The crowd stepped in, and the great door closed again.
Inside was a vast chamber.
Tiered stone platforms stood within the room, ascending to higher levels.
Each platform was adorned with flat, oval gemstones, emitting four distinct glows.
Red, yellow, blue, and white.
These differently colored gems formed a circle.
Directly opposite the platform at the next level stood a purple gemstone.
In the open space within the gemstone circle, a giant die rested.
The die’s six faces were etched with pips representing one to six, appearing no different from an ordinary die.
"The Dice Room?" the two senior sisters exclaimed softly.
The Dice Room might not be the most difficult, but it was certainly the most troublesome.
The rules were similar to some minor games outside.
Roll the die, and the number rolled determined the number of steps taken.
Landing on a red gemstone would summon a large number of demon beasts, though usually weaker than the combined strength of a cultivator team.
At most, it would require a bit more effort, but it wouldn't pose any real danger.
Blue gemstones would grant cultivators a temporary status enhancement, akin to consuming elixirs.
White gemstones were uneventful; one would simply roll the die again.
Purple gemstones would spawn a formidable demon beast, its strength exceeding the combined might of the team.
A moment of carelessness could lead to a life-threatening situation.
Yellow gemstones would directly advance the player to the purple gemstone stage.
This was the most infuriating aspect of this room.
More than strength, it tested luck.
With poor luck, one would frequently overshoot their intended destination.
Repeating this process a few times could exhaust a person to near death.
The demon beasts summoned by the purple gemstone were determined by the cultivators' peak condition, not by whether they were already injured or exhausted.
And these were merely the first tier of platforms; each subsequent level required repeating the same process.
The two senior sisters explained the rules to Ye Fan, their faces etched with a hint of worry.
The demon beasts encountered in such trials were tied to the cultivators' strength.
In this scenario, Ye Fan's formidable cultivation ironically became his greatest disadvantage.
"So that's how it is..." Ye Fan murmured after hearing the rules.
He felt a sense of familiarity with the room and its rules.
It reminded him of a game scene he played before his transmigration.
However, the memory was too distant, and he couldn't recall the specific game.
"These platforms lead to survival or death," a faint voice echoed from the end of the platforms.
"If you yearn to proceed, safeguard your lives."
"Now, let fate decide your destiny."
"Senior sister, you roll the die," Ye Fan instructed.
He feared that if he acted, his "dog system" might interfere.
What if it bypassed the challenges and declared him victorious, leaving him with nothing?
Besides, he had been contemplating the situation on their way here.
Based on various signs, the "dog system" seemed to be genuinely low on energy.
While it was possible this was a manufactured illusion by the system, Ye Fan couldn't help but indulge in the fantasy.
If it were true, wouldn't that be wonderful?!
These platforms stretched endlessly, suggesting a considerable number of levels.
If he encountered demon beasts multiple times due to bad luck, he could drain the system's energy significantly!
If he could drain it to the point of collapse, it would be sheer bliss!
Then, he could finally be free from the nightmare of this "dog system"!
Without it, he could cultivate or remain a slacker as he pleased, dictated by his own will!
The thought of controlling his own destiny was exhilarating!
As for whether he would encounter danger without the "dog system"?
Don't be absurd!
Liang Rujing had been with him for so long. Liang Dekuai would have undoubtedly sent people to protect him in secret!
He refused to believe Liang Dekuai would watch Liang Rujing face peril without intervening.
Of course.
All of this hinged on the premise that the "dog system" was truly nearing depletion.
Whether it was true or false, there was only one way to find out.
In any case, the outcome couldn't be worse than his current situation.
Zi Bing nodded and, holding her precious sword, approached the die.
Rolling the die was simple; one merely had to strike it.
A cold glint flashed, and the sword descended.
A flicker of golden light, swift and unseen, streaked across the blade.
It was too fast for anyone to notice.
"Crack!"
The half-human-sized die split in two, scattering on the ground.
Zi Bing was stunned!
In previous grand competitions, many cultivators had encountered this vexing room.
Beyond its annoyance, they had also discovered something else.
This die was indestructible!
No matter how they attacked, it was a futile effort!
Yet, with a mere gentle swipe, it had cracked?
It must have been Junior Brother Ye's secret intervention.
After all, the highest cultivation level among previous participants was only Nascent Soul stage.
Perhaps the die could only withstand attacks from the Nascent Soul realm.
She could think of no other explanation besides Ye Fan's involvement.
As the die shattered, the platform began to collapse and vanish.
Faintly, a weak voice drifted from afar.
"...Are you guys sore losers..."
A long flight of stone steps led directly upwards.
Ye Fan's expression turned grim.
Damn it!
He had been too naive after all!
This "dog system" was playing dirty!
Shameless!
Ptooey!
...
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
They had now reached the third level of the labyrinth.
All the various challenges they encountered along the way had failed to create any significant ripple.
Ye Fan's label as a "super great cultivator" was firmly affixed by the two senior sisters and Liang Rujing.
Ye Fan had nothing he wanted to say.
A profound sense of helplessness washed over him...
After advancing a short distance, they arrived in a cave.
Clearly, this was another fixed challenge.
In the center of the cave was a giant chessboard, ten zhang square, with half-human-tall stone chess pieces arranged on either side.
These pieces were varied in appearance, depicting both cultivators and demon beasts.
Opposite the chessboard sat an old man with a smiling face.
More precisely, it was a pale blue spectral soul of an old man.
"Welcome, young friends," the ghostly old man chuckled at them. "I've been feeling rather bored lately. Perhaps you'd play a few rounds with me?"
Then, the old man uttered a few cryptic instructions.
The rules were simple: play Go using these statues.
If any of Ye Fan's pieces were captured, those captured stone statues would transform into enemies and attack Ye Fan and his companions.
Only by withstanding the attacks from the chess pieces could they continue the game.
If they couldn't resist, it meant death.
The three women looked at Ye Fan in unison.
They now regarded Ye Fan as their pillar of support, awaiting his decision.
"You decide amongst yourselves," Ye Fan waved his hand wearily.
Ye Fan's heart was heavy; he was utterly disinclined to deal with these matters.
Let them do as they please...
"We're not good at playing Go..." the two senior sisters looked at Liang Rujing in unison.
"Senior sisters, leave it to me!" Liang Rujing replied confidently. "I am known as a genius young chess player!"