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Chapter 359 Automatic Alchemy, Personal Guard Puppet [5k]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four beams of blazing white light struck the spot where he had just stood, melting deep craters into the alloy floor.

Xu Feng advanced instead of retreating, drawing his Cloud-Cutting Blade, its light flashing like a galaxy rolling backward!

clang clang clang!

Four explosions rang out almost simultaneously!

The four puppets were shaken backward, but only shallow knife marks were left on their bodies.

However, Xu Feng's goal was not to destroy them, but to disrupt their key points.

For him now, the physical structure of these strongmen is no longer a secret.

All he needs to do is hit the right spot!

"Hold them back!" Xu Feng's eyes narrowed, and he shouted in a low voice, no longer holding back.

The Heavenly Roc Dragon-Slaying Technique was activated at full power, and a pale golden phantom of a Heavenly Roc appeared behind him!

He moved with lightning speed, instantly cutting into the arms of a puppet, his Cloud-Cutting Blade piercing straight into a maintenance interface under its armpit!

click!

The strongman froze, the red light in his eyes went out, and he stood there dumbfounded.

The other three puppets were currently besieging Chixu and Xiaobai, but they were all subdued by Xu Feng.

Then the maintenance interface was immediately connected.

In just ten breaths, he had brought two more puppets under his control.

Seeing that things were not going well, the last puppet suddenly cracked open its breastplate, and a fist-sized crimson crystal began to flash violently!

"Self-destruct?!"

Xu Feng's expression changed slightly. The Cloud-Cutting Blade flew out of his hand, turning into a cold light that instantly pierced through his chest.

Strike that energy core that was about to explode away!

boom-!!!

The core exploded in mid-air, and the violent energy shockwave turned the hall into a mess.

The three warriors immediately appeared in front of Xu Feng, instantly merging into one and withstanding the aftershocks.

"We need to speed things up—the explosion just now might have alerted more guards."

He sheathed the Cloud-Cutting Blade and stopped checking the console.

Instead, following the map in his memory, he led Chi Xu at a rapid speed toward Danbao Palace.

First, get the elixir formula, then plan the puppet!

Two hours later.

Entrance to Danbao Palace.

Xu Feng looked at the ancient bronze gate in front of him and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The door is covered with reliefs of various plants, flames, and elixirs, with a recessed area in the center.

"Is an information core required to activate?"

Xu Feng attempted to place his four city cores into the groove.

Buzz: "Permissions met."

"Crunch"

The bronze gate slowly opened, revealing a spacious hall inside.

In the center of the main hall stands a bronze alchemy furnace that is three zhang tall.

The furnace body was engraved with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers, from which faint wisps of elixir vapor emanated, permeating the entire space.

Beside the alchemy furnace stood two ancient-looking metal puppets.

They were tall and thin, like Taoist boys, each holding a jade scroll in their hands.

"Dantong?"

Xu Feng's eyes lit up.

According to the records of the Ling Shu civilization, the "Dan Tong" puppet was not a combat type, but was specifically responsible for assisting in alchemy and creation.

If I can understand this entire alchemy system, I might be able to refine pills myself in the future.

The moment they stepped into the main hall.

The two Dan Tong puppets turned their heads at the same time, and a gentle green light shone in their eyes.

"Visitor detected — Identification in progress —"

"Recognition successful — Permissions sufficient!"

"How can I help you?"

Hsu Feng:

'

""

When he heard the gentle and kind voice asking him a question, Xu Feng was momentarily unable to realize that the other person was speaking "Da Xia language".

He turned to look at Redbeard: "Can you understand what he's saying?"

Redbeard nodded: "Peak Master, he is asking us what our needs are, and he is using authentic alien language."

Xu Feng's eyes lit up.

So that's how it is!

What Dan Tong said was probably some kind of spiritual transmission, which is why everyone who heard it could feel the same message.

After a moment's thought, Xu Feng said directly, "I want to obtain all kinds of pill formulas."

"Visitor privileges are sufficient, but there is no mark of orthodox Ling Shu lineage — Initiate the alchemy assessment process —"

One of the Dan Tong puppets spoke, its voice rigid and clear.

"Assessment content: basic alchemical theory identification, matching medicinal properties with herbs, and demonstration of fire control techniques."

"Those who pass the assessment will receive the inheritance of the basic chapter of 'Ling Shu Bai Dan Lu'."

It contains twenty-two basic elixir formulas, including the "Hundred-Refined Golden Body Pill," the "Condensing Power Pill," and the "Awakening Spirit Pill."

"Those who fail the assessment will be expelled from the Pill Pavilion and will not be allowed to re-enter within 24 hours."

1

Xu Feng took a deep breath.

"bring it on."

