Undead Puppet

Deep within the mountains and forests surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a faint blue-purple toxic mist lingered year-round. Even far from the core of that forbidden land, the air still carried a barely perceptible, pungent stench. The once-bustling village at the foot of the mountain had long been reduced to ruins by years of war. Broken walls and crumbling structures appeared and vanished amid the wild grass, while the ancient, cracked road lay buried beneath dust and dead branches. As far as the eye could see, there was not a trace of human life. The wind passed through fallen beams with a low, mournful howl, and the entire land was shrouded in deathly silence and desolation, leaving only the marks of nature's unchecked growth.

Huo Yuhao had stood amid these ruins for an entire month. Under Electrolux's patient guidance, he had refined his Necromancy day after day, enduring countless failures and dissipations as the magic power at his fingertips stubbornly refused to stabilize. But at that very moment, the spiritual power within him perfectly merged with the aura of the undead, and the force that had lain dormant for so long finally erupted completely.

The cold skeleton on the ground trembled lightly under the pull of Undead Magic Power. Fine veins began to grow between its gray-white bones, followed by layer upon layer of muscle. Skin slowly emerged, and in the blink of an eye, the once-ghastly skeleton regrew a complete body of flesh and blood, returning to the appearance it had worn before death. There was no struggle and no consciousness. The revived body simply stood there with its head lowered, becoming an Undead Puppet wholly obedient to Huo Yuhao.

Witnessing this with his own eyes, the tension that had gripped Huo Yuhao's body for a month abruptly melted away. A brilliance he could not conceal burst from his eyes, and overwhelming joy instantly filled his chest. He subconsciously stepped forward, staring at the intact puppet before him as excitement nearly spilled over.

He steadied his slightly hurried breathing and looked at Electrolux's spectral soul beside him, his voice trembling with irrepressible delight.

"Elder Yi... I did it. I really succeeded."

As the joy of success faded slightly, Huo Yuhao looked at the motionless puppet before him, and a trace of doubt appeared in his eyes. He frowned and asked Electrolux seriously,

"Elder Yi, I made this puppet. Does he... have self-awareness?"

Electrolux's spectral soul shifted faintly, and his aged yet tranquil voice slowly sounded, carrying the unique indifference and clarity of Necromancy.

"Self-awareness? That is impossible. The soul that originally belonged to this body was reincarnated long ago. What remains in this world now is merely an empty shell driven by Undead Magic Power."

Huo Yuhao nodded gently, and the last trace of concern in his heart disappeared. The uncertainty in his eyes instantly became steady and sharp. He took a deep breath and looked at Electrolux again.

"I understand, Elder Yi."

Before he could mention Dugu Bo, Electrolux spoke first.

"Do not rush to find Dugu Bo's corpse. You have only just mastered this puppet and know nothing about its strength. Find a Soul Beast first and test it in actual combat."

Huo Yuhao nodded at once. Following Electrolux's guidance, he sent a strand of spiritual power into the puppet's body. With only a simple connection, he clearly sensed brute force far beyond that of an ordinary person—this puppet, who had merely been an ordinary villager in life, had gained strength equal to one and a half times what it had possessed while alive under the enhancement of undead power.

Just then, a savage beast roar exploded from the forest.

A three-hundred-year Wind Baboon covered in gray fur and built with agile strength suddenly sprang out from the underbrush. Its scarlet eyes fixed viciously on the two of them, and a ferocious aura rushed straight at them.

Huo Yuhao did not hesitate. With a thought, the Undead Puppet immediately charged forward like an arrow released from a bow.

There were no soul skills, no soul power—only pure physical strength pushed to the extreme.

The puppet threw a punch, accompanied by a dull whistling sound as it tore through the air, and slammed it hard against the Wind Baboon's claw. Under the impact of that immense force, the Wind Baboon was forced back several steps. A flicker of astonishment crossed its eyes. It had never imagined that this unremarkable-looking human before it could possess such terrifying brute strength.

The beast and the puppet instantly became entangled in battle.

The puppet knew neither pain nor retreat. Every punch and kick was delivered without fear of death, relying solely on strength to clash head-on with the three-hundred-year Wind Baboon. But the Wind Baboon was still a Soul Beast, and both its speed and skill far surpassed those of an ordinary human. After a brief fierce exchange, it suddenly pulled away, its chest swelling as a pale green whirlwind condensed in its mouth.

"Careful! That is its soul skill, Windlight Wave!" Electrolux warned immediately.

Huo Yuhao's heart tightened, but it was already too late to stop it.

A cyan storm of wind blades erupted with a crash and smashed into the puppet's upper body. A piercing tearing sound rang out as half of the puppet's shoulder, chest, and face were instantly shredded into a bloody mess by the wind blades. Most of its body was nearly destroyed, swaying as though it could collapse at any moment.

Huo Yuhao's heart clenched, and he immediately drove the Undead Magic Power within him into the puppet's body.

A shocking scene unfolded—

The mangled flesh and shattered bones, wrapped in gray-black undead energy, began regenerating frantically at a speed visible to the naked eye. Broken bones reconnected, torn muscles rapidly healed, and in barely two seconds, the previously ruined half of its body was fully restored, as though it had never been injured at all.

The Wind Baboon's pupils contracted sharply. It panicked completely.

It lunged forward again, its claws and wind blades continuously striking the puppet, sending it flying, tearing it apart, and even smashing it to the ground. But no matter how it attacked, as long as Huo Yuhao's Undead Magic Power arrived, the puppet would immediately revive at full strength and charge forward again without fear of death.

There was no exhaustion, no fear, no limit.

One punch, then another.

Shattered once, then reborn again.

The three-hundred-year Wind Baboon's strength and soul power rapidly drained away in the endless struggle. Its initial savage ferocity gradually turned into labored panting, its movements grew slower and slower, and the viciousness in its eyes was replaced by despair. It gave everything it had, yet it could never truly kill the monster before it.

At last, the Wind Baboon was completely exhausted. It collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, without even the strength to raise a claw.

Watching this, Huo Yuhao gently raised a hand and stopped the puppet.

He did not deal the killing blow. He merely silently withdrew the command to attack, then waved at the terrified Wind Baboon, signaling for it to leave.

As though granted a pardon, the Wind Baboon scrambled into the mountains and forests, vanishing in an instant.

Only then did Huo Yuhao let out a long breath, his eyes filled with shock.

He finally understood the terrifying nature of his Necromancy—this puppet not only possessed strength one and a half times greater than it had in life, but also had the traits of endless regeneration and undying immortality. Its power had never been fixed. As long as his spiritual power and soul power were sufficient, the puppet could revive again and again, wearing its opponent down until death.

Feeling the still-steady aura within the puppet, Huo Yuhao looked at Electrolux, his gaze bright and resolute.

"I understand, Elder Yi. This is... the true power of Necromancy."