199: The Immortal Qin Mine and the Immortal Golden Man

Gao De lurked like a rock in the shadows of the canyon entrance, his dragon eyes fixed intently on the hazy outline of the ruins three miles away and the hidden spots on the rock face that were almost fused with the stone.

Time slowly passed amidst the suffocating silence and the faint sound of the golden malevolent aura flowing.

About an incense stick later, a sudden change occurred!

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The disturbance didn't come from the ruins, but from the entrance on the other side of the canyon, where a repressed yet rapid sound of air being torn echoed!

Several sharp, azure sword lights, moving as nimbly as swimming fish, pierced through the thick golden malevolent aura mist and appeared in the canyon.

There were four people in total, all wearing the Heavenly Sword Alliance's signature azure tight-fitting attire. The leader was a stern-faced middle-aged man carrying two swords on his back, his aura clearly reaching the Early Stage Golden Core! The other three were all Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, looking vigilant and cooperating tacitly.

"Sure enough, it's people from the Heavenly Sword Alliance, and led by a Golden Core Cultivator!" Gao De’s heart tightened.

It seems their level of concern for Sunken Gold Marsh is also quite high; perhaps they also obtained clues regarding the "ruins."

The four Heavenly Sword Alliance members clearly discovered the ruins ahead, their faces showing a mix of excitement and caution.

The leading Golden Core Cultivator waved his hand, and the four immediately formed a simple Sword Array, cautiously approaching the ruins.

Just as they stepped into the outer area of the ruins—a relatively flat expanse covered in broken rubble and rusted metal fragments—

"Buzz—!"

In the center of the ruins, the half-broken stele-like object suddenly shook, and beneath the peeling stone surface, dark gold metallic material was revealed!

Ancient, obscure runes, seemingly carrying some heavy decree and boundless prestige, suddenly lit up!

The light was not dazzling, but it carried a coldness and severity that seemed to pierce through time.

At the same time, among the broken walls and ruins surrounding the site, metal fragments scattered seemingly at random, twisted metal components, and even some strange, rusted "statues" that resembled human figures, all began to shake simultaneously!

"Kacha... Kacha..."

A grating sound of metal friction rang out.

Three "statues" slowly "stood up"!

They were about two zhang tall, entirely composed of a strange metal that was dark like antique bronze yet faintly flowed with a pale golden luster. Their appearance was rough, vaguely humanoid, but their joints were simple tenon-and-mortise structures, and their faces only had two deep slits representing eyes, lacking mouths or noses.

Their movements were slightly stiff, but every step they took on the ground resulted in a heavy thud, kicking up a ring of dust.

"Immortal Qin Dynasty... Indestructible Metal Men?!" A suppressed gasp came from a hidden spot on the rock wall. The speaker used an ancient dialect, but Gao De’s Dragon Clan Legacy knowledge contained a vague correspondence, allowing him to instantly understand the meaning of the cry!

It was the Rong Family people! They really recognized this thing!

In the slits where the three "Metal Men's" eyes were located, two points of crimson light suddenly shone, simultaneously "staring" at the four Heavenly Sword Alliance members who had intruded into the ruins!

"Attack!" The Heavenly Sword Alliance Golden Core Cultivator reacted extremely fast, letting out a sharp shout. The twin swords on his back unsheathed, transforming into two intertwining azure Flood Dragons, which, accompanied by a shriek that tore through the golden malevolent aura, struck the nearest Metal Man first!

His three subordinates also attacked simultaneously, their sword light raining down on the other two figures.

"Clang! Clang, clang, clang—!"

An extremely harsh sound of metal clashing exploded, sending sparks flying!

The Flying Swords of the Heavenly Sword Alliance Cultivators could only leave shallow white marks when they struck the Metal Men!

The hardness of the dark gold metal surpassed imagination! Conversely, one Metal Man swung a backhanded punch, accompanied by a muffled sonic boom, directly shattering the protective sword light of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator and forcing him to retreat, spitting blood!

"Form the 'Lesser Four Symbols Sword Array'! Trap them! The weak points of these Puppets are the core in the chest cavity and the joint connections!" The Heavenly Sword Alliance Golden Core Cultivator, rich in combat experience, immediately changed tactics.

The four people's sword light circulated, forming a constantly shrinking and rotating cage of light, temporarily trapping the three Metal Men, with the sword light specifically targeting their chests, abdomens, and joints.

However, the Metal Men's defense was simply too strong. Although the Sword Array could temporarily trap them, it was difficult to inflict effective damage.

Moreover, the Metal Men possessed boundless strength; every punch and kick shook the light of the Sword Array violently.

Even more troubling, several spots on the ground around the ruins began to bulge, suggesting that more Metal Men were being awakened!

