The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Xu Changqing bid farewell to the shopkeeper and stepped out of the Baibaoge gate.

As dusk approached, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the clouds in the west a deep crimson.

He visited several shops specializing in magical artifacts and rare items on the main streets of the market, and even took a stroll through the large market for independent cultivators.

The puppets I saw were all defective products pieced together from crude wood and stubborn stones, their movements were sluggish and their spiritual energy was mixed.

Let alone defending against bandits, they even struggle to defend against low-level aquatic beasts.

As the evening drum sounded, it startled several crows that had been perched on the archway.

Unbeknownst to Xu Changqing, he had arrived at a secluded spot.

Looking up, one sees blue stone steps, majestic stone lions, and the golden plaque with the three characters "Qingyun Temple" exuding an imposing aura in the twilight.

The temple gate was half-closed, and a faint scent of sandalwood drifted in the wind.

Xu Changqing paused slightly as the scene of Xu Xining testing the guiding boy here a month or so ago suddenly flashed into his mind.

One of the twin Taoist boys guarding the gate was a puppet.

Its spiritual energy is contained, and its skin texture is no different from that of a living person. Unless one deliberately tests it, it is impossible to detect its authenticity.

Such masterful puppetry skills are beyond the reach of ordinary craftsmen in the marketplace.

If a Taoist temple has lively and lifelike young Taoist boys, it may well also have strongmen who fight and protect the Tao.

Xu Changqing climbed the steps and entered the temple.

The main hall was spacious and quiet. A middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a simple Taoist robe was tending to the incense ash in front of the altar, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

Hearing footsteps, the Taoist priest turned around and bowed: "Fellow Taoist, do you wish to offer incense?"

Xu Changqing returned the greeting with a calm expression and got straight to the point: "Daoist Master is in seclusion, and I should not disturb you. However, the sect is about to be mobilized, and I am looking for a puppet that can protect the house."

"I recall the incredibly lifelike young Taoist boy outside your temple; I wonder if your temple sells any war puppets?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Taoist priest paused slightly in his fiddling with the incense ash, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He looked Xu Changqing up and down, and seeing that although he was reserved, his eyes were clear and he was well-mannered, he stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Fellow Daoist has discerning eyes. Although my Qingyun Temple is a place of quiet cultivation, it also inherits the incense offerings of the sect's 'Thousand Machine Peak.' The Thousand Machine lineage is skilled in puppet mechanisms, and when they occasionally create something to test their skills, they will place it in the temple in exchange for incense offerings and precious materials."

The Taoist priest waved his whisk and led Xu Changqing around the main hall to a heavily guarded side hall.

The side hall had no windows, and its four walls were inlaid with luminous pearls.

On a platform in the hall stood a lifeless object covered with red silk.

The Taoist priest stepped forward, lightly flicked his whisk, and the red silk slipped down.

A burly puppet clad in dark iron armor revealed its true form.

His face was as red as a jujube, and although his features were carved from spirit wood, they exuded a cold, hard, and ruthless aura that no living person possessed.

His eyes were closed, and his hands rested on a sharpened, finely crafted steel heavy sword.

"This is the 'Mysterious Armor Warrior'."

The Taoist priest gently stroked the puppet's cold iron armor, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

"The armor is made of century-old ironwood, cast with red copper mixed with star-patterned steel, and has the core of a mid-grade first-tier demon beast, the 'Earth-Shaking Ape,' embedded in its chest."

"If there are enough spirit stones, this item can unleash combat power comparable to a Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator."

"What is particularly remarkable is its tough body; it can withstand even a casual blow from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator without being destroyed."

Xu Changqing stepped forward and gently tapped the shoulder of the armored warrior with his fingers, producing a clear, metallic sound.

Fourth level of Qi Refining.

In ordinary times, such a level of skill would not be considered a great threat in Xu Changqing's eyes.

But in the world of cultivation, the most terrifying thing is often not the level of cultivation, but the unpredictability of people's hearts.

All cultivators fear battle, think of retreat when in danger, and dread death when seriously injured.

And this puppet is painless, fearless, and tireless.

Such absolute loyalty and fearlessness are a natural nemesis to those bandits and scattered soldiers who only dare to bully the weak and fear the strong.

Uncle Dayou has the cultivation level of the fifth level of Qi Refining, but he lacks ruthlessness and killing power.

