Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 852 - 852 0522 Should Come and Pay a Visit_1

Chapter 852: Chapter 0522: Should Come and Pay a Visit_1 Chapter 852: Chapter 0522: Should Come and Pay a Visit_1 Chapter 0522: Should Come Over and Pay Respects

The intelligence gathered by Gao Jinmei caused Qi Tian and his companions to furrow their brows deeply, especially Zhao Haiying. He had always been adamant in his belief that the intelligence concerning the Imperial Family Secret Territory of the Great Zhao Nation was exclusively in his hands. But now, it looked like he had been overly optimistic. Without going into details far and wide, just the fact that Lin Zhiyuan and his group were spreading rumors in Wanjie City and had quickly rallied more than a dozen Gold Core Realm experts to form a team was already trouble enough for Qi Tian and Zhao Haiying.

Counting on his fingers, aside from Qi Tian and Zhao Haiying’s party, according to the intelligence that Gao Jinmei had scouted, it was confirmed that there were multiple factions aware of the Imperial Family Secret Territory.

Topping the list was definitely the royal family of the Great Zhao Nation. The secret originally belonged to their royal family. Even though later on, Emperor Zhi Wu transferred the control of the Imperial Family Secret Territory to the Refining God Sect, there was no reason for the royal family to completely lose their understanding and control over it.

Second on the list was the Refining God Sect. The fact that Emperor Zhi Wu would entrust the management of the Imperial Family Secret Territory, significant to the rise and fall of the royal family, to the Refining God Sect simply because the son born to the empress who feigned death to escape the palace resembled him was preposterous. Qi Tian didn’t quite believe that Emperor Zhi Wu removed the management rights from the royal family and handed them over to a son without any sentimentality purely for that reason; there must be some inside information unknown to outsiders.

Thirdly, naturally, were Lin Zhiyuan and his party. They are suspected to have obtained clues about the Imperial Family Secret Territory from their secluded residence and had traveled thousands of miles from Wanjie City. Currently, their power was the strongest. Unless Qi Tian’s side employed some special means, if they really faced off directly, the possibility of Qi Tian and his group suffering was quite high.

The fourth in line was Qi Tian and his group. There was not much to say. For them, each person had reasons they could not back down from.

Fifth on the list wasn’t certain as to which faction it was. Among the two factions that Gao Jinmei saw in a fierce fight, one might be from the Refining God Sect, while the other party was likely the unknown fifth faction.

None of these five factions was to be underestimated. Should it come to blows, while it couldn’t be said to shake the heavens and the earth, it would still have extremely serious consequences. Qi Tian currently had a very thin foundation and could not withstand any turmoil. If it were a one-on-one fight, even if his side had to face Lin Zhiyuan’s party directly, he wouldn’t be afraid. But in a five-way melee, where blades and swords have no eyes, a slight slip on their part could lead to significant losses.

Taking this situation into account, Qi Tian said to everyone with a note of worry, “Once we arrive at the Imperial Family Secret Territory, everyone must be vigilant and cautious. We must stick together and look out for one another, and by no means should anyone act on their own.”

Everyone responded in unison. Qi Tian then specifically glanced at Liao Chongru. Liao Chongru had been wounded by a Wolf Teeth Knife, and it would take at least ten days to a half a month for her injuries to completely recover. Before this, her strength had significantly diminished. If they reached the Imperial Family Secret Territory and something went wrong, Liao Chongru was very likely to perish inside.

Liao Chongru understood why Qi Tian gave her a special look. She also knew that this was not the best time for her to venture into the Imperial Family Secret Territory, but, seeing that they were about to enter, she was unwilling to give up on this opportunity. If she could enter, she might have a chance to advance to a higher level, escaping the identity of an Early Gold Core Realm and becoming a formidable expert of the Gold Core Realm Fourth Level. But if she couldn’t enter, then she would have to rely on her arduous cultivation to slowly improve, which could take anywhere from several decades to a hundred or two hundred years.

“Master, please grant me this opportunity. Take me there to see first. If it is feasible, then please allow me to proceed to the Imperial Family Secret Territory with everyone. If not, I won’t insist and will definitely comply with the Master’s arrangements, waiting outside the secret territory for you all,” Liao Chongru pleaded with Qi Tian.

Qi Tian furrowed his brow in thought, then nodded, agreeing to give Liao Chongru this chance. On one hand, Qi Tian did not want to deny Liao Chongru the opportunity. On the other hand, Liao Chongru was after all a third-level expert of the Gold Core Realm. Even injured, outsiders would not know that, and when calculating Qi Tian and his group’s combat power, they would certainly account for Liao Chongru. Perhaps because of her presence, the number of enemies Qi Tian and his group would face could be decided.

After discussing among themselves, Qi Tian and his group began moving with Wang Dongming toward the entrance of the Imperial Family Secret Territory. Their flying speed was not fast, and they were extremely cautious. There were simply too many competitors at this time, and no amount of caution was excessive.

From their resting place at Chaotic Stone Hill to the entrance of the Imperial Family Secret Territory was a mere twenty miles or so. Even though Qi Tian and his group slowed down, when they were about to reach their destination, only about half an hour had passed.

Before reaching the place, Qi Tian did not hear the sounds of fighting, nor did he see the various lights emitted when cultivators cast spells. Instead, he heard loud arguing.

Qi Tian and his group continued at their original pace, with considerably more vigilance than before. They flew on, with the Great Rift Valley ahead bending around a corner. After rounding the bend, the scene before their eyes opened up. About five miles ahead, the Great Rift Valley widened significantly, turning into a large bulge where its width spanned over ten miles. In the middle of the valley stood a rock platform elevated above the ground, about three to four hundred square meters in size, completely enveloped by a Defensive Barrier.