"A Deity Transformation puppet?"
Mo Xingdao's vigilance spiked at once, his gaze shifting warily.
Pretending not to notice, Saint Huiguang continued, "The Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao is like a thorn in our backs. We Deity Transformation cultivators are trapped beasts in a cage, yet we refuse to stretch out our necks to be slaughtered. A slim sliver of hope still remains in Guixu of the Eastern Sea. Once this humble monk and the Saint King settle our worldly affairs, we shall journey east to ascend and will not linger in this realm for long. We have very little time left. Even with the combined strength of both our races, it is impossible to forge a Deity Transformation puppet from scratch. This humble monk observed Benefactor Mo's puppet and saw that it could already comprehend the Yin-Yang Escape Technique at the Nascent Soul stage. Its potential is extraordinary. The Saint King and I are willing to lend our full support to help Benefactor refine this puppet and take it a step further!"
As a lone wolf, Mo Xingdao had weathered countless trials, storms, and upheavals. His thoroughly tempered mindset allowed him to steady his emotions swiftly, regaining his composure and reasoning, and he realized the true motive of the two races' Deity Transformation cultivators.
So they had set their sights on his puppet!
Yet no previous hardship could compare to the sheer despair brought by the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao. Mo Xingdao found himself enveloped by the palpable desperation in Saint Huiguang's words, unable to pull himself free.
He felt somewhat lost and at a loss. Probably any Great Cultivator would react similarly upon hearing this.
Spending a lifetime cultivating with single-minded devotion, casting aside easily attained worldly wealth and pleasure because a clear goal had always stood before them: break through to Deity Transformation.
Ascension! Transcending the mortal coil!
Now that goal had collapsed with a crash. Everything they pursued had lost its meaning. Could one truly abandon their obsession with the Great Dao, indulge in mundane trivialities, or even live recklessly and muddle through the rest of their days in a stupor?
Did the two Deity Transformation cultivators want him to hand over the puppet voluntarily, or did they plan to trade for it?
Countless thoughts flashed through Mo Xingdao's mind.
Ganlu Zen Monastery was the preeminent leader of the Buddhist sect and an overlord of the cultivation world. They could surely offer all manner of enticing terms, but aside from ascension, none of them could pique even the slightest interest in him!
"The ancient demon! The ferocious beasts!"
A flash of inspiration struck Mo Xingdao, and he blurted urgently, "Since it is a demonic voice, you captured an ancient demon alive—could you pry nothing out of it? And what of the rampaging beasts in the Storm Belt? Could it be that something happened to their lair?"
Seeing Mo Xingdao regain his wits so quickly and grasp the crucial points, Saint Huiguang could not help but regard him with newfound respect. He explained, "Regarding the source of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao, there are currently two conjectures. First, the demonic voice has always existed, and the Immortal Palace was what suppressed it, safeguarding the Dao for all living beings of this realm. With the Immortal Palace's ascension, this realm lost its protector, leaving us to face the threat directly. If that is so, the upheaval may have only just begun, and no one knows whether it will ultimately lead to the collapse of the world barrier and the extinction of all life.
"The second conjecture is that the Immortal Palace's ascension caused great upheaval in this realm, triggering an unknown catastrophe in the depths of Guixu, which is the true source of the demonic voice. Ferocious beasts originally congregated in Guixu of the Eastern Sea and rarely roamed elsewhere. Guixu is the most enigmatic and unpredictable place in this realm; to this day, no one has been able to probe its deepest secrets. Only through generation after generation of Deity Transformation predecessors pressing forward at great sacrifice was a path arduously carved toward the Gate of the Signpost."
Saint Huiguang paused, allowing Mo Xingdao time to digest these secrets, before continuing, "This humble monk has already ordered disciples to keep a close watch on the Storm Belt and capture a beast alive if possible. As for the ancient demon... during this period, the Saint King and I have been trying everything to help it regain its senses. In the end, we discovered that the ancient demon and the artifact spirit appear to be integrated into one. Moreover, at least three different consciousnesses are fused within its body, devouring one another. On top of that, battered by the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao, its mind has descended into utter chaos, consumed by madness and turbulence. Its intellect may have already been completely wiped out. It would likely take at least several centuries, or even longer, of patient unraveling for even a slim chance of recovery. And with the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao constantly present, it is virtually impossible to achieve."
