Xu Ming looked at the crowd, but not a single person dared to respond.
Earlier, they had been eager to seize the treasure.
Now, they were like turtles retreating into their shells.
It only goes to show that, no matter the place, most people are the same—bullying the weak while fearing the strong.
But to be honest, if these hundreds of Sea Observation Realm cultivators and demons joined forces to besiege Xu Ming, he felt it would be difficult to handle. It could very well lead to his death.
After all, he wasn't a god. His martial realm was only at the Heroic Soul level, and his cultivation hadn't even reached the Cave Mansion Realm.
If these hundreds of cultivators and demons worked together with some cohesion, they could definitely wear Xu Ming down to death.
Fortunately, Qin Qingwan and Yu Wenxi stood by his side.
Their strength was formidable, greatly relieving the pressure on Xu Ming and allowing him a moment to catch his breath.
Moreover, these hundreds of cultivators and demons were nothing like the Blood Asura Battalion of Wu Kingdom.
The Blood Asura Battalion of Wu Kingdom were among the most disciplined forces in the human kingdoms. They would willingly shatter themselves to slay their enemies.
But these people were driven by their own selfish desires, each instinctively holding back.
Some cultivators with integrity didn't even participate in the siege. Even if they wanted the treasure, they would challenge Xu Ming one-on-one like Zhuang Yan, disdaining to exploit weakness or rely on numbers to bully a single person.
This kind of "alliance" was, truthfully, far from formidable.
Especially when Xu Ming picked out a few examples and punched them to death in a single blow. The scene was both shocking and exaggerated, scaring them out of their wits.
These people valued their lives too much. Seeing Xu Ming kill anyone he faced with one strike, how could they still muster the courage to advance?
That said, Xu Ming actually didn't care much about this so-called artifact.
Becoming the ruler of Baiwa City wasn't something he had ever considered.
He had never been fixated on it. All he wanted was to leave this place.
In Xu Ming's view, the most important thing in cultivation was relying on oneself, not external objects.
I can break the heavens with a punch, shatter the myriad arts with a single sword—what use are treasures to me?
However, Xu Ming's indifference to treasure and opportunities didn't mean he didn't desire them.
Every cultivator yearned for opportunities; it was natural.
But Xu Ming refused to lose his mind over them. If he could acquire them, so be it.
But if it meant resorting to despicable tactics, ganging up on someone, or discarding one's dignity for the sake of treasure, Xu Ming would never do such a thing.
"Ribbit~"
Just as Xu Ming and the cultivators were locked in a standoff, a sudden frog's croak came from not far away.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
In the direction of the Toad Temple, a beam of golden light shot straight into the sky. A toad leaped out.
In an instant, the golden toad sat high above the clouds, radiating golden light from behind its head.
Strangely enough, this toad exuded an air of solemnity and sanctity.
Xia Donghua and the others were on high alert.
Xu Ming, with his hands behind his back, looked up at the giant toad.
It was his first time seeing this toad leave the temple.
"It seems the choice has been made," the golden toad said, its palms pressed together. Its cross-shaped pupils glowed faintly as it looked straight at Xu Ming. "It's been a while, benefactor."
Xu Ming clasped his hands together in a respectful gesture and replied with a smile, "I didn't expect you would still remember me."
The golden toad chuckled. "Do you wish to become the master of Baiwa City?"
Xu Ming smiled and said, "I do."
"Oh?" The golden toad gazed at Xu Ming with interest. "No, you do and don't. It seems you have little interest in Baiwa City. At the very least, your desire to become its master isn't as intense as others'."
"Where treasures exist, it's only natural to vie for them. Without competition, how would a cultivator progress?
But if one loses their principles and rationality for the sake of treasures, how are they any different from a wild beast?" Xu Ming expressed his thoughts.
The golden toad smiled again and nodded. "Those are your true feelings, aren't they?"
Xu Ming replied, "Since I've shared my honest thoughts, shouldn't you respond with sincerity as well? What is the truth behind the Baiwa Secret Realm? At this point, would you enlighten us?"
The corners of the golden toad's mouth lifted.
"Your speculations about the Baiwa Secret Realm are mostly correct.
Baiwa City was indeed once a border city. However, the ways of the heavens are ever-changing. The Dao and spiritual energy between heaven and earth began converging on Baiwa City, which caused its gradual fragmentation.
At that time, an old monk arrived in Baiwa City. He unfurled a painting scroll and cast it over the city.
The scroll stretched for dozens of miles, enveloping the entire city. The fragmented city was slowly integrated into the blank scroll.
The old monk stayed in Baiwa City for some time.
One day, while walking near a small pond, he saw a toad on the verge of death and saved it.
Noticing the toad faint spirituality and feeling a sense of destiny, the monk imparted Buddhist teachings to it.
Before leaving, the monk entrusted the toad with certain responsibilities.
The monk told the frog, 'When the Baiwa Scroll is fully formed, people will come to fight for it. Let them compete, and in the end, the destined person will claim it.'
The toad asked, 'Who is the destined one?'
The monk laughed and replied, 'What kind of foolish question is that? The one who lasts until the end is the destined one.'
Now, the Baiwa Scroll is nearing completion.
Those who die within the scroll will become its nourishment.
And all of you have the chance to become the destined one.
As for the beams of white light descending in the city, I truly do not know their origin.
However, I suspect the formation of the Scroll does not permit foreign interference, so it has likely expelled external forces.
That said, over the years, I've sensed another formation surrounding the Baiwa Scroll.
Who set it up, I do not know, nor do I care.
This toad only wishes to fulfill the task assigned by the old monk."
The toad stretched out its hand, and golden threads descended from the night sky.
The threads wove together continuously, forming steps that spiraled upward into the heavens.
At the very top of the staircase, there was a wooden platform. On it lay a bound scroll.
The golden toad pressed its palms together, and its voice resonated in everyone's hearts:
"At dawn, the one holding the Dharma Pearl may ascend this heavenly staircase.
If they retrieve the Scroll, this realm will be theirs to command.
If they fail to retrieve the Scroll, they will become nourishment for this realm.
If no one holding the pearl ascends the staircase, then all shall perish."