"What are puppets?"
Han Yue was completely confused. It was her first time hearing about such things, but just from the term itself, she could guess their general function.
"Puppets are battle puppets refined from the corpses of the Soul Hall Sky Venerables killed by Brother Xu Ran. They obey their master's commands and possess formidable combat strength. Refining puppets, like making elixirs, is a special ability. However, refining puppets is more difficult, and the Puppetry Technique has been passed down to very few on the Continent," Xun Er explained to Han Yue.
She knew that the Puppetry Technique controlled by Xu Ran was entirely self-taught, and it was even stronger than any other puppet refining method found on the Continent. Normally, refining puppets and elixirs both require a Demon Core as an essential component. But Xu Ran had completely eliminated this step with his own power.
However, if a Demon Core was used, the refined puppet would likely be much stronger, and the refining process would be much easier.
If Xu Ran had an Eighth Order Harmony core, he could easily grant nearly Semi-Saint-level puppets the combat strength of a Dou Sheng Level.
"So this is what puppets are?"
Han Yue's pupils shrank, and she was utterly shocked.
To think they were battle puppets refined from the bodies of the members of Soul Hall. Not only had Xu Ran killed the powerhouses of Soul Hall, but he'd also turned them into puppets.
If these puppets were to go to Zhongzhou, where would Soul Hall's face be?
Xu Ran truly had no intention of reconciling with Soul Hall.
"Does Lord Xu Ran really have no plans to make peace with Soul Hall? Although Lord Xu Ran is very strong, Soul Hall is the most powerful force in Zhongzhou. I fear that Soul Hall will not let things go easily in the future." Although Han Yue didn't encounter anyone from Soul Hall during her time in Zhongzhou, she was very clear about the legends of Soul Hall.
In Zhongzhou, Soul Hall was even more terrifying than elixirs.
"Who told you that Soul Hall is the most powerful force in Zhongzhou? Soul Hall is just the strongest overtly, but in reality, there are many forces much more powerful than Soul Hall," Xu Ran said with a smile.
"What?"
Han Yue was even more astonished. Wasn't Soul Hall the strongest force in Zhongzhou? The mnemonic 'One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Square Pavilions' was known by almost everyone in Zhongzhou.
Although she was very curious, Han Yue knew her place and did not ask further.
She had already learned a lot today. Soul Hall and the forces above Soul Hall were not things she could touch at her current stage.
Now, all she wanted was to cultivate well, achieve success, and protect her family. That would be enough for her to be satisfied.
...
"Yay, I won."
About fifteen minutes later on the arena, Xiao Mei barely won against Hu Jia.
"Hee hee, I thought you were more impressive. You're much weaker than I imagined. Hmph, I worried for nothing thinking you were strong," Xiao Mei said with the tip of her sword pointed at Hu Jia's ample chest, speaking very proudly. Being stronger than Hu Jia made her quite smug.
Although her "Cultivation Level" had increased significantly, and she had cultivated many high-order combat techniques, she had no real understanding of her own strength. She never expected her combat power to be so formidable.
"If I could also cultivate those profound combat techniques, I would definitely be much stronger than you," Hu Jia said through clenched teeth, clearly not conceding.
Her battle experience was much more extensive than Xiao Mei's, yet her combat techniques fell far short.
The combat techniques Xiao Mei cultivated were all ones Lord Xu Ran had thoroughly enlightened her on. Even if she was lacking in practical application, the power was extraordinary.
"Hehe, losing is losing. Even if your combat techniques get better, my battle experience will increase too. Plus, Brother Xu Ran dotes on me more, and he'll make sure my "Cultivation Level" always surpasses yours," Xiao Mei said smugly.
Even Xun Er and Xiao Yu began spending time with Xu Ran only after her.
She was the first to be with Xu Ran, and she also reaped the most benefits from him.
You should know that when Xiao Mei first joined Xu Ran, she was only at Dou Qi Fourth Stage, while Xun Er was already a Dou Zhe, and Xiao Yu had entered Canaan Academy and was naturally a Dou Zhe too. But now, Xiao Mei had caught up to Xiao Yu in "Cultivation Level," second only to Xun Er, only lagging behind in battle experience for the time being.
"You!"
Hu Jia was frustrated beyond words.
She knew that although she had now made her relationship with Xu Ran official, her feelings for him couldn't compare with those of Xiao Mei and the others.
"Just you wait, I'll get my revenge sooner or later. When that time comes, I'm going to whip your butt hard with a whip," Hu Jia, always relentless in nature, said grittily, feeling sour after consecutive defeats to Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei today.
Moreover, Xun Er was even stronger. If she were to face Xun Er, she probably wouldn't last more than ten moves. Xun Er was a genius who didn't even need Xu Ran's help. Xun Er consumed the least amount of Elixirs but had the highest "Cultivation Level," almost reaching Douwang.
"I'll be waiting. I'm off to Brother Xu Ran's to get a Puppet toy," Xiao Mei said nonchalantly, pulling a face at Hu Jia and skipping towards Xu Ran.
"Hu Jia actually lost again? I remember she was one of the strongest in the Outer Court before. Is everyone in the Outer Court this powerful now? The combat power they just displayed seems to have reached the high-order Dou Spirit level, right?"
"I always feel like those on the Strong List are in danger, especially those towards the bottom. These people are too terrifying. If they cultivated in the Inner Court for a few years, wouldn't they all make it into the top ten of the Strong List?"
Some Inner Court students who were watching the fight were shocked by the combat shown by Hu Jia and the others. They wouldn't be too surprised if it were experts from the Strong List fighting, but to have such power immediately upon entering the Inner Court seemed a bit too defy the natural order.
It seems there hasn't been anyone with a Dou Spirit "Cultivation Level" entering the Inner Court in recent years, but now, so many have emerged all at once.
"Hehe, Brother Xu Ran, where's my Puppet? Cousin Xiao Yu is the strongest. She can have the Dou Zun Nine Stars one. I'll just take that one with seven stars," Xiao Mei said cheerfully as she reached out with both hands, asking Xu Ran for the item.
"I always have a feeling that giving that thing to you is not a good idea. You, girl, seem to never let people worry-free," Xu Ran tapped Xiao Mei on the forehead.
"The power of a Dou Zun Level expert is such that even the mere presence can be fatal to those weaker. If it's not necessary, don't take it out, got it?" Xu Ran warned.
"Brother Xu Ran, Mei'er is not a child anymore. I always listen to Brother Xu Ran the most. I definitely won't use it to do bad things," Xiao Mei said with a grievance, rubbing her forehead and looking earnestly at Xu Ran.