Chapter 172: Still Too Kind

Being choked by the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse, Ning Manrou's deathly pale face quickly flushed crimson; she desperately grabbed the corpse's hand, fully aware she had no room to resist at all.

She could only stammer, "Cloud... Cloud Exterior... Cloud Exterior Realm, a... a remote Cloud Island."

Bang!

The Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse loosened its grip, and Ning Manrou fell to the ground.

But at that moment she could think of nothing else, merely clutching her throat as if it had been gripped by red-hot iron tongs, gasping violently.

She had almost died for real.

At this moment Yunhe walked up to her, crouched down, and looked at her.

Ning Manrou's expression stiffened instantly, and she looked at Yunhe.

"So you really know where Blood Crystal Wood is, right?" Yunhe asked, his expression unchanged.

"Cough, cough." Ning Manrou wanted to say something, but due to sudden agitation and her sore throat, she couldn't get the words out.

But fortunately.

Amid her anxiety and unease, Yunhe did not strike again, merely watching her silently.

After a while.

Ning Manrou finally recovered, and hurriedly said:

"Before, I followed my master to the Cloud Exterior Realm to gather materials for making puppets. I accidentally entered the territory of a Cloud Beast and was chased; while fleeing in haste, I happened to see Blood Crystal Wood growing on the island."

"Why didn't you go collect it afterward? Blood Crystal Wood is also an excellent, hard-to-find material for you puppet masters, right?"

Yunhe asked calmly.

Upon hearing that, Ning Manrou showed a helpless expression.

"First, because that place is quite remote, and we weren't sure whether any other Cloud Beasts still existed on the island. Second,."

She paused, drew a slight breath, then continued:

"Second, at that time my master gathered materials to craft a puppet in order to break a seal somewhere; and before that seal, Senior, you understand, right?"

Ning Manrou looked toward the direction they had fled from earlier.

Yunhe's pupils contracted.

"Blood Kui Old Ancestor?"

"We, the Secret Puppet Sect, are not a major sect; puppet technique is inherently not a very orthodox cultivation path, and moreover, the materials required to make puppets are actually not less than those needed to refine magical artifacts, spiritual artifacts, or even magic treasures, but puppets are far more fragile compared to those. Therefore, our sect has always had few members and scarce resources, relying entirely on our Master's solitary perseverance."

"Our Secret Puppet Sect is not a major sect; puppet arts were never a mainstream cultivation path, and the materials needed to make a puppet are no less than those for crafting magical artifacts, spiritual artifacts, or even magic treasures—but puppets are far more fragile compared to those. Thus our sect has always been few in number and scarce in resources, relying solely on our master's stubborn perseverance."

"Until one time, my master won a secret map at an auction and judged it likely related to puppet arts. He then thought that if he could obtain a more powerful puppet technique, perhaps he could elevate our sect."

"Thus, after spending considerable time and effort, my master finally located the Cloud Island marked on the secret map. However, the island possessed a special seal, so he had no choice but to attempt to create a higher-tier 'Seal-Breaking Puppet' and ultimately managed to break the seal."

A deep fear surfaced in her eyes and on her face.

"And inside that seal lies the Blood Kui Old Ancestor." Yunhe interjected.

"Yes." Ning Manrou nodded. "Later my master was forcibly controlled and turned into a Human Puppet, while I was left to guard the seal. The Blood Kui Old Ancestor ordered me to bring Golden Core cultivators to the island and promised to teach me the Puppet Secret Technique."

"So actually, what materials I need isn't important; what matters is that I've just broken through to Golden Core, making me an easy-to-handle early-stage Golden Core cultivator. And that so-called Elder Jiang earlier was merely one of the Blood Kui Old Ancestor's Human Puppets."

Yunhe gained a rough understanding of the situation.

Ning Manrou spoke blankly: "Originally, according to the plan, we were supposed to bring you, Senior, to the island, but your vigilance was too high, so Elder Jiang had no choice but to decide to act while you rested at midnight—he never expected."

