Chapter 354: Chapter 354. Entering the Portal

“His cultivation is at the Peak Transformation Stage, so he can’t go in the portal,” Ji Zhi informed the students about Shi Zi.

“Yea, yea. I know your cultivation is higher than mine,” Shi Zi told Ji Zhi. Ji Zhi shook his head again.

“If the battle puppet is already defunct, then the power source should be useless already, shouldn’t it?” Yan Long asked.

“Power source is different from the fuel,” Shi Zi explained. “Fuel mostly came from aer stone. I can repower the power source as long as it remains intact.”

“You mentioned the possibility of a working puppet inside,” Amon said. “How do you suppose we get a high-tier runic battle puppet for you? I don’t suppose it will come with us willingly. We are not its opponent.”

A high-tier runic battle puppet had a battle power equivalent to a Lord Stage cultivator.

“Yeah. If we can get such a battle puppet, there is no need for you to build one anymore,” Tuang Yin added.

“Every battle puppet had different programming. Even if you can bring me one, it doesn’t mean I can reprogram it to follow my command. However, I can cut it up to take its power source.” Shi Zi said. “As for how you can get one such working battle puppet safely, have no worry. I got you covered.”

Shi Zi presented them with a strange small device.

“This is among the artifacts where I discovered the portal box,” Shi Zi said. “From my study of the notes accompanying this device, I can tell you this device is a remote safety measure to shut down the battle puppets behind that portal. Well, the notes also give extensive warnings not to intrude on the sealed dimension inside this box, but there is nothing to worry about. Anyway, all you need to do with this safety device is insert your aether to activate it. You then point it at the battle puppet you want to deactivate, and it will shut down.”

“Pretty simple,” Wong Cou remarked.

“However, it only has enough juice for one-time usage,” Shi Zi warned. “So, make it count. Only use it once you confirm the target is a high-tier runic battle puppet.”

“How can we know it? Do we let it attack us first?” Wu Di asked. “If it has the power of a Lord Stage cultivator, we will die the instant it makes a move.”

“Don’t worry. I have plenty of experience as an appraiser. I should know the battle puppet’s grade from a single look,” Sima Fang informed.

“You youngsters worry too much,” Shi Zi said. “High-grade battle puppets consume tremendous energy even if they are not moving. Any battle puppets inside this pocket world are most likely shut down already. You almost certainly will be hauling back a defunct battle puppet. It is an easy job!”

“Is it?” Amon asked. “Didn’t you say the previous ten before us had failed to do the job? What happened to them?”

“Did I mention that?” Shi Zi asked.

Everyone nodded.

“Okay, I will come clean. I did hire another team before you,” Shi Zi admitted. “But they were just mercenaries, they couldn’t be compared to you, Royal Academy students. Where they failed, you will succeed.”

“What dangers are inside this pocket world?” Sima Fang asked.

“I don’t know for sure since I can’t enter. From the testimony I got from the two survivors of the previous team, this pocket world is filled with traps and hostile battle puppets.”

“So, the battle puppets are still in working condition,” Xin Wuming said.

“Only the low-grade ones,” Shi Zi quickly said. “The ones the previous team encountered are all high-tier engraved battle puppets, which are right the alley of Transformation Stage cultivators like yourselves. As I said, high-grade battle puppets consume tremendous energy, but low-grade ones do not. So, it isn’t strange for low-grade battle puppets to still function inside the pocket world. Runic-grade battle puppets in all likelihood should be non-operational already.”

“High-tier engraved battle puppets? Isn’t that the grade of the battle puppet we faced during the entrance exam?” Wong Cou asked.

“We are much stronger since then. We might not be able to defeat it that time, but it should be no problem for us now,” Yan Long said.

“He defeated one during the entrance exam,” Sima Fang pointed at Amon.

Yan Long’s face turned into a scowl when he was reminded of the fact.

“Even if we are good enough to deal with high-tier engraved battle puppets, I don’t think it will be easy. The previous team had cultivation levels like ours, didn’t they? Only two out of ten survived. This means it is not an easy task,” Tuang Yin said.

“I already said those low lives couldn’t be compared to Royal Academy students like you, didn’t I? What more do you want me to say?” Shi Zi said with displeasure. “Are you going to take the mission or continue whining?”

