Lin Xiaotian showed no mercy to the intruders. He watched as some of them cautiously entered the secret chamber to scout it out, planning for the others to follow.
The first ones in were clearly expendable, as no one knew what dangers lay ahead. The chilling wind they'd felt along the way seemed capable of shattering bones.
So far, they hadn't encountered any real threats, nor had they received detailed information. Ku Mu Dao Ren had only been here once before and wasn't entirely familiar with the place.
"I suggest one person goes in first to assess the situation, then sends a message back to us," one of them proposed.
"A single signal will suffice. Once inside, do not act rashly. There's definitely something fishy going on, or Ku Mu Dao Ren wouldn't be acting so cowardly. He sounded terrified when he spoke of this," another added.
"We're only here for the weapon. There's no need to stir up more trouble. If anyone obstructs us inside, kill them without hesitation. No need for pleasantries. We need to get the item as quickly as possible."
The one speaking was a man in his thirties, his gaze steady, his face etched with ferocity. He appeared exceptionally pained.
Among everyone present, his cultivation was the lowest, barely having broken through to the Land Immortal realm. This was achieved through copious amounts of medicine, making him significantly weaker than other experts at the same level.
Reaching this point was already his limit; he couldn't possibly advance further. His only thought was: if the mere residual malevolent energy had such a potent effect, how much of a power boost would this divine weapon provide?
He harbored a single, unwavering belief.
"I must obtain this divine weapon!"
The remaining dozen or so individuals were primarily there to protect him and to witness the might of this "life-saving blade."
The young man surveyed the scene, his gaze finally settling on the elder with white hair and beard. "You go in first. If anything goes wrong, send us a signal immediately. You can decide whether to retreat or proceed."
The elder could only nod, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He entered cautiously, every step deliberate, daring no misstep. He knew this final stretch was the most perilous.
"If entering that space doesn't present any major issues, then the problem likely lies with the sword itself."
Everyone watched with bated breath, for the final destination was just around the next corner.
If they found nothing amiss upon reaching it, it would confirm that the sword was the true source of trouble.
The elder finally stepped into the chamber. A look of bewilderment crossed his face. Strangely, the further he went, the more at ease he felt. The bone-chilling coldness in the air had vanished.
He knew this was not a good sign. His gaze immediately fell upon the ominous sword embedded in the center.
After taking about a dozen steps forward without incident, he realized he was nearing the sword. At this point, he understood: this menacing sword was likely the true danger.
He immediately sent a signal outwards, calling out, "Young Master Zhang, I've reached the location. I haven't encountered any danger, but I dare not touch this sword here, for fear of unforeseen consequences."
Upon hearing this, the dozen or so individuals outside could no longer restrain themselves. Escorting Young Master Zhang, they moved with great speed to the elder's side. When they saw the sword, their eyes blazed with fervent desire, as did those of the other experts present.
Their original purpose was merely to accompany him through the process. They knew that even if they obtained the sword, it would never be distributed to them. While their strength within the Sky Net wasn't top-tier, they were considered high-ranking.
Experts of their caliber would not be the first to wield such a powerful artifact. For instance, Young Master Zhang, who was brought along, was the intended owner of this divine weapon.
The higher echelons of power were engaged in their own political games.
They were merely tools to be used.
Seeing this, Young Master Zhang could no longer contain himself. His face flushed with excitement. "You few, try to pull out that sword and see what happens. Remember, don't push yourselves. If anything goes wrong, retreat immediately. We can study the sword slowly after we bring it back."
"I refuse to believe we can't figure out what this sword is made of and where it came from."
More than ten people stepped forward. However, before they could act, they suddenly felt a disturbance around them and instinctively turned their gaze behind them.
Following their line of sight, they saw a young man walking in with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face. His leisurely demeanor stunned everyone present. They knew how dangerous it had been for them to get here, and how many troubles they had encountered.
Yet, the young man before them seemed as relaxed as if he were returning home.
"Who are you?" Young Master Zhang asked warily, his eyes filled with anger.
He didn't appreciate someone appearing out of nowhere to snatch the prize.
After spending over an hour to reach the deepest part of this earth vein, and being on the verge of obtaining the peerless divine weapon, a stranger suddenly appeared. And judging by his demeanor, this stranger was no ordinary individual.
At least, none of them could have reached this point with such ease and grace.
Lin Xiaotian smiled and said, "I believe you've all heard my name. I am Lin Xiaotian."
"You are Lin Xiaotian?"
Young Master Zhang's eyes widened in disbelief.
Lin Xiaotian nodded with a smile. "That's right, I am Lin Xiaotian. I was invited here by a high-ranking member of your Sky Net."
Hearing this, the others exchanged glances. Young Master Zhang's voice turned cold. "Impossible. It's absolutely impossible that our higher-ups invited you."