Chapter 2303 - 2301: Trap

In every Primordial Star Sky there are stellar space marvels, and not in small number. These marvels are basically born together with the stellar space itself; they are the oldest things in the stellar space, and even as ages change and time flows on, they still maintain their original appearance and environment.

There are many inconceivable things within them. The earliest Dao Runes were comprehended by cultivators from different stellar space marvels; only thus can cultivators advance into Dao Fusion.

Since the Contention Ground is a stellar space fragment, having stellar space marvels is nothing strange.

The stellar space Lu Ye himself hails from has quite a few stellar space marvels. Back then, before he advanced to Moon Jade, he even went into that Yin-Yang Great Millstone to temper his flesh. At the time his cultivation was too low and he only knew that within that marvel there was Yin-Yang force that could grind his body, but thinking back now, that Yin-Yang Great Millstone truly contained unfathomable profundities.

If he were to go to the Yin-Yang Great Millstone now to comprehend it again, perhaps he might gain some harvest.

In Banlan, however, Lu Ye never saw any stellar space marvel.

This might be related to Banlan being a Dao soldier. That old monster Jiu Ying raised the Primordial Star Sky into his own Dao soldier; the marvels within have likely long since been destroyed, so none remain.

This is the first stellar space marvel Lu Ye has seen since leaving his home planet.

For a moment he was curious: if he were to enter himself, could he comprehend some wondrous Dao Runes?

With such thoughts, Lu Ye's figure flickered as he swept toward that Cloud Ladder Marvel.

He quickly approached and crashed straight into it.

In the next instant Lu Ye felt something was off, because upon entering this marvel, he actually had a sensation of teleportation!

When he came back to his senses, his expression grew solemn and his Dao force surged silently!

Because from all directions, there were actually a dozen pairs of eyes focusing on him. This situation was completely beyond Lu Ye's expectations, and the place he now stood at was actually not some marvel, but a floating land. All around was a familiar Chaos Fog, and at his side were floating steps, stretching upward.

What's going on?

Lu Ye was puzzled. How could there be so many people here?

No, not people—Dao Fusion cultivators of various races!

What surprised Lu Ye even more was that the gazes these Dao Fusion cultivators cast at him held no hostility at all, but were full of joy and excitement, as if Lu Ye were a Savior come to rescue them!

"Finally, another Fellow Daoist has come in!" a voice rang out.

Lu Ye followed the sound and looked over, only to see among the many Dao Fusion cultivators, a handsome man walking out.

Lu Ye found him somewhat familiar.

He suddenly recalled: wasn't this the one who, on that Baiyu Platform, after Qi announced the two rules, was the first to step forward?

This fellow was Peak Dao Fusion, and the partner he chose then was also Peak Dao Fusion.

Lu Ye's gaze shifted, and sure enough, among the crowd he saw that companion of his—a human race woman with a cold face, like an ice mountain that would never melt through eternity.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be tense. We bear you no ill will." The man saw Lu Ye's vigilance and spoke in reassurance.

The others also all wore amiable expressions.

Lu Ye grew even more confused. In such a contention, everyone gathered here not only without fighting, but actually coexisting peacefully? This was somewhat contrary to common sense.

Under normal circumstances, with so many Dao Fusion cultivators gathered, they'd already have beaten each other's brains out, unable to rest until life and death were decided.

When things move against the norm, there must be something strange.

Lu Ye secretly stayed on guard.

"How should we address Fellow Daoist? I am Ning Gu of the Crimson Race!" That Peak Dao Fusion cultivator cupped his fists, appearing refined and courteous.

Lu Ye sized him up from head to toe, frowning slightly. "Aren't you of the human race?"

He had never heard of any Crimson Race, yet no matter how he looked at this Ning Gu, he was human race, showing none of the traits of other races.

Ning Gu smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist is unaware. My Crimson Race indeed originates from the human race. On the surface, Crimson Race and human race have no difference, but in fact we are not the same race."

Lu Ye blinked and couldn't be bothered to entangle on this issue, merely asking, "What is going on here?"

What he was more curious about was why everyone was looking at him with the gaze of a Savior, so earnest, so fervent.

Ning Gu sighed. "I was just about to explain to Fellow Daoist. Before you came in, you must also have mistaken that Cloud Ladder for a stellar space marvel, yes?"

Lu Ye nodded.

"It is actually a trap!" Ning Gu's expression turned grim. "We were all deceived. We thought it was a stellar space marvel, but after entering, we ended up here."

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

He did not know how long these Dao Fusion cultivators had been trapped, but since they all still remained here, it meant they had no way out.

If they are trapped here forever, then the problem is grave.

"There is!" Ning Gu lifted his hand and pointed. "Fellow Daoist, look over there."

Lu Ye looked in the direction he was pointing, and saw that at the very top of those steps there was a hazy glow. It could be vaguely seen that within that hazy light was something shaped like a Token.

"An exotic treasure?" Lu Ye raised his brow.

