Chapter 250: Sea of Flowers of Death

No one noticed Wen Xishu and Zheng Zai, at least not the big tree.

The big tree had a very high base score, and having won one round, it now had over 1,300 points.

Points represented strength.

It was also very happy to show off its score.

Just like at this moment, a score lit up above the big tree's head.

The whole crowd was in an uproar; after going through the second round of card draws, it actually still had so many points left...

Was this big tree actually this confident?

Although points were not combat power, they could intuitively represent certain things.

Is it possible... that the big tree's score was perhaps in the thousands, and it was just that after using many cards, it still had over 1,300 points left?

The big tree said:

"If anyone doesn't listen, I don't mind using you to replenish my points. You should have discovered by now that killing people earns points."

This was actually a small secret, but now, the big tree had blurted it out directly.

Some of the weaker common-type monsters shivered.

As for the rare-type monsters, they didn't dare to confront the elite-type big tree either; they all had their own calculations.

"Since no one objects, I won't kill easily. To win this kind of team competition, we need order and cooperation."

"Next, you, go light up statue number one."

The one hundred statues had one hundred forms and also one hundred numbers.

The vast majority of monsters present believed that the number was secondary information, and the core information was the form of the statue.

Statue number one was a lamp.

A lamp implies guiding the way. From its appearance, even if the lamp were the wrong answer... logically, it shouldn't cause an outrageous amount of killing.

The big tree thought so too, but it also thought about prioritizing the one with the fewest deaths.

Its vines pierced into the ground, and soon vines appeared beside a monster; this monster... was indeed the weakest type of common monster.

Even though the big tree appeared very strong, in a session of five thousand people, it wasn't clear if there were still some existences of the same level hiding.

The big tree was also very particular; for statue number one, it only let one common monster go.

If it were number seven or number ten, it would control the corresponding number of people to go.

Wen Xishu observed silently, and Zheng Zai whispered:

"Little brother... have you discovered anything?"

Wen Xishu shook his head slightly:

"There are too few clues now... This tree's idea is to find the answer through the shape of the statue, but I think it's wrong."

"The statue has two pieces of information: shape and number. The last round was a numerical decryption, and there is a high probability this round is too."

Zheng Zai had already figured it out by this time, the "starting from one" of the last round.

But the other riddle was a mirror, ten square mirrors, and it reflected people as perfectly square... this was a hint, indicating that "length and width" were the same.

So the answer little brother Wen gave at the time was the square numbers from one to ten, because every number could be broken down into n multiplied by n.

Wen Xishu said:

"This round, I think it might still be numerical decryption... but it's very obscure, and there might be variables."

"Currently, we only know that the number represents the scale of death, and the shape represents the method of death."

"But since there is cannon fodder, let the cannon fodder go. This big tree's choice wasn't wrong either; if you don't know the rules, choosing statue number one is correct, after all, only one person needs to die. Besides, it knows how to play psychological warfare."

Zheng Zai saw it too. The big tree first arranged a group of soft targets.

Although the big tree was an elite type, everyone had been stripped of their abilities and could only compete with innate strength.

The big tree's body was massive, its strength naturally not to be underestimated, and what the big tree picked were all the weakest common-type monsters.

Everyone accepted it, because the weak should be cannon fodder for the strong. At least in this bizarre competition, in the eyes of the doomsday monsters, everything was very reasonable.

These reasonable rules were also beneficial to those rare-type monsters.

In this way, the big tree's rules naturally gained the approval of certain rare-type monsters.

Even if the common-type monsters wanted to resist, they wouldn't just be opposing the big tree.

Zheng Zai had to sigh; it was fortunate that little brother Wen had absurd stats and could draw many heaven-defying cards, otherwise... the one going to light up the statue in this round would most likely have been himself.

"The host said that the person who lights up the statue, if the statue is not the correct answer, then this person will definitely die..."

"But some people will also die randomly; the range of the randomness is likely related to the person who lights up the statue."

Wen Xishu had to say that this big tree saved him a lot of trouble. It had considered things quite thoroughly.

