Chapter 666 - 31: Ingenuity Performers and Mechanical Armor Skill

Chapter 666: Chapter 31: Ingenuity Performers and Mechanical Armor Skill

In this world, there are many legends about the "puppets."

No matter the legend, the description of puppets as lifelike and akin to living beings is undeniable.

According to legend, the performers in the Yanshi Kingdom possess highly advanced "human making arts."

Their masters can craft skin from leather, bones from wood, visceras from glue and lacquer, and simulate meridians and blood vessels using black charcoal, white clay, and cinnabar.

Ultimately, they can create puppets with complete limbs and organs that can even speak like humans.

The truth of this legend, in parts true and false, remains moot.

In any case, after the Luo Book became widespread, the technology of the Yanshi Kingdom improved substantially.

Some performers from the Yanshi Kingdom even ventured to the Hundred Lands Mountain Range to study mechanical arts and machinery from the Tao Ancestor.

The old man, however, forged a different path, choosing to come to Xingtian City, hoping to perfect his mechanical armor arts with the help of the city’s technology.

After all, Xingtian City was famed in the Fang Kingdom for its expertise in mechanical arts.

Now it has the full support of the Hundred Lands Mountain Range, and its technological reserves are comparable to those of the mountain range.

More critically, the old man believes that the Holy Demons of the Hundred Lands Group excel in many fields, and mechanical armor arts may not be highly prioritized in their eyes.

Breeding, forging, waterworks, textiles...

Medicine, raising worms, beast training, vehicle creation...

Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Talisman, Divination...

Breath control, Qi circulation, Spell, Divine Power...

Arcane arts, escape tactics, Array, Barrier...

Compared to the pure mechanized structures of mechanical armor arts, those Holy Demons seemingly prefer amalgamating these elements together.

To the traditionally-minded old man, this is evidently an insult.

In some ways, the old man’s choice of Xingtian City over the Hundred Lands Mountain Range muses over this consideration.

However, after acquiring the [Horn of Plenty] from the Mountain People, the old man regrets not initially heading to the Hundred Lands Mountain Range.

Because before this, the old man was unaware that the Mountain People possessed such a valuable artifact like the [Horn of Plenty].

It must be noted that the Yanshi Kingdom is an overseas kingdom.

Due to issues with arable land and water sources, it has consistently struggled to self-sustain food supplies.

The performers in the Yanshi Kingdom have long focused on studying "puppets" instead of more valuable large mechanical projects, partly due to their limited resources.

Even after the world’s elevating dimensions, this situation hasn’t changed significantly.

Hence, the significance of the Hundred Lands Mountain Range to the Yanshi Kingdom has never been limited to mechanical armor arts.

Those items called "Magical Treasure" by the Holy Demons are what truly can transform the future of the Yanshi Kingdom.

Whenever the old man thinks of this, he cannot help but admire the young sovereign.

It is the young sovereign’s commitment to opening up to the outside world and sending envoys to the Hundred Lands Mountain Range that led the once isolated performers of the Yanshi Kingdom to venture beyond their borders.

"Being old is ultimately being old; neither perspective nor thinking matches the young."

Sighing deeply, the old man held his granddaughter, reflecting, yet the smile on his face couldn’t be concealed.

Just then, the puppets following the old man suddenly stopped.

Before the old man could react to what was happening, one puppet, dressed as a guard, raised its arm and fired its fist at an empty spot ahead.

Phew—Boom!

Driven by high-explosive gunpowder, the iron fist broke the sound barrier instantly.

In a flash, the air ahead twisted, revealing a not-so-large beast.

"Roar!"

With a primitive roar, the beast didn’t have time to react and was smashed in half by the iron fist.

"Grandpa!?"

Instinctively holding on tighter to her grandfather, the girl whispered in surprise.

Fortunately, after years of accompanying her grandfather on his travels, the girl possessed maturity and willpower exceeding her peers.

Realizing someone was targeting them, the girl quickly pulled out a Talisman Launcher from her pocket and swiftly unlocked it.

Ka-ka-ka...

From the beast’s appearance to its being smashed in half, the whole process happened in just a few breaths.

The puppets had already formed a protective formation with the carriage, firmly shielding the grandfather and granddaughter in the center.

Even the non-combat puppets opened up their arms and cheeks, revealing conspicuous mechanical patterns and metallic sheen.

If needed, these non-combat puppets will directly leap and self-destruct against the enemy.

Considering they are powered by high-intensity fuel, their power won’t be much less than the previously fired iron fist.

"Who are you? Why do you obstruct our path?"

Seeing the formation ready, the old man finally breathed a sigh of relief, shouting sternly toward the forest ahead.

"Do you not know that this is the territory of Xingtian City?"

"If you cause trouble here, beware that once the Xingtian Guard acts, none of you will escape!"

The forest ahead was silent, with no unusual movement in response to the old man’s words.

Seeing this, the old man’s heart, originally settled, now lifted again, and his tone lost its initial assertiveness.

"Regardless of your esteemed identity, I am merely a passerby."

"If you value me, you can take all the cargo in these carriages; just spare our lives."

Saying this, a trace of pain appeared on the old man’s face.

Though the goods inside the carriage are not as valuable as the [Horn of Plenty] he is holding, they are enough to significantly improve the living conditions of the Yanshi Kingdom.

If not for sensing the hostility of the strangers, the old man would not have compromised so readily.

Unfortunately, the old man’s compromise did not earn the strangers’ goodwill, but instead provoked a burst of arrogant laughter.

"Haha, truly worthy of being an adventurous Yanshi performer."

"The courage and guts alone far surpass ordinary folks."

With this laughter, the previously dead beast began to reassemble, quickly transforming into a half-human, half-beast monster.

Simultaneously, the once silent forest rustled audibly.

Monsters similar to it emerged, their movements and behaviors as if cut from the same mold.

"I can let you go, if you willingly come with me, I promise not to harm you at all."XN

The monsters spoke in unison, creating an eerie and chilling scene.

At the very least, the girl in the old man’s arms was trembling in fright, and her hand holding the Talisman Launcher was unsteady.

"Lords... I ask only for a chance to live."

The old man’s unease grew stronger, yet his words remained steady.

"Take me with you, but not my granddaughter, please?"

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