Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

And such good things?

Exactly!

The Xuanji Armor has encountered a bottleneck, so going out to test new equipment and familiarize itself with the future battlefield is a good option.

Chapter 18 Solitary Walk in the Dark

As soon as the resolution was passed in the council chamber, Cui Ming bowed and accepted the order.

However, unlike most people, he did not immediately gather his elite troops and form a squad.

He calmly took his leave under Tang Bingwen's slightly meaningful gaze, then turned and plunged back into his workshop, where Chinese and Japanese art clattered together.

The workshop doors remained closed for a day and a night.

During this time, only the continuous clanging of metal and the crisp sound of mechanisms turning could be faintly heard.

This attracted the attention of the nearby disciples, who wondered what amazing masterpiece this recently popular Senior Brother Cui was working on.

The workshop doors opened again at dusk the following day.

Cui Ming walked out slowly. He seemed no different from usual, still dressed in a smart outfit and with a calm expression.

He carried a gray cloth bag on his back; it wasn't large, but it looked quite heavy.

In addition to his usual tools and concealed weapon pouch, he now carried three metal balls, compressed to the size of a fist and gleaming with a dark metallic luster, at his waist.

That was the blood-dripping guillotine that he improved upon, making it even more streamlined and lightweight.

What is most striking is the smooth lines that are subtly revealed beneath his clothing.

It was an unfinished Xuanji Armor, its outline forming a close-fitting silhouette over the key areas, with runes at the joints shimmering with an almost imperceptible halo in the afterglow of the setting sun.

He neither went to the training ground to practice, nor did he bid farewell to any of his fellow disciples.

He went to the storeroom to collect enough supplies and special arrows, then paused for a moment outside Liang Wu's residence, sensing the even snoring coming from inside.

Cui Ming then quietly turned around and stepped out of the Tang Clan's mountain gate alone, his figure quickly disappearing into the vast twilight.

"He just went there all by himself?"

Tang Jiaren stood on a high cliff, watching the lone figure disappear at the end of the mountain path, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Tang Bingwen appeared beside him at some point.

"He assured me that this was just reconnaissance and he wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. Besides... do you think he still needs those disciples as team members?"

Tang Jiaren remained silent.

Indeed, Cui Ming now possesses the power of the Pill Devourer, wields various mysterious mechanisms, and is accompanied by the Xuanji Armor, which is in its early stages of development.

Ordinary disciples following him might not be of much help, but could instead become a burden.

Therefore, Cui Ming's choice to go it alone may not be a bad thing; perhaps it is the safest way.

"But...this child's personality is a bit too independent."

Tang Jiaren sighed.

"I want to shoulder everything myself."

"Young eagles must eventually leave the nest, and tigers are used to walking alone."

Tang Bingwen had a far-sighted vision.

"Let him be. We should get used to it. This kid can't be judged by common sense."

......

The night was as dark as ink, and the mountains and forests were silent.

Cui Ming moved swiftly through the mountains and forests, his steps as light as a ghost. The power provided by the Xuanji Armor and the optimization of his Qi circulation minimized the energy consumption during his long-distance journey.

The bag on his back swayed slightly with his movements. Apart from the necessary dry food and water, most of the space inside was occupied by six ingeniously folded mechanical arms.

These mechanical arms were his main achievement during that day and night; he further optimized the structure and runes on the original design.

This makes its coordination more precise, sufficient to meet the needs of this reconnaissance mission and unexpected operations.

Although the mechanical arm has been weakened in strength this time, its agility has been greatly improved, making it relatively lighter and more nimble.

For Cui Ming, it was equivalent to the weight of his schoolbag when he went to school in his previous life.

Thinking about this, Cui Ming suddenly had a feeling of going on a spring outing.

Shaking his head to shake off the strange thought, Cui Ming put his deliberately trained ability to multitask into practice.

While traveling, he activated the Five Treasures Protective Technique, cultivated the Pill Devouring Technique, and spread his senses outwards.

Thanks to his cultivation of Dan Shi and the results he achieved through the system during this period, he can now sense even the slightest movement within a radius of several hundred meters.

It's just a pity that, with the blessing of the Xuanji Armor...

Cui Ming's current mobility far exceeds that of the Shadow Spider; otherwise, releasing some more puppets for reconnaissance would be perfect.

