Chapter 737

Chapter 737: Sword Path Puppet

“Ah ha ha, looks like another guardian spirit! This time, I’ll definitely let Ling’er handle it,” Shui Lingling said cheerfully as the dark array formed before her. Based on the murals she’d seen earlier, the array should summon a foe that matched her strength—neither too strong nor too weak. Perfect.

“Then Ling’er should be careful,” Ye Yun remarked with a smile, watching her step forward. “Not stopping her this time?”

“She needs to grow up someday. I’d love to shield her forever, but you know that’s impossible,” Shui Yingying replied, her gaze fixed on Shui Lingling activating the Starry Sky methods. “Still, having you watch over her helps.”

“If I can assist, I won’t stand idle.” Ye Yun’s words drew a faint nod from Shui Yingying.

“I’ll hold you to that. If she struggles, we’ll both come knocking,” she said lightly.

“You’d be welcome,” Ye Yun replied, surprised but smiling.

“Huh, it’s as tall as Ling’er! Must be the Heavenly Immortal rules at work,” Shui Lingling muttered as a shadowy figure coalesced before her. Dark energy swirled, pouring star power into the puppet until its aura matched hers.

“Since I’m the one fighting… prepare to lose!” Stars flared around her as she lunged, fists blazing with starlight.

*Boom!*

Blue light erupted as their attacks collided. The recoil forced Shui Lingling back a step. Chanting softly, a galaxy of stars materialized behind her, amplifying her power until her aura neared the second layer of the Earth Immortal realm—only for the puppet to siphon her energy.

“Hey! Stealing my hard-earned star power? Greedy much?” She smirked, watching the puppet store the stolen energy. “If you’re asking for it, don’t blame me!”

Starlight surged from her body, converging into her right fist. “Is this overkill?” she mused before striking.

The air cracked as her punch landed, spatial ripples spreading outward.

“She’s improving,” Shui Yingying noted, pleased. “No wonder she wanted this fight.”

“Finally done! That Heavenly Immortal trial was brutal,” Shui Lingling sighed, grinning at the fallen puppet. She waved at Ye Yun and Shui Yingying, eager for praise.

Hopping down, she bounced between them. “So? How’d I do?”

“Good, but keep working,” Shui Yingying said, patting her head.

“I almost messed up! Good thing I had a backup plan,” Shui Lingling huffed, dissatisfied.

“The puppet mirrored your moves. Breaking the array’s energy with true qi would’ve ended it faster,” Ye Yun said matter-of-factly.

“Ugh, why’d you have to say that? I was just being modest!” She glared.

“Just honest. You did well.” Ye Yun turned to the array platform, channeling true qi into the floating stones. Destroying them, not passing trials, was key. Ordinary rewards meant nothing—he sought the Heavenly Immortal inheritance for the two girls.

His rivalry with Mo Wenxian would ignite here in the Demon Abyss. Seizing the advantage now would dictate future clashes. Outside, friendship might’ve been possible, but in the Celestial-Demon battlefield, only victory mattered.

“This puppet’s stronger than the star-powered one,” Ye Yun muttered as a sword-wielding figure took shape. “A sword cultivator? Impressive mimicry.”

Gripping the Purple Shadow Divine Sword, he closed his eyes, sensing the puppet’s energy link. A swift slash sent razor-sharp energy hurtling—only to dissolve against an invisible barrier.

“Direct combat it is.” Vanishing into a blur, he reappeared before the motionless puppet. Holding back slightly, he unleashed a surge of true qi, bracing for impact.

“Boom!”

Like a thunderclap, the previously silent ground erupted as the Purple Shadow Divine Sword in Ye Yun’s hands clashed head-on with the iron sword of the sword puppet, sparks flying as the deafening sound echoed through the area. Shui Lingling covered her ears and complained, “Didn’t Ye Yun say he could outsmart it? Why is he fighting it directly from the start?”

“Outsmarting is one thing, but if Ye Yun doesn’t adjust soon, he might get thrown back,” Shui Yingying replied coolly, her analytical gaze fixed on Ye Yun’s relentless exchanges with the puppet. She found it odd that despite the fierce clashing, none of the surrounding dust stirred—only the noise reverberated, devoid of visible power.

“Lingling, when you were in the array earlier, did anything feel off?” Shui Yingying asked as the battle intensified without any surge in energy.

“Not really. When I used Starfall River, the puppet absorbed most of Ling’er’s star power. But it didn’t expect Ling’er’s fist techniques, so winning ended up easier than I thought,” Shui Lingling mused. “But Ye Yun’s still stuck. Could it be because the puppet drains spiritual power?”

