If the black-robed man from that night were here, he would surely understand the effect he had witnessed, an effect far from its peak potential.
The group of escapees, led by Shen Xiao, heard the commotion and, without daring to look back, quickened their pace. They believed Mo Qi and his companions had surely been pulverized by the demonic beast.
At that moment, they encountered people from the trailing echelon. They immediately advised, "Turn back, everyone. A rare demonic beast has appeared ahead, one that cannot be overcome. Come back next year and try your luck."
The trailing echelon had encountered little resistance on their journey. Although they had faced a few fierce beasts, none were particularly powerful. With everyone working together, despite losing two or three people, they had eliminated all these troubles.
Though their group was small, only five people at this time, their confidence in overcoming enemies had soared.
Why would they turn back now? While the demonic beast ahead appeared formidable, what if they didn't encounter it? What if the people ahead had already resolved the issue? These people walking behind had their own plans.
Thus, this group ignored Shen Xiao and the others' words and continued forward.
Shen Xiao shook his head, "I've done my best. If you insist on seeking death, I can't do anything about it."
Meanwhile, at the location of Mo Qi, Jin Dan, Baili Bing, and another person, the forest before them had been leveled, revealing a clear path that led directly to the edge of the forest.
The first to turn back was Mo Qi. Everything in sight seemed to have been destroyed. The ground had been shaved off by a layer, revealing a vast expanse of yellow earth formed from fresh soil.
Two shiny objects were rolling on the ground, catching Mo Qi's attention. He walked over and picked them up – two crystal-clear beads.
Judging by their size, they resembled the central parts of the toad's eyeballs. He was surprised they remained intact after such a massive explosion. He believed this must be a treasure and, before others noticed, he pocketed them to avoid unnecessary disputes.
With four people and only two items, it wouldn't be enough to share. It was better to keep them all.
As Jin Dan, Baili Bing, and the other person fled, they heard the tremendous explosion behind them and assumed Mo Qi had been blown to pieces. They didn't dare to look back.
After the startled birds had flown away and the dust settled, they looked back to see the vast new land and Mo Qi standing there, looking bewildered.
Jin Dan quickly ran to Mo Qi's side, staring at him in shock, "What exactly did you do?" He believed Mo Qi possessed extraordinary strength, but not to this monstrous extent.
Mo Qi looked wronged and spread his hands, "It wasn't me." To be truthful, it really wasn't him.
"Then, is someone helping us from the shadows?" Baili Bing looked up at the sky.
"Perhaps. It seems we all have a good chance of passing the assessment," said the person whose name was unknown.
Only four people remained at this point. Mo Qi felt it was time to exchange names, so he asked the other person and learned his name was Ma Xiaolin.
The rest of the journey was lighthearted. They walked and chatted until they reached the end of the clear path, which was the edge of the Blackwood Forest.
When they reached the end, Ma Xiaolin couldn't help but sigh, "If someone is helping us from the shadows, they must be incredibly powerful. I've heard that cultivators' realms are divided into Condensing Spirit, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Dividing Soul, Lesser Mahayana, Greater Mahayana, Tribulation Transcendence, Ascension... and after Ascension, I've heard there are even higher realms, though I don't know the specifics. I believe this person secretly helping us has at least Nascent Soul cultivation."
The group had originally planned to find tall trees at the edge of the Blackwood Forest to rest. Seeing that the sky was still bright, they discussed it and decided to press on to the foot of Silver Dragon Mountain to find a cave to rest.
Silver Dragon Mountain was covered in snow year-round only near the summit. The foot of the mountain, being sheltered from the wind, should not be too cold.
Beyond the Blackwood Forest, there were no more wild beasts to threaten them. The path was smooth and unobstructed. They waded across a small river, climbed over a small hill, and the foot of Silver Dragon Mountain was within sight.
At this point, they were surprised to discover a particularly large cave in this small hill. Worried that they might not find a cave at the foot of Silver Dragon Mountain, they made a decisive choice to rest in this cave.
Mo Qi surveyed the cave's layout. It was several zhang deep, with a bottleneck-shaped protrusion in the middle, effectively dividing the cave into two sections, inner and outer.
Although connected, they were clearly distinct.
Mo Qi immediately made arrangements: Baili Bing would rest in the inner section, while the other three would rest in the outer section. The three unanimously agreed.
