Although this mechanical monkey was only half the height of Yuan Dasheng, it was extremely robust and majestic!
Its overall color scheme was gold and red; the monkey fur was blood-red, and golden bars were exposed over various parts of its body, with gold edges embedded within. The metal strips varied in length and thickness and were interconnected, resembling a set of hollow golden armor worn by the mechanical monkey.
However, on closer inspection, one could see that these were actually the mechanical monkey's exposed bones. Its forehead, eyebrow corners, and nasal bridge were all made of metal.
The mechanical monkey's appearance bore a strong resemblance to Yuan Dasheng.
Its pupils were like blood jade, and below the deep-set eye sockets were two pronounced dark shadows.
The wooden puppet Ning Zhuo ran in front of the mechanical monkey, looked up at it in admiration, and circled around it. Its small wooden hands reached out, sometimes pinching the mechanical monkey's thigh, and at other times, flexing its fingers to tap the exposed metal bones.
"It's a pity that the puppet's body lacks divine sense and can't penetrate internally to examine it."
Ning Zhuo lamented, his curiosity growing with each breath.
At this moment, a message was conveyed——
Golden Blood Battle Ape!
Crafted with Vermilion Fire Glaze fired from Vermilion Flame Stone, this formed the battle ape's body.
Combining Immortal Spirit Wood with Red Gold Xuan Iron, the ape's entire body was created with Vajra Bone, incredibly resilient.
The surface of the Vajra Bone was inscribed with the full prohibitions of the Vajra Body Protection Technique, making this Vajra skeleton itself a powerful defensive magic artifact.
The battle ape's palms housed eighteen martial arts talismans. Inside its head was a mass of immortal condensing cloud vapor; every drop of the vapor could serve as a thought for contemplation...
This was the first extensive piece of information Ning Zhuo had received since entering the palace.
The contents were very rich, causing the wooden puppet Ning Zhuo to stand in place and savor it for a long while.
"Yuan Dasheng's body and soul were used as the primary materials to create this mechanism artifact."
"It has no memory of the past, but because of its spiritual nature, some actions printed deep within its heart may still remain."
What caught Ning Zhuo's attention the most was this sentence——endowed with eighty percent spiritual nature, capable of exhibiting Righteous Golden Firmness!
"Spiritual nature..." Ning Zhuo muttered to himself.
Spiritual nature was extraordinary.
According to cultivation knowledge, the treasures used by cultivators were classified into talismans, magic artifacts, magical treasures, and spiritual treasures.
What made spiritual treasures special was their spiritual nature.
In some large-scale cultivation sects or families, spiritual treasures could even communicate normally with people, possessing considerable spiritual wisdom.
"The mechanism artifacts created by the Magma Fairy Palace possess spiritual nature!"
"Doesn't this mean it can produce spiritual treasures in batches?"
"No wonder the Three Ancestral Masters are revered as masters of the Cultivating the Void level."
"But... eighty percent spiritual nature? Why not one hundred percent?"
"What would happen if it had 100%?"
"How can one increase spiritual nature?"
The more Ning Zhuo pondered, the more questions filled his mind.
However, his thoughts also bore fruit.
He realized the intention behind the Three Ancestral Masters setting these arrangements in the room behind the Buddhist Sect.
Endowing mechanism artifacts with spiritual nature was clearly meant to be paired with the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique.
This Buddhist sect technique specialized in spirit refining, constructing a divine sense mirror in the Dantian area of the Divine Sea, to communicate with all beings possessing spiritual nature.
Now, wasn't the Golden Blood Battle Ape right before Ning Zhuo the perfect target?
Ning Zhuo thought of this and activated the Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique.
Although he had a puppet's body and lacked a Dantian in the Divine Sea, the Life Hanging Thread was always linked to his flesh, allowing him to connect to his Divine Sea and activate the divine sense mirror.
Soon, he established a close connection with the Golden Blood War Monkey Mechanism through the divine sense mirror.
"Forward, backward, move left, turn right," Ning Zhuo ordered in his mind, and the Golden Blood Battle Ape executed each command.
"Roll, stick out your tongue, stick out your butt..." Ning Zhuo tried ordering the mechanical battle ape to perform more intricate movements.
The mechanical battle ape complied but also conveyed a sense of impatience.
Ning Zhuo was astonished and excited: "A creature with spiritual nature is indeed unique, it even throws a tantrum."
He proceeded to attempt communicating with the Golden Blood Battle Ape; although it couldn't converse, it could convey emotions and some basic responses.
