Chapter 149

Chapter 149: The Heavenly Ladder

Xu Ming looked at the crowd, and not a single soul dared to respond.

Just before, they were all eager to snatch treasures.

Now, they cowered like turtles with their heads tucked in.

It was clear that, no matter where you were, most people acted the same way—bullies who preyed on the weak but feared the strong.

But honestly speaking,

if hundreds of Sea Observing Realm cultivators and beast races surrounded and attacked Xu Ming together, he felt he’d be in serious trouble, likely killed in the process.

After all, he wasn’t a god. His Martial Artist level was only at Heroic Soul Realm, and his cultivation realm hadn’t even reached Cavern Realm yet.

If these hundreds of cultivators and beast races worked together, they could definitely wear Xu Ming down until he perished.

Fortunately, Qingwan and Yu Wen Xi stood by Xu Ming’s side.

Qingwan and the others were truly powerful, greatly relieving the pressure on Xu Ming, allowing him to catch his breath.

Moreover, these hundreds of cultivators and beast races weren’t like the Blood Floating Pagoda warriors from the Wu Kingdom.

The discipline of the Blood Floating Pagoda warriors was top-notch among human nations; they would sacrifice themselves without hesitation to slay their enemies.

But these individuals had their own selfish motives, each subconsciously holding back.

Some honorable cultivators didn’t participate in the ambush against Xu Ming. Even if they wanted to seize treasure, they preferred fair one-on-one duels rather than taking advantage of someone in distress or ganging up on Xu Ming.

So this kind of “alliance” really lacked strength.

Especially when Xu Ming picked out a few examples and delivered devastating punches, killing them instantly. The scene was so shocking and exaggerated it terrified them.

These people valued their lives dearly.

Seeing Xu Ming obliterate everyone with a single punch, how could they dare approach?

On another note,

Xu Ming actually didn’t have much desire for this so-called rare treasure.

Whether or not he became the master of Baiwa City was something he didn’t care about at all.

Therefore, Xu Ming never forced the issue. He merely wanted to leave this place.

In Xu Ming’s view, cultivation was most important when done through one’s own efforts, not relying on external objects.

I can split the heavens with a punch, I can break ten thousand laws with a sword. No matter how many treasures you have, what difference does it make?

However, although Xu Ming didn’t aggressively pursue treasures or opportunities, it didn’t mean he didn’t want them.

It was normal for everyone to desire opportunities.

What Xu Ming meant was that he wouldn’t lose his mind over them. If he got them, then fine.

But if it came to surrounding someone to seize treasure, using any means necessary, and losing both face and principles, Xu Ming wouldn’t stoop to such behavior.

“Ribbit~”

Just as Xu Ming was at a stalemate with these cultivators, suddenly, a frog croak sounded from nearby.

Everyone turned their gaze toward the distance.

From the direction of the Toad Temple, a beam of golden light shot straight into the clouds, and a toad leapt out.

In an instant, the golden-bodied toad sat majestically atop the clouds, with golden light radiating from behind its head.

Surprisingly, this toad exuded an aura of solemn sanctity.

Xia Donghua and the others braced themselves for battle.

Xu Ming stood with his hands clasped behind his back, observing the massive toad.

This was the first time Xu Ming had ever seen the toad leave the temple.

“It seems the selection has already been made.” The golden toad pressed its palms together, its cross-shaped eyes glowing faintly with gold as it stared directly at Xu Ming. “Pilgrim, it’s been quite some time since we last met.”

Xu Ming bowed politely and smiled in response. “I didn’t expect you to still remember me.”

The golden toad chuckled. “Do you wish to become the master of Baiwa City?”

Xu Ming grinned. “Yes.”

“Hmm?” The golden toad looked at Xu Ming with interest. “No, actually, you do and don’t. It seems you’re not particularly interested in Baiwa City. At least, your desire to become its master isn’t as strong as others.”

“If there are treasures worth fighting for, then fight. But if you force yourself to obtain every treasure you come across, losing your principles and sanity, aren’t you just like a monster beast?”

Xu Ming voiced his inner thoughts.

The golden toad chuckled and nodded. “That is indeed your honest opinion.”

Xu Ming said, “Since I’ve spoken my truth, shouldn’t you also deal sincerely? What exactly is this White洼Secret Realm? Now that things have come to this, may the elder enlighten us.”

The golden toad smirked.

“Most of your guesses about the White洼Secret Realm are correct.

Baiwa City was indeed once a border city. However, the unpredictable Tiandao caused the Dao-destiny spiritual energy of the world to converge on Baiwa City, gradually splitting it apart.

But at that moment, an old monk arrived at Baiwa City and threw a scroll towards it.

The scroll unfurled, stretching for tens of miles, completely enveloping Baiwa City.

The slowly fragmenting Baiwa City gradually merged into this blank scroll.

The old monk stayed in Baiwa City for a while.

One day, the old monk walked to a small pond and saw a dying toad, which he saved.

The old monk noticed that the toad had a bit of spirit and deemed it fated, thus teaching it Buddhist Law.

When the old monk left, he entrusted the toad with certain tasks.

He told the toad that when the Baiwa Scroll formed, people would come to fight for it. Just let them compete, and eventually, the one with the deepest connection would obtain the scroll.

The toad asked, ‘Who is the one with the deepest connection?’

The old monk laughed and said, ‘Why ask such nonsense? Whoever remains at the end is the one with the deepest connection.’

The Baiwa Scroll is about to form.

All cultivators who die within the Baiwa Scroll will become nourishment for it.

And all of you might possibly be the ones with the deepest connection.

As for the beams of white light falling in Baiwa City, this humble monk truly doesn’t know what they are.

However, from this humble monk’s perspective, the formation of a scroll cannot allow foreign objects to remain, so it probably expelled the intruders.

But in recent years, this humble monk has sensed that another magic array has been attached outside the Baiwa Scroll.

As for who created that magic array, this humble monk cannot ascertain.

But this humble monk doesn’t need to concern himself with those matters.

The toad merely wishes to carry out the teachings of the old monk.”

The toad extended its hand, and golden threads descended from the night sky.

The threads continuously wove together, forming step after step.

The steps stretched all the way to the heavens.

At the very top of the steps, there was a wooden platform. On the platform’s stand was a tightly rolled scroll.

The golden toad pressed its palms together, its voice echoing in everyone’s hearts:

“When dawn breaks, the person holding the Dharma bead may walk upon this Heavenly Ladder.

If they obtain the scroll, this land will belong to them.

If they fail to obtain the scroll, they will become nourishment for this land.

If no one takes the bead and ascends the ladder, then all shall perish.”