Gateway of Immortality

Chapter 268: Another Encounter

At some point, the Fire Spirit Beasts had broken free from the constraints of the totem barriers and entered the lava river.

For instance, near the volcanic crater, where the circular barriers had been partially damaged, the totem barriers that had remained intact earlier were now completely shattered.

What on earth happened up there?

Qin Sang was both shocked and deeply concerned.

A swarm of Fire Spirit Beasts had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, completely blocking his retreat. While he didn’t fear the Firebirds, charging forward against the Fire Monkeys and humanoid phantoms was out of the question.

Moreover, the upheaval appeared to have originated from the depths of the ancient immortal's estate. Taking reckless risks was even less advisable now.

Perhaps staying away from the volcanic crater had been a blessing in disguise.

Qin Sang looked up at the circular barrier above him. Its light flickered erratically, constantly struck by the reverberations of the tremors. The barrier shook along with the ground and lava but still held firm for now. He had no idea how long it would last before breaking apart.

Behind him, countless Fire Spirit Beasts pursued relentlessly, like caged beasts finally freed, letting out cries of elation as they frolicked, danced, and played in the lava. To an observer, it might have seemed like a scene of joy.

But Qin Sang knew all too well that if these beasts caught sight of him, their demeanor would change completely. They would reveal unrestrained killing intent.

He couldn’t afford to stay in place and wait; he had no choice but to keep moving forward.

The lava's current grew increasingly rapid. Though the Fire Spirit Beasts seemed to be playing, their speed was anything but slow. Qin Sang pushed himself to the limit, barely managing to widen the distance between them.

After swallowing a bottle of Azure Spirit Pills, Qin Sang took stock of his situation. His supply of pills was ample for now, so he wasn’t immediately worried about running out of spiritual power. However, he was at a loss about where to go next.

If he couldn’t find a breach in the circular barriers along the way, his only option would be to keep fleeing until he exited the boundaries of the ancient estate entirely—a scenario Qin Sang desperately wanted to avoid.

Deep in thought, Qin Sang considered the tremors behind him. Judging by their intensity, this upheaval was far from trivial. If there were a weak point in the circular barriers, there was a good chance it had been cracked open or even torn into a gap.

Perhaps he could escape through such a breach.

However, the only weak point Qin Sang knew of was beneath the second trial space.

The trial space and the ancient estate were likely two separate areas divided by barriers.

But Qin Sang couldn’t be sure if the trial space's location corresponded directly with the estate. If it did, the spot should be near the stone stele.

In any case, he had to check it out.

Quickly calculating his position, Qin Sang recalled every path he had taken since entering the ruins. He had meticulously remembered each turn and now sketched a rough mental map, aligning the upper and lower levels.

Currently, he was heading southeast, away from the direction of the stone stele.

Qin Sang scanned the branching lava streams ahead, chose one, and darted into it.

The lava river was riddled with countless tributaries, intersecting in a maze-like network. Qin Sang switched paths repeatedly, finally correcting his course and speeding toward the stone stele.

However, during his escape, Qin Sang noticed Fire Spirit Beasts appearing in other directions as well. His heart sank—his worst fear had come true. The cave housing the Scarlet Gold Vine wasn’t unique. Similar areas existed deep beneath the estate, nurturing Fire Spirit Beasts.

The circular barriers in those places must have shattered as well. Qin Sang dared not approach those areas. The Fire Spirit Beasts were no longer just Firebirds—three distinct types had converged into a single horde.

Forced to change direction, Qin Sang managed to avoid being cornered, but his maneuvering space was rapidly shrinking. The distance between him and the Fire Spirit Beasts was gradually closing.

He downed spiritual pills one after another.

Transforming into a streak of sword light, Qin Sang tore through towering waves of lava, not daring to pause for even a moment. The spiritual pills barely replenished his spiritual power before it was drained again to fuel his ebony sword. His Qihai churned with stabbing pain.

If only the Nine-Dragon Heavenly Chariot Talisman were usable right now.

Qin Sang gave a self-deprecating chuckle and pressed on, focusing entirely on his escape.

Suddenly, a deafening roar of waves came from ahead. This sound signified the presence of a vast lava lake up ahead. Just as Qin Sang had this thought, his vision expanded abruptly, and he found himself at the edge of the lava lake.

This massive lake was the largest Qin Sang had seen since diving into the lava. It was countless times larger than the underground cavern. Countless lava rivers converged here, and the lake stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a sea of molten rock.

This wasn’t necessarily a good thing. The open space lacked any cover, leaving him fully exposed. Traveling openly on his sword made it easy for the Fire Spirit Beasts to spot him.

As expected, it wasn’t long before Qin Sang noticed the shapes of Fire Spirit Beasts emerging from the surging waves along the distant shores.

Just as he was nearing the center of the lake, a piercing roar erupted suddenly.

Startled, he turned back to see a dazzling white streak of evasion light shooting out from one of the lava rivers. A horde of frenzied Fire Spirit Beasts swarmed out behind it, seemingly endless. They shrieked as they plunged into the lava lake, throwing the entire molten sea into chaos.

Seeing this, Qin Sang cursed inwardly.

He didn’t have time to wonder why someone else was here. Without hesitation, he fully activated his ebony sword and fled. Amid his hurried escape, he glanced at the distant evasion light and was suddenly taken aback, instinctively slowing down.

The white evasion light was incredibly fast, even outpacing the rampaging Fire Spirit Beasts. Before long, it was traveling alongside Qin Sang.

Only now did the person controlling the evasion light notice Qin Sang, who had been quietly fleeing all this time.

"Huh?"

A surprised voice came from the light, which paused briefly before the glow dissipated, revealing an elderly figure.

It was none other than Wandering Man, the owner of the Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat!

"Brother Qin?"

The two exchanged looks, both equally astonished.

"Senior, how are you here?" Qin Sang was the first to ask.

When he saw the evasion light earlier, he had felt a familiar aura—it resembled the Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat. Only that flying boat could move at such extraordinary speed.

In this situation, having an ally would increase his chances of survival, so Qin Sang had deliberately slowed down to wait.

It really was Wandering Man!

"I discovered a rare spiritual herb underground and was just about to harvest it when, unexpectedly, the ground shook and the circular barriers shattered. I fell into the lava river and, before I could escape, was besieged by Fire Spirit Beasts. I’ve been fleeing ever since..."

Wandering Man’s explanation was cut short by a sharp screech.

The Fire Spirit Beasts were already closing in. Wandering Man’s expression changed slightly as he called out urgently, "Brother Qin, quickly board the bamboo boat! Don’t let these accursed beasts surround you!"

Qin Sang’s eyes flickered as he hesitated briefly. Finally, he nodded, withdrew his sword light, and leaped onto the Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat.

"Who would’ve thought that both times we’ve met, it’s been under circumstances like these," Wandering Man remarked with a sigh, though his tone carried a trace of delight. "I’ve used up all my spiritual pills and was close to exhausting my spiritual power. Meeting you now is a blessing! By taking turns piloting the bamboo boat, we won’t need to fear being overtaken by these cursed beasts."