Chapter 1578: The Great Spirit Stone Tomb and the Golden Armor

Chapter 1578: The Great Spirit Stone Tomb and the Golden Armor

"If I 'ate' such a massive spirit stone, just how far could I feed my Twelve Meridians Taotie Spiritual Skeleton Formation?"

"Even if it can't be completely filled, feeding it to the Late Golden Core Stage shouldn't be a problem at all..."

Mo Hua could not help but feel a tremor in his heart.

But how to eat it? Just gnaw on it directly?

That doesn't seem very feasible...

Mo Hua glanced at the gigantic spirit stone tomb once more.

A Spirit Stone of this size was a natural Spirit Mine, containing wild Spiritual Qi that was rather violent and turbulent. It had not been artificially refined or cast through Formations, and was not a circulating Spirit Stone issued by the Dao Court, so it was not convenient for cultivators to directly refine and absorb it.

However, if one bypassed the Dao Court's hands and refined and cast it oneself...

That would be the capital crime of privately minting spirit stones.

To privately mint such a colossal piece of a natural spirit mine entirely into spirit stones, who knew how many that would yield? In the eyes of the Dao Court, that would surely warrant the extermination of nine generations.

Eating it directly wouldn't work, and refining it didn't seem to work either...

An inexplicable restlessness arose in Mo Hua's heart, though it was mostly a craving of the mouth.

An instinctual, ferocious hunger surged upward from his limbs and bones.

It had been a long time since he had eaten spirit stones to feed his Spiritual Skeleton.

Now, seeing such a colossal spirit stone comparable to a spirit mine and sensing the majestic flow of Spiritual Power, his Taotie instincts began to stir. Even the aura within Mo Hua's meridians grew somewhat unstable.

Fortunately, he was entirely draped in loose black robes, his aura sealed away by formations, so no one noticed his abnormality.

Meanwhile, the others were not focused on Mo Hua at this moment either.

Everyone's minds were drawn to the colossal, dazzling, and crystal-clear tomb of spirit stone before their eyes. They stared in a daze, their thoughts churning endlessly.

An integrated, cast palace made of such a colossal spirit stone was truly a rare sight.

Not to mention using such a giant spirit stone to construct a tomb and bury it deep underground in total darkness, it was simply unheard of.

What was the purpose?

After a moment, Gu Changhuai turned to look at Lü Jingxiu and sighed softly, his tone complicated:

"Your Lü Family truly is wealthy..."

To actually use such a colossal spirit mine stone to build a tomb.

Lü Jingxiu's expression changed slightly. His gaze turned somber as he said, "As the ancients said, 'A gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it through proper means.' Every single coin and grain of wealth belonging to my Lü Family was earned cleanly through standard business operations."

"Since that is the case, whatever my Lü Family uses our spirit stones for is our family's freedom."

"What? Can this world not tolerate someone being wealthy?"

Pei Tanggong also sighed, "The wealth and fortune of the world belong to those of virtue. In life, Great Philanthropist Lü performed countless charitable deeds. With such virtue, having great wealth to accompany him is only reasonable."

Gu Changhuai made no comment.

As they spoke, Mo Hua let out a soft sigh, finally managing to suppress his hunger and Taotie greed. After contemplating for a moment, he said:

"Let us continue."

Even if he wanted to dig up this colossal spirit stone tomb, get his hands on it, and swallow it, it was not something that could be resolved right now.

At the very least, he would have to ask the tomb owner's 'opinion' first.

With Esteemed Master Mo giving the command, no one had any objections.

They all wanted to know what this gigantic spirit stone tomb was truly used for, and what remained hidden in the depths of the tomb.

The group continued forward, passing through the brilliantly glowing front hall and traversing the corridor. Along the way, they dismantled several small mechanisms, and after walking for the time it took to burn an incense stick, a dazzling golden light suddenly flashed before them.

Everyone focused their gaze and saw two rows of burly, golden puppets standing erect within the dim Mechanism Passage ahead.

These puppets were fully two men tall, forged from golden stone with Spirit Pearls for eyes. They were clad in gilded heavy armor etched with ferocious beast rune-patterns, fitting together seamlessly.

At this moment, these Golden Stone Puppets were half-kneeling on both sides of the Mechanism Passage, blocking the way forward. Their expressions were majestic yet rugged, carrying a sharp murderous intent, as if in the very next instant they would erupt to cut down any intruder who violated the tomb.

"These are... Third Grade Mid Tier Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors?"

"...A full eight of them?"

At this sight, everyone marveled inwardly. Great Philanthropist Lü had certainly spared no expense.