"To bring you to that Cloud Island where the Blood Kui Old Ancestor resides?"

"If that's the case, then even giving him tens of thousands of Crimson Shadow Golden Winged Bees, or even giving him a pair of wings, wouldn't let him escape."

"In the end, would he become just another Human Puppet of the Blood Kui Old Ancestor?"

Thinking of this, Yunhe felt a chill run down his spine.

Although like Elder Jiang he could retain some self-awareness and even make independent judgments and move freely, everything about him remained under the Blood Kui Old Ancestor's control—being alive was worse than being dead.

This is more agonizing than being refined into a half-dead corpse.

"Since you've decided to flee, why didn't you just leave Cloud Palace City when you had the chance, instead of waiting until I was about to leave to have me bring you?" Yunhe raised another question.

"Originally he only placed a seal on me; I fantasized that if I just obeyed, perhaps I could still rescue my master—after all, he was a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor who didn't care for my master's body. But after my master died and the Blood Kui Old Ancestor's power gradually recovered, he could already dispatch Golden Core Human Puppets to watch me from afar off the island, and by the time I tried to escape, it was already too late."

"So seeking me out is just a gamble, right?"

Yunhe gave a light chuckle.

He didn't doubt Ning Manrou's words at all.

Because at this moment Ning Manrou's body contained many Corpse Soul Gu, so although Yunhe didn't know what she was thinking, he could still clearly tell whether she was lying.

And those Corpse Soul Gu were also injected when the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse carried Ning Manrou away during their escape.

At that time, the Blood Kui Old Ancestor tried to use the parasite planted in Ning Manrou's body to infiltrate the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse, but was killed and devoured by the Corpse Soul Gu and corpse bones inside the corpse, letting Yunhe know that Corpse Soul Gu have a certain countering effect against the Blood Kui Old Ancestor's "Blood Ghost Parasitic Technique."

Actually, Yunhe's speculation had already arisen when the Blood Kui Old Ancestor revealed itself on that Golden Core Human Puppet.

Therefore, when Ning Manrou made her request, he decided to give it a try, having the Heavenly Capital Gu Corpse roll her up.

Of course, what Ning Manrou said also played a certain role.

Fact proves that although he doesn't understand exactly what the Blood Kui Old Ancestor's "Blood Ghost Parasitic Technique" is, the Corpse Soul Gu that restrain yin spirits and ghosts can deal with this parasite.

"If you don't gamble, you'll still end up made into a Human Puppet and then mysteriously vanish."

"Rather than that, it's better to take a gamble—after all, dying early or late is still death; it's better to die easily and swiftly, avoiding torment."

After hearing that, Yunhe nodded.

One must admit, this person may not be decisive, but at least he has a bit of a fighting spirit.

"Record the location of the Cloud Island where Blood Crystal Wood grows on a Jade Slip."

After tossing a blank Jade Slip to Ning Manrou, Yunhe said:

Ning Manrou took the Jade Slip, bit her lip, and wore a hesitant expression.

Seeing that, Yunhe smiled.

How? You should also know that your life is in my hands, right? With just a thought, your body will immediately be devoured by a multitude of gu insects; by then, tsk tsk at that sight.

Hearing that, Ning Manrou's face turned deathly pale.

For a female cultivator like her, with a beautiful appearance and delicate features, there is no threat more menacing than 'disfigurement'.

"Don't think that if you don't speak I won't kill you. I still know how to use the Soul Search Technique."

Although after using the Soul Search Technique once, Yunhe had a bad impression of that feeling of scrambled memories, but previously he was merely at Foundation Establishment yet went to search the souls of remnants of Jie Dan Stage cultivators, whereas now he is at Jie Dan Stage and his divine sense is stronger than tenfold, searching the soul of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator is still acceptable.

Of course, if it can be avoided, it's best not to use it.

"Oh, by the way, I can also detect lies," Yunhe added lightly.

Ning Manrou gave a bitter smile.

He then said nothing more, honestly inscribing the location of Yun Island where the Blood Crystal Wood grows into the Jade Slip.

