Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family Chapter 1854: 477: 1,000 Zhuyan, Ancient Puppet Sect!

Qian Zhuyan realized that once she fell into Lu Changsheng’s grasp, escape was nearly out of the question.

Her entry into the [Vast Sand Illusion Realm] aimed to assist Shi Xuan in reaching Nascent Soul, allowing her to elevate to a Fourth Rank Puppet and claim her vengeance.

The individual before her possessed far greater strength, leaving her no option but to grasp this chance.

Observing the disordered condition of the puppet ahead, Lu Changsheng inquired softly about the circumstances.

Shortly afterward, Lu Changsheng grasped the details concerning the puppet at hand.

Originating from the Endless Wilderness, a Core Formation level force known as [Qianzhu Sect].

In her youth during a spiritual root examination, she displayed the rare gift of a Heavenly Spiritual Root along with potent divine sense, prompting the [Qianzhu Sect] leader to accept her as a disciple and bestow the name Qian Zhuyan.

By age twenty-one, she achieved Foundation Establishment effortlessly without relying on a Foundation Establishment Elixir, astonishing the whole [Qianzhu Sect].

Subsequently, following the sect’s direction, she immersed herself in the study of Puppet Techniques.

Compared to her prowess in Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivation, her aptitude for the puppet path proved even more remarkable.

Within a mere two and a half years, she crafted a Second Rank Puppet, earning her status as a Second Rank Puppet Master and acclaim from her master as the finest prodigy in [Qianzhu Sect]’s history.

In the years that followed, she poured her efforts entirely into the puppet path, and over a decade, she produced a Second Rank Superior Grade Puppet.

What drove her deeper into puppet research wasn’t just her innate talent, but the stagnation in her cultivation progress.

Her master had advised focusing on cultivation first, emphasizing that only reaching Core Formation would enable her to forge a Third Rank Sect-stabilizing Puppet.

Because she devoted excessive time to the puppet path, she lingered at Foundation Establishment’s peak until ninety-one.

With the cultivation base and resources supplied by [Qianzhu Sect], she fashioned a Third Rank Puppet at ninety-eight and surged into Core Formation in a single breakthrough.

At that point, the sect’s assistance grew limited, so she started contributing back, channeling her efforts into the sect’s puppet heritage.

Over a century, she not only developed a Third Rank Superior Grade Puppet but also refined the sect’s Puppet Dao Treasure Book, propelling [Qianzhu Sect] to new heights.

Yet [Qianzhu Sect]’s rapid expansion drew unwanted attention to its puppet trade, particularly from mighty entities in the Endless Wilderness, like the Ancient Puppet Sect!

Similar to [Qianzhu Sect], the Ancient Puppet Sect focused on puppets as well.

Witnessing [Qianzhu Sect]’s rise, they sought to subjugate them as subordinates, insisting on surrendering the Puppet Dao legacy and ninety percent of earnings.

[Qianzhu Sect] refused and attempted negotiations.

No one foresaw that subjugation was merely a pretext; they had secretly allied with other factions to dismantle [Qianzhu Sect] entirely.

On that fateful day, [Qianzhu Sect] met its doom.

Despite her extraordinary talent as a Puppet Master, capable of battling peak Core Formation foes with puppet formations, Qian Zhuyan’s own cultivation stood at mid-Core Formation, no match for the Ancient Puppet Sect.

As her sect crumbled and capture by the Ancient Puppet Sect loomed, she opted to detonate her Core Formation.

But in that critical moment, she remembered an early theory on puppets—converting herself into a ghost spirit via ghost cultivation, fusing with the puppet core to become a Puppet Spirit.

Nevertheless, turning a cultivator into a ghost cultivator resembles a total rebirth; the person emerges utterly transformed, essentially starting anew.

Not all cultivators manage this shift to ghost cultivation, which demands Extreme Yin Land, ghost energy, and more.

Yet fueled by her burning hatred and unyielding obsession, she pulled it off.

During her self-destruction, she employed the Soul Transfer Technique to bind her soul to this puppet, fleeing the Ancient Puppet Sect’s chase.

To preserve her sanity and pursue revenge, she converted only half her soul into a Puppet Spirit.

Still, puppets aren’t like humans and can’t advance via cultivation; upgrades come through refining the Puppet Spirit and enhancing the puppet’s materials.

Her partial soul’s ghostly Puppet Spirit form exposed it to endless torment from ghost energy, obsession, and hatred, steadily twisting it into a vicious spirit.

To counter this, she devised her own technique, "Xiao Yan Jue," using sleep to ease the strain.

This predicament also restricted her time and actions, so she mentored numerous cultivators instead.

Earlier in the [Vast Sand Illusion Realm], the man slain by Lu Changsheng served as her key ally.

They bound themselves with a Heart Demon Oath: if she aided his Nascent Soul breakthrough, he’d assist her to Fourth Rank and vengeance against the Ancient Puppet Sect.

"Good heavens..."

Upon hearing Qian Zhuyan’s tale, Lu Changsheng found himself speechless for a beat.

If he deemed her scheming, her plan of Nascent Soul first then Fourth Rank upgrade rang true.

But labeling her naive didn’t fit, given her improvements to [Qianzhu Sect]’s techniques, her self-invented methods, and her soul-merging feat while retaining awareness.

"You’re lucky to have met me."

Lu Changsheng murmured inwardly with a sigh.

Judging by the turbulent soul waves from Qian Zhuyan, her account rang genuine.

Under these conditions, genuine loyalty would earn her his aid in revenge.

Should she prove trustworthy, a future Spiritual Embryo of Heaven and Earth could even restore her body.

"Your soul’s in rough shape now, so rest up. We’ll discuss further when you awaken."

"If you demonstrate your value, boosting you to Fourth Rank for payback against the Ancient Puppet Sect won’t be hard."

Lu Changsheng stated steadily.

Though unclear on the Ancient Puppet Sect’s precise might, he surmised it held at most one or two Nascent Soul experts.

Once he attained Nascent Soul, handling them would prove simple.

"Thank you..."

The puppet appeared on the verge of losing control, its frame quivering as if ready to lash out at Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian at any second.

At Lu Changsheng’s assurance, it eased instantly, the soul flames in its eyes dimming to nothingness, resembling a lifeless puppet.

"Buzz!"

Lu Changsheng observed briefly before snapping his fingers to weave a barrier of swirling Yin Yang magic power. Turning to Hong Lian nearby, he asked, "Hong Lian, your thoughts?"

"Her story holds water, but don’t take it all at face value."

Hong Lian, clad in a modest yet striking red robe with her hair styled in an elegant cloud bun, answered with poised authority.

"That said, her puppetry skills are undeniable. Once confirmed true, bringing her on board could prove beneficial."

Though she lacks a physical body or magic body, and has forfeited her Heavenly Spiritual Root potential,

her puppetry genius remains untouched, and soul advancement might even propel her further.

"Right, I’ll get Zi Xiao to probe the Ancient Puppet Sect later. Such incidents should have records, and a quick check will uncover the facts."

Lu Changsheng clasped his wife’s delicate, yielding hand, grinning as he replied.

He already possessed ample Fourth Rank Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials.

Should Qian Zhuyan’s claims prove accurate, he’d have no qualms upgrading her to Fourth Rank immediately.

With a Fourth Rank Puppet on his side, it’d essentially grant him another Fourth Rank powerhouse!