Chapter 506: Let's Start with a Thousand Copies

"The Dragon-Severing Lock is the final defense of the sealed mechanism. It is ingeniously designed; without sufficient cultivation, it cannot be broken, and once locked, even the Artisan Master himself cannot open it!"

The face of the Pavilion Master Sai turned ashen.

This was the Artisan Master's ultimate trump card, akin to a martial artist's self-destruction. No one used it unless absolutely necessary; it was typically activated to prevent enemy invasion or to perish together with an adversary.

Once lowered, there was absolutely no possibility of reopening. Even a dragon could not enter, hence the name Dragon-Severing.

Unless one's power exceeded the mechanism's tolerance, it could be broken—just as the man had said earlier, requiring the Ninth Level of Mortal Transcendence.

Otherwise, no matter how one attacked, it would be futile.

"Then... aren't we trapped here?"

Only a Ninth Level Mortal Transcendence could open it. Among them, the strongest was merely at the Fourth Level of Mortal Transcendence, far from being able to break it.

If they couldn't even break it, how could they leave?

"Let me take a look!"

Zhang Xuan frowned and approached the stone door. His finger touched it, and a book appeared in his mind.

"Sixth-level Dragon-Severing Lock, forged by Six-Star Artisan Master Hu Yangzi from special materials, difficult to break. Weakness: First, forging technique..."

After reading the book, Zhang Xuan's expression also turned grim.

Although this Dragon-Severing Lock had weaknesses, none could be exploited with his current strength.

In other words... what the man said was correct: without reaching the Ninth Level of Mortal Transcendence, breaking this thing was utterly impossible.

What to do?

Could they really be trapped here to die?

Just as he was pondering how to escape, Zhao Feiwu's voice rang out: "Everyone, don't panic. Since he wants to possess someone, he certainly can't trap himself here forever, unable to leave!"

"This..."

"Right!"

The crowd was momentarily stunned, then their eyes lit up simultaneously.

Since this fellow wanted to possess someone, he must have considered how to leave after succeeding. How could he trap himself in a death trap?

"We'll figure out how to leave after dealing with him. Right now, our greatest danger is not being trapped!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Even if they really couldn't get out, the food in the storage rings could sustain them for several years, plus spirit stones and such; they wouldn't die anytime soon.

But now, the most terrifying thing was the tomb's owner—the Soul Spirit Master lurking around. If they didn't find and kill him, none of them would survive.

"Deal with me? Do you have the strength?"

Hearing Zhang Xuan's words, the voice sneered.

"Whether we do or not, we have to try!" Jin Conghai stepped forward, flipped his wrist, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm. He cautiously looked around, trying to locate the enemy.

"Try? Then let me show you how ridiculous that notion is!"

Woo!

As the voice ended, a beam of light shot straight from within the hall. Before Jin Conghai could react, it struck his chest.

Pfft!

He flew backward, slammed heavily against the wall, and coughed up mouthfuls of blood.

"Senior Jin!"

No one expected that Jin Conghai, the strongest among them, couldn't even withstand a single blow and was severely injured. Everyone clenched their fists.

To be able to strike a Fourth Level Mortal Transcendence expert like this, leaving him no chance to dodge or defend, meant that even if the opponent wasn't a Six-Star Soul Spirit Master, they were still beyond their ability to contend with.

Though Jin Conghai was injured, Zhang Xuan didn't panic. Instead, he seized the opportunity to look toward where the light had originated.

Hum!

A book appeared in his mind, and he casually opened it.

"The power of a mechanism?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

The attack just now wasn't a martial technique from a Soul Spirit Master; it was the power of a mechanism.

In other words... relying solely on that attack, it was still impossible to locate the enemy.

"A Soul Spirit Master won't let you find his position. Otherwise, if you prepare in advance and seal your acupoints, how could he possess you?"

Seeing his action, Luo Zhu transmitted a message again.

"True!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

When a Soul Spirit Master possesses someone, they invade through the acupoints, similar to a sneak attack. If the target is prepared and seals their acupoints, resisting with their soul, the enemy would likely have to pay a considerable price to succeed.

After all, driving out the original soul and fusing with the body—if the body's owner resists unto death, obtaining a ruined corpse would be useless.

For this reason, this fellow certainly wouldn't let them discover his trace. Otherwise, even if possession failed, if someone produced an item that could counter souls, no matter how strong he was, it would be useless.

"Don't bother looking for me; you won't find me. Don't think about killing me; you're not strong enough!"

Having heard their transmission, the voice continued, as if looking down on them: "Since you've entered here, be prepared to be possessed. But... I can only possess one, so the rest of you are safe."

"Safe? I doubt it's that simple!" snorted Pavilion Master Sai.

Trapping them here couldn't be that straightforward.

