Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1189 - 1189 0690 Trump Card_1

Chapter 1189: Chapter 0690: Trump Card_1 Chapter 1189: Chapter 0690: Trump Card_1 Chapter 0690: The Trump Card

The Outer Palaces of the Saint’s Tomb had been cleaned up, and now the time had come to open the Outer Tomb Door and enter the Inner Underground Palace. This was a very critical juncture in exploring the Saint’s Tomb, tied to the vested interests of every Prince. Whichever Prince made the most significant contribution at this time would naturally stand to gain greater rewards when Qi Tian distributed accolades later, especially since Qi Tian had offered a small space as a reward. At this point, these Princes were more eager than ever to persuade Qi Tian, aiming to secure further opportunities for merit.

Being either Qi Tian’s Immortal Slaves or intimidated by his might, the disputes among these Princes were merely verbal. Had they been in any other setting without Qi Tian present, it might have already come to blows, fierce enough to “knock the dog brains out.”

Qi Tian did not make an immediate decision. He listened to the arguments among the Princes while using the sensory functions of the Heavenly Dao Engine to sense the conditions behind the Inner Tomb Door. However, Qi Tian soon realized that the Inner Tomb Door was even more effective at blocking all probing than the Outer Tomb Door; he couldn’t observe or discover anything. But one thing Qi Tian could be certain of: the Inner Tomb Door was most definitely not simple. Otherwise, the Millennium Corpse Water would not have retreated into it on its own accord.

Qi Tian already had a decision in mind, but he didn’t immediately voice it. Instead, he turned to look at Gao Jinmei, who followed closely behind him, and asked, “Gao, what do you think we should do next?”

Qi Tian’s inquiry to Gao Jinmei was not an arbitrary selection nor a means to display dissatisfaction with the Princes. He did so because Gao Jinmei was unlike the others. Gao Jinmei, originally a professional killer, had an extraordinary sense of danger and her loyalty to Qi Tian far exceeded that of the other Princes. By asking Gao Jinmei at this moment, Qi Tian was also seeking to utilize her keen sense of peril.

The Princes immediately ceased their debate, all eyes on Gao Jinmei. They had not expected Qi Tian to seek her opinion at such a critical moment. This indicated that Gao Jinmei held considerable weight in Qi Tian’s eyes, prompting them to swiftly reassess her status and resolve to find ways to improve their relations with her in the future.

The attention from the five Princes did not make Gao Jinmei feel overly flattered. In her eyes, Qi Tian was always the foremost. Although the Princes’ cultivation levels and strengths far surpassed hers, Gao Jinmei felt no awe towards them. Standing there with her hands at her sides, she earnestly said, “Master, if you’re asking for my opinion, it’s quite simple: in such a treacherous and unpredictable environment, our top priority should always be caution, ensuring we are in peak condition at all times. I’m not against using medicinal pills for recovery, but I don’t advocate for it either, given our limited supply. We don’t know how long we’ll need to stay in the Saint’s Tomb, but it will undoubtedly be quite some time, so we should avoid using medicinal pills for recovery as much as possible. I don’t know about others, but if it were me, I’d certainly prefer the most basic methods for recovery to minimize depletion of cultivation resources.”

Qi Tian nodded and continued to inquire, “What do you think will happen if we open the Inner Tomb Door now?”

Gao Jinmei replied, “Intuition tells me there is great terror beyond the Inner Tomb Door. Without making thorough preparations, entering rashly would be deadly. Of course, this is just my opinion. My strength cannot compare to yours, Master; a deadly situation for me might be transformed into an opportunity by you.”

“Alright, I understand,” Qi Tian said.

He glanced over everyone and declared, “I think Gao’s words make a lot of sense. Without proper preparation, opening the Inner Tomb Door and attempting to enter the Inner Underground Palace would not be wise. Therefore, I’ve decided we must take some time to recuperate. Doing this, Princes, is actually for your benefit as well—it’s to enhance your strength. You’ve spent so much time and made such sacrifices to get here; don’t tell me you haven’t gained anything along the way. I believe each of you must have obtained something. Now, during the recuperation, digest what you have attained as quickly as possible and enhance your strength. At this stage, any improvement, no matter how small, is good. Perhaps your slight advancement could become the key to a successful exploration in the end.”

The Princes nodded in agreement, indeed, as Qi Tian said, they had gained quite a bit along the way, some of which could be used for direct enhancement. Even Emperor Yonghe, who joined the fight last, had not come away empty-handed.

Qi Tian announced, “Now, I’ll make some arrangements. While everyone is resting, I hope those proficient in wards and formations among you will step forward and accompany me to the tomb passageway. I plan to lay down some additional wards and formations there as barriers to fend off outsiders. This way, we can withdraw our companions who are guarding the passageway, allowing more hands to join our exploration moving forward.”