Chapter 56: Type II
Chapter 56: Type II
“The bad news is, our design was completely exposed…” Zhao Xu slammed the table hard, gritting his teeth.
“Luo Yun?” Li Yi frowned. He really hadn’t expected this person, who looked decent, to act so despicably.
“Who else could it be but him?” Zhao Xu showed a hateful expression. “Although our current ‘Reverse Halberd Type I’ design is now completely unrecognizable. But the killing moves using the elbows and back, the unexpected winning methods, are pretty much useless now.”
Reverse Halberd Type I was the current name of this design.
The puppet lineage had its own unique naming rules. Although Li Yi quite liked the name “Unicorn,” he didn’t want to be too unconventional.
“What’s the worse news?” Li Yi also felt a headache coming on. It seemed Reverse Halberd Type II needed to be put on the agenda.
“The rules for the Hundred Puppets War were suddenly changed.” Zhao Xu said indignantly, furious and flustered. “I really don’t know what madness has taken hold of those above! Rules that have lasted hundreds of years, changed just like that!”
“Oh? What kind of changes?”
“The previous system was an elimination tournament, where the winner takes all. This time, it’s changed to a ring challenge—challenging a single champion!”
“Champion?” Li Yi was also confused by this.
“The champion is the Flesh Puppet—Tide-Severer Type I.” A large scroll of paper was spread out, and Zhao Xu’s voice was heavy. “A Level 2 puppet!”
“Level 2 puppet?” Li Yi’s expression changed upon hearing this.
The gap between a Level 2 and a Level 1 puppet was like the difference between a High-Rank Spell Apprentice and a Lower-Rank Spell Disciple, a vast chasm. Between a Lower-Rank Spell Disciple and a High-Rank Spell Apprentice, maybe you could rely on talent, equipment, Bloodline Ability, even Dao Transformation Armament to bridge the gap. But the difference between puppets was a real, huge canyon.
“Hiss—”
As the blueprint was unrolled, a fierce, monstrous blue-green image seemed to stride out, riding the waves and commanding the tides, ferocious and evil, reeking of ominous energy!
Its shape was like a fish-man, or a Mermaid, but more robust and burly. It held a rust-covered ship’s anchor. Around its body, it seemed as if hurricanes and waves surged, its imposing manner oppressive.
Falling your gaze upon it gave a faint, stinging sensation.
“Tide-Severer Type I uses the bones, sinew, and flesh of the Blood-Weeping Bull Shark as material, modeled after the form of a Dragon Palace guard. It possesses immense strength, is agile and sharp, and its combat power is close to that of a Great Sword Song! Besides that, it can unleash the Level 2 combat skill—’Tide-Severing Nine Slashes’.”
“Type I? Is this a new puppet?” Li Yi stared intently, ears perked up, growing more and more surprised. “It doesn’t really look like it…”
This “Tide-Severer Type I” blueprint, from every angle, looked very mature, not like a newly created puppet.
“Of course not. This puppet evolved from the ‘Tide-Cleaver Type IX’.” Zhao Xu shook his head, a bitter look on his face. “The naming rule for puppets is that every nine generations counts as a new series, requiring a new name.”
“Our opponent is that? Isn’t that seeking our own death?” Li Yi couldn’t help but say.
“You don’t need to defeat it,” Zhao Xu explained softly. “Just last one minute against it, or knock it down once, and it counts as a victory.”
“Last one minute? That’s still hard!” Li Yi rubbed his own knees, still shaking his head.
The difference in strength between puppets of different tiers was just too great!
“If everyone fails, then how is it decided?”
In Li Yi’s view, that outcome was actually the most likely possibility.
“If that really happens, the draft for ‘Snake-Hair Hunter Type II’ will go to the champion’s owner—Lu Tao, son of Master Lu Yin.”
“Lu Tao?” Li Yi crouched halfway down, speaking bluntly. “I think Master Lu Yin’s plan is probably just to give that draft to his own son…”
“It’s just an outdated draft. Why would he care for it?” Zhao Xu had a different opinion. He paused, then leaned closer and asked, “So? Any ideas?”
“Want to hear the truth? The truth is, not a single one…” Li Yi spread his hands.
“One thousand White Crystals!” Zhao Xu gritted his teeth, deploying a money offensive. “If you can win first place, I’ll reward another thousand White Crystals!”
“I can only say, I’ll do my best!” Li Yi wasn’t one for empty boasting, he said calmly.
“Wait a moment,” Zhao Xu thought of something, fumbled in his robes, and took out a small booklet. “This is the ‘Thousand Mechanisms Puppet Manual’. What’s recorded in it are all common puppets. Although it doesn’t have unique secret puppets like ‘Snake-Hair Hunter’ or ‘Sandstorm Destroyer,’ the variety is vast and mixed. It might be of some use to you. I’ve long memorized this manual inside out, so I’m giving it to you…”
“How can I accept this?” Li Yi said politely, but his hands were not hesitant at all.
