Chapter 721: Upgrade the puppet and enter the secret realm of the abyss!

After discussing the matters of the Immortal City Secret Realm with Hong Lian and Ling Zixiao, Lu Changsheng arrived at Qian Zhuyan’s Puppet Hall.

The entire hall was quite empty, filled with a messy assortment of large and small Puppets, parts, and several forging furnaces.

Qian Zhuyan, with a somewhat stiff posture, was polishing an arm guard.

“Master,”

Seeing Lu Changsheng approach, she called out in a slightly hoarse voice.

As a peak Third-Rank Puppet, she didn’t need to eat or drink normally, so for all these years, besides sleeping, she had been continuously crafting Puppets and researching Puppet arts in the hall.

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly and said with a gentle smile, “Qian Zhu, I gained some Fourth-Order Materials during this trip outside, which might accelerate your progress in advancing to a Fourth-Rank Puppet.”

In fact, Lu Changsheng could have gathered all the Materials needed to upgrade to a Fourth-Rank Puppet after returning from the Han Sha Illusion Domain and clearing out the storage rings of Zicang Zhenjun and Heavenly Silkworm True Lord.

However, if this matter seemed too simple, he was afraid Qian Zhuyan might find it too easy.

Besides, he wasn’t in a hurry to help her upgrade.

Now, preparing to go to the Star Constellation Sea, he planned to have Rift Sea Mysterious Dragon Whale temporarily guard the home, so he thought of improving his strength through other means.

And Qian Zhuyan, in his opinion, was a very good choice.

As a peak Third-Rank Puppet, her ability to control multiple Third-Rank Puppets to form a Puppet battle Formation was absolutely a top-tier existence below the Nascent Soul!

Even facing a Nascent Soul True Lord or a Transformed Demon King, she could contend for several rounds.

If he helped Qian Zhuyan advance further, and she formed a Puppet battle Formation, she might be able to entangle a Nascent Soul cultivator for a moment.

“Fourth-Rank Puppet!”

Upon hearing this, the Soul fire in Qian Zhuyan’s eye sockets burned and fluctuated.

Her lifelong wish was to advance to the Fourth-Rank and then avenge her hatred.

She hadn’t expected Lu Changsheng to acquire Fourth-Order Spirit Materials again in just a few years.

“Look at these Materials and tell me which ones are useful to you, then propose an upgrade plan.”

Lu Changsheng raised his hand slightly, and streams of crystalline spiritual light flew out from the Universe Shadow Belt.

In addition to the Heaven And Earth Treasure obtained from Loushan True Lord, Zicang Zhenjun, and Heavenly Silkworm True Lord in earlier years, there were also a pile of Fourth-Order Materials from the previous hunt of the Fourth-Order Flood Dragon King, the two-headed demonic lizard hunted in the Ten Thousand Demon Abyss, and so on.

The entire hall was instantly filled with treasure light, piled high with Fourth-Order Spirit Materials, and even a faint Fourth-Order Demon King’s pressure.

“So many…”

Qian Zhuyan looked at the Heaven And Earth Treasure, which resembled a treasure mountain, and the entire Puppet was stunned.

She had spent countless efforts to collect rare Fourth-Order Spirit Materials in the past.

But now, they were piled up like mountains, as if they cost nothing.

Not to mention upgrading herself to a Fourth-Rank Puppet, she could even forge another Fourth-Rank Puppet.

“Thank you, Master!”

Qian Zhuyan immediately bowed in joy, then lovingly inspected the Heaven And Earth Treasure before her, discerning the condition and characteristics of the Materials, and contemplating how to upgrade and modify herself.

“After you advance to the Fourth-Rank, how confident are you against a Nascent Soul cultivator?”

Lu Changsheng then asked Qian Zhuyan.

Normally, a Puppet is certainly not an opponent for a Cultivator.

It can only be used to delay and consume a Cultivator of the same rank for a period of time.

But Qian Zhuyan was not an ordinary Puppet.

“If this Puppet body is upgraded to the Fourth-Rank, I should be able to contend with a Nascent Soul cultivator for some time, but to truly contend and defeat them, my Puppet Soul must be upgraded to the Fourth-Rank, and then I must craft multiple peak Third-Rank Puppets or higher…”

Qian Zhuyan had seen the methods of Nascent Soul cultivators and knew that even if she advanced to the Fourth-Rank, she would not be an opponent for a Nascent Soul True Lord.

