#150 - Wait till I come back
White Wallow City. The darkness of night gradually receded, replaced by the rosy dawn that burned across the sky, painting the horizon red.
The time remaining before sunrise was dwindling.
When the first ray of sunlight falls, illuminating the person holding the treasure pearl, that person will have the opportunity to ascend the steps.
If that person passes the trial, then that person will become the master of the White Wallow Scroll.
If not, that person will perish, transforming into nourishment for White Wallow City.
And if no one takes the treasure pearl to ascend the heavenly ladder, everyone will die.
As time dwindled, most people looked at Xu Ming without much desire to compete.
Putting aside whether they could even snatch it from Xu Ming.
Even if they did snatch it, so what?
They would still have to ascend this ladder and pass the trial to obtain the White Wallow Scroll, otherwise, they would simply perish.
“I wonder what Your Excellency truly means?” Zhuang Yan stepped forward, questioning, “If I remember correctly, Your Excellency said that when dawn arrives, whoever obtains the pearl you吐spit out can become the master of White Wallow City. Why must the person who obtains the pearl still undergo a trial? Monks do not utter falsehoods. As a Buddhist disciple, has Your Excellency broken the precept?”
The question Zhuang Yan asked was actually on behalf of Xu Ming.
The Golden Toad laughed and said, “Firstly, this humble monk believes in Buddhism, but this humble monk has no precepts. Whatever Master tells this humble monk to do, this humble monk will do.
Secondly, this humble monk has not actually deceived anyone.
Just as this humble monk said last night, anyone who obtains the pearl at dawn can become the master of White Wallow City. However, this humble monk said ‘can become’.
If the White Wallow Scroll is likened to a treasure.
Then, this heavenly ladder is the box containing the treasure.
And the Dharma pearl that this humble monk spat out is equivalent to a key.
What everyone needs to do is to walk to the side of that box, take the key in hand, and open the box.
It's just that the road to be traveled will be very difficult.
Whether everyone can open it or not is up to everyone.”
“If the person holding the Dharma pearl steps onto this ladder and fails, besides the person perishing, what else will happen?” She Yu stepped forward and asked.
If the other party perishes, then they perish. What does it have to do with him?
What She Yu cared about was what would happen to this secret realm after the other party failed, and whether he would still have a chance?
If the first person dies, and the second person can take over, then he would wait for a few more deaths, observe the situation, and then consider whether to go up or not.
The Golden Toad glanced at She Yu, understanding his meaning, and explained, “Only the person holding the Dharma pearl can ascend the ladder. Even if they fail, the Dharma pearl and they will disappear together, and the White Wallow Scroll will be completely separated from the Great World.
As for the others, all outsiders will be unable to leave.
Unless one day, a great power finds the White Wallow Scroll and blasts it open, or the White Wallow Scroll's lifespan comes to an end and it merges with the world again.
Oh right, this humble monk forgot to say, the individual who obtains the pearl at dawn must ascend the heavenly ladder within half an hour, otherwise, they will still perish along with the pearl.”
Hearing the Golden Toad's words, everyone looked at each other, their expressions showing a hint of panic.
Only the first person can ascend the ladder, which means they have no idea what they will encounter on the ladder.
If Xu Ming ascends the ladder and fails.
Xu Ming's death is his death, but the pearl will also disappear with him, and all of them will be unable to get out?
For a time, the gazes of the vast majority of people were focused on Xu Ming.
Even their eyes carried a kind of “You have to succeed, or you'll be letting us down” meaning.
Looking at their expressions, Xu Ming smiled, took out the treasure pearl, weighed it in his hand, and then gently tossed it forward.
In everyone's sight, that pearl just floated in the air like that.
Someone subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to snatch it away, but when they took half a step, their legs directly stopped, their expressions very complicated.
Before, they fought to the death for this pearl, each one wishing they could hide the pearl tightly.
But now, no one is moving forward.
They don't even worry about the surrounding cultivators snatching the pearl.
Before, this pearl was a treasure to them.
But now, this pearl is a hot potato to them.
Even if they get the pearl, so what? Can they ascend that heavenly ladder?
If they fail, they will perish.
If Xu Ming fails, then he fails. They can just stay here, as long as they are alive, there is hope.
Moreover, many people are core disciples of their sects. They feel that they have been gone for a long time, and the elders and deacons in the sect, and even the sect leader, will come to investigate.
The possibility of them being rescued is still quite high. It's just a matter of time.
But if they die, then everything is gone.
“Don't you guys want this pearl? Now I'll give it to you, you can take it if you want, you can go to that heavenly ladder.” Xu Ming said, “This treasure pearl is right there.”
Xu Ming's words were like sharp knives piercing their hearts, full of sarcasm.
Their faces were very ugly, but they didn't dare to say a word, let alone take the pearl.
Cultivators are actually very afraid of death.
As time passed, the sun on the east side of White Wallow City was about to rise.
But no one approached the pearl.
“Heh heh, you so-called righteous cultivators from famous sects are really nothing more than this.”
Xu Ming sneered a few times, stepped forward, and was about to take the pearl in front of everyone.
“Xu Ming, give me this pearl, I want the White Wallow Scroll, let me go.”
Qin Qingwan walked to Xu Ming's side, tightly grabbing the corner of Xu Ming's clothes, her eyes full of worry.
“Do you really want this White Wallow Scroll?” Xu Ming asked with a smile.
Qin Qingwan nodded: “Yes, I really want it!”
Saying that, Qin Qingwan stretched out her hand to take the pearl.
However, Xu Ming took the lead and held the pearl in his palm.
Xu Ming gently patted Qin Qingwan's small hand: “That's good, if you want it, then stand here obediently and wait for me to come back.”
“Eh?” Qin Qingwan was stunned for a moment.
What does this blockhead mean?
I'm going to take your place on the heavenly ladder!
If I succeed, I'll give you the White Wallow Scroll!
It's not you giving it to me!
“Xu—”
Qin Qingwan had just shouted out a word when Xu Ming had already let go of Qin Qingwan's small hand that was pinching his sleeve and stepped forward.
Just as Xu Ming held the pearl and walked to the bottom of the heavenly ladder, about to step on it, the first ray of sunlight from White Wallow City shone on Xu Ming.
Xu Ming raised his steps and walked onto the heavenly ladder.
