Since they had decided to proceed on foot, the group moved with extreme speed. They could discuss Mao Yan and Pi Yan's situation as they went.
Ronan's group immediately abandoned the two Off-Road Vehicles. Fris, Zhao Xi, and Liu Fengming suited up, while the others traveled light and stepped directly onto the soft, muddy slope.
They did not bother with any fancy formation. Naturally, the heavy Deep Blue Walker Exoskeleton Armor had to bring up the rear. Powered by their strong engines, the three suits moved across the soft slope as smoothly as if skiing, but they also churned up waves of dirt and mud, triggering further collapses behind them.
The people walking in front were unaffected. Wen Huilan still held an umbrella over Ronan as they walked together, with the "high-paid bodyguard" at her rear flank. Long Qi was a little farther back, staring blankly at their backs, while Mountain Lord walked alone.
They walked as they always did. The muddy, unstable, steep slope might as well have been level ground beneath their feet.
Among the group, Fris paid particular attention to Lao Yao's condition.
Lao Yao walked with Long Qi and was arguably having the hardest time in the middle of the group. That was normal enough. Long Qi stayed so close because he wanted to be ready to pull him up at any moment.
Yet, to many people's surprise, although Lao Yao's steps were sluggish and uneven, he never truly slipped or sank into the mud, no matter how unstable the slope became.
It was as though the ground beneath him always provided a resilient support, neutralizing any misplaced force and restoring his balance.
For the moment, Fris did not know whether Lao Yao was actively using the ability he had just acquired or whether some external