Gateway of Immortality

Senior Brother Jiang spoke calmly, "Junior Brother Qin, I can make an exception this time on account of Junior Brother Meng. This time, I will only deduct your monthly salary. However, if you fail to complete the task again, I will have no choice but to report it truthfully and let the sect handle your punishment according to the rules."

Meng Ruhui added, "Junior Brother Qin, you must take care of yourself."

As Qin Sang watched the two senior brothers leave, the look of shame on his face vanished without a trace.

Finally, when the agreed time arrived, Qin Sang sensed the barrier at Huiyang Valley being triggered. He opened it and welcomed Zhao Yan inside.

"Junior Brother Qin, here is your Nine-Spirit Sand..."

Zhao Yan, holding up a Mustard Seed Pouch, shouted as he approached. Once he stood before Qin Sang, he said in a deep voice, "Let's talk inside."

Immediately afterward, Yu Hua appeared out of thin air and joined them inside as well.

When Yu Hua asked about Qin Sang's cultivation, Qin Sang answered the question by mentioning his Qi-Gathering Pill.

After inspecting Qin Sang’s demonic eye, Yu Hua nodded in satisfaction. "Junior Nephew Qin, you’ve been diligent, but you're still too slow. From now on, you must activate the demonic eye at least three times a day and master the array in Huiyang Valley as quickly as possible!"

Yu Hua noticed this and asked curiously, "Junior Nephew Qin, is there something else?"

Feigning hesitation, Qin Sang embellished the events from two days ago and complained, "I spend the entire night controlling the demonic eye, leaving me only the daytime to cultivate. I barely have any time to manage the herb garden. Could I trouble Senior Uncle Yu to say a few kind words to Senior Brother Jiang? Otherwise, I really won’t be able to complete the task and might be expelled from the Yuanzhao Sect."

Zhao Yan snickered from the side. "So what if you don’t cultivate for a year or two? Do you really think you can—"

Yu Hua cleared his throat, cutting off Zhao Yan. Frowning, he said, "This is indeed a tricky situation. I can't interfere with matters in Cloud Valley too often..."

Qin Sang gazed at Yu Hua expectantly. Zhao Yan was clearly a hothead, but Yu Hua was an experienced hand in the martial world, which was why Qin Sang had waited until seeing him to make his request.

Kuiyin Sect had gone to great lengths to get Qin Sang into Huiyang Valley. Until their objective was achieved, they certainly wouldn’t harm him, nor would they allow him to be expelled.

It was just as Qin Sang had predicted.

After pondering for a moment, Yu Hua said, "Let’s do it this way. I'll teach you a method to set up a spirit-gathering array. Take these spirit stones and arrange them around the herb garden. This will greatly enhance the spiritual power there and aid the growth of the spiritual herbs. Though it won’t be as effective as the Five-Elemental Cloud, it should be enough to help you complete your task. But, Junior Nephew Qin, be clever about it and make sure no one sees what you're doing."

After they left Huiyang Valley, Zhao Yan, visibly displeased, scoffed, "Senior Uncle Yu, why let him use you? Just use the Heart-Devouring Insect to teach him a lesson! Let's see if he dares to act out after that!"

"Do you think I can’t see through that boy's little schemes?"

Yu Hua laughed it off, completely unconcerned. "When you want someone to do something, threats alone aren’t enough. You also need to offer enough temptation and make them do it willingly. Only then will they work quickly and perfectly. This applies even to people like Ruan Nanfeng and others. When you have the chance, ask them what difficulties they’re facing. Compared to the grand plans of our holy sect, a few spirit stones are nothing. As long as we accomplish the sect’s mission, do you think the sect leader would deny us our rewards? If you're still angry, once the mission is complete, you can take it out on him however you like. Do you really think he can escape our grasp?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zhao Yan lowered his head in thought before cupping his hands and saying, "I have learned my lesson, Senior Uncle Yu. The success of this plan is entirely thanks to your brilliant strategy. Once it’s done, I’ll be sure to speak highly of you to Uncle Yi and seek credit on your behalf."

