Chapter 121 - 106: The Fifth Form of the Tathagata Divine Palm, Flower-Blooming Buddha

Chapter 121: Chapter 106: The Fifth Form of the Tathagata Divine Palm, Flower-Blooming Buddha

The eighteen bronze men were all at the [B] level of strength.

In this narrow, underground grand hall, their coordination was even more absurd.

However, their purpose was to test people, not kill them.

Even if someone were to wander in by mistake, the worst that would happen is they’d get their legs broken and be thrown out.

A true Shoushan Temple Martial Monk only needed to be around the [C+] level to pass.

If they could last fifteen minutes against them, the three doors at the back would open. This counted as passing the trial, allowing them to choose any one of the inheritances behind the doors to learn.

According to the player guides, however, you’d best be at the [B-] level to guarantee a safe pass.

Otherwise, poor execution could easily lead to failure.

Once he was ready, Zhang Ji stepped into the grand hall.

The next moment, the massive gate behind him slammed shut.

"BOOM—!"

Like the hall itself, the gate was forged from black iron, making it incomparably durable. An average B-rank expert could, at most, leave a mark on it, but they couldn’t actually break through.

The moment Zhang Ji’s gravity affected the floor, the eighteen bronze men activated.

Golden energy-laced patterns lit up across their bodies, revealing intricate designs.

Those were formation arrays—technology the Child Venerable had brought back from the Otherworld.

He had also used this Otherworld technology to create these bronze Puppets.

Just then, one of the bronze men moved, sweeping its black iron staff outward.

"SWOOSH—!"

Zhang Ji wanted to test its strength, so instead of dodging, he met the incoming staff with his fist.

"CLANG—!"

Zhang Ji didn’t budge. The black iron staff was knocked aside, and the bronze man slid back.

Before Zhang Ji could counter, the remaining seventeen bronze men sprang into action.

"SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH—!"

Seventeen black iron staffs swept out in unison, unleashing a chaotic barrage on Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji moved quickly, dodging and periodically throwing out a punch, a palm strike, or a kick to parry the incoming staffs.

He faced the eighteen bronze men alone, feeling no pressure at all.

Meanwhile, the eighteen bronze men’s attacks were escalating.

They had a very simple mechanism: they would continuously increase their power in response to the force exerted by their opponent.

Their power capped out at the [B] level.

As Zhang Ji repelled them, their power quickly rose to the B-rank level.

Now, every sweep of their staffs was accompanied by powerful wind pressure, and their force was far beyond what an ordinary person could withstand.

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—!"

The flurry of strikes hammered into the black iron floor, leaving numerous dents.

Zhang Ji tensed his muscles, raising a hand to catch one of the staffs. His knees bent slightly from the force.

"Let’s see who’s stronger!"

Zhang Ji’s right arm erupted with force. He used the staff to hoist the bronze man into the air, then swung it around like a weapon.

"WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—!"

"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG—!"

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—!"

The other staffs all hammered into the body of the one he held, while Zhang Ji continued to swing it, smashing it against the others.

Each swing sent them flying, smashing them violently against the wall over a hundred meters away.

But these bronze men were truly durable. Even after such a beating from Zhang Ji, they weren’t damaged. ℴ

After crashing into the black iron wall, they were back on their feet and attacking Zhang Ji again in less than a breath’s time.

"These Puppets made with (Epic) materials really are tough!" Zhang Ji exclaimed.

He was right. When these bronze men were forged, an (Epic) material called "Copper of Mount Shou" had been added.

There wasn’t much of it, but it was enough to give them a coating that was nearly indestructible.

Not even Zhang Ji’s Spirit particles could penetrate this coating.

Normally, it was impossible to break this coating without mastering a special combat technique or possessing A-rank strength.

If the Vajra Sect had been able to enter this Ruins Realm and gain control of these eighteen bronze men, they never would have been annihilated.

They might have even been able to turn the tables and rule the Eastern Extreme Country.

However, gaining control of the eighteen bronze men was extremely difficult. One had to learn and master the first form of the Tathagata Divine Palm, [Merciful Salvation], in order to modify them using the Palm Skill.

"BUZZZZ! BOOM! BANG!"

Zhang Ji tossed aside the bronze man he was holding. A buzzing sound emanated from his body as he punched another, sending it flying into the wall.

Yet, after only a moment on the ground, it got right back up.

That had been Zhang Ji’s strongest punch in his normal state.

But it still hadn’t damaged the bronze man. Instead, another dent appeared on the black iron wall where it had crashed.

’If I want to disable them, I’ll probably have to use a Spirit Strike.’

’The Divine Dragon Wave and Wind God Kick probably won’t be enough.’

’The compressed Yuan Qi I used just now didn’t break their defense at all; it only pushed one of them back.’

"CLICK! CLACK!"

Suddenly, with the sound of whirring mechanisms, all eighteen bronze men froze mid-motion, stuck in their poses of attacking Zhang Ji.

Behind the statue of the three-headed, eight-armed, demon-subduing Vajra, three large doors swung open.

Zhang Ji let out a long breath.

’These eighteen bronze men were no threat to me, but the fact that I couldn’t destroy them was annoying.’

Zhang Ji strode across the hall to the three large doors at the far end.

"Mercy, Solemnity, or Wrath? As if I have to choose. I’ll take them all, of course!" Zhang Ji said.

’If I go in one, I’ll come out through a different exit.’

’But there’s no rule against repeat challenges.’

’So, after I go through one door, I can just come back and do it again.’

Still, for his first choice, Zhang Ji picked the [Gate of Wrath]—the same one recommended in the guide he’d read.

He stepped through the gateway, and the large door behind him immediately slammed shut, blocking his path back.

The black iron door was over a meter thick. It would be quite difficult for Zhang Ji to break it open or lift it.