Steady Mortal Path: Starting from Obtaining the Golden Core Inheritance

Chapter 354 The True Lord's Requirements

Yunmiao Zhenjun inquired of Lin Changsheng about the current limits of puppet creation.

Lin Changsheng hesitated for a moment before indicating that he was able to create a mid-grade third-tier puppet.

If higher quality materials were available, it might be possible to attempt to forge a Tier 3 item, but without trying, the success rate might not be very high.

After all, successfully repairing a top-tier third-order puppet only proves that Lin Changsheng's understanding of puppetry has broken through to the middle-tier third-order level, but it does not mean that his puppetry skills are sufficient to create puppets of the same level.

Yunmiao Zhenjun seemed to have anticipated this, a flash of disappointment crossing his eyes, but he continued:

"If I could provide a high-level puppeteer's notes and insights, I wonder if Puppet Master Lin would be confident in breaking through to the peak of the third rank in a short period of time?"

The faint voice of True Monarch Yunmiao caused Lin Changsheng's heart to stir, and his eyes flickered slightly.

Since entering the Ice Palace, this Cloud Mist True Monarch had maintained a calm demeanor, but when it came to puppetry, Lin Changsheng could clearly sense a hint of expectation in her tone.

Although the other party was very well hidden, Lin Changsheng still keenly sensed through some subtle changes that Yunmiao Zhenjun's state of mind had changed slightly.

It seems that even a powerful cultivator like True Monarch Yunmiao, who is at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm and usually has excellent cultivation and self-restraint, cannot remain completely calm when it comes to matters closely related to himself.

"Since I started cultivating, I have considered myself to have a talent for puppetry. I have been studying and researching puppetry techniques for nearly two hundred years and have only barely advanced to the third-tier mid-grade puppeteer. Now I have almost reached a bottleneck and I am afraid it will be difficult to break through in the short term."

"The insights of a top-tier third-tier puppeteer are not very helpful for juniors to improve their skills."

Lin Changsheng said frankly.

Having been a member of the Willow Smoke Sect for many years, Lin Changsheng could naturally sense Yunmiao Zhenjun's urgent need for high-level puppets.

If we satisfy this Jurchen ruler, we will likely reap many benefits.

However, for Lin Changsheng, ordinary resources were no longer of interest.

Unless it is a Nascent Soul spirit that can assist in breaking through to the True Monarch realm.

Perhaps that's what will make his heart flutter.

Moreover, for a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, mastering mid-stage third-order puppetry skills already makes one a top-tier individual.

Puppetry is a slightly special skill among the various arts of cultivation, and its difficulty is higher than other skills. Under normal circumstances, to achieve the third-level genuine puppetry skill, one needs to be a cultivator at the late Golden Core stage.

Many puppeteers with cultivation at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, despite having a sufficient understanding of the craft, still struggle to create mid-grade third-tier puppets. This problem only resolves itself once their cultivation advances and their internal mana and spiritual sense increase.

"Ordinary third-tier puppetry experience might not be enough, but if it's fourth-tier or higher puppetry experience, is Master Lin confident that he can make a breakthrough in a short period of time?"

Yunmiao Zhenjun's tone remained calm, but it stirred Lin Changsheng's heart.

"Notes on the Experiences of a Fourth-Order Puppet Master?!"

Lin Changsheng first showed surprise, then his expression turned to regret.

A fourth-tier puppeteer is perhaps an extremely rare existence in the entire cultivation world.

Even some cultivators who were originally proficient in all the arts of cultivation, after advancing to the Nascent Soul realm, mostly remained at the third level in their additional skills.

the reason is simple.

Firstly, as skills improve, it becomes increasingly difficult, and coupled with a lack of inheritance, this leads to a break in the continuity of skills.

Secondly, skills need to be honed through extensive practice and trial and error to improve. However, materials of the fourth rank and above are too scarce to be purchased in large quantities, making it difficult to improve skills.

Therefore, it is quite difficult to raise one's skills to the fourth level, no less difficult than breaking through from the Golden Core stage to the Nascent Soul stage.

With the insights and notes of a fourth-tier puppeteer, Lin Changsheng absorbed the experience and was indeed able to make rapid progress in puppetry skills in a short period of time.

Unfortunately, the notes are not a fourth-order puppet inheritance, so their value is greatly reduced.

"The difficulty of skills above the fourth rank increases exponentially. Therefore, most cultivators who master fourth-rank skills choose a branch that suits their own circumstances. Even if they have inherited something, it may not be suitable. Instead, their own accumulated experience over many years is more widely applicable."

Perhaps sensing what Lin Changsheng was thinking, True Monarch Yunmiao offered some advice.

"I see."

Lin Changsheng suddenly realized.

The cultivation knowledge involved beyond the fourth level was beyond the scope of what 'Heavenly Poison True Man' knew in his memory, and Lin Changsheng knew very little about it.

Back then, "Heavenly Poison True Man" had a terrible reputation due to his frequent killings and plundering. He was wanted by most sects and families and often went on the run. Because he often disguised himself and shrank his bones, he rarely dared to come into contact with Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

Therefore, although he has mastered a large number of comprehensive cultivation concepts, he is almost completely ignorant of common knowledge above the Nascent Soul stage.

Furthermore, without a master or a True Monarch-level cultivator to guide him, his path of cultivation became increasingly narrow.

Perhaps, when Lin Changsheng first entered the path of cultivation, if he hadn't had the special memories of the information explosion era of his previous life, with the primitive mindset of feudal society, he would most likely have been influenced by the 'Heavenly Poison True Man' and brainwashed by four hundred years of memories, thus embarking on the same path of killing.

With the blessing of inherited memories, he missed the opportunity to cultivate the "Eternal Spring of Withered Trees" and instead focused on cultivating the "Netherworld Poison Scripture," accumulating killing techniques to defeat the strong with the weak, kill and rob, and quickly complete his initial accumulation. He seemed to be enjoying the pleasures of revenge, but he was bound to follow the old path of the "Heavenly Poison Master."

If Lin Changsheng were to cultivate the 'Netherworld Poison Scripture' and focus on the path of killing, he probably wouldn't be standing so calmly before True Monarch Yunmiao today.

"With this fourth-tier puppeteer's guide, I hope that Puppet Master Lin can temporarily suspend his cultivation and focus all his efforts on puppetry, so as to make a breakthrough as soon as possible and thus assist this True Lord."

Seeing Lin Changsheng's slightly furrowed brows and lack of immediate response, True Monarch Yunmiao seemed to sense something, and immediately softened his tone, adding:

"Of course, in other aspects, I, the True Lord, will provide corresponding compensation, so Master Lin, need not worry about that."

"Even with the insights of a fourth-tier puppeteer, it will still take me quite a while to make a breakthrough in puppetry skills..."

Lin Changsheng felt somewhat displeased upon hearing Yunmiao Zhenjun's request.

If the other party hadn't been a Nascent Soul True Monarch, Lin Changsheng probably would have refused on the spot.

In cultivation, whether it is the various arts of immortality or supernatural powers, they are all used to assist oneself.

Most importantly, it depends on one's own cultivation level.

To neglect one's spiritual practice in pursuit of these trivial details is to put the cart before the horse and is an extremely foolish act.

In the world of cultivation, there are many people with extraordinary talent who, because they are obsessed with unorthodox methods, miss the best time for cultivation. By the time they realize their mistake, it is too late, and they die with regrets at a certain level.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, True Monarch Yunmiao naturally understood this principle, but he still made such a request, which made Lin Changsheng quite dissatisfied.