Han Li and the others were currently navigating a labyrinthine structure, traversing a network of intersecting bluestone passages with towering, solid, and thick walls. At every crossroads they passed, they would see a stone gate carved with strange symbols.
These stone gates were all identical in size—about ten zhang long and wide, square in shape. Some faced south, others north, and still others opened east or west, seemingly without any discernible pattern. However, each one emitted a faint white glow, clearly indicating that some kind of restriction had been placed on them.
Although the crossroads were spaced quite far apart, Han Li estimated that he had already encountered at least seven or eight such stone gates along their path—and that didn’t even account for the intersections on other parallel routes their group might have passed.
In this way, the number of stone gates was truly considerable!
As they approached yet another crossroads, a stone gate stood directly in their path.
Han Li’s expression shifted slightly.
This gate was somewhat different from the previous ones. Although it bore the same carved symbols and reliefs, it was dull and devoid of any glow, as if the restriction on it had already been broken.
Intrigued, Han Li took a few extra glances.
“Junior Brother Han, that stone chamber has already been looted. What’s there to see? If it weren’t for the fact that each person can only open one stone chamber door with their Void Sky Fragment Map, and once inside, whether they succeed in retrieving treasure or not, they can’t come back out—those who obtain treasure are directly teleported out of the Void Sky Palace—I’d also like to pick a stone gate and try my luck. After all, us Core Formation cultivators can only retrieve treasures on the first level. As for the other levels, entering them would be tantamount to suicide.” Wu Chou, standing nearby, noticed the look on Han Li’s face and spoke with an oddly enthusiastic familiarity.
“Junior Brother Han?”
Hearing this form of address from Wu Chou, though it wasn’t the first time, still made Han Li feel extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, his composure was exceptional, and he replied with a calm smile, “Then why doesn’t Brother Wu choose one to enter and retrieve treasure? Otherwise, wouldn’t you be wasting this rare opportunity once we reach the second level and above?”
“Ahem! I’ve considered it, but my grandfather specifically instructed me to stay by your side throughout this treasure retrieval. He said there might still be a use for me.” Wu Chou stared at the stone gate with a hint of reluctance, a flash of greed crossing his face.
Han Li smiled faintly at this, his gaze sweeping over the stone gate only briefly. However, the words about being teleported out after retrieving treasure were firmly imprinted in his mind. Who knew if he might need this method to escape in the future?
Just as the group was about to pass through the crossroads and enter the bluestone path ahead, a dull thud echoed from the opposite end. The sound repeated, one after another, as if something enormous was slowly approaching them.
Patriarch Extreme Yin and Scholar Qing Yi’s expressions shifted slightly. They halted abruptly, staring intently at the passage ahead with grave looks. In contrast, Barbarian Beard chuckled darkly, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. A golden light flashed over his body, and a layer of gleaming golden scales suddenly covered him—he had activated the Tuomo Heavenly Art.
This was the first time Han Li had seen the Tuomo Heavenly Art up close, and he couldn’t help but curiously study Barbarian Beard’s transformed appearance.
Sensing Han Li’s gaze, Barbarian Beard turned his head and grinned ferociously at him. Combined with the fragmented scales covering his face, the smile was utterly terrifying.
Han Li’s heart skipped a beat, unsure of the other’s intention, but he forced a polite smile in return.
Fortunately, Barbarian Beard turned back around immediately after grinning.
The heavy footsteps grew closer, seemingly only twenty or thirty zhang away.
However, the passage ahead was pitch black, and Han Li couldn’t make out anything clearly. Clearly, there were still some restrictions within the inner palace that limited the cultivators’ spiritual sense.
But Han Li noticed a cold glint flash in the eyes of Patriarch Extreme Yin and the other old monsters—they seemed to have seen something.
Before Patriarch Extreme Yin or the scholar could make a move, Barbarian Beard let out a low roar and transformed into a golden streak of light, shooting into the passage. Immediately, the sounds of fierce punches and kicks erupted in the distance, mingled with the grating screech of metal clashing—a deafening cacophony.
Patriarch Extreme Yin and the scholar exchanged bewildered glances.
Just as Han Li was feeling utterly perplexed, a thunderous boom echoed, followed by a series of crisp shattering sounds, as if something had been completely destroyed.
