In the dazzling silver world, lightning roared like ferocious dragons. The rumbling thunder echoed without cease in this void, a sight so bizarre that it could only be found in this ethereal space. Within the silver lightning pool, a figure sat cross-legged. Not far from him, eleven puppets also sat in a circle, surrounding Xiao Yan at their center. Fierce lightning raged outside the circle, and immense lightning serpents continuously struck the eleven puppets. However, such terrifying strikes not only failed to make the puppets quiver but instead made their surfaces even more resplendent.
In the monotonous world of lightning, the rumbling seemed endless. Under the deafening roar, time flowed like water, passing by swiftly. In the blink of an eye, nearly half a month had passed…
During this time, Xiao Yan did not worry much about the puppets. After observing them for a few days and finding no abnormalities, he closed his eyes and entered a state of cultivation, blocking out the thunderous roars around him, and his mind found peace.
The lightning pool contained an outrageously intense, violent energy. A regular Dou Zun would never dare to absorb such energy. But for Xiao Yan, who possessed a Heavenly Flame, this wild energy was not a dangerous threat. After being refined by his Heavenly Flame and the Raging Flames Decisive, even the most violent energy would obediently transform into mellow Dou Qi, flowing through his meridians.
As he meditated, Xiao Yan absorbed the violent energy from the lightning pool. In the short span of half a month, his Dou Qi had improved. He even sensed the non-existent barrier to the rank of a Five-Star Dou Zun.
Last time, after consuming the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, Xiao Yan leaped from a Two-Star to a Four-Star Peak Dou Zun. However, when he helped Zi Yan refine the Dragon-Phoenix Crystal Layer, his Dou Qi consumption was nearly equivalent to six months. Coupled with the five drops of ancient dragon’s potent blood and the trace of Dragon-Phoenix power left by Zi Yan in his body, this allowed Xiao Yan to cultivate for half a month here and vaguely sense a breakthrough.
Of course, this was merely a feeling; the true breakthrough had not yet followed. This was because, during his cultivation, some changes occurred with the Heavenly Demon Puppet, forcing him to stop his practice.
“This is…”
In the resplendent silver lightning pool, Xiao Yan frowned as he gazed at the Heavenly Demon Puppet before him. The latter’s body was now shrouded in a shining, dark gold hue, richer and more vibrant than before.
Xiao Yan’s concern, however, was not the puppet’s color, but the crack in its chest where the dark golden skin had fissured. Through the crack, he could faintly see shimmering silver lightning.
“Too much absorbed lightning… Reaching the limit?”
Xiao Yan touched the crack and pondered for a moment, then shook his head helplessly. Limited by the material, the Heavenly Demon Puppet couldn’t continue evolving. According to Xiao Yan’s estimation, this puppet, which he had crafted, was probably already at its peak.
“What a pity…”
Xiao Yan shook his head regretfully. The materials for the Heavenly Demon Puppet were merely from a Battle Sect with Seven or Eight Star strength. Such a strong individual might have seemed unattainable before, but to Xiao Yan now, they were just ordinary. That these materials could reach the level of a Five-Star Dou Zun was already incredible.
With great regret, Xiao Yan put the peak-level Heavenly Demon Puppet into his Storage Ring. Then, he turned his gaze to the ten Earth Demon Puppets. After absorbing lightning for half a month, tiny golden spots began to appear on their resplendent silver bodies. Having experienced this before, Xiao Yan knew that once the golden spots covered their metal bodies, they would ascend to become true Heavenly Demon Puppets.
“These puppets are the legacy of a Dou Saint. Using a Dou Saint’s discernment, the materials should be much better than mine. I wonder what their limits are?”
Xiao Yan mulled over it but held no high hopes. Puppets were still puppets; no matter how advanced the materials, they could likely only reach Dou Zun levels. Puppets that could match a Dou Saint might not exist in this world. Otherwise, those who trained hard to reach such levels would be disheartened.
“Regardless, I’ll upgrade these Earth Demon Puppets to Heavenly Demon Puppets first. If I use ten Heavenly Demon Puppets to form an array, my own Heavenly Demon Puppet should jump to Seven or even Eight Star power. Then, even if I meet that Nine Sky Venerable again, I can use the puppets to contend with him.”
Xiao Yan sighed and glanced at the motionless puppets around him. He then sat cross-legged again.
Days passed in the world of lightning, and the golden spots on the puppets became more and more numerous, gradually covering most of their bodies. At this rate, within ten days, these ten Earth Demon Puppets would fully evolve into true Heavenly Demon Puppets.
As the gold spots increased, Xiao Yan sat like a monk in meditation, unmoving, his face solemn, and unusual energy fluctuations surrounded him.
“Gurgle…”
The surrounding lightning pool emitted strange sounds. Abnormally massive, violent energies swirled around Xiao Yan, and then surged into his body like a maelstrom.
Facing the raging energy, Xiao Yan remained motionless, absorbing it like a bottomless pit. With more energy pouring in, a massive hundred-foot wide vortex of lightning formed above his head, swirling rapidly and spewing energy.
“Boom!”
The lightning vortex continued for a long time, gradually weakening. By now, brilliant lightning surrounded Xiao Yan, making him look like a Thunder God, exuding a terrifying aura.
Finally, the vortex dissipated, and the lightning on Xiao Yan’s body vanished. His tightly closed eyes quivered, then slowly opened.
“Boom!”
As Xiao Yan’s eyes opened, a massive burst of lightning shot out, roaring like a dragon, tearing through the layers of lightning and disappearing deep into the pool.
“Whew…”
Xiao Yan exhaled a breath laden with electric sparks. Even now, his face and clothes still showed traces of flickering electricity.
“Five-Star Dou Zun, huh…”
Gripping his hand, Xiao Yan felt the surging power and smiled. He hadn’t expected to advance here, but this place was truly a treasure trove.
At Five-Stars, he could almost reach Seven Stars with the Threefold Heavenfire Transformation. Such power, combined with his Heavenly Flame and Raging Flames Decisive, would allow him to stand against a Seven-Star Dou Zun.
“If I meet that Nine Sky Venerable again, I might be able to slay him with the puppets…”
Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed with a savage light. He looked at the ten puppets, now completely golden, and a joyful expression spread across his face. The Earth Demon Puppets had successfully evolved into Heavenly Demon Puppets!
“Ha! Good things come in pairs… What a wonderful day…”
Xiao Yan laughed, stretched, and moved to examine the ten puppets. Suddenly, he sensed a tremendous energy fluctuation from the depths of the pool.
“Did I sense it wrong?”
Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, finding nothing.
However, as he spoke, a powerful invisible force shot out from the depth of the pool, turning everything in its path to ashes.
“A terrifying force!”
Xiao Yan’s hair stood on end, sensing the invisible wind. Amidst the chaos, a figure burst out, fleeing from a dozen black, chilling lightning bolts like hungry dragons.
Seeing the black lightning, Xiao Yan instantly recoiled, stored the ten Heavenly Demon Puppets, and fled without hesitation.
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