Chapter 54: Tainted by Darkness

The puppet Ning Zhuo ultimately did not encounter the mechanical ape Yuan Dasheng.

When he arrived at Room Seven, he saw the disassembled parts of the mechanical ape lying on the ground, being transported away by a glowing ring of light.

This was the cleaning mechanism of the Lava Immortal Palace. The ring could not only deliver rewards but also clear away debris.

Ning Zhuo had noticed this phenomenon before and was not surprised.

He examined the components of the surveillance mechanism and discovered that the mechanical ape had lost due to insufficient spiritual power.

“Its physique is simply too massive; just maintaining itself requires vast amounts of spiritual energy.”

“It kept choosing spirit stone rewards along the way, but in the end, it couldn’t sustain itself and succumbed to the drain.”

“Of course, this is also related to the many traps I installed in Rooms One through Nine.”

Ning Zhuo’s mood was heavy.

Yuan Dasheng’s strength was overwhelming, causing a huge impact on his strategies. Furthermore, the negative consequences of this impact might one day doom Ning Zhuo himself!

“This was only Yuan Dasheng’s first attempt, yet he made it all the way to Room Seven.”

“He’ll only become more familiar with this place as he goes on.”

“Though his spiritual power consumption remains a weakness, if he manages to endure for seven days, he’ll be able to claim the leaderboard reward. At that point, his spiritual energy will be at its peak, and he could very well break through all at once and surpass me.”

The pressure on Ning Zhuo mounted.

Brooding, he passed through Room Nine and once more entered the transit hall.

With the sound of gears turning, the stone wall lowered, revealing three portals: Buddhist, Daoist, and Demonic.

Previously, Ning Zhuo had entered the Daoist gate and found its challenges exceedingly difficult. Though not impossible, the time and effort it would require were incalculable.

After careful thought, Ning Zhuo decided to master his newly acquired technique first. Based on his understanding of the Lava Immortal Palace and the three sect elders, these two techniques were bound to be useful!

As the saying goes, sharpening the axe does not delay the woodcutter’s work.

This time, Ning Zhuo approached the Demonic gate.

He extended his hands, palms pressed against the portal, and silently activated the Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique.

Once the demonic art was set in motion, he quickly drew streams of blood energy from the portal.

Crimson blood energy surged through his arms, flooded his entire puppet body, and gradually condensed into a blood crystal within.

This was the essence of blood power!

After obtaining the blood crystal, Ning Zhuo could no longer absorb any more blood energy and noticed that the demonic gate could now be pushed open.

He formally entered the Demonic Gate, discovering a room filled with traps and wandering martial puppets.

After observing for a moment, Ning Zhuo reached an initial conclusion: “This challenge is about as difficult as the Daoist side. These martial puppets are brimming with blood energy; it seems they, too, possess blood crystals?”

“Does this mean they can also use the Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique?”

Ning Zhuo decided to attempt the challenge.

Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique!

He activated the art, blood energy condensing into tangled sinew structures distributed throughout his body, focusing on several major joints.

Empowered by the blood sinews, Ning Zhuo’s speed in running, jumping, and dodging soared dramatically.

Not only his speed, but also his strength and defense increased.

Though the traps were triggered, they posed little threat to Ning Zhuo.

The real trouble came when the martial puppets arrived.

Ning Zhuo’s earlier suspicion was confirmed. These martial puppets could indeed wield the Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique! With the demonic art’s aid, their threat level increased severalfold, becoming even more troublesome.

Ning Zhuo persevered until halfway through the challenge, where he was beset by three martial puppets.

The puppets struck at him with blood energy, quickly enveloping Ning Zhuo’s puppet body in their own blood sinews.

Once these sinews took hold, they severely interfered with his every movement.

Ning Zhuo could only resist with spells and his flying mechanical arms.

After a brief struggle, he finally succumbed, his entire form shrouded in blood energy as countless sinews sealed his body.

The three martial puppets struck together, and Ning Zhuo’s puppet was ultimately shattered, its remains scattered across the floor.

“So, the Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique can be used in this way!” Though he had failed, Ning Zhuo gained much from the experience.

Back in his underground workshop, he began experimenting further.

He found that sinews condensed from blood energy not only boosted a cultivator’s own abilities—enhancing mobility and providing some defense—but could also erode others.

By using one’s own blood energy to corrode and contaminate another’s, producing sinews inside and out, one could immobilize them.

“No, not just immobilize.”

“More accurately, it’s control!”

A sudden realization struck Ning Zhuo—at that moment, he grasped the central tenet of the three techniques—

“The three sect elders created these arts with one goal: to control mechanical constructs.”

“The Five Elements Qi Regulation Method grants elemental power, which can form elemental strings to control most constructs.”

“The Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique strengthens constructs in all aspects, raising the level of control.”

“The Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Art links spiritual objects via divine sense—clearly designed to interface with certain mechanism components!”

Ning Zhuo continued his tests.

He also discovered that blood energy from the same source was much easier to erode, contaminate, and even convert for personal use. Heterogeneous blood energies, on the other hand, tended to suppress or interfere with each other.

These findings were gratifying, yet Ning Zhuo’s heart grew heavier.

Because he thought of Yuan Dasheng.

“That ape somehow obtained the Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique ahead of time.”

“Its Qi refining level should be the same as mine, both at the third-stage peak. Yet in essence refinement, it’s ranked first on the leaderboard, pushing me down, which means it must have surpassed the third stage.”

“What is its true cultivation?”

The mechanical ape’s first attempt had already brought it to Room Seven—such an achievement was terrifying!

More frightening still, at this stage, it could use only spiritual power.

If it ever reached the Demonic Gate and gained access to blood energy, its true strength would be revealed!

Ning Zhuo had already experienced the wonders of the Blood-Tainted Sinew Technique. Its enhancement to oneself was tremendous.

If the mechanical ape received such aid, it would be unstoppable—soaring to new heights!

“At that point, it will surely surpass me and take the first place.”

“I absolutely cannot allow it to reach the Demonic Gate!”

Ning Zhuo pulled open a drawer, took out a jade slip, and began searching for information.

“Found it!”

He soon made a discovery.

“So it really is a Fire-Meld Demon Ape, but merely a cultivator’s spirit beast.”

“Cultivator Yuan Yi founded the Monkey Head Gang…”

“The Fire-Meld Demon Ape, Yuan Dasheng, is the gang’s guardian spirit beast!”

“I knew I’d seen the name Yuan Dasheng somewhere before. Turns out it’s not a person, but the name of a spirit beast.”

Back when Ning Zhuo forged the mechanical Fireburst Monkey, he had paid attention to the Monkey Head Gang, and the name Yuan Dasheng had stuck with him.

“The only comfort I have now is that I know its name, while it doesn’t know mine.”

“The enemy is in the open while I remain hidden. The moment it appeared on the leaderboard, it exposed a fatal weakness.”

“It must be eliminated—without delay!”

A cold, murderous glint flashed in Ning Zhuo’s eyes.