One of Lin Xiao’s storage rings suddenly exploded open. The purple corpse puppet burst out from within it.
Without any regard for Lin Xiao’s reaction, it charged straight towards the cold glen.
Under the astonished gazes of Lin Xiao and Huo Ru Yan, it plunged directly into the cold glen, sending up a splash of water.
“That is your corpse puppet?”
Huo Ru Yan asked in complete surprise.
Lin Xiao nodded. “This corpse puppet possesses spirituality. I used a mind-control technique on it, so it has always obeyed my commands. This is the second time it has disobeyed. The first was when it encountered the Yin Demon, out of fear. This time, it is temptation. The cold glen must be like food to a starving beast. It sensed it even from inside the storage ring and rushed out directly.”
Lin Xiao was equally shocked.
The first time the purple corpse puppet disobeyed was out of fear towards the Yin Demon. This time, it was irresistible allure.
One could imagine how greatly beneficial the cold glen was to the purple corpse puppet.
“Its body must be harder than a Martial Saint’s to dare jump straight in like that.”
Huo Ru Yan said in extreme surprise.
“It is very hard. I do not know if a Martial Saint could break it. But besides hardness, its body is of yin-cold attribute. It naturally generates yin-cold power and has refined many yin-cold supplements. The cold glen should not be able to harm it. Otherwise, it would not have rushed in so recklessly.”
Lin Xiao replied, but a trace of worry appeared on his face. “To it, this cold glen is a tremendous opportunity. However, I do not know how long it will take to emerge. By then, it may no longer be something I can control.”
The purple corpse puppet already possessed intelligence. Lin Xiao had only used a special secret method to control its mind, not to enslave it fully.
Mind control had a time limit. The puppet’s intelligence was unclear, so it habitually obeyed him.
But if its strength rose again, especially with an opportunity like this cold glen, it probably would not emerge until it had absorbed enough. When it finally did, its power would surely reach an extremely high level.
By then, its intelligence would greatly increase, and it would no longer submit to his commands.
Unless he reapplied enslavement or mind control at that time.
For now, Lin Xiao could not think further. The purple corpse puppet had already entered the cold glen. He could only wait until it emerged in the future.
But who knew when that would be.
It could be months, or years, even decades, or until it drained the entire cold glen dry.
He could not possibly guard it forever.
“When your strength advances further, you may still have a chance to control it again. But waiting for it to emerge could take forever. I will assign Blood Sect members to watch over it for you.”
Huo Ru Yan said considerately.
Lin Xiao nodded. That was the only option.
Then he turned to the Heaven-Swallowing Spirit Emperor’s tokens, glanced at Huo Ru Yan, and used his spiritual force to draw them over.
He examined them from all sides, trying to infuse both Yuan Force and spiritual force, but could make nothing of them.
“To be honest, I came specifically on the orders of the Heaven-Swallowing Spirit Emperor’s wife to retrieve these tokens. So I had no choice but to take what belonged to another.”
Lin Xiao explained to Huo Ru Yan while holding the tokens.
Even if she had not asked, he could not help telling her the truth.
He trusted Huo Ru Yan deeply.
“The Heaven-Swallowing Spirit Emperor’s wife is still alive?”
Huo Ru Yan’s eyes widened in shock.
“She is.”
Lin Xiao smiled. “It is a long story. We need to find a place to talk properly.”
“Very well. It has been six years. I am also curious about what you have experienced. But first, I must deal with this God-Beating Bamboo.”
With that, power circulated within Huo Ru Yan. A special blood seal glowed in her palm. She pressed it onto the God-Beating Bamboo, then lifted her hand, leaving a blood seal on its surface.
Of course, it was merely affixed to the exterior, not engraved.
Otherwise, even with her strength, she could not mark such a supreme treasure in the slightest.
The Heaven-Swallowing Spirit Emperor’s tokens earlier must have received the same blood seal treatment, allowing her to retrieve them without approaching the cold glen.
This blood linkage method was quite peculiar. It must be an opportunity Huo Ru Yan had gained in these six years.
After applying the blood seal, blood seeped from her palm. With her power circulating, she concealed the self-inflicted wound.
“Heh heh. Throw the God-Beating Bamboo into the cold glen. No matter what methods the Jiang family has, they probably will not be able to locate it. Though I do not know if the cold glen will erode my blood seal. But it does not matter. It is not ours anyway. If we get the chance in future, we can retrieve it. If not, let it stay there!”
Huo Ru Yan smiled, then flung the God-Beating Bamboo with force, accurately sending it into the cold glen dozens of li away.
Earlier, she had considered throwing the Heaven-Swallowing Spirit Emperor’s tokens into the cold glen too. But it was too terrifying. She feared her blood linkage would fail if submerged.
After all, her blood seal was only on the surface. She dared not risk it, so she had buried the tokens near the glen instead.
The God-Beating Bamboo, however, did not belong to them. They could not keep it. Even if the attempt failed, it would not hurt.
Lin Xiao did not object. What they could not obtain must not fall into enemy hands.
“Chi!”
At that moment, Huo Ru Yan sensed a change within her. “The blood seal has indeed vanished. To retrieve the God-Beating Bamboo, even we would have to wait until your corpse puppet drains the cold glen dry.”
Lin Xiao nodded indifferently. “The purple corpse puppet can move freely in extreme cold. Even if it cannot drain it completely, when we find it again in future, there is hope of recovering the God-Beating Bamboo.”
He looked towards the southwest horizon and mused, “By now, the Jiang family must be furious, right?”
At that moment, far away in Hao Province, the Jiang family headquarters.
In a heavily guarded area of the Jiang family, an elder watched over a treasure artefact.
More precisely, an artefact linked to the God-Beating Bamboo.
Seeing the artefact suddenly change, the elder’s expression shifted dramatically. He hurried out and went straight to report to the family head.
His position was special; he had direct access to the patriarch.
In a secret chamber, the Jiang family head was cultivating. At the elder’s call, he abruptly stopped and emerged from the chamber.
He was a vigorous grey-haired elder, six chi tall, with a sturdy build like a youth. His eyes were like mountains, his face like dark bronze. He wore a simple cyan-grey robe, emanating no aura yet carrying an inviolable majesty.
“Elder Wen, what has happened?”
The Jiang family head asked gravely.
“The God-Beating Bamboo has suddenly lost contact.”
The elder known as Wen replied.
The Jiang family head’s long brows rose. Cold light flashed in his eyes. “Summon all the Martial Saint elders!”
“Yes!”
Elder Wen quickly withdrew.
