Chapter 2288: You Want to Join Me?

Everyone present was a Dao Fuser, and those at the peak of Dao Fusing were undoubtedly the strongest individuals there.

This particular cultivator also performed remarkably well; simply daring to stand so close to Qi was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person. He clearly knew certain things and was sure that Qi would not trouble him, which gave him the courage to act as he did. With such courage, audacity, and cultivation, he immediately attracted many responses.

The first cultivator to step forward was a man, and naturally, the responders were women. Over a dozen women instantly rushed forward.

The cultivator observed for a moment, then selected a few women to remain; each was beautiful as a flower and possessed an outstanding physique. The unselected women reluctantly withdrew. Among them, some wore expressions of unwillingness, others resentment, and still others, indifference. Not being chosen meant that any future encounter would be as enemies, for in this contest among tens of thousands of cultivators, only two individuals would ultimately survive.

The cultivator then turned to Qi, cupping his fists and asking, "Revered Saint, is it permissible for more than two to form a team?" This was because one of the two rules Qi had just announced required men and women to form pairs, which implied a one-on-one partnership. However, the several women the cultivator had kept all met his requirements, making it difficult for him to choose.

Qi remained silent; when she wasn't speaking, she was indistinguishable from a living corpse. The cultivator, realizing he couldn't circumvent the rules, reluctantly turned to the remaining women and said, "Fellow Daoists, please step forward and demonstrate your abilities." He undoubtedly intended to test them and partner with the strongest one.

Immediately, a woman swept forward and launched a palm strike at him, which he parried with a raised hand. After the other women had each demonstrated their skills, the cultivator finally chose one. Almost immediately upon his selection, a layer of brilliant light appeared on both their bodies. It didn't appear particularly special, and onlookers couldn't discern the purpose of this radiant light. However, the two individuals seemed to understand, and together they flew off the platform, vanishing into the boundless chaos.

It was only after they departed that the cultivators remaining on the platform realized that the layer of radiant light appearing upon successful pairing was, without a doubt, a form of protection. Without it, one could not leave the white jade platform.

In an instant, the entire platform buzzed with activity. Qi had given them limited time—only one hour. To find a suitable partner among tens of thousands of cultivators within that hour would undoubtedly require some luck, but most importantly, it demanded swift action. Those with higher cultivation levels undoubtedly held a significant advantage under these rules, for who wouldn't wish to align themselves with the strong? And the strong, naturally, also sought to partner with other strong individuals, rather than being encumbered by a liability. All the peak Dao Fusers stepped forward, causing many cultivators to flock towards them eagerly. In this environment, everyone was a stranger to one another, making it impossible to judge their character or virtues. Therefore, assuming suitable cultivation levels, choices could only be made based on personal preference.

Pairs of cultivators successfully formed partnerships and departed the white jade platform.

Lu Ye remained seated, scratching his head in thought. In such a situation, cultivation was the primary currency for finding a partner, but as an Incipient Dao realm cultivator, what could he possibly say to others? It would be pointless to even speak, as everyone would test each other before forming partnerships to ensure their stated cultivation levels were genuine. He did possess strength and the right to test others, but doing so would make some things difficult to explain. An Incipient Dao realm cultivator wielding such immense Dao power would immediately make him the focal point of all cultivators on the platform, which was precisely what he wished to avoid.

As time passed and cultivators continued to pair up and depart, Lu Ye realized he couldn't afford to wait any longer; he needed to take the initiative. While he sat there, not a single female cultivator proactively approached him. Moreover, he had another pressing concern: what would happen after they left the white jade platform?

According to Qi's previously announced rules, leaving this place would lead them into a star-fragment, where all cultivators would battle until only two remained. It seemed the space beyond the white jade platform was likely that star-fragment. In such circumstances, leaving as early as possible was undoubtedly preferable, as delaying might lead to encountering ambushes immediately upon departure.

With a decision made, he immediately stood up and walked forward. He soon found himself standing before a female cultivator. Frankly, he couldn't discern her race; she was quite short, only reaching his abdomen, yet she possessed an excellent figure. She was clearly also seeking a companion who met her requirements; several cultivators had already approached her, but none had evidently met her standards.

"Esteemed Fellow Daoist..." Lu Ye stepped forward and offered a salute.

The female cultivator looked up at Lu Ye, smiled faintly, and politely stated, "I apologize, I'm looking for a body cultivator. I... lack a sense of security." Body cultivators, being robust and strong, genuinely inspire a sense of security.

"No problem, my apologies for disturbing you."

"Esteemed Fellow Daoist..."

"Are you human?"

"Ah... yes... I am human!"

"I do not speak with humans. Begone."

What had humans ever done to her? Lu Ye secretly committed this female cultivator to memory, resolving to make her regret her words if they ever met again.

"Esteemed Fellow Daoist..."

"What is your cultivation level?"

"Dao Fusing Eighth Stage!" Lu Ye declared with a serious expression.

"Your cultivation is decent. Is this your Dao Weapon? May I see how well it has been nurtured?"

