Chapter 643

Hearing He Pingsheng's words, Long Yue's face lit up with joy: "So, you're agreeing, Daoist Long Zhe?"

He Pingsheng shook his head: "I need time to consider. I'll give you my answer later."

"By the way, let's set aside the Xuanyu Token for now—there's another matter I need your help with!"

He Pingsheng waved his hand, dismissing the outer defensive light membrane, and sat down directly.

Immortal Long Yue also sat down opposite He Pingsheng.

"Please, speak," Long Yue said respectfully to He Pingsheng: "If it's within my ability, I'll do my best."

He Pingsheng asked: "May I ask, Immortal Long Yue, what grade are you as an Artificer?"

Long Yue replied: "Fifth grade."

He Pingsheng asked again: "What's your success rate in artifice?"

Long Yue smiled: "Artifice differs from your pill refining—there's greater tolerance for error, and failure is almost unheard of; it's all about the final product's quality."

"There are low-grade and mid-grade results."

"I've even crafted a high-grade Ancient Treasure before!"

He Pingsheng immediately bowed his head in respect.

Someone who could craft a high-grade Ancient Treasure was certainly no ordinary person.

"Here," He Pingsheng no longer held back—he pulled out the two materials for crafting the Substitute Death Puppet and placed them before Immortal Long Yue: "If you were to craft this for me, what are your chances of success?"

"This…"

Long Yue drew a sharp, startled breath: "You… you really have the materials for a Substitute Death Puppet… Good heavens, this is Dragon Scale Imperishable Wood!"

"Sssss…"

"I never thought Gu Song would actually be right!"

Here, Long Yue couldn't help but feel pity for Gu Song—he guessed correctly, but lacked the strength to obtain the materials, and ended up becoming the puppet himself.

How tragic!

"Can you craft it?" He Pingsheng asked.

"Yes," Long Yue said. "The main material here is sixth-grade, so crafting a Substitute Death Puppet is equivalent to forging a sixth-grade magic treasure—the Spirit Realm's Spirit Treasure!"

"Yet, crafting a Substitute Death Puppet is far easier than crafting a Spirit Treasure!"

"I can try… I should be able to produce a low-grade one!"

Long Yue was confident.

He Pingsheng nodded.

He figured if she said that, at least the furnace wouldn't explode.

As long as it didn't explode, it was fine.

He Pingsheng pulled out a Saintly Essence Pill: "If you succeed, this Saintly Essence Pill is your fee for the effort!"

"If it fails, I'm sorry—I won't give you anything as compensation."

"Is that acceptable?"

Long Yue nodded: "Agreed."

Thus, the two left the Exchange Hall, instantly teleported out of the city, and found a cave dwelling in a remote wasteland to begin crafting.

A true expert reveals their skill at once!

As soon as Long Yue began crafting, He Pingsheng knew her skill far surpassed his by countless degrees.

After sixteen full days, the first Substitute Death Puppet was finally completed.

But its grade was only low.

Low-grade was enough!

"Hehehe…" He Pingsheng laughed heartily after taking the puppet: "Thank you, Immortal Long Yue. Let's craft the second one now!"

"Mm," Long Yue nodded: "Please allow me a moment to rest."

Then, Long Yue began crafting again.

He Pingsheng immediately sent the puppet into the Treasure Accumulation Basin for enhancement.

He watched the basin, waiting until the puppet multiplied from one to two—then he halted the enhancement, keeping its grade at low.

Another sixteen days later, the second Substitute Death Puppet was also crafted by Long Yue.

Again, it was low-grade.

As soon as the second one was made, He Pingsheng tossed it straight into the Treasure Accumulation Basin.

"Thank you, Daoist Long Yue!" He Pingsheng pulled out a vial: "This Saintly Essence Pill is yours."

"Thank you!" Long Yue took the Saintly Essence Pill and was overjoyed.

He Pingsheng said: "No need for thanks—it's what you earned."

"Wait…" Long Yue grabbed He Pingsheng's arm as he turned to leave: "Daoist Long, don't go yet—about the matter I mentioned earlier, what's your decision?"

"Will you join me?"

He Pingsheng thought for a moment: "Immortal Long Yue, don't rush—I'll give you my answer later."

"Fine!" Since the token was in He Pingsheng's hands, Long Yue couldn't force him: "Here's a Heartbond Talisman—if you decide, just send me a message."

"Alright." He Pingsheng tucked the Heartbond Talisman away.

Long Yue asked again: "Daoist Long Zhe… the Substitute Death Puppet carries the Rule of One Face-to-Face Encounter—you have two, but can only use one!"

"Could I… cough… trade for the other one?"

Long Yue gazed at He Pingsheng with longing.

He Pingsheng smiled.

He had intended the same.

Long Yue wanted his Substitute Death Puppet; He Pingsheng wanted her share of the material.

"It's not impossible," He Pingsheng said, pulling out an enhanced puppet—still low-grade: "But what will you trade me for it?"

Long Yue drew a deep breath.

She thought long and hard, but realized she had nothing suitable to trade.

No matter what item she offered, its value would always fall short of a puppet that could save a life.

So she gritted her teeth and pulled out the golden material: "This… I know you've always wanted this from me."

"Take it!"

He Pingsheng nodded and traded one puppet for the special material.

The moment he took the material, his dantian's Hongmeng Purple Gold Rod stirred excitedly again.

"Daoist Long Zhe!" Long Yue's eyes held regret: "The trade is done—can you tell me what this material is?"

"What is its use?"

He Pingsheng shook his head: "I only know its grade is very high—likely eighth or even ninth grade."

"But what exactly it is, or what it does—I don't know."

Since the trade was complete, revealing a little information wouldn't hurt.

Hearing He Pingsheng's words, Long Yue showed no regret—instead, she exhaled deeply and said: "Thank you for your honesty, Daoist Long."

"Hehe!" He Pingsheng chuckled as he tucked the material away: "Honestly… I'm only guessing. But even if you traded it, you didn't lose out—this material, though high-grade, is useless to you your whole life."

"If you traded it to a high-level cultivator, you wouldn't just lose the material—you might lose your life."