CHAPTER 140: TEST OF FAITH?

Given the size of the tower, just walking the stairs—set at a gradual angle that spiraled around half the tower—took them quite a while. Xu Tao patiently took step after step, mindful of traps, if any existed.

To their surprise, the second floor didn’t look much different from the first.

The same murals covered all sides, with only one difference. In the middle of the room stood a lone monument, shining with faint golden light.

"Huh?"

"What?"

But that wasn’t the most shocking part. Instead, it was—

"Why is Arthur’s half here too?"

They had reunited with the other half so quickly.

It was true that they both climbed the steps toward the same floor... but nearly everyone had expected some kind of spatial trickery to separate the two groups.

"Is this an illusion?" Arthur raised a brow, walking toward Xu Tao’s side before—

THUD!

—he bumped into something.

"Argh! T-That hurts...!" Arthur groaned, clutching his nose, which bled lightly.

With tears forming in his eyes from the sudden pain, he reached out and touched the "wall" he had struck—and gawked in wonder. "What is this...? An invisible wall?"

"Seems like it," Xu Tao nodded, pressing his palm against the same wall. "It’s paper thin, but I can feel a strange flow of energy from it. I doubt I could punch a hole through it, even using my full strength." He shook his head.

"So that means... despite being able to see each other, both teams cannot interfere with one another?" Jehanne muttered, trying to figure out the rules of this floor. "But what is the trial, anyway? There’s no monster to fight..."

"Huh? What are you saying? The trial’s already been laid out since the beginning."

Xu Tao casually pointed toward the golden-lit structure that dominated the center of the room.

"That’s... the trial?" Achilles grumbled, his expression filled with doubt. "That’s way too tame compared to the trials I’ve faced before..."

"It should be," Xu Tao nodded confidently.

"Well, everyone will understand once we get closer. I’m sure."

Xu Tao walked forward with calm assurance, Zetian following a step behind. The rest followed as well. Even Arthur and his team approached the mysterious object from the other side of the invisible wall.

As they neared, they began examining it in detail.

It was a large block of stone, roughly five meters tall and two meters wide, carved with lines and curves in an organized manner. Though it was clearly some form of written language, no one present could read the script. A divine tablet.

Furthermore, the only stairs leading toward the next floor was situated right behind it.

"...Stay here," Xu Tao instructed as they drew close to the holy slab.

He alone stepped forward, placing a hand against the stone’s surface, tracing the inscriptions as if trying to feel the thoughts of the one who carved them.

"I see..." he muttered, nodding to himself.

Slowly, he infused his Qi into the stone. As he did, the etched letters began to glow with golden light—so bright it felt as if the words were burning themselves into their eyes.

Then it happened.

A resonant voice echoed from all directions. It was neither male nor female, young nor old—rather, it felt like thousands of voices blended into one grand chorus.

[

Let the host be divided: one half shall pass through, the other shall be still.

They who advance shall proceed to the next trial; they who remain shall practice silence.

Choose swiftly, for the hour of reckoning waits not. Life is not promised to the slothful.

]

"W-What is this? A voice echoing directly inside my head?!"

"This voice... Is it saying only half can survive? Is that what it meant?!"

"Don’t tell me only one side—ours or theirs—gets to survive?!"

As the voice faded, panic quickly took root. Partly from the eerie, otherworldly chorus—and partly from the ominous message it delivered.

"..."

While most panicked, a few figures remained still. Xu Tao was one, his gaze locked seriously on the stone tablet. Zetian was another—unfazed, perhaps even indifferent to the idea of sacrificing half the group.

"No... Something’s not right..." Jehanne murmured, brows furrowing in thought. "This is God’s trial... He wouldn’t demand we sacrifice others just to proceed..."

"But no matter what, isn’t it saying we have to give up half of us here?" Achilles said casually, his voice loud enough for all to hear. "Then there’s nothing to discuss. That half is the sacrifice. They should be honored to lay down their lives for a Demigod like me."

"Hah? Bullshit!" Arthur snapped explosively. "And who the hell are you to decide that?! You just got here! What do you even know?!"

"E-Everyone, calm down..."

Yifa tried to mediate, but her voice was too soft to stop the growing tension. Zetian didn’t even bother to speak—she simply continued observing Xu Tao.

"Pass through, stay still... Proceed, and practice silence... God’s trial... Sacrifice..."

Xu Tao whispered the words, furrowing his brows. He gently touched the monolith again—until finally, his expression brightened.

"I see. I understand now!" he exclaimed, turning around to face everyone. "Stop fighting! This isn’t a test of faith requiring us to sacrifice anyone!"

"Huh?"

Almost everyone turned to him, confused. The arguments paused—for now. Xu Tao took the opportunity to continue.

"This is a test of wisdom! And I’ve successfully deciphered its meaning!"

"Wisdom?" Arthur asked, curious. "Then what do those words truly mean?"

Arthur had become the crowd’s voice of reason. Everyone was on edge, wondering if they’d be sacrificed the next moment. But Xu Tao spoke with conviction.

"It’s simple to explain—but it’ll take time." He pointed at the stone slab one last time.

"The final phrase, ’Life is not promised to the slothful,’ means our lives will be forfeit if we take too long to decide," he said. "Based on standard trial mechanics, I’m guessing we’ve got about five minutes from the moment someone touches the monolith."

"F-Five minutes?!"

They hadn’t been counting, but enough time had passed that the pressure now felt real.

"I know. We’re running out of time. So... Arthur..."

Xu Tao looked to the blonde king on the other side of the invisible wall. Arthur’s brows lifted, a flicker of realization crossing his face. He gave a wry smile, already anticipating the plan.

"I see. So we’re going to stay—"

"You should take everyone up the stairs now. Hurry."

"—right here... eh?"

But Xu Tao’s instruction completely contradicted what Arthur expected.