That’s why she cooperated with others and submitted to Lu Changsheng.

However, once her Divine Soul and Puppet Soul advanced to the Nascent Soul level, she could control more Puppets and form a more powerful Puppet battle Formation, then she would be confident in fighting a Nascent Soul True Lord.

But achieving this step was incredibly difficult!

“Puppet Soul…”

Lu Changsheng knew that the biggest difference between Qian Zhuyan and other Puppets was that her Divine Soul had transformed into a Puppet Soul, allowing her to perfectly control the Puppet.

In this process, she could also improve her Divine Soul and Puppet Soul just like a Cultivator.

However, the Core Formation Divine Soul and Nascent Soul Divine Soul were like an insurmountable chasm.

Even though he had previously traded for a small section of Fourth-Order Soul Nurturing Wood and refined it into Qian Zhuyan’s Puppet brain component to constantly nourish her Puppet Soul, it would still take at least a hundred years before she could hope to advance to the Nascent Soul level.

“That’s enough. When your Puppet body is upgraded, try to focus its methods on control and assistance.”

Currently, Lu Changsheng’s combat power was sufficient to suppress many Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

However, if the opponent was determined to escape, it would be difficult for him to intercept them.

Therefore, he wanted Qian Zhuyan’s combat abilities to be as control-oriented as possible, to help him intercept and interfere with enemies.

At that time, he would be the main attacker, and Qian Zhuyan and Golden Winged Roc could seal off the surroundings and assist in the attack.

“Yes.”

Qian Zhuyan immediately conceived the upgrade path according to the requirements proposed by Lu Changsheng.

During this process, Lu Changsheng also offered some suggestions based on his Artifact Refining knowledge.

For example, he had previously acquired a pile of top-tier Magic Treasure from Loushan True Lord and Zicang Zhenjun.

He could completely reforge these Magic Treasure and assemble them onto Qian Zhuyan’s body to enhance her combat power and methods.

Although doing so would be somewhat wasteful.

But now, Lu Changsheng didn’t have time to reforge these Magic Treasure, and leaving them idle was also a waste.

If it weren’t for the huge trouble Yang Ming Immortal Master caused before, making him worried that these stolen goods would flow out and attract attention, he would have dealt with these Magic Treasure long ago.

Just like that, a man and a woman continuously discussed and conceived the Puppet’s upgrade in the grand hall.

At the same time, after Hong Lian and Ling Zixiao finalized the Secret Realm transformation plan for the Great Dream Marsh, they informed the Core Formation cultivators of the Four Great Immortal Sects of Jiang Country about it.

They stated that this was just an ordinary Golden Core Realm Secret Realm with no rare resources, so they intended to open it as a trial medicinal garden Secret Realm to the Four Great Immortal Sects and Jiang Country Cultivators.

The condition was that half of the Secret Realm’s gains would be submitted to Great Dream Immortal City, and they hoped that the trial Secret Realms in the hands of the Four Great Immortal Sects could open up a few spots for the City Lord’s Mansion.

Upon hearing that the Secret Realm had no Opportunity, and that Great Dream Immortal City was even willing to fully open the Secret Realm to Jiang Country, the Core Formation True Persons of the Four Great Immortal Sects immediately lost interest.

However, since their Disciples would have this Opportunity for tempering, they readily agreed, but stated that they needed to report to their Sects.

“Good.”

Ling Zixiao didn’t wait for the reply from the Four Great Immortal Sects and immediately took several Formation Masters, Feng Shui Masters, and Spirit Plant Masters, along with Lu Ping’an, to the Great Dream Marsh Secret Realm for transformation.

After all, the Secret Realm concerned her son’s Core Formation Opportunity, so she naturally didn’t want to delay too long and wanted to complete it as soon as possible.

Heaven Sword Sect.

“Great Dream Immortal City is willing to open such a Secret Realm, it seems they intend to integrate into our Jiang Country.”

“Since that’s the case, granting Great Dream Immortal City a few Secret Realm trial spots won’t affect anything.”

The Four Great Immortal Sects of Jiang Country were united, and for such matters, it primarily depended on the opinion of the Heaven Sword Sect.

If the Heaven Sword Sect nodded, Qingyun Sect, Luoxia Sect, and Yu Ling Sect naturally couldn’t refuse.

