“ zěn huì rú cǐ ？” lǐ fán lèng le lèng ， yǒu xiē jīng yà de wèn dào 。
“怎会如此？”李凡愣了愣，有些惊讶的问道。
"Why is that so?" Li Fan was taken aback, asking with some surprise.
“ bú shì shuō zhǐ shì jīn dān xiū shì de dòng fǔ me ， zěn me lián yuán yīng dà xiū shì dōu yǔn luò le ？”
“不是说只是金丹修士的洞府么，怎么连元婴大修士都陨落了？”
"Didn't you say it was just a den for Golden Core cultivators? How come even Great Foundation cultivators have fallen?"
yǔ wén xīng yáo le yáo tóu ：“ jù tǐ shén me qíng kuàng xiàn zài shuí yě bù qīng chǔ 。 zhǐ bù guò nà ge dòng fǔ rù kǒu yǐ jīng bèi zàn shí fēng suǒ le ， jiù shì pà hái yǒu bù zhī qíng de rén chuǎng jìn qù sòng sǐ 。”
宇文星摇了摇头：“具体什么情况现在谁也不清楚。只不过那个洞府入口已经被暂时封锁了，就是怕还有不知情的人闯进去送死。”
Yuwen Xing shook his head. "No one knows the exact situation now. However, the entrance to that den has been temporarily sealed off to prevent more unaware people from entering and dying."
shuō bà ， yǔ wén xīng yòu tàn le kǒu qì ：“ zhěng gè wàn xiān dǎo ， yuán yīng xiū shì de shù liàng yě zhǐ bù guò shí jǐ wèi ér yǐ 。 rú jīn tū rán yǔn luò yī wèi ， sǔn shī bù kě wèi bù dà a 。”
说罢，宇文星又叹了口气：“整个万仙岛，元婴修士的数量也只不过十几位而已。如今突然陨落一位，损失不可谓不大啊。”
After saying this, Yuwen Xing sighed again. "There are only a dozen or so Great Foundation cultivators on Ten Thousand Immortals Island. The loss of just one is quite significant."
“ gèng bié tí zài xiān hòu liǎng cì tàn suǒ zhōng yī tóng sàng mìng de sì wèi jīn dān 、 shí sān wèi zhù jī le 。”
“更别提在先后两次探索中一同丧命的四位金丹、十三位筑基了。”
"Let alone the four Golden Core cultivators and thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators who perished in both expeditions."
“ xiàn zài dǎo shàng kě bù tài píng 。 zhè me duō de xiū shì shēn gù ， tā men zài dǎo shàng de zhí wèi yě jiù quán bù kòng quē le xià lái 。 wèi le zhēng duó zhè xiē féi chà ， gè fāng shì lì dōu kāi shǐ àn zhōng jué lì 。”
“现在岛上可不太平。这么多的修士身故，他们在岛上的职位也就全部空缺了下来。为了争夺这些肥差，各方势力都开始暗中角力。”
"Now the island isn't peaceful at all. With so many cultivators deceased, their positions have become vacant. To vie for these lucrative posts, various factions are starting to secretly compete with each other."
“ wàn xiān méng yě chóng qǐ le duì zhèng xiào yún de diào chá 。 zhè cì shì tiān jī táng de gōng sūn zhǎng lǎo qīn zì chū mǎ 。 yě bù zhī dào dào dǐ néng bù néng chá chū gè suǒ yǐ rán lái 。”
“万仙盟也重启了对郑肖云的调查。这次是天机堂的公孙长老亲自出马。也不知道到底能不能查出个所以然来。”
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has also restarted its investigation of Zheng Xiaoyun. This time, it's the Senior Elder Gong Sun from the Celestial Oracle Hall who is personally leading the charge. It remains to be seen if they can uncover anything substantial."
