Chapter 1 The Only Chance

Time ticked by, and the passageway was silent. Everyone slowed their breathing, waiting for Yuan Shi Tianzun to finish his deduction.

After more than ten minutes, Hong Ji-ge, always impatient, nudged Sun Miaomiao's hand and whispered, "Does Star Gazing take this long?"

"This is nothing. My grandfather could Star Gaze for an entire night," Sun Miaomiao said, full of envy. "Star Gazing is the core skill of Star Officials. They can know everything under the heavens and turn bad luck into good. But it can only be used at night. I didn't expect Yuan Shi Tianzun to have such a high-grade item."

At the Star Official stage, Star Gazing could only be performed at night. No one was an exception.

Only when they reached the Night Wanderer stage could they use array diagrams to assist in Star Gazing, free from time constraints.

Therefore, Sun Miaomiao and Zhao Chenghuang had never thought he could use Star Gazing to deduce tactics. After all, it wasn't night yet.

An hour later, as Hong Ji-ge's stomach rumbled, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes.

He held up a finger to the crowd, his tone low and aged, "I've seen fourteen million six hundred and five possibilities for the future, and we only have one chance to win."

Guan Ya kicked him. "Stop joking and get to the point." Her expression relaxed. If the dog man had time to joke, it meant he was confident.

Zhang Yuanqing became serious. "We have to take care of the boss in the first round. If we drag it into the second round, we'll suffer casualties. Next, I'll tell you the details of the battle. Every step has to be perfect. One mistake, and we all lose. Understand?"

The team members were both happy and solemn, and they all sat down cross-legged.

Half an hour later, Hong Ji-ge and Tian Xia Gui Huo, carrying Xiahou Aotian's assembled "Italian Cannon," hurried toward the mountain belly at the back of the group.

The group sprinted purposefully toward the central square, encountering many obstacles along the way. Piles of bricks and other debris severely hindered their progress.

Fortunately, the physique of a Saint was not to be underestimated, especially the Fire Master Tian Xia Gui Huo and Hong Ji-ge, who were carrying more than a ton of steel creations and leaping left and right through the ruins.

According to Xiahou Aotian, this cannon was actually a mechanical creation, not a magic item in the strict sense.

Before long, they arrived at the metal-cast Bagua Square.

"Thud!"

Tian Xia Gui Huo and Hong Ji-ge put down the steel cannon, creating a heavy, dull thud.

Then, the two Fire Masters threw balls of flame at the ruins, igniting the wooden structures and setting the ancient city ablaze.

Sun Miaomiao, who was in charge of counting down, immediately shouted, "Two minutes! One minute left! Get ready to welcome the mechanical beasts!"

"You get ready to welcome the mechanical beasts." Zhang Yuanqing took out the Azure Emperor Jade Belt and wrapped it around his waist, charging toward the mecha standing proudly on the Yin-Yang fish.

During the process, he activated the "Bestial Transformation" skill. Swollen muscles tore his clothes, coarse black hair pierced through his skin, round ears grew on his head, and his hands and feet enlarged, growing hard claws.

With a roar, saliva rained down.

A black bear more than two meters tall roared and charged at the mecha.

Sensing the enemy's approach, the mecha adjusted its body, facing the furious black bear, and raised its right arm, which was equipped with a quiver.

With a click of the mechanism, a shadow shot toward the black bear, piercing its heart.

Relying on its fearless spirit, the black bear rushed in front of the mecha. Its right paw waved and deflected the mecha's cast-iron long sword.

The next second, the steel monster was held tightly by the black bear.

The mecha and the black bear wrestled silently, the former's body creaking with an agonizing sound, while the latter's arms were gradually forced open.

Outside the Bagua diagram, from Yin Yao Junzhu's waist bag, came a woman's determined shout, "Captain, fire the cannon! Don't let me look down on you…"

Xiahou Aotian pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Boom!

A miniature sun left the cannon, engulfing the entangled mecha and black bear.

The first step of the plan: Armor Break!

In the deductions of Star Gazing, there was protection inside the mecha that specifically countered mental attacks. Illusions, mental strikes, dreams, and the ability of spiritual servants to pass through walls were all ineffective against it.

Therefore, to kill the life form inside the mecha, they had to break the armor first.

Under the bombardment of Sovereign-level power, the black bear's body cracked and collapsed inch by inch. Zhang Yuanqing's original body emerged, blown away by the explosion's shockwave.

He rolled on the ground for more than a dozen circles, his bones broken, his skin charred, and he coughed up large mouthfuls of blood.

The mecha's heavy body staggered backward, its metal body smoking, like a machine with burnt circuits. The battle sword in its hand was red-hot and twisted, but the outer shell of its body was not damaged.

The Sovereign-level attack failed to break the armor…

Zhang Yuanqing and the others were not surprised. Although the mecha had not reached the Sovereign level, it should be able to withstand a Sovereign-level attack.

Otherwise, what was the point of this size?

Sun Miaomiao shouted, "Twelve seconds!"

The severely injured Zhang Yuanqing shuddered and activated the Azure Emperor Jade Belt's Longevity spell without hesitation. His body quickly healed in the soft green light.

He quickly took out the Yin-Yang Magic Robe, Sliding Shoes, and Violet-Gold Shield. He rose and slid, and just then, the mecha strode over and slashed down with its red-hot cast-iron long sword.

The two passed each other.

Zhang Yuanqing quickly got up, and as if he had practiced countless times, turned around, raised his shield, and blocked the mecha's swift backhand strike.

Clang!

Exaggerated cracks appeared on the Violet-Gold Shield, and Zhang Yuanqing's newly healed right arm bone broke again under the enormous force of the rebound.

