Chapter 93 The Price of the Mark
Chapter 93 The Price of the Mark
Chapter 93: Chapter 93 The Price of the Mark
The golden symbols continued glowing on the foreheads of the marked cultivators.
The 2 enormous beasts charged through the golden haze, their movements shifting toward those who bore the marks.
The pressure weighing upon the marked cultivators grew heavier with every passing moment.
An independent cultivator near the rear of the group gritted his teeth as he struggled to maintain his speed.
"Damn it! Why does this pressure keep increasing?"
His legs felt increasingly heavy, and his breathing became ragged.
He had already consumed a rejuvenation pill, restoring much of his spiritual energy and physical strength. However, the pill could not remove the pressure imposed by the formation.
Worse still, the beast behind him was gradually closing the distance.
He glanced over his shoulder and felt his blood run cold.
The enormous creature’s amber eyes were fixed in his direction.
"No! Stay away!"
He forced himself forward, trying to increase his speed despite the growing pressure.
For several moments, he managed to maintain the distance.
Then the beast suddenly accelerated.
Its enormous claw swept forward.
The cultivator twisted desperately, but he was too slow.
The claw brushed against his shoulder.
Golden light immediately enveloped his body.
"NO! I CAN STILL RUN!"
His desperate cry echoed through the passage before he vanished.
He was transported outside the ruin alive, his cultivation reduced by 1 minor level.
The cultivators nearby witnessed everything.
Another participant had been eliminated.
And the beasts showed no intention of slowing down.
The situation quickly deteriorated.
Numerous independent cultivators bearing golden marks struggled to escape the beasts. The increasing pressure made their movements slower, while the marks drew the creatures toward them.
Some tried changing their positions, hoping to put other participants between themselves and the beasts.
Others attempted to increase their speed, desperately forcing their exhausted bodies forward.
However, the formation offered no mercy.
A marked cultivator stumbled when the pressure suddenly intensified. Before he could recover his balance, the second beast swept toward him.
He tried to dodge.
He failed.
The beast’s claw brushed against his back, and golden light swallowed him instantly.
Another cultivator disappeared.
Then another.
The passage became increasingly chaotic as the marked participants struggled to escape their pursuers.
Some independent cultivators managed to survive by carefully observing the beasts’ movements. Others made desperate mistakes, allowing panic to overwhelm their judgment.
The marks did not guarantee immediate elimination, but they made every moment more dangerous.
Even the unmarked cultivators could not relax. The beasts still pursued anyone they touched, and the growing pressure made exhaustion an ever-present threat.
Several participants who had received no marks were eliminated when they could no longer maintain their pace. Others misjudged the movements of the beasts and were caught while attempting to avoid the marked cultivators.
The number of survivors continued decreasing.
---
Shen Feng’s expression was grim.
The golden mark on his forehead glowed brightly as he ran, and the pressure upon his body continued to increase.
As the successor of the Myriad Heaven Sect, he possessed exceptional talent and formidable strength for his age. Nevertheless, neither his background nor his cultivation could free him from the formation’s rule.
The beast behind him had gradually closed the distance.
Shen Feng adjusted his pace and changed his position, trying to prevent the creature from catching him.
The enormous beast shifted in response to the mark.
Its movements forced several nearby cultivators to scatter.
Shen Feng seized the opportunity to move away from the others, avoiding a collision that would have disrupted his balance.
He knew that he could not afford to panic.
One mistake could cost him his place in the trial.
Not far away, Luo Xue was experiencing a similar predicament.
The golden mark on her forehead shone beneath the dim light of the passage. The pressure had grown so heavy that even maintaining her previous speed required considerable effort.
She could hear the beast behind her.
Its heavy footsteps shook the ancient road.
Luo Xue glanced backward.
The enormous creature was closer than she had expected.
Her expression changed, but she quickly suppressed her fear.
She shifted her weight and moved slightly to one side as the beast’s claw swept toward her.
The claw passed dangerously close to her shoulder.
For a brief moment, she felt the rush of air against her body.
Then she regained her balance and continued running.
She had narrowly escaped.
However, the beast did not stop pursuing her.
Luo Xue clenched her teeth.
She understood that she could not rely on luck alone. She needed to observe its movements carefully, conserve her strength, and react at the right moment.
The pressure continued increasing, but she forced herself to maintain her concentration.
She was determined to survive.
---
Elsewhere, Liu Tianhao of the Stellar River Holy Sect struggled to maintain his pace.
The golden symbol on his forehead had drawn one of the beasts toward him, and the pressure made every movement increasingly difficult.
He consumed a rejuvenation pill while running, restoring some of his lost strength.
The pressure remained.
He could replenish his spiritual energy, but he could not remove the formation’s restrictions.
A short distance away, Bai Jue of the Nether Lotus Holy Sect was also marked.
His expression remained controlled, although the growing pressure had begun to affect his movements.
He watched the beast approaching him and adjusted his position, avoiding a direct collision with another cultivator.
Zhao Zhen of the Myriad Techniques Holy Sect faced the same danger.
He carefully observed the road markings while keeping the beast in sight.
The formation was forcing them to divide their attention between the road, the other cultivators, and the creatures pursuing them.
One distraction could prove fatal.
Despite their formidable backgrounds, none of the marked successors could afford to underestimate the situation.
The rule did not distinguish between prestigious sects and independent cultivators.
Once marked, they were designated prey.
And the beasts continued closing in.
---
The chase grew more desperate as time passed.
Golden light flashed repeatedly throughout the passage as more cultivators were eliminated.
The majority were independent cultivators, many of whom had struggled to cope with the increasing pressure.
Some were caught by the beasts.
Others lost the strength to continue running.
A few managed to evade their pursuers for a considerable time before finally making a mistake.
The surviving participants began to understand the cruelty of the trial.
The marks were not merely symbols.
They changed the entire nature of the chase.
Those who bore them had to contend with both the beasts’ attention and the increasing pressure imposed by the formation. Those who remained unmarked still faced the possibility of exhaustion or an unpredictable encounter with either creature.
Nobody could consider themselves completely safe.
The ancient road stretched endlessly into the golden haze.
The beasts continued pursuing the survivors, their movements forcing the cultivators to remain alert even as fatigue accumulated.
Shen Feng maintained his pace, refusing to let fear dictate his movements.
Luo Xue continued evading her pursuer, determined to survive despite the pressure.
Liu Tianhao, Bai Jue, and Zhao Zhen likewise struggled to endure the increasingly dangerous chase.
Around them, the remaining independent cultivators fought desperately to stay alive.
Then, the golden markings beneath their feet began to glow more intensely.
The light spread across the ancient road, illuminating the passage from end to end.
The beasts continued running, but the formation’s energy suddenly shifted.
Every surviving cultivator felt the change.
Before anyone could determine what was happening, the ancient voice echoed throughout the passage.
"The number of participants eliminated during this stage has reached 60."
The announcement left many cultivators stunned.
Sixty participants had been eliminated during this stage alone.
Before anyone could fully process the announcement, the ancient voice spoke again.
"The 2nd day of the trial has ended."
The golden markings blazed one final time.
And the 2nd day came to an end.