Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 930: The Deal

Old Devil Fang’s sudden appearance stirred great waves, but the commotion soon settled. The cultivators waited quietly.

At midnight, the grand witch priest’s expression stirred. Her red lips parted. "Daoist Lingzhuzi, the time has come. I shall now activate the Thousand-Sword Array."

Lingzhuzi calculated with his fingers, then spoke in a deep voice. "The celestial array is at its weakest at this moment. We shall lend our full strength to aid the grand witch priest in breaking it. Begin."

With a sweep of his fly-whisk, Lingzhuzi signaled. The other Spiritual Infant cultivators spread out, standing at the edges of the great array, channeling their true essence into it.

The Golden Core cultivators grew restless at the sight, retreating for fear of being struck by the array’s backlash. Yet they did not dare withdraw too far, unwilling to miss such a rare chance to observe.

Soon, the Spiritual Infant cultivators of both races had taken their positions. At the center stood Lingzhuzi and Old Devil Fang, flanking the grand witch priest on either side.

The grand witch priest drew a long, steady breath. Her jade hand lifted lightly. Ripples spread across the water, and from beneath the surface rose a milky-white light, slowly elongating into a slender spiritual sword.

With her other hand, she cast forth a Mustard Seed Pouch. Its mouth opened, and a stream of radiant spirit stones poured down like flowing water. They were all high-grade spirit stones!

The Core Formation cultivators outside were stunned. Only now did they understand why the jade talismans had been sold at such a high price, and these were merely spirit stones. The spiritual materials required to set up the array must have been astronomical. Only the greatest powers could afford such extravagance.

Each spirit stone landed precisely upon a glowing point in the sea. The lights devoured the stones silently, growing brighter. One by one, they rose from the water as slender swords.

The Spiritual Infant cultivators around the edges all moved. They guided the light swords around them, streams of swords flowing inward toward the center. The speed and power of the surge were astonishing. Yet the effort was immense. Faces tightened with strain, some even summoning astras to aid them.

The grand witch priest’s eyes gleamed. She turned toward Lingzhuzi and Old Devil Fang. They each released beams of light, one blue, one yellow, linking with the central sword as though lifting it upward.

At the same time, the streams of light crashed into the sword. Not a ripple stirred. The sword was like a bottomless abyss, devouring all. In an instant, a thousand swords merged into one. The full power of the grand array gathered into a single sword.

Even on the outer edge, Qin Sang and the others felt their scalps tingle, their hearts gripped by dread. Lingzhuzi’s face was grave, his fly-whisk trembling as it bound to the sword of light.

Old Devil Fang spread his wings, vibrating them rapidly. The cicada’s cry grew sharper than before, needling into the heart and mind.

The grand witch priest bore the greatest burden. Her watery eyes shone with focus, her lips pressed tight, fingers weaving seal after seal, each imprint sinking into the sword. Thus the sword did not shatter under the strain of a thousand swords, but grew ever more solid.

At last, a jade-white spiritual sword hovered above them. It was three chi long, crystalline like jade, inscribed with countless runes, it resembled a celestial sword.

"Go!" The grand witch priest raised her hand and pointed at the celestial array. The sword quivered, then in a flash, vanished into the gray wall of wind. A brief silence. Then an unseen force erupted within.

Every cultivator felt as if struck in the soul. Their evasion lights wavered. The familiar sight followed. The gray wall fractured from within. Cracks spread in every direction, each one shining with a sword of light, opening paths.

"Move!" The grand witch priest and Lingzhuzi shouted almost at once.

The Spiritual Infant cultivators drew out their jade talismans and vanished through the cracks in a blink, piercing into the storm. Qin Sang was no slower. Already prepared, he raised his talisman, chose a fissure, and rushed in. The talisman’s power was already active.

This time, not a blood-colored shield but a veil of sword qi wrapped his body, cutting a path through the storm. The first wave of impact struck.

Returning to familiar ground, Qin Sang held firm. The talisman shielded him, and he weathered the celestial array’s assault, piercing through to land upon the barren wilderness, stretching vast and empty.

He stepped onto solid ground. Above, silhouettes fell through the fractured array, each touching down in different places. They paused briefly, then flew off in beams of light, vanishing into mountains and forests.

"I'm back again!" Qin Sang sighed, glanced first toward the Sky Tower, then turned and sped toward the Purple Mist End. He had resolved to seize the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells first.

Soon, he reached the ancient forest leading into the Purple Mist End. He vividly recalled his first time there with Xiang Yi. He knew that there were ferocious insects and beasts. This time, he came prepared with a few types of herbal powders.

Forming a seal, he cloaked himself in concealment and slipped into the forest, heading toward the Purple River.

He moved with care. Who knew whether the Dongji Alliance still sought to activate the ancient divine platform in the Purple Mist End, stirring new troubles?

As Qin Sang darted away, deeper in the mountains, the Spiritual Infant cultivators of both races flew in the direction of the Sky Tower.

Old Devil Mou cast a glance toward the Purple Mist End, then studied the Spiritual Infant cultivators nearby, finding no clue in their faces. After pondering, he secretly transmitted words to the blood-robed elder beside him.

The elder’s expression changed. "Old Devil Mou, you dare defy Lingzhuzi and the Devil Lord’s command? Are you tired of living, dragging me down with you?"

Old Devil Mou chuckled. "Old Ghost Blood, do you think I don’t know your secrets? You plan to use Seven-Kill Hall’s ancient barriers to forge that evil object, to survive your next tribulation. Your chance of success is less than one in ten. Without it, you won’t live a hundred more years. Help me this once, and I’ll borrow Old Devil Wen’s Big Dipper Ring for you."

Suppressing his own urgency, Old Devil Mou began to bargain. The elder’s face twisted with fury at being exposed, but he still asked, "The Big Dipper Ring is Old Devil Wen’s lifeblood, guarded as his life. You think he would lend it?"

"Old Devil Wen owes me a great favor. Borrowing it once is no problem. The ring may not match your evil object, but it is a rare treasure that could give you a sliver of survival."

Old Devil Mou’s voice brimmed with confidence. "Besides, I am not truly disobeying orders. As long as you strike with full force, nothing will go amiss."

Temptation flickered in the elder’s eyes. "Fine. I’ll trust you once! But if you dare deceive me... My days are numbered, and I will have no more scruples. Watch over your Tianfeng Island carefully!"