Chapter 900 - 688: New-Type Puppet
Yang Yunsu’s eyes lit up as she pointed to the length of dark, slender metal tubing on the back of the Puppet Dog.
In the Profound Origin Realm, there was no concept of a "gun," so Yang Yunsu’s first reaction was a miniaturized "Spiritual Energy Cannon."
"Have your brother be cautious in testing it."
Shen Xuan instructed.
"These three are quite costly, and their power is unlike any prior iterations."
It must be said, with the Yang siblings handling the affairs, he was spared a great deal of time and effort.
As long as he listed the materials, within Tier Two range, the Yang Family would strive to collect them.
For some rare items seldom seen on the market, the Yang Family would even leverage their connections to exchange through the Bright Flame Sect’s channels.
Because of this, Shen Xuan did not mind letting the Yang Family share in part of the results when researching puppets.
After all, these were merely Tier Two Puppets, with power limits set in place, mainly used to counter Tier Two Demon Beasts or Foundation Establishment cultivators, not yet sufficient to shake the high-tier battlefield.
But he was very clear that once the "Spiritual Energy Gun" was successfully developed, the situation would be completely different.
Then, even if the puppet’s main body remained Tier Two, its attack power could leap by a level.
If they could form a group, creating a scale, even when facing Tier Three Demon Beasts or Fake Pill True Masters, it would be a threat not to be underestimated.
...
"Alright, Brother Shen!"
Yang Yunsu accepted the three distinct Puppet Dogs, her eyes sparkling, and happily ran off to report.
The cave mansion returned to its quietude.
Watching the boy’s departing figure, Shen Xuan’s lips curved slightly.
Four years of dedicated research, integrating and corroborating array dao with puppetry techniques, finally bore visible fruit.
His artifact refining skills had improved significantly since he first entered Qin Country; now he had achieved Tier Two Perfection.
True knowledge comes from practice.
Knowledge gained from books always feels shallow.
Only by personally designing, forging, inscribing, and assembling, through countless failures and adjustments, can those clumsy techniques transform into experience and memory, and the mysteries of those array patterns be truly understood.
Shen Xuan even felt that he possessed considerable talent in artifact refining.
This talent surpassed alchemy and talisman making by a few degrees.
Perhaps it was because of the intricate machinery and fiery weapons he had seen in his past life, broadening his thinking?
These four years, he lived purely and focused.
Doing only two things.
Meticulously refining Fire Techniques, crafting Puppet Dogs.
Unaffected by other concerns, he found himself particularly light-hearted and at ease.
Body refining techniques were temporarily set aside, and the Ice Technique Golden Core was also temporarily sealed.
He really seemed to have become a Foundation Establishment cultivator named "Shen Yan," entirely devoted to studying Fire Techniques and puppetry techniques.
With each improvement of the Puppet Dogs, their power and practicality continually increased, and Yang Yunzhai’s visits noticeably became more frequent, with a growing warmth and respect in his conversations.
Evidently, such puppets, with both reconnaissance and assault capabilities, had significant marketability on the crisis-laden Southern Wilderness frontline.
The spiritual contract signed back then with the Yang Family as an Honored Guest had superior and flexible terms.
The Yang Family provided a Tier Two Upper Grade Fire Spirit Cave Mansion and offered three thousand Spirit Stones annually.
And Shen Xuan, apart from crafting some Tier Two Puppet Beasts, was under no obligation.
Free to come and go, he could terminate the contract at any time.
This was practically a one-sided gift from the Yang Family, their intent to befriend him implicitly clear.
Of course, Shen Xuan would not benefit without reciprocation.
These continually iterated new type of Puppet Dogs were his returns to the Yang Family.
"Brother Shen."
Outside the cave mansion, again came a gentle call.
It was Yang Yunqiao.
Every time Yang Yunsu left, she would "coincidentally" visit shortly after.
Evidently, her brother secretly informed her.
Shen Xuan waved his sleeve, and the array’s light screen silently withdrew.
Outside the door, a young girl stood gracefully.
A pale yellow Immortal Skirt complemented her skin, fair as snow, her eyes clear as water, extraordinarily beautiful under the cave mansion’s spiritual glow.
"Brother Shen, this is the recent situation in the Southern Wilderness my brother collected for you."
Yang Yunqiao smiled sweetly, like a spring breeze brushing over a mountain stream.
Her delicate hand lifted gently, presenting a warm Jade Scroll to Shen Xuan.
After four years of interactions, the girl was no longer as reserved as in the beginning.
Her cultivation advanced, now at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.
She ordinarily helped Shen Xuan manage numerous trivial matters, receiving and sending guests, meticulous and considerate.
Unlike her elder brother and younger brother, Yang Yunqiao was a Water Cultivator.
Three years ago, Shen Xuan noticed her cultivation seemed impeded and, on a whim, casually pointed out a few critical points in water flow operations.
Yang Yunqiao was suddenly enlightened and soon after comfortably broke through the realm.
Since then, the way Yang Yunqiao looked at him changed slightly.
Especially as the power of the Puppet Dogs he crafted increased, her bright eyes shone even more brilliantly.
Occasionally when making eye contact, starlight seemed to flicker in her eyes, carrying pure admiration.
Her father told her in private.
This Brother Shen was a Core Disciple from a major sect and of extraordinary talent with great potential to condense the Inner Core in the future.
Moreover, this person was multitalented, with innate abilities.
The Yang Family only later realized that he was also a Tier Two Array Master.
Without expertise in array dao, how could he create such intricate Puppet Dogs?
"Thank you, convey my gratitude to your brother for me."
Shen Xuan accepted the Jade Scroll, his eyes gently sweeping over the girl’s radiant face.
Hmm, this gaze is somewhat too bright.
He understood inwardly but pretended not to see.
The feelings of a young girl are always poetic.
Besides, given "Shen Yan’s" persona as someone outwardly gentle and handsome, with remarkable cultivation and revealing talents in artifact refining and array dao, attracting admiration from a young lady was only natural.
However, he was ultimately an "old monster" who had lived through two lifetimes and was over two hundred years old, with a Dao heart as solid as a rock.
As a Tier Four Great Cultivator, regardless, he could not possibly become entangled with a Qi Cultivation Stage young girl.
Shen Xuan nodded slightly, his expression gentle, as he prepared to wave his sleeve and close the array’s light screen.