Chapter 263 - 263 244 Reaching the Summit

Words : 2001 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

263: Chapter 244: Reaching the Summit 263: Chapter 244: Reaching the Summit “…The cat on the stage laughing foolishly, I challenge you…” When “Lu Ping’an” shouted these words at the big cat above, an invisible chain formed between the two living beings. [Rule One, in the cycle of life, all creatures have the right to compete. Any life can propose a ‘Life Performance’ challenge to another life, and during this process, third parties cannot interfere.] From this moment on, “Lu Ping’an” and “Kerdalais” became competitors in the evolution of life, destined to have only one survive. “Uh, can’t I choose that big cat?” But “Lu Ping’an” himself could not observe this light. He only knew that the words he spoke silenced the entire arena, with no response for a long time. Yet the real Lu Ping’an also fell silent, as this was slightly different from what he had expected. It seemed that his “past self” was not being controlled? “Just like the original…” Xia Qin’s murmur echoed the true feelings of the real Lu Ping’an. The scene before them seemed like a replica of their memories, with a patient who could collapse at any moment fearlessly challenging a deity. He felt somewhat helpless; if he really couldn’t choose, “Lu Ping’an” would find it a little troubling and embarrassing. Finally, the big cat on the stage confirmed that it was being challenged… humiliated and despised by a mortal! “No, no, no, it’s okay. To be precise, I’m glad you chose me. Let’s present a wonderful performance to the Mother… Pfft, sorry, I’ve been trained not to laugh out loud.” “Kerdalais,” who had been speaking with an exclamation tone all the way, finally couldn’t help but burst out laughing. As the master of this Land of Life, she still had some privileges. She easily saw through the opponent’s “life,” knowing how weak the human before her was and how pitifully few chips he had. “Boom!” The giant beast leaped off the platform, causing the entire arena to tremble. Its sacred white limbs were faintly covered by floating clouds, and the sacred beast even refused to touch the dirty ground. Its gentle and compassionate tiger head was full of pity for the world, but its three snake heads greedily licked their lips. Although everything here was a sacrifice to the Mother, and it was fuel for her to ascend, it wouldn’t hurt to taste the flavor. The Mother, who loved her children equally, wouldn’t mind. Usually, bodies with rich spiritual power had more chewiness but also more impurities. Changing the taste occasionally was a blessing. “…Oh my, you are so tall.” “Lu Ping’an” looked up it was not even up to its knee. He was sure that this was not a monster that ordinary people could handle when he got closer. “Regretting it? But it’s too late. The compassionate Mother loves every child equally, so as her follower and believer, I will give you a chance to pray and beg her. How many years are you willing to sacrifice for strength? Ten years? Five years? But let me warn you, exceeding your life’s limit will kill you instantly. The Mother loves her children but hates it when they deceive her…” [Rule Two, all creatures have the right to survive. Performers in the Life Competition can offer their limited mortal life as a gift to the Mother Goddess in exchange for infinite power. This is the Mother’s mercy, and the only chance for the weak.] “Kerdalais” lowered her head, looking down at the little guy. She didn’t slap the impertinent mortal to death. Did she kindly inform her opponent of the rules of this world? Did she inform him of the possibility of turning the tables? No, she was merely toying with her prey, enjoying the mortal’s struggle. Whether it was ten years, twenty years, or even fifty years, the outcome would be no different. She just wanted to see the ignorant mortal before her, overwhelmed by hesitation, fear, and uneasiness, to be distraught as he faced destruction. She lowered her head, wanting to see how this blasphemer would agonize over his life force. “All.” “Uh… What did you say?” “I said all. That Mother thing, if you can really fulfill my wish, take all of my remaining life.” “Lu Ping’an” shrugged, his face calm, as if the life he was sacrificing was not his own. In the arena, a giant beast and a mortal made their choice. “…Just like the original, Lu Ping’an, what were you thinking at that time?” As the only spectator here who had witnessed it twice, Xia Qin felt nostalgic. “Believe it or not, I didn’t think about anything at the time… well, I did consider the compensation. Dying honorably in front of the Official Secret Keeper would get me compensation, right? Honestly, your uniforms made me firm in my decision.” Lu Ping’an touched his chin, feeling nostalgic. Looking back, it was probably only the ignorant him who would make such a “foolish” decision. As previous sacrifices had proven, no matter how many years they sacrificed, they could never be a match for Kerdalais. But going all in from the beginning, even if they gained strength, they would still die the next moment. Wasn’t this just giving away? Was such a sacrifice meaningful? “Boom!” With a loud noise, the sacred giant beast involuntarily retreated, and the earth trembled violently. Under everyone’s gaze, it was her who wavered first in the face of what was deemed an impossible victory. That being said, is there hope?! [Rule Three, the Mother’s love is equal; no one is destined to become the sole Ascender…] “From the very beginning, dedicating everything… that’s the key to breaking the stalemate. The dedication is not about the life itself. Human life has no meaning to great beings; what matters is the act of dedication itself, the gift of