92: Chapter 92 Elite Gathering, Ten-Man Squad

Chaos Valley, on the Star Gazing Platform at the top of the faction's main hall.

At dawn, the sky was not yet bright, with only a hint of white on the eastern horizon. The Star Gazing Platform was located at the highest point of the main hall, built from black basalt, its surface carved with ancient star runes. This was where Lin Ye cultivated and meditated daily; standing here, one could overlook the entire Chaos Valley.

Morning mist swirled in the valley, and the three-thousand-mu territory was shrouded in pale green Spiritual Qi. To the east was the residential area, with hundreds of wooden and stone houses built against the mountain; to the west was the cultivation area, where twelve gathering Formations operated day and night; to the south was the commercial area, filled with shops, where early-rising players were already trading; to the north were the barracks and workshops, where the sound of forging hammers could be vaguely heard.

Three months ago, this was still a barren valley.

Three months later, it was already a player main city with initial scale.

Lin Ye stood at the edge of the Star Gazing Platform, holding a warm Jade Slip in his hand. The Jade Slip stored the "Primal Ancient Mine Exploration Personnel Candidate List" that Qin Ruoxue had finished organizing last night.

The list contained forty-seven people in total, all core members of the Heavenly Court, with Ranks all above 40. Each person was accompanied by detailed information: Rank, profession, main Cultivation Technique, specialty skills, past combat records, personality assessment, loyalty rating...

"Forty-seven to choose ten..." Lin Ye muttered to himself.

Behind him, footsteps sounded.

Su Qingyue walked over carrying a cup of spiritual tea, her green Daoist robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. After three months of cultivation, her temperament had become increasingly cold and ethereal, with moonlight faintly flowing around her—this was a sign that her Vast Cold Spirit Body was about to break through to the second stage.

"Didn't sleep all night?" She handed the teacup to Lin Ye.

"Yeah." Lin Ye took it; the tea was warm, a High Grade 'Clearing Heart and Enlightening Dao Tea', which could refresh the mind and restore Mental Energy after drinking. "The exploration of the Ancient Mine is of great importance, and the selection of personnel cannot have the slightest mistake."

Su Qingyue walked to his side and looked at the valley: "The Heavenly Court has developed to this day, with five thousand official members. But those who can truly go deep into dangerous places with you are no more than a few dozen."

"This is the difference between elites and ordinary people." Lin Ye took a sip of tea, "The Primal Ancient Mine is a restricted life zone. Although the Chaos mist has dissipated, it is still full of dangers inside. According to previous lives... according to ancient records, there are even Saint-level Restrictions remaining deep in the Ancient Mine. For ordinary players to go in, it's a nine-death-one-life situation."

He paused: "So this time for the exploration, we must form a truly elite squad. The number of people cannot be large, but everyone must be able to stand on their own."

"Do you already have candidates?"

"There are a few." Lin Ye handed the Jade Slip to Su Qingyue, "Take a look."

Su Qingyue took it, and her Divine Sense probed into the Jade Slip.

A moment later, she raised her head: "Your core list is: you, me, Chen Hao, Shi Potian, Lu Ming, Qin Ruoxue. Six people, the professional combination is reasonable, but... it lacks a full-time healer, and the defense is slightly insufficient."

"So we need to supplement four people." Lin Ye pointed to a few names in the Jade Slip, "Select one from each of the four major legions: Tie Shan of the Azure Dragon Army, Shadow Killer of the White Tiger Army, Flame Dance of the Vermilion Bird Army, and Holy Light of the Xuanwu Army. These four are all above Rank 46, with a loyalty rating of 'die-hard', and have rich practical combat experience."

Su Qingyue carefully checked the information of these four people:

【 Tie Shan (Wang Iron Pillar's deputy) 】

【 Rank: 48 】

【 Profession: Shield Warrior (Defense Specialty) 】

【 Main Cultivation Technique: 《 Mountain Suppressing Technique 》 (Profound Rank High Grade) 】

【 Core Skills: Mountain Shield (Active, Defense +150%, duration 30 seconds), Immovable as a Mountain (Passive, Control effect reduction 50%), Earth Vein Protection (Domain, friendly defense within ten zhang +20%) 】

【 Equipment: Mountain Suppressing Shield (Rare Rank, Defense +650, Block Rate +35%), Earth Vein Heavy Armor (Fine Set) 】

【 Combat Power Assessment: Can withstand attacks from Rank 55 Elite monsters head-on for over three minutes 】

【 Loyalty: 98 (Die-hard) 】

【 Shadow Killer (Shadow Blade's Personal Disciple) 】

【 Rank: 47 】

【 Profession: Shadow Assassin 】

【 Main Cultivation Technique: 《 Shadow Escape Technique 》 (Profound Rank Medium Grade) 】

