Time ticked by, and the passage was silent. Everyone slowed their breathing, waiting for Yuanshi Tianzun to finish his deduction.

A dozen minutes later, the impatient Hongjige couldn't help but nudge Sun Miaomiao's hand, whispering, "Does stargazing take so long?"

"This is nothing. My grandpa's stargazing lasts the whole night," Sun Miaomiao said with envy. "Stargazing is the core skill of Star Officials. It can reveal everything in the world and turn bad luck into good, but it can only be done at night. I didn't expect Yuanshi Tianzun to have such a top-quality item."

At the Star Official stage, stargazing could only be done at night, without exception.

Only at the Day Wanderer stage could one use array diagrams to assist stargazing, without time constraints.

Therefore, Sun Miaomiao and Zhao Chenghuang had never thought he could deduce tactics through stargazing, especially since it wasn't night yet.

An hour later, as Hongjige's stomach rumbled, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes.

He raised a finger to the group, his voice low and aged, "I saw fourteen million six hundred and five possibilities in the future, and we only have one chance to win."

Guan Ya kicked him, "Stop joking and get serious." Her expression relaxed slightly. If the dog was in the mood to joke, it meant he was confident.

Zhang Yuanqing became serious. "We must take down the boss in the first round. If we drag it to the second round, we'll suffer casualties. Next, I'll tell you the battle plan in detail. Every step must be perfect. One mistake and we lose, understand?"

The team members were both delighted and solemn, and sat down in a circle.

Half an hour later, Hongjige and Tianxiaguihuo, carrying Xiahou Aotian's assembled "Italian Cannon," hurried towards the mountain belly at the back of the group.

The group rushed towards the central plaza with a clear goal. However, the path was obstructed, and piles of bricks and debris severely impeded their progress.

Fortunately, Saints weren't just for show, especially the Fire Master Tianxiaguihuo and Hongjige, who carried the ton-plus steel creation, hopping and skipping through the ruins.

According to Xiahou Aotian, the cannon was actually a mechanical creation, not a strictly defined item.

Soon, they arrived at the metal-cast Bagua Plaza.

"Boom!"

Tianxiaguihuo and Hongjige dropped the steel cannon, creating a heavy, muffled sound.

Then, the two Fire Masters threw balls of fire into the ruins, igniting the wooden structures and turning the ancient city into a raging inferno.

Sun Miaomiao, who was counting down, shouted, "Two minutes! One minute left! Prepare to face the mechanical beasts!"

"You prepare to face the mechanical beasts," Zhang Yuanqing said, taking out the Azure Emperor Jade Belt and wrapping it around his waist. He charged towards the mecha-man standing proudly on the yin-yang fish.

As he moved, he activated the "Beast Transformation" skill. His swelling muscles burst his clothes, coarse black hair sprouted from his skin, round ears grew on his head, and his hands and feet enlarged with hard claws.

"Awoo!" he roared, saliva flying.

A black bear, over two meters tall, charged at the mecha-man.

Sensing the approaching enemy, the mecha-man adjusted its body to face the raging bear and raised its right arm, which was equipped with an arrow quiver.

With a "click" of the mechanism, a shadow shot towards the bear, piercing its heart with a "thud".

The black bear, driven by its fearlessness, reached the mecha-man and swung its right claw, deflecting the mecha-man's incoming cast iron sword.

The next second, the steel monster was held in a death grip by the black bear.

The mecha-man and the black bear struggled silently, the former's body creaking and groaning, while the black bear's arms were slowly being forced apart.

Outside the Bagua diagram, from Silver-Yao's waist pouch, came a woman's resolute cry: "Commander, fire the cannon! Don't let me look down on you..."

Xiahou Aotian didn't hesitate and pulled the trigger.

Boom!

A miniature sun left the cannon, engulfing the entangled mecha-man and black bear.

Tactic Step One: Armor Break!

In the deductions of the Stargazing Art, the mecha had internal defenses specifically designed to counter mental attacks. Illusions, mental strikes, dreams, and the spirit servant's wall-phasing ability were all ineffective against it.

Therefore, to kill the lifeform inside the mecha, the armor had to be broken first.

Under the bombardment of Dominator-level power, the black bear's body cracked and collapsed inch by inch. Zhang Yuanqing's true form appeared, blown away by the explosive shockwave.

He rolled dozens of times on the ground, his bones broken, his skin charred, coughing up blood.

The mecha-man staggered backward, its metal body smoking, like a machine with burnt-out circuits. The sword in its hand was red-hot and twisted, but the outer shell of its body was undamaged.

The Dominator-level attack had failed to break the armor...

Zhang Yuanqing and the others weren't surprised. Although the mecha-man hadn't reached the Dominator level, it could definitely withstand a Dominator-level attack.

Otherwise, what was the point of that body?

Sun Miaomiao shouted, "Twelve seconds!"

The heavily wounded Zhang Yuanqing shuddered and immediately activated the Azure Emperor Jade Belt's Longevity Technique. His body rapidly healed in the soft green light.

He quickly took out the Yin-Yang Robe, the Sliding Shoes, and the Purple-Gold Shield. He slid forward, and just as he did, the mecha-man strode towards him, swinging down its red-hot cast iron sword.

The two passed each other.

Zhang Yuanqing quickly got up, as if he had practiced countless times. He turned around, raised his shield, and just in time blocked the mecha-man's swift backhand strike.

Clang!

The Purple-Gold Shield cracked wildly, and Zhang Yuanqing's newly healed right arm broke again under the immense force.

