Chapter 102 [The Realm of Heaven-Seizing Martyrdom]!

Gu Ye watched the departing crowd from the Yanxia Federation, his gaze lingering particularly on Cui Lieqiong.

He couldn't quite figure out what kind of personality this man actually had.

Gu Ye had observed Cui Lieqiong's every move; he seemed extremely crude, yet in certain aspects, he was surprisingly meticulous. One could only describe him as 'coarse yet refined'.

"Let's go, Bro... Gu Ye." Yan Dinghan patted Gu Ye's shoulder and followed Yan Shuangling toward a corner of the mountain peak.

Gu Ye composed himself and stopped dwelling on these taxing thoughts. At this moment, all the Yanxia Federation Examinees were in the same boat; for now, he was safe.

"Gu Ye, this is the burial ground I've chosen for you. From here on, everything you have will be mine."

Xu Yuanmo stared at Gu Ye's disappearing back, a look of madness flashing in his eyes.

Yan Shuangling led the three of them to a corner of the mountain peak, where a small hut came into view.

Gu Ye asked in surprise,

"This is your card?"

"Mhm!"

Yan Shuangling nodded at his words. Once they stepped inside the hut, Gu Ye was shocked. It looked like a tiny shack from the outside, but it contained an entire world within; the interior was vast, like a small villa.

Gu Ye had heard of this card before. It was called [Void-Containing Abode], originating from an Immortal Cultivation Card Domain and later modified. It was said to be extremely expensive.

Even a white-tier [Void-Containing Abode] was worth five million Federation Credits.

"Hey! Old Gu, you were really something today, charging up to the five-thousandth step. Talk about showing off in front of everyone."

Chu Ling's voice rang out, his tone playful.

"It was nothing!"

Gu Ye said with a smile, not being modest in the slightest.

"Old Gu, you should have seen the expressions on the faces of the other Federations; they looked like they'd swallowed shit. It was priceless."

"Haha..."

Afterward, Gu Ye introduced Luo Yuerou and Yan Dinghan to the two of them.

Over the next dozen or so days, everyone cherished the tempering opportunity provided by the [stairway to godhood] immensely. No major slaughter occurred.

During the first few days, people would occasionally reach the summit, but after that, no one else arrived.

Some were killed on the steps, mostly due to conflicts between Church Members and Federation Examinees.

Finally, the last day arrived.

Gu Ye's step count had reached 7,864, placing him first.

In second place was Nie Xinghe of the Nine Lands Federation at 7,598 steps, followed by Goat Two, Cui Lieqiong, Shan Qixiu, Holovi Waldorf, Mo Yu, Li Weihuan, Devon Dudley...

The Evil God Cult members who had caught up from behind were essentially the leaders of this operation.

Today was the final day. If no one could obtain the [spirit sealing cauldron] or if the final three factions weren't decided, then everyone would die within the Card Domain.

Everyone waited before the [stairway to godhood], gazing at the long steps that pierced the sky.

Finally, as the first rays of sunlight cast onto the [stairway to godhood], everyone moved instantly.

Gu Ye's expression tightened. He took a step forward and vanished from the spot.

The moment he vanished, a bolt of black lightning suddenly struck where he had been standing.

The Yanxia Federation Examinees who hadn't entered yet immediately looked at the attacker in fury.

It was Mo Yu of the Demon Refining Society. Seeing their murderous glares, Mo Yu smiled faintly.

"Oops, my hand slipped. My apologies!"

Before his voice even faded, he vanished from the spot and entered the [stairway to godhood].

When Gu Ye opened his eyes, he was already standing on the 7,864th step where he had left off.

Whenever someone entered the [stairway to godhood], they could choose to return to the step from their last challenge or start over.

Gu Ye looked back. Seeing Nie Xinghe not far behind him, his eyes narrowed; this was a very strong competitor.

Gu Ye had seen him several times, and he always looked composed. He had a very refined temperament; from him, Gu Ye felt as if he were seeing Ning Shijun.

Gu Ye turned back, no longer focusing on these things. He looked ahead with a determined gaze and continued climbing.

Ten thousand steps, ten trials: Physical Body, Spirit, Psionic Energy, Disposition, Obsession, Comprehension, Dao Heart, Origin, Mandate of Heaven, and Karma.

What Gu Ye faced now was the trial of the Dao Heart.

Dao Heart! Only by holding fast to one's original heart can one attain the Dao.

This Dao Heart trial was somewhat similar to the fourth trial, yet different. Dao Heart tested how strongly a being adhered to the path in their heart.

But Gu Ye had already solidified his Dao Heart the moment his parents died.

To survive!

To survive in this shitty world!

That was why he was always so cautious in everything he did; everything was for the sake of his own life.

Thus, Gu Ye moved very quickly through these thousand steps. Below him, the others also began to exert themselves, chasing after Gu Ye.

An hour later, Gu Ye reached the Origin trial. The content was to strip a person of their cultivation and have them start from zero, cultivating back to the Mythical rank.

This stage might be extremely difficult for high-level Card Masters, but for this group of fledgling rookies, it was a piece of cake.

So, Gu Ye sped through this stage, finishing the entire section in half an hour.

The Card Masters following behind didn't take much time to finish either.

It wasn't until the ninth trial, Mandate of Heaven, that Gu Ye's pace slowed down significantly.

Mandate of Heaven! It means Heavenly Calamity! Those burdened by the Mandate of Heaven must not retreat, must not evade, and must not accept their fate. If they cross it, their destiny is held by themselves, not by Heaven.

Upon stepping onto the first stair, Gu Ye was struck by a calamity of burning flames. Each subsequent step brought a different calamity upon him.

Every step he took was incredibly difficult, and those behind him suffered the same pain as Gu Ye.

They struggled forward, their bodies trembling; they didn't even have the energy left to attack others.

At that moment, a black shadow suddenly leaped past everyone and rushed behind Gu Ye.

The others, barely conscious, squinted to see a man they didn't recognize.

Xu Yuanmo had used a special card to be able to rush here.

However, in that split second, he had also experienced the trials of all the steps.

Xu Yuanmo looked at Gu Ye in front of him, trembling. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, his eyes filled with excitement. His body shook incessantly—it was unclear if it was from agitation or a physical stress response.

"Gu Ye, I told you, I would come back for you."

Xu Yuanmo's low voice suddenly exploded in Gu Ye's ear.

Gu Ye's pupils constricted upon hearing the voice. Before he could react, Xu Yuanmo's voice rang out again:

"[Heaven-Plundering Dao Martyr Realm]!"

[Heaven-Plundering Dao Martyr Realm] uses oneself as an anchor to lock onto a person, pulling them into the Martyr Realm. Until one person dies, the Martyr Realm will not vanish. The survivor obtains everything from the deceased, including but not limited to memories, cards, skills, destiny, and so on.

This was the card Xu Yuanmo had obtained from a future Card Domain, the only card he had brought back with him, and his reliance for seizing everything from Gu Ye.