Choice

"Not bad haul!" A flicker of delight passed through Gao Tao's eyes. "Adding the seven Water Essence Herbs from before, the gains from this operation are already close to 100 chaos units!"

He paused and looked at the group. "Keep these items for now. Once we return to the Universe Mercenary Alliance base, we'll distribute them according to everyone's contributions."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Gao Tao then took out a virtual map and projected it into the air. The map clearly showed the valley where they were located, as well as the rough outline of the surrounding mountain range.

"We're here right now." He pointed to a red dot in the middle of the map. "This mountain range is enormous. Our detection range was limited when we landed, so we only mapped the outer regions. The depths are completely unknown."

"Based on my previous experience here, the deeper we go into the mountains, the more World Lord level ferocious beasts there are, and the stronger they become. But correspondingly, the density of precious resources also increases." Gao Tao's finger moved toward the depths of the range.

Gao Tao continued, "We have two choices now. First, we can continue exploring along the outer region of the mountains. We already know the strength of the ferocious beasts here, so the risk is relatively low. Second, we can venture deeper into the mountains. Although the danger will increase, the rewards may grow geometrically. Tell me what you think."

Ka En was the first to state his position, his tone steady. "I suggest we continue exploring the outer regions. We won the last battle, but we still paid a considerable price. Three people suffered minor injuries. If we go deeper and encounter stronger ferocious beasts, someone might suffer a serious injury and need a long recovery period. That would affect our overall progress and wouldn't be worth it."

Mu Feng, however, shook his head, adventure gleaming in his eyes. "The resources inside are richer. As long as we're careful, we may not encounter any life-threatening danger."

Yun Yan immediately chimed in, "I agree with Mu Feng. We came here to find precious resources. As long as we don't rush in recklessly, with our strength, we should be able to retreat safely. How could we so easily run into life-threatening danger?"

"Since everyone's divided, let's vote by show of hands." Gao Tao said, "Raise your hands if you agree to continue exploring the outer regions."

Kahn and Solin raised their hands without hesitation.

Suo Lin specialized in stealth and assassination, and she preferred safer plans that avoided unnecessary risks.

Ka En, on the other hand, was considering the team's safety and believed that steady progress was the best course.

Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, rapidly weighing his options. He had mastered the Myriad Transformations Secret Technique and could evade the detection of ferocious beasts. He also had an E2-class spaceship as a backup, giving him survival capabilities far beyond those of others at his level.

Moreover, cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique required vast resources, and the mountain depths held richer resources. With that in mind, he did not raise his hand.

"Raise your hands if you agree to venture deeper into the mountains." Gao Tao was the first to raise his hand. Immediately afterward, Mu Feng, Yun Yan, and Zhou Yuan raised theirs as well.

"Four votes to two. Then it's settled." Gao Tao said with a smile. "But there's no need to rush too far in. We'll advance ten million kilometers first and scout the situation. Once we see the strength of the ferocious beasts and the resource distribution inside, we'll decide on our next move."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere around the campfire grew lively once more.

Three months quietly passed amid full-speed exploration. Zhou Yuan and the other five had already penetrated eight million kilometers into the mountain range, far from their original valley base.

During this stretch of the journey, they encountered two fairly large groups of ferocious beasts. Relying on seamless cooperation and precise tactics, they retreated safely each time and gained quite a lot.

Each battle yielded resources worth more than a hundred Hunyuan units.

At noon that day, the six of them stopped at the edge of a dense coniferous forest.

Gao Tao raised a hand to signal the team to halt, tapping the virtual map with his fingertip. "There's a valley ten thousand kilometers ahead. Origin energy is gathering there, so it should be a ferocious beast nest. Suo Lin, sorry for the trouble, but scout out the exact situation."

Suo Lin nodded. Her figure instantly blurred as the Light Origin Law covering her body merged with the surrounding light and shadows. Like a leaf drifting on the wind, she silently swept toward the valley.

She moved incredibly fast without making the slightest sound, disappearing into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye.

Before long, Solin sent a message. "Captain, I've found six ferocious beasts here. They're all earth-element giant scorpions. Preliminary assessment: one is at the peak World Lord level, one is eighth-stage World Lord level, two are seventh-stage World Lord level, and two are sixth-stage World Lord level."

"Let's do it, Captain!" Yun Yan could no longer hold himself back. The flaming saber in his hand trembled faintly, while the red secret patterns on its blade flashed with scorching light. "Their strength is about the same as last time. We've worked together so many times—we can definitely take them!"

Gao Tao looked at the others, his gaze passing over Mu Feng, Zhou Yuan, and Kahn in turn. "What do you think?"

"Charge. Resources won't wait for us!" Mu Feng said with a grin.

"I have no problem with it." Zhou Yuan gripped the Zhenkong Blade at his waist. His Spatial Flash Slash had become increasingly proficient, more than enough to deal with a sixth-stage World Lord ferocious beast.

Ka En nodded. "I have no problem either. I'll handle the World Lord eighth level one."

"Good. Since everyone agrees, let's move!" A sharp glint flashed through Gao Tao's eyes as he swiftly assigned their tactics.

"I'll hold off the World Lord peak giant scorpion. Ka En, you handle the World Lord eighth level one. Suo Lin, take one World Lord seventh level. The three of us just need to hold them back."

Gao Tao paused and looked at Yun Yan. "Yun Yan, take one World Lord seventh level. You're a little weaker, so just hold on until Zhou Yuan and Mu Feng deal with the two World Lord sixth level ones. Zhou Yuan, work with Mu Feng to handle the two World Lord sixth level ones. End the fight as quickly as possible, then go help Yun Yan. Is that clear?"

"Clear!" the five replied in unison.

"Charge!" At Gao Tao's command, he transformed into a streak of golden light and shot forward first, the sharp edge of the Metal Origin Law carving a dazzling trail through the forest.

Ka En followed close behind, shield in his left hand and saber in his right, his massive body like a moving hill.

Mu Feng spread his wings and rode the Cloud Array Disc, a telekinetic flying weapon, following behind them.

Zhou Yuan and Yun Yan were the last to race after them.

Soon, the five approached the valley. By then, the six giant scorpions within had already sensed the threat and let out hissing roars.

Wielding his Star Pattern Spear, Gao Tao stabbed directly at the World Lord peak giant scorpion.

Ka En's saber slashed straight at the World Lord eighth level giant scorpion.

The red secret patterns on Yun Yan's saber flashed as it transformed into a blaze and cleaved toward a World Lord seventh level giant scorpion in the middle.

Suo Lin turned into a shadow, revealing herself from behind. The short spike in her hand released a Light Blade that slashed toward a World Lord seventh level giant scorpion on the left.

Mu Feng was the most carefree of them all. Standing atop the Cloud Array Disc, he used telekinesis to control the Wind Spirit Blades, which transformed into more than a dozen wind blades and directly hemmed in the two World Lord sixth level giant scorpions.

Following Mu Feng, Zhou Yuan swung the Zhenkong Blade, his Spatial Flash Slash cleaving directly toward one of the sixth-stage World Lord giant scorpions.

The World Lord peak giant scorpion was the largest, over three hundred meters long. Its entire body was covered in dark golden armor, and the venomous stinger on its tail gleamed with an eerie green light as it rose high and aimed at the charging Gao Tao.