The Gate of Death

Feng Qianyue's face visibly darkened.

Although Yi Feng had managed to catch a dragonfish and possessed extraordinary strength, deep down, she didn’t have much confidence in him.

It wasn’t that she distrusted Yi Feng—it was just that the Death Inheritance was far too sinister.

Throughout history, countless powerful experts had perished within it.

"Of course I remember what I said."

Even so, she couldn’t afford to show weakness. Feng Qianyue slightly raised her chin as she responded.

"Good. Make sure you remember your words."

Bai Ji’s face brimmed with excitement as he turned to Xu Zhu beside him and added, "Master, you heard everything. If Feng Shimei goes back on her word later, I hope you’ll stand by me."

Xu Zhu glanced at Feng Qianyue, remained silent for a long moment, and finally nodded.

Seeing Xu Zhu’s tacit approval, Feng Qianyue felt a pang in her heart.

Though she had been the one to propose the wager, if Xu Zhu had intervened earlier, she wouldn’t have been forced into this position.

She couldn’t exactly blame him, but the resentment in her heart refused to fade.

In the end, Xu Zhu still favored Bai Ji more.

And right now, what was the point of needing someone to "stand by" anything? The wager had been made in front of so many people—did he really think she, Feng Qianyue, would renege?

Ultimately, it was just another sign of his distrust.

If not for the fact that her late father had once rendered outstanding service to Fengyue Island, and that many of the island’s elders still supported her—if Xu Zhu hadn’t been wary of them—Bai Ji would likely have already been named the next island master.

"Hahaha, activate the formation!"

Bai Ji was practically giddy with excitement. As his voice rang out, he cast a glance at Yi Feng, who sat cross-legged at the center of the altar.

The look in his eyes…

Was that of a man staring at a corpse.

Nice.

Yi Feng absolutely loved that look from Bai Ji.

Under the combined efforts of the Fengyue Sect members, the altar erupted with radiant light. The intricate runes carved into its surface seemed to come alive, swirling and dancing above Yi Feng’s head.

Soon, the light enveloped him completely.

Yi Feng’s vision blurred into a haze of mist.

A wave of dizziness washed over him.

By the time his sight cleared, he found himself in an entirely new world.

He twisted the spatial ring on his finger, checking the dried rations stored inside.

After dying, he wasn’t sure how long his nirvana would take. Would he be able to move during the process? Would he still need to eat, just like now?

So these beef jerky strips and dried provisions were absolutely essential.

Once he confirmed he had everything, he began surveying his surroundings.

He stood in a passageway several zhang wide.

Before him stood two gates.

Both were pitch-black, their depths impossible to discern.

Carved atop one gate was the character for "Death," while the other bore the character for "Life."

The Gate of Life.

The Gate of Death.

According to Feng Lingbei’s briefing, this wasn’t yet the core of the inheritance—just the periphery. In the past, Fengyue Island had sent waves of disciples to investigate the mysteries of this place.

Every single disciple who entered the Gate of Death had vanished without a trace.

Hence, this was the first crucial piece of information Feng Lingbei had given him:

He must enter the Gate of Life.

"Feng Lingbei is such a sweetheart."

Yi Feng curled his lips into a smirk.

He was going straight for the Gate of Death.

Without hesitation, Yi Feng strode inside.

Time passed.

Inside the Gate of Death’s passageway, Yi Feng had no idea how far he’d walked. He only knew he’d stopped to eat over a dozen meals along the way.

Yet the dangers he’d anticipated never materialized.

"What the hell? Where’s the ‘death’ part of this gate?"

Exhausted from the endless trek and frustrated by the lack of peril, Yi Feng began muttering curses under his breath.

"And where are Bai Ji’s traps?"

Yi Feng frowned in annoyance.

What he didn’t know was that Bai Ji wouldn’t dare set foot in the Gate of Death—all his traps and hazards were concentrated in the Gate of Life.

After all, who could’ve predicted Yi Feng would choose the Gate of Death?

Bai Ji’s carefully laid schemes had gone completely to waste. Yi Feng could only imagine the look on his face now.

Finally.

At the end of the corridor.

Light.

As he approached, a wave of scorching heat assaulted his senses, the temperature skyrocketing.

When Yi Feng finally stepped out of the passage, an entirely new world unfolded before him.

A sea of molten lava stretched endlessly below, bubbling and surging like an ocean, sending waves of blistering air upward.

Spanning the magma was a single, precarious rope bridge—nothing more than two chains linked together, swaying perilously over the fiery abyss.

This was the only path forward.

Without a second thought, Yi Feng stepped onto the bridge.

Feng Lingbei’s intel was useless now—his information only covered what lay beyond the Gate of Life. The Gate of Death was a complete unknown.

But that was fine.

Because this place looked dangerous as hell. His death couldn’t be far off now.

As Yi Feng made his way across the bridge, he soon noticed scattered bones littering the path.

He crouched to examine them.

The insignias on their weapons marked them as Fengyue Island disciples—likely the ones Feng Lingbei had mentioned, sent to explore the Gate of Death.

Mixed among them were the remains of other cultivators, not from Fengyue Island. Probably past inheritance-seekers who, like him, had chosen the unconventional path.

"With so many corpses, this bridge must be deadly."

Heart pounding with anticipation, Yi Feng pressed forward, eagerly awaiting his demise.

A full day passed.

In that time, he encountered countless more skeletons along the bridge.

"So many people died here!"

Yi Feng couldn’t help but marvel.

Then, suddenly, he spotted another corpse ahead.

"Wait, this one…?"

His eyes widened.

He distinctly remembered passing this spot a day ago—he’d even inspected this very corpse.

Sure enough, the signs of his earlier examination were still there.

"A ghost loop?"

"An endless cycle?"

Yi Feng rubbed his nose, puzzled.

He wasn’t afraid, just baffled. After completing a full circle, why hadn’t he encountered any danger yet?

Deciding to test it again, he walked for another day.

And once more, he returned to the same spot.

"Damn it."

"Just looping endlessly with no danger? What kind of nonsense is this?"

Yi Feng scowled.

He had no intention of walking in circles forever, especially when nothing lethal ever happened.

"Huh?"

Then he noticed something peculiar about the corpses.

Every single one seemed to have desperately avoided falling into the magma below.

Some had even tied themselves to the chains in their final moments.

"If they’d rather die than fall into the lava, then…"

"There must be something terrifying down there?"

Yi Feng’s eyes lit up.

Sure enough, amid the surging waves of molten rock, massive shadows occasionally surfaced—gigantic creatures gliding beneath, sometimes breaching the surface with gaping maws, exuding an aura of pure dread.

Now he understood.

For most cultivators, death itself might not be the worst fate. But becoming monster chow, leaving not even a corpse behind? That was true horror.

And Yi Feng?

He was thrilled.

He had considered jumping into the lava before, but he wasn’t entirely sure it could kill him.

What if he didn’t die, just ended up burning endlessly with no way out? That would be pure agony.

But now, with a monster lurking in the lava, the situation was entirely different!

Sure, he might turn into a pile of shit.

But if becoming shit was the price for achieving an indestructible, immortal body? Totally worth it.

Without hesitation, Yi Feng leaped in.

With a splash, he vanished into the molten depths.