Chapter 155: The Groups Entering the Mountain
At the foot of the mountain, groups of dwarves and cloaked figures moved cautiously. Even though the heavenly tribulation had dispersed, they still dared not approach too closely, as a lingering fear held fast in their hearts. The power of the tribulation exceeded anything they had experienced before, as if signaling the end of the world, leaving them tempted to abandon the mission altogether.
Among them was Vandal, a guardian of the Badin family, clad in middle divine-grade armor. Despite his protective gear, his face was pale with anxiety, still haunted by the experience he had just endured. Now, he had to get even closer to the site of the heavenly tribulation. The fierce wind phenomenon, something he would normally dread, had been all but forgotten amid the overwhelming fear that gripped him.
However, Duke Badin continued to pressure everyone to search the mountain for any clues, still insisting on capturing Mardred and obtaining the blueprint. Duke Badin was also supported by groups of cloaked men, though they still wondered about their identities. Duke Badin appeared unusually polite to the two leaders of the cloaked group, and the men accompanying them seemed quite formidable.
But Vandal noticed something strange about these cloaked men. After the heavenly tribulation, their once-mysterious and powerful entrance suddenly faltered, and they appeared even more anxious than the dwarves. This made him wonder if these men were truly reliable as their support.
They appeared even more frightened than the dwarves, despite having an average cultivation level much higher than all his groups. Although their faces were masked, their anxiety was evident as they moved closer to the mountain, even while still at its base.
Vandal sighed, hoping these men wouldn’t become a burden on their journey ahead. The dwarves had already formed a defensive formation, their artifacts ready, especially for the feared phenomenon of the deadly wind. By now, all paths leading to and from the mountain were blocked by their own forces, ensuring that nothing within the mountain could escape without taking an unusual and far harsher route.
Only after an hour of walking did Vandal and the others realize that the wind phenomenon, which should have appeared when they first entered the mountain, was nowhere to be felt. This absence confused them, but their lingering fear of the heavens had delayed their awareness until now. The area was still saturated with a heavy heavenly aura, constantly reminding them of the tribulation.
The dwarves also observed that the cloaked men seemed to tremble and sweat more as they ventured further into this heavenly zone. While the dwarves were still uneasy in the presence of the heavenly aura, they pressed on, but it was clear that the cloaked men were struggling to keep themselves from fleeing.
Vandal looked at one of the cloaked men and asked, "Hey, if you can’t handle being here, you should turn back. I don’t want anyone becoming a burden if something happens—or worse, running away when things get tough."