Chapter 257: Chapter 157: Exclusive Gesture

The crafting of the Ghost Shadow Puppet was quite challenging, utilizing nearly all the quasi-fourth tier materials Li Jizhou had gathered over a decade in Liuyun City.

Its entire form was meticulously crafted with no compromises.

Even more effort was poured into it compared to the second quasi-fourth tier puppet, Swift.

It contained double the amount of Ghost Shadow Cold Gold compared to Swift.

Notably, it was infused with primary spatial confinement effects.

Its power surpassed Swift by more than half a tier.

It was also the strongest of Li Jizhou’s current trump cards.

If this puppet were stolen, it would be a great loss of vitality for Li Jizhou.

The most crucial point was, if the Ghost Shadow were taken, the double puppet would be in even greater danger.

The double puppet remained there, dispersing its aura, waiting for the Ghost Shadow to assist, as the closer it got to Guzhu City, the more cultivators and stronger demon beasts appeared.

Without the Ghost Shadow, the double puppet would struggle to reach Guzhu City safely.

Even Li Jizhou’s subsequent plans would be impacted.

Without the protection of Ghost Shadow and Swift, the double puppet could barely exhibit a fraction of Li Jizhou’s true power, making capturing a Spirit Beast for Liu Hongling impossible, let alone competing for the Venerable of the Infinite’s opportunity.

Seeing the Ghost Shadow, which should have been comparable to a Peak Core Formation cultivator, being captured by several Early and Middle Stage Core Formation cultivators due to limited Divine Sense control from distance, Li Jizhou’s face darkened.

Even if he rushed over with his true body now, he would likely find nothing.

Amidst his anxious thoughts, two silhouettes suddenly came into view.

Moreover, they were two very familiar silhouettes.

They were companions from his past adventures in the Demon Sect of Wei Kingdom, one being Yu Ziyu in the form of an Infinite Mask, and the other being Zhou Cang in disguise.

In an instant, Li Jizhou’s emotions surged, igniting a glimmer of hope.

“Hiss~”

Yet, in the next moment, Li Jizhou furrowed his brow again.

The puppet, unlike the double puppet, merely possessed a Divine Soul Mark, unable to speak or transmit messages, making it impossible to communicate with Yu Ziyu and Zhou Cang at this moment.

Furthermore, encounters between cultivators in the wilderness that do not involve significant interests usually don’t draw much attention, especially since Yu Ziyu, with likely Middle Stage Golden Core strength now, combined with Zhou Cang’s battlefield experience over the years, appeared weaker on the surface against a Middle Stage Core Formation and two Early Stage Core Formation opponents.

As expected,

Yu Ziyu and Zhou Cang, upon seeing the actions of the three below, did not prepare to intervene, only stayed cautious and vigilant.

“Don’t stir up trouble unnecessarily, leave quickly!” Yu Ziyu transmitted a message to Zhou Cang.

The three below were also on high alert, a heart in their throats.

It was highly possible that the one controlling a quasi-fourth tier level puppet wasn’t someone they could contend with.

At this critical moment, two strangers suddenly passing by made their blood freeze.

Fortunately, the strangers did not make any notable movements, likely just passing by.

Watching the two disappear into the toxic mist, the three below breathed a sigh of relief.

“Quick, the puppet’s master is surely aware by now, we must leave swiftly.”

“We should let it go; whoever can control a quasi-fourth tier puppet might be a Nascent Soul True Monarch, at the very least a late-stage Core Formation expert; we are courting death!”

“Hmph, you think we’ll survive by releasing it?

Don’t forget, we’ve already come into contact with this puppet, releasing it means its master could track us from a thousand miles away.

Not releasing it, at most the expert sees our current disguised appearance through the puppet.

If we can just take the puppet beyond its control range, refine the Divine Soul Mark, or simply sell it, then it’s the best strategy!”

The other two suddenly realized.

“Go!” The three set up a restriction, confining the Ghost Shadow Puppet, immediately flying south to escape.

Witnessing this, Li Jizhou’s heart sank to the bottom.

“Boom~”

Yet just as Li Jizhou was almost in despair, a loud boom resounded.

Through the Ghost Shadow’s vision, he saw a hundred-meter-high mountain wrapped in Primordial Magnetic Radiance falling upon the trio.

