Chapter 247 - 213: Advancement in Cultivation, News from the Wilderness
Chapter 247: Chapter 213: Advancement in Cultivation, News from the Wilderness
An exploration team was venturing deep into the perilous, unknown lands of the Wilderness, undergoing their own life-and-death trials.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhao had already taken his newly refined Tier Two Puppet—the Red Feather Fire Sun Bird—and quietly left Broken River Castle.
He had not gone far, instead finding a secluded and desolate small valley on the outskirts of the Broken River Plains.
The place was remote and uninhabited, its landscape rugged and rocky—perfect for testing the Tier Two Puppet he had poured so much of his heart and soul into.
The moment he released the Red Feather Fire Sun Bird, a scorching aura filled the air. Its appearance was indeed quite similar to the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird, its body entirely covered in feathers as red as fire. With its wings spread, its tips seemed to drip with the golden-red luster of molten lava. Its beak was sharp as a hook, glinting with a cold metallic light, and its eyes were two balls of dancing, crimson-gold flame.
With a mere thought, Lu Zhao precisely branded the Puppet Core with his Divine Sense. The Red Feather Fire Sun Bird let out a clear, ringing cry, and with a single beat of its wings, it transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light and shot into the sky!
The test began immediately.
Speed, agility, turning... all were demonstrated to perfection under Lu Zhao’s control.
Its flight was every bit as swift as the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird’s. When it turned at high altitudes, the tail of flames created by its surging Fire Element Spiritual Power was even more dazzling and spectacular.
Next came the attack tests.
’Fire Feather Arrow!’ Lu Zhao issued the command.
The Red Feather Fire Sun Bird flapped its wings, and dozens of crimson arrows condensed from pure Fire Spiritual Power shot out like a torrential downpour, viciously bombarding a massive, gray-brown boulder in the distance.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Countless scorched black holes instantly pockmarked the boulder’s surface. The rock along the edges melted, trickling down like crimson lava.
’Flame Burst Fireball!’
The Red Feather Fire Sun Bird opened its beak and spat out a fireball the size of a human head. Golden-red flames roiled within it as it flew with a piercing whistle toward an even larger boulder.
KABOOM!
Amid the deafening explosion, the boulder was blasted to pieces. Superheated shrapnel flew everywhere, leaving behind a deep, scorched pit where the rock at the bottom even showed signs of vitrification.
Lu Zhao nodded, satisfied. The power of that strike met the standard for a Tier Two Demon Beast’s Fire Attack Magic.
Finally, there was the melee combat test.
Lu Zhao had the Puppet dive, its sharp beak glowing like a red-hot poker as it pecked viciously at a hard slab of rock.
HISSS!
With a piercing screech of friction and a shower of sparks, the beak bored a deep pit into the stone, leaving molten traces along the edges. When its talons raked the surface, the rock cracked apart as easily as rotten wood.
’Its claws and beak are sharp, and combined with the searing heat from its Fire Spiritual Power, its melee capabilities can’t be called strong, but they’re still an improvement over the Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird.’
After a full round of tests, Lu Zhao had a clear understanding.
The overall combat strength of this Red Feather Fire Sun Bird Puppet was indeed almost identical to the original Red-Feathered Black-Footed Bird he had slain.
Both excelled at Fire Element innate magic, and their attack methods were largely the same: long-range bombardment with the Fire Feather Technique and Fireballs, with close-range combat relying on their sharp, fiery talons and beaks.
The Red Feather Fire Sun Bird might have a slight edge in the speed of its flame condensation and its explosive power, likely due to the refining techniques used, but it was no qualitative leap. It didn’t display power that surpassed the original creature.
’In the end, it’s just a Tier Two Lower Grade Puppet.’ Lu Zhao put away the Puppet and muttered to himself. His eyes held no great disappointment, but rather the calm of someone who had seen the truth. ’Replicating its full combat strength from when it was alive is already a success. To make it stronger, I’ll either need to find materials from a High-Tier Demon Bird or make another breakthrough in my Puppetry to grant it more intricate Spirit Pattern combinations or new abilities.’
