Without using cultivation, one could only fight with their physical body. Even with a powerful spiritual artifact, lacking spiritual power to activate it meant the artifact could only exert a fraction of its potency.

Chen Huang, devoid of cultivation, relied solely on his Arm Armor and physical strength. His punches and kicks left only faint scratches on the Flame King Human-faced Lion.

It was already so difficult for a body cultivator, let alone the others.

Eventually, Chen Huang was defeated. After a prolonged battle, he still fell just short of vanquishing the Flame King Human-faced Lion.

If I used my cultivation, one punch would have done it... Chen Huang snorted coldly. Despite his battered body, not a single groan escaped him, showcasing his firm will.

Two glimmers of light flew down from the small edifice, landing on the man and the beast.

Their injuries rapidly healed.

"What about the rest of you; do you want to give it a try?"

The two palace maids smiled sweetly. "If you pass both tests, my Senior Sister Gu will give you an extra treasure!"

"I'll give it a try..."

Yu Tianshu stepped forward, smiling. "If we can't use cultivation, we can still use spiritual artifacts, right?"

"Of course. The Mechanical Beasts of your Tianji Sect are also permissible."

"However, this Flame King Human-faced Lion possesses a Fire Attribute, which is a strong counter to your Mechanical Beasts."

The two palace maids chuckled behind their hands. "You'll have to be careful."

"No problem. My Tianji Sect has naturally considered this," Yu Tianshu grinned.

Then, he took out three wooden spheres from the brocade bag at his waist.

"Go!"

Yu Tianshu stepped forward, throwing the spheres out and shouting sharply.

Instantly, the three wooden spheres began transforming in mid-air. They resembled armored warriors or even Gundam fighters, morphing into components—armor, a head, a torso—which then assembled.

Finally, they formed a giant Mechanical Beast resembling a qilin.

... Wang Mu.

This Tianji Sect is quite interesting. Wang Mu observed them for a moment longer.

Yu Tianshu immediately controlled the Mechanical Beast to engage the Flame King Human-faced Lion. The battle lasted even longer than Chen Huang's, demonstrating the machine's superior resilience.

Eventually, the qilin Mechanical Beast was smashed to pieces by the Flame King Human-faced Lion, and both collapsed. However, the Flame King Human-faced Lion, flames still flickering around its body, rose again, staring viciously at Yu Tianshu.

Yu Tianshu shrugged, recalled the three wooden spheres, and returned them to his brocade bag.

Upon seeing this, the other two frowned slightly.

The Tianji Sect boasted many Artifact Refining Masters. Without cultivation, this Mechanical Beast was indeed stronger than Chen Huang.

Yet, it still couldn't defeat the Flame King Human-faced Lion.

The restriction made the disparity too great.

The remaining two, unskilled in close combat, could only shake their heads and concede.

Wang Mu, however, found it a pity. He had wanted to witness the abilities of these two sect Heavenly Prides.

Nascent Soul Level prodigies, when casting Spells, would surely be earth-shattering. Although I might not be able to defeat them, witnessing it would be a valuable experience.

Especially the Thunder Skill from the Supreme Mysterious Dao Sect.

"Only one left..."

The two palace maids looked at Wang Mu and smiled. "Fellow Taoist Mu, would you like to try?"

Wang Mu looked at the Flame King Human-faced Lion...

This situation somewhat resembled when I fought the Flame King Human-faced Lion in Newbie Village.

Back then, I had no cultivation, while the Flame King Human-faced Lion was at the Qi Refining Realm.

I relied on my Mountain-shattering Bow and physical strength...

Now, I can't use cultivation. But with a fully mastered Hundred Refinement Body Technique and seven layers of the Mountain and Sea Body Refining Technique... without using spiritual power, the situation is indeed very similar...

It's not that I can't win...

Wang Mu thought for a moment, then nodded, deciding to give it a try.

Seeing this, the others were taken aback, wondering where this little Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator found the courage to accept such a challenge.

"Your realm is too low. My Senior Sister Gu said you can use a bit of spiritual power; it's no issue."

The two palace maids said.

The other four exchanged confused glances. What was the meaning of this?

Although they found it strange, the four said nothing.

Using spiritual power is practically useless for a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator.

Fierce Beasts in the Golden Core Realm are inherently stronger than cultivators of the same level.

