Chapter 10: On the Sheer Cliff, a Desperate Struggle for Survival; the Killing Troop's Shift Brings New Worry

The shadow of death was substantive, carrying with it an even colder, thicker killing aura that surged from the depths of the cave.

In an instant it seized Chen Wen's back!

The heavy metallic scraping sound and footsteps were already within arm's reach; he could even feel the faint tremor coming from the ground!

Run! I must run!

Chen Wen's mind went blank, leaving only the most primal survival instinct.

Four times his strength and speed erupted without reservation at this moment!

He was like a leopard driven to desperation, making a desperate dash toward that steep cliff!

He clutched tightly the cloth shoes and fabric fragments of his little sister in his arms, as if gripping the sole hope and boundless motivation.

【Extreme escape, falls under the category of 'extremely high-intensity labor', Diligence Points (WP)+1.5!】

【Killing aura erosion (moderate): environmental concentration extremely high! Stamina and energy rapidly depleting! Warning!】

The system's alert tone was sharp and urgent, but Chen Wen had no leisure to pay attention to it.

He could clearly hear the crisp sound of metal armor plates colliding coming from the cave entrance behind him.

And a low, inhuman-sounding, strange syllable that seemed like a rebuke or command!

Cannot look back!

Absolutely cannot look back!

The steep cliff is right before his eyes!

He was practically relying on sheer brute force, using both hands and feet.

The fourfold physical enhancement brought tremendous explosive power and coordination!

Enabling him to perform movements that would normally be impossible.

——He lunged upward, his fingers digging desperately into a rock crevice.

His toes kicked off the nearly featureless smooth rock wall.

His body barely managed to lift itself upward a bit!

At the moment his body left the ground.

A shrill tearing-through-air sound whizzed past almost brushing his soles!

"Ha!"

A muffled thud!

A pitch-black, peculiarly shaped short bolt slammed into the rock where he had just placed his foot.

The bolt's tail continued to vibrate violently, emitting an ear‑grating hum!

The bolt head sank nearly an inch into the rock, showing terrifying force!

Chen Wen's scalp went numb, and cold sweat instantly soaked his heavy clothes.

He dared not pause even a moment, relying on his will to survive and the system's boost.

Like a gecko clinging to the wall, he climbed upward as fast as possible!

Below, at the mountain pass entrance.

Two sentries, as rigid as iron eagles, had turned around, their vacant gazes behind masks locking onto Chen Wen as he climbed.

One of them held a compact, glo‑glowing crossbow mechanism, currently re‑stringing it in a mechanical, efficient motion.

The other gripped the hilt of his waist‑worn sword; although he gave no chase, his icy killing intent spread like a tangible substance.

Even more heart‑pounding was the figure emerging from the cave.

It was a taller iron‑clad soldier whose armor appeared even heavier.

He stood at the cave mouth, not taking part in the attack.

He simply lifted his head and silently "gazed" in the direction Chen Wen was fleeing.

Beneath his ferocious iron mask, two deeper glows seemed to flicker.

Chen Wen could even feel that the coldest, thickest killing aura.

Originated from this officer who had just appeared!

He dared not look again, focusing all his strength and attention on climbing.

The rocks scraped his palms and knees, drawing blood.

But the violent exertion and extreme tension temporarily suppressed that bone‑chilling killing aura.

【Extreme climb, WP+1.0!】

【Qi and blood surging, the killing‑aura erosion effect is temporarily suppressed!】

Finally, he suddenly rolled over.

He perilously flipped back over that steep wall.

His body slammed heavily into the thicket on the other side, making branches and leaves clatter.

Almost as soon as he landed!

Another bolt hissed.

It scraped past the edge of the rock wall and vanished into the distant darkness.

No pursuit followed.

Below, the mountain pass returned to dead silence, as if nothing had happened.

Yet that icy, locked‑on feeling lingered.

Chen Wen lay in the thicket, his chest heaving violently.

He gulped great mouthfuls of air, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

That brief clash just now was far more dangerous than any previous battle!

He peered cautiously through the gaps in the bushes, seeing only that the three iron-armored soldiers still stood in their original spots.

After looking up at him in that direction for a moment, the officer who had appeared later seemed to wave his hand.

The two sentinels then returned to their original spots, just like true stone statues.

And that officer turned and disappeared once more into the deep cave.

They…… didn't come after him?

Chen Wen let out a slight sigh of relief, but the doubt and unease in his heart grew heavier.

