"If the puppets from your pagoda are truly useful to me, then the price is not an issue at all." Wu Tao’s tone was unusually bold, causing Elder Tian to pause and scrutinize him for a moment.
"Then please wait a moment. I'll have someone bring out the finest Spirit-Binding Puppets we have here."
A smile bloomed on Elder Tian's face at Wu Tao’s words. After all, a generous customer was always welcome.
With two sharp claps!
Without a word, Elder Tian clapped his hands together.
Wu Tao’s eyes flickered as he glanced towards a discreet side door.
Shortly after, the sound of footsteps approached from outside.
A moment later, a beautiful woman, clad in a cyan robe, emerged holding a long box crafted from century-old warm jade.
She walked to the center of the hall and placed the jade box before Wu Tao, then stood respectfully to the side without a word.
Wu Tao’s eyes gleamed as he glanced at the jade box before him. He then raised his head, narrowed his eyes, and gazed at the woman who had emerged, a flicker of strangeness crossing his face.
"Hahahaha, what is it, young friend Wu? Have you taken a fancy to my maid?" Elder Tian burst into laughter, seemingly without preamble.
"It's nothing. This junior merely felt this maid possesses not a trace of life force like a normal person. She seems like a lifeless object, which sparked a moment of doubt," Wu Tao said, his brow furrowed in uncertainty.
"Hahaha, young friend Wu, you actually noticed! Tsk tsk, indeed, indeed. This maid is precisely a puppet automaton!" Elder Tian roared with laughter, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as if a sudden thought had struck him.
"This junior was merely fortunate," Wu Tao replied with a slight smile, looking at the puppet that was almost indistinguishable from a real person.
"Young friend Wu, your discerning eye is indeed sharp! This puppet was crafted by myself. I pursued absolute anthropomorphism, but alas, even with my current cultivation, I can only fool ordinary low-level cultivators," Elder Tian sighed, turning to glance at the attendant with a look of regret.
"Right, young friend Wu, please examine the Spirit-Binding Puppet in the box. See if it meets your satisfaction first," Elder Tian said, retracting his gaze and addressing Wu Tao.
"Then this junior will not be so polite," Wu Tao nodded. He extended his right hand and swept it over the table, a stream of faint golden light flowing out.
With a crisp "crack," the jade box sprang open, revealing its contents.
"What is this?" Wu Tao peered intently, an expression of bewilderment involuntarily appearing on his face.
Elder Tian blinked in surprise, a flicker of unexpectedness in his eyes.
Following this, Elder Tian proceeded to explain to Wu Tao the nature of Spirit-Binding Puppets and their various ranks.
Wu Tao, who had been somewhat unclear about Spirit-Binding Puppets before, finally understood after Elder Tian's thorough explanation.
These puppets must be refined by a Puppet Grandmaster to earn the name Spirit-Binding Puppet.
A Spirit-Binding Puppet must possess at least the power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and more importantly, it possesses a degree of sentience. Even without the manipulation of divine sense, it can autonomously execute simple commands. In moments of dire peril for its master, it can serve as a trump card for survival, highlighting its rarity!
Spirit-Binding Puppets are categorized into three ranks.
The first rank: "Simulated Spirit Grade."
The second rank: "Automatic Grade."
The third rank: "Forbidden Grade."
Simulated Spirit Grade Spirit-Binding Puppets are crafted using numerous precious minerals, augmented by the divine soul of a Foundation Establishment human cultivator, and finally refined. They possess the combat power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Automatic Grade Spirit-Binding Puppets require even more extravagant materials: various profound-grade law spirit materials, supplemented by an earth-grade law spirit material, and the divine soul of a Core Formation human cultivator, before being finally refined. They possess the combat power of a Core Formation cultivator.
As for the final Forbidden Grade Spirit-Binding Puppets, they require the divine soul of a Nascent Soul human cultivator, various earth-grade law spirit materials, and three to four heaven-grade law spirit materials, before being finally refined. They possess the combat power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
The reason for using the divine souls of human cultivators in the refinement of Spirit-Binding Puppets is that humans are considered the most intelligent and sentient race among all races. This greatly enhances the spirituality of the Spirit-Binding Puppets.
Hearing about the numerous peculiar aspects of Spirit-Binding Puppets, Wu Tao drew a sharp breath. With a deeper understanding of the strength of the Myriad Puppet Divine Crystal Sect, his interest in Spirit-Binding Puppets naturally soared.
The Spirit-Binding Puppet Wu Tao desired to purchase, and had the capability to afford, was naturally a Simulated Spirit Grade Spirit-Binding Puppet.
