Chapter 201: Puppets of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan

"Out so soon? Though it depends on luck, but... hmm?"

Prince Su looked at Lin Qing, who had just come out of the cultivation room, with some confusion, then suddenly froze, staring at Lin Qing in disbelief, and exclaimed in shock: "Your gene index..."

"Looks like I had good luck." Lin Qing smiled.

"You've already developed this strand of Void God bloodline to its limit?" Prince Su looked at Lin Qing incredulously: "Could you be one of those people favored by the universe? I never saw that coming..."

"I don't know about that." Lin Qing brushed it off: "I'm just lucky when I cultivate."

"... The universe is vast, truly full of wonders."

Prince Su took a deep breath and said: "It seems you are very suited to developing such a supreme bloodline. If you can become a Primordial Realm Void-level citizen, you will qualify for an even deeper Void God bloodline."

"Oh?" Lin Qing's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but feel expectant.

Prince Su shook his head slightly and asked: "As a Primordial Realm Star-level citizen, you can still visit the Cosmic Wonders Museum and have the authority to create puppets. Do you need that now?"

"Create puppets?" Lin Qing asked in confusion.

"Yes, puppet bodies."

Prince Su said: "As a Star-level citizen, you can create Star-level intelligent puppets worth no more than 'one hundred Stars'. You can treat them like the Mechanical Race, just not quite the same."

"Intelligent puppets?" Lin Qing asked somewhat puzzled.

Prince Su waved his sleeve, and rows of text and images immediately floated before Lin Qing's eyes, clearly a list.

Lin Qing looked closely.

【Number xj2887, Ninth-Rank Combat-type Intelligent Puppet, Value 12 Stars, Details as follows...】

【Number xf1077, Ninth-Rank Assassin-type Intelligent Puppet, Value 15 Stars, Details as follows...】

【Number xh850, Ninth-Rank Life Scholar-type Intelligent Puppet, Value 65 Stars, Details as follows...】

【Number xl770, Ninth-Rank Mechanical Scholar-type Intelligent Puppet, Value 70 Stars, Details as follows...】

【Number xp551, Ninth-Rank War Command-type Intelligent Puppet, Value 120 Stars, Details as follows...】

【Number xk182, Ninth-Rank Civilization Mentor-type Intelligent Puppet, Value 600 Stars, Details as follows...】

Various types of intelligent puppets, along with their prices, appeared before Lin Qing's eyes.

"These are all puppets?" Lin Qing exclaimed in shock.

Prince Su said casually: "To be precise, these are talents from the Second-Level Civilizations that once attached themselves to my Primordial Realm, who voluntarily uploaded their consciousness to become information life. They are now stored as information life in the Vacuum Great Tomb. As long as there is a suitable puppet body, they can exert their abilities from before."

She glanced at Lin Qing and said: "You can treat them all as true life."

"Ninth-Rank puppets, roughly what level?" Lin Qing asked curiously.

"Combat-type puppets are at the strength of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan." Prince Su said: "Or an equivalent standard in other fields."

"What?"

Lin Qing couldn't help but be stunned: "Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan? These puppets have the strength of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan?"

He looked at the puppets on the list in disbelief.

The cheapest combat-type puppet costs only 12 Stars; wouldn't one hundred Stars get you eight?

Eight combat-type puppets with the strength of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan?

His current strength had only just reached the threshold of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan; on Earth, only Qi Lingxiao was truly at the strength of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan.

Now he could exchange for eight?

That's too absurd.

"Prince Su." Lin Qing couldn't help but ask: "Do these puppets have any drawbacks?"

Such powerful puppets must have flaws.

"Drawbacks?" Prince Su thought for a moment and said: "If we must say, although these puppets have eternal bodies and can recover from injury, if the puppet's life core is damaged, then it cannot recover."

"Eternal bodies?" Lin Qing was even more shocked.

Prince Su glanced at him and said: "No need to be surprised. Such talents are only average even for Second-Level Civilizations; it's just a small welfare benefit the Primordial Realm provides to Star-level citizens."

"However, this Ninth-Rank Civilization Mentor-type Intelligent Puppet is worth 600 Stars?" Lin Qing asked in confusion.

"The Civilization Mentor is the most important existence for a civilization."

Prince Su said: "Not only can it greatly increase the probability of high-energy-level geniuses emerging in the civilization and clarify the most suitable development paths for geniuses, but it can also, like a prophet, determine the source of a civilization's disasters."

Hearing this, Lin Qing's heart couldn't help but stir.

Isn't this Yi Leina Duo's divine function?

