Chapter 2305: Joint Effort

This, of course, was not true, but it was the only way Lu Ye could avoid revealing certain things and offer fewer explanations.

Ning Gu's eyelids twitched as he looked at Lu Ye.

If he had known earlier that it was such a unique treasure, why would he have bothered to fight for it? Anyone who acquired that treasure would have to use it here.

As a result, not only did he fail to acquire the treasure, but he also lost a clone – a truly devastating loss.

Junior Sister Shuang's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, we can indeed form an array! Are you thinking of a Three Talents Array?"

"It's the only option for the three of us."

Junior Sister Shuang asked, "With the aid of the treasure, could we form a more complex array? That might be more secure."

Lu Ye sighed. "I considered that, but look at the size of these steps. Accommodating the three of us is already pushing the limits; there's no room for anyone else."

If it were possible, Lu Ye would have indeed preferred to bring in more cultivators to form a Black Tortoise Array, which would undoubtedly withstand the pressure on the twentieth step.

However, that's unrealistic. The steps aren't wide enough to allow so many cultivators to move together.

The Three Talents Array is the simplest, and while it offers significantly less protection than the Black Tortoise Array, Lu Ye believed it would be sufficient.

After all, he had reached the eighteenth step on his own. With Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang assisting him, leaving this place shouldn't be a major issue.

This was also why he approached the two of them; their cultivation was the highest, and they could offer the most assistance.

Ning Gu's expression was complex; he had never imagined the situation would unfold this way.

Lu Ye's voice rang out again. "However, before we proceed, I require both of you to swear an oath in the name of the Star Abyss's Will! Until we leave this place, you will not harbor any ill intent or act against me in any way. Of course, for fairness, I will make the same oath with you!"

Junior Sister Shuang and Ning Gu exchanged glances, then both nodded. "No problem!"

The three of them then proceeded to make their vows.

"Fellow Daoists, what are you discussing?" a Fusion Dao cultivator in the crowd suddenly inquired.

The others also turned their attention to them.

The spiritual communication between Lu Ye and the two others could not be concealed from the rest, making the remaining Fusion Dao cultivators uneasy. It was clearly abnormal for the three strongest individuals present to be conversing so discreetly.

Everyone was trapped here; they should have spoken openly instead of communicating secretly. This undoubtedly gave the impression that Lu Ye and his companions were plotting something in secret.

"Do you want to know?" Ning Gu asked, looking indifferently at the questioner. "Come closer, and I'll tell you!"

The person didn't dare to move rashly; Ning Gu's tone made him feel uneasy.

However, before he could fully comprehend the situation, Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang launched themselves at the other Fusion Dao cultivators. At the same moment, Ning Gu's voice reached Lu Ye's ears: "Kill them all!"

Lu Ye sighed, slowly rose, and also descended towards them.

While they had cooperated reasonably well in the first trap, and even worked together to some extent, everyone understood that those who weren't companions were enemies.

Lu Ye, Ning Gu, and Junior Sister Shuang intended to form an array to leave, and there was no guarantee the remaining cultivators wouldn't try to obstruct them.

This was highly probable.

Everyone had been in despair, but if Lu Ye and his companions found hope and abandoned the others, the remaining Fusion Dao cultivators would not stand for it.

In such a desperate situation, nothing was worse than seeing others seize hope. Some issues weren't about scarcity but inequity. Since they couldn't advance together, the only option was to strike first.

There were twelve Fusion Dao cultivators present. Aside from Lu Ye, Ning Gu, and Junior Sister Shuang, the strongest among them was only at the Seventh Stage of Fusion Dao. Though numerous, they couldn't withstand the combined assault of the three.

A fierce battle ensued, leaving blood everywhere. Corpses lay strewn about but quickly vanished, leaving only Star Abyss Coins behind.

Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang couldn't help but cast sidelong glances!

This was mainly because Lu Ye had consecutively received three Star Abyss Blessings.

He had only killed three Fusion Dao cultivators, yet he received three Star Abyss Blessings. This was an unprecedented and astonishing situation!

It was said that becoming a Son of Star Abyss significantly increased the chance of receiving Star Abyss Blessings, but not to this extent.

Could he already be a Son of Star Abyss?

If so, what exactly were they doing?

"My luck has always been good," Lu Ye casually explained under the gazes of Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang. Whether they believed him was beyond his control.

"Do you need to rest?" Lu Ye asked.

Having sworn their oaths, their interactions became much more relaxed, though this ease was only temporary, lasting until they left the area.

Both Lu Ye and Ning Gu knew that the animosity over the destroyed clone couldn't be easily resolved. Therefore, after leaving this place, they would still have to face each other in a confrontation.

"No need, let's begin!" Ning Gu replied proudly.

Junior Sister Shuang also nodded.

Lu Ye immediately activated the "Same Qi, Linked Branches" Dao pattern on his body, stating, "I've unleashed the power of the unique treasure. You two simply need to connect your spiritual energy to my body!"

Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang followed his instructions. The next moment, both showed delight, realizing that, just as Lu Ye had said, their spiritual energies easily connected with his.

This meant they could genuinely form an array!

The Three Talents Array is the simplest formation; three cultivators who have spent a long time together and developed tacit understanding usually have a good chance of forming it. However, using it in combat carries considerable risk if the array isn't stable enough, which is why many cultivators, even those capable of forming arrays, are hesitant to use them haphazardly in battle.

This time, the situation was different. It wasn't a battle; they only needed to withstand the pressure on the steps, so there were fewer concerns.

Once the array was formed, the three familiarized themselves with it. After ensuring there were no issues, Lu Ye took the lead.

Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang, of course, discerned his self-interest, but under the circumstances, they were powerless to object. The unique treasure was with Lu Ye, so it was only natural for him to direct the array.

The three ascended the steps one by one, with Lu Ye consistently one step ahead of Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang.

Initially, there was no pressure.

It wasn't until they reached the fourteenth step that Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang's expressions grew solemn. They had previously stopped here, and while they had managed to retain some strength, the fifteenth step was their absolute limit.

Lu Ye took a step, ascending to the sixteenth step, while Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang followed closely, reaching the fifteenth.

Both raised their eyebrows; there was pressure, but it didn't seem overwhelming, filling them with joy.

They continued upward.

Seventeen, eighteen...

Lu Ye's face suddenly paled only when they reached the nineteenth step.

Earlier, the eighteenth step had been his limit, where he couldn't remain. But now, at the nineteenth step, he still hadn't reached his breaking point, with only one more level to climb!

Lu Ye briefly sensed the conditions of Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang. Although they were one step behind him, they appeared to be under greater pressure, their bodies swaying precariously.

In this situation, Lu Ye had no choice but to press forward with all his might. If Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang faltered, he would also be in serious trouble.

He abruptly lifted his foot, an incredibly arduous process that caused his flesh to writhe violently and a grinding sound to emanate from his bones.

Yet, none of them dislocated or fractured.

After his Dao bones had been refined to grand perfection, all of them were tightly interconnected, forming a single, seamless entity. This granted him a greater resistance to pressure than others.

Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang, conversely, had countless bones fractured within their bodies, and blood streamed from their seven orifices, making them appear utterly miserable.

The twentieth step.

The portal lay directly ahead!

However, upon stepping onto the highest step, the pressure on them suddenly and drastically intensified.

The array they had been maintaining abruptly became unstable.

Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang were shocked. If the array shattered now, they would surely perish.

And under such immense pressure, even Lu Ye would suffer a grim fate.

The three dared not move, frantically channeling their Dao power to maintain the array's stability.

The terrifying moment lasted only an instant. Fortunately, after a breath, the disrupted array stabilized once more.

Lu Ye didn't even have the strength to speak, merely intensely gesturing with his eyes towards Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang.

As he took another step forward, Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang finally reached the highest point!

The condition of the two worsened, and Lu Ye's heart pounded in his throat. He was ready to dash towards the portal at any moment; if Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang couldn't hold on, he would have to make a desperate dash, his survival left to fate.

Blood seeped from the corners of their mouths. Ning Gu, with immense difficulty, looked up at Lu Ye, his spiritual sense surging. "Charge!"

Without hesitation, Lu Ye immediately dashed towards the portal.

Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang followed closely behind.

The three figures vanished one after another.

The moment he burst through the portal, Lu Ye spat out a mouthful of blood and fled into the distance without a backward glance.

Soon, he sensed the auras of Ning Gu and Junior Sister Shuang; they were fleeing together in the opposite direction from his own escape.

Their intentions were mutual: no one wanted to engage in conflict at that moment.

Although Lu Ye was alone and they were a pair, their injuries were far more severe than his. After all, the instant Lu Ye broke free from the trap, they had endured immense, terrifying pressure.

This separation, therefore, was a tacit understanding between them.

As he fled, Lu Ye examined his own body, a bitter smile on his face.

This time, everything inside him was in disarray except for his Dao bones, which remained unscathed. His internal organs, in particular, were almost completely shattered.

He would need significant time to recover again.

Annoyingly, even now, he remained unsure whether the two traps were man-made or naturally formed. The presence of a unique treasure in the first trap suggested artificial creation, yet being within a celestial wonder also implied a natural origin.

He simply couldn't figure it out.

However, he had certainly offended Ning Gu this time. If they met again in the future, that individual would undoubtedly not let it go.

The loss of a clone was significant in any circumstance, but given Ning Gu's now diminished strength, it would severely impact his future pursuit of the Son of Star Abyss title.

This enmity was now profound.

He would need to find a companion.

While others traveled in pairs, and acting alone offered convenience, the rules of contention remained. He couldn't bypass them. In such circumstances, it was clearly better to find a companion sooner rather than later.