Chapter 275: Chapter 227: Puppet Martial Artist, Wilderness Journey

"Yes! Master, I understand!" Xiaohu nodded forcefully, his eyes filled with motivation. "I’ll definitely practice my Puppet Making hard!"

The master and apprentice said no more, immersing themselves once again in the intense refining process. The only sounds in the stone chamber were the rustling of a Carving Knife against wood and the occasional low-murmured discussion.

A small pile of failed attempts accumulated in the corner, but they paid it no mind. Their eyes held only the desire for success and hope for the future.

「Two months later.」 Lu Zhao emerged from the Artifact Refining Chamber. This time, he had created fifteen Entry Tier Puppets and five hundred Non-Tiered Puppets.

He handed them to Zhao Xiaoshu and instructed, "These fifteen Entry Tier Puppets, along with the ones I previously left with you, are to be distributed to the best-performing Grand Martial Artists."

"The Non-Tiered Puppets go to the other Martial Artists. As for the rest of the men, unless their performance is truly outstanding, you don’t need to give them any."

"Tell them that their performance in the Wilderness will directly determine whether they can obtain more and stronger Puppets in the future."

"Yes, Senior!" Zhao Xiaoshu respectfully accepted the Storage Bag.

Not long after Zhao Xiaoshu left with his orders, Lu Zhao suddenly felt something and his gaze shifted to the temporary camp outside the castle.

His powerful Divine Sense detected a sudden surge of auras from the camp—a mixture of excitement, envy, desire, and intense fighting spirit.

Clearly, the distribution of the new Puppets was like dropping cold water into hot oil, instantly igniting everyone’s enthusiasm.

As Lu Zhao took in the scene, he thought to himself, ’Go risk your lives. I can give you anything you desire. Go and continue paving the way for my Cultivation.’

「Half a month later.」 Lu Zhao led an army of thirty thousand Martial Artists and a number of Cultivators out of Broken River Castle.

Before departing, he brought Zhao Xiaoshu along with him, handing over the internal affairs of the castle, which Zhao Xiaoshu had previously managed, to Xu Wei.

He had followed Lu Zhao for many years, always handling dealings with Wang Hui’s merchant caravan without a single mistake. Seeing how steadily he conducted himself, Lu Zhao had gradually come to trust him.

For this journey, the Martial Artists traveled light. A few pack animals carried specially made rations: a mixture of minced Demon Beast meat and compressed fine grains, rolled into balls the size of pigeon eggs. A single one could sustain a Martial Artist for a full day.

As for the Cultivators, they all used Fasting Pills, so their supplies were not a concern.

The vast army, like a colossal black python, silently crushed its way over the barren hills at the edge of the Broken River Plains, advancing slowly toward the Sharp Pattern Copper Ore mine.

「The first month.」 The journey went smoothly until they were crossing a swamp and were ambushed by a swarm of Corpsebone Mosquitoes. The fist-sized demonic insects beat their wings with a sound like muffled thunder, their mouthparts glinting with a venomous green light.

However, this was no ordinary army. Without waiting for a signal from Lu Zhao, several Late-stage Qi Cultivators in the ranks formed hand seals and summoned fire. A web of Fireballs and fire arrows instantly incinerated more than half of the dark swarm.

Afterward, a large number of Puppet Martial Artists charged forward bravely. The few Grand Martial Artists among them were especially zealous, using their Puppets to slaughter the remaining Corpsebone Mosquitoes in droves. Their gazes, however, frequently darted toward the profound robe-clad figure at the front of the column, clearly hoping to impress him with their efforts.

「The second month.」 The terrain grew steeper as they entered a desolate valley of jagged red rock, and trouble followed close behind.

Three Tier One Late Stage Red-Scaled Earth Fire Scorpions emerged from a fissure of subterranean lava. Their tails, like red-hot iron whips, swept out with the pungent smell of sulfur, instantly snapping several Martial Artists who couldn’t dodge in time in half at the waist.

The Magic of the Late-stage Qi Cultivators only left shallow white marks on the scorpions’ thick red scales, and a commotion began to stir within the ranks.

"Noisy."

Lu Zhao stood atop the Golden Feather Bird. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it cut through the chaos. His sleeves didn’t move, but a clear, piercing cry suddenly rang out from the heavens, sharp enough to shatter stone!

A streak of red-gold light tore through the clouds and dove down, its unfurled wings kicking up a scorching hurricane. It was the Red Feather Fire Sun Bird! Its beak opened, and a condensed, almost solid, red-gold Fireball shot out, precisely striking the center of one of the giant scorpion’s Back Armor.

