Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 391: Astra

The Yellow Sand Banner enveloped the entire ice cavern.

Under Qin Sang’s control, more than ninety percent of the Yellow Sand Banner’s power surged toward Yu Hua, disturbing his perception while also alarming the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses and guiding them toward him.

Qin Sang reacted swiftly, merely following the flow of events, allowing the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses to locate Yu Hua almost instantly.

Yu Hua was once again attacked by the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses, but this time, he was prepared.

Moreover, after their previous battle, these Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses had suffered significant depletion. Many were injured from being caught in the storm, making it impossible for them to restrain Yu Hua as effectively as before.

Qin Sang remained motionless, raising his hand to summon a living corpse to stand before him. At the same time, a flag unfurled in his palm, releasing a rolling tide of yin qi, as he raced against time to set up the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions.

He had indeed considered luring Yu Hua inside, hoping to use the yaksha to turn the tide and strike back. However, after careful thought, he realized it would be too difficult to execute—the yaksha ignored living corpses, not him.

Moreover, Yu Hua could sense his position through the Heart-Devouring Insect.

Using a living corpse as bait while hiding in the shadows would not work.

The Yan Luo Banners of Ten Directions were immensely powerful, and with the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses assisting him, all he needed was an opportunity to complete the grand array. As long as he was not in a desperate situation, he did not need to risk everything in a reckless gamble.

Crackle!

A bolt of lightning split through the yellow sand, hurtling toward him. Yu Hua, having sensed Qin Sang through the Heart-Devouring Insect, attempted the same tactic once more.

Qin Sang had released the living corpse precisely to counter Yu Hua’s sneak attack. The living corpse was not particularly strong—sending it to engage Yu Hua in a prolonged battle would only lead it to the same fate as the Spirit-Binding Rope and Black Dragon Stone.

The living corpse, previously motionless, abruptly opened its eyes, seized Qin Sang, and swiftly dodged.

To Qin Sang’s surprise, after this attack, Yu Hua made no further moves.

A sense of unease crept into Qin Sang’s heart, but he did not hesitate in his actions. The Yan Luo Banners of Ten Directions whirled around him at high speed, and the array rapidly began to take shape.

Whoosh!

The wind and sand mingled with the yin qi, plunging the surroundings into darkness—the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions was finally complete!

Ten ghostly banners stood tall, slowly revolving around Qin Sang, as Ghostly Threads drifted eerily in the air.

Qin Sang, his face weary, let out a quiet sigh of relief but dared not pause. He pushed the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions to its full potential. The Ghostly Threads ignited with black flames, forming a long spear that shot through the air.

Unexpectedly, midway through its flight, the Ghostly Threads suddenly met resistance and could not advance even an inch.

The yellow sand dispersed.

As Qin Sang beheld the scene before him, his heart sank to the depths.

What had blocked the Ghostly Threads was none other than the same black flames!

Looking again at Yu Hua, he was using the same method to withstand the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses' attacks, though the thunderbolt-infused barrier beneath him had significantly thinned.

Furthermore, around Yu Hua, yin qi churned unpredictably, obscuring his figure. But within the swirling yin qi, faintly discernible, were ten Yan Luo Banners—the complete set!

Qin Sang had never expected Yu Hua to possess a fully formed Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions!

Back in the Yuanzhao Sect, through various details and the words of Meng Ruhui and others, Qin Sang had speculated about Yu Hua’s identity. He was likely not a spy planted by the Kuiyin Sect but rather a disciple of the Yuanzhao Sect who, upon realizing that reaching the Foundation Building Realm was hopeless, had succumbed to the temptations of the demonic sect, willingly becoming an informant in exchange for opportunities.

Such a person would never have earned Yi Tianye's trust before the conspiracy was complete. His status in the Kuiyin Sect would not have been high—perhaps even lower than Zhao Yan.

From their previous encounters, Qin Sang had observed that Yu Hua always consulted Zhao Yan before making decisions, completely lacking the demeanor of a Foundation Building cultivator when dealing with a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, further confirming his hypothesis.