“ duō shì zhī qiū a ……”
“多事之秋啊……”
"Troubled times indeed..."
lǐ fán jiàn zhè yǔ wén xīng de dān yōu sì hū hái lìng yǒu yuán yīn ， dàn tā jì rán méi shuō ， lǐ fán yě bù hǎo mào shī xún wèn 。
李凡见这宇文星的担忧似乎还另有原因，但他既然没说，李凡也不好冒失询问。
Seeing that Yuwen Xing seemed worried for another reason, Li Fan didn't dare ask rashly since he hadn't spoken about it.
yú shì yòu hán xuān le jǐ jù hòu ， biàn tōng guò chuán sòng zhèn fǎn huí le wàn xiān dǎo 。
于是又寒暄了几句后，便通过传送阵返回了万仙岛。
After a few more pleasantries, Li Fan returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island through the teleportation array.
dǎo shàng de fēn wéi biàn dé yán sù le xǔ duō ， lái wǎng xiū shì de liǎn shàng bù fù yǐ wǎng de qīng sōng mú yàng 。
岛上的氛围变得严肃了许多，来往修士的脸上不复以往的轻松模样。
The atmosphere on the island had become much more serious. The faces of passing cultivators no longer held their previous ease.
lǐ fán yī fān dǎ tīng hòu ， zhī xiǎo le nà yǔ wén xīng yī liǎn yōu chóu de yuán yīn 。
李凡一番打听后，知晓了那宇文星一脸忧愁的原因。
After some inquiries, Li Fan learned why Yuwen Xing looked so worried. It turned out that Yuwen Xing's powerful patron was none other than the fallen True Monarch Gouxuan.
yuán lái ， yǔ wén xīng de bèi hòu kào shān jiù shì nà yǔn luò de gōu xuán zhēn jūn 。
原来，宇文星的背后靠山就是那陨落的勾玄真君。
It was precisely because of this connection that he had managed to defeat many competitors and become the guardian of Lustrous Isle.
zhèng shì píng jiè zhe zhè céng guān xì ， tā cái néng jī bài le xǔ duō jìng zhēng zhě ， dāng shàng le liú lí dǎo de zhèn shǒu 。
正是凭借着这层关系，他才能击败了许多竞争者，当上了琉璃岛的镇守。
Now his position was still warm, but his powerful patron had already fallen.
rú jīn pì gǔ hái méi zuò rè ne ， kào shān jiù xiān dào le 。
如今屁股还没坐热呢，靠山就先倒了。
No wonder he looked so worried.
yě nán guài tā yī fù yōu xīn chōng chōng de yàng zi 。
也难怪他一副忧心忡忡的样子。
"Great Foundation cultivators have perished. That den must indeed be perilous."
“ yuán yīng dà néng dōu yǔn luò le ， nà dòng fǔ dàng zhēn shì xiōng xiǎn wú bǐ 。”
“元婴大能都陨落了，那洞府当真是凶险无比。”
"It seems Master He's remains won't be retrieved anytime soon."
“ kàn lái hé dào yǒu de shī gǔ yī shí bàn huì shì ná bù huí lái le 。”
“看来何道友的尸骨一时半会是拿不回来了。”
Li Fan originally thought that way. However, a few days later, things seemed to take a turn for the better.
yuán běn lǐ fán shì zhè me rèn wéi de 。
原本李凡是这么认为的。
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had released its investigation results. The Golden Core cultivator named Zheng Xiaoyun was in the clear.
bù guò ， jǐ tiān zhī hòu ， shì qíng sì hū chū xiàn le zhuǎn jī 。
不过，几天之后，事情似乎出现了转机。
The reason he could survive during his first expedition as only a Golden Core cultivator was that the den's mechanisms hadn't yet reached their full strength.
wàn xiān méng de diào chá jié guǒ chū lái le 。
万仙盟的调查结果出来了。
During his second expedition, with Great Foundation cultivators, the mechanisms had suddenly become powerful enough to kill him.
nà míng jiào zuò zhèng xiào yún de jīn dān xiū shì méi yǒu wèn tí 。
那名叫做郑肖云的金丹修士没有问题。
In reality, the mechanisms in Tianyang True Monarch's den possessed an unusual trait: they adapted based on the strength of those facing them—weakness begets weakness, and strength begets strength.