"'Then this person' Yunhe glanced briefly, put away the Jade Slip, and looked at Ning Manrou again."

"Senior! I am willing to be your concubine! Although the Secret Puppet Sect is not a major sect, it can still be of use to you."

Seeing Yunhe's intention, Ning Manrou immediately begged for mercy.

Yunhe remained expressionless and unmoved.

Looking at her pitiful expression.

To be honest, his impression of Ning Manrou is not good.

Not only because she almost led him into a trap set by the Blood Fiend Old Ancestor, but also because when she first saw him, she displayed a bewitching appearance that reminded him of cultivators of the Charm Sect.

Moreover, the Blood Fiend Old Ancestor could break free at any time, after which Ning Manrou would certainly become one of his primary targets; if we take in the Secret Puppet Sect and then attract his attention, pulling out the radish will bring up the mud and lead him back to us, which would be troublesome.

Yunhe did not believe that the Corpse Soul Gu he left behind could fully control her.

Upon further thought,

This woman actually managed to escape from the grasp of a Nascent Soul old monster; whether by luck or seizing an opportunity, who can guarantee she won't find another means to break free from my hands?

Yunhe dare not say he can match a Nascent Soul old ancestor.

Most importantly,

Although it appears he has removed the parasitic entity left by the Blood Fiend Old Ancestor on her, this is only because she is a Foundation Establishment cultivator who does not require such a strong seal, and no one knows whether the Nascent Soul old monster has any other tricks up its sleeve.

Therefore,

"'Indeed, it's still better to kill her.'"

The thought reached this point.

Suddenly—

The Heaven Capital Gu Corpse suddenly moved.

After a fleeting flash,

Ning Manrou fell heavily to the ground with an incredulous gaze, her vitality swiftly ebbing away.

"I saved you, you told me about the Blood Soul Wood, so we owe each other nothing. But you caused me to fall into danger, yet I gave you a clean death to escape being turned into a human puppet."

Yunhe murmured a sigh.

"Ah, I am still too merciful."

The Heaven Capital Gu Corpse retracted its Corpse Soul Gu, took the storage bag, Yunhe tossed a flame, and the two figures swiftly flew away from the island.

Deep in the blood pool.

Laid out were many small wooden tablets, on which faintly appeared curling patterns resembling scars.

This is the Blood Puppet Token, just as controlling ordinary puppets requires a special token, so does controlling human puppets.

Crack!!

And one of those wooden tablets suddenly shattered.

The infant seated on the remnant corpse glanced sideways down into the blood pool.

"Tsk, such a pretty girl says she'll strike and she does; this kid is too cautious."

Although Yunhe's ability to dispel the Blood Ghost Parasitic Technique on Ning Manrou surprised the Blood Fiend Old Ancestor somewhat, the connection between Ning Manrou and the Blood Puppet Token would not be so easily severed.

Originally, he could use the Blood Puppet Token to find Ning Manrou again, and perhaps then find Yunhe as well.

Who would have thought Yunhe would be so decisive.

This gave the Blood Fiend Old Ancestor a bit of a headache.

He was actually outmaneuvered by a junior at the early Jie Dan Stage?

If this got out and his old friends found out, wouldn't they laugh their heads off?

However, the Blood Fiend Old Ancestor quickly gathered his mind and focused on restoring himself.

Even if he broke free, he would temporarily have no time to deal with a junior at the early Jie Dan Stage, as he has more important matters to attend to.

"Wait until I pluck a gourd, then I'll concoct this brat."

In his view, a mere early Jie Dan Stage cultivator, once he is free, even if that bee swarm is fierce, what kind of waves could it raise?

For that matter, let alone Yunhe, even the rival who once beat him into this state can be set aside for now.

"We must seize the time; if it really doesn't work, we won't bother with Jie Dan Stage cultivators, but instead forcibly seize a batch of Foundation Establishment cultivators to break free first. Although this will cause innate deficiencies, there will be opportunities to make up for them later. After breaking free, we still need plenty of time to prepare in advance."

(End of chapter)