Chapter 27: Gate of Life and Death

In order to enter the Gate of Life and Death, one needed to resonate with it. Jiang Xing wasn't sure if he could, but he had to try.

Upon arriving at the Gate of Life and Death, he noticed a palm-shaped groove on the massive stone door. Jiang Xing guessed this was where he should input his fighting spirit.

He placed his palm on the groove and slowly injected his fighting spirit. As soon as he did, the Gate of Life and Death began to experience violent spatial fluctuations, and a powerful suction force emerged, attempting to pull Jiang Xing in.

Caught off guard, Jiang Xing panicked and shouted, "Lin Shan, save me!"

The protectors around him also realized something was wrong and rushed to pull him away. However, the suction force was too strong. Before Lin Shan could reach him, Jiang Xing was sucked into the space within the Gate of Life and Death.

Jiang Xing also noticed that the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, which was with him, didn't get sucked in and remained outside, isolated by the space.

Inside the Gate of Life and Death, a barren scene greeted him. The ground was covered with weathered stones, with no greenery in sight. There was no sign of life, only the howling wind breaking the silence.

As soon as Jiang Xing entered, the space channel that had drawn him in closed behind him, leaving him with no way to return.

Jiang Xing began using his soul power to explore his surroundings. He found no living creatures nearby, but the air was filled with strong wind energy.

With such concentrated wind energy, one could certainly practice here, speeding up cultivation considerably.

Knowing there was no immediate danger, Jiang Xing flew south. His investigation had revealed that the wind energy in the south was the most concentrated. Treasures are often found where energy is most dense, and his instincts told him that this Gate of Life and Death was not simple.

After flying for a quarter of an hour, he found the wind attribute energy nearly twice as strong as when he first entered, and the air was filled with sharp, cutting winds.

Jiang Xing was surprised. This place seemed perfect for cultivation, not only speeding up his progress but also strengthening his body. However, he still couldn't see an end to the path ahead.

After a while, Jiang Xing decided to walk. By this time, the wind energy was three times denser than at the beginning, and the strong winds had become even sharper. Even without using his fighting spirit to protect his body, Jiang Xing could feel a slight pain from the force of the wind.

An ordinary Dou Wang might not last long in such conditions. But for Jiang Xing, the wind's intensity was just right—it didn't harm him but would help strengthen his body.

Jiang Xing decided to stay and train here for a while, moving forward only when his body had grown stronger. With that decision made, he sat cross-legged and entered a state of cultivation.

Outside the Gate of Life and Death, Lin Shan stood anxiously. He had been alarmed when Jiang Xing was suddenly sucked into the gate's space and had tried to follow him, but the space closed too quickly, leaving no chance to enter.

Lin Shan attempted to replicate Jiang Xing's actions by placing his palm on the groove and injecting his fighting spirit, but nothing happened. The Gate of Life and Death remained unresponsive.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Lin Shan tried using his fighting skills to attack the gate, hoping to blast it open, but his powerful strikes couldn't even leave a scratch.

With no other options, Lin Shan crushed the jade slip used for summoning Jiang Cheng. Soon, the space beside Lin Shan distorted, forming a wormhole, and a figure emerged—Jiang Cheng.

Before Jiang Cheng could ask what was happening, Lin Shan spoke anxiously. "Master, the young master just input his fighting spirit into this door and was sucked in."

"What? Then why didn't you follow him? I entrusted Xing'er to your care, and this is how you protect him?" Jiang Cheng was furious upon hearing that his grandson had been sucked into the gate.

"Master, I also tried to input my fighting spirit, but the gate did not respond. Moreover, the gate is extremely solid—I couldn't even shake it with a full-strength attack."

Jiang Cheng approached the Gate of Life and Death, placed his hand on it, and let his fighting spirit surge into the gate. Immediately, a powerful suction force emerged, trying to pull him in.

Realizing that this must have been what happened to Jiang Xing, Jiang Cheng didn't resist and allowed himself to be drawn into the gate.

Inside, Jiang Cheng felt the unusual nature of the Gate of Life and Death but didn't pay much attention to it. What mattered to him was that he could sense Jiang Xing's presence.

Worried that his grandson might be in danger, Jiang Cheng used his spatial displacement ability to move towards Jiang Xing. This ability, possessed only by six-star Douluo, was akin to teleportation, allowing Jiang Cheng to reach the place that had taken Jiang Xing an hour to traverse in just moments.

When he arrived, he saw Jiang Xing sitting cross-legged, cultivating with steady breathing. Relieved, Jiang Cheng didn't disturb his grandson but kept a distance, protecting him while surveying the surroundings.

Now that he wasn't rushing, Jiang Cheng observed the area more carefully. With his vast experience, he quickly realized that this place, with its concentrated wind energy and strong winds, was ideal for cultivation. If the conditions weren't natural, then rare treasures must lie deep in the south.

Half a day passed, and Jiang Xing finally emerged from his cultivation state. Just as he was about to explore further, he noticed Jiang Cheng watching over him from a distance.

Surprised, Jiang Xing asked, "Grandpa, why are you here?"

Jiang Cheng, seeing that Jiang Xing had finished cultivating, walked over to him. "Lin Shan told me you were trapped here. I was worried, so I followed you in."

"I'm sorry for making you worry, Grandpa," Jiang Xing said, feeling both guilty and touched.

Jiang Cheng had come twice from Zhongzhou to look after him during his training—how could Jiang Xing not feel responsible?

Seeing his grandson's guilt, Jiang Cheng patted Jiang Xing's head to comfort him. "It's alright, it's alright."

Jiang Xing then said, "Grandpa, this seems to be a secret place. The deeper you go, the stronger the wind energy becomes. If we practice here, it might help you break through to the next realm."