a child to their mother! The love of a child for their mother.” Survivors’ reviews after the event may not have practical significance, but they are still necessary. “For the ‘Mother,’ the value of the gift itself is not important; it’s the sincerity of the child that matters most! The purse bought with the first month’s salary is worth a fortune. It’s the percentage, the percentage of dedication that really matters.” Indeed, the Mother Goddess is compassionate, so in theory, there can’t be an absolute winner in any Life Election… but this remains just a theory, a theory that will never be realized. However, there is in fact a very malicious trap here. As previously mentioned, when any life kills another life and takes its “remaining life force,” the perpetrator’s body will be overloaded, and their original “total life force” will leak out. Even if they lose only 0.00001%, it is not 100%; they can’t make a perfect dedication. In the third hidden rule, it is implied that “any life that dedicates everything can have the chance to win.” This is where Kerdalais’ cunning lies. The Ascension Ceremony should theoretically have a “reverse wind rule,” but once the Secret Realm expands to a certain extent, there will be no “complete life holder” to encounter her, let alone make a dedication… Even if one appears, she has countless ways to avoid it and numerous scapegoats, as long as she is given time to grow and set up the board. “Boom!” Kerdalais’ hesitation gave Lu Ping’an hope. “Huh? How come I’m not dead yet?” The boy’s “overacting” exclamation in the eyes of the original bystanders may have been the irony of a wisdom master. But in the eyes of Kerdalais at this moment, it’s naked mockery and a threat. “… Since she is a mother and loves her every child, she naturally won’t allow an uncontrollable one-sided situation to occur. Then, the ‘performance’ itself would become the bullying of a big brother against his little brothers, wouldn’t it? Therefore, under the Mother’s rules, the weak also have a chance to win…. ” “… Since she is a mother and expects every child to show the value of his life, she naturally won’t take his life away before he shines. He has the time for one blow, just one… ” As for the real Lu Ping’an, the audience member, he also truly understands the Mother Goddess cult and the Mother Goddess… There are some things he didn’t say, only guessing. A regular professional who sacrifices all their life can only get the “power to possibly win” in return. In the end, it still depends on their fighting skills and battle experience… In this regard, the giant cat is at a tempering level. The giant cat is confident that it can dodge or withstand the fatal blow of any professional’s “complete sacrifice” challenge. But as long as the ceremony reaches a certain stage, its fusion with the Life Mother Tree begins in earnest, and any challenge becomes meaningless. However, for a patient and a mortal like Lu Ping’an, he must be given the possibility of victory according to the rules! If his combat experience and skills cannot be enhanced, then he shall be compensated with more power… the strength to reverse everything in one blow as long as it hits! By force, the power of the rules was activated, and the “balance” law restricted the great deity who had created it. At that moment, the Life Mother Tree suddenly dimmed; too much power was drawn…. Also drained of power was the giant cat, who looked astonished. As the host of the ceremony, she was the source of the Life Mother Tree. “… No one is destined to become the only one to reach the top… ” The divine being who manipulated and played with the rules, finally faced the backlash of fate. The Wind Reverser “Lu Ping’an” on the field gained power, and he hadstrength and opportunity for one last blow, Under normal circumstances, this would still be meaningless… If the opponent was just a little farther away, that blow would be useless. The giant beast’s three snake tails trembled wildly from its perspective; everything was calculated. It never imagined that someone would so easily see through everything, that a measly human could understand the greatness and compassion of a mother better than itself… and be willing to dedicate everything for a possibility! “You’re crazy, you’re insane! You’re a madman! It’s just a possibility, and you’re risking your entire life on it!” To maintain the “balance” of the two sides, too much power was taken away. The giant cat… Kerdalais fell into the mortal world, unable to move at that moment. Surrounded by light, Lu Ping’an smiled, his smile light and breezy, as if the one who was about to die wasn’t him. “I don’t think I have any other choice… One for one, isn’t that worth it? Isn’t it?” The divine being who toyed with her prey was too close to the mortal, too close, close enough to… “Snap.” Lifting his hand, the boy flicked his middle finger, gently tapping the forehead of the giant beast. The slow-motion and soft action seemed like a friendly play between friends, or an intimate interaction between lovers. “Boom!” Blood splashed as the sacred beast lost its head. “… No one is destined to become the only one to reach the top…” Acting as the audience, Lu Ping’an whispered the only iron law of the Secret Realm… no, the whole world. History has been replayed, fate has completed its convergence, and it should have all ended here. However, clearly, the Sophist paid such a heavy price not just to watch a movie. His backup plan, after the god’s fall, is the time to activate. “…Huh, didn’t I sacrifice my life? How am I… still alive… ” At this moment, history entered a false script, a huge lie fabricated by the trickster.

Chapter 263 - 263 244 Reaching the Summit

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