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Chapter 609: Chapter 615: The Price
Even if a Nascent Soul True Lord wasn’t a match for that fourth-rank puppet, there were other cultivators who could help!
With numerous cultivators joining forces, the puppet would inevitably be defeated.
Even though Li Zhiyue was still worried, after traveling for several months, even without encountering any dangers or setbacks, the toll on her body and spirit was not insignificant, and she needed a good rest to recover.
A few days later, Li Zhiyue left the temporary lodging of the inn, her mind heavy as she headed straight for the ruins.
When she saw the large rock she had used to block the entrance was still in its original place, her heart immediately eased.
Not only had Li Zhiyue sealed the entrance with gravel, but she also specifically embedded a large rock inside as a marker. Now that the marker was intact, it meant that these ruins had not been discovered by other cultivators.
It took her a full fifteen minutes to clear the gravel and rock, and as she gazed at the thick stone door exposed to daylight once more, Li Zhiyue felt an unbidden surge of tension and fear, as if warning her not to enter, or she would be in danger!
Boom, rumble—
The stone door, as if sensing someone’s arrival, slowly opened with a low rumble.
Li Zhiyue stood at the threshold between light and darkness, hesitating for a long time, but ultimately took the steps forward into the cave.
The third-rank puppet that she had previously dispatched had reappeared! Its aura and strength were not much different, only its appearance varied slightly.
Facing this puppet, Li Zhiyue was able to dispose of it more easily, defeating it in just half an hour, turning the previously intact puppet into scattered fragments.
And just like before, she once again obtained a fine third-rank Spiritual Object.
"Phew!"
Gazing into the dark path ahead, Li Zhiyue slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, knowing that her next actions would be very dangerous, where a slight mishap could result in serious injury or even death!
But for the sake of her path, once she had fully recovered, Li Zhiyue resolutely continued forward.
Soon, she saw the fourth-rank puppet that had been sitting motionless on the ground for over a decade, unchanged.
Without any hesitation, perhaps wanting to catch it off guard, Li Zhiyue immediately deployed her Life-bound Magic Treasure and summoned two Spirit Beasts to launch their strongest attack.
Three terrifying Divine Powers, like the roaring waves of the sea, where they passed the mud churned, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, rushing towards the puppet.
However, the surprise attack that Li Zhiyue had placed so much hope in did not have any effect!
The puppet raised its Treasured Sword and slashed downwards fiercely, the waves instantly parting to flow around it, leaving it unharmed.
Li Zhiyue’s expression grew more solemn; she knew the opponent was very strong, but it was only after engaging in battle that she realized she had underestimated it!
Yet seeing the two third-grade Spirit Beasts by her side gave Li Zhiyue some confidence; maybe they still stood a chance!
These thoughts flashed through her mind instantaneously, as Li Zhiyue could not afford to be distracted, especially in a battle with a puppet more powerful than herself.
"Slash!"
The puppet emitted a dull mechanical sound and, brandishing its Treasured Sword, it sent forth a sword light that shattered all of Li Zhiyue’s defenses in one fell swoop!
Fortunately, in the critical moment, she activated a fourth-rank Defensive Talisman, which saved her from the strike.
Still, Li Zhiyue was shaken. It was by the barest of margins! The sword light was just a fraction from falling on her head and ending her life!
It was also because of this sword strike that she fully recognized the vast gap between her and a Nascent Soul, snapping Li Zhiyue from her unrealistic fantasies.
She had actually thought that combining the power of three Golden Cores could defeat the opponent; now it seemed like a wild and fanciful daydream!
Li Zhiyue’s face showed a bitter smile, a desire to retreat already formed in her heart. Right away, she gathered the two Spirit Beasts and tried to escape using the Earth Escape Talisman while the fourth-level Defensive Talisman was still active.
But unexpectedly, no matter how much Mana she infused, the talisman remained unresponsive!
Since these life-saving Spiritual Objects were purchased from the great trade association, they absolutely wouldn’t fail, leaving only one possibility...
Within the ruins, there existed some kind of Divine Power or Formation that restricted escape techniques!
At this realization, Li Zhiyue’s heart was instantaneously flooded with fear, because she knew that with her own strength, it was impossible to escape from her opponent!
The puppet lacking Spiritual Intelligence wouldn’t care about all this, its preset programming making it continue its attack, just as strong as the previous sword strike.
Crack—
It was only the second Sword Qi that completely shattered the Defensive Spirit Light!
Luckily, it also fully neutralized the Sword Qi.
Li Zhiyue knew she couldn’t just sit and wait for death. Immediately, she stirred her Mana, turned her body around, and began to sprint madly towards the cave entrance, simultaneously clutching the third-level Heavenly Thunder Pearl tightly in her hand—it was her last resort for survival!
She knew she wouldn’t be able to hold onto the Heavenly Thunder Pearl, so after making some distance, she decisively activated it and threw it behind her.
Boom—
A thunderous explosion burst forth in the spacious tunnel, not causing any damage but only kicking up a cloud of dust.
Li Zhiyue hoped the Heavenly Thunder Pearl would at least damage the fourth-level puppet, buying her a little time to escape!
But the result left her extremely disappointed.
The puppet seemed completely unaffected, raising the giant sword in its hand and chopping down.
The Sword Qi roared with the breath of death, racing towards Li Zhiyue, filling her heart with fear. If not for her overwhelming desire to live, her current state might have been overwhelmed by the Sword Qi.
To survive, she detonated all her Magical Treasures, except for her Life-bound Magic Treasure, hoping to block this wave of Sword Qi.
The self-destruction of each Magical Treasure inflicted significant damage on her Spiritual Soul, which would likely require several years of recovery, but she could no longer care about that.
She had already seen the light at the cave entrance!
The light that symbolized hope, the light that meant she could survive!
As long as she could block this strike, she would be safe!
In Li Zhiyue’s senses, the piercing Sword Qi vanished, and her heart suddenly surged with ecstasy, knowing she was safe!
But before she could rejoice for long, her Spirit Sense suddenly went wild, a fatal aura chasing her at an incredibly fast speed.
"Ah!"
Li Zhiyue’s body halted for a moment, half-raising her torso, and let out a piercing scream. Under the erosion of that suddenly appearing, sinister Spirit Light, her right leg had evaporated completely!
At this moment, she was only a single step away from leaving the ruins!
Truly just one step! If she could have just a fraction of a moment longer, no! Just half a moment, Li Zhiyue would have been able to leave the cavern!
However, in the end, she still couldn’t make it out and paid a steep price for it!
