Panic was instantly replaced by despair—and a twisted fervor!
No way down, only up. Opportunity and survival both lay above!
"Go up! Climb!"
"Get out of here! I have to leave!"
"Treasures! There are treasures on the mountain!"
The crowd erupted into complete chaos, blindly surging toward any mountain path or cliff face that seemed to lead upward.
But how could Buzhou Mountain be a forgiving place? Even relatively gentle areas concealed deadly dangers.
"Ahhh—!" Screams soon rang out. Some stepped on loose rocks and plunged into bottomless ravines. Others stumbled into seemingly calm mist zones, instantly torn apart by hidden venomous insects or sha spirits. Still others, fighting over a path that looked passable, turned their blades on those beside them!
Chaos, slaughter, death—all erupted instantly across this mid-mountain platform and surrounding areas forcibly packed with "trial participants"!
"Form up! Defend!" Margaret commanded sharply.
The Dragon Guards around her, along with some imperial cultivators who had gathered and a few still-calm martial arts masters, quickly formed a circular formation, protecting her and Dustin at the center while fending off the chaotic mob and the occasional cold arrows or spells that flew their way.
Dustin was sheltered at the formation's core, watching the hellish scene outside, his brow furrowed deeply.
With his cultivation sealed, he was no different from an ordinary mortal. In this environment, he had indeed become someone who needed protection.
This stirred complex emotions within him, but more than that, he observed and thought with cold clarity.
"Margaret, we can't stay here. The crowd has lost its reason—trampling and killing each other is more terrifying than the mountain's natural dangers." Dustin said quietly. "We must leave this chaotic zone as quickly as possible and find a relatively safe path upward."
Margaret nodded; she had the same thought.
"Zhao Hu, Commander Wang, clear the way! Move toward the cliff face to the northeast—fewer people there, and it looks like there are footholds for climbing!" She quickly assessed the situation and gave orders.
"Yes!" The two commanders responded. One wielding a massive axe, the other a long saber, they unleashed powerful spiritual energy, forcibly carving a bloody path through the chaotic, crowded throng.
The Dragon Guards followed in formation, shields and blades raised, blocking attacks from both sides.
People who had lost all reason kept throwing themselves forward. Others were struck by poison darts or flying stones suddenly shooting from cliff crevices. Casualties began appearing in their ranks.
One Dragon Guard was stabbed in the thigh by a crazed independent cultivator with a poisoned dagger while protecting the flank, his face instantly blackening as he collapsed.
A martial artist was hit in the back by a fireball spell from an unknown source, screaming as he became a human torch.
Dustin struggled forward under the close protection of Margaret and another guard.
Watching those guards who were wounded or dying to protect them, seeing Margaret's tense profile and the sweat on her brow, his desire for power had never been as intense as at this moment.
But he knew he couldn't rush it.
"Watch above!" Dustin suddenly shouted.
Though he had no spiritual power, his eyesight and combat instincts remained. He spotted several loosened boulders on the cliff above, dislodged by the violent tremors and spell impacts below, now rumbling down.
Margaret reacted instantly, swinging her sword to release sharp sword energy that shattered one boulder in mid-air before it could hit them.
But stone fragments still rained down, injuring several team members who couldn't dodge in time. And one millstone-sized boulder was falling straight at Dustin's head!
"Dustin!" Margaret's expression changed drastically—too late to save him.
At that critical moment, an old eunuch who had been silently guarding Dustin's side suddenly flickered like a ghost, appearing above Dustin. His withered palm gently pushed upward.
With a muffled "thump," he single-handedly stopped the massive, momentum-heavy boulder. Then, as if it were nothing, he casually tossed it aside. The boulder whistled through the air and crashed into the distant chaotic crowd, causing a chorus of screams.
The old eunuch returned to his position expressionlessly, as if nothing had happened.
Dustin looked deeply at the old eunuch. This person's aura was obscure; he had never acted before. No one had expected his strength to be so unfathomable. Clearly, he was a hidden guard at Margaret's side.
After their close call, they fought their way to the northeastern cliff. As expected, there were far fewer people here, but the cliff was steep, covered in slippery moss and sharp edges.
Looking up, a few scattered figures were struggling to climb. Higher up, clouds and mist obscured the view.
"Climb!" Margaret said decisively.
Dragon Guards skilled in climbing went first, using ropes and hooks to secure footholds and clear the path.
Margaret had Dustin follow behind her so she could assist from below.
The climb was still dangerous. The slippery rock offered little grip. Occasionally, hidden venomous snakes, insects, or scorpions would dart out. Cold arrows or small-scale spells would attack from unknown directions—clearly, some people still hadn't forgotten to eliminate competitors even in this environment.
Dustin relied entirely on his body's natural coordination and the assistance of Margaret and others to barely keep up.
After more than half a shichen of grueling climbing, the group finally reached the platform above the cliff.
The platform was small, but they were the only ones there now, temporarily escaped from the bloody chaos of the killing field below.
Headcount: of the original thirty-plus, fewer than twenty remained, most of them wounded.
Everyone was still catching their breath, not yet having time to observe their surroundings, when another change occurred!
– Marinien
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