Chapter 87 Digesting the Dew, the Ladder of Death

【At this moment, the Origin of the "heavenly river water lotus" was already extremely busy.】

【On one hand, it was busy thoroughly digesting and performing a Fusion with its "twin brother."】

【On the other hand, it was busy digesting the "biyuan water orchid."】

【Originally, you intended to guide the energy of this drop of "sweet dew" into a main orifice you hadn't fully opened yet.】

【To accelerate the progress of opening the orifice.】

【However, the "sweet dew" seemed to have ideas of its own.】

【It ignored your guidance and merged directly into the Origin of the "heavenly river water lotus"!】

【"Buzz—!!!"】

【Nourished by this source-aligned Divine Power, the light of the "heavenly river water lotus" Origin instantly flared up!】

【The deep Fusion process, which originally would have taken several months, was actually greatly accelerated at this moment!】

【You even felt that the essence of your Profound Water Spirit Body was undergoing a subtle leap.】

【And for some reason, the total amount of Origin Qi in your body was replenished again.】

【You were somewhat surprised, then overjoyed.】

【"This is great!"】

【"In this hellish place cut off from external Origin Qi, I was originally worried about consumption."】

【"Now it seems that with the Origin Qi foundation of these two dimensional secret treasures, plus the special effects of this sweet dew..."】

【"...I should be able to hold out for a long time!"】

【You looked inside yourself at the thriving, vibrant scene, and your mood improved greatly.】

【Then, your gaze fell upon the remaining drop of sweet dew.】

【At this time, the Tall and Thin Martial Artist you were holding was staring longingly at the suspended droplet of water.】

【His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his eyes were filled with longing and pleading.】

【Like a stray dog that hadn't eaten for three days looking at a meat bone.】

【"Father... is... is that my share?"】

【He asked cautiously, his voice dry.】

【You glanced at him, a cruel smile curling at the corners of your mouth.】

【"Yours? Who said that?"】

【"Here, the one with the bigger fist has the final say."】

【"Your life is mine, so naturally, your sweet dew is also mine."】

【After saying that, you ignored his pathetic, yearning gaze.】

【You ruthlessly opened your mouth, activated your ability, and sucked the remaining drop of "sweet dew" directly into your mouth.】

【"Gulp."】

【Swallowed.】

【"Ugh..." The Tall and Thin Martial Artist groaned in despair.】

【"Burp—that felt good."】

【You patted your stomach, feeling the heat surge within you once more.】

【That sense of fullness made you involuntarily squint your eyes.】

【You had no intention of wasting any time.】

【Although external Origin Qi couldn't be replenished here...】

【...you had a yuan seed, sweet dew, and dimensional secret treasures inside you; your energy reserves were extremely abundant.】

【You channeled some of the Origin Power in your body, combining it with the physical enhancement from your Water-elemental Ability.】

【Your whole being swept across the ground like a gale.】

【Your speed was far higher than that of an ordinary Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artist, and even much faster than an average Origin Opening Realm Martial Artist.】

【Soon, carrying that dead weight, you reached your destination.】

【A massive white jade platform.】

【This was the starting point of the "Stairway."】

【At this time, many Martial Artists had already gathered on the platform.】

【At a rough glance, there were at least a hundred people.】

【After all, everyone's drop point upon entering the "Grotto-Heaven" was different; your landing spot was considered quite far from the Stairway.】

【Many lucky people who landed directly at the foot of the mountain had arrived long ago.】

【However, the scene at this moment appeared somewhat eerie.】

【This group of Martial Artists, who would normally fight to the death over a single herb...】

【...were now gathered obediently at the entrance of the Stairway, with not a single person daring to step onto the first stair.】

【Originally, you thought you would see them fighting over the "sweet dew," but it seemed they had already finished absorbing it.】

【True, such a small drop would be swallowed in one gulp upon appearing, leaving little Opportunity for a struggle.】

【You noticed these Martial Artists were all watching and waiting, the atmosphere feeling heavy and anxious.】

【"What's going on? No one dares to go up?"】

【You found a hidden grove, activated your Breath Concealment, and hid in the shadows to observe.】