They split up to gather firewood and leaves, spreading them on the cave floor. Then, they took out spare clothes from their bundles and laid them on top, creating simple beds.
After everyone had made their beds, Ma Xiaolin prepared to share the dried provisions from his bundle. Baili Bing suddenly said with a blush, "Could you all go out for a bit, and go a good distance away? I need to change my clothes."
The clothes stained with dark green juice made her feel uncomfortable. She longed to take them off, but had never had the chance.
The three immediately complied and started to walk out. Baili Bing suddenly called out shyly, "Could Mo Qi stay behind for a moment?"
"Oh? So soon?" Jin Dan and Ma Xiaolin exchanged glances, a mischievous smile on their faces.
Mo Qi was also somewhat bewildered, looking at Baili Bing in surprise. What was she planning?
"What are you thinking? If we don't leave someone to guard the entrance, what if someone or a wild beast intrudes?" Baili Bing chided.
"Oh, so it's to guard the entrance," Jin Dan and Ma Xiaolin said playfully. "If it's to guard the entrance, we should naturally pick someone with strong martial arts." With that, they quickly left, smiling.
Mo Qi walked outside the cave somewhat awkwardly, turning his back and gazing at the distant sky, adopting an air of being oblivious to anything around him.
Baili Bing was still afraid Mo Qi might look back, so she walked to the bottleneck-shaped protrusion with her clothes, which could shield her from prying eyes.
Listening to the rustling sounds from within, Mo Qi's mind became a galloping wild horse, and he unknowingly fell into reverie.
But he knew he was the guard and couldn't steal a peek himself! He also began to suspect that Baili Bing asking him to guard the entrance was intentional, perhaps to deter him from wanting to peek.
He suddenly thought of Lu Xiaoyue. He had to admit, she was indeed beautiful at that time, but did he truly like her then? If he had to say he liked her, it was definitely for her beauty.
However, after experiencing many hardships and tasting much bitterness, he suddenly realized that beauty could sometimes be fatal. It was one thing that Lu Xiaoyue almost drowned him in the water.
Once, on the road, he overheard a man camping in the wilderness lamenting how a beautiful woman had tricked him out of all his wealth and then disowned him.
Therefore, liking should be based on some form of trust. He found his actions on the river back then somewhat ridiculous, perhaps due to his youthful ignorance, he mocked himself.
But at the same time, he was well aware that he had only aged by a little over a year.
And now, although the desire to find Lu Xiaoyue was still strong, it was only to bring closure to what had happened. At the very least, he wanted to get back that look of disdain.
He would see if there was an opportunity. Perhaps there would never be one.
Just as Mo Qi was lost in thought, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear, "I'm done changing. You can all come in now."
Mo Qi looked around and found that Jin Dan and Ma Xiaolin were gone.
Although they had walked far away, Mo Qi had clearly seen them sitting under a tree within his line of sight, so how had they disappeared in the blink of an eye?
Just as he was about to call out Jin Dan's name, a group of people emerged from a small path behind the trees. The two leading them were Jin Dan and Ma Xiaolin, followed by two others with unfamiliar faces.
From a distance, he noticed some bloodstains on them. Mo Qi immediately understood. These were assessment participants from the rear echelon who had caught up. Only two of them left? It seemed they must have gone through a series of fierce battles to get here.
As they approached, Jin Dan stopped and winked, asking, "Finished changing?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Baili Bing emerged from within, still in her tight-fitting attire, but looking refreshed and even more heroic.
The six people exchanged names. Mo Qi learned that the two newcomers were named Yu Ming and He Jinshan.
After they entered, Baili Bing still slept alone in the inner cave, while the five men slept in the outer cave. The outer cave was originally spacious, and three people sleeping there would have been comfortable, but it was just right for five people to squeeze in.
As the two were making their beds, Mo Qi went out and broke off some small branches, then broke them into pieces slightly longer than a dagger. He then used his knife to sharpen one end. After making some samples, he asked everyone to help make similar branches.
Jin Dan asked curiously, "What are those for?"
Mo Qi kept it a secret, "They might be useful for climbing the mountain tomorrow."
Upon hearing that they would be useful for climbing the mountain, everyone complied without hesitation and made similar branches as Mo Qi requested.
By the time they had made enough branches, night had quietly fallen. They lit a bonfire outside the cave, and everyone sat around it, taking out their dried provisions to share.
