"What was going on? Could the refinement have failed?" Elder Li leaned close to Lin Taichu and asked in a low voice.
Before Lin Taichu could answer, a series of cracking sounds came from inside the stone house, like rocks grinding together. Then, with a thunderous boom, the Stone Gate was shoved open from within, scattering rubble everywhere.
Everyone immediately tightened their grips on their weapons and prepared for battle. A figure clad from head to toe in Golden Armor emerged from the stone house. Strange lines covered the armor, and every step it took rang out with a heavy metallic clang.
The figure stood a head taller than an ordinary adult, broad and powerfully built. Dark red liquid could faintly be seen flowing through the cracks in the armor. A golden mask covered its face, revealing only a pair of cold, gleaming eyes.
"This is the Golden Armor Puppet?" Wang Xiaohu instinctively tightened his grip on his blade.
Lin Taichu frowned. He noticed that the Golden Armor Puppet did not move as stiffly as the zombies from before. On the contrary, its movements were remarkably agile.
The Golden Armor Puppet stood at the entrance of the stone house and raised a hand, flexing its wrist. The golden armor let out a sizzling rasp as it rubbed together.
He slowly spoke. His voice was not the Cult Master's middle-aged voice, but an ancient, weathered one. "Three hundred years... I have finally seen the light of day again."
Lin Taichu's heart jolted. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the Golden Armor Puppet raise a hand and point at the four elders tied to the carriage.
The four elders looked at him, their eyes filled with terror. They struggled to retreat, crying out, "Cult Master, spare us! It wasn't