Just as they relaxed, the passage rumbled again, heavier this time as multiple shadows shifted within the darkness ahead. The ground trembled steadily, and the sound of scraping and dragging grew louder as more beasts closed in.

Everyone moved at once, taking defensive positions as their focus sharpened again. The fat man raised his hand immediately, a talisman already between his fingers as he prepared to throw it.

Lin Xiao Tian stepped forward and stopped him with a light motion, his tone calm yet leaving no room for argument. "Follow us for now... and stop throwing money around like this."

Before the man could respond, a beast lunged out from the darkness, its maw opening wide as it rushed toward them. Lin Xiao Tian moved without pause, his hand shooting forward as he caught it mid-charge.

The impact was clean as he drove it straight into the wall beside them, pinning its body there with a single motion as the force crushed it in place.

The creature struggled for a brief moment before going still, its body hanging lifeless.

The others did not hesitate as they moved in immediately, intercepting the rest as more beasts poured out of the passage, the narrow space turning into a chaotic clash once again.

The beasts kept pouring out from the darkness in waves, their twisted bodies scraping along the passage as the narrow space filled with movement.

There was no gap between them, no pause, only constant pressure forcing the group to hold their ground.

Tianhe stepped forward first, his presence settling at the front as he took the brunt of the charge. His strikes were direct and heavy, each blow forcing the creatures back just enough to keep them from breaking through.

Xiaoshan followed beside him, his one-handed grip steady despite the injury as his halberd swept in wide arcs. Each strike cleared space, knocking multiple beasts aside while forcing the rest to hesitate for a brief moment.

Yan Feng moved behind them, his sword flashing in tight, controlled motions as he cut down anything that slipped past. His attacks were precise, each strike aimed to finish quickly without wasting effort.

Miao Han remained silent, his movements steady as he stepped into openings without hesitation. His spear struck cleanly, targeting weak points and forcing the beasts back step by step.

The fat man stayed close behind, no longer throwing talismans recklessly as he followed Lin Xiao Tian’s instruction. Instead, he watched for openings, using them only when necessary to support the group.

The passage grew tighter as they advanced, the walls pressing in while the number of beasts did not lessen. The ground beneath them was already covered with broken bodies, yet more continued to climb over them without slowing.

Lin Xiao Tian moved along the side, stepping in whenever the formation shifted too far. His strikes were simple, yet each one removed a threat instantly, keeping the group from being overwhelmed.

The pressure did not ease, every step forward was forced, every inch gained through effort as the beasts pushed back with equal force.

The air grew heavy, filled with the sound of impact, scraping claws, and broken bodies hitting the ground.

Then the front line shifted as Tianhe drove forward with a heavier strike, forcing the creatures back further than before.

Xiaoshan followed immediately, his halberd crashing down and clearing a wider path as the formation tightened behind them.

Yan Feng stepped through the gap and cut down the nearest beasts, opening just enough space for Miao Han to advance. His spear struck forward repeatedly, forcing the line to break as the pressure began to tilt.

For the first time, the beasts were pushed back.

The movement was slow, but steady as the group advanced, forcing them deeper into the passage. The waves began to thin slightly, their numbers no longer as overwhelming as before.

After several more turns, the space ahead shifted.

A narrow opening appeared in the distance, faint light spilling through as the passage widened slightly beyond it. The sight was enough to push them forward with renewed focus.

The beasts surged again, trying to block the path, but the group did not slow.

Tianhe stepped into the front once more, his strikes heavier as he forced a clear path forward. Xiaoshan followed, his halberd sweeping wide as he knocked aside anything in the way.

Yan Feng and Miao Han pressed in behind, cutting down whatever remained, leaving no space for the creatures to regroup.

Lin Xiao Tian moved last as they reached the opening, he turned slightly and stepped back, his gaze sweeping across the remaining beasts.

With a single motion, he drove forward, clearing the final group and forcing them back completely.

The path opened as the last of the creatures suddenly retreated into the darkness, their presence fading as the pressure finally lifted.

The group stepped through the narrow opening, leaving the passage behind as silence returned once again.

As they stepped out of the passage, their steps halted at once as the space before them opened into a vast cavern. The ceiling stretched high above, jagged and uneven, faint light reflecting off crystal veins embedded in the rock.

Below them lay a massive platform suspended in the void, its surface wide and carved with worn markings. Several narrow bridges extended outward from it, each one connecting to dark tunnels from which monsters continuously emerged.

The air was heavy and still, yet filled with distant echoes of battle and the constant scraping of claws against stone. The entire structure felt unstable, not in form, but in the way pressure gathered from every direction.

At the center of the platform stood Ji Wuchen, his hand pressed firmly against a tall crystal pillar that pulsed with a steady glow. Around him, a golden qi barrier held strong, separating him from everything outside.

Beyond that barrier, his subordinates fought desperately across the bridges, their formation stretched thin as waves of beasts surged toward them. Each bridge had become its own battlefield, with no space to retreat or recover.

Lin Xiao Tian’s gaze swept across the scene, his expression calm as he took in every detail without haste. So this is the real gate... and he is already holding the core, not bad.

The monsters did not stop as they climbed over fallen bodies and pushed forward endlessly, their numbers overwhelming as they pressed against the defenses.

The cultivators struggled to hold the lines, their movements growing strained under constant pressure.

Then one section collapsed as on a distant bridge, the defense broke as a minotaur-like beast forced its way through the line. Its massive horn pierced straight through a disciple, lifting him off the ground without resistance.

The man’s body trembled for a brief moment before both of them lost footing.

They fell together as their figures dropped into the endless void below, swallowed instantly without a trace. No sound returned, nor did any impact follow, leaving only the empty darkness beneath.

Without a pause, the battle resumed as if nothing had happened, the brief silence crushed under the next wave. This time, the monsters no longer pushed blindly, their movements shifting with clear intent.

They had found a path.

From the broken section of the bridge, several beasts forced their way through the weakened defense and spilled onto the platform itself.

Their momentum did not slow as they rushed forward, closing the distance toward the center.