Chapter 781: Transmission

The Human World

The Fifth Level...The Sixth Level...

They advanced rapidly, reaching the sixth level in one go.

Emerging from the teleportation array, their expressions turned grim. If the Heavenly Pagoda served as a trial ground, this level was clearly intended for late-stage Core Formation cultivators. While they wouldn't face puppet encirclements in the main teleportation hall, they could encounter surprise puppet attacks at any moment while searching for the next teleportation array. Having worked together previously, they had developed excellent coordination.

The ancient hall grew larger with each successive level. They fended off puppets while aimlessly searching in the darkness.

"Watch out below!"

The female cultivator, surnamed Yin, sensed something and immediately shouted a warning. The others reacted quickly.

The old woman clasped her hands together; her bronze mirror vibrated, shimmering with yellow light. It released a colossal illusionary figure that enveloped everyone, forming a golden-yellow energy shield. Simultaneously, the small shields orbiting them split into five.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The small shields shot downwards, each positioning itself perfectly to protect an individual. The dual defense was completed in an instant. Qin Sang intently watched the two magic treasures, only looking away after confirming there were no gaps in the defense. He refused to entrust his life to others, knowing he could summon the Two-Headed Gou at any moment if an unexpected situation arose.

Simultaneously, the male cultivator, surnamed Di, abruptly waved his sleeve, sending a streak of crimson light flying from its cuff, striking the area beneath them with lightning speed.

Boom!

A series of muffled thuds followed, as several shadowy figures simultaneously materialized from the darkness. These puppets were identical in appearance, resembling slender leopards, clearly designed for extreme agility. From their limbs to the crowns of their heads, they were covered in dense black scales, forming a tight, interlocking armor that even covered their eyes. When their eyes were closed, they appeared utterly flawless. Qin Sang had previously encountered similar, exceptionally hard scales on puppets from the fifth level. The scales on these leopard puppets were noticeably thicker and offered superior defense.

The leopard puppets' four claws were tipped with razor-sharp talons. Most unusually, a single horn, crafted from a dark crystal, protruded from their heads, appearing incredibly sharp and pointed. Being entirely black, these puppets were excellent at blending into the darkness. Furthermore, they moved without a sound. Had the female cultivator, surnamed Yin, not detected them in time, they likely wouldn't have noticed the leopard puppets until they were upon them.

The crimson light forced the leopard puppets from the shadows, but it only slightly hindered their momentum. These puppets, incapable of feeling pain, rammed their heads forward in unison, dissipating the crimson light. Then, without a sound, they pounced. There were a full six puppets.

The bronze mirror swung, emitting a beam of yellow light that sent one puppet flying. The cultivator surnamed Wu manipulated his shield, proactively engaging one. The male cultivator surnamed Di and Qin Sang each took on two.

For a time, precious light flared everywhere, and streams of true essence flew chaotically. The female cultivator, surnamed Yin, intently watched the puppets, her eyes glowing with peculiar light as she activated a secret technique to find their weaknesses.

"Something's not right!"

The male cultivator, surnamed Di, seemed to have noticed something, his expression subtly tensing. Just then, the leopard puppets abandoned their assault and deliberately retreated. This was the first time anyone had witnessed such behavior. As they wondered why, the leopard puppets congregated, their dark, unblinking eyes fixed on them, eerily devoid of any emotion. They then simultaneously aimed their single horns at the group.

Zzzzt...

The tips of their horns abruptly lit up, crackling with surging lightning, which gradually coalesced into spheres of pure electrical energy. Even more alarming, the six lightning spheres showed a tendency to merge. Though the lightning spheres hadn't yet been unleashed, everyone already sensed their perilous aura; a direct hit would be devastating.

"We absolutely cannot let these lightning spheres merge!"

Qin Sang's expression subtly shifted. He shouted a warning, then without hesitation, activated his Ebony Sword, unleashing the Sword Qi Thunder Sound towards one of the leopard puppets. The others also recognized the urgency and swiftly activated their magic treasures to attack.

It was then that the female cultivator, surnamed Yin, gasped as her eyes lit up, having finally made a discovery. She quickly stated, "The eyes are the weakness! And both eyes must be struck simultaneously!"

"No wonder attacking their eyes before had no effect... so that's why..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he changed his target at the last moment. The sword light, swift as lightning, bent mid-air, striking directly at the leopard puppet's head. With a final flicker, the light split into two, directly piercing both its eyes. The speed of the Sword Qi Thunder Sound was astonishing; the leopard puppet had no time to close its protective scales. The Ebony Sword effortlessly pierced both its eyes simultaneously.

The next moment, the leopard puppet abruptly froze, the lightning sphere on its horn silently dissipating. Its body then disintegrated as if weathered by wind, turning into fine green sand that scattered with a mere stir of the Ebony Sword.

Having finally discovered the weakness, everyone's spirits lifted. They began to create openings for Qin Sang. Before long, all six leopard puppets lay vanquished by Qin Sang's sword.

The old woman sighed, "On the sixth level, every puppet possesses unique abilities, and their weaknesses are increasingly elusive. Their lethality far surpasses that of the lower levels. Had the main teleportation hall and corridor not been destroyed, our combined strength would likely still struggle to break through and find the next teleportation array."

The male cultivator, surnamed Di, remarked with a relaxed expression, "Thanks to Daoist Yin's mastery of puppetry and Daoist Qin's exceptional swordsmanship—which is perfectly suited for dealing with these puppets—our decision to team up with you two was indeed the right one. I doubt those who entered before us are as swift; at this pace, we should be the first to arrive."

"Daoist Di, don't forget about those Nascent Soul Grandmasters!" the old woman retorted, pouring cold water on his optimism. "And your Witch clan seniors, who stormed in with such force—they've probably already turned the Heavenly Pagoda upside down. This old woman only hopes they haven't set their sights on the treasure I'm seeking."

The others ceased smiling, but felt helpless. Only Qin Sang remained unconcerned. He didn't covet treasures; in fact, the more the Nascent Soul cultivators unearthed, the better. He could then follow their trails to find what he truly desired.

The thought of the Nascent Soul Grandmasters hung over them like a dark cloud. A quiet settled over the group as they continued their advance. They continued to encounter successive puppet ambushes, but each time they managed to overcome the danger.

After a lengthy search throughout the sixth level, they finally located the teleportation array! They found themselves in an expansive, empty area. Only a modest, three-tiered platform floated gently, almost unnoticed. The entire hall had crumbled to dust, but fortunately, the teleportation array atop the platform remained completely intact.

"Finally found it!"

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, their faces lighting up with pleasant surprise as they gazed at the teleportation array. They wasted no time in flying towards it.

"Once we reach the next level, do any of you fellow Daoists intend to continue our alliance?" the female cultivator, surnamed Yin, suddenly asked.

To her disappointment, the old woman shook her head. "This old woman would certainly appreciate continued assistance," she said, "but the place I must go is unique; it requires a specific token to enter, and I only possess one. I'm afraid we cannot continue our cooperation. Let us part ways here; perhaps we will have opportunities to work together again in the future."

Qin Sang and the others also voiced their agreement.

Whoosh, whoosh...

Everyone collectively soared towards the stone platform.

However, just as they reached the edge of the platform, the teleportation array unexpectedly flared to life. A figure slowly materialized on the elevated platform.