CHAPTER 298: CHAPTER 295: UNDERGROUND TUNNEL _1

Zhao Yun and Guo Jia continued their patrol, hoping to find another path. However, after thoroughly searching the mountain ranges flanking both sides of the canyon, they found nothing, leaving them somewhat dejected.

Zhao Yun, floating in mid-air, said helplessly, "There are no other passages. It seems we can only dispatch powerful individuals to forcefully suppress the Canghai Ancient Court! Dispatching experts to suppress them is a last resort; unless our strength vastly surpasses theirs, it would be extremely dangerous."

Take the Canghai Ancient Court, for example. As a power with a legacy spanning tens of millions of years, their Fortune is exceptionally potent. They can amplify their strength severalfold by drawing upon this Fortune. However, the Martial Artists of the Qin Dynasty, being far from their home territory, cannot call upon their own Fortune for enhancement. The disparity between the two sides has thus invisibly widened considerably. This is also why conquering territory is so crucial.

Occupying an enemy’s city serves two primary purposes. Firstly, it weakens the enemy nation’s Fortune. Secondly, within the conquered regions, our side can also benefit from a Fortune boost.

"With General Huo’s strength, suppressing the Canghai Divine Court would be a breeze!" Guo Jia affirmed.

This is the least desirable strategy for attacking the Canghai Divine Court. Deploying Emperor-realm experts will inevitably draw the attention of the Kylin Holy Land. When that happens, the pressure on the Qin Divine Court will multiply. As for why they didn’t cross Ghost Immortal Ridge—that was even more out of the question. There were far too many specters within; even if they managed to force a passage, their losses would be devastating.

"Let’s go! Report the situation here to the Imperial Court!" Zhao Yun cast one last deep glance at Ghost Immortal Ridge, preparing to depart. If nothing unexpected occurred, they would have to withdraw their troops.

But fate has a strange way of working. Just when no surprises are anticipated, it often engineers one, leading to astonishing reversals.

Just as the two were about to leave, a figure flew out from the black mist enshrouding Ghost Immortal Ridge. He wore a grey robe and emanated the aura of a Nine-turn Holy King.

"Both of you, please wait!" the Huang Dao Ancestor shouted urgently. As Zhao Yun was the commander of the Qin army, his portrait had long been circulated throughout the Cang Sea Union. Thus, the ancestor recognized him at a single glance.

"And you are?" Zhao Yun asked, puzzled.

"I am the Ancestor of the Huang Dao Wang Court. I have an extremely important matter to discuss with you, General!" the Huang Dao Ancestor said, cupping his hands. He covertly assessed Zhao Yun and Guo Jia, then gasped inwardly. One was a peak Nine-turn Holy King Martial Artist. As for the other, he resembled an ordinary, sickly man.

Is this possible? Ordinary people can’t fly. That can only mean one thing: this frail-looking scholar is actually a Semi-Emperor!

"Huang Dao Wang Court?" Zhao Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly as information about the Huang Dao Wang Court surfaced in his mind. It was the second most powerful faction in the Cang Sea Union. According to intelligence from the ’Abyssal Guards’, it seemed the Huang Dao Wang Court had long harbored disloyal intentions.

So, his purpose in coming here is likely...

"What matter do you have?" Guessing the Huang Dao Ancestor’s intentions, a barely perceptible trace of joy appeared in Zhao Yun’s eyes. Perhaps there was still a chance for their assault on Ghost Immortal Ridge.

"I have a map here that shows a way to bypass Ghost Immortal Ridge!" the Huang Dao Ancestor said respectfully.

"What do you want in return?" Zhao Yun asked calmly, though his heart pounded.

"I hope that the Qin Divine Court can teach me the method to break through and become a Semi-Emperor. To be frank with you both, my lifespan is nearing its end. If I cannot break through to become a Semi-Emperor, I only have a final 100,000 years remaining!"

"I previously visited the Canghai Ancient Court, but they were extremely wary of me and had no intention of letting me break through. Therefore, I can only place my final hope in you!"

Perhaps because he was asking for a favor, the Huang Dao Ancestor held nothing back and spoke of his predicament with a bitter tone.

