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Around Chou time, Qi Yuan completed the final modifications to several pangolin puppets. Without altering their main structure, he embedded two to three Heavenly Thunder Seeds into each one.
After testing their combat functions to ensure the changes had no issues, he stored them in his bag.
Next, he planned to transform one of the puppets into the likeness of a beautiful woman. Among the vast number of cultivators, not all had struggled through hardships to attain their ranks. Many had advanced rapidly due to the blessings of their ancestors. Though their morals might not be corrupt, their resilience was certainly not unshakable.
If a puppet's appearance could be improved—if its form could create even a brief distraction in battle—it could be a significant advantage.
A single moment of hesitation could lead to failure, or even death.
He examined the three or four human-shaped puppets before him, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Calling them "beautiful women" would have been an overstatement. Their eerie features were more suited for scaring children.
Originally, they had been crafted with the intention of resembling beautiful women, but the result left much to be desired.
At this stage, reshaping their facial structures was nearly impossible. Creating an entirely new puppet would be easier than reconstructing their faces. The only option left was to use disguises to compensate for their flaws.
Rummaging through his storage bag, Qi Yuan recalled that materials for disguise techniques were not expensive. After searching for a while, he found everything he needed.
Glancing at the sky, he hastily crafted a simulated face, basing its structure on a celebrity from his previous life.
Once the artificial skin was completed, he focused on the hair. A beautiful woman should exude elegance and dignity, with as much feminine charm as possible.
He polished the puppet's body structure to a smooth white finish, then applied a layer of pearl powder to enhance its visual appeal, though it wouldn't improve the texture to the touch.
As for clothing, after eliminating Chen Yuer, he had yet to sort through her storage bag. Inside, he found a variety of fine dresses, which now served their purpose. Dressing the puppet in elegant attire seemed like a reasonable choice.
The final result was passable at best. Since the puppet's core structure remained unchanged, no amount of external modifications could completely transform its appearance.
Qi Yuan then retrieved the Seven Aperture Bleeding Divine Pearl and placed it inside the puppet's mouth, covering its chest with Five Poison Needles. A vicious mouth or a deadly hand—either could spell disaster for an opponent.
These two low-level magical weapons had limited effectiveness. He had no illusions about this first modified humanoid puppet being useful in battle. It was merely an experiment to gather data.
If the technique proved effective, further investments could be made to refine the simulation. Who knew? Perhaps one day, he could achieve the level of crafting true yin and yang energies.
The next morning, at the inn where Qi Yuan was staying, a loud voice rang out, waking many cultivators preparing for the treasure hunt.
"Attention, guests of the inn. Tomorrow's treasure hunt will be divided into two groups. Cultivators from Yue will compete on the western mountain of Yanling Fort, while foreign cultivators will compete on the eastern mountain. Please arrive on time. Latecomers will be considered to have forfeited the competition."
The announcement was repeated three times before stopping.
Soon, the sounds of cultivators discussing the upcoming event filled the air.
Qi Yuan couldn't help but question Nangong Wan's reliability. Tomorrow, Wang Chan, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, would activate the Yin Fire Formation. If only Nishang and Fuyunzi were present, he might take the opportunity to slip away once the Qingxuan Formation was activated.
As for the Yan family's situation, if he could assist, great—if not, so be it.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He waved his hand to lift the restriction and called out, "Come in."
Dong Xuan'er entered, walking over to the bedside. In a soft, delicate voice, she greeted him. "Junior Brother Qi..."
Her unusually gentle demeanor surprised him.
He stood up, motioning for her to sit at the table. "Senior Sister, are you here about tomorrow's treasure hunt?"
Ever since Hong Fu had questioned Dong Xuan'er about her feelings, something had stirred within her. She found herself thinking more and more about Qi Yuan, as if she truly liked him. The thought lingered in her mind for days.
One night, as she meditated, she unexpectedly drifted into a dream—one where she flirted with the man before her and lived a peaceful life together.
It was in that moment that she realized—he had already taken root in her heart.
Unconsciously, she had begun to follow his lead, treating his words as law.
"Tomorrow, I want to go with you. What do you think?"
"That's not a problem," Qi Yuan replied. "We are both disciples of Master Hong Fu, so we should work together. For safety, Senior Sister, you must stay by my side. That way, I can protect you."
He poured a cup of tea and handed it to her.
Protect me? Junior Brother said he'll protect me...
Dong Xuan'er's heart swelled with warmth. Her fair cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and her radiant beauty became even more mesmerizing. Trained in top-level charm techniques, her eyes shimmered with an irresistible allure.
Fortunately, no outsiders were present—otherwise, her expression alone could have caused trouble.
Qi Yuan hesitated briefly before speaking gently. "Senior Sister, have some tea."
Dong Xuan'er snapped back to reality as if struck by lightning. Embarrassed by her lapse in composure, she quickly took the teacup and forced a smile. "With you protecting me tomorrow, I feel at ease. I'll be going back now."
She placed the cup down, lifted the hem of her skirt, and turned to leave.
Just as she reached the door, Qi Yuan's voice sounded behind her.
"Senior Sister, during my five years of seclusion, you were the one outside my retreat room, weren't you?"
Dong Xuan'er froze for a moment before replying, without turning back, "Junior Brother, you must be joking. Why would I do something so pointless?"
"You say that, yet you seem to know there was someone outside. Funny, I don't recall ever mentioning it to anyone..."
Qi Yuan walked over, grasped her shoulders, and gently turned her around. Gazing into her flushed face, he leaned in and whispered near her ear, "Senior Sister, your expression tells me everything."
Dong Xuan'er's heart pounded. Overcome with shame, she pushed him away and tried to flee, but he pulled her back into his arms.
Qi Yuan had long suspected her but lacked proof. Apart from himself, only Dong Xuan'er had unrestricted access to Hong Fu's retreat room.
Since she had no intention of confessing, he decided to take a different approach.
"Senior Sister," he murmured, "it's time to repay the five years of eavesdropping."
Lifting her delicate chin, he met her watery gaze and gently captured her lips. What started as a light touch grew deeper…
Dong Xuan'er's mind went blank. Her heart raced wildly, but instead of resisting, she slowly closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, as if afraid she would collapse.
Time passed.
A soft whimper escaped her lips. "Enough… Junior Brother…"
Hearing her breathless voice, Qi Yuan finally released her.
As she regained her composure, Dong Xuan'er shot him a glare, feigning anger. "You have no pity for me? I'm your Senior Sister..."
"Now that you've rested, let's continue repaying the debt," Qi Yuan said with determination.
Dong Xuan'er: "…"
(End of Chapter)