Chapter 2301: Trap

Novels: ....................

Every primordial starry sky possesses numerous celestial wonders, and in no small quantity. These wonders are typically born alongside the starry sky itself, making them the most ancient objects within it. Even as eras change and time passes, they retain their original appearance and environment.

Within them lie many incredible phenomena. The earliest Dao patterns were comprehended by cultivators from various celestial wonders, enabling cultivators to advance to the Fusion Dao realm.

Since the Battlefield of Strife is a fragment of a starry sky, it's not surprising that it contains celestial wonders.

Lu Ye's own home starry sky had many celestial wonders. Before he advanced to the Moon Splendor realm, he had visited the Yin-Yang Grand Millstone to temper his body. At the time, his cultivation was too low; he only knew that the wonder contained Yin-Yang energy that could refine oneself. But looking back now, the Yin-Yang Grand Millstone indeed held incredible mysteries.

If he were to revisit the Yin-Yang Grand Millstone now to seek enlightenment, he might gain some insights.

Conversely, Lu Ye hadn't seen any celestial wonders in the Variegated realm.

This might be related to Variegated being a Dao weapon. That old monster, Nine Infant, cultivated a primordial starry sky into his personal Dao weapon, and its wonders were likely destroyed long ago, which is why none remain.

This was the first celestial wonder Lu Ye had encountered since leaving his home starry sky.

Curious, he wondered if he could comprehend any marvelous Dao patterns if he were to enter.

With that thought, Lu Ye's figure flickered as he darted towards the Cloud Ladder wonder.

He quickly approached and plunged into it.

The next moment, Lu Ye felt something was amiss, because upon entering the wonder, he experienced a sensation of teleportation!

When he regained his senses, his expression was grim, and his Dao power surged subtly!

This was because over a dozen pairs of eyes from all directions were focused on him, a situation completely beyond Lu Ye's expectations. Moreover, his current location was not a wonder at all, but a floating landmass surrounded by a familiar chaotic mist, with floating stairs extending upwards beside him.

What was going on?

Lu Ye was puzzled. Why were there so many people here?

No, not people, but cultivators from various races in the Fusion Dao realm!

Even more surprising to Lu Ye was that these Fusion Dao cultivators looked at him without hostility, but rather with joy and excitement, as if Lu Ye were their savior!

"Finally, another fellow cultivator has entered!" a voice rang out.

Lu Ye looked towards the sound and saw a handsome man step out from among the many Fusion Dao cultivators.

Lu Ye found the man somewhat familiar.

He suddenly remembered: wasn't this the first person to step forward on the white jade platform after Qi announced the two rules?

This person was at the peak of the Fusion Dao realm, and the companion he chose at the time was also a peak Fusion Dao cultivator.

Lu Ye's gaze shifted, and sure enough, he saw his companion in the crowd: a human woman with a cold expression, like an eternally unmelting iceberg.

"No need to be nervous, fellow cultivator. We mean you no harm," the man said, sensing Lu Ye's wariness.

The others also appeared very friendly.

Lu Ye became even more confused. In a competition like this, everyone gathered here, not only avoiding combat but even coexisting peacefully? This was somewhat illogical.

Normally, with so many Fusion Dao cultivators assembled, they would have been fighting fiercely, to the death.

Something abnormal suggested foul play.

Lu Ye remained secretly vigilant.

"How may I address you, fellow cultivator? I am Ning Gu of the Scarlet Clan," the peak Fusion Dao cultivator said, bowing politely.

Lu Ye looked him up and down, slightly frowning. "Aren't you human?"

He had never heard of a "Scarlet Clan," but Ning Gu appeared entirely human, without any features of other races.

Ning Gu smiled faintly. "You might not know, fellow cultivator, but our Scarlet Clan indeed originated from the human race. On the surface, the Scarlet Clan is indistinguishable from humans, but in reality, we are not the same race."

Lu Ye blinked, too lazy to dwell on the matter, and simply asked, "What's going on here?"

He was more curious as to why everyone was looking at him with such eager, fervent gazes, like he was a savior.

Ning Gu sighed. "I was just about to explain. Before you entered, fellow cultivator, you must have also mistakenly thought that Cloud Ladder was a celestial wonder, right?"

Lu Ye nodded.

"This is actually a trap!" Ning Gu's expression darkened. "We were all deceived. We thought it was a celestial wonder, but after entering, we found ourselves here."

Lu Ye's heart sank. "There's no way to leave?"

He didn't know how long these Fusion Dao cultivators had been trapped, but since they were all still here, it meant they couldn't leave.

If they remained trapped indefinitely, that would be a huge problem.

"There is!" Ning Gu raised a hand and pointed. "Look over there, fellow cultivator."

Lu Ye followed his gaze and saw a faint, hazy light at the very top of the stairs, vaguely revealing something resembling a token within the glow.

"A rare treasure?" Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

He had been navigating this starry sky fragment for a long time and had only obtained the Dao Power Bottle. However, he had witnessed the emergence of rare treasures not just once, but twice. Unfortunately, apart from the Dao Power Bottle incident, the second time he rushed to the scene, the newly appeared treasure had already been claimed.

He didn't even know what that rare treasure was.

"It is indeed a rare treasure, but please look behind it, fellow cultivator."

Only then did Lu Ye notice that behind the rare treasure, there was something resembling a door.

"Is that the exit?" Lu Ye asked.

"We speculate so. This trap can't be impossible to break. So, if we can push open that door, we should be able to leave."

"What difficulties have you encountered?" Lu Ye asked.

It was clearly abnormal for these people to gather here without attempting to seize the rare treasure or open the door. Furthermore, they seemed to eagerly anticipate his arrival. Lu Ye didn't think he could meet their expectations; besides, Ning Gu, being at the peak of the Fusion Dao realm, was certainly no weaker than himself, and he also had a companion who was similarly at the peak.

"You're a perceptive person, fellow cultivator." Ning Gu preferred conversing with intelligent people like Lu Ye, finding it less tiring. "However, before explaining the situation, I'd like to ask, what is your cultivation level?"

Lu Ye paused, then straightened his back. "Fusion Dao, Ninth Stage!"

As he spoke with Ning Gu, he was also secretly observing the others. Although there was no actual combat, he could vaguely discern that among the Fusion Dao cultivators present, only Ning Gu and his companion were at the peak of the Fusion Dao realm.

In such an environment, Lu Ye naturally couldn't afford to appear weak, lest he provoke unwarranted intentions from others.

Especially since everyone else was in pairs, while he was alone!

Fusion Dao, Ninth Stage, was a very suitable cultivation level; it wouldn't make Ning Gu wary, nor would it allow others to underestimate him.

"Excellent!" Ning Gu exclaimed, overjoyed by the news.

The other Fusion Dao cultivators also showed expressions of delight.

Lu Ye felt something was off!

Only then did he notice traces of blood on the ascending stairs. In other words, people had died here, and not just one.

Beneath the seemingly harmonious coexistence of these Fusion Dao cultivators, there must be hidden facts that he was unaware of.

Ning Gu continued, "Fellow cultivator, observe these stairs. There are thirteen levels in total. However, these stairs cannot be ascended arbitrarily. To step onto a higher stair, someone must be standing on the preceding one; otherwise, it's impossible to ascend."

Lu Ye thought for a moment and understood his meaning. "Does that mean only when someone is standing on the first stair can the second stair be trod upon?"

Ning Gu nodded. "Precisely!"

Lu Ye turned his head and counted. Including himself, there were exactly thirteen cultivators here!

He finally understood why these people were so delighted to see him: because the twelve of them could only occupy twelve stairs, making it impossible to reach the very top and open the door.

His arrival completed the necessary number.

But if that was the case, why had people died before?

Could it be that a conflict occurred, resulting in deaths, without everyone's knowledge?

As for why this trap required such a method to break it, Lu Ye had no way of knowing. It might be a trial imposed by the will of the Star Abyss on cultivators who entered, or perhaps just a rule inherent to the celestial wonder itself!

"What about the rare treasure?" Lu Ye asked.

Ning Gu replied, "We've discussed this before. There's only one rare treasure, so it will come down to individual luck."

"Please explain further."

"A lottery!" Ning Gu stated concisely. "However, this lottery isn't for ownership of the rare treasure, but for each fellow cultivator's position!"

With thirteen stairs and thirteen cultivators, whoever drew the highest position would naturally claim the rare treasure.

There was no need to worry about cheating, as before the draw, one could swear an oath in the name of the Star Abyss's will. This would prevent the organizer from cheating, making it relatively fair and just.

"However, there's another issue I need to inform you about," Ning Gu continued. "These stairs aren't for just anyone to stand on. The lower the stair, the longer one stays, the greater the pressure endured. As you've seen, fellow cultivator, people have died here because their cultivation wasn't sufficient to withstand the escalating pressure, causing them to explode. The bottom two stairs, especially, bear immense pressure, which is why I asked about your cultivation level earlier. Your Ninth Stage Fusion Dao cultivation is sufficient to withstand the pressure on the bottom two stairs."

Lu Ye's face immediately darkened. "Ning Gu, that's not right. You just said we'd draw lots, so why are you now deciding that I'll stay on the bottom two stairs?"

He felt a pang of regret; if he had known, he wouldn't have declared his Ninth Stage Fusion Dao cultivation...

But even so, it would have been useless. Even if he had concealed it, Ning Gu would surely have found a way to test him. Now that he had declared his Ninth Stage Fusion Dao cultivation, meeting the requirement, Ning Gu naturally had no need to test anything.

But how could he agree to such a thing?

He wanted the rare treasure too. Why should he stay on the bottom two stairs and just watch others claim it?

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