Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 485 The Power of the Former Dynasty
Luo Qianji held the puppet parts, pondering his family's past, but he couldn't figure out how someone could know his family's puppetry skills.

Moreover, these are puppets that haven't been around for very long.

Over the years, he has had contact with many puppeteers, but he has never found such a puppet.

Luo Qianji couldn't help but look at Lu Zheng beside him and asked curiously, "Young Master Lu, where did you obtain this battle puppet?"

Lu Zheng said, "When I was traveling in Yunmengze, this puppet suddenly fell from the sky and attacked me. Someone must have been trying to kill me, but I couldn't find the person and only got this puppet."

Luo Qianji was surprised to hear this. "Such a thing is true? I often go to Yunmengze and am very familiar with the immortal sects there. I have never seen anyone make such a battle puppet before?"

Not far away, Zhu Yang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Didn't you say that your ancestors worked for the Ministry of War of the previous dynasty and produced a lot of war weapons?"

“There is such a story,” Luo Qianji admitted, “but that happened hundreds of years ago. What does it have to do with this puppet?”

The Luo family had once been glorious for their mechanical puppetry skills, but after the fall of the previous dynasty, the family was affected and has been on a downward spiral ever since.

It is truly remarkable that the family tradition has not been interrupted.

Zhu Yang said leisurely, "Perhaps some members of the Luo family have been mingling with the remnants of the previous dynasty all along?"

Zhu Yang paused, then continued, "Although the previous dynasty has been gone for hundreds of years, the world is vast, and there are still some remnants of the former dynasty hiding in the world, intending to restore the country. Who knows if someone in your family made such a choice back then..."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qianji frowned, and after thinking about it carefully, he realized that it was indeed not impossible.

The world was in chaos at the end of the previous dynasty, and many things are unverifiable. Luo Qianji was not very clear about what happened to the Luo family at that time.

Perhaps some members of the Luo family are indeed hiding outside with the remnants of the previous dynasty, plotting to restore the country.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask curiously, "Are there still forces from the previous dynasty in this world?"

Zhu Yang smiled slightly and said, "There are some connections, both overt and covert. Covertly, they are mostly related to the former dynasty's royal family. Back then, the former dynasty's royal family was not completely wiped out. Many members of the royal family knew that the situation was not right, so they went into hiding. Some of them even took away many national treasures, such as the national fortune cauldron and items belonging to sages..."

"For so many years, all the nations of the world have been searching for those royal family members and treasures. Although some have indeed found some remnants, who knows if they are all dead?"

Zhu Yang paused, then said slowly, "As for the public, the major clans and powers in the world, including the royal families of various dynasties, are basically families that were already prosperous in the previous dynasty. Who knows who some people are truly loyal to?"

"Whether in Chu, An, or the other major states, you can find figures in the court who have connections to the previous dynasty..."

"It's just that several hundred years have passed, and people rarely mention the previous dynasty anymore, but that doesn't mean that the remnants of the previous dynasty don't exist."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng suddenly realized that the world was far more complex than he had imagined.

Indeed, traveling around and meeting many different people is very necessary.

Zhu Yang raised his eyebrows and stared at Lu Zheng, smiling slightly, "Speaking of which, some people even suspect that you were someone pushed out by the previous dynasty's forces."

"After all, Young Master Lu had no reputation before and came from an ordinary family. Suddenly he became famous and did many remarkable things."

Lu Zheng couldn't help but laugh and said, "I've never heard of such a rumor before."

However, Lu Zheng didn't care about this matter at all; it was just some rumors.

Zhu Yang said, "Once a person becomes famous, it's inevitable that there will be a lot of criticism."

Lu Zheng nodded slightly in agreement.

Luo Qianji was still pondering over the puppet when he asked curiously, "If this puppet really comes from... how could Young Master Lu have offended them?" Lu Zheng thought for a moment and said, "My actions have involved the interests of many people. Perhaps I touched upon their interests sometime along the way? Before the attack, I went to Xinghai Bay..."

Lu Zheng recounted some of his experiences in Xinghai Bay.

There's no need to hide some things; they'll eventually reach other people's ears.

Luo Qianji and Zhu Yang were surprised to hear that Lu Zheng had actually gone to the demon race to carry out educational reforms.

This is not something anyone can do; you need real skills.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yang pondered and said, "There might indeed be hidden forces from the previous dynasty in Yunmengze. Young Master Lu's actions have probably truly touched upon the interests of certain people. Of course, it's also possible that other forces are targeting you..."

What they are talking about now is all speculation, and no conclusions can be drawn.

Of course, such inferences are not unfounded. Through this combat puppet, we may indeed be able to uncover some deeper clues.

Lu Zheng's mind raced, and he suddenly thought of the former general in the Ghost Market, as well as the sage's chapter that he had obtained.

The writings of sages cannot appear out of thin air. Perhaps someone is really trying to do something behind all this?
However, using the writings of sages as bait seems a bit too extravagant.

Lu Zheng thought for a while, but couldn't quite figure it out. He could only guess that someone wanted to kill him behind the scenes, while someone else was secretly betting on him.
Luo Qianji then tinkered with the puppet again, restoring it to its original state and installing a new spirit core to enable it to move.

Luo Qianji turned to Lu Zheng and said sincerely, "Young Master Lu, could you sell me this puppet? I'd like to take it back and study it further..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng smiled and said, "If Fellow Daoist Luo likes it, please feel free to take it."

Now that the possible origins of this puppet are known, there is no need to keep it any longer.

If we give it to Luo Qianji to study, perhaps he will make more discoveries.

Upon seeing this, Luo Qianji was overjoyed. "This puppet is quite valuable, and I can't just take it for free. Young Master Lu, please wait a moment..."

Luo Qianji took out a storage bag from his bosom and then selected some spiritual items.

"If I really don't have any of your Confucian treasures, could you exchange these spirit stones and medicinal herbs, along with some mechanical devices I've made, for them?"

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "It's alright, Fellow Daoist Luo, just give me some spirit stones."

"How can we be so casual about it!"

Seeing that Lu Zheng had no requests, Luo Qianji gave him everything she had taken out.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng had no choice but to put it away.

Lu Zheng suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but say, "Fellow Daoist Luo is skilled in mechanical puppetry. Could you make some objects that don't require spirit stones or spiritual energy and can be used by ordinary people?"

"What is that?" Luo Qianji asked curiously.

Lu Zhengdao: "Tools that can fly, run, or help people farm..."

Lu Zheng gestured as he described the tools he was referring to.

Luo Qianji was stunned for a moment, "How is it possible to do this without spiritual energy..."

(End of this chapter)