By all logic, he should not have been entrusted with so many Yan Luo Banners. Even Yue Wu, who had faithfully served Yi Tianye, only possessed four.

This situation had completely disrupted Qin Sang’s expectations, throwing all his plans into disarray.

Yu Hua, noticing the grand array surrounding Qin Sang, spoke in a surprised tone, "A complete Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions? Even at its peak, few in the Kuiyin Sect possessed one. No wonder that brat Zhao Yan couldn't beat you! Lucky for me, I didn't underestimate you!"

Qin Sang ignored Yu Hua’s words and gave no response. Instead, he pushed himself to the limit, fully activating the Yan Luo Array of Ten Directions, hoping to divert Yu Hua’s attention and create an opportunity for the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses.

His spiritual power was depleting at a visible rate. The Ghostly Threads could not advance even a fraction, and the Flying-Horned Ichthyosauruses failed to break through the barrier.

Despite being outnumbered, Yu Hua held his ground against both of them, unable to gain the upper hand yet also remaining undefeated.

However, if this continued, not only would they fail to defeat Yu Hua, but Qin Sang himself would run out of spiritual power, making it impossible to maintain the Yan Luo Array.

The situation was dire, but Qin Sang was calmer than ever.

Realizing that relying solely on the Yan Luo Banners would never be enough to defeat Yu Hua, a determined glint flashed in Qin Sang’s eyes. He suddenly reversed his palm and struck his dantian, channeling every last drop of spiritual power from his Qihai into the Yan Luo Array.

Then, tilting his head back, he swallowed a handful of pills, immediately retrieving a talisman astra from his Mustard Seed Pouch—the silver knife talisman astra he had obtained from Luo Xingnan's relics.

With the additional infusion of Qin Sang’s overdrafted Qihai, the primary souls within the Yan Luo Array grew ecstatic. Its power surged dramatically, allowing the array to operate autonomously.

Meanwhile, waves of excruciating pain tore through Qin Sang’s meridians, as if he were being sliced apart. Gritting his teeth, he endured the agony, refining the medicinal effects of the pills to restore some spiritual power, which he then channeled directly into the talisman astra.

"Faster! Faster!"

Qin Sang's bloodshot eyes were locked onto the talisman astra, watching as the glow on the talisman paper grew increasingly brilliant. His heart roared in urgency.

Time seemed to slow to an unbearable crawl.

A single instant felt even longer than an entire day.

Finally, the talisman astra trembled lightly and slipped from Qin Sang's palm. With a crisp snap, the talisman paper shattered, transforming into a small silver knife.

Given the circumstances, Qin Sang had no intention of conserving the power of the silver knife. Without hesitation, he unleashed its full might.

The silver knife hovered in the air, pointing toward Yu Hua. Its tip quivered incessantly.

Just as Qin Sang was about to activate the talisman astra and launch an attack, an unforeseen change erupted!

The area where Yu Hua stood was completely engulfed by yin qi, obscuring everything within. But just as Qin Sang prepared the talisman astra, a series of ghastly wails suddenly echoed from within.

Qin Sang instantly recognized the sound—it was the cry of the primary souls within the Yan Luo Banners.

Yet their wails carried neither joy nor pain.

Only an overwhelming, unbearable pressure could force them to roar like this.

What is happening?

A wave of doubt surged through Qin Sang's mind. He had used the Yan Luo Banners for so long and knew its powers inside and out, yet he had never heard such a sound before.

Did the Yan Luo Array hold secrets that I never knew?

Just as this thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind, a powerful yin wind surged around Yu Hua’s position, causing the surrounding yin qi to roil violently. Then, ten primary souls slowly emerged from the churning yin qi.

Their appearances were grotesque—completely different from anything Qin Sang had seen before.

Each primary soul was shrouded in a crimson glow. Their translucent bodies contained traces of undigested fresh blood, with countless blood threads coursing through them.

And on their shoulders, they bore a massive banner!

At the sight of that banner, Qin Sang's pupils shrank abruptly.

The true Yan Luo Banner of Ten Directions!

An astra!