Chapter 92 The Unlucky One

Chapter 92: Chapter 92 The Unlucky One

The golden markings on the ancient road suddenly blazed with light.

The cultivators continued running, their attention divided between the 2 enormous beasts pursuing them and the increasingly oppressive pressure weighing upon their bodies.

Nobody knew what the formation would do next.

Then, the ancient voice echoed through the passage.

"The next rule shall now take effect."

The voice was neither loud nor hurried, yet every cultivator heard it clearly.

"Some of you shall receive the mark of the designated prey."

Several cultivators exchanged uncertain glances.

"The beasts shall be drawn toward those who bear the mark, and the pressure upon them shall gradually increase."

A brief silence followed.

"Until you are eliminated, you shall remain the designated prey."

The moment the announcement ended, the golden markings beneath their feet erupted with brilliant light.

Before anyone could react, golden symbols materialized on the foreheads of numerous cultivators.

"What is this?!"

An independent cultivator reached for his forehead, his eyes widening when his fingers passed through the glowing symbol without feeling anything unusual.

Another cultivator looked at his companion and immediately stumbled.

"You’ve been marked!"

"What?!"

The man turned his head and caught sight of the golden symbol reflected in his companion’s eyes.

His expression changed instantly.

He had received the mark.

All around them, similar scenes unfolded.

Golden symbols appeared on the foreheads of independent cultivators scattered throughout the passage. Some received them near the front, others in the middle, and many more toward the rear.

Within moments, a large number of independent cultivators had been marked.

Panic began spreading through their ranks.

"Why me?!"

"I haven’t done anything!"

"Does this mean the beasts will chase us specifically?"

Nobody answered.

They soon received their answer.

The original beast suddenly shifted its direction.

Its enormous body continued charging forward, but its head turned toward a group of marked cultivators running near the center of the passage.

At almost the same moment, the second beast adjusted its course toward another cluster of marked participants.

The changes were unmistakable.

The beasts were being drawn toward those bearing the golden symbols.

"Run faster!"

A marked independent cultivator shouted as he pushed himself forward.

The cultivators around him immediately increased their speed, afraid that remaining close to him would place them in danger.

However, the pressure on the marked man suddenly intensified.

His breathing became heavier, and his legs felt as though invisible weights had been attached to them.

"What is happening to my body?"

He struggled to maintain his pace.

The golden symbol on his forehead shone more brightly.

Another marked cultivator experienced the same change. His spiritual energy continued circulating, but each movement demanded more effort than before.

The pressure was increasing.

And it was only the beginning.

Not far away, several disciples from the Holy Land forces discovered that they had also received the marks.

Among the Nine Holy Families, Jiang Zhenhai had already been eliminated earlier. Now, other young successors and disciples faced a new threat.

Three Holy Sect successors bore the glowing symbols.

Liu Tianhao of the Stellar River Holy Sect stared at the golden mark on his forehead, his expression turning serious.

Beside him, another marked cultivator struggled to maintain his speed as the pressure began building.

Meanwhile, a disciple from the Nether Lotus Holy Sect looked toward the approaching beast and felt a chill run down his spine.

The third marked Holy Sect successor belonged to the Myriad Techniques Holy Sect.

Zhao Zhen noticed the change in the surrounding spiritual energy and immediately understood that the mark was connected to the formation.

He clenched his teeth.

"So, this is the formation’s new method of elimination."

He could already feel the pressure increasing.

Elsewhere, the Myriad Heaven Sect and the Blood Moon Sect were also affected.

Shen Feng of the Myriad Heaven Sect discovered the golden symbol on his forehead. His expression grew solemn as he sensed the beast gradually closing the distance.

Not far from him, Luo Xue of the Blood Moon Sect received the same mark.

She glanced at the beast, then at the golden symbol reflected in a nearby cultivator’s eyes.

Her face became cold.

Even someone of her standing was not exempt from the formation’s selection.

The marks had appeared without warning, and no one could determine why certain cultivators had been selected while others remained untouched.

Some powerful cultivators had received them.

Others with lower cultivation had not.

There was no obvious pattern.

The rule was simple, but its consequences were terrifying.

Those who bore the marks had become the beasts’ preferred targets, and the increasing pressure made escaping them progressively more difficult.

Yet the marks did not mean immediate elimination.

A marked cultivator who could maintain sufficient speed and react intelligently still had a chance of surviving.

Unfortunately, panic was already clouding the judgment of many participants.

