Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 305: A Lifetime Ago

The Human Head Owls, cunning and swift, were well aware of the danger posed by the talisman astra. They avoided engaging Qin Sang directly, leveraging their speed to keep out of his reach.

Though the talisman astra was powerful, it was difficult to replicate the earlier success of seriously injuring the owl.

Qin Sang dared not retract the talisman astra, knowing that even the slightest lapse could spell disaster. This forced him to persevere, draining his spiritual power without achieving significant results.

Fortunately, his objective was not to harm the Human Head Owls but to buy time for Wandering Man.

Failure was not an option.

Qin Sang swallowed a spirit pill, enduring the excruciating pain it caused in his abdomen. He continued to push himself to the limit, wringing every last drop of spiritual power from his Qihai to wield his ebony sword.

Finally, Wandering Man finished preparing the Flawless Orb.

"Go!"

With a soft command, the Flawless Orb spun rapidly, its radiance trembling violently before transforming into a spear of light. The luminous spear shot forward with astonishing speed.

Its brilliance was blinding.

Sensing the immense threat, the Human Head Owls shrieked and abandoned their attack, turning to flee toward their nest.

Though their speed was formidable, the spear was faster, catching up in the blink of an eye.

Bang!

The spear pierced through the Human Head Owl.

A heart-wrenching screech echoed through the air.

Blood rained down from the sky.

However, the late-stage Demonic Spirit Realm creature was no easy prey.

In its final moments, black qi surged around its wings, and its figure twisted unnaturally, breaking free from the Flawless Orb’s lock and avoiding a fatal blow.

Though it survived, it was gravely injured.

Its arrogance extinguished, the Human Head Owl dragged its battered body and retreated into the protective barrier of its nest.

A thought struck Qin Sang. He urgently called to Wandering Man, "Senior! Save him!"

Wandering Man instantly understood Qin Sang’s intention. Gathering the last reserves of spiritual power in the Flawless Orb, he redirected the light spear toward the crimson mist.

The person they sought to save was not Ge Yuan.

But Shangguan Lifeng could still be rescued!

With Luo Xingnan still alive and harboring ill intentions, Wandering Man had overexerted himself to wield the Flawless Orb and had lost all combat ability. Qin Sang’s jade ruyi was nearly destroyed, leaving only him and the white-robed scholar to fend for their side.

This meant that even if they escaped the Human Head Owls and Hook Snakes, they wouldn’t be truly safe.

An enemy’s enemy could be a friend.

Luo Xingnan had abandoned Shangguan Lifeng and Ge Yuan; now they would save him.

The Hook Snake Kings, having witnessed the power of the spear that gravely injured the Human Head Owl, hissed in terror and scattered in panic as the spear approached.

The crimson mist rippled, and Shangguan Lifeng took the opportunity to escape, staggering out of its depths. Ge Yuan, however, remained absent.

Though only a short time had passed since Luo Xingnan used them as shields, the Hook Snakes, vastly stronger, seemed to have devoured Ge Yuan. Shangguan Lifeng’s condition, while not fatal, was dire.

His left arm had been torn off at the shoulder—not bitten off, but ripped away. The wound bore clear slash marks from the tail hooks of the Hook Snakes. Black blood oozed from the injury, but Shangguan Lifeng had wisely sealed his meridians in time, preventing the venom from reaching his internal organs. Without that precaution, not even an immortal could have saved him.

His body was riddled with wounds, his Qihai depleted. Yet, with sheer willpower and a long saber, he had managed to survive until now.

The Flawless Orb, having gravely injured the Human Head Owl and frightened off the Hook Snakes, was now nearly exhausted.

Wandering Man withdrew the Flawless Orb, but his body gave out, and he began to fall.

Qin Sang reacted quickly, catching Wandering Man mid-air. He found his senior’s aura frighteningly weak, as if even speaking required tremendous effort. Without pausing to assess Wandering Man’s condition, Qin Sang hoisted him onto his back, transformed into a streak of sword light, and sped toward the exit.

