Chapter 8: Driving Down the Mountain

Numerous doubts swirled in Chen Hai's mind, but he knew that Chen Lie and his daughter Chen Qing might not necessarily believe his words, and he also lacked direct evidence. It seemed that he still had to feign ignorance to avoid provoking Su Ziling into a desperate situation, which could lead her to resort to extreme measures to silence him.

Fortunately, the puppet's doppelganger was sufficiently agile, just like Chen Hai's real self, as it climbed up a black skeleton over ten meters tall, using both hands and feet under the guidance of its spiritual will.

The Seven Peaks are also the true inner sanctum of the Taiwei Sect

Chen Hai could see the myriad of reluctance in Zi Ling's eyes, yet he smiled inwardly. She had been a servant in the Chen clan since childhood, and although she shared a sisterly bond with Chen Qing, how could she possibly go against Chen Lie's will?

Chen Hai cried out in despair, what kind of golden finger is this

Currently, his puppet remains in the Blood Cloud Wasteland, and in addition to the giant hall sinking into the ground, he must also be prepared to confront the Rakshasa and otherworldly spirits that may intrude into the Blood Cloud Wasteland at any moment. Furthermore, he needs to find ways to enhance his puppet avatar.

Shouldn't a true golden finger be the ability to summon a puppet body to confront enemies whenever he encounters danger

What kind of golden finger is this

He did not know where the so-called spatial rift was, only to see the lightning dancing within the blood-red clouds above his head, and any single bolt of lightning could shatter his puppet body, which was not much stronger than that of an average adult, into pieces

The left ear spoke

Chen Hai gritted his teeth and voiced the doubts that lingered in his heart: "Since the senior has already taken a dead horse as a live one, why not directly refine a more powerful divine guardian puppet? Instead, it seems wasteful to expend magical power to create seven puppets that do not appear to be the strongest. And what about the six additional divine guardian puppets? Isn't that quite wasteful as well?"

He saw a dozen or so spirit cranes, raised by the splashing clouds at the cliff, soaring in the air, playfully splashing down like jade from the flowing springs in the sky. Chen Hai secretly felt that this place could truly be called a residence of immortals. Compared to the blood-soaked wasteland filled with the remnants of strange demons, it was undoubtedly many times better. However, it was a pity that he was about to be driven down the mountain.

And judging by the tone of the left ear, the puppet body given to him now might still be the weakest kind

Previously, many events had a significant impact on Chen Hai, causing a vague pain in his head, making it difficult for him to concentrate on thinking too much about various matters. However, at that moment, seeing Su Ziling's unusual expression compelled him to ponder more about certain things

Chen Hai was inexplicably brought into another world by Cang Yu. Although his life may not even be guaranteed, he is certainly not like Yao Xing, who, after suffering a setback, fell into despair and gave up on himself.

Above the sea of clouds, seven peaks stand tall, resembling seven giant islands shrouded in spiritual radiance, suspended between heaven and earth, evoking a profound sense of one's own insignificance. On these seven peaks, various pavilions and halls of different sizes are situated, each emanating waves of spiritual light from the formations and restrictions surrounding them

Although Su Ziling's cultivation is not particularly profound, in front of Yao Xing, whose cultivation has been rendered useless, she can still be considered a strong practitioner at the Transcendence Realm. How could she possibly be so flustered and nearly fall off the cliff due to Yao Xing's frivolous and provocative words?

Your current spirit is too weak. If it weren't for the Dragon Emperor's insistence, I wouldn't waste any effort on you at all. However, even this martial soldier-level puppet requires your physical body to truly open the spiritual sea before you can control it freely. Moreover, if you feel that one person is too weak, I will leave six martial soldier-level puppets outside. The serpent bracelet can connect the spiritual consciousness of up to seven people to the Blood Cloud Wilderness.

Do not speak of thousands; if three or five Rakshasa or otherworldly beings were to break in, could he truly withstand them

However, Chen Hai speculated that Zuo Er was ultimately concerned that he would leak the inheritance of the temple, which was why so many restrictions were set. He then asked, "How long do I need to cultivate before I can open the spiritual sea?"

Seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, Chen Hai could only force himself to remain calm, thinking that if there were no hope, the left ear would not go to such lengths to do these things

Beyond the garden lies a sheer cliff that descends several hundred meters, with only a narrow and steep stone staircase leading to the outside world

A spring of clear water cascades down from a high cliff, falling into the center of the splashing cloud cliff, forming a deep pool. The water then overflows to the southeast, cascading down again from the edge of the cliff, transforming into a waterfall, with water vapor spreading like flowing clouds.

Chen Hai heard someone calling him and instinctively looked back.

... ...

She may be thinking that as long as that useless Yao Xing accidentally falls and Chen Lie and others do not notice any clues, she can seek a better opportunity or continue her cultivation with Chen Qing in the Taiwei Sect, which would be a much better choice than binding her life to this useless person.

... ...

Chen Hai looked somewhat confused, pondering to himself that Su Ziling, born into poverty, had served beside her cousin Chen Qing since childhood, practicing some basic mystical techniques. By the age of fifteen, she had already entered the Tongxuan realm, which could be said to indicate exceptional talent and a high self-regard. It was quite normal for her to look down on Yao Xing, whose cultivation had been ruined and whose reputation was in tatters. Perhaps at this moment, she was still very unwilling, but why were there feelings of fear and panic in her eyes?

This is the Upper Seven Peaks of Taiwei Sect, which are also the seven major core spiritual veins of the Taiwei Mountain Range

Chen Hai was removed from the grand hall by his left ear, standing amidst a pile of menacing, withered bones

The common practice of the Xuanmen method requires one to cultivate the second primordial spirit before being qualified to train an external avatar. Your spirit is so weak, yet you can possess a puppet avatar at the level of a martial soldier, which demonstrates the extraordinary value of the snake bracelet and the divine guard puppet body. However, this does not imply that the external consciousness derived from the snake bracelet can control a stronger puppet avatar. Ultimately, whether you can elevate the puppet avatar to the level of a martial marquis or even a divine marquis depends on the strength of your spirit.

Is this the effect that Su Ziling desired

At this moment, he realized that as long as his spirit and consciousness infiltrated the Blood Cloud Wasteland through the serpent bracelet, he would be in constant contact with the puppet's avatar, unable to extricate himself. It was as if he were a lonely ghost, drifting beneath the Blood Cloud, gazing down upon this land that was bizarre to the extreme.

Alright, you may leave now. I will only awaken from the depths for one final struggle when the passage from the Rakshasa Domain is completely opened. As for the rest, you should take care of yourself..." As soon as Left Ear's voice fell, Chen Hai's consciousness, along with the puppet avatar, was moved out of the temple by Left Ear.

His vision was obscured by a pile of withered bones, and Chen Hai could not see where the temple was. It seemed that from now on, Zuo Er would no longer care about him. He wanted to curse something in his heart, yet the words would not come out. Zuo Er owed him nothing, so what could he possibly demand?

Chen Hai was concerned that Su Ziling, in a fit of desperation, might do something to his medicine, so he asked her to put down the jade bowl first

Chen Hai found it hard to imagine how terrifying these Rakshasa ghouls had been in life. Gazing upon this eerie land of corpses, a chill crept into his heart. Just then, he heard a loud cracking sound behind him. Turning around, he saw the wasteland seemingly opening a monstrous eye, as a massive chasm split open, and the grand hall began to slowly sink into the ground.

Only when Chen Hai heard someone calling him did he suddenly realize that it was someone in the bedroom of the Splendid Cloud Cliff shouting for him. In this desolate land covered by blood clouds, after the great hall sank into the ground, if there were to be any commotion, it would indeed be due to the intrusion of malevolent spirits or demons.

Yao Xing, in the past, took pride in his identity as a young master and was completely unaware of the role of a "page boy." He treated Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyiyi with disdain, summoning them as he pleased. Out of respect for Chen Lie, they refrained from speaking out, but they felt a deep sense of disgust in their hearts

Chen Hai turned around and saw Su Ziling standing at the door

Looking at the grotesque and desolate bones scattered outside the giant hall, Chen Hai thought to himself that if one day, Rakshasas or other malevolent spirits were to invade, it would not be a simple matter of one or two; it could very well be thousands storming in at once. If his weak puppet avatar dared to show itself, it would be instantly torn to shreds.

