Chapter 127: Cloud Artisan!

"Heh heh, why is Sect Master Lu so surprised?"

"I do not understand this man-made person you speak of."

"But you and I both walk the path of puppet refinement. Could it be you have never seen an existence like mine?"

Lu Qingyang looked at the old man before him, half of whose body had been replaced by some kind of puppet component. After a moment of silent deliberation, he slowly shook his head.

"Heh heh. This humble one is the First Elder and Sect Master of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, Cloud Artisan. Greetings, Sect Master Lu."

Hearing the other party's rather formal introduction, Lu Qingyang immediately cupped his hands and bowed in return.

After all, the other was at least a Void Return cultivator. Moreover, this was his territory. By both reason and courtesy, he ought to be respectful.

"This humble one is Lu Qingyang, Sect Master of the Chaotian Sect. Greetings, Sect Master Yun."

"Haha, good, good."

Lu Qingyang's demeanor immediately made Sect Master Yun laugh heartily twice.

He looked at Lu Qingyang, his expression softening, and spoke in a gentle tone.

"A thousand years ago, before I stepped into Void Return, I was once secretly attacked."

"A Dharma Artifact scraped away half my body. In the fierce battle, my spiritual power was exhausted, and my pills were nearly gone."

"With no other choice, I could only tear half from a damaged puppet, seal it with my blood and qi, and fuse it with myself."

"Hiss!"

Hearing this, Lu Qingyang could not help but suck in a cold breath.

A trace of shock surfaced faintly in the depths of his eyes.

He had never expected that the Sect Master of the Thousand Bamboo Sect actually had such a ruthless side.

Seeing Lu Qingyang's astonished expression, Sect Master Yun smiled lightly and continued.

"But who knew it would again prove the ancients' words: fortune is not disaster, and disaster cannot be avoided."

"After my injuries healed, I had planned to restore my flesh. But who knew that with half a puppet body installed, my progress on the path of puppet refinement was actually faster than before."

At this point, Sect Master Yun looked at Lu Qingyang and revealed a gratified smile.

"And so, one could say disaster became fortune."

After hearing Elder Yun's account, Lu Qingyang finally began to seriously regard the other's half-puppet body.

"Sect Master Yun, may I..."

"Sect Master Lu, please go ahead."

Lu Qingyang's words had barely reached halfway when Elder Yun directly cut him off.

He also understood Lu Qingyang's intention. Spiritual power surged through his entire body, blasting open half his sleeve.

Like an Arhat, he boldly displayed half his arm and torso before everyone.

The material of this half-body was different from ordinary Dharma Artifacts, its surface gleaming with a bronze-colored luster.

Most importantly, the densely carved formation patterns upon it had already fused into one with the flesh and meridians.

"Weng!"

A point of light suddenly appeared at Lu Qingyang's fingertip, landing directly on Elder Yun's half-body.

As Lu Qingyang's spiritual power poured in, dazzling bronze light began to shine from that half-body.

The light gradually spread, soon enveloping the entire body.

But in the next instant, it dissipated once more...

"Ahem... My apologies, Sect Master Yun."

Lu Qingyang coughed twice and cupped his hands somewhat awkwardly toward Sect Master Yun.

After all, cultivators most tabooed others touching their bodies.

If he had not been so engrossed in studying it, he absolutely would not have been so rude.

Looking at his half-body, Cloud Artisan did not mind at all.

He waved his hand and put his robe back on.

He returned to his previous refined appearance.

"Sect Master Lu, did you notice anything?"

Hearing this, Lu Qingyang frowned slightly.

He knew the other was testing him.

"Sect Master Yun, I imagine that in the days since, you have also replaced the puppet components on your body, correct?"

"Otherwise, it absolutely could not be so compatible with your bloodline aura."

"Heh heh... Sect Master Lu has good eyes. But it was not replacement..."

At this point, Cloud Artisan stopped.

Seeing Cloud Artisan's hesitant expression, Lu Qingyang's heart suddenly tightened, and the words escaped him.

"Could it be that you directly refined these puppet components anew?"

Cloud Artisan nodded with a smile.

"Sect Master Lu guessed correctly. These puppet components were all re-refined by me using a secret method."

"Aiyo, when I think back on those days, the pain! Heh heh..."

Hearing the other admit it himself, Lu Qingyang was also left clicking his tongue.

After all, these components had already grown into one with the flesh and meridians.

If the other was not replacing but re-refining them, the pain endured was simply unimaginable.

Such perseverance, such resolve, was truly breathtaking!

As Lu Qingyang inwardly praised him, he also grew increasingly wary.

This Cloud Artisan... is someone to be reckoned with!

That thought flashed through his mind.

"Enough! Sect Master Lu has come from afar as a guest. Rest well today."

"Tomorrow, our two sects shall hold a puppet discourse on the Dao, so we may seek some instruction from you, Sect Master Lu."

Cloud Artisan looked at Lu Qingyang with great enthusiasm, as if truly treating him as a peer.

"Sect Master Yun is too kind."

Although Lu Qingyang felt the other's attitude was somewhat strange, he still readily agreed.

"In that case, Yun Fei, arrange for Sect Master Lu and his disciples to rest. Do not be negligent."

Having said this, Cloud Artisan waved his hand at Yun Fei, signaling him to take Lu Qingyang down to rest.

Looking at Cloud Artisan's enthusiastic expression, Lu Qingyang's doubts only deepened.

He always felt things were not so simple.

But since the other had arranged things this way, Lu Qingyang could only temporarily suppress his doubts.

After all, the other had shown no untoward behavior for now. To rashly turn hostile would be far too inappropriate.

Moreover, there was something else...

A Void Return True Lord — with my strength, I should not be able to stir up any waves. Besides, this Cloud Artisan's half-man half-puppet technique is worth studying...

Perhaps when I return, I can try some new tricks.

Lu Qingyang's lowered gaze flickered as he silently pondered.

On the other side, Yun Fei, hearing this, bowed respectfully, then led Lu Qingyang and the others away.

As for Cloud Artisan, watching Lu Qingyang's receding figure, a mysterious light flashed through his eyes.

"A genius of the Human Race... truly remarkable."

"With his help, perhaps..."

"I really can escape this body."

As his words fell, Cloud Artisan silently took out a pill from behind his back and stuffed it into his mouth...

...

Meanwhile, Lu Qingyang followed Yun Fei to the hall arranged for rest.

The doubts in his heart grew ever stronger.

Along the way, he had discovered something extremely strange.

That was... how did the Thousand Bamboo Sect's disciples seem to live worse than the puppets?

Within the layered mountain ranges of the Thousand Bamboo Sect.

Cave residences for cultivation were everywhere.

But most of the caves were empty, clearly not usually inhabited by disciples.

Moreover, Lu Qingyang vaguely felt that those disciples' cave residences all carried a flavor of dead silence.

Instead, all sorts of ancient puppets moved about within those disciples' caves.

"Ahem... Elder Yun Fei, your sect's disciples seem to cherish their puppets dearly?"

"They even vacate their own cave residences for their puppets?"

Unable to hold back his confusion, Lu Qingyang spoke and asked.

"Heh heh, this is because my elder brother once said that the disciples of my Thousand Bamboo Sect should be this way."

"Just as those who love swords treat their swords as their lives, the path of puppets should be the same."

Hearing Lu Qingyang's words, Yun Fei chuckled lightly and explained.

"Oh?"

Seeing this, Lu Qingyang could not help but raise an eyebrow.

He always felt something was off...