The Side Character Who Wins by Doing Nothing

”The second floor is simply a place to provide benefits to the Trialists. There is no danger.”

”After passing through this door, you will walk down a path to the very end, passing one thousand chests along the way.”

”Each chest contains different Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. You have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to walk the entire path, and you may only take the contents of a single chest.”

”After opening a chest, you may decide whether or not to take what’s inside. Once you make your choice, it cannot be changed. Each person has only one opportunity to open any given chest.”

”What you ultimately obtain depends entirely on your luck.”

”However, I can offer you a hint: the best item within is a Ninth Grade Luotian Pill.”

”Additionally, since this place was originally a trial ground for Demon Cultivators, most of the treasures are for their use. However, a small number can be used by both Demon Cultivators and Immortal Cultivators. Whether or not you can find one is up to you.”

”Only one person may walk this path at a time. You may now decide the order amongst yourselves.”

The group exchanged glances. Shen Yuzhao spoke with a hint of unease, ”Are they really being this kind? Is this purely to hand out rewards?”

If this were on the fifth floor or higher, he might not have been so suspicious. That would at least indicate the trial’s creator was powerful enough that giving out some rewards would be a gesture of goodwill, even if they failed to obtain the ultimate inheritance.

But this was only the second floor. The first floor was difficult, but the fact that their entire group passed suggests it wasn’t absurdly so. Many people should be able to get through.

So for the second floor to suddenly offer rewards felt strange, no matter how you looked at it.

Duan Xingyun said pensively, ”Perhaps it’s called a ten-floor trial, but in reality, every other floor is a reward floor. Maybe there are only five true trials?”

That was certainly one possibility, but it was an optimistic one.

It would be for the best if that were the case, but they had to consider other possibilities. What if there was a trap?

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Sangjiu said, ”Or maybe... the items on the second floor are related to the trials that come after.”

”For instance, choosing the right item might give you an advantage later?”

Luo Linlang’s eyes brightened, and she nodded immediately. ”That makes sense!”

Li Qiancheng added, ”Besides, they call it a benefit floor, but doesn’t it also test one’s character?”

”Based on the rules, a greedy person might end up with nothing at all.”

Everyone had made a valid point, but no one could say for sure which theory was correct.

”Let’s just play it by ear once we’re inside. If you see any particularly unusual treasures, take note of them.”

”Also, try to choose something that can help you right away. It’s better to be prepared.”

”And don’t let your guard down completely once you’re inside. The rules themselves might be a trap, so it’s best to be careful.”

Having finished their discussion, they wasted no more time and prepared to begin.

Since they didn’t know what the third floor had in store, it was best to have a steady and reliable person lead the way.

Just as Lu Sangjiu was about to volunteer, Duan Xingyun beat her to it. ”I’ll go first.”

Then, he lowered his voice and added, ”If I can, I’ll leave a hint for you.”

In his eyes, going first offered the least advantage. As their master, he naturally wanted to leave any opportunities for his disciples, so he volunteered to be the first to go.

He would try to open as many chests as he could. If he could mark them, he could make things easier for those who followed.

Duan Xingyun walked to the entrance. The great door opened automatically, then swung shut behind him as his figure disappeared inside.

There was no use in worrying now. Besides, Duan Xingyun was a Divinity Transformation Stage cultivator who had lived for several hundred years; he was certainly more dependable than the others.

The only problem was that Duan Xingyun had a terrible memory.

It hadn’t caused any trouble recently since they had all been traveling together, but now he was alone... ’I hope nothing goes wrong.’

Shaking off her thoughts, Lu Sangjiu’s mind turned to the Heavenly Luo Pill the voice had just mentioned.

Lu Sangjiu knew of the Ninth Grade Luotian Pill. It was a rare type of Elixir Pill that could be consumed by both Demon Cultivators and Immortal Cultivators.

Its ingredients included both Magic Plants and Spirit Plants, and its primary effect was to create a violent surge of energy, stimulating a Cultivator to unleash their latent potential.

After consuming it, a Golden Core Cultivator could briefly unleash power at the Initial Stage of Divinity Transformation, while a Nascent Soul Cultivator could reach the Peak of Divinity Transformation.

Someone with a Late-stage Divinity Transformation cultivation like Duan Xingyun could ascend to the Body Integration Realm.

The power of the Ninth Grade Luotian Pill was, one could say, immense. Most importantly, Secret Techniques or Elixir Pills that offered such a brief surge in cultivation usually came with severe, harmful aftereffects.

But the beauty of the Ninth Grade Luotian Pill was that its side effects were not severe.

For a Demon Cultivator, especially, the Spiritual Energy contained within it would cause no significant harm. It would basically just leave them completely drained of power, requiring a day of bed rest.

For an Immortal Cultivator, there was the additional risk of Demonic Qi invading their body, but with Lu Sangjiu around, that wasn’t much of a problem.

’So... it would be great if I was lucky enough to get the Ninth Grade Luotian Pill.’

With Lu Sangjiu’s abilities, her cultivation would rise to the Initial Stage of Divinity Transformation, but the power she could unleash would be comparable to the Body Integration Realm.

With that kind of strength, she would be virtually unstoppable, even in the trial grounds of an ancient Great Power.

’Tsk, I really want that.’

’But with a one-in-a-thousand chance, finding it would be too difficult.’

Just as she had this thought, Lu Sangjiu’s eyes suddenly lit up. She whipped her head around to look at Luo Linlang.

Luo Linlang was still wondering how her master was faring inside. When Lu Sangjiu suddenly stared at her, she jumped in fright. ”Wh-what is it?”

Lu Sangjiu smiled faintly. ”Second Senior Sister, can you use your Word Spirit Technique?”

She explained her idea to Luo Linlang, whose eyes also lit up.

Her Word Spirit Technique wouldn’t be very useful if she didn’t know what was inside, but since they knew a Heavenly Luo Pill was in there, it seemed like there was a real opportunity!

Her spirits lifted at once. ”I’ll try!”

Luo Linlang took a deep breath, and a strange power began to flow around her. She slowly began to speak, ”I declare that after Lu Sangjiu enters that room, she will definitely...”

But as she spoke, her expression suddenly changed. An invisible pressure seemed to bear down on her, preventing her from finishing the sentence.

She probably could have forced the words out, but it would have meant suffering a grievous injury. She feared she wouldn’t survive the subsequent trials.

So, after a slight pause, she was forced to amend her statement. ”...have an eighty percent...”

Still no good. She changed it again. ”...have a seventy percent chance of getting the Heavenly Luo Pill.”

As the last word fell, Lu Sangjiu clearly felt a Power of Laws descend upon her.

But Luo Linlang immediately swayed. Lu Sangjiu rushed to catch her, asking worriedly, ”Are you okay?”