Chapter 421: Praising the Light

Lin Gui crafted an Intermediate-Grade Puppet, still with a ten-year lifespan limit, in only one day.

This surprised the Puppet Makers present, but it was still within an acceptable range.

Many people looked at Lin Chao with even kinder gazes.

The community of Puppet Makers is just that simple; they value skill and talent.

Lin Chao displayed exceptional talent, and his skills were currently quite good, so naturally, he was able to gain the attention of those present.

After Wang Lu finished speaking, the Senior Brother turned his gaze to the puppet Lin Chao had crafted and began to examine it simply.

However, after a short while, the Senior Brother's gaze changed; he was no longer just looking casually, but was examining it earnestly.

He even began to move, circling the puppet to inspect it thoroughly.

The other Puppet Makers saw this scene and were slightly surprised; it was rare to see the Senior Brother so serious.

Time passed quickly, and the Senior Brother still had no reaction; Wang Lu was already somewhat impatient: "Senior Brother, how is it?"

The Senior Brother then snapped out of it and coughed: "Little Lin is worthy of being the strongest new student; the puppet he crafted exceeded my expectations.

The fusion of materials, the craftsmanship of the forging, and the harmony of the interfaces are all perfect, not at all inferior to us students of the Inner Academy."

"Is that for real, Senior Brother?" Wang Lu showed a surprised expression, and her gaze toward Lin Chao became even kinder.

Although the Senior Brother was usually unreliable, he wouldn't talk nonsense in a situation like this.

Others also looked at Lin Gui; it was truly rare for the Senior Brother to evaluate someone like this.

That meant Lin Gui was truly Excellent.

"However," at this moment, the Senior Brother's tone shifted, "there are still quite a few flaws in the puppet's construction; the structure was too rushed, the overall integrity is not perfect, and there is still a lot of room for improvement.

But for a young person to be able to achieve this step, it is already very Excellent."

Although the Senior Brother said this, he swallowed hard inside.

The Lin Gui before him was far beyond his expectations.

The flaws he mentioned were also things he had barely managed to find after looking for a long time.

If someone gave him this puppet and told him it was made by their master, he would believe it.

Lin Chao gave the Senior Brother an extra look: "Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother."

Because it was an Intermediate-Grade Puppet crafted on the core of a Legendary Puppet, forging a twin puppet, there were indeed some flaws in the overall structure.

That the Senior Brother could see these meant the Senior Brother did indeed have some level of skill.

Wang Lu walked closer to Lin Chao and patted Lin Chao on the shoulder again: "Keep up the good work; the heavy responsibility of creating a Legendary Puppet is left to you young people."

"Senior Sister Wang Lu, you are also very young." Lin Chao exchanged a few pleasantries.

Wang Lu's gaze then landed on the puppet behind Lin Chao: "Lin Gui, I happen to be missing a Life Puppet.

After you finish your assignment, how about giving this puppet to Senior Sister?

Senior Sister won't take advantage of you for nothing; I have a qualification to enter the Puppet Illusion Realm, so I will give it to you."

Wang Lu's casual words immediately surprised many students on the scene.

The Puppet Illusion Realm is the core of the Second Puppet Academy's foundation.

Even Inner Academy students are not necessarily qualified to enter the Puppet Illusion Realm.

It is rumored that the Puppet Illusion Realm comes from the Ancient God Temple, a temple of an Ancient God named Goddess Wa.

It is rumored that within the Puppet Illusion Realm, there is a partial inheritance from Goddess Wa, and inside there are even higher techniques regarding puppets.

There is even a rumor that Goddess Wa was the first Ancient God between heaven and earth, an existence like the Father God.

All living beings in heaven and earth were made by Goddess Wa using puppets.

These secrets are contained within the Puppet Illusion Realm.

Of course, these things were too far away for the students present.

Being able to enter the Puppet Illusion Realm was of great benefit to them and was an excellent way to improve their puppet-making skills.

What's more, activating a Puppet Heart means a boundless future, with a chance to become a master among Puppet Makers.

Wang Lu said she was letting Lin Chao trade an Intermediate-Grade Puppet for a chance to enter the Puppet Illusion Realm, but in reality, Lin Chao was making a huge profit.

How could an Intermediate-Grade Puppet compare to entering the Puppet Illusion Realm?

Seeing this, the Senior Brother hurriedly said: "Why don't you thank Senior Sister yet!"

The others looked at Lin Chao with envy on their faces as well.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Wang Lu." Lin Chao did not refuse.

This puppet was merely a test piece for him and didn't count for much at all.

The Puppet Illusion Realm, however, was a place Lin Chao had wanted to enter from the very beginning.

Of course, he had not forced his way in.

"There are five more days until the day the Puppet Illusion Realm opens; don't miss it." After Wang Lu finished speaking, she turned and left.

