Chapter 2291 - 2289: Why Is Junior Sister Scheming Against Me?

Although Qing Rou's cultivation isn't high, it's perfectly normal for her to think about avoiding conflict. Even if she knows the odds of surviving here aren't great and she's likely to die, there's still a difference between dying sooner or later.

Lu Ye has other plans, but just arriving, it's indeed more prudent to be cautious, especially since Qing Rou inadvertently revealed some information in her words that caught his attention.

He immediately agreed: "Okay!"

The two of them searched nearby and found this dilapidated desolate planet, which was already only a small partial fragment. After some searching, they entered a huge cave to hide.

"Senior Brother Lu, you can rest while I set things up," Qing Rou said, busying herself on the side.

Lu Ye glanced at her and asked, "Does Junior Sister understand formations?"

Qing Rou clearly intended to set up some formations for concealment and protection, making it easier to hide. Even if discovered, they could use the power of the formations to fend off enemies.

Qing Rou smiled shyly and replied, "When I have free time, I study them. I know a bit."

Lu Ye nodded, not asking more about this matter, and instead said, "Junior Sister, do you know about this competition?"

The reason for asking is because Qing Rou had mentioned earlier that this competition wouldn't be over quickly; unless she had some understanding of the matter, she wouldn't have made such a judgment.

Qing Rou continued setting up the formation without stopping: "There are some records in the clan's texts about this matter; I've seen them before. I just never imagined I'd be chosen."

"If you don't mind, could you tell me about it?"

Lu Ye indeed wanted to learn more about this. He was brought here without much understanding. He estimated that out of the tens of thousands of cultivators on Baiyu Platform, at least ninety percent were as unprepared as he was; only a few truly understood the matter.

"Of course, there's nothing that can't be said."

Qing Rou began to slowly recount, while Lu Ye listened attentively.

The title of Star Abyss Heir has been passed down in Star Abyss for countless years, and it's not limited to a single cultivator. In Star Abyss, such competitions appear every few years, the timing unpredictable—sometimes thousand years apart, sometimes over ten thousand years, or even just hundreds.

But as Lu Ye had guessed, the selection of the Star Abyss Heir candidates is related to the Star Abyss Blessing.

The cultivators who came to Baiyu Platform had experiences similar to his own. The expected Star Abyss Blessing was absent, replaced by a teleportation beam gathering cultivators from all over Star Abyss to initiate the competition for the Star Abyss Heir.

This kind of competition is undoubtedly cruel, just like raising Gu insects. Tens of thousands of cultivators gather, and the ones surviving at the end, very few, are the Star Abyss Heirs.

Usually, each Star Abyss Heir competition results in only one heir, but this time, for some reason, there are two.

Upon becoming a Star Abyss Heir, the cultivator gains significant benefits. For starters, their cultivation speed in Star Abyss would greatly improve, facilitating their growth.

Moreover, they are more likely to receive Star Abyss Blessings, which enhance all aspects of their abilities.

Every generation's Star Abyss Heir eventually achieves great fame. After all, being one of the chosen few from thousands of cultivators speaks to their exceptional talent and intelligence. As long as cultivation resources are adequate, their achievements won't be lacking.

"Other than these, are there any other benefits to becoming a Star Abyss Heir?" Lu Ye asked while diligently cultivating, feeling the dense power of the path around him.

The benefits Qing Rou mentioned might be highly attractive to others, but to him... they aren't useful.

Improved cultivation efficiency doesn't matter; he currently has Banlan. As long as the Insect and Blood Races aren't eradicated, Dao Bone is something he has in unlimited supply, requiring no strenuous effort.

As for more readily receiving Star Abyss Blessings... he can obtain one every time he kills a Dao Fusion, so why would he need this benefit?

"There might be others, but I don't know them. The clan's texts don't have much information on this," Qing Rou's voice came from another direction.

"Who is that Qi?" Lu Ye asked, curious about this female cultivator's identity. It seems she is following the instructions of the Will of the Star Abyss. This female cultivator's cultivation realm is incredibly high, beyond his comprehension. But where did she come from?

In general, Dao Harmony cultivators can only be active in the inner world, and this Qi is stronger than Dao Harmony. Could she be another strong figure from the inner world?

"I don't know; I've never seen such records."

Well, asking was as good as not asking.

"Can one withdraw from this competition early, or must two winners be decided?"

"It seems possible, and it's not necessarily the strongest who laughs last. Many exotic treasures appear in the competition grounds. The rise of a Star Abyss Heir is also related to luck. If one obtains a powerful exotic treasure, they might have a chance to win against strong enemies. Among them, there's an exotic treasure that allows us to withdraw from here early."

Lu Ye hadn't known about this.

"Not just exotic treasure, there's affiliated treasure too!" Qing Rou said unexpectedly.

Affiliated treasure... Lu Ye was, of course, familiar with it.

When he first encountered the Enter the Path, Lu Ye thought affiliated treasures were of little use, providing only a small increase in power of the path.

But with increasing cultivation and a deeper understanding of Star Abyss, he realized the value of affiliated treasures.

