Chapter 1068 - 553: Centennial Change (Part 2)

Chapter 1068: Chapter 553: Centennial Change (Part 2)

Lin Maoshan hurriedly waved his hand with a smile and said, "Shopkeeper Liu, you speak too highly of me. Your visit itself is an unexpected delight!"

"Shopkeeper Liu, are you here to see the Master? I’ll take you over right away!" Lin Maoshan looked at Liu Yalan joyfully and eagerly suggested.

Liu Yalan had a close relationship with the Master’s wife and also managed a Treasure Pavilion for the Master. After years of development, she was renowned throughout the Central State Spirit Realm. She has gathered countless High-tier Spiritual Objects and rare Spiritual Materials for the Master, becoming an indispensable external aid to the Seven Mysteries Sect.

Elders and disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect often have their Spiritual Artifacts and Spirit Pills circulated through Liu Yalan’s Treasure Pavilion, exchanging them for resources needed by the Sect. She is not only the Master’s dear friend but also a bridge between the Seven Mysteries Sect and the outside world.

"No need to trouble Sect Master Lin; I can go myself!" Liu Yalan laughed softly, gesturing to Lin Maoshan.

"Well, Shopkeeper Liu, I also wanted to see the Master, but I didn’t dare disturb his peaceful cultivation, so..." Lin Maoshan spoke halfway, somewhat embarrassed.

Seeing this, Liu Yalan smiled slightly, instantly understanding Lin Maoshan’s thoughts.

"I see. In that case, please trouble Sect Master Lin, and let’s go together!" Liu Yalan nodded with a smile, agreeing.

Lin Maoshan was overjoyed and quickly led the way. The two passed through the bustling Sect Plaza, heading towards Li Mu’s secluded cultivation in the back mountain.

Soon, they landed on a hilltop. Among the mountains, occasional bird calls and the sound of distant streams added a touch of vitality to the quiet environment.

Lin Maoshan untied an Array Token from his waist, infused it with a bit of True Essence, and waved it lightly.

In front, the void rippled, and a hidden path gradually appeared before them. Spirit Mist lingered around the path on both sides, with exotic flowers and herbs blooming, exuding a faint fragrance, as if stepping into an isolated fairyland.

Lin Maoshan led Liu Yalan into the formation, moving along the winding path. Spiritual Beasts occasionally appeared among them, but they ignored them, clearly protected by the Array, unaffected by external disturbances.

As they went deeper, the Spiritual Qi around them grew denser, almost turning tangible, making people instinctively take a deep breath, feeling invigorated and refreshed.

Finally, they stopped in front of a mountain retreat.

At this time, the slightly open wooden door opened, and a quirky little girl stuck her head out. The girl had two braided pigtails, looking around seven or eight years old, her eyes sparkling with cleverness. She wore a small green dress, with shallow dimples on her cheeks, looking lovely and charming.

Upon seeing the two of them, the little girl beamed a radiant smile and sweetly said, "Hello, Shopkeeper Liu. The master invites you to the courtyard for Spirit Tea."

With that, the little girl skipped over to Liu Yalan, leading her toward the courtyard. Her pure and innocent closeness made Liu Yalan unknowingly show a gentle smile.

"What about me? Sweet Ming Yue, doesn’t the Master want to see me?" Lin Maoshan anxiously asked, hastily voicing his concern. He hoped to discuss with the Master about entering his Grotto Heaven Treasure for a period of intense cultivation to break through his current bottleneck.

This little girl is a Spirit Transformation Puppet brought back by the Master from somewhere, possessing full spirituality and looking indistinguishable from a human.

Upon hearing this, Ming Yue turned her head and playfully winked at Lin Maoshan, saying with a mischievous smile, "Don’t worry! The master knows you’re here. He didn’t say he wanted to see you. Today, there seems to be something special to discuss with Shopkeeper Liu. Wait until Shopkeeper Liu finishes chatting with the master; you can wait here for now!"

With that, Ming Yue led Liu Yalan into the courtyard, closing the door behind them, leaving Lin Maoshan alone outside, gazing at the closed wooden door with anticipation and unease.

Under Ming Yue’s guidance, Liu Yalan passed through Spirit Fields filled with exotic flowers and herbs and arrived at the central tea pavilion in the courtyard. In the center, a tea table made of Agarwood had already been set with a pot of fragrant Spirit Tea, evidently prepared to welcome her.

In another quiet room of the retreat, Li Mu finished his meditation and slowly rose to step outside.

Li Mu walked lightly to the tea pavilion, seeing Liu Yalan already seated at the table, savoring a cup of Spirit Tea, her face radiating a peaceful expression, her eyes closed, seemingly immersed in enlightenment.

Just as Li Mu approached her, Liu Yalan awoke from her state of enlightenment.

"Shopkeeper Liu, how is it? Does my Enlightenment Tea aid your cultivation?" Li Mu asked with a smile, his eyes filled with delight, as Liu Yalan’s progress in cultivation appeared not to be hidden from him.

