Distinguishing Truth from Falsehood, Calling for Reinforcements!

The civil and military officials in the hall had originally been discussing the contents of the memorial in twos and threes during the pauses while Yan Qinyu reviewed it in court.

But when they heard the words, "The Golden Frost Barbarians have created a Battle Puppet with strength comparable to the Peak Fourth Layer of the Innate Realm," every one of them fell silent as if by prior agreement.

Then waves of startled cries erupted. "What?!"

"A Battle Puppet at the Peak Fourth Layer of the Innate Realm?"

"H-How is that possible?!"

After Yan Qinyu finished reading the entire report, he drew a deep breath and handed the letter to the chief eunuch. "Take it down and pass it around for all my ministers to read."

"Yes!"

As it made its rounds, sharp intakes of breath could be heard from time to time among the civil and military officials.

Once the circulation was nearly complete, Grand Commandant He Zhangping, the elderly official standing at the front of the civil officials' ranks, clenched his court tablet until his knuckles turned white. He stepped forward, his voice suppressing a tremble. "The 'Battle Puppet' General Qin mentioned in his letter—is it the sort of mechanism construct that uses metal and stone as its body, talisman arrays as its veins, and can fight on its own?"

"That should be right."

"Mm. Though General Qin is young, he is exceptionally well-informed."

"Since he specifically called it a 'Battle Puppet,' he surely would not be mistaken."

"Hiss—yet the Golden Frost Barbarians have always been coarse and crude. This old man has crossed swords with them on the battlefield more times than I can count."

"Those barbarian dogs are practically all one-track-minded berserkers!"

"With brains like theirs, they actually managed to make a Battle Puppet with