224 The Death Gate of the 90th Floor (2/2)
The Great Khan Heavenly King grumbled unhappily, ”We should have gone to the 100th floor immediately instead!…” But as he was about to say something more, he noticed that half the group was giving him an unfriendly stare so he did not continue.
Yi Ping turned to Yunzi, ”Yunzi what do you think?”
Yunzi smiled serenely, ”It has been a long time since you have asked me anything. It isn't a bad thing because you have already learnt to take charge of things.”
She was actually a praising Yi Ping as she took a dovey look at him.
Youxue nodded as she heaved a soft sigh, ”We have thought that we are the smart ones but you are the one that have led us to safety so far.”
Yi Ping appeared to be a little awkward, ”I…I am just following my instinct. I actually didn't give much thought to anything.”
Lingfeng laughed softly, ”That is right. At least he has the guts and awareness to admit that.”
Yi Ping growled, ”Lingfeng…”
But Lingfeng smiled as she quickly interrupted him, ”I used to think I am smart. But if he is as smart as me then everything will be so different and it will be disastrous in the end.”
Many of the maidens were nodding and heaving soft sighs. If Yi Ping had listened to them then everyone would have died ten times over!
Yunzi chuckled softly, ”That is so true!”
Yi Ping was solemn as he said, ”Yun, can you tell me what you are thinking?”
Yunzi looked at him for a while before she heaved a soft sigh, ”I think that you have already made up your mind on this…”
She paused briefly before continuing, ”Even though until now, the trial seems pretty easy but it is actually much more dangerous than it seems.”
She lifted her fingers to point at her surroundings, ”Look at these poisonous fumes that are here. Until now, we cannot exchange a fresh intake of vital breath. These fumes may seem insignificant now but it will be a totally different matter once a fight breaks out. This will cause us to be in dire straits if we are not fully able to utilize our strength.”
Everyone nodded. Actually they had already known it but none of them wanted to be the first to say it!
Yunzi emphasized, ”If we cannot exchange a fresh intake of vital energy then we cannot muster our martial powers once it have dissipated. Beside, mustering our martial powers will consume our existing vital breath and endanger us too.”
That was the worries that were plaguing Yi Ping, Alice, Asura and Xian'Er!
But what other choices did they have now?
Yunzi looked gently at Yi Ping, ”Ping'Er, are you thinking the same as I am thinking? Are you? What will you do?”
Yi Ping looked at her gently, ”Yun, you can read my thoughts?”
Yunzi said quietly, ”Are you thinking of entering that gate on your own? You want to test the boss behind this gate yourself? So that we won't be endangered?”
The Western Paradise Heavenly King roared as he slammed his rod onto the ground, ”I am a warrior. There are no enemies that I fear and I don't fear death. If there is anything that I fear then it is running without a single fight!”
The Sacred Embodied Heavenly Goddess laughed softly, ”This isn't the time for brainless bravery.”
She looked at Yi Ping, ”And that goes for you too!”
Yi Ping shook his head as he looked solemnly at everyone, ”I have to do it alone. Only I am able to face the monster beyond this gate.”
When he had said that, a thunderous rumble beyond the obsidian gate could be heard; judging from the earthshaking tremor that had just been felt, the monster beyond the gate had to be gigantic!
Yi Ping patted the Western Paradise Heavenly King as he said quietly to him, ”Thank you for imparting the Golden Invincible Force to me. But this battle is mine alone. If you really want to help me then be my guardian and prevent the others from after me, lest I will be distracted.”
The Western Paradise Heavenly King was momentarily speechless and did not what to say!
Han Lin, Aiel, Yu'Er and Mei'Er had already scurried next to Yi Ping as they said almost at the same time, ”It is too dangerous!”
Yu'Er bit her lips, ”Master Yi Ping, your Yu'Er has never begged you for anything before, am I right? Either we battle together or we leave together!”
Mei'Er pursed her lips as she unsheathed her golden divine sword, ”My sister is right!”
Yi Ping held her hand as he said gently to her, ”I know, Yu'Er and I have always appreciated you for that. But now, I am afraid that only I have the strength to overcome the boss that is inside. If we all enter at the same time, the boss that is beyond the gate will be impossible to beat.”
Han Lin turned around to look at Xian'Er, Nuwa, Alice, Isa, Lingfeng and Asura, ”Hey! Aren't you going to stop him?”
Lingfeng replied, ”Ping'Er is right. This is the only way.”
Alice nodded lightly, ”Other than Yi Ping, only the Great Goddess Fantian and the Great Desolate Goddess Nuwa are qualified to enter this gate.”
Xian'Er said gently, ”Ping'Er, I am joining you. Say no more. You can be rest assured that I won't be your hindrance.”
Nuwa smiled, ”I have never tried to fight with just a single vital breath. This is a new and interesting challeng for me. I am joining in as well.”