Several independent cultivators began running erratically, nearly colliding with one another as they attempted to escape the beasts.

One man veered too far toward the center of the passage.

The original beast’s enormous claw swept past him.

He barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of air against his back.

His face drained of color.

He had survived by a hair’s breadth.

But the beast continued pursuing him.

And the pressure on his body was growing heavier.

---

Within the crowd, the remaining successors of the major forces reacted differently.

Some maintained their composure, carefully adjusting their movements to avoid collisions and keep the beasts at a manageable distance.

Others struggled to conceal their anxiety.

Even those who had not received marks understood that the new rule could change the situation at any moment.

The beasts were no longer simply chasing the cultivators from behind.

Their movements had become less predictable as they were drawn toward different marked targets.

A marked cultivator could suddenly find a beast approaching from an unexpected angle, forcing nearby participants to change direction as well.

One mistake could place several people in danger.

The situation had become considerably more complicated.

---

Meanwhile, the 10 Lin Clan youngsters continued running together.

None of them had received a golden mark.

However, they did not allow that fact to make them careless.

Lin Chen observed the beasts’ movements, paying particular attention to how they changed direction whenever they approached marked cultivators.

"The marks are influencing their movements," he said.

Lin Qing nodded.

"And the pressure on those marked cultivators is increasing."

Lin Yu glanced at the golden markings beneath their feet.

"The road’s formation is responsible. The marks are connected to it."

Lin Jue studied the glowing patterns.

"It appears the formation has divided the participants into different categories. Those marked are being placed at a disadvantage."

Lin Mo clicked his tongue.

"What a troublesome formation. It wasn’t satisfied with making everyone run for 3 days, so now it has to single people out."

Lin Zhen chuckled despite the circumstances.

"Perhaps the formation doesn’t like people who complain."

Lin Mo turned toward him.

"Then you should be the first person it marks."

"Why me?"

"Because you talk too much."

Lin Zhen opened his mouth to respond, but Lin Qing interrupted them.

"Enough. Watch the road."

Both youngsters immediately focused ahead.

Lin Chen continued observing the beasts.

Their movements had changed, but the underlying danger remained the same. Any cultivator touched by either beast would be eliminated, regardless of cultivation or physical condition.

The marks simply made certain participants more vulnerable.

The Lin Clan youngsters understood that they could not afford to become distracted by the misfortune of others.

Their cultivation and training gave them an advantage, but the trial still demanded vigilance.

Lin Qing maintained the group’s formation while the others adjusted their positions whenever necessary. They avoided the marked cultivators whose movements had become erratic, ensuring that nobody accidentally obstructed another person’s path.

Their coordination allowed them to respond quickly without wasting unnecessary energy.

Still, they did not underestimate the beasts.

---

As time passed, the golden symbols on the marked cultivators’ foreheads grew brighter.

The pressure on their bodies continued increasing.

Some struggled to maintain their previous pace, while others forced themselves forward with clenched teeth.

The beasts gradually closed the distance toward several of their marked targets.

A few cultivators managed to evade them through quick reactions, but others were beginning to lose the ability to move freely.

The independent cultivators suffered the most.

With so many of them marked, the passage became increasingly chaotic. Every sudden movement forced nearby participants to adjust their positions, and every change in the beasts’ direction created another wave of panic.

Even the marked successors of powerful forces were beginning to feel the strain.

Liu Tianhao maintained his speed, but the pressure was steadily worsening.

Shen Feng’s expression had become grim.

Luo Xue kept her attention fixed on the beast approaching her from behind, refusing to allow fear to dictate her movements.

Zhao Zhen carefully adjusted his pace, searching for a way to preserve his strength while maintaining enough speed to escape.

None of them could afford to make a careless mistake.

Above the ancient road, the golden haze thickened.

The glowing markings beneath the cultivators’ feet pulsed again.

Lin Yu noticed the change first.

"The formation’s energy is fluctuating."

Lin Jue’s eyes narrowed.

"Another change?"

"Possibly," Lin Yu replied. "I cannot tell what it will do next."

Lin Chen glanced toward the beasts.

"Then we continue watching. Don’t let your attention wander."

The other 9 nodded.

Behind them, the 2 enormous beasts continued their relentless pursuit.

The marked cultivators were struggling more with every passing moment, and the distance between several of them and the beasts was shrinking.

The ancient road remained endless, stretching into the thick golden haze ahead.

Then, the ancient voice echoed once more.

"The designated prey have been selected."

The golden symbols blazed.

"The hunt has only just begun."