Chapter 172: The Flaw of the Paper Person

Every time he spends Merit to upgrade the proficiency level of the Armor Technique, Wang Ping'an always uses it once, watching the pocket-sized armor form around his body, becoming more majestic and imposing each time, and faster each time.

It makes his eyes practically burst with light!

"What a pity, I can't test it personally; otherwise I'd really like to know how the defense of the Armor Technique varies with different proficiency levels!"

Wang Ping'an let out a slight sigh, not feeling too down for long; a flash of insight flickered in his mind, and he thought, "No, it's not that I can't test it!"

He then recalled that not long ago at Jiu tou shan ji shi he met another "good person" who sold him a treasure map for a hundred Low‑grade Spirit Stones, even allowing him to buy on credit, saying he'd pay back when he had money.

Such moral standards, frankly, would be low even in a golden age of the previous life.

It's not that it doesn't exist, but not even one percent—no, one per thousand, not even one per ten thousand—exists.

In this era, he hasn't grown up yet, hasn't delved deeply, so he doesn't know the moral level, but he knows a monster‑filled market attracts cultivators…

He can't say they're all bad, but at least the moral level would be abysmal.

Yet there turned out to be one—no, two—characters who seemed like good people.

Just thinking about it is unbelievable!

Wang Ping'an is not a three‑year‑old child; how could he fail to see that the so‑called good person is fake, with the real purpose of seeking profit and causing death?

Not long ago.

The monster at the spirit‑wood shop spoke very clearly!

As for the other "good person" who sold him the cultivation method "Blood Nerve", at first he perhaps didn't know what their intention was.

But when he upgraded "Blood Nerve" to Cultivation, his first personal practice condensed a golden, glittering Blood Spirit within his body.

Understanding clearly the effects and usage of the Blood Spirit, he could roughly guess.

What the first "good person" was scheming!

It's just…

Not quite certain yet!

Who made him too kind to think ill of others.

Wang Ping'an dispelled the pocket‑sized full‑body armor surrounding him; with his current Cultivation‑level Armor Technique, only a terrifying blow could instantly shatter the armor formed by his own magical condensation.

Otherwise,

Even if the armor suffers severe damage, the magic within his body will repair the damaged parts.

Until his internal magic is exhausted, he happens to have two artificial dantian, each storing a massive amount of magic.

Therefore,

A life‑or‑death battle won't worry him about depleting his internal magic.

Hence,

He is especially curious about the defensive power of the Cultivation‑level Armor Technique.

Wang Ping'an focused his thoughts, and an old treasure map materialized in his hand; after a careful glance, he nodded in satisfaction—both the materials and the drawing skill show that the maker poured great effort into it.

It's hard to spot any flaw!

If he didn't have a Mastery‑level skill: drawing, he truly couldn't detect that this map, which appears to be decades or even centuries old, was actually drawn only a few months ago.

Wang Ping'an was very curious how the map's creator laid out the traps; after a thorough study, a strange expression crossed his face as he muttered, "Are they treating me like a three‑year‑old child?"

During this period, he tried to borrow Peregrine Falcon Little Gray's help to obtain large amounts of Merit, wanting a second after the first, fearing Little Gray might be inattentive, so he personally commanded…

Ahem.

Not right.

It should be said that he spends his days either in a cradle or a baby cot, bored; although he can cultivate, the cultivation method runs autonomously. So during this time, he often uses Peregrine Falcon Little Gray's sight to observe the surroundings, since Little Gray has nearly flown over the entire Qingyang County.

This makes him especially familiar with every plant and tree around Qingyang County.

Not to mention.

The final treasure location recorded on this map is right beside Jiu tou shan ji shi.

Only a few mountains away, not too far.

These are all monster territories; whether human cultivators would open a cave residence there, he doesn't know nor can he say, but if there were ownerless caves, nine out of ten would be looted by monsters.

How could they still deliberately leave a treasure map!

Either it's to swindle money, or to plot wrongdoing, seeking profit and harming others.

"Do I look that stupid in that bastard's eyes? Can't even see such a simple trap?"

Wang Ping'an hummed discontentedly; if Fang Lu weren't present, he would really want to ask how he could appear brainless.

This novel…

Can't even see such a simple trap!

"No, I'm not the foolish one in his eyes; he's like looking for a needle in the ocean, not expecting me to fall for it, but as long as one person does, he profits!"

In Wang Ping'an's mind, he suddenly recalled that in his previous life he saw many scam news articles; scams that were obvious at a glance still fooled many people.

Fang Lu's behavior is no different from those petty online scams.

Just…

Wang Ping'an furrowed his brow slightly, puzzled, and said, "Even if he doesn't expect me to fall for it, using this method on me still hopes I'll be duped, which means he has something he wants from me."

But the problem is, he should know that even if I go, nine out of ten it's the Paper Person he'll control; even if I get duped, at most I only lose the Paper Person.

Then why is he working so hard for nothing?

Before he finished speaking, Wang Ping'an suddenly realized, recalling the differences among Paper Persons, that Evil Cultivators who control Paper Persons also differ; the vast majority of Evil Cultivators who manipulate Paper Persons cannot be far from the Paper Person.

So,

Even if an Evil Cultivator sends a Paper Person into a trap, the other side can follow the trail and locate the Evil Cultivator controlling the Paper Person.

Just as monsters are treasures in human eyes, Evil Cultivators—or human cultivators—are top‑tier treasures in other monsters' eyes.

Moreover.

All cultivators have storage bags; it's not that every bag contains treasures, but at least there are valuable items—either Low‑grade Spirit Stones, pills, or Talismans.

He recently flaunted his wealth at the market, so naturally he became a prime target in Fang Lu's eyes.

"Unfortunately, what you don't know is that I'm not an ordinary Evil Cultivator; even remote control of Paper Persons is no problem for me!"

Wang Ping'an chuckled, his face full of smugness.

If he could speak now, he thought, when the time comes he'll stand before the good man who gave him the treasure map and give him a good dose of cold sarcasm.

Actually.

He was also surprised that he could actually remote‑control a Paper Person.

However, he knew that being able to do so was likely linked to his Spirit Power and Mastery level skill: Divine Attachment Technique.

(End of Chapter)