I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2620 - 1196: Imperial Court Secret Realm (2)

Shenxi gave a quick rundown, noting that one of their Dao De Sect's ancestors, Wuwei True Monarch, had reached the Void Refining Realm only after acquiring resources from the Eastern Royal Court.

Prior to his ascension, Wuwei True Monarch, a skilled Talisman Master, bequeathed numerous sixth-grade talismans to bolster the sect's foundations, including the mighty Six Dragons Talisman. This gift endowed the Dao De Sect with profound heritage, as the exact count of these sixth-grade talismans remained a mystery.

Still, Chen Mobai suspected their numbers weren't that vast.

Furthermore, activating a potent sixth-grade spirit talisman would exact a heavy toll even from a God-Transcending cultivator.

"During the Eastern Royal Court's glorious peak, twelve Golden Armored Celestials stood guard over the Immortal Cities and East Land borders. As the Imperial City, Guangwu Immortal City boasted three. Our sect assisted the Nine Heavens Morality Sect and fellow Holy Lands in refining the Communicating Holy Spirit Pill, earning us control of this Secret Realm. These three Golden Armored Celestials fell under our sect's banner too. Yet, in fierce clashes against Demon Clan True Spirits, the puppets suffered grave damage and were abandoned here, lacking Puppet Masters for repairs."

Guiding Chen Mobai and the group, Shenxi approached the three half-kneeling Golden Armored Celestials. Chen Mobai noted the vivid puppet forms marred by profound claw scars.

One statue had been ripped asunder and pieced back together, its surface riddled with fissures.

The least damaged one lay severed at the midsection.

Having scrutinized them closely, Chen Mobai felt deep regret, for every core puppet component lay utterly shattered. Restoring them proved far tougher than forging anew, which is why the Dao De Sect abandoned the trio of Golden Armored Celestials in this place.

"Those True Spirits appeared from nowhere back then, boasting power rivaling an ancient Flood Dragon at minimum."

Da Kong True Monarch appeared privy to the cataclysmic battle that spelled the Eastern Royal Court's utter downfall. Not only did Demon Clan True Spirits ravage the Imperial City, but they also seized the Dragon Capturing Tripod.

Forces rivaling at least Taixu MiaoMiao Palace would have been required.

Extensive probes followed, yet yielded no solid leads.

"That clash demanded Void Refining level might, or else the Imperial City's defensive array could never have fallen."

Shenxi shared further Dao De Sect intel. Their forebear, Wuwei True Monarch, had served as State Preceptor to the Eastern Royal Court and grasped Guangwu Immortal City's array secrets, aware that a standard Void Refining cultivator couldn't wreak such havoc.

Thus, every Holy Land across the East Continent stayed mute post-event.

"Alas, such a shame—they're beyond repair." Da Kong True Monarch rose after probing the wrecked Golden Armored Celestials, letting out a heavy sigh.

"My master stated that Chen Sect Master and Elder may each select one statue."

Shenxi uttered the words, looking somewhat sheepish. After all, Dustless True Monarch had bartered Dragon Abyss Cave secrets for these, though they were in dire shape.

"Young friend, pick first."

Observing Chen Mobai meticulously taking apart and probing one Golden Armored Celestial's materials, Da Kong True Monarch suggested warmly.

"Then I'll claim this one."

Chen Mobai elegantly indicated the one he'd disassembled.

His checks revealed even the shards as Rank-5 materials, laced with lingering sixth-grade essence.

"Hmm, this puppet feels off somehow."

As Da Kong True Monarch reached for the waist-severed statue, an oddity caught his eye.

Chen Mobai hurried over to inspect, and the sight of the exposed spinal bone made his pupils contract sharply.

"A Human Puppet!?"

Gazing at the spinal bone amid the gash, he grew profoundly somber.

This Golden Armored Celestial's base material derived from a human.

Corpse or living cultivator?

How ruthless was the Eastern Royal Court?

Turning to the awkward Shenxi, Chen Mobai and Da Kong awaited her clarification.

"This came from a Golden Armored Zombie on the verge of evolving into a Flying Night Fiend, captured amid the Hall of Ten Directions' purge of the Corpse Disassembling Devil Sect. Imperial Court Puppet Masters then forged it into a Golden Armored Celestial. Truth be told, this marks the origin of Golden Armored Celestials, though our sect wielded scant sway then..."

Shenxi let out a sigh, realizing that for an Orthodox Holy Land, learning of the Eastern Royal Court’s use of Demonic Way Secret Methods to craft puppets and failing to halt it was unacceptable.

Yet back then, the Dao De Sect truly lacked the authority to condemn the Human Emperor.

"Then I’ll choose another one."

Upon hearing those words, True Monarch Da Kong generously picked a different puppet, given that only one among the three had been forged from a Golden Armored Zombie.

Shenxi fell silent after that.

"What’s over there?" With their puppets chosen and coordinates locked in via Turtle Treasure, Chen Mobai gestured toward the adjacent pavilions and questioned.

"That’s the spot where previous Human Emperors retreated for cultivation. It once linked straight to the Upper Realm through a seventh-rank spiritual vein, but since the Utter Desolation Barrier arose, the connection broke, leaving it at just a sixth-rank lower-grade now."

Shenxi explained, before igniting the Six Dragons Talisman to escort them within.

The interior was predictably lavish beyond measure, though Chen Mobai found himself drawn most to a pavilion brimming with jade slips.

"These hold the administrative annals of every era’s Human Emperor from the Eastern Royal Court, revered as the Imperial Court’s own chronicle. At first, we dispatched cultivators from various Holy Lands to duplicate them, leaving the originals right here."