Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 955: Cunyang Sect

"I never thought that among our sect’s juniors, there would still be one who could cultivate this art to such a level. You obtained the jade slip I left behind. If you can truly continue cultivating through my two killing symbols and succeed in reaching the Spiritual Infant Realm, then I will at least have a worthy successor. Yet who would have imagined that we would meet here and now? Truly, fate toys with men," Qingzhu spoke with deep emotion.

Qin Sang had just opened his mouth when Qingzhu cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I know what you wish to ask. The thing you seek is not here, but in the inner hall. Only when Seven-Kill Hall emerges on its own will you be able to reach it."

Qin Sang’s heart jolted. His thoughts turned muddled. He had been transported into Seven-Kill Hall, yet inexplicably appeared in Xijiang of Witch God Continent. Later he learned he had fallen from the top of the Sky Tower, mistaken by others for an ancient corpse. If Qingzhu’s words were true, did that mean the ancient teleportation array was not in the Sky Tower at all?

"Please make it clear, Senior," Qin Sang quickly pressed.

"This matter touches upon too many secrets. I cannot speak of them, nor even recall them freely. I must seal away those memories, or he will seize on a stray thought, uncover the truth, and ruin everything, even bringing disaster without end." Qingzhu pointed at his chest and sighed softly. "I should not have revealed myself today, but when I saw the carving left by Jing’er, I could not resist breaking his suppression. I must thank you as well, young friend, for bringing me these tidings. One matter of my heart is now settled, and I can fight without hesitation. But this has also left flaws for him to exploit. What the end result will be... It is difficult to say."

His words were vague, but Qin Sang grasped the general meaning. The "he" Qingzhu spoke of was the other will inside his body, most likely the devilish soul of his external incarnation turning against him, seeking to devour his primordial spirit and usurp his true self.

Qingzhu had been suppressing memories and clinging to his mind, resisting the devilish soul’s invasion.

"Is there no way to resolve this hidden danger, Senior? Though my cultivation is shallow, perhaps I can lend some help..." Qin Sang asked gravely.

In truth, from the moment he entered the eighth level, Qin Sang had felt unease. This place was nothing like he had imagined. It was desolate, lifeless, devoid of ancient halls or traces of ancient barriers. The chance of an ancient teleportation array existing here was slim.

He suspected that the eighth level was not truly the top of the Sky Tower. If Qingzhu meant that the array lay within the inner hall of Seven-Kill Hall, then he could only wait until Seven-Kill Hall emerged on its own to enter and search.

The array’s location must be extraordinarily well-hidden, otherwise it would long ago have been discovered, and Ziwei Palace and the Small Cold Domain exposed. But Seven-Kill Hall only surfaced once every several centuries. He would have but a single chance. To find the array on his own would be near hopeless. Whether Qingzhu’s words were true or false, Qin Sang could only side with him for now.

"For you to possess such strength in the middle stage of the Core Formation Realm is very rare. When you reach the peak of the Core Formation Realm, had I met you before reaching the Spiritual Infant Realm, even I would have had to yield. But you cannot aid me. I can only rely on myself to struggle for a sliver of vitality." Qingzhu shook his head. "I will not hide anything from you. Your current predicament does in part stem from me. But I will not conceal this to manipulate you, nor to coerce you into anything..."

He paused, then his tone changed. "Tell me, have you heard of Cunyang Sect?"

Qin Sang’s heart leapt. He dared not speak rashly, and only nodded.

"When you leave here, go to Cunyang Sect and seek out a sword cultivator surnamed Ning. He will come to meet you and explain. At that time, I ask you to pass this on to him..." Qingzhu’s spiritual consciousness surged, weaving countless runes together into a crystalline orb. Just as he was about to send it toward Qin Sang, the other aura within him suddenly erupted violently. Furious roars thundered inside his body, and a streak of black light burst from his chest, colliding with the orb.

Qingzhu grunted, his spiritual consciousness collapsing. The orb shattered instantly.

Each attempt ended the same. His true aura weakened further, until he could not even hold the orb together.

"Enough! Go now!" Qingzhu sighed, his tone now urgent. "This place will soon change. I can no longer suppress him. One last warning: the celestial barrier has shifted. The interval between Seven-Kill Hall’s appearances may grow shorter and shorter. Make your preparations early."

"Go!" His aura erupted in chaos, crimson flooding his eyes. He hastily sat cross-legged, body trembling.

Qin Sang still had countless questions, but seeing this, he dared not remain. Bowing silently to Qingzhu, he swiftly departed along the path of swords.

On the mountaintop, Qingzhu sat unmoving. From within came a ghastly, jeering laugh. "So the one surnamed Ning is your lifeline? I will see how long you can resist! Yuanshen Sect, Cunyang Sect... I will drag them all into the open!"

"And I have only now learned that we have a daughter as well. Once I devour you completely, I will relish all you left behind—your cultivation, your kin. Your disciples, no, our disciples, our daughter! After all, I am you, and you are me. Hahaha..."

Qingzhu’s expression twisted. One eye blazed with blood-red madness, the other gazed with tender devotion at the wooden sword resting across his knees. He was half sword immortal, half devil.

***

Along the path, Qin Sang urged his evasion light without pause until he reached the entrance. His face was grave, his mind turning.

"Qingzhu is far from simple." Bai, who had been tense the whole time, finally exhaled and dared to speak. "Not only did he cultivate himself to the middle stage of the Spiritual Infant Realm, but his external incarnation’s strength was no weaker, perhaps even greater. I don't know what he suffered to provoke such a backlash, ending in this state. Otherwise, seeing how he treated you, we might have gained a mighty backer. Our affairs would be much easier."

"Daoist Bai, how much chance do you think Senior Qingzhu has to suppress the devilish soul?" Qin Sang asked softly, eyes narrowing.

After a pause, Bai answered hesitantly, "If I could recover my memories, perhaps I could judge. Since he said he must rely on himself, it was likely true. Outsiders cannot fathom it."

Qin Sang nodded slightly, his gaze turning contemplative. "Did you notice? Senior Qingzhu is unlike any other. Perhaps because I myself am a sword cultivator, I felt it more keenly. His most terrifying aspect is not his cultivation, but that every movement is steeped in sword force, as though he himself were a divine sword. Records say that cultivators at the Spiritual Infant Realm can achieve this, but such prodigies are rare in all the world. For Qingzhu to attain what even ancient sword cultivators longed for, and in this barren age... Were it not for his misfortune, he would surely one day have stood at the very peak of the immortal cultivation world. I cannot help but have faith in him."