Raging black flames enveloped the figures of the five golems and they could only emit devastated roars as they slowly melted from the intense temperature of Jiu Shen's black flames.

Although these creatures were equivalent to 9th-rank Saint realm body enhancers, they seemed like ducks and chickens being mercilessly incinerated under Jiu Shen's violent and brutal black flames!

The golems twisted their stone bodies vigorously, causing violent movements inside the ninth level of the mysterious cave that shook the ground like an earthquake, but in the end, the five golems still powerlessly slumped on the ground before melting into a lava-like substance that emitted a cloud of black smoke. Not long later, not even an ash was left behind from the golems' humongous bodies.

Looking at this scene from afar, Xia Xinyue could not help but gasp in fear and veneration. The eyes she used to look at Jiu Shen were now twinkling like stars as she muttered silently to herself. "Lord Sect Master's power is too strong. Perhaps, he is a Nascent God Realm expert..."

Because she could not sense Jiu Shen's strength and also from the overpowering battle ability that he showed during the fight recently, Xia Xinyue thought that Jiu Shen was a Nascent God Realm expert...

Om!

A two-meter tall portal suddenly appeared in front of Jiu Shen making him a bit surprised, but when he recalled that the owner of this mysterious cave was an Array Formation Maker, he calmed himself down and turned his head to look at the stunned Xia Xinyue.

"Follow closely behind me. If I'm not wrong, behind this portal should be the final stage of this cave. We'll see what that deceased top expert left behind before his death." His indifferent voice rung beside Xia Xinyue's ears, waking her up from her stupor.

She hurriedly dashed towards Jiu Shen who had already stepped inside the portal, and after the figure of the two could no longer be seen, the portal produced a ripple.

Om!

A faint vibrating sound echoed from the portal before it slowly vanished.

* * *

Jiu Shen and Xia Xinyue looked around them and they realized that they were no longer within the cave.

In front of them was a vast expanse of rocky terrain. No trees or even a blade of grass could be seen, and only an ancient stone coffin was hovering just a hundred meters ahead of them.

The stone coffin emitted a sacred light as if a great personage was buried inside of it, but Jiu Shen scoffed disdainfully in his heart when he saw it since he knew that this was merely an effect created by an illusionary array formation, so how could he be impressed by this? 'This guy actually wants other people to believe that he is an almighty figure. Well, he could be considered as a top expert here in Nuar, but still, to think that he wants this kind of vainglory. What an egoistic fellow...'

The two of them didn't get closer to the stone coffin because there was still a conspicuous-looking statue beneath it, and Jiu Shen felt a dangerous vibe coming from this statue. It was the first time that Jiu Shen felt this kind of sensation after he transmigrated here in Nuar. It was a stifling kind of feeling that he only experience every time he faced strong opponents.

Looking at this statue, Jiu Shen's golden eyes revealed a strange glint. He then silently gestured for Xia Xinyue to back away.

Xia Xinyue saw the trace of solemnity in Jiu Shen's eyes and she could not help but take a clearer look at the statue beneath the hovering stone coffin.

It was the statue of a middle-aged man with heroic facial features. His muscular upper body was naked and was riddled with battle scars. The lower part of his body was covered with thick battle armor that seemed to be made from a high-level metal. On the hands of this middle-aged man was a huge stone axe that was at least twice longer than this two-meter tall statue. The blade of the axe looked imposing and threatening with its sickle-like edge.

After seeing that Xia Xinyue had already distanced herself, Jiu Shen summoned his Baleful Dragon Sacred Sword.

Roarrr!!

Jiu Shen's sword emitted an explosive draconic cry as if it was announcing its arrival to the world. However, the lifeless eyes of the statue suddenly sprung open after the Baleful Dragon Sacred Sword produced its sound. A pair of purple orbs flickered incessantly within the statue's hollow eyes.

"A puppet made from array formations? Interesting." Jiu Shen muttered as he glanced at the statue of the middle-aged man with a rare serious look.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Cracking sounds echoed as the statue slowly twisted its limbs as if it had awakened from its slumber. It then looked at Jiu Shen with an emotionless look as it slowly walked towards him. Its steps were steady and unhurried as it left deep footprints on the rugged ground.

"Nascent God Realm puppet!" Jiu Shen exclaimed in his heart. If it was in his past life, he wouldn't care about a measly puppet at the Nascent God Realm, but currently, he was only at the late stage of the 9th-rank Saint realm, so he still has to be cautious when facing this statue that had the strength of a Nascent God Realm expert.

Jiu Shen's muscles became tensed as the puppet came nearer to him.

He hasn't encountered an enemy as strong as this puppet since his arrival here in Nuar, so his battles mostly ended after just one attack from him, but this time, it might be different.

"Looks like I'll have to use my sword techniques now... What a nostalgic feeling..." He muttered as he slowly lifted his Baleful Dragon Sacred Sword.

As if it had sensed that Jiu Shen was preparing for an attack, the puppet who was just walking casually before suddenly pounced towards Jiu Shen while lifting its huge axe with both its hands. The air rippled as Jiu Shen suddenly felt a strong sense of danger. He quickly tapped his feet on the ground and he also flapped his pitch-black wings to fly in midair.

Baanng!

The rocky surface where Jiu Shen had once been now had a huge and deep hole on it with spiderweb-like cracks all around.

The puppet emitted an enraged roar after seeing that it had only hit the empty air and the pair of purple orbs in its eye sockets flickered wildly.

Roaaarrr!!

Its vicious voice didn't sound human-like and it was correct to say that it sounded more like the cry of a beast.

"Fleeting Sword Heavenly Slash." Jiu Shen silently muttered as he spun in the air before producing a keening sword slash that struck towards the puppet like a blade of wind that ripped the air apart!

Swoosh!

A violent gust of wind abruptly followed behind his slash which seemed like a tornado in stormy weather.

The puppet lifted its incomparably huge axe and violently swung it, meeting Jiu Shen's attack fearlessly.

Booooomm!!!

The figures of the two were hurtled away because of the strong impact from their attacks, and even the distantly watching Xia Xinyue felt the true essence within her body revolving crazily.

"How strong! This is definitely not the strength of a 9th-rank Saint! Did I guess it right? Lord Sect Master Jiu Shen really is a Nascent God Realm expert? Amazing!" Xia Xinyue's eyes contained a fanatical light as she watched the battle between Jiu Shen and the puppet. Although she could hardly follow the figures of the two, she was still able to see how intense their exchange was.

Violent explosions rang out as the two collided dozens of times, but only several seconds have passed by at this instant.

The place around them was already in a mess with multiple craters and indents on the ground. Only the stone coffin remained hovering ceaselessly in midair while emitting a dense sacred light.

Xia Xinyue's mouth widened and she could not help but cover her tiny mouth with her dainty hands as she stared at the battle with a stupefied look on her face.

It was the first time she had seen a battle at this level and she would never forget this scene even after many years later.

Jiu Shen narrowed his eyes as he looked at the lightly damaged figure of the puppet. He was one realm weaker than his opponent and he could battle evenly with it because of his physique and weapon, but the puppet's strength had also exceeded his expectations. It was actually able to regenerate itself like those golems from the ninth level of the mysterious cave! However, Jiu Shen has yet to use his full strength and stronger sword techniques and he was merely fighting with it casually because it has been long since he had a fight this intense. Even the dragon descendant Long Meili was not as strong as the puppet he was facing right now.

He wanted to prolong this battle as it might take a few more years before he could find another opponent as strong as this puppet.

Jiu Shen golden eyes exhibited a tinge of excitement as he held his sword. "Come on. Don't disappoint me." He muttered with a cold grin.