Turning around, Liang Zhiguan's gaze pierced through the dimly lit cave like a lighthouse beam cutting through the fog. To his collective horror and the group's collective astonishment, a massive herd of high-ranked monsters materialised in the cavern's mouth, their monstrous forms casting long, ominous shadows. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, the kind you wake up from in a cold sweat. Even Liang Zhiguan, renowned for his formidable prowess and typically unflappable demeanour, recognized the utter impossibility of facing this grotesque menagerie alone.

The horde comprised ogre-like demons, their bulging muscles and wickedly curved tusks glistening in the eerie half-light. Interspersed among them were colossal spiders, each the size of a human head, their hairy legs and mandibles clicking menacingly as they advanced. The combined sight of these nightmarish creatures advancing was enough to turn even the bravest warrior's legs to jelly.

Seeing her opportunity amidst the confusion, the demon girl, Yuan Jiayi, seized the moment with a cunning grin and fled. She moved with the grace of a gazelle and the speed of a cheetah, disappearing into the darkness before the dumbstruck disciples could even react.

Back in the observation room, the sight on the screen caused Xue Xinyu's eyes to widen in alarm, his eyebrows practically reaching for his hairline. Springing to his feet like a cat suddenly doused in water, he bellowed, "REOPEN THE PORTAL!" His voice boomed across the room, echoing like a gong. The trial had barely commenced, yet chaos had already descended upon them with the subtlety of a falling piano.

All eyes were glued to the monitors as they witnessed the unthinkable: an onslaught of formidable undead creatures swarming into existence, not just confined to Liang Zhiguan's vicinity, but appearing on nearly every monitor. It was as if someone had opened a gate to the underworld, and the creatures were pouring out in droves, ready to turn the trial into a scene from a horror movie.

With a sense of urgency that could rival a fire drill, the portal was reopened, and a frenzied exodus ensued. This colossal incursion wasn't part of the trial's design, and it was clear that it had spiralled wildly out of control. The peak masters, leaders, and higher authorities, normally content to watch from the sidelines, now had no choice but to intervene.

"I'll go to the forest where Liang Zhiguan is. The monsters should have trouble reaching the mountains, so after gathering the disciples, head there," Xue Xinyu instructed, his tone a blend of command and urgency. As someone with the most knowledge about undead creatures, he had to take the lead in this crisis. His expertise was their best bet for navigating the chaos.

Huai Xiaozhun, one of the most learned and undoubtedly the strongest among the peak masters, often took charge in such crises. His guidance was seen as invaluable rather than commanding, and no one minded because, frankly, they couldn't do it better. He offered sage suggestions, emphasising the relative safety of the mountains, where the rugged terrain would hopefully provide a natural barrier against the monstrous horde.

Mounted upon his sword, Xue Xinyu showcased a proficiency honed through countless hours of practice, scouring the landscape in search of Liang Zhiguan. The landscape blurred beneath him as he cut through the air, his eyes scanning for any sign of the embattled group. Suddenly, Xue Xinyu felt his sword veering off course, disobeying his commands and charting its own trajectory like a rebellious horse.

Knowing his sword, Lánjiàn, to possess a will of its own, Xue Xinyu wrestled to maintain his balance, doggedly trailing its erratic path. After a fleeting moment of disorientation, realisation dawned—he discerned that the sword was guiding him to Liang Zhiguan.

As he drew nearer, Xue Xinyu could see the group valiantly battling against the relentless onslaught of monsters. Their efforts were palpably strained, and the sheer number of enemies made it look like they were trying to hold back a tidal wave with a sieve. Yet, mercifully, no severe injuries had befallen them, although Xue Xinyu could discern the telltale streak of blood tracing down Liang Zhiguan's arm even from a distance.

Descending swiftly, Xue Xinyu executed a deft aerial manoeuvre, dismounting from his sword several metres above the ground. With a forceful kick, he propelled the sword forward, landing deftly just ahead of Liang Zhiguan. His blade, Lánjiàn, leaped into action, dancing through the throng of monsters with lethal precision, slicing through limbs and exoskeletons like a hot knife through butter.

"Master Xue!" exclaimed some of the disciples, their voices tinged with relief and admiration. Xue Xinyu's arrival was like the cavalry charging in at the last minute, bringing a much-needed surge of hope.

Harnessing his qi, Xue Xinyu swiftly erected a formidable barrier around the group, a shimmering shield that flickered with an ethereal light, holding back the monstrous tide. Meanwhile, Lánjiàn continued its relentless assault on the encroaching horde, weaving through the air with a grace and lethality that left the monsters reeling.

