Descending into the Catacombs 3

Zhang Tao naturally informed them of the dangers involved, but humanity was too poor; having finally found a place with resources, they were unwilling to give it up. Wasn't descending into the Catacombs a matter of nine deaths for every one life? Everyone willing to descend into the Catacombs knew this point well.

Zhang Tao didn't waste words; since everyone was mentally prepared, there was nothing more to say.

"Zhang Tao, how do we proceed?" Li Zhen asked directly. After all, Zhang Tao knew the location, and he had always been the one leading the charge, so Li Zhen stepped forward first to express his stance, indicating he would follow Zhang Tao's lead.

Zhang Tao nodded and quickly entered his role, saying, "Follow me, and try your best to restrain your aura. Senior, you can just trail behind us."

He looked back at the senior, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes. This senior was a Rank 7 Grandmaster from the Forbidden City; in this era, every Grandmaster was revered by the people. Zhang Tao knew that the success of this mission largely depended on this senior's help.

The middle-aged man nodded without a word, indicating he understood.

No one spoke; they just followed silently behind Zhang Tao.

Just like that, Zhang Tao led them deep into the Catacombs. Those following behind were astonished. Was this the human prodigy Zhang Tao? Did he always venture this deep on every expedition?

One had to know that most of them were Rank 5 or Rank 6, and at their furthest, they would never go beyond three hundred kilometers from the Forbidden City. Yet, the depth Zhang Tao had brought them to was already well over four or five hundred kilometers.

These people had all emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood; being able to survive until now made them elites among humanity, yet none of them dared to be this reckless.

Li Zhen followed silently behind Zhang Tao, as if he were already used to it; after all, Zhang Tao's recklessness was legendary.

While running, Zhang Tao was also deep in thought. How did he survive being this reckless? He didn't believe for a second that there wasn't some old monster helping him behind the scenes. He just didn't know who it was—perhaps the Earth Emperor from the Catacombs, perhaps Mo Wenjian, or maybe Li Wukai. They all needed humanity to develop. Li Wukai probably wanted to push his younger brother's descendant, but Li Zhen was lackluster and had been overshadowed by himself, so was that why he turned to help him instead?

As for that Rank 9 Monster Plant from back then, the original Zhang Tao hadn't known, but the transmigrated Zhang Tao knew it had been given by Gong Yuzi, the Demon Emperor's master. There weren't many hidden traps on it, just some spiritual tethers. Unlike the original owner, Zhang Tao wasn't so suspicious, so he hadn't used it much and had eventually handed it over.

But since it was useful to him, he wouldn't die. This was the reason Zhang Tao continued to be reckless after transmigrating.

"Careful, there are Catacomb Inhabitants ahead! Prepare for battle!" Zhang Tao instantly stopped his train of thought and said in a low voice while looking ahead. There was no helping it; there were too many of them, and he wasn't Fang Ping—he didn't have a technique to mask their auras. Even if they tried their best to restrain their blood energy, with so many people gathered together, there was still quite a bit of fluctuation.

Sure enough, the Catacomb Inhabitants on that side discovered them and charged over with roars.

Zhang Tao drew his long saber first and shouted, "Kill!"

Li Zhen didn't say a word either; he followed Zhang Tao and charged into the fray. A great battle erupted instantly. Although Zhang Tao wasn't the original, the original's memories remained, and those combat scenes were still there; Zhang Tao had already become familiar with them over the course of the day.

"Void-Breaking Sword Art!" Li Zhen let out a low shout, firing a sword beam. Wherever the sword beam passed, space seemed to be torn apart. A white light swept out, shredding everything in its path.

Li Zhen's eyes were cold and focused. His fingers gripped the hilt tightly, continuously injecting blood energy. The sword beam grew stronger and fiercer, eventually forming a sword beam as thick as a water barrel, hurtling forward.

In front of the sword beam was a Catacomb Inhabitant wearing black armor. His face was full of terror. He wanted to dodge, but it was too late. The sword beam had already enveloped him, and his body was instantly shredded, turning into a mist of blood that dissipated into the air.

There was no pity in Li Zhen's heart. He knew that in this world, only the strong could survive. If he wasn't strong, he could only be trampled underfoot by others and slaughtered at will.

Zhang Tao knew about Li Zhen's Void-Breaking Sword Art, but seeing it this time, it seemed even more powerful than before. He wondered how this Li Hanhan had been cultivating.

However, Zhang Tao wasn't a pushover either. The long saber in his hand swung out, and streaks of blood-colored saber energy instantly took form. Wherever they passed, even Rank 6 high-stage experts couldn't help but retreat and dodge.

Li Tingxiu, the Rank 7 who had been following behind, widened his eyes. Was this a human prodigy? Could the quality of this blood energy be any higher?

Li Zhen also looked at Zhang Tao. This damn rascal had only just entered Rank 6, so how could his blood energy be so strong?

Zhang Tao was also astonished. He knew this was his first time attacking, and compared to before, he was more than a grade stronger. Thinking of the Kongtong Seal inside his body, Zhang Tao had a moment of realization. It must be the help the Kongtong Seal provided. Zhang Tao hadn't developed many of the Kongtong Seal's functions, but now he knew it could improve and enhance his blood energy. As for suppressing Luck and the like, Zhang Tao couldn't understand that yet.

"Hmm? Is my recovery this fast too?" Zhang Tao felt the recovery within his body and was overjoyed. Although he didn't have a system, he had the Kongtong Seal, and this thing was likely much stronger than Fang Ping's system.

With this thought, Zhang Tao immediately charged out with a roar. Every move was bold and unconstrained, a completely suicidal fighting style. For a time, even though Zhang Tao had only just entered Rank 6, he forced five Rank 6 mid-stage and high-stage experts into a steady retreat.

"Die!" At this moment, the blood energy Zhang Tao had been secretly accumulating exploded instantly. A blood-red light flickered on the Grade A Alloy long saber, and Zhang Tao's face turned pale instantly. A streak of blood-colored saber energy slashed across his front, and the three Rank 6 mid-stage experts in front of him didn't even have time to react before they were decapitated by a single strike!

The remaining two Rank 6 high-stage experts were terrified and wanted to flee, but how could Zhang Tao let them leave? Once the information leaked, he and Li Zhen would likely be the only ones from their group to make it back.

"Puchi!" Zhang Tao charged up, and the Rank 6 high-stage expert slashed down without a second thought.

Zhang Tao took the blow with his body, but his own saber also slashed into the head of that Rank 6 high-stage expert.

At this moment, a deep wound had appeared on Zhang Tao's chest, deep enough to see bone, but Zhang Tao's bones were flickering with a golden light.