Next, he just needed to wait quietly for the result of the lighting.

Ten key numbers.

First, one could rule out the patterns from the last round, but different patterns didn't mean some numbers weren't the same, so could one be the correct answer this round?

Wen Xishu waited silently.

That common-type monster chosen by the big tree was already covered in plant vines, and those vines could actually act like the puppet strings of a puppeteer, forcibly controlling that common-type monster to touch the mechanism to light up the statue.

Was this the big tree's innate power?

Wen Xishu was still quite wary of this big tree. But now, his attention also fell on the statue.

The lamp, which had been like a stone carving, suddenly shed its original rock-gray color and gradually began to take on the luster of a bronze lamp.

Wen Xishu also noticed that two blue butterflies and three red butterflies had appeared on the stone carving. To be precise, they had actually appeared before the stone carving was lit, and had stayed for quite a while.

Warm light illuminated the surroundings, and this light made people feel happy.

Everyone cheered, thinking they had found the correct answer!

Even that common-type monster felt fortunate that it had survived!

The big tree itself was also very satisfied with this round's choice; if it found the wrong answer, it wouldn't think anything of it, but if it were the correct answer, it would undoubtedly increase its prestige.

But just at this moment, someone suddenly said:

"No... look, it's melting!"

The common-type monster that lit the statue still had a smile on its face; it seemed to see a beautiful future:

"I... am going to evolve! I am going to evolve!"

In the doomsday era, it was a weak common-type monster; in order to survive, it was actually even more timid than humans.

When some red houses were wandering around, it was truly afraid that it wouldn't survive...

Many times it had pulled through, and this time, under the warm light, it saw a beautiful future, it saw its relatives from before it became a monster...

But now, its body began to melt like ice cream, and finally, under the "warm," healing light...

It died completely.

It turned into a pool of bizarre liquid.

It wasn't just it; the four people closest to it also presented a melting state, gradually turning into a pool of pus-like liquid.

The lit statue, after killing a total of five people, gradually lost its luster and turned back into its original rock-gray color.

The whole place was silent.

The big tree said:

"It seems the correct answer is not 1."

This was of course a platitude, but no one said anything.

At this time, someone also asked:

"What's the situation... why... why did so many people die?"

"That was just one! That was just the statue numbered one!"

"Why did five people die?"

A rare-type monster floating in the air spoke up:

"Could it be... the person who lights the lamp must die, but others must stay further away, and if they are too close, they will also die?"

The rare-type monster that spoke had a torso similar to a hybrid of a lobster and a bat, its back covered in huge membrane wings, and its head was an ellipsoidal tumor mass covered in short tentacles.

It floated in the air, looking quite terrifying.

But everyone felt that what it said made sense.

Because the people who died were the ones closest to that common-type monster.

At this moment, the survivors next to those dead common-type monsters all felt lingering fear.

It seemed that if they had taken one more step forward, they would have died.

The crowd subconsciously moved several steps away from the pus on the ground.

Zheng Zai, in a hidden state, said to Wen Xishu:

"Little brother, what do you think?"

Wen Xishu said:

"The difficulty is greater than I imagined... and look over there."

Wen Xishu pointed at the big tree.

The big tree, in order to intimidate others, had shown the points above its head: 1,340 points.

But now, it had become 1,390 points.

The big tree's points had increased by 50.

Zheng Zai also showed a solemn expression:

"Good fellow, it... it gained points?"

Wen Xishu is not worried, because his own stats are too overpowered.

But if his stats were about the same as Zheng Zai's, this situation would truly be difficult; if one lets the opponent run wild, the opponent will only grow stronger and stronger.

If there were no hundreds of thousands of points as a safety net, one would have to solve the mystery as quickly as possible to avoid an opponent becoming too powerful.

Moreover, Wen Xishu does not think it is a "range" issue.

Those four extra people who died did not die because they were too close to the person who lit the statue, but because of other reasons.

But indeed, Wen Xishu also feels that—the so-called random death is likely not completely or absolutely random, but prioritizes those at a closer distance.