【 Core Skills: Shadow Clone (Create three Clones with 30% attack power), Fatal Backstab (300% damage from behind), Shadow Step (Short-distance teleportation) 】

【 Equipment: Ghost Shadow Twin Blades (Rare Rank, Attack +580, Critical Hit Rate +25%), Shadow Cloak (Fine Rank, Stealth effect +40%) 】

【 Combat Power Assessment: Skilled in reconnaissance and assassination, with extremely high kill efficiency against targets of the same Rank 】

【 Loyalty: 96 (Die-hard) 】

【 Flame Dance (Fire Dance's younger sister) 】

【 Rank: 46 】

【 Profession: Elemental Mage (Fire Specialty) 】

【 Main Cultivation Technique: 《 Blazing Flame True Technique 》 (Profound Rank High Grade) 】

【 Core Skills: Flame Storm (Large area continuous damage), Fire Phoenix Soaring to the Sky (Summon fire Phoenix to impact linear targets), Lava Shield (Absorb damage and reflect fire damage) 】

【 Equipment: Flame Jade Staff (Rare Rank, Spell Power +35%, Fire skill cooldown -20%), Fire Spirit Ring (Fine Rank, Fire damage +15%) 】

【 Combat Power Assessment: Extremely strong burst damage, but weak sustained combat capability 】

【 Loyalty: 95 (Die-hard) 】

【 Holy Light (Iron Wall's Junior Brother) 】

【 Rank: 47 】

【 Profession: Paladin 】

【 Main Cultivation Technique: 《 Holy Light Scripture 》 (Profound Rank High Grade) 】

【 Core Skills: Holy Light Heal (Restore large amount of Health to target), Holy Blessing (Add buff status to allies, all attributes +10%), Shield of Light (Shield that absorbs damage) 】

【 Equipment: Holy Light Scepter (Rare Rank, Healing effect +40%), Pious Set (Fine Rank, Divine Power recovery +30%) 】

【 Combat Power Assessment: Excellent healer and support, but own attack power is weak 】

【 Loyalty: 97 (Die-hard) 】

"A very comprehensive configuration." Su Qingyue nodded, "Tie Shan focuses on defense, Shadow Killer is responsible for reconnaissance and assassination, Flame Dance provides long-range magic output, and Holy Light is responsible for healing and buffs. Adding us six, it's exactly a ten-man squad."

She looked at Lin Ye: "But Zhao Wuji is going too? He is a commercial talent, and his combat power is almost negligible. In a place like the Ancient Mine..."

"Zhao Wuji has his role." Lin Ye explained, "The exploration of the Ancient Mine is not just about fighting, it also requires a lot of logistical support. Material management, resource identification, response to emergencies... all these require professionals. And don't forget, although Zhao Wuji's combat is not good, his 'Identification Technique' has reached the Great Master level, and his ability to identify various Materials and treasures is far superior to ordinary people."

Su Qingyue suddenly realized: "Indeed. The Ancient Mine is likely to produce rare Ores and unknown items, and having him there can avoid missing treasures."

"And," Lin Ye added, "Zhao Wuji's 'business acumen' can also play a role in the exploration. If we encounter other forces, he can be responsible for negotiations; if we find developable resource points, he can evaluate their value at the first time."

As the two spoke, the sky gradually brightened.

The morning bell rang, echoing in the valley—this was the self-set schedule bell of the Heavenly Court, rung every Chen hour (7 AM) to remind members to start a new day of cultivation and tasks.

"Notify them." Lin Ye said, "At three quarters past Chen hour, gather at the conference hall of the main hall."

Su Qingyue nodded and took out a communication jade Talisman.

At three quarters past Chen hour, the third floor of the faction's main hall, the conference hall.

This was a spacious circular hall, about ten zhang in diameter, with the floor paved with green jade and the big dipper chart hanging on the wall. In the center of the hall was a huge ring-shaped stone table with twelve stone chairs around it—representing the "Twelve Elders Seats" of the Heavenly Court's highest decision-making level.

At this moment, people were already sitting in ten of the chairs.

Lin Ye sat in the main seat, with Su Qingyue and Lu Ming on his left and right. Clockwise, they were: Chen Hao, Shi Potian, Qin Ruoxue, Zhao Wuji, and the four who had just been summoned: Tie Shan, Shadow Killer, Flame Dance, and Holy Light.

These ten people were the elite squad about to go deep into the Primal Ancient Mine.

"Everyone."

Lin Ye spoke, his voice calm but with unquestionable dignity: "I called everyone here to announce an important matter. According to the latest intelligence from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the Chaos mist on the periphery of the 'Primal Ancient Mine', one of the seven restricted life zones, is rapidly dissipating and is expected to be completely exposed within three days."

As soon as the words fell, except for the few who already knew, the other members showed shock.

"Primal Ancient Mine? The restricted zone that legend says buried the ancient miner civilization and produces 'primordial life stones'?" Shi Potian's eyes lit up, "It's finally open!"

