Chapter 551: The Might of Mechanisms!
The two armies confronted each other!
Dark clouds rolled across the sky, like ink spreading across the heavens.
These were the lingering forces left behind from the earlier battle between Lei Qingyang and the Blood Shadow Cave Lord.
The fight between Li Jiuchu and Mo Yechen was still ongoing.
With a single command from Grandfather Long, nearly ten Nascent Soul–level cultivators entered the field together and shouted their challenge in unison.
From the Liangzhu Kingdom’s main camp, a female cultivator flew out.
She wore a mask, and her right arm had been replaced with a mechanical arm. Her long hair was gray-white, showing that she was no longer young.
She quickly rose into the air. Beneath the dark clouds, her robes fluttered wildly. Her face was as cold as iron as she loudly provoked them: “Come at me together!”
Around her, more than a hundred flying mechanical maidens circled and danced, guarding her at the center.
Faced with such provocation, the nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators on the Thousand Peaks Forest Alliance side all halted and looked at one another.
They could not truly swarm her together!
The military art of issuing a challenge worked this way: the best outcome was a duel between equals. Only such a result could truly shake morale and the army’s heart.
If many attacked one, even if they won, the impact on morale would be limited.
On the other hand, if the few defeated the many, or the weak defeated the strong—such as a Golden Core defeating a Nascent Soul—the impact on morale would be far more violent and dramatic.
Thus, if these Nascent Soul cultivators really attacked together, even defeating the Mechanism Princess would bring little benefit.
They all knew where their side’s advantage lay. They would not invest a large number of forces against Shuang Ling alone. Doing so would fail to utilize their advantage in the number of high-level cultivators!
After exchanging glances for a moment, they quickly communicated through spiritual sense.
“I am Lone Fang of the Cangyue Tribe!”
With a loud shout, the blue-haired barbarian general stepped forward, chosen by the others to face Shuang Ling.
He sped through the air, pulled out the giant wolf-tooth club on his back, and activated a spell, condensing hundreds of phantom mountain wolves.
The wolf pack crashed fiercely into the mechanical maidens. The wolves tore and bit, while the maidens strangled them with fluttering ribbons.
Soon the wolf pack suffered heavy losses, while most of the mechanical maidens remained intact.
Countless gazes focused on the clash between the two.
Just as the Liangzhu Kingdom camp had earlier feared Li Jiuchu, the cultivators of the Thousand Peaks Forest Alliance were equally wary of Shuang Ling.
Shuang Ling — the Mechanism Princess!
Her reputation was no weaker than Li Jiuchu’s, perhaps even stronger.
She was the Nascent Soul–level representative of Liangzhu Kingdom, the very face of an entire cultivation nation!
Inside the Puppet Dragon, Sun Ning and his companion watched intently.
Ning Zhuo was even more focused, his eyes unblinking.
Although he had once clashed with Shuang Ling and had conflicts with her in the past, Ning Zhuo, as a mechanism cultivator himself, humbly intended to study her techniques carefully.
In the initial probing exchange, Lone Fang was clearly no match and immediately fell into a disadvantage.
Shuang Ling frowned slightly, dissatisfied with this result.
She knew her side faced a severe disadvantage. If the enemy managed to utilize their superior number of Nascent Soul cultivators, it would greatly influence the overall battle.
Thus, she had to display even greater power, forcing the other cultivators to join the fight against her.
The opportunity was right now.
If others believed Lone Fang could stall her in a battle of attrition, those watching would immediately continue issuing challenges, placing the Liangzhu Kingdom army in a dilemma.
Therefore, in the next moment, Shuang Ling snorted coldly and released twenty hovering repeating crossbows.
The crossbows lined up neatly at her right side.
The next moment, dark-gold inscriptions on the crossbow cases suddenly lit up.
“Li-Fire Arrows, release!”
The bowstrings trembled like the sound of zithers. In only a few breaths, each crossbow fired ten long arrows.
The arrows interwove into waves of arrow rain, shooting into the rear half of the wolf pack.
The speed was too fast. Lone Fang had only just cast a defensive spell.
Under the arrow rain, the wolves rapidly vanished, leaving a large empty gap.
Lone Fang’s face turned ashen. Even protecting himself was difficult. He wildly swung his wolf-tooth club, knocking away the arrows flying toward him, looking extremely battered.
The arrow rain continued without pause. Lone Fang could only retreat again and again.
While maintaining defensive spells, he constantly swung his club and summoned more phantom wolves.
Yet however many wolves he summoned were instantly shot down.
The mechanical maidens still surrounded Shuang Ling tightly and did not pursue.
With a furious roar, Lone Fang’s body suddenly expanded by several parts as he summoned three Golden Core–level alpha wolves.
The alpha wolves rushed forward without fear, stepping on the wind and howling loudly, sharing much of the pressure for their master.
Only then did Lone Fang stabilize his footing.
Seeing this, Shuang Ling immediately released twelve Taixu Hovering Bell Guards.
These bronze mechanisms were humanoid with three heads and six arms, each holding a massive bell.
The bells were inverted, their openings facing upward, and their surfaces were engraved with complex star charts.
