Chapter 672

Chapter 672: Human Puppet

"I merely joked about a supreme Immortal artifact and a top-quality Immortal artifact. Surely you won’t personally come to punish me?" When Ye Yun felt the suffocating pressure, even without overthinking, he knew the cold voice’s owner had decided to teach him a lesson.

The oppressive aura lingered briefly before dissipating into the clouds. A humanoid puppet materialized before Ye Yun. Before he could approach, crimson lights flashed in the puppet’s eyes, vanishing instantly. Sensing danger behind him, Ye Yun barely registered the threat before an immense power smashed him into the lake.

The puppet shattered the thick ice formed by Ye Yun’s Ice Spirit Qi. As Ye Yun struggled to comprehend its speed, the puppet already pursued him through the broken ice hole. With no time to plan, Ye Yun summoned crackling Thunder Spirit Qi in his palm, aiming to destroy the puppet.

Before releasing the lightning, the puppet’s fist collided with his right hand, crippling it. Recognizing the peril, Ye Yun steadied his mind and retreated.

As the puppet prepared another strike in the depths, white light flashed around Ye Yun, teleporting him away. The puppet’s punch missed, its shockwave pulverizing submerged stones.

"It’s just a top-quality Immortal artifact! Why’s it so difficult?" Ye Yun gritted his teeth, his mangled right hand throbbing. The hidden energy from their clash had shattered his meridians, blocking spiritual power and true qi circulation.

"Thankfully this is an illusion. In reality, without prior knowledge of its strength, I’d fare no better." The lake surface trembled before Ye Yun could strategize. The Ice Sealing shattered as a dark shadow erupted from the water, charging at him.

"Ice Spirit Divine Palm!"

Roaring, Ye Yun channeled all remaining Ice Spirit Qi into his left hand. Bitter cold coalesced into a massive azure crystal palm that slammed into the puppet.

CRASH!

The impact momentarily halted the puppet… then it lunged again. Despair crept in as Ye Yun faced this indestructible, painless foe. His right arm useless, he desperately gripped the Purple Shadow Divine Sword with his left hand – his final gambit.

"Born as a Sword!"

Channeling every shred of true qi, the sword blazed with radiant light. A blue sword arc materialized as dual energies merged. The entire lake compressed under overwhelming pressure, water retreating as bone-chilling cold permeated the air. The devastating strike hit the puppet, reducing it to black dust.

Through fading consciousness, Ye Yun saw the destroyed puppet and relaxed. His vision blurred as four chaotic spiritual powers ravaged his body. His form dissipated into the stone tablet.

"Cough!" Agony jolted Ye Yun awake. During "Born as a Sword", merging Ice Spirit Qi with true qi had nearly liquefied his insides. Even now, he recalled the terror – spiritual energies running amok, his body becoming a battleground after exhausting his true qi.

"What’s wrong? You seem troubled." The Ancestor of the Sword Path observed Ye Yun’s return.

Though not lengthy by normal standards, Ye Yun’s time in the tablet felt substantial. The Ancestor assumed he’d obtained multiple artifacts, though their ranks remained unclear.

"Nothing. Just died a little." Ye Yun forced a smile.

"Ha! Even illusory death feels unpleasant, eh?" The Ancestor chuckled, not inquiring details. "But this is good. Having killed many, you must accept being killed. That’s cultivation."

"True… but the feeling crushes the spirit." Ye Yun wiped cold sweat, requesting the Deceptive Array’s deactivation to recuperate.

"Still a child. No breakthrough without tasting death." Watching Ye Yun grapple with trauma, the Ancestor flicked a strand of soul power to calm him.

When Golden Ling’er reached Nascent Soul stage’s first-layer peak, her triumph died seeing Jin An at second-layer. Not disturbing Ye Yun’s cultivation, she approached the stone tablet.

"Now that I’m Nascent Soul first-layer peak, I’ll crush that black-armored soldier!" Remembering past defeats, she channeled true qi into the tablet… only to reopen her eyes moments later, pouting.

"Unfair! I just wanted revenge, but exhausted my qi and lost! Couldn’t the Deceptive Array’s maker lower difficulty?" She mentally cursed the creator before noticing Ye Yun’s serene expression. Skipping around the meadow, she muttered, "Might as rest. I’ve earned it."

Ahead lay expanding desolation – animal bones and sand-buried skeletons under howling dead winds. Withered leaves skittered across yellow sand.

"Better keep cultivating. Let Senior and Jin An lead there." Shivering, Golden Ling’er retreated.