Moreover, as a Star-level rare divine function, Yi Leina Duo is already equivalent to the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan in this aspect; she also possesses Ninth-Level authority, so her potential is actually even greater.

"I see..." Lin Qing shook his head: "I only have one hundred Stars; I can't afford it anyway."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

Prince Su smiled and said: "These puppets have had their autonomous consciousness stripped away and are loyal only to you, so their value is ten times higher. If their autonomous consciousness were restored, the exchange price would be only one-tenth of the current price."

"One-tenth?"

Lin Qing was stunned.

Does that mean one hundred Stars could exchange for over eighty combat-type puppets with the combat power of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan?

"With autonomous consciousness, will these puppets still obey me?" Lin Qing couldn't help but ask.

Prince Su said: "Then they would be true intelligent life. But since they have long since sworn a life oath to exist forever for the Primordial Realm, at that time they will only be loyal to the Earth Civilization formed from the Primordial Realm fragment, living only for the Earth Civilization, not loyal to you personally."

"Oh?"

Lin Qing nodded slightly and said: "Then I don't need them to be loyal to me personally; anyway, their effect on me isn't great."

"True." Prince Su nodded. "As long as you can master the Eighth-Level World God, with your gene index, you can fully assault the combat power of the Tenth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan. If you become a Star God, perhaps you could reach the Eleventh Layer of the Yu Xingyuan. These puppets indeed have little meaning to you personally."

Lin Qing also strongly anticipated it in his heart.

Ordinary Star Deity Functionaries are only at the strength of the Eighth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan; often only rare divine functions can reach the combat power of the Ninth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan. This level is already a supreme expert of a First-Level Civilization.

Yet, theoretically, he can reach the eleventh layer of the Yu Xingyuan!

This exceeds the imagination of a Level One civilization.

Even in a Level Two civilization, it would likely exist only as legend…

"But don't let your guard down."

Prince Su said: "If we speak purely of personal strength, no genius at your level—except those from 2.9-level civilizations—can surpass you. But Level Two civilizations have other means."

"For instance, geniuses who have no hope of transforming into Void Creatures willingly undergo conversion into special puppet bodies to fight for their civilization in special realms that restrict life levels. Though they can never advance further, their lifeforms become extraordinarily powerful."

"Some even, through extraordinary luck, obtain artifact fragments from their faction, granting them astonishing combat power."

Prince Su whispered: "So you must still proceed with caution."

"Artifacts?" Lin Qing asked curiously: "Do any of Earth's relic spaces have them?"

Prince Su fell silent for a long while, as if recalling something, then sighed and said: "Only the crafting methods remain—none exist anymore."

She studied Lin Qing and said: "If you become a Star God, you might be able to reforge the artifacts."

Lin Qing nodded.

"Enough." Prince Su said: "Choose the puppets you need yourself."

Lin Qing paused, then asked: "Which ones do you think are best?" Prince Su smiled and said: "Clever little one—I'll guide you. But you must tell me about Earth's situation."

"Thank you."

Lin Qing nodded, while part of his consciousness logged into the Second Universe Net and contacted Chu Hongjun.

…

"Benefits for Primordial Realm Star-Class subjects?"

Chu Hongjun adjusted his glasses, staring at the puppet list Lin Qing had given him, lost in thought.

He fell silent for a moment, then said: "Ninth-rank puppets are indeed highly valuable to Earth, but you don't need any Civilization Mentor puppets—Yi Leina Duo already equals a Level Nine Civilization Mentor, and she will grow even stronger. As for combat puppets, they can be used to protect you…"

"I don't need them."

Lin Qing said immediately: "They're useless to me personally. My strength has already reached the lower limit of the Yu Xingyuan's ninth layer. If things go well, after training for decades in the Void Tomb's training chamber next time, I'll reach the tenth layer. After the Divine Office Trial, I'll be even stronger—I won't need them."

"Then only a few combat puppets will suffice."

No error in any single character or content!

Chu Hongjun said: "These puppets won't reverse Earth's current situation, but once Earth is completely secure, these scholar puppets will be most helpful. I need one each of these three types of mechanical scholar puppets, and one war command puppet. The rest you decide."

"Alright." Lin Qing gave a slight nod.

…

"No Civilization Mentor?"

Prince Su studied Lin Qing. "Looks like Earth has no shortage of talent."

She immediately said: "I recommend you choose these twelve combat puppets. You may also choose these two assassin puppets. Select several of these guardian puppets too. This explorer-type puppet holds resource and tech knowledge a Level One civilization needs—get as many as you can. Also, the mental observation puppets…"

Lin Qing glanced at the puppets Prince Su listed and immediately nodded: "Fine, I'll take these. I also need these three mechanical scholar puppets and the war command puppet."

