Xiang Ning didn’t mind the sudden lull in the conversation. He was focused on finding different types of powerful beasts, and the rest of them were happy with that too. They had already greatly benefited from being able to observe Xiang Ning fight up close. Although most of it was him getting beaten up, they knew he was just conditioning his body. At the last moment of every battle, the scene they most anticipated would begin. 

Xiang Ning always killed the beast using the fastest, most brutal method. His fights were all recorded on video, which would be greatly useful for researching the unknown beasts since he forced them to use all their fighting methods every time. 

That in and of itself was extremely useful to the completion of their task. They realized that, although Xiang Ning placed himself in situations that got him beaten up for long periods of time, it wasn’t as easy to imitate as it looked. They realized that he always dodged fatal attacks, pushing his body to its limits but never endangering his life. That was the most admirable quality they found. 

The four of them traveled that way for four days. 

“Today’s the last day. After walking the final five kilometers, we’ll trek deeper toward the left.” Qi Longxiang was pleased with this four-day expedition. They had discovered seven new beasts, thirty-one new herbs, and most importantly, they were able to take samples back. 

If the herb grew on a steep cliff that they couldn’t reach? Xiang Ning could use his flying knives. If the unknown beast was difficult to beat? All four of them working together could easily kill tier five beasts, especially since Xiang Ning was also a spiritual cultivator. 

During the four days, although they were injured, they had only sustained minor injuries that were all bearable. That was already out of their expectations. 

“Although we only have five kilometers left, it’s also the most dangerous segment,” said Qi Longxiang, tapping his watch. Why? That was because thirty minutes ago, they had already encountered a tier five, nine-star beast. Based on their journey, the deeper they trekked, the denser and stronger the beasts would become. There was a high possibility of encountering a tier six beast in this part; they could even say they were sure they would meet one. They could start exploring horizontally now, if they wanted to, because the region ahead was past what a Platinum team like them could handle. 

The conditions of the job mentioned that they didn’t have to venture past this point unless they recruited a tier six cultivator or were a Diamond level team. If the team insisted on venturing further, that was on their own accord. The authorities would only offer praise, not a substantial reward for such courage.

On the other hand, the completeness of a task helped raise their reward money. Qi Longxiang and the rest were smart enough to know that they would have stopped there and fanned out if Xiang Ning wasn’t there. With him, and all of them being in good shape, they could still explore. 

That was also what Xiang Ning wanted. Since they could beat a tier five, nine-star beast, even if they couldn’t kill a tier six, they could definitely escape unscathed. 

The four ventured deeper. As mentioned before, the Kunlun Mountains didn’t have ruined cities, like other wilderness areas. It was a true, natural wilderness with all sorts of exotic flora and fauna. 

When they had completed their hundred-kilometer journey, they arrived at the exit of the Astra Valley, which could also be called its beginning. Before them was a structure like a door to the heavens where a gigantic boulder rested between two mountains. The boulder was more than a thousand meters tall and shaped like a beast. White mist encircled it between the mountains, and faint animal sounds could be heard from around it. The team gawked at the magnificence of it all—Nature herself was a master architect! 

Beyond the boulder, they saw a vast valley and more mountains, jungle, and rivers, and there was a something magical that drew them closer. They wanted to cross through the Heavenly Door to the other side….

Li Qimu looked at the Heavenly Door and gulped. “I… I kinda want to go.” 

It wasn’t just Li Qimu; Zhou Yuanyuan felt the same as if they had fallen into a spell. That was the opening to Pandora’s box. 

Qi Longxiang checked and noted that they had completed their job. They weren’t supposed to ‘unlock’ that place and his instincts were screaming for them to immediately fan out. The number of beasts hadn’t increased in the final five kilometers, but had instead decreased, and the beast tiers were within an acceptable range. However, when they stood before the Heavenly Door, logic told him that they mustn’t cross or the consequences would be something they couldn’t handle. 

But still, they yearned to open Pandora's box. 

Qi Longxiang subconsciously glanced at Xiang Ning, wondering what he thought. 

“That place doesn’t give me a good feeling, I think it’ll be very dangerous there. But we don’t have to cross. We can just stand at the Door and observe what’s on the other side,” said Xiang Ning. In reality, he also wanted to cross over. He really wanted to cross and train his body there. It would definitely be the perfect place for training, where he could undergo a complete transformation in under a short year! 

“In that case, let’s go check it out. But remember not to step over.” Qi Longxiang reminded them again. Their senses couldn’t be trusted sometimes. 

All four of them easily arrived at the base of the door. The few-hundred-meter walk was the strangest they’d ever taken because they had an indescribable feeling, as if humans were too minute in this universe. For the first time, they understood the greatness of nature. It was stranger than Astra Valley.

Sunlight poured at an angle through the door, which was so large it looked like it was designed for a giant. One would only notice the height of the entrance when they were standing right where it was. It took them seventy steps to cross from one end to the other. 

When they looked out, they were completely shocked to the core. It felt like they were standing on a mountain; all they could see were infinite mountains stretching to the horizon. 

They were standing on a cliff with a vast forest beneath them, completely untouched by humans. It looked like a completely different world. Not far away, they saw a large lake that they visually estimated to be at least fifteen kilometers from north to south, and at least ten kilometers wide.

“Strange. Strange indeed. I don’t remember…. Based on the satellite photos, there shouldn’t be any lakes here….” 

Just a little peek..