Before he flew backward, he threw a fireball at the mecha-man, yelling, "The Non-Aggression time is over!" The fireball struck the mecha-man's chest, exploding with a "boom." Tianxiaguihuo and Hongjige appeared in the expanding flames.

Tianxiaguihuo's palms spat out blazing flames, condensing into a high-temperature flame blade, which he slashed down.

The arc of the flame blade struck the mecha-man's chest with a "whoosh," further weakening the already hot and brittle bronze armor.

Then, Hongjige's fists erupted in flames, and he punched fiercely.

A loud "duang" was heard, mixed with the crisp sound of breaking knuckles.

The surface of the ancient bronze plate was distorted and deformed.

Ignoring the pain, the two Fire Masters retreated quickly to the left and right after their successful attack.

"Buzz buzz..."

The sound of a propeller-like flapping of wings rang out as Xiao Yuan carried Asano Ryo from the air, reaching the mecha-man's head. She released the Japanese girl for a free fall.

Asano Ryo held the Ice Soul Blade above her head, chanting loudly:

"Frost Descends!"

The blade, covered with ice crystal patterns, crackled as it was encased in a layer of ice, emitting a visible chill. At the same time, Asano Ryo's skin turned a dreamy ice-blue, and her hair, which hung down her back, rose without wind, scattering into strands that were surrounded by starlight-like ice crystals.

The cold air descended, freezing the moisture in the air and forming a thin layer of ice on the metal Bagua diagram on the opposite side.

The mecha-man thrust its sword into the air, piercing the helpless girl, sending up a splash of water.

On the other side, Guan Ya, holding the Han Bafang Ancient Sword, charged forward with her long legs, agile as a female leopard.

The mecha-man immediately raised its left arm, firing arrows at her, while opening a panel on its abdomen, revealing rows of black gun barrels that spewed flames, unleashing a barrage covering a wide area.

But Guan Ya anticipated his attacks, dodging and weaving through the barrage, advancing through the exploding flames, and thrusting her sword out, the sword energy howling like a dragon's roar.

"Crack!"

The thick bronze plate on the mecha-man's chest cracked, and so did Guan Ya's Han Bafang Ancient Sword. At this moment, Zhao Chenghuang called out from outside, "Forty-seven seconds! Retreat!"

Tianxiaguihuo and Hongjige simultaneously used Fire Travel, their bodies enveloped in crimson streamers. They then appeared in the raging ruins.

The purpose of setting the ruins on fire was this.

The mecha-man dropped its cast iron sword, spread its arms, and aimed at Asano Ryo and Guan Ya, who were fleeing to the edge of the plaza.

The left arm fired a half-meter-long arrow, and the palm panel on the right arm slid open, revealing a dark gun muzzle, which flashed with fire. The arrow and bullets shot at Asano Ryo and Guan Ya's backs.

At the crucial moment, Xiao Yuan swooped down like a hunting hawk, snatching Asano Ryo away.

The arrow grazed past them.

On the other side, dazzling starlight rose behind Guan Ya, and Zhang Yuanqing appeared in the starlight, holding a round shield.

Boom!

The shield blocked the bullets, but the force of the explosion staggered him.

While staggering back, Zhang Yuanqing took out a basin-sized turntable made of something that wasn't gold, iron, or jade, and threw it out.

The turntable landed at the mecha-man's feet, and the pointer spun quickly.

After throwing the turntable, Zhang Yuanqing snapped his fingers, using Star Escape to flee the hundred-meter-diameter Bagua Plaza.

Fifty seconds had passed, and "Universal Love" punished the empty plaza on time.

The mecha-man stood blankly.

Zhang Yuanqing counted one, two, three, and then snapped his fingers, and starlight rose in front of the mecha-man.

He held a thirty-centimeter-long, large-caliber Lightning Cannon, aimed at the cracked chest, and pulled the trigger.

Purple lightning quickly condensed, and a ball lightning shot out. At the same time, the plate on the mecha-man's chest slid open, and rows and rows of gun muzzles aimed at Zhang Yuanqing, firing simultaneously. "Puff puff puff..."

The dense bullets pierced his body, splashing water. The Water Ghost passive of the Yin-Yang Robe negated the bullet shots.

"Boom!" The ball lightning also hit the mecha-man at the same time, completely tearing apart the cracked bronze armor.

In the mecha-man's chest was an old man with white hair. His eyes were closed, and thick metal tubes were inserted into the back of his neck and chest, connecting to the devices inside the mecha.

The shattered bronze fragments cut his cheeks and body, and black-red blood flowed out. He remained still, his eyes closed, without any reaction.

At this moment, the pointer of the Yin-Yang Turntable stopped, pointing to the black area.

All of this was within Zhang Yuanqing's expectations, because he was wearing a Lucky Necklace, and the pointer would inevitably point to black.

Above the Yin-Yang Turntable, a dialogue box appeared that only The Way of the Extraordinary could see:

【Pointer: Black】

【Note 1: Answer the turntable's question. Answer correctly to spin the pointer again. Accumulate three white results to lift the ban.】

【Note 2: Those who answer incorrectly, die!】

At the same time, the sound of clicking mechanisms rang out. The "Five-Man Machine" slid out from the holes in the left mountain wall, and various mechanical creations leaped out from the holes on the right.

Adding both sides together, there were over a hundred, far more than any previous time.

Sun Miaomiao exclaimed, "Not good, there are too many mechanical beasts this time!"