Chapter 284: Rule Suppression

Lin Yifan can now determine what this so‑called Heroes' Platform actually is.

This is actually the testing ground used in web novels to gauge one's strength.

Consequently, each layer here has different rules, and they must break through each layer's rules to smoothly advance to the next.

The climbing of the second layer's steps, and the various mishaps that just occurred, are probably meant to test everyone's perseverance.

And because he is holding Ruan Qingtan, that counts as breaking the rule, no wonder the pressure on him is increasing.

Nevertheless, Lin Yifan absolutely will not put Ruan Qingtan down; he will keep her with him no matter what.

Ruan Qingtan naturally also noticed that they were falling further behind; she weakly leaned on Lin Yifan's shoulder and said softly:

"Captain, put me down! Carrying me adds too much resistance from the rule."

Lin Yifan looked down at Ruan Qingtan and said irritably:

"Putting you down, you think you could walk away? I've experienced mental‑force overexertion before; you're not even talking about walking now—your mind must be about to explode!"

"The feeling of mental‑force overexertion is indeed unpleasant…" Ruan Qingtan said with a helpless wry smile. "But this puts too much pressure on you; we're already falling further behind, and I'm afraid if we end up at the very back it could be dangerous…"

Lin Yifan glared at her irritably:

"Stop worrying about that. I fell behind on purpose; I feel something at the very back is following us, and I want to see what it is."

Ruan Qingtan didn't know whether Lin Yifan was telling the truth, but seeing his resolute attitude, she could only put it off for now.

After a moment of silence, she couldn't help but speak apologetically:

"Captain… I'm sorry! I caused you trouble; I knew exposing my constitution would attract a lot of unnecessary trouble, yet I was still so willful, and now I've brought you even more trouble. I deeply regret it…"

"There's nothing to regret," Lin Yifan said nonchalantly.

"What's done is done; regret changes nothing. Besides, what you did wasn't wrong in the first place. Frankly, with so many lives at stake, if you truly chose to watch them die without helping, I might think you're too cold‑blooded."

Ruan Qingtan heard this and still wore a worried expression, sighing:

"But I see Princess Aeri Liya being very assertive and resolute; I reckon they won't settle easily, and this matter will have endless repercussions."

"So what?" Lin Yifan tightened his arm, his face calm, "And you don't need to worry so much; you saved everyone, you're everyone's hero, and everyone will protect you."

"And you're my teammate; we've faced life and death together, so as long as you don't want something, we will never let anyone force you!"

At this moment, another teammate trailing behind Lin Yifan, Hong Shaoqiang, also with a resolute expression, spoke up:

"Xiao Tan, the Captain is right; we're a squad, a collective, and we'll advance and retreat together with you."

Ruan Qingtan's face was full of emotion, yet she couldn't help worrying: "But the Dawnlight Alliance…"

"Whether it's the Dawnlight Alliance or the Nightfall Temple, we'll block the troops, dam the water with earth—nothing to fear!" Lin Yifan cut her off, a determined glint in his eyes, "As long as I'm alive, no one can force you to do anything."

Tears glimmered in Ruan Qingtan's eyes, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

She gave a soft "mm" and rested her head on Lin Yifan's shoulder, closing her eyes peacefully.

Climbing upward all the way, Lin Yifan had forgotten how long he had been scaling the steps.

He only felt himself growing increasingly exhausted, his legs beginning to tremble.

And now he finally understood what the danger behind them truly was!

It was a dark void, with occasional faint glimmers, within which countless Stitched Monsters roamed, crazily chasing after them.

If the last person among them didn't take a step upward, the step behind would disappear.

So no one dares any pause!

Because no one knows—if you run slower, you might vanish just like the disappearing steps, without a trace.

Maybe it's 100 steps!

Maybe it's 1,000 steps!

Maybe it's just steps!

Anyway, Lin Yifan felt his consciousness nearly blurred from fatigue, and finally heard Silver Face at the front speak:

"Alright! This place is temporarily safe; everyone can rest here for now, but you must seize the time. From the information I gathered earlier, the second‑layer trial tests your willpower."

"So even if you can rest on the second layer, the duration must not be too long, or you may be eliminated outright."

"What happens if you're eliminated?" someone in the crowd asked curiously.

"In the past, elimination meant being thrown out of the tower, but now…" Silver Face's voice said coldly.

"Now it's a dead end! You just saw clearly that this platform has been completely corrupted; there are countless terrifying monsters inside."

"You can see clearly what the steps beneath your feet look like; they don't resemble anything proper at all, so everyone should obey the rules, or bear the consequences themselves."

At that moment, everyone fell silent.

So Silver Face immediately went downstairs, hurried to Lin Yifan's side, and together they looked toward the void behind them, his expression solemn as he said:

"My guess was correct; this tower really is Flame Dance, clearly already polluted by K‑type energy, yet the expected challenges are not fewer at all, even far more dangerous."

"How many steps are left upward?" Lin Yifan wasn't really worried about the back; he had already examined it carefully.

The Stitched Monsters in the dark void, though still clinging behind and desperately pursuing, seemed unable to reach the shore.

As long as they can't get ashore, this most dangerous spot becomes the safest place.

But if the upward steps remain endless, when their Physical Stamina is exhausted, that will be their death.

"That's really hard to say!" Silver Face frowned, saying helplessly:

"Although I know something about this tower, it's a relic over a thousand years old, and very little information has survived."

"The only thing I know now is a handful of information about this tower: the rule of the second layer is that you must keep climbing nonstop; to leave the tower, you'll either be eliminated or succeed in the trial."

"But according to the records, this staircase has a total of 100,000 steps, and only those who honestly walk the entire path on their own can earn the reward."