Within the jade box lay a small yellow bird, about a foot long, its entire body crystal clear and translucent, enveloped in a layer of dim yellow spiritual light.
"This is a new type of Spirit-Binding Puppet refined by one of our pagoda's Puppet Grandmasters not long ago. It possesses combat power roughly equivalent to the early stage of Foundation Establishment and is valued at least at five thousand spirit stones," Elder Tian stated.
"Five thousand spirit stones?" Wu Tao gasped, feeling that Elder Tian was making an exorbitant demand and treating him like a fool.
He knew what five thousand spirit stones represented: it was enough to purchase a suitable magical artifact for a high-level Core Formation cultivator at an auction, or over a dozen top-grade magic tools.
To ask for so much for a mere Spirit-Binding Puppet...
"Indeed! Young friend Wu, there's no need for surprise. Since this pagoda is quoting this price, it naturally has its reasons. I can demonstrate its capabilities to you first, and then you can decide. It won't be too late," Elder Tian said. With a single hand seal, he lightly flicked his finger towards the jade box from afar.
A flash of spiritual energy pulsed, and the previously still yellow bird suddenly stirred. Then, with a brilliant yellow glow, it shot out of the jade box as a streak of yellow light.
A yellow bird, about four to five inches in size, began to circle and dance in the air.
The yellow bird's flight speed was astonishingly fast, surpassing that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Suddenly, Elder Tian let out a low shout and, with a wave of his hand, executed another hand seal.
A spark flashed in the yellow bird's eyes, and it opened its beak, spitting out over a dozen sharp earth spikes that struck the ground, gouging out numerous deep pits.
After a while, the yellow bird flapped its wings, generating a shimmering mist that could be used for defense.
"What do you think? This Spirit-Binding Puppet is exceptionally suitable for offense, defense, and reconnaissance. Five thousand spirit stones is not an exorbitant price," Elder Tian explained.
"As long as the puppet is useful, I will unceremoniously accept this one," Wu Tao said, a smile spreading across his face after observing the yellow bird in the air for a long while.
"Excellent, young friend Wu, as long as you are satisfied. This puppet can no longer be controlled by others once you refine it. Elder Tian chuckled and performed another hand seal, pointing at the yellow bird in the sky. Instantly, the yellow bird flickered, transforming into a ball of yellow light that shot towards Wu Tao with lightning speed.
After circling once, it slowly settled back into the box. Simultaneously, Wu Tao waved his left hand, tossing a storage bag filled with five thousand spirit stones to Elder Tian.
Elder Tian received the storage bag and scanned it with his divine sense, nodding in satisfaction.
After exchanging items and securing their respective possessions, both Elder Tian and Wu Tao were pleased.
Wu Tao then took his leave from the Myriad Puppet Pagoda and found an inn that catered to cultivators, rented a room, and retired.
In the room, Wu Tao sat on the bed, his gaze flickering. Suddenly, he swept his hand over his storage bag, and a jade box appeared in his palm with a flash of light.
Without further thought, he gently opened the lid, revealing the yellow bird lying quietly within.
Wu Tao gazed at the object in the box, golden light flashing in his eyes, as if trying to pierce through the puppet.
However, this Spirit-Binding Puppet was indeed somewhat unusual.
Even after employing various means, he could not detect anything out of the ordinary.
Seeing this, Wu Tao furrowed his brow. Then, his powerful divine sense was immediately released, enveloping the yellow bird.
Wu Tao formed hand seals and infused spiritual energy.
The puppet then flickered and, in the next moment, flew out of the box, hovering and darting back and forth before Wu Tao, wagging its tail.
Wu Tao did not need to control the yellow bird’s movements himself.
Witnessing this situation, a hint of joy appeared on Wu Tao's face. However, he then touched his now depleted storage bag and sighed faintly.
In the following three to five days, he sold the materials from the various demonic beasts he had slain in the wilderness to numerous small merchants who regularly purchased such items, thus acquiring a substantial amount of spirit stones.
He would not have to worry about spirit stones for the time being!
Three days later, Wu Tao flew out on his artifact. This time, he headed directly towards a restaurant specially prepared for cultivators.
There, rogue cultivators and those from immortal cultivation families often gathered, exchanging minor news from the cultivation world, and also using the opportunity to trade items.
Wu Tao's purpose in coming here was to ascertain the severity of the environment in the Great Death Desert and to find ways to cross it.
Only by obtaining this information could Wu Tao truly decide on his next course of action.
Currently, Wu Tao proceeded to a place called Mirages Market, located near Jinsha City, to gather information.