Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 879: Familiar Scenery

After falling from the Cloud Bridge, Qin Sang’s incarnation suddenly felt his body lighten. A flying sword received him and carried him out of the Cloud Bridge’s illusion.

Most people had already fallen before him. They were divided into two groups on either side of the pier. Some were seated cross-legged to recover, while others stood with varying expressions.

The group on the left was much smaller, just over a dozen people, yet every one of them appeared radiant. Even the young man who had first fallen down earlier now looked entirely different, his gloom gone, his face filled with joy.

In contrast, the right side held many more people, yet their faces were bleak, heavy with despair.

Seeing this, the incarnation immediately understood. The cultivators on the left must have been chosen by Yanmiao Pavilion.

He swept his gaze over them. Sure enough, the boy with three spiritual roots, who had been revealed during the earlier examination, stood among the left group.

Just as the thought formed, he saw that sword cultivator extend his hand toward the left side. At once his body tightened, and under the envious gazes of the others, the flying sword carried him over, setting him down on the left pier.

The incarnation’s face broke into joy. Ignoring the need to rest and recover, he quickly straightened his robes and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"

"You’re quite the clever one." The sword cultivator withdrew his sword with a mocking smile.

The middle-aged cultivator sized up the incarnation, his expression openly filled with appreciation. "Not bad. You dared to lead the way for all and held firm until your spiritual power was nearly exhausted, only then did the Cloud Bridge sway your heart. Your talent may be somewhat weaker, but your temperament is outstanding among all here. No wonder you broke through three bottlenecks with success. In time, you may yet achieve something."

The sword cultivator also put away his sneer and spoke solemnly. "A fine seedling for the sword. Would you like to come to our Flying Rainbow Hall to learn the sword arts?"

"Junior Brother Ding!" The middle-aged cultivator cast him a reproachful look. "These disciples must first be inspected by the pavilion master and assigned personally. The pavilion master will weigh the Pavilion’s needs. As disciples, we must not overstep."

The sword cultivator only chuckled, unafraid of his senior brother. "Doesn’t the pavilion master also have to consider their talent and wishes when assigning them? This one’s temperament needs no further tempering. Aside from our Flying Rainbow Hall, where else would suit him? Would you rather send him to Cauldron Hall to stoke fires? I was merely guiding him, lest he stray onto the wrong path."

Their fourth companion suddenly interjected, "With such a steady temperament, he would also do well drawing talismans in our Snow Shadow Hall."

Then he lowered his head, ignoring the sword cultivator’s glare. The middle-aged cultivator and the man in blue exchanged a helpless glance and shook their heads. The disciples had not yet formally entered the sect, and already contention began.

Listening to their bickering, the incarnation felt both amused and exasperated. With his meager aptitude, he had never expected to inspire rivalry. Fortunately, he had fallen at the right time and avoided drawing too much attention.

Five figures still remained on the Cloud Bridge. Each of them possessed cultivation higher than the incarnation, all above the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Among them was even a gray-haired elder, whose cultivation had reached the thirteenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, the highest of them all.

The four from Yanmiao Pavilion were debating whether to accept the elder.

Before long, those people also descended one by one. The elder’s performance in particular was remarkable. He endured until his spiritual power was nearly depleted before finally falling.

At the very last moment, though buffeted by fierce winds and beset by the Cloud Bridge’s illusions, his body swayed like a willow in a storm, yet his spirit remained clear, clinging stubbornly until the end.

When the flying sword carried him back, silence fell over the pier. The four from Yanmiao Pavilion grew solemn, setting aside their earlier levity.

The sword cultivator let out an almost inaudible sigh. "A pity he is too old. Foundation Building is beyond him."

But the Snow Shadow Hall cultivator’s eyes lit up, as if beholding a priceless treasure. In that instant, he forgot the incarnation entirely.

"Daoist, please rest and recover," the middle-aged cultivator urged, pointing to the left side.

The elder was shrewd. He instantly realized he had been chosen. Though his vitality was nearly exhausted, he still trembled to his feet and bowed in thanks. "I feel unworthy!"

Tears streamed down his aged face. No one mocked him.

On the right side, some cultivators looked thoughtful. One of them, not waiting for the Yanmiao Pavilion cultivators to speak, cupped his hands, then turned and left on his evasion light.

The middle-aged cultivator finally turned to address the right side, "Fellow Daoists, you did not pass the Cloud Bridge’s test today. Please depart."

Though prepared, some still broke down in tears on the spot.

He then turned back toward the left. "Though you passed the Cloud Bridge’s test, you are not yet disciples of Yanmiao Pavilion. The pavilion master must still review you. Board the boat first."

With that, the middle-aged cultivator tossed out a bamboo boat no larger than a palm. The moment it touched the wind, it expanded into a great vessel. The chosen filed aboard, and the ship surged forward, cutting through the waves at speed toward the island at the lake’s heart.

Somewhere behind them, the Cloud Bridge had vanished without a trace, the mist dispersed. Soon, the ship reached the island. Without pause, it entered the misty sea.

Billows of white mist surged like giant waves, parting to either side. Within, everything was white. One careless step could leave one lost.

Faces turned reverent. The incarnation, more experienced than most, discerned the truth. This mist sea was not a powerful spiritual array, merely a common illusion array.

His Sky-Eyed Butterfly had once spied upon Yanmiao Pavilion. At the center of the mist was more than a single lake island, but a large water region sealed by illusions.

With Yanmiao Pavilion’s strength, they could not have arranged such a vast top-grade array. Their true protective array must be deeper within.

The middle-aged cultivator made no gestures, yet the bamboo ship steered itself smoothly through the fog. Soon the scene before them opened wide.

Vast waters stretched into the distance. Several verdant peaks rose from the lake, tall as the mountains outside.

Between them, bridges of white jade arched, with silhouettes of people upon them. Some bridges were draped in trailing vines that hung from high above, some long enough to brush the water’s surface.

The vines swayed gently in the breeze, forming natural curtains. The scene brimmed with vitality.

It was like stepping into a celestial realm. The beauty stunned the poor rogue cultivators into silence. The incarnation’s face froze.

Mountains rising from water, men dwelling among peaks... This sight stirred long-buried memories of Shaohua Mountain in his heart. There had been enemies, and also friends.

That period of his life had not been wholly pleasant, yet it was where he had undergone several transformations. Decades had passed in a blink. Are those people still alive? He thought.

"The peaks ahead are where Yanmiao Pavilion is located. If all goes well, this shall be where you will cultivate from now on..." The middle-aged cultivator’s voice pulled them back from their daze. He tapped his foot, and the bamboo ship lifted from the water, shooting toward one of the verdant peaks.

As they neared, the cultivator flashed his waist token, and they flew past unhindered, alighting on a stone platform midway up the mountain.

The platform connected to a stone path that stretched straight to the summit. Among the trees above, one could glimpse the outlines of imposing halls.

"Come. Follow me to meet the pavilion master!" The middle-aged cultivator led the way, climbing the stone steps with the group in tow.