In theory, they could leave in any direction. They could even fly straight up, open an exit at the top of the grand formation barrier, and emerge somewhere else underground. But doing so would be far too conspicuous. Lin Feng preferred to depart unnoticed, quietly slipping away. Therefore, traveling along the ground was the better option.
Moreover, the nearby Blue Moon Sect's ruined mountain gates were undoubtedly the biggest draw for other cultivators. It was best to avoid that area entirely. Consequently, Lin Feng and An Xiyue chose the opposite side of the valley, concealing themselves within the dense jungle as they swiftly made their way towards the perimeter.
It wasn't long before they began to see streaks of light – escape techniques – occasionally flashing across the sky. They could even spot several clashes happening on the ground: battles between cultivators and demon beasts, and fights erupting between cultivators themselves.
"It seems there are even more people here than I imagined…" Lin Feng murmured as they passed a hillside. He glanced towards a spot far off to their right. Multicolored bursts of light flared there constantly – a clear sign of a group of cultivators engaged in fierce combat. The surrounding area bore distinct signs of ancient devastation, likely remnants from the Blue Moon Sect's calamity millennia ago when powerful figures had clashed. Evidently, the current fighters had probably discovered relics left behind by one or more cultivators who had fallen in that spot, sparking a scramble for possession.
Lin Feng had no intention of getting involved in such disputes. After a brief look, he shifted his gaze skyward, his brow furrowed slightly. "Looks like the grand formation won't hold for much longer… We need to leave before it collapses."
He saw that numerous distinct cracks had appeared on the 'sky' above at some point. Looking closer, he could even see cultivators falling straight through from above! When he and An Xiyue had descended earlier, they had also opened an entrance at the barrier's apex. Yet, after passing through the barrier, they had found themselves on the ground at the edge of Blue Moon Island. This was because the grand formation barrier possessed an inherent teleportation function. Now, people were entering directly from above, proving that function had failed. It was a stark indication of how severely the formation had weakened.
The light illuminating this subterranean space came entirely from the grand formation barrier. If the barrier collapsed, this place would plunge into absolute darkness. While this wasn't a major problem for cultivators themselves, the loss of the barrier's structural support raised a critical question: would the rock ceiling overhead collapse? If it did, the entire Blue Moon Island would be truly buried. While earth evasion arts could prevent being crushed to death, navigating through tons of collapsed rock would be an immense hassle, making treasure hunting virtually impossible.
They quickened their pace. Occasionally, demon beasts blocked their path, but Lin Feng dispatched them casually. As for other cultivators, he detected them early and deliberately avoided them. It wasn't fear that motivated this caution, but a simple desire to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Roughly half a day later, they reached the edge of Blue Moon Island relatively smoothly. Ahead of them, the towering wall of the grand formation barrier became visible, rising from the ground.
"Good. It seems we can leave without incident… Huh?!"
Just as this thought crossed Lin Feng's mind, his eyes twitched. The section of barrier directly ahead suddenly rippled violently. With a resonant hum and tremor, it was forcibly torn open from the outside! Two figures flashed through the newly created gap.
The moment they entered, they came face to face with Lin Feng and An Xiyue.
They were two male cultivators appearing to be in their forties. The one on the left wore deep purple robes, while the one on the right was clad in fiery red attire. Spotting Lin Feng and An Xiyue immediately upon entry, both intruders started, instantly adopting defensive stances. However, upon sensing their opponents' cultivations – merely Nascent Soul 1st Layer and Core Formation – their tension visibly eased. They exchanged a glance, a flicker of confusion passing between them.
Both newcomers were at the mid-stage Nascent Soul level. While not overwhelmingly powerful, they warranted caution. Lin Feng frowned slightly, looking at An Xiyue beside him, who was clearly on high alert. He spoke in a low voice, "Let's change direction."
"Mm," An Xiyue nodded. She followed Lin Feng as he veered towards the right front, intending to bypass the two men.
