For these silver puppets, Xiao Yan is perhaps the most familiar person among those present, for he had crafted one himself. The puppet he had once created, an Earth Fiend Puppet, had already evolved into a Heavenly Fiend Puppet… The puppets outside the stone gate were entirely resplendent in silver, clearly still at the level of an Earth Fiend Puppet. According to Xiao Yan’s estimation, the strength of these ten Earth Fiend Puppets should be at the peak Battle Sect level. This was already quite formidable, but it would still be somewhat lacking to hold back so many Central Plains experts here.
“Looks like the real relic is behind this stone gate,” Little Healer Immortal said softly as she looked at the heavy stone gate.
“Yes, but the stone gate is tightly shut, and there are faint traces of spatial fluctuations on it. It’s clearly not something that can be opened by brute force. If that’s the case, then the method to open it is likely to be hidden within these ten puppets,” Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping around. He noticed that most people were also eyeing the puppets, recognizing the same thing in their minds.
“For now, let’s refrain from taking action. There will naturally be someone to handle this,” Heavenly Fire Venerable chuckled.
Hearing Heavenly Fire Venerable’s cunning laughter, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but smile and nod. He and the others stood in a secluded corner of the plaza, watching the actions of the crowd.
As Xiao Yan and the others remained silent, a low murmur rippled through the crowd, followed by a moment of hesitation. A gray-robed elder stepped out slowly. From his vast aura, it was clear that he was also a Dou Zun expert. However, Xiao Yan and the others could tell with a glance that this elder was only a One-star Dou Zun.
Xiao Yan had never seen the sect this gray-robed elder belonged to, but he didn’t dwell on it. The Central Plains were vast, housing countless hidden experts. Some discreet factions were often just as powerful, if not more, than the more well-known ones.
The elder, under the gaze of many, slowly walked forward. His vast Dou Qi swirling, he directly entered the encirclement of the ten Earth Fiend Puppets. His bold demeanor made him seem exceptionally courageous.
*Crack!*
When the elder stepped within ten feet of the stone gate, the ten motionless, statue-like figures suddenly emitted a series of low, bone-rubbing sounds. Then, ten cold and hollow gazes fixed on the gray-robed elder. Their hands clenched, and silver light surged, manifesting ten dazzling silver spears in their grasp.
*Boom!*
With a flash of brilliant silver, the ten figures moved like lightning, instantly unleashing a fierce wind and attacking the gray-robed elder.
“Haha, mere broken puppets, you think you can stop me?!” Seeing this, the gray-robed elder laughed loudly, rushing into the puppet group with nothing but his fists. As his profound Dou Qi surged, each punch sent a puppet reeling backward.
Watching the gray-robed elder, who was holding his own against ten puppets, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but shake his head. The gap between Battle Sect and Dou Zun was indeed significant. Though the ten puppets managed to stall the elder, it was evident that they couldn’t hold on for long.
*Clang!*
In the plaza, as the silver light flickered, the gray-robed elder’s palm successively repelled three puppets. The deep yellow hue of his palm left almost half a finger-deep mark on the puppets.
*Roar!*
Having been repeatedly pushed back, the ten Earth Fiend Puppets suddenly halted, their eyes flashing silver as a low roar emerged from their throats. They then simultaneously shifted their positions, forming a strange formation. Silver light flashed, and streams of energy, resembling silver serpents, surged from their bodies, connecting them in a circular circulation.
*Roar!*
As the circulation formed, the lead Earth Fiend Puppet roared again. Under Xiao Yan’s shocked gaze, the silver light weakened, and golden light gradually appeared. Moments later, the gold completely replaced the silver.
“They have evolved…”
Seeing this, Xiao Yan’s pupils contracted slightly. He knew how difficult it was for an Earth Fiend Puppet to evolve into a Heavenly Fiend Puppet. The original Earth Fiend Puppet had absorbed numerous pill lightning bolts before finally evolving at the last moment. Yet, now, these Earth Fiend Puppets had achieved it in just a few moments.
“It’s the effect of that array. It truly lives up to what a Dou Sage left behind. These ten Earth Fiend Puppets, plus that mysterious array, are enough to contend with a Two-star Dou Zun. That old man is in trouble!”
After a moment of shock, Xiao Yan quickly calmed down, whispering to himself.
*Shish!*
The Heavenly Fiend Puppet, now gleaming golden, stomped the ground, cracking it. In a flash, it appeared in front of the startled elder, punching with a fist radiating golden light.
*Boom!*
Facing the powerful blow, the elder hurriedly met it with all his strength. However, at this moment, his earlier composure vanished. The evolved Heavenly Fiend Puppet’s strength far exceeded his. A muffled sound came from his throat, and a trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He stumbled backward.