If supplemented by this fearless Qi Refining Level 4 Xuanjia warrior, with one orthodox and one unorthodox, combined with the formation, Cangwu Island would truly have a foundation for self-preservation.

"What is the price?"

Xu Changqing withdrew his hand and inquired about the price.

The middle-aged Taoist priest held up one finger: "One thousand low-grade spirit stones. This is only because you are an ally of the sect. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't sell it for two thousand spirit stones."

One thousand spirit stones to buy a dead object at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

If this were heard by an ordinary small family, they would definitely call him crazy.

But Xu Changqing didn't even frown.

"Xu took it."

A thousand spirit stones flew out and piled up into a crystal-clear little mountain next to the array platform.

Upon seeing this, the Taoist priest's smile deepened.

With a flick of his whisk, he put away the spirit stone and then handed over a black talisman that was neither gold nor jade.

"This is a Soul Control Token. Fellow Daoist, you only need to drip your blood to recognize it as your own and transfer your divine consciousness into it, and this Xuanjia Warrior will be as easy to control as your own arm."

Xu Changqing took the Soul Control Token and bit his fingertip without hesitation.

"Buzz—"

The talisman flashed with a faint bloody light, establishing a mysterious and strange connection between Xu Changqing and the puppet.

"boom!"

On the platform, the armored warrior, who had seemed lifeless, suddenly trembled.

His eyes suddenly snapped open, and two crimson beams of light shone in the dimly lit side hall.

The air currents rolled and the strong wind blew in our faces.

"Fellow Daoist, what a fortunate coincidence! This Xuanjia Warrior has been dormant for many years, and today he has finally met a wise master."

The middle-aged Taoist priest smiled slightly and lightly swept his whisk, dispelling the strong wind.

"However, fellow Daoist, please remember that this item needs to be nurtured with spirit stones on a daily basis. In intense battles, the consumption is even more astonishing. If the spiritual power is exhausted, it will become a pile of scrap iron."

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master."

Xu Changqing understood immediately.

In the world of cultivation, the more powerful an external object is, the more terrifying the number of spirit stones it consumes.

But since he could afford a horse, he could certainly afford a saddle.

With a flick of his sleeve, a beam of light swept past, and the burly, armored warrior, along with his heavy sword, vanished and was stored in his storage bag.

After bidding farewell to the middle-aged Taoist priest, Xu Changqing stepped out of Qingyun Temple.

By this time, it was completely dark, and lanterns were hung on the streets of the market, their dim yellow light swaying in the puddles.

In the distance, the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from the red-light district and wine alley.

Xu Changqing adjusted his gray-blue robe and disappeared into the night.

This trip to the market, with its windfall of over three thousand spirit stones, was quickly spent, almost entirely gone.

But he felt no pain whatsoever; instead, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

Once outside the market, Xu Changqing launched his small boat and sailed through the rolling waves.

As midnight approached, the small boat docked at the shore.

Xu Changqing withdrew his magic power, and the wooden boat transformed into a beam of light and disappeared into his sleeve.

He stepped onto the bluestone bridge, and the river breeze, carrying the damp chill of the night rain, rushed towards him.

Xu Changqing followed the bluestone steps to the front of the house halfway up the mountain.

Two lanterns swayed under the eaves after the rain, and the vermilion gate was ajar, revealing a dim, yellowish glow from within.

As soon as Xu Changqing stepped over the high threshold, he heard a series of hurried footsteps.

"Chieftain? You're finally back! Things are getting tense outside, and I've been feeling quite uneasy."

Xu Changqing paused slightly, nodded slightly, and looked down at Xu Dayou’s shoulder, which was wet with night dew.

"Uncle Lao, your trip went quite smoothly."

He didn't say much, but took out a communication jade slip from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, the array masters from Baibaoge will arrive on the island to set up the 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Cloud and Smoke Array' for us. The foundation of this old array needs to be cleaned and tidied up. Go and inform Da Niu and the others that they should not be late tomorrow morning."

"The Eight Gates Golden Lock Cloud and Smoke Formation?!"

Xu Dayou was taken aback upon hearing this, finding it hard to believe.

Such a high-grade first-tier array costs thousands of spirit stones to build, enough to empty the coffers of an ordinary small family. In the past, it was a luxury that they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

"Chieftain... this..."

Xu Dayou's lips trembled slightly, but he swallowed his question back before he could finish speaking.

He was an old man who knew when to advance and when to retreat; he believed that keeping things to himself was the way to live a long life.