novelaction Chapter 574: 10 hours limit; climbing the Golden Summit
Chapter 574: 10 hours limit; climbing the Golden Summit
Countdown 10 hours.
The snow stopped and the wind died down, and the battle under the Jinding Terrace ended.
Ma Yuanhong was restrained by Hua Anning's ability, and was eliminated after being exhausted; the seriously injured Mira stimulated the power of her bloodline and fought hard, but was ultimately defeated by Lu Jinan and was eliminated; Gu Yujing and Shen Xiu both exhausted their supernatural powers and the battle ended in a draw.
There are 5 players left on the field.
"No... I don't have the strength to climb anymore..." Lu Jinan held onto the tree, covering his chest where Mira had kicked him, and panted like an old cow.
Shen Xiu, who was exhausted by Gu Yujing, was already sitting on the ground, trying to recover. Gu Yujing was sitting next to him, and the usually cold and aloof gentleman looked even more miserable than a beggar.
Chang Lezheng and Hua An Ning were treating each other's wounds, and their hands were trembling when they raised them.
Chang Le looked up.
Under the ink-splashed night sky, the 3572.21-meter-high Jinding Terrace is like standing in the starry sky and praying to the gods of the universe.
The blurred outline was submerged in the night and fog, with only the bright lights of the Star-Picking Pavilion at the top flickering faintly.
It's like being far away in the clouds, out of reach.
With 10 hours left, their physical strength had reached its limit and climbing up to the golden roof was no easy task.
This is the final ultimate test!
Li Yunfan looked at the people resting at the foot of the mountain and turned on the communication: "Help them get up the mountain."
"Rumble--"
It was not the sound of muffled thunder, but the footsteps of a dozen giant beasts running.
"Come again!" Hua An Ning frowned slightly, "This is forcing us to go up the mountain."
Chang Le stood up, with the vines wrapped around his waist: "Be careful when climbing at night."
Lu Jinan said seriously: "Help each other along the way, and then compete for the top spot."
"Agree!" everyone said in unison.
"Let's go." Gu Yujing reached out and held Hua Anning's hand, walking in front.
Shen Xiu held him and walked in front: "You are not suitable to lead the way, I will do it, An Ning will assist me."
Gu Yujing said: "Take turns to lead the way."
Lu Jinan and Chang Le walked behind: "We are covering their retreat now."
"Wait." Chang Le threw out a few more vines, "If you believe me, tie them up together."
The vines were wrapped around several people, and four more were scattered on both sides. As they walked, they continued to penetrate into the mountain, acting as protective ropes.
The five of them worked together and climbed up the mountain along the rugged path.
Jindingtai is extremely dangerous and is usually not open to the public. The environment on the mountain is pristine and the mountain road is just a transportation road opened when the Zhaixing Pavilion was built. It is rocky and jagged.
In the absence of any protective measures or climbing equipment, they walked very carefully, but slips, rockfalls, snow accumulation, etc. still occurred frequently. It was only because of the concerted efforts of several people that they did not fall.
Lu Jinan's main injuries were on his back and shoulders, and the injuries were relatively minor. Every time he landed, he would help Chang Le to move upward. After Chang Le moved upward, he would use vines to help him save energy.
Shen Xiu was still in the front. After passing a steep mountain road, Gu Yujing held his shoulder and said, "Take a break first. You have reached your limit."
Shen Xiu's legs were so heavy that he couldn't lift them. He didn't try to be brave. Instead, they gathered together on a slightly flat ground to take a short rest.
"I'll be in the front later." Hua An Ning looked at Gu Yujing again, "You stay behind and look after me. My wind is more sensitive, so I'm more suitable to be in the front."
"Chang Le goes to the middle, Shen Xiu and I will cover the rear." Lu Jinan also made some adjustments.
After a short rest, they set out again.
Countdown 7 hours.
"Master Li, they have arrived at the Yunhai Stele, which is 1511 meters above sea level. The current temperature is minus 6 degrees Celsius."
Countdown 5 hours.
"We are passing the snow-topped stone monument at an altitude of 2500 meters. We have entered the snow-covered height, the wind speed is level 8, and the temperature is minus 12 degrees Celsius."
Near the Snow-top Stele.
The five people huddled together, wrapped themselves in two sets of clothes, and took temporary shelter behind the stone tablet.
"No, no, I can't... just go away..." Chang Le's teeth were trembling, and he had to be careful not to bite his tongue when he spoke.
Hua Anning's face turned blue from the cold, and she gritted her teeth and said, "I don't need points."
Gu Yujing's face changed.
Lu Jinan immediately understood what she meant and said, "I want to send Chang Le upstairs."
Hua An Ning held Gu Yujing down and said, "If you need it, I'll give it to you. Just listen to me."
