Chapter 486 - 445: A Favor

Chapter 486: Chapter 445: A Favor

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

The stench of blood carried by the sea breeze was still thick. The constant slaughter, driven by the mindless, tyrannical instincts of the Demon Beasts, was far more cruel and brutal than what had occurred at Jingmen back then.

On Celestial Secret Island, however, it was as peaceful as ever.

Many Artifact Refiners could still be seen milling around the towering Soldier Puppet. Several new stone pavilions had been erected on one side of the square, where a group of Golden Core Cultivators had gathered, chatting and laughing.

Chu Mu sat in one of the pavilions. Though he was all smiles as he drank with the others, his eyes were subtly observing every Golden Core True Master present.

The other day, when he had presented the final version of the Soldier Puppet repair plan to the Array Dao Nascent Soul, he had tried some indirect probing.

He was certain of one thing: the Array Dao Nascent Soul likely knew nothing about the Demon Pattern System, nor was he aware of the hidden back door’s existence.

Once he confirmed this, he stopped probing to avoid saying too much. After discussing the method for repairing the Soldier Puppet, he took his leave.

Now, nearly a month had passed.

The Chen Family was clearly still gathering the Spiritual Materials needed to repair the Soldier Puppet, so the group of invited Artifact Refiners naturally had time on their hands.

They would gather leisurely from time to time or wander around the Demon Suppression Islands to learn more about the current state of the war. It was all quite relaxed.

Amidst this leisure, he naturally had more contact with the several Golden Core Cultivators gathered here.

For Chu Mu, this contact was somewhat intentional.

’After all, if the Soldier Puppet was tampered with by someone from the present day, wouldn’t the mastermind have also arranged for someone to be here to monitor its repair?’

The possibility was undoubtedly high.

Chu Mu subtly sized up the group of Golden Cores laughing and chatting before him.

On Celestial Secret Island, including himself, there were nine Golden Core Refiners and nineteen Foundation Establishment Artifact Refiners. Another batch of Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators had arrived over the past month, but it was clear they would have extremely limited access to matters concerning the Soldier Puppet.

’If someone really is monitoring the situation, they must be among those at the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core levels.’

However, all the Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators here were disciples of the Chen Family. To be able to participate in the Soldier Puppet’s repair and work alongside Golden Core Cultivators like them, they had to be disciples in whom the Chen Family had placed great hope.

As for the Golden Core level, there were nine in total, including him. Two of them also bore the surname Chen.

’Excluding myself, the range of suspects shrinks considerably.’

The remaining six external Golden Core Refiners were all possibilities!

But based on his deliberate interactions over the past month, all six of his Golden Core peers had been invited by the Chen Family through traceable means, just as he had.

In their daily conversations, he hadn’t noticed anything suspicious.

And from what he had gathered by asking the Chen Family, this was the last Ancient Immortal Dao Sect’s Guardian Puppet they had left.

The other Soldier Puppets had all been lost to various calamities over the long years.

He had no way of knowing if that was true or false.

But his plan to inspect other Soldier Puppets to determine whether the hidden back door was ancient or recent was now clearly impossible.

In fact, unless the day of the ’incident’ arrived, or someone exposed themselves at the start of the repair process, he had no way of determining if the back door was from ancient times or the present...

The thought came and went, and Chu Mu didn’t dwell on it for long.

’Since I’ve already discovered it—a hidden door within a hidden door.’

’No matter the truth, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for me.’

’If it was left by someone from ancient times, it means no one in the present knows how to use it. If I get the chance one day, this Tier Four Soldier Puppet will be mine for the taking.’

’If it’s a plot by someone from the modern era, then someday, something is bound to happen.’

’Once that happens, with a hidden door inside a hidden door, I’ll be the oriole waiting in the wings. I’ll also have a chance to claim this Tier Four Soldier Puppet.’

His gaze shifted to the towering Soldier Puppet in the square, his eyes flickering with a newfound fervor deep within.

Just then, a voice transmission suddenly sounded in his ear. Chu Mu paused, then looked at his fellow Daoists. As their eyes met, joyful expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.

"It seems the necessary Spiritual Materials are ready!"

"That must be it. For a family of the Chen Family’s stature, a month is more than enough time!"

"Fellow Daoist Chu, after you!"

"After you!"

Chu Mu was also beaming. The truth about the back door was still unknown.

But repairing the Soldier Puppet right now represented a tangible benefit for him!

’This repair will be done according to my modified plan, after all!’

After a few more pleasantries, everyone rose one by one and walked into a stone house.

The house was dimly lit. The Array Dao Nascent Soul sat there, still dressed in a white robe, but his once-twisted figure had returned to normal.

His temples were graying and his face was old, but his eyes were sharp and spirited, giving him the profound air of an immortal.

"Greetings, Senior."

The group stood in the hall and bowed in succession.

"You may dispense with the formalities."

The old man waved his hand, helping everyone up.

"The Spiritual Materials required by the Soldier Puppet repair plans you submitted have been prepared."

The old man’s sleeve stirred, and a Storage Ring materialized in the air. With another flick of his sleeve, it came to hover before Chu Mu.

"If you successfully repair the Soldier Puppet this time, this old man will owe you a favor, Young Friend Chu!"

The old man stroked his beard and chuckled. The tyranny originating from his Demon Beast Bloodline seemed to have vanished from his eyes, leaving only a gentleness as pleasant as a spring breeze.

"This junior will certainly do his best!"

Chu Mu suppressed the excitement in his heart, accepted the Storage Ring, and bowed deeply.

"Young Friend Chu, your Artifact Refining Skill is unparalleled. This old man trusts you."

"All of you are also famous Artifact Refining Masters in the Cultivation Immortal Realm. The success of this endeavor will depend on your skills."

"Upon successful completion, you may each choose any three Spiritual Objects below Tier Four from the Merit Hall."

"In addition, this old man will personally grant each of you fifty thousand Merit Points..."

"As for you, Young Friend Chu, what I said before still stands!"

"Any request within a reasonable range can be granted!"

Although the old man spoke in a calm tone, his series of extravagant rewards instantly caused the breathing of the Golden Cores present to quicken. An uproar immediately followed!

"This junior will not disappoint you, Senior..."

"This junior..."

Everyone bowed again, their words filled with irrepressible excitement.

Seeing their reactions, the old man seemed quite satisfied. He nodded slightly, stroked his long beard, and after giving a few more instructions, he dissipated into motes of light, just as before.

After the old man left, the clamor in the hall grew even louder. The allure of such benefits was moving. Even for worldly Golden Core True Masters like them, it was clearly difficult to remain indifferent to such a lavish reward.

Amidst the uproar, Chu Mu once again seemed to become the center of everyone’s attention.

’Any request within a reasonable range...’

That alone was enough to make one’s imagination run wild....

...