### Chapter 95: Cave Opportunities (Eight)
Lin Yi's heart raced as he stared into his blood-red reflection in a demon's eye. That 魅惑 (seductive) voice still echoed in his mind—*join us…* He shuddered, forcing it back. *Not today.*
"Let's fight," he grunted, gripping the last mid-grade artifact. "For as long as we can."
Peng Qingyun nodded, his sword trembling but steady. He'd recovered enough spiritual energy to cast basic spells, though each one drained him.
The remaining two cultivators—both Level 7—clutched their weapons, their faces set. They'd seen too much death to back down now.
*Roar!*
The demons surged forward, a tidal wave of black claws and fangs.
Lin Yi hurled his last mid-grade artifact. *Boom!* It cleared a small space, but the gap closed instantly. He lashed out with *Iron Sand Palm*, his *Five Spirits* power flaring—weak, but enough to snap a demon's neck.
Peng Qingyun's sword danced, slicing through demon after demon, but their bodies piled up, slowing him down. The two Level 7 cultivators fought back-to-back, their spells fizzling against the horde.
"Lin Yi!" one shouted, a demon's claw piercing his chest. "Take… this!" He tossed a small pouch before collapsing.
Lin Yi caught it—*fire talismans!* A dozen of them. He grinned, tearing them open. "Thanks, brother!"
He hurled the talismans in a arc. Flames erupted, searing the demons' flesh. They shrieked, retreating from the fire—*mortal weakness!*
"Now!" Lin Yi roared, grabbing Peng Qingyun's arm. "This way!"
They bolted toward a narrow crevice in the wall, the two Level 7 cultivators close behind. The fire wouldn't hold long, but it bought them seconds.
*Crack!*
Lin Yi shouldered through the crevice, Peng right behind. The two cultivators squeezed in after—just as the flames died, and demons howled in pursuit.
The crevice opened into a dim tunnel, its walls oozing black slime. Lin Yi gagged. "Better than being eaten."
Peng nodded, pressing a hand to his bleeding back. "Where now?"
Lin Yi listened. Beyond the tunnel's end, he heard a faint 轰鸣 (rumble)—not demons, but something else. *Water?*
"Follow me," he said, leading the way.
They ran, the tunnel shaking as demons thundered in the crevice behind them. The two Level 7 cultivators panted, their spiritual energy nearly gone.
"Almost… there…" Lin Yi gasped, rounding a bend.
Light flooded the tunnel. They skidded to a halt, staring at a vast underground lake—its surface rippling with silver light, as if infused with 灵气 (spiritual energy). A rickety wooden bridge spanned it, leading to a cave on the other side.
"The bridge!" one cultivator shouted.
But as they sprinted toward it, the water erupted. A 庞然 (gigantic) demon—scaled, with wings like bats—rose from the depths, its maw wide enough to swallow a man whole.
"Guardian…" Peng whispered, paling. This one was stronger—equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The two Level 7 cultivators froze. The bridge was their only escape, but the guardian blocked it.
Lin Yi's mind raced. *Fire hurt the small ones… what about this behemoth?* He grabbed the last of his talismans—*Earth Dragon*—and hurled it at the guardian's legs.
*Rumble!*
Stone spikes erupted, piercing the demon's scales. It roared, thrashing, sending waves crashing against the shore.
"Go!" Lin Yi shoved Peng toward the bridge. "I'll hold it!"
Peng hesitated. "Lin Yi—"
"Go!" Lin Yi snarled, drawing the *Kuang Wang* sword. He charged the guardian, slashing at its wings.
The demon swatted him away. Lin Yi crashed into the rocks, coughing blood, but he'd bought time—Peng and the two cultivators were halfway across the bridge.
The guardian wheeled, its gaze锁定 (locking onto) the fleeing trio. It lunged, jaws snapping.
*Whoosh!*
A whip of water lashed out, coiling around the guardian's neck. Zhang Ziyan stood at the shore, her face set, her whip glowing with spiritual energy.
"Ziyan!" Lin Yi croaked.
She'd been 挪移 (teleported) here too—by sheer luck, or fate.
"Finish it!" she shouted, yanking the whip taut.
Lin Yi grinned, summoning his last scrap of *Five Spirits* power. He drove the *Kuang Wang* sword into the guardian's eye.
*Roar!*
The demon thrashed, then collapsed, its body dissolving into black mist.
Zhang Ziyan helped Lin Yi to his feet, her hands trembling. "You're a fool."
"Alive fool," he winked.
On the bridge, Peng and the two cultivators turned, relief washing over them.
The tunnel behind them rumbled—the remaining demons were breaking through.
"Cross!" Lin Yi shouted.
They sprinted across, Zhang Ziyan supporting Lin Yi. As the last of them reached the cave, the bridge 坍塌 (collapsed) into the lake, cutting off the demons.
Safe—for now.
Lin Yi leaned against the cave wall, gasping. Peng clapped him on the back, the two Level 7 cultivators bowed gratefully.
Zhang Ziyan pressed a *Condensation Dew Pill* to his lips. "Rest."
He nodded, closing his eyes. The cave smelled of damp stone and 灵气 (spiritual energy), a far cry from the stench of demon blood.
*We're alive*, he thought. *For now.*
But beyond this cave, the 阴魔 (Yin Demon) slumbered. And the真正 fight was only beginning.