At this moment, Ruan Tianhe stood at the forefront of a strange land.
The towering, mountain-like black iron gate loomed in the distance, its surface pitch-black, gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen under the sunlight.
Clearly, this was the entrance to the mysterious cave.
"According to what they said, this seems to be the cave of a fallen Heaven and Earth Realm expert..." Ruan Tianhe thought quietly.
Fang Yuan had told him before that the Heaven and Earth Realm was a level above the Martial Saint realm, and perhaps inside this cave, there might be a method for ascending to the Heaven and Earth Realm.
At this thought, Ruan Tianhe's gaze shifted toward the two individuals who had forced him to come here.
He had already learned their identities—the young man in fine clothes was named Zhang Mingyang, who seemed to have some standing in the Sun Moon Sect, while the elder named Chen was an elder of the sect.
As for his own origins, Ruan Tianhe refrained from revealing that he was from a lower realm. Instead, he falsely claimed to be a loose cultivator.
Zhang Mingyang and the others seemed uninterested in probing further, as they were all focused on entering the cave.
"Now that I have obtained His Majesty's divine power, even though I am heavily wounded and sealed, I still have a chance to fight two against one..."
Ruan Tianhe calculated in his heart, his eyes flashing with a cold glint, weighing whether to act immediately.
However, just as he was about to make his move, several figures appeared in front of them. These individuals respectfully cupped their fists and bowed, "Greetings, Zhang Hall Master, Elder Chen."
Among them, a white-haired elder nodded slightly. The aura around him revealed that he, too, was a Martial Saint.
"Another Martial Saint..."
Ruan Tianhe's pupils contracted slightly, his mind turning rapidly. He immediately extinguished his thoughts, as His Majesty had told him to temporarily comply with the others. He decided to obey His Majesty's command; it wasn't about being cowardly, just following the order...
Zhang Mingyang turned his head slightly, directing his gaze at the white-haired Martial Saint. "Elder Bai, what is the situation?"
Elder Bai stroked his long beard and spoke in a deep voice, "Hall Master Zhang, the cave's restrictions are weakening on their own. It should open in about fifteen minutes."
"Very good," Zhang Mingyang nodded, his eyes burning with anticipation as he gazed at the towering cave entrance in the distance, a trace of eager excitement flashing in his eyes.
This was the cave of a Heaven and Earth Realm cultivator, left by an ancient powerhouse. Thinking of the opportunities to be gained, Zhang Mingyang couldn't help but feel excited.
Elder Bai's gaze flickered toward Ruan Tianhe, scanning him for a moment before asking, "Hall Master Zhang, who is this?"
Zhang Mingyang smiled with a hint of amusement, "I don't know where this person came from, claiming to be a loose cultivator..."
"By chance, my companion and I captured him. He might be useful for this trip to the cave."
Although Zhang Mingyang had doubts about Ruan Tianhe's "loose cultivator" story, with the cave about to open, he had no intention of investigating further.
After all, with the Binding Spirit Lock in hand, he didn't believe this person could cause much trouble.
Elder Bai nodded slightly upon hearing this, his gaze lingering on Ruan Tianhe for a moment. The cultivation of a Martial Saint was considered top-tier within a sect, but since he was already restrained by the Binding Spirit Lock, he was not a concern.
As the group moved forward, Ruan Tianhe glanced around and saw that dozens of martial artists had already gathered at the foot of the mountain.
These people were either sitting cross-legged or standing with their hands behind their backs, all focused on the towering cave. The air was filled with a tense and expectant atmosphere.
Everyone held their breath, silently counting the time.
One couldn't help but marvel at the ancient cultivators' methods. Even after countless years, the restrictions on this cave remained unbreakable, leaving those who came later only able to admire and helplessly wait for the restrictions to weaken on their own.
Just as the fifteen minutes passed, the heavy black iron gate suddenly rippled with a wave of energy. A faint cyan light curtain spread across the gate, making the ancient runes appear faint and hazy.
"It's opening!" someone cried out in a low voice.
In an instant, the quiet foot of the mountain erupted in activity, and the various powerful cultivators rose to their feet.
They all stared eagerly at the cave entrance but remained motionless—thanks to the presence of the massive Sun Moon Sect.
The martial artists from small sects knew all too well that with their meager strength, they couldn't compete with a top-tier sect like the Sun Moon Sect.
Zhang Mingyang scanned the crowd before suddenly laughing aloud, "Our Sun Moon Sect has always acted with integrity. Fellow cultivators, there's no need to hesitate. Feel free to proceed."
Upon hearing this, more than ten sect masters immediately bent their knees and bowed, "Thank you, Hall Master Zhang!"
"Boom—"
They couldn't wait any longer. Over a dozen rays of light suddenly burst forth, and the vast aura of these sect masters shot into the sky.
These martial artists knew the cave was filled with dangers, but for those from humble backgrounds like themselves, their martial paths had long come to an end.
Any opportunity was worth a shot. If they were lucky enough to obtain the methods to break through to the Martial Saint realm, it would be a great fortune.
As the first batch of cultivators rushed into the cave, the others could no longer hold back.
These weaker cultivators understood that if they hesitated any longer, even if they were lucky enough to find an opportunity, others would snatch it away.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of figures surged forward, eager to be the first to enter the light curtain.
However, some cultivators stood still, suspicious... Could the Sun Moon Sect truly be so generous?
Zhang Mingyang, seeing this, paid no mind and calmly said, "Let's go as well."
He led Ruan Tianhe and several others in, but left two behind to guard the entrance.
This move left the remaining cultivators puzzled. If they remembered correctly, these two were both grandmasters of the Sun Moon Sect—Li Chen and Yu Chenwei. Why didn't they enter with them? What were they staying behind for?
The two men saw the confusion in the crowd but said nothing, only sneering coldly.
From their cold smiles, the other cultivators slowly realized... this was a trap!
The cave had only one entrance. No matter what amazing opportunities one found inside, they would have to exit through this entrance.
The Sun Moon Sect clearly planned to catch them in a trap!
"Heh, what a righteous sect..."
Cold laughter echoed in the crowd. These major sects, who often portrayed themselves as righteous, were just as calculating behind the scenes.
There was no such thing as a free opportunity in this world. Unless it was from one's own parents, who would be kind to someone for no reason?
Several clever cultivators exchanged glances and quietly began to retreat. Since they were destined to be used by others, there was no need to go in.
However, just as the cultivators prepared to leave, a sudden change occurred in the heavens and earth.
Above the originally clear sky, a dazzling golden light appeared. At first, the light spot was no bigger than a grain of rice, but in an instant, it transformed into a golden lightning bolt that tore through the sky.
As it passed, the clouds churned, thunder roared, and the entire space trembled violently.
"That is..."
The crowd's pupils contracted, and they saw a figure in black robes stepping through the air. As the youth's clothes billowed, an immense aura radiated from him, causing the mountains and rivers within a hundred miles to tremble.
The overwhelming pressure was unmistakable—it was the arrival of a Martial Saint!