Chapter 182: Ning Xiaohui, What Did You Do?!
Boom!
A fiery explosion soared into the sky, blowing several puppets that had rushed forward into fragments.
“Something’s wrong! Everyone, be careful,” Ning Zhuo shouted, warning the others.
“Did we really get rid of the Mechanical Apes?” Zhou Zhenshen frowned deeply.
The next moment, the door before them was pushed open, and three more Mechanical Apes entered in single file, all resembling the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.
“How can there be so many?”
“Is it because we have more people, so the Lava Immortal Palace increased the difficulty?”
“But this is just too hard, isn’t it?”
Before the crowd could react, the three Mechanical Apes launched into an attack.
“Change formation, use the battle array!” Zhou Zhenshen commanded in a low voice.
The Zhou family cultivators stepped forward, forming a wall to block the three Mechanical Apes.
However, before they could activate the battle array, another violent explosion occurred.
Amid the fire and smoke, the Zhou family cultivators were covered in dust, but their casualties were not severe.
Their battle array had significantly boosted their defenses, making them much sturdier than if they fought individually.
However, taking advantage of the explosion, the two remaining Mechanical Apes had already charged to the back of the formation.
The rear cultivators were thrown into chaos.
Their coordination could not compare to that of the Zhou family cultivators, and more crucially, there were numerous mechanical constructs in the middle of the group.
Boom!
Another violent explosion occurred.
The explosion destroyed more than twenty mechanical constructs, turning their previous efforts into waste before they could even be of any use.
The remaining Mechanical Apes rampaged, forcing everyone to retreat, fearing they might be blown up.
In an instant, the cultivators’ formation fell into disarray.
At this critical moment, Ning Zhuo stepped forward. “Move aside, let me handle it!”
The crowd quickly stepped back as Ning Zhuo wielded a giant axe and charged forward.
The axe was even larger than his entire puppet body. When Ning Zhuo swung it, the momentum was fierce and overwhelming.
Floating hands hovered around him, constantly releasing various spells, bombarding the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.
Following their secret rehearsal, the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, moved nimbly, narrowly dodging all the spells, before arriving in front of Ning Zhuo and delivering a powerful palm strike.
Ning Zhuo quickly raised his massive axe to block the strike, but he was still sent flying.
As the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, was about to pursue, Zhou Zhu blocked its path.
After a few rounds, Zhou Zhu was also sent flying.
However, by this time, Zhou Zhenshen, Zheng Jian, and Ning Xiaohui had already surrounded Dasheng.
Thanks to the full efforts of these genius cultivators, the three families finally managed to stabilize the situation.
“This is the real Mechanical Ape. The others are simple constructs, designed only to self-destruct!” In the midst of the intense battle, a cultivator examined the battlefield and discovered the truth. He quickly shouted to inform the others.
Everyone’s hearts sank.
They had been deceived!
They had wasted a tremendous amount of resources, and the eight crossbows they had crafted were now completely useless.
“We’re ready. Quickly, lure it in!” The Zhou family’s battle array was fully activated, exerting its maximum power.
Each Zhou family puppet forming the array was under immense pressure, responsible for maintaining and operating the entire living formation.
Zhou Zhu and the others fought while retreating.
Yuan Dasheng didn’t chase them; he focused solely on destroying the mechanical constructs.
Seeing that Yuan Dasheng wasn’t falling into their trap, the crowd became even more anxious.
“Damn it!”
“This guy has become sentient.”
Ning Zhuo said, “It’s likely being controlled by the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!”
Upon hearing this, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, who had been observing the battle, was so enraged that it spat out a mouthful of crimson fire, scratching its heart in frustration.
“Indeed, it’s no wonder that treasures like spirit artifacts can suppress clans, sects, and even nations.”
The combined forces of the three families immediately steeled their resolve, giving their all.
They pursued and blocked the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng, with many even sacrificing themselves to buy a breath or two of time.
While fiercely battling, Ning Zhuo was also doing his utmost to assist Yuan Dasheng.
During special training, he had learned the power of the Zhou family’s battle array. Once Yuan Dasheng was trapped, it would be nearly impossible for him to escape.
At that point, all the mechanical constructs prepared for him would be unleashed, and Yuan Dasheng would be doomed!
“Qi Bai, enter the battle!” Ning Zhuo secretly manipulated the Life-Hanging by a Thread technique and commanded Qi Bai.
Qi Bai pushed open the door and charged into the battlefield, causing everyone to gasp in unison.
“It’s here!”
“The slave ghost puppet has appeared.”
“Quick, restrain it as planned!”
Zhou Zhu led the charge, wielding the Earthshaking Hammer, rushing toward Qi Bai.
Zheng Jian temporarily switched to his bow and arrow components, firing arrows at Qi Bai’s face before Zhou Zhu arrived.
However, Qi Bai merely lowered his head slightly, using his straw-hat-like head to deflect the arrows. Sparks flew as the arrows glided off his head and shot into the air.
Zheng Jian’s pupils contracted in surprise.
According to the intelligence, the slave ghost puppet’s defense wasn’t supposed to be this strong.
“Its materials have been upgraded!”
“No, it’s not just him, the Mechanical Ape too!”
Zheng Jian quickly turned his head and observed for a while, confirming that Yuan Dasheng, though seemingly consistent with the intelligence, had undergone significant material upgrades.
“Damn it, the Lava Immortal Palace really did increase the difficulty!”
In the original plan, Zheng Jian and Zhou Zhu were supposed to engage Qi Bai in close combat. But now that Qi Bai had grown stronger, Zheng Jian’s confidence in their battle plan wavered.
“Don’t panic! I’ll handle this!!” Ning Zhuo roared.