He had read some classic texts on alchemy from the Ling Shu civilization, but he wasn't very confident in his alchemy knowledge and relied entirely on rote memorization.

However, it's worth a try.

However, just as Xu Feng was about to bite the bullet and give it a try...

The other alchemist, who had remained silent until now, suddenly activated on its own, and a gentle yellow light flashed in its eyes: "Permissions are sufficient, assessment passed."

The first alchemist seemed to be stunned for a moment, remaining silent for a long time before stiffly continuing, "Congratulations, visitor, you have passed the basic alchemy test."

The green light in the Dan Tong puppet's eyes softened.

"The foundational chapter of the Ling Shu Bai Dan Lu is hereby granted."

"Click!"

As a lid popped open on its chest, it reached into its abdomen and pulled out a pyramid-shaped yellow crystal.

Xu Feng took the crystal in his hand, and the core of the four cities immediately flashed with light, absorbing it and fusing it into one.

Then, a series of messages immediately appeared in front of Xu Feng's eyes.

Hundred-Refined Golden Body Pill, Condensing Power Pill, Spirit Awakening Pill, Heaven-Mending Pill, Nirvana Pill —

The book contains twenty-two prescriptions for pills, along with the corresponding methods for processing medicinal materials, techniques for controlling the fire, and key points for pill formation.

What surprised Hsu Feng even more was...

The transmission also includes a document called "The General Outline of Ling Shu Alchemy," which systematically explains the alchemy philosophy and energy transformation principles of the Ling Shu civilization.

This is of immeasurable value to his further understanding of the Ling Shu runes and even to improving Earth's alchemy!

"I've made a fortune!"

Xu Feng suppressed his excitement and looked at the other pill-child puppet: "Are there any even more advanced pill formulas?"

A yellow light flashed in the eyes of the alchemist boy: "The Advanced Chapter contains thirty-six high-level pill formulas, including the Star God Breakthrough Pill, the Immortal Golden Pill, and the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Pill, among others."

"Requirements for acquisition: Cultivation must reach the Star God Realm and pass the Pill Dao advancement assessment. Your current cultivation level is insufficient."

Upon hearing this, Xu Feng felt a little regretful, but also content.

With the basic version, it's enough for him at this stage.

He looked at the bronze alchemy furnace in the center of the hall.

The Dan Tong puppet seemed to sense his thoughts and spoke, "This is the Mountain and River Cauldron, one of the seventy-two treasure-level alchemy furnaces of the Ling Shu civilization. It can assist in alchemy, improving the success rate and quality of the pills."

Visitors can accumulate contribution points by completing tasks issued by Danbao Palace, and exchange these points for temporary access to the "Mountain and River Cauldron".

Xu Feng nodded and noted the information down.

"Peak Master, there are still documents inside!" Just then, Chi Xu's voice rang out from deep within the building.

Xu Feng immediately walked over and discovered that there were rows of stone bookshelves there.

It contains numerous medicinal herb illustrations, alchemy insights, and even records of failed cases collected by the Ling Shu civilization.

These are all valuable pieces of knowledge.

Xu Feng didn't stand on ceremony and put all the jade slips he could carry into his spatial ring.

When we have time later, we can study it slowly, and we can even pass this knowledge on to Wang Long to learn in the future.

With his genius for medicine, he will surely be of some benefit.

After doing all this, he turned around and prepared to leave Dan Pavilion.

Next, our target is the Puppet Palace!

However, Xu Feng had just taken a step when he heard a series of muffled footsteps behind him.

He and Chi Xu turned their heads in surprise, and then were both startled and drew their swords with a whoosh.

They saw the alchemist boy, whose eyes were flashing with yellow light, carrying the huge alchemy furnace on the ground and following behind them.

"What are you doing?" Xu Feng asked in surprise.

Dan Tong said stiffly, "Because this civilization has perished, I have been granted temporary authorization by the main city."

My new task is to follow the inheritor and assist him in alchemy.

"Just provide the materials, and I can refine the elixir myself."

Xu Feng was slightly taken aback and frowned as he looked at the empty eye sockets of the Dan Tong.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see anything.

Red Beard, on the other hand, was overjoyed: "Congratulations, Peak Master! You are indeed a blessed person. With such a good thing, what are we still hesitating for?"

Xu Feng glanced at him and scoffed, "Do you think free lunches fall from the sky?"

Red-beard chuckled dryly: "Of course not."

Xu Feng looked at Dan Tong with a "that settles it then" expression, and then he glanced at Dan Tong and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know if you can understand, but I am not a true inheritor of the Dao of Alchemy."

The road ahead will be very dangerous. Please stay here and find a true successor.

However, Danton did not react.

Xu Feng shook his head; what was the point of talking to a robot?

