Chapter 184: Chapter 163: Wang Xiu, do you lack a Dao Companion? (6700 words)_2
Clad in top-tier Armor Puppets, hailed as war machines, each wielder was a god of war. At critical moments, the Armor Puppets could initiate self-destruction with their hidden backup energy, and the Cultivator could then self-destruct once more. On average, each Manipulation Sect unit could provide several times their own combat power. One can only imagine what an incredibly terrifying reality that was!
But all of this was based on a single premise—having enough money and resources.
However, after that great battle, the strongest Puppets of the Manipulation Sect were utterly destroyed. The Cave Heaven was gone, and only a few blessed lands remained. Without financial support, the Manipulation Sect was simply not in the same league as the other branches that relied on magical arts and Daoist techniques. The Manipulation Sect was now just as pathetic as it had once been powerful.
And yet, this very same pathetic Manipulation Sect still ranked at the forefront of the thirty-six branches in terms of burning through money. This fact had tempted Sect Leader Zhuo Canglang to seal off this lineage on several occasions.
But now, the Primordial God Refining Technique displayed by Wang Xiu had given Gongshu Wumao a complete vision of the Manipulation Sect’s revival.
With such a secret technique, why worry about the Manipulation Sect not thriving?
High-grade materials were hard to find, but weren’t there plenty of low-grade ones? They could combine them and sell them for a profit, then do it again and again to stockpile a large amount of medium-grade materials. These could then be used to synthesize high-grade materials for creating large Puppets. This... was a surefire money-making machine!
...
Wang Xiu looked at the alternately crying and laughing Gongshu Wumao and couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle-Master, are you... alright?"
"I’m fine, of course I’m fine!" Gongshu Wumao snapped back to his senses, his eyes gleaming red with vigor. He rushed forward and grabbed Wang Xiu’s sleeve. "My dear nephew, if I remember correctly, you’re still single... you don’t have a cultivation partner, right?"
Wang Xiu was stunned. "Uncle-Master, why the sudden question?"
Gongshu Wumao pressed on, "Never mind that. Just tell me, do you want a cultivation partner or not?"
Wang Xiu was speechless.
"If you do, what do you think... about our Weiwei?" Gongshu Wumao said, adjusting his glasses, his face wreathed in a broad smile.
"Master~" Hearing Gongshu Wumao’s words, Mo Wuwei’s face instantly turned crimson. Beneath her glasses, her autumn-water eyes filled with shyness. She hastily tugged on Gongshu Wumao’s sleeve and protested coquettishly, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
The corner of Wang Xiu’s mouth twitched slightly. Why does that sound so familiar?
Gongshu Wumao pulled Mo Wuwei to face him. "Good disciple, you saw it yourself. You should understand how important this secret technique is to our Manipulation Sect!"
Mo Wuwei frowned. "But... does it have to be this way? You could have just spoken to Junior Brother Wang Xiu directly, or offered him something in exchange. He probably wouldn’t refuse!"
"I would love to make an exchange," Gongshu Wumao lamented, "but with the current foundation of our Manipulation Sect, even if we sold everything we own, how could it possibly compare to a single secret technique of his? With just this Primordial God Refining Technique, he could easily become the richest person in the world if he so wished! Furthermore, if this method were to spread, the entire Southern Continent... no, the entire Cangyuan Realm would undergo unimaginable changes! This kid... he’s a genius!"
Hearing this, Mo Wuwei recalled something and suddenly gasped, "Master, do you mean..."
Gongshu Wumao slowly nodded. "I’m familiar with basically every text on the Artificer Path in this world, yet this Primordial God Refining Technique is something I’ve never heard of. There’s nothing even remotely similar... I have every reason to suspect that this is a secret technique he created himself! He only calls it ’Primordial’ to downplay his true abilities!"
Gongshu Wumao paused, then said with the utmost seriousness, "This is a technique... that could allow him to establish his own sect, to become a saint and a progenitor! Our Manipulation Sect... we can’t afford to trade for it."
At his words, Mo Wuwei’s eyes narrowed in immense shock. She hadn’t thought as far ahead as Gongshu Wumao, but upon careful reflection, his words were true. The Primordial God Refining Technique, no matter how one looked at it, didn’t seem like a skill that had previously existed in this world. If it had existed, it would have left some trace. Besides the impossible explanation of it coming from beyond the heavens, the only other possibility was that he had created it himself.
She glanced over at Wang Xiu, who stood not far away. Junior Brother Wang Xiu is truly extraordinary. At such a young age, he already possesses the ability to move the world.
Most importantly, not only is his skill in Forging Techniques terrifyingly profound, but his talent in the way of Puppets is also outstanding. Master said my skill is not beneath his, but in my view, that was just Master trying to save face. At the very least, that Puppet Bird’s minimalist construction is something I might not be able to conceive of even with ten more years of study.
If... I could really end up with Junior Brother Wang Xiu... Discussing techniques every day, creating lively puppets together... what a beautiful thing that would be?
Merely thinking about it, Mo Wuwei couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips curve into a slight smile.
But when she snapped back to her senses, a girl’s modesty took over. She turned her head away and said huffily, "But that doesn’t mean you have to trade me for it, does it?"
"How is this trading you?" Gongshu Wumao said. "Don’t you have a good impression of your Nephew Wang Xiu? Weren’t you just crying and screaming that you wanted to see him?"
"Who was crying and screaming... Don’t talk nonsense..." Mo Wuwei’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, as if blood might drip from it. She carefully stole a glance at Wang Xiu, and seeing no reaction from him, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
My shameless old Master says the most absurd things! Luckily, Junior Brother Wang Xiu didn’t hear that. Otherwise, I’d die of embarrassment!
Gongshu Wumao shot her a look. "I raised you since you were a child. You think I can’t see through your little thoughts? This lad, Wang Xiu, is a good catch. He’s handsome, kind, and most importantly, his talent in the Artificer Path is exceptional. Even..."