Lin Yi's expression, however, turned utterly frigid as he scanned the final piece of information. Unlike the Heavenly and Creation Grade Puppets, which possessed only semi-intelligence and operated purely on programmed commands, the Supreme Grade Puppet possessed proper, sentient intelligence.
Just as the realization solidified in his mind, the Supreme Grade Puppet moved. Its movements were fluid and graceful, a clear departure from the rigid, mechanical nature of the others. It knelt down on one knee directly before Lin Yi. Following its lead, the thirty five charged Heavenly Grade Puppets all moved in unison, sinking into the same kneeling posture.
The Supreme Grade Puppet raised its head, its voice sounding... not a metallic tune, but a deep, resonant baritone, a voice brimming with cold, absolute loyalty. "This one thanks the Master for the gift of life and the infinite power. I request that the Master bestow upon me a name, so that I may serve with proper distinction."
Lin Yi's bright pupils, his gaze still radiating a cold, immeasurable depth, swept over the Thirty Six kneeling figures, lingering for a calculated moment on the magnificent, marble-swirled Supreme Grade Puppet before him. The puppet's absolute loyalty was palpable, a pure, unadulterated intent far stronger than any oath of allegiance from a living being.
"Your name shall be Di," Lin Yi stated, his voice resonating with cool authority. The single word was a pronouncement, a new identity forged in front of him. His gaze then shifted to the thirty five stark-white Heavenly Grade Puppets arrayed in the arc behind the newly named Di. "And these," he continued, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his masked lips, "will be known simply by their order: Number One through thirty five."
The Supreme Grade Puppet, Di, rose instantly to its feet, a fluid, graceful motion that was almost human. Its deep, baritone voice carried an enhanced resonance. "This one thanks the Master for the bestowed name. I shall strive to serve with distinction." Following his lead, the thirty five Heavenly Grade Puppets rose in a silent, synchronized movement, their dark red pupils fixed forward in absolute readiness.
Lin Yi studied Di thoughtfully, his head tilted slightly in analytical contemplation. "Di," he began, his voice returning to a low, inquisitive tone, "Are you controlling these other puppets? Why are they following your movements?"
Di replied instantly, his tone one of precise, factual explanation. "No, Master… I am not controlling them. The Heavenly Grade Puppets possess only semi-intelligence and are driven purely by core directives. I am merely a higher rank among them. My presence acts as a primary anchor, which the others instinctively recognize and follow as a leader when the Master's commands are directed through me."
Di then paused, the dark red glow in its pupils subtly intensifying as it processed new data within its core. "However, Master, I have detected a profound change. The Primordial Chaos energy you have infused is not merely fuel; it is a catalyst. It is actively evolving my core and these other heavenly grade puppets. Over time, I and the Heavenly Puppets will continue to evolve, increasing in both rank, raw power, and the level of intelligence we possess."
Lin Yi's brow furrowed slightly beneath the mask. "Evolving?" he murmured, a flicker of genuine surprise evident in his tone. The thought of thirty five Nirvana-level servants, already devastating, evolving into something potentially beyond the Samsara or even Reincarnation Stage was a staggering implication. He glanced at the uniform row of Heavenly Puppets, their rigid formations reminding him acutely of disciplined, high-ranking soldiers. The image of the Yi Pavilion, the humble force he had established in Yan City, flashed through his mind.
He pointed a finger at the first puppet, Number One. "If I were to order that one to visit and remain in Yan City, to safeguard the Yi Pavilion and, by extension, the Lin Family... a command that could span hundreds, perhaps thousands of years... would the task be completed?"
Di's response was immediate and solemn, a testament to its programmed, profound loyalty. "Of course, Master. Such a task is not complex. If you give a directive to any of us, or even to me, we will execute it with absolute precision and dedication, even if its duration spans millennia."
Lin Yi fell silent for a long moment, absorbing the gravity of the reply. He recalled the specific lore of this dimension: the existence of high-level puppets, artifacts of pure dedication, such as the one Lin Dong would soon encounter, which had guarded an ancient realm for countless years based solely on a final, millennia-old command from a departed master. The puppets before him were an asset of that same, terrifying, boundless loyalty.
He nodded slowly, a definitive decision reached. He looked directly at the thirty five Heavenly Grade Puppets. "Listen to my order," Lin Yi commanded, his voice sharp and imbued with absolute authority. "You are to scatter yourselves across the surrounding great kingdoms of this region. Establish hidden outposts and quietly gather influence and resources, all under the name of the Yi Pavilion."
He paused, then pointed specifically at Number One. "You, Number One, will proceed immediately to Yan City. Remain hidden within the Yi Pavilion's premises and guard it, and the Lin Family, against any and all threats, until a direct, superseding command is given."
The thirty five puppets executed a single, crisp salute, their heads bobbing in perfect unison. Without another word, the space around them shimmered and tore. thirty five figures... manifestations of absolute, terrifying power... shot through the spatial tears and vanished, scattering to their assigned, ancient tasks, leaving only Lin Yi and the Supreme Grade Puppet, Di, on the precipice of the crater.
Lin Yi then turned to Di. "You, Di, will not scatter. You will follow me, remaining hidden in the void just beyond my spiritual perception. You will act as my shadow, my final deterrent." A mischievous, almost cruel light flickered in his blazing red pupils, and a playful, cold smile curved his lips beneath the mask. "We have a play to stage for the future enemies I will inevitably encounter. You will be my silent weapon, the ace that ensures the final curtain call belongs to me."
...