Before collapsing, Wandering Man had entrusted the Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat to Qin Sang. However, when Qin Sang tried using it earlier, he found that without Wandering Man’s assistance, the spiritual power consumption was astronomical, comparable to using the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman.

This was likely because Qin Sang was not the flying boat’s rightful owner.

Fortunately, Wandering Man’s overwhelming efforts had bought them enough time and space. They no longer needed the flying boat to escape.

As he passed Shangguan Lifeng, Qin Sang extended a hand to pull him along. His sharp gaze caught sight of Ge Yuan’s Mustard Seed Pouch, which he snatched up and tucked away.

"Thank you, Daoist Master..."

Shangguan Lifeng’s voice was weak as he struggled to express his gratitude.

Luo Xingnan stood at the cave entrance, silently observing the entire scene. He didn’t leave immediately, his gaze flickering as he watched Qin Sang and the others, his thoughts unclear.

As Qin Sang flew with the two injured men, his sword-light unwavering, his cold, impassive eyes remained locked on Luo Xingnan.

Their gazes met mid-air, tense and unyielding.

By now, the Hook Snakes had realized what had happened and, filled with rage and humiliation, let out piercing cries as they pursued once more.

Luo Xingnan hesitated briefly. He cast a deep, lingering look at Qin Sang before turning and stepping into the cave, vanishing inside.

Qin Sang, without pause, darted into the cave as well, his movements swift and decisive. They had studied the protective barrier when they first arrived and knew the method to open it.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Outside the ancient hall, torrential rain poured relentlessly.

Inside the hall, everything remained as it had been when they first arrived, unchanged and eerily still.

Back then, seven people from Yu Kong’s group had walked across the rainbow bridge. Later, Luo Xingnan and Sheng Yuanzi had joined them, forming an even larger group.

Now, only five had survived to leave this place, with two of them severely injured and nearly incapacitated.

Barely an hour had passed, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.

In the dilapidated hall, tension hung heavy as two groups faced off.

Luo Xingnan stood blocking the entrance to the ancient hall, half his body shrouded in shadow.

Shangguan Lifeng slumped to the ground, his body covered in blood and filth, too exhausted to care. He sat cross-legged, trying to heal himself. Wandering Man remained draped over Qin Sang’s back, seemingly asleep. It was unclear how he could recover, but for now, it was certainly impossible.

Qin Sang stood side by side with the white-robed scholar.

"Talisman astra, and that mysterious orb—I have truly broadened my horizons today. It seems the two of you are far from ordinary, aren’t you?" Luo Xingnan’s gaze was playful as he scrutinized Qin Sang from head to toe.

"And what are you planning to do by blocking the door?"

Qin Sang’s voice was cold and tinged with sarcasm. "I recall another Core Formation Realm senior entered this place with us. You’ve gained your benefits—why not leave now? Or do you think you have too many thousand-year spiritual herbs and wish to offer them up to that senior?"

Luo Xingnan snorted coldly, his eyes narrowing dangerously, though he refrained from making any sudden moves.

Thousand-year spiritual herbs were treasures even a Core Formation Realm cultivator would covet.

He wasn’t confident he could take Qin Sang down instantly. If their fight drew attention to their secrets, it could spell disaster for both sides.

The rain outside grew heavier, the storm intensifying.

Qin Sang glanced beyond the hall and noticed that the spiritual qi in the air was far more chaotic than when they had first arrived. This indicated that the protective array’s period of weakness was nearing its end.

Luo Xingnan opened his mouth as if to speak.

Suddenly, a muffled sound echoed through the vast hall.

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Startled, everyone turned toward the source of the noise. Their gazes fell upon the location of the clay statue’s hand, where radiant multicolored light burst forth, accompanied by waves of energy rippling through the air.