Chapter 228: Chapter 201: Thousand Threads Technique at 18 Threads, Preparations for a Tier 2 Puppet Master

「Two years slipped by quietly.」

Deep within Lu Zhao’s cave dwelling in the Bixia Sect, he sat cross-legged. Before him hovered a crimson spirit bird Puppet the size of a goshawk.

The bird’s frame was made of Red Fire Spirit Iron, its body of Red Fire Wood, and it was covered in complex Flowing Fire Spirit Patterns. It vibrated faintly, emitting a low, pleasant hum that caused the surrounding air to ripple.

This was the Red Fire Spirit Bird Puppet, the product of two years of his painstaking, repeated refinement. It was one of the very best Tier One High-Grade Puppets, capable of scouting, providing warnings, and possessing considerable Fire Element Attack Power.

Lu Zhao’s fingertip twitched, and a stream of pure Magical Power poured into the Puppet Core. With a sharp flap of its wings and a soft HUM, the Red Fire Spirit Bird transformed into a streak of crimson light. It circled rapidly within the cave, its flight path nimble and unpredictable, stirring up waves of heat. It would hover one moment and dive the next, the flames on the edges of its wings flaring to leave a faint scorch mark on the stone wall.

"Not bad..." A heartfelt smile touched Lu Zhao’s lips. In two years, he had nearly exhausted his entire stock of materials, but he had painstakingly raised the success rate for crafting the Red Fire Spirit Bird to nearly fifty percent!

This not only meant his skill in refining Tier One High-Grade Puppets was fully mastered, but it also signified that he could now attempt to become a Tier Two Puppet Master.

After the test, with a mere thought from Lu Zhao, the circling Red Fire Spirit Bird became a streak of red light and vanished into his Storage Bag.

Next, Lu Zhao gathered his focus, his Divine Sense slowly sinking into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.

His vision changed from the cold stone room to a vast, boundless Void. Within this Void, eighteen condensed Divine Sense Threads floated quietly like living serpents, faintly resonating with one another to form a profound Array Formation.

*Thousand Threads Technique*—the full eighteen Divine Silks, all manifest!

Lu Zhao gazed at these eighteen Divine Sense Threads, his heart filled with joy. ’After two years of bitter cultivation, I’ve finally advanced the *Thousand Threads Technique* to this stage.’

The eighteen Divine Sense Threads not only gave him exquisitely precise control over his Puppets but also meant he could simultaneously command both the Corpse Puppet Battle Array and Li Xuerou in battle, greatly increasing his power.

After examining the results of his *Thousand Threads Technique* training, Lu Zhao’s Divine Sense withdrew from his Sea of Consciousness and slowly sank into his Dantian Qi Sea.

Inside his Dantian, twenty-five drops of Liquid Magical Power were suspended, spinning slowly. Each drop contained immense Water Magic Power, and they flowed among each other along intricate paths, forming a stable cycle.

Twenty-five drops of Liquid Magical Power!

This meant that Lu Zhao’s Cultivation was steadily progressing toward Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. The price, however, was the complete consumption of the two bottles of Tier Two Middle-Grade Spirit Water he had obtained from the Le Family.

After reviewing the most significant achievements from his two years of training, Lu Zhao rose to his feet. He pushed open the heavy stone door, leaving the cave dwelling where he had secluded himself for the past two years.

He didn’t delay, heading straight for the Artifact Hall. He passed through the bustling Artifact Refining Area, amidst the rhythmic CLANG of hammers and waves of scorching heat, and found Zhou Xianlu busy before an Earth Fire Furnace.

"Brother Zhou." Lu Zhao cupped his hands in salute.

Zhou Xianlu put down the Artifact Embryo in his hand, wiped the sweat from his brow, and broke into a hearty smile upon seeing Lu Zhao. "Junior Brother Lu? A rare guest! Have you found some good materials and want this brother to help you out?"

Lu Zhao shook his head and got straight to the point. "I haven’t found any materials, no. I actually came to ask if you could refine a Carving Knife for me, Brother."

"A Carving Knife?" Zhou Xianlu was taken aback for a moment, then a glint of understanding flashed in his eyes. "Oh? It seems my junior brother has made more progress in the Way of Puppetry? But you can buy ordinary carving knives in the Marketplace. Why the need to seek me out?"

Lu Zhao calmly replied, "The Carving Knife I need must be a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact. The quality doesn’t need to be high; as long as it’s functional, that’s enough. The most common Tier Two Spiritual Materials will do."

"A Tier Two Spiritual Artifact-level Carving Knife?!" Zhou Xianlu’s smile froze, replaced by sheer astonishment that quickly turned into sincere admiration. "My goodness! Junior Brother Lu, you’re aiming to become a Tier Two Puppet Master!"