"The most troublesome problem right now is that everyone thinks number one is wrong, but number one... might not actually be wrong."

Wen Xishu blurted this out, but Zheng Zai was confused:

"In this situation, number one has already been lit, but the person who lit it died... number one must be wrong."

Wen Xishu said:

"I still need to verify... at least one more round."

Fortunately, Wen Xishu and Zheng Zai are both in a state of concealment.

Zheng Zai has already felt the perverted degree of this game. Wen Xishu looks at the sky.

The four-colored butterflies in the sky land on certain statues from time to time... there is no pattern.

He watched for a long time, and there was absolutely no pattern.

At the same time, in his mind, he found the strangest sentence in the host's words.

"The strong can command the weak to light the statue, letting the weak become the steps you gaze upon, but you will not be higher than these steps, nor will you be lower than these steps."

This is the most riddle-like of all the words... Wen Xishu is also certain that this is the riddle.

He actually has his own understanding of this sentence, but he still needs to verify some things.

Soon, the candidates for the second round were also chosen.

This time, Dashu chose the number 2.

Dashu's thinking is correct; since 1 doesn't work, then choose 2. Since the numbering and the statue's appearance remain unchanged, one should prioritize finding the correct answer with the lowest death toll.

As long as one answer is found, perhaps the pattern can be deduced.

This time, Dashu controlled two normal-type beings.

The two normal-type beings were very unwilling, but they had no choice; after all... everyone is coveting these twenty points, and if they are unwilling, others wouldn't mind killing these two people before Dashu does.

The second round begins.

The second statue is a huge smiling face, and the elements that make up the smiling face are very simple...

Two discs, like eyes, and then a half-moon, outlining the smile at the corners of the mouth.

The two normal-type beings prayed that number 2 was the correct answer. Wen Xishu actually feels that the probability of the correct answer appearing within numbers one to three is very, very high...

He also observed carefully.

There are two red butterflies, and this time there is only one blue butterfly; at the same time, there is also one white butterfly.

Before lighting the statue, Wen Xishu kept his eyes on the butterflies.

Two blue butterflies soon flew over, the total number of blue butterflies became three, and a purple butterfly also flew over.

It became quiet; the butterflies did not change for a short time, no more butterflies flew over, and the butterflies resting on the smiling face statue did not fly away either.

Rarely, all four-colored butterflies were gathered: blue, purple, red, and white.

Of the two normal-type beings, the thinner one still had the outline of a human, only its body's flesh and blood had already rotted.

Vines pierced into its flesh, causing it to feel piercing pain.

Zheng Zai felt some physical discomfort watching this.

He is not one to have an overflowing saintly heart, but he truly felt... the survival of the fittest in the apocalypse is so naked, and the chance to defy the heavens and change one's fate is truly hard to obtain.

The normal-type being knew that if it didn't light the statue, it would die immediately...

It gritted its teeth and finally hardened its heart, lighting the statue.

Laughter appeared.

Laughter that makes one involuntarily relax their brow appeared in people's ears. This time, although everyone had retreated very, very, very far away...

But they still heard the laughter.

Wen Xishu and Zheng Zai also heard the laughter.

It must be said that this laughter eased the tense atmosphere all at once.

The smiling face statue shed the rock-gray of the stone carving and emitted a golden luster. The normal-type being that lit the statue began to laugh heartily.

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

It laughed exceptionally happily, but then, the normal-type being next to it suddenly began to gnaw on its flesh. It did the same, beginning to gnaw on the flesh of the normal-type being next to it.

It was still laughing, and the normal-type being next to it was the same, as if laughing manically, its eyes full of clear murderous intent, yet appearing so happy.

Just like that... the two normal-type beings actually perished together.

This laughter suddenly no longer made people feel happy, but fearful.

The statue numbered 2 resulted in two deaths.

Just when everyone thought that this time they were far enough away to be spared...

Laughter erupted in the crowd, and the people on the edge began to laugh hahahaha.

