The demon barbarians south of the city were the fewest.
Old Hanlin Academician craftsman Zhou Chunlei panted slightly as he struggled to control a giant bear two zhang tall.
When he had been very young, Zhou Chunlei had seen a Bear Clan Demon King rampage atop the city wall and retreat unharmed. The Bear Clan's power had left him deeply shaken, so after becoming a craftsman, he had devoted himself to researching Mechanical Giant Bears.
Had it been ten years ago, he would not have been in such a state. But now, at ninety years of age, both his Literary Palace and body were steadily declining. Not even the descent of the Heaven-Measuring Ruler had allowed his Literary Rank to break through.
Yet after a faint red glow appeared on the mechanism, he suddenly discovered that his Mechanical Giant Bear had become remarkably easy to control, and its power had grown stronger as well. It felt as though he had returned to ten years ago.
Zhou Chunlei slowly straightened his back and stopped panting. With the same gaze one would use for one's own children, he watched the Mechanical Giant Bear guarding the city wall.
The Mechanical Giant Bear was covered from head to toe in thick metal armor. Its two hind paws were broader, but lacked claws or blades. Its two front paws were somewhat smaller, yet each was set with sharp claws capable of tearing apart a Demon Marquis's body and, even against a Demon King, wounding its flesh.
A nimble Wolf Demon Marshal suddenly leaped up. The Mechanical Giant Bear immediately reached out to swat it, but a crafty glint flashed through the Wolf Demon Marshal's eyes. With a twist of its body, it easily dodged the bear's claws, slipped past the giant bear's side, and bit