Chapter 551: The Power of Mechanisms

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Two armies face off!Dark clouds roil in the sky, like ink spilled.This is the residual power from the previous battle between Lei Qingyang and the Blood Shadow Cave Master.The fight between Li Jiuzhi and Mo Yechen still rages.

With a command from Elder Long, nearly ten Nascent Soul-level cultivators stepped forth together, issuing a challenge in unison.From the Two Azure Nations’ grand encampment flew out a female cultivator.She wore a mask, her right arm replaced by a mechanical limb. Her hair was greyish-white, betraying her age.She rose swiftly into the air, her robes fluttering beneath the dark clouds, her face like iron, and she challenged loudly, "Come at me, all of you!"Around her, a hundred mechanical fairy maidens circled, flying continuously, guarding her in the center.

Facing such provocation, the nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators on the Thousand Peaks Forest Alliance side halted their advance, exchanging glances.It was impossible to truly swarm her all at once!The tactic of challenging is thus: it is best to engage in duels of equal standing, for only such outcomes can shake morale and military resolve.If multiple assailants engage a single opponent, even if victorious, the impact on morale and military resolve is limited.Conversely, if the outnumbered triumph, or the weak defeat the strong, such as a Golden Core defeating a Nascent Soul, the impact on morale would be far more violent and fierce.Thus, if these Nascent Soul cultivators were to truly attack all at once, even if they defeated the Mechanical Princess, there would be little gain.They understood where their advantage lay and would not commit a large number of personnel to Shuang Ling. To do so would completely fail to leverage the advantage of their superior numbers of high-level cultivators!After a period of exchanging glances, everyone transmitted messages via divine sense, communicating swiftly.

"Azure Moon Tribe, Solitary Fang is here!" This blue-haired barbarian general roared, having been put forth by the others, and actively met Shuang Ling’s challenge.He sped through the air, drawing out the gigantic wolf-tooth club from his back, and activated his spell, condensing hundreds of phantom mountain wolves.The pack of mountain wolves fiercely charged the mechanical fairy maidens, the wolves tearing, the maidens using their silken sashes to ensnare and kill.Soon, the wolf pack suffered heavy losses, while many mechanical fairy maidens remained.

Countless gazes were fixed on the clash between the two.Just as the generals and soldiers in the Two Azure Nations’ grand encampment had been wary of Li Jiuzhi, many cultivators in the Thousand Peaks Forest Alliance were equally wary of Shuang Ling.Shuang Ling – the Mechanical Princess!Her reputation was in no way inferior to Li Jiuzhi, and perhaps even stronger.She was the Two Azure Nations’ flagship figure at the Nascent Soul level, representing the face of a cultivation nation!

Inside the Mechanical Dragon, Sun Ning and the other watched intently.Ning Zhuo was especially focused, his eyes unblinking.Although Shuang Ling had clashed with him and opposed him in the past, as a renowned mechanical cultivator, Ning Zhuo held a humble attitude, intending to learn much from Shuang Ling.In the initial probing, Solitary Fang was clearly no match and immediately showed a clear disadvantage.Shuang Ling slightly furrowed her brow but was not satisfied with this outcome.She knew well their severe disadvantage and that truly allowing the enemy to leverage their numerical superiority of Nascent Soul cultivators would severely impact the entire battlefield.Therefore, she had to display greater might to urge other cultivators to join her in battle.The opportunity was only before her eyes.Once the others believed that Solitary Fang could rely on himself to engage Shuang Ling in a war of attrition, then those observing would undoubtedly immediately continue to challenge, placing the Two Azure Nations’ army in a dilemma.Thus, the next moment, Shuang Ling coldly snorted and released twenty hovering repeating crossbows.The repeating crossbows arrayed on her right side, their formation neat and square.The next moment, the dark golden seal script on the crossbow boxes suddenly lit up."Fire-Leaving Bolts, loose!"The bowstrings vibrated like a zither, and in a few breaths, each repeating crossbow shot out ten slender arrows.The arrows interwove, forming torrents of arrows, shooting into the latter half of the wolf pack.The speed was too fast; Solitary Fang had just managed to cast a defensive spell.The wolf pack rapidly vanished under the rain of arrows, a large section being cleared out.Solitary Fang’s face turned ashen, unable to even protect himself. He continuously swung his wolf-tooth club, batting away the numerous arrows shot towards him, appearing quite disheveled.The rain of arrows was incessant, and Solitary Fang could only continuously retreat.He cast defensive spells to protect himself, his hands continuously swinging the wolf-tooth club, repeatedly releasing phantom wolf packs.But however many he released, that many phantom wolf packs were shot down.The mechanical fairy maidens still encircled Shuang Ling tightly, not pressing their advantage.

