Gateway of Immortality

"Upon entering the stone stele, you’ll encounter trials left behind by the master of the ancient estate. The specifics remain unknown. Based on previous clues, it’s certain there will be dangers, but not to the extent of a life-threatening trap. As long as you remain cautious, you should be fine. Those who successfully pass the trials will gain access to the ancient cultivator's estate. Aside from a few perilous locations, the estate will be open for exploration. How much you gain will depend on your luck and capability. However, if you notice signs of anomalies within the estate, retreat to the entrance immediately. Otherwise, even I may not be able to save you…"

These were the parting words transmitted by Che Yutao to Qin Sang before they entered the black hole.

The presence of dangerous areas within the ancient estate was something Qin Sang had anticipated. Though their exact locations were uncertain, one could sense their presence from the power of the barriers and protective arrays guarding them.

What, then, did Che Yutao mean by "anomalies"?

Perhaps even he wasn’t entirely sure.

…

Once all the Foundation Building disciples were sent into the black hole, the five Core Formation Realm cultivators exchanged glances. Sikong Muyue spoke firmly, "The barriers we encounter differ from those faced by the younger generation only in strength. The principles governing the barriers’ changes remain consistent. By now, everyone should be familiar with the array we just used, correct?"

The elder Di Que chuckled hoarsely. "No need to trouble Fairy Sikong further. The Nine Radiant Galaxy Array is hardly a challenge for us old folks."

Ignoring Di Que’s laughter, Sikong Muyue cautioned, "Our trials will differ from those of the juniors, and the difficulty will match the strength of Core Formation Realm cultivators. According to the clues, the trials won’t be simple. I urge everyone to remain vigilant."

The five quickly assumed their positions, forming a five-person Nine Radiant Galaxy Array. The starlit sky above them grew deeper, and the starlight became brighter and more radiant, with each star as luminous as a full moon.

"With our combined strength, we shouldn’t be stopped by the trials. My real concern is that the treasures inside may have already been looted by the demonic sects, leaving nothing but an empty shell. That would be a complete waste of time and effort."

Du Yi, sect leader of the Qingluo Sect, sighed deeply. Gently patting his treasure mirror, he enveloped himself in its light before transforming into a streak of starlight and flying deeper into the void, leaving these words behind.

Di Que let out a strange laugh, stepping forward with his single foot. Following closely behind Du Yi, he sneered. "Whether or not there are treasures in the estate doesn’t matter to me. It’s got nothing to do with me anyway. Frankly, I’m looking forward to seeing all of you return empty-handed. Hahaha…"

Che Yutao was about to move when he noticed Daoist Master Xuanyu staring intently at the black hole with a peculiar expression. Curious, he asked, "What are you looking at, Old Geezer?"

Daoist Master Xuanyu appeared deep in thought.

"If the trials within the estate are manageable, once Daoist Sikong improves the array, it will be much easier for groups of three to enter in the future. This place could then serve as an excellent training ground for our disciples."

Che Yutao seemed intrigued. "This area is in the middle region. Foundation Building disciples could reach it on their own without encountering significant danger. It does seem ideal. But it’s still too early to say. For now, focus on how to pass the trials yourself, Old Geezer."

…

Upon entering the black hole, the array was immediately disrupted by the barrier’s immense force and dissolved entirely.

Qin Sang felt as though he had fallen into a stormy sea, his body completely out of his control. He watched helplessly as the group of nine was scattered, leaving him at the mercy of the barrier’s force, which hurled him rapidly toward the stone stele.

Recalling the experiences of Wandering Man and the others, Qin Sang was not too worried about being crushed to death. However, he activated his spiritual power to shield his body fully, just in case he encountered immediate danger after entering the stele and had no time to react.

In the blink of an eye, he was just a breath away from the stele. The next moment, he was pulled into it by a swirling vortex. His surroundings spun violently before he found himself in an unfamiliar space.

A dazzling golden light filled his vision. Qin Sang’s first instinct was to activate an evasion technique, concealing his presence. He then summoned the ebony sword to guard himself before carefully observing his surroundings.

He stood within a radiant passageway bathed in golden light.

Narrowing his eyes, Qin Sang noticed that the walls and floor of the passage were entirely paved with golden bricks, stretching endlessly toward a distant point beyond his sight.

Despite the demonic sect’s occupation of the ancient immortal estate for quite some time—and the countless years before they had discovered it—the golden bricks of the passage remained pristine.

There was no sign of wear or damage, their gleaming luster exuding an air of immense opulence.

The passage was not particularly wide, only allowing five people to walk side by side.

From the moment Qin Sang appeared until now, the passageway had remained eerily silent—no sound, no enemies, and no sign of what this so-called trial might entail.

However, Qin Sang noticed something unusual about the golden glow on the walls. Focusing intently, his expression suddenly turned grim—there were portraits of golden-armored generals on the walls.

At regular intervals, a new portrait appeared on either side of the walls, each depicting a golden-armored general with a unique stance and demeanor.

All the generals wore full-body golden armor, their faces obscured by faceplates. It was impossible to discern their features; only the two empty sockets where their eyes should have been were visible, filled with a blinding golden light.

The difference lay in their weapons. Each general wielded something distinct—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, and more.

At a glance, the portraits appeared lifeless, yet Qin Sang couldn’t shake the sensation that countless gazes were locked onto him from beneath those faceplates. Even though he was concealed using an evasion technique, it felt as though he couldn’t escape their scrutiny.

He stood on guard for a while longer, but nothing stirred. Deep in thought, he wondered. Could it be that advancing forward would trigger the trial?

Looking around and confirming that no one else was nearby, Qin Sang reached toward his waist and retrieved a zombie from his Corpse Puppet Pouch. With a command, the cyan-faced, fanged creature leaped forward, speeding down the passageway.

Whoosh!

The zombie turned into a series of blurred images, closing the distance to the first two portraits in the blink of an eye.

Qin Sang glanced briefly at the zombie before shifting his focus to the two portraits. The instant the zombie passed between them, his eyes gleamed with understanding. As expected!

The moment the zombie crossed the space between the portraits, the golden light on them began to flow like rippling water. Immediately afterward, the golden-armored generals depicted in the portraits sprang to life. Their eyes blazed with divine light as their weapons cut effortlessly through the air. Then, in the blink of an eye, they disappeared from the walls.

What happened next caught Qin Sang off guard. The corpse puppet remained unharmed, facing no obstacles or attacks. Instead, the passage's entrance suddenly echoed with Qin Sang’s own enraged shout.

He hadn’t anticipated that the two golden-armored generals, roused by the corpse puppet, would ignore it entirely and instead charge straight toward him. Despite being hidden, the generals had no trouble pinpointing his exact location and dragging him out of concealment.

Two phantoms of golden-armored generals materialized out of thin air on either side of him, flanking him left and right. Each wielded an identical golden sword.

Before the figures even reached him, their sword qi surged forth.

Two arcs of golden sword qi slashed through the void, cutting toward him diagonally.