Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1515 - 18: Ti Yuan Divine Power! Unlucky Zeng Zhuo: Who’s Growing Mushrooms Here?
Zhao Xing's mastery over the Essence Stripping Divine Needle increased significantly, his proficiency soaring.
The mushrooms thrown out became more numerous.
Immersed in cultivation, oblivious to the passage of time.
Until one day, Jing Yan suddenly sent a message to Zhao Xing: "Mr. Zhao, I've run into some trouble."
"I'm coming."
Zhao Xing casually discarded the mushrooms, then ingested an Earth God Pill.
As the Earth God Pill entered the sea of consciousness, it suddenly transformed into a sword, held by the Life Soul.
"Buzz!"
The previously established oath constraints were effortlessly severed.
Zhao Xing altered his own aura and appearance, then re-entered the fourth checkpoint area.
...
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing and Jing Yan were exploring the seven tomb palace complexes.
At the outermost area, the Star Wheel Maze.
"Brother Zeng, we need to speed up." Wang Yun looked at Zeng Zhuo, "A third of the three-year deadline set by Housekeeper Hong has already passed, and we've only just cleared the first checkpoint."
"This tomb does have its mysteries." Zeng Zhuo sighed, "It's not easy to excavate."
The bosses above just speak a word, and those below have to run their legs off.
If the requirement were just to break through, it would be easier.
For a violent breakthrough, Mechanical Master Zeng Zhuo has a heap of methods, Yuetan Marquis Mansion has the equipment, and the manpower.
However, Hong Qi wants Miss Lu Yuehan to feel accomplished, demanding 'half-broken not broken.'
Needing to lower the difficulty of opening the tomb, yet not completely breaking it open, also preserving the array itself as much as possible.
Where can you reason with that?
But difficult or not, the work must be done.
If Zeng Zhuo doesn't do it, someone else will.
"I'll speed things up." Zeng Zhuo said, "I'll have to rely on Brother Wang."
"My strength is weak, afraid I won't be much help to Brother Zeng, leaving this matter in Brother Zeng's hands, I believe Brother Zeng can solve it." Wang Yun avoided taking responsibility.
As Zeng Zhuo is the main person in charge, if progress is fast, he will increase his involvement.
But seeing that Zeng Zhuo might not succeed, he intends to shirk responsibility.
Zeng Zhuo inwardly cursed 'scoundrel,' yet still had to accompany with a smile.
After all, a Fate Master cannot be offended, Wang Yun often appearing before Hong Qi and Miss, speaking even slightly ill of him would be too damaging.
Seeing that a third of the time has passed, Zeng Zhuo had no choice but to take personal action.
His research on the array was deep, but actual combat power was not strong.
In one year and one month, Zeng Zhuo finally adjusted the Star Wheel Maze to a reasonable degree.
Lu Yuehan is at the early stage of the Second Realm, if she puts in effort, she can break the array.
Then, Zeng Zhuo arrived at the Puppet Avenue of the second checkpoint.
"Why is this checkpoint so difficult again?"
Zeng Zhuo frowned deeply.
Puppet Avenue, with surrounding towers numbering in the thousands, hosting numerous Second Realm puppets inside.
Thousands of puppets, combining with the array to attack, Lu Yuehan would be overwhelmed.
Originally it wasn't so hard, but after Jing Yan's military prohibition, this puppet array's power evolved, raised a notch.
"(´ο｀*))) Sigh."
Zeng Zhuo sighed, feeling that after completing this workload, his lifespan would diminish.
After another half a year, Zeng Zhuo was busy and finally suppressed the power of Puppet Avenue to a level Lu Yuehan could manage.
He couldn't modify the puppet array, instead adopting similar blockade methods to Jing Yan's.
Also crafted puppets matching those in the towers, yet only First Realm Perfect puppets.
"Anyway, she wouldn't notice, feign it and pass!" Zeng Zhuo internally complained.
Another half year passed, Zeng Zhuo dared not pause, proceeding onwards.
The third checkpoint is the Corrosion Space.
Due to Zhao Xing leaving the Corrosion Space for a period, the effect of Purple Light Eight Epochs maintained a while then slowly faded.
Now, like before, gray mist pervades, the swamp obstructs, blocking Zeng Zhuo and his party.
Of course, the difficulty has lessened considerably compared to before, after all, the nature of Purple Light Eight Epochs differs from the military prohibition, causing some permanent effects here.
"First exploration party, enter, return no later than a month."
Zeng Zhuo ordered.
"Yes!"
A month later, Zeng Zhuo frowned.