“Phew~ Fortunately, Zhou Cang didn’t forget!” Li Jizhou exhaled a sigh of relief.

As the Yuanzhi Mountain crashed down, the three had no choice but to abandon the Ghost Shadow Puppet, which couldn’t be stored in a storage bag, and their faces changed color.

Already on tenterhooks, they immediately flew back in retreat.

Only after fully escaping the range of Yuanzhi Mountain did they cautiously observe their surroundings.

Confirming it was the two passing cultivators from moments ago, they glared in anger: “How dare you two ambush us?”

The Middle Stage Core Formation cultivator’s mana surged, black water from the subterranean swamp locked onto Yu Ziyu, ready to strike.

The two Early Stage Core Formation cultivators looked at Zhou Cang with Fake Pill aura disdainfully, faces flushed with irritation.

However, Yu Ziyu and Zhou Cang weren’t looking at them, just at the Ghost Shadow Puppet now half-submerged in the swamp’s black water.

“Are you sure that’s Li Jizhou’s puppet?” Yu Ziyu looked at the Ghost Shadow’s hand gestures, finding no clues.

Zhou Cang glanced at the Ghost Shadow Puppet’s hand gesture: thumb and index finger stretched parallel, measuring merely three centimeters in length.

“I’m absolutely certain!” He replied with a touch of anger.

Yu Ziyu looked at Zhou Cang with a strange expression, still puzzled.

“Bold!” Meanwhile, the trio across couldn’t wait any longer.

The leader sent an Early Stage Core Formation cultivator forward to probe.

Seeing the approaching person, Zhou Cang, already enraged by the puppet’s hand gesture, instantly went furious.

“Don’t think being True Core is impressive, I’ve killed no less than ten True Core cultivators!”

Zhou Cang had indeed put in effort on the battlefield over the years.

Usually, Fake Pill couldn’t match True Core in power and quantity of mana, but Zhou Cang’s combat experience from battlefield life and death struggles was rich.

Moreover, he learned several techniques suitable for him from the Wuxiang Sect Leader.

“Whish~” Zhou Cang’s figure suddenly transformed into a streak of light, his speed breaking through the limits of Fake Pill cultivators.

This was the divine light escape technique rewarded by Cyan Pine True Monarch for his merits, reaching the speed of Middle Stage Core Formation for a brief attack, but only a short assault technique.

As the light flashed, the Early Stage Core Formation cultivator was startled and hastily summoned a golden shield in defense.

“Little Wuxiang Hand!” Zhou Cang’s voice echoed the next moment.

Instantly, a massive hand shimmering with cold light appeared above.

“Boom~” The Early Stage Core Formation cultivator hurriedly used the shield to block the mighty hand.

In the moment he raised the shield, Zhou Cang’s escape light had already reached near: “Dragon Elephant Strength!”

A surge of primordial force emerged instantly.

“Crack!” The mana shield of the Early Stage Core Formation cultivator shattered immediately.

Then the person was like a kite with a broken string, plummeting backward rapidly.

“Hmph!” Zhou Cang snorted coldly but did not pursue.

This combat technique was his most effective after years of battlefield fighting.

Fake Pill mana could barely break a True Core Early Stage mana shield in ten strikes.

In battlefield combat, chances are fleeting; who could give him ten strike opportunities?

Hence, only such close assault techniques could maximize lethal power.

Moreover, this set of Dragon Elephant Strength was specially tailored for him by Cyan Pine True Monarch.

“Third brother!” The remaining two quickly caught the Early Stage Core Formation cultivator, examining his injuries, stunned at heart.

They didn’t expect someone at a mere Fake Pill level to possess such combat power.

In just one clash, he had gravely injured a True Core Early Stage cultivator.

“Still not rolling?” At this moment, Yu Ziyu’s icy voice emerged.

Simultaneously, a trace of Golden Core pressure manifested on her body.

“Golden Core…” The Middle Stage Core Formation cultivator’s face changed instantly. Without any hesitation, they took the other two and retreated hastily.

Only after sensing the three had completely left their Divine Sense range did Yu Ziyu nod, and Zhou Cang, grumbling, flew down to pull the Ghost Shadow Puppet from the swamp and remove the restrictions placed on it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep