Gateway of Immortality

Time flew by. Four years passed in the blink of an eye.

After taking over from Qingjun, Qin Sang remained stationed there for another three years. Counting the three years he had already spent before that, he had stayed in Abyssal Ruin for a full six years, scarcely leaving at all.

Even so, he had never relaxed his demands on himself.

After reforging the Golden Sinking Sword, Qin Sang identified his shortcomings and instructed Li Yufu to continue sending spiritual materials. As a result, his artifact refinement skill advanced by leaps and bounds.

At the same time, he began seriously planning an astra capable of subduing the Southern Sun Fire.

This time, however, he had no other astra to study as a reference. Everything had to begin from nothing.

Since he could not enter Ziwei Palace and closely observe the Southern Sun Fire for himself, Qin Sang could only prepare in a targeted way based on the information he had previously gathered.

Bai had speculated that a True Vermillion Bird Feather likely existed within the Southern Sun Fire, which was why it had continued burning without extinguishing to this day.

Qin Sang knew his knowledge was far inferior to Bai's, so he could only trust that judgment.

Among the spiritual objects in Qin Sang's possession that could be used to forge an astra, the most precious was the green copper fragment.

This object had come from Ziwei Palace. It was a fragment of a supreme treasure, yet it still retained a terrifying power that even made the Southern Sun Fire recoil in fear.

His future astra would be built around that green copper fragment as its core.

Second was the shell of the Nine-Life Black Tortoise.

That treasure had been painstakingly refined by a Transformation Realm great demon through immeasurable effort. Its quality already rivaled that of an astra, and it had protected Qin Sang from attacks on several occasions, helping him escape mortal danger.

Qin Sang planned to fuse these two treasures together and use them to capture the True Vermillion Bird Feather!

Both the green copper fragment and the tortoise shell contained the power of black water, a force that naturally restrained flame.

With the aid of the green copper fragment, suppressing the True Vermillion Bird Feather inside the tortoise shell carried a high chance of success.

However, Qin Sang still had to consider another problem. After obtaining the True Vermillion Bird Feather, how would he subdue it, or what vessel could possibly contain the incomparably violent Southern Sun Fire?

There was no question about the Southern Sun Fire's power. It was even stronger than the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells.

Qin Sang turned his attention to the mysterious white copper. While in Xuling Sect, he had searched through every text available, yet found no record of anything resembling it.

Left with no choice, he had sought advice from Bing Han, but even she could not identify what the white copper was.

After arriving in Sin Abyss, Qin Sang made contact with local cultivators and asked whether Old Devil Ye and the others had obtained any ancient texts after slaying the malicious spirit in the battle at Abyssal Ruin.

He still found nothing. Everything had been taken by Old Devil Ye. But Qin Sang was certain of two things.

First, the malicious spirit had carried the mysterious white copper at its side. That alone proved that even in ancient times, it had been no ordinary object.

Second, when the mysterious white copper shone, it blazed like raging fire, as scorching as the sun itself. It was undoubtedly a supreme fire-elemental treasure, making it an excellent vessel for carrying the Southern Sun Fire.

These three treasures, together with the various spiritual materials paid as compensation by Sin Abyss, far surpassed even top-grade astras in sheer preciousness of material.

To be safe, Qin Sang did not rush into forging. If even the slightest oversight caused the treasures to clash and self-destruct, the regret would be immeasurable.

Over those four years, Qin Sang tried every possible method to analyze the properties of the mysterious white copper.

The immortal cultivation world was vast beyond measure, filled with countless treasures. No artifact refiner could recognize every spiritual object, so methods naturally existed for analyzing unfamiliar materials. Qin Sang had learned such techniques in Xuling Sect.

Perhaps because the white copper's grade was simply too high, those secret techniques proved less effective than expected. In the end, Qin Sang could only resort to the most straightforward method. He kept the mysterious white copper on him at all times, so constantly that it had almost become part of his body.

The results were substantial, but still not enough for a final conclusion.

This time, the one coming to replace him was the Feathered King. After handing over the jade pendant, Qin Sang was about to leave Abyssal Ruin when he encountered Judge at the entrance.

"Daoist Qin," Judge said warmly, handing over a Mustard Seed Pouch. "These are the spiritual materials you specifically requested. Please have a look."

