Chapter 158

Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai.

The main body is black, with a gray-white color scheme.

It is six feet five inches tall and very thin. Its head seems to be wearing a bamboo hat, but it is actually one piece. Its skull looks like a pitch-black conical bamboo hat, spreading out to the surroundings.

In the shadow covered by the top of the bamboo hat, its entire gray-white skull is hidden, reminiscent of pale human bones.

In the head, its eye area is a black strip, lying horizontally above the bridge of the nose. In the center of the strip is a gray-white horizontal line, appearing and disappearing.

On the surface of its body, there are also talisman carvings. The talisman patterns are complex, outlined by various gray-white lines, also appearing and disappearing from time to time. If you don't pay attention, it looks like you are seeing ghosts wrapped around its body.

"What a wonderful mechanism." Ning Zhuo ran up excitedly.

Behind him, Sun Lingtong saw Ning Zhuo's excited performance and shook his head with a faint smile.

He knew: Ning Zhuo's love for various mechanism artifacts came from the bottom of his heart.

When he was two or three years old, Ning Zhuo would linger at small vendors. When he went to school, seeing mechanism toys like "crossed legs" or "San Mao," he would still be reluctant to leave. Ning Zhuo was short of money and could only look, unable to afford them.

It was only after Sun Lingtong observed this many times that on Ning Zhuo's birthday, he bought the latter a mechanism toy, which made Ning Zhuo so excited that he was happy and silly for a long time.

"The skeleton seems to be made of Nether Blue Nether Iron, which is most suitable for bearing the operation of Yin-attribute magic power."

"The joints use hundred-year soul wood, which is quite flexible and can also serve as a place for ghosts to lodge."

"The core is Yin-Deficiency Spirit Jade. This special natural spirit stone can store a huge amount of Yin-attribute spiritual power!"

Finally, Ning Zhuo grabbed the edge of the bamboo hat and lifted it at an angle so he could carefully identify the mechanism Qi Bai's eyes.

"It seems to be made of Death Light Glaze; this is just one of the main materials. The eye components must be made of mixed materials!" Ning Zhuo said with certainty.

"If it's like this..." The puppet Ning Zhuo suddenly punched his palm, "This mechanism puppet should be able to display an aptitude! The special structure of the eye area is prepared for displaying the Profound Death Eye."

Thinking of this, Ning Zhuo turned his head abruptly, turning his entire face to the back, and said to Sun Lingtong: "Boss Sun, what information did you get?"

Sun Lingtong said "Ah": "I didn't get anything."

"My fault, my fault. I was too excited!" Ning Zhuo patted his wooden head, making a bang-bang sound.

The next moment, he called upon the Buddha Heart Demon Seal and channeled Human Life Hanging by a Thread again.

"Got it, I received a large piece of information." Sun Lingtong said.

Ning Zhuo nodded: "This is the same as when I was there!"

Sun Lingtong relayed: "This mechanism puppet is called Underworld Envoy; below the forehead and between the eyebrows is the mechanism part Underworld Official Seal, which can summon ghosts and gods from all sides."

"At the neck is the mechanism part Soul-Oscillating Throat Drum, which can emit drum sounds to attack, causing the souls of living beings to vibrate violently."

"Further down, there are mechanism parts Roaring Cavity and Sound-Releasing Bottle, used in conjunction with the Soul-Oscillating Throat Drum."

"The mechanism spray holes distributed all over the body, after being opened, can spray out Golden Silk Ghost Gauze. The ghost gauze can intersect and merge in the blink of an eye, forming a black robe to protect the body."

Ning Zhuo nodded slightly while listening.

There is a clear difference between the puppet Qi Bai and the Golden Blood Battle Ape · Da Sheng, which is that there are many mechanism parts.

Ning Zhuo understood the reason: "This is because before refining, Boss Sun incorporated the Underworld Ghost God Seal, the Soul-Oscillating Wave Drum, and the broken magic treasure Golden Silk Garment into Qi Bai's dantian."

