I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield - Chapter 622 - 476: Breaking the Seal, Entering the Ruins (2)

Chapter 622: Chapter 476: Breaking the Seal, Entering the Ruins (2)

On the other side, Huo Yuansheng displayed the prowess of a top-tier business strategist.

Qin Tian, who was not very familiar with the business field, seldom worried about the specific operations of Lingfeng Trading, only briefly informing Huo Yuansheng about the company’s basic situation, business scope, and current predicaments.

Unexpectedly, with just this information, Huo Yuansheng combined it with the prospects of Mingwang Planet’s development to devise a comprehensive business development plan for Lingfeng Trading, with clear and feasible strategies spanning from daily operations optimization to future market layout.

Moreover, he proactively introduced several connections from the Interstellar Commerce Association, helping Lingfeng Trading establish multiple material channels.

These aids were undoubtedly a timely assistance for Qin Tian, propelling the fledgling branch of the group onto a fast development track and giving him a new understanding of the importance of the business field.

However, during this period, he also discovered a problem.

That is, the attitude of Taishi Feng and Huo Yuansheng towards Dongfang Haoyue was just like Zhuge Yu’s towards Dongfang Haoyue, seemingly friends, yet more like followers readily taking Dongfang Haoyue’s lead.

To this day, he still couldn’t understand how Dongfang Haoyue could lead such outstanding direct lineage heirs of the Golden Clan.

It should be noted that Dongfang Haoyue was merely from a side branch of the Dongfang Family, and in terms of status and the support and resources they could receive from the family, these people could even be said to surpass him.

Whenever he subtly probed this question, Dongfang Haoyue and Zhuge Yu would always answer vaguely, so he later chose to drop it, merely burying this doubt in his heart, intending to seek answers in the future.

…

Finally, the day of the Ice Gate’s opening arrived.

In the underground ice cave, the massive Ice Gate stood quietly, the ancient runes on the gate flowing slowly like living creatures, emitting a faint glow, exuding an aura of ancient mystery that transcended millennia.

Before the gate, two ice pillars stood erect, their surfaces carved with characters that remained as clear as new through the centuries, yet no one could decipher their meaning.

Before the gate, five hundred individuals granted access stood in orderly rows.

The descendants of the Holy Blood Clan stood at the forefront. Among the Nine Great Holy Blood Clans, apart from the Luoho Clan, each had five slots, while the Luoho Clan only received three slots as punishment from the Empire for previously kidnapping sealing expert Gao Shiniang and concealing relic information.

In the Luoho Clan’s contingent stood two Asuras and a Rakshasa woman. The Asuras’ hideous features stood out among the handsome Holy Blood descendants. However, everyone was already accustomed to the Asuras’ appearance, and no one intentionally stared at them, though the occasional gazes carried a trace of imperceptible apprehension and vigilance.

Qin Tian and Lan stood together, accompanied by Zhuge Yu, Taishi Feng, and Huo Yuansheng. They naturally hoped to travel together after entering the relic.

As the last few people arrived, Shen Qingyue, the commander of the 29th Battalion, stepped to the front of the queue.

Dressed in a crisp military uniform, he surveyed the crowd sharply and announced in a deep voice, “All personnel are present, the relic will be opened!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the long-awaiting team of experts immediately marched forward, led by none other than Gao Shiniang.

He held a golden array plate, etched with complex spiritual energy patterns. As he reached the front of the Ice Gate, he took a deep breath, repressed his internal tension, and slowly injected his spiritual energy into the array plate.

The golden array plate instantly lit up, the spiritual energy patterns on it awakening like tendrils, slowly rising from the plate, carrying a gentle glow, flying toward the Ice Gate.

Upon contact with the sealing array on the gate, the patterns triggered a chain reaction, like sardines thrown into a school of fish.

The patterns on the sealing array started to change violently, the formerly orderly patterns turning chaotic, yet under Gao Shiniang’s control, they gradually evolved toward a decryption direction.

Gao Shiniang’s eyes were focused, his hands constantly adjusting the array plate’s angle, guiding the array patterns and the sealing array’s patterns to intertwine and separate from each other. With each adjustment, the brightness of the sealing array’s glow dimmed a little, the once tightly connected patterns slowly unraveling like a rope being untied.

Qin Tian glanced at Zhuge Yu beside him and communicated with his soul, “Do you understand these operations?”

