Chapter 926: Chapter 406: Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppet Successfully Forged_2

After cuddling together for a while and exchanging a few whispered words, Xu Ping finally got up, left Duan Shuang’s cave abode, and returned to the secluded underground sanctuary of the Blood Bone Hall.

Sitting cross-legged on the jade platform, Xu Ping closed his eyes once more, thoroughly digesting and absorbing the gains from this dual cultivation, allowing the enhanced Divine Sense to perfectly integrate with himself, as natural as moving an arm.

A few days later, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze shining brightly and clearer than ever.

His state was adjusted to its best.

Immediately, Xu Ping took out the puppetry inheritance and began to delve into it.

Over the years, as his Divine Sense continually improved, this Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppet was finally about to be successfully crafted.

...

Time flew by, and two more years passed.

On this day.

In the artifact refining room, Xu Ping’s expression was solemn.

"Rise!"

Xu Ping formed a spell with his hands.

Boom!

The central ground of the sanctuary, which had been engraved with an incomparably complex "Gathering Spirit and Refining Puppet" array, suddenly lit up.

Countless runes circulated, drawing the power of the Spirit Vein from the underground, congealing into a thick pillar of Spiritual Qi, enveloping that area.

"Smelt!"

Whirr...

Spiritual Fire rushed into the array, and the temperature suddenly soared to a terrifying level.

Instantly, all the puppet materials were enveloped, starting to melt and purify slowly.

Impurities were removed, lifeless energy was refined away, only the most essence-rich materials remained, imbued with immense vital force and the resilient origin of bone armor.

It is not known how long passed.

The originally complex materials transformed into clusters of liquid essence, each glimmering with different hues and flowing with powerful energy!

"Shape, merge spirit!"

Xu Ping dared not slack for a moment, his hands swiftly changed the spell.

The power of Divine Sense erupted like an invisible giant hand, guiding those clusters of liquid materials to merge and shape according to the structure he’d simulated countless times in his mind.

A giant puppet slowly took form, and a vast oppressive aura began to spread everywhere.

However, Xu Ping dared not relax in the slightest.

For what came next was the final, most crucial source of power and control center.

Previously, he had always failed at this stage.

Xu Ping took out a fist-sized, heart-like dark red energy core, its interior etched with countless tiny runes, the source of energy for the puppet and key to the Divine Sense link.

Xu Ping flicked his fingers, and the dark red energy core shot into the recess in the puppet’s chest.

Immediately, his fingers came together like a sword, his Divine Sense highly concentrated, using his own Nascent Soul fire as ink and spiritual thought as a pen, slowly refining it within.

Xu Ping focused all his energy, forgetting himself and the world.

After ten full days.

The moment the final core rune was perfectly inscribed upon the dark red energy core, and all components completed their Divine Sense linkage.

"Hum!"

The entire gathering spirit array shook violently! All suspended components burst forth with piercing light, seemingly drawn by invisible force, rapidly converging, connecting, and embedding towards the center.

Crunch!

The sour sound of metal interlocking densely resounded.

The light gradually dimmed, revealing a colossal figure nearly four zhang tall, entirely pitch black and covered with heavy, ominous armor, exuding an ancient, fierce aura, standing majestically within the sanctuary.

The energy fluctuation it emitted was heavy, vast, full of power, unmistakably reaching the pinnacle level of Fourth Rank Middle-grade.

"It’s done, hahahaha... finally forged successfully!"

Seeing the masterpiece he’d labored over for years, Xu Ping laughed heartily, his laughter echoing within the sanctuary, filled with the thrill and pleasure of a wish fulfilled.

Years of painstaking research into puppetry, expending countless effort and resources, today, he finally crafted by his own hands the first completely belonging to him Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppet.

This means the once-stalled puppet array can finally begin advancing toward a stronger form... upgrading!

If all ten puppets were replaced with Fourth Rank Middle-grade tier, their defensive power might give even Nascent Soul Perfect Cultivators a headache.

"Continue crafting!"

A hint of anticipation flickered in Xu Ping’s eyes.

Only one Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppet had been crafted so far, still far from the goal of ten.

However, Xu Ping did not act rashly.

He knew well that crafting puppets of such grade was a huge drain on mind, Spiritual Power, and Divine Sense, where even the slightest mishap could render previous efforts in vain.

Only after Xu Ping had restored all Mana and Divine Sense did he begin crafting the second Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppet anew.

...

Time slipped away like a white horse crossing a gap.

In this silent, deep underground sanctuary, four years passed quietly.

Meanwhile, the outside world was full of tumult; the ancient demon’s calamity grew worse, the spread of Demonic Qi continued to expand, and conflicts with Human Race cultivators became increasingly fierce, far exceeding past scales.

On the demon vanquishing front, Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivators from various sects gradually increased in number.

Yet Xu Ping, due to his previously exhibited astonishing battle prowess, was not required to personally guard the forefront.

He would only be summoned when battles occurred.

And Xu Ping indeed devoted the majority of his efforts to puppet crafting.

Excluding necessary cultivation, mana honing, body refinement, and occasional attention to Duan Shuang and Water Lake Mouse’s progress.

On this day.

In the core artifact refining room of the underground sanctuary.

Two distinct-looking yet equally imposing Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppets stood upright.

One resembling a giant ape, entirely dark; the other more humanoid, with smooth lines and its surface covered in silvery scales.

"It’s done!"

Xu Ping gazed at these two masterpieces, borne from countless efforts and resources, his lips unrestrainably curling upward.

Four years, two Fourth Rank Middle-grade Puppets!

If this efficiency were to spread, it would be enough to shock every puppetry Grandmaster in the Cultivation Realm, even make them doubt their life.