I Cultivated Too Long and Got Isekai’d Into a Game

During the team distribution, favoritism didn't guide Xu Tao's choices—only balance.

The first group set off with Achilles at the lead, trailed by the ever-composed Thierry, the stalwart Shin Gaoshun, a gruff dwarf named Kuhn, and Kaela—a Half-Vampire whose silence spoke volumes.

On the second path marched Jehanne, flanked by the stoic Gervais and the sharp-eyed Qin Zangsheng. With them came Jenna, a dark elf whose magic crackled at her fingertips, and Millicent, a Dryad whose quiet grace belied her power.

Xu Tao took the center path himself, accompanied by Etienne and Tang Weien—Little Wenwen's name while pretending to be a male cultivator. Joining them were Pito, a quick-witted elf girl, and Kiki, a nimble cat beastwoman with claws to match her attitude.

The fourth team advanced with Wu Zetian at the helm. Benoit followed a step behind her, alongside the ever-skeptical Han Qian. They were joined by Lotto, a bear beastman whose strength was matched only by his appetite, and Freed, a halfling with a history filled with dangerous mischief.

Bringing up the fifth path were Yifa and Armand, walking in step with the quiet confidence of Po Yongzhen. Alongside them strode Leiva, a fierce dragonkin woman, and Merilda—a two-meter-tall half-giant whose laughter could rattle someone's eardrums.

"Alright, listen up!"

Xu Tao spoke loudly as everyone stood before the stairs assigned to them.

"We can't be sure what will happen after going up the stairs. We might meet up immediately, like on the first trial, or split up completely. As such, I'm giving my commands here, now…"

He scanned everyone's faces before continuing. Some looked reluctant to part with him—Jehanne and Zetian in particular. Yifa fidgeted with her sleeve, the weight of command sat awkwardly on her shoulders. And then there was Achilles, still acting dazed, as if his soul had been pulled out.

"My first command: never push yourselves! If you deem you've hit your limit, stop the trial immediately," he announced, his words reverberating throughout the entire room.

"Second, think thrice before you act. Achilles, I'm worried about you in particular. From our experience, these trials aren't as they seem at a glance. You need to think deeper and reach the hidden truth before making your move."

During the first and second trials, Achilles had nearly ruined everything. That was two strikes. Now that he was acting as interim leader, a third might mean elimination—or death.

"Finally…"

He paused, thinking hard about what to say.

"Do not give up. As long as the trial isn't impossible for your team to clear, go as far as you can. The higher the floor we reach, the better the rewards!"

Clearing each trial tower granted 100 free stats. That was the equivalent of gaining 33 levels in one go. If they managed to clear all 49 floors, they'd gain the stat equivalent of 1,600 levels!

The stronger everyone became, the fewer worries Xu Tao would have about leaving them behind—even if the waves came in succession. As such, he truly hoped no one would drop out, and that they would all do their best to reach the final floor.

"That's all... Everyone… may the favor of battle be on your side!"

Finishing up, Xu Tao turned around, faced the stairs before him, and shouted—

"Let's go! To the next trial!"

🔷🔷🔷

Each of them ascended their stairs, focused on the trials that awaited. Almost at the same time, they reached the landing…

"Huh?"

Every single team's mouth went agape.

Instead of arriving at the third floor from the same side, they each found themselves at one of five equally separate edges of the floor. It was as if someone had sliced the room into five pieces and assigned one to each team!

But what surprised them even more was that, despite the stairs all going up from the same side, they had somehow been scattered across the room.

"This… is it another trial like the first one?" Yifa whispered in wonder.

Looking around, they saw that the structure of this room was different. Unlike the first three floors, this one didn't have any stairs leading forward. Instead, a faintly glowing, golden platform dominated the center.

"That place… Looks like we need to reach the center of the room to proceed to the next trial," Jehanne nodded, understanding their likely objective. "Sir Tao, you think so too, right?"

Their voices should have echoed clearly across the chamber—they were still in the same space, after all.

"Huh? Jehanne… called my name? Is she saying something?"

But Xu Tao only raised a brow, confused. He heard Jehanne's voice, but for whatever reason, he couldn't make out any words beyond "Tao."

"W-What…?" Jehanne also looked bewildered.

She clearly heard Xu Tao say her name—but the rest came out as gibberish. His words was in a language she doesn't recognized at all.

"This is interesting…"

Zetian flipped open her fan to cover her lips, whispering as her sharp eyes observed the air of the trial floor.

"There's a Dao Law applied to this space, making it nearly impossible to understand one another. Like this, our words will turn into gibberish in others' ears."

Xu Tao realized the same thing at nearly the same time. Unfortunately, neither he nor Zetian currently possessed the strength to override this Dao Law.

"In short, this trial is limiting our ability to communicate with each other," Xu Tao analyzed, frowning deeply. "But… for what purpose?"

If it was just about taking away their language, they could still advance using gestures or signals. That wouldn't be nearly difficult enough to qualify as a proper trial.

"Watch out!"

Xu Tao suddenly felt a pulse of energy from the center of the room. In the next moment, a massive figure emerged from the golden platform. No—figures. Five of them.

Each wore pure white full plate armor of identical design, wielding large double-edged swords in a knightly fashion—gripped tightly with both hands, blades held vertically against their chests.

They stood three meters tall, and with their hulking forms, looked almost like giants. Just looking at them was intimidating enough.

Their eyes, hidden behind their full-face helms, glowed a radiant white as a voice echoed:

[Here, the tongue loses its dominion. The poison of words is stilled.]

[Thought unshared is thought unknown.]

[Five foes rise before you—as one, so must you stand.]

[Act not in speech, but in silence. Let trust guide your strike.]

"…"

After hearing the mysterious voice, Xu Tao's breath caught.

The third trial had begun—and this one would not allow even a single word of warning.