A tomb of a colossal spirit stone was certainly extraordinarily expensive and exceedingly rare in the world.

Yet these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were also hot commodities extremely rare Third-Grade golden-armored puppets whose manufacturing costs were astronomically high.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up even more.

It wasn't as if he had never seen Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors before. Back in the Little Luan Mountain Blessed Land, True Person Rong had quite a few puppet warriors in her possession.

Xiao Ju had even stolen a scrapped Golden-Armored Mighty Warrior for him to experiment on with formations.

However, these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were made of expensive materials and possessed intricate joints; even True Person Rong did not have an excess of them.

Yet this Great Philanthropist Lü had procured eight of them at once just to guard his tomb.

The financial power of a local magnate from Qingchou City was indeed somewhat terrifying.

Pei Tanggong's aged gaze looked toward the end of the Mechanism Passage as he spoke slowly:

"The Mechanism Passage is sealed. These eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors are meant to bar the way.

"Only by bypassing the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors and traversing the Mechanism Passage can one reach the depths of the tomb.

"It is just unknown whether these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors will suddenly erupt to kill..."

"Is there even a need to wonder?" Bai XiaoSheng said. "Of course they will. Otherwise, why place eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors here for no reason? Just for decoration?"

"What should we do now?" Wen Zhuangzhu asked. "Charge straight through?"

Pei Tanggong frowned. "We don't know the exact combat strength of these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors.

"Eight Third Grade Mid Tier puppets are probably not to be underestimated.

"Since these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors are used to guard the tomb, there are likely other hidden tricks on them...

"Generally speaking, it is best to avoid them."

"There is only this one Mechanism Passage; where is there a path to avoid them? We can only force our way through..."

"If we force our way, I'm afraid... it won't be that easy..."

The group engaged in fervent discussion.

Gu Changhuai's mind remained calm. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Let us first use Movement Techniques and try to rush straight past them...

"Golden Core Cultivators possess extremely fast movement and escape speeds. As long as these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors react even slightly slower, they shouldn't be able to stop us..."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes brightened.

"That sounds great. If we can pass straight through, we can avoid a bitter battle and spare ourselves unnecessary trouble."

Gu Changhuai looked toward Mo Hua.

Mo Hua pondered internally.

Given the current situation, this was indeed the best approach.

Guarding both sides of the passage, these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors appeared to be in a dormant state.

Mechanical Puppets always took time to activate.

Even if they truly erupted to slaughter, there would inevitably be a time lag between dormant state and activation.

Taking advantage of that brief window, if their escape speed was fast enough, they could indeed rely on their Movement Techniques to bypass them directly and avoid a vicious battle.

Otherwise, if they truly engaged in a head-on clash against these eight lumps of metal and stone, who knew what perils they might encounter.

With just a glance, without even needing to calculate, Mo Hua could sense that these eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were by no means easy to deal with.

Still, Mo Hua felt a bit of regret.

If they fought and destroyed these eight golden-armored puppets, perhaps they could have recycled them all.

However, playing it safe was the priority for now...

"It is worth a try," Mo Hua nodded.

Having received the approval of "Esteemed Master Mo," Gu Changhuai nodded and turned to the crowd, saying:

"Everyone, channel your Magical Treasures together, push your Movement Techniques to the utmost limit, leave no reserve, and charge through the pass with all your might."

Hearing this, the others nodded one after another. "We shall follow the Left Protector's words."

Afterward, the seven hesitated no longer and displayed their respective Movement Techniques.

Around Mo Hua, aquatic light swirled as he executed the Flowing Water Step with natural grace.

Gu Changhuai activated a Wind Escape, azure feathers swirling around him.

Bai XiaoSheng channeled the Bai Clan's Sword Light Escape Technique, his Sword Qi stern and cold.

Great General Chang, having long served in the military, held his Mountain-Suppressing Spear; his Movement Technique was as heavy and solid as a mountain, not fast, but remarkably steady.

Wen Zhuangzhu's Magical Treasure was a Jade Serpent Staff, its head coiled with three emerald jade snakes whose heads were a fresh, vivid green as serpent shadows wrapped around his body.

Pei Tanggong's Magical Treasure was a Three Origins Spirit Treasure Sword, his escape technique likewise relying on Sword Light.

Lü Jingxiu's Magical Treasure was a jade ruyi of lustrous jade hue, primarily meant to nourish the mind and protect the body, turning his figure into a streak of flowing light.

Among the seven, the vast majority revealed their Magical Treasures. Even those who did not revealed their commonly used Spiritual Artifacts to accelerate their Movement Techniques.

