Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 1007: Reunion

The Zhou Family Island was home to the Zhou Family, a cultivation family said to have once produced a Spiritual Infant grandmaster. Because of that, the island had retained the Zhou name ever since.

After the death of their Spiritual Infant grandmaster, the Zhou Family gradually declined. Yet even in decline, a thin camel was still larger than a horse. Compared to small sects, the Zhou Family remained relatively powerful and well-known among the cultivation world in the surrounding seas.

The previous head of the family had been a top-tier cultivator, second only to Spiritual Infant experts.

For reasons unknown, that patriarch suddenly abdicated, passing the position to his descendants before setting off alone on a journey.

Strangely, after his departure, the family became even more prosperous. The younger generation began to spend extravagantly, as if they had stumbled upon some unexpected fortune.

Then, twenty years ago, the Zhou Family abruptly announced the island’s closure to outsiders.

It was not until two years ago that their disciples began to reappear in the outside world, behaving with extraordinary restraint and secrecy. Few could guess the reasons behind these changes.

The island was not only home to cultivators of the Zhou Family but also to many mortals who lived peacefully under their protection.

In one of the mortal cities, a plain-looking man entered the gates. He strolled aimlessly for a while before leaving the city. Once he was alone, his appearance changed. It was Qin Sang.

"I didn’t expect the Zhou Family to have such a deep background. Their cultivation grounds must be protected by a powerful array. It seems quietly paying respects to Elder Zhou’s tomb and returning his jade pendant will be impossible." With a flicker of thought, Qin Sang’s figure vanished, heading toward the island’s depths.

Before long, he appeared within a forest. Gazing at the mist-covered mountains ahead, he nodded slightly. Just as I thought.

After a moment of contemplation, he quietly withdrew.

In the largest mortal city on the island stood a magnificent palace, said to be the residence of immortals. Mortals dared not approach and could only admire its grandeur from afar.

This palace actually belonged to a member of the Zhou Family, one who had been sent to oversee mortal affairs after his immortal path reached a dead end.

Inside the palace, an elderly man with white hair and beard crouched on the ground, tending to a lush garden like a humble farmer. The old man was a cultivator at the Foundation Building Realm.

What was surprising was that none of the plants in his garden were spiritual herbs, only common mortal flowers. Yet he cared for them with utmost attention, his touch gentle and patient, fully absorbed in the task.

After a long while, he straightened, looked upon his work with satisfaction, and nodded approvingly before turning toward the house.

Creak! As he pushed open the door, the smile on his face froze.

On the previously empty table now rested a jade pendant. Someone had entered right under his nose without him noticing. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His spiritual consciousness swept across the surroundings but sensed no one.

Then he noticed a line carved into the table. "My old friend has passed. The keepsake returns to its owner."

The old man froze, then, as realization struck him, his face changed dramatically. Grabbing the pendant, he rushed out of the city, flying straight toward the Zhou Family’s inner domain.

Qin Sang, unconcerned about the Zhou Family’s reaction, departed immediately after returning Elder Zhou’s relic.

***

A flying carriage sped across the endless ocean. The white crane had become the driver. Qin Sang stood by the railing, gazing into the distance. Before long, the silhouette of a massive island appeared on the horizon.

He recalled the crane, then flashed down onto the island. Upon entering the city, he headed straight toward his cave dwelling only to find it empty. Bai was not there, and there was no sign of Ning Wuhui either.

There’s still more than a month before the appointed time... Qin Sang thought for a moment and decided not to act rashly. Before parting, Ning Wuhui had mentioned that he might not remain at Heavenly Dao Sect permanently and could be traveling elsewhere.

So Qin Sang settled down in the cave dwelling to cultivate quietly. Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

While he was meditating, he suddenly sensed the cave’s barrier being disturbed. A sweep of his spiritual consciousness revealed that the visitor was none other than Ning Wuhui.

"Daoist Ning!" Qin Sang’s heart lifted with joy as he hurried out to greet him.

"Daoist Qin!" Ning Wuhui replied, greeting with a fist-and-palm salute.

"Daoist Ning, have you heard any news? Has the date for Seven-Kill Hall’s emergence been determined?" The moment Ning Wuhui entered the cave dwelling, Qin Sang couldn’t help asking.

Ning Wuhui nodded. "Daoist Qin, there’s no need to worry. Several seniors of Heavenly Dao Sect are stationed in the storm belt, monitoring the changes in the celestial array of Seven-Kill Hall. Rumor has it that it will appear within the next two years."

"Two years... Seems like I’ll have to stay in seclusion and wait." He paused, then quickly asked, "It’s said that those who enter the inner hall of Seven-Kill Hall can obtain great benefits, is that true?"

Previously, Qin Sang’s main concern had been returning to the Small Cold Domain, so he had only inquired about the outer hall.

But now that he intended to explore the inner hall, he had taken time on Tianshing Island to investigate. Most of the rumors he heard were vague and inconsistent.

Fortunately, with his current cultivation, he had access to higher circles. After paying the right price, he managed to learn several useful details, though it was hard to tell truth from fiction.

Ning Wuhui nodded knowingly. "Yes, it’s said that those who enter the inner hall must undergo a trial. Those who complete it fully will receive a treasure as a reward. The trial was supposedly left behind by seniors to ensure the human race’s continued prosperity. But passing it is not easy as it’s extremely dangerous..."

"Rumor has it Seven-Kill Hall was first discovered by the Four Saints. So, the seniors who left the trials... Were they the Four Saints themselves?" Qin Sang said, recalling the four sacred mountains on Tianshing Island.

"Perhaps!" Ning Wuhui was uncertain as well. "The era of the Four Saints is far too distant. Many truths from that time have long been lost, leaving only countless legends and rumors about them."

Qin Sang was deeply intrigued by the Four Saints and sighed softly. "If they were the ones who discovered Seven-Kill Hall, they must have obtained countless treasures. Only then could they have turned the tide and forced back the witch race. I wonder what was their cultivation in the end. Did they ever cross the storm belt and reach other immortal cultivation worlds?"

There were no legends of the Four Saints within the Small Cold Domain. Perhaps they had never gone there, or perhaps they acted too discreetly.

Qin Sang suspected the former was more likely. Otherwise, the cultivators of the Small Cold Domain and Ziwei Palace would surely have clashed over them; there would have been some trace left behind.

Even the Four Saints had never known of the ancient teleportation array’s existence, proving how well hidden it was. Without the guidance of Senior Qingzhu, it would have been nearly impossible for Qin Sang to locate it on his own.

Qin Sang and Ning Wuhui discussed privately within the cave dwelling for quite some time. After sending Ning Wuhui off, Qin Sang stood at the cave entrance, frowning as he gazed into the distance.

The appointed time was drawing near, yet there was still no sign of Bai. It wasn’t until the very day before the meeting that Bai finally hurried back.

Seeing that Bai was unharmed, Qin Sang breathed a sigh of relief. But soon, he noticed that Bai’s aura was far weaker than before and immediately asked, "Daoist, did you encounter a powerful foe?"

Bai sighed. "Not an enemy, but an accident. I was trapped somewhere for several months and nearly missed the rendezvous. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything of value."