The behavior pattern of this troop is too strange, their combat strength is ferocious to the point of not seeming human.

Yet they seem to strictly observe some boundary, never easily leaving the specific area.

He dared not linger here, suppressing the weakness and the resurging chill spreading through him.

Struggling to climb to his feet, he staggered away from the mountain hollow.

Only after running far enough did he completely lose the icy feeling of being watched.

Only then did he dare to hide in a dense thicket, his whole body nearly exhausted.

He opened his palm; his little sister's dirty cloth shoe and fabric scraps lay still in his hand, proving that what had just happened was not a nightmare.

They really had been there!

But the aura emanating from the cave and the strangeness of that troop.

It made him dare not imagine whether they were still safe and sound now.

He must think of a solution as soon as possible!

He checked his condition; he had multiple abrasions all over, but they were not serious.

The most troublesome thing is that 'murderous qi', even though he has left the high-concentration environment.

Yet it remains like a bone-deep ulcer lodged in his body, bringing a persistent chill and fatigue.

【Cow Horse System】

Host: Chen Wen

Level: 2(172/500)

Current multiplier: 4x

Status: light injury (multiple abrasions), extreme fatigue, murderous qi erosion (moderate): continuously consumes stamina and energy, reducing recovery efficiency by 50%】

Recovery efficiency halved!

This means his 4x recovery speed now equals only 2x that of an ordinary person!

In this perilous deep mountain, this is a fatal weakening!

He tried moving his body, doing some simple stretches and throwing punches.

He hoped to accelerate its dispersal through 'high-intensity labor'.

【Engaging in physical training, fits the 'labor' category, WP+0.5……】

【Qi and blood circulation accelerated, the effect of murderous qi erosion weakly weakened……】

It works, but negligibly.

At this rate, he probably won't outlast the murderous qi dispersal!

He himself would collapse from exhaustion first, or other dangers would find him.

Does he really have to spend 100 WP to purify it?

This is what he painstakingly saved up, and an upgrade is not far off……

Just as he hesitated, tormented.

From the direction of Black Wind Hollow in the distance, a low yet piercing horn blast suddenly sounded!

That horn sound was strange and unusual, not the rich tone of a cow horn or beast horn.

Instead, it carried a metallic scraping-like sharpness and chill, making listeners' scalps tingle and hearts flutter anxiously.

Immediately after.

A heavier, more dense sound of footsteps and metal clanking came from that direction.

Even faintly, one could hear a kind of……

Like the sound of heavy wheels rolling over the ground?

Chen Wen startled violently, forcing his fatigued body to hold up.

He again cautiously crept toward Black Wind Hollow for a distance.

He found a higher vantage point and looked out.

He saw, against the darkest night sky before dawn, on that narrow mountain path.

There appeared a silently marching troop!

Still those iron-armored soldiers, but their number far exceeded the sentinels seen before, about twenty or thirty.

They formed a neat yet stiff ranks, like a moving iron wall, setting out from Black Wind Hollow.

And in the midst of the troop, there were even several large carts completely covered with heavy black cloth!

The wheels sank deep into the mud, obviously bearing an extremely heavy load, pushed forward silently by those soldiers.

Are they…… relocating?

Leaving Black Wind Hollow?

Chen Wen's heart leapt to his throat!

What's inside the carts?

Supplies? Or…… prisoners?!

Could his mother and little sister be in those tightly covered carts?!

The team's marching direction was still north!

Heading deeper into the great mountains!

We can't wait any longer!

Chen Wen's eyes flashed with resolve.

No matter what's inside the vehicle, this could be his last chance!

He glanced at the system panel showing 172 WP.

He gritted his teeth fiercely.

"System! Purge the killing qi! Now!"

【Command confirmed. Consuming 100 Diligence Points (WP), beginning purification......】

A warm surge instantly welled up from the depths of his mind, quickly flowing through his limbs and bones.

Wherever it passed, the lingering chill and fatigue that clung like a shadow melted away as swiftly as ice and snow meeting the sun!

【Purification complete! The abnormal status 'Killing Qi Corrosion' has been cleared!】

【Current Level: 2 (72/500)】

Although WP was greatly consumed, the renewed surge of strength filling his body and the clarity of mind invigorated Chen Wen greatly!

He took a deep look at the strange team receding into the distance, then leapt out from his hiding place without hesitation.

This time, he was no longer the prey.

He was the hunter.

He followed far behind, carefully and cautiously, trailing that icy team.

Like the most patient wolf, he waited for his opportunity.