Origin Weapon Mountain:
Chen Chen ended the formation, deep in thought. The past few years have not been kind to him. He did not show up in the early stages of this Glorious Age, waiting for the opportune time.
During his time in hiding, Chen Chen was confident he was par with all the other Heaven Chosens. His competition with Tong Ruobing was proof of his prowess. Unfortunately, everything changed after she encountered a man named Wu Ming.
Chen Chen did not know what she got from him. But after that encounter, she easily surpassed him, frustrating him beyond words. And things worsened when he encountered Heaven Chosens like Wang Wei, Feng Heng, Huo Fenghuang, and others. He realized these people were in a class of their own, and his rival, Tong Ruobing, was now part of this class.
Chen Chen's ambition has always been to create the most powerful artifact in history, surpassing the All-Encompassing Mirror that the Refiner Ancestor created. The mirror is, without a doubt, the most powerful artifact of the Myriad Emperor World–despite the Refiner Ancestor being only a Pseudo Eternal Emperor.
Chen Chen wanted to create the most powerful artifact of the lower dimension, surpassing all artifacts in the lower dimension. And without proving the Dao and becoming an Eternal Emperor, he could not accomplish his goal.
After sighing in desolation, Chen Chen took out a booklet from his space ring, a pondering look deep in his eyes. Two hundred years ago, he received a fortunate encounter that could change his life.
It was the inheritance from a foreign Heaven Will World named Mechanized Puppet World. He did not know this inheritance was in the Myriad Emperor World, nor did he care.
The cultivation system of that world involved created a puppet that is empty inside, and the cultivators can enter to control. The puppets are essentially operated armors; that's the best way Chen Chen could describe them.
Chen Chen did not care for the novelty of this system. In his eyes, these puppets were nothing but well-crafted magical artifacts used in another system. Furthermore, he could see the flaw in this system: reliance on foreign aid.
The cultivators who controlled the puppets were naturally weak, having only cultivated their spiritual power to control the puppets better and have the ability to create and update them.
In the later stages of this system, cultivators can create Law Puppets, but they still have to summon their puppets from their Sea of Consciousness when needed for battle. If someone is fast enough, they can take advantage of this flaw.
This issue is solved only after the Heaven Will Battle. After proving the Dao, the cultivator will inherit their puppets' power, while the artifacts will become something similar to a Proving Dao Artifact.
A technique considered forbidden in the Mechanized Puppet World allowed the cultivators to fuse with their mechanized puppets permanently: to eliminate the boundaries between flesh and metal, human and puppet, to eliminate the boundaries of self and tool.
The moment Chen Chen read about this technique, he thought about fusing with an Emperor Tier Puppet. Of course, reasons told him that was impossible, but he still could do it for an Immortal Tier one. However, this technique had a high failure rate, and the consequence was worse than death.
He previously rejected taking such risks. But now, as he watched his peers surpass him, as he sensed the upcoming era, he hesitated.
'Was the risk worth it?' That's all he could think about.
Chen Chen spent the next few hours thinking to himself, asking not to be disturbed. Then, he gritted his teeth as he made a decision.
"Tell the elders I'm going to the Refiner Paradise World." Chen Chen believed that he had a higher chance of success if he refined the Immortal Tier Puppet himself. And only in places like the Refiner Paradise World– where Refining Masters can prove the Dao only based on their skills–would grant him the skill to achieve such a feat.
…
People reacted differently to the Assembly. However, one consensus that every participant agreed upon: a new era of strife was upon the world, and the Son of an Era had a plan for that era.
After finishing the negotiations, Wang Wei headed to Li Jun's mountain to meet the latter. It has been a while since they talked and interacted. After serving tea, the three reminisced about what had happened to them.
"Nothing exciting occurred for a while," explained Li Jun. "After receiving the talisman from the Ancestor, I went into retreat–even using the time formation."
"You must have gotten quite the result?" asked Wang Wei.
"Indeed. I realized how much I'd underused my physique."
