The world should be like this, exploring new paths.

Behind the stone pier, Ye Baixi peered through the gaps in the vines at the growing crowd outside, whispering, "Brother, so many people have come..."

Lin Xue also clenched her fists, feeling somewhat nervous.

Shen Nianchu, on the other hand, rubbed her hands together excitedly. "Good! The more, the better!"

Qin Shuhan remained calm and said in a low voice, "Everyone is waiting for an Opportunity, or perhaps... an impatient fool."

The corners of Chen Yuan's mouth curled up slightly; everything was developing according to his expectations.

The stalemate did not last long.

Perhaps they felt that if they continued to wait, the Opportunity might be snatched by others, or perhaps they were overly confident in their own strength.

A group from a third-rate Sect, consisting of three Late Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators, exchanged glances before finally losing their patience. One of them shouted:

"Wealth is sought in danger! The Seniors from the Xuantian Sect have already entered this ruin, yet we are still hesitating here. Since none of you dare to enter, we shall take the first step!"

After speaking, spiritual light flared around the three of them as they formed a small battle formation and charged fiercely toward the entrance of the Qingyun Cave Mansion!

This action was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake!

"Stop them!"

"Want to monopolize the Opportunity? Think again!"

"Charge!"

Some tried to stop them, but more were spurred on by this action, fearing that falling behind even a step would mean losing the Opportunity entirely.

Suddenly, dozens of figures surged like a tidal wave, following closely behind those three Loose Cultivators, swarming into the Immortal Cave!

Chaos erupted instantly!

To get in first, Cultivators from different factions engaged in small-scale conflicts and shoving at the entrance. The sounds of angry shouts and clashing Spells were incessant.

The chaos and slaughter at the entrance lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

In the face of the elite Disciples from the two major first-rate Sects, the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion and the Thunder Sound Temple, the Loose Cultivators and small Sect Disciples were ultimately just a rabble; they were all wiped out, with not a single survivor.

Fresh blood stained the ground at the entrance, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of blood.

In the shadows, Lin Heng widened his eyes as he watched this scene. How could this group still have the demeanor of great Sects? They were simply a bunch of beasts.

"The Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion has gone too far. To kill so many people for the sake of an Opportunity... and that Buddhist Sect, I think they are more like a Demonic Sect."

Lin Xue also felt somewhat uncomfortable.

At this moment, Chen Yuan spoke quietly, "The world is just like this; it should be this way—the weak are prey to the strong. Great Sects appear glamorous on the surface, but in reality, they are filthy and unbearable. As Direct Disciples, you have been protected too well. Coupled with the Sect rules—to eliminate demons and defend the Dao, to save the common people—you have come to believe that cultivating immortality is about upholding justice and helping the world. You are wrong; all of you are wrong."

Shen Nianchu and Qin Shuhan's philosophies coincided with Chen Yuan's. Before joining the Sect, they had seen things a hundred times more tragic than this.

Lin Xue, Lin Heng, and Ye Baixi gradually fell into deep thought.

The Mid-stage Spirit Transformation leading Disciple from the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion, named Ling Jianfeng, flicked his long sword and looked coldly at the monk from the Thunder Sound Temple beside him.

"Zen Master Huiming, it seems our two houses are the last to arrive."

Ling Jianfeng's voice was flat, yet it carried the unique sharp edge of a Sword Cultivator.

Zen Master Huiming of the Thunder Sound Temple pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha. Patron Ling, the slaughter here has already occurred; it is not what our Buddhist Sect wishes for. However, the Opportunity is before us, and the Fellow Daoist from the Xuantian Sect has already taken the first step. If we continue to harbor suspicions against each other, I fear we will truly return empty-handed."

Ling Jianfeng's eyes flashed; he understood what Huiming meant.

The people from the Xuantian Sect were already inside. If the two of them continued to waste time outside or fight amongst themselves, that would be truly foolish.

"What does the Zen Master mean?" Ling Jianfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Let us join forces for now," Zen Master Huiming said in a calm tone. "First, find the people from the Xuantian Sect and clear the area. Afterward, regarding the Opportunity in the Immortal Cave, we shall rely on our own abilities. How about it?"

Ling Jianfeng pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Good! Let it be as the Zen Master says! First, we deal with the people from the Xuantian Sect!"

After reaching a temporary Alliance, the Disciples of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion and the Thunder Sound Temple quickly cleared the entrance and set up a simple Restriction to prevent any other outsiders from intruding.

Subsequently, the two teams combined forces, totaling over a dozen people. The lowest among them was at the Middle Stage Nascent Soul, and there were four or five at the Soul Transformation Stage. They carefully stepped into the Qingyun Cave Mansion.

Not long after Ling Jianfeng, Huiming, and the others entered the Immortal Cave, the figures of Chen Yuan and his group slowly emerged from behind the stone pier near the entrance that had been covered by vines.

"They've joined forces and even set up a Restriction; they've certainly calculated well."

Shen Nianchu curled her lip with a tone of disdain, but her eyes lit up with excitement. "Junior Martial Brother, shouldn't we follow them?"

"No rush." Chen Yuan's Divine Sense, like invisible tentacles, locked onto the aura of the combined team ahead from a distance. "Let them pave the way for us first. This Immortal Cave is by no means a safe place; there must be traps and Restrictions."

He turned to look at Lin Heng. "Senior Brother Lin, how are your injuries and your stability in your Realm?"

Lin Heng clenched his fist, feeling the surging spiritual power of his Perfected Nascent Soul Stage within his body, and nodded. "There is no major issue; thank you for your concern, Junior Brother Chen."

"Good, then let's follow. Remember, conceal all your auras; without my command, you must not act rashly."

Chen Yuan cautioned.

Everyone nodded quickly; by now, Chen Yuan had become the core of the entire group.

The five of them once again injected spiritual power into the formation talismans in their hands, and then their figures merged into the shadows of the Immortal Cave, silently following behind the Alliance team of the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion and the Thunder Sound Temple.

The Alliance team chose the passage on the left side that was permeated with a scorching aura.

The temperature inside the passage was extremely high, and the stone walls had been scorched red.

They hadn't walked far when a shrill scream came from ahead!

They saw a Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion Nascent Soul Disciple walking slightly in front accidentally trigger a hidden Restriction on the ground. A ball of dark red earthly fire erupted suddenly, instantly swallowing him, leaving hardly even ashes behind.

"Careful! There are earthly fire Restrictions!" Ling Jianfeng's expression was grim, and he shouted sharply.

The team immediately became more cautious, and their speed slowed down.

They had to divert their energy to carefully inspect every inch of the land ahead, breaking the various Restrictions encountered along the way.

This scorching passage was fraught with danger; even with the strength of the Alliance team, there were successive casualties.

A Nascent Soul monk from the Thunder Sound Temple accidentally had fire poison invade his body; although he was treated in time by Huiming, he temporarily lost his combat effectiveness.

The six members of Chen Yuan's group followed far behind, taking in all the dangers ahead.

"Wow, so dangerous!" Ye Baixi patted her small chest, saying with lingering fear, "It's fortunate we didn't walk in front."

Lin Xue also nodded in deep agreement.

Qin Shuhan analyzed calmly, "These Restrictions are quite powerful, but they are ancient and have lost some energy; otherwise, their losses would have been even more severe."

Chen Yuan silently noted the locations and methods of triggering the Restrictions, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

After paying the price of three Disciples' casualties, the Alliance team finally passed through this scorching passage without further incident and arrived at a relatively wide underground lava cavern.

As for Chen Yuan and his five companions, they were like maggots on the bones, silently slipping into the shadows at the edge of the cavern.