Puppet Golden Tortoiseshell

The sky of the Undead Demi-Plane was forever gray and murky, devoid of sun, moon, or stars. Only endlessly rolling gray mist remained, carrying a bone-chilling cold as it silently eroded all living things. Above the formation eye at the heart of the demi-plane, Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged. His black training clothes had long been stained by the mist, giving off a faint gray sheen. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and his face was unmistakably pale—he had sat here for three full days, his spiritual power constantly stretched to its limit.

Before him floated an enormous golden body. It was the corpse of a hundred-thousand-year defensive Soul Beast, a Golden Tortoiseshell. It measured a full eight meters in length and six meters across its shell. Even stripped of life, it still radiated a pressure that made one's heart tremble. Its shell was smooth and thick, glimmering with a faint metallic luster. The tortoiseshell External Soul Bone it had been born with was embedded in the center of its back, heavier than the surrounding plates and covered in denser patterns, with a dim dark-gold glow faintly shining from within.

"Are you still forcibly suppressing its lingering soul remnant?" A somewhat hoarse voice rang out in Huo Yuhao's mind. A pale blue soul phantom slowly emerged above the Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse. It was Electrolux. At that moment, Electrolux's soul phantom was far more illusory than usual, and the undead origin power swirling around him had grown much thinner. Even his floating posture was unsteady, making it clear that he had expended a great deal of soul power.

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes. They were bloodshot. He nodded lightly, his voice weary but still firm. "Yes. Its lingering remnant is too stubborn. A hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast—even with its Soul Core shattered, the pride buried deep within its soul hasn't faded. It keeps resisting the erosion of necromancy. One mistake, and it will backlash against my spiritual power."

Electrolux's soul phantom swayed gently, as though a gust of wind could scatter him. He stared solemnly at the Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse. "That is why refining a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast puppet is so difficult. Inject undead energy and carve the control formation patterns. I will assist you from the side, Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao fell silent and slowly raised his right hand. A wisp of pale purple spiritual power gathered at his fingertips as he carefully extended it toward the Golden Tortoiseshell's head. The moment his spiritual power touched that cold, hard shell, a powerful force of rejection surged forth. Like a sharp blade, it viciously sliced through his spiritual power. He frowned tightly, and a thin trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Careful!" Electrolux shouted urgently. He instantly activated most of his remaining undead origin power, transforming it into a pale blue barrier that wrapped around Huo Yuhao's spiritual power. "Its lingering remnant is resisting with everything it has. You cannot force it. Stabilize your spiritual power first. I will help suppress it. Use the chance to carve the undead formation patterns into its body."

As soon as he spoke, Electrolux's soul phantom shone with a dazzling pale blue light. Thin yet condensed black patterns extended from his phantom like countless tiny black snakes, slowly winding around the Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse. With every pattern carved, Electrolux's soul became a little more translucent. The drain on his soul power was like a breached dam, utterly impossible to stop. His voice grew increasingly hoarse. "Remember, the formation patterns must be carved deep into its bones and run throughout its entire body. Only then can you completely control its body and merge with its tortoiseshell External Soul Bone."

Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth and endured the agonizing pain of his spiritual power being sliced apart. Following Electrolux's guidance, he fused his spiritual power with the gray mist of the Undead Demi-Plane, turning it into countless fine threads of spiritual power that slowly seeped into the Golden Tortoiseshell's bones along the formation patterns Electrolux had carved. The gray undead energy violently clashed with the origin power within the Golden Tortoiseshell's body. Hissing sounds rang with exceptional clarity through the silent demi-plane. Black formation patterns gradually spread across the golden body, and its originally brilliant gold began to dim.

"Hold on. One-third of the formation patterns still haven't been completed." Electrolux's voice carried a hint of labored breathing. His soul phantom had become so transparent that the mist behind him was nearly visible through it. "Its lingering remnant is close to breaking, but the closer it gets, the more violently it will resist. You must not lose focus. If the formation patterns break, all our efforts will be wasted."

Huo Yuhao did not answer. He only squeezed his eyes shut and focused every ounce of attention on controlling his spiritual power. He could clearly feel Electrolux's soul power rapidly dissipating. That exhaustion traveled through their spiritual connection, tainting his mind and even stirring a trace of agitation within his spiritual power. He knew that for Electrolux, a remnant soul, such intense expenditure was undoubtedly draining the last of his vitality. But they had no path of retreat. This Golden Tortoiseshell puppet was his only chance to make up for his lack of defense, and it would be an important support for him to establish himself on Douluo Continent in the future.

Time slowly passed. The mist of the Undead Demi-Plane grew denser, while black formation patterns covered most of the Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse. Only the area around the tortoiseshell External Soul Bone at the center of its back had yet to be completed. Electrolux's soul phantom had become exceedingly faint, as though he might vanish completely the next moment. His voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz, yet he continued guiding Huo Yuhao. "The patterns must go around the Soul Bone's origin. You cannot damage its defensive properties. Then use the formation patterns to connect the Soul Bone with the body's shell and make them one. Only then can its defensive power be brought to its fullest."

Huo Yuhao followed his instructions, carefully controlling the threads of spiritual power to avoid the origin power of the tortoiseshell External Soul Bone as he carved the final formation patterns bit by bit. This step was especially difficult. The conflict between the Soul Bone's origin power and undead energy grew increasingly fierce. Every pattern he carved brought dual backlash from both spiritual power and soul power. His body began to tremble violently, his face turned white as paper, and sweat ran down his cheeks before dripping onto the Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse, only to be instantly swallowed by the gray mist.

