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Chapter 300: Chapter 297 Cheng Ying Mecha
Zhang Lihuo, Si Tianyan, Guan Xingyun, and Xiang Fengyun immediately understood Zhang Yukan’s meaning.
Their gazes also fell on the Cheng Ying Mecha.
However, whether to proceed or not still had to be decided by Gu Jinlai in the end.
Should they continue to take advantage of the limitless spiritual quantity to stockpile some nuclear raw material rods, or...
Take a gamble on the opening time of the Demon Realm Rift and attempt to Co-spirit with the Cheng Ying Mecha.
"Depending on their size, the Demon Realm Rifts open and close at different times. Small rifts may only open for a few minutes, but large rifts can remain open for tens of minutes, even over ten minutes. That’s why large rifts are so dangerous," Zhang Yukan said solemnly.
"This rift is nearly surpassing the level of a large Demon Realm Rift. I estimate that its final opening period will exceed an hour. Given that it’s only been half an hour since the rift opened, we should hopefully still have twenty to thirty minutes," she continued.
She was the one among the Heavenly Masters who had delved most deeply into the study of Demon Realm Rifts, so her words carried a certain persuasive power.
"The opening time for the Demon Realm Rift at Qiushan Mountain is approaching as well. Besides, the existing nuclear material rods should temporarily suffice as long as we are not engaged in prolonged combat," Gu Jinlai added.
Gu Jinlai made his decision quickly, "Focus all efforts on Co-spiriting with the Cheng Ying Mecha!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Lihuo, Si Tianyan, Guan Xingyun, and the others were instantly uplifted.
They were all aware that even though the Mystic Bird Fighting Machine was a major destructive force, its primary role was aerial and long-range combat.
In head-on confrontations, it was the Cheng Ying Mecha that had the truly decisive power.
Only by manufacturing the Cheng Ying Mecha could Lingxiao City truly possess the capability to contend with the Divine Weapon Forces.
Lingxiao City could thus be considered to have truly entered the ranks of the top powers of the Qiantian World.
Without delay, Gu Jinlai moved the Cheng Ying Mecha in front of the Demon Realm Rift.
As soon as he destroyed the Demon Spirits emerging from the rift, the Heavenly Masters would swiftly absorb and refine the spiritual energy dissipating from the dead Demon Spirits and infuse the purified spiritual energy into the Cheng Ying Mecha.
Instantly, the mecha began to change at an extremely fast pace.
If the Cheng Ying Mecha prior to this was akin to an image wrought by an iron smith with successive hammer strikes, its interior structure and energy flow layout were nonexistent or merely for show. But now, these outlines were rapidly becoming reality.
In this process of transformation, the design of the Cheng Ying Mecha also became increasingly sci-fi, resplendent with glowing light and electric sparks, and brimming with dazzling colors.
Especially the metallic beauty of its surface would excite any sci-fi enthusiast upon seeing it.
First the limbs, then the head, and finally the torso...
From the inside out, the Cheng Ying Mecha was undergoing tremendous changes.
"Good! Good! Good!" Zhang Lihuo’s eyes were filled with anticipation and joy, "I cannot wait to see what kind of might the complete version of the Cheng Ying Mecha will possess."
Gu Jinlai felt the same.
Although this version of the Cheng Ying Mecha was simplified, lacking the need for a Nuclear Fusion Reactor and therefore requiring less Co-spirit involvement, the mecha, crafted purely from Immortal Essence Gold, achieved an unparalleled level of defense.
Furthermore, due to the characteristics of Immortal Essence Gold, he no longer needed to worry about his sword being unable to withstand the ferocious power of the Eternal Furnace, which could lead to its destruction.
Even if it were destroyed, there would be no problem; it could simply be repaired with Immortal Essence Gold.
That was precisely why Immortal Essence Gold was considered the best material for casting a Sacred Body.
Every strike being a nuclear explosion was about to become a reality.
He was quite impatient too.
"As long as the Demon Realm Rift maintains its opening for another fifteen to twenty minutes, the Cheng Ying Mecha will surely be fully completed," Gu Jinlai estimated.
As another Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit struggled out of the Demon Realm Rift, Gu Jinlai effortlessly cast the Eternal Heavenly Curse, and with a fierce burst of bright light, he pierced through the body of the demon in an instant.
Followed by the Great Sun Eternal Radiance Technique.
Brilliant light carrying spiritual energy showered upon the demon, causing its massive body to rapidly dissolve.
Just like the first Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit, this one would also follow suit within three to four seconds.
But just then, as the catastrophically wounded demon spirit screamed in agony, it did not choose to break free from the splendidly lit area saturated with thick spiritual energy. Instead, it abruptly turned and charged toward the Demon Realm Rift.
This sudden change took Gu Jinlai by surprise.
Fleeing? The Demon Spirit... was actually fleeing?
But then he realized that it wasn’t so strange for a Demon Spirit with intelligence to choose to retreat back through the rift upon sensing an overwhelmingly powerful and terrifying enemy on the other side.
Immediately, he shouted, "Zhang Lihuo!"
With his reminder, the Great Sun Core envisioned by Zhang Lihuo shone brilliantly, and the abundant spiritual energy swept up flames within the core, forming a massive laser beam that struck the Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit.
This was a Soul Secret Technique akin to the Eternal Heavenly Curse.
However...
Compared to Gu Jinlai, Zhang Lihuo, who had only reached the Seventh Refinement of the Grand Sun Nine Refinement Visualization Method, obviously did not achieve the desired effect with the Soul Secret Technique he cast.
Even though he had blasted away much of the demon’s body, scattering its spirit energy in all directions, a remnant of the demon’s corpse was still dragged by the demon back into the rift.
