“Boom!”

A blaze erupted, a deafening explosion pulverizing several clockwork puppets that had rushed forward.

“Something’s amiss. Everyone, be cautious!” Ning Zhuo shouted, offering a stark warning.

“Did we truly eliminate the mechanical ape?” Zhou Zeshen furrowed his brow, suspicion nagging at him.

In the next instant, the gate before them swung open, and three clockwork simians strode in, each a Gold-Blood Battle Ape of Great Victory in appearance.

“How can there be so many?”

“Is the Lava Immortal Palace increasing the difficulty because there are so many of us?”

“But isn’t this a bit excessive?”

Without giving the assembled cultivators a moment to react, the three mechanical apes launched a savage assault.

“Change formation, utilize the battle array!” Zhou Zeshen roared, issuing a desperate command.

The cultivators of the Zhou family stepped forward, forming a human wall, attempting to hold back the three mechanical apes.

However, before they could fully activate their battle array, another violent explosion rocked the area.

Amidst the fire and smoke, the Zhou family cultivators emerged, covered in soot, but thankfully, casualties were light.

Their battle array had significantly boosted their defenses, making them far more resilient than individuals fighting alone.

Yet, under cover of the explosion, the remaining two mechanical apes had already pounced upon the rear ranks of the assembled cultivators.

Chaos erupted among those at the back.

Their coordination simply could not compare to that of the Zhou family cultivators, and more importantly, their ranks contained a large number of mechanical constructs.

Another devastating explosion ripped through their ranks.

The blast directly obliterated over twenty mechanical creations, rendering their previous efforts naught, transforming them into useless scrap before they could even be put to use.

The remaining mechanical apes rampaged through the ranks, everyone scattering to avoid being blown to smithereens.

In an instant, the cultivators’ formation was shattered.

At this critical juncture, Ning Zhuo stepped forward. “Everyone, stand aside! Allow me.”

The cultivators hastily retreated, and Ning Zhuo, wielding a massive axe, charged into the fray. The great axe was larger than his entire puppet body. Ning Zhuo swung the great axe, creating a whirlwind of power, his presence imposing.

The floating hands that orbited him ceaselessly unleashed a variety of spells, barraging the Gold-Blood Battle Ape of Great Victory.

As per their secretly rehearsed plan, the Gold-Blood Battle Ape of Great Victory nimbly dodged the torrent of spells, then charged towards Ning Zhuo and thrust out a palm.

Ning Zhuo hurriedly raised his door-sized axe to block the blow, but he was still sent flying backward.

The Gold-Blood Battle Ape of Great Victory prepared to pursue, but Zhou Zhuo blocked its path.

After several exchanges, Zhou Zhuo was also sent flying.

However, by this time, Zhou Zeshen, Zheng Jian, and Ning Xiaohui had surrounded the mechanical ape.

Relying on the combined efforts of these genius cultivators, the three families managed to barely stabilize the situation.

“That one is the true mechanical ape; the others are simply constructed for self-destruction!” In the midst of the frantic battle, a cultivator examining the battlefield discovered the truth and shouted out, alerting the others.

A sense of dread washed over the assembled cultivators.

They had been deceived.

The eight crossbow chariots they had painstakingly crafted at great expense had been rendered utterly useless.

“We are ready, quickly lure it in!” The Zhou family’s battle array was fully activated, unleashing its full power.

Each of the Zhou family puppets composing the battle array served as a node, bearing the immense pressure of maintaining and operating the living formation.

Zhou Zhuo and the others fought and retreated.

The Ape of Great Victory did not pursue; it focused on destroying the mechanical constructs.

Seeing that the Ape of Great Victory was not falling for their trap, the cultivators grew increasingly anxious.

“Damn it!”

“This thing has become intelligent!”

Ning Zhuo said, “This is likely the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit at work.”

Hearing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, who had been watching the battle, spat out a mouthful of crimson fire, infuriated to the point of tearing at its heart. “As expected, it is spiritual manipulation.”

“No wonder it is said that a spiritual treasure can safeguard a family, a sect, or even a nation.”