Returning, she found Ye Yun instructing Jin An in swordplay. Forgetting the eerie landscape, she bounded over. "Senior! Guess Ling’er’s cultivation level now?"

"Haha! Ling’er reached Nascent Soul first-layer peak! She progresses swiftly when motivated." Jin An beamed, proudly announcing her achievement before Ye Yun could respond.

Golden Ling’er glared fiercely at Jin An, who smiled bitterly and lowered his wooden sword. "You little rascal, weren’t you asking the Ancestor to reveal your cultivation level? Why won’t you let your senior brother tell you?"

"How can my senior brother compare to the Ancestor? Though judging by your current true qi, you’ve reached the second layer – must be thanks to the Ancestor’s help," Golden Ling’er retorted, eyeing Jin An with displeasure.

"Ah, that explains it." Jin An recalled yesterday’s ordeal when channeling spiritual power through his body had caused meridian chaos and fainting. Upon waking, he’d found his meridians fully healed. "Jin An expresses gratitude for Ancestor’s assistance," he bowed respectfully.

"You noticed?" Ye Yun smiled gently at the thankful disciple.

"Ha! Without Ling’er’s reminder, I’d have thought my wounds healed automatically from reaching the second layer of Nascent Soul stage." Jin An chuckled as Ye Yun acknowledged his role.

"Ye Yun, why do you suddenly have so many items?" The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s puzzled voice interrupted their conversation, startling Ye Yun.

"What do you mean? Shouldn’t there just be a mid-grade heavenly material and top-quality Immortal artifact?" Ye Yun frowned.

"See for yourself." The Ancestor shook his head at Ye Yun’s confusion.

Blinking at the Mysterious Crescent Blade floating within him, Ye Yun suddenly recognized its supreme Immortal artifact aura. The memory surfaced of his life-or-death struggle with the humanoid puppet. "Makes sense – that puppet was monstrously strong. Getting mere top-quality gear would’ve been strange," he mused, admiring the blade’s moonlit glow. His hand instinctively reached for the newly acquired heavenly material and unknown spirit plant.

"Ancestor, what’s this plant’s purpose?" Ye Yun examined the unusually dull heavenly material.

"Tsk! Nascent Soul Fruit! Pity this old ancestor can’t enjoy it." The Ancestor’s eyes widened. "Keep this for your Nascent Soul breakthrough – guaranteed success if nothing goes wrong."

"Direct ascension?" Ye Yun stared at the unassuming fruit, knowing few could resist such temptation.

"You’re the exception." The Ancestor smirked. "Your Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique requires physical alignment with true qi. You never planned to rely on external items anyway."

Ye Yun chuckled ruefully. "True. My physical limits remain far from Nascent Soul requirements."

"Patience, boy. Your weak constitution needs gradual improvement." The Ancestor’s eyes twinkled. "Collect lightning-element materials next. With your Thunder Spirit Qi, I know a method to accelerate your physical adaptation."

Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed. "You’re not planning to make me eat weird things, are you?"

"For power, endure it." The Ancestor grinned mischievously.

Sighing, Ye Yun summoned the Mysterious Crescent Blade. Moonlight rippled along its edge like frozen moonlight. "Won this from the Deceptive Array. Brutal opponent." He pricked his finger, letting blood spread across the blade’s surface.

A bestial roar erupted in his mind as the blade’s consciousness rebelled. Before Ye Yun could react, the Ancestor’s cold snort echoed like a warhammer strike. The blade’s glow dimmed instantly, its intelligence erased.

"You overdid it!" Jin An exclaimed. "That supreme artifact ranked among the continent’s finest!"

"Better dull than treacherous," the Ancestor growled. The Fire Dragon Whip within Ye Yun trembled at his tone.

"At least the edge remains sharp," Ye Yun sighed, examining the now-dull blade.

Golden Ling’er winced. "Such waste! My father treasures his supreme artifact like his life!"

"Ling’er," Jin An chided gently, "The Ancestor’s resources are vast. This loss means little."

Ye Yun glared at the duo. "What about my wounded feelings? You care more about metal than flesh!"

Golden Ling’er giggled. "With your Immortal Spirit Stones, just buy replacements later!"

"How much for a supreme artifact?" Ye Yun asked abruptly.

"Ancestor doesn’t know?" Golden Ling’er blinked.

"Merely tens of thousands of top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones," Jin An answered casually.

Ye Yun’s jaw dropped. His entire fortune from the Time and Space Hall barely reached ten thousand. He glared at the neutered blade. "Should’ve sold it intact…"

The Ancestor snorted. "Rather have loyal tools than expensive traitors."