Beside him, the Senior Brother looked at Lin Chao with an unreadable expression: "You're getting a bargain, kid."

After saying this, the Senior Brother also left, and the others on the scene left one after another, leaving only Lin Chao and that Intermediate-Grade Puppet.

In the Inner Academy, inside the casting workshop.

It was bustling with activity, with Fire everywhere, and the face of the short-haired old man was reflected red.

He was sweating profusely, his eyes fixed on the furnace, and his gaze swept over the other apprentices, very dissatisfied: "A bunch of trash, can't you even tend a fire?

And you, Ding Xiu, I only told you to observe the changes in the materials and record them; you've been here for so many days, what have you recorded?"

The short-haired old man cursed at the people in the workshop; these people lowered their heads one after another, very afraid of the short-haired old man, and did not dare to look him in the eye.

However, after cursing for a few minutes, the short-haired old man stopped.

Because a young woman had entered the workshop.

"My good daughter, you've come!" The short-haired old man beamed with joy upon seeing the person arrive; his previous fierce and menacing expression vanished completely, as if he were a different person.

"Father, how is the progress?" Wang Lu looked up and then withdrew her gaze.

"With this bunch of idiots around, what kind of progress could there be!" Speaking of this, the short-haired old man became very angry. "Although I just solved the forging problems for a few materials, I've discovered quite a few more issues.

For example, the integrity of the materials and the fusion between different materials—this is a huge challenge.

Legendary Puppets have very high requirements for materials; ordinary materials are hard to reach the durability of a Legendary powerhouse.

They must be fully utilized to have even a sliver of a chance.

I have to solve all of these before I can move forward."

In order to craft a Legendary Puppet, the short-haired old man had worried until his hair turned white.

"But don't worry, my good daughter, that old freak Liu is the same as me; he hasn't made any progress either." Mentioning the old freak Liu, the short-haired old man's expression was very animated.

"But I heard that the old freak Liu has taken in a few new disciples, and their talent is quite good. Two of them have already activated their Puppet Heart." Wang Lu tilted her head.

"Hmph, so what if they activated their Puppet Heart?

Our Second Puppet Academy is also full of talent!

We will definitely craft a Legendary Puppet before the First Puppet Academy."

"Father is right.

But Father, didn't the old freak Liu recruit a few outstanding disciples?

I think Father should also recruit some more disciples.

I recently discovered a newcomer who is quite good, and I gave him the qualification to enter the Puppet Illusion Realm."

"Ah?" The short-haired old man first felt a pang of regret, then quickly returned to normal. "I won't recruit disciples at will; if he hasn't activated a Puppet Heart, I have no interest whatsoever."

If the old freak Liu hadn't been showing off to him, the short-haired old man wouldn't have set such high conditions.

"Don't worry, Father, the candidate I've scouted for you will definitely be a thousand or a hundred times better than the old freak Liu's disciples!"

"Hmph!"

The Library Pavilion has six floors in total.

Only students of the inner court can enter the top three floors.

As for the very top floor, only a small number of people in the inner court are qualified.

At this moment, Lin Chao was reading on the very top floor.

The words of the senior brother had indeed been remembered by Lin Chao.

The flaw did indeed exist.

Although it was not obvious in a Legendary Puppet.

But if it were crafted into a God-Tier Puppet, it would certainly have major problems.

Even if the crafted puppet reached the God-Tier, if it encountered a true god, its weaknesses would still be found and then exploited.

Lin Chao had come to the Library Pavilion to find inspiration to make up for the flaws.

Of course, it was also to absorb more knowledge to improve himself.

Looking at the books, Lin Chao soon became engrossed.

Among them, an ancient book caught Lin Chao's attention.

This ancient book innovatively proposed a technique called the Comprehensive Creation Method, which could avoid the problems Lin Chao was facing.

However, this technique had many problems in its implementation and eventually died out.

This method was also considered by the outside world to be very imaginative but unrealistic.

But for Lin Chao, these were not issues.

This line of thinking brought Lin Chao some ideas.

In front of him, a notebook and a pen appeared.

He scribbled and drew on it, fully focused.

Time passed quickly, and the draft paper was filled by Lin Chao.

Lin Chao checked the contents of the draft paper again, went through it in his mind once more, and confirmed there were no problems.

"Done, I have completed the Comprehensive Creation Method."

In Lin Chao's hand were a few sheets of draft paper, on which was the Comprehensive Creation Method he had completed.

Following this method, the problems the senior brother mentioned before would no longer exist.

Moreover, Lin Chao had also optimized the Comprehensive Creation Method; according to the newly improved method, the characteristics of the materials could be fully utilized.

Ordinary materials, through matching and forging, could even resist the attacks of gods.

Lin Chao thought for a moment and placed the draft paper inside the ancient book.

"The inspiration came from you, so it shouldn't be lost."