This scene caused Gu Jinlai’s expression to turn a bit solemn.
And in his heart, a worrying thought started to surface—a thought that would soon become reality.
Gone.
No more Demon Spirits surged forth from the Demon Realm Rift.
With the escape of the Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit into the Demon Realm Rift, those continuous streams of experience monsters...
Stopped.
Clearly, having witnessed such a powerful Heavenly Monarch here, these Demon Spirits had realized that continuing to cross the Demon Realm Rift into the "human world" was simply a death sentence.
"These Demon Spirits actually..."
Zhang Lihuo’s face showed some displeasure, and his gaze involuntarily shifted to the Cheng Ying Mecha.
Under normal circumstances, the Cheng Ying Mecha could have been successfully refined in one step.
But now, with no Demon Spirits emerging and no spiritual energy released upon their deaths...
The Cheng Ying Mecha could not be refined.
"I have read in some ancient texts that during the most prosperous period of the Heavenly Master Civilization a thousand years ago, every opening of the Demon Realm Rift was a banquet for the Heavenly Master Civilization. It was the Heavenly Master Civilization that attacked the Demon Spirits of the Demon Realm, not the Demon Spirits descending into our human world. In fact, every time the Demon Realm Rift appeared, the Demon Spirits would be trembling with fear... Occasionally, a few Demon Spirits would come out through the rift and, upon realizing that a large number of Heavenly Masters and Heavenly Monarchs awaited them, would flee back as fast as they could..."
Zhang Yukan said softly.
His tone carried a hint of regret.
The Demon Spirits dared not come again, and the Cheng Ying Mecha was short on spiritual energy.
"Although the Cheng Ying Mecha has not been refined, the eight Mystic Bird Fighting Machines have been modified, and we have met our expected goal,"
Guan Xingyun commented.
Si Tianyan nodded, "We had originally approached this with the mindset that if we could co-spirit with the Cheng Ying Mecha, that would be great, but if not, we wouldn’t be at a loss. Now that the co-spirit level of the Cheng Ying Mecha has surpassed sixty percent... With the help of the Ten Thousand Spirit Array and the Primordial Spirit Pill, even without the Demon Spirits emerging from the Demon Realm Gap, we still have confidence in completing the refinement of the Cheng Ying Mecha within two to three years..."
"No!"
Gu Jinlai looked at the Demon Realm Rift, "Today we will complete the refinement of the Cheng Ying Mecha!"
"But..."
Just as Zhang Lihuo was about to say something, he seemed to realize something, and his pupils suddenly contracted, "Venerable Daoist, you intend to..."
"Exactly."
Gu Jinlai sensed his own Spiritual Sense condition and without hesitation infused a beam of Qingguang into his True Spirit, which immediately began to recover spiritual energy at an extremely fast pace.
"Time waits for no one. If the Heavenly Master Civilization could invade the Demon Realm and slaughter Demon Spirits time and time again a thousand years ago, we can do the same,"
Gu Jinlai said firmly.
"To invade the Demon Realm..."
Zhang Lihuo, Zhang Yukan, Si Tianyan, Guan Xingyun, and Xiang Fengyun all looked wary yet intrigued.
This was a feat that no one had been able to accomplish since the fall of the Holy Land.
At least, that was the case in the Qiantian World.
If they truly managed to invade the Demon Realm...
They would be the first Heavenly Masters to set foot in the Demon Realm in a thousand years.
"The Demon Realm is perilous, and no one knows what kind of dangers lurk on the other side, so whether or not to follow me into the Demon Realm, I will not insist..."
Gu Jinlai said.
But before he could finish, Zhang Lihuo spoke solemnly, "Wherever the Venerable Daoist goes, as the Venerable Daoist of our Great Sun Heavenly Sect, it should be us facing such perils on your behalf. If you’ve decided to enter the Demon Realm, we can’t let you brave the dangers alone."
"The Demon Realm... During the Holy Sanctuary Era a thousand years ago, even then, not many Heavenly Masters ventured into the Demon Realm. Now that we have a chance to go to the Demon Realm, how could I miss out?"
Si Tianyan followed.
"The Venerable Daoist is the spiritual pillar of every Heavenly Master in not only the Great Sun Heavenly Sect but also the entire Lingxiao City. Wherever the Venerable Daoist is, that’s where we will be,"
Zhang Yukan also immediately declared his position.
Xiang Fengyun and Guan Xingyun exchanged a glance and then solemnly nodded.
The Demon Realm!
"Then good!"
Gu Jinlai did not hesitate.
He too had read about the Demon Realm in some ancient texts.
A thousand years ago, creators in the Holy Land waged war on the Demon Realm more than once.
Although the Demon Realm was home to countless Demon Spirits, since the creators could wage war in the Demon Realm a thousand years ago, and he was only one step away from the Creation Realm, entering the Demon Realm now, even with all its dangers, wouldn’t leave him completely powerless.
Moreover, the Demon Realm Gap lay just behind him.
If truly insurmountable foes were to confront him in the Demon Realm, he could simply retreat back through the gap.
He did not believe that the Demon Spirits could instantly kill a Heavenly Monarch like him who had touched the edge of the "True Spirit Realm."
With that thought, he immediately said, "I will leave the seed of the True Spirit Projection Technique behind and enter the Demon Realm first. If the situation is too dire, I will retreat as quickly as possible, but if the danger is within an acceptable range, I will notify you, and you can then bring the Cheng Ying Mecha to join me."
"Yes."
The several Great Heavenly Masters promised in unison.
"Venerable Daoist, be careful,"
Zhang Lihuo cautioned him once more.
Gu Jinlai nodded, looking at the dark, profound Demon Realm Rift before him, not hesitating for an instant, he stepped forward into the rift.