As he spoke, Saint Huiguang led Mo Xingdao into an inner chamber, where they came before the demonic body bound upon the Demon Sealing Stake.
The demon's appearance had grown even more horrific and shocking. Its flesh was bloated, its features displaced, its meat twisted, resembling a grotesque ball of flesh.
Whatever means the two Deity Transformation masters had employed, the demonic body had calmed down and no longer roared, yet Mo Xingdao could still sense the madness radiating from within.
Previously, they had all believed this was caused by demonic taint, but now he knew the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao was the true culprit.
Saint Huiguang did not conceal the state of the demonic body from Mo Xingdao, and explained their intentions in detail.
"With the artifact spirit having lost its consciousness, its resistance and repulsion toward external power have actually weakened. The Saint King and I contemplated this for a long time. By drawing inspiration from the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's method of wielding artifacts via formations, we should have a fair chance of controlling this treasure. One of the Five Elements Crown's greatest powers is called the Great Five Elements Forbidden Divine Light. The orthodox represents restraint, while the reverse represents severing. The Reverse Five Elements Divine Light focuses on slaughter and destruction, as we experienced firsthand during the demon-slaying battle. The Orthodox Five Elements Divine Light excels in sealing and binding, peerless among all treasures under heaven. That is what the Saint King and I value most. When we encounter ferocious beasts in Guixu, using the Five Elements binding to restrain them will allow us to break away quickly without drawing greater danger. However..."
Saint Huiguang's tone shifted, deepening into solemnity. "Precisely because the artifact spirit is mad, wielding the Five Elements Crown exposes one to its corrupting madness, requiring multiple individuals to bear the burden together."
"In that case, my puppet is something the two seniors must obtain at all costs," Mo Xingdao said with a bitter smile. Knowing he lacked any power to resist, he asked bluntly, "May I ask how Senior plans to have me surrender my puppet...?"
Saint Huiguang gave him a deep look. "That depends on whether that puppet is Benefactor's lifebound puppet."
Mo Xingdao fell silent for a moment before asking, "And what if it is not?"
"The Saint King and I will offer treasures to fulfill any request of Benefactor within our means. Henceforth, Benefactor may roam the continent and the Eastern Sea at will, and none will dare cross you. Ganlu Zen Monastery and the descendants of the Mo Clan will forge an eternal alliance..." Saint Huiguang spoke with ease.
Any other cultivator would have been ecstatic upon hearing such promises. Yet Mo Xingdao did not even bat an eye. "And what if it is a lifebound puppet?"
This was precisely why the two Deity Transformation masters had bothered expending so much breath explaining everything to him.
A lifebound puppet differed vastly from an ordinary one. Much like a lifebound magic treasure, it was intimately bound to its master, tied to their Dao foundation. If the master fell, the puppet's power would plummet dramatically, and its potential would be completely ruined.
Were it not for their suspicion that it was Mo Xingdao's lifebound puppet—meaning it could not be taken by force—they could have simply coerced his true body into surrendering it, with no fear of him defying them.
Even if Saint Huiguang cared about the reputation of a righteous sect leader and refrained from blatant pillaging in broad daylight, there were countless ways to intimidate and entice him.
"Under the threat of the Demonic Voice of the Heavenly Dao alone, we still retain the strength to resist. We have heard that the Dao of Puppetry has secret arts akin to spirit integration. If we lend our full strength to help Benefactor's puppet advance another step, and Benefactor uses a spirit integration technique to inhabit the puppet, thereby controlling the power of a Deity Transformation puppet, could you perhaps circumvent the heavenly tribulation?" Saint Huiguang answered with a question.
Mo Xingdao's expression changed drastically at those words. "Without sufficient cultivation realm, forcibly integrating one's spirit into a puppet will inevitably invite backlash from the puppet body! Even if it succeeds temporarily, granting momentary control, the consequences are unimaginable! At best, there will never be any further progress; at worst, one's consciousness will be lost, truly turning into a mindless puppet!"