The allied cultivators of the three families redoubled their efforts, facing the mechanical ape with utmost vigilance.

The cultivators pursued and intercepted, many even sacrificing themselves to stall the Gold-Blood Battle Ape of Great Victory for a breath or two.

Ning Zhuo “fervently” battled while secretly aiding Yuan Dasheng.

During their special training, he had come to deeply understand the Zhou family’s battle array. Once Yuan Dasheng was trapped within, it was likely he would never escape.

At that time, the various mechanical constructs prepared for him would be unleashed in succession, and Yuan Dasheng would be doomed.

“Qi Bai, engage!” Ning Zhuo secretly manipulated the puppet strings, ordering Qi Bai into battle.

Qi Bai pushed open the door and charged onto the battlefield, eliciting gasps of surprise from the cultivators.

“It has appeared!”

“The Slave Devil Puppet has arrived!”

“Quickly, restrain it according to plan!”

Zhou Zhuo took the lead, wielding the Mud-Quaking Hammer, charging towards Qi Bai.

Zheng Jian, temporarily using the bow and arrow components, fired an arrow at Qi Bai’s face before Zhou Zhuo could reach him.

However, Qi Bai simply lowered his head slightly, using his conical hat-like head to deflect the arrow. Amidst a burst of sparks, the arrow arced off the slope of the hat and into the air.

Zheng Jian’s pupils constricted in surprise.

According to the intelligence, the Slave Devil Puppet’s defenses were not this exceptional.

“Its materials have been improved.”

“No, not just it, but also the mechanical ape.”

Zheng Jian abruptly turned his head, observing the scene for a moment before confirming that Yuan Dasheng, while appearing to match the intelligence, had also undergone material improvements.

“Damn it, the Lava Immortal Palace has indeed proactively increased the difficulty.”

Originally, the plan was for Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhuo to use close combat to restrain Qi Bai. But now that Qi Bai had been greatly enhanced, Zheng Jian’s confidence wavered, feeling that the original battle plan was severely flawed.

“Don’t panic, leave it to me…” Ning Zhuo roared.

He donned the mechanical constructs he had created.

Two breaths later, he wore hanging rings on his neck, wrists, and ankles.

Of course, these hanging rings had been modified.

Ning Zhuo, wielding his great axe, lunged at Yuan Dasheng. During the battle, the hanging rings on Ning Zhuo’s body continuously spat out threads, attaching themselves to the Gold-Blood Battle Ape of Great Victory. Yuan Dasheng’s movements drastically slowed, giving the others an opportunity to strike.

The Zhou family’s moving formation finally enveloped Yuan Dasheng.

“Ning Zhuo, well done!” Zheng Jian praised.

“Hehe, Brother Ning, as expected, you are reliable at critical moments,” Zhou Zeshen transmitted through spiritual energy.

Yuan Dasheng roared, unleashing a spell for the first time – the Fire-Grasping Art.

The Fire-Grasping Art had been further refined, causing his entire body to be bathed in crimson flames.

The flames burned away Ning Zhuo’s threads.

Yuan Dasheng continued to roar, and the gate swung open once more. This time, a large number of mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels flew out.
The Wind-Fire Wheels moved with blinding speed, their fiery trails painting the air, unleashing devastating power.

The wooden puppets were incinerated one after another, reduced to naught but ashes.

The cultivators of the three families found themselves in dire straits, constantly retreating before the relentless onslaught of the Wind-Fire Wheels.

“Why are these wheels so agile?” Many cultivators cast their spells, only to find them missing their mark time and again.

The mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels possessed an agility that defied their imaginations.

“How could they not be? Each one was personally ‘cremated’ by me, learning from the *Celestial Artisan’s Compendium*, gaining sentience. They shall unleash their full brilliance in this battle!” Ning Zhuo thought to himself.

“It’s no use!”

“The losses are too great!”

“Deploy the Smoke Wagons…” Some people cried out, pleading for permission.

“No! Those are for the puppet’s soul army!” Ning Zhuo immediately rejected the proposal.

