Expedition

 The third day since Buzhou Mountain's emergence.

The mountain's "growth" had finally stopped.

By now, approximately half of what had been the bustling Stonia city district had been covered and replaced by Buzhou Mountain's incomparably massive base and the branching ridges extending from it.

In the enormous empty city that remained, aside from a few official forces responsible for cleanup and security, some martial world figures who couldn't or wouldn't completely evacuate, and bold explorers, the rest were cultivators of varying auras who had gathered from all directions, along with their retinues.

At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, within a hastily established official encampment.

Dustin stood on a small rise, gazing at the divine mountain before him that connected heaven and earth, emanating an endless atmosphere of ancient desolation. His heart was filled with emotion.

He had just personally escorted Natasha onto a special train heading for a safe zone.

Natasha had wanted to stay, but under the combined persuasion of Dustin and Margaret, she understood that the dangers here had far exceeded the realm of business. In the end, she tearfully agreed to leave temporarily, urging Dustin to be extremely careful.

"Mr. Dustin, please come to the command tent." An officer wearing Dragon Guard uniform came to deliver the message.

Dustin nodded and walked into the largest tent.

Inside, Margaret was studying the intelligence and maps spread before her with several core advisors and court-appointed cultivators.

Margaret wore practical, fitted attire, her brow showing the fatigue of sleepless days and undisguisable worry, yet her gaze remained clear and decisive.

Before her lay the fragmented terrain maps and ancient notes about Buzhou Mountain that had been gathered as best as possible.

"Dustin, you've come at the right time."

Seeing Dustin enter the tent, Margaret quickly arranged for someone to offer him a seat while speaking: "The Yu family, the Qin family, the Bai family, and several other secretive clans have all dispatched their elites to different areas at the mountain's base. Independent cultivators are even more numerous—like fish crossing a river. Ascending the mountain is now inevitable. In your view, how should we respond?"

"Buzhou Mountain offers both opportunity and peril in equal measure. Only those with great willpower and great fortune can succeed. The court's forces shouldn't and cannot be entirely committed to this gamble. But complete abandonment isn't advisable either. We should send an elite small team to scout the path. The goal shouldn't be reaching the summit to seize treasures, but gathering intelligence, training personnel, and collecting whatever resources can be found along the way to stabilize our rear." Dustin responded.

Margaret nodded—this was exactly her thinking.

"Regarding personnel... the Spanner siblings, Scarlet and Adam, have volunteered multiple times. Their cultivation has reached peak Foundation Establishment, they have rich combat experience, and they're loyal and reliable. I intend for them to lead the team, with additional experts selected from the Dragon Guard and imperial cultivators to form a capable squad."

"Scarlet and Adam are indeed excellent choices." Dustin said thoughtfully. "However, Buzhou Mountain's dangers are unpredictable. Their strength may not be sufficient."

"We do what we can and leave the rest to fate. I've already allocated all the usable protective talismans and pills from the treasury, hoping they'll keep them safe." Margaret sighed.

Dustin nodded slightly and stood. "Though I temporarily cannot use my power, I still have two old items that may help them. I'll go see them."

At the southeastern corner of the official camp at the mountain's base.

Scarlet Spanner was polishing her signature crimson spear "Liaoyuan." Cold light flowed across the spear tip, reflecting her beautiful yet resolute face.

Adam Spanner was quietly adjusting a set of formation flags nearby, his expression focused.

Both siblings had already changed into specially made climbing gear with light armor over it, ready to depart.

"Do you think Brother Dustin will come see us off?" Scarlet's polishing slowed as she asked in a low voice.

Adam looked up at his sister, understanding her heart, and said gently: "Dustin values loyalty and friendship. He'll definitely come. It's just, Scarlet..."

"I know." Scarlet interrupted him with a smile—a smile tinged with self-mockery and resignation. "I see him as an older brother, and he only sees me as a younger sister. That's fine, at least... I can still stand by his side, can't I?"

Just as she finished speaking, the tent flap was lifted, and Dustin's figure appeared at the entrance.

"Brother Dustin!" Scarlet's eyes lit up as she stood immediately, then felt she had lost her composure and blushed slightly.

"Dustin." Adam also rose to greet him.

Dustin walked into the tent, his gaze sweeping over the two of them.

He didn't waste words, taking two items from his chest.

One was a dark red shuttle-shaped pendant about the size of a thumb, neither gold nor jade, covered in fine cloud patterns, strung on an unknown black cord.

The other was a palm-sized ancient bronze mirror with slightly damaged edges and a dull color.

Dustin handed the items to them respectively: "This journey will be dangerous. Take these two things with you. They may help you survive a calamity in a critical moment."

Scarlet accepted the dark red shuttle pendant. It was slightly warm to the touch, and she vaguely sensed a strange spatial fluctuation contained within. "Brother Dustin, what is this?"

"It's called the 'Scarlet Shadow Void Shuttle,' and it's not an offensive or defensive treasure." Dustin explained. "If you encounter an inescapable danger, crush this shuttle to activate a short-range random spatial teleportation. However, the destination cannot be controlled—you might escape danger, or you might land in another perilous place. It can only be used once. Don't use it lightly unless absolutely necessary."

Scarlet gripped the shuttle pendant tightly, feeling the concern in Dustin's words, and nodded firmly: "I'll remember!"

Adam accepted the ancient bronze mirror. It was cold and heavy in his hands, its surface cloudy, unable to clearly reflect a person's image. "Dustin, this mirror..."

"This mirror is called 'Huiming.' I obtained it by chance. It cannot actively attack or defend, but if you encounter illusion techniques, maze formations, or spiritual sense attacks, hang it before your chest and infuse it with spiritual energy. It can produce a layer of 'Huiming Spiritual Light' that protects the mind and sees through falsehood. It also has some effectiveness against certain yin-evil ghost techniques. However, it's fragile, so handle it carefully." Dustin explained.

Adam solemnly put away the ancient mirror with care: "Dustin! Thank you!"

Dustin looked at the siblings before him, about to set foot into a place of uncertain life and death, and felt stirred as well.

He patted Adam's shoulder, then looked at Scarlet and said warmly: "No opportunity is worth more than your lives. The trial of Buzhou Mountain depends on 'heart' and 'fate'—it cannot be forced. Preserving yourselves and returning safely would be the greatest success."

"Mm!" Scarlet nodded vigorously. Looking at Dustin, her eyes seemed to hold a thousand words, but in the end they became just one sentence: "Brother Dustin, you take care too. When we come back, let's drink together!"

– Marinien