Zhuge Yu shot him a sidelong glance, replying with her soul, “Do you think I’m an ancestor of the Zhuge Family who can decipher all arrays at a glance? Without in-depth research on such ancient arrays, how could I possibly see through the decoding method directly?”

Hearing this, Qin Tian shrugged and continued to watch the sealing array.

Gradually, the entanglement between the array patterns and the sealing array’s patterns grew tighter, like two forces struggling against each other, occasionally sparking tiny bursts of light, then merging into one.

Slowly, the glow of the sealing array began to dull, the speed of the circulating runes slowed, the patterns on the gate appearing depleted of energy, gradually turning blurry.

Beads of sweat appeared on Gao Shiniang’s forehead, his spiritual energy output stable as ever, while the glow of the array plate intensified. Ultimately, a golden beam shot from the array plate, directly hitting the Ice Gate.

“Boom——”

The array patterns on the Ice Gate suddenly burst out with dazzling light, the entire gate seemed like a giant beast awakened after a long slumber, emitting a deep rumble, causing the entire underground ice cave to tremble slightly.

Subsequently, the heavy Ice Gate slowly opened inward, revealing a pitch-black crevice, an ancient sense of desolation filled with dust and decay wafting out, immediately enshrouding the entire ice cave, causing everyone to involuntarily hold their breath, eyes full of expectation and tension.

The secrets of the relic were finally about to be unveiled.

At this moment, none of the five hundred present made any rash moves, instead turning their gaze to Shen Qingyue standing at the forefront of the queue—as the person in charge of this relic exploration, everyone was waiting for his final command.

Shen Qingyue took a step forward, his military uniform outlining his upright figure in the cold air. His gaze was piercing, sweeping over every person present, his voice steady and powerful, carrying undeniable authority, “Gentlemen, behind the relic lies an unknown domain that may hold millennial opportunities or be fraught with lethal dangers. Before you enter the relic, there are two disciplines I need to emphasize to everyone, remember them by heart.”

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly stern, “First, you are the talents selected by the Empire, entering the relic this time is not only a personal opportunity for breakthrough but also to uncover the ancient relic’s mysteries for the Empire. From this moment, you belong to the Empire’s exploration team, strictly prohibiting any form of infighting. Should anyone attack their compatriots for resources or opportunities, regardless of their family background or allegiance, they will be severely punished by the Empire’s laws afterward, with no leniency.”

Upon hearing these words, many people subconsciously nodded, but some people’s eyes flickered, a trace of disdain curling their lips—in their view, when it truly came down to life and death struggles for opportunities, the so-called “strictly prohibiting infighting” was nothing but rhetoric, after all, deep within the relic, no one could supervise in real-time, survival and benefit being the primary tasks.

Shen Qingyue seemed to see through everyone’s thoughts but did not expose it, continuing to say, “Second, in all actions, personal safety is the foremost principle. If faced with an unbeatable threat within the relic or discover vital intelligence that could impact the Empire’s safety, do not forcefully explore further, prioritize self-preservation, and after withdrawing from the relic, report the encountered situations and acquired intelligence truthfully. The Empire possesses sufficient power to address any unknown risks, there is no need for you to risk your lives forcefully.”

These words clearly resonated with everyone, many secretly breathing a sigh of relief—if they encountered the legendary ancient demonic creatures or traps capable of obliterating everything, there was no need to fight hard. As long as they could return alive, the Empire would naturally dispatch high-tier experts to handle it, no need for them to sacrifice in vain.

“Alright, with the rules clarified, now——” Shen Qingyue raised his hand with a swift gesture, his voice suddenly elevating, “Enter the relic sequentially according to the planned order!”

With his command issued, the Holy Blood Clan descendants at the forefront took the lead and stepped into the Ice Gate crevice in order, followed closely by personnel from the Golden Clan, the Military Department, the Tribunal, and other forces, the procession moving like a long dragon slowly into the darkness.

Just as Asaki Luoho was following the group about to step into the relic, a piercing cold voice suddenly echoed in his mind, “Remember, help me kill him.”

Asaki’s expression remained unchanged, his strides unabated, as if he hadn’t heard anything. Yet a figure clearly surfaced in his mind.

That was the person his cousin, Inzaghi Luoho, specifically instructed him to eliminate—the Guardian Envoy of Ice Extreme Pass, Qin Tian.

A fleeting glint of shadow flashed in his eyes. In this perilous relic, ensuring someone “accidentally” perished was not too difficult a task.

This guy is doomed.