Upon hearing my words, everyone became incredibly alert, having prepared for this moment for a long time.
During this period, to ensure their cultivation progress and significant improvements, I provided substantial assistance with the Water of Life.
In other words, their cultivation experience within it was virtually identical to mine, with no differences.
Under these circumstances, they had also endured extremely arduous times, much like I had before.
They had similarly undergone the same torment I had previously experienced.
Most importantly, their progress had reached a terrifying level under these conditions.
It was precisely for this reason that they were filled with anticipation.
"Now, we need to find a location!" I said, taking out a piece of white paper and roughly sketching the waterfall I had seen earlier.
There weren't many reference points around; the only distinctive feature was that waterfall.
That waterfall was exceptionally large. I had encountered a giant waterfall when I met the Fishing Elder, but that one paled in comparison to the current one.
I understood that finding that location wouldn't be simple.
"So, the slumbering place of the Heavenly Dao is here..." Lin Chun remarked. "The scenery is quite nice, though..."
"The intelligence we have now is limited, and this is the most we can get," I stated seriously. "In other words, we can only search one by one now..."
"But fortunately, this feature is quite distinctive!" Shen Zhi interjected. "Since it's a waterfall, two things are certain: first, a sufficiently high mountain, and second, a large river!"
I nodded. Judging by the height of the waterfall, ordinary mountains would not suffice.
"Then let's head towards the area with the highest mountain!" I said resolutely.
"Alright!" everyone agreed in unison.
We spent two days preparing, carrying only the most basic supplies and nothing else.
Of course, everyone was equipped with their weapons, elixirs, and some Water of Life.
Time was of the essence, and I hoped to find the location first before spending time condensing more Water of Life.
This way, we wouldn't be too flustered if a battle ensued.
Some of the wildlings also joined us; they were capable of cultivation and we could communicate with them almost seamlessly.
I was truly short-handed now, as I didn't know if the Heavenly Dao could summon those monsters again.
If it could, my strength alone would be insufficient to resist.
Therefore, I needed more people to help me.
Moreover, I myself was prepared for the worst, so I wouldn't overthink things.
The night before we left, I held Luo Yaqin. After our intimacy, she nestled in my arms without speaking.
"You could actually choose to stay here!" I said sincerely.
"Do you think I could possibly stay here?" Luo Yaqin asked. "We spent so long on the deserted island, going through so many experiences together. Those memories are etched in my heart, one by one. It's precisely because of this that I don't want to be separated from you..."
I held her tightly, and after a long silence, I finally spoke, "To be honest, I'm not sure what the outcome of this battle will be. But it's possible that I might not return alive after this..."
"I'm not afraid of anything when I'm with you!" Luo Yaqin said earnestly. "I've made up my mind this time. If I have to die, I'll die with you..."
I nodded. I understood her feelings, and further words would be futile.
That night, we were almost sleepless.
I believed others were the same.
Although I knew it would take a long time to find the Heavenly Dao, from the moment we left here, those who followed me had no turning back.
In fact, this final night was also an opportunity for them to choose.
Because I knew this might be a fight with a near-certain death, I would completely understand if anyone had thoughts of escaping.
Everyone cherishes their life. This world is too beautiful, with so many things worth cherishing. Preserving one's life is not a shameful act.
Precisely because of this, any choice they made would be within reason.
Although I wasn't sure how far I could go, in my current situation, I could only give it my all.
Regardless, I felt I had a clear conscience. I had done almost everything I could. If the goal remained unfulfilled in the end,
it would only mean one thing: the outcome was fated.
With this mindset, I stayed awake until dawn.
When dawn broke, I dressed and went out. I had actually prepared for many people not to follow.
But when I stepped outside, I found everyone standing neatly at my door, their expressions unusually serious.
"You all could have chosen to stay; I wouldn't have blamed you!" I said earnestly.
"Brother Lu, there's no need to say more at this point. This choice is ours voluntarily. You've already sacrificed so much; we can't live under your protection forever!"
"That's right, this is the thought of all of us. Since you knew this might be a fight to the death and still charged forward, why can't we go to our deaths?"
"Hahaha, to be honest, I've had a happy time recently. I used to be a mercenary, but here, I feel like I have a home. Being with family, I feel incredibly happy!"
They spoke in a jumble, but I understood the general meaning.
Under these circumstances, everyone was prepared to face death.
"Then everyone, let's get ready and set off!" I said seriously.
Everyone grabbed their belongings. They didn't carry much; it was mainly food that was scarce.
Most of their provisions were prepared for combat.
Everything else was left behind. We didn't know what the outcome of failure would be, but deep down, there was still some hope.
If we failed, perhaps we could still leave something behind to live on.