Saint Huiguang stared intently at him, remaining silent.
Mo Xingdao quickly calmed down, realizing that for him, this proposal might actually be the best option available.
Consider Daoist Zilei's fate. Mo Xingdao did not believe his own mental fortitude surpassed Daoist Zilei's; trying to break through on his own would be pure suicide.
The conventional path of achieving Deity Transformation and ascending was blocked; he had to seek another way out. Breaking out of this realm's cage first, and then searching for remedies once he reached the upper realm and accessed a vaster heaven and earth, was a compromise born of helplessness.
Even without pressure from the Deity Transformation cultivators, this was the only path remaining for him. That Saint Huiguang and the Azure Fox Saint King were willing to help him refine the puppet was an opportunity he could only dream of. Relying on himself alone, even though his lifebound puppet had integrated the Yin-Yang Puppet Crystal, elevating it to Deity Transformation while still in the Nascent Soul stage would be nearly impossible.
If he missed this chance, once the two Deity Transformation cultivators departed, he would never find another helper even if he wished to do so in the future.
Seeing Mo Xingdao fall silent, Saint Huiguang spoke again. "If Benefactor possesses sufficient confidence, we can also assist Benefactor in forcibly breaking through to Deity Transformation. With the puppet protecting your Dao, you may have a slightly better chance of surviving the heavenly tribulation than others. However, should Benefactor fail the tribulation and perish before the inner demon tribulation, this humble monk and the Saint King will use a secret art to extract your remaining true nature and cast it into the puppet. This can temporarily prevent the puppet from falling in rank and allow us to control it. Naturally, this secret art cannot last indefinitely, so Benefactor need not fear being controlled by us forever or being barred from reincarnation for all eternity."
Saint Huiguang's words carried a chilling detachment that made one's hair stand on end.
Mo Xingdao asked in bewilderment, "Why must it come to this? Is it not possible to wait until my lifebound puppet is elevated to the Deity Transformation rank, and have me control the puppet and accompany the two seniors?"
The Azure Fox Saint King, who had not bothered to speak until now, let out a sneer of utter contempt. "Delusional thinking! Setting aside the unfathomable dangers in the depths of Guixu, the spiritual pressure alone is not something a mere Nascent Soul cultivator can endure. Before you even reach the Gate of the Signpost, your body will have burst and perished..."
Saint Huiguang nodded slightly. "Over countless years, many Deity Transformation predecessors have fallen in Guixu. The journey toward the Gate of the Signpost is fraught with perils, and the Saint King and I will scarcely be able to look after ourselves. Even with the protection of your puppet, Benefactor's safety cannot be guaranteed."
...
Man Prefecture.
At the bottom of the poisoned lake, inside Cave Master Qiling's former cave abode.
The avatar and Ghost Mother arrived to meet up. Sensing their arrival, the true body and Liuli came out to welcome them.
Upon entering the cave abode, Ghost Mother's eyes lit up when she saw Liuli. She looked her up and down, clicking her tongue twice in admiration, then cast a sideways glance at Qin Sang with a faint, teasing smile. "What an exquisite beauty! No wonder you lingered and forgot all about the poor, suffering souls waiting back home!"
This was not the first time Qin Sang had experienced Ghost Mother's sharp tongue, yet his face still stiffened slightly. Who could have imagined that an expert who had lived from ancient times would speak with so little restraint?
And worse yet, she had the strength to back up her loose tongue.
Glancing sideways at Liuli and seeing that she merely frowned without getting angry, Qin Sang hurriedly welcomed Ghost Mother inside, changing the subject to ease the tension.
Conveniently, he had many matters he needed to consult Ghost Mother about.
Through the avatar's consciousness, Qin Sang already knew about taking over Luye and subduing the Dark Moon Guards. He also knew he now had two grand-disciples, marking the embryonic form of a faction.
He had never intended to establish a faction in Zhongzhou, yet unexpectedly, circumstances had pushed him step by step to this point.
