The Guild Leader Returns! Puppets Shock!

Chapter 26: The Guild Leader Returns! A Shocking Puppet!

These past few days.

Lu Qingfeng's Level reached 4 (18/20), and his Cultivation also reached the peak of Fetal Respiration Second Level, on the verge of breaking through at any moment.

With Inner Breath, Lu Qingfeng could finally use an Alchemy Furnace.

An Alchemy Furnace was different from a Medicinal Herb Processing Station.

Every Alchemy Furnace was meticulously crafted by an Artifact Refiner, capable of helping an Alchemist refine pills better and more efficiently.

For example, Wang Tao used a Fourth Grade Talisman Artifact level Alchemy Furnace—Purple Smoke!

It was inscribed with three hundred and thirty-six Talismans, forming thirteen sets of Talisman Formations, including spirit gathering, cooling, flame control, and temperature regulation. Manipulated by Inner Breath and True Qi, alchemy was quite effortless.

Lu Qingfeng needed half an hour to refine a batch of Yellow Dragon Pills using the Medicinal Herb Processing Station. However, using Wang Tao's 'Purple Smoke' could shorten the time by one Incense Stick.

While seemingly insignificant, it was undeniable when accumulated over time.

"Perhaps I can collect ores and metals in Miao Yin City and start practicing the art of Artifact Refining with an Alchemy Furnace!"

Lu Qingfeng mused as he walked out of the Pill Refining Room.

RUMBLE!

As soon as he stepped out, the ground seemed to tremble slightly. Immediately after, a roaring sound reached his ears. Looking up, he saw a giant rapidly approaching outside Yuan Yi Mountain.

This giant was the culprit causing the earth to shake!

"This is—"

"A Puppet?!"

Lu Qingfeng looked at the 'giant' and immediately thought of the Puppets Wang Tao had told him about these past few days!

According to Wang Tao, the Guild Leader of Yuan Yi Guild, Mu Yuanyi, was a Foundation Establishment Elder from the Spirit Opportunity Institute on Verdant Screen Mountain, holding a prominent position and strength within the Institute.

The Spirit Opportunity Institute, in turn, was a branch established by a Spirit Void True Cultivator from the Great Sect Hundred Crafts Sect, located hundreds of miles away on Cloud Dream Mountain.

This Hundred Crafts Sect, known for its 'hundred crafts,' was not only skilled in refining various Talisman Artifacts and Magic Artifacts but also possessed top-tier skills in refining Puppets across the entire Eastern Victory Continent!

With the Yuan Yi Guild backed by the Spirit Opportunity Institute, and the Spirit Opportunity Institute being a branch established by a Spirit Void True Cultivator of the Hundred Crafts Sect, it was not surprising to have Puppets.

However, for Lu Qingfeng, the appearance of a humanoid Puppet seven to eight Zhang tall before his eyes was still breathtaking.

Looking closer, behind the seven to eight Zhang tall humanoid Puppet were nine smaller Puppets, each about two to three Zhang tall. While they might have been shocking if they appeared alone, they seemed insignificant following the Giant Puppet.

These Puppets bore traces of battle, with dark red bloodstains clinging to them, indicating they had been through fierce combat!

"These are the mechanical Puppets of our Yuan Yi Mountain, so powerful!"

"Of course! These were refined by seniors from the Spirit Opportunity Institute at the request of our Guild Leader. The largest Puppet is capable of sweeping away any Demon Beast below Sixth Grade, and the other nine Puppets can also fight against Fourth and Fifth Grade Demon Beasts!"

"I wonder when I'll be able to own a Puppet!"

Behind Lu Qingfeng, many members of the Yuan Yi Guild, alerted by the commotion from the mountain, had come out to watch.

They had arrived earlier than Lu Qingfeng and had seen these Puppets before, yet they were still stunned.

"Old Lu, come with me."

Lu Qingfeng watched the ten Puppets disappear before turning to hear Wang Tao's call.

Lu Qingfeng quickly followed.

"The Guild Leader and the others are back. I'll take you to meet them," Wang Tao explained as he led the way.

A short while later.

They arrived at the back mountain of Yuan Yi Mountain.

Lu Qingfeng had familiarized himself with Yuan Yi Mountain these past few days and knew that the back mountain was a forbidden area for the Yuan Yi Guild. Strictly speaking, he hadn't officially joined the Yuan Yi Guild yet, so he shouldn't enter. This time, with Wang Tao leading the way, they entered unimpeded.

The back mountain was completely different from the front mountain.

The front mountain was gentle with lush vegetation. The back mountain, however, was steep and rugged with strange rocks.

