The puppet Ning Zhuo ultimately didn't run into the mechanical monkey Yuan Dasheng.
When he arrived at room number seven, he saw the parts of the mechanical monkey lying on the ground, being teleported away by a glowing ring.
This was the Magma Fairy Palace's way of cleaning. The glowing ring could not only teleport rewards but also clear away debris.
Ning Zhuo had noticed this phenomenon before, so he wasn't surprised.
He examined the parts of the monitoring mechanism and discovered that the mechanical monkey had been defeated due to a lack of spiritual power.
"Its size was too large, and merely maintaining it required a lot of spiritual power."
"It kept choosing spirit stone rewards along the way, but ultimately couldn't withstand the consumption."
"Of course, this also had to do with the many traps I installed in rooms one to nine."
Ning Zhuo felt a heavy heart.
Yuan Dasheng's strength was too formidable, creating a massive impact on his layout. The negative effects of this impact could very well lead Ning Zhuo to his demise!
"This was just Yuan Dasheng's first attempt at breaking through the rooms, and it had already reached room number seven."
"Next, it will be even more familiar with this place."
"Although it still has a weakness in spiritual power consumption, once it withstands seven days, it can claim the leaderboard's rewards. By that time, its spiritual power will be at its peak, and it might make a concerted effort to surpass me."
This brought significant pressure to Ning Zhuo.
Preoccupied with these thoughts, he passed room number nine and returned to the transfer hall.
With a clicking sound, the stone wall descended, revealing three portals marked with Buddhism, Taoism, and Demon Sect.
Previously, Ning Zhuo had entered the Taoist portal and found the difficulty level to be extremely high. Although it wasn't impossible to pass, the time and energy required were considerable.
After deep contemplation, Ning Zhuo decided to first master the new cultivation technique he had obtained. Based on his understanding of the Magma Fairy Palace and the Three Ancestral Masters, these two cultivation techniques would definitely come in handy!
As the saying goes, sharpening the axe does not delay the job of chopping firewood.
This time, Ning Zhuo approached the Demon Sect portal.
He extended his hands, pressing his palms against the portal, silently activating the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique.
Once the demonic technique was in operation, he quickly absorbed strands of blood qi from the portal.
The crimson blood qi flowed through his arms, weaving through his entire body, and gradually condensed into a blood essence within his puppet body.
This was the crystallized essence of blood power!
After obtaining the blood essence, Ning Zhuo couldn't absorb any more blood qi and discovered that the Demon Sect portal could now be pushed open.
Once he formally entered the Demon Sect portal, he found the room filled with numerous traps and many Kung Fu dolls wandering within.
After observing for a moment, Ning Zhuo drew a preliminary conclusion: "The difficulty level of this room is comparable to the Taoist side. Each of these Kung Fu dolls is brimming with blood qi and seems to also contain blood essence?"
"Does this mean they can also use the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique?"
Ning Zhuo decided to attempt breaking through the room.
Demon-infused Bloodline Technique!
Activating the technique, his blood qi condensed into various tangled fascia structures distributed throughout his body, concentrating on his key joints.
With the blood qi fascia in place, Ning Zhuo's speed in running, jumping, and dodging increased significantly.
Not only his speed, but his strength and defense also saw considerable improvements.
The various traps, though triggered, posed little threat to Ning Zhuo.
The real trouble lay with the incoming Kung Fu dolls.
Ning Zhuo's earlier suspicion was confirmed.
These Kung Fu dolls could indeed use the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique! With the help of demonic power, the threat level of the Kung Fu dolls increased manifold, making them even more difficult to deal with.
Ning Zhuo persevered until the midpoint of the room, where he was surrounded by three Kung Fu dolls.
Utilizing their blood qi, the Kung Fu dolls struck Ning Zhuo. His puppet body quickly became covered with their blood qi fascia.
Once these blood qi fascia appeared, they severely disrupted Ning Zhuo's every move.
Ning Zhuo had to rely on spells and the flying mechanical arms to resist.
After resisting for a while, he finally couldn't hold out any longer. His entire body became enveloped in blood qi, with numerous blood qi fascia sealing him completely.
The three Kung Fu dolls struck simultaneously, and Ning Zhuo's puppet body was ultimately shattered, scattered all over the ground.
"So, the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique can be used this way!" Although Ning Zhuo had failed, he had gained a lot.
Back in the underground workshop, he continued his experimentation in this area.
The fascia formed by the condensed blood qi could not only help a cultivator enhance agility and provide some defensive power but could also erode others.
By using one's own blood qi to erode and pollute another's blood qi, creating a large number of blood qi fascia internally and externally, it was possible to confine them.
"No, not just confine."
"To be more precise, control!"
In that instant, Ning Zhuo came to a startling realization about the core concept of the three cultivation techniques—
"The Three Ancestral Masters designed these three cultivation techniques with the purpose of controlling mechanism artifacts."
"The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art can harness the Five Elements Mana, which is widely applicable. The Five Elements Hanging Threads it creates can control most mechanism artifacts."
"The Demon-infused Bloodline Technique endows blood qi fascia, enhancing the maneuverability of mechanism artifacts and increasing control."
"The Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique, through its divine sense realm, can connect with spiritual entities. Clearly, it complements certain mechanism parts!"
Ning Zhuo continued his tests.
He also found that blood qi of the same origin was easier to erode and pollute and could even be assimilated. Whereas blood qi of different origins primarily suppressed and disrupted each other.
These findings were gratifying, but Ning Zhuo's mood grew even heavier.
Because he thought of Yuan Dasheng.
"Who knows from where this monkey got hold of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique early."
"Its Qi Refinement level seemed to be the same as mine, both at the third layer peak. But in terms of refining essence, it occupied the top spot on the leaderboard, pushing me down, meaning it definitely surpassed the third layer."
"What is its true cultivation level?"
The mechanical monkey had reached room number seven on its first attempt, a terrifying feat!
What was even more frightening was that, at this stage, it could only utilize spiritual power.
If it were to access the Demon Sect and gain blood qi power, it would fully showcase its true strength!
Ning Zhuo had already felt the magical utility of the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique. The added benefits this demonic technique provided were immense.
If the mechanical monkey acquired such advantages, it would undoubtedly soar like a tiger with wings!
"By then, it would definitely surpass me and become number one."
"I must not let it access the Demon Sect!"
Ning Zhuo pulled open a drawer, took out a jade slip, and began searching for information.
"Found it!"
He quickly made a discovery.
"So it really is a Magma Demon Ape, just a spiritual pet of a cultivator."
"Cultivator Yuan Yi founded the Monkey Head Gang…"
"The Magma Demon Ape Yuan Dasheng is the spiritual beast guarding the gang!"
"I knew I had seen the name Yuan Dasheng somewhere. It turns out it wasn't a human name, but the name of a spiritual beast."
Ning Zhuo had previously paid attention to the Monkey Head Gang while creating the Explosive Flame Monkey, which left him with an impression of the name Yuan Dasheng.
"The only comforting fact now is that I know its name, but it doesn't know mine."
"Though it is exposed, I remain in the shadows. The moment it ascended the leaderboard, it revealed a huge flaw."
"It must be eliminated, and quickly!"
A gleam of fierce killing intent flashed in Ning Zhuo's eyes.