Chapter 239 - 233: It’s a Good Thing for Young People to Have Drive
’Is this a demon beast, or maybe some other kind of monster, that won’t attack unless you get close?’
Lin Qingfeng looked at her expression and nodded gravely.
"Mm, I think so too."
"At your level, it’d just be a matter of taking a few extra slaps. A few more hits and you’d be gone."
Su Ling’er: ...
’If you knew, why did you even ask?!’
’You just want me to go up there and die, don’t you!’
’Where’s your conscience?!’
...
As time went on, more and more player teams solved the temple’s puzzles and arrived at the top of the great tree.
The once-empty edge of the platform was now bustling with people.
Several hundred Guixi Sect disciples, with cultivation levels both high and low, had gathered near the entrance to the Stairs of Light.
Lin Qingfeng glanced at the few low-cultivation NPCs behind him and spoke.
"You few, when the fight starts, why don’t you just huddle by the stairs here?"
"Looking at your builds, you’ll probably die in one hit if you go up. I don’t think I’ll be able to look out for you later, so why not just stay put?"
With that, he extended a hand toward Su Ling’er.
"Oh, right. Mr. Wa, I’ll give you your ’wife’ back after the Gaye Secret Realm. She’s still useful for this fight!"
"Also, Little Junior Sister, let me have your ancient sword for now."
"In this situation, you can’t use it anyway, so it’s a waste. If you die and get teleported out of the secret realm, our team will be short one key piece of equipment."
Su Ling’er: ...
’She knew it.’
’But he gave it to me in the first place, so there’s nothing wrong with giving it back.’
’Sigh, but I barely got to warm my hands on it. What a shame.’
She returned it to Lin Qingfeng and offered her blessing:
"Your Junior Sister wishes you a triumphant victory, Senior Brother. Slay the demons and vanquish evil!"
Lin Qingfeng nodded in gratification.
However, after handing over the ancient sword, Su Ling’er did not back down.
A flash of determination appeared in her eyes.
"Senior Brother, I... I still want to go up and give it a try."
Lin Qingfeng gave her a somewhat surprised look.
"Oh? You’re not afraid of dying?"
He looked up and thought for a moment.
’We’re already at the final boss stage. Even if she dies midway and gets teleported out, the system should give some rewards based on participation, right?’
’It’s not like she’ll walk away with nothing.’
’On the other hand, if she just leeches in the back and survives until the end, her contribution rating might be so low she really does get nothing.’
’Since Su Ling’er is willing, it might be good for her to go up and experience the atmosphere.’
"Fine."
Lin Qingfeng nodded.
"But let me be clear: once the fight starts, I won’t have time to look after you. Whether you live or die is all on you."
"I understand, Senior Brother." Su Ling’er nodded solemnly. "If worst comes to worst, this trip to the secret realm will just end here for me."
But in her heart, she had her own considerations.
’Even though I stepped forward time and again in the Grudge Ghost House, it was because there were people behind me who needed protection, and the enemy didn’t have much intelligence. But I was still terrified the whole time.’
’Besides, maybe dying here won’t be a true death, just like before.’
’If I face a powerful enemy now and don’t even have the courage to strike, then what’s the point of pursuing strength and holding true to my Dao heart?’
’So, I have to do what little I can in this battle.’
’Even if it’s just to see how big the gap is between myself and a Golden Core Great Perfection being, it would be a rare opportunity to benchmark myself for my future cultivation path.’
She needed to know just how far she could go.
"Miss Su! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Hearing Su Ling’er’s decision, a shocked Wang Xiedi grabbed her sleeve.
"Senior Brother already said we should just stay here!
"We can survive to the end just by leeching, and maybe even get some rewards. Why do you have to go up there and die?"
In his eyes, this was a completely incomprehensible act.
’Ignoring a safe zone to challenge a monster you can’t possibly beat—if that’s not stupid, what is?’
’Besides, Senior Brother is here this time. There’s no need for us to go up and just get in the way!’
Su Ling’er looked at him, her gaze exceptionally firm.
"Mr. Wang, there are some things you just have to try."
She pulled her hand free from Wang Xiedi’s grasp and strode resolutely toward the front line where the players were gathering.
Wang Xiedi stared at her determined back, rooted to the spot with a storm of emotions in his heart.
He couldn’t understand.
Just feeling the pressure from that writhing shadow made his palms sweat and his legs feel weak.
’I feel like this just from sensing it and looking at it. And she wants to charge in?’
He swallowed hard, his throat dry and tight.
’But...’
’Miss Su dares to face the difficulty head-on, to confront that terrifying monster.’
’And me?’
’A man... only thinking about hiding behind Senior Brother and clinging to life?’
It was as if two little figures were fighting inside Wang Xiedi’s mind. One was screaming, ’Run! You’ll die!’, while the other questioned his dignity.
’Besides...’
’Here... you don’t... really die...’
This thought gave him a sliver of false courage.
’So... maybe... I should... g-g-go?’
His teeth began to chatter uncontrollably, and his legs trembled like a leaf.
He was truly afraid.
He was afraid of being slapped into a meat paste by that monster, afraid of experiencing the excruciating pain of being torn to shreds.
’But...’
He looked at Miss Su’s back, which had already blended into the crowd.
He gritted his teeth and finally forced his disobedient legs to move. Step by trembling step, he shuffled toward the front line.
’If worst comes to worst, this trial just ends here!’
’If I die, I die!’
’I still don’t want to die!’
’I could have just leeched until the very end!!!’
’Why do I have to go up there just to get killed?!’
’Whatever, anyway... anyway... it’s not like it’s a real death!’
He hyped himself up internally while forcing himself to look calm as he took a step forward.
Meanwhile, Li Chunfeng, who was standing at the very back, watched the two of them rush forward one after another and patted the Wooden Sword at his waist.
"Well now, it’s a good thing for young people to have spirit."
Muttering to himself, he also began to walk forward slowly, but the speed at which he drew and sheathed his sword grew a little faster.
"SHING! CLANG! SHING! CLANG! SHING! CLANG! SHING! CLANG!"
...
When all the teams had assembled, Lin Qingfeng looked at the massive group of nearly a thousand people before him and began to lay out the pre-battle strategy.
"Team One, Team Two, you’re the vanguard. Go up and test the monster’s strength!
"Spread out, and test out all of its attack patterns and the range of its Magic!
"Don’t be afraid to die. It’s a tactical necessity!"
"Understood!"
The nearly one hundred players from the two teams charged forward without the slightest hesitation, letting out battle cries.
Su Ling’er and Wang Xiedi watched this scene, both somewhat bewildered.
’And they’re dying just to figure out the monster’s Magic? Is a death like that really worth it?’
’Isn’t their own trial important?’
’Sigh, if even those on the demonic path possess such resolve, can the righteous path truly defeat them...?’