Seeing this, the spirits of the group lifted.

You Qingyi took out a Qi Absorption Pill, threw it into her mouth, and took advantage of the time to recover her Spiritual Power.

Half an hour later, she continued to perform the Green Wood Spring Technique while constantly pouring an unknown Spiritual Liquid onto the roots of the lotus.

And so the cycle repeated.

After more than half a day, You Qingyi unexpectedly revived the vitality of the lotus entirely. Its vibrant green leaves were tender and dripping, the petals stood tall and vividly red.

At the instant the lotus was revitalized, an invisible connection centered on it appeared, then spread to the other thirty-five lotuses.

Multiple invisible threads intertwined, momentarily activating the so-called 'Thirty-Six Green Lotus Life-locking Array'.

The sound of 'ka, ka, ka' was heard, and the third stone door opened.

The scene behind the stone door was somewhat different once more.

The area remained about twenty square meters, but it now included a stone bed, stone table, and stone chairs, and even a smoothly polished stone mirror, clearly resembling a bedroom.

The only distinctive feature was the thirteen bronze oil lamps atop the grayish-white stone table, with black and yellow lamp wicks but no oil visible.

'Swish!'

You Qingyi channeled her Spiritual Power, using the Palm Flame, generating a small red flame in her palm, which flew to an oil lamp and lit it.

Although she was a Yin Practitioner, she had still mastered basic Five Elements Magic, such as the Palm Flame, Wind Walking Technique, Ice Wall Technique, and so on.

However, the oil lamp only burned for a few breaths before extinguishing with a 'whoosh'.

At the same time, sparks briefly flared on the other twelve lamps before vanishing.

"It seems these thirteen lamps are connected. Could it be that they need to be lit simultaneously?" Bi Yaoyao guessed.

After speaking, You Qingyi reluctantly continued her attempts.

She used the Palm Flame to try to ignite all thirteen lamps, but unfortunately, she failed each time.

Firstly, the timing was crucial; the Palm Flame, being a Basic Magic, had limitations. Lighting thirteen lamps simultaneously, without any time lag, was technically challenging.

Secondly, she discovered that the size of the flames on each lamp needed to be uniform as well.

Just as Lou Yi hesitated, pondering whether to bypass the Sect's Technique Hall to secretly learn and advance the Palm Flame to Perfection,

"Hehe, let me handle this this time," Bi Yaoyao confidently smiled and said.

She spread her white palm, and three inches above appeared a fist-sized red fire lotus.

Lotus petals unfolded layer by layer from the heart of the flower to the exterior, each nearly identical in size and curvature.

"Go!"

With a light exclamation from Bi Yaoyao, thirteen petals flew from the fire lotus, landing on the oil lamps simultaneously.

With the sound of 'swish, swish, swish', the thirteen oil lamps lit almost at the same time.

In the next moment, red light spread from the lamp bases, extending red lines that connected to each other, and the fourth stone door rose with a 'ka, ka, ka'.

"I think I understand why three people need to enter the cave mansion together; participants must complement each other's strengths and work together," Bi Yaoyao analyzed.

After the three passed the fourth stone door, their expressions changed.

Unlike the previous narrow spaces, a sunken area measuring about two hundred square meters lay ahead, about a zhang deep, entirely paved with white stone bricks.

At the edge of the field was a rack of rusty weapons, with a few scattered swords and knives inserted.

"It's a Martial Arts Arena, or rather, a Martial Magic Arena," Lou Yi guessed at its function upon seeing the familiar structure.

But who would duel with whom? It couldn't be the three of them, right?

Fortunately, the scenario Lou Yi feared the most did not occur.

As if sensing someone had entered, a figure appeared at the other end of the Martial Arts Arena.

He appeared to be in his thirties, wearing red armor, a golden helmet on his head, holding a Silver Long Spear, looking majestic and formidable.

However, his facial muscles were extremely stiff, devoid of any expression, his eyes dull, probably not even as lively as a Lifebound Corpse from the Corpse-Driving Sect.

And Lou Yi sensed no trace of life from him; the spear-wielding man before him seemed more like a puppet.

"It's a mechanical puppet," Bi Yaoyao noticed, with a somewhat grave expression, "This round promises to be a tough battle."

Meanwhile, as Lou Yi and the others passed the fourth stone door,

most cultivator groups that entered the cave mansion were still trapped in the first three confined spaces, with only a few elite teams also reaching the fourth space.

...

Once known as the foremost genius of the Corpse-Driving Sect, Xie Zhiyu, looked at the female puppet armed with a sword and face painted with vermilion before him, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Behind him stood two slightly disheveled men, with damaged Daoist Robes and bloodstains on their bodies.

"Senior Brother Xie, these seem to be mechanical puppets made by Master Han Yue, it's hard to say what level their Cultivation is at," one disciple analyzed.

"You saved us earlier; perhaps I should go down and test its depth first this time?" Another disciple gritted his teeth and prepared to jump into the Martial Arts Arena.

"Master Han Yue opened the cave mansion this time to select an heir; she wouldn't set up deadly traps," Xie Zhiyu said indifferently.

With those words, he leaped down without hesitation, landing on the Martial Stage.

The female puppet's previously dull eyes shot out scarlet light!

With a 'whoosh', she drew her sword, pointing it forward.

In the next instant, a swirling red flame appeared at the point of her sword, violently sweeping toward Xie Zhiyu.