Yu Hua's eyes lit up. "Then I’ll thank you in advance, Junior Nephew Zhao! By the way, I’ve managed to secure a task at the sect leader's hall today, so I can now officially enter Yuanzhao Peak. As for the matters here, I’ll leave them in your capable hands."

Zhao Yan was overjoyed. "I wish you great success, Senior Uncle Yu!"

…

Qin Sang wasn’t sure if the Bewitching Mirror counted as an array. If it didn’t, then this spirit-gathering array was the first array he had learned.

In reality, this was the most basic kind of spirit-gathering array. After some time, it would consume a batch of spirit stones. The herbs planted in the herb garden were very common in the world of immortal cultivation, not particularly valuable. Using a spirit-gathering array to cultivate them was definitely not worth the effort.

However, since the spirit stones weren’t his, Qin Sang didn’t feel any need to be frugal.

The only downside was that if someone discovered it, they would surely wonder—how could an entry-level disciple possess such wealth?

Fortunately, Qin Sang had no friends, and no one came to visit him. He only needed to dismantle the spirit-gathering array before Senior Brother Meng or Senior Brother Jiang came to collect the herbs. Each time, Qin Sang barely managed to meet the requirements, and neither senior brother gave him a hard time. Thus, things had been peaceful.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains, and just like that, more than a year went by.

Late one night, Qin Sang was controlling the demonic eye, conducting his third probe of the grand array in Huiyang Valley.

By now, the demonic eye’s sight had turned westward. Based on Qin Sang’s calculations, he would complete his task in another three or four months.

Over the past year, Qin Sang had been confined to Huiyang Valley. He had only seen Yu Hua twice, both times through Zhao Yan’s arrangements.

Whenever Zhao Yan urged him, his tone grew increasingly anxious, giving Qin Sang a foreboding sense that when their mission was complete, a great upheaval would surely follow!

Sensing that the spiritual power within him was nearly depleted, Qin Sang withdrew the demonic eye and returned to his cave dwelling.

His cultivation level wasn’t high, but the spiritual qi in the Yuanzhao Sect was more than enough for him, so he didn’t need to rely on the spirit-gathering array.

Sitting cross-legged on his Waterheart Bamboo mat, Qin Sang examined himself with his inner vision. Thanks to the lingering effects of the hundred-year-old Stone Milk, his cultivation had advanced rapidly over the past year. He was now only a step away from reaching the eighth stage.

Today, he finally sensed the opportunity to break through. Qin Sang quickly took out the Bewitching Mirror and set it up at the entrance of the cave before settling into meditation.

Ten days later, Qin Sang emerged from seclusion, feeling refreshed and energized. He was almost ready to shout to the heavens in triumph. His long period of arduous cultivation had finally paid off—he had successfully broken through.

That day happened to be the scheduled time for herb gathering. Not long after Qin Sang dismantled the spirit-gathering array, Meng Ruhui and Senior Brother Jiang arrived together. When they discovered that Qin Sang had once again broken through, they were both shocked beyond belief. After collecting the herbs, they left in low spirits.

Qin Sang respectfully saw them off, without displaying the slightest hint of pride. There was no benefit to offending them.

At the end of the month, Zhao Yan arrived once again.

Standing at the valley entrance, Zhao Yan spotted Qin Sang flying toward him on an artifact and was momentarily stunned. He couldn’t help but exclaim, "You’ve broken through again?"

Landing, Qin Sang greeted him with a bow. "Congratulations to Senior Brother Zhao for breaking through to the ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm!"

A hint of pride appeared on Zhao Yan’s face, but he quickly restrained it, though he couldn’t hide the envy in his eyes. "It’s nothing compared to you, breaking through two stages in a single year."

Qin Sang hurriedly replied, "I wouldn’t dare. I only managed this thanks to the great favor of the sect leader, who bestowed upon me a Qi-Gathering Pill. When Senior Brother Zhao accomplishes great feats and returns to the sect, the sect leader surely won’t be stingy with rewards. I, as your junior brother, can only look on in envy."

Zhao Yan, indeed pleased, laughed heartily. He found Qin Sang much more agreeable than before, his eyes glinting with thoughts unknown.