Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1204 - 1204 0697 Vanguard_2

Chapter 1204: Chapter 0697: Vanguard_2 Chapter 1204: Chapter 0697: Vanguard_2 Qi Tian said, “Whether or not you wish to enter is entirely up to you, I won’t force you. However, there is one thing everyone should be aware of, your destiny is in your own hands. If you want to advance further, you cannot shrink back when faced with difficulties. Also, if you decide not to enter, remember to return the elixirs I distributed to you. Without entering, you cannot achieve any merits, and without merits, you are not qualified to receive the elixirs. My elixirs don’t just fall from the sky, I won’t give them away for free.”

Initially, after hearing Emperor Bahuang’s words, some people had the idea of withdrawing, but upon hearing that Qi Tian intended to reclaim the elixirs he had distributed, those individuals immediately changed their minds. The elixirs provided by Qi Tian were all exceptionally precious, the kind they wouldn’t normally be able to obtain. If Qi Tian took them back, it would be like the precious cultivation resources already in their pouches sprouting wings and flying away, an outcome they could not accept. Even if just for the sake of these elixirs, they would do everything in their power to fight for them, even if it meant taking some risks, it would be worth it.

Seeing that no one dropped out, Qi Tian nodded in satisfaction. He pointed toward the direction of Inner Underground Palace and said, “Let’s begin. As for how to allocate tasks, that’s for you, princes, to discuss and solve amongst yourselves.”

The princes immediately began to deliberate. Although the gate to the inner tomb had disappeared, and the Inner Underground Palace had opened its embrace to them, they could not simply charge in brazenly, as that would be tantamount to seeking death. They must make steady and proper arrangements and could not afford any carelessness.

In exploring the Saint’s Tomb, several princes were experts. They had all undertaken similar endeavors more than once. However, they had never encountered a tomb as perilous as the current one before. In order to minimize unnecessary losses, Emperor Jianwu, Huoyang Emperor, Emperor Yonghe, and Emperor Wenzhi very wisely handed over the command of this operation to Emperor Bahuang. After all, Emperor Bahuang had previously explored a Saint’s Tomb that closely matched the dangerous level of this one, making him the most suitable candidate for the job besides himself.

Emperor Bahuang did not decline and immediately began making arrangements. With his ample experience, he issued several commands, each steady as a rock, seemingly unremarkable, yet impregnable like a turtle shell, with no weaknesses to exploit.

Emperor Bahuang specifically requested the entire team to gather all magical artifacts above the Half-step Nascent Soul level, as well as a significant portion of the Half-step Nascent Soul level artifacts.

Leading by example, Emperor Bahuang left only one artifact above the Half-step Nascent Soul level and another at the Half-step Nascent Soul level on himself, surrendering the rest without exception.

With Emperor Bahuang setting the precedent, the other princes felt embarrassed to cry poor at this moment. They followed in Emperor Bahuang’s footsteps, taking out most of their Half-step Nascent Soul level artifacts. As for artifacts above the Half-step Nascent Soul level, several of them simply didn’t have any to offer.

The artifacts provided by the princes alone were surely not enough. The top-grade artifacts they had initially borrowed from Qi Tian were also gathered for unified use. In addition, the rest of the people also contributed some Half-step Nascent Soul level artifacts, making the quantity of both types of artifacts quite considerable. Although they did not number one hundred, there were quite a few dozen.

Emperor Bahuang then began to select from all the subordinates of the princes, picking out ten of the most powerful Golden Core stage experts who were both courageous and meticulous, unafraid of death.

These individuals would act as the vanguard for entering the Inner Underground Palace. Whether they could successfully storm into the Inner Underground Palace would determine if the rest would qualify to enter. If even they could not make it in, then it was best for everyone else to quickly retreat.

The ten chosen knew that they were entering a suicide squad, about to face an operation where the slightest carelessness could mean death. But at the same time, this was destined to be an opportunity for significant achievement. If successful, the rewards and returns promised to be exceptionally generous.

At this moment, Qi Tian walked over, and Emperor Bahuang hurriedly said, “Master Qi, please give everyone a few words of instruction.”

Qi Tian’s gaze swept over the faces of these ten individuals. There were men and women, young and old, but at this moment, they all had a light in their eyes that spoke of “resignation to death.” Qi Tian was very satisfied with the spirit and vitality they exhibited. He said, “You have been selected as the vanguard, to enter the Inner Underground Palace ahead of everyone else. This is a task that only those with great wisdom and courage can accomplish, and it is in itself a great merit. I have decided to reward you.”

With that, Qi Tian pulled out a palm-sized porcelain bottle and poured out ten wax pills, each about the size of a thumb’s belly. He distributed one to each person, then said, “Sealed inside these are Elementary Spirit Milk Creams, each drop is comparable to a top-grade spirit stone. I have sealed five drops of Spirit Milk Ointment in each wax pill. You can keep it in your mouth and if you encounter a special situation, you can bite through it and swallow the Spirit Milk Ointment. This will allow you to quickly replenish your Spirit Force in a very short time and restore you to your peak condition. If used well, it could save your life.”

The ten Gold Core Realm mighty warriors were overjoyed after listening to Qi Tian’s introduction. Not long ago, Emperor Bahuang consumed Spirit Milk Ointment to replenish his strength and stabilised his foothold at the Gold Core Stage Eighth Level. This was known to everyone by now. They had not expected that Qi Tian would take out such precious natural treasures as a reward for them.

Everyone hurriedly thanked Qi Tian.

Qi Tian smiled and said, “You can set off now. I wish you a triumphant return, and if you can achieve great merit, I will reward you with a few more of these wax pills when you come back.”

The ten Gold Core Realm mighty warriors bowed to Qi Tian and the Princes, then clasped fists to their comrades before turning resolutely and walking towards the Inner Underground Palace. In the blink of an eye, they had passed through the position where the tomb’s gates once stood and entered the Inner Underground Palace.

Emperor Bahuang quickly ordered his men to erect layers of defenses at the entrance of the Inner Underground Palace to prevent any accidents from happening.

Qi Tian turned on the Heavenly Dao Engine’s Spirit Qi sensing function and probed into the Inner Underground Palace along the tomb corridor.

The atmosphere inside the Inner Underground Palace was very eerie, the air filled with a kind of oppressive force that was extremely uncomfortable, as if a little lamb had wandered into the midst of a group of tigers.

The Heavenly Dao Engine’s sensors quickly surpassed the ten Gold Core Realm warriors, taking a lead and circling the entire Inner Underground Palace. Qi Tian only managed to catch a glimpse before a creepy cackling laughter suddenly filled the air. At the same time, an even greater, nearly crushing oppressive force spread out. Worried that something might happen, Qi Tian quickly withdrew the sensing function of the Heavenly Dao Engine.

Before Qi Tian could even make sense of what he had just seen in the Inner Underground Palace, he heard a series of intense fighting sounds coming from inside, accompanied by bursts of creepy laughter and the shouting of the ten Gold Core Realm warriors.

Everyone’s hearts leaped, not knowing what exactly was happening inside the Inner Underground Palace, but from the sounds they heard, they could be sure that it was definitely not good.