ér zhī suǒ yǐ dì yī cì tàn xiǎn ， tā zhǐ shì jīn dān xiū wèi ， shàng néng táo shēng 。
而之所以第一次探险，他只是金丹修为，尚能逃生。
When Zheng Xiaoyun led the first expedition, the mechanisms only displayed Golden Core cultivator power. With his own strength and the distraction provided by five Foundation Establishment cultivators, he managed to survive.
dì èr cì tàn xiǎn ， yuán yīng dà xiū shì què yǔn luò le 。
第二次探险，元婴大修士却陨落了。
But when Gouxuan True Monarch led the second expedition, the mechanisms suddenly became powerful enough for Great Foundation cultivators.
shí zé shì yīn wèi tiān yáng zhēn rén dòng fǔ zhōng de jī guān kuǐ lěi ， yǒu zhe yī zhǒng qí yì de tè xìng ：
实则是因为天阳真人洞府中的机关傀儡，有着一种奇异的特性：
Dozens of Great Foundation cultivators burst forth simultaneously, catching everyone off guard.
yù ruò zé ruò ， yù qiáng zé qiáng 。
遇弱则若，遇强则强。
The second expedition team was completely wiped out in an instant.
dāng dì yī cì zhèng xiào yún dài duì de shí hòu ， nà xiē jī guān kuǐ lěi ， biǎo xiàn chū de zhǐ yǒu jīn dān qī de zhàn lì 。
当第一次郑肖云带队的时候，那些机关傀儡，表现出的只有金丹期的战力。
Of course, the mechanisms' "strength begets strength" had its limits. But where exactly did these mechanisms now stand?
zhèng xiào yún zì shēn shí lì shàng kě ， ér qiě yǒu qí tā wǔ míng zhù jī xiū shì xī yǐn huǒ lì ， zhè cái néng kān kān bǎo zhù xìng mìng 。
郑肖云自身实力尚可，而且有其他五名筑基修士吸引火力，这才能堪堪保住性命。
It was hard to say.
ér dāng gōu xuán zhēn jūn dài duì de shí hòu ， nà xiē jī guān kuǐ lěi ， zhàn lì jìng rán quán dōu péng zhàng dào le yuán yīng qī 。
而当勾玄真君带队的时候，那些机关傀儡，战力竟然全都膨胀到了元婴期。
Although Tianyang True Monarch's pre-mortem cultivation level was only Golden Core, he had set up his den within a submarine volcano before his death.
shí jǐ míng yuán yīng qī chà nà jiān bào fā ， cù bù jí fáng zhī xià 。
十几名元婴期刹那间爆发，猝不及防之下。
Over thousands of years, those mechanisms continuously absorbed the heat from the volcanic activity, turning a live volcano into a dead one.
dì èr pī tàn xiǎn xiǎo duì ， shùn jiān quán miè 。
第二批探险小队，瞬间全灭。
Now that the volcanic activity has resumed, it might mean that after all these years, the mechanisms have grown to their full strength.
dāng rán ， jī guān kuǐ lěi suǒ wèi de yù qiáng zé qiáng ， kěn dìng yǒu gè shàng xiàn 。
当然，机关傀儡所谓的遇强则强，肯定有个上限。
Ancient mechanism techniques had been lost for ages. It was hard to gauge how powerful these fully-grown mechanisms would be.
dàn rú jīn zhè jī guān kuǐ lěi de shí lì shàng xiàn ， jiū jìng zài nǎ 。
但如今这机关傀儡的实力上限，究竟在哪。
But considering that in the era before the Great Tribulation when even Great Foundation cultivators were considered worthless, such mechanisms must not be weak either.
hái zhēn bù hǎo shuō 。
还真不好说。
At least they should have reached the level of Great Foundation, and possibly even Transcendence.
nà tiān yáng zhēn rén suī shuō shēng qián zhǐ shì jīn dān xiū wèi ， dàn tā yǔn luò qián ， jiāng dòng fǔ shè lì zài hǎi dǐ huǒ shān nèi bù 。
那天阳真人虽说生前只是金丹修为，但他陨落前，将洞府设立在海底火山内部。
So...
shù qiān nián lái ， nà xiē jī guān kuǐ lěi ， bù tíng de xī shōu zhe dì huǒ de néng liàng 。
数千年来，那些机关傀儡，不停的吸收着地火的能量。
Gouxuan True Monarch died unjustly indeed.
zhí jiē dǎo zhì hǎi dǐ huó huǒ shān biàn chéng le sǐ huǒ shān 。
直接导致海底活火山变成了死火山。
After all, who would have thought that a mere Golden Core den could harbor such terrifying combat power?