Yi Ping turned ashen immediately, ”I have the protection of the Golden Invincible Force. As long as I can maintain it, I can protect my vital breath but the rest of you can't afford to take a single hit…”
Lie Qing said coolly, ”Ping'Er, I know the weakness of your Golden Invincible Force. It requires a great deal of effort to muster and maintain it. With just a single vital breath, even if you did not receive a single hit, how long can you maintain it before you use up all your vital breath?”
Yi Ping was solemn and was downcast. He was trembling. He was not a coward. In fact, he would not back off from a fight. There was nothing under the heavens and in the earth that could daunt him. The only thing that he feared the most was that he could not protect his love ones. He did not want to repeat the tragedies of the White Sage, the Dark Chaos Lord or even the Great God Pangu.
He knew that he was carrying a huge burden on his back.
So he said aloud, ”I am going. If you really hope for my wellbeing then wish me the very best so that I can focus on the fight ahead! If I fail then I want everyone to leave this passage immediately. Lele will bring you to the 100th level…”
Xian'Er said gently, ”Ping'Er, don't forget me and Nuwa.”
She gave him a stern look before saying, ”I have never asked you for anything until now. Bring us with you. I don't want to stop you and I want to fight with you. I don't intend to sacrifice myself either and I will persist to the last. Otherwise, I do not deserve to be called the Great Goddess Fantian. Only in adversity can our will be stronger.”
Yi Ping looked at her and was helpless. He knew that Xian'Er had already made up her mind so he said, ”Xian'Er and Nuwa will join me.”
Nuwa clapped her hands and laughed, ”Excellent!”
But Yi Ping quickly said to her, ”Stay behind Xian'Er and I. We have our divine swords to protect ourselves but you…”
All of a sudden Nuwa snapped her fingers as she said coldly, ”I know what I am doing. Once we pass that ugly dark gate, there is no retreat. It is either we win this battle or perish together. However, I cherish myself too much to die before any of you.”
Yi Ping rubbed his nose to smile, ”That is good. That is what I want.”
Lingfeng looked at Nuwa, ”You really don't look like someone that will sacrifice yourself for someone else. Yet you are doing it now. What a cold appearance on the outside but a heart of gold inside!”
Nuwa smiled coldly, ”Think what you like.”
The Jade Emperor heaved a soft sigh, ”The three of you are Eight Positioning Immortals. If even you can't overcome the hurdle in front of us, can we survive the 100th level floor? We might as well turn back now!”
The Universal Old Man murmured, ”Our original goal in the Stellar Sanctuary is to seek the divine stages of immortal ranks. Now that we have already obtained it, we should turn back instead…”
But Yi Ping, Xian'Er and Nuwa were already in front of the gigantic obsidian gate!
Yunzi called out all of a sudden, ”Ping'Er, wait!”
Yi Ping paused in his tracks and turned around, ”Yes?”
Yunzi smiled as she said, ”You just go in like this without a plan?”
Yi Ping, Xian'Er and Nuwa looked at each other…
Nuwa raised her eyelids, ”We need a plan? Or rather, we can plan?”
Yi Ping asked, ”Yun, you have a plan?”
Yunzi laughed softly, ”If I don't have a plan, will I ask you to wait?”
Yi Ping smiled, ”Indeed not!”
Lingfeng, Yu'Er, Ye Yin, Xingyue, Mei'Er, Han Lin, Isa, Asura, Isa, Lie Qing, Lele, Youxue and all the others were startled as they crowded around Yunzi, ”What is the plan? There is a plan?”
Yunzi smiled, ”Once this obsidian gate is opened and we have entered it, there is no escape from its sealing formation but it doesn't mean we cannot influence the outcome of the battle, am I right?”
Yi Ping furrowed, ”We can influence the outcome of the battle?”
Yunzi smiled as she pointed at Lele, Lingfeng and Alice at once, ”Naturally we can. You can let them stand on the edge of the obsidian gate and let them be your guides!”
Alice was startled as she looked at Lingfeng and Lele who had immediately got what Yunzi was hinting!
Lele said excitedly, ”That is right!”
Lingfeng chuckled softly, ”I have almost forgotten that the six of us are linked with each other. I like this plan so let's us proceed with it then!”
Lele nodded, ”Then I will be the guide of Yi Ping!…”
Everyone immediately groaned; Lele was being too predictable!
Yunzi immediately smiled but she was soon solemn, ”Lele is the Alma of the Great God Pangu. Naturally, it is best this way.”
Lingfeng smiled, ”Then I will be the guide for Sister Xian'Er.”
Alice nodded, ”And I shall be eyes and ears for the Great Desolate Goddess Nuwa.”
Yi Ping nodded, ”Then let this be the plan then!”
Yunzi nodded as she called out one last time, ”Ping'Er, be careful!”
She was soon followed by Lie Qing, Youxue, Yu'Er, Mei'Er, Ye Yin, Xingyue, the other maidens and his sworn brothers who were all urging the same!
The Celestial Liege said solemnly, ”You rascal. You have better come back. We still have an unfinished duel with each other!”
Yi Ping beamed as he brandished his two divine swords, ”I will…I will…”