Chapter 291: Wait, the Mechanical Ape in the Trial Room?! (Seeking Monthly Votes) |
"It, it, it isn't that mechanical ape we encountered in the trial checkpoint?!"
"Why is it appearing here?"
"It's being controlled by Sun Lingtong, which means we've been set up by No-Void Sect's thieves all along?!"
The reformation team members who entered the second round of the imperial trial were shocked to the point of being speechless.
Some were so furious that they broke down, cursing Sun Lingtong loudly.
Too sinister!
Too cunning!
This is too treacherous!!
Everyone in the reformation team had been tormented by the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng. Even Ning Zhuo, the true owner of the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, had also staged several acts with it.
In order to deal with the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, and the Nether Envoy, Qi Bai, the three reformation teams had even once jointly launched a large-scale campaign against them.
It had failed!
The Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, had brought too many failures, too much humiliation, and too many setbacks to everyone.
Previously, people had believed it was merely part of the trial checkpoint mechanism.
This perception had allowed them to accept it more easily, psychologically.
After all, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, came from the Three Sect Lords, so it was entirely understandable for everyone to lose to such a powerful Void Refining expert.
But now, with Sun Lingtong openly using the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, everyone suddenly realized—they hadn't lost to a Void Refining expert; they had been repeatedly tricked by No-Void Sect's thieves!
And they had been tricked so many times.
If it weren't for this second round of the imperial trial, they would have been kept in the dark for a lifetime.
For a moment, the feeling of frustration and rage was so overwhelming that even the waters of the Three Rivers wouldn't be enough to wash it away!
"Despicable Sun thief!"
"I curse you and your entire No-Void Sect, may your sons be born without buttholes in this life!!"
"You scoundrel, you're not even human anymore!"
For a time, Sun Lingtong became the most notorious figure in the central plaza. Countless pairs of fiery eyes stared at him.
Countless curses and insults rained down on him like a torrential storm.
At first, Sun Lingtong felt a bit uncomfortable, but after that, he began to enjoy it.
"Tasting it carefully, this is quite thrilling."
"Hehe!"
"I just love seeing you all hate me but unable to take me down."
"Oh right, it's more like being taken down by me instead."
"Hehehe..."
Sun Lingtong swaggered around proudly, his small face flushed with excitement.
After summoning the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, he immediately began a terrifying winning streak. Even Zhu Xuanji and the others were successively defeated by him.
But the person who broke down the most wasn't anyone else—it was Meng Chong.
"Argh! You villain, how dare you toy with us like this? I’ll twist your head off and kick it like a ball!"
"I'm furious! Absolutely furious!!"
Meng Chong roared continuously, but all he could do was watch helplessly as his mechanical puppets, after losing their numerical advantage, were brutally destroyed by the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.
Memories of the past resurfaced in his mind, turning into slaps that hit his face—smack, smack, smack.
The pain was unbearable!
For someone like him, a proud son of heaven, this humiliation was truly excessive.
Meng Chong was so enraged that his face turned red, his hair stood on end, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge into the central area and personally fight the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.
However, an invisible force stopped him in his tracks.
Sun Lingtong didn't miss the chance to rub it in.
He extended his pinky finger, picking at his ear, and looked at Meng Chong with disdain. "Little worm, what are you screaming about? Haven't I beaten you enough?"
In an instant, Meng Chong froze in his struggle.
Then, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and his whole body seemed on the verge of exploding as he roared toward the sky, letting out a deafening cry of rage.
"I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!!" Meng Chong was so angry he lost his mind.
No matter how much the people from the City Lord's Mansion tried to dissuade him, it was useless.
Zhu Xuanji, Booklord, and others, however, didn’t let their anger cloud their judgment.
"Rather than saying I lost to Sun Lingtong, it’s more accurate to say I lost to this spiritual mechanical ape."
"This ape is indeed formidable. At the same level of cultivation, even I would find it difficult to stop."
"According to the information given in the second round of the imperial trial, the mechanical ape came from the trial checkpoint and was brought out, which is why it can be used in the imperial trial."
"By this reasoning, No-Void Sect must also have a mechanical puppet capable of controlling ghosts."
Upon discussing this, even the elite members of the Golden Core realm fell silent.
Sun Lingtong had revealed only one card, and already he had such a massive advantage. He hadn’t even used his other trump card yet.
"It’s foreseeable that the first place in the second round of the imperial trial will once again be the 'entry standard'!"
"Fortunately, the second round of the imperial trial only eliminates the last ten participants, so it won’t be hard for us to make it to the next round."
"The mechanical ape came from the trial checkpoint, so why haven't the reformation teams from the four major powers found this reward? Is it deeper within the trial checkpoint?"
Everyone kept speculating.
No one told them that a mole had covered up the Buddhist and demonic paths.
With the help of the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, Sun Lingtong made a spectacular comeback, quickly reversing his losing streak and surging ahead.
The reason Ning Zhuo had chosen to deploy the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, instead of the Nether Envoy, Qi Bai, was that the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, had already been exposed the most. Revealing a bit more wouldn’t matter.