"Almost... just hold on a little longer..." Electrolux used the last of his strength to activate his soul power, firmly suppressing the Golden Tortoiseshell's final lingering soul remnant. "Inject the Undead Demi-Plane's energy into the Soul Bone and let it fully merge with the undead formation patterns. Then the puppet will be complete!"

Huo Yuhao abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of resolve appearing within them. He no longer suppressed his soul power. Using his final trump card, he activated the Extreme Tyranny Domain, merging all his soul power and spiritual power as he guided the Undead Demi-Plane's gray mist into the Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse like a raging river. The tortoiseshell External Soul Bone at the center of its back was completely enveloped by the gray mist.

Rumble—

A deep boom echoed through the demi-plane. The Golden Tortoiseshell's corpse shook violently as the black formation patterns instantly lit with ghostly blue flames. They intertwined with the dark-gold glow of the tortoiseshell External Soul Bone, forming a dazzling shield of light. The resisting force gradually disappeared, and the Golden Tortoiseshell's body began to change. Its golden scales were replaced by dark gold, while black formation patterns continuously flickered over them. There were no pupils in its eye sockets, only dancing ghostly blue soul flames. A thick layer of undead chill covered the claws of its sturdy limbs, and fine, bone-spike-like undead crystals grew along the edges of its shell. An aura combining the pressure of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast with the coldness of the undead slowly spread outward, sweeping across the entire core region of the demi-plane.

"It succeeded... it finally succeeded..." Electrolux's voice carried a trace of relief. His soul phantom became completely transparent and slowly drifted downward, transforming into a pale blue point of light that merged into Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sea. "Its abilities... I have imprinted them into your spiritual power... You can control it through spiritual power... It has an Undead Immortal Body... As long as the demi-plane has energy... it cannot be destroyed..."

When his words ended, Electrolux's soul phantom completely dispersed. Only a faint wisp of soul aura remained, sleeping within Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sea. Clearly, this expenditure had forced him into complete dormancy.

Huo Yuhao let out a breath. All strength seemed to drain from his body at once, and he collapsed onto the formation eye, gasping heavily. His spiritual power and soul power were nearly exhausted. He did not even have the strength to raise a hand. Yet his gaze remained fixed on the Golden Tortoiseshell puppet as it slowly rose to its feet, his eyes filled with achievement and a trace of guilt—achievement at refining this powerful puppet through countless efforts, and guilt because Electrolux had nearly exhausted his own soul power to help him.

He slowly lifted his hand and used his last thread of spiritual power to try controlling the puppet. The Golden Tortoiseshell puppet slowly moved its thick limbs. Its steps were slow but exceptionally steady. Its claw tips scraped across the ground, leaving deep marks behind. The formation patterns on its shell faintly lit up, and a heavy, unshakable sense of defense clearly transmitted itself into Huo Yuhao's mind.

Immediately afterward, every ability of the puppet surfaced in Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sea, each one perfectly clear. Undead Tortoiseshell could form a three-meter-thick Darkgold Undead Shield when activated, capable of withstanding every attack below the Title Douluo level. Enemies who touched it would have their soul power meridians frozen by undead chill. Demi-plane Silent Wall could deeply connect with the Undead Demi-Plane and condense a spatial defensive wall that ignored all physical and energy attacks not made by divine artifacts, though its duration was short and its cooldown long. Undead Tortoiseshell Countershock could absorb fifty percent of an enemy's attack energy and transform it into an undead shockwave in return, carrying an undead corrosion effect that continuously eroded the enemy's Soul Bones and Martial Soul.

Beyond those, there was Undead Heaven Prison, which could spread formation patterns across a thirty-meter radius to restrain enemies and seal their soul power. Void-Ruin Undead Devourer could create an undead-devouring vortex that swallowed an enemy's soul power and soul skill energy to replenish the puppet itself, while temporarily strengthening its defenses. Finally, the Undead Demi-plane Anchor was even more formidable. It could transform the puppet into a spatial anchor for the demi-plane, open an entrance to it, and summon undead creatures within to aid in battle. It could also instantly teleport Huo Yuhao to the puppet's side, making it an exceptional tool for survival and group battles.

What delighted Huo Yuhao even more was that this puppet possessed an Undead Immortal Body. It had no life force and no vital points. As long as the Undead Demi-Plane could provide sufficient energy, even if its shell were shattered, it could rapidly repair itself through necromancy. Moreover, it did not require him to continuously consume his own soul power. He only needed spiritual power to control it, greatly reducing his burden.

The Golden Tortoiseshell puppet stood quietly beside Huo Yuhao. Its ghostly blue soul flames slowly flickered, and its dark-gold body appeared especially imposing amid the gray mist. It possessed both the overwhelming presence of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast and the cold, deathly stillness of an undead creature. Like a mobile defensive fortress, it stood firmly before Huo Yuhao, carrying the efforts of both him and Electrolux. It also foretold that on his future path through Douluo, Huo Yuhao would no longer need to worry about his defensive weakness. He now possessed the confidence to contend against any powerful foe.

Huo Yuhao slowly stood up. Though he remained exhausted, his gaze had become incomparably resolute. Looking at that faint soul aura in his Spirit Sea, he silently said in his heart, Elder Yi, thank you. Once I become strong enough, I will definitely find a way to restore your soul power.