Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

Cui Ming's tone was firm.

"Dan Shi is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle."

"This disciple absolutely must practice!"

Tang Jiaren and Tang Bingwen exchanged a glance, both seeing the complexity in each other's eyes.

All attempts to dissuade him had been made; the path... was chosen by Cui Ming himself.

"Since that's the case..."

"You have passed the third test. Your willpower is strong enough that there is no need to try again."

Tang Jiaren's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"According to the Tang Sect's rules, any inner disciple applying to practice Dan Shi must be witnessed by three elders, and all inner disciples with the potential to practice Dan Shi must be summoned to observe, as a warning to others and to carry on their aspirations!"

The old sect leader, Tang Bingwen, also came over and solemnly spoke to Cui Ming.

"Tomorrow at noon, before the Tang Tomb, the Pill Devouring Inheritance will be activated for you!"

......

The next day at noon, in front of the Tang Tomb.

More than ten people were standing around the usually quiet and secluded Tang Tomb.

They are all outstanding members of the Tang Sect's inner circle, qualified to come into contact with and attempt to cultivate the Core Disciple's Devouring Technique.

Tang Wanru was dressed in plain clothes, her face cold and aloof;

Tang Tongbi stood with his arms crossed, his eyes sharp;

Yu Huizhong looked indifferent and idly touched her nails;

Tang An, Tang Jian, and the others looked solemn.

They spoke in hushed tones, their gazes occasionally drifting towards Cui Ming, who stood at the entrance to the Tang Tomb.

"That's Cui Ming? That disciple from another family? He really came this far...?"

Tang Jian was somewhat impressed. After making achievements in mechanical puppets, he still took the initiative to seek to cultivate the Dan Shi technique, which was worthy of his respect.

"I heard he's skilled in mechanical arts, but Dan Shi... he's never relied on tricks."

Yu Huizhong was not optimistic about Cui Ming.

"The master actually agreed... Alas, what a pity, yet another one..."

Tang Wanru pushed up her glasses with a hint of regret.

Amid the discussions, most expressed regret and pessimism.

Dan Shi's infamous reputation meant that very few succeeded, but the tragic fate of the losers was etched in everyone's heart.

Tang Bingwen, Tang Jiaren, and Tang Yanqiu stood at the very front.

"The time has come."

"Cui Ming! Step forward!"

Cui Ming silently walked up to the three elders and bowed.

He could feel the gazes behind him—curious, scrutinizing, pitying...

Feeling uneasy, Cui Ming was not worried.

"The method of consuming elixir is a matter of life and death."

The cultivation of the Dan Shi technique is a matter of life and death from the very beginning.

If successful, then one will achieve great success and fame.

If they lose, they will die a horrible death on the spot.

No one will lend you a helping hand, and no one can save you.

Cui Ming, you have one last chance.

Tang Jiaren gave Cui Ming one last serious plea.

Are you ready?

"Disciple is ready."

Cui Ming's face remained calm.

"Good! Concentrate your mind and calm your breath, guide the Qi back to its source, and circulate it throughout your body according to my instructions!"

Cui Ming sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and guided the surging Qi within his body, which was like a river, towards several dangerous hidden acupoints, following the obscure incantation that Tang Jiaren had received!

Chapter 14 Successful Cultivation and New Clues

The moment the Qi flow touched the first acupoint, Cui Ming was already prepared to withstand the pressure.

What was originally thought to be an extremely dangerous cultivation process turned out to be surprisingly smooth.

The Qi flowed slowly along the directions indicated in the mantra, and everything was so calm and quiet.

Until the cycle of one day is completed.

Only then did Cui Ming understand why Dan Shi had such a high mortality rate.

Because this skill is extremely easy to learn, as long as you follow the instructions step by step and complete one cycle, you've already mastered it.

But at that very moment of entering the gate.

An indescribable, excruciating pain erupted violently from all around my body.

It felt as if countless red-hot needles were frantically piercing and stirring along the meridians!

My vision kept distorting, a buzzing sound exploded in my brain, and my internal organs felt like they were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand!

Fortunately, his previous experiences had greatly improved Cui Ming's mental and physical health.

Although the sudden pain was beyond his imagination, it did not cause Cui Ming too much trouble.

But then, the twisting pain intensified.

Later on, even Cui Ming's enhanced physique gradually became unable to withstand it.

[High-intensity energy impact and permanent tearing damage to meridians detected...]

[Negative effects are reversing...]

[Energy impact transforms into meridian expansion, and meridian tears are reversed into increased resilience...]

[Damage transforms into tissue regeneration...]

To outsiders, Cui Ming's face merely contorted for a moment, his body trembled slightly, and then he quickly regained his composure.

It was as if Cui Ming had quietly overcome the agony that would make one wish for death.

"what?!"

"How...is this possible?"

Tang Jian was startled and stood up straight. A look of astonishment flashed in Tang Wanru's eyes, and Yu Huizhong also covered her mouth in surprise.

Even the three elders looked on in disbelief.

The scene they had envisioned—Cui Ming screaming in agony, struggling and begging for death—did not occur.

Instead, a strange and dangerous aura was slowly spreading out from Cui Ming.

That aura sent chills down their spines; these Tang Clan assassins were particularly sensitive to danger.

It was a sense of unease stemming from their assassin instincts that made them all instinctively become wary.

But in an instant, this feeling that made one feel like they had a thorn in their back vanished without a trace.

The next moment, everyone was surprised to find that, for some reason, Cui Ming was surprisingly pleasing to the eye.

At this moment, Cui Ming seemed possessed by a succubus, making people feel an involuntary attraction to him.

At this moment, a tremendous change was also taking place within Cui Ming's body.

The damage caused by cultivating the pills is no longer a destruction of the body under the system's effect, but rather becomes the most violent forging hammer.

Every time the Qi poison impacts and tears the meridians, it is instantly reversed and repaired, and in the process of repair, the toughness and capacity of the meridians are forcibly expanded.

Within just a few breaths, Cui Ming's meridians were forcibly expanded by more than double!

The Qi that was originally flowing like a river now appears somewhat sparse as it rushes through the meridians, which are twice as wide.

This means that the amount of Qi he can contain and circulate will reach an unprecedented level!

The pain had quietly transformed into a throbbing sensation, and the meridians within the body were growing rapidly under the nourishment of the Dan Shi and the system.

After all the meridians in his body had expanded, there was still a surplus of energy. With no other option, Cui Ming could only guide this energy to nourish his internal organs.

Thus, a strange cycle was born.

Cultivating Dan Shi → Obtaining nourishing energy to strengthen the five internal organs → Further improving the efficiency of the Five Treasures Protection Technique → Accelerating the generation of Qi toxins within the body → Increasing the cultivation speed of Dan Shi.

In Cui Ming's perception, this pain had become a source of power.

Does every second feel like an eternity? No, every second of pain he experiences makes him stronger.

After an unknown amount of time, Cui Ming slowly opened his eyes.

The sharp light in his eyes subsided, and the succubus-like aura around him vanished.

It was only at this moment that everyone realized that the inexplicably favorable state they had just experienced was actually caused by Cui Ming's cultivation of the Pill Devouring Technique.

Before anyone could react, Cui Ming had already stood up and bowed to the three elders again.

"Disciple Cui Ming has successfully fulfilled his mission."

The voice was calm, yet it was like a thunderclap, resounding in the hearts of every onlooker.

Before the Tang Tomb, there was only deathly silence.

After a while, the crowd gasped and whispered.

"He...really succeeded?"