Qi Condensation Late-stage Puppets

Another year passed.

The Qingmu Merchant Association held its annual auction.

Though it was only a small-scale auction.

Both the number of auction items and the number of bidders far exceeded those of large auctions.

Only the quality was far inferior.

No invitation was needed; there was practically no threshold for entry!

Most attendees were Qi Refinement cultivators from around the Market Town.

People of every sort were gathered there, and the crowd was enormous.

The auction house had four sides.

A total of eight gates stood wide open.

Only then could it barely accommodate the immense flow of people.

At this moment.

Inside the auction hall.

Faint Sandalwood Incense mingled with the spiritual aura emanating from cultivators of every realm, drifting through the air.

The hall was packed with people, and the atmosphere was especially lively.

The clamor of voices was like boiling water.

A yellow-robed cultivator in the east had just raised his bidding plaque.

When someone in the west raised theirs and shouted out a higher bid.

"One hundred and twenty Spirit Stones!"

"One hundred and thirty Spirit Stones!"

Several cultivators flushed red.

"Another five! I'm determined to get this Qi Condensation Grass!"

"One hundred and thirty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones!"

Chen Sheng sat in the middle row of VIP seats.

He rolled a small, exquisitely crafted jade disc between his fingertips, slowly rubbing its surface.

His expression remained calm as he watched the scene.

These things were useful to ordinary Qi Condensation Mid-stage cultivators.

But they had long ceased to catch his eye.

He merely listened calmly as the steward announced one auction item after another.

Only when something interested him.

Would he raise his plaque.

"Next is auction item number ninety-seven—three Qi Condensation Late-stage Puppets."

The steward lifted the red cloth.

Three humanoid Puppets, each eight feet tall, were immediately revealed upon the display platform.

Each wore iron armor and a mask, held a Bronze Sword, and had faint blue spiritual light flickering in its eye sockets.

They looked terrifying and ferocious.

The steward hosting the auction swiftly began his introduction:

"These Puppets contain simple Spirit Cores. They can wield swords against enemies and operate continuously for three hours."

"All three Puppets were forged from Thousand-year Copper Essence supplemented with various rare materials."

"With proper maintenance, they can be passed down for centuries without issue."

The host emphasized the final words, highlighting the item's advantages.

Then he announced the price:

"The three will be auctioned together, with a starting bid of one thousand eight hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."

Chen Sheng's fingers paused.

As he looked at the three Bronze Puppets on the stage, his heart stirred.

This type of Qi Refinement Puppet was merely a basic model and could not be considered sophisticated.

Qi Refinement cultivators lacked divine sense and could not operate them precisely.

Such Puppets could only act according to preset commands, making them somewhat rigid.

Although they were Qi Condensation Late-stage Puppets.

They were vastly inferior to genuine Qi Condensation Late-stage cultivators.

"Still, dealing with ordinary Mid-to-late stage cultivators shouldn't be a problem."

"And there is no need to worry about their loyalty. They would be perfect Dao Protecting Items for the early years of my next life."

Chen Sheng thought to himself.

At this moment.

The three Puppets had already drawn the attention of many people in the hall.

The Red-faced Clan Leader of a certain Qi Refinement family had eyes that shone brightly:

"If I obtain these, I won't have to worry about the family lacking successors."

"I must get them!"

He immediately raised his plaque and bid:

"One thousand eight hundred!"

Someone in the west promptly followed, their eyes equally bright.

"One thousand nine hundred!"

By the time the price rose to two thousand five hundred, the bidding gradually became sparse.

The Red-faced cultivator excitedly slapped the table and raised his plaque as he shouted:

"Two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones."

He raised the price by three hundred Spirit Stones in a single breath, displaying an air of determination.

The moment those words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

The previous competitors shook their heads and lowered their bidding plaques.

Clearly, they felt the three Puppets were not worth that price.

Seeing this.

The Red-faced cultivator slowly exhaled, relaxing as a trace of pride appeared on his face.

Holding the auction hammer, the steward shouted:

"Any higher bids?"

"Two thousand eight hundred, going once..."

Just then.

Chen Sheng slowly raised his plaque and named his price:

"Three thousand Spirit Stones!"