"It's an opening, but also a crisis." Lu Ming added, "Ancient records state that every time the Ancient Mine opens, it triggers a bloodbath. Not only because it is full of dangers inside, but also because various forces will flock to compete for resources."

Chen Hao frowned: "We are currently facing the threat of the Six Kingdoms Alliance. If we withdraw elites to explore the Ancient Mine at this time, what if they take the Opportunity to attack..."

"So the exploration must be fast and secret." Lin Ye said, "We are going to form an elite squad to enter before the Ancient Mine is completely exposed, and withdraw immediately after obtaining core resources. The entire operation is expected to take seven to fifteen days."

He looked around at everyone: "This squad is you ten."

Tie Shan, Shadow Killer, Flame Dance, and Holy Light all stood up and saluted: "Swear to follow the leader to the death!"

Lin Ye raised his hand to signal them to sit down: "No need for formalities. Choosing you is because you are the most suitable candidates for the Heavenly Court at present. But before we officially set off, I need to confirm some things."

He looked at Tie Shan: "Tie Shan, to what layer has your 'Mountain Suppressing Technique' reached?"

Tie Shan respectfully replied: "Reporting to the leader, I have broken through to the fifth layer 'Mountain True Form', which can condense a mountain phantom to enhance defense. Cooperating with the Mountain Suppressing Shield, I am confident in blocking the attacks of elite monsters below Rank 60 for more than five minutes."

"Very good." Lin Ye nodded, and looked at Shadow Killer, "Shadow Killer, under what circumstances will your stealth ability fail?"

Shadow Killer thought for a moment: "There are three known restraining factors: first, high-concentration light energy areas (such as Holy Light Formations); second, targets with Soul perception exceeding 5000 points; third, special detection-type Magic Treasures or Divine Abilities. But in the chaotic environment of the Ancient Mine, the effect of my 'Shadow Cloak' will be enhanced by 20%, because Chaos energy itself has the characteristic of disrupting perception."

"Very professional answer." Lin Ye praised, "It seems Shadow Blade taught you well."

Then, he asked about Flame Dance's Spell burst power and sustained combat capability, as well as Holy Light's healing coverage and buff duration. All four gave detailed and accurate answers.

Obviously, being able to be selected into the core layer of the four major legions, they not only had outstanding strength but also had a clear understanding of their own abilities.

"Then, the squad is officially formed."

Lin Ye stood up and took out a bronze token. The front of the token was engraved with the two characters "Heavenly Court", and the back was a star pattern.

He placed the token in the center of the stone table and injected Chaos Divine Power.

Hum—

The token vibrated, emitting a soft golden light. The golden light split into ten thin streams in the air, flying towards the ten people, condensing into a pale golden mark on their wrists.

【 System Prompt: You have joined the temporary team "Heavenly Court Ancient Mine Exploration Team". 】

【 Team Members: Lin Ye (Captain, Rank 48), Su Qingyue (Rank 47), Chen Hao (Rank 46), Shi Potian (Rank 49), Lu Ming (Rank 46), Qin Ruoxue (Rank 45), Zhao Wuji (Rank 41), Tie Shan (Rank 48), Shadow Killer (Rank 47), Flame Dance (Rank 46), Holy Light (Rank 47) 】

【 Average Team Rank: 46.7 】

【 Profession Composition: Melee Tank x 2 (Lin Ye, Tie Shan), Melee Output x 1 (Shi Potian), Assassin x 1 (Shadow Killer), Ranged Physical Output x 1 (Chen Hao), Ranged Magic Output x 2 (Su Qingyue, Flame Dance), Support x 2 (Lu Ming, Holy Light), Logistics/Intelligence x 2 (Qin Ruoxue, Zhao Wuji) 】

【 Team Comprehensive Combat Power Rating: Purple (Excellent) 】

【Rating Explanation: The team's profession composition is reasonable, member strength is balanced, capable of dealing with regular enemies under level 55, briefly holding off level 60 elites, and retreating unscathed from level 65 boss-level enemies. Weaknesses: Sustained combat ability is average, lacks means to handle large-scale crowd control.】

"Purple rating..." Chen Hao looked at the System prompt, "I remember last time our five-man squad fought at the Bronze Ancient Palace, the rating was only blue (Excellent)."

"Because the team is more complete now," Lu Ming analyzed, "At that time, we lacked healing, dedicated defense, and reconnaissance. Now, these shortcomings have been filled."

Shi Potian grinned: "Who cares about the rating, as long as we can fight! I heard there are Primordial Beasts in the Ancient Mine? Just in time to test how hard my domineering body is!"

Lin Ye raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet: "The rating is just a reference; real combat power must be tested in actual combat. Next, I will state the core objectives of this exploration."

He called up the System map and projected the Primal Ancient Mine area into the air, zoomed in.

