### Chapter 85: Cave Opportunities (Part 1)
Lin Yi, Zhang Ziyan, and Peng Qingyun froze at the sight of stone steps leading upward—free of the stifling阴气 of the passage. Their hearts tightened; this place grew stranger by the moment.
With Peng nearby, Zhang Ziyan hesitated to take Lin Yi's hand. He stepped ahead, shielding her with his body, his resolve hardening. *No harm will come to her.*
They approached the steps, probing with their spiritual sense—only to recoil as it was 吞噬 (devoured) instantly.
Lin Yi unleashed a spell. It fizzled out, leaving no trace.
"I'll check it out," he said, activating every defensive measure. Pride and protectiveness drove him—he wouldn't let Zhang Ziyan see fear, nor let her risk herself.
"Be careful," they urged.
He placed one foot on the first step. A sudden force yanked him forward—*whoosh!* He vanished.
"Lin Yi!" Zhang Ziyan screamed, dashing after him. She, too, was swallowed by the steps.
Alone, Peng didn't hesitate. He'd never abandon companions. A moment later, he disappeared as well.
…
Lin Yi stumbled into a stone chamber, head spinning. Three walls were lined with dusty books; the fourth had a sealed stone door, its surface adorned with a painting—an old man in gray, standing amid bones, his gaze cold as ice, void of emotion.
*Heartless*, the painting seemed to scream. *Heaven is无情 (ruthless), and so am I.*
Staring at it, Lin Yi gasped, pain lancing through him. His soul felt 摄住 (seized). He tore his gaze away, spitting blood, his chest burning.
"What sorcery is this?" he muttered,骇然. He rolled up the painting, tucking it into his bag. *Too dangerous to leave behind.*
He turned to the door, pressing its mechanisms—nothing. Frustrated, he slashed with the *Kuang Wang* sword, unleashing *Crescent Moon*.
*Boom!* The door remained unmarked. A 反震 (rebound) sent him staggering, blood spilling from his lips.
"Even top-grade artifacts can't scratch it," he grimaced. The door hummed with hidden arrays, amplifying its strength. Using *Soul Shatter*—his most powerful technique—would drain him, and the rebound might kill him.
"Guess I'll read while I wait," he sighed, turning to the books. Luck had favored him—this chamber felt safe, a rarity in this cave.
…
Zhang Ziyan materialized near a garden, its air thick with the scent of 灵药 (spiritual herbs). Two Qi Refinement cultivators struggled with its barrier, greed blazing in their eyes—these herbs were ancient, worth a fortune.
Her arrival went unnoticed. She watched, assessing their clumsy attempts to break the array.
"Newcomer, scram!" one snapped, noticing her. "This garden's ours!"
Zhang Ziyan said nothing, her fingers brushing the barrier. Unlike the others, she sensed its 韵律 (rhythm), a faint pattern others missed.
The cultivator lunged, swinging his sword. She dodged, her whip cracking against his wrist. He yelped, dropping his weapon.
"Stay back," she said coldly.
Her focus returned to the barrier. Minutes later, she traced a sequence of gestures, and the barrier rippled—*click!* A gap opened.
She slipped inside, ignoring their shouts. Rows of herbs glowed softly: *Starlight Grass*, *Blood Rejuvenation Flower*… treasures to boost cultivation and heal wounds.
…
Peng Qingyun found himself in a dim hall, the clash of weapons echoing. Demons and cultivators battled, blood staining the stone. He grimaced, gripping his sword. *Another fight.*
…
Back in Lin Yi's chamber, he blew dust off a book—*Records of Alchemy*. His eyes widened. It detailed techniques lost to time, formulas for pills that could revolutionize his cultivation.
He grabbed another: *Array Fundamentals*. Its pages held insights into breaking formations, far beyond what Dianxuan taught.
"Treasures indeed," he murmured, tucking them into his bag. As he reached for a third book, the stone door rumbled. A hidden panel slid open, revealing a narrow passage.
Lin Yi smiled. *Opportunity knocks.*
He stepped through, ready for whatever lay ahead.
In the cave's depths, chaos reigned. Cultivators clashed over relics, demons lurked in shadows, and the three Core Formation experts pressed forward, unaware of the 命运 (fates) intertwining in the darkness.