Especially a unique Fierce Beast like the Flame King Human-faced Lion.

Wang Mu shook his head.

With the seventh layer of the Mountain and Sea Body Refining Technique, there's no need. Besides, I still have the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Tribulation.

Wang Mu slowly produced the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Tribulation. Without spiritual power, its full might couldn't be unleashed, but its special effects would still be active.

"Eh, what a fine bow!"

Yu Tianshu's eyes lit up. "Such a Divine Bow! Could it be the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Tribulation from the Ancient Image Clan of Ling Province? Someone actually managed to refine it... How rare!"

"Is this bow very powerful?" Chen Huang asked.

"Extremely powerful," Yu Tianshu chuckled. "Brother Chen, even without using spiritual power, you might not be able to draw this bow fully."

"Impossible!" Chen Huang shook his head. "I've been body refining for decades. Even without spiritual power, my arms possess at least ten million units of divine power. It's impossible that I can't fully draw a mere bow!"

"This is a Taoist Spiritual Artifact, a rare Divine Bow, and it might have even developed spirituality," Yu Tianshu laughed heartily. "You should trust the judgment of a dignified Artifact Refining Master like myself!"

Chen Huang didn't speak, just watched silently.

Wang Mu, holding the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Tribulation, nocked an arrow and let it fly like a shooting star. The sound of rending air made the entire Big Formation tremble. Faced with such immense power, the Flame King Human-faced Lion dared not meet it head-on and hastily dodged!

A flicker of fear appeared in its eyes.

Wang Mu remained silent, drew the bow again, and loosed another arrow. It flew like a phantom, its trajectory so unpredictable that the Flame King Human-faced Lion couldn't even get close to him.

Wang Mu's stance was graceful. It was as if he understood the Flame King Human-faced Lion completely, predicting its movements with unerring accuracy.

The Flame King Human-faced Lion's body is incredibly tough. Why would it fear these arrows...? the others watched, puzzled.

"The arrows from the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Tribulation carry a special power," Yu Tianshu said gravely. "They can pierce Spiritual Power Shields. No matter how strong the Flame King Human-faced Lion's defenses, it wouldn't dare to take a direct hit and can only dodge. However..."

However, it simply couldn't dodge them all.

Soon, the Flame King Human-faced Lion was riddled with wounds.

Wang Mu had loosed hundreds of arrows, a veritable rain of projectiles.

Once his quiver was empty, Wang Mu put away the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Tribulation. He leaped forward, landing directly on the Flame King Human-faced Lion—now bristling with arrows like a hedgehog—and slammed a punch down!

Instantly, a terrifying Weaving Flame Wave erupted from the beast, incinerating Wang Mu's clothes. That same punch sent the creature sprawling to the ground.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Punch after punch landed, beastly blood spraying. Soon, the Flame King Human-faced Lion was on its last breath.

Wang Mu calmly stepped down, quickly cleaned himself, put on a fresh shirt, and looked at the two palace maids, who stood frozen in disbelief.

"So, have I passed?" Wang Mu asked.

The two maids glanced at the fallen Flame King Human-faced Lion, exchanged a quick look, and then hurriedly nodded.

... The rest of the group.

All four stared at Wang Mu as if he were a monster, utterly silent.

The two palace maids flew back to the pavilion. After a short while, they returned and announced:

"The final test is very simple. It's just one question."

"If you can answer this question, even if you didn't pass the first test, it will prove your affinity with our Senior Sister Gu."

Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up.

"This is my forte," Dao Xuan from the Supreme Mysterious Dao Sect said with a calm smile. "I have perused tens of thousands of volumes and dare not claim omniscience. However, since Gu Fairy is my peer, I might be able to shed light on one or two of her queries."

The other three rolled their eyes.

Wang Mu shook his head. What a strange test.

"Then please listen carefully..."

The two palace maids smiled. "Here is the question: In Huangtian Continent, there is a secret grotto called the Blissful Shuiyun Stream. Deep within the Blissful Shuiyun Stream lies a lake containing fish. Consuming these fish can cure myriad poisons. We ask you, does anyone know the name of these fish? And what color are they?"

Once the question was posed, the four challengers were visibly perplexed.

What an odd question from Gu Fairy!

Wang Mu was equally baffled.

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