Clang, clang, clang…
Six arms continuously struck the bells, producing a series of ringing chimes.
At the same time, indigo waves of energy surged out from the bell openings.
The waves combined with the bell sounds and swept across the battlefield.
Not only did they engulf Lone Fang, but they also covered the other Nascent Soul cultivators nearby.
Lone Fang, who had just stabilized his position, collapsed again under the bell sounds and energy waves, throwing him into chaos.
Most cultivators understood Shuang Ling’s scheme. They snorted coldly and retreated one after another, unwilling to fall into her trap.
Bi Tengyi, however, was hot-tempered and became enraged.
“Mechanism Princess, if you wish to seek death, this old woman will grant it to you!”
With a low roar, Bi Tengyi extended large masses of vines from her body.
The green vines spiraled through the sky, forming nine vine pythons that rushed toward Shuang Ling.
Where the vine pythons passed, countless green-scale toxins scattered.
After entering the mechanical maiden defense line, the toxin immediately contaminated them, causing the mechanical maidens to fall from the sky like dumplings dropping into boiling water.
Seeing her line shaken, Shuang Ling immediately took out two batches of mechanisms from her storage artifact.
The first batch consisted of twenty-four Ice-Fire Blade Mantises. The thin blades on their forelegs shimmered with frost on the left side and blazing flames on the right.
The mantises were extremely agile and charged toward Lone Fang.
As soon as they entered the battle, they slaughtered Lone Fang’s three Golden Core alpha wolves. Lone Fang could only retreat frantically as the situation became dire.
The second batch consisted of thirty-six Xuanji Armor Plates.
The plates spun rapidly before Shuang Ling like fans, generating a massive suction force.
The next moment, nearly all the green-scale toxin was drawn onto the plates, dyeing them a slick green.
The plates quickly combined into a giant shield. The tortoise-shell patterns on its surface glowed with silver light.
Mechanism Art — Mystic Tortoise Heavenly Light Shield Reversal!
In the next instant, a massive beam of light burst from the shield’s surface, carrying with it all the condensed toxin.
The beam’s power was terrifying. It instantly severed one vine python and shot directly toward Bi Tengyi.
Bi Tengyi’s expression changed drastically. She screamed and pulled out a vine staff, swinging it fiercely before her.
In the next moment, a massive carnivorous demon flower grew wildly from the tip of the staff.
The flower opened its enormous mouth like a giant beast and swallowed the entire beam of light.
After devouring it, the demon flower’s body expanded more than tenfold. Its purple-red body gradually turned green as it struggled to digest the attack.
The giant shield returned to normal, then separated again into armor plates that guarded Shuang Ling.
Shuang Ling raised her mechanical right arm, from which twelve mechanism copper spheres engraved with lightning patterns shot out.
The spheres flew rapidly, crackling with lightning and weaving together into an electric net.
Mechanism Art — Shocking Lightning Net!
The net descended toward Bi Tengyi.
Bi Tengyi unleashed multiple techniques in succession, but every spell she cast against the net was neutralized.
She retreated in embarrassment, not daring to confront its edge.
“As expected of a Nascent Soul representative of a nation. Her methods are formidable indeed!” Gao Cuo sighed inwardly.
An aged voice sounded within his mind:
“The outlook of this grand decisive battle remains unclear. The Dragon Ginseng King has not yet confirmed participation, yet we are already attacking the enemy’s frontline camp. Remember, Du Tiechuan is resting inside this camp.”
“Gao Cuo, this is not a place to remain long.”
“You should withdraw now. This is the perfect opportunity.”
Gao Cuo nodded. “Sword Elder speaks wisely. I’ll go.”
His expression hardened as he stepped forward and loudly challenged:
“Mechanism Princess, I am Gao Cuo. I have come to test your skills!”
Seeing a third Nascent Soul cultivator attack, Shuang Ling was delighted rather than alarmed. It meant she had displayed enough threat to force the Thousand Peaks side to act.
Gao Cuo’s body flickered and split into over a hundred illusionary bodies, which suddenly dispersed and attacked Shuang Ling from all directions.
The illusions unleashed all kinds of spells—some real, some fake, some strong, some weak.
For a time, the battlefield was filled with colorful lights and sounds, dazzling and chaotic.
Watching secretly from a hidden corner, Lin Bufan’s expression stirred slightly. The scene felt strangely familiar to him, yet he could not confirm why.
Shuang Ling’s face darkened.
This illusion technique was extremely troublesome. She had used three different methods but still could not see through it.
Without breaking the illusion, she had to defend against everything, greatly increasing her consumption.
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Sword Elder immediately reminded Gao Cuo:
“Gao Cuo, leave some strength!”
Gao Cuo secretly restrained his power.
Shuang Ling’s spirit lifted as she finally found a way to see through the illusion.
With a low shout, she took out a mechanism.
The device resembled an armillary sphere and was called a Star Gnomon. It radiated starlight that illuminated the surroundings. Any false illusions quickly vanished under its glow.
In an instant, the dazzling magical bombardment disappeared, leaving only two or three genuine attacks.
Shuang Ling took a deep breath, locked onto Gao Cuo’s true body, and released seven North Star Swordsmen.
