Gateway of Immortality

Chapter 223: The Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat

The two moved closer to each other, quickly closing the distance.

Boom!

Wandering Man stood atop a Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat, smashing through the encircling Cloud Beasts with full force. The flying boat glimmered briefly, darting through the gap and arriving at Qin Sang’s side in an instant.

Wandering Man didn’t appear particularly disheveled. After all, the most powerful Cloud Beasts were still ahead, and these beasts, though numerous, posed no significant threat to him.

He glanced at Qin Sang’s ebony sword and said gravely, "Brother Qin, get on quickly! This flying boat is extremely fast and can easily shake off the Cloud Beasts, but I’ll need to fully concentrate on maneuvering it. In doing so, I won’t be able to fend off their attacks. I’ll rely on you to wield your sword and clear the path."

Qin Sang swiftly leaped to one end of the flying boat, examining it closely. The boat was constructed from four white spiritual bamboo poles, their crystalline surface resembling pure jade. They appeared to have been forcibly bent and fused together to form the vessel.

Though the Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat seemed simple in design—lacking any additional spiritual materials—the energy it radiated surpassed any top-grade artifacts Qin Sang had ever encountered. It was impossible to determine what kind of treasure it truly was.

He speculated that this immense energy came from the bamboo itself, which must have been extraordinarily rare. If his ebony sword could absorb the bamboo’s power, its might would undoubtedly reach a new level.

Unfortunately, the bamboo had already been refined into an artifact. Even if Wandering Man were generous enough to give it to him, the ebony sword wouldn’t be able to absorb its essence.

"Rest assured, Senior. I won’t let the Cloud Beasts trouble you," Qin Sang replied.

With a subtle command, his ebony sword shot into the air, hovering above the flying boat. In the blink of an eye, a sword array unfolded, effortlessly cutting down the pursuing Cloud Beasts.

"Impressive swordsmanship!"

Wandering Man’s eyes lit up with admiration. Relieved, he entrusted the Cloud Beasts to Qin Sang and sat cross-legged in the flying boat, focusing his mind on controlling it.

Buzz!

The flying boat trembled slightly, adjusted its direction, and pointed toward the edge of the Cloud Beast swarm.

A milky-white glow emanated from the bamboo, enveloping the two of them and forming a thin protective barrier.

Startled, Qin Sang looked up to see a dense, gray fog that had appeared out of nowhere. It exuded a chillingly oppressive energy and was rapidly closing in on them.

The situation he had feared the most had come to pass—a powerful Cloud Beast had been provoked and was now targeting them.

Qin Sang’s expression shifted as he quickly calculated the flying boat’s speed. Though it seemed they could avoid being completely enveloped by the fog, enduring a direct hit was unavoidable.

Thinking quickly, Qin Sang retrieved a black shield from his Mustard Seed Pouch. Chanting softly, he watched as the shield expanded in his hands until it was large enough to cover the entire flying boat.

With a forceful throw, he sent the black shield soaring into the air to intercept the oncoming fog. In the blink of an eye, the two collided.

Crack!

The moment they made contact, the black shield immediately developed a web of fine cracks, shattering with a thunderous crash in less than a second.

Qin Sang’s face darkened. He prepared to take out another artifact to buy more time, but before he could act, Wandering Man’s weary voice rang out beside him. "No need to trouble yourself, Brother Qin. Hold on tight."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, a pale hue appeared on Wandering Man’s face. The Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat suddenly erupted in dazzling light, accelerating like a comet. It shot forward several hundred meters in an instant, leaving the fog far behind. After a few more flashes, it broke free from the Cloud Beast swarm entirely.

The pursuing Cloud Beasts chased them for a while but eventually lost sight of even the flying boat’s shadow. Frustrated, they let out a few unwilling screeches before scattering in different directions.

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The Spiritual Bamboo Flying Boat sped across the low skies. Qin Sang continued to drive away any lingering Cloud Beasts while helping Wandering Man navigate. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the edge of a desolate plain, landing by a small lake.

Amid the barren wasteland, the lake shimmered like a sapphire embedded in the earth, appearing unusually striking and out of place.

The refuge lay deep beneath the lake. Despite the celestial phenomena wreaking havoc with fierce winds across the land, the lake’s surface remained eerily calm, thanks to the protective barriers of the refuge.

The celestial storm grew increasingly intense, and both Qin Sang and Wandering Man were clearly drained. They each stowed away their artifacts and slipped into the refuge. Finding it empty, they both let out long sighs of relief.

After choosing separate corners to meditate and restore their spiritual power, Wandering Man clasped his hands in gratitude toward Qin Sang. With a hint of emotion in his voice, he said, "It’s fortunate I encountered you, Brother Qin. This old body of mine nearly met its end back there."