Forcefully suppressing the shock from the startling information obtained through soul search, Tang Xiaoqi knew his immediate priority was handling the Chaos Pill Fire on the verge of losing control. That flame seed's aura had turned violent due to the damaged restriction, causing the massive Bagua pill furnace to shake violently. The temperature within the entire Pill Refining Room was rapidly climbing, and even space began showing fine distortion ripples. Delaying further risked the furnace exploding and the flame seed completely losing control.
He dared not stimulate the pill fire with brute force or clever tricks again. Instead, he fully activated the Four Symbols jade pendant, unreservedly releasing that warm, peaceful power containing chaos balance meaning, like the gentlest gauze curtain, slowly wrapping around the restless chaotic flame.
Perhaps due to attraction from power of the same origin, or perhaps because the jade pendant's grade was extremely high, the originally violent Chaos Pill Fire, upon contacting the chaotic meaning emitted by the jade pendant, gradually calmed down. Though it still emitted heart-palpitating fluctuations, it no longer tried to impact the furnace and restriction. Xiao Qi seized the opportunity, using spiritual sense as a guide, supplemented by the jade pendant's power, to carefully peel this precious flame seed from the furnace bottom, slowly drawing it out, finally accepting it into his dantian qi sea, using his own Green Lotus origin and Four Symbols jade pendant's power to jointly warm and restrain it.
Only after completing all this did he let out a long breath, fine sweat already covering his temples. The subjugation process seemed smooth but was actually extremely dangerous—the slightest error would have meant setting himself on fire, body and soul annihilated.
He dared not linger here. His gaze turned to the dark purple demonic array still sealing the hall entrance. Without the banner-wielding demonic cultivator to maintain it, the array's light had dimmed considerably, yet it still stubbornly operated. Xiao Qi couldn't be bothered to expend effort breaking it—he simply summoned the newly-subdued Chaos Pill Fire. Even merely drawing out one hundred-millionth of its aura, the dark purple light curtain encountered its nemesis, issuing "sizzling" cries of distress, rapidly melting and disintegrating, completely dissipating within several breaths.
Rushing out of the Pill Refining Room, returning to that world of swirling innate cloud sea and abundant Dao rhymes, Xiao Qi dared not delay. Following the jade pendant's increasingly clear guidance and the "Chaos Hall" information from the demonic cultivator's memory, he sped toward the deepest part of the Heavenly Dao Palace.
Along the way, various wondrous sights and fortunes constantly appeared—floating medicine gardens emitting enticing exotic fragrances, artifact crafting workshops resonating with metal clashes, martial arts grounds retaining powerful battle intent Dao rhymes... But he had no time for any of them, his form transforming into a blurred stream of light, rapidly traversing between the cloud sea and celestial mountains.
However, after traveling no more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the sounds of intense combat and anxious shouts reached his ears.
He frowned slightly, not wanting to meddle in others' affairs, but when his spiritual sense swept over, he discovered those being besieged were several cultivators wearing Central Plains righteous path sect attire. And besieging them were not other cultivators or demonic creatures, but four ancient-looking bronze mechanical puppets emanating fluctuations comparable to early Nascent Soul stage!
These mechanical puppets were three zhang tall, humanoid, wielding massive bronze battle halberds. Their movements appeared stiff but were actually powerful and heavy, coordinating seamlessly. When the halberds swung, they channeled Geng-metal killing qi, forming a sharp killing array that trapped the five righteous path cultivators firmly in the center. The five cultivators, three men and two women, had their highest cultivation at merely late Golden Core stage. Now all were wounded, their body-protecting treasures' lights dim, barely holding on through a combined formation technique. Defeat was only a matter of time. Their faces were filled with despair and unwillingness—they clearly hadn't expected to fall to these lifeless puppets.
Xiao Qi's gaze swept over those mechanical puppets. He noticed a special chaos-colored crystal embedded in their chests, driving their massive bodies. Their movements were faintly connected to some law of this world—clearly not ownerless objects but rather part of the Heavenly Dao Palace's own guardian mechanisms.
He could have simply left, but seeing that unextinguished fire of survival in those cultivators' eyes, and the righteous path sect aura on their bodies, his heart stirred slightly. Opposing the demonic forces required uniting all possible strength. Moreover, these cultivators who had arrived here before him might possess intelligence he lacked.
With this thought, Xiao Qi no longer hesitated. His form flashed, appearing at the edge of the battle circle.
"Fellow Daoists, do not panic! I am Tang Xiaoqi of the Clear Void Observatory, here to assist!" He called out clearly, not immediately deploying killing weapons like the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword or Chaos Pill Fire to avoid friendly fire or alerting more puppets.