The group, brought together by the assessment and having gone through life-and-death trials together, felt a special bond. While eating their provisions, they chatted about their lives, talking about everything as if they had known each other for many years.
Someone mentioned Shen Xiao, and Yu Ming confirmed, "We did encounter them. They even advised us to turn back." Everyone couldn't help but sigh.
Yu Ming then fell into sadness again, murmuring, "Perhaps my brother and I should have gone back with them. Then my brother wouldn't have..."
Later, they encountered a herd of stampeding beasts. His brother and two others perished in the stampede. Everyone offered words of comfort again.
Later, they discussed the assessment that was to continue the next day. They suddenly remembered that they still had to endure a test of willpower and endurance. They were forced to cut short their casual conversations and boasting, made preparations for climbing the mountain the next day, and then retired to the cave to rest.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, everyone either changed into thicker clothes or put on a few extra layers. After a hasty breakfast of dried provisions, they began to make their way towards Silver Dragon Mountain.
The first half of Silver Dragon Mountain was not very steep, and everyone quickly reached the mountainside. The chill from the summit began to creep in, making them feel a slight coolness.
As they continued upwards, they entered a vast white expanse. There was no snow on the mountain at this time, but a fierce cold wind howled past, slicing at their faces like blades. Compared to the mountainside, it felt like entering another world.
Walking now meant advancing against the gale. Every step was incredibly difficult, and they stumbled through deep and shallow patches.
The higher they went, the steeper it became, with almost every step slipping. As their shoes were soaked through, the cold intensified. Fortunately, they supported and encouraged each other, pushing and pulling their way slowly forward.
Finally, after ascending a series of steps, they reached a wide platform. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but then their brows furrowed again.
Ahead lay a steep cliff face, almost perfectly vertical and incredibly smooth, as if it had been cleaved by a divine axe from the heavens. They were almost certain that climbing this cliff would lead them to the summit.
Yet, even though the summit was within sight, it felt as distant as the horizon. How could they possibly climb it? Their feet couldn't find stable footing, their hands had no place to grip, and there was no leverage at all.
Just as they were at a loss, Mo Qi took out the sharpened branches from his bundle and walked to the cliff face. To their astonishment, he inserted a branch into the cliff.
He did it so casually, as if an ordinary person were inserting a knife into soft earth.
Only Jin Dan was not surprised. He had seen birds shot with grass stalks; this was nothing. At this moment, he finally understood the purpose of Mo Qi sharpening the branches the previous night.
Next, he inserted another branch parallel to the first, and then, about a foot's distance diagonally above, he inserted two parallel branches.
Then, he inserted a branch directly above the parallel branches as a handhold. The eyes of the others gradually lit up, and Mo Qi's figure seemed to grow taller in their eyes.
At this moment, no one noticed that Ma Xiaolin's lips had turned purple from the cold, and his whole body trembled like a sieve. Perhaps due to his physical condition, the feeling of the invading cold was more intense for him after his shoes became soaked.
The others followed Mo Qi, climbing up the ladder he had constructed. They passed their branches to him in succession, and the group slowly ascended. Ma Xiaolin instinctively followed the others upwards, passing his branches to the people ahead.
His hands were already stiff, and it was difficult to even bend his fingers. Every time he grabbed a branch, he felt it might slip from his grasp, but he continued to climb without a word, his consciousness gradually blurring.
Just as everyone had climbed to the top of the cliff, a dull thud was heard.
They turned to look and were filled with grief. Ma Xiaolin had fallen, landing on the platform below. His head was shattered and deformed; he was undoubtedly dead.
Everyone sighed in unison. At this point, all of them were advancing against the encroaching cold, their bodies frozen, relying solely on willpower to continue.
They gazed into the distance. The path down the mountain was no longer as steep, but with their strength almost depleted, descending was even more difficult.
Every step trembled, and with every step, it felt like they would slip. In this state, the remaining five-person team moved very slowly, and everyone became anxious, secretly quickening their pace.
Suddenly, Baili Bing's foot slipped, and she began to slide down rapidly. She tried to grab the ground, but only grasped a handful of snow. Her body continued to slide uncontrollably, crashing into He Jinshan in front of her.
He Jinshan, already unsteady, was thrown off balance by the impact. He flew out towards the cliff and plunged into the abyss.
