Chapter 196: The Xiyi Gate in Trouble

The terrain on the second floor of the Fox Cave was more complex compared to the first floor. The cave spaces were smaller but interconnected in large numbers, with varying amounts of white foxes in each cave—ranging from seven or eight in fewer cases to over a dozen or twenty in others. Encountering a smaller group was manageable, but facing a large swarm of white foxes posed a severe threat even to the three major factions!

At that moment, a group of seven white foxes was surrounded by the members of the Xiyi Gate. They fought in groups of six or seven, taking turns to engage the foxes while fiercely counterattacking to gradually weaken their strength. Although progress was slow, their approach ensured safety.

White fox pelts were extremely valuable, used to craft high-grade leather armor—equivalent to the lowest-tier legendary weapons, priced at around ten thousand silver taels, making them highly sought after. Moreover, the chance of uncovering top-tier martial arts secrets was much higher here than among fox women, with a certain probability of finding an elite lightness skill manual titled “Fox Demon’s Shadow.”

During this expedition to the Fox Cave, the Xiyi Gate was the only faction that suffered minimal damage and was able to operate with ease on the second floor. Hong Chen remained calm, aware of the displeased and wary gazes from other factions. Therefore, after entering the second floor, he avoided taking unnecessary risks to draw too much attention from the white foxes, proceeding methodically and cautiously.

Yet…

This day was destined to be turbulent. While the Xiyi Gate’s members were engrossed in battle with the white foxes, not far away, another group silently exchanged a strange look before one of them quietly left the group.

Before long, someone suddenly rushed into the cave where the Xiyi Gate members were fighting through another passage! Whoosh! Whoosh! A swarm of white foxes with sinister yet ferocious appearances rushed at incredible speed. Their shrill, demonic howls filled the cave, instantly turning the faces of the Xiyi Gate members, who had been focused on the foxes, pale with fear.

“What’s going on?”
“Stop causing trouble! Get them away…”

Hong Chen reacted fastest, sensing that something was amiss. He immediately stepped forward, gripping his sword across his chest, his expression full of vigilance. If those white foxes attacked the Xiyi Gate’s forces, even if they weren’t completely annihilated, they would suffer heavy losses that they could hardly bear.

Yet!

That unknown player seemed determined to target them and charged straight at them.

“Bastard!” A furious shout erupted, and Hong Chen instantly radiated astonishing momentum. His long sword trembled, producing a deafening roar, and with a flash of its blade, he pierced through the chests of the players who tried to bring the flock of white foxes here…
But!
The opponent still achieved their goal. With that man dead, the white foxes’ attention was still drawn to Hong Chen and the members of the Xiyi Gate. Amidst the chaotic screams and demonic noises, they rushed in from all sides!
The cave was already small, and once the flock of white foxes rushed in, they blocked most of the exit, forcing Hong Chen into a desperate situation. He had to abandon rescuing his comrades on the other side and first lure away most of the white foxes through another exit.
Just then, the group of people who had been sitting in meditation suddenly stood up and blocked Hong Chen’s path…
“Still want to leave?”
The leader sneered and said, “Killing my brothers in front of us, stealing monsters and treasures—do you really think no one dares to touch your Xiyi Gate?!”
His righteous fury stunned Hong Chen, who was already filled with anger and shock, almost making him stop in his tracks. “Nonsense! When did I…?” He couldn’t finish his sentence.
“Kill them!”
The opponents had no interest in hearing Hong Chen’s defense. With a sneer, they gave the order.
Swish! Swish!
Several darts were thrown at Hong Chen from the crowd at the entrance.
“Disgraceful!!”
Hong Chen finally realized that the opponents had planned this from the start, aiming to trap and kill them in this place. With a furious shout, his surrounding air surged violently.
Boom!!
A momentum beyond the Creation Realm emerged from Hong Chen! He sheathed his sword and threw punches. Two virtual air walls formed rapidly and blasted out, blocking all the darts aimed at him.
Clang! Bang!!
The darts scattered in all directions and missed completely.
The group on the other side paled in horror!
Feeling the astonishing momentum radiating from Hong Chen, an unexpected idea suddenly popped into everyone’s minds:
“The Mysterious Realm!!”
In a fit of rage, Hong Chen charged forward like a fierce dragon—with the flock of white foxes right behind him, leaving no time for hesitation. Only a quick victory could save his comrades.
His protective aura activated, enhanced by 30% due to his Mysterious Realm level, giving him enough defense to withstand most attacks from players at the Creation Realm. His long sword reappeared like a ghost, slashing swiftly.
With his agile speed and ferocious attacks, the three people blocking his path were instantly knocked to the ground.

Yet Hongchen was also slightly injured; facing a large group of top-notch experts, he couldn’t protect himself fully. Moreover, with the White Fox behind him, he had endless room to advance—or else face certain death with no chance of burial!
“You forced me!”
After taking two more slashes, Hongchen growled fiercely!
His long sword clashed with its scabbard, doubling in length! Like a whirlwind, he plunged into the crowd. At the same time, a series of staff shadows suddenly appeared beyond the sword’s glow.
Whoosh! Whoosh!!!
The staff shadows rushed through the air with a howling sound.
Hongchen used his long sword as if it were a staff, instantly shifting from a delicate style to a bold, aggressive staff technique, filled with fierce sharpness. Anyone touched by the sword’s edge saw blood spray forth, while those hit by the scabbard felt as if struck by immense force, flying through the air and spewing blood nonstop.
In the blink of an eye, most of the people blocking Hongchen’s path were killed; those left were even more unlucky.
Though Hongchen seemed careless, he was actually shrewd and meticulous. He quickly turned and slipped through the crowd, forcing the White Foxes chasing him to change their targets.
“Ah!!”
“Run!”
All sorts of screams echoed throughout the cave.
A single White Fox at the Mysterious Realm might not be terrifying, but a group of them—even against someone like Hongchen at the same realm—was beyond confrontation, let alone these ordinary top experts?
Under this bloody suppression, all those with malicious intentions met their end.
“The vice leader is mighty!”
The people from the Heroic Gate were greatly inspired, waving flags and cheering loudly.
As Hongchen turned the conspiracy against the Heroic Gate into safety, just as he prepared to lead the White Foxes away, more players arrived from the direction the White Foxes had entered the cave.
Members of several different factions entered the cave one after another…
Seeing this tragic scene—trampled corpses, severed limbs, and the uniform faction emblems on the bodies—the witnesses couldn’t help but gasp in shock. Anger and suspicion filled their eyes as they stared at Hongchen and the members of the Heroic Gate.
“To kill fellow alliance members for personal gain—this is what the so-called righteous members of the Heroic Gate do?”
A voice came from behind the crowd!
The faces of the Heroic Gate members changed drastically. Turning around, they saw Situ Luoyu, his face dark with anger, leading the experts of the “Luoyu Gate” into the cave, their eyes filled with mockery and disdain:
“Great! Really great!”