The spiritual energy in the cave surged madly into Xuan Mo as if drawn in by a giant whale, forming a visible vortex around him. His hands constantly shifted through complex seals, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. As time passed, a dazzling white energy sphere slowly took shape in his hands. Countless tiny sword qi leaped across its surface with sizzling sounds, as if it might explode at any moment.
The puppet seemed to sense the danger as well. Its movements grew increasingly slow and clumsy as it swung its huge metal arms, trying to interrupt Xuan Mo's spellcasting.
"Little Mo-Mo, hang in there! I can't hold out much longer!" Wang Wu dodged the puppet's attacks in a sorry state, yet still found time to tease her disciple. Her once-brilliant Daoist robe was now tattered, and a few loose strands of hair clung messily to her forehead, leaving her looking rather bedraggled.
Seeing that Xuan Mo was about to finish casting, Wang Wu gritted her teeth. The flying sword in her hand transformed into streaks of golden lightning and hurtled recklessly toward the puppet. Dense sword light poured down like a torrential rain, forcing the puppet into passive defense. For a time, it could not break free to attack Xuan Mo.
"Hah!" Xuan Mo roared, hurling the energy sphere in his hands at the puppet. The instant it made contact, the sphere erupted in blinding white light, and a deafening explosion rang throughout the cave. Countless tiny sword qi scattered like wild horses breaking free, tearing the puppet's enormous body into pieces.
"It worked!" Xuan Mo plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, his face slightly pale.
Wang Wu walked over and planted one foot on the puppet's wreckage, grinning smugly. "Little Mo-Mo, not bad! As