Lin Chao was not one to hoard his findings; he did not hide the completed Comprehensive Creation Method but placed it inside the book.

If someone were to read this book, they would discover these drafts.

This could also count as him leaving something behind for the Second Puppet Academy.

Anyway, based on this draft paper, no one would be able to determine it came from him.

And he wouldn't be troubled by it.

Stretching his back, Lin Chao walked out of the Library Pavilion.

The night was dark, the Heavenly Vault was deep and profound, and the Xing He hung upside down.

The entire inner court rarely had any figures, and Lin Chao walked slowly toward his residence.

Just then, at the main entrance, a figure appeared and blocked Lin Chao: "May I ask if you are Senior Brother Lin Gui?"

Lin Chao glanced at the person who had come and nodded: "Mm."

"Senior Brother Lin Gui, I am a servant from the household of Miss Ou Lingqian.

My young lady has always admired Senior Brother Lin Gui and specifically ordered me to wait here..."

Before the middle-aged servant could finish speaking, Lin Chao spoke up: "I do not know any Miss Ou Lingqian."

After Lin Chao finished speaking, he ignored the middle-aged servant's reaction and returned to his own room.

The middle-aged servant was stunned and hurriedly shouted: "My young lady is a fellow student of yours and is the number one beauty in the Academy; she wishes to invite you, young master, for a brief chat!"

Unfortunately, Lin Chao paid the middle-aged servant no mind at all.

The middle-aged servant was also stunned.

His young lady's reputation in the Academy was far-reaching, and there were many talented young men who pursued her, yet his young lady did not look favorably upon any of them.

Now, his young lady was inviting this Lin Gui for a nighttime chat, and the meaning revealed could not be more obvious.

Yet, that Lin Gui still refused.

Was he even a man?

With the young lady's appearance and figure, the middle-aged servant himself felt moved; if he could get a taste of such beauty, he would be willing to trade two years of his lifespan.

He did not understand, but he could only return.

Half an hour later, in a restaurant, a young woman draped in thin, light gauze revealed her graceful figure; at this moment, a cold and alluring smile hung on her face: "Lin Gui is unwilling to come?"

The middle-aged servant's heart rate accelerated; he dared not raise his head to look at the woman before him and could only keep his head lowered, yet he felt moved just looking at that glimpse of her lower leg: "I hadn't finished speaking, and that Lin Gui ignored me and went straight into the courtyard."

"It seems his appetite is quite large." Ou Lingqian's brows and eyes were like a painting, her voice as soft as fine rain, "You continue to look for him tomorrow; you must deliver the message.

Just say that I have already bathed and changed, and am waiting for him in the restaurant room.

Also add one sentence: the Ou family can become his backing."

The meaning behind Ou Lingqian's words could not be more obvious.

The middle-aged servant was not stupid; hearing his young lady's words, he swallowed his saliva, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

He was incredibly jealous of that Lin Gui.

Why was he not that Lin Gui?

Ou Lingqian glanced over, noticing the middle-aged servant's odd behavior, and a look of disdain appeared in her eyes: "Get lost!"

The middle-aged servant hurriedly left and closed the door.

And a moment later, a young figure actually appeared in the room.

Seeing that figure, the arrogance previously in Ou Lingqian's eyes vanished, replaced by immense respect, as well as fanaticism and obsession.

"Young Master!" Ou Lingqian knelt on the ground; now she was just like that servant from before.

"That Lin Gui didn't come?" The young man held a folding fan in his hand and appeared to have an extraordinary temperament.

"He didn't come, but I have already given the orders; he will definitely come tomorrow!" Ou Lingqian was very confident in her own body.

How could a hot-blooded young man like Lin Gui withstand a honey trap?

"Make a few more preparations; what if he is like me, firm in his will and doesn't take female beauty to heart at all?" The young man said, placing his hand on Ou Lingqian's chin.

Ou Lingqian's breathing also became rapid at this moment, and she said: "How could Lin Gui compare to Young Master?

The greatest achievement of his life is at most creating a Legendary Puppet?

But Young Master! You will join the Heavenly Court and lead the Ancient Tang Empire toward unprecedented prosperity!"

"Handle this matter well; although this is a trivial matter not worth mentioning, it concerns my evaluation and future resources."

"This servant will definitely help Young Master complete the task; even if I have to sacrifice my own body, I will not shirk.

Only, before that, I hope Young Master can..." Ou Lingqian's eyes were watery, her clothes half-undone, looking exceptionally moving.

"Mm." The young man nodded in satisfaction, but deep in his gaze as he looked at Ou Lingqian, there was some mockery.

The people of the Ancient Tang Empire were nothing more than tools.

Moreover, these descendants of the ancient gods should all be buried in the dust of history along with the ancient gods.

"Praise the Light!"

"Praise the Light!"

(End of this chapter)