Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 791: Ambush

Qin Sang observed Madam Liu’s movements.

She was remarkably patient and resolute, having remained in ambush for an unknown length of time.

Hidden in the forest, she did not move at all and seemed unaware that someone else was lying in wait behind her.

From start to finish, the Liu-surnamed cultivator never showed up.

Qin Sang grew more and more certain that something had happened to him.

He could not be sure whether the culprits were the people he suspected.

Poison-warding treasures were exceedingly rare. It would be too much of a coincidence for the Liu couple to have run into another enemy in possession of one.

After some time, still no one emerged from Celestial Blossom Lake.

Qin Sang silently calculated the time. With the closing of Seven-Kill Hall drawing near, waiting here indefinitely seemed unwise. There was no guarantee the person inside would come out alive.

Just as he frowned to himself, a sudden disturbance caught his eye at the ancient bridge.

Petals fluttered in the air. Someone was coming out!

"Someone's here!"

Qin Sang’s gaze sharpened. Within the thin mist, the hidden sword qi trembled slightly, clearly revealing Madam Liu’s unsettled state of mind.

Qin Sang held his breath, keeping still as he stared at the bridge’s entrance.

A figure flew out from within Celestial Blossom Lake. Qin Sang recognized a familiar protective aura shielding the person from the lake’s deadly toxins.

"It’s the Bone Lotus!"

Qin Sang’s eyes turned cold, killing intent rising sharply.

The moment he saw the trap laid by Madam Liu, he had a hunch. Anyone associated with the Liu couple and able to enter Celestial Blossom Lake was likely to be Xiang Yi or someone from his group.

Though Qin Sang didn’t know what had transpired between them, he knew Xiang Yi was ruthless. Collaborating with Cui Ji to harm the Liu couple would not be out of character for him.

Xiang Yi, Cui Ji, and the plump man were all people Qin Sang had marked for death.

No matter which of them had come out of Celestial Blossom Lake, they would not leave Seven-Kill Hall alive today.

Qin Sang flipped his palm and quietly gripped the Flame Orb in his hand.

If it was Cui Ji or the plump man, Qin Sang’s progress in the Sword Dao meant he could now suppress them using swordsmanship alone.

Xiang Yi, however, was far stronger than the other two. Since the Blood Defilement Divine Light had already been used, Qin Sang decided to play it safe and employ the Flame Orb to kill with a single blow.

He had originally reserved the Flame Orb for his journey into the Sky Tower, to deal with unexpected crises, but it had never been used.

Now that he was about to leave Seven-Kill Hall, using it to eliminate a powerful enemy seemed worthwhile.

With one hand gripping the Flame Orb in secret, Qin Sang used the other to set up the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions, though he made no sudden moves. He simply waited patiently, observing the situation.

The faint tremble of the mist mirrored Madam Liu’s agitation.

Finally, the person reached the bridge’s entrance. He clearly hadn’t expected anyone to be lying in wait. After a quick glance around, he stepped out with minimal caution.

"Cui Ji! So it really is them..."

Recognizing the man, Qin Sang let out a cold snort inwardly. He hadn’t expected to stumble directly upon his target. Taking Cui Ji down first would be a satisfying start.

"Looks like Cui Ji came here for the Celestial Blossom Lake. So the deal they made must have involved the Bone Lotus..."

Qin Sang had more or less pieced together the nature of their transaction. Just as he was about to put the Flame Orb away, he froze, startled to find that Cui Ji had actually broken through to the late stage.

Before entering Seven-Kill Hall, Cui Ji had been stuck at a bottleneck. A single trip to Celestial Blossom Lake had propelled him straight into the late stage of the Core Formation Realm.

***

Cui Ji held the Bone Lotus in one hand, his face radiating smug satisfaction.

Some of the lotus petals had turned purple, others green. Only one remained intact. It was clear that this extraordinary treasure was nearing the end of its life.

Cui Ji’s mood was radiant, his excitement hard to contain.

He hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Perhaps it was because his rival had been eliminated, or because he had found the spiritual herb and consumed it. Soon after, he sensed the opportunity to break through, and everything had progressed smoothly.

Cui Ji wore a broad smile as he stepped into the trap. The moment his foot landed, the sound of ringing bells erupted in his ears, and countless red threads appeared around him, sharp as blades. His smile froze instantly.

Qin Sang turned sharply, his gaze fixed on the mist.

"What will Madam Liu choose to do?"

Against Cui Ji, whose cultivation had advanced, the trap now seemed a little lacking in strength.

Just as the thought formed...

A streak of sword light shot out from the mist like lightning, accompanied by an angry shout. "Scoundrel, prepare to die!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Madam Liu had made her move without hesitation.

Her trap had been laid with great care. The Red Thread Soul Bell Array was meant to catch Cui Ji off guard, entangle him, and then she would ride her sword in to deliver the killing blow.

But the world was unpredictable. No one could have foreseen Cui Ji’s breakthrough inside Celestial Blossom Lake.

"Seeking death!" Cui Ji roared in fury.

The red threads slashed toward him, incredibly sharp and capable of slicing through flesh. Yet the most dangerous aspect was the ringing of the bells, which attacked the primordial spirit.

Had this been before, he would have surely fallen into the trap.

Now, though his cultivation had not yet fully stabilized, his strength had leapt upward. With sheer force, he resisted the bell's spiritual assault, surged his true essence, and successfully summoned the Purple Nether Orb. Purple light spread out, forming a protective barrier around him.

Swish!

A white light flashed by. One of his flying knives shot out from within the purple light.

The red threads snapped easily before it, fragile as cobwebs.

Shattered threads danced in the air. The copper bells vibrated violently, and the sound they emitted weakened significantly.

Cui Ji's gaze turned fierce. The moment he saw who had ambushed him, his expression shifted drastically, and a look of shock flashed in his eyes.

"It's you! You're still alive!"

But when he swept his eyes around and saw only Madam Liu, he suddenly burst into crazed laughter. "Haha... So it’s just you left, and you dare come to throw your life away? Fine. I’ll end this matter today and eliminate any future threats."

Swoosh! Swoosh...

Streaks of purple light shot forward.

Madam Liu was already flying in on her sword. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears and deep unwillingness.

Just a step faster, and she could have killed Cui Ji. But her plan had failed at the last moment.

Among the eight who entered Seven-Kill Hall, she had the lowest cultivation. Unlike Qin Sang, she possessed no defensive treasures. Facing Cui Ji after his breakthrough, she felt utterly powerless.

"The heavens must be blind to let this villain break through..."

She looked up, her eyes hollow, as if protesting to the heavens.

Bang! Bang!

The beams of light slammed into her flying sword, throwing it off course. Her assault was broken.

Just then, Madam Liu suddenly changed her tactics. She turned mid-air and fled toward the mountains. One failed strike, and she immediately retreated without hesitation.

Cui Ji was momentarily stunned, then broke into a cruel grin. He immediately urged his flying saber to destroy the spiritual array and, once free, gave chase at full speed.

He drew closer and closer with every moment.

Madam Liu’s face was full of panic. Suddenly, she shouted toward the spot where Qin Sang was hiding. "Daoist, if you won’t act now, when will you?"

Being called out did not surprise Qin Sang. Still, he was certain Madam Liu had no idea who he was. Her sudden cry was clearly an attempt to redirect disaster onto someone else.

Cui Ji, already as jittery as a startled bird, would undoubtedly assume there was a third enemy hidden nearby and treat them as allies.

Madam Liu had remained calm after detecting someone lurking nearby, feigning ignorance and committing herself to vengeance. But upon reflection, it made sense. If she succeeded in killing Cui Ji and seized the Bone Lotus, she could escape into Celestial Blossom Lake using the Bone Lotus.

With Seven-Kill Hall about to close, no hidden enemy could afford to wait forever.

Even so, her ability to instantly weigh the situation and make a decisive move showed formidable resolve and cunning. She was clearly not some fragile woman relying solely on her husband for protection.