This mechanical ape, although only half the height of Yuan Dasheng, was incredibly robust and imposing!
Its entire body was a blend of gold and red.
Its fur was a deep red, like blood, and gold strips were exposed all over its body, inlaid with golden edges.
The metal strips varied in length and thickness, interlocking to form an armor-like lattice of gold over the entire mechanical ape.
Upon closer inspection, one would realize that these golden parts were actually its exposed skeletal structure.
Its forehead, brow, nose bridge, and more were made of metal.
The mechanical ape's appearance bore a striking resemblance to Yuan Dasheng.
Its pupils were like blood jade, deeply sunken, with two dark shadows beneath its eye sockets.
The puppet Ning Zhuo ran over to the mechanical ape, looked up at it, then circled around.
Its small wooden hands occasionally squeezed the ape's thigh, then tapped on the exposed metal bones.
"Unfortunately, this puppet body lacks divine sense and can’t penetrate inside to examine it."
Ning Zhuo sighed with regret, as his desire to study it intensified with each breath.
At that moment, a message was delivered—
Golden Blood Battle Ape!
Its body was crafted with Vermilion Fire Stone and Vermilion Fire Glass as the main material.
Using Immortal Spirit Wood combined with Crimson Gold Profound Iron, its entire skeleton was forged into vajra bones, immensely resilient.
The surface of the vajra bones was inscribed with the full incantations of the Vajra Body Protection Technique, making the vajra framework itself a powerful defensive artifact.
Embedded within the ape's palms were eighteen martial talismans, and within its head was a cluster of immortal cloud mist.
Every droplet of mist could serve as a thought, enabling contemplation…
This was the longest piece of information Ning Zhuo had received since entering the palace.
The content was rich, prompting the puppet Ning Zhuo to stand in place and savor it carefully.
"Yuan Dasheng's body and soul essence were used as primary materials to create this mechanical construct."
"It has no memory of the past, yet due to its spirituality, some actions are engraved in its deepest instincts."
What caught Ning Zhuo’s attention most was this line—It possesses 80% spirituality and can exhibit the Immortal Talent of Unyielding Gold Bones!
"Spirituality…" Ning Zhuo muttered in awe.
Spirituality was a formidable attribute.
According to cultivation knowledge, cultivators’ treasures were categorized as talisman treasures, artifacts, magical artifacts, and spirit treasures.
What made spirit treasures special was their possession of spirituality.
In some large sects or cultivation families, spirit treasures could even communicate with people, possessing a significant degree of intelligence.
"A mechanical construct made by the Lava Immortal Palace that possesses spirituality!"
"Does this mean they can mass-produce spirit treasures?"
"The Sage of the Three Sects truly lives up to his Void Refining level prowess."
"But… why only 80% spirituality? Why not 100%?"
"What would happen if it reached full spirituality?"
"How could spirituality be increased?"
The more Ning Zhuo pondered, the more questions filled his mind.
His contemplation bore fruit.
He understood the purpose behind the Sage of the Three Sects’ arrangement in the Buddhist Gate chamber.
Mechanical constructs would be imbued with spirituality, evidently designed to complement the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Technique.
This Buddhist technique specialized in refining the spirit, allowing for a mirror of divine thought to be created in the Divine Sea Dantian, enabling communication with all sentient beings.
Now, wasn’t the Golden Blood Battle Ape before him the perfect target?
With this thought, Ning Zhuo activated the Mirror Platform Spirit Communication Technique.
Though he was in a puppet body without a Divine Sea Dantian, the Life-Hanging Thread connecting him to his physical body allowed him to reach his Divine Sea and activate the divine mirror.
Quickly, he established a close connection with the Golden Blood Battle Ape through the divine mirror.
"Move forward, retreat, shift left, turn right," Ning Zhuo commanded in his mind, and the Golden Blood Battle Ape followed suit.
"Roll over, stick out your tongue, raise your butt…" Ning Zhuo tested more intricate commands on the mechanical battle ape.
The Golden Blood Battle Ape followed each command, then transmitted a feeling of impatience.
Ning Zhuo was both surprised and delighted. "Spirituality truly makes a difference; it even shows some personality!"
He then attempted to communicate with the Golden Blood Battle Ape.
While it couldn’t speak, it could express emotions and basic reactions.
The most frequent response was—"Master, what would you have me do? Please give your orders."
Though made from Yuan Dasheng’s corpse, it retained only spirituality, not memory.
Even if it had memories, Yuan Dasheng died without knowing Ning Zhuo was his betrayer.
The more Ning Zhuo experimented, the more excited he became, discovering that the Golden Blood Battle Ape could follow relatively complex commands.
Ordinarily, even if Ning Zhuo used a heart seal, mechanical constructs required constant oversight and mental engagement.
But with the Golden Blood Battle Ape, it was almost like having a subordinate cultivator. After Ning Zhuo issued a command, it carried it out autonomously.
"Marvelous! Truly marvelous!"
With the Golden Blood Battle Ape beside him, Ning Zhuo pushed open the door and entered the second trial room of the Buddhist Gate.
Upon entering, a cage dropped down.
Ning Zhuo tried to evade it, but the surrounding space was sealed, trapping him within the cage.
Meanwhile, the Golden Blood Battle Ape remained unrestrained, free to move.
At that moment, a message was delivered—Control the Golden Blood Battle Ape, protect yourself, and fend off six waves of attacking puppets.
In the darkness, dozens of eyes lit up.
Soon, nearly ten mechanical wolves charged forward.
The wolves lunged at Ning Zhuo.
Understanding the situation, Ning Zhuo immediately commanded the Golden Blood Battle Ape.
The Golden Blood Battle Ape sprang into action, displaying impressive agility and astonishing martial skills, shattering the mechanical wolves in close combat one after another.
Ning Zhuo refrained from assisting, relying solely on the Golden Blood Battle Ape to hold its own through five waves.
In the final wave, however, over thirty martial puppets arrived.
The Golden Blood Battle Ape was nearly overwhelmed, so Ning Zhuo used the mirror platform to cast a spell.
As guided by Ning Zhuo, the spiritual energy within the Golden Blood Battle Ape was expended, wrapping its hands in a refreshing breeze to increase speed, and infusing it with chilling air to freeze opponents.
With Ning Zhuo’s intervention, the tide quickly turned, allowing the Golden Blood Battle Ape to secure an easy victory.
"By rights, this trial should be comparable in difficulty to the Dao and Demon Gates, yet it didn’t feel challenging at all."
"Is the Golden Blood Battle Ape simply too exceptional?"
Ning Zhuo had guessed correctly.
He continued onward but encountered more challenges in the third trial.
"My coordination with the Golden Blood Battle Ape still needs a lot of practice."
"This time, I braved the Buddhist Gate alone, with no blood energy on me."
"The Lava Immortal Palace’s trials change after every three. Who knows what treasures the Buddhist Gate path might hold after this trial."
After a bit of exploration, Ning Zhuo wisely decided to withdraw.
He didn’t rush over to the Demon Gate for blood energy, instead attempting to exit the Immortal Palace.
A message appeared, asking if he wished to leave the mechanical ape behind or take it with him.
Ning Zhuo tested both options and confirmed he could freely bring the Golden Blood Battle Ape in and out.
To his surprise, even if he left the Golden Blood Battle Ape in the Immortal Palace, he could still observe it and issue commands through the divine mirror!
"In that case, doesn’t that mean I could…"
Not long afterward…
The puppet Meng Chong passed through the second chamber.
"I’ve been training intensely, day and night; the second chamber doesn’t hinder me in the slightest anymore!"
"Hahaha." Meng Chong laughed heartily, pushing open the door and entering the third chamber.
Inside the third chamber, numerous puppets quickly surrounded him.
"Wild Sprint Thunderclap!" Meng Chong activated his Immortal Talent, moving like lightning as he wove through the martial puppets.
His speed fluctuated, and as he slowed before accelerating again, his Wild Sprint Thunderclap exceeded his previous limits.
Meng Chong’s control over his Immortal Talent had reached new heights!
Just as he defeated all the martial puppets and was about to open the door, the Golden Blood Battle Ape was activated by Ning Zhuo, revealing itself.
"Oh? Seems there’s still one left." Meng Chong clenched his fist and charged forward.
Smack.
In the next moment, he was thrown to the ground by the Golden Blood Battle Ape in an over-the-shoulder throw.
Meng Chong was momentarily stunned, then stood up, growling fiercely, "Again, I’m going to break you!"