Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Blood Puppet

After spending several days returning to Qingyu Island, Fang Lie quickly got busy.

First, he received updates from Mao San and Gou Si. Over the past three months, dozens of Wind Tribulation Immortal-level cultivators had visited, all seeking alchemy services.

Upon learning Fang Lie was absent, a third left gifts and letters before departing. The remaining two-thirds settled in the nearby town to await his return.

Not wishing to slight potential clients, Fang Lie promptly invited them all.

In high spirits, he hosted a feast featuring Low-Level Beast meals.

First, to apologize for their long wait—allowing guests to linger without acknowledgment would’ve been discourteous.

Second, to foster connections. Fang Lie might require their aid later, and since they came bearing wealth, generosity was prudent.

During the feast, Fang Lie met each guest privately to discuss pill-refining specifics. These matters concerned personal secrets, hence the discretion.

Though a host’s prolonged absence usually breaches etiquette, none took offense. The lavish feast and Fang Lie’s earnest handling of business instead earned quiet admiration. His brisk enthusiasm starkly contrasted his bloodthirsty reputation.

By dawn, Fang Lie had dismissed the crowd. He accepted only twenty-odd requests—others sought pills beyond his current skill.

The rewards promised were pure spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Refining them all could expand his Qi Sea beyond a hundred li.

But first, Fang Lie visited the White Jade Divine Fish cave.

Three months’ absence brought shocking changes. The cave now teemed with three to five thousand fish, many spanning seven to eight feet.

The controlled leader fish—now over two zhang long with gleaming scales—darted over, tail wagging. It resembled a crane among chickens, nearly unrecognizable.

Thrilled by its progress, Fang Lie praised, "Excellent work! Persist, and your rewards will only increase!"

He produced a Jade Bottle, emptying over a hundred spirit pills into the water. The giant fish leapt, devouring them all before diving contentedly.

Fang Lie collected every fish with magic, then retreated to the Purple Tower’s secret chamber.

Though tempted to teleport via death, he abstained—the unrefined spiritual energy from recently consumed treasures would be wasted.

Instead, he contacted the old bird to return the fish and penned a letter to Fang Huo. The note inquired about household affairs and requested all available low-grade fire element spirit stones.

The letter mainly eased his homesickness—the old bird could’ve reported any issues.

As the old bird recounted recent Mo Sect events, Fang Lie listened. The sect buzzed with activity, all stemming from his legacy—the Great Unity Spell.

Lately, numerous family disciples had mastered the spell using advanced Healing Spirit Pills to gather blood essence. With clan support, they’d subdued demon beasts exceeding their own strength.

These disciples now shone in conflicts. One Golden Pool realm youth ambushed by a Demonic Path Purple Palace realm cultivator saw his foe slaughtered by a suddenly summoned Purple Palace-level Great Demon.

The Golden Pool realm Mo Sect disciple not only escaped death but also obtained numerous treasures from the Demonic Path cultivator—far surpassing his investment in Healing Spirit Pills.

Additionally, slaying the Demonic Path cultivator earned him contribution points and sect rewards, making him thoroughly triumphant.

Such occurrences had happened multiple times recently, greatly motivating other Mo Sect cultivators. Many now offered blood essence to Ancient Heroic Souls to learn The Great Unity Spell.

Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals secretly participated.

Nourished by high-level cultivators’ blood essence, the Ancient Heroic Soul’s recovery accelerated alarmingly.

Within months, it advanced from third rank to fifth rank.

A fifth-rank Ancient Heroic Soul became a remarkable treasure with unmatched combat strength at its level.

A third-rank could challenge Purple Palace cultivators, while a fifth-rank dominated most Wind Tribulation Immortals.

Upon reaching sixth rank, it could confront Fire Tribulation Immortals, becoming Fang Lie’s strongest asset.

However, sixth-rank advancement proved difficult. The old bird estimated two to three years for this progression.

Still, Fang Lie felt thrilled.

During discussions with the old bird, two items suddenly appeared—a letter and Sumeru Bag.

Fang Lie read the letter from Fang Huo detailing family prosperity and successful spirit pill sales.

After warm greetings, Fang Huo explained he’d gathered all low-grade Fire Element Spirit Stones from recent sales into the Sumeru Bag, forming a hundred-zhang mountain—proof of the pills’ popularity.

He also relayed the Ancient Heroic Soul’s gratitude: using a Thunder Tribulation Immortal’s third eye blood, it crafted a Blood Puppet with five Original Essence Blood swords forged from heart blood.

Included was a secret technique to control the puppet.

Intrigued, Fang Lie studied the technique thoroughly.

Retrieving a pigeon-egg-sized blood bead from the Sumeru Bag, he spent two hours refining it.

Upon completion, he felt a connection with the puppet.

When activated, the bead transformed into a young Taoist in black Dao Robe—lifelike and undetectable by spells or divine sense.

Fang Lie froze—the figure resembled a youthful Mo Qianxun! Clearly made using the Mo Sect Leader’s third eye blood.

Chuckling nervously, Fang Lie thought, "Now I’m carrying a miniature sect leader! The Mo family would kill me if they saw this. The Sect Leader himself wouldn’t approve."

He resolved to keep it sealed unless absolutely needed.

Further investigation revealed shocking combat capabilities. The puppet contained traces of Mo Qianxun’s Dao energy related to a Five Elements Sword Formation.

The Ancient Heroic Soul had crafted five swords from Thunder Tribulation Immortals’ heart blood—each specializing in a Five Elements attribute. Though slightly weaker than sixth-rank Flying Swords, their elemental purity surpassed ordinary treasures.

The puppet possessed one-tenth of Mo Qianxun’s early Wind Tribulation Immortal stage power. As a sect heir prodigy nearly matching Mo Lanyun’s talent, even this fraction proved formidable.

Against rogue cultivators, it could slaughter multiple Wind Tribulation Immortals. Against major sect members, it held advantage unless facing Core Inner Gate Disciples.

Fang Lie stored his new Wind Tribulation-level weapon and distributed Fire Element Spirit Stones to Fire Spirit Peak.

He then pondered pill refinement without returning home. A Fourth-Rank Pill Furnace from the Four Seas Alliance would suffice—his extraction skills ensured top-grade spirit pills regardless.

Summoning Little Peach Red, he gave her high-grade spirit stones for the furnace purchase.

Resuming work, Fang Lie extracted material essence urgently—Two Two Two had nearly exhausted his Spirit Liquid reserves during three months of nonstop alchemy.

Soon, Mao San knocked: "Master, Mr. Suan Mei requests audience."