Chapter 29: The Retreat

The automaton stood over twenty feet tall, its appearance remarkably humanlike. Its body and limbs were forged entirely from refined iron, with a claw on its left hand and a sword on its right. Its chest and back were covered in thick armor plates. Every movement—walking, leaping—was exceptionally agile, revealing immense combat power without the need for direct confrontation. It was clearly no ordinary construct.

Under the sunlight, the automaton’s entire frame shimmered with a cold, metallic luster, radiating an imposing aura.

Yet this was not the primary source of unease for Liu Chou. What truly unsettled him was the automaton’s behavior. It moved with the sharp warriors—sometimes walking, sometimes pausing, sometimes alert, sometimes scouting—all without any orders, acting entirely on its own initiative. Its conduct was indistinguishable from that of a living being, far surpassing any mechanical beast Liu Chou had ever encountered.

Now, the automaton’s head continuously scanned its surroundings, its icy pupils sweeping over the sacrificial temple’s perimeter. Its body shifted, and Liu Chou’s gaze fell upon a narrow crevice behind the automaton. Clearly, it was an entrance.

This wasn’t just an automaton!

Liu Chou’s past life memories surged within him, abruptly enlightening him. This was not a mere mechanical man but an advanced suit of mechanized armor—what future sci-fi films would call a mech. That explained its remarkable intelligence. Judging by all signs, this was undoubtedly a secret weapon of the Great Zhou dynasty.

It was even likely that the current war had been launched specifically to test these mechanized suits!

"This is troublesome," Liu Chou frowned slightly. "The armor’s plating is too thick. My crossbow shots can hit, but might not be enough to destroy it completely."

Moyun crouched low, pressing himself against the rooftop. Every time that strange creature turned toward them, he felt a chilling sensation, as if being watched, which made him deeply uncomfortable.

"I’ve never seen such a mechanical beast and have no idea where its operator might be," Moyun said, slightly lifting his mouth from the ground to avoid the dirt. "If you’re unsure, then we shouldn’t provoke trouble. Let’s just leave."

Liu Chou considered it. Indeed, no one truly knew the power of this strange mechanized armor. Although the Fengshen Record was important, it didn’t mean they had to fight it head-on here. If necessary, they could lie in wait along the return route, then sneak in when the moment was right. No need to risk it here.

He nodded. "You and Golden Eye go ahead first. Don’t wait for me. Leave separately."

Moyun slowly retreated, soon reaching the edge of the roof, with Golden Eye following. Just as they turned to leap down, two armored soldiers appeared in the alley. Their eyes met involuntarily, both startled.

In an instant, the sharp warriors shouted loudly. Golden Eye reacted swiftly, leaping from the rooftop, lifting both feet to kick the two soldiers squarely in the chest. The creature’s weight combined with its downward momentum forced its claws deep into their chests. The sound of cracking ribs echoed as the soldiers collapsed to the ground.

Moyun rose immediately, leaping down from the roof without hesitation, racing back the way they came. Golden Eye kicked the two corpses aside and followed.

The enemies inside the sacrificial temple had been alerted. Liu Chou didn’t delay; he turned and fled. Though a few steps slower than Moyun and Golden Eye, his movements were sharper. Jumping down from the roof, he used the momentum to surge forward, then with several leaps, caught up to run alongside Moyun.

With a casual motion, he summoned Golden Eye back into the Sumeru realm as a last resort.

From the hiding house came a tremendous crash. Liu Chou’s ears twitched, instantly recognizing the sound of a heavy object smashing into the mud dwelling. Then a fierce gust of wind swept toward the back of his head.

The mechanized armor had moved!

He immediately chose the most direct chase, breaking through the mud house and pursuing. At the same time, he grabbed a massive stone and hurled it at the two demons. Infused with force, the stone flew with the power of a catapult.

Liu Chou kicked Moyun sideways, sending him flying diagonally, then used the momentum to spring away in the opposite direction. Just in time, the huge stone passed between the two demons, smashing into the mud wall ahead. Countless stones and mud fragments scattered and the entire wall collapsed in an instant.

Ignoring the flying debris, Liu Chou flipped and scrambled up. Moyun, still dazed, tried to stand and look back.

"Move!" Liu Chou growled, grabbing Moyun and stumbling toward a nearby narrow alley.

A thunderous crash sounded as a shadow charged through the collapsed mud wall, stirring up clouds of dirt—it was another mechanized armor bursting forward, unable to stop its momentum.

One mechanized armor launched stones to block the enemy while the other surged close in a fierce chase, displaying seamless coordination and disciplined training.

Fortunately, Liu Chou’s keen hearing allowed him to dodge this perilous attack, but he also keenly perceived the armor’s shortcomings: it lacked flexibility. Compared to human fighters—strong but sometimes clumsy—the armor couldn’t maneuver with full ease.

The two demons, each clad in mechanized armor, raced wildly. Sharp warriors scattered to avoid them. Taking advantage, Liu Chou frequently changed routes, zigzagging through Eagle Sorrow Ravine City, widening the distance. The mechanized armors smashed into mud buildings, causing walls to collapse and dust to billow.

Finally, Liu Chou led them into a narrow, winding alley that trapped the mechanized suits. The two demons could only crash through the sides to force their way out. Once free, Liu Chou and Moyun had already escaped beyond Eagle Sorrow Ravine’s limits, fleeing into the distance.

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