“Likely. Otherwise, Ye Yun wouldn’t struggle this much. Still, trust him. That excitement on his face isn’t fake.” Shui Yingying pushed aside her worries, realizing Ye Yun might be using the fight to train. The array likely suppressed his power, but his controlled movements and blazing focus hinted at deliberate restraint.

“He’ll win anyway. He hasn’t even used Born as a Sword—just that other technique he practiced forever,” Shui Lingling said, grinning as Ye Yun’s sword flickered unpredictably.

“Oh, Ling’er noticed that too?” Shui Yingying teased, smiling at the girl’s pout. She felt a flicker of gratitude toward Ye Yun; Ling’er’s newfound diligence clearly stemmed from his influence.

“Ancestor of the Sword Path, any insights on how this puppet was made?” Ye Yun asked, briefly pausing to study the sword-wielding figure before him.

“Tricky. A Heavenly Immortal likely used the world’s rules to siphon true qi from this array. Its movements mirror your shadow—ordinary attacks would be copied,” the Ancestor answered, amused by the puppet’s unyielding vigor.

“Worse than I thought.” Ye Yun inhaled sharply, true qi surging as a towering blue illusion materialized behind him, its ghostly face vivid and eyes crackling with purple lightning.

“A bit forced, but manageable.” The illusion loomed like a thunder god as Ye Yun retreated, letting it confront the puppet. Disdain for the Heavenly Immortal’s rules simmered in him, but raw force was his answer now.

“Fail, and you’re worthless.” Ye Yun sheathed the Wuwei Illusionary Sword, his gaze calm as the illusion lunged.

“Boom!”

The giant stomped the array, leaping skyward with earth-shaking force. Lightning coiled around its fist as it struck toward the puppet, which swung its iron sword indifferently, conjuring a web of sword shadows.

Ye Yun watched coldly as the puppet absorbed Thunder Spirit Qi from the demon spirit, its body electrified. It lunged with shocking speed—faster than expected—but Ye Yun’s mental energy seized control mid-strike. The puppet froze, and the demon spirit’s fist obliterated it in a flash of lightning.

“Bang!”

The Thunder Spirit blast tore through the puppet, leaving it riddled with holes. Ye Yun summoned Ice Spirit Qi, slamming a colossal ice hand onto the array to pin the wreckage.

“Impatient, aren’t you?” The Ancestor chuckled, sensing Ye Yun’s erratic true qi.

“No time to waste. We need to be ready.” Ye Yun smirked.

“Reckless with Thunder Spirit, but I won’t stop you. Go claim that inheritance.”

“Let’s move.” Ye Yun turned to the girls. “Yingying, your turn. Subdue yours, and we’ll proceed.”

Nodding, Shui Yingying stepped onto the array. Her true qi summoned a humanoid figure, which she defeated after a swift duel.

“Boring! How much longer?” Shui Lingling whined, tossing starlight around the dull cave.

“Heavenly Immortal inheritances aren’t handed out freely. Be patient,” Ye Yun said.

“But why make it so hard? Just give it to us!” Shui Lingling huffed.

“A Heavenly Immortal’s pride wouldn’t allow it,” Shui Yingying chided. “Guess which one it is? The leader made us memorize them.”

“Ugh, that was your job!” Shui Lingling groaned.

“You’ll study more later. This grandeur suggests they seek an extraordinary genius,” Shui Yingying said.

“To a Heavenly Immortal, this might’ve taken mere thought,” Ye Yun remarked.

“Exactly. They’re *celestials*—beyond our understanding,” Shui Yingying sighed.

*But celestials aren’t all noble*, Ye Yun thought bitterly. Most hoarded power, callous toward humanity. The Ancestor had shared their vile schemes—using humans as pawns. *Hypocrites*, he seethed, recalling their greed.

“Sacrificing integrity for immortality… pitiful,” the Ancestor mused.

Ye Yun clenched his fists. *My earlier detachment… was that their influence?* He’d felt untethered from emotion, yet hollow. *A celestial’s path demands more than cold strength.*

“Mistakes can be remade,” he reassured himself. Unlike desperate cultivators, he had time. Top sects bred geniuses who clawed toward divinity, stealing fortunes by defeating rivals.

“Killing a genius reaps rewards, but it’s… distasteful,” Ye Yun muttered.

“You’d hate the mess,” the Ancestor laughed.

“True. But you’ll back me, right?”

“Naturally. Now go—show me what you’ve got.”

Ye Yun ignored the Ancestor’s teasing grin, refocusing as the path ahead stretched on.