And in the Heaven Sword Sect Master’s view, Great Dream Immortal City’s willingness to open the Secret Realm was a friendly gesture, so he naturally wouldn’t deny them Face.

However, Sword Saint Monarch had previously instructed him to report anything concerning Great Dream Immortal City to him, so he still went to report.

“According to our analysis, these two won’t stay long in Jiang Country or Great Dream Immortal City. What do they need Secret Realm spots for?”

Sword Saint Monarch raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat puzzled.

However, thinking that this City Lord couple had a son, or perhaps it was a favor, he didn’t ask further and inquired of the Heaven Sword Sect Master, “Iron Sword, have there been any news of Qingluan True Monarch these years?”

The Liang Yue War was currently in a stalemate, and he had received news that the wars in the more distant Yuan Country, Qiyun Country, and Sky Net Sect had subsided, with Qiyun Country being divided by Yuan Country and Sky Net Sect.

And Yuan Country was preparing to sustain war by war, currently infiltrating Wu Country, and it was very likely that they would intervene in the Liang Yue War through Wu Country in the future.

Under such circumstances, their Jiang Country could not sit idly by and allow Yuan Country to attack Yue Country or Liang Country, breaking the balance.

But no matter how strong their Jiang Country was, they only had him and Xuanjian Zhenjun, two Nascent Soul cultivators, so they wanted to invite Qingluan True Monarch, who had previously formed an alliance, for help.

However, after the Han Sha Illusion Domain, Qingluan True Monarch had been completely out of contact, with no news whatsoever.

“Reporting to True Lord, there has been no news of Qingluan True Monarch these years.”

The Heaven Sword Sect Master shook his head and said.

“What about Yang Ming Immortal Master?”

Sword Saint Monarch asked again.

Based on the Wilderness War and the Han Sha Illusion Domain, it could be known that Yang Ming Immortal Master and Qingluan True Monarch had a close relationship.

“Since the Han Sha Illusion Domain, there have been no related movements from Yang Ming Immortal Master either.”

The Heaven Sword Sect Master continued to shake his head.

Not only were many forces in the Southern Wilderness Northern Region paying attention to Yang Ming Immortal Master, but their Heaven Sword Sect had also been constantly observing Yang Ming Immortal Master.

“Hmm.”

Sword Saint Monarch nodded gently, his calm and profound gaze looking towards Great Dream Immortal City, and he murmured softly, “If it really doesn’t work… I can only make a trip to Great Dream Immortal City.”

During the Whale Hunting Banquet before, although he had a pleasant conversation with the Great Dream City Lord, the latter expressed his willingness to contribute to Jiang Country within his capabilities.

But given a choice, he still trusted Qingluan True Monarch more, who had risen step by step from Jiang Country and whose background was known.

However, now that Qingluan True Monarch was completely out of contact, if Wu Country was truly infiltrated by Yuan Country and reached cooperation with Liang Country, then he could only invite those two mysterious City Lords of Great Dream Immortal City for help.

At this moment.

In the depths of an extremely hot lava fire lake in the Southern Wasteland Eastern Domain, which almost incinerated everything.

A colossal cocoon, crimson red and resembling a Phoenix egg, lay quietly motionless, adorned with magnificent and delicate golden patterns, flickering on and off, as if a living creature breathing in and out.

Just then, a beautiful azure Phoenix bird broke through layers of Void Realm, carrying several fire seeds, and flew into the lava fire lake, piling the fire seeds next to the colossal cocoon resembling a Phoenix egg.

The golden patterns on the colossal cocoon intertwined and spread, absorbing the Qi of the fire seeds, making the crimson luster a few shades brighter.

Seeing this, the azure Phoenix bird did not linger too long, continuing to break through the Void Realm to search for more Origin fire seeds for the colossal cocoon.

At the same time, in a remote small mountain village in the Southern Wasteland Central Domain.

“Grandma, brother still hasn’t come back. It’s been two years already. Did he forget about little Que’er?”

On a bumpy little path, a four or five-year-old girl with pigtails, carrying a bundle of firewood, looked at the old woman beside her, who had a Face full of wrinkles and a hunched figure, carrying a bamboo basket, and asked.

The little girl’s clothes were very old and patched, but her small Face was as fair as jade, and her eyes were dark and bright, like a lovely porcelain doll.