Then she looked at Shen Xiu again: "Brother Shen, do you acknowledge the favor today?"
Shen Xiu said helplessly: "Admit it!" In his current state, it was impossible for him to climb up by himself.
Hua Anning and Lu Jinan looked at each other.
"I'll lead the way."
"I'll cut it off."
The five people set out again.
Countdown 3 hours.
Height 3107 meters.
The five people who climbed up the steep mountain wall encountered a strange type of snow and ice flowers.
A vine-like species that only grows on snowy mountains and feeds on the energy of living things.
Hua Anning took a step forward: "You go."
"No." Gu Yujing said immediately.
"I'll hold you back for a while. I'll call for help once you're far away."
Hua An Ning raised her cold and trembling hand and gently stroked Gu Yujing's cheek. He lowered his head obediently. Hua An Ning lowered her frosted eyelashes and kissed him on the lips: "Listen to me."
Lu Jinan decisively pulled Gu Yujing away.
The dense snow flowers were startled by Hua An Ning's breath and crawled out from the snow. The light-colored vines surrounded Hua An Ning like they were hunting prey.
Hua An Ning sneered, and made a desperate attempt to activate the last bit of supernatural power in his body.
The dark red, hideous thorns were scorching hot, spreading around her like the claws of an evil spirit, tearing apart any snow and ice flowers that approached her.
"I am not just the wind."
Hua An Ning clenched his right hand, and the blood thorns rushed out fiercely.
This is the supernatural power inherited by the Hua family. It is a plant-related ability but a strong combat ability - [Blood Thorns].
Among the younger generation of the Hua family, only Hua An Ning perfectly inherited the [Blood Thorn] ability.
As a gifted genius, Hua An Ning also has the ability to awaken another supernatural power, a full wind-related supernatural power - [Control the Wind].
The thorns on the cliff are as red as blood, the wind is cold and biting, Hua An Ning stands alone in the middle, directing the killing.
Just as the prophecy says – “Born like the wind in the wild”, she was born to be a wild and fierce wind;
Just like she said, "I know this is a cage, but I am not a trapped animal." She cannot be trapped, she belongs to herself.
Countdown 1 hours.
The altitude is 3512 meters, and there are only 60 meters left to the Golden Summit.
The four of them were stuck on the slippery and steep mountain wall.
Gu Yujing and Shen Xiu supported each other. Their fingers, which were clasped in the snow, were already bloody and they were unable to move upwards.
Chang Le was almost lying on the cliff. The blood from her wounds was torn and flowing but then frozen. She was already numb from the pain. A thin red mist had already covered her eyes, and the scarlet in her eyes was almost overflowing.
Lu Jinan was behind her, and the internal injuries caused by Mira in his chest made it difficult for him to breathe.
Six o'clock in the morning arrived.
The winter dawn came slowly, shining obliquely on the gilded snow-capped peaks and falling on the people whose consciousness had already blurred. It was like a ray of holy light of salvation, giving the four people the last glimmer of hope.
Lu Jinan looked at the golden roof terrace whose outline could already be seen clearly, and a smile broke out on his frozen face. He suddenly said, "Le Le."
Chang Le was too weak to look back and responded softly.
Lu Jinan gripped the vines around his waist and said, "Wait, devour me."
Chang Le's body trembled. Lu Jinan reached out and held her lower back with one hand, while gently stroking the snow beneath her with the other hand: "I will send you off for the last time, three of you."
Energy spread from his palm, and the soft and slippery snow instantly hardened. Chang Le only felt a push from behind: "Le Le, hurry up!"
Chang Le gritted her teeth and started swallowing almost instinctively. The tiny energy from Lu Jinan flowed into her body. She took a deep breath, held the breath, and rushed upwards.
Shen Xiu and Gu Yujing tacitly activated their special powers at the same time. Shen Xiu strengthened his hands and embedded them into the mountain wall to leverage the force and push Chang Le up. Gu Yujing held the vines and let them devour Chang Le.
Chang Le held on with all his strength, tensed his back and waist, contracted and stretched them, and suddenly bounced upward. The vines shot out and nailed firmly into the mountain wall, quickly pulling the three people up.
A few minutes later, the blood-red palm and the vines were firmly nailed into the edge of the Star-Picking Pavilion on the Golden Summit Terrace. Then, the three of them struggled to climb up.
Chang Le collapsed to the ground, and Shen Xiu knelt on the ground and couldn't get up.
Gu Yujing struggled to hold on to the wall, walked around the Zhaixing Pavilion, and left a bloody palm print at the highest point of the Golden Roof Terrace behind the pavilion, then fell to the ground with a plop.
The warm sun shines on the top of the mountain, heralding a new life after the end.