"According to Heavenly Secret Pavilion intelligence and ancient records, the Primal Ancient Mine is divided into four zones: Outer Zone, Transition Zone, Core Zone, and Abyss Zone. The Chaos mist has dissipated in the Outer Zone and part of the Transition Zone, but the Core Zone and Abyss Zone are still shrouded in mist."

"We have three goals."

Lin Ye pointed to several markers on the map:

"First, collect 'primordial life stone'. This is the most famous specialty of the Ancient Mine and is of great help to cultivation in the Dao Palace Realm. Life stone veins are usually distributed deep in the Transition Zone. We need to collect at least thirty—ten for refining 'life spring divine fluid' for team members to Breakthrough, and twenty to bring back as strategic reserves."

"Second, explore the 'Ancient Miner Ruins'. Ancient records state that an ancient miner civilization is buried in the Ancient Mine, possessing special mining techniques and forging craftsmanship. If we can find the relevant Legacy in the ruins, it will provide a huge boost to the development of the Heavenly Court's Artifact Refining and mining industries."

"Third, and also the most dangerous—" Lin Ye pointed to a skull marker in the deepest part of the map, "investigate the 'Abyss Entrance'. The Ancient Mine Abyss is said to connect to the underground world, where creatures from the primordial era sleep. We don't need to go deep, but we must confirm the entrance location and guard strength to prepare for future full-scale exploration."

Three goals, increasing in difficulty.

Zhao Wuji heard this, his face turning pale: "Boss, that Abyss Entrance... sounds deadly. Do we really have to go?"

"It's just an outer investigation," Lin Ye said, "If the guard strength is too strong, we will retreat. But the intelligence must be obtained—in the world of the covering the heavens era, information itself is value."

Qin Ruoxue nodded: "I agree. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's intelligence on the Ancient Mine was almost blank before. Regardless of the result, the information we obtain will become an important asset for the Heavenly Court."

"Now, task allocation." Lin Ye began to arrange, "After entering the Ancient Mine, the squad will split into three groups to operate, but keep within a kilometer of each other, ready to support at any time."

"Group 1: Vanguard Group. Me, Shi Potian, Iron Wall. Responsible for clearing the way, attracting firepower, and dealing with sudden battles."

"Group 2: Main Force Group. Su Qingyue, Chen Hao, Flame Dance, Holy Light. Responsible for main output, healing support, and controlling the battlefield."

"Group 3: Support Group. Lu Ming, Qin Ruoxue, Zhao Wuji. Responsible for setting up Formations, collecting intelligence, identifying resources, and managing supplies."

"Shadow Killer acts alone as a 'roaming unit', responsible for scouting the road ahead, warning of potential dangers, and carrying out assassinations and disturbances when necessary."

He looked at everyone: "Any objections to this allocation?"

After a moment of silence, Lu Ming spoke: "Leader, I suggest adjusting Zhao Wuji to the Main Force Group. Although the Support Group is relatively safe, if there is a surprise attack, his and Pavilion Master Qin's self-protection abilities are weak. The Main Force Group has Holy Light for healing, which is safer."

Zhao Wuji waved his hand quickly: "No, no, no, I'm fine in the Support Group! If a real fight breaks out, I can't help much, might as well do logistics in the back. Besides, I have life-saving items!"

As he spoke, he took out three golden glowing Talismans from his Storage Pouch:

[Item: Diamond Protective Talisman (Epic Rank)]

[Type: Consumable / Defensive Talisman]

[Description: Refined with the power of Buddhist Diamond, it can form an absolute shield lasting 30 seconds.]

[Effect: Generates a shield upon use, absorbing all subsequent damage (Limit: 500,000 points). While the shield exists, you are immune to control effects.]

[Cooldown: None (One-time item)]

[Remaining uses: 3 / 3]

[Item: Thousand-Mile Escape Talisman (Epic Rank)]

[Type: Consumable / Escape Talisman]

[Description: A high-level Talisman containing space power, it can instantly teleport to a preset coordinate in an emergency.]

[Effect: Instantly teleports to the marked location after use (must set coordinates in advance).]

[Cooldown: None (One-time item)]

[Remaining uses: 2 / 2]

[Item: Substitute Puppet (Legendary Rank)]

[Type: Special Item / Life-saving Item]

[Description: A Puppet doll refined with secret arts, it can take one fatal blow for the holder.]

[Effect: When the holder receives a fatal attack, the Puppet automatically activates, taking the damage and shattering, leaving the holder with 1 health point.]

[Usage Restriction: Each player can bind at most one Substitute Puppet simultaneously.]

[Binding Status: Bound (Zhao Wuji)]

Seeing these three things, everyone was stunned.

"Diamond Talisman, Escape Talisman, Substitute Puppet..." Chen Hao's mouth twitched, "Old Zhao, did you exchange all your belongings for life-saving items?"