“It is never an easy mission. That’s why we bring the best and grant such generous rewards for mission completion,” Ji Zhi added.

“Did the two survivors describe what they encountered inside?” Amon asked.

“Uh… I chase them out for failing after paying their fair share,” Shi Zi answered. “All I know from their ramblings are what I’ve told you.”

“I guessed we will just have to work with that,” Sima Fang shook her head with a weak laugh.

“So, which of you should I give this device to?” Shi Zi asked.

“The team leader should decide,” Ji Zhi said.

“Does anyone else have the confidence to appraise a high-tier runic battle puppet?” Sima Fang asked. When no one answered, she said, “If that is the case, I will take the device. We may only have a split second to use the device if our target is still operational. I won’t have the time to give the order. It’s better for me to act directly.”

Shi Zi gave the device to Sima Fang.

“Everyone ready to go?” Sima Fang asked.

“Are you sure you all don’t want to take a rest first before entering that portal?” Ji Zhi asked.

Yan Long was about to suggest that perhaps they should take one night of sleep before entering, but Wu Di spoke first.

“We had enough rest during our flight to this place. We are not wussies who need to take a rest when we haven’t fought a single battle. Ain’t that right, friends?”

Sima Fang stifled a laugh. With how Wu Di put it, anyone who wanted to rest could no longer propose it without feeling ashamed. Yan Long’s face was red with annoyance, but he didn’t say a word.

“Well, hop in then,” Shi Zi gestured at the portal. “Remember to have at least one person return with the power source.”

The students gave the puppet maker a look that said, “Fuck you.”

“Can we bring our tamed beast in?” Sima Fang asked.

Shi Zi nodded. “Some of the mercenaries from the previous team also brought theirs in. As long as the spirit beast has formed a mental link with you, the portal will count you and your tamed beast as one.”

“That’s good to hear,” Sima Fang said. She then ordered, “Xin Wuming, you enter first.”

Xin Wuming turned to Amon, who nodded. Amon noticed that Sima Fang simply smiled at his and Xin Wuming’s exchange.

After Xin Wuming entered, Sima Fang walked toward the portal. Before entering, she said, “You can all enter freely after me.”

Everyone followed after her. They disappeared one by one into the portal.

After they all entered, Ji Zhi said, “Old Zi, you are sure the high-grade battle puppets should have run out of juice already, are you? I vouched for you. I will be in trouble if we lose our top ten students.”

“You worry too much,” Shi Zi replied. “This box was many millennia old. No matter how talented the master puppet maker was, the puppets would surely fall into disrepair without proper maintenance. The working battle puppets are surely only the low-grade ones… I think.”

Ji Zhi shook his head hearing the reply.

*

Amon and the others came out of the portal and into a gigantic hall in the shape of a cube. Even the walls, floor, and ceiling were filled with cubic patterns. Not far ahead were rows of inert battle puppets.

“Are those still operational?” Wu Di asked.

“They are,” Sima Fang answered.

“How do you know?” Tuang Yin asked.

“If I must explain, I will need to spend time equal to several theory class lectures. Do you want to listen?” Sima Fang asked in return.

“Uh… That’s okay. We believe your appraisal,” Tuang Yin replied.

“We must have picked up where the previous team left off,” Huang San said. He was observing the side of the hall behind the portal. There was a hallway there. Inside the hallway were remnants of activated traps. Two decomposed corpses were seen in that hallway.

“Shi Zi did mention the previous team encountered traps,” Xin Wuming said.

“So, you are saying since the traps in the previous rooms had already been activated, the portal brought us directly to where the last team failed to pass,” Tuang Yin surmised.

“This means if we fail, the next team can start where we leave off,” Yan Long said.

Everyone looked at him with weird expressions.

“Twat, do you want there to be a next team?” Wu Di asked.

“Of–Of course not! I am just saying,” Yan Long exclaimed.

“Okay, let’s stop discussing what’s behind us and focus on what’s before us,” Sima Fang said.

“There are thirty-six battle puppets there. Even counting our tamed beasts, they outnumber us,” Amon said.

“Their number is not the only troubling matter,” Sima Fang said. “From how they were positioned, it is most likely these battle puppets fight using a battle formation.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep