Puppet Doll, Spiritual Insect True Explanation

(Today's updates are split into two parts, each around 2000 characters. The second part will be published around 1 PM. In the future, updates will be consistently around 9 AM and 1 PM. Additionally, I'm seeking collections and recommendations from fellow readers. A strength competition only increased my collections by 200, which is truly bleak. Lastly, I wish all readers a happy National Day.)

"Puppet Secret Art Fragment!"

Lu Xiaotian thought of the Puppet Doll substitute that saved the Big Forehead Monster from death, and his heart surged with excitement. If he could also learn to refine such puppets, it would be like having an extra life in times of danger.

Lu Xiaotian eagerly flipped open the manual. It indeed contained the method for refining this type of Puppet Doll substitute. It turned out this substitute was called a "Puppet Doll." However, as he read further, Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

The conditions for refining a "Puppet Doll" were extremely harsh. It required at least a thousand-year-old "Cangyun Wood" as the main ingredient, along with Star Sand, Illusion Heart Grass, and dozens of other extremely rare Spiritual Materials. He had seen related records of some of these in Moon Gazing City, but there were over a dozen he had never even heard of. Furthermore, it required Samadhi True Fire or Spirit Fire of the same level for refinement.

Lu Xiaotian was even more speechless. Having lived in Moon Gazing City for over half a year, he had already learned much information related to the Cultivation World and was no longer ignorant. Samadhi True Fire was a Spiritual Power possessed by Golden Core cultivators. As a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, let alone possessing Samadhi True Fire, even getting close to it would incinerate him to ashes.

It seemed the Big Forehead Monster must have had some incredible fortune, accidentally obtaining a "Puppet Doll." What incredible luck to get a rare Treasure that even Golden Core cultivators dreamed of.

It was such a pity that such a precious Treasure was used up by the Big Forehead Monster just like that. However, thinking from the Big Forehead Monster's perspective, it was quite normal. If one couldn't even save their life, why would they give it to someone else?

Lu Xiaotian chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued flipping, his expression then turning joyful.

"Shadow Puppet Technique!"

According to the records in the secret art, cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage could also cultivate the Shadow Puppet Technique. It could condense a Shadow Clone using Method Power, and with minor success in cultivation, the Shadow Clone could even possess a certain attack power, enough to be indistinguishable from the real thing and attract the enemy's attention. However, according to the manual, it would take at least four years to achieve minor success in cultivating the Shadow Puppet Technique. This meant the Big Forehead Monster hadn't obtained this secret art for too long.

While it didn't offer any immediate Improvement to his Strength, this "Puppet Secret Art Fragment" was of great origin and would likely be very useful in the future. Lu Xiaotian memorized the secret incantations of the Shadow Puppet Technique by heart and then carefully put away the manual.

Next, Lu Xiaotian took out the Spiritual Insect True Explanation. The Big Forehead Monster's control over the Shadow Ants was something he couldn't even dream of matching.

Opening the Spiritual Insect True Explanation, Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but let out an angry snort. According to the introduction in this manual, there were various Insect Control Techniques, but they were all far more advanced than what the Black Robe Old Man had taught him. That Black Robe Old Man was truly stingy, even when teaching him something, he was always guarded. Thinking about it made Lu Xiaotian grit his teeth in anger.

Insect Control Technique, especially controlling a swarm of Spirit Insects to fight, was a profound field of study. Spirit Insects had extremely low Spiritual Sense and lacked the intelligence of ordinary Yao Beasts, making it difficult for them to execute their master's commands flawlessly. Low-level Spirit Insects in small numbers were hard-pressed to pose a threat to other cultivators.

However, once their numbers were sufficient and they could follow their master's commands, they would be extremely terrifying. Therefore, among the many Rogue Cultivators, Insect Cultivators were very few in number, but once they cultivated successfully, they were one of the most troublesome types to fight against.

According to the manual, both Insect Cultivators and Beast Tamers needed strong Spiritual Sense, especially Insect Cultivators who commanded swarms of insects, as the requirements for Spiritual Sense were particularly prominent. Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but smile wryly. Cultivation Techniques for strengthening Spiritual Sense were rare, and considered valuable commodities in Moon Gazing City. Moreover, in the early Qi Refining Stage, stronger Spiritual Sense, apart from for Insect Cultivators, offered no direct advantage in combat. Even upon reaching Foundation Establishment, or embarking on the Golden Core Great Dao, the role of Spiritual Sense would become increasingly significant.

However, these were matters for the future. His aptitude was inherently mediocre, and what he needed to do now was to join a sect with all his might, preparing for Foundation Establishment. Only after Foundation Establishment, when he possessed sufficient Lifespan, could he consider these things.

Therefore, after repeated deliberation, Lu Xiaotian temporarily abandoned the idea of cultivating Spiritual Sense, but he did keep the matter in mind.

Another method of raising Spirit Insects recorded in the Spiritual Insect True Explanation was called "Bloodworm Technique." This involved feeding Spirit Insects with one's own vital blood. After feeding on vital blood, the Spirit Insects would become imbued with the cultivator's aura. Over time, not only would the Spirit Insects become more ferocious, but they would also gradually become attuned to the cultivator's will. Lu Xiaotian thought of the Big Forehead Monster's Head Ants; they possessed an additional trace of Blood Fiend Power compared to the other Shadow Ants. Using the Head Ants to control the other Shadow Ants was a viable method.

Previously, in Northern Liang Country, Lu Bifeng had mentioned raising Head Ants, but Lu Bifeng's cultivation was not high, and her knowledge of the specific procedures was hearsay. Lu Xiaotian had tried several times before without success, so he had to give up. That was why, during his life-or-death battle with the Brocade Clad Man Zou Xin, although he had a considerable number of Shadow Ants, he couldn't control them to surround and kill the enemy like the Big Forehead Monster. He could only rely on surprise attacks.

However, the Bloodworm Technique also had its flaws. Losing too much vital blood would also affect one's own cultivation. After pondering for a while, Lu Xiaotian decided to set aside this method for the time being. In truth, Beast Tamers and Insect Cultivators who poured a large amount of Energy and financial resources into their Spirit Beasts and Spirit Insects would inevitably have a certain impact on their own cultivation.

"For now, I'll refine those few Shadow Ants from the Big Forehead Monster. Although they won't be as adept as the Big Forehead Monster's control, they will still be a significant help to me," Lu Xiaotian thought to himself.

In addition to methods of controlling insects, the Spiritual Insect True Explanation also recorded some anecdotes from the Spirit Insect world. There was also a ranking of Spirit Insects in the Cultivation World.

Ranked first was the Nether Moth, which could devour all Yin Souls and was rumored to be able to disrupt one's Soul and induce Inner Demons, truly overwhelmingly powerful. However, according to the records, the Nether Moth had become almost extinct thousands of years ago, with no records of it in the last few millennia.

Ranked second was the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, incredibly fast. Most cultivators had only heard of its name and could see its shadow, but very few had actually seen a Six-Winged Golden Cicada. It was extremely poisonous, with no records of survivors who had been poisoned by it – perhaps they had all died.

Lu Xiaotian read with great interest. This Spiritual Insect True Explanation was far more detailed than some of the manuals he had bought in Moon Gazing City. It not only contained methods for raising common Spirit Insects in the Cultivation World but also a large collection of anecdotes from Insect Cultivators. As for the Spirit Insect ranking in the Cultivation World, many of the Spirit Insects were species that hadn't appeared for thousands of years, making them incomparable. He wasn't sure if it was true or not, but he decided to read it for entertainment.

After putting away the manual about Spirit Insects, Lu Xiaotian took out the Big Forehead Monster's Black Gourd. This gourd was carved from a type of black Jade, its quality better than his previous one and more suitable for nurturing Shadow Ants. Lu Xiaotian naturally accepted it without hesitation for his own use.