He had been roaming this stellar space fragment for quite some time and had only managed to obtain the Dao force flask, that one treasure. But he had witnessed the phenomenon of an exotic treasure emerging not just once, but twice. Unfortunately, aside from the Dao force flask, the second time he rushed over, the exotic treasure that had emerged had already been taken by someone.

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

"It is indeed an exotic treasure, but Fellow Daoist, look behind it."

Only then did Lu Ye notice that behind the exotic treasure there was also something that looked like a door.

"Is that the exit to leave?" Lu Ye asked.

"That's our conjecture. This trap can't be something that has no solution, so as long as we can push open that door, we should be able to get out."

"What difficulty have you all encountered?" Lu Ye asked.

These people were gathered here, neither going to snatch the exotic treasure nor to open the door. That was clearly abnormal. And they were all very expectant about his arrival. Lu Ye didn't feel he could shoulder their expectations. Leaving aside other things, this Ning Gu was at Peak Dao Fusion, so in terms of strength he wouldn't be weaker than Lu Ye, and he also had a companion who was likewise at Peak Dao Fusion.

"Fellow Daoist is a man who understands." Ning Gu liked talking to clever people like Lu Ye; it wasn't tiring. "But before explaining the situation, I'd like to ask: what is Fellow Daoist's cultivation?"

Lu Ye was silent for a moment, then straightened his back. "9th Order Dao Fusion!"

When talking to Ning Gu, he was also secretly sizing up the others. Though they hadn't actually fought, he could still vaguely judge that among the Dao Fusion cultivators here, only Ning Gu and his companion were at Peak Dao Fusion.

In such an environment, Lu Ye naturally couldn't afford to show weakness, or it would easily give rise to thoughts that shouldn't be had.

Especially since they were all in pairs or groups, while he alone stood here by himself!

9th Order Dao Fusion was a very suitable cultivation to claim—neither enough to make Ning Gu wary, nor so low that the others would look down on him.

"Excellent!" Ning Gu was overjoyed when he heard that.

The other Dao Fusion cultivators also showed expressions of delight.

Lu Ye felt something was off!

Only now did he notice that on those steps leading upward there were remnants of bloodstains. In other words, people had died here, and more than one.

The seemingly harmonious interactions among these Dao Fusion cultivators clearly concealed things he did not know.

Ning Gu continued, "Fellow Daoist, look: these steps, in total, have thirteen tiers. But these stairs are not ones you can ascend at will. To get onto one step, the step before it must already have someone standing on it. Otherwise, you simply cannot get up."

Lu Ye pondered a moment and understood what he meant. "Does that mean only when someone is standing on the first step can the second step be trod upon?"

Ning Gu nodded. "Exactly so!"

Lu Ye turned his head and counted. Including himself, aside from him there were thirteen cultivators here in total!

He finally understood why these people were so pleased to see him. With only twelve of them, they could at most occupy twelve steps and simply couldn't reach the very top to open the door.

His arrival conveniently made up the numbers.

But if that was the case, why had someone died earlier?

Could it be that, while the group was unaware, a fight had broken out and people died as a result?

As for why this trap required such a method of breaking, Lu Ye had no way of knowing. It might be a test set by the Will of the Star Abyss for cultivators who entered here, or it might simply be an internal rule of this stellar marvel!

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

Ning Gu said, "We discussed this earlier. There's only one exotic treasure, so each can only rely on his own luck."

"Please be explicit."

"Drawing lots!" Ning Gu was succinct. "But what we draw for is not the ownership of the exotic treasure, but each Fellow Daoist's position!"

Thirteen steps, thirteen cultivators—whoever drew the position at the very top would naturally get the exotic treasure.

And there was no need to worry about cheating and the like, because before drawing lots they could swear in the name of the Will of the Star Abyss. That would prevent the one presiding from cheating, so it could barely be considered fair and just.

"However, there's another troublesome matter I must let Fellow Daoist know." Ning Gu spoke again. "These steps are not something just anyone can remain on. The lower the step, the longer one has to stay on it, and the greater the pressure it bears. Fellow Daoist must have seen that people have died here. Because their cultivation was not enough, they couldn't withstand the ever-increasing pressure and their bodies exploded, dying on the spot. Especially the lowest two steps—they bear tremendous pressure. That's also why I asked about Fellow Daoist's cultivation earlier. With Fellow Daoist's 9th Order cultivation, you're sufficient to withstand the pressure of the lowest two steps."

Lu Ye's expression immediately darkened. "Fellow Daoist Ning, that's not right. Just now you said we would draw lots. How is it that you're now deciding that I'm to stay on the lowest two steps?"

He was somewhat annoyed. Had he known, he wouldn't have claimed 9th Order Dao Fusion…

But even so, it was useless. Even if he hid it, Ning Gu would certainly find a way to test him. Now that he had reported 9th Order Dao Fusion, meeting their requirements, Ning Gu naturally had no need to test anything.

But how could he agree to something like this?

He wanted the exotic treasure too. Why should he stay on the lowest two steps, staring up as others took it?