【You could hear fierce arguing coming from the crowd.】

【"Hey! You over there! We're all Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artists, what are you acting so high and mighty for?"】

【"Exactly! Wanting me to test the waters first? In your dreams! Why don't you go yourself?"】

【"Heh, don't say I didn't warn you."】

【"I'm indeed not in the Origin Opening Realm, but our boss is!"】

【"He's the leader of the 'Wild Hunters' Guild this time, and he'll be here soon!"】

【A sturdy man wearing the "Wild Hunters" Guild uniform.】

【He was fiercely threatening a bald rogue Martial Artist who looked isolated and weak.】

【"If you don't go in yourself now, our boss will throw you in later! Don't be ungrateful!"】

【"To hell with you! Talk when your boss gets here!"】

【The bald Martial Artist was clearly not one to be easily intimidated, stiffening his neck and refusing to budge.】

【The crowd was in a commotion, pushing and shoving, and it looked like a fight was about to break out.】

【Just then.】

【"A bunch of trash!"】

【A cold snort suddenly rang out.】

【An arrogant young man in tight-fitting clothes suddenly rushed out from the back of the crowd.】

【Seizing the Opportunity while everyone was arguing and distracted, he leaped toward the entrance of the Stairway.】

【"Someone's charging!"】

【"It's a hothead!"】

【"Let him go first! See what happens!"】

【Seeing such a "vanguard," the people who were just arguing not only didn't stop him but were happy to see it happen.】

【They tacitly cleared a path.】

【He sneered in his heart.】

【"A bunch of cowardly trash! The great path to heaven is right before your eyes, and not a single one dares to step forward!"】

【"Hesitating and fearful—how can people like this succeed!"】

【"The Opportunity of this Stairway, I'm taking it!"】

【His eyes were fanatical, and without the slightest hesitation, he took a step out.】

【The moment his foot stepped onto the first stair of the Stairway.】

【"Poof!"】

【His whole body was like a popped soap bubble, instantly vanishing into the air as if he had never existed.】

【At the same time.】

【On the white jade railing beside the first stair, the originally dim water-patterned veins...】

【...suddenly manifested a clearly brighter blue light pattern.】

【"This..."】

【"He went in?"】

【"Is that a teleportation array? Or an illusion?"】

【Everyone had been arguing over who would be the 'stone to test the path.'】

【They hadn't expected a kid who didn't know the heights of heaven and depths of the earth to actually dare to be the first to try.】

【They stopped their arguing and stared intently at that blue pattern.】

【Everyone wanted to see if this kid actually had any real skill and what the result would be.】

【You also narrowed your eyes, your Divine Thought quietly extending, attempting to perceive the fluctuations of the rules on that Stairway.】

【However, to your surprise, no one in the surrounding crowd mocked the young man.】

【Everyone waited in silence, the atmosphere oppressively terrifying.】

【Time passed minute by minute.】

【As time went on, more and more Martial Artists gathered at the entrance of the Stairway.】

【Increasing from the initial hundred to around two hundred.】

【At this time, you also noticed that the number of people entering this hellish place this time was clearly more than in the last simulation.】

【Last time, you hadn't heard of so many people going missing.】

【This might be caused by your early interference in Sunset Canyon.】

【As time passed.】

【Under everyone's gaze, the light of that blue pattern became dimmer and dimmer, weaker and weaker.】

【"Something's not right..."】

【An ominous premonition rose in your heart.】

【Less than an hour had passed.】

【That blue pattern seemed to have burned its last bit of energy and directly extinguished.】

【Immediately after.】

【At the very bottom entrance of the Stairway, a blue light flashed.】

【"Thud!"】

【A corpse tumbled out of thin air, falling heavily onto the white jade platform.】

【It was exactly that young man from just now.】

【Only now, he no longer had his previous high spirits.】

【His face was a pale, grayish-green, his lips were dark purple, and his body was stiff; he had clearly been dead for some time.】

【This scene made the expressions of everyone present turn incredibly ugly.】

【"Dead?"】

【"How did he die? There isn't even a single wound?"】

【"How does it look like he drowned!"】

【Fear began to spread through the crowd.】