Chapter 479 - 440: Soldier Puppet

Chapter 479: Chapter 440: Soldier Puppet

The island was quite ordinary, its form and terrain hardly differing from any other island in the Vast Sea.

The only difference lay in the island’s composition. The land, formed by Magic Techniques, wasn’t ordinary soil, but a substance akin to Spirit Iron.

The island’s surface was densely engraved with countless Array Prohibition Inscriptions. The island itself resembled a colossal work of Artifact Creation, resonating with the Grand Array that enveloped the islands of the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends.

The island’s interior was laid out like a typical camp. Buildings of various sizes and standards were arranged in a ring, encircling the island.

At its center was a wide, circular plaza. In the plaza, a Broken Sword was plunged into the ground where a dilapidated Soldier Puppet half-knelt. Glaring bloodstains mingled with mottled rust, making it look like a battle-hardened general who had tragically fallen on the field.

"The senior and the other fellow Daoists involved in repairing this Ancient Soldier Puppet are all staying over there. Fellow Daoist Chu, please follow me to pay our respects to that senior first."

Following the direction Cyan Wood True Master pointed, a dozen or so buildings of various sizes came into Chu Mu’s view, situated near the base of the Puppet.

Following Cyan Wood True Master, Chu Mu eventually stopped in front of an ordinary stone house beside the Puppet.

"Senior."

Cyan Wood True Master called out, then stood respectfully outside the door.

Before long, the sealed Stone Gate opened, and a figure in a pristine white robe was revealed in the gloom beyond.

The robe was as white as snow, but it had no graceful flow. The man was about ten feet tall, burly and stout, a physique that was in stark, indescribable contrast to his snow-white attire.

"You can repair this Ancient Soldier Puppet?"

The man’s eyes were like Copper Bells, and he looked at Chu Mu immediately. His voice boomed like thunder. Though it was just a simple question, Chu Mu felt an overwhelming, oppressive force wash over him.

"Junior..."

Just as Chu Mu was about to answer, Cyan Wood True Master quickly interjected, "Senior, Fellow Daoist Chu has just reached Core Formation. Although his Artifact Refining Skill is superb, the Ancient Soldier Puppet is Tier Four, so we’re not yet certain if he can repair it..."

"Cyan Wood, take him to see the Soldier Puppet’s damage first."

"Also, this Jade Scroll records the structure of the Ancient Soldier Puppet. Take it and study it carefully. If you make any discoveries, inform me immediately!"

The man flicked out a Jade Scroll as his towering figure dissolved into motes of light. The Stone Gate sealed shut once more, leaving not a single trace behind.

"Fellow Daoist, please come with me."

Cyan Wood True Master gestured for him to follow. Seeing the puzzled look on Chu Mu’s face, he smiled and switched from speaking aloud to using Telepathy.

"There’s no need for concern, Fellow Daoist. That senior only recently achieved Nascent Soul Formation. The breakthrough for a Bloodline Cultivator is different from that of an orthodox Immortal Dao Cultivator like you."

"When a Bloodline Cultivator’s Cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul realm, they have two choices: one is to transform into a Demon Body, and the other is to maintain their Human Cultivator bloodline."

"Transforming into a Demon Body means directly becoming the Demon Beast corresponding to their bloodline. From then on, they are fully committed to bloodline Cultivation, undergoing an Ancestral Return and transformation."

"If they choose to maintain their Human Cultivator bloodline, however, they must begin to suppress and refine its power, ensuring harmony between their Essence, Qi, and Spirit..."

"If they do this, the bloodline will naturally have a backlash..."

"That senior chose to maintain his Human Cultivator bloodline, which is why he seems a bit... peculiar..."

Chu Mu glanced at Cyan Wood True Master and asked tentatively, "Your own Nascent Soul Formation is within reach, Fellow Daoist. May I ask what choice you will make?"

"I’ll transform into a Demon Body."

Cyan Wood True Master shook his head. "I’ve languished in the Golden Core Realm for far too many years. I don’t have much lifespan remaining."

"If I am truly fortunate enough to achieve Nascent Soul Formation and transform into a Flood Dragon, my lifespan will be much longer than that of a normal Nascent Soul cultivator."

Chu Mu nodded slightly and said nothing more.

It was an indisputable fact that most Demon Beasts had a significant advantage over humans when it came to lifespan.

’And lifespan...’

’How many Cultivators don’t yearn for the legendary eternal life? And who among them would ever complain about having too much lifespan?’

’If one day I found it impossible to reach a higher realm and ascend to a higher form of life within my current lifespan, I would undoubtedly exhaust every possible means to extend it.’

’Compared to the legendary Treasures of Heaven and Earth that can extend one’s life, switching to the path of bloodline Cultivation is undoubtedly the most effective and simplest method.’

After a few more pleasantries, the towering Ancient Soldier Puppet was right before Chu Mu’s eyes.

Mottled rust and thick layers of dried blood crisscrossed its surface, emanating a strange, exotic fragrance. Now that he was observing it up close, the damage to the Ancient Soldier Puppet was far more visceral and severe than the image in the Jade Scroll had conveyed.

’It’s as if more than half its body has been shattered.’

’Based on my understanding of Puppets, with this level of damage, its most crucial component—the Puppet Core—couldn’t possibly have survived intact.’

’If the Puppet Core is damaged, then "repairing" it would be no different in difficulty from forging an entirely new Ancient Soldier Puppet.’

As Chu Mu circled the Ancient Soldier Puppet, a peculiar look came over his face.

’The way this Puppet was destroyed... it looks like it was torn to shreds by a massive Demon Beast.’

’The more I follow the trails of damage, the more plausible it seems.’

’There must have been an enormous and powerful Demon Beast that fought this Soldier Puppet using only the brute force of its Demon Body. What’s more, its physical strength must have far surpassed that of this inanimate object.’

’Only such an overwhelming physical advantage could have caused this kind of damage from biting and tearing.’

After a moment of thought, Chu Mu finally took out the Jade Scroll and probed it with his Divine Sense. It didn’t contain the complete schematics for the Ancient Soldier Puppet as he had expected. Instead, it held only a few fragmented, unsystematic records.