Chapter 47: Puppet Dolls, True Explanation of Spirit Insects

(Separated today, two updates, two thousand words each. The second update will be around 1:00 PM. From now on, updates will be stable around 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Additionally, I am asking fellow readers for collections and recommendations. For a split-force story, I've only gained two hundred collections; sigh, it's truly desolate. Finally, I wish all readers a Happy National Day.)

"Fragmented Manual of Puppet Secret Arts!"

Lu Xiaotian felt a surge of excitement at the thought of the puppet substitute that had saved the large-headed freak from death. If he could also learn to refine such a puppet, it would be equivalent to having an extra life in times of danger.

Lu Xiaotian impatiently flipped open the manual. Sure enough, it recorded the refinement method for this puppet substitute. It turned out this puppet substitute was called a "Puppet Doll." However, as he read further, Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

The conditions for refining a "Puppet Doll" were extremely harsh. It required "Azure Cloud Wood" of at least a thousand-year age as the primary material, along with dozens of other extremely rare spiritual items such as Star Sand and Phantom Heart Grass. He had seen related records for some in Moon-Watching City, but there were over a dozen types he had never even heard of. Additionally, it required refinement using Samadhi True Fire or a spiritual flame of the same grade.

Lu Xiaotian was speechless. Having lived in Moon-Watching City for over half a year, he had already gathered much information regarding the cultivation world and was no longer ignorant. Samadhi True Fire was a divine ability possessed only by Golden Core experts. As a Qi Refinement stage cultivator, let alone possessing Samadhi True Fire, he would be incinerated without even leaving ashes just by approaching it.

It seemed the large-headed freak must have had some extraordinary encounter to accidentally obtain a "Puppet Doll." He had truly struck gold to obtain a rare treasure that even Golden Core experts dreamed of.

It was such a pity that such a precious treasure was used up by the large-headed freak like that. However, thinking from the freak's perspective, it was quite normal—if he couldn't even save his own life, why should he let it benefit someone else?

Lu Xiaotian gave a self-deprecating laugh and continued flipping through the pages, his expression turning joyful.

"Puppet Shadow Technique!"

According to the records in the secret manual, even Qi Refinement stage cultivators could practice the Puppet Shadow Technique. It allowed one to condense a shadow clone using magic power. Upon reaching minor success, the shadow clone would even possess a certain degree of attack power, sufficient to pass for the real thing and distract enemies. However, according to the manual, it would take at least four years of cultivation to reach minor success. This meant the large-headed freak had not possessed this secret technique for very long.

While it offered no immediate boost to his strength, this "Fragmented Manual of Puppet Secret Arts" had a profound origin and would likely be of great use in the future. Lu Xiaotian memorized the secret incantations of the "Puppet Shadow Technique" and then carefully put the manual away.

Next, Lu Xiaotian took out the *True Explanation of Spirit Insects*. The large-headed freak's control over Shadow Ants was something Lu Xiaotian could not hope to match.

Opening the *True Explanation of Spirit Insects*, Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but snort in anger. According to the descriptions in this manual, there were many types of insect-controlling techniques, all of which were far more sophisticated than what the black-robed elder had taught him. That black-robed elder was truly stingy; even when teaching him something, he was constantly on guard. Thinking about it made Lu Xiaotian's teeth itch with irritation.

Insect-controlling techniques, especially controlling a swarm of spirit insects for combat, were a profound field of study. Spirit insects had extremely low spiritual consciousness and did not possess the intelligence of ordinary demonic beasts, making it difficult for them to execute a master's orders perfectly. Low-level spirit insects were too few in number to pose a threat to other cultivators.

However, once their numbers were sufficient and they could execute a master's commands, they became terrifying. Therefore, among the many rogue cultivators, the number of insect cultivators was extremely small, but once they mastered their craft, they were one of the most headache-inducing types to fight against.

