About three minutes earlier, in the Fence-Sitter Faction Chamber on the far left.
Xu Qingzhao left the blood pool and walked slowly around the chamber, seemingly thinking, occasionally turning to look at the two open Bronze Gates.
In this stage, the Star Gate rules she received were completely different from those given to the players in the other two factions.
``` [This stage is called "The Price." You are very close to obtaining the mysterious inheritance. However, Princess Anping, who died many years ago, believed that anyone seeking to gain something must pay a price.]
[In this stage, each faction must sacrifice a living person, casting them alive into the blood pool to open the Tomb Gate leading to the next level through the power of blood and death.]
[Unfortunately, you are currently the only player remaining in the Fence-Sitter Faction, making it impossible to fairly select a "sacrifice."]
[You currently have two choices. First, you may choose to join the Court Faction and be transported directly to the Court Party Chamber in the middle, where you will undertake the mission with the other players. Second, you may choose to retrace your steps and leave the Princess Tomb, but this will also mean that you have failed to clear the "Qingliang Prefecture Star Gate," and the entire Fence-Sitter Faction will fail. You will receive a severe punishment. You may not necessarily die, but the price will certainly be heavy.]
[Whether you choose to join the "Court Faction" or leave the Princess Tomb, the Fence-Sitter Faction will fail due to having "no players," and all of this faction's completion rewards and special items will be sealed away permanently.]
[Please note that you have only fifteen minutes to choose, because from this moment onward, this chamber containing the Sacrificial Method will release