In the future, he might as well open a branch of Qingyang Temple in Zhongzhou; Senior Yunyouzi certainly would not mind branching out here.
The cultivation methods and secret arts he had obtained from the Wuxiang Immortal Sect alone were enough to support a sect. Small as Luye was, it could serve as a temporary sect sanctuary.
However, he still had many pressing troubles to resolve, so those matters could wait.
After pleasantries were exchanged, Qin Sang sank his mind into his qi sea and stirred the sword intent of the Wandering Sword. Wrapped within the poison pearl, the slumbering Gu King slowly floated out of his body.
"This ferocious insect came into Junior's hands by chance. For now, I have no way to deal with it, and it carries the risk of exposing my whereabouts, making it quite troublesome. Could Senior please take a look?"
Recalling what happened back at Dishou Mountain, he knew the Poison King possessed methods to track the Gu King. During this time, Qin Sang and Liuli had remained vigilant, keeping close tabs on news from the immortal abode and ready to evacuate at any moment.
He wondered if Ghost Mother had a way to tame the Gu King.
The Gu King remained in deep slumber, its entire body pure white.
Qin Sang briefly explained the Gu King's divine abilities and origin.
"It is the art of Gu refinement." Ghost Mother nodded. Without the slightest fear that the Gu King might suddenly spout venomous light, she reached out her right hand, pinched the Gu King between two fingers, and brought it close to examine it thoroughly.
Qin Sang noticed that Ghost Mother's pupils shimmered like stars, gleaming with an unusual brilliance. He sat quietly at the side, not daring to disturb her.
A quarter of an hour later, Ghost Mother blinked, and her pupils returned to normal. "A crude Gu refinement art, though not without merit. From what I can tell, someone forcibly drew in some form of power and used Gu refinement techniques to graft it into the Gu insect's body, thereby imbuing it with new vitality. The other party's ability to track it is based on this connection as well, but they must be within a certain distance to sense it. Finding you will not be so easy."
After pondering for a moment, Ghost Mother added, "This matter is not hard to solve."
Next, Ghost Mother had Qin Sang withdraw his sword intent.
Sensing the change outside, the Gu King's wings trembled as it was about to awaken. Ghost Mother flicked her fingers repeatedly, sending clouds of white mist drifting toward the Gu King, quickly enveloping it. Then she clasped her palms together, and the mist contracted abruptly.
Mottled patterns were imprinted across the Gu King's jade-like body, resembling naturally formed cloud patterns. Qin Sang reapplied his sword intent to suppress it once more.
Ghost Mother said, "This ferocious insect's potential has been exhausted by crude Gu refinement, and its intelligence is minuscule. Unless it encounters a heaven-defying opportunity, it has no chance of advancing further. Of course, at least against Nascent Soul cultivators, it remains extremely threatening. However, if your ambitions reach beyond that, you would do better to feed it to the poison pearl. The poison pearl is the manifestation of a divine ability comprehended by a lazy silkworm bearing the divine silkworm lineage; its potential far surpasses that of this insect."
Ghost Mother's words coincided exactly with Qin Sang's thoughts.
With Ghost Mother's guidance, Qin Sang could finally make up his mind.
However, the Gu King's venomous light was so formidable that if feeding it to the poison pearl only enhanced its poison-warding ability, it would be somewhat wasteful.
The poison-warding armor had a narrow utility; masters of poison in the cultivation world were few and far between, and its current power was barely sufficient as it was.
If he could tame the Gu King, it might be better to utilize it for a time, and only feed it to the pearl once he advanced to Deity Transformation in the future.
Qin Sang consulted Ghost Mother on this matter.
Unexpectedly, Ghost Mother looked at him sideways. "It has swallowed so many venoms, yet you can only use it to ward off poison? How could the divine silkworm lineage be so simple? Only later did I realize that the lazy silkworm's true divine abilities—even those merely relating to the Dao of Poison—have not been fully stimulated. Do as I say: have the poison pearl swallow the Gu King, and you will naturally be able to wield virulent poison."
Chapter 1695