Baili Bing, however, was thrown in the opposite direction by the impact, falling into a small gully. She was dazed, and her left leg was injured from the collision, but at least her life was saved. It was as if one life had been exchanged for another.
Baili Bing struggled to sit up, tears streaming down her face, "I've killed him."
Mo Qi glanced towards the cliff, knowing that He Jinshan was beyond saving. He quickly turned his attention back to Baili Bing. Seeing that she hadn't fallen too far, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He took three quick steps and leaped down, reaching Baili Bing.
Among everyone, only he seemed to move with ease. Strangely, at some point, he had lost all sense of cold. Whenever the outside cold attacked, a warm current would circulate within him, preventing the cold from affecting him.
And once he was no longer sensitive to the cold, he felt as light as a swallow, giving him excellent control over the slippery and steep terrain. While others struggled with every step, feeling as if they were on the brink of death, he moved as if walking on level ground.
"It was just an accident. Don't blame yourself," Mo Qi said, standing beside her, somewhat at a loss for words.
Baili Bing simply lowered her head and sobbed.
The other two stood on a slope, facing the wind, still trembling slightly. Anxiety was in their eyes as they waited for Baili Bing to climb up. They dared not descend into the gully, fearing they wouldn't be able to climb back up. The feeling of cold was almost
consuming them, yet they couldn't bear to leave her alone. If needed, they would still come down.
"Get up and walk quickly. You can't sit on the ground," Mo Qi said anxiously. The longer she sat, the harder it would be to stand up.
"I can't walk. My leg is injured," Baili Bing said, looking up with sorrow. "Don't worry about me. You go on."
"We go together," Mo Qi said firmly.
A faint smile appeared on Baili Bing's face, "Hearing you say that brings me comfort. But you and I both know I can't walk. If I'm to go with you, you'll have to support me. Not to mention the time constraints, it's likely we'll all die here."
Mo Qi's eyes were exceptionally firm, "We're not considering the time anymore. As for death, I think dying one or dying four makes no difference. Because if we leave you and get out, even if we live, it would be worse than death."
Baili Bing's body visibly trembled at his words. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes, and then she lowered her head again, sobbing.
Mo Qi was extremely anxious. If they delayed any longer, they might all die here.
Without regard for propriety, he stepped forward, grabbed her shoulder, and lifted her up. He then forcibly grasped her hands, turned his back, bent down, and carried Baili Bing on his back.
Baili Bing was startled by his boldness.
A moment later, she came to her senses, her face flushed red. She rained a flurry of blows onto Mo Qi's shoulder, saying coquettishly, "Put me down."
Mo Qi ignored her attacks. He clearly knew she wasn't truly attacking him. If she had used the same force she used to fight the centipede, he wouldn't have been able to withstand it.
After hitting him for a while and seeing no effect, Baili Bing stopped.
"Hold on to me tighter," Mo Qi suddenly said, as if giving an order.
Shameless! Who wants to hold on to you? Baili Bing cursed in her heart.
However, she suddenly saw Mo Qi holding a piece of branch, facing the dirt slope ahead, his face solemn as he inhaled, as if gathering strength to charge forward. She had no choice but to extend her hands, feeling wronged, and wrap them around Mo Qi's waist.
As she expected, as soon as she hugged his waist, Mo Qi charged towards the slope.
Upon reaching the slope, he inserted the half-branch in his hand into the cliff face of the steep slope, pressed down, used it for leverage, and leaped upwards, landing lightly on the platform above. He then led the way down the slope.
Jin Dan and Yu Ming breathed a sigh of relief. They could finally move. They descended with joy, as if granted a great pardon. If it were any other time, they might have teased Mo Qi, but at this moment, it was inappropriate and they were not in the mood.
With Baili Bing on his back, Mo Qi's balance was affected as he had to use his hands to steady her. His gait was still unsteady, sometimes slipping, making each step perilous.
Baili Bing, on his back, knew very well that if it were anyone else, they wouldn't be able to do this. She would have had to choose between waiting to die or falling to her death. She was fortunate to have met Mo Qi.
Unconsciously, her head leaned against Mo Qi's back.
Unconsciously, they had walked out of the snow-covered area. Mo Qi's mood improved, and he teased, "Miss, you don't need to hold on so tightly. We've already left the snow region."