His fingers formed a sword; Guardian Sword Intent was held in reserve, transforming into several condensed platinum sword radiances that, as if possessing life, shot with extreme precision toward the key junction nodes where the four bronze puppets' killing array's energy flowed most critically!
"Puh! Puh! Puh!"
The platinum sword radiances arrived after being launched yet hit first, precisely striking their targets. That originally seamless Geng-metal killing array's operation trajectory suddenly stagnated, showing an extremely brief freeze and chaos. The four puppets' movements also showed insignificant yet fatal delays!
The trapped five cultivators were all experienced individuals—how could they miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
"Break!"
The lead late Golden Core cultivator's spirit greatly rose. He roared, the sword in his hand erupting with brilliant radiance. Together with the other four, they unleashed their strongest combined attack technique, long-accumulated, fiercely bombarding one of the puppets that had revealed a flaw due to the array's stagnation!
"Boom!"
That bronze puppet's chaos-colored crystal in its chest suffered a heavy blow, its light flashing wildly, finally "cracking" open. The puppet's massive body instantly froze, the red light in its eyes extinguished as it crashed to the ground, becoming a pile of scrap metal.
With the array broken at one corner, the threat from the remaining three puppets greatly decreased. The five cultivators' morale soared. With Xiao Qi's elusive sword radiances that always precisely interrupted the puppets' attacks, they soon worked together to destroy the remaining three puppets one by one.
The battle ended, leaving a scene of devastation, with only four powerless puppet remains.
The five cultivators, having survived the calamity, all collapsed to the ground, gasping heavily. Their gazes toward Xiao Qi were filled with gratitude and awe. They could sense that this young cultivator claiming to be from the Clear Void Observatory had unfathomable cultivation—his earlier intervention had appeared effortless, clearly not using his full strength.
The lead late Golden Core cultivator struggled to his feet, bowing deeply to Xiao Qi: "Many thanks to Fellow Daoist Tang for saving our lives! I am Zhao Mingxuan of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, and together with several junior brothers and sisters, we are endlessly grateful!" The others also hurriedly rose to bow.
"Helping fellow cultivators is only proper; Fellow Daoist Zhao need not be so formal." Xiao Qi cupped his hands in return, his tone peaceful. "Why were you surrounded by these puppets here?"
A bitter smile appeared on Zhao Mingxuan's face: "To be honest with Fellow Daoist Tang, we were fortunate enough to pass through the palace gate plaza. We originally wanted to find a place rich in Geng-metal qi to comprehend the sword Dao but mistakenly entered this area and triggered these guardian puppets. If not for Fellow Daoist's timely assistance, I fear we would have met our end here." He paused, seemingly making a decision, then took out from his robe a slightly damaged jade slip, offering it with both hands. "Fellow Daoist Tang, great kindness cannot be repaid. This is a partial regional map we several drew together during our earlier exploration. Though incomplete, it marks several dangerous areas and halls that may contain fortunes—perhaps it will help Fellow Daoist proceed. According to our investigation, the core of this region, that most magnificent hall, seems to be called—[Transmission Hall]."
Transmission Hall!
Xiao Qi's heart stirred. He accepted the jade slip, his spiritual sense sweeping through. Inside was indeed a hand-drawn partial map, much clearer than the vague guidance from his jade pendant. It marked several danger zones flashing with red light (including where they had just been in danger), and the names of several halls emitting different Dao rhyme glows. The most eye-catching one, located at the map's center, was precisely the three ancient characters "Transmission Hall."
Though rough, this map confirmed his earlier conjectures and provided more specific information.
"This item is most useful; many thanks, Fellow Daoist Zhao." Xiao Qi stored the jade slip, thanking him seriously.
"Is Fellow Daoist Tang heading to the Transmission Hall?" Zhao Mingxuan asked. Seeing Xiao Qi nod, he warned, "Fellow Daoist, please be extremely careful. The closer to the Transmission Hall, the stronger the guardian forces become. Moreover... we previously seemed to see a black shadow flash by—the aura... was very uncomfortable."
Xiao Qi's gaze sharpened. He knew the "black shadow" Zhao Mingxuan mentioned was very likely the demonic forces'"Dark Pieces."
"Many thanks for the reminder; I will take note. This place is not suitable for lingering—Fellow Daoists should also quickly find a place to heal and proceed with caution." Xiao Qi cupped his hands in farewell.
"Fellow Daoist Tang, take care!" Zhao Mingxuan and others hurriedly returned the courtesy.
Xiao Qi no longer lingered. His form transformed into flowing light, following the map's guidance, accelerating toward the Transmission Hall. Saving these people had not only gained him a map and confirmed the core hall's name, but also verified that the demonic evil was already active. The road ahead was destined to be turbulent. He had to reach the Transmission Hall as soon as possible!