Only Mo Hua remained empty-handed, without even a shadow of a Magical Treasure in sight.

Pei Tanggong and the others found it strange. This Esteemed Master Mo was a Golden Core cultivator, after all, yet why did it seem as though he didn't even possess a Magical Treasure?

However, they dared not pry into Esteemed Master Mo's affairs.

After discussing for a moment and settling the details, Mo Hua called out, "Go!" and seven streaks of Escape Light ignited simultaneously.

The seven Golden Cores transformed into beams of blue, azure, white, brown, green, gold, and jade light, vanishing from their original spots in an instant.

Within a few breaths, the Escape Lights of the seven touched the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors' range of killing intent.

In that single instant, the aura of the once solemn tomb-guarding Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors abruptly shifted. Within their eyes embedded with Spirit Pearls, red lights lit up one by one, and murderous intent began to coalesce.

"Fast!" Gu Changhuai said in a deep voice.

Sensing the killing intent of the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors, everyone accelerated their Movement Techniques another notch.

Yet the movements of the eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were unexpectedly even faster.

It was as if these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were not puppets at all, but some kind of living creatures. Almost the very moment the group sped past, they manifested various mechanical weapons—sabers, swords, axes, and halberds—and slashed laterally toward the Escape Lights.

Third Grade Mid Tier Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors possessed terrifying strength that was far from ordinary.

If this sudden waist-level chop struck true, a Body Refinement Cultivator might endure it, but ordinary Spiritual Cultivators and Sword Cultivators would likely be cleaved in two on the spot.

Fortunately, from the very beginning, everyone had pushed their Escape Lights to the utmost limit.

At peak escape speed, the seven narrowly and perilously evaded the cleaving axes and halberds of the eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors.

Having bypassed the eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors, the group did not halt their Escape Lights for even a moment, continuing their charge toward the end of the Mechanism Passage.

The sudden eruption and swift, decisive cleave of the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors just now, packed with peerless force and gusts of chilling wind, had left lingering fears in everyone's hearts.

They knew these eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were utterly cold and ruthless killing machines.

If they were even a fraction slower and the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors caught up, they would fall into a melee with unknown perils.

Therefore, no one dared to stop in the slightest, and the fluctuations of their Escape Lights intensified even further.

After a dozen breaths or so, the exit of the Mechanism Passage appeared within arm's reach.

The outline of the spirit-cast tomb door at the end of the passage emerged from the darkness.

Suddenly, Mo Hua shouted, "Be careful!"

Before his voice had even faded, hundreds and thousands of fire arrows shot toward them in a dense barrage from both sides of the tomb passage.

Bai XiaoSheng and Gu Changhuai instantly stepped in front of Mo Hua to protect him.

Bai XiaoSheng swept his sword into a flurry of blossoms like a barrier, deflecting most of the fire arrows.

Gu Changhuai condensed Wind Blades, carving out an open path.

Great General Chang was half a step slower, but he positioned himself to shield Mo Hua's flank.

Pei Tanggong, Wen Zhuangzhu, and Lü Jingxiu also channeled their respective Magical Treasures to guard their fronts.

The group forced their way through the fire arrows, but before they could advance much farther, a loud rumble echoed as mechanisms triggered in rapid succession.

Quicksand manifested from the ground, golden needles shot from the left, spinning blades flew from the right, corrosive water poured from above, and poisonous mist permeated the middle... various lethal mechanism strikes erupted all at once.

These tomb passage mechanisms were all Third-Grade, ingeniously designed and concealed within the joints of hidden pathways. Peril lurked quietly, making them difficult to detect before stepping into their range.

Furthermore, with Great Philanthropist Lü's immense wealth, no expense had been spared on these mechanisms, and their power was remarkably formidable.

Even though none of them were ordinary Golden Core Cultivators, they were thrown into quite a flustered state dealing with it all.

They had no choice but to rein in their Escape Lights, and their speed slowed down.

Delayed by this sea of mechanisms, the eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors in the rear caught up in that brief window. The mechanisms on their arms spun, transforming into various sabers, spears, axes, and halberds that slashed directly at the group with exceptionally swift, razor-sharp edges.

The seven Golden Cores became entangled in combat with the eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors amid the sea of mechanisms.

Once again, flashes of blades and shadows of swords mingled as the Golden Core Magical Treasures surged turbulently.

Fire arrows, quicksand, golden needles, spinning blades, corrosive water, and poisonous mist intertwined into a chaotic mess, within which the golden-armored axes and halberds carried lethal killing intent.

