Gateway of Immortality

This did not mean that the Firebirds were weak. Their most formidable ability lay in their bizarre cries, which carried a strange sonic wave capable of attacking the primordial spirit. While Qin Sang could resist it effortlessly, other cultivators would not necessarily have his composure or defenses.

Moreover, who could tell how many Firebirds were lurking in the endless mist?

The thought of being swarmed by tens of thousands of Firebirds at once was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

As this unsettling idea crossed Qin Sang’s mind, he suddenly noticed the mist around him growing restless. Waves rippled across its surface, and countless red points of light began to flicker deep within.

These points resembled crimson eyes, appearing in every direction—above, below, left, and right. The mist swirled violently with scorching heat, battering the stone platform. Qin Sang couldn’t tell whether these eyes had been drawn by the Firebirds’ cries or disturbed by the fluctuations of his spiritual power, but they were converging on him with alarming speed.

A chill ran down Qin Sang’s spine, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Just as he suspected, the mist concealed an untold number of Fire Spirit Beasts. If all of them were Firebirds, it might be manageable. But if other forms of Fire Spirit Beasts joined the fray, the outcome would be disastrous for him.

Seeing the encroaching danger, Qin Sang dared not linger. He had only one thought: to break out as quickly as possible!

Hum!

Leaping onto an iron chain, Qin Sang darted forward like a streak of light. As he moved, the Fire Spirit Beasts in the depths of the mist surged closer. The birds’ cries grew several times sharper and louder, forming visible sound waves that rippled through the mist.

The overlapping waves, combined with the bird calls, were like a violent storm crashing against Qin Sang’s position.

Dodging as he fled, Qin Sang took a quick glance around and confirmed that all the attackers were identical Firebirds.

There were no other forms of Fire Spirit Beasts present.

However, the faster Qin Sang moved, the more Firebirds he attracted. Soon, he found himself completely surrounded by a seemingly endless swarm. Neither his ebony sword nor the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions could slay them all.

The cacophony of their cries, as deafening as an avalanche or tidal wave, left Qin Sang's head spinning.

Though his primordial spirit remained unharmed, the sheer noise was unbearable. He suddenly realized that the Firebirds could sense his spiritual power fluctuations. Even using his spiritual consciousness would alert them.

This revelation made Qin Sang break into a cold sweat—not for himself, but for anyone else attempting this trial. Facing a swarm of Firebirds, a cultivator’s primordial spirit would inevitably come under sonic attack, forcing them to defend themselves. But any retaliation would only attract more Firebirds.

The more birds that came, the greater the strain on a Foundation Building cultivator’s primordial spirit. Their defeat in the trial would become inevitable.

It was a vicious cycle. The only solution was to endure the Firebirds’ attacks and charge forward along the iron chain at full speed, without looking back.

Qin Sang abruptly withdrew both his ebony sword and the Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions. With a flicker, his figure vanished from sight.

The Firebirds’ cries shifted, carrying a note of confusion. They unleashed even fiercer sonic waves and fiery hurricanes at the spot where Qin Sang had disappeared. Wave after wave of flames and sound swept the area, yet they failed to reveal the intruder’s location.

In the end, their efforts proved futile, and the Firebirds, still puzzled, dispersed.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang was quietly standing ahead of the Firebird swarm. He had already found a way to pass this trial.

Thanks to the Jade Buddha, Qin Sang remained unaffected by the Firebirds’ relentless cries in the mist. No matter where he stood, the sonic waves couldn’t harm him.

Seeing the Firebirds disperse, Qin Sang calmly advanced, occasionally watching as flocks of them rushed past in a fiery blur.

So, the opponents for this trial are all Firebirds?

A thought struck Qin Sang, and he paused in place, balancing on the iron chain. He lowered his gaze to the lava river below, a contemplative look crossing his face.

Tracing the history of this ancient immortal estate, Qin Sang recalled that it had been occupied by the demonic sects for a period millennia ago. Unless some faction had claimed it as a closely guarded secret, countless demonic cultivators must have entered this place over the ages.

Che Yutao had just mentioned that the barriers encountered by cultivators in the Foundation Building Realm and the Core Formation Realm differed, which suggested that the trials they faced were likely distinct as well.

For Foundation Building cultivators, passing the trial depended entirely on their own abilities. Assistance from senior sect members was out of the question.

Of course, cooperation with others might be possible.

Twenty-seven people had entered the stele together. Until now, Qin Sang had not encountered a single companion. This was likely due to the vastness of the space, which might contain many similar stone platforms separated by great distances, preventing any encounters.

For the moment, this was speculation that needed confirmation.

In such an environment, cooperation would prove challenging. A single misstep could alert the Firebirds, and fighting back would only attract more of them. Waiting idly for others to initiate contact was a surefire way to meet one’s end.

This meant that some cultivators would undoubtedly fail the trial and perish here.

Back in the corridor, Qin Sang had already determined that the trial held no trace of mercy. A single mistake would have led to certain death at the hands of the golden-armored generals. This place was no exception.

Failing the trial meant death!

Could there be remnants of demonic cultivators below—skeletal remains, perhaps even demonic artifacts?

From above, the lava river appeared as a red line, indicating it had boundaries and wasn’t a vast sea of magma. Any bodies falling into the magma would undoubtedly be incinerated, but if they landed on the riverbank, some white bones might still remain...

Unless someone like Qin Sang, unaffected by the sonic attacks, had already descended to scavenge, it was highly likely that the area below was a treasure trove.

Qin Sang’s heart raced at the thought.

Fortunately, the opponents in this trial were Firebirds, whose abilities were countered by the Jade Buddha, allowing him to remain unscathed. There was no need to rush forward.

After leaving the corridor, Qin Sang had noticed no sign of a time limit. As long as the Firebirds didn’t kill him, failing the trial didn’t seem inevitable.

Even if he were expelled for exceeding the time limit, finding the remains of demonic cultivators on the riverbank and scavenging their relics would make this endeavor worthwhile. Being forced out would be a small price to pay.

After all, this posed almost no danger—it was a free opportunity.

Entering the ancient immortal estate involved facing countless unknown perils, and the estate itself had already been raided by demonic cultivators. The chances of significant gains were slim.

It had taken Qin Sang twenty years to advance four Yan Luo Banners of Ten Directions to the advanced stage, but the Black Market now offered fewer and fewer demonic artifacts. Elevating the remaining two banners to the same level seemed an increasingly distant prospect.

If he could find sufficient soul refinement demonic artifacts below, how much time and effort could he save?

This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The later trials would surely involve more than just Firebirds.

Che Yutao had mentioned that the ancient immortal estate could undergo changes, making another visit uncertain. If Qin Sang missed this opportunity now, he might not have another.

After a brief hesitation, Qin Sang made his decision. With a light step on the iron chain, he did not descend directly but instead began ascending slowly.

As he rose, Qin Sang distinctly felt the pressure on his body intensify. At a height of just over ten zhang, the weight pressing down on him had already become suffocating, making it hard for him to breathe.