Why haven't they returned? Could there have been an accident?
An accident is normal, communication here is blocked, no feedback, he considered normal.
"Second exploration party, proceed!"
Zeng Zhuo intensified the exploration, the team composition and equipment were more thorough, mostly seasoned Second Realm.
In the second month.
Roars echoed from the depths of the mist.
Ultimately, only one Mechanical Puppet returned.
"Zzzzzz~"
Zeng Zhuo touched the Mechanical Puppet, revealing a glimpse of fragmented footage.
"Huh? The second team isn't dead, they're still alive... but why haven't they returned?"
"How could this trial be so bizarre?"
"My men are equipped with the finest Star Dao Soldiers, yet none have returned, what exactly happened?"
Zeng Zhuo couldn't help but take a deep breath.
As the time set by Hong Qi approached, Zeng Zhuo gritted his teeth.
"I'll go in personally!"
"Report to Lord Hong, tell him everything as it is here!"
"Yes."
Zeng Zhuo donned his mechanical battle armor and set off for the corrupted space.
He didn't bring any followers because he was already in the Third Realm, and since there were survivors from the second team, it proved that the third stage should be between the strength of the Third and Second Realms.
Zeng Zhuo wasn't a fool; he had some confidence.
"Rumble~ Rumble~"
The giant puppet flew at low altitude, the surrounding swamp bubbling continuously, green vapors drifting, and strings of information flashed before Zeng Zhuo's eyes.
"Area's average chaos index is eighty-five."
"Toxin index seventy-five, with seventy-six modes of toxin invasion..."
"Spiritual Energy Index is nine, with all spiritual energy containing toxins, rendering it entirely unusable."
"That's not right."
Zeng Zhuo frowned. Just looking at the data now, it shouldn't have been difficult for the teams he sent ahead.
"Scanning the area for life presence..."
Zeng Zhuo began moving laterally.
Suddenly—
"Bang!"
The feet of his mechanical battle armor seemed to collide with something.
"Hmm?"
Zeng Zhuo instinctively stomped down.
Mushy.
He immediately ascended in altitude.
But at this moment, he caught a scent.
"What?!"
Zeng Zhuo was startled. He had his barrier active, how did this scent get in?!
He rapidly ascended while looking down.
However, he had barely ascended a kilometer when he struck something above.
"Boom!"
A powerful impact instantly sent Zeng Zhuo flying.
It seemed as though something had exploded!
[Warning, 'Pao Yue' barrier reduced to fifty percent!]
[Unknown toxin infiltration detected—]
"Analyze the source of the attack!" Zeng Zhuo shouted.
[Analysis indicates the attacker of 'Pao Yue' is: Peak stage plant life 'Illusion Star Mushroom' (75%)]
"Impossible!"
"Illusion Star Mushrooms are, at most, Second Realm? Can they really be this powerful?!" Zeng Zhuo doubted his ears.
"Bang!"
Even before he finished speaking, Zeng Zhuo was struck by another explosion from a different direction.
"Analyze the source of the attack..."
[Analysis indicates the attacker of 'Pao Yue' is: Peak stage plant life 'Illusion Star Mushroom' (65%)]
"More mushrooms?"
Zeng Zhuo was a bit dumbfounded.
He was a Third Realm practitioner, albeit with small divine powers and lacking in combat abilities, but he considered himself fairly well-rounded.
"Pao Yue Tenzo!"
Zeng Zhuo unleashed his small divine power, a detection-type mechanical divine power.
[Regional map has been analyzed!]
"Buzz~"
A three-dimensional topographic map covering a billion miles appeared in Zeng Zhuo's eyes.
He saw a variety of mushroom plants growing in the gray mist, some were so dark they were purple, hidden within the Taiyin Origin.
Some mushrooms had grown arm-like appendages, opening their huge mouths to devour another mushroom.
Some were splitting as if giving birth, falling from the caps...
What Zeng Zhuo saw was a gigantic and eerie mushroom forest!
"Heavens, where on earth have I come to?" was Zeng Zhuo's first reaction.
"This mushroom forest is newly planted by someone!" was Zeng Zhuo's second reaction, as the soil beneath the mushroom forest was mostly fresh.
"Boom boom!"
Further away, a succession of explosions occurred, forming a Taiyin Origin that looked like a sea of purple-black fire, the shockwave sweeping across Pao Yue's mechanical armor.
Zeng Zhuo's breath caught, his vision went dark, and he completely passed out.
"Damn, who the hell is planting mushrooms here!" was Zeng Zhuo's last thought before losing consciousness.
