Though surrounded on all sides, Li Ping did not show the slightest panic.
These puppets were all driven by Source Power refined and extracted through the Common People Lingyuan Technique.
And the Wisdom-Enlightening Lingyuan Technique practiced by the people of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty was precisely an elevated version of the Common People Lingyuan Technique.
Discerning how the Source Power governed the puppets with just a glance, the web of golden Source Power within Li Ping's body sent out bursts of invisible ripples.
Its purity was already infinitely close to Source Power Essence, exerting a natural suppression over the puppets Qiaogong controlled.
Within breaths, the dozens of puppets in the secret chamber that had just been glaring menacingly began to totter and stumble, unable to remain standing.
That included the female puppet modeled after Shangguan.
Qiaogong's expression instantly turned exceedingly grim. Having spent most of his life dealing with Source Power, how could he fail to recognize the means this mysterious person used to influence the puppets?
He had already abandoned any thought of fighting to the death, instead scheming how to escape—or simply abandon this body to be reborn through a memory backup.
Seeing the flickering uncertainty on Qiaogong's face, Li Ping naturally saw right through his thoughts.
Unhurriedly, he recited the burial locations of Qiaogong's several memory backups, one by one.
Qiaogong's mind shook violently, and he could no longer conceal his sheer horror.
"Just who are you?!" His voice even cracked with terror.
He could not win in a fight, nor could he escape.
Ever since fleeing to the Xuanhuang Realm as a refugee, Qiaogong had never experienced a moment of such despair.
"Do not misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Qiaogong. I have come here to bestow a great fortune upon you," Li Ping said slowly.
Yet his faintly somber tone, paired with his indiscernible, veiled features, carried no conviction whatsoever.
Layman Qiaogong naturally did not believe him, and the dread in his heart grew only deeper.
For he had never mentioned the name Qiaogong to anyone else in the Xuanhuang Realm.
The world knew him only as the enigmatic Cult Master of the Lingyuan Sect.
Yet now, a faceless, mysterious figure had arrived, laying bare his origin in a single breath and knowing everything about him intimately!
Qiaogong even began to wonder whether there were other survivors from the Tianji Realm besides himself.
For a moment, his thoughts were in utter disarray. However, all his chaotic thoughts vanished the instant a brilliant ball of golden light rose from Li Ping's hand.
"Source Power... Essence?!"
"How is this possible!"
Qiaogong cried out again, his face full of disbelief.
Just as he leaned closer to examine it, Li Ping put the golden orb away.
"Has Fellow Daoist not sought Source Power Essence in vain? I can teach you," Li Ping said, instantly stunning Qiaogong once more.
"Does Fellow Daoist not wish to recreate the immortal-grade puppet, Ancestor? I can help you with that as well," Li Ping continued at an unhurried pace.
By now, Qiaogong was numb from shock. He was not even surprised in the slightest that Li Ping knew of Ancestor's existence.
Even as he felt the sheer absurdity of it all, a faint glimmer of hope rose within him.
What if what he said was true?
"What are your conditions?" Qiaogong asked directly.
Li Ping gave a soft laugh. "Hearing is deceptive; seeing is believing. Fellow Daoist, come with me first."
Qiaogong followed behind Li Ping, traveling east from Jiushan Province all the way into the depths of the Congyun Sea.
They arrived near an undersea volcano.
"Hmm?"
Qiaogong gazed at the terrain. He faintly sensed that within the earth vein fire below, a living being seemed to be slumbering.
And Li Ping's next words confirmed his suspicion.
"You mean... a puppet with complete self-awareness?" Qiaogong asked, somewhat skeptical.
"Not a direct puppet creation, but one who used a profound, wondrous method to transform their body into a puppet. Having absorbed the power of the earth vein for several millennia, it still has not completed a total metamorphosis. If awakened rashly, it would likely result in inherent deficiencies in the puppet body. I brought Fellow Daoist here to see if you have any solution," Li Ping said indifferently.
"Transforming one's body into an object?" Qiaogong repeatedly mulled over the meaning of those words.
Then, golden light shot from his eyes, sweeping across the sprawling earth vein below.
After a long while, the golden light faded, and Qiaogong nodded. "Relying on the ceaseless tempering of earth fire over thousands of years, the strength of the puppet below has indeed swelled to a level unattainable before. But the intensity of earth fire is inherently limited. Even if it absorbs it for another millennium, its strength is destined to plateau at perfected Soul Formation. Advancing any further is utterly impossible.
"Furthermore, this earth fire formation was laid down before he fell asleep. After all this time, the two show signs of becoming one. Tampering with it carelessly would probably awaken him.
"Unless..."
Layman Qiaogong pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Unless the earth fire tempering this puppet undergoes a transformation itself.
"As you know, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao is exceedingly bizarre and fraught with cataclysms between heaven and earth. And earth fire is a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao's laws...
"However, such an opportunity can only be chanced upon, never sought," Qiaogong said truthfully.
Li Ping said slowly, "I understand.
"As expected of a successor of the Tianji Realm. My original intention was to use natural treasures to modify and sublimate the Earth Fire Origin-Returning Formation. But thinking about it now, Fellow Daoist's suggestion is indeed better. Borrowing the power of heaven and earth to reshape the universe..."
Qiaogong started slightly, then reiterated, "I said, such an opportunity can only be chanced upon, never sought."
"Is that so?" Li Ping chuckled faintly.
"Fellow Daoist, just watch my methods."
Having made such a bold proclamation, Li Ping merely closed his eyes and stood motionless where he was.
Qiaogong assumed he was gathering strength to unleash some divine ability, and immediately focused his attention to observe.
Yet after waiting for the better part of a day, there was not the slightest disturbance.
Were it not for that faint aura of Source Power Essence still locking onto him, Qiaogong would have considered seizing the chance to slip away.
However, circumstance dictated terms; since the other party said nothing, he could only continue to wait.
This wait lasted for nearly half a month.
Only because Qiaogong was a grandmaster artifact refiner with an exceptional temperament was he barely able to endure it.
And where Qiaogong could not see, inside the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty's pocket world...
The numerous You people who had been captured or produced in the flesh-and-blood factories began praying once more to the Sea of Gloomy Darkness.
Perhaps it was because they were inherently created to provide power to the Sea of Gloomy Darkness.
With almost no instruction needed, their prayers were several times more efficient than when praying to the Faceless Holy Emperor.
A subtle, imperceptible influence began to unfold within the Xuanhuang Realm.
And standing on the seabed of the Congyun Sea, the Great Qi Faceless Holy Emperor silently sensed this thread of change between heaven and earth.
Certain things did not happen overnight; they accumulated slowly.
Half a month later, when Li Ping felt this accumulation finally cross a critical threshold...
"Falsifying transposition of heaven and earth's principles!"
The Faceless Holy Emperor murmured softly. Towering and majestic, he pointed gently toward the continuous earth vein fire below.
A seemingly playful gesture, yet moments later, Qiaogong, who had been watching all along, was stricken with horror!
Chapter 1218