After retreating ten feet, the Heavenly Fiend Puppet pulled back its fist. It flashed, appearing outside the stone gate once more, the golden light dissipating as it reverted to guarding the entrance as an Earth Fiend Puppet.
This sudden change caused many faces to turn pale. They might not fear ten Earth Fiend Puppets at the peak of Battle Sect, but a Heavenly Fiend Puppet at the Two-star Dou Zun level was a different matter. This kind of creature, devoid of pain and sensation, was like a killing machine. Indeed, there were strong individuals present who could subdue it, but even if they did, they would expend a great deal of effort, which no one relished, especially without even seeing the relic.
The atmosphere in the square grew awkward. Everyone wanted to enter, but no one wanted to fight these puppets to the death.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, staring directly at the ten puppets with a covetous glint. If these puppets were merely at the peak of Battle Sect, he might not be interested. But if they were Heavenly Fiend Puppets capable of reaching the Two-star Dou Zun level, that was another story.
Moreover, Xiao Yan was very intrigued by the mysterious array formation of the Earth Fiend Puppets. If he added his own Heavenly Fiend Puppet to it, its power would surely increase significantly.
His Heavenly Fiend Puppet was already capable of contending with a Three-star Dou Zun. With the help of these ten Earth Fiend Puppets and the great array, it could even engage a Five-star Dou Zun. This temptation was enough to drive Xiao Yan to take action.
“Keep an eye on the others.” Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed, and he whispered to Little Healer Immortal and the others. Then, he tapped the ground, and his figure soared over the heads of the crowd, landing steadily ten feet away from the stone gate.
“Since no one is stepping up, I’ll take the first move,” he said, looking at the crowd.
The sudden appearance of Xiao Yan caused everyone to pause. Some, who had grudges with him, frowned. They knew Xiao Yan was shrewd; why would he step up to face these troublesome puppets?
“He must have an ulterior motive!” Feng Qing’er muttered, her brow furrowed.
The white-haired man beside her glanced at Xiao Yan’s back and smiled. To everyone’s surprise, he too stepped forward. “With your One-star Dou Zun strength, you can’t even match the previous Earth Profound Sect’s Grand Elder. I suggest you give up. I find these puppets intriguing. If I take them as guards, it would be quite impressive.”
This man’s keen eyes immediately spotted Xiao Yan’s intentions towards the puppets.
Xiao Yan frowned at the white-haired man’s interference but shook his head. “This is not something you can handle.”
Without further ado, he tapped the ground forcefully, charging straight toward the stone gate. Seeing this, the white-haired man smiled and also darted forward, his sleeves billowing as a sharp gust of wind shot toward Xiao Yan’s back.
Xiao Yan, sensing the wind from behind, twisted his body, easily avoiding it. His heart stirring, the vast soul energy coiled between his brows burst forth, enveloping everything, and transformed into countless threads, heading toward the puppets that were once again glowing silver.
Xiao Yan, having crafted an Earth Fiend Puppet before, was well aware of its weaknesses. To defeat them, one had to utterly destroy them, but Xiao Yan didn’t want to break them. He wanted control, like he had with the Heavenly Fiend Puppet.
Inside the Earth Fiend Puppet, there was a soul imprint from its creator. Erasing this and leaving his own imprint would allow him to control the puppet. However, this imprint was usually deeply hidden, and Xiao Yan could only locate it due to his experience in crafting them.
“Humph! This kid wants to control the puppets!” Noticing Xiao Yan’s soul energy, the white-haired man realized this. Since he didn’t know how to control puppets, he couldn’t compete with Xiao Yan, but he wasn’t going to be idle. Seeing Xiao Yan’s advance, he rushed to one of the Earth Fiend Puppets and delivered a fierce punch, striking the puppet’s body.
If he couldn’t get it, he would destroy it!
*Boom!*
The terrifying punch landed, causing the Earth Fiend Puppet’s body to crack. But the white-haired man’s grin froze, as the cracks rapidly healed when the silver light surged again.
“I refuse to believe I can’t shatter this puppet!” The white-haired man’s eyes flashed with vicious intent. He screamed, and a terrifying whirlwind of energy gathered in his fist. Just as he was about to strike, a golden light streaked towards him. The piercing sound made him retreat hastily.
Glancing, he saw the golden light was a dark golden puppet, which seemed even more dangerous than the previous one.
“This kid has such a puppet, no wonder he took action!” The white-haired man realized suddenly.
Realizing this, he looked up to see Xiao Yan opening his eyes coldly. The latter glanced at him and raised his hand, and the ten puppets were absorbed into his ring.
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