ér rú jīn dì huǒ chóng xīn huó yuè ， hěn kě néng yì wèi zhè me duō nián guò qù le ， jī guān kuǐ lěi yǐ jīng chéng zhǎng dào le shàng xiàn 。
而如今地火重新活跃，很可能意味这么多年过去了，机关傀儡已经成长到了上限。
The official announcement from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance immediately lifted the gloom hanging over Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
shàng gǔ jī guān shù yǐ jīng shī chuán xǔ jiǔ ， bù zhī dào chéng zhǎng dào jí xiàn de jī guān kuǐ lěi dào dǐ yǒu duō qiáng 。
上古机关术已经失传许久，不知道成长到极限的机关傀儡到底有多强。
People were generally convinced by this investigation result because Senior Elder Gong Sun of the Celestial Oracle Hall was known for his ability to divine fate and discern cause and effect.
dàn xiǎng lái ， zài dà jié zhī qián nà ge yuán yīng bù rú gǒu de nián dài ， jī guān shù néng zhàn jù yī xí zhī dì 。
但想来，在大劫之前那个元婴不如狗的年代，机关术能占据一席之地。
His conclusions usually aligned closely with reality.
zhè kuǐ lěi kěn dìng yě bù kě néng tài ruò jiù shì 。
这傀儡肯定也不可能太弱就是。
Thus, the dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators in Cunyun Sea became excited.
zuì dī shì yuán yīng ， huà shén yě bú shì bù kě néng 。
最低是元婴，化神也不是不可能。
A dozen Great Foundation mechanisms were indeed terrifying.
suǒ yǐ shuō ……
所以说……
But a dozen Qi Condensation mechanisms...
gōu xuán zhēn jūn ， sǐ de zhēn bù yuān 。
勾玄真君，死的真不冤。
They had no deterrent at all.
bì jìng ， shuí yě bú huì xiǎng dào ， zhè xiǎo xiǎo de jīn dān xiū shì dòng fǔ nèi ， jū rán huì yǒu rú cǐ kǒng bù de zhàn lì mái fú 。
毕竟，谁也不会想到，这小小的金丹修士洞府内，居然会有如此恐怖的战力埋伏。
If they could bring even one mechanism back...
wàn xiān méng de guān fāng gōng gào yī chū ， lǒng zhào zài wàn xiān dǎo shàng kōng de yīn mái dùn shí sàn qù 。
万仙盟的官方公告一出，笼罩在万仙岛上空的阴霾顿时散去。
Countless Qi Condensation cultivators began to daydream and feel心动: heartbeats (as in feeling excited or attracted) (heart-moving).
dà jiā duì zhè diào chá jié guǒ hái shì bǐ jiào xìn fú de 。
大家对这调查结果还是比较信服的。
So, they started clamoring for a third expedition into Tianyang True Monarch's den.
yīn wèi tiān jī táng de gōng sūn zhǎng lǎo ， sù lái yǐ shàn kān tiān jī 、 duàn yīn guǒ ér wén míng 。
因为天机堂的公孙长老，素来以善勘天机、断因果而闻名。
Even Li Fan was tempted by this news.
jīng tā diào chá xià de lùn duàn ， jī běn shàng dōu yǔ shì shí xiàng chà bu duō 。
经他调查下的论断，基本上都与事实相差不多。
In the Qi Condensation realm, he wasn't almost invincible?
yú shì ， cóng yún hǎi nèi shù liàng zuì duō de liàn qì xiū shì men ， tǒng tǒng xīng fèn qǐ lái 。
于是，丛云海内数量最多的炼气修士们，统统兴奋起来。
Lower realm techniques like the Binding Insect Technique could easily capture him.
shí jǐ zūn yuán yīng qī de jī guān kuǐ lěi ， dí què shì hài rén wú bǐ 。
十几尊元婴期的机关傀儡，的确是骇人无比。
For fellow Qi Condensation cultivators of the same后期: later period (later stage), he had numerous methods such as the Formless Killing Ambition and Cloud Water Illusory Dream.