’He looked Lu Zhao up and down. It’s only been ten-odd years since he reached Foundation Establishment, and not only has his cultivation progressed rapidly, he’s already preparing to become a Tier Two Puppet Master? A pace like this is on par with some of the Sect’s greatest talents!’

Lu Zhao waved his hand dismissively, his tone still even. "You flatter me, Brother Zhou. I’m just planning ahead. The techniques for Tier Two Puppetry are profound and difficult, and the materials are even rarer and harder to find. How could I dare hope for a swift breakthrough? I’m just getting my tools ready to avoid being caught unprepared later."

"Haha, Junior Brother, my dear Junior Brother, you call this ’planning ahead’? This is planning way, way ahead!" Zhou Xianlu laughed and shook his head, clearly not believing Lu Zhao’s modest words. "To need a Tier Two Carving Knife means you must have already mastered Tier One High-Grade puppet techniques. You’re only a single step away from Tier Two! Well, this brother offers his congratulations in advance!"

"Don’t worry, you can leave the Carving Knife to me! The most common Tier Two Spiritual Materials... hmm, how about Black Water Profound Iron and Celestial Spirit Stone? Both materials offer a balance of hardness and toughness, conduct Spiritual Power well, and are relatively cheap."

"I’ll leave it entirely in your hands, Brother." Lu Zhao nodded.

"Good! I have some leftover scraps of both materials, which will be plenty. Come back in three months to pick it up!" Zhou Xianlu guaranteed, patting his chest.

Without another word, Lu Zhao took a heavy cloth pouch from his Storage Bag and pushed it forward. "My thanks for your trouble, Brother. Here are twenty Middle-Grade Spirit Stones for your labor and the material costs."

Zhou Xianlu took the pouch. "You’re too kind, Junior Brother! This is far too much..." he started to refuse out of habit.

"Your craftsmanship is superb, Brother. You deserve this price," Lu Zhao said with sincerity. "As for whatever is left over, just consider it me treating you to some Spirit Tea."

Seeing this, Zhou Xianlu stopped protesting and accepted it with a serious expression. "Then this brother will shamelessly accept. Rest assured, Junior Brother. I’ll pour my heart and soul into forging this Carving Knife. I definitely won’t cut any corners!"

Lu Zhao left the Artifact Hall without pause, heading next for the Merit Hall.

The main hall of the Merit Hall was as bustling as ever. Lu Zhao navigated to the exchange area with practiced ease, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of items on the list before finally landing on one in particular.

Tier One High-Grade Artifact Refining Furnace, the ’Earth Flame Cauldron.’ Exchange Cost: 80 Merit.

Without hesitation, he presented his Identity Token. "I’m exchanging for the Earth Flame Cauldron."

The Outer Sect Steward at the counter verified the information on the Token and said softly, "Martial Uncle, exchanging for the Tier One High-Grade Artifact Refining Furnace, the Earth Flame Cauldron, will deduct eighty Merit points. Please accept it, Martial Uncle."

Then, with a flash of Spirit Light, an Artifact Refining Furnace appeared before Lu Zhao. It was dark red, stood about half as tall as a man, and its body was inscribed with intricate Flame Runes.

Lu Zhao waved a hand, storing it in his Storage Bag. Acquiring this furnace was another step in his preparations to become a Tier Two Puppet Master.

Refining Tier Two Puppets required a higher quality of Earth Fire Power, whether for processing the sinews, bones, and hides of Tier Two Demon Beasts or for smelting Tier Two Spiritual Materials. Relying on ordinary Earth Fire Stones was inefficient and often failed to melt tougher materials. This Tier One High-Grade Earth Flame Cauldron would be sufficient for his initial needs in processing Tier Two Puppet Materials.

With this, the key tools he needed to become a Tier Two Puppet Master—the Carving Knife and the Artifact Refining Furnace—were secured. All that remained was to wait for suitable Tier Two materials to become available.

Lu Zhao returned to his cave dwelling. He planned to spend the rest of his time in quiet meditation, consolidating his recent gains while awaiting a notice from the General Affairs Hall.

’What will my first mandatory mission after reaching Foundation Establishment be?’ He felt a mix of anticipation and his usual caution.

Sure enough, half a month later, as Lu Zhao meditated in his cave dwelling, the Bixia Sect Inner Sect Steward Token at his waist suddenly vibrated, emitting a warm pulse.

Lu Zhao opened his eyes, picked up the Token, and immersed his Divine Sense within it.

A clear line of text materialized:

"Junior Brother Lu Zhao: Report to the Recruitment Bureau of the General Affairs Hall within three days."

’A familiar summons, but the tone is completely different from the ones I received during the Qi Cultivation Stage.’

Lu Zhao put down the Token, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes before vanishing. He took a deep breath and slowly rose. ’Two years of quiet cultivation, an improved cultivation base, and Minor Achievement in Puppetry... It’s time to step back into the Cultivation Realm, a world of unknowns and challenges.’

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