Immortals Step into Heaven

He began to move among the crowd, trying to figure out the whole story from their conversations.

What's going on? Why are you all gathered here? Zheng Yuan grabbed a panicked cultivator and asked. The cultivator glanced at him impatiently, then, seeing his bewildered expression, said unhappily, "It's because the Yunlong Sect recently posted a wooden sign announcing that Foundation Establishment cultivators were hunting outside the gates. Now, they're trapped at this gate, unable to advance or retreat. They're all afraid of being robbed and hunted by Foundation Establishment cultivators, and they're also worried about losing their lives if they act rashly."

After hearing this, Zheng Yuan suddenly realized something, but at the same time, he secretly groaned. He knew that his unintentional actions might have touched the sensitive nerves of these various forces, which led to such a chaotic situation. He frowned and thought for a moment. He felt that he should keep a low profile, blend in with the crowd, and wait for the right time to get out. He didn't dare to go out alone now.

Zheng Yuan moved cautiously through the crowd, trying not to draw attention to himself. His eyes were wary of his surroundings, and his ears were constantly listening to everyone's discussions.

At this moment, an old man stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said loudly, "Everyone, this chaos is not a solution. Although we are wary of Foundation Establishment cultivators, we can't be trapped here forever." Everyone's eyes turned to the old man, some nodded in agreement, while others looked skeptical.

Zheng Yuan thought, while the old man's words made sense, putting them into action was far from easy. He was pondering this when he suddenly heard someone mention him nearby. He heard that all this was caused by the person who left the wooden sign. He wondered where he was now. Could he offer a solution or provide information on the number and strength of the Foundation Establishment cultivators outside so we could make a judgment?

Zheng Yuan was startled and secretly annoyed. He hadn't expected to become the target of public criticism so quickly. He quietly hid deeper in the crowd, cursing inwardly. He was lucky to have escaped. How could he have known the specific situation outside the door? If he had the ability, he wouldn't have been hunted down so nearly.

Zheng Yuan would not expose himself and would hide in the crowd and wait.

As time slipped away, everyone's patience wore thin. Finally, someone raised their arm and shouted, like a ignition of a pile of dry wood. Dozens of people, their blood boiling, rushed out with determination. The leader's face flushed red as he shouted at the top of his lungs, "We'll go out first, you follow! We're outnumbered. Even if there are a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, they wouldn't dare to act rashly!" His words were powerful, but the slight trembling in his voice betrayed his inner panic. Though everyone was terrified and their legs felt heavy as lead, the desire to escape, combined with a glimmer of hope, spread like wildfire, each one plotting to slip through the chaos.

Dozens of people gritted their teeth as they rushed out. For a moment, the sounds of shouting, footsteps, and the clash of weapons mingled, creating a thrilling war song. Those behind them watched, weighing the pros and cons. Staying here while the Foundation Establishment cultivators inside the hall searched for treasure would mean certain death if they ran into them. While the outside had already been looted, it was still better than waiting to die. Moreover, finding treasures and elixirs outside the island would be a tremendous opportunity for those in the Qi Refining stage. Consequently, more and more people mustered their courage and followed in their predecessors' footsteps, rushing out the door.

Zheng Yuanyi steeled his resolve and rushed out the door with the crowd. Instantly, a strong, bloody odor filled his face, and what followed was a chaotic battlefield. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators hovered in the air, their robes fluttering, like descending demonic gods. Some formed hand seals, unleashing dazzling magical radiances that slammed down on the Qi Condensation cultivators on the ground like meteors, while others brandished magical weapons, which whistled through the air with a sharp whistle, splattering blood everywhere they went.

The Qi Refining cultivators fled across the ground like ants, casting their own spells. Multicolored lights flickered among the crowd, yet they seemed faint. Some cultivators attempted to unite, forming a simple defensive formation, chanting incantations, barely holding up curtains of light. However, under the assault of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. The curtains shattered instantly, sending the cultivators within spitting blood from the powerful impact and flying backwards.

Amidst the chaos, Zheng Yuan desperately ran towards the woods. The shouts and cries of killing gradually faded away, but he didn't dare to stop. Suddenly, the ground in front of him suddenly rose up, and a wall of earth suddenly rose up, blocking his way. Startled, Zheng Yuan hurriedly stopped and looked around cautiously.

A stern-faced Foundation Establishment cultivator slowly descended from the sky, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery. "Where are you going, little ant?" he asked coldly, his voice as sharp as an ice knife. Zheng Yuan suppressed his fear and said, "Senior, I simply seek shelter. I would never dare to antagonize you." The Foundation Establishment cultivator sneered. "Hmph, there's no such thing as a safe place in this secret realm. However, if you can hand over all the treasures you possess, I might consider sparing your life."

Zheng Yuan's heart tightened. Although he had a few small items on him, they were all hard-earned and might be crucial to his cultivation. As he hesitated, several Qi Condensation cultivators came running over. Seeing this, they tried to circumvent him from the side, attracting the attention of the Foundation Establishment cultivator. Taking this opportunity, Zheng Yuan quickly used the Earth Escape Technique to escape.

Zheng Yuan moved at breakneck speed through the earth, feeling the soil squeeze around him, making breathing difficult. He didn't dare pause, silently calculating the distance in his mind, hoping to completely escape the Foundation Establishment cultivator's perception.

After an unknown amount of time, he sensed the soil above him shifting, and cautiously poked his head out. He saw a tranquil valley before him, shrouded in a faint mist. The stillness was eerie. Zheng Yuan slowly stood up, surveying his surroundings warily. Only after confirming there was no immediate danger did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to take a step forward, he heard a faint rustling sound, as if something were moving through the grass. Zheng Yuan's nerves tensed instantly, his hands secretly forming spells, ready to deal with any possible danger. A moment later, a small fox, its body snow-white, its eyes as bright red as blood jade, darted out from the grass. It stopped not far from Zheng Yuan, tilting its head and observing him curiously, its bright eyes devoid of any malice.

Zheng Yuan was slightly stunned. He did not expect to encounter such a cute and non-aggressive creature in such a dangerous and bloody place. Just when he relaxed his guard,