Cultivators were flesh and blood; it was impossible for them to ignore the effects of these mechanisms.

Yet the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors possessed bodies of golden stone and were clad in gilded heavy armor; enveloped within the sea of quicksand, poison, and mechanisms, they remained completely unscathed.

With the odds stacked against them, the situation grew even more critical.

Ahead lay a sea of mechanisms and concealed weapons, while beside them, golden-armored axes and halberds hacked about wildly in the chaos, preventing any forward progress. Having no other choice, Bai XiaoSheng could only call out:

"Fall back for now!"

Recognizing that pushing forward was impossible, the crowd could only retreat, pulling out of the tomb passage's Mechanism Formation range and returning to a relatively open area.

The moment the group took a step back, a sinister glint flashed in the eyes of the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors. Following like shadows, they retreated out alongside them, raising their glittering golden sabers and axes high to charge at the cultivators.

In an instant, both sides descended into a chaotic melee once more, pairing off in twos and threes to fight.

Bai XiaoSheng possessed high cultivation and peerless swordsmanship, intercepting two Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors by himself.

In addition, Gu Changhuai fought one, and Great General Chang fought one.

Pei Tanggong and Wen Zhuangzhu, one wielding the Three Origins Spirit Treasure Sword and the other channeling the Jade Serpent Staff, joined forces to battle three Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors.

Lü Jingxiu channeled his jade ruyi for defense, maneuvering around the final Golden-Armored Mighty Warrior.

Six people fought against eight Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors.

As for the remaining person—Esteemed Master Mo—he had disengaged and retreated the moment the battle began, stepping out of the battlefield to stand behind everyone, untouched by the fighting.

Such a brutal slugfest was not suited for him.

As an Esteemed Master, he had no particularly good methods against enemies made purely of materials.

Being in the Early Golden Core Stage with a frail physical body, fighting against these lumps of metal and stone was purely asking for misery.

Furthermore, in terms of status, he was the Esteemed Master, upon whom the honor and disgrace of the entire Tongxian Cult rested. With such noble status, it was inappropriate to put himself in harm's way.

Seeing Mo Hua disengage from the battlefield to watch alone, Pei Tanggong and the others dared not say anything.

After all, this was the Esteemed Master. Having witnessed firsthand that ghost-and-god-astonishing [Tongxian Dao Art] earlier, how could they dare find fault with Esteemed Master Mo?

As for Bai XiaoSheng, Gu Changhuai, and Great General Chang, they wished nothing more than for Mo Hua to stay out of the fight so he wouldn't get hurt.

Gu Changhuai in particular knew Mo Hua's abilities. Although he was eerily strong in certain domains, his physical body was genuinely paper-thin; thus, it was best for him to steer clear of such chaotic brawls.

Soon enough, the combatants had no spare attention to worry about anything else.

When it came to facing these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors head-on, they were truly absurdly hard. Taking even a single blow left one's arms numb.

This was especially true of their gilded heavy armor, which resembled Golden Bodies.

When Bai XiaoSheng's Sword Light slashed against it, the blow was deflected without leaving behind even a single sword mark, demonstrating just how high its physical defense was.

When Gu Changhuai's Wind Blades struck, they were absorbed without causing much damage, showing that its spiritual spell resistance was equally high.

The materials used for this heavy armor clearly reflected immense wealth.

The mechanical axes and halberds on their arms were likewise exceptionally sharp.

Furthermore, the Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors themselves possessed extremely abundant Spiritual Energy, and the force converted from their Spiritual Power was incomparably potent.

Every chop and slash seemed ordinary, yet their speed was swift and their power terrifying.

Both Bai XiaoSheng and Gu Changhuai found them troublesome, while Golden Cores like Great General Chang, Pei Tanggong, and Wen Zhuangzhu also felt that these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors were strangely and unbelievably strong.

After fighting for a while longer, Bai XiaoSheng soon discovered another matter that startled him:

The killing instinct of these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors was extraordinarily high. They were calm yet ferocious, precise yet fanatical, every strike aimed to kill. Clinging to them like mad dogs, they did not resemble inanimate objects in the slightest.

Yet within this golden armor, there was simply no way a living creature could exist.

Bai XiaoSheng's gaze darkened slightly.

Watching from a distance, Mo Hua looked at these Golden-Armored Mighty Warriors, draped in dignified gilded armor, as fanatical and ferocious as mad dogs, yet as cold as killing machines, and his eyes lit up faintly. The more he looked at them, the more he liked them.

(End of Chapter)