"Yin Light Shield!"

Xie Zhiyu waved his hand, and in front of him appeared a four-foot high semi-transparent giant gray light shield.

The sound of 'crackling' continued to ring out incessantly.

Under the pressure of the fire scroll, the gray light shield kept retreating, and a large number of fine cracks appeared on its surface, seemingly about to shatter under the burden!

Xie Zhiyu's expression changed, continuously increasing the output of spiritual power, barely resisting the assault of the fire scroll.

"This magic is at least at Qi Cultivation Level 7!" The two disciples watching from behind showed a trace of fear in their eyes.

Only Xie Zhiyu, with his knowledge and techniques at the peak of Qi Cultivation, combined with his spiritual power exceeding the average Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, could barely hold on.

If they were in his place, they probably wouldn't last two breaths before being completely engulfed in flames.

Thinking of this, both of them felt a bit fearful and looked at the field with worry, unsure if Xie Zhiyu could hold on.

Fortunately, after persisting for about a hundred breaths, Xie Zhiyu finally saw dawn.

The female puppet set down the sword in her hand, standing motionless at the original spot.

Behind her, a new portal had already appeared.

Xie Zhiyu's face showed a hint of joy, striding forward.

As for the matter of the two junior brothers behind him struggling over whether to step up, it was none of his concern anymore.

Besides Xie Zhiyu, Zhou Jiasheng, also a genius of the Corpse-Driving Sect, encountered a puppet skilled in using throwing knives.

Zhou Jiasheng, who had previously seized a treasure from a group of late-stage cultivators and impressed everyone.

In this battle of pure confrontation without any tricks, his body couldn't dodge in time, getting sliced in half by the flying knives of a late-stage Qi Refining puppet!

Another notable for his talisman making, Sun Yufei, encountered a puppet with an unclear silhouette and astonishing speed.

Before he could even take out his talisman paper, it silently approached, pierced his chest, and extracted his bloody heart!

As for the other cultivators who reached this level, they more or less encountered danger, and few managed to preserve themselves.

Fighting Qi Cultivation Middle Stage against Qi Cultivation Late Stage is already extremely difficult.

And the puppets crafted by Master Han Yue, their combat abilities are not weak even among Qi Cultivation Late Stage fighters.

With no genuine vital points, their life force is resilient, much harder to deal with than the average late-stage cultivator.

Of course, a few exceptional ones managed to pass the test easily.

Young Master Yun, who holds a prestigious status likely connected to the Sect Leader of the Red Sun Sect, upon encountering a robust puppet wielding a chopping knife, disdainfully patted a black cloth pouch at his waist.

"Roar!"

A more massive black shadow appeared in the arena and ferociously charged at the puppet!

The sound of 'bang bang bang' continuously echoed, and after more than ten breaths, the puppet was torn to shreds.

As for Young Master Yun, he swaggered through the stone door at the back, entering the next level.

Li Xiangping, a mysterious silver-haired man from the Li Family, encountered a puppet general riding a horse.

But his expression remained calm, without any action, simply chanting a few incantations, causing the puppet to freeze on the spot, then 'crackling' as it disintegrated in place!

A young body cultivator from the True Blood Sect, wearing a golden hoop, encountered a puppet similarly skilled in close combat, the puppet's cultivation level being at least Qi Cultivation Level 7.

But in their fierce clash, the body cultivator with the golden hoop did not fall behind at all.

He let out a fierce roar, a faint black ape shadow flashed across his body, and the golden light burst from his fist, completely suppressing the puppet and finally smashing it into two pieces!

Meanwhile, Lou Yi and his two companions were looking at the puppet before them, ready to step into the battlefield.

Despite Lou Yi and his companions' attempts to persuade, You Qingyi insisted on going first.

In the previous stages, Bi Yaoyao was mainly the one figuring out solutions.

Though they were best friends, You Qingyi, with her pride and ambition, couldn't tolerate her lack of contribution and decided to be the first to take the plunge this time.

She leapt lightly, landing on the Martial Arts Arena.

The puppet, clad in iron armor and wielding a silver spear, shook the spear tip, unleashing over a hundred yolk-sized conical ice arrows, which shot towards You Qingyi overwhelmingly!

You Qingyi hurriedly summoned the Yin Light Shield, but it only held for less than two breaths before being shattered by the ice arrows!

She then threw a yellow talisman paper, which transformed into an earthen wall emerging from the ground, blocking in front of her.

However, with her cultivation only at Qi Cultivation Level 4, facing at least Qi Cultivation Level 7 magical attacks, she was on the verge of collapse.

Seeing the earthen wall about to disintegrate, it seemed You Qingyi had no means left to resist.

Bi Yaoyao, in her anxiousness, directly jumped into the Martial Arts Arena.

She threw a red talisman paper, which turned into a sky full of flames, melting half of the ice arrows, barely fending off the attack alongside You Qingyi.

Unexpectedly, just as Bi Yaoyao entered the scene for less than a breath.

The silver spear puppet ceased its actions, its entire aura boiling over, rising continuously until it reached Qi Cultivation Level 9 before stopping!

"Not good!"

Lou Yi couldn't sit still and leapt down as well.

As soon as he jumped down, the light on the puppet's body shone brighter, and its aura changed once again, soaring upwards as if on a rocket!

...

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