He then turned and left.

But the boy with the pills still followed closely behind.

Even Redbeard felt a chill run down his spine.

To Akabane's surprise,

Xu Feng laughed instead.

He even stepped back to Dan Tong and flipped the alchemy furnace on its shoulder into his inner world: "Since you want to come, then come along."

He then turned and left, seemingly without giving it much thought.

Akashi opened his mouth as if to say something, but hesitated for a moment and ultimately couldn't say anything.

He suddenly felt that this alchemist seemed a bit strange.

But it seems the Peak Master knows but doesn't care?

And so, the two of them led Dan Tong through the empty corridor toward the "Imperial Puppet Hall" marked on the map.

Dan Tong followed silently behind Xu Feng.

Throughout the journey, Xu Feng remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was constantly sorting through the doubts.

Dantong's unusual initiative.

And that "Mountain and River Cauldron"—could it be taken away so easily?

No, it's not easy.

It was Dan Tong who took the initiative.

while walking.

"Red Beard," Xu Feng suddenly spoke, "do you think that the Ling Shu civilization—is completely dead?"

Redbeard was taken aback, turned his head to look at the metallic figure following closely behind him, and lowered his voice: "Peak Master, you mean—they still have consciousness?"

"It's not necessarily conscious," Xu Feng said, his gaze sweeping over the silent wall lamps and decorative reliefs on both sides of the corridor. "But some things, like a pre-programmed sequence, are still running."

Moreover—this program seems to have malfunctioned, or rather, it was activated under certain conditions.

He recalled the gentle, distinctly different yellow light in Dan Tong's eyes.

And then there's the line, "Because this civilization has perished, I have been granted temporary authorization by the main city."

Where does the authorization come from?

Who gave it to you?

Does the core intelligence of the main city still retain a trace of judgment?

Or is it... some mysterious entity deep within the main city?

"Be careful, keep an eye on it."

Xu Feng transmitted his voice.

Red Beard nodded solemnly, gripping the hilt of his sword with even greater alertness.

Even Xiaobai would occasionally turn around and stare at the "Dan Tong".

Three hours later.

The entrance to the Puppet Palace appeared ahead.

It was a giant gate that was even more magnificent and even more dilapidated than the Danbao Palace.

The gate was nearly twenty feet tall, and its material was neither gold nor stone, but a dark gray.

The top should have originally been carved with a totem of a puppet array resembling a vast army.

Now it is covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and many places have even collapsed, revealing the complex but dimmed runic circuits inside.

The gate was ajar and severely deformed.

The only connection is a vine-like cable hanging down from above, leaving a narrow gap that allows several people to walk side by side.

Upon closer inspection, it was pitch black inside.

Only a faint, almost invisible emergency light source flickered occasionally deep within.

A strong, rusty, and decaying smell wafted out from under the door.

"The damage is more severe than expected." Xu Feng frowned, his initial expectation dampened.

He signaled to Chixu to be on guard, and Xiaobai took the lead and crawled in, followed closely by him.

Then came Dan Tong, and finally Chi Xu.

Behind the door was an incredibly vast space, so large that it seemed to stretch to the horizon.

This place is like a giant exhibition hall, or a forgotten graveyard.

As far as the eye can see, there are countless metal objects of various shapes and sizes.

There are human figures, animal figures, and various composite structures.

Some remained standing, while others collapsed to the ground, their limbs broken and their torsos twisted.

Most of them are covered with thick dust, and many surfaces are rusted and oxidized, losing their metallic luster.

It presents a deathly dark red or dark green color.

Some of the puppets still bore horrific scars—huge claw marks, melt-through holes, and gaps torn apart by immense force, as if they had survived an extremely brutal battle.

A deathly silence filled the air.

Only occasionally, a "creaking" sound, the release of metal stress, could be heard from somewhere.

It added to the eerie atmosphere.

"What happened here? Was it that great war that destroyed civilization?"

Redbeard gripped his battle sword tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Xu Feng's eyes were solemn as he slowly walked to a humanoid puppet that was kneeling on the ground and was 1 feet tall.

This puppet has a majestic appearance, with heavy shoulder armor, a wing-like jet structure on its back, and a broken giant sword in its hand.

It was a size taller and larger than the Hercules, but it didn't look bulky.

But its chest was completely pierced, its core was empty, half of its head was missing, and the light in its eye sockets had long been extinguished.

"Peak Master, is this a personal guard-level puppet?" Redbeard asked curiously.

Xu Feng reached out and touched its cold body, examining it carefully: "No, this is some kind of enhanced version of the Hercules, seemingly a warrior specifically designed for combat."

What we acquired was more like security for the guards.

Red-beard nodded slightly: "I see."

Xu Feng continued the examination.