He donned the mechanical constructs he had crafted onto his body.
Within two breaths, he was wearing suspension rings around his neck, wrists, ankles, and other parts of his body.
These suspension rings, of course, had been modified.
Ning Zhuo charged at Yuan Dasheng with his giant axe. During the fight, the suspension rings all over his body continuously shot out threads that attached to the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape, Dasheng.
Yuan Dasheng’s movements slowed dramatically, giving the others an opportunity.
The Zhou family’s mobile array finally ensnared Yuan Dasheng.
“Good job, Ning Zhuo!” Zheng Jian praised.
“Haha, Brother Ning, you truly are reliable in critical moments,” Zhou Zhenshen transmitted his voice as well.
Yuan Dasheng roared and, for the first time, cast a spell—Fire Grasping Technique.
The Fire Grasping Technique ascended to a higher level, bathing its entire body in crimson flames.
The flames burned, scorching Ning Zhuo’s threads away.
Yuan Dasheng roared again, and the door opened once more. This time, a large number of mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels flew out.
The Wind-Fire Wheels moved incredibly fast, spewing flames as they rolled, causing massive destruction.
Many puppet bodies were instantly incinerated into ash.
The cultivators from the three families struggled under the onslaught of the Wind-Fire Wheels, retreating again and again.
“Why are these wheels so agile?” Many cultivators cast spells but repeatedly missed.
The mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels were far more nimble than anyone had imagined.
“Of course, they’re nimble! I’ve cremated each one and infused them with spirituality. In this battle, they will display all their brilliance,” Ning Zhuo thought to himself.
“We can’t go on like this!”
“We’ve lost too many people.”
“Use the Smoke Cart!!” Some people shouted.
“No, that’s reserved for the Soul Army puppet,” Ning Zhuo immediately rejected the suggestion.
The intense battle continued.
The Wind-Fire Wheels wreaked havoc, burning puppets one after another.
Their casualties had reached forty percent.
“Deploy the Smoke Cart. It can stop those wheels!” someone suggested again.
“No, if we use it now and the enemy releases ghosts, we won’t have any effective countermeasures,” Ning Zhuo rejected once more.
Their casualties reached sixty percent.
“Ah!” A cultivator roared, unable to hold back any longer, preparing to activate the Smoke Cart.
But Ning Zhuo quickly stopped him, “Hold on, just hold on! If we don’t endure the small setbacks, we’ll ruin the grand plan!”
Not long after, Yuan Dasheng broke through the Zhou family’s battle array and was about to break out of the encirclement.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Ning Xie finally lost his patience and launched an attack.
“Senior Ning Xie, let me assist you,” Ning Xiaohui unleashed her Ice Jade Hand.
Ning Xie cast Snow Soul Ice Soul!
The
two of them joined forces, and their combined power was extraordinary, unleashing the strength of a Foundation Establishment peak expert.
The temperature in the air dropped dramatically, and frost quickly spread, turning the entire room white.
Yuan Dasheng was heavily targeted and could barely move.
The flames on his body fought desperately against the extreme cold and ice.
“Let me deliver the finishing blow!” Ning Zhuo shouted, leaping high into the air and descending from above.
He raised his massive axe overhead and then brought it down fiercely!
However, just as everyone watched with anticipation, Ning Xiaohui inexplicably redirected her spell, enveloping Ning Zhuo in it as well.
Frost quickly formed on Ning Zhuo’s body, freezing him solid.
Bang.
In the next moment, Yuan Dasheng attacked, piercing Ning Zhuo’s chest. Then, he lifted his leg and swept it sideways, sending Ning Zhuo’s upper body, including his head, flying far away.
“Ning Xiaohui!” Ning Zhuo roared in fury.
Everyone was shocked and enraged, finding it hard to believe what they were witnessing.
With the enemy right in front of them, someone had actually used the battle as an excuse for personal revenge. And the method was so crude that it was blatantly obvious.
“Ning Xiaohui, you have disgraced the main bloodline of the family!” Ning Chen shouted.
Ning Yong roared, “Ning Xiaohui, what are you doing? Without Brother Zhuo, how will we deal with the Mechanical Ape?”
Ning Xiaohui was dumbfounded. “I-I, did I do this?”
She didn’t know why she had acted that way.
In her dazed state, she left herself wide open.
Three mechanical Wind-Fire Wheels charged at her from three different directions, smashing into her and shattering her.
Without a host body, Ning Xie roared in frustration, knowing he was about to be expelled from the Lava Immortal Palace.
But the next moment, Qi Bai arrived, pointing a finger as a swarm of mechanical ropes flew out from his sleeve.
The mechanical ropes coiled around Ning Xie like a swarm of snakes, tying him up tightly.
“Someone save me!” Ning Xie was rendered powerless, his face changing dramatically.
And in the next moment, Qi Bai approached, standing before him.
Both formation and spells activated, forcefully sealing and suppressing Ning Xie!
The battle continued for the time it took to drink a cup of tea.
Yuan Dasheng and Qi Bai were both heavily injured, narrowly winning the fight.
The joint forces of the three families were defeated!
After the battle, countless people left the Immortal Palace, glaring at Ning Xiaohui with hostile expressions, their resentment like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Ning Xiaohui walked away with a solemn expression, her head down, hurriedly distancing herself from the crowd.
Many people approached Ning Zhuo to offer comfort.
Ning Zhuo’s face was grim. “We were so close. We almost had it!”
“This wasn’t your fault.”
“Take it easy, Brother Zhuo! You were the best performer.”
“Ning Zhuo, this time I stand with you. Ning Xiaohui must give us all an explanation!”