Simply put, any affiliated treasure can be nurtured as a Dao soldier, and its growth potential exceeds that of any other Dao soldier.

Like cultivators, Dao soldiers have a limit. Once this limit is reached, no matter how much Dao force is invested, they cannot be further enhanced.

Generally, the limit for Dao soldiers in Dao Fusion is at the 49th Dao!

In other words, a Dao soldier nourished to the extreme can provide a cultivator with an enhancement of 49 powers, but this enhancement is not comprehensive; it depends on the type of Dao soldier. If it's an offensive type, it enhances the cultivator's lethality; if it's a defensive Dao soldier, it enhances the protective abilities.

To some extent, Dao soldiers are similar to Dao artifacts. Dao artifacts are rudimentary Dao soldiers, suitable only for Entering the Path usage.

Ninety-nine percent of cultivators have offensive Dao soldiers, so those at Peak Dao Fusion often face a common issue during combat—the offensive power of both sides is often stronger than each other's defenses; a single misstep could break the defense.

Such life-and-death battles emphasize combat experience and the ability to adapt in the moment.

Apart from these two types of Dao soldiers, there may be other strange Dao soldiers that can play roles in various fields.

But no matter which type, the limit is the enhancement of 49 powers.

However, affiliated treasure is different, its limit can surpass 49 powers.

Therefore, to any Dao Fusion cultivator, affiliated treasure is extremely precious. If one could obtain a suitable affiliated treasure and nourish it, the enhancement it brings could be far greater than that of typical Dao soldiers.

Lu Ye has more than one affiliated treasure in hand; for Dao force, he even had the Talent Tree devour a Dice of Fate... Thinking back now, he regrets it.

But speaking of it, even when nurturing the Dice of Fate as a Dao soldier, it wouldn't help in combat; one couldn't possibly toss a dice to test luck during a life-or-death battle.

In this stellar space fragment, there are affiliated treasures. Once they appear, they will inevitably cause cultivators to compete madly, along with various strange exotic treasures!

If that's the case, victory can't be determined solely by the strength of cultivation.

In the cave, the two exchanged questions and answers as time passed.

Lu Ye gradually gained more understanding of this encounter.

After almost half a day, Qing Rou finally finished her busy work, walked over to Lu Ye, sat down, wiped the sweat off her forehead, and said, "Exhausted!"

Her body was glistening with fragrant sweat, the slim clothes clung tightly to her delicate form, and a faint fragrance lingered around her, triggering imagination.

On her rosy cheeks, the skin was tender, and she gazed at Lu Ye: "Does Senior Brother have anything else to ask?"

Lu Ye's eyes were profound, and he smiled slightly: "Indeed, there is one thing."

Qing Rou's expression turned serious: "Senior Brother, please speak."

Lu Ye turned his head and looked around: "I understand the concealment and protection of the arrays you set up, but why did you arrange a trap array as well? And I perceive this array is fundamental; concealment and protection are mere disguises. Can you teach me, Junior Sister Qing Rou?"

"Oh dear." Qing Rou stuck out her little red tongue playfully at Lu Ye, "So Senior Brother is also skilled in formations, I'm truly embarrassed."

Lu Ye smiled without speaking.

Qing Rou toyed with a strand of hair in front of her chest with one finger, slightly lowering her head, looking a bit shy: "As for why I set up a trap array... It was certainly to trap Senior Brother here!" At the end, she lifted her head and smiled at Lu Ye, like a naughty child who succeeded in her mischief.

"I see now!" Lu Ye's expression showed sudden realization, "Junior Sister is truly cunning! I was wondering why anyone would seek me out to form a team. Clearly, Junior Sister had her eyes on me long ago, and those previous actions were mere disguise, weren't they?"

Qing Rou seemed slightly proud: "Did Senior Brother notice any flaws?"

Lu Ye smiled wryly: "Not at all!"

Because Qing Rou's initial performance was too perfect and natural, not only did he see no issues at first, but even when Qing Rou was setting up the array.

This female cultivator's proficiency in the Array Path far exceeded him, and it wasn't until the big array was complete that Lu Ye suddenly realized.

Mainly because he didn't have much suspicion of Qing Rou, and this female cultivator kept telling him about the Star Abyss Heir competition, which he listened to intently.

"I don't understand." Lu Ye looked at Qing Rou, "You and I have no grievances, Junior Sister, why do you scheme against me?"

She targeted him deliberately! Of this, Lu Ye was certain.

But why?

"Because I'm also quite confused." Qing Rou tilted her head, showing an innocent look.

"What is it that Junior Sister finds confusing?"

Qing Rou scrutinized Lu Ye from head to toe, as if trying to peer into his soul, her brows furrowing: "Senior Brother may not know; I was born with an Innate Divine Ability, useless for combat, but it allows me to glimpse others' Cultivation Realm, so I can't understand, among those 53,200 people, everyone is Dao Fusion, why is it that only you... are Entering the Path?"

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As usual, seeking a guaranteed monthly vote