Chapter Twenty: Wooden Puppet Marionette

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  It probably left the puppet's induction range, so the puppet stopped moving. Only its body was swaying with the waves, slightly undulating.

  It was probably hiding in a corner on one side, so Ling Xiao didn't notice it when he came in. It wasn't until he approached the stone platform that the puppet detected him and suddenly launched an attack on him. Fortunately, Ling Xiao was cautious and always kept his guard up, barely dodging the previous blow.

  Ling Xiao was somewhat curious about the token on that stone pedestal, but didn't have the intention of taking it down no matter what.

  He had just obtained the Black Gold Claw, greatly increasing his strength, and it was also the first time he saw a puppet with such power, so he couldn't help but feel delighted. Therefore, probing the intentions of this puppet far exceeded obtaining that command token.

  Clutching the black gold claws tightly, he cautiously moved forward, silently estimating the distance to that puppet.

  One zhang, nine chi, eight chi...

  When it was only about five feet away, the puppet suddenly raised its head, and a faint red glow emanated from its eyes; then the wooden puppet's body moved accordingly, taking two consecutive steps on the water surface, yet still floating on the water's surface, with each step creating a splash of water. The long sword inserted in the water also suddenly rose, bringing up a faint light in the splashing water droplets, and shot straight towards Ling Xiao.

  Within five feet of distance, almost as soon as he had the thought, the wooden sword was already thrust into his chest!

  Ling Xiao hastily retreated, while the finger gestures in his hand changed, with all ten fingers flying about like flowers dancing in the air. He continuously struck out nine seal gestures, forming a coiled dragon silhouette in mid-air; the dragon silhouette was only vaguely defined, merely having the appearance of being coiled.

  Then Wujin Claw was sacrificed, and Longying also attached itself to Fei Claw.

  Fei Zhao's body shone with a layer of dark light, and from afar, it seemed as if an illusory black dragon had appeared, swimming and swirling around him. Suddenly, it swiftly crossed in front of his chest, revealing the "Cutting Style" of the Fei Zhao Basic Nine Forms.

  "Clang!"

  In the midst of the sound of gold and iron clashing, the wooden sword struck heavily on the dragon's shadow. Ling Xiao only felt his body tremble slightly, unable to help but take a step back, that black golden claw had already been knocked back into its original shape, falling towards the water.

  Ling Xiao hastily changed the finger technique, transforming it into a "thieving style", and once again nine consecutive seal techniques were executed. This time, however, it was just an illusory afterimage of a swimming dragon's tail. After being imprinted on the flying claw from afar, the black gold claw suddenly swept up from below at an angle, raised its head, swung its tail, and with all four claws dancing wildly, charged straight towards the wooden puppet's chest area.

  This is already the limit that Ling Xiao can reach now.

  In the briefest moment, he could cast nine spells in succession; any more would take too long. Fortunately, with the help of these spells, he was able to control the Black Gold Claw with increasing ease and precision, as if it were an extension of his own arm. Only then could he use the Black Gold Claw to block the wooden puppet's sword and quickly adapt within a few short breaths.

  That wooden puppet was originally floating on the water surface, approaching Ling Xiao, but was suddenly pierced from the water by Wujin's sharp claws and heavily struck in the chest.

  With a dull thud, the wooden puppet's momentum suddenly stalled, its eyes flashing wildly with red light, but Ling Xiao had already taken advantage of the opportunity to retreat seven or eight feet away. The wooden puppet lost its target and could only stand still on the spot.

  Suddenly

  The flying claw retracted, held in his hand, and Ling Xiao took a slight breath. This puppet was indeed formidable, reacting so quickly even without anyone controlling it, and the power of each sword strike was not to be underestimated. However, after all, it was just a puppet, and after losing its original master's control, its movements were somewhat stiff. Moreover, the sensing distance was too close, which also gave Ling Xiao an opportunity.

  Ling Xiao retreated slightly and carefully observed the puppet.

  Except for a pair of eyes that faintly showed some red light, there was nothing unusual about the rest of the body, just like an exquisitely crafted wooden puppet.

  To defeat this puppet, the simplest way is to directly destroy its core location.

  So where is its core?

  If a master who is proficient in puppetry were here, he might be able to judge some things from the puppet's movements and reactions; but Ling Xiao couldn't see anything at all. However, he had the most stupid and simplest method, which was to try one by one.

  The core of a puppet is essentially just the head, chest, and abdominal area... these few positions.

  The plan was set, and Ling Xiao immediately activated the finger technique. In an instant, a "grabbing" gesture appeared, and the black gold claw broke through the air, transforming into a dragon-like shape that twisted and turned, bringing with it a dark light that rushed straight towards the puppet's head to grab it.

  When the flying claw was about five feet away from the wooden puppet, it suddenly sprang into action.

  Its movements were still somewhat rigid, continuously treading on the water's surface, and with a horizontal swing of its wooden sword, it slashed horizontally at Flying Claw.

  Ling Xiao's finger technique changed from "grabbing style" to "twisting style", and with a flick of the dragon's tail, a wooden puppet was struck by a sword in the midst of the clashing sounds of metal. Immediately following, it transformed into "sweeping style", flying claws rose at an angle, and once again swung horizontally to strike the wooden puppet's head.

  "Boom!"

  The wooden puppet was shaken violently, but quickly connected its movements, the long sword counter-attacked, and slashed diagonally towards the flying claw.

