Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 172: Chapter 171 Mechanism Hall_1

After leaving the Tianzong Back Mountain, Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu descended, and their view became much wider. In front of them was a spacious plaza. Ling Chen took a few steps forward and suddenly noticed some blackened, limb-like objects on the ground. He picked up a piece and had a look—it seemed to be a severed human arm, except it was entirely black and incredibly heavy, forged from fine iron. Moreover, there were some indecipherable talismans engraved on it.

When he took it apart, he saw pieces of metal resembling components and some curiously shaped gears inside.

Xiao Muyu, who also knew something about Puppet Mechanisms, studied the internal structure of the arm, her beautiful eyes lighting up slightly. ”This is a Puppet Mechanism,” she said, ”a technique for controlling puppets using special mechanisms. It has been decades since these Puppet Mechanisms were last seen in the Jianghu.”

”A Puppet Mechanism?”

Ling Chen fiddled with a gear inside the arm, and the severed limb promptly began to twitch violently.

What a miraculous technology.

From this single arm alone, one could see the remarkable nature of the puppet mechanism technique.

”Puppet Mechanisms are divided into three tiers: superior, middle, and inferior. The Puppet Mechanism arm you’re holding is probably even below inferior—it’s basically a defective item. It’s said that top-tier Puppet Mechanisms are hard for even a Grand Master to handle. Moreover, I’ve heard that the old Tianzong possessed even more powerful Puppet Mechanisms that could rival experts of the Sky Apex Realm...”

Rival experts of the Sky Apex Realm?

Ling Chen could hardly hide his shock. How strong were experts of the Sky Apex Realm? How could a Puppet Mechanism rival them? Even the phrase ’a work of supernatural craftsmanship’ was probably not enough to describe such high-ranking puppets.

After Ling Chen pondered for a while, he still could not fathom how terrifying such Puppet Mechanisms might be. He shook his head with a bitter smile. There are probably many things in the vast Tianyuan Continent that I have not yet seen.

Ling Chen’s ears suddenly twitched. ”It seems like there’s a fight ahead!” he noted, his gaze turning to the area in front, from which faint shouts and cries of battle could be heard.

”Let’s go!”

The two of them quickened their pace, rushing towards the direction of the fighting sounds.

Soon, an imposing and magnificent hall came into their sight.

Above the hall gate, the words ”Mechanism Hall” were clearly engraved.

However, the open space in front of the hall was filled with the earth-shattering sounds of intense fighting. About thirty to forty figures were engaged in a chaotic melee, a tangled mass of combat.

The enemies they faced were not human warriors but iron automatons. These iron automatons moved like living people, displaying various martial arts. They were not cumbersome, and ordinary swords could hardly injure them.

”So many Puppet Mechanisms!”

Both Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu were taken aback. These puppets were able to hold so many young experts at bay, demonstrating impressive strength—they were at least middle-tier Puppet Mechanisms.

The Sect Disciples were obviously at a disadvantage in their battle against the Puppet Mechanisms, with some even being hit and letting out mournful cries.

Seeing that no puppets were heading towards them, Xiao Muyu breathed a sigh of relief and turned her head to ask, ”Ling Chen, those Puppet Mechanisms seem to only target the people in the area before the Mechanism Hall. What should we do?”

”If we want to enter the hall, we’ll have to confront these puppets.”

Ling Chen observed the chaotic scene before him, then his gaze fell upon the entrance of the Mechanism Hall. One or two figures had already broken free from the puppets’ entanglement and rushed through the main doors.

At this moment, the Puppet Mechanisms that had been fiercely fighting them abruptly stopped at the hall entrance and did not pursue them inside.

”It seems they won’t continue to chase us once we’re inside the Mechanism Hall. Let’s go!”

Ling Chen was quite interested in the Mechanism Hall. The Tianzong’s mechanism technique, the Sky Sect Mechanism Technique, had mostly been lost in the current Jianghu. If they could enter the Mechanism Hall, perhaps they could discover its secrets.

There were many secrets hidden within the vast Tienzong Ruins. The Mechanism Hall was just one of dozens of grand halls within this cluster of stone palaces. It was most important to seize the Treasure here before others arrived.

With that said, Ling Chen activated his Wind Shadow Step, leaping into the open space.

BOOM! BOOM!

Just as Ling Chen had advanced about a hundred meters, an iron man lunged at him, its iron fists pounding towards him.

CLANG!

The heavy Iron Fist struck Ling Chen’s Heavenly Mansion Sword, and sparks flew, sending Ling Chen flying several dozen meters away.

Such great strength!

Ling Chen was startled. The Puppet Mechanism had enormous strength—at least 4,000 jin—making it much stronger than some Martial Artists of the Refined Body School.

Against such an enemy, he could only rely on speed far superior to theirs to shake them off.

However, these Puppet Mechanisms weren’t slow either. But Ling Chen had learned Wind Shadow Step; his speed was naturally beyond comparison to ordinary Martial Artists.

”Let’s go!”

He glanced back at Xiao Muyu, then tapped his foot on the ground, leaving an afterimage as he shot forward. While moving, he sheathed the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword and drew the Cloud-hidden Sword. The sword became an extension of his body, striking the Puppet Mechanisms and creating dazzling sparks with each impact.

When Ling Chen’s Wind Shadow Step was pushed to its limit, a single step could cover 20 meters, and the subsequent nine steps could each cover 30 meters. After completing a full sequence of Wind Shadow Step, Ling Chen had reached the entrance of the great hall.

Xiao Muyu followed closely behind Ling Chen. Since he had cleared all obstacles along his path, she met no resistance and arrived effortlessly, just a step after him.

”Those two actually got rid of the Puppet Mechanisms so easily.”

The other young prodigies who witnessed this stared with wide eyes. These puppets were so persistent; it was astonishing how these two had managed to shake them off so easily.

”Their Light Skill is too good! Damn it, if only I had practiced my Light Skill properly!” one young genius lamented resentfully.

Another female disciple gazed at Ling Chen’s retreating figure, her expression lovestruck. Sigh, if I had such a handsome man leading me, I would die without regrets.

”Let’s go in.”

Ling Chen gestured to Xiao Muyu, then his figure flickered, and he swept into the great hall.

Xiao Muyu paused for a moment before following him inside.

「Inside the great hall.」

As soon as they entered, an aura of solemn dignity enveloped them. In their line of sight was a hall, over ten zhang high. On the hall floor lay a gigantic Bagua Array. Each of its grids was just large enough to accommodate a single foot. At the eight cardinal positions of the Bagua Array stood puppet guards.

And at the center of the Bagua Array, the Array Eye, was a stone platform. Upon it rested an Ancient Bronze Treasure Chest.