Chapter 39: Low Xuan-Rank Secret Technique · Mystic Armor Puppet Art!
On the Dou Qi continent, all skills that utilize Dou Qi fall under the general category of Dou Techniques.
But under a stricter classification, Dou Techniques are further divided into specific subtypes such as cultivation methods, movement techniques, and secret techniques.
Cultivation methods and movement techniques are self-explanatory: the former improves one's Dou Qi, while the latter enhances speed and agility through Dou Qi.
Secret techniques are a bit more special—many Dou Qi skills that aren't directly offensive or defensive fall into this category.
For example, under normal circumstances, only Dou Wang and above can form Dou Qi wings for flight. However, there exist rare flight techniques that allow those below that realm to fly for short periods. These are typically classified as secret techniques.
Likewise, some powerful burst or amplification abilities are also considered secret techniques.
In short, secret techniques are always either powerful or bizarre—and Mystic Armor Puppet Art, which Jiang Lin had unexpectedly acquired, was undoubtedly one of the bizarre ones.
"Low… Xuan-rank?"
"Puppet… art??"
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow. Since when did he get so lucky?
Last time he came here, all he picked up was junk metal (2nd–3rd tier materials) that he used to craft his Black Knight armor. Only on his first and third trips had he found anything Xuan-rank.
"Feels like something no decent person would've written…" Jiang Lin muttered as he focused his mental power on the beast hide scroll. Its contents streamed rapidly into his mind—taking nearly an hour to complete the transfer.
"…Miss, he's picked up another treasure."
From the shadows, someone spoke with a complex expression.
"Mhm… But to Elder Ling, it probably doesn't count as a treasure, right?" a soft, childlike voice replied with a hint of doubt.
"…Miss, Wutan City is small for me. But it feels like he's snatching treasures right from under my nose. Even if it's just a low-tier Xuan Technique, the feeling is… complex. Strange. Hard to describe."
"…."
Xiao Xun'er could relate—if she'd shown up a bit later, Jiang Lin probably would've picked up a treasure from right inside the Xiao Clan.
"If it bothers you, Elder Ling, maybe go dig up something good from the city too."
That was all she could say to comfort him.
An hour later, Jiang Lin sat with a blank look in his eyes. It took him a while to snap out of it.
Compared to the last time he was nearly harmed by the brute-force knowledge transfer of a weapon blueprint, this time—now that he was a Dou Zhe and had inner vision and concentrated spirit—he handled the process much better.
"I didn't expect this to be such a fascinating secret technique… The only pity is that the scroll had just one use. After I activated it, it turned into a blank piece of paper." Jiang Lin sighed as he looked at the now-ordinary hide in his hands.
Many soul inheritance items have a limited number of uses—three at most, and for critical techniques, usually only one. Once consumed, the soul energy within disappears entirely.
Low Xuan-Rank Secret Technique: Mystic Armor Puppet Art was, to put it nicely, a bright and benevolent corpse cosmetics technique. It detailed how to refine the corpses of those who had cultivated Dou Qi into puppets no stronger than Dou Ling level. However, these puppets had low intelligence and required recently deceased corpses to retain even basic motor skills. Living humans were unsuitable—they posed a risk of rebellion and were likely to attract deadly fiendish aura.
"Fiendish aura… huh. Apparently, too much of it can lead to madness during cultivation, or even trigger heavenly tribulation later? Just for refining a Dou Ling puppet? Sounds exaggerated…" Still, Jiang Lin respected the warnings of those who came before him.
"The other materials for refining the puppet are easy—I already have similar substitutes in my inventory. The only tricky part is the need for skin from a Soul-Nurturing Banshee, used to draw soul-sealing runes. But where am I supposed to find a banshee… I've never even heard of…"
As he pondered, Jiang Lin's gaze dropped to the mysterious beast hide in his hands. He examined it again under candlelight—gray-white in color, hairless, smooth to the touch, almost like human skin. Cold, soft, and eerily lifelike.
Try as he might, Jiang Lin couldn't recall any known magical beast with this type of hide.
But his gut told him—this was it. The Soul-Nurturing Hide Paper he needed.
He compared the soul rune imagery in his mind to the hide and found it matched perfectly. It was enough for exactly two Mystic Armor Seals, just the right amount for one puppet.
"Indeed… the wisdom of those who came before."
Jiang Lin pressed his hands together and silently gave thanks to the ancient seniors, before happily storing the hide away and going to bed with a peaceful heart.
When traveling, Jiang Lin usually refrained from cultivating, to avoid drawing attention.
After all, even Mr. Yao had sensed Xiao Xun'er wasn't normal. Jiang Lin, with his powerful perception, had long regarded her as a Clark Kent—glasses-wearing superwoman.
Originally, Jiang Lin had no plans to interact much with her. But after a year of observation, he found nothing off-putting about the Xiao Clan—no hostility, no traps. So he simply continued with his plans. And honestly, if Fu Bo hadn't told him that "the old man's Dou Qi is dropping by the day," Jiang Lin wouldn't have gone near Xiao Yan at all.
Once he met Xiao Yan, he figured: well, might as well leave a goodwill gesture. He pointed out the issue with Xiao Yan's condition and tossed him a random seized weapon. Whether the kid succeeded or not didn't really matter to him.
That black dagger?
Forget the fact it was inferior to anything Jiang Lin used himself—just possessing it could be troublesome. Who knew who those black-robed attackers were? If anyone came looking for revenge, they could deal with Xiao Yan instead. Even if he ratted Jiang Lin out, it would be through a long and winding route. Jiang Lin had already grown his wings. The people of Qingshan Town couldn't touch him anymore.
Besides, Wutan City was his lucky ground. This Mystic Armor Puppet Art had practically fallen into his lap like a dream pillow before a nap.
Now Jiang Lin was seriously thinking about separating the Black Knight persona from himself—and this puppet art had just given him the perfect way to do it.
"So then… Dou Shi Mu She, Da Dou Shi Yan Hu—aren't they the perfect upgrade route for my Black Knight puppet?"
Jiang Lin was already planning how to quietly eliminate the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and investigate the blacksmith behind it all within a year.
Trying to shortcut the forging path by stealing from him?
Not studying hard, are we? Naughty child—you must be punished.
(END CHAPTER)
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