"The core was violently destroyed, the energy conduction system was completely severed, and over 60% of the main structure was permanently deformed."

The value of repairing it is extremely low; the materials and time required far exceed the cost of rebuilding a single body.

He shook his head and walked toward the next body.

This is a beast-shaped puppet, resembling a giant wolf, but with smoother lines and a sophisticated transmission structure visible at the joints.

It lay on its side, its abdomen torn open, with gears, bearings, and energy lines scattered all over the ground, completely destroyed.

One after another.

Xu Feng and Chi Xu moved quickly through the vast hall, examining the puppets that appeared relatively intact or were exceptionally large.

Unfortunately, they were all destroyed.

He stood up and looked into the depths of the hall.

According to the map, the core warehouse storing "Royal Guard" level puppets is located at the very back.

"Go carefully."

Xu Feng released three powerful puppet warriors to scout ahead, while he and Huang Yan Dan Tong stayed in the middle, and Chi Xu brought up the rear.

Little White went off to explore somewhere, but its telepathic connection remained nearby.

Crossing the graveyard.

The "crack" sound of footsteps on the puppet's remains was particularly jarring in the silent hall.

What I saw along the way was shocking.

The deeper you go, the more damaged the puppet becomes.

Even some non-combat puppets, such as "Dantong," can be seen scattered in broken pieces.

It was as if the disaster had indiscriminately swept across everything.

Finally, they arrived at the heavy gate marked "Guard Depot".

The gate was half open.

A huge tear ran from the top of the door all the way to the ground.

It was as if it had been forcibly torn open by the claws of some giant beast.

Inside the door, the light was even dimmer.

The warehouse space is much smaller than the outside, but it is still spacious.

However, the rows of puppet guards that were expected to stand tall did not appear.

It's still a cemetery.

This place is still full of piles of damaged parts.

"Scatter and take a look." Xu Feng dared not release his mental energy here indiscriminately for fear of accidentally triggering any sensors, so he could only use the most primitive method to check.

"Peak Master, over here!"

Suddenly, Chi Xu's voice came from behind a pile of "puppet mountains," carrying a hint of urgency.

Xu Feng flashed over and saw that Chi Xu was standing in front of a particularly unusual puppet.

This puppet is about ten feet tall.

The entire piece presents a dark gold humanoid shape, with elegant lines that are full of power.

It has six foldable metal wing plates on its back, and even covered in dust, you can see that its craftsmanship is far superior to that of the surrounding puppets.

On its chest is a prominent emblem.

An eye surrounded by gears—this is the unique mark of the Ling Shu civilization's "Guardian-class" puppets!

Xu Feng's heart skipped a beat, but then calmed down.

This guard puppet is standing, its posture still upright.

However, its right arm was severed at the shoulder, with an uneven cut, as if it had been ripped off.

The left knee joint is twisted in the opposite direction, indicating a fracture.

Most fatally, there was a thumb-sized hole in the center of its forehead, with smooth edges, going straight through to the back of its head.

Xu Feng carefully examined the hole; the inside was deathly silent.

The area containing the most important "Ling Shu core circuit board" has been completely destroyed.

"Sigh—" Akabane also noticed the problem and sighed.

Xu Feng remained silent, looking around at the enormous "graveyard".

The thousands of puppets represent the once formidable war power of the Ling Shu civilization.

A personal guard puppet, if placed in the outside world, would be enough to give a headache to a powerhouse at the initial stage of the Star God Realm.

But now, they've all become cold scrap metal.

"What exactly happened to the Ling Shu civilization back then?"

"Red Beard murmured."

"What kind of enemy could possibly inflict such a devastating blow on such a massive army of creation?"

Hsu Feng did not answer.

He recalled the tattered logs in the central control area—"They've come."

Those "them" are probably the culprits behind all of this.

Hopes dashed, leaving only deep disappointment.

The allure of a royal guard-level puppet is so close, yet so far out of reach.

repair?

It's easier said than done.

That's not a simple parts replacement.

It involves the most core spiritual core rune array and energy circuits.

With his current level of craftsmanship and repair skills, he simply doesn't know where to begin.

"Let's go," Xu Feng's voice was a little hoarse, "Let's look elsewhere, maybe there are any warehouses we missed or—"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Behind me came a dull metallic scraping sound and the sound of a heavy object being dragged.

Xu Feng and Chi Xu suddenly turned around.

The yellow-eyed alchemist who had been silently following them had somehow walked to a corner of the main hall.

There were piles of puppet remains, like small mountains, mostly fragments of broken limbs and torsos.

now.

Danton is using its seemingly slender metal arms to pry open the surface fragments.

Something was pulled out from deep within the wreckage.

It was a puppet—almost buried in obscurity.