Chapter 141: Puppet One

The Nine-Turn Golden Elixir transformed into a stream of golden liquid in Yuan Wuji's hand, slowly fusing with the puppet.

As the integration grew increasingly intimate, the puppet's aura continuously surged.

"Boom!"

A formidable presence was born within the Fire Cloud Cave. With Yuan Wuji's assistance, the puppet finally broke through to the realm of a Loose Immortal of the Zenith Heaven (Taiyi Loose Immortal).

A Taiyi Loose Immortal with a fifty percent mastery of the Metal Element.

The arm originally severed by the Bull Demon King had now grown back completely.

"Master."

Having awakened, the puppet was well aware of what had transpired, but his very first action was, as always, to pledge absolute loyalty to Yuan Wuji.

"From now on, your name is Puppet One," Yuan Wuji commanded.

Among the previous eight puppets, none had been given names by Yuan Wuji. However, the sole remaining puppet now possessed formidable combat capability and could undertake far more tasks for him. Most importantly, he possessed absolute loyalty to Yuan Wuji.

"Great King, will that Bull Demon King ever return?" Fox Three asked with a trace of unease.

"He will not come to the Fire Cloud Cave in the short term. However, the cave is currently too deserted. As for how to resolve this matter, I leave it to you and Puppet One." Yuan Wuji handed over the task of recruiting demon soldiers to Fox Three. With Fox Three's cunning resourcefulness, the matter should proceed smoothly. Moreover, with Puppet One's assistance, Yuan Wuji had no doubt they would successfully accomplish the mission.

"Understood, Great King. The mission will certainly be fulfilled."

"By the way, what is the current situation in the nearby villages?"

Yuan Wuji inquired of Fox Three. Back then, he had instructed the eight puppets to go to the nearby villages and have the villagers worship him in order to harvest more incense devotion. Later, however, the Fire Cloud Cave had been utterly decimated by the Taoists of Wudang Mountain.

With such a major event having occurred, he had no idea what had become of those villages. Although Yuan Wuji could still sense the incense offerings, they were steadily dwindling, which piqued his curiosity regarding the changes in the villages.

"Regarding the nearby villages, I heard that initially, they were quite sensible. They built statues of the Great King to worship and offered incense to the Great King every day. But later, after the Taoists of Wudang Mountain exterminated the Fire Cloud Cave, those Taoists also visited those villages—not all of them, but the majority, leaving only a small fraction unvisited."

"As for the majority of villages they did visit, they completely destroyed all the statues of the Great King."

The incense fire Yuan Wuji was currently receiving came solely from those unvisited villages that were still paying homage to him. The subsequent decline was likely due to those remaining villages discovering the changes in neighboring settlements and hastily rushing to smash the statues within their own borders.

"When the time comes, we shall make another trip to let those mortals know who the true master of Hao Mountain is."

"There is no need to trouble the Great King; leave this matter to your subordinate," Fox Three offered flatteringly.

"Then I leave it in your hands."

Fox Three was eager to ingratiate himself with Yuan Wuji, and Yuan Wuji did not mind giving him more responsibilities. After all, they were merely mortals; it would not consume much time.

"Very well, Great King. Once I have refined this golden elixir, I shall depart immediately."

Having received Yuan Wuji's approval, Fox Three immediately set about refining the golden elixir bestowed upon him. To Fox Three, the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir was a miraculous divine medicine encounterable only by chance and never by demand. Furthermore, he felt uneasy keeping such a treasure on his person, making refinement the absolute best course of action. Besides, with the presence of Yuan Wuji in the Fire Cloud Cave, refining the elixir was exceptionally safe for him.

It took Fox Three a full seven days and seven nights to refine the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, and he finally emerged from seclusion on the eighth day.

The Fox Three who emerged looked significantly younger than before, and the aura he exuded was entirely different.

The Nine-Turn Golden Elixir had not only elevated Fox Three's cultivation base but had also altered his bloodline, granting him vastly superior potential.

From Fox Three's outward appearance, Yuan Wuji could tell that the elixir had bestowed upon him a tremendous opportunity.

"Great King, I have kept you waiting," Fox Three said somewhat awkwardly.

He recalled that it had taken Yuan Wuji very little time to fuse the golden elixir into the puppet, yet it had taken him an extraordinarily long time.

Even so, he understood that Yuan Wuji's cultivation level vastly surpassed his own, making the time he spent entirely normal in the eyes of his master.

"Your harvest is not small, I presume?"

A glint of excitement flickered in Fox Three's eyes. The Nine-Turn Golden Elixir had altered his bloodline, and his previously stagnant cultivation now possessed the impetus to continue advancing.

"Thank you, Great King, for bestowing this precious elixir." Fox Three dropped to his knees before Yuan Wuji and kowtowed three times.

This was something Fox Three felt compelled to do, and Yuan Wuji made no attempt to stop him. In a sense, this was a rebirth for Fox Three, a new life granted by Yuan Wuji. He also knew he owed Yuan Wuji an immense karmic debt.

"Great King, I shall set off for those villages now."

"Take Puppet One with you, and ideally, bring back some capable demon soldiers that catch your eye."

Yuan Wuji instructed Puppet One, who stood behind him, to accompany Fox Three. Since Fox Three had just emerged from seclusion, it remained uncertain whether the Bull Demon King had completely withdrawn from Hao Mountain. Should they encounter the Bull Demon King, Puppet One's presence would ensure Yuan Wuji was notified instantly. Furthermore, Puppet One now possessed the realm of a Taiyi Loose Immortal.

Even if he were no match for the Bull Demon King, he could hold his ground long enough for Yuan Wuji to arrive.

"Understood."

Fox Three departed the Fire Cloud Cave with Puppet One. Along the way, Fox Three could not resist asking Puppet One:

"Puppet One, how did you come to follow the Great King?"

"Do not ask what you ought not to inquire about." The only response Fox Three received was a chilling remark from Puppet One. Fox Three felt no anger; having spent time with the previous eight puppets, he was already well-acquainted with their personalities and took it in stride.

Today, he had merely wanted to check whether Puppet One's temperament would change after ascending to the realm of a Taiyi Loose Immortal. It now appeared that nothing had changed.

"We have arrived at the village. Puppet One, let us make haste so that we have more time to recruit demon soldiers."

Fox Three was eager to rush into the village, but he noticed Puppet One standing completely motionless in place. Perplexed, Fox Three ran back to Puppet One and asked:

"What is wrong? Why are we stopping?"

"There is a very powerful human cultivator down below."

Puppet One's words instilled a sense of unease in Fox Three's heart. Could it be that the Taoists of Wudang Mountain had not yet retreated?

"Then should we still go?"

"I am going. You stay here. You are no match for him, and if you come along, you will only be a burden."

Instructing Fox Three to stay put, Puppet One rapidly flew toward the village alone.

No, I must go as well.

Although Fox Three's strength fell short of Puppet One's, he possessed his own little tricks and could preserve his life even against a formidable opponent. Moreover, judging by Puppet One's words, the cultivation of the cultivator in the village was at most on par with Puppet One's.

Having made up his mind, Fox Three likewise flew in the direction of the village.

"Why did you come down? Did I not tell you to stay put?" Puppet One frowned and said.