  But at this time, Ling Xiao had already pinched the "收式" (receiving formula), calmly retrieving his flying claws. With the help of the Dragon Shadow Formula, the flying claws moved as freely as a swimming dragon, becoming even more agile and powerful, making it even harder for the puppet to defend itself.

  It seems not on the head, then next place...

  Ling Xiao tried again and again, nine moves intersecting and changing, claw shadows flying everywhere, head, neck, chest... until the moment it hit the center position, the wooden puppet suddenly shook violently, its movements instantly becoming stiff.

  Although the wooden puppet reacted quickly, it also greatly invigorated Ling Xiao's spirit, realizing that the core of this puppet must be in a central position. In fact, this is also where the core of the puppet is often placed; after all, being in the center, the distance to the head and limbs are the shortest, relatively speaking, it is naturally the most convenient to control.

  Of course, this is also related to the fact that the puppet's protection is not tight. Although the carving is exquisite and powerful, the attack power is also excellent, but after all, the materials used are general, and the defense will be much worse. It seems like the original owner's game work, but the practicality is a bit poor.

  Ling Xiao gained the upper hand and no longer held back.

  Flying claws were launched in succession, with the assistance of Longying's magic trick, grabbing, striking, sweeping, stealing, turning, locking, dancing, intercepting, and collecting. The sound of breaking wind in the void was like a dragon's chant, with strange moves coming out one after another, continuously searching for gaps and crevices, passing through the puppet's wooden sword, each strike hitting the puppet's core area.

  At last, after a continuous creaking sound for a moment, the core hidden in the wooden puppet's abdomen burst open with a "crack" and its movements stopped instantly. The wooden sword fell to the ground with a loud "thud", fiercely splitting the water waves and striking the ground.

  The wooden puppet itself still floated on the surface of the water, dragging a wooden sword in its hand as it bobbed up and down with the waves.

  Ling Xiao cautiously approached, seeing that the wooden puppet still hadn't moved, she finally put her mind at ease. Walking over, she carefully examined this puppet, which was carved with great precision, its facial features all clearly visible, looking just like a lovely child; the joints of its limbs were also made with great craftsmanship, rotating very smoothly, without any stiffness.

  Moreover, this wooden puppet looks about half the height of a person and is very light, able to float on the water's surface. The only heavy thing is the wooden sword in hand, which seems just right for this puppet, but can maintain its body balance very well.

  The immortal's wonderful skill is indeed exquisite in its own way.

  Ling Xiao found it quite likable, each strike of this wooden puppet had a power equivalent to at least the third layer of Qi training; it was also fortunate that its movements were stiff, if someone else controlled it, he would have been unable to defeat it so easily.

  He didn't understand puppetry and had no idea how to control it, let alone repair it. He could only put the puppet in his storage bag for now and wait for another opportunity.

  And then his gaze turned forward to the stone pedestal, what would be guarded by such exquisite puppets?

  Treading on the waves, I picked it up, but it was a crimson token, about three inches high, and felt quite thick in my hand. In the center was written an ancient and simple character "令", which, although only a single word, seemed to exude a few degrees of majestic and dignified air.

  Below the character "令", a line of tiny characters the size of flies' heads was written, and Ling Xiao carefully identified them: Qi Yun Sect, Sect Master's Order.

  Zi Yun Zong, what is the order of the sect leader?

  Ling Xiao couldn't help but jump in fright, what was this thing? Why had he been at the Qiyun Sect for over four years, yet never heard of anything called a "Sect Master's Order"? And even if there was such a thing, shouldn't it be in the hands of the current sect master, Geng Xin? How could it possibly appear in a place like this?

  Just as he was racking his brains and couldn't figure it out, the sudden sound of breaking air rang out again!

  Ling Xiao was greatly startled, and in his dazed state, his reaction was inevitably slower. He felt a fierce and chilly aura rushing straight at him from the left side, and in his haste, he didn't have time to summon his flying claws, so he hastily held up the command plate in front of him for protection.

  "Crack!"

  The token, however, was apparently not very sturdy and had snapped in two with a loud crack!

  Ling Xiao dodged to the side, not having time to nurse his headache, and the subsequent problems brought by the Sect Master's sudden appearance; he simply raised his head to look around, only to see that from the left side, another wooden puppet suddenly pounced out. This puppet was similar in height and appearance to the previous one, but its body was carved with a pink lotus skirt, and it had the appearance of a young girl!

  Although she was a young girl, the wooden puppet did not show any mercy, its sword tip slightly raised, and once again it slashed towards Ling Xiao.

  Fortunately, Ling Xiao had come back to his senses and had the previous experience, at this time he was even more confident. He took out the Black Gold Claw, combined with the Dragon Shadow Technique, the flying claw changed and transformed, continuously striking the center and lower abdomen of the wooden puppet. Soon, a crisp "crack" sound came from the wooden puppet's body.

  Ling Xiao took a deep breath, fortunately this puppet was not manipulated by anyone, otherwise if the two puppets were to attack at the same time, he would have been utterly defeated.

  He put away the wooden puppet and sat cross-legged on the stone platform to recover his breath. Having defeated two wooden puppets in a row, he had also consumed a lot of energy, and if another one came out, he would only be able to flee in disarray.

  The true energy circulated and flowed, slowly recovering bit by bit. But at this moment, Ling Xiao suddenly sensed something strange...