Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 893: Gathering

The Cloud-Mist Boat halted abruptly as the cultivators ahead flew up to offer their greetings.

"Daoist Qi, Daoist Hu..." Abbot Lu returned each greeting in turn, not the least bit arrogant despite his cultivation and influence. He treated everyone the same, even those from small sects.

"Daoist Moyu has also arrived early..." Abbot Lu clasped hands toward a scholar and then looked curiously at the person beside him. "And this Daoist is?"

"My Dharma name is Ming Yue. I am not a cultivator of Landou Island. I was merely passing through and happened to hear Daoist Moyu speak of the grand Dongming Island Dharma Assembly. My heart was filled with longing, so I came especially to observe. Daoist Lu, surely you do not mean to drive me away..."

This was Qin Sang in disguise. He knew that a mask could not hide him from the eyes of the Golden Core cultivators present, yet he showed no unease at all.

He had released his external incarnation to blend into Landou Sect while his true body searched for opportunities. At last, he befriended someone with good ties to Landou Island, Daoist Moyu, master of Moyun Mountain.

Qin Sang had been sincere in the friendship, never rushing to pry into secrets. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Daoist Moyu’s cultivation was similar to his, but Qin Sang came from another domain and had experienced far more than one who had always trained behind sect walls. After a round of Daoist debate, Daoist Moyu was deeply impressed, and the two conversed joyfully.

When Qin Sang learned of the Dongming Island Dharma Assembly, he recognized it as the best chance to make contact with Landou Sect Golden Core cultivators. He asked Daoist Moyu to bring him along, and Daoist Moyu agreed at once.

Qin Sang pretended not to notice his external incarnation at the back of the Cloud-Mist Boat. Both he and his incarnation were suppressing their auras with all their strength to avoid detection.

Qin Sang offered a fist-and-palm salute and smiled at Abbot Lu.

Abbot Lu laughed heartily. "It is our honor to have Daoist come to observe. How could we refuse?"

A middle-stage Core Formation expert was worth Abbot Lu’s courtesy. Like the others, he acted as if he had not seen the mask on Qin Sang’s face and made no mention of it. Qin Sang smiled and thanked him.

"Once we land, I will properly host Daoist Ming Yue. For now, let us work together to open Dongming Island’s array," Abbot Lu said with a sudden gleam in his eyes.

"Please go ahead," Qin Sang stepped aside, giving them space.

The Cloud-Mist Boat and other flying treasures carrying disciples also moved to the side.

On the boat, the incarnation sensed a gaze and turned to see Fang Ting and Zhao Songqiao standing on Yanmiao Pavilion’s bamboo ship. He gave them a faint nod in acknowledgment.

Abbot Lu floated in mid-air and drew out a circular magic disk. His voice was deep. "Fellow Daoists, assist me in opening the array!"

Daoist Huayang and the others all flew to his side.

Abbot Lu tossed the disk above them. Cultivators from Yanmiao Pavilion and other sects produced identical blue crystals and cast them upward. Each piece fit snugly into the recessed slots of the disk.

The disk flashed and quivered. Without needing Abbot Lu’s command, the others immediately infused their true essence, transforming it into ribbons of light that poured into the disk.

Once empowered, the disk erupted in brilliance. A muffled thunderclap echoed from afar, and in the northern distance, waves suddenly surged into towering breakers.

"Go!" Abbot Lu shot ahead, the others close behind. Qin Sang followed to observe.

According to Daoist Moyu, Dongming Island’s protective array was extraordinarily intricate. Only with the complete disk, and by locating the ever-shifting Mingmen, the vital point of the array, could one open the array and reveal the island.[1]

Abbot Lu flew into the heart of the surging waves and hurled down the blazing disk. At once, everyone roared in unison and unleashed their full essence.

The void all around twisted. From the empty sea surface, a shadow appeared. It was an island veiled in mist.

"What a marvelous array!" Qin Sang could not help but sigh in awe. Indeed, it was worthy of being a grand array laid personally by Landou Sect’s Spiritual Infant sect leader.

"Daoist Ming Yue, please!" While Qin Sang gazed intently, Daoist Moyu flew beside him, inviting him to enter the island.

The others had already rushed ahead. Qin Sang quickly summoned his evasion light. Before long, he neared Dongming Island and saw the dense mist parting at one spot to reveal a narrow valley.

The mist was the manifestation of the array’s power. Qin Sang’s heart tightened, and he followed Daoist Moyu carefully and respectfully.

Meanwhile, Abbot Lu pointed at several disciples from the Cloud-Mist Boat. "Guard this place. Any cultivators without a Dharma Assembly token must not be allowed entry."

"Yes!" Those disciples flew to the valley’s flanks while the rest passed through.

Soon, a great cliff edge appeared below, and ahead lay a vast depression, far lower than the surrounding sea level.

Mist filled the pit, obscuring its uneven terrain of low hills. At the center loomed one solitary mountain rising high above the rest. The sight reminded Qin Sang of a meteor crater.

That mountain should be Longxing Mountain. He thought.

After leaving the valley, a small hill appeared before them.

Within it stood several elegant bamboo lodges, green as fresh shoots in the mist, though clearly long deserted.

"Fellow Daoists, come rest at the bamboo lodge. When the others arrive, we shall begin the Dharma Assembly at noon and let the disciples compete," Abbot Lu said, retracting his evasion light and turning.

From the corner of his eye, Qin Sang glimpsed the incarnation disembark with the disciples, bypassing the hill to continue deeper into the island until they vanished into the mist. He calmly withdrew his gaze and entered the bamboo lodge.

At the same time, the incarnation followed the Daoist boy and others over several peaks.

Light flickered across the mountains, barriers marking out each sect’s territory. Landou Sect’s claim was the largest, nearly half of Dongming Island.

Before long, the Foundation Building cultivator leading them halted, produced a wooden tablet, and waved it toward a mountain. When ripples shimmered into view, he led them straight into a row of stone houses. The dwellings were crude, but no one intended to linger long.

"The assembly begins at noon. The spiritual qi here is dense, especially suited for the junior brothers cultivating the Wood Reclining Scripture. Quickly adjust yourselves and strive for a good ranking. It will benefit you as well," the man said as he landed.

"Senior Brother Ruan, you attended the last assembly. Share your experience with us so we can be prepared," someone called.

Ruan shook his head with a laugh. "You expect me to lecture you when you won’t share your treasures with me? Very well, whoever wishes to listen may come."

With that, he pushed open a stone room and went inside. The Daoist boy, who had long awaited this Dharma Assembly, immediately followed along.

The incarnation hurried a step forward and whispered, "Senior Uncle Yang, before we left, Senior Uncle Jin Yan instructed me to gather some spiritual materials on the island to bring back. I..."

The Daoist boy waved impatiently. "With your cultivation, hearing Senior Brother Ruan’s lessons won’t be of much use. Go!"

1. Mingmen is also an acupoint in the human body, also known as the "life gate". ☜