to the island master himself.

Qin Sang inwardly murmured, "No wonder." Before Vice Island Master Xiao, he hadn't even entertained the thought of resisting. The oppressive aura emanating from him was more terrifying than that of any other Core Formation cultivator Qin Sang had ever encountered.

Just moments ago, Vice Island Master Xiao had casually condensed a water dragon, effortlessly breaking through the Nether Cloud and sealing everyone in place.

They had no power to resist!

If every Core Formation cultivator was this terrifying, Qin Sang dared not harbor any thoughts about that Kuiyin Sect's Golden Core cultivator anymore.

So he was actually a late-stage Golden Core expert.

Fortunately! Fortunately!

Qin Sang sighed in relief and then turned to ask Zhan Yi about the changing situation.

Unfortunately, Zhan Yi knew little.

As they traveled at full speed, more and more cultivators were conscripted—every Foundation Building cultivator they encountered was drafted without exception.

Their ranks steadily grew, and along the way, they ran into two fellow disciples from Shaohua Mountain.

In such circumstances, sect affiliations became an advantage. They naturally grouped together, later joining forces with fellow cultivators from the Taiyi Core Sect and the Shangyuan Tranquility Palace.

Most others were in a similar predicament, seeking allies for mutual support.

After a long detour, they eventually returned to the Chaotic Island Waters.

Qin Sang couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

By now, the Chaotic Island Waters no longer had its previous desolate appearance. More than a hundred Foundation Building Realm cultivators had gathered there, standing in scattered groups, each occupying a small island, unable to focus on cultivation.

As they arrived, dozens of streaks of evasion light approached from the east.

When the two sides met, Qin Sang noticed that the leader of the newcomers had a Red Dust Gourd hanging from his waist—it was none other than his long-lost Senior Uncle Che Yutao.

After so many years, Che Yutao still gave Qin Sang the same deep and inscrutable impression.

With such a large gap in cultivation levels, unless Che Yutao actively revealed his strength, Qin Sang had no way of discerning his true realm.

"You are to await orders here!"

Vice Island Master Xiao’s voice rang in their ears. Qin Sang looked around and realized that Vice Island Master Xiao had already vanished. Turning to Che Yutao, he found that, at some point, he too had disappeared.

Knowing that they had already rushed to the frontlines, Qin Sang silently prayed that the Tianxing Alliance would have the sense to restrain themselves, stopping before things spiraled out of control.

He gathered with his fellow sect members on a small island.

Having spent little time in his sect, Qin Sang was unfamiliar with most of them. After Zhan Yi introduced them to one another and they became acquainted, they began discussing how to form battle arrays and fight the enemy once the conflict unfolded.

More than ten disciples from Shaohua Mountain had been caught up in this crisis, among whom was a Fake Core Realm expert named Teng Zhaogang.

With Teng Zhaogang present, the previously uneasy Xie Ying and the others finally found someone to rely on.

Qin Sang was also relieved to have someone take charge and immediately decided to follow Teng Zhaogang’s lead, obeying his every command.

However, in secret, he was already contemplating a strategy for survival.

Once the battle began, if the Tianxing Alliance was at a disadvantage, he could use the unpredictable nature of his ebony sword to strike from the shadows and earn himself some merit.

As long as he seized the right moment, he could land a successful blow and immediately retract the ebony sword.

If it turned out that none of the factions could hold their ground, then he would act inconspicuously, waiting for an opportunity to slip away.

Having spent years honing his skills outside, Qin Sang was confident in his ability to assess the battlefield. He constantly reminded himself not to be greedy for credit or get entangled in unnecessary fights. As long as he exercised caution, his life should not be in danger.

What he feared most was getting caught in a chaotic melee, inadvertently swept up in a clash between Core Formation cultivators.

If that happened, there would be no time to think—he would have to flee immediately.

Situated in the Chaotic Island Waters, they had no view of the battlefield and no idea when the Core Formation experts' battle would conclude or what the ultimate outcome would be. All they could do was wait anxiously.

Yet, in this tense atmosphere, Qin Sang sat cross-legged on the ground, entering a meditative state to adjust his condition and prepare for the inevitable upheaval.

Time crept by, and soon, night had fallen.

A crescent moon hung high in the sky, and the stars stretched out in a dazzling river of light.

The surroundings remained eerily calm. Only the restless waves under the starlit sky shimmered with flickering reflections, mirroring the unease in everyone's hearts.

Suddenly, a sharp whooshing sound tore through the night, coming from the distant frontlines.

In an instant, the Chaotic Island Waters erupted into chaos.

"They're here!"

"Form the array!"

Someone shouted.

One after another, streaks of evasion light illuminated the islands as cultivators scrambled into formation. Qin Sang's eyes snapped open, and he gripped the Cold Gold Sword and Yin-Yang Luopan tightly in his hands.

Following their agreed-upon battle formation, he dashed to Teng Zhaogang’s side, standing alongside Zhan Yi as his left and right flanks.

At the same time, cultivators from the Taiyi Core Sect and Shangyuan Tranquility Palace moved closer, preparing to coordinate their defenses.

Everyone’s nerves stretched taut.

Above this desolate stretch of islands, a brilliant light band ignited the sky, radiating no less than the starry river itself.

Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only