Gateway of Immortality
Chapter 476: Speculation

Chapter 476: Speculation

Qin Sang hesitated. "With Senior Qingzhu's strength, even he perished in that place... That must mean it’s riddled with danger. But I’m only at the Foundation Building Realm..."

"Qingzhu’s death was due to other reasons. However, that place is indeed located within the ancient hall of the Ziwei Palace's inner palace, and naturally, it's far from safe. If you're cowardly and cling to life..."

Just as she was speaking, Granny Jing’s tone suddenly faltered. She turned her head sharply toward the entrance of the great hall, her brows gradually knitting together, as if she'd noticed something. After a moment’s contemplation, she pointed at the handsome young man Qin Sang was carrying and asked, "What do you plan to do with him?"

"I—"

Qin Sang opened his mouth to speak.

Before he could answer, Granny Jing shook her head. "I don’t care what your intentions are. But let me give you a word of warning—this person’s identity is far from simple. If you don’t want to be dragged into trouble, you’d best not take him out of Zhitian Peak. Not even his corpse. The few talisman astras and artifacts on him are also highly distinctive, unique to the Yuanshen Sect."

Qin Sang nodded gravely. "Thank you for the warning, Senior. I understand the severity of the matter. But the spatial storm stirred up by the Star-Controlling Elder on the opposite side has already sealed off the area near Zhitian Peak. Less than half an hour remains before it closes. Will that be enough time?"

"No need to worry. Though the array in the plaza is damaged, the remaining formation is still strong enough to stabilize the space and suppress the spatial storm. All that matters is whether this door can be opened..."

Granny Jing lowered her head to look at the stone platform and flicked her fingers. A series of spiritual power streams shot forth, falling onto the stone platform beneath her feet.

As the runes on the platform lit up, the entire hall began to tremble.

It shook continuously like an earthquake, the intensity building with each passing moment. Intense light radiated from the surrounding stone pillars, each of which was embedded with a middle-grade spirit stone at its peak.

Every pillar released a beam of light aimed toward the space above the platform, directly over Qin Sang and the others.

Qin Sang quickly looked up. Where the beams of light converged, a perfectly clear octahedral crystal hovered mid-air, slowly rotating.

The crystal was modest in size, just large enough to be grasped by one hand. It appeared to be absorbing the power of the pillars and glowed ever more brightly.

A radiant thread connected the runes on the stone platform to the hovering crystal. A peculiar energy coursed through the light, manifesting a half-closed gate on the stone platform below. Light gathered in front of the gate, pouring from the crystal above.

Once the energy reached its peak, Granny Jing pointed a finger at the crystal, and everything stopped.

She gave a slight nod and murmured, "Just as I thought. With Zhitian Peak now revealed, this barrier can finally be activated... Wait another fifteen minutes. Once the spatial storm on the other side settles, open this gate and leave this place. Until then, stay in the hall. Don’t touch the crystal. Don’t stray from here. The space of this immortal residence is even more unstable than Zhitian Peak. If you fail to suppress your cultivation, you’ll end up just like the Star-Controlling Elder. The same applies after you return to Zhitian Peak. Do not, under any circumstance, use the Xutian Thunder there."

She paused, then added, "Think it over. Once you’ve decided, meet me at Xuanlu Stronghold before the Ziwei Palace opens."

With that, Granny Jing leapt off the platform. Her white robes fluttered as she moved, her evasion technique astonishing—she had already reached the exit in the blink of an eye.

Qin Sang hadn’t expected Granny Jing to leave so abruptly. In a fluster, he called out, "Senior! There’s no need to think it over. I’ll go!"

If the Ziwei Palace was truly as she described, then as long as he was cautious after being transported to the inner palace, he should be fine.

As for the place where Qingzhu had fallen, how dangerous could it truly be? He’d have to witness it for himself.

Even if he couldn’t obtain the art Qingzhu had left behind this time, just scouting the terrain would be worthwhile. The experience would serve him well when the palace opened again. Next time, he would be far better prepared.

