Gateway of Immortality

Chapter 1117: Hundred-Year Friend

Qin Sang's voice was filled with concern when he heard that Wandering Man had entered seclusion in such a hurry. "How is your great-grandmaster?""Senior Uncle, don't worry," Li Yufu replied. "Great Grandmaster wasn't injured. It seemed he had gained some new insight, so he entered seclusion to comprehend it fully."

The two did not delay and flew straight back to the cave dwelling. Tan Yi'en and Bai Hanqiu had been waiting for a long time, and they stepped forward at once to pay their respects.

Wandering Man was still in quiet meditation, so Qin Sang waited outside and used the time to resolve the cultivation doubts Li Yufu and the others had encountered.

When they first reunited, Li Yufu had sensed that Qin Sang had only recently broken through to the middle stage. Yet in barely more than a decade, Qin Sang had already reached the late stage of the Core Formation Realm. Li Yufu and the others did not know what had happened during that time, but their admiration for him only deepened.

Night fell. Qin Sang was instructing Li Yufu in sword arts when he suddenly stopped speaking.

An elderly man in a long robe walked out from the cave dwelling and stood still, gazing at Qin Sang. "Brother Qin!"

Qin Sang rose at once. "Senior!"

They looked at each other for a breath, then burst into hearty laughter at the same time. Their voices rang out, shaking the clouds above!

After Li Yufu and the other two paid their respects to Wandering Man, they quietly withdrew.

Qin Sang and Wandering Man sat facing each other. Qin Sang studied his old friend. After so many years apart, Wandering Man still looked as old as he had back then.

Just as Li Yufu had said, Wandering Man's cultivation had already reached perfection. He was only one step away from the Spiritual Infant Realm, and in fact, he was ahead of Qin Sang in his cultivation.

"I really never expected that I would have the chance to see you again, Brother!" Wandering Man said with emotion.

The immortal cultivation world had always been unpredictable and full of danger. Any farewell could become a final parting, especially after Qin Sang had once fallen into the hands of a Spiritual Infant cultivator.

"When I left Ziwei Palace and did not see you, I felt something was wrong. Later, I hid near Shaohua Mountain and made inquiries in many places. By chance, I met Mu Yifeng and learned what had happened at the Black Tower. Although you escaped the fiend's grasp, you vanished afterward. The heavenly mountain was sealed by celestial barriers, and I had no way to search for you.. " Wandering Man said.

"I was fortunate enough to survive," Qin Sang said with a sigh as he recalled what had happened that day. "Because of that, I encountered certain opportunities. In the end, disaster turned into a blessing."

A hundred years had passed, but both of them could still sense that the other's temperament had not changed. Neither had forgotten their original aspirations, and there was no trace of estrangement between them.

"I never imagined you would go through such ordeals and gain so many opportunities," Wandering Man said. He had discerned Qin Sang's cultivation realm, and his eyes shone with amazement. "In just over a century, you have already advanced to the late stage of the Core Formation Realm."

"You flatter me, Senior. I heard from Yufu that you reached the peak of the Core Formation Realm many years ago. I am still far behind you," Qin Sang said modestly.

Wandering Man waved his hand and said solemnly, "I should be thanking you. Without your help, I would never have been reborn through fire."

Qin Sang listened attentively as Wandering Man recounted what had happened after they parted that year. After Qin Sang left, Wandering Man had thrown himself into the Southern Sun Fire and used the demon fire to temper his soul.

Several times, he had nearly burned to ashes within the Southern Sun Fire. Yet with the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances and his own unyielding will, he endured the agony, removed the hidden injuries in his body, and emerged reborn.

Not long after leaving Ziwei Palace, he successfully formed his Golden Core, and his cultivation began advancing by leaps and bounds.

"Senior, do you still have that green copper fragment?" Qin Sang asked, seizing the opportunity.

"I have it on me. Do you need it, Brother?" Wandering Man took the green copper fragment out of his Mustard Seed Pouch and said in puzzlement, "It is a fragment of an ancient treasure, but none of its former power remains. It cannot be reforged."

Qin Sang had intended to ask his opinion and explained, "I have an idea, though I don't know whether it will work. Since the Southern Sun Fire fears this fragment, perhaps we can use its power to subdue the spiritual fire and obtain a formidable supernatural ability."

