Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 247: Magical Sound

In the end, the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound manifested as a mighty hurricane, instantly scattering the flying monkeys around Qin Sang, forcing them to stagger in disarray. It even opened a path for Qin Sang to move forward.

However, the respite was short-lived. The swarm of flying monkeys quickly converged again, drowning him in their midst.

Qin Sang, unable to advance far, was forced to slow his pace and fend off the relentless assault of the flying monkeys.

Though the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound was powered by Di Que's strength, Qin Sang was now its sole controller, with no additional aid from the old man. No matter what dangers arose, he could rely only on his own adaptability to survive.

Fortunately, Qin Sang was not a reclusive cultivator who spent all his time meditating in a cave dwelling. He had considerable experience in life-or-death battles. Even in dire situations, he remained calm and composed, facing challenges with steadiness.

As the fight intensified, Qin Sang gained a direct understanding of the monkeys' power.

They were even stronger than he had imagined. And this was only the beginning—just the initial fusion of their strength had already caused the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound’s power to deplete at an alarming rate. If this trend continued, it would be impossible to harvest the fruit of the Scarlet Gold Vine.

Yet Qin Sang suspected that Di Que never truly expected him to obtain the fruit. The elder’s cryptic words hinted that his real goal was for Qin Sang to hold out long enough for some other purpose.

The Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound was ever-changing. Around Qin Sang, countless illusory weapons—blades, spears, swords, and shields—materialized like ephemeral blossoms, appearing and vanishing in turn. However, as more monkeys fused together, the mounting pressure caused the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound’s energy to drain at an even more alarming pace.

Bang!

A massive fiery staff, akin to a dragon, abruptly shot forth from the periphery, its terrifying power crashing down in a vertical arc.

A divine monkey wielding a thousand-jun[1] staff!

The strike had arrived without warning, and Qin Sang’s expression shifted slightly. This staff was unimaginably powerful. Its wielder must have fused with an astonishing number of flying monkeys, reaching a strength far beyond what Qin Sang could have predicted.

This was precisely why Qin Sang was certain he couldn’t retrieve the fruit of the Scarlet Gold Vine. The deeper he ventured, the more monkeys were disturbed and fused together. Their power surged exponentially. Even if Di Que personally intervened, he might not withstand the onslaught to reach the vine—let alone Qin Sang, armed with just the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound.

"Explode!"

Qin Sang roared, his voice filled with urgency.

He dared not hesitate. With no reservations, he unleashed every ounce of the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound’s power within him while simultaneously retreating at high speed.

Waves of vast sonic energy rippled outward, so tangible they were visible to the naked eye. These terrifying vibrations surged like a tidal wave, transforming into destructive force. The surrounding monkeys were obliterated by the sound waves, reverting to fire-elemental energy.

Yet most of the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound’s energy, at Qin Sang’s command, shot skyward in a desperate attempt to intercept the colossal staff above him.

Boom!

The collision was earth-shattering. After a deafening explosion, shockwaves rippled in all directions. Amid the aftermath, a faint and nearly ethereal shadow of the staff emerged, descending toward Qin Sang with deceptive lightness.

Though the staff shadow appeared on the verge of dissipating, its residual power was enough to send chills down Qin Sang’s spine. It struck the dwindling barrier of the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound surrounding him with a devastating impact.

The protective barrier cracked instantly, fissures spreading across its surface. Fortunately, the staff shadow had exhausted its strength and vanished with a faint tremor.

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Qin Sang let out a muffled groan, his face darkening as he staggered back. He looked up in horror to see the terrifying figure in the sky raising the massive staff once more. Suddenly, sword light gleamed from his brow. The ebony sword shot forth with a piercing whistle, and Qin Sang’s figure flickered. Man and sword became one, transforming into a streak of light that darted toward the edge of the lava lake without a backward glance.

The situation was dire, leaving him no choice but to use the ebony sword.

Whoosh!