"During refining, the Lava Immortal Palace melted all these magic treasures together and made them into corresponding mechanism parts."

Sun Lingtong suddenly widened his eyes: "Spirituality is sixty percent; can display the aptitude Profound Death Eye twelve times? Each time this aptitude is channeled, it will damage the eye structure. It needs to be replaced with parts in time to be used a second time."

"Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai possesses the Nine Nether Array and the Psychic Array. The former can mobilize Yin-attribute spiritual power to replenish itself or enhance spell effectiveness. The latter can communicate with intelligent life within a certain range."

"Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai retains the Soul-Devouring Jin Dan; using the Nine-Turn Soul-Devouring Art, it can absorb the souls of enemies to enhance its own state or replenish the ghost army under its command."

This point was already within Ning Zhuo's expectations when referring to Yuan Da Sheng. Because the mechanism Yuan Da Sheng could also display the Demon-Staining Blood Tendon Art.

"There are twelve mechanism parts Ghost-Raising Jars, arranged in various parts of the body. If you can store the ashes of the ghosts before they died, the effect of raising ghosts will be even better."

"There are thirty-six spell talismans in total, which are..."

Sun Lingtong gradually couldn't continue.

Ning Zhuo was originally listening intently, and now asked hurriedly: "Boss Sun, what's wrong?"

Sun Lingtong's voice trembled: "This... is a bit scary."

"What do you mean?" Ning Zhuo asked.

Sun Lingtong scratched his head: "Xiao Zhuo, you know about the Burial Spirit Sect, right?"

Ning Zhuo nodded immediately: "I know, a demonic sect, very strong, but they kill to sacrifice to spirits, burying all things in heaven and earth, only seeking spirituality."

"Because they were too insane, they were besieged and their sect was destroyed."

Sun Lingtong nodded: "The Burial Spirit Sect buried ten thousand lives just to seek spirituality, and they were besieged by both righteous and demonic paths."

"Look at the Lava Immortal Palace!"

"It not only can refine spirituality, but also thoughtfully arranges a mechanism body for the spirituality."

"Although Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai is limited by the level and has a thin body, just relying on the three major mechanism parts, if it continues to develop, it is definitely Jin Dan combat power."

"If this were discovered by outsiders, that the Lava Immortal Palace has such an ability? Xiao Zhuo, what do you think would happen?"

Ning Zhuo's heart shook slightly, and he immediately fell into silence.

Back then, the Burial Spirit Sect only buried lives to seek spirituality and was targeted by almost the entire cultivation world. It was only after the entire sect was wiped out that it was considered over.

The current Lava Immortal Palace can not only bury lives to seek spirituality, but also thoughtfully matches it with a mechanism body. It lets the spirituality immediately have a place to be used.

If this were discovered, what would happen?

Ning Zhuo thought about it and referred to the Burial Spirit Sect, suddenly feeling a bit horrified.

Sun Lingtong sighed long and exclaimed: "Tsk tsk, the Three Sects' Superior is amazing; it seems he once participated in the battle to destroy the Burial Spirit Sect?"

"He once joined the Demonic Gate and practiced for a long time."

"Look at the refined mechanism puppet; it's truly full of demonic nature!"

One of the essential differences between the demonic path and the righteous path is that the cultivation resources of the demonic path come from the cultivators themselves.

The Lava Immortal Palace refining mechanism artifacts using corpses as materials is definitely a demonic act.

Ning Zhuo shook his head: "Boss Sun, these are all tools. If used for good, it is good. If used for evil, it is evil."

"Just like how we rule the black market and rectify it, I don't know how much ugliness and crime we have prevented. This is a righteous act."

Sun Lingtong: "Little brother, weren't we doing this for revenge in the beginning?"

"Later, as our momentum grew, we fought many battles to facilitate the collection of information and for profit, gradually becoming a hegemon of the black market, and finally becoming the master of the black market."

Ning Zhuo coughed twice: "We did indeed avoid a lot of bloodshed and sacrifice, indirectly saving many innocent lives. Boss, you tell me if that's true or not?"