Seven puppet strings shot out from her mechanical arm, connecting precisely to the puppets.
Under the control of the strings, the North Star Swordsmen immediately formed the Big Dipper Formation and charged toward Gao Cuo.
After exchanging blows, Gao Cuo was soon defeated and covered in blood.
Seeing his dire situation, the Heart Demon Cave Lord immediately intervened and joined the battlefield.
Gao Cuo clenched his teeth. At the critical moment, he activated a Directional Escape Talisman, traversed the void, and withdrew from the battlefield, leaving blood scattered across the sky.
The Heart Demon Cave Lord cursed loudly and could only take his place against the North Star Swordsmen.
The Heart Demon Cave Lord was far more aggressive than Gao Cuo. He unleashed demonic arts and spells, fighting attack with attack with terrifying momentum.
Even while suffering sword wounds, he destroyed most of the seven North Star Swordsmen.
Seeing this, the Mechanism Princess smiled slightly. However many swordsmen she lost, she immediately replenished.
Seeing the Heart Demon Cave Lord’s fierce assault, she simply threw the Star Gnomon into the air.
The Star Gnomon hovered high, scattering starlight onto the North Star Swordsmen and dramatically boosting their strength, speed, and sword sharpness.
The seven puppets’ combat power surged at once, placing the Heart Demon Cave Lord under immense pressure and forcing him into a disadvantage.
“Truly worthy of the Mechanism Princess!”
“She has already repelled Gao Cuo and is now fighting three Nascent Soul cultivators alone!”
The observing cultivators all focused on Shuang Ling.
This princess of Liangzhu Kingdom had displayed terrifying strength that could not be ignored.
Seeing her suppress three cultivators alone, the Thousand Peaks Forest Alliance had no choice but to send more Nascent Soul cultivators to surround her.
One. Two. Three.
Six Nascent Soul cultivators now fought Shuang Ling together.
By herself, Shuang Ling held off six enemy experts, relieving immense pressure from the Liangzhu Kingdom army.
Zhao Xi let out a long breath of relief and calmly dispatched other Nascent Soul cultivators to counter the remaining challengers.
For a moment, the central battlefield between the two armies split into six or seven separate battle groups.
Li Jiuchu held the advantage, while Mo Yechen struggled to endure.
The Mechanism Princess Shuang Ling suppressed six Nascent Soul cultivators alone, her formation unwavering.
In the Puppet Dragon, Sun Ning and his companion were dazzled.
Such Nascent Soul battles were a feast for their eyes. Normally such fights were rare to witness—but now there were too many to even follow.
For them, merely watching was a rare opportunity to glimpse higher realms and refine their own judgment.
Ning Zhuo’s eyes shone with excitement.
“So powerful… truly powerful!”
“Is this the style of a mechanism cultivator?”
“One against many so easily. I can tell Shuang Ling still has strength in reserve!”
Sun Lingtong analyzed calmly:
“Mechanism arts are ranked last among the cultivation arts only because the entry requirements, mastery, and perfection demand far too many resources and standards.”
“But once truly mastered, the combat power is extraordinary.”
“A mechanism cultivator is an army alone. Someone like Shuang Ling is not only using mechanism arts but also military strategy and army strength, multiplying her power.”
Ordinary cultivators fighting alone could only display their personal strength.
Mechanism cultivators were different.
Their constructs were expensive and incorporated artifact refining, alchemy, formations, talismans, and many other cultivation arts.
Each construct itself leveraged vast resources to produce tremendous combat power.
And mechanism cultivators could further enhance them with mechanism arts and military strategy.
Leverage upon leverage—this was no longer simple addition, but exponential multiplication.
Battle opportunity!
Shuang Ling suddenly exploded with force. Several blade mantises self-destructed, forming a deadly assault.
Lone Fang’s face filled with terror. Already severely wounded, he was on the brink of death.
Seeing this, Bi Tengyi could no longer hold back and unleashed her trump card.
Divine Ability — Ten Thousand Withered Green-Scale Curse!
Sparse green phosphorus flames appeared, yet their power was terrifying.
Wherever they passed, mechanisms were destroyed and transformed into more phosphorus flames.
Within the flames, skull shadows flickered as killing intent and death aura spread wildly.
Shuang Ling’s defensive line collapsed by more than half, threatening her life.
The Alliance side was greatly encouraged. This was the first attack that truly endangered Shuang Ling!
Shuang Ling chuckled.
“Come!”
Divine Ability — Golden Fire Purification Wheel!
Three hundred and sixty specially crafted Purification Lotus Platforms appeared instantly.
The bronze lotus platforms were lifelike. Their petals were engraved with the Evil-Expelling Chapter of the Huangdi Neijing, and a Kunlun Cold Jade bead was embedded at the center.
In the next moment, blue-white flames burst from the bottom of the platforms, while three thousand six hundred Heavenly Physician Golden Needles shot out from their openings.
Flames and golden needles scattered across the battlefield, instantly dispersing the phosphorus flames.
They pressed forward relentlessly, striking Bi Tengyi and causing her to scream miserably before dying on the spot.