Gateway of Immortality

Qilong Island.

This long, narrow island, resembling a prostrated ancient dragon, was named for its shape[1]. Though modest in size, its abundance of spiritual power made it a prime location for a cave dwelling, earning it some renown over the years. After the Liu Brothers took it over, Qilong Island became even more well-known.

The Liu Brothers practiced the same cultivation art, and both were remarkably gifted. At a young age, they reached the thirteenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, with a potential chance of achieving the Foundation Building Realm if fortune favored them.

Even while still in the Qi Refining Realm, the two of them could join forces to fight Foundation Building cultivators. Should they advance to Foundation Building, they would become even more formidable, so few rogue cultivators dared provoke them.

The Liu family members resided on Qilong Island, enjoying a peaceful and fitting life under the protection of the Liu Brothers. However, this tranquility was destined to shatter after the brothers' passing.

That morning, the usually composed butler of the Liu Residence barged hastily into the inner residence, a look of panic on his face. He tripped over the doorstep, nearly falling, but paid no heed to his own embarrassment.

Hearing the commotion, Liu Jiang’s wife stepped out from her room, frowning as she questioned him in displeasure, "What could be so urgent, Uncle Wu, that you rush in like this?"

"Madam, it’s a disaster! A disaster!"

Uncle Wu hurried to her side, whispering a few words in her ear.

Uncle Wu looked grief-stricken. "The two masters’ bodies… are in the ancestral hall!"

…

Hidden in the shadows, Qin Sang observed the Liu Family discovering the brothers’ bodies, then drifted away quietly. As for the family’s future without its pillars of support, that was no longer his concern.

Having asked Shopkeeper Wu to help locate a Ghost Feather and refine an Essence-Devouring Spike, Qin Sang left the market to wrap up his journey. He planned to travel to Mingqin Island to lay Senior Sister Qingting and her husband to rest, and since he would pass by Qilong Island, he took the opportunity to return the Liu Brothers’ bodies.

Leaving the Liu Family’s shock behind, Qin Sang headed south. After traveling for over ten days, he finally found the unremarkable little island Senior Sister Qingting had described.

Qingting and her husband had named it Mingqin Island. It wasn’t a famous place, just a solitary mountain with no notable features or spiritual richness, except for the cliff on the eastern shore, which stood steeply above the water.

On that cliff was an enormous carving, crafted with a treasured sword—a grand image or, rather, a statue.

A man and woman held each other close, gazing toward the east, where they could witness the sunrise together every day.

The statue had been there for some time, its surface weathered and worn, but it was clear that the carved figures were Senior Brother Jiang and Senior Sister Qingting.

Beside the statue stood a small stone chamber with a few simple household items inside.

Qin Sang could imagine how, after Senior Brother Jiang’s accident, his primordial spirit began to fade, and Senior Sister Qingting roamed the cultivation world in search of a cure, pleading with anyone who might help, clinging to any sliver of hope without the slightest hesitation.

Only when she returned here, watching the sunrise and recalling past sweetness, could she find a brief respite and allow herself to smile.

Love was truly an enigma.

With a gentle sigh, Qin Sang used his sword to dig a grave beneath the statue and buried Senior Sister Qingting and her husband there. He erected a stone tablet and, though he’d initially intended to inscribe a short epitaph, decided against it, leaving only a simple engraving: "Shared Grave of Jiang Yi and Qingting." Then, he arranged a few protective arrays.

The two small arrays he set up included a concealment art and a protective barrier.

Qin Sang should have left right away, yet he stood there, gazing at the statue for a long time, unmoving. Forgotten memories surged up, each vying for his attention.

Since coming to this world, the only woman he had ever admired was Dongyang Lady. She once said they were alike, both seeking a sliver of possibility amidst impossibility, unwavering as they traversed a path strewn with thorns. Perhaps that was why he respected her so.

Regrettably, despite their mutual admiration, their ambitions diverged—his heart was set on immortality, while Dongyang Lady was unshakeable in her pursuit of the pinnacle of power.

What if I have chosen to stay back then?

Would a life of harmonious companionship and material prosperity have been more meaningful than pursuing the elusive path to immortality?

For countless years, countless Spiritual Realm cultivators in the Small Cold Domain had ultimately met their end; none had even broken through to the Divine Transformation Realm, let alone achieved immortality.

A trace of confusion had just surfaced in Qin Sang's eyes, but it suddenly cleared. He shook his head vigorously and gazed resolutely eastward.

There, the rising sun bathed the sky in red light.

There were no "what ifs."

Having chosen this path, he would walk it unwaveringly, with no regrets, even if it meant death and the annihilation of his Dao.

Qin Sang joined the Qingting couple in witnessing the sunrise, then departed gracefully.

…

After returning to his cave dwelling, Qin Sang organized the spoils he’d obtained from the underground chamber, sorting them into categories. He kept the items that suited him and made plans to dispose of those he didn’t need.

After the life-and-death struggles within the cavern, Qin Sang had also gained new insights into his cultivation art. However, he didn’t rush into training. Instead, he prepared to delve deeply into the Heavenly Yin Corpse Art, aiming to achieve success on his first attempt at refining a malevolent corpse.

Five days later, Qin Sang opened his eyes, nodding with satisfaction.

Currently, he had only the corpse of Hermit Baiyun, with no living Foundation Building cultivator on hand. The most basic malevolent corpse didn’t require a Heavenly Corpse Talisman; he only needed to gather the necessary spiritual materials and refine it patiently. The one challenge lay in the Earth Malevolent Qi, which was exceedingly dangerous; one misstep could not only destroy the malevolent corpse but also injure him.

Such risk was no deterrent to Qin Sang. Hermit Baiyun had nearly reached the middle stage of Foundation Building Realm; a malevolent corpse refined from his body would possess considerable strength and could become a reliable helper.

The malevolent corpses he had encountered in the underground chamber had seemed easy to handle, but they were ownerless, lacking intelligence and acting purely on instincts of bloodlust. With a skilled controller, however, a malevolent corpse would become an entirely different force—its physical body durable, carrying corpse poison, fearless of pain or death, and highly capable if wielded wisely.

Even if only used to pester an opponent and buy time to prepare the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, it would be well worth it.

Today was the day Shopkeeper Wu had set for delivery. Qin Sang sealed off his cave dwelling and traveled by sword to Huilong Temple first. There were no new Sound Transmission Talismans, nor any news from Granny Jing.

When he arrived at Shopkeeper Wu’s store, Qin Sang found exactly what he’d ordered: ten Ghost Feathers and two Essence-Devouring Spikes!

The Ghost Feathers resembled the legendary Black Phoenix Feathers, with a large eye-like pattern on each feather. The "pupil" was an intensely dark flame—a rare and unusual yin fire.

Shopkeeper Wu had secured six Ghost Feathers as Qin Sang requested. Given the short turnaround time, the price had been exorbitant.

Qin Sang also paid the fee for refining the Essence-Devouring Spikes.

In total, from purchasing the Nine-Orifice Stone and Blue Nether Gold at Treasure Tower Peak to now, he had spent over eight hundred low-grade spirit stones. Of course, part of this was due to his foresight in preparing extra yin-based items of the Five Elements.

1. The "long" in "Qilong" translates to dragon in Chinese. ☜

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