"Move! Now is the time!" The aged voice rang out again from the hidden spot on the rock wall. This time, it used the common language, filled with determination!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Five figures shot out like phantoms from the hollow in the rock wall, heading straight for the half-glowing metal stele in the center of the ruins!

All five people were wearing gray-brown tight-fitting spiritual robes suitable for concealment, but Gao De instantly judged from their spiritual power fluctuations that they were the Rong Family personnel lying in ambush!

The leader was none other than True Person Rong Bing. Although he tried his best to conceal it, his Early Stage Golden Core cultivation and aged aura could not fool Gao De. The other four were all Late Stage Foundation Establishment experts.

The Rong Family's five members had an extremely clear goal: not to attack the Heavenly Sword Alliance or the Metal Men, but to head straight for the metal stele!

True Person Rong Bing held a black seal in his hand, ancient in form, neither gold nor jade, and covered in tadpole-like runes. The seal emitted obscure fluctuations that faintly resonated with the metal stele.

"Rong Family Old Ghost! How dare you!" The Heavenly Sword Alliance Golden Core Cultivator was both shocked and enraged. He clearly hadn't expected another team to be lying in ambush nearby, targeting the core objective.

But at this moment, they were entangled by the three Metal Men and found it difficult to escape immediately.

True Person Rong Bing ignored them completely, increasing his speed, and was about to rush within ten zhang of the metal stele.

Just at this moment—

"Rumble!"

The ground around the metal stele suddenly collapsed, revealing a pitch-black, bottomless hole!

A burst of Geng Metal Sharp Qi, ten or a hundred times purer and denser than the outside, mixed with ancient dust and the scent of decay from the years, rushed out of the hole like a volcanic eruption!

Accompanying this rush of energy were two Metal Men, even taller, nearly three zhang high, shimmering all over with bright, dark gold radiance, and holding rusty but strangely ancient metal halberds!

The aura of these two Metal Men had clearly reached the Third Tier!

The red light in their eye sockets was like burning charcoal, locking onto True Person Rong Bing who was rushing towards them. Their halberds swung, crossing silently yet striking as fast as lightning!

Where the tips of the halberds passed, the air was sliced, leaving pale golden fissures!

"Not good!" True Person Rong Bing was greatly alarmed. The black seal in his hand burst into light, transforming into a thick black barrier protecting him.

"Clang—!!!"

The halberds struck the black barrier, producing a deafening crash. The barrier fluctuated violently, instantly becoming covered in cracks.

True Person Rong Bing let out a muffled groan, was sent flying backward, and coughed up blood.

The four Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind him were even more violently tossed about by the energy wave.

The two newly appearing powerful Metal Men stood guard at the entrance like door gods, no longer actively pursuing, but coldly "watching" everyone.

The three Metal Men previously trapped by the Sword Array, as well as several others currently climbing out of the dirt, also turned, subtly encircling the two groups who had intruded into the ruins.

The people from the Heavenly Sword Alliance and the Rong Family were now trapped in the Metal Men's encirclement!

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

Gao De watched clearly from afar. Amidst his shock, he rapidly analyzed the situation.

"Immortal Qin Dynasty Indestructible Metal Men... It seems this place is not a simple ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave, but the ruins of a metal mine or smelting base from the Immortal Qin Dynasty era!

These Metal Men are Puppet War Soldiers guarding this place! That metal stele might be the control hub, or an inscribed monument recording information. That suddenly appearing hole... could it lead to the depths of the real mine pit or the core control room?"

"The Black Seal in the Rong Family's hands, which can resonate with the metal stele, is likely an ancestral token or key related to this location!

They know the secrets of this place and might even possess partial control authority, but they are clearly unprepared, or their authority is insufficient to fully control these powerful Metal Men."

"The Heavenly Sword Alliance, on the other hand, stumbled upon this place by accident or found it through other intelligence, becoming the disruptors."

"Now both sides are entangled by the Metal Men, especially those two Third Tier Metal Men, which pose an extreme threat. Although their power may be greatly diminished due to the passage of time, their defense still cannot be broken by ordinary Third Tier Cultivators. This... might be my opportunity!"

Gao De's gaze fell upon the newly appeared hole, his heart curious about what lay beneath.

The pure Geng Metal Qi rushing out from there caused the Thunder Flame Bloodline within him to subtly stir.

Beneath the hole, there might be astonishing reserves of high-quality metal ore, or even... the source of the "earth vein gold essence"!

Perhaps even treasures or Legacies related to the Metal Law, left behind by the Immortal Qin Dynasty!

Risk and opportunity coexist.

Those two Peak Third Tier Metal Men were difficult to handle, but their attention was currently focused primarily on True Person Rong Bing and the Heavenly Sword Alliance Golden Core Cultivator.