Solitary Fang roared, his body suddenly expanding by a third, and summoned three Golden Core-level alpha wolves.The alpha wolves rushed forward fearlessly, their wolf claws treading on wind, their howls continuous, helping their master bear much pressure.Only then did Solitary Fang stabilize his footing.Seeing this, Shuang Ling immediately released twelve Grand Void Hanging Bell Guards. These bronze mechanisms were all humanoid, with three heads and six arms, holding a large bell in their embrace.The large bell was inverted, the bell mouth facing upwards, and complicated star maps were engraved on the bell surface.Clang, clang, clang…Six arms continuously swung, striking the bell surface with fists and palms, producing a series of bell sounds.At the same time, gusts of indigo blue air currents surged from the bell mouth.The air currents, combined with the bell sounds, swept the surroundings.This encompassed not only Solitary Fang but also the other Nascent Soul-level cultivators.Solitary Fang's刚刚稳住的 footing, in the bell sounds and air currents, once again faltered, leaving him flustered.Most of the cultivators knew Shuang Ling's plan and coldly snorted, not wanting to fall into her trap, retreating one after another.The Jade Vine Doctor, having a strong temperament, was provoked to anger: "Mechanical Princess, you seek death, and this old woman shall grant it!"The Jade Vine Doctor let out a low roar, and large patches of vines extended from her body.The greenish vines spiraled and condensed high in the air, forming nine vine pythons that charged towards Shuang Ling.Where the vine pythons passed, countless jade scale toxins were scattered. After rushing into the defense line of the mechanical fairy maidens, the jade scale toxins immediately infected them, causing the mechanical fairy maidens to fall from the high altitude like dumplings dropping into a pot.Seeing her front waver, Shuang Ling took out two batches of mechanisms from her storage treasure.The first batch was twenty-four ice and fire praying mantises, their front blade-like limbs frosted on the left and burning with red flames on the right. The mechanical mantises were extremely agile and charged towards Solitary Fang.Upon joining the battle, they immediately killed Solitary Fang's three Golden Core alpha wolves, and Solitary Fang could only frantically retreat, his situation critical.The second batch was thirty-six pieces of Xuanji armor. The armor plates spun rapidly in front of Shuang Ling, like a fan, creating a huge suction force.The next moment, almost all the jade scale toxins were sucked onto the armor plates, dyeing the plates a lush green.The armor plates quickly combined, forming a massive shield. The turtle shell patterns on the giant shield glowed with silver light.Mechanical Art – Mysterious Turtle Heavenly Light Shield Return!The next moment, a massive beam of light shot out from the shield surface, carrying all the condensed jade scale toxins.The light beam was astonishingly powerful, directly severing a vine python and aiming at the Jade Vine Doctor.The Jade Vine Doctor's expression changed drastically, and she shrieked, taking out her magical artifact, a vine staff, and vigorously swinging it in front of her.In the next instant, a gigantic man-eating demon flower grew wildly from the staff head of the vine staff.Its flower mouth opened wide, like a giant beast, perfectly swallowing the entire light beam.After swallowing, the man-eating demon flower's body swelled by more than ten times, its purple-red demon body turning green all over, struggling to digest this astonishing attack.The combined giant shield returned to its normal appearance and then disintegrated again, turning into armor plates, protecting Shuang Ling's side.