CHKT!

The harsh sound of searing was accompanied by the crisp crack of an exploding carapace! The Red-Scaled Earth Fire Scorpion didn’t even have time to cry out before half its body was vaporized in a blinding golden light, leaving only its charred lower half to twitch and collapse.

The other two giant scorpions instinctively tried to retreat back into the earth fissure, but the Red Feather Fire Sun Bird flapped its wings, and a sky full of red-gold Feathers rained down like a shower of swords, instantly pinning them to the ground and igniting them into two massive fireballs.

The entire process took no more than three breaths.

Tens of thousands of Martial Artists and Cultivators gazed up at the magnificent, flame-wreathed, red-gold giant bird in the sky, and at the calm-faced Lu Zhao on the Golden Feather Bird’s back, his Profound Robe flapping in the wind. The awe in their eyes had transformed into deep fear and submission.

The army fell back into a deathly silence, with only the crackling of burning flames and the thick stench of scorched flesh remaining.

「The final month.」 The army marched through a dark, dense forest of towering ancient trees. Slippery moss covered the gnarled roots, and the air was filled with the strange smell of decaying leaves and branches.

However, just as they were about to exit the edge of the forest sea, disaster struck!

A deafening tiger’s roar, carried on a foul wind, blasted toward them, snapping trees! A colossal beast blocked the path ahead.

It was sixty feet long and covered in black-striped cyan fur. A pair of fleshy wings, covered with Dark Gold patterns, grew from its ribs. Though not unfurled, they already exuded a suffocatingly ferocious aura.

The beast’s eyes were locked on Lu Zhao, and its drool sizzled as it hit the ground, corroding it.

A Tier Two Early Stage, Cyan-Winged Tiger!

The army instantly fell into chaos as panic spread like a plague. A Tier Two Demon Beast! This was far beyond what a Qi Cultivator could handle!

Yet, a strange look flashed through Lu Zhao’s eyes. Back when he was focused on Puppet Refining, he had searched bitterly for a Tier Two Demon Beast to no avail. Now, one had delivered itself to his doorstep.

"Hold your positions." His voice remained level as he faced the Demon Beast alone. The Red Feather Fire Sun Bird gave a clear cry and followed close behind him as a streak of red-gold light.

Seeing Lu Zhao approach, the Cyan-Winged Tiger kicked off the ground with its powerful hind legs. Its massive body shot forward like a bolt of cyan lightning, its sharp claws tearing through the air with a piercing shriek!

Lu Zhao didn’t dodge or evade. He formed a hand seal, frantically pouring his Magical Power into the Hundred Waters Magic Disc!

From the Magic Disc, three gigantic Water Blades—so dark a blue they were almost black, with edges as sharp as knives—spun out in a triangular formation to attack!

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Three muffled impacts sounded almost simultaneously! The first Water Blade struck the tiger’s claw, creating an explosive Clashing of Gold and Iron. It forcefully knocked back the beast’s powerful pounce and even injured its paw!

The second and third Water Blades followed close behind, viciously slashing at the relatively vulnerable area where the tiger’s chest and neck met!

Its tenacious hide was easily sliced open, revealing the bone beneath! Blood gushed out like a waterfall!

ROAR!

The intense pain drove the tiger into a frenzy. It suddenly spread its fleshy wings, and the violent blast of wind snapped the surrounding ancient trees in half! It had been severely wounded in just three strikes.

In the next moment, the Red Feather Fire Sun Bird appeared like a phantom above its head.

It folded its wings, its beak aimed at the tiger’s head.

SQUELCH!

The beak passed through the Cyan-Winged Tiger’s hard skull without resistance, emerging from its lower jaw!

The Cyan-Winged Tiger’s enormous body froze in place. The ferocious light in its eyes quickly faded, and it crashed to the ground with a boom, making the earth tremble.

From the moment Lu Zhao attacked to the great tiger’s death, little more than ten breaths had passed.

The army of tens of thousands was deathly silent. Everyone, including the Cultivators, stared dumbfounded at the mountain-like tiger corpse and at Lu Zhao, whose Profound Robe remained utterly spotless.

Awe was no longer sufficient to describe their feelings at that moment.

After this battle, the rest of the journey was uneventful. The army silently and swiftly crossed the final stretch of hilly terrain.

When a rolling forest appeared on the distant horizon, a long-suppressed cheer finally erupted from the ranks.

"We’re here! The Sharp Pattern Copper Ore mine!"

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