Turning his attention to the disciples, Xue Xinyu's eyes were filled with concern and determination. "Are you all unharmed?" he inquired, his gaze sweeping over each of them before settling on Liang Zhiguan's wounded arm, which bore the marks of a vicious scrape. "Extend your arm," Xue Xinyu instructed, his voice firm but kind.

Liang Zhiguan, though clearly exhausted, managed a weary smile and extended his injured arm. The scrape, though not life-threatening, was a glaring reminder of the ferocity of their enemies. With a practised hand, Xue Xinyu channelled his qi into a healing wave, the wound sealing and the pain dissipating almost immediately.

As the last vestiges of the injury vanished, Xue Xinyu glanced up, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the horizon. The heavy footsteps he had heard earlier were now ominously close, each thud a harbinger of the unknown threat that loomed ever larger in his mind. He knew that whatever approached, it would not be easily deterred, and their ordeal was far from over.

"Prepare yourselves," he said, his voice low but resolute. "We've handled the underlings, but something bigger is on its way. We must be ready for whatever comes next." The disciples nodded, their faces set with determination, ready to face whatever new challenge awaited them in the darkness beyond.

"But Master Xue, he should avoid moving it too much," Junjie interjected, his concern etched across his face like a portrait of worry. His brows furrowed, and his eyes darted anxiously between Xue Xinyu and Liang Zhiguan, clearly troubled by the latter's well-being.

Xue Xinyu, unperturbed, waited patiently, locking eyes with Liang Zhiguan as if challenging him to a silent duel of wills. With a determined grunt and a look that could shoo away even the fiercest of demons, Liang Zhiguan managed to raise his arm, though it trembled like a leaf in a storm.

Xue Xinyu, with the gentleness of a monk tending to a delicate flower, clasped Liang Zhiguan's injured limb, his right hand hovering over the wound like a hovering guardian spirit. Liang Zhiguan winced as Xue Xinyu initiated his healing technique, his eyes momentarily squeezing shut as a flicker of pain darted across his features.

After a fleeting moment that felt like an eternity to the onlookers, a soft, ethereal white glow enveloped the area—the manifestation of qi, humming softly like a lullaby. The glow was serene, almost hypnotic, casting a tranquil light that seemed to banish the shadows and fears of the surrounding chaos. When Xue Xinyu withdrew his hand, the wound had vanished, leaving behind skin as pristine as untouched snow.

The disciples gazed at Xue Xinyu in utter disbelief, their jaws practically hitting the ground. Their eyes flicked between him and the now-healed wound, as if trying to reconcile the miracle they had just witnessed. The technique he wielded was an ancient art, rumoured to be known only to a select few and purportedly lost to the annals of time. Xue Xinyu's mastery of it was like discovering a hidden treasure chest in the attic—it was a revelation, a testament to his profound knowledge gleaned from the pages of a forbidden time or some dusty scroll hidden in the depths of a secret library.

"Thank you, Shizun," Liang Zhiguan murmured, his expression a mosaic of gratitude and awe, like a man who had just been handed a new lease on life. He flexed his arm experimentally, marvelling at the absence of pain.

"However, this barrier has its limits," Xue Xinyu cautioned, his voice taking on a steely edge as he surveyed the still-encroaching threat. "Junjie, and you," he gestured to another wide-eyed disciple who looked like he'd just seen a ghost, "you both hail from Hongyan Peak. Take your positions on opposite flanks and rain down arrows upon them." His voice carried the weight of authority, leaving no room for hesitation.

The disciples snapped to attention, their previously scattered expressions hardening into masks of determination. They moved with the precision of a well-oiled machine, assuming their designated positions with a swiftness that would have made their drill sergeant proud.

"You," Xue Xinyu addressed a disciple from Fenghuang Peak, a young woman with a fiery determination burning in her eyes, "manipulate the earth beneath the monsters, impeding their advance. Create pits, raise barriers—do whatever it takes to slow them down."

The disciple nodded, her hands already beginning to weave intricate patterns in the air, her fingers dancing like a puppet master pulling unseen strings.

"And you, from Fuguang Peak," Xue Xinyu continued, turning to a disciple who seemed to blend into the background even as he stood in the middle of the group, "weave illusions to confound our foes. Make them see what isn't there, distract them, confuse them—keep them off balance."

The disciple grinned mischievously, his hands flickering with the promise of magical mischief as he prepared to weave a web of deception around their enemies.