“How could that be? Brother was chosen by an Immortal. He’ll come back when he finishes learning Immortal techniques. When he does, he’ll not only bring candied haws and delicious food for little Que’er, but he can also fly in the sky and travel underground, taking little Que’er everywhere to fly.”

The old woman, hearing this, said with a Face full of loving kindness, her eyes also showing a hint of longing.

Who would have thought that she, a lonely old woman with no one to rely on, who adopted two infants, would have the elder child chosen by an Immortal and taken away for cultivation.

“Mhm, mhm.”

Little Que’er nodded very obediently, her eyes filled with anticipation.

“Little Que’er is so cute. When you grow up, maybe you’ll also be chosen by an Immortal and taken away for cultivation.”

The old woman looked at the little girl, who resembled a porcelain doll, and said kindly.

Compared to the elder child, she felt that the little girl in front of her possessed more Immortal potential.

Not only had she been free from illness since childhood, and her body was better than that of ordinary young children, but her skin was also as fair and tender as a Young Miss from a wealthy family, and she never had scars from any bumps or scrapes.

“Little Que’er wants to stay with Grandma and wait for brother to come back.”

Although the little girl was young, she was very sensible. In the past, her brother always took care of her and Grandma.

Now that her brother was gone, she had to take good care of Grandma.

“Little Que’er is so good.”

The old woman, hearing the little girl’s words, immediately smiled widely, stretched out her withered hand, and rubbed her pigtails, then the old and young returned to the village, talking and laughing.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a year passed.

On this day, Great Dream Immortal City suddenly released a piece of news to the public: the Mystic Realm of Submerged Abyss would be opened to the public in half a year.

All Cultivators in Jiang Country below the Golden Core Realm could enter the Secret Realm.

And not long after Great Dream Immortal City released the news, the Four Great Immortal Sects all helped to promote it.

For a time, the matter of the Mystic Realm of Submerged Abyss spread rapidly throughout the Jiang Country Cultivation World like a hurricane.

“Mystic Realm of Submerged Abyss? Isn’t this the Secret Realm that appeared in the Great Dream Marsh before? Why is this Secret Realm being opened to the public?”

The Mystic Realm of Submerged Abyss was the name Great Dream Immortal City gave to the deep-sea Secret Realm in the Great Dream Marsh.

On one hand, it was because this Secret Realm was hidden deep within the ocean.

On the other hand, it was hoped that the Lu family Disciples would be like a dragon submerged, not yet in use, or leaping from the abyss.

“No need to think too much, the Secret Realm must have been fully explored, and no great Opportunity was found, so it’s being opened to the public for us to explore the Secret Realm’s situation.”

“Looking at the introduction, this Secret Realm is quite good, somewhat similar to the Purple Nether Secret Realm, with many Spirit Medicine and Heaven And Earth Treasure, and only fifty percent of the gains need to be submitted.”

“Wait, something’s not right, is it? Cultivators below the Golden Core Realm can all enter, but how can False Core True Persons also enter?”

“Damn it, False Core True Persons can enter this Mystic Realm of Submerged Abyss!? How is this supposed to be played?”

“This is completely open to those major forces, isn’t it?”

However, when many Cultivators went to understand the Secret Realm’s situation and saw that all Cultivators below the Golden Core Realm could enter, excluding False Core True Persons, they were immediately bewildered.

After all, no matter how you look at it, a False Core Cultivator still has the word ‘Core’ in their title.

They are not to be compared with Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Although there were many instances in the Cultivation World of Foundation Establishment fighting False Core.

But which of these wasn’t a renowned, rare existence?

“Who cares, since the Secret Realm doesn’t have so many requirements and restrictions, it’s worth a trip.”

“That’s right, False Core True Persons are all prominent figures. As long as we don’t provoke them, they probably won’t indiscriminately kill.”

“Brother Lu, would you like to travel together to Great Dream Immortal City to see this Mystic Realm of Submerged Abyss?”

“Let’s go, let’s go. Since the Four Great Immortal Sects are all helping to promote it, it means this Secret Realm won’t be too bad.”

Although the Secret Realm did not restrict False Core True Persons, which deterred many Cultivators, there were still many Foundation Establishment Cultivators who chose to go to the Great Dream Marsh.

After all, for ordinary Loose Cultivators, a Secret Realm was an Opportunity!

Now that there was a free Secret Realm open to the public, even if they knew that Great Dream Immortal City and the Four Great Immortal Sects might have ulterior motives, they were still willing to go.