Serpent Ancestor
Chapter 521: Correct solution

There were many teams attempting the challenge, but those with fewer than three members all fell at the first three stages, unable to proceed.

In the first stage, one person would die; in the second stage, another would perish. By the time they reached the third stage's thunder tribulation formation, there was only a path to death. Therefore, a team of at least three was necessary to have any chance of passing.

This was the pattern everyone had deduced.

Unfortunately, this pattern couldn't be taken out of the Void Realm. Once someone left, their memory of it would be erased.

Xu Hei stared at the thunder formation ahead, his expression extremely grim.

The thunder tribulation above carried a hint of the laws of heavenly might. Without a doubt, anyone who entered would die, even Xu Hei would be reduced to ashes.

Yet the current environment clearly indicated that only by enduring this thunder tribulation could they proceed to the next stage.

Another person had to die!

"What kind of mindset does this senior have to set up such a stage? What are their intentions? Do they want us to experience the harshness of cultivation, to make us turn on each other?"

"Is this person a demon, trying to impart demonic arts?"

Various thoughts flashed through Xu Hei's mind.

The last time, the nine who survived all gained significantly, with some even breaking through to the Divine Transformation Stage later, which showed they benefited greatly and didn't seem to have encountered a demon.

"Bai Zhi, what do you think?" Xu Hei asked.

"I'm busy, no time to think," Bai Zhi replied impatiently.

"What about Ji Ying?" Xu Hei asked again.

"If you don't want to think, you can donate your brain to me, and I'll think for you," Ji Ying retorted.

Xu Hei immediately regretted it. Bugs were indeed low-intelligence creatures; he shouldn't have asked these two bugs.

Finally, he looked at the Star-Moon Sword at his waist and asked, "September, what about you?"

It was also September's first time facing such a situation.

She pondered for a long time and said, "Husband, I don't understand that senior's intentions, but if sacrifices are truly necessary to pass, I... I'm willing to be the sacrifice."

Xu Hei shook his head. September wanting to sacrifice herself? How could that be possible? Regardless of whether the rules allowed it, Xu Hei wouldn't allow it.

But at that moment, Xu Hei's body suddenly trembled as if struck by a heavenly thunderbolt, leaving him stunned.

His eyes widened, and his body trembled slightly.

Han Te and Luo Bai both looked over curiously. Did Xu Hei discover something?

"No, something's wrong! Very wrong!" Xu Hei muttered to himself, his eyes terrifyingly intense.

"What's going on?" Luo Bai couldn't help but ask.

Xu Hei was the strongest among the three of them. He could decide a person's life and death, so his every move was closely watched.

Xu Hei didn't speak.

He had just thought of a question.

Since they were a team, then what were Bai Zhi, Ji Ying, and September?

One prayer mat could only save one person.

Xu Hei only occupied one prayer mat, so how did they survive? Did they and Xu Hei together count as one person?

If so, what if Xue Yang voluntarily sealed his cultivation and hid in Xu Hei's Spirit Beast Ring at that time?

Would Xue Yang also survive?

If Xue Yang survived, then the rule of one person dying in the second stage would be broken.

Following this logic, could the first stage also avoid a death?

Xu Hei's chest heaved, his breathing rapid, but he quickly suppressed his emotions, forcing himself to remain calm.

It was all just his speculation.

If his Spirit Beast Ring was a loophole that could prevent deaths.

Then for the first stage, which required the sacrifice of one person's blood to pass, he couldn't yet figure out what loophole could be exploited.

"Wait!" Xu Hei's eyes suddenly lit up, and he muttered, "The first stage requires the sacrifice of one person's blood, but what if everyone sacrifices simultaneously? What would happen? Would everyone die?"

Xu Hei's heartbeat quickened, then he shook his head abruptly.

"No! That's not right! It shouldn't be like this."

He thought of another possibility.

According to the altar's principle, as long as enough blood was collected, it would open, but with so many people sacrificing at once, the quantity would clearly be excessive.

This would only result in one outcome—no one would die.

In the second stage, as long as everyone trusted each other, even if they squeezed onto one prayer mat, it might be possible to avoid the risk.

"If my guess is correct, then the correct solution for the third stage should be..."

Xu Hei looked up at the thunder formation ahead and the thunderclouds in the sky, muttering to himself, "Everyone crossing the tribulation together!"

Everyone crossing the tribulation together, jointly enduring the thunder tribulation.

This was a crazy move because, according to normal cultivator thinking, only one person could cross the tribulation at a time. With more people, the power of the thunder tribulation would double, not only failing to save others but also dragging oneself to death.

This was also why, during tribulation crossing, cultivators couldn't be disturbed by others.

However, this was the thunder formation!

Whoever entered first would be the one to cross the tribulation! But what if three people entered together, how would it be determined?

Xu Hei looked to his sides and said, "Gentlemen, previously, the rule was that everything I said counted, does that still hold?"

The two exchanged glances but remained silent.

"You should be able to see that if I throw one person into the thunder formation, we can pass this stage."

Xu Hei's words were acknowledged by both.

It was an obvious fact, and most teams would likely do the same.

"However, I don't intend to do that. I want the three of us to enter together and cross the tribulation together. What do you think?" Xu Hei asked.

Upon hearing this, they were all stunned.

Three people crossing the tribulation together was a scenario they had never imagined, and it sounded like a death wish.

Xu Hei immediately explained his speculation.

Luo Bai pondered for a moment and said, "I agree."

Han Te said, "I agree too, but let me state in advance, if it really starts killing people, I might withdraw at any time."

"Of course," Xu Hei nodded.

The weak had no right to negotiate terms. If Xu Hei randomly grabbed someone, they would surely die, but if Xu Hei's guess was correct, there was a glimmer of hope.

Thus, the three of them approached the edge of the thunder formation together.

The formation's area wasn't large, and standing there, they trembled all over, as if facing the ultimate danger in the world. Entering meant certain death.

Even Xu Hei's senses were warning him—entering meant death!

"I'll count to three, and we'll go in together, understood?" Xu Hei looked at the two.

"Understood!" they replied in unison.

"Good, I don't want anyone deceiving me!" Xu Hei said.

Both nodded.

To ensure absolute success, the three had to enter simultaneously. No one could be a step ahead or behind. They needed the thunder formation to determine that it was three people crossing the tribulation, not one person crossing and then two joining.

Any hesitation could lead to failure.

"Three, two..."

Xu Hei began the countdown.

When he counted to "one."

Xu Hei suppressed the life-and-death crisis within him and entered the thunder formation. The other two simultaneously leaped in, all three entering at once, standing at the center of the formation.

Xu Hei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just now, if either of them had any selfish thoughts, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Boom!!"

The thunder formation activated, and the thunderclouds in the sky emitted a deep rumble, as if brewing a world-destroying disaster, the violent power growing stronger.

However, the sense of life-and-death crisis in Xu Hei's heart faded, though danger remained, it wasn't the previous feeling of certain death.

Xu Hei knew he had bet correctly!