Meanwhile, in the eastern tomb passage.
A massive bronze mechanical beast lay toppled in the middle of the eastern tomb passage. Judging by its appearance, it resembled the legendary qilin. At this moment, the Bronze Qilin's head hung low, and several enormous gashes at its joints exposed the mechanisms within.
Its entire body had lost its luster, and its immense bulk blocked nearly half the passage.
The cultivators of the Tang Court and the aristocratic clans, led by the Sixteenth Prince, Li Lin, sat scattered around it, regulating their breathing.
Yet although most of them were dusty and had torn clothing, none had suffered any truly serious injuries.
Li Lin stood beside the qilin's head with his hands behind his back, his brocade robe spotless, his hair bound beneath a jade crown, and his bearing composed.
He had scarcely taken action, so naturally, he had no need to regulate his breathing and recover.
Strangely, the twin rogue cultivators named "Left" and "Right" now stood in attendance behind Li Lin without a word. At this moment, Li Lin was watching the two rogue cultivators in the corner with interest.
According to the register, one was called Dugu Hao and the other Zha Hong. Both were rogue cultivators.
These two seemed acquainted with Green Sparrow, the Puppet Mechanist who had left with Song Yan.
Who knew why they had chosen to travel separately.
Dugu Wu was tall and slender, his expression calm.
Zha Hong was powerfully built and dark-skinned. He leaned against the tomb wall with his arms folded, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.
Li Lin took a step forward. "Fellow Daoists, impressive skills."
"Had you two not acted in time, some of us might have perished here."
Zha Hong did not even raise his eyelids, as though he had heard