The Rong Family and the Heavenly Sword Alliance personnel were neutralizing each other while being besieged by the Metal Men, making it difficult for them to pay attention to anything else.

If he were to rush into the hole with the momentum of thunder at this moment... Gao De's mind raced, and he instantly made a decision!

He stopped concealing himself. His body flickered, transforming back into his thirty-zhang Purple Gold Flood Dragon true form!

Majestic Dragon Might and scorching Thunder Flame Qi erupted, instantly scattering large patches of the surrounding golden malevolent aura mist!

"Roar—!"

The Dragon Roar shook the canyon!

This roar not only intimidated the mind but also carried the newly comprehended Profound Truth of the [Thunder Sound Soul Suppression], heading straight for everyone!

Everyone was momentarily stunned. Although the Metal Men lacked Divine Souls, the core runes driving their actions seemed to suffer a slight interference, causing their movements to halt simultaneously!

"Who is that?!"

"A Flood Dragon?!"

The Heavenly Sword Alliance and Rong Family members turned their heads in horror, only to see a streak of purple-gold lightning, moving at a speed beyond their comprehension, avoiding the most densely packed area of Metal Men, tracing a strange arc, and shooting straight toward the hole!

Gao De's target was extremely clear—do not get entangled in the ruins, go straight for the depths of the mine pit!

"Stop him!" True Person Rong Bing and the Heavenly Sword Alliance Golden Core Cultivator roared almost simultaneously, but they were firmly pinned down by the Metal Men themselves; how could they spare any effort to block him?

Only the two Third Tier Metal Men guarding the entrance turned their crimson gaze toward Gao De, their halberds raised once more.

"Rainbow!" Gao De roared internally.

Rainbow, coiled around his dragon horn, instantly erupted with an unprecedented, magnificent Rainbow light!

This light was not an attack, but extreme "dazzlement" and "refraction"!

The seven-colored radiance twisted the light and interfered with energy perception, causing the targets in the two Metal Men's "eyes" to instantly blur and split into several phantoms!

Seizing this opportunity, Gao De pushed Lightning Evasion to its limit. The Purple Heaven Thunder Flame within his body erupted, and the entire Flood Dragon seemed to transform into a streak of purple-gold lightning tearing through space!

"Violet Extreme Thunder Strike: Break!"

He condensed all his strength onto his natal dragon horn on his forehead. The tip of the horn burst forth with a purple-gold cold light, compressed to the extreme and containing Thunder Flame Bloodline and Law-breaking Power, slamming fiercely into the defensive intersection point of the two Metal Men's halberds!

"Clang—Boom!!!"

The sound of this clash was more terrifying than any previous one!

Thunder Flame and Geng Metal Qi violently clashed and exploded! A savage energy storm swept out from the point of impact, temporarily forcing back the surrounding golden malevolent aura!

The two Third Tier Metal Men were staggered backward by this long-planned, full-strength strike. Rust peeled off their halberds, revealing the still brilliant metallic material beneath, which now bore subtle cracks.

Gao De himself felt his dragon horn go numb and his Qi and blood churn, but his momentum remained unchecked. He forcefully plunged headfirst into the pitch-black hole through the fleeting gap between the two Metal Men!

"No—!" True Person Rong Bing’s eyes were bloodshot with fury.

"Damn it!" The Heavenly Sword Alliance Golden Core Cultivator's face was also ashen.

They fought desperately, only for this powerful Flood Dragon, who appeared out of nowhere, to snatch the advantage and be the first to enter the core of the Immortal Qin Dynasty mine pit they had longed for!

The two Third Tier Metal Men stabilized themselves, the red light in their eyes surging, seemingly enraged by the breach.

They stopped paying attention to the Rong Family and Heavenly Sword Alliance Cultivators outside and turned to chase into the hole.

But before Gao De entered, he struck with his tail, using Thunder Flame mixed with majestic Demonic Power to blast the seemingly supporting, rune-covered stone pillars at the edge of the hole, causing them to collapse!

A large amount of rubble mixed with metal wreckage rolled down. Although it didn't completely seal the hole, it created a severe obstruction, slowing the Metal Men's pursuit.

The dark, deep passage, filled with an unimaginably dense Geng Metal Sharp Qi, extended downward.

Gao De retracted his lightning radiance, relying only on his dragon eyes for night vision and his Divine Sense to scout the path, rapidly descending along the passage.

He knew the chaos outside would not last long.

The Rong Family and the Heavenly Sword Alliance might temporarily join forces to deal with the Metal Men, or they might be utterly defeated by them.

Those two Third Tier Metal Men would soon follow.

He had to use this limited time in the depths of the Immortal Qin Dynasty Abandoned Mine to find the most valuable items, and then—either escape quickly, or... use the complex environment here to deal with the pursuers!