Chen Lie established numerous caves and chambers for cultivation, treasure storage, and scripture preservation on the side close to the stone wall. In front of the caves, he built a garden covering an area of over ten acres, which served not only as the daily residence for Chen Lie and his daughter Chen Qing, but also housed Yao Xing during his lifetime along with other attendants, servants, and guards.

Su Ziling set down the medicinal soup, yet did not leave, gritting her teeth as she spoke: "The head of the family has urgent matters to attend to in Wuyi, and the young lady said that your injury has nearly healed. This courtyard is too small to accommodate too many people. Coincidentally, the Iron Flow Ridge Daoist Academy outside the mountain is recruiting Daoist soldiers from various families. The young lady thought that since you have taken the medicine, she would send someone to take you to Iron Flow Ridge!"

Chen Hai understood that there is no such thing as a free lunch in the world. If Left Ear offered him tremendous benefits, it was only natural that he would first have to serve the temple.

At this moment, Su Ziling was holding a jade bowl in her hands, from which a mist of steam rose, carrying a rich fragrance of medicine. It was only then that Chen Hai realized that under Chen Lie's orders, Su Ziling had already become his personal maid, yet he did not know where Chen Lie and his daughter Chen Qing had gone, as he had not seen any trace of them for most of the day.

Hearing such courteous words from Chen Hai, Zhao Shan and Qian Wenyiyi were somewhat perplexed, yet they said nothing. Their task was simply to keep a close watch and escort Young Master Xing to the Tieliu Ridge Daoist Temple at the foot of the mountain

The Splashing Cloud Cliff is not extensive; it is a prominent overhanging rock cliff located halfway up the Qingxi Peak, with a depth of over one hundred zhang

Chen Hai's expression immediately darkened. He had hoped that Su Ziling would obediently comply, but unexpectedly, Chen Lie had to leave in a hurry. Just as he had left, Chen Qing was so ruthless as to drive him out of Zhan Yun Cliff.

Could it be that there is some hidden truth behind Yao Xing's fall from the cliff

Although Chen Lie concurrently held the position of general in the Wuwei army, as a true disciple of the third generation of the Taiwei Sect, he had not yet left the sect at this time, allowing him to establish a cave dwelling for cultivation at the Splendid Cloud Cliff on Qingxi Peak, one of the Seven Peaks

However, in Su Ziling's eyes at this moment, besides reluctance, there also lurked a trace of fear and anxiety

Since Chen Qing does not welcome me, I might as well not drink this medicine!" Chen Hai said resentfully, thinking that he was just troubled about not having an excuse to pour the medicine out. He waved his sleeve and walked out of the courtyard, while contemplating that since Su Ziling was very likely harboring ill intentions towards him, it would be best for him to leave Jianyun Cliff at this time

Young Master Xing

Who would believe his defense

You need not worry, as the laws of heaven and earth in the Blood Cloud Wilderness are still in effect. The initial Rakshasa demons that managed to enter will not be significantly stronger than you. As you can see, these seven puppets are actually crafted from the bones, flesh, and blood of the Rakshasa demons. Although the temple will sink into the depths of the Blood Cloud Wilderness with me, if you can continuously slay the Rakshasa demons, you will be able to comprehend the secret methods to continually strengthen the puppet avatars.

In fact, Chen Hai could not piece together from Yao Xing's fragmented memories what grave sin Yao Xing had committed against the Yao clan, and he did not want to reveal any flaws. He also could not ask Chen Lie or Chen Qing about what Yao Xing had done in the Yao clan back then, which left him feeling extremely frustrated

At this moment, a sense of indescribable desolation surged from Chen Hai's heart, and he could not suppress the fear that welled up within him.

This is also the origin of the name of Splash Cloud Cliff

Beneath the blood clouds, the great hall has already sunk into the depths of the earth, leaving only a ground strewn with the corpses of strange ghosts. The so-called puppet refining pool is nowhere to be seen, and Chen Hai can only perceive the indescribable desolation and deathly silence, the shocking sight of skeletal remains... only the blood clouds and lightning...