dàn shì shí jǐ zūn liàn qì qī de kuǐ lěi ……
但是十几尊炼气期的傀儡……
Li Fan didn't believe that there were any stronger cultivators in Cunyun Sea.
kě yǐ shuō shì yì diǎn wēi shè lì dōu méi yǒu a 。
可以说是一点威慑力都没有啊。
So, why not explore this den?
ruò shì néng jiāng nǎ pà yī zūn kuǐ lěi gěi dài huí lái ……
若是能将哪怕一尊傀儡给带回来……
Li Fan was tempted for a moment but then thought better of it.
wú shù liàn qì xiū shì dùn shí fú xiǎng lián piān ， xīn dòng wú bǐ 。
无数炼气修士顿时浮想联翩，心动无比。
If these mechanisms truly only adapted based on strength, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could easily gather a group of later-stage Qi Condensation cultivators to breach the den and bring back all the mechanisms.
yú shì fēn fēn jiào rǎng zhe yào zǔ duì sān tàn tiān yáng zhēn rén dòng fǔ 。
于是纷纷叫嚷着要组队三探天阳真人洞府。
With dozens more Great Foundation-level combat power mechanisms, how could the alliance pass up such an opportunity?
tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xī de shí hòu ， nǎ pà shì lǐ fán dōu rěn bú zhù xīn dòng le 。
听到这个消息的时候，哪怕是李凡都忍不住心动了。
The only explanation was that there must be other peculiarities within this den.
liàn qì qī nèi ， tā bú shì jī hū wú dí ？
炼气期内，他不是几乎无敌？
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance wasn't sure about it either.
jìng jiè bǐ tā dī de yǒu fù chóng shén tōng zhí jiē ná zhù 。
境界比他低的有缚虫神通直接拿住。
So, they chose to let these numerous Qi Condensation cultivators risk their lives to explore the path.
tóng shì liàn qì hòu qī de ， tā shēn jiān wú xiāng shā jī 、 yún shuǐ huàn mèng 、 lán yán huàn líng děng zhū duō shǒu duàn 。
同是炼气后期的，他身兼无相杀机、云水幻梦、蓝炎幻灵等诸多手段。
Li Fan had heard of Senior Elder Gong Sun before. When he completed the reward for the Beast Dragon Whale, the elder had investigated and found that its direct cause of death was being attacked by several deep-sea monsters, depleting its life force.
lǐ fán bù xìn zhè cóng yún hǎi nèi hái huì yǒu bǐ tā qiáng de 。
李凡不信这丛云海内还会有比他强的。
But he failed to uncover the root cause—Li Fan's Formless Killing Ambition.
yào bù ， qù tàn yī tàn zhè dòng fǔ ？
要不，去探一探这洞府？
So Li Fan believed that Senior Elder Gong Sun could indeed divine fate.
lǐ fán xīn dòng le piàn kè ， dàn zhuǎn niàn yī xiǎng ， què yòu jué de bú duì 。
李凡心动了片刻，但转念一想，却又觉得不对。
However, like a blind man feeling an elephant, his conclusions were partial and incomplete.
ruò shì zhè xiē jī guān kuǐ lěi zhēn de zhǐ shì yù ruò zé ruò ， yù qiáng zé qiáng de huà 。
若是这些机关傀儡真的只是遇弱则若，遇强则强的话。
This was understood not just by Li Fan but by others as well.
nà wàn xiān méng guān fāng dà kě yǐ àn zhōng zhào jí yī pī liàn qì hòu qī xiū shì ， tū pò dòng fǔ ， jiāng zhè xiē kuǐ lěi quán dōu bān huí lái 。
那万仙盟官方大可以暗中召集一批炼气后期修士，突破洞府，将这些傀儡全都搬回来。
After the initial excitement wore off, everyone quickly calmed down. But some still held onto侥幸: lucky chance (lucky) beliefs that they were destined to succeed.