Before he flew backward, he squeezed a fireball and smashed it at the mecha, shouting, "The Non-Aggression time is over!" The fireball struck the mecha's chest, exploding with a "boom." Tian Xia Gui Huo and Hong Ji-ge appeared in the expanding firelight.

Tian Xia Gui Huo's palm spat out flames, condensing into a high-temperature flame blade, and slashed fiercely.

The arc-shaped flame blade struck the mecha's chest with a "puff," making the already hot and brittle bronze armor plate even worse.

Immediately afterward, Hong Ji-ge's fists ignited with raging flames, and he punched fiercely.

A loud duang was mixed with the crisp sound of broken finger bones.

The surface of the bronze armor plate was twisted and deformed.

Ignoring the pain, the two Fire Masters quickly retreated left and right after a successful attack.

"Buzz…"

The sound of propeller-like flapping wings rang out at the right time. Xiao Yuan, carrying Asano Ryo, swept past in mid-air. When they reached the top of the mecha, they released the island nation girl to make a free fall.

Asano Ryo held the Ice Soul Blade flat above her head and chanted loudly:

"Frost Descends!"

The blade, covered with ice crystal patterns, was covered with a layer of ice, exuding a visible chill. At the same time, Asano Ryo's skin took on a dreamlike ice-blue color. Her long hair, hanging down her back, rose without wind, spreading out strand by strand, with star-like ice crystals lingering between the strands.

The cold air descended overwhelmingly, condensing the moisture in the air and freezing a thin layer of ice on the opposite side of the metal Bagua diagram.

The mecha's long sword stabbed into the air, piercing the unavoidable girl, splashing large amounts of water.

On the other side, Guan Ya, holding the Han Bafang Ancient Sword, launched a charge with her long legs, as agile as a female leopard.

The mecha immediately raised its left arm and fired arrows at her. At the same time, the armor plate on its abdomen opened, revealing rows of black gun barrels, spitting flames, and pouring out a barrage of bullets covering a wide area.

But Guan Ya predicted his attack, twisting and turning through the barrage, and advancing through the exploding fire, delivering a sword with a sword energy roaring like a dragon's cry.

"Crack!"

The thick bronze armor plate on the mecha's chest cracked, as did Guan Ya's Han Bafang Ancient Sword. At this time, Zhao Chenghuang shouted from outside the arena, "Forty-seven seconds, retreat!"

Tian Xia Gui Huo and Hong Ji-ge simultaneously used Fire Travel, and crimson flames rose, enveloping their bodies. They immediately appeared in the burning ruins.

The purpose of lighting the ruins was this.

The mecha dropped the cast iron long sword, spread its arms, and aimed at Asano Ryo and Guan Ya, who were fleeing to the edge of the square.

The left arm fired half-meter-long arrows, and the armor plate on the palm of the right arm opened, revealing a dark gun muzzle, and a flame flashed. The arrows and bullets shot toward Asano Ryo's and Guan Ya's backs respectively.

At the critical moment, Xiao Yuan, like a falcon swooping down, snatched Asano Ryo away.

The arrows brushed past the two.

On the other side, brilliant starlight rose behind Guan Ya, and Zhang Yuanqing, holding a round shield, appeared in the starlight.

Boom!

The shield blocked the bullets, but the force of the explosion pushed him back.

While Zhang Yuanqing staggered back, he took out a basin-sized, non-metallic, non-jade turntable and threw it out.

The turntable spun and landed at the mecha's feet, and the pointer spun rapidly.

After throwing the turntable, Zhang Yuanqing snapped his fingers and used Star Teleportation to escape the hundred-meter-diameter Bagua Square.

Fifty seconds had passed, and "Universal Love" punished the empty square on time.

The mecha stood blankly.

Zhang Yuanqing counted one, two, three, and then snapped his fingers, and starlight rose from in front of the mecha.

Holding a thirty-centimeter-long, large-caliber Thunderbolt Cannon, he aimed at the cracked chest and pulled the trigger.

Purple lightning quickly condensed, and a ball lightning shot out. At the same time, the armor plate on the mecha's chest slid open, and rows of gun muzzles aimed at Zhang Yuanqing, also pulling the trigger. "Puff, puff, puff…"

The dense bullets directly penetrated his body, splashing water. The Water Ghost passive attached to the Yin-Yang Magic Robe exempted him from the bullet attack.

"Boom!" The ball lightning also hit the mecha at the same time, completely tearing apart the cracked bronze armor plate.

Inside the mecha's chest was an old man with white hair. His eyes were closed, and finger-thick metal pipes were inserted into the back of his neck and chest, connecting to the devices inside the mecha.

The shattered bronze pieces cut his cheeks and body, and black-red blood flowed out. He was still closing his eyes, without any reaction.

The pointer of the Yin-Yang turntable stopped at this time, pointing to the black domain.

All of this was within Zhang Yuanqing's expectations, because he wore a lucky necklace around his neck, and the pointer was bound to point to black.

Above the Yin-Yang turntable, a dialog box that only Lingjing Xingzhe could see appeared:

[Pointer: Black]

[Note 1: Answer the turntable's question. If you answer correctly, you can turn the pointer again. Accumulate three whites to lift the ban.]

[Note 2: Those who answer incorrectly, die!]

At the same time, the sound of clicking mechanisms rang out, and "Five-man Machines" slid out of the holes in the left mountain wall, and various mechanical creations jumped out of the holes on the right.

The total number of both sides was over a hundred, far more than any previous time.

Sun Miaomiao exclaimed, "Not good, there are too many mechanical beasts this time!"