“You, you…” Zhao Xu smiled bitterly, shaking his head repeatedly.
After seeing Zhao Xu off, Li Yi chose a comfortable position to sit down and began to ponder and think.
“‘Reverse Halberd Type II’? Let me take a look…”
He sat for a full day and night.
Night fell.
Li Yi was still sitting cross-legged, but now he was upside down, hair disheveled, eyes bloodshot.
Even with the “Grip of Serenity” calming his mind, he still felt somewhat anxious and restless.
The Thousand Mechanisms Puppet Manual was flipped through once, then again, yet he still couldn’t find a way.
Mountain-Cleaver!
Sea-Forger!
And the one modeled after a flame demon—Ember-Hurlers!
Spider-Hearts!
Tiger-Stripes!
…
One ingenious design after another, like fleeting glimpses, like images on a lantern, flowed through the depths of his mind, time and time again.
But most of them flashed by without leaving any trace.
“My cultivation is still insufficient, it’s difficult…”
He had to admit, his accumulation in the way of puppets was still too little!
Puppetry, though not as profound and boundless as Dao Transformation Armament, was also profound and deep. It definitely wasn’t something you could master by flipping through a few books and cramming at the last minute.
Li Yi had also thought of a few improvements, but most were just adding frosting on the cake. To leap a tier was absolutely impossible!
“After all, what I study is Dao Transformation Armament, not the way of puppets.”
Li Yi shook his head and sighed softly.
In that instant, inspiration flashed!
Why cling to one single tree?
Since that was the case, why not simply design a piece of Dao Transformation Armament on the puppet!
Since the carrier was a puppet, there was no need to consider factors like Bearing Capacity, soul characteristics, Mana attributes, physical body properties, and so on. Simplify everything. The difficulty was less than one percent of that of a regular Dao Transformation Armament!
As inspiration surfaced, thoughts flew, and his brain immediately became active.
“So, which Dao Transformation Armament to choose?”
Li Yi liked to think, sometimes even idle fantasies. From time to time, many ideas about Dao Transformation Armament had occurred to him.
The first thing he remembered was the armed equipment concept that had popped into his head when he personally witnessed “Melody Controller” Kui.
“Wait, yes, that’s it!”
Li Yi reached out to grab, only catching a handful of air, but his consciousness grasped onto something. The corners of his mouth lifted, a sharp confidence flickering.
“But back then, it was just a simple thought. Many aspects hadn’t been thought through, understood, or reconciled. Looking back now, there are still many flaws… Wait, if I have that, perhaps I can make up for this flaw!”
No time to lose!
“Zhao Xu, I want your secret technique—’Divine Intent Lion’s Roar’!” Without stopping for breath, Li Yi rushed into Zhao Xu’s room and said directly.
“Divine Intent Lion’s Roar?” Having been tricked once, Zhao Xu was even more alert, hesitating. “What do you want to use it for?”
“To use it in ‘Reverse Halberd Type II’.” Li Yi’s eyes were like torches. At this moment, his thoughts were gushing forth, and he couldn’t be bothered with small talk.
“It’s useless!” As soon as Zhao Xu heard this, a defeated look appeared, and he shook his head repeatedly. “Puppets, especially Flesh Puppets, have extremely strong resistance to sonic wave type damage! Your idea is good, but…”
“Do you believe in me?” Li Yi interrupted him, staring straight at him. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll turn and leave right now!”
Zhao Xu hesitated for a moment. His gaze fell on the “Reverse Halberd Type I” paper draft. Suddenly, an immense amount of confidence welled up inside him.
“I believe you. Let’s do it!” He waved his fist heavily.
…
After reciting the incantation for Divine Intent Lion’s Roar three times in a row, Li Yi sat quietly, his expression peaceful, but his mind was spinning at high speed.
His thoughts were like a top whipped into a furious spin, rotating madly.
After a long time, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he picked up the Demon-Sealing Brush.
His brush moved like flying, like dancing dragons and snakes!
A trace of enjoyment and excitement appeared on Li Yi’s face. This kind of release after long accumulation felt incredibly pleasurable, almost intoxicating!
Three more days passed, and the “Reverse Halberd Type II” paper draft was successfully completed!
“You damned genius!”
Zhao Xu’s gaze was completely glued to the paper draft. He cursed wildly, looking like a madman.
Li Yi’s hair was messy, his expression tired, but he was also full of ambition and confidence.
Involuntarily, he thought to himself: Should this thing be called “NT-D,” or should it be called “No One Can Beat Me in My BGM”?