Besides, Granny Jing was elusive as a dragon, always seen but never caught. If he missed this opportunity, he might never get another. Regret would come too late.

He had to go.

Qin Sang spoke in rapid succession, feigning concern. "I’ve heard that those of us with insufficient cultivation need a token to enter the Ziwei Palace. Such tokens are extremely rare and hard to come by. I don’t know if I..."

Granny Jing paused slightly at his words. She turned and gave Qin Sang a deep, meaningful look, then waved her hand and flung something toward him before gliding away.

Qin Sang caught it in one hand and felt something soft to the touch.

Unfolding it, he saw it was indeed a piece of sheepskin, nearly identical to his own.

Clutching the sheepskin, Qin Sang fell into quiet contemplation. I wonder if Wandering Man managed to find any natural treasures... Has he recovered from his injuries? Will he still go into the Ziwei Palace?

Even if the Wandering Man had no need for the token, it could still fetch a high price if sold.

After stowing the sheepskin away, Qin Sang reflected on everything that had happened in this short span of time and sank into deep thought.

For some reason, he had a nagging feeling that this immortal residence was anything but simple. But earlier, Granny Jing had bombarded him with one shocking revelation after another, leaving his thoughts in disarray, and he hadn’t had a chance to think it through.

Now, gazing at the empty hall, Qin Sang’s eyes suddenly lit up. He recalled something about why Qingzhu had defected from Shaohua Mountain.

Back then, Qingzhu’s beloved had discovered a rare treasure while exploring an immortal residence. But she had carelessly let word slip, and was ambushed and killed by her companions who had entered with her. Among them were two Golden Core cultivators of the Yuanshen Sect.

Afterward, Qingzhu broke through the Sword Pass, renounced his sect, and spent over a decade exacting revenge. He eventually stormed the Yuanshen Sect and slew two Golden Core cultivators, avenging his beloved.

Immortal residence, Yuanshen Sect, Leng Yuntian, Granny Jing, Senior Qingzhu, Ziwei Palace...

What kind of treasure could drive the Yuanshen Sect’s Golden Core cultivators to abandon all sense of honor and commit murder in broad daylight, openly seizing it by force?

Could this so-called treasure... have just been a key?

Qin Sang raised his head and studied the crystal intently, linking the pieces together in his mind.

The fate of Senior Qingzhu and his beloved...

The Elemental Star Stones of Zhitian Peak could be used to arrange ancient arrays and held great significance for the Yuanshen Sect...

Both Senior Qingzhu and Granny Jing bore deep grudges against the Yuanshen Sect...

Granny Jing's understanding of Senior Qingzhu and the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment was far from ordinary...

Right, there is also Granny Jing's temperament. She has always despised those who killed their companions for treasure. There must have been a reason for that.

The more Qin Sang thought about it, the more convinced he became that Granny Jing and Senior Qingzhu likely shared a profound connection.

Is the immortal residence that Senior Qingzhu’s beloved once entered this very place?

Is that ambush the true origin of everything, with its aftermath echoing even to the present?

And those two Golden Core cultivators of the Yuanshen Sect who had participated in the killing. Was someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes?

If that were truly the case... then the one who gravely wounded Leng Yuntian in the Ziwei Palace...

Did Granny Jing ambush Leng Yuntian out of personal vengeance, or is there another reason behind it?

Qin Sang became utterly absorbed in his thoughts. A thousand threads tangled in his mind as countless speculations emerged, all of them circling back to a single focal point: What exactly was the relationship between Granny Jing and Qingzhu?

Or perhaps, what was the relationship between Granny Jing and Qingzhu’s beloved?

The records in his sect couldn’t have been false. Qingzhu had always been a reclusive cultivator, one who dared to cultivate the Primordial Spirit Sword Nourishment. He must have been wholly devoted to the pursuit of the Great Dao.

He had never been known to have any close kin.