70: Chapter 70: You Can't Grasp What's in Here
Following the Ninth Prince's movements, the array masters of the Heavenly Snake Clan behind him also followed suit; although their speed was not equal to his, they were still steadily ascending.
In contrast, on the human side.
Liu Yuan and the others were holding instruments and blueprints, calculating with sweat pouring down their faces.
"It's no use... The changes are too fast!"
Liu Yuan's eyes were red with anxiety. "At this calculation speed, it takes at least five minutes to take a single step! Plus, the margin for error is extremely low!"
Fifteen minutes passed.
The Ninth Prince had already reached the hundredth step, and he looked back with a gaze like he was looking at trash.
Meanwhile, Liu Yuan and the others were still hovering before the first step.
"Too slow."
Lin Fan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
He reached out and took the "Detailed Explanation of Heavenly Snake Clan Array Patterns" from Liu Yuan's hand, flipping through it rapidly.
"Swish, swish..."
The sound of pages turning seemed exceptionally jarring in the silent valley.
"Captain? What are you doing..." Liu Yuan was stunned. Trying to cram at the last minute? Could he even understand it?
"Quiet."
Lin Fan closed his eyes slightly.
【Ding! Array knowledge detected, Lv201 Comprehension Ability activated!】
【Discarding the false and retaining the true! Analyzing...】
In his mind, those obscure and difficult-to-understand array patterns resembling spirit snakes and giant pythons were instantly deconstructed into the most basic lines of energy.
"So that's how it is."
Lin Fan opened his eyes sharply.
Bright Heart Dharma Eye, activate!
In an instant, the once perilous steps transformed into something else entirely in his eyes.
Those flowing array patterns appeared extremely slow to him. Every fatal trap was marked in red, and every safe exit path emitted a green light.
"This is what you call... a hacked perspective."
Lin Fan casually tossed the book back to Liu Yuan.
"Follow me closely and step where I step. Whoever falls behind will have their pay docked when we get back."
With that, Lin Fan moved.
Without the slightest hesitation, he took a step forward.
"Captain, watch out! Just a moment ago, that place..." Liu Yuan shouted in terror.
However.
Lin Fan's foot landed steadily, and the fire array that should have erupted showed absolutely no reaction!
Immediately after.
The second step, the third step, the fourth step...
Lin Fan walked with his hands in his pockets, his steps light, and he even started whistling.
"This... how is this possible?!"
Liu Yuan and the others' eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.
They had been calculating for ages, risking their lives, yet they hadn't dared to take a step, while the Captain was just walking without even looking? And he was doing it correctly?!
"Why are you dazed? Keep up!"
Lin Fan urged them, looking back.
Only then did everyone snap out of their daze and hurriedly follow in Lin Fan's footsteps.
The following scene caused the entire valley to fall silent.
Lin Fan could be seen leading five people, charging forward on the deathly stairs!
Fifty steps... one hundred steps... two hundred steps!
In just a few short minutes, they had crossed over two hundred steps!
Ahead, the Ninth Prince, who had been feeling quite smug, suddenly felt the sound of rapid footsteps coming from behind.
He turned his head instinctively.
Then, he witnessed a scene that made him question his entire existence.
Lin Fan was leading his group, sweeping past him.
When passing by the Ninth Prince, Lin Fan even paused, turned his head, and flashed a bright, mocking smile at the dazed Ninth Prince.
"Is this your Heavenly Snake Clan's top-tier talent?"
Lin Fan shook his head, looking disappointed. "It's nothing special. My grandmother climbs stairs faster than you."
"You!!"
The Ninth Prince trembled with rage, his golden vertical pupils instantly bloodshot. "You cheated!! How could you be this fast?!"
He was an array genius, the likes of which the Heavenly Snake Clan hadn't seen in a century! And this array was left behind by his clan's ancestors; he had a natural bloodline advantage.
Yet this human... by what right?!
"Cheating?"
Lin Fan shrugged. "Is it that hard to admit others are better? If you're trash, just practice more."
Having said that, Lin Fan ignored the furious Ninth Prince and accelerated again.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Under the dual enhancement of the Bright Heart Dharma Eye and his terrifying Comprehension Ability, the remaining steps were practically a smooth, wide road for Lin Fan.
Finally.
Lin Fan took a step onto the final stair.
"Hoo..."
The mist before his eyes dissipated instantly.
A magnificent and ancient hall stood before him. At the entrance of the hall stood a stone tablet, engraved with several murderous characters—【Those who enter the hall, bear the consequences of life and death themselves】.
Lin Fan keenly sensed that the fluctuations emanating from within the hall were not just an array trial, but also concealed a heart-stopping killing intent.
That was a pure killing array!
"We're here."
Liu Yuan and the others caught up, panting. Looking at the hall before them, they were all extremely excited. "Captain! Let's go in..."
"Stop."
Lin Fan suddenly reached out, stopping the eager group.
He stared at the deep entrance of the hall, his Bright Heart Dharma Eye warning him frantically.
"You can't handle what's inside."
Lin Fan's expression became unprecedentedly grave. He turned around and looked at Liu Yuan and the others. "You stay at the entrance and don't let that little loach from the Heavenly Snake Clan come in and cause trouble."
Just as Lin Fan stepped into the hall, the heavy bronze door behind him slammed shut, completely cutting off the light from outside.
"Hehehe..."
An eerie laughter seeped out from the walls in every direction, echoing within the hall.
"Foolish human, you actually dare to covet our clan's inheritance? Since you have entered this door, leave your life here!"
Accompanied by this voice, countless bizarre, dark red array patterns suddenly lit up on the floor in the center of the hall. The Origin Qi of heaven and earth surged wildly, gathering ten meters in front of Lin Fan.
Light and shadow distorted, and a figure emerged.
Wearing a black combat uniform, with a battle saber on its back, a straight posture, and a careless expression.
That was... Lin Fan himself!
"Oh ho?"
Lin Fan examined this "self" before him. "Is this the first level? A clone? Or a flower in the mirror, moon in the water?"
The "Lin Fan" opposite him didn't speak; it drew the battle saber from its back.
A tyrannical aura erupted from the "Mirror Lin Fan."
First-level Origin Sect Realm!
At the same time, the array patterns on the surrounding floor shone brilliantly, and countless threads of Origin Qi wove together into a killing net, enveloping Lin Fan.
If it were an ordinary martial artist, facing this double assault from "himself" and the killing array, they would likely be in a panic.
But Lin Fan simply activated the 【Bright Heart Dharma Eye】.
Golden runes swirled in his pupils, and the world before him was deconstructed.
"So that's it."
Lin Fan sneered. "All appearance, no substance. Although this mirror image has replicated my physical strength and cultivation, and even simulated that A-grade battle saber, but..."
"You lack the aura of a powerhouse, and more importantly, you have no brain."
Before the words had even faded, the mirror image had already charged with its blade, the sword intent sharp, aiming directly for Lin Fan's throat.
However, Lin Fan stood motionless in place.
Not until the blade was about to touch his skin did he shift his feet.
"Whoosh!"
The blade grazed past his nose tip.
This step seemed perilous but was actually executed with exquisite precision. Because Lin Fan's foot had landed exactly on a safe exit node of the floor's killing array.
And the mirror image, which only knew how to rush and attack blindly, failed its strike and couldn't stop its momentum, stepping right into the death zone of the killing array.