Three Slashes and the wild child were the calmest out of those standing on the boulders.
They stopped moving and looked like statues. Nonetheless, their eyes were rapidly scanning all the boulders.
No one knew what they were thinking. Many speculated that they were busy calculating the movement and pattern of the boulders.
Because of this, they made it the farthest and left everyone else in the dust. Of course, they were also the first to get here so this made sense.
âIt canât be random.â A high elder said with uncertainty after seeing the two. They havenât made a wrong choice so far that would take them in the opposite direction.
âRight, there are patterns and rules.â An ancestor hidden in a black robe from Divine Ghost Division said: âThe movements of the boulders are interconnected and dictated by an integral order. Moreover, one canât rely on a single boulder to reach the platform.â
Thus, the spectators began searching for obvious patterns and rules. Nonetheless, the majority didnât have the ability to do so.
A few ancestors and high elders noticed some clues but the entire system was immensely complex. One couldnât derive the entire thing in a short time.
âThereâs no hope for old people either.â A different ancestor added: âThink about it, the previous generation doesnât have five thousand years of lifespan left. Weâll die before getting to the other shore.â
These ancestors have been deterred after seeing the death of their peers. Some had successful derivations so far but didnât want to take the risk. The loss of lifespan was beyond their control. This ominous force was unstoppable.
By this point, both the wild child and Three Slashes had gray hair. They looked like middle-aged men now.
Given their cultivation, they should have more than ten thousand years of life - far from reaching the middle years. Alas, they relied on their vigorous vitality to hang on and still had years to lose.
âYoung Lord Biandu knows the system.â A big shot commented after seeing the young lord moving ahead of the wild child. Nonetheless, the wild child was only one step behind.
The big shots gathered around the Biandu ancestor. Someone from Black Wood asked: âThe wild child knows quite a bit, right, Fellow Daoist?â
This ancestor had to speak because some powerful masters were hidden here, maybe even the grandmasters. The Biandu alone couldnât face the wrath of the masses.
âIâm not sure.â He shook his head and said: âIt took us several thousand years of research before seeing some patterns.â He spoke the truth without revealing too much.
âYour clan has done a good job of keeping this a secret. Iâm sure youâve found Dark Abyssâ location long ago.â The ancestor from Divine Ghost spoke.
He had to respond: âOur ancestor asked Eight Stallion Dao Lord for guidance and he corrected our mistakes.â
Though he didnât say which ancestor, a being capable of speaking to a dao lord and gaining insight should be quite amazing.
âThe eight kingdoms are incredible too. I guess they do have some supreme existences.â Another said while staring at the wild child.
It was surprising for him to understand the patterns as opposed to Three Slashes. Nonetheless, maybe this should be expected because the eight kingdoms had Worldly Immortal, the Ancient Empress, and Crystal God Monarch.
His father, the Praetor, has received guidance from the monarch before. Perhaps this was the source of the wild childâs comprehension of the patterns here.
***
âHow strange.â A genius returned to the first shore and said: âI followed the young lordâs steps, why am I back to the beginning?â
âThe floating bouldersâ directions are always changing. You have to see through the mysteries in order to get there.â One ancestor explained.
Many youths have tried so far but currently, only Three Slashes and the wild child have found success.
âGrandpa, do you see the system here?â Yang Ling didnât want to bother Li Qiye so she asked the old servant instead.
âNo.â The old man has been watching the abyss the entire time in order to derive the innate laws and patterns: âI canât derive the laws so quickly. The complex nature of this makes a quick derivation impossible regardless of oneâs talent and knowledge.â
âThen can you still get over there?â She continued inquiring.
The old man tilted his head in contemplation. However, Li Qiye smiled and answered instead: âItâs not worth losing five thousand years for him. Heâll only comprehend more dao at best and canât take it away.â
The old man shifted his focus towards the metal piece and nodded: âI can handle the five thousand years but I wonât have much left. The gains donât outweigh the cost here.â
âUnless you can take it with you.â Li Qiye said.
âIâm afraid I canât.â The old man concluded while staring at the metal.
âSo what is it?â Yang Ling was curious. She observed it for a long time but only knew that it was extraordinary and seemingly contained immense power.
âI see the grand dao.â Fan Bai interjected.
âThe young me couldnât hold a candle to your talent.â The old man sentimentally said: âThatâs all I can see right now too.â
âItâs not talent.â Li Qiye chuckled and said: âHer firm dao heart allows for a virtually infinite extension. Unfortunately, itâs still not to the limit.â
âIncredible.â Yang Ling only knew that they were praising Fan Bai and said with admiration.
âHe did it!â Suddenly, loud cheers could be heard.
Three Slashes became the first to reach the platform. This wasnât too surprising since he was ahead from the start.
Three Slashes was ecstatic. Though it appeared that he did it effortlessly, the clan and he himself expended untold effort for this goal.
âAnother too.â The crowd exclaimed again.
Sure enough, the wild child also made it up there.
âBrother Biandu.â âBrother Wild Child.â The two of them nearly spoke at the same time.
Three Slashes stopped and stared intensely at his rival. The latter did the same.