According to the manual, whether one was an insect cultivator or a beast tamer, their divine sense had to be strong. This was especially true for insect cultivators commanding swarms, who had particularly high requirements for divine sense. Lu Xiaotian could only smile bitterly; cultivation techniques for divine sense were already rare and were considered precious commodities in Moon-Watching City. Furthermore, in the early stages of Qi Refinement, having a slightly stronger divine sense provided no direct benefit to combat other than for insect cultivators. Even upon reaching Foundation Establishment or stepping onto the path of the Golden Core, the role of divine sense would become increasingly significant.

But that was a matter for the future. His aptitude was mediocre to begin with; what he needed to do now was to focus all his efforts on joining a sect to prepare for Foundation Establishment. Only after reaching Foundation Establishment and possessing sufficient longevity could he consider these things.

Therefore, after repeated consideration, Lu Xiaotian decided to temporarily abandon the pursuit of cultivating his divine sense, though he kept the matter in mind.

Another method of rearing mentioned in the *True Explanation of Spirit Insects* was the "Blood Insect Technique," which involved feeding spirit insects with one's own essence blood. After consuming essence blood, the spirit insects would become imbued with the cultivator's aura. Over time, not only would the insects become more ferocious, but they would also gradually develop a mental connection with the cultivator. Lu Xiaotian thought of the large-headed freak's few leader ants; compared to the other Shadow Ants, they possessed an extra layer of bloodlust. Using the leader ants to control the other Shadow Ants would be a good method.

Previously in the Northern Liang Kingdom, Lyu Bifeng had mentioned having him rear leader ants, but her cultivation was not high, and her knowledge of the specific operations was merely hearsay. Lu Xiaotian had tried a few times before without success and had to give up. Thus, during his life-and-death struggle with the cloth-clad giant Zou Xinsheng, although he had a significant number of Shadow Ants, he could not manipulate them to surround and kill a powerful enemy like the large-headed freak could; he could only rely on unexpected surprise attacks.

However, the Blood Insect Technique had its own flaws. Losing too much essence blood would similarly affect one's own cultivation. After pondering for a while, Lu Xiaotian decided to set this method aside for the time being. In truth, whether beast tamers or insect cultivators, pouring massive amounts of energy and wealth into their spirit beasts and spirit insects would inevitably have some impact on their own cultivation.

"For now, I will refine the large-headed freak's Shadow Ants. Although I won't be able to control them as freely as he did, they will still be a significant help to me," Lu Xiaotian thought to himself.

In addition to insect-taming methods, the *True Explanation of Spirit Insects* also recorded observations from the world of spirit insects. There was also a ranking of spirit insects in the cultivation world.

Ranked first was the Nether Gloom Butterfly, which could suck the essence of all yin souls. It was said to be able to disturb a person's soul and trigger inner demons, making it incredibly domineering. However, according to the records, the Nether Gloom Butterfly had almost become extinct thousands of years ago, and there had been no records of it for the last few millennia.

Ranked second was the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, which possessed incredible speed. Most cultivators had only heard of its name and could see its shadow, but very few had actually seen a Six-Winged Golden Cicada. It was extremely poisonous, and there were no records of anyone surviving its venom; perhaps they had all died.

Lu Xiaotian read with great interest. This *True Explanation of Spirit Insects* was far more detailed than the manuals he had purchased in Moon-Watching City. It contained not only the rearing techniques for common spirit insects in the cultivation world but also a vast amount of anecdotal records from insect cultivators. As for the spirit insect ranking, many of the insects had not appeared for thousands of years, making them incomparable; he wasn't sure if the information was true or false, but he would read it for what it was.

Putting away the manual, Lu Xiaotian took out the large-headed freak's black gourd. This gourd was carved from black jade and was of better quality than his previous one, making it more suitable for nurturing Shadow Ants. Naturally, Lu Xiaotian unceremoniously claimed it for his own use.

(End of Chapter)