These Blood Qi Puppets posed little danger to Pillaring Grandmasters or Transforming Strength Great Boxers. They looked somewhat stronger than a Manifesting Strength fighter, but that was about it. Even their Disciples could handle them—unless stronger Blood Qi Puppets lurked inside.
Once they had considered that, the Pillaring Grandmasters outside the stone gate exchanged glances with the four Transforming Strength Great Boxers. They quickly made up their minds.
"These Wu Ming Ruins look interesting. Everyone, I'll go on ahead! Hahaha..."
Wang Tianba laughed and strode inside. He cupped his fists toward Li Hansha, then headed down one of the dim passages. Li Hansha nodded slightly and chose another route.
The four Transforming Strength Great Boxers still outside looked back at the crowd and nodded to their Disciples. Then they stepped through the stone gate, each choosing a different direction.
Before coming here, they had already told Liu Qing'er, Fang Xiu, Ye Zhen, Wang Xiaoai, Li Xingming, and their other Disciples how they planned to explore the Wu Ming Ruins. If it seemed safe enough, the masters would go in first and search for clues to the Human Immortal Martial Dao.
After the two Pillaring Grandmasters and four Transforming Strength Great Boxers entered the ruins, the Manifesting Strength fighters exchanged uneasy glances. They had trained in National Martial Arts and mastered Manifesting Strength, but these Blood Qi Puppets feared neither pain nor death. Losing hands or feet barely slowed them; unless their heads were smashed, they could keep fighting. That gave everyone pause.
How many Blood Qi Puppets were inside? Were there even stronger ones?!
Those were the questions that mattered most, and the main reason the Manifesting Strength fighters hesitated. Some, though, began looking for companions to explore with.
Meanwhile, the fifty members of the Official Elite Special Operations Team proceeded methodically. They sent back the footage they had taken of the Blood Qi Puppets for the Research Experts to examine, then waited for further orders.
The inexplicable Blood Qi Puppets immediately caused a stir. The elite Special Operations Forces on site soon received their orders from above: first, try to capture an intact Blood Qi Puppet and bring it back for study; second, search the ruins for anything unusual with research value; and finally, look for the rumored Human Immortal Martial Dao.
Following those orders, the fifty-member team quickly split into five squads, each led by a captain. They entered the Wu Ming Ruins on alert and began carrying out their assignments. Their organization was clearly far better than the Civilian Faction's.
With the official team already inside, some in the Civilian Faction could no longer hold back. As soon as they gathered groups of five, they headed into the Wu Ming Ruins.
Liu Qing'er, Fang Xiu, Ye Zhen, Wang Xiaoai, Li Xingming, and Gu Chen had already discussed their plans in the Group Chat. The six of them would explore together and stick together through whatever came.
Gu Chen had no objection. He was only here to keep the overall situation under control and ensure the Wu Ming Ruins and the Human Immortal Martial Dao followed the script he had set, without any surprises. Everything he did was to gain Origin Points for his future use of Refine Falsehood Into Truth.
Once the Group Chat members met up, Liu Qing'er, as their host, handed out the equipment she had prepared for the expedition, including headlamps and Miniature Walkie-Talkies.
"Hehe... This is professional exploration gear. It's perfect for a place like this. Now we won't have to worry about being ambushed in the dark."
After distributing the gear, they made their final preparations. Taking the strengths of each person's martial art into account, they quickly settled on a formation for the six of them. Only then did they cautiously head toward the entrance to the Wu Ming Ruins.
The brawny Wang Xiaoai took the lead. He was tough, knew Dragon's Roar Iron Shirt, and made an excellent punching bag. Fang Xiu followed, with Ye Zhen behind her. Her Wing Chun White Crane Fist was fast and fierce, while Ye Zhen's Swimming Dragon Bagua Palm was tricky and agile, well suited to close-quarters fighting. Liu Qing'er and Gu Chen took positions at the rear. She practiced Xingyi Fist, while he specialized in hidden weapons and the like.
It was a sensible arrangement. As long as they did not run into stronger Blood Qi Puppets deeper in the Wu Ming Ruins, they should be fine.
Gu Chen found it rather amusing to see his goofy Group Chat friends wearing such solemn expressions, as though they were marching into battle. He was even considering giving them a little scare to help them practice fighting for their lives. What if one of them broke through?!
Of course, his teammates had no idea that the Group Chat friend standing behind them had such a wicked sense of humor.
In less than ten minutes, over half of the two hundred-odd Manifesting Strength outsiders had entered. Most of those who remained were cautious people who valued their lives. Unwilling to risk it yet, they planned to wait for the earlier entrants to return, ask about the conditions inside, and then decide what to do.
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