God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 548: Departure

Before the sun had fully awakened the next morning, the residence was already bustling with activity.

Quiet lines of people moved through the hallways; some were already clad for travel, while others meticulously adjusted their weapons and gear as they proceeded. The peaceful atmosphere from the previous night had vanished, replaced by a palpable tension that hung in the air, needing no spoken words to be understood.

All the invited parties reconvened in the grand hall, each taking their designated spots near their respective factions. ChaosKnight and IceQueen stood together at the forefront of their contingent. Olympus maintained a composed demeanor in a corner, with Jack Arefield and Aria standing silently nearby, Ares positioned behind them. The Holy Church formed an ordered line, their presence exuding a cold, detached aura, while the Tianlan guilds occupied the opposite half of the hall, maintaining their characteristic rigid bearing.

Broken Dawn positioned themselves closer to the center.

Sophie stood at the head, the token clutched in her hand, her stance upright yet her gaze scanned her surroundings more than usual. Ragnarok99 stood by her side, arms crossed, while Sniperbowlegend, Cassie, Bunny, and the others remained on high alert.

At the very front of the hall, Liang and Evelyn were already in position, awaiting the assembly.

Behind them, a large diagram was displayed on a wide board, meticulously illustrating the external layout of the Buried God’s Tomb. The lines were precise, the annotations detailed, and specific points were marked in various colors to denote pathways and known dangers.

As the hall quieted, Liang stepped forward.

"This depicts the confirmed outer structure of the tomb," he announced, his voice calm yet carrying clearly to every corner of the room. "Our entry point will be the eastern descent. It is the most stable route that has been charted thus far."

He raised a hand, gesturing towards a particular section on the diagram.

"These zones are known to house active formations. Some serve as defenses, while others are traps. Not all of them have been previously triggered, so you must not assume familiarity with their functions."

Every individual paid rapt attention, unwilling to miss even a single word of his explanation.

Liang slid his hand across the diagram, continuing his briefing. "These marked areas are monster territories. The majority of creatures within have remained dormant for extended periods, but entering the tomb will inevitably disturb them. Prepare for resistance from multiple angles."

Liang’s finger halted near a deeper section of the intricate drawing.

"This is the location of the suppressing spike."

This revelation was precisely what many had been anticipating, and its mention caused everyone to instantly straighten their backs.

Even those who had been murmuring earlier ceased their conversations. The name itself carried immense significance, and the emphasis Liang placed on its position made it clear to all that this point was of paramount importance.

"The spike is not situated on the surface level," Liang elaborated. "Accessing it will necessitate navigating through numerous subterranean layers. Do not anticipate a straightforward path. The internal architecture of the tomb remains incompletely mapped."

"Consequently, each group will be required to make their own strategic decisions within the tomb. Guidance will not be provided at every turn."

A few Tianlan cultivators offered subtle nods, seemingly having anticipated this very condition.

"Now, regarding the regulations." Liang's expression grew slightly sterner as his gaze swept across the assembled individuals.

"No internal conflict between invited parties is permitted within the tomb. Your presence here is a result of selection. Do not mistakenly perceive this endeavor as a competition amongst yourselves. The tomb itself presents the far greater challenge."

Some individuals remained impassive. Others shifted subtly. A select few cast undisguised glances towards rival factions.

"Should this rule be violated, all treasures acquired by the offending group within the tomb will be confiscated by the Martial Palace," Liang added, his tone grave and unwavering.

That decree carried considerably more weight than his initial statement.

Gold, ancient relics, potent weaponry, advanced cultivation techniques—any discovery within the tomb possessed the potential to dramatically alter a group's standing. Forfeiting all such gains due to a single infraction was no trivial threat.

The leader of Longsword's expression shifted subtly.

While his smile remained, his eyes narrowed as he leaned back in his seat. He offered no verbal response, yet the look on his face clearly conveyed his displeasure.

A few among the Tianlan cultivators exchanged brief, meaningful glances.

Though unspoken, the underlying thought was that the rule's effectiveness was contingent upon survival to report any transgression.

If a group were to disappear within the tomb without any surviving witnesses, the Martial Palace would have no basis for enforcement. This unspoken consideration passed through several minds simultaneously, escalating the tension within the room.

Liang appeared to perceive this shift in atmosphere but chose not to address it directly. The rule served largely as a formality, and he understood the inherently fiery nature of cultivators; breaking it was not a possibility but a certainty.

Regardless, he proceeded.

"Our departure is scheduled for one hour from now. Everyone, commence your preparations."

The briefing concluded without further elaboration. Liang did not entertain questions, and Evelyn offered a brief nod, signaling the end of the discussion.

The teams commenced their movements. Some immediately turned to make preparations, while others lingered, engaging in hushed conversations. ChaosKnight coalesced around IceQueen, and Olympus maintained their position, observing the unfolding actions with quiet contemplation.

A distinctly different atmosphere permeated the Broken Dawn faction.

Sophie remained rooted to her spot.

The token in her grasp tightened slightly, and her gaze once more drifted towards the entrance. Noticing this, Ragnarok99 subtly adjusted his posture.

"He still hasn't made an appearance," he commented quietly.

Cassie folded her arms. "We depart in one hour."

Bunny glanced at Sophie. "Did he share any further details earlier?"

"No," Sophie replied, her head shaking. "He only stated he would meet us here."

Ragnarok99 let out a breath through his nose. "If he misses this opportunity..."

"He won't," Sophie interjected firmly.

Her voice remained steady.

She also refrained from looking at him as she spoke.

The rest fell silent thereafter.

Nevertheless, the palpable tension surrounding them did not dissipate. The designated departure time was approaching, the mission operations had already begun, and Gabriel remained absent.

Sophie's eyes returned to the hall entrance, as if anticipating his imminent arrival.

This time, the underlying restlessness in her gaze was clearly visible.