Lin Xiaotian couldn't help but chuckle when he heard this, his smile becoming even more pronounced. "Old Daoist, you make it sound so simple. Aren't you afraid I'll just cripple them?"
"I'm not exactly a patient person. Once down there, we might clash. They might even suspect I'll keep that malevolent sword for myself."
"In that situation, neither side will back down. You can imagine what that would be like. If they try to stop me, I won't be polite. Are you saying I should just leave them alive, or knock them out cold?"
Ku Mu Dao Ren truly didn't know how powerful Lin Xiaotian was. After a slight hesitation, he tentatively said, "Mr. Lin, can you guarantee your own safety and knock them all out, then throw them out?"
"Once they're out, I'll personally explain the situation to them. They'll understand. After all, people who have reached such high levels of strength aren't fools. I believe they'll grasp my intentions."
The smile on Lin Xiaotian's face grew wider. A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. "Old Daoist, I can only say I'll do my best. I'm doing this for your sake. If it were just the higher-ups of Tianluo Diwang coming to me, I wouldn't bother. What are they to me, less than a fart?"
"I wouldn't even spare them a glance. It's just that you, an old friend, are asking, and I can't bear to see you in trouble."
Hearing this, Ku Mu Dao Ren's eyes overflowed with deep gratitude. He bowed deeply to Lin Xiaotian. "Mr. Lin, no matter when, I will always remember your great kindness."
"And if something happens next time, I certainly won't stand idly by. I'll inform you immediately."
Lin Xiaotian understood. The old man was making a promise.
If Emperor Tianlong made another move, even if not explicitly stated, he would be given a heads-up. This was enough. He was simply trying to win over Ku Mu Dao Ren.
Once this man was on his side, dealing with Tianluo Diwang would be much easier. Ku Mu Dao Ren was the overall负责人 here. Any news from the other side would be relayed to him immediately.
Having such a person at his disposal would undoubtedly be of great use.
His smile became even more pronounced. "Don't worry, I'll do my best. As for whether those people come out, that's not my concern. I'll bring out as many as I can."
"If they go too deep, I might not even be able to enter. Unless only one person remains, guarding the thymus, I might be their match. If I can't win, I'll just retreat."
What else could Ku Mu Dao Ren say? If Lin Xiaotian had so little confidence, he had even less. He couldn't even reach the deepest part of the earth's veins.
He forced a bitter smile and nodded. "Mr. Lin, just do your best. There's no need to risk your life for this. If those people don't come out, then I can only say it was their fate."
Lin Xiaotian said no more, closing his eyes and sinking into thought.
He pondered whether he should capture all those experts and keep them in the cave. If he dealt with them all, would leaving one behind leak the secret?
After careful consideration, he had a plan. Ku Mu Dao Ren would never go to the deepest part; the old man cherished his life too much.
The old man would be left to his own imagination, piecing together what happened inside. Lin Xiaotian had already devised a countermeasure, and his plan was gradually taking shape.
Soon, the vehicle arrived at the foot of the mountain. As Lin Xiaotian arrived here again, a faint smile curved his lips.
He knew exactly what that thing was. The malevolent sword absorbed the malevolent energy of the earth's veins, easily affecting one's sanity. Anyone who dared to pull that sword at this time was simply courting death.
Although he could withstand the earth's malevolent energy, not everyone could. His cultivation technique could counteract such mind-altering effects, but others' internal energy cultivation was completely blank mentally, not much better than ordinary people.
"Old Daoist, you wait here. It's no use for you to go further. I'll try my best to bring those people out. If I can't... you can't blame me."
Before Ku Mu Dao Ren could speak, Lin Xiaotian's figure flashed and disappeared. His speed was so great it left afterimages.
Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Xiaotian had done his utmost. If someone else were to come, they couldn't match Lin Xiaotian's speed. He had driven here at full speed, taking only twenty-something minutes. Now, he could only pray that those people hadn't gone too deep.
Lin Xiaotian arrived at the location again, his smile growing more pronounced. "These people are truly courting death. From the looks of it, they arrived here an hour ago."
"I really wonder how many of you are left now?"
"It's best if your sanity is completely affected. When you reach the deepest part, I'll just wake one person up and tell him the sword affected his mind. I believe those guys will understand my intentions then."
Lin Xiaotian stepped into the crevice with a wicked grin, his plan already fully formed.
However, as he ventured deeper into the earth's veins, still tens of meters from the deepest point, he saw more than a dozen people sitting together.
They were discussing plans and dared not venture into the deepest part.
"These people are too cowardly!"
"Faced with the temptation of such a life-saving blade, can they still resist?"
"As expected of the higher-ups of Tianluo Diwang. Their restraint is beyond ordinary people. It seems you can't be spared. Every single one of you is a scoundrel. None of you are good."
A cold smile curved his lips.