néng yī xià zi duō shí jǐ zūn zuì shǎo shì yuán yīng qī zhàn lì de kuǐ lěi ， zhè zhǒng hǎo shì ， wàn xiān méng zěn me kě néng fàng qì bù zuò ， fǎn ér shǎ hū hū de jiāng zhè ge qíng bào gōng zhī yú zhòng ？
能一下子多十几尊最少是元婴期战力的傀儡，这种好事，万仙盟怎么可能放弃不做，反而傻乎乎的将这个情报公之于众？
Approximately thirty people joined forces for a third expedition into Tianyang's den.
wéi yī de jiě shì jiù shì ， zhè dòng fǔ nèi de kuǐ lěi ， bì dìng hái yǒu qí tā gǔ guài zhī chù 。
唯一的解释就是，这洞府内的傀儡，必定还有其他古怪之处。
Li Fan simply re-posted He Zhenghao's remains reward mission and waited with interest.
wàn xiān méng yě ná bù zhǔn 。
万仙盟也拿不准。
Ten days later, the expedition team returned in disarray.
yú shì xuǎn zé ràng zhè xiē shù liàng zhòng duō de liàn qì xiū shì ná mìng qù tàn tàn lù 。
于是选择让这些数量众多的炼气修士拿命去探探路。
Most of them managed to escape.
nà gōng sūn zhǎng lǎo ， lǐ fán yě yǒu suǒ ěr wén 。
那公孙长老，李凡也有所耳闻。
In their tearful recounting, everyone watching also learned what had happened inside the den.
dāng chū tā wán chéng yì shòu lóng jīng de xuán shǎng zhī shì ， zhè gōng sūn zhǎng lǎo jiù céng chá tàn guò yī fān 。
当初他完成异兽龙鲸的悬赏之事，这公孙长老就曾查探过一番。
These seventeen mechanisms were too powerful!
yě zhǐ shì zhǎo chū le lóng jīng de zhí jiē sǐ yīn ： bèi shù tóu shēn hǎi jù shòu wéi gōng ， hào jìn le shēng mìng 。
也只是找出了龙鲸的直接死因：被数头深海巨兽围攻，耗尽了生命。
Their bodies seemed made from some unknown material, incredibly sturdy. No spells could leave any trace or damage on them.
"Why is that so?" Li Fan was taken aback, asking with some surprise.
"Didn't you say it was just a den for Golden Core cultivators? How come even Great Foundation cultivators have fallen?"
Yuwen Xing shook his head. "No one knows the exact situation now. However, the entrance to that den has been temporarily sealed off to prevent more unaware people from entering and dying."
After saying this, Yuwen Xing sighed again. "There are only a dozen or so Great Foundation cultivators on Ten Thousand Immortals Island. The loss of just one is quite significant."
"Let alone the four Golden Core cultivators and thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators who perished in both expeditions."
"Now the island isn't peaceful at all. With so many cultivators deceased, their positions have become vacant. To vie for these lucrative posts, various factions are starting to secretly compete with each other."
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has also restarted its investigation of Zheng Xiaoyun. This time, it's the Senior Elder Gong Sun from the Celestial Oracle Hall who is personally leading the charge. It remains to be seen if they can uncover anything substantial."
"Troubled times indeed..."
Seeing that Yuwen Xing seemed worried for another reason, Li Fan didn't dare ask rashly since he hadn't spoken about it.
After a few more pleasantries, Li Fan returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island through the teleportation array.
The atmosphere on the island had become much more serious. The faces of passing cultivators no longer held their previous ease.
After some inquiries, Li Fan learned why Yuwen Xing looked so worried. It turned out that Yuwen Xing's powerful patron was none other than the fallen True Monarch Gouxuan.
It was precisely because of this connection that he had managed to defeat many competitors and become the guardian of Lustrous Isle.
Now his position was still warm, but his powerful patron had already fallen.
No wonder he looked so worried.
"Great Foundation cultivators have perished. That den must indeed be perilous."
"It seems Master He's remains won't be retrieved anytime soon."
Li Fan originally thought that way. However, a few days later, things seemed to take a turn for the better.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had released its investigation results. The Golden Core cultivator named Zheng Xiaoyun was in the clear.
The reason he could survive during his first expedition as only a Golden Core cultivator was that the den's mechanisms hadn't yet reached their full strength.
During his second expedition, with Great Foundation cultivators, the mechanisms had suddenly become powerful enough to kill him.
