Gateway of Immortality

Upon hearing this, the others looked at the Liu Brothers with some surprise.

Though they were at the thirteenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, appearing only a step away from Foundation Building, the gap between the two realms could not be measured so simply.

It was the first time Qin Sang had heard that two cultivators at the thirteenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm could combine their strength to match that of Foundation Building cultivators. The art they cultivated seemed quite unique.

The Liu Brothers resembled each other, but their personalities were slightly different; the elder brother, Liu Jiang, was more composed.

Liu Jiang clasped his hands respectfully and said, "I apologize for being a laughing stock, my esteemed seniors. We are twin brothers, and since childhood, we have had a kind of mutual sensing, which allows us to cultivate this art. My younger brother and I can connect our souls, giving our primordial spirits greater defensive capabilities than most. Together, we have several spells with considerable power, but they still pale in comparison to your abilities. Senior Yu was just exaggerating."

Everyone chuckled lightly, not delving deeper into the matter, trusting or not was up to them.

Qingting slightly bowed, surveying the group, and spoke, "Junior Brother Yu and I invited all of you to explore together because we believe in your abilities; they will be a great asset to us. Junior Brother Yu has surely briefed you on the various aspects of the ancient cultivator's relic, including its pros and cons, so I won’t elaborate further. The reason for this gathering is to hear your commitment."

Yu Dayue added, "To operate the array-breaking artifacts, we need seven people. If all of you can agree, I won’t have to ask others. I’ll distribute the artifacts to you, and once you refine them to your liking, we can set off immediately."

After speaking, Qingting and Yu Dayue quietly watched Qin Sang and the others.

A moment of silence followed, with no one speaking, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

Wu Yuesheng cleared his throat and said, "Senior Sister Qingting and Senior Brother Yu, I have already promised and will not go back on my word. However, I have a question: I am not afraid of the demonic sound barrier outside the ancient cultivator's relic, but what dangers lie within? Senior Brother Yu mentioned that you have been preparing for years to refine the artifacts used to break the array. Forgive my curiosity, but could we take a look at them?"

Yu Dayue glanced at Qingting and, seeing her nod, replied, "Junior Brother Wu and all fellow Daoists need not worry. Senior Sister Qingting and I have tested it multiple times; the array itself poses no danger. It is primarily a water-based barrier, but it is exceptionally sturdy. Alone, we could not shake this array and had to return to the mountain to seek a way to break it. Senior Sister Qingting found a type of artifact called the Fire Crow Token at Treasure Tower Peak. Water and fire are opposites, and with each person holding a Fire Crow Token to form an array targeting the array's weak points, our chances of breaking it are significantly increased, which is why we invited you all to assist us."

As he spoke, Yu Dayue took out a token-shaped artifact from his Mustard Seed Pouch and displayed it to everyone.

Seeing this strange artifact, Qin Sang's eyes flashed with surprise. The token was less than a palm’s length, with pointed ends and a disk shape near the top, entirely white, almost pallid, and formed from countless delicate skeletal structures.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that the bones were shaped like bird claws, tightly gripping one another to form a mass, ultimately taking on the shape of a token—an incredibly eerie sight.

At the center, surrounded by the bird claws, was a swirl of dark-green flames that shifted and changed, sometimes forming the shape of a Fire Crow, as if it sealed the essence of a Fire Crow within. The Fire Crow struggled against its bindings, its flames burning fiercely but to no avail, silently opening its mouth in a voiceless cry.

The moment Yu Dayue revealed the Fire Crow Token, an intensely pure fire-based energy surged forth, causing Qin Sang’s face to feel a slight sting from the heat, indicating the token's power was undoubtedly formidable.

"Each Fire Crow Token is crafted from the bones of a spirit bird adept in fire manipulation. Collecting the materials was not easy; Senior Sister Qingting and I traveled to many markets to gather the seven required Fire Crow Tokens. Once this token is refined, it transforms the fire-elemental energy contained within the bird bones into the Fire Crow's essence. It not only possesses great power but also has a volatile temperament, which can only be fully tamed by cultivators at the Foundation Building Realm, allowing them to command the essence at will to break the array… The Liu Brothers should also be able to do this."

After explaining, Yu Dayue passed the Fire Crow Token around for everyone to examine.

When it was Qin Sang's turn, he reached out to grasp the Fire Crow Token, and a piercing cry of the Fire Crow suddenly rang in his mind. Qin Sang appeared unfazed, following Yu Dayue's instructions to probe the token with a thread of spiritual power, only to have it easily dispersed by the Fire Crow's essence.

Qin Sang secretly nodded; the Fire Crow's essence within the token was indeed fierce, making it difficult for a Qi Refining Realm cultivator to control and command it.

However, once the Fire Crow's essence was released to break the array and the fire-elemental energy was consumed, he wondered if it could be replenished afterward. If not, this artifact might only be usable a few times, or it might become unusable after breaking the array.

Finally, the Fire Crow Token reached the hands of Hermit Baiyun. After returning the token to Yu Dayue, he stroked his long beard thoughtfully and said, "From your descriptions, I can’t help but feel that the array resembles some sort of seal. Is it possible that there is some evil entity sealed inside? How much do you two know about this ancient cultivator's relic?"

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances. The purpose of exploring the relic was to seek treasures; releasing an evil entity would be a heavy loss.

Qingting’s expression remained unchanged as she replied, "That array not only obstructs vision but also seals off spiritual consciousness, so we are unaware of what lies within. However, based on my analysis with Junior Brother Yu, this array does not appear to be a seal; it seems more like a protective array originally designed for the ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. Even if there is indeed an evil entity sealed inside, given the strength of the array, its power shouldn’t be too high. With so many Foundation Building cultivators here, we need not fear it. Otherwise, there must be another layer of sealing inside, and at that point, we can decide based on the circumstances."

Hermit Baiyun nodded slightly, but Liu Shan suddenly spoke up, "As rogue cultivators, my brother and I agreed to help you two seniors because we seek the treasure to break through our limits. We understand the principle of seeking fortune in danger, so we aren't afraid of any evil entities. However, our strength pales in comparison to yours. If the danger behind the array is evident, yet you insist on proceeding, should we also follow you into certain death?"

Seeing that everyone appeared to agree with Liu Shan, Qingting and Yu Dayue exchanged a glance and pondered for a moment before responding, "What you said makes perfect sense, Daoist Liu. However, we also came to break through limits, and we have already invested significant resources to search for the relic and refine the artifacts. Unless it’s a place of certain death, we will not give up."

"If any of you are concerned about safety and prefer not to enter the relic, we can arrange for your return. This would be equivalent to hiring you to assist us in breaking the array, following the customary practices of the immortal cultivation world. After the task is completed, you would receive some compensation. However, under these circumstances, from the moment we set off, you must obey our arrangements."