They looked up and saw a wide rock protruding from the platform on the cliff.
The platform was shrouded by thick clouds, making it almost invisible to the naked eyes.
However, if people looked close enough they could vaguely see a snow-white light rising up to the sky. It emitted a powerful life aura that could be sensed even from a distance.
"The Reincarnate Lotus is on that platform,"
the monk said to Austin.
There was a stone ladder creating a stone road that was once built along the surface of the cliff.
"We can't fly to the platform. Our only option is to climb on the wall using the stone ladder. Let's go!"
The monk started moving as he stepped gingerly on the stone ladder and climbed along the stone road.
Austin and Brady followed his example and climbed the stone ladder.
While walking on the stone road, Austin realized that there were some mysterious energy waves flowing around. It created some pressure that felt almost as deep as the sea.
"Damn it! The cliff seems to be bleeding!"
Austin suddenly discovered something and cursed under his breath.
"Something wants to provoke us. Be careful,"
the monk who was leading the way, said in a deep voice. He seemed upset and flames of fury were burning in his eyes.
He still looked grave and solemn.
As if right on cue, blood started gushing from all parts of the black cliff. It was flowing down along the surface of the cliff like a river. It was a heinous sight.
Moments later, a large stretch of the cliff was tainted and soaked by the blood.
Two hours later, the three of them had climbed and covered at least half of the distance while trudging along the zigzagging terrain up the cliff. However, a black mist like fog rose and covered the cliff. It swirled around them making everything look very dim.
"They're going to attack us. Damn it!"
A sense of foreboding overwhelmed Austin.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, the monk who was walking ahead stopped.
They could make out the silhouette of several figures that appeared in the thick mist on the stone road in front of them.
The monk had already stopped, ready to confront those strange figures. Although he didn't make any move, he had a solemn expression on his face as if he was trying to warn them off.
Austin and Brady could vaguely tell through the thick fog that they were some people wearing ancient costumes. They looked as if they had come from the ancient times.
Upon further investigation, they all looked very old and lifeless. However, their aura was intimidating and depressing. Austin had an instinct that they should not be underestimated.
The monk stared at them intensely. The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife although both sides were stationery.
"I don't want to hurt you. Please get out of my way,"
the monk said. Although he came off as polite, his voice was still low but firm.
Of course, the monk didn't open his mouth to speak. Instead, he communicated with the figures through his mind. His mind would transform and form a sound the same way human beings talk. However, this sound was more effective as compared to normal human communication.
The monk kept silent, and so did the other figures hiding in the thick mist.
Austin and Brady knew that they might be negotiating with each other although they could not hear them speak.
After a long while, the monk frowned and waved his sleeve. Then a dozen herbs flew out and landed in front of those strange figures.
These herbs were all black and emitted a sharp sense of death. They were only effective when used on zombies or other dead creatures.
"Let's go. Don't look back at them. Don't even try to sense their aura. Just follow me!"
said the monk. He walked again towards the cliff, bypassing the lifeless figures.
Both Austin and Brady dared not make a noise. They carefully kept their distance from the figures and followed the monk as closely as possible. Following the monk's order, they didn't look back.
However, they still felt some mysterious kind of cold air blowing on their backs. They sensed that the dead-looking figures in the thick mist were looking at them coldly and threateningly. The ancient costume made them look mysterious and unpredictable.
Only after they had created some significant distance between them and the strange creatures did the tension reduce a little.
"Who are they?"
Austin asked in a low voice.
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