Chapter 276: Thousand Mechanisms Sphere
It could only be pulled up by the combined efforts of twenty airships, so it could be seen how exaggerated its weight was.
Above Thousand Sieve City, the rope was cut. This huge metal was captured by gravity and began to fall.
The huge size and weight made the air below wail. Due to the uneven air density caused by the pressure, the light under the metal piece began to distort.
In the four directions of this black-gold heavy iron, there was also an array pattern engraved on it.
Cultivators could remotely control the formation patterns to spit out spiritual qi to correct the falling trajectory of the iron block to ensure a precise strike.
This heavy iron that could only be considered a piece of material gradually carried an increasing power under the pull of gravity.
When a small meteor collided with the Earth, it could cause global biological extinction.
This heavy iron was not as heavy as a meteor, and it did not have cosmic speed.
However, the kinetic energy accumulated when it fell from the sky could easily penetrate a mountain range.
The cultivators of Ink Sect had clearly discovered this situation.
More than a hundred holes were created on the dome. However, compared to other directions, the number of holes at the top was indeed the least.
Hundreds of giant crossbow bolts shot out from above. After hitting the heavy iron, they were repelled without any suspense.
The huge crossbow bolts could pierce through the flying ship, but they could not move the solid black-gold heavy iron at all.
Not only did the power of the iron block not decrease, it even fell faster.
If he was hit by this thing head-on, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Then, Ink Sect immediately changed their strategy. After a moment of silence, the crossbows no longer fired together. Instead, they began to fire continuously.
More than half of the power of the huge crossbow was reduced by the gravity, but its accuracy did not decrease at all.
The first arrowhead landed accurately on a corner of the heavy iron block.
Boom!
Amidst the intense explosion, the metal piece was pushed to the side by the shock wave.
The arrowhead of the huge crossbow bolt had been modified and inserted with a spiritual qi bomb.
The power of the bomb was not small, but the angle at which it tilted was quickly corrected by the array patterns on the iron block.
However, this was not the end. After the last arrow was sent flying, the next arrow followed, exploding continuously.
In a short period of time, at least ten crossbow bolts were shot from each hole, and thousands of arrows struck the same corner of the iron block.
The force of the explosion finally suppressed the correction force of the formation patterns.
Through this force, they finally changed the trajectory of the metal piece’s descent, turning it in one direction.
However, there were indeed fewer holes on the top. The explosion of more than a thousand crossbow bolts was not enough to completely push away the iron.
In the end, the black-gold heavy iron still brushed past the dome defense.
Gravity and speed turned into terrifying kinetic energy.
In an instant, a huge gap was torn open in the dome of Thousand Sieve City.
In Thousand Sieve City, the sudden intense collision made the Golden Core cultivators lose their footing.
The disciples who were close to the control mechanisms died on the spot.
The aura filled with chaotic energy was swept up by the wind from the outside world. It surged in from the gap, causing the remaining Ink Sect disciples to feel cold.
They had never expected that the Thousand Sieve City, which they relied on the most, would actually be broken through the dome defense in just a day.
In fact, this could not be blamed on Thousand Sieve City. Such a large city could not be built with top-notch materials.
It was common knowledge in the cultivation world that damage would be caused by powerful attacks.
The main reason why Thousand Sieve City could not unleash the defensive effect was because their combat strength was too lacking.
If it was a war between forces of the same level, if the Iron Wolf Sect still wanted to do such a thing, they would be immediately destroyed by the top cultivators on the defense after entering the other party’s territory.
For example, in the previous two wars between Benevolent Travel Temple and the Hundred Tempering Mountain, they had never planned to use this method.
Of course, being unable to produce such a large piece of black-gold heavy iron was also a very important reason.
This kind of method of destroying the encampment’s defense was not normal. However, Ink Sect’s current situation was really too miserable.
If the remaining two old fellows dared to go out and stop them, they would immediately be surrounded and attacked by the experts of the Iron Wolf Sect. They would probably be unable to return.
Without them, the remaining Ink Sect disciples would truly feel despair.
“Retreat! Retreat!”
The few cultivators who survived and were heavily injured and unable to move or were at a loss were quickly pulled away by their companions.
As soon as they left, another series of accurate attacks from the long-range bow cannon bombarded the hole in the dome.
They made use of the buildings near the gap to cause further destruction.
“Charge in! Capture them alive!”