"Hahahahahahahaha..."

This sound was ear-piercing, and the owner of that smiling face also became ferocious and terrifying.

There was more than one such case; there were four people in total.

In the edge area, four people began to laugh crazily and then attacked each other.

In the end, these four people also all died.

The second round of lighting the statue ended, and Dashu's score increased by sixty points.

Five died in the first round, and six died in the second round. In the first round, everyone saw that after the person who lit the statue died... it should have ended with that death, but as a result, four more people died.

This time it was the same, four more people died.

Dashu said:

"It seems... no matter how far we retreat, there will always be people closest to the person who lights the statue, and there will always be four people buried with them."

This seems reasonable. Four extra died in the first round, and four extra died in the second round.

Many monsters nodded in unison, all feeling that Dashu's words were correct.

But Wen Xishu feels it is not like that.

Even Zheng Zai saw the clues.

"No, Brother Wen, you must have seen it; it's not like that. Thinking this way is too simple and crude."

Wen Xishu nodded:

"Yes, this is deliberately pushing the problem toward a simple direction they can understand. It deliberately ignores other elements."

Wen Xishu could actually be violent and use his other god-cards to test for errors, but now, he is about to solve the puzzle.

Statue numbered 1, two blue and three red. Five died.

Statue numbered 2, three blue, two red, one purple, and one white, six died.

Wen Xishu's mind quickly began to arrange this information.

At the same time, Dashu began the third round; the third round statue, number 03, is a flower.

Because it is a flower, it is carrying many butterflies. It is just like it is collecting nectar.

Wen Xishu said:

"Old Zheng, I reckon I have already found the correct answer. In this round, Dashu's choice is still wrong, and many people will die in this round. Based on previous experience—"

"Random death prioritizes the closest distance... let's retreat a bit further."

Zheng Zai nodded; naturally, he does whatever Brother Wen says now.

The flower statue was about to be lit, attracting another large group of butterflies. The bright red flower especially attracted the red butterflies, which gave Wen Xishu a shock.

He conservatively estimated there were about a hundred red butterflies. Although there were butterflies of other colors, Wen Xishu could see... the number of blue butterflies and red butterflies was the largest, naturally more than the other butterflies. The total number of purple and white butterflies was far lower than the blue and red ones.

The flower was lit, the stone carving was slowly shedding its rock-gray color, and although it hadn't completely become vivid, the fragrance of the flower had already attracted them, and the four-colored butterflies gathered.

Wen Xishu was particularly concerned about the number of red and blue butterflies. Although the butterflies were constantly flying around, making it hard to count clearly, Wen Xishu was still trying his best, relying on his memory and dynamic vision...

He recorded the number of butterflies, and he quickly presented a number in his mind.

A terrifying death toll.

"Retreat, Old Zheng, keep retreating to the very back."

Zheng Zai's heart skipped a beat; they were already at the downstream of the crowd, why retreat further? Could it be that many, many people are going to die?

Old Zheng felt uneasy and suddenly began to fear the scene he was about to see.

"We won't be wiped out, will we... Brother, how far do we need to retreat?"

Wen Xishu smiled:

"Don't worry, we won't all die, I've calculated it."

The flower was lit, and more and more butterflies gathered.

And the surrounding monsters were still completely unaware.

No one dared to retreat behind Dashu, but Wen Xishu and Zheng Zai dared.

Because they were in a state of concealment.

A number 3, even if four extra people would die... in everyone's view, it would be nothing more than seven people dying.

And this time, Dashu had already used vines to bundle seven normal-type beings, thinking of letting them go to their deaths. Although the monsters all longed to retreat, they also knew that if you retreat, he retreats too; only strength is the foundation of survival.

Consequently, many monsters revealed their scores one after another.

They used their scores to indicate the positions where they could stay.

Before long, the monsters had all found their own positioning.

0 to 10 points, 10 to 30 points, 30 to 50 points, 50 to 100 points, 100 to 200 points, 200 to 300 points...

Within each bracket, the lower the score, the further to the front.