Zhao Wuji chuckled: "You bet! My combat power is not good, but I treasure my life! These three things cost me 800,000 Spirit Stones, almost emptying my private savings. But as long as I can come back alive, it's worth it!"

Lin Ye looked at those items, feeling emotional.

In his previous life, Zhao Wuji was just like this. Although he was a merchant, he always liked to follow the team on adventures. Every time he went out, he was fully equipped with life-saving items, calling it "venture capital". But it was this caution that allowed him to survive multiple crises and eventually become an indispensable logistics pillar of the Heavenly Court.

"Alright, then you stay in the Support Group." Lin Ye nodded, "But remember, the first principle when encountering danger is to save your life. Supplies can be found again, but if the person is gone, they are truly gone."

"Understood!" Zhao Wuji patted his chest to guarantee.

Next, everyone began to discuss the details.

Lu Ming proposed the Formation requirements: "The Ancient Mine environment is special; Chaos Spiritual Qi will interfere with the operation of regular Formations. I suggest preparing three specialized Formations: Jingchen Formation (purifying Chaos erosion), Concealment Formation (hiding tracks), and Early Warning Formation (sensing danger in advance). I have listed the Materials for these Formations."

Qin Ruoxue supplemented the intelligence: "According to sporadic records in ancient books, there are several special threats in the Ancient Mine to be aware of: First, 'Chaos Miasma', intangible and formless, which will gradually corrode Vitality and Divine Power after inhalation; Second, 'Mine Tunnel Collapse', the structure of the Ancient Mine is unstable, and intense fighting may trigger a collapse; Third, 'Ancient Mine Wraiths', formed from the Souls of dead miners in legends, adept at mental attacks; Fourth, 'Guardian Puppets', mechanical guards left behind by the ancient miner civilization, with extremely high physical defense."

Su Qingyue proposed healing preparations: "I will refine a batch of 'Miasma Clearing Pills' (resisting Chaos Miasma), 'Soul Calming Pills' (defending against mental attacks), and 'Bone Knitting Paste' (treating serious injuries). But Materials are limited, I can only prepare about twenty of each."

Chen Hao checked the equipment: "My 'Star-Breaking Bow' needs a new bowstring. Before this exploration, I must replace it with a 'Flood Dragon Tendon String', which can increase shooting power by 15%. Arrows also need to be custom-made with three types of runes: Armor-Piercing, Explosive, and Exorcism."

Shi Potian was the most direct: "My axe is enough, but I need a batch of 'Berserk Potions'. Take a bottle during a fight, it's awesome!"

Iron Wall, Shadow Killer, Flame Dance, and Holy Light also put forward their own requirements.

Lin Ye listened patiently and finally summarized: "For all requirements, list a detailed list and hand it to Zhao Wuji. Old Zhao, I'll give you one day to prepare. Buy what you can directly, use substitutes for what you can't, and mark what you really can't find, and we'll figure out a way."

"No problem!" Zhao Wuji took out a Jade Slip and began to record.

"Tomorrow at the hour of the Dragon, we will conduct a pre-battle drill here to familiarize ourselves with the cooperation." Lin Ye looked at everyone, "The day after tomorrow at dawn, we officially set off."

The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed to prepare.

Lin Ye remained in the council hall alone, pulling up the System interface to check his attribute panel:

[Player: Lin Ye (Night Emperor)]

[Rank: 48 (Dao Palace Fourth Layer)]

[Physique: Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body (Unique)]

[Vitality: 187,500 / 187,500]

[Divine Power: 152,000 / 152,000]

[Attack: 9,450-10,920]

[Defense: 8,970]

[Dao Technique Bonus: +240%]

[Divine Sense: 5,200 (Coverage: 520 zhang)]

[Luck: 87 (Hidden attribute, affects encounters, critical hits, drop rates)]

[Main Cultivation Technique: "Chaos Scripture · Wheel Sea Volume" (Perfection), "Chaos Scripture · Dao Palace Volume" (Fourth Layer)]

[Talent Divine Ability: Chaos Domain (Range 30 meters, enemy attributes -30%, friendly +20%), Chaos Control (Passive, all skill power +15%)]

[Equipment: myriad things mother qi cauldron embryo (Growth type, current Rank: Rare), Void Armor (Epic Set, 4/8), Star Mirror (Broken, special item)]

[Combat Power Rating: 78,500 (Average rating of players at same Rank: 25,000)]

"Dao Palace Fourth Layer... opened the heart, spleen, and lung divine treasures, still missing the liver and kidney." Lin Ye pondered, "If I can obtain enough primordial life stone and refine high-quality life spring divine fluid, perhaps I can Breakthrough to the Dao Palace Fifth Layer during this exploration, or even... touch the threshold of the Four Extremities Realm."

The Four Extremities Realm is the first true watershed on the path of cultivation.

