Chapter 34 – A Desperate Exodus

Before their eyes, the tiny specks began to take to the air. Without the haze to disorient, the foundation realm cultivators were free to take to the skies. Ren could see the powerful clashes even from the distance. Some of them were clearly wielding the blood-based techniques of the Hidden Sea Sect’s demonic cultivators. Not to mention, below them on either side of the mountains, the beasts were teeming in unrestricted violence. The beasts had clearly been driven mad by whatever triggered the end of the trial and were out of their lairs in force.

Suddenly realizing how precarious their positions were at the top of the mountain, Ren and Subo had to make a decision. They came to a swift agreement to stick together until they could make to the base of the mountains and to relative safety. Then they could split to head to their respective factions.

Ren briefly mentioned his skills to support and attack. There would be no time to lay out formations, so his power would be limited, but with Subo taking the vanguard, he could easily defend his flanks and keep the worst threats away. Having formed a plan, they were just about to start rushing down when a spike flew past Ren’s ear. He paled at how close it had been and turned to see the source. It was a beast yet unseen, covered in large spikes. Even as they looked on, it raised its other arm, which gripped another spike.

Not waiting to see more, the pair fled together. As they raced down the side of the mountain toward the outer region, they could see beasts fighting each other all over. They avoided those they could, but when the beasts turned their attention to them, they tried to disengage as fast as they could to keep fleeing. If they stayed to fight, they would attract a horde of beasts and be ripped to shreds.

Subo’s body tempering method amazed Ren at how he could take a glancing blow from a slasher beast and only bear a thin cut. He was probably close to the middle layers of the foundation realm. Likewise, Subo was impressed by how Ren seemed to spot danger before it reared its head and how well he could delay and defend with a well-placed dagger. Ren was just grateful he had remembered to restock at the camp.

The duo made their way past the strongest opponents who often chose to fight each other rather than pursue them. But more and more the beasts were starting to head down the mountain. It seemed to Ren they were frenzied as much by fear as anger.

“It looks like they too are starting to flee outward. If those spike-throwing beasts also head this way…” He shared his finding with Subo, who only remarked, “That’s going to complicate our escape from this subspace.”

Fortunately, they managed to reach the foothills without much incident. Their impromptu teamwork had worked out. They gave each other a martial bow.

“We shall meet again, brother Subo. May the heavens watch over you.”

“I am honored to have met you, brother Ren. I’ll take your leave.”

They parted and ran diagonally to their camps. Ren was starting to feel the earth tremble. He didn’t know if it was from a beast horde or an earthquake, but he increased his pace by interspersing Earth Striding Leaps whenever he could spare the qi.

Under the frantic pace, the journey that had taken many days was covered in a little over a day. But even the body of a cultivator could only take so much, and he hadn’t even rested the previous night, having spent it in conversation. When he finally spotted the camp, he forced himself to push through the exhaustion. He saw a decently large crowd already present.

His body almost collapsed, having reached safety, but he forced himself to remain upright. The camp didn’t mean he was safe. Not until they escaped the subspace would they truly be safe. He looked around to see if he could spot his friends. After a few anxious moments Ren finally spotted Bao Hua, who looked every bit as tired as he was.

They greeted each other with weary grins.

“Looks like you’ve had some tough adventures, brother Ren.”

“Tough but rewarding. What about you?”

Hua’s grin expanded further in response. Clearly he had done well.

“Is Ling here yet?” asked Ren.

The smile faded to be replaced with a hint of worry. “Not yet. But there’s still time before Senior Li Xing plans to depart. Like the elders informed us, if we don’t leave before the subspace is sealed, we’ll be trapped here until the trial next opens. Who knows how when that’ll be.”

They both turned to look at the horizon, where they could see the condensed drop of blood in the sky, the size of a huge pagoda, tremble and quiver as if it were about to fall any instant.

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Ren sat down to meditate and recover some qi, and Hua kept an eye out for their friend.

A little while later, Ren opened his eyes feeling much better. He looked around and saw that the camp’s numbers had grown, and he spotted several familiar faces, including Jian Feng, the young master who was also his neighbor. He was surrounded by a few other disciples, all looking ragged.

Hua spoke up beside him. “They just got here on flying swords. They said they had reached the foothill of a central mountain when that voice spoke.”