Beneath Green Cloud Mountain, one hundred li away.
At the outermost checkpoint of the Cyan Robe Association, two of its experts were guarding the pass. In such a tense mont, even the slightest disturbance could not be overlooked.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE.
Suddenly, the entire checkpoint began to tremble violently.
"What's happening?"
The expressions of the two Cyan Robe Association guards on duty changed abruptly.
At this mont, in the distance, countless tiny black specks could be seen surging towards the checkpoint.
These black specks, like ants, were exceedingly nurous. Above them, a thick, dark cloud lood. Within this cloud, it was as if thousands of Exotic Beasts were stampeding, surging, and roaring, unleashing an imasurably fierce aura.
At the very front of this army, an extraordinarily large, black, ferocious Exotic Beast could be clearly seen. This beast possessed Bone Wings nearly twenty ters long, vast enough to blot out the sky and sun. Black spikes covered its body, and black smoke oozed from its dark Scale Armor.
SWOOSH!
A black gale suddenly whipped up. The enormous, ferocious Exotic Beast spread its wings, and after two powerful flaps, its massive body soared into the air.
A colossal dark silhouette blotted out the sunlight as it swept across the ground below.
On the back of the dark beast, a figure stood with hands clasped behind him, surveying all life with contempt.
"It's Shentu Yan and his army! Quick, light the wolf smoke!"
Seeing this, the two Cyan Robe Association experts instantly understood who had arrived. At this critical juncture, apart from the army of three hundred thousand warriors assembled by the Divine Intent Sect, no other enemy would dare attack Green Cloud Mountain, nor could any other force muster such a terrifyingly large host.
They rushed to the beacon tower and hurriedly lit the wolf smoke.
Once the outermost wolf smoke was lit, signals spread for a hundred li. Beacon fires lit up the sky.
「Atop Green Cloud Mountain, inside the main hall.」
The Cyan Robe Association, the Black Market, the Saint Witch Religion, the Four Great Hidden Clans, and the remaining experts from the major sects had all gathered. Each person wore a solemn expression, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Everyone, Shentu Yan's army has advanced to a point one hundred li from the base of the mountain," Liu Feiyue announced, her pretty face extrely grave as she scanned the assembly.
Hearing this, even though they were ntally prepared, everyone's heart still sank, and their expressions turned grim.
"Has Sect Leader Ling Chen erged from his seclusion yet?" Long Zaitian asked, his brow furrowed.
"Not yet. For the mont, there appears to be no sign of him erging soon," Liu Feiyue replied, shaking her head.
"What are we to do?" Elder Liuxin of the Black Market voiced his worry. "Sect Leader Ling Chen is our greatest hope for dealing with Shentu Yan. If he doesn't erge, how can we, with just our current strength, possibly be Shentu Yan's match?"
"Indeed," another Black Market elder quickly added. "Perhaps we should send soone to his place of seclusion to check. If things are dire, we might as well interrupt him and have him erge imdiately to take charge of the overall situation."
"Absolutely not!" Lin Ya shook her head, dismissing the two Black Market elders. "What if Ling Chen is at a critical juncture in his breakthrough? If we rashly interrupt him, wouldn't we ruin all his efforts and be digging our own graves?"
Others were uncertain. However, as the Black Market Master, Lin Ya knew their most crucial task in this battle was to stall the enemy. This was because Ling Chen was not the only one in seclusion; Xia Yunxin and Ling Yin were as well. If any one of them successfully erged, it would provide imnse reinforcent, potentially even turning the tide of battle.
"Everyone, for now, we can only rely on ourselves." Liu Feiyue rose from her seat and addressed the crowd, "With our Green Cloud Mountain's Great Formation, as long as we can hold out for sufficient ti, we will surely find an opportunity for victory."
Hearing this, the assembly couldn't help but ponder. This "sufficient ti" could an three to five days, or it could even be a month. If no favorable turn occurred by then, they would likely all be in grave danger.
However, things had already reached this stage. No one felt regret; regret was useless now. Shentu Yan would not spare them. Only by fighting with all their might would they have a chance to survive.
「At this mont, deep within Green Cloud Mountain, inside a tightly sealed hall.」
Dozens of figures surrounded a colossal object. This massive construct, built entirely from special tals and hard materials, resembled a Violent Dragon. It stood a full twenty zhang tall. Behind it was a pair of silver wings, twenty ters long and seven to eight ters wide, giving it a majestic and formidable appearance, like an ancient fierce beast.
This was a Puppet.
Currently, although the Puppet exuded a considerably strong aura, it was, by nature, an inanimate object.
In front of this giant Puppet, a charming young girl sat cross-legged. Her eyes emitted an exceptionally profound light, a Yin Yang Fish pattern flickering within them.
The entire skeleton of this Puppet, its internal structure, even every single component and section, was clearly visible in the girl's eyes, with nothing missed.
"Miss Ling Yin, the Puppet beast's body is essentially complete," an old man in white robes beside the girl said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Next is the most critical, and also the most difficult, step."
"Mhm."
Ling Yin nodded. They had spent half a month completing the body of this Sky Apex Puppet; this was already their fastest possible speed. However, the next step was the most challenging.
When refining a Sky Apex Puppet, its physical form is no longer the most important aspect. The crucial elent is the Puppet Spirit. Only by possessing a Puppet Spirit can a Puppet gain mobility and combat capability.
Otherwise, it is rely a pile of scrap tal.
Dozens of cultivators of ntal Power gazed solemnly at the Puppet before them. They had never before attempted to refine a Puppet of the Sky Apex Realm. This final step, spirit nurturing, was the most complex, and they had no confidence whatsoever.
"All of you, withdraw."
Just as they were all frowning in consternation, Ling Yin's voice sounded in their ears.
"What?"
Everyone was startled. She wanted them all to withdraw? Did she intend to complete the refinent of this Sky Apex Puppet all by herself?
Although Ling Yin's ntal Power and puppetry skills were undeniably exceptional, far surpassing everyone else present, the idea of her completing the final refinent process alone sounded incredibly audacious.
"You can't help with this Puppet. Your presence here will only distract . Leave. If it fails in the end, it will have nothing to do with you," Ling Yin stated indifferently.
"Yes!"
The group cupped their fists and then exited the hall in an orderly fashion.
After everyone had departed, Ling Yin focused her entire attention on the Puppet before her. Then, with a flick of her jade-like hand, a bottle of multicolored Spiritual Liquid materialized in her palm.
This was the Five Elent Spirit Fluid, the ultimate substance for nurturing Puppet Spirits.
Her figure moved, and Ling Yin suddenly arrived at the Puppet's head. Then, the Spiritual Liquid in her hand drifted out and, under her precise control, was instilled drop by drop into the Puppet's eyes.
The infusion of such Spiritual Liquid demanded extrely high ntal Power. The effects of the Five Elent Spirit Fluid were highly volatile; it had to be enveloped by ntal Power to perfectly preserve its efficacy.
Only experts with exceptionally strong ntal Power, who had also mastered its application to a point of perfection, could achieve such a feat.
And as ti passed, deep within the Puppet's hollow eyes, a faint hint of Spirituality seed to quietly take shape…
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