With the test complete, Lu Zhao didn’t linger. His figure blurred into a faint shadow as he swiftly returned to his residence in Broken River Castle.
Seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the center of the Quiet Chamber, Lu Zhao didn’t immediately begin to cultivate. Instead, he calmed his mind and began to carefully take stock of his current situation, formulating a clear plan for his training ahead.
In terms of combat power:
’It’s enough for now.’ Lu Zhao was certain. Though he only had an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation, his Divine Sense was far stronger than that of his peers. Combined with the eighteen Divine Sense Threads from the Thousand Threads Technique, his control over his puppets was exquisitely precise.
More importantly, he considered the forces at his command: a Tier Two Lower Grade Strong Demon Ape Corpse Puppet that was both fierce and well-rounded in offense and defense, not to mention it could form a Puppet Battle Formation with three Tier One High-Grade Strong Iron Ape Corpse Puppets.
The new Red Feather Fire Sun Bird Puppet was highly mobile with immense firepower.
Then there was Li Xuerou, a Corpse Puppet of immense strength and even greater potential. She was, in fact, Lu Zhao’s most powerful combatant aside from himself.
Adding to that his own Magic and two Tier Two Magical Artifacts—especially the Hundred Waters Magic Disc when paired with the Hundred Waters Thousand Spirits Skill.
With such a lineup, Lu Zhao was confident that he could put up a fight even against an ordinary Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. By relying on his Puppet Battle Formation, the coordination of his Corpse Puppets, and his own Magical Artifacts and Magic, the outcome of such a battle would be far from certain.
Furthermore, it would be difficult for his combat power to make another great leap in the short term unless he stumbled upon some rare treasure.
In terms of Puppetry:
’Not nearly enough, but from here on out, it’s a matter of patient, grinding work.’ Lu Zhao was clear-headed about this. He was now a Tier Two Lower Grade Puppet Master, but Tier Two Puppetry was vastly more profound and complex than its Tier One counterpart.
The refining of every Tier Two Puppet—from processing the materials and carving the Spirit Patterns to condensing the Puppet Core and the final assembly and activation—was filled with countless tricks of the trade. The demands on one’s Divine Sense, Magical Power control, and knowledge of materials increased exponentially.
Successfully refining the Red Feather Fire Sun Bird was a major step, but it also made him appreciate just how difficult it was to create a Tier Two Puppet.
Increasing the success rate and creating even more powerful Tier Two Puppets was not something that could be achieved overnight.
It was a process that required patience, resources, and time for gradual accumulation and mastery. It couldn’t be rushed.
In terms of Cultivation:
’This is my greatest weakness, and also the area most ripe for improvement!’ Lu Zhao’s gaze sharpened.
His current aptitude wasn’t the absolute best, but he was far from mediocre. His True Water Spirit Transformation Skill was a top-tier Middle-Grade Cultivation Technique. Most critically, the Cultivation Resources he had amassed were nothing short of abundant.
Nearly four hundred Water Jade Green Radiance Pills, forty-eight Gathering Splendor Green Moss Pills, and a large quantity of Tier Two Spirit Water.
These resources were more than enough to support a long and efficient period of closed-door cultivation.
’Time waits for no one!’ A sense of urgency washed over Lu Zhao. Improving his Puppetry required time and practice, a qualitative leap in combat power required a fortuitous encounter, but only his Cultivation could be steadily advanced through resources and hard work.
Besides, Cultivation was the foundation of everything. Without sufficient Cultivation to back him up, even the most exquisite Puppetry and the most powerful Puppets would be unable to display their true strength.
His path forward was instantly clear. Lu Zhao no longer hesitated. He immediately rose and pushed open the stone door of the Quiet Chamber.
"Little Shu!" he called.
Zhao Xiaoshu, who had been handling matters outside the residence, immediately trotted over at the sound of his voice and bowed respectfully. "Senior, you called for me?"
Lu Zhao looked at him, his tone calm but firm. "I will be entering a period of deep, secluded cultivation. Unless it is a matter of utmost importance, I am not to be disturbed. All daily affairs within the castle are to be handled through consultation between you and the other Outer Sect Stewards. You don’t need to report to me."