The fierce battle continued.

The Wind-Fire Wheels rampaged, the wooden puppets ceaselessly destroyed.

Their forces had already dwindled by forty percent.

“Deploy the Smoke Wagons! They can restrain these wheels!” Someone suggested again.

“No! If we use those, the enemy will unleash their ghosts, and we’ll have no effective means to counter them!” Ning Zhuo denied it once more.

The losses mounted to sixty percent.

“Ahhh!” A cultivator roared, finally unable to endure any longer, and moved to activate a Smoke Wagon.

But Ning Zhuo, with swift eyes and hands, stopped him. “Endure! I said endure! A small impatience ruins great plans!”

Before long, Yuan Dasheng had shattered the Zhou family’s battle formation, on the verge of breaking free.

“Where do you think you’re going?!” Ning Xie, unable to restrain himself any longer, launched his attack.

“Senior Ning Xie, allow me to assist you!” Ning Xiaohui unleashed her Jade Hand of Frozen Essence.

Ning Xie cast his Soul-Freezing Ice Soul.

The two joining forces created a remarkable synergy, unleashing battle prowess at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

The temperature plummeted drastically, ice crystals rapidly forming, swiftly painting the entire room white.

Yuan Dasheng was the primary target, struggling to move even a single step.

The flames on his body desperately fought against the extreme cold and ice.

“Let me deliver the finishing blow!” Ning Zhuo roared, leaping high into the air, descending from above.

He raised the gigantic door axe above his head, then slammed it down with tremendous force.

However, just as everyone watched with anticipation, Ning Xiaohui, in a “devilish whim”, changed the direction of her spell, once again referring to *Celestial Artisan’s Compendium*, including Ning Zhuo within its icy embrace.

Frost rapidly solidified on Ning Zhuo’s body, quickly turning to ice, freezing him solid.

In the next instant, Yuan Dasheng attacked, directly piercing through Ning Zhuo’s chest. Then, he raised his leg, sweeping it out, sending Ning Zhuo’s upper body and head flying far away.

“Ning Xiaohui!” Ning Zhuo cried out in a hoarse voice, filled with extreme rage.

The crowd was shocked and angered, many unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before them.

With the formidable enemy before them, someone was actually settling personal grudges. And the method was so clumsy, so transparent.

“Ning Xiaohui, you disgrace the main branch of the family!” Ning Chen shouted.

Ning Yong roared, “Ning Xiaohui, what are you doing? Without Brother Zhuo, how can we deal with the mechanical apes?!”

Ning Xiaohui was dumbfounded. “I…I…did I do that?”

Even she didn’t know why she had done it. (01) Lost in thought, she exposed a fatal flaw.

Three mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels came from three directions, crushing, colliding, and directly shattering her.

Without a host body, Ning Xie roared in anger, on the verge of being expelled from the Molten Lava Celestial Palace.

But in the next moment, Qi Bai arrived, extending a finger, sending forth a swarm of mechanical ropes from his sleeves.

The mechanical ropes, like a nest of vipers, actually bound Ning Xie, immobilizing him completely.

“Someone, save me!” Ning Xie immediately found himself helpless, his expression changing drastically.

And in the next moment, Qi Bai arrived, landing before him.

Arrays and spells were activated simultaneously, forcibly capturing and suppressing Ning Xie.

The battle continued for the time it takes to brew a pot of tea.

Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai were both battered and bruised, barely managing a perilous victory.

The allied forces of the three families suffered a narrow defeat.

After the battle, countless individuals left the Celestial Palace, their gazes fixed on Ning Xiaohui with extreme malice, their resentment simmering like a volcano about to erupt.

Ning Xiaohui’s face was ashen, her head lowered as she walked, hastily distancing herself from the crowd.

Many people took the initiative to come forward, comforting Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo’s face was ashen. “So close to success! So close!”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Cheer up, Brother Zhuo. You performed the best.” “Ning Zhuo, this time I stand with you! Ning Xiaohui must give us all an explanation!”

End of chapter.