Qin Sang opened it and found that only sixty to seventy percent of the listed items were inside. He lifted his head and glanced at Judge.

Judge rubbed his hands together and forced a bitter smile. "The opening of Ziwei Palace is close at hand, and I also wish to accomplish something. But during the battle of Yu City, I lost my second primary soul. I've spent these years trying to reforge it, but progress has been poor. Recently, I discovered a spiritual object in a forbidden land that may help me. Daoist Qin, could you return the Death Jade to me first? As for the remaining spiritual materials, they are really rare. I hope you can see my sincerity and grant me a little more time!"

Under Judge's expectant gaze, Qin Sang considered for a moment, then nodded.

The man was also a Spiritual Infant expert, and one who cultivated the bizarre Corpse Dao. There was no need to push him too hard.

Qin Sang put away the Mustard Seed Pouch, then readily took out the Death Jade and returned it. Judge was overjoyed.

"Have you discovered anything while investigating Heavenly Corpse Sect?" Qin Sang asked.

Qin Sang had also instructed his juniors to keep watch, but they had found nothing. Tan Hao and that mysterious figure seemed to have vanished completely, leaving behind not the slightest trace.

Judge shook his head. "After parting ways with you last time, I began investigating in secret. You also know how it is. Cultivators of the Corpse Dao and Ghost Dao are not hunted by everyone in the cultivation world, but our circumstances are still extremely difficult. We are regarded as even more sinister than devilish cultivators, so we can only help one another. I contacted several masters of this Dao from various regions, but to this day, I still haven't found the person you described, nor have I discovered anyone secretly gathering Corpse Dao cultivators."

Tan Hao has disappeared so thoroughly. Could something have happened to him? Qin Sang frowned slightly.

***

Back at Yuanshen Sect, Qin Sang entered the spirit vein to inspect the Corpseflower Blood Amber.

According to estimates, purifying it would require at least twenty years, which happened to coincide with the reappearance of Ziwei Palace. Whether it could be completed in time remained uncertain.

Even if purification finished before the Ziwei Palace emerged, he likely would not have enough time to refine it.

After removing the barrier, the spiritual plant appeared before him. Compared to more than ten years ago, the plant itself remained lush and green, but the Corpseflower Blood Amber had changed dramatically.

Originally, it had been a block of scarlet blood amber. Now, the bloody hue within had grown extremely faint, enough that the true form of the spiritual flower could already be seen. Once the final traces of red vanished completely, purification would be complete.

After carefully examining it, Qin Sang restored the barrier and left the forbidden ground, only to unexpectedly run into Qingjun.

"Senior Sister, you've emerged from seclusion?" Qin Sang asked.

Sixteen years had passed since they last met.

As a Spiritual Infant cultivator, Qin Sang had long grown accustomed to such separations, yet when he saw that familiar face again, a smile still rose unbidden to his lips.

Qingjun gave a slight nod. "I happen to have something to show you. Junior Brother, come with me."

Qin Sang had guarded the celestial gate for her for three years, and Qingjun never once thanked him.

Given the bond between them, such formalities were unnecessary.

The two slowed their pace, leisurely flying toward Peach Blossom Valley while admiring the beautiful scenery of the Yuncang Marshlands along the way.

Qin Sang spoke of what he had gained from more than a decade of painstaking cultivation. Qingjun listened intently, occasionally offering her own insights.

Though she was not skilled in artifact refinement, her attainments in the Dao of puppetry were unmatched. The two shared common principles, and her suggestions greatly inspired Qin Sang.

At last, Qingjun asked to inspect the mysterious white copper and used one of her unique secret techniques to help him analyze it.

Not long after, the two arrived before Peach Blossom Valley. Qingjun withdrew her secret technique, then noticed Qin Sang's admiring gaze lingering on her.

"Do I look good?" She lightly brushed a strand of hair aside.

Qin Sang waved his hand and opened the array surrounding Peach Blossom Valley. Peach blossoms bloomed in dazzling splendor. After taking a measured look around, he shook his head and exclaimed, "The peach blossoms are beautiful, but at this moment, they can hardly catch my eyes."

"Flippant!" Qingjun gave him a light scolding. Yet a faint smile curved at the corner of her lips, while her gaze remained incomparably clear.

The two flashed into the valley. Mist closed behind them. The setting sun burned rich and deep.

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