Zhao Xiaoshu’s expression grew solemn. He bowed deeply and replied, "Yes! Please rest assured, Senior! I will do everything in my power to ensure that no one and nothing disturbs your cultivation! I will handle the castle’s affairs properly with the others."
Lu Zhao nodded. He was quite confident in Zhao Xiaoshu’s competence. Just as Zhao Xiaoshu was about to take his leave, Lu Zhao suddenly remembered something. "Wait," he added.
Zhao Xiaoshu immediately halted, listening respectfully with his hands at his sides.
Lu Zhao mused for a moment before saying, "If the exploration teams that went into the depths of the Wilderness return with any valuable information—especially regarding rare Spiritual Materials, the tracks of powerful Demon Beasts, or intelligence about unique regions deep within the Wilderness—you are to inform me at the earliest opportunity, regardless of my seclusion."
The depths of the Wilderness held countless fortuitous opportunities and was a treasure trove of High-Tier Demon Beast Materials. Naturally, Lu Zhao wouldn’t pass up any potential leads.
Zhao Xiaoshu committed Lu Zhao’s words to memory and promised again, with great seriousness, "I understand! The moment the exploration teams return with any significant findings or news, I will report to you immediately, Senior!"
"Go on," Lu Zhao said with a wave.
Zhao Xiaoshu bowed once more before quietly backing out and carefully pulling the stone door of the Quiet Chamber shut.
Silence returned to the residence, leaving only the faint hum of Spiritual Qi flowing from the Spirit Vein.
He returned to the meditation cushion and sat, taking a Jade Bottle from his Storage Bag. When he pulled out the stopper, a cool, gentle wave of pure Water Spirit Qi filled the air.
The bottle contained the very same Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Water he had obtained from the Le Family.
Without hesitation, Lu Zhao tilted his head back and drained the bottle of Tier Two Spirit Water.
The Spirit Water entered his belly and transformed into a surging torrent of Spiritual Power that rushed through his limbs and meridians, finally converging in his Dantian Qi Sea.
He immediately focused his mind, turning his senses inward. The Heart Method of the Foundation Establishment Chapter of the True Water Spirit Transformation Skill flowed through his Sea of Consciousness. The Magical Power in his body began to circulate slowly along a profound pathway as he started to guide and refine the pure energy.
Outside the residence, time flowed by, and all remained as it was.
Three months passed, a mere blink of an eye in the long life of a Cultivator.
Inside the Quiet Chamber, Lu Zhao was shrouded in a faint, blue mist—a manifestation of pure Water Spirit Qi drawn in by his Cultivation Technique, so dense it had become almost tangible.
Within his Dantian Qi Sea, the original twenty-five drops of Liquid Magical Power had now become twenty-seven!
The two new drops of Liquid Magical Power were like two miniature azure stars. Though slightly smaller than the original twenty-five, their existence was undeniable. They spun slowly, emitting the distinct Magical Power fluctuations of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
This was a sign that after three months of arduous training, supported by the Spirit Water and the local Spirit Vein, his Cultivation had taken a solid step forward.
Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes, their depths holding a brilliant light. He felt vibrant and full of energy. A satisfied smile touched his lips as he felt the growth of his Magical Power. His three months of seclusion had yielded remarkable results.
Just as he was preparing to press on, his gaze drifted to the bottom of the stone door. There, lying silently on the floor, was a pale green Jade Scroll.
Lu Zhao’s brow twitched. He had clearly instructed Zhao Xiaoshu not to disturb him. Zhao Xiaoshu was a cautious man; he would never have delivered a message this way unless the matter was truly urgent and he felt it was too inconvenient—or was too afraid—to knock.
’The exploration teams are back?’
Lu Zhao’s heart stirred. It was the most likely explanation. Only crucial intelligence from the depths of the Wilderness would warrant Zhao Xiaoshu taking the risk of leaving a Jade Scroll during his seclusion.
With a wave of his hand, the Jade Scroll was lifted by an unseen force and flew into his palm. He extended his Divine Sense into it.