He paused, then asked: "Prince Su, among these ninth-rank life scholar puppets, which one specializes in studying lifeform structures?"

"You want him to teach you life research so you can more easily merge with the World God, right?"

Prince Su saw through his thoughts at once and smiled: "Then choose No. xh520—it's the most knowledgeable in this field."

Lin Qing nodded immediately: "Alright, I'll take these."

The selected intelligent puppets are now:

Twelve combat puppets, valued at 14.4 Star Points.

Two assassin puppets, valued at 3 Star Points.

Two guardian puppets, valued at 2.8 Star Points.

One life scholar puppet, valued at 6.5 Star Points.

Three mechanical scholar puppets, valued at 21 Star Points.

One mental observation puppet, valued at 9 Star Points.

One war command puppet, valued at 12 Star Points.

Three resource explorer puppets, valued at 30 Star Points.

"That totals 98.7 Star Points—1.3 left unused. Want to swap for another combat puppet?" Prince Su said.

"Alright." Lin Qing nodded. "Twelve combat puppets together can suppress a ninth-layer peak. I'll keep them as a hidden card. Adding one more visible combat puppet won't hurt."

Prince Su closed her eyes for a long moment, then said: "Done. All twenty-three puppets have been deployed to Earth."

"I thought I'd have to take them out myself," Lin Qing said in surprise.

"These puppets belong to Earth's civilization," Prince Su said. "They will be absolutely loyal to Earth's civilization—even if Earth's leader acts against Earth's interests, they will oppose without hesitation."

"Good."

Lin Qing showed a faint smile.

"Though you are a Primordial Realm Star-Class subject, they will respect you—not obey you blindly. If you err, they will oppose you without hesitation," Prince Su warned.

Lin Qing nodded: "So it's all about the civilization's priority."

"Exactly."

Prince Su sighed: "Back then, countless Level Two civilizations in the Void Star Sea supported the Primordial Realm, and countless beings willingly became puppets. But after the Primordial Realm's destruction, everything vanished…"

"Void Star Sea?" Lin Qing asked curiously.

"That is the high-dimensional layer of the universe," Prince Su said casually. "All Level Two civilizations were founded within the Void Star Sea—only Void Creatures can enter it."

Lin Qing understood.

"Will you visit the Cosmic Wonders Museum?" Prince Su asked.

"The Star God Trial is still far off—I'll just take a casual look," Lin Qing said. "I'll visit in detail next time."

Earth will open in ten months.

He must transform into an Ultimate Star Creature as soon as possible; by then, he can begin cultivating the eighth-level Divine Art, and his gene index will exceed the cosmic standard by a thousandfold.

By then, mere genetic advancement alone will double his strength.

"That works," said Host Prince. "After all, with your current vision, you cannot comprehend these wonders that embody cosmic truths and space-time rules."

Earth.

The urban circle has been overthrown, yet this remains the seat of Earth's highest authority; the various fortresses destroyed back then have been repaired and reassembled into a base.

At this moment, twenty-three figures fly in from the horizon, hovering above the base.

"Is this the planetary civilization evolved from a Primordial Realm fragment?"

"It seems far too weak..."

"But for such a weak planetary civilization to still have three Star Divine Officials is already remarkable."

"The road ahead for a new civilization in the Primordial Realm is still very long."

"I wonder what the situation is on this planet now? Where is that Star-level Citizen of the Primordial Realm, my lord?"

"Earth still needs a leader."

"Let us first select a sufficiently excellent person to serve as Earth's leader."

The twenty-three intelligent puppets converse casually while simultaneously probing the situation on this planet.

Inside the base below, Qi Lingxiao grips his long staff as if facing a great enemy, warily sensing the twenty-three terrifying auras above the base.

"So many powerful beings? Where did they come from?"

Qi Lingxiao can clearly sense the twenty-three auras above; none of them is inferior to him!

A powerhouse of the ninth layer of the Yu Xingyuan, even within the Milky Way, is exceedingly rare; most Level One civilizations cannot find a single one, and they are mainly concentrated in Level 1.9 civilizations. For instance, the Yuanchen Civilization has only one such being.

Now so many have suddenly appeared?

"Do not be nervous."

Just then, Chu Hongjun, clad in a white lab coat, appeared in the room and said calmly, "These people are allies, obtained by Lin Qing from the Vacuum Great Tomb."

(End of this chapter)