There was no telling what dangers lay ahead, but going back or to the sides was absolutely impossible. They could only charge forward with their heads down.
After running for over ten li, the group suddenly froze, their eyes trembling violently as they stared ahead.
A large stretch of ground in front of them was completely filled with dense, purple evil spirits. These spirits drifted back and forth like phantoms. For some unknown reason, they were engaged in a frenzied battle with one another.
Moreover, more and more purple evil spirits were converging from all directions, a truly terrifying sight.
Even Yang Kai was startled by the scene, let alone the people from Ghost King Valley and Carefree Sect.
Although he cultivated the True Yang Technique, which countered evil spirits, the sheer number was simply too overwhelming. If they all rushed him at once, Yang Kai estimated he wouldn't stand a chance of resisting.
In an instant, many were filled with immense despair. Their eyes brimmed with panic and fear, and they stood there blankly, unsure of what to do.
A wolf ahead, a tiger behind, with nowhere to go – they were in a seemingly hopeless situation!
"Brother Yang, Brother Yang!" Suddenly, a frantic shout came from not far away, seemingly calling for Yang Kai.
Hearing the voice, Yang Kai turned his head to see Tao Yang, whom he had met once before, sweating profusely and waving at him.
Tao Yang was currently standing on a natural, stone-pillar-like platform that rose from the Evil Spirit Cavern, about seven or eight zhang off the ground, its top a smooth, flat surface.
Beside Tao Yang, his three junior brothers and sisters were also gathered, their expressions panicked and flustered.
Besides them, there was another similar platform not far away.
"This way!" Yang Kai's eyes lit up. He led Leng Shan and the others toward it. Yu Qing's group, seeing a chance at survival, followed closely without delay.
In this desperate life-and-death escape, Yang Kai didn't have the luxury of being cautious. He used his True Yang Energy to blast away several wandering purple evil spirits that got in his way.
Charging wildly and unscrupulously, they finally carved out a path through the encircling spirits. With a unified leap, Yang Kai and the group from Ghost King Valley landed on the platform where Tao Yang stood.
The platform wasn't very large. With Tao Yang's group of four already there, adding the seven or eight from Ghost King Valley made it feel a bit cramped. While not shoulder-to-shoulder, there was certainly no room left for the Carefree Sect crowd.
Once on the platform, Yang Kai spun around, his cold gaze fixed on Yu Qing and his group.
Fortunately, they had the self-awareness to know they couldn't ask anyone to give up their spot.
So they merely circled nearby, summoned their artifacts to protect themselves, and flew toward an empty platform not far away.
The artifacts emitted streaks of brilliant light in the dim cavern—fire-type or crackling with electric arcs. Only these kinds of attacks could counter the evil spirits.
Countless evil spirits flew around below the platform, attacking and screaming at each other as if maddened. Yet, the top of the platform remained perfectly safe, untouched by the chaos. This left everyone puzzled, wondering what hidden mystery the platform concealed.
"Brother Yang, we meet again," Tao Yang said with a bitter smile, looking at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai returned the gaze, cupping his fists in gratitude. "Thank you."
"You're too polite, Brother Yang."
"What are you doing here?"
"Just like you—being chased." Tao Yang gave a dry laugh. He explained that he had been traveling behind Yang Kai with his three juniors, but hadn't encountered anything. The path behind Yang Kai was eerily clean, without a single evil spirit in sight.
Forced to change direction and avoid Yang Kai's route, they had somehow wandered deep into the purple evil spirits' territory. Just as they spotted a lone purple spirit and were about to act, things took a turn.
A massive swarm of spirits chased them from behind. By the time they fled to this spot, someone had shouted a warning, and they scrambled onto the platform for refuge.
"There are others here?" Yang Kai asked, surprised. He looked around and, about a li away, indeed saw two slender figures seated atop another platform.
A li away, under normal circumstances, Yang Kai could see with perfect clarity. But here deep underground, his vision was obstructed, and he could only make out that they were two women.
"The two being chased by the Carefree Sect," Leng Shan glanced over and said softly.
Yang Kai nodded calmly.
"Are these new friends of yours, Brother Yang?" Tao Yang curiously eyed the Ghost King Valley group. Yang Kai had entered the Evil Spirit Cavern alone before, and suddenly appearing with a group that clearly weren't strangers piqued his curiosity.
"Oh, we knew each other before. Didn't expect to run into them here," Yang Kai explained.
Tao Yang chuckled lightly. "It seems Brother Yang has friends everywhere! To run into acquaintances even in a place like this—I'm impressed! I'm Tao Yang from the Treasure Artifact Sect!"
"The Treasure Artifact Sect?" Shen Yi exclaimed, and even Leng Shan's eyes shimmered with a peculiar light as she looked at Tao Yang, clearly having heard of the sect's reputation.
"My apologies, Senior Brother Tao. So you're a disciple of the Treasure Artifact Sect. We're from Ghost King Valley—I'm Shen Yi!"
"Brother Shen!" Tao Yang smiled warmly, his expression unchanged despite Ghost King Valley being an unorthodox sect.