It is worth mentioning that the Great Tree did not have the most points; the one with the most points was a rare species that had spoken very early, that rare species whose torso resembled a hybrid of a lobster and a bat.

It flew in the air, and the vines of the Great Tree could not do anything to it.

Moreover, its score was 1,700 points.

A rare species having a higher score than an elite species... this was truly rare. Wen Xishu could be certain that this strangely shaped rare species must possess some treasure or a very high-quality trait.

However, those behind the Great Tree remained Wen Xishu and Zheng Zai.

His score looked down upon the entire field. He was not even on the same level as everyone else present.

Wen Xishu said:

"This time, quite a few people will be eliminated. Then, the number four statue in the next round is, normally speaking, a wrong answer; it is highly probable that it won't become the correct answer just because of a butterfly. Old Zheng, let's continue to wait, and wait for a good show."

Zheng Zai said:

"What are you going to do?"

Wen Xishu said:

"Nothing much, we just need to hide behind the Great Tree and wait for this round of the death wave to end. After this round ends, the situation will change completely, and it will be very interesting."

Zheng Zai said in surprise:

"You found the correct answer?"

Wen Xishu nodded:

"Actually, the answer is very simple. Although the Great Tree doesn't know the answer, its result is correct. Starting from one, two, three, and testing up to the fifth number, the puzzle hidden by the host will be verified."

"But it's a pity, it ignored the variable of the butterfly."

The flower had completely turned resplendent; it was strikingly a seven-colored flower, and the seven-colored flower emitted a beautiful luster...

Attracting countless butterflies.

This was beautiful, but it was also cruel.

A scene like a Shura hell appeared.

The heads of those who lit up the flower statue split open like flower petals.

Seven people, without exception, all "bloomed." Their corpses were arranged in a circle, turning from a single flower into a flower cluster.

But just when everyone thought that the "blooming" had ended... large-scale death descended.

0 to 10 points, 10 to 30 points, 30 to 50 points, 50 to 100 points, 100 to 200 points, 200 to 300 points...

In every bracket, heads began to bloom one after another.

The insane scene terrified everyone, causing them to show expressions of fear.

Someone saw the person next to them, their head suddenly split open, and in the next second, they thought they were finished... They were indeed finished, because very soon, their own head also split open.

Countless dreams of longing to become stronger were shattered in one blooming.

It was not until the 500-point bracket that this grand blooming truly came to an end.

Although there were contestants with hundreds of thousands of points like Wen Xishu, and those with over 1,000 points like the Great Tree... they were all in the extreme minority.

The 0 to 400-point bracket made up the majority; more than 4,800 people, sorted by distance... were all eliminated in this round alone. The scarlet flowers covering the ground were like a sea of flowers, presenting a bizarre sense of beauty.

But the smell was nauseating.

The hundred-plus survivors on the scene were all dumbfounded. They had thought there would be extra deaths, but they had not thought so many people would die.

And this was only at the number 3.

From the correct answer—there were still a full ninety-seven numbers to test. This was truly a despairing situation.

Even one as strong as the Great Tree was completely stunned at this moment...

The scene went from over 5,000 people to less than 200 in an instant, and these 200 people were not simple.

They all had relatively high scores, and it might not be that easy for the Great Tree to control them. Facing this mighty baptism of death, watching the points on the Great Tree's head grow crazily...

At this moment, all the monsters realized one thing—

If they let the Great Tree continue to command, even if they luckily survived and found the rules... it would only benefit the Great Tree in the end.

Creating the Great Tree into a super-powerful existence.

The large-scale death caused the Great Tree's score to break through to 40,000 points... It did not feel any regret for the deaths and mistakes.

At this time, the Great Tree thought... as long as it could survive! Forty-thousand-plus points! If it drew a god-tier card, it would definitely be able to evolve into a Red House!

It did not notice at all that once the number of deaths was too high, and the points obtained exceeded a certain magnitude... it would trigger a qualitative change in the situation.

