Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 1003: Years After Parting

Qin Sang followed the two women through a narrow stone passage. Suddenly, the tunnel opened up, revealing a scene that looked like a paradise.

Flowers bloomed in riotous colors, waterfalls cascaded into clear streams, and young girls danced gracefully among the blossoms as bees and butterflies fluttered around them.

Qin Sang took a deep breath, feeling a rare sense of peace wash over him. He had once imagined that if he could abandon the pursuit of the elusive path to immortality and instead find a serene, paradise-like cave dwelling to spend the rest of his life in, that too would be a life well lived.

"Our sect has long shown signs of decline. Master, who served as sect leader, had only reached the late stage of the Foundation Building Realm. After her passing, my sister and I set up an additional defensive array and later recruited a few disciples to keep the sect alive. It is a humble place, and I hope Daoist Master will not find it laughable," Wang Shi said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she smiled faintly.

Qin Sang glanced at her subconsciously. She seemed somehow different from before, as though she had undergone a quiet transformation, though he could not tell why.

Under the curious gazes of the young disciples, Qin Sang followed the sisters into a bamboo building.

"These disciples seem quite talented. You two have put in great effort," Qin Sang remarked with a faint smile when he noticed that all the disciples in the sect were female.

Wang Xiang bustled about excitedly, first serving spiritual tea and then bringing out a basket of spiritual fruits. She urged Qin Sang to try them, claiming that they were delicious.

Qin Sang smiled and did not stand on ceremony. As he chatted with the sisters, they reminisced about the past.

"By the way, Fei You warned me back then and then separated from us. Has he come by since?" Qin Sang asked.

Wang Shi smiled gently. "Fei You truly has a good heart. He never came by, but he found a way to send us a message. That is how we learned that Daoist Master’s strength had long surpassed what we imagined."

Her bright eyes flickered with curiosity. "Fei You also said Daoist Master was accompanied by several late-stage Core Formation experts. I wonder, where are those companions now?"

"Fei You exaggerated a little. You’ve both seen the Two-Headed Hou. Its strength has grown immensely and can now fight cultivators at the late stage of the Core Formation Realm. One of those companions was just my external incarnation. The other was not a follower, merely someone who happened to lend a hand. But after Fei You left..."

He smiled bitterly. "Old Devil Mou found me. My incarnation self-destructed, and I was forced to release the Two-Headed Hou before narrowly escaping with my life..."

Qin Sang briefly recounted what had happened, and the two sisters gasped repeatedly, their faces filled with tension and disbelief.

Being hunted by Old Devil Mou had cost him dearly. Having kept it bottled up all this time, Qin Sang finally felt a bit of relief in sharing it.

"Oh right!" Qin Sang added gravely, "Old Devil Mou may still be alive. He will surely continue searching for me. You and Fei You must be cautious and never expose your true identities."

Wang Shi’s face paled in shock. "With so many experts from both righteous and devilish paths besieging Tianfeng Island, could Old Devil Mou truly have escaped alive?"

Wang Xiang’s eyes widened in anger. "That wretch deserves to die! Luckily, my sister and I have always been careful. We hide our identities whenever we go out."

"Old Devil Mou’s cultivation was second only to great cultivators, and his methods were sinister and unpredictable. Among Spiritual Infant grandmasters, he was one of the strongest. It’s not impossible that he survived," Qin Sang said.

He then asked about Ran Luo’s whereabouts. From Wang Shi’s account, Qin Sang learned that after the chaos in the Demonic Sea, Elder Zhou had grown disheartened and withdrawn from worldly affairs. Ran Luo and several members of the merchant guild left to find their own paths. The sisters still kept in contact with her.

After receiving Fei You’s warning, they had immediately sent a message to Ran Luo, who went into hiding and was now safe. During their talk, Qin Sang discovered that the sisters’ situation was far from ideal.

Knowing that their chances of reaching the Spiritual Infant Realm were slim, they had used most of their wealth from the Demonic Sea to maintain and rebuild their sect. Since then, they dared not venture out in search of fortune.

They could not even afford pills to dispel Malevolent Demonic Qi, nor did they have life-bound astras of their own.

Wang Shi still carried the jade hu tablet that Qin Sang had once gifted her. They had gathered some materials to forge their astras but could not bear to spend their limited resources hiring a skilled refiner.

"Bring out the materials you’ve collected. Since I have some free time, I’ll see if I can forge astras for the two of you," Qin Sang said.

The sisters’ faces lit up with joy. "Thank you, Daoist Master."

Though they had never seen Qin Sang forge astras, they did not doubt his ability in the least.

After confirming their preferences, Qin Sang traveled to the nearest market from Lingchun Island and rented a fire room.

Although this was not his first time refining astras, he proceeded with extreme caution. He intended not only to craft them successfully but also to ensure that they would resonate with the sisters as their life-bound astras.

Since the astras were of low grade, the bones and hide of Demonic Core Realm beasts were sufficient materials. Qin Sang even added some of his own resources, enhancing their power. Soon, the two astras were complete.

Returning to the bamboo pavilion, Qin Sang raised his hand. Two streaks of light shot forth, hovering in mid-air, gleaming and flickering. They were a phoenix hairpin and an elegant flying sword.

They were not only powerful but exquisitely beautiful. The sisters could not take their eyes off them.

"This one is mine!" Wang Xiang exclaimed, grabbing the phoenix hairpin with both hands. She beamed with delight, turning it over and over before tucking it into her hair. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she twirled and smiled brightly.

Wang Shi gently stroked the flying sword, feeling it resonate with her spirit. She was captivated by the connection.

When she noticed Qin Sang’s gaze, a faint blush rose to her cheeks. She composed herself and bowed. "Thank you, Daoist Master. Words cannot express our gratitude. My sister and I will never forget your kindness."

Qin Sang sighed. "I have few friends in Canglang Sea. Consider these two astras a token of goodwill. I do not know when we will meet again. Please take care, both of you."

"You are leaving already, Daoist Master?" Wang Shi asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Wang Xiang stopped her playful dance, her brows furrowing in concern.

Qin Sang also gave the two sisters a pair of masks that he had personally refined. They could conceal one’s face and aura. After handing them over, he stood up, saluted the two, and without the slightest hesitation, strode toward the exit.

The sisters hurriedly followed him out. At the entrance of the stone wall, Qin Sang turned his head and bid them farewell. He then summoned the Jiao spirit and his flying carriage, which tore through the sky and disappeared into the distance.

After a long time...

Wang Xiang whispered, "Sister, let’s go back."

"Mhmm."

***

Flying over the boundless sea, Qin Sang looked up at the clear blue sky. It was not his first farewell like this, and he knew it would not be the last.

More than a hundred years had passed since he left the Small Cold Domain. He wondered how many of his old friends were still alive and how many had already turned to dust and bones.

They were now separated. Still, when he thought back, he realized he had made few true friends in Canglang Sea, perhaps fewer than his enemies.

Qin Sang laughed at himself, brushed away his thoughts, and fixed his gaze ahead. He flew almost without rest until he returned to Tianshing Island.

Upon entering the city, he remembered the tales he had once heard about the Four Saints. He paused for a moment before their sacred mountains, paying his silent respects, then turned toward the teleportation hall.

After teleporting to Desolate Island, he moved with practiced familiarity, heading straight to purchase the latest nautical chart.

Ordinary demonic beasts were no longer a threat to him. To deepen his comprehension of the killing symbol, he needed to venture deep into the Demonic Sea in search of stronger foes.