Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 299: Fool (II)

Ge Yuan, as if afraid Qin Sang would snatch the herb from him, moved with remarkable speed.

By the time Qin Sang arrived, he saw Ge Yuan standing at the edge of a pond.

At the center of the pond, a rare and peculiar flower was in full bloom.

The spiritual flower grew near the water’s edge, surrounded by a shroud of mist. Its stem was straight, and the flower itself was enormous, larger than an adult’s hand, and a striking blue.

Sky-blue petals overlapped in intricate layers, their color vibrant and pure. From the center of the bloom emanated a starlike radiance, which converged into a singular blue beam of light piercing through the dense mist.

A refreshing fragrance filled the air, invigorating the senses.

"Blue Dew Epiphyllum!"

This Blue Dew Epiphyllum appeared to be exactly what Ge Yuan needed. His gaze was filled with a dazed fascination, and his face radiated sheer ecstasy.

Seeing Ge Yuan’s expression, Qin Sang halted his advance, choosing to remain on the periphery to avoid any misunderstanding.

He had followed not to compete for the herb, but to observe the environment where such spiritual plants thrived and to assess any potential dangers.

To his surprise, there seemed to be no protective measures in place.

The Blue Dew Epiphyllum grew alone in the depths of the pond, unguarded by spirit beasts or barriers.

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The pond’s water was pristine and crystal-clear, and the herb seemed easily obtainable.

As Qin Sang gazed upon the flower, he instantly recognized it as a fully matured, millennia-old spiritual herb.

He recalled the brilliance of this blue light. Ge Yuan had been right—among the twenty-one spiritual herbs, this one ranked near the top. However, several herbs of even higher quality still remained!

This mountain was undoubtedly a massive treasure trove!

Qin Sang couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. He was about to head toward the direction of the Dark Yellow Qi when his gaze, just as it was about to move away from the Blue Dew Epiphyllum, paused for a brief moment.

For some inexplicable reason, an unusual sense of unease arose within him as he observed the flower.

His instincts flared. He stopped moving, quickly scanned the surroundings, and finally focused on the spiritual aura emanating from the orchid.

The blue beam of light soared into the sky.

Within the beam, the herb’s spiritual aura intertwined with the mist, resembling countless tiny, blue mayflies swimming gracefully. The scene was mesmerizing.

However, as Qin Sang traced the light upward into the depths of the mist, the strange feeling persisted, elusive yet undeniable.

Ge Yuan, having meticulously examined the area and found no apparent dangers, could no longer restrain himself. With a swift movement, he darted over the pond, reaching for the Blue Dew Epiphyllum.

"Stop!"

The moment Ge Yuan neared the flower, the sense of unease in Qin Sang’s heart surged dramatically. Though he couldn’t pinpoint the reason, he dared not delay and hurriedly called out to Ge Yuan.

Unexpectedly, Ge Yuan turned his head, casting a cold, sinister glance at Qin Sang. Instead of halting, he quickened his pace and unhesitatingly reached for the flower’s stem.

At the same time, a beam of light burst forth behind him, and a short sword materialized, aimed directly at Qin Sang.

From Ge Yuan’s eyes, Qin Sang could clearly sense intense vigilance, a warning—and killing intent!

Ge Yuan thought Qin Sang was trying to stop him to steal the Blue Dew Epiphyllum.

Qin Sang cursed inwardly, calling him a fool, but it was too late to intervene.

Suddenly, a foreboding sense of danger surged through Qin Sang’s mind. He looked up sharply, his expression changing drastically.

Crack!

The instant Ge Yuan’s hand was about to touch the Blue Dew Epiphyllum, several bolts of lightning appeared without warning, descending from the heavens.

The beam of light trembled violently as a shimmering silver net of electricity spread out, hurtling toward Ge Yuan.

Every bolt of lightning targeted a single individual—Ge Yuan!

Amidst the deafening roar of thunder, the terrifying aura of destruction descended.

Qin Sang, standing at the periphery, was in a relatively safer position. Ge Yuan, however, was the sole target of the lightning. In that instant, a profound fear of death gripped his heart.

Only then did Ge Yuan realize that Qin Sang's attempt to stop him wasn’t to compete for the spiritual herb but because he had truly noticed something amiss.

Blame could only be placed on the herb's protective barrier, which was so well-hidden that even after thorough inspection, they hadn’t detected it. When Ge Yuan saw the long-awaited spiritual herb, he had been utterly captivated, leading to a fatal mistake.

But regret came too late. The lightning was unimaginably powerful. Ge Yuan activated his short sword in an attempt to defend himself, but the high-grade artifact shattered into dust within a heartbeat, leaving him horrified.

If he were struck by the lightning, there would be only one outcome—death.

If he extended his hand just a cun farther, he could pluck the spiritual herb. Yet it was impossible to proceed.

A deep unwillingness flashed across Ge Yuan's face, but he ultimately dared not extend his hand. No matter how precious the herb, it was meaningless without his life to enjoy it.

Bang!

Ge Yuan stomped hard on the water’s surface and leaped back with explosive force.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang didn’t spare a thought for Ge Yuan’s fate. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted down the mountain.

Ge Yuan had triggered the herb’s protective barrier, and the lightning’s eruption was bound to alert Luo Xingnan and the others. Ge Yuan’s presence was now exposed, but Qin Sang might still have a chance.

Indeed, the moment the barrier was triggered, the battle atop the mountain abruptly paused. The demonic beasts’ roars grew frenzied to the extreme.

Whoosh!

A sudden gale arose, and amidst the surging mist, several massive shadows could be vaguely seen rushing toward them.

At the same time, Luo Xingnan’s furious roar echoed, "Which thieving scoundrel is this?!"

Before the words finished, a piercing screech tore through the mist. A jade trident-like artifact shot forward at a speed faster than the demonic beasts, arriving in an instant.

Ge Yuan, still fleeing from the relentless lightning, was already exhausted. When he saw the jade trident aiming straight for him, terror filled his face. He barely avoided being skewered but was struck by the spiritual power emanating from the trident, sending him tumbling far away like a rag doll.

Boom!

The jade trident plunged straight into the pond.

Water splashed everywhere as waves of spiritual power rippled outward.

Following closely behind the trident were a group of enormous birds with jet-black wings.

Their bodies stretched several zhang long, but instead of avian heads, their heads resembled human faces, complete with distinct features. Yet their mouths retained the structure of beaks, emitting sharp cries that were eerily unsettling.

Human Head Owls!

Simultaneously, streaks of evasion light arrived one after another.

Qin Sang froze, letting out a bitter smile internally. He abandoned any thought of further hiding.

There were no barriers to block the way down the mountain. From the moment the barrier was triggered, only a fleeting moment had passed before Luo Xingnan and the others arrived. Escaping unnoticed was impossible.

The protective barrier for the Blue Dew Epiphyllum seemed to serve solely to guard the herb. After driving Ge Yuan away, the lightning gradually dissipated.

Luo Xingnan’s sinister gaze swept over the two of them. He sneered coldly. "So, it’s you two thieves working together. You’re quite lucky to have stumbled in here! Such audacity, daring to steal herbs right under this old man’s nose!"

Ge Yuan, a subordinate of Sheng Yuanzi, and Qin Sang, who followed Yu Kong, were still remembered by Luo Xingnan.