Shuang Ling extended her mechanical right arm, and twelve mechanical copper balls inscribed with thunder patterns shot out from her arm.The copper balls flew rapidly, the electric light twining in the air, interweaving into a net of electricity.Mechanical Art – Startled Electricity Net!The electric net covered the Jade Vine Doctor.The Jade Vine Doctor continuously used various spells, but all the spells that hit the electric net were dispelled by it.The Jade Vine Doctor retreated in a disheveled manner, not daring to face its edge."As expected of a nation's Nascent Soul figurehead, her methods are impressive!" Gao Cuo sighed in his heart upon seeing this.An aged voice echoed in his mind: "The outcome of this great battle is uncertain. The Ginseng Dragon King has not confirmed his participation, yet we are besieging the enemy's front-line encampment. Know that within this encampment, Du Tiechuan is recovering.""Gao Cuo, this is no place to linger.""You must withdraw from here, and now is a good opportunity!"Gao Cuo nodded: "Elder Sword speaks wisely, I will go up."His expression became serious, having made up his mind, and he stepped forward resolutely, actively facing Shuang Ling: "Mechanical Princess, I am Gao Cuo, and I have come to experience your esteemed techniques!"

Shuang Ling, seeing the third Nascent Soul cultivator attack, was not surprised but delighted, for this proved she had displayed sufficient threat, forcing the Thousand Peaks Forest side to abandon restraint.Gao Cuo's body flickered, splitting into a hundred phantom bodies, which suddenly scattered, attacking Shuang Ling from all directions.The phantom bodies unleashed various spells, some real and some false, some strong and some weak.For a time, the battlefield was filled with colorful sounds and lights, extremely dazzling and varied.This scene caused Lin Bufan, who was watching from a hidden corner, to slightly change his expression. It seemed familiar to him, but he could not confirm it.

Shuang Ling’s face slightly sank.This was because the illusion technique was quite troublesome, and she had used three different methods continuously without seeing through it.If she could not discern the truth, she had to defend against everything, greatly increasing her consumption.Elder Sword, seeing the situation was unfavorable, immediately spoke to remind him: "Gao Cuo, reserve some strength!"Gao Cuo immediately covertly held back his power.Shuang Ling's spirits lifted, and she finally found a way to see through the illusion. She let out a low cry and took out a mechanism.The mechanism resembled a celestial globe, named the Star Compass, and it radiated starlight, illuminating the surroundings. All false illusions quickly vanished within the starlight.In an instant, the dazzling spell bombardment on the field disappeared, leaving behind only two or three isolated spells, which were the true attacks.Shuang Ling took a deep breath, fixated on Gao Cuo's main body, and released seven North Star Swordsmen.Seven connecting threads shot out from her right arm, moving like lightning, accurately linking to the puppets.The North Star Swordsmen, manipulated by the threads, immediately formed the Big Dipper formation and charged towards Gao Cuo.Gao Cuo clashed with them, and soon succumbed, covered in blood.The Demonic Heart Cave Master, seeing his critical situation, immediately intervened and joined the battlefield.Gao Cuo gritted his teeth, and at the critical juncture, activated a Void Escape Talisman, traversing through space, blood spraying in the air, and withdrew from the battlefield.The Demonic Heart Cave Master cursed and could only reluctantly take his place, facing the siege of the North Star Swordsmen.

The Demonic Heart Cave Master was much stronger than Gao Cuo. He unleashed demonic arts, activating various magic spells, countering attack with attack, displaying astonishing might.He would rather suffer sword injuries than fail to eradicate most of the seven North Star Swordsmen.Seeing this, the Mechanical Princess smiled slightly. However many swordsmen were lost, she immediately replenished the same number.Seeing the Demonic Heart Cave Master's high fighting spirit and wild attacks, she directlyThrew out the Mechanical Star Compass.The Star Compass hung high, dispersing starlight that shone upon the mechanical bodies of the North Star Swordsmen, causing their combat power to surge, their speed to greatly increase, and their sword edges to become more piercing.The combat power of the seven mechanical puppets surged simultaneously, greatly increasing the Demonic Heart Cave Master's pressure, and he was suddenly pushed into a disadvantage."As expected of the Mechanical Princess!""Facing four opponents alone, she has already repelled Gao Cuo, and the latter's life and death are unknown."Many watching cultivators focused their attention on Shuang Ling.This princess of the Two Azure Nations displayed formidable combat power, demanding attention.Seeing her single-handedly suppress three cultivators, the Thousand Peaks Forest allied army had to dispatch more Nascent Souls to besiege Shuang Ling.