Wheel Sea and Dao Palace are still tempering one's own foundation. But the Four Extremities Realm has already begun to draw upon the power of heaven and earth to temper the four limbs, communicating with the Four Extremities of heaven and earth. Upon reaching this Realm, combat power will have a qualitative leap, capable of initially flying and performing true Divine Abilities and Spells.

More importantly, the Four Extremities Realm will unlock the second stage of the "Talent Skill Tree", gaining more powerful exclusive skills.

"In my previous life, it took me five months to Breakthrough to the Four Extremities, this life..." Lin Ye clenched his fists, "Four months at most!"

He has the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body, the advantage of no Bottlenecks, and the foresight of resources brought by his previous life's memories. If he still cannot break through quickly under these conditions, he would truly be unworthy of the Rebirth Opportunity.

"Leader."

A voice came from the door.

Lin Ye turned his head and saw Qin Ruoxue return, her expression grave.

"Pavilion Master Qin? Anything else?"

Qin Ruoxue closed the door, set up a sound-insulating barrier, and then walked to Lin Ye: "Emergency intelligence just received, from our mole in the Yaoguang Holy Land."

She took out a blood-colored Jade Slip: "Reading this Jade Slip requires a special technique; I only successfully cracked it ten minutes ago. The content inside... is very important."

Lin Ye took the Jade Slip, and his Divine Sense probed in.

The Jade Slip contained a video, the image somewhat blurry, seemingly filmed secretly through some hidden Spell.

The image showed a magnificent hall with dozens of Cultivators wearing Yaoguang Holy Land attire standing solemnly. In the main seat of the hall sat an old man with white hair and beard, surrounded by faint Holy Light—that is a characteristic only possessed by Saint-level powerhouses.

The old man was speaking, his voice coming through the Jade Slip with an aged and majestic tone:

"...The Ancient Mine is opening, and opportunities coexist with crises. The Holy Land has decided to send three teams to enter, led by the Saint, Saintess, and Law Enforcement Elder respectively."

"But you must remember, the true goal of this trip to the Ancient Mine is not those ordinary resources."

The old man paused, his gaze sweeping over the people below:

"According to ancient secret records, fragments of the 'Primordial Alliance' are buried deep in the Primal Ancient Mine."

In the image, all the Cultivators showed expressions of shock.

The Elder continued: "In the Ancient Era, all races coexisted and once signed a covenant that defined the territories and rules of conduct for each race. Later, the Dark Turmoil broke out, the covenant was shattered, and its fragments were scattered across the world."

"One of these fragments fell into the depths of the Primal Ancient Mine."

"Find it and bring it back to the Holy Land. This concerns... whether Yaoguang Holy Land can survive when the next Dark Turmoil arrives."

The image ended there. Lin Ye withdrew his Divine Sense, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. An Ancient Covenant fragment? He had never heard of this thing in his previous life!

"The mole in Yaoguang Holy Land also attached a message," Qin Ruoxue whispered. "He said that the higher-ups of the Holy Land attach great importance to this fragment, even using a dormant Sacred Artifact for divination to confirm that the fragment will indeed appear during this opening of the Ancient Mine."

Lin Ye was silent for a long time. The exploration of the Primal Ancient Mine seemed more complicated than he had anticipated. Not only was there competition from player factions and the dangers of the Ancient Mine itself, but now it also involved a secret mission from Yaoguang Holy Land, as well as that "Ancient Covenant fragment" which sounded extraordinary.

"Do not tell anyone else about this news for now," Lin Ye decided. "The exploration plan remains unchanged, but we need to adjust our priorities. If conditions allow... we will try to find this fragment."

Qin Ruoxue nodded: "Understood. I will have the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's intelligence network outside the Ancient Mine operate at full capacity to monitor the movements of the Yaoguang Holy Land team."

"Also," Lin Ye recalled, "have the mole continue to lurk, but tell him to be careful. Since the Holy Land attaches such importance to this matter, their security measures must be strict; don't let him get exposed."

"I will remind him."

After Qin Ruoxue left, Lin Ye stood alone in front of the window, looking north—that was the direction of the Primal Ancient Mine. The Chaos mist was dissipating, and the ancient forbidden area was about to open its gates. And waiting behind those gates were Opportunity, danger, unknown secrets, and... the key object that might change the future landscape.

"Ancient Covenant fragment..." Lin Ye repeated the phrase in a low voice. In his ten years of gaming experience in his previous life, he had never encountered any information related to it. This meant that either this fragment never appeared in his previous life, or... it was secretly Acquired by some faction and never made public.

Regardless of the situation, it meant that this trip to the Ancient Mine would be more complicated than he had expected. But at the same time, a thought rose in his heart: if Yaoguang Holy Land valued this item so much, its value was likely far beyond imagination. Perhaps this was the Luck blessing of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body? Obtaining the right information at the right time and taking the right path.

