The towering pillar that had stood at the center shattered without warning, exploding into fragments that rained across the platform as the beasts rushing forward only a moment ago slammed into each other in complete disorder.

Some lost their footing and dropped hard onto the stone while others were pushed straight over the edges, their bodies vanishing into the abyss below before they could even react.

For a single breath, the entire cavern fell into a strange and unnatural silence, as if something far worse had yet to arrive.

Then in the very next instant, the barrier surrounding Ji Wuchen and Yan Feng shattered apart like thin glass, and a presence rose from beneath the broken ground that spread across the entire space without resistance.

The bridges connecting the platform to the outer edges cracked violently before collapsing one after another, yet instead of falling completely, thick black chains surged upward from the darkness and replaced them instantly.

They stretched outward like living restraints, locking the entire area in place as the atmosphere grew heavy enough to suffocate thought itself.

That presence continued rising without pause, pressing down like a supreme authority that allowed no defiance or resistance.

Every breath became difficult as if invisible hands had wrapped around their throats, and one by one the weaker cultivators dropped to their knees while blood spilled from their mouths uncontrollably.

Even those with stronger cultivation found their bodies trembling under the weight, their bones creaking as they were forced downward inch by inch.

In just a few moments, the entire platform was pressed flat under that pressure, leaving only one figure still standing where he was.

Lin Xiao Tian remained upright as the force crashed against him without pause, his robes fluttering slightly while his gaze moved calmly across the others being forced down.

He raised his hand slightly and tried to shield those closest to him, but the pressure ignored all interference as if his effort meant nothing at all.

His eyes narrowed faintly as he withdrew the attempt without hesitation, already understanding that resisting this directly would only waste strength. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The mass teleportation order appeared quietly within his grasp, hidden beneath his sleeve as his fingers tightened around it without drawing attention.

This is wrong if anything bad happens, we leave... no reason to play hero for a bunch of burdens or chase after something dangerous.

Just then, from the shattered remains of the pillar at the center, movement finally stirred as the broken stone shifted slowly outward.

A figure began to rise from within the ruins, its outline unclear yet its presence already pressing against everyone present before it had fully revealed itself.

From within the shattered remains, the rising figure finally revealed itself, its form unstable yet oppressive as dark Qi leaked outward like smoke from a dying flame.

The outline flickered between solid and hollow, as if the body itself could not fully contain what remained within.

A chilling laugh spread across the cavern the moment it fully emerged, low at first before rising into something sharp and grating that echoed against every wall. "Fang Yuan... oh Fang Yuan," it said slowly, voice layered with age and madness, "see... I am back again."

Its gaze moved across the gathered cultivators with open disgust, not even bothering to hide the contempt in its expression as if it were looking at crawling insects. "Insects trying to defy the heavens," it continued with a faint curl of its lips, "so-called righteous... yet once you were the ones who fed me with blood of your own kind."

A dry chuckle escaped its lips as the surrounding pressure shifted subtly, growing colder rather than heavier, as if something unseen had begun to stir beneath the surface.

The laughter carried no joy, only a quiet certainty that made the air itself feel wrong.

Then its gaze shifted, slowing as it passed over Xiaoshan, Ji Wuchen, Tianhe, and a few others still trying to resist within the suppressed crowd.

For the first time, a trace of clear surprise appeared within its eyes, sharp and unmistakable beneath the madness.

"Tch... tch..." it clicked its tongue softly, the sound echoing far louder than it should have in the suffocating silence. "It seems the heavens truly favor me," it murmured, voice lowering as a faint hunger crept into its tone.

"So many good shells to choose from... so many sacrifices waiting to be offered."

Then its eyes shifted toward Lin Xiao Tian, the only figure still standing within the suppressed cavern, and a strange pause followed before a low laugh escaped its lips. "Interesting insect... why do you not bow when you see me," it said lightly as its attention fixed completely on him.

In the next instant, the pressure that had covered the entire area converged onto Lin Xiao Tian alone, releasing the others just enough to gasp for breath while the full weight descended upon a single point.

Yet even then, Lin Xiao Tian did not move an inch, his posture steady as if nothing had changed.

Seeing this, the demon burst into a louder laugh, its ethereal body rolling slightly in the air as the sound echoed sharply across the cavern walls.

"Interesting... a mere Core Formation insect showing traces of a Golden Core aura, resisting my pressure while standing among such fortunate little creatures," it said, its tone sharpening with clear interest.

Its gaze swept briefly across Xiaoshan, Ji Wuchen, Tianhe, and the others before returning to Lin Xiao Tian, the amusement in its eyes now mixed with something far more focused.

Its gaze swept across Xiaoshan, Ji Wuchen, Tianhe, and the others, lingering for a brief moment as something akin to greed surfaced within its eyes.

"Divine Dao traces... dragon bloodlines... heavenly fortune clinging to each of them," it muttered with a faint click of its tongue, the hunger in its voice no longer hidden.

Then its laughter stopped abruptly as its gaze returned to Lin Xiao Tian, the shift so sudden that the atmosphere tightened once again.

"Tch... it seems the heavens truly favor me today," it said quietly, its voice dropping as its attention settled completely. "So many good vessels to choose from... and so many sacrifices waiting."

Then its laughter stopped abruptly, the sudden silence far heavier than before as its full attention locked onto Lin Xiao Tian once again.

"You have gained my full attention, mortal," it said quietly, yet the weight behind those words pressed deeper than the earlier pressure.

At that same moment, a single thought ran clearly through Lin Xiao Tian’s mind as his fingers tightened slightly beneath his sleeve without drawing attention.

The teleportation markers on Miao-Miao and Xiaoshan are missing... troublesome, very troublesome.

He looked directly at the demon and forced a faint grimacing smile onto his face, his expression calm and steady despite the pressure bearing down on him from all sides.

If things go wrong here, running may not even be an option... what a fine situation this has become.