The five thousand ace Iron Wolf Cavalry approached at an extremely fast speed. They rushed up the almost 90-degree dome as if they were walking on flat ground and surged through the gap.
Then, a large number of Iron Wolf Sect disciples followed closely behind.
From top to bottom, there were at least twenty to thirty levels in Thousand Sieve City.
This gap spanned eight levels.
A large number of cultivators surged in. The Ink Sect disciples could only retreat to defend the city and use the mechanisms and traps in the city to defend against the enemy.
This kind of street battle in the city was something that they had long considered. They quickly found their positions and could be considered to be orderly.
However, they did not expect this moment to come so quickly.
The 22,000 Wood Demons that Jiang Li had enlightened were also arranged at various mechanisms in advance. As soon as they saw the enemy, they launched a fierce attack.
The Ink Sect cultivators paired with these 22,000 puppets and relied on the large number of powerful mechanisms and traps in the city to temporarily tie down the surging Iron Wolf Sect cultivators.
Of course, this was on the premise that the Iron Wolf Sect did not want to kill them all.
This was because they wanted merit, not slaughter.
There had to be a certain number of remaining cultivators who chose to join before the Divine Judgment Hall would acknowledge their transfer of merit points.
If not for that, the Iron Wolf Sect would have more methods to slowly destroy Thousand Sieve City from the outside.
“Elder, Alliance Leader Jiang is still inside. The current situation is too dangerous. Should we go in and save the Alliance Leader?”
Seeing the Iron Wolf Sect attack Thousand Sieve City, the cultivators of the Great Mountain Alliance who were secretly watching the battle from afar became nervous.
“I… I’ll contact Jiang Li first.”
“After confirming the location, we’ll rescue him.”
The elders and protectors here more or less knew a little about Jiang Li’s strength. Originally, they were quite confident in him.
However, now, looking at the tragic battle situation in the distance, their hearts could not help but beat faster.
Ink Sect clearly did not have the ability to protect their home, let alone Jiang Li. The Iron Wolf Sect was not a kind sect. If their Alliance Leader really died here, it would be a huge loss.
Especially the old guardian of the Scripture Storage Valley, he could not bear to see such an outstanding junior die here.
The token directly connected to the Alliance Leader Token, and Jiang Li’s calm voice sounded from inside.
This made the few of them heave a sigh of relief. His tone was relaxed, and it meant that Jiang Li was at least not in danger for the time being.
“Jiang Li, which tunnel did you enter from? Find a safe place and we’ll bring you out.”
They were already considering a retreat plan.
However, Jiang Li’s words stunned them.
“I’m fine. Martial Ancestor, help me observe the situation of the Soul Formation cultivators of the Iron Wolf Sect. After they all enter Thousand Sieve City, inform me and immediately retreat to the west. We’ll meet up 2,000 miles away.”
Jiang Li had no intention of fleeing and even made a strange request.
“What? You’re not coming out? The situation is too dangerous!”
The higher-ups of the Great Mountain Alliance outside could not understand Jiang Li’s decision. However, Jiang Li always had his own thoughts. Every time there was a major decision in the Great Mountain Conference, they were always convinced by various reasons.
Now that he was not in front of them, it was even more impossible for him to listen to them.
“Don’t worry, Martial Ancestor. I know what I’m doing.”
With that, he hung up.
“He’s only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He knows what he’s doing? This is such a fierce battle, what can he possibly know?!”
Martial Ancestor Zhu really wanted to knock Jiang Li out with a punch and drag him away, but he was not by his side now, so he could only hold the token and worry.
In the core of Ink Sect’s Thousand Sieve City, Jiang Li had already woken up from the illusion.
Without a doubt, he had passed that test.
After all, under the circumstances of cheating, such a calamity was really not difficult for him.
The so-called beast tide was actually just a group of beasts without much intelligence.
As long as he used a simple method, he could easily kill them.
For example, poisoning the water and burning the mountain. What methods could not be used? At the very least, Jiang Li could use illusions to easily torture them!
After easily exterminating the beast tide, this city developed into a country.
Before ending the illusion, he also arranged for organized institutions and departments in the aspects of civilian life, military, industrial, agriculture, and so on. Even after he left, without the “miracle” of his cheating, this country could still be maintained for a long time.
As such, the result he produced was almost without any flaws. Instead, it was excessively outstanding.
Even if he was an outsider, the city core of Thousand Sieve City could not violate its own rules. It could only reveal its true body and land beside him.