Mostly, the response was: "Master, what do you need me to do? Please command."
Although it was constructed using Yuan Dasheng's corpse, it possessed spiritual nature but no memory. Even if it had memories, Yuan Dasheng wouldn't have known until his death that Ning Zhuo was his betrayer.
The more Ning Zhuo experimented, the more excited he became, discovering that the Golden Blood Battle Ape could execute relatively complex commands.
Generally, for most mechanism artifacts, even if Ning Zhuo employed the heart seal, he would need to constantly direct them, his mind tethered to the task.
With the Golden Blood Battle Ape, however, it was almost akin to having a subordinate cultivator. Once he issued a command, it would follow through on its own.
"Wonderful, truly wonderful!"
Ning Zhuo led the Golden Blood Battle Ape and formally opened the door, entering the second trial beyond the Buddhist sect.
As soon as they entered, a cage dropped down.
Ning Zhuo tried to dodge, but the surrounding space was confined, and he found himself trapped in the cage.
In contrast, the Golden Blood Battle Ape remained free.
At this moment, a message was conveyed——control the Golden Blood Battle Ape to protect oneself and repel six waves of attacking puppets.
In the darkness, a dozen pairs of eyes lit up.
Soon after, nearly ten mechanical wolves charged forward.
The pack of wolves rushed at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo realized what was happening and immediately issued a command to the Golden Blood Battle Ape.
The Golden Blood Battle Ape stepped into battle; its movements were agile, showcasing exquisite martial arts, repeatedly tearing the mechanical wolves apart in close combat.
Ning Zhuo didn't intervene; solely relying on the Golden Blood Battle Ape, they withstood five waves of enemies.
In the final wave, thirty or so Kung Fu Dolls appeared.
The Golden Blood Battle Ape was struggling against the sheer numbers, so Ning Zhuo, through the mirror, cast spells to assist.
The spiritual energy stored within the Golden Blood Battle Ape was consumed under Ning Zhuo's guidance, enveloping the battle ape's hands in a breeze which significantly increased its speed. He also utilized the battle ape's ice-cold aura to freeze its enemies.
With Ning Zhuo's intervention, the tide of the battle quickly turned in favor of the Golden Blood Battle Ape, which ultimately won with ease.
"Logically, this trial's difficulty should match those of the Taoist sect and Demon Sect. Yet, I didn't find it challenging."
"Is the Golden Blood Battle Ape too exceptional?"
Ning Zhuo had guessed correctly.
He continued to push through the doors but encountered difficulties at the third trial.
"I need much more practice to coordinate with the Golden Blood Battle Ape."
"This time I ventured alone through the Buddhist sect, and I am lacking blood qi."
"The Magma Fairy Palace changes every three trials. I wonder what good things the Buddhist sect route will offer after this checkpoint."
Ning Zhuo probed for a while and then wisely retreated.
He didn't rush to the Demon Sect to absorb blood qi but instead attempted to leave the Immortal Palace.
A message was sent, asking Ning Zhuo whether to leave the mechanical monkey or take it with him.
Ning Zhuo tried both options, confirming that he could indeed bring the Golden Blood Battle Ape in and out as he pleased.
He was pleasantly surprised to discover that even if he left the Golden Blood Battle Ape within the Immortal Palace, he could still observe it and issue commands through the divine sense mirror!
"So, does this mean I can..."
Soon after.
The puppet Meng Chong had also passed through Room Two.
"I trained intensively, day and night. Now, Room Two can't hinder me in the slightest!"
"Hahaha." Meng Chong laughed heartily, pushing open the door and entering Room Three once more.
Inside Room Three, numerous wooden puppets quickly swarmed in for the kill.
"Frenzied Rushing Thunder!" Meng Chong unleashed his immortal power, moving like lightning, weaving freely among the Kung Fu Dolls.
Sometimes he sped up, and sometimes he slowed down, but when he accelerated again, Frenzied Rushing Thunder's speed surpassed its previous limits.
Meng Chong's control over his immortal aptitude reached a new height!
Just as he was about to push through the room's door, having knocked down all the Kung Fu Dolls, the Golden Blood Battle Ape activated by Ning Zhuo appeared.
"Oh? There's one more stray fish." Meng Chong clenched his fists and charged forward.
Wham.
In the next moment, he was slammed to the ground by the Golden Blood Battle Ape's powerful over-the-shoulder throw.
Meng Chong was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up and roared ferociously, "Come again, I will crush you!"