: Decisive Victory Over the Zhou Family

Lava Immortal Palace.

The first door was swiftly pushed open by Yuan Dasheng.

Zhou Zeshen, Zhou Zhu, and the others immediately turned to look.

Both sides saw each other in that instant.

"Members of the Zhou family!" Through Yuan Dasheng's eyes, Ning Zhuo saw the scene, and his pupils involuntarily contracted slightly.

When he realized that Room Two contained not just the two Zhou family prodigies but three additional Zhou family cultivators, he immediately understood.

"They must have used the method I previously conceived, combining their puppet bodies to withstand the door-opening trap."

"Besides Zhou Zeshen, who is already at the peak of the third layer, the Zhou family actually has three others with similar cultivation!"

Ning Zhuo couldn't help but recall the joint assessment of the three families.

Back then, the Zhou family's assessment results showed no second peak third-layer cultivator besides Zhou Zhu—not even a single late third-layer cultivator.

"The assessment formation was provided by the Zhou family at that time."

"It seems they had already planned this, intentionally hiding the true cultivation levels of several cultivators."

"Both the Zheng and Ning families were deceived. At the very least, I hadn't expected the Zhou family to already have several late third-layer cultivators."

Ning Zhuo quickly deduced the truth.

Considering the typical pace of cultivation, it would be impossible for ordinary cultivators to advance from mid-third layer to peak third layer in such a short time.

The most likely explanation was that the Zhou family had been concealing their cultivation levels all along.

"Truly worthy of the Formation Dao Zhou family—skilled in setting up formations and even more skilled in laying schemes."

"During the joint assessment of the three families, they took the lead and had already begun their plot."

"Fortunately, I've exposed them this time!"

When the Zhou family cultivators heard the sound of the door behind them, they tensed up, turning around and preparing for battle.

Zhou Zeshen inwardly sighed. Whether the newcomers were from the Ning family, the Zheng family, or the City Lord's Mansion, the Zhou family's carefully laid plans were about to be exposed on their very first attempt.

However, the "person" who pushed the door open was something the Zhou family cultivators never expected.

It was a mechanical ape.

The ape was tall, robust, and burly, with exposed golden bones resembling a layer of镂空 armor. Its body was crimson, covered in uniform monkey fur, with black streaks of varying lengths scattered across it, giving it a menacing aura.

Zhou Zeshen had been about to greet them, his words already prepared, but upon seeing Yuan Dasheng, he was stunned.

"What is that?!" a Zhou family cultivator exclaimed.

In the next moment, without needing Ning Zhuo's command, the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, launched an attack upon detecting others.

It lifted its foot and took a giant stride, closing the distance to a Zhou family cultivator in an instant.

The Zhou cultivator felt a gust of wind hit his face.

The next moment, the massive form of the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, descended like a mountain crashing down from above.

The Zhou cultivator raised his arms to block.

Boom!

The Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, struck down with a fist, the fierce wind howling like a heavy hammer, smashing the Zhou cultivator's puppet body to pieces from head to toe.

Such ferocity shocked the Zhou family cultivators, who cried out in unison.

Zhou Zeshen's voice sharpened: "Don't engage it head-on! Spread out and buy time!"

He lived up to his reputation as the strategist Zhou Zhu always obeyed. In the brief moment of the assault, he devised the correct tactic.

However, while the tactic was sound, the battlefield conditions were unfavorable.

Room Two was far less spacious than Room One, being long and narrow with limited space on either side.

For the Zhou family cultivators to create distance between themselves and Yuan Dasheng, they had to move toward the second door.

But doing so caused the floor tiles to move backward, carrying them back toward their original positions.

Yuan Dasheng let out a low roar, spreading its arms and attacking with full force.

Boom.

Another explosive sound echoed as a second Zhou family puppet was shattered by Yuan Dasheng, utterly defenseless.

Cultivators only obtain Lingyun mechanisms after passing six trials. These mechanisms are typically superior to the trial disciples' own puppets.

Yet the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, exceeded even the highest limits. It was a long-term mechanism creation obtained by Ning Zhuo after discovering the key and consuming the Immortal Capital Body.

It was completely beyond the rules!

"What exactly is that thing?!" Zhou Zeshen shouted.

"I have no idea either," Zhou Zhu replied, feeling perplexed. Why was this exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace so different from any before?

Where did this incredibly powerful mechanical ape come from?

"Jump into the trap to lure the ape, making it charge into the dark trap after you," Zhou Zeshen quickly devised a second tactic.

These dark traps were specifically set up by Ning Zhuo.

Previously, when he, Ning Xiaohui, Zhou Zhu, and Zheng Jian explored the immortal palace, these dark traps had proven effective, trapping and killing the other three and giving them a horrifying imprisonment experience!

Zhou Zeshen's mind was quick. Within a few breaths, he had thought of a plan. By using the terrain, they might only need to sacrifice one Zhou family cultivator to temporarily deal with the mechanical ape.

If the trap could confine the mechanical ape, they would only need to find a way to pass through Room Two and push the door open to escape.

But there was no "if."

After the Zhou family cultivator jumped in, the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, halted its charge, stopping right at the edge of the mechanism trap without moving an inch further.

