Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 841: Astonishing Discovery

The panther demon and the crane demon, together with other great demons, led their underlings in a siege against the alliance's cultivators.

The alliance's cultivators could not fathom why so many great demons had singled them out.

They tried to break through, but the great demons fought with all their might to stop them. Their frenzy chilled every heart.

At the same time, the cultivators were horrified to discover that more great demons seemed to be converging on this place.

Just as despair took hold, the panther demon finally received word from the fish demon and learned of the target’s whereabouts.

"Riftfin has found the man. Hmm..."

The crane demon’s tone carried surprise. "Riftfin tried to block him, but was struck down and badly wounded. He was forced to self-detonate his body to escape with his life. The target has already broken through the encirclement. We must hurry to reinforce him. Did the man have help?"

The panther demon was first overjoyed, then his expression grew grave as he roared in anger. "Useless wretch! Why send word only now? Move!"

Something entirely unexpected happened to the alliance's cultivators. They had thought they were doomed and had even been quietly discussing fighting to the death. Yet, at that moment, the strongest of the great demons, without warning, suddenly abandoned the fight as though drawn away by some force, leaving them alone.

The beasts that remained were still formidable, but no longer as terrifying. Though the alliance's cultivators did not know what had occurred, they immediately realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Once they confirmed that the great demons had truly gone, they followed their plan and fought their way out.

Not long after, the panther demon led his horde to the spot where Qin Sang had vanished. They exerted all their strength, displaying every supernatural ability they possessed, yet none could find Qin Sang.

Roars of fury and frustration reverberated through the beast tide.

***

Qin Sang had no idea what sort of storm he had stirred.

After escaping the beast tide, he used the stars to fix his bearings, activated the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman, chose a direction, and set off alone on his flight. In the blink of an eye, he left the beast tide far behind.

Although he had fought a fierce battle with the fish demon, he encountered almost no resistance afterward, so there were not many who were faster than him.

He sped forward the whole way without meeting a single person.

After having operated the array disk for so long, Qin Sang had already been mentally exhausted, and now he felt even more weary.

But he would never dare rest nearby. He flew far from the danger, then summoned the Two-Headed Hou. Man and beast took turns on the road, traveling without stopping for several days.

Only after distancing himself from that sea region did Qin Sang choose a small island where he could rest and recover.

He built a cave dwelling beneath a massive boulder and hid it with a spiritual array.

Sitting cross-legged inside, his exhaustion had already been washed away. Yet he did not immediately set out again, deciding to stay a while longer.

He would wait until the star turban had accumulated enough true essence and restored its full might before departing.

The star turban had saved him time and again in dire straits. He would not allow himself to repeat the fate of its previous owner, whose rushed refining had left its power weakened.

Moreover, having verified the effect of Heavenly Demon Transformation, his confidence had grown, and he dared remain in the Demonic Sea alone.

"Other cultivators who take the Malevolent Demonic Pill also have demonic qi on them, but it is useless. Heavenly Demon Transformation is truly peculiar..."

Qin Sang activated Heavenly Demon Transformation, sending his spiritual consciousness sweeping again and again over the phoenix wings.

He stood, condensed water into ice, and conjured a mirror.

Who is the man reflected in the mirror? He thought.

His face was handsome as jade, like that of a youth, yet his gaze carried a steadiness and resolve that did not match such an appearance.

Behind him, wings spread wide, radiant with flowing light. Bathed in a profound azure glow, he resembled a descendant of the phoenix itself, immortal in bearing, divine in presence.

Qin Sang had never bothered to alter his looks. Even when his foundation had been damaged and his face aged, he had not cared.

Later, after taking the Purple Cloud Fruit and the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances, his outward appearance had regained its youth.

It was said that appearance reflected the heart. Long ago he had passed the age of caring about looks.

Years of cultivation, tempered by hardship, had changed his bearing imperceptibly. Even the ugliest person, under such influence, would become impossible for others to ignore.

"Fortunately, it is only a trace more demonic qi. Otherwise, I truly would not know what this art would turn me into in the end. The Heavenly Demon Body Refinement allows demonic beasts to awaken the supernatural abilities hidden in their bloodlines, to tread the path of their ancestors and metamorphose into heavenly demons. Yet I have forced this path with the power of the Jade Buddha. Even the heavenly demon I visualized was but a puppet-born illusion. It is likely a crooked path. How far can it really lead me?" Qin Sang muttered, his mind somewhat adrift.

He suspected that no other cultivator had ever practiced this art before. Without ancestral experience to draw upon, he could only fumble forward on his own.

"One step at a time. For now, things are still going well. As long as I reach the third stage, I can walk on the path of swords. Before reaching the Spiritual Infant Realm, I must still focus on the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment and not place too much hope in the Heavenly Demon Body Refinement..."

Qin Sang sat back down, continuing to comprehend the Heavenly Demon Transformation while he waited for the star turban to recover.

***

Several months later, the Two-Headed Hou carried Qin Sang as it sped across the sea.

Qin Sang held a nautical chart in his hand. "I looked at the stars last night. From here, Miliuo Island is not far. Its island master is also a Spiritual Infant cultivator. He had once formed an alliance with the island master of Yuheng Island, yet during the beast tide siege he never appeared. I wonder what happened..."

When he was about to reach Miliuo Island, Qin Sang thought for a moment, recalled the Two-Headed Hou, restrained his aura, and carefully approached.

At last, he caught sight of Miliuo Island. His expression abruptly changed, and he immediately retreated the way he had come.

"The island is filled with demonic beasts!"

His face grew grim. With just a hurried glance, he had seen demonic qi rising skyward from Miliuo Island. It had become a paradise for demonic beasts, with not a single trace of an immortal cultivator.

"When was Miliuo Island breached by the beast tide?"

Qin Sang was stunned. No wonder there had been no reinforcements. Miliuo Island itself had fallen.

The island was now occupied by demonic beasts, with no battlefield visible. He could not tell whether the island master had abandoned it voluntarily or if a bitter struggle had been fought before they were driven out.

Two Spiritual Infant grandmasters’ dojos being destroyed in succession was something that had not happened for a very long time.

A sense of dread welled up in Qin Sang’s heart. This change might not be confined to only these two places.

"No. I must return to Desolate Island at once. If the Demonic Sea undergoes a great upheaval and the teleportation array is sealed, I may not be able to return at all. With Heavenly Demon Transformation, I don’t need to fear for my safety if I'm trapped in the Demonic Sea. But the embryo within my external incarnation is about to form, and it must be nurtured personally by me. Moreover, the Maoshan Vine was sent back to Desolate Island. As long as it hasn’t been transported into the Inner Sea, I still have a chance to obtain it."

Skirting around Miliuo Island, Qin Sang followed the sea route toward Desolate Island.

This time, he and the Two-Headed Hou rested in turns, hardly stopping for a moment. He dared not linger in the Demonic Sea.

Before long, he reached a third island. From afar, he saw avian demonic beasts circling high above, frolicking and calling out cheerfully.

"The third one, also seized by demonic beasts! This route is practically cut off."

Qin Sang’s heart grew heavier with every step. What made him even more anxious was that he still had no idea what had truly happened.

On the way, he encountered other immortal cultivators, who had also fled from Yuheng Island, yet they too knew nothing.

From them, he managed to learn only fragments of what had transpired on the night of the breakout.

Qin Sang declined their invitation to travel together. Instead, he charted his own path, choosing the fastest way to reach Desolate Island. After all, in the Demonic Sea now, there was no place safe.