He didn't believe that after succeeding in possession, this fellow would let them leave alive.

After all, Soul Spirit Masters were taboo. If news of the possession spread, even if he succeeded, many would want to kill him.

"By 'safe,' I mean you won't die for now. How long you live depends on your choice!"

The voice chuckled.

"Choice?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Right. I'll give you two choices now. First, I have three trials here. Those who pass won't be killed, but I won't take them out either. They'll be left here to fend for themselves!"

The voice said.

"Trials?" Everyone was stunned.

Wasn't this fellow supposed to be possessing someone? Why set up trials?

Zhang Xuan was also baffled.

Usually, trials were for assessing masters or special professions. This fellow was so strong he could kill them effortlessly—why bother with this?

But now they were trapped. Even if he didn't show himself, he controlled the mechanisms and could kill them at will. The decision wasn't in their hands. No matter how puzzled or strange it seemed, they couldn't refuse.

"And the second?" Zhang Xuan continued.

"Second, I'll kill you one by one until someone willingly takes the trials!" the voice snorted.

Unexpectedly, the second condition also involved taking the trials. The crowd grew even more confused.

What was this fellow's purpose in forcing them to take trials?

"Could it be... selecting the guest sheep?" Luo Zhu couldn't help but say.

"Selecting the guest sheep?" Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched.

Selecting the guest sheep was a herdsman's saying.

When a guest arrived, a sheep was usually slaughtered for hospitality. But choosing which sheep among the flock to butcher for the best flavor was a big problem.

Typically, the sheep were made to run, and the one that ran the fastest and most vigorously would have the best meat.

Could it be that the fellow making them take trials was like selecting the guest sheep—using the trials to pick the most suitable physique for possession, ensuring better fusion and minimal loss of strength?

"Very likely!"

After analyzing, Zhang Xuan nodded.

That made a lot of sense.

A Soul Spirit Master couldn't possess just anyone. For instance, that previous soul had possessed Luo Zhu, causing a sharp drop in cultivation and difficulty in fusion.

Even if it eventually succeeded, due to incompatible physique, future achievements would be limited.

It was like forcing someone skilled with a sword to use a hammer.

An unsuitable tool, no matter how good, couldn't achieve maximum effect.

This fellow forcing them to take trials was likely with this intention—through selection, determine the most suitable body, then decide.

Otherwise, a soul that had lived for who knows how long wouldn't be so bored as to close the Dragon-Severing Lock and play games with them.

He'd probably planned this from the moment they arrived. Initially doing nothing, he waited until they entered the passage, then cut off their retreat and revealed his voice.

"Right, I am selecting the guest sheep—seeing if any of you have a physique suitable for a soul spirit... What, scared?" Hearing their conversation, the voice spoke again.

"Scared? Not quite!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head: "Where are your trials? Bring them out and let us see!"

"That's more like it!"

Seeing him agree, the voice continued: "Don't think that if you don't pass, I won't take a liking to you. My selection criterion is physique, not speed or method of passing. Remember, only those who pass won't be killed. Those who fail... will have to bid farewell regretfully!"

Rumble!

As the words ended, the hall shook, and a massive stone tablet appeared.

"This is the most basic [Soul Guidance Art] of a Soul Spirit Master. All of you practice it. If you can guide your soul out of your body within ten days, you pass. If you can't within ten days, you'll be executed by the mechanisms!"

The voice said coldly, devoid of emotion.

"Soul Guidance Art?"

Zhang Xuan looked at the stone tablet and indeed saw it densely covered with text. The three large characters at the top seemed to pierce the soul, giving a spiritual tremor.

Soul Guidance Art!

The cultivation method of a Soul Spirit Master.

He had thought the first trial would be something else, but it turned out to be a cultivation technique!

"So this fellow wants to select someone capable of practicing soul spirit arts!" Zhang Xuan realized. "That makes sense. Being able to cultivate the Soul Guidance Art indicates a suitable soul spirit physique. After possession, he can also cultivate and regain his peak."

Someone skilled in swordsmanship would naturally want to possess a swordsman, making future cultivation easier.

As a Soul Spirit Master deciding to possess, he would certainly want to find someone who could practice soul spirit techniques, so after success, he could use that body to cultivate better.

"Don't harbor any侥幸心理 and wait until the last day to guide your soul out. That won't help you. Talent isn't determined by how fast you guide the soul. Moreover... once you start cultivating the Soul Guidance Art, you won't be able to stop..."

Afraid that everyone would shirk and not focus on cultivation, the voice said sinisterly.

But before he could finish, the young man's voice rang out calmly: "This Soul Guidance Art looks good... But do you have any similar techniques? The more the better. How about... let's start with a thousand copies for me to look at?"

The voice was stunned: "A thousand copies?"