Lu Qingfeng saw the ten Puppets, one large and nine small, disappear into the cliff face of the back mountain.

Not long after.

About a dozen figures leaped up from the foot of the mountain.

The person in the lead wore a black battle robe, appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a resolute face and sharp features.

This was the Guild Leader of the Yuan Yi Guild, the Foundation Establishment Elder of the Spirit Opportunity Institute on Verdant Screen Mountain—

Mu Yuanyi!

"Old Wang, is this the newcomer Old Lu mentioned?" Mu Yuanyi's voice was deep and magnetic, instantly evoking a good impression.

"Yes, Lu Qingfeng, a Low Grade Alchemy Apprentice. When it comes to refining Low Grade Pills, I and Old Yue admit we are inferior," Wang Tao introduced, not sparing any praise.

"Thank you for your kind words, Big Brother Wang."

Lu Qingfeng replied humbly, then cupped his fists towards Mu Yuanyi, "Lu Qingfeng greets the Guild Leader."

"We're all brothers here, no need for formalities."

"Old Wang and Old Yue have a good eye for people. Since they think so highly of you, I'll have someone build a third Pill Refining Room these next few days, and it'll be under Brother Lu's management."

Mu Yuanyi settled the matter without further investigation.

He then proceeded to introduce the people behind him to Lu Qingfeng.

"Old Zhang, Zhang Zong, a top-tier Artifact Refining Apprentice, currently studying Puppet Arts."

"Old Yu, Yu Bufan, a Sword Cultivator. His combat power ranks within the top three in the guild."

Mu Yuanyi introduced all the more than ten people behind him, emphasizing Zhang Zong and Yu Bufan. Wang Tao also discreetly transmitted his voice, and only then did Lu Qingfeng learn that these two were the last two players in the Yuan Yi Guild.

Gathered here at this moment were the Yuan Yi Guild's most elite powerhouses.

Mu Yuanyi, Zhang Zong, Yu Bufan, and others—a total of three Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators. The remaining twelve people had cultivation levels ranging from the seventh to the ninth layer of the True Qi Stage. They could wield humanoid puppets, and their combat power was not inferior to Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators!

Advancing from the Fetal Respiration Realm to the True Qi Realm was simple, but advancing from the True Qi Realm to Foundation Establishment was a monumental leap from Postnatal to Innate, making it extremely difficult. Countless cultivators were stuck at this stage.

Lu Qingfeng had seen too many cultivators stuck in the True Qi Realm in Black Sand Town.

Including Daoist Huangluo, with whom he had a very good relationship!

Foundation Establishment was not easy. Within the entire Yuan Yi Guild, there were only Mu Yuanyi and two other Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators.

They had accepted a mission from the Spirit Opportunity Institute to head to Dusk Mountain City, about a hundred miles to the southeast, to suppress a Beast Tide.

Just over ten days ago, they had killed the Sixth Grade Demon Beast that had caused the Beast Tide. They spent a few more days clearing out the remaining beasts and only returned to Yuan Yi Mountain today.

"Guild Master, what kind of demon beast was causing trouble this time? I heard that the King Yama Guild, Blood Wolf Guild, and Azure Flame Guild also received missions!" Wang Tao asked curiously as they walked towards the mountaintop.

With four out of the eight major guilds in Sishui Town mobilized, it was clear that this Beast Tide was no ordinary event.

"It was a Three-Headed Python," Mu Yuanyi said, pursing his lips.

"A Three-Headed Python?"

"The legendary Three-Headed Python, whose three heads can spew water, fire, and wind, and can even devour Talisman Artifacts and Magic Artifacts?" Wang Tao's eyebrows twitched.

"That's right."

"This Three-Headed Python had cultivated for who knows how many years and had reached the Sixth Grade level. Its innate spells were powerful, and it could counter Magic Artifacts, making it practically invincible among Foundation Establishment cultivators. We joined forces with the King Yama, Blood Wolf, and Azure Flame Guilds, and fought for over two hours before we finally managed to kill it." Mu Yuanyi recalled, a hint of lingering fear appearing on his face.

Zhang Zong, who looked like a middle-aged man, spoke up, "We got off lucky. The Blood Wolf Guild's prized possession, the Blood Wolf Puppet, was bitten in half. They suffered a severe blow. Until the Blood Wolf Puppet is repaired, they'll probably have to lay low!"

Lu Qingfeng walked alongside the group, listening to them discuss the mission. The various strange demon beasts, the diverse puppets, and the thrilling battles opened his eyes.