Now, the Great Tree's score was too high, and it had become the object of everyone's fear. At this very moment, the way to light up the statues—had changed from being allocated by the strong to being allocated by luck.

At this time, many elite species and rare species felt that a rule should be established, rather than having the Great Tree allocate who would light them up; after all, if the Great Tree allocated them... others would get no benefits at all.

This was human nature.

Even Wen Xishu had the thought of getting rid of the Great Tree.

But Wen Xishu did not make a move, because he did not need to.

The remaining hundred or so rare species and a few elite species had by now surrounded the Great Tree.

If they did not eliminate the Great Tree now, once the Great Tree started a new round of card drawing, the Great Tree would become too powerful.

So they had to demand right now that the Great Tree join them in adopting a new rule for lighting the statues.

"We demand a change in the rules, such as drawing lots, or adopting some kind of random rule; we cannot let you arrange it anymore!"

That monster with the highest score flying in the air became the leader.

Other rare species and elite species responded one after another.

The Great Tree was furious inside, but it was also terrified of these hundreds of people.

It immediately began to make empty promises:

"If you are willing to obey my allocation and can walk to the end with me, then I promise you, after I draw a good card in the next round, I will protect you."

"If I die, these tens of thousands of points won't fall into your hands, will they? Rather than wasting them in vain, it's better to let them have their intended effect."

Wen Xishu had to admit that the Great Tree was quite brainy.

Its words really did divide quite a few monsters.

Yes, killing the Great Tree only added 10 points, but if they helped the Great Tree and eventually became the Great Tree's meritorious subjects... then it would be equivalent to having an extra super ally with nearly 50,000 points.

This was indeed tempting.

For a time, the situation deadlocked, but it did not deadlock for long, because the rare species flying in the air clearly lived by its wits:

"Heh, who are you trying to fool? Everyone has such scores, how many people have been killed, how much flesh and blood have been eaten—don't you know that in your hearts?"

"In the apocalypse, relying on others being strong is meaningless; only by being strong yourself can you survive. Those willing to continue helping the Great Tree, I ask you, thousands died in the third round of lighting the lamps; if you are asked to go light them in the fourth round, do you dare?"

Silence.

The Great Tree really wanted to kill this monster flying in the air. But it could not.

And after a silence lasting half a minute, all the rare species and elite species reached a consensus:

"We need a new way to decide who goes to light the statue, rather than you designating it. You either agree, or we will have a death match right now!"

Zheng Zai said:

"Little brother... what are we going to do now?"

Actually, although Zheng Zai was horrified by the large-scale death in the previous round, he still had confidence in his heart.

With Little Brother Wen here, he was not afraid. Because it was Little Brother Wen's super-high numerical value that allowed them to have such a god-tier ability as concealment.

It could almost be said that they had stepped outside of the conflict.

Zheng Zai also knew that Little Brother Wen definitely still had trump cards. Being able to watch a group of monsters die so leisurely, and hiding behind the strongest Great Tree without being discovered—

He no longer questioned the gold content of 530,000.

Wen Xishu said:

"I will observe the death count and only make a move when we have no choice but to act. I originally thought about starting a massacre to help you get some points..."

Wen Xishu had indeed thought so; one head was ten points, and he should help Old Zheng get some points.

"But I also needed the death of cannon fodder earlier to find the patterns and help me solve the puzzle, so it was delayed."

"It's a pity that too many died in the third round. Now, the ones remaining are all favorites to win, and every one of them has a higher score than you; they are all threats in the future. So we will let them fight like dogs first and let as many of them die as possible."

"When the number of deaths from lighting a statue in a certain round is greater than the number of survivors, I will make my move and end them."

Zheng Zai's heart stirred; as expected, Little Brother was confident in slaughtering everyone, it was just that he needed these guys to find the patterns in the early stages, so he didn't start a massacre.

Zheng Zai still hadn't found the pattern:

"So many died in the third round... how many will die in the fourth round?"

Wen Xishu said:

"Don't worry, not many will die; after all, there are very few statues that the butterflies are interested in."

(End of chapter)