One, two, three!Six Nascent Soul-level cultivators simultaneously battled Shuang Ling.Shuang Ling, with her own strength, withstood six times the number of enemy experts, relieving a significant portion of the pressure on the Two Azure Nations' army.Zhao Xi breathed a sigh of relief and calmly dispatched Nascent Soul cultivators to face the remaining challenging enemy cultivators.For a time, in the central area where the two armies confronted each other, six or seven battle groups formed, each engaging in combat.Li Jiuzhi held the upper hand, while Mo Yechen struggled to endure.The Mechanical Princess Shuang Ling overwhelmingly suppressed six Nascent Soul cultivators, her own battle line remaining unshaken.In the other few battle groups, one-on-one clashes unfolded, each more spectacular than the last.The soldiers on both sides were dazzled.Inside the Mechanical Dragon, Sun Ning and the other also felt overwhelmed.This level of Nascent Soul-level combat opened their eyes and feasts them visually. Normally, Nascent Soul battles are rarely seen. But now, not only were they seeing them, they couldn't even keep up!For them, simply watching the battle was a rare opportunity, allowing them to witness the splendor of higher levels, clarify their own direction, and make more precise judgments of strengths and weaknesses.Ning Zhuo's eyes sparkled, and he exclaimed in amazement: "So strong, truly so strong!""Is this the style of a mechanical cultivator?""Facing multiple enemies with ease. I can see that Shuang Ling still has reserves of strength!"Sun Lingtong analyzed: "Although mechanical arts are at the bottom of the hundred arts, it is only because the requirements for entry, proficiency, and mastery are too many and the standards too high.""Once truly mastered, the combat power is significantly overpowered!""A mechanical cultivator is an army unto themselves. Like Shuang Ling, she is not only using mechanical arts but also applying military strategy, leveraging military strength, thus gaining more leverage and stronger combat power."Ordinary cultivators dueling can only display their own combat power, or the leverage ratio is not high.But mechanical cultivators are different. Mechanical creations are expensive to produce, embodying cultivation techniques such as artifact crafting, alchemy, formation arrangement, and talisman crafting. The creations themselves fully utilize resources, leveraging out much combat power.Mechanical cultivators can also do a great deal with these mechanical creations, employing mechanical arts, military strategy, and so on.Leveraging on top of leverage is not simply addition but an exponential explosion!

Battle opportunity!Shuang Ling suddenly exerted force, and the mantises self-detonated, forming a deadly attack.Solitary Fang's face was filled with panic. He was already heavily injured, and he saw himself about to perish.Seeing this, the Jade Vine Doctor no longer held back and unleashed her trump card move!Divine Ability – Myriad Withered Jade Phosphorus Curse!The sparse green phosphorus flames were of absolute power. Wherever they went, mechanical creations were destroyed, turning into more phosphorus flames.Within the phosphorus flames, phantom skeleton figures flickered, and murderous intent and death qi wildly permeated.The defense line around Shuang Ling immediately collapsed by more than half, threatening her life safety.The alliance side's spirits were greatly boosted. This was the first time since the clashA truly threatening attack against Shuang Ling!Shuang Ling chuckled: "Come!"Divine Ability – Golden Fire Pure World Wheel!Three hundred and sixty specially made Pure World Lotus Platforms were released in an instant.The bronze lotus platforms were lifelike, their petals inscribed with sections from the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic" on dispelling evil, and Kunlun Cold Jade beads were embedded in the center of the lotus platforms.The next moment, pale white flames shot out from the bottom of the lotus platforms, and three thousand six hundred heavenly physician golden needles shot out from the holes in the lotus platforms.Flames and golden needles flew mixed together, instantly dispersing the phosphorus flames, and then pressed the advantage, killing the Jade Vine Doctor with sharp cries, her life ending on the spot.