"As long as you learn. Liling, what about you?"
"A lot occurred. I received the Ancestor's talisman right after the Automatic Cauldron succeeded in producing Heaven Grade Pills. And with what I learned, Saint Pills won't be a problem."
"That's good news," nodded Wang Wei. "What about the Acquired Source Rune Physique I mentioned?"
"I've succeeded," she replied before raising her hand, displaying as it turned into a hand made of runes. "I've turned all the cells in my body into runes, as you suggested."
"But why do I feel you're not that excited."
"I am. It's just that Pill Refining talent also involved Flame Control, Herbology, Purification, and Runes. This physique has drastically elevated the Runes Aspect but only slightly affected the others."
The most significant benefit Yan Liling received from this physique is her talent for the other professions has been elevated, granting her the skill required for the Automatic Cauldron.
"I'm more excited about your [Force Control Skill]. It has helped me a lot in my refining methods."
"That's good. What about the Duyi Realm?"
"I've also succeeded. I've refined my Divine Sea into a Spiritual Herb Garden." Yan Liling waved her hand to show inside her Divine Sea, where she planted various spiritual herbs. Her Origin Essence will nourish the herbs while some will produce Spiritual Qi similar to Wang Wei Qi Flow Divine Ability.
"Although it is only the first stage, I'm satisfied," she concluded. Wang Wei nodded before looking at Li Jun.
"Nothing yet," he replied, slightly embarrassed.
'It seems your cultivation talent is lacking a little," commented Wang Wei, and Li Jun agreed. His Battle Talent is on par with the likes of Feng Heng and other Heaven Chosen that have broken the boundary of Mortal and Immortal. However, his talent for cultivation, as in going through realms and comprehension, was lacking to them.
"This might help," stated Wang Wei as he took two small purple orbs,
"Two strings of Chaos Qi?"
"Yes. After close to a hundred thousand years, I've condensed these two from Innate Qi," commented Wang Wei. After spending more than 90,000 years listening to his Ancestors' preaching, his Qi Flower Ability produced these two strings.
"Have one of the Insurgent Ancestors wash your body and soul with these Qis; it should increase your cultivation talent."
Li Jun was not hypocritical by rejecting something that he truly desired–especially since it came from his brother: so he calmly accepted the offer.
"I may have another way to help you. But I don't know if it will work."
"What is it?"
"Wait until I know if it will work, and I'll tell you."
"What's with all the mystery?" complained Li Jun before sipping his tea.
"I just don't want to give you false hope."
"Whatever." He could wait.
"Before I forget," announced Wang Wei. "Don't forget to lend your talisman to the Ancestors: it might be helpful to them."
"We were just thinking this," added Yan Liling. "We've learned so much from the Ancestors and hoped the entire sect would benefit."
"I'm sure they will." Wang Wei suspected the ancestors left something for the sect's Insurgents. And when he started dealing with Origin One instead of Sword One, he confirmed his theory.
"We also have something for you," said Li Jun before handing him a talisman containing a memory. Intrigued, Wang Wei activated it and saw a scene from a few days ago.
Li Jun and Yan Liling were walking in a forest, traveling throughout the world while flirting with one another. The couple wanted to take this opportunity to have a vacation after spending so long not seeing each other. Then, out of nowhere, a flaming meteor came crashing from the sky, blocking their path.
After the dust clouds blew out, a handsome young man dressed in flame red robe appeared before them. He had soft skin, and a noble and elegant aura naturally emanated from him. However, deep in his eyes was a very well-hidden cunningness.
"You're Li Jun and Yan Liling, correct? Wang Wei's guard dogs?"
Li Jun calmly looked at him before answering with a smile. "We are. And whom might you be?"
"Yang Guowei."
"Am I supposed to know who that is?" continued Li Jun despite lying. He knew who this man was from the Fate Shadow Guards.
"From the Yang Family," added Yang Guowei, his eyes twitching slightly.
"Oh, you're the cheater Nine Suns Emperor's offspring."