"I haven't had time to nurture it yet; I've spent these past years solely focused on my personal cultivation."

"You're at Dao Fusing Eighth Stage and haven't nurtured a Dao Weapon? Young man, your strength must be quite superficial then..."

Lu Ye never imagined that, despite claiming to be at Dao Fusing Eighth Stage, he would be tripped up by the matter of a Dao Weapon. This was something he hadn't considered, yet from the perspective of others, it was indeed a significant issue, as the enhancements provided by a Dao Weapon were not to be underestimated for cultivators at this level. At the same cultivation realm, a cultivator with a Dao Weapon would inevitably defeat one without during a battle.

After approaching several female cultivators without success, Lu Ye found himself feeling a mix of frustration and amusement.

As he turned, he suddenly spotted a female cultivator standing with her head bowed. Before her, a male cultivator was ranting, "You, a mere Dao Fusing Second Stage, want to partner with me? Go look in a mirror and see what you are! Get lost!" The female cultivator's face flushed crimson from the verbal assault. She looked up, glaring angrily at him, tears welling in her eyes as she retorted, "If we're not partnering, we're not! Why be so aggressive?"

The male cultivator gave a chilling smile. "I remember you. Once we leave this place, you'd better pray our paths don't cross, or you'll die a miserable death!" Panic instantly washed over the female cultivator's delicate face. She quickly scurried away, hiding herself nearby, clutching her chest and patting it with a look of profound relief and lingering fear.

Suddenly feeling an odd sensation, she turned her head and met Lu Ye's gaze, her face flushing crimson as she realized he had clearly witnessed her mortification. She quickly turned to leave, but after a few steps, she seemed to recall something, turning back with an expression of subtle determination and resolve. She approached Lu Ye and cautiously asked, "Are you looking for a companion?"

"Yes, I am," Lu Ye nodded.

The female cultivator could scarcely believe her ears; the surprise was too sudden. After a stunned moment, she hesitantly asked, "Are you truly sure?"

"Absolutely!"

The female cultivator was overjoyed. "That's wonderful! Thank you, Senior Brother!"

"Don't mention it," Lu Ye smiled, "I'm also someone no one wants."

The female cultivator blinked, instantly feeling a much stronger sense of camaraderie.

Lu Ye had never truly worried about finding a companion; with so many Dao Fusers present, some were bound to have lower cultivation levels, giving him many options. He simply wanted to leave this place sooner rather than later. Dao Fusing Second Stage was acceptable; at worst, it would just mean a little more effort on his part.

"Senior Brother, my name is Qingrou. What may I call you?" the female cultivator asked. True to her name, she was gentle and delicate, easily inspiring a desire to protect her.

"Lu Ye!"

Almost as soon as Lu Ye spoke, a layer of radiant light appeared on both their bodies. Both were delighted, knowing they could now depart. Unlike other cultivators' pairings, neither of them tested the other's strength. Qingrou likely reasoned that since she was at Dao Fusing Second Stage, Lu Ye's cultivation couldn't possibly be lower than hers, making a test unnecessary. Since she didn't bring it up, Lu Ye certainly wouldn't either.

"Let's go," Lu Ye said, leading the way.

With no specific direction, they arbitrarily chose one, leaped off the platform, and plunged into the boundless chaos, immediately feeling a wave of dizziness wash over them. When Lu Ye regained his senses, he immediately activated his Dao power to protect himself and cautiously surveyed his surroundings. He had initially assumed that the cultivators who left earlier would have set up ambushes, but upon seeing their surroundings clearly, he realized he had overthought the situation.

This was clearly not near the white jade platform; the surroundings were desolate, with remnants of a brutal battle visible everywhere. Combining this with his earlier sensations, Lu Ye vaguely understood that upon leaving the white jade platform, partnered individuals were randomly transported to various locations within the star-fragment. Therefore, those who left first had no way to set up ambushes. These shattered stars and floating landmasses were undoubtedly remnants of a destroyed starry sky. He didn't know which cosmic era this particular star-fragment belonged to, or why it had been chosen as the arena for the competition to become the Son of the Star Abyss. Was this the work of Qi, or the will of the Star Abyss? Lu Ye had no way of knowing.

However, he distinctly felt that this particular star-fragment differed somewhat from a normal Star Abyss: the Dao power here was exceptionally dense! Could this be the Inner Realm? He had never visited the Inner Realm himself, and based solely on the descriptions from You Die and others, he couldn't accurately assess the Dao power within it, thus preventing any comparison. Nevertheless, it was undeniable that such an environment was highly conducive to a cultivator's practice and recovery.

"Senior Brother Lu, let's find somewhere to hide for now," Qingrou's faint voice came from beside him. "The contest for the Son of the Star Abyss won't end quickly." Though framed as a question, her tone clearly held a plea. She was clearly very apprehensive about engaging in combat. This was understandable, as her cultivation was not high; if she encountered a powerful enemy, her outcome would not be favorable.