Hearing Li Chen volunteer, Qi Maigu and Zhu Yishan were both startled and hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "Fellow Daoist Li, why put yourself through this?"
He Changnian glanced at him, a hint of appreciation seemingly crossing his face before vanishing. "This has nothing to do with the Grand Artisan assessment. If you accompany me, you will receive no preferential treatment. Are you still willing?"
Li Chen said, "That has nothing to do with it. Though the people at Black Stone Reef and I were merely strangers who crossed paths, there was still a thread of fate between us."
"Besides..." He changed tack. "This time, the Great Elder will hold off the enemy's Primordial Spirit powerhouse, while our Puppet Master Grandmasters oversee the battle. The enemies we might face will only be at Core Formation, or even Foundation Establishment. What is there to fear?"
He had said this specifically for the others, and hearing it, they could not help feeling tempted.
They might have hesitated to face stronger opponents, but if their enemies were merely Core Formation cultivators of the same rank, what was there to fear?
Everyone present was a prospective Grand Artisan. Only someone like Li Chen, with his comparatively shallow reserves, lacked a portable mainstay Battle Puppet rated above five stars and needed to deploy his at home. Which of the others was not armed to the teeth with deadly weapons and hidden tricks?
Several more immediately volunteered.
Qi Maigu said, "Then I'll come along too."
He had decided to join the operation after all.
Seeing that six people had already volunteered while the others were still hesitating, He Changnian waved his hand. "All right, let's go!"
Using his magic power, he opened a Void Grotto-Heaven. A Boundary Gate like a pitch-black abyss yawned open, connecting to