65: The chess pieces are in place, ready to close the net

Inside the War Emperor's Mausoleum, within the ancient civilization's gene bank.

As Lin Tian's ultimatum, filled with absolute control, fell, the entire hall plunged into a suffocating, judgment-like silence.

Bai Feng, the War God Academy's chief, who had maintained a gentle smile and seemed to have everything under control from beginning to end, finally could no longer maintain his composure and calmness on his handsome face.

He looked at the young man before him, who had manipulated everyone in the palm of his hand and whose methods were more overbearing and ruthless than a demon's; for the first time, a deep sense of dread appeared in the depths of his gentle eyes.

He knew that he had, from the very beginning, completely underestimated the Dragon Family's Alpha Heir.

He had originally thought this was merely a "fair competition" among the younger generation, revolving around treasures and Opportunities.

But he never expected that the other party had no intention of abiding by any "game rules."

He was the rule itself!

After a brief, intense internal struggle, Bai Feng made the most rational and only correct choice.

He slowly bowed to Lin Tian and said in a solemn and helpless tone:

...I withdraw.

Having said that, he no longer hesitated. He led his companions, who were equally silent and had lost all Battle Intent, and quickly retreated from this place of death and despair in a manner akin to fleeing.

Lin Tian watched his departing back and did not stop him.

He turned his head and looked at the number one heir, Long Qingtian, beside him, whose pretty face was pale and whose delicate body was swaying due to the shock of his series of overbearing methods. In a calm tone filled with "instructional" meaning, he slowly expounded on his "raising leek" strategy, which was full of "villainous" logic.

Qingtian, do you understand?

Challengers like Bai Feng, who possess wisdom, trump cards, and a grander vision, are our true opponents in the future. Although the arm of god on him is a good thing, it pales in comparison to the exclusive intelligence he possesses about this War Emperor's Mausoleum.

If we kill him, at most, we will only get an arm.

But if we let him go, let him continue to follow his own plan to scout the path ahead for us and clear all the traps...

He paused, a cold, strategic curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

Once he finds the main tomb chamber, where the supreme treasure is truly hidden, we will appear and take him, along with the treasures he painstakingly found, all at once.

This is called... maximizing benefits.

This grand scheme, full of "long-term planning for big catches" and treating all competitors as "renewable resources," deeply shook Long Qingtian, who was standing by. His gaze towards Lin Tian gradually shifted from initial "forced submission" to a genuine sense of awe and admiration!

He finally understood that the gap between himself and this young man was never just about talent and strength.

It was also about... vision!

...Meanwhile, at another end of the War Emperor's Mausoleum, within a hidden underground cave filled with life.

The Son of Destiny, Ye Fan, slowly awakened from his healing state under Qin Yubing's caring and worried gaze.

With the help of several priceless S-grade healing Medicinal Pills refined by her Family, which Qin Yubing used without hesitation, his injuries, severely inflicted by Long Qingtian, had mostly recovered.

Yubing... thank you.

Ye Fan looked at the exquisite girl before him, who cared for him so deeply and even took out precious Medicinal Pills to heal him. His heart was filled with endless gratitude and... a hint of admiration.

Between us, there's no need for thanks.

Qin Yubing shook her head, a deep disgust for Lin Tian and Long Qingtian flashing in her clear, beautiful eyes. "If anyone is to blame, it's those people from the Dragon Family, who are too overbearing and unreasonable!"

Don't worry!

She looked at Ye Fan and encouraged him in a solemn tone, "Your talent and Heart-Nature are unlike any I have ever seen! That Lin Tian is merely relying on his good background! I believe that with enough time and Opportunity, you will surely... personally surpass him!"

Mm!

Under the encouragement of his beloved goddess, Ye Fan's somewhat frustrated Dao Heart once again ignited with a blazing, unyielding flame!

He looked at Qin Yubing's beautiful face, full of sincerity and trust, and his heart was filled with the most beautiful fantasies and aspirations for the future.

He fantasized that he could obtain a Heaven-Defying Legacy in this War Emperor's Mausoleum, full of endless Opportunities, and his strength would soar to the heavens!

He fantasized that in the near future, in front of the whole world, he would ruthlessly trample Lin Tian, who had once humiliated him, in the most powerful and crushing manner!

He fantasized that after avenging himself, he would truly win the heart of this perfect goddess, and from then on, the world and the beauty would be his, reaching the Peak of his life!

At this moment, this "pawn" calculated by the protagonist actually, on his own initiative, completed the most perfect... "self-strategy."

The more confident he was, the more hopeful he became, the greater the contrast between him and the cruel reality that was about to come.

The subsequent face-slapping would also be... even louder!

...Just as Ye Fan was still immersed in his beautiful "protagonist's dream," on the other side, Bai Feng's "mine-sweeping vanguard" team finally made a significant discovery.

Before a colossal, abandoned altar, seemingly built by ancient giants, Bai Feng took out from his in arms the supreme secret treasure that the War God Academy had spent generations of effort to successfully replicate, one that could perfectly mimic "Imperial Dragon Qi" and be mistaken for the real thing!

He slowly placed the secret treasure into the central groove of the altar.

Buzz—!!!

The entire altar instantly erupted with dazzling golden light!

Streaks of Imperial Dragon Qi, filled with ancient primordial aura, shot up from the altar's runes, condensing in mid-air into a hundred-meter-tall secret spatial jump gate, filled with spatial fluctuations and the power of Law!

Found it!

Bai Feng's face revealed uncontrollable ecstasy!

—The final entrance to the War Emperor's Mausoleum's main tomb chamber!

However, he did not know.

Just a few thousand meters behind him, behind an extremely hidden mountain wall.

Long Qingtian, who had been "monitoring" him in real-time for several days, was using a quantum communicator, crafted with the Dragon Family's highest technology and capable of shielding all detection, to transmit this exciting scene, detail by detail, in real-time to... Lin Tian, who was at the other end.

—Number Zero, target has opened the secret passage.

...At the other end of the underground metal city.

Lin Tian slowly closed the holographic light screen in front of him.

At the same time, through the undetectable mental imprint he had planted deep within Qin Yubing's Divine Soul, he clearly perceived that Ye Fan and Qin Yubing were moving rapidly towards the direction of the spatial jump gate.

He slowly rose from the back of the Golden Lion King Simba, who had been completely tamed by him and was as docile as a house cat.

He looked at the intricate underground labyrinth before him, full of unknowns and dangers, and a satisfied smile, full of absolute control, appeared on his face, like a chess player about to deliver a checkmate.

He slowly issued the final and only command to Dragon Snow Phoenix, Jiang Luoling, Su Zhi, and others behind him, who were already fully prepared and full of Battle Intent.

All the pieces are in place.

The time for the hunt... has arrived.

—Prepare to cast the net.

At this moment, a grand finale of ultimate harvesting, meticulously planned and perfectly orchestrated by the protagonist behind the scenes, to "catch all" competitors, was officially... unveiled!