In reality, the mechanisms in Tianyang True Monarch's den possessed an unusual trait: they adapted based on the strength of those facing them—weakness begets weakness, and strength begets strength.
When Zheng Xiaoyun led the first expedition, the mechanisms only displayed Golden Core cultivator power. With his own strength and the distraction provided by five Foundation Establishment cultivators, he managed to survive.
But when Gouxuan True Monarch led the second expedition, the mechanisms suddenly became powerful enough for Great Foundation cultivators.
Dozens of Great Foundation cultivators burst forth simultaneously, catching everyone off guard.
The second expedition team was completely wiped out in an instant.
Of course, the mechanisms' "strength begets strength" had its limits. But where exactly did these mechanisms now stand?
It was hard to say.
Although Tianyang True Monarch's pre-mortem cultivation level was only Golden Core, he had set up his den within a submarine volcano before his death.
Over thousands of years, those mechanisms continuously absorbed the heat from the volcanic activity, turning a live volcano into a dead one.
Now that the volcanic activity has resumed, it might mean that after all these years, the mechanisms have grown to their full strength.
Ancient mechanism techniques had been lost for ages. It was hard to gauge how powerful these fully-grown mechanisms would be.
But considering that in the era before the Great Tribulation when even Great Foundation cultivators were considered worthless, such mechanisms must not be weak either.
At least they should have reached the level of Great Foundation, and possibly even Transcendence.
So...
Gouxuan True Monarch died unjustly indeed.
After all, who would have thought that a mere Golden Core den could harbor such terrifying combat power?
The official announcement from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance immediately lifted the gloom hanging over Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
People were generally convinced by this investigation result because Senior Elder Gong Sun of the Celestial Oracle Hall was known for his ability to divine fate and discern cause and effect.
His conclusions usually aligned closely with reality.
Thus, the dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators in Cunyun Sea became excited.
A dozen Great Foundation mechanisms were indeed terrifying.
But a dozen Qi Condensation mechanisms...
They had no deterrent at all.
If they could bring even one mechanism back...
Countless Qi Condensation cultivators began to daydream and feel心动: heartbeats (as in feeling excited or attracted) (heart-moving).
So, they started clamoring for a third expedition into Tianyang True Monarch's den.
Even Li Fan was tempted by this news.
In the Qi Condensation realm, he wasn't almost invincible?
Lower realm techniques like the Binding Insect Technique could easily capture him.
For fellow Qi Condensation cultivators of the same后期: later period (later stage), he had numerous methods such as the Formless Killing Ambition and Cloud Water Illusory Dream.
Li Fan didn't believe that there were any stronger cultivators in Cunyun Sea.
So, why not explore this den?
Li Fan was tempted for a moment but then thought better of it.
If these mechanisms truly only adapted based on strength, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could easily gather a group of later-stage Qi Condensation cultivators to breach the den and bring back all the mechanisms.
With dozens more Great Foundation-level combat power mechanisms, how could the alliance pass up such an opportunity?
The only explanation was that there must be other peculiarities within this den.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance wasn't sure about it either.
So, they chose to let these numerous Qi Condensation cultivators risk their lives to explore the path.
Li Fan had heard of Senior Elder Gong Sun before. When he completed the reward for the Beast Dragon Whale, the elder had investigated and found that its direct cause of death was being attacked by several deep-sea monsters, depleting its life force.
But he failed to uncover the root cause—Li Fan's Formless Killing Ambition.
So Li Fan believed that Senior Elder Gong Sun could indeed divine fate.
However, like a blind man feeling an elephant, his conclusions were partial and incomplete.
This was understood not just by Li Fan but by others as well.
After the initial excitement wore off, everyone quickly calmed down. But some still held onto侥幸: lucky chance (lucky) beliefs that they were destined to succeed.
Approximately thirty people joined forces for a third expedition into Tianyang's den.
Li Fan simply re-posted He Zhenghao's remains reward mission and waited with interest.
Ten days later, the expedition team returned in disarray.
Most of them managed to escape.
In their tearful recounting, everyone watching also learned what had happened inside the den.
These seventeen mechanisms were too powerful!
Their bodies seemed made from some unknown material, incredibly sturdy. No spells could leave any trace or damage on them.