Humbly Seeking Guidance
"That Second-Tier Puppet Master is a Foundation Establishment senior from Repel the North City."
"It is said that in order to revitalize human Puppet Technique, he even specially established Puppet Association, inviting all those with aspirations to join."
"Ever since the human race began its resistance against the barbarians, he has traveled to various towns and villages along the border, preaching and teaching without ever charging a penny. If Brother Qin were to seek his guidance, I believe he would gain something."
"But Brother Qin, you've asked at an inopportune time. That senior just finished teaching the new students at the academy, and he's probably already left."
"Who knows when he'll come again."
After listening to her, Qin Fei felt quite impressed.
Repel the North City is one of the three major cities, a vast and resource-rich place. Yet this person took the initiative to come to the front line and contribute to the cause of resisting the barbarians, which is truly commendable.
Qin Fei could only sigh inwardly at the fact that he couldn't ask for advice.
"Regardless, thank you anyway, fellow Daoist."
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and personally saw Lin Man off.
Since there's no one to guide me, I'll have to rely on myself to forge the Puppet Core.
After pondering for a moment, Qin Fei once again entered the simulation within his sea of consciousness.
On the long street of the market, three figures hurried by.
The elderly man leading the group was dressed in a gray Daoist robe and had a scholarly air about him.
Behind him followed a woman, dressed impeccably without a single wrinkle, giving her an impression of cleanliness.
The woman was holding the hand of a boy who looked to be about ten years old, with a round, chubby face and was quite adorable.
"Shi Yue, do you really have two more puppets like this in your family?"
The old man looked at the boy beside him, his tone somewhat urgent.
"Yes, instructor. These were all given to me by Uncle Qin. The one you have is called the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. My family also has Erlang, the Manifest Sage True Lord, and the Great God of the Three Altars and the Sea Assembly."
The old man nodded happily and quickly said:
"Hurry, take me to see those two puppets."
The woman beside her hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked:
"Teacher, is this puppet really as magical as you say? I don't see it that way at all."
The old man nodded gently and affirmed:
"This person incorporates his own insights and experiences into children's toys; the artistry is so profound that even I am amazed."
"The reason you can't see it is because your own skills are insufficient. I've often told you that there are always people more capable than you, and now you should understand."
The woman nodded slowly, her curiosity about the creators of these puppets growing within her.
She grew up with the old man since childhood, in the Puppet Association, and studied Puppet Technique.
When it comes to puppetry skills, few young people can surpass her.
Now, her teacher is saying she can't understand a puppet made by someone her age, which has piqued her interest.
"I never imagined that such a poor, remote place could produce such a talent. It seems there is still hope for our Great Qi."
"Indeed, that's why I travel around preaching."
"Heroes from all over the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; if they can unite, what are Barbarian Tribe?"
The old man stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of heroic spirit.
When the group arrived at Shi Yue, they learned that the old man was an instructor at the Daoist academy, and Shitou's mother warmly welcomed them.
The old man, however, was impatient and urged Shi Yue to quickly take out the other two puppets.
When he saw Erlang, the Manifest Sage True Lord and the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
In his eyes, the puppets seemed to be alive.
He felt boundless rage upon being on the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.
On Erlang, the Manifest Sage True Lord, I experienced the sharpness of a hundred battles.
At the Three Altars Sea Gathering of Great Gods, I witnessed the unbridled spirit of youth.
Three kinds of puppets, three kinds of artistic conceptions.
"This puppet possesses a soul, a will; this person has already touched the threshold of Second-Tier Puppet Master."
The old man made a judgment.
The woman behind him was slightly startled.
After all, according to Shi Yue, the "Uncle Qin" he mentioned was only about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old.
At such a young age, he has already reached the threshold of Second-Tier Puppet Master.
The woman seemed incredulous.
"Shi Yue, do you know where this person lives?"
Just as Shi Yue was about to answer, Shitou Niang suddenly interrupted him:
"Fellow Daoist Qin has already left, and we don't know where he went."
The old man glanced at her, and said thoughtfully:
"Excuse me, let's go."
After the two left, Shitou Mother pulled Shi Yue aside and said earnestly:
"Shitou, Fellow Daoist Qin has helped our family a great deal. These two are not on good terms. How could you reveal Fellow Daoist Qin's whereabouts?"
"If you have caused trouble for our benefactor, your father, if he knew in the afterlife, would not forgive you."
Shi Yue hadn't expected things to be so serious, and nodded heavily.
"I know I was wrong, Mother."
An elderly man and a woman wandered aimlessly down the street.
"Teacher, the Shi Yue family doesn't know where that person has gone. Where should we look for him?"
The old man shook his head slightly and said:
"It's not that we don't know, it's just that we don't want to tell us. Ping'er, you are still inexperienced. Now that you're back in Repel the North City, why don't you go out and explore?"
"It should be understood that cultivation is not just about realms and Puppet Technique; insight, knowledge, and understanding are equally indispensable."
Zhou Ping didn't know why the teacher would say that, so she could only nod in agreement.
Where do we go next?
"Let's go, come with me to the Lin Household."
When the old man found the puppet junkyard, the gate to the courtyard was already open.
A lean, dark-skinned man dressed in a black robe was already waiting at the door.
Ever since the two left the Shitou family, Qin Fei received a message from Shitou's mother.
Upon learning that the two were instructors at the Dao Academy, and combining this with Lin Man's earlier words, he guessed their identities.
So they went out early to greet them and waited for the two to arrive.
"Qi Refining Eighth Layer. I didn't expect that you, young friend, are not only exceptionally skilled in puppetry, but also possess a high cultivation level."
The old man liked it more and more as he looked at it, and couldn't help but praise it.
Zhou Ping was even more curious. She had been secretly cultivating Puppet Technique for many years, and her cultivation level had fallen behind considerably. She was only at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining now.
Is it truly possible to cultivate one's skills and Puppet Technique simultaneously?
Looking at the mountain of puppets piled up in the courtyard, she seemed lost in thought.
The old man also noticed these puppets and nodded secretly.
"A puppet junkyard, how interesting. I heard there are countless puppets in the ruins of the Heavenly Secrets Sect. Were they taken here after being cleared out?"
"Indeed, it was with the help of these puppets that I managed to break through to the Second-Tier Puppet Master."
Qin Fei answered as he led the way.
He just happened to not know how to explain his puppetry skills, after all, it was really rare for someone so young to break through to the second level.
Now that the old man had asked, he casually attributed the breakthrough to these puppets, which provided a reasonable explanation.
He wouldn't casually reveal something like the Heavenly Craft Creation Pavilion.
"You mean, you've already broken through to the Second-Tier Puppet Master?"
The old man's lips parted slightly. He thought Qin Fei had only scratched the surface, but now he realized that he had underestimated the person before him.
"These young people are truly formidable; it seems my trip was worthwhile."
This made him even happier, and he thought to himself, "I've really struck gold on this trip."
Zhou Ping, however, was still oblivious to the situation.
Second-Tier Puppet Master?
The young man in front of me, who was about the same age as me?
She felt a sense of respect.
Having studied at the Puppet Association since childhood, she has yet to even reach the threshold of Second-Tier Puppet Master.
Not only that, but his cultivation level is also inferior to that of the person before him.
This person must be very talented.
She thought to herself.
Qin Fei, however, acted very modestly. He led the group to the courtyard and personally brewed a pot of tea.
After pouring drinks for the two of them, he humbly asked them questions about the Puppet Core.
The second-tier Battle Puppet is now only missing its core. If it can be successfully crafted, the Foundation Establishment Pill will be just around the corner.