Chapter 2553

But he soon discovered that the pain in his wound had greatly eased.

Dong Rui shoved another heart-strengthening and spirit-refreshing pill into his mouth: "Speak."

The effect and value of this pill were equally considerable; Hu Xin had just swallowed it when he felt a warm current surge from his abdomen, spreading through his limbs, and his spirits indeed lifted.

"Ten years ago, when Lingyun Island was completed, I was transferred here, so anything earlier is just hearsay." Hu Xin also knew to preface with a disclaimer: "It is said that fourteen years ago, Master Duan and Master Xiao were married, and at that time Master Xiao was not yet Master Xiao, merely Master Duan's most outstanding personal disciple."

Zhu Xiuer: "Are they master and disciple?"

Others: "Are they husband and wife?"

Master Duan married his own female disciple—tsk tsk, why aren't they surprised?

"Um, why?" Ling Jinbao scratched his head, "Master Duan He Yun is also someone who has seen countless sails, so why would he suddenly marry his own female disciple?"

Even rabbits know not to eat the grass beside their burrow.

"Um..." Hu Xin hesitated for a moment, "Master Xiao possesses peerless talent, the disciple Master Duan admires and praises most. But there are still rumors in the palace, saying that Master Xiao not only has outstanding talent but also cunning, which is why Master Duan married her."

Dong Rui interjected: "How old was Xiao Ping back then?"

"Master Xiao was seventeen at the time."

"No wonder Master Duan He Yun is so devoted." Dong Rui gave a thumbs-up, "Only devoted to sixteen, seventeen, eighteen."

He Lingchuan remarked playfully: "The leader of Lingyun Island's top-tier demon puppet experiments is actually a couple."

"Yes, and still is. But they don't quite count as a devoted couple—they often have arguments." A devoted couple refers to a husband and wife with deep affection. "What I just said was merely rumor, but in these years at Lian Valley I've also found that Master Xiao nominally is Master Duan's deputy, yet in reality the overall demon puppet project is under her control, and the demon puppet masters basically operate under her management."

Ling Jinbao exclaimed in surprise: "Has Master Duan He Yun been sidelined like this?"

This Master Xiao, has both brains and means.

"Master Duan's achievements in research are unmatched, but in other aspects..." Hu Xin gave a light cough, "At least in management and organization, he falls far short of Master Xiao. Tiangong once tried to parachute someone in to manage Lian Valley, but couldn't surpass Master Xiao. Now the demon puppet masters in Lian Valley are also clear: major affairs are decided by Master Xiao."

Dong Rui clicked his tongue twice: "Yellow Wasp Woman."

Zhu Xiuer gave him a sideways glance: "Reminded of the past?"

"Nonsense." Dong Rui immediately straightened his face, "Yesterday's affairs are like yesterday's dead."

He swiftly changed the topic: "So, does Master Duan still resemble his former self in being amorous?"

"Master Xiao keeps him under strict control, often locking him in the experimental field for two or three months at a time. The two often argue, and we dare not listen too closely." These people love to hear, so Hu Xin simply said more, "Until half a year ago, Master Duan would occasionally sneak out of Lingyun Palace, and we didn't dare ask where he went. But upon returning, they often quarreled even more fiercely."

"You guys here are really interesting—doing experiments while still able to watch a comedy." Dong Rui actually felt a bit envious, "Recently, these past six months—has he been going out less often?"

"Yes, yes. Master Duan has recently been deeply engrossed in researching a new project, unwilling to go out. Besides, Lingyun Island has recently been busy to the point of chaos, needing to dissect the body of the Hidden God Lord and store the parts separately. Master Duan and Master Xiao's tasks are both especially burdensome."

Ling Jinbao has been preoccupied with the 《Ancient Texts Reader》 and the Nine Linked Rings, unable to help asking about the uses of these two items.

The long-term prisoner from Dougu Garden working in Lian Valley, who is also Deng Yanlong's confidant, should know far more secrets than Manager Wang.

And Hu Xin said, that should be for A Lian.

"Who is A Lian?" Another new name.

A Lian is a child born in Lingyun Palace, appearing outwardly no different from a human child, but her actual age is only over five months, and her true identity is the divine body descended by the demon puppet masters!

Upon hearing this, Dong Rui's breathing grew light: "Appearing outwardly no different from a human child?"

He also has a demon puppet here, outwardly no different from a human child, but Xiao An was originally a young Tengu, a shape-shifting demon.

Moreover, Dong Rui has never heard of any divine body made from fragments of the Hidden God Lord that could be completely identical to humans. Even the skin of the God Chi Yao is actually quite crude in appearance, with features indistinct, like a human face wearing a jellyfish.

Therefore, the phrase "outwardly no different from humans" carries weight only Dong Rui can understand.

The "A Lian" mentioned by Hu Xin truly is a cross-version advancement.

The more the divine body resembles a human, the greater its ability to unleash its original power after the descent of the heavenly demon. Thus, not only Dong Rui, but others hearing this also felt uneasy.

Dong Rui pressed: "Is it made from fragments of the Hidden God Lord?"

"Yes, yes."

"How many such experimental bodies have succeeded?"

"Such," meaning outward appearance indistinguishable from humans.

The bad news Hu Xin gave was seven, while the good news was that these seven successes came from a denominator of over forty thousand failures!

Besides these seven, all other experimental bodies have various kinds of flaws, more or less.

Dong Rui specifically asked again: "How many of those that succeeded in surviving are there?"

"I'm not clear. This figure of forty thousand examples is what the demon puppet masters of Lian Valley let slip, and I happened to hear it."

"The success rate is about one in several thousand." Zhu Xiuer murmured, "Seems not low."

"Not low?" Dong Rui shook his head, "Such experimental bodies aren't like the eggs you spiders lay—once producing thousands! Cultivating a complete experimental body from fragments of the Hidden God Lord, this process's difficulty surpasses your imagination."

The deeper he delved into this, the more astonished he became by the achievements of Tiangong's demon puppet masters.

How many heaven-defying geniuses have gathered in this little Lian Valley?

He asked Hu Xin: "In your ten years of research at Yanxia Bay, how many experimental bodies have you produced in total?"

Experimental bodies need not succeed; as long as they are produced, each one counts.

"Also just these forty thousand."

"Look." Dong Rui said to everyone, "The time, money, materials, and energy costs consumed among these—dozens of small countries couldn't bear them. So producing only seven perfect successful bodies in ten years, this pace, Tiangong must certainly be dissatisfied."

"Yes, yes." Hu Xin also said, "Early research progress stalled for a long time, Tiangong constantly blamed, Master Duan's recent pressure is great, his hair has turned white considerably."

The pressure endured by the Holy Lord of Lingxu in the heavenly realm will be transmitted downward, ultimately transforming into strong urging upon Tiangong and the divine body series experiments.

"Why send toys and books to A Lian?"

(End of Chapter)