Improved Heavenly Demon Puppet

The Heavenly Demon Puppet, while powerful, has one major flaw—it cannot use combat techniques.

Thus, Xiao Feng aimed to develop an improved version that could wield combat techniques without compromising its original power.

His idea was not entirely outlandish. Among the artifact-crafting techniques mastered by Ma Xianhong, there existed a method to imbue puppets with the abilities of extraordinary beings.

Since Xiao Feng had limited materials, barely enough to craft one Heavenly Demon Puppet, he decided to improve his chances of success by first crafting a batch of inexpensive melee puppets for practice.

After several days of research and modification, Xiao Feng successfully inscribed the operational routes of various combat techniques into the melee puppets using formation patterns. This allowed them to master the corresponding techniques.

From the practical data gathered, Xiao Feng discovered that techniques like the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, which have broad, straightforward moves, were better suited for melee puppets.

The melee puppets that mastered the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms could not perfectly execute its full power but could achieve about 98% of its potential.

On the other hand, those attempting the Dugu Nine Swords barely reached 10% of its effectiveness.

This discrepancy arose because the Dugu Nine Swords required exceptional comprehension, while the greatest weakness of puppets is their lack of intelligence.

As a result, Xiao Feng ultimately decided to inscribe three combat technique formation patterns onto the Heavenly Demon Puppet: the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the Ascending Immortal Steps, and Seven Days of Desolation.

The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms needs no further elaboration. Its training threshold is nearly zero, and even the most talentless disciples of the Beggars' Sect could learn it.

However, the latter moves required profound internal energy, so only a handful of people mastered the entire set.

As for the Ascending Immortal Steps and Seven Days of Desolation, they were peerless techniques created by Emperor Shitian by synthesizing hundreds of martial arts styles.

Despite Emperor Shitian's immense power, his natural talent for cultivation was poor. He almost died at the hands of Wu Wudi, who had cultivated for decades.

Precisely due to his lack of talent, Emperor Shitian's techniques were designed with minimal requirements for aptitude.

Once Xiao Feng made up his mind, he began inscribing the three combat technique formation patterns onto the corpse of the Earth Demon Ghost.

Using Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, Xiao Feng melted a special metal capable of conducting battle energy into a dark golden liquid. He then used his mental force as a carving tool to inscribe the patterns into the Earth Demon Ghost's body.

Having already inscribed similar combat technique patterns onto dozens of other melee puppets, Xiao Feng performed the process smoothly.

In under half an hour, he perfectly inscribed the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms formation onto the Earth Demon Ghost's arms.

Next, he inscribed the Ascending Immortal Steps onto its legs and Seven Days of Desolation onto its torso.

The reason Xiao Feng only inscribed three patterns was not due to a lack of willingness to add more but because no single body part could accommodate multiple formations without risk.

If two different patterns overlapped and interfered with each other, the puppet would at best short-circuit and at worst self-destruct.

Therefore, the three patterns Xiao Feng chose for the Heavenly Demon Puppet were not only the most compatible but also mutually non-interfering.

After completing the inscriptions, Xiao Feng followed the refining method recorded in the scrolls to craft the Heavenly Demon Puppet.

With his current artifact-crafting skills, refining a Heavenly Demon Puppet posed no challenge, and the process went smoothly.

From the moment Xiao Feng announced his seclusion for crafting to the completion of the puppet, less than three days had passed.

"This is the Heavenly Demon Puppet?"

Zi Yan curiously walked up to the dark green humanoid puppet beside Xiao Feng, tapping it with her finger. A metallic clang resonated.

Qinglin blinked her beautiful eyes in confusion. "Young Master, isn't the Heavenly Demon Puppet supposed to be dark gold?"

Facing the three women's inquisitive gazes, Xiao Feng smiled and explained, "This puppet isn't a Heavenly Demon Puppet; it's a Human-grade Demon Puppet!"

"Human-grade Demon Puppet?"

"Heavenly Demon Puppets are divided into three grades: Human, Earth, and Heavenly, ascending in rank," Xiao Feng explained calmly.

"Heavenly-grade Demon Puppets are the highest tier, with a dark gold exterior and also known as Heavenly Demon Puppets. Earth-grade ones are slightly inferior, appearing silver-white. Human-grade ones are the weakest, with a bronze exterior."

"I see."

Little Fairy Doctor nodded thoughtfully but couldn't help remarking, "Ah Feng, I didn't expect that even with your crafting skills, you could only make a Human-grade Demon Puppet. It seems that crafting a Heavenly Demon Puppet is harder than we imagined!"

"Xian'er, you're mistaken."

Xiao Feng shook his finger with a smile. "The fact that I made a Human-grade Demon Puppet precisely shows that crafting a Heavenly Demon Puppet is relatively easy."

???

The women exchanged puzzled looks, not entirely grasping his logic.

"Human-grade Demon Puppets may have the lowest quality, but they also have the greatest evolutionary potential."

Seeing their confusion, Xiao Feng didn't keep them in suspense. Patting the Human-grade Demon Puppet's shoulder, he explained, "This puppet currently has the power of a six-star Dou Ancestor. However, it can evolve by absorbing lightning energy.

"Given enough lightning energy, it can ascend to Earth-grade and even Heavenly-grade Demon Puppet status.

"Based on my calculations, if this Human-grade Demon Puppet evolves into a Heavenly Demon Puppet, it could reach the power of a four-star Dou Venerate."

[What the heck! This thing can evolve into a four-star Dou Venerate? I was only a five-star Dou Venerate when I was alive!]

[This madman keeps getting crazier. I've only been dormant for a few months, and it feels like I can't keep up anymore!]

Learning that a Human-grade Demon Puppet could evolve to rival a Dou Venerate, both the Heavenly Fire Sovereign and Queen Medusa couldn't help but internally lament.

"Young Master, you're amazing!"

Qinglin's eyes sparkled with unrestrained admiration.

Zi Yan nodded knowingly. "As expected of the man I acknowledged~"

Regaining her composure, Little Fairy Doctor smiled and said, "Respected Alliance Leader, now that the puppet is complete, what's the next step for our Supreme Alliance? Should we rest and recover for a while, or continue expanding our territory?"

(End of Chapter)

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