However, Cui Ming was unaware of the unusual phenomena that would occur when he activated or cultivated the Dan Shi system, thanks to the system's enhancement.

Although many fellow disciples witnessed the learning of Dan Shi, these inner sect elites were not talkative people.

After all... what if that strange phenomenon involved Cui Ming's secrets? They didn't want anyone to investigate.

Liang Wu and Li Ding would be even more determined to keep Cui Ming's secret.

So it wasn't until today that Cui Ming realized something unusual was happening when he was practicing the Dan Shi technique.

When Cui Ming fully activates or cultivates the Pill Devouring Technique, it emits a peculiar aura.

This scent would normally make sensitive people instinctively feel uncomfortable or even avoid it.

But for some unknown reason, the system abruptly reversed this atmosphere that should have raised people's guard.

Thus, Dan Shi transformed from a fierce and menacing figure into a succubus reincarnated, seemingly able to directly evoke the instinctive affinity of living beings, instantly winning people's favor.

Now, Cui Ming, who was on his way, noticed something amiss.

At first, only one or two owls followed him, tilting their heads and constantly looking him over.

Then, the entire forest seemed to come alive.

This alerted Cui Ming, who stopped moving.

The owls perched on the branches, their gleaming eyes fixed curiously on the human who exuded a comforting aura.

Immediately afterwards, a few of the bolder beavers poked their heads out from the bushes, sniffing the air before hesitantly approaching.

Then came hares, badgers, and even a few brightly colored venomous snakes, all seemingly summoned from all directions.

They quietly circled Cui Ming a few feet away, neither attacking nor making a sound.

They simply stayed quietly, creating an inexplicable sense of harmony and tranquility.

"what happened?"

Cui Ming felt uneasy and subconsciously stopped cultivating the Pill Devouring Technique. Six mechanical arms quickly extended from his backpack, and he became alert.

But the moment he stopped cultivating, that strange affinity vanished abruptly.

The surrounding animals seemed to wake from a deep sleep. They blinked in unison, looking bewildered, and then scattered in fright, quickly disappearing into the dense forest.

Cui Ming, who had initially thought he was being ambushed, frowned as he looked around at the empty jungle.

He suddenly recalled the strange looks and whispers from his fellow disciples when he awoke from his cultivation at Tang Tomb.

At the time, they only thought that he had shocked them by successfully cultivating the Dan Shi technique, but now it seems... there is another story behind it.

He tried again, and condensed a pill in his hand.

Sure enough, that strange aura reappeared.

Almost simultaneously, the few owls that had just scattered flapped their wings and flew back, landing on a branch a little further away, looking at him timidly.

Cui Ming's expression turned somewhat strange.

He stretched out his right hand, and a timid owl hesitated for a moment before actually flapping its wings and landing lightly in his palm.

She even rubbed her head against his arm and made a cute chirping sound.

Chapter 19 Mystery of the Mine

Cui Ming looked at the unsuspecting thing in his hand and fell silent for a moment.

He cultivates... the most infamous Dan Shi technique of the Tang Sect... right?

Is there something wrong with his memory? Shouldn't using the Dan Shi technique have scared these animals away? Why did they...?

Cui Ming suddenly realized that it was the system's fault...

But Cui Ming was, after all, an assassin, and after his initial shock, he quickly calmed down.

This special effect may not necessarily be a bad thing for Cui Ming.

Judging from the reactions of his fellow disciples, this affinity should work on all living beings, but further experiments are needed to confirm.

After picking up the owl and examining it closely, Cui Ming's previously subdued passion for scientific research was rekindled.

After all, who would be on guard against these birds and beasts that are everywhere?

A glint of cunning flashed in his eyes. If he could use this strange affinity to tame some birds and beasts, and then use them to airdrop puppets or even bombs...

Once he understood this, the slight awkwardness in Cui Ming's heart instantly vanished, replaced by the excitement of discovering a new toy.

I never expected to find such an interesting toy while on a mission.

Indeed, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Being too immersed in scientific research makes one forget to connect with nature.

For the rest of the journey, Cui Ming intentionally controlled the pace of his Dan Shi cultivation, maintaining a harmless and approachable demeanor around himself.

And they intentionally communicated with these animals, helping them understand some simple instructions.

Thus, a strange scene appeared in this remote forest.

A young man in black, leaping like a ghost among the branches, was accompanied by a silent army of animals.