"Not bad haul!" Gao Tao's eyes flashed with delight. "Added to the seven Water Essence Grass plants from before, the gains from this operation are already close to 100 Hunyuan units!"
He paused, then looked at everyone. "Keep these things for now. Once we return to the Universe Mercenary Alliance base, we'll distribute them collectively according to contribution."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Gao Tao then took out a virtual map and projected it into the air. The map clearly displayed the location of the valley they were in, along with the rough outlines of the surrounding mountain range.
"We are here." He pointed at a red dot in the center of the map. "This mountain range is enormous. Our detection range was limited when we landed, so we only mapped the outer region. The depths are completely unknown territory."
"Based on my previous experience here, the deeper we go into the mountains, the greater the number of World Lord-level fierce beasts, and the stronger they become. But accordingly, the density of precious resources also rises." 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 perimeter. We're already familiar with the strength of the fierce beasts there, so the risk is lower. Second, we can venture deeper into the mountains. Although the danger will increase, the gains may grow geometrically. Tell me what you think."
Ka En was the first to state his position, his tone steady. "I suggest we explore the outer perimeter. We won the last battle, but we paid a considerable price as well. Three people suffered minor injuries. If we go deeper and encounter stronger fierce beasts, someone might be seriously injured and need a long recovery. That would affect our overall progress and wouldn't be worth it."
Mu Feng, however, shook his head, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of adventure. "The resources inside are richer. As long as we proceed cautiously, we may not necessarily encounter fatal danger."
Yun Yan immediately agreed. "I agree with Mu Feng. We came here to search for 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 fatal danger?"
"Since there's disagreement, let's vote by raising hands." Gao Tao said, "Those in favor of continuing to explore the outer perimeter, raise your hands."
Ka En and Suo Lin raised their hands without hesitation.
Suo Lin specialized in stealth and assassination, so she favored a more cautious plan and avoiding unnecessary risks.
Ka En, on the other hand, was considering the team's safety and believed that steady progress was the best strategy.
Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, rapidly weighing the options. He had mastered the Myriad Transformations Secret Technique and could avoid detection by fierce beasts. He also had an E2-class spaceship as a fallback, giving him survival capabilities far beyond those of others at the same 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.
"Those in favor of going deeper into the mountains, raise your hands." Gao Tao was the first to raise his hand. Mu Feng, Yun Yan, and Zhou Yuan followed one after another.
"Four votes to two. It's decided." Gao Tao said with a smile. "But we won't rush straight in. We'll first advance another ten million kilometers to scout things out, assess the strength of the fierce beasts and the distribution of resources inside, then decide on the next step."
Everyone nodded in approval, and the atmosphere around the campfire grew lively once more.
Three months passed quietly amid their full-speed exploration. Zhou Yuan's group of six had already penetrated eight million kilometers into the mountain range, far from their original valley base.
During that journey, they encountered two sizable groups of fierce beasts. Relying on their seamless coordination and precise tactics, they emerged safely every time and gained quite a lot.
Every battle brought them resources worth over 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 power is gathering there, so it should be a fierce beast nest. Suo Lin, sorry for the trouble, but scout out the situation."
Suo Lin nodded. Her figure instantly blurred as the Light Origin Law across 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, Suo Lin sent a message. "Captain, I found six fierce beasts here. They're all earth-attributed giant scorpions. Preliminary assessment: one at the World Lord peak, one at the World Lord eighth level, two at the World Lord seventh level, and two at the World Lord sixth 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 along its blade flickered with searing light. "Their strength is about the same as last time. We've worked together so many times—we can definitely take them down!"
Gao Tao looked at the others, his gaze sweeping across Mu Feng, Zhou Yuan, and Ka En in turn. "What do you think?"
"Charge. Resources won't wait for us!" Mu Feng said with a grin.
"I have no objections." Zhou Yuan gripped the Zhenkong Blade at his waist. His Instant Space Slash had become increasingly proficient, and dealing with a World Lord sixth-level fierce beast would be more than easy.
Ka En nodded. "No objections from me either. I'll handle the World Lord eighth-level one."
"Good. Since everyone agrees, then move out!" A fierce 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 take the World Lord eighth-level one. Suo Lin, deal with one World Lord seventh-level one. 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 one. You're slightly weaker, so just hold on until Zhou Yuan and Mu Feng finish off the two World Lord sixth-level ones. Zhou Yuan, work with Mu Feng against those two World Lord sixth-level ones. You need to end the battle quickly, then go help Yun Yan. Is that clear?"
"Clear!" the five answered in unison.
"Charge!" At Gao Tao's command, he was the first to transform into a streak of golden light and shoot forward. The sharp edge of the Metal Origin Law carved a dazzling trail through the forest.
Ka En followed close behind, shield in his left hand and saber in his right. His massive body was like a moving hill.
Mu Feng spread his wings, standing atop the Lieyun Disk, a telekinetic flight weapon, and followed behind.
Zhou Yuan and Yun Yan were the last to speed after them.
Before long, the five approached the valley. The six giant scorpions within had already sensed the threat and let out hissing roars.
Gao Tao gripped the Star Pattern Spear and thrust directly at the World Lord peak giant scorpion.
Ka En's saber slashed directly 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 one of the World Lord seventh-level giant scorpions in the center.
Suo Lin became a shadow, revealing herself from behind. The short spike in her hand sent out 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 Lieyun Disk, he used telekinesis to control the Wind Spirit Blade, turning it into more than a dozen wind blades that directly enveloped the two World Lord sixth-level giant scorpions.
Zhou Yuan followed Mu Feng, swinging the Zhenkong Blade as his Instant Space Slash cleaved directly toward one World Lord sixth-level giant scorpion.
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 glimmered with an eerie green light as it rose high, aimed at the charging Gao Tao.