Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 256: Firebirds Revisited

Before they knew it, the clouds were already within arm’s reach.

Upon stepping onto the clouds, they discovered that there was no mist or fog swirling as they had imagined. Instead, they found themselves on what could only be considered the middle of the mountain's slope. The view above was wide open, but the area was heavily surrounded by layers of barriers.

What was even more astonishing was that from the peak of the mountain, an endless surge of fire-elemental energy was spewing out from the volcano's depths. As soon as Qin Sang stepped onto the clouds, he immediately felt a blast of scorching heat rush toward him, making the air unbearably hot.

This mountain peak was actually a giant volcano—and it was still active!

If not for the clouds acting as a barrier, the entire ancient estate would have been swept away by the volcanic eruption and the fire-elemental energy it emitted. The plants and trees at the outer edges, which might have still had a chance to survive, would have been reduced to ashes, and all life would be obliterated.

Countless Firebirds were flying in and out of the volcano's mouth. Their numbers were so great that they gathered in large flocks, and the area above the volcano's mouth seemed to be covered in a layer of crimson clouds.

Much like the monkeys in the underground caverns, these Firebirds had dark red bodies. Their power far exceeded that of their counterparts in the trial space, and they, too, were bound by invisible barriers, unable to stray too far from the volcano's mouth. They could only circle in the air above it.

It seemed that the interior of the volcano was the Firebirds' nesting ground.

Seeing the Firebirds, Qin Sang’s heart stirred, and he subconsciously clenched his palm. His gaze shifted subtly, eventually resting on the edge of the volcano’s mouth, as if searching for something.

The mountain path led directly to the summit and extended into the volcano's mouth.

Looking at the structures along the path, they didn’t resemble those found in the ancient cultivator’s estate. There was no sign of Daoist Master Xuanyu in sight, and the path led straight into the volcano. Could it be that the ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling was built within the mountain itself?

One, two, three, four...

Qin Sang silently counted the layers of barriers along the mountain path. The final barrier, the one closest to the volcano's mouth and the Firebirds, was a stone hall.

The stone hall had been subjected to the impact of fiery energy for years. Its surface had developed a layer of red glaze, smooth and seamless, as if it were forged from red jade.

If nothing unexpected happened, it seemed that this stone hall would be the one he needed to enter.

Qin Sang lowered his head, his gaze inward, lost in thought.

Di Que casually scanned the area above but did not find Daoist Master Xuanyu. He looked at the Firebirds swarming around the volcano’s mouth, furrowing his brows, yet said nothing.

The ground suddenly shook violently.

The tremor came quickly and disappeared just as fast.

Di Que was momentarily stunned.

Ren Hong, after hesitating for a moment, whispered, "The tremor doesn’t seem to have come from beneath our feet…"

Qin Sang nodded in agreement, his gaze shifting as he looked toward the left side of the horizon.

Though it was invisible to the naked eye, he keenly sensed that the source of the tremor was likely in that direction—the very same mountain peak that Sikong Muyue had ascended and then descended from. It should have been devoid of people by now, so he wondered what had happened inside, or whether Sikong Muyue had done something there.

They waited for a while, but no further tremors came.

Di Que withdrew his gaze and coldly said, "Continue."

…

The stone hall was like a perfect porcelain vessel, its solidified glaze reflecting light that was not simply red but carried halos resembling neon, truly beautiful.

Qin Sang flexed his left arm.

He had been ambushed by a barrier just moments ago, and his left arm had almost been severed. Fortunately, the medicinal effects of Di Que's pills had saved him, and now it was no longer a problem.

As they continued their journey, Qin Sang had broken over twenty barriers, and the further they advanced, the stronger the power of the barriers became. Given his limited cultivation, Qin Sang often felt lost, and it was only with Di Que's guidance that he could proceed. Countless close calls made Qin Sang feel the terrifying strength of a Core Formation Realm cultivator.

Had it not been for the spirit talismans and secret markings left by Daoist Master Xuanyu, Di Que would not have needed to go through such trouble. The impression Di Que left on Qin Sang could only be described as unfathomable.

Qin Sang's understanding of barrier arts was also progressing rapidly.

Accompanied by the harsh grinding sound of stone, Qin Sang pushed open the heavy stone doors.

Just as Qin Sang entered the stone hall, Ren Hong, who had been feigning meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. He looked at Di Que's back, then up at the swarming Firebirds, his face a mixture of hesitation and fear.

Finally, fear took the upper hand. Ren Hong gritted his teeth and kneeled. "I bow to the Master. I beg you not to send me to test the Firebirds."

Di Que turned around, giving Ren Hong a half-smiling, half-amused look. "Have you seen them?"

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Ren Hong nodded. "During the trial, the second stage involved a swarm of Firebirds. Their cries can strike at the primordial spirit. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but when I was surrounded by tens of thousands of them, I realized how terrifying they were. I nearly lost my primordial spirit and died. The Firebirds here are surely stronger than those in the trial space. I fear that just a few hundred of them would be enough to kill me easily."

"Sound waves strike at the primordial spirit?"

Di Que raised his head and thoughtfully observed the swarming Firebirds, his eyes clearly filled with excitement.

Qin Sang finally emerged from the stone hall. He looked disheveled, his left hand clutching his abdomen, his face deathly pale, and his steps unsteady.

A horrific claw mark was visible on his belly, nearly splitting open his skin to expose the organs beneath. The wound was covered in growing granulation tissue, and Qin Sang had taken a pill in advance, the medicinal energy slowly working to heal him.

Above the stone hall was the edge of the volcano's mouth, and they could almost see the entire opening. It was bottomless, packed with Firebirds—countless numbers, endless in their swarm.

Before Qin Sang could steady himself, he suddenly heard Di Que's warning. "Don't move!"

Immediately, the Heavenly Sound Conch in his hand flashed brightly, and an unprecedented wave of divine sound energy howled out, rushing toward him with lightning speed.

Below was the volcano's mouth. Daoist Master Xuanyu would never have failed to leave secret markings at the mountain's peak. Just as Qin Sang had expected.

With his back to Di Que, a glimmer of excitement flashed in Qin Sang's eyes.

Suddenly, Qin Sang turned. On the wall of the stone hall, visible to the naked eye, a distortion appeared. The wall shimmered with an azure light, and upon closer inspection, eight different spirit talismans were embedded within it, forming an Eight Trigrams Array, extremely well hidden.

The placement of these talismans was highly peculiar.

They were designed to catch someone who had just escaped danger and was not on their guard.

But Qin Sang wasn’t alone. Di Que had been monitoring the surrounding space the entire time. When the talisman array was triggered by Qin Sang, it seemed poised to explode, but Di Que got the first move.

The divine sound's power instantly split into eight streams, like ropes, binding the talismans. Not a single talisman was activated.

As the azure light flared, it was quickly extinguished.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Qin Sang moved!

He forcefully threw the Heavenly Sound Conch from his hand, leaped forward, and with a single step, soared toward the volcano’s mouth on his sword. In that instant, he put all his strength into it, and the sword qi shot out like a rainbow.

"Seeking death!"

Di Que's thunderous roar echoed through the primordial spirit space.

But Qin Sang paid no heed.

Di Que sneered in extreme anger, his face full of disdain.

The Heavenly Sound Conch, just leaving Qin Sang's hand, vanished in place. The next moment, it reappeared above Qin Sang's head, descending from the air!