Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 1853: 477: 797 Zhuyan, Ancient Puppet Sect! (2)

One must understand that a cultivator's soul holds immense importance.

When it cracks and suffers harm, the core origin of the soul gets impacted, potentially altering one's very lifespan.

"Were you a cultivator prior to your death?"

Lu Changsheng inquired.

"Indeed, should this secret technique pique your interest, I will hand it over if you simply release me."

Noticing Lu Changsheng's astonishment, Qian Zhuyan responded.

"Then, the individual who struck down my spiritual pet and fell to my hand isn't your master? The controller behind the puppet battle array wasn't him, but rather you."

As soon as Lu Changsheng realized the puppet in front of him wasn't a Third Rank creation forged by another, he quickly grasped that the earlier dozen puppets had probably been manipulated by this very one.

The figure he had viewed as an unparalleled prodigy in the Puppet Dao turned out to be merely a standard Late Stage Core Formation cultivator, far from being this puppet's owner.

"That's correct."

Flames of black flickered in the puppet's eye sockets, its tone rough and grating.

"Impressive."

Lu Changsheng commended, seeing this as a rare gift, a supreme talent, and pressed on: "Did you also forge those earlier puppets?"

His greatest reward from venturing into this Secret Realm consisted of the assorted spiritual materials from heaven and earth.

Even if he equipped himself completely or made sure his Core Formation spouse and offspring each wielded a magic treasure, he still couldn't exhaust them all.

Yet, he lacked the spare moments or effort to personally forge artifacts and produce magical treasures.

Should this puppet prove to be an elite puppet master, subduing it would allow him to channel those divine earthly treasures into crafting superior Third Rank puppets, thereby bolstering his family's legacy!

"Yes."

The puppet affirmed once more.

"From what you've said, fellow Daoist, it appears you desire to live on. In that light, why not strike a bargain?"

"Craft... well, about a hundred puppets for me, and impart the puppet arts to groom ten puppet masters under my wing, and I'll grant you freedom."

The Lu Family of Bi Lake Mountain had long been famed for its puppetry expertise, but over the years and as they expanded beyond the Bi Lake region, their puppetry standards had somewhat declined.

With this puppet being a master of the Puppet Dao at the highest level, it could assist his clan in nurturing puppet masters and producing elite puppets.

"Half my soul has turned into puppet spirit, so I can't stay conscious for extended periods; the most I can offer is my puppet techniques."

Qian Zhuyan quelled the turmoil within her soul and uttered, her voice raspy and ghostly.

Back when she faced a dire life-or-death peril, witnessing her sect's annihilation, in desperation, she fused her soul with the puppet.

This fusion happened more by accident than design, converting half her soul into puppet spirit, granting her flawless command over the puppet.

However, the price was steep: that transformed half-soul, now like a ghost cultivator's essence, warped her temperament over time, filling her with nothing but grudge and fixation.

In this state, even her conscious soul endured constant erosion from the puppet spirit half, forcing her to employ a secret method for slumber, which scattered the detrimental effects and dark feelings.

"Can't stay awake for long? To maintain wakefulness?"

Lu Changsheng furrowed his brow faintly, sensing right away that this puppet's worth was quite limited.

After all, his household already held the puppetry legacy from Tianyuan True Monarch.

Given his prowess and position as Great Dream City Lord, acquiring additional Puppet Dao legacies posed no real challenge.

He had considered taming it mainly because techniques alone often fall short; true progress demands mentorship and instruction.

But this puppet offered neither crafting nor guidance, rendering it useless.

"How exactly did you create those twelve puppets from before?"

Lu Changsheng questioned.

If wakefulness was so fleeting for her, how had she managed to produce twelve Third Rank puppets?

After a brief pause, Qian Zhuyan explained: "While I can't remain alert for too long, treasures of the Soul Path and hidden artifacts let me prolong my awareness."

"Furthermore, the one you eliminated was also a Third Rank puppet master, and we collaborated on forging most of those puppets."

The puppet's tone turned ever more icy and terrifying, like murmurs rising from the underworld, chilling the listener to the bone.

"Husband, the way her soul became puppet spirit echoes some ghost cultivator methods, leading me to believe her puppet spirit soul needs an Extreme Yin Land for cultivation, lest the ambient yin energies of heaven and earth overwhelm it, twisting into a vengeful spirit."

Just then, Hong Lian sent a message to Lu Changsheng: "Still, her case differs from typical ghost cultivators; if she cultivates in Extreme Yin Land, the remaining half of her soul might struggle to adjust, enduring endless assault from ghostly qi."

"Indeed."

Lu Changsheng had also observed how the puppet's emotions wavered wildly, as if she were barely containing the chaos in her soul right now.

He addressed the puppet deliberately: "Given that, perhaps we can work together. Provide puppet crafting for me and train some puppet masters, and any Soul Path treasures you desire are yours."

The puppet fell quiet, sinking into a profound hush, shrouded in an aura of frost.

"We share no grudge, you could ally with others before—why not with me?"

"Besides, it was you who first targeted my spiritual pet."

Lu Changsheng spoke lightly, his manner relaxed and composed.

"I seek vengeance! Aid me in settling my blood debt, and I'll forge puppets for you! Share every puppet technique I know!"

The puppet shuddered violently all at once, like a mechanical beast roaring to life, its voice resembling the hiss of deadly serpents and cries of malevolent fowl, brimming with agony, bitterness, and fury.

"Calm yourself, speak at ease."

Lu Changsheng saw the puppet's soul condition was unstable and promptly raised his hand, channeling yin-yang mana to soothe her turmoil.

Beneath the harmonizing yin-yang mana, the puppet's agitation slowly ebbed, though laced with sorrow and desperation, it pleaded: "Vengeance... just help me exact my revenge, and I will serve as your puppet, handle any task for you..."