A thought occurred to Han Li, and he vaguely understood what might have happened.
Silence fell from the opposite end, followed by Barbarian Beard’s wild, triumphant laughter, sounding utterly exhilarated.
“Let’s go! It’s safe now. I almost forgot—we’re not at the same cultivation level we were three hundred years ago. The guards on this first level pose no threat to us.” Patriarch Extreme Yin seemed to recall something and let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Indeed! This old man nearly forgot as well. When I came here last time, I had only recently reached the Nascent Soul stage. That thing left too deep an impression on us. Brother Barbarian’s Tuomo Heavenly Art happens to be perfectly suited to deal with them. Otherwise, we’d have to expend quite a bit of effort handling them now.” Scholar Qing Yi also relaxed, chuckling lightly.
Then, the two took the lead and walked forward. Han Li and Wu Chou followed curiously behind, while the typically expressionless Xuan Gu revealed a trace of disdain, bringing up the rear unhurriedly.
After walking only about ten zhang, Han Li saw Barbarian Beard standing ahead with his hands behind his back. At his feet lay a pile of glittering silver debris.
“Not bad. This thing was just right for a warm-up. The Void Sky Palace is finally getting interesting! However, it doesn’t seem as powerful as the rumors claimed.” Barbarian Beard cracked his neck and spoke casually upon seeing Patriarch Extreme Yin and the others.
“That’s only because Brother Barbarian’s Tuomo Heavenly Art is exceptionally formidable. Other cultivators would find it troublesome to use magic treasures in such a narrow space.” Scholar Qing Yi said with a smile. Hearing the flattery, Barbarian Beard chuckled but said nothing more. The golden scales on his body rapidly receded, and he indifferently took the lead again, as if the earlier fight hadn’t fully satisfied him.
Patriarch Extreme Yin and the scholar exchanged a smile. They were more than happy to let Barbarian Beard take the lead, following silently behind.
As they passed the pile of silver debris, Han Li stopped and bent down for a closer look.
“Mechanical puppets!” So it was indeed something like this. But what level of puppet was this, to withstand a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator for a while without being instantly destroyed? Han Li felt a shiver of awe.
Most of the debris on the ground consisted of shattered pieces of an unknown silver metal. Aside from that, there was half of a damaged golden wolf’s head, several segments of pitch-black, dull blades, and other assorted strange components.
“Don’t bother looking. These materials are indeed extremely rare, but they can’t be refined into magic treasures. Someone already took them back to test long ago.” Xuan Gu passed by him and remarked indifferently without even turning his head.
Han Li was slightly taken aback but acted as if he hadn’t heard, still intently examining the ground. His gaze fell upon a green gemstone that flickered with an extremely sinister, cold aura, giving him an eerie feeling.
After a moment of contemplation, Han Li swiftly swept up all the debris into his storage pouch before catching up with the group ahead.
Han Li’s reasoning was simple: even if these materials were truly useless, the design, structure, and crafting techniques of the puppet could still offer him insights into the prowess and characteristics of ancient cultivators’ puppet arts. After all, the highest level of puppet described in his Puppet True Scripture—the fourth-tier puppet—was only equivalent to a False Core cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage. This was similar to the giant tiger puppet beast he had once seen, which consumed a mid-grade spirit stone for each full-power attack.
These golden wolf-head puppets, however, likely possessed strength surpassing early Core Formation cultivators. Although Barbarian Beard hadn’t used any powerful magic treasures against them, making the fight seem almost playful, the grave attention Patriarch Extreme Yin and Scholar Qing Yi had paid to them indicated their extraordinary nature.
Naturally, Han Li wanted to study such fine artifacts to uncover their secrets. Moreover, given the current situation, he certainly wouldn’t have a chance to enter any of those stone gates to retrieve treasure. He sensed clearly that although the three Nascent Soul old monsters walked ahead, their spiritual senses were simultaneously monitoring his every move. Attempting to sneak away or rush into one of the stone gates midway would be pure wishful thinking.
With Han Li’s temperament, leaving a treasure trove empty-handed was utterly unsatisfying.
These broken puppet components would serve as a consolation prize for his journey into the inner palace.
As for the treasures of the Void Sky Cauldron, Han Li knew his limits and hadn’t entertained any wild hopes from the start.
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