I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

Lu Zhao's words were like a reassurance, and also like a battle cry.

Seeing that Lu Zhao had not only returned safely but was also full of energy and possessed an unfathomable aura, Chen Bai and the others' last trace of hesitation vanished, replaced by unprecedented confidence. With such an unfathomable senior who had repeatedly saved them from danger leading them, their chances of survival greatly increased.

"We will obey your orders, senior!" Chen Bai clasped his hands in greeting first, his voice weary but carrying a hint of excitement. The others, whether cultivators or mortals, also mustered their spirits, helping each other to their feet, their eyes rekindling with hope.

Lu Zhao said no more, and in a flash, he arrived at the foot of the roaring waterfall. He looked up at the hidden crevice that sloped upwards, and scanned it again with his divine sense, confirming that there were no lurking demonic beasts or abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations inside, at least the area near the entrance was safe.

"I'll go first, you all follow. Watch out for the slippery ground and look out for each other." Lu Zhao gave the order, then lightly touched the slippery rocks with his toes and soared into the air like a bird, easily crossing several meters and landing precisely on a protruding rock at the edge of the crevice entrance. In a flash, he disappeared into the dark crevice half-hidden by the curtain of water.

Chen Bai dared not delay and quickly organized his men. Several mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators took the lead, while Chen Bai and another late-stage Qi Refining cultivator led the way, protecting the elderly, women, and children in the middle. They climbed the rocks one by one and squeezed into the crevice. Fortunately, although the entrance was slippery, the rocks were rough and had many protrusions to grip. With everyone helping each other, although they were a bit disheveled, they successfully entered the passage.

Upon entering the passage, the light immediately dimmed, with only the faint glow filtering through the waterfall behind them and the scattered fluorescent moss growing on the rock walls providing extremely limited illumination. Just as Lu Zhao had predicted, the passage was narrow and rugged, allowing only one person to pass by bending over. Underfoot were slippery rocks and silt, perpetually damp with moisture, making it extremely difficult to traverse. The passage sloped upwards, winding and twisting, its destination unknown, the air filled with the damp, earthy smell and a faint musty odor.

Lu Zhao walked at the forefront, his steps steady. After breaking through to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, his five senses and six perceptions had become even more acute. In this pitch-black darkness, although his vision was still blurry, he could barely make out the scenery within a few feet. More importantly, his newly acquired dragon energy, imbued with the power of water and earth, was perfectly suited to this place. Without needing to deliberately activate it, he could vaguely sense the pulse of the earth beneath his feet, the direction of the water vapor in the air, and even, through subtle changes in the earth's energy and airflow, determine the general direction of the passage and which fork in the road was more likely to lead to the surface.

His divine sense, like the most loyal scout, extended forward for dozens of feet, vigilantly probing every bend, every fork in the road, and every shadow ahead. The passage was not straight; there were frequent forks, some leading to dead ends, others descending downwards, their destinations unknown. Lu Zhao could always rely on his sense of the earth's ley lines to quickly choose the correct path that led upwards and where the air flowed.

"laugh!"

A gray-gold finger strike shot out silently, pinning a foot-long blind fire lizard that had swooped down from a crevice in the overhead rock face to the rock wall. Before the flames could even ignite, they were completely consumed by the aura of annihilation.

"Watch out for the crevice on the right, there are poisonous scorpions." Lu Zhao's calm voice rang out in the passage, reminding the person behind him. He flicked his finger, and a pebble accurately shot into the crevice, smashing several fist-sized, blackish-red poisonous scorpions to pieces.

Under his leadership, the group moved slowly but without incident. Occasionally, low-level poisonous insects and monsters would dart out from rock crevices and puddles, but they were all dealt with by Lu Zhao from a distance before they could get close to the group.

But the harshness of the environment and the physical exhaustion were undeniable. The passage was slippery and steep, requiring everyone to use both hands and feet to climb; people frequently slipped and fell, ending up covered in bruises. The darkness, the oppressive atmosphere, and the unknown road ahead constantly eroded their will. Especially those weaker individuals, who were already panting heavily and pale-faced, sustained only by their will to survive and the support of those around them.

Time passed slowly, seemingly endlessly. The passage continued its winding ascent, seemingly without end. Exhaustion, hunger, pain, and fear of the darkness, like maggots clinging to bones, began to gnaw at the hearts of the group once more. A sense of despair, like a dark cloud, quietly spread through the ranks.

"How much longer... how much longer?" a young woman asked in a low voice, her voice trembling with tears. Her feet were already blistered, and every step she took was excruciatingly painful.

"I...I can't walk anymore..." A teenager slumped onto the wet, slippery ground, his voice filled with despair.

Chen Bai was also covered in sweat, his lips cracked. He glanced back at the exhausted and demoralized troops, his heart filled with anxiety. But he knew he couldn't stop now, much less utter a discouraging word.

"Hang in there! The senior is leading the way, he must be right! Think of the sunlight on the ground, think of your family at home!" Chen Bai encouraged him in a hoarse voice, though he himself felt that his words were somewhat weak.

Lu Zhao walked at the front, hearing the commotion and whispers behind him, but he didn't turn around or offer any words of comfort. At this moment, any words would be futile; finding a way out as soon as possible was the only hope.

He had lost count of how many turns he had made and how many steep slopes he had climbed. The path continued upwards, the earthy smell in the air seemed stronger, and the moisture seemed less dense. This seemed like a good omen.

Just when even Lu Zhao himself began to doubt whether the passage truly led to the ground, or was merely an endless looping trap—

He suddenly stopped, abruptly raised his head, and listened intently.

The sound of the wind!

Extremely faint, as if coming from a very distant place, carrying a kind of empty echo, but it was indeed the sound of wind! No longer the dull, damp, and watery sound of air flowing in the underground tunnels, but... the free sound of the wind belonging to the ground!

At the same time, a faint, almost imperceptible wisp of air, mixed with the earthy smell, the rotting leaves, and... a faint hint of grass, wafted slowly along the path ahead.

The aura was so faint, mixed with the musty and earthy smell of the passage itself, that it was almost indistinguishable. However, Lu Zhao's keen senses, honed by his peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, combined with his focused investigation, allowed him to clearly detect it!

It's the scent of the ground! Absolutely!

An uncontrollable gleam of joy erupted in Lu Zhao's eyes, and a look of relief finally appeared on his previously tense face. He whirled around, looking at the group struggling and nearly desperate in the darkness behind him. His voice, though soft, carried an unprecedented exhilaration that resonated clearly throughout the passage:

"Everyone, speed up! I can smell the wind, and the scent of grass and earth—the exit is just ahead!"