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

Chapter 993 Xiao He and the others, unable to wait any longer!

Yet Cui Wenzi never reported the loss of the tiger-shaped jade pendant to him! Perhaps, in Cui Wenzi's eyes at the time, surviving such a brutal pursuit was already a stroke of luck; the loss of a jade pendant was utterly insignificant. Afterwards, he rushed to the north to find medicinal herbs, and after several detours, returned to Xianyang. In that life-or-death race against time, who would care about a mere possession?

By the time the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan, the newcomer who knew all the causes and effects, finally realized the tiger-shaped jade pendant was missing, it was already too late. It was all too late! This jade pendant was one of the keys to unlocking certain crucial points in the underground palace; possessing it would allow him to achieve his goals more calmly and safely.

Without it, even if he possessed the secret passage, forcibly entering the core area filled with ingenious formations and deadly traps would inevitably involve enormous risks. The skills possessed by the Qin Dynasty alchemists two thousand years ago were something even he feared.

Therefore, like Gao Yao, he now needs the underground palace gate to be officially opened. Opening the gate means the main defense mechanisms will be dismantled, allowing him to seize the opportunity and directly attack the core.

"Tiger-shaped jade pendant, where are you?" Yi Xiaochuan's mysterious gaze pierced through the disguise of the secret passage entrance, as if he could see Gao Yao's bustling camp and the dug-out tomb entrance in the distance. Judging from the current clues, the possibility of the jade pendant being in Gao Yao's possession was extremely low. If it were truly in Gao Yao's hands, based on his understanding of Gao Yao, the latter would never be so clumsy, using such a barbaric method to forcibly break through the stone door and tomb passage mechanisms. He would definitely try to use the jade pendant to find a more convenient way.

Therefore, the conclusion is obvious—the jade pendant is indeed lost, and most likely it is still lying quietly in some corner under that cliff, buried by soil or fallen leaves.

"Very well." The mysterious Yi Xiaochuan composed himself, a cold smile curving his lips. "Let Gao Yao clear the thorns from my path first." He was determined to follow Gao Yao's progress like a shadow, observing and waiting for the perfect moment to intervene. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. He was patient, for he had waited far too long; he didn't care about these final days, months, or even years.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the underground palace, Gao Yao's construction was proceeding with an almost obsessive perseverance.

The enormous stone gate, seemingly carved by a god from a single block of obsidian, was cold and hard, rejecting all outside intrusion. Through the tireless work of the craftsmen, day and night, the initial hole, no bigger than a soybean, had been painstakingly enlarged into an opening about half a meter in diameter. The process was extremely slow and careful; each chisel stroke was made with the fear of triggering an unpredictable disaster.

Standing at the entrance of the cave, Gao Yao could clearly feel the gloomy wind carrying a musty smell emanating from within. Through the entrance, he could see a deep and wide tomb passage. From the depths of the passage, a faint but steady light shone through. The light was not firelight, but rather a cold light, eerie and captivating.

"There's light inside?" Gao Yao felt a chill run down his spine. This was beyond his common sense. How could a underground palace, sealed for two thousand years, have a source of light that burned continuously? Was it a luminous pearl? Some kind of special phosphorescence? Or... an even more unbelievable arrangement? This unknown light, instead of bringing a sense of security, added to the eeriness.

He was acutely aware of the dangers lurking within Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. Archaeological discoveries two thousand years later revealed that those ineffective traps were utterly incomparable to the perfectly prepared killing machines of today. Any reckless intrusion would result in total annihilation.

"The closer we get to success, the more cautious we must be," Gao Yao repeatedly emphasized to the engineers and generals around him. He adopted the most primitive, yet safest, method—testing with his life.

He ordered his men to bring forth strong calves, lively lambs, and even some pheasants flapping their wings. He drove these animals into the half-meter-wide opening and into the tomb passage. At first, the passage was deathly silent, save for the restless cries of the animals and the echoing of their hooves on the stone slabs. But soon, the sounds of triggers being activated began to ring out!

"Shhhhh-"

"Crack!"

"Boom!"

The sharp crack of a crossbow bolt piercing the air, the thunderous roar of the ground suddenly collapsing, the crushing sound of the stone walls on either side abruptly closing in... all accompanied by the agonizing screams of dying animals, echoed through the deep tomb passage, sending chills down one's spine. Moments later, all was silent again, leaving only the pungent smell of blood and scattered limbs and remains.

Gao Yao's expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank. Just as he thought! Every step along this seemingly peaceful tomb passage teetered on the edge of death.

"Record the location and type of all trigger mechanisms!" he commanded in a deep voice. "Then, find a way to disable these mechanisms one by one!"

The work that followed was more like a battle of wits with the ancient craftsmen. Based on where the livestock had triggered the mechanisms, the artisans carefully marked the danger zones. Then, using specially made spears several meters long and steel rods, they aimed from a relatively safe distance at the gaps that appeared to be the mechanisms' hinges and thrust them forcefully!

This was a clumsy but effective war of attrition. The goal was to jam the mechanism's operating parts, or simply trigger it, depleting the stored arrows and falling rocks. Sometimes, to deplete a single crossbow emplacement, they needed to repeatedly probe and lure it, spending most of the day until the tomb passage was filled with a dense array of arrows, confirming that no more crossbow bolts could be fired.

For pitfalls, they were gradually filled and covered with planks and sandbags. For overturned planks, they were secured with giant logs.

Progress was slow, like ants gnawing at an elephant. But every day, they moved forward an inch. Gao Yao was practically stationed at the construction site. He supervised the project's progress during the day and returned to the nearby camp at night to spend time with his young children, enjoying a moment of family bliss to dispel the gloom and anxiety accumulated during the day. He was like a precise instrument, switching between ruthless calculation and the remnants of humanity.

However, his prolonged stay at Mount Li, far from the capital, has already caused unease among his core officials.

On this day, Xiao He, Han Xin, Cao Can, and Zhang Liang, following the king's orders, rushed to the Lishan camp. The four men were travel-worn, and their brows were furrowed with worry and confusion.

Upon entering the royal tent, Xiao He saw Gao Yao, who looked slightly tired but had bright eyes. He spoke first, his tone earnest: "Your Majesty! The official documents of Xianyang Palace are piled up like mountains, and many important military and national affairs urgently await Your Majesty's decision. Your precious body is not at all at ease to stay in this desolate wilderness for so long, among construction workers and convicts. We are truly worried! If it is for training troops, General Han Xin can certainly take over; if it is for rest, the palace gardens and parks can also provide comfort. This place is gloomy and not a place to stay for long!"