"I see." Wandering Man smiled. "I once had a similar thought. But after obtaining the fragment, I discovered it was nearly impossible. If you have a good method, you might as well try. You risked your life to retrieve it, so it should belong to you."

As Wandering Man spoke, he handed the green copper fragment to Qin Sang without hesitation. Then he gave him a jade slip as well, which contained his own insights.

Those insights greatly inspired Qin Sang, and he accepted both items happily. "Then I will not refuse."

Afterward, Qin Sang spoke with Wandering Man about the major events that had occurred in the Small Cold Domain over the past century.

As a Golden Core cultivator, Wandering Man had viewed matters from a different perspective than Qingjun.

"You have taken two disciples. Do you intend to found your own sect?" Wandering Man suddenly asked.

"They are descendants of old acquaintances," Qin Sang explained. "When I first returned, I urgently needed an identity so I could move about the immortal cultivation world. Later, I encountered a senior with whom I had some past ties and received her protection, so I no longer need to worry about my safety for now. At present, I am still focused on cultivation. Yufu mentioned that you also wish to revive Qingyang Temple?"

Wandering Man shook his head. "Not me. Yufu. He has always been the successor of Qingyang Temple. After you told me about his talent, I had that thought in mind and deliberately kept him at a distance from Taiyi Core Sect. You also have deep ties with Qingyang Temple. Since you wish to found a sect, let Yufu follow you in cultivation from now on and continue Qingyang Temple's lineage."

"The Spiritual Infant Realm is extremely difficult. I do not even know what my chances are, so it is too early to speak of such matters." Qin Sang shook his head, but he sensed something unusual in Wandering Man's tone. It sounded almost as if Wandering Man were entrusting Yufu to him. "Senior, what do you mean? Are you preparing to travel far?"

"With five spiritual roots, you have still reached this point, and I witnessed it with my own eyes. If even you cannot break through to the Spiritual Infant Realm, I really do not know who can." Wandering Man seemed to have immense confidence in him, but then he sighed softly. "It is not that I am traveling far. Although the rebirth through fire healed my soul, it also consumed my origin and greatly reduced my lifespan. I must form my Spiritual Infant as soon as possible.

"Fortunately, my cultivation progressed smoothly, and I reached the peak early. In recent years, I have been refining my cultivation while settling worldly matters and resolving karmic ties, all to prepare for the Spiritual Infant Tribulation. I had previously sought out two old friends to entrust Yufu to, but now that you have returned, there is no one more suitable than you."

"You are preparing to undergo the tribulation already?" Qin Sang was startled. Fortunately, Wandering Man's cultivation speed had far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators.

The Spiritual Infant Tribulation was extremely terrifying. Unlike Qin Sang, who possessed the Jade Buddha and also cultivated body refinement, Wandering Man could rely only on himself to withstand the heart devils' tribulation.

However, given Wandering Man’s temperament, he likely did not fear the heart devils.

"Though the Spiritual Infant Tribulation is difficult, with your cultivation and will, Senior, you will surely turn misfortune into fortune," Qin Sang said.

Wandering Man laughed heartily. "Then I will accept your good wishes! I have made ample preparations, though I still need to refine several spirit pills. In three to five years, I should be able to find a place to undergo the tribulation. When the time comes, I hope you will come and stand guard for me."

"Please rest assured, Senior. I will personally hurry there," Qin Sang replied.

Qin Sang understood that, as a mere Golden Core cultivator, he was hardly qualified to protect Wandering Man. Wandering Man was allowing him to observe the tribulation, which would bring immense benefits.

"The Jade Liquid of Three Radiances should aid you during the tribulation. Unfortunately, I relied on it many times over the years to escape danger, so there is not much left," Qin Sang said as he took out a jade bottle. Only a thin layer of spiritual liquid remained at the bottom, leaving him somewhat ashamed.

"I remember you have the Nine-Illusion Heavenly Orchid, which requires the Jade Liquid of Three Radiances to mature..." Wandering Man hesitated.

When Qin Sang told him the spiritual herb had already matured, Wandering Man's eyes lit up. Without further ceremony, he accepted the jade bottle. "Thank you, Brother. With this divine liquid to assist me, my chances of passing the tribulation have increased by several degrees!"