The sword light narrowly pierced through the flying monkeys’ encirclement, allowing him to escape unscathed.

Landing on the black stones by the lakeshore, Qin Sang’s figure swayed unsteadily as he forced himself to remain upright. His face was deathly pale, and the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound barrier around him flickered briefly before shattering completely.

The situation, initially under Qin Sang’s control, had taken an unexpected turn.

He hadn’t anticipated that the monkeys would know how to conceal themselves and fuse together for a surprise attack. Fortunately, he had stayed vigilant and reacted swiftly, narrowly averting disaster.

The barrier by the lava lake remained remarkably sturdy. Even under the onslaught of the fused flying monkeys, it stood unshaken. The giant monkey brandished its staff furiously, letting out deafening roars at Qin Sang, who stood outside.

Qin Sang glanced briefly in its direction before ignoring it altogether. He turned back to the stone steps, steadied his breath, and cast a sidelong look at Di Que.

The old man had been seated cross-legged the entire time, his eyes shut tightly, motionless as if engaged in deep concentration. Qin Sang hesitated for a moment, then looked behind him at the steps. Deciding quickly, he also sat cross-legged nearby to mend the internal injuries he had sustained.

After a while, Di Que suddenly opened his eyes. He gave Qin Sang a meaningful glance and remarked, "The strength of those fused monkeys would be a challenge even for me. It’s fortunate that you were quick-witted, Brother Qin."

Qin Sang knew the old man had picked up on something. However, he had already prepared an explanation and responded calmly, "These monkeys possess intelligence far beyond any I’ve encountered before. Not only can they fuse together, but they also lay ambushes. I suspect they have even more complex tactics yet to reveal. With only the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound at my disposal, I doubt I could advance much further."

Di Que nodded silently. Without another word, he extended his right hand. A new surge of Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound power condensed in his palm before he tossed it toward Qin Sang.

"Take this power, Brother Qin, and use it to probe the monkeys’ lair again."

Qin Sang caught the power and examined it closely. To his surprise, he found that while this surge of Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound was only marginally stronger than the previous one, it emanated an unfamiliar, peculiar fluctuation.

This fluctuation... bore a striking resemblance to the aura of the flying monkeys!

Could it be...

Qin Sang absorbed the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound into his body. As his thoughts aligned with the energy, it manifested outside him, transforming into a layer of dim, reddish flames. In an instant, his entire body appeared to be engulfed in fire.

No, it was more accurate to say he now resembled a Fire Monkey, though a strange and awkward imitation. The flames weren’t real but an illusion conjured by the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound.

Qin Sang suddenly realized what Di Que intended.

The old man wanted him to engage the monkeys and lure them into combat while he, from outside, would analyze the fluctuations in their energy. Using the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound, Di Que planned to replicate and disguise its energy. Once he fully grasped the nature of the monkeys’ power, he could use the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound to disguise Qin Sang as a Fire Monkey. Qin Sang would then infiltrate the monkey swarm undetected and sneak into the magma lake’s center to steal the fruit.

With his understanding clear, Qin Sang stepped toward the lava lake once more.

The monkeys within had calmed somewhat after losing sight of him for a while. But as Qin Sang reappeared, he immediately noticed the monkeys near the lake’s edge showing visible confusion. They hesitated briefly before their agitation reignited.

It's working!

Qin Sang marveled silently. As expected of a Golden Core cultivator and the Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound—what a strange and remarkable ability!

Once again, he was driven back by the flying monkeys.

With the new surge of Thousand-Transformation Divine Sound power, the fiery aura it conjured became even more akin to that of the monkeys.

Thus began a cycle of attempts and adjustments.

Finally, on the last attempt, Qin Sang fled the lava sea in a miserable state. By then, hundreds of massive monkeys prowled the lake’s edge, making it as perilous as a den of dragons or tigers.

Di Que suddenly stood up.

1. Jun is an ancient Chinese unit of weight, approximately 30 jin or 500 grams. ☜