Chapter 1144 - 749: Yin Yang Dharma King

Chapter 1144: Chapter 749: Yin Yang Dharma King

During battle, he would split off a portion of his Divine Soul to control them.

The price was high and the gains meager, so this path was deserted.

Among Loose Cultivators, those who cultivated Puppet techniques were extremely few.

Shen Xuan was an exception.

He had delved deeply into this path for many years; his attainments were second only to True Monarch Tian Gong of the Thousand Mechanism Sect in the Song Country.

In terms of breadth of vision and originality of thought, he even surpassed him.

The threshold for Puppet Masters was high; the requirements on Talent and the Divine Soul were harsh.

Coupled with the complexity of manufacture and the extravagant consumption of materials, it was often a loss-making endeavor, so naturally few were interested.

But on Starlight Island Research Institute, none of this was a problem.

The first thing Shen Xuan did was to greatly improve the待遇 of disciple Puppet Masters.

Outstanding academy disciples, after Foundation Establishment, would have priority to enter the Puppet Research Institute for further study.

In addition, Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators were recruited from outside to specialize in Puppet techniques.

Those who met the requirements and passed review would be granted the reward of island household registration.

Not only themselves; they could also bring direct relatives within three generations.

Of course, all of these people had to swear a Celestial Dao Oath and leave behind Essence Blood Soul Tokens.

They absolutely could not betray Starlight Island and the Human Race.

Otherwise, with the Essence Blood Soul Token in hand, the Starlight Island Law Enforcement Team could locate them at any time, enforce island law, and execute them on the spot.

Their relatives would likewise have their Cultivation abolished and all be expelled from Starlight Island.

Even so, Loose Cultivators coming to defect arrived in an endless stream.

At present, the Puppet Branch had the greatest number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

There were as many as thirty-seven.

Academy-trained disciples and externally recruited Loose Cultivators each accounted for about half.

However, the distinction between them was not so clear-cut.

Relatively speaking, Cultivators who focused single-mindedly on Cultivation Techniques were still simpler in mind.

Shen Xuan took the new-type Tier Three Puppet he had designed, and apart from a few core key parts,

he disassembled all the rest, made the blueprints and components public, and had the more than thirty Tier Two Puppet Masters in the institute pool their wisdom for joint improvement.

The Thousand Mechanism Sect also sent three Tier Three Puppet Masters as full-time instructors to lead the攻关.

There was only one goal.

Replace materials and lower the cost.

Lay the foundation for future large-scale production.

Even if some sensitivity, speed, and performance were lost, it was acceptable.

Any improvement that proved feasible in practice would be heavily rewarded by the research institute.

They would even directly bestow Golden Transformation Pills and Core Formation Spiritual Objects!

One Tier Two Puppet Master of Loose Cultivator origin used several Tier Two materials in combination to improve the roc claws, with remarkable effect.

Shen Xuan immediately rewarded merit, granting a Golden Transformation Pill.

That Puppet Master was so excited he nearly fainted.

For a time, the Puppet Research Institute boiled like water at a rolling boil.

The three Thousand Mechanism Sect Puppet Masters and the more than thirty institute disciples were all utterly fascinated, researching day and night.

Shen Xuan walked slowly through the Starlight Institute.

Along the way, every disciple who saw him bowed in salute, their gazes full of respect.

He inclined his head slightly and went straight into the Puppet Branch.

The scene within the institute was entirely different from outside.

There was no quiet seclusion; only the sounds of metal striking stone and Spirit Fire tempering.

Puppet Masters gathered in groups of three or five in one place, either arguing over blueprints or using the Magical Treasure tools provided by the academy to process all kinds of Puppet components.

No one stopped their work because of his arrival.

This was a rule he had set.

Within the research institute, empty formalities were not valued—only practical results.

Shen Xuan did not disturb them either, quietly threading his way among them, sometimes pausing to watch, sometimes bending down to closely inspect.

From time to time, he would extend a finger to tap a certain place on a blueprint, or say a few words about a component currently being tempered.

"This mortise-and-tenon joint here can be changed to a ’double-arc lock’; the strength will not decrease, and you can save thirty percent of the spirit iron."

"There’s no need to seek completeness in the transmission Spirit Patterns; keep only the core three strokes, and the response will actually be quicker."

He spoke little, yet his words often struck at the crucial point.

Puppet Masters who received his guidance would often tremble all over, light bursting from their eyes, then immediately grab their companions and say urgently, "Quick! Recalculate the Spirit Pattern arrangement here!"

"So that’s how it is!"

Cries of excitement rose one after another.

Shen Xuan took it all in with calm expression, yet a faint trace of satisfaction stirred in his heart.

Even the True Master of Spirit Refining, who had originally had quite a few complaints, could not help but click his tongue in wonder when he saw this.

He had previously held the nominal post of branch head, but his main energy had been spent on various fundamental constructions of Starlight Island.

He had not spent much time in the Puppet Research Institute.

He only came occasionally to give a pointer or two.

Daily affairs were handled by the Thousand Mechanism Sect Puppet Masters.

Since Shen Xuan’s return to Starlight Island,

the staff of the Puppet Research Institute had rapidly expanded, and its funding and rewards greatly increased.

Through the sleepless efforts of these students,

the fourth-generation new-type Tier Three Puppet quietly took shape.

The cost plummeted.

Aside from a few core parts that still required High Tier Spiritual Materials, almost all remaining components could be refined with Tier Two Spiritual Materials.

And this was a genuine Tier Three Flying Puppet!

Its attack and flight capabilities were comparable to that of a Tier Three Demon Bird King.

Someone at Late Stage of Foundation Establishment could操控 it with ease.

The key was that it was cheap.

The refining time had also been shortened considerably.

With the strong cooperation between Starlight Island and the Thousand Mechanism Sect, the fourth-generation new-type Tier Three Puppet was about to enter mass production.

Of course, the production site was chosen on Starlight Island.

The most core key technologies were held in the hands of Shen Xuan alone.

This was one of Starlight Island’s trump cards for taking root in a chaotic world.

Shen Xuan quietly withdrew from the bustling Puppet Branch.

Here, daily affairs were still handled by Vice Branch Master, the True Master of Spirit Refining.

However, compared to Shen Xuan, his influence could be ignored.

...

On this day, outside Starlight Island, dark clouds hung low.

A black-robed Cultivator, wearing a hood that blocked Divine Sense, under Lin Yueying’s guidance, quietly walked along a small path into the Cold Ice Cave.

His steps were extremely light, his body slightly bent, carrying twelve parts caution.

In the reception hall, the clear and cold fragrance of Flowing Frost Cold Soul Tea diffused faintly.