Lin Ye took a deep breath, and fighting spirit reignited in his eyes. Since he knew about it, he would go and compete for it. In this life of Rebirth, what he wanted to fight for were the Peaks he had never reached in his previous life. Primal Ancient Mine, see you in three days.

That evening, on the training ground outside the east gate of Chaos Valley, the ten-person team conducted their first joint training. The training content was simple: responding to sudden attacks. Wang Iron Pillar, Shadow Blade, Fire Dance, and Iron Wall led one hundred Heavenly Court elites above level 40 to simulate scenarios such as Yao Beast swarms, ambushes by hostile forces, and environmental disasters that might be encountered in the Ancient Mine, besieging the exploration team.

The first joint training session was a disaster. When the "enemy forces" poured in from all directions, Iron Mountain and Shi Potian rushed out almost simultaneously, both wanting to act as the main tank, resulting in a gap in the defensive Formation. Shadow Killer snuck into the shadows to prepare an assassination, but mistakenly entered the range of Flame Dance's Flame Storm and was burned out. Chen Hao's arrows almost hit Lu Ming, who was setting up a Formation. Holy Light's healing aura failed to cover Lin Ye on the front line... Zhao Wuji was even worse; he was targeted by two "assassins" at the start, and although he activated a Vajra Protection Talisman, his shield shattered after thirty seconds, and he was "killed" and eliminated.

The battle only lasted five minutes before the exploration team was "wiped out." The four Legion Commanders watching shook their heads repeatedly. "This coordination... how is it any different from a random party?" Wang Iron Pillar sighed. "Fighting on their own, with no tacit understanding," Shadow Blade commented. "The Spell coverage is too careless; they almost hit their own people," Fire Dance frowned. "The healing rhythm is completely chaotic," Iron Wall spread his hands.

In the center of the training ground, the ten-person team gathered, looking dejected. "It's my fault," Lin Ye spoke first. "As the captain, I did not clearly assign combat command authority. Iron Mountain and Shi Potian are both excellent front-liners, but there must be a distinction between primary and secondary. I have decided: in conventional battles, Iron Mountain will be the main tank, and Shi Potian will serve as the sub-tank and melee DPS; when encountering high-intensity boss battles, Shi Potian will activate his Tyrant Body to main tank, and Iron Mountain will switch to protecting the back row."

Iron Mountain and Shi Potian looked at each other and nodded simultaneously: "Understood!" "My fault," Flame Dance raised her hand. "I didn't notify my teammates before unleashing the Flame Storm, causing Shadow Killer to be exposed." Shadow Killer shook his head: "I also have a problem; I should have confirmed the Spell coverage range with you before sneaking in." Chen Hao scratched his head: "I was too focused when shooting arrows and didn't notice Lu Ming's position..." Lu Ming smiled bitterly: "I moved too frequently when setting up the Formation and didn't maintain a fixed position." Holy Light reviewed: "My healing priority was wrong; I should prioritize the survival of the front row instead of spreading it evenly." Zhao Wuji was the most dejected: "I don't know how to fight at all. When I get nervous, I even forget to use my life-saving items..."

"Alright," Lin Ye clapped his hands. "Only by identifying problems can we solve them. Now, let's clarify a few things." He scanned everyone: "First, the combat command System. I am the Commander-in-Chief, but in battle, I may be focused on dealing with strong enemies, so I am establishing deputy commanders: in conventional battles, Lu Ming will command (he has the best vision and is good at tactical analysis), and in encounter battles, Su Qingyue will command (she has strong crowd control ability and can grasp the overall rhythm). Everyone must obey the command; raise objections after the battle."

"Second, positioning standards. Iron Mountain will be at the front center, Shi Potian will be three steps behind Iron Mountain to the left, and I will be three steps behind to the right, forming a triangular vanguard. Center Group: Su Qingyue in the center, Chen Hao on the left, Flame Dance on the right, and Holy Light at the back; the four will maintain a diamond Formation. Support Group: Lu Ming, Qin Ruoxue, and Zhao Wuji will form a triangle, no more than ten zhang away from the Center Group. Shadow Killer will act freely, but must report to the commander every time his position changes."

"Third, skill coordination. Before releasing any large-area skills, there must be a voice warning three seconds in advance. Before an assassin sneaks, they must confirm that no friendly area-of-effect skills are about to be released nearby. Before a healer releases key healing skills, they must confirm that the target actually needs healing, to avoid wasting Divine Power."

"Fourth, communication standards. Try to use short terms during combat: for example, 'Focus fire on a target', 'Retreat to a certain position', 'I need healing', 'Skill on cooldown'. Chatting or complaining during combat is prohibited."

Lin Ye finished speaking in one breath and looked at everyone: "Is that clear?" "Clear!" "Then, let's do it again."

