While climbing teams from different factions fought their way through separate regions of Buzhou Mountain—struggling for survival and for rare opportunities—tens of thousands of people remained gathered below.
At the mountain’s base, the once-crowded city had become eerily empty, surrounded by sprawling temporary camps.
There were still a few civilians who hadn’t been fully evacuated.
There were logistical crews and leftover supplies from the major forces.
There were independent cultivators and martial artists who had rushed in after hearing the rumors, hesitant to act and choosing instead to watch.
And there were key figures like Grace and Dustin, overseeing command from the rear—or quietly observing.
No one expected that Mount Buzhou, silent for three thousand years, would test more than just those who dared to climb it.