“Thousand Mechanisms Sphere? So this is the true core of the city.”
What appeared from the illusion was a glowing ball floating in the air. This was also the hidden item that Qin Shuman had sensed earlier.
However, before he could study it carefully, this core secret room was opened from the outside.
It was a familiar face. However, both sides were not very happy to see each other.
“Kid! I didn’t expect you to really pass the test.”
“Very good. You surprised me. Hand over the sphere.”
“It’s impossible for outsiders to become our Sect Master. Hand over my Ink Sect’s treasure and get lost.”
The person who found this place was none other than the Nascent Soul, Pang Xun.
His eyes could not conceal his thick killing intent.
“Is this what your Grand Elder wants?”
Jiang Li stood up. Sure enough, there was no meditation mat beneath him, and he had always been sitting on the ground.
The illusory realm of this sphere was really powerful, to the point where he could not sense it at all.
“My words represent the Grand Elder. That thing doesn’t belong to you. Quickly hand it over and I may spare your life.”
As Pang Xun spoke, he approached Jiang Li. His words could not be trusted at all. Jiang Li had killed his son, so could he really let him live?
It was already a situation of life and death. There was no room for negotiation.
“If you want something, come and get it yourself!”
Jiang Li was the first to attack, and he smashed out a coffin.
As if he did not know how to dodge, Pang Xun was struck by the swelling coffin and sent flying.
However, in the blink of an eye, another Pang Xun darted out from behind the previous Pang Xun. He smiled sinisterly and rushed towards Jiang Li.
“Kid, do you want to use the same move on me twice?”
It turned out that the one who was sent flying was only a puppet of the other party.
Pang Xun’s true body had been hiding behind the puppet. When Jiang Li’s coffin missed, he would rush forward and deal a fatal blow!
The space in this room was not large. With the speed of a Nascent Soul cultivator, he really arrived in an instant.
With a flutter of his sleeve, a mechanical palm was exposed. Not only was this mechanical palm not inferior to human hands in terms of flexibility, but its power was also not inferior to high-grade artifacts.
However, the moment before his mechanical palm touched Jiang Li, the latter’s figure suddenly vanished without any warning.
“I missed? No, it hit!”
“Kid, don’t try to play tricks. Come out and receive your death!”
Under the cover of the illusion technique, Jiang Li’s main body was ruthlessly sent flying and smashed into the wall behind him. It took a few breaths before the force was removed and he fell from the wall. He lay on the ground and vomited blood.
However, Pang Xun, who was standing not far away, acted as if he could not see him. He stood on the spot and looked around warily.
All of this was thanks to the Thousand Mechanisms Sphere. In this room, all the information about Jiang Li’s existence was concealed by the illusion technique.
This included hearing, vision, smell, and even touch.
Therefore, Pang Xun did not feel that he caused any substantial impact.
However, the force in his hand disappeared, and there was no inertia from charging forward. This still made him acutely sense that he had already struck Jiang Li.
In his opinion, Jiang Li’s strength mainly came from the strange coffin artifact.
No matter how powerful his main body was, he was only at the Foundation Establishment realm. After receiving his attack, even if he did not die, he should be fatally injured.
However, without seeing Jiang Li’s corpse, the anger in his heart could not be vented. Also, where did that Thousand Mechanisms Sphere go?
After adjusting the bones in his chest, Jiang Li spat out the dirty blood in his mouth and stood up from the ground.
After all, a Nascent Soul cultivator was a Nascent Soul cultivator. His injuries from just now were indeed not light. However, through the status “One Day Death Denial”, he could largely ignore his physical injuries and rely on other healing statuses to recover very quickly. This kind of injury looked terrifying, but it was actually nothing.
However, fighting a veteran Nascent Soul cultivator in such a small space was really difficult.
Fortunately, he had the illusion technique of the Thousand Mechanisms Sphere to conceal himself. Otherwise, he would really be in danger.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, another surging spiritual qi torrent assaulted Jiang Li. He hurriedly dodged to the side and barely evaded it.
The spiritual qi collided with the wall behind. The floating rectangular blocks that formed the room sank and slowly recovered to their original state.
How terrifying was the spiritual perception of a Nascent Soul cultivator? Even under the cover of an illusion technique, one could rely on their intuition to determine his general location.
Jiang Li sensed the situation in Thousand Sieve City through the city’s core.
He had to get rid of this guy as soon as possible, otherwise, everything else would be pointless.
Jiang Li made up his mind.