During the second joint training, the situation was much better. When the simulated enemy forces surged again, Iron Mountain stood steadily at the very front, slamming his Zhenyue Shield into the ground, unfolding a khaki halo. Shi Potian was behind him to the left, his giant axe sweeping across to clear enemies on the flank. Lin Ye was on the right rear, unfolding his Chaos Domain to weaken the enemy's attributes. The Center Group maintained their Formation, Su Qingyue's ice-type Spells controlled the battle rhythm, Chen Hao's arrows precisely sniped high-threat targets, Flame Dance's fire-type Spells erupted for damage in safe areas, and Holy Light's healing aura steadily covered the front row. In the Support Group, Lu Ming quickly set up a Jingchen Formation and a warning Formation, Qin Ruoxue used reconnaissance Spells to mark the enemy commanders, and Zhao Wuji began recording the consumption data of supplies during the battle—although he still couldn't fight, he at least learned to hide behind the Formation and his teammates. Shadow Killer moved like a ghost along the edge of the battlefield, taking away an "enemy" "commander" with every strike, greatly disrupting the enemy Formation.

This battle lasted fifteen minutes, and the exploration team "annihilated" all simulated enemy forces at the cost of "losing" three people. Although there were still flaws, it was a world of difference compared to the first time. Wang Iron Pillar and the others finally showed satisfied expressions. "It's looking like something now." "A few more practice sessions, and we should be able to form a tacit understanding." "In Ancient Mine exploration, survival comes first. With this kind of coordination, the survival rate will be much higher."

Over the next two hours, the team conducted three more joint training sessions, targeting different scenarios: encounter battles in narrow mine tunnels, swarms of Yao Beasts besieging in open areas, support coordination when forced to split up, combat in night environments... After each joint training, Lin Ye would gather everyone to review, point out problems, and adjust tactics. By the end of the fifth joint training, the ten people could already skillfully handle most conventional combat situations, and their coordination and tacit understanding had significantly improved.

[System Prompt: The tacit understanding of the temporary team "Heavenly Court Ancient Mine Exploration Team" has been upgraded to 'Proficient' level.] [Effect: All attributes of team members +3%, skill connection fluency +15%, friendly fire probability -30%.] [Next Level: Tacit Understanding (requires more than ten hours of joint combat).]

"That's it for today." Lin Ye looked at the exhausted but bright-eyed team members. "Go back, get some good rest, check your equipment, and replenish your status. We still have one day of preparation time tomorrow; we will mainly focus on checking supplies and practicing emergency response plans." Everyone dispersed and returned to their lodgings. Lin Ye was the last to leave the training ground, but was called out by Su Qingyue. "Lin Ye." Under the moonlight, Su Qingyue stood under the paulownia tree at the edge of the training ground, her cyan Daoist robe stained with a little dust, but her eyes were clear. "What's wrong?" Lin Ye walked over.

"Did you hide something during the meeting earlier?" Su Qingyue looked straight into his eyes. "Pavilion Master Qin came to see you alone later; was there important intelligence?" Lin Ye was silent for a moment. Su Qingyue's intuition was sharp, or rather, she understood him too well. "There is indeed," Lin Ye finally chose to be partially honest. "Yaoguang Holy Land will also send people into the Ancient Mine, and their goal is very special. I cannot say specifically what it is right now because it concerns the safety of our mole in the Holy Land." He paused: "But what you can know is that the waters in the Ancient Mine are deeper than we expected. In addition to player competition, there are secret operations by NPC factions. We must be more cautious."

Su Qingyue nodded, not asking for details: "I understand. Then... can we still proceed with the original plan?" "Yes," Lin Ye said firmly. "Opportunity and risk coexist. Since we know there is a greater Opportunity, we cannot miss it. We just need to adjust our strategy and try to obtain more while ensuring safety." He looked at Su Qingyue: "Qingyue, this exploration will be very dangerous. If you..." "I'm going," Su Qingyue interrupted him, her voice calm but unquestionable. "Since I have chosen this path, there is no reason to turn back. And..." She turned slightly, the moonlight shining on her beautiful side profile: "With you here, I'm not afraid."

Lin Ye's heart stirred. In his previous life, Su Qingyue had said similar words during a life-and-death crisis, when they were trapped in a desperate situation and almost hopeless. In this life, everything was still early, but that trust seemed to have already been quietly established. "Alright." Lin Ye nodded. "Then let's explore this Primal Ancient Mine together and get to the bottom of it." The two walked side by side into the valley, the moonlight stretching their shadows long. Outside the Chaos Valley, in the direction of the Primal Ancient Mine a hundred miles away, the last layer of Chaos mist was slowly dissipating in the night wind. The ancient forbidden area was about to welcome new visitors. Who would gain the greatest Opportunity within? Who could bring back the secrets alive? And who would be forever buried beneath that dark red earth? The answer was about to be revealed.