"You." Sun Lingtong giggled, "Yes, yes, yes!"

If it were someone else being this hypocritical, Sun Lingtong would have rolled his eyes, or even spat on them.

Too unpleasant, too hypocritical.

But since his good brother Ning Zhuo said so, then forget it.

Sun Lingtong could only shake his head, smiling dotingly, mainly playing the role of "I see through it but don't say it."

"Actually, this can't be blamed on Xiao Zhuo."

"Think about the righteous path people he came into contact with when he was a child, who were they?"

"Ning Ze, Wang Lan, Ning Ji, and Ning Xiaoren... aren't these people all saying one thing and doing another?"

"So, in Xiao Zhuo's initial understanding, the righteous path—should be like this."

Ning Zhuo pondered: "Only sixty percent spirituality; next, we'd better raise it to one hundred percent!"

"Spirituality is the most valuable and precious part of this mechanism puppet."

"We need information about Qi Bai."

"This is a bit difficult." Sun Lingtong spread his hands, "I am now wanted by the whole city, and I've lost the black market. My previous information channels are basically useless."

Ning Zhuo sighed: "Sigh, then we can only take it one step at a time."

Sun Lingtong said: "Once this Qi Bai is dead, the Soul-Devouring Sect will definitely react. We should keep a low profile and not rush to investigate Qi Bai's affairs, otherwise, it's easy for people to grab clues and find us."

"Hmm, I'll listen to you, Boss." Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly.

This trip to explore the Immortal Palace, Ning and Sun gained huge rewards. They successfully removed the hidden danger of Qi Bai; keeping him sealed like that was not a long-term solution.

Wasn't imprisoning Han Ming before a painful lesson?

Next, Sun and Ning used the level to test the power of Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai.

As a result, Qi Bai's combat power was much lower than the two imagined.

Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai used ordinary materials, so once it channeled the power of Jin Dan, the mechanism body couldn't bear it first.

This was quite embarrassing.

Qi Bai's two main mechanism parts are the Underworld Official Seal and the Soul-Oscillating Throat Drum.

The Underworld Official Seal can communicate with ghosts and gods. The ghosts and gods are not restricted by Sun Lingtong, but by Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai. Now Qi Bai's spirituality is only sixty percent, not even as good as the original Yuan Da Sheng, and it has no way to communicate with the summoned ghosts and gods.

Although the Soul-Oscillating Throat Drum is very powerful, the mechanism puppet in the level has no soul. This is like before, when Qi Bai wanted to oscillate the soul of the Tree Martial Battle Ape · Da Sheng, but found there was no soul to oscillate.

Qi Bai also has the aptitude Profound Death Eye that can be displayed. But with sixty percent spirituality, it can only be displayed twelve times.

Moreover, this aptitude is mainly for reconnaissance purposes, so Ning and Sun had no intention of trying it at all.

Ning Zhuo also discovered that Sun Lingtong's control over Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai was much weaker than his own control over Yuan Da Sheng at the time.

Ning and Sun discussed and guessed that it might be because Boss Sun was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, while Qi Bai retained his Jin Dan from before he died; the slave was strong and the master was weak, so it didn't listen very well.

Sun Lingtong speculated: "The intention of the Three Sects' Superior in setting up the three Buddha levels is probably to let every trial disciple have a relatively refined mechanism artifact."

"This mechanism artifact can be used as a main general. In the beginning, the materials used are ordinary and relatively cheap."

"I'm afraid that in the subsequent levels, there will be many opportunities to modify and upgrade the main general mechanism step by step."

"In the process of assembling and modifying the mechanism main general, the trial disciples' attainments in mechanism arts will also continue to grow!"

Regardless, Underworld Envoy · Qi Bai's combat power still has huge potential space, which requires investment in the future to truly realize its Jin Dan combat power.

"Time is almost up, Xiao Zhuo, we should go back." Sun Lingtong reminded.

Ning Zhuo said: "There is still a little time. We must make full use of every opportunity to explore the Immortal Palace! I have a good idea now."

"Oh? Let's hear it."