Chapter 259 - 220: Sword Box Puppet, Long Blade Puppet, Martial Artist’s Power

Chapter 259: Chapter 220: Sword Box Puppet, Long Blade Puppet, Martial Artist’s Power

Smoke and dust filled the air, and heat rolled off in waves.

All the Martial Artists stared, dumbstruck, at the shattered boulder and at Liu Zhenshan, who stood with the blade in hand, his aura overwhelming.

The power of that strike had already surpassed the Magic of a typical practitioner at the Qi Cultivation First Layer! It had reached the level of an all-out attack from a Qi Cultivation Second Layer Cultivator!

However, just as everyone was shocked into silence, something changed abruptly!

"CRACK!"

A subtle yet clear cracking sound came from the Long Blade Puppet in Liu Zhenshan’s hands.

On the blade forged from Profound Iron, several fine cracks spread out like a spiderweb, centered on the Spiritual Sand grooves. The magma-like light flowing over the blade’s body instantly dimmed and then extinguished, vanishing without a trace as if it had been a phantom.

The Long Blade Puppet shattered.

The surging Qi Blood Power in Liu Zhenshan’s body receded like the tide. He gripped the remains of the puppet—nothing more than half a hilt and a crack-riddled blade—as the excited flush on his face drained away, replaced by a dazed look and a hint of imperceptible fear.

He had clearly felt that as this "Divine Weapon" unleashed that heaven-shaking strike, it simply couldn’t withstand the force he channeled by fully activating his Qi and Blood, and had shattered in an instant.

Lu Zhao looked at the shattered remains of the long blade, his gaze perfectly calm, as if he had expected this all along.

He stepped forward slowly, took the remains from Liu Zhenshan’s hand, and brushed his fingertips over the scorched black cracks.

He said calmly, "This thing is, after all, only a Non-Tiered Puppet. The Spirit Guiding Patterns are too crude to withstand the full force you can unleash. One strike is its limit."

He turned to Zhao Xiaoshu. "For ordinary Martial Artists, these two items are sufficient. As for a Grand Martial Artist..." He paused. "If they want to unleash its true power, they’ll need an Entry Tier Puppet."

Zhao Xiaoshu hurriedly bowed. "Yes, Senior. The test results are clear. As for these people..."

"Reward them with some gold, silver, and Pills, then send them away. As for Liu Zhenshan..." Lu Zhao’s gaze fell once more on the old man whose aura had become ordinary again. "He stays."

After Xiang Kui had led the others away, Lu Zhao said to Liu Zhenshan, who stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, "That strike just now, how did it feel?"

Liu Zhenshan took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in his heart, and answered respectfully, "Immortal Master, the power of that strike... it was the first time in my life I’ve ever unleashed anything like it! This item is no worse than the legendary Blood Refining Spiritual Artifacts."

"It’s just that this item seems..." He looked at the wreckage, his eyes filled with regret.

"Unbelievably fragile," Lu Zhao finished for him. "This was an experimental piece, limited by its materials. If it were made with better Spiritual Materials and supplemented with a more refined Spirit Guiding Array, it could withstand your power, and perhaps even more."

Liu Zhenshan’s cloudy old eyes suddenly lit up, only to dim again just as quickly. He bowed and said, "The Immortal Master’s methods are wondrous. I wouldn’t dare to dream of such a thing."

Lu Zhao said no more and simply waved his hand. Zhao Xiaoshu understood and led the conflicted Liu Zhenshan away.

The clearing fell silent once more, with only shattered stones and scorch marks left behind.

Lu Zhao stood alone before the stone platform, his fingertips stroking the cold surface of the Sword Box Puppet. His gaze then swept over the remains of the long blade on the ground, his mind churning with thoughts.

’An ordinary Martial Artist with this Sword Box would have their ranged killing power multiplied, enough to threaten a weaker Tier One Early Stage Demon Beast.

’A Martial Artist wielding this Long Blade Puppet would be unmatched in close combat, capable of fighting a weaker Tier One Early Stage Demon Beast head-on.

’A Grand Martial Artist...’ He thought back to that strike. ’If equipped with an Entry Tier Puppet, they could threaten a more powerful Tier One Lower Grade Demon Beast.’

"But for now, Non-Tiered Puppets will be enough," he muttered to himself, a hint of resolve flashing in his eyes. These were sufficient to arm a force of Mortal Martial Artists with combat power far beyond the norm.

’As for Entry Tier Puppets for Grand Martial Artists? That’s a matter for the next phase. Right now, what I need is quantity.’

"Little Shu," Lu Zhao’s voice sounded again.

Zhao Xiaoshu’s figure immediately appeared nearby. "Senior."

"Relay my orders." Lu Zhao’s tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority. "Starting today, recruit reliable Puppet Apprentices. They don’t need to truly understand puppet making, just be quick with their hands and able to process basic materials and assemble parts according to a diagram. Set the initial number at thirty."

Zhao Xiaoshu’s heart jolted. He immediately understood Lu Zhao’s intention—he was going to mass-produce these two types of Non-Tiered Puppets! He replied in a solemn voice, "Yes! I will see to it at once!"

Lu Zhao nodded, his gaze once again turning to the distance, as if he could see countless Mortal Martial Artists wielding Sword Boxes and Long Sabers, carving a path through the Wilderness for him.

That was the true purpose behind his crafting these "little toys."