I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield - Chapter 709 - 514: Breaking Barriers, the Final Battle

Under the ice-blue ancient tree, no new figures arrived, and the gathered crowd gradually settled.

“Are the casualties this severe?”

Dongfang Qi looked at the sparse group, his brow involuntarily furrowing.

Back when they stepped into the treasure vault, there were over 400 imperial talents, but now only just over 200 were gathered here.

Just now, while chatting with a few clan leaders, he learned that everyone felt an elusive yet irresistible pull from the depths of the icy abyss—even the most cautious couldn’t resist coming to investigate.

This means that, aside from those still engaged in fierce battles or delayed by trivial matters, the others who haven’t arrived are likely already buried in the treasure vault.

Such losses are heartbreaking, whether for the Nine Great Holy Bloods or for the entire Empire.

“A Yu, did you encounter many magical creatures on your way here?” Dongfang Qi turned his gaze towards Zhuge Yu.

“Quite a few, but their strength was formidable.” Zhuge Yu sighed lightly, his tone full of relief,

“Thankfully, Qin Tian found us in time, and by coincidence, he and Huo Yuansheng, along with Taishi Feng, all successfully broke through to Tier Seven. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for us to survive until now.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the nearby people’s eyes instantly focused on Qin Tian and the other two.

To break through to Tier Seven in such a dangerous place as the treasure vault is an astonishing feat, and the fact that all three managed to advance at the same time was hard for those present to believe.

Were they really that daring?

The Celestial Human Three Tribulations are so perilous, yet they dared to undergo such trials here?

Dongfang Qi’s gaze also fell upon Qin Tian and the other two.

In fact, when they first reconvened, he noticed something peculiar about the three—the gap between Tier Six and Tier Seven is like a chasm, and with his level of cultivation, he could see it at a glance.

Especially Taishi Feng and Huo Yuansheng, their surrounding aura was still unstable, visible to the discerning eye as having just recently broken through.

But Qin Tian was different.

Dongfang Qi discreetly observed Qin Tian, who gave the impression of a peerless sword hidden in its sheath, the aura withdrawn yet with a sharpness lurking beneath, capable of cleaving the heavens and earth once unsheathed, even making him feel somewhat overmatched.

“Is it just my imagination?” Dongfang Qi murmured to himself.

On the other side, in the Shengongsi Clan’s camp, Shengongsi Youyi wore a solemn expression, his tone tinged with urgency, “Where is Yuzuo? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”

Shengongsi Yuzuo was the most powerful leader of their clan’s team this time. If anything happened to him, the Shengongsi Clan would have no hope of competing with the other Holy Blood Clans in the treasure battle that would follow.

“Yuzuo isn’t here, and neither is Shinobu. Could something have happened to them?” Shengongsi Qiandai looked worried.

“Impossible!” Shengongsi Youyi said solemnly, trying to quell the unease in his heart, “We all arrived safely, and Yuzuo’s strength far surpasses ours, how could something happen to him?”

Despite his words, a shadow of doubt unwittingly rose in his mind.

Among the talents who entered the treasure vault this time, there were very few who could overpower Shengongsi Yuzuo, and those individuals either had no quarrel with Yuzuo or, even if they did, couldn’t possibly kill him.

But the most dangerous things inside the vault weren’t the peers, it was those strange magical creatures.

A single magical creature would naturally not be a threat, as Yuzuo’s strength could easily slay it.

But he had witnessed the creatures’ fusion abilities—when several creatures fused together, their power would be enough to contend with Yuzuo. If a dozen or dozens of creatures fused simultaneously, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If such a thing really happened, it wouldn’t just be Shengongsi Yuzuo in danger, even if everyone present worked together, they might not escape death.

“Your Highness, everyone is about here. Should we proceed to the next step?”

The Chen Family representative, Chen Feng, walked up to Ji Taiyan and spoke quietly.

Ji Taiyan looked deeply in the direction of the icy abyss and nodded:

“Alright.”

Following that, he faced everyone and said:

“Holy Blood Clan, each send someone to convene.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Eight Great Holy Blood Clans began sending their representatives over to gather.

With Shengongsi Yuzuo absent, Shengongsi Youyi had to go, and as for the Dongfang Family’s camp, naturally, it was Dongfang Qi.

“Everyone, time is short, so I won’t waste words.”

Ji Taiyan looked at the other eight Holy Blood prodigies and said seriously, “I believe you all can sense the call emanating from this ancient tree. Regarding this ancient tree, do you have any information to provide?”

After he spoke, everyone turned their gaze to Dongfang Qi.

After all, when it comes to the study of plants, the Dongfang Clan was indisputably number one within the entire Empire.

“To be honest, this is my first time seeing such an ancient tree as well.”

Dongfang Qi confessed, “But judging by its appearance, it looks somewhat like the Cold Tree recently discovered on Mingwang Planet.”

“Cold Tree?”

This term was not unfamiliar to everyone.

Since they had entered the relic from Mingwang Planet, they naturally had heard more or less recent news about Mingwang Planet.

The most groundbreaking was the discovery of the Cold Tree.

The Cold Tree can absorb the cold from the environment to form energy crystals and simultaneously provide a cold-proof barrier for cities. With the Cold Tree, Mingwang Planet, which was originally extremely unsuitable for human habitation, suddenly became a potentially infinite, tremendously valuable livable planet.

A new energy source for the economic belt around the Royal star.

Upon closer inspection, this ancient tree indeed bore some resemblance to the Cold Tree, except that the Cold Tree only has crystals, while this ancient tree, besides having higher-quality crystals, also bears fruits similar to ginseng fruits.

And those fruits, possibly even the tree itself, could very well be the greatest opportunity and wealth within this treasure vault.