"Thank you, Pavilion Master, for the gift. After drinking this cup of Spirit Tea and going into seclusion, I can advance to Divinity Transformation." Liu Yalan excitedly stood up and bowed deeply to Li Mu, expressing gratitude, "Pavilion Master’s great kindness and virtue are unforgettable to Yalan!"

"Haha, Shopkeeper Liu, you’re too kind." Li Mu waved his hand gently, a warm force lifting Liu Yalan, indicating she need not be overly polite.

"The Treasure Pavilion has prospered under your management, collecting numerous High-tier resources for me. Your contribution is immeasurable. It’s just a cup of Spirit Tea; you needn’t be so humble," Li Mu said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yalan quickly waved her hand, modestly saying, "Pavilion Master praises too highly. All credit belongs to you, Pavilion Master. Without your unparalleled Artifact Refining Skill and the abundant High-tier resources and connections you provide, how could Yalan achieve such results? I’ve merely done my part."

"Sit and let’s talk; there’s no need for formalities between us!" Li Mu invited with a smile, taking a seat directly.

Liu Yalan nodded, took a seat, and pulled out a Storage Ring from her chest, offering it to Li Mu and reporting, "Pavilion Master, here are some rare resources and intelligence gathered by the Treasure Pavilion recently, for your review."

After saying this, Liu Yalan took out a Jade Token, respectfully handing it to Li Mu and reporting, "Pavilion Master, there’s also this — a fortuitous encounter — we found this Celestial Puppet Spirit Token as well."

"Excellent, Shopkeeper Liu, you’ve made a significant contribution this time!"

Li Mu first accepted the Storage Ring, then took the Jade Token, scanning it with his Divine Sense, his face beaming with delight, praising.

Below the Innate Divine Power - Recognition of Ten Thousand Spirits, the attributes and functions of the ’Celestial Puppet Spirit Token’ appeared before Li Mu.

[Celestial Puppet Spirit Token (One-eighth)]

[Grade: Tier Seven Daoist Spiritual Treasure]

[Attributes: Cognition-controlling Celestial Puppet, Yu Gui Space, Celestial Puppet Heart Palace, Ten Thousand Puppets’ Deceit, Controlling Puppet Spirit, Thousandfold Divine Puppet]

[Status: Incomplete Equipment, Missing Artifact Spirit, Puppet Palace Closure.]

[Refined from Tier Seven Spirit Rhinoceros Jade Crystal, Tier Seven Chaos Beast Emperor Bone, Tier Seven Reincarnation Spirit Spring, Tier Eight Salo’s Soul... and many other Celestial Destiny and Life and Death Spiritual Materials into a Tier Seven Celestial Puppet Dao Artifact - Eight-sided Puppet Suppressing Token. This Spiritual Token contains the Celestial Puppet Heart Palace; fully completing through Heart Palace - Divine Sense Refining grants access to the Puppet Dao Saint Tier Inheritance Technique - "Celestial Puppet Forging Dao Scripture." ... Divine Sense can be consumed to control countless Puppets. However, this artifact is a Puppet-controlling Artifact; its Dao Principle is peculiar, long dormant, and possesses certain Mind Confusion Chaos, use with caution.]

Seventy years ago, Liu Yalan had collected one Celestial Puppet Spirit Token, and now the last one is also in hand, completing all eight Celestial Puppet Spirit Tokens.

Li Mu smiled slightly, taking out the other seven Celestial Puppet Spirit Tokens from the Storage Compartment and placing them together.

Eight Celestial Puppet Spirit Tokens converged in Li Mu’s palm, an ancient and profound aura suddenly permeating the entire courtyard, enveloped by an invisible force. Among the Spiritual Tokens, the originally faint Spirit Light began to intertwine and blend, forming complex and mysterious Spirit Pattern trajectories.

Li Mu’s gaze became solemn, his hands slowly forming a seal, his internal Spiritual Power surging, transforming into pure torrents of Spiritual Power, injected into these Spiritual Tokens. The eight Spiritual Tokens began to tremble fiercely, their Spirit Patterns activated, releasing dazzling light.

"Merge!" Li Mu exclaimed softly, his hands suddenly coming together.

Immediately, the eight Celestial Puppet Spirit Tokens rotated and fused in the air, finally transforming into a brilliant light, condensing into a jade-like Token emitting intense Spiritual Pressure, translucent throughout, with intricate Puppet Patterns flowing on its surface, forming the complete "Eight-sided Puppet Suppressing Token."

[Eight-sided Puppet Suppressing Token]

[Grade: Tier Eight Dao Artifact]

[Attributes: Cognition-controlling Ten Thousand Puppets, Yu Gui Space, Celestial Puppet Heart Palace, Ten Thousand Puppets’ Deceit, Thousandfold Divine Puppet, Puppet Dao Transmission]

[Status: Complete Equipment, Revived Artifact Spirit, Puppet Palace Open]

...

With the formation of the Eight-sided Puppet Suppressing Token, a massive Puppet Power surged from the Token, quickly filling Li Mu’s Sea of Consciousness.

Li Mu smiled slightly, eyes gently closing, silently receiving the transmission of "Celestial Puppet Forging Dao Scripture."