One of these two men is named Zhao Shan, and the other is named Qian Wenyì. Both were once fierce soldiers of the Wuwei army who followed Chen Lie in their early years. Their faces are gaunt, yet they exude a sense of steadfastness akin to that of a rock. Having offended the powerful in the military, they followed Chen Lie to seek refuge in the Taiwei Sect, where they remained as family retainers, guarding the Splendid Cloud Cliff cave dwelling alongside Yao Xing.

Can the junior truly stop the invading Rakshasa spirits? Are you not concerned that the junior might jeopardize the grand plan?

This not only filled Chen Qing with hatred and hostility towards him, but even Chen Lie, who had always indulged him, could not hide his disappointment in his eyes

... ...

Since Chen Lie has temporarily left Taiwei Sect due to urgent matters, Chen Qing will be in charge here, and they will only obey Chen Qing's orders

Surrounding the Spirit Pool, there are abundant spiritual herbs and trees such as jade grass and purple tung, which do not require any special formations or restrictions. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth that overflows from the spiritual spring is mostly locked in by these lush spiritual herbs and trees. Even ordinary people living here can enjoy extended life and enhanced vitality

Chen Hai is no longer the self-destructive and eccentric Yao Xing, and he will not vent his anger on Zhao Shan and Qian Weny, politely saying: "I apologize for troubling Uncle Zhao and Uncle Qian..."

Chen Hai recalled the sting that Su Qian had brought him, and darkly sensed that Su Ziling might be the kind of venomous woman with a malicious heart. He must not be deceived by her charming and alluring face.

However, Chen Hai is also at a loss for words. He initially committed a grave crime, which led to his expulsion from the Yao clan, resulting in his downfall to the Taiwei Sect. After arriving at the Taiwei Sect, he failed to restrain himself and ended up with a tarnished reputation. What can he possibly defend himself with at this point?

Even though Su Ziling does not like Yao Xing and does not know how to face his frivolous teasing, Yao Xing clearly fell off the cliff to save her. However, when she rushed to inform Chen Lie and his daughter Chen Qing, why did she say that Yao Xing accidentally slipped while the two were grappling with each other

Chen Hai did not expect that he could bring a maximum of six people into the Blood Cloud Wasteland in the future, but considering the miserable state of the Blood Cloud Wasteland, only a fool would be willing to accompany him, unless he could bring six puppet bodies out of the Blood Cloud Wasteland

Chen Hai stepped out of the courtyard, where two middle-aged warriors clad in light armor approached with grim expressions, saying: "Young Master Xing, the young lady has instructed us to escort you to Tieliu Ridge..."

The body you have sacrificed, your cultivation has been wasted; wanting to rebuild it is already exceedingly difficult. Moreover, you must first cultivate your soul and body to a preliminary harmony, which is even more challenging. However, as long as you do not fear difficulties, there is still a glimmer of hope to open the spiritual sea

Looking at the blood-like corpse of the divine guard puppet, Chen Hai thought to himself, since it is positioned at the level of a martial soldier, it should not be particularly powerful, and he asked with concern:

Su Ziling's words appeared to have only slight variations, yet they left a markedly different impression on others, leading Chen Qing and others to believe that he harbored ulterior motives and intended to force Su Ziling against her will

He can only comfort himself in this way at the moment

Chen Hai severed the mental connection with the snake bracelet, noticing that the bracelet had embedded itself into the flesh of his left wrist, as if it were nonexistent. He thought to himself that this was for the best, as he would not have to explain the origins of the snake bracelet to others, nor would he fear that anyone would covet the extraordinary treasure.

He can also be considered a knowledgeable person, speculating that the snake bracelet, as a bridge of intention between the true body and the puppet body, is unimaginably powerful, but perhaps there are even more extraordinary aspects waiting for him to explore

Young Master Xing

Upon careful consideration, there are indeed some significant flaws

The seven peaks, seemingly floating above the sea of clouds, are extremely lofty and majestic, brimming with spiritual energy. The barrier formation, under the refraction of sunlight, resembles seven golden, radiant transparent shields enveloping the peaks, creating a scene that appears to be a realm of immortals from a distance

You place this medicinal soup on the table, and I will drink it later

Seeing that Zhao Shan and Qian Yi did not give him the opportunity to get close, Chen Hai stood with his arms crossed in the courtyard, gazing around; outside was truly a different world.