Chapter 53: Yuan Dasheng

A gigantic mechanical ape appeared before Ning Zhuo’s eyes.

The ape stood at least four or five times taller than the puppet-sized Ning Zhuo. Its body was impressively robust, with arms as thick as Ning Zhuo’s torso. Yet, for all its size, it did not seem heavy or cumbersome.

With a gentle push, it opened the first door, stooped, and stepped inside. The height of the doorway barely reached its waist. Instantly, the mechanism was triggered—a massive, thousand-pound hammer descended, aiming straight for it.

The mechanical ape did not even raise its head. Instead, it extended its arm upward, ready to meet the blow. At that moment, it straightened its back, rising like a towering mountain.

When its burly arm met the hammer, it did not resist with brute force. Instead, it countered softly, using deft strength to redirect the hammer’s trajectory.

A resounding thud echoed.

The thousand-pound hammer, guided by the ape’s arms, struck the side wall. The mechanical ape remained composed. From the moment it entered the room, it had not moved from its spot—standing tall, unmoving.

After neutralizing the trap, the ape examined its arm. Had it resisted with sheer force, its wooden limb would have shattered. Instead, only a few minor cracks appeared.

“Four ounces move a thousand pounds!” Ning Zhuo realized instantly: the mechanical ape’s close-combat prowess probably surpassed that of the kung fu puppets.

That display—effortless power, grace within strength—revealed a beauty of force, elegant and unrestrained.

The ape continued forward.

Suddenly, another mechanism was triggered: a golden silk net swept upward to ensnare it. With a light leap, its arms spread wide, hands grasping the net’s edge with precision.

In midair, it spun backward in a somersault.

Despite its massive frame, it landed with barely a sound. The golden net tore apart in its grasp, draping over its shoulders like a protective cloak.

Ning Zhuo watched, utterly astonished.

“This is surely a master of martial arts!”

The mechanical ape’s every movement flowed like water, turning the enemy’s traps to its advantage. Its strength was great enough to rip the net, but its control was equally precise.

Afterward, Ning Zhuo watched as the ape pressed forward, breaking through obstacles at a speed far greater than the retreating floor tiles.

During this time, countless wooden beams struck at it. The ape swung its arms—sometimes smashing the beams like hammers, sometimes piercing barriers like spears.

At times, it leaped with agile grace, light despite its weight. At others, it held its ground, unmoving like a pillar in a grand hall.

Step by step, it shattered every triggered trap, advancing like a graceful bulldozer.

When it reached the second door, it paused in thought. After a few breaths, it chose the spirit stone as its reward.

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo’s heart stirred: “With such a large body, its consumption of spiritual energy must be substantial. So, it must choose the spirit stone.”

Ning Zhuo finished watching and reinserted the surveillance mechanism component into the corner.

He hurried to Room Three.

The scene in Room Three shocked him again.

Thirty or forty kung fu puppets lay scattered, most severely damaged, some completely dismantled.

In these past forty or fifty days, Ning Zhuo had entered and exited the Lava Immortal Palace countless times.

Yet it was his first time discovering that the kung fu puppets could be destroyed!

He immediately took out the surveillance mechanism component, checked it, and was left speechless.

After entering Room Three, the mechanical ape had been beset by the kung fu puppets. Its body was massive, its martial arts skills remarkable, but it had only two fists and two legs. Ordinarily, it would be at a disadvantage.

But upon inspection, Ning Zhuo understood: “A martial arts master’s every body part can become a weapon!”

The mechanical ape rolled, leaped, crawled across the room; fists, feet, elbows, head, chest, back, even its tail and hips—all served as weapons.

It swept its arm, knocking aside a whole group.

An elbow struck like a spike, piercing a puppet’s chest.

A headbutt sent a puppet crashing into the ceiling. As it fell, the ape whipped it away with its tail, sending it flying into three or four others.

Thus, the mechanical ape seemed to stir countless whirlwinds, spinning around the room.

The kung fu puppets charged in succession, each one sent flying in turn.

At last, when the mechanical ape stood motionless at the center, all the puppets lay scattered on the ground, their glowing yellow eyes dimming.

Ning Zhuo was suddenly enlightened: “I finally understand.”

“This is the true way to clear Room Three!”

“Martial arts can destroy the kung fu puppets. If one uses magic instead, destruction is strictly forbidden.”

“This mechanical ape’s martial prowess is extraordinary!”

Ning Zhuo sighed in admiration.

He had always relied on magic to cheat his way through Room Three.

He had mastered all the spells and, thanks to weekly ranking rewards, accumulated vast experience. He was already a veteran.

“If I were to fight it, I would have to keep my distance, relying on magic for long-range attacks to have any chance of victory.”

“In close combat, there’s no hope whatsoever!”

In the first three layers of Qi Refining, even ordinary martial artists could sometimes kill cultivators. Such cases were not rare.

Having watched the mechanical ape choose the spirit stone reward and leave Room Three, Ning Zhuo quickly replaced the surveillance mechanism component and hurried after it.

Inside the preparation chamber, he found himself alone.

This eased his heart a little, yet made him more anxious.

On one hand, he wouldn’t have to fight here—the space was quite cramped; on the other, it meant the mechanical ape had already passed through, heading deeper.

When Ning Zhuo picked up the surveillance mechanism component, he discovered that the mechanical ape had circled the chamber several times, carefully examining each mechanism pedestal and even picking up some crafting tools for inspection before setting them down.

Finally, the mechanical ape paused before the five-sided stone pillar leaderboard, scrutinizing it for a long time.

To Ning Zhuo’s relief, the ape did not infuse the pillar with spiritual power, so it did not obtain the trial disciple’s mark.

Ning Zhuo also came before the five-sided pillar.

Upon seeing the leaderboard, his heart trembled!

He now held first place in only four rankings; in one, he had been pushed to second.

“The Qi Refining list is tied for first, but the Essence Refining list has slipped behind. I’ve reached the third layer of Essence Refining, haven’t I?”

“What’s going on?”

The mechanical ape had clearly had some other opportunity and had cultivated the Demon-Blood Tendon technique early!

“Yuan Dasheng?” Ning Zhuo stared at the ape’s name, deep in thought.

“The mechanical ape is obviously a non-human demon cultivator.”

“From its mastery of martial arts and its performance in the preparation chamber, it’s clear it possesses considerable intelligence.”

“It has a name, and I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before…”

Ning Zhuo was filled with questions.

How had this demon cultivator named Yuan Dasheng obtained the Demon-Blood Tendon technique ahead of time?

Did it live in the Persimmon Immortal City?

At first, Ning Zhuo suspected the mechanical ape was some molten demon ape from the volcano. But subsequent discoveries dispelled this notion.

“Where have I heard this name before?”