Observing their actions, the two men looked thoughtful but didn't rush to act. They looked towards the center of the island, quickly scanning their surroundings, occasionally exchanging silent, meaningful glances.
Just as Lin Feng and An Xiyue reached the barrier wall and prepared to tear open an exit of their own, the two men nearby finally moved. Instead of heading deeper into the island as Lin Feng had hoped, they swaggered aggressively towards them.
"You two! Stop right there!!"
The purple-robed cultivator wasted no time on courtesy. His voice rang out with a commanding, imperious tone. Simultaneously, an oppressive aura rolled off him, enveloping Lin Feng and An Xiyue in an unmistakable wave of threat.
Lin Feng sighed inwardly. He stopped walking, motioning for An Xiyue to stand behind him. He turned to face the approaching men, his brow slightly furrowed. "What guidance do you have for us, Seniors?"
Despite addressing them as "Seniors," his demeanor held no trace of reverence. If anything, there was a hint of impatience. This unexpected attitude surprised the two middle-aged cultivators. Displeasure flashed in the purple-robed man's eyes. "I ask you: why are you in such a hurry to leave?" he demanded coldly.
Lin Feng swept a glance towards the chaotic scene erupting deeper within Blue Moon Island. "This place is too chaotic. We don't wish to take risks, so we've decided to leave directly," he replied evenly.
The explanation seemed plausible. The two men exchanged another glance. The red-robed cultivator gave a slight shake of his head, clearly signaling that wasting time here was pointless – rushing to the island's center to seize the Blue Moon Sect's treasures was the priority. The purple-robed man, however, stared at Lin Feng with lingering suspicion, as if trying to decipher something. After a moment, he spoke abruptly, "Hand over your storage rings for inspection! If I find nothing amiss, I'll let you leave!"
This was outright bullying and extortion. Clearly, he suspected Lin Feng and An Xiyue had arrived earlier, found treasures on the island, and were now trying to slip away with their spoils. He wanted proof.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, a spark of anger igniting within him. A faint, cold smile touched his lips. "Let's not go too far, Seniors. We merely wish to leave peacefully. Treasures are scattered all over the island. I suggest you hurry to find them instead."
The implication was a clear refusal to hand over their storage rings. The two men were momentarily stunned, clearly unable to believe a mere Core Formation brat would dare show them such disrespect. The red-robed cultivator's brows knitted together, a flash of icy killing intent in his eyes. He said to his companion, "No time to waste! If you suspect them, just kill them outright!!"
This man had remained silent before. Lin Feng had thought he might be the more reasonable one. How wrong he was!
"True," the purple-robed cultivator nodded at his companion's ruthless suggestion. He turned back to Lin Feng with a sneer. "Ignorant whelp! Since you refuse to be sensible, don't blame me for being ruthless! Regret it on your way to the Yellow Springs!!"
Before the final word faded, a ferocious killing intent erupted from him. His hand shot up, and a streak of purple light – a purple flying sword – shot towards Lin Feng like lightning. Evidently, he deemed a single flying sword sufficient to deal with his target.
Seeing them attack, Lin Feng's last shred of patience vanished. A cold light flashed in his eyes. "I return those final words to you exactly!" he retorted coolly.
True essence, held ready for this moment, exploded from him. A brilliant blue light radiated from Lin Feng's body. His right hand, previously behind his back, swept forward. A complex hand seal was already complete. Blue light coalesced, and a shimmering blue crescent moon materialized instantly before him! Its cold, ethereal light bathed the two charging cultivators.
"Claaang!!!"
Simultaneously, a sharp, resonant sword cry pierced the air! The Crimson Soul Flying Sword materialized in a flash of red light, meeting the incoming purple sword head-on!
The purple sword was violently deflected, clattering uselessly to the ground as if its connection to its master was severed. The Crimson Soul Sword, however, merely circled once before streaking forward like a crimson meteor, aimed unerringly at the two men who now stood frozen, dumbstruck by the sudden eruption of power!
"Fwsssh!... Fwsssh!"
In the blink of an eye, the sword light flashed twice!
Two heads flew skyward.