Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1007: Trapped in the same situation, but in completely different circumstances!

The trajectory of history was drastically altered by Gao Yao, with far-reaching and fatal consequences. The power of "Celestial Star" that he could sense and draw upon was gradually diminishing. In the past, with the power of Celestial Star, even such severe injuries might have been able to heal slowly, or even achieve the miracle of limb regeneration.

However, even though he was in the underground palace so close to the core of the star, the healing process was frustratingly slow. The tingling and regenerating sensation from the wound was so faint as to be almost imperceptible, far outpacing the rate at which his injuries were worsening due to movement.

At this moment, he dared not leave this secret passage, his only means of survival. This passage was a backup plan he had secretly prepared for himself when he helped design it, out of some anxiety about the future. However, he had already thoroughly scouted the exit area outside the passage; it was heavily guarded by Gao Yao's elite soldiers, completely impenetrable. In his current critically injured state, going out would be tantamount to walking into a trap, a certain death sentence.

Left with no other choice, a ruthless glint flashed in Yi Xiaochuan's eyes. He laboriously retrieved the tinderbox he carried, blew on it, and a pale blue flame flickered in the darkness. Then, he drew the short blade from his waist and slowly heated it over the flame until the blade was red-hot, radiating a scorching heat.

He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and the veins on his forehead bulged. Then, he slammed the red-hot blade hard against the gruesome wound on his chest!

"Sizzle—sizzle—"

The agonizing sizzling sound was exceptionally clear in the silent passageway, and the acrid smell of burning flesh instantly filled the air. Immense pain washed over him like a tidal wave; Yi Xiaochuan trembled violently, his teeth grinding together, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, mingling with blood and soaking his collar. Yet, he didn't utter a single groan, only a suppressed, beast-like growl emanating from deep within his throat.

He had to use this most primitive, yet most effective, method to stop the bleeding! Otherwise, even without Gao Yao or the soldiers outside, the bleeding alone would be enough to kill him.

After the intense pain subsided, the wound was temporarily sealed by the burns, and the blood flow slowed significantly. Yi Xiaochuan collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, but his eyes burned with deep-seated resentment and unwillingness.

"Gao Yao...it's all because of you!" He attributed all his failures, pain, and current predicament to Gao Yao. However, the cruelty of reality left him with no choice but to cower in this dark corner like a wounded beast, silently licking his wounds and waiting for an opportunity.

All he could do now was pray—pray that Gao Yao's men would retreat after their fruitless search, or that the situation outside the underground palace would change. Otherwise, the longer it dragged on, the slimmer his chances of survival would become.

Outside the underground palace, at the foot of Mount Li, chaos had already broken out.

When the muffled, enormous explosion faintly echoed from deep within the mountain, Xiao He, Cao Can, Han Xin, and other trusted ministers who remained outside knew something was wrong. Immediately afterward, a messenger who had miraculously escaped, covered in wounds, brought news as devastating as a bolt from the blue—Gao Yao was trapped deep within the underground palace, his fate unknown!

In an instant, the bamboo slip in Xiao He's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," Cao Can stood up abruptly, his face ashen, and even Han Xin, who was usually as calm as a mountain and a master strategist, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Quickly! Organize manpower immediately and rescue the King at all costs!" Xiao He almost roared as he gave the order, his usual gentle and refined demeanor completely gone.

"Bring all available manpower here! If tools are limited, use your bare hands, pry with your hands, carry on your shoulders, dig the tunnel open for me!" Cao Can's voice was filled with an unquestionable determination.

Han Xin was even more decisive. He immediately ordered: "Block all news! Establish a ten-mile martial law around Mount Li. Anyone who dares to leak information about this place will be killed without exception!" He knew that Gao Yao was the core and soul of their group. Once the news of Gao Yao's accident spread, they would all be wiped out in an instant.

The orders were relayed like a whirlwind. The existing guards immediately went on high alert, while a messenger, carrying a tiger tally, dispatched another 5,000 elite soldiers from a nearby camp. These soldiers, as if facing a formidable enemy, surrounded the Lishan Mausoleum area like an iron barrel.

At the same time, conscription orders were sent to surrounding counties, and a large number of craftsmen and laborers were forcibly conscripted, carrying all kinds of tools—copper chisels, iron hammers, crowbars, baskets... A dark mass of people gathered at the foot of Mount Li, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

Han Xin personally directed the operation, identifying several key excavation areas based on limited clues and terrain assessments. Xiao He and Cao Can were responsible for coordinating supplies and personnel to ensure logistical support.

"Dig! Even if we have to hollow out the entire Mount Li and dig three thousand feet into the ground, we must rescue the King safely!" Han Xin's voice was cold and firm, echoing in the busy construction site.

Tens of thousands of people, like ants, began a massive project on the majestic Mount Li, a project seemingly as arduous as the legendary Yu Gong moving mountains. The clanging and banging of hammers, shouts, and the tumbling of earth and rocks mingled together, breaking the silence of the mountain forest.

Inside the underground palace, time seemed to lose its meaning. The cold, clear light of the luminous pearls evenly illuminated every corner, making the magnificent dome and carved pillars look like a celestial palace, yet it also mercilessly littered the corpses of the soldiers lying on the ground, making this fairyland look like a ghostly realm.

Unlike the anxious and desperate emotions of a trapped beast, Gao Yao's face surprisingly showed little panic. His eyes, weathered by countless storms and worldly wisdom, now churned with profound regret and an almost cold calm. Instead of frantically searching for that elusive exit, he did something seemingly futile, yet perfectly in line with his character and philosophy of life—he silently and solemnly began to collect the bodies of his personal guards who had died for him.

His movements were not particularly skillful, but he was extremely meticulous. He adjusted these once vibrant and loyal soldiers from their contorted prone positions to lying flat, gently closed their wide-open eyes filled with astonishment and resentment, and tidied their disheveled armor and robes.

Lacking tools, he used his bare hands to symbolically cover the scattered dust and pebbles on the dead, forming a makeshift grave. This was not for preservation, but a ritual, a form of solace, and the most basic respect the living could show to the dead.

"Brothers, it was my poor planning that has implicated you all," he murmured to himself, his voice echoing slightly in the empty, silent hall. "Rest here for now. If I can get out, I will treat your families well."