NOVEL NEXT Chapter 255: Patterns
Chapter 255: Patterns
Liu Qing said, “For the second time, the sect leader brought me here again. There were over 3,000 people. After I entered, I was transformed into a blade of grass.”
“Grass?” Xu Lian felt incredulous.
Liu Qing nodded, “Yes, a blade of grass. The sect leader turned into a sapling, and everyone else became flowers, plants, trees, or vines, all growing on the same mountain. Our roots competed for nutrients and water in the soil, while our branches and leaves fought for sunlight above the ground. Everyone speculated that the tallest and largest plants would be rewarded in some way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t compete with the others. My sunlight was blocked, and the nutrients and water in the soil were taken by others. I withered and died quickly and was eliminated before I could see the end. The sect leader was also eliminated.”
“…” Xu Lian was speechless and did not know what to say. This was the world of the strange, truly bizarre and unpredictable.
Liu Qing continued, “The third time, I came alone. There were over 2,000 people. After entering, I found myself as a fetus.”
Xu Lian’s mouth twitched. It was truly impossible to predict the situation one would encounter after entering.
Liu Qing said, “The flow of time inside seemed different from the outside. Soon, I was born into a wealthy family in a small town. I grew up in a day or two. Then, a small sect came to the town to recruit new disciples. After a test, my talent was found to be good, and I was accepted as a disciple. I began my cultivation in this small sect. Later this small sect was absorbed by a bigger one, and the bigger sect was in turn absorbed by an even bigger one. Before I knew it, I became a disciple of a major sect. I continued to cultivate and cultivate and spent half of my life there. Eventually I became a deacon, but my cultivation couldn’t keep up with my life span, and I gradually grew old and died.”
“?” Xu Lian was confused, “What does that mean?”
Liu Qing smiled bitterly, “I don’t know.”
“Alright…” Xu Lian gestured, “Go on, what about the fourth and fifth time?”
It sounded like this broken world was quite interesting, and he was starting to get intrigued.
Liu Qing said, “The fourth time, after I entered, I became a snake. Others also turned into various small animals, all in the same forest. I felt very hungry, and after I ate a bug, I discovered that I had become stronger. Others quickly noticed this pattern and began to eat frantically. This time I was lucky. The type of snake I became was quite good, and by eating, I grew rapidly, outpacing most others. I became the dominant snake king of the forest, devouring all the other animals that people had turned into.”
Xu Lian praised, “What happened next?”
Liu Qing said, “After becoming the dominant Snake King, a heavenly tribulation appeared. I barely managed to survive it, and a treasure fell from the tribulation. I was thrilled and took the treasure, but then another tribulation appeared and I was reduced to ashes”.
Her face darkened with regret, “If I had survived a few more tribulations, I might have received more rewards!”
Then she spoke of the fifth time, where she became the seed of a spiritual herb. She took root, sprouted, and grew. Then a strange beast came to guard the herb. When the herb matured, the beast ate it in one bite… and that was the end.
It was ridiculously short!
Xu Lian found it amusing. Her life as a spiritual herb was… uneventful.
Liu Qing said hopefully, “This time, I pray for better luck. I hope for a good start, preferably like the fourth time, where I became a snake, turned into the snake king, and gained rewards.”
Xu Lian was also looking forward to it, “This is my first time here. I hope the ruined world will treat me gently.”
At the same time, he began to ponder about it.
Was there a pattern to be found in Liu Qing’s five experiences?
The first time Liu Qing came here, everyone made their own rules, and the one who lasted the longest was rewarded.
The second time, everyone turned into plants, competing for sunlight and nutrients.
The third time, she became a human being, joined a sect to cultivate, and eventually died of old age.
The fourth time she became a snake, devoured the other animals, evolved into the dominant Snake King, and gained rewards.
The fifth time, as a spiritual herb… she was harvested.
Xu Lian thought deeply, “From your five experiences, I’ve noticed two patterns. One is competition – only by defeating others can you gain rewards. The other is survival-only by surviving to the end do you have a chance to win.”
Liu Qing said, “Exactly. I have also noticed these two patterns. But there’s actually a hidden pattern!”
As if not wanting others to hear, she leaned closer to Xu Lian and whispered, “People with higher cultivation and talent have a slight advantage when they enter. For example, the second time around, those with higher cultivation and talent became trees, while those with lower cultivation and talent became grass. When competing for sunlight and nutrients, the trees had an advantage, making it easier for them to grow taller and larger. Of course, this isn’t absolute. Luck also plays a big role. Like the fourth time, I was lucky enough to become a high-quality snake, which allowed me to win.”
Xu Lian glanced at her, “You teamed up with me because you saw my cultivation and talent, didn’t you?”
Liu Qing openly admitted, “You appeared here out of nowhere. There must be a powerful figure behind you who sent you here. That means you’re from a major faction, and your cultivation and talent must be quite good.”
Xu Lian chuckled, “But you just said that cultivation doesn’t matter much?”
Liu Qing said, “That was just to convince you to team up with me. But don’t get too excited. Do you see those powerful figures over there? Their advantages are even greater than yours.”
Xu Lian scanned the area and noticed that more and more people were gathering – four to five thousand of them, men and women, old and young, grouped in threes and fives, all discussing the situation inside in low voices.
However, there were no figures of the highest or wisest level present. Could it be that they weren’t interested in the opportunities and rewards of the ruined world?
He didn’t think so at all.
After all, the origin of the Ruined World was legendary. It was said to be the remains of an ancient holy land that had evolved into a heavenly realm, but was struck down by heavenly punishment and shattered into countless broken worlds. How could the sages and supreme beings not be interested?
The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands had once sent three Supreme-level experts to attack this place, but they awakened the combat will of an ancient Supreme’s corpse guarding its homeland. That was the real reason why the sages and Supreme-level figures didn’t come here. Who knew how many ancient Supreme corpses still lurked in the broken world? After all, this was a relic left behind by a legendary ancient holy land, not something to be taken lightly.
“Boom!”
A strange movement came from the space.
A crack resembling a cracked eggshell appeared. Inside the gap, a vast world could be faintly seen, though it was too blurry to make out clearly.
“The rift has shifted here. We can enter now.”
“Let’s go!”
Everyone’s spirits lifted, and like a tidal wave, they rushed into the rift of the shattered world.
Liu Qing nudged Xu Lian with her elbow, “We’re teammates now. Once we’re inside, take care of me.”
“Alright.”
Xu Lian agreed, and together they stepped into the rift
The moment they entered, an ancient, timeless aura washed over them.