Zhao Yun did not reply immediately, instead turning to look at Guo Jia beside him.

SIGH. Guo Jia felt a wave of dejection. He somewhat envied the Huang Dao Ancestor, who had 100,000 years of lifespan, while he himself had a mere eight years remaining! What could he accomplish in these eight years?

"If the Qin Divine Court can teach me the method to break through and become a Semi-Emperor, I, this old ancestor, hereby swear lifelong loyalty to the Qin Divine Court! If I ever have duplicitous thoughts, may I be struck by heavenly lightning and obliterated!" Seeing Guo Jia remain silent, the Huang Dao Ancestor gritted his teeth and, raising his right hand, made the solemn oath.

BOOM!

Thunder rumbled through the Nine Heavens, and a strand of Heavenly Dao power descended, landing on the Huang Dao Ancestor’s brow before vanishing.

A hint of surprise flickered in Guo Jia’s eyes. Once a Heavenly Dao oath was made, it could not be violated. This meant the Huang Dao Ancestor was selling the rest of his life to the Qin Divine Court—an irrevocable commitment.

"Very well!"

"I will diligently teach you for eight years. Whether you can seize the opportunity to break through will depend on your own fortune and aptitude!" Guo Jia mused for a moment before agreeing.

The Huang Dao Ancestor’s talent was indeed strong. The primary reason he hadn’t broken through was the lack of Cultivation Techniques for the Quasi-Emperor Realm. Without the correct techniques, even with exceptional talent and vast resources, all efforts would be futile—unless he could emulate the ancient sages and create his own Cultivation Technique for the Quasi-Emperor Realm.

"Thank you, Master!" The Huang Dao Ancestor was overjoyed. He knelt respectfully and kowtowed three times.

Cultivation Techniques are the foundation of any major power. Apart from kin and disciples, they are never transmitted to outsiders. To learn Guo Jia’s Cultivation Technique, he had to establish a master-disciple relationship.

Guo Jia stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly accepting the Huang Dao Ancestor’s ceremonial acknowledgment as a disciple.

After the obeisance, the Huang Dao Ancestor rose and retrieved a map from his storage space, respectfully presenting it to Guo Jia. "Master, following the tunnel marked on this map, one can pass through Ghost Immortal Ridge!"

Guo Jia took the map and studied it intently for several minutes before handing it to Zhao Yun, his voice tinged with excitement, "Take a look!"

Zhao Yun, who had been waiting somewhat impatiently at the side, took the proffered map and examined it closely. A rare smile touched his usually stern face.

"Let’s go! Let’s check out this tunnel. If it’s real, this general will report your meritorious service!" After examining the map, Zhao Yun said excitedly and flew off to the left.

Guo Jia and the Huang Dao Ancestor quickly followed, leaving a series of afterimages in the sky.

The three of them were, at minimum, Nine-turn Holy King experts, so their speed was incredible. Within minutes, they arrived at the location marked on the map. After a thorough search in a low-lying area overgrown with black shrubs, they found a dark cave entrance.

The entrance was small, only large enough for a single person to pass through!

Guo Jia walked to the mouth of the cave, closed his eyes slightly, and an immense spiritual force erupted from him, sweeping into the depths of the cave.

Zhao Yun and the Huang Dao Ancestor stood nervously to the side. If time had caused the mountain to collapse and block the tunnel, their excitement would have been in vain.

"It’s passable!"

A few minutes later, Guo Jia opened his eyes and softly uttered these two words.

He had observed the tunnel; apart from the narrow entrance, the passage itself was reasonably wide. It could allow three to five people to walk abreast, and it ran unobstructed all the way to the other side of Ghost Immortal Ridge.

Yet these two simple words caused Zhao Yun and the Huang Dao Ancestor to become immensely excited. The former was elated at this new turn of events for the war, while the latter was overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a disciple and learning new arts.

"Time is of the essence! Tonight, we will dispatch elite troops to pass through the tunnel sequentially and launch a surprise attack on the Canghai Ancient Court!" Zhao Yun, a man of action, immediately decided to deploy his forces.