Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Wait for Me to Come Back

Baiwa City, the night curtain gradually recedes, replaced by the rosy clouds of dawn that set the sky ablaze, painting the horizon red.

There wasn’t much time left until the sun rose.

When the first ray of sunlight falls, shining upon the person holding the treasure bead, they will gain the chance to climb the steps.

If this person passes the trial, they will become the master of the Baiwa Scroll.

If not, they will vanish from existence, becoming nourishment for Baiwa City.

And if no one dares to take the bead and ascend the Heavenly Ladder, everyone will die.

As time dwindled, most people looked at Ming without much desire to compete.

Not only was it uncertain whether they could snatch the bead from Ming,

But even if they did, what then?

They still had to climb the ladder and pass the trial to claim the Baiwa Scroll. Failure meant annihilation.

“Do you have any idea what your intentions are?” Zhen Yan stepped forward, questioning sharply. “If I’m not mistaken, you said that whoever gets the bead when the day breaks would become the lord of Baiwa City. Why must the person who obtains the bead also pass a trial? A man of the cloth doesn’t lie. Are you breaking your vows?”

Zhen Yan’s question actually echoed Ming’s thoughts as well.

The Golden-bodied Toad chuckled, “Firstly, though I follow Buddha, I have no precepts. My master tells me what to do, and that’s what I do.

Secondly, I haven’t deceived anyone.

Just as I said last night, whoever possesses the bead at sunrise can become the lord of Baiwa City. However, I said ‘can become.’

If we compare the Baiwa Scroll to a treasure,

Then the Heavenly Ladder is the box containing the treasure.

And the bead I spit out is akin to the key.

All of you need to walk to the box, take the key in hand, and open the box.

It’s just that the path you must walk will be very difficult.

Whether or not you succeed in opening it is up to you.”

“If the person holding the bead fails while ascending the ladder, besides their own demise, what else happens?” She Yu stepped forward to ask.

If the other person perishes, so be it—what does it matter to him?

What She Yu cared about was what happened to the secret realm after a failure and whether he would still have a chance.

If the first person dies and the second can continue, then he’d wait for a few more deaths before deciding whether to proceed.

The Golden-bodied Toad glanced at She Yu, understanding his meaning, and explained, “Only the person holding the bead can ascend the ladder. Even if they fail, the bead will disappear along with them, and the Baiwa Scroll will completely detach from the world.

As for the rest of you, all outsiders will be unable to leave.

Unless someone powerful finds the Baiwa Scroll and smashes it open, or the scroll reaches the end of its lifespan and merges back with the world.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, within half an hour of obtaining the bead at sunrise, one must ascend the Heavenly Ladder. Otherwise, both the bead and its holder will perish.”

Hearing the words of the Golden-bodied Toad, everyone looked at each other, their expressions now tinged with panic.

Only the first person can ascend the Heavenly Ladder, which means none of them knew what awaited on the ladder.

If Ming ascends and fails…

Ming dying is one thing, but the bead disappearing means none of them can leave?

At that moment, the majority of gazes fell upon Ming.

Even in their eyes, there was a hint of “You must succeed; otherwise, it’ll be our loss.”

Seeing their looks, Ming smiled, took out the bead, weighed it in his hand, then gently tossed it forward.

In everyone’s sight, the bead floated mid-air.

Some instinctively took a step forward to seize it, but when they moved halfway, their legs froze, their expressions complicated.

Before, they fought tooth and nail for this bead, each wanting to hide it securely.

But now, no one stepped forward.

They didn’t even worry about other cultivators snatching the bead.

Previously, this bead was their ultimate treasure.

Now, it felt like a hot potato.

Even if they got the bead, could they climb the ladder?

If they failed, they would perish.

If Ming failed, well, they’d just stay put. As long as they were alive, there was hope.

Many were core disciples of their sects. They believed that since they hadn’t returned for a long time, the elders and possibly even the sect leaders would come looking.

Their chances of being rescued were still high—it was just a matter of time.

But if they died, everything was over.

“You aren’t interested in this bead anymore? Now I give it to you, if you want it, take it. You can go to the Heavenly Ladder.” Ming said aloud. “This bead is right there.”

Ming’s words cut into them like daggers, full of mockery.

Their faces turned sour, but they dared not say a word, nor touch the bead.

Cultivators, truly, value their lives.

As time passed, the sun on the eastern side of Baiwa City was about to rise.

Yet, no one approached the bead.

“Ho ho, you so-called righteous sect cultivators are really nothing special.”

Ming let out a cold laugh, stepping forward to retrieve the bead in front of everyone.

“Xu Ming, give me the bead. I want the Baiwa Scroll. Let me go.”

Qingwan walked beside Ming, tightly gripping his sleeve, her eyes brimming with concern.

“Do you really want the Baiwa Scroll?” Ming asked with a smile.

Qingwan nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I really want it!”

Saying that, Qingwan reached out to grab the bead.

But Ming was quicker, clasping the bead in his palm.

Ming lightly patted Qingwan’s small hand. “Alright, if you want it, just wait here for me to come back.”

“Eh?” Qingwan blinked in confusion.

What does this big dummy mean?

I wanted to take your place on the Heavenly Ladder!

If I succeed, I’ll give you the Baiwa Scroll!

It’s not supposed to be the other way around!

“Xu…”

Before Qingwan could finish her sentence, Ming had already released her grip on his sleeve and moved forward.

Just as Ming held the bead, standing at the base of the Heavenly Ladder ready to step on, the first rays of sunlight from Baiwa City touched his body.

Ming lifted his foot and ascended the Heavenly Ladder.