Of course—Ning Zhuo had set these traps himself and knew every one of their locations like the back of his hand.

Zhou Zeshen watched as Yuan Dasheng turned back, its gaze fixed eerily on him, sending a chill down his spine.

"Dammit!"

"Zhou Zhu, intercept it."

"I'll try to break through with all my might!" Zhou Zeshen yelled.

"Alright!" Zhou Zhu spread his stance and charged at Yuan Dasheng.

Though his body was tall, it paled in comparison to Yuan Dasheng.

Yuan Dasheng moved gracefully, nimbly dodging Zhou Zhu's attacks before seizing an opening and pressing forward.

Thump, thump.

Two soft sounds later, Zhou Zhu also knelt on the ground.

Zhou Zeshen glanced back, seeing that Zhou Zhu hadn't even lasted three breaths. His heart grew colder.

He frantically charged forward.

But the floor tiles moved backward faster and faster, constantly pushing Zhou Zeshen back toward Yuan Dasheng.

"This damn mechanism is working against me too!"

Zhou Zeshen struggled with all his might but only bought himself three more seconds.

In the end, Yuan Dasheng ripped off his head. Then, tilting its hand, it tossed Zhou Zeshen's head to the ground.

The Zhou family cultivators were completely wiped out!

Yuan Dasheng had dealt with them effortlessly, despite their numbers.

For one, they lacked Immortal Capital and couldn't match Meng Chong's impact. Secondly, they knew very few spells. During Yuan Dasheng's rampage, most relied on basic Qi spells for speed and direction.

But these minor tricks were nothing in the eyes of a martial arts master like Yuan Dasheng.

In the end, under Ning Zhuo's control, Yuan Dasheng voluntarily jumped into the dark trap to finish off the surviving Zhou family cultivators.

Yuan Dasheng, carrying the remnants of the enemy puppets, leaped out of the trap.

These mechanism traps originally came from Ning Zhuo, who knew every detail. They posed no obstacle whatsoever.

Main Hall.

Watching the Golden Blood War Ape, Dasheng, display its might and easily eliminate the Zhou family team, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was so angry it clenched its claws, repeatedly pounding the throne with its fists.

Ning Zhuo was too arrogant—this time, he had only sent a single mechanism to challenge the trials.

He showed no respect for the Lava Immortal Palace at all!

The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit lacked the authority to intervene and could only watch helplessly as Yuan Dasheng cleared the battlefield.

Ning Zhuo controlled the mechanical ape to dissect each Zhou family cultivator, retrieving any unused spirit stones.

"Not bad."

"If I were challenging the trials alone, I wouldn't have gained this many spirit stones so early in Room Two."

"Oh, and two hanging rings as well."

Thanks to the Zhou family team's contribution, Yuan Dasheng's strength saw a promising accumulation in the early stages.

Ning Zhuo controlled it, steadfastly advancing deeper.

Meanwhile.

Zheng Family.

"Catch the assassin!"

"Quick, he went that way."

"After him!!"

The Zheng family was in chaos. Cultivators surged forth, launching a frantic pursuit.

"Young Master Zheng Jian, are you alright?" A Zheng family alchemist rushed over to treat him.

Zheng Jian nodded slightly. "At the critical moment, my Heart-Piercing Insight triggered, alerting me in time. I didn't walk into the assassin's ambush."

"How did this assassin get in? This is the middle ring of the clan territory—it's absurd!" Zheng Jian clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in anger.

The alchemist suddenly smiled strangely. His originally deep, middle-aged male voice turned into a sinister female tone: "What do you think?"

Zheng Jian's pupils contracted sharply, and he instantly leaped backward.

But it was too late.

The next moment, the alchemist's body swelled and burst apart, splattering Zheng Jian with filthy, corrosive poison.

Most of Zheng Jian's body was affected. His skin reddened, blistered, and ulcerated at a terrifying speed.

Zheng Jian hurriedly took emergency pills, swallowing a whole bottle before slightly suppressing the corrosion within his body.

"I still fell for it!"

"They deliberately triggered my Heart-Piercing Insight first to put me on high alert."

"Without a calm mind, the activation rate of Heart-Piercing Insight might drop significantly!"

"They came prepared."

At this moment, his expression was extremely grim.

City Lord's Mansion.

Meng Chong, surrounded by thunderous shadows, beat the assassin until he was bruised and swollen.

He sneered disdainfully. "You think you can assassinate me?"

Zhou Family.

Zhou Zeshen and Zhou Zhu opened their eyes one after another.

The next moment, excruciating pain wracked their entire bodies!

Zhou Zeshen saw his physical body covered in ants.

Countless ants, dense and layered, had already devoured his lower body down to the bone. His abdomen was half-eaten, intestines spilling out, many severed, as the ant swarm feasted.

Zhou Zeshen's pupils shrank to pinpricks, utterly horrified!

The next moment, his Five Elements法力 erupted wildly, stirring a fierce gale that swept away countless ants.

Nearby, Zhou Zhu was also frantically clearing ants. His condition was slightly better, but below his waist, only bone remained.

"Someone tried to kill us! There's a traitor in the family!"

"Someone, help! Quickly!"

(End of )