The moment those words were spoken.

The Red-faced cultivator was instantly furious and opened his mouth to curse.

He turned and glanced at Chen Sheng.

Then immediately fell silent.

He did not know Chen Sheng, but he noticed the VIP seat Chen Sheng occupied.

Chen Sheng gazed calmly at him.

The aura of Qi Condensation Great Perfection radiated from him without concealment.

The Red-faced cultivator's heart pounded wildly, knowing he could not afford to offend him.

He could only suppress his anger, cup his fists and lower his head, forcing out a smile as he set down his bidding plaque.

Not long after.

The steward called out three times before the wooden hammer fell with a thud:

"Congratulations to VIP Seat Number Six for winning this item!"

The auction continued.

Several more finale items appeared afterward.

Yet none caught Chen Sheng's interest.

Chen Sheng shook his head:

"The quality of a small auction is still somewhat lacking."

Pill Workshop.

Chen Sheng patted his Storage Bag.

A jade slip appeared in his hand.

This was the operating manual included with the Puppets he had purchased.

Sending his spiritual sense inside.

Chen Sheng immediately understood:

"The operation is quite simple."

He patted his Storage Bag again.

Several tall Bronze Puppets immediately appeared in the courtyard, standing in a row with dim, lifeless eyes.

Chen Sheng reached out and lightly tapped a concealed groove on the Puppets' backs. It was much thicker there, with all sorts of runes carved within.

This was where the Spirit Core was located.

It was the source of the Puppets' various abilities.

A Low-grade Spirit Stone was embedded beside it.

This was the Puppet's core power source.

He examined them carefully.

Then discovered fine gears at their joints. They looked quite precise, preventing the Puppets from becoming too stiff.

Chen Sheng nodded lightly:

"First, refine them and establish ownership."

With that thought, he lightly slashed his fingertip.

Three drops of crimson Essence Blood seeped from his skin and floated in the air.

"Go!"

Chen Sheng formed the first Hand Seal.

The Essence Blood at his fingertips suddenly transformed into hair-thin red threads, winding toward the cores of the three Puppets.

"Refine!"

Chen Sheng chanted inwardly.

He sent a thread of spiritual sense into the Spirit Cores along the blood threads.

It imprinted itself upon the cores, refining them in an instant and successfully establishing ownership.

Not long afterward.

A strange sensation arose.

Chen Sheng immediately felt his consciousness extend outward.

The three Puppets before him.

Seemed to become marionettes controlled by strings in his hands.

"Rise."

With a thought.

Chen Sheng flicked his finger.

A thread of spiritual power entered the foreheads of the three Puppets.

The eyes of the three sword-bearing Puppets suddenly lit up.

They all emitted Green Light.

Each nimbly raised its sword into a guarding stance.

"Form ranks."

Chen Sheng changed his hand seal.

The three Puppets suddenly formed ranks and marched forward.

Their steps were orderly, like guards.

"Practice the sword formation."

He formed another Hand Seal.

The three Puppets immediately swung their Bronze Swords and began practicing sword techniques in coordination.

Their sword tips sliced through the air, stirring up fine whistling winds.

The Puppets assumed the Three Talents Formation, their sword light crisscrossing.

As the sword formation unfolded.

It was impenetrable, with killing intent lurking everywhere.

Chen Sheng's eyes immediately brightened:

"The sword techniques are rigid, but this sword formation is rather good."

"An ordinary late-stage cultivator who falls into the sword formation's encirclement will definitely fare poorly."

"However, the Puppets' movements are rigid. No cultivator would be foolish enough to walk into their encirclement."

Next.

Chen Sheng then tested the puppet's attack and defensive capabilities several more times.

He finally reached a conclusion:

"Its attack barely met the threshold of a Qi Condensation Late-stage cultivator, but its methods were limited and rigid."

"Its defensive power was quite good, comparable to a Mid-grade Protective Magic Shield. As expected of something made from Thousand-year Copper Essence."

"This puppet was sufficient for dealing with enemies in the early stages."

"Once my cultivation improved later on, this puppet could also serve as a shield and diversify my methods in a Magic Battle."

"Three thousand Spirit Stones. It was worth it."