Although this mechanical puppet had undergone material upgrades in the later stages, with many Foundation Establishment-level materials replacing the old ones,
it was still only at Foundation Establishment strength and couldn’t match up to the likes of Zhu Xuanji and others on the stage.
It could only show off a bit in the ring.
The Nether Envoy, Qi Bai, however, was different!
Although its materials were also limited to the Foundation Establishment level, it contained the Golden Core that Qi Bai had in life, and if fully activated, it would possess Golden Core-level combat strength!
Of course, if it exerted its full power, its mechanical body often couldn’t withstand it, after all, it was only made of Foundation Establishment Level materials. That was the Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai’s biggest shortcoming since its existence.
In summary, preserving Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai and exposing Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng to secure Sun Lingtong’s spot in the next round was a very wise decision.
And Ning Zhuo himself, after everyone’s attention was drawn to Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng and Sun Lingtong, “staggered” and “stumbled” in a “bitter struggle,” “barely” securing one victory after another.
Apart from Ning Zhuo and others, the least surprised was Zhu Xuanji.
He had previously uncovered the secret—Yuan Dasheng had been transformed into the Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng.
And he knew that Yuan Dasheng’s corpse had ended up with the Bukong Sect.
Thus, the conclusion that Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng was an item of the Bukong Sect was inferred.
However, Zhu Xuanji had not expected that the Bukong Sect could actually bring out the Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng.
Since Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng was only at the Foundation Establishment Level in combat prowess, it did not get Zhu Xuanji’s full attention.
Seeing Sun Lingtong kill left and right with the Golden Blood Battle Ape Dasheng, even defeating him, such a result made Zhu Xuanji pay more attention to another matter.
And that was the clue regarding the Golden Furnace!
Among the five Golden Furnaces that had been turned into ruins, there was no need to investigate the first one, as Zhu Xuanji already knew the inside story. The fifth Golden Furnace had just been investigated.
He only had the second, third, and fourth Golden Furnaces left.
Deep down, intuition told him that the answers hidden beneath these three ruins of the Golden Furnaces were incredibly important to him.
However, after his last success, the opportunity Zhu Xuanji had been waiting for never came.
Even though there were instances of Flame Demon Beasts attacking nearby, each time, Ning Zhuo preemptively activated the Five Elements Turret, blasting them before they could truly reach the Gourd Forest.
This prevented Zhu Xuanji and others from using the Flame Demon Beasts to delve into the depths of the Golden Furnace Ruins.
The opportunity arose after the fifth question.
Roar!
With a heaven-shaking roar, a mountain-sized Flame Stepping Lizard emerged from the magma.
Nascent Soul Level!
The second Nascent Soul Level Flame Demon Beast appeared amidst the beast tide.
Its target was set straight for the Lava Fairy Palace.
Meng Kui immediately took action, backed by the Immortal City Great Array, blocking the Nascent Soul Level Flame Stepping Lizard.
After a dozen exchanges, the Runaway Fire Snake, which had previously fled, seemed to sense an opportunity and rushed over as well.
For a moment, Meng Kui single-handedly faced two Nascent Soul Level Demon Beasts!
He unleashed four Mana Power Hands, trying to block from all sides, but he was clearly at a disadvantage.
Boom!
The Flame Stepping Lizard heavily slammed into the Lava Fairy Palace.
The spherical light shield, which had only a few breaches previously, dimmed in an instant.
Boom!
The Flame Stepping Lizard charged again.
The spherical light shield shattered with a loud bang!
Countless Flame Demon Beasts landed from all directions, storming into the confines of the Lava Fairy Palace.
The Five Elements Turret blasted wildly, raining down like heavy rain on the head and neck of the Flame Stepping Lizard. Continuous fierce bombing managed to inflict minor injuries, at last driving it back.
However, before retreating, the Flame Stepping Lizard viciously swung its tail, directly breaking off a corner of the Immortal Palace, causing several buildings along with the land to separate from the main structure.
Immediately, this corner of the Immortal Palace fell into the magma, quickly disappearing without a trace.
Such a severe blow caused the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit to let out a mournful wail in the main hall!
Chaos ensued within the Lava Fairy Palace.
Never before had so many Flame Demon Beasts surged into the Immortal Palace.
Although soon after, the spherical light shield was restored, blocking the following Demon Beasts’ landing.
But the Flame Demon Beasts that had already poured in posed a tremendous threat and must be eradicated swiftly!
The Cultivators fought with all their might, battling everywhere.
During the fight, due to a minor accident, it was discovered that the Immortal Palace Restriction had also been damaged, creating a loophole.
Any Qi Refinement Realm or Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, even without prowess in mechanisms, could now enter and exit the Immortal Palace!
Previously, this would have been impossible. Their skill in mechanisms had to meet the requirements.
“The opportunity has come!” Zhu Xuanji’s feelings were mixed.
On one hand, the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived. On the other hand, a corner of the Lava Fairy Palace had collapsed—a significant loss that would be costly to repair!
This forced the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit to contact Ning Zhuo once more, “Young, young master, bomb the Land of the Golden Furnace! Make Zhu Xuanji give up on this once and for all!”